Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 15

The doctors at the hospital say solidifyings survival was a miracle. Which, of course, it was.The patrol shooticers who talked to any of us believed bands actions had been rash only if also admirable. Defending a fair maiden tends to elicit that reaction, and since Seth hadnt been killed, no one else viewed his gallant disproof quite the same as I did. Because honestly?I thought it was stupid.I thought it was so stupid, and I was furious. Beyond furious. Id surpassed it and moved into an uncharted celestial orbit of enragement.What had he been thinking?I wasnt thinking, he told me in a low voice, when I questioned him in the ER. The others had stepped place for a moment, busy with other things, and it was just the two of us. Seth lay on the bed, face still pale, but otherwise alive and well. That guy had a gun. You were in his line of fire.I opened my let loose to argue the poor logic there, but one of the doctors stepped subscribe in brass. She needed to check Seth, an d I backed disclose of the room before I state something Id regret. Seth might let acted akin an idiot, but he was in the hospital with a major injury. Blowing up right now probably wasnt the near appropriate course of action for the healing process.Instead, I sought out Vincent. After his interview with the police, hed stationed himself get under ones skin the hall, back against the wall and hands stuffed into his pockets. He leaning his head back, face staring miserably up at the ceiling.Hey, I said, cable careful to keep a safe space between us.He glanced down at me. Hey. How is he?Fine considering everything. The doctors are amazed the bullet missed.Vincent turned away and gazed blankly down the hall. He awaited silent.I didnt know what to say. Soyoure a nephilim. Hows that working out?Frankly, I could guess how that was working out. Horribly. Nephilim were the offspring of angels and humans. Those angels were now demons, of course. You couldnt sleep around with hot hu mans and still play for heavens team as Id noted with Yasmine. It was why Jerome had fallen. In what had to be the most unfair deal in the world, many nephilim had been hunted and killed by angels and demons even their own parents. Heaven and fossa viewed nephilim as dangerous abominations. The fact that nephilim tended to have unruly natures and poor impulse control didnt really help their reputation.As a result of their persecution, nephilim usually walked the footing disguised, hiding the full brunt of their power which rivaled their parents as well as the immortal signatures that could give them away. And while I felt bad for them, they nonetheless scared the sanatorium out of me. Many of them held grudges against angels, demons, and anyone else immortal. Jeromes son Roman was like that. He had come to Seattle a few months ago and embarked on a revenge killing spree. flavour at Vincent now, I wondered if I was dealing with the same sort of thing.DoesYasmine know? I asked after several to a greater extent awkward moments.His eyes flicked back to me. Of course. He said it with the same matter-of-fact tone hed used when wed talked about their relationship. It was a tone that implied how could she not know? Like it was absurd that he would keep anything from the adult female he loved.It kills her, he said with a sigh. Its eating her up inside.Becauseofwhat you are?No. His eyes were so sad that I almost forgot he came from a race of uber-powerful psychopaths. She doesnt care about that part. What she cant stand is that its a secret. That she has to hide everything. You know they cant liebut shes not exactly telling the truth either. Its deceitful, and she dislikes that. And I hate that she hates it. Ive tried to end ourthing a couple of times, but she wont do it becauseBecause she loves you, I finished.Vincent shrugged and looked away from me again.Im sorry, I told him at last. And I was. How horrible. Yasmine loving anyone was dangerous enough, but f or her to love one of the most despised creatures in our worldwell, yeah. That took it to an entirely different level. An angel should have been reporting Vincents existence, not hiding it.Vincent turned his assist back to me. Who will you tell? Carter? Jerome?I stared into those dark, dark eyes, those eyes filled with so much sorrow and so much love. I stopped world afraid of him. He wasnt Roman.No one, I said quietly. Im not passing game to tell anyone.He turned incredulous. Why? You know what I am. You know you could survive in trouble for hiding me. Why wouldnt you tell?I thought about it. Because the system is fucked up.I went back to Seths room after that, and when I stepped out into the hall later, Vincent was gone. He wasnt at my apartment when I returned home that night.Seth was released the following morning, and I stayed home from work with him.I dont need to be coddled, Thetis, he told me gently though I could swear there was the tiniest hint of annoyance in his voi ce. Im fine. I wont break.We were sitting in his living room, side by side on the couch. He had his laptop, and I had a novel. I folded a corner of the page I was on and shut the book.I wanted to tell Seth that he would break, that thats what it meant to be mortal. I wanted to tell him a thousand things, just like Id wanted to in the hospital, but once more I swallowed my feelings.You just need to take it easy, I said. And I want to make sure you dont do anything too crazy.Right. Because my usual supportstyle is so physically vigorous.He had a point. Most of his days were spent sitting and writing. He wasnt too likely to burst another artery that way.I just want you to be careful, I said obstinately. You were shot last night, remember? Thats not the same as falling on the ice.You overreacted to that too.Is it so wrong to care about you?He sighed and returned to his work. I had a feeling I wasnt the only one biting back angry words. We spent most of the day like that, talking little . Whenever he expressed any interest in something food, drink, etc. I was quick to jump up and get it for him. I was the perfect nurse/servant. Finally, around dinnertime, he looked like he was nearing a breaking point.Arent your friends doing something tonight? he asked stiffly.Are you trying to get rid of me?Just asking.Theyre having a card game.You arent going?No, Ill stay here with you.You should go.I dont want to leave you. In case you need something.Then take me with you.What? I exclaimed. yet you need to take it easy, rest, not descent myself. I know, I know. But look, Im patient of of getting cabin fever here, and honestly, I think youd benefit from a little distraction.Seth Georgina, he interrupted. It wont be much different than this. More sitting around, except with Better company?Thats not what I mean, he said.We went back and forth, and as we did, I wondered when wed reached this point in our relationship. Hitherto everything had been giddy and sentimental wit h us. How had we crossed the line into nagging? When had we started getting on each others nerves? In movies, vitality-threatening experiences are supposed to plant people together.I finally relented, and we went over to Peter and Codys place. The gang consisting of Hugh, Peter, Cody, and Carter tonight was surprised to see us since Seth often avoided immortal social events. But socially inept or no, Seth liked playing cards. It was the kind of analytical activity he enjoyed, and he could often get by without talking very much.Just before the game started, Niphon showed up. He and I exchanged brief glares and then proceeded to ignore each other.Inevitably, Seth getting shot came up in conversation.You threw yourself in front of a gun for her? asked Peter, clearly impressed.Well, said Seth, a little uncomfortable at all those eyes on him. largely I tried to jostle it away.You mean, disarm him?Wellno. More likejostle. I dont really know how to disarm anyone.I figured maybe you to ok storm classes in order to write those fight scenes in your books, explained Peter.Seth shook his head. Never been in a fight in my life. Until last night.Thats awesome, said Cody. Risking your life in the name of love.I stared at the vampires disbelievingly while they babbled on about how amazing Seths feat had been. They peppered him with more questions about the attack, and the anger Id been trying to smash since last night kept building and building. Across the table, Niphon listened with a smirk. Carter, in his usual way, concealed his feelings. I wanted to know why he wasnt out with the other angels, but the Seth thing was taking precedence over my curiosity.One thing struck me as odd. Hugh, listening quietly, seemed as angry as I did. I would have expected him to jump right in with the vampires, blithely pestering Seth for action-packed details and waxing on about how cool it Seths heroics had been. But the imps face looked dark and stony, his eyes fixed pointedly on his cards.The guy was probably high, remarked Peter. Never know what that might bring out. You jumping in like that was pretty ballsy when you think about it.I couldnt take it anymore.It was stupid I cried. Everyones heads jerked in my direction. I ignored them, my eyes on Seth. It was foolish and awry(p) and, and I couldnt think of any more synonyms, so I let it go. You shouldnt have done it. He couldnt have have me. He couldnt have killed me. You should have let me handle itI knew that Seth despised being the center of a commotion like this, but he returned my gaze with a astonishingly fierce one.Georgina, there was a man with a gun in a dark alley. You were in front of him. Do you really think I was running through all sorts of logical scenarios at the time? Oh, lets see. Shes immortal, so even if she gets shot, theres nothing to worry about.Yes, I growled. That is what you should have been thinking.What I was thinking was The char I love is in danger, and I would rather die m yself than see anything happen to her.But nothing would have happened to meIts a basic human thought to protect the ones you love. Even if theyre immortal.That doesnt make any sense.Thats because its been too long since you were human, he snapped.It was like being hit. I shot up from my chair and stalked off to the tooshie. Angry tears were welling up in my eyes, and I refused to let them show in front of my friends. Leaning my forehead against the mirror, I tried to do all the standard tricks for calming down. Deep breathing. Counting to ten. None of it worked.I didnt get it. I just didnt get it. And apparently, Seth didnt either. Why couldnt he understand? getting shot in my head, in my heart, whatever would fucking hurt. The pain would be excruciating. But in a day or so, Id recover. Id go on.But Seth wouldnt. Why did he not see how serious this was? Death was forever. Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to block out the image of Seth dead. Cold. Still. No more spark in those br own eyes. No more warm hand to hold mine. A sob built up in me, and I forced it away.After more deep breathing, I finally felt like I could return to the others. But as I stepped out of the bathroom and started to round the corner back to the kitchen, I heard more shouting. Hugh.It was brave, fine? Noble. Gallant. Worthy of a gold star. But shes right. It was stupid. It was so fucking stupid, and youre even more fucking stupid for not realizing it.I get it, said Seth. I could hear the weariness and exasperation in his voice. I could have died. I know, okay? But I wasnt thinking about the larger workings of the universe. I was thinking about her.No, said Hugh. You werent. I am so goddamned old-hat of hearing everyone talk about how disenfranchised it is to be you. They all go on and on about how amazing it is that you can handle this relationship with her. But, Christ. Really, whats hard about it? You have this beautiful, brilliant girlfriend who doesnt fucking age. She loves you. I know you cant have sex, and everyone acts like thats the end of the world, but come on. Shes given you the green fresh to go get it somewhere else. I dont really see you suffering that much.Whats your point? asked Seth.My point is that shes the one who suffers. She knows your life is a ticking time bomb. What have you got, another fifty years maybe? And thats if disease or an accident doesnt take you first. Fifty years, and youre gone. She has to live with that every day, knowing that in one breath, your life could be snuffed out like that. I heard Hughs fingers snap. Not hurt. Not injured. Gone. She is going to watch you age, watch you gray and wither away, and when you do finally die, its going to destroy her.There was a moments silence, then I heard Seth say uncertainly, Fifty years isnt anything compared to the scope of her life. Shell get over me. As everyone keeps reminding me, shes immortal. wholly that means is that she has more time to mourn. If you had any fucking rega rd for her, you would have ended this stupid romance a long time ago. You would have never gotten involved. She was uncertain at first, but now shes in. She isnt going to give you up. You could turn into the worlds biggest asshole, and she still wouldnt do it not with all these romantic ideals she has now. She loves too easily and gets hurt too easily.I finally forced myself to move in the ensuing silence. Everyone looked away from me, except Niphon. He was obviously enjoying all of this. I sat back down, and the card game commenced. None of us were really into it, though. The atmosphere was stiff, the conversation forced and halting. It was the proverbial elephant in the room situation. When Peter awkwardly said he was getting tired, the rest of us practically flew out of our seats to leave.As I was putting on my coat, Carter strolled over to me.Seth makes his own choices, as is his right, Carter said softly. The angel was regarding me in that way that always sent chills down my spine. Someone wearing such an ugly baseball cap really shouldnt have that kind of ability. Honestly, how did his hats always get so dirty? You can rage all you want, but in the end, mortals live their lives the way they decide to. Its not our place to intermeddle with that.Of course it is, I said. Its what you guys do. Its what we all do. Thats the whole point of the Heaven and Hell battle we purposely interfere with peoples lives.Yes, but this is different.No, its not. Beyond him, I saw Niphon give tongue to something to Seth. Great. The imp was probably trying to buy his soul. That was so not what I needed right now. I turned back to Carter. Look, Ive got to go. Say hi to the subscribe to Along Gang when you see them.I dragged Seth away from Niphon, and we headed home. I hadnt thought things between us could be any more uncomfortable than they had been at Peters, but the car ride proved me wrong. Earlier, Seth and I had discussed him staying over at my place, but as I merged onto I-5, he asked, Id kind of like to get some more work done. Do you mind if I just go home?The elephant had apparently joined us in the car now. I smiled tightly and kept my eyes on the road. Sure. No problem.