Free Darkness Taunts by Susan Illene Page A

later.”
    “Melena,” Nik called out as I opened the door. I turned back. “Kariann will be by your place at seven tonight to take you to the airport.”
    “No need. I can get myself there without anyone’s help.” They’d done more than enough already.
    He lifted a brow. “Lucas is sending some paperwork with his men that Kariann needs to pick up. He said it has something to do with your agreement.”
    I’d almost forgotten about that.
    “Fine.” I nodded at Kariann. “I’ll see you then.”
    ***
    I sensed the shaman’s arrival while taking a shower. He’d come early. I still had to take Emily to school. The old guy could have waited for a more decent time to come. I went downstairs to find him looking through some sketches I’d done recently. Drawing landscapes had become my escape when things got to be too stressful. I had a lot of pictures of trees and mountains from the last few months. Boring and peaceful—the exact opposite of my life.
    “Those are private,” I said.
    He glanced up. His graying black hair looked a bit wild today without it slicked back like he normally wore it. “These are good. You have some talent.”
    “And they aren’t meant to be seen by anyone.”
    He set the sketch pad down on the table and grinned at me. “Then why leave them out where anyone might find them?”
    I crossed my arms. “This is my home, Charlie. You’re early.”
    “Emily won’t mind if I ride along when you take her to school. We have someone to visit after that.”
    “Does this someone have anything to do with the demon possession problem?” I asked.
    He grunted and moved over to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee. I supposed when you were over two hundred years old you stopped concerning yourself with proper guest etiquette. “He does not, but you need to see him before you go.”
    “Who is this mysterious person I’m supposed to be visiting?”
    Charlie poured another mug of coffee. “Cream and sugar?”
    “Yes.” I cocked my hip against the counter and watched him put heaps of both into my cup. “That’s enough. Now quit stalling. Who are we going to see?”
    He handed me the steaming mug. “Derrick. He’s getting worse and I think you’re the only person who can reach him right now.”
    I took a sip and almost spit it back out. There was enough sugar in there to send a healthy person into a diabetic coma. “He hasn’t answered my calls since Christmas. Trust me, he won’t listen to me either.”
    Charlie’s looked tired. “He can’t avoid you if you go in person.”
    “It’s a pain in the ass to get to his cabin in the winter. After the way he acted the last time I saw him, I’m not sure the trip’s worth it.”
    “You forced him to look at the reality of his life with Variola. The more he lets himself think about it, the more it gnaws his hide.” He saw me roll my eyes. “Sorry, bad werewolf joke. The point is, sensor, he’s going to get himself killed if you don’t do something about it.”
    “In case you haven’t noticed,” I said, taking another sip of the awful coffee and cringing, “I’ve got enough to deal with right now. Can’t it wait until I get back?”
    “It may be too late for him by then. Nik’s tolerated him so far for your sake, but it won’t last.”
    I set the mug down. “What do you mean tolerated him? What’s he been doing?”
    “He’s stopped covering his tracks. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks or, more importantly, sees. Go talk to him. We’ll discuss your demon problem after that.”
    I dumped my coffee out and poured another cup. It would take a lot before I was ready for this trip.

Chapter Eight
     
    The trip to Derrick’s cabin didn’t go any easier than I thought it would. The first ten miles went alright, but the last half-mile had me cursing up a storm. If I hadn’t used a hefty amount of my savings to get a used Jeep Cherokee after settling here, I’d never have made it. The private road leading to his home