SIXTEEN

 

“So, according to Farley, Poseidon’s involved in this?” Natasha grabbed her calf muscle and stretched.

Sitting on the ground, I grasped my foot and stretched also. “Seems so. Kendra mentioned his name. And since they weren’t paying in advance, he required they prove they had sufficient breathing sacrifices for him. So we may get a double dose of the God of the Sea.”

“God of the Sea,” Natasha scoffed. “What a misnomer. All you have to do is look at the trident he uses to know he’s a devil.”

“The idea that all gods are good was spawned out of monotheistic religions,” I reminded her, standing and starting my squats. “For the polytheists, the only distinguishing difference between gods and demons is whether their driving force is to do good or evil. Thus, by either name Poseidon or Neptune is one bad dude.”

Natasha transferred from one calf to the other. After two squats, I called it quits. By the time I’d finished power walking with her, I’d have the cramps no matter what, so why start behind the power curve already in pain?

“You sound like you know him,” she said. “Let’s get to walkin’.”

We took off at our normal quick clip. “I do, or did. I met him in Atlantis and sized him up as a blow-hard with a dark soul. Years later, some of my friends told me the whole story. After he left Atlantis and defected to the underworld, he was known for fits of temper, wrecking ships, causing earthquakes and tsunamis. But, what really chilled me to the bone was his disregard for women. Be on alert if he shows up, Natasha. He raped Aethra, Caeneus, Anymone and even his own sister, Demeter. Seems the only woman who ever got the better of him was Athena. Word has it he can’t stand her.”

“Bastard!” She quickened her steps.

Never get Natasha excited when she’s walking or the next thing you know, you’ll be eating her dust. “Slow down.” When she did, I ambled up to her. “Not only does he act like one, he fathered more than a dozen of them from all his rapes. Seems the guy’s fertile, if nothing else.”

“Now that gives me the chills. To think Americans would name a beach after him!”

“They always say illusion is easier to believe than reality.”

“If Poseidon’s that bad, what about the other three demons Kendra recruited?” Natasha sped up again.

The woman’s just like a locomotive. Slow her down, and she’ll still gather steam. “I’m stopping for a breather.” I nodded to what was becoming ‘our wall.’

“You aren’t any better at this than Olivia.”

“Speaking of Olivia and the other three demon threats, I’m concerned.” I hopped on the top of the wall and sat. “No doubt Allocen and Pharzuph will be challenges. Don’t forget Pharzuph is demon of lust, so he and Poseidon present a double threat in the female department. But it’s Lilith who frightens me the most.”

“What do you know about her?”

I leaned back on my elbows. “Jared filled me in some after our meeting yesterday. Lilith was the first wife of Adam, and she didn’t like him trying to use the missionary position during sex. So, she cursed him and ran off to her home by the Red Sea. Then, Ms. C sent three angels, Sanvi, Sansanvi and Semangelaf to bring her back to Eden. She refused to go and hung around the Red Sea having one hundred babies a day by various demons.”

Natasha laughed. “And we thought Poseidon was promiscuous and fertile.”

“No kidding. Furious, Ms. C stripped her of refuge in heaven and took the demon children under her wing, so to speak.” I swung my legs, sending fine sand spraying on the sidewalk. “A lot of them ended up in angel rehab for years. Some refused to embrace the light and left, renouncing the light and joining the Dark Prince. But Lilith never knew which ones were her children. The Dark Prince frowns on mother-child relationships. Hell is a very macho-oriented culture.”

“Well, nurturing isn’t exactly what demons do best.”

“True. Anyway, Lilith still holds a gripe for having her children taken away, so now she strangles or kidnaps those of humans.”

“Or in this case, will attempt to kidnap children of earth angels.” Natasha took her hair out of its knot. She likes it off her face and neck when she walks.

I nodded. “Not that she’ll succeed. But, we’ll have to be even more vigilant than usual, especially when it comes to David. Seems she has a penchant for boys.”

“Is she a pedophile?” Natasha asked.

“I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out.”

“Okay, so what’s on tap next?”

“Jared and I are going to go check around Amelia Island and see if we can smell the foul stench of demons.”

* * * *

 

“What do you know about this island?” Jared asked, as he drove my Ferrari across the bridge.

“About four-thousand years ago the island was home to the Timucuan Indians who reportedly were very tall, six feet and greater. Once European settlers started coming here, eight different flags flew over the island. First, came the French Huguenot rule in 1562, and then under Spanish rule until 1763. The island’s control seesawed back and forth until it became a U.S. territory in 1821. The Victorian community that was built and has been preserved is a result of wealthy Americans making the island their home here between 1870 and 1910.”

“Interesting.” Jared grinned at me. “You have done your research.”

I smiled back as the wind blew through my hair. “You know me. I always like to be prepared.”

“I know. I haven’t forgotten.” He slowed down. “Whoa. It’s easy to get this baby up over a hundred.”

I nodded. “Don’t I know it! I’ve already gotten two tickets.”

“In that case, I’d better keep it under the speed limit by a few miles because if it weren’t a ticket magnet before, it is now.”

“Har, har. So, where did you make reservations?”

He slanted me a glance and chuckled. “In a hurry to get to our bedroom?”

“No. I’m just curious if you chose a hotel or a B&B.”

“I’m sure the hotels are wonderful. But I know you’d rather be at a B&B, so we’re staying at The Amelia Island Williams House, circa 1856.”

Easing down in my chair, I sighed. “I feel the ambiance already.”

“First things first, though. What do we have to do before we check in?”

“See if there’s a bar nearby, somewhere near downtown Fernandina Beach.”

Driving through the quaint village, I was impressed by its historic look. “There!” I told him. “Palace Saloon. See the name on the side of that building with the pirate statue out front?”

“Wonder if the saloon asks for any money to take your picture with it. Let’s go on in, have a drink, ask a few questions and flash Farley’s picture around. If anyone recognizes him, we’ll know we’re on the right track.”

Inside the bar, I felt like I’d stepped back in time. Mosaic tiles covered the floor. Huge murals painted in gesso decorated the walls. The bar sprawled down one side of the room for at least forty feet. Mahogany fixtures behind it were busts of women from the chest up.

“This is really cool,” I said. “I could belly-up here anytime.”

He winked. “Let’s do it.”

We sat on stools, and as I got comfortable, a cold breeze brushed past me, followed by the faint smell of roses. “I think there’s a spirit in here,” I murmured.

He sniffed the air. “I smell the roses, too.”

The bartender walked up. “I take it you two sense Uncle Charlie’s presence.”

“Uncle who?” I leaned forward, my arms up on the bar.

“Uncle Charlie. He was the saloon’s original bartender. Some say they can feel him here. I never have, but from what I overheard you two say, you must have the gift.”

Jared shrugged. “You could say we’re both open to paranormal happenings. This Uncle Charlie, was or is he a bad spirit?”

The bartender waved his hand in the air. “Oh, heck no. Charlie’s just a bit of a tease. But he’s protective of his turf. Pub next door has his name on it, but this is where he hangs out. How about a beer?”

“Do you have wine?” I asked.

“Yes, but not the good stuff. You need to go to the Intercoastal Wine Company on North 2nd Street for that.”

I’m not a wine snob, but when the bartender tells you to buy a glass of it somewhere else, it’s best not to order his stock. “Then, I’ll have a light one on tap.”

Jared sighed. “Me too.” As the bartender walked away, I looked at him. “Spirits don’t stay around for centuries unless they’re trying to settle a grievance.”

He nodded. “Maybe old Charlie can give us some valuable information and we can convince him to give up the ghost.” He chuckled at his own pun. I winced.

Telepathically, I asked, “Charlie, can you hear me?”

“Har, me bucko—make that buckaroo. What can I do ye for?”

This guy was a jokester. “Cut it with the fake accent. Have you seen any demons around here lately?”

“You angels ain’t no fun. I saw what you’re lookin’ for a few nights ago.”

I heard him shiver. Tells you how scary demons are. Not many ghosts shiver when they see something.

“Three Raksashas and Poseidon himself. Scary he is. Seein’ ’em, I’m glad I never met him while at sea. He’s a mean one, he is. Pirates used to talk about him capsizing their ships all the time.”

“Did they say where they’re staying?” I asked.

“In a B&B about a half mile away. Don’t know which one, and there are a few. I’d say one of the better ones though. The female Raksasha. She seemed a mite persnickety when it came to sleeping quarters.”

“Thanks, Charlie. By the way, why haven’t you gone on to Ms. C’s arrival center?”

“Been waitin’ on you. That plus I’ve been wantin’ to pay Poseidon back since he took my love away. She wuz killed in the ocean she wuz, last seen in his mighty grasp. Cap’n said he saw the sea god clear as I’m seein’ you right now. Even if I could have paid him back after that, I still had to wait ’til you got here. Orders from the chief.”

“Ms. C ordered you to do that centuries ago?”

“Yes indeedie. Watch out for demons in the night. Enjoy yer beer.”

I turned back to Jared. “How far away is Williams House?”

“About a half mile. Why? What did Charlie say?”

“Sorry, I forgot your talent isn’t telepathy.”

A slow smile curved his delicious lips. “I am where you’re concerned.”

I smiled. “I’ll fill you in later. And since you know what I’m thinking, you already know our friends may be coming for a sleepover.”

* * * *

 

An hour later we’d checked into our Princess Amelia Anniversary Suite. “This is absolutely gorgeous!” I walked to the bed and fingered the sheer canopy draping our walnut four-poster. But it wasn’t just the bed that made the room so elegant. It was everything: the wrought iron daybed, the side tables and piecrust coffee table, the quilted bed coverings. It was all five-star plush with old world comfort. “As beautiful as my room is at home, this has it beat. Maybe it’s time to redecorate.”

“It is if that desk’s still in your bedroom.”

I laughed. “It’s as good as gone.” I grabbed his hand. “At the bar Charlie told me Ms. C ordered him to wait for our arrival and warn us before going to heaven. Do you think she has everything planned in advance? If so, what’s that say about us having free will?”

Jared pulled on his short-sleeved shirt, leaving it open, and swung a beach towel over his shoulder. My heart did a tiny flip seeing his bare chest. He took a deep breath. “I had the same question a few hundred years back. I finally asked her about it once I returned to the light. She said ‘just because I see the future, doesn’t mean I interfere in your choices. If I had, you never would’ve been there to save Olivia and her twins or have the necessary information to help us in our future battles.’”

“Maybe, but a little less suffering would’ve been nice.” I slipped on my cover-up and picked up my tote. “Let’s hope this time we’ll have smooth sailing.”

His brow arched. “Knowing this crowd, we’ll be lucky if we only have a few choppy waves. For now, let’s go have some fun.”

The beach on the Atlantic Ocean side was close to a mile away, and although we could’ve walked, we preferred to bike down on two ten-speeds we’d rented in town. Once there, we chained them up and, holding hands, ambled along through the soft sand. “Look at the sky, Jared. It’s so clear, I feel like I can touch the few puffy clouds up there.”

“Yeah. No smog from Jacksonville. The ocean breeze must’ve cleared it out.”

“That’s a romantic insight.”

He smiled. “Just a realistic one. You’re usually the level headed pragmatist of the two of us. Being around Olivia again must’ve reset your temperament.”

“Maybe it’s being around you.”

He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me close to him as we walked. “I’ll never be far away from you, ever. You have my oath Salem won’t be replayed again in any lifetime.”

“I know you mean that.” I leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. “And I’ve promised myself I’d never do anything as stupid as placing myself in jeopardy of that happening again. But neither of us knows what the future holds. All we can do is live and love each other every day.”

“Is that why you decided to come to Amelia Island to chase demons with me?”

“I’m perfectly safe.” My chin jutted out a little from his sarcasm. “It’s my mission to save Olivia from them. Being proactive can help prevent them from taking us unawares and harming her or the children or worse, stealing the kids.”

“I don’t see how that can happen with eagle-eye Gregory around. He’s considered to be one of the best guardians there is.”

“Remember, he gave up his guardian status when he incarnated and married Olivia. While it allows him to be with her, he doesn’t have the objective separation from her he used to. He’s lost that necessary guardian detachment which enabled him to react coolly under pressure instead of freezing in fear.”

“I don’t think he’d ever freeze in fear.” Jared’s hand tightened on mine. “I, on the other hand, would turn into a blubbering puddle if you were in jeopardy.”

“Now that’s a real appealing image.” I sighed. “I guess I better stay out of jeopardy. Want to wade into the water?”

He shot me a hard glare. “No. Not with Poseidon lurking around. How about renting one of those beach umbrellas?”

I kicked the sand. Damn. How’d I forget our enemies so quickly, especially after saying I wouldn’t take risks. “You’re right, of course.” I followed as Jared tugged me up to the rental site and removed his wallet from his pocket on his shirt. “Is an umbrella available?”

The man looked up at us and I froze. His eyes glowed red in the summer sun. “Sure thing.”

I jerked on Jared’s shirt, inclining my head toward the kiosk manager. “On second thought, I’d rather walk.”

Glancing up from his wallet, Jared smiled at the man and shrugged and without missing a beat said, “Sorry, I’m her slave. You know how it is, what they want, they get.”