Demons Prefer Blondes

by Sidney Ayers

  Lucy’s mom shook her head. What looked like a genuine smile graced her face. “She’s an odd one, but she’s good for you.”

  “Eh?” Her mother never approved of any of her friends, including Frankie and Gerardo. Apparently, Lucy was supposed to schmooze with her doctors, dentists, and gynecologists. Yep! She actually tried to set Lucy up with an OB-GYN. A truly clinical experience. Fortunately, Lucy managed to send him away before the pelvic exam.

  Her mom raised a brow. “What? Is trying to be a better mother so wrong?”

  “Sorry,” Lucy muttered. “I’m just stressed and all your newfound interest creeps me out.”

  Her mom blew out a breath laced with dejection. “I… I… just…” Her lip quivered and jutted out into a pout.

  A pout? She’d never seen her mom do that before. She gnawed her lip. Now she felt like a complete bitch.

  “Lucy’s had a hard day, Mrs. Gregory.” Frankie swizzled his way over and wrapped his arm around Lucy’s shoulders. Frankie to the rescue. What a guy! “She didn’t get any sleep last night. Bookkeeping, you know.” Frankie turned his head to glance at the clock. “Oh no! I’ve got a highlight coming in. I need some foils.”

  With a sneaky little whistle, Frankie bustled to the back room. Hmm. Didn’t he know alone time with Mom wasn’t what she needed?

  Thanks a bunch Frankie!

  “I knew this wouldn’t work.” With another sigh, she clasped her hands in her lap. “But I just wanted to make up for lost time.”

  Lucy shrugged. “I’m still not going to your family’s Christmas party.” Lucy clenched her fists. They never approved of her father, and that disapproval had since passed on to her. In fact, part of her mother’s constant pushing stemmed from them. Always the one to please her family… that was Victoria Gregory.

  “This has nothing to do with the party tonight, dear.” Her mom’s lips spread into a wan smile. “I’m talking about the big picture. As for Aunt Sally, I think I’m taking a pass, too.”

  Did she hear her correctly? Standing up Aunt Sally and the whole Jennings gang? “But didn’t you just say this was an emergency? That the party was tonight?”

  Her mom just offered a cryptic shrug. “I changed my mind.”

  “Somebody pinch me. I think I’m dreaming.” She had to be.

  Gerardo sauntered over to the crowd, a devious smile wide upon his lips. “Okay, chica. You got it.” With a loud giggle, he clinched his fingers on her shoulder.

  “Ouch!” Then just as instantly, the pain faded. Pre-succubus, she would have had a bruise the size of a chicken egg. She pulled up the arm of her sweatshirt and caught glimpse of a just-slightly reddened circle that already faded.

  Lucy gave the Latino a playful smack and sent him on his way.

  “How much longer, Lucy?” Her mom’s whine pulled her from their friendly repartee. She scratched her plastic-capped head. “It’s itchy.”

  Lucy checked the timer then leaned down to inspect her mom’s hair. “Five more minutes.”

  Her mom let out a deep sigh. “Oh, all right.”

  “Ah, hell nah!” Frankie’s voice echoed from the back. “Where the hell are the foils?”

  Kalli, whose nose had been glued to the Daily Executioner, lifted her head. “Foils? This is a hair salon, not a fencing studio.”

  At the lack of laughter, she shook her head. “I’d never make it as a comedienne.” With a deep sigh, she flung the tabloid back on the table and jumped up. “Kalli to the rescue.” With the grace of a gazelle, she bounded down the hallway to help Frankie with his quest for foils.

  Shaking her head, Lucy returned to inspect her mom’s hair. Thankfully for her and her itchy head, the color had completely processed. “All set, Mom. Let’s get you rinsed.”

  “Thank goodness, I thought my scalp was burning off.”

  Lucy’s face fell, horror replacing mirth. The only time her mom set foot in the salon and she’d fried her head. This was worse than Mrs. Carlson’s seventies-reject perm. She clenched her teeth and bit her tongue.

  “Get that look off your face, Lucy,” her mom demanded. “I have a sensitive scalp. I forgot to tell you.” She flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry.”

  Lucy’s horror only slightly waned. This whole situation was surreal at best. Mom and her bonding at the last place possible—Luscious Locks.

  “Your father would be proud of you.” She grinned as she slid into the shampoo chair.

  Her mom’s words sent Lucy’s expression over the edge as a wide smile spread across her face.

  “I took his advice, you know.”

  “I know,” she said, leaning her head back in the bowl. Glancing up at the fixtures, she blinked. “Is that silver?”

  “Yes,” Lucy said. “All the fixtures are silver.”

  Her mom glanced up at her as she turned the faucet on. “I didn’t know they made silver faucets! You are doing well. I’m glad you took his advice.”

  Shock prevented her from replying. Never in her twenty-nine years had she expected her mom to share in her happiness. Why couldn’t it have happened sooner?

  How did that phrase go? Better late than never? Whoever coined that phrase didn’t know her or her mom. The fact was Lucy loved her, despite their differences of opinion. But now wasn’t the time to bond, with evil demons lurking. The last thing Lucy wanted was her mother’s soul on her conscience. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that to her. It was bad enough she had dragged Gerardo, Frankie, and Serah into this mess. Then again, wasn’t it Serah who had dragged her into it in the first place? Nah, Serah didn’t want to open the chest that night. Lucy did that all by her lonesome, despite Serah’s pleadings not to.

  Lucy scrubbed and sprayed the dye from her mom’s hair. Deep inside, her sudden interest filled Lucy with peace. But turmoil outweighed the peace. Her mother wouldn’t understand. Yesterday, Lucy would’ve welcomed her with open arms. Today, however, she couldn’t handle it. Isn’t it funny how things can change in just one day?

  Then an idea hit her. Perhaps she couldn’t bond with her mom because she wasn’t the same person she gave birth to. Yeah, that had to be it. She was now a closet nymphomaniac, and her mom was as conservative as… never mind.

  The truth was simple. Lucy was scared as heck.

  ***

  “I look magnificent!” Gripping the mirror, her mom beamed. “I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.” She thrust the mirror back into Lucy’s hands and squealed with glee. “Even Tammy doesn’t do as good a job.”

  Lucy couldn’t help but smile. Her mom’s epiphany, or whatever it was, began to grow on her. Wonderful. And for the first time in like forever, she wasn’t being facetious. Nothing could ruin this moment.

  “What the hell!” Frankie’s voice carried throughout the salon. “This is so not happening.”

  Lucy’s breath caught. This did not sound good at all. Frankie stalked in from the back hallway, his breath ragged. Then again, Frankie was known as quite the drama queen. But with everything going on, she wouldn’t take any chances.

  “What is it?” she asked, concern lacing her voice.

  Frankie sucked in a long breath of air. “All of our foils are ruined.” He threw out his hand and held out a charbroiled foil. “What the hell were you doing last night? Kalli won’t tell me anything!”

  Lucy rolled her tongue along gritted teeth. “Not now… not in front of my mom,” she ground out.

  “We’ll figure something out,” Kalli said. She turned and flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I must have missed those. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the business.”

  She wouldn’t complain. Without this woman, there wouldn’t even be a salon to stand in. “It’s okay. You’ve done so much as it is. My mom’s just about done. I can go to the supply store and pick some up.”

  Kalli shook her head. “I’m afraid you can’t leave the salon, at least not until Rafe gets here. I promised him.” She paced back and forth, scratching her dreadlocks. “We’v
e surrounded the building with an enchantment that reduces your… ahh… condition.” Thank goodness Kalli chose to speak in a hushed tone. Despite her mom bonding with her, Lucy wasn’t quite ready to drop the bomb on her just yet.

  “Who’s going?” Frankie asked, flinging his hands on his hips. “I’m staying here with Lucy.”

  Gerardo shook his head. “I’ll stay here. You go.”

  Apparently, the effects of her condition still hadn’t fully worn off. Would her pheromones ever let up? Frankie and Gerardo stood nose to nose, tall and proud, as they sized each other up. Hands on their hips, they narrowed their gazes in the stare-down of the century.

  “Oh, come on, guys,” Lucy muttered. “This is silly. It’s just a drive to the stupid supply store. I’ll be fine.”

  Kalli sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize such a slight oversight could cause such tension.”

  Lucy gave her a reassuring gaze. “Don’t be. Part of this is my fault. Some of my effects apparently haven’t worn off yet.”

  Gerardo finally spoke. “Frankie can go. He saved your ass the other day. Now it’s my turn.”

  Saved her ass? When?

  Frankie arched a brow, clearly confused as her. “I did?”

  “Mrs. Gunderson,” Gerardo replied with a wink. “I think the words you used were, ‘I saved Lucy’s pretty little tush.’”

  A slight blush crept to her cheeks. Did these guys forget her mother was setting right across from them? Although, having two blatantly gay men calling her tush pretty was a huge ego boost. Not that she needed any more of that right now.

  Frankie rolled his eyes. “Oh please, you and I both know that’s not the same thing.”

  “Oh yes it is!” Gerardo flung his arms across each other. “I’ve heard those feet are killer.”

  With a hiss, Frankie stomped an impatient foot. “I look beyond the feet.”

  Gerardo blinked. “Oh,” he muttered through taut lips. Slumping his shoulders, he backed away from Frankie. He stuck up his chin. “I’m still staying with Lucy. I have reasons.”

  “What reasons?” Frankie prodded.

  “Personal reasons.” Gerardo crossed his arms. “That’s all you need to know.”

  Her mom, who must have been an arbitrator in a previous life, cleared her throat. All four of them whipped around to face her. Victoria Gregory stood proud and authoritative, like a woman who knew how to take charge. That face used to have Lucy trembling in her moon boots as a child. Now there was the mother she remembered. “I’m sure Lucy’s quite capable of performing such a menial task.” She ran her fingers through her newly cut and colored hair and rolled her teeth over her lip. “Not that any of your work here is menial, you know.”

  Bemusement flooded everyone’s faces. Gerardo and Frankie stood there in stark silence, while Kalli twisted a pink dreadlock around a finger. Her expression, however, leaned more toward amused than bemused. Lucy almost broke out into laughter. The stunned silence wasn’t because of her comment about menial tasks. It was the fact that she’d finally stood up for her daughter.

  “What?” she asked, gazing at each of them. She exhaled a deep sigh. “What I meant to say was… you know… the supply company is right next to Joshua Carlson’s office.”

  So much for her mom’s metamorphoses. She should’ve known her mom had an ulterior motive. So she still wanted her to schmooze with the snobs of Connolly Park? Not that Josh was a snob or anything, but still…

  “Umm… he’s getting married soon. Larissa Harding, remember?” Lucy snorted back a laugh. “I don’t think it’s good form for his ex-girlfriend to make social visits to his work.” Could you say “awkward”? Especially after the pheromone overdose she gave him earlier this morning.

  Mom shrugged and nibbled her lip. “They just don’t seem to have that spark, you know?”

  Lucy knew, all right. More than her mom realized. Joshua, bless his heart, wouldn’t know what a spark was even if it bit him on the ass. But he was still a good person.

  “I’ll go,” Kalli blurted. With a smile, she threw her mass of hair over her shoulder. How did she hold all that hair on her head?

  Lucy pulled Kalli to the side. “Is it safe to leave me alone?” Rafe would be pissed if anything happened while he was gone. Not that she should care if he was mad or not, but for some reason she was. Stupid man.

  Kalli grinned. “As I mentioned earlier, the shop is surrounded with Rafe’s and my energy. You have nothing to worry about. And you don’t have to worry about your newly budding fan club. You’re protected all over.”

  Cool! Because she didn’t stand a chance against a bunch of hormone-intoxicated men. “That’s comforting.”

  Frankie’s eyes flickered. “So you’re a succubus, huh?”

  “Afraid so.” Flashing her pearly whites, she struck a pose. “Never would’ve guessed it, right?”

  Gerardo rolled his eyes and a laugh rolled out. “Please, I knew it all along! You had sexpot written all over you.” He reached across the front desk and pulled out his blasted portfolio. “Remember this?”

  She should’ve known. Gerardo and that stupid photo. He just couldn’t part with it. “Do you want me to sign my mug shot? It may increase the value.” Yeah right.

  Frankie arched a brow. “If it’s that bad, we can use it as a before-and-after picture.”

  Lucy narrowed her eyes and arched her brow in befuddlement. Had the lunar eclipse done more than unleash demons into the world? These guys were talking like a bunch of silly willies. Scratch that; she was acting a little nutty, herself. Then again, she was entitled to, considering the circumstances.

  Frankie, obviously mistaking her expression as look of intensity, gulped. “Not that the before picture is bad, but… you know… you’re off the chart on the smokin’ hot scale now…” Frankie’s gaze darted around the room. “I think I’m gonna shut up now.”

  “I’m pretty sure that borders on false advertising, anyway,” Lucy added with a chuckle. She could just see the advertisement.

  Want to go from this to this? All you have to do is boink the life out of someone.

  No way! “Then again, we could always add the line ‘Results may vary.’” Taking in Gerardo’s and Frankie’s sidelong gazes and the excited grins on their faces, Lucy shook her head. “I’m joking. Don’t get any ideas.”

  Both men blew out disappointed breaths—in unison! They could’ve been twins, save for Gerardo’s swarthy skin and dark hair and Frankie’s pale face and sandy blond hair. Then again, Gerardo wore feathers, and Frankie thought he looked like a giant flamingo. Besides being gay, the similarities pretty much ended there.

  Gerardo puffed out his chest like the giant—albeit lovable—peacock that he was. “I’ll stay here and protect Lucy.” He jumped in the air and kicked. “Hi yah!” Backing up, he bowed. “I’ve been dying to show you that move forever!”

  Lucy’s mouth gaped open. Gerardo knew karate? What else had the Latino been hiding? His ability to knit three sweaters in a single bound? “When did you learn karate?”

  “I dated a karate instructor. He gave me private lessons.” Gerardo winked and added, “And let me tell you, private lessons are much better than public ones.”

  Lucy didn’t doubt it, but she didn’t want to hear about it either.

  Kalli coughed and sputtered. “Ahh… Frankie can go with me. Mr. TMI stays here with you.”

  For being a demon, or whatever she was, Kalli sure had the modern lingo down pat. Then again, she probably lived in this world before most of Lucy’s ancestors. Maybe she should ask her how old she is, to sort of break the ice. The older-sister-type vibe rolled off her where Rafe was concerned. What a relief!

  Smirking, Kalli leaned in and whispered, “Isn’t it rude to ask a woman her age?” With a soft chuckle, she turned back to Frankie. “Let’s go.”

  So she could read minds? Could Rafe too? Talk about awkward. Like she wanted the man she needed to boink knowing her every thought. Raking a hand through her hair
and gritting her teeth, she tossed a surreptitious glance at Kalli. With an unconcerned shrug, she smirked. What else were these demons hiding from her?

  Chapter 11

  The blast back to Limbo proved uneventful as always. Rafael had long grown used to the rush of icy winds barraging his face while he teleported. He glanced down at his companion. Squeaky, apparently, hadn’t. Long arms wrapped around his chubby chimp body, he shivered. A sliver of ice dangled from his nose. Imps! Not developed enough to handle the transport between worlds.

  But if what Kalli said was true, this wasn’t any ordinary imp. This was Quetzalcoatl, long-lost god of the Aztecs. He must have done something horrible for the Fore-Demons to diminish him to an imp. Rafael shook his head. Not bloody likely.

  One thing was certain; there was more to the chimp that met the eye.

  “Let’s not do that again,” Squeaky shook crystals of ice from his fur.

  The squeaks were too much. Time to get this monster a muzzle.

  “Come,” Rafael bit out. Yanking the pesky imp by his arm, he pulled Squeaky behind him. “The Fore-Demons await.” The sooner he got this mess straightened out, the sooner he could join Nic in saving Coby.

  Coby. How was Nic’s rescue going? Remorse flooded inside. He should be the one rescuing her. They were bonded by blood. They were twins. Connected. He should be there, with the sweat, blood, and brimstone, fighting for his sister. Instead, the Fore-Demons sent him to Earth to get the blasted chest—the same chest that had put Coby at risk. The same chest that now held Lucy captive. He’d spit on the Arca Inferorum if he could. He, however, still valued his position as a Paladin. He hadn’t even given one thought of Coby while on Earth. He’d been too busy with Lucy. Too busy becoming enchanted.

  “Do you ever smile?”

  I’ll smile when I vanquish Belial back to the fires of Hell. He gripped the hilt of his sword. Perhaps if they realized he was ready to fight they’d reconsider his assignment.

  “They won’t change their minds.” Squeaky hunched down on his arms and swayed back and forth. “Nice piece though.” He reached out his bulbous hand. “May I?”