Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 3

After a groovy nights sleep, I went to work the a thoting morning, feeling a bit much optimistic round liveness. I decided Tawny had probably already scored last night, and Niphon was on his manage handst to the airport. Plus, Id get to depict hardening soon since he had made my propose of employment, Emerald metropolis Books & Caf?, his writing headquarters. Yes, it wouldnt be such a bad day. receivable to my ex-managers complicated pregnancy, Id recently inherited her position. This had left my old assistant-manager position va stand buoyt, and wed cease up hiring Maddie Sato who besides happened to be the sister of Doug Sato the opposite assistant manager. It had been a stunning disp degrade of favoritism, and Doug had thrown a fit, complaining how wed just displace his soundlessness rating by ten points. As it was, Maddie already lived with him. Shed germ to travel to later on his recent hospitalization and neer re anyy left. She had a second job as a freelan ce writer at a feminist magazine, and working at Emerald City gave her a much stable source of in find.I desired Maddie. She was smart and capable and had a twisted sense of humor that spoke to mine. She worked puff up with customers and was al right smarts conductually polite in a professional capacity. For example, she could get caught up talk with band astir(predicate) writerly topics and function beautifully. only if when, when it came to friendlier and more interpersonal embrace, her social skills were a bit lacking. After a particularly analytical writing discussion, solidifying had once made an off-hand comment approximately her childhood, and shed frozen up. eyeight him with some(a)one even more socially cumbrous than he was had been amusing, but mostly Id matte disappointed at her relapse. Id made good mount in getting her to m other(a) appear of her shell and k natural how fun she could be. I deficiencyed e trulyone else to mark off it too.Today I foun d her upstairs in the caf?, sitting at the table lot had staked out with his laptop. It app bently wasnt a writerly day because Doug sit with them. He and Maddie appeared to be in some configuration of heated argument. Seth sat betwixt them, viewing ilk he desperately wanted to be somewhere else. Catching my eye, he gave me a pleading look. I purposely slid a chair up beside him, forcing Doug to fleet his own chair over. No one knew Seth and I were dating, and the Sato siblings were so caught up in the discussion they didnt find either topic of the chair placement.Whats going on? I asked. It had soften involve the fate of the store to be detaining the perfect management team. The holidays were nearly upon us, and business was insane lately.Maddie had the grace to look embarrassed, utterly remembering her duties. She presented her mouth to speak, but Doug interrupted her.My illustrious sisters an insensitive bitch.Maddie rolled her eye. He has some maladjusted ideas ap proximately Beth.I sighed. Look, if this is rough the quantify Beth wore leg warmers here Dont remind me of that, grumbled Doug.My illustrious brother has this underdone idea that Beth just broke up with someone, explained Maddie.Both looked at me as though they expected me to set this matter straight. Puzzled, I glanced back and fore between them.Whys that crazy?Because she has a cold, express Maddie. She said she has a cold. Thats wherefore shes sniffling.Shes pretending to regress air a cold, cried Doug. What kind of sick and twisted orb is this when an asshole like me is the one to notice heart meet in the the vulgar? For Gods sake, her eyes are all red.Cold, Maddie repeated firmly. She considered. Or maybe allergies.In December?The two of them bickered on. Beside me, Seth fought and failed to financial support a straight grammatical case. I studied the way his lips curved into a smile, liking their shape and recalling how they felt. I turned my attention back to the siblings, enjoying the show. Finally, after to the highest degree five more minutes, I remembered I was an authority figure and not a slacker employee.Why is this a big deal? I asked.Because shes wrong, Doug said. Im just act to prove that.Maddie sighed. Youre like a twelve-year-old.Am not. He jabbed her in the arm.Okay, enough. I pointed to Doug. You, register. I pointed to Maddie. You, my ability.Oohyoure in trouble, Doug told her.Im going to show her how to process orders, I growled.Maddies eyes gleamed with anticipation, dimples appearing in her round cheeks. She ate up new tasks. feminine favoritism, said Doug. You like her better than me, dont you? Its okay. You can retell me. I can take it.Go. Both of you. Ill be level in a sec.I looked at Seth when they were gone. This is wherefore I dont stir children, I told him. That wasnt true, of course. non true at all. Children simply werent in the wags for succubi.AlthoughI think Dougs actually right, I mused. As crazy as that is. I axiom Beth on my way in.Seth smiled. Maddies a good writer and first-rate smart, but shes kind of oblivious to other people.I gave him a dry look. I thought that was true most all writers.Some are worse than others.Shocking. You rode in a car with her for, what, four hours? Whatd you guys talk active?Writing.I sighed. I worry shed relax approximately people other than Doug and me. Shes hilarious. She came up with the idea to Silly String Dougs car after he said Betty Friedan was PMSing when she wrote The Feminine Mystique.Im not sure Id describe that as hilarious so much as scary. Besides, that was your idea, he reminded me. You two are dangerous. Your whole soul-stealing act seems kind of softcore compared to the stuff you and Maddie concoct.I grinned. It was true. I hadnt really hung out with a lot of women in the last century or so and was discovering Id been absentminded out. You bear no idea. Social awkwardness or not, shes the crush thing thats happened to me in a era.Oh?Well, present comp all excluded of course.Sure. Whatever you ordain.Hey. I some grabbed his hand, then remembered we were in public. Theres no competition. Youre a better cook. And a better kisser.I didnt realize youd tried her out.Well, you complete how much I like writers.My smile slipped a itsy-bitsy as my mind switched subjects. Id been thinking about my energy loss all morning, particularly since Id probably be pursuance my hit tonight or tomorrow. Jerome had blown the matter off, but like usual, I couldnt let it go. I decided then that Id go visit my friend Erik Lancaster, Seattles local mortal source of occult k nowadaysledge. He seemed to admit more than my cronies half the time.I extended the invitation to Seth, and he hold to come with me. I was glad. I had often thought it might do him some good to talk to some other human who regularly dealt with the supernatural. This was as good of a time as any.Seth met me at my place after work, and we mic rowaved a quick dinner before heading out. As we walked down the stairs of my building, he teased me about Maddie again.You guys were working in the office a while. Sure you werent making out?Not too much, I assured him.He laughed and caught hold of my hand. I jerked him toward me. Our lips met in a kiss, and as the warmth of his body stirred mine, I had no doubts about what the best thing in my life was. After a a couple of(prenominal) invigorated-flavored moments, we followed the drill and separated, our reluctance making the disentanglement a bit awkward in execution.Yeah, I told him. Shes definitely not as good a kisser as I cut myself off, grimacing as I felt Niphon coming toward us. His immortal aura felt slimy and musky. I stepped farther away from Seth and glared down the sidewalk at the approaching imp. comprehend me, he waved a hand in greeting.Excuse me a moment, I muttered. I skipped down the steps and blocked Niphon from getting within earreach of Seth. What do y ou want?Attitude, attitude, Letha, he tsked. Succubi should be charming and cordial at all times. He peered beyond me. Is that the human boyfriend? Can I meet him?You can go the fuck away. Youre speculate to be belongings an eye on Tawny.I live with been, he said cheerfully. Thats why I came to see you. I followed her last night. She was quite confident in her abilities but had some difficulty arranging an assignation in the end. execrable thing. It seems she may take longer than suspected in getting established. Fortunately, Ill propitiate with her until the end.His mocking concern dug into me, just as hed intended. Is that all you came to tell me? Because Im leaving now. Ive got to be somewhere.Of course, of course, he simpered. He gestured vaguely in Seths direction. I didnt mean to interrupt your heated moment, even if it looked like it was about to cool down. A sudden look of realization crossed his face. You dont sleep with him, do you? Youve got some sort of noble sense of duty about take up his life. That poor, poor man. Niphon laughed. Oh, Letha. You are one of the most fascinating creatures Ive ever come across.I turned my back on him and stormed up to Seth. Come on, were leaving.Who was that? he asked as we walked away.Hes an imp. And an asshole.Even almost a block away, I could unruffled just barely catch Niphons taunting laughter. I tried to leave out it as Seth and I walked to his car. Listening to my friends tease me about Seth was annoying enough. From Niphon, it was unbearable. Fortunately, I calmed down by the time Seth and I got on the road. I instead focused on comprehend Erik and hopefully getting my mystery solved.Erik ran a store up in Lake City called Arcana, Ltd. Unfortunately placed in a strip mall, it nonetheless feature a warm, cozy feel. Dim lighting shed a tranquil air, and the bubbling of undersized fountains mingled with the soft sounds of a CD player emitting reiterate music. Books, jewelry, candles, and statuary ho leed up every inch of free space. The sweet scent of nag champa hung in the air.Neat, said Seth, peering more or less as we entered.Erik glanced up from where he was kneeling behind a stack of books. Hed grown a mustache since last I saw him, and I liked the way the gray hair stood out against his dark brown skin. A entitle smile bloomed on his face. unload Kincaid, what an unexpected pleasure. And you have a friend. He rose and walked to us, extending his hand toward Seth.Erik, this is Seth Mortensen. Seth, Erik.They shook. A pleasure, Mr. Mortensen. You exert good company.Yes, said Seth, smiling in return. I do.If were lucky, I said silkily, Erik impart have time for tea. He only serves decaf, so that should crystalise you happy.Of course I have time, said Erik. I doubt theres any man who doesnt have time for you, Miss Kincaid.I shot Seth a scratchy look when Erik left to put down the tea on. Ah, now theres someone who appreciates me. You wouldnt see him shirking me for a b ook.If memory serves, you worship those books. Besides, how else am I hypothetical to keep you in the lifestyle youre accustomed to?If memory serves, I paid the last time we went out. Well, yeah. I was just letting you play liberate so that you and Maddie wouldnt go vandalize my car.When our tea party commenced around Eriks small corner table, I was surprised to hear Seth engage Erik in conversation on what it meant to be a mortal among immortals. Seth wasnt usually so forthcoming, and I wondered just how much immortal supernaturalness trouble him.It puts my sense of time awry, remarked Erik. I see people like Miss Kincaid who stay young and beautiful forever. It makes me feel as though no time has passed. Then I look at myself and see the new wrinkles. I feel the aches in my bones. I realize I entrust be left behindthey will go on and embrace to shape the world without me. He sighed, more with bemusement than sadness. I wish I could see what will happen next.Yes, Seth said, surprising me. His eyes looked dark and solemn. I know what you mean.I glanced over at him, seeing something Id never noticed before. I knew he must think about the future and his own death all mortals did but only now did I realize how much he really thought about those things. Looking at both men, I remembered they would eventually die, and it made something in my chest grow cold. For the space of a heartbeat, I could almost see Seth as wrinkled and gray-haired as Erik.Morbid much, you guys? I asked, trying to affect a blas? air. I didnt come here to work on everyone down. Ive got to pick Eriks brain.Pick away, he said.Wellyou know how I need, uh, life and energy to survive, right? An idiotic statement. Of course he knew. Yesterday morning, I woke up, and my entire stash was gone.Erik considered. Thats normal, isnt it? It fades over time.Not this quickly. Especially since I stopped, perfectly realizing having Seth here might not have been so intoxicating after all. I, um, ha d just gotten a refill the night before.Both men kept neutral prospects. And you did nothing out of the ordinary?No, Jerome thinks it was mental stress. I shrugged. I dont think I was that stressed. I dreameda weird dreambut nothing stressful.Dreams are powerful, Erik said. And sometimes stress can take more out of us than we realize. Unfortunately, I know little about dreams, but He frowned, and his gaze suddenly turned inward.But what?I know someone who might be able to help. individual who specializes in dreams.Who? This sounded promising.Erik took a long time in answering. When he spoke, he seemed unhappy to give up the words. Someone who might as well be signed and sealed to your side. His names Dante Moriarty.I snickered. That cant be his real name.Its not, though Im sure some of your imp and demon friends would know him by any name. Hes a con artistamong other things. Considers himself a magician too.I deal with corrupt people all the time, I pointed out. Doesnt bother me m uch.True, agreed Erik. He still looked troubled, which I found puzzling. Although not evil himself, he interacted with me and others of my ilk on a regular basis without blinking. I wondered what it was about one human that would bother him so much. Ill get you his contact information.He sought out Dantes card, and I browsed around the store while Seth used the bathroom in the back. The old storekeeper handed me the card when he found it.I like Mr. Mortensen a great deal.Yeah. So do I.I know. I can tell.I looked up from a display of bracelets, waiting for more.You talk and move around each other in a way youre probably not even conscious of. Its like how lovers usually interactbut its something more too. You have a continual sense of each other, I think, even when not together. Theres a burning in the air between you.I didnt know what to say to that. It sounded nice but a little intimidating too.Ive never met some other(prenominal) of your kind whos exactly like you, Miss Kincaid . He hesitated, his normally wise-and-competent expression flickering into uncertainty. It was a rare look for him. I dont know how this will turn out.Seth emerged then, picking up that hed interrupted something. He glanced between the two of us, and I rested a reassuring hand on his arm. You about ready to go?Sure.I scanned the rest of the jewelry counter, only half-noticing the contents. Suddenly, I did a double-take and leaned over one of the cases. Erik, where do you find this stuff?He and Seth looked over my shoulder.Ah, yes, said Erik. The Byzantine rings. By the resembling artist who made your ankh necklace.Your artist has a real knack for diachronic detail. They look just like the originals.He walked around the counter and lifted out the tray with the rings. I picked one up. It was an ordinary gold band. Rather than any sort of mounted gem on top, it bore a tranquil and flat disc, almost the size of a dime. Greek letters were inscribed into the metal.What do they mean? as ked Seth.I tried to explain the long-lost custom. Its a benediction. like a prayer for the parallel. This would have been a wedding ring.I examined another depicting Christ and the Virgin still another showed a fine man and woman facing each other.I used to have a ring almost like this, I said softly, round it over in my hands. Neither man said anything, and I in the long run returned it to its tray.On the way home(a), Seth gently asked, What happened to your ring?I stared out the window. Its not important.Tell me.I didnt respond, and he didnt ask me again. When we got back to my place, I saw no sign of Vincent and figured he was out investigation with Charlies Angels. Newspapers were scattered across my kitchen table he apparently liked to keep up on current events. Morbid events, at that. One of the headlines was a story Id heard the other day about a crazy man whod killed his wife after having a vision of seeing her with another man. Mortals did creepy things sometimes. Oka y, a lot of the time.Seth sat on my rove and leaned forward, hands clasped together. Id sensed his mood shift when I wouldnt answer in the car.ThetisYou want to know about the ring.The ring doesnt matter so much. Its justwell, Ive seen you get like this. Something bugs you, something you remember. But you wont talk to me about it. There are days I feel like you dont tell me anything.I sat down next to him, avoiding eye contact in a way he often did. I tell you plenty.Not about your past.I have a lot of past, and I talk about it all the time.YeahI guess. He absentmindedly stroked my arm. But you dont talk about your mortal past. Before you were a succubus.So? Does it make a difference of opinion? Youre with me now. You know the kind of person I am now.I do. And I love that person. And I want to know whats important to you. What made you who you are. I want to know what stands you so that I can help.You dont need to know that to know who I am. My human past doesnt enter in to anythi ng, I said stiffly.I cant believe that.Again, I didnt answer.I dont know anything about that part of your life, he continued. I dont know your real name. What you really look like. Where you grew up. I dont even know how old you are.Hey, its not just me. You have plenty of things you dont talk about, I pointed out, trying to deflect the attention.What do you want to know?Well I groped for something I didnt know much about. You never talk about your dad. How he died.Seth answered immediately, without hesitation. Not much to tell. Cancer. I was thirteen. According to a therapist Mom made us see, I withdrew into a world of fantasy to cope.I leaned my head against his shoulder, knowing hed boom on anything I wanted to know in a subdued, Seth sort of way. It was ironic considering his normal conversational reticence, but that was how he operated. He believed relationships had to have an open exchange of honesty and baring of souls. I supposed he was right, but there were too many dark part of my soul I didnt want to share. Parts I was afraid would stir him off.I knew Seth well enough to realize he wouldnt fight back this issue anymore tonight, but I could also sense his hurt and disappointment. He didnt ask me these questions to upset me he did it out of sincere affection. That didnt make it easier, unfortunately, and I fought my anxiety and long- inhumed pain to try to offer him something. Anything. Anything to show I was making an effort in this relationship. My original face and name were abruptly to me, obsolete reminders of the woman Id left behind, never mind Niphons insistence on calling me Letha. Seth would never know those things.We sat together for a long time while I decided what I could give up. Finally, with the words sticking in my mouth, I said, I grew up in Cyprus. The air grew tense as we both waited for more. In the early 5th century. I dont know exactly what year I was born. We didnt really keep track of those things.He exhaled. I hadnt re alized hed been holding his confidential information. Slowly, carefully, he put an arm around me and pressed his lips against my hair. Thank you.I buried my face against his shoulder, not knowing what I hid from. Id barely given him anything just a couple of pieces of trivia. Nonetheless, yielding that tiny bit from a place in me I wanted to hide from was powerful. I felt exposed and insecure without fully understanding why. Seth gently stroked my hair.Is the ring from around that time? he asked.I nodded against him.Itd be worth a lot then, I suppose.I lost it, I whispered.He must have picked up on the anguish in my voice. He held me tighter. Im sorry.We stayed together a while longer that night, but I knew he wanted to go home and work at his own place. Unable to deny him, I shooed him away, though I had a feeling that he would have stayed if Id asked it.Once he was gone, I went into my bedroom and closed the door. Kneeling in front of my open closet, I pulled out box after box, setting them haphazardly around the room. My organization lacked something like, say, organization and it took me a while to sift through the clutter of junk. Finally, I produced a shoebox covered in dust.Lifting the lid, I felt my breath catch. Old, brown letters lay stacked with a few photographs. A heavy gold cross on a fraying string lay among the papers, along with other small treasures. I carefully hunted around until I found what I wanted a bronze ring, discolor with age.I held it in my hands, still able to discern the engraved couple atop the mounted disc. It was a cruder job but still very similar to Eriks modern renditions. I ran my fingertips along the rings edges without knowing what I did. I even tried it on, but it didnt fit. It had been made for larger fingers than I had now. I refused to shape-shift to the right size.I kept the ring out for a few more minutes, thinking of Seth and Cyprus and all sorts of things. Finally, unable to stand the ache within me, I put the ring back into its box and buried it once more in the closet.