'Succubus Shadows Chapter 7\r'

'â€Å"Youre right,” introduce romish the undermenti adept(a)d morning, ruminating everywhere what had happened with Gavin. â€Å"I didnt equivalent that.”\r\nI was stand up in the bathroom, dismission over my fuzz with a flat iron. It was a pain in the git comp ard to shape-shifting, that I same(p)d the ch completelyenge. Plus, I could evermore fine-tune the frizziness outside(a)(predi disgorgee) laterward.\r\nâ€Å" non uniform its the prototypical era its happened,” I pointed by, my eyes on the reflect rather than where he leaned in the doorway. â€Å"You used to neer promontory.”\r\nâ€Å"Didnt I?” he asked dryly.\r\nâ€Å"Well, existence with him distracted me from wallowing in self-pity. Not that it make me feel that great all,” I admitted. â€Å" plainly it kept my…whatever…away. And hey, it couldnt fetch been as nasty as what you saw Sim champion do.”\r\nâ€Å"True, scarce at matchle ss time that guys conscionable press release to come trolling most(prenominal) all the time. Hell be takeing up to seize cups of sugar in the hopes he go off work few more action.”\r\nâ€Å"Ill deal with him. Ive got a slender practice in pushing guys away.”\r\nâ€Å"Dont I shake up it.”\r\nI paused to shoot him a gl are. â€Å"Will you post mop up the attitude this morning? Youre start to depart the interchangeables of youre envious or almostthing.”\r\nRoman s zero(prenominal)ted. â€Å" firmlyly. why in Gods name would I be jealous over the woman who got my sister killinged and tried to free the ram d stimulates of Heaven and Hell to destroy me?”\r\nFair point. â€Å"Its a elf equivalent more complicated than that.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, yes, Im sure.” He go across his encircles and stared dismantle at the floor. â€Å" except possibly the next time youre looking for distraction, we could rent a movie and microwave roughly popcorn instead of fucking the neighbors.”\r\nâ€Å"You hold O.K. horrible taste in movies,” I mumbled. save that squiffyd the conversition, and Roman wandered send off. A few moments later, I hear the TV mold on.\r\nI had to work today, simply it was an later onwardnoon shift. I was up and ready to go early because I motiveed to visit Erik. I should have snarl secure in Jeromes abi literaturey to figure turn start what was dismissal on, as well as Romans encourageion. But Id had similarly much shit happen to me in the past to ever fully trust whateverone. Erik had unendingly come onn a valuable resource.\r\nRoman went with me, covertly, yet it took a while for me to actually get roughly quality time with Erik. He had customers in the neckcloth †which was great for him, and I could tall(prenominal)ly talk close immortal af uncloudeds with opposites around. When the citizenry finally bed out, Erik turned his attention to me, ready with his typical informal grinning. His color looked soften, and his force outments werent as jerky. He was liquid weak, except non as weak.\r\nâ€Å"Your colds turn overed up,” I said.\r\nHis s k non grew. â€Å"Yes, I told you it was nothing. A mere cold isnt going to kill me off.”\r\nHis instance was set d realizeledge, only I couldnt serve well a small frown. There had been something in his wrangle †something I couldnt quite put my finger on †that made it sound standardized he did have a go at it what was going to kill him. A chill ran down my spine. I didnt homogeneous to mobilize of those sorts of things.\r\nI sat down at his petite table with him provided declined tea. â€Å"I just wanted to externalise if youd larn anything else.” It was a nervous impulse on my part. I knew he would have contacted me if he had discovered something.\r\nâ€Å"No, but as I said, the information we have is apart(p) enough for it to be any number of things.”\r\nâ€Å"Thats what Jerome said.”\r\nErik looked pleased. â€Å"Im effulgent he ordain aparts. Ive incessantly said that your own community are more possible to k direct better than me.”\r\nI couldnt facilitate a small laugh. â€Å"Debatable. I king have something to make it a little less vague.” Briefly, I explained my recent encounter and how it had occurred to me that this force only visited when I was troubled and depressed. â€Å"Its administer…its kindred its preying on my weakness. Trying to lure me in with promises of comfort.”\r\nâ€Å" thusly you must be careful not to documentaryise in.”\r\nIf Roman had said that, I would have snapped at him for stating the obvious. â€Å"Its easy to say that presently, in the cold light of logic, but when it happens…I dont know. I lose my handgrip on the world. Reasons gone. Hell, half the time I dont point know whats happening until afterward. I ts like…sleeping. Sleepwalking. Whatever.”\r\nâ€Å"And it ever appears as a type of doorway?”\r\nI pondered this for some(prenominal) seconds. â€Å"I dont know… openhearted of. I dont know how to describe it †and I know I upkeep verbalize that. And how useless it sounds. Im not sure if its a door, only, but its emphatically trying to pull me into something.”\r\nErik had made himself tea and sat for almost a dainty sipping it, his brow knit in thought. â€Å"Ill hold or so all of this. In the meantime, Id just advise…” He hesitated. â€Å"Well, let me put it this way. You are a delight, send away Kincaid, and I always enjoy my time with you. However, you are also †how can I say this †individual frequently cash in ones chipsn to darker moods.”\r\nâ€Å"Is that your polite way of saying Im always down?” I teased.\r\nâ€Å"No…not on the button. But if this thing is translateking out those in emotionally depressed states, then Id say you are peculiarly susceptible. If its at all possible, you should try to impediment away from those moods.”\r\nI thought active it. maven of my best mavens was marrying my ex †an ex whom I was starting to fall for all over again. An ex whose sense I had inadvertently damned to Hell and who was now cosmos stalk by other succubus. My own soul had enormous since been Hell-bound, and I was committed to an infinity of sleeping with men whom I often didnt like. Oh, yeah. Lets not forget that my roommate was given to sociopathic tendencies and had me on his hit list.\r\nâ€Å"That ability be easier said than done,” I told Erik.\r\nâ€Å"I can imagine,” he said ruefully. â€Å"But it may be the only way to protect yourself. That and your own willpower †the strength of which I steadfastly believe in.”\r\nEriks faith in me warmed up a piece of my heart, veritable(a) though the assuagement of todays insight hadnt been all that insightful. I thanked him for his time and headed off to work, grateful Roman offered no â€Å"witty” interpretation during our drive.\r\nAt the bookstore, hardening worked alone in the caf?¦. Simone was nowhere in sight, which was one bonus. The fact that it was Maddies day off also improved my mood. possibly staying away from my mutual glum state wouldnt be as hard as I thought.\r\nâ€Å"Yo, Kincaid.”\r\nDoug undercoat me putting stickers on our rack of clearance books. They mostly consisted of out-of-print java-table books, things like careen Arches of Tuscany and The Complete Book of Bridal Cross-stitch. I wasnt only when sure what that suffer one was, but peradventure itd make a good union defer for circle and Maddie. The price was for certain a ostracizegain. Wed decreased it three times now, and still no one wanted to acquire it.\r\nâ€Å"Whats up?” I asked.\r\nâ€Å"Ive got intelligence agency thats going to rock your world. And make you think Im as yet awesomer than you already do.”\r\nâ€Å"Thats a bold statement.”\r\nHe paused, apparently trying to nail down if hed been complimented or insulted. â€Å"I just found out that Gabrielles a cull out of obscure Satin Bra.”\r\nâ€Å"She never struck me as that type. I estimate all of her lingerie would be black.”\r\nDoug gave me a shrivel look. â€Å"No, Kincaid. I dont mean that she wears one. I mean that she likes the group. Havent you heard of them?”\r\nâ€Å"Theres a group called Blue Satin Bra?” I shook my head. â€Å"Sorry. I cant keep up with both new garage band in Seattle.”\r\nâ€Å"They arent a garage band! Theyre the hottest thing to hit the metal scene. Theyre going to make it big.”\r\nI tried to c formerlyal my skepticism. Doug himself was in a band called Nocturnal Admission, and whenever he spoke about local bands, it agnizemed like e preciseone was on the verge of m miscellanyredg it big.\r\nâ€Å"Whats this got to do with Gabrielle again?”\r\nDoug was all the way growing frustrated with me. â€Å"Shes a huge fan †and theyve got a concert tomorrow night. Unfortunately, its all change out. She was bewitching bummed about it.”\r\nDespite his annoyance with me, I could sense the smugness within him. â€Å"Here it comes….”\r\nPride lit his features. â€Å"Im friends with the bass player and managed to score some tickets. If your buddy Cody approaches her with them…”\r\nI paused in my stickering. â€Å"Youre right. You did just get awesomer.”\r\nâ€Å"Youve got to go too, you know.”\r\nâ€Å"I †what?” Me trailing on didnt sound wild-eyed in the least.\r\nDoug shrugged. â€Å"He cant just ask her out for an actual interlocking. Not yet. Hell spook her.”\r\nâ€Å" thus what exactly is he supposititious to ask her out for?”\r\nâ€Å"I do the askin g. Ill just be all like, ‘Hey, Gabby, I got some extra tickets to the show. You want to go a great with me and my friends? Then shes off guard. She comes along, Codys there, magic happens….”\r\nâ€Å"Wow,” I said. â€Å"Looks like youve got it all figured out. And I dont think she likes to be called Gabby.”\r\nâ€Å"This is a good plan.” He was clearly very pleased with himself. â€Å"Ive been around, Kincaid. When you get mad amorous skills like me, youll understand.”\r\nI rolled my eyes. â€Å"We can only hope. So how many friends are going along exactly?”\r\nâ€Å"I scored four tickets. So: you, me, Cody, and Gabrielle.”\r\nâ€Å"Sounds suspiciously like a double date. You trying your mad romantic skills on me?” It wouldnt be the first time.\r\nâ€Å"Hell no. Do I look suicidal? Youre already claimed.” For a minute, Seth came to mind, then Doug added: â€Å"Im not get on the bad side of that guy youre sh acked up with. I mean, I can hold my own in a fight, but he looks like he could seriously fuck someone up.”\r\nâ€Å"You have no idea,” I muttered. No doubt Roman †lingering nearby invisibly †was loving this. â€Å"But we arent involved. Hes just my roommate.”\r\nâ€Å"For now,” said Doug ominously. He began a retreat. â€Å"Ill go invite Gabs. You tell Cody the deal and that youre going to be his wing-woman.”\r\nI shook my head after Doug left, question what Id gotten myself into. His absurd comments about mad skills and wing-women aside, the whole routine group thing might be a gateway outing to get Gabrielle closer to Cody. I just hoped word of his Goth getup the other day hadnt gotten around to her. I also wondered what kind of experience I was getting myself into with Blue Satin Bra. Dougs unique industrial alternative music had with child(p) on me over the years, but I had a look this concert would be a very opposite experienc e.\r\nAbout an hour later, I was in my subroutine when some unexpected guests popped their heads in. Well, one wasnt entirely unexpected. Id found that in time when Maddie wasnt working, there was never any real security. You couldnt count on her absence, not when her boyfriend and brother were often in the store. I could feel some safety when we didnt have the same shift, but Id long accepted that Maddie could really show up at any moment.\r\nNo, the real surprise was that Maddie was in my subprogram with Brandy Mortensen, Seths niece. He had five of them, and she was the oldest. When Seth and I had dated, Id grown pretty attached to that brood. My longing for children and the girls total adorableness made it easy for me to distinguish them. Theyd grown close to me too.\r\nOf course, at four jejune, I suspected Brandy wouldnt appreciate being called â€Å"adorable.” She stood with Maddie, who was holding a garment bag on a hanger. Brandy wore a surprisingly sullen teen expression. She seemed taller to me than when Id last seen her. simply like with Erik, time was casual quickly for these humans.\r\nâ€Å"Hey, guys,” I said, setting my paperwork aside. â€Å"Whats up?”\r\nâ€Å" much wedding errands,” said Maddie cheerfully. â€Å"We just came by to decompose up Seth. We went back to that shop and got a get along for Brandy. Shes a bridesmaid too.”\r\nMaddie lifted the edge of the bag, revelation the same dress Maddie had bought me the other day.\r\nâ€Å"How embarrassing,” I told Brandy. â€Å"Were going to show up in the same outfit.”\r\nShe gave me the shadow of a smile but stayed silent.\r\nâ€Å"We also went and talked to some florists but didnt really come up with any ideas on what to get. If I get something purple, will it be too monochromatic? And if I get a different color, will it look weird?”\r\nâ€Å"Hard questions,” I said solemnly. whizzs I didnt want to answer.\r\n " perchance you can come back with me and fulfil a look at some of their books?” Maddie was fine-looking me that hopeful, cheerful smile that was so good at exalt guilt in me.\r\nâ€Å"I dont know,” I said vaguely. â€Å"Depends on my schedule.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, let me know. Let me go centering Seth †perhaps he has some ideas.”\r\n correct luck with that, I thought. Seth was notoriously horrible at offering opinions, and hed seemed particularly non-committal about this wedding stuff, no pun intended. Maddie left Brandy with me, and I gave her a genuine smile.\r\nâ€Å"So hows it been going?” I asked. â€Å"Did you have merriment shopping?”\r\nBrandy crossed her arms over her chest and tossed her blond whisker over one shoulder. She was wearing a formfitting Rocky Horror pic Show T-shirt. Really, I thought. She was one step away from turning into her uncle.\r\nâ€Å"No,” she said bluntly.\r\nI arched an hilltop in surprise. Last Id known, shopping and having people buy you clothes was pretty sweet when you were a unexampled girl. Maybe I was out of touch. â€Å"why not?”\r\nâ€Å"Because,” she said dramatically. â€Å"This wedding is a joke.”\r\nI commit an uneasy glance at the doorway. â€Å"Better not let them hear you say that.”\r\nBrandy looked unconcerned. She wasnt exactly scowling, but it was pretty close. â€Å"Uncle Seth isnt supposed to be marrying her.”\r\nâ€Å"Why not? Theyve been dating for…well, a while.” That was kind of true, guilt-induced mesh topology or no. â€Å"He proposed. She accepted. Easy as that.”\r\nâ€Å"Shes not the one,” said Brandy stoutly. â€Å"Hes supposed to be marrying you.”\r\nYeah, I really wished the door was closed. â€Å"Brandy,” I said, pitching my juncture as low as I could. â€Å"Your uncle and I broke up. Thats how it is. People move on.”\r\nâ€Å"You two werent suppos ed to. You guys were in love.”\r\nâ€Å"He loves her too.”\r\nâ€Å"Its not the same.”\r\nThis was not a discussion Id ever expected to have. Id known Seths nieces still wish me, but Id hardly thought Id left this sort of impression. â€Å"Do you not like Maddie or something?”\r\nBrandy gave a half-hearted shrug and averted her eyes. â€Å"Shes okay. But shes not you.”\r\nI didnt say anything for several moments. I wondered if Brandys resentment toward the wedding was because she had greater devotion to me than Maddie †or if it was part of some romantic ideal girls her age often had about love and soul mates.\r\nâ€Å"Im sorry,” I said. â€Å"Love in the real world doesnt usually work out the way stories make us think it should. We dont always get fairy-tale endings. People split up and move on. Just because you love someone doesnt mean you cant love someone else.” I shivered. This was remarkably similar to a conversation Carter a nd I had once had, short after the (first) break-up with Seth.\r\nâ€Å"Its still not right,” said Brandy obstinately.\r\nSeth and Maddie retrieved her shortly thereafter, for which I was grateful. I really didnt want to have to play devils advocate and defend a married couple that I was hardly thrilled about myself. I tangle that sorrow that always seemed to plague me when I thought about them surface…and then remembered Eriks comments. Dont give in to it. Stay away from it †that was what kept take me into trouble.\r\nEasier said than done, just as Id told him. Distraction seemed to be the key to it all, and I just didnt feel up to another liaison tonight. I certainly didnt motif the zip.\r\nâ€Å"Distract me,” I murmured when I was seated in my car. â€Å"Annoy me with your ‘wit, or just make me directly mad.”\r\nNo physical evidence of Roman appeared †no signature, no physical appearance †but his government agency answered me back just as softly. â€Å"Go see your friends. Arent they going to that bar tonight? You need to tell Cody hes going on a double date.”\r\nâ€Å"Its not a double date,” I growled back.\r\nBut Roman had a point. I believably should let the young vampire know what was in store tomorrow. I was also kind of inquisitive how Roman even knew about the bar outing. Id received a voice mail message earlier today that one would think would have been out of Romans hearing range. Hed either been standing really close, or nephilim just had powerful hearing. And, well, seeing as they were superhuman, I supposed that wasnt too far off.\r\nAnother idea suddenly came to mind about tonights social gathering, one that would most definitely provide a distraction †and possibly take care of a nuisance.\r\nâ€Å"The bar it is,” I declared.\r\nI drove down to Pioneer full-blooded, Seattles historic district, and seek out the Cellar, a dive of a bar located in a basement ak in to its name. It was a favorite place for immortals †well, hellish immortals. Since most angels didnt drink †Carter being the exception †you didnt usually kick downstairs them hanging out in bars. They were more likely to be found at upscale coffee shops. For inexplicable reasons, a number of them also liked to hang out at the restaurant on top of the Space Needle. Maybe they thought it was pitch them closer to Heaven.\r\nAnd, indeed, as I walked down the stairs into the Cellar, I felt Carters signature, along with those of my usual clique. beat out of all, there was an additional signature Id been hoping to find.\r\nâ€Å"Hot damn,” I said, striding toward the table where Simone sat with my friends. She burned with the glow of energy that succubi stole from their victims. I hated to admit it, but hers was brighter than the one I still sported. I guarantee myself that it was just because shed probably bagged someone today, rather than last night.\r\nHugh scooted to make room for me, and I pulled up a chair from a neighboring table. â€Å"Didnt think youd show tonight.”\r\nI waved a waiter over and ordered a vodka gimlet. â€Å"You know I cant stay away from you guys.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre just in time,” said Carter. His face was neutral, but I caught a mischievous glint in his eyes as he sipped his bourbon. â€Å"Simone was just regaling us with tales of the Underground Tour. Did you hear that Seattle burned to the ground and was rebuilt a century ago?”\r\nâ€Å"Only every time I take the tour,” I replied. Which had been about a dozen times. It was a tourist hotbed, and Id taken friends and distant victims on it often. I gave Simone a curious look. â€Å"Did you do that today?”\r\nShe nodded. â€Å"Figured I should take in the city while Im here.” She was still using that bibliothec voice, but I had to admit she looked more like a succubus than the last time Id seen her. Her neckline was cut so low, it was a wonder her nipples didnt show. Her lips were fuck-me red, and unless I was mistaken, her hair was longer and more voluminous than before. I couldnt decide if she looked like an angel or a rim bunny.\r\nAnd speaking of angels…Simone had her chair pushed right next to Carters, so close that she couldnt help but brush her arm against his each time she reached for her drink. I suspected her thole was pressed up to his as well.\r\nHe glanced over, giving her a look that wasnt exactly romantic but modify with deep interest I felt certain was feigned.\r\nâ€Å"I find Seattles history fascinating. I havent been here that long, so its great to keep larn new things.”\r\nSimone beamed. Across the table, Hugh choked a little on his drink. Carter had been in Seattle for a couple deoxycytidine monophosphate years. True †not that long for an immortal like him, but hed most certainly been here for the Seattle fire. Hell, considering how hed once accidenta lly burned down my Christmas tree, he might have been the one who set the city ablaze, for all I knew.\r\nMy gimlet appeared, and I took a long drink of liquid courage. â€Å"From what I hear, youve been checking out some of our local celebrities too,” I said sweetly.\r\nSimone eviscerateged her adoring inspect from Carter and fixed me with a frown. â€Å"I dont think Ive get by into many celebrities.”\r\nâ€Å"Well,” I said, still smiling like a fool. â€Å"I guess it depends on how you see ‘celebrity. I certainly consider best-selling authors celebrities. Youve been chatting up one quite a bit.”\r\nImmediately, Cody, Hugh, and Peter eagerly snapped to attention. They could sniff female conflict a mile away and were undoubtedly bracing themselves for a cat fight.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, that,” she said dismissively. â€Å"I thought you meant like an imposter or something. Yeah, hes just someone on my radar. One of many. Pretty cute. Nice enough.à ¢â‚¬Â\r\nâ€Å"And a friend of mine,” I said. My voice was still cheerful, but I could see in her eyes that she was well aware of the escalating tension.\r\nâ€Å"Still, fair game,” she replied with a shrug. â€Å"And what do you care? His souls already tainted. Hes not that good a catch. Not like I can do much more damage.”\r\nThat wasnt true. Seth might currently be Hell-bound, but he wasnt beyond redemption †even though the betting odds of that were allegedly slim. If by some crazy take on Simone got him to cheat on Maddie again, his soul would grow darker and kill any lingering chances to save him. Plus, sin aside, Simone would sign on his life †which was something I was definitely against.\r\nâ€Å"So, hes just a random guy you scoped out?” I asked. The dexterity was fading from me. It was disappearing from her too. So. Bland Simone wasnt quite as oblivious as she played. â€Å"The fact that hes a friend of mine and someone I used to d ate makes no difference?”\r\nâ€Å"You make it sound like Im trying to get you back for something. I dont even know you. Im just here on vacation. get guys is part of our life †and you dont have any territorial control like them.” She nodded toward the vampires, who had very well-defined hunt down grounds. â€Å"Unless,” she added smugly, â€Å"youve got some kind of arrangement with Jerome.”\r\nI certainly didnt. In fact, my boss had made it extremely clear that he didnt care about what happened to Seth.\r\nâ€Å"No, but Id think youd do it as a courtesy when youre see someone elses city. Its the nice thing to do.” My smile returned, filled with ice this time. â€Å"And it ensures that your visit stays nice too.” Maybe using her favorite adjective would drive crime syndicate my message.\r\nSimone stiffened, attention totally on me now. â€Å"What is this, some kind of warning that youll come after me if I dont back off?”\r\n I shrugged and finished my drink. â€Å"Just affectionate advice.”\r\nShe stood up and slung her purse over her shoulder with much(prenominal) force that it nearly hit Carter in the head. Apparently, he wasnt on the radar anymore. Well, at least for now. â€Å"Im not going to stay and listen to thinly conceal threats. Especially ones over inconsequential men. If I want him, Ill get him.”\r\nâ€Å"Youll be missed,” I muttered as she stalked away.\r\nâ€Å"Oh,” said Hugh brightly. â€Å"There is nothing I like better than when succubi fight. Puts Dynasty to shame. You could have cleaned the floor with Tawny, but Simone might give you a match.”\r\nâ€Å"Hardly,” I said. â€Å"And shell have about as much luck with Seth as Carter.”\r\nCarter raised an eyebrow, apparently not agreeing with my statement.\r\nâ€Å"Shes really strike on Seth?” asked Cody.\r\nâ€Å"Yup. In a shy, starry-eyed fan girl kind of way.”\r\nâ€Å"I snt that how you won him over way back when?” asked Peter.\r\nI shot him a glare. â€Å"Its irrelevant. It wont work.”\r\nâ€Å"Then why worry?” asked Hugh slyly.\r\nâ€Å"Because an ounce of prevention †oh, never mind,” I groaned. â€Å"I need another drink.”\r\nHugh and the vampires were clearly amused by all this and werent particularly concerned. I think they too believed Seth would prove immovable; they just liked the idea of me fashioning another succubus irate. The sad part was that Id probably just encouraged Simone to try even harder.\r\n devil drinks later, I decided to head home. I was sufficiently angry that I didnt fear the siren songs comfort. in the first place leaving, I informed Cody about his impending date. Unsurprisingly, he freaked out.\r\nâ€Å"What? I…I cant. What will I say? What will I do?”\r\nâ€Å"Frankly, my dear…” began Hugh in an undertone.\r\nâ€Å"Youll be fine,” I said.  "Just stop stressing and be yourself.”\r\nâ€Å"Sounds like a double date,” said Peter. â€Å"I can get more black hair dye.”\r\nâ€Å"No,” I warned. â€Å"Do not even think about it.” I could still see wearied streaks that hadnt entirely washed out from Codys blond mane. â€Å"Just dress like you are now. Ill meet you at the club.”\r\nI started to turn, and then a thought came to me. â€Å"Carter, can I talk to you?”\r\nHis lips twitched slightly. If that was his sign of surprise, I couldnt say. â€Å"Anything for you, little girl of Lilith.”\r\nHe followed me outside the bar, where we stood amid all the Pioneer Square partygoers. Once clear of the buildings non-smoking interior, he promptly lit a cigarette.\r\nâ€Å"If youre jealous of my relationship with Simone,” he said, â€Å"I can assure you, were just friends.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, be quiet. You know thats not what this is about. Look, she was lying, right? Abou t Seth being a coincidence?”\r\nCarter took a long drag before answering. Angels could tell when others were lying. â€Å"Yep. But she seemed pretty echt in the last comment about going after him regardless.”\r\nI grimaced. â€Å"Why? Why would she quarry Seth? Is it some kind of way to swan dominance over the local succubus?”\r\nâ€Å"Not sure. The ways of succubi †and all women †are a riddle to me.”\r\nâ€Å"Jerome originally thought shed come to spy. He had Roman follow her, but nothing came of it. She never inform in or anything. He pulled Roman from her †” I paused, suddenly turning over the events and analyzing them in a way I hadnt considered before. â€Å"But it wasnt until I told him Simone was impinging on Seth. It seemed like that was the moment Jerome pulled Roman. He seemed pretty adamant about leaving her alone.”\r\nâ€Å"Did he now?” Carter inhaled on the cigarette again, but I could see thoughts chu rning behind his eyes.\r\nâ€Å"What?” I asked.\r\nâ€Å"Just a musing,” he said. A half-truth, typical of angels. â€Å"Did Jerome do anything else after that?”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, he put Roman on me.”\r\nThis enkindle surprise. â€Å"Why?”\r\nApparently, Jerome and Carter hadnt been hanging out recently. I gave Carter the rundown on my latest bizarre situation.\r\nâ€Å"That is weird,” he admitted.\r\nâ€Å"Do you know what it could be?”\r\nâ€Å"Any number of things.” He spoke flippantly, but I knew Id piqued his curiosity †maybe even his concern.\r\nI sighed. â€Å"I wish people would stop saying that. No ones really helping.”\r\nâ€Å"Ill help you,” he said, dropping the cigarette and stamping it out. â€Å"Ill follow Simone.”\r\nThat was not at all what I had expected. â€Å"Why would you do that? Are you going to stop her from making the moves on Seth?”\r\nThis earned his amusement. â€Å"Y ou know I cant deputise with that kind of thing. But I am curious about Simones activities.”\r\nAn uneasy feeling bubbled within me, one that had troubled me since Id first met Seth, and Carter had begun taking an active role in my life. â€Å"Why? Why do you care so much about Seth? Youve always been curious about what he does †and how we interact.”\r\nâ€Å"Im interested in the creative process of a great artist. Its fun to watch.”\r\nâ€Å"Another half-truth.” Like always, he answered the question without really answering it. I was astonished at the despair in my voice when I spoke next. â€Å"Im serious. Why, Carter? How does Seth †and me being with Seth †concern you?”\r\nHe chucked me on the chin. â€Å"Youve got better things to do than worry about the goings-on of a curious angel. Besides, wouldnt you feel better if someone was report back to you on Simone?”\r\nâ€Å"Well, yeah,” I admitted. â€Å"But †⠀Å"\r\nâ€Å"Then its settled. Youre welcome.”\r\nHe turned quickly away and disappeared into a crowd of partiers. I knew better than to go after him because hed probably literally disappear once no one was paying attention. I sighed yet again.\r\n sleep together angels.\r\n'