Succubus Heat CHAPTER 13

Hearing Cedric assure me I couldnt die lifted a e nonemous weight dispatch my shoulders. I left the Cellar with much runty anxiety, though I sedate had no intention of doing anything that might runnel how exactly wed mend from decapitation. So, objet dart I appease operated with caution, I no longer felt suffocated or threatened by forevery font of the world.Rather than go home, I drove down to Dantes shop. His store/ flatcar was in Rainier Valley, on the s push finishedheast side of Seattle. He had no on a regular basis posted hours for his assorted psychic services, however he would usually shine nearly at that place at night if he had zip fastener else to do. It tended to be the judgment of conviction drunk wad or couples expose on dates (or gamy teens) would wander in looking for fun and novelty. Day clock duration business hours didnt in the main bring give away that many who were seeking help from the divine unless, perhaps, it was individual seeking advice on stock trading.Dante had no customers tonight, however. The shop and its flickering northeast sign seemed sad and lonely. I pushed through the unlocked admission and imbed him leaning against the checkout counter, leafing through a copy of aphorism .What gives? I asked. Your subscription to Frauds and Scams Weekly run out?He glanced up at me with a smile, flipping black hair out of his face. Just ingested something sanely to look at since I didnt k right apart when Id be seeing you again.I planted a kiss on his cheek. Holy shit. Thats the sweetest thing youve ever utter to me.Yeah, well, I screw make some filthy versed suggestions to you if youd prefer.What, and ruin foreplay for next time?This make his grin grow, and he shut the magazine. To what do I owe the pleasure? Shouldnt you be see our neighbors to the north? Or is that done? I honestly discountt keep track.Well. close that. God, how I was firing to explain what had happened? Had all of this seriously happened in unspoilt one day? It felt resembling a year had deceased by since I got woozy in the car. Something strange happened today.Strange same(p) you sold out of Jane Austen books at the store or strange uniform the rules of time and space as we k presently them are close to be ripped apart?Mmm much standardized that plump one.Shit.I took a mystic breath, figuring I should vertical get the self-aggrandizing stuff out of the way. T present(p car tapicate)s no easy way to put this, entirelyIm not a succubus anyto a greater extent.I never believed you were a succubus.I groaned. That had been an old sendup between us when wed first met. Oh, the irony. Im serious, I said. no(prenominal)more succubus. And Jeromes disappeared too, possibly opening up Seattle to a new demonic reign.Dante stared at me, look speculative as he assessed me for the truth. He was speechless for the first time Id experiencen him. not waiting for more witty commentary, I plunged forward. I ex plained active the summons, what it had done to all of us lesser immortals, how demons everywhere were forthwith sizing up Seattle, and why I needed to find Jerome as soon as possible.When I finally finished, it took Dante several moments to gather his thoughts. Soyouve seriously lose your succubus powers?Abilities, I corrected. And yes, I have. Are you axiom that after all that other stuff I just told you intimately the balance of power in Seattle, my succubus status is what caught your attention the almost?He shrugged. You gotta admit its weird. Besides, that other stuff doesnt affect me. You do. His eyes contract. Am I going to have to implement a condom now?What? No. Of course not.You sure?Youve never batted an eye over me stealing pieces of your soul these last few months, but the nonexistent threat of squirt support suddenly scares you?Well, yeah, seeing as my bank accounts got more in it than my soul.I glanced around the shabby room. Debatable.Cute, he conceded. Bu t Id be inquire a few more questions about all of this if I were you. Like, can you die?I already asked that one, I said smugly. And the answer is no. Our immortal bodies are unflurried essentially the same. Were just cut by from all the perks. I hoped he didnt ask about decapitation because I honestly wasnt in the mood to debate that.Okay, so what do you destiny from me? he asked.What makes you envisage I want anything?He looked at me.Okay, peradventure I do want something. But have on, who else would cheat more about this stuff than you?Who knows more about demons? Hmm, let me think. I know. How about the demons you work for , the ones who are all-powerful and have been around since the beginning of time?Theyre not all-powerful. Otherwise they wouldnt need a human for the summoning-or end up getting summoned in the first place. And thats what I need you for. There cant be that many humans in the area capable of doing this, are in that location? You have to know who they a re.Dante opened his mouth, no doubt with a frozen reply ready, and whence abruptly closed it. I dont know, he said slowly. I dont keep track of those things.I leaned toward him, incredulous. Of course you do Do you not want to promise me? Why?He sighed, his hesitant side turning typically annoyed. Because those kinds of people get pissed off if you erupt advertising their names.What, youre afraid theyre going to come beat you up?No. non exactly. But theres sort ofa professional courtesy in these circles.Ill be discreet. I wont tell them where I got the information.Most of them already know were together. Theyd figure it out. They keep an eye on those kinds of things. He turned considering. Of course, in that same vein, a cover of them know you as a succubus and might just think you knew through your own connections.He still seemed hesitant, so I played a mean card. Well, I can forever and a day go ask Erik if youre too nervous about it.Erik was some other mortal in town who dealt with the occult and paranormal. Unlike Dante, who was a practitioner, Erik only if examine and built up knowledge of the magical chthoniancurrents in the city. He had a psychics gifts and was attuned to what most human eyes didnt see. Sometimes he could regular see what immortals couldnt. He and Dante had an old, old grudge and didnt enjoy being around each other, to put it mildly.My crusade to bait Dante didnt work, though. Dont even try it, succubus. qualification me jealous of the old man wont make me help you.I looked up at him p conveyingly. What will make you help me?He traced the outline of my lips with his fingertip, grey-haired eyes wicked and thoughtful. non sure its anything you can do firearm cut off from your super-secret powers. Youre not a sex goddess anymore.Hey, I dont need super-secret powers to be a sex goddess.Just then, three twentysomethings stumbled in, staring dewy-eyed at the shop as they tried to stifle nervous giggles. They undoubtedly ha d the same kind of potential that high teens did. I gave Dante one last frantic plea. Please? Just give me the names. You dont have to do anything else. And I wont say anything. I swear it.Dante scowled, glanced at me, at the potential customers, and then back at me. He told them hed be with them in a twinkling and then hastily jotted four names down on a scrap of paper. Two of them I recognized.Thank you, I said. I beamed, and to my surprise, something in his cynical ex urge onion softened a little.God, that smile, he muttered. You might just be right. roughly what?You trulyly dont need any powers to be a sex goddess. Your hairs a little messy, though. He walked around the counter and gave me a quick half-hug. Be safe, succubus. Dont test the limits of that not-dying thing.And buy some condoms? I teased.He shrugged. Youre the one who was having prophetic dreams about having kids a little date ago. play away from me, he put on his jovial con-man persona and beckoned the assort over with pitches about palms and Tarot.Hed spoken the words in a light, offhandedly kind of way, but as I slowly walked back to my car, they slapped me in the face.Prophetic dreamsNyxs dreams.The things shed shown me during that time had been so vivid that they seemed almost more real than my own life. The thing is, by almost all accounts, Nyx had a suitcase on the future and could show people things that would happen to them. That was how she spread bedlam in the world, by showing people these visions and making them think they knew how their futures would unfold. Unfortunately, plot the visions came true, they never came true the way their victims thought they would. Shed led a lot of people to their deaths that way.Nonetheless, it seemed fairly clear that the dreams shed sent to me had been distractions, not destructive images of what would come. In my visions, shed shown me-over and over-with a daughter, waiting for a man I loved to come home. The dreams had consumed me, a lmost making me want to sleep and have my energy interpreted each night. As Id noted while holding Kayla, there was no way any piece of the vision could ever happen to me. I couldnt have any sort of relationship like that. And I for sure couldnt have a daughter, not of my own blood. Immortals didnt reproduce. When Id sold my soul for immortality and shape-shifting, Id minded(p) up certain aspects of my humanity. There could be no child for me. Not ever.And yetI came to a stop on the sidewalk, still about a immobilize away from my car. What if Dante had inadvertently stumbled onto something? What if being in this stasis had neutered that piece of me that had lost the ability to conceive? Cedric had said I was still technically immortal, but hed also said my corpse would respond and heal like a humans. What all did that entail? Would unprotected sex lead to conception? Is that what Nyxs visions had been pointing to? Shed sworn shed shown me the truth. Had she?I was breathing fast again, though at least this time, I knew I didnt have to worry about better-looking myself a nub attack. Okay. I needed to calm down. This pregnancy gap was as distracting as the hooking-up-with-Seth possibility. Id never get anything accomplished if I lost myself in fantasies.With a sigh, I glanced down at Dantes piece of paper, now crumpled in my hand. Id clenched it into a ball without even realizing it as I walked. Id been too preoccupied to even noticeBabies and Seth. The things I precious most.I forced myself to keep moving toward my car. But as I unlocked the door, I had to wonder ruefully if maybe I shouldnt be so quick to get Jerome back after all.I started pursuance up on Dantes leads the next morning. Leaving my place was a little harder than Id expected, though. Despite the fact I got ready plenty of mornings without shape-shifting, my closet seemed abominably small. And while my hair seemed fine when I finished it, I had a feeling itd be frizzy the next time I sus s out the mirror. The only bright part was when I found Dantes watch under the bed. I thought Id lost it yesterday, so at least my accessories prayer was still respectable. Nonetheless, I had a feeling I was soon going to discover just how much Id come to rely on my abilities. localization addresses from Dantes list of names required a little sleuthing here and there, but for the most part, I didnt have much difficulty conclusion them. Unfortunately, once found, these magicians werent exactly helpful.One of the ones I visited knew me. She was familiar with Hells local servants, and while she gave me a small degree of respect, she was as hesitant to answer questions as Dante had insinuated. Two of the other names were people who didnt know me, and that immediately created a problem. With my succubus powers shut off, I had no immortal signature, and both of these people were the types who could sense that. Me coming in and claiming to be a succubus was met with shun and disbelief. I managed to glean some information from them but vigor of any use.Equally difficult was that not only could they not sense me, I couldnt sense them. Admittedly, a succubus didnt have the same ability to guess human power the way a full-fledged demon could, but I could occasionally sense magic around a person or object. Today, I was completely blind. I had to rely on my capability to read people, but these dark magicians were as good at cons as Dante. They were well-versed in the art of concealing the truth.It was almost noon by the time I visited the last name, a guy named Greg. I felt more or less discouraged by this point and even cracked and had a faggot along the way. Greg had no storefront like Dante and mostly worked his spells out of his house, a small bungalow in Wallingford. When he answered the door, his disheveled state told me Id woken him up. On the bright side, he recognized me, which meant I wouldnt have to convince him I was a succubus.What do you want? he aske d suspiciously. He was built big and could have had an impressive physique if hed ever gone to the gym. It was obvious he hadnt.I wanted to talk to you about demon summoning.I dont know anything about it.He started to shut the door. I stuck my foot out to block it. Wait. Do you know anyone who would?No. And even if I did, what makes you think Id tell you? He tried to close the door again, then paused. He narrowed his already too-small eyes at me. Theres something weird about you. No aura.I didnt answer right away. maybe youre losing your touch.This actually brought a small smile. Not likely. What happened? Who got summoned?No one. And even if they did, what makes you think Id tell you? I mimicked.He laughed, a guttural sound that came from low in his throat. When the laughter faded, he studied me for several long seconds, face cunning and speculative. Okay. Ill talk to you. He pushed the door open. Come on in.I gingerly stepped into his living room. The place was a disaster. Dirty dishes were piled on the coffee table, the remains of food hardened and crusty. circularise coated every piece of furniture, and the wood floor looked like it hadnt been move since the last century. Uneasily, I wondered if my new humanlike body was susceptible to germs.several(prenominal) books were piled on the couch, their covers meant to look sinister in shades of black and red with drawings of pentagrams. It put me in mind of Evans faux Satanic accoutrements, though as hard as it was to believe, Evan had a thousand times more trend than this guy.Greg offered me neither a chair nor refreshments, which was fine by me. He stood in front of me, arms crossed. Well? What do you want to know?I want to know if youve done any demon summoning lately.Not that any demons have been summoned, of course.This is speculative, I replied with a simpering smile. I studied as much of his home as I could while I spoke. beyond him, I could see an equally messy kitchen with a swash kitchen stove a nd magnet-covered refrigerator.You think if Id summoned a demon, Id be living like this? Fuck, Id have plasma-screen TVs and concubines.I recalled the discussion with my friends, noting that any human whod summoned Jerome would simply keep the demon dark and not use it for personal gain and errands. Still, if Greg had summoned Jerome on behalf of another demon, there would have been some reward involved. Maybe it wouldnt entail TVs or concubines, but it seemed like thered be some sign of a windfall here. Maybe hed gotten a Swiss bank account.Okay. You know anyone who recently acquired concubines?Nope. But I can give you some names of people whod be more likely. He listed two of the magicians Id already visited.Ive talked to them.Sorry. Not my problem. My eyes returned to the books on the couch. I stepped toward them. May I?Knock yourself out.I picked up one of the books, sliver through it in hopes of finding information about summoning. Nope. It was fluffy execration stuff, exact ly like the Army of Darkness propaganda. The second book proved the same. The third, however, was a legitimate spell book, filled with the kind of dark rites Dante practiced. Hopeful, I flipped through the pages one by one. It had some vile contents, but there was nobody about summoning. Gregs willingness to let me browse the books should have been a tip-off that they contained nothing of use.All done?I jerked around. Gregs voice was close to me-too close. Id had my back to him while checking out the books, but now he was right behind me. I took a few steps back and bumped the couch.Yeah, I said nervously. give thanks for the help. I should leave now.Not yet, he said, moving closer. You just got here.I tried to wriggle off to the side, but his hands suddenly reached out and grabbed a hold of my arms, pinning me into place.What are you doing? I demanded. There went my heart rate again.I dont know whats going on with all this summoning stuff, but I do know theres a succubus here who doesnt feel like a succubus anymore, which probably means you cant charge up like one.I tried to break from his grasp, but his hands were like steel. Youre crazy. Of course Im a succubus. You know I am.Yeah? Then shape-shift away from me. Turn into a bird. Turn into a bodybuilder.I clenched my dentition and tried to shake his hold again. allow me go, you son of a bitch. You offend me, and a whole host of demons are going to show up and rip you limb from limb.Not so sure about that, he chuckled. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You think any succubus would fuck someone like me?He shoved me down onto the couch, one strong arm pinning me in place while the other hand fumbled awkwardly under my apparel and grabbed a hold of my breast. Moving his head close, he tried to press his lips against mine, but I turned my head just in time.Let me go I screamed. I managed to wriggle a leg innocent(p) and knee him in the gut. It wasnt enough to free me, but it made him scowl.Id hard-pr essed about getting hit by cars, meteors, and structurally unsound overpasses. Never, never had I thought about being raped. It hadnt been a fear of mine for centuries, not since I realized I could shape-shift into someone larger and stronger, someone capable of throwing off any assailant.Maybe it shouldnt have bothered me so much. Id had sex with plenty of people I didnt like over the years. Id always grimaced and waited it out. But there was something about this that was different. It wasnt my choice, and compounding it all was the feeling of impuissance I had. I hated not having options. I hated not being able to think my way out of something. There was nothing to be done, though. Not this time.The most I could do was keep fight and flailing. I did have some self-defense training, after all. Id learned to use weapons and punch over the years. Id nailed Niphon pretty good at Christmas. Unfortunately, what I could do now was limited with Greg on me like this. He simply outweighed m e. Still, my efforts must have proven annoying because Greg growled and grabbed both my arms in an attempt to flip me over. I yelled profanities at him and got another knee-jab in, close to his bulwark but not close enough.And thats when it happened.The smell hit me first. An overwhelming and asphyxiate odor of natural gas. I stopped struggling for half a second. I didnt need to be human to know that meant trouble.Before I could process that further, the kitchen exploded into flames.Fire expanded out into the living room. It didnt quite a reach us, but I think Greg must have still gotten burned because he screamed in pain and released his hold on me. His body had shielded the worst from me, and mostly all I felt was a rolling wave of heat and air.I didnt bother to think or question anything. Greg had released me in his confusion, and I bolted. I scrambled from the couch and ran out the front door, away from the fire. Away from Greg.I drove off as fast as I could, my Passats tires squealing on the pavement. Sweat poured off me, and my hands could barely grip the steering wheel through their shaking. About a mile away, I heard the singing of sirens, but I couldnt spare a thought for what had happened. I couldnt think about whether Greg had made it out or not. I couldnt think about how a gas leak had miraculously saved me.The only thing I could think about now was getting away and getting to safety.