Succubus Blues CHAPTER 1

Statistics introduce that most deathlys sell their somebodys for louvrer reasons sex, m onenessy, power, revenge, and love. In that order.I suppose I should f whole in been reassured, then, that I was turn erupt here(predicate) assisting with numero uno, moreover the whole situation dear made me olfactory property well, sleazy. And coming from me, that was something.Maybe I just cant empathize any(prenominal)more, I m apply. Its been withal long. When I was a virgin, people still viewd swans could impregnate female childs.Nearby, Hugh waited patiently for me to ever soyplace germ my ret scratchnce. He stuffed his hands into well-pressed khakis, leaning his large frame both over against his Lexus. I dont perk what the massive deal is. You do this all the judgment of conviction.That wasnt exactly true, solely we some(prenominal) k sweet what he meant. Ignoring him, I instead made a great show of studying my surroundings, non that that improved my mood. The su burbs always dragged me d sustain. Identical houses. Perfect lawns. cold too many SUVs. Somewhere in the night, a dog standd to stymy yapping.I dont do this, I said finally. Even I reach standards.Hugh snorted, expressing his opinion of my standards.Okay, if it makes you feel better, dont return of this in terms of damnation. Think of it as a charity parapraxis.A charity case?Sure.He pulled appear his Pocket PC, looking briskly business uniform, despite the unorthodox setting. Not that I should have been surprised. Hugh was a professional imp, a master at acquire mortals to sell their souls, an expert in contracts and legal loopholes that would have made any lawyer wince in envy.He was also my friend. It sort of gave new(a) meaning to the With friends like these adage.Listen to these stats, he continued. Martin Miller. Male, of course. Caucasian. Nonpracticing Lutheran. Works over at a game store in the mall. Lives in the basement here his p bents house.Jesus.Told you.C harity or no, it still seems so extreme. How old is he again?Thirty-four. Ew.Exactly. If you were that old and hadnt gotten any, you capacity seek desperate measures too. He glanced down at his watch. So are you expiry to do this or not?No doubt I was keeping Hugh from a date with some sulphurous woman half his age by which I meant, of course, the age Hugh looked. In reality, he was pushing a century.I set my purse on the ground and gave him a warning glance. You owe me.I do, he conceded. This wasnt my mutual gig, thank favourableness. The imp normally pay back outsourced this kind of thing just had roll into some kind of scheduling problem tonight. I couldnt depend who he normally got to do this.I started toward the house, but he s conkped me. Georgina? yeah?Theres one early(a) thingI rancid brook around, not liking the tone in his vo methamphetamine. Yes?He, um, sort of had a special request.I raised an eyebrow and waited.You see, uh, hes truly into the whole, like, evil thing. You bang, figures if he sold his soul to the devil so to speak then he should lose his virginity to a, I dont know, demoness or something.I swear, even the dog stop barking at that. Youre joking.Hugh didnt respond.Im not a no. No way am I going to Come on, Georgina. Its nothing. A flourish. Smoke and mirrors. Please? neertheless do this for me? He turned wistful, cajoling. Hard to resist. similar I said, he was equitable at his job. Im really in a tight spot if you could help me out here it would mean so oftentimesI groaned, unable to refuse the pathetic look on his broad face. If anyone finds out about(predicate) this My lips are sealed. He actually had the audacity to make a sealing motion. curve down, resigned, I unfastened the straps on my shoes.What are you doing? he asked.These are my pet B spendo Maglis. I dont postulate them absorbed when I change.Yeah, but you can just shape-shift them back.They wont be the same.They will. You can make them anythi ng you necessitate. This is just silly.Look, I demanded, do you want to stand out here arguing shoes, or do you want me to go make a man of your virgin?Hugh clamped his mouth take out and gestured toward the house.I padded away in the grass, the blades tickling my bare feet. The back patio leading to the basement was undetermined, just as Hugh had promised. I let myself into the sleeping house, hoping they didnt have a dog, blearily wondering how Id reached this low point in my existence. Adjusting to the darkness, my eyes soon discerned the features of a comfortable, middle-class family room sofa, television, bookshelves. A stairwell arise to the left, and a hallway veered to the amend.I turned down the hall, letting my way shape-shift as I walked. The sensation was so familiar, so second spirit to me, that I didnt even need to see my exterior to know what was happening. My trivial frame grew taller, the slim build still staying slim but winning on a leaner, harder edge. M y skin paled to death albumin, leaving no retention of its faint tan. The hair, already to my midback, stayed the same length but darkened to putting surface benighted, the fine waviness turning straight and coarse. My breasts impressive by most standards became bigger still, rivaling those of the comic book heroines this guy had doubtless grown up with.As for my outfit well, away went the cute Banana Republic slacks and blouse. Thigh-high black leather boots appeared on my legs, paired with a matching halter top and a skirt I never could have bent over in. Spiky wings, horns, and a whip completed the package.Oh Lord, I muttered, accidentally pickings in the whole effect in a small ornamental mirror. I hoped none of the local demonesses ever found about this. They were really quite classy.Turning from the taunting mirror, I stared down the hall at my destination a keep mumd door with a yellow hands AT WORK sign attached to it. I thought I could hear the faint starts of a video game bleeping from beyond, though such(prenominal) noises silenced immediately when I knocked.A act later, the door opened, and I stood facing a five-foot-eight guy with shoulder-length, dirty blond hair cursorily receding on top. A large, hairy belly peeped out from underneath his Homer Simpson T-shirt, and he held a bag of potato chips in one hand.The bag dropped to the floor when he saw me.Martin Miller?Y-yes, he gasped out.I cracked the whip. You ready to play with me?Exactly six minutes later, I left the Miller residence. Apparently thirty-four years doesnt do much for ones stamina.Whoa, that was fast, Hugh noted, seeing me walk across the front yard. He was leaning against the elevator car again, smoking a cigarette.No shit. Got another(prenominal) one of those?He grinned and give over his own cigarette, giving me a once-over. Would you be hitended if I said the wings kind of get me hot?I took the cigarette, constraining my eyes at him as I inhaled. A flying pock ascertained no one else was around, and I shape-shifted back to my usual form.You owe me big, I reminded him, putting the shoes back on.I know. Of course, some might argue you owe me. You got a nice fix from it. Better than youre used to.I couldnt deny that, but I didnt have to feel soundly about it either. Poor Martin. Geek or no, committing his soul to eternal damnation was a helluva price to pay for six minutes.You wanna get a booze? Hugh offered.No, its too late. Im going home. Got a book to read.Ah, of course. Whens the big day?Tomorrow, I proclaimed.The imp chuckled at my hero worship. He just writes mainstream fiction, you know. Hes hardly Nietzsche or Thoreau.Hey, one doesnt have to be surreal or transcendental to be a great writer. I should know Ive seen a few over the years.Hugh grunted at my imperious air, giving me a mock bow. Far be it from me to argue with a lady about her age.I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then walked two blocks to where I had parked. I was unlocking the car door when I matte it the warm, tingling feeling indicative of another immortal nearby. Vampire, I registered, only a millisecond before he appeared beside me. Damn, they moved fast.Georgina, my belle, my sweet succubus, my goddess of delight, he intoned, placing his hands over his heart dramatically.Great. Just what I needed. Duane was quite possibly the most obnoxious immortal Id ever met. He kept his blond hair shaved to a close buzz, and as usual, he demonstrated terrible taste in some(prenominal) fashion and deodorant.Go away, Duane. I have nothing to say to you.Oh come on, he crooned, his hand snaking out to hold the door as I tried to open it. Even you cant play coy this time. Look at you. Youre positively glowing. Good hunting, eh?I scowled at the reference to Martins life energy, discerning it must be wreathing me. Obstinately, I tried to pry my door open against Duanes hold. No luck.Hell be out for days, from the looks of it, the vampire added, peering at me closely. Still, I imagine whoever he was enjoyed the ride both on you and to hell. He gave me a otiose smile, just barely revealing his pointed teeth. He must have been individual pretty well(p) for you to look as hot as you do now. What happened? I thought you only fucked the scum of the earth. The real assholes.Change of policy. I didnt want to give you false hope.He shook his head appreciatively. Oh Georgina, you never disappoint you and your witticisms. But then, Ive always found whores know how to make good use of their mouths, on or off the job.Let go, I snapped, tugging harder at the door. wherefore the hurry? I have a right to know what you and the imp were doing over here. The Eastside is my bugger.We dont have to abide by your turf rules, and you know it.Still, common courtesy dictates when youre in the neighborhood literally, in this case you at least say hello. Besides, how come we never hang out? You owe me some quality time. You spend enough time with tho se other losers.The losers he referred to were my friends and the only decent vampires Id ever met. Most vampires like Duane were arrogant, complimentary of social skills, and obsessed with territoriality. Not unlike a lot of mortal men Id met.If you dont let me go, youre going to learn a whole new definition of common courtesy.Okay, it was a stupid, faux action-movie line, but it was the best I could come up with on the spot. I made my voice sound as menacing as possible, but it was pure bravado, and he knew it. Succubi were apt with charisma and shape-shifting vampires had super strength and speed. What this meant was that one of us mingled better at parties, and the other could break a mans wrist with a handshake.Are you actually threatening me? He ran a playful hand along my cheek, devising the hairs on my neck stand on end in a perverting way. I squirmed. Thats adorable. And kind of arousing. I actually think Id like to see you on the offensive. Maybe if youd just beha ve like a good girl ow You minor bitchWith both of his hands occupied, I had seized my window of opportunity. A quick burst of shape-shifting, and sharp, three-inch claws appeared on my right hand. I swiped them across his cheek. His superior reflexes didnt let me get very far with the gesture, but I did draw blood before he gripped my wrist and slammed it against the car.Whats the occasion? Not offensive enough for you? I mete outd through my pain. More bad movie lines.Cute, Georgina. Very cute. Well see how cute you are by the time I Headlights glimmered in the night as a car turned the corner on the next block and headed toward us. In that split second, I could see the indecision on Duanes face. Our t?e-?t?e would undoubtedly be noticed by the driver. While Duane could easily kill an interpose mortal hell, it was what he did for a living having the kill linked to his curse of me would not look good to our superiors. Even an asshole like Duane would think twice before st irring up that kind of paperwork.We arent finished, he hissed, cathartic my wrist.Oh, I think we are. I could feel braver now that salvation was on the way. The next time you come near mes going to be the last.Im quaking in terror, he simpered. His eyes gleamed once in the darkness, and then he was gone, abject off into the night just as the car drove past. thank God for whatever liaison or ice cream run had pulled that driver out tonight.Not wasting any more time, I got into my car and drove off, anxious to be back in the city. I tried to ignore the shaking of my hands on the wheel, but the true statement of the matter was, Duane terrified me. I had told him off plenty of times in the presence of my immortal friends, but taking him on alone on a dark street was an entirely different matter, especially since all my threats had been empty ones.I actually abhorred violence in all its forms. I suppose this came from living through periods of history fraught with levels of cruelty an d barbarity no one in the modern world could even comprehend. race like to say we live in violent times now, but they have no idea. Sure, there had been a certain satisfaction centuries past in seeing a rapist castrated swiftly and immediately for his crimes, without endless courtroom drama or an early release for good behavior. Unfortunately, those who deal in revenge and vigilantism rarely know where to draw the line, so Id take the bureaucracy of the modern judicial system any day. opinion back to how Id presumed the fortuitous driver was on an ice cream run, I decided a little dessert would do me some good too. Once I was safely back in Seattle, I stopped in a 24-hour grocery store, discovering some marketing mastermind had created tiramisu-flavored ice cream. Tiramisu and ice cream. The ingenuity of mortals never failed to amaze me.As I was about to pay, I passed a display of flowers. They were cheap and a little tattered, but I watched as a young man came in and nervously s canned them over. At last he selected some autumn-colored mums and carried them off. My eyes followed him wistfully, half-jealous of whatever girl would be getting those.As Duane had noted, I usually fed off losers, guys I didnt have to feel guilty about hurting or rendering unconscious for a few days. Those kind did not pose flowers and usually avoided most romantic gestures altogether. As for the guys who did send flowers, well, I avoided them. For their own good. That was out of character for a succubus, but I was too wearied to care about propriety anymore.Feeling sad and lonely, I picked up a bouquet of red carnations for myself and paid for it and the ice cream.When I arrived home, my scream was ringing. Setting down my goods, I glanced at the Caller-ID. Caller unknown.My lord and master, I answered. What a perfect ending to a perfect night.Save your quips, Georgie. Why were you fucking with Duane?Jerome, I what?He just called. Said you were unduly hassling him.Hassling? Hi m? vitiate surged inside me. He started it He came up to me and Did you hit him?IDid you?I sighed. Jerome was the archdemon of the greater Seattle hierarchy of evil, as well as my supervisor. It was his job to manage all of us, make sure we did our duties, and keep us in line. Like any lazy demon, however, he preferred we create as little work for him as possible. His annoyance was almost palpable through the remember line.I did sort of hit him. Actually, it was more of a swipe.I see. A swipe. And did you threaten him too?Well, yes, I guess, if you want to argue semantics, but Jerome, come on Hes a vampire. I cant touch him. You know that.The archdemon hesitated, apparently considering the termination of me going head-to-head with Duane. I must have lost in the hypothetical battle because I heard Jerome exhale a moment later.Yes. I suppose. But dont provoke him anymore. Ive got enough to work on right now without you children having catfights.Since when do you work? Children ind eed.Good night, Georgie. Dont tangle with Duane again.The phone disconnected. Demons werent big on small talk.I hung up, feeling highly offended. I couldnt believe Duane had tattled on me and then made me out to be the bad guy. Worse, Jerome seemed to have believed it. At least at first. That probably hurt me most of all because, my slacker-succubus habits aside, Id always enjoyed a kind of indulgent, teachers pet role with the archdemon.Seeking consolation, I carried the ice cream off to my bedroom, shedding my clothes for a unfreeze nightshirt. Aubrey, my cat, stood up from where shed been sleeping at the foot of my bed and stretched. Solid white save for some black smudges on her forehead, she squinted green eyes at me in greeting.I cant go to bed, I told her, stifling a yawn. I have to read first.I curled up with the pint and my book, recalling again how Id finally be meeting my favorite author at the sign tomorrow. Seth Mortensens writing always spoke to me, awakening somethi ng inside I hadnt even known was asleep. His current book, The Glasgow Pact, couldnt ease the guilt I felt over what had happened with Martin, but it filled an aching emptiness in me nonetheless. I marveled that mortals, living so short a time, could create such fantastic things.I never created anything when I was a mortal, I told Aubrey when Id finished five pages.She rubbed against me, purring sympathetically, and I had just enough presence of mind to put the ice cream away before collapsing back into bed and falling asleep.