The Inner Circle (Return of the Ancients Book 3) (16 page)

The guy turned out to be Jareth. He sat several tables away, chatting with Samantha.

“Perhaps you should start making yourself useful around here, Jareth,” Samantha was saying. “As it appears that you’ve moved in.”

“Physical labor isn’t my forte,” Jareth replied, cocking a brow. “Just keep sending muffins this way, dragon, whatever amount you think is worth the rent.”

Samantha glanced up and graced me with a cordial nod. Turning back to Jareth, she wiped her hands and said, “Ah yes, your babysitter has arrived. I’ll be leaving now.”

Jareth laughed as she walked away, but then the front door opened, and all signs of amusement fled from his face.

I followed his gaze.

It was Rafael, and his arm was firmly planted around Raven’s waist.

I was instantly consumed with jealousy.

Both Raven and Rafael looked as if they’d stepped straight off a fashion runway, Raven with her platinum-blonde chic hair and a red form-fitting dress on her perfect willowy figure. And Rafael. Well, he always looked stunning, eyeliner and all. But the gray jacket and the light lemon-colored casual shirt underneath were particularly flattering.

Melody stepped up right behind them, dressed from head to toe in a leopard-print dress and six-inch pumps. Her high cheekbones were heavily bronzed, and her lips were painted a bright ruby red. She looked directly at me and smiled.

There was a distinct touch of malice in her smile.

Why, oh why, had I ever helped to save her?

As they settled at a table near the window, I watched Reese and her friends glance curiously their way.

Reese’s eyes briefly ran over Melody with no sign of recognition, and she deliberately ignored Raven. But the moment she recognized Rafael, she reached into her hobo bag and pulled out a makeup pouch. Refreshing her lipstick, she pouted and patted her lips with a napkin and turned to bat her lashes at him.

She still hadn’t given up on him.

Catching myself staring, I scurried back to the counter and hurriedly stacked the tray of dirty cups and plates. I didn’t care if there were no other employees up front. I fully intended on hiding in the back.

But then Ellison chose that moment to appear.

“Samantha said you have the register,” he said, snagging the tray from me. “And the bar ‘till I’m done.”

“I’ll trade jobs with you,” I said, reaching for the tray.

“Nope,” he disagreed with a shrug. “I’ve got to talk to Samantha before she leaves.” He nodded at Rafael and added, “They’ll just want hot chocolate, anyway. You’ll do fine.”

And with that, he disappeared in the back.

Reluctantly, I approached the cash register.

And of course, it was then that Raven decided she wanted something. Keenly aware that we were all watching her, she swayed up to the counter. She was hauntingly beautiful. And she knew it. With a superior smile dancing on her lips, she tapped a long fingernail on top of the pastry case.

“We’ll be leaving soon,” she said. “I can’t say that I’ll miss this …” She paused and looked around before continuing, “… this primitive civilization.”

“Have fun,” I replied, wanting to be rid of her as soon as possible. “Would you care for something to drink?”

She looked at me as if I were stupid and then explained slowly, “We’re leaving. Permanently. After tonight, you won’t be seeing Rafael again.”

I’d like to pretend I didn’t fall for her trap and that I instead shot her a look of disdain. But I didn’t. My lips parted in surprise, and my mouth went dry. The thought of never seeing Rafael again was a devastating one.

Surely, he would have told me himself.

Wouldn’t he have?

“Don’t worry.” Raven smiled and lowered her impossibly long lashes. “I’ll take good care of him. I always have, you know. We were together for quite some time. It’s destiny. We’re meant for each other.”

I couldn’t think of a clever comeback. I desperately wanted to. I could have pretended not to care, or I could have said something about my mom was getting out of rehab and leaving soon, too, and that I’d probably go with her.

But I didn’t.

I just stood there in my jeans and T-shirt, feeling awkward in the presence of an elegantly dressed femme fatale. Self-consciously smoothing the creases of my apron, the only thing I could think to do was ask, “Did you want hot chocolates?”

Raven just watched me with a secret smile, pleased as punch that she’d upset me as she said, “Bring the drinks to the table.”

I just turned away.

I heard her heels click back across the floor, and from the corner of my eye, I watched her cuddle up to Rafael and rest her cheek against his shoulder.

I scowled, and thinking of Pikachu, I imagined him zapping her a few times. And Rafael, too, for going along with whatever she was scheming.

I dragged my feet as long as possible in making those hot chocolates. I kept waiting for Ellison to return so I could make him deliver them, but he didn’t show up. Finally, I decided I shouldn’t be such a wimp and carried them over myself.

Raven’s arms were draped around Rafael’s neck, and she was resting her chin on the top of his head.

As I approached, she began to run her hands over his chest.

I pretended not to notice even though I was furious that he was letting her do it. Avoiding eye contact with any of them, I set the hot chocolates on their table and turned to go.

“Wait,” Melody said, reaching out to lay a light finger on my arm.

My flesh crawled at her touch, but I glanced over and gave her a fake smile.

But she returned it. “I’ll be working closely with you now,” she announced with relish.

“Yes, working closely,” Raven parroted.

I twisted my mouth into a grim line. “I don’t think so,” I said as I walked away.

I wasn’t about to kiss up to Melody. I just couldn’t do it.

And Rafael. I wasn’t sure what game he was playing right now, but it didn’t matter. I was mad at him for playing it.

I passed by Jareth’s table and caught him grinning at me, but I didn’t reciprocate. I wasn’t finding the situation the slightest bit humorous.

“Two more hot chocolates, please,” Jareth called out.

Actually grateful to keep busy, I set about making them. Where
was
Ellison? I was going to give him about two more minutes before I charged back there and demanded that he come up front.

Reese and her friends were still giggling in the corner. I could tell by the tones of their voices that they were convinced they were the center of attention. It was actually kind of pitiful because I knew that neither Jareth nor Rafael had even noticed them.

Dolloping on the whipped cream, I carried the hot chocolates over to Jareth.

“Sit,” he said, shoving the seat opposite him with his booted foot.

“I’m working,” I snapped irritably.

His dark eyes moved in a rapid circuit of the room. “There’s no one here,” he said.

I smiled a little but shook my head.

As I turned to leave, he reached for my hand. I batted him away, but he grabbed my wrist anyway.

“Raven is vile,” he said with a shrug. “She’s not even worth thinking about, Sydney. Perhaps if we quit acknowledging her, she’ll cease to exist. I’ve been trying to get rid of her for years.”

I looked at him, knowing he was trying to make me feel better. It really wasn’t a surprise. I already knew Jareth was a nice guy, underneath all of the obnoxiousness.

His lip crooked into a smile as he caught the nature of my thoughts. “I know,” he said with an arrogant toss of his head. “I’m perfect.”

Way
underneath all of the obnoxiousness, I amended.

“I liked that little yellow ball fellow earlier,” he said, still holding onto my hand. “The one that was trying to zap them.”

“You saw that?” I asked, astonished.

“It was sickly looking, and it only had one foot, but it wasn’t too bad as far as tulpas go,” he answered. “It didn’t last long though.”

A tulpa. I’d really created a tulpa. I didn’t let myself think of the ramifications. I had to save that later for when I was back in the chicken coop.

“You know, it’s easy enough to get even with Rafael,” Jareth murmured in a low tone. “Watch this.”

He yanked my wrist and losing my balance, I fell straight into his lap.

Holding onto my arm, he anchored me there and said, “I don’t even have to look at him to know he’s getting upset.”

I have to admit that I stole a glance in Rafael’s direction. He was watching us, but he looked quite calm.

I was flooded with disappointment.

Laughing as if he were deeply smitten with me, Jareth pulled my head close and whispered, “Rafael always taps his thumb when he’s upset.”

I stole another quick look.

Rafael finished his drink in one gulp. Banging the cup down, he began to tap his thumb lightly on the table.

Jareth glanced at me in silent victory, but it didn’t feel very victorious to me.

I stood up. I didn’t want to play games with Rafael anymore. And even though I knew that I should be letting him go, I didn’t want to. I wanted to tell him straight out that I didn’t like what he was doing.

“I have to go back to work,” I said.

“You’re like an active volcano,” Jareth replied as a wide grin spread across his face. He picked up a hot chocolate and then pressed the other into my hand. “First, a toast, Sydney.”

I watched as he clinked his hot chocolate against mine, or they would have clinked if they hadn’t been Styrofoam cups.

“A toast,” he said with a laugh. “Let’s wish he finds misfortune soon."

I hesitated and said, “It depends on what kind of misfortune.”

He gave a dark laugh, “Don’t ask for my opinion. I’d be harsh. But maybe we could agree on at least enough misfortune to cause annoyance. A lot of annoyance.”

I looked into Jareth’s dark eyes and smiled. “A lot of annoyance,” I agreed.

The smile he flashed me in return was a genuine one.

“I think you’re just trying to make me feel better,” I said.

He lounged back in his chair with a low chuckle. “It’s working.”

“Can I get some service over here?” Reese’s shrill voice interrupted.

I hurried back to the register. Strangely, I did feel a bit better.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working instead of flirting with the customers?” Reese asked, her nostrils flaring wide again.

I opened my mouth to protest, but then thought better of it. With an apologetic smile, I took her order.

It was just water with ice.

She walked by Jareth’s table at least three times, getting straws and napkins.

He didn’t even look up at her.

Ellison emerged from the back with the window squeegee and a bottle of solution. 
“I’ll take over after cleaning the windows,” he promised.

“Hurry up,” I said. I’d never meant it more, especially since I heard Raven’s heels clicking back towards the counter.

Suppressing a groan, I plastered a smile on my face. “More hot chocolate?” I asked.

“Honestly, I just don’t want you to concern yourself with Rafael’s well-being,” she said, matching my fake smile with one of her own. “Most likely, we’ll be wed soon, and I will take good care of him.”

Someone snorted behind me, and I turned to see Jareth had joined me behind the counter.

“You shouldn’t be back here, Jareth,” I said, shoving him a little.

But he completely ignored me. Leaning forward to rest his elbows on the counter, his dark lashes dropped to veil his eyes. “Are you really that foolish to believe he’s simply going to leave because you want him to?” he asked Raven in a voice rife with amusement.

Raven’s icy blue eyes turned angry in an instant. “Why are
you
even here still, Jareth?” she asked. “Melody will handle the Blue Threads now. She’s far more experienced.”

I felt a ripple of alarm at that. No doubt, Melody was itching to take over. She’d probably already planned how to get rid of me as soon as possible.

“Raven, you should really keep your mouth shut,” Jareth drawled. “A wise human once said, it’s better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

“
You
are the fool,” Raven retorted angrily. “You’ll soon see.”

“Oh, some secret Inner Circle plan?” Jareth gave a loud laugh, and then he lowered his head and said, “Do you really want to see what makes Rafael run?”

She looked at him, flustered for a second but soon recovered. “I simply have to call,” she answered.

“Oh?” Jareth chuckled. “Then call him.”

Raven hesitated, her eyes burning with restrained anger.

I didn’t understand why she was so upset. She had nothing to fear. She was stunningly beautiful.

“Not all that confident, are you?” Jareth prodded.

“Confident?” Raven smiled at me as if terribly amused. “I can have any male that I want.”

Jareth’s snort was disdainful. “Right.”

Raven’s eyes zeroed in on Jareth, and looking extremely put out, she turned and waved her hand at Rafael. “Come,” she ordered in a condescending tone.

One of Rafael’s brows shot up in curiosity, but he made no move to join her and turned his attention to Melody.

I found his response secretly gratifying.

“Watch this,” Jareth told Raven.

With a dramatic sigh and a devilish grin, he tilted my chin up, and before I could respond, planted a kiss full on my lips.

The first thing that crossed my mind was the fact that kissing Jareth was still like kissing a fish.

He smiled, and I knew he’d caught the thought.

But then, I thought of Samantha and how upset she’d be over such antics, and I abruptly pulled away.

“Stop it.” I scowled at Jareth. “I’m working. Go sit down.”

But he was looking over my shoulder. “As expected,” he said smugly.

I glanced over to see Rafael approaching.

Behind him, Ellison was outside cleaning the windows but watching the events unfolding inside. He caught my eye and drew a question mark on the window with the squeegee.

I turned back to Jareth. “Sit down,” I said. “You’re messing with my job here.”