Reaping Hell: Kiara Blake Book 2, page 9
At seven o’clock that night, I was led to the wrong table at the restaurant. I knew it was the incorrect location because of the two men already seated. It was irrelevant that Aunt Kate sat between them at the four-topped table, and the gentlemen’s ages appeared to be in the vicinity of my own. Which meant I had dates. Two of them. At the same time.
No, Aunt Kate was a lot of things, but lacking common sense wasn’t one of them. Usually. Tonight was the exception. Pushing two different men off on me at the same time in this type of situation was not only insensitive but offensive.
“A leanbh, there you are. Have a seat, young one.” Kate gestured to the man on her left. “This is Conner Heath, and to me right is Damon Reed. Gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to me lovely niece, Kiara Blake.”
The smile I forced on my lips was so tight my mouth hurt. I pushed the steak knife a few inches out of Hand’s quick grasp. Blood would clash with Aunt Kate’s nice yellow dress.
“Hello, Kiara. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Conner grinned, and it was a nice one. Determined. Perhaps a little predacious. Unfortunately, with three sets of eyes all focused on me, I was left feeling too much like a goldfish inside a glass bowl to appreciate his handsome features or take-charge personality which hinted at confidence, rather than arrogance.
“That’s a nice jacket,” Damon commented instead of a greeting. His gaze turned to my black leather. Yeah, back to the warm weather and coat thing? Now I had been thrust into a situation to explain my wardrobe selections. I couldn’t take the jacket off, and there wasn’t a viable excuse for leaving it on. “Do you get cold often?”
“Do you suffer anemia?” Conner’s brows drew together as he studied me. “Have you checked your thyroid?”
“Conner is a doctor,” Aunt Kate said. “He recently finished his residency.”
“That’s nice.” I offered a friendly smile to Connor. “Long story behind the jacket, but I can assure you that medically, I’m fine.”
“I love a good story,” Connor said. “What—”
“I work in real estate.” Damon picked up a wine glass and scrutinized Conner over the top of the rim before taking a sip. “High-return investment properties. When the market’s right, you can make a killing.”
Hopefully not literally. Aunt Kate had ordered a bottle of wine for the table, and I rushed to fill my glass. Praying she wasn’t in a stingy mood, I motioned to the waiter to send a second order on the way because the surprised daze I’d arrived at the table with had faded, and full realization crashed in. Aunt Kate had surpassed herself and succeeded in pulling off a stunt that even I never would have expected. She really had invited two alpha males to meet her single niece. I’d just become the object of a competition. All over one dinner. Twisting in my chair, I surveyed the room, searching for a reality television show camera crew I must’ve forgotten I’d signed on for.
No cameras. Only one Aunt Kate. She sat sipping a glass of wine with a vacant look in her eyes, yet a pleased expression brought a light flush to her cheeks. Her lips tugged at the corners in a cat-got-the-cream smile as her gaze drifted between Damon and me.
The knife was scooted a couple more inches away. Safer that way.
“I hadn’t given a lot of thought to houses,” Connor said. “Too many nights were spent sleeping at the hospital. Now that I’m looking to move into private practice, I think it’s time to start checking out my options.”
“I know it can take many years for a doctor to pay off medical school loans,” Damon said. “Not a lot of cash flow going for you right now, I’m sure. The big stuff is more my thing, but I might know a guy who could help you out in your meager price range.”
Connor’s fist tightened around the stem of his glass. “A doctor really isn’t concerned with the size of his house while trying to save the life of a patient who’s flatlining.”
“It’s admirable, what you do,” Damon said. “Selflessly giving to others while not being able to maintain a home or family life for yourself? Is it true that the divorce rate’s high for medical physicians?”
“Okay, gentlemen.” I stood. Testosterone at the table ran high, and we were two seconds away from a brawl. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment. Aunt Kate, come with me.”
Feet marched off at a brisk pace, not giving my troublesome aunt time to respond.
“Powder your nose,” Aunt Kate said as she followed me into the women’s lavatory.
“What?”
“Always tell a gentleman that ye need to powder your nose, or freshen up a bit.”
My head thumped against the wall behind me, and then it hit a second time. “I don’t have any powder on me.”
“Where is it?”
“My makeup bag’s at home.”
“Kiara, you should always carry your cosmetics.” She made it sound like medicine. “Have I taught ya nothin’?”
“You’ve taught me that despite the fact I love you, I often feel like strangling you.” I sighed. “What the hell are you doing?”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“You invited two men as my dates?”
“You need to date more. When was the last time you went out? Wasn’t it with that strange man who had a dog made out of a plant?”
“Aunt Kate, you invited both men at the same time. Don’t you think there’s something wrong with that?”
Her gaze dropped to the floor. “It was a mistake. When I met Damon this mornin’, I’d forgotten I’d already invited Conner yesterday. Damon was just so charmin’, all I could think was I needed to introduce him to you. He seemed keen on meein’ ya as soon as I mentioned your name.”
“Wait—you planned this yesterday but didn’t invite me until this morning? What if I’d had plans?”
“Kiara, dear. You never have plans.”
True.
“Besides,” Aunt Kate continued. “This is all intriguin’ to watch, don’t ya think? Both men have their sights on you. Do ya think you’d like one of them?”
“No, I don’t think. Everything’s a mess, a disaster. I don’t like complications and this”—I pointed at the closed restroom door, implying the situation at our dinner table located feet away on the other side—“is one.”
“That’s the problem, young one. Ye needs to let loose. Live a little. Don’t be such a stick in the mud like your mam.”
“What’s going on? It’s not like you to be so inconsiderate. Why is it so important I date?”
“I only want ya to be happy.”
“The only way I can be happy is by finding a man?”
“It’s made me.”
Aunt Kate’s cheeks glowed, and I bit my lip. Three weeks was her usual track record before boredom settled in, moving her on to the next suitor. Two weeks had already passed since Aunt Kate met Philip Thornton. He had dazzled her with slick charm and his expensive car. I’d hoped the relationship had run its course, but it didn’t appear to be losing any steam. Not good because I didn’t like Philip. Something about the man bothered me, but I’d yet to place what.
“In fact,” Aunt Kate said. “I met Damon through Philip today, and Philip has been such a blessin’ for me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “He might just be the one.”
Stomach rolled at the thought, but all I could do was smile. I wanted my aunt happy. There was no real reason to dislike Philip, yet my next words were sour on my tongue. “I’m delighted for you.”
She beamed. “Now, are ya finished with the lecturin’?”
“After you.” I held my hand toward the door, baffled. Confusion had lurked in Aunt Kate’s eyes at the mention of inviting Damon only that morning to the dinner. Her look gave me pause, chalked up as one more thing to add to my aunt’s growing list of odd behavior since meeting the current boyfriend. If that was love, I was perfectly fine without it.
A fifth wheel had joined our table by the time Aunt Kate and I returned to our chairs.
Philip.
He stood and gave Aunt Kate a peck on the cheek as she was seated. “Hello, darling. I finished with work early and thought to join you. Damon was good enough to provide me with the location.”
“Wonderful,” Aunt Kate said. “The more, the merrier.”
The table itself might have felt differently. Its small square wooden body squeezed in the extra plate setting while leaving no room for the salt shaker. Surprised the restaurant hadn’t offered to reseat us, I was wedged between Damon and Connor as five chairs now crowded around a four-person seating arrangement.
Connor sat with head bowed, focused only on food. Whatever had transpired during my absence was best left unsaid. Best of friends, they would never be. Hell, Damon’s aggressive eyes flashed warning shots in Connor’s direction, leaving me alarmed about the steak knives lying on the table. No longer did Aunt Kate need to be concerned about a change of dress color during the meal, but I still wouldn’t put it past blood being spilled before the meal’s conclusion.
Conversation was held by Damon and Philip. Aunt Kate nibbled at her veal while pushing roasted vegetables around on her plate. Her eyes remained fixed adoringly on the man seated by her side. My aunt’s vividness seemed to sputter and die around Philip. Light bulb shattered. Stabbing my filet mignon into submission, I pretended not to notice.
Dinner was uneventful until the start of dessert. The men followed Philip’s lead and drank brandy. I stirred more cream into my coffee while waiting for my aunt to eat more than three bites. She didn’t need to lose weight, but Philip was an apparent weight-loss solution if she ever found an extra few pounds.
Behind us had sat an empty table for most of the meal. Somewhere between sips of liqueur and stirs of java, the table received a new occupant. Two feet tall. Sharp facial features. A tail trailing off in flames. Only I could see him. An Imp.
Jaw clenched, the spoon in my coffee spun faster. Probably helped by the tension vibrating in my hand. My body was tight with it. Of course, that was the precise moment Phillip’s attention swung to me.
“How is everything going with you, Kiara? Your aunt tells me you’re a bridesmaid in your brother’s wedding?”
“Great. Today was dress shopping.”
“I guess you’ll need a date for the big event?”
Just when the situation couldn’t have gotten anymore awkward… the men on either side of me stiffened with the subject change. Because, after all, both of them were seated at the table as my date. Neither left nor right were smart directions to turn so my gaze shifted downward. Coward. Mug’s fault. It mocked me with a small chip in the otherwise smooth porcelain. It begged to be acknowledged that very second, leaving me too occupied to address the two dates at once plight. Demanding little piece of china.
Attention snagged on Philip’s right arm. It was extended across the linen-covered table, seemingly pointed in Damon’s direction. Philip’s clear choice for my suitor. His wrist lay face up, the cuff of his sleeve tugged back. A small marking decorated pale skin. A tiny pentagram with an S-shape slashed through diagonally.
Jerking back in my seat, my hands clasped tight in my lap. Too many demons, witches, and who knew what else had entered my life during the past several weeks. Now I’d discovered Phillip bore a mark that didn’t even come close to looking like any tattoo I’d previously seen. The very same man my aunt was determined she’d fallen in love with. First things first, before over-protective panic settled in. What the hell did that marking signify? Phillip’s sleeve was promptly pushed back down, preventing me from nabbing another stolen look.
“I’d be honored to escort you,” Damon said.
The damn wedding. I hadn’t asked.
Philip beamed.
“Wonderful,” Aunt Kate said.
“Connor doesn’t mind,” Damon said. “In fact, didn’t you mention having other plans this evening?”
Connor’s eyes appeared vacant. It was the first time he’d looked up in almost an hour. His body was stiff, jerking almost as he had no control. “It’s time I left. Thank you for the… lovely evening.”
Yeah, so not. Even Connor’s tone had implied otherwise. No more handsome grin lightened his face. Any blog out there mentioning dates from Hell would have my name plastered all over it before the night was done. Damn. Not even my fault. Better not be a picture attached.
“Now that’s settled,” Phillip said after Connor left. He picked up a fork to polish off the last of his crème brûlée.
Nothing was settled. From a smug looking Damon Reed to the small demon silently watching from a foot away, nothing at all had been resolved. The conclusion of the meal left me completely disturbed. Not because I had a wedding date. Because the Imp wasn’t stalking me. He watched Aunt Kate.
Chapter Ten
“Kiara, why do you keep staring with a glazed look in your eyes?” Hadley asked. “Speak.”
Jaw opened and closed in the silent kind of motion.
“Can you say anything?”
“No.”
“There. That was a word. Say another.”
I slumped back in the booth and closed my eyes. It was the day after my disastrous dinner, and I’d met Hadley for lunch in what I’d come to refer as our diner. Located on the outskirts of campus, it was the furthest I could drag Hadley from the law library whenever Eyes wanted confirmation that she was still among the living. With the twenty-two hours she put in daily on the study, research, class and clerkship applications, I was often suspicious that she wasn’t human. Zombie. That’s what I was going with. At least she didn’t smell. Or attempt to eat my flesh.
“Did you just sniff me?
“You eat real food, right?”
She looked down at her club sandwich. “What else would I eat?”
“Just checking.”
“Don’t go all crazy on me. Now, what did you want my help with?”
“There’s too much, and I don’t know where to start.”
“I command you to speak.” She jabbed a French fry toward my face. “Now.”
Demanding, wasn’t she? Yet Mouth moved at her bidding. “I have to hunt down four men—uh, ghosts. Two of them died from being burned inside their body. Wednesday was day three, but I haven’t heard a peep out of Hell. I had a vision of my brother’s wedding—oh, and I wound up with a date for it. I think a Praedator is stalking me.”
“A Praedator is stalking you?”
“And an Imp is following Aunt Kate.”
Hadley chewed on a fry, and then another. She was up to five French fries without any comment.
“Anything?”
“Processing.” She shoved her plate aside and crossed her arms. “Let’s take this one at a time. Who are your marks?”
“There are four, and they aren’t marked. They aren’t only assigned to me, either. The letter was sent to multiple Praedators. I don’t know how many.”
“Perhaps another Praedator has found them?”
Shoulder pulled up in a shrug. “Maybe, but I don’t think so. Also, I didn’t get the whole you have three days, blah, blah, blah spiel. But I had planned to find them that quick anyway, just in case.”
“What happened?”
“I haven’t done a damn thing. Their ghosts aren’t lurking around anywhere. They aren’t even marked, yet other marked ghosts have been searching for them. That’s really weird.”
Hadley’s eyebrows rose and then scrunched as a thoughtful look popped onto her face. “I have something for you.” She reached into a bag and pulled out a textbook. I caught a glimpse of the word Celtic before she flipped the cover open and searched for a page. Hadley pointed. “That’s the marking they wear, right?”
Leaning across the table, I studied the drawing and nodded.
“It’s the Celtic five-fold symbol,” Hadley continued. “It represents the four elements of the Earth, and the center circle brings them all together.”
I sat back. “Really? What does it have to do with Hell?”
“It doesn’t, at least not that I can find.”
Throat tightened, and I felt it burn. There would have been worry of a new food allergy, except my plate sat untouched. I swallowed back a lump. “Okay, I have an idea for why the marked may be searching for these new ghosts. Remember how I told you about the portals and the prophecy? The first guy who died, Todd, may have known something about closing the portals.”
“How do you know this?”
“A marked showed up in my apartment. New ghost—didn’t have a lot of control over his emotions yet. Not that they ever do, but I managed to get that much information out of him before he disappeared. I went to the hotel where Todd died to see if there were any clues the cops overlooked.”
“How did you know he died in a hotel?”
Wow. Mind tried grasping just how much had occurred in only four days. Attempting to spell it out for Hadley was a full-time task, and I only had a lunch hour. I quickly filled her in on the basics of Wilcox’s summons to Todd’s crime scene and my accidental stumble onto Robert’s.
“So, you went back to the hotel. What did you find?” Hadley asked.
“A phone number to a precious jewel and stone shop in Ireland and scribbles about breaking up the vortex with a lodestone. Or having a lodestone? Oh, and a safety deposit number and key. At least, that’s what I think it is.”
Hadley’s fingers drummed on the table. “The vortex part probably has something to do with the portal, but I don’t understand the rest of it. What’s in the safety deposit box?”
