Demons of Desire (26 page)

“Fifty–miles–per–hour winds with gusts at seventy–five around Key West,” Darci commented, her mouth a grim line. “As Gavin said, nothing to worry about. Now.”

I read between the lines. It was a lot to worry about. With everything we’d seen, these Crimson Moon folks were primed for a hurricane to reach New Orleans. Who’s to say they’d leave it all up to fate? They could negate my healing of the cypress trees, implement devastating spells in both dams and levees. Would it be beyond their abilities to influence weather? It wouldn’t take much to grow a tropical storm to a hurricane, and change the trajectory toward New Orleans. If they were truly powerful… .

My mind raced through various environmental classes to remember historical typhoons and hurricanes. A category six in the Philippines not so long ago had losses of over six–thousand lives with massive property damages. New Orleans was still fragile from recent storms. That along with the magical compromises of their defenses could result in even greater losses. My stomach twisted. If these people had the ability to control weather, the entire city could be leveled — with damage that wouldn’t be easy to recover from. The population hadn’t yet recuperated to pre–Katrina levels. This kind of disaster might mean the end of the city. Surely that wasn’t what Crimson Moon wanted? They just wanted to change the course of the ley lines, not destroy the town. But if the ley lines were their only goal, why did their preparation seem excessive?

Irix reached out a hand and ran his fingers along the bare skin of my thigh, squeezing my knee. In spite of the location of his hand, his touch wasn’t seductive. The warmth of his fingers rubbing gently across my knee was reassuring. I could count on him to protect me, to keep me safe, but it wasn’t me I was worried about. In spite of his surprising tenderness, he was still a demon. He might care for me, but I couldn’t expect him to care about any of the humans in the city, or their property. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to test his morality. With any luck, we’d catch the people responsible and strengthen the city’s defenses before the storm came anywhere near us.

I struggled to turn my mind away from topics we couldn’t discuss in front of Gavin, longing to ask Darci how the vampires and Jordan’s crew were doing. This was a double date. What topics would be safe, non–paranormal ones?

“What does your school schedule look like this fall?”

Darci grinned. “Cake walk. Senior year, girlfriend. I’ve got a few core credits then my independent study. I’ve applied for an internship with the mayor that would be twenty hours per week, then full time after graduation. Keep your fingers crossed for me.”

Irix leaned forward. “Amber said you were planning a career in public service. Are you looking to get into the city council, mayoral, state rep/senate, or the federal level?”

I gave him a suspicious look. With demons, there are no innocent questions. I doubted Irix was making small talk. Why was he so interested in Darci’s career plans?

“If I can manage to get this internship, then I’d like to stay at the mayor’s office for a few years to make connections and learn the ropes.” Darci glowed at the prospect. “When the timing’s right, I’ll start out with city council, delegate, or board of education, then with some luck be elected mayor. My end goal is governor. I’m not interested in a federal position at the moment. I’d like to influence grass roots changes right now, and then move into higher–level politics. My ultimate goal is to advocate for Louisiana and New Orleans.”

I felt a twinge of envy. Darci had always had her future mapped out — driven and ambitious since the first moment I’d walked into that dorm room and laid eyes on her. Me? I had no idea what the heck I was going to do with my life. A year younger than Darci, I’d be graduating this coming year too, after leapfrogging my way through high school and college. It was a little late to still be waffling on a career, but I’d never been able to see past graduation. I liked plants, but could hardly make a career out of going to people’s houses and causing their tulips to bloom.

“It all hinges on this internship then?” Irix asked.

I pulled my attention from my own career, or lack of, and concentrated on Darci. My friend had a happy, eager grin that creased the dark skin of her cheeks. She only got that look when she was in love, or discussing her political aspirations.

“I’ve got some other alternatives, but it
would
really jumpstart my future. These positions are super competitive, though, and it takes more than just good grades and a background in leadership to get them. My family isn’t well connected, even though we’ve been in the city for generations. I’ve got a good shot at it, but I’m not going to give up if someone else gets the position.”

Darci was always pragmatic. She might not get the internship. It meant so much to her, and she’d give it her heart and soul. It killed me to think that some snot whose parents wrote big campaign contribution checks might win out over my friend. Irix rubbed his hand along my thigh, and a feeling of peace warred with my anxieties about Darci’s chances at her dream job, and the unfairness of the world.

“Even if you don’t get the internship, you’ll find something promising,” Gavin said, giving Darci a quick kiss on the cheek. “You’re not a woman who gives up easily.”

My friend exchanged a glance with me, communicating everything in a brief look, the way best friends do. Yes, Darci wasn’t a woman who gave up easy — on boyfriends, on her career, or on weird half–demon–half–elf friends.

“I’m sure you’ll get the job, and you’ll be running the city in no time.” Irix saluted Darci with his wine glass.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but it’s a long shot.” Darci shrugged.

“Nah.” Irix leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of wine. “I know these things. You’ll get that internship, guaranteed.”

I kicked him under the table and gave him a squinty–eyed glare. I wasn’t sure what he was intending, but I hoped he wasn’t leading my friend on. I had every confidence in Darci’s smarts and ambition, but Irix had no right to make pronouncements he didn’t intend to follow up on. Irix winced, pinching my leg in retaliation. He was saved from further damage by the arrival of our dinner.

After we’d finished, and Darci and Gavin had left, I rounded on Irix, finally free to chew him out. “How could you guarantee Darci that internship? She’s got her heart set on it, and now she’ll be completely crushed if it doesn’t happen. I know how these things work. It takes connections and money to get these jobs — things her family doesn’t have. She deserves it, and it sucks, but you raising her hopes like that is horrible.”

Irix looked perplexed, taking my arm as we went to leave the restaurant. I pulled out of his grasp, and he sighed, looking heavenward.

“I don’t promise what I can’t deliver, half–breed. I’ll take care of it. She’ll get the job.”

My mind raced through the possibilities. Did he intend on seducing the Mayor and somehow compelling him to hire Darci? Would he make a huge campaign contribution with stolen money? I remembered Irix paying for our dinner tonight in cash. Crap, how much
had
he stolen from that ATM?

“Why? Why would you do this for someone who means nothing to you, for a human?”

The shutters came down over his eyes, and he shrugged. “It amuses me. I always enjoy a good seduction, and the prospect of blackmail is quite exciting.”

Shit. Darci would have a fit if she knew how her internship had been earned. “You can’t set up the mayor of the city and blackmail him! That’s wrong.”

Irix’s face was set in hard lines as he stopped and turned to face me. “Darci is your friend. You know that she’s the best candidate and how much good she’ll do the city. Others are using underhanded methods to gain the advantage. I’m offering you a level playing field.”

“That’s not a level playing field. What you’re proposing is illegal and completely immoral. Darci doesn’t want to win that way, and I’d never condone that sort of thing. I’d never do that myself.”

“Really? If someone’s life depended on the mayor’s decision, would you? If breaking the law and bending your ethics saved others, or a bayou full of cypress trees, would you? Morality is a surprisingly malleable concept.”

I felt a storm of indecision at his questions, but he was missing the point. “This internship isn’t a life–or–death event. Darci will succeed without it — she’s that driven, that good.”

I felt the weight of his stare in my bones. People edged past us on the sidewalk, and a breeze came down the cross street, pressing my skirt against my legs.

“I won’t interfere if you don’t want me to.”

There was something odd in his voice, something that made me think he wasn’t telling the truth.

“Swear it.”

His lip twitched into a half smile, although his eyes remained solemn. “I swear on all the souls that I Own that I will not personally interfere with Darci’s internship candidacy.”

I wracked my brain trying to find the loophole in his vow, frustrated that I hadn’t taken more interest in debate or law classes in my studies. “Okay.”

“So, we’re good?” Irix extended a hand.

“Good.” I went to shake his hand, and he held on, tucking it into his arm as he turned and began walking once again.

“Your friends are your household, Amber. You need to give serious consideration to how you support them and nurture their loyalty. The day might come when you need to smash what you consider your ethics, or risk losing them.”

What the hell was he talking about?

“Household?” I struggled to keep up with him in my high heels as we strolled down the sidewalk.

Irix’s lips turned up in a crooked smile. “Household. It’s the people you consider yours, the ones that belong to you. Demons, elves, humans — anyone.”

“Darci doesn’t belong to me!” My voice was an outraged squeak.

“Of course she does. You lived with her at your university. You live at her apartment when you are in her town. If she needed your help, you would risk your personal safety to come to her, and she you. She’s yours.”

“No,” I argued. “That’ friendship. Darci is my best friend. I don’t ‘own’ her.”

Irix made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a snort. “Silly. Half–breeds can’t ‘Own’. And I doubt your incredibly strict ethical standards would allow you to seize and hold anyone’s soul. Your household are not those you ‘Own’, they’re those that belong to you.”

I frowned. Clearly there were some communication issues between Irix and me, and the definition of the word ‘belong’ seemed to be one of them. I saw it as slavery, but from what he was saying, it seemed to be something different in Hel.

“Who do you have in your household? Are they free to leave and go elsewhere?”

Irix turned into a side street, tugging me along. “Of course they’re free to leave. Household members choose to be with you, in fact, they often beg to be with you. You protect them, raise their status through association. Most of my household members are demons, although incubi and succubi don’t have the large households that other demons do. I often have humans in my household. Colette, who willed me my New Orleans home, was one of my household members.”

His face tightened in grief as he mentioned her name. I had wondered about their association, but now I felt a sympathetic tug toward him at this sign of caring.

“Tell me about Colette.” I was surprised Irix showed such feelings toward another — especially a human, and I wanted to know more.

“I met her just after New Orleans was captured by the Union Army. The early conflict was military, but as it moved into the city, there were specific punishments against women who protested against the occupation. Colette was the mistress of a man who died at Fort St. Phillip. He’d given her the house early in their relationship, and she managed to keep it by being savvy enough to walk the tightrope between union and confederate forces.”

“What did she look like?” I don’t know why that was so important to me, but I wanted to get a visual of the woman that Irix spoke of with longing and grief.

“She was a mulatto — not so light that she’d be passe blanc, but lighter than your friend Darci. She was tall and a bit thinner than the fashion when I first met her, although you would consider her curvy now. She curled her hair into long ringlets, but with the humidity, little wisps would spiral up tight against her scalp.”

His voice softened with nostalgia, and I felt an unwelcome pang of jealousy.

“Had she been a prostitute? A madam?” I don’t know why I cared, but I did.

“No. She gave her favors to whom she pleased. Prostitution would have probably been in her future after the demise of her lover, but as part of my household, she had other choices. That’s what ownership means, Amber. I shielded her, protected her — just as you would with Darci.

I was getting a better idea on the concept, even though the thought of his feelings for Colette still were like a blow to my stomach. “Did you protect her from actions from the Union army? Keep her safe?”

A haunted look flashed across Irix’s face. “As much as I could. Demons can’t stay here long, and there were times when I needed to go back to Hel. Colette was tough. She could take care of herself, but I always felt guilty when she was alone.”

“How did she die?” I couldn’t help asking, even though I knew the question would cause him pain.

“Colette loved her food and drink. She’d indulged quite a bit through the decades and eventually succumbed to her excesses.”

“You couldn’t help her?” It seemed impossible to me that a demon found any physical problem beyond their abilities.

Irix shook his head. “Demons aren’t good at healing. That’s an angel thing. We can fix our own injuries, but when it comes to another, we’re pretty helpless.”

I halted at a street corner, staring at him. “I’m so sorry.”

We continued in silence while I tried to reconcile my preconceptions of demons with this man that cared enough about a human to protect her, to mourn her for over a century.

“Did you love her?” It was the question I was terrified to ask, but I needed to know the answer, no matter how much it might pain me.