Part 15 (1/2)

He flashed me one of his 'Who, me?' smiles and walked out.

I grabbed a matching black bra and put it on. I took a step over and opened my closet door. I picked out a short black leather skirt and matching top. I pulled the skirt on. The material was silky and smooth and fit me like a glove. I reached into my closet and pulled out a pair of black leather mule shoes with chunky heels. When I put them on, they made me at least two inches taller.

I pulled the s.h.i.+rt over my head and adjusted it. It was sleeveless but had wide straps to hold it up. It was a scoop neck, so it wasn't too revealing. I had always had a problem finding tops that kept my b.r.e.a.s.t.s in without making them look huge.

I reached into the tiny basket of jewelry I kept on my dresser and grabbed my silver belly ring. I put it on. Whenever I lifted my arms just right in this outfit, my midriff showed, and I liked showing it off. I hadn't ever had to work at having a nice shape, it just sort of came with being part faerie. I wasn't going to start complaining now.

I finished, and looked in the mirror on the back of my closet door. ”Perfect,” I thought to myself, and headed out of the room.

When I stepped out into the living room, I saw Pallo sitting in my big comfy chair. I loved sitting in that chair and curling up with a good book. It had always seemed so perfect for me. It was covered in large flowers that were done in pastels. Seeing Pallo in it made me laugh. He looked so out of place. He looked like a bad a.s.s that had to sit in a girl's chair. Pallo dug his fingers into his knees, and glared at Ken.

Ken sat on my couch. The chair sat to the side of it. I had always liked the idea of arranging my furniture for conversation, but seeing them sitting that close to each other had made me question my decision.

Ken looked up at me and threw his feet up on my coffee table. That was a huge no-no. I had found an old chest at an antique store and picked it up. I brought it home and had been using it for a table every since. I glared at him, and he smiled.

”Pallo and I were just discussing the various positions you enjoy.” He looked up at me and grinned from ear to ear. ”I'm shocked, Gwen. I don't think our good friend here knew you were a three input girl.”

My face grew red. I raised my hand and lashed energy out at Ken. It knocked his feet off of my table. Ken looked shocked. I think a smile came over Pallo.

”Get out now, Ken.” The rage growing inside me belied the calmness of my voice.

He smiled but didn't budge. ”Hey, Pallo, is it true that vampires have excellent hearing?”

Pallo's gaze met mine as he answered, ”Yes.”

I thought back to the argument with Ken in my bedroom. I called him a monster. Pallo had sat out here and listened to the entire thing. My stomach tightened into a knot. I wanted to knock that c.o.c.ky smirk off Ken's face. He knew Pallo could hear every word we'd said, and he'd baited me.

The sound of Pallo's voice broke my anger. ”You look lovely this evening, Gwyneth.”

”Thanks! I'm going out to get some dinner and drinks.”

”With who?” Ken asked.

They both looked at me now.

”It's Friday night, right? I'm supposed to be meeting Sharon at The Raven. You know, celebrate the whole turning twenty-five thing. We had to postpone it a bit, remember? It was your idea Ken.”

The Raven was a huge dance club that catered to the supernatural. Sharon had thought it would be fun to take me there for my birthday. She told me to meet her there at nine-thirty. I wanted to go. I wanted to forget about all of the messed up events that had taken place in my life recently. I needed a break from reality. I needed a night off.

”s.h.i.+t, I forgot to tell you,” Ken said, rising to his feet. Pallo mirrored him. ”Sharon had to go out of town for a few days. She got a lead on one of her cases. She should be back by Monday.”

”Why didn't she call?” I asked.

”She did. Have you checked your messages?” Ken was being nice and I knew how much energy that took for him. I appreciated it. Sharon was the closest thing to family I had around here. I hadn't realized how much I had been looking forward to celebrating my birthday. Guess it still did mean something to me.

”Well then, looks like I'm not going anywhere. I'm not spending the night dancing with you,” I said looking at Ken.

”Gwen, I'm hurt.” He gave me that c.o.c.ky grin again.

”I would love to take you to The Raven. It would be my pleasure,” Pallo said. He stepped right past Ken and headed towards me.

”If he's going, I'm going,” Ken said, and followed behind him. I laughed.

”A smile,” Pallo said. He looked pleased.

I went to get my keys and purse. I couldn't find either one of them.

”What's wrong?” Ken asked.

”I almost forgot. I don't have a car to drive anymore,” I said, remembering the little burning inferno incident. ”I, uh, left it at the park.” I didn't want to alert Ken to all of the trouble I'd been having lately.

Ken laughed. ”Maybe you'll get lucky and someone will steal it. I've been trying to get you to buy a new one.”

”When I get comfortable with something, I stick with it,” I said.

”Does that apply to more than cars?” Ken asked, winking at me.

”Come, we shall take my car.” Pallo waved his hand in the air and put it out to me. I put my arm in his and glanced at Ken. I could tell he was angry.

I leaned over to Pallo and whispered, ”We can't just leave him.”

”I would never dream of such thing, Gwyneth.” The twinkle in his brown eyes told me that's exactly what he'd been thinking of doing. ”Are you coming?” he asked, looking back to Ken.

”Wouldn't miss it for the world,” Ken said as he followed us out the door.

Chapter 17.

We arrived out The Raven almost an hour later. Traffic was terrible, but the ride over was worse. I had a.s.sumed that when Pallo said we'd take his car, it would be a car. I was wrong. We ended up riding in the back of a long black limo. The three of us sat there, staring at each other, afraid to say a word. The only time the silence was broken was when the window came down between the driver and us. He wanted to let Pallo know that an important call had come in for him.

The ride took forever. I had never been so happy to get out of a car in my life.

The Raven was a huge warehouse that had been converted into a dance club that catered to the supernatural element. I had never actually been there, but I'd heard plenty about it. Apparently everyone else in the city had, too. There was a line that stretched down the block and around corner. I stood there with my mouth open. Most of the people in line looked to be in their mid-twenties. Some looked like circus freaks. One man had his hair sprayed green and it stood at least three feet off his head. Around his neck was a dog collar and a chain ran from it to his nose. Yes, he had a chain hooked to his nose. He nodded at me when I looked in his direction. I nodded back.

Ken stepped out of the limo and came to stand behind me. He bent down and whispered to me, ”I'll be seeing most of these people in the courtroom soon.”

I knew he made a joke, but I didn't particularly like the fact that there was truth behind what he said.

Pallo had walked ahead of us to the main door. He talked to a large man guarding the entrance. He motioned for us to come over. I looked at Ken and he shrugged.

”Looks like the dead have good connections,” he said.

I told Ken to shut up. We walked to meet Pallo. He took my arm when I got next to him, and I didn't fight it. The man standing at the door was at least three hundred pounds. I wouldn't have been surprised if he stood seven feet tall. He was mammoth. He wore a black tee s.h.i.+rt that had a picture of a raven on it, and a pair of blue jeans that barely contained his stomach. I noticed that he wore sungla.s.ses. It was almost pitch black out--the gla.s.ses were overkill.

”Master Pallo, your table is ready,” he said. His voice rocked my body from the ba.s.s in it.

”Thank you, Makonnen,” Pallo said as he walked through the open doors.