Hell On Heels(75)

“Yes,” Blanche and I replied in unison.
“Very good.” Miss Evelyn laughed. “Follow me.”
Rhonda appeared out of nowhere and put out her big beefy arm to steady Miss Evelyn as she walked. Steve followed at Rhonda's heels and Blanche and I brought up the rear. We were an odd little group. My heart pounded rapidly in anticipation of spending time with Miss Evelyn. What was with that?
“Do you like tea?” Blanche whispered.
“Hate it,” I muttered. “And where in the Hell did Rhonda come from?”
“No clue, it’s like she poofed out of thin air,” Blanche marveled.
“Is that possible?”
“They’re too old to be immortals, so no,” she replied.
“About the tea,” I said as I grabbed Blanche so we separated ourselves from them by a few paces. “Just drink it and be polite.”
“Fine, but if I hurl it’s your fault.”
***
Miss Evelyn’s home was a bungalow in back of the senior center. There were about fifteen charming little places all in a circle facing an elaborate flower garden with a large fountain in the middle. Her home smelled of gardenias, just like she did. Although it didn’t look like my bungalow in Hell, it had the same rose, chocolate and cream color palette. I was immediately comfortable.
“How do you take your tea?” Miss Evelyn asked.
“Mostly milk, about eight sugars and a minuscule splash of tea,” Blanche replied with utmost sincerity.
I groaned and gave her the evil eye as Miss Evelyn turned away to hide her grin. Blanche shrugged her shoulders helplessly.
“Whatever’s easiest for you would be fine,” I said politely, hoping to counterbalance Blanche's gross request.
Miss Evelyn pressed her lips together in amusement. “How about lemonade instead?”
“Yes!” Blanche shouted in relief.
“That would be lovely,” I cut in before Blanche went into a dissertation on our hatred of tea. We were never going to be asked back at this rate.
“Four lemonades coming right up,” Rhonda said.
“Wait. Four?” Blanche gasped. “You can see me?”
“Only from the front,” she informed my dumbstruck friend, her eyes twinkling. “Oh my stars, sorry for walking through you the other day. Your back was to me.” She winked and left the room, going to what I assumed was the kitchen.
“I’ll help you with that, dear,” Miss Evelyn told her as she followed Rhonda out of the room.
“How in the Hell are they human?” Blanche quietly hissed at me.#p#分页标题#e#
“I don’t know, but they are. I think,” I said, bewildered and unnerved. “I can sense a Demon and now that I’ve been around Elijah, I can sense an Angel. They’re neither.”
“What else could they be?” Blanche sounded freaked out, which did nothing for my state of mind.
“You’re supposed to know this stuff.” My eyes narrowed in disgust. “You’re the direction book, for Satan’s sake.”
“I’m your fate, dumbass. I do not have all the answers,” she huffed. She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. “Do you think we’re in danger?”
“No, we’re safe here. Eden is neutral and even if it wasn’t, Miss Evelyn would never harm us.”
“You’re sure?”
“Very sure.” I knew I was right. I could feel it in my gut. I knew it the same way I knew Elijah would never hurt me.
“Something is burning.” Blanche sniffed the air and pointed toward the kitchen.
“It smells like it,” I agreed. “But it smells good.”
The scent reminded me of a bonfire of sugar or a mountain of slightly burnt cookies. It was definitely coming from the kitchen.
“They’re going to come back in here, grind us up and turn us into baked goods,” Blanche informed me solemnly.
“You so did not just use the term baked goods,” I groaned.
“I did.” She smirked. “And I’m serious.”
“Sweet Baby Satan, you’ve been reading too many fairytales.”
“Possibly, but this place is weird.”
“Yep.” I nodded. “But I like it.”
Miss Evelyn and Rhonda came back carrying a tray of lemonade and cookies. Blanche eyed the baked goods and raised her eyebrows as high as they would go. It was all I could do not to laugh. Rhonda put the tray down and I swear there was a tendril of lavender smoke floating out of her nose. I blinked and it was gone. Now I was seeing things—first, Miss Evelyn as a young woman and now Rhonda as a smoke snorting cookie dealer. Great. I needed a good night’s sleep. Today had simply been too much.
“So, what have you ladies been up to?” Miss Evelyn asked as she served the lemonade.