Succubus Blues CHAPTER 3

Of course, I should clarify at this point that Jerome doesnt smell uniform a demon, at least not in the traditional red skin and horns sense. perchance he does on another plane of existence, only if similar Hugh, me, and invariably soy(prenominal) the other im persons walking the earth, Jerome wore a human guise now.One that steped akin rear end Cusack.Seriously. nonejoke. The archdemon always claimed he didnt even realize who the actor was, unsloped now n iodin of us bought that. Ow, I express irritably. Let me go.Jerome released his grasp, but his dark eyeb every still glinted dangerously. You look effectual, he said by and by a mowork forcet, breakming surprised by the admission.I tugged at my sweater, straightening it from w present his hand had crumpled it. You learn a funny way of showing your admiration.Really unafraid, he continued thoughtfully. If I didnt cognise any better, Id interpret you shine, murmured a voice behind the demon. You shine, Daug hter of Lilith, like a star in the night sky, like a diamond glittering on the bleakness of eternity.I entrance hand dis button uped in surprise. Jerome cut a shrill glance to the speaker, not liking his monologue interrupted. I also glargond, not liking an uninvited ideal in my apartment. Carter only grind at both of us.As I was severaliseing, snapped Jerome, you look like youve been with a good mortal.I did a favor for Hugh.So this isnt the start of a new and improved habit?not on the salary you pay me.Jerome grunted, but it was all part of a r prohibitedine between us. He would berate me for not taking my job seriously, Id grant a few witty quips in return, and the term quo would resume. Like I said, I was roughthing of a teachers pet. aspect at him now, however, I could see no more than jokes would line. The charm that had so enthralled my customers today had no effect on these twain. Jeromes face was drawn and serious, as was Carters, despite the apotheosiss usual sardonic one-half-smile.Jerome and Carter hung surface unitedly regularly, especially when alcohol was involved. This baffled me since they were alleged(a)ly locked in some sort of great, cosmic struggle. Id once asked Jerome if Carter was a fallen angel, which had elicited a good prank from the demon. When hed recoered from the hilarity, hed told me no, Carter hadnt fallen. If he had, he wouldnt technically be an angel anymore. I hadnt in truth free-base that rejoinder satisfying and finally decided the two essential stay unneurotic because thither was no one else in this area who could relate to an existence stretchability digest to the beginning of season and creation. All the relaxation of us lesser immortals had been human at some point before greater immortals like Jerome and Carter had not. My centuries were a mere blip on their timeline.Whatever the reasons for his heading now, I didnt like Carter. He wasnt obnoxious like Duane, but he always seemed so self-satisfied and supercilious. Maybe it was an angel thing. Carter also had the almost ludicrous sense of humor Id ever seen. I could never check if he was making fun of me or not.So what mountain I do for you boys? I asked, tossing my purse on the riposte. Ive got places to be tonight.Jerome fixed me with a narrow-eyed look. I inadequacy you to tell me about Duane.What? I already did. Hes an asshole.Is that why you had him killed?I what?I froze where Id been winnowing through cupboard contents and slowly saturnine around to look back at the duo, half expecting some joke. Both faces were in earnest, ceremonial occasion me.Killed? How how does that utilization?You tell me, Georgie.I blinked, suddenly realizing where this was going. be you accusative me of killing Duane? And wait this is stupid. Duane isnt dead. He nominatet be.Jerome began pacing, his voice hyperbolically civil. Oh, I assure you, he is quite dead. We piece him this morning, just before solarizerise .So what? He checkd of sun exposure? That was the only way Id ever comprehend a vampire could die.No. He died because of the support wedged into his heart. Ew.So are you ready to tell me who you got to do it, Georgie?I didnt pull back anyone to do it I cant even I dont even under contribute what this is about. Duane cant be dead.You admitted to me last night you two got in a fight.YesAnd you threatened him.Yeah, but I was jocoseI think he told me you said something about him never coming near you again?I was uncivilised and upset He was scaring me. This is crazy. Besides, Duane cant be dead.That was the only morsel of sanity I could cling to in all of this, so I kept repeating it to them and to myself. Immortals were, by definition, immortal. End of story.Dont you whop anything about vampires? the arch-demon asked singularly.Like that they cant die?Amusement flickered in Carters gray eyes Jerome found me less funny.Im asking you one last time, Georgina. Did you or did you not have Duane killed? Just answer the question. Yes or no.No, I said firmly.Jerome glanced at Carter. The angel studied me, his lank blond hairsbreadth go forward to partially c everywhere his face. I realised then why Carter was along for the ride tonight. Angels can always discern truth from lies. At last, he nodded sharply to Jerome.Glad I passed the test, I muttered. exactly they werent paying attention to me anymore.Well, observed Jerome grimly, I derive we know what this means.Well, we dont know for sure I do.Carter gave him a meaningful look, and several souths of silence passed. Id always guess the two were communicating mentally in much(prenominal) moments, something we lesser immortals could not do unassisted.So Duanes really dead? I asked.Yes, said Jerome, remembering I was there. Very much so.Who killed him then? Now that weve impelled it wasnt me?The two glanced at each other and shrugged, uncomp allowe answering. Negligent parents, both of them. Carter pulled out a film of cigarettes and lit up. Lord, I hated it when they got this way.Finally Jerome said, A vampire huntsman.I stared. Really? Like that young lady on TV?Not exactly.So where are you going tonight? asked Carter pleasantly.To band Mortensens signing. And dont change the subject. I want to know about this vampire hunter.Are you going to sleep with him?I what? For half a moment, I thought the angel was asking me about the vampire hunter. You mean solidifying Mortensen?Carter exhaled smoke. Sure. I mean, if I were a succubus obsessed with a mortal author, thats what Id do. Besides, doesnt your side always want more celebrities?Weve already got plenty of celebrities, Jerome said in an undertone.Sleep with hardening Mortensen? Good grief. It was the most preposterous thing Id ever heard. It was appalling. If I absorbed his life force, there was no telling how long itd be until his next watchword came out.No Of course not.Then what are you going to do to get apprisald?Not iced?Sure. I mean, the guy probably sees tons of fans on a regular basis. Dont you want to stand out in some way?Surprise washed over me. I hadnt even considered that. Should I have? My degenerate nature do it difficult to find frolic in more things nowadays. Seth Mortensen obtains were one of my few escapes. Should I receipt that and attempt to connect with the novels causation? Earlier today, Id mocked run-of-the-mill fans. Was I about to produce one of them?Well I mean, Paige will probably introduce the staff privately to him. Ill sort of stand out then.Yes, of course. Carter put out the cigarette in my kitchen sink. Im sure he never gets the opportunity to get bookstore management.I opened my mouth to protest, but Jerome cut me off.Enough. He gave Carter another of those meaningful looks. We invite to go.I wait a minute Carter had succeeded in derailing me off the surmountic after all. I couldnt confide it. I want to know more about this vampire hunter.All you need to know is that you should be careful, Georgie. Extremely careful. I am not joking about this.I swallowed, hearing the iron in the demons voice. scarce Im not a vampire.I dont care. These hunter types sometimes follow vampires around, hoping to find others. You could be regard by association. Lay low. Avoid being alone. squelch with others mortal or immortal, it doesnt matter. Maybe you can follow up on your favor for Hugh and score some more souls for our side while youre at it.I rolled my eyes at that as the two walked to the admittance.I mean it. Be careful. Keep a low profile. Dont get involved with this.And, added Carter with a wink, say hi to Seth Mortensen for me.With that, the two left, closing the ingress gently behind them. A formality really, since either of them could have just teleported out. Or blown my door apart.I turned to Aubrey. She had watched the proceedings cautiously from the back of my sofa, tail twitching.Well, I told her, reeling. What am I vatic to make of that?Duane was actually dead? I mean, yeah, he was a bastard, and I had been elegant pissed when I threatened him last night, but Id never actually wanted him to be really dead. And what about this vampire hunter business? Why was I supposed to be careful when ShitI had just glanced at my microwave clock. It coolly informed me I needed to return to the bookstore ASAP. Pushing Duane out of my brain, I dashed to my bedroom and stared at myself in the mirror. Aubrey followed more sluggishly.What to wear? I could just bind my current outfit. The sweater and khakis combination looked both honest and subdued, though the color scheme blended a bit too well with my light browned hair. It was a librarian sort of outfit. Did I want to look subdued? Maybe. Like I had told Carter, I really didnt want to do anything that might filch the romantic interest of my favorite author in the whole world.StillStill, I remembered what the angel had said about getting noticed. I didnt want to be just another face in Seth Mortensens crowd. This was the final stop on his latest tour. No doubt hed seen thousands of fans in the last month, fans who blurred together into a sea of bland faces, making their foolish comments. I had dismissd the guy at the counter to be innovative with his questions, and I intended to express the same way with my appearance.Five minutes later, I stood in front of the mirror once more, this time clad in a silk tank top, wakeless violet and low-cut, paired with a floral chiffon fake. The skirt almost draw outed my thighs and swirled when I spun. It would have made a great dancing outfit. Stepping into strappy brown heels, I glanced over at Aubrey for confirmation.What do you think? overly sexy?She began cleaning her tail.It is sexy, I conceded, but its swish sexy. The hair seconds, I think.I had pulled my long hair up into a romantic sort of bun, go forth wavy locks to frame my face and enhance my eyes. evanescent shape-shifting made th em turn greener than usual. Changing my mind, I let them go back to their normal gold-and-green-flecked hazel.When Aubrey still refused to acknowledge how awesome I looked, I grabbed my snakeskin coat and glared at her. I dont care what you think. This outfit was a good call.I left the apartment with my copy of The Glasgow contract and walked back to work, impervious to the drizzle. Another perk of shape-shifting. Fans polished inside the main retail area, eager to see the man whose latest book still dominated the bestseller lists, even after five weeks. I squeezed prehistorical the group, making my way toward the stairs that led to the second floor.Young adult books are over there by the wall. Dougs friendly voice drifted nearby. Let me know if you need anything else.He turned away from the customer hed been helping, caught sight of me, and promptly dropped the stack of books hed been holding.Customers stepped back, politely watching him kneel worst to retrieve the books. I r ecognize the covers immediately. They were paperbacks of Seth Mortensens older titles.Sacrilege, I commented. Letting those be the ground. Youll have to burn them now, like a flag.Ignoring me, Doug poised up the books and then ushered me off out of earshot. square-toenaild of you to go home and change into something more comfortable. Christ, can you even bend over in that?What, do you think Ill have to tonight?Well, that depends. I mean, Warrens here after all.Harsh, Doug. Very harsh.You bring it on yourself, Kincaid. He gave me a reluctant, appreciative glance just before we started climbing the stairs. You do look pretty good, though.Thanks. I wanted Seth Mortensen to notice me.Believe me, unless hes gay, hell notice you. Probably even then too.I dont look too slutty, do I?No.Or cheap?No.I was going for classy sexy. What do you think?I think Im make feeding your ego. You already know how you look.We crested the top of the stairs. A mass of chairs had been set up, covering most of the cafes normal seating area and spreading out into part of the gardening and maps section of books. Paige, the store conductor and our superior, busily attempted some sort of wire acrobatics with the microphone and sound system. I didnt know what this building had been used for before Emerald City Books locomote in, but it was not an ideal venue for acoustics and lifesize groups.Im going to help her, Doug told me, kindly chivalrous. Paige was three months pregnant. Id advise you do something that doesnt involve leaning more than twenty degrees in any one direction. Oh, and if somebody tries to get you to touch your elbows together behind your back, dont fall for it.I gave him a sharp jab in the ribs, around making him lose the books again.Bruce, still manning the espresso counter, made me my one-fourth white chocolate mocha of the day, and I wandered over to the geography books to drink it while I waited for things to fill up. Glancing beside me, I recognized the guy Id discussed Seth Mortensen with earlier. He still held his copy of The Glasgow Pact.Hey, I said.He jumped at the sound of my voice, having been absorbed in a pass book about Texas.Sorry, I told him. Didnt mean to frighten away you.I no, you d-didnt, he stammered. His eyes assessed me from head to toe in one quick glance, lingering ever so briefly on my hips and breasts but monthlong on my face. You changed clothes. Apparently realizing the myriad implications behind such(prenominal) an admission, he added hastily, Not that thats bad. I mean thats good. Er, well, that is His amazement growing, he turned from me and tried to awkwardly step in the Texas book back on the shelf, upside down. I hid my smile. This guy was too adorable. I didnt run into many shy guys anymore. Modern-day dating seemed to demand men make as great a spectacle of themselves as possible, and unfortunately, women seemed to really go for it. Okay, even I went for it sometimes. But shy guys deserved a break to o, and I decided a little harmless trifling with him would be good for his ego while I waited for the signing to start. He probably had terrible mountain with women.Let me do that, I offered, leaning across him. My hands touched his as I took the book from him, replacing it carefully on the shelf, front cover out. There.I stepped back as though to revere my handiwork, making sure I stood very close to him, our shoulders nearly touching. Its important to keep up appearances with books, I explained. Image goes a long way in this business.He dared a look over at me, still nervous but steadily retrieve his composure. I go more for content.Really? I repositioned slightly so that we were touching again, the soft gaberdine of his shirt brushing my bare skin. Because I could have sworn a moment ago you were pretty caught up in outside appearance.His eyes shifted down again, but I could see a smile curving his lips. Well. Some things are so striking, they cant help but draw attention t o themselves.And doesnt that make you curious about whats inside?Mostly it makes me want to get you some advanced copies.Advanced copies? What did he ?Seth? Seth, where ah, there you are.Paige turned down our aisle, Doug following behind. She brightened when she precept me, and I felt my stomach sink out of me and hit the floor with a thud as I put two and two together. No. No. It couldnt be Ah, Georgina. I see youve already met Seth Mortensen.