Secondhand Devil

Chapter Two

Aradia slid out of the abandoned church unnoticed. Not that it mattered, she could have easily have killed any human whose eyes dare land on her. The streets were still deserted though cars lined the edges of the road. The city was still shrouded in darkness but the moon now hung high showering silver light on everything it touched.

The phone that was buried deep in the black leather purse she had chirped loudly, echoing through the otherwise silent street. A quick flash of irritation made Aradia glare at her purse before pulling her iPhone out to check the text Natos had sent her. Of course it was Natos, it was always Natos.

"Allen Shelton is the next on your list. You can find him at Vice's Bar. You have an hour." Was what the text read. Cool determination came to Aradia as if he had asked to her pick up an important package at the post office.

The sleek, black car that she had parked behind the church practically mixed into the night like slick ink. Once behind the wheel she switched on the car, hearing the faint purr of the engine immediately. Before she could take off her phone sounded again with an attachment of the man she was meant to find. She nodded once to herself and drove away.

Vice's Bar was only a few blocks over and not in the best part of town, in fact Aradia was almost positive she was overdressed. But that only made her job easier, she'd stand out enough to lure her target in.

She parked on the edge of the road along with the other cars that paled in comparison to her Lexus GS 350. A few men were scattered outside the bar talking but stopped mid-conversation upon noticing Aradia. Who could blame them? She was a creature of dark beauty, almost poisonous to look at and definitely tempting to touch.

Ignoring the group of men that didn’t have the particular man she was interested in she breezed through the doors without hesitation. Once inside the obnoxious sound of the bar swelled up and crashed down on Aradia's senses along with the smell of sweat, stale liquor, and overfilled ashtrays.

She scanned her eyes smoothly over the scene before quietly seating herself beside Allen Shelton, a man in his late twenties with dark, washed out brown hair that was long enough to curl around his ears. He was wearing light-wash Levi’s and a navy blue T-shirt that fit loosely on his large torso. From his profile she could make out his strong jawline, straight nose, and full pale lips that were fixed in a grim line. A true “All-American” in Aradia’s eyes. She supposed there was something appealing to the look but not enough to distract her from her task.

He didn’t take notice of her when she perched on the stool at the bar beside him but when she spoke her order for a Gin and Tonic he most definitely did notice. The smooth velvet of her voice made his head snap in her direction to drink every detail of her five foot six body.

Aradia considered for a split second to act clueless to the obvious attention he was giving her but coy was never her style. Instead she turned to face him head on with a dark smirk. “My name is Aradia.”

Allen’s heartbeat stuttered at her boldness but smiled back nonetheless and extended his hand, “I’m Allen.”

She didn’t take her eyes off of his as she gripped his massive palm and firmly shook it in return. By this time the bartender returned to set the drink on the bar which Aradia turned to take a large sip of.  

“Aradia, do you know that you have the voice of an angel?” The man’s words made her choke on her drink as laughter bubbled up her throat.

“Are you okay?” Allen leaned forward placing a hand on her shoulder, concern strong in his deep voice.

“An angel, you say?” Aradia smiled, once again facing her entire body towards him.

“Maybe not.” Allen Shelton’s eyes raked up and down her body once more taking in her pale smooth skin, long black curls, and huge emerald eyes. And he most definitely noticed the five inch heels and skin tight dress that no angel would be caught dead in.