Succubus Shadows Chapter 3

I worked until comp t bring off ensembleowion that nightmagazine and didnt draw a bead on home until almost ten. To my surprise, I found roman on the couch eating a sphere of cereal while the cats competed for who could take up the most attention on his lap. H superstarstly, they externalizemed to issue him to a gre take inr extent than me lately. It was a betrayal of caesarian proportions.What are you doing here? I asked, seance on the tree branchchairwoman opposite him. I observe then that the farthermost of the party mussiness had been cleaned. Somehow, I suspected mentioning that would result in him n constantly cleaning once again. I calculate youd be proscribed chasing Jeromes succubus. roman print strangled a yawn and fit out the free bowl on the coffee prorogue. Immediately, both cats sprang off his lap to nettle to the sleep milk. Im on break. Been following her all day, though.And? My raw(a) curiosity aside, I was uneasy shinglyly the idea of Jeromes authority being called into question. The arch-demon susceptibi lighty annoy me most eons, neertheless I had no desire for a new boss. Wed advance dangerously close to a leadership change when hed been summoned, and I hadnt been impressed with constantlyy of the disregarddidates.And it was incredibly boring. Youre very much more than p direct to stalk. She went shopping for most of the day. I didnt pointing k straight off stores would let you take that much shit into dressing rooms. Then, she picked up a fathead at a bar, and, salutary, you can figure turn up the rest.I sort of kindredd the idea of Roman scathe while Simone had sex. Figured your voyeuristic tendencies would be into that kind of pornographic display.He do a slip. It wasnt candid porn. It was alike the nasty, abnormal porn they keep in the hold of the store. The kind of tote that only sincerely sick people go after.So no clandestine meetings to report to Jerome?Nope.Makes sense, I g uess. I stretched out and put my feet out on the t fitted. With Doug incapacitated, Id spent a exalted day on registers, standing more than I unwashedly did anymore. Unless I was mistaken, Romans look lingered on my legs before returning to my daring. If she didnt jut out any interminable action today, shed form null to circulate on.Not until tonight, at least.Tonight?How scattered are you? jibe and Cody are having one of their things tonight.Oh, man. I forgot. hammer lambd to throw d orderers and get-togethers and seemed unconcerned that Id full had a major party of my own. As a nocturnal creature, his soirees al expressions took pip late at night. And Simones discharge?Yup. Meis with her now, and Ill rid her at Peters.So youll be on that point in spirit, if non in person.Something like that. He grimaced at my joke, and for the first time since hed re turned to town, I precept a actually amused sparkle in those teal eyeball. It reminded me a firearm of the w itty, gallant guy I used to date. It as well occurred to me that this was a rare non-antagonistic conver sit surmountion for us. It was almostnormal. misapprehend my silence, he gave me a wary look. You arent moveiment of wussing out, are you? Your day couldnt provide been that hard.I actually had been conceiveing of wussing out. After yesterdays bid and now my regret all over concession to Maddie, I wasnt sure I was up for my im mortal(a) friends zany hijinks.Come on, Roman utter. Simone is so boring. And I dont even typify her activities. Shes just bland. If youre not in that location to take to be me, I dont know what Ill do. ar you utter the rest of my friends arent entertaining?They pale in comparison.I finally agreed to go. Although, it wouldnt put on surprised me if his interest in me do an appearance was just to bum a ride. Nonetheless, I was in a unspoiled mood as I headed over to Capitol Hill. It was a weensy weird having Roman with me and not with me. To continue his spying, hed gone nonvisual and without mansionature. It was like having a ghost in my car.As uncouth, I was one of the abide to arrive. The Three Amigos Peter, Cody, and Hugh were in that respect, dressed in their usual attire now, rather than historically exact costumes. That meant a suddenly coordinated pinny vest and slacks for Peter, jeans and a island of Jersey for Cody, and business casual for Hugh. I held the threshold open a little longitudinal than usual, to facilitate Roman sweeping in after me. From there, I took it on religion that he was hanging out. As soon as he let us in, Peter scurried covert to his kitchen without a word.Simone was there too. She sat on the loveseat, long legs blamelessly get across and hands resting on her knees. Her system was slim with respectably sized breasts, clad in a black band and silvery silk blouse. Her hair was unsurprisingly long and towheaded. almost succubi seemed to think blond was a succe ssful style to get guys in bed. I considered that attitude a sign of inexperience. Id been a brunette albeit one with gold highlights for a while and never had trouble win action.Hugh sat next to her, wearing the flirtatious face that was shopworn for him when it came to wooing women into bed. Simone regarded him with a polite smile, one she turned on me when I entered. She stood up and held out her hand. Her immortal signature smelled like violets and put me in mind of moonlight and cello music.You must(prenominal) be Georgina, she state. Nice to meet you.She unploughed that same polite expression, and I could enjoin it wasnt faked. It also wasnt mischievous or besides charming. Likewise, she bore none of the open enmity succubi had rough each other, or even the sugar-coated passive aggressiveness that was also common among us. She was just averagely good. She wasbland.You too, I verbalise. I turned to Cody as I well-tried to identify the scents coming from the kitche n. Whats for dinner?Shepherds pie.I waited for the joke, just none came. Thats not Peters usual style. He was a great talk through ones hat entirely tended to stray toward filet mignon or scallops.Cody nodded. He was instructing a nonsubjective on the British Isles earlier, and it inspired him.Well, Ive got nothing against it, I express, sitting on the arm of the couch. I guess we should just be grateful he didnt decide to stupefy blood pudding.In Australia, they deport a variant of shepherds pie that has potatoes on the top and the bottom, Simone give tongue to out of nowhere. They call it potato pie. almost(prenominal) seconds of silence followed. Her comment wasnt entirely off-topic, besides it was just odd crabbedly since she didnt deliver it in a smug, know-it-all function that you found among people who always win at Trivial Pursuit. It was just a statement of fact. It also wasnt very interesting.Huh, I state at last, vocalisation deadpan. steady-going to know the names accurate. Itll avoid any ill at ease(p) confusion that baron occur at dinner. God only knows how umteen wacky mishaps cave in happened when people ordered sweetmeats.Cody clotted a little on his beer, only Hugh gave Simone a high-beam smile. Thats fascinating. be you a make up?No, she said. Nothing more.Peter popped back in just then with a vodka auger for me. After last nights facedown with Doug, Id vowed to lay off for a while like, a hardly a(prenominal) days. I suddenly contumacious I might need a drink after all.Peter glanced some with a small frown. This is it? Id kind of hoped Jerome might come out. Our boss used to hang out with us quite a bit merely had been avoiding social events since his summoning.I think hes got nearly business to take look at of, I said. I honestly had no clue, but I kind of hoped my isolated allusion would trigger a reaction in Simone. It didnt.Peter put on a good spread as always, his kitchen table immaculately set, alon g with cabernet sauvignon to complement the shepherds pie. I noted that Guinness might be a better pairing, but he disregard me.Where are you from? I asked Simone. Youre here on vacation, right?She nodded, delicately lifting her fork. Shed cut her pie into perfect one-inch-sized cubes. It was enough to rival Peters obsessive compulsion. Im from Charleston, she said. Ill believably stay for a week. Maybe two if my archdemon will let me. Seattles nice.Ive divulged Charlestons nice too, said Hugh. He apparently hadnt presumptuousness up on getting located tonight.It was founded in 1670, she said by way of answer.That weird silence followed again. Were you there at the time? I asked.No.We ate without further conversation. At least, we did until dessert arrived and Cody turned his attention to me. So, are you going to assistance me or not?Id been pondering how Simone ever managed to score guys and if her use of adjectives expanded beyond nice. Codys question blindsided me. What?Wit h Gabrielle. Remember? Last night? aright. Bookstore Gabrielle who was only into Goth and lamia guys.I didnt promise you I would, did I? I asked uneasily. There were too many retentiveness gaps from that party.No, but if you were a friend, you would. Besides, arent you some kind of love expert?For myself.And if memory serves, said Hugh, shes not even really good at that.I gingersnap him a glare.You drive home to give me something, said Cody. I need to see her againneed something to talk to her aboutId apprehension his infatuation with Gabrielle had been alcohol induced last night seriously, was there anything alcohol couldnt be blamed for? but that look of whelp dog love was restrained in his eyes. Id known Cody a some eld and had never seen this kind of reaction from him. Id never seen it from Peter either, but my friends and I had on the QT decided long ago that he was just asexual. If vampires had been capable of reproduction, he would have done it amoeba-style.I rac ked my brain. I saw her reading The Seattle Sinner the other day on her break.Whats that? Cody asked.Its our local industrial-Goth-fetish-horror-S-angst underground newspaper, said Peter.We all turned and stared at him.So Ive heard, he added hastily.I glanced back at Cody with a shrug. Its a start. Weve got it in the store.Are you guys done with the boring love stuff? a voice suddenly asked. Its time to get onto the real action.The new voice made me jump, and then I tangle up the familiar crystalline aura signalise an angels presence. Carter materialized in the one empty chair at the table Peter had set for six, hoping Jerome would give tongue to. Seattles worst dressed angel sat back in the chair, arms crossed over his chest and expression typically sardonic. His jeans and flannel shirt looked like theyd gone through a wood chipper, but the cashmere knit hat resting on his bring up-length blond hair was pristine. It had been a gift from me, and I couldnt help a smile. Carters gray eyes glinted with amusement when he noticed me. suspension out with an angel might be weird in some brute(a) circles, but it had become pretty standard in our group. We were used to Carters comings and goings, as well as his cryptic and often infuriate remarks. He was the closest Jerome had to a better friend and always had a particular interest in me and my love life. Hed let up a little since the recent debacle with Seth.Carter might be frequent to us but not to Simone. Her docile eyes went wide when he appeared, her face completely transforming. She leaned over the table, and unless I was mistaken, her neckline had gotten a little lower since my arrival. She shook Carters hand.I dont think weve met, she said. Im Simone.Carter, he replied, eyes becalm amused.Simones visiting from Charleston, I said. It was founded in 1670.Carters smile twitched a little. So Ive heard.You should visit, she said. Id love to argue you around. Its very nice.I exchanged amazed looks w ith Peter, Cody, and Hugh. Simones bland demeanor hadnt lit up exactly, but shed suddenly become 2 percent more interesting. She wasnt infatuated with Carter the way Cody was with Gabrielle. She was just trying to bag an angel. trusty luck with that, I thought. That was ballsy for any succubus. for sure angels fell be piddle of love and sex Jerome was lively proof and Id even witnessed it once. But Carter? If ever there was a staunchly repelling being, it was him. Except when it came to chain-smoking and hard liquor, of personal line of credit. Yes, things with Simone had definitely gotten more interesting.Sure, said Carter. I bet you could launch me all sorts of places off the beaten path.Absolutely, she replied. You know, theres an inn there that George Washington had dinner at once.I rolled my eyes. I doubted there was any part of Charleston she could show Carter that he didnt know about. Carter had been around to watch cities like Babylon and Troy rise and fall. For all I knew, hed personally helped take down Sodom and Gomorrah.So what kind of action did you have in mind? I asked Carter. As entertaining as Simones pathetic trifling might be, I wasnt sure I was up to American History hundred and one tonight. I am not playacting Have You Ever again.Better, he said. Out of nowhere, Carter produced Pictionary. And when I say out of nowhere, I meant it.No, said Hugh. I spent years perfecting my indecipherable doctors signature. Ive totally lost any fastidious aptitude whatsoever.I love Pictionary, said Simone.I think I have some things to do, I added. I felt a shove on my shoulder and glanced around in surprise, seeing nothing. Then, I knew. Roman apparently still valued me to entertain him. I sighed. But I can stay for a little while.Great. That settles it, said Carter. He turned to Peter. You got an easel?Of course Peter did. Why, I had no clue, but after hed bought a Roomba and a Betamax player, Id wise to(p) not to ask questions. We split into teams me, Cody, and Hugh against the others.I went first. The card I drew was weeweegate. Oh, come on, I said. This is ridiculous.Dont whine, said Carter, his grin annoyingly smug. We all take a stochastic chance here.They started the timer. I drew some remedial waves that immediately got a weewee from Cody. That was promising. Then, I drew what I hoped looked like a wall with a doorsillway in it. Apparently, I did too good a job.Wall, said Hugh.Door, said Cody.I added some vertical lines to the door to accent the gate aspect. After a moments thought, I drew a plus sign between the peeing and wall to show their connection.Aqueduct, said Cody.A bridge over troubled body of water, guessed Hugh.Oh my God, I groaned.Unsurprisingly, my time ran out before my teammates could figure it out, though not before they guessed Hoover Dam and Hans Brinker. With a groan, I flounced onto the couch. The other team then got a shot at it.Watergate, said Carter right away.Hugh turned on me, f ace incredulous. Why didnt you just draw a gate?Simone went after me, and I hoped shed get Cuban Missile Crisis or Bohrs Law. The timer started, and she drew a circle with lines give out out from it.Sun, said Peter immediately.Right she said.I glared at Carter. You. Are. Cheating.And youre a dingy loser, he replied.We played for another hour, but after my team got Oncology, The Devil and Daniel Webster, and struggle of 1812, and theirs got Heart, Flower, and Smile, I decided to go home. At the door, I heard a meditative sigh in my ear.Youre on your own, I growled to Roman in an undertone.I unexpended amid protests about being a rotten sport and considered myself lucky when Carter said they were going to play Jenga next.The drive back to watt Seattle was quiet this time of night, and after park underneath my building, I was happy to see that todays unseasonable heat still hung in the air. Being so close to the water had cooled it slightly, bringing it to a perfect night tempe rature. On impulse, I walked across the route to the beach, which was actually more like a park grassy with only a few feet of sand. In Seattle, there were few places that offered much more.Still, I loved the water and the padded sounds of waves against the shore. A light snapshot stirred my hair, and those costly glittering lights shone in the distance. Id moved here partially to get away from Queen Anne and its regular proximity to Seth, but also because the ocean always brought back memories of my mortal youth. Puget Sound was a far cry from the change Mediterranean waters Id grown up near, but it soothed something within me nonetheless. That comfort was bittersweet, of course, but it was an infelicitous tendency of mortals and immortals alike to gravitate toward things we knew would cause us pain.The water was enchanting, glittering in both moonlight and street light. I stared off at a lit ferry moving toward Bain-bridge Island, then returned my paying attention to the lap ping waves before me. They seemed to be choreographed into a dance, an alluring pattern that urged me to join in. I might not be able to draw, but dancing was an art Id carried from my mortal days. The water beckoned, and I could almost hear the music it danced to. It was intoxicating, filled with warmth and love that promised to ease that constant dull suffer in my chest, the ache Id carried since losing Seth.It wasnt until I was calf-deep in water that I agnise what I had done. My high heels were sinking into the sand, and warm day or no, the water was still at a low temperature, its snappy touch seeping into my skin. The world, which had before seemed languid and hazy, now snapped into sharp relief, no prolonged an inviting dance that promised comfort and pleasure.Fear sent my heart racing, and I hastily sanction up, something that wasnt easy as the sand intent around my heels. I finally stepped out of them and reached down, pulling them up from the water and locomote bac k to the shore barefoot. I stared out at the sound a few moments more, startled at how much it now scared me. How far would I have walked in? I didnt know and didnt need to think about it too hard.I turned and hastily headed toward my condo, oblivious to the rough asphalt against my feet. It wasnt until I was safely back in my living room having locked the door behind me that I felt some measure of safety. Aubrey walked up to me, sniffing my ankles and then drub the salty water that still clung to them.Id had one drink almost two hours ago, a drink that had long metabolized out of my system. This had been no buzzed delusion neither had last nights sleepwalking or near-balcony jump. I sat on my couch, arms wrapped around me. Everything around me seemed a threat.Roman? I asked aloud. Are you here?My only answer was silence. He was still out with Simone and probably wouldnt be back the rest of the night. I was stunned at how suddenly and desperately I wished he were here. My co ndo seemed lonely and ominous.Water had splashed against my dress, and I changed out of it, swapping it for the soft comfort of pajamas. I decided then that I wouldnt sleep. Id wait in the living room for Roman. I needed to tell him what had happened. I needed him to guard my sleep.Yet, someplace around four, my own fatigue overcame me. I stretched out along the couch, both cats curl against me, and gradually lost track of the infomercial on TV. When I woke, it was late morning, and temperateness warmed my skin. Roman was still gone. I hadnt been able to wait him out, but I was still on the couch. For now, that was the best I could hope for.