by Mary Abshire
She put her hand on my shoulder. "When you're ready, you know where to find me."
She walked away and I inhaled a relieving breath. Talking about personal issues at work never solved anything. In fact, dealing with personal matters at work seemed to interfere with the job. I decided to push my issues aside and get busy. I flipped through the stack of papers my boss gave me. Numbers, numbers, and more numbers. I sipped my coffee and read the mountain of data.
A half-hour later, my cup was empty and I felt perkier. I was in the middle of analyzing figures on the computer when I heard my boss's voice somewhere behind me. Greg's voice often carried, so I kept working. A few minutes later, I finished typing and backed my chair away from my desk. I spun around and nearly bumped into a young man I'd never seen before. He jumped back just in the nick of time so I'd missed him but hit his tie.
"Oh, my gosh. I'm so sorry," I said as I rose to my feet.
He chuckled and caught his swinging red tie. "No problem. I shouldn't have been standing so close." He gave me a friendly smile.
"Jessie Garrett, this is Mark Fowly," my boss said, looking from me to Mark. "He's starting today and will be sitting over by Dani."
"Welcome to the company," I said, extending my hand.
Mark definitely fit the new guy image. He had a lean body frame and wore a wrinkle-free maroon shirt tucked into pressed black pants. The attire looked nice. Too nice. Plus, he was wearing a tie. Besides my boss, Mark was the only other man wearing one.
"Nice to meet you," he said.
Inquisitive eyes peered from behind black-rimmed glasses. His face was clean-shaven like most young men in the office. As I stood so close to him, I picked out a faint scent of musk cologne. But it was his handshake that really captured my attention. An unusual electrical current flowed from him and into me. Little hairs on my arm sprang to life. The zing and slight numbness reminded me of my warlock friend and childhood guardian, Sean. His touch was identical.
Gazing into Mark's gray eyes, I pretended I didn't feel a thing. "You'll be sitting by my roommate. If she gives you any trouble, just let me know."
Mark smiled. "Thanks for the warning."
The current of energy stopped as soon as our hands parted. Greg led Mark to my co-worker's cubicle and continued introductions. Mark acted normal and gave zero indication he'd felt anything from our touch. I hoped he hadn't because if he had felt something, then he'd know I wasn't totally human.
A slight numbness in my hand lingered. For a little privacy, I headed for the break room. I flexed my fingers along the way to wake them back up.
I passed between tables as I headed to the back of the room where a wide window overlooked the city. The change of scenery from cubicle walls was always a welcomed sight. I stopped in front of the glass and breathed in deeply. My life had changed drastically in the last few months. I’d gone from being hidden from other supernatural creatures to having a vampire boyfriend, a demon as a…I didn't know what, and now, a warlock co-worker. I wondered if my life would ever be normal again.
"Did you meet him?" Dani asked.
I spun around. She walked toward me with a bright smile on her face. Her cheerful expressions always lifted my spirit.
"I met him."
She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "He seems nice. Don't you think?"
"Sure, he seems nice. Try not to scare him off like the last employee," I joked.
"Robert." She chuckled, waving her hand in the air. "That idiot didn't belong here. He needed to go. Hey, are we still going out for lunch?"
"Yeah, I need to get out for a bit." If I didn't, my mind was going to turn into mush from all the numbers I had to analyze.
"Good, I'll come get you when it's time. Let me know if you want to take a break later."
She left and I returned to the window. Staring out at the city, I wondered if a getaway was what I needed to ease my worries over Drake. The vampire troubled me. He hadn't called in two weeks. Moreover, he was reluctant to inform me about his complications. Why? Why wouldn't he confide in me his problems? Before he'd left, he seemed so determined to stay with me and make a life here in Indianapolis. Now, I was beginning to wonder if something had changed him.
Shoes tapped on the floor behind me. The reflection in the window revealed it was Mark.
He stopped in front of the snack machine, then dug into his pocket. Since we were alone, I decided it was a good time to get to know him a little better.
I strolled toward him, then stopped at his side. "Lived here long?"
He studied the change in his hand. "Jessie, right?"
"That's right," I replied. "Did you move here recently?"
"Six months ago, in fact." He slipped coins through the slot on the vending machine. The money clanked somewhere inside.
"On your own?" I asked, wondering if he'd brought along members of his community with him. Most supernatural creatures stayed with their own kind.
A sliver of a smile appeared on his face. "No offense, but I just met you. I'm not interested in dating yet."
The last of the money fell into the machine, then he pressed one of the buttons. Following the small hum of the rotating coil, a bag dropped and hit the bottom.
I crossed my arms. I couldn't believe he thought I was flirting with him. "I'm not asking you out on a date. I have a boyfriend, actually."
"Oh," he said as he claimed his snack. "Good for you." He sounded somewhat displeased.
I took a step closer to him. "Mark, I know what you are."
Guarded eyes stared at me. "What would that be?"
"You're a warlock," I said softly. "Do you practice?"
He laughed. "Why would you think I'm a…"
I glared at him and his laughter died. He glanced over his shoulder at the door. Nobody was in the vicinity. He returned his attention to me.
"How can you tell?" he asked.
"I have a dear friend who is a warlock. I know what that type of energy feels like. When we shook hands, I felt it."
His face paled as if I'd caught him stealing from the cookie jar. What was he scared of?
"What are you? I can sense your energy, but your aura is different from anything I have ever seen."
I chuckled, recalling a one-eyed gypsy telling me the same thing once. She told me I had a rainbow type of aura. While I knew I was different from regular demons, finding out about my colorful aura didn't boost my confidence.
"If I was full-blooded, my aura would be red."
"Red is for…" He stopped and glanced over his shoulder again. Acting suspicious and edgy, he took a step back from me. "I don't want any trouble. I'm on my own. I don't want to be involved in any communities."
I lowered my arms. The warlock wanted to be left alone and so did I. It also seemed that he wanted to stay hidden. We had a few things in common.
"Hey, no problem. I prefer to keep to myself too, but since we'll be seeing each other on a daily basis, I thought we should be honest with each other and introduce ourselves. I'm Jessie." I extended my hand as if we were meeting for the first time again. "I'm half-demon, and please don't tell anyone. My friends don't know, and I want to keep it that way."
He looked at my hand and hesitated to accept my welcome. I couldn't blame him. I'd act the same if I were in his shoes and meeting a half-demon. But I meant what I'd said. If we had to work together, we should be honest. I'd rather gain a friend than an enemy.
"I'm Mark"—he gripped my hand—"and I'm a non-practicing warlock from Kentucky. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
Chapter Six
The keys on the keyboard clicked softly under my fingertips as I typed like a mad fool and focused on the paper report at my side. The smell of burnt popcorn drifted in the air from the break room. I wanted to curse at the nincompoop who'd burned the corn. Every week at least one person overcooked a bag in the microwave. There should be a fine for those people since they made the whole office stink. I'd support such legislation.
I was
halfway done with my report, the last of a long week's worth. On the good side, the time had passed quickly. I had one day left to finish my boss's report and I was confident I'd get it done. I'd cut my breaks and shortened lunches to finish all my work before leaving for my trip. Nobody could ever say I wasn't a dedicated worker.
"Jessie?" Mark's soft voice brought my fingers to a halt. He stood at my side and held a stack of papers in his hand. The light blue shirt he wore gave his gray eyes a bluish tint. "I was wondering…could you explain some of this to me?"
Feeling the pressure to get my work done, I asked, "Did Dani sit with you?"
"Yeah, she did, but I wanted to get your input."
Although my plate was full, this was the first time he'd spoken to me since our honest introduction in the break room days ago. I decided to be nice. "Pull up a chair, and I'll help you."
He quickly darted around the cubicle wall. Seconds later, he appeared rolling a chair with the papers on the seat. He stopped next to me, snatched the papers, then sat down.
"Let's see what you have," I said as he handed the documents to me.
I took the report from his hand and flipped through it. The papers appeared complete with data filled in on all the appropriate lines. I couldn't locate a problem, which I thought was interesting since he said he wanted help.
"This looks done." I met his gaze. "Do you have some questions?"
"Is it true you can sense the dead?" he asked in a near whisper.
I leaned back in my chair and set the report on my lap. "So these aren't work-related questions?"
He leaned forward, bringing his clean-shaven face closer to me. "Dani said you work together investigating haunted places and ghost stories. She said you could feel the presence of the dead."
I should've known Dani would tell him. The woman had a mouth that never stopped. I wondered what other things she'd told him about me.
"Yeah, I can sense if spirits are around." There was no harm in admitting the truth.
"I didn't know d—" Mark paused when a co-worker walked by. "Decent people could do that."
His choice of word to replace demon brought a slight smile to my face.
"Is your boyfriend one? Dani told me he's been gone for a while."
My smile disappeared as frustration sprouted. I wasn't sure who I was more upset with— him for being nosy and not asking me first, or Dani for sharing my personal life.
"No, he's not, and not all of us can sense the dead." I handed his report to him. "If you wanted to know so much about me, why didn't you just ask me yourself?"
He lowered his gaze as he took the documents from me. "I'm sorry, Jessie." He looked up. "I didn't intend to upset you. It's just…I haven't met anyone like you before. I was a bit nervous after the first day." His tone was innocent enough that I believed him. "The few de—ones I've been around were—"
"Aggressive, rude, demanding assholes?" I intervened, thinking of Jeremy.
"Well, yes."
I shook my head. Demons had such a bad reputation. "Look, I'm not like them. And I'll be honest with you as long as you are honest with me."
"That's fair." He gave a nod.
"Mind if I ask you a question?"
He glanced over his shoulder, then back at me. "Go ahead."
"Why did you move here?"
He set the papers on my desk, then flipped a page. I leaned forward as if I were looking at the report, giving the appearance we were discussing work matters.
"After I finished college, I returned home and my family expected me to take an active role in our community. They expected me to work along with the higher-level warlocks and follow the rules passed down by every generation."
"Rules?" I asked.
"Honor their way of life, master my skills, procreate, and teach others. I realized when I returned home that my entire life had been planned out and there was no freedom of speech, thought, or anything," he said, sounding bitter. "I couldn't do it. I refuse to live like that."
"Wow." It was the only word that came to me.
"Yeah. If I wanted to have friends outside the community, I would've been shamed. When I was growing up, I kept my mouth shut. Like everyone else, I obeyed my elders. Now that I'm older, I understand why they enforce the rules. I just don't agree with them."
"So you moved away."
He nodded with his eyes downcast. "They probably think I'm living in Florida, somewhere near the ocean. They know how much I loved the ocean."
Sadness filled me as I looked at his gloomy face. He left behind his family, friends, and everything he loved. He wiped his slate clean so he could start over and live free. It had to be difficult and courageous.
"Do you think they're looking for you?" I asked.
"I don't know. I think my parents might. I was their only son, and they certainly have the resources." He paused and shook his head. "I am not going back, no matter what happens. I don't care if I have to work three jobs to survive. I'll do it just so I don't have to be a puppet in their little society."
"Damn, Mark, that's rough. But I do believe you have the ability to survive just fine without working three jobs. I can tell just by looking at your report." I glanced down, then back at him. "It's done."
He smiled as relief spread across his face. "Thanks, Jessie. I appreciate that."
"You're welcome." Happiness coursed through me. Maybe I had just made a new friend.
"How about your parents? Got any horror stories?" He scanned the area behind me.
"Well, I don't know who my real father is, and my mother died before I turned thirteen."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
I shrugged. "It's okay."
"Can I ask"—he paused and swallowed—"how did you end up as a half—you know?"
I surveyed the area to make sure no one was around to hear me. "My mother was human. She wanted to be a powerful witch, so she made a deal with the devil. She had sex with a demon, and I popped out nine months later."
His eyes widened. Maybe I had been too blunt.
"After she died, a warlock took care of me. He was the only person she trusted in this crazy world."
He shook his head. "And I thought my life was messed up."
I chuckled. "We all have our problems."
"Hey, guys," Dani said, as she came around the corner. Her gaze darted from Mark to me. "What's going on?"
Mark stood. "You were gone, so I asked Jessie a question about my report." He gathered the papers from my desk.
"I told him he did a nice job. Everything looked okay. You must have taught him well," I said with a grin.
"Great," she said.
Mark dropped the papers on the seat. "Thanks again." He scooted the chair away.
Once Mark was out of sight, I shot a heated glare at Dani. "He told me you shared some information about me with him."
"Nothing personal," she said, too casual for my liking.
"I beg to differ." I rose, then gripped her elbow. "We need to talk." I pulled her toward the break room. The lingering odor of the burnt popcorn grew as we approached.
"What's wrong, Jessie?"
I brought her near the sink. Thankfully, the room was empty. "You can't keep telling people about my sixth sense. You can't keep telling guys about my personal business."
"What's the big deal? It's a great gift. I wish I had it."
"No, you don't. And that's not the point." I raised my voice. "I don't want people knowing about my ability or my personal affairs."
"Calm down," she said with a nonchalant attitude that irked me. "He got interested when I said we investigated haunted places. He said he wanted to go with us sometime, and I let it slip about your gift."
My pulse quickened. I really didn't need a warlock around me when I was trying to catch a soul. The thought made my stomach queasy.
"Dani, you let it slip too often. Don't you get it? I don't want to talk about it. Every time we go on an investigation, you, Kyle, and Lester are always asking me if I feel anything. It dr
ives me crazy." The last part flew from my mouth faster than I could catch it.
Face tightening, she took a step back and crossed her arms. "Why didn't you say we were driving you crazy?"
"I didn't say you or the guys were driving me crazy."
"But we're the ones asking you questions. It has to be us."
I took a deep breath. "You're my friends. I know you're curious. But I don't need you following my heels and asking a million questions. That's all I meant."
"If it bothered you so much, you should have said something. Friends tell each other the truth."
Guilt started to weigh heavily on my mind. "Okay. Maybe I should have told you."
"Maybe? We've lived together for almost three years now. You shouldn't be afraid to tell me the truth. How do I know there aren't other things you're hiding from me?" Her face turned a soft shade of red.
She hit a nerve within me and I tensed. At times, I'd considered telling her the truth about me. Then I reminded myself Dani had a knack for setting secrets free. I didn't want everyone to know what I was. I didn't want to be more of a freak than I already felt. I just wanted to live a normal life.
"You're missing my point," I said, changing back to the problem that had started our heated discussion. "I don't want people to know my business. We don't know him. He could be a serial killer for all we know."
"You make it sound like I'm stupid. I'm pretty sure I can tell the difference between some geek and a murderer."
I glared at her. "Dani, I don't want anyone to know about my personal business. How much clearer can I make this?"
"You know what I think your problem is?" Her face flushed as she pointed a finger at me. "I think you're upset because you argued with Drake the last time you talked to him and you haven't gotten laid in six weeks."
My cubicle neighbor walked into the room. His eyes grew wide when he saw Dani and me arguing. Without stopping, he pivoted around and walked out.
I closed my eyes briefly and prayed he hadn't heard Dani. The last thing I needed was news about my sex life spread all over the office. I braced my hand on the counter near the sink. Could this day get any worse?