I found Isabella and Aria waiting outside the Academy's main entrance. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the obsidian courtyard.

"Ready?" Isabella adjusted the collar of her jacket.

"Let's go over it one more time." I leaned against the wall. "I want to make sure we're all clear."

Aria's tail twitched. "I tell Sombra I discovered who Lilith's daughter is. Say I brought her with me. She'll want to talk to you immediately."

"While you're distracting her, I slip into the back." Aria pulled a small crystal from her pocket. "Enter her workshop, look through notes, anything that connects her to Viridia or how she got Nyx in her."

"And I stay outside." Isabella crossed her arms. "Close enough to intervene if things turn violent."

"She won't get violent." Aria tucked the crystal away. "Not with a princess standing in her shop. Bad for business, worse for survival."

My stomach churned. The plan relied on Sombra's self-preservation instincts overriding whatever schemes she had running. Not the most stable foundation.

"If she suspects anything—"

"She won't." Aria cut me off. "I'm her daughter. She expects me to use people. Finding out my roommate is royalty and telling her about it? That's exactly what she'd expect me to do."

Isabella touched my shoulder. "The moment something feels wrong, you leave. Don't try to be clever about it."

"Same goes for you." I met Aria's eyes. "You get caught snooping, you run."

"I won't get caught." Aria's smile didn't reach her eyes. "I learned from the best."

We walked through Ardorkeep's commercial district in silence. The streets grew quieter as we left the main thoroughfares. Fewer demons browsed the shops here. The buildings stood taller, their windows displaying expensive goods behind enchanted glass.

Sombre Silks appeared at the end of a narrow street. Purple crystalline accents caught the lava-glow from the distance. A simple sign hung above the door, elegant script barely visible from our position.

"There." Aria pointed.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I forced myself to breathe slowly, counted to four on each inhale.

"Isabella, you know where to position yourself?"

"The alley across the street." She gestured to a gap between buildings. "Good sightline to the entrance, close enough to intervene."

Aria and I started forward. My heels clicked against the obsidian street. Each step brought us closer to answers, or disaster.

The boutique's door stood before us.

* * *

I pushed the door open. A small bell chimed above us.

The interior smelled of roses with a trace of brimstone underneath. Racks of clothing lined the walls, each garment cut to reveal as much as it covered. Silk and leather hung from polished obsidian bars. A chandelier of crimson crystals cast warm light across the space.

A succubus stood near the back, running her fingers along a corset's lacing. She glanced at us, then returned to her browsing.

"Mother." Aria's voice carried across the shop.

Sombra emerged from behind a curtain. Her midnight-black hair caught the light, purple undertones shifting as she moved. Violet eyes fixed on Aria, then swept to me.

"Aria, darling." Her smile stretched wide. "What a pleasant surprise."

My pulse hammered in my throat. I forced my hands to relax at my sides.

"I was in the area with my friend." Aria gestured toward me. "Thought I'd stop by." She paused, let her tail curl slightly. "That thing you wanted me to keep an eye out for? Might have some news."

Sombra's expression remained pleasant, but something shifted in her posture. Her shoulders drew back half an inch.

"I see." She turned to the browsing succubus, then to me. "If you'll both forgive me for just a moment. Some family business."

The other succubus waved a hand without looking up.

Sombra touched Aria's elbow, guided her toward the curtained doorway. Their footsteps faded into the back of the shop.

I moved toward a rack of skirts. My fingers touched black fabric, felt the texture—smooth on one side, rough on the other. The cut would leave both thighs completely exposed.

The other succubus pulled the corset from its hanger, held it against her chest, examined herself in a floor-length mirror.

Minutes crawled past. Each second stretched longer than the last. Where had they gone? How much time did Aria need?

The curtain rustled.

Sombra stepped through alone.

She completed her transaction with the other customer—wrapped the corset in tissue paper, placed it in a bag with purple ribbon handles, accepted payment. The succubus left, the bell chiming behind her.

The door clicked shut.

"So." Sombra's attention settled on me fully for the first time. "You're Aria's friend from the Academy."

"That's right." I kept my voice level.

"How long have you known my daughter?"

"Since the term started." I moved to another rack, examined a top that consisted mostly of strategic straps. "We're roommates."

"Roommates." Sombra stepped closer. Not threatening—her movements stayed casual, unhurried. But the distance between us decreased. "She's mentioned having someone new in her life. Though she was sparse on details."

"We get along well." My tail twitched despite my efforts to control it.

"I'm glad to hear it." Sombra tilted her head. "Aria can be… impulsive. It's good she has someone keeping an eye on her."

The words felt weighted. I searched for hidden meaning, found nothing concrete.

"She keeps things interesting." I forced a smile.

"I'm sure she does." Sombra picked up a silk robe from a nearby display, smoothed her fingers across the fabric. "And you? What draws you to the Academy? Most students there are so focused on advancement, on making connections that will serve them later."

What was Aria finding back there? Had she located the workshop yet?

"I'm interested in magical theory." Not a lie. "Understanding how things work beneath the surface."

"A genuine student." Sombra's smile widened. "How refreshing. So many young demons only care about power, about position. They forget that knowledge itself has value."

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

My heartbeat filled my ears. I nodded, didn't trust myself to speak.

"Tell me—" Sombra set the robe down, "—does Aria talk about me much?"

* * *

I swallowed. My throat clicked. This conversation felt like navigating a field of buried explosives—one wrong step and everything detonated.

"Not much." I kept my fingers moving along the fabric rack, maintaining the pretence of browsing. "Aria doesn't talk about family often."

"That sounds like her." Sombra's laugh emerged soft, knowing. "We have our arrangement. She uses me, I use her. That's how it usually goes."

"Isn't it like that everywhere?" I pulled a crimson dress from the rack, held it at arm's length as if considering it. "Daughters are useful assets. Parents are too. Everyone gets something from the relationship."

Sombra's laugh came sharper this time. "Well said. It's how the world works—from common succubi to purebloods, even royalty operates under the same principles."

The word royalty hung in the air between us. Her eyes tracked my face. Searching for something. I kept my expression neutral, focused on the dress.

"This is lovely work." I turned it slightly, examined the stitching. "Do you make everything yourself?"

"I commission pieces from several craftsmen." Sombra moved closer. Three steps. Close enough I could smell roses over brimstone. "But I design them. What catches your interest about that particular piece?"

"The cut." I ran my thumb along the neckline. "It draws the eye without revealing everything immediately."

"Anticipation." Sombra nodded. "More valuable than the reveal itself, sometimes."

Pain receptors clustered densest in the fingertips and along nerve pathways—

The memory slammed into my consciousness without warning. My hands, smaller than they were now, pressing against a demon's wrist. Mother's voice in my ear, warm and patient, explaining where to apply pressure for maximum effect. The demon screamed. I giggled. Mother smiled down at me, pride lighting her crimson eyes.

I blinked. The shop came back into focus.

"Are you alright?" Sombra's hand touched my elbow.

"Fine." I set the dress down. "Just remembered something."

"From home?" Her fingers remained on my arm. Light pressure. Warm.

"Something like that." I stepped away, moved to another rack. "How long have you run the boutique?"

"Centuries." She followed but maintained the new distance. "It provides steady income. Meets interesting clients. Some become regular customers."

"Must be rewarding." My tail curled around my ankle. "Building something that lasts."

"Everything has value." Sombra tilted her head. "The question is determining what that value is before investing resources."

"How do you make that determination?" I picked up a black corset, examined the boning structure.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Experience. Observation. Reading what people reveal even when they're trying to hide it."

Neon lights reflected off rain-slicked streets below us. Father's hand on my shoulder. Mother's laugh as we descended toward the flying cars that wove between skyscrapers. I was sixteen. The mortal world stretched beneath us, vast and glittering—

I set the corset down harder than I intended.

"The craftsmanship is impressive." I forced steadiness into my voice. "You clearly have high standards."

"Only the best." Sombra stepped to the counter, pulled out a leather-bound ledger. "Otherwise, why bother? Mediocrity serves no one."

"Do you work with suppliers from other circles?" I moved toward the counter. Casual. Interested.

"Occasionally." She opened the ledger, ran her finger down a column of names. "Depends on what materials I need. Some circles produce better quality than others."

"I imagine the Third Circle has excellent textiles." I leaned forward slightly. "Given their focus on excess."

"Their silks are adequate." Sombra turned a page. "I prefer vendors who understand discretion."

My arm ended just below the elbow. The stump leaked ichor onto marble tiles. Father knelt beside me, his hand hovering over the wound. Flesh bubbled up, cells dividing and reforming. Bone extended first, then muscle wrapped around it, tendons threading through gaps. The gardener's screams echoed from somewhere nearby—Mother's voice rising and falling between the cries, methodical and thorough. I watched my fingers emerge, fascinated by how the skin sealed itself millimetre by millimetre—

"You seem distracted." Sombra closed the ledger. "Perhaps you should sit down."

"I'm fine." I gripped the counter edge. The wood pressed lines into my palms. "Just warm in here."

"I can adjust the temperature." She moved toward a crystal mounted on the wall.

"No need." I released the counter, forced my hands to relax. "I'm not used to this much heat concentrated in one space. The Academy keeps things cooler."

"Understandable." Sombra returned to the counter, her attention fixed on my face. "Different environments suit different purposes."

Minutes crawled past. Each second felt like an hour. Where was Aria? How much more time did she need?

"Do you specialise in any particular subject at the Academy?" Sombra's question came casual, but her eyes remained sharp.

"Magicraft is my favourite." Truth came easier than lies. "Understanding how spells construct themselves, how energy flows through channels."

"Practical knowledge." Sombra nodded. "More useful than pure theory."

"Both have their place." I moved along the counter, putting distance between us again. "Theory explains why things work. Practice proves whether the theory holds."

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then you adjust." I shrugged. "Test new approaches until something works."

"Resourceful." Sombra's smile widened. "Most students prefer following established methods."

Another memory flickered—Mother's hands guiding mine, showing me how to shape raw magic into coherent forms. But it dissolved before I could grasp the details.

"Following established methods only gets you so far." I picked up a silk scarf, let it slide through my fingers. "Eventually you need to find your own path."

"Wise words." Sombra's gaze tracked my movements. "Your parents must be proud."

The trap sat there, obvious and waiting.

"She appreciates competence." I set the scarf down. "Like any parent would."

* * *

"She?" Sombra's eyebrow lifted. "Not they?"

The question hung between us like a blade.

"I meant my mother." I met her gaze. "Obviously."

"And your father?" Sombra tilted her head. "What does he think?"

"I don't have one." The words came flat. Simple.

"My apologies." Sombra's smile turned sympathetic. "I forgot most succubi don't. Force of habit from dealing with purebloods so often."

She paused, then continued. "They're always going on about their lineages. Houses this, bloodlines that. Gets exhausting."

I nodded, said nothing. Safer that way.

"Though you carry yourself like a pureblood." Sombra's eyes tracked along my frame. "The posture, the way you speak. Very refined for a commoner."

I didn't think I was especially regal. Probably another of Sombra's subtle prods.

"My mother values education." I picked up another garment, set it down. "She insists on proper comportment."

"Clearly successful." Sombra moved closer again. "Most common succubi have that rough edge. You've polished it away entirely."

Minutes dragged past. I examined clothing without seeing it. Made comments about fabric quality and stitching. Sombra responded with observations about craftsmanship and suppliers. The conversation cycled through meaningless pleasantries whilst my nerves stretched tighter.

How long had Aria been in that back room? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Too long. Far too long.

"I should check on Aria." Sombra moved toward the doorway leading to the back. "She's been back there quite a while."

Shit.

"Actually." I grabbed the nearest garment off the rack. "I'd like to purchase this."

Sombra stopped, turned back. Her eyes dropped to what I held.

"Interesting choice." Her lips curved. "You don't strike me as someone who enjoys that particular fashion, but I won't complain about the sale."

I looked down at the bundle of leather in my hands. Straps crisscrossed through metal rings. A harness of some kind. The design left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

Heat crept up my neck.

"I'm willing to experiment." I set it on the counter, kept my voice level.

"Of course." Sombra moved behind the counter, ran her fingers along the leather. "That'll be twenty souls."

I pulled my spatial ring off, withdrew the coins. They clinked against the countertop. Twenty small circles of compressed agony.

Sombra swept them into her palm, dropped them into a drawer beneath the counter. She wrapped the harness in black silk, tied it with a crimson ribbon.

"Thank you for your patronage." She slid the package across the counter. "I hope you enjoy it."

I tucked it into my spatial ring, the leather disappearing with a pulse of magic.

"Now then." Sombra moved toward the back room again. "Let me see what's keeping Aria—"

The curtain separating the front from the back parted. Aria emerged, her expression bright and casual.

"Sorry, Mother." She crossed to the counter. "I was looking for that dye recipe you wanted. Couldn't find it though."

"It's in the blue ledger." Sombra studied her daughter's face. "Second shelf from the top."

"Right." Aria laughed. "I probably walked past it three times."

"Probably." Sombra's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Did you find anything else interesting back there?"

"Just the usual." Aria shrugged. "Materials, notes, the organized chaos you call a filing system."

Tension crackled through the air between them. Mother and daughter, locked in some invisible contest I couldn't fully parse.

"Well." I moved toward the door. "We should get back to the Academy. Classes tomorrow."

"Of course." Sombra inclined her head. "Feel free to return anytime, Miss Nightstar. My door is always open to Aria's friends."

The words carried weight beyond their surface meaning.

We stepped into the street. The shop door closed behind us with a soft chime.

Isabella emerged from the alley across from the boutique. She fell into step beside us without a word.

Aria's shoulders sat too high. Her hands kept curling into fists, releasing, curling again. We walked through the commercial district in silence, past shops closing for the night and demons heading home.

No one spoke until we reached the Academy.

The corridors stretched empty around us as we climbed the stairs to the fifth floor. Our footsteps echoed off stone walls.

Inside our dormitory, I sealed the door with a thought. The lock clicked into place.

I released my glamour. Magic rippled across my scalp. Dark brown bled away, replaced by white that cascaded down my back in a familiar weight.

"Alright." I turned to face them both. "What did you find?"

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.