The light fades, and with it all my fear
The atmosphere’s electric, I can feel her near,
Her breath on my skin, her touch on my soul,
The spell has been cast, she has total control

The succubus, she comes to me,
Visits in the night;
Wringing the love out of me,
Our joined souls ignite

—ODE TO THE SUCCUBUS MAX RAEL,
HISTORY OF GUNS

NOVEMBER 2, 2027: BELLE GLADE, FLORIDA

Quenton Morehead is alone with Lilith in his one-room church, the two of them repainting the pews. For the last two days he has kept clear of the girl, her sudden confidence and exhibitionism shocking the minister while turning him on.

A new approach was needed, one that played up to his granddaughter’s newfound persona.

‘Lilith, have we spoken before about the Succubus?’

‘Succubus? No, you never mentioned it.’ Feeling his eyes upon her, she allows her breasts to jiggle beneath the skintight top as she vigorously strokes the paintbrush.

Quenton fights the urge to drag her onto the dais and rape her. ‘The Bible tells us that the Succubus was a female demon who visited men, seducing them while they slept.’

‘And why should I be interested in this Succubus?’

‘For one thing, her name was Lilith, and she was very powerful.’

Lilith stops painting. Don Rafelo had never spoken of this. ‘Tell me about her.’

‘Lilith was Adam’s first wife, created out of the earth long before Eve came ’round. The Bible says the Succubus was a tantalizing beauty, like yourself, who refused to submit herself sexually to Adam.’

‘You’re not equating yourself with Adam?’

‘The point is, God created Lilith to pleasure Adam, but she resisted her calling. She left the garden and eventually became pregnant. It was Lilith’s daughters who mated with Cain and Abel.’

‘Good for her.’

‘The Succubus was powerful.’

Lilith looks up. ‘How so?’

‘She’d approach her victims under the cloak of night as a wind demon, using sex to control their will. The Succubus could control even the strongest of men. It is said that any man who fell for the Succubus never awakened from her spell.’

Lilith allows one of the overall straps to slide off her shoulder.

Quenton moves closer, taking the bait.

The teen’s cocoa skin crawls with his approach. ‘I can smell the stench of your lust, Quenton. Try something again, and I’ll hurt you even worse.’

‘You owe me. I could have sent you away long ago, but I didn’t.’

‘I wish you had. Maybe I wouldn’t curse my own existence.’

‘Just as I curse the day my wife and I took your mother into our home.’ He inches nearer. ‘See, I know who you are. You can’t fool me any longer.’

‘And who am I?’

‘Lucifer’s mistress—the Succubus-Lilith, reincarnate.’

‘Does that make you afraid, Quenton, or excited?’

‘Hush your mouth, heathen.’