Dark Enchantment (Elvis Presley Story)

Chapter 10

After hanging up the phone, Sophia shook off the disturbing conversation. Elvis's parting words had held an almost prophetic ring to them. Like...a warning. As though he meant that if she thought things were uncomfortable now, just wait.

What was going on? Could Elvis want something from her besides the obvious?

It was possible. Demons were crafty, devious beings with no conscience. Elvis could easily be lying about everything, spinning a Web odd deceit to conceal his true purpose.

The question was, what purpose?

Should she be worried? She thought about the cadre, and the Department. What damage could an incubus do to them through her?

Nothing, she assured herself. Because, as susceptible as she was to Elvis's...charms, there was no way in hell she would ever let him harm those she loved. No way.

Besides, his interest seemed strictly focused on her. He hadn't asked a single question about the cadre, her father or Aurora; he'd even gone out of his way to avoid them knowing about him. His curiosity about the Department appeared incidental, more academic than personal.

Still. She must take care. Be extra careful around Elvis. Getting the demon stone back was important, but her first concern will always be to protect her family, and uphold her responsibilities to the cadre. Especially if Elvis had some notorious scheme up his sleeve.

Sophia made the drive to her office in record time. Dashing the round stone staircase to the room on the third floor where she would be training some younger members of the cadre about demons and sidhe, vampires and werewolves, and all manner of paranormal beings, which was her specialty at the Department.

She opened the door and walked through the short passage leading under the circular tiers of student filled benches. When she emerged at the edge of the hexagonal center stage, she halted in consternation.

An all-too-familiar figure stood there, face and arms raised as though to the heavens. Her students watched him in silent awe, eyes widened and lips parted. Why hadn't she felt him, sensed his power, before she walked in? She could have used a warning.

"Elvis! What on earth!" She snapped, breaking his spell. It was a spell of charisma, of personality. She realised he was shielding his preternatural energy very carefully. She couldn't detect even a hint that he wasn't a normal human. Amazing. And scary. If she couldn't tell, no one could.

His gaze dropped to her, and he flashed a cheeky grin. "Behold, baby, and be astonished." He looked up again, spread his fingers like a magician, and called, "Now!"

Suddenly he was illuminated by a bright spotlight, his glossy midnight black hair turning onyx, his shirt to a white so dazzling it almost hurt her eyes.

She gaped at him, then snapped her jaw closed and with a grimace strode over and looked at him. "That will be all, Mr Presley. I'm sure you have more than entertained my students with your spells, but I can take over now, thank you very much."

She put a hand to her eyes and motioned to the students at the windows above. "And please change the angle on those casements! I feel like an angel ascending to heaven in the bright light."

"And you look like one, too, honey," Elvis said, bowing over her hand and giving it a courtly kiss, to the delighted whistles and cheers of her students. "You don't mind if I stay and listen?"

She snatched her hand back. "As a matter of fact-"

"Good!" With his Long-legged stride he'd reached the seats before she could draw a breath to protest. "Since I'll be with you for less than a week, I'd hate to spend a single moment apart from you. Right, little darlin'?"

"Who is he, Miss Jones?" One of the female students asked her with a worshipful glance at Elvis.  "Your boyfriend?"

Sophia clenched her jaw. "Absolutely not. Mr. Presley is a...he's an antiquities dealer. We're doing some business together."

"Just so," he said, and leaned back with a, you-aren't-fooling-anyone pose. "Business partners. Nothing more." He said, with a smug grin on his face.

He was enjoying this far too much. She thought.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! And thanks for reading! xoxo