Chapter 25: Plan B

*Thelma*
It’s late afternoon and I find myself sitting inside a carriage house behind the mansion where Beta Mathias and Rhia live. The renovated three-bedroomed home squats on a parcel of green grass surrounded by a white picket fence, camellia hedges, and an assortment of vibrant flowers.
Rhia presses a glass of ice water into my hand and proceeds to take a seat next to me on the couch in the sunroom.
“How did last night go?” Rhia asks.
I can’t help but see a hint of mischievousness in her eyes. Kyle had mentioned that she had given him a magical wedgie; I really need to ask her to teach me how to do that.
“He was quite the gentleman…although he still kicked me out after, again. Thank you, though, for giving him a stern ‘talking to,’” I say.
Rhia nods knowingly and smiles. “I would have given him a wet-willy, but didn’t want to get my hand covered in invisible saliva. I had just gotten a manicure; also, magical humidity takes a while to dry.
“How did you go about doing that?” I can’t help but ask.
Rhia raises her right hand and sticks out two fingers. She progressively lifts her wrist, and as she does, a cushion on the couch opposite us begins to levitate in the air.
“Just like this…but instead of the cushion, I just lifted the pants he already had on. I might not have muscles, but I surely can make a grown man cry if I choose. We witches have to stick together, right?” she says with a wink.
I smile at her and nod. Rhia is so welcoming; I just wonder if I can trust her enough to mention the letter I received. Although she is a witch like me, she is still loyal to her Alpha, Kyle, and will probably relay the information I discovered.
“What do you know about Yasmeen?” I ask instead.
I am still bordering on the idea that Yasmeen is the one who slipped the note into my room. She isn’t thrilled with my presence here and I think she is willing to do anything to get rid of me.
Rhia scowls. “Besides fucking most of the male servants in the mansion, she is more trouble than she is worth. Although she joined the pack many years after most of us, she feels that we are all beneath her. She believes she owns this place and is the second in command to Alpha Kyle,” Rhia explains.
“Well, is she?” I ask, taking a sip of my water.
The crisp coldness is refreshing in contrast to the high temperatures of the summer afternoon.
“My husband, Beta Mathias is. He is second to Alpha Kyle. That is how it works in the shifter world; a Beta is an Alpha’s sidekick so to say. Yasmeen, however, has no set ranking here. But, that’s not to say she isn’t important. Alpha Kyle really has a soft spot for her.”
I almost choke on the water when she says this. So I am right, something is going on between the two of them.
“Soft spot, huh?” I repeat. A confusing pang of jealousy hits me.
Rhia lets out a loud laugh.
“Oh, dear. I suppose you misunderstood what I meant by that. He thinks of her as his younger sister,” Rhia explains.
I can’t help but frown as I remember how she fed him a grape during their cozy breakfast the other morning. And then, how she proceeded to grace his lap with no objection from the Alpha himself! Sister my pale, flaccid ass!
“I have seen them…err…not acting like siblings. Also, she is very adamant about getting rid of me. When she speaks, I get the distinct feeling she is protective over him a little more than a sister would be.”
Rhia nods, her long red curls bouncing as she does. “I said HE views her as a little sister. She, on the other hand, not so much. I have sensed unhealthy lust radiating from her on numerous occasions.”
“I guess that means she is willing to do whatever it takes to fend off any threat, right? Like me? I am not saying I am a threat per se, seeing as I am just a measly surrogate, but maybe, just maybe, do you think she might have it in her head that I am trouble and will do something to get rid of me?” I ask.
“I wouldn’t put anything past her, but I doubt she can physically attack you with all of us around. Also, if she does, that will not serve her purpose as Alpha Kyle will not take kindly to anyone harming you. Soon enough, though, she will be more scared of you than anyone else…even her Alpha. Every time I meet with you after a night with Alpha Kyle, I sense your magic growing stronger. Your magical symbol has been getting darker; that shows how powerful you are truly becoming.”
I can feel my eyebrows coming together. “Magical symbol?” ‘Like Harry Potter’s lightning bolt?’ I think to myself, still a bit ignorant to this whole magic thing.
“Yeah. The one on your shoulder,” Rhia responds.
“You mean my birthmark?” I ask.
“That isn’t a birthmark, Thelma, it is your magical signature. I know it must have looked distorted when you were younger, but since you transitioned, it’s becoming more defined. Looks more like a tattoo of a raven now,” Rhia explains.
Wow. All this time I assumed it was nothing but an ugly birthmark. I haven’t looked at it very closely, but now, I am tempted to take a peek.
I turn my neck a fraction, trying to gaze at my shoulder. I catch a glimpse of a dark stamp. Yes, it is more obscure than I remembered. I can’t make out the exact image, but I make a mental note to look at it in the mirror tonight. For now, however, I have to know what else to be aware of when it comes to Yasmeen.
“The maker’s mark…ahem…magic marker…I mean…magic mark is pretty cool and all, but, tell me, Rhia, is there anything I can do to keep out of Yasmeen’s way? What could she be capable of doing if she doesn’t attack me physically?” I ask.
At this point, I want so badly to tell Rhia about the note and find out if Yasmeen would be privy to that information. It would be a great relief to know these were all just elaborate pranks by a jealous bitch who is troubled in paradise. Because if the man I’m sleeping with really killed my dad….
“You don’t have to avoid her. Remember, you’re a siren. Your abilities as a siren aren’t strictly limited to sending people emotional affections like peace and comfort; with a simple touch, you can read their thoughts too. So, maybe keeping her close enough will award you a chance to touch her and see exactly what she is thinking or plotting. Keep your enemies close….” Rhia advises.
“And your enemies closer.” I finish her sentence.
Hah! So I am able to read thoughts too?! When I saw what Kim was thinking that other day, I thought it was a freaky coincidence. I doubt the girl with the silver spoon, Yasmeen, would ever allow a girl like me to come within a football field of her, let alone touch me herself. She wouldn’t even shake my hand when I first arrived.
Oh! Wait…if I can read people’s thoughts, maybe I can read Kyle’s mind. Whenever we have sex, I touch him, right?
“So, all I have to do is touch someone to see what they are thinking? No magical chants or frolicking needed? Is there a specific part of a person I have to touch to read them? I hope it's not anywhere too private; that would be awkward with strangers. Like… ‘Excuse me Miss, can I just lift up your skirt for a second while I touch your love taco?’ Or is the body like an interactive touchscreen? For example, if I touch someone’s hand, I see what that person thought yesterday. Then, if I touch their head, perhaps it shows me what they are thinking now. And, if I move to their back, I get to see what they thought years ago….Okay, I’ll shut up now so you can tell me how it all works.”
Rhia throws her head back in a hysterical laughter. “I guess we aren’t talking about Yasmeen anymore, right? Do you want to read Alpha Kyle’s head?”
I feel a warmth creeping into my cheeks. This woman is no siren but she surely could read me like a book.
“Yeah,” I answer shyly.
“Your siren abilities will not work on Alpha Kyle, sweetie. The demonic powers from the Leviathan spirit will block your probing. Even if you have truly ascended to your peak, and have full use of your witch’s powers, you won’t ever be able to read his mind,” Rhia explains.
I feel my heart drop. Damn! It would have been so easy to touch him during sex to get the answers I need about my dad. Well, maybe that would have been an odd sight to have ingrained in my mind while Kyle thrust his girthy shaft into me, but still…. I could have reached out, touched him and boom. I would have all the information I needed and more. I would have been able to confirm, or dismiss, the validity of that letter.
“Oh, I see.” My voice sounds sad and defeated even to my own ears.
“There is another way, though. With this technique, he will pour out his every thought, his every fear and desire, to you with his own mouth. It works on any demon ,or even the devil himself. Any woman can master the technique; it doesn’t even require magic,” Rhia says, and the mischievous look is back on her gorgeous features.
WIth my attention grabbed, I inch toward the edge of the couch, nearly sliding off of it. “How?”
“Give him the night of his life. Nothing destroys a man’s defenses like a good ol’ toe-curling, mind-boggling, steamy fuck!”