Strange Fire

by Trina M. Lee

  With a shrug, Nova said, “I’m sorry. It’s the best I can offer. Think about it.”

  “Screw you,” I hissed as I turned away.

  “Now if that’s on the table, I may be able to track something down.” A malicious laugh accompanied his indecent proposal.

  Arrow’s head snapped around like he’d been smacked. For a guy who’d once accepted a blowjob for a drug payment, he sure managed to look disgusted by Nova’s proposition. “Let’s get out of here, Spike. You’re too good for this shit.”

  Nova’s smirk held sinister promises. “Look at that, dark one. Your aura is just blazing.”

  “There are hundreds of things here for sale. Someone has to have something.” Refusing to give up so easily, I headed for the next row of tables. Ignoring Nova’s watchful gaze as we went, I scanned the wares with renewed determination.

  Arrow didn’t share my interest. Glancing toward the exit, he tried to steer me in that direction. “There’s gotta be a better way. This won’t end well for anyone. Not you, not Rowen. Let’s go. I’m taking you home.”

  My brows shot up, and my mouth opened, but before I could get out my annoyed, “Excuse me?” a demon appeared behind Arrow and shoved him face down on the nasty floor.

  The goat-headed creature crouched down to snarl into Arrow’s face. “Nice to see you again, traitor. You’re not walking away this time.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Saber grabbed the back of Arrow’s jacket and hauled him to his feet. Shouts rang out from several demons, quick to remind Saber that no conflict would be tolerated inside the Black Market. I gaped in open-mouthed shock as the burly demon dragged Arrow out the back door.

  It took a moment for my body to catch up with my brain. Then I snapped into motion, hurrying after them.

  Nova stepped out from behind his table and blocked my path. “I wouldn’t go out there if I were you,” he warned. “There’s nothing you can do to help him. Saber won’t be stopped by Cinder’s seal.”

  “Get out of my way, Nova.” I jerked back when he made as if to grab my arm.

  He held his hands up in a false gesture of harmlessness. “Traitors get what they deserve, Ember. I don’t want to let you go out there. It’s not your fight.”

  Saber had already made it clear during a previous visit that, if he saw Arrow again, he’d pay the price for being a traitor. Though Arrow was dark, they considered him a traitor because of Rowen and me. Because he’d helped us, more than once. And we in turn had helped him. Dash had cast Arrow out, leaving him unprotected. Arrow didn’t deserve whatever Saber had planned for him.

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” I brazenly shoved by, and though he could have stood his ground, Nova stepped aside. “Having each other’s backs is just something we do, regardless of who’s light or dark. I don’t expect you to get it, but you sure as fuck won’t stop it.”

  Before he could try again to stop me, I rushed out the back door into the frosty night. The frozen night air slapped me in the face, momentarily stealing my breath. I spotted Saber and Arrow near the fire and hurried down the stairs, careful not to slip on the icy patches.

  I weaved my way through the demon party amid old, worn headstones, careful to give a wide birth to an orgy of demons and humans. It was hard not to look, and even harder not to dry heave once I saw. But Arrow’s pained shout demanded my focus, and I tuned out the vile activity around me.

  Saber held Arrow by the back of the neck. Pressing his goat head close, he said something I couldn’t hear. Arrow’s eyes widened. Those goat eyes found me, absolute black in their depths. “Get out of here, white lighter. This doesn’t concern you.”

  “It does though.” My chest tightened, squeezed by the cold hand of fear. “I’m Keeper of the Midnight Star. I can’t abandon any nephilim to you. I won’t.”

  Black eyes strayed to the sword on my back. “I hope you’re deadly with that thing. Otherwise, I’ll make you sorry you tried.”

  Somehow I doubted that he’d be willing to talk this out. So I drew the sword, finding it easier to hold all the time. It fit just right in my hand. My confidence fled though, leaving me standing there wondering what the hell to do.

  In response, Saber slammed his meaty fist into Arrow’s face. I gasped when the blood immediately poured from his nose. I’d thrown a punch at Arrow myself, but I didn’t have the strength of a demon.

  “Spike, just go.” A hand on his nose, Arrow winced. He fished around in a pocket for car keys and tossed them to me. “Take my car. It’s cool. You have to stay safe.”

  Even though I was no longer feeling the effects of the alcohol, I was likely not in safe driving condition either. Although, where demons were concerned, rules had to be bent. But I wasn’t leaving him.

  I put the keys in my hoodie and shook my head. “We came together. We leave together.”

  Saber chuckled. And plowed another fist into Arrow’s face. “Then you’ll both be leaving in pieces.”

  The demon shoved Arrow into the fire. Reacting without thinking, I raised my hand and took control of the fire, causing it to weaken to the barest flicker of light dancing over the scorched earth. Arrow caught himself with both hands and pushed back to his feet. He flung a hand in Saber’s face, freezing him in place. It wouldn’t hold long on a demon.

  “Let’s go,” I shouted, turning to flee.

  The few demons who paid us any attention watched us run with obvious amusement. Because Saber was already right behind us.

  He caught me by the hair and flung me to the ground. We’d made it far enough from the fire for the ground to be covered in snow and ice. With an outstretched hand, Saber held Arrow immobile without even touching him. We’d brought power into it, so now he would too. And we were insects compared to him.

  “Look, white lighter.” With a flick of his wrist, Saber pasted Arrow against the iron fence that lined the perimeter. “I know you’re trying to be the hero ’cause it’s what you think you gotta do. But we don’t deal lightly with traitors. Cinder’s seal is a pretty strong deterrent, but if you insist on being part of this, I’ll send you back to him broken.”

  My every instinct screamed for me to run for the gate and squeal out of the parking lot in the drug-laden BMW. It took heroic effort to get up and face the demon. “Then I guess that’s a risk you’ll be taking.” I sounded braver than I felt. “Is punishing a supposed traitor, a nephilim no less, really worth incurring Cinder’s wrath?” Using Cinder to fight my battle didn’t make me feel tough in any way. If anything it made me feel like a weak little girl. But getting out unscathed was priority.

  Saber considered this. Eyeing Arrow who glowered at him from his place crushed against the fence, Saber’s eerie goat lips twisted into what I believed to be a sneer. “You know what?” The demon grinned at me, revealing flat, blocky teeth. “I can do this without hurting you. If you insist on staying, then you can watch your friend take the wrath that he’s incurred.”

  So that backfired.

  Before I could make another move, Saber snapped his fingers, encasing me in a circle of energy. The circle buzzed, loud with a supercharged, static-like vibration. I slammed my hand against it. As expected, it held firm, like hitting a brick wall. I was trapped.

  Saber turned his attention back to Arrow. The demon jerked him close and snarled into his face. “Did you think Cinder’s white lighter could protect you? Idiot. The company you keep will get you killed, boy. Give me one reason why I should leave you alive after I kick the shit out of you.”

  If Arrow were afraid he was damn good at hiding it. Expression void of emotion, he met those scary-ass goat eyes, unflinching. “Do what you gotta do, asshole.”

  Unhappy with that nonchalant response, Saber threw Arrow to the hard, ice-packed earth. “Alrighty then. Let’s see how much you can take.”

  Arrow got up, sliding on the ice. He flung his arms out to keep his balance, but it didn’t matter because Saber’s massive fist plowed his face again. The demon grabbed Arrow’s
jacket before he could fall. A crackle accompanied the lightning bolts that blasted from Saber’s fingertips. Electricity struck Arrow, causing him to seize. His mouth dropped open in pain, but no sound came out.

  Crap. What else was Saber capable of ?

  I pounded on the circle of energy encaging me. “Saber, you might want to keep in mind that Arrow’s brother is part of Dash’s triad. Just because Dash doesn’t care about Arrow doesn’t mean that the triad won’t come after you. Dash will do it for Rowen. He needs to keep Rowen happy.”

  My frantic shout made the demon pause.

  I held my breath, hopeful.

  Slowly his animal head turned my way. “Good point, white lighter. So I won’t kill him. I’ll just make him wish he was dead.”

  My protests went ignored as Saber hit Arrow with a shot of dark power that threw him down hard next to me. The circle prevented me from reaching for him. Arrow’s face was a bloody mess, his breath ragged. Arrogant determination filled his eyes.

  I knew that Arrow could take a beating. In the time I’d known him, it had been rare to see him without bruises. But I couldn’t just stand there and wait for it to be over. Saber could kill him, whether he intended to or not.

  Frustrated, I swung the Midnight Star at Saber’s circle. The blade crashed against it and sparks flew. The circle held but it did waver. Perhaps I could get out after all.

  Again I smashed the sword into the circle. This time it wavered a bit more. Eventually it had to give. Watching Saber kick Arrow repeatedly, keeping him on the ground, drove me to swing harder and faster.

  Like a glass wall I could feel it begin to crack. Every swing took all I had. I was going to ache tomorrow. Although if I lived to see the sunrise, that misery would be ok with me.

  Able to take a beating but unwilling to become a victim, Arrow fought back. Shadows seeped from him, branching off to become snake-like tendrils. Half a dozen whisps coiled tight around Saber’s arms, legs, torso, and neck. They pulled tight, jerking the demon into an awkward position. Muscles straining, Saber fought against the restriction.

  Arrow struggled to his feet, moving slow. He landed one remarkable punch before Saber broke free. Arrow froze him in place before he could retaliate. Rather than running like he should, Arrow threw another punch.

  I continued to beat on the energy circle. It rippled, wavered, and finally dissipated. Rushing forward, I held the sword ready.

  Before I could plunge it into Saber, he turned suddenly and clotheslined me. Saber’s massive arm smacked my chest, and I went down hard, breath stolen. The Midnight Star fell from my hand, and I rolled, frantic to snatch it back up before some nasty thing could. In my experience demons couldn’t touch the sword, but they had ways.

  Gasping for air, I looked up to see Saber grab Arrow by the throat and shake him. I slashed at Saber, missing as he stepped to avoid my blade. With his free hand he flung a ball of dark power at me. I got the sword up in time to deflect it with the blade, sending the shot wide.

  Having Saber’s attention divided between the two of us gave me a chance to throw a fireball at his head. It hit that large goat head, engulfing it completely. With a shout, Saber let Arrow go.

  “Come on.” I waited for Arrow to reach me before I turned to run.

  Unfortunately the recovery time of a demon was mere seconds. Saber promptly stuck his head in the snow to douse the flames. Then with an angry cry he stopped Arrow in his tracks. Held by an unseen force, Arrow struggled to break free. As if pulled by an elastic band, he sprang toward Saber, limbs flailing.

  The demon did not seem to appreciate the fight we put up. In a fit of unholy rage, he began to pound on Arrow. Fists flying ceaselessly, he seemed intent on beating Arrow into a bloody pulp.

  Fed up with Saber’s bullying, I turned on him with the Midnight Star gripped tight in both hands. He slid a glance my way, aware and ready for me, but ultimately more concerned with the beat down. Adrenaline fueled me. Fear had vanished as anger took its place. I was so sick of demons and their goddamn bullshit.

  He likely anticipated a swing of the sword, which would mean going in close. My palms tingled. Warmth filled my belly. Angelic fire filled me, growing until I was vibrating with it. Driven by instinct inherited from a father that I would never know but would always carry with me, I gave a great cry and slammed the sword down on the ground. Flames burst out of my hands to flow down the blade. It sped across the ground, leaving the snow-covered grass scorched.

  The trail of fire headed straight for Saber. Surrounding his feet, it climbed his body, quickly engulfing him entirely. He let out a strangled shout and flung himself to the ground, rolling in any snow he could find. The fire remained lit.

  I watched with wonder as the flames ate at the demon.

  Arrow dropped to his knees, coughing and spitting blood. I rushed to his side and dragged him to his feet. Several demons watched, some with intrigue, others with outright resentment. But nobody stopped me from guiding Arrow’s battered body to the BMW.

  As we passed the back steps, headed for the gate, Nova came to stand at the top. Arms crossed, expression contemplative, he didn’t say a word. I ignored him. We had nothing to say to one another.

  “Arrow, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. We shouldn’t have come here.” I blubbered away while fishing the keys out and unlocking the doors.

  “It’s cool, angel girl. Not your fault I’m a prime piece of shit that everyone wants to fuck up.” Spitting more blood, he shook his head at the open driver’s door. “You drive.”

  Adrenaline had pumped the alcohol from my system. I felt stone cold sober. And terrified. Rowen would hate me forever if I got his brother killed.

  I hurried to get him into the car and get us moving the hell out of there. Demons had injured two people tonight. Because of me. The reality hit like a stone, leaving me stupefied.

  “Call or text Rowen,” I said, mouth dry, heart racing. “Tell him to meet us at my place. You need him and it’s safe there.”

  Arrow flipped the visor down to peer into the mirror and flicked on the interior light. In my peripheral view I saw him check his teeth, ensuring each was accounted for. My stomach twisted. This was my fault.

  “Well,” he said after several minutes. “I’ve actually had worse. Saber might be tough, but he doesn’t know how to truly hurt someone like us. Not like Dash does.”

  Blood stained his skin. Already his face swelled in various places. I wasn’t sure how Arrow was even conscious.

  “What does that mean?” I asked, trying to be careful with his expensive car on the icy roads.

  “You don’t want to know.” Slumping in his seat, Arrow fished his phone out of a pocket. The screen was shattered.

  “Use mine.” I nodded to my bag, which I’d left on the console. “God, Arrow, I’m so sorry. We never should’ve come. I should have listened to you.”

  Taking a ragged, shuddery breath, he surprised me by chuckling. “I’m never going to forget you said that.”

  The apologies kept coming. I just couldn’t shut up. The entire drive back to the city, I rambled on.

  Finally Arrow held up a hand. “Spike.” He spoke my name with a firm, near scolding tone. “Just stop. I chose to go there. Believe it or not, I want to find a way to break Dash’s hold on Rowen too. This is not your fault. Ok? Repeat that.”

  Despite the swelling of one eye, he managed to stare pointedly at me until I grew uncomfortable enough to say, “It’s not my fault.”

  But I didn’t believe it.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Arrow’s injuries were much worse in the light of my apartment building’s lobby. A gasp slipped past my lips before I could stop it. He stumbled on the stairs, and I reached to steady him.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, aware of the way his gaze dropped to my hand on his tattoo-covered arm. Feeling awkward, I pulled away, worried that he’d take a tumble on the stairs.

  “Just a little dizzy. I’m fine.” Gripping the stair railing tight
, Arrow managed to haul himself up to the second floor.

  Once we were safely inside my apartment, I sat him down on the couch and busied myself gathering first aid supplies from the bathroom and kitchen. Arrow looked bad. Really bad. When I approached him I fought to keep a neutral expression.

  One eye had almost swollen shut. For that I handed him a pack of frozen corn. “Sorry, I’m out of ice.”

  While he pressed the corn to his eye, I used a warm washcloth to carefully wipe the blood from his face. It was difficult to tell how bad the cuts were. Arrow sucked in a sharp breath when I dabbed at his bloody eyebrow. A gentle cleansing revealed a gaping gash that turned my stomach.

  “Oh, Arrow, this is going to need stitches.” My lip curled in disgust as I assessed the damage. The wound cut almost to the bone.

  He lifted a shoulder in what I thought was a shrug but didn’t quite manage to be. “I doubt it’s worth the effort. I just need a drink and some sleep. Got any beer?”

  Further examination revealed cuts and bruises, some worse than others. I didn’t have a good feeling about what I saw. “You need to see a doctor. I’m telling Rowen to take you to the ER. You probably have a concussion. Hell, you could have internal bleeding.”

  Every time he winced I apologized until he had to tell me again to shut up with the apologies. Eyes closed, Arrow leaned into me as I finished cleaning his wounds. I did my best to bandage him up, but he really needed proper medical care.

  “There,” I said after inspecting a cut in his hair. “I think that’s all I can do.”

  “Thanks, Spike.” His hand was warm and unexpected on my arm. “What about you?” He touched a blood-crusted abrasion on my chin far more tenderly than I’d have thought possible.

  It must’ve happened when I fell on the ice. I hadn’t noticed at the time, thanks to the adrenaline. “This is nothing. Just a scratch. You got the worst of it.” Feeling weird, I pulled away and began gathering the first aid supplies off the coffee table.