Succubus Heat CHAPTER 15

bloody(a) shames excited blathering rang through the firm as I hurried down the h in allway. I could see the bathroom at the end and 3 closed inlets along the way. Great. Did they subscribe to be shut? With my luck, theyd probably squeak. I could only hope that bloody shame would remain too loud and too distracted to nonice.The first of all door opened-with no squeaking-into a put revealroom. The bed was unmake, and clothes had been pushed into piles once morest the wall. An old dresser sat against one wall, and a nightstand with some text burden stood near the other. There was a annoyance a mirror on the ceiling.Shuddering, I considered freeing in to investigate the nightstand papers unless decided to hold out and see if I big businessman catch out an office arsehole one of the other two doors. Shutting this one silently, I continued down the hallway.The second door did squeak, and I froze, waiting for Mary to come tearing down after me in an effort to bludgeon m e with one of bands books. I wasnt entirely sure how removed his star cater would go to save me if caught snooping. She didnt human face wish well the violent type, scarce one n ever so knew. Fortunately, she kept talking without pause, and I stuck my head inside(a) the new room. It was simply another bedroom, a guest one by the looks of the dust and lack of ain items. I closed the door, grimacing at another squeak. One more than room to go.Jackpot.The third wasnt an office, only it did protrude to be a workspace. Wide t competents lay along the walls, covered in chunks of crystal-clear quartz, smoky quartz, etc.-in various states. somewhat were raw and jagged others were polished and carved. Tools desire blades and picks lay nearby, along with a more sophisticated and modern-looking bend I couldnt identify. Maybe some type of laser cutter.Best of all, there was a two-drawer filing footlocker against the wall. I hurried to it, take over mindful of Marys chatter, and opened the top drawer. Over a hundred file folders with names met me. I pulled one at random and saw that it did indeed take forward a think over order. There was a description of the item, client data, job status, and a picture of the finished product. Unfortunately, having all this information meant little to me. I had no idea what name had been used for the seal-or if Mary was even the one who had do it.Frustrated, I opened the next drawer and found financial records, like bills and bank statements. I also located folders labeled work logs categorized by month. I eagerly pulled out this months and discovered a simple list of dates, client names, and brief descriptions of products. All-except for the three most recent ones-had check marks beside them. accurate products, presumably.I s washbowlned the dates before Jeromes disappearance, cross-checking against the descriptions. Green Tara statue . Bracelet . Athame . Three in vocalizes in the last two weeks caught my attentio n down pendant, talisman, medallion . I recognized none of the client names, but the culprit could no doubt lose used an alias.Re snatching to the second drawer, I found each clients file. The pendant was the advanced size and shape, but it had a hole drilled in it for a chain or string. I couldnt say why, but some issue told me the seals original form would be whole. The talisman turned out to be the wrong shape. It was thick and oblong, more like a stone someone would foreclose in their pocket for substantially luck.I was scratch line to panic now. This was taking too long, and I couldnt hear Mary anymore. God, espionage had been so a lot easier when I could turn invisible. With shaking blow overs, I pulled out the last file-the medallion. The client was Sam Markowitz, and hed picked it up four days ago. The vulnerability depicted a flat, quarter-sized disc made of smoky quartz with symbols I didnt recognize etched onto it. Was that it? It was the closest I had to a matc h of Carters description. There could be other matches-items ordered months ago-but I didnt consecrate clip to go through any more files. I shoved the medallion photo into my purse, closed the drawer, and hurried top out to the hall, half expecting to find Mary blocking my path.I had no need to worry, though. She had never left Seths side-literally. She now sat in my spot, pressing Seth between her and the casts arm. Two stacks of books were on the chocolate table, and an open one was on his lap. He finished signing it and glanced up at my entrance with a relieved look. scarcely you see, Mary was saying, until ONeill is able to confront the darkness within himself, hell never be able to open himself to Cady. Hes had his moments of vulnerability, of cut across-like the cave scene in Dominant Eclipse -but hes still keeping his armor up- on the nose like on the veranda in Memories of Man -and so its no wonder-Hey, I state cheerfully. We should probably arse about passing game. Seth shot up from his seat, looking rather like a trapped animal who had incisively gnawed its own leg off and was about to run free. Yes. We dont pauperization to detain Mary any further.Mary stood up too. No, no Its okay. Really. And you have to finish signing my books.With a grimace, Seth grabbed the last three books and in haste scrawled his signature in them. Thanks for talking to us, he said. Its been great meeting you.Are you sure you have to go? she pleaded. I was departure to make some dinner soon. She shot me an accusing look. And if its Ginger who inescapably to leave, I can give you a ride home later in my van-No, really, said Seth, disdain up to stand by me. I appreciate it, but I have to, you spot, abbreviate O.K. to writing.Extricating ourselves was painful. Mary begged and kept offering everything from discount jewelry to thinly veiled sexual suggestions.Step on the gas and do not look back, Seth told me when we got in the car.I complied, peeling out of her way as fast as I could and charge up dirt and gravel in the process.That effective there, I mused, is the kind of fan who keeps authors in their crawlspace.Seth leaned his head back against the seat. Do not ever do that to me again. Ever.I wasnt that far away. I would have perceive you screaming. non if she used ether first. God, Georgina. She had her hand on my leg.Thats Ginger to you.Please tell me you got something useful out of that. I know you didnt go to the bathroom.Nope. I broke into her workroom and ransacked her files.He groaned. Breaking and entering.Hey, Im a wolf of Hell. And she technically let us in.Whatd you find?Eyes on the road, I reached into my purse and fumbled until I found the picture. I handed it to Seth.This is it? he asked.Im not certain. Its close to the description, but I dont know enough about this to really say.Hmm.Seth studied it and so slipped it back into my purse. We rode for a few more minutes in silence until I finally asked, I was never that bad of a fan, was I? That crazy?Oh, God, no, he said. Absolutely not. You were charming and cute and- He abruptly cut himself off, but those voice communication hung in the air between us. You-you werent like that. nonhing like that, he managed at last. There was a husky tone to his voice, hinting of some emotion but refusing to find which one it was.Id meant my comment to be light, fair(a) a way to keep the conversation going. However, like everything else lately, the words had ended up triggering far more meaning than Id intended. I had a flashback to when Seth and I had first met, when I hadnt even known who he was. Id rattled off my feelings for my favorite author, little knowing I was actually talking to him. Unlike Mary, I hadnt stalked him on the Internet and known what he looked like.Seth cle bed his throat. Sowhat will you do with the picture now?I ran with his change in subject. quiver someone to identify it, I guess. Erik, maybe. Or Dante.More silence fell, and I fe lt the tension advance up. Dante. Once again, harmless words had triggered big consequences between us. I expected Seth to try again to shift the subject, but instead, he actually addressed it.Its weird comprehend you with Dante.Dont you mean its weird seeing me with anyone?WellEven with my eyes on the road, I knew he had that thoughtful, slightly distracted look in his eyes that meant he was pondering how best to phrase his next words. I used to love that look. flat I was on high alert.Yeah, to a certain extent, of course, he finally admitted. Itll always be weird. But every time I talk to him, I unspoilt thinkIf you say that I can do better, then Im pulling this car over right now.Um, no. I was just going to say he doesnt seem like your type.Thats well the same thing, I pointed out. You sound just like Hugh and the others. Im getting so sick of this Honestly, it doesnt matter who I date. Youre never going to be happy.Thats not true, said Seth. Its justwhen youre around him, yo ure darker and more cynical. Youre not like you used to be. This sounds stupid, considering what you are, but yourewell, youre a force for beloved in the world.Oh, come on , I said.No, I mean it. Maybe you are a creature of Hell, but people feel better when theyre around you. You have this way of talking and smiling that affects everyone. Youre nice, youre good-hearted, you worry about others He sighed. But when youre with Dante, its like all that light that normally shines out from you gets sucked away.That light got sucked away a long time ago, I said bitterly. Long before he came along.No, it didnt. Its there, and if youre going to be involved with someone, you need someone who sees it, someone who loves you for it and motives to help bring it out.I had someone like that , I thought. You .Dante and I work well together, no matter what any of you think. He understands me.No, said Seth flatly. His voice was low, but I could hear the anger in it. He doesnt.What other options do I have? Youre throwing me into an impossible situation. You know I cant date anyone whos good. I cant risk hurting them, but I dont want to be alone. This is my only option.No. It cant be. Before we were together, it wasnt like this. You werent drinking all the time and having sex with anon. guys in bathroomsAnd thats when I did it, just like a dad on a road trip. I pulled the car over to the side of the road. It was a long, country highway, and there wasnt much traffic. Seth stared incredulously.What are you doing? deliverance us from an accident, I growled, turning so I could meet him straight in the eye. And youll be easy if I dont make you get out and walk the rest of the way. Look, you want to know why I wasnt dating loser guys when we met? Because I wasnt dating anyone . I took my hits and went home alone. wherefore is it so wrong for me to want to be with someone now?It shouldnt matter if youre dating someone or not. You still shouldnt be performing like thisYoure telling me what I should and shouldnt be doing? Its my business. You have no right I yelled back.Friends have every right to tell friends when theyre on a bad path, he snapped back.Bullshit Ive never seen you deputise with anyone elses demeanor, no matter how badly they were screwing it up. Im the only one you seem to want to mess with. Why do you care so much about what I do? Seth and I had raised our voices only rarely while dating, and it had never even come close to this. It was a wonder we didnt shatter the windows.Because I care about you I told you that at the party. Breaking up doesnt mean you stop caring about someone.Yes, but it means you have to let them go. I was so upset that I was on the verge of tears. You cant have it both ways. You cant get rid of me and then try to pull me backI never wanted to get rid of you.I stared at him for several heavy moments and felt those traitorous tears brimming heavier and heavier in my eyes. Then why did you do it?After all that yelling, hi s voice sounded still like a whisper.BecauseI wanted to save you.You cant, I murmured, swallowing the tears back with great effort. You cant keep saving me, cant keep trying to. Its too late.No, he said. His heart was in his eyes, and it was ripping mine apart. Not for you. Never.I dont know how it happened exactly, but suddenly we were caressing. His lips were just as I remembered, soft and powerful and wonderful. It wasnt a chaste kiss, nor was it a ripping-off-each-others-clothes kiss. It was hungry and desperate, like wed been struggling through a desert and only just now found the water we needed to survive. Best of all, it was just kissing. Just me and Seth. There was no life energy or succubus schemes involved. There was no need to back off for fear of what might happen. We could drink from each other without pulling back.Except, well, we did.We jerked apart, and I knew the shock on his face mirrored my own. What had we just do? Had wehad we really done it? It was a kiss. A real kiss. The kind of kiss wed always wanted. The kiss we werent supposed to be having.I turned abruptly away, staring at the road ahead. I was rimed and numband yet, alive and filled with warmth. The world had been in that kiss. But I didnt know how to react to it, didnt know what I was supposed to do now. So, I did the most inane thing possible. I started the car.We should get back, I said.Yeah, he agreed, sounding as stunned as I felt.I dared a look out of my peripheral vision. His eyes were fixed straight ahead, his wonderful lips tightened in a line that somehow made them look strong and vulnerable at the same time. I wanted to lean over and kiss them again, to melt as I had moments ago and forget all about reason. I wanted that hone feeling to last forever.Instead of dealing with what had just happened, however, I did the cowardly thing and stepped on the gas. We cloud back to the city in miserable silence, neither of us mentioning the kiss but both of us thinking about it. I dropped him off at the bookstore and offered a polite thank-you for his help. He returned it equally politely-giving me one last pensive look-and then walked off toward his car. I watched him go, memorizing every line of his body and how he moved. Every emotion possible warred within me, and I had no idea which deserved to win.I was outwear by the time I stepped into my apartment building. The day had been mentally and physically wearying, what with would-be rapists, larceny, and the kiss heard round the world. Later, Id find someone to identify the photograph for me. For now, I just wanted to sprawl on the couch and watch TV, preferably TV that had nothing to do with the wizardly or paranormal-or any romantic tension.Unfortunately, the magical and paranormal was waiting for me.Whats Nanette doing here?That was my last coherent thought before I was thrown against the far side of my living room.I hit hard, my head cracking against the wall. I fell to the ground, my legs jus t scarcely possessing the reflexes to keep me from falling as black spots sparkled across my vision. Nanette faced me, terrible and beautiful in all her golden glory. She hadnt laid a hand on me, but she didnt need to, not with the power she wielded.How dare you, she hissed, eyes narrowed. How dare you spread those kinds of rumors.What are you-ahI was shoved back to the wall again. The distance wasnt nearly so far as before, but the force was so hard that the impact hurt just as much. More pain shot through my skull as I assay to make understanding of all this.I dont know what youre talking about I cried.Nanette stalked toward me, putting her face inches from mine. Of course you do. You told Cedric that I was the one whod summoned Jerome, that I was the one causing chaos in his territory.I didnt, I whimpered. Not exactly. I just told him youd met with Jerome.She snarled and grabbed me by the front of my shirt, jerking me forward. That was nothing. Nothing But now others are suspi cious.I just thought he should know and-Do you know what you may have done? she screamed. I was a candidate for this city You may have ruined everything.She threw me again, this time toward the corner my TV was in. Its sharp angles bit into me when I hit, and I crumpled to the floor. I tried to pull myself up but never made it. Nanette was right there beside me. I had a full view of her black stiletto pumps just before she kicked me in the ribs. Pain beat outed me, and my body instinctively tried to curl over and treasure itself. But she was too fast and too powerful. Greg had had a lot of fauna strength at his disposal, brute strength Id been able to counteract a little. But against Nanette? Against a demon? Her strength was beyond that of a human, nearly beyond human comprehension.Do. Not. Fuck. With. Me, she said, punctuating each hit with a kick to my stomach or ribs. Do you understand? You are nothing. Nothing .Im sorry, I said. My eyes burned, and every part of my body was screaming, begging for this to end.The kicking stopped, and I rolled to my side, only to have a wave of power slam down on me and roll me to my stomach, pinning me down on the floor like an invisible ton of bricks. I tried to move but couldnt even budge.I dont care if youre Jeromes favorite or Cedrics new darling, she said. Her voice was all ice and malice. Again, she didnt touch me with her hands, but the back of my shirt suddenly ripped open. I could destroy you right now, blast you from the face of the earth, and no one would say anything. Instead-youre lucky Im in a good mood today.Her good mood felt like a thousand whips hitting my back. Tiny lashes of power, sharp as razors and eager like flames, slammed into me. I screamed as they slashed at my skin, ripping it open. Some part of me thought that if I screamed loud enough, maybe a neighbor would hear me. It was a useless sentiment, though. She would have soundproofed this room much as the demons had at the Cellar. Besides, wh at could any mortal do against this?Again and again those invisible whips tore into me. Obviously, I couldnt see what was happening, but in my minds eye, I imagined my flesh torn to ribbons, my entire back a horrible, bloody mess. I dont know how many times those lashings repeated. They blurred together. I was fast approaching a point where the pain was so intense, so overwhelming that I almost couldnt feel it. My vision was going black, my brain barely able to hold consciousness.When the beating finally stopped, I wondered if I was dead. The room was still and silent. Then, the invisible force lifted off my back. I tried to roll over but couldnt. Nanette knelt down, her lips right against my ear.Do not fuck with me, she whispered. You interfere again, and I will come out you.She vanished. I was left alone, shit and bleeding. I tried to move again but still was unable to. What was I going to do? I couldnt even call for help. Of course, it probably didnt matter. The pain was so gre at that I was either going to die or pass out any minute now. Human devices might not kill me, but demonic ones could, regardless if I was in stasis.Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt strong weapons system slide underneath me, lightly lifting me in a way that kept my back up. I curb a small cry. Even without my back being touched, the movement hit every other sinew and place on my body that Nanette had hurt. I opened my eyes, trying to see who was there, but my vision was locomote and rapidly darkening.What was all I managed to get out.Shh, love. Its going to be okay. Youre going to be okay.Those arms gently eased me onto my bed. I moaned again as fire shot through my ribs. Cool hands smoothen back my hair, but I still couldnt see anything.I cant heal you, the voice said. But Ill get someone who can help. Just dont move. Its going to be okay.There was something familiar about the voice, but I couldnt identify it through the haze and confusion in my head. I could barely breathe, let alone think. calm fell after that, as though my mysterious benefactor had left. Yet a few moments later, I blearily saw hands set Aubrey on the bed beside me. She leaned forward, sniffing my face. One of the friendly hands petted her head and back, in that way that could so often coax cats into lying down. It worked, and after turning in a mates of circles, she settled down beside me.Then, the hand stroked my hair one last time. Everythings going to be okay.That was the last thing I remembered hearing. My savior might have stayed or left. I didnt know because a few moments later, that pitch blackness finally won, and I sank into a dreamless sleep that was mercifully free of pain.