Succubus Shadows Chapter 20

I woke up in my own bed and rig Mei sitting beside it. not even Nurse Ratched could set rough startled me that much.Mei was flipping through a magazine and glanced up, appearing bored. Oh. Youre awake. Finally. She stood up.Whatwhat happened? I asked, blinking at the light pouring in through my window. I was engaging of surprised she hadnt shut the curtains. She didnt really strike me as a fun-in-the-sun person.You dont remember? Her disinte be expression sharpened. Jerome said it would all come moxie to you. If it hasntI sit down up, drawing my knees to my body. No, no. I rememberI remember what happened at Eriks. I rememberthe Oneroi. Saying the word made me shudder. completely if what happened after that? How wide happen back I been asleep?Three days, she said flatly.What? I stared at her, my m egressh agape. If Mei was the joking type, I would have expected the punch line of business nowadays. I dontI mean, it went so fast. And I didnt dream.She crooked me a smile. Seems akin youd want that. And heavy sleep heals you faster. The smile changed to a grimace. Not that waiting by your bedside for three days has really felt that fast. Jerome made me keep all your friends away. That was fun.Did you right exercise sarcasm?Im leaving, she said, back to her all business self. Ive done what Jerome asked. hold off What happened to Seth and Erik? Are they okay?Fine, she said. I waited for her to vanish, but it didnt come. She peered at me curiously. It shouldnt have worked, you know.What shouldnt have?That ritual. There is no way that human could have found you. Not among all those other souls.The Oneroi had said the same occasion, and thinking back to the storm of color and disorder, I could hear their reasoning. Wewe love each other. I wasnt sure I had the right to those words, but they came out anyway.Mei rolled her look. That means noaffair. Human love no matter what all your songs and chick flicks tell you isnt enough. It shouldnt have worked .I didnt know what to register. WellI guess it did.Jerome knew it would too, she mused, a small frown wrinkling her brow. Her gaze hardened on me. Did you? Do you know how it happened?What? I squeaked. No I dont understand any of this.I expected her to deny this and question me further. Instead her frown only deepened, and I realized I was no longer of use in solving this dilemma to her. She vanished.The instant she disappeared, Roman came bursting into my room. Shes gone? he asked. If he was nearby, he would have felt her signature go away.Have you been suspension out the whole time? I asked.He sat down in the chair shed been in. Jerome ordered her not to let anyone come near you.You could have taken her, I said, attempting a joke.Not without causing a whole lot of trouble. He frowned, eyes troubled with thought. Although, I would have revealed myself if Id needed to if thatthing that came out of the gate had tried to take on Carter and Jerome.I shuddered at the memory. I didnt e ven know there were monsters like that in the wait. How could you have helped them? Were youwere you in the circle? Id assumed hed been watch outing from the sides.Of course. He said no more, and the way he spoke implied that it had been a ridiculous question for me to ask in the number one place.Are you crazy? I exclaimed. You werent just letting yourself get trapped. If you were discovered by Mei even any of the dream creatures youd be fucked. They would have glowering you in too.There was no choice, Roman said. I had to be there, in case you needed me.It was too big a risk, I countered, my voice purpose little this time. If thered been a fight, Jerome and Carter would have had no reason to defend you. And time that Morphean might have been afraid to hurt them, you would have been fair game.I told you, it doesnt matter. I had to be there for you.His eyes, those eyes that were so like the sea Id grown up with, held such earnestness and affection that I had to look away. I c ouldnt believe hed risked what he had for me. Why? He had no reason to care about me after what Id done to him, yet it was clear he still wanted me. The night Id been captured trymed like a lifetime ago, but its events came back to me in perfect detail his lips, his handsI wish you wanted to kill me again, I muttered. It was easier.He rested his hand on mine, its warmth spreading through me. Nothing about your life is ever easy.I looked back up at him. Thats for damn sure. But I dont knowI dont know if I can do thisby which I mean, well, you know.You dont have to do anything, he said. Well just keep sack on like we have. Roommates. Well see where things go. If they change, they change. If not He shrugged. So it goes.Did I mention that it was easier when you wanted to kill me? Im not sure how I feel about you being so reasonable.Yeah, well, maybe I just feel sorry for you right now after everything that happened. Maybe Ill change my mind in a little while. He squeezed my hand. Was itwas it awful?I looked away again. Yes. Beyond awful. Its hard to explain. They showed me every nightmare I could have, every fear made flesh. Some of the things they showed me had already happened and were almost as bad as the nightmares. I couldnt tell what was reality anymore. They showed me you guysbut it wasnt always real. I doubted everything who I was, what I felt I swallowed back tears, glad I had averted my eyes.Hey, he said softly, reaching out to tip my chin and make me look back at him. Its over. Youre safe. Well help you get smash Ill help. I wont let anything happen to you.Again, his feelings for me made me uncomfortable and switchd. Was it a lingering effect of the Oneroi? No, I decided a moment later. This was the kind of situation that would confuse anyone. My heart was still tangled up in Seth, someone I knew I should let go, but who had found me against impossible odds. And here was Roman, someone I could be with a bit more easily well, kind of and who had risked his life for me. Could I move on with him? I didnt know. But I could try.I found his hand again and squeezed it. convey you.He leaned toward me, and I think we might have kissed, but the ringing of my cell phone jolted us out of any romantic spell. I pulled my hand from his and grabbed the phone from my side table.Hello?Miss Kincaid, came the kind, familiar voice. It is a pleasure to speak with you again.Erik Oh, Im so happy its you. I wanted to thank you Theres nothing to thank me for. I would gladly do it again.Well, then, Im still thanking you anyway. Roman, realizing this had nothing to do with him, got up and wandered off but not forward giving me one more fond look.As you wish, said Erik. Are you feeling demote?More or less. Certainly better in body. And I think the rest will come. I wished that with my bodys healing, I could also forget all the horrible things Id seen. That wouldnt happen, though, and I felt no need to trouble him with my problems.Im glad, he said . Very glad.Silence fell, and a suspicious feeling nudged its way into my brain. Id assumed he was simply calling to check up on me, but something now told me there was more.Miss Kincaid, he said at last. Im sure you dont want to talk about what happened.I well. I hesitated. I knew Erik. He wouldnt bring this up without a good reason. Is there something we should talk about? Now it was his turn to hesitate. You thank mebut to be truthful, what we did shouldnt have worked. I didnt expect it to.Meis comments came back to me, as did the other conversations Id witnessed via the dreams. Nobody seemed to.Mr. Jerome did.Where is this going?I dont know how it worked. Mr. Mortensen should not have found your soul.I loved Erik and hated the irritation in my voice. I keep hearing that over and over, but obviously he did. Maybe it should have been impossible, but after what I went through? I dont care how it happened.I would remember not, but stillstill, I cant help but wonder at this. Would you mind telling me what it was like when he found you?That was one part of the ordeal I didnt mind recounting, largely because it had had a happy ending. Of course, the logistics of explaining it werent so easy. I did my opera hat to describe what it was like being adrift in the dream worldly concern and how Seth had seemed to call to me. Erik listened patiently and then asked if Id tell him about my castrate with Hell and how Id sold my soul.That was a little harder to tell, not to mention a funny question. The Oneroi had shown me so many versions of what had happened with Kyriakos and me, and while some had been true and some false, theyd all been horrible. Still, sensing something big might be going on here, I haltingly recounted the whole experience how Id cheated on Kyriakos with his best friend, infidelity that was later discovered. It was the sorrow from that that had driven Kyriakos into suicidal grief, which in turn drove me to sign a contract with Hell. Id sold my so ul and become a succubus, in exchange for everyone I knew including Kyriakos to forget me and the awful things Id done.Tell me the terms one more time, said Erik.It was that everyone I knew back then would forget me and forget what happened family, friends, and especially my husband. My voice choked a little. It worked. I came back later, and no one knew me. Not even a glimmer of familiarity.There was nothing else in the contract?No. An imp I know looked it over recently and verified it.Oh? This caught Eriks interest. Why would he do that?She. As a favor. The imp whod brokered my sale was the one who worked with Nyx and kept messing with Seth. Hugh said when an imp shows that much interest, theres something wrong with a contract. So Kristin this other imp looked at my contract. She hadnt been very happy about doing that. If shed been caught snooping in Hells records, there would have been some very, very bad consequences. Her gratitude over me hooking her up with her boss had o verpowered her fear. She told me it was airtight. Everything was like it was divinatory to be. No errors.More silence. This conversation was starting to make me uneasy. Did this imp Niphon? end up doing anything to Mr. Mortensen?Not so muchI mean, it was part of what led us to breaking up. I paused to collect myself. But there were a lot of other factors that caused that too.Has Niphon been back?No, but there has been this succubus. With everything else, Id forgotten about Simone. She was impersonating me. unplowed trying to seduce Sethbut it didnt work. I think Jerome sent her packing, but Im not sure.Again, Erik took a long time in responding. Finally, he sighed. Thank you, Miss Kincaid. Youve given me much to think about. I apologize if Ive brought up painful memories. And Im very happy youre feeling better.Thanks, I said. And thanks again for your help.We disconnected, and I wandered out to the living room. Roman was in the kitchen, plating up some grilled cheese sandwiches. Hungry? he asked.Starving, I said. He handed me a plate, along with a cup of coffee, and I smiled. Thanks. Not sure what I did to deserve this.You dont have to do anything. Besides, I had extra. Wanted a big repast before going to work.Before what?The grin he gave me indicated hed been dying to deliver this news. I got a job.You did not.I did. Went back to the school I used to teach at. They had a copulate openings, so Im doing a few classes.I was dumbfounded. After all my badgering, Roman had sought gainful employment in his specialty, no less linguistics.Does this mean youre going to pay rent now?Lets not get carried away, love.He grabbed a plate of his own, and we ate in the living room while the cats watched hopefully for leftovers. Seeing Godiva, I felt a frown coming on. The dream. The man in the dream. The Oneroi had said it was Sethbut that was impossible. I lifted my eyes up to Roman, wondering if I could rekindle the love Id once had. If there was any man in any dream, he would be a better candidate.You talked to Erik for a while, Roman said, noting my scrutiny.Hes weirded out by my rescue. He says it shouldnt have worked.Yeah, I heard that too.Between bites, I recounted the conversation, including Eriks interest in Seth and my contract. I dont see what the big deal is, I concluded. Seth and I still have feelings for each other feelings were trying to get past. In that moment when our souls had met, though, separating from him had been the last thing I wanted. Maybe that was enough. Maybe people dont have faith in the power of love.Maybe, said Roman. But he looked thoughtful now too.A swath at the door interrupted further conversation. I felt no immortal signature and hoped it wasnt my neighbor trolling for more sex. Hed mercifully left me solely so far.But no, it wasnt Gavin. It was Maddie.And she was crying.I asked no questions. When friends are in trouble, you take care of them first. I pulled her right inside and led her to the couch, immed iately putting my fortification around her. Whats wrong? I asked finally. What happened?She couldnt speak right away. Her sobs were too great, and she was choking on her own tears. Something nudged my arm. It was Roman handing me a box of tissues. I shot him a grateful look and gave some to Maddie.At long last, she gasped out, Its Seth.My heart stopped. For a moment, a hundred awful scenarios flew through my mind. Seth hit by a car. Seth struck by some deadly disease. I clutched her arm, so tightly that I realized my nails were digging into her. I relaxed my grip as best I could.What happened? I demanded. Is he okay?He ended it. Her crying renewed. He broke the engagement and told me it was over. She buried her face up against my shoulder, and I stroked her absentmindedly as my brain tried hard to really comprehend her words. I must have misheard.He couldnt have, I said, my voice as cracked as hers. Hehe loves you.She lifted her head and looked at me with mournful, glittering eyes . He said he didnt love me the way he should that he didnt love me the way I deserved. He said itd be wrong to make me marry him, that we werent meant to spend our lives together. She took a tissue and wiped her nose, then her eyes grew wide with desperation. What does that mean, Georgina? Why would he say hes making me marry him? I want to. I dont understand.I looked over her and met Romans eyes. We couldnt speak the way greater immortals could, but enough messages passed between us. Seth hadnt agonistic her to get engaged, no, but hed done it out of guilt, guilt for cheating on her and continually being drawn to me when he believed it was better for us to stay apart.He said he loved me, Maddie continued. But that I needed someone who loved me more someone I was the world to. He said hed only hurt me worse if we went on. How could it hurt worse? The tears grew worse. She pulled away and buried her face in her hands. It cant hurt worse than this. I want to die.No I said, drawing her back to me. Dont say that. Dont ever say thatGeorgina, warned Roman softly. I realized I was shaking Maddie and immediately stopped.Listen to me, I said, turning her face toward mine. You are an amazing person. You are one of the best people I know. Youll get over thisI swear it. I wont let you go through it alone, okay? And you deserve the best. If its not him, then youll get someone better. The next words were hard for me. I should have rejoiced at this news. I wouldnt have to watch them together. I also had a feeling that I was somehow involved in this. What had she said? That Seth said she deserved to be someones world? Hed told me I was his. In one of the dreams, hed said that to her, but I now knew that was a lie. Still, I couldnt help it when I said, And maybemaybe if you guys talk more, youll understandThe sobs abated just a little as she gave me a puzzled look. Thats the thing. I cant.It may seem that way, but hes not totally unreasonable. Why the hell was I playing devils advocate here? Because Maddie was my friend, and I couldnt stand to see her hurting and because I had also had my heart broken too many times. Wait a couple days, then find him and see if you can have a, I dont know, productive dialogue. Maybe you can fix things. Ugh. Maybe youll at least understandunderstand his decision.She shook her head. But I cant find him. No one can. Georgina, hes disappeared.