Chapter One: The Breeding
The night air was heavy, the heat was oppressive as was the scent of the bodies that brushed too close. Even their breath was hot on his cheek.
The smell of sweat, hunger, loneliness, desperation and most of all lust was like the aromas of fine wines to him and his companion.
They always walked the metropolis together, each encouraging and restraining in equal measure.
They bred outside their bloodline as their people hadn't produced a child in a century or more, but it mattered little as the Nephalem always survived as they had done since the Great Fall.
They were the offspring of Angels and Demons, or so the Humans would call them.
But they were not demons nor angels, they were creatures without a god or a master. They lived in the shadows of human existence, and they walked among them without a single noticing eye.
Tonight, the humans were out to play but Elric and Hermione were out for breeding stock. They were both in their seasons and they had but four nights to conceive.
Of course, being Nephalem, they needed humans. One woman for Elric's seed and a man for Hermione's womb. They would have to mate with as many as they could in this season, lest they missed their chance.
In a crowded pub, in the middle of a nondescript market town was their stock. They should be unnoticed here and then be swept away with the rest of the legion. The pub was popular and there was all manner of humankind there. They stood to one side, having already tuned their instruments and were waiting for the 9:00 pm start. Elric, on the lead guitar and Hermione on vocals with her brothers on the drums and bass. They had plied their musical trade throughout the year and returned to known live music venues. It was an excellent cover for their activities.
Being slender, with long white hair and possessing piercing blue eyes, Hermione drew a lot of male and female attention, her figure was tight, and her bust was small but firm Elric, like a shadowy twin, wore short black hair, was pale-faced with grey eyes was lean but strong as all Nephalem were as the Bible had named them giants, their stature had evolved to resemble humankind but their power remained. They poured their energies into the arts, as all Nephalem were players, artists, and writers.
As they took the small stage, all dressed in black, with various silver adornments from necks and on fingers, Elric felt the eyes of the audience upon him, for he too drew much attention from admirers. Hermione, sultry and seductive smiled at the men and the women in the gathering. Her brother, Magnus, tapped four timing strokes on his black drumsticks and then the guitars launched into the opening bars of a well-loved rock anthem. Above his power chords, he could hear the cheers of the audience and as their breath found voices to accompany Hermione in the chorus, this would be a fertile ground for the mating.
By the end of the first set, with alcohol purchased and consumed, the music had seduced many and stimulated the listeners to a great voice. Hermione swayed and swivelled her hips and blew kisses at the young and old of both sexes. As the final song left ears ringing and the crescendo of clapping and cheers, Hermione bowed her head and thanked the audience.