In one horrible incident, Omar had pointed a sword at Heather on the beach while he was conducting a Wiccan ritual on the Windward side of Oahu. She and Heather and Rod had gone to watch. It had been raining that night and there was thunder and lightning. A lot of electricity in the air. A lightning bolt had come out of the sky and hit Heather directly in the chest. She almost died.
Michelle, still wearing the gloves, got tissue paper and wrapped up the diamond, placing it in a large envelope, and sealed it shut.
She glanced around. Lucifer was asleep on his cat tree across the room. She went over to him, stroked his soft white fur to wake him, then picked him up. She wanted him with her for protection if she was going to see Omar.
“I want you to come with me,” Michelle said. Luce licked her chin and gave a great pink yawn.
She took the elevator up to Omar’s penthouse. Lucifer began making some soft sad meows as she went down the hallway and pressed the button to his suite. He laid his head on her shoulder, one arm tight around her neck, still making sad protest sounds.
She heard a woman’s voice through the intercom. “Who is it?”
Look through the peephole, dummy, Michelle thought. “I have something for Omar.”
“He’s busy right now.”
Michelle knocked again. After a long minute the woman finally opened the door. It was one of Omar’s witches. He always had a few of the most beautiful women staying with him. This one was no exception, with long white/gold hair, wearing an abbreviated Muumuu, revealing lots of cleavage. “My name’s Wendy. You brought Lucifer back.” She reached out to take the cat.
Michelle backed away. Lucifer wasn’t meowing. He was making disturbing moans. “I want to give this envelope to Omar in person.”
The woman glanced over her shoulder, smiling. “Uh, he’s busy right now. He was in jail a long time, you know?”
Probably fucking one of his witches, Michelle thought, with distaste. “Just take the envelope. It’s sealed. Don’t open it.”
“Lucifer is chewing your hair,” Wendy said, laughing, and taking the envelope. “I’ll give it to Omar when he’s...not so busy.”
She slammed the door shut.
Michelle finally understood Lucifer was having a kitty panic attack. He was still whimpering and chewing on her hair.
“You poor thing,” Michelle said, when she could get Lucifer’s arm unlatched from around her neck and look him in the eyes. “You thought I was taking you back to Omar? That will never, ever happen. It’s you and me together, Luce. For as long as you want to be with me. I’d never let Omar have you again. Now let’s go home.”
Lucifer was always like her shadow, following her about, but that night he wouldn’t let her out of his sight for even a moment.
***
Wendy knew she would be next. Omar was a sex stud. She should get ready, primp and fluff, but the envelope was intriguing. Of course, she knew who the black haired woman was who had handed her this package. She hadn’t expected Michelle to be as tall or attractive, the way the others gossiped about her. She was supposed to be a natural witch—this woman Omar was so fixated on. As if he didn’t have enough gorgeous women around him already, Wendy thought resentfully. Omar had given his prized cat, Lucifer, to Michelle—the cat everyone knew was a serious killer even though he looked like a tiny sweet kitten; the cat Omar wouldn’t allow anyone to touch or play with.
Wendy weighed the envelope in her hand and squeezed it. Something inside was round and hard, but she thought she felt it move through the paper. Wendy studied the seal on the envelope and flicked the edge of it with a long red nail. A small part came up and she slipped the tip of her finger inside the tiny opening and pulled carefully so it wouldn’t tear, making it obvious she opened it.
Something cold slid into her hand. She pulled off the tissue and gazed at the most beautiful gem she had ever seen. Wendy’s eyes widened. Wow! It glinted a rainbow of colors into her eyes and she wanted to keep it forever.
Wendy looked around. She couldn’t hide it—Omar would know. But she could hold it for a while. There was whispering inside her head. She found out where she could get one of her own. A beautiful diamond only for her...just for her. She walked like she was in a daze outside on the patio. Her gem was there in the deep blue-black sky when she looked up. It was just like the one she held in her hand, but this one was hers. She reached up but it was just a little too far.
Wendy climbed up onto the balcony railing. First she knelt there swaying a little bit—she didn’t look down. Omar’s penthouse was at the top of the building, twenty-five stories up. If she could just stand on top of the rail, she knew she could get her very own gem to keep forever. It danced brightly, hovering just out of reach. It had to be the most beautiful, dazzling thing she had ever seen; Wendy had to get it. She balanced carefully as she stood, waving her arms. Damn. Just out of reach. She stretched up on tip-toe...
***
“You were going to tell me about that necklace,” Mike said. He and Heather were sitting on her lanai patio, enjoying the view and the beautiful warm Hawaiian weather. They were sipping Mai-Tais Heather made with rum, orange curacao, a lime and some orange juice.
Heather smiled, “You said you were open-minded?” She felt a little trepidation about telling him. It involved rape, witchcraft, Necromancy, and psychic powers. He might think she was bonkers. He might be too pragmatic to believe her. Heather decided to go ahead anyway. She was curious about how he would
