Child of Pleasure:

Simone’s Notes:

The Nephilim were offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge according to Genesis 6:4; the name is also used in reference to giants who inhabited Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13:33. A similar biblical Hebrew word with different vowel-sounds is used in Ezekiel 32:27 to refer to dead Philistine warriors. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon gives the meaning of Nephilim as "giants." Many suggested interpretations are based on the assumption that the word is a derivative of Hebrew verbal root n-ph-l "fall." Robert Baker Girdlestone argued the word comes from the Hiphil causative stem, implying that the Nephilim are to be perceived as "those that cause others to fall down." Adam Clarke took it as a perfect participle, "fallen," "apostates." Ronald Hendel states that it is a passive form "ones who have fallen," equivalent grammatically to paqid "one who is appointed", asir, "one who is bound," etc. According to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon, the basic etymology of the word Nephilim is "dub[ious]," and various suggested interpretations are "all very precarious."

Hughes doesn’t know how to handle this. Gracia’s belly grew with each passing month. He didn’t even want to call that “child” inside his. Yet, he has no choice, but to keep it. His family’s life is in danger.

Someone is following them. He hasn’t met them yet. They only make themselves known through messages in the mail and his nightmares. Hughes doesn’t know how to handle it. He can’t seem to call for help either.

“If you tell a soul, I will kill your daughter!”

Hughes can’t take this anymore and decides to fight back. Only problem is that he doesn’t know how. That is until tonight.

He waited outside of his house, lantern in hand. The colonel gritted his teeth. Come out show yourself! I won’t take you tormenting my face. Come out and face me! The sound of giggling floated behind him. Hughes whipped around in the darkness. A girl about nineteen grinned at him. He could tell by the mark on her neck what her true nature was.

“You’re one of them, aren’t you?” he hissed. The woman’s razor-sharp fangs could put the fear of death of him.

“Why do you ask?” she asked.

“Answer the question!” he snapped. The succubus giggled at him.

“Fine, yes I am,” she said.

“What do you want with me?” Hughes asked. She sailed in close to his face.

“You have something that belongs to me,” the woman whispered.

“So, how do I give it back?” he asked. The succubus smiled as she patted him on the head.

“Silly, silly boy,” she said. “These things cannot be rushed. My gift has to come out the natural way.”

“Come out the natural wa…” Hughes began to say. The realization came to him in an ugly way. “No!”

“Oh yes,” the woman told him. “I can’t bear children myself. So, I need a human surrogate to do the work with me. Besides, I can’t bear the thought of being pregnant.”

“But why?” Hughes asked.

“Why?” the succubus asked. “Because I’m too sexy for all of that and I’ve a reputation to keep up with all of the men. Sometimes the women too.”

“No, I mean, why my wife?” Hughes asked. The woman gave him a blank stare at first.

“Huh? Oh, that!” she said. “Well, you and she are perfect for my plans. So, be good and follow along with the show.” The woman passed his ear and left behind another chilling message.

“If you harm my child, I will kill yours!”

Hughes has not been fine ever since.