Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (10 page)

“Return to your eternal beds,” she said. “Rest peacefully.”

The spirits faded and disappeared.

“No,” the voice said.

Isabella said a prayer. “I vanquish you,” she said to the voice. Return to Hell and damnation from whence you came.” She pointed up toward the ceiling. “Go,” she ordered.

There was a bone-chilling moan, followed by silence. The lights flashed on, filling the hall with brightness.

Malcolm, accompanied by his bodyguards, rushed over to where Isabella and Ernie stood. The other guests hurried out of the door into the streets, screaming hysterically. Myra, Doctor and Mrs. Randall, Mister Norris, and the Petres gathered around Isabella and Ernie.

“Is it gone?” Malcolm asked Isabella.

“For now,” Isabella replied.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning I put it to sleep. I don’t advise any of you to be here when it wakes up, because this is going to be one angry, revengeful disembodied voice.”

A chill ran through the hall and Malcolm rubbed his arms. “Let’s go outside,” he said to the others. He did not have to tell them twice. “Are you in any danger?” he asked Isabella as they stood outside near her car.

“I don’t know yet,” she answered calmly.

“It said it wanted your soul.”

“I’ve been told that numerous times before,” she replied with a laugh.

“How can you laugh? I just witnessed the most frightening spectacle I’ve ever seen in my life. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”

“It was real, Malcolm,” Isabella told him. “There are things which go on around this city that would curl your hair.”

He smiled weakly. “You’re not afraid?” He opened the car door and Isabella climbed in.

“Of course I’m afraid but that’s when I’m at my best.” She started her car. “Have someone board up the doors and windows to this place tomorrow morning at daylight,” she advised.

“Will that keep whatever that was in?”

“No,” she answered honestly. “But it will keep the curious out and safe.”

Malcolm looked exasperated.

“We don’t have time to worry about this place right now. We have bigger things brewing in town.” He paused. “Do you think the voice is behind the murders?”

“No,” Isabella answered. “But I do think both situations are related.”

“This only happens in movies,” Malcolm muttered.

“That’s pretend,” Isabella told him. “What you witnessed is the real deal.”

Malcolm stepped aside and let her drive off.

“Damn spirits,” Isabella mumbled. “Just when things were getting interesting with the Mayor.”

Chapter Eleven

Alesandro walked around his office staring intently out of the window. It was a little past sunset and soon it would be time for him to go downstairs and greet his customers. It was not as if this was something strange or unique for him to do because he did the same thing every evening for the last three years.

Something wasn’t quite right. He had this eerie feeling…a premonition. There was something different in the air. He guessed maybe it had something to do with Daton being in town.
No,
he thought.
It was something else…something, what was the word? Oh yes, evil.

The traffic flowed outside on Poydras. People entered the casino and left in an orderly manner.

Alesandro moved away from the window and walked over to the refrigerator in the room. He opened the door and looked around. There was nothing much to see except a few pints of chilled synthetic blood. He pulled out one and tossed it into the microwave to get the chill off. He always liked his blood body temperature.

The microwave buzzer sounded and Alesandro removed the warm packet, pierced the bag with a straw, and sucked the thick liquid into his mouth. It went down his throat slowly quenching the bloodlust. He sipped it until all of the blood drained from the packet and warmth went through his body. It made him feel almost alive, if that were possible. He supposed he should be happy but all he felt was gloom and doom.

Alesandro threw the empty packet into the trash, walked out of the kitchen and headed for the bathroom to brush his teeth and gargle. Minutes later he headed to the casino.

The slot machines made a beautiful sound as he exited the elevator. Women in low cut, skin-tight black leotards and capes took drink orders, while the change employees pushed their money carts up and down aisles giving change to the lazy people who refused to walk over to the change converting machines and break their bills.

Roulette wheels turned and players pushed their chips toward the middle of the tables to bet on the chance that maybe they might win. People sometimes won large sums of money from the casino but not as much as the casino took in from the patrons. Since the casino was added into the New Orleans’ Tourist Guide people flocked in from all over the world to play, eat, socialize, and have fun.

Some of the people were dressed in black Inveigler Casino T-shirts. Alesandro was very proud of the design. A full set of teeth with fangs and blood dripping from the mouth gave the shirt a realistic look. There were also T-shirts for kids, with portraits of cuddly little werewolves, parents bought for them from the casino’s gift shop.

Lucius stood by one of the bars talking to a few of the guests. He waved to his friend and headed toward him. “Mister and Mrs. Smith, I’d like to introduce you to the owner of the Inveigler Casino, Mister Alesandro Roma.”

Alesandro shook the couple’s hands. Mrs. Smith was a chubby woman of about sixty who giggled like a school girl when Alesandro kissed her hand and complimented her on her bluish gray hairdo.

Mister Smith was in town on a business trip. He’d been to New Orleans and the casino before but it was the first time he’d brought his wife. Alesandro and Lucius chatted with the couple for a few minutes and then excused themselves so they could talk.

“Anything special going on?” Alesandro asked Lucius who signaled for a waitress to bring them a couple of drinks.

“No,” Lucius replied. “Business is as good as ever. Why?”

Alesandro shrugged. “I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right. You know, there is something not quite right in New Orleans.”

Lucius nodded. “So, I wasn’t imagining things? I sensed something this morning when I arrived. I couldn’t put my finger on it.”

The two men accepted their drinks when the waitress appeared and both men tipped her handsomely.

“You know I’m not going to rest until I find out what it is,” Alesandro stated.

Lucius nodded, knowing he was also naturally curious.

“Where’s Vinnie? Has he arrived?” Alesandro asked.

“He came in a few minutes ago and headed to the second floor to find a slot machine.”

Alesandro pulled out his cell phone and dialed. “Vinnie, this is Alesandro Roma. Can you come down to the first floor by the bar near Canal Street? I need to ask you something.”

“Will do boss,” Vinnie replied and hung up.

“He’s on his way,” Alesandro told Lucius.

“Vinnie appeared a few minutes later, dressed in a navy blue suit with diamond accessories. The man’s shoulders were so broad his suits had to be tailor-made.

“What’s going on around town?” Alesandro asked him. “I have this feeling that something is off and, by off, I mean evil.”

Vinnie nodded. “Well, I guess you haven’t heard yet, Mister Roma but there was trouble at Lincoln House last night.”

“There’s always some sort of trouble in New Orleans,” Lucius said as he sipped his rum and Coke. “That’s not what Mister Roma is talking about.”

“I think it is,” Vinnie replied. “The mayor was giving a party there last night and the place was overrun with ghosts of dead slaves. Something kept everyone confined inside the building and wouldn’t let them out even though the police had the place surrounded.”

“There wasn’t anything about it on the news,” Lucius said.

Vinnie laughed. “What would they say? Who would believe them?”

Their banter annoyed Alesandro. “Come on, Vinnie, tell us the rest? How did the mayor get out or did he?” He wasn’t fond of the mayor. He was a nice man but too ivy-leagued.

“Isabella got them out,” Vinnie answered.

That caught Alesandro’s attention. “Isabella was there?”

Vinnie nodded. “As a personal guest of the mayor.”

This did not sit right with Alesandro. “I did not know she knew him.”

“She didn’t. She was introduced to him last night. A few of the people from PAK were there, the Petre kids, Ernest Malloy and his wife were also invited, on account of the mayor wanting them to help find out who murdered all those people in Audubon Park.”

Alesandro sipped his Dom Perignon. The bubbles tickled his nose. “What about the evil?”

Vinnie continued. “Rumor has it, whatever it was is still moving around in the Lincoln House. Isabella had the place boarded up as soon as everyone got out safely.”

“How were the victims murdered?” Lucius asked.

“No people were murdered, only animals. They were hacked to pieces and glued to the ceiling,” Vinnie answered. “Boy I wish I could have been there to see it.”

Neither Lucius nor Alesandro commented. They were used to Vinnie’s strange ways.

“Isabella is unhurt?”Alesandro asked.

Vinnie nodded. “She’s fine. From what I heard she looked extra delicious in a black gown, which had the mayor drooling.”

Alesandro frowned. “I’ve never seen her in a formal gown.”

“I wonder if she took off her boots.” Lucius teased.

“The dress was loaded with those killer curves. Isabella took care of things with her powers, shooting some kind of blue rays from her fingers.” He chuckled. “I bet the mayor nearly had a coronary when he saw that.”

Alesandro smiled. Why couldn’t he be lucky enough to see her all dolled up?

“Photographer’s name is Taylor Jones,” Vinnie told him as if reading his mind. “I’ve ordered you a set and it should be ready tomorrow evening.”

Alesandro patted Vinnie on the shoulder. “Good job and thanks for the information.”

Vinnie shook Lucius and Alesandro’s hands and headed back to the second floor of the casino.

“See if you can find out anything else tomorrow,” Alesandro told the wolf. “You’d better get on home and get some rest before Adrianna sends out an APB for you.” Adrianna was Lucius’ mate and one hell of an alpha female.

Lucius nodded. He’d been guarding the casino all night and probably could use a few hours of sleep to regenerate.

Alesandro knew Lucius would put out a few feelers to see if his pack could find out everything they could about Lincoln House.

* * * *

The body of a man, split straight down the middle lay pinned to a wood fence in the middle of New Orleans East. The moon shone down on it, exposing the man’s innards to two people who were busy laughing at the sight.

Blood oozed from the still warm corpse. The man’s intestines had been pulled out and wrapped around his neck.

“He made this too easy, Kubol,” Samedi said to his friend. “I need something more challenging.”

Kubol nodded. “Aye, Samedi, let’s go see what’s happening over at Bayou Saint John.”

“Brilliant idea,” Samedi agreed. The two left the body hanging, not caring who he was or what they had done.

* * * *

Isabella clicked the mouse button and the internet appeared on the monitor. She loved surfing the super-information highway when she had spare time but tonight was not one of those nights. She had to find out what the hell the thing lurking inside of Lincoln House was, and she bet it had something to do with the realm opening. She supposed she should have been more upset and hysterical about the situation but what good would that do? She typed in Wolfgram Sporting Goods Store to see what new toys she could get for her collection.

“Demons first,” she told herself. “Fun second.” She reached over to the bowl on her desk, picked up a couple of grapes, and tossed them into her mouth. Isabella typed in North American demons into the search line and hit Enter. “Seven hundred hits, Great.” She clicked on the first link.

Several hours later Isabella shut down her laptop. Her eyes hurt, her back hurt, and her fingers were cramped. The only thing saving her was she now packed more knowledge about the end of the Mayan calendar than she ever wanted to know.

* * * *

Malcolm signed a few papers, returned a few phone calls, and basically tried to clear his mind about what he witnessed the other night. He paced on the Oriental rug in front of his desk.

Malcolm considered himself a rational man. He went to church often, tried to stay out of political scandal, but never in his thirty years on Earth had he witnessed anything as horrible as what hesaw at Lincoln House. He hadn’t signed on for any of this when he took his oath. No one told him this sort of evil actually existed.

He was not having a really good month. First people started disappearing, then bodies showed up everywhere, now some horrible demon was dwelling inside Lincoln House with Mardi Gras a couple of months away. Malcolm knew something had to be done before then or New Orleans and all its surrounding parishes would not only lose a whole lot of tourist money but a lot of lives as well.