by Robin Roseau
It was deeply elegant.
The opera gloves were silk and red to match the dress.
Evaline had even included jewelry, very sparkly jewelry. And with the jewelry was a note. "The jewels are a loan, but the clothes are a gift. I hope you'll wear them again someday."
I had never, ever looked or felt so elegant.
When Evaline said she would arrive precisely at 7:00, she wasn't kidding. I was pacing nervously, watching the clock. The numbers tipped over to 7:00, and only seconds later, my front doorbell rang. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door.
The limousine driver from earlier was standing there in his uniform. He offered an arm and escorted me to the waiting car. He opened the door, handed me in, and I found Evaline waiting for me.
"You look lovely," she said as I sat across from her. She was dressed at least as elegantly as I was, and I told her she was stunning. She smiled. But then her eyes dropped to the purse I was holding, and her smile faded. "I see you don't follow directions very well."
"What?" I said. "It's a purse. I'm not wearing it."
"Give it to me."
"No," I said.
She held out her hand. "Give it to me. Now. I promise I'll return it to you."
"But-"
"Now, Teigan."
I didn't want to give it to her, but then I held it out. She took it from me then said, "Why is it so heavy?"
"It has a few things in it."
She pulled the purse into her lap and opened the clasp.
"I wish you wouldn't."
She ignored me. But then she pulled out my service weapon, holding it gingerly. She stared at it for a moment before looking up at me, her gaze accusing. "Why did you bring this?" She bowed her head again, searching the weapon. "Is the safety on?"
"There's no safety. It's a safe action trigger."
"Is there a round in the chamber?"
"Of course."
She looked up at me. "Did you bring this to shoot me?"
"Of course not!" I replied. "You can't be serious."
She looked at me for a moment then handed the gun to me, holding it by the barrel. "I require you to empty this weapon."
I took the gun, ejected the clip, and worked the slide to eject the live round, catching it in my lap. I reinserted the round into the magazine.
In the meantime, the demon continued to poke through my purse. She withdrew my police ID, gazing at the badge for a moment, then my driver's license, a credit card, a small amount of cash, and my keys. She returned everything to the purse then held out her hand. I handed her the gun then the magazine. Both went into the purse.
"Why did you bring this?"
"I'm a cop. Don't leave home without it."
"Did you have this at my club last night?"
"No. I didn't want to worry about it while I was dancing."
She relaxed marginally. "Very well." She turned to her left and pressed a button on a small console. As she did so, she shifted her feet to the right, and from underneath slid a drawer. I saw there was an integrated safe. She bent down, quickly keyed a combination, and then opened the safe. My purse went into the safe. The door locked, and a moment later, it was hidden. I watched all this carefully.
"Did you really think I intended to shoot you?"
"I've had bad experiences lately with people I didn't think had cause to wish me ill. And I wonder if you wish me ill."
"No, Evaline. I don't. In fact-" I broke off. She cocked her head waiting.
"Yes?" she finally prompted.
"I don't want you to jump ahead on this," I said. "But I've been thinking about what you said?"
"I've said a great deal."
"About becoming friends."
She began to smile. In turn, I frowned.
"I told you not to jump ahead."
"I'm sorry," she said. She didn't look sorry.
"I'm not trying to manipulate you when I say this. But I'm not sure that's possible while you withhold Rachel from her family."
"And if I weren't?"
"Then friendship might be interesting. I don't know if it's possible."
"You are no longer so convinced I am an evil minion of the underworld?"
"I don't think you could possibly be anyone's minion."
"Oh, trust me," she replied. "I was once quite the minion. I'm not anymore." She paused. "There's something I wanted to ask you."
"Yes?"
"Do you intend to ask Marley out?"
"I need to get through whatever it is we're doing first," I said. "But she was very kind to me."
"It was Poppy who was kind to you. You understand Marley and Poppy may as well be two different people."
"Outwardly, perhaps," I agreed. "Nevertheless."
"Nevertheless," the demon said. "Teigan, I love Marley deeply."
"Are you about to warn me off?"
"No. I'm going to politely ask you to treat her honestly and well. If you can't do both, tell me, and I'll handle it."
I lowered my head. "I can do both. I can't make promises of dates, because I don't know how I'm going to feel by the time we're settled. I'm not asking Marley out while you're holding Rachel, either. I tried to tell her that without being specific. I only told her I was working a rough case."
She nodded. "All right. That's fair." She smiled and patted the seat next to her. "Come sit here."
I didn't argue but flipped around so we were seated side-by-side instead of facing each other. She shifted in her seat so she was partially facing me, our legs touching, then put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me against her. I went willingly.
She was warm and soft in all the right places, and it felt good to let her hold me.
But at the same time, all this was very strange.
"Where are you taking me?"
"A benefit dinner," she said.
"Really?"
"Don't act so surprised. I am a patron of many charities. Teigan, it is important to me that you look like you enjoy my company."
"I do enjoy your company," I replied. "Is it safe to ask you questions here?"
"Yes."
"How long have you lived on Earth?"
"I've been to Earth on and off for four thousand years," she said.
"Holy shit!"
"But I've only been a free spirit, so to speak, for just under four hundred."
I sat there quietly for a minute. The demon began to caress my face, neck, and shoulders with one finger. It felt good, and I found my eyes closing.
"Are you seducing me?" I asked.
"Not before dinner," she replied. "Later."
"Will it hurt? When you feed?"
"No. You won't even notice, although you'll sleep, and you'll be very run down for a day or two."
I couldn't believe I was allowing this. I couldn't believe I wasn't even that upset.
I accepted the attention for a while. The demon made no indication she expected turnabout. She continued to caress me gently, and I let her.
"The gown is amazing," I admitted eventually. "I can't imagine ever wearing it again. Are you sure you don't want it back?"
"Maybe if we become friends, you'll have opportunity to wear it again." She caressed my lips for a moment then continued. "I bought it for you. It won't fit anyone else."
"It fits like a glove. How did you manage that?"
"Demon magic," she replied. I snorted. "Actually," she went on, "I'm serious. I changed my body to match yours and then had it fitted."
"You can look like someone else?"
"Well, no, but I can be the same size as someone else. It's not the same thing. And it takes quite a lot of energy to do so. But I am anticipating a feast later, so I'll more than replenish what I used."
I snorted again.
"You look lovely," she told me.
"It's not me, you know. I'm not an elegant woman. I'm likely to embarrass you. I'm sorry."
"You won't embarrass me, Teigan." She turned my chin so I faced her and brushed my lips with hers. I tin
gled afterward.
"You didn't have permission to do that," I whispered.
"It's a date. And I kiss on dates."
"Will you do it in this form or your other form?"
"Excuse me?"
"When you feed?"
"Oh. I'll start like this but will morph when you're too gone to realize it."
"Why?"
"Why will I change?"
"Why do you wait?"
"To avoid frightening you." She paused, and then she spoke very quietly. "I've found that as long as I'm human, emotionally you remain somewhat remote, but when I appear as a demon, it becomes frightening."
"I'm a little afraid."
"I know."
We rode quietly after that, although she didn't stop touching me, and I kept my eyes closed.
That wasn't me. Normally I would have been quite alert, watching where we were going. But instead I was relaxing. I had handed myself into this woman's -- this demon's -- care, and what happened was beyond my control. It wasn't at all like me to so completely relinquish control like that.
Realizing that I asked, "Did you use demon magic on me?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm not acting in character."
"Oh. No. No magic like that, although I may have used another type of magic."
"Oh? Do tell."
"I have noticed over the centuries that when you buy a woman very nice things, she tends to become somewhat docile."
I laughed.
"I'm serious. It may be instinctual from caveman days. The caveman who could outfit the cavewoman in ample furs was a better provider, and so she becomes receptive to his advances."
I laughed again. "We're not cavewomen. I don't believe your hypothesis holds water."
"You are here, acting quite docile, as we calmly discuss the way I will feed from you later. You allow me to hold you and to touch you. And I dare say my hands could grow far more bold than they are, and you wouldn't stop me. Perhaps you have an alternative hypothesis."
"As a matter of fact I do, but if you stop caressing, I won't tell you." It was the demon's chance to laugh. "It is far simpler than your hypothesis. You're dead sexy to the point of being entirely irresistible. Furthermore, you're emitting sexy demon pheromones designed to make me complacent."
"Maybe you're right," she replied. "However, I have bad news."
"No bad news."
"We're here, and so I must stop caressing you. But perhaps I will renew this attention later."
At that point the limousine came to a gentle stop. I opened my eyes and intended to straighten up, moving away from the demon, but she pinned me in place.
"I want to tell you something."
I looked at her. "All right."
"We will be touching tonight. Constantly. If we are inadvertently separated, you will return to my side and let me take your arm. Furthermore, I expect you to smile, especially at me, and act pleased to be here with me."
I considered a smart ass remark but instead I nodded and said, "Of course." I smiled. "It's a date, after all, and I'm going to be on the arm of the most beautiful woman here." I paused. "I'd rather you not maul me in front of an audience."
"That would be tacky."
"If you treat me poorly, then it is you who will be in default of the rules of our agreement," I said. "You will treat me with honest respect."
"Of course."
"Do I have to do anything else? You said it's some sort of charity event."
"No. The donations to the charity are through the tickets. There will be a brief speech, but that may be the only mention."
"So, conversation? Dinner?"
"Yes and yes. And dancing afterwards."
"I'm not a good dancer."
"We will find your limits, and perhaps in my arms, you will exceed your old limits."
"And so you think you'll be leading?"
She grinned. "Of course."
* * * *
"Is that the mayor?" I asked. I gestured with my nose.
"Why, so it is," Evaline said. She used a finger to turn me to her then slipped one of the little appetizers into my mouth. She wiped my lips with one finger. She'd been treating me that way since we had arrived. I wasn't at all accustomed to it, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
But at least one part of me enjoyed it a great deal.
I was the one who usually did the taking care of in my relationships, as brief as most of them had been. To have someone taking care of me in that fashion, and holding my attention at the same time, was disconcerting for me.
But it felt good, too.
And Evaline was far better at it than I was. I was learning things from her, including how it felt when she did the things she was doing. I thought future girlfriends would appreciate what Evaline was teaching me.
"I was hoping to see her." Evaline tugged my arm lightly, getting us moving in the mayor's direction.
"I can't meet the mayor!" I said firmly. "She's my boss, several levels removed."
"All the more reason to meet her," Evaline countered. I was helpless when she tugged again.
But while my body was docile, my mouth was not. "I can't meet her dressed like this."
Evaline brought us to a stop and turned me towards her. "Do you mean to say you can't meet her while you're on my arm?"
"No, I meant what I said. I'm a cop. Cops don't dress like this. A cop who can afford a gown like this is on the take."
"Ah. Have no fear, Teigan. Trust me."
She let me considered her words. "This is my career, Evaline."
"Of course it is, and I have repeatedly told you I want you to continue in your career. Will you trust me?"
I took a breath then nodded. And so it was only another dozen steps until we approached the mayor.
"Evaline!" the mayor said warmly. "How good to see you."
"Hello, Paula," Evaline replied, releasing me so she could exchange hugs and cheek kisses with the mayor. "You know I wouldn't miss it."
The two chatted for a moment as I and the two gentlemen the mayor had been speaking to looked on. Finally the mayor provided introductions. "Seamus, you remember Evaline Marsh." I learned Seamus was the mayor's husband. He wasn't in the news much, and I'd never seen him. "And this is Dexter DaSilva," the mayor said, introducing the other man.
Evaline shook hands with him, expressing pleasure in meeting the owner of DaSilva enterprises. I knew that name -- it was plastered to construction projects all over town.
"And may I introduce my companion for the evening," Evaline said, pulling me forward. "This is Detective Teigan St. Claire of our city's finest White Collar division."
"Ah, Detective St. Claire," the mayor said, taking my hand. "You handled that case at a year or two ago at the Applewood Community Bank."
"I did, Ms. Mayor." I was impressed she recognized my name.
"That was good police work," the mayor continued as I shook hands with her husband and Mr. DaSilva. "Detective St. Claire is one of this city's rising stars." Okay, that was the politician in her speaking, but I stood taller anyway.
"Just doing my job, ma'am," I replied.
"Just doing her job," Evaline repeated. "The good detective is quite devoted to her job, and I for one feel better knowing we have people like her protecting the rest of us." She took my arm again, clearly making us out to be a couple.
That felt like overdone flattery as well, but it felt good to hear.
"You look quite elegant tonight, Detective," the mayor's husband said. "Is this the new police uniform?"
Evaline laughed lightly. "You wouldn't believe what I had to go through to get her to accept this gown from me." Then she reached over and fondled the nearest earring. "I dare say she looks better than I do in my jewelry."
"No one could look better than you, Evaline," the mayor said with a light laugh. "But I admit I wouldn't have guessed your dinner date to be a member of the police force."
"It's definitely not my usual look," I admitted. I looked over
at Evaline. She was smiling at me, the sort of smile that said she was pleased to have me with her. It felt good. "And Evaline is right. I didn't want to come. But I'm glad she talked me into it."
"It's a bit of a first date for us," Evaline explained. "But I am finding Teigan to be quite a complicated, intriguing woman. I find myself wondering what it would take to convince her to let me keep her."
My eyes widened at that, but she was smiling so endearingly that I relaxed.
Evaline talked for a few minutes more with the three of them. I remained quiet but listened intently. But then she pulled me away, and I went with a certain amount of relief.
"So," Evaline said. "The good mayor recognized you."
"Is she the one you called to try to get me to drop this case?" I asked it very quietly, my mouth aimed towards her ear. She stiffened slightly before responding.
"No. I didn't have to aim quite so high."
"And to get McCullum and Janes to drop it?"
"Who said I did anything to influence how they handled a case?"
"Let's not pretend either of us is stupid."
"This isn't the place for this conversation."
"Then the sooner you say either Yes or No, the sooner the conversation ends."
She chuckled at that. "I have never used my influence with the mayor in that fashion."
"You've used it in other fashions?"
"Of course. She comes to charity events when I ask her to. But I attend events when she asks me to."
"Fair enough," I said, ready to drop it. But Evaline turned me to face her, although we stood very close together. "If I did use influence on this case, do you fault me for it?"
I'd thought about that, so I had an answer ready, for what it was worth. "I don't know anymore. I may have an opinion after I see Rachel tonight."
"Fair enough," the demon said, echoing my own words from a moment before. "It's about time to sit for dinner. Shall we find our seats?"
"I presume it's at the head table with the mayor."
"Oh, not at all," Evaline replied. "I maintain a lower profile than that." She got us moving towards the dining hall.
"But you could be there if you wanted to?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, we roamed the tables until we found a pair of name tags with her name. Evaline introduced us to the other two couples and then held my seat for me. Then she leaned to whisper into my ear.
