Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

questions that have no definitive answers. ”
    “Some things have no answers,” she said. “I speak from personal experience.”
    “True. That’s what so challenging about the fascination with mysticism Edward and I share . We’ve spent many evenings of deep philosophical conversations. He mentioned you have similar curiosities.”
    Was Compton feeling her out, and if so, in what capacity? She’d been right. He liked living on the edge; otherwise, why would he risk expos ure ? Because he thought himself above everyone, with no boundaries , able to pursue whatever he wished .
    Diana decided to play his game. He wanted to determine if she ’ d be amenable to his dark philosophy. She glanced at Slater, now expressionless. A slight doubt crept over her, like a fleeting cloud obscuring the sun. Am I playing the game with one person…or two?
    “When I was younger,” she said, “I became interested in the occult. C ertain things are almost a rite of passage in the young―reincarnation, preoccupation with death, belief or disbelief in God. Maybe that’s why I was so sensitive to the goings-on in your house on Parkside Avenue, Mr. Compton.” She walked farther into the room, taking in the expensive accessories, searching for anything to shed light on the Comptons ’ dark side. She saw nothing. “When I saw the symbols on the wall, I felt the connection. My childhood was out of the ordinary, but I still went through the stages of curious exploration . The occult seemed like the next step.”
    “What do you mean? The next step to where?” Slater asked , his face bright with interest .
    “Obviously, I possessed a gift apart from the perceptual or intellectual, with direct access beyond the external world, a subjective force, if you will. I wanted to explore it more thoroughly.” She couldn’t decipher what she saw in Compton’s face ― curiosity, anger, or was it smugness?
    “What happened?” Compton asked.
    “I found the study interesting but never a path into the spiritual world beyond. No witches or magic. No resurrections. Most discoveries fell into the realm of hoaxes ― charlatans sucking their poor marks into paying a small fortune to see their dead husband or child , phony séances . No, Mr. Compton, I’m afraid there is no other side. A t least no portal I can enter.”
    Compton’s face froze into a smile, disturbed only by a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Slater’s furrowed brow now sent a clear warning.
    “So you believe the occult is hogwash,” Compton probed . “That there is no dark force?”
    He’s forcing a response. How far can I go before I push his warning buttons?
    “Oh, there is a force , s omething unexplainable. I’m a perfect example of that. And, yes, sometimes it is dark. Times in my past I ’ ve been burdened with feelings so black I couldn’t breathe. But is it the work of Satan? I hardly think so. One must believe in Satan , and I don’t. Do you, Mr. Compton?”
    Compton broke into a broad grin, but there was no mirth in his eyes. “No, Diana , I don’t. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to connect me with the s atanic cult operated by the man who rented my house.”
    “Not at all, sir , b ut you do seem inordinately fascinated by my abilities .”
    Slater stepped forward. “I’m sure Silas ’s curiosity is more about the mystical aspects of your gift, Diana . ”
    His voice sounded tense and cautionary. Diana sensed he intervened to redirect the prickly di alogue between her and Compton.
    “Ah, gift . Such an elusive word. Many times I thought it more a curse than a gift. R emember,” she said, trying to smooth things over, “I was very young and idealistic. Most of all, inquisitive. Why did I have this gift ? I couldn’t imagine the force that created it. I still don’t understand why or how it works . Sometimes people have difficulty separating my psychic powers from the mystical. As I told Edward, I stopped intellectualizing my abilities long ago, gave up searching , and let things fall into place wherever they landed.”
    “You’re a fascinating woman, Diana. I ’m honored to know you. I hope we can delve more deeply into these subject at a more convenient time.” Compton paused, but his eyes never left hers . “Just the two of us.”
    A darting glance toward Slater revealed nothing. “It would be my pleasure, sir,” she said. They started toward the main hall. “Is your wife interested in mysticism, Mr.