Chapter 19 - Owen
Standing in front of the old museum, I can hardly believe it’s the same old place I saw a few weeks ago. The building has been cleaned and painted, with new lights put in across all the signs until it gleams like a big-city high-rise.
The crowd out front is moving slowly towards the doors, and it’s obvious that everyone attending cares more about mingling than they do about the artifacts. I’m still a little puzzled that Trina decided to come, and I’m not really buying her excuse that it’s to appease Angela.
I can’t say I mind, though.
My eyes sneak back to Trina, clinging lightly to my right arm. Even though she’s not entirely comfortable in her high heels, she’s managing to keep her balance by holding on to me, and I can’t argue with how good they look on her.
I knew she was a knockout. But. Wow.
I let my gaze linger on her, slowly looking her up and down.
Her dress is a deep blue-green, almost the exact shade of her eyes.
The tight bodice clings to her curves, the heart-shaped neckline swooping down to frame her breasts.
With every step, a long, thigh-high split reveals her beautiful legs, enhanced even more by the very high, open-toed heels.
The crowd shuffles towards the doors again, and Trina looks up at me, smiling.
Her makeup is skillfully done, a shimmer of peacock blue across her eyelids with a hint of green to match the dress and long, thick black lashes.
Her lips are painted soft pink, defined by a darker rose edge that matches the blush on her cheeks.
“You keep looking at me,” Trina whispers. “Is my hair okay?” She brings up one hand to pat it gently.
“It’s fine,” I reply. “I’m just admiring it.”
Trina smiles bashfully, ducking her head a little. I smile back, trying to give her confidence. She spent a long time gathering up her thick, honey-blond hair into a jeweled clip on the back of her head, teasing the lengths into curls that now spill across her pale shoulders.
“I hope we get in soon,” she says, biting her lip nervously. “What the hell is going on up there?”
“Schmoozing, I expect,” I reply. “All the bigshots bragging about who they know and how much money they have. How did we end up with so many wannabes out here in the sticks?”
“Angela,” Trina mutters. “She’s trying to show off for her big-city friends. Apparently, small towns and museums are the current trend.”
“Well, I hope it’s over soon.”
“Me too. I can’t take much more excitement.”
The line moves slowly forward, and once we reach the foyer, the place opens up, and we can move freely. Both of us take a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, and I head towards the exhibits. To my surprise, Trina pulls me towards the back of the museum.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“To the back rooms. There’s something I need to see.”
“But the displays are all out here,” I protest, not understanding.
“Yes, but I don’t want to see those,” she mutters, tugging on my arm. “Come on.”
“What are we doing?” I whisper as Trina drags me into the hall behind the main floor.
“I need to see the vault,” she says, looking around furtively. “And this is my only chance. I know Angela has left the electronic locks off tonight, and I stole a key yesterday.”
“What the fuck?” I say, not understanding a single word.
Trina sighs with exasperation. “I need to get into the vault to find a certain book. Angela has been locking them away—but I know she left the electronic alarm off tonight so she could take a few of her favorite people in without going through the computer system. She hates using the codes and always screws it up—she wouldn’t want to look stupid in front of her city friends. ”
“That would be worth the risk of leaving the security alarm off?”
Trina chuckles. “Far bigger risk to look dumb in front of everyone by setting off the main alarm. It would deafen everyone, call the cops, and ruin the evening for sure. She trusts the key a lot more than the software, anyway.”
“Okay,” I reply as Trina drags me up the hall. “So why do you need to get in again?”
“I found a book,” she says, struggling to walk fast in the heels. “It had a ritual for unlocking my powers, but it’s incomplete. I’m sure the rest of it is in here.”
For a moment, the words don’t hit me; I’m too busy getting dragged along by Trina, still wobbling in her heels. When the words do sink in, a confusing bubble of feelings rises in me.
Then we might be able to end the curse! We could save everyone!
The elation I feel at the very thought of this quickly evaporates when Trina looks back at me, and I see her wide smile, how her eyes shine with anticipation.
Is she… just trying to wrap this up, so she can leave me?
“Trina,” I say with every intent of confronting her, right here and now, but she stops suddenly, peering around the next corner.
“Okay,” she says. “This is the vault. Wait here for me and be my lookout.”
“Trina,” I say again, trying to hold her back, but she gets away from me. I hear the clicking of her heels as she disappears down the hallway. My anxiety rises every second she’s gone, and I have to wonder exactly what I’m hoping for here.
Of course, helping my people is my top priority, but I can’t stand the thought of losing her.
The second she gets back, we’re sorting this out for good. I need to know what her intentions are.
I’m so lost in thought, it’s a shock to notice someone in the hallway nearby. I have to quickly cover my reaction and act as if I’m supposed to be here. When I turn towards the person and smile, ready to bullshit my way out of the situation, that’s when I realize it’s Angela.
Well. We’re fucked.
“Owen!” Angela exclaims, taking my arm. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”
She leans in to me, stroking my arm and almost resting her head on my shoulder. Her long, pure black hair is loose to her waist, and her slim figure is enhanced by an extremely tight, equally black dress.
“Oh, I just got a little lost,” I say, smiling bashfully. “I’m not familiar with the place.”
She smiles back, her dark red, perfectly painted lips curving upwards in a smirk more than a grin.
“Well, I was about to bring some of my friends up for a private viewing in the vault… but if you’d like a private interview of your own, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”
She looks up at me from under her lashes, stroking the lapel of my jacket with one finger.
Shit. What the fuck do I do now?
“Angela,” Trina’s voice rings through the hallway. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Angela doesn’t take her hand off me, just turns her head and gives Trina a sideways look.
“We’re just talking, Trina. There’s no need to get vulgar.”
“Your behavior is vulgar,” Trina says, taking short, sure strides towards us. With her head held high and her back straight, she doesn’t falter for a second in her high heels.
“Can’t two people just innocently chat?” Angela says, stroking my chest again. “There’s no need to get so emotional.”
Trina’s face twists, and I have a pretty good idea of how hard she’d let fly if she allowed herself to lose her temper.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Trina like this.
“Take your hand off him,” Trina says, striding right up to us. “Now.”
Angela laughs, a soft, seductive sound. She takes a slow step back, her fingers lingering as she lets go of me.
“There you are. Calm yourself, dear. It’s unseemly to lose control of yourself this way.”
“Back the fuck off,” Trina snaps, putting herself between us.
I see Angela’s eyes go dark as her mouth sets into a straight line. “And what exactly are you doing back here?” Angela hisses. “I thought you weren’t even coming to the event. Now I find you out in the restricted section?”
“She was looking for me!” I put in, trying to distract Angela. “I told you, I got lost. I’m sure she just came to find me.”
“That’s right,” Trina confirms, not moving an inch.
“Well, you might want to keep track of your husband a little better,” Angela says. “You know how some girls just can’t resist taking home a poor, neglected stray.”
Before either of us can respond, Angela turns and walks away. Trina doesn’t move, just stays in front of me, shoulders squared and her eyes fixed on Angela’s back.
“Trina,” I say, trying to hide my shock. “Are you going to get in trouble for talking to her like that?”
Trina shrugs. “She might try to make my life difficult—well, more so than she already has, I guess—but Fern won’t let her fire me.
Angela never stays long in town, anyway.
She gets bored and thinks that Silver Valley is beneath her.
Within a couple of days, she’ll be heading back to her fancy high-rise apartment. ”
“Oh,” I reply. “She kind of gave me the impression she was staying longer.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Trina scoffs. “You’re a temporary amusement to her, and she’s just playing on it now to upset me.”
“Is it upsetting you?” I ask.
The fury radiating from Trina is a palpable force, and it gives me a little thrill. She shakes her head, trying to avoid my question.
She really is jealous.
“Trina,” I say, and she actually jumps a little.
“What?” she asks, turning around.
I want to ask if our mission was a success, but I’m too amused by the cute look on her face as she stands before me like a warrior goddess protecting my virtue.
“Trina, you’re jealous.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You are.”
“No,” she laughs. “Why would I be? Let’s just get out of here—I have the pages.”
She starts to walk off, but she can’t move fast in the heels, so storming away isn’t really possible. I keep pace with her, grinning as she keeps throwing glances over her shoulder that get more and more pensive.
“Stop looking at me like that, Owen!” she snaps, trying to walk faster.
“Like what?” I ask in a light tone. “I’m not doing anything.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Seriously, I’m just walking.”
Trina stops and turns to face me, putting her hands on her hips. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but it’s not funny.”