Beware The Kiss Part 10

"There's been another attempt on Ms. Windquest's life," he said watching her reaction.

"Oh no," Erica cried.

Steffan motioned for her to sit down.

"Is she okay?"

"She's fine. Shaken up, but fine." He lit a cigarette.

"What happened?" Erica's eyes darted around the room and back to Steffan's face.

"Before I let you go up I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Steffan sat back and blew smoke in the air. He straightened. "Have you ever had any business dealings in India?"

"No, never," she replied quickly. She wanted to see that Tayler was okay with her own eyes.

"In any Asian countries?"

"No."

"You're sure?" Steffan rolled the cigarette between his fingers.

"Yes, I'm certain." Erica clenched her fist. "Detective, what does this have to do with Tayler?"

Steffan sat up and blew a line of smoke. "Someone sent Miss Windquest a rather dangerous gift."

"A gift? What kind of a gift?" Erica drummed her fingers on the table.

"Earlier this evening Miss Windquest received a member of the Indian Krait family." Detective Steffan consulted his notes.

"A snake?" Erica's eyes widened.

"Yes, a Blue Krait to be exact."

Erica rubbed her eyes. "Oh no - "

He referred to his notes again. "The lethal dose for a human is only a few milligrams. The majority of bites are fatal even with the anti-venom."

"But snakes don't bite unless they're provoked," Erica countered. "Was someone bitten?"

"No, luckily. Miss Windquest's editor threw a book at it and pulled her out before it struck. We called a herpetologist from the Minnesota Zoo and he's already been here. Amazingly he caught the d.a.m.n thing and checked it out."

Erica got up from her chair and stared out the window. All afternoon she had felt uneasy and upset. Now she understood why.

"The person we're dealing with is no amateur." Steffan rose from his chair.

Erica already knew this.

"Whoever sent Miss Windquest this snake knew two things.

First of all he knew that Miss Windquest was working late. And second, he knew that Kraits - Blue Kraits in particular - are only active at night. I guess it's kind of a curious thing for snakes." He waved his hand. "The herpetologists at the zoo would've liked to have studied this particular specimen."

"It got away?"

Steffan nodded.

"But I thought you said it was caught," Erica s.h.i.+vered.

"It was. When the guy opened the container at the zoo it was gone." The detective scratched his bald head. "Poof. Just like the apparition who tried to slit Ms. Windquest's throat. No trace of a d.a.m.ned thing."

Erica stared at the large man. "So, what about the fire? Any clues there?"

"Apparently our killer mistook the housekeeper for Miss Windquest. When we talked to Maria we found that she had borrowed Miss Windquest's car that day. While she was out that evening the arsonist spread gasoline around the house. When the car returned, we a.s.sume he thought the driver was Miss Windquest and torched the house." Steffan's cheeks reddened. "The report's been sent to your insurance company."

She turned to go but stopped at the door. "Detective, where is Tayler's mother?"

"On her way to Paris." Steffan lit a second cigarette. "Miss Windquest and her editor are with one of our officers upstairs."

"Detective, I want to take Ms. Windquest out of the country for awhile, for her safety, and while you find who's behind these attempts. She's in too much danger here."

"What makes you think she'll be safe anywhere she goes?"

"I don't, but don't you think it's better than waiting around here for something else to happen? Her a.s.sailant apparently seems to know her every move. Her only hope is to go into hiding."

Steffan nodded. "Where would you take her?"

"To a remote spot in southern Mexico."

"Lemme think about it. I'll let you know tonight if it can be arranged." Steffan made several notes in his notepad.

Erica hurried to the elevator and got in. As the door closed, she leaned her forehead against the fabric on the wall. She was certain Raven was behind the attempts. The curse was beginning to make sense.

When Erica reached the top floor she saw a female police officer talking with Tayler in her office. The room looked as if a tornado had stripped it of its elegance. Tayler sat on a sofa with the officer's jacket draped around her shoulders. Her hair was disheveled and her hands were shaking. Erica knocked softly on the door not wanting to alarm her.

"Erica - " Tayler rose unsteadily and collapsed in Erica's outstretched arms. "It was so horrible," she said between sobs.

Shortly after they reached Erica's house, Detective Steffan called with the arrangements to get them to the airport in the morning. As Erica relayed the message to Tayler, tears streamed down Tayler's cheeks. Erica's heart sank seeing the fear in Tayler's beautiful blue pools.

"Tayler, Detective Steffan has the house surrounded by officers. You'll be okay tonight. We'll get on the plane tomorrow and leave what's happened behind." Erica looked into Tayler's tear-streaked face.

"Jane was so brave," she whispered reeling from the tranquilizer the paramedics had given her.

"And so were you," Erica held Tayler's hand. It felt cold.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going into hiding. Luckily, it's to one of the most beautiful places in the universe," Erica smiled. "Let's get you upstairs."

In Erica's room, Tayler sat on a chair and watched Erica turn down the sheets on the bed. She went into the bathroom and started a hot shower for Tayler. She came back into the room and went to one of the closets and pulled out a silk night s.h.i.+rt. "This should fit you," Erica handed the midnight blue s.h.i.+rt to Tayler. It smelled like its owner.

The water felt good as it rushed over Tayler's aching body. She tried to wash away the memories of the attempts but couldn't. She turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. In the mirror Tayler noticed the red scar on her neck. It didn't seem to be fading like Dr. Evans had said it would. She felt the scar tissue and winced. It was smooth to the touch, but ugly. Her physical appearance and her voice had both suffered from the attacks. She silently grieved for her losses.

She b.u.t.toned the night s.h.i.+rt and walked back into the bedroom where she found Erica putting away some of her things. "Your favorite color is dark blue, isn't it?"

"It is." Erica threw her robe on the bed. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a minute."

Tayler eased her body between the cool sheets. The tranquilizer the paramedics had given her was still having an effect. Her thoughts came in fragments. Snug in Erica's king-size bed, Tayler felt safe, but her mind repeatedly returned to the snake.

With her eyes closed, Tayler sighed, but bloodied, burned images slithered across her mind. She jerked and quickly sat up. Too afraid to sleep, she looked around for something to do while she waited for Erica. An issue of Minnesota Monthly lay on the night stand. Still crisp and new, Tayler flipped it open to the table of contents. Her eyes ran down the list of article t.i.tles. She stopped at the featured story. The t.i.tle read, "Return to Enchantment: Local Architect Weaves Her Spell." The accompanying photo showed Erica at a construction site. The wind had caught her black hair and tossed it over her shoulders. Her eyes were dark and mysterious looking. It was one of the most stunning pictures Tayler had ever seen of Erica. Mesmerized, she recalled a statement Christina had made to her.

"Erica is a typical Scorpio. Scorpios are the most complex and mysterious personality in the Zodiac." Christina's facial expression was one of awe. "You've known the compelling mystery of a lovely witch who brews a pretty good cup of tea - when the cup is empty, let her read the tea leaves for you. She can, if she wants to."

If she wants to. Tayler put the magazine in her lap and looked around the room. Everything seemed to be in its place. "Maybe that's it," Tayler whispered. "Maybe everything appears ordinary to hide the extraordinary." She picked up the magazine again and peered intently at Erica's picture. "There was no way you could've escaped the fire alive...unless...unless you're a witch. And what was so important that you risked your life for in the fire?" Drowsy and unable to think straight, Tayler shrugged off the questions and began reading the article.

The clock in the hall ticked away the hour.

"It must be an interesting article," Erica walked over to the bed drying her hair with a towel, "or you're the world's slowest reader, which I'm not sure is a good trait for a writer. You've been on that same page for ages."

"Actually, I'm too sleepy to read it." Tayler glanced at Erica and then at the photo and then back at Erica. "But it's one I should read."

"What's it about?"

"It's about architects who hate the media," Tayler watched Erica frown.

"Would you like something hot to drink? It might help you relax." Erica sat next to Tayler on the bed. She picked up the magazine and scanned the article. "You shouldn't be looking at this stuff before going to sleep. It'll give you nightmares."

"Or some pretty stimulating dreams," Tayler slurred.

"I think you're still feeling the effects of the tranquilizer," Erica smoothed the hair on Tayler's forehead.

"When I was in college my father dated a wonderful woman. She would bring me tea each night before I went to bed. It became almost a ritual."

"Did it help you relax?"

"I don't really remember. I do remember that it got me up in the middle of the night," Tayler laughed at the memory. "I wonder whatever happened to Gabrielle."

Erica opened her mouth, but then closed it. She shook her head.

"Is something wrong?" Tayler asked.

"No," Erica replied and then quickly added, "Would you like some tea?"

"I don't know." She felt suddenly reckless. "How do I know you won't lace it with an aphrodisiac?"

"What a marvelous idea." Erica leaned over and brought her face close to Tayler's. "But I don't think you need an aphrodisiac."

"I don't?" She slowly raised her eyes and smiled. Her breath came in shallow waves of air. "Erica?"

"Hm?"

Tayler's fingertips touched Erica's face and slid over her cheekbones to her lips. Her fingers stopped. "Would you.. .will you...kiss me?"

"With pleasure," Erica murmured.

Their kiss, at first, was timid. Tayler marveled at how soft Erica's lips were. She raised her face to meet the melting tenderness Erica offered. Her lips parted to the warm moisture of Erica's sensuous, demanding tongue. It felt as if silk fabric was being tugged playfully across Tayler's lips. She savored the aroused, intoxicating feeling that trickled over her nerves and coursed through her body. She returned Erica's kisses with a pa.s.sion that frightened her, but despite the fear, Tayler could not stop herself from wanting more. She cried out when Erica pulled back.

"Shhh," Erica pressed her fingertips lightly on Tayler's lips.

Tayler's eyelids grew heavy and her speech slurred. "Did I tell you.. .my mother.. .my mother thinks.. .you're a.. .a witch?"

Erica laughed.

"I'm beginning...I'm beginning...to think...you...are -" Tayler's voice trailed off.

Eleven.

Erica sat next to Tayler on the plane pretending to be absorbed in the blueprints in front of her. Unable to concentrate, her mind drifted to the night before and the kiss they had shared. She was still reeling from its effects when she awoke but, luckily, packing and getting to the airport for their flight had occupied her mind. Now, seated for the long journey to southern Mexico, Erica found herself returning again and again to their kiss.

Only ten days were left before Halloween-Hallow's Eve - the day that would determine her future. For the first time in twelve years, Erica's spirits were raised realizing Tayler was the woman mentioned in Raven's curse. A flicker of hope mingled with the constant feeling of dread, for the attempts on Tayler's life were becoming more and more deadly. She feared for Tayler's safety and for her own. The return to Puerto Arista not only marked the end of the first part of the curse, but, perhaps, the end of her life.

Raven's curse involved three equal parts. In each part, "good" was pitted against "evil" in a contest of illusion, deception and desire. If Erica could not destroy this first part by Halloween, she knew Raven would claim even more lives. Tayler, unknowingly, was Erica's only hope for survival. Guilt consumed her, for she knew Tayler had no idea what was about to happen once they reached Ana's.

Erica's mind screamed for Tayler's love while her body craved for the intimate touch of lovemaking. But she knew if she gave in to her desires, Tayler would die. When Patricia Locksley was murdered, Erica vowed to herself to remove all temptation. Now, however, the greatest temptation of all was seated quietly next to her reading a book.

Tayler glanced at Erica. "The flight attendant is going to take your pencil away if you keep drumming it on your blueprints."

"I'm sorry. Was it bothering you?" Erica put her pencil down.

"No, but I couldn't quite figure out what tune you were playing," Tayler smiled. She closed the book.

Erica noticed the name on the cover. "Do you enjoy her novels?"

"Sterling Navarre's?"

Erica nodded.

"Immensely." Tayler sighed and looked out the window at the clouds below them. "She's an excellent writer. I'm not surprised she's the country's best-selling author. If I wrote novels, I'd like to write like her. I'd love to meet her someday."

"She is an incredible woman," Erica's voice cut into Tayler's thoughts.

"You know her?" Tayler sat up in her seat.