Succubus Takes Manhattan by Nina Harper

Author:Nina Harper [Harper, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Horror & Ghost Stories
ISBN: 9780345509543
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Published: 2008-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

chapter

SEVENTEEN

Her name was Raven (how unoriginal) and she was scrawny, too young, and scared-looking. She also looked determined.

“I’ve been a demon for seven months,” she said. “And yeah, of course I want to advance. I’m not stupid. But I also know Vincent from class—we were in orientation group together and we’ve been study partners, so I’m doing this for him, too.”

Sybil eyed her suspiciously. “Are you in love with him?” she practically hissed.

Raven laughed, and her laughter was clear and resonant and merry, and made me like her at least a little better. “Not even a little bit,” she said straight to Syb. “He’s too mainstream for me. Nah, I go for skinny long-haired guys with ink and facial piercings who wear nail polish and read Rilke. Preferably in the original. But Vincent is a good study partner. He doesn’t distract me and he’s smart and, even though you might not figure it out from the way I look, so am I. We’re buddies, that’s all.”

I could feel Sybil tremble next to me. “Come on,” I whispered. “She’s flat-chested and she bites her nails. And look at her clothes. No, Vincent appreciates class and beauty and elegance. You’ve got no competition, Syb. Relax.”

“That outfit came from some mall shop on Long Island,” Eros agreed. “Not Vincent’s style at all.”

Raven giggled. “Yeah, I’d agree that I’m not his style. He’s not mine.” She studied Sybil carefully. “You’re his girlfriend, the famous greed demon?” the little baby demon demanded.

Sybil nodded.

“Well, if you want to know, he talks about you all the time. About how beautiful and elegant and smart and talented you are. He’s been pushing the coursework really hard because he wants to impress you, doesn’t think he has a shot until he makes a mark in the Hierarchy. He keeps saying things like, ‘She’s Satan’s Chosen, how could I be in her league?’ And I’m the one who has to keep reminding him that everyone started someplace and you couldn’t have started out as Satan’s Chosen. But it gives me hope for my own future, so it’s really exciting for me to meet you.”

“And so you’re hoping to catch his attention by volunteering. He should be grateful to you,” Sybil said.

The girl deflated. I tried to imagine her when she was human, probably from some suburb, a little too smart, a little too weird for her family and school, always passed over and pushed aside. Her hair was dyed black with blue and violet streaks, shaved underneath but stringy and spiked on top. For some reason the facial piercings were actually cute on her, one emphasizing her lower lip, and the other in her cheek. Where a dimple would have been if she’d had dimples. If she ever smiled.

The look she gave Sybil was suddenly shockingly mature and measured. “No,” she said, and it was clear she was serious. “I’m doing it because I have ambitions too. I want to be one of Satan’s Chosen. I might never have thought of it if Vincent hadn’t told me about all of you.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.