Destiny's Wrath (Destiny Series - Book 3) by Straight, Nancy (manga ereader txt) 📕

answer to me. “Lauren, you are able to bend destinies. Up until now, there has been little need for you to use your birthright. The Cabinet and the Council are opposing forces working toward the same goal. You are a wildcard like Samael has always been. In the past, he was neither good nor evil – he just was. These last few months, I fear that with you able to bend destinies and your only interest in doing so is for good purposes, he may evolve into a higher order demon, one that is capable of pure evil. Possibly, the universe’s way of ensuring balance remains. If this is the universe’s will, the Cabinet will not intervene. You two will receive no assistance from us.”

“So, Samael and I will be like you and Renny?”

“Yes, but out of balance. Samael is not mortal. You are.”

That sunk in for a second before I answered, “We’re going to find a way to see Jimmy and Samael. It doesn’t do us any good to speculate or guess. You and Renny have both told us to leave, yet now you tell me I’m the best bet for communication with Samael. Don’t try your ‘Doubt-Jedi-Mind-Trick on me. I’m not scared of him.”

Dakota stood up from the table, opened the door, and walked away without another word.

Max called to her, “Dakota, what if we need your help?”

Twenty feet away, she stopped, turned slightly, and hissed, “I am not your mother, your counselor, your guardian angel, or your friend. As I said, you’ve been warned. Your next encounter with Samael will be up to you. There will be no assistance from the Cabinet or the Council – neither will work against the universe.”

We were both surprised by her demeanor. The only other time we had met her she had been very understanding of our situation and helped Max to rid himself of Samael. She was a nurse who took care of me while I was comatose. She was married to Randy, Max’s boss. Her outburst was nothing short of shocking.

“I guess we know when we aren’t wanted,” I mumbled. I shoved my hands in my pocket and found the business card of Officer Dennis Thornton.

I flipped it from side to side inside my pocket, not knowing how to feel. I knew we needed to help if we could, but both Renny and Dakota wanted us gone. It didn’t make any sense. I was supposed to be the “Odd-One,” at least that’s what I’d been told. I was able to bend destinies; I have to think with this turn of events that I could be of some value.

Max interrupted my thoughts, “Let’s get a bite to eat and figure out our next move.”

*****

We found a little café. The only open table was a corner booth. As we took our seats, I noticed Officer Thornton in the adjoining booth. Max whispered, “This is a coincidence.”

I leaned over the back of the bench, “Dennis, fancy meeting you here.”

He nodded but did not seem to want to engage in conversation. I tried again, “We haven’t found any more information on Samael. You don’t have any idea how we could talk to Jimmy?”

A gruff voice answered back, “Not here.”

“Uh, okay. Where could we talk?”

Dennis took out a piece of paper and wrote an address down. He handed me the piece of paper and said, “Meet me here at 7 o’clock.” Dennis put his back to me, fished in his pocket for his wallet, dropped a twenty on the table, and left without another word.

Chapter 13

The address Dennis had given us was some sort of a party. It looked like nearly a hundred people were there, mingling on an old plantation. As we were making our way to the main house, where the lights and music were, I saw one of the most interesting-looking women ever. She reminded me of the actress Halle Berry; she was quick to smile and very personable. She was beautiful, her face perfectly proportioned with a flawless complexion. As I introduced myself to this lady, her bubbly personality shined through. She held out her hand, saying, “I’m Ebony Ballou; it’s my pleasure to meet you.” Her little rhyme rolled off her tongue, and I guessed it was her standard greeting.

“We’re trying to find someone. Do you know where we could find Dennis Thornton?”

“My goodness, it’s after hours and I must have forgotten to wipe ‘information desk’ off my forehead.”

I wasn’t as quick-witted, so I stood there like an idiot for a second longer than I should have. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression you were the hostess this evening.”

“I am the hostess this evening. Does that mean I know all these people? I think someone must have put an ad in the paper, because, honey, I know I don’t have this many friends!”

“Uh, okay, sorry to bother you.”

“Not so fast. Which invitation did you get?”

“Umm, I didn’t really get an invitation, not a formal one. Dennis asked me to meet him here.” A little nervous that we were crashing a party we shouldn’t be, I stammered, “We should go.”

“You mean to tell me you show up unannounced, you ask me about my guests, you were not invited, and you have the audacity to stand there and be honest about it? Girlfriend, what is wrong with you? You should come up with some sort of cover story or somethin’.”

“I am so sorry. We’ll leave now.”

Ebony gingerly slapped my shoulder, “Oh shoot, I’m just playing with you! Dennis, he over there.” She pointed over her shoulder at Dennis about twenty feet away. “Dennis told me he had invited a couple over. Can I get you anything to drink?”

Confused by this woman, I stumbled, “Uh, okay, sure, how about a Coke?”

“Nope, no Cokes.”

“A Sprite?”

“This ain’t a gas station; this a party. What you want with a soda? How about a Rum and Coke?”

I felt my eyebrows wrinkle together, “If you don’t