by Calinda B
“It would serve him right, but don’t worry,” Daniel answered, stalking over to the plastic wrapped box.
That same dark chill as before started to form in her belly. “Are you mad?”
“No. I’m efficient, that’s what. I’m doing what needs to be done. Right now I need to get the contents of this box out of your hands. I’ll return everything that doesn’t reek of El Demonio. Meanwhile, you should get in the house with your dog. You’re starting to shiver.” He quickly peeled his overcoat from his body and placed it around her shoulders. “Shoo.”
“Shoo?”
He gave her lips a soft, quick kiss. “Go! I’ll meet you there in a moment.” He took off toward the front of the house along the side trail.
Marissa stared as he marched away. Who are you, Daniel Navid? She and Sober tramped back to the house, Daniel’s coat trapping her in its warmth. She opened the back door for her dog. He raced inside, stood and shook his wetness all over the back room. She turned toward the field. Jason had rolled onto his side and was pushing himself up to standing. He didn’t look good at all as he staggered out into the forest, away from her house and into the resuming rain.
Chapter 18
Marissa wrapped a fluffy towel around her head and swathed a cuddly blue robe over loose-fitting sweatpants. The doorbell rang. She opened it to see Daniel standing on the stoop. He wore a different coat and had that same, cold expression she’d glimpsed earlier.
She looked past him to make sure there wasn’t another Daniel out by his car. “You could have just come in. I already know you’re here.”
“That would have been presumptive, don’t you think?” He looked her up and down, assessing her like a predator. “You look…warm. Good.”
A quick frown passed over her face. Who the hell is this guy? “Come in.”
“Thank you.”
He strode in the foyer, fully in command. “May I hang my coat here?”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Sure, give it to me and I’ll hang it.”
“My hand works as well as yours does.” He removed his sopping coat, tugging off one arm, then the next with crisp, precise movements.
“Rain started again, huh?”
“With a vengeance.” He ran his hand through his wet locks, spilling drops of water on the stone floor. “My apologies. I shouldn’t get water all over the floor.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re wet. I’ll get a towel and wipe it up.”
“No, no. I made the mess. I can clean it up.” He flicked his hand and the droplets steamed and evaporated.
Marissa blinked. “What was that?”
“Sorcery 101. It comes in handy in moments like this.” He smiled at her warmly, his face becoming the recognizable Daniel.
“There you are,” Marissa said. “I wondered where you had gone.”
“What, cariño?” He appeared perplexed.
“Nothing.”
“No, tell me. I’m confused.”
Marissa tugged at the belt of her robe. “Oh, it’s just that…I don’t know - you seemed cold a second ago. I kind of didn’t know who you were exactly.”
“Didn’t you?”
“Not really.”
“I was just taking care of business, that’s all.” He stood at attention, studying her.
She shifted side to side and bit her lip. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes, that would be lovely. What do you have?”
“Wine, beer, tea, water, coffee, juice…what are you in the mood for?”
He gave her another one of those piercing stares. “Do I really need to answer that?”
Quivers and shivers coiled through her spine. Want. Oh, God, he turns me on. “No, I…”
“A glass of wine would be perfect.”
She took a deep breath. “Red? Rosé? White? I’ve got all three. But first – please come in and make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.”
When she was coming out of the kitchen with the wine, Les Baleines Bleues began playing.
“Clever ring tone,” said Daniel as he accepted the wine. “It reminds me of a café in Paris.”
“Thanks,” she said, dashing to answer the phone. “Me, too.” When she saw the number in the caller ID she froze. Tapping the answer button, she said, “What?”
Daniel glanced over at her and cocked his head inquisitively.
“Hey, baby-doll, Harmonia here.”
“I know who this is. What do you want?”
“Chill, doll. My head’s in a mess. I got wasted and can’t remember where I left my car.”
“Where are you now?”
“Not really sure. I woke up sitting at a gas station over on…” His voice faded for a moment. “It looks like I’m at an Arco over on 35th.”
“So what do you want me to do about it?”
“I just wondered if you knew where my car is.”
She strode over to the foyer and peeked out front. His car was nowhere to be seen. It was out there 30 minutes ago. Her head whipped back to Daniel. He swirled his wine and studied her painting. “Haven’t a clue. Ask your boys.”
“Okay. Thanks, baby-doll. Man, that must have been some killer weed,” he said, chuckling. “You should try it with me sometime.”
“No, thanks.”
“You might like it.”
“I said, no, Jason. Don’t forget we broke up. I have to go.”
“Okay, well, later. And the name’s Harmonia.”
She tapped the End Call button. “What did you do to Jason’s car?”
“I think it was impounded. Tow truck came by when I was out there.”
“Why would a tow truck stop by?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Maybe it was parked illegally. How should I know?” He patted the seat next to her. “Come, cariño. Come sit and enjoy this most excellent wine with me. Where did you get it?”
“My brother-in-law is a wine distributor.”
“I look forward to meeting him.”
I’m not so sure about that, Marissa thought.
After she’d sat and sipped some of the wine, she started to feel more at ease. Daniel sat his glass down and put his arm around her. She relaxed and settled into his warm, strong body.
He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “So, cariño, I think we should have a look at your gems together.”
She stiffened. “Why?”
“You need to learn their significance.”
“I thought I got to do that on my own.”
“Things have accelerated a bit.”
She sat up. “What do you mean, accelerated?’
“The image, cariño. The photograph. I’ve confirmed that it was indeed El Demonio. I’m afraid he knows where you live now.”
The hairs on her neck and scalp sprang to attention. “You mean when I untied the bindings? That let him find me? How do you know that?”
“I had an ether meeting while I was outside.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. He’s on your trail now.”
“What do you mean, on my trail?”
“What do you think I mean?”
“On my trail as in stalking me, like Jason?”
“Far worse than Jason, I’m afraid. I can only protect you for so long, mi amor. He’s a formidable foe. He possesses ancient magic. I’m not sure if I can do away with him – it could be up to you.”
Marissa exploded from the couch. “Why? Why can’t your team of sorcerers and ether people do away with him? I know nothing! I only know how to make finger paintings on my arms and fairy lights!”
“Stop panicking, Marissa. Panicking won’t help things.”
“Easy for you to say, Mr. Night Numen.”
“You’re just as powerful as I am. You’re just untrained.”
She threw back her head. “Gah! I don’t know what to do! How in God’s name will I get trained in a jiffy? How do I know I will get trained in time before El Demento does something to me?”
“We’ll find a way – starting with the gems.”
Marissa grabbed her hair and pulled, grimacing. “I seriously doubt holding gemstones will make a bit of difference in the scheme of things. That’s like me playing with dolls while you get to go play with guns.”
“Would you like to play with guns?”
She stopped her frenetic pacing and stared at him. “Why? Do you know how to shoot a gun?”
“Yes,” he said simply.
She shook her head. “Well, no to me learning that one. No, no, and no.” She flung herself into the cozy chair next to the sofa. “I’m scared, Daniel. I’m scared. Two weeks ago I was just a stupid girl doing stupid graphic arts with a stupid boyfriend. Now I’m someone who can stun a man…”
“With my help,” Daniel interrupted. “And you were never stupid.”
She glared at him. “Excuse me - with your help. So I’m someone – not stupid – who can stun a man but only with the help of a trained Night Numen, and this powerful, demented sorcerer is after me and wants to kill me.”
“He wants to consume you in the same way he consumed Josephina.”
“What do you mean, consume?”
“You certainly ask a lot of questions, cariño. Come, sit next to me.”
“I can hear you just fine over here.”
“Fair enough. I didn’t tell you the whole story about Josephina.”
“I’m listening.”
“I told you we found her in a tide pool at the bottom of a cliff. That kind of fall would kill a person. There’s no way to survive that. But she was still alive.”
“She what?” Marissa’s face pulled back in horror.
“She was still alive. We believe he captured her soul in order to prevent her from being with me. She lay there, in the tepid sea water, and I knew she could see me. I knew she could hear me. There was still color in her face and warmth in her body, even though her heart had stopped beating. At this point, though…” His voice trailed off.
The image that Marissa had seen came rushing into her head. “I’ve seen her, Daniel. I’ve seen her in that pool. She’s pleaded with me for help.”
He frowned and regarded her. “That’s impossible.”
“No, it’s not. I’ve seen her, I tell you. Did she have beautiful green eyes and long, wavy hair?”
“Yes, she did.” Daniel’s face furrowed.
“A mole or a mark of some kind here?” Marissa pointed next to her left eyebrow.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“That’s who I saw. She pleaded with me to help her, but I didn’t know what to do.”
Daniel sat very still. Marissa could almost hear the wheels turning inside.
“This changes things.”
“How?”
“If her captured spirit has appealed to you, it can only mean one thing. She’s still alive somewhere – in flesh and blood.”
Marissa’s heart clenched. How could the love of his life, his Beloved Josephina, still be alive? “It’s been 11 years. I imagine she’s pretty decayed – wherever she is. Didn’t you bury her?”
Daniel’s face went completely blank. “No.”
A chill washed over Marissa’s face, like he had just poured icy cream on her face. “What do you mean, no? People bury their dead, Daniel, in case you haven’t heard.”
“We wouldn’t let the authorities take her. My father took her and put her in a…” He looked askance. “In a crypt at his home.”
“Who has a crypt at their home?”
“We do. It’s a tradition among my family to keep the dead nearby. We want our ancestors to watch over us and guide us the best they can.”
Once again, a chill spread across Marissa’s scalp and face. “This is creeping me out, Daniel.”
“It shouldn’t. This would all be second nature to you if you’d been trained properly.”
“Well, excuse me.” She shielded her chest with tightly crossed arms.
Daniel looked over at her, his features soft and inviting. “I’m sorry, mi corazón. This must be terrible for you. So much has happened in such a short time. I’m sorry to push you, but we have no choice. Can you retrieve your gemstones? I’d really like you to get a feel for them with me here.”
“You, the trained Night Numen,” Marissa grumbled, arms still clenched tight.
“Me, the man who’s in love with you.”
Her heart skipped. She returned his gaze, tears welling up in her eyes. Jealousy snapped like a flag in a stiff wind in her gut. “What about Josephina? What if she is still alive? What will you do then?”
“I believe in living life in the present, cariño. I intend to embrace what is before me, not cling to the past like I did for years after she died. If she is still alive – if – then we owe it to her to bring her back from wherever she had been hiding. But her and my destiny is complete. Your and my destiny is just beginning.”
“Really?”
“Really and truly. Night Numen tear-sucking promise.” He placed his palm on his chest. “And now, cariño, will you please retrieve your gems? Time is not slowing down for us. We must train you before it’s too late. I couldn’t live with myself if what happened to Josephina happened to you. I won’t let him take your soul.”
Chapter 19
“More wine?” Marissa asked after retrieving the silk wrapped stones. She carefully placed them on the coffee table and gave her dog a stern look. “Don’t touch!” Sober wagged his tail, got up, and stretched.
“Just bring the whole bottle out, dulzura.”
When she’d returned, she filled their glasses and sat next to him.
“To fruitful discovery,” Daniel said, extending his glass.
“To fruitful discovery,” she repeated. They clinked glasses, sipped, and smiled at one another. The fluttering zone between her legs appealed to her senses. She swallowed her arousal.
“Open the scarf, please,” Daniel said. “It’s a beautiful scarf, by the way. I imagine it would look splendid around your neck.” He flashed his mischievous smile. “With nothing else on.”
Marissa blushed and fanned her face. “Aren’t we bold?” She bent down and tentatively seized one corner between her fingertips and peeled back the red and turquoise silk. Then she unfolded the other corner. The gems winked and shone in the lamplight.
Daniel picked up the Herkimer diamond and hefted it up and down. He closed his fingers around it and handed it to her. “So this stone will never leave your side. Never again.” His lips were tight.
Marissa opened her palm for the diamond.
He uncurled his fist and released the contents into hers, clasping her hand tightly.
When the stone touched her skin she heard the words Never ever, ever again, dulzura, in her mind. She looked over at Daniel in surprise.
He grinned at her. “Got it?”
She nodded.
“I’d like you to get your jeweler to fashion a pair of beautiful earrings that you will wear at all times.”
“If I’m wearing it all the time why don’t you just teach me how to do that ether mind to mind thingie that you do? What if I lose it or something?”
“We can work on that. These are your training wheels.”
“What about that privacy piece you want to ensure?”
He shook his head at her. “While it might be charming to overhear every thought in your head, I assure you I’ll only listen when you are asking for me, specifically.” He gave her a pointed look. “Trust me.” He picked up the yellow Jasper. “What did you learn of this fine stone?”
“That it’s a protection stone used to, um…” She thought for a moment. “Used to ground and ease pain and suffering.”
“That’s correct. This one can be embedded into an anklet that you’ll wear around your beautiful ankle. You’ll focus on it when you need to remember to keep your feet on the ground, so to speak.”
“Um, okay.”
“On to the red diamond.” He picked it up and did that thing
with his jaw where he swished it side to side, as if the most delicious piece of chocolate in the world had been placed upon his tongue. “This is a rare piece, my love.”
“Oh!” she yelped. “Oh, my goodness.” Wild birds fluttering, streaming, flowing out my core.
Daniel laughed, as if sensing her heat. “So you understand its meaning.” His eyes moved up and down her body. “This one – this stone will be fashioned into a delicate golden chain which you will wear like so.” He leaned over and encircled her waist with his large hands. “And like so.” He drew his thumbs from the crease between her legs up to her waistline. “The diamond will rest here.” He brushed his fingertips across her belly, a few inches below her navel. “The chain will form a triangle, marking this sacred space.” He used one fingertip to trace a triangle along her abdomen, the apex pointing down to her core. “Sí, amor?”
She squirmed and tried to quell the flutters inside. “Sí,” she uttered, wondering if she was going to melt like a pool of hot butter and soak into the sofa, never to be seen again. “You can see I don’t wear much jewelry,” she said, swallowing hard.
“You’ll learn. A beautiful woman such as you should always be adorned with jewels. Inside and out.”
She swallowed again and asked, “Inside?”
“Yes. This jewel right here.” Without removing his eyes from her, he picked up the glistening ruby.
Marissa’s tissues pulsed in anticipation. “That jewel.”
“This gem will be embedded in a crystal egg. You will insert the egg here and practice mastering your sexual energy, of which you have an abundant amount.” He swallowed hard, extended his thumb and pressed it between her legs, right at the opening to her core.
She searched for something bright to say, but all she could think was want. Now. Want. “All the time?” she croaked. Oh, God, she criticized. Get it together, Engles.
“No. How will I enter you if you have something in the way?”
“I don’t know, I just…I don’t know,” she managed to say. She stared into his blue eyes, settling into the velvety folds of the cushions.
He placed the teardrop of glistening, blue-veined lapis lazuli in her palm.
“I love that stone. Tell me what you’ll do with it.”
“That gemstone, mi corazón, will be set in a gold chain and will encircle your tender neck.” He spread his large, warm hands and mantled her throat with his palms, stroking her tender skin with his thumbs.