The Dawn of the New World

For as long as humans have existed, the tales of wicked supernatural entities with mysterious and unnatural powers have followed suit. Many believed them to be stories made up to teach children to behave or in some cases even adults, but no real proof was brought to light for such creatures.

Yet almost every religious text mentions them in one form or another.

Some call them demons, malefic entities capable of great evil, using their powers to influence humans in many shapes and forms throughout history. They incite us, leading those weak enough to listen to their whispers into a world of depravity and immorality.

But some just refer to them as another race much different from ours. If we were made from the earth, they were made from a smokeless flame. And just like us, they also have good and bad individuals among their ranks.

Call them demons, Jinn, gods, fallen angels or anything else, but they exist in the shadows.

In the end though, it all comes down to what 'you' want to believe. Because that power of belief is much stronger than what any of us realize...

One such entity that is often overlooked but is vicious and as old as humanity itself, if not older. It is depicted as a beautiful seductress or enchantress, rather than as demonic or frightening.

It can shake the hearts of the hardest of men with a single glance, break them with a little more than a coy smile, and bend them to its will with a single bewitching gesture that will stay with them till the end of their lives.

They feast upon their essence, taking it for themselves. They can show themselves in many ways whether the victim is awake or dreaming, and they are just as deadly on either side.

Most commonly they are known as 'Succubi'.

It is believed that one of the first Arch Demons born from the desires of man was a succubus and her power to corrupt was nearly unmatched.

****

Ceni's eyelids fluttered and slowly parted. From Hao Xuan's perspective it looked like she was moving in slow motion, or rather time itself had slowed down around them.

He could feel her heart beating inside his body, and she could feel his blood coursing through her veins. It was like they had become one in body and mind, a strange moment of realization for both of them.

Hao Xuan looked at her misty eyes, seeing his own reflection in the red-ish irises that seemed to be able to hold an entire world inside them.

At that moment he could feel her emotions as if they were his own and he couldn't bear to look away, not until Ceni blinked and broke off eye contact first.

In that short moment, he couldn't think about anything else nor harbor any thoughts other than the ones about Ceni. It was like his brain stopped working for a moment and he did not yet understand why.

While Hao Xuan was staring at her in a daze, Ceni could peer into his mind like an open book. She knew what he was feeling both emotionally and physically, what he wanted, and who currently held his heart.

Unknowingly at such a crucial moment, Ceni's dormant bloodline had come alive. The bloodline of the Royal Concubine of the Kingdom of Edda had started running through her bloodstream.

And the potency of her powers that showed itself without even her knowledge was proof enough of how powerful it was.

With a single look she was able to render Hao Xuan defenseless and pry open his deepest thoughts and desires. One look was all it took.

"What...happened?" Ceni asked in a low voice, not wanting to move.

Hao Xuan who still had his hand placed on Ceni's forehead woke up from his stupor. A tinge of red crept upon his face.

"No...nothing. You just passed out," he quickly looked away before taking a step back. His heart was beating like a drum.

Ceni looked around and saw the remnants of the battle around her, recalling the events of the last hour or so.

Hao Xuan glanced at her from the side and turned away.

"You seem to be doing much better now so I will take my leave. Go straight back to the town or the walking city, do not wander around. The smell of blood will attract other beasts so don't stay here too long," he gave a few words of advice and left with large strides post haste.

Ceni didn't even have time to respond before Hao Xuan's silhouette vanished into the dark night.

She laid on the ground, unmoving. Falling deeper into a myriad of distracting thoughts all the while feeling the warmth left behind from Hao Xuan's touch.

To her it felt like wine, an enchanting feeling of intoxication. She blushed realizing the thoughts that were going through her mind.

After a few minutes of rest she waved her hand and Haeti appeared beside her.

"My lady! I was so worried!" he cried while falling to his knees dramatically.

Ceni turned over and laid on her back against the cold ground with a foolish smile on her face.

"Hehehe, there is hope. He doesn't hate me!" she said blithely, giggling idiotically. "Tell teacher I am ready. I will join her."

Haeti who was in the middle of prostrating paused and nodded with a grin, "Master will be happy to know that my lady has come around," he commented before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

***

Some distance away Hao Xuan was running through the forest with newfound vigor. Or rather he wanted to put as much distance between Ceni and himself as possible.

He only stopped when his legs stopped listening to him and he missed a step, falling face-first into a bush.

"Something is not right with her," he mumbled cleaning the blood of his face.

Earlier he had also felt what Ceni was feeling. An emotion so powerful that he felt suffocated just thinking about it.

Hao Xuan crawled through the shrubbery until he found a safe enough place.

"Baracus I'm going to take a nap, wake me up if there is any danger. And find me another way to the prison. I'd rather not go back to that damned lake."

If mere foot soldiers were that powerful above ground then how much stronger would they be underwater which was their home-turf? He did not even want to imagine such a thing.

*Beep*

"Confirmed".