A Job From Hell (11 page)

"Just spit it out, whatever it is."

"Okay." Cass inhaled and exhaled a few times. "You may find it a bit hard to believe at first, which I can ful y understand, but once you've slept over it, you'l see I'm offering you a perfectly fine explanation of what's going on."

Why did I have the feeling whatever Cass aimed at involved Aidan? And probably not in a good light. "Say it, Cass. I don't need any more cushioning."

"You've won a major prize and now half of the Interracial court's coming after you." Cass let out a big sigh. "There, I said it. Way to go, me!"

"The what?" No keep away from Aidan? No Aidan's seeing someone else? I laughed.

A frown crossed Cass's face. Two tiny, red dots twinkled in her eyes. "What's so funny? If I were you I'd be scared to death, girl."

I burst into a fit of laughter. "It's just, I thought you were going to—" Shaking my head, I wiped the tears from my eyes. "Sorry. Please go on."

Cass regarded me careful y. When I remained serious, Cass resumed the conversation. "A little birdie told me a few nights ago you were in the woods, doing something very naughty."

The jewels. She knew. Of course, they had to belong to someone. I groaned. Dal as had messed up big time.

Cass snapped her fingers. "Hey, focus. You entered a race, and since Aidan chained everyone else to a tree, they had no chance to stop you.

No idea how you figured out the riddle, but you scooped the first prize. Congratulations. You've just won a vacation to a big, relaxing place cal ed a grave."

"Who did what?" I shook my head to clear my mind and calm my racing heart. Okay, play it cool. I had nothing to fear. Cass's crazy talk proved nothing. "You're mistaken. Why would you think it was me?" If I went to jail because of Dal as's stupid plan, I'd kick him right where it hurt the most.

"I know you were near the shed. There was an eyewitness."

"You said it was night. How could this person possibly identify me?" I tried to keep my composure, but my voice shook. Dal as was as good as disowned.

Cass smiled as she peered at me, green eyes glinting. "He saw you up close when he demanded the jewels, but you ran with your backpack.

You were wearing al black, covered in mud, and your hair was tied in a ponytail."

"I can explain," I whispered.

"I doubt that, mate," Cass snorted very unlady-like. "Now you're stuck with this ability for half a mil ennium."

Huh? "You're saying I've earned a skil for the next five hundred years? Are you serious? Shouldn't I be dead by then?"

"Technical y yes, I guess." Cass squirmed in her seat, chewing her lip. "Actual y, we're not real y talking about a skil , rather a gift. I'm sure you've noticed it already and if not, Aidan wil make you use it soon so you can get the book."

I laughed. "What can I do? Fly like Superman? See the future?"

Cass waved her hand. "Nah, it's not that grand. Would be great though, saving on airfares and al . What you can do is see and communicate with the dead."

"A necromancer, then?" I cocked a brow, amused.

"Yes or, in other words, the old spinster who talks to herself."

I stared at her. Cass's face betrayed no signs of lying. I had to find a way to give the jewels back without anyone dragging me to court. Hel , I hadn't even wanted to steal them in the first place, so no one could actual y persecute me. Could they? Either way, Dal as would have to understand I wasn't going to take the blame for him. It had been his idea. He was old enough to deal with it. I could only hope he hadn't sold them to the highest bidder already.

"Okay, let's say I was in the woods and did enter a certain shed—" I took a deep breath and brushed imaginary fluff from the sofa "—I understand the things there must belong to someone, and I'm perfectly happy to return them. I'm even wil ing to pay a bit of compensation from my meagre wage. Just give me a few days to sort everything out and maybe we could make a fresh start."

Cass leaned forward and squeezed my hand, unnatural warmth seeping into my skin. "I'm so sorry, but it's not that easy. You solved the Riddle of Sight by gathering the required jewels. No idea how you came up with the right answer, but those who enter the race must be content with whatever riddle they solve and whatever gift is bestowed upon them. There's no exchange or refund policy."

The Riddle of Sight? The woman from the pub flashed through my mind, and al those strange nightmares, and Rebecca's savaged body when I'd touched the red dress.

"You're starting to believe. As I always say, if you can't take the heat you should've stayed out of the kitchen." Cass laughed. "Kitchen—get it?

You're a housekeeper and al ." She cleared her throat, seemingly embarrassed. "So sorry, mate. I can't help it. It's like I'm possessed or something.

Anyway, there's more. Ever wondered why no one's here during the day?"

I shook my head, not because I didn't wonder, but because I didn't want to know, since I was stil processing the news that I was the top winner of a skil that, as per Cass, would bring me a step closer to an early grave.

"Never mind, I'l tel you anyway," Cass said as though reading my mind. "Your new boss's a vampire, and if you don't learn to handle him, you'l wake up dead. And I hope it's in Hel because it's more fun and heaven ain't al that."

"You're kidding?" Aidan couldn't be. Last night he sure didn't feel like a corpse when he kissed me. In fact, he felt al warm and gentle and—

Cass rol ed her eyes. "Does he ever eat? Nope. Does he sleep during the day and only comes out at night? Yep. Is he so sexy you'd sel your soul to spend just a night with him? Double-yep. What other proof do you need?"

I sat up and walked to the window. Cass had a few points but, real y, a vampire? Who believed in such a myth? What was Cass suggesting anyway? That I grab my rosary and head for the nearest church begging for holy water? Line my door and widows with salt? Sleep with a wooden stake under my pil ow? Hang garlic bulbs from my bedroom door? Why was I even considering these options? The girl was ludicrous.

"You don't have to believe to know deep inside. Just listen to that voice and you'l find belief easier to bear," Cass said. "Or, in other words, suck it up and just look at the facts because nothing wil work to keep him away."

Could she read my thoughts? My laughter died in my throat at the oppressing silence.

Cass crossed her arms over her chest, grinning. "That kiss between Aidan and you last night wasn't bad for a start, but I prefer a bit more oomph."

I gasped. "He told you? That moron—"

"The image rol s before my eyes like on a movie theatre screen because you can't stop thinking about it." She leaned in. "Honestly, you're good for Aidan. I've heard he's been such a grump over the last century. A little action might loosen the stiff up."

I didn't believe one word. How dare he kiss and tel , bragging to half the neighbourhood? That is, if we had any.

"Ha, you wish. I know his kind. He's so uptight he wouldn't even tel his own brother. Now try me," Cass said.

"Try you what?" I blinked, unable to keep up with Cass's changes in topic.

"You want to know if I can read your mind. Ask me questions, then."

I hesitated. "How did you know—"

"Come on, mate. I haven't got al day."

"Let me think." Breathing in, I focused on the first string of words my mind came up with: doo-da-di sausage with gravy and apple crumbs.

Cass scoffed. "Doo-da-di sausage with gravy and apple crumbs. Seriously? You were more fun to tune into when you thought I was dating your guy."

"How did you know that?" There had to be some sort of explanation. Maybe some circus trick, like pul ing a card out of one's sleeve.

"I could try the card trick for you, but I'm such a klutz most of the time. I'd probably end up with cards scattered al over the floor." Cass smiled.

I stared at her, enthral ed. "How do you do that?"

"What? Oh, that." Cass waved her hand; her smug grin made her look as though she enjoyed entertaining her audience. "It's just something I do.

Can be quite a pain in the butt when you're trying to sleep and the next-door neighbour keeps obsessing about the dripping water tap and whether the doors are indeed barricaded for the night."

"You're good," I said, impressed. I wished I could read other people's thoughts. Then I'd drive Dal as crazy by answering his questions before he asked them. Now, that would freak him out. "Can you hear anyone's thoughts?"

"There's a few exceptions."

"So, are you a vampire too?" I bit my lip to stifle the sudden onset of hysteria. Talking about the existence of vampires was one thing, facing one was another. I could only hope Cass had a hearty breakfast.

"Did my pale face give me away?" Cass laughed. "I knew I should've worn more bronzer. I guess I could pass for a vampire, but there's one giant flaw in your theory."

"What's that?"

Cass rol ed her eyes as she pointed at the large windows. "Uh, daylight. How could I be sitting here without sunglasses and draping myself in blackout curtains?"

"Right. I forgot that tiny detail. You'd be in your crypt sleeping like my boss, or so you say." If she wasn't a vampire, what was she then?

Cass hesitated. "I can't go into detail right now. Let's just say I'm here to save your butt since Aidan's keeping you in the dark. I thought you should know what you're dealing with in case Aidan decides to bite a bit harder than the usual boyfriend." Cass tilted her head to the side, her eyes shimmering bright red like two Chinese lanterns. "Urgh, Dad's cal ing. Gotta dash." She air-kissed my cheeks and loitered out the door, waving as she cal ed over her shoulder, "See ya, mate."

"Wait. You mentioned some court. Who's coming after me?" I bolted after Cass in time to see her jump into her huge SUV. Shooting me a smile, she sped off, a puff of smoke lingering in the air. Of course Cass had to disappear when I was final y warming up to the idea that maybe—

just maybe—I lived in a house inhabited by immortals. What did they even want from me? And how dangerous were they real y?

Returning to the living room, I slumped down on the sofa and stared into empty space. I shouldn't be slacking off during working hours, but no way could I focus on going about the chores now. Was Aidan real y a vampire? I hadn't seen him around during the day, hadn't actual y seen him eat, but he didn't look like the usual Dracula sidekicks on TV. For one, he didn't wear a cloak. He didn't turn into a bloodsucking maniac at the stroke of midnight. And he seemed to travel by car rather than beam himself to places. Of course, there was the slightest chance that even vampires go with time and adapt to twenty-first century amenities. Who wouldn't rather sleep in a bed than in the confined space of a coffin with the migraine-inducing smel of wood polish? But how likely was that?

I sighed and jumped up, eager to find out whether Aidan bore a dark secret. I thumped up the stairs to the second floor and yanked open one door after another, skipping Rebecca's room. No point looking in there, because I knew I wouldn't find more than a closet ful of old clothes.

There were five other rooms in total; four bare of any furniture and one locked. Kneeling, I peered through the padlock. Whoever was in there had locked themselves from the inside and left the key in. Pul ing with al my might, I rattled the door, but it didn't budge. Wel , there was my answer, then. You can't lock a door from inside unless you're in there. Had I kissed a creature of the night? A real living corpse? I should search the Internet and print out a vampire hunter's guide so I knew al the right places where to kick him. I snorted, anger creeping up on me. That morning I thought Aidan was such an improvement to egocentric, self-satisfied Cameron. Gee, had I been wrong. Why couldn't I just meet a normal guy for a change?

Preferably one that didn't love his car more than me, or one that didn't need his five-a-day in the form of blood infusions. Was that too much to ask?

After returning to my room, I retrieved my phone and left the house through the backdoor in the kitchen in the hope to find reception. There was none, so I walked out the gates a few steps down the street until one bar appeared on the reception indicator. Shivering, I pressed two to speed-dial Dal as's number in the hope he was stil in Inverness and could pick me up. His usual, stupid James Bond 007 voicemail greeted me, informing me he was on a secret mission with some hot chick.

I rol ed my eyes and left him a message requesting that he cal back, then briefly considered cal ing Cameron when I remembered in al the havoc I hadn't texted him back yet. He could wait just a bit longer because I had more pressing issues on my mind, like considering whether to pack my bags and get the hel out of there. Anyone in their right mind would just head for the nearest door, but that wasn't my style. I had never backed up from a good confrontation. After Aidan fooled me into kissing him, I felt I had every right to give him a piece of my mind.

The thicket to my right rustled. I ignored it until I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Someone pressed a broad hand over my mouth. I spun sharply, staring straight into Connor's pitch-black eyes.

"Not a word," he whispered.

Panic washed over me. He seemed to miss we were in the middle of nowhere. Who'd hear my screams? And then the whole absurdity of the situation dawned on me. This person had been hiding in the bushes even though, as Aidan's friend, he could've just rung the bel and I would've opened. I groaned under his strong grip. Could this day get any weirder?

"I see Aidan's getting careless. He should've warned you not to leave the house." Connor pushed me forward but didn't loosen his grip. "You're coming with me."

My gaze scanned the area, taking in the asphalt slick with dew. Whatever his intentions were, I had a feeling Aidan was the harmless one out of the two. I made a step forward and stopped, shaking my head.

"What?" The edge in Connor's voice betrayed irritation. I made a gagging sound that barely found its way out of my throat, but it was enough for Connor to loosen his grip over my mouth. "Better now? Move it, then."