by Theda Vallee
“Are you sure we should start with a couple’s massage? They have unlimited free drinks. Unless they’re willing to give us really long straws we can’t guzzle anything while face down on a massage table.” Nerina asked as we stripped naked in the massage room.
“Everything on my body hurts. I need this first to be able to relax. Besides, we can afford to buy our own damn drinks if we don’t get enough while we’re here.” I said, grinning at her.
The massage therapists entered the room once we were face down and covered. Turning the lights all the way down, they lit candles throughout the room. The sound of rain falling on a rooftop softly filled trickled in from discreet speakers. I was starting to relax without a single muscle having been worked. I’d spent every waking hour these last few weeks drenched in anxiety, which had done a number on my body. Add to that all the new ways I’d been forcing myself to move and my body screamed for relief.
“So, you seem to be warming back up to Mr. Tall-Blond-and Brooding the last week or so. You going to bang him or what?” Nerina asked, breaking the fragile bubble of silence in the room.
My masseuse coughed discreetly, trying to hold in a laugh. I could feel her hands shaking with the effort. Why did I think having a couple’s massage with Nerina was a good idea?
“Really? I’m trying to relax. I don't want to talk about him or work right now,” I said, grunting as the hands at my back dug into a coil of angry muscles.
“We don’t get much time together anymore, and who else is going to listen to you talk about this?”
“If I give you five hundred bucks will you shut up for the rest of the massage?” I asked.
A snort was all I got in reply. It’d been worth a try. “Fine. I don’t know. Somedays I really like him. He seems to be trying to make up for things. He let the Father slide. He promised to do the same for the teacher they’re seeing today. Other days he’s his normal prick self and it’s all I can do not to hit him.” I said, hoping it was enough for her to leave it alone.
“What about the sparks? You know what I mean?” Nerina asked trying to be discreet with the presence of non-magical people in the room.
For once in her life she was aware of her surroundings. I should be thankful for small miracles. “It’s still there. I can feel it before it hits in full force now, so I’ve been able to get myself out of his vicintywhen it happens. Usually I excuse myself to the bathroom. He probably thinks I have a bladder infection.”
“Why don’t you just let it happen. Rip the band-aid off. What if it just disappears once you do the deed? Sometimes spells resolve themselves that way,” Nerina replied.
“You make it sound so easy. It’s hard enough to work with him now. What if it’s just a one-night thing? What if I don’t want more but he does? Or vice versa? What if it’s terrible? How do you go to work every day knowing what your boss looks like naked? Or that he sucks in bed? Even worse, what if he’s amazing? It’s too much. I need to focus on keeping my ass out of the emergency room, not getting busy with co-workers.”
“You make it sound so complicated. Sex is not that big of a deal. I think it’s something monumental in your head because you’ve only ever been with Red. You were a teenager when you slept with him and barely more than that when he left. It’s time to have adult sex. Trust me, it’ll be life-altering.”
Sex had been lackluster with my ex. We’d been young. I had no idea how to ask for what I wanted. I did want to have adult sex with a man who would do more than stick it in and move up and down a few times. Just because Luc and I had chemistry didn’t mean he was the only guy in Palermo Bay that it could happen with.
“I want to. I don’t know. I’ll have to give it some more thought.” My poor masseuse was struggling to maintain her professional demeanor as we discussed my lack of a sex life. I needed to leave her a giant tip.
We walked out of the spa three hours later pampered, starving, and tipsy. They had not been kidding about the free drinks, nor had they been stingy with the strength of them. I was relaxed, feeling extra cute, and ready for some tacos. Thankfully one of my favorite Mexican restaurants was only three blocks away.
As we walked down the sidewalk towards the restaurant I was overcome with emotion. My family hadn’t been this carefree in weeks. I wanted to hug them and promise that everything was going to be ok from here on out. I wanted to apologize for everything I’d inadvertently done that drug them into this mess with me. I was a sentimental drunk. I needed to focus on the tacos that were about to get in my belly. Tacos always helped me feel better about life’s complicated bullshit.
Chapter
15
“Put your shoes back on, Mama,” Gia said to Aunt Sophia for the fifth time since we’d been seated.
“But my toes are too pretty to cover.” She glanced down at her amethyst hued toes one more time before sadly slipping her flats back on.
Her hand reached up, primping her hair for the hundredth time. She’d talked the stylist into giving her a purple streak on the left side of her newly bobbed hair. We’d tried to talk her out of it. How was she going to go to church with purple hair? She’d refused to listen. Having her toes match her hair was some sort of bucket list item for her. It was a weird thing to have on your bucket list, but this was Aunt Sophia. I hated to admit it, but she looked adorable.
We oohed and ahhed over Nonna’s haircut until she was beaming. If I was being honest, it didn’t look any different. I had a feeling she’d only let them trim the split ends. My stubborn grandmother also left her fingernails bare of any polish after her manicure. She hadn't even splurged on a splash of color for her toes. One day I was going to break her out of that utilitarian shell. I’d force her to do something wild, like get hot pink nails. I had time to work on it. It was going to take a few years to get her back to the spa.
I took a sip of my margarita, letting the flavor roll around on my tongue. I didn't need another drink, but what kind of savage eats tacos without a margarita? I hadn’t been this relaxed or happy in months. Sure, money can’t buy happiness, but it can make you feel good for a few hours. Right now, I felt great. I grabbed my taco, savoring the crunch of the shell as I bit into it. Yep. I felt amazing.
“We still need to go find you a hat Aunt Sophia,” I said between bites.
“I don’t want this hat. It will hide my new hairs.” She lifted her hands up to primp her hair again.
We might have created a monster.
“Do you still want to go to the mall? We need a new outfit before this day is done. Besides, we look too cute to go home,” Nerina said.
My phone vibrated on the table before I could answer. The newly loosened muscles in my back instantly tightened at the sight of Luc’s name. I was terrified that they’d arrested the teacher. The last thing I wanted was to go watch some poor woman be interrogated.
Meet Leontyne in fifteen minutes at 1425 W. Harvac Apt 212. Possible crime scene. Follow her lead. Be there as soon as we can.
Fuck! No! Come on! I was having such a good day. I didn't want to go look at a possible crime scene. I especially didn't want to do that with Leontyne, whom I still hadn’t texted back. She was going to be livid. I’d already resigned myself to dealing with her tomorrow. Today was supposed to be about relaxing. I wanted to cry.
Ignoring the questioning looks of my family I mapped the address on my phone. It’d take fifteen minutes to get there from the restaurant. Well, shit. I needed to leave now. There was no point in ruining everyone’s afternoon. I’d order a ride and let them go shopping without me. I pulled the app up to order my car and was shocked at the wait time. We were downtown. There should be all kinds of cars creeping through the streets waiting to pick someone up. How is it the one time I need a ride there were none available? Why did I have the worst luck in everything?
“I’m sorry but I have to ruin the party. I’ve been summoned to a crime scene. I need you guys to drop me off. The wait time for a car is too long. I’m supposed to be there in fifteen m
inutes.” It killed me to watch their faces as their happiness evaporated.
“Are you sober enough to be at a crime scene?” Gia asked.
“I’m fine. I haven’t had that much to drink.” I was tipsy but not drunk. “Besides, it’s a crime scene. The bad stuffs already happened.”
I sat mourning my taco as I packed them into the to-go box. I knew the grease was going to soak in, ruining the crunchy shells before I got to eat them. The Osservatori sure had a knack for ruining meals. It was starting to feel intentional.
Gia sped through the streets, ignoring all the posted speed limits. All three of us girls had learned how to drive from Aunt Sophia’s husband, Uncle Paulie (RIP). According to him, speed limits were a violation of our civil rights. Anyone who dared to get in his way on the road would find out exactly how big of an idiot they were. We’d all learned to drive barreling down a freeway at eighty miles an hour with Uncle Paulie screaming at every driver on the road. It was second nature to push the pedal down into the floor as soon as any of us got in the car. We made it to the address in exactly fifteen minutes. That time included Aunt Sophia going back into the restaurant twice for something she’d forgotten.
“I love you guys. Stop at the liquor mart and get some good wine. I’m going to need a bottle when I get home,” I said, hopping out of the car.
Scanning the sidewalk, I didn't see any sign of Leontyne. If she’d seen me, I’m sure she would’ve been screaming at me by now. I looked at the apartment building in surprise. Nothing about it screamed crime scene. I’m not sure what I’d been expecting. Maybe an abandoned warehouse? It was two-story mint green building in the shape of a U. All the apartment doors faced inward overlooking a well-maintained courtyard. It was somewhere I’d probably live if I ever moved out of my family’s house.
I had no idea what to do. If Leontyne was here, she might’ve gone up expecting me to meet here. If she wasn't here I didn’t want to go into a potential crime scene by myself. Would it kill Luc to give me a little better direction?
Reaching for my phone I decided to text Leontyne. Patting my pockets, I closed my eyes in frustration. Of course. I left my phone in the car. Good job, Etta! Why don’t you just run off to a crime scene with no way to communicate to the outside world?
I stood in the courtyard for a small eternity. Several of the residents strolled by glancing at me with suspicion. These people had to be paranoid if they thought I was up to something. I looked cute. I didn't look like someone waiting to commit a crime. On the other hand, maybe, that was just the type of person who’d commit a crime. If I kept standing here awkwardly someone was bound to call the real police. Despite every cell in my body telling me it was stupid, I decided to see if Leontyne was upstairs. I didn’t have to go into the apartment. I just needed to check if she was up there. If there was no sign of her, I could run back down and go to the taco shop I’d seen up the street.
Slowly, I made my way up the stairs. Each step sent panic racing through me. Stella perked up as the adrenaline pounded inside me. She slithered up the wall of my abdomen in response, waiting for a call to action. What was I scared of? I had a metric ton of magic at my fingertips. I’d gotten some control over it these last few weeks. I could summon a fireball on command. There was no reason to be afraid of an empty apartment.
I walked down the breezeway, following the numbers on the doors towards apartment 212. From where I stood I could see the door was slightly ajar. That bitch! She’d left me standing down there knowing that I had no idea what to do once I got here. My angry footsteps thudded on the concrete walkway as I headed towards the apartment. I pushed the door open expecting to be greeted by some snarky remark about being late. I’d made enough noise for everyone in the building to know I was headed that way. Instead of an angry redhead, I was greeted with a very empty living room. The only window in the front room had a thick curtain pulled over it. The room was heavily shadowed even though it was not yet five o’clock. My magic sizzled in apprehension just underneath my skin. I probably should’ve knocked.
“Hello? Leontyne?”
That was dumb. How many slasher films did I have to watch to realize this was how people got killed? I should go back to the courtyard. Luc had said they’d head over here as soon as they could.
Most of my brain agreed with this idea. There was a small portion of my brain that hesitated. What if Leontyne had come up here and was hurt? It wasn’t like her to be late to an Osservatori party. She lived for this shit. Someone could’ve still been here when she arrived and surprised her. She could be unconscious in the back room bleeding to death. She could also be stuck in traffic. If I left the apartment without looking and something bad had happened to her I’d never forgive myself. Damn you moral compass! Damn you to hell!
I stepped over the threshold not bothering to be quiet. I’d already announced my presence when I’d thundered up the walkway like a stampeding elephant. Instead, I pulled on my magic, willing it move through me. I felt my body expand as it poured into my cells. Goosebumps scattered across my skin as the warmth of magic met the cooler ocean air drifting in from the open door.
My eyes adjusted to the dim lighting as I moved through the living room towards the kitchen. The room was small, divided by a bar stool height counter. As I approached the kitchen an unholy smell filled my nostrils. Bile flooded my esophagus as I struggled not to gag. Please don't let that be the smell of a rotting corpse. I knew nothing about the stages of death. The only thing I knew was that bodies bloated and stank. A video of a whale corpse exploding on the beach flashed through my mind, causing me to pause for a moment. Did human bodies do the same thing? It’d be my luck to be there right when the gas filling the cavity reached maximum capacity. I gagged again as the smell permeated my nostrils.
I made my way around the small counter cautiously. As I lifted my foot to step into the kitchen a distinct squelching sound broke the silence. I lifted my other foot resulting in the same sickening sound. I looked down praying I was standing in mud. Weirder things have been found in people’s apartments.
Fuck me. Even in the dark I could tell what it was. Blood. More blood than I’d ever seen in my life. Every inch of the tiny kitchen floor was covered in a thick layer of it. There was no sign of a body, just buckets of gore.
Before I could lose my margarita, the front door squealed behind me. As slow as possible I turned, praying I kept my footing. With the way things were going for me I could envision myself sliding around in blood while someone attacked me.
The doorway was empty.
It could have just been the wind. Magic sizzled on my fingertips. Alarm bells ripped through my nervous system, pushing the magic to the surface of my entire body. Staring out the door I saw that the leaves on the trees were not moving. Not even a smidgen.
Shadows loomed on the concrete outside the door. Heavy thudding steps echoed throughout the room. Leontyne was built like a model. There was no way she had enough meat on her to make that much noise. A body came into view leaping through the doorway. Without hesitation, I raised my hand willing my magic to bend to my will. A flame shot out of my hand hurtling at the shadowy intruder.
“Are you kidding me? What the actual fuck!” The intruder screamed, sounding eerily like my sister. “Etta, you almost turned me into a human bonfire!”
“Nerina?” I asked, my voice shaking. If it wasn't her I was so screwed.
“Who else would it be?” Nerina snapped. She marched over to wall flipping the switch. Light flooded the apartment letting me see my very angry sister.
“What is happening? Who is in here screaming like sailors?” Nonna said as she strode through the doorway. Close on her heels was Gia and Aunt Sophia.
“What are you guys doing here? You can’t be here. You need to go!” I yelled as they moved further into the room.
“Did anyone notice the curtains are on fire?” Gia asked, pointing to flames that were rapidly spreading.
Running across the room, I ripped the curt
ain off the rod. The last thing I needed was to be responsible for burning down an entire apartment complex. I ran out the door throwing the flaming fabric onto the ground. I began furiously stomping on it to extinguish the flames. That was a huge mistake. Where we lived it was flip-flop weather all year. The rubber on my shoes began to melt as soon as it contacted the fire. I kicked them off as quickly as possible before leaping back.
“Can someone bring me some water?” I screamed into the doorway.
A high pitched hysterical scream was the only reply. I’d forgotten the blood in the kitchen. I ran back into the house. Judging from the sound of the shrieks inside I was never going to get water.
A giant fountain drink sat on the counter. Thank god for small favors. I leaned over the counter to the sink filling the cup with water, ignoring the utter chaos of my family. As quick as I could move without spilling the cup, I ran back outside. The curtain was almost completely engulfed in flames. I dumped the cup of water over the flames, barely making a dent. This was not going well.
“Etta! Did you know there was blood everywhere? Gross. Your feet are covered in it,” Nerina shrieked.
“Dolce, that is very unhealthy,” Aunt Sophia said as if I’d somehow soaked my feet in blood on purpose.
“Why don’t you use your magic?” Gia asked, peeking her head out the door.
Why didn’t I think of that? What the hell was magic for if not getting my ass out of hot water? I pushed my hysteria aside as the flames threatened to consume more than the curtain. Rolling back my shoulders I pushed to my center, digging down for Stella. She’d slammed herself into hiding after we almost roasted Nerina. Come on girl. We need to get this flame out or we could both be toast. I imagined the air being sucked out from around the fire. I willed the space around the curtain to become a vacuum that would crush the fires ability to fuel itself. Learning from my past mistakes, I was very clear that I didn’t want a fucking Hoover. I wanted a contained space with no oxygen. Sweat dripped down my face as magic ripped through me pulsing with my intent. Slowly the flames began to die suffocating as the oxygen around them dissipated. After a small eternity the last few flames sputtered, fluttering out of existence.
