Chapter 21 Looking out for my Little Sister

THE LIBRARY

Leon sat at their usual table, books open before him. Molly had set up camp. Namely, on his lap.

"Okay, boyfriend~" She wiggled into place, her back against his chest, her head tilted just enough to look up at him. "Chapter Four. This is the REALLY hard stuff. You're gonna need maximum concentration. So, you better hold me tight."

Leon's arms hovered awkwardly for a moment, then settled around her waist. 

"Like this?"

"Perfect!" 

"Her waist is very small. She's so warm. And soft. And she smells sweet. And... FOCUS! Need to study. Very important."

Molly opened the book across her thighs and pointed at a diagram.

"See this? Triple-layer. Most mages stop at two because the math gets crazy. But if you can nail the resonance frequencies—" She traced the intersecting circles with her finger. "—you get a barrier that can reflect higher-tier spells without cracking."

She shifted, pressing back against him slightly.

Leon's eyes were on the diagram. Mostly. Some of his attention was on the way her hips shifted when she talked.

 She explained each concept slowly, carefully, making sure he understood before moving on. And with each explanation, she found excuses to move, to point at a diagram, to turn a page, to lean forward and stretch just enough to remind him she was there.

By Chapter Five, Leon's notes were perfect. His pulse was also through the roof.

"He's getting it! I'm like the best teacher! And his arms are so warm around me and his heart is beating so fast and... and... why is it getting so hot in here? Like, crazy hot."

She paused mid-sentence, a faint flush spreading across her cheeks.

"Um. So. Next concept is... is..."

Her voice trailed off. The words on the page started to blur.

"Huh? Why is everything spinning?"

Leon noticed immediately. "Molly? Are you alright?"

"Mm-hmm! Totally fine! Just... just a little warm..." She fanned herself weakly. "Your library is... very... hot..."

"Hot. So hot. Like, demon-core overloading hot. Why am I so hot?!"

 Tiny wisps of pink steam began to rise from her shoulders and hair. Her head lolled back against his shoulder. Her eyelids fluttered.

"Pretty ceiling... pretty Leon... pretty... dark... ugh..."

"Molly? MOLLY!"

Her body went limp.

Leon shot to his feet, catching her before she could slide to the floor. She was in his arms. Warm, limp, and still gently steaming.

"MOLLY! MOLLY, WAKE UP!"

Her only response was a soft sigh.

"She fainted. She's so hot. Is that a demon thing?! Is she okay?! WHAT DO I DO?!

He cradled her against his chest and bolted for the door.

"Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay! If something happens to her because I let her study too hard, because I let her sit in my LAP and teach me magic. I'll never forgive myself."

He burst through the infirmary doors.

The nurse looked up from her desk, startled. "Champion Leon?! What—"

"She fainted! She's overheating! She was steaming and then she just..." He laid Molly gently on the nearest bed, his hands shaking. "Please, help her!"

The nurse sighed. A long, knowing, slightly amused sigh.

"She's not injured. She's not sick. She's... overstimulated. Her body generated more heat than it could dissipate. It happens sometimes with... us."

Leon stared blankly. "Us?"

The nurse gave him a look. "Mmm-hmm. She'll be fine. Just let her rest. And maybe... next time, take breaks."

"Wait! That smile. I've seen that smile before. Across a battlefield. Behind a row of demon soldiers. Standing at the Demon Lord's right hand."

"Wait a minute. You. You're Lilith. One of the Demon Lord's generals. A demon."

Lilith's smile widened, unbothered. She clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head.

"Ah, as expected from the Champion Leon. You saw through my disguise right away. I'm impressed. Most humans can't sense a thing."

Lilith held up both hands, palms out, in a gesture of peace.

"Before you ask, do not worry, brave hero. I am not here to do any harm. Quite the opposite, I'm simply looking out for my little sister. That is all. I swear it on my father's honor."

Leon's eyes flicked to Molly. "What happened to her?" 

Lilith waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, this? This happens to succubus once in a while. She got too excited, and her pheromones went out of control. Her body couldn't handle. 

Which brings me to something fascinating. I'm impressed you're fine, Leon."

 "Fine? What do you mean?"

Lilith stopped in front of him, tilting her head.

"The amount of succubus pheromone she unleashed. A normal man, even a strong one, would be on his knees by now. Mind broken from desire. Begging. Weeping. Possibly needing to be scraped off the floor. Even I feel sweet in my mouth."

She gestured at his stance, his clear eyes, his steady breathing.

"And here you are. Not even slightly affected. No glazed eyes. No trembling. No drooling. That's... remarkable."

A thought struck him. Something that had been lurking in the back of his mind since the beginning.

"So... the feeling I get when I'm with her. The pull. The... the way I can't stop thinking about her. Is that... is that her succubus charm? Am I being... manipulated?"

Lilith laughed.

"Our charm? Oh, that's not it. No, no, brave hero. You've got it all wrong. Succubus charm doesn't last. We use it in the moment to... persuade. Influence. Get what we want. But it wears off quickly. The next day? Poof. Gone. You'd wake up and wonder why you ever felt anything at all.

What you feel for my sister? That's been building up. Getting stronger. Deeper. You think about her when she's not around. You worry about her. You carried her through the entire academy like she was made of glass because you were worried."

She tapped his chest lightly.

"That's not charm, hero. That's real. You have real feelings."

Lilith clapped her hands together, breaking the moment.

"Alright, alright, as adorable as this is, I think we've had enough chatting." She gestured toward the door. "You should go, hero, or my dear Molly here is going to burn to a crisp with you standing so close. Her temperature's still climbing. Her pheromones turning to pink mist."

"I'll take it from here," Lilith said, moving to Molly's side. "Don't worry. I'll help her cool down in your place."

Leon hesitated at the door, looking back at Molly's face.

"Please tell her... tell her I'm sorry this happened. That I didn't mean for something like this to happen."

Lilith laughed.

"Oh, you've got nothing to worry about, brave hero. Quite the opposite, actually. You should feel HAPPY about this."

"Happy?"

Lilith gestured at Molly, who was now nuzzling a pillow and mumbling something about "fluffy boyfriend."

"This is a proof. Solid, undeniable, demonic-biology proof that she really, REALLY loves you. So, so much. Succubus pheromones don't go haywire like this for just anyone. It takes a deep, overwhelming emotion to be this intense."

She pointed at him.

"Keep that in mind, hero. She didn't almost melt because you're handsome or charming or good at studying. She almost melted because she loves you that much."

Leon's face went through a complex series of emotions.

"...I'll remember that."

"Good. Now GO before I have to scrape you off the floor too. Bye, hero!"

Lilith sat on the edge of the bed, dabbing Molly's forehead with a cool cloth. Her little sister's skin was still flushed, still warm, still gently steaming. The pheromone overload was serious, more intense than Lilith had seen.

"This is bad. This is really bad. She's cooked herself good. The human method won't work, cold showers, rest, time. That's for mild cases. This is... this is full overload.

There's only one real cure for a succubus in this state."

She looked at Molly's unconscious, squirming form. At the way her hips shifted restlessly even in sleep. At the flush spreading down her neck, her chest.

Lilith sighed.

"...She's going to kill me for this in the morning. But she'll be alive to do it."

She leaned down, brushing hair from Molly's face.

"Molly. Sweetie. Can you hear me?"

Molly's eyes fluttered. Unfocused. "Mmm... Leon...?"

"No, it's your sister. Listen to me. You're in overload. Your body can't cool down on its own. Do you understand?"

 "Hot... so hot..."

"I know. And I'm going to help you. But you're not going to like how."

 "Wha...?"

Lilith took a breath.

"There's only one way to break a succubus fever this intense, little sister. You have to... finish. Release the built-up energy. And your hero isn't here but frankly, he's not ready for THAT level of demonic interaction."

"Kyaaa—" The sound cut off as Lilith gently covered her mouth.

"Shhh. The walls are thin. And you're about to get loud. I'm your sister. This is weird for me too. But it's this or you risk actual damage. Understand?"

Molly's eyes were huge, but after a moment, she gave a tiny nod.

Lilith pulled back the sheet.

"Good girl. Now just... try to relax. Let it happen. And don't worry, I'll make sure you forget most of this in the morning. Succubus privilege."

------------------

IN THE MORNING

Molly woke slowly, sunlight warm on her face. She felt relaxed. Boneless. Completely at peace.

She stretched, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Mmm... best sleep ever... Huh? Why I'm in a nurse office? Why do I feel so good? Why are my memories all fuzzy? Why is Lilith sitting in that chair looking smug?"

"Morning, little sister. Sleep well?"

 "I... yeah? Really well actually. What happened? I remember studying with Leon and then... and then..."

 "And then nothing. You just needed rest. Lots of rest. I took care of everything."

Molly frowned, a vague sense of something hovering at the edge of her memory. Something involving... hands. And her sister's voice.

"Why won't my memories focus? Why is Lilith looking at me like that?"

Lilith stood, patting her head. "Don't strain yourself, dear. Some things are better left forgotten." She headed for the door. "Oh, and your boyfriend stopped by to check on you. I told him you were recovering nicely. He looked relieved."

She paused at the door, glancing back.

"You really picked a good one, Molly. Hold onto him."

And then she was gone, leaving Molly alone with confused memories, a very relaxed body, and a nagging feeling that something important had happened that she couldn't quite remember.

"I feel great though. Really, REALLY great. I should thank Lilith for... whatever she did. Maybe with a nice breakfast. After I figure out why my hand tingles when I look at it... weird. Probably nothing."