by Avril Sabine
“Blake-”
Blake rounded on Riley. “Don’t start on me, little brother. I’ve made my choices. Don’t interfere with them. Do you think I want to lose someone else to them?”
“Not hunting them doesn’t make them stop existing.”
“Yeah, but chasing them isn’t going to make your life any longer, Ry.”
“Avoiding them won’t make your life any safer. Otherwise you wouldn’t have salt across the entrances.”
“Yeah well, that’s my problem. I refuse to watch someone else I love die.” He turned towards Alyssa, “And if you were smart, you wouldn’t hang around with them either.”
“She hasn’t got a choice. She’s demon bait,” Riley said.
“What the-”
“Enough you two. Blake, we just need somewhere to crash for the day. We’ll be out of here before dark. We’re not asking you to help us hunt demons. We only need somewhere safe to sleep,” Scarlett said.
“You’re out of here before that demon’s on the move again. You get yourself killed, I don’t want to see it. I have more than enough nightmares to pick from each night without adding that to the selection.”
Riley held up his hands. “That’s fine. We’ll take off about four. That should give us time to find sanctuary for the night.”
“Not one minute later,” Blake warned.
“That’ll be enough time to rest,” Riley said.
Blake waved towards the three closed doors that were on Alyssa’s right. “Make yourself at home.” He strode towards the kettle sitting on the kitchen bench, checked the water level then turned it on. He grabbed the salt sitting out beside it and threw it towards Riley, who caught it. “Fix my window ledge and the door. I need more sleep.”
“It’s daylight.” Alyssa frowned.
“She doesn’t know much, does she?” Blake asked of no one in particular.
“I don’t like being talked about like I’m not here.” Alyssa’s hands went to her hips and she glared at Blake.
Blake shrugged. “I don’t like being dragged out of bed when I’ve only had a few hours sleep. Get over it.” He grabbed a cup and spoon from a draining rack filled with clean crockery.
“They don’t tell me anything, so how am I meant to know anything?” Alyssa demanded.
“Not my problem.” Blake grabbed a jar of coffee and milk from the fridge. “And don’t expect me to wait on you. You want a drink, get it yourself.” He left everything on the bench and stalked to the sofa as he took a sip of his coffee.
“Bathroom and bed for me.” Riley strode towards the middle door.
“Don’t know where you all expect to fit,” Blake muttered.
“Can she have your room?” Scarlett waved towards Alyssa.
“Don’t like her much, do you?” Blake asked Scarlett.
“It’d be unchristian to hate someone,” Scarlett said.
“I didn’t say you hated her.” Blake sipped his coffee. “Who cares. Take over the joint. I’ll use the sofa. Just get out of my hair so I can get back to sleep.”
Riley came out of the bathroom and went into the door towards the rear of the apartment. Scarlett made her way into the bathroom next. Riley poked his head out of the bedroom door.
“There’s only two single beds in here, Blake.”
“Swag in the wardrobe.”
“Thanks.” Riley shut the door again.
Silence descended over the room until Scarlett came out of the bathroom. “Wake me at four, Blake.”
“Three-thirty. You’re out the door at four.”
Scarlett grinned. “To the second, huh?”
“Don’t push it, cousin.”
Scarlett didn’t bother answering. She disappeared inside the room Riley had entered.
“Alyssa?” Alex gestured towards the bathroom.
She nodded and quickly went in and shut the door. She dropped her backpack on the floor and looked around the cramped room. She closed her eyes, refusing to think of the last cramped bathroom she’d been in. She opened her eyes again and focused on the differences. The small chipped mirror above the basin, the skinny linen cupboard that was slightly warped from the moisture, the old fashioned toilet with its single flush and the tiled shower.
She quickly used the bathroom and finished with cleaning off the makeup she’d applied at the service station they’d stopped at for breakfast. She stared at her face where the bruise had once been. The skin was clear. Her eyes dropped to her arms and she ran a finger over a pink line on her left arm. Next her finger gingerly touched her lip. Healed. A shudder went through her as she remembered Retribution’s blood spraying her when she’d stabbed him.
Pushing thoughts of demons from her mind, she opened the door. Blake and Alex fell silent. She wondered what they were talking about. She might be getting paranoid, but she had a feeling they’d discussed her.
“Door on your left.” Alex moved forward.
“Thanks for letting us stay.” Alyssa moved out of the way so Alex could use the bathroom.
“I don’t think I had much choice.” Blake strode towards the door Alex had indicated. He swung it open and grabbed one of the pillows off the rumpled bed.
“I can use the sofa.” Alyssa looked up at Blake as he stood beside her.
Blake shook his head. He reached out and lifted her crimson lock of hair and let it drift from his fingers. “In there’s the safest place for demon bait.”
“Why?”
Blake tossed his pillow across the room to the couch before he held up his left arm. “This is like a neon sign letting all the demons wandering around know I’m here. I’ve made protecting my bedroom a priority.”
Alyssa reached out to touch the demon mark. Her fingers never made contact. Blake grabbed her by the wrist with his right hand as he dropped his left. His eyes met hers. “Have you heard about the downside of curiosity, Allie Cat?”
Alyssa’s mouth went dry as she continued to stare up at him.
Blake let go of her suddenly and stepped away. “Get some sleep.”
Alyssa licked her lips, and swallowed shakily. “Scarlett’s wrong. The scruffy look does suit you.” Before her lips had finished curving into a smile, she’d closed the door. She grinned at the second of surprise she’d seen on Blake’s face. A pity we aren’t staying longer than the day, she thought as she moved towards the rumpled bed. It’d been ages since she’d met someone who made her blood warm just by looking at them.
She dropped the backpack on the floor and removed her boots. She lay across the queen-sized bed, pulled the remaining pillow to her and snuggled into it. The dark curtains kept most of the light out. She rolled onto her stomach. The bed was comfortable and smelled faintly of Blake. Alyssa tried to close her eyes. She rolled onto her back and watched the ceiling fan spin lazily. The room was small. A built-in wardrobe at the foot of the bed, a small bookcase crammed with books on one wall and two bedside cabinets. She rolled onto her side. Then the other.
She turned on the lamp as she rose from the bed and paced in the narrow space. She continued her pacing even when she heard a door open, the sound of low voices and then the door shut again.
A sharp rap on her door and it swung open. Blake stood in the doorway. “Lie down and go to sleep. You’re keeping everyone awake.”
“I can’t.”
“You can and will. Alex won’t sleep while he thinks you need someone to watch over you.”
“Do I need someone to watch over me while I sleep?”
“No. It’s safe here. No minor demon can enter.”
“But that’s the problem. It isn’t a minor demon.” Alyssa walked towards Blake, stopping just in front of him. “Can you keep the powerful ones out?”
“I don’t have to. It’s daytime. Go to sleep and stop playing games.”
“Games! You think this is a game? I could die tonight!”
Blake stepped into the room and shut the door so Alyssa was forced to take a step back. “Keep your voice down. People are trying
to sleep.”
“Yeah, well aren’t they lucky.”
“They’re doing their best to keep you alive. Show some consideration.”
“Excuse me if I don’t fall to my knees in gratitude. I’ve been preoccupied lately. I have this little problem of seeing blood and demons every time I close my eyes. Hell! I don’t even need to close them.”
When Alyssa would have turned away from Blake, he grabbed her shoulder and stepped in close. “You don’t know what nightmares are yet, Allie Cat.”
“And you do?”
“Do you know how old someone in my family usually is when they get marks as long as mine? Forty to fifty years old. And I have them at twenty-two. Twenty-two! I had them before I’d turned twenty-one. Do you want me to tell you what it takes to get them that fast? You want me to tell you every little gory detail? I can tell you all about blood.”
Alyssa placed a hand against Blake’s bare chest. “Blake, I-”
“Spare me.” It was his turn to move away.
Alyssa took a couple of steps and placed her hand on his back. “I-” she stepped back hurriedly as Blake spun to face her, his eyes blazing.
“Back off, Allie.”
“It wasn’t my choice to come here. I don’t know how you got those marks. No one tells me anything.”
“Let’s just say the one I was supposed to protect didn’t make it.”
Alyssa’s eyes widened and she started to tremble.
“Aw hell. I’m sorry, Allie Cat.” Blake wrapped his arms around her. He pressed her head to his chest.
Alyssa closed her eyes, the beat of his heart in her ears. Another shudder went through her and his hand started to make lazy movements across her back. She didn’t find them comforting, but they did make her feel alive. She lifted her head and rose on tiptoes. Her lips met his. For a few seconds Blake returned her kiss before he pushed her from him.
“You’re more dangerous than demons, Allie.”
Alyssa shook her head and took a step forward.
“No. I live by my family’s beliefs.” Blake held up his left arm and laughed harshly. “How can I do otherwise?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t know your family’s beliefs.” Alyssa ran her hand along the mark. “Why barbed wire?”
“Call it my rebellion against the family business. I can’t go back to fighting demons unless I want these tattoos to be as crimson as your hair.” He dropped his arm, his right hand capturing hers. “What are you trying to do?”
“I thought that’d be obvious. I could be dead before morning.”
“Then I’d think you’d be taking a little better care of your soul.”
“I don’t believe in your religious crap.”
“I do. It’s not going to happen, Allie.”
“Why?”
“Because we don’t believe in sex outside the bonds of marriage.”
“You’re a virgin?” Alyssa stared at him in disbelief.
“I’m human Allie, not a saint.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Mind your own damned business. How about I ask the same of you? You a virgin, Allie Cat? Or did curiosity get the better of you?”
Alyssa shook her head, her eyes unable to meet his.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Yes you are, or no you aren’t?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Thank God for small mercies.”
Startled, Alyssa met his eyes again. “What?”
“A few less sins’ll make it easier for them to protect you.”
“Sin! Sex is not a sin. You’re so old fashioned.”
Blake shrugged. “I don’t attack your beliefs.”
“I don’t have any.”
“That’s a belief in itself.”
Alyssa frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“It doesn’t have to. It just is.” Blake turned away from her.
“Where are you going?”
“To sleep.”
“You might as well have your bed back. I can’t sleep.”
“Get in the bed, Allie.”
“No.”
“Allie.”
“You can’t make me go to sleep.” Her chin rose and she glared at him. She was sick of being ordered around.
“You’re not going out there to wander around, make noise and keep everyone awake. Alex’ll feel obligated to sit with you and keep you company.”
“I don’t need company.”
“Too bad.” Blake advanced on her and Alyssa retreated.
“Fine. But you can’t keep me in it.” Alyssa dropped onto the bed.
“Move over.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you do anything without questioning it?”
“Probably not.”
“Too bad. Now shove over.” Blake lifted her feet off the floor and dropped them on the bed. Alyssa moved out of the way when she saw Blake was serious.
“I’m not sleeping next to you.”
“You were willing to do more than that a minute ago.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Good.” Blake grabbed the pillow and rolled onto his side, his back to her. He reached out and turned off the lamp.
“I don’t have a pillow.”
“Shut up, Allie Cat. I’m tired.”
Alyssa muttered under her breath. She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling fan. She yawned. She listened to the soft sounds of Blake breathing beside her and her eyes started to close.
Chapter Sixteen
A soft noise woke Alyssa and her eyes opened. She turned her head, which now rested on Blake’s chest. Her eyes fell on Alex who stood frozen in the doorway. Before she could say anything, he turned away.
The closing door woke Blake. He pushed Alyssa from him and sat up. “Tell me that wasn’t Alex.” When Alyssa didn’t answer, he swore.
“I-”
“You’re a menace. You should come with a health warning.”
“I didn’t invite you into the bed,” Alyssa hissed.
Blake smiled, but his eyes remained serious. “Really? I seem to clearly recall-”
“I took that offer back.”
“Yeah well, that doesn’t help. Now listen for a change. Stay in here. Give me some time to talk to him. Think you can manage that?”
“Yes.” She spoke through clenched teeth.
Blake strode towards his wardrobe and slid the door open. He grabbed a shirt off a coat hanger and pulled it on. He didn’t bother with the buttons. Next he grabbed a pair of black jeans and pulled them on over his shorts. “Stay.” He strode from the room and let the door shut softly.
“Stay! I’m not a bloody dog,” Alyssa muttered.
She rose from the bed and walked over to the bookcase. The room was too dim for reading titles so she strode to the lamp. At the last second she changed her mind and pulled the curtain to the side. She dropped it into place, her hand going to her heart that raced rapidly in her chest.
“No,” she moaned. “Impossible.”
She hesitantly reached out to the curtain again. This time she only drew it enough apart to peek outside. Parked beside their car was Nathan’s. He sat in the passenger seat, Eric beside him in the driver’s seat. He flipped shut the laptop he held and pointed towards Blake’s apartment. Alyssa backed away from the window and stumbled over her boots. She quickly pulled them on and grabbed the gun from her backpack. If it was only Nathan, they might’ve been able to take him. But two of them with guns made it too risky. And Nathan was sure to have more guns. She threw the bedroom door open.
“I thought I told you-” Blake broke off, his eyes drawn to the gun in her hand. “What the hell are you doing running around with that?”
“Nathan.”
“Impossible.” Alex strode to the kitchen window. He swore.
“Alex!” Scarlett came out of the bathroom in time to hear him, stopping beside Alyssa.
“Nathan,” Alex muttered.
Scarlett
turned to Blake. “I don’t suppose there’s a back way out of here.”
Blake shook his head. “Who’s Nathan?”
“He’s the one who wants to give me to a demon. And he has Eric with him this time. He was driving the car for Nathan the first night,” Alyssa said.
“He’s got to get through us first,” Alex said. “Go back to the bedroom, Allie.”
“No.”
“Don’t be so stubborn.” Alex glared at her.
“Forget it. Her head. If she doesn’t want your help, you can’t force it on her,” Blake said.
Riley came out of the bedroom, pulling a t-shirt on. He stopped and glanced around at them. His eyes zeroed in on the gun. “What’s happening?”
“Nathan,” Scarlett said. Her words were followed by footsteps coming up the stairs and a knock on the door.
Blake moved quietly towards Scarlett and whispered, “How did he find you? This place isn’t even listed in my name. I took it over from a friend.”
Scarlet shrugged.
Riley moved close to them so they could hear his whisper. “It must be the guns.”
“Guns? There’s more than one?” Blake asked.
Riley nodded. There was a harder knock on the door as Alex moved close.
Blake rubbed his forehead. “Okay. Get the other gun.” He spoke softly enough Nathan wouldn’t hear.
Riley nodded and retreated to the spare room.
Blake turned to Scarlett. “My bedroom. Backpack in the bottom of the wardrobe. Get it.”
Scarlett saluted with a partially suppressed grin before she disappeared into the bedroom. The next knock sounded louder.
“Give me the gun.” Blake held out his hand. Alyssa shook her head. “Don’t be so dammed stupid. Give me the gun and get in the spare room. Let’s get out of here in one piece.”
Alyssa reluctantly handed over the gun. Riley came out of the bedroom and gave Blake the other gun.
“Riley, roll up my swag. Alex, abseiling rope in the bottom of the wardrobe in the spare room. And all of you stay in there.” Blake moved to the kitchen table and placed the two guns gently on it.
Alyssa hovered in the doorway of the spare bedroom and watched as he grabbed a set of keys hung by the front door and held them tightly so they didn’t rattle. He glanced towards the door that shook with the impatient knock. Scarlett came out of the bedroom with Blake and Alyssa’s backpacks. Blake pointed to the spare bedroom and she nodded before she headed there. Alyssa stepped back so Blake could close and lock the door of the spare bedroom.
