16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
A fter three hours of flight, the plane lands in a private field. Standing up, I button the suit and sneak a look at Soraya. The whole flight, she tried to start a conversation, and in the first part, she even tried to sit on my lap. After dismissing her attempts, I sent a mental thanks that Will’s private jet didn't have adjacent seats.
Even the flirtatious, long-legged flight attendant didn’t bother me as much as Soraya’s desperate attempts.
I will have to get rid of her sooner than I planned. There is no other choice. There is a limit to how far my patience can go.
She gets up after me and says, "I ordered a car to take us to our destination. "
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I reply, annoyed, “You are not my secretary, Soraya. There is no need for you to do that.”
“I know. I just thought it would be more efficient.”
Ignoring her, I walk past her out to the corridor, where the flight attendant waits.
“Hope you had a wonderful flight, Mister Connor.” Nodding back at her, I make my way down the stairs.
“Do you know her?” Jealousy echoes from Soraya's voice, making her even more unflattering. Reminding myself that I might still need her up ahead, I take a deep breath and decide to ignore her.
The black SUV waits for us as the driver gets out to open the doors. Soraya enters first, and I follow. Giving the driver the credentials, I was hoping she would forget it and just enjoy the drive, but I was deluded.
“Do you?”
“Soraya, that’s enough” My voice is harsh as I unbutton the collar of the button-up shirt.
Twenty minutes later, deep in the city, the driver stops the car. I get out and look around. The road led us to a neighborhood far from the city center. There are three old houses in each direction and two more buildings that have seen better days.
I feel hopeful for Will's future. I didn't know Stella in her original life, the first life, but I got to hear quite a few stories over the decades. Every time Will talked about her, his eyes burned, his breath hitched, and the pain he felt laced his voice.
I've never known love like Will has. I’m not sure I believe in it, but damn if he doesn't make me jealous.
I never considered myself a man of faith, not after the life I led and certainly not after the life that was laid upon me. Don't get me wrong, Will saved me, but the life that brought me to the streets, to needing to be saved, was not something to be proud of. Praying to God was not my priority.
As I follow Soraya to the path leading to the middle house, I send up a prayer to the one above that this search will end and that Will's life will return to normal.
"My search led us here," Soraya says and knocks on the door.
"I really hope she is the answer to the curse."
After a few seconds that feel like an eternity, the door opens, and out comes a teenager with messy hair and tired eyes. I widen my gaze and realize that she is standing in clothing that barely covers her tiny body.
"I'm looking for Rita Gordon."
Taken by surprise, her eyes jump from me to Soraya and back to me. Her pupils dilate and fear covers her expression.
“She’s not here," she declares too quickly. I sneak a look at Soraya and find her nodding at me."I need you to listen to me very carefully because time is of the essence. Where is Rita Gordon?" I say in a low voice, staring into the girl's eyes.Her lips curl into an o, and the fear in her eyes disappears."I'm Rita," she says in a monotone before she realizes what she's done and the horror returns to her."Let us in," I command, and she steps back.
She pushes the door aside. "Come in. Who are you?"she asks, but I ignore her and go inside, Soraya following me.
"Are your parents at home?"Soraya asks, and the girl's bottom lip begins to quiver as she realizes that no one can save her now.Not from me.I take a long look at the messy little living room and can't help but wonder if she lives alone.The place looks like it hasn't been touched or cared for in years.The old sofa is covered in stains, the walls are painted a faded peach color, and the floor is covered in carpet that looks like it hasn't been cleaned in a long time.The smell of sex and dust makes me twist my nose.
"Soraya, begin," I say, and she closes the door. She nods before starting to mumble in Latin, making the girl even more startled. She casts a frightened look between us before deciding on a stupid move and starts running towards the stairs. I flasht here, and before she can climb one step, I'm blocking her way.
"We won't hurt you. "That's what all the monsters say," she says, the words laced with a bite. "I'm a different kind of monster. We just want your help. "With what? I have no money. I have nothing to help you with. "You can relax. It will take exactly a second," I say. Her pupils dilate and her breathing even sout. I look up at Soraya and signal for her to continue.
Soraya closes her eyes as her whispers grow louder. After what feels like an eternity, I hear the girl's breathing thicken and become more strained as the spell progresses.Soon, the color in her face pales.
"Soraya,"I say in a warning tone.We must not kill the girl. Not if she is the solution to breaking the curse. Soraya stops as the girl starts to cough."It's not her. Fuck. Fuck!” I lash out, barely able to contain my fury. "I'm sorry. I thought it was her.”Ignoring her hushed voice, I turn my attention back to the girl and say, "You will forget you ever saw us. We were never here. You promise to be a good girl and sign up to a college and leave this shit hole." She nods and we leave.
"She's weak but alive," I say, hearing her heart beating slowly.
Soraya wipes the blood from her nose with her hand before asking, "What now?"
"Now we get the end of a new deal," I say, getting up.