Page 25 of The Book Reader
“It’s been good. Kat’s shown me everything, I think. I’m dancing for the first time later.” She looks nervous, and I can’t help the smile that crosses my lips. I remember that feeling, knowing that something you love to do can bring you immense joy. But you’re also ready to shit your pants at the same time.
I move closer and give her a nudge with my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Take a deep breath and go from there.” I look around. It’s still early, but the bar feels almost complete. “Has there been any trouble?” I ask.
She nods towards the end of the bar, and my eyes follow. I let out a gasp when I see who’s sitting there—the red-eyed man from my aunt’s house. He lifts a glass of what looks like bloodin greeting. “Not trouble, not exactly. He’s been asking for you. Been there all day, drinking the same drink. He said he would wait.” She shrugs.
I turn to Eden and smile even though I feel sick. “Sometimes the men here get a little too attached,” I laugh. “We have let them down gently. Why don’t you fill the ice boxes and try making a cocktail? Maybe we’ll name it after our new dancer.” I wink.
Eden’s face lights up.. “Really? Thank you. I know just what to make.” She giggles. “Raunchy Red.”
I fake another smile, making my face ache. I can feel his eyes on me, and I shudder so hard I lose my balance. Eden catches me.
“I skipped lunch,” I say quickly. “I’ll be back.” I straighten, throwing my shoulders back as I stalk towards the end of the bar. I keep my head held high because I’ll be fucked if he thinks he can intimidate me in my own damn club.
“You’ve been asking for me?” I ask sharply.
A smirk crosses his face. “Oh, you know… ‘sometimes the men here get a little attached,’” He scoffs as my eyes go wide. Had he heard me? No…not with how loud the club is tonight. So, what then? “An entertaining notion, but it is the wrong one.” His voice holds the promise that if you were to turn your back, he would gleefully stab you in it. The wordevilsprings to mind.
“What do you want?” I ask.
The book,he’d said.But what fucking book?
“Ah, good, you do remember.The book. But what fucking book?”His thick accent shifts to mimic the cadence of my own voice, and I gasp.
“Yes, I can read your mind. I know you remember me, Ari. But since we weren’t able to,” he clears his throat, “speak properly before, I wanted to make sure you understood me.” He narrows his eyes at me as he speaks. I open my mouth to reply,but his eyes flash from red to yellow, and he inhales sharply, like he’s tasting the air.
The lights in the club dim, and Kesha’s “TikTok” starts to boom from the speakers. It’s Lucy’s song, and I know she’s about to appear on stage. His eyes flick towards it, and he swallows hard. The hand on his glass tightens as the muscles in his jaw tick; a look of pure carnal lust crosses his face as he stares at Lucy.
“That you’d let us live if we found your book,” I snap, irrationally angry at the way he looks at her. His eyes snap to mine for a second, the glow shifting to red as he growls. “But you didn’t actually saywhatbook.”
He rolls his eyes. “I will change the terms, maybe give a bit more incentive for you,” he says as he stands, an evil grin spreading over his mouth. His voice grows darker. “You should really be careful with what runs through your mind when I am near,” he says, voice low and dangerous.
I step back, and a horrible feeling starts to bloom in the pit of my stomach —a sense that this daemon is never going to go away.
I watch his eyes turn back to the stage again. He licks his lips, and he speaks. “Get me that book. Or I will be taking her,” he says, his eyes follow Lucy as she dances. I almost can’t place the look on his face; he almost looks forlorn.
Slowly, he pulls his gaze away from her, grinning at me when he sees me shiver, his eyes again shifting from red to yellow. “You are the book’s only reader; it’s looking for you, too.” He almost seems like a different daemon, as he shrugs. “You’ll find it. When you do, call me.” He downs the rest of the blood in his glass, giving the stage one more look before he turns and makes his way out of the club. My eyes flick to Lucy, still dancing, and I wonder what that last look was for.
Underneath his glass is a black business card with a number written in red. I sigh, picking it up, feeling like I have no choice. On the other side is a name, written in ink so dark it could be blood—just one name.
Drake.
Chapter 12
ARIANNA
The sun beaming into my bedroom window wakes me up a lot sooner than I wanted. Another hour in bed, and I probably would have been more ready for the day.
The first thing my eyes land on is the business card on my bedside table. For a moment, a shock of fear runs through me. But it’s not Drake’s name on this one. I reach over to pick it up and study it again. The thick black card appears expensive, and the typeface is set in a clean, elegant font tinted blue.
Gaelan Illis
For all of your business needs.
I’m not sure whatbusinessneedshe deals with, but it seems like a pretty broad statement to me. Flipping it over in my fingers, I sit up and reach for my phone. Hedid sayI could message him whenever I wanted. Before I can stop myself, I open WhatsApp and type.
Hey Gaelan, this is Ari… I’m not sure if you remember me. We met at my parents’ memorial. You gave me your number and I just wanted to say hi :)
I stare at the message for a few seconds, trying to decide if I should send it or not. Do I sound too desperate, like a young girl with a crush? I go to press the exit button, but my phone slips in my hand and I end up pressing send.
