Chapter Thirteen

 

 

It took a week for Aliya to put her plan into motion. She didn’t want to do anything too quickly, because she was afraid Jessica would still see it as a selfish attempt to sooth her conscience. So she spent the week trying, and failing, to get her to talk.

The following Monday, she went in early and met Anya, just like they’d planned. When Anya told her that Jessica was headed toward the office, Aliya just stared at her.

“How do you now that?”

“How does Matuse know things?”

“Oh. Wow.”

“Focus, Aliya, focus. We’ll talk about the rest of it later.”

“Sorry.” Aliya tried to wrap her mind around the fact that Anya was Djinn, just like Matuse. Then, she took several deep breaths and started to cry.

“It’s all right,” Anya said, patting her hand.

“But I feel so bad, really I do. If she would just sit and talk to me, then maybe she would believe that I feel bad about all those things I said and did. You believe me.” Aliya could feel Jessica’s presence, hovering just outside the doorway, listening.

“Yes, I believe you. But maybe you hurt Jessica more than you hurt me.”

“Maybe so.” By now, Aliya’s tears were real, as they had been every time she’d been forced to recall her cruel words and their effect on people.

It took her a full minute to realize Anya wasn’t talking. She turned her head to find Jessica starting at her. She looked confused, and more than a little distrustful.

“I’m sorry,” Anya said. “Aliya discussed her problems with me. They’re about you.”

“Yes, so I heard.”

“I’ll leave and let you two—”

“No.” Jessica held up her hand. “Stay. Tell me what you two were discussing.”

Aliya tried to control her tears. She stood and faced Jessica. “I really do feel bad about what happened all those years ago. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s the truth. It’s been hard, this past week.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“You don’t have to,” Aliya said. “But I would like it if you did.”

“Seems like crocodile tears to me,” Jessica said. “Maybe you’re simply going through the motions and don’t mean any of it.”

“Why would I do that?” Aliya stared at her. “I’m telling you the truth. And that’s all I can do, I guess. I can’t force you to accept it.”

“You’re right,” Jessica replied. “You can’t. But I’ll think about it.”

Aliya felt a small ray of hope. Not for her sake, or for her case with Matuse, but for Jessica. It was obvious the woman carried a huge grudge against her, and if Aliya could do something that might alleviate it, she would a bit feel better about life.

But, as the day wore on, it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Aliya kept expecting Jessica to call her aside, to say that she’d accepted her apology and things would be better between them, that a bad memory had been eased from her mind.

At the end of the day, Jessica went home without saying a word, and Aliya sat down in front of Anya’s desk and cried.

“Don’t. The important thing is that you tried. Besides, she may yet accept your apology.”

“Doubt it.” Aliya shook her head, then focused on Anya. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? Is it because you’re, um, different now?”

“Different as in Djinn?”

“Yeah.”

Anya’s laugh was full and rich. “No, that’s not the reason. I don’t believe in holding grudges. And, I truly believe you’ve changed.”

“I suppose Matuse told you and your men about my mother.”

“No, he didn’t. Whatever has happened this month has been between the two of you. He would never betray your trust.”

“Well, everyone at the cave knows why I’m there.”

“Yes, they do. But that’s different from knowing the reasons why and the way he went about getting his results. That is not for public knowledge.”

The room grew quiet, and then Anya leaned toward her. “Ask me what you really want to know.”

Aliya stayed quiet, then cleared her throat. “I think I love him. And the thought of losing him, I just… how did you… get them to love you?”

“You’ll know if he feels the same. Trust me, you’ll know.”

“He doesn’t. I’m just something he had to take care of for a month.”

“Matuse is a complicated man,” Anya said. “Something tells me he would never see a woman as ‘just something he had to take care of.’ If he doesn’t love you, he still respects you and cares about you. I can guarantee that.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time. Would you like me to zap you home?”

Aliya stared at her, her eyes wide. “You can do that?”

“Oh yes, I can.” A giggle escaped her lips. “And I love it.”

* * * *

“Matuse?”

“Yes, she-devil?”

She jumped, even though she’d called him. He was standing right behind her, his hands on her hips.

“I brought dinner home. Pizza.”

“Smells delicious.”

“Yeah, it does. And it’s guaranteed to add at least two pounds to my waistline.”

His laugh was deep, and he nuzzled her neck. “You seem pensive. Is something wrong?”

“No. It’s just, you didn’t say if you had to work tonight or not. Can you stay?”

“Paran is back. He can handle things for one night. Although there’s no telling what shape my club will be in by tomorrow morning.”

“I thought we’d eat dinner and watch TV, or a movie? Can you stay?” She hoped she didn’t sound too needy. That was the last thing she wanted.

“Yes. Give me a moment and I’ll be right back.”

She carried the pizza box to the living room. After spreading out a blanket she got from the closet, she sat the box down in the middle and plopped down next to it, the remote close at hand. When the blanket turned to fluffy pillows, with a spot in the middle for drinks and the pizza, she knew Matuse was back.

“The floor is so hard,” he said, sitting down next to her and holding up a six-pack of beer. “I brought my share. What would you like to talk about?” He selected a slice from the box, took a huge bite and gave her an assessing look.

She took her own slice. “Nothing. I just wanted to spend some time with you. After all, there’s only four days left.”

“Officially, yes.” He swallowed, handed her a beer and took one of his own. “Are you tired of me? Is this a going away party?”

“No. Actually, I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m only a thought away.”

She wanted to say that, although he was only a thought away, he would have other cases to work on, other women to work with, and that thought made her more than a little jealous. To keep from talking, she took several bites, filling her mouth with pepperoni and cheese. She swallowed hard, then took a drink to wash it down.

When she looked back at him, he was holding a string of cheese above her head. She tilted back and opened her mouth to gobble it down.

“Delicious,” she said.

“Yes, it is. It does my heart good to see you eating.”

“Yeah? What else can I eat?”

“Naughty girl. Do you want to have sex, or do you want to cuddle? Because something tells me you’re in a cuddling mood.”

“Yes. A movie, and a cuddle.”

“Talk first, though.” He selected another slice. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”

“Nothing.”

“You’re a horrible liar. Tell me.”

“I’m just worried about my last apology, with Moreen. We’re cutting it close, aren’t we?”

“It’s tomorrow night.”

“That quick?”

“Yes. It’s all set up. I didn’t want you to worry about it while you were at work. How’s that going, by the way?”

“She didn’t take my apology, but you already know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. But you never know, she-devil. She might.”

“I doubt it. But about tomorrow night, I—”

“No. No talk of tomorrow, or anything else. Just food, you, me, and the TV.”

She blushed under his grin. They fed each other bites of pizza and drank several beers before settling down to watch an action movie. Matuse positioned himself behind her, pulling her into contact with him. At what he saw as lulls in the action, he would tickle her, and then caress her gently. The warmth of his body, plus the mixture of beer and pizza, soon calmed her to quietness.

She turned toward him. “Can I have a good night kiss?”

“Of course.” He kissed her gently, and when she probed for more, he stroked her. “Sleep first, little one.”

She nodded and fell asleep with her head against his chest.

 

Matuse caressed her arm as she slept. When the TV went off, he sighed. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough. How long have you loved her?”

He turned to Paran. “That’s none of your business.”

Paran floated near him, opening the pizza box and peering inside. “You could have saved me some.”

“Conjure your own.”

A steaming pizza appeared in the center of the pillows. “Chicago style,” Paran said, taking a slice and putting it on a plate. “This isn’t something you can eat by hand.” He took several bites, then frowned at Matuse. “Don’t be angry with me because you love her. Mate with her.”

“Right. Give her a demon child to raise. No.”

“The blood will be muted, just a quarter. He’d barely be able to conjure a warthog.”

“You know how hard it was when you were young, and so do I. How fair is that to her, or to a child? And what happens when my father finds out? He’ll see it as a chance to redeem his failure with me. Corrupt a little demon grandchild to throw in my face.”

“She could hold her own with your father, I guarantee it. If you love her, it can work. She loves you, and you know it as well as I do. Tell her how you feel.”

“No. I’ll watch over her, and visit her, but I won’t mate with her. I can’t.”

“Then you’re an idiot.”

Matuse’s eyes flashed red and Paran laughed. “That’s it, get mad. Maybe if you’re mad enough, if your emotions run high enough, you’ll realize I’m right.”

“Get out.”

“I’m eating.” He took another bite, then conjured a beer. “Do you want me to back out of tomorrow night? I will, you know. It could be just the two of you.”

“No. That’s not her fantasy. I want to give it to her as I saw it in her mind.”

“Very well. But listen to me carefully. If you chicken out of what is obviously you’re destiny, I’m going to call on every lesser demon I know to make life miserable for you. Mark my words.”