Succubus Tear (Triune promise)

by Andreas Wiesemann

  Why her happiness? Why her love? Stella wondered bitterly. She thought back; of all the times Al’bah’s emotions spilled onto her, they were always positive. Her sorrow produced nothing. Her anger and jealousy never brought a hint of sensation, save for the panic and anxiety she felt from facing an angry Demon.

  She breathed heavily to catch her breath, tasting Al’bah’s vanilla scent with each gasp. She glanced up; the scent originated from the room across the hall from her own.

  “Good for you two,” she said to herself once inside her room, staring at the ceiling, wondering when she would be tired enough to sleep at last.

  Chapter 42

  Next Step

  “Paula, you’re my sister, and I love you. Don’t forget that, ‘cause one day you might need me, and I don’t ever want you to think I won’t come.”

  —Cain Lamentson

  Cain opened his eyes. It was the early morning of the third day since he had to run from the city. The Dalish Dreamer pulled into port late last night, but Vincent insisted they stay, as getting a hotel wouldn’t be a possibility.

  He glanced at Al’bah, curled up against his chest and muttering every so often in her dreams.

  “…dai-teem…oh my heart…so…so…happy.”

  Cain chuckled, and the gentle motion brought Al’bah to consciousness. She stretched and clutched Cain closer. “Hungry,” she whispered.

  Cain loved how Al’bah would often speak one word or a short phrase and convey so much more. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but though Al’bah said “hungry,” she made three statements and asked two questions.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I am hungry.”

  “Maybe Vincent made waffles.”

  “Is it time to eat?”

  “I like raspberry jam.”

  And Cain found himself beginning to respond to her speech in a similar fashion. “I like honey.”

  Al’bah looked up, grinning ear to ear. She kissed him deeply. “Let us face the day.”

  Teeth were brushed, a light shower was taken full advantage of, and clothes were donned. Just as Cain closed the door, Stella’s door opened from across the hall. She seemed first upset then embarrassed. They had seen little of each other all day yesterday, and were now sharing the mother of all awkward moments.

  Al’bah thankfully broke the silence. “Stella, might I carry your bag?” she said with a docile look to her face.

  “What? This bag is yours, isn’t it?”

  Al’bah shook her head. “Cain gave you this as his gift. Will you not accept it with a heart full of gratitude?”

  “I, uh. Yes, thank you, Al’bah, and you, Cain.”

  As they exited the lower hold and walked on to the deck, the bright sun and balmy air seemed to lift everyone’s spirits.

  “Oh! Huy-Sheen!” Al’bah exclaimed, dropping the bags and raising her arms to a sudden swell of wind that carried her hair in a magnificent cascade.

  Stella’s brow furrowed. “What she say?”

  Cain had to forcibly work the smile from his face. “She’s happy. She feels alive. She is grateful for the day,” Cain replied. Indeed, he felt more alive today than he had in a long time.

  “Ah, there yeh are! A wee bit of breakfast and tea before you go out into the world?” Vincent called out from the forward galley’s balcony.

  “Vincent! The day is astounding!” Al’bah called out and rushed to the door and inside long before Cain or Stella.

  The forward galley was bright and cheery. A table was set with a pristine orange cloth and laden with all sorts of breakfast food.

  “Enjoy yourself, kiddos,” Vincent said from behind the bar.

  “My gracious and honorable captain, please join us.”

  Cain pulled out Al’bah’s chair, and Vincent for Stella.

  “Raspberry jam!” Al’bah squealed in delight as Vincent passed it to her. She unscrewed the lid and took in its tart scent. “So pure. There is nothing in here save what the Earth grows. Life, connection, and sweet sensation.”

  Vincent grinned, pouring tea for everyone. “It’s just jam, lassie.”

  Cain eased back as he chewed on his waffles slathered in honey; he traded a glance with Stella and shrugged. He wondered how Stella would take the next step. Especially considering who was already in town to meet him.

  “What?” Stella said, making Cain realize he was staring.

  Cain was startled and took a quick glance to Al’bah, worried she might be mad. Al’bah glanced at Stella, then to Cain. She quirked her head in a strange manner. “Well planned, my Bond.”

  “What is it?” Stella huffed.

  “The next step. I can see a well thought-out plan in my Bond’s eyes. All that remains is to see how it will end.”

  Stella seemed to be reminded of the harsh situation she was in and rose from her chair. “Guys, I’m gonna wait at the dock.”

  ***

  “You take care of yourself, lad,” Vincent said, handing him a card.

  “What’s this?”

  “A little something tae remember me by. If you ever find yerself outta the mess you’re in, lemme know.”

  “Thanks.”

  “So what now?” Stella said, looking depressed. “I hope you have a few more good ideas, because I don’t much care for the idea of following you two for the rest of my life.”

  “Actually I do, but I need to do a few things or we won’t last long.” He walked over to one of the many novelty shops and got hats and sunglasses for them all.

  “Why do we need to wear these, Cain?” Al’bah protested. “There is an aspect to this that makes my skin uncomfortable.”

  Cain pointed discreetly to an electronics store. “That’s why,” he said quietly.

  Stella gasped slightly. The picture on the flat screen was a bulletin for all three of them. She gaped as she watched Cain enter the store without hesitation with Al’bah, who increased her pace to keep up.

  Cain waited for the man behind the counter to approach and set down Stella’s phone that was pieces of a broken case, circuit board, and battery.

  “Woa! I don’t think I can do anything with this, pal,” the clerk said.

  “I know. Actually, I want to send it to Blackberry through you guys. Is that okay?”

  “Huh, they won’t repair that, you know. They’ll just send you another one,” he said, getting a box under the counter and wrapping up the phone. “And charge you for it.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know,” Cain said. “I’d like to send it next-day express.”

  “Can’t,” the clerk said, still wrapping up the box.

  “Why not?” Cain asked, feeling a little uneasy.

  “Shipment already went out, that’s why not. It will be sent out first thing tomorrow.”

  “Oh, well that’s okay.”

  “That’ll be eighty-five dollars,” he said, sliding out some paperwork to Cain.

  Cain filled out the paperwork with Walter Stratton’s information and his law firm as the return address. “By the way, I need to fill out an internal department letterhead for reimbursement. Is it okay for it to be sent with the phone?”

  “Sure, just staple it to the back of the first form.”

  Let’s see how Walter likes this, Cain thought to himself as he finished the paperwork Walter gave him. If the bastard signed it with the few alterations he made, it just might mean the end of him.

  Al’bah’s eyes locked onto the business card and hissed in Cain’s ear, “Get rid of that—it will telegraph our movements.”

  Cain felt cold upon hearing those words, and when the clerk was ringing him up, he slipped the card in the seam of the box.

  “Right then, Mister Stratton. Hope you have a nice day, and here is your receipt.”

  “Cain,” Stella said upon leaving, “where do you come up with these ideas? The cell phone in the lady’s purse, then the other one to be sent to Blackberry?”

  Cain grinned inwardly as he felt Al’bah clutch Cain’s arm fiercely as St
ella asked her question. “I guess you could say I’m one of those people who believes in big brother. Not that I think that everyone is being watched all the time. But I see no reason to make it easier for anyone to find me, especially since they are certainly looking hard.”

  Cain turned to Al’bah. “By the way, what was that you were saying about that card?”

  Al’bah raised her eyebrows. “That thing had a piece of Taint upon it. Taint gives a piece of corruption to thralls and slaves to keep track of them.”

  Cain remembered his perfect timing in meeting with Walter. “I see, and how did you know what it was?”

  “I am used to detecting his presence. I did spend four thousand years in captivity, after all.” She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, as the cheap sunglasses continued to irritate her skin.

  “Right, then. Well, what do we do now?” Stella said, her arms crossed.

  “We wait,” Cain said, looking around the town center, “right here.” He pointed at a tavern that was named O’Bourbon.

  “What are we waiting for?” Al’bah said, sitting down in a booth in the corner.

  “Charlie. Three waters, two house salads, fish and chips, and loaded nachos,” Cain said to a waitress that had just arrived.

  “Cain, I am not hungry. I am sure you are not hungry either,” Al’bah said as soon as the waitress was out of earshot.

  Cain nodded. “Gotta order something, or we will look suspicious. Just pick at it, okay?”

  “Why would Charlie come here?” Stella said with a half-curious, half-intrigued voice.

  “Yes,” Al’bah said, placing her arms around Cain, demanding his attention. “Why would he come here?” Al’bah asked, her voice laced with irritation. Cain understood why; more people around meant that his attention would be more divided. He was sure that Al’bah didn’t like that much, and she really didn’t care about having her question answered; she just wanted him and his undivided attention.

  “I had a feeling that I would wind up having to run for my life. I asked Charlie to meet me here if I had to flee.”

  Surprisingly, only a few minutes passed before Charlie came. His face held a morose expression with no small amount of irritation. He sat down next to Stella, who was trying hard not to smile.

  “Damn, Cain, what the hell is going on? Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve used that cipher?”

  “Cipher?” Al’bah said.

  Cain waved his hand dismissively. “In the boat, I tweeted an encoded message that Charlie would have been able to decipher. It told him what time I expected to be here. I also sent a message to my boss to let him know that I won’t be able to work for him anymore.”

  “Where what began?” Stella asked, noticing the shadow that crossed Charlie’s face.

  Cain ignored that question. “Look, Charlie,” he said. “You know I would never get into that kind of trouble, or you into this kind of trouble.”

  Chapter 43

  The Blessing of a Hateful Friend

  “You do realize trying to follow me won’t work?”

  —Charlie Tsukada

  Oh my God, it’s like the last few years never happened.

  Charlie stared at the booth he and Cain had shared for so long, a booth they eventually shared with Holly and Cynthia.

  Those were good days; it was the first time he and Cain both had a steady girlfriend that didn’t hate each other. Holly and Cynthia became just as good friends as he and Cain were. It seemed like those days were going to last forever.

  But, it wasn’t meant to be. Cynthia was bent on wanting love, marriage, a home, and children. And Holly…

  Charlie blinked, surprised that he actually was crying again for her.

  I suppose it’s because of Stella.

  Indeed, Stella seemed depressed; she kept sighing and looking around the tavern. Charlie was grateful that her expressions and body language were different than Holly’s. He couldn’t even remember the number of times he would keep her waiting just so he could see her face light up when she saw him.

  Well, I can’t stay here forever, he thought and strode up to the booth. As he walked up, Charlie felt dizzy, like his mind was detached from his body.

  Cain glanced up and then back to the table. The usual mixture of surprise and shame crossed his features. His discomfort translated to his hands and the way they would always pick at the table.

  Stella looked up at Charlie; her neck and cheekbones turned pink, but the blush went no further. Her face was blank and composed.

  And Al’bah…her eyes were wide and full of expectation. It was as if she knew he was watching, and wondered why he took so long to sit down.

  “Damn, Cain, what the hell is going on?” Charlie said as he sat down next to Stella. “Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve used that cipher?”

  Charlie ignored the conversation for a moment to take Stella’s water and drink from it. She seemed half outraged and half amused. Charlie could tell she was holding her breath, and she nodded toward Cain subtly.

  “Look, Charlie. You know I would never get into that kind of trouble, or you into this kind of trouble.”

  Charlie sighed and ran his hands over his face. “Okay, then perhaps you can tell me, oh, I don’t know, what the hell is going on!” Charlie said menacingly.

  “Ah! No, no, no!” he said upon seeing Cain open up his mouth. “Don’t tell me it’s complicated. Don’t tell me that you wish you could tell me. I wanna know why the hell everything ended up here, and like this.”

  “It isn’t your fight, Charlie,” Cain said with a shaky voice. “I never wanted—”

  “Let me tell you something, Cain,” Charlie said. “We’ve been close, like brothers, you and I, but when I leave for Oxford it is over between us, and we both know it. Neither of us could go out and say it.”

  He took another swallow from Stella’s drink and continued. “What the hell do you want me to say to you? They have at least two witnesses saying you and Stella shot and killed three people up there! Even though I don’t believe you could bring yourself to kill others, I find it hard to believe the situation you find yourself in is not your fault at least in some small way!”

  He tossed his hands up and sighed. “If it wasn’t for our ten years of history, I would have never even come down to listen to your side.” Charlie narrowed his eyes. “And I don’t even get that much from you!”

  Cain nodded but didn’t say anything.

  “Yes,” Al’bah said softly.

  Charlie eyed Al’bah, who looked ashamed; her eyes stared at the table.

  “What?”

  “Yes, it is my fault, Charlie. Yes, if I was not in Cain’s life, he would not be caught up in this misfortune.”

  Charlie looked to Al’bah and then to Cain. “Really, now? Why don’t you tell me all about it?” he said, pointing to Cain. “‘Cause this guy is so pussy-whipped, he either can’t or won’t tell me anything about what’s been going on for the past few days.”

  “Cain, Stella, I need a moment alone with Charlie,” Al’bah said quietly.

  Cain nodded and immediately stood. Stella looked hesitant but went along with a gentle nudge from Charlie. “Five minutes, be right back.”

  “So, let’s hear how you started this mess.”

  Al’bah shook her head. “I will not tell you.”

  Charlie started to get up. “Figures.”

  Al’bah shrugged. “Do you not notice how Cain does not tell you either? Has Cain complained of my presence in his life to you?”

  “He doesn’t tell me because of you,” Charlie almost shouted.

  Al’bah shook her head slowly. “This frustration you have is not about whether or not you know of the trials Cain is going through. Cain does not tell you for the same reason I will not tell you; this struggle is not yours. You are not his keeper.”

  “And what, you are?”

  Al’bah sighed, staring into Charlie’s eyes. She blinked, but it was an unnatural thing. How long doe
s it take a person to blink? Even if they were being deliberately slow? There was a threshold for bodily gestures, between the painfully obvious and the well-executed. Al’bah’s eyelids seemed to take an eternity to close, breaking all the rules while making up a few, and when they lifted again, Charlie could swear they had a flicker of fluorescence. It was the most mesmerizing thing he had ever seen.

  “Cain is mine, Charlie.” Her tone was soft, but her words held the feeling of absolute authority. “He is still your friend, and the friendship you share is great; it defines the two of you.” She shook her head as she continued. “But there is a limit to friendship, and even the greatest friendship does not replace love.”

  Charlie laughed. “Love? You’ve got to be joking! Cain’s never loved anyone. What makes you think he will love you?”

  “That is because you will not allow him. Release your claim of ownership, Charlie, and he may yet choose to love me.”

  Charlie narrowed his eyes. Who does this woman think she is? No, I’m not going to get angry. I will not get angry, she isn’t worth it.

  “I didn’t think that, Cain, that people could be owned like property.”

  Al’bah lowered her eyes. “Cain does not suffer Bondage from me. You and Cain suffer Bondage from each other. The Bonds you and Cain share are Bonds from torment. Torment is what brought you two together, and you both have used it since to strengthen and define everything you are.”

  She raised her eyes and whispered, “Torment, you blame Cain for, no matter how much you believe otherwise. Cain will not stop blaming himself, because you will not stop blaming him. He is your friend, but you hate him. You will not forgive, you do not give him your forgiveness. You do not give him love.”

  Al’bah sighed deeply, never breaking eye contact. “Charlie, to you I swear truthfully, I love Cain. Will you not release your Bonds to him? Will you not forgive him? Must you punish him so harshly? Let me heal him, let him go. Please, love him, forgive him, and let me love him. Let me love him with your blessing.”

  Charlie had since broken his eye contact with Al’bah. Her words brought the presence of a ghost to his senses.