She bit her nails waiting for his reply.
Absolutely, Emmy. Consider it done.
Ember texted back:
One more thing — please don’t tell Kacie. Or my mom. I don’t want to get them invested if things don’t work out. You understand I’m sure.
Ember almost regretted the last line. Almost.
Your secret is safe with me. What’s the name?
Ember took a deep breath before typing out the name she couldn’t get out of her head:
Derek Rhyan. His family owns Rhyan Vineyards in Willowcrest.
The last thing Nick sent was a thumbs-up emoji. Ember couldn’t help but smile, just a fraction.
Chapter Thirteen
The soft sounds of acoustic music in the cozy coffee shop were not enough to relax Ember as Ava glared at her over her aviators. “You asked your ex-stepdad for a background check on a guy you just met?” Her tone was judgmental. The fire behind her in the distressed white vintage-inspired fireplace crackled, just like her gaze.
“Yes. And he wasn’t my step-dad,” Ember said.
Ava twisted her lips into a familiar scowl. “So you’re one of those girls,” she accused as she rolled her eyes.
Ember felt a blush creep up her cheeks as she shifted in the plush grey armchair. “He doesn’t have a Facebook account, or Twitter, or … any online account.” Ember raised her eyebrow.
“Well then, he must certainly be a serial killer.” Ava picked up two sugar packets, dumped them into her coffee, and stirred the wooden stick methodically.
“It’s not just that—”
“Of course not,” Ava said as she replaced the lid. “Got about ten minutes before we need to head out,” she added as she took a sip.
Ember nodded in acknowledgment. “When I saw Kacie … She said that our paths had crossed before and that they would cross again. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something I’m missing. I trust Derek.” Ember knew how crazy she sounded.
Ava narrowed her gaze, her deep brown eyes full of cautionary judgment. “You trust a man you barely know. Because you’ve seen him in your dreams.” Ava pretended to swoon in a rather unpolished, uncharacteristic way.
It was Ember’s turn to scowl. “Call it instinct, or intuition.” She pulled her sweater down over her knuckles as she wrapped her hands around her knees.
“You could just, I don’t know, call him like a normal human being.” Ava stared at Ember with an expression that was both critical and cautious.
“If I was a normal girl, and he was a normal guy, probably. But you know that this circumstance is hardly normal.” Ember’s hair fell over her ivory sweater, catching the sunlight pouring through the window of the bookstore.
“Right. Because you’re an obtuse psychic hermit and he’s a serial killer. I forgot.” Ava smirked and checked her watch.
“You ready for this bachelorette party?” She set her coffee down on the table and slipped her long, thin arms into the black leather jacket she took with her everywhere.
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” Ember set her feet on the floor.
“Did I mention it was co-ed? I mean, who does that?” Ava flipped her brown hair over the studded collar.
“I think it’s kind of a sweet idea.” Ember grabbed her peacoat.
“Of course you do, because you’re a psycho.” Ava laughed.
“I may be a psycho, but I’m not the one who decided to be my friend.” Ember slung her tote bag over her shoulder.
“Touché’ Em,” Ava replied with a smile as they exited the warm and cozy coffee shop.
***
Ava pulled up the long expanse of the driveway, lined by looming trees The sun was bright in the golden hour, and cast a light through the leaves, lighting them up like tiny balls of flames. It was always so beautiful up in the forest, by the lake which was only an hour from Chester.
When the car finally came to a stop after sitting in line behind three other cards, Ember couldn’t believe her eyes.
They were booked for a bachelorette party on the lake. They’d done plenty of private events at Palmer’s Lake, but this wasn’t a bachelorette party. This was a damn soiree. The driveway veered into its own cul-de-sac, with cars parked alongside. There was a log cabin style house, which looked more like a resort than a cabin.
Several women, dressed in silk and satin cocktail dresses complimented by skyscraper heels, appeared to be waving animatedly with flutes of overflowing champagne in their hands outside along the driveway and entrance, as servers with large, silver trays ambled about. Ember looked at Ava. She seemed to be smiling quite fortuitously.
“Girl, I hope you brought your aventurine. That stuff really is a good luck charm.” She smiled, and Ember couldn’t help but laugh.
The sound of heels on the pavement became more eminent with every step. Ava popped the trunk, and Ember rounded the back to start unloading their rolling suitcases. Working private events meant they always traveled much lighter, but there was still equipment to set-up. Even though the lake house looked impressive, they could be conducting business on a card table in the corner somewhere, which is why Ava always insisted on bringing their own paraphernalia.
“Hi, I’m Brittani!” a long-legged, tan creature greeted them at the steps leading up to the lake house.
Ember extended her hand, her pale skin a ghastly contrast to her ivory sweater. “Ember Stone, pleased to make your acquaintance.” She smiled demurely.
“Good Lord, you don’t have to be so formal.” Brittani rolled her eyes as she braced her hand on her hip, her finely manicured nails white against the black of her dress.
Ava cut in, her arms crossed. “So, we just going to chit chat out here, or do you have somewhere you’d like us to set-up?” Ava’s voice was all business as usual.
Ember cleared her throat. Sometimes Ava could be a bit off-putting, she thought. Especially if she felt out of place. Ember nudged her arm and Ava shrugged nonchalantly.
Brittani tossed waves of bronze hair over her shoulder and briefly glanced at Ava. “Follow me,” she said, turning away and striding back up the path.
Ember shot Ava a judgmental look, but Ava just shrugged again. They followed Brittani past the mingling guests and into the cabin. Ember couldn’t help but marvel at the intricate detail carved into the wooden beams in the grand foyer. They bore the look of elegance with their carved vines and flowers, and the rustic color that deeply saturated them, setting them off against the amber glow.
The foyer was lined with votives and pillar candles on hallway accent tables, and the grand staircase was a sight to be seen. Ember let out a small gasp.
Ava rolled her eyes and whispered under her breath, “A bit ostentatious for my liking.”
There were several servers walking about with silver trays and Ember could see a group of Brittani clones gathered in the corner. She followed Brittani up the stairs and down a long hall to what looked like a living room.
Ember couldn’t shake a sudden, strange sense of déjà vu.
“I assume this room will be sufficient?” Brittani extended her arm to showcase the room. Lined with a deep scarlet sectional that seemed to take up half the room and a rather large bar backed by smoked glass that lit up the varied alcohol bottles, the room was a sight to behold.
Ava eyed the bartender, who was polishing glasses, dressed in the same black and white vest as the servers, except for his red bow tie. “Right. We usually work alone.”
Ember nudged her slowly while smiling sweetly. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.”
Brittani smiled back.“Great. We are on an actual schedule this evening, so please be prompt and try to have things wrapped up by 10:00 pm?” Brittani walked over to the bar and leaned her long arms against the golden metal. On cue, the bartender poured her a glass of something fizzy in a flute. Probably more champagne.
Ava unzipped the rolling suitcase. “Of course.”
Ember could tell Ava was talking through her teeth.
>
“Wonderful.” Brittani extended the flute to Ember. “Drinks and food are on the house. Consider it incentive.”
Ember smiled graciously. “Thank you but I like to keep a clear mind before readings.”
Brittani looked a little hurt. “Oh. Alright then. Well, I’ll leave you to it. Perhaps I’ll come by later for a reading.” Her hurt expression faded into a perfect, plastic smile.
Ember nodded, and with that Brittani was gone.
“Good grief, I thought Brittani with an ‘i’ would never leave,” Ava mumbled.
“You don’t know that she spells her name with an ‘i’.” Ember set her tote bag down in an oversized chair as she surveyed the room. She and Ava were going to have to do some rearranging. Thank God for the extra equipment.
Ember leaned on the bar and the bartender glanced up.
“What can I get you, miss?” he asked politely.
“You wouldn’t happen to have any coffee back there would you?” she asked as Ava set-up her podium outside the door.
The bartender nodded. “Actually, I do. He set a napkin down in front of her.
“Oh, how wonderful. Coffee with a dash of cream would be lovely,” she said. With a nod, he walked over to a hidden alcove in the bar. Amidst the shadows, she hadn’t even noticed it.
In a flash, the room shifted and suddenly everything changed.
Chapter Fourteen
Rose wandered the hall; the sweet, sticky smell of corn sugar and fruit clung to the walls and carpets. She had to be in the right place. The cards never lied. They never lied.
She’d consulted them time and time again, always with the same question and always she had received the same answer: Deidrick, was her Twin Flame. She knew in her heart that they had danced so many moons ago. How could she tell him that their time was limited?
Rose clutched her black velvet purse containing her cards close to her chest.
“What are you doing here?” The familiar husky voice broke the silence.
Rose spun around. Sure enough, there he stood with his black shirtsleeves rolled up; even in the dim light, she could see the outline of suspenders against his taut chest. His broad shoulders were pulled back, the gleam of sweat visible on his brow, illuminated against his dark, swept-back hair. Her heart fluttered. “I have seen the future, Derek, and I think for the very first time we can change the outcome of things. But I need your help.”
“You shouldn’t have come here, Rose. It's dangerous.” He placed his arm around her, his bright blue eyes shrouded in concern.
“I’m not some frail damsel, Derek. I am fully capable of taking care of myself.” She shifted in his grasp. He let out a sigh then pulled her closer as the sounds of chatter escalated around them. “Damn it, Rose,” he said as he twisted her in his grasp, backing her up against the wall.
The sound of footsteps drew near. “The next shipment should be arriving this evening. I hope it's enough or Giovanni will take it out of our pay.” The voices were right upon them, but Rose didn’t have time to think about that, what with Derek’s lips upon hers. There was the faint hint of saltiness on them from a day spent sweating in the sun and she felt her senses tingling at the taste.
Her fingernails gently coursed over the taut skin of his elbow, and the world seemed to dissipate in the darkness of the hall amongst the smells of bathtub gin and musk. Her body melted into his.
“Earth to Ember!” Ava’s voice penetrated her thoughts and Ember blinked. “Sweet Jesus, how much coffee do you need to focus? Should I be concerned? Do we need to put you in Coffee Addicts Anonymous or something?” Ava scanned their set-up, which was a large coffee table surrounded by blankets and pillows. Already it made the room look more comfortable.
“I’m sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts.” Ember curled her hand around the cup, bringing the drink to her lips.
Ava eyed her skeptically. “Uh-huh. Wouldn’t have anything to do with the object of your stalking would it?” She walked Ember over to the coffee table.
“I’m not stalking. There’s nothing to stalk.” Ember avoided looking at Ava, and it was just as well.
“Uh-huh. Get your head in the game girl. You’re about to get slammed by a bunch of hammered Barbies.” Ava smiled as she walked out the door, and Ember could see through the crack there was already a line forming.
Ember glanced at her phone in her lap. It was 9:00, but the throng of Brittanis with an ‘i’ and Brittanys with a ‘y’ and Haileys, and even an actual Barbara, seemed to be dwindling. Ember suspected it had something to do with the early arrival of a stripper, going by the internal gossip.
Ava’s voice escalated outside when the door suddenly opened. Two girls and two guys barged in. One of the females, standing behind a man, was covering his eyes. Ember took the sight in and her mouth went dry. The woman brought her hands down.
“Surprise!” she squealed, and the expression on Derek’s face was more than astonishment. It was one of panic.
She couldn’t blame him for trying to escape, even if it did look awkward.
“It’ll be fine, Derek, I promise. Nothing bad is going to happen to you.” The girl’s voice held a hint of teasing, but also apathy.
“I told you he wouldn’t go for it,” the other guy interjected.
It was as if Ember wasn’t even in the room. Her eyes shifted to Ava, who stood in the doorway wearing an exasperated look.
“Come on, Derek, just once -- live a little, please,” the woman pleaded.
His eyes found Ember and he swallowed.
Ember’s hands deftly reached for her cards. She started to shuffle then cut the deck.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” He glared at the group.
“It’s harmless, seriously. Why do you have to be such a killjoy?” The man lifted a cigar to his mouth.
Smoke blew into the room and Ember stifled a cough.
Derek looked at the girl who had held his eyes shut. “You know how the family feels about this, Chelsea.” He crossed his arms.
Ember looked down briefly. Still, she could feel as his gaze tore away from Chelsea, wandering over to her even if it was only momentarily.
“You know I don’t believe anything about that stupid curse, Derek. It’s not real.” The sound of rustling fabric told Ember Chelsea had crossed her arms in response.
“It is real, Chelsea. All of it is.” His tone was serious.
“If it’s real then she should be able to tell you now, shouldn’t she?” Ember glanced up at her words in time to see Chelsea lean into Derek’s space, and that’s when she caught it -- the unmistakable glimmer of electric blue in his eyes.
“If I agree to this, can you at least let me do it in peace? Alone?” He frowned at Chelsea.
She seemed to ponder his request, her finger to her lips, the large diamond on her hand catching the light of the crystal chandelier hanging above, causing fractals to bounce around the room.
Of course. She must be the bride-to-be. Ember’s mind stopped dead in its tracks as she stole a glance at Derek. Did that mean …?
No, please … Don’t be engaged. Ember nonchalantly pulled a card, then another, then a final one. As she flipped them over, she let out a sigh of relief. With two upside-down and one upright, the cards had answered her question. Two upside-down cards meant no.
Derek was not engaged.
She quietly sifted the cards back into the deck, shuffled again then cut the deck.
“Chelsea, come on. Everyone else gets to do it alone. Why can’t he?” the other girl spoke.
Chelsea sighed. “It’s not as much fun.”
“Chelsea.” The other man’s tone conveyed annoyance and slight exhaustion.
“Aaaaagh. Fine. But I want to hear every detail. Leave nothing out,” she instructed as she turned on her heel. The second girl ran quickly after her and the man lumbered slowly over to Derek, puffing on his cigar.
Ember let out a cough.
The man clapped him on the shoulde
r. “If it matters at all, I tried to tell her this was a dumb idea, but your sister wouldn’t listen,” he said before he walked out.
Ava gave Ember one last ‘oh my God’ look before shutting the door.
It was now just Ember, Derek, and the poor bartender.
Chapter Fifteen
Derek’s face relaxed as the door shut softly. He stood there in dark wash jeans and a thick, orange cable knit sweater. With his dark black hair hanging loose, Ember thought he looked like a catalog model. Or a really good looking pumpkin.
“I’m sorry about that. My sister can be a bit intense.” He smirked as he sat on the pillows scattered around the floor.
Ember stopped shuffling. Her pulse steadied. “You know, I used to believe in coincidences before I met you.” Ember gently pushed the cards toward him.
Derek glanced at them and, without so much as a blink, he waved his hand in the air. “Fredrick, please give us a moment.” His tone was solid and borderline icy.
The energy shifted as she looked into his burning, bright eyes. Then she felt a warm, coaxing pull toward Derek.
“Yes, of course, sir.” The bartender’s voice was empty and he methodically set his rag down and walked out.
Ember half expected to see Ava poke her nose in, but she was wrong. It was just the two of them.
Derek blinked and suddenly the room felt … lighter. He shook his head and let out a sigh.
“A coincidence is wishing I could go to a concert and then my friend offers me an extra ticket. Us running into each other frequently? I hardly see that as a coincidence.” He looked down at the cards and carefully drew one.
The Upright High Priestess. The temperature of the room shifted with a flush of warmth.
“My knowledge of the tarot is very limited, but I know this card. It means great mystery and a higher power.” Derek laid his fingers over the card.
Ember felt drawn to it in a most profound way. She reached out her hand cautiously. A sudden draft shifted in, mixing with the heat emanating from Derek.
A Cursed All Hallows' Eve Page 68