Darkened (11 page)

“Ha
, ha. I’m pretty sure I’d remember that.”

“Do you remember sticking your tongue down his throat?”

“Don’t you have something else to do? Like, I don’t know, guard the VIP section from invasion or something.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. If you need anything, let me know,” he said as he got up from the booth.

I sat at the table for a couple of minutes before the band started. The two band members I hadn’t already met were the center of my attention. One played bass while the other was the drummer. I have to admit, the drummer was scary as Hell. Don’t get me wrong. He was just as fine as the others
, but there was something about the way he looked at people. Emotionless. Kind of like you would think a sociopath would look. Only, most sociopaths were better at pretending to care in order to fit in. This guy looked like he just didn’t give a fuck. It might be my imagination, but the bassist looks an awful lot like the drummer, but his hair is brown where the drummer’s is obviously dyed a matte black, and he actually looks kind of normal versus the drummer’s psycho. Maybe they’re brothers.

I was still analyzing the members of the band when Temmy sat with me.

“I am seriously considering not being your friend anymore,” she said
as greeting.

“I’m actually surprised it’s taken you this long. I would have stopped being my friend years ago.”

“Ha, ha. You start dating the hottest guy in Atlanta and can’t pick up the phone to call your supposed best friend?”

“I’m not dating anyone. I’m working a case
, and the hottest guy in Atlanta manipulated his way into being my bodyguard.”

“Oh, he wants to guard your body alright
, but why would you need a bodyguard?”

“Apparently, the flowers I got the other day were from a serial killer
, and he was the delivery guy. Isn’t that sweet? A psycho killer has a crush on me. The flowers were actually quite pretty.”

She managed to pick her jaw up off the table.

“You mean Jared didn’t send you those flowers? A crazed killer did?”

“Ooh, I can top it. The crazed killer is a
n Angel. Ta-da. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week.” I mock bowed then showed her one of the posters.

“This is the killer? Huh. Never seen him.” She put the paper down then looked
at me. “I can’t believe an Angel has a thing for you.”

“Apparently more than one. You didn’t know Darkened was a band of Fallen? That includes ‘the hottest guy in Atlanta’.”

She looked at the band then back to me.

“That’s what they are? I was wondering. I knew they were some kind of
Other, but...wait. Jared has the hots for you and he’s an Angel?” She started laughing. “He really is a bad boy, isn’t he? An Angel with a thing for a Demon.”

“I am not a Demon
, and he is a Fallen. Get it right. Uh, and he might not know about me being half Demon.”

“How would he not know? I thought Angels could track Demon and other evil creatures.”

I shot her a nasty look. “Perhaps it’s because I’m not an evil creature.”

“Sure honey, whatever helps you sleep at night. Demon aside
, he has got it bad for you. He actually asked me to come over here and keep you company for a while so that you’re not bored. He’s such a nice guy.”

I rolled my eyes again. I’ve got to stop doing that before they get stuck in the back of my head.

“Temmy, he’s a Fallen Angel. Need I remind you why almost all Fallen become Fallen? That’s probably why he can’t tell that I’m part Demon because he, himself, is an evil creature.”

“Avy, I can’t believe you. You
, of all people, should know better than to judge someone by their history instead of their actions.”

“The difference is that I didn’t make the decisions that affected my history
, and he did. You know as well as I do that Angels are not wrongly banished from the Kingdom.”

“But
, you don’t know that he killed a Human to be banished. He could have done something else to piss the big guy off.”

“Whatever. I don’t care the reason because as soon as this case is over I have plans to never see Jared Damascus again.”

She laughed again. “Well, good luck with that. I have a feeling he’s not going to give up that easily.”

“He’ll get it eventually.”

“Oh, I’m sure he will,” she said with a lascivious smirk.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

She just smiled. “I guess I better get back to work. If I get a chance, I’ll come back to visit you.”

“Thanks
, I don’t think the warden’s going to let me out any time soon.”

“Like I said, y
ou are the luckiest woman I know.”

“Yes, I feel sooo lucky.”

She hugged me then left.

I watched Darkened for the next hour. There were a few other people in the section with me, but I didn’t recognize any of them, and they seemed to be more concerned with themselves and watching the band than me.

Before the band took a break, Jared addressed the crowd.

“The name of this song is ‘Avery’.”

They played the song from the other night. Oh my Gods! He really did name a song after me. Once the song finished, Jared disappeared behind the stage only to be walking up to my table two seconds later.

“You sure are fast. Tell me, do you actually fly?”

He smiled as he sat next to me. “Would you like to find out, Caru?”

“Not if it means I have to fly with you.”

“Are you afraid?”

I just raised a brow. Then I remembered how he had asked me the last time if I liked the song, and I had never answered. Instead, I had poked fun at the name.

“I do like the song
, by the way. I like how it changes between slow and fast. Probably pretty hard to dance to, but I like it.”

“Be still my heart. You actually gave me a compliment without me having to pull it out of you. This makes the second time today. I guess my charm is starting to wear on you.”

“Don’t push it. I just think it is a good song. I’m sure plenty of others think the same thing.”

He leaned closer to me. “But
, I didn’t write the song for them.”

“I find it hard to believe you wrote it for me either. You didn’t even meet me until after you had already played the song.”

“Ah, but I saw you the weekend before. You came into the club and killed a Demon in the bathroom. I tried to get Temmy to bring you to my house the next night, but you refused to come.”

“What would I have done at that party? I’m not really the groupie type if you haven’t noticed.”

“You could have spent time with me in my room. Then you wouldn’t have had to deal with any of the others.”

“How good of you to offer. But
, I think I made the right choice.”

“How could it be the right choice when you didn’t end up with me?”

I laughed. The sad thing is that he was actually serious.

“I think you have me confused with someone else,” I said.

He scooted right up next to me. “No, Caru. That could never happen. I could pick you out of the middle of this entire crowd of people in less than a minute.”

I rolled my eyes once more. “Right.”

“You don’t believe me?”

I just raised a brow.

“Alright. Then I will prove myself to you.” He slid out of the booth then held his hand out for me.

Once I was out of the booth, he walked me over to where Ryan was standing at the entrance. He nodded and Ryan pulled the rope back then Jared led me to the bottom of the steps. He pulled me close and spoke into my ear so that I could hear over the song the DJ played.

“Are you ready, Caru? I’ll give you a thirty second head start.”

I smiled and looked at the time on my cell. “I’m not as fast as you. Make it a minute, and I’ll give you five to find me.”

Now he rolled his eyes. “Fine, sixty seconds starting...now.”

I took off. Where to go, where to go? The dance floor would be too easy since that’s the most obvious place. So is the bar because Temmy’s there
, and she would rat me out in a second. Front entrance? No, then I’ll have to listen to him bitch about me trying to escape. The women’s bathroom is a no-go because there’s always a line to get in, and I’m not going in the men’s bathroom again. I headed to the hallway leading behind the stage. The guard on duty nodded to me, and opened the door.

“If Jared asks, you haven’t seen me,” I said as I ran past.

Now where to? I could go to Jared’s office. No, that’s a bad idea. I ran to the only other room I’ve been in back here. Just like the last times Luke was in there playing Xbox.

“Quick, you gotta hide me,” I said as I ran in the room.

He looked alarmed. “Is someone after you?”

“Yeah, Jared. Come on, help me out?”

“Uh, you could hide in the closet I guess.” He pointed to a door on the other side of the room. “Why’s he after you? Well, other than the obvious.”

“It’s a game. He has five minutes.”

“Ah. Good luck.”

I looked into the closet. The obvious place w
ould be to huddle in the back, but on the odd chance that Jared did look in the closet, I wanted to be as indistinguishable as possible so I backed up a couple of steps, ran forward, and pushed myself up on the bar then I swung one leg over to the shelf on top. It was dusty but I would be unseen to the average observer. I reached out, grabbed the hook conveniently placed on the inside of the door, and pulled it shut.

“You haven’t seen me,” I said before I closed it all the way.

I huddled into the back of the shelf and pulled out my cell phone. He had three minutes left. Now, all I had to do is wait and hope no one ratted me out. I could hear Luke playing his game and nothing else. I watched my cell
, and counted down the minutes.

Finally, I had thirty seconds left. I was going to rub it in his face when I saw...

“Hello, Caru. Having fun?”

Well, crap. Jared had opened the door, and was standing there looking straight at me with a huge smile on his face. I couldn’t help thinking he had been fucking with me.

“Would you like me to join you in there?” He asked.

“It would be easier for me to leave if you would move out of the way.”

He stepped out of the way
, and I jumped down from the shelf. I looked around, and Luke was gone.

“He ratted me out, didn’t he?
”

“No, Caru. He didn’t have to tell me where you were. I knew the moment you left the main club
, and I just followed you. I had hoped you would decide to hide in my office, but then I would have had to call off the rest of the show.”

“I’m smarter than that. Talking about shows. Don’t you have one to get back
to?”

He moved closer to me. “I have a few minutes. My boss is very lenient.”

“I’m sure he is. After all, your band is the reason the club’s so successful.”

He just smiled then leaned closer and kissed me. I couldn’t help but kiss him back and then he was rubbing my back with one hand and had the other fisted in my hair, and I could only think about being naked with him like this. Oh, dear merciful Gods. He was killing me slowly. One minute he was making me so mad I could barely stand it, and the next he was making me so hot I could barely stand it. Hot and cold, hot and cold. I felt like I was going through menopause. I pulled back and broke the kiss. I couldn’t take anymore. I was ready to go to his office and let him call off the show, but I know I would be regretting it tomorrow.

He was smiling at me.

“Ah, my Caru. You’re driving me mad. Are you sure we can’t continue this in my office?”

“Absolutely not.”

He sighed. “That’s what I thought. Let me get you back before I finish the show.”

We went back to VIP
, and Jared joined his band for the rest of the show. I alternately watched them and scanned the club just in case our killer tried to pick up another victim. When the show was over, Jared came to collect me, and we left for his place. I didn’t waste any time when we got there. I went straight to my room and locked the door behind me. After the couple of kisses he gave me at the club and my body’s reaction to them, being alone with him at his house is the last thing I need.

“Get the mushroom, Luke, before it falls into the lava. Now you missed it
, and Bowser’s going to kill you.”

We were in the rec room playing Wii. I had managed to convince Luke to play Mario
, and he actually seemed to enjoy it. The only problem was that he insisted on maintaining at least six feet between us. I’m wondering if Jared warned him to keep his distance or if he just didn’t want to be near me, for some other reason.

“I would be big if you hadn’t thrown me into that hole.”

“Stop using my head for a trampoline
, and you won’t bounce into holes.”

“This game is stupid. What is the point anyway? You do the same stuff over and over.”

“No, you don’t. Each world has its own theme that’s different. You’re just mad because you don’t have the highest score.”

“No, I’m mad because I’m being killed by turtles
, and little mushroom shaped guys that are less than half my size. If this were real life, I could kick those things into next week.”

“If this became your real life, you would need antipsychotic medication.”

He looked at me and smiled. “What makes you think I’m not already on some?”

“I’ve taken it. They make you drowsy. You don’t look drowsy to me.”

He laughed. “You, on antipsychotic meds. I can see that.”

“Hey, no cracking jokes at my expense. I’m the joke cracker around here.”

“Sorry, Ave. How dare I?”

“I’ll forgive you this time
, but future indiscretion will be severely punished.”

“A woman after my own heart. I always like women who can dole out a good punishment,” the
Goth looking band member said as he entered the room followed by who I assume is his brother. They look too much alike not to be.

“Well, sorry. Because dominatrix is not in my job description,” I replied.

“Oh, and what would be your job? Groupie?” Goth boy asked.

“Only if Hell freezes over. Which one are you? Sam or Hash?”

He smiled at me and it only made him look scarier. He had more metal in his face than most skyscrapers.

“I’m Hash. That’s my brother Sam.” he pointed to the other guy who did a little wave.

“Avery Tywella,” I replied.

“Oh, we know who you are Avery. We know quite a bit about you actually. Don’t we
, Luke?”

I looked over at Luke who was staring at the TV even though we paused the game.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Luke ignored me and Hash just shrugged.

“Tywella, doesn’t that mean Witch in Welsh?” Hash asked.

“Yep. It’s my mother’s family name.”

He nodded. “What about dear old dad? Didn’t take his name?”

“I have never met my father so I wouldn’t know what name to take.”

“I see. Couldn’t you just ask mom who she was knocking boots with?”

“My mother was raped. She died in childbirth. So, if I ever do find my dad, I have a blade with his name on it.”

“That’s understandable. Our father was a real piece of work too.”

Sam didn’t say anything. He just watched us as we talked.

“Ugh, how did the conversation get on fathers? I’m sure I can think of a more pleasurable topic to speak with our house guest about,” Zach said as he walked in and took a seat on the couch next to me.

“Like what? You?” Hash replied.

“I happen to like that topic. Don’t you
, Avery?” Zach said.

“I don’t really know anything about you other than the fact that you’re
Fallen so I don’t know if you’re worth talking about or not,” I said.

He looked me in the eye. “Oh
, trust me. I’m worth talking about. Best week of your life is what I could be.”

He reached his hand out toward my face and then he was gone. I mean, one moment he was mere inches away from me. The next
, there was a blur, and he was nowhere to be seen. The only indication that he hadn’t just disappeared was the slight breeze that had passed through.

I looked toward Hash and he shrugged. “He was warned.”

“Warned about what? By who?”

They ignored me.

“Come on Ave. I want to kick Bowser’s ass. That guy
’s got it coming,” Luke said.

I took that to mean I wouldn’t get any answers so I un-paused the game and we started again. There were extra controllers so I asked Hash and Sam if they wanted to play.

Luke,
Hash and I were getting killed by a giant Bowser when Jared sat beside me on the couch. A few minutes later Zach joined us, and took a seat by Luke on the other couch.

“How the Hell did a witch make him as big as the empire state building? I think whoever created this game was tripping on shrooms,” Hash said.

“That would explain a few things,” I told him and we laughed at the idea of a group of Asians sitting around drinking shroom tea, and creating one of the best video games for kids ever invented.

“I thought peyote was a Native American thing?” Luke said.

“It’s called export/import. Look it up. They get peyote and we get a hundred flat screen TVs to watch the video game on,” I told him, and me and Hash laughed again.

“I highly doubt they went to so much trouble just to get some mushrooms that grow in cow dung
, especially since cows are abundant in almost every country in the world,” Jared said.

“You never know. Snails are a delicacy, why not cow dung grown mushrooms,” I replied.

“Maybe I should go into business,” Hash said.

“Sure. Wh
y don’t you run out and buy some cows? I can totally see you as a farmer,” I told him.

“Yeah, maybe not,” he replied.

Everyone laughed at that one.

Then there was a man standing in the middle of the room and everyone stopped laughing.

“Hello, brothers.” He said “brothers” like it was a curse word.

“Bart, what brings
you
here,” Jared said as he slid forward slightly.

His movement blocked my view of the Angel.

“’Tis Bartholomew to you, sinner. I am here on my Lord’s work. I shall bring justice to the Fallen Jael,” Bart said.

“Good. Now, what are you doing in our living room?”

“I have come to warn you from interfering, Jared. I know you would like to redeem yourself, and I do not want you trying to capture Jael to prove yourself. You are no longer one of us.”

“I have no intention of capturing him,” Jared said.

“Good. Then you will stay out of my way,” Bart replied then bent at the knees like he was about to jump. I pushed back against the couch so that I could watch the Angel from behind Jared.

When Bart saw me, he straightened back up and walked closer. Jared stood up, and moved between us.

“What is she doing here?” Bart asked.

Jared looked back at me then at Bart. “It looks like she’s sitting on the couch.”

“She will come with me.”

“That is not going to happen, Bart. You best be on your way. Don’t want to keep your Lord waiting.”

“She does not belong with Fallen. Come woman,” he said to me.

This guy really doesn’t know me.

“Like Jared said, that isn’t going to happen,” I replied.

“You will come with me now or I will notify my Lord of your presence here. The one he sends to retrieve you will not be as compassionate as I.”

“Wow, that’s hard to believe, but
I think I’ll take my chances. Once Jael is killed, I will leave these Fallen.”

“You will return to your homeland?”

“Uh, sure. I’ll go home for a visit.”

It sure isn’t going to be Hell though if that’s where he’s thinking my homeland is.

“I am most positive it will be longer than a visit.”

I shrugged.

“Very well. Fallen.” He turned to face the men in the room. “Stay out of my way or I will be forced to smite thee.”

Then he was gone.

“Well, he was a bundle of joy. Are all Angels as fun to be around as him?” I asked.

“No, some are worse,” Jared replied.

“What are you going to do about her?” Hash asked.

“What can I do?” Jared said.

“If she is truly Caryad, then you need to finish it or get her out of here,” Zach said.

What the Hell does Caryad mean? Finish what? It is apparent the Angel knew I was part Demon. He wouldn’t have cared if a Human was here as long as none of the men were hurting them.

“Bart said he would allow her to stay until Jael is killed. He’s not going to go back on his word,” Jared said.

“No, that would be a sin,” Luke added.

Jared huffed. “God forbid.”