“I don’t want to bring you down.”
“Al, you’re not bringin’ us down, but do you want to let those men win?” Rogue looked at her intently.
“No.”
“Well, then snap out of it.” Nat said from Al’s other side. “We kicked their asses, and now they’re gone.”
“No, Nat, you and Rogue kicked their asses.” Al said softly.
“Oh, Al.“ Rogue said as she pulled Al into a hard hug. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You fought hard.”
“Yeah, Al, you fought hard and didn’t let that man drag you off. It’s not always about taking them down. Sometimes it’s about giving them hell until help arrives.” Nat backed Rogue up.
“So, let’s put yesterday behind us, right?” Rogue looked at Al hopefully.
“I’m trying.” Al gave her friends a weak smile.
“In that case, you up for seein’ a physic today? It’s another one of the things I’ve always wanted to do in New Orleans.” Rogue gave Al a pleading face.
She couldn’t help but giggle at her friend. These women made her feel stronger than she thought she could be and she couldn’t stay sad for very long with them around.
“You know, you might be right Rogue. Maybe that’s what I need, to get back out there and take my life back.”
“Yes.” Rogue jumped up. “So let’s go have our fortunes told.”
“Okay.” Al gave her friends a smile as they pulled her to her feet. “So, what are you going to ask the physic about?”
“Not that I believe, but my future.” Nat answered.
“Love of course.” Rogue added with a wicked grin.
*
By lunch time, the women sat around a table at a cafe in Jackson Square, Cafe Pontalba. They were having some delicious Cajun-Creole classics while people watching. Al loved the view of the square from the restaurant and was so glad that Rogue had talked her out of the motel. After breakfast they had taken their time getting ready to head out. She had posted a few pictures of their trip to the Book Worms page. There was a great one of Rogue at Marie Laveau’s tomb; she had taken it right before the men had grabbed them. Rogue stood with a wistful look on her face, her hand covering one of the X’s that had been marked on the white washed crypt walls. At first she had almost not posted it, she had actually thought of deleting it when she had remembered what Rogue had said, that if she changed the good things about this trip because of those men, she in essence let them win. She wasn’t willing to do that, so she had posted the picture.
Once they had made it to the square it was getting close to lunch and Al’s appetite was finally starting to come back. They walked a bit and when she had seen the Cafe Pontalba, she had practically begged them to stop for lunch. They weren’t in a hurry and her friends had quickly agreed although they had a good laugh at her expense. She didn’t care, her stomach had been growling loudly and she needed food.
Al had ordered red beans and rice, while Nat had played it safe with a salad. Rogue, always ready for an adventure, had ordered fried alligator.
“You know, it tastes just like chicken.” Rogue said as she finished the last bite of her meal. It took her all of two seconds before she was laughing at her own joke.
Nat rolled her eyes, “My salad was good, how was your beans and rice, Al?”
“Really good. I wanted to be adventurous, but I just couldn’t bring myself to order the alligator like Rogue.”
“Food is food. But, you’re goin’ to be adventurous tomorrow, right?” Rogue asked.
“Tomorrow?” Al looked at her friend, trying to figure out what they were doing tomorrow.
“Yeah, you’re goin’ for your first tattoo tomorrow aren’t ya?” Rogue said with a wink.
“Really, tomorrow?” Al’s voice squeaked.
“You’re not goin’ to chicken out on us are you?” Rogue picked up her sweet tea and took a big swallow. “I mean we are goin’ to get to drool over that man of yours, right?”
“I thought we’d go later in the week.” Al twisted her napkin that had been resting in her lap, her fingers twirling it around and around.
“The conference starts on Thursday, Al.” Nat reached for her drink. “I agree with Rogue we should go tomorrow. It will allow us a couple of days for the tattoos to heal before we have to walk around carrying bags and such at the conference.”
“Why would that matter?” Al asked feeling very much the nerd of the group.
“Well, I’m getting mine on my back over my left shoulder blade.” Nat patted her hand over her shoulder where the tattoo would be. “Bag straps would rub against it. The tattoo will be sore for a few days while it heals a bit.”
“Oh. I didn’t think about it hurting after they finished.” Al worried her lower lip, thinking that maybe a tattoo wasn’t such a great idea.
“Don’t worry Al, it won’t hurt much and in a few days you won’t even notice it. You just have to take care of it properly.” Nat reassured her.
“You know, these tattoos are nothin’ like some I read about.” Rogue looked out across the square. “Tattoos have been practiced all over the world with some of the earliest accounts from several centuries before Christ. Some cultures would tattoo their whole bodies over several days and it was a test of endurance. And you know how I’ve always wanted to go to Europe, around England, Ireland, and Scotland. Well, I read once that Great Britain gets its name because of it, Britons translates to people of the designs and Picts means the painted people.”
“So you see Al, it’s a long standing tradition.” Nat said.
“You know, I’m thinkin’ we should get somethin’ more… well, maybe more warrior-ish.” Rogue looked at the two of them. “What do you think? We’re warriors and I think we should have somethin’ that says that.”
“I’m not.” Al denied.
Both women turned and stared her down, “Okay, okay. I’m not, yet.”
Nat tapped her chin, “It’s a possibility, Rogue. Let’s just agree to head to the shop when they first open and take a look at what they have. If we’re still agreed to get the same tattoo, then we have to agree on the one we get. Agreed?”
Al sat thinking about what she would really like as a tattoo, an image of a dragon flashed in her mind. Hmmm…
“Agreed. But, what if we got an animal, something ferocious? I’ve been thinking a lot since yesterday… no, not yesterday, I’ve been thinking a lot about my life for a while. I want things to change. I want to be a warrior, like the tales of Amazons and Valkyrie. Strong and sure of myself, you know?”
Nat and Rogue looked at each other, “Yes.”
“We understand Al.” Nat reassured her.
“I think we have a plan, we’re goin’ tomorrow for a tattoo to indicate our strength and what we want from life. So, how about we go and find out what that life is goin’ to be? Ready for the psychic?” Rogue was so excited about the psychic that Al couldn’t help but to catch her fever as all three of them paid their bills and walked out of the restaurant to find a psychic around Jackson Square.
*
As they walked the square, they found plenty of artists, but not the psychic for which Rogue was hoping. Frustrated and determined, Rogue asked around and was directed to a psychic who had a small occult shop where she worked and sold all matter of items. Nat looked around the shop with skepticism when they had entered, but Al and Rogue were mesmerized by items that they remembered from many a book. Rogue talked to Miss Cleo, a tall woman that reminded Al of a Jamaican lady she had once worked with, and arranged for their readings.
Soon Miss Cleo ushered them into the back room of her shop. A small table sat with a cloth draped over it. On the far side was a comfortable looking chair and on their side sat three straight back wooden kitchen chairs. It was almost as if the lady was really psychic and had known the three of them would be in. Al didn’t want to be a cynic; she wanted to believe in the possibility of there being more than what she knew. The dreamer in her wanted to believ
e, while the researcher in her wanted proof.
“Sit. Please.” Miss Cleo instructed as she pulled a deck of large tarot cards out of a pocket of her skirt. “I need birth dates for all of you."
“December 1.” Rogue excitedly answered and looked at Al.
“February 28.”
All of the women looked at Nat, who shook her head no.
“Come on Nat. You agreed to come with us. Tell the lady what she needs.” Rogue demanded.
“Fine. June 8.” Nat said.
“Ah, ah, ah. I need the real date now.” Miss Cleo scolded.
Nat looked at Miss Cleo for a minute and then answered, “May 28.”
“Okay, who want to go first?” Miss Cleo asked and looked at Nat, “You I presume?”
“Sure, why not?” Nat responded.
“What ya want to know?”
“What do you see for my future?” Nat asked, her skepticism obvious.
“Well now,” she said as she flipped some cards onto the table. “You’re going to resist, but the black panther has his eye on you and is determined to make you his. You need to be open to what he has to say, because your future lies with him.”
“Black panther?” Nat said confused.
“Yes, your man.” Miss Cleo stated.
“Pft. I didn’t ask for romance. I don’t want a man.” Nat responded.
“Doesn’t matter, he want you.” Miss Cleo gave Nat a knowing look before looking at Rogue, “Now, you.”
“Love.” Rogue said dreamily.
“Ah, I see him here. The great grizzly. Strong. Dependable. Oh,…” Miss Cleo flips a few more cards and Rogue leans in searching the cards along with the psychic. “You are going to have to be strong girl, like the bear that guides him, you man is territorial. He strives on structure and plans. You will need to be strong and give him a bit of chaos. It’s not good for someone to be so ordered and controlled. You will bring him balance. Be ready. He comes.”
“Wow.” Rogue said in awe.
“Now you,” Miss Cleo said and turned to Al with a flip of a few cards. “You be unsure of your path. But, you already be on it. Trust in him, he will guide you and protect you."
“Who will?” Al asked.
“The Dragon.” Answered Miss Cleo.
***
Kai leaned against the wall of an entrance way to an empty store front. From the shadows he watched as Alvena and her friends entered an occult shop. What would they want from there? He wasn’t so sure it was a good idea for his mate to be in a shop like that, anything could happen. It had already been a hard morning for Kai as he watched the women leave the hotel and he followed them to Jackson Square. Several times he had had to stop himself from grabbing his mate and taking her back to the house. Now she left the more populated area and went into some unknown situation. Kai’s dragon was unusually quiet, it had been so verbal lately, especially in regards to Alvena that it had him worried about the change.
He and Charlie had decided last night that they would split up and watch the lasses from separate locations today. Since they hadn’t met Charlie yet, he would be able to get closer to them by pretending to be another tourist. It had seemed like a good idea last night, but Kai hadn’t really believed they would leave the hotel today. After seeing Alvena’s face last night as she entered the hotel, he seriously believed they would stay in and enjoy the amenities of the Melrose. When they had left the hotel and he watched his friend come within feet of the women, jealousy of his friend had almost caused him to set fire to a bench he had been sitting on at one point. Hand print shaped scorch marks had been left behind. Then they had stopped to eat and being left outside while Charlie followed the women into the restaurant, had him grinding his teeth and pacing just out of sight of the restaurant windows.
He had followed from as much distance as he could and it was killing him.
Looking through the large windows of the shop, he partially shifted so he could more efficiently use his dragon’s abilities. His eyesight improved to the point that he could clearly see Alvena walking around picking up and sitting down items. Nat was standing still looking uncomfortable, but Rogue was speaking to what could only be the woman who owned the shop. As Rogue motioned for Nat and his mate to follow her, they walked through a curtain to the back of the shop. As he started to move forward to retrieve the women from the shop – there was no way he was letting them go into a back room – he heard a noise to his right, swinging around he grabbed Charlie by the shirt and slammed him against the brick wall of the store where Kai had been hiding.
“Calm, Kai.” Charlie hung in his grasp. “The girls are seeing a psychic.”
His gaze swung between the shop and Charlie’s face, “Why would they do that? Don’t they realize how unsafe it is out here? We need to take them back to the house.”
Charlie chuckled and Kai pulled him in so he could stare in to his face, “And, what do you find funny?”
“Who’s the one acting crazy today?” Charlie chuckled again.
“Argh.” Kai dropped his friend and stormed back on the sidewalk. “And, what the fuck has you in such a good mood?”
“Natalie smells luscious. There’s nothing more relaxing to my cat than having her scent in my nostrils. It’s musky and sweet.” Charlie sighed in contentment.
“I hope to hell you were paying attention while sniffing after your mate.” Kai growled.
“Damn it, Kai, back the fuck off. Let me enjoy this for five fucking minutes. I have a lovely, strong mate that smells like my best dreams.” Charlie waggled his eyebrows.
Kai sighed. He knew he was acting unreasonable, but he couldn’t help it. His mind continuously flashed images of Alvena from the day before. It was wearing down his resolve about waiting until he had the confirmation of her seeing his Warrior Mark.
Charlie looked at Kai, “You’ve gotten to talk to your mate. All I’ve gotten to do is follow mine around and watch her get attacked.”
“Aye. You’re right. Sorry.”
“Besides I have good news.”
Kai waited for Charlie to continue. When his friend just stood their looking at him, he rethought his change of heart and thought about slamming him against the brick again.
“You’re partially shifted, Kai. You need to calm.”
“Then tell me what you know you arse.” Kai’s training normally kept him in control, but since meeting Alvena, everything had gone out of the window.
“Fine.” Charlie stepped away, then turned back, “The girls are coming to the Great Spirit tomorrow.”
“What?” Kai’s head jerked to his friend. Please Great Spirit, don’t let him be messing with me.
“Yes, tomorrow first thing when the shop opens they are planning to come in.”
Kai exhaled in relief and began to pace. If they were coming in, then he should be at the shop.
“Alright, I’m going to have one of the enforcers guard the lasses with you tomorrow, that way I can be on-site at the shop when they arrive. I will need to make sure that we have everything ready. They need to see the book with our marks first thing.”
Charlie just looked at Kai and grinned. Kai now knew the real reason why his friend had finally calmed down, their mates were coming in.
***
He had watched the women enter a building part way down the road. He stayed back, he was sure that they would return this way. For right now, he was just keeping an eye on them making sure they didn’t try to leave the city. The idiots that he had hired had been useless pieces of shit. Multiple failures and the target was still breathing. Not to mention that the men had disappeared after the most recent fiasco. They probably took off, embarrassed by being beaten by a girl. He chuckled. Whatever, he had the money he paid them back and had better trained men coming in tonight.
Playing middle man for his boss should have been easy. Hire and send men where problems existed. The task was simple, take out some feeble women and make it look like an accident. A few men, hell one man, should have
been able to get the job done.
As he paced, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, swiped the screen, and put it to his ear.
“Yes.” He answered.
“Are you with them?” His boss asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“We need this taken care of immediately.”
“I understand, sir. But, are you sure you want us to take out all three women?”
“Yes, it is the only answer. I take the chance of them being successful if I don't cover all of the bases. Do you have the men we need? I won’t accept more failures.”
“Understood, sir. The new men will arrive tonight. This time won’t be subtle, but it will achieve your goal.”
“At this point, I’m not worried about being subtle anymore. They are aware and I need this taken care of before they succeed.”
“The women will be gone by tomorrow evening, sir.”
“Good.”
His call went dead. His boss wasn’t one for unnecessary words.
Picturing what would happen if the men failed again, he decided they would need more incentive than the money they were promised. His boss was not a patient or forgiving man. So, he would pass on the promise of pain for failure. Yes, he might not know why his boss needed all of these women killed, and he didn’t care. It was money in his pocket, and he was determined to live long enough to enjoy it.
It was time to relay the instructions and get out of the way. He could have one of his men watch the hotel tonight and tomorrow the watcher could let them know where they all needed to converge. Tomorrow would be his big pay out and then he would retire to a tropical island and some beautiful women for a while. It might be a bit cliché, but if it wasn’t the dream of every man, then it wouldn’t be cliché, would it? He chuckled. Yes, time to enjoy some of his earnings. He would sit back and watch from afar as his men went to work. They would end this assignment and collect their pay.
Chapter 8
Al had spent a restless night. Her dreams were full of white eagles and dragons. She had risen early and taken her time to get ready. A shower and some strong tea had helped her feel more like herself, but she worried that the nights of little sleep were showing on her face. She could swear the bags under her eyes had their own zip codes. The reading with Miss Cleo had been strange. She hadn’t told them much and Nat had complained the whole way back to Jackson Square about the waste of money. Rogue had been quiet, a slight smile on her mouth. They had visited Saint Louis Cathedral and then returned early to the hotel. Al couldn’t get the imagery of dragons from her mind. The mystic with her tarot cards had given Rogue a bear and Nat a black panther. What could it mean?
Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) Page 9