The Beckoning of Beautiful Things (The Beckoning Series) (37 page)

El Demonio called to the Jeep driver. “Show Mr. Brown to his quarters, please.”

“Cool,” Jason said. “New digs.”

The uniformed man grabbed Jason’s arm and guided him down the hill, away from the house.

El Demonio led her into the main house. Everything about the place dominated her senses, from the polished wood floors, to the tile, to the tall ceilings and open, airy spacious rooms. The house overlooked the valleys below. She walked through elegance and opulence as they made their way up to the top floor. The entire floor served as a bedroom which had its own balcony and private stairs leading to a huge Olympic swimming pool, complete with a rock waterfall. It beckoned to her hot and sweaty body.

El Demonio eyed her wistful gaze. “Please refresh yourself after you’ve settled.” He stood awkwardly. “This is where you will stay. I hope you will be comfortable.”

“And…”

“Yes?”

“And where will you be?”

He cast a somber gaze at her. “Since your level of acceptance of me isn’t where I’d like it to be, I’ll be staying in another wing of the house. We’ll dine together – when I’m here, that is. The rest of time you’ll remain here, protected from outside influences.”

She gazed out at the pool and let her eyes wander further beyond. Armed guards patrolled the property.
More like protected from getting out.

A soft knock rapped at the door. Marissa looked up to see Renata holding her folded jacket. She spoke to her boss. He indicated that she place the jacket on top of the dresser. “She says
she’ll wash everything except for your jacket later today. She just wanted you to know everything is safe.” He shooed Renata away with his hand.

Marissa breathed a sigh of relief at seeing her jacket. “Oh, thank you! Thank you, Renata,” she called to the woman’s retreating back.

El Demonio pointed to the dresser. “Everything here is yours. Wear whatever you like. Take a swim. We’ll share a meal in a bit.” He swiftly turned and stalked away.

Marissa melted into a big, comfy chair. She was held by silence, confusion
. and sorrow in this enormous, splendid home. Separated from all the workers and staff, aloneness pressed all around her like a smothering pillow. Her head filled with questions.
Strong, then fly away. Fly away how?

She tapped her hand on the armrest and counted along with the minute hand on the wall clock. “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.” When she reached ten
, she started over. After she’d repeated this mindless behavior for the umpteenth time, she yanked off her clothes, rooted in her drawer for swimwear, and pulled the slinky strands along her body. She retrieved a large, fluffy towel from the bathroom and wandered outside.

Primeval in its beauty, the pool seemed like it existed in
a dreamland. A huge, natural waterfall cascaded over rocks and splashed into the water below. In the center of the pool, a bubbling spa, surrounded by rockwork, drew her eye. The place looked like a mysterious oasis.

She wandered around the perimeter of the pool and stepped into the lush greenery surrounding it. Pushing past leaves, exotic looking flowers and branches, she came to a tall fence consisting of rocks encased in a wire frame. The fence
stood about ten feet tall. She slowly traced the wall.
I’m a prisoner here.
She sighed and made her way back to the pool.

Easing into the cool refreshing water, she guided a floating lounge chair over to her. She climbed on top and floated like a leaf. The sun beat down on her belly, making her feel languid and warm. The waterfall soothed her into a false sense of safety and calm. In truth, she was anything but. Still, until she figured a way out of here, she figured she needed to rest and scheme. As she floated, a delicate whisper called to her.

“Light Rebel.”

“Who’s there?” She turned her head left and right
. Her gaze landed on a thick glass window stuck in the rock fence. It framed a view of the lush green valley below.

“
Light Rebel. Come.”

She tipped her head to the side and listened.

“Come.”

She dipped her hand in the water and paddled to the center pool.

“Come.”

She rolled into the water and found tiny steps leading up to the bubbling pool. She peered down into the aquamarine water and was greeted with the face of the goddess she had seen. “Are you Josephina?” she asked.

The image smiled.

“Is that a yes?”

The image smiled again.

“Are
n’t you trapped in Daniel’s garden?”

The response seemed to come from inside her head. “Yes.”

“How is it that I can see you here, then?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what? Are you here as well?”

The goddess image smiled.

“Okay, 20 questions. I’ll have a go.”

“Are you in the trees?”

The image vanished and reappeared.

“I take it that’s a no.”

The image smiled.

“Okay, so in the
water here
and
in Daniel’s garden. Anywhere else?”

“Yes.”

“In a lot of places?”

“Yes.”

Um, did Daniel trap you in these places?”

The image faded.

“Did he trap you in some of the places but not all?”

“Yes.”

“And El Demonio trapped you in the others?”

The image blurred but did not fade.

She probably didn’t know him as El Demonio. “Um, I mean did Alexander trap you in the others?”

“Yes.”

Marissa grew tired of the tedious manner of extracting truth. She brought her lapis lazuli necklace to mind and allowed her third eye to open wide.

In her vision,
Daniel and Alexander were playing chess in some cosmic dimension. Each one pushed the glimmering pieces around the silvery, transparent board. Marissa froze the scene and reached in to examine each of their queens. One of the queens was an exact replica of the woman whose face rippled in the spring. The other was a miniature replica of her. Understanding dawned. “I see. So we’re like chess pieces. They each sought to hide you from the other. I don’t quite know what they plan to do with me. I’ll bet you feel quite trapped. I just feel confused.”

The image frowned.

“Did you love them both?”

“Yes.”

“And yet now you wish to be freed.”

“Yes.”

A hand snaked out of the water and grabbed Marissa’s hand. She jumped in surprise as the cloud-like hand touched her like a soft feather. She snatched her hand back and shook it. “Sorry, but that’s a little creepy. You want my help?”

“Yes.”

“What can I do?”

The image stared up at her, smiling.

“Gah!” Marissa said in frustration. She closed her eyes and imagined the deep blue lapis. The image of her holding both men’s heads in her hands arose in her mind. Her eyes popped open. “I have to cut off their heads?”

“Yes.”

“That’s the only way you’ll be freed?”

“Yes.”

“Gah!” she exclaimed again. She stood up and paced back and forth in front of the bubbling pool of water. “Why is it my job to free you? Who said I have to do this? Why me?”

They’re dangerous. Both of them. They’ll kill you given half a chance.

Marissa seized her head with her hands. “I don’t have to do this, you know. There’s no reason why I have to do this. And what will come of me if I do this? I’ll still be here, right? I’ll still need to get home. Gah!” She paused, as a crashing noise boomeranged through the forest.
El Demonio?

Jason
’s face peeked through the opening in the fence. “You’ve got to help me,” he shouted. “They’ve got me in some strange little brick bunker. No girls! I’ve got to get out of here!”

“Why on
earth would I help you, Jason? You’re the one who got me into this whole mess to begin with.”

“Just do it for old time sakes. Do it for all the training I gave you, for free
, I might add. Just do it.”

A stab of pity poked through her heart. “What will you do for me? Will you leave me alone and never bother me again?”

“Yes, yes, anything. I’ll do whatever you want. Just get me out of here!”

More footsteps crashed through the bushes followed by rapid little clicks like a caffeinated rattlesnake. Jason
let out a scream, and his body arched like a bow. He grabbed at the collar. He fought and struggled against some unseen enemy and then slumped to the ground.

“Jason? Are you alright?”
Marissa scrambled out of the water and peered through the glass at his writhing form.

A soldier stood nearby holding a
Taser gun. He leered at her through the glass.

Jason
ceased whimpering.

The soldier grabbed his collar and hauled him to his feet.
He shoved Jason ahead of him and they marched out of sight.

“What is going on around here?” She couldn’t see Jason any more. She wobbled on shaky legs back up the
stairs to her room, still trembling inside over her newly assigned task and the encounter with Jason.

For the remainder of the day, Marissa paced and fretted. She wandered around the house, getting familiar with her surroundings. She’d picture the heads of men in her hands, shake out her fingers and begin pacing again.
How can I chop off the head of my dangerous lover? How can I cut off anyone’s head?
She heard Josephina’s warning all too well.
They’ll kill you given half a chance.
This was about survival. This was about hunt or be hunted.

She recalled slicing off the head of the rabbit.
There went the personality.
She weakened, realizing she liked Daniel’s personality. She liked him just the way he was.
Okay, so he had a few flaws. They’re not worth losing one’s head over, are they?

She created endless scenarios in her head.
I’ll slice off their heads and call Chiara. What about Tom? Okay, I’ll slice off El Demonio’s head and Josephina will be partially released. Okay, I don’t have a clue what to do. That’s the truth.

At
seven , she joined El Demonio for dinner. He regarded her with suspicion as if he were on to something.

“What?” she said, rolling her silver spoon around and around in her fingers.

“Please put the spoon down.”

She dropped the spoon on the table with a clatter.

“Quietly. Pick it up and do it again.”

“No.”

“Please pick it up and put it down quietly so I am assured that it is within your power to do so.”

She glared at him.

“What are you so nervous about, my dear?” He gave the two hand clap to call his staff. “You’re giving me a headache.”

Amalia
hustled out of the kitchen. She gave the barest of smiles to Marissa, filled their water glasses, snapped their napkins open, and placed them in their laps and quickly departed. She swiftly returned bearing a bottle of wine. She asked her boss a question, extending the bottle to him.

“
Sí. Está bien.” Amalia poured, and he swirled, sniffed, swished, and smacked his lips as before. “Excellent wine. Marissa?”

“No, thank you.”

“I insist.”

“No, thank you.”

“My dear, if you don’t drink this wine, I shall chain you to a wall and pour it down your throat,” he said smoothly.

Her head popped up and she stopped fidgeting. He wasn’t kidding. “Okay. But just a little.”

“You’ll like this.”

The wine did, in fact, taste good. It had a charming finish and left lingering notes of berries, chocolate
, and tobacco on her palate. “Mmm,” she said. “This is good.”

“I’m so glad you approve,” El Demonio said icily. He held his glass aloft. “To new beginnings.”

“To new beginnings,” she said, thinking of Daniel. Once more she pictured slicing his head off and her hand started to tremble. She sat it down on the table, spilling wine over the edge.
They’ll kill you given half a chance.

The sorcerer clapped his hands. He pointed to the spill when
Amalia had returned.

“What is bothering you, dear?” he asked kindly after
Amalia had retreated.

“I don’t like it here,” she said. At least it wasn’t a lie.

“You’ll learn. Or I will find you a place that you do like. I am a man of considerable means.”

“No, thanks.” Marissa grabbed her glass and tossed back her remaining wine like it was a shot of whiskey.

“That’s rather vulgar, don’t you think?” El Demonio asked. An amused expression covered his face. He picked up the bottle of wine and gave her a generous pour. “See if this one can go down with more elegance and restraint.”

The wine hit Marissa’s body like a small bomb, igniting her courage as if the breakers in her inner breaker box had been flipped. The electricity inside of her hummed quietly, coursing through her blood stream, at the ready.
Oh, yeah. I am digging this sensation.
All the fear and fret just vanished. She was alive, she was strong, and she was fiercely present.
Oh, yeah. This is who I am. Being me is easy. Tom’s right. Resisting being me sucks.
She imagined herself to be a bird of prey or a wildcat – something powerful and fierce. She owned her sexual power. “Nice,” she uttered. She smiled a cat-like smile.

“You’ve calmed. That
is
nice,” her captor agreed. “And there’s something different about you. I find it most provocative, whatever it is.” He cocked his head to the side, studying her.

“Do you?” She flashed another private smile, yielding nothing.

The rest of the meal continued without incident. They engaged in small talk, even laughed at times. Deliciously woozy, totally hot, and satisfyingly full, she fixed her gaze on El Demonio.
He’s actually not so bad when he’s not angry.

“Let’s take an aperitif out on the verandah, shall we?” El Demonio stood, walked around behind her
, and pulled out her chair.

“Let’s,” she agreed.

They strode out onto a beautiful stone landing that jutted from the house. One of the staff had lit candles in small lanterns and placed them throughout the verandah.

Marissa took in the view below. To one side lay trees enveloped in darkness. To the other side, far into the distance, lights of a city twinkled like tiny stars.

“That city,” El Demonio said. “That city is Sao Paulo. It is the place where I was born.”

“I see.” She made her way over to a large, generous chair and settled onto it, spreading her arms along the back. “And is that the sea in the distance?”

“Yes. I shall take you out on my yacht someday.” El Demonio sat next to her. He clapped his hands, and a male servant appeared on the landing, holding a tray bearing a wooden cigar box, a flask of golden liquor, and two glasses.

Marissa squinted at him. It was the handsome driver from earlier today. She smiled wickedly at him.

His eyebrows rose, and he licked his lips. His dark eyes flicked over to his employer, and he stiffened.

El Demonio selected one of the cigars, sniffed it
, and nodded. The male waiter snipped off the end, struck a match, and extended it.

El Demonio puffed his cigar, turning it side to side, visibly delighted. “Would you care to partake?”

Marissa shook her head.

“This is an excellent smoke. Are you certain?”

“Thank you, no.”

“You might like it, chica.”

Oh, what the heck. Soon I’ll have chopped off everyone’s...
She quashed the thought, and reached for the cigar, hoping Daniel hadn’t heard her thought. Bringing it to her lips, she took a few tentative puffs. It wasn’t bad. Her lips got all tingly as she brought the smoke into her mouth. Her dad used to smoke cigars every once in a while. She’d always liked the smell.

“You look very sexy with a cigar in your mouth. Your lips are very beautiful.”

She handed it back to him. “Thank you.”

“Please continue. I can get another if I need to.”

The servant opened the flask and poured some of the liquor into the glasses. He handed one to El Demonio and one to Marissa.

She smiled a seductive smile.
I am so sexy
.
And relaxed. And powerful.
And I can kick some ass.
The faint buzz of electricity in her head was her signature song.
Me. Light Rebel.
She took a couple more puffs of the cigar, savoring the fragrant tobacco. Both men eyed her with greedy lust. Her eyelids lowered seductively as she handed the smoke back to El Demonio. “Thank you.”

El Demonio raised his glass. “To a pleasurable ending to this pleasurable evening.”

She smiled and lifted her glass high.
Not if I can help it.
The bourbon blazed a fiery trail down her throat. It emboldened her, stoking her sense of sexual power.

Marissa! You’re driving me crazy!

Shhh. Not now, Daniel.
She looked over at El Demonio and smiled.

He smiled back, clearly pleased.

Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. I can find you in a blackout.

Gladly. I’m rather enjoying myself.
“I’d like the cigar back please,” she said, working to keep El Demonio off the thought trail between her and Daniel.

“I’ll get you one of your own. That way I can take pleasure in my own smoke while taking even greater pleasure watching you with yours.” El Demonio nodded to the servant.

The male reached for the cigar box, picked one up, sliced off the end, and swaggered over to Marissa.

Wordlessly, she accepted the cigar, put it between her teeth and puffed as he held the match up to the tip. Her eyes caught his. She gave him a smoldering gaze. She’d never see him again after tonight so who the heck cared?

He eyed her voraciously, nodded, and backed away, looking askance at his boss.

He’d probably get his balls chopped off if he tried anything with me.
Marissa let her hand drop languidly from her wrist, holding the cigar lightly in the crook of her index and middle finger. The warm cigar smoke rolled along her skin and drifted into the sky. She brought the smoke to her lips and puffed it, peering at El Demonio through the smoky haze.
I’ll bet he was gorgeous as a young man. He’s still a handsome man. A pity I have to do him in.

“Beautiful,” El Demonio uttered. “You’re beyond compare, Marissa. I could watch you all night. But I have other plans to explore you.”

Her breath hitched, and she swiftly reached for her glass, tipping the blazing remains down her throat.

Just a few moments
, and we’re there, cariño. We can see the lights on the hill.

“More please,” she said, holding her glass in the air.

El Demonio gave a stony look to the waiter.

The male quickly refilled her glass, glancing down at Marissa’s cleavage. He averted his eyes and backed away.

One more second, dulzura.

El Demonio squinted at her.

Marissa quickly diverted. “Tell me about your coffee production again. Please. I love the way you become completely animated when you speak of your coffee.”

“Certainly. I’d love to.”

Beyond the perimeter of the fence, shouts rang out. Gunfire punctuated the atmosphere. El Demonio sprang to his feet. “Get her out of here!” he commanded the waiter. “Now!”

“I don’t think so,” Marissa said, releasing tiny daggers from her palms into the male’s abdomen.

The man clutched his stomach and staggered, falling to the floor.

El Demonio’s hand shot out and the same invisible tendrils he used before bound her wrists. He ran inside, tugging her along as he went.

She moved her hand back and forth, seeing herself painting the floor with slick oil, and she and El Demonio slid across the floor and toppled on top of one another. While the sorcerer struggled to get to his feet, she froze the invisible restraints, jerked her hands, and broke them into icy bits that tinkled to the tiled floor.

“Clever girl,” he hissed. He swept his arm in a grand gesture as if he wielded a matador’s cape and she was the bull.

Her arms and legs were instantly trussed with invisible restraints. She crashed to the tiled floor with a thud. “Ow! You bastard! That’s going to leave a bruise!”

The sorcerer grabbed her hair and dragged her across the floor.

“Let go of me,” she screamed, wriggling like a salmon tossed onto a boat.

He dragged her up the stars like a slab of meat, leaving welts and bruises on her arms and legs. As she bounced up the stairs, she writhed and wiggled in the dark, trying to free her limbs. She tried the ice maneuver she’d used before, but the restraints didn’t give. She tried to heat them up but only served in scorching her skin. Thinking fast, she visualized oily color dripping from her skin like soap, and she wriggled her arms and ankles free.

She jerked free of El Demonio, pushed past him, and ran for her room, with the elderly man in hot pursuit. She leapt through the doorway and tried to slam it shut but El Demonio barreled into the wood like a locomotive.
So not frail. He’s got superhuman strength.
She shoved her body against the door. He overpowered her, bursting through the door and seizing her in his powerful arms. She thrust out a hand and grabbed her clothes from the dresser. The fabric caught against the open drawer. She tugged and it ripped in two, spilling the jewels onto the floor, along with Buddy’s protection paw. A transparent, silvery little Chihuahua lunged at El Demonio, gripping his pants leg and hanging on for dear life.

As El Demonio tried to beat away the ghost dog, she raced toward the front of the house and burst into a completely unexpected scene.

Complete darkness engulfed the world outside. It was so dark, in fact, that she put her hand in front of her face and could see nothing. She blinked several times, hoping she hadn’t gone blind somehow. It was eerily quiet, too. It was so quiet that sound seemed to have been vacuumed from the atmosphere. It made her afraid to speak lest she shatter the silence. She dared not even think. She stilled, acutely aware of her breathing. It sounded like leaves fluttering in the trees in a windstorm. She willed her breath to forced tranquility.