Josh's Destiny

Chapter 14

Josh awoke at six. He had always had an inner alarm clock but despite that, he and the rest of the band were always late. Someday he was going to sit down and figure that out. He turned on his side and stared at Destiny as she slept. She was so Goddamn beautiful! And she loved him, which was a wonder to Josh, that she loved him. At times he wasn't an easy person to take.

His eyes strayed to the hollow of her throat and then down to her amazing cleavage. He quickly looked away, no time to make love this morning, but he would make it up to her tonight. He was just about to get up and shower when his eyes fell on the medallion she always wore.

He had never asked her about it or looked at it too closely. Gently he picked up the medallion and looked at it. It was a pentacle, a pentagram within a circle. This one was adorned with some sort of markings around the circle.

Religions were a source of interest to Josh; he had even made a short film about them. And for the first time, he wondered if Destiny followed the Pagan Path? He put the medallion down and got out of bed. He padded to the shower and wondered about himself too.

He loved the outdoors, was perfectly content in the woods alone. He knew a lot of woodlore and about certain plants. He supposed he was a "flower child". That's what he would have been called in the '70s. The brothers' message of peace, love, and unity wasn't lost on him.

Josh turned off the spray and stepped out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist, but he didn't really know why he bothered. Habit, he supposed. He stepped out of the bathroom and into his bedroom, where he found Destiny awake and sitting up in bed, hugging her knees. She smiled at him and he felt himself light up.

"Good morning" she said.

"Great morning" he replied.

Destiny put her clothes on while Josh watched appreciatively. Then it was her turn to watch him dress. They both looked at each other and smiled. "Beautiful" they both said and they came together for an embrace.

"This could lead to all sorts of possibilities, but I've got to see Carl this morning and then I'm off to the studio."

Destiny pulled away reluctantly. "Well" she said in a mock hurt voice, "if you're sure..." She bit her lower lip.

"Just stop, you wicked nymph, or I'll be forced to punish you later."

"OOO, that sounds like fun!" Destiny squealed and Josh laughed. Josh said, "I really do have to get going. I may have been a bit optimistic about the album. We are going to have to have more time. Then there's the logistics of the up-coming tour like cities, dates, set lists and the like."

"I know. I suppose I can read until you get back..."

"Well, actually, I had another idea. Tomorrow is Christmas Day and no way can I run off to L.A. and miss it. I have some last minute shopping to do, but that is not gonna happen. So, my love, would you do it?"

Destiny looked at Josh and she fairly beamed. "Of course I'll go! But, Josh am I still being shadowed? I mean, I know you haven't had time to terminate the guys, but they'll still be there, right?"

"Yes, of course. I'll tell you one thing; I'll feel a lot better when we get to L.A. You are okay about going, aren't you?"

"Of course" Destiny answered, but Josh caught a note of uncertainty in her voice. He didn't have time to press her now. Josh walked over to the table, picked up his wallet and opened it. He took out a list and handed it to Destiny.

She read it ---- and it was rather long. "All this in one day?"

''Yeah, as much as you can." Josh opened his wallet again and handed Destiny a wad of cash.

"Josh! There must be several thousand dollars here! Why not just let me use credit? I mean, I know I can't use your card, but I have my own and plenty on it."

"You'd do that?"

"Of course. You can pay me back at your leisure."

Josh swept Destiny into his arms and kissed her soundly. "I really, truly do love you!" He kissed her again and then shoved his wallet in his pocket. "Keep the money, just in case. Gotta go! Bye!"

Destiny watched him go with longing. She too was truly in love with Josh. She walked to the shower, adjusted the spray, and stepped in. The warm water felt deliciously grand against her skin and she lingered in the shower, her fingers finding her medallion.

She knew Josh had examined it closely this morning and she wondered what he thought. She knew now that Josh was an earth child as was she. That was why they got on so well, it was part of the reason he wanted to protect her. It was also very dangerous for someone who had not been taught, and she knew he had not.

She didn't want to bring him into her world, he would not believe at first and there was the question of Jake, Sam, and Danny. They had come together as a powerful quartet and they didn't even know it. It was another reason Josh was so driven, and the rest of the band too.

For now all four were having the time of their young lives, and she didn't want that to end. She wanted them to have normal, sane lives, but no man can out-run his Fate. She sighed and turned off the water, stepped out, and wrapped a towel around her naked body.

She stepped into the bedroom and almost ran right into Jake. Both were surprised to see the other and Jake stared at Destiny.

"Uh, where's Josh?" he asked his voice sounding strange.

"He already left" Destiny replied. She grasped the towel harder and said, "Jake! Get the hell out of here!"

"Oh, yeah, uh sorry" said Jake as he vacated the bedroom. Destiny closed the door and locked it. She did trust Jake, but that had felt ---- odd. She'd be glad to get out of Frankenmuth too. The place was closing in on her.

Destiny hurriedly dressed and grabbed her purse. She put half the money Josh had given her into the purse and hid the rest way down deep in a duffel bag she had brought. She put the duffel in the closet, took one look in the mirror, and stepped out into the sitting room.

No one was there, thank the Gods, and she grabbed her coat. Before she left, she did something she had not done in a long time. Destiny put a protection ward on the room. No one who wished them harm could enter.

She stood staring at the door for a minute. Had she done the wrong thing? She shrugged. What's done was done. Destiny slipped on her coat and determinedly went to shop.

Several hours, countless stores, and numerous cups of coffee later, Destiny made her way back to the hotel. She let herself in and dropped the bags she was holding. The bellman came in with another load and when Destiny had tipped him, he left with a grin on his face at the size of his tip.

Destiny closed and locked the door. She flopped on the sofa and kicked off her shoes. Looking at the clock, she saw it was a quarter to six. She had just made it before everything closed for the evening.

Josh hadn't said to, but Destiny had the packages gift wrapped and tagged. She was simply too tired to do it. She was too tired to cook too. Wondering when Josh would make it home, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

She jerked awake. She had dozed off and she wondered how long she had been asleep and on the heels of that thought there was the certainty that she wasn't alone.

"Josh?" she called. There was no answer. Nothing in the sitting room appeared to be disturbed, so she rose silently and made her way to her room. Then the bathroom. The maid had come and all looked fresh and bright, nothing was amiss unless... Destiny cautiously entered Josh's bedroom. The bed had been changed and made. The floor had been vacuumed and the furniture dusted. Nothing looked out of place until Destiny looked at the mirror. In blood red paint was one word "Traitor!" on the mirror.

Destiny heard the front door open and close. She did not go out to see who it had been. She was much more worried about how whoever it was had breached her ward. Anyone with that much power... or maybe she wasn't as strong as she once was. She and the band, Josh in particular, would have to be careful from now on. Very careful.