Sirenz - By Charlotte Bennardo Page 0,37

reaching for the vibrating phone in his pocket.

“Let’s do it now,” said Meg’s low voice in my ear. There was only Arkady and Jeremy. This would probably be our best chance. Maybe our only chance.

I nodded. I pointed to Arkady, then to myself. I’d handle him; I’d leave Jeremy to her. She nodded, regret etched in her eyes. It was a sneaky, mean thing to have to do, kind of like hypnotizing him against his will. But enthralling Jeremy seemed too intimate for me to do now. Besides, if he had a choice, it was too obvious he’d choose Meg to vamp him. And that left me with Arkady. I felt the bile rise in my throat. I was not touching him!

Jeremy grabbed the doorknob. “I’ve gotta run. Reynaldo’s flipping out over the hair situation. You two set up the drinks and leave. Lock the door behind you.” He shouted in Arkady’s direction, “I’ll be right back, Mr. Romanov.” Mummy man didn’t notice. Jeremy ran out.

Was our luck beginning to change? Meg looked at me and nodded almost imperceptibly. The TV monitor had a special screen which magnified the images immensely. With hesitant steps I walked around to the front of the desk so that I was facing Arkady. Even though he was alone and the room was warm, he was enveloped as usual in a fedora hat, Burberry scarf, and Italian leather gloves. But he wasn’t wearing his thick, reflective glasses. I removed mine and gave him the full stare.

“Get up,” I commanded. I wanted to say something nastier to him, considering he’d called Meg stubby and said I had big feet. But nothing came to mind.

Meg’s voice was sultry, beguiling. “It’s time to go. Hades is waiting.” How could anyone resist her?

Arkady never flinched, although he did sway in his chair trying to see around me.

I leaned down so that when his gaze shifted, he’d see only me.

Meg leaned over the desk. “Come with us. Now!” she yelled.

“Eh?” His head bobbed up and he looked confused. I was so close to him now, I could see that his eyes were milky white. It brought back the horrifying images of when my cat died. Her eyes had glazed with the same opaqueness. With a palsied hand, he brushed us away.

He was deaf and practically blind.

“Hmmm. Having a bit of trouble, ladies?”

We jerked up.

Hades was looking at some Mayan artifacts. The disdain on his face was clear. “Primitive junk,” he muttered before turning to us. “But you look stunning, mon coeur.” His eyes flickered appreciatively over me. I felt chilled to the bone. “And Margaret. Good improvement.”

He was so rude.

“Need a little help?” His smile was evil and slick.

“Our powers won’t work on someone who can’t hear or see us, Hades.” Meg sounded only mildly perturbed. This meant she was ready to explode at any second.

“I must have forgotten to mention that. How remiss of me.” Hades dragged a finger along the cases, grimaced at the light coating of dust, and conjured a wet cloth to wipe his hands. With a careless flick, it was gone.

“I thought you said that Arkady made a deal with you for longevity,” I retorted. I gritted my teeth to keep myself from calling him the words my mother would disown me for.

His eyebrows raised. “He did. And I gave him longevity. Arkady is pushing 349 years old. It would be 350 next month.” His grin was malevolent.

“But look at him!” said Meg, backing away a pace. “He looks like he’s been dead for at least a hundred years!”

Hades’ smile was expansive. “He asked for a long life. He got it. He didn’t stipulate that he wanted to remain youthful. It’s always the little details one must remember. Be careful what you wish for—that’s our motto.”

So all those strange treatments weren’t for staying healthy—rather, Arkady was trying to turn back the clock. What a revelation that was.

Hades made a full circle of the office, barely glancing now at the books and objects on the shelves and tables. “You’re not using your gifts to their full potential,” he said softly. “Come, girls, surely your wiles and imagination and natural charm should make this easy.”

Like anything connected to him or this whole deal could ever be easy. Meg and I remained silent.

“If you need my assistance, tell me. But it will cost you.”

That last bit was directed at me.

I exhaled sharply. I was tired, I’d been rejected by Jeremy, and I didn’t want to be played with