Cortney helps Lex to his feet. I’m relieved to see his wound has stopped bleeding, but he leans heavy on my friend.
“You need a healing sigil,” I tell him.
“On it.” Andrew steps forward. He pulls his shiny stylus from his pocket and quickly draws the sigil. Lex’s face immediately relaxes.
I feel guilty for not insisting Lex get the mark sooner. Academy students aren’t fully trained in drawing sigils, but one of them should’ve tried to help him.
“Thanks, man.” Lex tells his mentor.
“Any time.” He casts his attention to the side of the room. I follow his gaze and see Logan staring at me.
I quickly look away.
“You sure you can make it up the stairs?” I ask my brother. “Ladros can carry you.” The bulky mundane steps forward, ready to help.
“I’m fine,” Lex huffs. He looks better, but he still leans on Cortney. I wonder if that’s out of necessity or a desire to be close to my friend.
“Come talk to me later?” Cortney eyes flick meaningfully towards Logan.
I resist the urge to cringe. “Yeah. Sure.”
Cortney nods, then the pair move slowly to the door, following the rest of the students. Before they cross the threshold, Lex sees Logan staring gloomily by the door. He hesitates.
“You okay here, Aspen?” Physically, Lex may be weak, but I know that won’t stop him from staying back and performing his protective brother duties if I ask him to.
I offer what I hope is a convincing smile. “I’m all good.”
Lex weighs his options. His eyes travel to my right, landing on Belial. Whatever he sees in the original demon’s expression is enough to convince him I will be all right. With a nod, Lex turns and lets Cortney lead him out of the room.
Andrew approaches Logan. “We should go get cleaned up, too.”
Logan’s eyes pierce the side of my face. “I need to talk to Aspen.”
It takes everything in my power not to groan.
I take a deep breath. “Can it wait?” I want to go check on the others, and I want to avoid this conversation for as long as possible.
“No.”
Belial steps forward. “It can wait if Aspen needs it to wait.”
Logan’s glare shifts to the demon. “I wasn’t speaking to you.”
“No, but I am speaking to you.” Belial snaps. “I should throw you out on your ass after the harm your misguided antics caused. Don’t overstep your welcome here.”
Andrew’s hand collides with Logan’s chest, holding him back. “Logan, chill out.”
Logan has to know there’s no way he would win a fight with Belial. He’s a fool to antagonize him.
Still, he ignores his best friend, and spits out, “I don’t even want to be here.”
Belial’s tone is ice-cold. “Then leave.”
The anger and hatred between Logan and Belial is stifling. I can’t take it. I won’t take it.
Without a word, I walk to the exit. I’m nearly there when Logan’s hand snaps out and grabs hold of me. “Aspen, please—”
Before I can even try to pull away, a purple bolt of power crackles against Logan’s wrist.
“Ah!” He jerks his hand back, cradling it against his chest. He whirls on Belial. “What the hell?”
“Do not touch her,” Belial growls. The menacing sound makes my stomach clench.
The muscles in Logan’s jaw twitch. “Oh, I can’t touch her, but you can?”
The original demon stomps forward, leaning over Logan with a promise of violence. “Exactly.”
Hatred, pure and intense, emanates from Logan’s glower.
“Enough.” I move and push Belial back. I have no illusion that I’m actually strong enough to move the formidable demon, but he steps back anyway.
I stand between the two, glaring at Logan. “Look. I don’t want to talk right now, but I promise to talk to you tomorrow. Okay?” It’s the last thing I want to do, but I will make this concession if it will end this possibility of a fist fight between him and Belial.
My ex-mentor’s glare fades when his attention shifts to me. “Aspen, I just—”
“No,” I practically shout. “Stop it. Not everything is about you. Today was a crap day, and the past few weeks have also been crappy for me. So just back off.” I leave without waiting for his response. I hear a grunted exchange as I reach the bottom of the staircase.
A gust of wind lets me know Belial is behind me.
That, and the fact my skin tingles with static electricity.
I climb up without a word.
Belial follows.
“So,” I can hear the smile in his voice, “It seems my little mountain has her fire back.” He sounds positively gleeful.
It irritates me to no end. “Oh, shut up.”
To my greater irritation, Belial simply laughs.
Chapter Seven
The safe house isn’t as large as Belial’s mansion, but it’s far from quaint. Even with fifteen new residents moved in last night, there’s still plenty of space to go around. Olina told me she’d tried to set my peers up in individual rooms, but they all insisted on grouping together. It’s smart. After all, they are in an original demon’s house.
I sit outside, staring at the scraggly wildlife bordering the property line. It’s a far cry from the scenic forest surrounding Belial’s mansion, but the cold fresh air helps clear my head, keeping me outdoors.
“There you are.” I turn and watch Cortney walk toward me. “You didn’t come talk to me last night.” She stops beside me, worry drawing her eyes tight.
“I thought you could use some rest.” I say on a whim, knowing I don’t want to tell her the truth.
The real reason I didn’t seek her out was because I was too afraid I’d run into Logan. I stayed up half the night trying to figure out how best to handle the fact we now live under the same roof. But despite my best efforts, I have no idea how to proceed.
I don’t have much experience with guys, but I do know I’m not the kind of girl who pines after someone who’s taken. Even if that someone is an amazing Guardian and makes my heart flutter and stomach tighten—or used to.
At some point, I will have to face Logan and have the mortifying conversation. I was just a fling for him. Not even really a fling. We’d only kissed a couple times. My feelings for Logan stem from the emotions of the lonely little girl he found on the streets of Chicago, whereas his were just those of a young man forced to be in close proximity with his female mentee. I was a fool if I ever thought otherwise. I’m embarrassed just thinking about it.
I aim to distract myself from the mortifying thoughts.
“Where did you say Peter is again?” Shortly after I hid myself in my bedroom, I realized my second closest friend was unaccounted for. I’d texted Cortney to ask if he was all right, and she assured me he was. Other than that, I have no information about him.
Cortney sits on the grass next to me. “The Michaels forced him to withdraw from the academy not long after we returned from winter break.”
“Really?”
She nods sadly.
“But why?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. But my best guess? The Michaels know what really happened to you in that warehouse and it scared them. Enough to pull their heir out of the public eye.”
I mull that over, remembering Azazel’s Guardian prisoners in the warehouse. “I guess if anyone would know the truth in spite of the head minister’s lies, it’d be the prominent Guardian families.”
“Exactly.”
We sit in silence, both of our heads spinning, as we look out into the thick brambles.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call.” My soft voice can barely be heard above the breeze swaying through the tangled trees.
From the corner of my eye, I see Cortney look at me, but I’m too much of a coward to meet her gaze. “Why didn’t you?”
I sigh, and my head falls forward. “I don’t know. I guess I wasn’t coping well with everything. I let emotions
drown out common sense. I lost myself for a minute.”
“Hm.” She hums. “That’s pretty much what Belial said.”
My head snaps up. “You spoke with Belial?”
She tilts her head to the side, taking in my surprise. “He didn’t tell you?”
“No!”
She chews her bottom lip, debating. Then, she finally admits, “Belial has kept Lex and the Van der Klays up-to-date on your state ever since the warehouse. He’s even reached out to me a couple times to let me know you were okay.”
I am absolutely floored, but should I be?
Belial and the Van der Klays communicated prior to the attack in the warehouse. Charles and Vivian had even been invited to the original demon’s mansion to visit me. Why am I surprised to hear he’s been updating them about my wellbeing?
Because his thoughtfulness makes you feel things you shouldn’t.
I quiet the disorienting voice and clear my throat. “That was really nice of him to do.”
“It was,” Cortney agrees. I’m relieved when she doesn’t press the matter.
We resume staring out into the distance.
Minutes later, she murmurs, “I’m sorry about your dad.”
I close my eyes tight and take a steadying breath. The memory of my father’s determined, bright green eyes plays in my mind. “I… I didn’t even get a chance to know him.”
“I know.”
A hot tear rolls down my cheek. I keep my eyes closed, hoping in vain to hold back the rest of my tears.
“Oh, Aspen.” Cortney’s arms wrap around me. Her curly hair brushes my cheek as she rests her chin on my shoulder.
A sob escapes me. I return her embrace, clutching tight, and burrow my face into her shoulder.
I haven’t shown this much emotion since that horrible night, and now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to stop.
I cry for several minutes. My tears soak through Cortney’s plum knit sweater.
Each time I try to pull myself together, a fresh wave of tears burst from my eyes.
Finally, I am successful.
I lean back, swiping under my runny nose and watery eyes. Cortney releases me and offers a small, sad smile. “I think you needed that.”
I sniffle. “Yeah… I think so too. Sorry for soaking your sweater.”
She waves away my apology. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s what best friends are for.”
It’s my turn to return her small smile.
“So.” I swallow back my lingering emotion, aiming for something more lighthearted, and less likely to make me cry. “You and Lex are still a thing, huh?”
I feel victorious when Cortney’s cheeks color. “Uh… Yeah. Kind of.”
“Kind of?” I raise a brow. “What does that mean?”
“It means we haven’t really been on a date or anything.”
“Why not?”
She gives me a pointed look. “Everyone’s been a little preoccupied. You know, what with worrying about the fate of Guardian Society, not to mention the human race. It’s not every day an original demon opens the Gates of Hell.”
I wince. Yeah, I guess that could ruin someone’s love life.
Wind whips my bangs across my face. I tuck the wayward strands behind my ears.
“So…” Cortney starts to change the subject, giving me an odd, curious look. “What’s going on with Belial?”
“What do you mean?”
“Aspen.” Again, I receive a pointed look. “Come on.”
I blink. “What?”
Cortney looks up at the sky, as if seeking divine intervention. “Aspen. An original demon goes out of his way to protect you, keeps your friends and family apprised of your health and wellbeing, and is working with his enemies to help Guardians defeat one of his fellow originals. And he does it all to keep you safe and happy. So, I’m asking, what’s going on with that?”
I shake my head, unbothered that it dislodges my hair and the strands begin attacking my face. “Nothing. There’s nothing going on.”
“Really?” Her eyes narrow. “Because that’s not what Lex says.”
I suck in a breath.
“Or Guardian Legrand for that matter,” she continues before I can utter a word. “In fact, I’ve heard some interesting information about reincarnations and soulmates.”
My stomach drops. “Stop,” I sputter, desperate not to have this conversation right now. My body begins to shake as emotion and adrenaline taking control.
Cortney watches me, and her eyes fill with worry. “Aspen?”
“Please.” I turn away, giving myself more space to breathe. “I-I don’t want to talk about this right now.” The last thing I want to do is admit my connection with Belial to Cortney. Doing so will make it more real. And I’m already so overrun with emotions, I don’t have the capacity to face those. Not right now.
I feel like I’m going to hyperventilate.
“Okay! Okay, I promise.” She is quick to reassure me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”
With my head hanging down, I take a deep breath… and another…and another.
Panic slinks away, and my head clears.
“There’s just a lot going on right now,” I admit to my friend. “I-I don’t know how to handle everything. I feel like I’m going to drown under the weight of it all.”
And that’s why I hid away these past few weeks. I don’t know how to cope. Even after all this time, and all I’ve experienced in life, I’m not capable of handling my emotions in a healthy way. It’s debilitating. It’s a weakness. And I’m afraid my enemies will use it against me.
Silence settles between us. I can feel Cortney’s unease radiating through the cold air, but it’s several minutes before I gather myself enough to lift my head to meet her gaze.
I expect to see confusion, or even annoyance, but all I see in my friend’s face is concern. “You don’t have to tell me anything, Aspen,” she speaks gently. “But know, if you ever do want to talk, I am here for you. No judgement. No questions.”
I press my lips together, holding back the emotion building in my throat. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I don’t know what I did to earn such a loyal friend, but I am so lucky to have Cortney.
“Thanks.” This time, I close the gap between us, seeking comfort from my friend.
Cortney returns my embrace with no hesitation. “I mean it, Aspen. I’m here for you. No matter what. You can tell me anything.”
Her words are both reassuring and frightening. Reassuring because it’s nice to know I’m not alone. In all this chaos, I have friends and family who care about me.
But I’m also frightened.
Azazel is out there, somewhere, working to reopen the Gates of Hell to summon even more demons to do his whim. And I have no doubt he’s not done with me yet.
I don’t know what the original demon will do to get what he wants, but my gut tells me using my loved ones against me isn’t out of the question.
Chapter Eight
“You aren’t even trying, little mountain.” Belial growls from across the room. His voice echoes throughout the makeshift gym which used to be a well-decorated parlor. “Again, Olina. This time, don’t hold back.”
“Yes, Master Belial.” My lady’s maid-turned-opponent shoots me a sympathetic glance before she crouches into position, ready to launch another wave of offensive demon magic at me.
Groaning, I roll to my side and push myself up. But, try as I might, I’m unable to get my wobbly legs underneath me. While Olina’s attacks don’t cause long-lasting damage, my body still isn’t used to being bombarded by the foreign power. I’m unable to defend against it despite Belial’s belief otherwise.
“I can’t do it,” I call out, letting myself flop back onto the heavily matted floor. The thick rubber feels like a cloud against my bruised, tired flesh. I close my eyes, reveling in this small reprieve. “I give up.”
“You can do it.” Belial’s
voice is suddenly right above me. My eyes snap open, and they are filled by his impressive figure as he leans over me. A scowl mars his handsome face, and his tunic strings are loose around his neck, showcasing a decent view of his muscular chest. My throat goes dry.
“You just refuse to actually try,” Belial concludes, and not without a healthy dose of disappointment.
That stings more than I care to admit.
“I am trying.” I clear my throat, forcing myself to meet his stern gaze. “But no matter what you say, I don’t know how to use holy fire offensively.” I feel it, lying dormant underneath my skin, but no matter what I do, it refuses to do more than turn my hands into torches.
“You’ve used it before,” he reminds me for the tenth time today. “Even before Azazel unlocked the block on your magic.”
“But that was only when I was in real danger, or when someone I care about was in trouble.” I try not to think about how I used my suppressed magic to save Logan from one of Azazel’s most recent attacks. At the time, I was victorious. But the original demon got the best of me in the end.
I prop myself up on my elbows and gesture to where Olina stands, no longer in attack position, patiently waiting for her next directive. “No matter what Olina does, I know she will not hurt me. Her attacks won’t trigger my power.”
“Hm.” Belial crouches. His eyes trail over me, and I feel their warm path as if he’d physically touched me. “Are you suggesting I put you in real danger? If so, trust me, I know quite a few monstrous demons who would be happy to help.”
“I bet you do,” I snort, “but we both know you would never do that.”
He lifts a skeptical brow. “Do we know that?”
“We do.”
We lock eyes. Despite everything I ever learned about demons, originals in particular, I know Belial would never–could never—do anything to risk my safety. Though he’s given me space the past few weeks, the truth of our spiritual connection lies heavy between us. I’ve successfully managed to push it to the side for the time being, but I know a time will come where I won’t be able to avoid it any longer. Eventually, I will need to figure out what to do with the original demon whose soul is linked to mine.
Demon War: Shadowguard Academy Book 4 Page 5
