[tags: BDSM, domination, seduction]
Bobby learns more about his family and future than he expected.
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Chapter 09
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Blood and Water
"A
bomb?
" Shayna took a step back and stared at me. I saw her shivering as fear suffused her beautiful face. "Why is there a bomb in my husband?"
"How do you know there's a bomb in his neck?" Susan asked in a much calmer tone, though that was only in comparison.
"After your son was resurrected, they discovered he wasn't a high-ranking Knight. Then he seduced their wife-trainer, so they decided he was too dangerous to be left unfettered," my mouth moved as Charlotte answered. It creeped me out how that other voice came out of me. However, I didn't fight it, needing to know about this. Instead, despite my rising terror, I focused on everything the succubus said.
"That doesn't explain how you know about the bomb," Elly chimed in.
"After their wife-trainer almost killed him, they knocked him out, but I remained conscious. I think that's why we look like we do now. I tried to stay subdued so his soul would mold this new body to his previous appearance... But my soul became dominant when they knocked him out and not me."
"That explains why he looks cuter," I heard Shayna mutter, but I was more focused on what my stowaway was saying.
"While unconscious, they implanted a small explosive device at the base of his neck and then healed the spot to ensure Bobby wouldn't discover it." My hand moved to the spot that'd itched since I woke up that morning, and I shuddered. "I can't remove it myself, but I'm hoping you have some contacts that can? Susan?"
"So, it's all about self-preservation then?" Mom asked with a cold glare. "I never trusted you, Jules—or Charlotte, or whatever your name is now."
"Susan, I swear to you that I have only ever had the best of intentions for your family. Bernard meant the world to me, and I have taken his charge seriously to watch over and protect your son." I swear I could actually
feel
her sincerity.
That's because I
am
sincere,
her voice echoed in my head with a note of peevishness.
"Yeah, I'll bet you did," Mom sneered at me. Well, she made that face at Charlotte, who was inside me, so it felt like it was at me.
"Susan, I don't mind your enmity, but your son's life is in danger," Charlotte stated with a hint of annoyance. "Do you know someone who can get rid of the bomb or not?"
The sneer turned into a grimace before my mother's face softened. "Let me make a few calls."
"Bobby?" Shayna drew my attention to her while Susan went to grab her phone. "Who is Charlotte?"
The cold tone in her voice formed icicles in my veins.
"I... um..." I desperately thought of what to say, coming up blank.
The truth always works best in these situations,
Charlotte offered her advice.
Says the woman who tricked me and lied to me!
I thought back but had to admit her advice was solid.
I opened up, telling them how I'd met the goth woman the Wednesday before First Knight. Then how I'd met her at the brothel I was investigating, the subsequent bombing, finding her in purgatory, and not knowing she was with me until a few moments ago. They listened without interrupting until I finished as my mom made multiple calls in the background.
"So, you had a succubus inside you this whole time?" Shayna asked, looking wary.
"Only since being resurrected," I said.
"Which is why I think that oni lost control," Charlotte added. "I also think it may have been why Bobby lost control in the shower. I don't know everything this body was created to be capable of, but I sense incubus genes in its makeup."
"Wait," I lifted my hands before my face, expecting to see claws or fur. "You mean I have monster parts in me?"
"Subtle, but yes," Charlotte said. "The Paladonic Knights are known for capturing magical creatures and doing unspeakable experiments on them. They then use that knowledge to create the homunculus bodies to resurrect their highest-ranking officials. Of course, the more powerful the body, the higher the ranking knight that'll inhabit it, except you threw a wrench in that plan."
"
I
threw a wrench in that plan?" I sputtered.
"That's not true!" Shayna snapped, her dark skin turning darker in her abrupt rage, confusing me until she continued. "If anything, they only examine the dead ones! They do it to keep humans safe! You make it sound like we're the monsters, kidnapping children and doing evil things."
"I have personally seen the rows of cages," Charlotte said, her voice tinged with sadness. "Every resurrection facility has them. Creatures of all ages and types lined up in cells barely big enough to curl up in. And I assure you, they were all very much alive while in their prisons, not as much after being taken away."
"Lies!" Shayna screamed as Elly pulled her into a hug and glared at us.
"I hate to say it," my mother cut in, setting her phone on the counter, "but the demon is right. I've also seen it."
"What?" I asked, wondering what other secrets my mother held.
Susan shook her head as she gave Shayna a pitying glance. "That's a story for another time. I have some friends coming that can help you, son. And maybe get that demon out of your head." She turned back to Shayna and Elly, with a worried expression. "You're welcome to stay, but you should know that those coming are not human."
"Who are you?" Elly asked, narrowing her eyes while Shayna continued to hug her. "We figured you were just a powerful witch, but now I suspect you're something else."
My mother chuckled sourly before answering. "I'm very much human, but yes, I'm also a powerful witch. However, I also worked with my husband to save many innocent cryptids from the Paladonic Knights over the years."