Centuries ago...
Kilili danced naked to the chorus of screams, revelling in the morbid fascination it stimulated.
The gardens, so beautiful under the starry sky, were lit by the pyres of burning Christians. Even with the burning musk the cloying scent of burning flesh could not be fully masked. It only aroused her further. She had danced for centuries, had learned to channel her lust to allow her to accomplish nearly any goal, especially when it came to the ways of seduction. She writhed her body to the beat of the drums perfectly, making sure her hips shook and breasts bounced invitingly. She allowed her hunger for semen to drive her to even more lascivious moves that even the most shameless of dancers would rarely attempt.
Her personal retinue of prostitutes, women whose minds she had corrupted, danced with her, but only acted to emphasise her perfection. All of them were pale imitations of their mistress, shadows in the blaze that is her.
Kilili felt her loins grow damp, knew the audience must see it also, as her hunger grew. She continued, smiling, willing them to see.
For what a time it is for her kind to live! Where she could walk the streets naked as a prostitute and feed to her heart's content. Where she could gain shelter as a favoured slave and whisper directions in the ear of her enthralled masters. Where parties like this could be enjoyed and no one would dare lift a finger against it.
The drums end, Kilili collapses in time to the ceasing of the song, as the final Christian screams his last. She is rewarded with raucous applause.
"Marvellous, utterly marvellous! Rise my lovely!" Kilili rises and accepts a kiss from the royal dressed in regal purple robes. She looks into the dark eyes of Imperator Nero Cladius Divi Claudius filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, ruler of Rome. She wonders if she'll be tasting his royal seed again this night, "I am inspired, utterly inspired. Yes, I feel a new poem coming forth, of the beautiful goddess who burned the vile heathens out of my wondrous city." The senate all gathered as 'guests' around him agreed, every last one of them sycophantic and fearing for their lives.
Hanging off his arm was another woman, dressed in robes so thin as to be translucent. Statilia Messalina, the Imperator's current mistress, as usual bearing striking resemblance to his mother and further fuelling the rumours. She eyed Kilili jealously, "She is a heathen herself my love, I know not why you keep this whore around. Surely you are bored of her by now?"
"Not at all, she never ceases to entertain me." Nero rolled his eyes and kissed Statilia, "Besides, I find the ideas of this sex priestess fascinating, far more intriguing than those other dullards at the temple of Venus. If only more such harltos would follow Venus Vilgivaga so."
Statilia, far from giving in, addressed Kilili venomously, "I still find it strange. I hear you claim your goddess promises nothing but an eternity of sexual torture, yet still you choose to give yourself to her. Why?"
With Statilia's reminder, Kilili felt her mother's call and felt both fear and excitement rise in her. Mostly fear. "We each of us have our reasons, my lady."
"Ach, Statilia, you just don't get it!" Nero sighed, "She reaches new heights of creativity and ecstasy because she is so doomed, because that fear drives her further. That is how her art is so perfect! Oh forgive her my lovely Kilili, I suppose only artists such as myself can understand what lengths we must go to. Now come!" Nero addressed his fellow senators and their petrified wives, "To my celestial tower, there we shall feast and you can enjoy my recitals."
Kilili listened to their feigned excitement as the Imperator led his guests to the distant tower, a miraculous and costly building that rotated in time with the planets. She did not envy not being able to attend, she found his poems appalling.
For a time she watched the burning corpses and recalled the great fire that had burned Rome to the ground. Rather than move the capital Nero had rebuilt it to his vision. A magnificent marble city that hid the impoverishment of his people through his actions.
She cackled and held her arms to the cold heavens, "Shall I burn the world too and rebuild it to your vision mother? Would that amuse you?" Her loins twitched, her smiled faded as she lowered her arms. She recalled Silili, beautiful, monstrous Silili. "Setting it all aflame. Would that quell the emptiness in me?"
******
Warm blood rained down on Kilili. She did not notice, so lost was she in the moment.
Yes! That's it! Fuck me! Tear me apart! Ruin me! Break me! Give me more!
Kilili fell into a state of ecstacy as her chosen suitor that night released the seed her immortal body ever craved. A state of ecstasy only her kind had the privilege of experiencing. As fast as her womb could be flooded it was absorbed, her mother always thirsts for more and tonight was no exception. No depravity is too great to gain that wondrous fluid so vital and hungered for by her kind.
Yes! Take me Satariel!
Only when his body fell lifelessly onto her did she realise what she had done. As the sheer pleasure of feeding ebbed to a dull throb for more Kilili removed her fingers, which had penetrated deep into the man's skull. She must have done it at the moment of orgasm. Groaning, she pushed the fresh corpse aside, sat up and looked down at her bloodstained sheets and body. Dealing with all this would be a nightmare, thankfully it was a complete stranger she had lured to her bed so if she was careful there would be little to trace the murder here. Even if they did, her friends in high places would see that nothing came of it.
No, it was the increasing frequency of these accidental murders that concerned her. She had inadvertently cried out to be taken to that realm. If that was not a sign that her time was coming she was not sure what is.
She got up and went to her enormous wardrobe, thinking which dress to choose. Levant was out somewhere, time to find him and see if he can stabilise her further.
A mischievous thought came to her. Perhaps it is time to show him the temple she had set up long ago. Oh yes, it would a delight to see his reaction, whether it be one of joy or one of horror.
*******
That horrible possibility crossed Levant's mind again as he rang the doorbell. No, the fact that the very thought still disgusted him meant it should be okay, he has to believe that.
Living with Kilili proved every bit as wondrous and infuriating as he imagined. At first she ahd been suffocating, not letting him out of her sight for a moment, understandable after the encounter with Nimeth, apparently an acquaintance of Kilili's from a bygone age. But after some time and convincing she allowed him his freedom. He took full use of this, rarely needing sleep he would leave for days at a time, wandering here and there, lost in his thoughts on his new existence. But that did not mean he did not enjoy being with her, they would spend hours exploring one another in her bed, pausing only when the bell rang to signify a customer in the bookstore below.
He still smiled as he remembered her that first night by the oak tree, naked under the waning moon. The night had been both wondrous and frustrating, Kilili was beautiful and enchanting in her demeanour. She had utterly enchanted him that night despite having so many questions, or perhaps because of it. Perhaps the mystery added to her appeal.
Still he was growing concerned about the changes he was undergoing. He had put off sleeping with women, an effort that had been monumental. He disliked what they turned into when he did so. He was certain this abstinence was what caused him to feel so lethargic of late. Still, whenever he saw a woman the temptation to feed became ever more overpowering. He would not be able to hold off forever.
He accepted he could not live as a mortal anymore. Some things he could not let go however, though he told himself he would flee immediately if he felt anything untoward. He pressed the doorbell again.
"There you are. Come, I have something to show you."
Levant turned to see Kilili standing there, grinning impishly. "Seriously? You turn up now?" Levant looked to the front door, praying it would not open.
"Oh, I've such wonders to show you! Come, it will be spectacular!" Kilili held out a hand in offering.
"Not now." He hissed, "Get out of here before-"
The front door opened, "Sorry dear, I was hanging the washing." A woman in her sixties stood there, looking healthy for her age. She stood tall, and gazed at the two through her spectacles with sharp eyes. "My? Have you brought a friend?"
"Uh, hi mom." Levant felt his eyelid twitching, "This is, er,"
"Oh hello!" Kilili said cheerfully as she grabbed Levant's arm, "I am Kilili, Levant's girlfriend. Don't mind him, he has been fretting over us meeting. But I said, 'Levant! We have been together nigh a year now, it is time you introduced me to your family.' So here I am."
Levant's mother raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Well you kept that quiet Levant! You should have said, I would have prepared a meal or something. Come on in both of you."
"No." Levant groaned under his breath. The last thing Levant wanted was Kilili there. She gave him a wicked smile as she pulled him into the house. Clearly she found the entire thing amusing. "Don't you dare try anything." He whispered as they were led to the living room. She just continued smiling.
He noticed that smile become forced when she saw the crucifix hanging over the mantelpiece. He frowned and looked towards it, but felt nothing. He half thought the sight of it would turn him to ash or somesuch like in the movies, but he felt no adverse effects. Kilili was clearly struck by it however, though she made no mention of it as they sat down on the sofa. Kilili placed a hand on Levant's in mimicry of a couple. "I'll be back in a moment." Levant's mother promised, "I'll just put the kettle on. What would you like... Kilili is it? What an exotic name. I am Clarissa."
"Isn't it? I am good thank you, nothing for me. I drank too much before coming here, will be bouncing off the walls if I have much more." Levant felt himself flush, he could guess what she had been drinking.
"Oh, I understand. Usual for you Levant?" With that she disappeared from the room briefly.
Levant was about to utter dire warnings at Kilili when she cut in, "I see you have not been feeding enough, silly fool. " She squeezed his hand, "Or are you here to feed from your own mother perhaps? Incredible, you have progressed further than I expected. Be sure I get to watch though!"
Feeling his anger rising, Levant took a deep breath before answering, "I would never do such a thing. Swear to me Kilili that you won't try anything, leave my mother out of this."
Kilili rose and went to the mantelpiece, "Are you sure that is the right thing to do? I sense her desires, we two are having an effect on her you know, it is what our presence does. I can smell her confused arousal even now. Your visits are the only joy in her life since..." Kilili sniffed the air, "Ah yes, since your father died. Her misery is made worse for having this thing as her guide." She plucked up the crucifix.
