Chapter 2: Give in to Temptation

After the incident at the festival, Amelia was forced to stay in her room. The other sisters thought that maybe she was simply exhausted from too much work, but Amelia knew that wasn’t true.  What she had seen was real, whether they believed her or not didn’t change that fact.

Ever since returning home that evening, she continued to see the woman. She would be in the chapel, sitting on the very back pew, smiling from ear to ear while motioning provocatively to Amelia. Or in the halls as Amelia would head somewhere, the library, the dorms, she was everywhere.  And every time the woman appeared, Amelia would feel an odd thirst that left her gasping. Nothing she did could satiate it, and the longer it lasted, the farther it traveled down her throat and into her stomach, leaving a line of fire blazing within.

After seeing the woman one too many times, Amelia had begun to think that she was going crazy.  Who was this creature?  Why was she seeing her?  What exactly did she want with her?  Was she indicating that Amelia herself was becoming an unholy being? 

These thoughts raced crazily through Amelia’s mind as her fear began to build.  Was this woman maybe a demon that wanted to possess her?  Was it trying to corrupt her?  But if it was a demon why was it in the church?  This was a holy place, how could an unholy creature reside here? 

With each day that passed her fear clawed more and more at her heart, until finally she truly believed maybe she was going crazy.

After the third day, unable to stand it anymore, Amelia insisted on keeping herself distracted. Instead of staying locked in the room waiting for the woman to appear, she joined Jacey and Amanda in doing their chores. Maybe if she was with others, then the woman wouldn’t appear.

"You don’t have to do this." Amanda insisted, as Amelia took the broom from her.  "You’re supposed to be resting, remember?"

Reaching out a hand, Amanda grabbed at the broom, attempting to take it back from Amelia. In the process, her fingers touched Amelia's, sending an odd sensation through her.

"Huh…" Amelia huffed, stumbling backwards as strange images of an ocean and a smiling Amanda walking hand in hand with a man appeared in her head.

"Amelia?" Amanda’s voice drifted through the vision, sending the last wisps of it rushing away. "Hey!"

Opening her eyes, Amelia found herself mere inches from Amanda. Their breaths intermingled, sending a chill through Amelia and strengthening the feeling of thirst that she was trying so desperately to ignore.

Heart pounding Amelia looked to Amanda with wide eyes, what had just happened?  What was that she just saw?  Maybe she truly was going crazy, or worse she was becoming a monster.

Feeling her sanity beginning to disappear Amelia fixed her gaze with her friends.

"Are you okay?" Amanda asked quickly, placing a hand on Amelia’s cheek.

"Y-yeah…" Amelia stammered, stumbling backwards as she got another glimpse of Amanda and that man together. 

"Are you sure?" Moving forward, Amanda asked Amelia once more.

"Don’t come closer!" Amelia snapped, lifting a hand.  "Please, just stay back."

"Am…"

Turning around Amelia rushed away, leaving Jacey and Amanda to watch her as if she was mad, which at that point in time, Amelia felt she was.

Continuing forward, she bumped into people here and there. Each time her body would connect with theirs, images would appear, some happy and carefree, others dark, and some downright disturbing.

Along with the visions, the hunger she had felt earlier with Amanda grew more and more.  Her throat had begun to feel parched and no amount of swallowing made it better. Instead, it left a fire burning down her esophagus and into her stomach.

Shaking her head, Amelia tried to will everything to go away as she made her way towards the chapel. In her frantic state, all she could think to do was pray to the goddess.

She needed to get to where it was safe, a place that whatever monster was trying to mess with her couldn’t get her. 

"Won’t work."

Stopping in her tracks, Amelia found herself standing face-to-face with the strange woman once more. 

"Wh-who are you?" Amelia whispered, taking a few steps backwards.  "Wh-what d-do you want from me?"

Laughing, the woman moved forward, "I want you to let me out." She cooed temptingly.  "It’s so simple. The purple moon is tonight after all."

"Purple moon?"

Thinking about it Amelia vaguely remembered Sister Rosario speaking about the purple moon and the significance of it to the succubi.  It was the time that they fed and reproduced, but what did that have to do with her?  She wasn’t one of those disgusting and monstrous Succubi.  Why would this woman even suggest such a thing?

"Don’t worry your beautiful head." The woman continued tempting Amelia, "Just let me free and then you will be free."

“Please…” Amelia begged as tears began to form in her eyes.  “Please leave me alone.”

“Oh sweetheart.” The woman sighed lifting a hand and placing it on Amelia’s shoulder.  “How can I possibly leave myself alone?”

“I’M NOT A MONSTER!” Amelia wailed, tears now falling freely.  “Please monster, leave me alone!  Be gone from this holy place!”

“Soon you will see that I am not a monster.” The woman continued unphased by Amelia’s insult.  “Just set me free and you will see that I am you.”

"Free…" Amelia murmured, getting lost in the woman’s words.  "Wait… no!"

Stumbling backwards, Amelia broke the woman’s connection with her before turning and running. She needed to get to the chapel, and soon, demons couldn’t exist in the domain of the Goddess, so this lying and deceitful creature couldn’t reach her there either.

"You can run, but you can’t hide from it!" The woman called as Amelia bolted for sanctuary.

Covering her ears, Amelia began to chant a prayer to block out the woman’s intoxicating voice. So lost in her attempts, she didn’t realize until it was too late that a class of younger girls was being released just ahead.

"Amelia?" Karen, a petite blonde with a baby face, spoke as Amelia barged into the crowd. "What’s wrong?"

"N-no-nothing." Amelia stammered while peeking over her shoulder.

"You look…." Karen began, only to stop as a glazed look came across her eyes. "You look wonderful…" She slurred, seeming lost.

"Karen?" Amelia asked in confusion, eyeing the girl. "Karen, are you okay?"

"Karen?" Another named Jenny, spoke coming up beside her friend. "What’s wrong with he…" Just as Karen had prior, Jenny suddenly developed a glazed look before smiling at Amelia. "Why do you look so attractive?"

"Huh?" 

Looking around, Amelia met more glazed eyes. Every girl that had exited the class was now surrounding her with looks of intoxication and lust on their faces.  Their mouths twitched up in smiles as they surrounded Amelia.

"Wait, stop...PLEASE!" Amelia begged, beginning to back away as the crowd continued to swarm on her.  "GO AWAY!"

Fear clawed at Amelia’s heart as the group of girls slowly closed in on her.  By this point she was sure that she was going crazy, she had to be. Whatever that woman was, it wasn’t good and she was surely trying to get to her.

Letting out a scream Amelia rushed forward, desperate for some type of escape.  She just needed to escape and then she would be safe.

"I told you, you can’t escape it." The woman cackled, appearing in front of Amelia.

Skidding to a halt, Amelia looked around wildly for an exit. Spotting the chapel doors just ahead, she took her chances, quickly racing past the woman and slamming her body full force into the door.

"HELP!" Amelia wailed as she toppled into the chapel.  "Please help me!"

Scrambling to her feet, Amelia quickly grabbed the door and shoved it closed before locking it entirely to keep everyone out.

Panting, she backed away slowly as many fists began banging against the door, begging to be let in. Twirling, Amelia looked around for a place to hide before resting her eyes on the confessional booth.

Taking one last look at the door, she moved forward, diving into the booth before quickly curling into a ball on the seat while pressing her hands to her ears.  Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as sobs wracked her body.

"This is just a dream…" She muttered again and again until finally the sounds of banging died down, leaving the room in utter silence.

Sitting up, Amelia listened intently, waiting to see if there were anymore bangs. Once convinced it was safe, she slowly made her way out of the booth.

"Amelia?" 

Eyes widening, Amelia turned to find sister Rosario exiting the priest's side of the confessional booth.

"Sister…" Amelia whispered as her throat suddenly clenched hard, causing her to feel absolutely parched. "Sister… help me…"

Allowing sobs to overtake her once more, Amelia threw herself into Sister Rosario’s arms.  Too shocked to move, the woman just remained in place silently.

“Sister Rosario, please help me, I-I think that a demon may be…” Amelia cried as fresh tears poured from her eyes.  “A DEMON IS TRYING TO POSSESS ME!  Please help me...please...help….”

As she spoke, dizziness began to overtake Amelia, stopping any and all pleads that she may have said.  Looking up at Sister Rosario, wide eyed Amelia realized that something was very wrong with her.

Around her, everything began to swirl, as if it was nothing more than a dream. Reaching out a hand, she touched the soft flesh of sister Rosario’s face. The sister who initially looked shocked soon developed the same glazed look the other girls had.

"Help…" Amelia murmured again as she felt for the first time a thrill run through her veins, causing goosebumps to rise over her entire body. "I’m so hungry…"

Something within Amelia snapped as she felt the sudden need for Sister Rosario’s body.  Although it left her perplexed and appalled, she couldn’t stop what was happening.

"That’s it…"

Looking over, Amelia met the bright green-gold eyes of the siren-like woman.

"Go ahead and feed." She murmured, motioning to Sister Rosario, who stood motionless, her face flushed, her mouth hung open provocatively. "Do it…"

"Feed…"

Feeding did sound good to Amelia and she was so hungry.  Looking into Sister Rosario’s eyes, she pressed her mouth hungrily against the woman’s.

A soft moan escaped the woman’s mouth as her hands wrapped tenderly around Amelia, trying desperately to mold her body against hers.

"I’m so hungry…" Amelia groaned around the sister’s mouth.  "Feed me, Sister Rosario."