“Let me start by reaching out to my contacts to see what I can find out. I’ll try to be as discreet as I can so that we’re not unnecessarily causing a panic. I was picking up supplies to see if I could talk you or Maren into running a spell on me to see if my lapse in memory was due to a new power surge or if it was something else,” I said as I thought it over.
“I’ll take care of it. Can you swing by the coven tomorrow night?” Hecate asked.
“Yeah. I’ll try to get your information by then as well.” I stepped to the side, intent on breaking the silencing bubble.
She eyed the basket in my hands. “Ah, are you trying to do a memory spell? I don’t think this is what’s needed, but maybe we can work with this. Let me take this off your hands and I’ll concoct something. Catch you tomorrow night?” She broke the silencing bubble herself, and I was left trying to remember what I was going to ask her.
Poe and Vada turned the corner toward us, both with their hands full. “Y’all ready to go?” I asked them.
The four of us walked toward the counter to check out, and I stood to the side to let them do their thing.
Vada was perplexed. “How did everyone agree to no currency? I know there are some factions who believe blood is more sacred than others.”
“Compromise, my dear,” Hecate responded. “It helps us to know that everyone here offers something precious to them in return for the protection this city provides every being.”
“Vada, how do you feel about lunch?” I asked, changing the subject. Keys in hand, I was suddenly nervous that after that aisle mishap that she’d say no. My brain still wasn’t convinced she was as attracted to me as I was to her.
“Yeah, that works for me. I just need to know where to go. I’ve never driven before, so I took a rideshare here.” Vada glanced back at me, a brief smile touching her lips, and heat blossomed in my core at the attention.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. I forget not all realms have taken to using modern human technology.” Poe’s lopsided grin made an appearance as she dug around in her purse for her keys, and I swung mine around on the chain. It was another one of my nervous habits I needed to break.
“I can drive you, or we can walk. It’s only a few blocks down,” I said as we walked toward the door.
“Please drive,” Hecate shouted as she walked toward the back of the shop, “this building doesn’t have enough parking space for all your damn cars.”
I laughed. “Driving it is.”
March 19th
This was weird. I hadn’t quite grasped the new technology of Earth. We had phones in Hell, but not cars. Lucifer couldn’t be fucked to design roadways to allow cars in Hell, so we often took to using horses, portals, or various winged creatures to get around. Adaela’s proximity pushed at me as if being held at knife point, and my power hummed quietly through me. It was demanding I get as close to her as possible to drink in her electrifying essence. I hoped she couldn’t sense my control slipping. I’d need to take that tonic Poe had me purchase to see if it helped.
I hadn’t meant to touch her earlier, but I couldn’t help myself. I was glad Poe was there to interfere. She’d mentioned that Adaela didn’t trust easily. I understood that. I needed to back off a little bit and give her room to get to know me. I wouldn’t use my succubus powers on her without her consent. I hoped she understood that, but little was known about succubi outside of Hell, and often we were forced to use our powers lest we be tortured ourselves for disobeying. It gave us a somewhat unfair reputation, but I understood it.
We parked down the street from Hellhounds, an aptly named shop I was sure Lucifer would be thrilled to learn about, and stopped at a cute little building that resembling an old filling station from one of the Earth movies I watched on my phone in Hell. I’d spent the last several years learning about Earth’s customs through movies and TV, though I quickly learned that watching them and being immersed were two completely different things. I tended to go with the flow, and I hoped that I didn’t outwardly seem as overwhelmed as I was on the inside. I’d learn how to make my way through this new life soon enough.
“Are we getting gas?” I asked, curious about how it all worked.
Adaela chuckled, and the sound made my stomach do a little happy flip. I officially decided right then and there that I would try to make her laugh as much as possible. “No, this was once a gas station, but it’s now the best coffee shop in town. It’s a little too cold to sit outside today, but in the summer, the patio is the best spot in the city,” she said.
Just as we started to exit the car, my stomach rumbled, and Adaela laughed again, “I guess we made it here just in time. Let's get some food in you.”
As Poe pushed the door open, shouts of celebration rang out for Adaela and Poe. Adaela smiled and waved at everyone, radiant in her love for the people of this city. It was infectious. I grinned inwardly as I followed them over to the counter, keeping my head down as I walked, the habit of trying to remain inconspicuous engrained into me from years of Demons demanding my attention. I wasn’t overly familiar with the food on Earth yet, so as I carefully perused the options, I was a little overwhelmed again with the selections. Adaela noticed and leaned over to help me, her petrichor scent invading my nostrils.
“What are kolaches and crepes?” I asked. There were several varieties and I’d never heard of either.
Her eyes lit up as she threw her head back before groaning toward the ceiling. “I’m so jealous you get to experience both for the first time. Kolaches are basically a pastry bun filled with various types of fruits or savory meat, and crepes are similar with fillings, but almost like a pancake that looks like an omelet. Do you prefer sweet or savory food?”
“It depends on my mood, but usually I prefer savory,” I replied, trying to hide the smile from her infectious energy behind my hand as I faked a yawn.
“Well, how about this? I’ll order several different types, and we can all share around the table. You’re welcome to whichever one you like the most.” She bumped her shoulder into me playfully. Her height made it so that she reached about my elbow, but close enough.
Adaela ordered a vanilla lavender latte and just about every variety of crepe and kolache they had on the menu. Poe laughed behind me as she ordered her drink, and I grabbed a regular black coffee. These food choices were enough of a new experience for me, so I decided to just stick with what was familiar.
We were stopped several times as we found our way to a booth in the back. Adaela and Poe were patient as they answered the questions from the other patrons. It was cool to see how much of an impact they both made on this community in such a short time, relatively speaking. They were both down-to-earth and approachable in a way I’d never allowed myself to be. I’d always held up barriers ever since Adam tried to force me into submission. When Hashem betrayed me to Hell, cursing me to be a succubus, I had a hard time learning to trust anyone. After the wars and my part within them, I was honestly just tired, and I needed a place I could finally be myself. St. Louis was tentatively offering to be that placefor me.
Adaela nudged my arm, “Hey, you alright? You went off somewhere for a second.”
I smiled at her, nudging her back playfully. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just thinking about how different this is compared to where I came from. It’s a nice change.” I watched the beings around us, fascinated at how content they all seemed. The small café provided a cozy atmosphere. I could see the old filling station’s décor still scattered on the walls, but the subway tiles and clean floors gave it a more modern look.
