"Alec is kind of—"
"Odd."
She nodded. "He gives me a weird feeling."
"Yeah. Me, too. He's a strange guy. I was glad to get away from him. I need your help, Erin."
Step two in the plan: Make Erin think I want nothing to do with Alec and want to rely only on her.
"What if someone kidnapped my parents or hurt them?" I hoped she couldn't hear my teeth chattering or see my hands shaking.
"What makes you think they were kidnapped?"
"How else would they have disappeared?" I wanted to get to the heart of the issue. I had no time to waste. "They wouldn't have left on their own without telling me. Something's definitely wrong."
"But why would anyone want to kidnap your parents?"
Good point. I had to think fast.
"No idea," I said quickly. "But I'll do anything, anything at all, to get them back."
There it was. Step three: Make her believe I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save my parents.
A slight smile crossed her lips. "I want to help you. We're almost to my house. We'll decide what to do." She almost sounded believable.
"I can't even think about losing my parents. We don't really have any money, but I'll do anything to get them back." I said it again for emphasis, hoping to fool demon-Erin into believing that I trusted her, since she was my only link.
She stopped the car on the street in front of her house and we both got out.
Inside her house, I collapsed on the couch. "Do you think I should I call the police now?" I wanted to see how she'd react.
Erin sat next to me. "I think people have to be missing for like 24 hours or something. At least, that's how it is on TV."
"It's been longer than that."
"I'll call my godfather. He'll know what to do, because he was a cop in New York for a long time." She punched in some numbers on her phone. "Hey, Jack. It's Erin . . . good, thanks. You? . . . Yeah, I have a friend here who thinks her parents are missing . . . last night . . . What should we do? . . . Really? . . . You're sure? . . . Okay. Thanks . . . You too." She ended the call. "He said we should write down everything about your parents, and then we can file a missing persons report."
I wasn't getting anything useful from her, and I assumed she'd just alerted the demons that I was in her house, which meant that I needed to act fast.
"Okay, I'll write everything down so I can file a report. I don't know why anyone would want to hurt them. We're regular, normal people. I don't get it."
She shrugged.
"I wish I knew who had them because I'll do whatever it takes to get them back."
Erin looked at me. Her eyes dulled for a split second, but it was enough to send my heart into a spasm. I had to keep my mind clear and focused.
"I'll get you some paper to write it all down."
Erin left me in the living room so I quickly texted Alec. "No info yet. You?"
He texted back immediately. "Not yet. Be careful."
I was about to text Alec back when my phone rang.
Nate.
Deep breath. Breathe in. Breathe out. Another deep breath. I had to answer it.
"Hi Nate."
"Erin just texted me that something has happened to your parents."
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry." He wasn't. In fact, he was probably the one who took them, but I needed to act like I didn't know that.
"Thanks." How many other demons know I'm back? And how long will it be until they launch an attack? I willed my popping nerves to settle down.
"Can I see you?"
Before prom, I had loved to hear those words. Now it made me want to vomit.
"I'd like that," I forced myself to say. Nate suspected something about me and my freezing abilities, but I hadn't ever let on that I knew he was a demon, and I intended to keep it that way.
"Where are you?' As if he didn't know.
"Erin's."
"I'll be there in a little while."
"Okay, bye." I braced myself to see him. Maybe, if I acted it well enough, he'd let something slip, and I'd be able to find out what he knew.
Erin walked into the living room. "Was that Nate?"
I nodded.
"I hope you aren't mad that I told him." Of course she told her demon partner. I'd expected that.
"No. I'm glad you did." I pushed the prickly words out of my mouth, hating how they sounded, but I had to keep up this act and hope it was believable.
"Is he coming over?"
"Yeah." I tried to act as normally as possible, but tremors traveled down my arms and settled in my fingers.
She raised her eyebrows. "Do you want me to disappear?"
The thought of being alone with Nate made me ill, but I'd probably have better luck if we were alone, especially since Erin wasn't giving me anything helpful. "Maybe for a little while. I need to work some things out with him." I paused for effect. "I've been wrong."
"You have?" Her mouth fell open a bit.
"Nate and I belong together. I should've never freaked out like I did. I know he loves me, and I love him. I need him right now." The words tripped on my tongue and left my stomach in knots, but they had to be said.
Erin smiled. I wanted to smack it off her face, but I forced myself to smile back.
"I hope he can forgive me for acting so ridiculous about what he said to his friends. It didn't mean anything." I hated having to say these things. I had to remind myself that it was all to save my parents, which made me feel a little better.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll forgive you. The two of you really do belong together. I'm surprised, though, that you can even think about Nate with your parents being gone." She said it in an I'm-trying-to-trip-you-up-to-see-if-you're-telling-the-truth way.
"I feel like I need Nate to help me through it. Is that bad?"
"No." She studied me. "I guess you really do love him, don't you?"
"Yes." I smiled. "I do. And having him with me during this whole thing will help me so much." I stiffened, waiting for her reply.
After a few tense moments, Erin said, "You're right. He'll be great. And I'm here for you too. We'll figure this all out."
"Thanks for being my best friend." If only she really were my best friend, because I desperately needed the real Erin. I hated that a demon was inside her and promised myself that I'd get the demon out if I could.
So far, the plan seemed to be going well. Hopefully, I'd have my parents back soon, and maybe I could even save Erin and Nate from their demons. Then I'd get on with my life and forget about this whole mess.
"Who knew I'd come to this hick town and find my old friends?" Vincent said.
"We were never friends," the woman shot back. The loathing in her eyes excited him. Electrified him. Encouraged him. Hatred, anger, vengeance—they could all be used to hook new followers.
"Come now, Pamela, is that any way to treat your husband's old roommate?" He smiled.
Pamela glanced up at Vincent with a clenched jaw. He was sure she'd dismember him if she had the opportunity.
He turned to the sandy-haired man. "And, Matthew, buddy, how long has it been?"
"Not long enough," Matthew said, his eyes flaring.
"I'm the one who should be upset." Vincent circled around Matthew. "After all, I offered you the world, and you not only refused, you ran." The memories blazed across his mind.
"I had no idea what you were really up to. I thought it was a legitimate business." Matthew's voice betrayed his emotion. Vincent drank it in.
He leaned down to face Matthew. "It is. It's just a different kind of legitimate." Vincent laughed as he stood.
"Oh, please," Pamela said. "You're nothing but a lying, selfish manipulator." Even after all these years, she was as desirable as he remembered.
Vincent clicked his tongue. "Always so judgmental, Pammy."
"Don't call me that."
How he loved to hear the rage in her voice. Despite her demure appearance, she'd always been fiery.
"You used to laugh at my nickname for you. Remember?" He reached over and ran his finger along Pamela's cheek.
"Leave her alone," Matthew spat.
Vincent turned his attention back to his once best friend. "Ah, Matt. We could've done so much together. Think of all we could've accomplished. You had such potential. And instead you decided to do what?" Vincent paused for effect. "Become a preacher? I suppose you've spent all of these years preaching against me?"
"I could never be part of this." Matthew looked around with disdain in his eyes. "What do you want with us?"
"You? Well, you happen to be icing on the cake, actually."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Pamela demanded.
"I had no idea you two would be part of the package."
"Package?" Matt said.
Vincent sat on the edge of a dilapidated desk. "Your daughter, of course."
Fear rose in Pamela's eyes, which sent a rush of thrills throughout him.
"What do you want with her?"
"As if you don't know. Come on, Pammy, let's not play games. Give me some credit for intelligence." He cleared his throat. "Let me see if I have this right." He laced his fingers together. "You've been teaching her to embrace the Light. Since she has enough power to disturb the connection between my associates and their partners, I assume you've been doing so for many years. Why?"
Neither Matthew nor Pamela spoke.
Vincent watched them. "Tell me why."
Still they said nothing.
He slammed his fist to the desk, and they both jumped in response. "Because you've been grooming her. Training her to fight against me and my associates. You are part of The Covenant, aren't you?"
"No!" Pamela shouted.
"Now, now, don't be coy. You're part of the group that's trying to destroy me, and you want to use your daughter to help."
"We are not part of any group." Matthew eyed his wife. "We've been in hiding since—"
"You abandoned me. All these years, you've been hiding from me?" This was too delicious. Vincent had been searching for Matt for years to exact his revenge, and now here he was—dropped in his lap. Matt's betrayal had hurt Vincent, wounded him, deeper than he wanted to admit, and now it was his turn to reciprocate.
"Yes, we've been hiding from you," Pamela said with emotion.
"And teaching your daughter to embrace the Light?"
"Yes," Matthew said. "Once I knew what your organization was really doing, I knew the only way to protect her from the Darkness you were trying to spread was to teach her to embrace the Light."
Vincent narrowed his eyes. "Congratulations. You've done an exceptional job. Few have that kind of Light. How you kept her hidden all of these years is surprising, to say the least. Her potential power is unlimited, though I'm confident she has no idea how to use it." He wanted to break her. To own her. To absorb her power. Added to his own, he'd be unstoppable. Knowing the power would come from Matt's daughter made it all the more pleasurable and satisfying, even intoxicating. He'd harness her power and he'd make Matt and Pam pay for what they'd done to him so many years ago. Revenge was sweet, especially when it was so easy.
"She won't serve you," Pamela said, determination on her face.
Vincent smiled. "You don't think so?"
"No."
"Ah, but I have something she desperately wants." He laughed.
"You make me sick," Pamela said, her light blue eyes blazing. "No wonder Sarah took your son and left you."
Anger burst through his veins at the mention of his family. How dare she? As hard as he could, he slapped her. She let out a scream and blood oozed from the corner of her mouth. He slapped her again. And again.
"Stop it!" Matthew shouted, attempting to free himself from the ropes binding him to the chair.
Vincent raised his hand again, but realized that he'd let himself lose control. Not wise. Not prudent. Not his plan. Both Matt and Pam needed to be alive to watch helplessly as their daughter sacrificed all of their teachings to save their lives, to know that all they'd done to protect her was in vain. He'd soon own her and her power. And they'd know they had failed. He lowered his hand and smoothed his hair. "Your daughter will be my crowning jewel, and she will do what her parents were too weak and fearful to do."
"She won't follow you. Ever."
Pamela's defiance amused him. In the face of utter defeat, she still chose to defy him. Fascinating.
"Yes, yes, you've said that she won't follow me, but I'm certain that she'll reconsider. She may not be willing to give herself for her own sake, but once she sees what I have planned for the two of you, she'll break. I only hope she does it before it's too late for you."
"You underestimate her," Matthew said.
"I underestimated you years ago, but I learned from that. In fact, you taught me a great deal, Matt. I don't make that mistake anymore."
"When we were freshman—"
"I foolishly thought I could get ahead by playing by the rules. By doing 'the right thing.' Ha. I soon learned that if I didn't want to wallow in poverty like my mother, I had to do whatever it took to get ahead. So I made a deal."
"A deal?" Matthew looked at him.
"Best thing I ever did. When I first summoned the demon, I was unsure about my choice, but he convinced me that together we'd eventually rule the world. Now we're one in purpose, mind, and body, and the world is ours for the taking." He leaned in close to Matthew. "And you could've been part of it."
Jack walked into the room. "Sir, we have information on the girl."
Vincent smirked at Matthew. "Perfect."
The doorbell rang, sending anxious twitches through my body. I opened the door. Nate stood on the porch in his loose-fitting jeans and green polo shirt. He stepped inside and hugged me, his touch making me queasy and sending my nervous system into spasms.
"I'm so sorry about your parents."
He almost sounded sincere. "Thanks." The sooner this was over, the better.
Erin walked into the room. "I gotta run an errand. I'll be back in a while." She said it with a smirk that I was sure was meant for her demon partner. They probably thought they had me right where they wanted me, but I had another plan—a plan that had to work.
Nate and I were alone. I moved over to the couch and took a seat. Nate sat next to me, making my nerves sting up and down my arms. I can do this.
He spoke first. "Look, I'm really sorry about everything that's happened. Things got kind of crazy and I have no explanation except that I was scared I'd lose you. Can we start over?" He gazed at me with demon-infested eyes.
I didn't want to agree. My brain shouted at me to say no, to run from him as fast as possible, but I played along, hoping to get some information. Any information. My parents had already been with the demons for too long, and I worried about what terrible things the demons were doing to them. "I'd like to start over too."
"Maybe we should go out looking for your parents." He acted so innocent, when he was probably the one that kidnapped them, or at least he'd helped with it. I wanted to slap him. Hard.
I wiped my moist palms on my pants. "Do you want something to drink? I think there are sodas in the fridge." I needed to get away from him for a minute so I wouldn't scream.
"No, thanks. How about I give you a shoulder massage? You look really stressed." He moved closer to me, and I gritted my teeth. I didn't want his hands on me—I didn't want him anywhere near me—but I had to make him think I trusted him.
"Okay. That'd be nice." I forced a smile.
"Crystal?" It came out stifled, like he didn't mean to say my name.
I studied him over my shoulder. "Yeah?"
"Oh, uh, never mind." He laid his hands on my back, and his strong fingers began to knead my neck. His hands moved effortlessly over my shoulders, releasing the tension. Against my better judgment, I let myself enjoy it. After several minutes, his lips landed softly on my neck. I cringed, but allowed him to kiss me.
He turned me to face him. "I've miss
ed you, Crystal. You're the only one for me. I love you."
I gazed at him, seeing his lies etched across his face.
He traced my hairline for a moment and then brushed my cheek. His touch made me nauseous. "Let me love you, Crystal."
I sat motionless, trying to convince myself to say something to encourage him. After several long moments I said, "I was wrong."
He peered at me. "What?"
Pulling courage from every part of my body, I pushed out the bitter words. "I love you, Nate. I should've never run away. I'm so sorry about prom. I don't know what came over me." I hated how the ugly words sounded, but I had no choice. "I want to be with you."
"You do?" A sickening smile grew on his lips.
I convinced my head to nod. "But right now all I can do is worry about my parents."
"Let me take your mind off them." He moved close enough that his foul breath coated me with his filth.
"No." I stood and stepped away from the couch. "I can't do anything until I know they're okay." Turning back to face him, I made sure there was plenty of room between us. I didn't want him to try to attack me again. I needed to keep control of the situation before it got to that point, but I also needed to convince him that I was serious.
Nate watched me and, I assumed, worked through ideas. If I could string him along with the idea that we'd get back together, maybe I could get enough on my parents' location so The Covenant could rescue them. Maybe then, if I did have the gift to cast out demons, I'd be able to release the real Nate from the demon that held him.
He stood and stepped toward me. "But, Crystal, I want to show you how much I love you right now."
"I know you do. And I love you." The words stung as they left my mouth. "But I have to concentrate on my parents. I'm so worried about them. I can't think about or do anything else." I touched his shoulder, letting my hand linger there for a moment.
Give me some information, you demon creep.
"Do you have any idea what happened to them?" he asked.
"No. I came home from rehearsal, and they were gone. There was some blood in the kitchen. I'm so scared." I threw my arms around him and buried my head in his neck, thinking that would make me more believable.
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