Master Juggler (Untraceable Succubus Book 3)

by Erin R Flynn

  “And Germany is very progressive in working together with other agencies if there are targets or problems within our borders, so it was extra insulting, as it was all about spying on us without reason and he killed three of our citizens,” one of the German agents added firmly.

  The Marshall winced as he opened the door for our prisoner. “That part hasn’t been reported.”

  “Of course not, as your government would have to admit it misbehaved, and the US never does that as your president proclaims outright lies all the time and makes blankets statements about us abusing all the US,” he drawled.

  Several of us snorted, including two of the Marshalls.

  Nice.

  I honestly felt bad for Americans. I worked for demons, and it was a better option than being under their president, who actually worked for them… Now if someone could get him to understand that, a miracle would take place.

  It took us the full day to round up the other six prisoners. The hopping around with the plane was most of the time, as Marshalls met us at several of the airports with the prisoners, which confused me.

  “We might be allies, but we’re German citizens who they now probably assume are spies like their state department to have made this happen, so they don’t want us at your supermax prisons or whatever,” Elijah explained.

  “Well, that’s a pretty big assumption,” I snickered, shaking my head. “Whatever works faster is fine with me. They probably want their people back once we land in Germany.” I realized I never got the rest of my answer and asked.

  “We’re releasing those idiots who were doing that ‘undercover investigation’ that there are still Nazis in Germany and were caught in the act,” Elijah explained.

  “It was just a prank, however distasteful, and the whole thing was an overreaction,” one of the Marshalls griped.

  Those of us from Germany gave him a disgusted look, Elijah fielding that one. “No, it wasn’t. All Germans were not Nazis, and lots lost their lives fighting against them just as other countries did. The way Germans were treated after was a joke when they were hoping for the help and Germany to be saved from Nazis just as much as others were.”

  “I met a man who helped pass messages to your government during the war in an effort to take down the Nazis, and after the war he was labeled a German spy and thrown in prison for decades,” I added. “He spied against the Nazis to free Germany from them and her people, Jewish or not, and that was how he was treated. It’s more than a distasteful prank and painful to our people.”

  “Besides, Germany is way more progressive and accepting than your country and less chance of finding people flying Nazi flags than you do here. It’s illegal, and they broke our laws. We respect your laws when we visit you,” one of the human agents seethed. “That’s the problem with labeling yourself the greatest country in the world. You think your laws and rights are the only ones that matter.”

  Needless to say, there was some tension during the long flight back to Germany. I wanted to sigh. Pride. It always came back down to pride that this one thought they were best and knew the most.

  The truth was no one was best and no one knew everything. Accepting that was the first step in ever making progress or a better tomorrow.

  The others being release by the German government were some thieves that were US citizens. They had outstanding charges in their country as well, and they preferred their citizens in their own borders. That worked for the Germans, as those people were making huge stinks and lies about the conditions and their treatment in the prison. But if Germany just let them go, that set a horrible precedent.

  Nothing was ever easy.

  The tradeoff was thorough. German law enforcement was waiting at the airport with the prisoners and gladly handed them over to get out of our hair.

  “Shut up, idiot,” one Marshall hissed at a kid from the “prank” group who was ranting he was going to sue Germany. “You get to go home, so shut up before they change their minds.”

  Wisely, the guy did.

  We thanked them and basically pulled back the welcome mat once their plane was refueled so they could go. Then I had the fun of riding with our prisoners to watch them be registered and checked in to their new homes… For at least the next decade or more.

  “Hope it was worth it,” I taunted them as they were dragged off.

  “Someone will eventually get you, bitch,” one of them shouted back at me.

  “No, no they won’t,” I chuckled darkly, knowing I could absolutely survive more than they would ever have guessed.

  I was a demon after all.

  I was ready for bed when I returned to home base. Mason was waiting for me, and even if it wasn’t really the right time to sleep, I needed it, and he crawled in bed with me.

  “Welcome home to the conquering goddess,” he murmured against my hair as he wrapped his arms around me.

  Yeah, I really was, and it was a nice, nice feeling to win, reminding myself to savor the feel for a while… After I slept for like a week at least.

  The End

  THANK YOU for reading this book!!

  Thank you so much for supporting the series and coming on the next stage of the journey with me. I woves all of you lots for your continued support and wanting more of my books. If you want more Untraceable Succubus, please leave a review. It really helps me out to know which series people are looking for more from and it’s encouraging to get back to series when people are excited for more. I appreciate the time it takes and hopefully you guys love Inez as much as I loved writing about her!!

  To say thanks, I’ve included an extra chapter. Happy reading and I hope you enjoy the glimpse into her past.

  Erin

  Extra Chapter

  “I’m telling you that stars do it,” a dancer auditioning hissed to the one next to her.

  We were all trying for the same parts, but they seemed to know each other, whereas I was the outsider they were wary of. I didn’t blame them, the competition seemed steep, and given what I was getting off others, I didn’t think our dancing was the main factor that won or lost us the gig.

  Which would be a problem for me since I refused to lose my virginity to some asshole director after all I’d gone through to keep it. I bit back a shiver, even thinking of what I’d endured while locked up making me feel as if the walls were closing in on me again. Part of me thought running from that ancient demon who had saved me was a mistake.

  But his power scared me. I appreciated the save. I was in his debt for what he’d showed me on how to use our demon powers. I was still completely terrified. If some werewolves had managed to get me trapped and do their best to abuse me and rape me while I was starving, I really wasn’t going to risk a seriously powerful demon wouldn’t do worse.

  Hiding among humans was safer. I had skills and talents that could help me make it. One of which was my brain, and I was learning fast how the world really worked outside that shit small town I’d grown up in.

  “It sounds like one of those Hollywood rumors that sell papers or a con job to get a girl dead,” the other dancer replied.

  “I’m telling you it’s real. I know a gal who is a body double,” she argued. “She’s damn close naturally, but they put you in a wig, add the right makeup and the clothes they wear, and you go be them and get paid to do it. She’s living in some nice apartment they pay for, and yeah, she gotta stay out of trouble, but so what? She went to some fan signing and got paid more than this gig to smile and sign photos.”

  “Why aren’t you doing it then?” the second dancer pushed, not hiding her disbelief.

  “I would, but I don’t look like no one. You do. You just got to get to the right manager. They all hit the same places looking for girls who can double their clients and behave better than stars ever would.”

  I listened a bit more, thinking there had to be more to the job than she was making it sound, but even if, it sounded like a viable option given I was on my last dollar. My turn to audition came up, and
I danced way better than any girl they had, my range and skills exceeding what was required for the gig.

  So I was thrilled but not shocked when I got the call back.

  Except it had nothing to do with dancing.

  “Drink?” the director asked me when I showed up.

  “No, thanks,” I muttered, glancing around and not happy we were alone. “Where’s everyone else for the call back?”

  “Oh, I’m meeting with them individually now to see how limber and they have the right look we need,” he said with a chuckle, his thoughts clearly thinking I was easy, desperate prey… Just like the others, so many others he’d trapped in his web.

  The “casting couch” as they all called it, though once the girls were there, they weren’t really given much of a choice, as that would be bad for them.

  “Why don’t you take off your jacket and let me get a better look at you, doll.” He rubbed his chin like he was doing more thinking. “And I need to see those gams better for sure.” He gave a dismissive wave. “Just take it all off and we’ll go from there.”

  I didn’t, his eyes flashing shock when I just stared at him. “I’m sorry, I think this won’t work out, as I didn’t realize the director was a pathetic piece of dirt that can only get girls and sex if he uses getting a job and money. What next? You sneak a few photos of me nude you use to make me keep quiet about forcing me to play on your ‘casting couch?’”

  I snorted when he gave me a shocked look, his mind thinking of where the camera was and ready. I went over there and grabbed it, smashing it to the floor.

  “Listen here, you little brat, there are dozens like you, millions, and I could have any of them here next begging me for this chance and to take this job no matter what I want,” he sneered, storming over to me.

  “I’m sure you could,” I agreed. “But this one won’t put up with any of that.” I gave him a disgusted look. “And there are dozens of directors in Hollywood that do more than handle dance numbers in a shitty club, so I think you’re overselling your value. But I understand why you have to use jobs to get girls.”

  “Why you—” His hand flew, and his eyes went wide when I caught his wrist, smirking at him.

  “I took martial arts along with my dance lessons. Be careful who you try to trap in that web, as not everyone you think as prey will be weaker than you.” Just to make my point and because I couldn’t stand to not get some vengeance for the girls he’d used and abused over the years, I twisted his arm fast and hard, dislocating the elbow.

  And I did not stop there.

  And then I called the police, sobbing when they showed up that I got a call back for the dance and he tried to take off my clothes and photograph me naked before he was going to make me have sex with him. They were pissed when I sobbed he tried to steal my virginity I wanted to save for my future husband.

  It was hard not to get upset at that. When I was just another girl, they all assumed it was my fault or I’d played the game before and now was calling foul—as if it was ever okay then—they were sighing. But when I said I was a damn virgin and he tried to take what belonged to my mythical future husband… Well, that was just fucking unacceptable.

  Ass. Holes.

  Whatever, it got the guy in serious shit and the club too, as it was clear the owner was all involved.

  However, that still had me without a job and out of money.

  “You got some place to go?” one of the nicer officers asked me, sighing when I shook my head. “Honey, go home. This is not a place for a nice girl like you.”

  I chuckled darkly. “I have no home to go to. Mom died and Grandpa… That man makes the director seem like a nice guy. I have no other family.”

  “Alright, give me a minute and I’ll take you to a safe place so you can at least get a real meal,” he muttered.

  I searched his desires and nodded, seeing only a man who didn’t want one more girl to get swallowed up by the “dreams” of Hollywood and LA. He finished what he was doing and led me over to his car, noting I had my suitcase with me with the few things I owned.

  “How did you manage that?” he asked me after we pulled away from the curb.

  I saw no reason to lie, so I answered honestly. “Grandpa used to hit me because I was a bastard, so I begged Mom to let me take martial art lessons along with dance lessons so he’d stop hurting me.”

  “It saved you tonight, but it won’t always,” he warned.

  “Yeah, I know,” I whispered, wiping under my eyes as I thought about that room with the steel door. “Unfortunately, I’ve had to use them several times to stay safe.” I sniffled loudly. “I thought anything was better than that small town and Grandpa, but I finally believe in something he preached, and there is a lot of evil in the world.”

  “There is, and unfortunately a pretty girl like you who screams being on her own will draw out every monster there is,” he muttered. “I hope you survive, but really, I hope more that you get out and a way to stay safe.”

  I swallowed a sigh. His mind was full of thoughts that if I would keep my nose clean, it wouldn’t be hard, as there were a lot of successful and decent men who would love to marry a looker like me and then I would be safe.

  Didn’t anyone else think it horribly sad that I could only be “safe” if someone also owned me? Only being married would keep me safe?

  How disgusting was that?

  He brought me to a shelter for people who needed a meal and place to stay in the LA area. I thanked him for the ride, but then he came in with me and gave his regards to the woman running it all.

  Once he was gone, she turned to me with a smile. “We get a lot of demons who come through here. We can’t keep you safe forever, but this is a sanctuary and all sides abide by that.” She stared at me for some sort of reaction, but like none of that made sense to me. She chuckled. “Oh, you are young and in the dark. How much has anyone explained to you?”

  I opened my mouth but then closed it. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. I found some demons—or that was what they told me they were—and all they cared about was what kind I was like there was value in that. Then I found a vampire who was young like me that helped me feed except he wanted to sell me.” I swallowed loudly, skipping the part about how I’d figured out I wasn’t like other lust demons from that.

  “And you’ve been hurt bad from what I can sense,” she said gently. “Recently?”

  I nodded. “Some wolves said they’d give me a place to stay if I protected them since demons are stronger. It was a lie. They locked me in a concrete room with a steel door and planned to sell me once I was hungry enough, but I held out until an ancient demon rescued me. He taught me some, like glamour, but his power was terrifying and I ran.”

  “Oh dear, you’ve had a lot of problems for one so young. Okay, well, I’ll give you what help I can, but you need to figure out a plan, as this is a stop over to get your breath. And sanctuary. It’s for supes on the run, and all leaders agree this is one of the few they allow. I assume you had to run too, yes?”

  I bobbed my head but then studied her. “What if someone’s running because they’re bad, not just running from bad?”

  “Not my place to judge.” She shrugged when I gave her a surprised look. “There is no violence in my house. That’s my rule, other than that, I’m neutral and a stop over for those who need it. I’m not judge and jury, and I certainly don’t ask.” She waited until I nodded again. “Okay then, let’s get you settled with some food, and I’ll make sure there’s a bed for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s what I do, kid,” she chuckled.

  Still, she had my thanks, as few would do it.

  I stayed a few days and learned everything I could from her, hoping she was a valid resource this time and not bullshit. She told me everything that ancient demon had, so I decided that was how I was going to start classifying things. I would listen to what I was told but not necessarily believe it unless it was confirmed.

  T
hat seemed smart when too many were lying and using me.

  I also told her what I’d heard about being a body double. She hadn’t heard it, but it wasn’t her circles. She said she’d check into it and made me a deal that I’d donate a quarter of my earnings to the shelter since it was having problems and could use the money to keep going.

  Yeah, that was a deal I could accept.

  She was smart and suggested I glamour as someone besides my hair or like beauty marks as too, too close would be a red flag or freak people out. So I glamoured to look like a big name at the time after she got confirmation that the actress’s agent was looking for a double. It took a bit of work, but I finally got the chance to “bump” into him and show him how I looked with the wig.

  “Astounding,” he muttered as I tucked my hair up under the wig better. “You add the beauty mark and you’re N.” He studied me closely. “A bit on the thinner side, but not enough to notice.” He moved around me, and I understood the close speculation. “A bit younger too, but good makeup could do it. How you hear about this?”

  “I was auditioning for a dancer gig and some girls were talking about it, complaining I might get the part because I look like her if I was blonde,” I answered, only half lying. “They didn’t name her as wanting a body double, but the girl said she had a friend who worked as one. I didn’t know if it was real or not, but it wasn’t hard to find out you were her agent.”

  “So you get what the gig is, right?” he checked when he came back around to my front.

  I shook my head. “Not really. The girl said it was being a double like smile, wave, and sign autographs for fans.”

  “Yeah, it’s that and some of the well behaved opportunities that no star can handle.”

  I nodded. “I don’t smoke or drink. I’m not interested in getting a man, and this was an option to keep living on my own.”

  “Good. That’s real good, kid, because you misbehave and you’re out.” He lifted his hat and smoothed back his hair. “I got enough trouble with the real star, and I won’t put up with it from the body double.”