The Succubus's Plaything

Chapter 58: Truth

Sara and I stay up in my room, allowing Hal and Valorie to finish whatever they're discussing, but after nearly half an hour of hearing absolutely nothing from downstairs, we decide to just head down. We are beginning to get hungry after all.

I pause when I see the sight before me.

Unsurprisingly, at this point in time, the table is all set and the food placed out. Immediately upon entering the room the pleasant scent of spiced chicken fills my nostrils.

Hal is seated on a chair, and Valorie is standing beside him. I miss something that Hal just said, but Valorie gently flicks him on the forehead before giggling.

"Cheer up. You have time to think about it." The context however is lost on me.

Noticing me and Sara's presences, Hal's face switched from a downcast and thoughtful to normal.

"I take it that the food is ready?" I am curious what they were discussing, but I figure that if I'm supposed to know I'll figure it out eventually anyway.

"Perfect time!" Mom smiles. "I was just about to get you two! The food is all ready."

...

Hal POV

Dinner was.. Awkward. But the delicious food more than made up for it. Well.. I guess the conversation wasn't that bad either.. But after being informed of my.. Loss of humanity.. I couldn't really engage in a natural feeling way..

"Is everything all right?" My sister asks me once we walk in through our front door together. Valorie had been so kind as to offer us a ride home, so we thankfully didn't have to take the train at this late hour.

"Yeah.." I answer, my voice comes out way more exhausted than I meant for it to.

"Okay.. Hey Hal? Can I ask you something?"

"Sure?"

"Why'd you hide that you and Inesa are dating?" It feels like my heart skips a couple beats when she asks me, but since her tone is genuinely caring, and non-confrontative, I calm down again.

I think through my reply before speaking. "When I realized that you two were best friends I thought it would be awkward.."

"That's a lie. Admit to the truth." That non-confrontative tone vanishes and does a one-eighty.

"W-what do you mean!?" What's with the sudden lie detector!? I mean, the real reason is that this- at least to start off with, was a situation which I didn't want to be in. And I didn't want to burn my last bridge!? But I can't say that!

"Please. I've known you for all your life. I know how you tick. And I've also known Inesa for many years. So think through your answer carefully."

"I- I didn't want to be a disappointment I guess?.." Unable to think with her green eyes piercing through my soul I take a random shot in the dark.

"Wrong. Look. Just admit what you and Inesa really are. I'm your sister." Wait.. An idea goes through my head.. Why is she speaking as if she already knows everything?.. Does she!? I suppose she and Inesa go way back.. Maybe Inesa told her about her non-human nature sometime in the past!?

One more glance into her eyes, and I know. She definitely knows. Fine. Here goes the truth.

"While.. It's true that I like Inesa.. And I hope she likes me back.. This arrangement occurred because Inesa needed someone's life energy to steal.. And I filled that role. So I guess what I'm trying to say is.. I didn't want to make it even more real by putting it into words for you?.. Although I guess that isn't really the current situation anymore.."

"Great. Now continue to tell the truth. It's pathetic when you lie." Sara turns around and walks away towards her room.

I release the deep breath that I didn't realize I was holding. That was a scary interaction..

Quickly I hang up my coat and decide to turn myself in to sleep as well.

...

In bed, I pull my covers halfway over myself, so that it neatly tucks underneath my armpits with my arms outside. Then twisting sideways to the left, I grab my phone that I had just placed on my bedside table in order to check my messages one last time before bed. I know this is technically a nono if I'm trying to get tired, but my eyes aren't heavy at all..

Yeah.. Like expected. Nothing. Who was I even expecting something from at this time? I mean, It's nearly midnight.

PLING

A yellow banner with a message from a number that I vaguely recognize pops up my screen. Who the heck is messaging me at this hour!?

Before opening the message and marking as read, I hold down my finger over the banner in order to check its contents.

"U asleep?"

I wrinkle my brows, who is this number again? I quickly check through my logs, and within a few seconds I realize it's Hina. Right. I forgot to actually mark her number like I had meant to.

Do I ignore it until tomorrow and pretend to be asleep? Or should I reply? I decide to reply sarcastically.

"Yup. I'm out like a log."

Before she has any time to write anything more, with a few button presses I add her number to my contacts under the name Class B Pres.

"Aww.. That's too bad.." Hina's next message appears with barely any delay.

"Any reason you're trying to reach me?"

"Is boredom a good enough reason?"

"I suppose it's not a bad reason.. But how come you're still up at this hour? If you're bored, why not just go to bed?"

"Today's been a pretty long day, and I haven't really gotten much time to really relax. So I don't want to let the day end quite yet. Although in another hour I'll definitely be in bed."

"Fair enough."

"And you?"

"Not really tired."

The "Class B Pres is writing.." icon appears on the screen a couple times, until Hina once more commits to sending a message.

"U alone?"

"Yup."

My screen goes blurry suddenly, with two icons appearing near the center. A red button and a green one. She's calling!?

-------------------

Hina: Wait, where's Lupus? And why are you here!?

Inesa: Iii.. Right back at you. Why are you here?

Hina: Because I'll be replacing you. You should be getting less and less screen time before quietly vanishing.. 

Inesa: ... That's not happening. 

Hina: And why's that? 

Inesa: Because Hal's in love with me. Duh.

Hina: Pfft. Whatever. He'll be in love with me too before long, and when that happens you'll be gone and forgotten. 

Inesa: That.. Isn't really possible.. But good luck I guess?

Hina: Heh, I won't be needing it.