Succubus Shadows Chapter 17

My initial time with the iodinroi had been a mix of dependable and false inhalations. As time went on and I really had no trend of saying how much of it did go on the majority of them recognisemed to be true angiotensin converting enzymes. They were either visitations of awful memories or to a gr feed iner extent glimpses into my current footmark, conveyt to demoralize me and make me homesick.I was pacify torn a section, tranquilize feeling more animal than liberal beings or succubus orwhatever. Yet, the fleeting pieces of rationality within me wondered at the sudden lack of handcrafted visions. One skill argue the Oneroi were being lazy. They were just giving me recycled material, and whenever I did converge my friends in the world, I got the impression that it was less a dream and more wish the Oneroi flipping me onto a TV channel to make sure I stayed distracted and gave them something to feed rancid of. It some felt like they were onerous to keep me busy be causewell, they were busy. But why? What had happened? What had Dante been about to tell popish and the others? Was it enough to make the Oneroi punch some of their attention from me? Or were these exclusively more mind games meant to leave me in turmoil?I unplowed hoping Id see a follow-up to what had happened with Dante, unless the Oneroi had other parts of the life Id left behind to delegate me. Or, well, parts I hadnt left behind. Simone was still impersonating me, and the Oneroi necessityed me to know.Adding insult to injury, she was helping Maddie and circle with the unify. The three of them were out coat shopping, and honestly, I was almost more bewildermentd to beat bent thither than I was Simone in her disguise. Hed pretty much kept away from the wedding planning as much as possible, using the pretense that he was no good at conclusivenesss and was happy to let Maddie run things the way she wanted.I didnt doubt the first part of what he verbalise notwithstand ing wondered about the second. In my heart of hearts, the one that believed he was still in love with me, I secretly hoped he was passing it to Maddie just because he was indifferent to it all. I wanted to believe that he really didnt conceive on about the planning because he didnt care about the wedding.It was clear, however, that I cared. Or rather Simone cared. Considering my reluctance at dress shopping, you would control thought Maddie cogency notice the sudden increase in zeal. Nope. Maddie was too caught up in her own bubble of happiness and welcomed my assistance.So, the three of them set off on a cake adventure, visiting all the bakeries Maddie had compiled and ranked on a list pulled from hours of Internet research.You want it creamy, state Simone, licking icing off her fingers at a bakery in Belltown. Actually, it was more like sucking. This is a little too lollipopy. The threesome sit down at a disconcert where they had been provided with a plate of samples.Thats the point, state Maddie. She was eating a bite-size piece of burnt umber cake in a much less pornographic way. Mega sugar rush.Yeah, barely if you get too much sugar, it just tastes grainy. You want it to seashore right over your lips. She turned to Seth. Dont you think so?Seth had taken a bite out of a piece of marble cake. It is considerate of grainy.Simone gave him a knowing grinning, one that seemed to say, See? I know you crack than anyone else in the world.Seth held her look for a endorsement, only his expression was unreadable. He turned toward Maddie. But we rout out do whatever you want.No, no, she utter, not look too disappointed. This is for both of us. I want it to be something you like too.Seth gave her a mischievous smile. Does it matter? It all gets shoved in the side anyway.Maddies eye went wide. No, it doesnt Dont even think about doing that.Guess you wont know until the time comes, huh? His smile had grown.Seeing him play with her made me (figurativel y) squirm, but I took comfort in seeing a flash of annoyance in Simones eyes. Maddie was succeeding where Simone couldnt. That was how it should beor was it? Maddies unwitting triumph over Simone meant she hadwell, triumphed over me. Or had she? Simone looked like me but wasnt in truth me. Damn. This was all so confusing.Seth wouldnt do that, verbalize Simone, abatementing her hand on his shoulder in what was supposed to be a friendly way. Maddie couldnt see it from her vantage, but Simones fingers lightly brushed the back of his neck. non if he wants a good honeymoon.She spoke lightly, but there was a sly undertone there. Having her sex life brought up in open made Maddie blush. Seth had shifted uncomfortably, but the reason was unclear. Simones fingers? The mention of sex? perhaps both. Simone removed her hand, seeming innocent to all the world, except Seth and me.Maddie seemed overeager to change the subject from the ro valettic goings-on of a honeymoon. I think you should at least pick the cake flavor, she verbalise. Im choosing so much else.I dont know, give tongue to Seth. He still seemed uncomfortable. I dont care if you do it.Yeah, but she wants you to, said Simone. Come on, make one firm decision here. You toilettet go wrong. Maddiell eat anything you pick.Loaded statement. Neither Seth nor Maddie acted as though they read anything into it, but I had a feeling Simone had intended it as a university extension to Maddies very buxom figure.Exactly, said Maddie. Whats your favorite flavor?I enumerate I jakes pretend, said Simone. Chocolate.Strawberry, said Maddie.Losers. It was vanilla.Vanilla, said Seth.Maddie groaned. Naturally. Well, theres one decision made. She rose from the table. Lets try a few other places and get the hiatus of this taken care of. Not much left after this. They reached the door, and Maddie stop to glance at Simone. Oh, hey. testament you do me a favor? Will you take Seth tux shopping?What? asked Seth. No neutral fa ce now. He was shocked.Maddie grinned. If you dont have a keeper, youll show up at the church service in a Billy Idol T-shirt. And its bad luck if I go with you.I thought that was just for the bride, said Seth.I want to be surprised, Maddie countered.Of course Ill go, said Simone, putting her arm around Seth again in that friendly way.Maddie beamed, and the bakery faded awaytransforming into Eriks store.Erik sat at a small table with Jerome and Ro macrocosm, and so help me they were alcohol addiction tea. Even Jerome. Roman was visible, which made me think Jerome must have distinguishable they no longer needed to fear the eyes of higher powers who might wonder why my human roommate kept tagging along with Seattles archdemon.Erik was tapping his tea cup thoughtfully. If your theory is right, it would explain a lot. These words were directed at Roman. The dream quality of the visions. Mr. Jeromes complete inability to find her.Jeromes slightly curve eyebrow was the only indicat ion of his displeasure over the word inability.Erik continued, eyes on his cup as he pondered it all. And youre rightof all the creatures you suggested, Oneroi or Morphean demons make the most sense.Oh I thought in triumph to the Oneroi. How do you like that, bitches? My friends are on to you. No response came. No dissipation of the dream, as I would have expected.But why her? asked Roman irritably. I had a feeling hed taken credit for the dream idea, shielding Dante from Jeromes wrath. wherefore a succubus? Dont they only care about human dreams?Theyre fix to Nyx, pointed out Erik. Oh, yes. My friends were smart. Smarter than Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys put together. Maybe even Matlock too.The why is irrelevant, said Jerome, speaking at last. Whether its Oneroi or Morpheans is also irrelevant. If somethings taken her to the world of dreams, shes alone in doorible.Roman frowned. Why? Cant you just go in there and pull her out now that you know?Jerome gave his son a smile that almost, almost seemed genuinely amuse. Youre half-human, and it shows. Greater immortals cant go there. We dont dream. Only adult male do. The way is debar to us.Because you have no hopes or imaginings of what might be, said Erik. His manner and tone clearly indicated he believed such a thing to be a failing for angels and demons. You need a soul to dream.Well, if Im half-human, then Ill go there, said Roman obstinately, cutting off any retort Jerome might have given. I dream. So I can enter, right? And I can take on whatevers there. there was so much determination in his voice that I half believed he could take on an military of Oneroi right now.You have no idea what youre talking about, said Jerome. Clearly. Do you have any idea what the dream world is like?Do you? asked Roman dryly. I thought you couldnt go there.Dreams are what fuel human existence. Dreams of power, love, revenge, redemptionthe dreams of mankind are vast, uncountable. Humans dream both argus-eyed and asleep. Those hopes and fears are what put them at risk they gamble their lives and souls on dreams. You go into the world of dreams, and its like stepping into a blizzard. Every snowflake is some human imagining flitting by so quickly, you cant even see it. All you see is a blur, a tangle of longings and chaos. If Georgina is there, she is one of those snowflakes. You would never find her soul.Heavy privacy fell.Finally, Roman said, That was like poetry, Dad.But hes correct, Erik told Roman.More silence.Roman glanced between the devil of them incredulously. So thats it? Its hopeless? Youre giving up without even trying to find her?Trying is hopeless, said Jerome. Demons might not dream the way humans did, but I suspected even he could picture what his superiors would do when they order out hed bewildered a succubus. Human magic could access the world of dreams, but itd do no good. He glanced at Erik, who nodded. soul lost among all that couldnt be called back. Not even the warmest r itual could do it. Her soul would never hear anything we could muster.Romans face was a mixture of emotions. Anger. Disbelief. Andresignation. That didnt surprise me. Jeromes face did, however. He had stiffened at Eriks words, a spark of insight flashbulb in those cold, dark eyes.But you could do the ritual, correct? he asked Erik. Youre human. Youre strong enough to open the way.Erik eyed him warily. Yesbut by your own admission, it would come upon nothing. The connection you had to her was theoretically strong enough to possibly summon her back, but you cant enter. All wed have is a useless doorway.Jerome stood up abruptly. He glanced at Roman. Find your own way home. The demon vanished with a showy puff of smoke.And I vanished back into the Onerois prison. They stood there in the dark, glowing from what theyd taken from me. In dreams, though I suffered, I never felt the horrific personal effects they caused until I returned from them. That was when the agony, energy loss, and confusion hit me. Yet, this time, I wasnt completely lost to despair.You were wrong, I said. I tried to put some smugness in my voice, but it came out hoarse from my exhaustion. Good God. I was so, so tired. I guess dreaming didnt necessarily mean sleeping. My friends have figured it out. They know where I am.As eer, One and Two were nearly impossible to read. What makes you think that was a true dream?Excellent question. Gut instinct, I said.You believe you can trust it? asked One. After all this time? After so some(prenominal) dreams? How can you tell whats real and unreal?I couldnt. I knew when the memories were true for now but the real world scenes were harder. Maybe it wasnt my gut so much as my blind optimism that believed what Id just seen was real.Two guessed my thoughts. You hope. And weve fed that hope, do you think you have a chance. So you pull up stakes wait. And wait. And wait.It was real, I said firmly, as though that would make it so.Even if it was, said One, it meant nothing. You saw for yourself. There is no way to bring you back.Maybe that was the lie, I said. Maybe the rest was true. You mixed it. They figured out where I was, but you didnt show me the part where they learned how to rescue me. Theyre going to do that ritual.They allow for fail. Nothing can pull your soul from here.Youre wrong. I didnt even really know what I was saying. My essence felt like it was tearing apart, and really, the only thing I knew to do was to keep contradicting them.And you are naive. You always have been. Lesser immortals carry that weakness over from their human days, and youre one of the worst. Our mother nearly used your weakness to free herself from the angels. Now it will be your downfall.What do you mean Nyx almost used it?The Oneroi exchanged glances very, very pleased ones. Your dream. Your fantasy, explained Two. The one she promised to show you if you freed her. You wanted so badly to believe it was possible, that you nearly gave in.For a moment, I didnt see them or that perpetual blackness. I was in a dream of my own creation, not theirs. The dream Nyx had sent to me over and over had been one of my future, with a home and a child and a man. A man I loved whose identity remained a mystery. Nyx had never shown me the ending. Never shown me the man in the dream.You are so full of shit, I said. You claim Nyx shows the right the future. But how could that vision have been true if Im also supposed to be locked here for all eternity? They cant both be true.The future is always changing, said One. That was true when she showed it to you. Your path shifted.Oh, come on Whats the point of having a vision of the future if it can change at any moment? Thats not a truth or a lie. Thats a guess. And I never believed her anyway. What she showed me was impossible even if I wasnt here with you two assholes.You will never know if it was, said Two. Then, he reconsidered. Actually it was possible, but you will live with the knowle dge that its a future thats been taken from you.You cant take what I never had, I growled. Succubi cant have children. I could never have that kind of life.What I didnt add was that one startling thing had come from the dream. In it, Id had two cats. At the time, Id only had one Aubrey. Not long after, Id found Godiva, who was the other cat in the dream. Coincidence? Or had I truly been on the path to that future, only to have it ripped from me now? As always, the Oneroi could see into my heart and knew what I was thinking.Do you want to see? asked One.See what?The man, said Two. The man in the dream.