Sex and Trouble by Marilu Mann

her father had even died. She could have gone on as she was and never known about demons and witches and any of this.
    The arrival of the food was a welcome interruption to her train of thought. She dug into the salad and made appropriate noises as James launched into the story of how he’d met her father. If he was to be believed, her father was part Svengali and part Fagin who had taken a young, naїve but talented James LaPierre under his wing. Still she wondered why he had approached her father and how he had even found him. Was there some sort of witchy Yellow Pages?
    Excusing herself after the meal, Mari went to the restroom as much for a bio break as for a brain break from James’ nonstop me-me fest. Washing her hands, she looked into the mirror to check her lipstick.
    “Rosier!” Her yelp echoed off the tiles in the room. “What? How?”
    He held up one hand. “I can travel by mirror to you and you only, Mari. I wanted to apologize. I’ve been waiting for you to go to the restroom forever. Please. I know I was heavy-handed today about LaPierre. But you truly need to be careful around him. He has power, and you are not protected when you are not in the house. Not yet.”
    Ros paused. He tilted his head slightly inspecting her carefully. Mari barely stopped herself from fidgeting. “What is it?”
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    “I think I am wrong. I think you may have some small protection now. Are you wearing anything that was your father’s? There is a tangible sense of his power on you right now.”
    She shook her head. “No. I don’t have anything of his on me. But I do think James was trying to work magick on me. He used my full name and I almost told him yes when he asked me to give you to him.”
    His head jerked away from the mirror. “He what? Mari-girl, you must tell me everything. He may be working a spell of demand on you.”
    Mari nodded. She chose to not ask him why he called her Mari-girl. A small part of her liked the nickname. Walking away from the table, she had felt as if a net were loosening from her shoulders. And for whatever reason, she trusted Ros’ snarling more than James’ smiles. “I told him I’d have to think about it. Ros, is it true that there is a two-week grace period?”
    The wince told her before he nodded. “Yes. That is true. You can offer me to another magick user.”
    “Is that time limit also a part of your release?”
    Ros put one hand up to the mirror. She had to restrain herself from placing her own palm against his. “Yes, Mari, it is. If you do not share release with me three times before this fourteen days—now twelve—is up, you will not be able to release me.”
    His fingers curled into the mirror. “But I need you to tell me what LaPierre did that made you—”
    The door to the restroom opened. Mari whirled around as Ros vanished from sight.
    “Your boyfriend told me you weren’t feeling well. Is there anything I can get you, ma’am?”
    The waitress swept a curious glance up and down Mari, leaving her feeling wanting. She shook her head as she gathered her purse. “He’s not my boyfriend. I’m just putting on some fresh lipstick.”
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    She looked pointedly at the door. “You can tell him I’ll be right out.”
    “Oh okay.” Just before she shoved the door open, the waitress added, “You know, he’s very powerful. I wouldn’t deny him what he wanted.”
    Mari shrugged. The last thing she needed was advice from a total stranger. Bad enough she had James telling her one thing and Ros another.
    As she walked back to the table, she realized she had a real problem. Who to trust?
    All she had to do now was figure out which one to believe. Rosier who could melt her with a touch—was he using his Demonae powers on her? Or James LaPierre whose touch felt slimy but whose voice was so mesmerizing? There were more questions to be answered by both men.
    James gave her an unctuous smile as she smoothed her trousers before she