Chương 50: B2, Chapter 4: Speak of the Devil

Wynnie was dusting the shelves on the inside of the Breakwater Inn when I returned. A tiny plume of fine grey motes coughed up around her like smoke. Within seconds, the gentle breeze from the open windows sucked them right out into the open air of the street. I wiped sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. My whole body felt like it was filled with lead. All I could think about was a nice glass of ice water.

"You're back soon!" Wynnie put her hands on her wide hips and gave me a disarming smile.

"Did Lady Talia let you go so early?"

"I thought I stayed extra!" I wheezed. She winced.

"Oh! Was I supposed to say something different? Here, how about…" Her eyes darted around as she thought of a more suitable alternative.

"Wow! You were really out there training for a long time! You must be pooped. Should we close the restaurant tonight so you can rest?" I chuckled.

"Better, but I think you over-corrected."

"Oh, drat. It's a good thing nobody ever asked me to drive a stagecoach. I'd send us straight off a cliff."

"Just like Thelma and Louise." A sorrowful expression tented her brow.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Were they friends of yours?"

"Not really. It's just an old story from Earth."

"A cautionary tale," she said, nodding sagely.

"So, service is on?"

"Yeah, but I might try to get a quick nap in before I have to prep. Is Shivai around? Maybe she could juice citrus for me today." Wynnie shrugged, then turned back to dusting. Her cute, plump rear jiggled a bit with each stroke. When she spoke, the open window swallowed half of her voice, and her curvy form fought with my attention for what I could hear.

"Actually, I haven't seen her! She left a few minutes after you did."

"Oh? Running errands?"

"I didn't ask. She seemed in a hurry, though. I thought maybe she was running to catch up to you. You know, she seems like the kind of rascal who wouldn't mind learning a bit of swordplay." I wasn't sure I agreed with that. Something about the way she moved made me think she was more into daggers and crossbows. Maybe that was the TTRPG nerd in me, though. I had her typecast as a rogue. In reality, she was a real person, flesh and blood, and not a class. Probably, she'd never even touched a dagger.

And as for learning swordplay? Knowing the way she and Lady Talia saw each other, they probably did their best to stay as far apart as they could at all times. If the constable didn't have an obligation to uphold the law, my money was on her simply pretending the little succubus didn't even exist. Out of sight, out of mind, or whatever.

"Mm. Well, I hope she was out grabbing something with electrolytes. I could use a refreshing blast of something commercial right around now. Water. Then nap." I was about to track road dirt all over Wynnie's freshly groomed floors when I heard footsteps coming up the stairs outside. They were small, quiet, and padding. Shivai always sounded as though she were sneaking around—if she made any sound at all. Every footfall of hers was quick, yet deliberate.

She opened the door and regarded both of us, standing casually. A bit too casually, if you ask me. Almost as though she were hiding something.

"Well, heyyy, you two!"

"Speak of the devil," I said. Wynnie giggled.

"Oh, that's funny." Shivai rolled her eyes and sauntered in.

"Talking about me, I presume?" She looked at me and cocked a mischievous brow.

"All good things, I hope."

"I was just hoping you'd be back in time to handle some of my prep," I explained.

"I could really use a nap before I have to stay up late making drinks for rowdy townsfolk." Shivai's whole demeanor changed from sassy to earnest. She nodded a bit too enthusiastically.

"Happy to help! I can do anything you need me to do." A pause, then a wink.

"Or anything you want me to do." Wynnie just shook her head and muttered darkly to herself, "You never say that when I ask for help." But the succubus ignored her.

"What do you want me to do, Drew? Prep garnishes? Juice citruses? I could polish your big, dirty, sticky bottles for you." She giggled as though she'd just happened upon the best possible innuendo.

"Or maybe I could come and wake you gently from your nap when I'm done?" The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Wynnie cleared her throat. Shivai grimaced comically.

"Too far? Sorry, Wynnie. I just get really excited about, um, giving Drew a hand. I know how hard he's working." Wynnie stopped dusting and turned around. A curious, almost warning look filled the room with tension I could cut with a wiffle bat. Shivai was definitely stepping on some boundaries. Ever since we'd hired her, she'd been testing them. It started off almost innocent. Compliments. A bit of extra friendliness. Light teasing, but with a flirtatious edge.

Each passing day, she took things a small step further. And yet she'd done it all right out in the open, right in front of Wynnie. It was almost a bid—asking for attention, gauging my receptivity, and seeing whether Wynnie would keep her in line. So far, despite some wariness, Wynnie hadn't put a stop to anything. She bristled a little, but she too appeared to be evaluating something. Just what it was, I wasn't sure.

"I think I can manage on my own, thanks," I said. As usual, I shut down Shivai's advances.

"Just a bit of prep work is plenty help." The succubus's disappointed, wistful sigh broke the spell. Her slinky, spaded tail unfroze, slowly curling back and forth. Wynnie watched our whole exchange like a student in a lecture preparing for a test. Instead of the exasperated relief I expected from her, she almost looked… disappointed. A conflicting range of emotions died on her lips as she opened them to speak, then closed them again. I was too tired to dig further. Maybe I'd ask about it later, after service.

Wynnie and I usually had a chance to catch up after our day. A twinge in my shoulder reminded me how sore I was about to be—and how tired I already was. Naptime. My legs protested as I dragged myself toward the door that led to the rooms. My mouth felt parched, and my lungs still burned from exertion. Somehow, I'd forgotten that other desperate need. Water. And yet, now several steps closer to my bedroom than the kitchen, I felt like I'd gone too far. I hated to ask, but…

"Hey, Wynnie. Do you think you could cool a glass of water for me? Something icy cold?"

"Sure, honey. I'll have Shivai fetch it and bring it in for you."

"Shivai? Really?" The succubus blinked back surprise.

"Yeah, what? Me?"

"Why not?" Wynnie shrugged, then turned her attention to the little succubus.

"And if he sleeps late, why don't you go wake you up when it's time for service, too?" Shivai's audible gulp filled the room.

The pillow didn't even have time to settle under my head before I was asleep. Several confusing dreams jumbled together and faded away at once. Something stirred next to me on the bed, and I blinked my groggy eyes open.

"Wynnie says it's time to get ready." Shivai sat on the edge of the bed, her legs hanging over the edge. She propped herself up by her hand, which splayed out a few inches from my shoulder. Close enough that I could almost feel her remarkable body heat radiating off her, but not so close that we might accidentally touch. It felt at once casual, yet strategic.

"Water?" She twisted, flexible as a yoga instructor, and grabbed the glass of water I'd left by the bed. Only a few sips remained, but they were still cool.

"Thanks," I said after draining it.

"Need me to help you with anything? Change of clothes, more water… maybe a quick slap in the face to help you wake?" I chuckled.

"I'm all good."

"Okay, I'll leave you to it. See you out there!" In one smooth motion, she slid off the bed and landed lightly on the balls of her feet. She was already halfway to the door when I called for her to wait.

"Yes?"

"Honestly, I, um. I was expecting you to come in and start flirting."

"Did you want me to?" I paused a beat too long. I didn't know how to answer that, actually. Part of me did. A bit of attention from an incredibly attractive woman never hurt the ego. Yet I also felt relief. Every time Shivai gave me attention, it felt as though I was doing wrong by Wynnie. But then, why did Wynnie send her in? A gesture of trust, perhaps?

"It's probably for the best," I said. The succubus tried to hide a smile, but couldn't school it.

"I don't want to do anything behind Wynnie's back. A succubus would never want to get in the way of love."

"Then, why do you…?"

"Oh, I like you. I want you. But I'm trying to be different here. I'm really, really trying." Gone was her usual playful smirk. No sassy wink accompanied her admission. For a moment, all the usual bravado melted away to something earnest. She was just a sweet young woman with wicked horns and a body made for sin, trying to find an angel on her shoulder. My heart felt as heavy as my limbs had before my nap. Shivai was trying to start over in the Breakwater Inn. If anyone could understand that, it was me.

Me and Wynnie both, actually.

"Besides. Wouldn't want to make it weird at work, now would I?" Then she slipped out, barely a sway to her hips.

Before visiting Wynnie in the kitchen, I brushed my teeth with her minty toothpaste. She thought it was weird when I called it that. Toothpaste. And after she said something about it, I couldn't get it out of my head, either. Still, that's what it was, and she begrudgingly adopted it. I spat and looked in the mirror. The changes were visible in my face here, now. It wasn't just that I'd lost some of the alcohol fat in my cheeks. No, there were visible lines of character worn into my skin, too.

Not age, really, but experience. Probably, somewhere along the way, I'd leveled up. It certainly felt like my stats were rising, with wisdom being the most notable. When I reached the kitchen, I was still buttoning my tunic. Wynnie was inside, portioning fish. She held herself ready, as though she'd been waiting for me. Two steps in, and she turned around expectantly.

"So? How'd she do?"

"Was it a test? Flying colors."

"What?"

"You know what? Weird expression. I never got it either."

"It wasn't a test. For either of you. I'm just curious what she's like when I'm not around."

"Restrained. Doggedly. You can tell she wants to get off her leash." Wynnie narrowed her eyes in thought, then let out a curious humph. The knife twirled in her hands, not expertly, but with the practiced ease of someone quickly learning the limits of her comfort. She turned, slicing again through deep red flesh.

"She's been all over you since she arrived." She sliced.

"Practically following you around. Making all those sex puns." Slice.

"Doing that thing with her tail."

"Sorry. I keep trying to shut her down."

"It's not your fault. And if I wanted to shut her down, I would." I moved in behind her, resting a hand on her hip. Her arm stopped working the fish and she leaned into me. It was our moment of calm before the guests arrived.

"You don't want to shut her down?"

"She seems like she's had a hard life, but I can sense something earnest in her." She turned around in my arms, careful not to get fish juices or knife pokies on me.

"I want to give her a chance. I think you should, too."

"You mean…"

"Nothing drastic. That's a whole conversation." She kissed me twice briefly, then a third, slower time for good measure. Our habit.

"Now get out there and serve. And don't you dare come back in here without any hot gossip!"