“Yeah, we got him,” Drew nodded. “Cool having you out with us. You coming to the party Saturday night?”
“It’s a plan,” Lorelei said, flashing them all a winning smile as she sauntered out.
Most of the patrons of the pool hall watched her go-almost everyone, except the slightly heavyset man in a cheap suit seated at a table near the bar. He focused on going unnoticed, which required effort given the presence of another of his kind in the pool hall. He simply kept to himself, kept his head down as he ate.
The guys moved into a two-on-two game with Alex partnered up with Drew. “So now that she’s gone and we can cynically talk about her behind her back…” Jason observed dryly.
“Yeah, yeah. What’s on your mind?”
“That story about you two meeting serious?” Drew asked. “Guys had jumped her, you came to her rescue?”
“Pretty much,” Alex nodded. He noted their resounding chorus of “what-aren’t-you-telling-us” stares. “So the thing is, it happened over by Sacred Heart cemetery,” he said quietly. “And then the funeral parlor there caught fire from something, and Lorelei really didn’t want to talk to the cops.”
“And why’s that?” Jason asked, suspicious once more.
“Because she’s had some nasty associations in the past.”
“Like the dudes who jumped you and Taylor?”
Alex nodded at Jason’s frown. Jason had always been sharp. It wasn’t a surprise that he smelled bullshit. “Exactly like that,” Alex said.
“But you don’t think she’s got her own trouble with the cops?”
Alex shook his head. “No. She had no problem talking to them last night. Identified herself and all that. Would’ve preferred not to, but when she had to there were no worries.”
“Huh,” Jason said. The guys looked at one another, particularly Wade and Drew.
Wade lifted his head curiously. “Show us,” he said.
Unsure what Wade meant for a moment, Alex finally shrugged and put down his pool cue. He looked around the pool hall furtively — it was growing fairly empty at this point-and then unbuttoned his untucked shirt and peeled off the bandage over his wound.
All three guys took a look. Wade whistled appreciatively. “God damn, you are one lucky sumbitch,” he chuckled.
“You don’t know the half of it,” broke in a scratchy voice. Alex fixed his shirt and the guys all turned toward the newcomer. He had strolled up as they talked, probably listening in despite the music on the PA system and the other customers…
…who, now that Alex glanced around, were very few indeed. And those who remained seemed to be packing up.
“Help you with something?” Alex asked.
“Yeah. More to the point, I wanted to see if I could help you guys with something. You all seem to be a bit in over your heads tonight…you in particular, pal,” the stranger said, eyeing Alex. His words were friendly enough. He had a nice, disarming smile. Yet all four young men found Rob’s company rather unsettling.
Chapter 10:
“The honeymoon suite is available? Yes, I’ve seen it. Such a lovely view of the Sound. We’ll absolutely love it. Yes, same information as before,” Lorelei said into her cell phone, strolling along outside the pool hall. “Tomorrow through Sunday. Yes, check out on Monday.”
The wet sheen of Seattle’s frequent drizzle coated just about everything. Lorelei kept her eyes on her surroundings as she spoke. “Lovely. Thank you, Jeffrey. You’re a doll.” At that, she tapped her phone off and strode across the street.
“Rachel,” she said clearly, “we must speak.”
Lorelei waited until Rachel stepped out from behind a parked SUV. The damp air left her white dress clinging to her lithe figure and had her blonde hair hanging damply from her head. The angel’s face was set in a sulky, suspicious frown. “What do we have to talk about?” she asked.
“You could have come inside. Joined us.” Lorelei’s voice hinted-barely-at compassion. “You look like a forlorn puppy out here.”
Rachel’s pouty frown deepened. “I’m not bothered by a little rain.”
“Of course you aren’t.”
“What do you want?”
“Our master asked that we attempt to put aside our hostilities,” Lorelei said coolly. “I am compelled to honor that-by more than just our bond.”
The angel’s eyes narrowed. “He’s not mm-” Her voice trailed off.
Lorelei merely nodded. “You feel it now, don’t you? It is as you said in the cemetery. You were affected less than I, but your bond strengthens over time. You are as inextricably linked to Alex as I.”
They stared at one another for a long moment, Rachel with suspicion and Lorelei with patience and confidence. “It’s not as terrible as you might think. He is a good man, Rachel.”
“What do you know about goodness?”
“I am learning. Rachel, you and I must come to an accord, for the good of all three of us. Yourself most of all.”
“And you care so much about me because…?”
“He cares deeply for you. I am directly connected to such feelings. And I want him to be happy,” Lorelei answered evenly. “One of his friends inside is a smoker. He will likely come outside at some point, potentially with Alex. To be seen would interrupt us, and to conceal ourselves would waste power. He is safe with friends. Shall we walk?”
The angel kept her eyes on the succubus as she slowly turned to join her. “I’m watching you,” Rachel warned.
* * *
There were those who were ready to be approached by a demon, and those who were not.
It was a fundamental principle for beings such as Rob Gorge, as well as Lorelei and her kind. The protection of a mortal’s guardian angel-if it existed-held great influence, but the matter was largely determined by the choices a mortal had made in life. Hell did not inspire all evil, or even a majority of it; most of humanity’s darkness came from within. Demons found prey only among those who had already begun to slip.
Benevolence and a virtuous life warded off the attentions of Hell far more effectively than religious piety. Even a firm atheist like Jason was generally safe from visitations from the Pit if he lacked in greed or cruelty. Moreover, those who were not ready to receive Hell’s overtures typically shunned them on instinct. Fear, suspicion, even hostility could quickly rise as the subconscious mind felt the soul’s reaction to danger and evil. Subtle powers of manipulation required targets with lowered defenses.
Rob knew all this. These boys weren’t ripe. He’d been a little crazy since last night, though. Lorelei all but made him roll over and beg. Now, however, he’d found the weak point. He could score an amazing coup here. And then the succubus would learn her place…underneath Rob.
In Rob’s mind, and in the mind of most demons, working mortal marks was all just a matter of timing and circumstance. He had great faith in mankind’s ability to fall. One just had to coax them along correctly.
“That girl of yours, son,” Rob said to Alex with a paternal smile, “she’s trouble.”
“Show us a girl who isn’t,” Jason said flatly.
“Point,” Rob sighed. “How much do you know about her?”
“Everything I need to know,” Alex said.
“I kinda doubt that.”
“Sorry, who the hell are you?”
He shrugged, offered his hand. “Pleased to meet you. Hope you guess my name.”
“Oh, so you’re Satan,” Alex scoffed.
“I always figured Satan would look more like Ozzy Osbourne,” Jason frowned.
“Man,” Drew put in, “I always thought Satan was Ozzy Osbourne.”
Rob chuckled, swallowing his resentment as he withdrew his unshaken hand. “I’m Rob. Rob Gorge. She didn’t tell you about me? Can’t say I’m surprised. We come from intersecting social circles, let’s say. Anyway, I’m Rob, and I’m the owner of this establishment.”
“Owner’s an older guy named Ahmed,” Drew said.
“No, the owner was Ahmed,” Rob corrected. “I bought the place out half an hour ago. It’s a nice place.” Rob glanced around at the last few people on their way out. “Spent a bit of time buying out everyone’s tab so we could talk, too.”