Garden of Dreams and Desires

by Kristen Painter

  Lally clutched at her necklace. “Oh, Olivia, do you think that means you’ll be able to come back to us?”

  Livie looked at Augustine before answering. “I have no idea. I hope so.” Her gaze shifted behind them. “Say, where’s Harlow? Is she still mad at me for not telling her about Ava Mae sooner?”

  Augustine had been dreading this. “About Harlow—”

  “She is mad, isn’t she?” Livie shook her head, her hands fussing with the foil covering the lemon bars. “That child always could hold a grudge.”

  “No, it’s not that. Not exactly.” He sighed. There was nothing to it but to dive in. “She was starting to come around, but then she got a hold of Ava Mae’s ashes and used the lightning tree to bring her back to life. It didn’t go so well and somehow Ava Mae’s spirit… took possession of Harlow.”

  Olivia’s mouth fell open. She looked at Lally as if for confirmation.

  Lally nodded. “I had to tell her about the tree. It was her legacy. She’d figured out something was behind that door in your closet.” She glanced skyward. “I shoulda known she’d do the same thing you tried to do.”

  Olivia shook her head, still speechless. Her hands came up to cover her mouth.

  Lally continued. “And after everything that happened, I had to tell Augie.”

  Olivia slowly took her hands away, but turned to stare sorrowfully into the vast nothing of the fae plane. “Is there any getting her back? Any way to get her free from the tree’s clutches? I should have had you bring those ashes to me here.” She inhaled a deep, shuddering sigh. “What are we going to do?”

  There was nothing she could do, but he didn’t want to tell her that. Instead, he reached over to take her hand. “We’re all working to figure out how to get Harlow back. Even Fenton. It’s our main priority.”

  She picked up the bottle of bourbon and cradled it in her lap. “I guess I know the real reason you brought me this now.”

  Ava Mae hadn’t even put her foot on the first stair when Augustine leaned over the upper railing to call out to her. “How was your shopping?”

  “Fun.” And more productive than she could have hoped. Meeting Rufus Ogun had been a delightful turn of events. “Do you want to see what I bought?”

  Harlow sighed. No, he doesn’t.

  He smiled, thrilling her down to her toes. “Sure.” He tilted his head to the side. “Come on up and give me a show.”

  Well, this was a delicious new twist. Lover boy was finally warming up to her version of Harlow. It was about time. “On my way.” See, Sister dear? Boring and dull would have never gotten you this far.

  Harlow went quiet, but Ava Mae could sense her sudden despair at Augustine’s invitation. With a smile that was much larger on the inside, Ava Mae jogged up the stairs, shopping bags swinging. She carried them all the way to Augustine’s fourth-floor apartment, where he occupied half of the converted attic. The rest was storage, but his side was beautiful, spare and clean and lit by several windows, the largest an enormous leaded glass circle that looked out over the rest of the Garden District neighborhood. The mouthwatering aroma of smoke, his signature scent, perfumed the air and every inch of the space dripped with his masculine energy.

  But her favorite feature was the big king bed occupying the far wall when she first entered. With its fluffy down comforter, fat pillows and crisp white sheets, it looked like a nest. The kind she wanted to burrow into with him. Again.

  That was if she actually had the first time. Her memory of that evening three nights ago was painfully unclear. It was embarrassing to think they might have already slept together and she couldn’t remember it. Was it possible they’d been intimate and it hadn’t been memorable? Or had something else happened? Something Augustine had done? The unknowing almost made her growl in frustration.

  No matter what her suspicions were, this time it was going to happen for real. And she was going to remember it. So was he.

  He looked up from where he was sitting on the couch. “That was fast.”

  She grinned. “I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

  He sipped a tumbler of amber liquid and smiled. “I appreciate that.” He tipped the glass toward another one on the coffee table. Next to it was a tall bottle of bourbon. “After all that shopping, you must be ready to unwind. Fortunately for you, it’s cocktail hour.” He grinned, almost knocking her down with the brilliance of his smile. “Come join me for a drink and then you can show me everything you bought.”

  She hesitated. “I don’t know. The last time I had a drink with you, I had too much and passed out.”

  Which was why that evening three nights ago was so cloudy. She couldn’t for the life of her remember what had happened after he’d carried her to the bed. She’d tried, but it was almost like the memories were being purposefully suppressed.

  Could Harlow be doing that? Harlow, are you hiding something from me?

  Her sister snapped back. No, I’m angry at you, you dumb twit. Leave him alone.

  Ava Mae gave a little internal shrug and did her best not to laugh. Poor Harlow. That’s not going to happen. Not when I’m this close to having the night I’ve been dreaming about. She wasn’t about to be derailed by her sister’s sour attitude. She turned her attention back to Augustine.

  He held her glass up to her. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you have more than this one.”

  She sashayed forward a few steps. “You promise?” She did enjoy the way the bourbon warmed her up inside.

  “Cross my heart. This one glass only.” His smile was impossible to look away from. “Besides, it’s considered impolite in this city to turn down a drink.”

  She hesitated. There was no way she could say no to that wickedly handsome face. “Tell you what? I will, but I want to put on one of my fancy new outfits first. Okay?”

  “Okay.” He lifted his glass. “I’ll be waiting.” He pointed out the door. “Bathroom’s right around the corner.”

  She bit her lip to keep from squealing. Today was going so much better than she could have planned. She turned and took off for the bathroom. It was all white tile, brushed chrome and white marble veined with black. The urge to snoop through his things was strong, but not as strong as the desire to get back to him. She compromised by burying her face in one of his bath towels and inhaling. The intoxicating scent of smoke sent a delicious shiver through her.

  She dropped the towel and riffled through the shopping bags, looking for the one from the French lingerie store on Royal. She’d spent almost a thousand dollars there but the bag barely weighed a thing. As she lifted out the emerald silk teddy trimmed in ivory lace and pearls from its tissue paper wrapping, she had a feeling she was about to get her money’s worth. She shed her street clothes and slipped into it.

  She took a look in the mirror, finger combing her hair just so. The green did amazing things for her eyes. “I look hot.”

  Yes, you must be the envy of streetwalkers everywhere.

  She frowned at her reflection, looking for a glimpse of her sister in her own eyes. “And here I thought you were ignoring me.” Poor Harlow. So bitter. “I know you’re upset, but you need to see that it’s not you Augustine cares about so much as finding pleasure. There’s no reason he shouldn’t find that with me. Besides, I want to experience everything I can. You’re lucky to be along for the ride. You’ve lived a pretty boring life up until now. You should be thanking me.”

  Street. Walker. He’s never going to respect you. Or love you.

  Ava Mae shook her head. “He’ll respect me just fine for being the kind of woman you should have been, the one who’s not afraid to go after what she wants. As far as loving me, he thinks I’m you. Just new and improved. He’ll probably love me more.”

  Harlow’s seething felt like ants crawling on Ava Mae’s skin, but her sister stayed quiet. Pity filled Ava Mae, but then she reminded herself that it was Harlow’s own fault that she’d missed her chance with Augustine. This was Ava Mae’s shot. Her turn to live. And sh
e was not going to waste a second of it feeling guilty. “Try to enjoy yourself, Sister. I know I will.”

  She traipsed back to Augustine’s bedroom and leaned seductively against the door frame. “What do you think?”

  His eyes rounded slightly and his jaw went slack. He stared. Then swallowed. “I think… hell’s bells.” He drained the rest of his bourbon and poured himself another. “That is not what I thought you were going to be wearing.”

  She came closer and took the glass he’d had waiting for her. “Are you disappointed?”

  “That’s not the word I’d use, no.” He lifted his glass. “Here’s to… us.”

  She smiled. “Us. I like that.” She tipped the glass back and drained it. This wasn’t the time to sit around sipping her drink and making small talk. She had plans.

  “Wow. I didn’t think you were going to drink that quite so fast.” He stood and came around the coffee table to slip his arms around her waist. “Maybe you should sit down.”

  The back of her head felt numb. Maybe downing the bourbon so fast hadn’t been the best idea, but it was one glass. How much of a buzz could it give her? “I’d rather go to the bed.”

  “If that’s what you want.” He bent and scooped her into his arms.

  “That’s what I…” Her tongue no longer responded to her brain. Darkness was closing in around her. The same kind of darkness she’d felt when she’d first slipped inside her sister’s body.

  Harlow’s spirit rose up inside her.

  Ava Mae fought back, but even as she did, her control slipped. The abyss awaited her and as the darkness weighed her down, she slipped into the chasm between soul and spirit, numb to everything around her.

  Chapter Five

  Augustine laid Harlow on the couch, gently propping her head on the arm. He covered her with a throw, giving the bokura a chance to take. “Ava Mae?” No answer. “Harlow? Can you hear me? Are you… in there?”

  Her lids fluttered and for a moment, he thought he’d put too much of the powder into her drink. He scrubbed a hand over his mouth. He’d followed Jewelia’s instructions exactly, but drugging Harlow felt wrong. The reasoning was right, though. He just prayed it worked.

  Her eyes opened to narrow slits, her lids heavy and her pupils wide. “Augie?” Her voice was a whisper. She lifted one hand a few inches off the couch and dropped it right back down.

  “Yes, it’s me. Is that you, Harlow?”

  “Mm-hmm.” She licked her lips. “I feel foggy.”

  It had worked. The thrill of victory gave him a taste of hope. Maybe there was a way out of this mess. “You’re okay, I swear. I got Ava Mae to drink some bourbon laced with a sort of sedative. Can you sense her?”

  Harlow nodded wearily. “It’s like she’s asleep. Am I free of her?”

  “Not yet, sweetheart. I’m working on it, though.”

  She smiled, but it was halfhearted and sadness filled her eyes to the point that liquid rimmed her lower lids. “Thank you for trying. I’m so sorry I brought her back. I know Lally said to leave the tree alone, but all I could think about was getting my sister back and filling the gaping hole I’d lived with my whole life. I thought she could make it go away.” She sniffled. “I guess she did. Just not the way I expected.”

  “Hey, you did what any of us would do.” He wanted to take her hand, but Ava Mae hadn’t kept her gloves on with the green negligee and he wasn’t sure what a burst of emotion would do to Harlow in this state. “Your mother tried to do the very same thing.”

  Harlow took a deep breath and blinked a few times. “Olivia tried to bring Ava Mae back?”

  He nodded. “Years and years ago. Lally stopped her, though, so that all she managed was to spill a little of Ava Mae’s ashes. The tree snatched them up and raised Ava Mae’s spirit, but couldn’t do more than that. Lally thinks it’s part of why Ava Mae is… not altogether good.”

  “Wait, I think Ava Mae said something about that. About how she’s been a prisoner of the tree for years. That’s how she grew up.” Harlow’s mouth bent in a bitter frown. “She’s not good at all. She plans on seducing you.”

  He smiled as gently as he could. “I know. She’s not subtle.”

  Harlow turned her head away from him. “She wants to prove to me that you don’t… care about me. That all you’re interested in is a good time. She thinks that will break me.”

  There was no reason to hold back, but that didn’t stop his nerves from tripping over his skin like live wires. Outside of Lally and Olivia, he’d never spoken the words he was about to speak to any other woman. It was both exhilarating and terrifying. “Harlow, that’s not going to happen because… I love you. Not her. And there is nothing I won’t do to set you free. You need to know that.”

  She looked at him, her lips parted. She stared at him, the liquid forming along her lower lashes again. “You mean that?”

  He nodded. “I do.”

  “You love me.” A single tear trickled down the side of her face and ran into her hairline.

  He brushed it away with his thumb, hoping that small caress wouldn’t overload her with his emotions. “Is it that hard to believe?”

  She swallowed. “A little. I’m prickly and difficult and don’t like to be touched. I’m really not that lovable.”

  He laughed. “You’re a challenge at times, but it’s a challenge I love. You aren’t swayed one bit by my charm, which sucks but is also kind of impressive. I can’t imagine not having you around. So no matter what you think, that’s the truth of it.”

  She smiled and this time it reached her eyes. “You might need your head examined. Or both of us do because I think I might… love you, too.”

  “You think you might?” He could live with that.

  “No, I do.” She blushed, throwing her freckles into sharp contrast.

  He winked. “It’s only important that you remember I want you, not Ava Mae. No matter what she says to me and no matter what I say back to her—because I may have to say things to her I don’t really mean in order to free you—you’re the only one who occupies this space.” He touched his chest. “Got that?”

  She nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. “Got it.” The happiness disappeared suddenly, replaced by horror. “I just remembered something. Ava Mae met a man today in the French Quarter when she was shopping. A voodoo doctor—”

  He held up his hand. “I don’t want to tell you too much because I don’t know what Ava Mae can read from your thoughts and what she can’t, but just know that there is nothing she’s done that I’m not aware of. And it will be handled.”

  “She plans to meet with him again. I know she’s going to try to get him to do some kind of voodoo that will give her complete control of my brain and body.”

  He nodded. “Like I said, I’m taking care of it. You’re not in any danger.”

  That seemed to calm her. “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  “You know she killed Branzino.”

  “I know. Cy, Dulce and Sydra took care of burying his body.”

  “She’s very powerful.”

  “So are you. Which is why you have to fight.”

  “I have been. I argue with her constantly and if I try really hard, I can sometimes affect her, sometimes get a second of control back. But she always gets it right back.”

  “Keep at it. I have it on good authority your efforts will keep her from taking over entirely. Until we can figure out how to get rid of her altogether, that is.”

  Harlow nodded. “There’s something else you need to know. She—I have a new power. Not new, really, just something I didn’t know I could do. It’s how she subdued Branzino.”

  He leaned in. “What is it?”

  She pulled her hand from underneath the blanket and spread her fingers wide. “The same way that touching someone floods me with emotion, I can force emotion into someone. Ava Mae made him feel all the hurt and pain and fear she’d suffered because of him. It paralyzed him.”

 
He took the new information in, turning it over in his head. Had Ava Mae ever used that ability on him? He couldn’t be sure. “If Branzino could do it, it only makes sense you and your sister could as well.” He shook his head slowly. “It also explains a lot. I couldn’t figure out how either of you could overpower him. Not with you being so unused to your abilities.”

  She slid her hand forward to touch his. She blinked slowly as their fingers intertwined. “I know you’re afraid for me. I can feel it. But I can also feel how determined you are to get me back. And how you feel about me. Thank you.”

  He bent and kissed her softly. The bourbon still lingered on her lips, sugar and smoke. She started to kiss him back, but he broke away, afraid of doing anything that might cause Ava Mae to surface. He ached at how much it hurt that these moments with Harlow were temporary. “I will get you back, Harley Goodwin.”

  “I know you will.” She smiled up at him and he knew that she trusted him implicitly.

  He pulled his hand away before she realized what a liar that made him feel like. He had no plan yet, no clear path for freeing her. He couldn’t let her know that, couldn’t let her lose this new trust.

  This new hope.

  He made himself smile as he glanced at the time. “The sedative won’t last much longer, I’m afraid. In a minute or two, you’re going to fall asleep. When you wake up in the morning, I’m not sure how much of this you’ll remember, so try to focus on what I’ve told you, okay? Hold on to it.”

  She nodded, but her face fell a bit and he could see her struggling not to tear up. “Can you bring me back again soon? Please? I feel so alone when she’s got control.”

  “I will, I promise. As often as I can. Remember to keep fighting.”

  She nodded, her lids drooping. “You love me,” she whispered.

  He just nodded. There was no truer statement. Now he just had to figure out how to save her from the demon living inside her. With that thought heavy on his heart, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to her bed to sleep off the rest of the bokura.