“And you’re a flatterer. I’d watch this one,” Janie said to Rhianne.
Banter seemed to be common, and good-natured. “I will, I promise,” Rhianne returned.
Janie laughed and danced off to another table.
“Come on.” Ben reached for Rhianne’s hand, and it felt natural to clasp his. “Time to show you the rest.”
Ben’s world was one Rhianne never knew existed. New Orleans had shops filled with many delightful things—books, trinkets galore, colorful wraps and clothing, and more shoes, plus places that proclaimed their psychics could read your future or your past lives, whatever past lives were.
Rhianne lingered next to a clothing store, knowing she could not borrow from the two unknown women forever.
Ben led her inside, telling her to pick out whatever she wanted. They left with two shopping bags, one containing a T-shirt that read: New Orleans, Where Partying is an Art Form.
Rhianne expressed curiosity about the psychics, so Ben took her to a shop with books and crystals on its shelves, a waft of incense in the air. In a small, pleasantly sunny room in the back, a young woman with dark skin, wearing colorful wraps similar to what Rhianne had just bought for herself, instructed Rhianne to sit across from her at a table.
They were alone in the room, the young woman telling Ben that the reading was strictly private, but Ben lurked on the other side of the curtain.
“Let me look at your palm, honey,” the young woman said. “I’ll do your lines and then a set of cards. That’s the basic package.”
Rhianne wasn’t certain what she meant about a package, but she laid her hand on the table, palm up. Ben had warned her that the psychics in many of these shops were charlatans, but Rhianne wanted to know what this one had to say. Perhaps she could give some hint as to how long Rhianne would be here, or what specific danger her father posed to her. Even if she were a charlatan, this venture was all in good fun.
The young woman brushed Rhianne’s palm, her fingertips warm and relaxing. She peered at Rhianne’s hand a moment before she gasped and jerked upright, her eyes widening to dark brown pools of fear.
“By the Goddess,” the woman whispered. “What are you?”
Chapter Seven
Ben heard the psychic’s words loud and clear. By the time Rhianne finished a quick intake of breath, he had shoved aside the curtain and charged into the room.
The psychic was a young black woman with long, glossy hair pulled into loops on the back of her head. She’d donned the swirling scarves and necklaces of a stage psychic, but Ben sensed the aura of no ordinary woman.
The psychic should have snapped at Ben to leave, but she was too busy staring at Rhianne in shock.
“I’m no one special,” Rhianne said faintly.
The woman seized Rhianne’s hand. “No one special? Sweetie, these lines are crazy. And your aura—” She waved at the air in front of her. “Never saw anything like it. And you …” More shock as she beheld Ben. “Shit, should I call nine-one-one?”
Ben leaned his fists on the table. “You should forget all about us instead.”
“How can I? Both your auras are screaming at me. No, don’t run away.” The woman clamped her hand down on Rhianne’s to keep her seated at the table. “You’re in trouble, honey. You need to hear what I have to say.”
“Release her,” Ben said in a hard voice. “Now.”
“No.” Rhianne’s quick word cut through Ben’s order. “Let her speak.”
For a moment, the room hung with silent tension. Then the psychic slowly uncurled her fingers from Rhianne’s hand.
“I’d never hurt you,” she said. “I’m Lily, by the way. And you are the most magical people who’ve ever come in here.”
“Rhianne.” Rhianne touched her chest then indicated Ben. “And Ben.”
“Well, you make a nice couple.”
“Oh, we are not …”
Lily cut off Rhianne’s protest with an imperious wave. “Yes, you are. I’m never wrong. But the danger I see for you both is huge.” She brushed Rhianne’s palm with a pink painted nail and glanced at Ben. “Let me get you a chair.”
Ben waited as Lily exited through a door in the back of the tiny room and reappeared instantly with a straight-backed chair identical to the other two. Once Lily had Ben seated, she leaned on the table and gave them both a frank assessment.
“I don’t know what you people are, or where you come from. It’s not this world, I’m pretty sure. I don’t think you mean me any harm, because believe me, when evil walks in this place, I know it.” She tapped the table with a stiff finger. “But you’re not exactly angels either. Though they can be pretty tough when they want.”
“What kind of danger is she in?” Ben asked sharply, returning her to her point.
“Something pretty bad.” Lily’s brow wrinkled in worry. “I see much darkness, fear, and rage. Fury. Against you.” She pointed at Ben, her finger a skewer.
“Fury from me?” Rhianne asked in concern.
“No, no. From outside forces. Bad outside forces.” Lily turned to Ben. “Who the hell did you piss off?”
Ben grimaced. “A lot of people. I’ve gone through my whole life pissing off anyone who comes into contact with me.”
“Hmm.” Lily peered at him. “Recently, you’ve done some kind of damage, or it might be damage you’re going to do, but the rage I’m detecting is serious. They want to kill you, whoever they are. Not only kill you, but erase you completely. And you.” She switched her attention to Rhianne. “The trouble is, if you stay with him, you’ll share the danger. The only way to avoid it is to be far from him. But like I said, you’re a couple, so that choice might not be up to you.”
“Can you be more specific?” Ben asked Lily. “I can prepare better if I know what I’m facing. What are they? Vampires? Shifters? Fae? Zilithal annoyed that we canceled the meeting on the winter solstice?”
Lily’s eyes went wide. “Zilithal? You mean those evil, bloodsucking demons? You were going to meet with them?”
“Yeah, well, in retrospect it was probably better we called it off,” Ben conceded. “So, who is it?”
Lily shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can see a general danger—it’s like a blackness, hovering, waiting to crush you. But not who will cause it. When it gets closer, yes, I might be able to. Right now, you have a chance to avoid this danger if you go far, far from here.”
“How far?” Ben asked. Alaska? Russia? The Arctic? How about the Antarctic?
Lily blew out a breath. “A hell of a long way. You might not be able to go far enough.”
Every once in a while, Ben ran into someone who wasn’t fooled by his glams or the tough magic he wove to keep himself appearing human. Lily impressed him.
“Can you dig into it?” Ben balled his hands. “I won’t ask you to if it’s too dangerous for yourself, but I’d appreciate any intel. Will pay for it too.”
“That’s kind of you. I can look. Won’t charge you unless I find anything specific. Now you.” She switched back to Rhianne. “I can tell you not to go home. You’ll find the most danger there. Stay away, and let things work themselves out.”