Not being that kind of person, of course, was a challenge for the future. I felt satisfied, at least, that Kanesha was…well…dealing with the situation.

Monica showed up at the agency. She looked intact and, amazingly, uninfluenced. “You alright?”

Monica just gave me this look. “Let’s talk inside.”
We ducked into the ladies room, always a good place for privacy. “So…”

“So? Your demon friend?”
“What about him?”

“He’s lousy in bed.”

I started to laugh. “He…”

“He is really, really bad in bed. I think he’s the worst I’ve ever had. I guess it’s absolute selfishness.”

“I guess that’s how you…I’m not sensing his influence on you at all.”

Monica laughed. “I’m used to no strings sex.”

I had a feeling it wasn’t that simple, but I’d never sensed her as anything supernatural. “So, let me guess, he…”

“You’re seventeen.”

I blushed. “I’m not a virgin, Monica.”

“Let’s just say he’s one of those guys who’s only interested in his own and doesn’t care about yours, then.”

“He is a demon. And I suspect most of his practice is with succubi, and I bet they fake it.”

Monica blinked. “You’re seventeen!”

“I’m in high school. You think anyone can get through an American high school without knowing about faking orgasm?”

“Point.”

“Probably why abstinence only doesn’t work. The teachers try to tell us it isn’t fun. Everyone else keeps telling us they’re wrong.” I shrugged a bit. “I figured he would be.”

“He apparently wants to make you queen of Hell. Heck, he was waffling on about unseating Lucifer.”
“And you believe him?”

I thought again about the temptation to talk to Lucifer, but I was fairly sure I didn’t want to. I was fairly sure it would damage alliances.

“I do. I’ve always hoped this stuff was real. And I’ve seen stuff that made me wonder.”

“Probably because you hoped it was real. What I’d like to know is what protected you from him.”

I really wanted to know that. Especially if it was a trick that could be taught.

“No idea.”

“You’re not a supernatural yourself. I’d know.”

Monica nodded slowly. “I figure you would. But I have no idea how I did it. Except, you know, profound not caring about anything but having a bit of fun.”

I thought that the church wouldn’t like to hear that particular answer. “Eh. I’ll see you at the shoot on Sunday.”

She fluffed up her hair. “I’ll see you there.”