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“There, all done,” Nora said, ripping the thin black cape off the front of me. I stood in one smooth motion and leaned in to stare at my reflection in the large rectangular mirror. The bright lights of the salon shone down on me as I twirled a long piece of hair from my face and then ran my fingers through it.
“I heard about Gabriella. I’m so sorry.”
My hand stilled as I focused on her in the mirror. She cleaned up her tools. Roccurem stood stiffly near the door, his hands clasped in front of him, watching the people in the salon. “Why?” I shrugged.
Nora paused in her tidying, taken aback by my question. “Because she’s your sister.”
“And? People die every day. Like your cheap father who made you pay back your college tuition instead of helping.” I tossed my hair over my shoulder, making sure the strands didn’t get caught in my earrings.
Nora scoffed, her jaw going slack. “That was rude, even for you.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Your price just went up.”
I smiled at myself in the mirror before turning to stalk toward her until I invaded her space. She tilted her head back to hold my gaze, her heart beating against her ribs hard enough to drown out the blow dryer in the back of the room.
“How about I don’t pay anything? In return, you get to keep your stupid little shop in your stupid little city, and I don’t eat every single person in here and toss your body in the dumpster in the back.”
This time when I smiled, I made sure my fangs showed. Nora gulped and nodded. She hurried away and disappeared into the back room without looking at me or anyone else.
Everyone in the shop pretended not to have seen or heard what had happened except for Roccurem. He watched me intently, his alien eyes filled with secrets. I spun, taking one last glance at myself in the mirror. I adjusted the long sweep of hair from my face and headed out, Roccurem falling into step beside me. The weak winter sun beat down as the door closed behind us.
“Perhaps public displays of power are not good if you wish to remain hidden from the King of Rashearim.”
A few mortals passed us, bundled in coats and thick clothing against the chill breeze. Oblivious, they went on with their lives. Several small tables and stools were placed around the pavilion. People sat around, laughing and eating in the busy city of Kasvaihn.
“How many times do I have to say I don’t care until you realize I don’t care?” I said to Reggie. Reggie. That’s what his name was now, no longer Roccurem. He needed something normal while he was here, so I renamed him.
Reggie looked at me, a crease crossing his normal-looking mortal brow. He wore the shape of a man wearing a casual all-black business suit. He’d seen one of those obnoxious male models on a moving billboard screen when we’d first arrived and taken his form. I told him he needed a disguise, and he’d found one. He was tall and lean, with a dark complexion and hair cropped close to his head in coarse curls. He looked normal until he spoke in tongues, and then his six all-white eyes appeared, two above the regular and two below.
“Yes, your actions seem to roar about your lack of care. Or maybe that is just another illusion to hide the opposite.”
I folded my arms with a close-lipped smile. I nodded, focused on the passing vehicles. A horn honked, but my attention remained on the approaching black truck.
“Okay.” I dropped my hands and walked away.
I bumped against a table as I passed. The couple shouted at me and grabbed for their drinks. Ducking under a low-hanging branch, I stepped off the curb, a white car swerving to miss me. I stood in the center of the road, watching the vehicle bearing down on me. Noises came from all around me as passersby stopped and watched. I heard the brakes squeal, the large truck skidding on the pavement. I stepped to my left and dropped to one knee. My hand shot out, talons replacing nails. I ripped them through the tires and metal of the wheels. The truck rolled, glass breaking. I stood and smiled at Reggie, who watched from the sidewalk.
“Someone call for help!” a woman screamed as others came near. I strode to the truck and ripped the door from its hinges. Elijah looked up at me. He was half slouched, seatbelt still on. He shielded his eyes from the sunlight pouring in behind me.
As soon as his eyes adjusted, he began scrabbling at his seatbelt. “No, no, no, no.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll help with that.”
I reached inside and ripped the seatbelt from Elijah before yanking him out and onto the street.
“You want to get out of here?” I smiled, not giving him a chance to answer.
* * *
My fist connected once more, rocking Elijah’s head to the side.
“He is mortal. You may very well damage his brain before you get the information you seek,” Reggie said.
“I am aware, but he’s not talking.” I tossed my hands in the air.
Elijah sat up and spat blood on the floor, trying to smile despite his broken face. “New boyfriend already, Dianna?” He clicked his tongue, and my fist connected with his jaw again.
“I am not her boyfriend or a replacement for Samkiel.”
I hit Elijah maybe a tad harder when I heard Samkiel’s name.
