Rocky gently floated down in his circle, until he lay on the concrete floor. He looked like he was simply asleep. I stood, and began walking over to him, afraid of what I might find. My voice emerged from between my lips, soft and anxious, “Rocky? Rocky, are you okay?”

At the sound of my voice, his head perked up like he’d been goosed in his sleep, and he looked around. Upon seeing me, he barked and bounded over to me, tail wagging, tongue lolling out of his mouth. He jumped on me, knocking me over, and began licking me all over my face. I wept, overcome with joy upon seeing my only friend restored to health. “Oh, Rocky! You’re okay!” After a moment of reuniting with him, I turned my attention to the demon in the circle. She was laid on her side, breathing shakily. “Are you okay? Hello? Crenirith, are you okay? What happened?” At the mention of her name, she stiffened and sat up.

“I’m okay. I used a little too much Demonic energy at once. That, and the nature of what had been in him caused me to overload a little.” She looked at me and smiled for a moment, then her face became dark.

“HOW. DO. YOU. KNOW. MY. NAME?” She began shaking, whether in rage, frustration or fear, I didn’t know.

I shrank back before her fury, and in a small voice said “You..You said it as you were healing Rocky. You were talking to yourself, crying and sniffling. I heard you say your name.” Her eyes went wide as saucers, her mouth formed a little “o” as she covered it with a delicately beautiful hand.

Her voice was shaky “You…you know my name, and I do not know yours.” She began shaking, fearfully this time. “This is very bad.”

I winced. “My Lady, I don’t want to add insult to injury, but there is also the matter of a contract that was never spoken into existence, nor agreed upon.” I gave her my most apologetic look.

“You mean to tell me that you, a mortal, have my name, and I have performed a service without the aid of a contract? For a creature I cannot touch, and I am owed no payment?” She placed a hand to her face, “What is happening to me?”

I screwed up my face, “Cannot touch? You mean Rocky? What do you mean you can’t touch him?” I cocked my head slightly to the side.

She drew her knee to her chest, and rested her chin upon it, “I cannot leave this circle in which you have imprisoned me. Anything else may enter at will, and exit only if I allow it. I, however, am stuck in this prison until banished back to my realm.” She sighed and drew her other knee up, wrapped her arms around them, and laid her face within. “Where I will be mocked and teased for millennia for this faux pas.”

I inched closer to the circle, taking great care not to break it. “You were overcome with emotion and care for my dog. Just as I was. There is no shame in that.”

Her face snapped up, tears marring her beautiful eyes, “No shame?! What would you know? You’re just a stupid mortal!” She jumped up and turned away from me, striding back to the center of the circle. “Now, just send me home, mortal,” The venom with which she spat the word made it clear that she was hurt and angry, “I’ve no wish to prolong the beginning of my torment. I need to get it over with.”

“Crenirith, no.” She stiffened, shaking. “Please come back over here, Crenirith. I’d like to discuss it with you, if you don’t mind.” She turned, fury upon her face, and walked back to where I sat. I cocked my head to the side, “You have to do what I tell you to do when I use your name, don’t you?”

The shock on her face would be amusing in any other context, “You mean… You mean to tell me that you didn’t know that? You have complete control over what I do. All my actions, all my powers, everything. Once you uttered my name, I was immediately chained to your will.”

I blinked rapidly, the full extent of what I had done washing over me like a tsunami. “Oh, shit. Oh, shit. I’m so sorry. I had no idea. What can be done to remove my control? I’m so sorry, My Lady.” Tears welled up in my eyes. I had no desire to shackle any intelligent being to my will. Not even a demon.

She simply stared at me, shocked. “You want to release me?” She snorted, “That’s hilarious. Me? A succubus? You want to release a succubus from your control?” She laughed “I don’t know if you’re stupid or what, but you can’t just go about ‘releasing’ a demon you have enslaved. Not until your death, anyway. Even then you still have some modicum of power over me.” She shook her head, defeated “No. No, I’m quite literally stuck with you for an eternity.”

I stroked my beard, thoughts racing. “An eternity, huh? A full-on succubus?” I looked at her appraisingly, and she turned her lip in disgust. “Well. I have an idea. You may, or may not like it, but it’s an idea, nonetheless. Would you like to hear it?”

She snorted. “Yes, fine. What is your idea, mortal?” I smiled.

“Well, since you’re already inextricably bound to me, how about you stay here with me on this plane for a while? You’re already fond of Rocky, and I feel indebted to you. Twice over with the whole name thing.” I shrugged and looked into her disbelieving eyes.

“You…what? You’re proposing that I, a succubus, live with you? What would that accomplish? Other than to humiliate me?” Her cheeks flushed.

“Well, you’d get to pet Rocky any time you wished, for starters.” I watched her face closely, and saw the hopeful glint in her eyes. Her voice was wary, “Really? I’d get to pet on your dog any time I wanted?” I nodded, “Of course! He loves attention. Can’t really spoil him any more than he already is, y’know? Ain’t that right, buddy?” I ruffled his fur and squished his face, earning a lick. Crenirith looked wistfully at us, and her shaky voice rang out “Okay. What exactly are you proposing, mortal? I’m torn, honestly.”

I sat back, my hands behind me, bracing my weight. “Well, let’s see. I’m assuming you can change your shape, correct?” She nodded, eying me warily. “Well, we will start there. Rule Number One - You change your shape to be more human-like, with features I like, of course.” Her lip curled in disgust. “Rule Number Two - you live with me as my partner. Whether you, in truth, are or not. Appearances must be maintained. I can’t have a beautiful woman living with me in my small home without attracting gossip. And trust me, that’s the last thing you want.” She nodded, “Rule Number Three - you shall not harm me in any way, nor through inaction cause harm to come to me.” Her lip curled, but she nodded, “Rule Number Four - you will help me to find a better way to support us all. If you’re going to live with me, I’m assuming you have to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, all that stuff. I have to provide for you. No offense, My Lady, but I don’t think you would survive very long in the workforce. We might find something for you to do to alleviate any boredom, but I don’t think you’ll find much gainful employment.” She bristled at my statement at first, then nodded. “I concede that point, mortal,” She sighed “I may be a demon, but that is precisely what will keep me as an outcast among your kind.” I nodded my assent. “True. There will always be some, however, that you’ll mesh with. Always are. And this brings me to my final point.” Her ears perked up, “Rocky, will, at some point, die of old age. This is the way of life.” I sniffled, recalling how close I’d come to losing him after my entire family had died so close together, “By then, I’ll be better able to deal with it, and after a time, I’ll wind up getting another dog.” I looked at her, then. “Rule Number Five - you’ll always have a dog to pet and play with. I swear it. It is the absolute least I can do. I love dogs, and want to always have at least one.” She snapped her face towards me. “Wait. At least? You mean you can have more?” I looked at her, shocked. “Well, yeah. You can have as many dogs as you can care for.” She smiled, full of glee. “For that, mortal, I would call you Master.” I shivered at the thought. Regaining my control, I cleared my throat, calling her attention to me, but she could barely tear her eyes from my dog. “Yes?” I gazed into her electrifying eyes and shivered. “Answer me true, Crenirith.” She stiffened “Will you abide by the rules I have set forth?” She nodded, smiling this time.

I took my knife from its sheath, and held it before the circle. “I command you, Crenirith, to abide by the rules I have set forth, and to begin your new life by mine and Rocky’s side.” I struck down with the blade, severing the circle, and shattering the blade in an explosion of smoke. Once it cleared, standing before me was a woman of the utmost beauty, who extended her hand to me. “Hello, Master. I am yours.”

I shook my head, and kissed her hand. “Let’s go home. Pick him up, he loves being held.” She squealed with glee and scooped Rocky up, nuzzling into his fur, and followed me to my car.