Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
JADEON
I awoke in blackness.
Where the bloody hell am I?
The deafening noise of a television roused me, the channels changing frantically. I pried my eyes open and was startled to see Alex holding the remote control. I was back in my suite at the Savoy with no recollection how I had gotten there.
“I didn’t know you ordered takeout,” Alex said.
I pulled the sheet covers up and over my thumping head.
I had failed.
I had to go back.
Alex tugged on the bed sheet. “Oh good, you’re awake. Look. Jadeon, see how amazing this is.”
I peeked over the bed covers. Alex was mesmerized with the television. It was wise not to tell him what I’d seen just yet. I wondered how long before I would find the strength to return.
Pain everywhere, which settled in my head. “If you turn it off right now, we’ll get one for every room in the castle,” I said.
“You don’t look too good.”
“Alex, the TV.”
He turned it off. “What happened to you?”
“I drank bad blood.”
“How so?”
“Drugs,” I said simply.
“What kind?”
“Too many questions, Alex.”
“I read in Cosmopolitan that it’s easy to become addicted.”
“Thank you for your comforting words.”
“Clearly you made a bad choice.”
“You’ll be the death of me.”
Alex laughed.
“Do you hear that?” I jumped out of bed and pulled on my robe.
“I told you there’s a guest waiting for you in the lounge.”
“Takeout? That’s not funny. Who is it?”
“Some woman.” Alex opened the door. “Hey, come in.”
I sat up quickly and gestured to him. “Wait.”
Ingrid appeared at the door. “Hello, Jadeon, I . . . didn’t know you had company.” She stepped into the room and squinted. “It’s pretty dark in here.”
“Ingrid, how wonderful to see you!” I forced out.
She was as lovely as I had remembered her, and she was wearing that familiar perfume. She was dressed in blue jeans, white shirt, and a blue jacket, her hair tied up behind her head.
Coco Chanel, Alex conveyed telepathically.
How the hell do you know that? I replied in kind. On the other hand, please don’t tell me.
I had to guard my thoughts more carefully.
Heavy-lined curtains omitted most of the light. I reached over to the table lamp and flicked it on. Ingrid glanced at the ruffled sheets on the four-poster bed which not so long ago she had slept in herself.
She blushed, self-conscious that Alex stared at her. “Is this a bad time?” she asked.
“No.” I read her suspicious mind as she eyed Alex. “He’s my brother. I mean, Ingrid, this is Alex, my younger brother.”
Alex smiled.
“Hello Alex, I am pleased to meet you. I’ve heard such wonderful things about you.”
“All bad, I hope. May I offer you something?” He ignored my glare.
“No thank you. I can’t stay long. I wanted to drop this off for you, Jadeon. It’s a small gesture to thank you for dinner, and of course the dress, and the wonderful evening.” Pulling a small box of chocolates and a card from her bag, she handed it to me.
“Thank you, Ingrid, Cadbury’s chocolate. It’s our favorite.” My stomach growled in response to the aroma of the rich chocolate. “You really shouldn’t have. Would you like one?”
She declined.
I shoved the chocolates in a drawer in the writing table. In response to her subtle reaction, I fibbed. “Alex will only go and eat them all.”
“Yummy,” Alex said, amused.
“Alex, will you give us a moment, please?” I gestured to the large couch.
He sat and pretended to scan the limited reading material on the coffee table.
In mere seconds, I gathered a sheet about me for modesty, climbed out of bed and then slipped into the hotel robe, while she, with quiet grace, turned away to grant me dignity. Securing the robe with a belt, I turned and faced her again.
She studied me with a gaze laced in admiration, tinged ever so faintly with intrigue.
I guided Ingrid through the arched wall and into the lounge.
“Are you not feeling well?” she asked. “You look a little rough.”
“I . . . drank too much last night. My own fault.”
“Hair of the dog often helps.”
“Excuse me?”
“Another drink,” she said.
“Yes, of course. No, it’s better I stay away from . . .”
I was disturbed to pick up more of Alex’s thoughts. He was considering a visit to Belshazzar’s, and I had no idea he even knew the place existed.
Had he read my mind? Had my nightmares reveled in its existence?
“Water is probably a better idea,” Ingrid said.
“Yes, right.”
Alex appeared at the archway. “You were at Belshazzar’s last night? Why didn’t you tell me you saw him?”
I glanced at Ingrid. “Alex, this is not a good time.”
“Catherine?” Alex said. “Was she there?”
“We’ll discuss this later, Alex.” A startling vision swept through. “When did he come to you?” I was shocked to sense this. I responded to Ingrid’s quizzical expression. “It’s brother stuff.”
She looked thoughtful. “Belshazzar’s. That’s that club Mr. Teddington mentioned in the gallery.”
“It’s members only.” I hoped this would put her off.
“Sounds alluring,” she said.
“It’s not. I highly recommend avoiding the place.”
“Why?”
I thought carefully. “Because—”
“I was going to tell you, eventually,” Alex said. “When were you going to tell me?”
“Alex, this is hardly the time,” I said.
He frowned, conveying the seriousness of this conversation, one which I couldn’t have Ingrid witness.
I sighed. “Alex, I had every intention . . .”
“Where is it again?” Ingrid said.
“The crowd is sinister and the food is . . .”
“I specialize in sinister.” She studied me.
“Ingrid, I’m not asking you to stay away from Belshazzar’s, I’m telling you.”
She gave a look of mock offense.
The last thing I needed was the thought of her snooping around Orpheus’s stomping ground.
Ingrid rested her hands on her hips.
“Oh, you’re a policewoman,” Alex said.
“She’s a police inspector.” I threw an intense stare at my brother. So shut the fuck up.
“Like Sherlock Holmes?” Alex said, ignoring me.
“I wish.” Ingrid smiled. “I could always Google it?”
“You what?” Alex said.
“Belshazzar’s. I’ll find out more about the places your brother Jadeon here likes to hang out in. It’ll tell me more about him. In my job, it’s the food people eat, the places they go, the clothes they wear, and the friends they share that speak volumes.”
“Sounds creepy,” Alex said.
“How reassuring to know we have such dedicated people protecting us.” I tried to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
Ingrid smiled. “Look, I can’t stay. I have to get back to this course I’m taking.”
“That forensic course you mentioned at dinner?” I said.
“Yes. Actually, the other reason I’m here is that an old friend of mine has arranged a party, and I was encouraged to bring a guest. I know they won’t mind if you come too, Alex.”
“He’s busy,” I burst out.
“No, I’m not. I haven’t been to a party since . . .” Alex appeared thoughtful.
Ingrid beamed. “Then it’s set. It’s my crazy friends getting together. It should be fun.”
“Will there be music?” Alex asked.
Ingrid nodded with a smile. “Alex, you are so cute. And great food.”
Now it was his turn to appear offended, but then he softened with the promise of a party.
“It will be our pleasure to attend,” I said, still considering the invite. It was obvious that it meant the world to Alex.
“Very well, I’ll give you the address and instructions on how to get there.” Ingrid proceeded to look in her bag for a piece of paper.
I offered her the hotel notepad next to the bed. While Ingrid wrote, I glared at Alex.
He gave me a bashful smile.
I melted.
The throb in my head soon receded, one of the few benefits of being supernatural. Not ready to go back to the club just yet, I reasoned Ingrid’s invitation would be the distraction I needed.