Shadow Aspect Page 9

  I sense a little hostility in his words. Has he clued into what I am actually doing there? Well it is time to throw him off that scent. “I’m here with my date, perhaps you know him? Tarin Armadel?” My male companion snorts softly and looks out at the grounds with the pool in front of us.

  “And he left you here, alone?”

  I stick out my hand for him. “Katelyn.”

  “Josh.” He replies shaking it lightly. Instantly there is a target area within him, I headed towards. Tarin’s name has opened up all memory and thought on him, past and present.

  “Yeah I know of Tarin.” He says looking across at me. That sounds like a loaded statement to me and makes me wonder if Tarin actually has any friends at all. It seems to me that everyone I’ve run into at this party feels rather offended or put out by him. I can’t help but wonder why.

  “That doesn’t sound good.” I say honestly hoping for some more leeway with him and find I get it as he holds my look. A hardness in the area of Tarin’s name association forms and softens and forms and softens. I can tell it represents mixed feelings of conflict. So maybe this guy is actually one of Tarin’s friends?

  He shrugs his shoulders loosely. “I’m sure you will form your own opinion of Tarin, otherwise you wouldn’t be dating him right?” The conflict dances up and down within in him.

  “Right.”

  “I lost out to him once, a girlfriend that’s it.” He says to me with a little smile of bitter sweet feeling.

  “Oh.” I say trying for shock. The thing is, I wouldn’t put it past Tarin to steal another man’s woman, I could see him doing it quite confidently and without a sense of guilt. The conflict in Josh settles to a resigned softness. He is letting go of the bad feelings he has towards this thought and Tarin.

  “It was a long time ago.”

  I step into the softness of his thought. We sit together in utter silence for some time. And whilst we sit there on the steps not saying anything, I trace my fingers around the softness I see in him until I get a small feeling like an ant walking over my skin from an ending of a finger print in there.

  Its small but my mystery guest is having thoughts in the present about Tarin. There is a connection to his future. I just have to ensure it is the connection I am after and not something else misleading. Again, I have to think up how to jump into an area of conversation that is not in anyway related to the party or for all I supposedly know.

  I lift my feet and moan lightly, stretching my legs out in front of me briefly off the stairs. He glances across at me, his eyes running down the length of my legs. “I am so not used to these things or dancing in them. I feel kind of crippled, not sure how my feet will hold up after I have to stand up again.” I explain to him as if he’s asked for an explanation.

  Josh chuckles at me. “I do not envy being a female.” He says and looks again at my shoes and feet as I lower them to the step. “Here,” He says and reaches for my ankle, “Maybe this will help.” Its on the tip of my tongue to object about what he’s about to do. But I need the connection to get further into that finger print’s path.

  He slides my shoe off my foot. I groan in appreciation of the feeling. “That already feels like heaven.” I say truthfully as his hands starts working along the base of my partially numbed toes. Returning feeling to them. “Now if I close my eyes and picture the landscape here, and the feeling returning to my feet, I could almost imagine I am in heaven.” I say choosing my words carefully.

  There’s an internal reaction to the three words, landscape, here, and heaven, from him and I trace its ascent towards the present thoughts surrounding Tarin. There is something with Tarin but it just isn’t clear to me. It’s more a feeling of right. He thinks of it like righteousness something hallowed in the earth. I didn’t know what that means, but I store it away to discuss with Tarin.

  “How’s that?” He asks me as I open my eyes again and look down at my foot in his hands.

  “Divine.” I remark. Which is true, and it has allowed me the strongest, easiest connection for access to him. I need more. I look across at my other foot still in its shoe. He chuckles and reached for my other foot.

  “Don’t you dare tell Tarin I did this.” He says. I put a finger up to my lips as if to shush him. His fingers worked the arch of my foot and heel, giving me circulation of blood flow again.

  My companion, now with my other foot in his hands, relaxed and working on the job at hand of touching my skin and liking the feel of it. He wouldn’t have minded doing more than rub my foot, I get a strong wave of lust from him but it isn’t what I’m after. I ignored it and continue to go for the ant like tickle of a path in him.

  “Tarin need not know, ever.” I say dropping my finger. The thought I’ve been on within him, about righteousness hallowed into the earth has disappeared. Its important, somehow, not just to him, to others too.

  I watch his hands work my toes one by one and sigh. His touch is truly like a gift, as I felt the warmth of my sore feet go away again. I have no idea what the information I’ve just gathered off him means. But I’m sure Tarin will know.

  “That should do it.” He says lowering my foot gently back down as I reach for my shoes to slip them back on and do them up.

  “Thank you, they feel much better, already.” He smiles at me.

  “What else would you expect from a medicine man.” He says clasping his hands together.

  The world of paranormals is a vast one and from what I know of it, it seems, barely skims the surface of interesting. I am aware of the common paranormals around but this party has shown me, those ones, are the underlings of a vastly ancient world.

  Another set of shoes on the stone patio sounds nearby and we both turn to see Tarin approaching with two waiters behind him. My male companion pushes up off the step and stands up as Tarin approaches us.

  “Josh,” Tarin greets him with coolly as they shake hands.

  “I was just keeping your date company so the likes of Birnie Seacombe couldn’t latch onto her again, you really shouldn’t leave her alone here man. Far too hard to ignore.” Josh says before walking around Tarin and back towards the house.

  I can still feel the warmth of Josh’s handiwork on the tips of my toes. I watch the two men exchange small talk.

  Josh doesn’t want Tarin to know about the hallowed earth. Because Birnie Seacombe is somehow involved. This is it, the real estate deal, that Tarin is after. And Josh, has an interest of some kind, in. Whatever it is, it is a big deal it has significance.

  Tarin indicates to the waiters to lay the two trays, one with food and cutlery for us both on it, next to us on the patio floor, the second tray houses liquid refreshment, wine and water. I reach for the water as Tarin dismisses the waiters with a snap of his fingers.

  Tarin folds himself down to sit where Josh had been moments earlier. “You two seemed friendly.” He says to me. I wonder if he’s seen the foot rub. I wonder why I care if he has.

  “Are you jealous Tarin?”

  Tarin takes my glass out of my hands and pours me water into the wine glass provided. “I don’t like the way every male here wants to touch you and so far you’ve been touched by quite a few.”

  I take my water off him and drink from it thirstily. “Four by my estimation. Well that was the point, wasn’t it, the reason I got dressed up like this.” I say indicating my dress. “To make them want me.”

  Tarin’s eyes narrow on me as he puts the water bottle back down. “I’m not sure you realise how easily you make men want you Katelyn.” His hand reaches out and he cups the side of my face as his mouth slants across mine and he kisses me hungry for the feel of my mouth on his, our lips moulding and tongues stroking a passion that is on the rise. I feel his fangs pop out and I lick along them quickly between kisses causing Tarin to moan into me. My free hand stroking the erection I feel along his pants.

  I’m not about to play games to try and make him jealous on purpose. That isn’t my style. I feel as in need for his contact as he
does of mine. I can feel anger in Tarin’s kiss as he grabs me and lifts me up, pulling me onto his lap as we kept kissing. My legs widen as I straddle his lap and his hands cup the soft material of my ass.

  We break for some desperate air and I am left panting and looking back at him wide eyed and a little bewildered. This is after all, just a job, right? Nothing more. And yet, earlier on he said he fang fuck me tonight. His kiss says more than he otherwise lets on. It’s passion is desperate for me. Tarin is one big mixed message I have yet to unravel.

  “I hate holding out.” He mutters frustration showing. “If I could, I would fuck you senseless in front of all of them.” He says breathing slowly and closing his mouth. He is getting control of himself again. “Put you right on display for them to desire and want. Look but not have. I’d let them know, you were mine and mine only.” He says looking down, not willing to look me in the face.

  “If you’re worried about our agreement Tarin, don’t be, I’m going to honour it. I tried to tell you, this just isn’t then normal way I do my work. It’s rather, unique and a little surreal if I’m honest with you.”

  “Josh isn’t one of the ones that you really need to charm.” Tarin said looking back up at me. “I’ve been watching Birnie’s interactions all night, and have a few more faces that might be of some value to check out.” His fangs had disappeared again and he seems calmer. In control again. I move off his lap.

  I readjust my dress over my lap. “Don’t let the mild, manner, doctor guise, fool you.” I say eyeing the food on the plate and reaching for a strawberry from the small fruit section he’s provided me with.

  “What?” Tarin asks stunned.

  15

  “Well in terms of the information you are after, Josh is one of the ones you need to watch. He’s a player.”

  “Josh.” Tarin says surprised. “Are you sure?” We both ignore the cutlery beside the piles of food on the tray and pick at various bits and pieces with our fingers. “Josh isn’t a power player. I was lead to believe the powerful were connected to this.”

  “So you’ve been holding out on me.” I say to him, feeling a little surprised. “You already knew there would be power players connected to this.”

  “It’s not like I knew names of who they were. People consider power to be different things. So your perception of who is a power player, could’ve been tainted and I might have been misleading you if I’d said that to you.” I pour myself another glass of water and drink from it while I think.

  “Well by your own admission Tarin, you have a blind spot. You don’t see Josh as a power player. You’re ignorance of what you’ve just said to me, is a downfall. You need to expand your mind.”

  “What Josh knows versus actual involvement, I’ll need to see for myself.” Tarin replies picking up another piece of food.

  “Okay, let’s start with what I do know about Josh. You were friends once, a long time ago and whilst he doesn’t hate you, he doesn’t entirely like you either. I guess he just cordially tolerates you.”

  “That sounds about right.” Tarin mutters pouring himself a wine.

  “Do you have any friends here? Or does everyone hate you? What did you do in a past life to them all?” I blurt out at him.

  “I have some friends, I’m not completely without benefits or appeal.” He mutters back at me focussing on his food. Tarin really doesn’t like talking about himself, at least, not his past history and not to me. I can understand it, I am the same. Talking about myself is uncomfortable at the best of times, and my past is my past for a reason. Because I want it to stay there.

  “So what’s so great about Josh that he makes you think he’s important.” I stare at Tarin. “In all of this.” He says waving a hand around to cover himself.

  “Jealousy really does not sit well on you.” I mutter before sipping more water. “Just as he was leaving, he had a particularly strong, thought. But I can’t make out what he meant by it.”

  “Tell me, maybe I will know.”

  “It was about hallowed earth. It flared up when you guys shook hands. Which means it’s somehow related to you.” I shrugged my shoulders. “That would be it.”

  “What else?” He asked me as I finish my water glass.

  “Owen.” I stated. “He’s not exactly friendly with Birnie. But I don’t think he’s involved. I couldn’t really get that much out of him. It was a bit tricker trying to read him while I had focus on something I’ve never done before, like dance, in high heels and in time.”

  “God forbid you should dance out of time.” Tarin jokes at me with a rare smile.

  “Hey, you said I danced well.” I said poking his arm. We ate until all the food on the tray was gone. And drank until the red wine bottle was empty. We left the remains of our outdoor dinner treat where they lay. Tarin taking my hand and leading me back into the Mansion, to the bustle of the party and party-goers, that were still going, after the few hours we’d already been there. The party-gathering, showed no signs of slowing down or dying any time soon.

  We were barely back through the doorway, when a woman walked over to us, in a two tone grey and blue strapless ball gown her blonde hair curling like a movie starlet’s at her shoulders. Her eyes matched her dress and she held out her hand towards Tarin, as if he should not so much shake it or greet it, as kiss it. Her arm was high and extended and her palm flexed downwards, showing off some sparkling rings.

  “Tarin,” She cooed at him as if I wasn’t there. “I was wondering where you’d gotten to.” Tarin’s hand never left mine, even as he bent to kiss the hand extended to him, his eyes levelling with the overly friendly woman in blue.

  “Alexandrina, this is Katelyn,” Tarin said raising his face again and looking from her to me. She finally glanced at me, with faux warmth. They broke contact and she studied me.

  “Charmed.”

  “I’m sure.” I muttered back at her softly. Two could play the boredom game of niceties at this. Then she did a double take and slowly looked at me again and my eyes widened. I was on the verge of asking what it was, when she seemed to relax and laugh lightly and looked back at Tarin.

  “Human, right? Since when did you start banging humans Tarin?” He smirked back at her and I raised an eyebrow. I was after all, standing right there with them and clearly wasn’t included in the conversation taking place, or wasn’t meant to. And wasn’t it a little rude of her to know more about Tarin’s sexual preferences than I did and say that much in front of his date for the evening? Even if I was only playing at being his date? I wondered how she could tell, how any of them could tell I was just a human. Did I smell bad?

  “Alex is a Selki.” Tarin said to me. “They’re rather renowned for they’re sexual charms on males of well, almost all breeds.” Well that might explain the female jealousy vibes coming off of her and being directed at me. She looked rather proud at his endorsement of her kind.

  “Well you can say that because you should know, first hand.” The lack of shame or tact on Alexandrina was enough to make me want to do something to her other than play dumb, innocent and nice. So I did.

  I reached forward quickly and let my fingers trail over the pendant hanging off her collared necklace around her neck, my fingers tracing a bit of her skin as I touched it. My touch was subtle, like a whisper.

  “Nice necklace.” I muttered letting it drop back to her skin. “Wonder how much that cost.”

  The necklace was nice, but it was just a diversionary tactic for me and it worked like a charm. Her shock at the touch, let me all the way into her. She wasn’t expecting a female touch, and so she was open for me to view her true self. So I did, while Tarin and Alexandrina continued to chat if I didn’t exist.

  He wasn’t wrong about the Selki. She thought about sex a lot, and it was flowing through her, the nature of her skill and her being and she liked it. She especially liked it when she was thinking of Tarin. They’d shared more than a few encounters together. What not a shock that was, giving her abrasiveness
towards me being the female with him.

  She wanted nothing more than to steal him away for sex now. Maybe take him down to that pool she’d seen outside and do some wild, naked, skin on skin out there. Maybe even ruin the ball gown and let it float out and around her, making her look rather ethereal while he lost himself in her. She liked the beauty of the image of her and him and how good they’d look, wet and wild together.

  I didn’t lay claim to Tarin, this was just about business for us and if there was a little fucking on the sidelines, then so be it. Fucking Tarin for me, was just a damn good bonus.

  There was nothing else to read on her, the truth was, all she really wanted out of him and most of life, was exquisite sex and adoration. And by spending time with her, having Tarin look at her and talk to her with respect, he was feeding her what she wanted most.

  I focused back on the now and wondered how to interrupt their conversation without seeming like I was doing some jealous, petty girl thing. I glanced around the room and it’s busy inhabitants, merriment was everywhere and I felt completely out of place. Was it any wonder? I’d never known half of these paranormals existed, knew nothing of them.

  Shaye Armadel came into view and I turned to Tarin. “I’m going to talk to Shaye.” I said letting go of his hand and moving before he could say anything. Tarin looked at me with an intense stare. I wasn’t sure what it meant. It might have been that he was pissed at me.

  I turned to Alexandrina, “You got a little bit of drool.” I said pointing my finger to the corner of her lip, looking at her as I brushed past her shoulder. I heard her gasp at my audacity or as it actually was, petty immaturity. Yeah, I was beginning to get tired of the “human” downgrade tag I was being labelled with.

  Shaye saw me coming and turned towards me and smiled. “You know, if I were you I wouldn’t be walking around this party by myself.” He says as I approach and he snags a wine glass of a passing waiter.