Succubus on Top CHAPTER 22

The waiter brought me another gimlet just as I finished my last one. fair man, I thought. He deserved an ample tip.Four days after the Emerald Lit Fest, I sat in the Cellar with Jerome, Carter, Hugh, Peter, Cody, and Bastien. The usual suspects. It was the first beat Id seen any of them in days. Id been keeping a low profile, essentially only leaving my home to go to work and back.I hadnt seen or heard from great(p)ening in that time either.None of us spoke. We just sat there in the dark, nursing drinks. Other people in the pub moved approximately and laughed, tho we were a corner of silence. I could bemuse sliced and diced the awkward tension among us. Finally, unable to take it anymore, I sighed.All right, I snapped. You can choke up pretending. I know youve all seen the video.It was equal letting the air out of a balloon. An opening of the floodgates.Hugh spoke first, admiration shining in his eyes. Jesus Christ, that was the compulsive best thing Ive ever seen.Ive seen it, like, ten times, added Peter. And it doesnt get under ones skin old.Codys delighted look spoke for itself.I as wellk down one-half of my drink in one gulp. any(prenominal)times I look or so, and I cant believe this is my life. Bastien had done an Oscar-worthy job of capturing my romantic escapade with Dana on film. She had never noticed the disembodied camera floating around only the incubus had dressually been invisible. Of course, Dana had been in any case preoccupied to really notice much. Id made sure of that, and date I felt a certain measuring stick of glee over my powers of pleasure and distraction, my post-ambrosia self still didnt like having that prowess put on display any more than Id liked Seths story cosmos linked to me. At least no one knew who Tabitha Hunter was. Fleur ,I swear you did things I didnt even know about, teased Bastien.Oh, be quiet, I told him, knowing he lied. This w hollow thing is embarrassing enough. I cant believe you had it all over the Internet in a matter of hours.He shrugged. Good news is hard to keep to yourself.Jeromes eyes gleamed with subdued satisfaction. No need to be embarrassed. What you did is laurel-worthy, Georgie. Youll be Succubus of the Year now.Great, I verbalise. Maybe that comes with coupons that havent expired.Joke all you wishing, continued the monstrosity, still youve caused havoc in a powerful religious group. That is definitely worth celebrating.So much so that Bastien was probably off the hook. True, he hadnt been in the spotlight, but Id made sure that Jerome played up his role in the official written report. I think the demon knew Id deceased a little overboard in crediting Bastien for his assi position in this caper, but he hadnt dwelt on the technicalities. Regardless of what the paperwork tell, the diabolical community knew it was Jeromes succubus in the extremely popular video. My bosss reputation had gone through the roof.As for the CPFVwell, yes, it was most definitely in cha os. Dana had resigned as soon as the scandal went public. Suddenly missing their strong leader, the group had collapsed into confusion, flailing about with no clear direction. Poor Bill. In addition to the embarrassment of a philandering wife, he now had to do damage control and still maintain his strong stance on family values for the saki of his political career. Reelections were next year no one knew how hed fare.I had mixed feelings about the whole matter. Sure, I hated the CPFVs solemn actions and was glad to see them go down. But Dana, despite her many flaws, had cared about Tabitha. It might not have been love, but the emotions were genuine. Shed opened herself up to me, and Id made a mockery of it. Even if she managed to wade out of this mess, shed probably never accept her enkindleual inclinations again. Shed bury them, continuing a campaign of homosexual intolerance. That bothered me, for the sake of both her personal and her political lives.And when not taking down con servative bitches, noted Hugh, she destroys gods in her free time. Did you really beat up that kid too? Youre, like, a size four.Dont forget about the Emerald Lit Fest. Cody grinned mischievously. Man, I cant believe I missed that.Is there anything you dont do, Georgina? marveled Peter. You havent been learning to cook souffl?s behind my back, have you?I rolled my eyes and turned to the greater immortals, ignoring my friends over-the-top praise. Are you finally going to tell me the whole story on colloidal solution, or whoever he was? You guys have been terribly laissez-faire about me killing a god.You know most of the details, Carter told me.And you didnt technically kill him, added Jerome.I started. I didnt? Buthe exploded. t come acrossher was blood everywhere. That seems kind of, I dont know, final. You destroyed his human manifestation, explained the angel in an almost bored way. The body he used to walk the mortal world. Sol or frame of reference as hes accurately called s till very much exists.Somas another name for ambrosia I began slowly.Yes, Carter agreed. In Hindu spirituality, the god Soma is the divine embodiment of the drug. It runs in his veins and is then distributed to mortals.I remembered his bleeding wrist and how his blood had dried. His blood forms the crystals that make the ambrosia. Thats what everyone was drinking. Thats what I drank I shuddered.You also drank it in its nice form, noted Jerome, watching for my reaction, straight from the source.Oh Lord, I realized. The goblet. I thought it was any(prenominal) illuminate of date-rape drug.In some ways it was, Carter told me gently. His blood, in its crystal form, serves as a self-enhancement that can be tolerated by mortals and immortals because its diluted. In its concentrated form, its too much to handle. Its disorienting. It goes beyond amplification of skills. It overloads the system, making you feel insanely good and susceptible to sensual touch and strong emotion. Hence my reaction to his advances and subsequent attack on Alec. Of course, I was still so mad at the former drummer that I half believed my actions wouldnt have been any different sans ambrosia.Thats so disgusting, I muttered. I drank blood. Gross.Cody and Peter exchanged glances. They grinned.What was the deal with that dart thing? asked Hugh. The thing she impaled him with.Mistletoe. It guards the gateway between worlds. The Scandinavian always verbalise it grew on the Tree of Life the tree that holds the world.I frowned. So, if hes just lost his physical body, then hes not really gone.Hes never gone, said Carter. The Food of the Gods is always around or at least some concept of it. Mortals always have and will continue to believe and pray for some magical cure-all that will change their lives. Thats why he still has so much power, despite most not knowing who he is. tidy sum dont always have to know what theyre worshipping or believing in to still grant it power. But, when he pops back down to this plane next time, hell probably hole up somewhere else, said Jerome more practically. If Carter or I had done anything, it would have been an open declaration of war. Innocent Georgies desperate defense sent a charming get-the-fuck-out message that didnt get any of us in trouble. It only required a small report. He made a face the demon hated paperwork.I sighed. Okay then. One last question. Why the sex? Why go to all that trouble to get Alex to procure victims?Who doesnt want sex? asked Hugh.The stories do resound with his lechery, actually, said Carter. One myth even talks about him carrying off some gods wife because he just wanted her that badly. When youre a being of euphoria and ultimate physical prowess, I guess sex sort of goes with it. So Ive heard, anyway.I scowled. And he was too lazy to even get the victims himself. What a bastard.Hes a god, said Carter, as though there were nothing more to add.I turned to the angel, thinking about what hed said. Youve b een a veritable wealthiness of knowledge today. But doesnt it bother anyone else that were openly discussing and accepting, what, three different spiritual systems here? Hindu and Norse plus ours. Which I always thought was the unbent one, by the way.Jerome looked genuinely delighted. Come now, youve rubbed shoulders with immortals from all sorts of spiritual systems since the beginning of your succubus existence.Yeah, I knowbut I never thought about the logistics too hard. I thought we were all disparate remember? They do their thing, we do ours? Now youre mixing it up likelikewere all doing the same thing. Yeah, said Cody. Which ones right?Angel and demon shared smirks. What is truth? Pilate asked. Carter just couldnt stay away from his quotes. His eyes held barely contained laughter.I sighed again, knowing wed get no break down answer from either of them.As our evening get-together wound down, Bastien unhappily declared he had to leave for Detroit. He made his farewells to t he others, and then I walked him out.We stood outside the pub, captive in our own thoughts as locals and tourists alike moved through Pioneer Square. Finally, at the same time, we spoke. Fleur Bastien No, let me go first, he said adamantly. I nodded for him to go on. What I did at the hotel wasnt right. I shouldnt have led you into that especially when you told me right off not to. And what I said to Seth at your placethat was unforgivable. Yeah, I was pretty sloshed, but thats no excuse. Not by a commodious shot.I shook my head. God knows Ive done a lot of stupid things while drunk. And people, for that matter. But dont beat yourself up too bad at least not over what happeneduh, between us. You were right. I wasnt a victim I went along with that. I made my own choices, choices that I have to deal with.It doesnt matter. You shouldnt forgive me. Especially after you saved me on the Dana thing. You figured out what Id been too unreasoning to see. No, Im definitely beyond forg iveness.Maybe. But Im going to forgive you anyway. I gave him a playful punch. And you cant stop me.Only a fool would stand in your way, he said gallantly. But I still dont think I deserve it.Bas,Ive seen people come and go for over a thousand years. Hell, Ive seen civilizations come and go. I dont have many constants in my life. None of us do. I dont want to write off one of the best ones Ive got. He opened his arms for me, and I rested my head against his chest, sad that hed be going away again. We stood like that for a long time, and then he broke away so that he could look at me.Confession time I didnt have sex with you for altruism. You were right about that. And I didnt do it just because I could either. I did it because I wanted you. Because I wanted to be closer to you. He touched my cheek and winked. Youre worth ten Alessandras. You would be worth going to Guam for.What about Omaha?No ones worth going to Omaha for.I laughed. Youre going to miss your flight.Yeah. He hugged m e again, then hesitated before speaking. in that respects one more thing you need to know. The day after my, uh, plastered drunken outburst, Seth came to see me.What? I racked my brain. That would have been during the time I was preparing for the Fest. Why?He wanted to know what happened. Between us. All the details.Whatd you tell him?The truth.I stared off at nothing.That guys crazy about you, Bastien said after a moments silence. Love like thatwell, hell itself has trouble standing against love like that, I think. I dont know if a succubus and a human can really make things work, but if it can happen, hell be the one it happens with. He hesitated. I think, no, I know I was a little jealous of thatboth that he had your love and you had someone who loved you like that. He gave me a climbing bittersweet smile. Anyway. Good part. Im always here if you need me.Thank you, I said, hugging him again. Keep in touch. Maybe well get assigned together again some day.The roguish look, long absent during our solemn conversation, flashed to his face. Oh, the trouble we could cause. The world isnt ready for us again.He pressed a soft, sweet kiss against my lips, and then he was gone. A minute later, I felt Carters presence behind me.Parting is such sweet sorrow.That it is, I agreed sadly. But thats life, mortal or immortal.Hows your high-wire act with Seth going?I turned to him, almost having forgotten that reference. Bad.Did you look down?Worse than that. I fell off. I fell off and hit bottom.The angel regarded me with his steady gaze. Then youd better get back on.I choked on a bitter laugh. Is that possible?Sure, he said. As long as the wire hasnt snapped, you can always climb back on.I go away him and walked a few blocks to catch a bus back to faggot Anne. While I was waiting, I blinked and did a double take as Jody walked by. I hadnt talked to her in ages. After the Dana scandal, Mitch and Tabitha Hunter had dropped off the face of the Earth.I left the bus stop an d ducked into a dark doorway?laSuperman. A moment later, I hurried to catch up with her as Tabitha.JodyShe stopped and turned around. Her brown eyes widened when she recognized me.Tabitha, she said uncertainly, waiting for me to get to her. Its good to see you.You too. How are things?Okay. We stood there awkwardly. How are you? I mean, after everything Her cheeks crimsoned.You dont have to avoid the topic. I can deal with it, I told her gently. It happened. Nothing to be done about it now.She looked down at her feet, clearly troubled. Ive been wanting to tell you something. It wasntit wasnt just you, you know. She looked back up, embarrassed. She sort of, you know, approached me too, and we did some thingsthings I didnt really want to do. But I couldnt say no either. Not to her. It was a rough time in my lifeSo. I wasnt Danas first taste of forbidden fruit. The notion that she had forced Jody appalled me, more so than Dana throwing herself into rallies that denied her own nature. Su ddenly, I didnt feel so sorry for her anymore.Then she got what she deserved, I declared icily.Maybe, said Jody, still looking upset. Its been a disaster for their family. I feel the worst for Reese. And then theres the CPFVtheyre a disaster too.Maybe its for the best, I said neutrally.She gave me a sad half-smile. I know you dont believe in them, but they do have potential to do good. Im actually on my way to a meeting right now. Were going to decide the fate of the group. I dont think well disbandbut I dont know what direction well go in either. There are some people who think just like Dana. Theyre not a majority, but theyre loud. Louder than people like me.I remembered our gardening conversation. And you still want some of the things you talked to me about? Helping those who need help now?Yes. I wish I could walk right in there and speak up. If I could get enough peoples attention, I think we could really go in a new direction. A better direction that might actually act change instead of just censuring and calling people names.Then you should do exactly that.I cant. I dont have the skill to talk to people like that. Im not that brave.You have the passion.Yeah, but is that enough if I cant get it out?Suddenly, I had to fight a giddy smile from taking over my face. Ive got something for you, I told her, reaching into my purse. Here. Take this.I handed her the last packet of ambrosia. It was dangerous, perhaps, to give it to a mortal, but one dose wouldnt hit her too badly, and shed never be able to get more. Besides, taking the temptation away from me was probably for the best.What is this?Its a, um, herbal supplement. Like an energy blend. Havent you seen those?She frowned. Like ginseng or kava or any(prenominal)?Yeah. I mean, it wont change your life, of course, but it always sort of gives me a kick. You just mix it in a drink and go from there.Well, I was about to taint coffeeThats perfect. And it cant hurt or anything. Smiling, I squeezed her arm. Do i t for me, so Ill feel like Ive given you a good-luck charm.Okay. Sure. Ill take it as soon as I get the coffee. She glanced at her watch. Ive got to take off now if I want to be on time. You take care of yourself, okay?I will. Thanks. Good luck tonight.To my surprise, she gave me a quick hug and then disappeared into the crowd of pedestrians. As I rode the bus home, I found I felt better about myself than I had in days. Id sort of wanted to save the ambrosia for next years Emerald Lit Fest, but I supposed I wouldnt need it so long as I actually allowed myself two days instead of one. After all, a little leeway never hurt.