“Adessia, Lennox, this is Lucky, the demion I was telling you about,” Demetri says, nodding to me.
Lennox regards me coolly while Adessia holds out her hand. “Lucky, it’s nice to meet you. We’ve heard such interesting stories.”
“I’m sure you have,” I mutter.
“Pardon?”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” I fake a smile and take a drink. I’m just not in the mood for socializing tonight. Making acquaintances with new demons requires a certain mental energy that I just don’t have right now, even though the Source Energy is firing up my insides in all the right ways.
Lennox sits down next to Vincent and Demetri, and they huddle up and start talking amongst themselves. Much to my annoyance, Adessia takes a seat on my other side and focuses her attention on me.
“I heard what happened to Bones. I’m so sorry for your loss,” she says.
Her words catch me off guard. My loss. Like I misplaced him somewhere, or I lost a soccer game or something. I debate whether I should kick her in the face, or use her body as a punching bag.
“Did you know him?” I finally ask. She nods solemnly.
“For many, many years. He was one of my favorites.” She looks down and frowns.
My eyes narrow. “Favorite what?” If this bitch isn’t careful…
She pushes her long, blonde hair back from her ethereal face. “I, too, serve as a Guardian, but in the land of Bakettle. I’ve had the honor of meeting with him on several occasions over the centuries, and it was always a delight. Almost makes a demon wish she were human, just for the pleasure of being able to fall under his seduction!” She lets out a tinkling laugh, but I fail to see the humor. Somehow the thought of some horny demon lusting after my dead best friend doesn’t exactly have me rolling in the aisle.
I stand up. “If you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be—”
But Adessia quickly reaches out and stops me. “Wait, please! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was hoping we could talk more… Maybe even be friends.”
I turn and stare at her. Never can I remember meeting a demon who right off the bat asked if we could be friends. Naturally I’m suspicious, but something about her earnest face makes me want to at least hear what she has to say. After all, I do need allies here.
I sit back down and take another sip of my drink.
“Thanks. Again, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d still feel upset. I forget that as a demion you can’t shut off your feelings like I can. I was crushed when I heard about Bones, but now look at me!” She gives me a bright smile, and it’s all I can do not to slap it off her pretty face.
“Yeah, you got me beat there,” I mutter. So far I’ve done a pretty decent job of keeping my anguish at losing Bones wrapped up in a tight little ball squashed down in the pit of my stomach. One day, when I’m ready, I’ll take it out and let myself feel the agony. But not yet. Not now. It will kill me, and there are things I need to deal with first.
“Sometimes it’s nice to have another girl to talk to,” Adessia continues. “I’m usually surrounded by guys, and only come into this world on occasion. Although with all that’s going on lately, we seem to be coming in a lot more.”
I frown. “What’s going on?”
She shrugs and twirls a lock of hair around her finger. “Just all the craziness in Thiberoux.”
I glance over to the guys. Demetri and Lennox appear to be engaged in a heated conversation, but I catch Vincent looking at me. He tilts his head in sort of a reassuring nod and returns his attention to the others.
I turn back to Adessia. “Like what?” I ask, suddenly feeling very homesick. Despite the horrors that happened there, Thiberoux is my birthright. It is as much a part of me as my hair and skin.
She shakes her head and frowns. “A lot, and none of it good. There’s been more fighting and skirmishes there in the past two weeks than there’s been in the past two centuries. That’s why Lennox and I came in tonight. We need to counsel with our connections here and pool our resources. The outbreak of fighting amongst the clans is unprecedented, and with no apparent reason. The Legionare is all but spent trying to quell all the skirmishes, but so far they’ve only been escalating. Pretty much for the past week straight all hell’s been breaking loose, and I do mean that quite literally.”
“What about Dryndara?”
She shakes her head again. “I’m not exactly sure, but I think Lennox is filling in Vincent and Demetri now.”
I glance at the guys again, and this time Vincent’s face is drawn tight. His jaw is clenched, and I can practically hear the wheels in his head turning as he listens intently to Lennox. I wish I could hear what they’re saying, because judging from Vincent’s body language it isn’t good.
Adessia pulls me back to her. “Hey, let’s go grab a drink at the bar and then dance. I always feel so cooped up when I’m in this body… I need to have some fun!”
I give her an incredulous look. “No way. We should stay here. See what’s going on—”
“Pooh pooh. It’s nothing that can’t wait half an hour.” She waves her hand and smiles. “None of us are going to solve the problems of this world or any other tonight. So we might as well dance and sort it out later.”
I can’t believe I’m considering her proposal, but maybe she’s right. The guys seem to be deep in conversation, and I have to admit the beat of the music has me tapping my feet and strumming my fingers. Or maybe that’s just my nerves. Either way, maybe getting lost in the dance floor is exactly what I need right now. I need to do something to work off this pent up energy building inside of me.
I turn to Adessia.
“Lead the way!”
********
Close to an hour later Adessia and I collapse on one of the strategically placed sofas, laughing and exhausted.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a long cigarette. I look at her, curious. “I’ve never met a demon who smokes before. Demion, yeah, but not a demon.”
She gives a coy smile. “This isn’t a normal cigarette. Actually, it helps me to breathe. It regenerates my fire.”
“Your what?”
With a mischievous smirk, Adessia quickly glances around to make sure the coast is clear. We’re off to the side behind some trees, and away from the main action below the stage. There are Sapies mingling around, but none close enough to see exactly what it is we’re doing.
She tilts her head back and opens her mouth. Suddenly, a stream of black and orange fire shoots out several feet into the air.
“Ha ha, that’s cool. I just have this…” I demonstrate my fireball abilities by quickly making a few and bouncing them around.
She nods. “That’s cute. I can spit volcanic fire over a hundred yards with the velocity of a speeding bullet and with bulls-eye accuracy.”
“Holy crap. Can you kill Light-angels?”
She shrugs. “I’m a pure demon. Of course I can.”
My mind quickly flashes back to when Kieron and I fought with the Light-angels at the cabin… and how it was Bones’s ashes that eventually killed them and saved us when our powers were useless. Even in death, Bones was still stronger than Kieron and me combined.
“But it works both ways. They can kill me, too.” Adessia reaches into her pocket and pulls out a lip gloss and dabs it on.
“Can you kill demons?” I mutter.
She laughs. “Sure, I do it all the time. Fortunately I’m sanctioned, so I can take liberties. Why, who do you want rubbed out?” She leans toward me and raises her eyebrows.
Wow, she must be really high ranking. I let out a deep breath. Where to start? The Amazèa for casting my curse and keeping me hostage for as long as they are allowed to live? Gyan for betraying all of us and getting us caught? The evil Abbaton for reducing Bones to ash?
Yes. Yes. Yes.
“Abbaton is already dead. Haven’t you heard?”
I look at her, my eyes and mouth open wide.
“Oh, don’t
be so surprised. Your thoughts were so loud and angry, I’d have heard them even if I wasn’t a telepath!”
I grimace and lean away from her. “I hate it when you guys go barging in there uninvited. My mind is my own business.”
She shrugs. “Sorry, wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. But you practically shouted the answer.”
“What do you mean Abbaton is dead? How is that possible?”
“I told you, a lot of things have been going down lately. It happened right after the incident with Bones, I believe.”
Good. That’s what that piece of shit deserved.
“But how? I mean, I thought he was the leader. The strongest one. How could he get killed? And did it hurt? Please tell me he suffered immense, excruciating pain.”
“Darling, don’t you know? No matter how strong or powerful someone is, there is always someone or something stronger and more powerful. The Legionare is not the boss of things. They are simply the muscle. They take orders.”
“And someone killed him?”
“Him and dozens of Legionare troops. Heard it was an ambush. And something about some veneficus calx being involved, but I’m sure that’s just a rumor. Everyone knows those have been extinct for centuries.”
“What?!” My eyes open wider, but I quickly recover. The veneficus calx are the stones Bones and I gave the Hlbafa in exchange for our freedom from their prison. The deadly stones could kill any demon within a certain range. The Hlbafa must’ve gotten their revenge for Abbaton and the Legionare showing up and wiping out half their tribe.
Good for them.
“I wonder why no one told me anything,” I mumble. “Good news should be shared.”
“Maybe they’re trying to protect you.”
I’m quiet for a moment, thinking of the implications of her announcement. “Does Vincent know that Abbaton is dead and the Legionare is spread thin?”
She nods. “He does. Anyone who’s been to Thiberoux knows. Hell, even those who’ve been banished and haven’t been there in decades know.”
Except me, apparently.
A thought slowly forms. “If he’s dead, then I’m not banished anymore, right?”
She raises her eyebrows and shakes her head in warning. “It doesn’t matter if he’s dead, the bounty still stands. That means you’re fair game to all, and any demon can kill you with no repercussions whatsoever.”
“Screw them. I’ll take on anyone who tries. I certainly wasn’t going to take on Abbaton and the Legionare, but if they’re no longer an issue—”
“That’s a risky little game you’re playing, child.”
I meet her gaze dead on. “I’ll tell you what’s risky. Risky is them killing the people I cared about more than anything, ruining my life, and thinking I wasn’t going to get my payback one way or another. I am an Aequitas Demon. Justice and Revenge are who I am. What I was born to do.”
I stand up and brush myself off. Now is the time. I know it.
Adessia looks up at me from the couch. “Lucky, you can’t get your revenge on someone who is already dead.”
A slow smile spreads across my cheeks. “It’s not Abbaton I’m after.”
Frowning, she studies me until a flicker of understanding registers in her pale eyes. “No. You can’t. They are too powerful. Too strong.”
I can’t help but chuckle to myself. “What did you say…? There is always someone stronger and more powerful? And now that Abbaton is dead and the Legionare is scattered and fighting bigger battles, it’s time for me to take care of something I should’ve done long ago. Fix this once and for all.”
“But they are surely hidden. Imprisoned in the darkest of places. You’d be walking into a lion’s den, and at the worst possible time.”
“No. This is the best possible time. Because even though my curse isn’t guaranteed to break if they die, it definitely won’t break while they live. Every breath they take is an insult to Michael and Kayla, Ivy and Cody, and to me and Liora. I only let them live for a very specific reason last time. But now things have changed. I need to kill them, and I need to do it now. Because if I don’t get my soul reunified before some Light-angels get ahold of Liora, then it will be the end of the world as we know it. And I for one am sick of hiding out like a scared chicken waiting for something to happen. I’m more in the mood to go kick some ass.”
Adessia stares at me, her mouth agape. But she doesn’t argue.
A sense of certainty unlike anything I’ve ever felt settles over me. There is no other way. This must happen. And it must happen now.
I’m going to my rightful home, and I’m going to kill those Amazèa bitches, and I’m going to take my life back.
And this time, no one will stop me.
Chapter 18. Lucky
I struggle to open my eyes, and see Vincent kneeling on the floor, staring at me. He looks concerned… and confused.
“She’s back,” he says.
Who’s back?
I feel a gentle rubbing on my shoulders and glance around. Adessia is sitting beside me on the couch, holding my hand.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I don’t know. But I think you fainted?” She stares at me wide-eyed. “You were getting pretty fired up, and then poof, you just sort of sat back down and nodded off, like you fell asleep or something.”
“That’s weird.” I shake my head and sit up straighter. I’m pretty warm, but other than that I feel perfectly fine.
Vincent looks at me carefully. “Are you okay?”
I nod.
“Demons don’t just faint, you know.”
I stand up and shrug him off. “First time for everything. Maybe someone roofied my drink. Speaking of, I could really use another.”
“Stay here,” he orders. “I’ll get it for you.”
I’m a bit put off by his tone, but I nod and sit back down, my mind still on what Adessia just told me. Abbaton is dead… the Legionare is in shambles. Who would notice, or even care, if a little ol’ demion went wandering into Thiberoux? Of course it’ll take some planning. I’m not going to be so stupid this time. I don’t regret trading my chance to kill the Amazèa for Kieron’s freedom from the Legionare, but circumstances have changed. And I’m not letting this opportunity slip through my fingers again.
“Here you go.” Vincent returns and hands me my drink. As I chug it down, he turns to Adessia. “Can we have a moment?”
“Of course.” She gives my hand a quick squeeze before gracefully rising and float-walking back to the VIP area.
Vincent takes her seat beside me, obviously still concerned. He seems to struggle for words. “Are you feeling better?” he finally asks.
That’s it. I’ve had enough.
I finish my drink, set the glass down, and turn to him. “Why are you doing this?” I ask him, my voice low.
“Doing what?”
I can feel my irritation build as I gesture back and forth between us with my hand. “This! The way you’re looking at me… acting as if I’m some sort of precious possession to you. I mean, we just met like five seconds ago, and you keep acting all… ugh! You know I have a boyfriend, right?” And that my heart is breaking for my real love…
He stares at me. “Yes, I know.”
“Then what is this? What are you doing to me? What’s with all the sexy vibes and concerned protection like I’m your… your…” I break off, not sure what I want to say.
He raises an eyebrow. “My what?”
I shake my head. “Like I’m your lover or girlfriend or something. Just stop it!”
Vincent lowers his gaze and is quiet for a moment. “Yes, I know we just met,” he begins. “And I’m very sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. That certainly was never my intention. But the truth is I am concerned for you and your well-being. That I won’t apologize for. And it is my job to make sure that you are guarded and safe from harm. Any harm. You are precious, and I will die before I let anything happen to you.”
I take a breath and stare at
him.
“And as for these ‘sexy vibes’,” he continues, a mischievous twinkle lighting his normally serious eyes, “well, I wasn’t aware I was doing that. I’ll try and keep it down.”
I shake my head and look away. Is he kidding me right now? What the hell is this?
We sit in awkward silence, the tension so thick I can barely stand it. I’m just about to get up and leave when he asks, “Are you happy?”
I turn to him, incredulous. “Is that a joke?”
“I’m quite serious.”
“Why would you even ask me that?”
“It’s a simple question.”
“Ha! Simple my ass. That’s the most loaded question ever. But the short answer is no. No, I’m not happy. I’m really pissed off about a lot of things right now.”
“Like what?”
I stare at him. Part of me wants to talk to him, to trust him. But another part knows how stupid that is. Demons cannot be trusted, especially ones I hardly know. And I cannot open any more emotional doors with this guy than I already have. I don’t care how hot he is.
“Like a lot of things I’m not getting into with you.”
He leans back into the couch and crosses his long legs. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry, and I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. I just want to keep you safe. My nature, my soul is one of a Guardian. So I apologize if I come off a bit strong sometimes.”
“It’s okay,” I mumble. Now I feel foolish. “It’s me. I’m just stressed, I guess. Sorry.”
“Don’t mention it—”
“Hey, Vincent, my man!” Some guy comes up from behind us and pats Vincent on the back, breaking our moment.
Vincent looks at him, and his face lights up. Wow, he’s got an amazing smile.
“Rodrigo, my old friend, how are you? I haven’t seen you in ages!” Vincent stands to shake hands with the tall, dashing man with the pointy black eyebrows and silver goatee. For some reason he reminds me of a carnival barker. “What’s it been, fifty… sixty years?”
The Complete Demonblood Saga Page 58
