Playing Against Type: Soulgirls, Book 4 (15 page)

“Yeah. Why did I forget that happened? Or mostly forget?” She frowned.

“That’s how it works. You’re persuaded to not think about it. They can’t take it away entirely, but it ‘slips’ your mind…”

“How what works? What happened last night?” Chills raced across her. She’d seen a lot in thirty-some-odd years—some strange things, some familiar and some downright unexplainable, but very little of it truly frightened her. Living with a death sentence for most of her young life had taken the sting out of everyday threats. But this defied explanation.

“This might not be the best place to discuss it.” It wasn’t the first time he muted her on a subject, but she didn’t want to forget about it again. Rising, she took the trash from him, dropped it all in the can and pointed to the hall leading to the theatre.

She didn’t wait for him, cutting across the parquet floor and letting him follow her. The door wasn’t locked, it was late enough in the day that the girls would be rising in the next hour or two. Inside, the hushed quiet blanketed them. The silence rubbed against her after the lobby’s constant hum. She rounded on Finn and stopped him in his tracks. “How
what
works?”

“How demonic possession works.”

Pepper opened her mouth, but no words came.
Demonic possession?
Of all the things he could have said to her, that was the last thing she expected. The world tilted sideways as he urged her into a chair.

“Head down, breathe.” He murmured the words and urged her head down to her knees. Panic swelled in her breast, her heart slamming against her ribs like a hummingbird trying to escape.

She didn’t know whether to cross herself, laugh or cry. “You did say
demon
possession, right?” The words burst out of her riding hard pants of air.

“I did. Breathe. Slowly.” He added to the command by crouching next to her and rubbing his hand up and down her back. Spots danced in front of her eyes, but she refused to pass out. “Did I… did I vomit on anyone?”
 

Finn laughed. “No, it’s not like the Exorcist. No climbing up the walls. No Pazuzu.”

“Then who?” Gulping in oxygen, she cut a glance up at the ceiling and back to Finn.

“It was an Overseer.” He didn’t give her more than that, and that was bad enough.

Shudders rippled over her. The urge to flee the building ramped up inside and for the first time since she arrived at the Arcana Royale, she wanted to escape. It explained his behavior, guarded, but protective and at her door. “That’s why you kissed me.”

“What?”

Rising, she jerked away from his touch. His kiss reminded her of everything she had given up—the potential of it, anyway. Disappointment curled through her. He kissed her because a demon had possessed her. He’d been trying to smash any residual magical effects.
I’m such an idiot.

“That’s why you kissed me.” She couldn’t seem to stop trembling. “You tried to help me because of the magic and I thought…I thought you liked me and, God. I should have just shut up.”
I told Heidi I wanted a chance because I thought he liked me and God knows I like him…
She paced away from him.

“What the hell are you talking about, Pepper?” Finn actually sounded angry.

“It’s fine. Really. I just made it seem like more than it was. I was so stupid. I thought you kissed me last night because you were attracted to me and I’ve gotten you deeper into all this because I thought with my hormones and not my brain.” She’d made it another step when he grabbed her arm and turned her around. She landed against his chest and tipped her head up to see him glaring down at her.

“Yes, I started that kiss to make sure he didn’t leave any magical footprints behind, any traps that could hurt you. But that sure as hell wasn’t the only reason I kissed you. It
definitely
wasn’t why I kissed you this morning.” He dipped his head until his eyes filled her vision. “Let’s just sew that all up right now. When I kiss you this time, it’s to kiss you.”

He didn’t give her a chance to respond. His mouth fastened over hers and her thoughts scattered. Finn’s kiss was determined and hard, and it took her breath away. She looped her arms around his neck and sank into the wealth of passion racing through her blood. She wanted to drown in the pleasure he created in her and her body arched, taut and shuddering at once. Slowly, he broke the kiss and stared down at her.

“That had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with you.” His voice was a husky whisper, erotic and compelling.

“Well, as endearing as this entire discussion is, I’m thinking there’s a time and place for it.” Heidi’s voice crashed into Pepper like a bucket of cold water.

Finn’s arms tightened around Pepper, whose impulse was to step away. “You’re Heidi.”

“And you’re Trouble, also known as Finn Mikelson, son of Marguerite.”

He inclined his head. “We need to talk.”

“I think we do.”

She wasn’t at all what he expected. Finn stared at the woman Pepper had spoken of with such enthusiasm and Connor referred to with cutting awe. At least a half a foot or more shorter than him, she wasn’t a slender little thing. Her robust figure didn’t suggest dancer, nor did it imply laziness. She was a hell of a lot woman. Pepper shifted uneasily, but Finn refused to let her go. One arm wrapped around her meant that most spells coming in her direction would dissipate or be absorbed by him.
 

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the stage manager, but he didn’t know her. He’d heard many contradictory rumors about the lounge and the woman who ran it.
 

“And why would you know me? I made a point of not being in your line of sight, Mr. Mikelson.” And apparently possessed some skill at mind reading.

“Surely you can call me Finn…”

Heidi smirked. “Why, surely I can. But I won’t, Mr. Mikelson. Not when we’re to discuss business. Shall we?” She mimicked his formal tone right down to the intonations. Her clothing, her mannerisms, even the blunt appraisal in her gaze suggested someone common…ordinary. No chance that was true.

He shook his head and guided Pepper over toward the table Heidi indicated. “You’ll have to accept my apologies. You’re not what I was expecting.”

“Hmm, not drop dead gorgeous, I suppose? Or not green enough? Did you really think I’d waste a glamour on someone who can see right through them? Please. I have much better things to do with my spells.”

Pepper stared, her eyes widened. Maybe she was seeing a side of the stage manager she rarely glimpsed. A young woman glided out of the shadows and set tea out for them along with a strong mug of coffee, which he suspected was for him. He was wrong. The stage manager picked up the mug.

“We both know you’re not going to eat or drink anything I offer. The tea is for Pepper. She hasn’t had near enough today and she’s very tired. We’ll both feel better if she’s treated.”

Unable to find a fault in that argument, Finn nodded. Not that Pepper waited for his permission, she poured herself a cup with trembling hands. She’d grown paler too. He gave himself a mental kick. They were supposed to eat breakfast in her room, where the tea had been.

But he’d failed to show up and she came looking for him…and they never went back to her room.

“Thank you,” he murmured, and rested a hand along the back of Pepper’s chair, keeping one hand on her as they all sat. “I mean that.”

“You’re welcome,” Heidi said almost dismissively, her focus on Pepper. “How are you feeling?”

“A little tired and I think I’m in shock. Finn just told me a demon possessed me last night.” He wished she’d kept that little gem to herself, but only the slight dilation of Heidi’s pupils betrayed her surprise at the news.

The stage manager then flicked a look to him. “Careless.”

“Very.” A second point of agreement. Connor shouldn’t have been allowed to get anywhere near her. “But it’s done.”

“So I see. Any lingering after effects?” The stage manager divided her attention, but Finn imagined she didn’t miss much. She’d perfected the look of iron queen, regal and authoritative with just a hint of motherliness peeking out when she turned her attention to Pepper.

She cares about her, but she isn’t making a show of it.
“Potentially disastrous ones,” he said. He didn’t remove his attention from the stage manager. Pepper sipped her tea, barely grimacing this time. Either she’d gotten used to the taste or she really needed it.

“Disaster is a rather titillating term, Mr. Mikelson.” She had a talent for watching him without staring. He admired it.

“Only mildly so, I’d think ‘fire’ or ‘run’ screamed at the top of your lungs would be more provocative.” A hint of movement behind Heidi revealed the silver-haired man he’d seen watching Pepper through the storefront window the other day.

Pepper gave him a warm smile. “Hi, Stan.”
 

“Good evening.” He nodded to her, genial and kind.

A golem. He really didn’t know anyone who dealt in those anymore. It also explained why the man kept his distance. But not why Heidi dared to be this close—no magic poked at him or tickled along his senses. She must have shielding down to an art.

“Pepper? What do you remember about the possession?”

“Nothing. Almost nothing, I barely remembered it happened and I meant to talk to you about losing time last night, but I forgot. Finn says that’s part of it…the forgetting.” She’d finished her first cup of tea and grimaced when Heidi poured her a second cup.

“All of it. And no arguments, you’re paler now than you were last night. A couple of more days at most, and you’ll be where you started.” Heidi’s lips compressed as
she transferred her attention back to him. “What did he want?” So much for the dance, she cut right through to the heart of the matter.

“He doesn’t want me to talk to you.” He smiled just a little. It would really piss Connor off that he sat across the table from Heidi. Finn wished he could be a fly on the wall when the demon found out.

“Clearly it’s important to you that you satisfy his desires.”

“Oh, absolutely.” He leaned back in the chair and stretched his legs. The tension coiling through his muscles threatened to cramp him. Toying with Pepper’s hair
,
keeping the physical contact going helped, but only a little. “What do
you
want?”

“Not much, and even less from you.” Heidi took another drink of her coffee. “The question is, how do we all get what we want?”

“Satisfying one desire does not guarantee another will be equally fulfilled,” said Finn. “So, we do what we can with what we know.” And the game returned. Reading Heidi proved more difficult than he imagined. Her expressions weren’t guarded. She let her emotions show, but how much was real and how much was play he couldn’t quite determine.

“It’s not about satisfying all desires, only identifying the fulcrum upon which those desires converge.” Heidi didn’t look at Pepper, but what else did they have in common? He couldn’t imagine she wanted to satisfy Connor’s power grab any more than he did.

“Mutually assured satisfaction?”
Not likely. Pepper is in danger the longer she remains human. Returning her to the lounge repairs the damage done, but also puts her out of reach. Once she’s under the curse…
He refused to finish that thought. No curse would hold her. Not if he were there.

He was her mutually assured destruction.

“Maybe not. But a win is a win, Mr. Mikelson. So you choose the battle that you can win and you take it.” Vague advice, no matter how confident it sounded.

“It depends on what you define as a win.”

“It would indeed.” Heidi smiled, a genuine one filled with warmth and a glint of white teeth. Drumming her fingers against the side of the mug, she glanced over her shoulder. “Stan, the sun is going down. Make sure the girls are ready. Anthony and Roseâtre should be down in an hour or so to do a warm up for the cats.”

The golem nodded and Finn waited for the sound of his footsteps to fade away. Sliding his arm away from Pepper, he gave Heidi an opportunity. He would feel the stirring of magic. “Pepper’s life would be a win.”

“Of course it would be, but I don’t have what you need for that.”

“That’s not an answer.” No spells tingled at his awareness. If anything the air seemed a little musty and quiet—an empty theatre waiting for its audience.

“You don’t need answers. You need power. I believe you are well acquainted with the gathering of power.” She glanced at the doors. “And if you have any other questions, you should be quick about it.”

Heat warmed along his back. Impending doom marched toward them. “Can she really survive? Is there anything I can do to make that happen?”

“Of course. You have everything you need.” Heidi glanced at Pepper. “Don’t be frightened, dear. His bark is a great deal worse than his bite.”

“Finn doesn’t bark—”

The theatre doors slammed open with enough force to crack one down the middle. Connor stood in the entryway. His expression shuttered, but furious. Finn wrapped his arm around Pepper’s shoulders, keeping her in her seat. Her gasp spoke volumes for the fear that clung to her.

“Good evening, Connor.” Heidi smiled and, for the first time since she’d approached them, he felt her magic unfurl. It flowed around him and the beast inside of him reacted hungrily, but Finn locked it down. She needed the power she coiled around her hands and exhaled into her words.