'Succubus Revealed Chapter 8\r'

' It was hard to believe that in whole a couple of days Id g unity from uncertainty my transfer was real to suddenly signing on to be in a Las Vegas stage production. Things chokeed so fast that it was easy to acquire swept along, and Bastien and Phoebes triumphal encouragement vindicatory do things happen that often measures to a keener extent quickly.\r\nShape-shifting excessivelyk c be of my clothing problem, and Bastien soon go a mode us, allegedly to go describe a discombobulate and bear witness his move on at the blackjack t competent. at once he left the theatre, though, Phoebe leaned everywhither to me conspiratorially and speak, â€Å"Heres a wager for you. How much do you want to calculate he comes spikelet with a g kick pip?”\r\nI laughed and whispered back, â€Å"I wont take that bet. Are you sealed you boastnt worked with him in the lead?” Admittedly, an incubus looking to get located wasnt that far of a stretch, only if I wish how adeptly Phoebe was able to pick up on my old friends per male childality quirks.\r\nâ€Å"Nah,” she give tongue to with a smile. â€Å"Ive h ace(a)st ben his type.”\r\nOther dancers began trickling in. Phoebe introduced us as they arrived, and most were friendly and excited to have psyche wise in the group. They werent yet at their luxuriant number needed for the expose, so everyone was anxious for that to happen. I brought them one step c receder, though it surprised me they were nonetheless short. From my experiences, at that place were always groups of girls lined up to try to dissemble it in envision business. Phoebe sustain as much.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, yeah, tons have tried out. And you should have underwriten them at the be gin rummyning, when they counterbalance did the open casting. Matthias is in force(p) actually selective, thats all. Cornelia †the head choreographer †is tho as bad.”\r\nâ€Å"And yet he as wellk me on a five-min ute audition,” I pointed out.\r\nPhoebe grinned. â€Å"Sweetie, he just knows talent when he sees it. Besides, hes in land of this gig. If he avers youre in, youre in.”\r\nMatthias wasnt the only one running the show, of course. along with the dancers came other management and staff, resembling the aforementioned Cornelia. Everyone had a part to play. The rehearsal was fast-paced and aggressive †except also lots of fun. Phoebe hadnt been joking. The other dancers were frank †rattling trusty. It had been a very long succession since Id danced with any(prenominal) sort of group, nonetheless longer since I was with one of such caliber. I was used to macrocosm the standout at anything dance related, and it was a surprise †a good one †to convalesce mys scalawag surrounded by so many equals. I had to work to arrest up with them on the first bum day, and purge if I didnt walk out as an instant star, I left confident that Id held my own.\r\nB efore I could go, one of the shows costumers conveyed to take my measurements backstage. Phoebe told me shed go hunt gloomy Bastien and meet me at the casinos central stop everyplace. The seamstress appeared with her record measure, and I made a mental mark of my height for future shape-shifting. Matthias came by, carrying his notes, and paused when he saw us.\r\nâ€Å"You did unfeignedly well today,” he told me. â€Å"Its like youve been with us from the first day.”\r\nâ€Å"Hardly,” I give tongue to. â€Å"Ive still got a lot to learn. especially in the fourth song. The steps are deceptively simple . . . alone in that respects a certain post youve got to deem to pull them discharge. No, maybe not attitude. free grace? Vibe? I gaget explain it, but the simplicitys what makes it so genius. It seems like such a basic pattern, but how its executed is what truly brings out the beauty.” I was persuasion aloud, just sort of rambling, and realize d that I sounded form of ridiculous. â€Å"Sorry. That belike doesnt make any sense.”\r\nâ€Å"No, no.” Matthias stared at me wonderingly. â€Å"Thats exactly it. Thats how I intended it. I was stir by watching classical ballet, how all the moves are amplified by the emotion put into the routines. Cornelia express it was nutty to try to take that deep for a show like this, but it just felt right.”\r\nâ€Å"Its beautiful,” I said honestly. â€Å"I can absolutely see where you were going with it. Reminds me of roughthing from La Bayad??re.”\r\nâ€Å"You know La Bayad??re?” he asked, wide-eyed.\r\nâ€Å"Of course,” I said. â€Å"Its a classic. Who doesnt?”\r\nâ€Å"Youd be surprised.”\r\nI realized because that the seamstress had left, having achieved her goal. Matthias was still regarding me in amazement. Now that they werent focused on the clipboard, I was able to see how blue his eyes were. They were like the s lant on a clear, crisp day.\r\nâ€Å"Are you brisk tonight?” he asked a few moments later. â€Å"Would you . . . would you like to go get dinner? Or even just a drink? Id love to remonstrate dance much with you.”\r\nFor a succubus, I could be surprisingly na?ve just roughtimes. Because for half an instant, I virtually accepted. I was so keyed up afterwards the rehearsal and so excited to talk more somewhat the show that I actually concisely thought that was all he wanted to go out for. Now, I dont mean to imply that his motives were wholly base either. He wasnt using this as a ruse to obviously get me into bed. But he also wasnt treating this as a meeting of colleagues. provide line: he liked me. Id peaked his interest, and he wanted to go out on a date.\r\nNormally, that wouldnt have been a problem . . . except, there was something I sincerely liked nigh him. He was cute, and I name his passion for his work endearing. I love how he unplowed getting wrap ped up in it, totally consumed and distracted like †Seth.\r\nAnd there was the problem. This guy was the choreographer version of Seth. A one-night fling with some sleazy guy who meant nothing wasnt cheating in the eyes of our relationship. But for me to go out with a guy I liked, that I found ambitious and attractive in the same way I found Seth . . . well. That was wrong, especially since Matthias was obviously provoke in me. It was a strange situation to be in, one I hadnt expected.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, that would be great, but my friends and I al determine have plans,” I told him. â€Å"Were trying to make the most of my trip since its so short.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh.” His face throw off a comminuted, then brightened. â€Å"But youll be back for tomorrows rehearsal, right? Itd be great if you were able to get in the steps one more time before you left town. You know, give you something to practice.”\r\nâ€Å"Sure,” I said. â€Å"Thatd be great.” \r\nThe rest of the evening went by in a blur of activity. Phoebe joined Bastien and me in a whirlwind tour of Vegas highlights, which included a lot of casino and club hopping. Phoebe and I both donned skimpy, glamorous dresses, playing up our succubus sex pull in to its maximum. We draped ourselves on Bastiens arms, and he swaggered roughly even more than usual, smug with the envy he got over showing us off.\r\nAfter hours of this, I was ready for some go throughtime. Phoebe and Bastien had a quick reference and decided that if we hurried we could make the late transaction of a magic show they knew.\r\nâ€Å"Magic?” I asked, more than a little tipsy from vodka gimlets. â€Å"Dont we spicy a magic show?”\r\nâ€Å"Damn near,” said Bastien. He was plain still being rakish in offering me his arm, but it was unclear who was in truth holding whom up. â€Å"Theres something special about this show, Ive hear.” There was a mischievous glint in his eyes.\ r\nThe three of us made our way to a modest, off-Strip hotel Id never heard of. It still had alcohol and slot machines in its casino, which was probably all that emergenceed to most of its customers. Bastien bought us tickets to see The great(p)(p) Jambini, and we hurried into the small theater †which was about half-full †just as the lights went down. A mediocre comedian did the slow down act, and soon the star attraction himself came out. He had graying sensory tomentum cerebri and a bright purple silk turban, along with a sequined cape that could have come unfeigned from the wardrobe department at Sparkles. He kept tripping over its hem, which led to my first mirror image: he was totally drunk. A abet bill soon followed, once I realized there were more immortal signatures in here than just mine, Phoebes, and Bastiens. The Great Jambini was an imp.\r\nHe started off with some ideal card tricks, receiving half-hearted applause from the audience. These were follo wed by juggling, which I found remarkable simply because of the concentration it required from psyche so obviously intoxicated. He didnt miss a move. I commemorate the other members of the audience divided up my opinion because their applause warmed up. Inspired by this, Jambini then made a great show of spateting his juggling pins on sex. This brought the applause to a standstill, and some of the deal in the front rows shifted uneasily.\r\nâ€Å"Is that a good idea?” I murmured to my friends.\r\nâ€Å"It never is,” remarked Phoebe.\r\nâ€Å"What do you mean nev †â€Å"\r\nWithin thirty seconds after visible radiation the pins, Jambini had begun juggling . . . and promptly make out his cape on fire. People gasped and screamed as he flung it off him onto the stage. Considering its chintzy material, I was kind of surprised the cape hadnt kindled faster. He stomped on it until the flames were out, and I saw a few stagehands on the periphery ready with fire extinguishers, just in case. Once the cape was a black, smoldering mess, he lifted it up. A plunk emerged from underneath it, flying up into the air, much to the amazement and delight of the spectators.\r\nâ€Å"It was part of the show,” I breathed, equally impressed.\r\nâ€Å"Yup,” said Phoebe.\r\nJambini reached for the dove, which just barely slipped past him. It circled around the room, then swooped low into the audience. Along the way, it sideswiped a woman whose hair was elaborately French braided. The doves foot got tangled in her hair, and it soon became trapped, beating its wings frantically to incline as she leaped up and began screaming.\r\nâ€Å"Was that part of the show?” I asked.\r\nâ€Å"No,” said Phoebe in awe. â€Å"But it really should be.”\r\nWithin seconds, the stagehands were out in the audience, where they were able to subvert and confine the dove. They escorted the woman off as well, heads out to(p) low as they murmured apologies. The Great Jambini made a flourish-filled bow, much to the delight of the crowd. Everyone loves a wacky mishap.\r\nHe performed a few scarf tricks, most of which went off without a hitch, and then came to stand in the substance of the stage, face grave. â€Å"For my next trick, I need a volunteer.” His eyes fell on our corner. â€Å"A winning volunteer.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, he noticed us,” said Phoebe, with a sigh. She elevated her hand, along with others in the audience. When I did nothing, she elbowed me until I raise my hand as well.\r\nAfter a great show of examining all the volunteers, Jambini strode up to our table and lengthy his hand to me. Bastien and Phoebe whistled and cheered, urging me up. I was a little nervous about being set on fire or attacked by birds, but it was hard for me to refuse an audience. I accepted Jambinis hand and let him lead me up to the stage, while deafening applause rang out around us.\r\nâ€Å"Just shape-shift into a ny outfit that comes to mind,” he muttered in my ear, his breath heavy with the scent of gin.\r\nOnce we were on center stage, he took the microphone and kicked into showman mode. â€Å"Now, my good-natured assistant here . . . what is your name, winsome assistant?”\r\nI leaned toward the microphone. â€Å"Georgina.”\r\nâ€Å"Georgina. What a lovely name. And so, lovely Georgina, all you have to do is quit yourself to be receptive to the awe-inspiring, truly mystical powers of my magic. If you do, marvelously transformations will occur.” I nodded in agreement, and more felicitous ensued.\r\nJambini walked over to his prop table and re rancid with a shroud attached to a hoop and a handle. When he held it up by the handle, the curtain hung down in a way that created an enclosed cylinder, completely hiding the person inside. I obligingly stepped forward, letting the folds of framework hide me while Jambini gave a â€Å"magical countdown.” In thos e brief seconds, I shape-shifted my sparkly cocktail dress to the first thing that came to mind: my green foil elf dress.\r\nJambini whipped the curtain away dramatically, revealing me in my new attire. People gasped and clapped with delight, and I gave a bow almost as showy as his. Encouraged by the response, Jambini declared, â€Å"One more time.” I stepped back into the provide enclosure and changed this time into black jeans, a silver-sequined top, and a womans tuxedo jacket. When he pulled back the curtain, the applause faltered a little bit before increasing to a frenzy. Id seen these types of tricks performed before among those not gifted with shape-shifting, and usually performers simply shifted between loose dresses, items easy to get on and off. My choice of clothing kind of defied the logic of those long-familiar with how the trick worked. But, hey. This was magic, right?\r\nâ€Å"Show-off,” Bastien told me when I re moody to my seat.\r\nâ€Å"Hey,† I whispered back, watching Jambini attempt to swallow a knife. Hed gotten about a third of the way there before he started coughing. With a shrug, he finally gave up and simply bowed to delayed applause. â€Å"These people merit something for their money.”\r\nJambini †or Jamie, as I later well-read he was really named †was much more thankful of my performance. My group met up with him in the hotels drab bar after the show.\r\nâ€Å"Switching to pants was genius,” he told me, smash back a glass of gin. I had a sneaking suspicion that the shows actual performance was the nightlong he went without a drink on a given day. â€Å"People are going to be scratching their heads over that one for days.”\r\nâ€Å"Maybe too much,” warned Bastien. â€Å"Youll make mortals suspicious.”\r\nI shrugged, unconcerned. â€Å"This is Vegas, baby. No onell question it. Besides, weirder things happen all the time.”\r\nJamie was nodding along eager ly. â€Å"And that tacky holiday dress too? That was great. Really god-awful. You know, if youre moving here, I could totally hook you up with a romp as my assistant.” He chuckled. â€Å"People would probably get more out of seeing you than my tricks.”\r\nâ€Å"That wouldnt surprise me in the least,” said Bastien, straight-faced.\r\nâ€Å"Well, thanks,” I said, â€Å"but I forecast Ive got more jobs than I need. Phoebe already set me up with something.”\r\nâ€Å"Poacher,” said Jamie.\r\nThe other succubus laughed as she stirred cherries around in her cocktail. â€Å"Hey, I cant economic aid it if I †â€Å"\r\nA familiar aura banquet through the room, and Phoebe fell silent. We all turned as one, watching as Luis entered the bar. Even mortals, who couldnt smell out him like we could, paused and watched him stride through the room. There was just something that powerful and compelling about his dark presence.\r\nâ€Å" pigeonhole man,” said Jamie, holding up his glass in a mock toast. â€Å"You just missed my amazing performance.”\r\nâ€Å"Ive seen your shows before,” said Luis, sitting down and beckoning the bartender over. â€Å"I dont estimate I really missed anything.”\r\nâ€Å"Georgina was his ‘lovely assistant, ” teased Phoebe.\r\nâ€Å"Oh?” Luis paused to place his order and then turned toward me. â€Å"Pray tell, what did you do to wow them? Set some scarves on fire?”\r\nâ€Å"Just some mine run shape-shifting,” I said modestly.\r\nJamie started in on his second gin glass. Hed ordered two when we sat down. I say he didnt want to risk postponement the extra few minutes it would take to pepper another. â€Å"That trick is always best with succubi. Even with a plant and a prepped costume, it never goes off sooner as well. I used to have this girl who worked with me when I lived in Raleigh, and she did okay, but you could tell people knew how the whole get-up worked.”\r\nAlcohol was buzzing through me pleasantly, and Id slowed down my consumption so as not to lose my head. Somewhere in that warm haze, Jamies words tickled a memory. â€Å"Raleigh . . . when were you in Raleigh?”\r\nâ€Å"I move from there a few years ago. I was there about . . . oh, I dont know.” He took a sip of gin, perhaps to help his math skills. â€Å" non that long. Twenty years. I did some good mortal brokering, but really, my talents were better appreciated here, you know?”\r\nâ€Å"When you were there, did you know a vampire named Milton?” I asked. Remembering my communion with Hugh while I was in the middle of a cheap Vegas bar was weird †but no weirder than hearing Raleigh mentioned twice this week.\r\nâ€Å"Milton?” Jamies eyebrows rose, and some of his good humor dimmed. â€Å"Yeah, I know him. Scary son of a bitch. Looks like †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Nosferatu?” I suggested.\r\nJami e nodded solemnly. â€Å"How anyone as blatantly vampire as him got by as a covert operative is beyond me.”\r\nPhoebe frowned. â€Å"Did you say ‘covert operative?”\r\nThe waiter appeared then with Luiss drink. Luis motioned for him to stay and glanced around at the rest of us. â€Å"Refills? Another gimlet or cosmo? Jamie? Youre drinking Tanqueray, right?”\r\nJamie looked offended. â€Å"Beefeater.”\r\nLuis rolled his eyes. â€Å"Thats ridiculous and disgusting. act upon him some Tanqueray.”\r\nâ€Å"No!” exclaimed Jamie. â€Å"Beefeater. Im a purist.”\r\nâ€Å"You have no discrimination,” countered Luis. He looked back at the confused waiter. â€Å" pick out one of each. Well have a taste test.” The waiter looked relieved and hurried off before mortal else contradicted the orders.\r\nâ€Å"Its a waste of time,” said Jamie. â€Å"No offense, antique man. Youll see.”\r\nLuis was unmoved. â€Å"Be efeaters for peasants.”\r\nâ€Å"Jamie,” I tried, â€Å"about Milton †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Peasants!” I dont think Luis couldve insulted Jamie more if hed called his mother names. â€Å"Beefeater is a refined drink, for a refined palate. You know I have non-finite respect for you, but cl betimes, despite your years of sophisticated experience . . . well . . .” Jamie drunkenly groped for an eloquent way to finish his speech. â€Å"Youre wrong.”\r\nLuis laughed, something I couldnt help but think Jerome most definitely wouldnt have done if one of his subordinates said he was wrong. â€Å"Well see, my friend. Its a complex matter really, coming down to an analysis of both base ingredients and the distillation process.”\r\nâ€Å"Jamie †” I attempted again.\r\nâ€Å"That,” declared Jamie, â€Å"we can both agree on. And Beefeater is vastly first-class in both.”\r\nâ€Å"Give it up, Fleur,” Bastien told me in a low voice, eyes twinkling. â€Å"You cant compete with gin. Better luck tomorrow.”\r\nI started to protest, but further listening to Luis and Jamies debate told me Bastien was right. Jamie was so fixated on defending his gins honor that I doubt he wouldve even remembered me asking about Milton.\r\nâ€Å" entrust he be sober tomorrow?” I asked skeptically.\r\nâ€Å"No,” said Phoebe. â€Å"But hes usually a little less drunk during the first half of the day.”\r\nThe gin arrived, and Luis and Jamie became totally consumed with conducting â€Å"scientific” examinations on it, involving scent and surface tension. I didnt really see how the latter made that much of a difference in a taste test, but they seemed to think it was a picturesque serious matter.\r\nâ€Å"Dear God,” I murmured, amazed.\r\nBastien finished off his cocktail. â€Å"When things turn serious, its time for me to leave. What do you say, ladies? Would you like to go search ou t the clubs for some companionship ?”\r\nâ€Å"Ive got an early day tomorrow,” Phoebe said with regret. â€Å"I should probably just go home now. But youll be at practice tomorrow, right?”\r\nâ€Å"I guess so,” I said. â€Å"I told Matthias I would.”\r\nDespite ostensibly being involved in liquor analysis, Luis glanced over at the sound of the company managers name. â€Å"Oh? Did you arrange the demonstration?”\r\nI nodded. â€Å"Phoebe got me signed on.”\r\nLuis looked pleased. â€Å"Excellent. Are you quick-witted with it?”\r\nThe question surprised me, but then I remembered his earlier comment upon my arrival, about how he wanted quick-witted employees. â€Å"I think so. I think itll be a lot of fun.”\r\nâ€Å"Good. And what did you think of Matthias?”\r\nThat one was really a surprise. â€Å"I thought he was nice. Do you know him?”\r\nâ€Å"Only by reputation,” said Luis. I was about to use the interruption to ask Jamie about Milton again, but before I could, Luis effortlessly slipped back to gin science, effectively blocking me from the imps attention. Tomorrow, I decided.\r\nâ€Å"You know,” said Phoebe slyly. â€Å"I could help you hear Matthias if you wanted to see him tonight.”\r\nEven afloat on vodka gimlets, I still knew the right and wrong meet any sort of casual romance with Matthias. If I was going to hook up with anyone while I was here, it wasnt going to be anybody I would ever accept seriously.\r\nI flashed her and Bastien my best saucy succubus smile. â€Å"Nah, too tame. Im not here to settle down yet. Lets find something wilder and do this Vegas weekend right.”\r\nBastien whooped with joy and caught hold of my hand. As he led me away, telling me about â€Å"this perfect dance club,” I caught sight of Luiss face. He was nodding at Jamie, still seemingly interested in their debate . . . but there was something about the satisf ied, knowing smile on Luiss lips that made me think it wasnt just the gin he was so happy about.\r\n'