Demons LLC (Damned and Cursed Book 7) (22 page)

Kylie shook her head.
 
"Do you need a thesaurus to come up with more words?"

"What's a thesaurus?" Nate asked, frowning.

"She's also
way
out of your age range," Alex said.

He joined Victoria in the living room.
 
She was already sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, elegant and proper.
 
Besides his immediate family, Alex considered Victoria to be his best friend.
 
She was a mentor to him, a guide to the supernatural world.
 
They spent as much time together as they could, although lately Victoria had been busy.
 
She'd been in India on business.
 
Luckily, that wasn't a problem for Kevin and his magical portals.

"I can't stay long," she said.
 
"I've actually got a meeting I need to be at soon.
 
It's strange.
 
It's an eleven hour time difference between here and New Delhi.
 
I was sleeping not long ago."

Alex sat next to her.
 
"More vampire politics?"

"Just enough to drive me insane," she said, sighing.
 
"Ever since Bradley died, I've been trying to tie up a few of his loose ends."

"What do vampires do in these meetings of yours?"

"We try to put our plans together on how we're going to take over humanity."

He said nothing as he studied her expression.

"I'm kidding," she said, smiling.

He laughed.
 
Victoria was fascinating to watch in a crowd, amazing to talk to.
 
She could shift from a wise, centuries-old vampire to a bubbly, giggling thirty-year-old woman with ease.

"So, what are we doing here on the couch?"

"I need to show you something."

"I don't think Cindy would approve."

"Funny," he said, sliding the laptop on the coffee table toward them.

She scooted closer as he launched the new website.
 
Nate stuck his head through the front door, simply to get another look at Victoria.
 
Alex scowled and pointed, telling him to go outside.

"What do you think of this?"

"Hmm.
 
The caption font is a little off.
 
Bold it, center it.
 
The slideshow scrolls through a little fast.
 
Maybe add a second or two.
 
Meet The Team
could maybe be just
Contact
, but it looks like you've got the header room."

"No.
 
I mean…what do you think about this whole thing?
 
Cindy and I, we're going to try to make some money."

"There's nothing wrong with that.
 
I think it's a good idea."
 
She smiled slightly, showing off her straight, perfect teeth.
 
"You're an adult, Alex.
 
You certainly don't need my blessing."

"Well, I kind of do.
 
If Kevin was doing this, you'd slap him into next week."

"That's not the same thing.
 
If Kevin was doing something like this, he'd get far more than customers wanting his services.
 
He'd get witch-hunters trying to kill him."

"Wow.
 
Nice thought."

Victoria glanced at the website once again.

"Demons LLC.
 
I like it."

"Thanks.
 
Cindy came up with it."

"I'm sure she did.
 
This is a good idea.
 
Who knows?
 
Maybe I'll have to hire you sometime."

"You'll get a discount."

"Do you need any help getting started?"

Victoria was always generous, perhaps too much, in dealing with Alex.
 
She had money, a lot of it, and was always trying to give some to Alex and Cindy.
 
They always refused.

"I think we're good.
 
Actually, I'm heading down to Florida soon to work a case.
 
Kylie, the girl outside, hired me."

"To find her murderer, no doubt."

She was always perceptive.

"That's right."

"Ah.
 
I miss solving murders with you."

"Well, if we get bigger, I'll hire you."

She leaned her head back as she laughed.
 
"That sounds like fun."

The supernatural pair walked outside to see Kevin on the porch.
 
Alicia was on the sidewalk, squatting down as she admired a young group's costumes and handing out candy.
 
Her figure stretched her witch's costume, and Alex could see quite clearly where Kevin's eyes were focusing.

"Halloween is the best," he said.

Nate nodded from the other side of the porch.
 
Kylie was nowhere to be seen.

"I have to agree."

Nearly an hour passed as the group continued to have fun.
 
The magic powering Kevin's floating ghosts faded, and he looked to Victoria for permission to power them up once again.
 
She nodded, and she held his foot as he hovered and set them up one more time.
 
Cindy and Alicia were talking about work when Alex noticed Nate alone on the porch.
 
The ghost was in heaven as he stared at Victoria.

"Hey," Alex said, joining him.
 
"Where's Kylie?"

"She said she'd be right back, she needed some space."

"Is she okay?"

"As okay as she can be.
 
I'll think she'll be alright."

"I'll see if she's in the house."

He turned to leave, but Nate stopped him.

"Hey, Alex, before you go.
 
I want in on this Florida trip coming up."

He blinked in surprise, and fumbled for words for a moment.
 
Nate was always joking, but his expression was very serious.

"You've got nothing better to do?"

"Well, I guess I could always stalk Victoria until my eyes bleed.
 
But I'd rather go down south with you."

"I don't know, Nate.
 
We really don't know each other.
 
I usually do this stuff by myself."

"C'mon, man.
 
You can't tell me an extra set of eyes wouldn't be nice."

"They probably would.
 
But it's not up to me.
 
It's up to Kylie.
 
She's the one who hired me.
 
She's in charge."

"I know.
 
I already talked to her, and she said no.
 
You have to talk to her and convince her to say yes."

His tone caught Alex off-guard.

"Oh, I
have
to?"

"Yeah.
 
She needs help.
 
And no offense, because you can do a lot of cool shit, but you're not dead.
 
You won't be able to relate to her like I can.
 
I just want to help.
 
Her and you."

Alex studied Nate for a moment.
 
He wasn't sure he liked the idea of Nate coming along, but perhaps he could be of use.
 
There were things about the spirit world that Alex didn't know.

"I'll talk to her."

Nate nodded.
 
"That's all I ask."

Alex searched the house, but saw no sign of Kylie.
 
The thought crossed his mind that she'd taken a walk.
 
He passed through the kitchen, ready to head back outside, when he saw a glimpse of someone sitting in the backyard.
 
Kylie sat on the edge of their in-ground pool, her legs sticking through the cover.
 
She looked lost, forlorn, as she adjusted her glasses.

He opened the door and approached her.
 
They could still hear the group out front, laughing and dancing to the music.
 
Kylie offered a small smile as he drew closer.

"You mind if I sit?"

She nodded and gestured next to her.
 
He sat with his legs crossed.
 
His back throbbed in pain from the constant popping and shrinking of his wings throughout the night.

"I can almost feel the water," Kylie said, moving her legs back and forth.
 
"It doesn't feel like it did when I was alive, but it doesn't feel like air, either."
 
She laughed quietly.
 
"I guess swimming at the beach won't be happening anymore."

"Believe it or not, Kylie, life doesn't have to be over."

She frowned as she looked at him.
 
"Uh, actually, it does.
 
That's what death is.
 
The opposite of life."

"Tell that to Nate, or any other ghost I've met over the years.
 
You can do whatever you want now.
 
See the world, or move on to the other side.
 
It's completely up to you."

"I can't kiss a boy, or drive a car.
 
Hell, I can't even
ride
in a car now without falling out."

They were both quiet a moment.

"I was actually at a club the night I died.
 
My friend Zoey took me.
 
We're only seventeen, but she knew a guy who worked there."
 
She held out her arms.
 
"Can you imagine me at a club, dressed like this?"

"I think it's pretty awesome."

"Well, you'd be the only one."

"For what it's worth, everyone thinks you're cool.
 
If Alicia is messing with you, then you're okay in her book."

Kylie let out a small smile.
 
"That means a lot, believe me.
 
I'm sorry.
 
I'm not usually this moody."

Guilt attacked him at the thought of what he'd put her through.
 
The night hadn't gone as planned, at least as far as Kylie was concerned.

"Actually, I'm the one who's sorry.
 
I was hoping we could all show you a good time, ghost or not."
 
He looked back to the house.
 
"Instead I showed you a vampire and a witch.
 
I'm not exactly easing you into things, am I?"

Her eyes lit up.
 
"Oh, no.
 
Don't think that at all.
 
I'm having fun.
 
Actually, I've had more fun tonight than I've ever had.
 
Your friends are awesome."

"They're not freaking you out?"

"Well, maybe just a little."

A new voice from behind startled Alex and Kylie both, making them jump.

"Alex."

He whirled his head to see Victoria, looking down at him.
 
Even in heels she was completely silent.

"Shit, Victoria!
 
Stop sneaking up on people."

"I can't help it," she said, shrugging.
 
The corner of her mouth lifted in a playful smile.
 
"Old habit, I guess.
 
I have to go.
 
Kevin's inside drawing up a portal for me now.
 
Is the blood still in the basement?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding.
 
"Right where you left it."

"Excellent.
 
Give me a hug before I leave."

They embraced.
 
With her heels Victoria was just as tall as Alex.
 
He willed her to see Kylie once again.

"Good luck to you," Victoria said to her.
 
"You're in good hands.
 
Alex will take good care of you."

"T-Thank you," Kylie said, stuttering, obviously flustered.
 
"I trust Alex."

Victoria nodded and squeezed Alex's hand before turning and walking away.
 
She slid open the patio door and disappeared back inside the house.

"Okay, now I'm a little freaked out," Kylie said.
 
"Nate is right, she is beautiful.
 
And she just asked you about blood in the basement."

"Well, she is a vampire.
 
She drinks blood.
 
We keep a stash here for when she visits."

Kylie folded her arms and shook her head.
 
She sighed deeply, but Alex could tell she was more relaxed.

"Is there anything else I need to know before I convince my mom to give you money?"

Alex laughed.
 
"Oh, there's plenty.
 
But one day at a time.
 
Speaking of the case, Nate stopped me—"

She rolled her eyes.
 
"Can you believe him?
 
He wants to come to Florida with us."

"You don't like Nate?"

She sat back down once again near the pool.
 
"I don't mind him.
 
It's actually nice to talk to someone when you aren't around.
 
But the last thing I want while trying to find out who killed me is to be reminded how looks matter, even in the afterlife."

"You're prettier than you think, Kylie."

"Thanks for lying.
 
I'll take it."

It was his turn to roll his eyes.
 
Self confidence was an issue Kylie needed to work on.

"Nate thinks he can help."

"What do you think?
 
Should we let him come?"

"That's completely up to you.
 
But he
wants
to help you.
 
He could be off in the world doing anything."

Kylie scoffed.
 
"Yeah, like camping out in girls' locker rooms."

"He's done that?"

"He has, and he's told me all about it.
 
In gory detail."

Alex shook his head.
 
Nate definitely wasn't helping to endear himself to Kylie.