Where There's Smoke (10 page)

“Is it better?” LeAnn wore a puzzled expression. “The soreness,” she clarified.

Did LeAnn think Destiny’s brain was fried or something? Maybe.

But surprisingly, Destiny did feel better. “Yes, it worked. I feel great.” She was sitting in a puddle of cold water, but she wasn’t sore.

LeAnn looked at her watch. “Crap, I have to get to work. I waitress over at the Cow Patty.” She downed her coffee, then jumped to her feet. “See you later!” She was gone almost as quickly as she’d appeared.

Destiny shook her head and stood. The soppy hand towel slid off the chair, making a plop when it landed on the floor. Water dripped down her legs. “Yuck.”

She made her way to the bathroom and turned on the water in the tub. She missed taking baths. She thought they would have steam baths or something in Hell. Nope, nothing. She supposed any kind of luxury was reserved for those with demon status. What was the harm enjoying some of the finer things while she was on earth?

She untied the belt, then let the robe slide to the floor right before she stepped into the tub filled with warm water. She sighed as she sank down, the water lapping her naked skin. Nice. As soon as she was comfortable, with the water just kissing her shoulders, she closed her eyes and let all her worries float away. Baths were one of the few things she let herself indulge in when she was growing up.

Crystal, one of her foster mothers, used to get so freakin’ pissed when Destiny would lock herself in the bathroom and soak in a tub filled with Crystal’s scented bubbles. That was probably when she actually started taking long hot baths. A smile curved her lips. She enjoyed pissing Crystal off. It only made up for a fraction of the pain the bitch had heaped on her.

When the water started to cool, Destiny reluctantly climbed out and dried off, tossing the damp towel over the side of the tub to dry. She was going to miss all this, but she was certain it wouldn’t be long until she reached demon status, then she would have everything she dreamed about.

She padded naked into the living room and opened one of the magazines, flipping through the pages until she came to a woman wearing a low-cut, deep red T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Destiny grew up in a backwater Texas town and hoped never to return. Dying hadn’t exactly been her idea of an escape route. She turned the magazine page and sighed. She’d only missed one thing, her jeans. And boots. She really liked the looks of the red ones the model wore.

“Nice.” Destiny might not have many powers, but she planned on using the ones she did have.

She laid the magazine on the coffee table and skimmed her hands over her sides. When she glanced down, she was wearing the sexy little number. She pulled her hair back with a red clip on each side, tagged a little black shoulder purse, and out the door she went.

The world waited for her beyond the apartment and she planned to see everything she could before she had to leave. This was her time to play.

“What are you doing?” a gravelly voice behind Destiny asked as she closed the door.

Startled, Destiny jumped. The demons changed their minds and they were going to drag her back to Hell. It was too soon. She still needed a soul!

Would she ever see Chance again? Have sex again? Was this the end?

Quick, she had to think of something! Whatever she had to do, she would do it, even if it meant resorting to begging and pleading. She wasn’t ready to go!

She swallowed past the lump that had lodged in her throat and turned.

Eww, this was one ugly fucking demon.

Destiny was pretty sure the demon was female, but it was hard to tell. It had salt-and-pepper hair, wore a baggy blue shift bunched and belted at the waist. The creature’s skin was wrinkled and dry. The… thing… had a thin line of whiskers on its upper lip and one small mole on its chin that sprouted a long, black hair. The hair curled on the end and bounced around whenever the creature exhaled.

The demon raised a wooden cane with a brass handle and shook the stick threateningly toward Destiny. “I asked, who the hell are you? What are you doing coming out of the Dunlops’ apartment?”

Destiny watched in fascination as the long hair coming out of the mole bounced around on the creature’s chin.

“They’re gone on a trip,” it continued in a scratchy voice. “Although how they could afford to take the prize of a trip to Hawaii beats the hell out of me. They should’ve cashed in their winnings and used the money to pay off their blasted bills.”

Okay, maybe not a demon—not one from Hell, anyway.

“Well, you just gonna stand there lookin’ like a dead frog on a tree stump or are you gonna answer me?” The sexless creature bounced the rubber end of the cane on the floor a few times to show its impatience.

“Who are
you
?” Destiny asked. The creature had boobs. She was nosy, too. Clearly female. The old hag didn’t know who she was talking to. If she didn’t watch out, Destiny would vaporize her. Actually, she couldn’t. It was the thought that counted, though.

“I’m Beulah, the next door neighbor. I heard you and that man in there last night. You was hollerin’ like a banshee.” Her eyes narrowed. “Having sex, I suspect.”

What a rude old biddy. “Yes, we fucked most of the night.” There, take that, you jealous old crone.

The old lady opened her mouth, then snapped it closed, pursing her fat lips. “Shame on you…” Her words drifted away as the door on the other side opened.

The woman’s demeanor instantly changed when a thin, older man stepped from the next apartment. He was bow-legged and wore a gray handlebar mustache and a worn cowboy hat that looked almost as old as him.

Beulah didn’t seem quite as aggressive as a moment ago. Destiny had a feeling the man intimidated her.

The old cowboy looked up and caught them staring. When his gaze landed on Destiny, he sucked in his slight paunch.

“Well, bust my chops,” he said as he walked nearer. “I didn’t know we had a new tenant.” He yanked his hat off before smiling broadly and bowing in front of Destiny.

At least he had more manners than the hag.

“I’m Charles Dickens. Not the writer, of course. Although I have been known to spin a few yarns in my time, me and Mr. Dickens only share the same name.” He was thoughtful for a moment. “But, I did work in a newspaper office back in my younger days. Not writing, mind you. Only sweeping, but I picked up a lot of what goes on.” Confusion showed in his eyes as if Charles forgot the original thread of conversation.

More mortals! They were coming out of the woodwork! She didn’t need anyone in life and she certainly didn’t need anyone now.

Charles suddenly smiled, his eyes twinkling with humor. “It’s hell getting old, but having a beautiful woman around makes living a little more bearable.”

Destiny’s defenses began to crumble. She gritted her teeth, willing herself not to fall for the old man’s charm. It didn’t work. The twinkle in his eye was too much. She returned his smile.

Then the dark cloud, aka the mortal demon, cast its ugly shadow over the land. “Old coot,” the crone muttered.

Destiny started to tell her to butt out, but at the last minute she stopped. The woman wasn’t worth the trouble.

“I caught her coming out of the Dunlops’ apartment,” the old biddy informed him.

“I happen to be apartment sitting,” Destiny told them both.

“Of course you are,” he said, then turned toward the old woman. “Now, Beulah, how could you accuse someone so lovely of breaking the law?” He raised his eyebrows and looked down at Beulah.

Beulah glared at Charles. If she hoped for an ally, it wasn’t going to be him.

Why the hell was Destiny even hanging around? She didn’t have the time or inclination to become involved with mortals. Besides, it was a huge no-no unless she planned on dragging them back to Hell.

Hmmm?

Nope, it wouldn’t work. Beulah would scare the hell out of the demons, and the demons certainly wouldn’t be happy if she stole old souls. Most of them had already used up their energy and were practically worthless.

These two were sucking her energy, not to mention her time. “If you’ll excuse me,” she hurriedly told them before rushing down the hall and escaping. She jumped on the elevator and jabbed the down button just as Charles rounded the corner.

“Oh, sorry, I can’t find the open door button,” she called out, pretending to look for the button to hold the door open.

“No problem, little lady,” he yelled back.

Destiny snickered. She was so bad. The elevator shifted and she had to grab the rail to keep from losing her balance, but exhilaration swept over her when the elevator clanked to a stop and the door scraped open.

Free!

Her exhilaration vanished when she nearly ran into the mortal on the other side of the elevator doors.

The perky little redhead looked up and smiled as she stepped inside the deathtrap. “Oh, hi. Are you new? I’m Pam.”

“Gotta run,” Destiny called over her shoulder.

“Maybe we can meet up later,” the girl called out.

“And maybe not,” Destiny said under her breath.

As she stepped out of the building, she breathed a sigh of relief. Freedom!

Her forehead creased in thought. Now what?

Destiny wasn’t sure what direction she wanted to go. The street was flat so there was no question about going uphill or downhill. The buildings looked as though they were all leased as apartments.

She wanted to do something daring, something fun! Nothing boring for her. No, she wanted to live. Even though technically she was dead. Surely, she could find some excitement somewhere.

South, maybe?

Before Destiny even took one step, a motorcycle rounded the corner and roared up to the curb where she stood. A motorcycle like none she’d ever seen. The bike was sleek black with chrome so shiny she could see her reflection, and it was sexy as hell. Chance straddled it like he was born there.

“Want to go for a ride?” he drawled. One side of his mouth curved up in a slow grin.

She definitely wanted to ride him, but when he patted the seat, Destiny knew they weren’t thinking along the same line.

She eyed the motorcycle with more than a smidgeon of trepidation, but Chance’s words had a way of caressing her body and causing tingles of excitement to run up and down her spine. He was definitely stirring something forbidden inside her. Chance made her want to rip off her clothes and let him take whatever he wanted.

He turned the throttle, gassing the motorcycle. The machine roared to life like a lion ready for its next meal. “Come with me,” he urged.

Still, she hesitated. Motorcycles made her nervous. A few tough guys had tried to get her on the seat behind them, but she’d always refused.

“Don’t be scared,” he said.

Scared? She cocked an eyebrow. “Scared?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

Still, she paused for a fraction of a second. Oh hell, what was the worst that could happen? She’d get killed? Pfftt, she was already dead.

She flicked her hair over her shoulder and stepped off the curb. “I’d love for you to take me for a ride.” She smiled as she climbed on. Her words had never rung more true, and his groan told her he knew she wasn’t talking about his motorcycle.

“Hang on nice and tight,” he told her after he cleared his throat.

She quickly wrapped her arms around his middle as some of her earlier reservations returned. But when she inhaled she breathed in his scent: the earth, the wind, and all the heat his body promised. She felt each breath he took.

The city was soon behind them. She lost track of time as the morning drifted past. Chance traded the Interstate for a less traveled paved road. The wind blew through her hair. She tightened her grip around Chance’s waist and rested her cheek against his back. This was as close to flying as she would ever get. She’d never felt so free! She could ride with him forever.

Would the demons come looking for their wayward trainee? Or was she insignificant enough they would forget she even existed? No, luck was never on her side. They would find her, no matter where she hid.

It felt as if a knife had suddenly been plunged inside her heart. What was she thinking? Being a demon was the life she wanted. She was almost dead when Vetis whispered his offer in her ear. The demon had made the pain stop. Vetis became her protector. He freed her.

Tears suddenly filled her eyes. Problem was, she never felt less free. They had her working at the sorting station. Telling the poor saps that came through they would love their new life—they only had to sign on the dotted line.

Yeah, right, as if she knew anything about what that life was like. Nope, she was just a salesperson, nothing more. A working stiff—in the true sense.

Some signed, some didn’t. It wasn’t always easy convincing people to give up their souls. There were newbies who thought the price was too high. But who wouldn’t want immortality and a life they only dreamed about? It would be like winning a lottery. They were idiots if they didn’t sign.

Or were they?

Maybe she misjudged everything, and maybe Hell wasn’t the answer. She certainly wasn’t living the life Vetis had promised.