Chapter 27 - Shade of shame

"[Notice the shade of green that string has? That's the string of shame.]"

'Interesting. It would explain her lack of decisiveness. She appears to be hesitating. She could have easily overwhelmed me, but somehow, she was holding back. What is she ashamed of?' Ethan pondered, his mind racing as he unraveled the intricacies of the strings before him.

"Mmmmphh, I see you are all set, little hunter," Lysandra said as she reached down and clutched Ethan's two pearls.

"Argh!" A gasp escaped Ethan's mouth as he felt the demon's fingers wrap around his balls.

Ethan's little reaction made the mischievous smile on Lysandra's face widen the more. "What's wrong, hunter? Losing yourself already? Where did all that confidence from before go?"

Lysandra at that moment did something strange. She flicked her index finger and immediately, the shadow tendrils dislodged from Ethan's arms and along with it went his scythe. Now Ethan was free but left with no weapon to defend himself. He couldn't even track the movement of the shadow that had consumed his weapon.

'Why is she releasing me? Is this to create a false sense of security so that I lower my guard even more? She wants me at my most vulnerable, doesn't she? This is all part of the manipulation' Ethan thought as Lysandra stood in front of him, tempting from even a distance out of his reach.

Ethan was however nearly spot on. For Lysandra, it was all about the pleasure. For her it was about increasing the challenge, finding pleasure in the pursuit of seduction rather than immediate control.

"Confidence? The confidence never left. I mean what I say," Ethan replied as he reached out to grab her boobs, but his hands met thin air as the area where her boobs were had dematerialized into shadows.

"You'll have to do better than that," Lysandra said as her fingers left Ethan's balls and began to stroke his cock which was not joining him in resisting her charms. They were rock solid already.

'She's right. I really have to do better.' Ethan said to himself. 'But what can I do when my hands can't even get a hold of her?'

"[Same thing you always do. Pull a string and perform the sexorcism,]" Lilith replied in a dry voice, her words echoing slightly in his head.

'If you know your comments are gonna be unhelpful, then keep them, would you?' Ethan's frustration was evident, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

"[You haven't even tried yet. Access your situation,...]" Lilith continued in her monotonous tone but before she could finish, Ethan's attention was abruptly diverted.

His body tensed, eyes rolling back at the sudden, overwhelming sensation coursing through him. "Fuckk!!!" he gasped, the word escaping his lips in a mix of shock and ecstasy.

'Just by stroking me, I feel like I'm gonna cum soon,' Ethan cursed, his voice laced with a mix of pleasure and frustration. 'She's already a horny bitch so pulling the lust string is kinda a waste since I can't even lay hands on her.' Ethan struggled to focus, his mind racing for solutions.

He paused, struck by a sudden thought, 'What is she ashamed of though?'

[All higher ranked succubus take pride in their appearance and powers of seduction. It's abnormal to find one having any form of shame whatsoever. This one is a puzzle I am sorry I can't help with] Lilith responded, her voice now carrying a hint of seriousness.

Just as Lilith had finished, Ethan's eyes widened. 'But you just helped. Thank you lilith. I think I've figured it out!' Ethan said to Lilith in his head.

Ethan didn't waste time as he began to execute the plan. "You know, it's a shame," Ethan began, his voice steady but laced with a subtle edge. "Even with all your power, you hide behind these shadows. Are you afraid to show your true self?"

The succubus, Lysandra, flinched visibly. Her eyes, usually fierce, now flickered with a hint of uncertainty. Her shadowy tendrils tightened around Ethan, yet her hands hesitated, momentarily pausing her pleasurable assault.

Ethan, seizing the moment, reached out and pulled at the green string emanating from her.

Lysandra staggered back, her touch leaving Ethan, yet her shadow tendrils held him in place. The whole space seemed to close in, the shadows more pronounced, as if feeding off her turmoil.

Within herself, Lysandra's thoughts spiraled.

*Am I really so unattractive? Always the lesser, always in the shadows of my siblings. Why can't I be seen for who I am?* Her soliloquy was a tumult of self-doubt and pain, echoing in the silence of the room.

Seizing the moment, Ethan reached out, his touch light yet deliberate. "You're wrong about yourself," he said, his voice low and sincere. "You're stunning, Lysandra. More than you realize."

This unexpected compliment caught Lysandra off guard. His words struck a chord, and for a moment, Lysandra's eyes met his, revealing a glimpse of vulnerability.

But the moment was shattered as she lashed out in a sudden burst of rage, her shadow tendrils whipping towards him aggressively.

"You think I am ugly?!! Is that why you haven't fallen for my charms? And now you try to coat your disgust with petty lines?! In that case, you are of no pleasurable use to me. Dieeee!!!" Lysandra spat venomously.

Ethan dodged, narrowly avoiding her attack, and noticed a new string – bright red with anger – emerging from her.

She lunged towards him, her fist aimed at his face. Ethan, using her momentum, pulled her into a close embrace, his lips finding the nape of her neck in a tender, unexpected kiss.

In that moment of vulnerability, Ethan's hands moved, finding the softness of her breasts. Lysandra gasped, a sound that was part shock, part pleasure.

The lust string began to pulse and stretch, and Ethan reached out and grabbed it, pulling it to start the sexcorsim process.

As Ethan skillfully pulled the lust string, a wave of emotions washed over Lysandra. Surprised and overwhelmed, her thoughts were in chaos as control slipped away.

For a moment, she displayed vulnerability as her usual composure wavered due to her newfound longing. She found herself both puzzled and strangely stimulated by the fact that Ethan was setting the pace of their encounter.

As she tried to express her protest and regain control, her words were abruptly silenced by Ethan's passionate kiss. It was a raw, rough kiss, that allowed no room for hesitation. His lips pressed against hers with an intensity that conveyed both control and an intense, unexpressed desire.

Ethan's left hand instinctively reached out to grab her ass, squeezing them in his hands as he drew her nearer, erasing any distance that remained between them.

His other hand stayed on her boobs, squeezing her nipples.

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*Author's note*

Let's get more powerstones on this book.

200 powerstones = 2 chapters daily

500 powerstones = 3 chapters daily

I know the ratio is unequal but it takes a lot to write, please support the growth of this book.

Thank y'all!!