Continuation of Dorian's Deal, taking place after Caysee's part.
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His sister shut the door behind her, barging in uninvited.
"Who are they?" Tatiana said.
"Who are who?" Dorian said, fearing he knew the answer.
"Those people that made introductions. For that girl you had sex with."
"I can't tell you that."
"Can't? Or won't?"
"Can't. I honestly don't know."
For all the talk he'd heard about demons, he really didn't have a frame of reference for them in real life.
"Well how do I get in contact with them?"
"Oh, god... you want to do it now too, don't you?"
"Yes."
"No, no, no. Bad idea. Really bad idea. Trust me, it was a bad idea for me."
"Do you regret it?"
He sighed. "I may live to."
"But you don't yet."
"You got me. I guess I don't."
"Then introduce me. It's my life, I'll decide what risks I take. You want me hooking up with some random dude in a sex club?"
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Fuck. And he'd stuck his finger in her, and that gave her leverage with their parents if she chose to accuse him formally.
"Goddammit. This is serious business. I'm out; I got lucky, paid my price, and I'm done. I don't want back in, and trust me, you don't want in either."
But the succubus might be persuaded to pick someone suitable to her needs. If his experience was anything to go by, she was always true to the terms of the agreement, no matter how fucked up those terms were for him.
"That's for me to decide," she said stubbornly. "Not some old men in a smokey back room."
He took a deep breath. "I guess you won't appreciate what you're asking until I show you. I can't tell you, it has to be shown. There's just no other way. Come to my room at bedtime."
She smirked. "I'm not blowing you again until I see the goods."
"That might be the price," he mumbled under his breath.
"What's that?"
"Nothing. Thinking out loud. See you later. And... be prepared to provide a serious offer. And entertain one that's shocking."
Her eyes flicked down to his crotch. "I'm very ready to... barter harder."
"You better be. Because she will. And she has no mercy."
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9 PM, on the dot, his door thumped with a knock on the other side. The moon was full, and the scene was set. He was pretty sure every summons made it easier for her to cross over. Someday soon, he might be able to do it anytime, no matter what the stars had to say about it. He stood up, opened the door, and let Tatiana in. She raised an eyebrow at the candles set out on the floor.
"I told you, no extra favors until you deliver," she said. "No matter what kind of ambiance you set."
"Keep that competitive edge. You're going to need it."
She crossed her arms, watching as he pulled out his lighter, lit the candles, and pulled out the book, and read from it.
"Please. You really had me going there. What kind of nonsense-?"
He glared at her, put his fist silently in her face, just shy of touching her nose. She blanched, took a step back, and let him keep reading. He'd never physically threatened her before; he hoped it was enough to keep her from interrupting him again, getting the incantation wrong, and dooming them both to some horrible fate. He finished the incantation, and all the candles went out at once.
"OK... cute trick," she said.
Ovidia appeared in the swirl of smoke rising from the candles, a look of pure delight on her face.
"Well, well! I'd despaired of hearing from you again. I see you've brought friend. Or is she lover now? How would you say relationship is called, just between us?"
"You know damn well she's my sister."
"Sure, but I've been gone few... days, is it? See less, with terms of agreement met and sealed."
"Ovidia, Tatiana. Tatiana, this hellspawn goes by Ovidia."
"OK, what's the big deal?" Tatiana said.
"You don't see her?" Dorian said.
She shook her head.
"Ah, I see how it is. Light candles anew, turn to next page in book, and have her read third line," Ovidia said.
"You promise this will let her see you, and only that? We are in no further danger?"
"As much as can be promised, in the Land of Mortality."
Dorian turned the page, and handed the book to her. "Here. Wait a moment, and read the third line on my signal."
He lit the candles, stepped back, and nodded. She struggled through it, but managed to read the whole thing.
"Close enough," Ovidia said.
The candles went out again. Tatiana immediately shrieked, ran over to Dorian, and grabbed hold of his arm.
"Oh my god. What is that? Who is that!?"
"Everything all right in there?" their father's voice came through the door.
"We're fine! I pinched myself too hard," Tatiana called back, then turned to Dorian and lowered her voice. "Right?"
"Yep, everything's fine," Dorian agreed loudly.
"OK, behave you two. At least it's good to see you getting along these days," their dad said.
His footsteps faded, floorboards under the cheap carpet creaking in a receding direction down the hallway back to the living room.
"Greetings, child. Be not afraid," Ovidia said, smiling innocently.
"Be very, very afraid," Dorian countered. "You stand in the presence of a succubus."
"A... what?" she said.
"A demon," he said. "A very, very old and conniving demon. From the old country, or at least known there."
"But no harm may come to you, 'til deal is struck," Ovidia said. "As long as deal is offered."
"What kind of deal?" Tatiana said.
"A trade. One service, for another."
"For example, I asked to be able to sleep with a woman I chose. She asked for me to get frisky with a woman she chose, in return."
Tatiana looked puzzled. "Two women? What did she get out of it?"
"Entertainment, I suppose. You were the woman she chose. I never would have."
She looked offended. "You wouldn't!?"
"Hey, look, before all of this started we were just a brother and sister, with our usual fights and non-conformist attitudes. I never looked at you that way."
Tatiana's eyes tightened. "What day did you first do this?"
