Caterpillar, a Paranormal Romance With a Touch of Horror (31 page)

The role of the “good” soul, according to Tegan, is to resist the lure of the darkness and keep his focus on redemption, a state made available only to the cursed because they began their servitude as unwilling participants.  The road to redemption is made much easier for those who can contain the ka, but not impossible for those who can’t.  

I sat on the couch, digesting both physical food and mental food.  I had a week’s worth of questions, but one seemed to rank higher in priority, as it affected me most directly.  “And how do I fit in?”

“Your blood is how.  The power to bring light runs through your veins.  But, to demons, it’s just pure power.  On the one hand you’re a danger to them, but on the other hand you’re a prize, a useful prize if they can control you.”

“Why is my blood so powerful?  I just don’t understand.  I’ve never been special, or even different.”

“It’s the beginning of your family line that gives it so much power, the very first female in your line.  Some say she was the inspiration for the Greco-Roman goddess Hecate, but I doubt any writings adequately captured her story.  The legend goes that she was the only female archangel ever appointed because she was among the greatest of warriors.  Humans were her charge, their protection her responsibility.  She was given the power to manipulate the earth, the sea and the sky.  She could also see the past, present and future—except for her own.

“In the book of Genesis, there was a time when giants walked the earth.  Hecate, or Qaphsiel as the angels called her, became tempted by the strength and manhood of the giants and she seduced one of them.  She got pregnant and when God found out, He cursed her by condemning her female child, as well as all the females in her line, to live nine human lives, nine tortured existences, until one,
the one,
the strongest child in her line, survived all nine lives by defeating the demons who hunt her,” he finished.

“So you’re saying that I come from an angel?”  Of all that I’d heard and seen over the past week, the most difficult to believe was that my family tree sprung from an angel.  Then I thought of the book that the pages my aunt had mailed me came from, The Book of Qaphsiel.

“Yes.  That’s why they don’t want you to survive.  If the prophecy is right, and they aren’t willing to take the chance that it’s not, you will bring great power to our side.”

“How do you know it’s me and not someone after me?”

Tegan’s face completely closed down.  “It has to be,” he said, almost angrily.  He’d been so forthcoming I was surprised by the quick change.  I didn’t think I’d asked anything unreasonable, nor did I see why he would react in such a way.  After a second, though, a mask slid into place, a mask that looked like the intense, serious Tegan I’d come to know.  But I’d seen something; before he could hide it, I’d seen it.  “Aren’t you getting tired?  It’s late and you’ve had a busy day,” he said casually.

I could take a hint, plus I knew that if he was done talking, there was no use trying to prod him.  He’d just keep putting me off.  And, truthfully, I
was
getting tired.  “Yeah.  I guess I’d better get some sleep.” 

“I’ll get this cleaned up,” he said, as he grabbed our plates, “and then I’ve got to run out and let Hemi know we’re here.  That will give you some privacy,” he explained.  “Unless you’ve changed your mind about wanting me to stay.”

Tegan stood across from me, all brooding and intense, with dirty plates in his hands, and I thought he’d never looked sexier.

“No, no, I haven’t changed my mind.  But if you’ve got other things to do, I’ll be fine.”

His brow furrowed the tiniest bit for a split second then cleared as if whatever he’d been thinking just vanished.  “No.  I’ll be back.”

I got up and grabbed my bag from beside the bed and headed for the bathroom.  “Who’s Hemi?’  I asked before I shut the bathroom door.

“Nehemiah.  We call him Hemi.  He’s another member of The Pyramid.”

“Is he a-a…” I trailed, hating to call him a vampire.  The word sounded like an insult.

“No, he’s not a vampire.”

“He’s human?”  The thought that humans might be members surprised me, although I wasn’t sure why.

“No,” he answered simply.

“Then what is he?”

“He’s a lycanthrope.”

“What’s that?”

“He’s a hellhound.  Some call them werewolves.”

Not knowing what to say after that, I just nodded, shut the bathroom door and opened my bag.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Saturday.

The next morning I woke to an empty apartment.  I had no idea what time it was and, without windows, I couldn’t even guess.  I didn’t feel very well-rested, but that could be attributed to many things.  On top of everything else, I’d lain awake for quite a while waiting for Tegan to come back before I finally fell asleep.  At one point during the night I’d awakened and, when I sat up in bed, Tegan had come to my side.  

I’d had a dream that I was stuck back in my house and it was burning down around me.  I woke up terrified, so much so that I’d bitten my lip, but when Tegan appeared and put his arms around me then pulled me in close to his chest, the fear dissolved almost instantly.  He’d whispered soothing things to me, his breath stirring my hair.  Then he’d lay back onto the pillows with me in his arms, his thumbs gently stroking my skin.  And that’s the last thing I remembered.  

I got up and wandered to the bathroom to take a shower, thinking he might be back by the time I finished.  But he wasn’t.  I put my makeup on and pulled my hair back in a French twist and was digging my shoes out of my bag when I heard a knock at the door. 

A nervous flutter drifted through my stomach as I opened the door.  It was replaced by apprehension when I saw that it wasn’t Tegan at my door, but a chestnut-haired giant with a handsome face and golden skin.

“You must be Cat,” he said amicably.  He smiled, a boyishly charming gesture, and I liked him instantly.

“I am.  And you must be…”

“Hemi,” he supplied.  So this was what a werewolf looked like.  I doubted that many women would mind being attacked by him on a regular basis.  “I’m here to take you back to town.  You ready to go?”

“Yes, just let me get my things,” I said, turning toward the bathroom.  Where Hemi stood in the kitchen, I could see his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

As I threw toiletries in my bag, I tried to sound casual when I asked, “So where is Tegan?”

“Had to split.  Left his car somewhere and had to go get it.”

“Ah,” I said.  That made sense.  I didn’t like the feeling that he was avoiding me.

“You can follow me out.”

And I did. 

As it turns out, The Pyramid hideout was in the Chattahoochee National Forest.  Once we got back down to main roads, it wasn’t long at all until I knew where we were.  When we passed a sign for highway number five, Hemi stuck his arm out the window and pointed.  I honked then waved my appreciation before taking the ramp that would eventually lead me back to Atlanta. 

I’d already called Mr. Donovan, the man I had an appointment with that morning for a showing.  He was very understanding and agreed to push it back to eleven.  I called Mamaw to let her know I was alright.  Carter was there, albeit still in the bed, so she promised to relay the message to him.

I hung up, pushed the dread aside and called Scott.  I turned on my brightest smile so that it would convey in my voice and give him less to worry about.  “Hey!  You busy?”

“Nah.  Got court in a few minutes, but it’s just a repeat DUI offense.  Why? What’s up?”

“Wanted to see if you’d like to meet for a late lunch today?”

There was the hint of a pause then he agreed.  We decided to meet at one of our favorite restaurants, which I hated to ruin for him, but thought that, on the other hand, it might make it a little less unpleasant.

Once I was back in Atlanta, I drove straight to meet Mr. Donovan.  I was a few minutes early, but it was better than being late.  I was probably on the verge of losing him already; I didn’t want to make it worse. 

My client was interested in one of Audrey’s new listings.  It was a fairly large estate, one of several she’d gotten recently—very recently.  It dawned on me just then how much the agency in general and Audrey specifically had benefited from her new “association” with the mayor.  I hadn’t seen the connection before, but since Rainn had given me the dish on the two of them, it had all started falling into place.

The house was pristine so I had very little to do in preparation.  I went through each room on the main level, turning on lights and looking in closets.  I made my way to the second story next. 

After going through the second story, I was coming back down the steps when I heard the door bell ring.  I opened the door to a young man standing on the front steps.  He wore a navy pinstriped suit with a crisp white shirt, red tie and a red carnation in his breast pocket.  For his age, I thought the flower was a bit odd, but then again, I wasn’t the fashion police. 

He couldn’t have been out of his twenties, what with his perfectly smooth and unlined complexion.  He had dark blond hair, parted on the left and slicked back.  It reminded me of Clark Gable’s hair in Gone with the Wind.  He had soft light brown eyes and was very handsome, in a feminine sort of way.  I’d almost call him pretty.  And he looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

“Mr. Donovan?” 

He smiled and stuck out his hand.  “Yes, Ms. Deen.”  Mentally preparing myself, I took his hand and held my breath.  I was relieved when my head filled with pleasant white snow.  Right before I released his hand, a flash of the red carnation flitted through my mind.  Though I found it odd, I didn’t give it too much thought.  I mean, how harmful could a flower be?

“Come in.  Please.”  I stepped back so he could enter.  He looked around the grand foyer, his expression casually interested and somewhat anxious.  “It’s so nice to meet you.”

“N-nice to meet you, too.”

“I’m sorry your wife couldn’t make it today.  If you like the property, I can make arrangements to show your wife at a time that’s more convenient for her.”

“That’d be great.” His smile was friendly.  I felt it tickle a memory, but I just couldn’t seem to pull it out of hiding. 

“Based on your requirements, I thought this house would be a good fit.  What do you think of the location and the lot?”

“So far, everything looks perfect.”

“Great!”  Off to a good start.  “Let’s see the rest of the inside then we’ll go walk the lot.  It’s fenced, as you specified.” 

“Perfect,” he said again.

We toured the main floor first.  After we’d walked through the first few rooms, I began to notice Mr. Donovan’s odd posturing.  When he turned, he moved his entire body as if he had a stiff neck.  It was strange, but I chalked it up to a crick and stopped noticing after the first floor. 

The master was upstairs so we looked at it before going through each of the five other spacious bedrooms.  After making our way back to the main level, I led Mr. Donovan back to the kitchen and opened the basement door.  According to the description, the property had a huge, finished daylight basement, outfitted with several recreational rooms.

Mr. Donovan and I walked the space, checking out the exercise equipment and spa-like bathroom facilities.  He looked around each room, but didn’t have much to say.  I thought he must’ve been unimpressed. 

We walked back through the downstairs living area toward the media room.  The door was closed and when I turned the knob to push it open, it was stuck.  I pushed a little harder and it finally gave way.  I wondered about a moisture problem in the basement.