Old World Magic Ch. 20

I nodded and sat down on a bar stool as I began skimming the backstory of the man that I'd suddenly become. I'd have to call Hector and tell him I couldn't make it today. I had to process this. I slid out the bank statement, a small portion of it in domestic banks of course. But the majority of it still overseas and being managed by Emily's money man that she'd set me up with. I couldn't help but wonder exactly how big of a cut Emily had taken, but knew that it didn't matter, it was worth it. "I'll call Hector and tell him..."

"No," Emily said, "You're going to keep training with him. Your plan is a good one, and you stay here till Erin returns.

Erin, I grit my teeth, clenching my jaw. I hadn't heard from her in almost two weeks. We had agreed not to contact each other, it would make things too difficult, too risky. But now I was starting to get very worried about her. Had something gone awry? No, if it had, Adam would have made a play, wouldn't he have? "I haven't heard from Erin since..." I started to say, looking up at Emily.

"I know Mike, I know..." she cut me off, "But I have another piece of good news." My eyes rose hopefully. "I just wanted to talk to you first. Wanted to give you this, and tell you that even though you owe me, and owe me big..." She trailed off for a moment, "... well, I think I'd like to call you a friend. Even despite the life boon you owe me, I like you Mike. You're real, even through all the fake stuff you've had to go through in your life. I hope you can think of me as someone you can trust."

I stood up and hugged Emily to my chest. It wasn't sexual, I think in some ways that was past us now. But I hugged her and felt a pain in my chest, I don't know if it was hope, gladness, what, but I felt like someone was squeezing my chest, and I wasn't talking about the hug that Emily was returning. "Of course I do Emily, of course I do."

We simply hugged for a few minutes more then she broke it off. Her eyes looked a little damp, but she was smiling. "Good, because there's someone here to see you, and I'm going to get out of your hair and give the two of you your privacy."

My spirits soared, it had to be Erin, right? Emily had said that she had news about Erin, good news. Now there was someone to see me? Emily collected her things and moved to the door. But she stopped at the portal and looked back and said, "Don't tire yourself out too much Mike, I know Hector is expecting you again at the hospital tomorrow."

I nodded then she opened the door and went into the hallway. To someone I couldn't see, she said, "Ok, he's all yours."

I expected the coppery haired Erin to enter, so it was a bit of a shock when it wasn't. Pale skin, stunningly beautiful, slim, raven haired, and with eyes that changed color as she looked at me. She leaned against the door frame and ran a hand down her hip as she purred, "Why hello there big boy, I guess the reports of your death have been greatly exaggerated."

My jaw snapped shut with a click as I realized I'd had my mouth wide open. Then after a false start I sighed and addressed the succubus in front of me, "Hello Ruby, why don't you come in?"

- - -

To be continued.