I sat at the bar, working hard to ignore the questioning looks from my companion. Generally, Rollo was laid back--unless circumstance demanded otherwise--and my sudden power boost was a source of concern for the half-demon. If something untoward happened to me, Shehazau would hold him responsible.
Sipping my fourth, or maybe fifth beer, I focused on the talisman resting on the bare skin of my chest. The initial surge of power nearly undid me. My usual calm demeanor slid back into place after I'd directed all that extra power into controlling that idiot biker, Toby. I wasn't certain exactly what the talisman meant, but I seriously liked the power boost.
"Rollo, please," I finally directed at my companion, "relax. I'm fine."
Rollo grunted.
"Seriously."
"Eisheth, I've never seen you act like that before," he finally said. "The power coming off you was . . . unusual to say the least."
It was my turn to grunt in response.
"Shehazau appreciated your offering, by the way." Rollo drained his beer and let his gaze fall on Rose's backside as she hustled past. "He consumed the soul."
I grimaced at the thought. Consuming a soul was nasty business, even for those as powerful as my master. I've a strong stomach--which should be unsurprising given my succubus nature--and nearly vomited the last time I witness some fool losing his body. The high pitched, desperate squeals of the dying human echoed in the back of my brain.
As I woolgathered, I felt a presence behind me, staring intently.
Tank.
Rollo chuckled into his beer and turned fully towards the bar as Rose sauntered over to him. Those two would have some good times together. The tiniest hint of jealousy flared up, singing my belly just a little. I liked Rollo. A lot. But he and I could never engage in anything beyond an occasional tryst, and even that only with permission from our shared master. While I could never enjoy the satisfaction of a meaningful relationship with a human, my half-demon friend might have at least a chance. Rollo deserved to be happy--the poor guy had been through a lot since I'd known him.
As I considered just how I might free my friend from his bond to Shehazau, I felt Tank's heavy hand slide across the small of my back. My body shuddered and I nearly moaned with pleasure . . . or more precisely, lust. His attentions had grown significantly since I'd donned the talisman that Lilith gifted to me.
That had to be causing his increased lust.
There was no way he was truly attracted to me. No one desired me, not without a little encouragement from my succubus magic.
My eyes started watering--probably a reaction to the prodigious amount of cigarette in the air--so I blinked until they cleared before turning around to acknowledge the bouncer.
"What's up, Tank?"
I glanced down towards his belt, noting exactly what was up.
"Step outside with me," he demanded, his voice deep and husky.
Yeah, the human was hopped up on succubus pheromones. Every fiber of my being wanted, no needed, to accompany the sexy man outside and find some dark corner so we could have some rough and tumble sex. That couldn't happen. I had a job to do.
And I couldn't have what I think I wanted with Tank. Fucking him might provide an enjoyable moment, but it'd lead to centuries of heartbreak.
"Tank," Rose said quietly, "honey, you need to chill. Adam's being a prick tonight." The bartender looked at me, her eyes almost apologetic. "If you're serious about taking shit over, you need to do it. This place is a shithole, but there are some damned good people here."
I nodded at Rose, silently thanking her for the distraction.
"Look Tank," I began. "Do your work and be patient, okay? If I'm going to make changes, I need good people backing me up. Understand?"
He and Rose nodded their heads slowly.
"Mr. Shipman is headed this way," Rollo murmured. He obviously hated the good Adam Shipman. Since my friend possessed an innate sense about people, I trusted his judgment.
"Problem here?" Adam asked as he swaggered up to me.
"Absolutely not," I answered smoothly. "I was just thanking these two for watching my back with that drunken biker. They probably kept me from getting hurt."
Adam looked at Tank and Rose, a smile on his face. One that didn't reach his brown eyes.
"That is there job," he finally said. "Listen, I didn't catch your name earlier."
"Eisheth," I provided.
"Eisheth? Weird name," Adam grunted. "Look, maybe you'd like to tell me all about your experience? We can head upstairs to my office, away from all this shitty smoke."
Rose's eyes widened at her boss's suggestion. Tank bit off a snarl, obviously still struggling with the residual succubus magics that he'd been exposed to when I handled Toby.
"We'd love to tell you about it," I answered as I waved my hand towards Rollo. "Perhaps we'll convince you to give your people a bit of a raise for their efforts."
"Just you," Adam snapped. "Tank, do yer job and get these fuckers out of my way."
I gave Rollo a meaningful glance before turning to follow my prey. I followed Adam and Tank through the sweating crowd, hyperaware of the three human guard dogs trailing behind me. The trio looked like a cheap mafia-wannabe version of the Three Stooges. Moe and Larry represented their names sakes in both physical features and mental capacity. Curly, on the other hand, was quite different. He wasn't exactly magical and certainly not of demon ilk, but Curly did possess at least an understanding of magic and talisman.
Curly was the one I wanted.
We mounted a skeletal set of metal stairs, climbing upwards until we were spit out on a wide landing that hugged one wall of the building. The second floor was relatively free of smoke, but the stench of piss, vomit, and sex seemed to intensify. We passed several closed doors before finally comping to stop in front of a heavy wooden door that simply didn't match its surroundings. Shipman's name adorned a gleaming brass plaque screwed into the wood.
"Your nameplate is crooked," I pointed out cheerfully.
Adam half turned and scowled at me before ushering me inside his office. Tank stepped to the side, acting the part of a gentleman. I grinned at him, then turned my attention to the new environment. Information wins all battles, the more I knew about my enemy and his surroundings, the better.
"What'll you have? A martini?" Adam clapped his hands together. "I know, a Cosmopolitan!" He waved Curly towards a bar cart at the back of his office before waving off his other guards.
Perfect.
"So, you think I should reward my employees for doing their jobs?" Adam asked.
