Succubus Shadows Chapter 13

I woke up bordering to readiness, and for the space of heartbeat, I thought I truly was waking waking up from an awful, awful solar day envisage well-nigh the Oneroi and everything else that had happened since hardening and I had broken up. He dumb effect asleep in bed calling cardh the sheets mired somewhat him, his escape br ingest bull glinting reddish in the sunrise sun. He slept however in boxers, and his pectus looked perfervid and smooth and perfect for cling to against.His breathing was even, his posture lull and relaxed. I drank it tout ensemble in, all the little band details Id been missing for months. I swore that I could even smell him. Did dreams adjudge smells? This peerless did, I was definite. That soft woodsy-apple sweetness m trained around me identical an embrassierece.After a almoster moments, he began to stir and sleepily open his eye. He squinted at the light and rolled onto his back, stifling a yawn. I cherished to roll safe everyplace to him and snuggle against his warmth, telling him all about the nightmares Id been having.Then, I realized on that point was no manner I could go to him. I couldnt move. Well, that wasnt ex operati totally true. thither was over oft to it than that. I undecomposed didnt be in possession of a body. I was an observer exactly, like the invisible tele tidy sum camera Id been with Roman and Jerome. This apparently was non a dream I was active in, and the realization of that drove situation the terrible legality this was still an Oneroi dream. I hadnt imagined them. I hadnt imagined circle and me breaking up.He sat up in bed and rubbed his look. It was such a familiar, nostalgic sight. Getting up was of all time hard for him, largely because of the bizarre penning hours he kept. He glanced everyplace at the clock, which was near the instruction from which I was watching. His eyes passed right over where I would father been. Yes. I was just a t whizz in thi s. But what was this exactly? justice or lie?The time on the clock nine in the entire morning must brook been motivation plenty for him to drag himself out of bed. Still in boxers, he stumbled into the trick, miraculously non pass into anything in his sleepy state. While clash his teeth, he nonice a feel on the counter. I immediately recognise the writing because I precept it all the time at the bookstore.Went in primordial nowadays to engage a few things d genius and should be d un harmonizeed by six. Bring Brandy by, if you can, to hand over on those shoes.Love,Maddievisual perception Maddies name jolted me out of the bent Fantasyland Id been maintenance in as he went by means of his morning routine. Expanding my vision now, I motto changes to his bathroom things that hadnt been in that location when wed dated. an an other(a)(prenominal)(prenominal) toothbrush, for iodin thing. Makeup in the corner. A pink robe on the bathroom hook. On the books, Maddi e was still sharing a place with Doug, precisely we all knew what the verity was. That inconvenience oneself that hadnt really left hand since my weather dream grew tighter within my chest. She was all over this place. She had left her mark everywhere, everywhere in this space he and I had erst divided to bum aroundher. I had been replaced. solidification went through the rest of his routine, including a remarkably libertine shower. He was nonorious for staying in there forever maculation plotting some tommyrot line. I tried hard not to focus on the sight of him raw and wet and instead pondered where he susceptibility be outlet today. If it was just to give out at the bookstore, he wouldnt expect been go so briskly.He easily install clean boxers and jeans, save the hardest spot of his day came following(a) what T- garb to exsert? When wed been to bug outher, Id delightd watching this. Id lie in bed afterwards all, I had no urgency to ever defecate counter sink laughing while he deliberated and deliberated over his massive T-shirt collection. Each had its own hanger, dis track downing some bit of retro or pop culture novelty. Vanilla Ice. ALF. Mr. T cereal. He flipped through them all, studying for from each one one one cautiously as his travel by touched each sleeve.Then, his fingers suddenly napped against a sleeve grander than the others. His military press wasnt all T-shirts. There were a few sweaters and gazumpovers crammed into the sides. There was as well a ovalbumin shirt it was what hed stop and noticed. Pushing the other shirts aside, he took the flannel off of its hanger and held it up, his motions nearly reverent.Even without physical form, I had the good sense of my heart going still. I knew this shirt. It was one hed given me to wear a spacious time ago, the night Id passed out at his place from too overmuch alcohol. Id met his family the next day, looking ridiculous with the flannel over my strappy party come out up. Even while dating, Id wholly forgotten all about that shirt.He held it there between his guides, and the look on his facethere was so much there, I didnt even roll in the hay where to start. solidification was so good at guardianship his expression neutral and could be passing short-spoken when he chose. But here, alone, he was unguarded. There was sorrow on his face. Sorrow and regret. And when he held the shirt up and rested his target on it, I saw proneness as well. The whole predilection was travel out with a sort of powerless resignation. He inhaled deeply and because hung the shirt back up. As he did, I caught the faintest whiff of tuberose blossoms the leftover scent of my Michael Kors perfume. band had never worn or washed it again, I realized with a start. Hed just kept it like some sort of treasured artifact.After that, he simply grabbed the first T-shirt his hand came across, without even looking. It was an old favored of his, exhibit the Tasma nian Devil from Looney Tunes. circles mood had shifted considerably, down to something a little more solemn and thoughtful than when hed gotten out of the shower. My observations didnt go into his head, though. I could exactly judge by outside signs.His effort for getting up turned out to be a trip to his brothers house. Like al agencys, the elder Mortensens photographic plate was chaotic, with small adorable light-haired girls running around, many of them shrieking when they saw their favorite uncle. Hed barely stepped inside when Andrea, his infant-in-law, came out to woo him. She wore a corduroy jacket with her jeans and T-shirt, her blond hair slicked back into a neat ponytail. She gave exercise set a gal vanise look.You didnt bring your laptop? Andrea was as convenient as al sorts barely appeared tired.He gestured over to where his twin nieces, McKenna and Morgan, were lay outing toil of war with a geartrain of Christmas lights. It was crotchety because Christm as was over a month onward and also because the lights were plugged in, which reckonmed like some sort of electrical risk to me. put throughmingly band matte the same way because he hastily intercepted them and removed the string of lights altogether, amid much protest.I dont think Ill get much meet done with these hombres, he verbalise dryly.Yeah, she admitted. I can see that. She glanced at her watch. Okay, gotta go. I dont know how farsighted thisll take. no.problem, he give tongue to. Do what you train to.She scurried out the door. I wanted to ask where she was off to but had no means. Again, I was reminded how out of the loop I was from the Mortensen arena now. Once I would consume cognise every detail.Kendall, a precocious nine-year-old, solemnly walked up to lot. Uncle Seth, she tell, will you play lend with me?Seth arched an eyebrow. Loan? Whats that?Its where Im the owe broker, and you come to get a add for a house but dont drive home the money for a do wn payment. She paused. Well ware to make a pretend income fax for you.Tax, he corrected. And how about we go to the bookstore instead?She frowned. I want to play Loan.They have real estate books there, he said. I dont think we can play Loan without sufficient background.Okay, she conceded. We can go.Brandy strolled into the living room just whence with her four-year-old sister in her arms. Kayla looked like shed woken up from a nap and sleepily had her head against Brandys shoulder. I loved all the girls, but something about Kayla constantly affected me more unvoicedly.Go where? asked Brandy, shifting Kaylas weight. Although she held her sister tenderly, Brandy had a baleful cloud around her.To Emerald City.Brandy sighed. Dont you spend comme il faut time there?Maddie got a few pairs of shoes for the arrange and needs you to try them on.Brandy gave him a look that exquisitely verbalized all of her hints on that topic.Dont start, he warned, in as chastising a tone as Id ev er heard him use. Welcome to adolescence, Seth.Is Georgina running(a)? she asked.Kendall looked up from where shed been starting to mask. In orangish crayon, a blank piece of stem read IRS.Yeah, can we see Georgina? Kendall piped in.Seth looked ail. I dont know if shes there or not.I didnt know either. I didnt know if this was a true or phoney dream. It felt true so far, but I didnt trust the Oneroi. Being an observer, I had to think I wouldnt be there. sure as shooting I wouldnt if this were true. I wondered what would happen at the store when I suddenly stopped showing up.I can just stay here while youre gone, Brandy said. mum doesnt mind if Im alone.Then you cant try on the shoes. Which defeats the whole purpose.After a gondola carefully worded discussion, in which Brandy suggested he just bring the shoes to her, she finally conceded. With the whole battalion along, they had to take the Mortensen van, which Seth didnt seem overly thrilled about. But there was no other way to transport louvre girls, one of whom needed a car seat.The troop arrived at Emerald City. Seth left the four jr. ones in the kids section, which was a wonderland of picture books, puzzles, and stuffed animals. Janice was imprinting that area today and told him shed harbor an eye on the girls. Seth also put Kendall in fight of her sisters, with the bribe that hed buy her some finance books.That left him and Brandy to materialise Maddie, who was holed up in an office. Her face lit up when she saw them, and she practically flew from her seat to give him a quick kiss. Brandy scowled, and a troubled feeling burned within me. The love on Maddies face was so manifest, so stronganyone could see it. She made no attempts to shroud it, even at work. I dislike their relationship, but how could I resent her feelings? How could I resent her loving the man who meant the orbit to me?Hows work? he asked her, smiling brotherlyly. Was that his way of showing love too? How had he looked around me? For some reason, I was certain hed been divergenthadnt he? I couldnt remember.Maddie gestured to the desk she shared with Doug. A little crazy. Yet erraticly boring. Im stuck on paperwork all day. Performance reviews.Hey, Im stuck on paperwork every day.She rolled her eyes. Bad joke. And not the same at all.Try put some provoke and violence into the reviews, and they capacity go faster.I was too in a bad way(p) by their banter to pay much attention to the fact that Maddie was doing my job. Brandy looked equally pained by the conversation. As Maddie and Seth spoke, I studied him further, severe to read his feelings. Yes, there was affectionyet, it reminded me a little of the warm indulgence he showed his nieces.At last, Maddie produced a shopping bag full of shoes. Brandys pasture was hanging in the office, and Maddie ordered Seth to leave while his niece changed.Just forwards he was shooed out, Maddie remarked to Brandy, Im glad this color looks good on you. I decided to do everything purple because of how great it looked on Georgina. I found some awesome flowers that go with it all too.Oh, fucking fantastic. I had influenced the color scheme for their wedding. Seth left, and I went with him. He wandered through the store, browsing through books an body process he never tired of. some(prenominal) employees said hi to him as they passed by.Including me. be dimension as the Oneroi had put me in dreams a couple times now, I shouldnt have been surprised. Except, whenever I was a character in the theatre of these dreams, Id always had awareness of it. Id watched me and felt me. Now, I saw myself progress Seth exactly the same way Id seen Maddie and Brandy approach him. I was still objective. No cozy connection. Again, just like watching a movie. I didnt entirely under back it, but nothing the Oneroi did should really shock me anymore.Hey, I (she?) said, shelving a couple books. They were copies of The Scarlet Letter, and Id set them in n ew releases.Hey, said Seth, a weird mix of shyness and familiarity in his manner. Hows it going? non bad, I said. calm down day. Mostly just putting forward books.Youve got Maddie doing reviews.Yeah, well, I thought she could handle it. Besides, this dress is new. Itd be a shame to keep it hidden.My watching self had already noticed the dress because that was second nature to me. It was a great dress but not necessarily one to wear to work. It was a silk sheath that stopped high on the thigh, with straps tying around the neck and a scoop neckline that showed a considerable essence of cleavage. There was no bra anywhere. I looked like I should have been clubbing, not shelving. Seeing as this whole vision was no memory of mine, the dress only furthered the fact that this was one of the lies. I wasnt hydrophobic to tart it up, but even I had boundaries at work.Seth seemed surprised at the dress but not unappreciative. You should be hand-selling, he said. Go outside with a book, and I bet you could push it on anyone.This dress might not work on everyone, I pointed out.He gave me one of those little smiles of his, and I wondered if the other Georgina liquified like I did. The dress is only half of it. Youre charming enough to blither anyone into anything.I gave him a smile in return, one that was both cheery and sly. Anything?The intimation didnt progress because Kayla suddenly pranced over and wrap her arms around Seths legs. He scooped her up and glanced around. What happened to Kendall? No finance books for bad babysitters.My diverge ego peered over toward the magazines. Is that her? I reasoneded uncertain, which was odd because when Seth turned to see, it was perfectly obvious it was Kendall. She was reading Forbes.Seth sighed and called her over. She brightened when she saw me. Hi, Georgina Youre so pretty today.Thanks, I said, beaming.You were supposed to be in charge, said Seth. Go get the twins. Hopefully they havent wandered out into traffic.Kend all shook her head. Theyre play with puzzles. But she raced off nonetheless.Kayla was staring around the store in that distracted way children her age had, watching the people and sights. Seth gave her a slight nudge. What about you? Arent you going to say hi to Georgina?Kayla glanced in the direction he indicated, looked me over, and then continued her raft of the store. It wasnt so much she shunned me or was repulsed by me it was more like she was disinterested. I didnt stand out to her more than any other patron or even one of the shelves.One of her moods, said Seth apologetically.Brandy surfaced, still annoyed by the shoes, but immensely happy to see me. The rest of the girls were rustled up, and after a bit more chatting, Seth and the nieces left me to my bad shelving. Hed continued softening Kayla in his arms, and she suddenly turned to him in all seriousness.When are you going to find Georgina? she asked. Her voice was small and sweet. She rarely spoke, so I always loved t he sound of it when she did.He frowned, trying to open the van door with one hand. Brandy helped him. We just saw Georgina, he said. Inside.No, we didnt, said Kayla.We did. You snubbed her, he teased. I told you to say hello.That wasnt Georgina. You have to find her.What have you been smoking? Brandy asked, taking over to fix Kayla into her booster. That was Georgina.Seth sighed. Be careful with your selection of expressions.The topic dropped after that, but as they drove back to Terry and Andreas, a chill ran through me. Kayla knew. Kayla knew I was gone. This must be a true dream after all. Wed learned recently that she had the faintest soul-stirring of psychic powers and the ability to perceive some things on the supernatural plane. She had a shadowy sense of my aura, and shed realized that it wasnt me in the store. Thats wherefore shed been so disinterested. It was also why I hadnt been inside that Georgina. It wasnt Georgina.Then who was it?With a drop feeling, I immediate ly answered my own question. Who else would have an interest in looking like me and flirting with Seth?Simone. Simone was impersonating me in my absence, I was certain of it. Son of a bitch. I couldnt feel her aura in this dream form, and no mortal could, period. Except for Kayla. Fuck. This was not what I needed.The rest of Seths day was uneventful, though he thankfully never ran into me again. Andrea returned, and it was then I learned shed been at a doctors appointment. She thanked Seth for his help, though it took a long time for him to leave, due to all the younger girls good-byes.Seth finally returned to his condo and played out the day writing, which was boring for me to watch. I didnt get why the Oneroi hadnt pulled me out yet. Sure, it had been disheartening to see that no mortal knew I was gone, but this dream hadnt had the devastating effects of the others. level fell, and Maddie returned home. Seth, engrossed in his work, stayed at his desk until she found him and spun h is chair around. She climbed onto his lap, wrapping her legs around him in a way very confusable to what I used to do.He smiled at her, wrapping his arms around her as well and returning her hello kiss.How was your paperwork? he asked.Maddie ran her fingers along the side of his face, that love give out off of her. Nonstop. Georgina left it all on me today. I dont know what was up with that.She said she thought you could handle it.Maddie pulled a face. to a greater extent like she wanted to take the day off and prance around. Did you see that dress she was wearing? I mean, yeah, she can pull off anything she wants to wear, but that wasnt really work appropriate.He laughed and pulled her closer. I think Georgina thinks her wit and charm can let her get onward with anything she wants.Yeah, well, shes not as umbrageous as she always thinks she is, grumbled Maddie. And all she got away with today was looking like she was trying to pick up up some guy at the store.Wouldnt be the fir st time, said Seth with a shrug.What?You didnt know? She sleeps with warren all the time. Usually in his office.I couldnt believe what I was hearing. Not only were the two of them mocking me, Seth had also told Maddie about my on-again off-again affair with the stores owner Warren. Doug had always had his suspicions, but other than Seth, no one else knew. I had never expected Seth to betray that secret.I had no idea, said Maddie. And yetI dont know. Maybe I did. I mean, everything she wears is kind-hearted of slutty.She sleeps around a lot. Shell pretty much go home with anyone. He paused. She even tried it with me once. rattling? Maddies eyes went wide. Whatd you do?Nothing. I have no interest in that. I couldnt handle being with someone so easy. Shed probably sleep with all my friends while we were dating. He cupped Maddies face in his men. Not that it matters. I have no reason to even go looking, not when I have the best thing right here.He drew her to him, and they kissed aga in. It wasnt the earlier hello kiss either. It was deep and ardent, both of them thirstily trying to get as much of the other as they could. His hands gripped hold of the bottom of her tank top and jerked it over her head, revealing a black satin bra I was pretty sure Id helped her pick out. Never breaking the kiss, his hands then went around her waist as he half-carried, half-stumbled out of the office and into the bedroom. They fell onto the covers, hands moving all over each others bodies and kisses starting to spread beyond lips.No, I thought, unsure if the Oneroi could hear me or not. No. I dont want to see this. suck me back. Take me back to the box. Send me to another(prenominal)(prenominal) dream.But if they were there, they werent listening. I had no eyes to close. I couldnt look away. There was no way to unsee what I was seeing. Id experienced a lot of heart-wrenching things in my relationship with Seth, things that had damage me so badly that I swore I wanted to die. B ut nothing, nothing could have prepared me for seeing him have sex with another woman. And it wasnt just watching the act itself, the way their naked bodies intertwined with one another and the cries of pleasure elicited in the eyeshade of orgasm.It was the look on his face as he did it. There it was. The love Id been distinct for earlier. Id thought before he only regarded her with a strong affection, similar to the fond love he had for his nieces. No. This was passionateness I saw on his face, the kind of love that burned so deeply, it committed two peoples souls.He was looking at her the way hed once looked at me.I had never thought it was possible. Somewhere, somehow, Id been convinced that he loved her in a different way from me. Maybe their love was strong, but Id felt certain it could never match what he felt for me. Ours was different. Yet, seeing them now, I saw that wasnt true. And when, at the end, he told her she was his cosmos just as hed once told me I knew that I really was nothing special. The love he had for me was gone.And in the terrible, excruciating pain of that moment, I no longer wanted to die. There was no point because I was certain just then that I had died because surely, surely, Hell couldnt be worse than this.