Ink & Dagger (Sins of Eden #1)

4. Chapter IV

Chapter IV

Emily

G rabbing the deck of cards from the workstation beside the tattoo bed, I pulled the stool up to the desk and hummed along to the music playing softly in the background as I shuffled the deck.

I hadn’t done a reading for myself in ages and aside from the fact that business had been slow for the last couple of months, everything in my life had been pretty calm lately.

A little too calm, if I was being honest.

I cut the deck as I thought about what questions I sought answers to, then spread the cards out in front of me in an arch, hovering my palms over each card and letting them speak to me.

Flipping five over, one at a time, I laid out the Tower. The Ten of Swords. The Hanged Man. The reversed Death card and the Devil card reversed.

Ugh. If those weren’t the most ominous fucking cards. Betrayals, secrets, pleasure, a fresh start, and struggle. I pulled two more as I cursed softly under my breath and drew the Moon and Five of Cups.

Shit, I didn’t need the last two to tell me that I was facing a time of uncertainty, I already fucking knew that.

I growled under my breath and rolled my eyes as I restacked them, before jotting down notes in my journal. I could do with some pleasure, but the rest was a fucking given. Everything was a godsforsaken struggle these days and I still had no answers to any of the secrets that evaded me.

“Hey, Witch,” Charlie called from the front.

“Shit, that was quick. I’m back here,” I shouted, stuffing my journal away and trying to clear that reading from my mind.

“I may have sped a bit to get here,” she laughed, handing me a large coffee. “Gotcha something, though. Happy early birthday.”

This girl knew my heart.

Who needed a dreamy sex God when you had a best friend who brought you ecstasy in a cup? I kissed the side of the paper cup before taking a hasty sip and burning my tongue, relishing the sweet flavor as the caffeine buzzed through my veins.

“You’re the best, you know that, right?” I asked, pulling her to me for a one armed hug.

“You better fucking believe it,” she laughed.

Cerys darted in and out between my legs as Charlie and I pulled apart and I bent down to give her the attention she demanded.

“You too, girl. I could never forget about you.”

Charlie snorted as she set down her bag and took a seat on the tattoo bed, swinging her legs back and forth over the edge. “So, whatcha got for me?” She asked with a giddy smile. Looked like she could do with a bit of ink therapy.

Setting down my drink, I pulled up the image I’d been working on. Her happy dance was all the approval that I needed, so I ran the image through the printer as she got herself comfortable and I got to work applying the stencil to her calf before pulling out various colors.

“Alright, bitch. Spill,” she demanded as I started up the machine and began working on the outline.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I gasped dramatically. This bitch saw right through me every single time.

“Well, let’s see. You called me up for an impromptu visit and you haven’t stopped smiling since I walked in, so I’m guessing this was about more than just missing me.”

“For the record, I did miss you,” I told her as I glanced up. “Okay, fine. A guy came into the shop this morning.”

I tried to focus on just her tattoo as I admitted that outloud, but I still caught the eyebrow waggle she gave as she smiled like the Cheshire cat. If only she knew that I’d been fantasizing over him since the first moment I laid eyes on him. It felt like only yesterday that I’d caught him watching me outside of my local cafe, but now I looked for him everywhere I went.

“Oh, shut it,” I scolded playfully as I tried and failed to hold my scowl. Naturally, it didn’t work and I couldn’t even pretend to be annoyed by her.

The delicate sun pendant I’d crafted for her caught my eye as I dipped the needle into the ink on the tray. To most, it probably looked like an odd friendship necklace, but I’d crafted her sun and my moon so that if either of us were ever in trouble, we’d feel what the other were experiencing and we’d be emotionally connected.

“Witch, did you get his number? What did he look like? Does he have a brother? Shit, are you going to see him again?” She fired off, bringing me out of my morose thoughts and making my head spin.

“Damn, girl. Slow down. Straight for the kill, huh? I gave him the number for the shop and sent him packing. And what do you mean, does he have a brother?” I asked with a choked laugh. “You don’t even know what he looks like.”

“Whatever, bitch. If you’re mentioning him, then I already know that he’s fine as Hell. I could use a little action too, you know? Ooo, if you don’t want him you could always send him my way,” she said, her eyes wide with excitement.

A wave of jealousy and protectiveness made my chest irrationally tight and I had to bite down on the inside of my cheek so I didn’t lash out at her.

He’s my secret crush, I told myself, licking at the blood I’d drawn from biting down so hard. Secret, being the operative word there. I had no actual claim to him and she knew nothing about the many day dreams, or rather - wet dreams, he starred in each time I used my battery operated boyfriend.

“I’m kidding-ish,” she laughed. “Really, bitch. Go for it. What do you have to lose? It’s been ages since you’ve gotten any action. Seriously, please tell me you’re gonna see him again? If not for me, do it for that cobweb infested vag you’ve got going on.”

I gasped in horror at the visual she painted in my mind but laughed with her until tears streamed down both of our faces.

“Damn, girl. Don’t hold back on me now, tell me how you really feel,” I chuckled. I could always count on Charlie to say exactly what was on her mind and I loved that about her. She didn’t hold back or blow smoke just to talk. If she said it, she meant it.

After Erik had gone into a fit of rage and put me in the hospital during our breakup, I’d stayed in the loft above the library with Charlie for a while, so she knew first hand how hard it was for me to put myself out there. Hell, it took a shit ton of encouragement from Charlie and a bit of liquid courage just for me to lower my inhibitions enough at last year’s Samhain party to have a hookup. As it turned out, the sex had been subpar and the blood sucker disappeared without a trace after, but I was finally ready to get back on the metaphorical horse so to speak. Even if it was just for one night.

“He’s actually coming by tonight,” I told her, wiping away tears of laughter from my eyes as I paused to look up at her. “Said that he’s bringing dinner with him. I’m sure it’s nothing. He knew I was a Witch, though.”

Her eyebrows waggled again as she snorted. “Cumming, huh? So not only do you have a date with him, but he knows you’re a Witch and didn't run for the hills? Girl, if you don’t keep him, then definitely send him my way.” That time the jealousy didn’t come and I did smile.

“Don’t you think it’s a tad suspicious that he popped in, knowing that I was a Witch and wasn’t freaked out?” I asked.

“Not really, buzzkill. You perform tarot readings and scare the village away on purpose. If that doesn’t scream “I’m a badass Witch, don’t fuck with me,” then I don’t know what does. Shit, why are you trying to kitty block yourself? Oh, crap. Is he ugly?” She asked, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth in mock horror.

I couldn’t help the sigh I let out as I pictured his perfect body and the way he’d smelled. “No, he’s drop dead fucking gorgeous. Pure muscle, tattoos covering every inch of visible skin, and all broody. Just like a perfect book boyfriend. He’s a Harley guy though,” I laughed.

“Ha, your ZX-10RR would leave him eating dust. You know I love the morally gray ones though. Okay then, what’s the plan for tonight?” She asked, assessing my current outfit. I swear her and Cerys were a perfect match for one another, both were mischievous and always focused on the chase.

“Well, I’ve got that two o’clock coming in to start a thigh piece. I should be finished with my appointments by eight, but after that I’m free. I already told him that I should be done by nine, so if he does come back, I figure it’ll be around then,” I told her.

“Hmmm, well. We’ll just have to make sure you’re done by then, huh?” she asked.

Nine o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.