“This is asinine.” My words stop nothing.
“Tim Leeds,” the man in a suit says. “My vice is pride.” His skin tone reminds me of Minnie, though his hair is black and cropped short.
They skip over the individual who might as well have crawled out of the same dumpster as Leaf.
With a sigh, the girl with the phone finally drops the object in her purse and introduces herself. “Chanel Hugo, and I’m a greed succubus or whatever.”
“Let me guess,” I turn to the person who still hasn’t spoken, who looked the least put together. “You’re apathy? The often forgotten vice?”
They yawned, “Yeah, name’s Moniz.”
“I don’t care.”
I turn to leave, but Kas blocks my exit. “Hey, hey, hey–remember who bought the clothes on your back.”
“If you want them back…” I tug at one of the buttons on my shirt, but don’t move to take the garment fully off. “I’m trying to understand your plan here. I show you lot somecharity.” I look back over my shoulder. “And what? I get a bunch of deadbeat succubi at my beck and call?” I need to remind them where they stand. Literally. “Stand up!” I order all of them, and they do so like soldiers.
“The fuck!” Chanel shrieks, her purse falling from her lap and spilling onto the floor. Moniz gets up but flops back down into the chair almost immediately. I guess I can’t command them out of their nature.
I turn back to Kas, crossing my arms over my chest . He lifts a finger, as if telling me to stop. “If you would let me explain. We know all the big sinners of the city.Ifigured–” Kas seems really proud of this plan I haven’t agreed to yet. “–that we could introduce you to these people andyoucould make contracts with them. Really it’s much more of a win for you than for us.”
“But,” Tim presses, “we do expect you to remember who made your connections. Give us a little credit. Maybe a place to stay if we ever want to visit Hell.”
I’d rather have Leaf claw my eyes out than admit it aloud, but it’s not a terrible idea. Had I any interest in making contracts, it would be an efficient way to collect as many souls as possible while on borrowed time. Minnie has already threatened to send me back–and she’s both smart enough and stubborn enough to do so in time.
“I’m not going to make a deal with just anyone,” I caution the group. “After all, their souls will forever be intertwined with mine. I’ve already declined one contract.”
Kas lifts a brow. “I thought that whole denying Minerva’s contract thing was foreplay?”
“Whose Minerva?” Chanel and Moniz chime, though Chanel, clearly, sounds much more interested than Moniz.
“I don’t have to explain anything to you,” I remind Kas.
“You don’t,” he agrees. “I’m just going to make assumptions, then. Like that you don’t want poor Minerva’s mortal soul being trapped in Hell.”
The other succubi allooohat different frequencies, like an infernal choir.
I’ve let this scummy little succubus get too comfortable with me. My father said this would happen, that even a pinch of mercy would be my downfall. This is hardly the audience to bring forth my ruin, but I still can’t have them seeing me as one of them.
“Bite your tongues.” The song is cut short. “Bite harder. Till you bleed.” My focus now is on Kas, his mouth thin and his expression uncomfortable.
“I will deny any contracts I please. I won’t be goaded by a bunch of low ranking succubi.” I leave.
Tim manages to speak past his tongue. “Tho thath it?”
Kas follows me, making an array of noises with his closed mouth.
I groan, “Speak.”
He opens his mouth and sounds more ridiculous than usual. “Well that was shit.”
“A misstep on your part. Go jerk off and cry about it.”
“Why won’t you sign a contract with Minerva? Truly?”
I start walking faster, but Kas manages to keep up with my stride, the whole time staring at me like an eerie portrait.
“I told you. She bores me. She wants revenge.” I scoff. “No other caveats, just revenge against a man she’s never even met.”
