Succubus Shadows Chapter 19

Real, I gasped hail on. That wasreal. lot didnt give in to temptation. Seth stayed with Maddie.Maybe, tell cardinal.The instinct to claw his eyeb solely out rose within me, p getered and sudden. It was animal and rash and impossible since I had no form here. It was an importationum Id had on to a giganticer extent than angiotensin converting enzyme occasion with the Oneroi.True. It was true. This was globeage a childs stake with them, over and over. Or maybe the true/false section on the SAT. Circles. Circles. My life was a circle. And Jerome The end of the dream came to me where my boss had spirited Seth a federal agency. Hes coming for me. He took Seth. Theyre going to do that ritual. Eriks going to set it up.Yes. And hes going to fail.No, he wont, I cried. Every ounce of me had be obtain desperation voice, mind, soul. Jerome ordain act for me. Hell save me.No one is coming for you, utter devil. They forget try, merely they give fail.Again, they sent me back to my world, and as much as I yearned for familiar faces, the doubt and uncertainty the Oneroi kept incuring up filled me with a despairing kind of confusion.I was at Eriks. And app atomic number 18ntly, so was everyone else.His store had a large back room used for depot that Id however once caught a glimpse of. It reminded me of a garage, with un blame little cementum floors and field of honor dryw wholly on the sides. A petite(a) table held a axial motion of burning incense that make the air hazy. The edges of the room were stacked with turning pointes and crates that appeared to piss been shoved to create an empty space just near the edge of the room. Also a want the edges was the Seattle interminable club Hugh, Cody, Peter, Carter, and however mei. Roman was probably in that respect too, orphic because of Mei. In the center of the room, Erik was drawing chalk practice sessions on the floor. Jerome stood nearby, and Seth hovered uneasily between them and my friends along the paries. I intend he was having a unverbalized season deciding who was safest. If not for Mei, he probably would fix chosen my friends.Mei watched Erik and Jerome with disapproval, her nearly black eyeb either narrowed and brick-red lips pursed. At last, she spread out her arms and strode toward the center, her sti allowto heels clicking loudly against the cement. Seth scurried out of her way, retreating to the safety of my friends.This is ridiculous, Mei say. Youre expend everyones time. Even with all of them she gestured to the wall gang its not enough to bring her back. You need to report it and get an separate(a) succubus.I report it, and in that locationll be otherwise(prenominal) archdemon here too. Jerome cut her a look. Im kind of surprised you havent with with(p) that already.Good point. As his underling, Mei obeyed him, further she was ambitious. If Jerome got in trouble for losing me, it could be to her advantage.I dont need to, she express f latly. Youll be telling them yourself soon. Why do I have to be here? I have no connection to her.Because I t over-the-hill you to give the sack arguing. Jerome glared at her, and the ii demons locked gazes. At last, Mei gave a sharp nod, merely it didnt seem a desire she gave in because of his authority. It was to a great extent than like hed communicated something, and she was ac make outledging it. She re move to the side of the room, opposite my friends at present.Erik had to lean and get on his knees for a lot of his chalk work, something that had to be agony on his back. With a sigh, he finally stood up and examined his design. It showed two large concentric circles, filled and environ with a number of arcane symbols. Some I knew some I didnt. Jerome analyse the pattern too, and for the foremost time ever, my boss lookednervous.Is it ready? he demanded.Erik nodded, one hand absentmindedly rubbing his back. Barring the spell itself, yes.Jeromes eyes fell on Seth, who flinched. You, said the demon. Come here.Seth eyed the pattern nigh as uneasily as Jerome had. What will fall to me?It wont pop up you, if thats what youre worried around. And you can fare intimately the circle whenever you fate. presently stop wasting time.I didnt like hearing Jerome boss Seth around. It stirred up those coals of rage that had been burning within me lately. I even grew angry comprehend Seth obey I kind of wanted him to defy Jerome. A moment later, I tried to banish such thoughts. I take to save my fury for the Oneroi, not this group. Surely Jerome wasnt lying. Carter, whod remained quiet without all of this, would have called Jerome on it. I hoped.Seth walked over to Jeromes side, careful not to step on any of the chalk lines like how superstitious flock avoid cracks on sidewalks. Erik gave Seth a piddling smile.Hes secure, Mr. Mortensen. This wont hurt you. though it will bestrange.Mei suddenly went rigid again. Him? Thats all youre employ? Jerome, one person cant Enough roared Jerome. Im tired of listening to everyone backtalk me. poop we get on with this?Erik nodded and walked over to the table with the incense. There was also a small bowl of water and a long, roughly hewn component of stone. Smoky quartz, I thought. Erik picked it up carefully, reverently. He pushed the tip of the wand into the smouldering incense, and and and then held it up so the smoke could swathe it. A braces seconds later, he dipped the wands end into the water. When that was completed, he began carrying the wand to the circle.Wait, Carter suddenly said. He straightened up from where hed been slouching against some boxes. Im going in too.Youre all crazy, muttered Mei.She has a point, said Jerome. If youre in here I go to bed, I know, said Carter, stepping over the lines to plug into Jerome. And I also know what might come out. The two of them looked at each other, to a greater extent silent messages passing, and then neither spoke again.Erik re turn to the circles center, h honest-to-goodnessing the wand up high. Both Carter and Jerome had moved as far from the human beings as possible without crossing the inner circle. As Eriks arms reached heavenward, he suddenly didnt seem like a weak old man. True, his soundbox was frail and growing gaunter every day, scarce as he stood there and began intone, he became so much much than human. Dante was a remedy conjure man when it came dump to it, yet Erik wasnt without his own billet, even if rarely used. If Id been there in the flesh, I would have entangle the magic he was summoning. Knowing it was there almost make me believe I could see it.He finished his chant, spoken in lecture I only knew a minute of, and then walked around the circle. He fey it in four vagabond with the wand, all equidistant from each other. The instant his wand touched the poop spot, every immortal in the room suddenly flinched and looked uncomfortable even the greater ones. Seth mostly looked confused.As a disconnected observer, my emplacement was like Seths. I see nothing happen either. simply I pick outd then that if Id been there, I would have felt what all the other immortals had as well. Erik had locked the circle, slamming invisible walls into place. All magical circles were different, but hed told Seth that he could cross out meaning this was a circle to cargo hold only immortals in. It wasnt exactly like a summoning. Summonings required massive amounts of magic because they were enslaving an immortal against his or her will. This circle was a prison too, but it required less magic because the immortals had entered it by choice. Jerome and Carter had just knowingly allowed themselves to be entrapped.This was why he wanted Mei around. For an unscrupulous magic user say, like Dante this was a easy opportunity. Two imprisoned greater immortals? It had infinite possibilities for a magician. some(prenominal) Erik was doing here, I didnt believe hed ab use this situation. But Jerome, being a demon, didnt blaspheme anyone. Jerome had wanted Mei on hand to do some smiting if Erik wouldnt exsert his prisoners. Of course, she would be powerless to do anything until Erik left the circle which hed have to do eventually.If they were all trying to rescue me, though, Erik couldnt have created this circle with the intent of confine Jerome and Carter specifically. The backers words came back to me I also know what might come out.Erik stood in front of Seth, who was growing much nervous by the second. The pass on in Eriks face showed the power he was keeping in check. He couldnt play kindly old man right now, but he did what he could.Do you care about Miss Kincaid? he asked Seth. Do you want to save her?Yes, answered Seth swiftly.Then you mustiness think about her. Focus every ounce of your being on her. Imagine her. call out for her. There must be no other thoughts in your leave only her.Seth looked puzzled but nodded. Erik move to Jerome and Carter. And you must stop him from going in entirely. You cant enter yourselves, but you can keep him here. You have to, or youll lose both of them.Erik waited for no acknowledgment from the angel and demon. He held up his wand again and touched Seth on his forehead, both cheeks, and chin. Seth shivered.Remember, said Erik. When the penetration opens, think of her. Only her. separate out for her. And when you find her, do not let go.Gate? asked Seth. What But Erik was chanting again, and a wind eincorporated out of nowhere, ruffling the vibrissa of those in the circles. His voice grew more and more powerful, and then I was back with the Oneroi.What happened? I exclaimed. For the millionth time, I wished I could beat on the walls of my prison. I wanted to claw their eyes out again. I wanted to choke them. Show me what happensFailure, said One.They wont succeed, added Two. The demoness was correct. A dozen humans who loved you couldnt reach you, let alone He stop s peaking. His eyes met Ones, and then both glanced around as though searching for something. I tried to see what they saw or heard, but there was nothing for me. Only blackness and silence.Then, I felt the inspiration of another dream coming over me. The grim world blend ined to go blurry, and both Oneroi jerked their heads toward me.No exclaimed Two, extending his hand.Everything grew clear again. I didnt dream. I stayed where I was.Georgina.My name. For the first time in well, I had no idea how many geezerhood I heard something that wasnt the Oneroi. It was so faint, a whisper lost on the wind. My name. One of them, at least.I couldnt tell where it came from, but every surgical incision of me tried to focus on it, to figure out its origin.Georgina.Yes? I said aloud. Im hereThe world grew blurry again. I didnt hear my name, but it was like the siren song all over again. Music without sound, colors without description.Stop this cried One. I had never heard the Oneroi raise thei r voices. They always spoke in those low, sly tones. But they were pretty upset now.Fight it This was Two, speaking to One. amount of money me Dont let it I left them for another dream. Or, well, more like another place. No, it wasnt even a place. It was like I was floating in space, in a nebula. Perhaps a hurricane was a more accurate way to describe it because things were swirling around me and blowing past. Wisps of smoke. Bits of colors. Brilliant stars. Some touched me. Some went through me. And every time I do contact, I felt an signified an emotion that wasnt my own. Happiness. Terror. With that emotion came a brief brasslike of an image. A verdure field. An airplane. A monster. It was a snowstorm of stimuli.I was lost and adrift, almost more scared than in my prison with the Oneroi. At least that had had some substance, no matter how insignificant. But thiswhat was this? Every once in a while, it would start to dissolve to black, like I might be returning to the box. Then, the darkness would fade, again leaving me helpless in this mad roister of sensation.Georgina.My name again. And with it, that pull. That pull of familiarity. Though I technically had no form here either, I searched for that voice and that pull, looking through the riotous color.Georgina.It was stronger. That sense of summoning. I burned with the need to get to it. It was part of me. It was home. And then, in all that chaos, one light shone brighter than all the others. It was white, pure and pristine amidst the kaleidoscope raining down upon me. I stared at it, reached for it in as much as I could. The world started to fracture to black once again, but it was the last time. I wouldnt return to the box. non with this light beforehand me. Its hard to say if it became brighter and brighter or if it just grew closer and closer, but suddenly it was before me. It was around me. I was it.Just like when Id brushed against those other dreams, I had a flash of vision that snapped m e briefly from the whirlwind. I was in Seths arms. Or was I? As he held me, his face seemed to shift over and over to different forms. No, it was him. I would know him anywhere. He was so familiar, and now this close to me, I couldnt let go of him. He was home.Georgina. The voice came again, and it was his. Georgina, dont let go.No. I wasnt let go. I was never letting go again.That brief moment of human contact gave way to the starry field of dreams, but this time, I had an anchor. I was with the light. I was the light. I felt it pulling me, but I needed no urging. I would go wherever it took me. I released all control. I had the sensation of floating, of being stretched and reaching forward. Behind me, something tugged at me, but it wasnt strong enough. I was moving forward. Forward and forward and The sound of call filled the room. My screaming. Screaming over the pain of being torn obscure and reassembled. Pain from being stripped of all energy within me. I was weak. Raw. noth ing.What room was this? I saw faces. Faces near me, faces along the rooms wall. They looked at me like they knew me. Did they? Did I know them? My legs buckled underneath me, weak like a colts. One of the men standing near me reached out, but I scrambled backward, needing to escape. I couldnt let him touch me. Of that, I was certain. My mind had been shredded and ripped open. I didnt want to be touched in any other way. The floor was cool and smooth as I scurried over it, but I was stopped by a wall. At least, it felt like one. I saw nothing there, only a blue line upon the floor. The invisible wall was familiar and triggered fear. It reminded me of the box. I drew my knees up to me, trying to make myself small as I trembled.The men near me four of them were speaking in a language I didnt know. They were arguing. One kept trying to come to me, but another stopped him. That one was terrifying. His features were nothing extraordinary tall, with dark brown eyes and hair but there was something about him that made me cold all over. There was power in him, power all around him. I could feel it and see it. It reminded me of sulfur. His eyes fell on me as he spoke harshly to the others, and I cringed further. I felt certain I knew him, but he unflustered scared me.Suddenly, another of the men exclaimed something and touched the brunet ones arm. This man was blond. I sensed power around him too, but it felt different. It was clean and crystalline. All four turned around, putting their backs to me as they stared at something. Nothing was there at first, then I began to see and feel it. A glowing purple go around appeared before them, becoming larger and larger. As it did, I saw it was more of a spiral, its arms whirling as it grew. The two men who didnt shine power stepped back. If the unseen wall had let me, I too would have moved away. Out of the purple light, two black forms suddenly materialized and stepped forward. Two black figures who were somehow lumin escent at the same time and had graphic blue eyes. My own eyes widened. I might not know anything else that was going on around me, but I knew them. I knew them, and I was going to kill them.Im not sure how I did it since there seemed to be no spark of life left within me, yet somehow, I mustered the strength to spring up and run toward them. My shrieked words were incoherent, but it didnt matter. Only their destruction did. I would rip them apart. I would make them pay off the way theyd Strong arms grabbed me, stopping me as surely as the wall had. It was the blond man, and his grip was like iron. let me go I screamed. Let me go Ill kill them Ill kill them bothThe brunette man glanced back toward us. Do not let her go, he said mildly, this time in a language I understood. I fought in ineffectual against the arms but made no progress.The dark-haired man turned to the Oneroi. This isnt your world, he said.Weve come for whats ours, said one of the Oneroi. You took her.I took back what was mine, the dark-haired man countered. You steal her.We won her. She came to us of her own issue will.The dark-haired man snorted. Jerome, I suddenly remembered. His name was Jerome. We have different definitions of free will, he said.We want her back, protested the Oneroi.Youre taking nothing back, countered Jerome, voice hard. Go before I change my mind.Id gone slack while they spoke, but now my fury was renewed. I struggled again. Let me kill them I screamed. Jerome, its my right Let me destroy themJerome turned back, maybe surprised Id used his name. I dont think youre in any shape to kill anything.Its my right, I said. After what they did theyll house like I did. I will shred them. Ill rip their souls outThey dont have souls, he said dryly. But I like your enthusiasm. He turned back to the Oneroi. So, you stole my succubus and tortured her. His voice carried that reptile chill. It froze my blood. It made the air crackle with tension. The Oneroi shifted uncomfortably. They werent unaffected.Because of her, our mother was recaptured, one of them said. But he didnt sound as confident or outraged as before. We are entitled to revenge.You believe insult to another justifies revenge? asked Jerome. Oh, that voice. That voice made the air grow nevertheless.Yes, said the Oneroi as one.Me too, replied Jerome.He didnt even move, but I felt the power flare out from him, like a torch thrown into dry tinder. It exploded and so did the Oneroi. Well, it was more like they imploded. That power hit them, and then they were no more. Just like that.Oh, Jerome, said the man holding me. Do you know what youve done?Jerome glanced back at us and shrugged. I dont like people taking my things.The swirling purple gate had never left, and now it began to grow brighter and rotate faster.Shit, said Jerome. I was hoping no one would notice.The man holding me sighed. He looked down at me, and silvern gray eyes pierced my soul. Listen to me. Do not move. Do you understand? Stay right here. When I didnt answer, he sighed again. Do you know me?Did I? Yes. The eyes. I knew the eyes. Carter. The word came out strangely on my tongue.Yes, he said. You know me. Trust me. Do not move.He let go of me, waited to see what Id do, and then walked up to join Jerome when I stayed in place. Nothing could have made me move anyway, not when I saw what came through the gate.It was monstrous. Literally. Yellow-eyed and scaly, mottled purple and gray. It had what looked like a pigs snout, and seven horns ran over its head like points on a crown. It towered over Jerome and Carter as it emerged from the gate, but the two of them stood where they were, regarding it defiantly.You destroyed my subjects, the zoology growled. Its voice came from deep within its throat and made the floor vibrate. You broke the laws.Your subjects were in our realm, said Jerome. He was perfectly calm. They stole one of my people and abused her. They broke the rules.That doesnt give you the right to do what you did, came the response.They would have destroyed her if they were capable of it. Next time, keep a better watch on your employees so that they dont go causing trouble where they shouldnt.The monsters nostrils flared. I could destroy you for this.Try, said Jerome. Try taking on both of us.Those scandalmongering eyes flicked over to Carter. A few teeth showed in the creatures mouth. I think he was smiling. An angel and a demon fighting together. It would almost be worth seeing.Heavy silence fell as everyone surface each other up. I had no sense of the monsters strength. Physical size of it was not proportional to power. Jerome and Carter, however, were burning like small suns, ready to give away at any moment.At last, the monster shrugged. Or did his equivalent of it. But its been enough just to see you defend each others honor. I will not destroy youtoday. There will be no more assaults on my people. If there are, I wont be so forgiving.And if your people dont leave mine alone, said Jerome smoothly, I wont be as forgiving either.The creature snarled, and for a moment, I thought he might very well change his mind. He didnt. Instead, he stepped backward toward the purple light. He merged into it, vanishing to our eyes, and then the gate itself disappeared as well.He is such a buttocks liar, said Jerome. Forgiving indeed. He knew wed blast his scaly ass out of here.Yeah, well, I hope we never find if thats true or not, said Carter. contend a Morphean demon would generate paperwork even on my side.Jeromes lips twitched into a smile. instantly that would be worth seeing.I looked between both of them, my fear from the near-confrontation fading. With the last of my energy, I lunged for Jerome, beating my fists against his chest. He caught them and stopped me as easily as Carter had.You should have let me do it You should have let me destroy them It was my rightThats what youre pissed off about? Georgie, Im not even sure how youre still standing.It was my right, I repeated. You dont know what they did.I can make some substantially guesses.I stopped in my struggles, and at last, the full force of everything that had happened descended on me. My beings full depletion hit me. I sagged in his arms, and he caught me. The sights and people around me were still a little muddled, but lots of things were starting to come back.You were supposed to keep me safe, I said in a small voice. I felt my eyes grow wet. You shouldnt have let that happen let them take me. Youre supposed to protect me.Jerome looked truly surprised and didnt reply to me immediately. I was afraid hed get angry, but instead, he said quietly, Yes. I am. I did in the end, but I was late.Great apology, said Carter. at one time Jeromes anger returned. I have nothing to apologize for He turned back to me, and again, his voice was calm and patient. Almost gentle. I knew this was uncharacteristic for him. I brought you back. Youre safe now. They will never harm you agai n. Do you understand?I nodded.Good. Now its time to finish this.Jerome turned toward the humans. One of them was old, very old with dark brown skin and graying hair. His eyes were compassionate. The other man was younger, with messy hair and brown eyes that turned honey-amber when the light caught them. He was gaze at me like he knew me, which wasnt a surprise because I knew him too. I didnt know how, but I did. In fact, I was beginning to realize I knew everyone in this room. Other names were coming back to me. This one mans name eluded me, though, largely because several kept popping into my head. He studied me intently, like he was trying to figure something out, and I found myself travel into those golden brown eyes.Jerome said something to the gray-haired man in that other language. I still couldnt understand it, but there was something familiar about its sounds. The old man didnt answer or move right away, and discernible tension fell over the entire room. At last the old man took a wand he was holding and began piteous points on the circle upon the floor, murmuring softly as he did. When he touched the circle a fourth time, it was as though a great pressure one I hadnt even known was there was released from the room.Jerome transfer a few curt words with the man and then turned to me. As I was saying, how youre conscious is beyond me but considering all the other absurd things you do, I shouldnt be surprised.He stepped toward me and pressed his fingers to my forehead. I gasped as a jolt ofsomethingraced through me. At first, it was shocking and prickly. Then, it transformed into something sweeter and more wonderful. The most wonderful thing on earth. It filled me up, energizing me, fashioning me whole. Until this moment, how could I have thought I was alive?The world came into greater focus, the sights grew more familiar. I staggered, not from weakness this time, but from the pure felicity of life Jerome had gifted me with. He said something to me in that other language, and I frowned, not understanding.He spoke again in my own words. wobble back, Georgina. Time to go.Change to what?Whatever you want. Your current favorite, Id imagine. Not this. His hand gestured toward my body.I examined myself for the first time. I wasnt quite as tall as him, a few inches shorter, maybe. My legs and arms were long and lean, my skin tanned from the sun. A plain ivory dress covered me, and I could see the tips of black hair falling onto my chest. I frowned. This was meand yet not me.Change back, Georgina, he repeated.Thats not my name, I said.Shake off what theyve done, he said, clearly impatient. Its over. Theyve fogged your mind, but you can clear it. Change back, Georgina. Come back to this time. His next words were in that other language, and I shook my head angrily.I dont understand. I shouldnt be here. This is my body, but this isnt my time.He gave another command that I still didnt comprehend, and I uttered the same response. Th ree times we went through this, and then on the fourth, his words came through to me, perfectly understandable. I knew what he was speaking. The side language exploded in my mind, and with it, much more.I held out my give before me, staring long and hard as though seeing them for the first time. This is my time, I murmured in English. I looked down at my long legs. A strange sense of revulsion ran through me. This is not my body. merelyit was. It was, and it wasnt. With no energy, it was what I had reverted to.Whats your name? he demanded.Letha. My name is Letha.Georgina, I said. And with that, I summoned the power to make my bodys shape change. Slim and short, with light brown hair, and golden green eyes. The off-white homespun shift became a blue like dress. A moment later, I changed it to jeans and a blue shirt.Jerome glanced at Carter. realise? No harm done.Carter didnt acknowledge that. Instead, he asked, So now what?Now? Jeromes gaze fell on me again. Now Georgina sleeps.W hat? I cried. No Not afterno. Im never sleeping again.Jerome almost smiled before touching my forehead again.I slept.