Page 40 of Chaos
“B-but . . . why?”
“Well, darling, men being unfaithful, even in their dreams, has always been an issue. And women falling pregnant out of wedlock, or while their husbands were away, could only be the work of the demonic.” Lilith snickered. “The Virgin Mary defense only works once, so witches were obviously the most convenient scapegoats.”
“So you’re saying dreamwalking caused the witch trials?”
“Precisely. And the Council wasn’t wrong for the decision.”
“How can you say that?” I sputtered, shocked to hear Lilith, of all people, agree with such a decision.
“Well, while we may not have done exactly what they accused us of, we were hardly free from fault. We were enslaving people, after all.”
“Wait, what?”
That didn’t sound good. So much for my “dreamwalking is harmless” theory.
“Every time we enter someone’s dream, we attach a tether to them. A connection that grows stronger and more persistent with each visit. Before long, they become ours to control and feed from at our whims. We can use them for so many things. Nourishment, sexual pleasure, procreation. It’s a most incredible power. But it doesn’t come without a dark side.”
Dread sat heavy in my stomach, turning my blood to ice.
“Dark side?”
“Yes, lovely. Obsession, madness, death. Once the bond is created, the mortal partner becomes addicted to their lover. The craving is unsatisfiable. A hunger that can never be sated.”
What have I done?
“Is it reversible?”
Lilith made a musing sound. “Hard to say. Few survived after their bonded was executed. The mortals, I mean. It would hardly be much of a threat if our kind were at risk of dropping like flies whenever one of their mortal pets perished. But suffice it to say, even those who survived the passing were mere shells of their former selves, robbed of their happiness and will to live. Understandably so. Who wants to exist without that which gives their life meaning?”
“And that’s why the High Council banned dreamwalking? Because the mortals were dying?”
Lilith’s sultry laugh filled the line. “No, my sweet. They banned it because once the humans figured out our game, they hunted us to near extinction. Only a handful of us escaped with our lives. You’re one of very few true succubi in the world.”
“Is that like a pedigree thing?”
“Indeed.”
A heavy sigh escaped my lips, the weight of the world feeling as though it was crashing down on top of me. I should have known something that felt so good and easy came with strings. Not even strings, but massive insurmountable chains.
“So I'm doing something bad?”
“Technically.”
“And dangerous to them?”
“Have you been dreamwalking with all four of them?”
Worry twisted in my gut. “Yes?”
“My, my, you are a hungry little thing. Though that stands to reason, given how you’ve been surviving all this time. You’ve finally given yourself permission to thrive. Of course you’re addicted.”
“Do I need to stop?”
Please say no.
Please say no.
I felt guilty even as the words coursed through my mind. It was selfish of me, especially knowing what was at stake for my men if I continued.
