“You may be wondering about this creature who could appear and disappear at will. I have come to learn that she is what’s known as a djinn, genie to most of us. But she doesn’t grant wishes.” Liz provided a brief definition and explanation about genies. It seemed mostly taken from Wikipedia but was fairly accurate.
“So, who was Jena Jawahir?” There followed a timeline of Juni’s death in Roger’s car accident, the justice system releasing him, and then Jena’s three murders.
“This genie would not have stopped – she said as much – had she not been killed.” This conclusion seemed directed at me. Did Jacob tell her that I’d been feeling guilty?
“Now the big question. Was she alone? I’m here to inform you that she was not. She was alone in the killing, yes, but there is an entire paranormal underworld existing in Las Vegas. In addition to the genie, we have vampires and beings who can bewitch you with their voices. And that’s just scratching the surface.” Thank goodness for small favors, I guess, that she had not identified my species yet. I refocused as she continued.
“You know I don’t usually track rumors.” I arched an eyebrow. Really? “But, I’ve also heard that there’s a whole agency providing representation for actors of the other-than-human persuasion.” How did she find out about Catherine?!
“It seems as though we have become ground zero for the paranormal. If you’ve had any unexplainable things happen to you, I want to know about them. The paranormal exist – we need to know how far their reach goes!” With that and a self-satisfied smirk, she signed off. I fumed that she would sensationalize our existence, imply that we were somehow a threat. Sure, we had more abilities than humans, but except for the vampire Cleaners, we mostly left humanity alone. Sheesh.
I clicked off the television. A text notification pinged. Hope bloomed. Jacob?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
My hope dashed when I saw the text was from Catherine.
How did she find out about PTA???
I thought for a moment of possible ways.
I don’t know. Could Evie have told her after she admitted being a vampire?
Yeah, maybe. I don’t think she would have unless she thought she was protecting us in some way.
That makes sense.
I’ll check in with her tonight. Maybe ask her what the Family thinks.
Sounds good.
I supposed it really didn’t matter how Liz found out. Once the paranormal cat was out of the bag, nothing was going to stop Liz from digging until she found the answers she wanted. I sighed, wondering if she’d reach out to me again or not. And what my reaction would be if she did. More importantly, I wondered if the Family would eliminate her. I suspected Liz was right, though; she was too visible to be taken out now without drawing undue suspicion.
A knock disturbed my thoughts. I was thankful for the interruption and headed to open the door.
“Jacob!”
“Hi, Mia.” He searched my face, for what I was uncertain.
I gestured inward. “Did you want to come in?”
A smile lit up his face. “Yes.”
I followed him, confused thoughts swirling in my mind. Why was he here? I appreciated the view of his backside as we walked to my couch. We sat, our knees inches apart. The air between us charged.
“What can I do for you, Jacob?”
“I saw Liz’s show.”
“Ah.”
“I wanted to, um, check on you.”
“You did?”
Hurt shined in his eyes at my question. “You don’t think I’d be worried about you?”
I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. We didn’t leave things very…positive.”
His cheeks reddened. “I didn’t know what to say before. I don’t like being lied to.”
“I don’t think I lied to you. Lie of omission, maybe.”
He reached for my hands, the familiar spark making us both smile. “That’s not what I meant. I’m screwing this up.” His hands tightened around mine. “I’m not blaming you for anything. I missed you.”
“It’s only been a day.”
“I still missed you.”
“Me too.”
We sat in silence, lost in each other’s eyes. Then he frowned. “But, this—” He released me and stood. He walked to my sliding glass doors, stared out at the water, or maybe the mountains in the distance.
“Is what we feel real? Liz said you can bewitch people with your voice.” He turned and I saw the fear and desire.
“Yes,” I responded simply. “That’s true. I can entrance people.”
“Entrance,” he repeated with a nod.
I approached him. When he stiffened, I stopped, tears pooling in my eyes. “I didn’t do that to you. I promise.” Some of the tension bled away, but I still felt a wall between us.
“Let me tell you who I am and then you can decide if that’s something you want—” I coughed “—can live with.” He nodded. “Although I am humanoid, I’m not human. I am a nixie.” I chuckled at his confusion. “Most people have never heard of us. A nix, or a naiad, is a water spirit.” Understanding dawned in his eyes.
“When you stayed underwater without breathing?”
“Exactly. A nixie can live on the land, obviously, but needs to return to the water regularly to stay alive.”
“You live in a desert,” he contradicted with a smile.
“I do. Hide in plain sight, right? Besides, why do you think I live in The Lakes? And have a pool?”
“Makes sense.” His eyes clouded again. “What about—?”
I blew out my breath, knowing this was the make or break moment for us. “Nixie are sometimes called sirens. Are you familiar with them? You could say we’re cousins. They’re the more destructive members of our family.” He reflected my smile.
“Yes, I can entrance people with my voice. I’m quite the spellbinding singer, in fact. But,” I frowned, “I don’t like doing it and so only do it when I feel that it’s truly necessary. I’ve never done it to someone I … cared … about.”
“You care about me?” Desire pooled in his eyes.
I caressed his cheek, feeling the bristly stubble. He must not have shaved this morning. “I do.”
His hand captured mine against his face and he brought my palm to his lips for a delicate kiss. “I care about you too.”
Tingles shot through me at his words and his touch. I leaned forward in anticipation but he leaned back, releasing my hands. “What?”
He looked so earnest I almost laughed but my stomach rumbled with worry. “I need to apologize,” he started.
“That’s not—” I interrupted to tell him it wasn’t necessary but stopped.
Jacob smiled crookedly. “Yeah, it’s necessary,” he responded to my unspoken sentiment. “You frustrated me.” I opened my mouth to object. “Please, let me say this.” I closed my mouth and nodded.
“You frustrated me,” he repeated. “Because of my insane attraction to you.” We both smiled. “And also, because I knew you were keeping something from me. I never thought you were a killer. But, I knew it was something. Being another species is a pretty big something.”
He stared at me and I could feel the electricity in the air between us. I wanted more than anything in this moment for him to take me in his arms.
“Then I had to worry that what I felt wasn’t real.”
I couldn’t help it, I interrupted. “I never entranced you. You just legitimately find me sexy.”
Jacob laughed a deep belly laugh. “I know. I believe you. And, I definitely find you sexy.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“I’m glad.”
Unable to wait for him to make his move, I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head against his shoulder. I listened to his heart beat and his breathing. “Oh, and I’m about 200-years-old.” His arms tightened around me for a moment and then relaxed. He chuckled, low and sexy.
�
��Man, you are really robbing the cradle, aren’t you?”
The last of my tension dissipated and I pulled back to gaze into his eyes. “Yes, I am,” I said with a smirk. “There’s a lot about me that you still don’t know.”
“I look forward to learning every single thing,” he assured me.
The heat and electricity between us increased. “Kiss me.”
Jacob did. A sigh escaped me. His lips, sweetly at first and then with more insistence, pressed against mine. I didn’t know where we were headed, in this moment or as a couple. Right now, this was all I cared about. Being together. After our long lingering kiss, Jacob pulled away and I saw the light in his eyes.
“By the way, what are you going to do about Liz’s big reveal?”
“I don’t know. We’re all out of the closet now. I guess that’s a wrap!”
Or is it?
Here’s a sneak peek at Episode 4…
EPISODE FOUR PREVIEW
As the founder and owner of Landon Talent Agency, could I ever have predicted I’d make a deal with the devil? Okay, technically, Barbara Knollman was a low-level demon. But still. I’d agreed to do the demon’s bidding and, if I wasn’t entirely sorry for having made that deal, I definitely had regrets.
Now I sat in the overstuffed leather chair opposite the Councilwoman, my hands clasped in my lap, eyes downcast, like I’d been called to the principal’s office. Though, in a way, that was true.
“Robin, this has worked out perfectly,” Barbara intoned. She stood at the window overlooking Main Street, immobile, her brown hair swept back in a tight bun. She returned to her chair behind the imposing solid wood desk and sat, her hands resting on its surface, talon-like fingernails displayed.
The effect worked.
I swallowed audibly and Barbara chuckled.
“You really wanted the paranormal underworld to be exposed like this?” I asked.
Barbara smiled, her small sharp teeth drawing attention. “Yes. I did. I foresaw the path to my success. It included the exposure,” she explained, tapping her manicured talons against the fine wood-grain.
“I’m not sure I understand what this has been about,” I admitted in a small voice.
Barbara looked condescendingly down on me, her minion. “I know. You will. Everyone will.”
Stay tuned for the exciting concluding trilogy for the Paranormal Talent Agency!
Coming in 2019
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather has written fiction and nonfiction; she is also an actress and licensed psychologist. When she isn’t working, she channels her inner flapper as a 1920s jazz and blues singer. She lives in Las Vegas with her wonderful husband Sidney and their goofy cat Snowball.
Visit http://www.heathersilvio.com for more information and to sign up for her New Releases, Bonus Material, and Updates Newsletter
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