by RG Stancu
Don't let him go, Kinky shouted in my eardrum. Since when was he shying away from a bit of drama? You'll lose him if he gets stabbed or shot.
I peered at Dallas's face, still scared and confused but willing to risk his life to save someone else's. Kinky was right. If Dallas got hurt, I’d lose the love of my life and I'd be bound to Hell forever.
"Pinky, stop them," I whispered even though helping defied every rule in Heaven and Hell. Literally. Not even I was allowed to intervene in such a situation without authorisation from a higher source like Dad, or the other big guy who happened to be Mum's boss.
How? Pinky wailed. I don't have the power.
Tell them to be nice and love each other, Kinky said. If you mess up, you'll be stuck in Hell with Cass forever.
Oh, no. Tears shimmered in Pinky's eyes.
Is he going to cry? Kinky mocked.
I don't want to be stuck in Hell. Pinky's thin voice turned into a long howl. The poor mite was terrified at the outlook just as much as I was.
"What are you waiting for? Get out there!" I muttered under my breath. Pinky sighed and disappeared.
Dallas yanked his arm away and fled out the door. A horn honked, then another. The youngsters started to shout obscenities at a Rolls Royce with gold flames on the sides and hood, magenta spokes, chrome rims, and dark-tinted windows. I rolled my eyes. A towering giant with the biggest arms I’d ever seen in my entire life walked toward Dallas swinging a tyre iron. My heart leapt in my chest. I was surprised the guy didn’t fall over with the ton of gold necklaces he wore around his neck like Mr. T. from the A-team. I had to do something, but what? Freezing time would've been a good choice, but I couldn't. I only have the power to do that once a year, and I already used that option up at lunch with Mum and Dad when their arguing gave me a headache.
Rushing toward them, I craned my neck to get a better glimpse when I noticed the shiny halo hovering in mid-air. One of the hooded guys held up a hand to the other as Pinky whispered in his ear.
Seconds ticked by. Nothing happened. Dallas squared his shoulders, exchanging a heated conversation with the muscular man. Something about, 'Leave the kids alone and get the hell of here.' The man shoved him hard, but it wasn’t enough to deter Dallas. He shoved him back. I was happy my man wasn’t a wimp and could handle himself, but this guy was dangerous and could pull out a knife. Dallas’s tough guy act was no match against a blade of steel. We needed to get away before a fight erupted resulting in a shooting.
"Get rid of the kids…now!" I whispered, knowing Pinky could hear me.
The lights changed from green to red. The hooded figures hesitated; their agitation was palpable in the air. The youngsters started shoving the driver. It was a matter of seconds before they took out whatever weapons they were carrying and caused yet another atrocity in our already brutal world.
If I had to, I’d jump in there and claw out everyone's eyes before they lay a single hand on the love of my life. Who was I kidding? There was also the problem of stepping into the heart of the drama. The currents could be too strong and I might not have the willpower to protest and stop what was about to take place. No matter how much I wanted to, my fallen angel nature wouldn't let me.
A thud clanked on the ground. The muscular guy had dropped his tyre iron and hugged Dallas, mumbling something like, "I’m a lover, not a fighter."
Dallas eased from his arms. “I don’t swing that way, man.”
I inched closer and pulled Dallas away, shouting over my shoulder, “Yeah, he loves you, too. Got to go. It’s been a blast."
“Thanks, dude,” the guy said.
“Cass!” Dallas yelled. “Get back in the car.”
I smiled and jumped into the driver's seat. “Looks like you diffused the situation.”
He shook his head. “That was weird. One minute the guy wanted to kill me and the next he wanted to hug me like I was his best friend.”
“Got to love crazy California, huh?”
I started the engine as the hooded figures put away their guns and turned on their heel. Pinky appeared on my shoulder, his eyes were filled with pride.
"Didn't you forget something?" I muttered.
“Oh, thanks. My wallet fell out of my pocket." Dallas reached down to pick it up.
I was talking to Pinky. "What about them?" I whispered.
Pinky whimpered and vanished again, only to materialise over the youngsters' heads a moment later. His eyes were closed, his arms wide-open, stretched out to the side as though in meditation.
Why's he praying? Kinky said.
I shook my head, signalling that I didn't know. He must be appealing to the youngsters' conscience. I could only hope they had one. But it wasn't the youths who backed off. Holding out his hands in a peace sign, the driver turned away and walked slowly to his vehicle.
The shouting continued, but the crowd of kids slowly dissipated as the lights changed from red to green again. I revved the car and sped off.
The deep lines around Dallas's mouth told me he was still confused what just happened. Too bad he was about to experience another surprise within the next ten minutes.
Chapter 15 – Otherworld this way
"Please tell me you're not taking yet another shortcut," Dallas said.
I killed the engine. "We're getting out."
He narrowed his gaze and peered out the window at the busy street with rundown housing complexes to both sides. "Why here?"
"Because we wouldn't find a parking space on Rodeo Drive. It's only a minute or two away. Walking's healthy." Smiling, I jumped out of the car and shot a fleeting look at the dirty alley to our right. Next to it, the dark brown building with its boarded windows and peeling plaster gave it an even more menacing flair.
"Maybe we could shop another day," Dallas said. But he followed me out nonetheless. His gaze swept over the rundown area, lingering on a group of tourists emerging from a house on the other side of the road. One would think, after living in London for most of his life and travelling to so many countries, he should be unperturbed by crowds, but as usual Dallas proved any cliché wrong.
"If you could settle down anywhere in the world, where would it be?" I asked, inching closer.
He hesitated, his eyes still darting about uneasily. "If I tell you, can we go there this very second?"
"Maybe."
"Your air-conditioned house."
I turned to face him. "You're so full of it. You hate the heat in California."
"Well, I'm thinking I'm loving your house right now. Watching the game on TV with a bowl of popcorn and an ice cold drink with you snuggled up in my arms sounds like heaven."
"You don't like cities very much, do you?" I grinned and held out my hand. He grabbed it and grimaced.
"I abhor them. It's like being caged in with nothing but dust and exhaust fumes to breathe."
I waited for the traffic to slow down and stop at the traffic lights before I pulled him across the street. "Rodeo Drive's right over there. You can smell Gucci and Armani from here, or so it's said."
"Really?" He shot me an amused look. "All I can smell is the bins over there and rotting garbage spilling out of them." He stopped and took a whiff. "I think someone's having cabbage for lunch."
I winked. "Maybe it's Chanel's new perfume."
"If it is, don't expect to get it as a Christmas present." He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against his chest. His gaze glazed over, lingering on my lips. He wanted to kiss me. I groaned inwardly. Seriously? This was the most perfect moment he could find for our first kiss, surrounded by waste and smog?
I pulled away, disgusted by the aroma of onions wafting past.
"We came here to shop, so shopping's all you’re getting."
He grabbed my hand, pulling me back into his embrace as he whispered, "I thought you'd appreciate a guy who shared the same interests."
That's why he offered we pay Rodeo Drive a visit? A smile spread across my lips. "I thought by agreeing to come here I was doing you
a favour."
"You're not into shopping either." His mouth moved closer, his hot breath caressed my cheek, making it tingle. I felt a strong pull toward him, hurrying me to pull him close and never let go. My emotions overwhelmed me, making me choke on my breath.
"I love shopping, just not with a hot guy on my arm. That's too distractive." A soft gust ruffled my hair. I didn't turn. Behind me, footsteps thudded closer. I still didn't turn.
Dallas attention snapped into place. He raised his gaze slowly.
Peering over my shoulder, he whispered, "Don't move."
"Why?" I mouthed.
"Hand over your purse," a male voice said.
Dallas swallowed hard. Beads of sweat gathered across his forehead. "Do as he says, babe."
Turning, I shook my head. My gaze fell on the little man about forty with teeth black as coal, dressed in dusty rags. His shirt showed tiny holes across the chest, dark hair peering out from beneath. I raised my chin defiantly. "If you think I'll just give you my belongings, you're mistaken."
The man inched closer, holding up a knife, his wrist shaking. "I'll hurt you if you don't."
"Babe, just give him the purse," Dallas hissed. "I'll get you a new one."
I took a step forward, staring into the man's bloodshot eyes.
"No. You'll have to find someone else because I'm not playing victim."
His irises enlarged. I nodded to reinforce my words.
"She doesn't mean it, sir." Dallas stepped behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder as he whispered, "What are you doing? Move away from him."
"Don’t worry. I've got it all under control." Smiling, I reached into my bag, my fingers closing around my phone.
"Put your hands where I can see them," the man yelled.
"Are you out of your mind?" Dallas whispered.
I shook my head. "Are you scared of what I might be hiding in here?"
The man raised his knife to my chest. "Hand over your purse.
Now!"
Dallas stepped between the knife and me, pushing me behind him. His neck was bathed in sweat, the thin material of his shirt's glued to his back. "If you're going to hold a knife up to somebody, do it to me and not to a defenseless woman."
The guy glared. "You're just begging me to slash your pretty little face. Not so sure Girlfriend here would ever want to step out in public with you again."
Dallas squared his shoulders. "You take one more step and I guarantee you'll be the one having social phobias when I'm done with you. Your friends will have to call you Scar Face." That was a good one. Soaking up every morsel of drama, I peered at the mugger, waiting for his reply.
"I'm going to beat you into a pulp. We'll see who protects her then."
"You'll have to kill me first before you ever get to touch her." I could see Dallas's muscles tense, ready to attack. He was so handsome and brave. Although I was perfectly capable of taking care of myself, pride rose in my chest at the knowledge my boyfriend would defend me with his life.
I rose on my toes to peer over his shoulder, then winked. Our aggressor lunged forward. At the same time, I pressed a few buttons on my phone. The earth trembled beneath our feet, a gust of wind knocked Dallas to the side. He collapsed against the garbage bins. Our aggressor shot me an anxious glance and took off the way he came.
Dallas stirred, groaning. Lying next to him, I closed my eyes and put on a pained expression.
"Cass?" His hand brushed over my cheek to my throat, feeling for a pulse.
My eyes fluttered open. "Dallas?" I whispered. "Don't leave me."
"Are you hurt?" His voice betrayed his concern; his fingers hurried across my skin, checking for wounds.
I raised my hand to my head, and dropped it again as though I was too faint to move. "What happened?"
"Attempted mugging. Can you walk?"
"I think so." Groaning, I pushed up on my elbows.
Dallas helped me to my feet whispering, "You'll be okay. Let's get back to the car and I'll drive you to a hospital."
Taking slow steps, it took us a while to reach the main road. A man dressed in an expensive designer business suit sporting a Rolex watch was talking on his phone. We walked past without paying him any attention.
The car was still parked on the side of the road. Dallas held out his hand. "Can I have the keys, please?"
I rummaged in my purse, then shook my head. "I must have dropped them."
He groaned. "This day can't get any worse. Wait here."
I watched him walk over to the chattering man and tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. The man continued talking without so much as a glance at Dallas.
"Sir!" I yelled. "Please, can you call an ambulance? We were just mugged."
The man still didn't react.
Dallas turned to me, frowning. I inched closer until my arm brushed the man's suit.
"The rich moron's ignoring me. Does he think he's too good for us?" Annoyance was palpable in Dallas's tone.
I shook my head. "No, I don't think so."
"What do you mean?"
"Look." I waved my hand in front of the man's face. His eyes didn't move, he didn't even blink.
"Is he blind?" Dallas asked.
I stepped closer and cocked my head. "He could still hear us."
"Yeah, my mouth's pretty big." A frown settled between Dallas's brows. "Maybe he's hard of hearing too."
That's called distorted reasoning. How did he even come up with his explanations? "He couldn't talk on the phone if he were."
Dallas nodded. "Right. What's his problem then?"
Turning to face him, I grabbed his hand. "He can't see or hear us."
"I can see that. There's got to be a rational explanation." Dallas leaned over and yelled in the man's ear, "Hello? Is anyone home?"
"That won't help much." I moistened my lips, soaking up every bit of tension wafting from him as the meaning of my words slowly started to sink in.
"Let's find someone else then, someone who can hear and see us." His unconscious might have gotten the message, but his consciousness was still in denial. He needed to say it first to believe it.
I squeezed his hand hard. "Dallas, listen to me. It doesn't make sense that another person wouldn't see or hear us. There's only one probable explanation, and you know it."
His eyes widened. Disbelief crossed his features, followed by dismay. "We're dead?"
I breathed out, relieved his brain made an appearance and finally opened shop for the day. For a moment, I thought he might quote an alien invasion as the more likely possibility.
"Maybe not dead—" I hesitated "—yet. For all we know, our bodies could be hooked up to a life support machine in a hospital while a group of renowned surgeons perform major surgery."
Kinky appeared on my shoulder. Renowned surgeons in a hospital? That doesn't make sense. Wouldn't you be hovering in mid-air next to your body then?
I slapped my shoulder mere inches from the annoying, little devil.
"You mean we're returning to the crime scene in the hope to find a psychic that will help us catch the murderer." Dallas nodded, alarm pouring out of him in huge, hot waves. His shirt was soaked with sweat. "That definitely sounds like something I'd do. I could never rest knowing the same fate could befall another poor guy taking his girlfriend shopping."
"You'd definitely be the poltergeist type. You'd be a cute one." I turned my back on him so he wouldn't notice the delighted expression on my face. The guy with the phone walked down the street, still not paying attention to us.
You're milking it for all it's worth, I've got to give you that, Kinky said.
"So would you."
"No, you'd be cuter." I leaned against his chest.
"You'd be a stunner," Dallas whispered, his lips lowering onto mine again.
Hey, focus, Kinky yelled in my ear, making me jump back.
Clearing my throat, I said, "So we're kinda dying then."
"I don't get it." Dallas rubbed a hand over his neck. "The last
thing I remember is him jumping toward me, but not the pain or the knife in my gut."
"The dude had reflexes like Bruce Lee. We didn't even know what hit us." I shot him a weak grin. Time to change the subject. "I should've given him the purse, but the way you stood up for me was amazing. I'll never forget that."
He inched closer and pressed his lips against my forehead. "I'd do it again if I had to. I'm not going to let anything happen to the most precious thing in the world."
I bit my lip so I wouldn't gush out words of undying love. His words definitely struck a chord with me.
He pondered for a moment as if still contemplating the situation. I could almost see his brain putting two and two together.
That's when reality finally struck. "But why us? Why today? I'm too young to die," Dallas said. I knew the self-satisfaction of standing up against a criminal wouldn't last long.
"It must be fate. Maybe a higher calling." I reached for his hand and pulled. He stood his ground.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "We can't leave."
"Why not?"
"Because we have to wait for the white light to tell us what to do next." He looked so convinced, I almost laughed.
I motioned to the sky. "Don't you think if there was a white light, it'd have arrived already?"
"Maybe it got held up at the traffic lights." He grinned. "I get your point. Where do you want to go then?"
I shrugged. "Don't know. Let's head down the street."
"One would think once dead you shouldn't feel the smouldering heat. I'm going to suffocate soon." He paused for effect. "Wait, I can't because I'm already dead."
"We're still bound to the physical plane, which means we feel what our bodies feel."
"Great." Dallas started walking down the street. I followed a step behind. "I still think someone should be here to greet us," he muttered. "Like my dead aunt Mildred. Bless her soul."
He was one tough guy to figure out. I thought going on a fast paced murder chase might be more his thing. If I knew meeting the clichéd blond angel clad in a white nightgown with a halo on his head meant so much to him, I would've arranged that instead. I was glad to find he wasn't freaked out though. He clearly had potential as my boyfriend, what with being Lucifer's daughter and all.
