Shed kept her silence for more than a year, never breathing a word of his whereabouts as she became deeper and deeper entangled in the high-end thievery ring. As soon as she noticed that she was no longer being watched so closely, she started planning her great escape. Shed even warned Vincent that she was going to do it the first chance she had.
Hed reminded her about the mark Masters had placed on her shoulder, but shed considered what to do about that. Shed ensured him her next stop would be to break into a certain safe that she knew held a spell book that would help her with the demon mark she just didnt tell him it was her grandfathers safe. As far as Vincent knew, she didnt even have a grandfather.
The last two missions theyd been sent out on had been so dangerous that shed nearly gotten herself killed both times and would have if Vincent hadnt been there to take the injuries for her. Hed given himself up so she could get away. Both times hed been brutally killed and his body dumped only for him to make his way back once hed woken up healed.
Finally agreeing that it was getting too dangerous for her to stick around, Vincent had offered to help her escape. It just so happened that the next mission landed them right back at the same museum they had met at. The job involved them stealing a device that was said to incapacitate all demons within a hundred yards of it when it was triggered. Perfect.
The plan was that only one of them would return from this job. Their hopes was that when Vincent gave the device to Masters, the demon would be focused on the device that was obviously a weapon against his kind and wouldnt come after her right away, giving her time to get to the spell she needed to counteract the mark Masters had put on her.
Theyd easily stolen the object that, to her, looked a lot like a ten sided metal Rubiks Cube that was covered with golden symbols instead of colors. While they were there, they knocked the guards out and had stolen their weapons. Vincent had then turned and given her a cute little goodbye dear friend speech and a quick kiss on the cheek.
The problem arose as theyd made their way out of the museum only to find Masters and a horde of demons waiting on them. Masters had laughed, saying that the mark hed given her had given him a warning of what she was planning right down to the fact that she was the granddaughter of the Chameleon and was running back to him where there was a whole safe of things he was now interested in including the soul orb.
Masters had then nodded at Vincent, thanking him for keeping her distracted and unaware of the marks true power.
She had glared up at Vincent accusingly then snatched the device from his hand and prayed she knew what she was doing as she started quickly turning it. Shed been obsessed over a picture of the Cube before coming to the museum to steal it and used that memory to rapidly link the symbols together.
One by one, the demons started going down in agonizing pain but not Masters no, that son of a bitch began walking straight toward her with an enraged glint in his eyes.
Thats when Vincent had moved. Shed not noticed him taking an ancient blade from the same hidden vault the Cube had been in, but there it was in his hand and he was holding it against the demons throat. In a movement just as quick, the demon plunged his hand all of the way through Vincents chest and out his back.
Run, Vincent growled at her just before his eyes slid shut and the demons head fell to the ground beside him.
All of the other demons were glaring at her from their prone positions, so she laid the Cube on the ground at her feet and did exactly what Vincent had told her to do she ran like hell.
She had no way of knowing if Masters had told anyone what he knew about her and prayed the greedy son of a bitch hadnt shared her secrets in fear that another demon would beat him to the legendary soul orb. Her thoughts kept straying back to Vincent, wondering if he was okay or if he was being tortured for his role in helping her escape.
They couldnt kill him permanently, but she was well aware there were a lot worse things than staying dead being brutally killed over and over again being one of them.
She glanced back down at her shoulder knowing she had to get that spell and counteract the mark so that Vincents sacrifice wasnt for nothing. She let the hot water of the shower wash the silent tears from her face as she renewed her determination.
Upstairs, Ren suddenly stopped pacing and looked straight down hearing the water pumping through the system. A devious smirk appeared on his face when he realized that he was standing directly above the bathroom downstairs where Lacey was. His gaze followed the sound over to the wall where the pipes that ran water through the whole place went down to the floor and into the bomb shelter.
Shed been in that shower long enough and he was ready to try again with the interrogation.
Walking over to the pipes, he placed his hand on the one he wanted and closed his eyes, concentrating on the temperature gauge of the water heater. His lips pulled into a satisfied smile as frost appeared under his fingers on the brass pipe. The scream that rang through the bomb shelter made everyone except Ren jump in surprise.
In the steamy shower, the water had gone from scalding hot to freezing cold in less than a second making Lacey flinch out from under the spraying water. In the process, she slipped on the slick bottom of the tub and stumbled out nearly taking the shower curtain with her.
Lacey! Gypsy called out worriedly.
Lacey untangled herself from the shower curtain and pushed it aside thankful it hadnt been pulled down.
Im fine, Lacey shouted glaring at the shower head. You need a new water heater the damn thing just went from hot to arctic cold in less than a second.
Gypsy frowned on the other side of the door wondering what had made the water do that. Shed taken an hour long shower earlier and the hot water had been just fine.
Ill have Ren check it out, Gypsy called back through the closed door. He has a way of manipulating machines and making them work even after theyve stopped operating.
Lacey turned her head and stared wide eyed at the door hearing Gypsys explanation and immediately knew what had happened.
This means war, she hissed under her breath then not having a choice, she stepped back into the chilly spray to rinse the rest of the soap out of her hair.
Ren was upstairs sitting on the floor with his back against the wall and a grin on his face. Moments later he heard footsteps on the stairway and didnt bother to hide his smile when he saw it was Nick.
I knew it, Nick exclaimed in a loud whisper. But I have to admit that was pretty good.
Ren patted the cold pipe beside him, I do have my moments.
Nick ran a hand through his hair, Id be careful around her Gypsy just told her that you have a way with machines.
Rens grin widened, Well, aint that a damn shame.
Youre having way too much fun, Nick accused.
Of course I am, Ren agreed. Now lets go back down and see if I can figure out whats wrong with Gypsys poor water heater.
Nick snorted and shook his head as Ren wandered back down to the bunker. He was so enjoying the fact that all of Ren's attention seemed to be centered on Lacey now instead of Gypsy.
Ren walked into the living room just in time to hear the shower stop running. He glanced at Gypsy seeing that she was sitting on the sofa with a frown on her face.
Ren walked into the living room just in time to hear the shower stop running. He glanced at Gypsy seeing that she was sitting on the sofa with a frown on her face.
Whats wrong? Ren asked with an innocent expression.
My water heater has suddenly stopped working, Gypsy explained and glanced at the bathroom door. Lacey said it turned ice cold like that, she snapped her fingers.
That must have sucked, Ren said making Nick turn around to avoid Gypsy seeing the wide grin on his face.
Lacey was shivering by the time she got out of the shower and quickly dried herself off. Wrapping the towel around her, she walked to the mirror over the sink and realized that she did look and feel better now that she wasnt hiding under a layer of dirt and clothing that was way too big.
Taking up Gypsys hairbrush, she began running it through her long dark hair. Turning around, she continued brushing out her hair while she opened the large trunk smiling when she saw all the clothes shed left behind. She fought the urge to reach in and throw everything in the air just so she could roll around on the floor in it. Her things she had missed them.
Reaching in, she took out an electric purple colored dress and a pair of black sandals and set them on top of the chest along with a matching set of bra and panties. Turning back to the mirror, she finished brushing her hair and put the brush back on the sink. Her head tilted to the side contemplating the small collection of cosmetics Gypsy had and made quick work at applying some and blow drying her hair.
She glanced back up in the mirror only to gasp when she saw the same mark that was on her shoulder now scrawled across it along with a silky black image staring back at her instead of her own reflection. A true scream of terror left her lips when the inky darkness reached through the mirror toward her.
Lacey stumbled backwards and nearly tripped over the trunk in her rush to stay out of its reach. Her back hit the wall of the bathroom as the overly long arms continued to reach toward her and its creepy looking lips moved in a rhythm that she could tell was some kind of chant.
She jumped when the door to the bathroom suddenly flew inward and Ren was standing in the doorway with Gypsy directly behind him. Lacey looked wide eyed from them back to the mirror and wanted to scream again in frustration when she saw the 3D image of the demon had vanished and a thin layer of ice crystals was now covering the mirror.
Ren's breath froze in his chest as he noticed her transformation from dirty street boy to soft supple skin, clean silky hair and a body that made him wish hed been the soap. Hed known she was beautiful but again hed underestimated her. His vision instantly narrowed in on the towel that was partially open and exposing the side of Lacey that was facing him, stopping just short of her nipple and smooth mound.
He quickly forced himself to avert his eyes by following her gaze to the mirror and frowned seeing the layer of ice that had formed there. The mirror chose that exact moment to crack from the cold temperature, the sound echoing ominously in the sudden silence.
Lacey's eyes widened seeing the suspicious look on Rens face and quickly thought of a way to distract him from the mirror.
What in the hell do you think youre doing busting through the bathroom door while Im in here you pervert? she yelled at him as she righted herself and tried to fix her wayward towel.
We thought you were in trouble, Gypsy offered softly from behind him.
Lacey sighed dramatically, Well, as you can see Im just fine. Thought I saw something in the mirror is all. Now if you dont mind, she slammed the door in Rens face again. Told you that you wouldnt be able to keep from peeking, She taunted him through the door.
If you say so, Ren shot back narrowing his gaze. Im not the one that screamed at my own reflection.
Ren, Gypsy admonished him then snapped her lips shut when she noticed the hard determined look on his face.
Lacey opened her mouth to yell something back but found shed drawn a complete blank. Shed declared a personal war on him but could never find anything worth saying that would outdo him.
Damn hes good, she whispered then looked nervously back toward the mirror. No longer feeling safe, she quickly started dressing.
Ren smirked when he heard her compliment but it didnt last long as his thoughts turned back to the mirror and the strange ice formation. Hed made the water in the pipes cold but it would not have affected the mirror or anything else in the bathroom. No her scream had been as real as the fear hed seen on her face when hed first opened the door.
Wanting to give Ren more time alone with Lacey to hopefully flame the spark that he could tell was there, Nick glanced down at the time on his cell phone then back over at Gypsy, Are you ready? Its almost nine oclock.
Gypsy's eyes brightened and she smiled up at him, looking forward to her first day back in business. She was a little more than curious on how she was going to pull off inviting her nonhuman customers one at a time into her shop when they came in contact with her barrier. It was also going to be fun when someone shed known for years tried to come in and couldnt giving themselves away as a paranormal. If nothing else today would be very informative.
Well, this should prove interesting. Im glad the normal humans can walk in without an invite or Id have to stand at the door all day like a greeter at Wal-Mart. Good morning, wont you please come in, she giggled as she swept her hand in front of her with the invite making Nick smirk.
Gypsy looked over her shoulder at Ren, You two play nice now. She quickly took off up the stairs before Ren could say anything to stop her.
Nick's lips twitched but he didnt say anything either since Ren was now sporting a brooding frown. Shoving his hands deeper into his pockets, he followed Gypsy upstairs so he could put up the Halloween sign that hed made. Most would think it was just a Halloween decoration but it plainly stated, All Paranormals Must Ask Permission Before Entering. He intended to put it on the door right at eye level so it wouldnt be missed.
Ren rubbed his chin as he stared thoughtfully at the bathroom door. Hed been right in thinking Lacey had been wearing a scent masking spritzer when shed broken in here last night. Now that shed showered all of it off, he could smell her. That helpful little power was probably coming to him from the love sick kitty that had just followed Gypsy upstairs.
He could smell her fear now, coupled with the sound of her rapid breathing as she rushed to get dressed. She had lied to him again. Whatever shed seen in that mirror had truly scared her and he was well aware that asking her would do no good. That was when he decided that enough was enough.
Pulling out his cell phone, Ren mentally dialed Storms number and waited, smiling when it was picked up in the middle of the first ring.
Ill see if I can snag Zachary for you, Storm said and abruptly hung up before Ren could get a word in edgewise. It didnt even faze him when the other two men immediately appeared in Gypsys living room with him.
What the hell Storm, Zachary complained while tucking his unbuttoned shirt back into his unbuttoned pants. He was going to have to have a talk with the Time Walker about winking in and out of his bedroom like that. It was bad enough that Nighthawk had a habit of pulling that little stunt. I was in the middle of something very important as you could damn well see.