Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Vale parked the golf cart outside the blue cottage with the bright yellow door that I called home.
“This is your place?” he asked.
“Yes. No comments, please.”
“What? It’s nice. I like the color of the door. Suits your sunny disposition.”
I turned to glare at him as I opened the door.
He laughed. “What? I’m serious.”
Jinx came tearing around the corner and screeched to a halt in front of us. Her cat eyes turned to slits at the sight of Vale.
“You’ll have to steer clear of this one. Jinx is a very good judge of character,” I said.
The black cat crept toward Vale, head lowered, and flopped at his feet, opening herself up to a belly rub.
Vale looked at me, mouth twitching in amusement. “You were saying?”
“It’s fear,” I said, bristling defensively. “Can’t you see it radiating from her?”
He crouched down to stroke her belly. “The only thing radiating from this cat is a satisfied purr that rivals a Ferrari engine.”
Jinx closed her eyes in blissful appreciation. Traitor. No treats for her at the party.
Vale stepped over the vibrating cat to explore the rest of the cottage. I knew it was a mistake to let him in. I should’ve flown him to his yacht and dropped him on deck like bird shit.
“You live like a Spartan,” he finally remarked, after a slow, agonizing perusal of my living room.
“I’m a woman of simple means.”
“Most homes are a reflection of their occupants. I look around and I see nothing that suggests Maya August lives here.”
“Maybe that’s because you don’t know me very well.”
“Neither does your house.” He motioned to the wall. “You couldn’t even hang a piece of artwork that speaks to you? Something you find pretty to look at? A mirror, even?”
“I don’t spend a lot of time here,” I said. Okay, that was a bald-faced lie. I hid inside my cottage at every available opportunity. It was my sanctuary. My safe space.
And Vale was currently standing in the middle of it.
What was I thinking? Why didn’t I refuse? I was a strong, capable, powerful woman. I could’ve said no.
Why didn’t I?
Jinx reappeared in the living room, twining around my visitor’s ankles. “She’s friendly. How long have you had her?” he asked.
“She’s more of a frequent visitor who comes and goes at her leisure.”
He gave me a skeptical look. “And how frequently does she go?”
I couldn’t recall the last time Jinx had slept outside the cottage. “I don’t keep track.”
“Is there a reason you don’t want to claim ownership of this cat?”
“Because she doesn’t belong to me. Jinx is her own feline.” I scooped the cat under my arm. “Let’s go.”
“We’re bringing the cat to a social engagement?”
“It’s another cat’s birthday party. The theme is ancient Egypt, but don’t worry, you won’t get booted for not wearing a costume. Gina will be thrilled to see an unfamiliar face.” I’d been tempted to add the word “handsome,” but Vale would’ve never let me live it down.
Vale burst into laughter. “I’m beginning to understand why you tried so hard to get rid of me.”
“And you think I’m the one incapable of following orders.” I carried Jinx to the golf cart and settled into the passenger seat with the cat on my lap. “I’ll tell you where to go.”
Vale chuckled. “I bet you will.”
He drove us to the ballroom, humming merrily to himself.
“Won’t your people worry that you’ve been gone so long?” I asked, as we pulled into the parking lot.
“They know where I am.” The ends of his mouth twitched. “Well, not specifically where I am, although I fully intend to provide photographic evidence.”
“You take one picture inside this venue, and I will smash your phone with my bare hands.”
My threat only made him laugh harder. “I don’t remember the last time I had this much fun.”
“Then you’ve lived a very sad life, Protector.”
We entered the ballroom, which was teeming with Neighbors who did their awkward best to lean into the theme.
Even Little Lord Ruffington was in attendance, wearing a usekh collar and a tiny black wig.
I started to envision the possibilities I could’ve explored for Jinx, although dogs were far more agreeable than cats when it came to costumes.
In fact, a sweep of the room told me that not a single cat was dressed for the theme, except for the cat of honor. That tracked.
“Maya, you made it.” Gina’s gaze raked over Vale. “I didn’t realize you were bringing a plus one.”
“Plus two, actually. Jinx is here.” I scouted the area, but I’d already lost sight of the cat amid the throng of legs. I noticed scratch marks on Gina’s cheek. “Are you all right?” I asked, gesturing to the injury.
Gina laughed awkwardly. “Oh, it’s nothing. The guest of honor wasn’t enthusiastic about her special outfit.” She turned the other cheek. “Help yourself. There’s plenty of food and an open bar. All the drinks are part of the theme, so I hope you like Pyramid Palomas.”
Vale shot me a gently raised eyebrow. “Very authentic.”
My empty stomach was drawn to the platter-covered table. Gina seemed to have spared no expense. Was it wrong to be jealous of a cat?
I filled a plate with all kinds of food and dug in. Vale did the same.
“I was sure you’d skip this one, Maya.” My neighbor, Edith, appeared beside us, holding a half-empty Pyramid Paloma in her hand. “Who’s your friend?”
“Edith, this is Vale. Vale, this is my neighbor, Edith.”
“Are you Judd’s replacement?” Edith asked.
“No, Vale is the Protector of the Region,” I said.
Edith’s eyes widened. “Oh, are you here about the monsters? That’s a relief. I’m tired of needing to find a buddy to walk everywhere with. You’d be surprised how hard that it is with everyone’s busy schedules.”
I had an inkling it wasn’t due to busy schedules, but I kept the thought to myself.
“That guy is wearing a white bedsheet,” Edith said, visibly disgusted. “This isn’t a toga party. Do these people know nothing about ancient Egypt?”
I placed a calming hand on the harpy’s shoulder. “It’s a birthday party for a cat, Edith. People are here for free food and booze, not historical accuracy.”
“It was this or keep square dancing,” Edith said. “I got a cramp in my foot after the second round, so I quit while I was ahead.”
“Did Joan come with you?”
“No. She got spun around one too many times. Gave herself high blood pressure and a headache.”
I had a feeling it wasn’t the dancing.
“Oh, look. There’s Martin. I’ll see you later. Nice to meet you, Protector.”
“Have fun,” I said.
“Monsters?” Vale asked, the moment she was gone. “I thought the shadow was top secret.”
“Not the shadow. These are demonic spirits called oni.”
“I’m not familiar with them.”
“They seem to have had their fun and left. You haven’t had any incidents in your territory?”
“Not that I’ve been told, but they only tell me what they think I need to know.” He paused. “Do I need to know about oni?”
“They’re apparently harbingers.”
“Of?”
I tried to maintain an air of nonchalance. “Of something wicked this way comes. Maybe. Probably.”
He rubbed his sculpted jawline. “I’ll look into it. Let you know if we’ve had any reports on our end.”
“Thanks.”
Vale tugged a purple grape from a bunch on the table and popped it into his mouth. “Naked pickleball to a square dance to a birthday party for a cat. Your Neighbors aren’t idle, are they?”
“They like to take advantage of the island’s amenities. Nothing wrong with that.”
“And when’s the last time you took advantage of the amenities outside of your security assignments?”
“Most things I do are work related. That’s the reason I’m on this island. They don’t pay me to loaf around.”
“Are you being deliberately obtuse?”
I shrugged. “Obtuse is my favorite shape.”
“Twice in one day,” Stella exclaimed, approaching us at a swift pace. “Aren’t I lucky? Come on, Maya.” The vampire grasped my hand. “We’re about to start a conga line.” She smiled, showing her fangs to Vale. “You, too, Protector.”
I disengaged from her tight grip. “I’m here to make sure the festivities don’t get out of control.” I faked a cheerful smile. “But Vale is here to partake in everything the Neighborhood has to offer. He’d love to conga.”
Stella didn’t wait for his reply. She yanked him forward and forced him into the blossoming line. He tossed me a dark look that threatened bodily harm as he was swept away by the crowd.
The look sent shivers down my spine, but not because I was afraid.
I gulped down a Pyramid Paloma to escape my feelings.
Suddenly there were shadows everywhere, spinning and dancing around the room.
It was impossible to determine whether they were each anchored to a body.
I was tempted to shine a giant spotlight and see if one of them scattered into the darkness to escape detection, like a cockroach.
I also risked blinding half the attendees, so that seemed like a bad idea. Dr. Adam would never forgive me if his office was swarming with patients tomorrow morning.
Screams erupted from across the room, by the entrance. I tore through the crowd, mindful not to step on any smaller creatures running around on the floor.
“What is it?” I shouted. “What’s happened?”
Gina ran over to me, clutching her cat against her chest. “A ghost kicked my precious Nefertiti.”
“A ghost?”
“It must’ve been. Nefertiti hissed and someone kicked her hard, booted her a couple feet in the air, but I was standing right there and didn’t see anyone.”
“Show me.”
Gina marched across the room to an alcove near the entrance. “Right here.” She stroked and kissed her cat’s head. “Poor baby. On your birthday too.”
The walls and floor in this section of the room were drenched in darkness. A shadow would’ve blended right in.
I whirled around to face the ballroom. If Darlene’s killer was here, we were all at risk. I had to get Jinx out of here before the shadow incited a stampede.
“Jinx!” I scoured the ballroom for any sign of the cat. “Jinx, where are you?”