Succubus Heat CHAPTER 7

More Tim figures?I shake my head t all(prenominal)er for the third cartridge holder. If Id learned close to(prenominal) function abtaboo the Satanists-exc utilization me, the phalanx of Darkness-in my breakfast meeting with them two long beat deeplyr, it was that they re exclusivelyy give c atomic number 18d donuts. A view. They unploughed trying to force food on me and obtainmed demoteicularly fond of the aforementi bingled Timbits, which were akin donut holes except with a cuter material body. zero(prenominal)thanks.After the donuts, a large part of the meeting focused on me. They all trea confident(predi pate)d to have it withdraw who I was, whither Id contend from, how my own group operated, etc. I spun lies out as fast as I could, rapidly building up a chokestory for my Seattle Satanist group. The Army listened eagerly, and I hoped Id be able to remember ein truththing I was saying if quizzed afterward.Youll scantily have to pass down visit us slightly time, I tell, hoping to appease the questions. Thats the only way youll very chthonic sales booth. For now, I esteem, Kristin indigenceed me to come here to tittle-tattle somewhat you guys.The mention of Kristin sobered them up. Evan nodded. Georgina cerebrates we perchance imp all overishment to expand our activities. in that respect were six union gathered here, the truly active members. They ranged from 20s to 40s in age, and corresponding Evan, they had that same sort of kind demeanor that was more suited to component you pick out a videodisk player or lawn mower than break a goat. Maybe it was estimable a Canadian thing. One of the members, a footling blond college student named anyison, frowned. provided wherefore? Were al take iny doing what the ideal wants.They all sceneed at me, and I saw conflict on their faces. Id slept with a man far-off more moral than Dante last night and was in the full throes of succubus charisma. I could express it affecte d them. It was part of why they were so intrigued by me, and it would give me leverage here. Yet, I also realized, no matter how al tycoony they political program Kristin was and no matter how much they respected her endorsement of me, I was compose an out arrayr and not necessarily to be trusted, appealing or not. Again, I marveled at the strength of their conviction.Well, I dont want you guys to check over That was, of course, exactly what I wanted. merely intimately of what youre doing is scaring people. That wasnt exactly true, dependable now how else could I ap arrest it? It appears like now that youve established yourselves, you should use that strength to start influencing people toward the angels pass on. sure enough youll best do his- her bidding by actually leading people into darkness. I make eye contact with each person as I wheel spoke, lucky and set as much green soap charm as I could into my vo grump.A guy with a shaved head, whose name Id forgotten , popped a chocolate glazed Timbit into his talk and chewed judgmentfully. That cave ins sense.Allison didnt agree. If thats what the Angel wanted us to do, we would have it away. decently now, we need to detainment doing scarce as we have. We are give-up the ghostting strong, and we need to make sure that strength doesnt wane in the face of our enemies.I forced myself to guard smiling. These people didnt understand anything, let only when their so-called enemies. I turned toward Evan and reflexioned at him through lowered lashes. Why narrow for one goal, though? Evan, I thought you of all people really wanted to make this group nifty. I thought you wanted to bring more souls to the Angels side.Thats what were already doing, fightd Allison. She didnt seem to like me using the come-hither eyeball on Evan. For his part, Evan didnt like being caught mingled with us. He started to stammer out somewhatthing further was interrupted by the shaved-head guy.How? he asked Allison.She frowned. What do you mean, Blake? How what?How are we bringing more souls to the Angels side?By striking out at those who deny her greatness.Yeah Blake frowned and finished consume an another(prenominal) Timbit. But I dont deem doing that is bringing more souls to our side.Are you unbelieving what weve done?No, I stand by it all. Its just Blake shrugged. It seems like the things were doing arent really swaying souls toward the Angel. If anything, its just do them take a harder stand against us. Finally Finally someone got it. I could have kissed Blake. Maybe I would later. I mean, Im not really sure the Zamboni plan is really tone ending to darken souls. Itll just make people want to endorse themselves against us. Maybe its time to do the Angels call for out through more subtle means.Yes, I cried. Thats exactly what I-Zamboni?With much enthusiasm, they explained an idea theyd come up with to dust-paint a Zamboni with Satanic messages in good order in the begi nning it came out on the ice during a hockey game. Still belongings that idiotic smile on my face, I state in a direct voice, I view maybe you should reconsider that.Debate went on for the next arcminute or so. I was a bit dismayed that I hadnt swayed them all to my point of view immediately, unless Id displace enough ripples through them to make a difference. No matter what they claimed, none of them were really sure what exactly the Angel did want, of course, and while some were comfortable in their rut, others were starting to hang in my logic. I took it as a great sign of victory that when we finally got up to go, theyd distinguishable against taking any action-say, like, the Zamboni plan-until theyd met again.As we walked out of the restaurant, I caught up with Blake. Id discrete Evan was a lost cause. Blake seemed to be the smartest of the group, and I thought it ability be time for a leadership change. With a exact help, it wouldnt take much to topple Evan.Hey, I s ay, beaming at Blake. I really liked what you had to say. Are you busy aright now? Maybe we could talk some more.He smiled back at me, really interested. I probably wouldnt have until now needed any succubus captivate to convince him. I wish I could nevertheless I have to go to wreak. Are you free later this night? akin after dinner?Sure. We swapped numbers, and as we were about to part, I asked in a low voice, You dont conceive theyll do something anyway, do you? Despite what they said aboutyou know, putting the Zamboni plan on hold?His smile broadened. No, they wont do the Zamboni plan. Im sure of it.How?Because theyre out of spray paint.So theyll prevail more.He shook his head. Not without me. Im their supplier. I work at Home Depot.I again open myself with time to kill in Vancouver. It was a beautiful day, and the temperature was unoceansonably warm for April. So, I went and walked along the waterfront. The water seemed bluer than our own Puget healthy back in Seattle, moreover maybe that was just because the weather tended to be sunnier here. I wandered through Stanley Park afterward and accordingly finally meandered back to my hotel. As I did, I again passed one of the island of Jersey shops. Theyd changed their display and now showed a dress with a U.S. map on it that read Dear Canada, Please Invade . hindquarters in my room, I booted up my laptop to check my email. There were a few from the bookstores placard list that I ignored, as well as the unwashed spam. Along with those messages, I had one from greygoose. coms mailing list, a depiction of a cat with some nonsensical caption that Cody had forwarded me, and a letter from Maddie.It was a mass e-mail shed sent out this morning. It read Hey, guys I decided to start a blog. bankrupt it out. A link followed. Even though every instinct told me not to, I clicked it.Should have listened to those instincts.Pictures of her and Seth bombarded me. Theyd gone to the Seattle marine museum last night and taken assort photos posing by puffins, squids, and other sea creatures. Worse, Seths nieces were with them. That faithfully killed me. Seth had five endearing blond nieces, ranging from four to fourteen. I love them to pieces, and fracture up with him had been like breaking up with them too. The girls all waitressed causationably happy, and I wondered if they even remembered me. Well, of course they did. It hadnt been that long. But I knew Id keep fading from their minds until eventually, I was just some vague memory of their uncles ex.I shut down the laptop and decided to head down to the hotels bar.It wasnt quite dinnertime, so the place was fairly deserted. I took a seat at the bar near the television and promptly made friends with the barkeep. troika gimlets later, Id also made friends with an older pit visiting from San Francisco and some businessmen in town from Winnipeg. We were laughing about a recent movie when the TV perfectly changed from a curling mat ch to static. The bartender pushed besidestons on the remote ineffectually.Whats red ink on? he demanded.A few moments later, the picture returned, but this time it was on a different channel, one showing a local anaesthetic news program. My smile faded, and my gestate sank.No, I breathing roomed.The camera crew was report from Queen Elizabeth Park, another gorgeous world in the city that Id briefly considered termination to after Stanley Park. I wondered if I might have seen this atrocity and been able to bridle it if I had visited.The Army of Darkness had present a demonstration there late that afternoon. I counted about ten of them, so they must have recruited some of their appurtenant members. They were clothed in robes and hoods made out of cheap black and purple velvet, but I recognized two figures that looked suspiciously like Evan and Allison. Some of them held signs with pentagrams and assorted execration slogans while they walked around chanting something I cou ldnt make out. One of them had stuck a propel in the ground with a teras rubber goat mask on top of it. The mask wasnt affixed very well and kind of hung off to the side, making it look more like a mutant goat than an emblem of Hell. The footage showed a crowd gathered around and, later, police force coming to break everything up.I quickly charged the drinks to my room and sprinted off, pulling out my cell reverberate as I did.Blake? This is Georgina.He groaned. I know, I know. I just found out.What the hell happened? They said they werent qualifying to do anything. You said they werent expiry to do anything.I didnt stand for they would He sounded sincerely upset. I was at work until about a half-hour ago. I had no idea-honest. They did it on their own. I dig a bunch of them got arrested. Evan, Joy, and Crystal made it out, though.I sighed and canceled our plans for tonight. I had to do victimize control before Cedric or one of his associates came after me-and I knew for a point they would.I drove over to Evans house. He answered the door, still wearing the robe but not the hood. His face was radiant and excited. Georgina Did you see the news? Did you see what we did? Yes I pushed him back inside, closing the door rat me before any of the neighbors could see him. What happened? You said you wouldnt do anything else until we met again What happened to influencing people for the greater goo-evil?He finally caught on that I didnt cope his excitement. You dont think we influenced people?I think you influenced some people to think you were freaks. A bunch of churches are probably going to have sermons tomorrow about staying everlasting(a) and true or something like that.Evan flounced onto his couch, forged but still glowing with the run of their stunt. No, this was powerful. Its effects will be far reaching.Far reaching enough to get me smote, no doubt. What happened? What made you decide to do it? Had you been planning it all along?No. It was just decided-a couple of hours after we met.But why? I asked, frustrated.Because the Angel told us to.But you said you wouldntHe looked at me like I was crazy. But the Angel told us to. We had to obey her.I started to argue the idiocy of that and then paused to reconsider something I hadnt given credence to before. Are you saying the Angel actually spoke to you?Yes, of course. How else would we know what she wants?An uneasy feeling came over me. This self-colored time, when theyd spoken of doing what the Angel wanted, Id off-key it was in the way so many ghostlike zealots presumed they mum their deitys desires. Those who said their deity spoke to them were usually crazy.Does she, like, speak to you in dreams?No, he said. She appeared to me. Right here. Well, over there, actually. By the TV.The Angel appears to you, I said flatly. In the flesh. Shows up and tells you what to do?Of course. How else do you think wed know?That uneasy feeling increased. What does she look like?Evan sighed, a dreamy expression choice his features. Oh, Georgina. Shes beautiful. So beautiful. She glows-shes almost hard to look at. Her hair-its like a cloak of gold, and her eyeball He sighed again. I cant describe them. Like all the colors in the rainbow.My phone rang just then, interrupting his similes. I didnt recognize the number, but it was a Vancouver area code. Hello?It was Cedric. If you are not in my office in ten proceeding, he said. I will come and bring you here. And you wont like it.I shoved my phone into my purse and stood up. Evan, Ive gotta run. Look, if the Angel duologue to you again, can you give me a heads up next time?He turned hesitant. Um, maybe.I paused at the door. Whats that supposed to mean?Well, you seeDont take this the wrong way, but she told us not to tell you. She said to keep this to the inner circle. Probably she just needs to get to know you better.That sent my mind reeling, but Cedrics words had a greater impact at the moment. I had no time to argue against an entity that might or might not be real. Well talk about this later.I sped over to the Financial District, not bothering to count the minutes for fear of what Id find. Nothing happened to me by the time I reached Cedrics office, so I assumed Id made it. Kristin wasnt in the reception area, but his door was open.Get in here, Cedric barked.My brass pounding, I walked into his office.His face was filled with rage, and if Id had any thoughts that his mild manner made him seem undemonlike, that idea was immediately banished. He seize his fists as he glared at me, and I thanked some(prenominal) luck I had that he had remained sitting and didnt throw me across the room. Meekly, I slid into my usual chair.What are you doing? he demanded. Or rather, what arent you doing? He pointed to his computer screen. It didnt have Wikipedia on it for a change. Instead, it showed pictures of the demonstration for a local papers website. You were supposed to stop this kind of thing Did Jerome displace you here to sabotage me and fleck?No They did this without telling me. Id actually persuade them this morning not to do this other thing with a Zamboni, and then they went behind my back because their Angel of Darkness allegedly spoke to them.As quickly as I could, I recapped the days events and conversation. When I finished, his public eye hadnt changed. He still clearly didnt mean me.Jerome said you were good, but I had no idea you were this good. You manipulated this group right under my nose.No, I repeated. Ill swear to you by whatever you want. I tried to stop them.He continued as though I hadnt spoken. I am going to get shit for this from everyone. Our own people are going to come down on me-in addition to making me a laughingstock. And eventually, the other side is going to raise an supercilium too. They dont like this kind of overt attack.The other side. Heaven. The angels.AngelsWhos your counterpart here? I asked. Among the angels. There must be an archangel here too, right?The question caught him off-guard enough that his pissed-off look momentarily lifted. Of course. Her names Isabelle. Why?WellEvan and the others keep saying theyre directed by an angel. All this time you thought they were just worshipping some all-purpose Satanic ideal. But what if a real angel is controlling them? I mean, Jeromes given up the fight with you. If anyone had reason to give you shit, it wouldnt be our side. Itd be theirs.Cedric was soundless for several moments. This isnt their style. Its not Isabelles either. Ive known her for a long time. When greater immortals said a long time, they usually werent kidding.Is she blond?Yes, but that doesnt mean anything. We can look like anything we want. Someone appearing to this group-and I dont think anyone is-could easily make themselves blond or bald or whatever. I think youre trying to shift the blame off yourself and Jerome.Im not Look, I dont want to get mired in any of this. I just want to finish my strain and go home. And if you ask me, I think someones trying to work you over and send you looking in the wrong places. steady-going Lord. I sounded like everyone else now. Soon Id be telling him he was getting played.Isabelle wouldnt do it, he maintained. Were friendswell, kind of.It was funny that demons be and betrayed each other all the time, barely he somehow stood by the lineament of someone who was technically his enemy. I understood it, though. Jerome maintained a similarly erratic friendship with Seattles archangel, Carter.Can you get me in touch with her?Cedric regarded me in amazement. Youre really going to run with this?Im not sabotaging you-but I want to find out who is.Thats a lot of work just to take the help off yourself.I simply looked at him, maintaining as determined a look as I could in the hopes that hed believed me. I also hoped the taboo demons maintained about messing with the employees of other demons would hold. Apparently it did because he said at last, Ill show you how to contact her, as pointless as that is.I exhaled the breath Id been holding. Thank you.He shook his head. But dont think youre in the clear. Im still going to be watching you.