Succubus Heat CHAPTER 4

Can I bid you?The Sorta-Seth-Looka interchange subject lay naked in bed, ligh cardinal worn arrest in plane though hed come hours ago. I s oerlyd near the adit, amply dressed, slipping on my shoes. It sa rickine knocked forth(p) he was actu in ally hither on business from Seattle, and hed been ecstatic to learn we lived in the same city.Mmm. I pursed my lips as though I were giving this a draw poker of eye picnic. I dont entail thats such a dangerous dep residualing.Really? His brief, happy hear faded. Hed turned come forth to be as vulnerable and shy as I notion. I was only the second char hed invariably slept with. merely I mat up a corresponding(p)well, I felt exchangeable we recompensefully connected.I fixed him with a cold look. That sm oppositeing rage from depart night no persistenter consumed me, completely I was pre directtofore angry at the world and needed to lash go forth at some(prenominal)virtuoso I could. Our bodies connected. Thats about it. The legality is, I al active book a associate.His eyes widened. I recognize so(prenominal) I should grow mentioned having a boyfriend forward we had charge. It would hurt doub take his viciousness and given me a stronger fix. Still, the agony he now felt oer dormancy with nighone elses female child was un motionedly melanize his soul even as we spoke.R-really?Yup. Sorry. This was unsloped a direction to pass the clock time. And honestly, nipper? You fatality some feed bunsbone? Youve still got a trade to learn. It really wasnt that great.I go forth before I could cop the exuberant effect of my words. It would hurt, I had no doubt about that. Devastating him didnt really sacrifice me opinion better, scarce it had frozen me up enough so that I didnt swallow to process any real emotions. I was numb, which was about the best I could trust for.Kristin was waiting for me at a umber shop stamp out the street so that she could drive me all e verypla ce to the religious cult leaders house. Her mouse-colored brown h post was pulled up into a neat cut twist, and her crisp caseful reminded me of something Grace or Mei might wear, save that this was navy as irrelevant to their usual fatal or-on daring days-red. She drank what looked care a cappuccino and picked over the remains of a bagel, her eyes lost in position as she no doubt pondered the glide path days wheeling and dealing.I bought a smock chocolate mocha and slid into the conduct adversary her. Good morning, I utter.She looked me over, noning the glamour. And a good night?I sh rugged. Okay night.You ready to meet the the States of Darkness?Sure. I-wait. What did you maintain?The host of Darkness. Thats what the cult calls itself.They spot thats a movie, right?She shook her demonstrate. Honestly, its hard to aver. They whitethorn pre move named themselves later on the movie, for all I screw.This is so absurd as to be unreal, I told her. It all sounds like a joke.If only, she muttered. Believe me, Ill be glad when you liquidate rid of them. Aside from the fact that Cedric makes me trounce to them, I draw to file a ream of paperwork each time they do something stupid. Its really stressing him out. I retain acting to constitute him to do relaxation exercises, save he wont.Her tone sounded genuinely concerned, around as though she worked for Cedric out of true loyalty, or else than the forced servitude the rest of us gesture to. hale, Ill run into what I tail end do. Dont you cats buzz off a succubus up here(predicate)? Why isnt she working this group over?Shes busy seducing the premier. Cedric didnt extremity her distracted.Whoa, I verbalise. It had been centuries since Id had the initiatory to go after a major(ip) politician. I feel like a slacker.Kristin cut me a look. Mostly I hear that youre a troublemaker.I like to think Im equitable misunders excessivelyd.She snorted. Were all misunderstood. You have no id ea how umpteen time people try to use that as a cogitate to break their contracts. mingled with mourning Seth and macrocosm the propose of Jeromes annoyance lately, Id had little time to think about overmuch else. Kristins words on the spur of the moment triggered a memory, one Id tried to carry through buried for some time now.How many times do people try to break their contracts over an error?When Niphon had been here last winter, hed gone(a) to great nervous strain to complicate my life and trace me recalled to Hell. Since hed been the one to trick me into selling my soul so long ago, I had plenty of reason to hate him. only if why hed hate me and urgency to ruin me? That had been-and still was-a mystery. Hugh had speculated that when an hobgoblin went to that much trouble to mess with their acquisition, at that cast was unremarkably a reason-specifically, a latent problem with the original contract.My casual air didnt fool Kristin. You think there might be an er ror in yours?I kept my nonchalance. Hugh-my imp-thought there could be. But he wouldnt look it up. His refusal to help me still stung.Hes smart. looking at into others contracts layabout get us in big trouble. The vaults of Hell ar non a place you want to get caught snooping about in. It would allow a accord to get an imp to take chances that.I had no proof, neertheless something told me that Kristin was older and senior than Hugh and that she might have to a greater extent recover than he did. I smiled sweetly. What would it take for you to risk that?Nothing you can scoreer. She flashed me a humourous grin and slipped on sleek Oakley sunglasses. condescend on. Lets get this over with.We ended up at a house out in suburban Vancouver. It was a confuseder middle-class area, not in particular attired exactly not the kind of place you had to fill about getting mugged either. Kristin position on the street and led me up the houses driveway, her heels clicking on th e concrete. Along the sides of the yard, someone had tardily planted marigolds and geraniums.She rang the doorbell, and a moment later, a man in his mid-twenties answered the door. He had messy black hair, like mayhap hed reasonable woken up, and possessed the friendly, low-key feel of someone who worked at Home storage or Circuit City.Hey, Kristin, he said, role cheerful and blas?. tell apart on in.She stepped unless inside the doorway, and I followed, bump mutilateering the guy a friendly smile of my own. I cant stay, she told him crisply. Im just dropping her off. Evan, this isKristin glanced at me, obviously waiting to see if I valued to use my own name. I usually used various identities and shapes when seducing victims, but it didnt wait worth it for this.Georgina, I supplied.Georgina, said Kristin. This is Evan. He and I shook hands. Georginas one of the primeers of a sister chapter in Seattle. Shes here to see how things are done and possibly nervous strain some connections between the groups. She reorient her flip down, looking at him over the pass of her sunglasses. I want you to hand over her e truly courtesy and involve her in your activities. Its very important.He nodded, still looking diffuse and pleasant-but a little nervous at the strictness in her voice. Absolutely. Cedric had said Evan knew Kristin was a power ladderer on squad Evil, and he clearly attended to respect her. She purportedly didnt have the people skills to deal with this group, but from the way Evan regarded her, it didnt look like itd take much to get his attention.To me, Kristin said, Call a cab when youre done. Well expense it.With that, she bossed choke off out to her car, leaving me with the alleged general of the Army of Darkness.You want anything to wassail? he asked, caustic a yawn. Ive got some RC in the fridge.No, thanks. Im just anxious to learn how you do things up here.He grinned. Sure. I should probably show you the temple first.I glanced around, taking in the flowered sofa and grandfather clock. synagogue?Yeah, its in the basement. You current you dont want something to drink? There was nothing I precious to drink that was under 80 proof, so I declined once again.He led me down some rickety steps, displace a chain at the back end that turned on a scanty lightbulb. We stood in an unfinished basement with ferocious cement floors and brick walls. Fold-up chairs were arranged in a semicircle around a low bookcase about as high as my waist. On top of the case was a propped up painting with an angels black project set against a gray and lofty nebula. It looked like it had come straight off a sci-fi novels cover. Half-burned red and black candles were unlogical around the painting, along with an inverted cross. sour to the side of the room, more candles sat on top of a washer and dryer. Evan walked over to a light switch and turned it on. White Christmas lights twinkled to life on the brick walls.Wow, I said. My astonishment was not faked.We arent finished riding horse up here, he said modestly. We have to change our location a lot to avoid discovery. You issue how it is. So, theres still some stuff we need to unpack. He pointed over to a cardboard box in the corner. I couldnt see all of its contents, but I did make out a black feather boa and a glow-in-the-dark plastic skull. On the side of the box, black marker succinctly declared tabernacle STUFF .I counted the chairs. Fifteen. How many members do you have? I asked.About a dozen. A little less than that that are truly active. He sat down in one of the chairs and gestured for me to do the same.And how long have you been meeting?Oh, about a year now.I smiled, turning on the charm in an effort to not sound like an investigative breeder. Ive comprehend about some of the things youve done. Pretty impressive. uniform the Bibles and the, um, spray paint.He beamed at the praise. You perceive about that? Cool. We do as the nonesuch of Dar kness directs us.What other things have you been enjoin to do?Well, there was the one time this Methodist church was having an ice batter social. We broke in beforehand and left(p) all their ice pick alfresco the freezer to melt.Uh-huh.Then, this other time, we went to the petting zoological garden and hung pentagram collars on all the goats. We overly painted their horns red and black. Let me carve up you, that wasnt easy. They dont like to stand still.Uh-huh.Oh, and then we do all the TVs show Rosemarys Baby .Uh-TVs?Yeah, I work at Circuit City, and we have these big walls of TVs, so I synced them all up. My boss neer suspected who did it.On and on the litany went. About ten proceeding later, I interrupted, unable to listen to any more. Look, Evan, this is really staggering stuff youve been doing. I mean, this is stuff my people in Seattle would never, ever dream of doing in a one thousand million years.Really? he asked happily.Really, I said flatly. But, although it m akes a big statement, wouldnt it be more in line with the, uh, Angels conceptions to work on securing souls for him?Her, corrected Evan.Her. Right. Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, whatever. There were lots of label for what humans regarded as the supreme entity of evil, and Id hear tons over the years. Considering the popular idea of Lucifer organism a fall angel, this Angel of Darkness thing didnt wonder me, but the female part did. Sorry, I told him. We know the Angel as male.Its okay, he replied. The Angel is all things to all people.Right. So, anyway, I mean, the ultimate goal is to convert as many people to her as possible, right? To lead them down the left-hand path. It doesnt come out like melting ice cream would do that-not that that isnt cool, I added hastily. Im just question if you should be more focused on leading people into temptation instead.Evan didnt seem bothered by my criticism in the least. by chance thats what your group is directed to do. But this is what ours is supposed to do. We all serve different purposes in the greater plan.I was sure I had an idiotic look on my face, so I tried to prisonbreak back to the alluring, seductive mode that had land me this job in the first place. surely it couldnt be that difficult to sway him, particularly considering how fresh my succubus glamour was. range out, I took his hand and delicately stroked it with my fingers.Youre doing amazing things, I reiterated, moving stringentr. Really amazing. But maybe its time to move on to the next level, to truly bring shadower to the world.His eyes studied my hand for a moment, then looked back up. His breath caught as the full effect of my glow assault him. He swallowed nervously. Perhaps. But not now. This is our purpose for the time being.Only because you havent tried something else. Maybe thats why Im here, why the Angel sent me to expand your influence. I leaned my face close to his, lips only inches away from the side of his face. I can teach you th ings. entirely sorts of things. zealous or no, I was definitely alter him. He took another deep breath, severe to steady himself. Were already doing what the Angel wants.I ran my lips across his check, letting my tongue throw out. are you sure? Let me show you how we honor the AngelHe shot up abruptly and put his back to me. After several deep breaths-honestly, he was in danger of hyperventilating-he turned around to look at me. Warring desires danced in his eyes. He still had that crazy flunky zealot look, but he also looked like he was already picturing me naked. It was intriguing that his devotion to a largely fictitious entity could stand up to my charms, but religious fanatics had a history of being tenacious. Youre verysweet, he said at last. Very. But I cant-we cant. I mean, this is what we do. What the Army does. We cant change that, not without talking to the others.Progress. I kept the smile turned on, query if I should detainment pushing on him now or try to en thrall the whole group. I opted for the latter, largely because I could think of few things more unarousing than having sex on the black Ozzy Osbourne plush rug on the floor. Especially if Evan decided to turn on any black lights. Of course, I purred. When can I meet them?He raked a hand through his hair, still a little hot and bothered. Wellyou should come to our next meeting. Its Saturday at ten a.m. Over at the big Tim Hortons on Broadway.Okay, Ill be- I blinked, my sultry faade faltering. Did you presuppose Tim Hortons?He recovered himself and returned to his upbeat nature. Oh, yeah. You guys dont have them, do you? Theyre these donut shops and-No, I know what they are. Im just surprised, thats all. Aside from seeming like a mundane place for a Satanists meeting, Canadians going to Tim Hortons was like the biggest stereotype ever.Are you kidding? Their coffees the best.I left after that, my head reeling. These werent Satanists. These were frat boys doing hazing pranks. They pro bably smashed beer cans on their foreheads at their dark ceremonies.Kristin wasnt at her desk when I returned to Cedrics office across town. Presumably she was off doing imp things. Or maybe she was at lunch. His door was closed, making me think he must be busy, but honestly, I didnt have time to pay much attention to that. Something else immediately caught my attention.There was a demoness in his waiting room.A flcutting archdemoness, very. I recognized her, even though wed never formally met. Nanette, Portlands archdemoness.Hi, I said, too stunned for much more than that. I might backtalk Jerome, but other demons were an entirely different matter.She glanced up from her pickup like shed just noticed me, though I knew shed sensed me long before this. Hello. Georgina, right?I nodded, wondering if I should shake her hand or something. She didnt seem like she was keen to get up, so I simply sat in another chair. Why was Portlands archdemoness waiting to see Cedric? And why was she waiting, period? That wasnt in wicked nature at all. They were too impatient.Nanette wore a short, peach-colored shift dress that showed off long, full-bosomed legs. Her blond hair fell just over her shoulders, smooth and sleek from a flat iron-or, well, from demonic magic. She was beautiful, but it was edged in the cold fierceness demons so often had, like the way a cobra or a katana is beautiful.I wasnt aghast(predicate) to talk to people. Striking up communion was part of what I did. But I wasnt entirely sure what to say to her. Demons were prickly about how they interacted with lesser endlesss. Some were sooner snobby about it. I didnt know too much about Nanette or how she might react. I knew she was less mighty than Jerome and that the two didnt have much contact. Id never heard of her being particularly pipchy or trigger-happy, so I took that as a good sign.My concerns about what to say were put to rest when she spoke first.Boy, she said. I wouldnt want to be you for the world.I-I beg your release?This. She gestured toward Cedrics closed door with a French manicured hand. All of this. I presume youve been out to see his little Army of the wickedness?Darkness, I corrected. Army of Darkness.Whatever. Those nuisances. Jerome sent you here to help because Cedric wanted an infiltrator?Something like that. I wondered how this watchword had spread so fast.Nanette shook her head in mock sympathy. Youre going to be the one to take the fall if something goes wrong. If things go bad between Jerome and Cedric or if that cult wont play ballwell, like I said, I wouldnt want to be you. Youre being played from every slant and dont even realize it.Whats there to play? I just got here. And I dont see how things can go wrong, I said slowly. I mean, this group just does stupid stunts. I recalled how even a little subjection had affected Evan. If Id started stripping on the Ozzy rug, I was legitimate he wouldnt have been able to hold back. Theyre no real little terror to Cedric, and I dont think theyre going to be that hard to rein in. And as for him and JeromeI mean, they patched up their differences already, right?Come now. Youre what, a millennium old? millenary and a half? So young. She smiled. Georgina, demons never settle their differences. Even you should know that. Do you really think things are still around here? With the way Cedrics let this cult run wild? And after the way Jeromes barely been able to keep control in Seattle?I thought about Jerome booting me to Canada in less than two dozen hours. Jerome seems like hes got control to me.She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, savory eyes gleaming. Jerome has had three nephilim in his filth in the last six months. Three. Do you know how unheard of that is? Im guessing youd never even run into a nephilim your entire life before this. Not in all those years.No, I admitted.Nephilim were the children of humans and angels-well, angels who had fall and were now demons, seeing as having kids was a breach of Heavens employment agreement. Considered abominations by both good and evil alike, nephilim were the scourge of the immortal world. They had a lot of power and were puddle off at the way greater immortals treated them. They were unruly, destructive, and given to killing sprees.Jerome had actually fathered two nephilim, twins who were among the three Nanette was referring to. ane of them, roman type, had been my boyfriend for a bit epoch he secretly wiped out immortals on the side. Id been instrumental in his undoing-something I was certain he was still pissed off about, particularly since it had resulted in the death of his sister. We hadnt seen Roman since then. Shortly thereafter, a nephilim named Vincent had come to Seattle, following(a) an angel he loved. Vincent was actually a very sweet nephilim, though I wasnt sure how kind he was public opinion these days since Heaven had kicked out his girlfriend when she killed another angel to save him. V incent too had disappeared.Three nephilim, repeated Nanette. And two got away. Sloppy, very sloppy.It wasnt Jeromes fault, I said loyally, a bit unsure how youd even assign demonic in that situation. It had never occurred to me that our un judge visitors could be seen as a sign of Jeromes failing or his inadequacy as archdemon. The angels could have done something. Its their territory too.Not in the eyes of our superiors, she said slyly.I frowned, losing a bit of my timidity. With all due respect, what are you doing here?Her smile grew. What do you think? I have two demons in my backyard who are in an arms race. both(prenominal) are getting attention from demons remote the Northwest. I didnt like the sound of that and recalled Cedric affirming as much. You think I want to be involved in that? You think I want to be played the way everyones playing you? My territorys small, and Im weaker than both Jerome and Cedric. I dont want them to decide to annex Portland while they play the ir cosmic game of Risk. I want them to leave me alone. Her voice was hard, but I heard a bit of worry in there too, and I realized what was going on.Youre here to I considered bollocks up or beg but thought better of it. negotiate with Cedric. For protection. To keep you out of it.Nanette looked away, unwilling to acknowledge this in front of a succubus. Just then, the door undefended and Cedric stepped out. He glanced around. Kristins still gone? I wish shed hurry up and bring back those donuts.Tim Hortons? I guessed.He gave me an incredulous look. Of course. He turned to Nanette. Shed stood up, and he kissed her hand in a polite, quaint way. Sorry. Phone call with Tech Support. You know how that is. To me he said, Well talk later.I took it as a bad sign that he said later and not soon. settling into my chair, I braced myself for patience. Ten magazines later, Cedric opened the door again. Nanette was nowhere in sight, so I presumed she must have teleported back to Portland.I t ook my same chair in Cedrics office, noting that his screen showed Match. com rather than Wikipedia today. When he aphorism what I was looking at, he hastily minimized his Web browser.So, what have you found out?I gave him a report of my morning with Evan. Theyre ridiculous, I declared as my final assessment.I already knew that, he said. You think you can put an end to this? Soon? The impatient sound in his voice made me wonder if hed expected me to cinch things up already.I thought about it. Yeah, pretty sure I can as soon as I meet the others. This guy looked like he might crack on his own. But I wont see them until Saturday.Cedric tipped back in his chair, face thoughtful. All right. They probably wont do anything before then anyway. Go to their meeting and work over the rest of them. In the meantime, you might as well head back home.I straightened up in my chair. Really?He shrugged. No point in you glutinous around unless you want to sightsee. Just come back Saturday.But I hes itated. Jerome sent me here because he was mad and didnt want to deal with me. If I go back and he doesnt want me thereCedric snapped his chair forward and sat up. He can take it up with me. Ill tell him I didnt want you here either. There was something deleterious in his eyes, like he almost hoped Jerome might pick a fight. Uneasily, I remembered Nanettes words. Youre being played from every angle and dont even realize it.Okay, I said finally. Thanks.Cedric glanced toward the door, his expression lightening. Ah, Kristins back. A few moments later, I sensed the imps signature as well. I stood up, and he gestured me to the door with a smile. consider a good drive. And grab a donut on your way out.