Succubus Shadows Chapter 11

I was in Seattle. Modern-day Seattle, thankfully. I wanted to be nowhere near the fourth century, stock-still though I dreaded what awful vision the Oneroi would show me now.Not only was I in Seattle, I was with Roman. He had just parked on Cherry Street and was striding toward the heart of Pioneer Squ atomic number 18, which was buzzing today with tourists and others enjoying the clear autumn night. This time, I wasnt in the dream. I was an observer only, following along with him give care a ghost or maybe a documentary camera. I wanted to talk to him, to communicate in some way, notwithstanding I had no oral fis authoritative with which to speak. I had no form whatsoever, only my consciousness watching this vision.His pace was brisk, and he pushed through the meandering crowd with no c at one timern for the smelly odors and occasional comment. He was focused on his destination, one I recognized immediately the Cellar. Our favorite immortal hangout was crowded with mortals to night. Yet, for whatever reason, no count how busy the bar was, Jerome always managed to get the same corner table in the back. He sat there now with Carter but didnt wear the common uncin one caserned tactile sensation we often found him with while drinking. The the Tempters face was filled with agitation, and he and Carter were arguing about some issue.Romans signature was masked, so neither angel nor demon noticed his approach. Jerome shot him a glare, no doubt thinking some human was both(prenominal)ering them. Jeromes expression promptly changed when he saw who it was, and he opened his mouth to say something. He didnt get the chance because Roman spoke first.Where is she? demanded Roman. He sat in a chair and jerked it toward Jerome so that father and son could look eye to eye. Where the fuck is Georgina?The music and conversation covered most of his shouting, but a few nearby patrons gave him startled looks. Roman was oblivious. His attention was all on Jerome. Anger crac kled around the nephilim worry an aura itself.Jerome had been clearly distressed about something when Roman had entered, but now, in the presence of an underling, the demon put on the cold, commanding expression that was so typical for him.Funny, give tongue to Jerome. I was going to ask you the same thing.Roman glowered. How the hell would I pick out? She vanished right before my eye Youre the one thats supposed to swallow some sort of divine confederacy to her.Jeromes face didnt twitch, but his words were like a gut punch to both me and Roman. I cant feel her anymore. Shes disappeared for me too.I might have had no physical form, but cold fear ran through me nonetheless. An archdemon was connected to his subordinates. He always knew where they were and could give notice (of) if they were in pain. When Jerome had been summoned, that connection had shattered, cutting us cancelled from our hellish gifts. Now, the opposite had happened. I had been summoned, so to speak, and to rn from Jerome. The Onerois words came back to me He wont find you. He cant find you. You no longer exist for him.Thats unsurmountable, growled Roman. Unless A troubled look came over him. Someones hiding her signature? It would be terribly ironic if the scheme hed once planned came to be through someone else.Jerome shook his head and gestured to a waiter for another round. I wouldnt be able to find her if that happened, but the connection would be there. Id know she still existed.You no longer exist for him.Is sheis she dead? Some of Romans initial fury had dimmed a little.It wasnt an unreasonable question, really. I variety of felt dead.No. Her soul would have shown up in Hell. Jerome took a sip of his new drink and narrowed his eyes at Roman. But its not your job to ask questions. What do you know? You said she disappeared. Literally?Romans face was downright bleak now. He glanced between Jerome and a grim, thus far silent, Carter. Yes. Literally. Shes been having theseI dont k now how to explain it. She couldnt crimson explain it.I was there, Jerome reminded him. She told me. The music. The colors. The sneer in his voice made it clear that he regarded those slips of things as nuisances.It was like this weird oblige pulling her, enchanting her. It wanted her to come to it. Roman was repeating known info, possibly to make Jerome take it more seriously. She called it a siren song and unploughed sleepwalking, hearing to get to it. And thenand then tonight, she went to it.Did you see it? asked Carter. It was odd to see him so serious andwell, confused. The former emotion Id seen only a handful of times. The latter(prenominal) Id never seen on him.I saw her disappear. Like, vanish into thin air. But I didnt see it exactly. I felt it. I could sense whenever it was around.What did it feel like? asked Jerome.Roman shrugged. I dont know. Justa force. A power. Not an entity exactly. And not something I could identify. Not a greater immortal or anything.That, de clared Jerome, is perfectly useless information.Romans anger returned. Its all Ive got If youd listened to her more, this wouldnt have happened. You let this happen. You didnt take it seriously, and now shes goneYelling at Jerome. Not a good thing.Be careful, lest I revoke your invitation, hissed the demon, eyes boring into his son. And I did listen. I set you to protect her. You, apparently, are the one who let this happen.Roman flushed. I was in the other room when that thing showed up again. I hurried in as fast as I could, but it was too late. Georginad already given herself up, and honestlyIm not sure I could have stopped it anyway.It was a big concession for Roman. Nephilim could inherit anywhere from none to all of their immortal parents power. Roman was very close to having as much strength as Jerome but still lagged behind just a little. Additionally, the types of power wielded by greater and lesser immortals differed. As a type of hybrid, Roman might not have been able to fight what Jerome could have.Jerome didnt push that point further. So, we still know nothing.We know that whatever did this isnt one of ours, said Carter quietly, discourse at last.Yes, snapped Jerome. Which only leaves a billion other things it could be. UnlessHe glanced over at one of the chairs at their table. One min it was empty. The next, Simone sat there. Carter didnt seem surprised, but Roman and I certainly were. And she was especially surprised, as shown by her squeal of fear and befuddled expression. Being teleported by a greater immortal was not a pleasant experience.She was blond today, dressed in a plain blouse and pair of jeans. It was a sign of her agitation that she didnt widen her neckline when she saw Carter. What whats going on? she stammered.Whatd you do to Georgina? asked Jerome.Her eyes went wide. He might still wear the guise of John Cusack, but as he stared her down, it was easy to see that he genuinely was a demon of Hell.Nothing cried Simone. She cowe red back into her chair. I dont know what youre talking aboutJerome was up and out of his chair so fast, he might have teleported himself. He jerked Simone up as well and shoved her against a nearby wall, hand on her throat. Id been in a similar position with him before and felt lenience for the other succubus. No one else in the bar noticed, so Jerome was either glamoring them or making him and Simone invisible.Do not lie to me he exclaimed. What have you make? Who did you get to do this?I could see his line of reasoning now. What Roman had sensed might not be demon or angel, but it wasnt impossible that someone from our side could have worked with an unknown entity. It wouldnt be the first time. Roman had caught on as well and leapt up to stand beside his father.I swear, if youve hurt her even a little, I will rip you apartSimones fear was put on pause as she gave Roman a puzzled look. With his signature hidden, he only came across as a human to her. As far as she was probably c oncerned, he had no involvement in any of this and no ability to back up his threat. Little did she know.She turned back to Jerome, cringing when she saw his face once more. Nothing, she said, her voice hard to understand with Jerome choking off her air. I didnt do anything to her, I swear itYou were trying to get Seth into bed, said Roman.Thats all I didnt do anything to her. Anything. Simones face turned pleading as she spoke to Jerome. You have to know why Im here. Its not to harm her.Jeromes face was still filled with terrible fury, but there was also a hurly burly of consideration in his eyes. He said nothing, and it was Carters voice that filled the tense silence.Shes telling the rightfulness, he said.Jerome didnt break his hold on Simone, but that calculating look was still in his gaze. Do you know anything about her disappearing? Anything at all?No NoJerome glanced back at Carter, who gave a swift nod. With a disappointed sigh, Jerome released her and stepped back.Roman l ooked doubtful, but he too had to know that if Carter vouched for her, it was gospel, so to speak. Jerome returned to his chair, downing his drink in one gulp. Roman joined him a moment later, but Simone remained standing, watching the whole group uncertainly as she rubbed her bruised throat.I dont know whats going on, but if theres anything Im done with you, said Jerome harshly. He waved his hand in a type of dismissal, and Simone vanished as quickly as shed arrived.That was mean, noted Carter, idly stirring his bourbon.I sent her back to her hotel, said Jerome. Not to a abandon island.Romans anger had cooled a little, and he wore a calm, considering expression that looked remarkably like his fathers. What did she mean when she said you knew why she was here? Why was I following her?I cant report this, said Jerome. He was speaking to Carter, like Roman wasnt even there. Not yetnot unless I have to. We cant let any high authorities know.And I cant do anything at all, mused Carter . This is technically your problem. He took a long drink, as though that would fix everything.But you will, said Roman boldly. Youll try to find her?Of course, said Carter. One of his trademark cynical smiles lit his lips, replacing the grim expression from earlier. I suspected it was a cover-up for how he authentically felt. This place would be too boring without her.For a heartbeat, I kind of liked this invisible watcher thing. Carter had no sense that I was there, and for the first time, I was able to truly study him without him looking back. He might have that annoying levity on now, but hed already shown concern for my well-being. And I really couldnt opine it was simply because he found me entertaining. What was his game? Those gray eyes revealed nothing.Yes, said Jerome dryly. Who knows how well get by without her maudlin misadventures.Carter started to protest, but again, Roman came forward with an interruption. Oh. Thats the other thing, what we talked to Erik about. He g ave them a brief recap of Eriks observations and how I was only cut backed when I was depressed. Roman also described each of the incidents in as much detail as possible.Jerome and Carter exchanged looks. With as down as she usually is, thats not much to go on, noted the demon. But it might be worth a visit to the old man.Jerome, said Carter in a warning voice.The two locked eyes again and had some sort of silent communication. When Jerome finally looked away, it was to casually pick up his latest drink. Dont worry. I wont scare him. Much.I wondered if hed go to Erik right then, but I didnt get a chance to find out. The world dissolved once more, and I found myself back in my prison. Aside from being terribly uncomfortable, I also felt exhausted. Studying the smiling, shining Oneroi, I could guess what had happened. In feeding off my dream, theyd taken some of my energy with it.Dream I murmured, suddenly confused. Id braced myself for some terrible outcome, but it hadnt happened. T hat wasnt a dream. That was real. You showed me what was really happening. What my friends are doing.Some dreams are true, and some are lies, said Two. I really wanted to slap him. That one was true.A story came back to me, the faintest memory from my childhood. Christian priests had long had a foothold in Cyprus when I was born, but old stories and rites had lingered. What were considered myths today had been held as fact back then. One such story said that dreams were sent to humans from one of two gates one of ivory and one of horn. Those from the ivory gate were false those from the horn gate were true. I didnt know if that was just a metaphor, but the outcome apparently had some validity to it.But why? I asked. Why show me true dreams? Youd torture me a lot more with another stupid nightmare. That nightmare hadnt been stupid. It had been agonizing, but I didnt want them to know that. What was stupid was me suggesting how they should torment me.Because you dont know, said One. S oon you wont know truth from lies. You assume everything that causes pain must be a lie. But you wont know. Soon you wont trust anything at all.Ill know, I said adamantly. I can tell the difference.You imagine what you just saw was true? asked Two.Yes. Absolutely.Good, said One. Then youve also learned another truth its impossible for anyone to find you. Youll stay here forever.