The old Inn was said to be haunted with ghosts and spirits of the past. Its dark windows looked out across the Old Slavich Road to Barovia and the roof was missing many shingles, but all in all, the structure was sound. the stories were mostly the tales told around the fire of a spectral cry of a baby in the night, or the sighting of demons dancing in the court yard. Such were the way with local tales, but sometimes, tales come from truth.
The night had come, and the old Slavich Road was haunted itself by the undead. It was not safe for any being, good or evil to travel the road, for the undead do not judge the living, only hate them all equally. Sybel peered out the dark window and longed to go outside and play in the rain, to feel the cool water on her leathery wings and body. Sometimes Demons did dance in the courtyard. Without fear, she ran down the stairs and out the door, not even noticing the sleeping red haired man by the fireplace. It was a few spins before she felt the unnatural cold in the air. Her breath came in clouds and it made her alert to the presence. It was the shrieking mink that drew her closer to the over turned wagon that lay next to the Inns overgrown entry road. Hiding behind the worm eaten wooded cart, Sybel peered into the night and down to the road. The undead did hate the living, all creatures, and the proof was in the scene of a spectral horror chasing mink about the road and surrounding fields, draining the life out of them one by one. She found it amusing, but stifled the giggle, for she knew fear, and it took shape in those creatures, creatures that would drain her as easily as the mink. The rain dancing had been forgotten for a safer choice. Back to the old inn she went, coming in the door and then she notice Zeke, one her half demon friends. She had been found by them, and they were like a family, and not. They took her in when she was lost in this strange world.
She approached him quietly, and saw him twitch in his sleep, curled up in a ball, his red leathery tail moved agitatedly. A dream perhaps or a nightmare. With a mental summons she called to her most trusted ally from across the planes. Z'Tarl, her loyal hell hound, heard the call and in a blink came to her side. The faint scent of smoke and brimstone let her know that he had arrived.
"There you are" she whispered sweetly and hugged the massive beast. Z'Tarl responded to her touch with an uncharacteristic affection, not usually seen in the hateful demon dogs. There was a special bond between the two, one that was beyond the surface and linking the two in soul. When Sybel had gone into the transformation coma, Z'Tarl guided her soul through the abyss to where she learned of what she was. The moment her Succubus blood awakened, the hellhound knew his duty, he would be her guardian and companion, she was his master, and he her guide.
"Zeke is cold... can you bring me a blanket from the bed upstairs?" There was no questioning the command, for it was a pleasure to serve his mistress as she rewarded him often with deer hearts. With his snout, the demon dog pushed open the door and ascended the stairs. A few moments and a loud crash of the door to the bed room splintering, Z'Tarl returned, quilt in mouth, which was starting to smolder.
"Good Z'Tarl, thank you so much", she said softly as she pet his sleek fur.
The touch of the old dusty quilt caused Zeke to stir then awaken with a yell. He looked around wide eyed, and afraid then settled on Sybel.
“Oh, it’s you.” He said with a sigh of relief.
“Somebody was dreaming? It was either very good or very bad.” She replied playfully. Zeke shook his head and curled back up, staring into the fire, “Bad dreams, bad memories”
“Aw, poor dear, Tell me about them” she inquired, her bottom lip expended in a innocent looking pout.
The red hair tiefling could only shudder as he relived the horror he has suffered at the hands of the Vallaki guard.
“They… Killed me, and burned my body. The guards, they did it because they hate me” His eyes were wide as he told his tale, “I did nothing wrong and they just attacked and it hurt so bad, oh the pain.”
Sybel’s look of sympathy turned quickly to anger. A low feral cougar like growl came from her throat, “Sounds like we need to hunt some guard, we can kill them, and eat their hearts! Yes! Yes! That would be fun!!” She said as her anger turn to child like excitement. She bounced gently, nearly falling out of her loose fitting and revealing dress.
“No, I’m not like that, I don’t want to be like that.” Zeke replied, “I’m not a bad person”
She stroked his hair soothingly and whispered softly to the disturbed half demon, “No you are not bad, you did not kill them. THEY are the bad people, and they should be punished for their crimes, for their murder of you.” Even though her tone was soft, sensual and soothing, Sybel’s golden crimson flecked eyes were hard and full of hate. “It is what good people do to bad people, we punish them.”
Zeke just curled up again under the quilt, “I’m not going anywhere, I… I just want to sleep”
She sat and watched him for awhile till he returned to his fitful slumber. Z’Tarl curled up next to his master, and she idly scratched behind his ear with her iron hard onyx black nails. After his breathing became steady, she stood up and stretched her body to full height, and her wings to full extension. Looking down at the sleeping Zeke, a cruel grin curled on to her lips.
“Maybe I will kill a few for you, and bring their hearts back for you to eat.” She smiled her sharp toothed grin and head for the door, her cloak in hand, “Yes, then you will take their strength as they took yours!”