by Emma Shade
*****
“Mara! Wake up,” Coren’s voice echoed.
Slowly opening my eyes, I groaned. Then the smell hit me. Death and sulfuric stench. I felt drenched and lifted my arm into my view. Yet again, I was covered with demonic slime.
“She’s alert, Dad!” Raven yelled.
I winced. “God, do you have to be so loud?”
“God didn’t have anything to do with this.” She cocked her head with a grin. “Well, maybe he did have some divine intervention in the form of Coren.”
Looking at Coren, I noticed he stiffened.
Clearing his throat, he asked, “What are you talking about?”
Raven shook her head. “I saw what you did. How you did it, I’ll never know.” She looked down at me again. “I wish you could’ve seen it. Coren woke up from his stupor, saw you about to be eaten, and he climbed that demon like a tree. With supernatural speed, too. Then he finished the job by shoving your sword straight through the demon’s throat with a scream unlike anything I had heard before. So freaking awesome.”
Sitting up, I wiped some of the goop from my face and arms. I looked at the three figures around me. Coren on edge about something, probably about killing a fellow demon, and then Raven and her father concerned about my wellbeing.
“I know I don’t say it enough, but thank you.” I meant it. With a grunt to shove away the pain, I stood on wobbly feet. Coren reached out to steady me. “I need to get this gross, nasty shit off me as soon as possible.”
Death chuckled. Yes, Death, the Grim Reaper, chuckled. “That’s more like the Mara we know and love.”
I smirked. Death just said he loved me. Sure, he meant it like a father, and I guessed he sort of was. I tilted my head back and laughed. Death was the only father figure I’d ever known, and I thought he was hot. How fucked up was that?
“Are you okay?” Coren asked. “Maybe she has a concussion.”
Giggling, Raven replied, “Nah. She’s okay. I think she’s a few keys short of a keyboard, if you know what I mean.”
“Hey!”
“What did the demon say to you?” Raven asked. “We couldn’t hear from across the street.”
The demon had called me hunter, but I wanted to keep that to myself for the moment. I winked instead. “He said I’d taste good. Which doesn’t surprise me. I am pretty delicious.”
Shaking his head with a grin, Death reached for my hand. I placed mine in his. That was a damn mistake. I cried out as my body splintered and a split second later, I materialized in my bathroom.
Still dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, albeit covered in some demon blood, Death sighed. “Raven and Coren will be here soon. Spitting mad at me for doing that, I’m sure, but I wanted to get you away from them for a minute.”
I eyed him. “Why?”
“I don’t trust Coren.”
“Looks like we have something in common.” I snorted.
“What do you know about him?” Death asked, crossing his arms across his chest.
I frowned at his question. “Not much, really. He hasn’t harmed me or threatened to. Why?”
“There’s something about him,” he said as he began to pace inside my small bathroom. “I asked around to see what any demons would tell me about him, but they were all tight-lipped in fear of repercussions. It has to make me wonder why.”
“Maybe because he’s Satan’s lapdog?”
“Maybe. But the way he killed that demon...” he trailed off and tilted his head. “They’re here. Just be cautious, Mara. Coren may be setting you up to fail. When that time comes, I’ll be there to protect you with everything I have.” Leaving me with that, he vanished in a whiff of dark smoke that dissipated quickly.
My apartment door creaked open and slammed shut after Raven and Coren entered.
“I told you she’s here,” Raven argued. “My father wouldn’t take off with her and not take her home.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s my father, Coren. And he thinks of Mara like his own daughter. He’d never hurt her.”
“How do you know? He does take souls for a living,” Coren argued.
“How dare you, you insolent jerk,” she growled. I felt the air shift, and I knew her anger was going to get the best of her. “I take souls for a living, too, in case you forgot.”
“Guys,” I called out, “I’m in the bathroom. I’ll be out as soon as I shower!”
I started the water and began to remove my shirt when Coren threw open the bathroom door and strolled in with his jaw clenched. Raven followed him in with a huff.
“See?” She pointed at me. “I told you she’s fine.”
Coren opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “Get out! Both of you! I just want to shower.”
His hands lifted in surrender, and they both made their way out of the bathroom, closing the door behind them.
Turning the lock on the door, I sighed because I knew if Coren or Raven really wanted in, they’d bypass the door and appear. I stripped and finally saw myself in the reflection of the mirror after our scuffle tonight. My fingers ran across the deep, purple bruising around my neck, shoulders, and chest. A nasty bruise marred my right cheek. How the beastly asshole hadn’t crushed my windpipe and lungs, I’d never know. How had we stumbled upon a demon club and been allowed entrance into said club?
Today’s events didn’t add up. My life was spiraling out of control with each passing day. Not only was I stuck with Coren, who I wasn’t sure I could trust, but I also faced stronger, more advanced demons every time I hunted.
I stepped under the spray of the shower, determined to figure out who was behind the recent attacks with advanced demons, and who would want to see me fail. If this didn’t stop soon, I had the potential of dying. I had been close to it tonight. Death’s words echoed in my head, and I wondered if he might be right about Coren.
CHAPTER 13
Keep your friends close, but your frenemies closer.
I woke the next morning feeling sore and fuming.
Raven slept on the couch, her soft snores bringing a slight comfort. For as soft and loving as she was to me, she’d slaughter anyone who meant me real harm.
Coren made coffee in my tiny kitchen, and the sight of him sent both anger and lust screaming through my blood. Dammit. Why did my boss stick me with him? Was it a ploy to distract me from what was actually happening?
He glanced up and frowned. “Oh, Mara. Your injuries look awful. Raven could give you some herbal medicine to speed up your healing.”
A brimstone cookie was tempting, but I didn’t know if I could handle the taste again. He lifted a hand to my discolored cheek. Anger caused my heartbeat to skyrocket at his soft touch.
“What?” Coren asked. “You’re looking at me like you wish I would burst into flames.”
“Wouldn’t be anything new for you. I’ve heard it can get hot down there. You know, since you live in Hell.”
He blinked in surprise at my tone. “What’s gotten into you?”
“I’m cranky after being practically choked to death. Kiss my ass.”
Sure, I made up the excuse, but my mood had a little to do with that, too. What I hadn’t expected was Coren enveloping me in a gentle hug. My arms remained stiff at my sides, despite my longing to sink into his embrace.
“I’m sorry, Mara. I should’ve been quicker on my feet,” he whispered.
As he pulled away, his eyes went to my bruised neck and shoulders visible around my tank top. I swore I saw guilt in those chocolate depths. I wasn’t sure if he felt guilty for his betrayal or because he hadn’t rescued me fast enough. Based on his facial expression, I was going with the latter.
“Can I ask you a question, Coren?”
His eyes met mine as he replied, “Anything.”
“What are your intentions as my babysitter?”
“I’m not technically your babysit–”
I held up a hand and halted his protest. “Call it what you will, but why should I tru
st you?”
With a sigh, he turned around and poured a cup of coffee. He added enough sugar to cause a coma. The only sound between us was the clinking of the spoon on the mug as he stirred.
After a few minutes, he said, “I can’t blame you for saying that, especially with the circumstances of how you met me. Have I not proven to be trustworthy? Have I pushed you into things you didn’t want to do? Did I not help you at the shelter a few days ago?”
“Let’s be honest, here.” I put my hands on my hips. “I’m a job. A means to an end. I get it, I really do. But if you’re the reason I’m facing higher demons and barely escaped death yesterday, I’ll make sure your life is a living hell. Or join you there after the sixty days and ask Raven and her father to do it for me.”
Coren whirled around, his coffee spilling over the edge of the mug. His face lit with anger. “Don’t push me, girl. You still owe me a favor, a price you promised to pay.”
“Yeah, yeah. We’ll see if you ever get to collect.” I stormed away, but he caught my arm with supernatural speed and spun me to face him. The move caught me off guard. I had never seen somebody move so fast.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” he warned.
“You mean what I’m dealing with? Yeah, you got that right, asshole. You’re a demon. Nothing more.” Yanking my arm, I ordered, “Let me go.”
He did and I felt his stare on my back as I marched to my bedroom and slammed the door. We were back to the hatred with hidden sexual tension again. I could take hatred any day of the week, it was the lust I didn’t trust.
Tossing myself on my bed, I let out an exhausted breath. I began counting down how many days had passed until my time was up because I’d lost track with all the chaos. My door flew open and I jerked my head up.
Coren marched in, jumped on the mattress, pushed me down, and held my arms above my head. His legs and weight kept my bottom half from moving. His eyes took on a white hue. Unnerved by those creepy eyes, I thrust my head as close to the mattress as possible. His nostrils flared once before he spoke. “Let me tell you something, you audacious woman. I’m not going to let you talk to me like I don’t have feelings or any emotions whatsoever. I still hurt and feel pain, no matter what you may think of me.”
“Fine,” I stated. “You said you had two months to prove your worth, too, right? Tell me why. Tell me why you think you are so damn special and why I’m so important?”
He hesitated but still hovered above me. His eyes changed back to normal and moved to my lips. I caught my breath.
“You’re not the only one whose soul is in jeopardy, Mara.”
“A demon doesn’t have a soul, jackass,” I spat.
“Are you sure?” He lowered his head and kissed me.
His soft lips moved against mine as our tongues flirted with each other. Coren removed his legs from over mine and I wrapped my legs around his hips. My body betrayed me as lust took over all sense of right and wrong. My fingers caressed his back and as his mouth moved to my neck, I let out a throaty moan. When his teeth nipped the skin on my collarbone, I wanted to rake my nails down his back.
“Uh, what are you two doing?”
Raven’s voice broke us apart and Coren removed himself from my bed faster than I could blink. My cheeks flamed and I winced.
She pointed at Coren, who now stood with a full-blown erection behind his jeans. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you myself. Your soul will never make it back to Hell, either. You hear me?”
He held up his hands. “Got it. I didn’t mean for that to happen, it just did.”
With an apologetic glance in my direction, Coren left me alone with Raven.
“What are you thinking? We can’t afford to be sloppy right now. Not with your soul hanging in the balance.”
Rubbing my face with my hands, I said, “I know. One minute he was mad at me, the next we were kissing. I don’t know how it happened.”
“I do. The sexual tension between you two is so thick you could slice it in half.” She sat beside me on the bed and patted my arm. “I’m worried about you is all. I can’t lose you. You’re my best friend. Hell, my only friend.”
“It won’t happen again.”
Raven chuckled and shook her head. “Liar.”
I groaned in frustration and whispered, “Why am I so attracted to him? I shouldn’t be.”
“Because sometimes things happen when we least expect them to.” She patted my arm again. “Be sure you know what you’re doing because I don’t know if I can trust Coren yet.”
I nodded.
“Get dressed. I’m in the mood for Italian food.” She closed the door to my bedroom and left me to my thoughts.
I had kissed Coren—again. This time we were both in our right minds and not drugged. His words from right before the kiss entered my mind again. I had said demons didn’t have souls. “Are you sure?” What had that meant? Was it just a way to get me to kiss him without guilt?
I didn’t know. All I knew was that he was unlike any demon I had ever met, and somehow, I had to figure out the truth and to keep it hidden until the knowledge would be useful.
CHAPTER 14
The shadow of death.
Somebody was going to die.
I knew it, Raven knew it, but we didn’t know the exact moment the fateful event would happen. Coren, if he knew, hadn’t given anything away. He sat at the table eating his fettuccine alfredo without a care in the world.
The air vibrated around us, but I suspected the shadowy figure near the kitchen entrance was the reason. I had never asked if Raven could see them, but she had stiffened the moment I had seen it, too.
Finally having the courage to ask, I whispered, “What are those things?”
Raven gaped at me but quickly covered up her surprise.
“They’re shadows,” Coren said between bites. “Some call them angels if they see them before they die, but they aren’t. There are rumors they try to steal souls of the departed. That’s why Raven’s job is so important, besides moving souls to where they go.”
“You can see them, too?” Raven questioned, her attention darting between the shadow thing and me.
“I’ve seen them since my mother tricked me,” I replied with a shake of my head. “Once I signed that contract, I started seeing them. I assumed they were ghosts.”
Coren and Raven glanced at each other.
“What?”
Raven cleared her throat and raked her fingers through her hair. “Um, I’ve never known a human to actually see them. Unless they’re dying, or are an angel or demon, that is.”
I shrugged. “Well, technically, my soul isn’t mine. Who knows why I see them. I wasn’t supposed to see you and your father that day either, Raven.”
“True.”
“What am I missing here?” Coren’s eyes narrowed, and I assumed he was feeling left out of a few things.
Keeping quiet, I scooped some spaghetti into my mouth to keep silent. He didn’t need to know my past, or in what manner the Devil had possessed my soul. It was none of his business. However, Raven, the little shit, opened her big mouth.
“When Mara was about six, her mother tricked her into signing her soul over to Satan for money. But, when Mara turned sixteen, her mother got the money and died shortly after. Hence where I came into play. To my utter disbelief, this girl”—she pointed at me—“saw me and Dad when we showed up for her mother’s soul. Long story short, we talked the man downstairs into letting me train her to kill certain demons who slip the veil.”
“You were only six?” Coren’s expression went from upset to uneasy in a millisecond.
Lifting my shoulders in nonchalance, I scooped in more spaghetti. Sure, I was a kid and my mother was a bitch. Life goes on, right? If only I hadn’t signed that paper, then my life may be much different. Maybe college and a normal job might have found me instead of this. Then again, I wouldn’t have Raven seated next to me. Even if she was Death’s daughter and took dead souls for a living,
she was truly my best friend. And, of course, I wouldn’t have Coren here, too. I hated to admit it, but he had grown on me a little bit.
“I’ll be right back. If I’m not by the time dinner is over, and that dude croaks, I’ll meet you at your apartment, Mara.” He stood and went to an empty hallway within our view.
In a cloud of white smoke, Coren vanished and left Raven and me in confusion.
I finished chewing my spaghetti and asked, “What was that all about?”
“I have no freaking clue. He’s weird.” Raven waved her hand in dismissal and began to take a bite of her lasagna. As though the universe knew she’d barely eaten, a man two tables over started choking.
“Shit,” she grumbled and dropped her fork on the plate with a clang. “Can’t I just get a day off without somebody dying on me?”
“Can’t your dad handle it?”
Her eyes swerved to the shadowy figure who had moved from the kitchen and now stood within ten feet of the choking man. A waiter attempted the Heimlich maneuver while his wife screamed for him to help her husband.
“Not while that is so close to him. I’ll be right back.”
She darted down the hallway in the direction of the bathroom. I wanted the waiter to succeed or the emergency personnel to arrive on time. I hated the death of humans. I didn’t know the man or his wife, but I wanted him to live. I wanted to believe they were decent human beings that didn’t deserve this fate of death and mourning.
I saw Raven out of the corner of my eye as she moved closer in her smoky state that nobody would see but me. Pulling up the hood of her fabled Reaper outfit, she pointed her scythe at the shadow creature. Swearing I heard a curse from the thing, the being retreated from the choking man. Then it turned in my direction and red, glowing eyes met mine through the darkness of its shadow. I stiffened as it faded away into nothingness, but the last thing to dissipate were those disturbing blood-red eyes.
My wide gaze swung to watch Raven help the man’s soul cross over. I knew whatever that entity was, it now had its sights on me. That could never be good.
