Crimson Hunger: The Defective Succubus Chapter 1

"My customized succubus has been with me for a month, and he won’t let me touch him. What’s going on?"

I frowned as I typed the message to customer service. The representative was perfectly polite.

"Oh, sweetie, the succubi in our shop are usually practically begging to glue themselves to their owners. This sounds like a defect! We can absolutely process an exchange for you. A new model will arrive in about a week."

I looked over at Silas. He was designed exactly to my specifications, a perfect ten in my eyes. I decided to observe him a little longer before committing to the exchange.

He was too perfectly tailored to my tastes to give up easily.

But at a family dinner, I caught my customized succubus having an undeniable biological reaction to my step-sister sitting across from us.

It was only then that a dazed memory surfaced—the day the package arrived, it was my step-sister who had opened the crate for me.

That night, I contacted customer service again.

"Is the new one still arriving in a week? Go ahead and process that creation order for me."

* * *

Silas’s eyes were rimmed with red, his brow furrowed as if fighting against his absolute limit.

Over the past few days, he had grown increasingly weak. He sat on the edge of my bed, panting heavily, while I flipped through the Succubus Handbook.

"It says right here that the only way to satisfy the hunger is..."

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"It’s not like it wouldn't make you feel better."

I reached my hand out toward his collar. Right below his neck, on his collarbone, was a small, vivid red mole that rose and fell with his ragged breathing. It was incredibly alluring.

Just as I was about to touch it, he shoved me away violently.

I looked at my pale wrist, now blooming with a red mark from his grip, and frowned slightly.

He still wouldn't let me touch him.

"I’m sorry. Instinctive reaction," he said, his gaze deep and unreadable as he stared at me. "I’m going to take a cold shower."

Watching his retreating figure, I pulled out my phone and contacted customer service.

I had bought Silas a month ago.

I had spent a fortune to have him specially customized to my exact preferences. I had waited a full year for him to finally arrive.

But the ironic part was, even though succubi were supposed to derive sustenance from their masters to feel full, he refused to let me touch him, no matter what.

"Why is my succubus so different from the others? He’s clearly miserable, but he refuses to let me touch him."

Listening to the roar of the shower from the bathroom, I waited for customer service to reply.

"Hi there, sweetie! Did you bind the contract with him?"

I looked at the handbook. How could I make such a stupid mistake?

"The very first night I brought him home, I pulled him into the contract."

The other end was silent for a long time before replying.

"That shouldn't be happening, sweetie. The succubi from our shop are all professionally trained to be top-tier clinger types. They usually hate being separated from their masters for even a second."

I was getting anxious.

"Do you think I’m lying to you?"

The rep answered patiently.

"Please don't worry, sweetie. Tell you what, ship him back to us. I’ll have the creation department start a new build for you. The new succubus will arrive in about 7 days."

Almost exactly as that message popped up, the bathroom door opened.

Silas was wrapped in a single white towel. Water dripped from his wet hair, sliding down his angular cheeks, over his chest, down his abs, and disappearing beneath the towel.

I swallowed hard.

He was absolutely my type. He was literally tailor-made for me. And it turned out, he was broken.

"I’ll observe him for a little longer. If it doesn't get better, I’ll consider sending him in for repairs."

Customer service meant 'scrapping' him, which felt like such a waste.

"Alright, sweetie. Just message me if you have any other issues! XOXO!"

I locked my phone. Looking at the man's pale face and crimson-rimmed eyes, I felt a twinge of pity.

"I just asked customer service, and they said this situation has never happened before..."

I looked at him sympathetically. How did such a perfect specimen end up sick? He looked healthy enough on the outside.

His hand paused as he dried his hair. His dark eyes held no emotion when he looked at me. He was completely unlike the advertisements I had seen, where a succubus's eyes would light up like stars when looking at their master.

"If you still can't accept it in a few days, I’m taking you in for exchanges."

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as he nodded.

I felt a bit aggrieved. Having delicious food right in front of me that I couldn't eat was miserable.

I got up and left the room.

The only reason I bought a succubus was that I enjoyed that sort of dynamic.

My phone rang—it was my dad. I answered irritably.

"Your grandmother misses you again. When are you coming home?"

I knew it was an excuse. The one who missed me was clearly him.

My dad was a total helicopter parent. If he didn't see me for two days, he acted like the world was ending.

I rubbed my temples.

"Fine, I know. I’ll head over in a bit..."

I turned around and froze. Silas was already packing his bags.

"You... really like going to the family estate?"

I hadn't even hung up the phone, and he was already packed.

His hand paused, but he didn't say anything. I didn't think much of it at the time.