Keeley Thomson (Book 3): Mistress of Souls (9 page)

Keeley kicked Gary under the table gently, which got him to smile and kick her back with about the same intensity.

"Alright Gary, find out who wants to date Becky and set that up for us, will you? Maybe get us a list? Maria too while you're at it. That can be your new job for the week. Gary the matchmaker. Do it well enough and I'll get you a treat. Ice cream or something. An extra bag of Halloween candy." The words were meant to be funny, but Becky blushed a nice deep red.

Gary didn't, he just nodded.

"No problem. Hey do you two have anyone in particular you have an eye on? That will at least give me a type to work from." He started to actually chat with them about it, which made for a decently merry conversation. One with lots of denials and covert looks at certain people around the room.

It was distracting enough that no one except Barb noticed that they were leaving the table when Darla started toward the door. Keeley followed, winking at the girl and slightly shaking her head. It wasn't that the girl wasn't wanted as much as that they needed to talk about things that might be hard to explain in the time allotted between bites of donut.

The air was cool and that meant the boxes of donuts were a little hard. Good though. She was still starving. Keeley started eating and offered Darla one, just pointing at the box as she stuffed her face. It was her food, but Darla's van, so she didn't have to go through the whole thing with her on it. Finally she took a chocolate covered cake with sprinkles and ate delicately, speaking as she did.

"I had to change into and out of my older form, which took most of a day. I wasn't trying to abandon you just as your father left like that. I know it might be hard to understand, but the meeting you set up was too tempting to pass up. I do like your Deborah however. I agree that you made a good choice there. You may want to watch her drug use, but other than that she should be fast tracked into a major network. You need to develop some contacts there if you can. I know a few people I can introduce you too for that, to get you started."

Keeley finished the donut she was on and nodded.

"Good. Barb... What's wrong with her? Negative pheromone disorder?" There was a Bavarian cream left, so she started on that one, the sickly sweet center tasting just fine still, which meant she needed the calories. She normally didn't care for most sweets at all, or hadn't used to. Now she couldn't get enough.

"No, I tested her for that. It seems to be something different. I haven't been able to isolate the cause yet, or I'd have tried to fix it." Without missing a beat Darla snagged a second donut and looked at the box, which was empty now. Keeley opened the second one.

"Did you miss breakfast?" She looked at the other boxes and got that they were empty without opening them, but the donuts were obviously from that day.

"Or... What did you do? Magic probably. Did you pick up more slaves? If so I hope they're worth it. You're already over stressed that way. I'm surprised we haven't had to kill Elis to free the energy for other things."

It took a few seconds to swallow the lump going down a little harder than was pleasant, but nothing bad enough to worry about.

"No, I went into the Inroads. Gave me a killer headache, but if I can eat enough and keep remodeling my mind and consciousness fast enough, I might be able to do something by Dan's party. Please tell me it gets easier once you get used to it? I know the memories say it does, but it would still be good to hear."

Darla stared at her for a few seconds then looked away, grinning like something she'd just said was a big joke.

"Oh, yes, it gets simpler over time. Make sure you eat enough and keep healing as fast as you can. I expect you to be able to carry in our party gift. It's a case of wine. Domaine Romanée-Conti, a red burgundy that was aged for decades. I spent a big chunk of that eight hundred thousand dollars you gave me on it, so make sure you're good enough not to drop it going in. That would just be embarrassing, wouldn't it?" She laughed and touched Keeley's arm lightly, nothing coming through at all. It was kind of nice not having to know anything about her.

"Oh, just to update you I'm also finally getting a house. Two of them actually. One is a nice three story dump that I'm getting for a steal. That's where everyone is going to be going as soon as possible. It will take a bit to get ready enough for people, but not long." She started eating again, wanting to finish the last of the box before she had to go back in. It wouldn't pay to be late and really, a trip by the restroom to wash up would be a good idea. Her hands were sticky and so was her face. She had a napkin, but that was never really enough.

"And the other house?" She said the words with a leading tone, as if Keeley was playing games with her.

"Filled with part of a Gatherer's hoard." Keeley kept eating though, knowing time was running out. She sounded almost bored.

"Oh? That's... A fine investment. I should have thought of that myself. Do you mind if I take a look in? I'd love to see what she has. I might even have some buyers for part of it, if you're looking to sell anything?"

"Planned on it. Having you look in I mean. Can't get a lot more of an expert on magical devices than the Technician, can you?"

Darla gave her a look that was totally serious suddenly.

"No. You really can't."

Chapter five

"Good. I'll hire you to help me catalog what we find. Say for a percentage of whatever's there? I mean I get first pick, since it's my purchase..." Keeley nearly laughed about it, since it was a pretty outrageous statement to make, but Darla just agreed. Readily.

Too much so.

"I can do that. What do you think is fair? Fifty percent?" She was starting high, knowing that the average person would want as much as possible from any given situation. It made sense to start
very
high in this case for her though, because she really was the best option Keeley had as far as doing anything safely with the Gatherer's treasures.

"Thirty percent of resale on anything, and thirty percent of the physical items if we choose not to sell them. Anything that you built counts in that total, or if it's more than thirty percent of everything and you don't want it out in the world I'll let you buy or trade for it. First shot at it at least." It wasn't smart dealing, since it potentially gave Darla more than a fifty-fifty split if she worked it right, or it turned out there were a lot of her own things in the mix, but if there was nothing she wanted it would work out to be about the same.

"I agree to those terms. No take backs." The woman that looked like a hot eighteen year old cheerleader put out her hand to shake on it. Keeley just smiled.

"Not finished yet. I want to establish what level of work you're willing to put in on this. I need help clearing the house safely and then learning about what the things are, or selling them. I don't have a lot of contacts yet. That's what the offer is for. Is that still doable for you?" It was hard not to grin stupidly, but Keeley managed it without using any magic to force control. She needed to save her energy after all.

"Agreed. That was pretty much what I was thinking anyway. Shrewd to make certain of it though."

Then they didn't shake at all. Any business arrangement was too close to an official deal and Keeley didn't want to try and grab her sister by mistake. No doubt she'd break free, but that would cost both of them a lot of energy, however it worked. Plus Darla might just decide it made more sense to kill her to break the link than not, which would mean she'd have to try and give orders to stop that first... It just couldn't end well.

Even if it was supposed to be nearly impossible to do. Especially for the younger Demon.

"Good. You have the lawyers, can they handle the funds for me, or do I need to hire someone for that first? I'd rather use your people for now, because I don't want to draw too much more attention. I've slipped too much lately, showing my true age. Buying houses and what not. Needed, but a bit obvious as to what I am if anyone is paying attention." Not that anyone should really care.

"Fine. I'm charging you for the time though. Luckily for you that should only come to a few thousand dollars. I have really good lawyers on staff. What are your plans for the afternoon, if not that?"

Keeley knew what she had planned. It wasn't going to be fun, but she needed to practice carrying bottles of wine on the Inroads. Since she'd never walked them at all it was going to be a feat. Maybe she could start with a backpack filled with rocks or some junk that wouldn't break if dropped?

She didn't answer, just smiling and nudging her half-sister a bit.

"You know, teenage stuff. Eat a bunch of junk food and do homework. Work out. We need to get together and practice fighting soon. I don't want to get rusty." She wasn't great at it yet, but Darla didn't respond at all. Instead she just laughed.

"Cooking lessons too. Your poor skills there are a bit of a giveaway you know. You should make a point of fixing yourself food at least two or three times a day. Anyone past the age of sixty or so does, regardless of the amount of money they have. Well, the Demons do. Humans work that a bit differently, but they just don't need to eat as much. I'd get with your Hsreth for that. It isn't hard, but everyone your "real" age would have the skill."

That made sense, but felt like another thing that was going to eat up time if she wasn't careful. Then again, she had twenty-four hours in a day and didn't bother with television or movies for the most part. Sooner or later things would calm down again and she'd be glad for the regular distraction.

"I'll see you tomorrow then? Oh, get with Gary about the party he's throwing at my house. He's supposed to be finding dates for Maria and Becky. We should get someone for Barb too, if we can find anyone willing. Otherwise you'll have to turn yourself into a guy and make out with her for a while." It was teasing which got a wicked grin from Darla.

She shook her head ever so slightly, smiling wickedly. Teasing.

"Me? It's your idea. Not that she isn't attractive enough, but really if you come up with the plan you should carry it out. Besides, I don't know that she'd require shape shifting. Her level of interest in what other people might be doing when she isn't around shows a pretty open mind, even if she isn't ready to explore that part of herself yet. Maybe you're the one." There was a subtle shift to her features as she spoke, the voice going just a bit too close to a sexy purr, the eyes dilating just enough to show attraction. It was on purpose of course.

"Hmmm. I think not." Keeley smiled herself and looked away slightly, out the front window of Freida the van.

"I'm a guest in your territory. I'm dangerously close to overstepping with my new little friend Deborah. Barb is clearly one of your hand picked assets. I'm not making a move there without ground rules first." It was Demon protocol to set all that up. The memories said so. Now it would be up to Darla to decide what was allowed or not. Given how easily Keeley could take her people the expected thing would be demanding no contact. That would be normal for one adult Demon to another.

Instead she just looked at her for a while, considering something.

"I do want her for myself. Fine. I'll see to entertaining her time permitting. If you steal her from me I'll be required to... take steps." It was a threat. A real, honest one that Keeley had no doubt her sister would back up lethally if needed.

Or try to.

Just like she was a real full grown Demon already and everything. It sent a warm and fuzzy feeling down her spine. She had to make herself just agree, rather than give Darla a big hug.

"Fine. See you tomorrow then. Call if you need me." Keeley didn't wait to leave, knowing that she only had enough time to hit the girls' room and wash up before the bell rang.

The rest of the day was normal again, but she didn't have to wait for anyone after school, which got her back home early for once. Her mother was busily working on floral arrangements in her office, a lot of new flowers having shown up during the day. She looked a little blank as she focused on the white and yellow display in front of her, looking up after nearly a minute filled with considering glances and tightened lips.

"Oh, hi honey, how was school? Learn new and exciting things?" There was a smile that went with it and everything, even though it clearly took work. The whole situation meant it probably would for a while. Just the part with Charles would have done it, not to mention having a Demon child.

Keeley wondered how her mother was managing to stay sane.

"I did learn some new things. For instance Mr. Nevotney, my math teacher? He wants me on the Math Decathlon team, whatever that is. I think he meant it too. I suppose it would look good on my college transcripts. Also, I think that we're holding a party here soon. A sleepover. Gary's putting it together. He's planning on being out by midnight though, so I think he may have some kind of ulterior motive. Hopefully nothing that will get him killed. Is that doable do you think? We won't have drinking and I'm not planning on any sex for myself. I can't make promises for anyone else, but that's just life. I'll mention it though, if you want." Though that would probably increase the likelihood of it happening. If you didn't want people to do something the best course was always to not mention it.

"Before the Halloween party?" Sherry didn't seem put out by the idea at all.

"Honestly I don't know. I'm not really a part of this. I'll have Gary call you and set things up. He really should be the one asking in the first place, but I get that he'd feel a bit awkward doing that. Still, it's not like you bite or anything. Is having a bunch of messy kids around too much for you? We can put it off and change locations if so."

"I'll manage. It will be good to have people around. Maybe I could have some people over too sometime? I just don't really know anyone that would want to come." She smiled, but it had a sad edge to it. One of the issues over the years had been her sense of isolation. She really had to break out of that, or should at least give it a try. Life was too short to do it all alone.