Angel with Attitude

by Мишель Роуэн

  “Don’t do that.”

  “Sorry,” Reggie said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “No, not you.” She turned to Nathaniel and jabbed a finger at him. “You.”

  He shrugged while looking amused. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Honestly. What you are, what you do makes me physically sick.”

  “You didn’t seem so sick a moment ago.”

  “Aren’t you ashamed?”

  His smile fell. “Of what?”

  “Of what you do. It’s disgusting. Nothing you say or do will work on me. As soon as I get what I’m after then I’ll release you from this spell. Not a moment sooner. So you’d do best to focus on that goal instead of trying to lie to me because it won’t work. I know what you are and I won’t be taken in. I’ll never give you what you want.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  “Yes, I guess we will. Honestly, I can’t believe you’ve ever been successful at this before.

  You’re so transparent. What do you get, anyhow? When you bring one of us in? Is there a reward? An employee bonus, maybe?”

  The pleasantness had left his expression entirely, and his jaw clenched. “You are different. In an incredibly annoying way. They must have known how difficult you’d be when they assigned me to you.”

  “Now,” Val continued, feeling a little flushed after her outburst, “I have a limited amount of time to find Julian, so you’d better hope he’s here. If we’re too late . . .” She trailed off.

  “If we’re too late, what?”

  “Forget it.”

  “No, tell me. If it’s that big of a deal.”

  She’d already said too much. The last thing she needed was another demon finding out about the key, especially Nathaniel.

  “Well?” he prompted after a moment.

  “The end of the world,” Reggie piped up. “If we don’t get the key it will be the end of the world. That’s it, isn’t it, Val? Sounds pretty damn important, if you ask me.”

  Val glared at him. “Be quiet.”

  “End of the world?” That had gotten Nathaniel’s full attention. “Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration? What key did Julian steal, anyhow?”

  If Nathaniel got his hands on the key she figured he might use it himself. Or he might use it as leverage to get Val to agree to come to Hell with him. No, she couldn’t let him find out that they were looking for the Key to Heaven. Not a chance.

  “That’s none of your business,” she snapped, hoping the intensity of her words would cover up the fear underneath them. “You want me to tell you to shut up again? Because I can be guaranteed that you’ll actually do it.”

  He studied her for a moment with a mix of disdain and what could have been a bit of curiosity. “That won’t be necessary. I don’t particularly care what this key is.”

  “Good. So you were saying that you know where Julian might be?” Val glanced at a passing

  Austin Mini that blared Beach Boys music from its large speakers.

  “No. Though I do know someone who can tell us.”

  “Really?” Her eyebrows went up.

  “But I want something first. From you.”

  “You want something . . .” She frowned. “What do you mean? You’re not really in a position to negotiate here, you know.”

  He shrugged. “Have you ever heard the saying that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar?”

  “No, and that’s a stupid saying. Why would anyone want to catch flies? What do you want?

  We don’t have much time here.”

  One side of his lips curled into a smile. “Kiss me. And I’ll tell you how we can find Julian.”

  “Damn, you’re good,” Reggie said.

  “You can’t be serious.” Val felt her cheeks flush with anger. Or embarrassment. One or the other.

  “Very serious. Kiss me and I’ll tell you where we need to go.”

  This was exactly why she didn’t want Nathaniel to be her demon guide in the first place. Was he going to use every opportunity to try to tempt her? She’d already told him that it was impossible. But were those just words? The kiss they’d shared the previous night came back to her. Not good at all. Well, the kiss had been good. That was the problem This situation wasn’t good. She didn’t want to get any deeper than she already was.

  “Come here,” she said.

  He crooked an eyebrow. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  He approached so close that she could feel the heat from his body. He leaned over so their lips were only inches apart, and she looked into his gorgeous eyes.

  “Nathaniel?” she murmured just before their lips were close enough to touch.

  “Yes, my angel?”

  “I command you to take me to see the person who knows where to find Julian. Right now.”

  He straightened immediately and scowled down at her. “That’s not fair.”

  “Tough.”

  “I’m not promising anything, you know. He might not know where Julian is.”

  Val crossed her arms. “So then what?”

  He smiled unpleasantly. “Then I’d say you’re shit out of luck.”

  His words hit her hard. They didn’t have any time to be wrong. Barlow didn’t have enough time for her to be wrong. Her eyes filled with hot tears that, before she could stop them, spilled down her cheeks.

  Val turned so Nathaniel couldn’t see her wipe the back of her hand across her eyes.

  Reggie patted her on the cheek with his paw, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Let’s just get going, okay?” she said after a moment, glancing at Nathaniel who looked at her as if he didn’t know what to make of the crazy, emotional fallen angel he was temporarily bound to.

  “As you wish.”

  They quickly walked down the street. To get her mind off Barlow, she tried to take in the bizarre tropical surroundings.

  It was warm, too. Hot even. She wondered if it was hot because of how close they were to

  Hell. She was wearing warm clothes: jeans, a purple sweater over a white tank, a thick cream-

  colored wool coat, and now she was sweating from the unexpected heat. It was early

  December in Niagara Falls, cold and snowy weather, and she definitely wasn’t dressed for a day at the beach.

  She heard Reggie panting in her ear from the heat. Or maybe it was just heavy breathing. She never knew with Reggie.

  There were other people out on the street, too. Not a lot, but some. At first glance they looked normal. People out walking their dogs, or doing some window-shopping in fancy, upscale boutiques with names like Chez Dante.

  At closer glance Val saw there was nothing normal about the people in the Underworld.

  Though, perhaps people was the wrong word to use. Some looked human, but others were more like some kind of creature. Monsters, demons, out walking their little creatures, monsters, or demons. Seeing them this close up she felt fear suddenly grip her, thinking they might come over and attack, but only one monster even bothered to acknowledge their presence as they walked along the sidewalk. It tipped its hat—at least Val thought it was a hat—at Nathaniel.

  “Hey Joanna,” Nathaniel said. “How’s married life treating you?”

  “Fantastic.” Joanna was about seven feet tall and the color of split pea soup. She had three eyes and what looked like three breasts to match. Unfortunately she was also wearing a two-

  piece bathing suit to show off her questionable figure as she watered her front lawn. “Haven’t eaten him yet, so all bets are off. Ha-ha.”

  Nathaniel snapped his fingers, like, “aw shucks.”

  He caught Val staring at him and he shrugged. “Friend of mine. I was invited to her wedding.”

  Val tucked a long strand of blonde hair behind her ear to keep it in place in the light tropical wind. “I didn’t think demons had friends. Or weddings, for that matter.”

  “Oh, and why would you think that?”

&nb
sp; “I don’t know. Who’d want to be friends with you, anyhow?”

  “Ouch,” Reggie said. “And Valerie gets in a zinger.”

  Nathaniel gave her a sideways glance. “There’s a lot you obviously don’t know about the

  Underworld. Or me, for that matter.”

  He’s right about that much, she thought. “Why does the Underworld look like this, anyhow?”

  Nathaniel stopped walking for a moment to take in the unusual surroundings. “Like what?”

  “Like all Lifestyles of the Rich and Damned? All Melrose Place meets The Addams Family?”

  He stared at her. “You’ve been watching way too much television.”

  “Watching TV has helped me more than you know.”

  “Helped you how?”

  “With my adjustment to being human. I know what to expect now.”

  “Oh, because TV is so realistic?” He smiled. “Sure, keep thinking that way. It’ll get you far.

  Oh, and you should probably watch out. You know what happens to pretty girls who watch too much TV?”

  Val frowned. “What?”

  “They start packing on the pounds.” His gaze slowly tracked down her body and he grinned.

  “Although, it looks like it may be a little too late.”

  Her hands immediately came to her waist in a self-conscious motion.

  “Don’t listen to him Val,” Reggie said. “He’s just trying to get to you. You’ve got a smokin’ bod. Trust me, there’s been more than a few times I’ve had to leave your presence with a strategically placed magazine in front of me, if you know what I mean.”

  She grimaced at the mental picture. “Gee, thanks Reggie. I think.”

  “It’s a pleasure to ride on your smokin’ hot shoulder.”

  They made their way a few more blocks up the road. To their left was a tall silver apartment building. Or at least that’s what it looked like. The Underworld couldn’t have luxury condos, could it? she thought.

  Way kooky.

  “What’s here?” Val asked Nathaniel, who’d started walking so fast that she had to jog to keep up to him.

  “I already told you. Somebody who might be able to help you.”

  “Who?”

  “You ask a lot of questions.”

  She frowned at him and crossed her arms. “Who?” she said in a more commanding tone.

  He shook slightly with the effort of fighting off the compulsion to obey her.

  “His name is Donovan,” Nathaniel finally said, looking supremely disgusted with himself for answering against his will.

  “And who exactly is Donovan?”

  “A Tempter.”

  “Geesh,” Reggie said. “How many of you guys are there, anyhow?”

  “Enough.”

  Great. Just great, Val thought. Another Tempter. After this experience, she could probably organize a softball team of Tempters. Or a wrestling team. Mmm. Nathaniel wrestling.

  Potentially shirtless.

  She eyed him for a moment as he glared at her.

  Jell-O came to mind.

  No. No wrestling. No Jell-O.

  But now she was kind of hungry.

  They took the mirrored elevator to the ninety-first floor. Nathaniel walked confidently down the hallway and knocked on the door at the end.

  After a moment it swung inward. From the inside of the darkened apartment, Val heard a deep voice.

  “Nathaniel. Well, well. Long time no see.”

  The speaker slowly came into the light. Since he was a Tempter, Val knew he was going to be good-looking. She just wasn’t prepared for how good-looking.

  Damn. As in hot damn.

  Donovan was six feet of lean, muscled perfection. He wore black silk pajama bottoms, leaving his chest and washboard abs bare. Where Nathaniel was pale, Donovan was dark.

  Like rich, expensive, delicious chocolate.

  She had the sudden, overwhelming urge to lick him, but managed to control herself.

  Just barely.

  Nathaniel stared at her with an amused expression. “Donovan. I’d like you to meet someone.

  This is Valerie Grace.”

  He raised an eyebrow and extended a hand. “A pleasure.” His voice was warm and deep and smooth as silk. Evil silk, that is. And very charming. She took his hand, but instead of shaking it, he raised it to his lips to give it a sensual brush that left a tingling warmth behind—which seemed to be a Tempter Demon trademark.

  “Hi,” she squeaked.

  “Won’t you both come in?” Donovan motioned with his muscled arm.

  “Ahem,” Reggie cleared his throat. “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

  Nathaniel sighed. “Oh, and that is apparently named Reggie.”

  Donovan glanced at Val again since Reggie was still on her shoulder. But he didn’t look at the rat. His gaze slowly took in every inch of her. “Very nice.”

  “Thanks!” Reggie said.

  She swallowed heavily, feeling suddenly naked despite her many layers of clothing, and followed Donovan inside. He flicked on a light so she could see the apartment.

  The word plush came to mind. Dark plush. The walls were navy. The carpet black and thick with a black sofa against the left-hand wall. There was a modular wall unit that seemed to only contain framed pictures of Donovan on its shelves. Donovan smiling. Donovan looking serious. Donovan pointing at the camera, like, “Hey camera, how you doin’?” The far wall was floor-to-ceiling window that looked out on the main street of the Underworld. The apartment was otherwise bare. Very demony-bachelor- pad, Val thought.

  She sat down on the black, plush sofa and could have sworn she felt it squeeze her butt. If she wasn’t currently in the Underworld, she’d think it was just her imagination.

  “So,” Nathaniel didn’t sit down. He stood stiffly by the huge Andy Warhol-like portrait of

  Donovan hanging on the wall. “This is a new look for you, isn’t it?”

  Donovan smiled. And wow, what a smile. “You like?”

  He shrugged. “Whatever it takes, I guess.”

  “Nathaniel, you’re so cynical.”

  “I’m not cynical. I’m practical.”

  “Blah, blah, blah.” Donovan turned to Val. “Don’t you get sick of hearing him whine about everything?”

  “You have no idea.”

  He laughed. “He’s always been a whiner. You need to teach him how to let go of his little job issues. Stop taking everything so seriously. You look like a lot of fun, Val. Do you mind if I call you Val?”

  “Not at all,” she breathed, thinking that he could call her anything. Then she frowned at herself. His charm was very overwhelming, and she couldn’t help but let it affect her. “But

  I’m not teaching him anything. We’re not together. This is just a one-time thing.”

  “I’m a big fan of one-time things.”

  “I just bet you are,” Nathaniel said under his breath. But this time Val heard him.

  “Nathaniel, don’t be rude.”

  “Would you care for a glass of wine?” Donovan didn’t seem to care that the other demon was being a jerk.

  “I am a little thirsty,” Reggie said. “So I vote a rousing yes.”

  Val looked over at Nathaniel.

  He scowled at her. “You want wine? I thought you were in a hurry to find this key of yours?”

  “Don’t be such a party pooper. We have time for one glass of wine.”

  “Donovan would you just stop it, already? I thought you were on a forced leave of absence from tempting. She’s mine, not yours, so don’t get any ideas. Lay off the mind tricks, would you?”

  Donovan said nothing, but grinned at him.

  Val stood up, which took a couple of tries since the couch seemed to be pulling her back down. “I’m yours? Dream on, demon.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I wish this was just a dream. All of it.”

  Donovan watched their exchange with obvious amusement. “Lovers’ quarrel?”

  “No,” they sa
id in unison.

  Nathaniel shot Val a look then glanced at Donovan. “The only reason we’re here is to ask you if you’ve seen Julian lately.”

  “Let’s have a glass of wine, first. Then we can talk about whatever our lovely Val wants.”

  “Do you have white?” Reggie asked. “Red always gives me a major headache.”

  “No,” Nathaniel said.

  Val smiled. “Where’s the wine?”

  Donovan gestured toward a set of swinging doors. “In the kitchen.”

  Val turned to Nathaniel. “Go get us a couple glasses, would you? You don’t have to have one if you don’t want to.” He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, she added a, “Now.”

  His jaw clenched and he turned toward the kitchen.

  “Wait a sec.” She stopped him before he’d taken a step. He turned back, looking surprisingly relieved. She pulled Reggie off her shoulder getting a short protest from her whiskered friend.

  “Take Reggie with you.”

  Nathaniel walked toward her and snatched the rat away. They locked gazes for a moment and she could see flames dancing in his eyes before he turned back and walked into the kitchen.

  Val sank back down into the friendly sofa.

  “Quite impressive,” Donovan said, coming to sit next to her. “You command him very well. I never knew he was into that sort of thing.”

  “Actually he hates it. But he doesn’t have much of a choice.”

  “May I take your coat? You look awfully warm.”

  That sounded like an excellent idea. She peeled it off and handed it to him. He tossed it to the side of the sofa, and then stared at her chest. “And that sweater looks rather confining.”

  Val looked at him, into his light green eyes that stood out like chips of emerald against his dark skin. He was playing with her mind, like hypnosis. That’s what he was doing—making it so she was finding it difficult to resist his charms. Demon mojo. Making her feel woozy, just as Nathaniel had.

  Donovan was right about one thing, though. The sweater was very confining. She took it off.

  There was still a white tank top underneath so it wasn’t like she was stripping naked for him.