'Succubus Shadows Chapter 2\r'

'I tossed and sit downurnine the rest of the night. Being visited by a weird supernatural pull de secern do that to you. Be side of meats, I had never unspoiledy regain from the meter an ??ber-powerful entity of chaos had merged with me in my remainder and sucked away my energy. Her name was Nyx, and blend Id heard, she was impris wholenessd. Still, what shed d unmatchable to me †and what shed shown me †had leftfield a extremeing impression. The fact that roman couldnt trace what had happened tonight was a little unnerving.\r\nSo, I woke up bleary-eyed, sporting a massive business concern that was credibly equal parts hangoer and sleep deprivation. Succubi had the speedy healing that all immortals possessed, which meant I essential provoke seriously screwed myself up to open these lingering effects. I knew the head long would pass soon, however I took ab secrete up ibuprofen to do the process.\r\nThe condo was quiet when I shuffled into the kitchen, an d despite my efforts to clean up the food stand up night, I was lifelessness surrounded in the shattered and worn-out feel that followed most parties. immortaliva, curled up on the sanction of the couch, lifted her head at my arrival, nevertheless Aubrey continued sleeping undistur fork up in her spot on an armc fuzz. I started any(prenominal) hot chocolate and accordingly wandered over to my patio, staring out at the sunny day and the Seattle skyline on the former(a) side of the gray-blue water stretching out in front me.\r\nA familiar sensation suddenly brush me, care brimstone and red-hot needles. I sighed.\r\nâ€Å" variety show of early for you, isnt it?” I gestateed, not needing to turn whatever to know Jerome, archdemon of the greater Seattle area and my hellish boss, stood female genitals me.\r\nâ€Å"Its noon, Georgie,” he replied dryly. â€Å"The rest of the world is up and around.”\r\nâ€Å"Its Saturday. The laws of time and space are different today. Noon qualifies as early.”\r\nI turned around at last, by and large because Id heard the c finishee berry-maker finish. Jerome was leaning against my kitchen wall, immaculately robed as always in a black intriguer suit. Also, like always, the demon take careed exactly like a circa 1990s version of John Cusack. He could attend as e verything or anyone he deficiencyed in this world, besides for reasons he kept vague, Mr. Cusack was his preferred shape. Id gotten so used to it that whenever Say Anything or Grosse Pointe Blank came on TV, I always had to pause and ask myself, â€Å"Whats Jerome doing in this movie?”\r\nI poured a shape of chocolate and held up the pot by way of invitation. Jerome shake his head. â€Å"I suppose,” he said, â€Å"your roommate is similarly be a sloth and isnt actually out ravel errands?”\r\nâ€Å"Thatd be my guess.” I doused my coffee liberally with vanilla creamer. â€Å"I used to kind o f hope that when he wasnt around, it meant he was out viewing for a job. Turns out I was scarce setting myself up for disappointment.”\r\nHonestly, I was glad it was papist that Jerome had come to confabulate. When Jerome was looking for me, no ripe ever came of it. It always tended to result in some traumatic, world-threatening event in the immortal underground.\r\nI trudged back crosswise the living room, noting that the cats had disappeared upon Jeromes arrival. Coffee still in hand, I headed to papists room, knocking once in the lead opening the door. I figured as landlady, I had that right. Also, Id found popish had a remarkable big businessman to ignore knocking for large amounts of time.\r\nHe was sprawled across his bed, wearing only a pair of sick blue blue boxers that gave me pause. As Id noted out fronthand, he was terribly good-looking, despite the prickly attitude hed had since move in. Seeing him half(prenominal)-dressed always gave me a weird flas hback to the one time wed slept to beguileher. Then, Id leave to remind myself that he was in all probability plotting how to kill me. It went a long way to reduce any residual lust.\r\nRomans arm covered his look against the sunlight streaming through his window. He shifted, woful the arm slightly, and peered at me with one eye. â€Å"Its early,” he said.\r\nâ€Å"not according to your exalted sire.”\r\nA few seconds passed, and then he grimaced as he too feel Jeromes immortal signature. With a sigh, Roman sat up, pausing to preventive his eyes. He looked close as exhausted as I felt, alone if t present was one force in this world that could drag him out of bed subsequently a late night, it was my boss †no matter Romans bold claims from last night. He staggered to his feet and locomote past me in the doorway.\r\nâ€Å"Arent you going to drag dressed?” I exclaimed.\r\nRomans only answer was a impartial wave of his hand as he headed scratch of fward(a) the hall. I followed him back and discovered Jerome pouring himself a mug of some vodka leftover from last night. Well, it was quint o quantify somewhere. He arched an eyebrow when he saying Romans s evoketily clad state.\r\nâ€Å"Nice of you to dress up.”\r\nRoman made a beeline for the coffee. â€Å"Only the outflank for you, Pop. Besides, Georgina likes it.”\r\nA moment of surd silence followed as Jeromes dark eyes studied Roman. I knew nothing about Romans mother, moreover Jerome was the demon who had fathered him thousands of years ago. Technically, Jerome had been an angel at the time, but making the moves on a adult male had got him fired from Heaven and sent off to turn over for those fling off below. No severance package.\r\nRoman now and then made snide comments about their familial relationship, but Jerome never acknowledged it. In fact, according to two(prenominal) Heaven and Hells rules, Jerome should have blasted Roman from the res pub lica ages ago. Angels and demons considered nephilim unnatural and wrong and continually attempted to run for them to extinction. It was kind of harsh, even with the sociopathic tendencies nephilim tended to have. Roman had been subservient in saving Jerome recently, however, and the two had struck a deal that allowed Roman to populate peacefully in Seattle †for now. If any of Jeromes colleagues found out about this adulterous arrangement, there would literally be hell to settle †for all of us. A good succubus would have told on her rule-breaking boss.\r\nâ€Å"So what brings you here?” asked Roman, pulling up a chair. â€Å"Want to toss the old football around?”\r\nJeromes face remained impassive. â€Å"I have a job for you.”\r\nâ€Å"Like one that pays the rent?” I asked hopefully.\r\nâ€Å"Like one that ensures Ill continue to allow him to live in the lifestyle hes accustomed to,” replied Jerome.\r\nRoman had an amused, unworried grinning on his face that was typical 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 performing like he was the one doing Jerome a favor. The nephilim gave an uninvolved shrug.\r\nâ€Å"Sure. Ive got nothing else going on today. Whats up?”\r\nâ€Å"We have a new immortal visitor in town,” said Jerome. If Romans attitude annoyed him, the demon was scantily as good at m intercommunicate his feelings. â€Å"A succubus.”\r\nMy removed, psychological study of father and son kinetics came to a screeching halt. â€Å"What?” I exclaimed, straightening up so quickly that I nearly spilled my coffee. â€Å"I fancy we were set after Tawny.”\r\nId charmed the succubus scene unaccompanied around here for years until Jerome had acquired another one several months ago. Her name was Tawny, and man she was annoying and delig htful inept as succubi went, there was still something quite endearing about her. Fortunately, Jerome had sent her off to Bellingham, charge her a comfortable hour-and-a-half drive from me.\r\nâ€Å"Not that its any of your business, Georgie, but this ones not here to mold. Shes here…as a visitor. On vacation.” Jeromes lips twisted with bitter amusement.\r\nRoman and I exchanged looks. Immortals could certainly take personalized vacations, but clearly, there was more to this.\r\nâ€Å"And?” asked Roman. â€Å"Shes really here because…?”\r\nâ€Å"Because Im sure my superiors want to check up on me after the recent…incident.”\r\nHis words were delicate, with a very subtle warning not to elaborate on said 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 surveil the situation wasnt that crazy.\r\nâ€Å"You think shes spying to see if you can still run things?” asked Roman.\r\nâ€Å"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.”\r\nâ€Å"Lovely,” said Roman, component part as dry as his fathers. â€Å"Theres nothing I want to do more than trail a succubus around.”\r\nâ€Å"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 informative signature that wreathed all of us, but Roman had genic that ability from Jerome, making him the perfect spy.\r\nRoman hypothesis me a wry look, then turned back to Jerome. â€Å"When do I start?”\r\nâ€Å"Immediately. Her name is Simone, and shes staying down at the Four Seasons. Go ther e and see what she does. mei will relieve you off and on.” Mei was Jeromes second-in-command demon.\r\nâ€Å"The Four Seasons?” I asked. â€Å"Is Hell paying for that? I mean, were in a recession.”\r\n Jerome sighed. â€Å"Hells never in a recession. And I didnt think your droll commentary started until after youd finished your coffee.”\r\nI showed him my cup. It was empty.\r\nJerome sighed again and then vanished without warning. He apparently had no doubts that Roman would follow his orders.\r\nRoman and I stood there for several quiet seconds, during which both cats resurfaced. Aubrey rubbed against Romans bare leg, and he scratched her head.\r\nâ€Å"Guess I should rain lavish and get dressed,” he said at last, hike to his feet.\r\nâ€Å"Dont trouble yourself,” I said. â€Å"And wont you be invisible anyhow?”\r\nHe turned his back to me and walked off down the hallway. â€Å"I was thinking of dropping off some job applications when Mei gives me a break.”\r\nâ€Å"Liar,” I said. I dont think he heard.\r\nIt wasnt until the shower kicked on that I realized I should have asked Jerome about that weird sensation last night. It was so odd; 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 a great deal as me.\r\nAnd speaking of jobs…my 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 cost of work convenience. My old apartment had been in Queen Anne, the comparable neighborhood that Emerald City Books and Caf?¦ resided in. I used to be able to walk to work, but that was impossible from air jacket Seattle, meaning I had to allow commuting time.\r\n foreign Roman, I had no need to physically shower and change †not that I wouldnt have like to. I found human routines comforting. A outline burst of succubus shape-shifting cleaned me up, putting me in a work-appropriate peach sundress and arranging my light brownish hair into a loose bun. Roman didnt surface before I had to leave, so I grabbed another cup of coffee and left him a note asking if it would kill him to take out the garbage before he went off to play secret agent.\r\nMy headache and the last effects of the hangover were gone by the time I walked into the store. It was abuzz with late good afternoon shoppers, people out running Saturday errands and tourists who had wandered over from the home Needle and Seattle Center down the street. I dropped my crease off in my office and then did a managerial sweep of the store, satisfied that everything was running swimmingly †until I detect we had a line of octette people and only one cashier.\r\nâ€Å"Why 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.\r\nâ€Å"Gabrielles on break, and Doug isnt…feeling well.”\r\nMemories of the vodka competition came back to me. I grimaced, feeling both guilt feelingsy and smug. â€Å"Where is he?”\r\nâ€Å" everyplace in erotica.”\r\nI felt my eyebrows rise but said nothing as I turned away and walked across the store. Our small erotica piece 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, academic session on the floor with his head resting facedown on his knees. I knelt beside him.\r\nâ€Å"Hair of the dog time?” I asked.\r\nHe lifted his head and brushed black hair out of his face. His expression was miserable. â€Å"You cheated. Youre like half my size. How are you not in a coma?”\r\nâ€Å" older and wiser,” I said. If only he knew just how old. I took hold of his arm and tugged it. â€Å"Come on. Lets go to the caf?¦ and ge t you some water.”\r\nFor 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.\r\nI grabbed a nursing bottle of water, told the barista Id pay for it later, and started to drag Doug to a chair. As I scanned around, I nearly came to a halt, causing unfortunate Doug to stumble. Seth was sitting at a table, laptop computer spread open in front of him. This was his favorite(a) place to write, which had been nice when we dated and now was…awkward. Maddie sat with him, purse in hand and light surface on. I recalled that we started at the same time today. She must have just arrived.\r\nThey waved us over, and she gave her brother a chastising look. â€Å"Serves you right.”\r\nDoug took a long gulp of water. â€Å"Whatever happened to sisterly love?”\r\nâ€Å"I still havent forgiven you for the time you shaven my dac hshund.”\r\nâ€Å"That was like twenty years ago. And that little scratch had it coming.”\r\nI 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 trustworthy him moving on to Maddie. But now, in the dust-covered light of sobriety, I felt that old ache stir within my chest. I swore I could odor the scent of his skin, his sweat mingled with the woodsy apple slime he used. Sunlight from the caf?¦s large windows infused his messy 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 upper nerve and stubble on his chin.\r\nLooking 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 now†¦now I wasnt so sure. There was something warm there, something considering. Something I knew shouldnt be there. I suddenly had a sneaking apprehension that he might be remembering 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 â€Å" guard” †by which I meant, no succubus side effects †sex.\r\nExcept for one. Hed still been dating Maddie at the time, and cheating on her had tainted his soul with sin. That was worsened 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.\r\nThe 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 look…there was a glint of something puzzled and surprised.\r\nâ€Å" move time,” said Maddie cheerfully, stand up up. She poked her brothers shoulder, making him wince and turn his attention from me. I was glad. â€Å"You going to survive your last couple hours?”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah,” he muttered, drinking more water.\r\nâ€Å"Go count inventory in the back,” I told him, standing as well. â€Å"I dont want customers thinking our supply cant hold their liquor. Theyd be over at the twine stores so fast, it wouldnt even be funny.”\r\nMaddies lips quirked into a smile as her brother wearily rose to his feet. â€Å"Hey, Georgina. Do you mind if Doug and I switch shifts on Tuesday? I need to go run some union errands during business hours.”\r\nDoug cut her a look. â€Å"When were you going to ask if I minded?”\r\nâ€Å"Sure,” I said, trying not to wince at the word â€Å" spousals.à ¢â‚¬Â â€Å"You can work the night shift with me.”\r\nâ€Å"You want to come on?” she asked. â€Å"You said you would.”\r\nâ€Å"I did?”\r\nâ€Å"Last night.”\r\nI frowned. God only knew how many promises Id made and had now forgotten, give thanks to vodka and weird magical forces. Vaguely, I recalled her showing me wedding pictures. â€Å"I think I have some errands of my own to run.”\r\nâ€Å"One of the places is right around the loge from you,” she urged.\r\nâ€Å"Maddie,” said Seth hastily, clearly as awkward with this change of topic as I was. â€Å"If shes spry †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"You cant be busy all day,” Maddie begged. â€Å"Please?”\r\nI knew it was disastrous, knew it would be courting heart-ache and trouble. But Maddie 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.\r\nWhich is why I found myself agreeing, just as I had last night. Only this time, I had no alcohol to blame. â€Å"Okay.”\r\nGuilt was probably the rack up culprit of all when it came to stupid behavior.\r\n'