“Vivian used Joanna for a time and she—Joanna—went a little nuts. Talked about draining Vivian.”
“And that’s why you killed her?” Going completely on instinct and what I’d seen in the movies, I suspect Vivian is the head honcho of vampires. Of course Asa would protect his master if she was threatened. The explanation makes sense and gives me the peace of mind I need. At least now I know I’m not in the room with a cold-blooded killer. “To protect Vivian?”
He nods. “But I shouldn’t have. I should have trusted Vivian to take care of the situation.” He swallows hard, his gaze boring into me. “Tell Joanna I’m sorry.”
My heart actually hurts for him. There is no doubt he’s been living with a lot of guilt. All I have to go on is my gut reaction, so I decide to trust what he’s telling me. I look at Joanna. “She can hear you.”
Joanna takes both my hands in hers, gripping them tightly. “Tell him I would have done the same thing and that I’m sorry.”
A buzz of energy ripples along my skin. Wow, these supernaturals have way more ectoplasmic juice than a human. The sensation hums through my body, giving me a jolt of pleasure which, at the same time, feels like it’s draining me.
“She says she’s sorry too and that she understands.” I take a deep breath and exhale. I’m not sure how much longer I can handle the energy she’s pouring into me, or maybe sucking from me, so I decide to move the reaping along. “Hal.”
“Who are you talking to?” Asa asks.
“My porter.” I grip Joanna’s hands tighter. “He’ll take Joanna where she needs to go.” I glance around the room but there’s no expanding light that indicates his arrival. “Hal.” The damn porter is so contrary. Showing up when I don’t need him. Not making an appearance when I do. Clearing my throat, I look at the ceiling and holler. “Hal Lee Lewya, get your ass up here!”
I say up because I always assume he’s mucking around in Hell. It seems to be one of his favorite hangouts. And he’s made it quite clear he’d like to take me for a spin around the ninth circle of Hell just for fun. That’s why I keep my distance. Hal’s last reaper ended up in a mental institution after experiencing one of Hal’s hellish joyrides.
Five feet from us a thin line of pink light stretches. “About frickin’ time,” I mumble.
“Is he here?” Asa looks around the room. From his expression I can tell he’s skeptical.
“You might want to come and stand by me, Asa.” Hal doesn’t seem to have any effect on humans, but vamps might be a different story. “Just to be on the safe side.”
Asa’s eyes narrow, as if deciding if I’m serious. After a few seconds, he strides to where I’m standing. “I’m not saying I believe you, but—I’m not saying I don’t.”
“You don’t have to believe me.” I give him a humorless smile. “Doesn’t affect my job one way or the other.”
The light expands, dims, and an elevator door slides open.
“What the hell is that?” Joanna asks.
“That is Hal Lee Lewya, my porter.”
“Lisa, so nice to see you again.” He bows, tipping his orange, leopard top hat at the same time. When he straightens, his gaze skates to Joanna. “And what do we have here?”
Unlike the other times I’ve had a soul ready for him, Hal doesn’t sound all that pleased. “This is Joanna.”
“I didn’t ask who.” His upper lip curls in a partial sneer. “I asked what.”
Oh shit, was he seriously going to raise a stink about transporting a vampire? Maybe I was supposed to call a different porter, somebody who had experience with supernaturals. I decide to play it cool and act like I know exactly what I’m doing. “You know what she is so why are you asking?”#p#分页标题#e#
“I don’t do vampires.”
I would have propped my fists and my hips and scowled at him but I didn’t want to let go of Joanna. So I paste on my best glare. “You’re going to transport this vampire and whoever else I have for you.”
“Says who?” His yellow eyes peer at me over the top of his tiny round glasses, challenging me.
“If you don’t take these reaps I’m going to tell Constantine.” My smile spreads and I shake my head. “Never mind. When Constantine hears you wouldn’t transport the souls—souls he specifically sent me up here to reap, I’ll get a new porter. Which is great with me. So, bye-bye.”
Hal harrumphs and looks at the ceiling. There’s many layers to Hal, more than I could unpeel in my lifetime. But I’ve learned to read him in our short time together. One thing is certain. He’s afraid of Constantine.