The Beckoning of Beautiful Things (The Beckoning Series) (35 page)

There’s a lot about me you don’t know.

I’ll say. I also saw Crazy Betty. She works where I work.

Betty the Diviner?

That’s not what we call her.

It seems there’s a lot I don’t know about you.

Silence.

How am I going to get out of here? El Demonio is a rageaholic.

He’s known to have a violent temper.

Daniel.

What?

What are you?

Silence.

I asked you what you are.

I told you that I’m a Night Numen.

Yeah, but I don’t know what that is. After witnessing your transformation, I know even less.

I never wanted you to see that.

Dude, if we’re soul bound, don’t you think I’m going to see you in all ways?

Dude?

Daniel, then. Don’t deflect. What is a
Night Numen?

I’m an aberration. There’s never been another one like me. Even I don’t know what I’m capable of. That’s why I…

Why you what?

That’s another reason why I bound your soul so quickly. I was afraid you wouldn’t accept me.

You were afraid I would accept someone as gorgeous as you?

I have as much ugliness inside as there is beauty. Looks can be a façade. I possess rage and darkness, too, just like El Demonio.

Silence. Ice formed inside of Marissa’s gut.

Marissa?

I’m here.

I don’t want you to be afraid of me.

I hear you. I didn’t want to be bound without my permission.

So we’re back to that.

We’ll always go back to that until there’s truth and understanding between us.

That will take time.

Loads.

And right now, we don’t have that luxury. We don’t know what El Demonio’s plans are.

Does that matter?

It might. He threw us off the trail before. He’s a master at deception.

Apparently you are, too.

Silence.

I deserved that.

You did. But like you said, we don’t have time to sort things out. How can I get out of here?

Look for chinks – he’s got his Achilles’ heel.

I’ve already begun. Besides his dementia, he’s a control freak. He likes things in order. Things out of place unnerve him
, and he tries to rein in his temper, but loses it.

That’s great Marissa! Good work!

Marissa smiled at the praise, realizing it was the first time she’d smiled since she got here.
Thank you.

Find a way to use that. I’ll be scheming over here. And please, no matter what you think of me, keep in touch. I want to have time to sort things out with you, not mourn your loss.

A surge of warmth filled her heart.
That’s a good thing.
She paused.
I can’t really put the earring in my ear. And I won’t always have the option of pockets. It’s hot here, and I have a closet of skimpy clothes to choose from.

I’d like to see you in those skimpy clothes.

I’d like to never see these clothes again.

We’ll get you your own skimpy clothes. The kind that I can peel off with my teeth.

Flutters of heat poured from her pelvis.
I have a weird idea.

Tell me.

Too embarrassed. Let’s just say I think I’ve figured out a way to keep the Herkimer close at hand.
She gritted her teeth at the idea.

Whatever it is, do it. I don’t want to be apart from you. I want to get you home, safe. I have Sober, by the way.

I’m so relieved.

He keeps looking for you. I keep telling him you’ll be home soon. And you will.

I need to get some sleep. I can barely keep my eyes open.

Sleep, dulzura. Sleep. I’ll have you safely in my arms soon, trust me.

Trust you?
She chuckled.
When I only find out things about you in reverse?

I told you, people like us have to back into things so we’re surprised.

You did tell me that. Back when we first met. Alright then. Goodnight. my dangerous lover.

Goodnight, dulzura. I’ll keep you in my heart until I can hold you in my arms.

Eyes glazed, she picked her jacket up off the floor where it had fallen and feverishly worked to sew the pouch of jewels, as well as Buddy’s protection paw inside the coat. Next, she strode over to the wardrobe, opened it, and searched inside the drawers for some sort of hidden chamber.
Don’t old wardrobes like this have hidden compartments?
Her fingers explored and landed on a tiny latch. “Just like in the movies,” she whispered. She tugged on the latch and a small, rectangular compartment unfolded. She bunched her coat, crammed it into the compartment, and coerced it shut.

She’d just closed the wardrobe when the door handle creaked. Expecting to see Amalia, she pivoted around, only to witness El Demonio stagger into the room wearing a mid-calf length, blue and white striped dressing gown. She inhaled sharply and backed against the wall as a shudder quivered up her spine. She swallowed and wiped her palms on her skirt.

He looked like the old, frail man she’d met in Seattle, sort of like that long ago cartoon Mr. Magoo, not like the robust, rage-fueled man from earlier this evening.

His hand clutched a small lantern with a candle inside. The lantern light cast shadows making his face appear skeletal like. It illuminated his legs which sported several tattoos.

One of them, a panther, seemed to watch her. Its golden, red-rimmed eyes bothered her the most as it crouched around his ankle and appeared ready to pounce. It looked like the blood beasts, as she’d named them, which she’d drawn as a child.

“Josephina, darling, how are you settling in?”

“I’m not Josephina.” She stood, panting, staring at the door, gauging distance, then back to him.

“Who are you tonight then, my darling? Ever the creative, imaginative girl…” He chuckled as he made his way across the bedroom with quavering, unsteady steps. He flipped back the covers and patted the sheet. The candle
rested on the side stand. “I’m ready for bed, dear.”

“I thought this was my bed.”

“It is. It’s yours and mine. Come.” His voice came out slurred as if he’d been drinking heavily.

She shook her head with quick, terse movements. “No.”

“Come along, now.” He tugged off his nightshirt and carefully folded it, placing it on the nightstand when he was finished. He stood, wearing nothing but black briefs. His smooth-skinned and muscled bronze body belied his age. Strange gargoyle tattoos covered his shoulders, back, and abdomen. Same as the panther, they seemed to watch her. He plopped on the bed, like a sack of concrete. “Come, Josephina. I’m tired. It’s been a long day.”

Marissa inched toward the door, scooting her back along the wall. “I’m not tired in the least.”
Daniel. Help me out here.
The tendrils of connection sought their lover, snaking invisibly from her body.
Oh, I wish you could hear me.

“Where are you going, darling
? Come to bed.” El Demonio patted the bed again.

“I’m not tired. I told you.” She
eyed the door, just a foot or two away.

El Demonio blinked. He looked around, as if wondering where he was. He stared at the nightshirt. He stared at Marissa and blinked again. “Marissa? What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean, what am I doing here? You abducted me, that’s what. This is the room I woke up in.”

He shook his head. Blinked again. The confusion left his face, replaced by something far more malevolent.

Marissa lunged for the door.

El Demonio flicked his hand as if he held a whip. A silvery thread of energy shot from his palm and
spun around her wrist, whirling her to face him.

“Going somewhere?”

Her arm extended tautly in front of her, stretched by an unseen restraint. She tugged and pulled, trying to free it. Goosebumps covered her arms and legs and beads of sweat trickled from her forehead. Without thinking, she imagined light into form, shaping knives that sliced through the tendrils of energy that bound her wrist and stabbed the wall with a sharp thud. When her arm came free, she hugged it close to her body.

El Demonio’s eyebrows shot up. “Nice trick. So simple, yet elegant. I’ll have to remember that one. I always seem to go for the complex.”

He stood up and sniffed the air. “Mmm. Your feminine fragrance is most exotic. Come here, and let me have a look.”

“No.”

“Playing hard to get only makes me hotter,” El Demonio said. He let out a throaty laugh. A telling bulge formed in his briefs.

Marissa sickened at the sight. Her legs began to tremble.
Don’t get all weak, Engles. Don’t disappear like Mr. Bugs. Be Beelzebub instead.
She straightened up and tried to appear calm and cool. “I’m afraid I’m not playing, El Demonio. I’m
really
not going to let you look or touch.”

He shrank back slightly. “Where did you hear that name? Don’t call me that.”

She eyed him, curious. “What name? El Demonio de la Muerte?”

His mouth pulled back in a sneer. “I said, don’t use that name. I hate it.”

“Alright, how about this one? Demented Demon of Death? Does that suit you better?”

“No.” He struggled to compose himself, breathing deeply, his hands fisted by his side.

“My dog is a demon slayer. My dog would want to shred you.”

He looked at her, a mixture of rage and sorrow on his face. “I’m not what you think I am.”

“What are you then? And why is everyone terrified of you?”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he picked up the lantern, grabbed the nightgown and strode to the door looking once more like a commanding, angry general.

“My apologies for interrupting. Sleep in if you like. We’re not due anywhere until noon.” He exited the room.

The jangled of metal met her ears, followed by the snick of the door lock clicking into place. His footsteps pounded down the hall and out of earshot.

Marissa tugged on the door.
I could probably cut a hole in it. But then what?
She wandered over to the bed, fell on the covers, and closed her eyes for the last time that night.

Marissa had
awoken with resolve. From now on her motto would be, “Trust no one and save only me.” Get on El D’s side and make him think we’re cool with one another. Then, it’s hasta la vista, baby. She showered, found a comb to untangle her messy hair since the brush bristles were now charred, burnt remnants, and wrapped her torso in a towel. She stood before the wardrobe considering what to wear.

The door lock
clicked. She clutched the towel and whirled around.

Renata poked her head around the corner. “Hello.”

“Hello, Renata. Come to take care of me, I see.”

Jason pushed the door open wide
and strode inside, like it was his space. “Good morning, baby-doll. Sleep okay?”

“What do you care?”

“It’s just an expression.” He shrugged and strode in the room behind Renata. “Get dressed.”

“Fuck you.”

“Your language has gone way downhill. You never used to swear this much.”

“I’ve been a little stressed.”

“Whatever. Get dressed.”

Marissa eyed him speculatively. “Jason…?”

“Yeah…?”

“Do you have any, um…?” Her face and neck flushed.

“Do I have any what?” He idly fingered one of Renata’s long brown strands of hair.

“Condoms. Do you have any condoms?” She blew out her breath.

“Of course, why? Have you changed your mind about me? I knew you would.”

“No way.”

“Are you thinking of doing Alex? He’s probably got his own.”

“No, I’m not thinking of doing Alexander. Do you or don’t you have any?”

“What are you going to do for me if I share?”

“Jason, I can’t believe you. You helped a man abduct me and now you want to make sure I stay here. Just hand
‘em over, dogface, or I told you I’m going to make your job a living hell.”

“Nope. You’re going to have to do something for me.”

“You know I can hurt you. Just hand them over, and I won’t hurt you – today, at least.”

“Alright, alright, alright! This bruise is bad enough.” He lifted his arm to show her the ugly bruise on the back of his arm before shoving his hand inside his shorts pocket and retrieving his wallet. He unfolded it. The condoms lay between two
100 dollar bills. “You want both of them?”

“Yes, please.”

“You’re going to tell me who you did when you’re done with them.”

“I don’t own you any explanations.”

“Whatever. Here…” He shoved them in her hand.

“Thank you. I’m sure you’ve got more where those came from.”

“Oh, you know it. I’m a busy guy.”

“You’re disgusting, that’s what you are.”

Renata stepped next to her and eyed the closet. She plucked a pair of black and white, soft, stretchy Capri pants from the shelf and held them out to Marissa.

“They’ll do.” Marissa sighed and took the pants.

Renata found a black, sleeveless top with strategic cutouts made from the same stretchy fabric and handed it to her.

“Get out of here, Jason. I want to dress without your ogling eyes.”

“Don’t worry about it, doll. I’ve seen far more beautiful women here than you.”

Ouch.
“Get the hell out of here.”

“You’re so bossy,” he said, wandering out the door. “I’m still here,” he called.

“Good for you,” she called back. She quickly dressed in the skimpy, revealing outfit.

Renata handed her a pair of sandals and nodded.

Marissa raced into the bathroom and peeled open the first packet. She dropped the earring inside the condom and rolled it up tightly. For extra measure, she opened the next one, dropped the condom covered earring inside, tied it in a knot, and rolled that one up, too.
It will have to do.

She wiped her palms off on her pants, clenched and unclenched her hands, squatted down and inserted the latex bundle inside.

Marissa?

I did it.

Did what?

Found a place to hide the earring.

That’s great. No one can find it?

Not unless they get intimate with me.
She swore she heard him laughing.

Our source of communication is inside of you?

Wrapped in condoms.

That’s brilliant. And right where I belong – only I’d rather be unwrapped.

I have to go. Jason and Renata are waiting.

Who’s Renata?

My maid or servant or helpmate or whatever she’s called.

You’re going to be spoiled when you come home. Good thing I’m wealthy.

All I want is to be home with my dog by my side.

Just your dog?

Okay, okay, okay.
Her pelvis pulsed with want.
You, too. But we have some sorting to do.

We do. We will. We must. Let me know if anything changes. We’ve found his plantation and will arrive soon. We’re heading to the airport shortly.

Who’s we?

Me and Tom. The others will arrive through ether gates.

There are gates in the ethers?

Jason burst into the room. “Get a move on! The boss expects to leave
promptly, and he’s going to take it out on me if you’re not there.”

Gotta run. Bye!

Marissa put the sandals on her feet and followed Renata out into the hall.

After a breakfast of fruit and pastries, Marissa finished her
excellent cup of coffee. She placed the cup on the table with a soft thunk and scoffed at Jason. All the while she’d been eating, he’d been messing around with Renata, trying to kiss her and groping her like she was his dolly. The Brazilian woman kept pushing him away, red-faced and giggling.

“No means no, jackass.”

“She’s just playing hard to get.”

“She’s too embarrassed to say no to you.”

“Whatever. Mind your own business.”

“Your business is mine to mind, Mr. Brown.”

Marissa’s head spun around to see El Demonio standing on the deck as if he’d just transported there like on Star Trek.

Jason released Renata and stood stiffly at attention.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d let my staff do their job and not interfere with their duties.”

“Y-y-yes, sir, Alex.”
 

“And I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Mr. Díaz from now on. Just to remind you who’s the boss around here – you seem to have forgotten.”

“Y-y-yes, sir, Alex, I mean Mr. Díaz.”

“Don’t assume your position is secure here, Mr. Brown.”

“I-I-I don’t, sir.”

“Good,” he said crisply. “Everyone is expendable.” He turned his gaze to Marissa. “Except for you, my dear.” His
eyes widened as he explored her appearance. “You look charming, my gamine little coquette. Did you find your breakfast to your satisfaction?”

“Yes, sure. It was good. The coff
ee’s fantastic.”

A small smile flickered on his face and then quickly faded. “Thank you. I believe we grow the finest around here. Come,” he said, proffering his arm.

“Where are we going?”

“We’ll be heading up to where you’ll be living from now on.”

“I won’t be living here?”

“No. You deserve something finer.”

Marissa’s eyes darted around her surroundings. “This is perfectly fine. Better than fine.”
Help me out here, Daniel. He wants to move me.

El Demonio waved his hand dismissively. “This is common. Come, or we’ll be late.”

Do you know where you’re moving to? We have the location of the plantation – nothing else.

Clueless!
She stood up, ignoring the sorcerer’s crooked elbow.

El Demonio’s eyes formed small slits.

The same chill from the pond behind her home, so long ago, seeped into her veins. Her arms immediately covered with goose bumps and her teeth chattered. She rubbed her arms vigorously.

“What did you just do?”

“Nothing! I did nothing! The r-r-r-real question is what did you just d-d-d-do? I’m f-f-f-freezing?”
I think he sensed me communicating with you Daniel!

Then don’t. Not unless you’re safe!

“Right there. That. What did you just do?”

“I d-d-d-didn’t d-d-d-do a th-th-thing. P-p-p-please turn off the c-c-c-cold.”

“As you wish.” He flicked his hands and the chill vanished.

“Jeez! Were you trying to turn me into a block of ice?”

“You’d be of little use to me then.”

“I’m of no use to you right now and it won’t get any better, I can assure you.”

“We’ll see about that,” he said, with the confidence of someone used to getting his own way.

The jewels!
“I need to get something out of my room.”

“You’ll have everything you need at your new home.”

“I need to get my own clothes.”

“We’ll have them laundered and brought to you.”

She picked at her fingernails. “I need to bring them. You don’t know how to wash them.”

“My staff can handle washing a few rags,” he said with disdain.

Tears pricked her eyes. “No, I need them.”

El Demonio turned to Renata. He barked a few orders to her
, and she turned and walked toward the stairs.

“She doesn’t know where they are. Just let me go up and get them
, and I’ll be right back.”

El Demonio eyed her shrewdly. “Alright. We can work on your attachment to your past once you’ve settled. Go retrieve the reminders of your old home.” He impatiently waved his hand toward the stairs.

“Oh, thank you! I’ll be back in just a moment.”

After she’d returned, clutching the bundle of clothes, El Demonio gave her a
nother look that chilled her insides to snow-cone slush.

“What’s the nature of your attachment to these clothes?”

Think, Engles, think.
“It’s like you said. They remind me of home. I miss my dog.” Her face grew long as she said this. She really
did
miss Sober.

“We can get you another dog. You haven’t yet met Rumba, either.”

“I don’t want another dog, I want my dog.” Her eyes moistened. A single tear tracked her cheek.

It must have affected her captor
, as his eyes softened. “A dog can be a true companion. I understand. We’ll arrange to have your dog brought to you.”

She sniffled. “Thank you.”
And I’m hoping there will be no need to send for my dog. I’m hoping to be home soon.

“And now, let’s depart. This matter is settled. Hand Renata your clothes.”

“I can hold them.”

“I insist. She can, at least, carry them for you.”

Her stomach in a bunched up wad, she reluctantly handed over the clothes.

El Demonio turned swiftly and strode down the hall with military precision, Marissa, Renata
, and Jason racing to catch up.

Outside the front door
, an older Rolls Royce, polished to perfection, sat waiting. Marissa stepped up to it and eyed the immaculate leather interior. “Nice wheels,” she said to Jason.

“Yeah,” Jason said, fingering the smooth finish. “I hope to own wheels like this someday.”

Another small smile flitted across El Demonio’s face. “I enjoy automobile restoration. I have several. You’ll see them where we are going.”

A handsome, dark-haired man wearing a crisp black suit held the door open for Marissa, eying her appreciatively. His tanned face sported an immaculate mustache and soul patch which he obviously spent far too much time grooming. His eyes danced with wicked delight.

“Use the condoms on him,” Jason whispered.

Marissa shoved him away and climbed into the seat.

Jason began to climb in next to her, pushing past the amused chauffeur.

“Mr. Brown! You are to ride in the Jeep with
Captain.”

“Aw, come on,” Jason protested.

“And you will speak to me with respect or not speak to me at all.” El Demonio’s voice rang sharp and decisive through the heat of the Brazilian day.

“Yes,
sir
.” Jason’s tone held a hint of mockery.

“I said respect, Mr. Brown, not sarcasm.”

“Yes, sir,” Jason mumbled.

“Speak clearly, Mr. Brown. I can’t understand your garbled tongue.”

“Yes, sir,” he said with defeat. He gave Marissa a pleading look before shambling back to the military escort with Renata.

She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
You made your own bed here, buddy.

“And you’ll be advised to keep your hands off of my staff,” El Demonio barked. “Your driver serves as my eyes in all his duties.”