“We require two twin share rooms for the night,” Gabriel said stiffly, handing the woman a shiny gold credit card.
“Here?” Denise asked in disbelief before realizing she wasn’t helping business much. She gave a nervous laugh. “It’s just that we don’t get many folks through this time of year. Are y’all here on business?”
“We’re on a road trip,” Gabriel explained hastily.
“We’re hoping to visit the Abbey of Mary Immaculate,” Ivy said. “Is it walking distance from here?”
Denise wrinkled her nose. “That old place?” she said disdainfully. “It gives me the creeps; no one’s been out there in a long time. It ain’t far though, other side of the highway, just down a dirt road. You won’t see it straight off on account of all them trees.”
As she spoke, she inspected Ivy with an envious gaze and I tried to imagine how things must look from her perspective. Ivy’s tumble of golden hair reached halfway down her back and her face was glowing and radiant despite the gravity of her expression. Her skin was translucent and her perfect, sculpted features barely moved when she spoke. She was like a stunning illusion you felt might fade away if you got too close. Denise turned to Gabriel, a hint of bitterness in her voice. “So, are you wantin’ a honeymoon suite for you and your wife?”
I heard Molly snort from the green vinyl sofa and knew she was wondering what the motel classed as a “honeymoon suite,” seeing as it resembled a highway shack with as much atmosphere as a toolshed.
“Actually, we’re not …,” Gabriel began, but stopped himself just in time when he saw the sudden gleam of hope in Denise’s eye. The last thing he needed was to waste time fending off the clumsy advances of another infatuated female. “We’re not fussy,” he finished carefully. “A simple room will be fine.”
“And for you two?” Denise asked, inclining her head toward Xavier and Molly.
“Ew!” Molly burst out. “No way am I sharing a room with him.”
Denise looked sympathetically at Xavier. “Lovers’ tiff?” she asked. “Don’t worry, honey, it’s the hormones. They’ll pass.”
“He’s the hormonal one,” Molly replied. “Moody as all hell.”
“Do you need any extras?” Denise asked. “Towels, shampoo, Internet access?”
“How about a gag?” Xavier muttered, casting a dark look at Molly.
“Oh, that’s real mature,” she said tartly.
“I’m not going to talk about maturity with a girl who thinks Africa is a country,” Xavier countered.
“It so is,” Molly insisted. “Like Australia.”
“The word you’re looking for is continent.”
“If I hear one more word out of you two …,” Ivy warned.
Denise shook her head, mildly amused. “I wouldn’t be a teenager again for all the money in the world.” Her attempt at lightening the mood was met with blank stares from both parties. She waited for the tension in the room to ease or at least for someone to express some kind of normal sentiment like exasperation, exhaustion, irritation. But they all just stared vacantly at her; too caught up in their own private worries to pay her much attention. “Well, enjoy your stay,” she said falteringly.
Gabriel leaned forward to take the keys and credit card Denise was holding out to him. I saw his fingers accidentally brush her hand and watched her body react to his touch. She seemed to lean involuntarily toward him and her hand flew to her mouth. Then she sagged against the desk as though that one bolt of intoxicating energy had left her thoroughly exhausted. She looked up into his eyes like molten silver and shivered. Gabriel brushed away the white blond hair that had fallen into his eyes and took a step back. “Thank you,” he said politely and strode from the lobby, Ivy floating alongside him like a fairy. Xavier and Molly followed wordlessly.
A diner adjoined the motel and seeing as it was nearly evening, they all found themselves gravitating in its direction. The diner was empty save for a lone trucker sitting in the back corner and a surly waitress chewing gum and lazily wiping down the countertops. Both looked up in surprise when the door jangled and Gabriel and the others entered. The trucker looked disinterested, too worn-out to study them properly and the waitress looked first shocked and then distinctly annoyed at having four new customers to attend to. Like Denise, she was clearly used to having time on her hands.
I took a moment to look around the diner; it was simple but clean and welcoming. A counter ran along the length of one wall where plump round stools were arranged in a line. The floor was black-and-white linoleum and the booths were upholstered in a burgundy vinyl. A blown-up poster of Elvis Presley was displayed on the wall above the counter; he smirked down at us wearing an upturned collar and a wicked gleam in his eye. The far wall was papered with a collage of newspaper clippings relating to local Fairhope news. The four chose a booth farthest away from prying ears and settled down.
“So are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Xavier asked immediately.
“Michael didn’t tell us much.” Ivy sighed. “We’re going into this blind so we really need to focus now.”
“There’s something in that convent,” Gabriel spoke almost to himself. “Something he expects us to find. He wouldn’t send us all this way unless it was a surefire lead.”
“Are you saying there could be a …” Xavier hesitated and lowered his voice. “A gateway we don’t know about?”
“Even if there was, there’s no way to get it open without a dem—” Gabriel broke off as he cast a glance around the deserted diner. The waitress was busy chatting to a friend on the phone. “Without a demon. They’re the only ones who know how.”
“But we’re going to hit up the abbey tonight?” Molly asked, sounding like a character in a spy movie. It was clear she felt left out and wanted to make some kind of contribution, no matter how inane. Xavier rolled his eyes at her choice of words, but made no comment. I could see he wanted to avoid another sparring match.
“We’ll go after dark,” Ivy replied. “We don’t want to be seen.”
“Won’t it be kinda creepy at night?”
“Feel free to stay at the motel,” my sister said calmly. “Though the convent is probably less frightening.”
“Can we please try and stick to the topic?” Xavier was growing exasperated. “You still haven’t told me what the guy at the gas station was going on about.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the tabletop. “What did he mean about the lightning storm?”
Ivy and Gabriel exchanged glances. “It might not be the best time to discuss it,” Ivy said, looking pointedly at Molly. “In fact, it might be better if you both stay at the motel tonight. Let Gabriel and I deal with this.”
“Like hell I’m staying behind,” Xavier said. “What are they hiding?”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Molly said in a practical tone I’d never heard her use before. “I’ve seen enough freaky supernatural stuff by now. I can handle it.”
Gabriel pressed his hands flat against the table and regarded them both with a measured look.
“This is definitely not something either of you have encountered before.”
“Gabe …,” Xavier said earnestly. “I know you’re worried, but we’re in this together now. I’ve got more riding on this than you understand. You gotta trust me …” He glanced across at Molly and grudgingly rectified, “Trust us.”