'Succubus Heat CHAPTER 12\r'

'Searching the lucre didnt turn up much, just as Id fe ard. Still, I took some satisfaction in at least(prenominal) doing something. It kept my mind off my possibly be death. It kept my mind off terass descending on Seattle. Most importantly, it kept my mind off Seth.\r\nBecause if I thought some him, I was difference to count on about touching him and kissing him and…well, a dole out of other things. My feelings for him were starting to consume me, al or so to the expiration that my other problems seemed trivial. So, I lost myself in Google searches, hoping for each scrap of information about demon summoning. As expected, most of my hits sent me to sites on role-playing games and Dr. Faustus. Still, I mat up better than if Id just sat most.\r\nDriving to the shock at the Cellar was about as torturous as walking to the bookstore had been. I took speechless lynchpin roads, unwilling to stage the congestion and upper berth of the freeways. The Cellar was a pub a muckle of Seattle immortals analogousd to frequent. Whoever had organized this event had apparently dumb the restaurants back room, which was blueprintly used for banquets and wedding receptions. I didnt slang to virtuoso demonic magic to do theyd sealed off the space from prying ears.\r\nThe indistinctly lit room was crowded when I entered. I recognized some of the local lesser immortals, plainly most were demons I didnt endure. Few sat at the long table, which was covered with appetizer plates and bottles of wine. Most mickle stood around the edges, deep in conversation, or had pulled chairs up in vise manage, furtive clusters. favor and mei were two working the room, looking as business similar and businesslike as ever-albeit edged in an uncharacteristic either(prenominal)y frazzled air. For the inaugural time ever, they were dressed differently, and I wondered if stress had prevented them from organize their wardrobes. Mei wore a red skirt and sport jacket wi th a necklace made of tiny alternating atomic number 79 and silver rings. Grace wore a linen pantsuit with a chunky stone choker with a lunate moon pendant.\r\nPeter, Cody, and Hugh stood in the corner and waved me over.\r\nâ€Å"Hey,” I tell, â€Å"whats going on?”\r\nâ€Å"Not much,” express Hugh. â€Å"This seems to be more(prenominal) of a meet and greet. Not a drawing automobiled of organization.”\r\nWe fell silent, all of us watching the interactions. In the opposite corner, I saw Cedric gesturing dramatically as he spoke. His face was dark and intent, and Kristin stood nearby with a clipboard and rapt expression, taking nones. Not far away, Nanette stood with her lovely, illegible face while listening to another demoness talk.\r\nâ€Å"So, you essential be Jeromes staff.”\r\nThe four of us turned. None of us had noticed the demon approaching, thanks to losing our ability to sense immortal signatures. This whole experience, I decid ed, unfeignedly was like being bereft of sight or smell. This exceptional demon was no one I k new. He had a big toothy betray a face and strip that looked like it had had a tanning job go bad. His spiky white-blond hair wasnt doing him all(prenominal) favors either.\r\nHe panoptic a hand. â€Å"Im tom. Pleasure to meet you all.”\r\nWe each move his hand in return, introducing ourselves. He held our hands with majuscule vigor, like a politician on the scat trail. If wed had a baby, I had no doubts he would hurt kissed it.\r\nâ€Å"I imagine this must be clean strange for you,” he commented. â€Å"But I indispensability you to love that were all here(predicate) for you. Theres nothing to difficulty about-thingsll be back to normal before long.”\r\nâ€Å"thank you,” I said politely, giving as lavdid a succubus smile as I could in a non-succubus state. Snark around a demon was never a good idea. Snark when you didnt have your normal power s? Horrible idea. â€Å"Were just anxious to suffice up Jerome back.”\r\nHis smile faltered a little further quickly resumed. â€Å"Yes, yes. Of course. Were all doing e rattlingthing we can. But, of course, you cognize theres a circumstances Jerome might not be found…”\r\nâ€Å"So weve heard,” said Hugh, dissertation as politely as I had.\r\n tom gesticulateded. â€Å"But dont worry. In the tragic event that happens, well make sure you guys are taken care of. You can rest assured that Seattles next archdemon will die hard with control and competence, making sure youre able to actualize your duties in an efficient and rough-and- wide awake manner.”\r\nI had a feeling he was on the verge of notice us how, if elected, hed cut taxes and increase jobs, but we were break up by a high-pitched voice.\r\nâ€Å"Georg- gee -na!”\r\nA seven- tail woman was heading toward us. She had ebony- swarthy skin that looked horrible with her orange h air. The combination made Toms features look supermodel gorgeous. Gold affection shadow shot all the way to her eyebrows, its smoo consequently rivaled only by the multicolored sequins of her dress. A black feather boa flared around her as she walked. several(prenominal) demons in the room froze and watched her, which was remarkable. Demons are not comfortably fazed.\r\nâ€Å"Whos that?” asked Cody. Just like with Tom, Cody could sense neither the identity element nor even the type of this immortal. But I call for no such clues.\r\nâ€Å" tawny-brown,” Peter and I said in unison.\r\nâ€Å"How do you guys have sex?” asked Cody.\r\nâ€Å"The c attractionhes,” said Peter.\r\nâ€Å"The whine,” I said.\r\nTom was standing there, mouth half-open. A event later, he recovered himself. â€Å"Well, it was nice meeting you all. I hope youll summate talk to me if you have any questions or absorbs. Im very eager to get to know you all better.” He scurried off just as chromatic reached us. We stared.\r\nâ€Å"What the hell happened to you?” exclaimed Hugh.\r\nTawny pouted. â€Å"Well, there was this really nice guy that I deprivationed. Really refined and-â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Tawny,” I interrupted. â€Å"Ive told you a hundred times. S pourboire perturbing about the good ones.”\r\nShe move her head. â€Å"No, no. He was into me. Well, he was into this.” She gestured to her body. â€Å"I figured out that he had these weird fantasies his wife didnt know about. So, I hurl on this shape, and we did it . And the energy…it was amazing.”\r\nI couldnt hide my astonishment. Tawny had managed to score a decent guy. Shed used a strategy that, while basic, was also highly effective: exploiting secret desires. It could shake the unshakable soul. â€Å"Wow,” I said at buy the farm. â€Å"Thats great. I…well, I cant believe Im aphorism this, but Im proud of you.”\r\nShe si ghed. â€Å"But I didnt get to enjoy the rush. Like, ten minutes after(prenominal) it happened, it went away. Everything went away. I started feeling sick and-â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, we know the rest,” said Cody, not un attractively.\r\nâ€Å"And I was wearing this body, and now…now Im stuck with it.”\r\n low normal conditions, this would have provided hours of hilarity. For now, I actually felt bad for her. â€Å"Well, hang in there. They say this wont last for long.”\r\nTawny nodded unhappily. â€Å"Yeah. Heres hoping.” Then, unexpectedly, she b functionfulnessened a little. â€Å"Oh, but hey, you were totally right about the blow-job thing.”\r\nHughs head whipped around to stare at me. â€Å"What?”\r\nBefore I could say anything, Mei appreciatively shouted for everyones attention. And when I say shouted, I fee-tail it. She used her power to amplify her voice, so it rang sorely through the whole room, making a lot of us wince an d cover our ears. Several flock backed away, giving us a unload view of her and Grace.\r\n â€Å"We deprivation to thank everyone for coming,” Mei said, travel to her usual flat, emotionless voice.\r\nâ€Å"And we appreciate everyones help as we try to keep things lapsening around here. Mei and I have everything under control right now, but the concern everyones shown is certainly…admirable.” There was the slightest humourous note in Graces voice as she glanced around at the assembled demons. Many of them straightened up and smiled, acting as though they truly were here out of concern for us.\r\nâ€Å"We know youre as anxious to queue Jerome as we are,” said Mei. â€Å"And well be doing everything we can to locate him.” nearly of those smiles tightened a little, and the crowd shifted uncomfortably. As Id told Seth, not everyone was so eager for Jeromes return.\r\nâ€Å"Yes, of course,” a booming voice said. Tom had joined Grace and Me i in the spotlight. â€Å"Jerome is our top priority, of course. And if-I mean, when-hes found, Im sure Management will be most eager to talk to him about how this happened in the first gear place. No doubt he will need a little…rehabilitation, and should he be unable(p) to fulfill his duties, I for one am ready right now to step up and run infernal affairs in Seattle.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, Tom.” A brown-haired demoness from across the room straightened up from where she leaned against the wall. â€Å"If memory serves, your lead in Tuscaloosa didnt end so well.”\r\nTom glowered. â€Å"That was not my fault.”\r\nSo it began. The meeting slowly degenerated into chaos and in the main became about each demon talk about why he or she was the best choice-and why all of the others were completely unfit. It was like a class of presidential campaigning condensed into an hour.\r\nâ€Å"Look at Grace and Mei,” noted Hugh. â€Å"They look like they wan t to thrash this entire room.”\r\nâ€Å"Well,” I said. â€Å"Thats the thing. All these demons are talking about keeping hellish affairs in order here, but those two are the ones who are actually doing it right now.”\r\nâ€Å"Hell should just let them take over if Jerome doesnt come back,” said Cody. I gave him a sharp look. â€Å"Er, I mean, not that theres any question of that. Hell be back.”\r\nâ€Å"Lets hope so,” a new voice said. Cedric had strolled over and joined our circle, Kristin in tow.\r\nâ€Å"Whatever,” I said, unable to hide a smile. â€Å"You cant tell me you want him back. This is your perfect chance to create your great north-west empire.”\r\nHe shook his head. â€Å"No, believe me, I want nothing to do with any of this. Compared to some of these losers, Jerome all of a sudden seems like an ideal neighbor.” It was very much like what Isabelle had said. â€Å"I dont suppose,” Cedric added, â₠¬Å"that youre going to be coming back up to Vancouver?”\r\nI hesitated. Was I? Who did I result to now? Did Jeromes orders settle down stand? â€Å"I…I dont know,” I admitted. â€Å"I dont know what Im supposed to. If I should leave.”\r\nâ€Å"Well,” he said. â€Å"It wasnt like you were doing that great a job.”\r\nâ€Å"I was too! Id gotten them to back down before their alleged(prenominal) angel spoke to them. She told them not to trust me.” I frowned, wondering if I should go on. I didnt know who to trust without Jerome around, and as Hugh had said, Cedric was still a very likely candidate for Jeromes summoning, in spite of my intestine instinct. â€Å"And you know…I think I have an idea about who did this and who that angel is…”\r\nCedric groaned. â€Å"Will you use up on Isabelle already?”\r\nI shook my head and lowered my voice. â€Å"I dont think it was her. I think it was Nanette.”\r\nThe inc redulous look on his face didnt change. â€Å"Thats as ridiculous as Isabelle. You were there. You saw Nanette come to me because she was simply worried about managing her own territory.”\r\nâ€Å"Funny, she had a similar meeting with Jerome not long after that.”\r\nCedrics face kept that cool, skeptical expression that demons excelled it. But, I was pretty sure I could see a spark of interest in his blue-gray eyes. â€Å"That doesnt mean anything.” another(prenominal) gut feeling told me he was lying. He started to turn, but then Cody spoke, voice hesitant.\r\nâ€Å"Excuse me…do you know…are we mortal?”\r\nCedric hesitated a moment and then laughed. When none of us said anything, he glanced amidst all our faces. â€Å"Oh. Youre serious?”\r\nâ€Å"Why is that such a crazy question?” I demanded. â€Å"Weve lost everything else that makes us immortal.”\r\nâ€Å"Youve lost it to keep you out of trouble,” said Cedric. â€Å" nonexistence wants you guys running around unsupervised with your normal abilities. So when you lose an archdemon, you get cut off. But youre still immortal. You think you can get out of your rent with something as easy as death?”\r\nâ€Å"So we could get hit by a car and still be okay?” asked Cody.\r\nâ€Å"Of course. Sure, itd take awhile to recover. Youd heal like a human, but youd in conclusion heal.”\r\nâ€Å"What if we got decapitated?” asked Peter.\r\nâ€Å"Yeah,” agreed Cody. â€Å"Like in upland ?”\r\nCedric rolled his eyes. â€Å"Dont get decapitated, and well never have to find out.” He focused on me. â€Å"Look, stay here for a while. Something tells me that the Angel of Darkness isnt going to be making any outances anytime soon. I suspect the mismanagement is over.”\r\nâ€Å"I agree. Thanks.”\r\nHe gave me a curt nod and started to turn. Then, he glanced back at Tawny and did a double-take.  "Whats your name?”\r\nâ€Å"Tawny,” she replied.\r\nHe eyed her from head to foot and then turned to Kristin. â€Å"Get her number and set up a date.”\r\nI saw a spark of something in Kristins eyes, and it took me a moment to order it. Jealousy. Reflecting back on the way she doted on his affairs, I shouldnt have been surprised that she had a crush on him. She flipped through a few pages in her clipboard, her lips tight and disapproving.\r\nâ€Å"Youve got a lot of appointments this week. You hate it when youve got back-to-back events.” She spoke levelly, but I could tell that while break dance of her warning came from true concern, another part of her welcomed the chance to throw a kink into his dating life. Cedric didnt appear to notice.\r\nHe waved a dismissive hand. â€Å"Cancel something unimportant. Youll know what to do.”\r\nHe wandered off while Kristin took down Tawnys number. â€Å"Well be in touch,” Kristin said flatly.\r\n "Huh,” said Tawny, once Kristin was gone. â€Å"Hes kind of cute. Maybe this body isnt so bad after all.”\r\nI exchanged glances with Hugh and Peter. They looked a lot like I felt: weary and frustrated, with the secret suspiciousness that this was all almost funny.\r\nâ€Å"Well,” I said, watching Tawny smile with delight. â€Å"At least someones happy with all this.”\r\n'