Demon's Doorway (16 page)

They sat in companionable silence while Jack ate, until the TV not far away showed another news report. Instead of the local news with the airport, which was already becoming a non-story, the reporter gave an update on the kidnapping case of Robbie Reigns. A crowd gathered to listen.

"Police are still investigating the bizarre ending to the kidnapping of nine-year-old Robbie Reigns. They received a call from someone who has not been identified, or has come forward at this time. The call was traced to one of the homes of Robbie's father, Todd Reigns, who now is believed to have had a part in the kidnapping of his own son. Robbie was found, unharmed, and is now with his mother while the investigation continues. Todd Reigns, and his entire personal staff, were found dead in his home."

Victoria shook her head as the crowd broke up, whispering about the developments.

"That's terrible. I hope that little boy didn't see all that death."

"He didn't. I'd already killed them before I found him, but took him there and made the call. I blindfolded him, though."

Her mouth hung open as she looked at him. He ate a forkful of mashed potatoes in response.

"Jack, did you—?"

"Yup. Eighteen bodyguards, six policemen on his payroll—and you know they'll cover that up—one kidnapper, and one disturbed millionaire. All dead. But one remarkably strong nine-year-old boy, safe and sound at home."

She rested her head on her hands. "I don't want to know. Spare me the details. Can we please talk about something else? Anything besides the supernatural or murder?"

"Sure." He gestured to Kevin. "One hundred bucks says he crashes and burns."

She smiled. "You don't have any faith in Kevin."

"One hundred bucks."

"You're on."

CHAPTER 8

The timing couldn't have been better. Alicia was finally alone. She sat on the edge of a table, not far from the buffet, with her legs crossed, watching everyone around her. Kevin understood Jack's comment about her being proud of her legs. She was stunning, and could only imagine how she looked in a pair of shorts.

She didn't see him as he approached. He could introduce himself to her. His mind was blank, but they did have Victoria and Alex in common. Certainly some topics of conversation would pop in his head.

She ran a hand through her short hair and smiled at someone across the room. Even her smile was beautiful. Kevin felt his confidence slipping. He tried to hold onto it before it left, but it was no use. It ran through his fingers like water.

He veered off, taking another angle and walking straight for the buffet table. It was all but deserted, and he grabbed a paper plate to not look like an idiot.

Although it was probably too late for that.

Closing his eyes, he tried to keep calm. Every terrible thought came, one after another. Jack was probably belly-laughing at his expense across the room. If Alicia truly was watching him, she either felt he was a coward or a pig.

He absentmindedly put a tiny amount of food on his plate. He wasn't hungry at all, but couldn't drift through the buffet line empty-handed. The staff smiled politely at him, and he returned the gesture.

"The ham is good," a voice said next to him. "Have you tried a piece of the wedding cake yet?"

He turned his head, and there she was. Alicia stood mere inches from him, with her own paper plate. She was smiling at him, waiting for an answer. The problem was her smile seemed to do something to Kevin's brain, and he'd already forgotten what she asked.

Something tried to form in his mind, but it wasn't words. His stomach dropped when he realized what it was.

"Baby powder."

Alicia wrinkled her nose. "Uh, excuse me?"

He looked up at the staff, most of whom had gathered along the wall, no longer needed in the kitchen.

"Does anyone have a pen I could borrow?"

A kind woman handed him a pen, and Kevin set a napkin on a bare spot on the table. He scribbled in the witch's language, the letters and words coming naturally.

Chili powder. Olive oil. Baby powder.

That was it. Another ingredient in what was becoming a spell-tease. Whenever a spell completed in his mind, he would immediately know what it did. That knowledge still eluded him.

Alicia giggled quietly next to him, looking over his shoulder. "What is that?"

Kevin glanced at the partial spell. To any non-witch, their language looked like strange hieroglyphics, random lines and pictures.

"Uh…something very cool and mysterious."

"Ooh. So, you're a cool and mysterious guy?"

"Not really."

She laughed, an intoxicating sound. "I saw you at the church, sitting next to Victoria."

"Yeah. That was me. I was sitting to her left."

He wanted to slap himself. He could only wonder what ridiculous thing he'd say next.

"I was in front. I was the maid of honor." She glanced down at the table. "I was also the best man. It was a little weird."

Kevin picked up on a detail. Maybe talking with Jack was rubbing off on him.

Alicia was just as nervous as he was.

His confidence tried to return. It wasn't back completely, but ever so slightly, like he fed it some of his magic water.

"I think everyone here knows who you are. You're Alicia, right?"

"That's me. But everyone calls me Leese. Only my brother calls me Alicia."

He held out his hand. "I'm Kevin."

She smiled again as they shook hands. He wished she'd stop smiling. It was distracting.

Leese scanned the dining room. People had started to leave, but there were still plenty left having a good time. They had their choice of places to sit.

"You want to grab a table?" she asked. "I think we're the only two eating."

"Yeah, that sounds great."

They found an empty table off to the side, away from the action. Kevin could see out the doorway and through a window that it was night out. The events earlier in the day seemed like a lifetime ago as he sat across the table from Leese.

"Is that all you got?" she asked, nodding at his plate.

He looked at his randomly-thrown-together food, and pushed it to the side.

"I'm not hungry at all. I only went to the buffet because I was too nervous to walk up to you."

She smiled, and pushed her food away as well.

"I only got food to talk to you. I was wondering if you even noticed me."

"Oh, believe me, you were noticed."

She turned red before gesturing across the room. "So, you're a friend of Victoria's?"

He spun in his chair to see the vampire and Jack still sitting, laughing and talking. Actually, she was the one laughing, Jack was more sneering.

"Yeah. She's the only person I really
know
here. I only met your brother once."

"Are you two…?"

He finished her question, laughing at the thought. "A couple? No, no way. She's a little too old for me."

"Yeah, just a little."

At that moment, they both knew. It wasn't much of a stretch to make. They both knew Victoria was a vampire, and they knew
each other
knew.

"She has a boyfriend, doesn't she?" he asked.

Leese nodded. "Yeah. He's in Australia right now, on business." She smiled as she watched her friend. "It's so weird to see her walking in the daylight. But she won't say what happened. I'm thinking maybe she volunteered to be a test subject somewhere."

He felt a lump in his throat. Victoria would only keep quiet for one reason, to protect him. The less people knew about him, the less that could approach his house with torches and pitchforks.

He desperately wanted to change the subject.

"So, what was it like being the best man and the maid of honor?"

She rolled her eyes. "So stressful. It took me a week just to come up with that thirty-second speech."

"Well, you nailed it, for sure."

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "My duties aren't done yet, either. I get to return all their clothes."

"I'll give you a hand, if you want. I'll be staying here for a few days, I think." He thought of the day's events. "Maybe longer."

"I really appreciate that." Her expression fell somewhat as she looked over Kevin's shoulder.

He turned to see Alex and Cindy dancing, although there was no music playing. Alex's coat was gone, he wore only a white shirt. Cindy had removed some of her makeup, probably because of crying, and was still lovely. They held each other close, their arms around each other, looking every bit in love as two people could. A photographer took their picture. Alex playfully reached down and grabbed her ass. Cindy laughed as she pushed him away, and the photographer snapped another picture.

Kevin looked back to Leese and noticed the sad look in her eyes. He asked the question with his expression, and she sighed.

"How do they say it?" she said. "You're not losing a daughter, but gaining a son-in-law? The three of us really did grow up together. We were a group, and I kind of feel like I'm not part of the group anymore. It's selfish, I know." She shook her head, and flashed Kevin her beautiful smile. "And why am I telling you all of this? I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. I just have one of those faces."

His confidence was completely back. The magic water must have worked.

Leese covered her face. "Oh, Cindy, come on."

Kevin spun to see Alex and Cindy pointing at her and making kissing gestures with their lips.

"They act like ten-year-old children," she said. "They've been giving me a hard time about the wedding, saying I'd have to dance with myself since I was the best man and maid of honor."

"No one's asked you to dance? No way."

She laughed. "They've probably seen me walk in heels. I'd kill someone dancing."

"I'll take that chance. I have magical healing powers. Would you like to dance?"

She leaned back a little and hesitated. Kevin wondered if he went too far. He wasn't asking for her number or a date, just a wedding dance.

"There's no music. We might look as silly as Alex and Cindy up there."

"Yeah, you're probably right—"

A familiar voice interrupted him.

"Hey, everybody."

It was Victoria, standing near the DJ's table with the microphone.

"We're gonna play one more little slow song for you couples, then our DJ has to get moving. Stay as long as you want, but we're gonna start folding up the empty tables. Thank you for coming."

A romantic song played that Kevin never heard of, and Victoria winked at both of them as she walked by. Leese laughed quietly.

"She was listening to us the whole time, wasn't she?" she said.

Kevin nodded. "You can still say no."

He waited for the no-disguised-as-an-excuse, but she said nothing. Leese stood up and tugged at her dress, which was riding up her legs. She playfully held out her hand.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," she said.

He took her hand and led her to the open floor. He kept a respectable distance from her, but enjoyed holding her hand, with the other on her hip. Ten seconds into the song she stepped on his foot.

"Sorry," she said, keeping her eyes low.

"Don't worry. My feet can take it."

"I really can't dance in these heels."

"I can't dance at all."

"You look like you're doing okay to me."

"Hey, Kevin," Alex called.

They both turned to face the half-demon.

"Watch your feet. She's gonna step a hole right through them."

"Shut up, Alex." Leese rolled her eyes. "Well, at least this isn't embarrassing or anything."

"Do you want to go for a walk instead?"

Her face lit up. "Yes. I can go for that."

They left through the front door, along with a few other couples leaving. Kevin peered down the long driveway to the street ahead of them, watching a few cars leave.

"You know the neighborhood better than me," he said. "I'm at your mercy."

"Let's just walk around the house. It's definitely big enough."

Leese had trouble finding her footing in the grass, and nearly took a fall. Kevin caught her, holding her up easily as she slipped her arms around his neck.

"I swear to God, I didn't do that on purpose."

He wouldn't have minded if she did.

"Yeah, they all say that."

"I'm serious!" she said, getting flustered. "I'm really not this clumsy."

She pulled her heels off, lowering her height by three inches. She wiggled her toes in the grass and nodded.

"There. Now, we can walk."

One time around Victoria's mansion wasn't enough for them. They circled the property several times, lost to whatever was happening around them. Kevin listened to every word she said. She simply commanded that kind of attention, whether she meant to or not.