“I can watch over him,” Duran said, but Orik interrupted him.
“I’ll do it,” he said. “I can stay with him through the afternoon until he comes out of it. Shifters tend to shake off sedatives fairly fast and they heal quickly. Did the doctor give you medicine for him?”
I nodded. “Yeah he did.” I turned to Duran. “So, what happened?”
“I was out for a morning walk, and I decided to go off trail. I was gathering components for a spell. I wasn’t out there more than twenty minutes when that creature came out of a thicket and attacked me. ” He shrugged. “You were the only ones I could think of to call.”
“I’m glad you did. Not only for your sake, but if that creature had gotten hold of someone who couldn’t fight back, like a child or an older person, it would have been bad. In fact,” I said, “I wonder how many people have been hurt by Bigfoot and the reports have been suppressed?”
“I’m pretty sure the cops would squelch the reports, or tell the press it was just some random attacker,” Duran said. “I don’t trust them.”
“You might be right,” I murmured.
We dropped Duran at his place, and he promised to check in with us later, then Orik dropped me back at the office, where we transferred the now-snoozing Dante into his car. He headed out to Dante’s place, promising to stay with him until Dante was coherent again.
That afternoon, I sat in my office, thinking about Wendy and Mark. The thought that maybe it was a vampire still played in my mind, but I couldn’t get the temple out of my head. After a while, I called Penn.
“Hey, what are you doing tomorrow night?”
“I don’t know,” she said, laughing. “Why don’t you tell me what I’m doing?”
“Hey,” I said. “If you have plans?—”
“I’m joking. But seriously, what are we going to do?”
“We’re going to attend a meeting of the Tetrachordian Temple, and we’re going to be earnest seekers for our peace of mind.” I waited. Penn didn’t disappoint.
“Seriously? You’re asking me to play a flower child? I wasn’t a hippie in the sixties and I’m not one now.”
“No, but you’re good at playing a part when you need to. I can’t take Dante, Carson, or Orik. They’re looking for people who are lonely—almost all cults thrive on people who feel lost or alone. So we’re going to be two lonely women, looking for some comfort in life.”
I had come across too many types fronting for some power-hungry guru when I was on the streets for a year after my mother’s death. Luckily, I was already too jaded to be taken in by them, but so many people were lured in by promises of friendship, love, and acceptance. And the victims were usually so desperate for a little kindness and acceptance that they walked right into the trap.
“Okay, but you owe me a burger and shake afterward.” Penn yawned. “I’ll see you tonight—unless you’re headed to dinner directly after work. By the way, I went shopping already so we have food in the house.”
“No, and I have to change, anyway. Since you’re going to be home after all, would you mind making me a grilled cheese for an early dinner? Since I’m not meeting my father until nine, I should eat something light.”
“Will do. Grilled cheese and tomato soup for an early dinner,” she said.
I tried to get back to work, but the more I tried to focus, the harder it got. I finally had to admit that I was nervous as hell about the upcoming meeting. It would be the first time I had the chance to really sit down and talk to my father, and if he was anything like my brother, I was going to be walking through a minefield.
Amané’s was a high-end restaurant, and so I wore a strapless black leather bodycon dress that was mid-thigh. Thank gods it had a hidden zipper because otherwise, it would have been impossible to wiggle into. The dress shimmered with silver grommets that adorned the sweetheart neckline, and it had a matching bolero jacket. Then, I slid into a pair of black platform leather boots that had tiny buckles all the way up the front, with a hidden side zipper, and four-inch heels.
I pulled my hair into a sleek, high ponytail, and did my makeup in a smoky eye, and a severe matte burgundy all-day lipstick. A crystal bracelet and a floating crystal necklace completed the look. As I stood back, staring at myself in the mirror, I realized that I looked like a demon’s daughter. And it felt natural.
Penn was in the kitchen when I joined her. She set down her mug of tea and leaned back against the counter, staring at me.
“How do I look?”
She shook her head and let out a low whistle. “Like a million bucks…and a little scary.”
“Good. That’s what I was going for.” I paused, then said, “I feel so weird, Penn. I wear leather all the time but this getup…it feels like it shouldn’t fit my look but it does.”
“Yeah, it does. You’re changing, Kyann, but I think it’s just your self-confidence. It’s stronger and you have your father’s blood to thank for that. It’s a good thing. Seriously, quit worrying that you’ll lose yourself. You won’t. When I first pledged to Hecate, it frightened me, because it meant I had to face my shadow side and accept it. And the shadow brings strength. I think that’s what you’re going through now.”
I let out a long breath. “I think you’re right. Okay. If I’m going to be later than midnight, I’ll text you. Wish me luck.”
“Luck, and bring me home something yummy. Amané’s makes the most fantastic desserts.” She gave me a hug and then turned me around and marched me to the door. As I left, it occurred to me that Penn was far stronger than most people I knew. She had embraced the fact that she wasn’t ever going to make everybody comfortable, and accepted that that, was absolutely fine.
