“No, your backs are okay now. Keep praying, Richard.” Sarah’s nails dug into my palm. “Flo, you just ran a stop sign. Uh, that truck almost hit us. Guess his engine isn’t turbocharged, or he’d have clipped Sarah’s door back here.”
“Pah, missed us by a mile.” She poked Richard again. “Praying? I’ve never had a single wreck, Ricardo, not in all the years I’ve been driving.”
“Probably made a deal with the Devil,” Sarah muttered.
My own Devil’s disciple muttered a profanity so vile I shuddered. I eased my hand from Sarah’s. She had some serious mind-reading skills, and I didn’t want her deep diving into my brain right now.
“Seriously, Flo? Even I’ve had a few fender benders.”
“That’s because you go too slow, Glory.” Flo swerved around another car, barely missing it, and we heard a crunch as it scraped a guard rail behind us. “See? She is too slow and can’t keep up with traffic. So she bends her fender. Idiota.”
I looked back, sorry for the driver who’d gotten in Flo’s way. Time for another change of subject. “Flo, I’ve called everyone on the list for the bachelorette party. Looks like we’ll have a great crowd.”
“Can’t wait. What are we going to do? Please, no silly games.” Flo glanced at Richard. “Open your eyes, amante. I’m pulling into the parking lot. See? You made it here alive.”
“And in record time.” Richard crossed himself, and his mother murmured a “Thank you, God.”
“The entertainment is a surprise, but I have a theme. Come dressed as your favorite seductress. How does that sound?” I sat back and unbuckled my seat belt as we came to a rocking stop.
Flo laughed and put the car in park. “I love it. Decisions, decisions. Wait a minute. Of course I’m my own favorite seductress.” She gave Richard a secret smile. “What do you think, marito? Who is your favorite seductress?”
“You, darling. Who else?” Richard glanced back at his mother, straightening her hat. “Mother, are you all right?”
“Richard, don’t be hen-pecked. You’ve had some very accomplished seductresses make runs at you through the years. My son is so handsome, you know, Florence. You’re very lucky to have snared him this century.” Sarah smiled when Flo’s eyes narrowed. “And of course I’m all right. I’ve survived much worse than Florence’s driving. Though I believe I’ll shift for myself in order to get home.” His mother put her hand on my arm. “Gloriana, dear, surely you’re going to invite me to this party. When and where?”
I finally found my voice. “Wednesday night, ten o’clock at Rafe’s new club, N-V, on Sixth Street.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I always fancied myself as Mata Hari, the World War I spy. She wore the most adorable jeweled bras.” Sarah reached out her hand and let a startled Richard help her out of the backseat. Flo and I forced our mouths closed.
“Well, then, see you there. I haven’t decided on my own costume yet.” I pulled myself out of the other side, trying not to flash thigh at the rest of the parking lot. The massive building that housed the Moonlight Church of Eternal Life and Joy loomed in front of us. I’d always liked coming here for the positive message by Pastor John and the great music.
As I followed Flo and Sarah and a crowd of other worshippers from the parking lot toward the sanctuary, I began to hum to the soaring organ music coming from the speakers mounted on the outside of the building. Surely everything would be all right. I had good friends, had always tried to lead a fairly decent life, even after getting my fangs, and Richard, alert to any danger, was a comforting presence close by. But when we reached the arched doorway, flanked by two large gold crosses, I stumbled.
“Glory? Is there a problem?” Richard took my elbow, looking down in case I’d broken a heel.
I’d worn some great vintage pumps, four inches and crocodile, I’d found in a thrift shop. They were holding up just fine. The brown went perfectly with my beige pencil skirt and red twinset. I carried a designer knockoff purse that you’d need a magnifying glass to tell from the real deal. I looked pretty good if I do say so myself. But I suddenly didn’t feel so great, and I really couldn’t blame it on the skirt’s tight waistband. I studied the church doorway and knew what my problem was. Hell’s handhold twisted my tummy, and I swallowed.
“You really don’t want to go in there,” Alesa growled.
Like I’d let her stop me. Now I was determined. “Give me a minute.” I sank down on a stone bench a few feet from the door. I opened my purse like I was searching for something. Maybe a tissue or Rolaids. Yeah, like a vampire ever carried those.“Ladies, go on inside. Give us a minute. Save us seats.” Richard smiled and waved Flo and Sarah away. “Sit near the back, right side on the aisle.” Both his mother and Flo looked ready to argue, but after they glanced at me, they must have seen something that changed their minds.
“Please.” I was shaky, like maybe I was going to throw up. The crosses . . . Guess Hell Girl didn’t go for those. The closer I’d gotten to them the queasier I’d felt.
“Gloriana, talk.” Richard sat beside me. “What’s wrong?”
I had a vintage hanky in my hand, one from the shop I’d tucked into my bag. Good thing, because I’d teared up.
“I’m infected, Richard. By that demon.” I dabbed at my eyes. “Now those crosses are making me sick.” I gasped as Alesa hit me with heat. “I don’t think I can go inside the church.”
“What makes you think that?” Richard put his hand on my shoulder, then jerked it back. “You’re hot. Is that . . . ? I can’t believe it. I usually have a sense of these things.”
“I hear her, Richard. She speaks to me. Sends me these heat waves.” I knew I owed it to Rafe not to share his demon secret. “Rafe says because I had an open wound and Alesa, the demon, was bleeding from her own injuries, I got infected by her blood when you, uh, put her down. I’m tainted.” I swallowed again, afraid I was going to be sick all over my pretty brown shoes.
“Yes, I’ve heard that can happen. Sending a demon back to hell is a tricky business. What I did was drastic, call it overkill. That demon isn’t in hell. I thought I had annihilated her.” Richard frowned, obviously thinking things over. “I was careful to hit her head-on. Of course she’d have tried to find a host, but I didn’t think she had time. Surely whatever little bit you absorbed from her blood wouldn’t be enough to make you a full-fledged demon. Remember, you were wearing a rosary that night with a cross. So you had some protection.” Richard smiled encouragingly.
I looked at those enormous crosses. “Full-fledged or not, I’d hoped coming to church would help get rid of her. But now, feeling like this ...” I pressed a hand to my heart. “I can’t get past those giant crosses.”
“I don’t believe that, and neither should you. You’re good. That evil can surely be driven out if we work at it.” Richard’s voice was so kind I wanted to cry all over his expensive gray suit, handpicked by Flo, of course. His wife would be looking for him, might even come out here, and I’d have to explain . . .
“I’m afraid I’m going to hell, Richard.” I blotted at my tears. “And now I can’t go inside my own church.” I heard new music starting, one of my favorite songs. Was I doomed?
“Nonsense. I refuse to believe that a basically decent person can be corrupted by a simple accident. Come on.” Richard put his hand under my elbow and hoisted me up. He’d probably made a good priest back in the Dark Ages. Too bad he couldn’t handle celibacy. “Let’s try this again, slowly.”
“I don’t think—” I didn’t want to fight with him, but the closer we got to those crosses, the worse I felt.
“Yes, we’re going inside. Careful now. Don’t look at the crosses. Look past them at the sanctuary. Focus on all the happy people singing. There’s Pastor John, smiling and welcoming the congregation. His arms are open wide, and he wants you to join him.” Richard eased me down the sidewalk. When I got next to those crosses, I fought a sudden horrifying urge to spit on them and jerked against his strong grip on my arm.
“Stop! This is wrong!” Alesa gave one last jab at my forehead, and I went blind. I held on to Richard and kept going.
“Steady. Straight ahead. Feel all that positive energy.” Richard pulled me past the crosses and down the aisle.
Gradually the warm atmosphere of the place worked its magic. Alesa finally whimpered, and I felt her give up. Hallelujah! My vision cleared, the sickness eased, and I concentrated on the music, the joyful sound lifting the rock lodged against my heart. I found my place between Flo and Sarah, and a hymnal was thrust into my hands. When I’d come to church before, I’d enjoyed the music so much that I’d sing along. I’m not a great singer, and my habit of levitating with certain songs was pretty embarrassing. As the evening progressed, I hoped I’d rise again. Sarah watched me, expecting it to happen. But my feet stayed planted firmly on the carpet. No heavenly pull for me.
By the time we piled back into Flo’s car for the ride home, I was completely depressed. I did manage to get Richard aside when he helped me out of the car in front of the shop and ask him to keep the demon thing our secret. He glanced at Flo, who sat at the wheel with the motor running. He obviously hated to keep anything from his bride, but finally agreed.
“We’ve got to find a way to get rid of this bitch.” I held on to Richard’s arm, feeling desperate.
“Watch your mouth, you pious pinhead.” Alesa was back.
Richard patted my hand. “I’ll do research. Relax, Glory. You’re not alone. You have lots of friends you can count on.”
“Yeah, right.” I realized that sounded ungrateful. “I mean, thanks, Richard.” I saw that Flo had gotten out of the car after all and hummed “Here Comes the Bride.”