by Calinda B
I shriek and push Rafe off of me. This much contact will overwhelm me. We both vault to standing and look around wildly. I race over to the arrow, pluck it from the trunk, and pitch it into the pool before it catches the backyard on fire. So much for the protection spells, I think darkly.
A voice booms. “I believe I have your attention.”
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Armando Navid, of course. I see my son has chosen wisely. He’s bound himself to a disloyal young woman, consorting with the Stealth Numen while he’s trapped in darkness. Very smooth, Ms. Engles.”
“You know nothing about me or how loyal I am. Where are you? How can you see us? I can’t see you.”
“That’s because you are an amateur, Ms. Engles. Les enfants.”
“It’s a mental trick, Marissa,” Rafe whispers in my ear.
My head pivots in his direction, but I can’t see him. I can only see a shimmer, like the kind you see emanating from hot asphalt in the summer. “What do you mean?” I whisper, hoping he can hear me.
“It means he probably read about our escape or saw it on the news, just like anybody. He’s just projecting his voice.”
“How does he know where we are?”
“He tracked our signatures. Sorcery 101. I’m humming with Haldol, you don’t know what you’re doing yet…we should have covered our tracks.” He pauses. “Still, he doesn’t know we’re here together. He’s just guessing.”
“The Stealth Numen isn’t with me,” I shout. “He took off once we got here. He’s a traitor.” I wait, head cocked, listening. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes, I heard you. That means you’re both vulnerable and accessible. Rafe has done his job well. He works for me, you know.”
My head whips around, searching for Rafe. All I see is the shimmer. “What does he mean, you work for him?” I hiss.
“I can explain.”
“You’d better. I’ll toss your ass out of here. Then let’s see how you deal with your withdrawal.” I turn in the direction of the voice. “Don’t you think a formal introduction is in order? You’re like my father-in-law, Armando. Come out where I can see you.”
“He won’t be able to do that,” Rafe whispers. “Good job calling his bluff.”
“That can come at another time. For now, I just wanted to get your attention, and let you know I’ll be watching you. Consider yourself warned.”
“Duly noted!” I shout. “I’m so scared.”
“You should be. I’m far older and more skilled than you.”
“I’ve got beginner’s luck.”
“That can only get you so far, Ms. Engles. We’ll be in touch.” A loud pop indicates his departure.
“How the hell did he do that? Daniel put protection spells around the property.”
Rafe falls into view again as if he stepped through a looking glass. “Yeah, I sensed your boyfriend’s spell. That’s why I said the old man won’t be able to reveal himself.” He shrugs. “Armando employed a sorcerer’s trick. I’ll bet your dark lover stitched a teensy weensy hole in the protection that only he knew about. His father, being his father, would be able to guess where that hole was. That’s how he got the arrow in here and how he was able to project his voice.”
“That makes no sense. Why would Daniel put a breach in the protection?”
“It’s probably a microscopic tear. He might have rushed when he put up the spell. Or, he might have wanted to see if anyone found it. Then he’d know who his enemies are. It’s a way of sourcing them. Every skilled sorcerer knows to seek a breach when encountering a protection spell bound by one as skilled as Daniel. Only the very best will be able to find it. Those are the ones to watch out for.”
“Yeah, but why would he put a breach in a place that’s mine?”
“He probably didn’t think you’d be back here so soon.” He shrugs again. “Or…”
“Or, what?” I hiss.
“Or, he doesn’t care about you as much as he says he does.” Rafe brushes off his pants. “Where can we get something to eat? I’m starved.”
“I don’t see a take-out place, do you?” My voice is laced with sarcasm. “What do you mean, he doesn’t care as much as he says he does? He loves me. We’re soul bound.”
“Soul bound can be a form of control, Marissa. Or, had you not thought of that?”
I want to punch Rafe right now. Haul my arm back and give him another black eye. “Let’s have a little chat about you working for Armando, shall we?”
“There’s nothing to chat about. I’m like a gun-for-hire. A guy’s got to make a living somehow. He hired me to do jobs a few times. I did them. I got paid, very well, I should add. I don’t have any loyalty to him, if that’s what you’re asking. He just asked me to do what I do best.”
“And what is that?” I’m so pissed and confused right now; I just want to wander off with my dog and sort things out. Daniel might not love me as much as he does? Rafe worked for Armando, the guy who’s going to try to do something to me to get at his son? Why did I help this guy escape, anyway?
“You’re a Light Rebel, right?”
“So?”
“Your guy is a Night Numen, right?”
“What are you getting at?” I spit out the words.
“You asked me a question. I’m answering. Do you want the answer or not?”
I squint in his direction. Rafe’s coppery red hair glints and gleams in the sunlight. He’s smirking at me, appearing nonchalant. His blue eyes dance with mirth. This is all just a game to him. Again, I want to punch his lights out. Two can play this game. “Answer me, don’t answer me. Suit yourself.” I wander towards the opening to the dining area. The whole house is one big open air, luxurious stone, granite, glass, and hardwood dwelling overlooking the valleys below. El Demonio did have good taste. I’ll give the guy that. The two-story, 5,000 square foot house was built with clean, simple lines, an abundance of natural stone and wood, and water lining the walkways leading to the house, through the house, everywhere. It’s a marvel of a home. And now it’s mine.
“Hey! Where are you going?” Rafe darts to catch up with me.
“I’m foraging for food. My dog and I are hungry.”
“Don’t you want to hear what I do?”
“I said, suit yourself. Do you want to tell me or not?” Men are so simple, I think, with an inner smile.
“Your skills are light. Daniel’s are dark. I walk between those worlds. I’m a twilight kinda guy. That’s how I roll.”
Inwardly, I think that’s very cool, but I don’t want him to know that. “Wow,” I say flatly. I wonder if this will help me find Daniel?
“It’s pretty impressive,” Rafe adds.
“I’m impressed.”
“You don’t sound like it.”
I whirl to face him. “Actually, I am impressed. I just don’t like to be toyed with any more than you do. I don’t like to be messed with, mentally fucked, or have my mind toyed with like it’s a game.”
His face pulls back away from me a little bit as if he’s caught off-guard. “Wow. You’re really honest, aren’t you?”
“Am I? I just say what’s on my mind.”
“I’m not used to that. I’m more used to people saying what they think I want to hear so they can…” His voice trails off, and he looks away.
“So they can get to the goods, right? The party favor in your pants?” I laugh.
“Hey, it’s better, bigger, and badder than a party favor.” He appears mock horrified.
He laughs, too, and once again, we are pals.
“You should try it out sometime. I’ll give you the deluxe tour.” His eyes sparkle with mischief.
“Thanks, but no thanks. Let’s find food instead.”
“What makes you think there’s any about?”
“It wasn’t that long ago that I was here, and the kitchen was well stocked. I’m just not a fan of cooking, if you were hoping I’d whip you up a meal.”
“Well, I am. Prepare f
or a feast.”
We wander through the house with all its luxury and wealth winking from the artwork on the walls, to the sleek wood furnishings, the stone and marble walls. It’s all done in a style that’s not me, however, since until a week or so ago, I had no inkling that the place existed. And I sure could not have imagined that it would be mine, bequeathed to me by El Demonio upon his untimely demise. I make a few plans in my head for home decorating as we enter the kitchen. The refrigerator still has food. The pantry is loaded. There are even some food items that will fill Sober’s belly.
“Sit,” Rafe says. “I’m going to make you, me, and the mutt some breakfast.”
“And then we need a plan,” I say, pulling a stool up to the huge wooden island in the center of the room. “We’ve got to get Daniel free.”
“I think we should let him linger in there and pursue our own destiny. I could be good for you. And very good to you,” Rafe says, pulling out bowls, spoons, and ingredients.
“I’m sure you could, but I’m spoken for.”
“But have you done any of the speaking, have you had a choice in things?”
“It does seem that a lot of stuff has been done to me,” I agree. “But that part’s mine to sort out. I made a deal with myself to stop being everyone’s victim. I intend to make my own life choices from this point on.”
“Good call, Marissa. I support that. And I intend to be your friend throughout the process. And whatever else I can get on the side,” he adds with a soft mutter.
“Just make breakfast, buddy. We’ll find someone to service your needs after this. Rest assured.”
“I don’t want to find just anyone. I’ve already found her.”
“Rafe!” I say, rolling my eyes. “We’ve had this conversation.”
“And we’re having it again. I believe in wearing people down.” He laughs. “I’m kidding, don’t worry.” But I know he’s not. This is going to be difficult for me, as well as for him. The best thing we can do right now is develop a really compelling plan and get to it - before I lose my way.
Chapter 14
“So tell me,” I say, dabbing my lips with a napkin. “What kinds of jobs did Armando hire you for?” I’ve just had a fabulous meal, my dog is full, and I’m feeling quite benevolent.
Rafe, however, is starting to shake. His left hand is trembling like a maraca, and he keeps pinning it to the table with his other hand as if it doesn’t belong to him. A nervous tic starts to spasm in his face. “Shit,” he says. “I think the food has stirred the substance inside. More touch?”
I shake my head left to right and pop a toothpick in my mouth. “Sorry,” I say, chewing lightly on the tiny wooden stick. “I’m afraid you’re on your own.”
His foot starts bobbing like a ping pong ball bouncing on the San Andreas Fault. The nervous tic in his face increases. He lurches to standing and starts pacing. “Can’t stop, can’t stop, can’t stop, can’t stop,” he mutters, pacing to and fro. “Can’t stop.”
“Alright, alright,” I say, impulsively. “Here…” I thrust my hand in his direction, and he grabs it. Same as before, he instantly calms, I immediately heat up. My body glows like a 1,000 lumen light. “I feel like your pacifier.” I yank my hand away quickly, before being consumed by arousal. “That’s enough.”
He sighs. “Okay. I can live with that.” The only remaining symptom is the nervous tic. He presses his hand over his face. “You were asking?”
“What kinds of jobs did Armando hire you to do?”
“You know nothing about our world, do you?” He starts with the agitated pacing again.
“Can you sit down? You’re making me crazy.”
“Let’s go for a walk. Show me the grounds, and I’ll talk. This drug withdrawal is making me agitated and jittery.”
“It’s pretty hot outside.”
“Well, I can think of something else to occupy you and soothe me. What do you say?” He flashes me a wicked grin.
“A walk it is,” I say, getting to my feet. “Sober, come.”
This hilltop house, perched high like a bird of prey, is surrounded by beautiful, well-kept gardens which are fringed by the surrounding jungle. Monkeys and parrots squawk and chatter in the distance. Colorful Hibiscus, Trumpet Vines, Primrose, Geraniums, and silky Dormideira flowers compel the eyes to admire and the nose to smell. Red Bromelia and purple Walking Iris line the walkways.
“So this whole place is yours, huh?” Rafe says.
“Apparently so. I own a coffee plantation, too. It’s somewhere out there.” I wave my hand down the hill.
“You don’t know where it is?”
“I didn’t get a chance to memorize the surroundings,” I respond sarcastically. “For one, I was kidnapped. For two, I had no idea this would all be mine. I don’t even speak Portuguese.”
“I know a phrase or two.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I know a lot of languages. It’s part of my job description,” he says with a smirk.
“Speaking of job descriptions, what do you do?”
“I told you I’m like a gun-for-hire. I do what people hire me for.”
“And what did Armando hire you for?”
His eyes dart away from me. “This and that.”
“What kind of this and what kind of that?”
“Marissa, this kind of thing isn’t exactly discussed. I’d prefer not to say.”
“So we’re back to preferences, are we?”
“I’m just saying. All of my work is done in secret. It needs to stay that way.”
“Come on!” I plead.
“No!”
He says the word so sternly, so forcefully, I’m momentarily stunned, like he smacked me in the face with the back of his hand, hard. I stop walking, and my jaw drops open. Rafe continues ahead of me in a solemn looking march. I wonder if I’ve pissed him off. I stare at him. And then he just disappears. Good one, Engles. A few seconds later, his body snaps and crackles in and out of view like a wire shorting out.
He assumes form. “Goddamn it! Goddamn, mother-fucking Haloperidol.” He fritzes out again. Crackles into the corporeal. Disappears. When he reappears, he’s mad as hell. He throws up his arms and stomps away from me.
“Where are you going?” I race to catch up with him.
“Anywhere! Nowhere! I don’t have a mother-fucking clue where I am, and this goddamned Haldol is driving me crazy, you won’t have sex with me, and I need to have sex with someone now.”
“Uh oh. The aggression is kicking in?”
“It’s starting to. I’m about to become a fucking maniac.”
As if in answer, within seconds a Dolomite Brown Mercedes - yes, that’s the color, I did an ad layout for Mercedes a month ago - a Dolomite Brown Mercedes appears, driving up the dirt road leading to the house.
“Maybe that’s your latest conquest.”
“At this point, I’ll take anyone.”
The driver slams on the brakes as he approaches the huge, electronic metal gate. A man leaps from the car, runs up to the metal gate and waves a card in front of the sensor. Nothing happens. He waves it some more.
While he’s busy with the key card, Rafe tackles me and envelopes me with his invisible skill. Wrapped in his Stealth Numen abilities, we’re peering through what looks like warped glass.
“Stay down,” Rafe hisses in my ear. “That’s Armando Navid. He’s got a card to the gate sensor, but he can’t get in due to your boy toy’s spell.”
I hear the words, but the only thing I’m focused on right now is how this guy makes me feel. With him pressed against my back with full frontal contact, I’m about to burst into flames of pleasure. “Oh, God,” I moan. Rafe’s hand claps over my mouth.
“We’re invisible, but we can still be heard. Shut the fuck up.”
“Quit being so bossy.”
“Bossy is the last thing you have to worry about now, Engles. I’m also aroused as hell. And pissed beyond belief. And a bit psychotic. I’d say you’re
in danger.”
He whispers the last sentence into my ear, and it burrows inside of me like a warm, hard…Stop it, Engles. Stop thinking about his… I can feel Rafe’s erection, hard as sin itself, pushing against me. He’s focused on Armando.
Armando swipes. Swipes the card again. Pulls another plastic rectangle out of his wallet. Waves that one. Curses and swears. Whips out a wand-looking thingie. Twirls that in a circle. Approaches the fence. Quickly backs away from the fence as if he’s about to get electrocuted. He leaps back in his vehicle and powers away, swerving and fishtailing down the driveway.
Rafe drops his forehead onto the back of my head. He breathes warm puffs of air into my hair.
I want to grind my ass up against the guy. I want to roll over and glide up and down him. Instead, I force words to come out of my mouth. “Get off of me,” I whisper.
“I need this, Marissa.”
“Not with me, you don’t.”
“You’re the one person I need it with the most.”
“No.”
“You want it, too.”
“That’s an illusion. I’m, like, under the influence.”
“Only partly.” He rocks his hips into the crack in my ass.
“Shit. Stop it.”
“I’m so close.”
“Rafe, don’t. Get off of me. Now.”
“I know you want it, too.”
“I told you, I’m under the influence of your Stealth Numen abilities.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not entirely human. You can stop it if you like.”
Hearing that, I swiftly buck him off of me and roll away in the dirt. We pop back into substance, out of the invisible shield. “What did you say?”
“I said,” Rafe begins. “You’re not fully human. You’re a Light Rebel. My abilities only affect humans that way. You actually want me for me.”
“What?” I leap to me feet and begin pacing in a circle. “Are you saying I’m not under the influence?”
“I’m afraid not, love.” He stands up, his erection forming a tent in his pants. “I’d hoped it was true, but this cinches it for me.” He strides back and forth. “Oh, man, I’ve got to do something. I’ve got to get some release.”