How to [Not] Outcharm a Succubus 6
After the game, Adeĺ's admirers flooded the court. Kids swarmed around, celebrating Pinky's victory, while I stoically endured the consolations that Snow White's loss was merely a fluke. However, when a horde of challengers gathered, insisting we couldn't just leave after such a game, I shot Stas a meaningful look, signaling a strategic retreat. He nodded in agreement.
«Thank you, everyone!» Stas addressed the players with a warm, disarming smile, subtly nudging Roman (who almost took the challenge) off the court. «As much as we'd love to stay, we have some prior commitments to attend to. But doubt not! We eagerly anticipate our next encounter. Until then, keep inspiring each other and be the remarkable athletes and incredible people that you are!»
Stas's words were still sinking in with the crowd as I pulled Adeĺ (equally entranced by his eloquence) along. «Come on, Pinky! Let's go swimming.»
«Swimming!» she lit up at the idea.
After cooling off in the water, we returned to our spot and settled on the towels. All the while, Roman kept showering Adeĺ with praises.
«There’s no way you've never played before!» he marveled. «That final spike was incredible! You slam-dunked it like a pro! It gave me chills!»
Adeĺ, sitting cross-legged and swaying to a distant tune, beamed with joy. «Volleyball's fun! I loved smacking that bouncy ball!»
«You were just perfect!» Roman went on. «The way you leaped up for that spike, it was… supernatural!»
«It's easy! You just jump, hang in the air, and the-e-en SMACK it down!» she pantomimed the whole process.
«You could definitely go pro with your talent. You already look the part, really – slender and strong. You're like… an Olympic goddess!»
«A goddess?!» Adeĺ giggled, clearly pleased by the flattery, and seeming oblivious to the effect she had on Roman.
Even from where I sat, it obviously wasn't just Roman's usual sports talk. The way he stared at Adeĺ, those glimmers in his eyes – she had for sure ensnared him once again. No wonder though, her shining on the court enchanted everyone, not just Roman. Gods! How many times must I snap him out of it?!
Crawling closer, I cozied up beside Roman.
«Hey,» I leaned in, pushing out my "snow whites" – boys are so simple. «Haven't I played super cool too?»
«A?…» to my surprise, he barely met my eyes. «A, yea. You were great.»
Not even glancing downwards, he immediately refocused back on Adeĺ. «We make an awesome team, you know! Our teamwork was just spot on!»
Adeĺ beamed, while I gapped in disbelief… What the…? That's it?!… No jokes? No compliments? Not even proper ogling! There I was, practically shaking them in his face, and he just brushed me off?!
A wave of heat rushed to my cheeks. It was one thing to be all flirty with someone playing along, like Roman always did, but being blatantly ignored felt… humiliating. I could only imagine how I looked, flaunting myself like one of his fangirls. Darkness! I felt like a complete fool! And… it was entirely his fault! Roman's dumb fascination with Adeĺ was no excuse for disregarding me! Friends don't behave like that!
«You stupid…» I muttered under my breath, crawling sulkily to my towel. There I turned my back to Roman, arms folded. He's gonna have to work overtime to make up for this!
Stas, who had witnessed the whole scene, spoke to me softly.
«Calm down, okay? You know Roman. He gets carried away sometimes. He’ll come around.»
«Hmf!» I huffed, still fuming. «Will his "coming around" also undo me embarrassing myself like a moron?»
«Come on,» Stas made a soft chuckle. «There was nothing embarrassing about it. You were really… hot.»
My blush reached a new level of deepness, steam rising off my head top. «O-o… hush, you!»
Despite my annoyance, Stas's words did feel comforting. But still, Roman was gonna have to pile on the compliments all day before I'd even consider forgiving him!
I kept ignoring Roman, but couldn't tune out him playing the caring senpai to Adeĺ.
«Since we're now a team,» he said with the air of authority, «the most important thing for us, as a team, is… what?»
«The ball!» Adeĺ squeaked.
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«No… It's team building, of course!»
«O-o… What's that?»
«Strengthening our bond. Like, you know, celebrating our win at that trendy crêpe stall near the metro. It counts as team building.»
«A-a!… What’s "crêpe"?»
«Crêpes are treats with sweet fillings wrapped in thin pancakes.»
«Cakes?! I love cakes!»
«Well, not exactly cakes… But I bet you'll like them too!»
Roman's next question, I guessed, addressed Stas and me. «What do you think, guys? Are you in?»
I snorted, still not looking at him.
«I'll pass,» I've already reached my sweetness quota just listening to you two!
There was a puzzled silence from Roman, then Stas offered. «We'll stay here. But you guys go ahead. Don't mind us.»
«… Okay!» Roman's confusion didn't last. «Then we'll just zip over there real quick and be back before you even miss us!»
Hmf! Why would I miss you?
I glanced over my shoulder as they got dressed. Adeĺ, tangled in her fishnet top, mumbled excitedly, «I'm coming, cakes! Wait for me!» while wrestling her clothes. Roman had to step in and untangle her or it would take forever. Once she was in her top and shorts, they hopped on the scooter and sped off, Adeĺ's laughter trailing behind them.
Stas looked at me with a smile.
«So, shall we build a sandcastle?»
«… Sure! Why not.»
After the sandcastle, we went for a swim. Then, we sat at the water's edge, chatting for a while – Roman and Adeĺ still hadn't returned. The sun cast long, lazy shadows across the sand, while a lone creamy scooter stood guard over our spot. We went back and lounged on our towels, soaking up the remaining rays. I tried to focus on the conversation, but…
«… Do you think,» I glanced towards the path Roman and Adeĺ had taken, «they've been gone too long?»
«Relax,» Stas said. «Adeĺ might've spotted something shiny and they went to check it out.»
Yea, right… My foot drew aimless patterns in the sand, betraying my growing anxiety…
… Why did I let them go alone?… Besides enamoring Roman, Adeĺ could stir up a whole slew of other problems. What if she… devours the stall's stock of crêpes, for starters?! She's a demon, I shouldn't have let her roam the human world unchecked!
The sun continued its descent, painting the sky in vibrant shades of orange and pink. The beach began to empty, families packing up, volleyball nets being taken down.
«We should go find them!» I stood up abruptly.
«You're worrying too much,» Stas looked up at me. «There's no need to. Adeĺ's safe with Roman, really. He's not going to eat her.»
Did he think I worried for Adeĺ?
«He might not,» I agreed, pulling on my shorts and fishnet top. «But what about the other way around?»
Stas studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly before easing into an amused smirk.
«Are you… guarding Roman's chastity now?» he teased. «You've never cared about his girls before. Or mine, for that matter. What's going on, Lada?»
It was true, I had never meddled in their romances with fangirls. But this time was different. I couldn't shake this bad feeling about what might happen. I needed Stas's help.
I took a deep breath… Will he believe me?
«Stas, Adeĺ isn't just any girl. She's… a succubus. A demon.»
His eyebrow arched in surprise. «A what?»
«Here,» I nervously fished out my spellbook from my bag and flipped it open to the page with an illustration of a demoness – voluptuous, with horns, wings, and a spaded tail. «She's one of these!»
Stas eyed the picture, then gave me a skeptical look.
«I mean,» I realized it wasn't as convincing as I thought, «she's still a teen, but she'll be like that… eventually. And for her wings and tail, she can hide them, really!»
Stas examined the picture once again.
«… You know,» he began thoughtfully. «It would, of course, explain many strange things about Adeĺ. Like her wyvern talks, her speed, those sudden crazy volleyball skills. But honestly… Wait…»
He trailed off, leaning closer to the book.
«… Her horns… I realized just now I had been seeing them all the time. They are so obvious, how could I think they were some hairclips?»
«Exactly!» I nodded eagerly. «It's normal for most humans. It's actually impressive that you recognize them now!»
«But… if she's a demon,» he paused before lifting his eyes from the picture to meet mine. «What does it make you then?»
His question caught me off guard a bit. Although I was readying myself for this, a wave of hesitation tinged with some guilt washed over me… There was no turning back though.
«I'm… a witch,» I admitted, the words feeling both liberating and scary. «I'm sorry I never told you guys. I just… I didn't want it to change anything between us.»
For a long, tense moment, Stas simply looked at me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a warm smile spread on his face.
«Well, I never really thought you were just ordinary,» he said. «And I bet Roman feels the same.»
His words sent a flutter through my heart, but there was no time to celebrate. And Stas's attention was already back to my spellbook too.
«Here,» he pointed to the section describing succubi's [Charm] ability. «This doesn't sound good.»
I also read the text.
«Hm. It's similar to my [Bewitching], in a way. Both are protective abilities, usually harmless. But if overused on someone with no magic resistance…»
«… can induce obsession, potentially leading to mental and physical harm,» Stas finished, his tone serious. «Is this what's happening to Roman?»
«Most likely,» I confirmed. «And if not dispelled before the sun sets completely…»
«… the obsession will turn irreversible.»
The sudden realization of what Mom was riddling about made me fume. Darkness! Couldn't she just have said it clearly?!
Stas shot a glance at the sky.
«Then,» he stood up, «we better hurry.»
To be continued…