by Amanda Ashby
“You do realize that I wouldn’t step foot in this place for anyone else but you,” Nash complained as they squeezed past all the would-be thespians nervously hovering outside the auditorium, reciting the balcony scene. “If Celeste sees me, then she’s going to think I’m auditioning.”
“And if Reuben sees me, then he’s going to think that I want to get back together with him,” Cassidy said in an equally appalled voice as they finally managed to make their way to the main stage, where a frazzled Mrs. Davis, the drama teacher, was standing with a clipboard and a general look of panic. “But we really don’t have much of a choice.”
“I know.” He let out a pained sigh as he nodded toward the far side, where Celeste was glowing so brightly that Cassidy had to shade her eyes to stop herself from squinting. Then he ducked as Celeste glanced over. “Okay, so how about you keep an eye on her and I’ll wait down in the seats to make sure that no demons come in. Oh, and while you’re following her, there is one other small little thing that we need to do before we can make the protective amulet tonight.”
“What is it?” Cassidy said in a cautious voice.
“In addition to the parsley, I need a strand of her hair.” Nash coughed as he took a step back from her.
“What?” Cassidy stared at him for a moment, waiting for the punch line, but when it wasn’t forthcoming, she quickly shook her head. “Sorry. It’s bad enough that I have to try to follow her around at a distance—but now you want me to get a strand of hair?”
“Did I mention that I really need two strands?” Nash admitted before giving her a supportive pat on the arm.
“Nash, that’s ridiculous. She can barely stand to look at me—how am I going to get within hair-stealing distance? Anyway, why can’t you do it? At least she likes you.”
“Yes, that’s the problem, and I can’t do anything to encourage her or she might get the wrong idea. Then I’ll be forced to move to Australia to escape her. Besides,” he said in a coaxing voice, “it’ll be easy.”
“Nothing about this is easy,” Cassidy reminded him. “And why are you only telling me about this now?”
“So you wouldn’t have time to wriggle out of it, of course.”
“Fine. I’ll do my best to get two strands of Celeste Gilbert’s hair. But I warn you, if she catches me, I’m going to tell her they’re for you.”
“Australia,” he reminded her in a singsong voice, knowing that she wouldn’t go through with her threat. Then he scuttled away before she could change her mind. Cassidy let out a sigh and climbed up to the stage. As soon as she got there, Celeste darted behind the heavy curtain, and Cassidy was forced to trail after her, privately wondering if someone was having a laugh at her expense.
She was just making her way past the leftover props from last year’s production of Cats when Celeste came to an abrupt halt to read a text message, giving Cassidy only a moment to scramble out of sight behind a fake boulder.
She watched as Celeste thumbed a reply to someone, and a moment later she held the cell phone up to her ear and began a loud, angry conversation about a pink dress. Whatever the problem was, Celeste wasn’t happy, and she began to pace around the backstage area, waving her free hand in annoyance.
Cassidy ducked even lower behind the fake boulder and ignored her cramping muscles as she glanced at her watch. Was this what it was going to be like until the solstice? Because if so, then she was going to have a problem, and she was just deciding if she should try to find Thomas to discuss it with him when she heard a rustling noise from over by some dismantled lighting equipment.
Someone—or something—was over there.
Panic flared in her chest as Celeste, oblivious to any danger, continued to argue into her cell phone. Cassidy took a deep breath and tried to remember all of Thomas’s instructions, but unfortunately, all she could think of was rule number one: Never go anywhere without your sword.
The rustling noise increased, and Cassidy looked around for a potential weapon, adrenaline surging through her veins. Then she caught sight of an umbrella. It wasn’t quite a sword, but it was still a weapon, and she tightened her grip on it just as Celeste suddenly finished her call and angrily marched back out through the heavy curtains.
The moment she had gone, Cassidy jumped out from behind the boulder toward the lighting equipment. As she went, she centered her energy and lifted the umbrella in front of her, so that she could—
“Cassidy?” Travis asked as he walked out from behind an old spotlight and looked at the umbrella in surprise. “What’s going on?”
“Travis?” She lowered the umbrella and swallowed a groan. Now that he wasn’t dressed as James Dean, his dark curls once again fell around his face and he was chewing his full lower lip, which made him look even more gorgeous than ever. Unfortunately, while he looked gorgeous, she probably just looked crazy. “Wh-what are you doing back here?”
“I’m here for the auditions, so I was trying to meditate first. It makes me feel centered,” he admitted, still looking with confusion at the umbrella in her hand. “What are you doing backstage?”
“Um.” Cassidy could feel her cheeks going bright red, since she could hardly tell him that she was trying to protect a virginal vessel from being ripped apart by a demon. “I was looking for Nash and thought that I saw a mouse. I really hate mice.” Then she groaned. What was it with her and all the reptiles and vermin? Next time she told a lie it was only going to involve unicorns and happy animals.
“Obviously.” Travis raised an eyebrow before grinning. “Still, it works out well for me, since I was hoping to see you today.”
“You were?” she asked, all thoughts of Celeste forgotten as she self-consciously smoothed down her green silk dress. She’d teamed it with some boots and one of her dad’s old vests, and while this morning it had seemed cool, now it just seemed dumb, and she wished she was wearing something from the Gap like a normal person.
“Yeah, I felt really bad that I had to bail on you at the party. It sounds like I missed all the action. Did some crazy guy really go racing through there with a sword?”
“Yeah. They think he might’ve been a college guy who’d had a little bit too much of . . . well . . . too much of something,” Cassidy said, merely repeating the rumor that the rest of the school had been buzzing with all day. It certainly made more sense than the truth.
“I hope you weren’t near him.”
“Actually,” Cassidy confessed, “he did come right up to us, and Nash ended up getting knocked over. But don’t worry”—she added hastily, noticing that Travis’s face had drained of color—“he’s fine. Just some bruising in an embarrassing place.”
“So what happened to the guy? Did the police come or anything?” Travis asked, and Cassidy felt a flood of memories come racing back. The stench of the demon as she had thrust the sword through its distorted flesh. The flames as its body burned. The vision she’d shared with Thomas. She felt her face go pale, and she jammed her nails into the flesh of her palm to bring her back to the present.
“He ran off before anyone could stop him,” she said in what she hoped was a casual voice just as Mrs. Davis called for everyone’s attention. Cassidy immediately lowered her voice. “Okay, I think that’s my cue to go. But good luck with the audition.”
“And good luck to you, too. I’m pleased you changed your mind.”
For a moment Cassidy looked at him blankly before realizing what he meant. She went to shake her head to explain that it would be a cold day in hell before she ever auditioned, but before she could open her mouth Travis reached for her hand and pressed something into her palm. The feel of his fingers on hers sent an electric shock racing around her body.
“What’s this?” Cassidy asked as she uncurled her fingers to see a crystal. It was a ruddy orange color, with speckles of black running through it, hanging off a thin piece of leather.
“It’s a good-luck charm,” he explained. “I normally use it when I audition, but after what you were say
ing about your stage fright, I thought it might help you.”
“But—” Cassidy again tried to explain that she wasn’t going to audition, but Travis cut her off with a shake of his head. She watched in fascination as his dark curls spread across his brow, perfectly framing his eyes.
“It’s okay. I know you don’t think you’re going to audition, but just in case you change your mind, I would like you to have it.” He smiled, his perfect white teeth dazzling against his smooth tanned skin. Before Cassidy could reply he slipped away and headed over to the rest of the group, leaving Cassidy clutching the crystal necklace tightly in her hand.
Had any of that really just happened?
However, as much as she longed to stand there, she suddenly realized that not only should she be keeping an eye on Celeste (no matter how little she deserved it), but she wanted to see Travis audition, and so she quickly hurried out to the front where Nash was sitting, his long frame sunk low into one of the seats.
“Okay, so you look happy.” Nash studied her face, an amused expression tugging at his lips. “Does that mean you got the strands of hair?”
“Not exactly,” Cassidy admitted before smiling again. “But I have been talking to Travis. Can you believe he was totally bummed that he had to leave early on Friday night?”
“Did you explain that you were otherwise engaged with a demon?” Nash wanted to know.
“Of course I did, because all the magazines say that you should talk about demons when hanging out with your crush,” she deadpanned before relenting. “Okay, so I actually just told him that I didn’t stay long. And get a load of this, not only did he say he wanted to see me again, but he also gave me this for good luck in case I was going to audition for the play. Isn’t it gorgeous?”
Nash studied it for a moment. “It looks like a carnelian. Not worth much, but as far as a healing stone goes, it offers strength and helps give a person confidence in her decision making. Which is actually very fitting for you.”
“Not to mention that it’s a token of how pleased Travis is that he’s met me.” Cassidy let out a happy sigh as she took it back from Nash and slipped it over her neck so that it was hanging just to the right of her heart. She grinned some more, and Nash rolled his eyes.
“Yes, this mineral was formed over hundreds and thousands of years just to help you get a date. And while of course I’m thrilled for you, may I look at the grimoire now? These auditions are going to go on for ages, and I figured that I might as well start reading up on how to make the amulet. Assuming that you can get the hair,” he said, but Cassidy hardly heard as she craned her neck so that she could watch Travis move fluidly across the stage, so gorgeous and powerful.
“Grimoire,” Nash repeated, this time with a nudge, and Cassidy vaguely thrust her purse toward him, still not taking her eyes off Travis. As she watched, her fingers clutched at the necklace, making her feel somehow connected to him.
He was alone in the middle of the stage now. A haunted expression replaced his normal easy smile, while his soaring voice rang out. He was doing the scene at the end of the play when Romeo has woken up to discover Juliet was dead. Cassidy watched in mounting admiration as his haunted look made way for bone-searing grief.
Suddenly, the whole auditorium was silent as Travis fell to his knees, his despair so palpable that Cassidy longed to race up and ease away the deep lines that were now running across his brow, but instead she just sat there, glued to the spot, mesmerized by his compelling performance. Finally it was over, and one by one, students everywhere spontaneously applauded. Cassidy joined them, completely fixated on Travis’s face, still so raw with emotion.
“Er, Cass.” Nash’s voice suddenly rang in her ear. “I-I think you’d better look in your purse.”
“My purse?” Cassidy reluctantly dragged her gaze away from Travis and narrowed her eyes. “Is this one of those jokes about it being like a black hole?”
“No.” Nash quickly shook his head, his hands shaking with panic. “This isn’t a joke. You need to look in your purse. Right now.”
“Okay—” she started to say, but the rest of the words died on her lips as she saw the grimoire burning with such intensity it could only mean one thing.
That somewhere close by there was a demon.
SIXTEEN
The noise backstage faded away so that all Cassidy was conscious of was the blood pounding through her temples and the screaming cries of people being burned alive. All the demon knight had to do was race in and see Celeste standing there, glowing like a beacon, and it would rip the Black Rose from her flesh. It would be Paris all over again.
Innocent people being killed. Their crucified flesh. Their blood. Their—
“Cass.” Nash’s urgent voice dragged her back into reality. She gave him a grateful look and quickly peered around, but wherever the demon knight was, it wasn’t backstage. Her heart hammered in her chest.
“I’ve to go and find it.” She took a deep breath and tried to focus herself.
“It might not even be in the school,” Nash tried to protest, though it was obvious by the way his face was drained of color that he was just as worried as she was.
“It’s here,” she said in a croaky voice. “Look at the grimoire. It wasn’t even that red when I fought the one in the woods.” Then she took a deep breath and pulled the book out of her purse. Despite its fiery appearance, it was cool to the touch. “I’ve got to find it.”
“You know, I’m having second thoughts about all of this,” he said as he reached out to hold her hand, his knuckles white. “Perhaps—”
“It’s okay,” she lied as she squeezed his fingers in reassurance. “That whole speech you gave me before? Well, you were right. I’ve got to do this. Especially after seeing Thomas’s vision. But you need to stay here and make sure that Celeste is okay, and if you see anything, you text me right away. Okay?”
“But—”
“Nash,” she cut him off as she caught his gaze in hers. “Please.”
“Fine.” He nodded, and she slipped away before she could change her mind. She was vaguely aware of Reuben waving to her, but she ignored him and hurried off to her locker, while trying not to think of just how badly this might end. Her fingers fumbled with the code, but finally she opened it and pulled out the large sports bag, then grabbed her coat for the bracing autumn weather.
There was still no sign of any demon, so she quickly made her way outside to the empty courtyard.
“Thomas,” she hissed in a low voice as she scanned the sky for an owl, but there was nothing. She cautiously started to jog around the outside of the school, hoping that that the grimoire would show her where to go. She stopped at the deserted table where she and Nash normally ate lunch and pulled the grimoire and the small knife out of her purse. Then she looked at the heavy mail.
The last thing she wanted to do was to get caught wearing it, but then she remembered just how brutal her sparring had been with Thomas, who was just an apparition. She reluctantly shrugged off her coat and pulled the horrible, itchy undershirt on over her green dress (which, on reflection, wasn’t ideal demon fighting attire) before she wriggled her way into the awkward chain mail.
Now she understood why old-fashioned knights had squires to help them dress. However, she finally managed to get it on, and then she slipped her coat back over the top so that she didn’t look any more freakish than she needed to. Then she tied the belt around her waist and slipped her knife into it. As soon as it was done, she hurried toward the back of the main building, where the Dumpsters were kept.
The wind had picked up now, blowing leaves around in mini whirlpools, causing them to spiral up in the air before dropping them back down. A plastic bag had caught on the side of the brickwork and was being pressed in like a kiss. However, there was still no sign of any demon. Cassidy shivered and was trying to decide where to look next when her nostrils were assaulted by an overwhelming smell of putrid blood.
She gagged as she forced herself to
pull the heavy leather gloves on, and then she slipped the shield onto her left forearm before picking up the sword. Despite the gray weather, the blade suddenly burst into a myriad of colors as the runes lit up, so dazzling that Cassidy was momentarily blinded by it. Finally, she dragged her gaze away and spun around, but instead of seeing just one demon, there were six of them, all racing toward her as one.
Six.
There were six demons.
Fear tore at her throat as they raced toward her. Her horror mounted at the way their distorted muscles seemed to pulsate under their skin. Their sharp teeth glistened with slobber. Then a feather fell in front of her and she let out a strangled cry of relief. Thomas.
“Move.” His voice rung out in her ear. “You need to move. Now.”
Cassidy didn’t need to look at him to know that his face would be pinched with frustration at not being able to fight them himself. Instead, she did as he said, darting away just as the first of the demons reached her, amazed at the extra strength she felt just from knowing he was there.
“Thrust,” he commanded, and she plunged the sword deep into the demon’s chest, sending it through the thick leathery skin until it crashed into flesh and bone. The runes on the sword blazed with energy, and the demon fell away from her like she had swatted a fly. Thomas had said they held special power, but she had no idea it would be this much. Before she could consider it further, the stench of the dead demon rose up to choke her. She forced herself to ignore it as a second demon came racing toward her. She lifted her shield to block a blow and was just about to thrust forward with her sword when Thomas stopped her.
“Wait,” he instructed, and despite her natural desire to press forward, Cassidy’s fingers tightened around the hilt. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and the wind swirled around them in eddies. She didn’t even realize that she was holding her breath until Thomas finally commanded her to strike. The moment she did, a burst of energy ran along her arm, and again the runes on the sword blazed with power. As soon as the blade touched the demon’s distorted flesh, it fell to the ground.
