Dark Enchantment (Elvis Presley Story)

Chapter 38

Sophia let Charles usher them upstairs to the third floor, doing her best to keep her expression neutral and play the courteous hostess rather than giving away her nervousness about bringing a demon lover straight into the lions den.

Wicked nature. Oh, God. Did he really think he could come to her bed tonight?

Of course he did. And he could. He only needed to play incubus and no one would know. Unless they heard her screams through the walls. Or...did you scream aloud when you came for an incubus, or were the screams just in your dreams?

"Sophia?"

She came to a start, realising Charles was addressing her. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You said the Constantinople Room for Mr Presley?"

They were standing in front of the door of that disreputable room. Charles's hand was poised on the clear crystal handle. His air was as bland as ever, but she could just imagine what he was thinking.

"It's the most....demonic room in the Manor, wouldn't you agree, Charles?" She asked with mock innocence.

The room's unique ambiance was not the reason she picked it for Elvis. It had a secret connecting passageway to her own. She had found it by accident one summer when she was six, playing hide and seek with Aurora. It turned out the Manor had several secret passages. She'd never told her sister. They hadn't played hide and seek much after that. She'd always won. Aurora didn't like losing.

"Mr Presley should feel right at home." Charles said, and opened the door without so much as a flicker of his placid expression.

She and Elvis exchanged an amused look. Which died on Elvis's face when he stepped into the room. After a quick look around, his eyes found hers again, brows arched in mild surprise. Or was it veiled anticipation?

"I'll leave you to get settled," She told him in a businesslike manner. "I'll see downstairs, later?"

"I look forward to meeting everyone." Elvis said smoothly, behaving himself under the watchful eye of Charles. Not that they were probably fooling him for one minute.

Charles pulled the door closed behind Elvis, bowed to Sophia and glided tactfully away. She was almost sorry to disappoint him. she turned and headed for her own room so she could freshen up before her confrontation with Aurora. Wouldn't do to meet her sister with the scent of Elvis and sex surrounding her like a tarnished halo.

It was still a bit early for dinner, so after a quick shower she selected a slim, long-sleeved dress with a black belt. She wore it with black heels and on one shoulder had pinned a silver and jet brooch that her late mother had left her. The outfit was very Audrey Hepburn. She always felt so sophisticated and confident when she wore it. She could use all the confidence she could get for this meeting.

Aurora had left her door open, but Sophia knocked anyway before entering. Her sister always did at the Department. No sisterly informalities between them.

"Come in," Aurora said, looking up from her desk. "Close the door. We should talk."

Sophia took a seat on the comfortable sofa that sat against the wall at right angles to the desk. Coffee had been laid out for them.

"What would you like to talk about?" She asked, pouring them both a cup.

Aurora rose and came to join her. "You know very well." She accepted the cup of coffee Sophia extended to her. The ancient gold-and-ruby ring she always wore on her forefinger, flashed blood red in the lamplight. "Who is he and what does he want?"

"His name is Elvis presley, and I told you what he wanted."

"Yes. Sex. I trust you haven't given it to him."

Sophia looked into her cup and blew on the liquid. The strong rich scent lifted to calm her nerves. "Would I have brought him here if I was sleeping with him?" She evaded.

"Only if you are a fool. If our father ever found out-"

"You don't need to remind me. I remember what happened to James."

A stricken look passed over her sisters face. James was the handsome lust demon who had wiped his way to within a hairsbreadth of taking her twins virginity at the age of seventeen. Their father had "rescued" Her by crystallising him at the last possible second. But that second had been a defining moment of Aurora's life. She hadn't been the same carefree girl since. Sophia doubted if she'd ever be comfortable around demons.

"Exactly. After what happened to me. One of us is all the demon's are getting. I'll protect you from him if it's the last thing I do."

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I realise I'm not an adept like you, But this is my business and I can take care of myself."

Aurora finished her coffee and set the cup down. "I hope so," She said. "For your sake, I truly hope so."

Sophia knew her sister had not satisfied her curiosity about Elvis. She should probably warn him that he was in for a grilling. On second thought, maybe not. He could hold his own as well as she could. And who knew? Maybe something interesting might slip out. Something to shread the light on why he was really here.

Because after the strange reaction of the gargoyles, she was all but certain he was hiding something from her.

Something she better find out soon.

For everyone's sake.

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