Wicked Destiny

Chapter 16





As I joined Mindy and Jared at the table, they awkwardly stared at me as I sipped my coffee. I cleared my throat just to let them know I could see them staring and they immediately went back to eating.

“So you didn’t like the blonde, I see. But then you left it on the tips. Nice,” Jared said. I eyed him over my cup of coffee. He was careful.

Mindy laughed. “It looks great, Sloane. I think it’s more you and it matches your tattoo,” she said while stuffing a piece of watermelon in her mouth.

I spit up some of my coffee trying to hold back a laugh and it went all over Jared. “Oh, my…” I jumped up to grab napkins, but then laughter erupted around the whole table. I’d never seen Mindy eat, and with her body I would’ve never guessed how much she loved food. The feeling was just so overwhelming and it was just what the doctor prescribed. I laughed until I cried and till mealtime was over. Finally, Jared jumped up to clear the table.

“You know, Sloane, just because you come from something dark doesn’t mean you have to be,” Mindy said from across the table. I just looked at her. “We all have our stories. Yes, I’m employed by the Darkness, but I like to think I’m doing a public service. I’m sure you’re aware how we maintain our life, though, right? We do it by feeding off of other people’s life force; by endeavoring in some sort of sexual act with someone.” I nodded my head. “Well, if I target good people, I won’t have to do it as much, but Dale and I target the bad people. The people who cheat and hurt other people. We leave the pure people alone. And we can sense everything in their aura.” Well, I felt a little better about that.

“Why did you want to change? Wait, when did you change?” I had to know how old she was.

“Well, I was what you would call a flapper in 1920. I was eighteen and on my own. I wasn’t always a flapper, though. I was once alone and had no one. My mother died shortly after my dad left and I was scared and vulnerable. I was standing outside one of the very fancy jazz clubs at the time and I remember watching a woman getting out of her car. Back then that was a no-no, but it was happening. I thought I wanted that and I would’ve given anything to be like her.

“And then out of nowhere, this guy appeared. He claimed he could make my life easier and promised me no more starving or wishing I had something someone else had. All I had to do was sleep with men or the occasional woman to maintain my life source. It didn’t sound so bad. Basically, I saw it as pleasure for pleasure.” Mindy’s eyes looked dazed as she continued. “It wasn’t until I noticed my regular “Joe” was having issues keeping up that I realized what I was actually doing. I pleaded to revoke the contract, but they wouldn’t. I got everything I ever wanted, plus immortality, but it was at the expense of others.” She snapped out of it and smiled. “It took a while to figure out the aura thing, though I did change my ways. It’s still bad, what I do, but in a sense I am doing a bittersweet justice.” Mindy got up and began to gather her things.

“So you see, Sloane, there is light and dark in all of us. It’s up to us where we place the power, though. But I’m afraid I have to meet Dale soon. Do you need me to do anything for you before I go?” she asked as she grabbed her purse.

“No.” I smiled at her. “But thank you, Mindy.”

“I will call Shay for you.” Mindy smiled her toothy smile and was out the door.

I could hear plates clattering together as Jared rinsed them off and placed them into the dishwasher. This drove me absolutely crazy. I hated the sound of dishes clanging and utensils banging against the plates. It was like a nail on a chalkboard for me.

“What are you doing in there?” I yelled as I covered my ears.

“Hey, I’m trying to help you out. I don’t even clean my place and here you got me doing laundry, dishes and even take out. Shouldn’t your boyfriend be doing this?” he snapped back.

“That’s a very good question,” I answered under my breath.

“Hey, why don’t we go out and get some fresh air?” Jared asked.

“I think I’m good here,” I answered.

“Sloane, you’re becoming a hermit. Now crawl out of that shell and let’s go outside,” Jared pleaded.

“Honestly, I don’t want to run into Viktor. If I emerge from my cave, he’ll be somewhere close and I’m scared of what I might do if I see him.” I took a breath. “How about we stay in?” I smiled big.

“Well, I have nothing to do so I guess I can sit here and train myself to live in a box.” We laughed and I slapped him playfully on his arm.

Something in this moment with Jared was beautiful. It felt so normal and something just made me want to show him my work. All the photographs I took and all the painting I did.

“Jared, let me show you something.” I took his hand in mine and he followed.

I hit the side button on the side of the bookshelf and the secret door popped open to my studio. As I pulled him through, I wondered what he was thinking, because he just stood there with his mouth open. Was that good or was it bad? I didn’t know at that point and the silence was beginning to make me feel like I made a mistake.

“Well?” I asked.

Jared said, “You did all this? Can I see the one under the sheet?” He went to remove it, but before he could get to it, I quickly stood in front of it. I wasn’t ready to reveal this one just yet.

“Not this one. Not yet. I’m still working on it,” I said.

“OK,” he said, laughing. “Why haven’t you told anyone about this?”

“I don’t know. It relaxes me. When I’m in here, I don’t think. I just do it.” I walked over and picked up a picture I took at the river walk. The first time I saw Declan in three years. It was a picture of him standing on the other side of the river as he looked straight at me. I put it down as I heard Jared walking up behind me.

And he stood right behind me, but was careful not to touch me. He just reached around me and picked up the picture to look at it. I closed my eyes and wondered all over again why I never really considered Jared. I was a total mess, that’s why. Here I was wondering about three men. Declan was gone and I had no idea what was going on with Viktor and I. And then Jared was here. Jared was a male gigolo, but he had his moments like today.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked me silently.

“Just wondering why everything has ended up the way it has.”

He laid the picture down, and when he drew his arm back in, he brushed it against my arm and caused goosebumps to form in its wake. He moved my hair out of the way and began kissing my neck. I didn’t want it to stop, but I knew it was wrong on so many levels. It wasn’t right to do this to Jared, and even though Viktor wasn’t here, it wasn’t right to do it to him, either. Viktor had better have a good excuse.

I turned around to tell Jared to stop, but before I could get a word out, Jared’s lips captured mine. Absentmindedly, I wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me onto a table and began rubbing his hands up my thighs. I grabbed his hands and his eyes popped open to look at me.

“What?” he snapped at me.

“It’s not right or fair,” I said.

He stepped away and ran his hands through his hair. Standing in the light, Jared could have almost passed for an angel. He was dressed in a pair of loose jeans with a light blue t-shit. He was gorgeous, and in that moment I knew why all those girls threw themselves at him.

“Who, exactly, isn’t it fair for, Sloane? Me or Viktor? Because I don’t see him with you right now. I don’t see him making sure you are even alive.”

“It’s not fair to either of you.” Then the realization hit me. “Do you think I owe you this?”

“What? No, that’s not… No.” He was stuttering.

“Who are you trying to convince?” I hopped off the table and readjusted my robe. “Look, it’s not that I don’t want to, but it wouldn’t be a great way to start things off. I don’t know where the hell Viktor is, more less what he’s doing, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of throwing something like this in my face.” I walked back over to him as he leaned against the wall, as if trying to put space between us. “Jared, is this what you want? I mean, me? Not what I am or am supposed to be, but me?” I caressed his cheek.

“Sloane, I’ve never wanted anything more.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “But you need to ask yourself if I’m what you really want. It’s not a question of me wanting you. I will take you anyway I can have you, but you have to decide who you really want.” He brought both my hands up and kissed them. “I’m not blind; I know you have feelings for Viktor and you have a past with Declan. You need to decide who you want your future with.” He hugged me then.

“Thank you, Jared.” He gave me one more tight squeeze and stepped away.

“You have my number, Sloane. Call me when you’ve made your choice.” He grabbed his keys and sunglasses and left.

There I was again, all alone. I looked around the place and thought about everything that had happened, and even what could have happened. My head began to hurt with all the swarming thoughts, so I went to the medicine cabinet and took two Excedrin Migraines. After tossing them down, I picked up my cell phone and sent Shay a message.



ME: Hey, I’m sorry.

SHAY: R U OK?

ME: I’m fine, if you still love me.

SHAY: Shut up!

ME: Have u seen Viktor?

SHAY: Not since we were all together.

ME: Really?

SHAY: Do u need me to come by?

ME: No, I will call you later.



Something just didn’t sit right. I wasn’t sure what I was about to do, but I knew I didn’t need to be using any magic. I just regained what little strength I had, cautious not to over exhaust myself. But something wasn’t right and I needed to find out now.