Ashes of Forever

The streets of Herven felt too quiet for a place that once echoed with children's laughter.

The group pressed forward, the sound of their boots tapping against cobblestone the only thing breaking the silence. Rein glanced at the shuttered windows lining the street. In a few, he caught glimpses—small, pale faces, eyes wide with fear peering between curtains. Boys. Watching. Waiting.

They didn't wave. They didn't speak. They just stared.

The town was nestled against the base of a craggy mountain range, its rooftops shingled in dark, weathered stone, and its alleys winding like veins through the body of a place long forgotten. Clouds hung low here, like the sky itself didn't want to see what was happening below.

Old men sat in scattered clusters near the town square—those too old to fight, too weathered to be desired. Their eyes followed Rein and the others with something between suspicion and hollow resignation. They'd lived long enough to recognize death's shadow when it passed.

Diana pressed closer to Rein, her hand occasionally brushing his, maybe on accident, maybe not.

"This place feels like a grave waiting for a body," she muttered under her breath.

Then, a voice called out from a side street. Crisp, clear, and amused.

"Dramatic as ever, Diana."

A figure stepped into view, and the group turned as one.

Ciena.

She looked younger than they expected—but there was a sharpness to her, like a blade hidden in silk. Her hair was an icy lavender, falling in a long braid down her back, streaked with silver threads that shimmered faintly as if catching magic itself. Her robes were functional—fitted leathers and light fabric enchanted with protective glyphs—but still stylish, wrapped at the waist with a belt lined with potion vials and crystals.

Her eyes were the striking part. Violet, unreadable. Tired.

"You made good time," she said, giving Rein a look that lingered a second too long. "So, you're the famous Rein."

He blinked. "I didn't know I was famous."

"You're not," Kael said flatly.

Ciena just grinned and walked past him to the center of the square, gesturing for the group to follow. "Come. I've got something to show you."

They moved into what looked like the town's old chapel, long since repurposed into a meeting hall. Maps were strewn across a table, marked with red ribbons and pins. Ciena motioned to a wall where a tally was scratched into stone—names. Most were faded. The recent ones were smaller. Boys. Thirteen in total.

"All gone without a trace," she said, voice turning grim. "No sign of forced entry, no blood, no magical residue left behind. Just gone."

Rein glanced at the names. "When was the last disappearance?"

"Three nights ago." She looked at him. "A boy named Evan."

That hit a little too close. Rein lowered his gaze.

Ciena paced slowly, fingers steepled. "I've spent days interviewing mothers, siblings, even the local priest. The stories overlap. A woman—always beautiful, sometimes with wings, sometimes not. Always appearing at night. Sometimes they hear singing. Sometimes laughter. The details vary, but one thing remains constant…"

She paused, then tapped the stone wall behind her.

"She takes only those who are… untouched. Boys, on the cusp of manhood. Never girls. Never the elderly. Never those with lovers. That's why the town's full of old men and scared boys."

"A succubus," Diana said quietly.

Ciena nodded. "That's my theory. A rare kind, too—one that feeds not just on lust, but purity. They're drawn to innocence because it's… more potent. Like drinking spring water instead of murky wine."

Rein shifted. The weight of the town's silence suddenly made more sense.

"So what do we do?" Kael asked.

Ciena leaned on the table. "We wait until nightfall. She'll come again. I'll set up wards around the inn. You'll need rest. We'll need someone to act as bait."

All eyes slowly turned to Rein. Ciena smirked. "You just have that look, sweetheart."

Kael bristled, stepping forward with a frown. "Wait a second." He shook his head, looking incredulous. "You want him to be the bait?"

Rein's brow furrowed. "What's wrong with me being the bait?"

"Don't play dumb," Kael snapped, crossing his arms. "You really think a succubus is going to fall for someone who's been through what you have?" He glanced at Rein pointedly, his voice lowered but not quiet enough. "A former sex slave doesn't exactly scream 'untouched' or 'pure,' does it?"

The room fell into a stunned silence, the weight of Kael's words hanging in the air. Ciena, however, was quick to respond, her tone sharp as ever.

"Who said anything about virginity, Kael?" she said with a roll of her eyes. "What the succubus wants isn't a virgin—she's after someone who looks innocent. Someone who appears untouched, no matter their past. And that's exactly why Rein is the perfect bait."

Rein didn't know whether to feel insulted or relieved. He shifted uncomfortably under Ciena's gaze. His past, something he usually kept buried, was now being used as a strategic advantage. But Kael wasn't done.

"So, what? You want to send him out there as bait? That's your plan?" Kael's voice hardened, frustration evident. "She'll see through it—Rein's been broken already."

Ciena raised an eyebrow, unbothered by his protest. "Kael, you're missing the point. It's all about appearance. The succubus feeds off innocence, and Rein—no matter what's happened to him—still carries that look. It's the vulnerability, the aura of purity. That's what makes him a target."

Rein stood frozen for a moment, unsure how to process this. He had never thought of his past that way—never imagined someone could read it in his eyes, his demeanor. But Ciena was unflinching.

Kael's expression soured further. "You're really putting all your faith in that?" He glanced at Rein. "What if something goes wrong? What if she sees through the act?"

Before Ciena could reply, Diana stepped forward, her stance protective. "I'll protect him," she said firmly, locking eyes with Kael. "Whatever happens, he's not alone."

Ciena glanced between them all, her face softening just slightly. "I know it's risky, but it's our best shot to lure her out. We don't have time for doubts. The town's at stake."

Kael let out a frustrated sigh, clearly not happy with the plan but knowing they had no better option. He turned to Rein, his voice low but still laced with concern. "Fine. But you better not get yourself killed."

Rein nodded, the weight of the responsibility settling over him. He hadn't expected to be bait for a succubus—hell, he hadn't expected any of this—but there was no turning back now.

Ciena, clearly satisfied with the decision, added with a faint grin, "We'll get this done. Then we can all go home and complain about how boring our lives were before all this mess."

Kael rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you'll have a great time," he muttered, his arms still crossed.

Rein took a deep breath, trying to push away the uneasy feeling creeping in his stomach. This town—Herven—held more than its fair share of secrets, and it seemed like they were just scratching the surface.