Page 17

Souxie Lafayette

“Professor Akeem…or should I call you Carmichael Holmes?” I asked. Taking my small coat off, I stared at my former professor sitting across from me in the small diner that felt like it only remained open for the two of us. We were still in Cedar Park, just the outskirts where there might have been a local grocery store, a gas station and this diner that sat on the edge of everything far and distant. The blinking neon lights above flashing 24 reflected on the window.

The small wrap-around counter in the center was managed by an older woman who had the height of a child and the face of someone who had seen life in its worst light. She stood on a stepping stool to wipe the counters down as I noticed the tribal markings on her arm. Professor on the other hand sat across from me, eyes watching me over the rim of his coffee mug in his nice basic sweater and joggers. The sparse grays sprinkled in his growing goatee, the youthful brown eyes and slicked edges of his freshly twisted locs, the only thing that showed his age otherwise was the way he dressed. He dressed like an old ass man that sat in a library all day reading the newspaper.

“You can call me whatever you like, Souxie. How are you?” He asked, putting his coffee down. For the record, I didn’t contact this man. Not directly anyway. I suppressed a grin as I thought about the picture of his face locked away in a jar underneath my bed.

Cheap calling spell but it worked .

“I’m doing fine,” looking out the window, “could be in bed by now but…I figured this must be something serious for you to call me.”

“Yeah well,” clearing his throat. He leaned in with his arms sliding against the table. “I called you because you sorta ran across my mind these past few days.”

“Tell me.” I said with a stretch. Pulling my hair with my fingers, I began fluffing it out with a slight turn of my neck to expose it. Just enough to see the flicker of interest in his eyes.

“With everything going on with students missing at these different schools… I just wanted to make sure you were okay and if you heard anything…seen anything.”

“I actually have.” I said with a smile. Sitting up, the short woman walked over with my plate of food, a simple pancake with no syrup and hot lemon water. “Thank you so much.”

“You’ve seen something?” Akeem asked, sitting up with interest. “Well you know I work for the city now. I’m a lead investigator for missing persons and–––”

“I’m aware. I saw you on TV.” I smiled, thinking about that cash reward. I already sent what I needed to send to Jean for him to attempt to collect.

“Souxie?”

“Yes?”

“Are you upset with me?”

“Why would I be?” I questioned innocently.

“Because of how I left…because of what I said to you and now here I am calling you in the middle of the morning to the middle of nowhere. ”

“So you find this strange too, no?” I asked, taking a small bite. “Have you not moved on?”

“I have.”

I stopped chewing as I stared at him, not expecting him to actually say it.

“You have?”

“My ex and I got back in touch with each other and decided to try it again,” he nodded slowly.

“She knows what you are?”

“She does.”

“She knows you like fucking young college girls?”

“Don’t do that. Don’t make me out to be some…sick pervert. Every woman I dealt with has been of age, well over it. Regardless of how childish they act with their games.”

“So why are you here with me?” I asked.

“I told you why I’m here.”

I frowned. Him having a woman somewhat soured things a little for me. I was never the type to attach myself to anyone that was in a relationship. Believed it was bad luck but I should have known.

“It’s going to snow soon.” I said, looking at the night clouds. “Winter is coming early this year.”

“Right around the corner.” He added, still looking at me .

“I apologize for…how I came off earlier.” I turned to face him with a small smile. “Sometimes I can’t help it, but I respect relationships and I respect the art of moving on. No hard feelings on my end.”

“I…appreciate that.” Professor was suspicious, and maybe even a little leery of my admission. “Despite bringing you out here, I really did want to see what you knew about the stuff happening with these missing students.”

“As a matter of fact,” I said, reaching in my bag to pull out a folder I took from the hidden room. “This girl was originally my roommate and now she’s missing.”

I slid it over to him on the table as he began to take a look. I began telling him bits and pieces of what happened, leaving out certain details for him to figure out himself.

“You said she was an oracle?” He asked, looking up at me. “Are you sure she wasn’t a lost or missing soul? The two can get confusing.”

“She was an oracle. I saw it with my own eyes,” I declared. “Now they’re acting like she didn’t exist in the school when really…Also, the missing girls from Society Hill are here as well…”

“They’ve been running lab work…” He muttered. Akeem began reading through the paper. “I knew Wilhelmina was crazy but this…this is fucking insane. Your roommate being an oracle means she knew she was in trouble before it happened. Even if she didn’t realize it, they have the ability to move from one body to the next in order to preserve themselves. You can’t actually kill an oracle. Wilhelmina knows this. You can kill the carrier but not the ability itself because it’s not a living thing. It’s pure energy…moving light. It’s…not of this world..”

“You’re sounding more and more like a professor,” I smiled. He grinned. “Do you miss it?”

“Some parts of it, I do but I enjoy this more. I enjoy being on the field more.”

“I wish I would get the opportunity but somebody put me out of my own major.” I playfully teased. He looked up from the folder to stare at me.

“If you want an internship at the agency, I can get you in…”

“Us working near each other?”

“I’m barely in the building half the time,” he said. “Think about it.”

“What are you going to do with this information?” I asked. “Now that you’re aware.”

“Well once I confirm everything…we’ll go from there. Since she is who she is, I’m sure Wilhelmina will find a way to get out of this but the number one priority is the missing students. We’re talking wives, husbands, teenagers… There are over 60 students that have been reported missing and they all come from the major schools here at the Underground.”

“My father is going to call in with the exact same tip and a little more information,” I said. Akeem looked stunned, almost impressed that I had the nerve to withhold more information but I had my reasons. Never fully trust a man I slept with and two… That money was needed for Asha as Jean planned on legally adopting her so she could officially have a family in the Underground. “I expect Jean Lafayette to get some form of reward or another.”

“I got you.” He smiled with a nod. “Anything else?”

We stood outside of the diner, just in front of his unmarked truck as I leaned against the door. Akeem stood before me, eyes darkening by the second as a sharp cold wind blew between us. My entire body was throbbing in response to the closeness. I played it cool when I wrapped my arms around my chest to keep warm.

“I wish you all the best in life, career, and love.” I said, scooping the sandy brown strays from my face to tuck behind my ear.

“You’re ready to get back to the school, huh?” He laughed as I nodded.

“It’s cold out here sir…I’m barely dressed…”

We both looked down at my lounge sweats and little coat as Akeem dragged his gaze up my body, looking a bit out of it until his drunken eyes met mine. I looked off into the distance, seeing the orange glow of the clouds from the sun starting to rise .

“Do you mind taking me back now?” I asked, cutting through the sexual tension between us. Disappointed but understanding the risk behind it, the professor nodded.

“Alright.”

We stared at each other as I brought my sleeve to my lips to keep my hand warm. Grinning, I broke the intense stare to laugh as Akeem smiled.

“What?” He asked. “What’s funny?”

“You. You’re just staring at me.”

“Am I? I didn’t even realize it.”

“Mmm. hmmm…. Aren’t vampires afraid of the sun?” I teased, nodding towards the open field. Akeem sighed like it was such a terrible fate.

“Folklore I’m afraid. White people never did well in the sun. You know us…we thrive off of it. You ready?”

“I’ve been ready… You’re the one staring at me while I’m trying to lay in some sheets and catch some sleep…”

Akeem’s lips parted for a moment. He wanted to say something but instead he leaned close to open the door. I started to laugh because what even is this sir? What are we doing? What am I even doing? I felt my hand come to his side, clinging at his jacket when he looked at me. With the sun slowly rising from the east, an orange glow bouncing off the side of our faces, Akeem cupped my chin to lift and meet his lips for a deep longing kiss. My heart collapsed and felt like it was thumping around in my stomach trying to fight for its life .

My walls that were strong, steady and intact always crumbled to dust when this man was around and all it took was a kiss to be exposed. So I pulled back with my hand gripping the back of his neck as I stared up at him.

“We can’t,” I whispered. “I deserve a man who isn’t afraid of himself when he’s with me…”

Akeem stared at me, lip twitching like he wanted his fangs to come out but he was fighting it. Exactly my point .

“And a man who isn’t in a relationship,” I teased, taking my thumb to gently swipe his lower lip free of my saliva. Akeem didn’t even deserve to taste me after I was gone. He playfully pulled my thumb in between his teeth for a small suckling kiss before nodding.

“You’re right.”

“I know,” I smirked. “Now take me back to Drew Collins, please…”