How to [Not] Outcharm a Succubus 8
I couldn't believe it worked. Adeĺ was completely sold, her eyes sparkled as she kept babbling about a giant, edible volleyball court. But there was no time for me to wonder as Roman stubbornly tried to wriggle out of my grip, his gaze fixated on Adeĺ. In desperation, I grabbed his face, forcing him to look at me.
«… E-e… What's up?» he asked, baffled by my sudden action.
«Nothing,» I replied quickly. «Just… want a closer look at your eyes! Yes!»
I leaned in, the last rays of the setting sun, reflecting in Roman's olive eyes, faded with each passing second.
«… Found something?» he shifted, his gaze drifting back toward Adeĺ.
«Your… eyelashes! They are quite long for a guy, aren't they?»
«… Long?»
«Yea, really! They remind me of giraffes'.»
Gods, what am I saying?!
Roman snorted. «Everything reminds you of giraffes. Remember when you dragged us to the zoo at night to pet one?»
«But they're cute!» I defended.
«Cute,» his eyes finally settled on me, «were you, hanging on the fence and yelling.»
His teasing stirred up embarrassing memories, making me wince. That time my skirt had snagged on the fence top, as we scurried away from the zoo's security, and I dangled there like a stuffed toy in a claw machine, while Roman and Stas laughed their heads off at me – their petty revenge for the time I laughed when the bouncers chased them all over the strip club. It's after that zoo visit I swore off skirts for our adventures.
Meanwhile, the heart-shaped glimmers in Roman's eyes started to fade, not disappearing completely though. Just one more push… His face was so close… Perhaps a kiss might do the trick. A real, Adeĺ-style kiss. But… Won't he brush me off like earlier on the beach?… Going through this again would feel quite… No! It's not about me right now! I must do it!
I glanced at Stas, seeking some sort of support, and…
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… my jaw dropped. Stas and Adeĺ were kissing, with her perched on his lap!
«S… Stas?!» I gasped in disbelief.
«Sorry…» he muttered between kisses, heart-shaped glimmers in his eyes. «Looks like she's got me too.»
You must be kidding!
Shocked, my grip on Roman loosened, and he swiftly turned back to Adeĺ. She welcomed him gleefully, now lavishing kisses on both boys. They cradled her between them, her arms draped over their shoulders, as she purred contentedly, reveling in their caresses and kisses.
«This… isn't happening…» I whispered, my eyes fixed on the scene before me.
Behind me, the final ray of the sun slipped away, giving way to the night…
… I failed… Miserably…
I couldn't save Roman, and even had lost Stas now. I only needed to counterbalance Adeĺ to stop it, but I failed even that. It meant to stand out, shining like she did – something I had never been good at, because… because…
Because you're a coward.
My breath hitched, vision blurred. It was true. My usual tactic of avoiding attention, effective in many situations, was useless for saving my friends.
Your [Bewitching] could have saved them.
Perhaps… If I had used it on Roman and Stas, they might not have succumbed to Adeĺ… But I would never do that!
Never? A coward, and a liar then? When they both confessed to you on the same day, was that not your doing? Can you swear?
… I couldn't.
I always watched Stas and Roman from the sidelines – an extra in their endless "battle royale". My role was minimal: Stas's nod acknowledging my grades, Roman's thumbs-up at the gym – that was the extent of the attention I received. And that was fine… until that day almost a year ago. Something shifted in me when I saw them after the summer break. They had changed so much. Or was it me who'd changed? For the first time, rather than just grabbing a popcorn bucket to enjoy the show, I wanted… to be noticed, recognized. Could that fleeting desire have triggered my [Bewitching]? I wonder. But both boys confessed to me soon after. I panicked, suppressing my power like a true coward. Yet lacking the courage to sever ties completely, I chose friendship…
Friendship? Who'd want a lying coward for a friend? It's still your [Bewitching], admit it… Though, now Adeĺ has outdone you even there.
This sparked my anger.
My friendship isn't fake! Still my [Bewitching]? Yes, I can't fully suppress it, but its influence must've been minimal! If it really had any power, I… I wouldn't lose!
O, really? Claim you'd outcharm a succubus? Show me.
I said no!
Coward.
Shut up!
Rage dried my tears. On second thought though… What did I have to lose? Things could have hardly gotten any worse, and if I had really doomed my friends to be obsessed with someone…
… It might as well be me!
To be continued…