by ML Guida
“It’s not in the fucking closet,” Brayden grumbled.
Ignoring him, Blade walked over to the empty twin bed and lifted the mattress, but only saw the box spring.
He walked over to the dresser. Brayden darted in front of him. “There’s nothing in my drawers.”
“Uh, uh, move.”
As Brayden pushed on his chest, Blade smiled in amusement. “Really?”
“Now, get the fuck out of my room!” Brayden huffed and puffed, his face turning bright red.
Blade grabbed his arm and tossed him to the side. “Seems like to me you’re hiding something in there.”
Brayden shoved him. “It’s my stuff.”
Blade was surprised. The kid was stronger than he expected. Was it due to the board?
“Brayden,” Abigail said. “No.”
Blade grabbed his shirt and shoved him away. “You’re trying my patience, boy.”
“Blade, we don’t—”
“Abigail, search his dresser.”
“I hate you,” Brayden spat.
Tears welled in Abigail’s eyes as she opened the dresser drawer, filled with underwear and socks. She skirted her shaking hands around. “There’s nothing here, Blade.”
Frustration burned in Blade’s gut. This sucked. How did humans ever find anything? It was so much easier being a demon or an angel.
Brayden snatched a pair of red underwear and dangled it in front of Blade’s face. “Want to see me prance around in my underwear? Get you all hot?”
Blade pinched his wrist hard, and Brayden winced. “Ow.” He dropped the underwear into the drawer.
“Thank you.” Blade released him, not caring if the boy was in pain. He was tired of his poor-me attitude.
Brayden rubbed his wrist. “Asshole.”
Abigail put her hands on her hips. “You’ve got to quit manhandling him.”
“Manhandle?” Blade lifted his eyebrow.
“He’s a fucking bastard.” Brayden examined his wrist as if he was afraid it was broken.
“You have no idea,” Blade muttered, ignoring both of them, as he lifted up more T-shirts and muscle shirts in the next drawer but found no board.
When he opened the third drawer, Brayden slammed it shut. Sweat trickled down the side of Brayden’s face. “The board’s not in there.”
Blade and Abigail glanced at each other. He couldn’t help but smile. “Gotcha.”
Brayden braced his legs apart. “Get out of here, it’s my stuff.”
“Not anymore, Brayden.” Blade tilted his head. “Move.”
Suspicion flared in Abigail’s eyes. “What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything.” The wrist forgotten, Brayden pressed his arms against his dresser. “Now leave.”
Blade shook his head. “Why do you insist on doing it the hard way?”
Brayden clenched his fists. “Because it’s my stuff, asshole.”
Blade towered over Brayden. “Get away from the dresser.”
“No.”
Blade wanted to smile at the kid’s tenacity. Not many humans or demons or angels ever stood up to him. Only his brother, Scythe, dared to challenge him. But with the others, Blade usually got his way with a scowl or intimidating stance. Since Brayden wanted to do it the stupid way, he decided to oblige him.
He grabbed Brayden’s arm to toss him out of the way when Brayden slammed his fist into Blade’s jaw. Blade released him and rubbed his throbbing jaw. He was surprised the kid had one hell of a punch.
Brayden swung again, but this time, Blade caught his wrist, swung him, and wrenched his arm behind his back.
“Ow, let go of me, you fucking bitch.”
“You caught me once, kid, but not a second time.” He pressed his fingers deeper into the boy’s flesh, knowing the kid would probably have bruises, but the kid left him little choice.
“Fucker, release me.”
“Fine, sit on your bed and shut up. Don’t make me hurt you.”
“You can’t hurt me, you’re a fucking counselor.”
“Really? Have any of the other counselors twisted your arm behind your back and threatened to break it?”
Blade twisted harder. Not that he would break Brayden’s arm, but he had to get in the damn drawer. Brayden’s soul depended on it. He frowned. A few weeks ago, he wouldn’t have hesitated beating the crap out of the kid and sending him to the hospital. Why the difference now?
“Okay, I’ll tell you the truth. Just let go of my arm. Please.”
The kid was trembling, and instead of sounding like a thug, he sounded like a terrified little boy. Blade immediately released him.
Brayden held his arm close to his waist and edged away from him. “It won’t come to me.”
Blade stilled. “Why?”
Brayden hung his head. “I’ve tried, but it never comes.”
“So you know what it does?” Abigail asked.
“Of course, it answers questions foresees the future and allows people to speak to the dead.”
Blade held Brayden’s defiant stare. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“What do you mean who do I think I’m talking to?” Tears welded in Brayden’s eyes, but he blinked them back. “I’m talking to my parents.”
Abigail released a mournful sigh.
Blade turned his head to allow the boy to gain his composure. One of Ringmaster’s devices was for the board to zero in on the human’s weakness. Obviously with Brayden it was a direct hit. “How do you know you’re talking to your parents?”
Brayden rammed his shoulder into Blade’s gut. “Fuck you.”
Blade gripped his shirt and yanked him off the ground. “I asked you a question, boy.”
Abigail slapped Blade on the arm. “Put him down.”
He lowered Brayden to the floor. “You’re making a mistake, Red.”
“You want to know how I know it’s my parents.” Brayden glared at Abigail. She actually took a step back. He pointed at her. “My mom admitted she committed suicide because of her. Because of her, my mom’s dead. Because of her, my dad ran away. I hate Abigail. I fucking hate her.”
Abigail halted and turned her head. Her red hair hid her face.
“I—,” Brayden yelled.
Blade raised his fist, ready to knock the kid’s teeth out. “You say one more word and it will be the last thing you ever say.”
Fear flashed in Brayden’s eyes. “Fine.”
Blade lowered his fist. “Good.”
Brayden stomped over to his bed. “Get out of my fucking room.” He opened his computer and sat on the bed his legs crossed into a pretzel.
Blade shook his head. “It’s not here.”
Abigail sniffed and wiped her glistening cheeks. “What do you mean it’s not here?”
“His new drug of choice.”
Hamilton and Brian walked into the room. “What’s going on in here?” Hamilton demanded.
“Drugs?” Brian scanned the room. “Where? Did you search his room?”
Brayden slammed his fists onto his mattress. “I am not using anything. Do a fucking UA, if you don’t believe me.”
Blade rubbed his chin. Telling the truth was out of the question. “LSD. He thinks he is communicating with his deceased parents.”
“What? You’re a fucking liar.”
Blade gave him a half smile. “Care to say what your obsession is?”
Brayden flipped him off.
Brian motioned. “This way, dude.”
“Fucking sucks.” Brayden stormed out of the room with Brian trailing him. “I’m not using. He’s a liar.”
“How did you know?” Hamilton frowned.
“Sneaky suspicion.”
Abigail shook her head. Obviously, she thought it was a dumb lie, but what did she want him to say? Hamilton refused to believe what was going on, even after seeing Natalie attack Callie. The fool.
A female counselor entered the room. “Um, Hamilton?”
“What?”
> “There’s a man here insisting on talking with you.”
“Who is he?”
“Says he’s from human services.” She jerked her thumb downstairs. “Natalie’s new caseworker, but he doesn’t look like any caseworker I have ever seen. Rock star, yes. An Axl Rose wanna be.”
Shit, Ringmaster.
Blade sprinted out of the room.
“Blade, where are you going?” Abigail trailed after him.
He ran down the stairs, his heart thundering as loud as his racing footsteps. His worst nightmare sat in the leather chair facing the desk Abigail manned. Ringmaster wore a leather black jacket, tight black shirt, jeans, and boots. Blade frowned. Ringmaster’s amusing eyes were a dark green rather than ruby red.
“So, I see you are working here,” he said.
Before he could finish, Blade grabbed his arm, yanked him out of the chair, and threw him against the wall. “What the fuck are you doing here, Ringmaster?”
Running footsteps came down the stairs and Blade released him. Ringmaster gave him a cool smile. He was the same height as Blade and refused to flinch. “If you must know, Blade, I’m on an errand.”
Blade slammed him against the wall. “So, what does Balthazar want?”
“Release me.” Ringmaster gritted his teeth. “Did I say I was on an errand for Balthazar?”
“His stench is all over you.”
“Then your nose is busted, ass wipe.” Ringmaster shoved Blade’s chest, and Blade staggered, falling onto his ass. This was so humiliating.
Ringmaster twisted his neck. “How does it feel to be human?”
“Fine.” Blade clenched his fist and jumped off the floor. He swung hitting Ringmaster smack in the jaw, flinging him into the chair and knocking it over.
Ringmaster sat on the floor and straightened his jaw. “My, my, my. Who shit in your Fruit Loops?”
Abigail ran up next to Blade and grabbed his arm. “Blade, what are you doing?”
“Saving your ass,” Blade growled.
“You want a piece of me, you two-faced ass.” Ringmaster slowly got to his feet.
Blade brushed Abigail’s hands off his bicep. This wasn’t done yet.
“Do these good people know what kind of killer you are?” Before Blade could answer him, Ringmaster punched Blade in the face, smashing his nose.
Pain blinded Blade. Blood dripped into his mouth. As a demon or an angel, Ringmaster never would have hurt him like this, but he was too dumb to stand down, not when Abigail and the kids were in danger. Ringmaster would pick them off one by one then hand them over to Balthazar on a barbecue skewer.
Blade hissed and lunged. He slammed his fist into Ringmaster’s gut, but the bastard grunted, almost more like a laugh. Ringmaster swung his fist and pounded it into Blade’s right eye. Pain battered his head, and he saw red. Ringmaster grabbed his arm, twisting it. “You can’t hurt me, human.”
“Stop it, you two,” Hamilton demanded, but he did nothing to stop them as if he were a frozen snowman.
“Call the police,” Ringmaster said. “He assaulted me.”
“Release him.” Abigail flashed her gaze over them. “I don’t see a scratch on you, but his face is a bloody mess.”
Ringmaster tightened his grip. “You have no idea what he is, angel.”
Blade struggled. “Leave her alone.”
“She's a beauty, I’ll grant you that.” Ringmaster maneuvered Blade into a chair. He released his arm. “I said to call the cops.”
Hamilton came out of his stupor and picked up the phone.
Blade wiped his nose on his sleeve, smearing blood. “Hamilton, you’re making a mistake.” His voice sounded stuffed up.
“They’re on their way,” the female counselor said.
“Great. The cops and the neighborhood are going to have a field day with this.” Hamilton paced around the room. “First, one of our patients tries to eat her best friend and now a counselor attacks…” He frowned. “Who did you say you were?”
“Ringmaster Decroix. I’m Natalie’s caseworker and wanted to find out what happened.”
Hamilton went into his administrative mode. “How can I help you, Mr. Decroix?”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
Hamilton motioned to Abigail. “This is Abigail Malcolm. She was present when Natalie attacked Callie.”
Ringmaster nodded. “I see.”
“I can’t believe you got here so fast.” Abigail flashed those beautiful eyes over Ringmaster and folded her arms across her chest. “Usually it takes a while for social services to get out here. If you even come at all.”
“Yes, pray tell, Mr. Decroix, how did you get up here so fast?” Blade asked.
Ringmaster didn’t even look at him, the coward. He held Abigail’s gaze. “I was actually taking a student to a residential childcare facility and on my way back to the department when I got the call.”
“He’s lying, Abigail,” Blade said. “Don’t listen to him.”
Hamilton squared his shoulders. “Can I see your I.D. please?”
“Certainly.” Ringmaster handed Hamilton a plastic badge with his picture on it with the words Summit County Department of Human Services written on it.
“Abigail, you’ve got to listen to me.” Blade winced as Ringmaster gripped the back of his shoulders, digging his fingers in. “He works for Balthazar.” Blade wanted to flatten him, but he had already been acting like a first class ass, but for the first time, he was out matched. Powerless.
“Balthazar?” Hamilton stopped pacing. “Who’s Balthazar?”
“Your worse fucking nightmare,” Blade murmured.
“I told you.” Ringmaster strolled around and stood in front of Blade. “I don’t work for him anymore. I switched teams.”
“Yeah, right.”
Holding a wash rag in her hand, Abigail rushed over to Blade and edged in front of Ringmaster. She knelt and gently brushed the rag over his face. He winced.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Her fragrant scent of mimosa permeated through him. He wanted to wrap his arms around her, burying his nose in her thick hair. His hands slowly released the arm chair, and he took a quivering breath. He focused on her lips, wanting to taste her.
The sirens screamed outside.
She shook her head. “I don’t know what you were doing.”
“Protecting you.”
Chapter Seven
Abigail sat in an orange plastic chair at the Frisco Police Station. She tapped her foot on the brown worn carpet and tightened the long, blue cardigan tighter around her. Even in the summer, the temperature dropped in the evening. Wearing a billowy, white blouse did nothing to keep out the mountain chill. She was thankful she had tossed her sweater in the back of her SUV for the late August evenings. A clock hung on the wall over the counter, ticking slowly.
Outside a glass window, the sun set behind Mount Royal, looming in the distance. A halo of orange and pink clouds hovered over the jagged peak. Pine and aspen trees struggled to grow on her rocky ledges. A police officer sat at the counter behind a glass partition. On the other side of him was a counter without a partition. An American flag dangled from a wooden pole attached to the wall. A metal door with a round glass window must lead into the back where the prison cells and interrogation rooms were located. What was she doing here? She had no idea, but after the cops arrested Blade and Hamilton fired him, she couldn’t get his warning out of her head.
Natalie’s new caseworker’s story didn’t ring true. What kind of name was Ringmaster anyway? Did his parents grow up in a circus? But according to Blade, he worked for Balthazar. A demon—a demon bent on stealing her brother’s soul.
Maybe Blade was half crocked, but how could she explain Natalie? Hamilton wanted to be logical and attribute it to PCP which could give people hallucinations and super human strength. He was stretching the human strength. Tiny Natalie threw off three grown men.
After his arrest, the house returned to normal or as no
rmal as Buffalo treatment center ever was. Brayden still refused to talk to her. When she asked him more about talking to their mother, he told her to go fuck herself. Ringmaster had left as quickly as he came. It was almost as if he was scoping out the place. What if he was?
Ringmaster had said Blade was a killer. What did he mean by that? She tried questioning him after Blade left, but he kept telling her to ask Blade. He left shortly after Blade was arrested. He’d called someone on the phone and it sounded like he had called them Poison. Was that a nick name?
His badge had been authentic, but he didn’t behave like any caseworker she’d ever known. Something wasn’t right. Shortly after Ringmaster left, her shift ended. Instead of going home, she drove to the police station where she sat waiting for the police to release Blade. She had maxed out her credit card to pay Blade’s bail—five hundred dollars. Luckily for her, his bail had only been five thousand dollars so she only had to pay ten percent. Otherwise, she’d be out of luck.
A metal door opened. A young, baby-faced officer came out with Blade strolling behind him. She cringed. Blade’s swollen eye had turned purple and his nose appeared to be crooked. He had a cut on his lip.
She hurried over to the counter.
“I’m Officer Nelson,” the baby-faced officer said. “Your bond has been accepted.” Blade made him look like a dwarf.
Blade looked at her as if he thought it was a dirty trick. “You bailed me out?”
“Yes. I did.”
“Sign here.” Officer Nelson handed her a clipboard with some paper forms. “If he fails to appear for his court appearance, the bail money is forfeited.”
She nodded. “Yes, I realize that.”
“Believe me, I’m not going anywhere,” Blade said. “I’ll be there.”
She quickly signed her name and filled out the form. The pen scratched on the paper, each time rubbing her nerves raw. She wanted answers, but not behind a glass partition talking to Blade on one of those phones where the guards could listen in. No, she wanted somewhere private.
Handing the clipboard back to Officer Nelson, she caught Blade’s half hooded eyes watching her. His penetrating gaze set her skin on fire and her tummy fluttered. Her heart quickened, and in an instant, she changed her mind. Not private. She didn’t want to be alone with him. He stirred feelings in her she didn’t want to acknowledge.
