by Elise Marion
Weston nodded. “Before your grandfather’s death, he and Mr. Thorton reached an agreement. He would look after the house for you until you could take ownership.”
“But Paw-Paw has been dead over ten years,” she said. “Surely, he hasn’t—”
“But, he has,” Weston interjected. “He held true to his promise, and has driven out to Monroe House every few months for the past decade to see about the place. Apparently, his bond with your grandfather was a close one.”
She glanced over at Micah and Jack, and knew they must be thinking what she had just realized. If her mother had been a Guardian, and her grandmother, as well, her grandpa had probably been a Guardian or Oracle. This meant Butch Thorton was likely attached to the spiritual otherworld, too. It only made sense. As Micah had once told her, it was as if they’d all been made to come in pairs. Apparently, the bonds went back further than Addison had realized.
“There’s no way I could handle a house like this,” she argued. “The electricity bill alone is probably more than I make in a month. And the taxes have to be astronomical.”
“Solar power,” he reminded her. “The photos, as I said, are outdated, but the entire house runs on solar power—lights, air-conditioning, heat. As for taxes, you’d be surprised how affordable they are. You get exemptions under the Homestead Act, which will bring the costs way down. Plus, Louisiana did away with estate tax a few years ago, so you’re fortunate to have inherited when you did.”
Addison stared down at her hands, numb from shock and overwhelmed by everything that had been thrown at her in the last few minutes.
“What am I supposed to do with that much property?” she asked, not really speaking to anyone in particular.
“Having stood for so long, Monroe House could be considered a Louisiana historical site,” Weston offered. “Tourism is a big business around here, as are plantation-style hotels and B&Bs. You could transform it into something that would turn a profit for you.”
She let out a dry laugh. “Nana would hate that. She’d probably haunt me from the grave.”
“It would be a nice place to settle,” Weston said pointedly, raising his eyebrows. “Beautiful place to raise a family. Whatever the case, the house is yours if you want it.”
“Do I have to decide?” she asked.
Weston gave her a look that clearly said ‘why wouldn’t you want this house?’ Addison was grateful when he didn’t actually say it out loud.
“No,” he replied. “In order to have the deed transferred, you have to sign some things, and the deed itself in front of a notary—which my secretary happens to be. If you like, I can put you in touch with Mr. Thorton, and ask if he’ll meet you out at the property. Go take a look around. You know where to find me when you’ve made a decision.”
Addison nodded. “I think that would be best.”
Reaching for a clean slip of paper, Weston glanced down into the file and copied a phone number. “This is Mr. Thorton’s number. I’ll call him after you leave and tell him to expect your call.”
Addison stood, and the men followed suit. Weston extended a hand to her over the desk, and she shook it. Once they let go, he offered her the photographs of Monroe House.
“Here, take these,” he said. “I understand your reservations, but Gayle was confident that you would know what the house was to be used for. I’d hate to see it fall out of the family.”
Addison supposed she should feel some sort of emotion at the prospect of the house possibly falling out of her family forever. But then, she’d only just learned about it, and didn’t know how to feel about having no idea it even existed for most of her life.
“Thanks,” she said, before following Jack and Micah from the room.
No one spoke until they were out on the sidewalk and had begun the short trek back to the apartment. They’d walked about a block when Micah finally broke the silence.
“You should take the house, cher. No one would fault you if you didn’t want to live there … but you could sell it for a fortune.”
I could stop stripping for tips, she thought, even though she didn’t say so out loud. It was no secret she hated her job, but it was getting her through school, and graduation was just around the corner. Besides, at this point, she’d learned a certain level of detachment that made her able to perform without really thinking about what she was doing. However, the money she could make from selling an estate that big was something to consider.
“He’s right,” Jack replied. “Go check it out, at least. You’ll probably always regret it if you don’t.”
They were both right. Her Nana had seemed to think there was some purpose for the house, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what.
“I’ll drive you, if you want,” Micah offered, keeping his gaze on the path in front of them.
Despite their talk the night before, he still seemed to have a hard time looking at her. Peering at him from the corner of her eye, she noticed the corners of his mouth were a bit pinched. But then, Jack slipped his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze, stealing her focus.
As always, the stability of his presence calmed her and brought her clarity. Going to see the house and giving her options some thought was the smart thing to do.
“When do you think we could get up there?” she asked.
“Probably not until tomorrow,” Jack replied. “We’re supposed to meet up with Derek and Alice to visit Harley’s den in an hour, and you have work tonight.”
She also had a paper to write for one of her classes, and more work to do if she wanted to finish cleaning out her mom’s trailer. With a sigh, she reached up and pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on.
Placing a hand at the back of her neck, Jack applied pressure to the tight muscles, kneading with steady pressure.
“One thing at a time,” he murmured. “Don’t try to take on everything at once.”
She snorted. “He says to the girl they asked to save the world.”
“Touché,” he replied. “Still, there are some things that don’t need to be rushed, and this is one of them.”
They reached the apartment and found that Derek and Alice had already arrived and were waiting for them, along with Drew.
“So, how’d it go?” Alice asked. “Was your grandma a secret millionaire?”
“No, but she left me the mother of all houses,” she replied, handing over the stack of photos.
“Holy shit!” Alice exclaimed, flipping rapidly through the stack. “That’s not a house, that’s a castle.”
“That’s exactly what I said,” Micah muttered, leaning against the kitchen counter.
Alice pointedly ignored him, turning to Derek instead. “D, come look at this.”
Addison studied Derek as he sidled toward Alice to glance at the pictures. He looked exhausted, with dark circles smudged beneath his eyes. Even with his glasses on, she could see the effects from lack of sleep. She hadn’t slept well last night, either, dreams of watching her mother burst into flames replaying themselves over and over in her mind. Alice had mentioned that he’d been affected by his stay in the underworld. Seeing the evidence of that brought her no end of guilt.
But, as Derek watched Alice flip through the images, his eyes lit up, and Addison knew exactly what that meant. He was about to teach them something.
“Monroe House,” he murmured. “I read about it once. Built in 1805 … one of the largest plantations in Louisiana. The family made their fortune off sugar cane, mostly. The house has twenty-one bedrooms, five sitting rooms, two formal dining rooms, a greenhouse, a library, two sunrooms, and still contains all the original woodwork. The trees lining the front path are Virginia live oaks, which are indigenous to the southern coastal regions of the United States.”
“You remember all of that from reading about the house once?” Jack asked.
Derek grinned and pointed at his temple. “Photographic memory, remember?”
“Right,” Jack replied. “Well,
we’re going out there tomorrow to check it out with Addie.”
Alice’s eyes lit up and she grinned. “Road trip? Count me and D in!”
“Why not?” Addison said with a shrug. “The more, the merrier.”
“Great,” Micah said. “Now that everyone’s here, can we get this show on the road? I got other things to do.”
“Yes, let’s get this out of the way,” Addison agreed. “I have homework to finish before my shift.”
Quickly filing out of the apartment, they split up between Alice’s and Micah’s cars and began the drive across town to Harley’s den.
Situated in the backseat of Alice’s car, she glanced over at the man sitting beside her. Jack turned and caught her gaze, giving her one of his belly-quivering smiles. He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers, then raised it to his lips and planted a kiss on the back. Squeezing his hand, she drew comfort from his nearness and the knowledge that she had someone to rely on, for once—someone who wanted a place in her life, and was steady and sure. All of life’s other uncertainties seemed frivolous by comparison.
“As far as I know, there are Naphil dens throughout the city … here, here, and here.”
Addison studied Harley as she pointed at the map of the city spread out on the table and the blue circles drawn here and there. They’d just arrived at the Israel Meyer school, where a den of hundreds of Nephilim had taken up residence.
“I’m sending some of my most trusted people out to each one, to spread the word about the fight against Eligos,” Harley continued. “If it’s okay with you guys, I’m asking them to come here in a few days for a meeting. I figure you all could recruit in larger numbers if I got you a big audience. Bring Addison here and let her talk to them. They’re more likely to listen if she’s the one doing the talking. I can’t make any promises beyond getting them here.”
“I appreciate that,” Addison replied. “If I can just make them see the truth about Eligos, maybe we can get them on our side. We need as many as we can get.”
“What are the red circles?” Jack asked, indicated the four marks mixed in with the blue.
“Those are the dens that I know for sure belong to Eligos,” Harley answered. “There’s no use even trying. Most of those den leaders have sold their souls to Eligos, and their followers probably have, too.”
Rubbing his chin, Micah moved closer to the table, peering down at the map. “Should we expect any trouble out of them?”
Harley shrugged. “You can always expect trouble from Naphils who have given their allegiance to a demon or to Lucifer. As for whether they’ll target us, specifically, I wouldn’t count it out. As soon as we declared our allegiance to the Guardians and the side of Heaven, we painted targets on our backs.”
Glancing around the crowded auditorium—which seemed to serve as the gathering place for the den’s residents—Addison’s heart sank. There were elderly people here … children and families. She didn’t like the idea of them being potential targets.
“We can protect our own,” Harley said, noticing Addison’s expression. “Don’t you worry about that.”
“That’s not how this works,” Alice said. “Once you make an alliance with us, we work together. If that means we need to help with security, then we’ll do what we have to.”
Harley didn’t respond, but the glance she cast at Alice was telling. She didn’t trust the Guardians, because past experience had taught her that the Nephilim needed to rely on each other. Addison understood that well enough, having learned to trust only herself for most of her life. It had taken some getting used to, learning to rely on the people around her. Now, she couldn’t imagine going through any of this without them.
“If that’s all, lunch is on, and I’m starving,” Harley said, glancing around at those gathered. “You guys are welcome to stay and hang out if you want.”
Addison exchanged glances with the others, who seemed content to stay for a while—likely because of the tantalizing aroma coming from several barbeque grills outside. The back door leading from the backstage area allowed the smoke in, and when they’d entered, two of Harley’s people had been manning the coals while others stood around waiting for burgers and hot dogs to come off the grills.
They dispersed, with Harley joining the group outside, while Micah and Drew were drawn into conversation with a group of guys sharing beer form a cooler near the stairs leading down from the stage. Alice had followed Harley outside, and Derek stepped into the backstage area to take a phone call.
A man with looks similar to Harley’s approached her and Jack, extending a hand to him with a smile.
“I never got a chance to thank you and your partner for what you did for me the other day,” he said. “I’m glad Harley asked you guys to step in.”
Jack accepted the man’s hand and the two shook. “It was no problem. Oh, this is my girlfriend, Addison. Addie, this is James, Harley’s brother.”
James gave her a smile and shook her hand, too. “I know all about the ring-bearer. I’ve heard good things … at least, I did before Bael got into my head.”
Addison frowned. “Bael?”
“A demon,” Jack replied. “Duke of the Infernal Powers.”
“He possessed me,” James added. “Jack and Micah got rid of him.”
Her jaw dropped as she turned to glance at Jack. “You performed an exorcism?”
He shrugged as if it was no big deal. “All part of the job. I’ll teach you how, if you want.”
“Definitely,” she said, still in awe of the different facets of this world she knew so little about.
“Got myself a talisman,” James said, reaching beneath his shirt and showing the small gold coin hanging from a slender chain to Jack. Addison made out the symbol of a cross etched onto the coin’s face. “Enchanted by an Oracle so I can’t be possessed again.”
“Smart move,” Jack replied. “I’m glad we could help you.”
James moved on, going over to where the cooler of beer was rapidly being emptied by those crowded around it.
“Do you think you could exorcise my demon half?” she said, turning to Jack.
It had been meant as a joke, but Jack didn’t seem amused. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her against him.
“Stop that,” he murmured.
“Stop what?” she asked.
“Talking crap about your demon half,” he replied. “It’s part of you.”
“The dark part,” she muttered.
Grinning, he kissed her, taking her lower lip between his teeth and giving it a little tug. “I happen to like all your sides … the dark one included. You are who you are, Addie. Without your demon half, you wouldn’t be you. Own it.”
He was right, as usual. The Nephilim were allowed fluidity for a reason. Darkness didn’t always have to mean evil. Sometimes, darkness could go places and do things that light could not.
The sound of someone’s throat clearing interrupted them, making Addison remember that they weren’t alone. She turned her head to find Derek standing nearby, seeming uncomfortable at having to bother them. Stepping out of Jack’s hold, she approached her teacher.
“Hey,” she said. “Is everything okay?”
Derek nodded, reaching up to adjust his frames. “Yes, but we should talk—the whole team. I just got a call from Antoine, and we now know which demons are gunning for you next.”
Things had been quiet since her return from Hell, but it would seem her reprieve had come to an end. She was grateful for the progression, if for no other reason than eliminating as many of Eligos’ ten as possible before the impending war would bode well for her. Fewer of them to face on the battlefield.
“I’ll get Micah and Alice,” Jack declared before going off in search of the rest of their team.
Once everyone had been rounded up, Derek led them to one of the quiet backstage dressing rooms. It looked as if it served as someone’s bedroom, but it was quiet and removed from the others, so Addison closed the door behi
nd them and gave Derek her attention.
“I just got off the phone with Antoine,” he said, once everyone’s attention was on him. “He’s been doing intel and discovered that you’ve got two of the remaining six demons on your trail. One of them is Orobas.”
“One of the seven princes, right?” Addison asked, recalling all that he’d taught her so far.
He nodded in approval. “Very good. Tell me about him.”
“Isn’t he the one who can only come to Earth in his human form?” Addison asked, wracking her brain for the information she’d read between homework assignments.
“Yes,” Derek confirmed. “Years ago, a really powerful Oracle cursed him, weakening him by trapping him in his chosen human form. He is unable to revert back to his more powerful body unless he’s in Hell. But, that doesn’t make him powerless.”
“If anything, that makes him even more dangerous,” Alice added. “He’s got twenty legions at his command.”
“He’s also more likely to resort to trickery as opposed to attacking outright,” Jack chimed in.
Derek folded his arms over his chest. “We have to be vigilant now more than ever. He could strike at any time, and if you’re caught off-guard, by the time you realize what’s going on, he will have you trapped.”
“So, the guard schedule stays on,” Micah declared. “We can’t let her out of our sight for a second.”
“She’s coming home with us tonight,” Jack stated. “Between the two of us, I think we can handle it. Tomorrow, when we head out to Monroe House, we’ll be in a group. If he comes, he’ll have to get through all of us.”
“Damn right,” Alice said with a smile. “Okay, we know to look out for Orobas. His human form still looks the same, yeah?”
Derek nodded. “Yes.”
“Care to give me a description?” Addison ventured.
“Deceptively unassuming,” Derek replied. “Slender, short, plain-looking. But don’t make the mistake of underestimating him.”
