Devil's Own (3 page)

“Knock it off, buddy, or I’ll have to ban you from my shop.” But it was an empty threat, Gus knew, as he blushed, and Niall just grinned wider.

Sometimes Gus wondered why a guy like Niall was interested in him. The reason wasn’t about any absence of hotness, since Gus had many times been referred to as a surfer version of a twink, even though he probably exceeded the standard maximum height by two inches at least. No, the puzzlement arose from their being so different from each other.

Despite his unkempt appearance, Niall adhered to a strict regimen he followed on his off-hours as well. His place was always tidy and neat, the bedclothes tucked to military perfection. Had there been any dust bunnies lurking around, they would have run screaming if they had met Niall in a dark corner.

In comparison, however, Gus was as laid-back as they came. Not much got to him, and even less rattled him. Yes, there had been the whole body-in-the-bathtub and body-burning-in-his-shop incidents, but those had been rare occurrences. Surely, Gus wasn’t going to keep stumbling onto bodies all the time, right? That would be a statistical anomaly—or a curse from the gods.

Nonetheless, with his surferlike attire of jeans, sandals, and artsy T-shirts, his blond bangs, green eyes, and a constant cloud of incense following his every step, Gus epitomized a pagan hippy. His pentacle pendant just confirmed his Wiccan faith for any and all to see.

In their personal lives, that meant that where Niall was circumspect, conscientious, and strict, Gus was impulsive, careless, and mellow. Perhaps that was simplifying it a bit, Gus admitted. Maybe they were just different enough to complement each other, enough to build a relationship on. That sounded good.

To get his wayward thoughts back into focus, Gus asked, “What brings you by in the middle of the afternoon?”

Niall dug a piece of paper from his pocket. “I need to show you something. This involves a case of mine, so I need you to be discreet.”

Gus resisted the urge to roll his eyes—as if he would ever intentionally betray the man’s confidence—but he didn’t manage to avoid pursing his lips. “You don’t say.”

“No need to get testy,” Niall needled softly. Then he grew serious, took a quick look around the shop, and slipped the paper over the counter to Gus. “Do you recognize these symbols or that language? It’s okay if you don’t. I’ll have to hit the Net and the library, then.”

But Gus had already seen the scribbles, and a shiver ran down his spine. He wanted to ask where Niall had gotten this, but he swallowed instead, fighting the compulsion. Speaking about an open investigation could open a whole can of worms for Niall, professionally speaking.

Unfortunately for them both, he
had
recognized some of the symbols. He lowered his voice considerably. “These are satanic.”

G
US
NOTICED
,
curious, that Niall’s expression seemed the same, perhaps a bit darker. Had this been the answer he had been expecting?

“Fuck. I was afraid you’d say that.” Niall cursed under his breath and tried to snag the paper from Gus.

Gus, however, pulled the paper back to study it more carefully. “I won’t ask where, how, or from whom you got this. But these symbols…. This is serious.”

Niall’s grim features softened. “Huh. I expected you to say something like live and let live, or to each his own, or some other platitude or pearl of worldly wisdom. You don’t approve of, uh, Satanism?”

Gus closed his eyes. This was not a conversation he had been looking forward to. “It’s not that. I mean, it sort of is. I’m a Wiccan. I cannot and will not pass judgment on the religious and spiritual choices of others.” He sighed, his gaze sweeping over the note. “Wicca is the worship of life, joy, love, and nature, while Satanism worships the evil in the world and within us all. It is the very antithesis of all I believe in.” He hesitated. “Still… I wouldn’t stand in anyone’s way if
that
faith was what they chose. The Goddess called to me. It’s understandable some… other deity calls to someone else.” Gus did not want to be a hypocrite, no matter how badly his skin crawled at the thought of worshipping at the altar of evil. But he had his own prejudices about this.

“What’s wrong?” As usual, Niall was attuned to Gus’s discomfort.

“Look, I don’t think I’m the best person to help you out with this. I….” He doubted himself more, wondering how to phrase what he meant. “I know I shouldn’t think like that…. Not considering how witches have been regarded throughout history, and even still today.”

“Oookay….” Niall quirked an eyebrow, obviously waiting for an explanation.

“They give me the heebie-jeebies, okay?” Gus hissed back, frustrated and ashamed at the same time. He didn’t want to be a man with prejudices, but he just couldn’t help it. “Anyway, I don’t know enough about them to help you,” he added quietly.

“Chill, babe.” Niall’s smile remained soft and understanding. “I’ll ask around if—”

“Juliette knows about them,” Gus suggested. Juliette Hayes was Gus’s teacher in the Wiccan way, a high priestess of great renown in Seattle. “She’s studied new religious movements for many years, including Satanism.”

“New… what?” Niall cocked his head to the side with a puzzled frown.

“It refers to religious and spiritual groups of modern origin; say, twentieth century onward. Like Satanism, Wicca is one. Well, it depends on who you’re asking.” Gus studied Niall carefully. “If you want, I can call Juliette and ask her if she’d speak with you today.”

Niall smiled gratefully, and Gus’s groin tightened with heat. “That would be great. Thanks, babe.”

Rolling his eyes over the endearment, Gus started dialing Juliette’s private number.

Niall looked about, wrinkling his nose. Gus had seen that expression before. The shop carried items with heavy scents, such as aromatherapy sticks and perfumed candles. The smell of sandalwood was usually the strongest of the bunch, but now the air was all but clean. “You’ve aired the shop, I see. No more smoke.”

“Yeah. Pretty great, eh?” To Gus’s statement, Niall answered with a nod.

After the fire that had nearly burned Gus’s shop to the ground—not to mention having killed a man in the process—the pungent odors of smoke, soot, and water damage had dominated the small space. After the debris had been cleared and the place fixed, Gus simply didn’t have it in him to keep smoking incense or burning candles about anymore. Maybe one day he’d feel comfortable doing so again, but not now.

Focusing on the task at hand, Gus spoke with Juliette, and in less than a minute, he had scheduled a meeting between his mentor and his boyfriend. “All set, Niall. Have fun.”

Niall leaned over the counter to plant a soft, but confident, kiss on his lips. He winked as he backed away toward the door. “Later, Gus.” Then he was gone.

Gus worried his lower lip, wondering how to deal with this latest development. Niall’s last case had gotten Gus into trouble, though it had been his own fault too, for meddling. Witches had died. Gus had almost died.

And now this Satanism business? Gus was concerned; he couldn’t help himself. It was in his nature to worry about his loved ones. Well, since the
L
-word had not yet been uttered by either man, perhaps “those he cared about” was a more accurate way of putting it.

If he got off work early tonight, he could dash right over to Juliette’s to see what was what. Or he would wait for Niall to stop by Gus’s apartment over the shop and interrogate him good and proper—maybe in bed, with handcuffs.
Mmm, yummy
….

For now, though, he had no choice but to allow Niall to handle his investigation the way he wanted. Because even though he had gotten mixed up with a murder investigation a month ago, Gus was no detective. He sighed sadly but then shook it off and went back to work.

“T
HANKS
FOR
seeing me on such short notice,” Niall said to Juliette as he sat down on her couch with tea and cupcakes in front of him.

“Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like I’m that busy these days. The Emporium runs itself now with Joy in charge. I was sure she wouldn’t want anything to do with witchcraft after… well, you know, after everything that happened.” Juliette cleared her throat and sipped her herbal tea. “But she’s a plucky one, that girl, I must say.”

The voluptuous woman who could tempt an angel to sin was dressed in a red woolly dress. She was in her early forties, but looked younger. Her eyes were as brown as her frizzy curls, and as warm and inviting as her smile. Today she wore no jewelry or makeup, and it appeared she had just woken up, though it was the afternoon.

“Glad she’s better than she was when she was found,” Niall agreed. Joy had met up with bad men and gotten into serious trouble. She was, thankfully, on the mend after the horrible ordeals she had faced. Joy was a survivor.

“So, Mr. Valentine, how may I be of assistance?” Juliette asked, refilling Niall’s cup of tea.

Niall didn’t beat around the bush. “What can you tell me about Satanism?”

Juliette’s gaze shot up, surprised. “Satanism? Are you thinking of converting?” From her smile it was obvious she was joking.

“Ha-ha. Just curious.”

“A case? Never mind, don’t answer.” Juliette rearranged herself against the cushions of the armchair. “I suppose Gus gave you his version. The evil cult.”

“Something to that effect, yeah.”

Juliette nodded. “Gus’s views of Satanism are somewhat, um, warped. He had a bad experience. I’ll leave it to him to share, if he so chooses.” She nibbled on her cupcake. “To put the matter in its simplest form, Satanism is the worship of a divine entity representing chaos, anarchy, and nonconformity. Satan, for example, is not viewed as the ultimate evil, but as the ultimate rebel to order and blind obedience.”

“Rebellion against the Christian faith?”

“Faith, church, dogma, the system—you name it, really. But it’s not as clear-cut as all that. There’s a call for spiritualism, even in today’s world. Established major religions don’t seem to offer much to those who value individualism and freedom of will and choice and yet still yearn for a religious setting. Of course, when it comes to devil worship, I suppose magic is the more common element.”

“Are these people… evil?”

Juliette smiled, both amused and enigmatic. “Every human being has the potential to be both good and evil. We all retain a grain of each within us. It is up to us which seedling grows to maturity. Through everyday choices the tree blossoms or withers.”

Niall grinned back. “As nice as that imagery is, I’m more curious about the dangers in this particular faith.”

Juliette frowned, pensive. “There are many kinds of Satanic groups, and as such the level of threat is also different. For example, theistic satanic cults believe in a specific deity. This, however, can vary from an evil, hedonistic Satan to a rebellious but wise light-bringer like Lucifer. Those two are not to be confused with each other. Atheistic Satanists, on the other hand, view the devil more as a symbol of carnality or an adversarial archetype than an actual god. So you see, Mr. Valentine, it is a bit more complicated than just labeling it evil.”

“Call me Niall, please.”

Juliette smiled back and nodded. “Niall.”

“How dangerous can these cults get?”

“You should be careful with your use of terminology, Niall. The term ‘cult’ carries very negative connotations, and some forms of Satanism are not only tolerated, but protected by the law.” Juliette seemed to think hard, a slight frown creasing her forehead. “There is a lot here to talk about. I think I need a little bit more from you to be of any use to you. Or else we’ll be here for days on end.” Her smile was at once apologetic and flippant.

Niall dug the piece of paper out of his pocket. He’d made a copy of it, and that was the one he was now holding. “I must ask you not to speak of this with anyone, not even Gus. Well, especially Gus. You know how he is, curious like that proverbial cat. I don’t want him hurt again.”

Juliette chuckled. “Ah, yes. That sounds about right. Of course, Niall. You can count on my discretion.”

“Can you identify any of these?” Niall gave her the paper.

Juliette looked at it curiously. Her displeasure wasn’t as obvious as Gus’s had been, but it was there. “Yes, there are several symbols I recognize. This one—” She pointed at an upside-down triangle with curves at the bottom and the letter V. “
—
is the sigil of Lucifer. Well, only a part of it. Definitely used as a symbol of Satan. There’s also the inverted pentagram, the satanic
S
symbolizing the destroyer, the demon head of Baphomet, and a goat’s head. This here, the satanic cross with the upside-down question mark, indicates the unholy trinity of Satan, Belial, and Leviathan, demons of great power. All pretty standard. What you’d expect.”

“Are these serious?”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean by serious. But I can tell you not all of these are purely satanic symbols. There are alchemical signs mixed in, and a few of these….” Her voice faded as she studied the paper, her head tilted to the side as if pondering. “They’re almost some kind of cryptography marks, like a cipher or a code. With these I cannot help you.” She raised her gaze to Niall, looking saddened. “That’s the trouble with symbols. What they mean to one person could be drastically different to another.”

Niall nodded, wondering how to proceed. “Do Satanists practice blood sacrifices or any kind of blood play during their rituals?”

“Oh, you do put me in the spot with these hard questions, don’t you?” Juliette teased. “Sacrifice in rituals is another topic that we could discuss for days. But… I wouldn’t rule it out. For a lot of satanic groups, blood is important, both as symbolic and as a ritualistic element. However, if you are asking me if I think these groups practice human sacrifice….” Juliette sighed. “I have no idea. I would cautiously say no. I am familiar with a few groups in the greater Seattle area, and no, they do nothing like that.”