Chapter 2 - Irreplaceable
Nediah's fists echoed against the punching bag in the garage, but he couldn't hear it through his noise-cancelling earbuds. That said, his mind was so fixated on the breakup the night before that he couldn't hear his music either. There was no way she'd actually move out. She couldn't. Where'd she go? Unlike him, Lyxia didn't have savings or investments from her parents. Nediah had paid for the last three years of Lyxia's university and provided for both of them while she studied. If she left, she'd owe him. Even though, he didn't care about the money.
"Fuck!" He yelled on the next punch. Why was he always so fucking stupid? Lyxia was right. He was a selfish bastard, but she was a bitchy cunt, and they were deeply in love, so why wasn't that enough for her?
Nediah let out a primal scream and sent the punching bag swinging nearly to the ceiling just before swing just as far forward, only to be stopped by his body which consequently landed on its ass. "I'm my own fucking worst enemy," Nediah muttered at the universe's petty humor.
Instead of standing up, he lay back on the cold hard concrete and floated back to meeting Lyxia back in college. She'd started out coy and quiet. It was that intelligent silence that was mysterious and inviting to Nediah. The second he made contact with her glistening golden eyes, he knew he'd have to learn all her secrets. She wasn't as naive as she initially appeared though. Beneath the honors student exterior was a cunning, savvy, sexy beast who drew out his secrets as fast as he drew out hers. Which was so fucking hot. Lyxia made him so self-aware that it hurt, so he had a bad habit of taking it out on her, and she wasn't one to take that disrespect lightly, but always accepted his apologies for some fucking reason. Why did she do that?
Sitting up, Nediah finally asked himself the question he probably should have asked much earlier, why did she stay? What did she see in him? Sure, he was funny, but how many times can you piss off your girlfriend before being funny isn't enough anymore? Surely, 3 years of on and off dating was pushing his luck.
He shook his head aggressively. Self-doubt wasn't like him. She was a pain in the ass too. Always dressing like a slut even when he wasn't around. Sure, all the succubae loved to show a little skin, but it was different when his girl was the one running around being as irresistible to everyone in the room as she was to him. Nediah felt shitty being so possessive, but what if someone else was better than him? He couldn't risk losing her to some other guy, not when he'd supported her financially through all her shitty decisions and loved her through all her irrational meltdowns. Nediah needed her and she needed him. But until she saw that, he needed to remind himself that she was replaceable and he was desirable.
To the strip club! In a world of high libido humanoids, there was no inappropriate hour to go, and while there was no way this was the last fight he'd have with Lyxia, it felt different. It felt heavy. Nediah shook it off and texted the boys group chat to let them know to meet him at Corpora Nuda, their favorite strip joint.
The sun was bright, the sky was blue, and the bass was thumping when he parked his Mustang Boss 429 in the cobblestone lot behind the two-story club. Already, succubae and incubi mingled on a balcony, sipping on drinks served by humans who were likely between 18-35, but ranged in appearance from mid-twenties to death's door. Magic lights changed color, not because demons had anything against mortal electricity or inventions, but because it was easier to maintain a discrete and separate society by not relying on humans for anything but prey. As a result, everything inside had an ethereal glow of sex magic powered lights, sound systems, and appliances.
"Nedi! My man!" Knox waved from the circular bar in the middle of the room. Three stages surrounded the bar and behind them were slot machines, pool tables, and stairs up to private rooms for dances and more.
Nediah wandered over to Knox who was accompanied by three other incubi named Sylgar, Lohrran, and Xaz, all of whom exchanged fist bumps and shoulder pats with Nediah as he arrived. "Sorry, about Lyxia," said Lohrran half-heartedly.
"Wait, I thought you'd dumped her this time?" Xaz scratched his head.
"Guys, fuck her or that or whatever, let's focus on the hot asses literally everywhere around us!" Knox brought the energy he knew Nediah wanted, regardless of whether he needed or not, but that was why they were best friends.