Succubus Blues CHAPTER 16

Georgina?Im passive weeher.Pretty fucked up, huh? I guess this kills your angel theory.Im no. so sure.My initial feeling of unhorse was be replaced by a new idea, virtuoso that had been percolating in the biteceal workforcet of my mind ever since I read the biblical passage at terrycloth and Andreas. I wondered now wondered ex coiffurely what we were dealing with, if it was an angel afterward on the whole. The words in Genesis came back off to me There were giants in the kingdom in those years the same became tycoony hands which were of old, men of nonorietyWhats Jerome saying round tot totallyy of this?Nothing. Whatd you expect?Every superstar else is okay, though?Fine, furthest I knew. What argon you going to do? Nothing stupid, I hope.I go through to go check on something.Georgina Hugh warned.Yeah?Be c arful. Jeromes in a terrible mood over all of this.I laughed harshly. I stool imagine.An awkward silence hung on the line.What else arent you relation me?He hesitated a flake longer. This this is a surprise to you, right? This Lucinda thing?Of course it is. Why wouldnt it be?An opposite pause. Its retri furtherive well, youve got to admit its kind of weird, first DuaneHughAnd then, I mean, when no one could contact youI told you, my cell phone broke. You cant be in force(p) ab issue this.No, no. Its unspoilt I dont live on. Ill talk to you deeplyr.I disconnected.Lucinda lifeless? Lucinda, with her plaid skirt and bob? It was impossible. I felt terrible Id just seen her the other(a) day. Sure, Id cal lead her a sanctimonious bitch, but I hadnt wanted this. whatever more(prenominal) than Id wanted Duane dead.Yet, the connections Hugh had drawn were weird, weirder than I alike(p)d to admit. Id argued with both Duane and Lucinda, and theyd died in short in that locationafter. provided Hugh how did he fit in? Some friend. From what I heard, he received a immense deal of amusement telling anyone that would discover well-nigh your little whip and wings arse aroundup. I remembered Luandas jibe. I had thusly had a small flare-up with the imp just before his attack. A small flare-up and a small attack, considering he had lived.I shivered, unsure as to what this meant. Doug flinged in.You draw in everything straightened out?Yeah. Thanks. We stood there uncomfortably for a trice until I finally unlocked the floodgates of my guilt. Doug, I-Forget it, Kincaid. Its nothing.What I said, I shouldnt shit. I was Wasted. Trashed. Flat on your ass drunk. It happens.Still, I had no right. You were trying to be nice, and I turned complete psycho bitch on you.You werent that psycho.But definitely a bitch?Well He hid a smile, not meeting my eyes.Im no- dangerous, Doug. Im really sorry.Quit it. I cant take much more of this sentimentality.I leaned over and squeezed his arm, resting my question slightly on his shoulder. Youre a technical guy, Doug. A really good guy. And a good friend. And Im sorry sorry for a lo t of things that attain or give waynt happened between us.Hey, forget about it. Its nothing between friends, Kin- caid. A pregnant pause hung between us he was still clearly uncomfortable with this exchange. Did did everything turn out all right? I lost track of you after the show. That outfit you endure on doesnt reassure me any.Youll never believe whose shirt this is, I teased, later on telling him the whole tale of getting sick with Seth and the work through birthday party.Doug was pushing hysterics by the time I finished, albeit in a relieved sort of way. Mortensens a good guy, he finally said, still laughing.He says the same thing about you.Doug grinned. You know hes oh, man. I forgot, what with all those phone calls. Turning to the desk, he sifted through papers and books, finally producing a small tweed envelope. You got a note. Paige said she found it at long abide night. I hope its good news.Yeah, me too.But I had my doubts when I saw it. I took it gingerly, like something that might burn me. The paper and calligraphy were identical to the last ones. Opening up the envelope, I readSo youre interested in fallen angels, are you? Well, therell be a hands-on demonstration tonight. It should hear more informative than your current endeavors and wont require you screwing your boss in establish to get help with extrapolation not that watching you make a whore of yourself didnt have its moments.I looked up, meeting Dougs curious eyes. No worries, I told him lightly, folding the note up and placing it in my purse. This is old news.Hughs report implied Lucinda had been kil direct last night, and this note had been slipped to me beforehand, according to Doug. The warning had gone(p) unheeded. This person apparently didnt have a good grasp of my schedule, or they hadnt wanted me to actually act beforehand. It was more like a scare tactic.Whatever their point in giving me a masterminds-up on Lucinda, it was nothing compared to the other case in t he note. The thought that someone had watched me have sex with Warren do my skin crawl.Where are you glum to now? Doug asked.Believe it or not, I acquire to find a book.Youre in the right place. We went back out to the education desk, where Tammi stood. It happy me to see Doug t come downing her in this post wed need people available for all jobs when the holidays came.Practice time, I told her. Tell me where we march on this book.I gave her the name, and she looked it up in the computer, frowning at the outlets. We dont. We can order it for you.I scowled, suddenly understanding why people seemed so arch off when I told them that. Great, I muttered. Where am I going to get it tonight? Erik probably stocked it, but hed be closed in(p) by now.I hate to propose this, joked Doug, but a library might have it.Maybe I eyed a clock, unsure how late the local branches stayed open.Um, Georgina? began Tammi carefully. I know a place that has it. And thats still open.I turned to her in surprise. Really? Where no. No. Not there.Im sorry. Her spunky eyes pleaded with me to forgive her for such(prenominal) tidings. But there were three copies in stock the last time I was there. They couldnt have sold out.I groaned, rubbing my temples. I cant go in there. Doug, you want to run an errand for me?Ive got to close, he admonished. What place are you avoiding? Krystal Starz, home of freaky witch woman. You couldnt pay me to go there.You could pay me, noted Tammi, but Im closing too. If it makes it any easier, shes not there all the time.Yeah, added Doug helpfully. No manager is always on-duty. She must have other staff to cover her.Unless theyre short-staffed, I muttered. The irony.I left the store and got into my car for the journey to Krystal Starz. As I drove, I reflected on the two pieces of information Id gleaned today.First, the nephilim reference. The King James translation had mentioned angelic progeny, raze mentioned them as being ab public, but I had never considered the possibilities half-angel children might present. The annotation in Terry and Andreas translation had elaborated single slightly more on such creatures, but it had been enough to spring a lock in my head. Who better, I thought, to take on both angels and demons than some sort of bastard back breaker?Of course, the whole discovery of the nephilim had come about as a byproduct to the verse Erik had given me about fallen angels. I could be discharge away with a blind lead here when really the perpetrator was just a regular immortal, albeit an unstable one, slaying members of both sides. later all, I still hadnt ruled Carter out of the realm of suspects, nor had I estimate out why said killer would finish the job with Duane and Lucinda but let Hugh live.My other piece of data today, the new note, offered little I hadnt already known. Id simply found it too late for it to be of preventative use. And if some voyeur was spare-time activity me around, there was nothing I could do about that either.Yet, it led to the obvious question Why was this person following me around? Evidence suggested I was the completely one receiving such attention, the only one receiving notes. And again, there was the niggling truth Everyone Id fought with had later become a victimWhen I had almost reached Krystal Starz, I pulled off onto a bedraggled street. Unbeknownst to Tammi and Doug, I already had a simple solution for veneering Helena. Stripping out of the dress and Seths shirt, lest they be consumed, I shape-shifted, taking on the guise of a tall, willowy Thai woman in a linen dress. I sometimes used this body to hunt in.The young Age bookstore was quiet when I entered, with only a orthodontic braces of browsing customers. I saw the same boyish acolyte from before manning the register, and tenderness upon blessing, I couldnt see Helena anywhere. Even disguised, I still had no desire to run into that nutcase.Smiling at the young man piece of ass the count er, I approached and asked where I could find the book. Grinning back like an imbecile this was a very attractive form, after all he led me to a certain section in their cryptic cataloging system, immediately conclusion the book. As Tammi had said, the store stocked three copies.We returned to the register to cash out, and I sighed in relief, thinking I was going to make it out of here unscathed. No such luck. The back door leading to the conference manner opened, and Helena glided out as though conjured, clad in a flowing fuchsia gown, laden with her usual ten pounds of necklaces. Damn it. It was like the woman really did have a sixth sense or something.Things are well, Roger? she asked the clerk, using her raspy show voice.Yes, yes. He bobbed his head eagerly, apparently stimulate that shed call him by first name.Turning to me, she gave me one of her diva smiles. Hello, my dear. How are you this evening?Remembering that this persona had no grudge with her, I hale a smile a nd answered politely, Good, thank you.I imagine so, she told me gravely as I handed cash to the boy, because I sense excellent things about your aura.I widened my eyes in what I hoped was a laywomans awe. Really?She nodded, pleased at an appreciative audience. Very bright. Very strong. Lots of color. You have good things in store for you. This message was a far cry from the one shed given me at Emerald City, I thought. Seeing my book, she eyed me sharply, probably because it was punishing and filled with research, as opposed to most of the fluff she sold. Im surprised. I would have expected you to be reading up on how to focus your gifts more. maximize your full potential. I have several titles I can recommend if youre interested.Didnt this woman ever stop with the sales pitching? Oh, Id love to, I oozed back, but I only brought enough cash for this. I gestured to the handgrip now in hand.I understand, she told me gravely. Let me show you anyway. So youll know what to come back fo r next time.Torn, I contemplated which would cause me the most vexation going along with her or jump a feud in yet another body. Noticing a clock, I saw that the store closed in fifteen minutes. She couldnt waste that much of my time.Okay. Id love to.Beaming, Helena led me crossways the store, another victim in her thrall. As promised, we looked at books on utilizing the strongest parts of the aura, a few books on crystal channeling, and even one on how visualization could help bring about the things we most wanted. This last one was so inflictionful, I wanted to beat myself in the head with it to end my suffering.Dont underestimate the power of visualization, she whispered. You can control your own destiny, put in your own paths, rules, and stakes. I can sense great potential in you, but following these principles can help you unlock more all the things youd want for a happy and fulfilling life. Career, home, husband, children.An image of Seths niece curled in my solve sudde nly came unbidden to me, and I hastily turned away from Helena. Succubi tire out no children. No such future waited for me, book or no.I need to go. Thanks for your help.Of course, she responded demurely, handing me a list shed conveniently written the titles and prices upon. And let me give you some brochures for our upcoming programs and events.It didnt end. She finally released me once I was sufficiently laden with paper, all of which I dumped into the trash bin in the position lot. Lord, I hated that woman. I supposed Helena the schmoozing con artist was better than Helena the raving lunatic who had been at Emerald City, but really, it was a tough call. At least Id obtained the book, which was all that mattered.I pulled off at one of my favorite Chinese places on the way home, back in my normal shape. Carrying Harringtons book in, I ate General Tsos red jungle fowl musical composition reading the entry on nephilim Nephilim are first reference in Genesis 64, where they are sometimes referred to as giants or fallen ones. Regardless of the words translation, the nephilims origin is clear from this passage they are the semi-divine offspring of angels and human women. Genesis 64 refers to them as mighty and men of renown. The rest of the Bible makes little reference to the nephilims angelic siring, but encounters with giants and men of great stature are frequently recorded in other books, such as Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. Some have speculated that the great wickedness move the flood in Genesis 6 was actually a result of the nephilims corrupting influence on mankind. Further apocryphal readings, such as 1 Enoch, elaborate on the plight of the fallen angels and their families, describing how the corrupted angels taught charms and enchantments to their wives while their offspring ran wild throughout the earth, slaughtering and causing strife among humans. The nephilim, gifted with great abilities much like those of the ancient Greek heroes, were nonetheless cursed by God and neglected by their parents, consigned to wander the earth all their days without peace until eventually destroyed for the sake of mankind.I looked up, feeling breathless. I had never heard of anything like this. I had been right in telling Erik practitioners were the worst to ask about their own histories surely this was something someone should have told me about before. Angelic offspring. Were nephilim real? Were they still around? Or was I really just chasing a dead end here, following a distracting lead when I should have restricted my search to immortals of my caliber or in a higher place, like Carter? After all, these nephilim were half-human they couldnt be all that powerful.After paying the bill, I walked out to my car, opening my fortune cookie as I went. It was empty. Charming. A light rain misted around me, and fatigue crept in around my edges, not surprising considering the last twenty-four hours.I couldnt find a parking spot when I arrived in Queen Anne, which indicated some sort of uninfected event or show going on nearby. Grumbling, I set seven blocks away from home, vowing to never again lease an apartment that only had street spots. The wind Seth and I had felt earlier was fading, normal since Seattle was not a wind-prone city. The rain picked up in intensity, however, further change my mood.I was halfway home when I heard footsteps behind me. Pausing, I turned to look back but saw nothing indite slick pavement, blearily reflecting streetlights. No one was there. I turned back around, starting to pick up my pace until I did a mental head slap and simply turned invisible. Jerome was right I did think like a human too much.Still, I didnt like the street Id elect back it was too deserted. I needed to cut over and walk the rest of the distance on Queen Anne Avenue itself.I had just turned the corner when something impacted me hard on my back, knocking me send six feet, startling me so much that I shifted back to visible.I tried to turn around, flailing at my attacker, but another blow hit me in the head hard, knocking me to my knees. The sense I had was of being taken with(p) by something hand and arm shaped, but it packed a punch, more like a baseball bat. Again, my attacker hit me, this time across one of my shoulder blades, and I cried out, hoping someone would hear me. Another imbibe swiped the side of my head, the force pushing me over onto my back. I squinted up, trying to meet sight of who was doing this, but all I could dimly discern was a dark, amorphous shape, bearing down on me fast and hard as another blow made contact with my jaw. I could not get up from that onslaught, could not fight against the pain descending on me harder and thicker than the rain around me.Suddenly, brilliant light filled my vision light so brilliant it hurt. I was not alone in my assessment. My attacker recoiled, permit me go, and I heard a strange high-pitched hollo emitted above me. Attracted by some irresistible lure, I looked toward the light. A white-hot pain seared my brain as I did, my eyes taking in the figure moving toward us beautiful and terrible, all colors and none, white light and darkness, winged and armed with a sword, features shifting and indiscernible. The next scream I heard was my own, the agony and ecstasy of what I had seen scorching my senses, even though I could no longer see it. My vision had gone white-whiter-whitest until all was black, and I could see nothing at all.Then, silence fell.I sat there sobbing, hurting physically and spiritually. Footsteps came, and I felt someone kneel beside me. Somehow, despite my blindness, I knew it was not my attacker. That person had long since fled.Georgina? a familiar voice asked me.Carter, I gasped out, throwing my arms around him.