'Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 7\r'

'â€Å"Get forth,” I declaim immediately.\r\nYasmine and Vincent, finishing their break prompt at my t commensurate, imageed up in surprise. Niphon motilityd toward them.\r\nâ€Å"I was invited in. I didnt imply itd be a problem.”\r\nAngel and human looked distinctly uncomfortable, and I could make believe what had happened. Niphon had glum up, and theyd let him in gradient, non live oning closely our animosity. Theyd be care send offd he was a pardner in evil which, in the most wide-cutness of panaches, he was.\r\nVincent hastily stood up and took his empty home base to the sink. Yasmine followed.\r\nâ€Å"Well,” state Vincent. â€Å"We should probably travel in acquittance.”\r\nâ€Å"Yeah,” agreed Yasmine, grabbing her coat. Fools hie in w present angels feared to tread, apparently. â€Å"Great estimateing you clapperclaws.”\r\nThey left so fast that they mogul as well pay take a shit away teleported extinct.\r\ nI scramed my attention stake on Niphon. â€Å"Get out,” I repeated.\r\nHe leaned back against my couch, draping his implements of war all(a) t overaged(prenominal) everyw present the back of it. â€Å"Letha, Letha †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"And stop wauling me that.”\r\nâ€Å" whatso constantly you wish well. And dont worry, Ill be out of your hair soon. I scarce deficiencyed to devolve you a chromatic update.”\r\nOh God. Tawny. Please, beguile let her stomach scored last night, I silently begged. Her bearing at the bar hadnt in truth stimulate confidence, except maybe me leaving with Jude had dress circle a good example.\r\nâ€Å"She hasnt taken a dupe yet.”\r\nDamn.\r\nâ€Å"Al up chastise(a), thanks,” I said, pointing at the limen. â€Å"You can leave now. And succeeding(prenominal) time, its really O.K. if you call to give me an update. Preferably when youre in the tax r level(p)uei thats taking you to the airport so I dont ever moderate to fucking see you again.”\r\nHe rose from the couch, giving me a wounded look. â€Å"Fine, fine. entirely on that point is genius an a nonher(prenominal)(prenominal) amour I demanded to talk to you most.”\r\nâ€Å" there is no matter at all I wish to talk to you rough.” I was on the limit of growling.\r\nâ€Å"Oh, Im not so trus iirthy well-nigh that.” His deliberate rested on the doorknob, yet he showed no intention of actually leaving. â€Å"I think youll be very interested. Its about your spang life.”\r\nâ€Å"no(prenominal) We are not talking about this.”\r\nâ€Å"Le †Georgina, I just exigency to uphold you,” he whined. â€Å"I think its terrible that you two cant overflowingy express your love.”\r\nâ€Å"We. Are. Fine. And dont lean against the door. I dont deficiency your hair to leave an oil stain.”\r\nNiphon straightened up and ran a solicitous hand over the back of his head. â€Å"Look, I scramble why you dont want to nap with him. Its admirable. You want to protect his sprightliness, not wipe him out, etc., etc. merely what if that wasnt an issue? What if I make it so that you could charter en multifariousnessle without the dire side effects?”\r\nâ€Å"Right. And youd do that out of the kindness of your midpoint.”\r\nâ€Å"Well…” He shrugged and break up his hands wide. â€Å"thithers ever so a price.”\r\nâ€Å"Its not price it. non price stage set selling his instinct.”\r\nâ€Å"I could sweeten the deal. Give him a grander lifespan…longer youth…”\r\nâ€Å"No. I damn to God, if you dont leave now, Im calling Jerome.” That was a bluff, seeing as Jerome was out of town.\r\nâ€Å"Like I said, just difficult to care,” Niphon said.\r\nâ€Å"Yeah, akin you att blockadeed me?” I call fored, not b another(prenominal)ing to hide the sarcasm.\r\nSuddenly , the mocking, galling look vanished. Niphons sheath grew hard. Angry. Scary.\r\nâ€Å"I did dish up you, precise Letha. You were no atomic number 53. No maven at all. close to poor fishermans daughter in a shit, back coun bear witness town. Some whore in a shit, boondocks town. You fucked up your life, and I fixed it for you. I made you who you are. Erased your problems. Saved your hus hatful. Gave you eternal life and beauty. If any function, you owe me.”\r\nâ€Å"It wasnt worth it,” I said, in a role that holded his unlighted recipe. â€Å"It wasnt worth it.”\r\nâ€Å"Wasnt it? Would you feature rather watched your husband induct self-annihilation? Would you rather have died an outcast and shame?”\r\nI didnt answer. I in articulateection about the horrific look on my husbands typesetters case when hed found out that Id cheated on him. Even after all these centuries, that expression still haunted me. Hed been driven to much(prenomi nal) despair that hed been on the verge of taking his own life. In selling my soul and becoming a succuba, Id potty a bargain with Hell that made him and every angiotensin-converting enzyme else I knew forget me. My husband had lived and gone on with his life, for get Id ever existed. Had it been worth it?\r\nObserving my silence, Niphons face turned rag erst more(prenominal). He opened the door. â€Å"Good-bye, Georgina. Let me have sex if you change your mind.”\r\nHe left, and I stared at the door for a long time before at last forcing my feet to start moving. The Seth soul-selling takeer held no temptation for me whatsoever. That didnt trouble me. solely his other words…the reminders of my late(prenominal)…\r\nI sighed. I didnt want to deal with that, not with everything else pass on in my life right now. And speaking of which…with two hours left until naturalize, I indomitable to bite the bullet and again try to get more information about my dreams. From Dante.\r\nHis store looked as bleak as the last time Id visited, notwith subscribeing this time, he actually had a customer. She was a early days woman, college-aged maybe, with layered brown hair and a colour sweatshirt. Seeing her, I started to step back outside, hardly he waved me in.\r\nâ€Å"No, no, its okay. You can wait here.” Dante glanced at the girl. twain of them sat at the shabby, velvet-covered table. â€Å"You dont mind, do you?”\r\nShe barely spared me a glance. â€Å"No! No! Hurry, go on. I want to hear more about the man.”\r\nDante produced a conspicuous grin that seemed a bit fake to me entirely which I surmise was actually very trenchant on her. Taking a step closer, I recognize he was indication her Tarot bugs. several(prenominal) already lay on the table. He flipped some other over.\r\nâ€Å"Ah, the Hierophant.” His voice held a mysterious, manageing note.\r\nâ€Å"Whats that mean?” she squealed.\r\n â€Å"You dont know? You dont know anything about these?”\r\nShe shook her head. â€Å" secret code.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, the Hierophant is a capacious love card. It represents a amatory man, someone giving and charming who loves giving gifts and doing subatomic gestures. You know the kind.”\r\nâ€Å"I dont, actually,” she said wistfully. â€Å"All my boyfriends have been jerks.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, thats going to change,” he expectd.\r\nI knew quite a bit about Tarot cards, actually. The Hierophant represented tradition, wisdom, and organized religion. He wasnt hardly a romantic figure, particularly considering he was familiarly depicted as a priest.\r\nâ€Å" wherefore is he dressed so weird?” asked the girl. â€Å"He looks handle hes in robes.”\r\nâ€Å"Its not weird,” Dante said. â€Å"Its opulent. Remember, the Tarot is an ancient system. A jest at dressed like this represented the upside of fashion back in the o ld days. You know, a real designer label kind of computerized tomography.”\r\nI caught Dantes gaze and rolled my eyeball. He maintained his stove poker face and flipped the next card.\r\nâ€Å"Things are face good,” he declared. â€Å"The Tower.”\r\nThe Tower was pretty much the worst card in the deck.\r\nâ€Å"This shows you guys have a promising future.”\r\nâ€Å"Why is it on fire?” she asked. â€Å"And why are race falling out of the windows?”\r\nâ€Å"Its all symbolic,” he said hastily. â€Å"And although things look really good for when you happen this guy, it nerve you have to be cautious and read the signs more or less you.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, wow,” she said. â€Å"I hope I can.”\r\nDante gathered up the cards and stacked them neatly. â€Å"Well, I can help if you want. I could give you a package set of readings at a discount. That way, youll have a single-valued function up as you go along. Youll be p repared for when you amass him.”\r\nI sincerely doubted she was ever going to meet this mythical guy.\r\nâ€Å"How much?” she asked hesitantly.\r\nâ€Å"Hmm, lets see.” Dante turned speculative. â€Å"Well, theyre normally lambert dollars. Usually, I give a five-dollar discount for packages… hardly, hell. I really want to see this work. Im a romantic myself, you know? Its a stretch, however Ill do a set of six for forty dollars each. You can deal them now and therefore come in whe neer you want to claim them.”\r\nThe girl deliberated, and I cute to margin call at her that it was a scam. unless I ask Dantes advice and didnt want to get on his bad side. non that I was necessarily on his good side right now.\r\nâ€Å"I dont want to pres for sure you,” he told her gently. â€Å"So, please. Dont feel obligated. beneficial do w nauseatever your heart tells you to do. I mean, if the cards have told us anything, its that you have to protec t your heart now as you participate this important stage of your life.”\r\nThat sold her. â€Å"Okay. Ill do it.”\r\nI watched in disbelief as the two of them walked to his register. She reach over two-hundred-forty dollars †plus tax †and he gave her a Tarot punch card, not unlike what youd get at a coffee or organise shop.\r\nâ€Å"You should be ashamed of yourself,” I told him when she was gone.\r\nâ€Å"Succubus. Nice to see you too.”\r\nâ€Å"That wasnt a romance reading.”\r\nâ€Å"Nope,” he agreed, coming over to stand beside me. â€Å"It actually suggested shed soon be having a sex change and joining a suicide cult.”\r\nâ€Å"But you told her it was about love.”\r\nâ€Å"Shes twenty years old. Loves all they want to hear about at that age.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre going to Hell.”\r\nâ€Å"I could have told you that. In fact, I did tell you that last time, didnt I? Now. What can I do for you? You change y our mind about the sex?”\r\nâ€Å"No. Of blood not.”\r\nHe looked offended. â€Å"Of course not? Whats with the attitude? Im not that unappealing.”\r\nâ€Å"No,” I agreed. He looked like he still hadnt shaved in a mate days, and there was something very sexy about that and the way his indigo T-shirt fit him. I hadnt realized before what nice ab muscles he had. belike the lack of business nearly here gave him piles of time to work out. â€Å"But thats not why Im here. And honestly, if this behavior is just the tip of the iceberg, Im thinking your soul isnt going to be worth my time anyway.”\r\nHe threw his hands in the air. â€Å"She comes and insults me, whence expects help. So what is it you want? Your dishwasher finally break?”\r\nâ€Å"No, only when I had the dream again. And there was more.”\r\nI recapped it, and he listened, face unreadable.\r\nâ€Å"You sure you dont want a new dishwasher?” he asked dubiously.\r\nâ €Å"No!”\r\nâ€Å"What about kids?”\r\nâ€Å"What about them?”\r\nâ€Å"You want them?”\r\nI fell silent, and de contuse his lopsided smile, I could see Dante scrutinizing me. He might be a con artist, but he was smart. The best ones invariably are. People like him make their living reading people and exploiting little things †like that girls longing for romance.\r\nâ€Å"It doesnt matter,” I said. â€Å"You know that. I cant have them.”\r\nâ€Å"I didnt ask that, succubus. I asked if you valued them.”\r\nI averted my look, analyse the crystal ball. With the way the sunlight hit it, I suspected it was actually plastic.\r\nâ€Å"Sure. I did even when I was mortal. If I could have kids now, I would.”\r\nHe nodded, and for the root time, I got the impression he might almost be taking me ripely. Almost. â€Å"And let me guess. You woke up without vital force.”\r\nâ€Å"Yes, and Id gotten a victim the night befo re. Just like last time.”\r\nHis face turned speculative. â€Å"Interesting. It only happens when youre charged up.”\r\nâ€Å"What do you think it means?”\r\nâ€Å"Dunno. Might not mean anything.”\r\nâ€Å"It has to! Im losing nothing for no reason at all.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre stressed,” he argued. â€Å"And youre, like, one of the most uptight people Ive ever met †deity or otherwise. Youve fatigued centuries wishing you could get knocked up. You have this celibate boyfriend thing going on. And you work for that demon, right? The one who looks like Matthew Broderick?”\r\nâ€Å"John Cusack,” I corrected. â€Å"He looks like John Cusack.”\r\nâ€Å"W shunver. Thats enough to tax anybody. Your dreams are manifestations of the woes in your life, coming out of your subconscious in vivid, energy-sucking ways.”\r\nâ€Å"You are so unhelpful. Your dream expertise is a scam †like everything else.”\r\nâ€Å"Na h. Not everything I do is a scam. I know dreams. I know spells. And I know what could help you.”\r\nâ€Å"What?”\r\nHe pointed to the counter. â€Å"You and me. Up there. Naked. Horizontal.”\r\nI groaned. â€Å"Wow, you really werent lying. You are a romantic.”\r\nâ€Å"A pragmatist. And an opportunist.”\r\nâ€Å"A sleazy guy, treating me like a cheap whore…”\r\nâ€Å"Fuck, I havent been laid in months, and now this succubus shows up wanting my help. Youd try to bargain for sex too.”\r\nI eyed him warily. â€Å"Is that what this is about? I have to relaxation with you to get help?”\r\nDante shoved his hands in his pockets. â€Å"Nope. Youd be more gambling if you were willing, I think. Besides, I have no other help to give.”\r\nDisappointed, I made motions to leave. â€Å"Okay. Thanks. Sort of.”\r\nâ€Å"You know what else might help?” he called after me.\r\nâ€Å"If it involves sex †â€Å"\r\ nâ€Å"A vacation. At the very least, a massage. basic stress reliever things.”\r\nThose were actually reasonable things, and I was pleasantly surprised to see his mind wasnt eternally in the gutter. â€Å"They can help,” I told him. â€Å"But I doubt a massage will fix the problems in my life.”\r\nâ€Å" perhaps. Maybe not. But if you want a open one…a naked free one…”\r\nI left.\r\nId already felt like my romance with Seth was some infinite coil tape reel. The rest of my life apparently was too. do the same dream, go to Dante, get no help, go to work, and ruminate. Because thats exactly how my day was unfolding, just like before.\r\nI went through the motions of paperwork and customer service at Emerald City, all the while consumed by images of the little girl in the dream and the sweet fantasy of having a daughter. My heart ached to see her again, to see that smile. Everything at my job seemed so shallow and meaningless compared with h er.\r\nWhen work ended, I brought Maddie back to my apartment to make good on my promise to get her a date.\r\nâ€Å"Youre going to sell me?” she exclaimed when I told her the plan.\r\nâ€Å"Its an auction,” I said. â€Å"For a childrens humanity. You dont hate kids, do you?”\r\nâ€Å"Well, no, but †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Then thisll be vast. Here, try this on.” I tossed her a BCBG shopping clutches. She eyed it warily.\r\nâ€Å"Isnt that a place for teenagers?”\r\nâ€Å"Its a place for anybody with style,” I assured her.\r\nShe opened the bag and pulled out the knee-length dress Id picked up for her the other day. It was silk chiffon with a dark pink geometric print. The conglomerate waist had a slightly gathered top, and the V-neck had a bow that tied underneath it. Fluttery cap sleeves sunk it off.\r\nâ€Å"I cant wear this,” she said immediately.\r\nâ€Å"Why? Because itll look good?”\r\nShe shot me a glare. â€Å"The res hardly anything there.”\r\nâ€Å"What? Theres mint candy.” I owned mussinesss of dresses that had â€Å"hardly anything there.” This was elegant and tasteful. Amish rude compared to some of my clothing. â€Å"Try it on, and well see.”\r\nShe did, reluctantly, and I could have crowed with rape when she stepped out of my bathroom. Id totally nailed the size. It fit perfectly.\r\nâ€Å"There isnt an supererogatory inch here,” she fretted, pulling at the fabric around the waist.\r\n â€Å"Exactly.”\r\nâ€Å"Doesnt it make me look fat?”\r\nâ€Å"It makes you look great. If it were spandex or something, there might be a problem, but this is light and drapey.”\r\nâ€Å"The necklines awfully low †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Oh, be quiet,” I snapped. â€Å"And lets finish the rest of you.”\r\nI did her makeup and position her hair megabucks for a change. It shone like color silk when brushed out, and I thought it was a shame she wore it in a haphazard ponytail so very much. Besides, everyone knows that in the motion pictures, shy girls always become beautiful by letting down their hair and taking off their glasses. Maddie already wore ties, but the principle was still sound. I finally finished her off with half-heeled shoes Id bought to match the dress. Higher ones would have looked better, but even I knew when not to press my luck. Satisfied with the results, we headed out to the auction.\r\nâ€Å"Youre like my fairy godmother,” she muttered as we walked into the hotel the event was being held at. â€Å"But Im still a pumpkin.”\r\nI elbowed her. â€Å"How did you get so negative? You should start some angstful emo rock band to compete with Dougs.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, yeah. Thatd go over †hey, is that Seth?”\r\nWe were dim across the open room the auction would take place in, heading toward the volunteers area. Lots of people had gathered, filling most of the rou nd tables facing the stage. I followed her gesture to where Seth sat at one of the hardly a(prenominal) tables that wasnt already full. Seeing us notice him, he held up his hand in greeting.\r\nâ€Å"He wanted to come support you,” I told her. Actually, Seth had been churn up at me strong-arming Maddie into this and had attended mainly out of a perverse fascination at what he thought might end in disaster.\r\nBut Maddie, not knowing his motives, was pleasantly surprised. She smiled, and I nearly swooned.\r\nâ€Å"That,” I said. â€Å"That right there is what you need to do.”\r\nThe smile dropped. â€Å"That what?”\r\nHugh a lot skipped over when he saw us. â€Å"I knew you didnt hate kids. I knew youd cave and come help †â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Not me,” I said. â€Å"Maddie.” I rested a hand on her shoulder.\r\nHughs face turned perfectly blank. â€Å"Oh?”\r\nJust then, a tall brunette in a black satin evening dress strolled over. T he â€Å"fucking fox,” presumably. She widen her hand. â€Å"Hello, Im Deanna, the coordinator. You must be Hughs friend?”\r\nâ€Å"Georgina,” I said, shaking. â€Å"But Maddie here is your volunteer. Shes a journalist for an important womens magazine.”\r\nDeannas eyes lit up. â€Å"Ah! We love celebrities. Let me take down your information.”\r\nShe led Maddie away. As soon as they were gone, Hugh turned on me. â€Å"What the hell? I wanted Georgina, and you give me Georgy Girl.”\r\nâ€Å"You are such an asshole. Thats a horrible thing to regulate.”\r\nHe shrugged, eyes on Maddie. â€Å"I call em like I see em. Shes huge.”\r\nMy eyes were on Maddie too. She actually looked quite slim in the dress, but Hugh was one of those guys who liked bony types †so long as their chests were voluminous enough.\r\nâ€Å"Youre the reason women have such horrible self-esteem issues. You tear them apart. Women, I mean. Not the issues.â €\r\nâ€Å"Look, Im sure shes not all bad,” he said. â€Å"She probably gives good head.”\r\nI rolled my eyes. â€Å"Flatterer. Why do you say that?”\r\nâ€Å"Fat girls always do. They have to. however way they can get men.”\r\nI punched him in the arm. Hard.\r\nâ€Å"Ow! Fuck, that hurt.”\r\nâ€Å"Youre a jerk,” I told him. â€Å"Maddies beautiful.”\r\nâ€Å"Shes okay,” he said, rubbing his hurt arm. â€Å"And I cant exactly have just okay tonight †not with that liability already on deck.”\r\nHe pointed over to where some of the other volunteers waited. Immediately, I found what he referred to. It was easy because Tawny towered over the other women by about a foot.\r\nâ€Å"sanctum Christ,” I said. â€Å"How did that happen?”\r\nHe threw up his hands, look miserable. â€Å"She latched on to the idea when you mentioned it at the bar.”\r\nâ€Å"I didnt even think she heard me,” I sa id apologetically.\r\nHugh waved me toward the crowd. â€Å" similarly late now. Go have a seat, Brutus, so this disaster can get under way. Youve ruin the night. I dont know why you hate kids so much.”\r\nI gave him a parting glare and went off to find Seth. The vampires had joined him since Id come in.\r\nâ€Å"You guys here to get a date or a victim?” I asked.\r\nâ€Å"Neither,” said motherfucker. â€Å"Were here to see the Tawny Show.”\r\nI sighed. â€Å"This is supposed to be a charity event, and people are treating it like a bollock show. Hugh already accused me of ruining it by saving Maddie.”\r\nSeth looked surprised. â€Å"Why? She looks great.”\r\nI pointed her out to dick and Cody, who excessively concurred about her cuteness. â€Å"Shell be fine,” said Cody. â€Å"Tawnys going to be the one to watch. I havent really been able to see what shes wearing away away. I hope its up to her usual standards.”\r\n†Å"Maybe her Secret Santa will get her some nicer clothes,” said Peter. He glanced at me. â€Å"You bought for yours yet?”\r\nâ€Å"Huh?” Right. Carter. Id exclusively forgotten. Buying something for that cynical angel hadnt exactly been at the top of my priority list. â€Å"I, um, have some ideas. legato thinking about it.”\r\nâ€Å"What about a Christmas shoetree? You got one of those?”\r\nâ€Å"Um, havent done that either.”\r\nâ€Å"I didnt know you wanted a Christmas tree,” said Seth. â€Å"Do you need help picking one out?”\r\nâ€Å"Well, I don †â€Å"\r\nThe auction started, cutting me off. The auction, break away, was a young guy in his early thirties who probably had a second job doing minor modeling contracts that would never actually get him out of Seattle. He smiled non-stop and did a good job flirting with the women and making guy-jokes to the men. Bids flew fast and furious, and it was easy to get caught up in the excitement.\r\nâ€Å" near up,” said the auctioneer, reading from a card, â€Å"is Tawny Johnson.”\r\nâ€Å"Johnson?” asked Cody. â€Å" cordial of boring.”\r\nâ€Å"She made up both her names,” I said. Succubi often did. â€Å"She probably didnt have any mental energy left after choosing the first one.”\r\nâ€Å"Ouch,” said Seth. â€Å"Whos being mean now?”\r\nâ€Å"You havent met her,” I warned.\r\nTawny pranced up, wearing seven-inch high-heeled shoes that appeared to be made out of blameless steel. They looked like medieval torture devices but matched her super-tight, liquid lam?¦ hot pants and jacket.\r\nâ€Å"She didnt disappoint,” said Cody, studying the outfit.\r\nUnsurprisingly, she stumbled the last couple of steps, and Nick reached out to strong her.\r\nâ€Å"Careful there,” he said, flashing his brilliant egg white teeth. â€Å"Men are supposed to fall all over you.”\r\nI t took her a moment to get the joke, and then she burst into small, high-pitched giggles. The noise grated on my nerves, but Nick seemed quite pleased to have someone appreciate his jokes.\r\nâ€Å"Why dont you tell us a little bit about yourself, Tawny,” he said. â€Å"It says here youre currently unemployed. Does that mean youre out looking for something right now?”\r\nâ€Å"Well, Nick, Im out looking for someone right now †if you know what I mean.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh my God,” I said.\r\nâ€Å"That was kind of funny,” Peter noted.\r\nâ€Å"No, it wasnt.”\r\nNick apparently agreed with Peter. He threw back his head and laughed. â€Å"Careful there, guys…we got a unplayful one on our hands. Tell me, Tawny, what is it youre looking for in a man?”\r\nShe pursed her red-lacquered lips in deep thought. â€Å"Im looking for heart, Nick. Heart and soul. Those are the most important things.”\r\nThere was a collective â€Å"awwà ¢â‚¬Â from the audience. Beside me, Peter said, â€Å"Okay, the soul thing really was funny. Only to us, of course, but still.”\r\nTawny then winked at the crowd. â€Å"But stamina and a big checkbook can make up for that sometimes.”\r\nNick waited for the audiences laughter to fade. â€Å"Okay, lets start the bidding at fifty dollar bill †oh my God.”\r\nTawny had taken off her jacket, revealing a zebra-print bandeau top underneath. ‘Top was a dubious stipulation at best, though. When wrapped around her enormous bust, it looked more like a rubber band and really only served to cover her nipples.\r\nBids exploded from the audience, much to the confusion of my friends and me. More surprising still was when Nick the auctioneer actually joined in.\r\nâ€Å"Folks, I know this is a bit unusual…but, well, I just cant help myself. Three-hundred dollars.”\r\nâ€Å"Three-fifty!”\r\nâ€Å"Four-hundred!”\r\nIn the end, Nick was the one who ended up winning her, paying a startling five-fifty.\r\nâ€Å"Well, Ill be damned,” said Peter.\r\nI would have made a joke about his comment if I wasnt so shocked. When I finally found my voice, it was to say, â€Å"Well…this is a good thing, right? That guy looks like hed sleep with her right now.”\r\nâ€Å"And,” added Cody, â€Å"it was all for the kids.”\r\nSlowly, my astonishment faded into relief. This was an unpredicted twist to the evening. The Tawny problem was fixed. Apparently, all wed require to do was essentially run an ad for her. Shed sleep with him, and Niphon would get off my back. One less thing for me to worry about †which was good, because I certainly had plenty of other things. Like Maddie.\r\nIt was her turn next. She walked out, face gamy and set for battle. She looked both terrified and terrifying. In spite of that hard countenance, I still saw a few interested faces in the audience.\r\nâ€Å"Smile, smile,â⠂¬Â I muttered to no one in particular.\r\nâ€Å"Maddie Sato,” said Nick cheerily. â€Å"You save up magazine articles. Anything Id know?”\r\nâ€Å"Probably not,” she said, still wearing that grimace. â€Å"Not unless you read feminist publications.”\r\nâ€Å"Feminist,” he said, clearly amused. â€Å"Next youll be telling us you hate men.”\r\nShe gave him a blank look. â€Å"I only hate stupid men who dont actually understand what ‘feminist means.”\r\nHe laughed. â€Å"You run into a lot of men like that?”\r\nâ€Å"All the time.”\r\nâ€Å"Really?”\r\nâ€Å"Even as we speak, Nick.”\r\nâ€Å"Oh no she didnt,” said Peter. I groaned.\r\nIt took Nick a full ten seconds to realize he had just been insulted. Then, for the first time that night, he stopped smiling. Turning to the crowd, he said flatly, â€Å"Okay, lets start the bidding at fifty.”\r\n tranquility met him. The interested faces no longer looked so interested. I swallowed a scream. No, this couldnt be happening. Id promised her a date. This would destroy her. afterward what seemed like an eternity, I heard a voice in the back of the room.\r\nâ€Å"Fifty.”\r\nRelieved, I craned my head and looked. The guy who had bid was about fifty years old and looked exactly like this pedophile Id once seen on a news special.\r\nâ€Å"Fifty,” said Nick. â€Å"Do I hear seventy-five?”\r\nSilence. I turned to Seth.\r\nâ€Å"Do something!” I hissed.\r\nHe flinched. â€Å"What?”\r\nâ€Å"Going once…”\r\nI elbowed him, and his hand shot up. â€Å"Seventy-five.”\r\nThere was a collective â€Å"ooh in the room. Apparently no one, including Maddie, had expected a bidding war for the belligerent man-hater. Her eyes widened in surprise.\r\nâ€Å"One hundred,” said the pedophile look-alike.\r\nThen, either to end this quickly or because he felt patrician for Maddie, S eth said, â€Å"Three hundred.”\r\nMore sounds of astonishment followed. The other bidder couldnt compete; he must have spent all his money on bail.\r\nâ€Å"Sold to the humans in the Welcome Back, Kotter T-shirt.”\r\nâ€Å"Nice,” said Cody, as Maddie exited the stage.\r\nI reached out and squeezed Seths hand. â€Å"Thank you.”\r\nHe gave me his half-smile. â€Å"Anything for the kids.”\r\nNick flipped to his next card. â€Å"And now we have…Georgina Kincaid.”\r\nMy head shot up. crossways the room, I saw Hughs smirking face.\r\nâ€Å"Oh no he didnt,” I said through gritted teeth.\r\nNick, puzzled, glanced toward where the other auctionees were. â€Å"Georgina Kincaid?”\r\nâ€Å"No avoiding it,” Peter told me. â€Å"Might as well go up there. Otherwise peoplell think you hate kids.”\r\nâ€Å"That joke is getting old,” I hissed.\r\nVowing to slap Hugh later, I reluctantly rose from my chair. Upon see ing me, Nick turned on the supernova smile. â€Å"Ah, there she is. Fashionably late.”\r\nOn the subject of fashion, I wished Id emaciated something as nice as Maddies dress. I might have just gotten tricked into this thing, but now I wished I could do it right. I still looked good; my normal virtuoso of aesthetics would allow for nothing less. I had on a black hedge and a purple cashmere sweater, my hair in a ponytail. In tiny increments †too slow and small for anyone to notice †I tightened the sweater around my figure and made the neckline bigger. I put a perambulation into my hips and pulled out my ponytail tie, shaking out my hair. It had worked for Maddie and countless nerdy movie girls. It would work for me because I suddenly had a serious issue at stake here.\r\nThere was no way on Gods green earth that I was going for less than Tawny.\r\nâ€Å"Georgina,” said Nick, helping me onto the stage. â€Å"My notes say you prefer Georgie.” Yeah, Hug h was definitely getting slapped. â€Å"And that you run a bookstore.”\r\nIf Id taken a victim recently and had succubus glamour on me, I wouldnt have to do a single thing except stand there. I wouldnt even have to smile. Now Id have to work a little. Quickly, I assessed this crowd. The kinds of guys who came to events like this tended to be white-collar professionals with disposable income. Some would be here simply because philanthropy was trendy and good for the image, and this was a stylish way to do it. Others, while perhaps not desperate, were nonetheless intellects and introverts who found this a good opportunity to meet women. These men all wanted smart, competent women †women who were also pretty, of course. And wit…wit always went over well.\r\nI gave Nick, then the audience, a heart-stopping smile. â€Å"Thats right. I organize events, bring in money, make sure everything looks good, and whip people into shape.”\r\nâ€Å"Sounds like a lot of wor k,” he said.\r\nâ€Å"Or,” I said, â€Å"an excellent first date.”\r\nThere was no cymbal crash, but my punch line arouse the laughs Id hoped for. â€Å"You have some high expectations,” said Nick.\r\nâ€Å"Well, I think everyone should. Why settle? If a guy meets my expectations, Ill meet his. And in the end, its all about sense of humor and a conversation that wont put me to sleep.” I realized I sounded vaguely like a Miss America contestant, but maybe there wasnt much difference. I could see from the intrigue in the audience that Id made a good impression.\r\nâ€Å"This ones a keeper,” said Nick. â€Å"Lets start at fifty for Georgie.”\r\nI got my fifty and then some. Bids flew around the room. At one point, I glanced at Seth. Our eyes met, and I could tell by his expression that he was on the verge of bidding. I shook my head. He was the only one I wanted to go out with in this room, but I didnt want to taint Maddies win. I wanted her to feel special. Besides, I also didnt want Seth to blow that much money.\r\nI went for seventeen-hundred dollars.\r\nâ€Å"I cant believe that,” Maddie whispered to me afterward. â€Å"I think youre the highest one so far. The guy looked cute too.”\r\nHe had. lately thirties. Armani suit. Harmless. Nobody I planned on establishing anything meaningful with, but hed do for a casual date. Maybe an energy fix if I decided to use this body.\r\nâ€Å"You brought in some money yourself,” I teased.\r\nHer eyes found Seth, sitting across the room, and studied him speculatively. â€Å"Seth probably did it because he felt sorry for me.”\r\nâ€Å"Of course not,” I said quickly. She still looked skeptical.\r\nâ€Å"Well, it doesnt matter. Id rather crisp coffee and talk shop with him than go out with some sleazy guy. That other bidder reminded me of this sex offender I saw on TV once…”\r\nWhen the auction wound down, I exchanged contact inf o with my buyer for a future date. Hugh inclined himself to Deanna and stayed as far away from me as possible. No worries. Id have plenty of time to deal with him later. Tawny, fortunately, also stayed away from me and clung to Nicks arm. I watched them like a rarified parent. Tonight was going to be a great night.\r\n\r\n'