at the top of her lungs. Not a violent person by nature, the rapidly escalating rage filled her with terror and she took a shaky breath, striving to regain control of her emotions. This wasn't like her. Maybe she was losing her mind. Eyes closing, she slumped into the corner and let the tears finally fall.
Chapter Four
Sean kept his voice low as he and Kell lounged on a rough picnic bench in the small courtyard behind the samba school. A banana tree arched overhead, providing a small patch of shade. The fierce Brazilian sun beat down on the courtyard and turned it into an oven, and Sean wiped the sweat off his forehead. Kell smoked a fragrant hand-rolled cigarette, their excuse for getting away from Dianta's endless chatter and Miguel's glowering looks.
“This place stinks of evil,” Kell muttered in a low voice. “What have you been able to figure out?”
They could have used an auditory shield spell, but Sean didn't want Miguel to know he knew magic. Something was going on here. He’d first sensed it when Miguel and Dianta met him at the hotel. Both of their auras were tainted with darkness that left a smear of psychic filth. They had been doing some heavy black magic to get that much evil on their souls.
Sean kept his shields tight. Even if Miguel could see auras, a rare ability, all he would see of Sean's was the outer edges. Hidden inside his aura were the streaks of slow gold lightning that marked him as Chosen. Anyone with a trained eye who saw that would know he had a personal relationship with his patron god, and that made him dangerous.
Switching to Gaelic, Sean said, “Most of the students here are normal humans and nothing special. The staff is another matter. A few are still free of the taint of darkness, but most have at least been brushed with it. The women especially.”
“What about that walking blow-up doll, Dianta?” Kell spat a loose piece of tobacco on the ground.
“Bad. Her psychic smell is like garbage rotting in the sun. Miguel isn't much better, but he seems weak somehow. I think Dianta is the real power of this place…or at least a portion of it. I can't imagine her being smart enough to learn high magic.”
Kell tapped the ash from his cigarette on the ground. “What's up with that homely little thing you were talking with? I don't think anyone, well, other than Dianta, noticed you couldn't keep your eyes off her. Did I miss something?”
Sean stared at Kell. How could he call Carmella homely? Didn't he notice her lovely skin, its soft tone more gold than tan. And her movements…even running out the door she reminded him of a graceful cat. Though she tried to hide it, the lush body beneath her clothing had made his cock hard the moment he saw her.
But it was more than just looks. Her aura was a stunning violet with a soft sparkling gold mist rising from it. He didn't know who her god was, but that mist on her aura was a clear sign she was considered a favorite.
“I think she's my first flower of spring.” Sean grinned at Kell's incredulous look. “She had 'snow' in her hair in the form of feathers, and her nickname is little flower. And her aura, it's a beautiful purple, like the first violets of spring. She has such a gentle soul.”
Staring at him, Kell began to laugh. “Oh man. Sean, you're twitterpated over this girl.”
Sean narrowed his eyes at Kell. “I am not twitterpated. I…” He paused for a second and felt an unfamiliar grin lift his lips. It almost felt silly. “I think she's my Comhcheol .”
Letting out a low whistle, Kell looked at him closely as he ran a hand over his dark brown hair. “Shit, that complicates things.” Kell also turned to look at the building as if he could see the girl inside. “So, she's your harmony. That special soul that resonates with your own. Hell of a time to find her.”
Sean nodded, all thoughts of evil and Carnivals gone from his mind as he embraced the possibility. It was a rare thing to find
Chapter Four
Sean kept his voice low as he and Kell lounged on a rough picnic bench in the small courtyard behind the samba school. A banana tree arched overhead, providing a small patch of shade. The fierce Brazilian sun beat down on the courtyard and turned it into an oven, and Sean wiped the sweat off his forehead. Kell smoked a fragrant hand-rolled cigarette, their excuse for getting away from Dianta's endless chatter and Miguel's glowering looks.
“This place stinks of evil,” Kell muttered in a low voice. “What have you been able to figure out?”
They could have used an auditory shield spell, but Sean didn't want Miguel to know he knew magic. Something was going on here. He’d first sensed it when Miguel and Dianta met him at the hotel. Both of their auras were tainted with darkness that left a smear of psychic filth. They had been doing some heavy black magic to get that much evil on their souls.
Sean kept his shields tight. Even if Miguel could see auras, a rare ability, all he would see of Sean's was the outer edges. Hidden inside his aura were the streaks of slow gold lightning that marked him as Chosen. Anyone with a trained eye who saw that would know he had a personal relationship with his patron god, and that made him dangerous.
Switching to Gaelic, Sean said, “Most of the students here are normal humans and nothing special. The staff is another matter. A few are still free of the taint of darkness, but most have at least been brushed with it. The women especially.”
“What about that walking blow-up doll, Dianta?” Kell spat a loose piece of tobacco on the ground.
“Bad. Her psychic smell is like garbage rotting in the sun. Miguel isn't much better, but he seems weak somehow. I think Dianta is the real power of this place…or at least a portion of it. I can't imagine her being smart enough to learn high magic.”
Kell tapped the ash from his cigarette on the ground. “What's up with that homely little thing you were talking with? I don't think anyone, well, other than Dianta, noticed you couldn't keep your eyes off her. Did I miss something?”
Sean stared at Kell. How could he call Carmella homely? Didn't he notice her lovely skin, its soft tone more gold than tan. And her movements…even running out the door she reminded him of a graceful cat. Though she tried to hide it, the lush body beneath her clothing had made his cock hard the moment he saw her.
But it was more than just looks. Her aura was a stunning violet with a soft sparkling gold mist rising from it. He didn't know who her god was, but that mist on her aura was a clear sign she was considered a favorite.
“I think she's my first flower of spring.” Sean grinned at Kell's incredulous look. “She had 'snow' in her hair in the form of feathers, and her nickname is little flower. And her aura, it's a beautiful purple, like the first violets of spring. She has such a gentle soul.”
Staring at him, Kell began to laugh. “Oh man. Sean, you're twitterpated over this girl.”
Sean narrowed his eyes at Kell. “I am not twitterpated. I…” He paused for a second and felt an unfamiliar grin lift his lips. It almost felt silly. “I think she's my Comhcheol .”
Letting out a low whistle, Kell looked at him closely as he ran a hand over his dark brown hair. “Shit, that complicates things.” Kell also turned to look at the building as if he could see the girl inside. “So, she's your harmony. That special soul that resonates with your own. Hell of a time to find her.”
Sean nodded, all thoughts of evil and Carnivals gone from his mind as he embraced the possibility. It was a rare thing to find
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