Bad Melody (Seven Deadly Sins #3)

Chapter Five: A Witchy Arrival

"What are you doing here, Claudette?" Dante took a few steps to the side, flanking the red woman. Obviously he knew the woman, and by the way she'd brandished the sword upon spotting him I figured she knew him, too.

Dante seemed to really bring out the violence in people.

Especially women.

"I came to pay my respects," she replied in a voice that was convincingly sincere even as she mirrored his movements. Claudette stepped daintily around the debris on the floor as if the broken glass and wood were no more bothersome than blades of grass. She positioned herself like a warrior, her stance solid and sure as she raised the blade keeping her elbows parallel to the floor.

His eyes narrowed as he circled around her once more. "I see you're still doing so by drawing first blood, witch," the word sounding worse than any curse. The shadows around the bar echoed their master.

Yikes. If shadows were putting in their two cents, then she really was bad news.

"I remember your parting advice when last we met: 'If ever I darkened your path once more, have my sword at the ready or you'd wear my skin as an overcoat.' You always did have a way with words, Dante. I can see why Celeste kept you so close all these years."

At her mention of my aunt, Dante came in for a strike. He looked almost lazy as his sword met hers for the first time but I knew better. He was testing her - looking for any weaknesses in her guard.

My ire for Dante temporarily on hold, I watched the weird Missouri version of Kill Bill unfold from behind the bar. Crouching down low, most of my body was protected by the only solid piece of furniture the ghost of Lanie Jane hadn't destroyed. It wasn't much, but it was better than hanging around in the open like a target.

A very vulnerable, fleshy sort of target.

My eyes ran over the strange woman. I couldn't help but feel like she was familiar in some way - liked I'd seen her before. She was tall, gifted with long limbs and a regal neck. Her skin was pale but creamy and smooth looking, like the kind mega rich women spent thousands of dollars trying to buy.

I couldn't make out her eye color in the dimness of the bar, but I could see they were large and cat shaped. Her nose was thin and straight, cheekbones to die for, and a delicate mouth like a blossom. Her red hair was several shades lighter than her cloak, much more natural in color. It was swept up and pinned in a casually elegant bun, a jeweled barrette of some kind holding everything in place.

"Holy crap, its Nicole Kidman," I whispered, realizing who she reminded me of. The resemblance was almost scary. She didn't look sort of like her; she looked just like her - as in total-Hollywood-A-lister-doppelganger-stole-my-face kind of way.

Her eyes flicked in my direction and she gifted me with a small, secret smile as if she'd heard me plainly.

Dante just sighed.

The shadows seemed to echo his disappointment. Then again, maybe that was just my paranoia rearing its ugly head again.

The woman named Claudette studied me at length, Dante holding still as he watched for her next move like a hawk."You must be the infamous Eliza," she said finally, sounding amused as she continued, "I am Claudette Mayflower. Very pleased to make your acquaintance. Trust Dante not to provide a proper introduction." She turned and gave him a reproachful sort of look before focusing her attention back to me.