Page 30 of The Elementalist
Crystal emitted a clipped laugh. “No, Mr. Long. A minor breach of manners like that would hardly have been enough to be cast out. I have not shared my secret with many people. However, I also haven’t met anyone else who can make the wind and rain obey or fire appear from thin air.”
“Well, that makes two of us. To be honest, it’s all kinda new for me.”
She smiled. “Well, you’ve also seen vampires and you’re not losing your mind.”
“Heh. I’ve been told I don’t rattle easy. And, well, I’m stubborn. Or ‘pig headed’ as my ex-girlfriend would say.”
“The sheriff.” She glanced off out the side window. “That woman is a tool.”
“She’s notthatbad.”
Crystal rolled her eyes. “No, Mr. Long. I mean a literal tool. She is under the control of vampires, at least she has been for the past year or two. Specifically, those aligned with the Farrington family. I’m sure you noticed how convinced she was that nothing more unusual than an animal attack caused Dana and Luke’s death?”
“She’s always been like that. Gets an idea in her head and good damn luck changing her mind, even with evidence.”
“Well, she’s not important now. The law is of no help in dealing with vampires. In a place like Shadow Pines, the important individuals within the local government are controlled and the others won’t believe the truth. We can’t go to the FBI for the same reason.”
I tapped my fingers at the wheel. “They’d think we’re crazy. And if I tried to prove it to them”—I summoned a small fire in my palm—“I’d either be shot, sent to a lab, or handed over to the CIA to do who-knows-what.”
“Yes. It’s why I tell so few people about my dirty little secret.”
“What could you possibly have done that made your family consider you an embarrassment?”
“It’s not anythingIdid, rather what my mother did.” Crystal gradually turned toward me, making eye contact. “You see, I’m not exactly normal.”
“No one who lives in Shady Pines is nor—”
Her eyes started glowing red-orange. Curved horns grew out from her temples, twisting back like a cute little ram. I have no idea how on God’s green Earth she managed to do so, but… she became even more beautiful. The effect lasted only a momentbefore she once again appeared normal, which is to say, merely breathtaking.
“Okay. I stand corrected. That’s unusual even for this town.”
My more or less blasé reaction seemed to reassure her enough to add sincerity to her smile. “Thoughts?”
“You have horns,” I said.
“I do.” She bit her lip, pouring on the demure smile. “I have a few other surprises, too.”
“Are they invisible?”
Crystal took my hand and brushed it across her temple where the horn had been. Her hair had the softness of a rabbit’s fur, and I felt nothing there that shouldn’t be. “They go… somewhere else. I suppose it’s similar to how the werewolves shapeshift. But I’m not a lycanthrope. I’m what’s called a succubus, Max.”
I blinked. “A succu-what?”
“Succubus. Or at least half of one. Or maybe three-quarters. I don’t understand exactly how that works. And as far as I know, I’m not a demon.”
“If demons could make themselves look as… angelic as you, that would be…”
“You’re too kind.” She blushed. “I believe we’re more fey than demon, though depending on who you ask… fey and demons aren’t terribly far removed from each other.”
I mulled that for a little while. My knowledge of succubi came entirely from movies and a handful of books I’d read years ago, which is to say almost nothing and probably all bullshit. However, those sources all had the recurring theme of sex. “Did your father or mother walk in on something… awkward?”
She laughed. “No. Father knew exactly what I was the whole time. Mother had been charmed by an incubus. Of course, my human father didn’t hold it against her since she’d been powerless to resist and unable to control herself. Once I cameof a certain age and my… presence became too distracting for anyone who visited the house, I was sent away. To those outside the family, I’m the product of an affair that my father forgave my mother for.”
That’s only a little uncomfortable to think about. The former mayor sending his ‘daughter’ away because guests felt a strong attraction to her. From the moment I first laid eyes on her, she’d stirred feelings in me I thought I’d never have for a woman again. Oddly enough, not what I would’ve guessed from a succubus, like overwhelming lust. Her presence called to me on a deeper level, a ‘this is the woman I want to grow old with’ sort of level.
It occurred to me at that moment that perhaps a real succubus would trigger whatever appealed to a man’s inner self most. And after seeing how well things worked out with Justine (sarcasm), simple lust evidently wasn’t enough for me to carry on anything long term. Who could’ve guessed? And, sure… I thought Justine was a fascinating, intelligent, capable woman. We simply didn’t click. That made me also wonder if how I saw Crystal as an innocent-faced ingénue too delicate for the harshness of the world, a girl in need of protection… did that come from her power trying to trick me into fulfilling some sort of ‘protector’ role?
“How much of your appearance is what I want to see compared to what is?”
