"Well, it seems I needn't have worried about you, after all," a voice says above me.
My eyes snap open to see an unfamiliar woman in a jogging outfit, bleached blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and some of the longest legs I've ever seen leading up to a skin-tight pair of jogging shorts, standing proudly over me. Her midriff is bare below a sports bra that proudly shows off a pair of decent sized breasts, and it's very easy to see that her nipples are hard.
I attempt to sit up, and realize that I have a naked woman in each arm, and my crotch, soaked in our mixed juices, gives away what we'd been doing.
"Who. . .?" I ask, trying to figure out who this unfamiliar woman is. Looking outside, I see that the sun has set, and it feels like it's late into the night.
"Have you forgotten me already? I talked to you just a couple hours ago." A mischievous smile splits her lips, and for just a second the woman flickers and I can see Angela's punk aspect, before she returns to her jogging persona. "I had to stop off for a snack, but it looks like you had the main course."
"Angela," I say in relief, realizing that she's the only person who could've gotten into my apartment, without the key. "Wait. . . . A couple hours? You've been gone for over a day!"
"Damn!" she stomps her foot. "I hate how time plays odd tricks while in my realm. When I came out of my building and it was night, I'd just assumed it was the same night."
"Did you find out what's going on with me?" I ask, then go on to explain what's been happening the last couple days.
She seems to grow nervous as I talk, but finally shakes her head, saying, "I didn't find out exactly what's happening to you, but I've been hearing some things that I don't like." She hesitates a moment, looking to the still naked women, before continuing. "We need to go back to my realm, and discuss some things. I have a . . . friend . . . that may be able to shed some light on this, but she needs to see you first."
"I'm sorry," I tell the succubus, studiously avoiding looking at the two naked women. "I didn't even think about how you might feel about me sleeping with other women."
Angela gives me a funny look, glancing at the two again, before bursting out with laughter. "I'm a succubus, silly! It doesn't matter to me that you've been with a few women. Honestly, with everything happening to you, I'd be surprised if you don't get some every chance you have." She smiles at me, to lessen the hurt of her laughter and takes my hand. "It's a great stress reliever, and if you're still drawing energy from them, then all I can say is be careful. If you draw too much at once, they'll die."
Shocked, I pull away from the supernatural being. Of course, I knew that was a possibility and that's why I've tried to be so careful, but to hear it said out loud really drives it home.
"Lyden."
I mean, I could really hurt someone. No, I need to be honest. I can kill someone if I'm not careful.
"Lyden, stop."
Looking at the two women, I start to panic. Were they breathing? The last few seconds of our tryst had been intense. Did I kill them and didn't even realize it? What kind of monster am I?
"Lyden!"
No, Becky is breathing, and they'd both been warm while we were lying together. Maybe I'll have to go celibate. That's the only way to make sure I don't kill—
A sharp sting against my cheek brings me back to the present, and I find two very large, very angry, brown eyes boring into me. Once again I can see flames in the back of her irises, and I shudder in reaction from more than just the slap.
"Now listen here, Lyden. I know what you're worried about. As long as you don't take and take and take, and you let them rest, you're not going to hurt anyone."
"But how will I know when to stop?" I demand, pleadingly.
I see the fire in her eyes quenched by sadness, the new emotion replacing the heat. "You'll know. . . . You'll feel them getting weaker as you continue. They may even pass out, but you'll feel so alive . . . so powerful." Her eyes close as she sits on a chair at my kitchen table. "I haven't felt that way in a very long time. I'd almost forgotten, until we were together in my world."
Feeling sorry for her, I walk over, squat down, and pull her into a hug. I can feel my shoulder growing wet as she cries. "Did you care a lot for him?" I ask when I feel her sobs lessen.
I'm not expecting her reaction. "Care for him?!?" There's anger in her eyes again, but I can tell that this time its target is someone else. "I absolutely despised the man. He was a vile, evil creature, and . . . and . . . I killed him." The last words, delivered in a whisper, allow me to feel the horror she still suffers from that act.
A glimmer of understanding starts to seep in. Whoever he'd been, she'd despised him, but somehow his death still weighs heavily on her conscience. I wonder if that experience may have been what led to her becoming a succubus. She'd told me that it had been from her own actions.
Then something else she'd said sinks in. "You felt the same after we had sex in the Shadow World?"
"Shadow World?" she asks, blinking to clear her eyes, and I realize that that'd been a term I'd come up with on my own. She gives a little laugh, before saying, "I like it. It fits. But yes, I'm still buzzing from the energy of our coupling. Normally I only take enough to sustain me for a day, but unless I have to expend a lot in a hurry, I'll likely last a week or more. I haven't felt this alive in centuries." Standing, she faces me, and looks curiously into my gray eyes. "I still don't understand how you survived? Especially since you received life-energy as well."
Becky stirs and mumbles something, and Lisa cuddles closer to her roommate, disrupting Angela's thought.
"We'd better go," the succubus says and starts walking towards the door.
"Um, what about . . . ?" I ask; indicating the two slumbering women.
"Oh, they should keep until we get back," she says off handedly.
"And if we're gone for days instead of hours?" I press.
"Hmm, leave them a note then." I do as told and cover them with a blanket before going to walk out the door. That's when I realize I'm still stark naked. "Oh, for crying out loud, clothe yourself." I turn to walk back in, but she stops me. "Try getting dressed mentally. Just think about the outfit you want to wear, and then think yourself into it." She blinks, and suddenly, her jogging outfit changes color, demonstrating her advice. If I weren't color-blind, I'd be able to identify what color it'd changed to. Something dark, but I can't tell if it's brown, green, tan, or something in-between.
Concentrating, I try to picture myself in a comfortable shirt and denim shorts. When I have the image in my mind, I try to apply it to myself. . . .
And wake up on the floor.
"Are you okay?" Angela asks worriedly.
I blink a few times, trying to get my bearings. Looking at my body, I can see that I'm dressed, but apparently it took a lot out of me. "Maybe I shouldn't try that again," I say, and I'm glad that at least my voice is steady.
"Yeah," Angela says as she helps me to my feet. My legs are still a bit wobbly, but I manage to keep them under me. "I guess you don't have all the same abilities as me, or are at least quite a bit weaker. Do you want to fuck and rebuild your strength?"
I think about it for a moment, but I really want to know what's going on too. "Maybe later, if I need it. I think I'll be fine for now." My stomach growls, giving away the lie, and I quickly snatch a cold slice of pizza from the fridge, scarfing it down.
We walk out together, only to be confronted by Brooke again. "Oh! Lyden," she says as we're both not expecting to see the other. Then she blinks at Angela, and I wonder what's going through her mind. She'd seen me go into my apartment with two girls, and come out with a different one. "And this is . . . ?"
I open my mouth to speak, but the succubus cuts me off.
"I'm his girlfriend, Angela," she holds her hand out to my friend, and I just stand there, unsure what to say.
Brooke stares at the hand, then back up to me. "Lyden, can I talk to you for a moment?" She looks to Angela and pointedly adds, "Alone."
I can see worry in my friend's eyes, and I wonder what has her so concerned.
"We're kind of in a hurry," Angela says, and tugs me down the hallway towards the elevator.
"We'll talk when I get back," I yell over my shoulder at Brooke, as we turn a corner and find an open and waiting elevator. Well that's convenient.
As soon as the doors are closed, Angela turns to me, and pushes me against the wall, her forearm against my collarbone. I'm still a little weak from the clothing debacle, and have no strength to resist her. "What do you know about that woman," she asks me fiercely, and I just stare back at her in uncomprehending confusion.
"I, she's, um, but, she's a friend," I finally splutter.
"Okay, but what do you know about her?" the fierce woman presses painfully against my chest, making it harder to breath.
"She saved my life when I was a kid, and she's always looked out for me. Jeez, what's wrong?" I wheeze, beginning to get worried.
Angela steps back, and tries to unruffle her smooth, tight jogging clothes. "Nothing," she almost spits, letting me know that there really is something wrong. "Just . . . just be careful around her."
I'm extremely tempted to ask what she means, but I see the fires in her pupils again, and decide to drop it. She can't be jealous, can she? She hadn't been about Becky and Lisa, but then again, those two aren't in the same league as Brooke.
I wonder what Brooke wanted to say to me?
Silence reverberates around the small box as the elevator descends.
The doors finally open, and I follow the quickly walking woman out and to the Orange Bubble. I'm tempted to give her the keys, after all, she drives faster than I do, but for some reason I want to have some control over things. The last twenty-four hours have been a whirlwind of activity, and I need to have something solid I can rely on.
Once again as we drive, the lights turn green, and the only time I have to slow is when I make turns. The drive is in silence however, and I'm really getting uncomfortable as we pull into the parking garage of the building that leads to the Shadow World.
Just before we enter the elevator, Angela grabs my arm and turns me to face her. "Look, I'm sorry about back there. Just be careful around that woman, okay? She's dangerous."
"Sure," I nod, still wondering about the succubus's behavior, "but why?" Brooke is dangerous? Ha!
"Just do it," she snarls, and I drop it. I don't like this side of Angela. "Also, this . . . friend we're about to go see. Be very careful with her too. She's very powerful and could kill both of us in an instant if the whim strikes her. I wouldn't take you to her at all, but she's the only one I know that might be willing to answer or even know what's happening to you."
"Sounds dangerous," I remark, now regretting not getting more energy before leaving. I'm still feeling pretty weak.
"All dragons are dangerous," she replies, as if that's common sense. Well, I guess it rather is . . . if you're used to dealing with dragons!