Immortal Desires (Well of Souls) (2 page)

The sun set while Ian stood there and the lights of the city lit up the brisk air outside. Headlights showed people moving about, enjoying the last of the early spring evening. He turned from the window, heading upstairs to an apartment as dark as his thoughts.

***

San Diego, April 2012

Deanna slung her purse over the coat hook as she walked into her apartment, kicking off her shoes and wiggling life back into her toes before heading into the bedroom to change clothes. Another grueling day to add to a calendar full of them.

She slumped onto the bed, falling into the ritual bad mood that seemed all she could muster lately to keep her company at night. Nothing worked anymore. Time hadn't healed the pain of being dumped at the altar. Impressions of happier times with Nick followed Deanna everywhere she went. Maybe it was time to start over—a new job, a new place—anything to get her out of this rut.

Her eyes swept the room and stopped at the desk. Her laptop sat open, the screen glowing softly. Had she forgotten to turn it off this morning? She was surprised the battery wasn't dead. Walking over to it, Deanna saw an email opened on the screen.

Dear Ms. Cameron,

My name is Robert Thornton, CEO of Light Street Corporation. I'm pleased to offer you the position of Promotional Director in our travel division, based on your current employment. You were highly recommended and I assure you, you're the perfect candidate. If you're looking for a change of pace, please consider my offer.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Please reply to this email and tickets will be arranged for a flight out to beautiful Colorado so that we can meet.

Sincerely,

Robert Thornton

Deanna sat in stunned silence. Was this some kind of prank? She'd heard of Light Street Corporation. Who hadn't? It was a multi-national corporation involved in a variety of industries. No way was this for real. It would be her dream job if it were. This had to be somebody's sick idea of a joke.

The email address seemed legitimate though. She looked up the company website and Robert Thornton was listed as the CEO. The same email address was listed for employment inquiries.

Deanna walked into the kitchen thoroughly confused. It couldn't be authentic, despite how it seemed. She stuck a frozen dinner in the microwave and sat down to eat it, mechanically chewing without tasting anything.

Her mind kept turning the possibilities over. Sure, she was good at her promotions job, but why would a giant corporation like that even notice her? And who had recommended her? A fairy-godmother?

She turned on the TV, hoping for some distraction. It didn't work. Half a dozen times she got up and went back in the bedroom to re-read the email, each time surprised it hadn't disappeared as a product of her imagination.

Her fingers skimmed over the keys as she turned in for the night. Something held her back each time she started to shut down the computer.

What could it hurt to take a chance?
Deanna shook her head. Where had that thought come from? It was right, though. Either she'd get plane tickets to Colorado or she wouldn't. If she did, it'd be a nice little vacation if nothing else. What harm could it do to answer?

Hitting reply, Deanna's fingers stopped over the keyboard and she trembled, all thought as to what to say fleeing as her mind froze in place. How should she answer? Did it matter? It was probably a hoax, remember? Laughing at herself for being so gullible, Deanna typed two words—"I'm interested"—and hit send. Still laughing, she crawled into bed and fell asleep.

Chapter Three

To Deanna's surprise, a cheerful email awaited her the next morning from Robert Thornton, with electronic airline tickets dated for the day after tomorrow. She certainly hadn't sent back a business-like reply last night, still believing it was a hoax of some kind. The evidence before her begged to differ. After shooting off a quick email thanking him, she confirmed the flights 946/953 round-trip between San Diego and Boulder. Deanna went off to work in a better frame of mind than she'd had for the last eleven months.

Arranging for time off was easy. Her aborted honeymoon plans left her with plenty of vacation time and her boss eagerly approved the sudden request, thinking she deserved a change of scenery. This morning's email even mentioned that accommodations were already arranged. All Deanna had to do was pack a bag and show up. She didn't want to admit it, but the whole trip into the unknown excited her.

Kate heard of her plans when they met for dinner that night at one of the trendy bistros along the beach. Deanna unfolded the mystery to her friend step-by-step.

"No way. That's unreal." Kate shook her dark hair out of her face. "You're only twenty-two, girl! What made you so lucky?"

"I really have no idea." Deanna nibbled on a breadstick as doubts assailed her again. Why had she been picked? "If nothing else, it'll be a nice vacation, all expenses paid."

Kate patted her hand and looked at her with warm brown eyes. "I'm happy for you. You've been moping for too long."

"I haven't been moping." Well, yes, maybe she had. Deanna bit off the end of another breadstick with a vicious snap. Where had her pre-Nick personality gone—the kick-ass attitude she used to have? He'd been wrong for her in more ways than one. She'd lost her sense of self in her immersive journey to becoming part of "we." Never again.

"I can tell the old Deanna is beginning to surface," Kate teased and raised her glass in salute. "Welcome back."

"It's good to be back." Deanna grinned at her best friend since high school. "I've been gone too long."

***

Boulder, April 2012

"She's on her way." Robert looked pleased but Ian didn't like it.

"Why all the subterfuge of offering her a job if you're going to recycle her?"

Robert frowned at him. "I'd like her to be happy while I make that determination. What's wrong with that? She needs to be here where I can study her. I'm not heartless, Ian. This isn't murder."

"If you say so. It doesna mean I have to like it." Ian had been happy roaming the cities of the world, battling the Conrí with Robert whenever they'd found them lurking amongst the human population. Then, ten years ago, the Guardians founded this corporation as an established point to bring the lost souls here for evaluation. Ian felt restless roaming these halls, wearing a suit named Armani. He longed for the feel of a sword in his hand. He shifted his feet as Robert gave him a shrewd look.

"I have need for you by my side. In time, you'll understand." Robert cocked his head to one side and leaned back in his chair. "Why don't you get rid of some of your energy? Go climb a mountain or two. Wrestle a bear while you're at it."

The idea appealed to Ian. He shot his mentor a grin and bowed. "Aye, I just might do that."

He left the office and passed Fiona on his way to the elevator. He ignored the frosty smile she gave him and pushed the button for the top story of the twenty-three floor building where the apartments were located. Briefly, it crossed his mind that Robert wanted him gone when the Cameron woman arrived but it didn't make any difference. Whatever Robert's reasons for suggesting it, the idea had been a good one. Ian needed to run free for a while—leaving hard shoes and Armani behind.

***

Deanna felt the stress drain from her body as she pulled the rental car out of the Denver airport and got on the E-470 N toward Boulder. The crisp spring air had a refreshing bite to it, so unlike Southern California's weather. Taking two weeks off had been a good call; she'd have time left over to see the sights and relax. Fortunately for her, no snow remained on the streets, with the temperature in the fifties, and an hour later she pulled into the Light Street Corporation parking lot.

Rubbing damp palms against her jacket, Deanna belatedly realized how much this interview meant to her. Up until now, the whole trip had been more of a lark—an unexpected bonus and chance to get away. Now though… She squared her shoulders as she got out of the car, determined to present herself in the best possible light. Legions of people would kill to be in her position, interviewing for the most sought-after employment in the country.

The Flatirons loomed behind the impressive building constructed mostly of glass, the sedimentary rock a perfect backdrop to the modern lines of steel. Deanna stepped through the front doors and found the lobby held a welcoming mixture of antiques—not at all what she'd expected from the outside modernism.

The sign on the wall behind the reception desk both puzzled and amused her. It read:

Rarely is a match made in Heaven, while more than a few are made in Hell. Most are given to ordinary chance. We find that unacceptable. The soul mates are lost. Our mission is to find them.

Did the company also run a matchmaking service? Deanna chuckled under her breath, nerves making her giddy. She hoped she wouldn't be in charge of promoting that. Her track record in relationships wouldn't help their cause.

"You're Deanna Cameron, right?" the receptionist said. "Mr. Thornton is expecting you and he's on his way down now."

Before Deanna had a chance to thank her, the elevator door opened and a distinguished-looking man walked toward her, a smile on his handsome face. She recognized him from a picture on the website as Robert Thornton but he must have had his hair pulled back when the photo was taken for this man had dark hair that hung loose past his shoulders. Somehow, it suited him and with the touch of gray at the temples, he looked elegant.

"Ms. Cameron, how nice to see you." He clasped both of his hands around the one she offered and held onto it. "May I call you Deanna? Please call me Robert. Let's go upstairs to my office to talk, shall we?"

Deanna nodded, tongue-tied and off-balanced. He seemed warm and effusive, but at the same time…different from anyone she'd ever met. He kept her hand as they approached the elevator, tucking it into the crook of his arm like an old-fashioned gentleman. Deanna followed along, wondering what she was getting herself into.

Chapter Four

Deanna sat in the plush office while Robert gave a cursory glance to her résumé. He then opened the passport he'd asked her to bring, his eyebrows rising as he flipped through the blank pages.

"Don't you like to travel?"

"I'd love to, it's just that I haven't had the opportunity." Deanna ducked her head, unwilling to explain the aborted honeymoon that should have put stamps on those pages. That conversation didn't belong in her interview.

"You'll have plenty of opportunities here." Robert smiled at her as she glanced back up. "Before we can promote a property, we have to experience what they have to offer their guests. A pleasant part of your duties will be inspecting a resort or hotel that requires our services. We manage specialty properties all over the world. Does that sound like something you'd be interested in?"

Interested? It sounded like a dream come true. There had to be a catch. Rather than get down on her knees and beg for the position, Deanna asked about specifics. As Robert laid out the requirements of the job, she couldn't find any negatives. An alarm rang in her head. She told it to shut up.
Too perfect
it wailed, growing fainter the longer she ignored it. When Robert quoted her a salary almost double her current one, Deanna was ready to walk through hell for him.

His expressive gray eyes watched her closely, a slight smile lifting one side of his mouth. Deanna had the distinct impression he could sift through every thought in her head.

"I'd love to have the job," she said in a voice just missing a girlish squeak.

"Lovely. Welcome to Light Street Corporation." He offered his hand to her. When she would have shaken it, he raised hers to his lips and kissed her knuckles like some knight of old. Definitely weird. She banished the thought, wanting nothing to spoil the moment. "Let me show you your apartment."

"Apartment?"

"Did I forget to mention that?" He gave her a bland smile, revealing nothing out of the ordinary. Deanna felt like the floor might wander out from under her feet with any more surprises. "Since you'll be traveling, it's easier to have you stay here and it's included in your package."

He took her unresisting hand and looped it in the crook of his elbow once more, leading her out to the elevator. They rode to the top of the twenty-three story building and walked left down a long hallway, stopping in front of the next-to-last door. Handing her a hotel-type key card with a flourish, Robert bowed.

"I'll leave you to get settled in. If there's anything you need, the front desk can get it for you. There's an employee dining room on the fifth floor for your convenience. Shall we meet there tomorrow morning at eight o'clock?"

"Y-yes. That w-would be fine." She wasn't sure of her mental state at the moment. Overwhelmed didn't quite cover it.

Deanna watched Robert walk back into the elevator, then swiped her card into the lock. Expecting a hotel room setting, she stood in the doorway a moment, stunned at the magnificent furnishings in the apartment. The view of snow-covered mountains through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall mesmerized her. Wandering through the full living room and small kitchen, she couldn't believe any of it was real.