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Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Hamlet Nunnery Scene Analysis
In this article, I will expound on the topics and procedures in the ââ¬Å"Nunneryâ⬠scene in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. The entirety of the focuses I am going to cover have been communicated through various vehicles for instance in film and broadcast emotional plays where the idea of Hamletââ¬â¢s outrage or utilization of abbey is seen to be diverse through creative permit and furthermore I will discuss the topics raised during the scene like defilement, double dealing, enthusiasm and betrayalThroughout all the adjustments of the ââ¬Å"Nunneryâ⬠scene, duplicity is an essential subject conveyed and continued. The all inclusive idea of double dealing in the scene is introduced by three. Hamlet is being kept an eye on, by Claudius and Polonius. The purpose behind this is the two of them become amazingly dubious of Hamlets current conduct. They are persuaded his new ââ¬Å"madnessâ⬠isn't certified. The manner in which they approach spying by utilizing Opheli a as a gadget to withdraw data for their very own advantage is a way double dealing is conveyed.Ophelia is misleading him; this is additionally a way the subject of trickiness is effectively brought through the scene, the way that Hamlet himself deceived Ophelia as protection instrument to get out Opheliaââ¬â¢s lies and to fortify the point that he has a far prevalent insight. Another gadgets or method that you could state that Shakespeare uses to make and keep up the misdirection in this scene is that, at whatever point Ophelia answers Hamlet, she needs detail and attempts to stay away from and abetting questions and imagine as though the inquiries were never asked.An case of this is when Hamlet asks ââ¬Å"Ha, ha, Are you fair? Ophelia answers ââ¬Å"My master ââ¬Å". Again Hamlet asks ââ¬Å"Are you reasonable ââ¬Å". Furthermore, he gets this answer from Ophelia ââ¬Å"What mean you lordshipâ⬠. This is an away from of her slowing down or ââ¬Ëbeating around the bushà ¢â¬â¢ in a manner of speaking, to discover future time up with an answer that would trap her out as a government operative and a liar. In each and every Adaptation and performance of the play, the feeling of dread and disarray in Opheliaââ¬â¢s voice is incredibly obvious. As I would see it this dread she has begins from two potential scenarios.Firstly; she is uncovered as a liar. Furthermore; she neglects to increase any convincing data from Hamlet and this would prompt the likelihood her dad and Claudius wouldnââ¬â¢t be excessively satisfied with her seeing as they put to an extreme degree an excess of exertion in to this activity and its probability of accomplishment. I can say this since Claudius and Polonius both went to the degree of listening in on Ophelia so no detail was missed and furthermore to take out the likelihood that Ophelia would manufacture a few components of her discussion/showdown with Hamlet to secure him.Corruption and selling out are two topics that c onnect to one another fairly well. Debasement is far more clear and progressively obvious as it is conveyed all through the entire play. It is available by the reality Claudius makes it his crucial pulverize Hamlet, so he can keep the seat he ached for a long while seeing as he slaughtered his own sibling to get it. The main way he can discover what Hamlet is believing is by utilizing Ophelia as a temporary employable to remove the data they need. They do this as Ophelia is just individual other than his mom he can completely trust.However selling out is increasingly mind boggling. It is shown in the purported ââ¬Å"Turning pointâ⬠of the Nunnery scene, there are a few opportunities for this relying upon the sort of adjustment the primary ones are: when Hamlet asks ââ¬Å"Whereââ¬â¢s you Fatherâ⬠and furthermore when a commotion (A sound made by either Polonius or Claudius) is heard by Hamlet. In the Mel Gibson variant of Hamlet there is no commotion yet a shadow seen by Hamlet, additionally in the contemporary Ethan Hawke Version when Hamlet approaches Ophelia for an embrace he feels the wire planted on Ophelia to keep an eye on him.However in the Kozintsev rendition this ââ¬Å"Turning pointâ⬠shows up a lot prior it isn't as climatic and constant as different adjustments. This revelation made by Hamlet in the entirety of its structures opens up the torpid doubts and reservations of Ophelia concocted by Hamlet. The motivation behind why his doubts were lethargic was that Hamlet by and large is a despairing youngster who has been kept from going to college, his dad dead and he realizes who murdered him and heââ¬â¢s now wedded to his mom as we as a whole know. Hamlet consistently wears both dark or unexciting dull hues like earthy colored, dim and a dim red in his clothing.The reality is, Ophelia is all things considered, his sweetheart and conceivably a potential spouse along these lines she is an individual of an incredible significance in his life. On the off chance that Hamlet had given her access his life, he plainly would have never expect edto have been sold out by her by any stretch of the imagination. Seeing as Hamlet is an amazingly perplexing and conceivably crazy character so This causes his relentless wrath which in itself is another topic in the Nunnery scene, which is conveyed till the end where he storms out while he yells that he realize he is dependent upon secret activities and he is being deceived. ââ¬Å"God ath given you a face and you proceed to make yourself anotherâ⬠. He isnââ¬â¢t upbeat about it (obviously) and he threateningly advises Ophelia to go to a cloister. ââ¬Å"To a convent go! â⬠Love and Passion in a sexual/relationship setting, are two different topics that drive both Ophelia and Hamlet to get things done, respond or act a specific route in the Nunnery. In all actuality they are both in affection but since of the complexities in the earth wherein they live and furt hermore the steady impedance of their relationship by others, for example, Opheliaââ¬â¢s father Polonius. No my great ruler, yet I did as you order, I repulse his letters and denied his entrance to meââ¬Å". These are the directions Polonius gave to Ophelia much before the Nunnery Scene in act 2 scene 1. Beginning from ââ¬Å"Turning pointâ⬠Hamlet utilizes his affection for Ophelia as a weapon against her multiple times. A case of this is the point at which he says: ââ¬Å"I cherished you notââ¬Å", ââ¬Å"I loved you onceâ⬠and ââ¬Å"I state we have no mo marriagesâ⬠.Hamlet does this since he has recently demonstrated his internal character to Ophelia by confiding in her and to show that he really furious he should utilize a weapon that Ophelia can see through or expect and furthermore a weapon that he has utilized against her before particularly his adoration for her as she never questioned. The topic of enthusiasm anyway is depicted in Hamletââ¬â¢s outrag e, his response shows his mistake in Ophelia, by shaking her and grasping her firmly and in certain adjustments e. g. the Branagh and Lawrence Olivier rendition Hamlet physical strikes her.This is the one of the most clear signs of the force of the adoration the two of them shared and the cherished they were denied. The set and the setting have a significant influence in heightening the subjects clarified above all through the Nunnery scene. The nonexclusive setting or premise of all the setting in the scene for all the adjustments is Elsinore Castle, the areas that are most ordinarily utilized are the yard or a huge corridor. In the BBC form happens in an extremely encased space, oddly this is one of the main rendition where outwardly it Hamlet shows positively no resentment at all and show empathy rather to Ophelia and feels sorry for her.However in the other whole form I have seen the setting helps makes a threatening and delicate condition, where village is capable do utilize th e acoustic to extend his voice and furthermore unexpectedly to help Claudius and Polonius to listen stealthily. In many forms the Openness as space where the scene happens makes a feeling of introduction and instability for the two characters particularly for Ophelia as she is caught both genuinely by Hamlet and intellectually/sincerely by her Claudius and Polonius on the grounds that she needs to finish her ââ¬Ëmissionââ¬â¢ doled out to her. Another Technique utilized in the Nunnery scene is the exchange and the contention inside it.These procedures are the principle part of the subject of duplicity and treachery; this is the thing that brings these to topics through the scene and thusly the remainder of the play. As referenced the utilization of non-serious inquiries and mockery particularly in Hamletââ¬â¢s tone. For instance: ââ¬Å"That is you be straightforward and reasonable your genuineness ought to concede no talk to your beautyâ⬠this is an away from of Hamlet ââ¬â¢s mockery and non-serious inquiry. The trigger for this type of correspondence is the unexpected tending to of Hamlet in a conventional manner when they never talk in that way.The struggle in the discourse likewise assists with knowing Ophelia is lying. ââ¬Å"My regarded ruler, you realize right well you did â⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ¦.. Take these again for the honorable brain , rich blessings wax poor when providers demonstrate unkindâ⬠. The mix of sound similarity and similar sounding word usage in Opheliaââ¬â¢s line neglects to make her unconstrained and authentic it rather makes it sound practiced and phony. Additionally after Opheliaââ¬â¢s bombed endeavor to bamboozle villa in think he gave the recognitions. His reaction ââ¬Å"Ha, ha would you say you are straightforward? â⬠shows his far predominant keenness.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
District Size And The Distribution Of Seats Essay Example for Free
Region Size And The Distribution Of Seats Essay The size of the region or the locale greatness alludes to the quantity of contender to be chosen from that area. Contingent upon this number of seats, they can either be alluded to as single-part or multimember locale. A solitary part area has a solitary seat while the multimember locale have a few seats with the base number being two; a two-part region. Discretionary procedure recipes; majority and larger part equations can be applied to both this sort of regions while the relative portrayal (PR) and the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) are applied to just multimember regions running from two-part locale to the entire country where all the individuals from parliament are chosen from (Lijphart, pg. 150). The area size strongly affects proportionality and the quantity of gatherings in two regards (Lijphart, pg. 50). Studies conveyed put by Horwill (1925) and, Taagepera and Shugarts (1989) have emphatically upheld this. As a matter of first importance, it influences both majority and PR frameworks yet in a negating way. While expanding the size of the locale will build disproportionality by preferring the bigger gatherings with the utilization of majority and lion's share frameworks, it is the other way around with the PR frameworks as it prompts more noteworthy relatively by preferring the littler gatherings. A genuine guide to represent this with respect to majority is a challenge between party An and B in a territory where An appreciates a more prominent notoriety than B. An is probably going to take all the seats if the zone is a three-part locale which is probably not going to be the situation if the zone is partitioned into three single-part areas; B might have the option to catch one. In most majority cases, multimember areas are littler than single-part regions with uncommon cases being found in nations like Mauritius (Lijphart, pg. 151). It has twenty three-part regions and one two-part regions creating an aggregate of sixty-two officials. It ought to be noticed that multimember areas have been on the decay due the way that it builds disproportionality. In any case, it ought to be noticed that in Mauritius that the three-part locale have improved another sort of proportionality by empowering gatherings and gathering unions to choose ethnically and strictly adjusted states (Lijphart, pg. 152) which has brought about a superior portrayal of the minority gatherings. Another point to note is that the size of the region shifts significantly in the PR frameworks dissimilar to in majority and greater part frameworks (Lijphart, pg. 152) having it effect more noteworthy on the proportionality being accomplished. A gathering speaking to a 10 percent minority is probably going to be effective in a ten-part area which may not be the situation in a five-part region. An across the nation region in this way is ideal for a relative interpretation of votes into seats (Lijphart, pg. 152) with Israel and Netherlands being the two models with such PR frameworks. Two degrees of regions are typically utilized by numerous individuals of the rundown PR nations to appreciate the upsides of a closer voter-delegate contact in little areas and the higher proportionality of enormous across the nation locale (Lijphart, pg. 152). Bigger regions improve proportionality in the littler locale as on account of blended part relative (MMP) frameworks yet they are less articulated in the littler multimember list PR regions than in the MMP single-part regions. Denmark, Norway and Sweden are instances of nations applying the two-layered rundown PR frameworks with an across the country region.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Dewey, Thomas Edmund
Dewey, Thomas Edmund Dewey, Thomas Edmund, 1902â"71, American political figure, governor (1943â"55) of New York, b. Owosso, Mich. Admitted (1925) to the bar, Dewey practiced law and in 1931 became chief assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. After briefly serving (1933) as U.S. attorney, he was appointed (1935) special prosecutor to investigate organized crime and was elected (1937) district attorney of New York county. He won a national reputation for racket-busting. He was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor of New York in 1938, but was elected governor in 1942. In 1944 he won the Republican presidential nomination, but he lost the election to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Reelected (1946) governor, Dewey again ran for President on the Republican ticket in 1948 and, contrary to general expectation, lost the election to Harry S. Truman by a close margin. He was reelected governor of New York in 1950, and resumed private law practice on completion of his term (195 5). He wrote Journey to the Far Pacific (1952) after a tour of East Asia, and Thomas E. Dewey on the Two Party System (1966). See biographies by B. K. Beyer (1979) and R. N. Smith (1982). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies
Friday, May 22, 2020
The Revolution Of The Revolutionary Revolution - 1195 Words
Hunter Sharp Mon/Wed 2:15 Final Paper There have been revolutions which were dominated by important personalities, creating personalist regimes. Revolutionary leaders including Napoleon Bonaparte, Vladimir Lenin, and Fidel Castro have been both an embodiment of revolutionary ideas and an antithesis to many of the original ideals of their respective revolutions. Napoleon Bonaparte During the French Revolution, the poor and oppressed majority are fighting to get a place in society, and get natural rights regardless of their social class. Napoleon rapidly rose through the ranks of the military and emerges as a leader then Napoleon gains power and becomes an antithesis to the original ideals of the revolution. Some of the laws, orders, and the Napoleonic Code created when Napoleon was emperor of France shows that he did become an antithesis to many of the original ideals of the revolution. Although Napoleon did give the oppressed French some rights, he still went against the original idea of the French Revolution which was to give every Frenchmen their natural rights regardless of their social class or gender. According to the Napoleonic code divorce was made a little easier for women, but they still did not have rights. Girls were also not allowed to go to school, while boys were allowed. Napoleon censored the press from releasing negative articles about him which violated freedom of the press. Napoleon further became an antithesis when he forced Germans to go into the FrenchShow MoreRelatedThe Revolutionary Revolution And The Revolution913 Words à |à 4 Pagesnation. First, he believed that only by using a ââ¬Å"triple allianceâ⬠of cadres, revolutionary organizations and the arm y, which represented the most significant three parts in the revolution, could China go back to the right track. In order to consolidate this alliance, Maoist leaders declared that a ââ¬Å"revolutionary committeeâ⬠was necessary and the only way to reorganize the political power (Meisner, 331). However, the revolutionary spirits were not under Maoââ¬â¢s control anymore. The proletariat classes, byRead MoreThe Revolution Of The Revolutionary Revolution1420 Words à |à 6 Pagesto exploit China for economic gain. The Chinese immediately renounced imperialism. The revolution that took place in China from 1839 to the present was in part a reaction to the aggressive advancements of imperialism. A pattern arose, A power would impose itââ¬â¢s will on China, and China was too weak to defend itself. This angered the Chinese people and pushed them toward revolution. The leader of the revolution, Mao Tse-tung, wrote about how each altercation with imperialists influenced a Chinese responseRead MoreThe American Revolution Revolutionary Revolution1329 Words à |à 6 Pages At its fundamental core the American Revolution was fought over liberty and freedom. It was a movement marked by action which upset the political order of the eighteenth century. However, if all the American Revolution achieved was breaking the yoke of empirical control its lasting importance would have been lost amongst the scores of colonial revolutions that came before it, such as the Dutchââ¬â¢s break from the Spanish or the Corsicans overthrow of the Genoese. Influenced by the period of enlightenmentRead MoreThe Iranian Revolution And The Revolutionary Revolution1313 Words à |à 6 PagesThe Iranian Revolution was its climax in 1979 with the Revolutionary goal being met by its supports. Supporters of the revolution stood mixed in their goals for a new Iran. The Islamic Extremist lead by Ayatollah Khomeini wanted to install an Islamic regime inside of Iran that would follow Islamic law. Religious clerics viewed the Shah as not being a positive leader of Iran and wanted him overthrown and the country left as is. Iranians such as the middle class and students wanted to install an IslamicRead MoreThe Revolutionary Revolution And The Mexican Revolution2470 Words à |à 10 PagesMexicans in Revolution, 1910-1946: An Introduction, ââ¬Å"The roots of the Revolution reached back to the successful programs of the government of Porfirio Dà az and his regime, called the Porfiriato, that governed the republic from 1876 to 1911.â⬠1 Francisco Madero, a representative for the common people and a candidate in the presidential election in 1910, promoted a resistance that opposed the reelection of Diaz. Eventually, the struggle to overthrow Diaz resulted in the Mexican Revolution. Maderoââ¬â¢s forcesRead MoreWas The American Revolution Revolutionary?1549 Words à |à 7 Pageswhat extent was the American Revolution revolutionary, one must define qualifications to accredit such a revolution. Is a revolution defined as a complete and utmost overthrow of an established government by a new regime? Or is a revolution defined as a subversive change in societal values/roles that changes the structures of a pre-existing social order? Or possibly both? In light of both definitions, one can evaluate that the American Revolution was indeed revolutionary because American colonistsRead MoreHow Revolutionary Was The Revolution?1197 Words à |à 5 PagesHow Revolutionary was the Revolution? Creating the United States was not easy from the start, but instead it took much sacrifice to become what it is today. There were many factors that helped this nation grow from just the original settlers that discovered America. Some of these issues were more monumental than others, such as the political problems we faced in the beginning. Political conflict could easily be named the largest problem in early colonial history. Early colonists had to learnRead MoreThe Revolutionary Revolution, By John Adams1198 Words à |à 5 Pagesthinking exemplifies the real American Revolution; As a whole, his statement enraptures many different subjects ranging from religion, to politics, to social beliefs, and the actions and consequences that they cause. Revolution begins in the body and soul of the people, for motivation for change is what a revolution embodies. Once aware of the wrongs being committed against them, the ruling authorities no longer had the power of control. Like any great revolution, the oppressed will first become awareRead MoreThe Revolutionary War And The American Revolution915 Words à |à 4 PagesThe American Revolution was an important turning point in that process as it marked the beginning of the end slavery in the northern states and, by contrast, its intensification in most of the southern states. When I think about how the Revolutionary War affected enslaved African Americans it was quite interesting. After reading the testimony of one the ex slave right around the the time of the Revolutionary War still seemed harsh. Samuel Elliot was born into slavery and was a farmer. When many ofRead MoreMao Zedong : The Revolutionary Revolution1607 Words à |à 7 PagesIf you applied the chaos theory to Chinas Revo lution, Mao Zedong would most definitely be the butterfly whose wings set off a series of disasters in China. He assembled the Chinese youth in 1966, to initiate the ââ¬Å"Cultural Revolutionâ⬠. This revolution was a violent operation eliminating thoughts, customs, old Chinese culture, and habits, removing ââ¬Å"counter-revolutionaryâ⬠party members, and heightening Maoââ¬â¢s personality cult . In this paper, I will condense evidence collected from books, documents
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Addiction Drugs And Alcohol - 1001 Words
Addiction in Many Forms Addiction is awfully commonly associated with drugs and alcohol. Addiction is not only related to drugs or alcohol, but it is also tied with things and activities. Addiction to drugs or alcohol are quite similar yet slightly different to addictions to activities and other things. Addiction to drugs and alcohol over time leads to a buildup of tolerance, causing the user to need more of what they are addicted to in order to experience the same or more of an effect than they once needed to attain the same effect. They take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. Addicts start putting people close to you at risk and jeopardizing your social life just for a little more of what you are addicted to. Addiction to anâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Sheff said, ââ¬Å"Nic has been gone for six days, and my desperation has built to a frenzy. I have never experienced grief congeneric to this. I spend frantic hours on the internet reading harrowing stories of children on drugs.â⬠(Sheff 117). Sheff shows he spent an excessive amount of time worrying for his son, thinking about him and researching what he is likely experiencing. this could relate to the withdrawal from a drug from an addict. The drug is Nic, and without Nic, David panics. Sheff spends every waking minute thinking about Nic similarly to how Nic spends his time thinking about his next high. Sheff loses much of his life to his son s addiction. David is in constant fear that his son may start using again, or even die. When Sheff thinks he is over the fact that his son is addicted to meth, he quickly realizes he will never truly be over it. Sheff writes about a moment where he thinks he is content with the fact that he could be cut off from his son, Nic, ââ¬Å"Nic used to send me into a panic, but now - today, at least, today at this moment, at least - I am alright with the concept. But then I think, Nic could dieâ⬠¦ I would miss all of it. I miss it now.â⬠(Sheff 268 - 269). Sheff emphasizes that no matter how much he tries, he will always depend on Nicââ¬â¢s safety and well being for his own happiness. Even as David s uttermost peaceful moment through his son s addiction to meth, he still misses and cares for him, breaking down and
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Succubus Blues CHAPTER 13 Free Essays
Carter picked up a book and leafed through it lazily. His stringy blond hair had been stuffed under a backward baseball cap, and his flannel shirt appeared to have seen better days. ââ¬Å"Looking for altar supplies?â⬠he asked me without glancing up. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Blues CHAPTER 13 or any similar topic only for you Order Now ââ¬Å"Or maybe here to brush up on your astrology?â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s none of your business why Iââ¬â¢m here,â⬠I snapped back, too flustered at the sight of him to think of anything funny or even plausible. The gray eyes looked up. ââ¬Å"Does Jerome know youââ¬â¢re here?â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not his business either. Why? Are you going to tattle on me?â⬠My words came out boldly, though part of me kept thinking if Carter really was the one behind the attacks, Iââ¬â¢d have a lot more to worry about than Jeromeââ¬â¢s wrath. ââ¬Å"Maybe.â⬠He closed the book, holding it between his palms. ââ¬Å"Of course, I suspect the long-term entertainment value will be greater for me if I just keep quiet and let your schemes proceed uninterrupted.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know what ââ¬Ëschemesââ¬â¢ youââ¬â¢re talking about. Canââ¬â¢t a girl go shopping without getting the third degree? You donââ¬â¢t hear me grilling you about why youââ¬â¢re here.â⬠The truth was, I burned to know what he was doing. It didnââ¬â¢t surprise me that he knew Erik ââ¬â we all did ââ¬â but finding him here in light of everything that had happened lately only furthered my suspicions. ââ¬Å"Me?â⬠He held up the book heââ¬â¢d been glancing through. Teach Yourself Witchcraft in 30 Days or Less. ââ¬Å"I need to make up for lost time.â⬠ââ¬Å"Cute,â⬠I acknowledged. ââ¬Å"Commendation from a master. Iââ¬â¢m honored. Have I given you sufficient time to come up with an equally cute alibi?â⬠He set the book down. ââ¬Å"Miss Kincaid.â⬠Erik shuffled into the room before I could answer. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m so pleased to see you. My friend just dropped off the earrings you asked for.â⬠I stared, momentarily puzzled, and then I remembered the pearl necklace, as well as the earrings Iââ¬â¢d offhandedly requested. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m glad he was able to do it so quickly.â⬠ââ¬Å"Nice recovery,â⬠conceded Carter in an undertone. I ignored him. Erik opened a small box for me, and I peered inside. Three tiny strands of freshwater pearls, just like the ones from the necklace, dangled from the delicate copper wires of each earring. ââ¬Å"Theyââ¬â¢re beautiful,â⬠I told him. I meant it. ââ¬Å"Thank your friend. I have a dress these will look great with.â⬠ââ¬Å"That must be a relief,â⬠noted Carter, watching Erik ring the earrings up at the counter. ââ¬Å"Proper accessories, I mean. Cody tells me youââ¬â¢re doing a lot of dating these days. I donââ¬â¢t suppose you read the book I sent you.â⬠I slid my credit card over to Erik. Cody had seen my male entourage at the dance lesson, but Iââ¬â¢d only told him about my subsequent date with Roman yesterday. ââ¬Å"When did you talk to Cody?â⬠ââ¬Å"Last night.â⬠ââ¬Å"Funny, so did I. And here you are today. Are you following me around?â⬠Carterââ¬â¢s eyes danced merrily. ââ¬Å"I was here first. Maybe youââ¬â¢re following me around. Maybe youââ¬â¢re starting to get into this dating thing and want to find a cunning way to come on to me.â⬠I signed the credit card slip and handed it back to a quiet, listening Erik. ââ¬Å"Sorry. I like my men to have a bit more life in them.â⬠Carter chuckled quietly at my joke. Sex with other immortals gave me no energy payoff. ââ¬Å"Georgina, sometimes I think you might be worth following around, just to hear what youââ¬â¢ll say next.â⬠Erik looked up. If he felt discomfort at being in the crossfire of two immortals, he did not show it. ââ¬Å"Then perhaps youââ¬â¢d like to join us for tea, Mr. Carter? You were going to stay, werenââ¬â¢t you, Miss Kincaid?â⬠I gave Erik one of my better smiles. ââ¬Å"Yes, of course.â⬠ââ¬Å"Mr. Carter?â⬠ââ¬Å"Thank you, but no. Iââ¬â¢ve got things to do, and from the way I understand it, Georgina operates best one man at a time. It was nice seeing you as always, Erik. Thanks for chatting. As for you, Georginaâ⬠¦ well, Iââ¬â¢m sure Iââ¬â¢ll be seeing you very soon.â⬠Something in those words chilled me. It took every ounce of my resolve to sound calm as I called out to him. ââ¬Å"Carter?â⬠His hands touched the door. Pausing, he glanced back at me and arched an eyebrow in acknowledgment. ââ¬Å"Does Jerome know youââ¬â¢re here?â⬠A slow, sly smile spread across the angelââ¬â¢s face. ââ¬Å"Are you going to tattle on me now, Georgina? And here I thought we were making such progress. Perhaps we should have drawn out the small talk a bit more. You could have asked me if the weather would change soon, I might have commented how pretty you looked today, etc., etc. You know how it goes.â⬠I blinked. His words this time invoked the note on my door. You are a beautiful woman, Georgina. Beautiful enough, I think, to even tempt angels into fallingâ⬠¦ Was he leaving me more clues? Toying with me in the way Cody had suggested? Or was I reading too much into this? Was he still just annoying Carter, bane of my existence, tormenting me like always? I honestly didnââ¬â¢t know, but I still believed of all angels to be taking down evil immortals in the city, Carter had the most opportunity. ââ¬Å"How pretty am I then?â⬠My voice caught slightly. ââ¬Å"Pretty enough to fall for?â⬠The angelââ¬â¢s lips twitched. ââ¬Å"I knew you were coming on to me. See you later, Georgina, Erik.â⬠He opened the door and left. I stood there, watching his retreating figure. ââ¬Å"What was he doing here?â⬠Erik set a tray with two cups down on the small table. ââ¬Å"Come now, Miss Kincaid. I keep your secrets. You canââ¬â¢t expect me to do any less for him.â⬠ââ¬Å"No, I suppose not.â⬠Nor, I thought as the old man went to get the teapot, did I want to risk endangering him by getting him caught up in immortal affairs. Well, at least caught up more than he already was. He returned shortly and poured for us. ââ¬Å"I had just put this on before you came in. Iââ¬â¢m glad youââ¬â¢re here to share it.â⬠I tasted it. Another herbal blend. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s this one called?â⬠ââ¬Å"Desire.â⬠ââ¬Å"Fitting,â⬠I observed. Angels and conspiracies aside, I still hungered for Roman. ââ¬Å"Did you find out anything?â⬠ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m afraid not. I asked around but learned nothing more about vampire hunters, nor did I get any indication of one in the area.â⬠ââ¬Å"That doesnââ¬â¢t surprise me.â⬠I sipped the tea. ââ¬Å"I think something else is going on.â⬠He said nothing, prudent as ever. ââ¬Å"I know you wonââ¬â¢t tell me why he was here, and I understand thatâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I trailed off, determining how best to phrase my words. ââ¬Å"But what do youâ⬠¦ what do you think of him? Carter, that is. Has he done anything weird or seemed, I donââ¬â¢t know, suspicious? Secretive?â⬠Erik gave me a droll look. ââ¬Å"Begging your pardon, but I have a number of customers ââ¬â yourself inclusive ââ¬â who fit that description.â⬠No doubt that was an understatement. ââ¬Å"Well, then, I donââ¬â¢t know. Do you trust him?â⬠ââ¬Å"Mr. Carter?â⬠Surprise registered across his features. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve known him longer than I have you. If any of those ââ¬Ësuspicious and secretiveââ¬â¢ customers can be trusted, he is certainly first among them. Iââ¬â¢d place my life in his hands.â⬠No surprise there. If Carter could fool Jerome, he could surely fool a mortal as well. Shifting gears, I asked: ââ¬Å"Do you know anything about fallen angels?â⬠ââ¬Å"I would think you are already familiar with that topic, Miss Kincaid.â⬠I wondered if he referred to the company I kept or the old myth that succubi were demons. For the record, we arenââ¬â¢t. ââ¬Å"Never ask a practitioner if you want to learn about a religionââ¬â¢s history. Save those questions for outside scholars.â⬠ââ¬Å"Very true.â⬠He smiled, thinking as he brought the cup to his lips. ââ¬Å"Well. Surely you know that demons are angels who turned away from the divine will. They rebelled, or as it is commonly referred to, ââ¬Ëfell.ââ¬â¢ Lucifer is generally accredited as being the first, and others left with him.â⬠ââ¬Å"That was in the beginning, though, right? One mass migration to the other side.â⬠I frowned, still wondering about the technicalities of when angels fell. ââ¬Å"What about later? Was that the only time it happened? Just that once?â⬠Erik shook his head. ââ¬Å"My impression is that it can happen still and has happened in the past. There are even documents suggesting ââ¬â ââ¬Å" The door opened, and a young couple walked in. Erik rose and smiled at them. ââ¬Å"Do you have any books on tarot?â⬠the girl asked. ââ¬Å"For beginners?â⬠Did he ever. Erik had a whole wall of them. The interruption frustrated me, but I didnââ¬â¢t want to disrupt a chance for him to do some business. I gestured him toward the couple, drinking the rest of my tea. He led them to the appropriate section, energetically explaining certain titles and questioning their needs in further detail. I picked up my coat and purse, along with a box of the Desire tea. Erik watched me set a ten-dollar bill on the counter. ââ¬Å"Keep the change,â⬠I told him. Pausing from his discussion with the couple, he remarked to me, ââ¬Å"Checkâ⬠¦ letââ¬â¢s see, I believe itââ¬â¢s the beginning of Genesis 6â⬠¦ verse 2 or 4 perhaps? There might be something to help you in there.â⬠ââ¬Å"Genesis? Like in the Bible?â⬠He nodded, and I glanced around the book-lined shelves. ââ¬Å"Where is it?â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t stock it, Miss Kincaid. I suspect your own resources will be more than adequate.â⬠He returned to his customers, and I left, marveling at a man who could pull up biblical verses by number but not have a copy on hand. Still, he was right about me having ample resources, and my shift started soon anyway. I drove back to Queen Anne and found the street parking full. Digging my permit out from the glove box, I hung it on my rearview mirror and pulled into the tiny, private parking lot bordering an alley behind the bookstore. So many employees wanted to use the lot, I generally tried to avoid it when I could. As I walked toward the store, I caught sight of two cars pulled hood to hood and a redheaded figure leaning over them. Tammi. I liked the teenager a lot, but she also had a tendency to chat. Not wanting to delay my biblical search, I stepped into some shadows and shape-shifted into a nondescript man she wouldnââ¬â¢t know. I then walked on past her, barely getting a second glance as she jumped the car. I changed back to my normal body once I was out of sight again. A momentary sense of windedness hit me, gone just as quickly as it had arrived. Cross-gender shape-shifting always took a bite out of me, which was why I had resisted Peterââ¬â¢s silly haircut-modeling suggestion. I had probably just lost a few daysââ¬â¢ worth of my Martin-induced energy surplus. That left me with a couple weeks at least, but I felt the succubus feeding need stir slightly within me anyway, no doubt agitated by my perpetual longing for Roman. The bookstore hummed with normal weekday business when I arrived. Immediately, I sought out our religion section. I had directed people to it on a number of occasions; I had even pulled select titles from it. What I had not done was pay close attention to just how many Bibles existed. ââ¬Å"Jesus,â⬠I muttered, staring at the various translations. There were Bibles for women and men respectively, Bibles for teens, illustrated Bibles, large-print Bibles, gold-embossed Bibles. At last I caught sight of the King James Version. I knew little about it, but at least I recognized the title. Pulling it off the shelf, I flipped to Genesis 6 and read Erikââ¬â¢s passage: And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, ââ¬ËMy spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.ââ¬â¢ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. Well. That cleared everything up. I reread the passage a few more times, hoping to get something more out of it. I finally determined Erik must have given me the wrong chapter number. Heââ¬â¢d been distracted, after all. This passage, by my estimation, had nothing to do with angels, falling, or even the cosmic battle of good and evil. What it did seem to be about, however, was human procreation. It didnââ¬â¢t take a biblical scholar to figure out what ââ¬Å"the sons of God came in unto the daughters of menâ⬠meant, especially when children followed in the next phrase. Sex had sold books back in the old days, just as it did now. I wondered if Erik had given me the passage number as a joke. ââ¬Å"Are you finding religion?â⬠I looked up first into a Pac-Man T-shirt, then into Sethââ¬â¢s inquisitive face. ââ¬Å"Found and lost it a long time ago, Iââ¬â¢m afraid.â⬠I shut the book as he knelt down beside me. ââ¬Å"Just looking up something. How are Cady and Oââ¬â¢Neill today?â⬠ââ¬Å"Making good progress on their latest case.â⬠He smiled fondly, and I found myself studying the amber-brown of his eyes. Iââ¬â¢d had a few more e-mail exchanges with him in the last few days and enjoyed my mininovels, though our spoken conversation had seen little improvement. ââ¬Å"I just finished a chapter and needed to take a break. Walk around, get something to drink.â⬠ââ¬Å"No caffeine, I presume.â⬠I had learned Seth didnââ¬â¢t drink caffeinated beverages, which I found both frightening and unnatural. ââ¬Å"No. No caffeine.â⬠ââ¬Å"You shouldnââ¬â¢t knock it. It might increase your writing output.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah yes, thatââ¬â¢s right. You donââ¬â¢t think my books come out fast enough.â⬠I groaned, remembering the day Iââ¬â¢d met him. ââ¬Å"I think my own words came out a little too fast that first day.â⬠ââ¬Å"No way. You were brilliant. Iââ¬â¢ll never forget it.â⬠His quizzical mask slipped briefly, just as it had at the dance lesson, and I once again saw male interest and appreciation cross his features. Crouching beside him, I again had a momentary sense of naturalness, like I normally had with Doug or one of the immortals. Something friendly and soothing. Like Seth and I had known each other forever. Maybe I had, in a manner of speaking, through his books. And yet, at the same time, being this close to him proved disconcerting as well. Distracting. I began noticing things like the lean muscles in his arms and the way his messy brown hair framed his face. Even the gold sheen of light hitting his facial hair and the shape of his lips held my attention. Turning away, I felt the base thirst for life energy twitch in me, and I repressed the urge to reach out and touch his face. The outside shape-shifting had caused more damage than I realized. I still didnââ¬â¢t really require a true refill of energy, but the succubus instinct was getting irritable. I needed to squelch it soon, but certainly not with Seth. I stood up hastily, still holding the Bible, wanting to get away from him. He rose with me. ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠I began awkwardly when neither of us said anything for a few moments, ââ¬Å"I need to get to work here.â⬠He nodded, the interest in his face turning to apprehension. ââ¬Å"Iâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬Å"Hmm?â⬠Swallowing, he looked away briefly then back to me, his eyes now focused with determination. ââ¬Å"So, Iââ¬â¢m going to this party on Sunday, and I wondered if maybeâ⬠¦ maybe if you werenââ¬â¢t busy or werenââ¬â¢t working, you could maybe, that is, maybe youââ¬â¢d want to come with me.â⬠I stared, speechless. Had Seth Mortensen just asked me out? And hadnââ¬â¢tâ⬠¦ hadnââ¬â¢t we just had a coherent conversation for once? Combined with me suddenly noticing how attractive he was, the very world seemed to be turning on its side. Worse still, I wanted to accept. Something about Seth suddenly felt natural and right, even if it wasnââ¬â¢t like the rollercoaster of excitement I felt with Roman. Somewhere in this bizarre, awkward relationship, Iââ¬â¢d grown to genuinely like the writer independent of his novels. But I couldnââ¬â¢t accept. I knew I couldnââ¬â¢t. I cursed myself for my initial flirtation; it had apparently stuck with him, despite my efforts to undo it and stay platonic. Part of me felt dismayed, part of me pleased. All of me knew what I had to do. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I answered bluntly, still stunned. ââ¬Å"Oh.â⬠I had no choice. No way could I have Seth attracted to me. No way could I risk anything but an armââ¬â¢s-length friendship with my favorite booksââ¬â¢ creator. Realizing how rude I had sounded, I attempted a hasty recovery. I should have simply said I had to work, but instead, I found myself babbling on with a variant of what I had used on Doug over the years. ââ¬Å"You seeâ⬠¦ Iââ¬â¢m not really interested in dating right now or getting involved with anyone. So, itââ¬â¢s nothing personal, I mean, the party sounds great and all, but I just canââ¬â¢t accept. I donââ¬â¢t ever accept things like that, actually. Like I said, it isnââ¬â¢t personal. Itââ¬â¢s just easier not to get involved. To not date. Um, ever.â⬠Seth studied me for a long time, considering, and I was suddenly reminded of that first night when he looked much the same way while I explained my five-page rule with his books. Finally, he said, ââ¬Å"Oh. Okay. Butâ⬠¦ arenââ¬â¢t you dating that guy? The really tall one with black hair?â⬠ââ¬Å"No. Weââ¬â¢re not dating. Not really. Weââ¬â¢re just, uh, friends. Sort of.â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh,â⬠Seth repeated. ââ¬Å"Friends donââ¬â¢t go to parties together, then?â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠I hesitated, suddenly wishing I had a different answer. ââ¬Å"They can maybe have coffee sometimes. Here in the bookstore.â⬠ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t drink coffee.â⬠There was a sharpness to his voice. I felt like Iââ¬â¢d been slapped. We stood there then in what was quite possibly among the top five most uncomfortable moments of my life. The silence stretched out between us. At last, I repeated my lame exit excuse: ââ¬Å"I have to get back to work.â⬠ââ¬Å"Okay. See you around.â⬠Just friends, just friends. How many times had I used that line? How many times had the lie been easier than facing up to the truth? Iââ¬â¢d even used it on my husband so long ago, again hiding from the reality of a matter I didnââ¬â¢t want to admit to when things had turned sour between us. ââ¬Å"Just friends?â⬠Kyriakos had repeated, dark eyes staring at me. ââ¬Å"Of course. Heââ¬â¢s your friend too, you know. He just keeps me company when youââ¬â¢re gone, thatââ¬â¢s all. Itââ¬â¢s lonely without you.â⬠But I never told my husband how often his friend Ariston came to visit or how we always seemed to be finding excuses to touch each other. A casual brush here and there. His hand to help me up. Or the one day that still burned in my memory, when he had reached over me to grab a bottle, and his hand had grazed my breast. Iââ¬â¢d given an involuntary gasp, and heââ¬â¢d lingered for a heartbeat before carrying on with his task. And I didnââ¬â¢t tell Kyriakos that Ariston made me feel like I had in the early days of my marriage, like I was clever, beautiful, and desirable. Ariston lavished me with the attention Kyriakos once had; Ariston loved the sharp wit that had once gotten me into trouble as an unmarried maiden. As for Kyriakosâ⬠¦ well, I assumed he loved those things too, but he didnââ¬â¢t show it so much anymore. His father was making him work longer and longer hours, and when he finally got home, he would collapse into bed or seek the solitude of his flute. I hated that fluteâ⬠¦ hated it and loved it. I loathed that it seemed to hold his attention more than I did. Yet, on some nights, when I sat outside and listened to him play, I felt awed at his skill and that ability to create such sweetness. But that didnââ¬â¢t change the fact that I slept untouched more often than not. When I told him Iââ¬â¢d never get pregnant that way, heââ¬â¢d laugh and tell me we had all the time in the world for children. This troubled me because I honestly ââ¬â and irrationally ââ¬â believed that having a baby would somehow fix everything between us. I ached for one, missing the way my little sisters had once felt in my arms. I loved the honesty and the innocence of children and liked to think I might help guide one into becoming a good person. Nothing seemed so sweet to me in those days as cleaning cuts, holding small hands, and telling stories. Furthermore, I had reached a point where I needed to know that I could have a baby. Three years of marriage was a long time to go without a child in those days, and Iââ¬â¢d seen the way others were starting to whisper that poor Letha might be barren. I hated their simpering and sickeningly sugared pity. I should have told Kyriakos everything that was on my mind, every last detail. But he was so sweet and worked so hard to provide for us, I couldnââ¬â¢t bear it. I didnââ¬â¢t want to shake the contentment that ostensibly filled our household just for my own self-gratification and need for attention. Besides, it wasnââ¬â¢t like he always neglected my body. A bit of coaxing, and I could sometimes get him to answer my desire. Weââ¬â¢d come together in the middle of the night then, his body moving in mine with the same passion he used in his music. Yet, looking at Ariston some days, I had the feeling he wouldnââ¬â¢t need any coaxing at all. And as empty days without Kyriakos passed, that started to mean something. Just friends, just friends. Standing there in the bookstore, watching Seth walk away, I half wondered how anyone could still use that line. But I knew why, of course. It was used because people still believed it. Or at least they wanted to. When I returned downstairs ââ¬â feeling sad, angry, and idiotic all at the same time ââ¬â I stumbled upon a scenario guaranteed to make my day even weirder: Helena from Krystal Starz stood there in front of the registers, gesticulating wildly to the cashiers. Helena here. On my turf. Swallowing my confusion over Seth, I strode over in my best managerial way, still carrying the Bible. ââ¬Å"Is there something I can help you with?â⬠Helena spun around, making the crystals around her neck tinkle as they hit each other. ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s her ââ¬â sheââ¬â¢s the one. The one who stole my staff.â⬠I glanced behind the counter. Casey and Beth stood there, looking relieved to see me. Tammi and her friend Janice must have been somewhere else in the store, for which I was grateful. Best to keep them out of this. I kept my voice cool, ever-conscious of the customers observing. ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢m sure I donââ¬â¢t know what you mean.â⬠ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t start that with me! You know exactly what I mean. You walked into my store, made a scene, and then lured away my staff. They left without notice!â⬠ââ¬Å"People have recently applied for jobs here,â⬠I responded blandly. ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t really keep track of where they used to work. As assistant manager, however, I can empathize with the inconvenience of employees who leave without giving notice.â⬠ââ¬Å"Stop that!â⬠Helena exclaimed, hardly resembling the cool, collected diva from last week. ââ¬Å"Do you think I canââ¬â¢t see through your lies? You walk in darkness, your aura wreathed in fire!â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s on fire?â⬠Doug and Warren walked up, obviously attracted by the mounting spectacle. ââ¬Å"Her,â⬠Helena proclaimed, pointing at me, using the New Age raspy voice. Warren eyed me curiously, as though actually assessing for flames. ââ¬Å"Georgina?â⬠ââ¬Å"She stole my employees. Just came in and took them like that. I could sue, you know. When I tell my lawyers ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Which employees?â⬠â⬠Tammiand Janice.â⬠I cringed, waiting to see what this new development would unleash. Despite his many shortcomings, Warren did have a smooth sense of customer service and professionalism. I worried what might ensue if my poaching received further investigation. He frowned, trying to match faces with names apparently. ââ¬Å"Waitâ⬠¦ didnââ¬â¢t one of them jump my car today?â⬠â⬠Tammidid.â⬠He snorted dismissively. ââ¬Å"Weââ¬â¢re not giving them back.â⬠Helena turned beet red. ââ¬Å"You canââ¬â¢t ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"Maââ¬â¢am, I am sorry for your inconvenience, but I can hardly pass back workers who have signed employment papers with us and are unwilling to work for you anymore. Thereââ¬â¢s always turnover in retail. Iââ¬â¢m sure youââ¬â¢ll find someone soon.â⬠She turned on me, still pointing. ââ¬Å"I wonââ¬â¢t forget this. Even if I canââ¬â¢t get you back for this, the universe will repay your cruel and twisted nature. You will die miserable and alone. Unloved. Friendless. Childless. Your life will have amounted to nothing.â⬠So much for New Age love and kindness. I hardly feared her comments about dying, but the other adjectives dug in a little. Miserable and alone. Unloved. Friendless. Childless. Warren, however, felt no such concerns for me. ââ¬Å"Maââ¬â¢am, Georginaââ¬â¢s the last one Iââ¬â¢d accuse of having a ââ¬Ëcruelââ¬â¢ nature or leading a meaningless life. She holds this place together, and I trust her judgment implicitly ââ¬â including the hiring of your former employees. Now unless you would like to make a purchase, I must ask you to leave before Iââ¬â¢m forced to call the authorities.â⬠Helena spouted off more curses and woes to us, no doubt entertaining the customers waiting in line. To my surprise, Warren continued holding his ground. He usually went out of his way to smooth customer relations and put our best foot forward, even at his employeesââ¬â¢ expense. Today he didnââ¬â¢t apparently feel like humoring anyone. It was refreshing. When Helena left, he retreated to his office without another word, and Doug and I stood there, astonishment quickly giving way to amusement. ââ¬Å"The things you cause, Kincaid.â⬠ââ¬Å"What? Donââ¬â¢t peg that one on me.â⬠ââ¬Å"Are you kidding? Freaky witch women never showed up before you started working here.â⬠ââ¬Å"How would you know? I started before you.â⬠Checking my watch, I turned thoughtful. ââ¬Å"Youââ¬â¢re still here for a while today, arenââ¬â¢t you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yup. Lucky for you. Why?â⬠ââ¬Å"No reason.â⬠I left him there and walked to the back offices. Instead of turning left for my office, however, I turned right into Warrenââ¬â¢s. He sat at his desk, packing his briefcase, preparing to leave now that his car was ready. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t tell me sheââ¬â¢s back.â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠I closed the door behind me. This made him look up. ââ¬Å"I just wanted to thank you.â⬠Warren eyed me shrewdly. ââ¬Å"Kicking irrational customers out is part of my job.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah, but last time I didnââ¬â¢t get praised. I had to apologize.â⬠He shrugged, thinking of an incident from a year ago. ââ¬Å"Well, that was different. You called an old woman a hypocritical, pathological Nazi neophyte.â⬠ââ¬Å"She was.â⬠ââ¬Å"If you say so.â⬠His eyes still watched my every move. I walked over to him, setting the Bible down on his desk. Climbing onto his chair, I straddled his lap, making my tight red skirt ride up considerably, revealing the lace-covered tops of black thigh-highs underneath. I leaned in to kiss him, at first just running my teeth tauntingly over his lips, and then suddenly pressing my mouth in hard. He returned the kiss with equal fervor, hands automatically sliding up the backs of my thighs to cup my ass. â⬠Christ,â⬠he breathed when we broke apart slightly. One of his hands moved to my face, the other toyed with the thong I wore under my skirt. His fingers ran along its lacy edge and then pushed upward inside me, at first just delicately probing and then sliding up the full length. I was already wet from a sudden desire and breathed deeply as I savored those long, smooth strokes. Warren watched me with approval. ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s this all about?â⬠ââ¬Å"Whatââ¬â¢s what? We do this all the time.â⬠ââ¬Å"You never initiate it.â⬠ââ¬Å"I told you, Iââ¬â¢m grateful.â⬠That was true, actually. I had found his defense rather endearing. Also, still burning with Roman-lust and now maybe Seth-lust, I suddenly found Warren convenient in the wake of my grouchy succubus hunger. The hand by my face wound up a lock of hair, and he turned pensive, although he didnââ¬â¢t stop what he was doing between my legs. ââ¬Å"Georginaâ⬠¦ I hopeâ⬠¦ I hope you know what we do here in no way affects your job. You have no obligations ââ¬â no danger of losing your position here if ââ¬â ââ¬Å" I laughed out loud, surprised by this oddly considerate side. ââ¬Å"I know that.â⬠ââ¬Å"I mean it ââ¬â ââ¬Å" ââ¬Å"I know that,â⬠I repeated, biting his lower lip with my teeth. ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t go soft on me all of a sudden,â⬠I growled. ââ¬Å"Thatââ¬â¢s not what Iââ¬â¢m here for.â⬠He didnââ¬â¢t interrupt again, and I let myself sink into the pleasure of contact. The feel of his tongue in my mouth, his hands brazenly exploring my body. After a long morning of sexual frustration, I just needed it from someone ââ¬â anyone. He unbuttoned my blouse and tossed it to the floor, where it rested in a black, silken pile. My skirt and thong followed, leaving me only in thigh-highs, bra, and heels. All black. He shifted his body, still in the chair, so that I could pull his pants off. Seeing him there ââ¬â long, straight, and hard ââ¬â made me move his hand out of me. Fingers no longer satisfied me. I wrapped my legs more tightly around his hips, as much as the chair would allow. Then, without further warning, I thrust my body down, plunging him inside me. I arched my body so that I could take him deeper, then moved in steady, repeated thrusts. Looking back down, I watched him glide in and out. There was no sound in the room save that of flesh on flesh and our heavy breathing. With penetration came a flood of feeling and sensations from him ââ¬â different from the physical ones. As a less noble soul, his energy and presence did not knock me across the room like Martinââ¬â¢s had. Succubi absorption depended on the victimââ¬â¢s character. Strong, moral souls yielded more to the succubus and took a huge bite out of the guy. Corrupt men lost less and consequently gave less. Regardless of his energy or moral fiber, I did catch snippets of Warrenââ¬â¢s thoughts and emotions as I rode him. This was normal. They came through with his life force. Desire certainly was foremost in his mind. Smug pride at being with a younger, attractive woman. Excitement. Surprise. He had little remorse about cheating on his wife ââ¬â contributing to the lower energy yield ââ¬â and even the brief fondness for me heââ¬â¢d displayed earlier gave way to raw lust. So fucking hot. So wet. Love the way she rides me. Hope she comes and comes on top of meâ⬠¦ I did, as it turned out. My movements becoming harder and fiercer as our bodies slapped together. My leg muscles clenching. Neck arched back again. Breasts hot and sweaty from where heââ¬â¢d clutched them. The orgasm reverberating through me. Spasms of pleasure growing fainter and fainter as my breathing slowly returned to normal. And the energy fix wasnââ¬â¢t bad either. It had leaked into me slowly throughout our building passion, starting off as fine glittering threads. Near the end, however, it had become strong and bright, pouring into me, reinvigorating my own life, fueling my immortality in a glorious climax that rivaled the physical one. When we both had our clothes back on, I made moves for an exit. Small energy loss or no, Warren always felt exhausted and worn after weââ¬â¢d been together. He thought it was the result of his age going up against a younger, more active woman. I did nothing to change his attitude but usually tried to discretely leave, so he wouldnââ¬â¢t feel self-conscious around me in his fatigue. I knew it bothered him to think he couldnââ¬â¢t keep up with me. ââ¬Å"Georgina?â⬠he called as I moved to the door. ââ¬Å"Why are you carrying a Bible? You arenââ¬â¢t trying to convert customers, are you?â⬠ââ¬Å"Oh. That. Just researching something for a friend. Itââ¬â¢s applicable, actually. All about sex.â⬠He wiped sweat off his brow. ââ¬Å"After years and years of church, I think Iââ¬â¢d remember any good sex scenes.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, itââ¬â¢s not so much a scene as a clinical description of procreation.â⬠ââ¬Å"Ah. Lots of those.â⬠On impulse, I walked over to him and opened up Genesis 6. ââ¬Å"See?â⬠I pointed to the appropriate verses. ââ¬Å"All these mentions of men taking women. They say it, like, three times.â⬠Warren studied the book with a frown, and I remembered that he had not opened this place without a substantial background in literary study. ââ¬Å"Wellâ⬠¦ itââ¬â¢s repeated because here when it says ââ¬Ëmen began to multiply on the face of the earth,ââ¬â¢ itââ¬â¢s referring to human men.â⬠I looked up sharply. ââ¬Å"What do you mean ââ¬Ëhumanââ¬â¢?â⬠ââ¬Å"Here. The ââ¬Ësons of Godââ¬â¢ arenââ¬â¢t human men. Theyââ¬â¢re angels.â⬠ââ¬Å"What?â⬠If Iââ¬â¢d been holding the book, I would have dropped it. ââ¬Å"Are you sure?â⬠ââ¬Å"Positive. Like I said, years of church services. They use this term throughout the Bible.â⬠He flipped to Job. ââ¬Å"See? Here it is again. ââ¬ËNow there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.ââ¬â¢ Itââ¬â¢s referring to angels ââ¬â fallen angels in this case.â⬠I swallowed. ââ¬Å"Whatâ⬠¦ what were they doing in Genesis then? With the ââ¬Ëdaughters of menââ¬â¢? Wereâ⬠¦ were the angels having sex with human women?â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, it says the women were ââ¬Ëfair.ââ¬â¢ Hard to blame them, huh?â⬠He gave me an admiring sweep as he spoke. ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t know. This isnââ¬â¢t a point discussed a lot in church, as Iââ¬â¢m sure you can imagine. Mostly we emphasized human sin and guilt, but I ignored that.â⬠I continued to stare at the book, dumbfounded, yet suddenly ablaze with ideas and theories. Warren eyed me curiously when I didnââ¬â¢t respond to his joke. ââ¬Å"Does that help you any?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠I said, recovering myself. ââ¬Å"It helps a lot.â⬠I surprised him with a soft kiss on the lips, took the Bible, and left. How to cite Succubus Blues CHAPTER 13, Essay examples
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
The US Mexico Border free essay sample
Mexico border region is inhabited by many Native American groups who have lived in the area for centuries. 1535 Spain establishes colonial government in Mexico. 1819 Adam-Onis Treaty: U. S. -Mexico boundary established by Spain and the United States. 1821 Mexico wins independence from Spain. 1824 Mexico becomes a republic. | 1846 The U. S. Mexico war begins. 1848 Gold is discovered at Sutterââ¬â¢s Mill in the Sacramento Valley area of California. By 1849, large numbers of U.S. pioneers and immigrants from around the world travel to the mining area. Many gold seekers set up camps on Mexican-held land, forcing out some of the original landowners. 1848 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo brings the U. S. -Mexican War to an end. 1883 Chinese labor is reduced because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and railroad companies search for alternative sources of cheap labor. Mexican workers are increasingly recruited. 1890 Increasingly, Mexican Americans work for the railroads. Railroad construction continues throughout the early 20th century. We will write a custom essay sample on The US Mexico Border or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 1890 Copper mining continues to lure people to Arizona, driving more Mexican Americans from their lands. 1900 Copper, silver, and zinc are found in Arizona and New Mexico; Texas begins to mine salt, leading to further expulsion of Mexican American land owners. 1904 The first border patrol is established to stop Asian workers from coming into the United States through Mexico. 1910 Mexican Revolution begins. Thousands of Mexicans flee across the border for safety. 1921 The Immigration Act of 1921 restricts the immigration of Southern and Eastern Europeans. Agriculture lobbyists rally to block the movement to include Mexicans in the proposition. 1924 Largely due to a lack of immigration quotas, more than 89,000 Mexicans come into the United States on permanent visas, making 1924 the peak year for Mexican immigration. 1924 Immigration Act of 1924 halts the flow of other immigrant groups, border stations are established to formally admit Mexican workers, and a tax is collected on each person entering. 1942 The bracero program begins, allowing Mexican nationals to temporarily work in the United States ââ¬â primarily in the agricultural industry. 1951 The Bracero program is revived. 1953 Operation Wetback: The U. S. Immigration Service deports more than 3. 8 million people of Mexican heritage. 1954 The filmà Salt of the Earthis heralded by many as a true representation of Mexican Americans and their struggle. 1964 The first maquiladoras are established under the Border Industrialization Program; mass employment of cheap labor along the Mexican border by U.S. companies begins. 1964 The bracero program is finally repealed, and Mexican American labor leaders see an opportunity to work toward unionizing the farmworkers. 1965 The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 limits immigrants into the United States. 1982 The largest increase of maquiladoras occurs after devaluation of the Mexican currency. 1994 The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into affect, stimulating trade between the United States and Mexico. Massive increases in border populations occur due to the treaty.
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