by Susan Stec
Tootles scampered to my side as I sat on the edge of my bed. I unconsciously patted her head with the tips of my fingers while my eyes played over a gold-framed painting of a man with horns protruding from his head hanging directly over what I assumed was my sister's bed. Black hair fanned out in a frenzy of different lengths, some curly, some straight. Jagged bangs fell just above eyes the color of yellow mucus, and thick black brows weighed heavily over them. The man was wearing a dark leather jacket, collar up, with a deep crimson, silk shirt opened to reveal a hairy chest. His full lips were parted in a smile that showed off slate-colored sharp teeth of varying lengths. It sure as hell wasn't Raphael.
JoAnn sighed. "Look, I'm only going to pack a few things. I can tuck the suitcase under the bed and it will be ready just in case Lilith is playing another one of her silly games."
Tootles snorted froth all over my bedspread and I scrunched my nose and shushed her.
Lying on the velvet coverlet was an open suitcase into which JoAnn placed the blouse. She picked up a pair of black jeans and gave them a good shake before folding them and tucking them in beside the blouse.
"Just put the shit back!" I spat. "Lil… um, Lilith told us if you pack, Raphael will find the suitcase and send you to Abandon, where none of us will be able to contact you."
The dog jumped from the bed and ran out my bedroom door. I heard her scampering down the stairs toward the kitchen.
JoAnn turned in my direction. "He's very upset with me at the moment, so he's probably already going to send me there, anyway. Mom is my only hope at the moment! Raphael isn't going to find the darn suitcase. He just left to get Lord Rahovart, tormentor of the affluent and companion of Satan. I don't know what he's got planned, but he said I will dread the day I allowed his daughter to be taken away from him. I'm scared, Susan."
"He's gone? He actually left you alone? I can come get you right now!" I headed for my bedroom door.
"Hold on, you can't come here now. Raphael left his brother, Quelis to watch me," JoAnn said, tossing several pairs of panties into the suitcase and pointing at the picture over the bed. "He's not someone you want to mess with—believe me."
"Where is he?" I asked, my eyes glued to the horrible man in the picture, wondering why in God's name Raphael had his brother’s portrait mounted over their bed.
"Downstairs in the chamber, tormenting a human; he ate the last one that came knocking at our door. It was just awful. But then, stupid sorcerers work up these stupid spells and try to come here to capture a real, live demon pet to take home and it gets old. I don't blame them for…"
"Shut up! What do you mean, he ate the last one?"
JoAnn rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "Where's Marcus?" She tossed two bras and a pair of white Nikes into the suitcase.
"He's downstairs with Lily. And answer my damn question. They eat humans? No way! Has Lily ever eaten a human?" I tried to swallow, but gagged on my own saliva.
JoAnn looked at me like I was stupid. "Of course not! Lilith, does not eat flesh! Only the male demons eat humans—about one a week, sometimes more. But it's their own fault! Why anyone would want to come to Hell is…"
"JoAnn! Do you hear yourself? Are you nuts? You sound like humans are just another takeout selection."
"Look, are we done here? Because I'm almost packed and Raphael will be…"
"Do you trust me?" I asked.
JoAnn paused, holding a makeup case over the jeans. "Yes, but Mom said…"
"Put it back! Put it all back! I promise, I will be there to get you soon! I don't want you locked away in Abandon where I will never be able to reach you. You know Mom. I can't believe you're willing to risk being locked away on her word."
JoAnn strutted toward the phone with the makeup case in hand and hammered it into what looked like a drawer under the phone. "Fine! Just fine! But if I do leave tonight without my clothes, you’ll have to buy me a whole new wardrobe when I get there." She stomped back to the bed and yanked up the suitcase, dumping the contents out. She zipped the empty case, opened a door by the bed and tossed it inside, slamming the door shut.
I didn't say anything. She had a room full of clothes; and I'd be damned if I were going to buy her more if Mom actually did come through. Fat chance on that anyway. It was a moot point.
JoAnn walked back to the dresser, folding her arms over her chest, and demanded, "Go get Lilith! I want to hear this from her own mouth."
Like that was going to happen. I needed to call my mother first. I wasn't handing this phone over to the demon kid. She was as wordy as her mother. "I'll tell you what, I'm going to go downstairs, call Mom and ask her what's going on first; then Lily and I will call you. Okay?"
"It's Lilith! If I get down there and my daughter insists on being called Lily, I'm gonna break your neck right after we go shopping for my new wardrobe. It's bad enough her father…"
"It's up here!" I slapped the phone shut, bolting for the stairs.
The minute I entered the kitchen, I waved the pink cell around and informed, "JoAnn was packing. I talked her out of it, but if we don't do something about getting her home fast, I can't promise she won't start packing again." I thought about mentioning the human-eating, demon thingy, but didn't think it was a good time with Lily in the room, though it did weigh heavily on my mind.
Marcus and Jeni looked up at me from the picnic table as Paul, Jake and Gibbie walked in the front door.
Lily was the first to comment. "You accomplished your task well, Auntie Susan. My mother will not be packing again. Uncle Quelis is on his way up from the chamber with a cage to confine her."
"What cage?" I yelled, hoping JoAnn wasn't going to be on the menu.
"Oh, that doesn't sound good," Jeni said.
"Susan, we need to talk." Marcus was wearing his concerned look again.
Tootles whimpered from the corner of the living room where she was curled on a fluffy, doggie pillow by the television.
"That the demon kid?" Gibbie squawked, buzzing over to the picnic table and hovering in front of Lily, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"A fairy. How sweet. You must be Gibbie," Lily giggled, putting up a hand for him to land on. Gibbie flew up to the ceiling fan and caught a moving blade. He hung on, spinning circles over Lily's head. Lily shrilled delight.
Jake sidled toward the kitchen, hands covering his mouth and nose, smoke wafting from his ears.
Paul stood by the couch with hooded eyes and flaring nostrils, a soft rumble emanating from his chest.
Lily smiled at Paul. "Hello, you must be the wolf-shifter," she said, as she quickly turned to Jake, who was making his way across the kitchen. "Wait! Don't go! You’re a dragon!" She clapped her hands and bounced on the bench of the picnic table next to Jeni. "I have never ridden a dragon. Will you take me for a ride?"
Jeni laughed. "You are just too darn cute for words." She straightened Lily's pristine, lace dress and planted a kiss on her head.
Jake shrilled tension as he ran out of the kitchen and down the stairs toward the garage. I heard the door shut behind him.
"Susan," Marcus warned.
Lily's head slowly swiveled and she locked eyes with Marcus. "Uncle Marcus, I know you are worried about me reading thoughts and seeing the events of the others. But if Auntie Susan commands me not to look or listen anymore, I will obey. However, it would be in everyone's best interest if you let me keep track of my mother and grandmother. Do you not agree?"
Marcus nodded at me. "Command her to stay out of everyone's head at the moment, except for Chick and JoAnn." Then he said to Lily, "I warn you, if you do not listen, you will be sent to the compound where they will keep you in a special room that would deprive you of the freedoms you have here."
"I don't think that's necessary." Jeni interjected, tossing a protective arm around Lily.
"Lily, I command you do not look into the minds of anyone in this room," I ordered, and added for good measure, "nor will you listen in on the conversations of anyone in this
room, or follow their actions, or look at their futures. Do I make myself clear, young lady?"
"Yes, ma'am, and I promise I will obey your command specifically and entirely," Lily primly said. She bounced her head matter-of-factly with a smile on her cherubic face; then with a knowing look, added, "Don't worry, Mother will not be sent to Abandon, and the cage is really quite comfortable. I myself find it offers us a sense of security, knowing she is unable to attempt any escape."
I let out a long breath of relief, but narrowed my eyes and wondered what the little demon was up to. That promise was just too short and sweet. I thought about what I'd just commanded, repeating it over in my head, but felt I had it all covered, so I turned to Marcus. "Should we contact Dorius and brief him on everything Lily has said?"
Marcus leveled his eyes on Lily. "I think I would prefer to wait a couple of days before we contact my brother."
Paul asked, "Do you think she could help find the rogues?"
I hadn't thought of that.
Tootles retorted from her fluffy pillow.
The others all turned to Lily.
Lily reflectively stared at Paul for a moment. "I only have limited knowledge of this creature through Grandmother, wolf." She looked over at me. "But if you wish me to delve further into the issue of which Mr. Paul speaks, Auntie Susan, I could push Grandmother to…"
"Nobody is gonna do any pushing of anyone, young lady," I said, pulling the house phone out of its cradle. "Your mother wanted to talk to you and I told her I'd call Nanna to see what's going on, and then call her right back. It's probably been hours down there since I talked to her."
Paul puffed impatience through flared nostrils as he stared at me.
"Come on! Can we just give it a minute?" I thumbed the phone on.
"Actually, darling," Marcus said, watching Paul, who's eyes were now riveted on Lily. "I would like to know more about this rogue and how Lily could…"
I glared the words right back down his throat.
~~~~
Chapter Twenty-Two
~~~~
"If Dorius can wait, so can you two," I said, punching Christopher's cell phone number into the house phone. "I want to see what my mother's up to first, and then we'll address the rogue issue with Lily."
Paul didn't answer. His eyes were on Lily.
Lily said, "I believe I can satisfy both of your concerns if you…"
I put my finger up in Lily's direction and Christopher answered on the third ring, "What's up?"
"I just talked to my sister, and she said you guys are going to summon her tonight. How the hell are you gonna do that?"
"Put the call on speaker phone, Susan," Marcus ordered.
Gibbie buzzed around the phone and I swatted at him before punching the "speaker" button.
Christopher's voice floated from the phone, "…And your mother didn't exactly tell JoAnn that, either. She told her to be ready, in case we get somewhere with the vamp we're going to meet; but we may not get to meet him tonight. Right now, it looks like the meeting will take place tomorrow night, somewhere near a swamp."
"Hang up the phone," my mother yelled in the background.
From the picnic table beside Lily, Jeni piped up, "Where did you find this vamp, Nanna?"
Christopher answered, "She met him on-line. He knows a telepath that knows a demon, but the telepath had to go out of town and…"
We heard screeching tires, and hand slapping.
"A telepath?" Jeni said, giving Lily a smile and a soft pinch on her cheek. "Does she have a name for this telepath?"
"She didn't say," Christopher answered to the sound of slapping hands, and then he yelled, "Knock it off Chick!" There was a moment of silence then Christopher said, "The vamp is the telepath's boyfriend or something, and he's the one who’s been emailing Chick."
Get your mother on the line, Marcus pushed. Gibbie landed on his shoulder as Marcus moved closer to the phone.
"Can you put my mother on the line?" I interrupted.
Paul flopped on the couch, crossing his arms over his chest, with a scowl on his face.
We heard a brief argument on the other end of the line as we all waited.
"Why are you bothering me?" Chick's voice demanded.
"Mom, don't you dare hang up on me again or I will call Dorius. What's all this about?" I was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. "I can't believe you're meeting someone you only know from the Internet!"
"And why should I give a rat's ass what you think?" Mom's angry voice asked.
"Nan, where are you right now?" Jeni cut in.
"New Orleans," Chick spat back angrily.
"And what is the vampire's name?" Jeni inquired, a grin slowly spreading across her face.
Lily looked up into Jeni's eyes and giggled as my mother answered, "Eric, and he's waiting for the telepath's brother, Jason, to get back from some pack meeting before he meets with us. Jason is a were-panther, and I think he's the telepath's brother. Anyway, this vamp, Eric, already talked to the demon, who happens to be the telepath's lawyer; and now, it's just a matter of discussing money. Then we can get JoAnn back."
Jeni started laughing.
I hooded my eyes and shot daggers at her. "Know something we don't?"
Jeni kept laughing.
Chick's voice assaulted the room. "Okay, you want me to stay on the line, then hear me out. Have any of you ever watched True Blood? The HBO show that was based on the Sookie Stackhouse series?"
Jeni laughed louder. Lily clapped her hands and wiggled on the bench beside Jeni.
"I know why you're laughing, Jennifer! You think I'm getting the television show mixed up with the book series. Well, I'm not! Jason is really a were-panther. Eric told me so; said they were keeping it under wraps on the television series," Mom said matter-of-factly. "So there!"
Jeni, hand on her chest, one finger announcing her pause, was wheezing.
Gibbie started cackling. This got Tootles barking, hacking, and jumping around the room.
Paul and Marcus just looked impatient. I was pissed.
"Are you telling me you met this guy on a website for a television series?" I couldn't believe it. "So you, what? Started surfing the site, asking questions about vamps and demons? Come on! Are you out of your friggin' mind? Dorius is going to kick your ass."
"Just listen!" Chick yelled through the speakers on the phone.
"I am listening! You idiot! You almost got your daughter sent to Abandon with your stupid idea!" I screamed into the phone.
Jeni crossed her legs, tightening her thighs; her hand trying to hold back another laugh, she was breathing deeply, through her nose.
"Shut the hell up! I know what I'm doing," Chick screamed back.
Christopher yelled, "Keep your eyes on the road, Chick, or pull the goddamned car over, right now!"
I heard screeching tires, engine noises, and then the phone got really quiet. That is, until my mother started talking again. "I bought both seasons on DVD at Walmart—cost me eighty bucks, by the way—but it was worth it. The telepath lives in the town of Bon something or other, in New Orleans. She has this lawyer friend with a real long name, half-demon, and he can do things—make things happen. I mean there are fairies involved, demons, vampires, and…"
"Shut up," I said, "and get your dumbass back home right now!"
Jeni got up, knees together, and wobbled toward the bathroom.
Paul growled from the couch.
Marcus put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and rocked back and forth on his heels. Gibbie shot off his shoulder and landed on the ceiling fan blade, spinning circles again, much to Lily's amusement.
"Chick! You are out of your frigging mind!" Christopher's voice screeched through the speaker.
"If you would all just shut the hell up and listen for one minute—use your goddamned brains for once in your lives—you'd know it's possible!" Chick's voice yelled back.
"I can't believe you dragged my ass all the way to New Orleans to find a fictional ch
aracter in a damn vampire television series," Christopher yelled. "Not to mention, Dorius is going to fry our asses for getting humans involved! I should have known. I mean, first you pray to statues, then you jump on goddamned television show websites for answers, and hook up with a goddamn human! What the hell is wrong with you?"
Chick yelled louder, "Eric is not a human! He's a frigging vampire, and a powerful one! He's the sheriff of Parish Five in New Orleans, for Christ's sake. He knows how to deal with demons and a whole hell of a lot of other supernatural creatures. I know this Stackhouse chick is real, and I'm positive Eric is going to direct us toward a demon more powerful than Raphael's boss, so we can overthrow him and finally get…"
"It's just a friggin' HBO series!" I yelled, "And the goddamn book series is better!" I screamed, giving the phone a good shake with both hands as I listened to Marcus’ laughing in my head.
Jeni walked back into the room, rubbing her eyes. "Oh, that was the best laugh I've had since all of you decided to fang up for a better body."
Chick's next comment wafted from the phone, deadly quiet, controlled, with a lot of restrained power packed behind her voice. "Hang on for a minute. And go get your cell phone, will ya? I want to send you a video."
Gibbie dropped from the fan and everyone gathered around me as I pulled my cell from the pocket of my jeans. "Mom, you need to turn that car around and…"
"I said, hang on a minute!" she snapped.
I was thinking maybe she had a picture of this Eric guy with his fangs hanging out. Not that it would make me feel any better, but it'd be a start.
The home phone came alive with Christopher, screaming obscenities.
"What the hell is going on?" I shouted into the house phone as my cell vibrated in my hand.
I flipped the lid and saw that I'd gotten a text message with a video, and hit the "play" button. Everyone leaned over my shoulder.
My mother's wiggling fingers appeared in front of the screen. Christopher, cussing, arms covering his head, was in the background. A ray of gold erupted from my mother's fingers, shooting Christopher through the passenger side window and out into a field, about thirty-feet from the car. The front windshield of the car passed over the screen, stopping on my mother's fanged smile. "I won't be coming home without JoAnn. And just so you, that wasn't a movie clip from a paranormal television series," she said, right before the home phone went dead.
