Lucifer had somehow masterminded the disappearance of Eddie, and Wrath would not let him get away with it. The slimy little sludgeworm had managed to slip and slide his way out of the consequences of his actions one too many times.
The purr of an engine brought his attention back to the quiet road outside the theatre. At this time of night, the goodly folk of Clayton, Ontario were all safely tucked up in their homes, sharing a meal and watching their idiot boxes.
A single, bright light split the darkness as a large motorcycle eased down the road and into the parking lot in front of the theatre. Wrath liked motorcycles, although he didn’t share Lucifer’s obsession with speed. Humans had a few things he enjoyed. Although what they were doing to this rock circling the sun that they lived on defied sanity. They were as likely to destroy themselves without the seals breaking.
A man parked the bike and swung one leg over. Taking off his helmet, a man in his thirties, with conservatively cut hair and regular, handsome features, stopped and stared at the theatre, and then consulted his phone.
Wrath caught the tingle of awareness that indicated a guardian.
The bike rider shrugged out of his motorcycle jacket to reveal the standard black suit, white shirt, and uptight tie. Lucifer would have fit right in with them.
“Wrath?” The rider tucked his helmet beneath his arm and draped his leather jacket over it. He braced his weight evenly as if waiting for Wrath to charge like an enraged buffalo.
Wrath nodded and took his measure. Above average height, strong shoulders and chest without being overly bulky. Chris Fellows’s choice of Dee’s replacement was intriguing. Wrath had been half expecting someone more like Chris.
The guardian walked forward. “I’m Daniel Lee, guardian.”
“Good for you.” Wrath kept it noncommittal. He didn’t like guardians, although this one didn’t seem to fit the standard mold.
Daniel chuckled and stepped back to examine the facade of the Paradise Theatre. “This is a nice change,” he said. “My last hell gate was in a gym.”
“A gym?” The question got away from Wrath.
“Yeah.” Daniel nodded and looked around the town. “They tend to put hell gates where the overflow of emotion won’t alert people to the presence of the hell gate. Gyms are packed with insecurity, aggression, competitiveness, and hormones.”
From what Wrath had seen of the Paradise Players, Daniel’s gym didn’t seem all that different. It was probably the longest conversation Wrath had had with a guardian outside of official business. “You’re here to replace Dee?”
“Deandra.” Daniel nodded and focused back on Wrath. “Deandra Ward, yes.”
“Huh.” Wrath let his gaze travel from the man’s head to his toes. “You’re not what I was expecting.”
Daniel flashed him a friendly smile. “I get that a lot.”
“I’m sure you do.” Was he actually kind of liking a guardian? He jerked his head at the door. “You better go inside. Although I wouldn’t get comfortable. Dee is not happy about sharing her home with a stranger.” He stepped closer to Daniel to get his point across. “And if you make Dee unhappy, then you make me unhappy.”
“Wow.” A boyish grin broke over Daniel’s face. “You really are as badass as they told me you were.”
Wrath struggled against his own smile. He rather liked that descriptor. “Just remember that.”
“Right.” Daniel gave him an assessing look. “I’m not here to piss anyone off.” That smile appeared again. “Unless I find a being where they shouldn’t be.”
“Then you’re definitely going to be pissing beings off.” Wrath took delight in telling him. “Because there are hell princes and archangels coming out the woodwork here.”
Daniel sighed. “Great.” He shook his head. “I knew there had to be a reason they sent me here.”
Squaring his shoulders, he opened the door to the theatre and went inside.
Curiosity had Wrath following.
“So, you’re my replacement.” Dee stood in the middle of the passageway outside the greenroom with her arms folded.
Daniel held out his hand in greeting. “That’s what they tell me. Daniel Lee.”
“This is my theatre.” Keeping her arms crossed, Dee tried to maintain her icy composure but in the face of the friendly smile she was getting, it was a pathetic attempt. “And I live above it. There isn’t a room for you.”
“That’s fine.” Daniel retracted his hand and looked around him. “This is an amazing building.”
Dee defrosted a mite more. “It’s been in my family for generations.”
“Beautiful façade,” Daniel said. “And this part must be where the work happens.” He smiled sheepishly. “I don’t suppose you’d be okay with giving me a tour?”
“The hell gate’s in the basement.” Dee jerked her head toward the door to the basement stairs. “That’s all you need to know.”
Daniel sighed. “Fair enough.”
“Hi.” Rosabella appeared on the stairwell from the living quarters. She’d changed into a flowy summer dress that clung to her curves all the way to her ankles. She looked fresh, and sexy, and beautiful. She approached Daniel with a coquettish smile. “Don’t mind my mother; she’s just feeling grumpy.”
With a groan, Dee turned to her daughter. “Stay out of this Rosabella. This is guardian business.”
“You’re always telling me I should get more involved in guardian business.” Rosabella blinked her sea-colored eyes at her mother innocently. “Why don’t I get Daniel settled?”
Daniel flushed to his hairline and stared at Rosabella. “That’s okay. I can show myself around. Like Deandra says, the only thing I really need to know is where the hell gate is.”
“Nonsense.” Rosabella gave him her husky bedroom chuckle and threaded her arm through his. “I’ll show you everything.”
With a triumphant glance over her shoulder at him and Dee, she sashayed away with Daniel in tow.
“Balls!” Dee watched them go with a scowl. “Whenever she appears, trouble is sure to follow.”
