My lips parted, and I sat up straighter. Id known that David and Trent had been working together to both put laws into place to give me back my rights as a citizen and minimize the damage that me being me wrought, but this was new. I wasnt legally a demon when most of those suits were brought against me, I said, and David smacked a hand on my knee, clearly in a good mood.
Yes, you were. You were born a demon. The miracle is that you survived it. I began to smile, and he added, My lawyer is having a field day making a name for himself. I think he should be paying us to retain him.
I snorted, relieved that something good had come out of it. Glad I could help, I said sarcastically. The woman talking to Wayde was looking at me. Her expression wasnt eager, and I waved at her. That went over really well by all accounts as she frowned at Wayde, and I watched her say, Ill ask her. Wait here. The glass door shut, and Wayde turned, shrugging.
Come on, David said as he opened his door again, clearly in a much better mood. Lets see if shell let you in.
A shiver of excitement tempered with dread sifted through me, and I got out, almost tripping on the curb, David had parked so close. Bag high on my shoulder, I shut the car door behind me with a thump that echoed in the rain-wet streets. I looked at the damp, world-weary buildings around me, able to tell that the river wasnt that far away.
Im sorry, David, I said, and he smiled at me over the hood of his car. I should have done this a long time ago. Thanks for putting up with me. Why could I admit I was wrong to David, and not to Trent?
Not a problem, he said, then gestured to the store. Shall we go?
I nodded and started across the road. There were more lights on now. My head down to watch for the potholes, I made my way to the front door, David beside me. Upon reaching the chipped curb, I peered past the old posters and into the shop, avoiding Waydes disgruntled stare. The windows were so thickly covered with colored images that it was hard to see in.
Im not going to run away, I said when Wayde leaned over, almost pinning me to the door.
Good, he said shortly, not backing up. Emojin is on her way down. Shes not sure anymore that she wants to ink you. Way to go, Rachel.
Not ink her? David dropped back a step. I already paid for it!
Waydes expression was hard. Then you should have gotten her here before she stood Emojin up five times.
Not ink her? David dropped back a step. I already paid for it!
Waydes expression was hard. Then you should have gotten her here before she stood Emojin up five times.
Im sorry about that! I said loudly, hearing my voice echo in the deserted street. I wasnt ready, and I dont like being pushed!
The door was being opened, and Wayde turned to face it. Then I suggest you tell her.
Inside, a shadow moved, outlined with a sudden light when an interior door opened. There was a glimpse of a stairway up, and then the door shut. David dropped back, and the outer door was opened by a barefoot, heavy woman in a blue-and-green sari-like garment.
I froze. The woman was absolutely gorgeous. Id never seen a woman this large who carried herself with so much elegance and dignity. Her skin was a pale cream with absolutely no blemishes or marks from a tattoo needle, looking as soft and supple as a newborns. Her hair was a silvery white, braided up off her neck. She had comfortable folds of wrinkles that said she smiled a lot, but she wasnt smiling now. Native American and French, perhaps? I didnt know.
Emojin, David said through the bars. Thank you. We finally cornered her.
I havent said Id do it, she said, and I stepped on Waydes foot. He backed up, and I felt better. Rachel Morgan?
I felt trapped as her brown eyes hit me. Uh, Im sorry, I said, feeling like I was back in kindergarten. I was an ass for standing you up, but I wasnt ready, and I dont like being pushed. Will you accept my apologies?
She took a deep breath, holding it as she looked me up and down again. Maybe. Come on in and let me hear you talk some.
Hear me talk? I mused, but she had unlocked the wrought-iron door and turned away, moving her bulk with grace as she went deeper into the store.
David opened the door for me, and feeling like I was being coddled, I went inside. Wayde came in behind me, and finally David. They shut the door with a soft thunk, sealing us inside. I took a slow breath, letting the place seep into me.
The first thing I noticed was a lack of echo. It was warm, too, almost eighty, I guess, and I immediately relaxed. The cement floor had been painted with a fantastic array of colors, mimicking a tattoo. Most of it was faded. The walls were covered in sketches, clearly several layers deep. There was a seating arrangement up front made from old bus seats and a hairdressers chair, a huge, stained microwave and coffee urn beside it. Three separate rooms that would have been offices anywhere else took up one side of the store. They didnt have any doors, but the ceiling-to-waist-high windows had blinds, and they were closed.
Emojin had shifted her bulk behind a U-shaped, businesslike counter in the center of the store. The scratched glass cabinets held jewelry for body piercing. Behind her were deep shelves with sketchbooks of all sizes, the largest thicker than a wallpaper book.
Seeing David and me making our way to the counter, Wayde put his thumbs into his pockets and sauntered over to the young woman whod answered the door. Mary Jo, maybe? She looked up from the invoices she was going over and smiled, and I rolled my eyes.
So youre Davids alpha? Emojin said as I halted before her. She was eyeing me pensively as she settled herself on a high stool before a state-of-the-art monitor and keyboard. Youre nothing like the other girls.
Pulling myself straight, I extended my hand over the counter to her. Im Rachel, I said, feeling her smooth, unworked hand slip coolly into mine. I dont want to be a bother, I said, looking over the clearly closed store.
Emojins pale eyebrows rose. Too late for that, she said sourly. Well, youre here, but Im not going to do this if you dont want it. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked from David to me. I know he dragged you here. Let me hear it.
I was so embarrassed. I want this, I said, then glanced up, seeing her tight expression of disapproval. Really. Ive been unconscionably rude to you and to David. And the rest of the pack. I was unprofessional in standing you up, and Im sorry. I was just scared.
The big woman grunted in surprise, and her arms uncrossed. Still scared? she asked, the first hints of her mood softening starting to show.
I looked at David, then Wayde, who had rolled up his sleeve to show off one of his tattoos to the young woman, and then back to Emojin. Yes, I blurted out, and David winced. But Im scared about a lot of things that I do. I want this more than Im scared. The skin around my eyes tightened as I looked at Wayde. If I had really wanted to get away, I would have.
Exhaling heavily, Emojin nodded. I cant believe Im saying this, but okay. Ill do it. And I accept your apology.
I sighed, not realizing until now how much this meant to me. Thank you. Im really sorry. I do some of the stupidest things sometimes.
Emojin glanced up. You think this is one of them?
No, I said quickly. I meant ignoring this was. I should have handled it better.
Well, its done, the big woman said. Beside me, David had regained his excitement, and was leaning on the glass counter until Emojin tapped a hand-lettered sign taped to the top telling him not to.
Youre a witch, right? Emojin muttered as her fingers clicked over the keyboard. She had a beautiful voice, as soft and full as the rest of her. Her perfume was nice. Sort of a powdery coolness. We have Davids basic design on file.
David ducked his head, tugging his coat straight as he looked up eagerly again. Id like to add to it to show her higher status.
Emojin stared at her monitor as one finger kept tapping a key, scrolling. Not a problem. I thought you might.
Something special? For me? Really? I said, then warmed at the eagerness in my voice.
David smiled, showing his teeth, taking my hand and giving it a quick squeeze before letting go. Of course. This is important to me.
And here Id been avoiding it. God! I was such a jerk.
Behind Emojin, Wayde was following the younger woman to one of the offices. She flicked on the light and put her hand on the Weres chest, stopping him at the archway. Telling him to stay outside, she started to clean everything. The smell of antiseptic tickled my nose, and Emojin lit a stick of incense, waving it briefly before dropping it into a dusky bottle to smoke to nothing.
Heres your registered design, she said as she spun the screen to David and me, and we both leaned closer, being careful to not put our weight on the glass. The basic tattoo was a simple dandelion flower gone to seed, the fluffy parachutes being black instead of white, and the green stem coming from a small cluster of leaves. The moon was behind it. It was nice, I guess, but David clearly wanted something special. To be honest, it wasnt doing anything for me. I was just happy the other ladies hadnt wanted broomsticks and bats.
Ill do the draw myself, Emojin said, and I blinked in surprise. She had put on a pair of round-rimmed glasses, reminding me of Al as she looked over them at me. But Mary Jo will color you in. Shes my daughter and almost as good as me.
Okay, I said, glancing at Wayde and Mary Jo. She was pushing him out of her way, firmly pointing a finger to the front waiting area. The guy didnt have a chance, but they both looked like they were enjoying the game.
A tattoo should have meaning beyond its individual art, Emojin was saying as she tapped the design. What can you bring to this that is entirely you?
Wincing, I tilted my head. I dont know. What do you think, David? I asked, seeing that hed clearly given this a lot more thought than I had. I was such a bad alpha.
More flowers on Rachels tattoo, he said immediately. And the moon behind it.