The Touch Series: Initiation (17 page)

              Josef opened the door. He looked exhausted for a vampire. His hair was disheveled and he was wearing jeans and a loose white t-shirt. Very unlike him. But, of course,  somehow he still managed to look hot. The last time I saw him I was angry and now I felt my heart flutter at the sight of him. And I hated that; hated that he had that affect on me.

              He certainly didn't look happy to see us but there was also a hint of understanding in his eyes as if he knew we would come and demand answers. He didn't look directly at us, instead he looked up to the ceiling. “Come in.”

              And as we all slowly and cautiously walked in, his eyes dropped to meet mine and he looked surprised to see me. I felt my cheeks turn scarlet.

              When we were all inside the main hall of the house, most of the girls turned to him and started demanding answers. One talked over the other. Some were pissed and others came across as extremely nervous which I caught because of their shaky voices. Either way,  they took control of the situation. But not for long.

              As he closed the door, he turned and put his hand up. “Quiet.”

              And that was it. His demeanor and tone shut everyone up and he was the dominant one again. Like always. Lisa, Nadine, Samantha and Kimberley all looked down quickly as if they were ashamed that they interrupted their master. Janel looked scared but Ivy looked pissed at everyone. And me? Well, to be honest, a part of me really just wanted to take his hand, find an empty room and dishevel his hair some more.
Okay, I have to stop!

              Janel started to speak in a pleading manner. “Mr. Constane, may I speak please?”

              He nodded.

              “Due to recent events, we would no longer want to be a part of the Club and we would like to collect the remainder of what was owed.”

              He looked angry but not entirely surprised. His nostrils flared and then he turned to me with an icy look. “Because you all believe that I am the murderer?”

              I shook my head. “No, Sir. Not at all.” I looked around the group to see if anyone would step in. I didn't want to talk to him. Not like this. Not with his current manner. “We are just scared.”

              “Why? Murders aren't rare. It happens.”

              Ivy didn't want us to say anything to Josef about the mystery girl but I had to. “Sir, before she died, Cassie received a warning-” I was cut off by Ivy who was clearing her throat. Josef turned to her in a quick motion and his look alone shut Ivy up.

              He turned  back to me looking a little shook up, “What warning?”

              “Cassie spoke to some girl at the museum who told her that something bad was going to happen and that someone from the group was going to die. And then...well, you know the rest.”

              He was no longer cold but more interested that anything. “What girl?”

              “We don't know. Lisa saw them talking together but she couldn't get a good look. But she really freaked Cassie out. And we're all too freaked out to continue.”

              He looked down to the floor and nodded. “Okay. Fine. I'll get your checks.” He didn't look at us before he walked to the coat rake near the front door. From one of the coat pockets, he took out white envelopes with what appeared to be our names on them. He handed each check one-by-one. I was the last one but I didn't take it. I looked up to his eyes and whispered, “I hope you didn't forget what I said yesterday.”

              He held my gaze. His eyes were warm though his jaw was tense. “This check will be electronically delivered into your family's account. Artie is smart like that. I'll make him do it.”

              “There is no point in arguing with you, is there? You always get your way.”

              He straightened up and titled his head upward with his eyes focused on me. It looked like I had insulted him in some way and he wasn't pleased to have the others standing around watching.

              I broke our gaze when I remembered that we were not alone. “Thank you, Mr. Constane. We will be on our way now.” Ivy, Janel and I started to move to the door but the other four didn't. I looked over at them to see what was going on. They stood still and looked at each other as if they knew something that the rest of us didn't. Josef looked at them too and then he grinned as he leaned against a wall. He then turned to the three of us at the door. “Looks like some changed their mind.”

              Janel was more shocked than anyone. “What are you doing? It was mainly your idea to leave the group.”

              Lisa looked down the whole time while Nadine, Samantha and Kimberley all looked up composed and entirely different.  Kimberley smiled. “We changed our minds. We need this. And Mr. Constane is right. Stuff like this happens.”

              Nadine nodded as she wrapped her arm around Lisa who was still looking down. “It's not a conspiracy ladies.”

              Oh. My. God. They planned this. They wanted to us to leave the group and make it seem like we were the crazy ones in front of Josef. And apparently they dragged Lisa into it too. I looked at Ivy and Janel in shock. I was waiting for Ivy to make some sassy remark but she didn't. I looked over at Josef who looked pleased and amused with the outcome.

              Janel cursed and abruptly walked out and so did Ivy. As I stood there in disbelief, Josef titled his head towards me. His eyebrow was raised. “Are you reconsidering, too?”

              “No, thank you.” My response made his mouth tense and eyes cold again, “I hope for your sake that this is all really just an accident. But I really doubt it myself.”

              “Oh how sweet. You're worried about me?”

              Kimberley, Samantha and Nadine snickered as they held onto Lisa. I felt embarrassed that he was making this awkward and clearly uncomfortable for me. And this was obviously something that he wanted and enjoyed. But I wasn't going to lie. Especially not now. And when this could very well be the last time that I may ever see him. “Why wouldn't I be worried about you? You may be a vampire but that doesn't mean that you are entirely invincible. And this doesn't just involve you. Artie could be in trouble too.”

              He quickly leaned off the wall and stood to face me. “The only person you need to worry about is you. It's ridiculous for you to waste your time and thoughts on vampires who can take care of themselves while you are mortal, weak and naive.”

              Mortal.
It was great that he brought that up again. Like I needed some type of reminder.

              Weak.
I already knew that.

              Naive.
He didn't really know me well then...

              “Well, thank you for being honest with me. But the thing is that I'm not selfish. I don't only think about myself.”

              He rolled his eyes which pissed me off even more. “Sweetheart, you couldn't protect yourself from most dangers that occur in this world. You are so unaware. It would actually be best if you stayed and continued to associate yourself with vampires because at least we could protect you.”

              “Oh please! The last thing that you want is to protect me. You're just like any other guy and you just want me to stay for one thing only. You want to use me and throw me out. I'm actually not really that naïve.”

              Nadine snorted and whispered to Kimberley, “Um. No guy would even want to use a petty virgin princess.”

              I shot her a cold look though it was Josef who put her in her place. He turned to her casually with his hands in his pant pockets and cocked his head towards her. “Disrespect is the one thing I really can't stand the most. Lose the attitude or you'll be gone.”

              All four of them looked down and then Josef turned back to me. He was about to say something but I was too upset to hear it. I turned on my heels and walked away. “Save it.”

              But before I walked right out the door, I turned back to look at Lisa. She didn't want to be there. She was scared. I wanted to help her but I didn't know how.

                                                                                                  ***

              “Those bitches.” Janel was seething as we walked out the gate and down the stony road that led to the entrance of the less-affluent area of Richmond. “They played us the whole time.”

              Ivy shook her head. “You could never trust them. I could smell snake off them from a mile away. It sucks that they are doing this after Cassie's death though. I see how they like to mourn. Very classy.”

              Janel stopped in her tracks which made me and Ivy stop and look at her. “What if they're right? What if it was just a coincidence? And I just lost my law school fund.”

              Ivy looked exasperated. “Are you serious? How about the girl at the museum?”

              “Maybe she's the killer.” Janel shrugged her shoulders as she starting pacing side-to-side. “Maybe she tricked Cassie, made her feel uneasy to the point that she wanted to be alone, and BOOM. She kills her. And the person we would never suspect is the person who sent the warning.”

              It made sense. It made total sense. “That actually wouldn't surprise me.” Ivy then looked at me in surprise. “Think about it Ivy, it does make sense.”

              Ivy then lifted a finger to her lips. “So there is no such thing as witches then?” She pretended to look disappointed.

              “Okay, well that I can't explain. Maybe the girl was a witch. Who knows? And don't you want to open some witch museum?” I eyed her curiously. I really wanted to know what was up with that.

              She started to kick rocks on the ground. “Yeah, do you know how many witch-craft fanatics there are in the world? I can make a ton of money off deluded people. Doesn't mean that I have to believe in it all. Sue me.”

              Janel stepped up closer to the two of us. “Maybe we should reconsider.”

              I shook my head. “No. I can't.”

              They both looked at me like they knew I was hiding something.

              “Okay. Look. Me and him got into a fight. I like him more than I should. But he made it very clear to me that our relationship was nothing.” I fought to hold back the tears. I didn't want to cry over him again.

              Janel and Ivy looked at me in pity. “Stop looking at me like that.”

              Ivy let out a groan. “Look. You need the money. Heck, we all need it. He's got it. Take your feelings out of the equation and see this as an opportunity to not only make money off him but find out what really happened.”

              Janel and I looked at her curiously.

              Ivy rolled her eyes and smirked, “Let them be the four snakes. And we'll be the detectives.”

              Janel was actually considering her proposition which shocked me more than anything. “I love a good sleuth job.” Of course, the lawyer-in-training would.

              Ivy nodded. “Yes. But we will also ask for more money.” She looked at me again. “Scam him. Pretend to like his time. Use him entirely. Then when it's done you'll be the one who won't be returning any feelings.”

              I was angry and pissed at Josef. He used me in the last two weeks. He knew we wouldn't have a relationship and he was prepared to spit me out in the end. Maybe Ivy was right? I should take revenge while possibly trying to find closure for what happened to Cassie. I had to do it for Lisa at least. And we had to get her out from Nadine's, Samantha's and Kimberly’s clutches.

              Janel and Ivy were already up for it, they were just waiting for my response. “Fine... And no feelings this time.”

                                                                      CHAPTER twelve

              We didn't want to walk back up to his house and have Nadine, Samantha and Kimberley have the satisfaction of seeing us looking like fools and begging Josef to take us back. Artie wasn't going to give me Josef's number so we went to Gwen. Yes, Gwen. We knew where she lived. We were given her information in case of an emergency.

              When we arrived at her apartment, Gwen wasn't angry that we were there. She was actually happy to have the company as she ushered us into her living room. “Come in , please. I'll bring tea.” She wasn't her moody self. Instead I found a hint of sadness in her presence.