Black Hearts Dance

by Gerald Lopez

  “The three of them do have a certain glow about them,” Shannon said.

  “We’d better get out of here,” Alex said.

  “Wait!” Mrs. Carson said. “I made some cookies for you to take with you.”

  “And I made some gooey brownies,” Miss Maribelle said.

  “Thank you,” I said to Mrs. Carson and hugged her, then turned to Miss Maribelle and did the same. Elise went to the kitchen and brought back some bags which she put in my arms.

  “That’s a lot of goodies,” I said. “More than enough for three people, Forrest.”

  Forrest smiled, walked to me, gave me a big kiss on the lips, and hugged me, then addressed the room. “Layton’s already feeling lonely… he’s gotten used to being at the court.” Everyone laughed. He waved Alex over, then kissed and hugged him the same way as he had me. Lucky barked at Forrest the whole time, until he got a friendly pat on top of his head.

  Forrest hugged me again and whispered in my ear. “I can be brave sometimes, too.” Then he looked at Alex and pointed. “And I’m not a chicken shit… not most of the time.”

  “Girl must have a set of King Kong size balls on her to call Forrest a chicken shit,” Nellie said, then smiled. Anyway, you two have fun at the hotel, which is actually an inn. Say hi to that hunk Frankie for me… and to Jimmy too.”

  “I’m going to stay here until you two come back, just to keep an eye on things and help Mrs. Carson get moved,” Forrest said. “But you guys owe me dinner the day you return.”

  “It’s a date,” Alex said. “But, remember we may be called straight from there to work a case we’re waiting to hear back about.”

  “Well, keep us up-to-date with what’s happening,” Mrs. Carson said. “I almost forgot, Shannon is going to stay a while to get some more information for her book.”

  “The guest bedroom here has two beds, so there’s plenty of room,” Elise said.

  “You’re welcome to stay in the main house,” I said. “You’ll have the neighborhood hunk Forrest there.”

  “After seeing all those ghosts, I’m not sure I want to stay there with a man someone just called a ‘chicken shit’,” Shannon said, then laughed. Everyone else joined in.

  “We’ll keep in touch about our schedule, Mrs. Carson… Forrest,” I said. “Love y’all. We’re going back to the main house so we can pack, then we’re outta here.” I raised my eyebrows and smiled. Alex and I waved goodbye, then left.

  We’d almost finished packing in our room, when there was a knock on the door frame—we’d left the door open.

  “Come on in, stranger,” I said to Shannon.

  “I don’t mean to get in the way, but I have some news about Mr. Woods,” Shannon said.

  “That quickly?” I said.

  “The organization has an online database available to people like myself who report on what happens in the field,” Shannon said. “It’s there so we can get quick access to names. That can be a big help when we’re trying to understand how people and places might connect together in cases we’re working on.”

  “What did you discover?” Alex said.

  “I discovered way too much to explain, unless you want to delay your little trip.”

  “No, we don’t,” I said. “Give us the most important bits of info for now.”

  “Alright,” Shannon said. “Scott Woods is what the organization refers to as a Diony. The name is short for a follower of the cult of Dionysus—who some may know as Bacchus.”

  “The Greek Dionysus?” I said. “Doesn’t he have to do with wine and sex somehow?”

  “Wine, sex, and madness, to cut directly to the point,” Shannon said. “The cult usually recruits their members in colleges.”

  “What do they do?” Alex said.

  “That’s the fun thing about all of this,” Shannon said, sarcastically. “A true Diony can heighten sexual feelings in people to the point of making them go mad from lust. The madness comes when the Diony’s victims aren’t able or allowed to consummate with the Diony.”

  “Is that what’s happening to Forrest?” Alex said.

  “No, not exactly,” Shannon said. “He was in a relationship with a Diony which makes matters worse.”

  “How so?”

  “Diony’s tend to pick a mate they can use to attract others. During the sexual act a Diony can secrete a substance in his sperm that will enter their partner and actually enhance said partner’s sexual attractiveness to others. They tend to choose men who already exude a large amount of testosterone and are considered to be sexually attractive, so as to produce a double whammy for lack of a better word.”

  “And Forrest is probably considered the gold standard—already handsome, sexy, and probably with testosterone to spare,” Alex said.

  “Hang on a minute,” I said. “I sure have been feeling lovey-dovey where Forrest is concerned, so have you Alex. And all those declarations of love from us to him—whatever’s affecting him is getting to us too, isn’t it, Shannon?”

  “Most definitely,” Shannon said. “On top of how the court and its ghosts heightened our emotions, Forrest’s presence also affected other areas of our psyche or being. Especially if we already found him attractive. Anyone who didn’t find him appealing, wouldn’t be affected. There has to be an initial reaction to him in order to start the Dionyian process.”

  “Oh shit!” I said. “How much have we been affected?”

  “Well, even I had some sexy dreams about Forrest,” Shannon said. “I did say ‘we’ had been affected. Alex and Forrest had intimate contact with each other when the ghosts took over their bodies. But the ghosts themselves would’ve been a sort of barrier from the Diony bug. Has anything else happened?”

  “The three of us had some really hot sex together,” I said.

  “Considering the people involved it would be hot all on its own, but seeing as how Forrest was previously with a Diony… it’s problematic,” Shannon said.

  “How so, beyond what you’ve already stated?” Alex said.

  “There’s some sort of connection that forms between a Diony and their sexual partners,” Shannon said. “This can extend to anyone either partner has a sexual relationship with, although to significantly lesser degrees. The further removed from the original Diony a person is, the weaker the impact on them. I’ll need to spend time doing research before I can tell you more. I’m not holding anything back, it’s just not my area of expertise. Forrest was living with Scott which makes matters worse for him, being that he was in constant direct contact with him. And there’s something else to think about.”

  “What else could there be?” Alex said.

  “The blue light people at one point had their roots in the cult of Dionysus,” I said. “Before their ancestors split off and formed their own cult.

  “Exactly,” Shannon said. “Because the two of you were so directly involved with blue light energy, you both would’ve been drawn to Forrest at some point. I think it would’ve been impossible for the three of you not to sleep together once you’d made initial contact.”

  “The two cults heightened the sexual desires in people to their advantage. The blue light folks harnessed the energy before people could engage in the act and diminish it’s power, what do the Diony do?”

  “They can use the lust they create in people to get them to do their bidding. Or like in Forrest’s situation, it could be used to attract others. And they can also blind or distract a normally astute man to the truth in front of his eyes. Mr. Woods dealt drugs as well as recruited young men into the cult right under a deputy’s nose. A highly intelligent deputy. Scott was aware of his powers, I’m positive that Forrest has no clue about any of it.”

  “Does Forrest’s presence heighten the feelings of sexuality in not just the people he encounters but also the areas he visits?” I said.

  “Yes, so if you’ve been feeling unusually horny or overly loving it could be attributed to Forrest being around,” Shannon said. “Provided, like I said earlier
, that there was an initial attraction to begin with.”

  “Look at the guy,” Alex said. “How could there not have been?”

  “So, how do we deal with this?” I said.

  “An expert from the organization is going to have to get involved,” Shannon said. “There’s no cure that will work one-hundred-percent as long as there’s still a natural attraction between those affected. And, I don’t see Forrest getting fat or ugly overnight.”

  “Contact the proper people for us if you don’t mind, Shannon,” I said.

  “Forrest will have to be informed about everything regarding his situation,” Shannon said. “And I wouldn’t want to lie to him anyway.”

  “Let him know that his ex has ties to a cult with supernatural powers, but ask him to wait till we get back before having an in-depth discussion with anyone on the subject,” I said.

  “I’ll tell him I need to do some more research on things as well as get an expert involved before we can discuss details,” Shannon said. “It won’t be a lie. It’ll be a tough and painful road to a cure for Forrest. He’ll need you both by his side. I’ll help all I can, of course”

  “Thank you,” I said. “And Alex and I will be there for him, have no worries about that.”

  “I didn’t,” Shannon said.

  “Shannon,” Alex said. “Could our coming to the court have all been a plan by the Diony or his cult?”

  “No,” Shannon said. “I keep in contact with the organization and let them know my whereabouts in case I’m urgently needed. If there were any active cult involvement in this area I would’ve been informed, so would the two of you. Ghosts and haunted houses don’t count unless their power is being tapped into by a cult and I’ve never heard of that happening. One other thing, A Diony never acts alone without the cult behind him. And if a Diony cult was actively conducting business here, we’d know. Your meeting Forrest at the court was pure coincidence.”

  “Mrs. Carson was wrong when she said things never happen by chance,” I said.

  “Maybe she was right,” Shannon said. “Sometimes the good guys are brought together by a higher power for a greater good. And, Layton, Forrest is one of the good guys. He’s as drawn to the two of you because of your blue light connection as you are to him because of his Diony experience.”

  “That means he must have a real attraction to us, too,” I said, then grinned.

  “I hope you’re still smiling when the three of you start missing one another,” Shannon said. “Sorry, but from what I’ve heard, part of what brings on the madness is being away from loved ones for too long. Forrest is a strong man to have gone as long as he has without his ex around.”

  “If Scott met Forrest here, though, then there must be a Diony cult in the area,” I said.

  “Undoubtedly,” Shannon said. “But the cult is more common on college campuses than you might think. In any case, the cult here is not dangerously active at this point. Which is not to say that won’t change in the future.”

  I HAD DRIVEN out of the city limits of Moresville ten minutes or so ago, when Alex kissed my cheek and spoke.

  “Do you feel any different yet?”

  “Not since you asked me five minutes ago and five minutes before that, although I do feel somewhat more sedate and ornery.”

  “Did you say horny?”

  “No, but come to think of it, I am picturing you naked in a hotel bed,” I said, then smiled. “That’s not really different for me, though. I’m always picturing you naked, even before we ever heard of the court.”

  “Do you think Carson Court changed us,” Alex said. “I mean if you leave out the whole Diony thing.”

  “Yes… of course. It gave us a home and grounded us. We have a family now… and yes it supernaturally heightened some of what we were feeling. But I don’t really think our time with Rory was influenced by anything but the need to lose ourselves in something fun. OK, so the Diony stuff in the air might have led us in a certain direction, but… but, hell—I don’t know. Looking back, I was talking more mushy than usual.”

  “I still feel like I love Forrest.”

  “So do I, and I miss him.”

  “That’s a mushy sentiment for you to admit,” Alex said. “And Shannon did tell us we’d miss him.”

  “Yeah,” I said, then purposely talked in a sad tone of voice. “I really miss… that hot sex!” I laughed loudly, as did Alex.

  “You were making a joke, Layton, but the sex really was good.”

  “The best sex I ever had… and you know why? I mean, besides the whole Diony thing.”

  “Why?” Alex said.

  “Because you and I were there with someone who understood what we felt for one another and felt the same way about both of us.”

  “You keep saying that,” Alex said. “It makes me think you were a lonely child with no friends.”

  “I was a loner by choice. To me, people could be a nuisance. I had my military buddies and we were joined together by a common cause. With you I can share everything and it makes me happy, but… um. Let me start over. When I look at you and my heart starts racing or you just make me want to smile, I can share that with Forrest—he totally gets it… and that’s amazing. It’s like the three of us are best friends, brothers, lovers—the whole deal. If there’s no cure for all of what’s happening I don’t mind the three of us staying together for a good long while.”

  “Can a threesome last for the long haul, Layton?”

  “I don’t see why not, but first we’ll have to deal with the Diony aspect of it and see where our true feelings stand afterward. At the very least, we have to help Forrest. I think the way the guy hugged and kissed us in front of everyone when we said goodbye was kind of a big deal for him.”

  “Yeah, I agree. He was making a statement or declaration of love… geez. We need to help get him free of the Diony stuff his ex put on him—whatever exactly it is.”

  “We will do that,” I said. “But we’re not gonna think about the ‘Diony stuff’ until we get back to the court. We are officially not on a case until Sassy Jones calls. I want to enjoy every second of our vacation.”

  “So, do I. You’d better watch out, Layton, I may be smaller than Forrest but I can be pretty aggressive.”

  “Oh, baby,” I said. “Hopefully Sassy won’t call us too soon.”

  My cell phone rang right on cue.

  “Hopefully working with her again won’t be so crazy,” Alex said.

  I hit the speaker on my cell phone, currently mounted on the dashboard, and spoke.

  “Layton Shayne speaking. Holy shit, you’re the last person I expected to hear from. What kind of trouble are you in now?”

  Contact the author

  Thank you for reading this book. If you liked it, please consider leaving a review on the website of one of your favorite retailers.

  Gerald loves to hear from his readers, and may be contacted by e-mail at

  GeraldLopez@Comcast.Net

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  http://geraldlopezauthorpage.blogspot.com/

  Gerald and fellow author Etienne have started to issue a regular newsletter, which will keep readers and fans updated as to forthcoming books and events. The newsletter is published on a monthly basis. If you would like to receive the newsletter, send your e-mail address to Etienne.Reynard@Comcast.Net and ask to be included on the list.

  About the Author

  Gerald was called to write at various times in his life. When he was young, the writing consisted of plays and short stories. Then he explored the fine arts and literature, earning a bachelor’s degree in the latter while minoring in art history. In his studies he was fascinated by and enjoyed analyzing characters, their personalities and motivations. To him it’s always been the characters who make a story special. Once again writing has taken hold of him. In the past it was just an amusement, but now—for him—writing is a passion to live, eat, and breathe.

  Other Books by Ge
rald Lopez

  Dueling Divas (an Avondale Story)

  Murder, mayhem, and love all find their way into The Next Club Superstar singing contest.

  Dead Men Tell Tales (a New Eden Tale)

  A contemporary tale of murder, ghosts, and romance set out West.

  Blue Light By Night (a Layton Shayne Mystery)

  A supernatural mystery set in a small town in Louisiana. Also, first book in a series.

  For Love Of: Tangi

  A heartwarming and often funny story of a young man’s coming-out and finding true love.

  Green Eyes Cry, You Die (a Layton Shayne Mystery)

  More supernatural suspense. This time, Layton Shayne must locate a green-eyed statue that has the power to create zombies

  Miss Lucy and the Pussy Brigade (Miss Lucy Case Files #1)

  First spin-off from the Layton Shayne Mysteries. Hilarious read involving the supernatural, crazy agents, and a bunch of cats.

  All Queers Must Die

  In a world where no one is who they seem to be and everybody has secrets… how do you find the truth? Bart Farrow is a man determined to get to the truth of what is going on in Maynard Shores.

  Lost Bitches: an Abel Kane Mystery

  Private detective Abel Kane is on the case. And he is willing and able to do what it takes to get the job done. What starts off as a seemingly simple dognapping case turns into much more when the mob, a pretty female call girl, and several hunky men get involved.

  For Love of: Colt

  Colt and Tangi are in love and they’ve survived being crowned homecoming kings. But if they’re expecting the craziness in their lives to settle down—they couldn’t be more wrong. Even though members of Colt’s football team, the cheerleaders, and the entire high school become involved in the couple’s romance, Tangi and Colt persevere. And Tangi stands strong when the time is called for him to do so. All… for love of Colt.