As the chauffeur drove the car between the massive iron gates of the Academy, Sophie saw the emblem sculpted at the top: the Mannaz rune, a symbol of man and mankind. She stepped out of the car in the middle of a large court surrounded by a building with four tall pavilions. Near the gate, a separate pavilion was guarding the entire edifice. The Academy looked like a palace, with pointed, gothic arches, and tall windows and wooden doors. The roofs were decorated with gargoyles, and the windows and balconies with baroque sculptures – grotesque creatures with strangely shaped bodies. The court, a long semi-circle, was full of snow-covered trees, each guarding benches and rectangular tables. Sophie could see few students sitting outside, reading or chatting. The cold air and the bleak wind must have scattered them all inside the warm rooms of the palace.
Hebe touched Sophie’s arm. “I will first take you to Lilith, and then to your room. Lilith is the headmistress of Lure and the highest in rank of the incubi and succubi. Then, you’ll have some time to meet your roommate, and, in two hours or so, after dinner, two hetaerae will come to help you prepare for the Midnight Ceremony.”
“Ceremony?” Sophie’s heart jumped and her palms began to sweat in spite of the cold January air. “What kind of ceremony? And what is a hetaerae?”
“Hetaera, the singular is hetaera. They are young human girls and boys who work at the Academy and sometimes offer their… services to our cambions, if you know what I mean.” Hebe gave her a mischievous smile. “We welcome our new students with a special kind of… party. There’s nothing to worry about. You won’t be alone. There are three other new cambions who have arrived in the past two weeks. It’s a simple protocol that needs to be followed. You’ll be presented to the older students, each of them will bring you a welcome gift, and then there will be drinks and you’ll have time to meet everyone and make some new friends. Lamia, your roommate, can tell you more if you ask her.”
“Oh…”
Hebe’s explanation made Sophie feel even more nervous and apprehensive. She wasn’t that good at meeting new people and making friends, and the whole ceremony thing sounded too sumptuous to be just what the succubus described. But there was no turning back now. Sophie had left her town and her mother behind in a blink of an eye, excited beyond words that an opportunity which didn’t involve Paris had been offered to her. Whatever lay ahead, she had to face it full force and think about the consequences later. Sophie felt her heart pound faster in her chest, and not even Hebe’s sweet touch could chase away the iciness in her toes and the tips of her fingers.
“Come now, don’t be so nervous. Lilith likes to welcome the new students. Every one of you is of extreme importance to us. She will tell you what we expect from our cambions, and she will give you your personal file and some study material.”
Hebe went on with explanations Sophie couldn’t quite focus on while she was gently guiding her to the tower near the entrance.
?
The tall ceiling turned the office into a glamorous and imposing chamber. Even though there was a small gold chandelier hanging above, the only light came from a lamp perched on a desk at the far back of the room and the comforting flame burning in the fireplace. The heavy red curtains were drawn over the window. The fire made dark shadows dance on the red, delicate flowers painted on the walls. On the left side of the room, there was a tall wooden door, which Sophie guessed was leading to a large, comfy bedroom. Above the fireplace, Sophie spotted a gold-framed painting picturing a man, his half drunken-half ecstatic features shaken by the green ghost-like woman floating behind him in thin air. “A poet haunted by his muse,” Sophie thought. As her mother had been an avid collector of art albums since early girlhood, it wasn’t hard for her daughter to recognize Albert Maignan’s “Muse verte”. But she surely didn’t expect to see the original in a dark, forgotten corner of the Carpathian Mountains. Because she had no doubt the painting was genuine.
Sophie’s attention was distracted by a soft rustle coming from the barely visible desk. Hebe was no longer by her side, and she saw her leaning over some scattered papers.
“Here are the names for next month. They’re quite a few. Maybe you should take someone with you.”
Lilith’s voice was a deep, satin whisper. As she handed the papers to Hebe, the headmistress rose from her chair and Sophie could finally see the perfect features of the highest ranked demoness at Lure. Lilith was a tall and sensual woman. Her absinthe eyes were clear and provocative. Her full red lips were a perfect match for her large breasts and round hips, both barely hidden underneath a green skintight dress. Long, strong legs were made even longer by her red high-heels. Her fiery red hair covered her back in smooth curls that almost reached her waist. She was wearing red-framed glasses which only made her look more dangerous and appealing. Sophie lost all train of thought at the sight of such a dark and beautiful creature that oozed lust from all her pores.
“Sophie La Volpilliére.”
Sophie wasn’t sure if those luscious lips had really spoken her name or if it was just a mad dream.
“Welcome to Lure Academy.”
Lilith smiled as she watched the new girl practically droll all over her expensive carpet, which all students did at their first meeting with the headmistress. She took a few seconds to observe the new cambion, silently calculating Sophie’s possible abilities with her future victims. The girl was fairly tall and curvy, but her beautiful body was hidden underneath an awfully large, black sweater. “She’ll have to learn how to dress according to her status.” Her wavy brown hair was of medium length, and she had a heart-shaped face, dark-brown eyes, and full lips. Definitely a unique beauty, all round curves and white, creamy skin. Most female cambions were athletic if not downright skinny, which was why Lilith was now feasting her eyes on the girl’s heavy breasts and generous hips. Satisfied, she stepped closer to Sophie and took the key pendant between her fingers.
“A key.”
“My father gave it to me.” Sophie internally thanked all gods for having been able to find her voice.
“A wise gift indeed.” Lilith searched Sophie’s eyes. “The key is a powerful symbol. It represents the importance of knowing yourself, which leads to the discovery of your purpose and the proper path you need to follow in order to achieve it.”
When Lilith turned to search through her desk, Sophie exhaled softly. She tried to even her breath.
“For a cambion, this is of utmost importance. Inner knowledge stays at the very core of their power. Cambions belong to two different worlds, and each world has gifted them with valuable features: human and sensitive enough to gain trust, but powerful and skilled enough to stand up for the good of mankind.” Lilith returned to Sophie, holding a book and a file. “The process begins with building a new self out of scattered pieces. Most of the things you’ve known will lose all their meaning or gain a new, unthinkable dimension. You need strength and courage to understand and accept who you are. When you feel the demon inside you stir and crave, remember the human standing next to it directs its dark powers towards light.”
Sophie’s hands didn’t feel sweaty anymore, and her heartbeat was close to normal now. A wave of calm and confidence rushed through her veins at Lilith’s words, and she felt almost ready to accept whatever her new life had to offer. She was meant to be here, in this warm room, with a bright future ahead of her, and not trapped in some unknown French town, living a dull life in the company of her mother.
The red-haired succubus smiled at the change she saw flickering in the novice’s eyes. “Lure Academy is here to show you the basics and teach
you the true history of humankind. From then on, the rest becomes your responsibility. Only by working hard will you be able to live up to the great purpose that you’ve been destined to achieve.”
Sophie took the book and papers from Lilith. The book was heavy, with gold gothic letters carved into its black leather cover: “Lure Academy: History and Facts”.
“Your journey starts in this office. I’m giving you the history of our struggle against the dark forces, your schedule and, more importantly, your personal file. Study it carefully, learn who you are, and let the ones around you know. Working in a team is crucial.”
Sophie thanked the headmistress with a barely audible whisper, and trembled when she felt Lilith’s fingers on her chin.
“I feel you’ll do a great job one day.” Looking into the girl’s eyes, Lilith believed her own words. She turned to her desk, making a dismissive sign with her hand.
Hebe quickly understood. The white-haired succubus led Sophie out of Lilith’s office and then out of the building, right into the cold air of the evening. The snow had long ceased to fall, and the entire court was glowing in the light of the lamp posts spread all around the semi-circle.