by Vivi Dumas
Jazzy fidgeted in her chair a bit before answering. “Your grandmother explained a lot to me last night. I’m still not comfortable with it. I guess y’all are telling the truth. You know I was raised in the church. These things just aren’t acceptable.”
“I understand how you feel. I promise we’re not bad because we’re different. Not all the Supes are bad, just like all humans aren’t good. I’m not gonna say there’s not really bad ones out there, but there’s good and bad in everyone.”
“What the hell are Supes?”
“Beings with supernatural powers.”
“Okay, I understand about you and Nat’s families. What about all these guys? Are they like y’all?” Jazzy leaned across the table, eager to hear Angel’s answer.
“I guess my grandmother didn’t tell you everything. Please don’t freak out on me again. I promise the guys here with us are good and will never hurt us.”
Jazzy had her infamous tell-me-now-and-stop-bullshitting look plastered on her face. “What’re they?”
“Jacque and Laurent are demons, as in born and raised in Hell. Etienne is a vampire. And the brothers are rougarou or werewolves. You’ll be meeting a lot of other Supes, too, in the next couple of days.” Angel sipped her coffee, savoring the aroma.
“And all these people running around here helping? What’re they?”
“I’m not sure. Some I think are human, some not. I can’t tell you anymore.”
Jazzy’s brows creased in toward the bridge of her nose, wrinkling her forehead as if she was working hard to figure out the pieces of the puzzle. “You mean to tell me demons, vampires, and werewolves are all real.”
“Yep, I know, threw me at first, too.”
“Son-of-a-bitch. Now, we have to re-evaluate our whole way of thinking, don’t we?”
Angel reached over and hugged her friend. Jazzy was Catholic to the core. She was also the most logical-minded person Angel ever met. Things would work out just fine. This day was getting better by the minute.
“Good morning, ladies,” Etienne’s deep voice called from the doorway. “Would you mind pulling the blinds for me?”
Angel raced to the windows, pulled the blinds, and drew the heavy curtains.
“I thought vampires couldn’t come out in the day,” Jazzy asked cautiously.
“I’m glad to see you’re better, Ms. Jasmine. I was quite concerned about you last night.” The smoldering gaze he sent Jazzy almost made Angel melt.
“You still didn’t answer my question.” Her friend held her stance, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I’m quite old, mon petit. We grow stronger and more tolerant with age. Although I wouldn’t venture outside in the full sunlight, I can wake and move about the house with ease.”
“Shit, again with the re-evaluating my information. I guess garlic’s out, too.” She giggled at her own statement.
“Etienne, how’re the plans for the meeting coming along?” Angel asked.
Etienne leaned against the doorframe. “I’ve moved it up. It’ll be tomorrow night. I think we should move fast with the new developments.”
“Okay. Good idea. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind. There’ll be many guests starting to call about housing arrangements. I have a list of the hotels available to accommodate the various groups. If you ladies wouldn’t mind fielding the calls, I would greatly appreciate it.”
“No problem.”
“Also, you’ll have to make sure each of you have the appropriate attire. These meetings are formal occasions.”
“We have to wear formal gowns to a meeting?” Nat chimed in.
“It’s customary.” Etienne answered to the floor.
Jazzy gulped the last of her coffee and said, “We need to go shopping.”
“I assumed as much. I have three guards who’ll accompany you when you’re ready to go out.”
As she rose, Angel dusted the crumbs of toast off her lap. “Okay, ladies, let’s get ready to head out. I’ll go up and let Jacque know we’re leaving. And we’ll go find something suitable to wear. I hate off the rack. I guess we have no choice at this point.”
“You ladies will be fabulous in anything.” Etienne smiled as he surveyed the women. “You know this is the first time anyone has actually used the kitchen except caterers. It’s nice to sit in here and chat. I hope you ladies take your time finding a new place to stay.” He bowed, with a slight dip of his head, and disappeared from the room.
In the hall, Angel froze when she met Jacque coming down the stairs with Isabella hanging off his arm. Isabella’s high-pitched voice dug into her like nails on a chalkboard. Heat rose in Angel’s stomach, a mix of anger and nausea. She wanted to run and hide or slap Isabella; it was a tossup at this junction.
Everyone observed Jacque as he descended the stairs with the little blond beauty. They volleyed from Jacque to Angel, waiting for fireworks, but none came. She refused to put on a show.
“I see you finally made it out of bed.” Her voice was as sultry as a warm sea breeze as she spoke to Jacque, ignoring Isabella.
He kicked the stair with the back of his heel, looking everywhere but in her eyes. “I guess I was more tired than I expected.”
“I’m sure you were. We all heard what made you tired last night,” Nat threw at him with sarcasm. Nat was Angel’s new champion.
Isabella batted her lashes and gave the crowd a prom queen smile. “Ahh. I remember those nights. Some days you’d sleep til noon.” Jacque nudged her in warning.
“Nice to see you’re back to your usual self, Isabella.” Angel glared at her.
“Always, I see you’ve acquired an entourage. Who’s the new additions to your crew?”
“Friends.” Angel never took her eyes off Jacque. “Jacque, we’re headed out to find something to wear to the meeting. Just in case you noticed I’m gone, I wanted let you know.” She turned her back on him, grabbing Marie’s arm. Why do I keep ending up in the same place with him? Always landing in the middle of him and Isabella.
“Wait, I don’t want you out by yourselves. I’ll come along.”
“Don’t bother, Etienne provided three guards for us,” she scoffed.
“You’re not a bother. I’m coming.”
“Whatever,” she called over her shoulder.
“Great! I need to find something, too. I’ll come with,” Isabella chirped.
Angel bit the inside of her lip and tightened her grip on Marie. Faith squeezed her hand tight in warning, trying to subside her anger.
Jacque quickened his pace to catch up to Angel. He pulled her away from Marie and to the side, allowing the group to pass. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“This is not the time for this,” she snarled, resisting the temptation to punch him. Not only was he flirting with Isabella, he embarrassed her in front of everyone.
“She caught me coming down the stairs. I didn’t even know she was here.” He pleaded his case, beseeching her to forgive him.
“You didn’t seem to mind her draping herself all over you.”
“I didn’t even pay her any mind. It’s Bell. She flirts all the time.”
Angel poked a finger into his chest as she spoke, increasing the pressure with each word. “You and your not thinking is becoming tiresome. You need to start thinking, especially when it comes to her.”
“Look. I’m sorry. Won’t happen again, even though nothing happened this time.”
“Nothing happened, but you embarrassed me in front of my family and friends. What do you think my mother will have to say about this?” Angel felt the tremor in her lip and inhaled deeply to regain her composure. She needed to stop crying over every little thing. There was no crying in supernatural warfare.
“What the hell does your mother have to do with this?”
“She’ll tell me she knew you would cheat with someone prettier. Someone like me could never keep a man. Shit, maybe she’s right.”
“Now, you’
re talking crazy.”
“Like I said, whatever. Now is not the time to discuss this.” She started to head toward the car when Damon called her name.
Damon ran to catch up with her and Jacque. “Hey. Where are y’all headed?”
“Shopping,” she answered with a smile.
“Mind if I tag along?”
“Of course not. The more the merrier,” Angel responded in a singsong tone as she slid into the back of the limo. Jacque pushed Damon aside and hurried in behind her. Damon took the open seat across from Angel, eyes twinkling and a grin seeping across his face, landing in the deep crevices of his dimples. It was going to be an interesting day.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The shopping trip became an exercise in patience and a battle of wills. Isabella flirted. Angel restrained from strangling her. Jacque avoided comments from the ladies. Damon took advantage of every opportunity to outshine Jacque. It was an exasperating experience, plus Angel wasn’t pleased with the dress she settled on buying.
The rest of the day entailed answering phones and arranging accommodations for the arriving guests. The housekeeper remained busy answering the door. By mid-afternoon, Angel collapsed on the sofa from exhaustion. Nat and Jazzy were already lounging in the parlor chatting.
“Man, I never thought I would be happy to not talk on the phone.” Nat licked her lips and rubbed her throat. Nat was all about drama.
“Nope. Not something I expected to come out of your mouth,” Angel responded, kicking off the pumps.
“It’s crazy to know all these creatures live in New Orleans as if we didn’t have enough human freaks,” Jazzy added.
Angel stretched back on the pillows and propped her feet on Nat’s lap. “Yeah, I know, but you get use to it. Most of them look normal. You’d never know they were different.”
Nat’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Are they all as hot as the ones we’ve met already?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t met an ugly one yet. It’s kinda depressing being surrounded by so many beautiful people,” Angel answered.
“Welcome to the world we lived in being your friend for so many years. What’s the deal with Laurent? He seeing anybody?” Nat was a sucker for blue eyes.
“I don’t think so. I’ll see if we can seat you together at dinner. You can dig for more info. Remember, he’s a demon and they play by different rules than we do.”
“You don’t seem to mind dating one.”
“Jacque and I have more problems than an Amish girl trying to get beads at Mardi Gras. Every other day or hour, we’re arguing.”
“And whose fault is that?” Again with the don’t-give-me-your-bullshit look.
“It depends. Y’all saw him with Isabella. She’s a huge pain in my ass.”
“Because you let her. Jacque’s your man and you need to let her know it. Getting mad and not speaking to him isn’t doing anything except giving Ms. Peroxide a way in.”
“It’s hard for me to think straight when it comes to Jacque and Isabella.”
“And what’s up with you and Wolverine?” Jazzy interjected.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Angel tried to hide her smile. “I met him when y’all met him. Damon’s a nice guy.”
“Oh, no. Dimples has the hots for you. And he’s waiting for his chance. Jacque better watch himself, because Damon is delicious!”
“It’s nice to have a backup plan. Especially one who looks like he belongs in a Calvin Klein underwear ad.” Angel blushed, thinking about Damon with his clothes off. “Hey, dinner is going to be at the La Fleur Plantation tonight. We should go up and get ready.”
“What’s up with the Supes getting dressed up all the time? Don’t they have any casual occasions?” Jazzy was a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl.
Angel arched a brow as she thought about the question. “I guess they all came up in an age where things were more formal. Most of them are at least one hundred years old.”
“Okay. Gross. Talk about robbing the cradle.” Jazzy’s smile lit up her face. Angel was glad to have her friend back.
“Most of them have been frozen in their twenties and thirties. If you think of it in those terms, it’s less weird. You’ll get use to it.”
“I don’t know.”
“Whatever, Jaz. You dated the guy who was, what, forty-five? Now, talk about gross, he was old enough to be your father. Go upstairs and get dressed. See y’all at five.” Angel pulled Nat off the sofa and pushed her friends toward the stairs.
***
Everyone met downstairs to leave for dinner. Three limos waited outside. The night air clung like a warm damp cloth against Angel’s skin. The ladies all climbed into the first available car. Jacque slid into the seat next to Angel. The emerald-green stripes in his tie accented his eyes and brought out the dark blue of his suit. She smiled at him despite herself.
The car drove slowly through the gates of the La Fleur Plantation. The statuesque columns and ornate architecture of the 1800’s seemed appropriate for the group gathered tonight. The car slowed to a halt, and the driver came around to open the door.
Angel was surprised to see how many other guests had already arrived. Jacque offered his arm and escorted her into the main hall. Entering the mansion was like entering another era. She loved the opulence of the old plantation. The grand ballroom on the right was set for their dinner.
As they entered the purple and gold wallpapered room, Etienne greeted them.
“Wow, Etienne, this is beautiful.” She brushed a kiss to both his cheeks.
“Not as beautiful as you and these lovely ladies behind you.” He caught Jazzy’s gaze, causing her to blush.
“There must be a lot of people coming tonight.”
“Yes, many people have already arrived.”
“Let me know if you need help with anything.”
“No, no, don’t worry yourself. The staff has everything under control. You’ve helped enough today. Please relax and try to have some fun tonight.”
Etienne took his leave to welcome more guests. Jacque led them to their table and seated all the ladies. Isabella sat four tables away. Angel smiled and waved as she glanced back longingly. Isabella recovered quickly. She drew closer to the dark-haired vamp sitting next to her, faking her interest when he whispered in her ear. A hint of jealousy seized Angel as she watched Isabella work the crowd with her beautiful face and dazzling smile.
Jacque startled Angel out of her daydream. “Babe, do you want a drink?”
“Oh, sure. A Grey Goose Cosmo is fine.”
“Ladies?” Jacque questioned the others and took their orders.
He was only a few steps away when Isabella stood, making her way toward Jacque. Nat kicked her under the table, reminding her of their earlier conversation. Angel hurried to catch up with Jacque before Isabella could dig her claws into him.
Isabella slid next to Jacque and gave Angel a smug grin. “Aren’t you just fetching tonight?”
Jacque scooted to the right, not daring to stand too close, understanding the fire in Angel’s eyes.
“I see you’re already working the room,” Angel returned, wedging her body between them and placing her hand in the crook of Jacque’s arm.
“Just seeing what’s new.”
“Try to stick with the single guys. We don’t want any trouble tonight.” Isabella shrugged. “If a woman can’t keep a hold of her man, he’s free game.”
“You have no class,” Angel scolded.
“I had enough to keep your man for almost fifty years.”
“Not enough to get him back.”
“Oh, it’s still early in the match, honey. I’m not down for the count yet.” The hussy winked at Jacque.
Angel raised her hand to strike a blow, but Jacque caught it in mid-air, swiftly positioning himself in the middle of her and Isabella. “Look, enough from both of you. Bell, is there something you need?”
“I thought you’d like to know Luc contracted Xavier. It’s getting ugly.
” Isabella frowned and pouted her lips as if he hurt her feelings.
“Shit, how’d you find out?”
“My mom called me this afternoon. She accidentally found the contract.”
“Who the hell is Xavier?” Angel stared at the two, demanding an answer.
“Xavier is a hit man and my older brother.” Jacque’s voice was a combination of fear and reverence.
“I didn’t know you had a brother.” Angel reached over and laced her finger through his. The pain in his eyes raised a knot in her throat.
“I haven’t seen him in a couple centuries. We’re not close. We have different mothers.”
“We’ve got to be careful. You know Xavier’s crazy.” Isabella’s hand played with Jacque’s sleeve. The intimacy of the gesture disturbed Angel as she examined their interaction. Their bond was strong. She understood why the relationship had been ongoing for fifty years. It was going to be hard to compete.
“We’ll get everyone together after dinner and let them know.” Jacque’s grip tightened on Angel’s hand. “I really need a drink now. Let’s hit the bar.”
***
Jacque’s stomach churned all through dinner. The air in the car was suffocating. Angel’s emotions gnawed at him, her worry and fear throbbed in his head. The ride to Etienne’s felt like an eternity.
As soon as they reached the house, Jacque raided the bar. The vodka burned its way down his chest, hiding the pain brought to the surface from hearing about his brother. Last time Jacque saw Xavier, he ended up with a broken leg, three broken ribs, and several stab wounds.
Xavier’s powers were much stronger than Jacque’s. He’d honed his shifting abilities to surface at will. Jacque could only shift under extreme emotions or if he maintained complete focus. Even then, he barely controlled what he shifted into. Jacque spent a lot of time and energy learning to control his emotions because of his inconsistencies. Most demons didn’t have those problems; emotions were like second thoughts they pushed away easily.
Angel arranged herself between his legs as he straddled the barstool. Her lips brought warmth and ease as she brushed them along his chin, coaxing his nerves to settle. Her emotions calmed which helped to bring his under control.
