Succubus Shadows Chapter 5

I stared at him, and the world stood still for a moment. hold backSeth was par get toing Sim maven there? popish shook his head. I wouldnt say that exactly. It was more desire she seek him expose. He looked manage hed been working there for a while when she showed up.And therefore? My vocalise was very small.Then, she walked all over to him and shyly introduced herself as a fan, saying she recognized him from his web sete. Picture perfect demure coquette.And then?She give tongue to she wished she had a book with her to sign and asked if hed sign a piece of paper instead. He give tongue to he would, and then she sit implement, all apologetic for bothering him. She said she had a couple questions and hoped he wouldnt mind if she stayed for a few moments.I noniced then that I was clenching my fists. With a deep breath, I released them. Seth wouldnt fall upon up a conversation with a stranger like that. Not with break being horribly un simplenessable.Yeah, roman letters a greed. He definitely had some of that social awkwardness. There was a wry note in Romans voice that I didnt like. The ii men had at once been rivals for my affection, and apparently, Roman was still holding on to some saddle sore and a feeling of superiority. Roman could be quite charismatic when he cute. But she did a handsome good job at playing equitable as shy and nervous. I think it do him feel better.So she did sit down?Yupand stayed for close a half-hour.What? I exclaimed. My volume made Godiva click her head up from a nap. Did she try to seduce him?Romans expression good turned considering. Not in the inveterate way. I mean, she wasnt as boring as usual. But she put him at ease enough that he relaxed and seemed to like talking to her. She wasnt overtly sexual, and he didnt look like he urgencyed to jump her. It was scarcelyI dont retire. A nice conversation. Although, it had a few of those annoying facts she likes to drop. He paused. Oh, and she went brunette. That bothered me more than it likely should withdraw. But he sent her away, business?No, Maddie showed up, and he left(p) with her after telling Sim bingle it was nice to meet her.Oh, irony. Nalways, never would I have imagined Id be so relieved to have Maddie show up and take Seth home. I also never thought Id be glad his devotion to her would keep him from go prey to another womans charms.I took a beat toward Roman, my fists clenching again. I didnt blame him as messenger I was simply driven by my own fury.What the hell? I demanded. What shag game is she playing?He sighed. I dont know. Maybe no game at all. She likes c sullenee. Ive certainly seen her grease ones palms it in the first place. She could have final stageed up there by coincidence and thought he looked like a good catch. God notwithstanding knows why.I ignored the barb. Oh, gravel on, Roman. Youre not that stupid. Do you honestly think that in a city like Seattle, come forth of all the men here, its a co incidence that she shows up and starts concernting on my ex? You know as well as I do that there arent many coincidences in our world.True, he admitted, setting the remnants of his dinner on the coffee table. The cats went for it.Will you stop doing that? I demanded. Theyre not supposed to be eating that kind of stuff.Dont take your bitchy attitude out on me. But he stood up and took the plate to the kitchen. When he returned, he crossed his arms over his chest and stood in front of me. Look, youre right to a certain extent nearly coincidences. It is weird that she would hit on Seth. But think about this too dont you think there are a few things about here a slender more important than your ex-boyfriend? Jeromes theory makes the most sense, you know. Hell let him keep his job, further that doesnt mean theyre let the whole incident go. Theyre the ultimate grudge-holders. Theyd want to assess the situation. Thats why shes here.Except that shes not assessing anything Unless you co nsider my friends Pictionary skills.You should have seen them play Jenga.This isnt a joke. I need to figure out what her game is. You have to take me with you when you shit on her again.He raised an eyebrow. I think thats a terrible idea.I can go invisible.Shell still sense you.You can hide my signature. You told me forwards that you could. Was that a lie?Roman grimaced. Just forrader things had literally blown up between us, hed asked me to run away with him, promising he could conceal me from the great immortals.I can, he admitted. But I just think youre asking for trouble.What am I risking?A lot. Whether its Seth or Jerome, theres obviously something going on. Get tangled up in that, and you could be risking your life. I wont let that happen to you.Since when do you care what happens to me? I asked incredulously.Since you became my ticket to rent-free living.And with that, he turned invisible, screen his signature as well.Coward I cried. My only answer was the front door ope ning and then shutting. He was lost to me, and I realized Id again missed my chance to bring up my weird encounters from these choke couple days.I tossed and turned again that night, scarce it had nothing to do with my fear of walking off the balcony or into Puget Sound. I was filled with rage, both at Simone for reservation the moves on Seth and at Roman for abandoning me. When I woke up in the morning, I took comfort in knowing I didnt need Roman to confront Simone. I could do that on my own.Of course, there were a few complications there, the first being I didnt know where Simone was. Her hotel was probably the logical place to start, though most succubi even a bland one like her wouldnt spend a lot of time hanging out there. Well, unless she had company and I didnt really want to walk into anything like that. And anyway, I had one tiny commitment to attend to before I could go bitch-hunting.Maddie.Id regretted my decision to go shopping with her the moment the words had le ft my mouth. Yet, somehow, Id totally blocked out those feelings yesterday when Id been sitting with Seth. A brief thought about the wedding had flitted through my mindand then it had been gone. Id spent the rest of the time laughing and talking with him as though there was no Maddie in the world. But as I headed over to the bookstore, where she and I had agreed to meet, I had to accept reality once more. Seth was no longer mine.He also wasnt Simones. But Id deal with that later.Maddie was waiting for me downstairs, further I used the excuse of needing coffee before we left, in order to dash up to the caf?. I wanted to see if Simone was lurking. No matter her shape, Id know if she was there. Yet, as I casually waited in line for my ovalbumin chocolate mocha, I sensed nothing immortal. Seth was there, engrossed in his work, and never even byword me. Apparently, his muse was still going strong.I let him be and joined Maddie downstairs again. She had a advert of eight store names and ad habilitatees. Most were habiliments shops, and I was skeptical that we could make them all before we were due into work. She was more optimistic, but then, that was typical of her.No point in worrying right now, she said. Well just do them one at a time and see where that gets us. Besides, the last few are bakeries, and we wouldnt want to eat a bunch of cake before trying on dresses.Speak for yourself, I said, slue into her passenger seat. Im not trying anything on.She gave me a wry smile. Arent you? Youre my bridesmaid, remember? We talked about it at the party.No, I said swiftly. I said and did all sorts of crazy stuff that night, but I never agreed to it. That I do remember.Maddies expression was still light, but I thought I heard a scant(p) hurt in her voice when she spoke next. Whats the big deal? Why dont you want to be one? You know Id never dress you in anything horrible.Why? I pondered the answer as she pulled into traffic. Because Im in neck with your future hus band. I could hardly tell her that, of course. As it was, I could see my continuing silence was making her feel worse. She was reading it as a slight to our friendship.I justI just dont like all the, uh, fanfare that goes with weddings. Theres so much grooming and stressing about little details. Id rather just sit back in the audience and watch you go down the aisle. Well, actually, that was one of the last things I wanted to do.Really? Maddie frowned, but thankfully, it was more out of surprise than disappointment. Youre always so good at planning and little details. I thought you were into that.That was a fair point. It was why I made such a good manager. Yeah, kind ofbut I mean, at the receptions, drunk guys always hit on the bridesmaids, you know? They think were desperate because were the ones not getting married. Also not entirely far from the truth in my case.Maddies smile returned. Those are some pretty lame excuses.They were indeed, but she said nothing more as we drove.Af ter Maddies initial failure with picking flattering wedding dresses, she now threw her faith completely into me to blend in her to fashion success. It wasnt the first time this had happened, and I found myself slipping into style-advisor role pretty easily. In fact, if I was able to preoccupy myself with the objective parts of this process flattering fit, color, etc. it was clear to block out the big picture of her and Seth.The saleswomen working at the stores soon learned who was in charge here and plunk for off with their recommendations, simply fetching the dresses I indictated. I studied each one Maddie attempt on, tutelage my standards high. With so many stores to choose from, we could afford to be picky.That ones good, I said at our third store. It was corseted, tapering off her waist, and had a skirt that didnt flare. Those puffy ones always made the hips look bigger, though no one ever seemed to realize that. You had to be tall and thin to get away with that, not sho rt and buxom like Maddie.She admired herself in the mirror, a look of pleasant surprise on her face. She was still drawn to ones that I didnt think were good choices, and this was the first of my picks that she really liked. The eager saleswoman jotted down the style number, and then Maddie started to turn around and try on the rest waiting in her medical dressing room. As she did, a dress on a mannequin caught her eye.Oh, Georgina, I know what you said, but you have to try that on, Maddie begged.I followed her gaze. The dress was slinky and sexy, floor-length violet charmeuse with straps that tied around the neck. You were wearing that color the first time we met.I averted my eyes. Not terrible enough to be a bridesmaid dress.Itd look great on you. Everything looks great on you, she added with a shake of her head. Besides, you could wear that to other things. Parties and stuff.It was true. It didnt scream bridesmaid. Not taffeta or bright orange. Before I could dissent further, the saleswoman had already fetched one from the rack, guessing my size with that uncanny ability her kind had.So, reluctantly, I tried the dress on while Maddie went to her next option. The size wasnt perfect, but a little shape-shifting neatened it up where it demand to be. Maddie was right. It did look good on me, and when I stepped out, she took it as a done deal that Id buy it no, she offered to buy it and would be in her wedding. The saleswoman, seeing an opportunity, and possibly getting back at me for my tyrannical attitude, had helpfully fetched two more dresses for me to try while I waited for Maddie. Maddie claimed she couldnt stand the thought of me waiting around with nothing to do, so I reluctantly took them into the dressing room. They too looked good, but not as good as the violet.I was returning them to the saleswoman when my eye caught something. It was a bridal dress. It was made of ivory duchess satin, the fabric wrapping around the waist and halter top. The s kirt was draped, pulled into little tiers. I stared. It would have been a disaster on Maddie, but on meWant to try it? asked the saleswoman slyly. Something told me that bridesmaids covertly trying on brides dresses wasnt a rare phenomenon around here. The desperate and mournful not-getting-married attitude in action.Before I knew it, I was back in the dressing room, wearing the ivory dress. You were wearing that color the first time we met. Seth had been wrong about that and turn himself, but for some reason, the words came to me yet again. And the dress looked great. Really great. I wasnt overly tall but was slim enough that it didnt matter and I filled out the top beautifully. I stared at myself in a way I hadnt with the other dresses, trying to imagine myself as a bride. There was something about brides and weddings that instinctively spoke to so many women, and I shared the impulse as well, jaded succubus or no. The grim statistics didnt matter the divorce rates, the infidel ity Id witnessed so oftenYes, there was something wizard(prenominal) about brides, an image flash-frozen into the collective subconscious. I could see myself with flowers in my hands and a soft palate on my head. Thered be well-wishers and joy, the giddy faith and hope of a beautiful life together. Id been a bride once, so long ago. Id had those dreams, and theyd blown away.I sighed and took the dress off, afraid I susceptibility start crying. There would be no wedding for me. No bridal hopes. Not with Seth, not with anyone. Those things were lost to me forever. There was only an timelessness alone, no lifelong lovers, only those I shared a night with.Unsurprisingly, I was kind of low-spirited for the rest of the day.Maddie bought the violet dress for me, and I was too glum to protest which she read as adoption of my bridesmaid fate. We made it through the rest of our dress stops but didnt get to the bakeries. By the end of it all, we had four candidates for her dress, which I regarded as good progress.My mood didnt abate at work. I holed up in my office as much as I could, seeking solitude and my own dark thoughts. When I finally made it home after that eternity-long day, I found the condo empty and was astonished at how much that hurt me. I wished with all my heart that Roman was around, and it wasnt even to talk about Simone or other immortal mysteries. I just wanted his company. I just wanted to talk to him and not be alone. He was an infuriating part of my life, but he was also turning into a fixed infuriating part of my life. With a gloomy eternity ahead, that meant something.I knew better than to wait up for himbut found myself doing it anyway. I lounged on the couch with Grey Goose and the cats, taking some small aroma from those warm, furry creatures that loved me. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was on, which didnt cheer me up any. Like the masochist I was, I watched it anyway.At least, I thought I was. Because suddenly, the loud shrie k of a car schnozzle blasted into my ears. I blinked and jerked my head around. I wasnt on the couch. There were no cats, no vodka. I sat on the railing of my balcony, precariously positioned. The horn had come from below, on the street. One car had nearly swiped another, and the near-victim had honked in his outrage.I didnt exactly remember the trip out here. I did, however, remember the force that had drawn me by and large because it was still there. The light and the music that feeling of comfort and rightness that was so hard to articulate hovered before me, off in the air. It was like a tunnel. No, it was like an embrace, arms waiting to welcome me home.Come here, come here. Everything will be all right. You are safe. You are loved.In spite of myself, one of my legs shifted on the railing. How easy would it be to step over, to walk into that sweet comfort? Would I fall? Would I simply hit the hard sidewalk below? It wouldnt kill me if I did. But maybe I wouldnt fall. Maybe I d step into that light, into the bliss that could block out the pain that always seemed to surround me lately.Are you out of your fucking mind?The driver that had nearly been hit had gotten out of his car and was yelling at the other. That driver got out and returned the insults, and a loud tirade began. One of my neighbors on the floor below opened his patio and shouted for them all to shut up.The argument, that jarring noise, brought me back to myself. Once more, the siren song faded away, and for the first time, I almost feltregret. Carefully, I climbed off the rail and back to the solidity of the balcony. A fall might not kill me, but good God, it would hurt.I walked back into the condo, finding everything exactly as Id left it. Even the cats hadnt moved, though they looked up at my arrival. I sat between them, absentmindedly petting Aubrey. I was scared again, scared and eerily attracted to what had just happened and that scared me more.Despite the vodka tonight, my last enco unter had proven alcoholic drink wasnt to blame. No connection. Yetit occurred to me there had been a common link all three times. My mood. Each time, Id been downsad about my lot in life, seeking reassurance that wasnt to be found. And thats when this phenomenon would happen, offering a solution and the comfort I thought was beyond me.That was bad news for me. Because if this thing was drawn to woe and unhappiness, I had plenteousness of it to go around.