by Emma Scott
Guy poured the wine and then sat back. “Well, Cas? What’s the verdict? Your Spidey senses tingling?”
The demon made a face. “Spidey senses?”
Abby burst out laughing. “Oh my God, how precious. Of course, they don’t have Spider-Man in Iraq. Guy just means, can you feel any ghosts?”
I just about died of second-hand embarrassment but was more fixated on Abby’s arm that was linked in Casziel’s.
Cas, who apparently had an arsenal of smirks, put on a smug one. “As a matter of fact, I do. A little twinge, perhaps. A little thickness in the air.”
Guy was nodding. “Right? That’s it exactly.”
“Of course, there’s only one way to be sure,” the demon said. “Do you have a Ouija board?”
Abby pursed her lips. “Ugh, no. Those things give me the creeps.”
“Me too,” I said glaring at Casziel. He ignored me, his hard gaze fixed on our host.
“Nope, don’t have one,” Guy said. “Too bad—”
“All is not lost,” Cas said. “We need only a piece of paper of sufficient size and something to serve as a planchette. After all, the board is merely a tool for communicating between this world and the next.”
“When you put it that way…” Abby turned to me and fanned herself, mouthing, So hot.
Guy, amicable as usual, set down his wine glass. “I think that can be arranged.” He came back with a piece of drafting paper and a black Sharpie. “Not sure about a planchette.”
“The shot glass on the mantle will do,” Cas said. He drew a YES and NO on two corners of the paper, the alphabet, and the numbers zero through nine. Below that, he wrote GOODBYE. Then he knelt on the floor at the end of the coffee table so that each of us had a side of the “board.”
Guy placed the shot glass on the paper. “This is wild. What do we do next?”
Now Cas’s smirk was of the don’t-be-an-idiot variety. “We each lay our fingertips to the glass and ask the spirits to make themselves known.”
“Oh my God, have you done this before?” Abby asked. “You’re totally giving me the shivers. Not that I’m complaining…”
I had to admit, Abby was right. The low timbre of Casziel’s voice and his dark, otherworldly charisma made it obvious to me that we were already in the presence of the supernatural. I worried the others were going to get suspicious.
“Touch the glass, please,” he commanded.
We reached to touch the shot glass and the lights in the apartment flickered again, three times. But for Cas, we all jerked our hands back.
“Holy shit.” Guy laughed nervously.
“Holy shit is right,” Abby said, glancing around.
Cas smiled. “An auspicious start.”
I cringed and silently begged him not to get carried away. We all gingerly touched our fingers on the glass, like startled birds resettling.
“Let us begin,” Cas intoned. “Spirits in this domain, are you with us?”
Nothing happened and then the glass slid to YES.
“Eeep,” Abby screeched. “This is so creepy.”
“What is your name?” Guy asked.
The glass slid to Z then U.
Abby wrinkled her nose. “Your name is Zu?”
The glass rushed to YES.
“Have you lived here long?” Guy asked.
The glass went to three.
“Weird. I moved here three years ago.”
“Did you follow Guy to this house?” Cas asked, and the glass raced to YES.
Guy chuckled. “Okay, so that’s not totally disturbing. Go ahead, Luce. Ask a question.”
I decided to take this conversation to lighter ground. “Okay, um…what is your favorite color?”
“Oh my God, Luce, so boring,” Abby drawled.
But the planchette was racing across the board to spell RED LIKE BLOOD
That wiped the smirk off Abby’s face. “Ummm…I don’t think I want to play this anymore.”
“Me either,” I said, mutely begging Cas to behave himself.
He gave me a brief nod of understanding. “Are you a benevolent entity?”
The planchette raced to YES.
“They’re often playful and mischievous but mean no harm,” he explained, shooting me an Are you happy? glance.
Guy relaxed. “Hey Zu, was it you who turned on my TV that one time?”
The glass moved off the YES then back on, then spelled out I LIKE BASEBALL.
The mood changed then as the questions and answers became silly and banal, more like a party game than an actual conversation with “an entity.” Abby and Guy were relaxed now, having fun.
“Zu, settle a debate for us,” Guy said after a while. He shot Cas a wink. “Is the basic nature of man good or evil?”
I silently scolded him to not humiliate Guy and remember our plan.
Casziel received the message because the glass spelled out IT IS NEITHER. NOT BLACK OR WHITE.
“Thank you.” Guy laughed. “There you have it. Can’t argue with an expert, eh, Cas?”
The demon’s smile was acid. “Indeed.”
We all took our hands off the glass, game over. Guy turned to me and touched my shoulder, his smile warm. “Hey, fellow poetry lover, would you like some more wine?”
“That’d be nice, thank—”
My sentence was drowned in Abby’s shriek as the shot glass suddenly flew across the room and shattered against the wall.
“Oh, shit,” Guy burst out and grabbed hold of my hand, moving himself in front of me.
A silence fell where we stared, wide-eyed.
“It would seem your home is indeed haunted,” Cas said to Guy, his smile showing all his teeth. “But then again, I’m no expert.”
Outside on the street, Cas and I waited for an Uber. The demon looked exceedingly pleased with himself. I crossed my arms.
“Was that really necessary?”
“He could stand a little humbling.”
“Says the pot to the kettle. And besides, he’s not arrogant. He’s kind and sweet. Did you see how he grabbed hold of my hand? Like he was going to protect me.”
“I did,” he said icily.
“Our plan is working. He’s never touched me before.”
“And this pleases you?”
“Well…don’t we need this to happen? For your sake?”
“Yes. This needs to happen.” Cas said, his tone unreadable. “For my sake,”
A tension thickened between us and lasted the entire Uber ride home, then followed us into my place. It permeated every corner, and I was acutely aware of Casziel, his body filling my space, and how alone we were together. How his animosity toward Guy felt like more than an act. And how that thrilled me more than Guy’s touch…
No, no, no. This is all wrong. Our plan…
“I’m tired,” I said. “Think I’m going to get ready for bed. Sleep,” I amended quickly. “What about you? It’s early yet.”
“And?”
“You and Abby seemed to hit it off. She’s very into you.” I cleared my throat. “I thought, maybe you would want to…”
He cocked his head. “Would want to what?”
I let my hair fall over my face. “I don’t know. You said demons crave sex…”
He looked away, grimacing. “Oh, I see. Yes, that’s true.” His voice was low. “Goodnight, Lucy.”
And suddenly, I hated every single word that had come out of my mouth since we’d gotten home. I wanted to exchange them for thousands of others. To ask him about my dream, to tell him not to go. To stay with me…
But he was going to go. He had a handful of days left on This Side and nothing was going to change that. Our plan was his only chance of redemption.
So he left—maybe to be with another woman—and I was alone.
Thirteen
“You should have seen our girl,” Abby said at work the next day, grinning knowingly as she regaled Jana about last night’s dinner. “The glass went flying and we all freaked. Except Lu
cy. She didn’t bat an eye.”
Jana was shaking her head. “That sounds scary and dangerous. You guys shouldn’t be messing with stuff like that. Bad juju.”
Abby waved a hand. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. Like, too much wine. But I’ve never seen Guy so rattled. And did you notice how he threw himself in front of you, Luce? To protect you? Well played.”
I froze, feeling as if our grand plan were written all over my face.
“Well played? No, I—”
“He was so sweet to our gal,” Abby said and then stifled a yawn with the back of her hand.
I cleared my throat. “Did you stay out later? After we left?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she said with a wink, and it felt as if she’d slapped me.
Oh my God, calm down. It’s not your business what she does with…anyone.
Abby gasped and grabbed my arm, jolting me out of my thoughts. “You have to let us take you out. Today after work. Before Buzz Night.”
“What for?”
“Total makeover. I’ve been dying to get my hands on you ever since you started here, and now you have all this manly attention. We need to capitalize.”
“Abby,” Jana said in a low tone. “Lucy doesn’t need a makeover.”
“Oh, nothing major. But we have got to get this hair out of your face and show off this cute figure of yours. Please? We never go out, just us girls.”
I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Well…if you think it’s a good idea.”
“It’s a brilliant idea. We’ll have loads of fun and get you glowed up for Buzz Night.”
Jana smiled gently. “You can say no.”
That’s what I always did. I said no, and my little life never got any bigger. But I’d had dinner with Guy, and I’d volunteered to present my idea. I was on a roll. No stopping now.
“Sure. Why not?”
After work, Abby took me back to Macy’s at Herald’s Square. Jana came along for moral support. “And to make sure Abby doesn’t get carried away.”
Abby scoffed. “Oh, please. This is going to be fun.”
“Fun” wasn’t my first choice of words as Abby picked out one tight dress after another for me to try on, along with shapewear to smooth me out underneath.
“Oh my God, gorgeous,” Abby crowed as I stepped out of the dressing room in a fire-engine red dress that hugged every curve and was lower in the front than anything I owned. “See? You have the most luscious figure.”
I had to admit, with the shapewear’s help, the dress was flattering and gave me an hourglass shape.
Even Jana nodded approvingly. “Cas is going to flip.”
“Noooo, it’s Guy we’re gunning for, right Luce?” Abby said. “And enough hiding behind your hair. Let’s get you to the makeup counter. Guy won’t know what hit him.”
In minutes, Jana had wandered to the perfume section, and I was in a chair at the makeup counter, a beautician brushing and lining and dabbing my face.
“It’s really clever of you, actually,” Abby said, swiping a test lipstick on the back of her hand. “You’ve had a crush on Guy since the dawn of time, right? Then suddenly, this Cas shows up.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I mean, this is the perfect week, right? All these social engagements that put you and Guy in the same non-work space. The wedding alone—” Her eyes widened with a sudden thought. “Please tell me you didn’t buy something frumpy to wear to Kim’s wedding.”
“Well, no…”
“You did, didn’t you? If it’s not in the same ballpark as the little red number we picked out today, return it. Now is not the time to back down.”
I was glad to have ten pounds of blush on my cheeks already. My face burned hot; our “grand plan” was so obvious. That it was inconceivable that Cas might be with me to be with me and not as some decoy.
Because it is, Deb piped up. You’re a cliché. The shy little frump who could never get a man like Guy on her own…
“I like the dress I bought,” I said, my voice sounding small in my own ears.
“Pfft. I’m sure you do. But trust me, it’s—”
Abby broke off as Jana returned, a small bag in her hand.
“So I don’t smell like Eau de Bébé tonight.” She caught sight of my face and frowned. “Well, that’s…different.”
I took the mirror from the beautician. She’d given me a smoky eye, blush along the edges of my cheekbones, and bright red lipstick the same shade as the dress in a bag at my feet. My hair was pulled back from my face in a messy bun with a few tendrils hanging down. I hardly looked like myself.
“Stunning, right?” Abby crowed.
Jana nodded. “But a little heavy, don’t you think?”
“Nonsense. It’s going to be dark at the bar.”
“What do you think, Luce?”
“Umm…”
“She loves it because she knows it’ll be perfect with that dress,” Abby said. “Right, Luce?”
I must’ve agreed because I ended up spending seventy-five dollars on eye shadow, blush, and the lipstick that was actually called Underage Red.
“Now, don’t change a thing,” Abby said at the subway station. “I want to see you at the bar in a few hours just like this.”
“Abby…” Jana shook her head.
“What? She looks amazing.” Abby gave me an air kiss, whispering. “I got your back, girl.”
Jana gave me a small parting wave, and we headed our separate ways. I took the subway home, garnering a few looks from men on the train…which had never happened before. At my apartment, I unlocked the door, steeling myself for Cas’s reaction. It’d been ages since I’d been on a date.
This is not a date. This is part of your super obvious pathetic plan to get Guy to notice you.
“Shut up, Deb,” I muttered, though she was right. Even Abby saw it.
Casziel wasn’t there, and as the time ticked by, I began to wonder if he were going to show up at all. I ate my portion of the casserole I’d made for dinner and went into the bathroom to put on the red dress that suddenly looked extremely, inappropriately red. I reapplied the lipstick, smoothed my hair, and went out.
Cas was in my living room, looking devastating in all black. My stomach fluttered at the sight of him, masculine and potent and so very beautiful.
“Oh, you’re here,” I stammered. “It’s about time we go…”
My words trailed at the expression on the demon’s face as he took me in. His eyes widened, his lips parted. The room went still in the few seconds of his stunned silence, then his brows furrowed angrily.
“What happened to you?” he demanded. “Why are you dressed like this?”
The reaction hurt me more than I expected, especially since—for a moment—he seemed overwhelmed by me in the best way.
“The girls took me shopping after work.” I smoothed down the front of my dress that felt even tighter than it had in the store. “You don’t approve?”
He started to speak, and I shocked myself by cutting him off.
“You know what? Never mind,” I said. “I can wear whatever I want, and I don’t need—or deserve—your judgment about it. And FYI, no woman does.”
“I wasn’t—”
“I didn’t do this for your approval. I did it for Guy. For our grand plan to save your soul, remember?” I tilted my chin up, lip trembling. “Isn’t that what this is all for?”
Casziel’s jaw tightened. “It is.”
“Then let’s go.”
I grabbed my purse and headed for the door, keeping my face turned away. If I cried, it’d ruin my makeup.
Fourteen
We arrived at the 5 Bar on West 32nd. The karaoke lounge was busy for a Tuesday night, but most of the patrons were Ocean Alliance staff. Abby, looking stunning in green, waved frantically as she nudged Jana by the arm, nearly spilling her drink.
“You’re here and you look wow!” Abby crowed. “Doesn’t she?”
“You do,” Jana said. “But you always did.”
“Now she’s extra,” Abby said. She pushed between Casziel and me. “I think I can guess your favorite color,” she said to him. “Not that I’m complaining. Black is so you.”
I’d had the same thought but never said it out loud. Hearing it from Abby felt like she was claiming a little piece of him.
“Come on. Let’s all get a drink.” Abby linked arms with both of us, then leaned in to me. “Guy is already here, and he didn’t bring a date for a change. Coincidence? I think not.”
At the bar, Kimberly and her fiancée, Nylah, were talking close and laughing. They both stopped when they saw us approach, and my boss’s eyes widened. “Lucy? Is that you?”
I tilted my neck to let my hair fall in my face, but it was piled up on my head. I felt exposed, nowhere to hide. “Abby did it. For fun.”
“Well, you look great,” Kimberly said. “Cas, was it? This is my fiancée, Nylah.”
“A pleasure,” Casziel said, taking the woman’s hand. “And congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you,” Nylah said. Like everyone else, she stared at him a little longer than necessary, like she couldn’t believe he was real.
“I just can’t get over your accent,” Abby crowed at Casziel. “You really have to tell us all about yourself. Start with Iraq and finish with meeting our little Lucy.”
“I’m sure Cas doesn’t want to give us his life story in a karaoke bar,” Kimberly said, shooting me a soft smile. “We’re here to sing. Badly. Are you up for some karaoke, Cas?”
“Sure,” he muttered, his eyes hardening at something over my shoulder. “I do a mean ‘Sympathy for the Devil.’”
I followed his dark gaze. Guy Baker was approaching, looking wholesome and handsome in jeans and a button down rolled up at the sleeves, beer in hand.
“Good evening, ladies,” he said with his usual grin. He nodded at the demon. “Cas.”
Casziel’s smile was barbed enough to break skin. “Guy.”
I nudged him with my elbow, but Guy wasn’t paying him any attention. He was staring at me as if he’d never seen a woman up close before.
“Lucy…” He gave a low whistle. “Wow, you look…”