Page 72 of Infernal Hearts

“Whore.”

“Bitch.”

I grin. With her here, it’s like I can finally relax. As much as possible, that is. “Thank you for coming.”

“Duh.”

We pull up to Theresa’s little shack on the side of the road, getting out. The sun is high in the sky, and there’s a warm breeze blowing through the trees—another blessing of summer today. For such a cheery atmosphere, I’m expecting much darker answers inside.

“What is it with you and psychics?” Rani tilts her head to the side and pulls down her glasses. “You know they’re almost always hacks.”

“It’s totally worth it if you can find the real thing, and this woman is. Have an open mind. They see things even us creatures can’t, and it’s a power that’s even rarer than what we can do.”

“So what should I know about her?” Rani walks close behind me up the steps. “Is she cute?”

“If you like women and redheads, then yes. But as long as I get the answers we came for, I’m happy.” I turn the doorknob, and the tiny bells at the top of the door chime once again.

“Brilliant.”

A voice calls from the back room. “Levi? That you?”

“Yeah, it’s us.” We walk back and find her high on a ladder, putting some books back. “Did you see me or something?”

“No, just a dead shop. You andJason have been my only clients all week.” She pulls up her skirt, stepping down one foot at a time, and dusts off her hands. She studies me for a moment and beams. “You have a green aura around you today. You’ve been healing since the last time I saw you.”

“Healing? I haven’t really gotten hurt.”

She puts her hands on her hips. “I meant emotionally. By the way, tell Jason I said hi. Ready?”

Maybe she was right about Jay. Maybe he does have a little magic behind his healing, whether that be flesh or feelings. It’s just weird for someone other than me to see his effect so clearly.

“As we’ll ever be.” I sit down at the table, and Rani stands close to the door as usual.

She takes the key from me and pulls out her pad and pen once more. She closes her eyes, going into a meditative state for a few brief moments. Her right hand begins writing.

“The spirits are in your favor today.” She furrows her brow. “Their energy is wild.”

The small circles become bigger and then smaller again. Theresa is completely entranced, and finally, her hand breaks the pattern. In cursive, one word appears: “crypt.”

Theresa opens her eyes again. She smiles and motions down at the single word. “Well, there you have it.”

“Crypt. I mean, that’s something, but it doesn’t really help.”

“There’s only one in town. I don’t see where else this could go. And the ‘A’ at the top certainly helps you narrow it down.”

Finally, at last, something concrete. Maybe we finally made a breakthrough.

I quickly stand and beeline for the door. “Thanks, Theresa. You’re the best psychic I know.”

“I’m probably the only psychic you know.”

My best friend clears her throat. “Hi, I’m Rani. I’m here to help him because he can’t even cook an omelet.”

“Well, aren’t you brutally honest. And not in a good way.”

Rani’s face drops. “Eat my twat, lady.”

A smirk appears on Theresa’s face. “My point exactly.”

---