CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LAUGHTER
Arizona was battling it out with New Mexico to win the title of favorite state, with more breathtaking red mountain views. At one point, the road seemed to be carved straight through a crack between two high mountains. Steep inclines surrounded us on both sides, and foreboding signs warned of rockslides, as if there were anywhere to escape. I stared out the window in awe as I drove.
There was one thing I had to do while we were in the Southwest.
“Do you like Mexican food?” I asked.
“There aren’t many foods I don’t like.”
I should have guessed. I was confident I could find a perfect place to eat when we pulled into a town near Flagstaff that afternoon. I bypassed busy chain restaurants until I found what I was looking for: a quaint hole-in-the-wall place like the one I frequented with Patti back home.
“Interesting choice,” Kaidan said.
“Trust me.”
My mouth watered at the scents of chilies and fried corn inside. One wall was painted with a mural of a Latina dancing woman, a colorful skirt flowing around her. Mariachi music was twanging overhead.
A hostess led us to a private booth with high backs and a brick archway at the end. A boy brought hot tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa.
I closed my eyes for a quick blessing and opened them to find Kaidan watching me, a chip loaded with salsa in his hand.
“Do you do that at every meal?”
“Yeah.” I took a chip and dunked it. “And every night before bed.”
We took our bites at the same time, and a second later both reached for our ice waters, eyes bulging.
“Hot!” I said, nearly sucking down the entire glass.
Kaidan laughed and wiped his forehead with his napkin. I should have known there’d be no wimpy mild stuff out here.
A waiter approached and we gave our orders.
“I didn’t see you pray either night,” Kaidan said after the man left.
“I don’t have to get on my knees or say it out loud. I just say it in my head while I lie there.”
He was contemplative as we munched on chips.
Our food came out superfast. Kaidan’s fajitas sizzled and gave off a steamy scent of cumin and sweet onion. We didn’t speak a word until we were finished, except when Kaidan said, “May I?” and skewered half of my shredded beef enchilada. When he finished, Kaidan threw his napkin down on the table in surrender.
“I promise to trust your choices from now on,” he said, stretching and patting his stomach.
I handed him the keys.
We had a great view of a snowcapped mountain range in the distance as we passed Flagstaff. There were trees again now, giant pines stretching upward.
My stomach knotted at a sign for California, and I counted down the mileage until Los Angeles. Kaidan must have noticed my crazy bouncing knee, because he attempted to distract me from my thoughts.
“You haven’t asked me any questions in ages,” he said.
“Let’s see. Okay. Basic Demonology 101. How does a demon get into a body?”
“Well, it’s difficult for two healthy souls to possess a body at once. A human soul can’t simply be shoved out of the way. I’m sure you’ve watched movies about exorcisms?”
“Heard of them, but never seen any.”
“Those stories are examples of possessions gone bad, usually some dissatisfied spirit whisperer who wants to stir up trouble. The demon soul and human soul fight over the body and the body wears down. It can get gory. Most often it ends in death.”
What a horrible way to go.
“Demons and angels both have free will, but rules still apply. Demons have been forbidden to physically harm humans, and that includes possessions. You with me so far?” I nodded, and he went on. “Dukes spend a lot of their time in hospitals and emergency rooms while they’re searching out a new body in their spirit form. When people are close to death and lose the will to live, the souls are just barely hanging on to their bodies, like a loose tooth. The Dukes can just pinch off the human soul and release it without protest, then enter the body before it dies and heal it with their powers. They heal much faster than us. They could share the bodies when the human souls are weak like that, but it hinders their powers within the body, so they prefer to be the only dwellers.”
“How do they decide who to pick?” I asked.
“That’s where it can get tricky. They seek out low-profile young or middle-aged people, preferably someone who isn’t surrounded by a big, doting family. It’s too much effort if there are humans who will search when the person disappears. Some Dukes want attractive bodies; some want to appear rougher. It can take a while to find a perfect match, but time doesn’t matter to them. Besides, the Dukes enjoy having an opportunity to whisper to humans while they’re hunting and waiting. A hospital is a perfect place to work, because emotions are already running high.”