I reached for the doorknob, turning it swiftly, and bursting through. Sasha was industriously slamming himself into someone and had no thought for anything but his own carnal satisfaction. You’d think he’d be more careful given the fact quite a few people weren’t too happy with him now.
My eyes popped open as I took in his female companion. He must have a thing for Barbie replicas. She was a typical bleach blonde bombshell with costly silicone tits by the looks of their perkiness. She was up against the wall, her arms spread eagle and kept in place by tendrils of blue energy. Her lean suntanned legs were wrapped securely around his sinewy waist.
He’d cut his hair for some reason since the last time we’d spoken. I kinda liked it. It was spiky, currently disheveled and sweaty from his exertion, glimmering in the light streaming in from the skylights in the ceiling. The copper blonde streaks in his hair shone brightly, contrasting off his luminescent skin. His muscles tensed with the exertion of his physical exercise. He gleamed hard and edgy. Yum.
“Get her out of here,” I said.
Sasha tensed at the sound of my voice, and his head fell upon the woman’s chest. Blondie looked up and gazed towards me in a pleasure-filled haze until she realized that she wasn’t the only woman in the room. She began struggling in Sasha’s arms while I smiled. This was the best entertainment I’d had in weeks.
“Who the fuck are you? Get out.” She screamed as she untangled her legs from around Sasha. He sighed and the tendrils of energy, which held her up, vanished. That made her more upset.
“What are you doing? Who the hell is she?” She was demanding, but he didn’t deign to answer.
I strolled over to the bar, silently opening the fridge to grab a drink enjoying the fact I interrupted Sasha at such a crucial moment. I smiled when I saw the chilled bottle of Grey Goose. Grabbing it in one hand, I plopped on a stool to watch him work his magic.
Sasha grasped the girl’s hands in his, keeping them still in front of her. His voice became soft, and she immediately quieted down.
“Annabelle, it’s time for you to go home now, dear. My best friend, Bethany, just dropped in on me, and we have a lot of catching up to do. You’re not upset. You have a lot of homework to finish, and your boyfriend is expecting you at five for a date.” Sasha said in a singsong cadence.
Mesmerizing humans just didn’t seem fair. Blondie’s eyes had glazed over, and she nodded jerkily. She continued her jerky nods as Sasha led her to the bathroom and presumably helped her with her clothes. When he brought her back out, she passed by without acknowledging anything. Sasha opened the door for her, and she was gone. He stood with his back to me for a full minute before turning around.
“Bethany, where’s Sigmund?” he asked politely, arching his brow in that familiar way of his.
I took a sip from my bottle, savoring the recognizable tension that was always present between us. It hummed pleasantly, warming me from my core and radiating out. I placed the bottle down and brought my eyes to meet his. The tension increased with the action.
“What did I do wrong?” Okay maybe that didn’t come out as blasé as I wanted it too.
He tilted his head a fraction before answering, his voice neutral. “You did nothing.”
“That’s why you won’t answer the phone, call me back, or even see me?”
He sighed heavily coming towards me as he rubbed his eyes in frustration.
I tensed. “Get some damn clothes on you freak. No one wants to see your junk hanging about,” I said before he could get any closer.
It was an outright lie. His nakedness was making my pulse race uncontrollably. My mind whirled with visions of me clinging to his strong, chiseled body. My fingers itched with the need to trace the scars across his chest. My mouth watered at the idea of licking his neck, kissing his full lips. I could smell the lust emanating from my body. I could withstand his aphrodisiac smell, but it hurt. It hurt like hell.
He stopped, grinned, turned around and headed towards the bathroom where I heard the shower come on. He knew, it was impossible to miss, how much I wanted him. I wanted his body at least. If he wasn’t so unpredictable, I’d sleep with him to assuage my need. I passed away the time doodling on the margins of the Times Picayune.
He popped before me in the blink of an eye clad in a pair of stone washed jeans and a Hard Rock t-shirt. Placing a tendril of my wayward hair behind my ear, he grabbed a stool with his free hand.
“I’ve been busy,” he whispered as he stared into my eyes.
“That’s a crock. Malachi’s just as busy, and he manages talk to me every day,” I said.
“You must trust me,” he said quietly.
“So you keep reminding me,” I said. I didn’t scream. Screaming was ineffective with him.
He let his hand fall on the counter.
“I apologized for the incident in Lafitte. I promised to help you, and I intended to keep the promise. You didn’t give me a chance to fulfill my end of the bargain. If you don’t get your way when you demand, you become irrational,” he said.
“I didn’t come here to start a fight.”
His words hurt more than they should. I did say I forgave him for the Lafitte incident. It wasn’t fair to bring it up and throw it in his face. As to the accusation of me wanting everything my way, I had no defense. I couldn’t refute it. It had to be my way.
He stood and began pacing about the room. First to the windows, then to me, and back to the windows, back to me; the mood in the air changing with his pacing from hope to trepidation with each revolution. He finally stopped in front of me clasping his hands formally as he bowed low in order to meet me eye to eye.
“What do you want from me?” he asked with a small smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“What kind of question is that,” I said cautiously.
How could I tell him what I wanted? I didn’t trust him enough to tell him what I really wanted. I might be witch, but I still had some feelings.
“One only you could answer.”
“I don’t want anything from you,” I said.
He eyed me seriously, his eyes darkening.
“I believe this is the first time you’ve lied to me,” he said. There was such fury emanating from him that I shut my walls down against the savage onslaught.
“Fine, I want to talk about the convention.”
His mood lightened instantly. “What can I do for you?”
I looked into his eyes gathering my nerve before I chickened out. “Why can’t I come with you on the trip?”
He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. “I’ve to travel first for preparations since I gain control of Region Two this year. You need to arrive as late as possible, and Malachi isn't needed early; you’ll get there two or three days later. It’ll give me time to arrange your quarters for you,” he said matter-of-factly. I wasn’t pacified.
“I’m tired of all those people you’ve arranged to follow me around night and day. I’d rather be with you, you know, at least I can tolerate you for the most part.”
For the last three days, since Derek the shapeshifter had attacked me at Malachi’s office, I had a retinue of bodyguards underfoot. I didn’t mind Caleb, Sasha’s vamp butler. He was cool and made me laugh, a lot. We watched B-rated horror movies as he made me the best cocktails on this side of the Mason Dixie Line.
Sig was a damn demon. The same shimmer dude that had beheaded Lilith for Sasha. I was under orders not to reveal that bit of information. If that wasn’t creepy enough, his personality added to it. Sig didn’t know how to have a good time.
At about 5’5” in height with light golden blond wavy hair that came to his shoulders, pale crystal blue eyes rimmed in red and alabaster skin with a sprinkle of light freckles, he was simply weird. He looked like an angel who dressed for GQ. His only redeeming quality was that he didn’t talk much, unless it was to tell me how much I was fucking up. He was my appointed ‘tutor’ on law matters. Lucky me.
Sasha laughed. “I think that’s
a compliment. You’d rather be with me than enjoy Caleb’s drinks?” He chortled clearly having a good time at my expense.
“I actually like Caleb, but Sig…,” I didn’t finish the sentence.
“Demons … not your thing are they, but you’ll need Sigmund so there’s no escaping him. Beth, I must leave early,” he said.
“Then can you cut the bodyguard detail. I’ll stay here with Malachi and won’t leave his sight. I promise, he said he wouldn’t mind.”
I’d spent a lot of time with Malachi the last few days. He was restful and considerate, and I liked him. Plus, Sasha was unavailable.
Sasha smiled. “I’m sure he did,” he said glibly.
I couldn’t tell what he was actually feeling as he gave few cues. His gaze remained on me, and I fervently wished he would agree. I was tired of doing nothing in the company of strangers.
“Pet, I want to be friends. I’ve missed you.” There was no humor in his tone.
I shook my head. “You’re high maintenance, Sasha. I don’t like putting in so much effort for a piece of ass.”
He exhaled and walked away. I resumed my doodling and mantra of patience. He hadn't agreed, but he hadn't disagreed outright so I was optimistic. If it were a definite no, he would’ve told me so by now. He came back with a satchel slung over his shoulder. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes from me as he spoke.
“Hell, pet, have you any idea how difficult you are at times? Meet me halfway.” He vanished as he popped out of the room, hopefully to organize my new schedule.
Chapter Seventeen: Drone for your Life
I was back downstairs, in the main library. The staff, namely Caleb, was out for the day. Sig had disappeared, and Sasha had been gone for several hours. I was bored. I opened and closed books randomly not caring or noticing what I was doing.
I dropped a heavy volume on medicinal herbs when the loud rap on the front door started. As far as I knew, most of the boy’s cohorts popped in and out at their whim. I walked to the door straining to hear anything besides the persistent knock, knock, knock that was quickly becoming a pounding. I stepped onto my tiptoes to look through the peephole. It was some guy I’d never seen.
“Are you going to answer the door?”
I jumped and twirled around to find Sig behind me smoking a cigarette. I placed my hands on my hips.
“Why would I want to do that?”
He inhaled slowly on his cancer stick, flicking ashes in the air where they promptly disappeared.
“You need to practice mesmerizing. That appears to be the boyfriend of sweet Annabelle. This’ll be a good time for you to practice.”
I huffed at his cool demeanor, turned around and peeked through the peephole. “He looks mad as hell, Sig.”
“Not quite, Beth, I’ve seen hell,” he replied blandly.
Oh, yeah. “If it doesn’t work?” I asked, because I wasn’t too sure about this.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said casually.
The pounding increased and this time the guy began calling out for Sasha. “Dammit, Alek, open the door you bastard.”
“Go ahead, Beth,” Sig said softly, “you have to begin somewhere, and this is perfect. He’s distraught, not thinking clearly. It’ll test your ability to calm and redirect thoughts. You know how to direct sexual emotions, now focus on anger.”
“But we don’t even know if I can do the complicated stuff,” I said tersely.
“You can do it; it’s in your blood.” The pounding was increasing. “Weak creatures don’t live long, regardless of their status.”
The rebuke was unmistakable; grasping the doorknob, I jerked it open. The guy was surprised to see me at first but brushed me aside in seconds and stormed through the door yelling at the top of his lungs.
“He’s not here.” I yelled towards his back. He was dressed completely in black, down to his commando boots. I was relieved when he turned around and lowered his voice. So relieved was I that his words didn’t penetrate my mind.
“I know he’s not here.”
“Listen to me …” I began as I took two careful steps towards him. He skittered away from me like a crawfish.
“Don’t touch me you, bitch, I know who you are …” He took a gun out and aimed it at my head.
“You’re Bethany … the DeDe witch.”
Shit. This wasn’t going well. Sig said that contact made mesmerizing easier, but there was no way I was getting closer to him now.
“Hey, I think you need to calm down. I’m just a friend of his.”
“That’s what they all say,” he said as he waved the pistol around.
“Let’s talk about this,” I pleaded inching forward and wondering where the hell that no—good demon had gone to.
“Don’t touch me you, witch; there’s a high price on your head. Didn’t think you’d be so easy to track down unprotected. I got word that the dark elf is at Malachi’s office. Now you’re going to answer some questions before I leave.” He pointed the pistol at my chest as he reached into his pocket for something.
“Sig…” I hissed under my breath. There wasn’t a sign of the demon.
“Which way is the elf leaning?” he asked as he glanced down at a scrap of paper.
“Um … don’t know what you’re talking about,” and I was sure I wasn’t going to find out from him. A closed, black gloved fist snaked out, striking me on the jaw. I tasted the coopery tang of my own blood.
“Let’s try another one, whore, which way do you favor?” he asked, slowly drawing out each word. I inched back on rubbery feet trying to gain my balance and some time.
“Listen, asshole, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I swear.” He looked at me and smiled. I was in deep trouble. I braced myself for another assault, which happened just as quickly as the first. His gloved hands zipped about, hitting me on the ribs, and robbing me of air. I doubled over in pain, bright points of lights blazing in my vision. His knee came up, slamming into the side of my head. I fell on to the floor, blood trickling from my mouth and nose.
“Maybe you can answer this one; had you plans of becoming the dark elf’s mate?” He asked as he loomed above me, his steel-toe shoe threatening the back of my head.
I glanced up, unable to see clearly through the pain and swollen eyes.
“Wh..what?” I asked trying to comply if it would stop him from knocking me about. “I just want my title. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
It wasn’t the right answer. He pulled back his leg, and I closed my eyes waiting for the pain. He kicked me once in the back, between the shoulder blades, not where I was expecting it. Pain shot through my body, my throat searing with a blood-curling scream.
“Sig?” I was pretty sure this had gone on long enough. Where was the demon? I would never give Peaches a day off again.
“You’re useless. Sunshine must shine out your ass.” He cocked the gun and pointed. “A shame I don’t have time to sample your wares,” he said.
I closed my eyes wondering if it would hurt much. That’s when the no—good demon decided to pop back in. I heard a strangled sort of cry instead of a shot. I carefully opened my one good eye. Sig, dwarfed by no—name commando, was standing perfectly still. His left hand was out as if motioning a person to stop.
“Took you long enough.” I managed to wheeze out. My throat was raw; my ribs were likely broken, and blood trickled from various places on my face. Sig took one look at me and smiled.
“You did well. It’s best to let them incriminate themselves. These drones self-destruct once they’re found out.”
He reached into his pants and flipped out a cell phone which he must have had programmed. He spoke in quick short spurts and before he was finished, Sasha and Malachi were in the house. Neither appeared to be happy.
“How, exactly Sigmund, did this drone manage to get inside my home?” Sasha asked, his voice growing colder with every word uttered.
“Bethany opened the door,” Sig answered as he lit another cigar
ette.
“He told me to,” I said from where I still laid on the floor.
Sig smiled slightly as Sasha cursed under his breath. “It was good tactical experience. Once he began talking, I wanted to get as much information as possible.” Sig explained without an ounce of regret over his actions or my battered body.
“Anything useful?” Malachi asked as he circled the frozen man.
“No,” Sig answered.
“I think you need to get to Court early and feel out the other House’s positions. You should also have a talk with Katie,” Malachi said.
“Hey, someone mind telling me what’s going on,” I said none too happily from my prone position on the floor. Sasha came to help me up. It was becoming a habit. He looked me over once, wiping the blood from my face gingerly.
“Sigmund will fill you in after we leave, pet.”
Of course he would, I thought wearily.
Sasha and Malachi turned as one towards unnamed thug who was still in suspended animation.
“Release him, Sigmund, let’s see how long he has before he expires,” Malachi said.
Sig waved his hand and a shot rang out in the room, which was quickly caught by Malachi between two fingers. Sasha took the gun from the soon to be dead commando. The thug stuttered in surprise, taking a step back.
“You,” he said to Sasha.
“Who sent you?” Sasha asked him calmly.
“Don’t know,” were his last words.
His eyes began to darken, expanding impossibly wide on his narrow face. His mouth opened into a grotesque O shape, and a high screeching sound wailed out. His body convulsed violently as he burst into bright orange-red flames. I pushed away from the inferno, which although intense, was not far reaching. Within a matter of minutes, the flames were out, and there was no evidence that anything violent had occurred. Nice that they could clean up after themselves.
“Pity,” Sig said as he reached into his pocket for yet another cigarette.
A Lady of the Realm (House of DeDe) Page 13