It took another full day to reach the outskirts of Kavardya. It was a sprawling city, spread out between the area's geography. Sheer cliffs of jagged black rock rose up in menacing formations on all sides. The castle lair of the Queen was inside of one of the smaller ones, it's hundreds of stained glass windows looking out of the rocks onto the city below. Many more demons lived under the surface in a network of caves.
To get to the door, visitors who couldn't fly had to climb the hundreds of narrow stone steps. Mayhem was polite enough to walk with Sybari, and found the shallow width no problem for her hooves. Sybari on the other hand found them a little tricky and took to zig-zagging up. She reached the top out of breath and in need of a drink.
The reptilian demon guarding the huge archway looked at them both and stepped aside. He bowed his head as they passed. It was a pleasant surprise to Sybari, who'd expected a brusquer encounter upon arrival.
Inside, torches lit a path down the hall to a staircase. A tall green-skinned demon with two sets of wings met them at the top.
"Welcome," She snapped in a shrill voice. "Please state your...business." She quickly dropped her eyes from May to the floor.
"My friend would like an audience with the Queen," May explained. "Give her a couple of minutes to freshen up."
Sybari took her pack off her shoulders and dug out her flask. She took a mouthful and put it back, pulling out a stick to stain her lips and pot of perfume to anoint her skin. She was already wearing the skimpy outfit she'd brought for this occasion, but quickly stripped off her panties and stuffed them in her bag along with her shoes. If she was asked to dance she needed bare feet. Mayhem had quickly seen to herself while she waited, so Sybari stood and gave her a nod.
"We're ready," May told the creature. "Make it a surprise."
The winged demon opened a set of carved doors and let them into a small chamber. She went ahead, and disappeared through a second identical pair. It was over ten minutes before she came back to let them in.
"Queen Depravia will see you now."
"Please see to our bags," May said on her way out.
They entered into an alcove, hidden from the room ahead. Sybari would have hesitated if it weren't for May. The voracis was undaunted, stepping out of the shadows with self-assuredness. Sybari held level by her side as they walked through the throne room towards the Queen. Depravia was flanked by two flaming pillars that lit up the dais and coloured everything in warm light. The wall behind her throbbed and glowed like hot coals. Depravia looked every bit a Queen of Hell. If this is what one at this level looked like, Sybari wasn't sure she wanted to meet a more powerful ruler.
The Queen was also a voracis, as was the woman lounging on a chaise next to her. She sat on an elaborate throne of twisted metal, her black gown spilling out around her thighs. The fabric barely covered her nipples with a couple of strips, and the skirt was so short at the front you could see the red hotpants she wore underneath. She had a hard face with piercing bright turquoise eyes. Her purple hair was dark as the night sky and fell all the way to her waist. Her companion's was a few shades lighter, but she had the same intense eyes and a rounder face. Like all voraci, they both had black patterns on their purple skin, dark horns, and large bat-like wings.
Despite the imposing image the two of them made, Mayhem seemed impervious to the atmosphere, walking with casual confidence. Seeing her up close, the Queen slammed her hand on the armrest of her chair.
"Deploria!" she hissed.
Though Sybari had frozen in fear, May sauntered to the dais, hips swinging as she ascended. She languidly draped herself over the arm of the throne and stroked the Queen's cheek.
"Hello, sister."
"Sister?!" gasped Sybari under her breath, slapping a hand over her mouth.
Depravia did not look amused, or even very pleased to see her sibling. "I was beginning to think we'd lost you. How unfortunate you decided to return."
May only smiled haughtily. "I missed you too."
"Where have you been?" The Queen shooed her off her chair.
"In every bed in the land." May stood, running a hand over her breast and down her body.
The Queen snorted. "That would be wishful thinking on your account. Really Deploria, your jokes have never been funny."
"Just around." She strolled a few paces, wandering over to the demon on the chaise. "Despondia," she said quietly, leaning down to kiss her cheek, her fingers brushing her shoulders and face.
"Baby sister," the woman said without kindness. "How have you faired?"
"As well as expected." May smiled, sweet and fake.
It was said the Queen had a sister who practically shadowed her. That had to be the one on the couch. So where did May fit into this? Sybari had never heard of a third sister.
"What is that thing you've dragged in with you?" The Queen said with a touch of disgust as she scrutinized Sybari. "If you've brought a human into my lair I'm going to cut its feet off, feed you each one for dinner, then set it on fire and roll it into a pit for the beasts to finish."
May sighed. "You need to get some better lighting in here. She's a succubus."
"A succubus?"
Leaving Despondia, May stepped down from the dais, coming closer to Sybari and encouraging her to come forward. "Mmm, I found her on my way home. She wants to work here for some unfathomable reason."
"You told me your name was Mayhem," mumbled Sybari, glaring at her as she neared. Her tone was slightly hurt and laced with accusation.
May shot her a bored look. "It is. Deploria Mayhem."
Oh.
Queen Depravia scrunched her nose, curling her lip. "What am I going to do with another succubus?"
"Anything you like I should think."
"I have many talents, Your Highness," announced Sybari, approaching the dais. "My dancing and lyra performances are revered by all in my homeland."
To demonstrate she lifted her leg behind her, reaching back to grab her foot and pull it into a needle. Relaxing it back into a scorpion, she leaned backwards in that position, arching over until her elbows touched the ground, where she rolled onto her stomach still holding her foot. She let go and pushed herself up onto her knees, giving the Queen a proud smile as she stood.
Depravia looked more bewildered than impressed. "Well, that was...unusual." She turned to Despondia. "Kind of bendy, isn't she?"
Her sister nodded. "Quite so."
The Queen stood and sashayed over to Sybari, eyeing her up and down. "Should I tie you up to your precious aerial hoop and fuck you?"
She gave her a wicked grin. "If you fancy."
