That Old Black Magic - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,40
who’s had a few hard knocks. Like me. You do what it takes to survive, to get through day to day. Don’t do this. If you put that thing on my wrist you’re going to be going against your better judgment. You know this is wrong.”
Eden hissed out a breath. “Stop it.”
“See?” Brenda brightened as Eden’s grip on her loosened a fraction. “We’re in the same situation, you and me. I have a prophecy telling me my destiny is set. But I know I can fight it. I choose what I want to be and, let me tell you, it’s got nothing to do with Lucifer or Hell. I want better than that for myself. And whatever I have to do to keep myself away from him is exactly what I’ll do. He can give that job that’s up for grabs to somebody else.”
“How can you see the truth? How did you know what Darrak is so easily?”
“I don’t know. I just can. He needs you, Eden.” Her brows drew together. “He needs you, more than ever, to make the right decisions—for both of you. And there’s more at stake now than the two of you, you just don’t know it yet.”
“What are you talking about?”
Brenda’s gaze clouded over as if she was focused on something a long way from here. “Some things I can’t tell you. Some things are just whispers in my head, but I know you’re going to have to be strong. You’re going to have to do the right thing in the darkest situation. You have to prepare for a journey that will change everything.”
Eden hissed out a breath of frustration. “You sound like a fortune cookie.”
Brenda’s eyes cleared and she laughed, but it sounded a bit bitter. “I know.”
Eden couldn’t help but ask. “This journey, this dark situation . . . will everything work out okay in the end?”
Brenda shook her head. “I don’t know that.”
“Lot of good you are.”
“Sorry.”
“Lucifer wants to talk to you, and I don’t think he’s willing to negotiate about that.” Eden’s grip on the chain grew tighter.
“Talk? You really think anything to do with him is that simple?” Brenda looked stressed. “Please, Eden, look into your heart. Do the right thing for you, for Darrak, for . . . for everyone. Let me go.”
Where was Darrak? Why hadn’t he followed her out here yet?
This woman had nearly killed her, Eden had no doubt about it. When it came to self-protection, if Brenda was that dead set against ever having this “talk” with Lucas, then she might have been willing to do anything to avoid it.
Eden didn’t know the whole story. All she had was a request from Lucas on one side and this woman begging her to let her go on the other.
In the end, all she really had was her gut instinct.
“Fine.” She let go of Brenda’s arm. Magic still sparked off her fingers, charged and ready to be used, but she wouldn’t need any more of it today. Today was proof that the more she used it, the more control she had over it. It was only when she tried to ignore it that it began to control her. “Get out of here before I change my mind.”
Brenda’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really?”
“Why are you still standing here?”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Brenda N. Franks then pushed through the glass doors and ran down the sidewalk until Eden couldn’t see her anymore.
It was the flu that made her do it. It was obviously messing with her brain as well as her stomach this week.
Lucas wasn’t going to be happy with her. Not at all.
TEN
Eden didn’t stand there another moment; she turned and ran directly back to Darrak. He sat with his back up against the front of the security desk. Brenda’s cloaking magic still seemed to be in effect since no one seemed to notice. Either that, or nobody cared.
She knelt next to him and grabbed his hand, which felt disturbingly cold to the touch.
“Let me take a wild guess,” Darrak said. “You slapped the chain on that chick’s wrist and sent her ass straight to Hell like the coldhearted assassin I know you to be.”
She snorted. “Sure, that’s exactly what I did. I’m such a badass.”
His answering laugh sounded pained. “No, you let her go. You believed her sob story, bought the whole ‘I’m a nice girl in a tough situation,’ and let her scurry away.”