Succubus Paramour

Andie Bates showing the evidence of Succubus Paramour
Series background
Power	Succubus Paramour
Type	Inherited Disorder
Effects	Similar to that of a Succubus Energy Drain Life Force Drain
Source	The Gates
First appearance	The Monster Within
Settings	The Gates
Mythological	Succubus

For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).

For more on The Gates television series, see The Gates.

For more on the character Andie Bates, see the entry Andie Bates.

For an in-depth discussion of Succubi in the television series The Gates, see Succubus (The Gates).

Succubus Paramour is a definition used in the ABC television series The Gates to indicate those individuals that are, in that series, Succubi. Specifically, the term was used by Doctor Peg to inform the father of Andie Bates that his daughter was in fact a Succubus.

Discussion

The term itself seems to be taken from the medival latin definition of the Latin succuba, from succubre, to lie under : sub-, sub- + cubre, to lie down, and paramour, to mean lover. So, the words Succubus Paramour should be translated as Succubus Lover to be correct.

However, in The Gates series, the term is used as a diagnostic tool in order to explain the condition that Andie Bates, a character in the series, is found to be in. The term is used several times in the series by different characters, including Andie herself, and must be taken to be said as the definition of a Succubus in this universe, rather than the term Succubus which is more commonly used.

Succubus Paramour, it seems, is a condition that can be detected by modern medicine in the series and therefore, we have to assume that it is a genetic disorder in that case and not, as is the traditional definition, connected to Lilith and those Succubi that are born from her. As such it appears to be an inherited disorder from the maternal side of a family as Andie Bates' mother had this disorder, but her father seemingly did not.

Regardless of this, the actual effects of Succubus Paramour are that the person with the condition seems to gain similar powers to that of a Succubus. They tend to be able to draw energy and life force from others, and over time they become addicted to doing so. It is possible for such "feeding" to result in injury to their victims or, if more energy is taken than is wise, their deaths.

It is unclear if this condition causes the taking of energy from others to be a means for survival or if the energy needed is sexual, or can be any kind of life force.

Minutia

Those suffering from Succubus Paramour it seems have a problem regulating energies within their bodies. Over an unknown amount of time, their bodies lose energy and they go out of balance. Eventually that balance swings to the point that they need to replace the lost energy or die.

As their need for that energy increases over time, it appears to make the evidence of their being a Succubus, that the black and green veins over their bodies, to increase dramatically. It is assumed that they do not have the power to alter their appearance, something the traditional Succubus can do. It also must be assumed that they do not have any kind of attractive powers to others, other than their appearance.

As well, it appears that they have no real effect on women, good or bad either. When they feed, they take the life force from their victim. This allows the Succubus to balance out her body's needs for energy making them feel rejuvenated. Their victim loses that energy and depending on how long they are intimate with the Succubus results in them feeling sick, passing out, or, in the worse case death.

As they feed, the black and green veins on their body transfer to the person they are feeding on, eventually covering their body completely. When the feeding ends, the veins disappear once the Succubus breaks contact with them. As well, the veins reduce upon the Succubus' skin to the point where they are barely noticeable once more.