Counterpart (Succubi & Incubi Assn.)

“I'm down,” Daniel answered, followed by a nod from Ethan.

  I was more hesitant over it. “I'm just going to go see what Tristan wants to do first.”

  “Whipped,” Melinda murmured.

  “Oh yeah?” I grinned, making sure I was out of Ethan's hearing range as I whispered, “At least I don't confess my love for a guy I've only known for a few weeks.”

  This shut her up. And after a few sentences on how I committed a low blow, I laughed and started heading towards the locker rooms.

  “Maya, wait—”

  I forgot Ethan wanted to talk, but I was actually eager to see Tristan. “I'll be back. Just give me five minutes, okay? Okay.” I didn't give him time to finish before I quickly stalked away and entered the crowd.

  I walked down a corridor that the fighters walked out of. Preston's locker room was the first I walked past and there were about ten other people in there. Even though he lost the fight, they still celebrated like he won. It was good to see.

  Usually when I arrived at Tristan's locker room, there wouldn’t be anyone in there because that's how he preferred it. He liked to spend some time in his own head. It was like he was debriefing with himself, running through what happened in the fight in his head while he wrapped and unwrapped his hand repeatedly. It was something I saw a lot when he was in the gym, it was when you knew he was in a deep thought.

  Today just seemed to be a day where everything was different because Tristan wasn’t alone. Instead, he was sitting down on a bench, unwrapping and wrapping his hand while a doctor examined his cut again. “You won't need stitches, but you just need to keep the swelling down. You'll be alright, mate.”

  “Thanks, doc,” Tristan said, smiling towards the middle-aged man.

  I stayed by the doorway, waiting for the doctor to finish packing up, and when he left, Tristan finally noticed me.

  “Hey.” The cut that was under his eyes was bandaged up, an obvious swelling around it and I was sure that was going to be a black eye tomorrow. At least that was the only thing wrong.

  “Hey handsome.” I grinned, walking in and taking the remaining few steps before sitting on his right. “You look even better than you did this morning.”

  Continuing to wrap and unwrap his hands, he flicked his gaze towards mine, a smirk pulling up on his lips. “Really? I always thought black eyes and cuts worked for me, thanks for confirming that.”

  “You're welcome.” I reached up and lightly touched the bottom of his eye, where the swelling was at its max. I removed my hand and held it in front of him. “How are you feeling?”

  He knew exactly what I wanted and he passed me an ice cold beer. Placing it slowly under his eye, I heard him intake a sharp breath before relaxing, letting the cool feel soothe the skin. “Better now that you're here.”

  “Still being a sap, hm?” I leaned forward and let him meet me in the middle, where he lightly placed a kiss on my lips.

  “If you haven't noticed, I still have maple syrup on my chest.” Moving my eyes down, I spotted a few specs here and there that were indeed the syrup but could easily be mistaken for sweat. “I never realized how much of a bitch it was to wash off.”

  I was still looking at his chest, and about 90% of me wanted to finish off what we were doing. “Well…” Lifting my legs, Tristan accepted them as I slid them onto his lap. “Mel and the boys are going out, so maybe we could go back—”

  “Knock, knock. Oh shit, sorry, Tristan.”

  My legs were quickly off Tristan's lap and I felt my back stiffen. It wasn't that I was surprised by the sudden voice that walked into the locker room—I was. It was the reality that this voice sounded familiar that startled me.

  “Oh, no,” Tristan said, “come in.”

  My mind was quick to decipher this voice, and I was too scared to move my eyes as they narrowed where Tristan was sitting. I didn't want my memory and ears to be right with what I was going to see. If they were right—which I'm hoping to God they're not—then how the fuck did this even happen?

  Noticing that I'm probably making this obvious to everyone, I turned my eyes to the door.

  Oh my God.

  “Maya, this is Tanner,” Tristan said, “Geoff's son. He's taking over his father's position.”

  I couldn't even hear Tristan's voice as the male walked into the room. I felt like I was being haunted. Brown skin covered his tall and lean frame. Dark brown eyes were shaded by the messy ruffle of his black hair.

  It was then that the memory hit me.

  I moved my palm over his cheeks and threaded them into the silk strands of his hair. They felt like heaven between my fingers, and I lightly gripped them, urging my fingers to lose themselves in the midst of it.

  He was definitely alive and standing right in front of me.

  God, I remembered when he annoyed me.

  A brown complexion with brown eyes and short black hair was the only thing I managed to notice about him. Other than the fact that he held a strong yet lean build, there was nothing about him that satisfied me. Maybe because I was annoyed or maybe because I just wanted to go home, but I just wanted punch him for talking so much. He would have been considered a jackpot, if he didn't stop asking questions. He had asked me things like, 'What's your name? How old are you? Do you want a drink?'. I answered every question simply, not even bothering to ask the same—it's not like he'll remember it in the morning—and I was grateful for the last question.

  The way he walked towards Tristan and I with a glint in his eye and a smirk playing on his lips, I knew he wasn't that guy anymore. I also knew that he knew exactly who I was.

  “Maya, it's nice to finally meet you.” He out-stretched his hand. I knew I was staring but fuck, there was fucking ghost standing in front of me. Not only that, but he was Tristan's new mentor.

  Maya, Tristan’s going to think something’s up, cut it out!

  “Uh, yeah you too.” Out of despite, I shook his hand and as if this moment wasn't already freaky enough, I felt something in his shake. It wasn't the way he shook my hand, or the way his skin still felt the same from the night I met him. It was the fact that I felt every single piece of his lust, and then something else that I couldn’t put my finger on.

  This guy was an incubus as far as I was concerned, and he knew that I was a succubus. He was the scent I could smell earlier.

  Slipping his hand out of mine, I felt nerves rake through me, hoping he didn't say anything to Tristan. Honesty was something he wanted from me, but how the hell was I going to tell him that I slept with his ex-trainer, and I slept with his current one as well?

  Like he could hear what I was thinking, his smirk deepened and he switched his gaze to Tristan. “I actually came here to congratulate you on your match, and I can't wait to work alongside you.”

  “Yeah.” Tristan was oblivious to everything and I was glad about that. “For sure, man.”

  Tanner nodded his head once and was back to looking to me. “Until next time, Maya, Tristan.”

  When the ghost walked out of the room, I begged that Tristan woke me up from this dream, and we'd be back in my bed. I just want this day to start over again, is that too much to ask for?

  “Babe.” I felt Tristan slide his arms around my waist. “You look like you've seen a ghost, do you know him?”

  “What? No. No.” The lie felt disgusting as it passed my lips and I hated myself for doing this right now. “It's just...” The fake smile that I forced on my face was instant. “He just reminded me of someone I used to know.”

  “Oh, okay.” I could tell that Tristan didn't believe me. I could also tell that Tristan figured that this guy was one of my victims. I didn't have a problem with that. I just found it hard to tell him without him becoming all weird about it. It just had to stay a secret, just like the note that I found by my dresser.

  “Maya,” Tristan whispered into my ear as his lips pressed against the skin. “You have that thoughtful face on again, and you know I know that you're thinking really deeply about some
thing. Tell me what's up.”

  There he went getting all husky voiced and sexy while he persuaded the truth out of me. Just by the way his arms were securely wrapped around me only led me to believe that I could be honest with him. I should be honest with him.

  What have I got to lose?

  Tristan.

  Swallowing my pride, I took a deep breath. “Tristan, that Tanner guy—”

  “Maya Simmons?”

  Starting to get irritated by the interruptions, I turned, preparing to glare at the culprit.

  My glare was definitely put on hold when the last people I'd expect to see were standing in front of me. A dark-skinned man in a clean suit stood between two dark uniforms. These uniforms weren't something you missed, or even thought of positively when they stood in front of you.

  It was never good when these people were involved.

  “Officer,” Tristan said, “what's going on?” I felt his arm move in front of me, and I knew he was thinking the same thing that I was.

  “Please step aside, sir,” the man in the suite said, keeping his eyes on me. “Are you Maya Simmons?”

  I wanted to do the whole lie thing again but how did I know that they didn't already know that I was Maya? “Yeah, that's me.”

  The guy in the suit nodded his head, and the two officers moved accordingly.

  “Maya Simmons, you're under arrest for suspicion on breaking and entering and damaging of property.”

  “What?” One of the guys was behind me before I could do anything and my hands were forced behind my back.

  “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law.”

  “This has to be a joke,” I heard Tristan say, who was currently being pushed back by the other cop.

  “You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I have just read to you?”

  The only thing I could understand was my heart pounding against my chest. What the hell is going on?

  “Do you understand these rights I have just read to you, Ms Simmons?” the suit-man asked again.

  I was looking to Tristan and I expected to see the same expression on his face as mine. It was in a way, but I could tell by the way his eyes were averted and how his hands were clenched that he was more angry than worried.

  “Ms Simmons—”

  “Yes, yes I do.” I said, not wanting to hear it. “I just don't understand what the hell is going on.”

  The cuffs secured around my wrist were so uncomfortable and they clenched around my skin like a vice.

  The suit man stood in front of me and he held a face of pity as his eyes stared into mine. “There was a break in at the city gym last night. Windows, doors and mirrors were smashed. Your blood was found on the scene along with fingerprints. Take her away.”

  “What? No.” I tried to tug my arms free of the male behind me but it only made matters worse when he went rough. “Tristan.”

  Tristan was frozen as he watched me getting taken out. His eyes connected with mine and in the look, I could see that he didn't know what to do. He hated it. The pain in his eyes confirmed that and I was almost choking on the lump in my throat.

  “Maya.” He was suddenly in front of me, his hands holding my face. “I'll fix it. Okay, baby, we'll fix it.”

  What did he mean by we'll fix it? How was I going to fix this when I’m behind bars? How could he possibly fix something like this?

  I needed a lawyer, a fucking good lawyer.

  I was pulled away from Tristan no more than two seconds after he touched me and the officer that was in front of him was now pushing him back. As they pulled me out of the room, I couldn't get my mind to focus on one thing.

  I was being arrested for breaking and entering, and damaging of a property? They found my blood and fingerprints? Was this what Ethan was trying to warn me of? Was this what that note was warning me of?

  At least I had my rights, I guess.

  It still didn't kill the obvious though.

  How was I supposed to fight for myself—or even find a lawyer—when I can't even remember anything that happened?

  EXCLUSIVE PIECE FROM TRISTAN'S MIND

  I watched Maya lying there. The thoughts running through my head were making me mentally exhausted. Was she going to be okay? Is she still even breathing? Was she dying? How come she hasn't woken up yet?

  Tension grew in my muscles every time I looked at her helpless body. She doesn't even look like what happened had happened. The way her eyes were so lightly closed, confirming she was in a deep sleep. The way her perfect lips parted as she dreamed. It was the only thing keeping me from running over there and attempting to coax her awake.

  “She's starting to gain some color back in her cheeks,” Melinda murmured, “and her breathing is starting to sound normal. It's a good sign.”

  I just wanted to hug Rosa tightly right now. Maya had looked like death when we took her down that I wasn't even sure she was going to make it. I hated that I saw the whole thing happen to her, yet my own flesh wouldn't respond. I wanted to help her so bad. I wanted to do anything I could to tell her that I was alright, tell her that we were going to be okay. But I couldn't. All I could do was watch from a bird’s eye view and hope for the fucking best. I'd never felt so frustrated before that moment.

  “Um, can you guys step out for a minute?” Melinda asked, flicking her gaze between Daniel, Ethan and I. “I just want to get rid of this dress. She'd freak if she woke up in it.”

  The last thing I wanted to do was leave Maya but Melinda had a valid point. If we were in different circumstances I’d love to see Maya in that red dress as it hugged her curves perfectly. Maya would freak if she saw the blood that was smeared on her right side. With that and the fact that she wouldn’t be able to remember what had happened, she’d instantly think the worst.

  Walking out of the room, I kept myself close to the door. Daniel let out a frustrated sigh and I knew that he was feeling the same as we all were.

  Frustration.

  An electrical charge of energy was the thing that woke me up earlier tonight. But that wasn't all that was in it. Just with the feel of her hand, her perfectly smooth skin in mine, I could feel her lust. It was what brought me back. If it wasn't for that piece of her, I'd probably still be passed out—possibly dead. She saved me. She doesn't know it, but she did and I owed her my life for that.

  Ethan was the second person I saw when I awoke, the look on his face passing for someone with anger. Melinda's raging voice was the next thing, followed by her and Daniel—who I now knew as Maya's other friend—running up the stairs.

  It wasn't until Melinda gasped and said ‘What the fuck happened here?’ that I noticed the destruction that had been caused. Glass was everywhere. Shattered fragments of the mirrors and windows were sure to attract attention but I couldn't think, I couldn't see past that moment because of the girl that wasn't responding to the voices of her friends.

  It wasn't exactly a good image with the way I hadn't touched her since we returned. I don't know why I was finding it hard but I felt that if I touched her, it would break something. I was treating her as if she was fragile, when she was the strongest person I knew—or should I be calling her a demon?

  Demon.

  It wasn't exactly a new word to me, everyone knew it. It had multiple definitions depending on the person. Never once would I have put the name next to Maya though. This was Maya Simmons we were talking about, the same girl that I met at the park, spent days and nights with, laughed with, joked with and I even developed a crush for her—does that make me sound like a pussy? Fuck, I don't even care anymore.

  “You're taking this a lot better than I thought,” Daniel said, “Melinda and I had a bet, and honestly I put 20 on you running. No offense.”

  “None taken.” I sighed. It was spot on what he was saying though. My reaction probably surprised everyone. So she was a demon,
a succubus, but she was a human as well. I learned that she didn't have a choice in it, so what I was I going to do? I guess I could've run. Matter of fact, that would make me look like more of a pussy than the fact that I admitted I had feelings for her. It was pretty obvious from the get-go that she was hiding something. Her occasional nights where I'd see her, only for her to be having some PMS bullshit, then she would go out with Melinda and be completely fine the next day. Of course the only thing Noah concluded it to be was that she was on her time of the month—even if it occurred more than once a month—and I settled with agreeing. “It just answers a lot of questions.”

  “I bet. Still though, you're not the slightest bit freaked out?” he asked.

  The question caught me off guard. Was I freaked out? I didn't feel as if the world had ended so that should be something. Then again, I was really more concerned about Maya making it out of this alive. “It will take a while to get used to, I can tell you that.”

  Daniel was sure to keep asking questions and I couldn't figure out why he wanted to know so much. It was also starting to irritate me and I didn’t easily get irritated. Luckily, Ethan made this his moment to come into the conversation. “I think we have more important things to ask than Tristan's reaction, don't you?”

  The door behind me opened and I stepped to the side to let Melinda out. There was a frown on her face as she stared down at the dress in her hands. “This was my favorite dress from inside her closet.”

  “Nice to know you care for the dress more than your friend, Mel—ouch, fuck.”

  “Don't question my friendship with Maya,” she hissed towards Daniel, “I've spent the past God knows how long by her side. Now that I know that she's alright, let me mourn over this fucking dress, okay.”

  Daniel cowered slightly, expecting another hit to come from Melinda and it was seriously hard for me to not laugh right then.

  Trust Melinda to get sad over a dress.

  Ethan sighed, watching the two. “It's amazing how side-tracked you all can be. It's almost as if you can't take it seriously.”

  I resisted sighing. Wrong move, man.