To Hell and Back Page 15

  It was three days of the most boring negotiations ever. Even Mel had showed irritation for a few moments. Luce couldn't help but notice that she grew more tired as the hours passed, slumping in her seat as her eyelids dropped lower and lower. This was worse than when he'd been here on business – there weren't any gifts, drinks or interpreters, and his Japanese and Korean vocabulary combined would fit on the back of his hand.

  Every time they broke for coffee, tea or meals, Mel mingled among the diplomats, her sweet smile belying her exhaustion as she spoke. More than that, she listened. Luce didn't know what to do. He was useless in negotiations he didn't understand and Mel seemed to have everything under control, but he wanted to be near her. And the more he watched, the more he saw.

  The businessmen, diplomats and government officials, who had nothing but cold politeness for him, actually listened to Mel. Her smile was genuine when she left one conversation for another, but the deference they treated her with was like nothing he'd ever experienced. Mel belonged in this world – how had he not noticed before? How could he have ever thought she was nothing but a lowly angel, fit only to be an office temp?

  If he'd first met her in this sort of environment, where she strode among humans like their beloved queen, would he have even noticed her like he had in the office? Or would he have dismissed her as not worth the trouble? Would he have even been able to see that she was an angel? The terrifying thought froze his breath in his throat: to have seen her in action, doing what she was so eminently qualified to do, and to have missed out on the sheer joy that was Melody? Had he seen her in the past and ignored his salvation as she sailed by?

  Patrick was right. He was watching the Domination of Earth, demonstrating to even the stupidest devil that she'd more than earned that title. And it looked so effortless, too – though he saw that the constant networking took its toll. These negotiations were wearing her down until he found himself suggesting she rest, return home, have some tea, sit down a moment, grab something to eat…oh, the list went on.

  The exception was Han Dong-Suk. He actively avoided Mel, Luce noticed. The moment Mel entered a room, he left it. On the few occasions that they had spoken, the exchange was always curt and the man's expression seemed more stubborn than ever. Mel, on the other hand, lost her smile for the duration of the conversation and a few minutes afterwards. He didn't need to understand Korean to know that things were going badly for Mel with this man. How could an international agreement be derailed by just one, difficult person?

  That evening, after much bowing and some Western hand-shaking, the delegations from Japan and Korea parted ways. From their stony faces, Luce assumed negotiations hadn't ended well. The moment the door of Koyane's car slammed shut behind her, Mel confirmed it by bursting into tears. Luce pulled her into his arms, but she was inconsolable and her tears flowed without cease until they reached Koyane's house. Holding her so close, Luce shared her pain, too. He felt her heart ripping asunder, witnessing her remembered pain as she burned alive in an inferno that could have passed for Hell…if he hadn't known it was a Japanese city.

  "Mel, it's not going to be the same as it was during the Second World War. There aren't many people living on these islands – they're just uninhabitable rocks in the ocean. Just like the nuclear testing other countries have done on uninhabited islands in the past. Sure, they'll damage the islands and ecosystems and stuff, but it's not the same as a nuclear strike on a city." He felt Mel's pain twist as if someone had slid a knife into her heart. "What?"

  "Mere-san walks the paths of the future. She knows better than any what the consequences of this decision will be," Koyane called from the driver's seat before he climbed out of the car.

  Could the man be more cryptic? "Talk to me, Mel," Luce coaxed.

  Mel sniffed and wiped her tears away. "Luce, what do you think will happen if North Korea detonates a nuclear weapon – or more than one – in Japanese territory?"

  He felt himself grinning. This was a joke, surely. "But it's not Japanese territory. The Koreans say it's theirs and it has been for centuries."

  Mel slowly shook her head. "No, Luce. The Koreans believe it's theirs and so do the Japanese. So imagine if a hydrogen bomb blew up contested Japanese territory. China, Russia, the United States and all their allies would sit up and take notice. And someone would retaliate against North Korea, who have more nuclear weapons."

  Keiko laughed. "You're wasting your time explaining it to him, Murielle-sama. If he didn't understand immediately, he never will. This one's more brawn than brain. A true muscle man – pretty to look at, but no substance."

  "Oh, I understand it," Luce snapped. "I just don't understand why you think any other country would send a nuke against a city, even if North Korea does detonate one of theirs on those rocks. I mean, humans aren't that stupid. Not even their governments are. They know what would happen."

  "The man in charge of North Korea's arsenal doesn't," Mel said softly, the flood of tears starting again. "Han Dong-Suk knows nothing of Hiroshima or Nagasaki. And if foreign powers attacked his businesses, as his company builds and runs nuclear power plants throughout Korea, he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate. He's a man who doesn't care about public opinion – he makes his money in an industry that the world demonises. Sorry, Luce. He doesn't care if people hate him, as long as his businesses make money." She wrenched off her seatbelt.

  Luce followed Mel into the house, still sharing her pain through her death grip on his hand. He wanted to wrap himself around her and heal all her hurt, but he had no idea where to start. Heartbreak wasn't like physical pain, with a physical cause that could be healed, even by an angel as clumsy as he was.

  "You help just by being with me," Mel murmured, resting her head against his chest as she stepped out of her shoes.

  "If your way doesn't work, my people have other means that are not as honourable by human terms." Keiko flashed a feral grin that made Luce think of sharks. No, definitely not human. He wondered if the girl ate humans or if she did something worse to them. His bet was on the nastier side that made cannibalism seem nice. "But humans are dishonourable by our people's standards, so I see no need to hold back on their account," she added.

  Koyane held up his hand. "Murielle-sama has not admitted defeat yet, Keiko-san. We wait for her, as this would not be her first miracle."

  Mel smiled through her tears. "Thank you for your confidence, Koyane, but any further action on my part will have to wait until morning. My heart is too heavy tonight to see through the darkness in this matter. Perhaps in the morning light my course will be clearer."

  "Then let's go out for dinner and karaoke!" Keiko cried, clapping her hands as a wicked grin lit up her face. "Singing solves most problems, I find. I wish to hear Murielle-sama's voice and demonstrate mine."

  Luce snorted. "You won't. Mel doesn't sing."

  "Yes, I do in Japan, my love," Mel interjected. "Karaoke here in Tokyo is a much more private affair than in London. I think Keiko is in for an unpleasant surprise – I'm a terrible singer. But I wouldn't miss it for the world, if only for another amazing performance from Luce here." She lifted her teary eyes to meet his and he felt her yearning lace through the undercurrent of pain.

  "Anything for you, Melody," he said.

  Koyane jingled his keys. "I'll lock up the garage, then."

  Luce stared. "Aren't we going out?"

  "Sure, Muscle Man, but we're walking," Keiko returned. "I would like to hear Murielle-sama's opinion on the lovely new tempura shop around the corner and the karaoke bar is only one street further. Driving home after karaoke is illegal in Japan!" She laughed as she led the way out to the street.

  Humans had some crazy laws, then, Luce decided, following Mel.

  The two women ordered drinks while Koyane and Luce picked up the song menus, then all four of them squeezed into a booth with worn vinyl sofas and a table scarred from what looked like decades of drinks.

  "What did you order?" Luce asked. He'd tried a few Japa
nese beers and he didn't mind them, but this didn't look like the sort of place to have the top-shelf whisky he preferred.

  "Ooh, a bit of everything," Keiko said airily. "Mere-san said this is your first proper karaoke, so no half-measures."

  Mere-san? What was with the strange nicknames?

  Mel kissed his cheek. "I promise you'll enjoy it, my love. And the drinks menu's on the wall by the intercom, so you can always order something else if you want." She waved at a poster that was covered in Japanese characters.

  "Mel, I don't speak or read Japanese," he objected.

  "Then trust me. Even if I can't persuade stubborn diplomats, I can read a drinks menu. And karaoke calls for cocktails." Her smile had returned, even if her pain lurked underneath. Could none of the others sense it – just him? A glance at Keiko's and Koyane's smiling faces gave him his answer.

  "Mel," he began, then changed his mind and said, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

  She slid along the blue vinyl until her leg pressed against his. "Yes. Just because the negotiations didn't go well, doesn't mean I must be miserable. There is still hope – there always is."

  Her heavy heart made the words sound like a lie. But Mel couldn't lie, which meant she believed it. She could be wrong, though…

  Luce nodded, opening one of the music menus. Nothing but Japanese writing. He sighed and closed it again.

  "Here's the English one, my love," Mel said, handing him a folder that looked exactly the same as the others. A quick glance at the first page told him she was right about this, at least. Well, mostly. He wondered if The Rowing Stones were a cover band, an unfortunate typo, or a comment on Mick Jagger's music. Maybe all three, he decided, using the remote to pick a few of their songs.

  Keiko and Koyane had already keyed in their selections, so he wasn't surprised to see Keiko pick up a microphone and start singing something that he didn't understand a word of. She had such a lovely voice, though…far too lovely for a woman who said such unpleasant things the rest of the time. In fact…

  Luce blinked as the microphone landed in his lap. He looked up. Where in Hell had all the drinks come from? The table was full of half-drunk cocktails and, as his gaze landed on each of them, his brain reminded him what they tasted like, as if he'd sampled them all.

  Keiko cleared her throat. "I said your song, Muscle Man."

  Luce stared at the screen. Britney Spears? No, he wouldn't have picked this. And he sure didn't remember picking anything after the first couple of Stones songs. "Sing it yourself or skip it," he snapped, throwing the microphone back. He glanced around for Mel, then realised that she was the warm weight sleeping against his side. How long had they been there? No longer than ten minutes, surely. Not enough for Mel to fall asleep! His watch told him he'd lost three hours. What the Hell?

  Keiko's knowing look suggested she was responsible for his lapse in concentration, but Luce didn't know how. "Did you drug my drink?" he asked.

  She laughed. "Stupid Muscle Man. I don't need to resort to poisons to control your mind. Though I did enjoy your little striptease as you revealed all the muscles. So did Mere-san."

  Striptease? Not that he minded getting his gear off, but missing Mel's reaction hit Luce hard. "Mel?" He patted her shoulder, trying to wake her.

  "She won't wake until she chooses," Koyane said quietly. "Let her sleep. She is trying to find a way to a clear future that doesn't end in war. She said the future was too clouded for her to see."

  War was inevitable? No wonder Mel was so heartbroken. Too many would die if war erupted here. Someone needed to tell that stupid human to stop what he intended to do. Divorce his weird wife and take up a hobby. Or find a sane girl. Well, he could help in the divorce department.

  Luce rose, lifting Mel in his arms. "I'll take her home, then. I'm not letting Mel sleep on some sofa in a bar when she could be comfortable in bed."

  Keiko looked put out, but Koyane simply nodded and held the door open for them.

  A barrage of truly terrible singing assaulted him as soon as he entered the passage, but Luce used the cacophony as cover to whisper to Koyane, "What did she do?" He jerked his head at Keiko, who'd picked up the microphone again. "I only remember her starting to sing, then nothing."

  Koyane's smile was bland. "Keiko is a siren, Lucifer-san, and a song is all she needs to ensnare a man's mind. Our kind are not normally susceptible, but you seem to be an exception. Ask Mere-san, for she will have more answers than I do." He stared at Mel, the same way Patrick had when he'd thought Luce wasn't looking. "Please take good care of her."

  Luce gritted his teeth. "I always do."

  He carried her back to Koyane's house, but he wasn't sure how to get his key into the lock without putting her down. And the dark, deserted street wasn't the best place for that.

  "Mel," he began tentatively. "We're home. You fell asleep again, this time at the karaoke place. Any chance you can wake up and help me unlock the door?"

  He waited, then leaned in and whispered her name again before he kissed her. He felt her smile before her eyes opened.

  "What is it, Luce?"

  "I need you to stand up or help me open the door."

  "Where are the keys?"

  Luce jerked his head to the right. "My pocket."

  Blood rushed to all the right places as Mel's fingers slipped into the depths of his hip pocket. She unlocked the door and together they opened it. He shuffled in sideways with her before setting her on the step. A few seconds of clumsy moonwalking and he'd managed to take his shoes off. Mel had slumped against the wall after removing one of her shoes, so Luce finished the job and lifted her again.

  Elbowing aside the screens that barred his way, he laid her carefully on her futon and stretched out beside her. "Do you want me to help you change out of your clothes?"

  "Mmm," she said, turning onto her side.

  Luce laughed, then set to work on her blouse buttons. "Mel, can I ask you something?"

  She sounded slightly more alert. "Of course, my love."

  "What happened in the karaoke bar? Keiko started singing and I woke up three hours later."

  "Keiko is a siren. Her song controls men's minds. Women's, too, possibly. I'm not sure. I'd never seen her do it before. I had no idea it would affect you so strongly – neither Koyane nor I experienced such a response. She didn't force you to do anything except forget the time she had you under control, but I noticed that your responses were slower. She's angry because we wouldn't let her use her mind control at the meetings. She said she could have changed the outcome, but Koyane preferred to find a more lasting solution, and I agreed. Now…once I leave, Keiko has sworn she will act as she sees fit to protect the islands." Mel sighed. "I can't take away a human's free will, or Keiko's, if it comes down to it. So I'm trying to find another way, but I can't. I just can't, Luce."

  Her smile had slipped away as tears surfaced again.

  "If anyone can find a way to stop a nuclear war, it's you, Melody," he said. "I love you. No one else could save me but you, so I have every faith in you."

  Her heart twinged again and Luce's did the same as he shared her pain. "Love can't fix everything, Luce. When a man like Mr Han's heart is broken because his wife refuses his affections, nothing will stop him until he manages to win her back. Mr Han's obsessive love for his wife is the reason we're here and the reason we failed. It can harm as much as it can heal – maybe more in this case."

  "She told me he didn't want her. I guess she lies about a lot of things." Lying, manipulative bitch, Luce added in his head.

  "No, Mr Han said she didn't want to sleep with him and he wasn't lying. He's doing this for her – for love, if you can believe it."

  Someone needed to tell Han Dong-Suk that his wife wasn't worthy of his love – she was a kinky, cheating bitch who manipulated other men into having sex with her.

  Luce tucked the quilt over Mel's naked body, wishing he could join her. "You just concentrate on getting some sleep. I've seen how exhausted yo
u've been this week – you need rest."

  Mel covered a yawn. "I know…but more important is finding a path through this mess. Such a clouded future…it's as if my being here is making the future impossible to see. Yet I've done nothing that could have far-reaching effects on the future of these two countries this trip. I've been worse than useless."

  It wasn't her presence causing the clouded future, but his own, Luce was certain. He could fix this mess. He didn't need to see the future like Mel did to know that a messy divorce would keep a man occupied for a long time. That's why she'd brought him, right? To help? Then he would – the way he knew best.

  "You're never useless. Just tired. Everything will look better in the morning," Luce promised.

  He watched and waited while Mel's eyes slid shut and her breathing evened. When he was certain she was fast asleep, he rose and crept back to the entry for his shoes. If Mel didn't get to rest, no one else would, either. No one made Mel's life difficult with him around. Time to raise Hell in the Han household.

  Luce hammered on the door a third time. He didn't want to kick it in, but if he had to, he would.

  He'd just raised his fist for a fourth try when the door flew open, framing Sunny in a kimono that gaped open at the front, revealing…perhaps one of the last sights he wanted to see.

  "I saw you on the video monitor and I rushed down as fast as I could. You came to see me again! Come in, come in!" she gushed, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him inside.

  He shook her off and strode past her into the darkened house. He almost tripped over the collection of shoes at the bottom of the steps. Shit, what was with the shoe-removing ritual here? Grumpily, Luce bared his socks and stomped up the steps into the house proper.