Counterpart (Succubi & Incubi Assn.) (28 page)

The look he gave me was one that pitied the comment I made. “You
wouldn’t last three seconds with Cassandra. She’s not just a succubus. She’s
one of the originals. Tori would have her support, so your chances of survival
are close to null.”

This is exactly why you people should be protecting me, not throwing
me out with the sharks.

“I’m not having sex with Tristan,” I stated. I was making sure of
this. Even if he wasn’t angry at me or disgusted, I wasn’t going to take
advantage of him.

“Why not?” he asked, surprised by my statement.

“Because unlike some people, I actually care about some humans out
there,” I replied.

“What else do you expect to do, Maya? You can attempt to take both
Tori and Cassandra down by yourself but other than the fact that you’ll be
outnumbered, they will take you down with their eyes closed.”

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ethan. Thanks very fucking much.

I took another giant swig of the alcohol, and frowned when I felt it
getting lighter and lighter.

“There’s something else isn’t there?” I heard Daniel say. He moved
forward, leaning his elbows on his knees as strands of his hair fell over his
forehead and sea-blue eyes. “What is it?”

I wouldn’t have figured that Ethan was hiding something—probably
because my mind wasn’t concentrating on something more than five seconds—but
the fact that Daniel pointed it out made me grateful.

Ethan’s jaw was tense, his eyes on Daniel and I was sure he was
fighting not to glare. After a deep sigh, he said, “
Rosa
can’t fully protect anyone anymore. She’s getting old, so she’s not
as powerful as she was.”

At least that answers the SIA question.

“I've never heard of a succubus getting old,” Daniel replied.

“
Rosa
is the eldest
succubus, of course you wouldn't have heard of one getting old because it's
never happened,” Ethan retaliated. He had a point.

“Perfect. I’m going to be dead before I even turn twenty-one, yay.”
My voice was sarcastic and held no other emotion whatever. The last few drops
of the tequila dripped on my tongue and I almost whined at the lack of effect
it had. I still couldn’t believe he wanted me to have sex with Tristan. Yeah, I
get that he’s immune and all that shit, but still, I couldn’t see us even
shaking hands anymore. “Just so you know, I’m not having sex with Tristan, and
I don’t plan on having sex with him because right now, he doesn’t even want to
see me, so there has to be another way.”

“There isn’t.”

I heard the sound of a phone vibrate and I pulled my phone out,
checking to see if it was me—which it wasn’t.

“The generation these days... always relies on technology,” Ethan
sighed.

If he was talking about me picking my phone up, then he doesn’t have
a—oh, I see what he was looking at now. Apparently, Melinda and Daniel had
heard the sound too, and they both had pulled their phones out, checking to see
if they were the lucky text winner.

“Oh.” Melinda perked up, sitting straight. I guess it was her. “There’s
a party on tonight.”

The sound of a party caught my interested. When there was a party,
there was alcohol, and when there’s alcohol, there was cute guys waiting to be
picked up. “It’s at the arena, and it’s a tribute to Geoff,” she continued,
which only killed my mood. Tristan would be there, for sure. “Tori could be
there.”

“I doubt it.” I had a good feeling she wouldn't show her face now
that she wasn't with Tristan. She wouldn't even know about the party.

I hated that the bottle in my lap was empty, and I hated how it was
still in my hand. Instantly, I wished a faerie would come and refill it.

“Well,” Ethan said as he stood, “looks like we have somewhere to be
tonight.”

He’s kidding me right? “You want to go to the party?”

“Yep.”

“Why?” He didn’t even know Geoff.

“I said before that we were going to take our chances. If there’s a
small chance that Tori could be there tonight, then we’re going.”

“Count me out.” I pushed myself off the couch and headed towards the
kitchen, mentally crossing my fingers for an alcohol supply.

“You’re not coming? Why?” Ethan’s voice followed me, and I knew he
was in the kitchen. The too small kitchen.

The empty bottle sat on the counter, showing me how much of an
alcoholic I will turn into if I kept it at this rate. I turned to face Ethan,
my own arms folding over my chest while my vision started to blur slightly. “I
don’t want to go, and that’s my decision. If you want to go find her, then
don’t let me stop you.”

He stood there for a second longer than I felt comfortable, and then
he nodded and walked out, leaving the conversation at that. He wasn’t going to
start a fight about it? Maybe he thought I was too drunk for this, that’s what
I was already considering. Or maybe he was leaving me here to ponder over my
own thoughts, turning this into reverse psychology so I
did
end up
going.

Well, that’s not going to work. I’m not going.

That decision was final.

“Stupid reverse psychology,” I mumbled from the backseat.

Ethan and Daniel shared a small laugh from the front of my car, and
it only made me glare at the back of their heads.

I don't even know how it worked, but the fact that Ethan had let me
off so easily in not coming to this stupid party, only made me want to go. It
was crafty in his efforts, but God, why did I have to fall for it? Maybe I can
just get out of the car right now.

Oh, wait. It's too late, because Daniel is already pulling up to the
arena.

“I didn't force you to come,” Ethan said, holding my door open for
me as Melinda and I got out.

“It felt like it,” I replied. By the sounds of the music coming from
the arena, I gathered that everyone had gone from 'solemn' to 'wild-child'
pretty quickly. The sound of laughter was heard, music was playing loudly and
all I could wonder is, “Why are we here? I told you guys, Tristan and Tori
broke up, so I doubt that she even knows.”

I couldn't explain how many times I told these people. I'm sure I
counted to about 100 by the time we got here.

“And, we told you,” Melinda said, joining my side, “that there could
be a chance that she'll turn up. You know this, Maya. Just because they're not
together, doesn't mean she won't show her face.”

I hated when Melinda was right. “I shouldn't have come.” Shaking my
head, I turned and planned to lock myself in my car until they were all done in
there, but I was only stopped by Daniel's arm.

“You guys go ahead. We'll be there in a minute,” he said over my
shoulder. I heard footsteps start walking and I knew that Ethan and Melinda
were going. Sighing, Daniel moved his eyes down to meet mine and then he was
leaning back against the car. “Want to tell me what's wrong, or should I take a
lucky guess?”

A slight chill washed over my bare arms and I cursed Melinda for
forcing me into this tight red dress. What did she think we were going to? She
may be good at her wardrobe, but I really should've reminded her that we were
going to a post-funeral party, not a sex fling.

Daniel waited for me to answer his question and I honestly didn't
feel like saying anything. But I knew he would listen, and sadly, he won't
leave until I've opened my mouth and let out everything, every single piece of
worry.

Defeated, I sighed, leaning against the car beside him and focusing
my eyes on the people walking in and out of the arena across the road. “I don't
know what to do.”

“With?”

“Everything.” Today had felt like a long ass day, and it hadn't even
struck
midnight
yet. My
shoulders had a permanent weight on them, and I was finding it hard to know why
it was there. Was it because of the succubus in me? Was my demon going through
some phase? Was it the effect Tristan left me in earlier on? Or was it all of
the above?

I was going for the last.

“You're going to need to give me a little bit more, Maya.” I felt
Daniel's eyes on me. “Are you worried about Tristan?”

“Yeah,” I said admittedly, “I don't know how to explain it, but...”
I found it hard for me to say the next words. Swallowing to fix the dryness
forming in my throat, I whispered, “I just miss him, Daniel. A lot.”

“Maya,” he said, his tone one of comfort. I felt his hand snake
around the side of my head and I was pushed against his chest. “Don't let it
bring you down,” he murmured, his lips pressing against my hair, “he'll come
around eventually.”

As if the semi-hug was what opened the gates, a stray tear fell down
the side of my face. “You weren't there, Daniel. You didn't see his reactions.
You didn't see his face when I told him. I practically disgusted him.”

Daniel's hand tightened around my hair. “He didn't tell you that did
he?”

“No, but he might as well.” I refused to let another tear leak from
my eyes and I took a deep breath, only for it to turn into a non-humored laugh.
“What makes it even more stupid is that we're supposed to be soul mates
apparently and he doesn't even want that.” Turning my head, I buried my face
into Daniel's sweater, feeling his arm tighten around my shoulders
instinctively. “I feel lost, and I hate that.”

I was never the type to ever act like this. I'd never cried once in
my life. I always found it to be a sign of vulnerability, but lately, the past
four weeks had been too much for me to even hide the fact that I hurt. And I
really didn't have anyone to blame but myself.

Tristan had always been the one who stayed by me. He never did
anything but be there whenever I needed him. Not once did I ever think I was
taking advantage of that, but I could see it now. When he looked at me
today—before I even told him about Geoff—I knew at that moment that I could
forgive him for the stupid decision he made. Then I had to open my mouth and
spill out the bad news, and the cards turned. Faster than I could blink, the
loving feel of his fingers on my face and the passionate sound of his voice
were gone, replaced by the complete opposite.

I told him because I thought it would be out in the air, and then he
would get over it. I didn't even think about how he would feel about it. When I
finally saw how he did, after he explained everything from him being on the
sidelines, watching what I was doing with other guys, I could see it.

I was giving Ryan shit for acting how he was, and I was acting
exactly the same with Tristan. I might as well dangle his heart in front of cat
with the way I was treating it. Now that he was gone, reality was so much
worse.

“It's going to be okay, Maya.” Daniel's tender voice comforted me
slightly, but it didn't at all get rid of my feelings. “It may be hard now, but
you'll get through it. He'll come around. He has too.”

“He doesn't have to do anything,” I said, finally moving my head
away from the warmth of him. “It's probably better if he just stayed away, for
the sake of his sanity.”

“Don't act like that, Maya—”

“But it's true,” I interrupted, “even if he did turn around and
start talking to me it's not like I can give him what he wants. He's immune to
me. That's it. He's not immune to what I have to do to live, it'll never work.
It'll just start another fight, and we'll just go around in circles.” The truth
in my words hadn't hit me until I finally said it out-loud. My shoulders
slumped.

“Maya.” Daniel was instantly in front of me, and his hands cradled
my face, making sure I looked right into his eyes. “You need to stop doing
this. Stop thinking about what bad things could happen out of this, and start
thinking about the positive side of it.” He made that sound so easy. “And if
Tristan ever did come back, I doubt you'd turn your back on him.”

Glaring into those sea-blue eyes, I sighed. I hated how Daniel and
Melinda could both see through me, and I hated when they were right half the
time. Stubbornly, I moved my eyes over his shoulder. “You don't know that.”

“I've known you most of our demon lives, and I've heard a lot about
you and Tristan—”

“How?”

His lips pulled up and he arched a brow. “Do you really have to
ask?”

No
. Rolling my eyes, I mumbled, “Melinda
is such a gossip.”

He chuckled and continued, “What I'm saying is that if I know you,
you care a lot about this guy and I don't think you'd let something like this
get in the way of making things work between you two. Just give him time,
Maya.”

He was right, yet again. “Fine, but don't expect me to be all happy
ducky in there,” I nodded my head towards the arena before coming back to meet
his eyes. A smile crawled onto my skin and he matched it with his own. “Thank
you,” I said.

It only made him smile the cocky grin that he could only possess. “I
told you I'm not just a pretty face.”

As much as it brought up my mood, I grinned, pushing him away from
me until his hands slipped off my face. “Conceited.”