Disclaimer: I don’t own it, nor do I make money from it.

Challenge fic: Y is for Yggdrasil.

The ‘other form’ mentioned appears in Note of Naught, the DMC3 artbook. Not canon, but cool. The history she mentions is based on Greek mythology/religious history.

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In the end, she decided to take the more human looking of her ‘default’ forms instead of her more batlike other form for her first meeting with the new General. Surely he would be eager to get to grips with his new responsibility, the conquest of the human world and the extermination of the few part-bloods that sided with humanity, and she could offer him personal information on both, as well as other delights.

She was sure the young genius Sparda of whom she had heard so much would be able to learn much from her, and surely a knight would show gratitude to a useful subordinate. Perhaps she could make herself indispensable, and then… She smiled, plotting.

Ooh, my. She stood at the top of the tower when he flew through the portal, though near the rear of the party: the head of the succubi was someone they preferred to ignore as much as they used her services. Despite her position, her bats circled in the sky and through their eyes she had one of the first views of him.

Such power. He landed gracefully, form proclaiming the foolishness of attacking him, radiating cold intelligence mated with the potential for savagery.

She smiled in anticipation. He was clearly no brute, he would take some consideration when he used her to fulfill his needs. She already planned the ‘pillow talk.’

Surely he would not accept any less than the leader of the succubi as his first bedmate in his new post, and she knew she could hold his attention.

They all bowed to him: she made an art of it on the chance he could see her through the crowd. First would be the conferences with the commanders, and then… she would wait at the door to his chambers.

She suppressed her nervousness as she waited. Finally, “Welcome sir,” she smiled, her best deadly beauty smile. “On your first time here, I thought you should have the best.” A little laugh, teasing and promising.

“You are Nevan?” he growled, and oooh, his voice!

“Yes, sir,” she purred.

“I thank you for your consideration, and look forward to working with you.” A nod, as he looked at her appraisingly. “You are one of Hades’ spawn, yes?”

“Yes, sir.” So he had bothered to learn about the succubi under his command instead of ignoring them? That was flattering, as well as a sign of a good commander, who took responsibility for all the demons that served them.

“Afterwards, I would like to take some more of your time to converse with you.” So formal, even to a succubus? He must be from one of the old families. His devil form was insectiod… she wished she knew more about the other families, if he hadn’t designed his own trademark form yet his current form might have something in common that of his parents or bloodline, as hers and Alastor’s did. “My line has had little to do with humans, and neither did my tutors. I find myself lacking in knowledge of what I was sent here to command and conquer.” He was willing to listen to the opinions of others instead of simply charging in, unlike the last commander?

“I was made a greater demon so that I could interact with humans in the service of my parents, I am honored that my talents will be of use to you.” She curtseyed, displaying her human form’s assets.

“In the service of the Emperor,” he reminded her.

“Of course.” Such a slip!

He gestured to the door of his room. “Shall we continue this conversation inside?”

“Whatever you desire, my lord.”

He opened the door for her, gestured her in, and followed.

Such courtesy to a female? He must be from one of the very old lines, founded back when female devils wielded more power, able to create spawn to destroy any uppity male until the stronger males had finally seized control in the war that had put the Emperor before Mundus on the throne. There were some lines where the females were old enough and had accumulated enough strength to still dominate.

He spoke of tutors as well… it took a very strong family to be able to get devils of foreign families to train their young, and one confident in its power and the terror it inspired to allow foreign devils anywhere near the young devils without being worried the tutors would eat them and escape.

So… he was not too far out of excellent training, sent to serve Mundus as a pledge from one of the senior noble families that they would not contest his rule?

That would explain why he wasn’t infected with the arrogance all of the dark knights that had aided Mundus in his conquest of the Underworld possessed.

He certainly wasn’t infected with their debauchery and contempt for succubi. He was actually a considerate lover, trained to see to the female’s pleasure, though he made sure to take his own.

When she submitted quickly, using only a fraction of her strength in the mock battle that aroused demons, instead of tossing her to the ground he requested that she not go easy on him: he found weakness, even in females, a turn-off? So she laughed and did her best to impress him.

This dark knight was reminding her more and more of what she had appreciated about Alastor, though she could not guide him as she did Alastor, he exuded power and self-control both, even experience despite his relative youth.

He sought out no other incubi, and she instructed her subordinates to see if he took humans during pillaging, they reported that their clients reported that he was far too straight-laced.

What a gentlemen.

With him, it was all about service, she was his subordinate and she was useful for sex and information (the incubi were spies on the army, as well as her knowledge of humans), but he respected her as a good servant.

She wondered if that was why he had found a reason for her to be in Temen ni Gru on the day he rebelled, instead of joining her subordinates as entertainment at the celebration of the anniversary of Mundus’ conquest in the Underworld, the one that emptied the tower.

She let him past, not questioning his presence, thinking the humans he brought with him were human sorcerers in service to Mundus.

She never had a hint that he contemplated treason.

Clever, clever devil. And handsome.

It was boring, but she had some freedom inside these walls. She felt more alive inside this dead tower than she had before he came.