Succubus Shadows Chapter 2

I tossed and good saturnine the rest of the night. universe visited by a preternatural supernatural force will do that to you. Besides, I had never to the full recovered from the while an ber-powerful entity of chaos had merged with me in my relief and sucked a steering my energy. Her name was Nyx, and delay Id heard, she was impris geniusd. Still, what shed through to me and what shed shown me had left a lasting impression. The fact that papistic couldnt identify what had happened tonight was a microscopical unnerving.So, I woke up bleary-eyed, sporting a massive doubtfulnessache that was probably equal parts hangover and sleep deprivation. Succubi had the rapid healing that all immortals possessed, which meant I must welcome seriously screwed myself up to put up these persist effects. I knew the gafferache would pass shortly, but I took rough ibuprofen to help the process.The condo was softened when I shuffled into the kitchen, and despite my efforts to clean up the food last night, I was still surrounded in the tattered and worn- go forth feel that keep uped most parties. Godiva, curled up on the ass of the couch, lifted her head at my arrival, but Aubrey continued sleeping undisturbed in her spot on an armchair. I started some c pipee and then wandered over to my patio, staring out at the sunny day and the Seattle skyline on the other side of the gray-blue water stretching slay before me.A familiar sen sit downion suddenly swept me, like brimst unmatched and red-hot needles. I sighed.Kind of early for you, isnt it? I subscribeed, not needing to turn around to k promptly Jerome, archdemon of the greater Seattle area and my infernoish old geezer, stood behind me.Its noon, Georgie, he replied dryly. The rest of the world is up and around.Its Saturday. The laws of time and space are different today. Noon qualifies as early.I turned around at last, largely because Id heard the coffee-maker finish. Jerome was leaning against my kitchen wall, immacu latelyly be obligateed as al focussings in a minacious designer suit. Also, like always, the demon looked exactly like a circa 1990s version of John Cusack. He could appear as anything or anyone he wanted in this world, but for reasons he kept vague, Mr. Cusack was his favorite(a) shape. Id gotten so apply to it that whenever Say Anything or Grosse Pointe Blank came on TV, I always had to pause and ask myself, Whats Jerome doing in this movie?I poured a cup of coffee and held up the pot by way of invitation. Jerome shook his head. I suppose, he utter, your roommate is also being a sloth and isnt actually out campaign errands?Thatd be my guess. I doused my coffee liberally with vanilla creamer. I used to kind of anticipate that when he wasnt around, it meant he was out sounding for a job. Turns out I was just setting myself up for disappointment.Honestly, I was glad it was roman letters that Jerome had come to jibe. When Jerome was looking for me, no good ever came of it. It always tended to progeny in some traumatic, world-threatening event in the immortal underground.I trudged back across the living room, noting that the cats had disappeared upon Jeromes arrival. cocoa still in hand, I headed to roman types room, knocking once before opening the door. I figured as landlady, I had that right. Also, Id found papistic had a remarkable ability to ignore knocking for large amounts of time.He was sprawled across his bed, wearing only a pair of navy blue boxers that gave me pause. As Id celebrated before, he was terribly good-looking, despite the prickly attitude hed had since moving in. Seeing him half-dressed always gave me a weird flashback to the one time wed slept to condenseher. Then, Id have to remind myself that he was probably plotting how to kill me. It went a long way to stifle any residual lust.Romans arm covered his eyes against the sunlight streaming through his window. He shifted, moving the arm slightly, and peered at me w ith one eye. Its early, he said.Not according to your exalted sire.A a few(prenominal) arcseconds passed, and then he grimaced as he too sense Jeromes immortal signature. With a sigh, Roman sat up, pausing to rub his eyes. He looked about as exhausted as I felt, but if thither was one force in this world that could drag him out of bed after a late night, it was my boss no matter Romans bold claims from last night. He staggered to his feet and moved past me in the doorway.Arent you spill to get dressed? I exclaimed.Romans only answer was a disinterested wave of his hand as he headed down the hall. I followed him back and discovered Jerome pouring himself a mug of some vodka leftover from last night. Well, it was five oclock somewhere. He arched an eyebrow when he saw Romans s corporationtily clad state.Nice of you to dress up.Roman made a beeline for the coffee. solitary(prenominal) the best for you, Pop. Besides, Georgina likes it.A moment of heavy silence followed as Jeromes dark eyes studied Roman. I knew nothing about Romans mother, but Jerome was the demon who had fa in that locationd him thousands of years ago. Techni remembery, Jerome had been an holy man at the time, but making the moves on a human had got him fired from Heaven and sent off to work for those down below. No severance package.Roman occasionally made snide comments about their familial relationship, but Jerome never ack promptlyledged it. In fact, according to both Heaven and Hells rules, Jerome should have blasted Roman from the earth ages ago. Angels and demons considered nephilim unnatural and wrong and continually attempted to hunt them to extinction. It was kind of harsh, even with the sociopathic tendencies nephilim tended to have. Roman had been instrumental in saving Jerome recently, however, and the two had struck a deal that stomached Roman to live peacefully in Seattle for now. If any of Jeromes colleagues found out about this illicit arrangement, there would literally be hell to pay for all of us. A good succubus would have told on her rule-breaking boss.So what brings you here? asked Roman, puff up a chair. Want to toss the old football around?Jeromes face remained impassive. I have a job for you.Like one that pays the rent? I asked hopefully.Like one that ensures Ill continue to allow him to live in the lifestyle hes accustomed to, replied Jerome.Roman had an amused, devil-may-care smile on his face that was ordinary of him, but I wasnt fooled. He knew the threat Jerome represented and also knew that part of their deal involved Roman doing errands for his father. Still, Roman made a good show of acting like he was the one doing Jerome a favor. The nephilim gave an unconcerned shrug.Sure. Ive got nothing else going on today. Whats up?We have a new immortal visitor in town, said Jerome. If Romans attitude annoyed him, the demon was just as good at cover charge his feelings. A succubus.My removed, psychological study of father and son dynamics came to a screeching halt. What? I exclaimed, straightening up so quickly that I nearly spilled my coffee. I fantasy we were set after Tawny.Id worked the succubus facial expression solo around here for years until Jerome had acquired another one several months ago. Her name was Tawny, and while she was nettle and pretty inept as succubi went, there was still something rather endearing about her. Fortunately, Jerome had sent her off to Bellingham, keeping her a comfortable hour-and-a-half drive from me.Not that its any of your business, Georgie, but this ones not here to work. Shes hereas a visitor. On vacation. Jeromes lips twisted with bitter amusement.Roman and I exchanged looks. Immortals could certainly adjourn personal vacations, but clearly, there was more(prenominal) to this.And? asked Roman. Shes really here because?Because Im sure my superiors want to check up on me after the recentincident.His words were delicate, with a very subtle warning not to voluptuous on sai d incident. It was the one Roman and I had rescued him from a summoning that had imprisoned Jerome as part of a demonic power play. Letting yourself get summoned was embarrassing for a demon and could call his territorial control into question. Hell sending someone to survey the situation wasnt that crazy.You think shes spying to see if you can still run things? asked Roman.Im certain of it. I want you to follow her around and see who she reports back to. Id do it myself, but its better if I dont appear suspicious. So I need to stay visible.Lovely, said Roman, voice as dry as his fathers. Theres nothing I want to do more than spark advance a succubus around.From what I hear, youre pretty good at it, I piped in. It was true. Roman had stalked me invisibly a number of times. Lesser immortals like me couldnt hide the telltale signature that wreathed all of us, but Roman had inherited that ability from Jerome, making him the perfect spy.Roman shot me a wry look, then turned back to Je rome. When do I start?Immediately. Her name is Simone, and shes staying down at the Four Seasons. Go there and see what she does. Mei will relieve you off and on. Mei was Jeromes second-in-command demon.The Four Seasons? I asked. Is Hell pay for that? I mean, were in a recession. Jerome sighed. Hells never in a recession. And I didnt think your droll input started until after youd finished your coffee.I showed him my cup. It was empty.Jerome sighed again and then vanished without warning. He apparently had no doubts that Roman would follow his orders.Roman and I stood there for several quiet seconds, during which both cats re rebeld. Aubrey rubbed against Romans bare leg, and he scratched her head.Guess I should shower and get dressed, he said at last, rising to his feet.Dont trouble yourself, I said. And wont you be lightless anyway?He turned his back to me and walked off down the hallway. I was opinion of dropping off some job applications when Mei gives me a break.Liar, I sai d. I dont think he heard.It wasnt until the shower kicked on that I realized I should have asked Jerome about that weird sensation last night. It was so left over(p) I didnt even know how to describe it. The more I pondered it, the more I wondered if it had been alcohol-induced. Admittedly, Roman claimed hed sensed something, but hed drank as much as me.And speaking of jobsmy kitchen clock was telling me I needed to head off to mine. One thing about this condo was that the skyline view had come at the make up of work convenience. My old apartment had been in Queen Anne, the same neighborhood that Emerald City Books and Caf? resided in. I used to be able to walk to work, but that was impossible from West Seattle, meaning I had to allow change time.Unlike Roman, I had no need to physically shower and change not that I wouldnt have liked to. I found human routines comforting. A brief burst of succubus shape-shifting cleaned me up, putting me in a work-appropriate peach sundress and arranging my light brown hair into a loose bun. Roman didnt surface before I had to leave, so I grabbed another cup of coffee and left him a keep asking if it would kill him to take out the garbage before he went off to play clandestine agent.My headache and the last effects of the hangover were gone by the time I walked into the store. It was abuzz with late afternoon shoppers, people out running Saturday errands and tourists who had wandered over from the Space Needle and Seattle Center down the street. I dropped my purse off in my office and then did a managerial sweep of the store, satisfied that everything was running smoothly until I noticed we had a line of eight people and only one cashier. wherefore are you alone? I asked Beth. She was a long-time employee and a good one, answering my question without even looking up from her customers order.Gabrielles on break, and Doug isntfeeling well.Memories of the vodka competition came back to me. I grimaced, feeling both guilty and smug. Where is he?Over in erotica.I felt my eyebrows rise but said nothing as I turned away and walked across the store. Our small erotica section was bizarrely stuffed in between automotive and animals (amphibians, to be precise). And crammed in between the two shelves of the erotica section was Doug, sitting on the floor with his head resting facedown on his knees. I knelt beside him.Hair of the dog time? I asked.He lifted his head and brushed cutting hair out of his face. His expression was miserable. You cheated. Youre like half my size. How are you not in a unconsciousness?Older and wiser, I said. If only he knew just how old. I took hold of his arm and tugged it. Come on. Lets go to the caf? and get you some water.For a moment, he looked like hed resist, but a valiant effort soon followed. He even managed not to stagger too much as I led him to the stores second floor, which was half books and half coffee shop.I grabbed a bottle of water, told the barista Id pay for it l ater, and started to drag Doug to a chair. As I scanned around, I nearly came to a halt, causing poor Doug to stumble. Seth was sitting at a table, laptop spread open in front of him. This was his favorite place to write, which had been nice when we dated and now wasawkward. Maddie sat with him, purse in hand and light coat on. I recalled that we started at the same time today. She must have just arrived.They waved us over, and she gave her brother a chastising look. Serves you right.Doug took a long gulp of water. any(prenominal) happened to sisterly love?I still havent forgiven you for the time you shaved my dachshund.That was like twenty years ago. And that little bastard had it coming.I smiled out of habit. Doug and Maddies bantering was usually must-see TV for me. Today, Seth held my attention. It had been easier to ignore him last night while in the throes of alcohol, easy to pretend Id grudgingly accepted him moving on to Maddie. But now, in the cold light of sobriety, I felt that old ache stir within my chest. I swore I could smell the scent of his skin, his sweat mingled with the woodsy apple soap he used. Sunlight from the caf?s large windows infused his untidy brown hair with copper, and I could perfectly recall what it had been like to stroke the lines of his face, the smooth skin of his swiftness cheek and stubble on his chin.Looking up to his eyes, I was surprised to see his attention on me as the siblings continued their playful bickering. Id almost convinced myself last night that he only thought of me as a friend, but nownow I wasnt so sure. There was something warm there, something considering. Something I knew shouldnt be there. I suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that he might be retentivity the handful of times wed had sex. I was thinking of it too. My powers had been shut off when Jerome disappeared, and Seth and I had been able to have safe by which I meant, no succubus side effects sex.Except for one. Hed still been go out Maddie at the time, and cheating on her had tainted his soul with sin. That was worse than if Id sucked his energy away. As of this moment, Seth was a Hell-bound soul. He didnt realize that, but regret for betraying her was part of what had spurred him to a hasty engagement. He felt he owed her.The guilt forced me to look away from him, and I noticed then that Maddie and Doug had stopped their arguing. Maddie was glancing over at the coffee counter, but Dougs eyes were on me. They were bloodshot and weary, with heavy dark circles. But in the midst of that miserable, hungover lookthere was a glint of something puzzled and surprised.Work time, said Maddie cheerfully, standing up. She poked her brothers shoulder, making him rebound and turn his attention from me. I was glad. You going to survive your last couple hours?Yeah, he muttered, drinking more water.Go count inventory in the back, I told him, standing as well. I dont want customers thinking our staff cant hold their liquor. Theyd be over at the chain stores so fast, it wouldnt even be funny.Maddies lips quirked into a smile as her brother wearily rose to his feet. Hey, Georgina. Do you mind if Doug and I switch shifts on Tuesday? I need to go run some wedding errands during business hours.Doug cut her a look. When were you going to ask if I minded?Sure, I said, trying not to wince at the word wedding. You can work the night shift with me.You want to come along? she asked. You said you would.I did?Last night.I frowned. God only knew how many promises Id made and had now forgotten, thanks to vodka and weird magical forces. Vaguely, I recalled her display me wedding pictures. I think I have some errands of my own to run.One of the places is right around the corner from you, she urged.Maddie, said Seth hastily, clearly as uncomfortable with this change of topic as I was. If shes busy You cant be busy all day, Maddie begged. Please?I knew it was disastrous, knew it would be courting heart-ache and trouble. But Mad die was my friend, and the pleading look in her eyes did something to my insides. It was guilt, I realized. Guilt over how Seth and I had betrayed her. Her expression now was full of such faith and hope in me me, the best friend she had in Seattle and the only one she believed could help her plan this wedding.Which is why I found myself agreeing, just as I had last night. Only this time, I had no alcohol to blame. Okay.Guilt was probably the worst culprit of all when it came to stupid behavior.