A Demon's Witch

by Tena Stetler

  Willow shook her head and sighed again. “Oh, honey, it’s not crazy at all. You need to have a heart to heart conversation with your brother.” She poured the steaming water into the mugs and returned the kettle to the trivet in the middle of the table.

  “No way, somehow that would involve Bruce, and then I’ll never get to investigate this connection I feel when I’m with him.” Angie narrowed her eyes. “What do you know Willow? Spill it,” she demanded, dipping her tea bag savagely in and out of her mug.

  “Not enough to keep you safe and too much to tell you. Call your brother,” Willow said stubbornly, arms crossed over her chest.

  “No. Bruce said he’d tell me, but indicated that if Tristian found out, he would be furious and no telling what he’d do.”

  “Bruce is right. Can’t you just leave it be? There’s lots of other good looking and powerful males in this city. Besides how do you know what Bruce feels, he’s probably just playing you.” Willow stirred a little sugar into her mug and took a sip of the green tea.

  “He’s not, I can feel it. I want a chance with him, but first I have to talk to Tristian. There’s the caveat, I can’t talk to Tristian because he’ll demand to know how I found out. Which will lead right back to Bruce. Help me, Willow. Tell me what you know. Please.”

  “He’s a demon, Angie, pure evil, don’t you get it? No matter how good looking he is or how chivalrous he can be, he’s evil.” Willow took another sip of her tea wishing she’d opted for Irish coffee instead. This conversation wasn’t headed anywhere good.

  “He’s not pure evil. Trust me on this.” She gripped her friend’s forearms and gave her a little shake. “Help me. That’s what friends do, remember?”

  “Ok, here’s the deal. I’ll tell you part of it, so you’ll know Bruce is telling the truth. The rest you’ll have to get from Bruce or Tristian. And there will be dire consequences when Tristian finds out about our treachery, which could be deadly for all of us.” Willow shook her head and solemnly began. “Tristian is an enforcer. I imagine Bruce employees him to handle the demons or dark ones that don’t abide by the rules of their world and endanger the humans living in this one.” Willow took her hand. “Remember when mom told you never to use magic around mortals? It was forbidden.”

  Angie nodded her head. “My mom told me the same thing, before she died. But your mom was emphatic about the dangers and lectured me repeatedly.

  Sadness reflected in Willow’s eyes. “That’s probably because your mom thought she had time to influence your behavior.”

  “So what does that have to do with Bruce and me?”

  “He is the judge and jury when magical creatures break the rules in his territory. You are not allowed to use mortals for monetary gain. Magic creatures cannot hold an elective office procured by magic in the mortal world. A magical being can’t do anything that would draw attention to itself or other magic creatures in the mortal world, There are more rules, but those are the biggies.”

  “Wow,” Angie murmured.

  “As you can tell, some of the rules are ambiguous, Bruce decides whether a law was broken and how severe the punishment. The mortals are happy to believe magic and monsters are things of nightmares and fairytales. We are expected to maintain that status quo. Can you imagine what would happen if mortals found out otherwise? Chaos would rein.” At an end of her tirade, Willow fell back against the chair and blew out a breath. “And that’s only the beginning.”

  Angie sat upright and considered the implications. “What do you mean? How do you know all this, and why wasn’t I told?”

  “As faeries we don’t get involved in the two worlds, we live in this one and let the others take care of their own. My mother told me of the two worlds, because of my friendship with you and your family. After your parents died, mom tried to help with your magic education, but Tristian was adamant you never know and swore my family to secrecy. He promised when the time was right, he’d tell you. Obviously, he didn’t keep his promise.”

  “Why would he do that? He’s a warlock with magic of his own.”

  Willow shrugged. “I guess that was his way of protecting you. When you went off to college and medical school, he felt justified in his decision to set you up in the mortal world. Now it’s backfired on him because you’ve fallen for a demon and not just an ordinary demon.” Willow waved her arms in the air. “Oh, no not you. You fell for one of the most powerful demons in the world and if that’s not bad enough, one that employs your brother. See the problem?” Willow finished with a hiss.

  “Clearly.” Angie sat there shell-shocked. Maybe everyone was right. I should just walk away.

  ****

  Owen shoved open the door that was rarely closed and stepped inside. “Morning boss, how’s it going?”

  Bruce raised his head and glared over his laptop at Owen. “Hello, Owen, what can I do for you?” he asked, his voice curt.

  Owen stood behind one of the chairs in front of Bruce’s desk, his hands resting on the chair back. “Oh, nothing, just checking to see if you were still alive up here. Haven’t seen you on the floor for over two weeks. You didn’t even do a cursory round while Tobi and I were off yesterday. The employees are worried that something is brewing, if you know what I mean.” Owen said, with a raised brow.

  “I’ve been busy. Sorry. Everything is fine. Tell them there’s nothing to worry about, unless they have picked up something from our clientele.” He turned his attention back to his computer screen, letting Owen know the conversation was at an end and he was free to go.

  Owen deliberately moved from behind the chair and sat down, a booted foot resting on his knee. “Ok, let me put it another way, I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on?” He settled into the chair and flipped through a magazine he’d snagged off the table as he entered the office.

  Looking up again his brows raised, Bruce’s amber eyes tinged with orange. “Excuse me, what did you say?” He closed the laptop and turned his undivided attention to Owen,

  “You heard me and I’m not putting up with this bullshit anymore. Although, I must say it is nice to have all the supplies replenished in a timely manner and the invoices approved before the due date.” Owen ducked and caught the cup that Bruce hurled at him without spilling a drop of coffee, setting it lightly down on the desktop. Owen rose. “Come on let’s go down on the floor, reassure the troops, and take a walk outside. You can’t sit up here and brood. Either take action or walk away.”

  “It’s not my action to take. I gave her a choice and I’ve heard nothing.” He glowered at Owen. “And I don’t brood.”

  “Then it’s time to move on. We are talking about Ms. Shandie?”

  “Yes, we are and it’s not that easy. She knows who and what I am, and she didn’t even blink an eye.” Bruce shoved away from the desk. “I told her Tristian worked for me and that if she needed to know more she should ask him. Since I’ve not heard from him, I assume she hasn’t talked with her brother. The other alternative I gave her was that I’d tell her, but that there’d be hell to pay if Tristian ever found out and he would.”

  “Oh, good job, you’re going to have your own assassin looking to take you out. Nice!” Owen said.

  Bruce got to his feet and walked to the door, with his foot he flipped the doorstop down propping it open. “Let’s walk the floor and ease the nerves of the staff. I could use some fresh air. You’re free to join me, but keep your mouth shut. I don’t need advice, I need to clear my head and think.”

  “Ok by me, boss.” Owen said.

  They spent an hour walking the floor of the salon, visiting with staff and customers. With a friendly wave, Bruce walked out the door and turned down the sidewalk toward The Krystal Unicorn.

  Bruce gave only a fleeting glance at the glass door of Angie’s store as they passed and sprinted across the street into the park. The cherry trees were in full bloom, and their sweet fragrance filled the air.

  Bruce stopped and leaned against a gnarled tree lookin
g skyward. Heaving a sigh, he closed his eyes and waved Owen on. “I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

  It was quite some time before he joined Owen again. Something had changed. A spring in his step and lips curved in a smile, Bruce said, “If she comes to me again, I won’t turn her away. We’ll just have to face Tristian when the time comes and hope it is a long time coming. Did you find out who took that picture?”

  “No. I didn’t try. Customers mentioned seeing the two of you that night, but I merely explained it away as a business meeting. Some raised their eyebrows at that, most just nodded when I handed them a flyer. You know how the clientele loves to talk about your conquests. If you intend to pursue a relationship with her, out in the open, then we’ll have to come up with another plan.”

  “Why do we need a plan? My personal life is just that, mine.”

  “That would be fine, if you hadn’t gone to bed with nearly every woman that you found attractive and if you didn’t hold the position you do.”

  “Oh, come on Owen that’s business as usual in D.C.”

  Owen’s eyes widened and his brows rose nearly to his brow line then he continued. “At one time, the staff, as well as, the clientele took wagers on whom and when. Granted you’ve toned it down quite a bit, but once you and Angelique are together frequently, people will notice and talk. It won’t take long for Tristian to get wind of it, which I assume you want to avoid for as long as possible. Then all hell will break loose, literally.”

  “We’ll be discreet, but I won’t sneak around looking over my shoulder. She deserves better than that. Besides, this may all be a moot point, since I’ve not heard from her and I won’t force her hand.” He glanced toward the darkening sky and watched the wind whip the petals of the cherry blossoms. “Let’s head back. We both have work to do.” He clasped Owen on the shoulder. “Thanks.”

  Owen smiled wide. “You got it, anytime.”

  Returning to his office, Bruce reached for his new cell phone lying on the desk. When he checked the phone log and messages, there was one call from Angie, but she didn’t leave a message. He swore. Deciding to wait until she called again, Bruce stuffed the phone in his pocket to make damn sure it was with him.

  It was late evening when he turned off his laptop and called it a night. He locked up the salon and sprinted across the parking lot. The silence inside his car was refreshing. He savored it for a few moments before starting the engine and heading home. A glass of vintage wine and his lounge chair in front of a blazing fire sounded like a piece of heaven. Just has he was about to turn onto the highway, his phone lit up and chimed on the seat beside him, it was the ring tone he’d set for Angie. “What a pleasant surprise, I’ve missed you.”

  “Me too. We need to talk, somewhere private and it could take a while,” she said.

  “I’m headed home. It’s just West of Falls Church in Virginia. How about I turn around, pick you up, and take you with me. I’ve my heart set on a nice quiet evening, a glass of wine, a comfortable chair in front of a roaring fire. Join me?”

  She sighed into the phone. “Sounds wonderful. I’m just leaving work. You can pull up to the back door. I’ll be waiting.”

  “See ya soon.” Flipping a U-turn, he punched the gas pedal. The car spun neatly around tires spewing gravel in all directions. She wouldn’t wait long.

  The ability to disrupt electrical current in a limited area for a short period came in handy. He made a habit of using magic sparingly, but felt this time it was absolutely necessary to maintain privacy, both his and hers.

  Darkness enveloped the entire block as he pulled into the parking lot behind her store. He flipped the high beams on once then shut off the headlights, hoping she could see in the dark as well as he could. A little twinge of discomfort curled in his chest, a reminder of the cost of using magic for personal benefit.

  Precisely at the moment she stepped out, turned and locked the door, he pulled the car beside her and reached across the seats to push open her car door, making sure the interior lights were off. She slid deftly into the seat and quickly closed the door

  “Another transformer must have blown,” she remarked absently fastening her seat belt.

  He made a noncommittal sound and they disappeared into the moonlit night.

  ****

  As he pulled off Sleepy Hollow Road, lights came on illuminating the long winding driveway and extinguished as his vehicle passed each one.

  The lights at the rear of the Victorian mansion switched on automatically as he pulled around to the four-car garage. The first bay door opened, lights flickered inside the garage as he parked beside the midnight blue luxury SUV. Angie reached for the handle, but he was already opening her door, and offered his hand. When she put her hand in his, he helped her out then raised it to his lips kissing each knuckle and brushing his lips slowly over the back of her hand. He released it and placed his hand at the small of her back guiding her by the security panel that glowed green indicating there had been no intrusion.

  He waved his hand over the panel and touched his left index finger to the screen. A door slid open revealing the well-lit underground corridor. Angie blinked and peered in hesitantly. Bruce took her hand and tugged lightly. “The corridor leads to the house, keeps the elements at bay, and protects my privacy.”

  Once they reached the entrance way into his home another security panel displayed a rainbow of LED lights up the left side of the panel, again indicating the house was secure. Rather than use his handprint and the key pad, this time he looked directly into the right top section, retina scan matched, the door opened into a warm state of the art kitchen. On the granite counter sat two trays, one with cheese and crackers, another with finger sandwiches, both covered with crystal domes. China plates sat beside them, along with silverware and neatly folded cloth napkins.

  “Wow, nice place,” she said turning slowly in a three hundred and sixty-degree circle then peering around the corner into another room where a fire crackled merrily in the hearth.

  He watched her closely, as a slight smile curved his lips. “In case you are wondering, the staff has already left for the evening after fulfilling my requests. They have Saturday evening, Sunday, and Monday off to spend with their families. Good domestic help is hard to find. Mine have been with me for years and know my preferences. I like that, so I do what I can to make sure they are happy and I enjoy time alone.”

  The archway where Angie stood gave way to a large living area, paneled in warm oak and solid hard wood floors polished to a gleam. A recliner and sofa of chocolate brown leather and cream accents faced the fireplace. Wood crackled and snapped as orange and blue flames flickered between the logs. On the table in front of the sofa and chair sat two crystal glasses and a bottle of wine chilling.

  “Are you hungry? We can take the plates of food with us to enjoy with our wine, if you’d like. Or eat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen and retire to the other room for our wine. I’m sure I can find soda or iced tea to drink with our food, if you’d prefer.”

  The deep, smooth, seductive tone of his voice had lulled her into a state of relaxation. Alone with a Demon Overlord, her senses should be screaming for her to get out of there, but they weren’t. Actually, she appeared quite safe. She stood staring at him as he awaited her answer and shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. “Oh, sorry, my mind wandered. It doesn’t matter to me, whatever you like will be fine. I’m starved. Now that I think about it, I don’t believe I’ve eaten since breakfast.”

  “Well by all means let’s get you fed. We’ll eat here in the kitchen, I’ll get some drinks, and we’ll have the wine later. I understand you want to talk, but we have plenty of time and privacy, we can do that comfortably seated in the living room. Will that work for you?”

  Standing in the doorway, still taking in her surroundings she answered. “Sure.”

  “You don’t have to work tomorrow, do you?” He asked watching for any signs of discomfort or anxiety.

  She chewed
on the side of her bottom lip. “No. But I’ll need to return home or Willow will worry.”

  He nodded. “Of course.”

  During the meal, Angie told him about her day and the steady stream of customers that collected their gift, but also made several other purchases. The store was doing well and would turn a profit sooner than anticipated, thanks in part to his suggestions. She told him about hiring Autumn and a little of her background. His ears perked up at the thought of another potential source of information. They laughed over his telling of Owen’s little tirade this morning in Bruce’s office and his failure to mingle among his employees and customers. He’d never considered what affect his absences had on them, a mistake he wouldn’t make again.

  When they finished eating, she helped him clear away the dishes, cover the food, and put it in the refrigerator.

  “You don’t just leave things for the staff to clean up?” She questioned tilting her head to get a good look at his face. It was ruggedly handsome with high cheekbones, large dark amber eyes that sparkled when he laughed, a straight nose and long scar running under his chin, which had a small cleft in it. The two small dimples low in his cheeks seemed completely out of place. Except for the amber eyes, no one would believe he was a demon.

  “I wouldn’t dare. If I entertain on their days off, it’s up to me to clean up. Otherwise, Megan will have my head and Sena will lecture me. Since I don’t care for either, I do as requested. I like to keep my staff happy, as I said before. Now, shall we soak in the warmth of the fire while we discuss the reason you called?”

  Enjoying herself immensely, Angie hated to ruin the wonderful mood, but she had to have answers on which to base her decisions. However, by calling him she’d already made one of her decisions clear. She curled her feet underneath her on the corner of the couch closest to his recliner. “Ok, tell me what you meant when you said, I was determined to enter your world. How is your world different from mine?”

  He considered moving over to sit beside her, but remained in his recliner instead and reached for the bottle of wine, filling first her glass then his. The glasses rang melodically as they touched rims. “To us,” he said quietly and she echoed his words. They each took a sip and he put his glass on the table.