Page 153 of Black Light: Cured

away from the pain that still lingers. It’s like poking at a cavity; I can’t leave it well enough alone.

Shaking my head, I slip into the car and give the driver the address for the psychic shop, my stomach

churning as I think about facing everyone again. Knowing them, they’ll all rally behind me, but it still

hurts to know that they’ll have access to this pain I’ve been squirreling away.

Since things are still early, the shops around the entrance are bustling with life, and everywhere I

look, there’s signs of love and happiness. Couples walk about arm in arm, their faces bent toward

each other as they engage in intimate conversations, much like Aiden and I used to.

It’s far too much. Murmuring a thanks to the driver, I slip out and head into the shop, heading

straight for the back where I pause in front of Luís to show him my Black Light card. He tilts his head

and stares at me for a moment before reaching for the door. “Wasn’t expecting to see you tonight. I

thought you were out of town.”

Confused, I merely shake my head, unsure of where he got that information. He shrugs and opens

the door, letting me in. The familiar walls are comforting, and I reach out to drag my fingertips along

the concrete, letting the rough texture give me something else to occupy my mind.

Danny is sitting at the security desk, and his head pops up like a gopher when he sees me. “What

are you doing here?”

“I’m coming to work.” Unease drips down my spine, freezing me to the spot.

“We didn’t think you were coming. No one is here for massages. Instead, we moved the class up

so everyone can have an early night.”

Shaking my head, I walk over to where they keep the tablet and pull it up. Sure enough, no one is

on my table. There’s no one here to distract me, to give me something else to think about other than my

shattered heart. I don’t want to stay for a class; all it will do is remind me of what I no longer have.

“Hey Danny,” Klara’s voice calls out behind me. “Tell Dillon when he gets here that he’s going to

have to use the other suspension ring for his class. They still can’t get the other one to act right.”

When she reaches the desk, she pauses when she sees me, eyes wide. “What the hell are you doing

here?”

I look between her and Danny, my temper hitting its boiling point. “Can someone kindly tell me

why I’m not supposed to be here? Because I certainly have no clue.”

Klara pauses for a moment and glances back over at Danny. “We thought you were with Master St.

James.”