Albert ARIBAUD ✎
(foreword)
In 2025 I took part in #AuGHOST by writing a short story in daily installment, which you can read here starting at https://mastodon.art/@aaribaud/114952924076250551 or as a whole on my website at https://albert.aribaud.net/en/writing/deal-with-the-devil/.
My #AuGHOST2026 story is a (loose) followup on that previous story.
So if you want to avoid spoilers, do go read the 2025 one first!
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
AWOL
Hi! I'm Lisa (pronounced "lissa"), sole daughter of Lilith and Satan, thus part succubus, part demon. Afraid this shows in my fashion sense. Deal with it.
I live in the mortal plane, I can go Down There, and ascend to the ethereal plane, but not Up There.
Last year, Fred's soul went AWOL and I had to go to Hell and back *twice* to heal him. That was a breeze…
… Also: in all probability, I'll be killed within the hour.
Welcome in my world!
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Vigil
I was attending the death vigil of a family friend. I mean I've know his family for generations. I've even… known… some of his ancestors. Not him, though. Just didn't happen.
When his soul left his body, it looked at me. Then *screamed*. Then flew Up.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Inherit
Departing souls usually don't scream. I should go Up There and ask this one what caused it to freak out like this.
Except I did inherit Mother's permanent Heaven ban (which I hate because I don't think she or I did anything wrong).
On the other hand, Father can talk to the Creator, or try to, at least.
I guess I'll have to pay him a visit and ask him to intercede.
That ugly bastard will *gloat*.
Yeah, we're a happy family.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Selfish
I can't believe it! He made me promise to take Lilith — Mother — with me on the mortal plane for one whole week!
The worst part is, it's not even selfish. He did it for her, not himself. He'd do anything for her.
But hey, he's sent a request Upward on my behalf, so there's that. He even agreed to ask them to send their answer directly back down to me, so that I won't need another round trip Down. How they'll do is anyone's guess, he said.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Haunt
As all I could do was wait, I went home, where a ghost was circling my flat's living room. I recognized Thorne's soul.
'You're supposed to suffer in Hell, not haunt me.'
'I was released with an answer for you.'
'Makes sense. So, what did my friend's soul see?'
'Impending death for you.'
'Can't say I'm surprised. Is your former host up to something?'
'I don't know.'
'How about we go visit him?'
'I am not allowed to.'
Oh well.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Selfless
The butler let me in without even a word and led me to the study where Thorne was at his desk reading some papers.
'I'm just passing by. Are you scheming to get back at me?'
He looked up.
'Still to the point, I see. No, I am not. After I lost my soul, I soon lost all personal motive. My… selfless… self… has no interest in payback any more, nor in anything about me, really. I still manage the estate only so that its employees remain paid.'
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Burnout
Thorne seemed to have weathered the loss of his soul.
At least he was in better shape than Fred, who had tried to cope with loss *then* recovery of his soul by throwing himself into work, and ended up with a burnout, and last I knew, was finding confort with some sort of guru.
Still, it was probably best if I went and checked with him. After all, if I was in danger, maybe he was, too.
... or he wasn't and I was going to draw danger to him.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Dishonest
Although... I make it sound like I've got nothing to do with Fred's current sorry state, and that's dishonest.
To bring his soul back, I had to make it succumb to my succubus self. I promised him I wouldn't, er, do my part. I also told him we'd talk about it later.
But I never did. I left him with the dangling prospect of me potentially snatching his soul from his trembling fingers, so to speak.
That probably didn't help.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Payback
Should death do us part, as it were, I owed Fred a talk about us.
And anyway, the Thorne payback dead end didn't leave me much else to do.
If found Fred at his place, with his "spiritual guide", who introduced himself as Saint-Germain. Either this guy was several hundred years old and very well preserved, or that was an assumed name.
Before I could even suggest a private talk, Fred told me Saint-Germain knew all about us.
... Ah.
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Arrested
So I told them about my friend's soul's scream and my "impending death".
'The *Malleus* and the *Formicarium* only say how to repel a Succubus,' said Saint-Germain, 'but I've been told the *Fortalitium* lists ways to kill one. Well, "to have one arrested", but that would *mean* "to kill".'
'Didn't know that about the third one. *Ways*, you say? Hmm. I was aware of only one way to kill me, and I am pretty sure no one can use it against me.'
Albert ARIBAUD ✎
Morgue
'I don't get it,' Fred interrupted *can* you, or *can't* you be killed?
'Killing me *is* possible, but that requires using a specific thing which I'm positive no one has.'
'How can you be so sure?'
'Because it's one of a kind and right now it's in a dressing drawer in my flat, and because anyone trying to lay their hands on it without my leave would need to be insanely skilled at magic, lest they get a free ticket to the nearest morgue.'
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