Author's note: This is the first real chapter of A Succubus Hunts, a continuation of Gwen and Amy's story from A Succubus Awakens. If you haven't read that please do, or else none of this will make any sense. As always this story contains themes of corruption, mind control, and non-consent, and this time even some straight sex (Don't worry though, this series will always be a primarily sapphic affair so please be patient if that's what you're here for). Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, and thanks for reading!
*****
"It's a huge risk, and I just don't see what the benefit... Amy? Hello? Amy!"
"Hmm?" Amy snapped her eyes open and blinked away the fog of arousal that had become her constant companion over the past week. The kitchen pulled into focus. Xavier was watching her with concern. Across the room Jim sat at a small table, frowning.
"You look knackered. Can you still not sleep?"
"I'm fine, sorry. Just distracted."
To show how fine she was, she scarfed down the remainder of her toast and stood. Too quickly though. She gripped the back of the chair until the dizziness faded, and began cleaning up after herself with careful precision.
"You can't go."
"I've missed too many days already. Any more and it will affect my grades."
"Who cares about bloody grades?!"
She whirled to face him and shot him a withering glare.
He held his hands up in front of himself like he expected her to start throwing punches and clarified, "I mean who cares about grades compared to your
safety
."
"I have the ring."
Jim cleared his throat with a wet hack. He turned the page of the newspaper he was reading with a loud
flap
and spoke without looking at her. "You shouldn't rely too much on magical tools, lass. They're not infallible. Overconfidence has been the downfall of many a great hunter."
"I'm also bringing the holly ash we prepared. And!" She interjected before Xavier could interrupt her, "The school will be crowded. She won't make a move in front of witnesses. Besides, her classes are on the other side of the campus. We rarely even see each other."
Amy avoided Gwen's name like it was a curse. As if she could forget about her by simply never speaking it aloud. A pointless exercise. Gwen's absence in Amy's life was inescapable. A constant discomfort that underpinned everything she did. Living with the watchers for the past week had done nothing to make it fade. Xavier joined her at the sink and rolled up his sleeves. Amy tried not to stare at his forearms as he worked. The fog began to stir but she stifled it. His voice softened as he spoke.
"We don't know how strong the ring is, and we don't know if the ash can do anything besides act as a barrier. Besides, Gwen doesn't know about the ash. We shouldn't risk giving away our advantage."
Amy stiffened and froze as he spoke Gwen's name. The way he said it carried such disdain. It made her angry, and she ached to defend Gwen. To demand that he show her more respect. Instead, she forced herself to move. She dried off her hands, turned, and left. Xavier followed after her, wiping his hands against the seat of his pants.
She marched upstairs, and raised her voice to call back over the creaking wood, "I have lab today, and I'm not going to miss it."
"Amy, I'm worried about you."
He stopped in her doorway as she entered her room and crossed his arms. Amy could feel his eyes following her as she gathered school supplies from atop the stool she'd been using as a nightstand. She dug more out from the antique desk, and sorted through piles of papers spread across the covers of the creaky old four poster bed that dominated the room. She picked up a sweatshirt from a small pile of clothes in the corner and held it up against herself. It was a little too big, bright red with the cannon logo of Xavier's favorite soccer team.
Football club
, she corrected herself. Good enough.
Xavier had offered it to replace her wet outfit the night she arrived. The next day he'd gone out and returned with more clothes so she wouldn't have to risk returning to the apartment. They weren't exactly stylish, but it was kind of him. In fact, both of the watchers had treated her with nothing but sympathy. Not once in the week since she'd arrived at their front door, soaked through like a drowned rat, had either of them muttered so much as a single "I told you so." She donned the sweatshirt, and pulled her long hair through after her, fanning it out behind her.
With a sigh, she turned to face him. "I know you're worried, and I appreciate it. I understand that it's dangerous, I do. But being a doctor has been my dream my whole life. I can't give up on it now."
"It's only been a week. It took months for me to finally feel like myself after I was freed. I
know
you still feel it. Her pull. You try to hide it but it's obvious. You're distracted all the time, your mind is somewhere else, and you avoid mentioning her. You could, I dunno, take a semester off?"
She often forgot that Xavier had been a thrall. Her eyes fell to his shoulder, where she knew his brand lay just beneath the fabric of his shirt. A white polo, unbuttoned and clinging tightly to his biceps. God his arms were nice. Amy wondered if he could lift her- no! She quickly looked away. Xavier was right. Gwen's influence had left her constantly aroused, and increasingly distracted. After a week of diligent self-control she was beginning to slip. She'd hoped things would get better away from Gwen, but they were getting worse. Every day she seemed to wake up more aroused than the last. Still, it hadn't reached the point where she couldn't control herself. Gwen's corruption would fade. Eventually. Until then she'd just need to weather the storm.
Amy realized Xavier was waiting for her to respond and quickly stammered, "I'm not going to leave school. That's final. I have lab today, and I'm not going to miss it." She stood, slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped forward to place a hand on his arm. "I'll be okay Xavier. She wouldn't risk anything in public."
"At least take me with you," He pleaded.
"And make you a target? We only have one ring, you're vulnerable. Besides, Gwen doesn't know about you. That gives us the element of surprise." She pressed him before he could argue. "I promise I'll be alright. I have my phone, and I'll share my location with you. If anything happens or if I don't come back on time, you can come get me."
Her argument seemed to do the job. At least enough for him to grumble and step aside. As she passed, he muttered, "You are out of your mind." and followed her back downstairs. She caught a whiff of the timber scent of his body wash, or perhaps his shampoo, and resisted the urge to sigh.
