“One street over, everybody had townhouses,” I continued. “These were houses that were selling for like five hundred grand and would be considered dumps here. Everything in New Orleans is built up instead out, too, so there are a lot of narrow stairways. You just get used to them.”
“I don’t think you guys should use Grosse Pointe as a baseline,” Paris countered. “Everyone in this area is rich because they pay a premium for access to the lake. Three miles that way, houses are selling for ten grand and they have holes where windows should be.”
“That’s a good point,” Zoe noted, slowing as she reached the front of Grimaldi’s house. “Do you think we should go around back?”
Given the size of the house, I was against the idea. “No, because there could be extra gates back there, or gardeners or whatever.”
“This house isn’t as big as the Grimlock house,” Zoe noted. “He probably doesn’t have staff hanging around when he’s not here.”
“Maybe, but do you really want to risk it?”
“Good point.”
I extended my hand to the door and used my magic to tumble the lock before Zoe could unveil whatever trick she had in mind. She nodded in thanks and then slipped through the door, Paris and I filing after her. Once we were all inside, Zoe dropped the dome and looked around.
“I guess money doesn’t buy taste, huh?” She stared at a huge painting in the foyer. It featured a naked woman being chased by two dark creatures in black robes, splashes of blood serving as the only color along the bottom. “That’s ... really weird.”
“They’re wraiths,” I noted, staring at the painting. “They’re wraiths chasing an angel.”
“How do you know she’s an angel?”
“There’s a halo on the ground over here.” I pointed to a different spot in the painting. “This is really dark.”
“Which doesn’t make him guilty,” Paris noted. “Everybody has different taste in art.”
“This guy is a pervert,” Zoe countered, frowning one more time at the painting before turning away. “By the time we’re finished here, I bet we find his collection of ass-less chaps and rhinestone love cuffs.”
“I think rhinestones are cool,” Paris argued.
“You would.” Zoe moved to the stairwell that led upstairs. “Under different circumstances I would suggest splitting up but I think that’s a really bad idea today.”
“No, we have to stick together,” I agreed. “If somebody comes home, we’re going to have to go back under a dome and escape.”
“Good plan.”
WE STARTED ON THE SECOND FLOOR, which was all bedrooms and office space, and then moved back down to the main floor. Other than several more paintings that chilled me to the bone — and an unfortunate goodie box that Zoe insisted on looking through (I was now scarred for life because he really was a pervert) — we didn’t find anything.
That left the basement.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Paris complained. She’d been as horrified by what Zoe found in the sex box as me. “I don’t want to be here any longer. This guy is creepy.”
“I told you he was a pervert.” Zoe was blasé as she hit the basement, her gaze immediately going to the right. “Do you feel that?”
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I definitely felt ... something. I couldn’t quite identify what. Then I heard it — the low hum I’d come to associate with the death gate. When I looked closer at the area to the right, I realized the surface shimmered.
“Is that ... ?” Paris was clearly dumbfounded because she didn’t finish her question. Honestly, there was no need. Anyone who had ever come into contact with the gate below the aquarium recognized what we were looking at.
“I thought gates had to be administered by someone,” Zoe said. “That’s what Paris implied, at least.”
“I thought it was true,” Paris said. “I ... don’t understand this.”
She wasn’t the only one. I moved toward the gate, as if in a trance, and extended my hand. The familiar tingle I’d come to expect greeted me and I snatched my hand back.
“Is it real?” Zoe pressed.
I nodded. “I think so.”
“Where does it go?”
“I don’t know.” None of this made any sense. In fact, I could barely wrap my head around what I was seeing. “I’ve always heard that gates were strategically located around the world. They’re not made, at least not by people on this side. They’re simply discovered and then manned.”
“Yeah, that part of the mythology doesn’t make sense to me either, but that’s neither here nor there,” Zoe said. “I want to know why this gate is here. Do you think he made it?”
“I ... don’t ... know. I wouldn’t think that’s possible except ... this gate is here and it has no business being here.”
“What do you think is on the other side?”
“If it’s like my gate, then it’s a waiting room of sorts before a soul moves on to the other side. It’s like a gray purgatory, although very little happens there ... at least as far as I’ve seen.”
“Right.” Zoe made a popping sound with her lips and then stepped closer. “I’m going to see what’s on the other side.”
“You are not.” I reached for her out of instinct but she was expecting it and easily sidestepped me. Before I could even process what was happening, she slipped through the opening and disappeared to the other side.
“Holy ... !” Paris’ eyes were the size of saucers. “What did she just do?”
“Something stupid,” I hissed, my temper coming out to play.
“We can’t just leave her.” Paris moved to follow but I easily intercepted her this time. “What are you doing? She’s my friend.”
“And I’m going to get her,” I promised. “You have to stay on this side, though, because if we don’t
