How [Not] to Outcharm a Succubus 5

  With the boys dispatched, I made sure Ade? didn’t burn to a crisp under the blazing sun. Demons (and witches) might be immune to fire, but not sunlight.

  ?Okay, let's slather you up before it's too late,? I said, fishing sunscreen out of my bag.

  ?What is it?? she asked curiously.

  ?Sun protection.?

  ?But I love the sun! It's cuddly!?

  Considering there's no sun in the Underworld, of course she wouldn't know the dangers.

  ?They all say that, until they look like boiled lobsters,? I squeezed some sunscreen into my palm. ?Sit still.?

  Applying sunscreen on Ade? proved to be a challenge. She kept giggling and wriggling, claiming it tickled. Then, in a swift move, she snatched the sunscreen from my hand and went smearing it lavishly all over my breasts.

  ?You need protection too!? she laughed.

  ?Hey! Don't frost me like a cake! Give it here!?

  ?M-m-m, I love cakes!?

  When Stas and Roman returned, arms full of frozen desserts, they halted at the sight of Ade? and me glistening from the excess sunscreen. The shiny scooters beside us paled in comparison.

  ?You shine like diamonds,? Stas remarked.

  ?Too dazzling,? Roman shaded his eyes, grinning. ?I'm seeing stars.?

  Ade? beamed, thinking those were compliments, and I just shrugged. ?Sorry, guys. We can't dim down our beauty. Use sunglasses.?

  The boys laughed, handing us their sugary haul. Ade?'s eyes lit up at the small mountain of various flavors – as she had requested, while I received a cone of Dark Chocolate Cherry – my all times favorite. We settled on our towels, enjoying the icy treats. By the time the boys and I had finished, Ade? was only halfway through her stash… Soon, her ice cream started to melt… Ade? desperately tried to lick it all around, but it was a lost battle. The ice cream trickled down her hands, dripping onto her breasts…

  … Gods, not this again!

  I groaned inwardly, seeing where it was going. Naturally, this Ade?-glacé would seize the boys' attention if she kept that up… And there was no way I would mirror her culinary show!

  I quickly found a pack of napkins in my bag and covertly held a couple for Ade?. She didn’t get the hint though.

  ?What's this?? she asked, making me roll my eyes.

  ?… A bib,? I snapped, sticking the pair of napkins onto Ade?'s ice-cream-coated breasts, ?for our Queen of Mess.?

  She looked down… and burst into laughter. Then she swiped my napkin pack, and before I could protest, slapped two napkins onto my breasts too, still sticky from the sunscreen. ?Now we match!?

  ?Hey, don't…!? I tried to object, but she just kept slapping more napkins onto me until I resembled a bulletin board. The napkins were everywhere: on my breasts, arms, my back. I even plucked one off my forehead!

  Regardless! Roman's and Stas's eyes were on me (holding back their laughter), so I took it as my win.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  After sorting out the napkin mess, we lounged on our towels, basking in the sunshine. The boys kept teasing me, which I didn't mind as long as I got more attention than Ade?. Ade?, after gobbling down the remains of her ice cream and gawking around for a while, got entranced by a nearby volleyball game, tracking the ball like a cat stalking butterflies.

  ?Up for some volleyball?? Roman nodded at an empty court, noticing Ade?'s interest.

  ?Yea-a!? she bounced to her feet with a squeal and darted toward the playing area.

  ?Hey! Put your bra on!? I tried to stop her, waving the garment she'd left behind.

  She only giggled in response. ?Na-a! It's too small!?

  What?! It's one-size-fits-all, so you know!

  Irritated, I picked up my own bra, pondering whether to wear it… potentially giving Ade? an advantage…

  Stas smiled, guessing my dilemma. ?Don't push yourself, okay??

  ?Yea,? Roman agreed. ?We like you just as much with your clothes on.?

  ?O-o, hush, you two!? my cheeks flushed.

  Parading in front of the boys topless was indeed a thrill – at first. But honestly, I had grown quite comfy with it by now. Even more, Stas and Roman's presence made it not nearly as daunting as I thought it would be… And since it was to protect them, I couldn't afford to lose!

  Decisively dropping both bras into my bag, I tied up my hair and stomped after Ade? to the court. Roman and Stas followed.

  At the court, Ade? scrutinized the net with the face of a scientist studying an alien relic.

  ?Do you know the rules?? I asked her, though I could guess the answer.

  ?Rules?? she flapped her eyelashes.

  Of course she didn't. Volleyball is, arguably, the most popular sport in the world. But she's not from this world, so I bet she thought it was just tossing a ball back and forth.

  ?Alright then, you'll team up with him,? I thumbed at Roman behind my shoulder. ?He's the best player here.?

  Roman – our school's volleyball prodigy – beamed with pride. Stas – studies first, then sports – just snorted.

  Once the game started, Ade? scurried around like a puppy chasing bubbles. Whenever Roman shouted directions in an attempt to guide her, she would nod earnestly and then do the exact opposite. However, her infectious laughter made it hard not to smile.

  Roman was undoubtedly skilled. But facing Stas and me, with Ade? pulling him back, I felt quite confident. For once, outshining Ade? would be trivial.

  As we played, our audience grew. Other players, curious kids and teens, and even some families from nearby spots, gathered around, drawn by the game and visibly amused.

  ?Go, Pinky!? a group of kids cheered for Ade?, who happily waved back.

  Show-off! Despite my irritation, I managed a powerful spike against Roman's block, snagging the first set for our team. The second set should've been a breeze too…

  … Or so I thought until Ade? suddenly started to actually heed Roman's directions. Don't underestimate a demon.

  Stas served, and to my surprise, Ade? volleyed it back flawlessly. Just luck, perhaps. But then, she deftly moved to block my spike, setting Roman up for a point. Each time they scored, Ade? celebrated with a victory dance, delighting the kids.

  ?Pinky! Pinky!? chanted Ade?'s little fan club.

  Suddenly, out of nowhere:

  ?Show them, Snow White!? another group yelled.

  … Who's Snow White?… Surely not me. With my tanned skin, the only "white" about me were my tan lines, so… Wait… Seriously? "Snow White"? Poking fun at me?! I shot the cheeky brats a glare and shook my fist. Call me that again, and you'll meet my "Evil Witch" side!

  Yet, that only spurred more giggles and louder cheers. ?Snow White! Snow White! Snow White!?

  Distracted, I barely noticed Roman and Ade? winning the second set, tying the score.

  The tiebreak was a madhouse. Both Ade? and I moved a bit faster than any human should, and hung in the air a touch longer than physics allowed. The ball whizzed like a blur, making it hard to follow. The kids watched in awe.

  The final point came. Roman expertly tossed the ball high, setting Ade? up for a spike. Time seemed to slow. I saw the ball descending, and, with a burst of speed, dashed to intercept. I dove desperately, hand outstretched, but was a fraction too late. The ball shot past, and I spectacularly face-planted into the sand.

  The world froze for a brief moment… before an explosion of cheers and applause swept through the air. I sat up, spitting the sand out, feeling embarrassed by my flop, but… nobody even looked at me. All eyes were on Ade?. She really had her spotlight now. Perched triumphantly on Roman's shoulders, she basked in her glory, her smile shining like the sun.

  Stas offered a hand to help me up. ?Your cousin's quite the player.?

  ?… You have no idea,? I took his hand, the taste of defeat grinding on my teeth.

  To be continued…