“Not if I can help it,” Jonathan said, his lips lifted into a snarl.
Hepzibah’s head tilted to the side. “Your bond is strange. I almost wonder if it’s because you’ve let her into your soul so often that she’s permeated into your very being. Perhaps she has possessed you.”
And then Jonathan’s previous words struck like a chord against my nerves. Did you control him? Is that one of your new powers?
I shook my head, ridding the thought. It couldn’t be. If I possessed someone or controlled them, I would know about it. But then again, I knew so little about my abilities. Without realizing what I was doing, I reached out to Hepzibah’s shoulder.
Fingers touched skin. Heat blazed, but did not burn my hand.
Hepzibah flicked me away like a bothersome fly.
My face turned a shade of red. “I’m sorry. I—I wanted to see if you were a physical presence. You don’t have a mortal body anymore, so I guess I wondered…” My voice trailed off.
Her expression was part offended, part curious. “As with your common ghost or lesser, I become a physical entity when you engage with me.” She turned to the others. “Does she really know so little?”
“We’ve done the best we can with the time given,” Elisa said, her voice soft.
Hepzibah eyed me, from my black combat boots to the top of my head. “Even then, as young as she is, this little Defender is strong, stronger than even her mother was, if that’s possible…” Then she jerked back and glared at me as if she had forgotten I was there. “But she is stupid, foolish like a child.”
“That’s enough.” Darius’s voice rang out over her rantings. Muscles moved along a tightened jaw. “You’ve said your piece. Now if you have nothing else to offer, begone back to your precious sanctuary.”
Her eyes widened as she glared at Darius. She pointed an accusing finger. “And you, temporary Guardian. Beware the curse of your calling. Watch your thoughts, control your actions, and do not become as the other male counterparts before you, or you will fall into the same trap that binds them now.”
Fire set in his eyes. “I’m nothing like them. And Hepzibah...” Darius took a step forward, separating himself from the rest of the group. “Find another way of getting the Defender’s attention, or I’ll make sure the Demon’s Eye is locked in a box and thrown at the bottom of our lake.”
“You would risk our exposure to others that seek the power we can give, and aid in your own extinction? We are only safe in the care of the Defender.”
Darius took a step closer, challenging the demon. “Then find. Another. Way.”
Jonathan cursed out loud, barely in time to save me from Hepzibah’s wrath as she and her counterparts slammed into the Demon’s Eye. My head knocked into his. The resulting shockwave reverberated within my skull. I fell to my knees but Jonathan held me beneath my arms.
Darius ran across the room and swooped me up. “I’ll take it from here,” he said, but beneath his breath he added, “ya douchebag.”
When I gave him a look, he only grinned, cradling me. His arm and chest muscles flexed against my body, and I blushed. I had fought so hard to keep him at a distance, but now that we had broken some kind of barrier, he was taking liberties. And I was okay with that. In fact, I found myself enjoying it a little too much.
He deposited me on the couch. The others joined him, circling me. Their expressions were a mixture of curiosity, concern, and in the case of the witches, confusion and disdain.
“So, what do we do?” I asked.
Laith shrugged. “There’s nothing to do. We have our callings. We can’t let the Annihilator stop us from protecting mortals from demonic terror.”
“But we have to stop her, don’t we?” I tried to sit up, but Darius pushed me back down.
“You cannot stop evil,” Laith said. “But you can fight it, and that’s what we’ll do when she comes.”
“And she will come,” Cedric added, fueling my unease.
“I have a mind to make good on my threat right now,” Darius said as Fiona once again prodded my body for signs of damage.
“No,” I said, brushing off her ministrations. I sat up. “Hepzibah will calm down. She was frustrated, but she’s right. We need to protect them from the Annihilator.”
“Protect them? From their own kind?” Bailey sauntered from the group, not at all concerned over my welfare. “You are such an abnormality.”
“Excuse me?” When I went to stand, Darius put out a hand to help me, but I waved it off.
Bailey circled Jonathan, her eyes perusing every inch of his body. “You say we need to protect them as if they’re victims. Why not just do as the temporary Guardian threatens and lock them away in a box?”
My heart seized; panic rose in my throat. “Not an option.” I needed the Demon’s Eye. It was part of me, part of what I represented. “It was a gift from God to my mother, and it is mine now. I will wear it as my mother did.”
Gayle cleared her throat. “But now we have who knows how many demons looking for it. Wouldn’t it be safer hidden somewhere in your complex?”
Bailey stifled a laugh. “Not anymore.”
Fiona stiffened. “What is that supposed to mean?
Gayle stepped in front of the younger witch. “It’s nothing, my lady. Bailey should know better than to listen to rumors and speculations.”
“Oh, but we know them to be more, don’t we?” Roslyn asked as she sauntered to the window, feigning interest in the outside landscaping.
Bailey merely flicked a lock of long blond hair over her shoulder. “It must’ve been a blow to have one’s offspring go traitor.”
Movement drew my attention. Cedric grabbed Fiona’s hand, his knuckles white from holding his mate in check. Heat infused Fiona’s face as she glared at the young witch.
Gayle inhaled a shocked breath. “Bailey!”
Bailey laughed off the warning. “What? Is it not true? Their own grandson.”
“What are your reasons for being here, other than to deliver snide comments and bring discomfort to our family?” Elisa asked. Although she appeared calm, her blue eyes warned of something more than a firm scolding. “Why don’t you just go check on Madelyn?”
Bailey’s gaze shifted to Jonathan for only a split second, but I caught her mistake. My breath hitched. “You’re here for Jonathan.”
9
Unusual Offerings
Jonathan chuckled beneath his breath and the sound traveled up my spine. “Is that wise, witch? To seek out a Fallen?”
“What reason would you have to come here for a demon?” Gayle asked. But when Bailey didn’t answer, the color drained from Gayle’s face. She turned to the Healer. “She said she wanted to meet The Three... and I... Since I was coming to visit Madelyn, I thought—”
“You did nothing wrong.” Fiona spoke calmly, holding up a hand to silence her.
Despite arrogant eyes, Bailey rubbed nervously at her arms. “I’ve been watching him for years. I—”
“You deceived me,” Gayle said, her voice merely a whisper. “My mother witch, I apologize. When Bailey came to me, she made it seem as if she wanted to transfer covens. I had no idea…”
“Let the young witch explain her reasons for herself. Bailey?” Fiona turned expectantly.
Bailey swallowed but lifted a defiant brow. “I—I grew interested in the demon’s recent change and thought it curious. Although Jonathan had been an active demon for the Destroyer the entire time I’ve watched him, suddenly he goes straight?”
“Straight?” Jonathan growled, low and feral. I reached out to calm him with my touch and almost cried out. His skin was fire hot.
Despite the pain, I smiled, exposing my teeth. “I guess I just have that effect.”
“Demons of his level don’t do that.” When I didn’t respond, Bailey smirked, almost back to her normal self. “But you wouldn’t know much about that, would you?”
Though anger boiled my insides, I refused to bite at the worm she dangled. Ins
tead I turned to Laith. “Demons his level?”
Laith ran nervous fingers through his dark hair. “If you think of it in a military sense, Jonathan would be something like a Brigadier General. Then there’re your lower ranking officers, your enlisted, and your demons in reserve. There are even demons that’ve gone A.W.O.L.”
“Jonathan?” I turned to him, expectant.
One eyebrow raised, he answered with a single nod. “There are Fallen that disappeared the moment we came down to this earth. Depressed and guilt-ridden, they sulk in the darkness, refusing to leave the rocks they crawled under.”
“Why was I not told any of this?” I asked Laith.
Sorrow inflicted his face. “Ava, we’ve tried to give you the most important of details you would need to fulfill your calling. We believed training was our number one priority. All the rest could be learned as you go.”
“Which was smart,” Jonathan said. He watched my reaction to the information. “Your survival sets precedence.”
“How sweet.” Bailey laughed. Her attentions returned to the library shelves.
“And how do you know so much about demon rankings?” I asked as she selected another novel.
She shrugged. “After my husband’s soul was taken, I did some extensive research about them. They’re fascinating. For instance, the ones your Herald describes as reservists are almost as looked down upon by the elite Fallen as the ones gone A.W.O.L. Reservists only come out if they’re forced by the Destroyer. Those are the ones that try to blend in with the community. They try to live a mortal life.”
“And how do they do that?” I asked.
She peered over her shoulder. “Have you ever heard of someone really horrible suddenly taking a turn and changing their lives completely? They stop beating their wives and children, they get sober and never touch another drink ever again. Drugs no longer haunt them.” She ticked her examples off on her fingers.
“No,” Elisa said, interrupting. “You cannot make Ava believe that anyone who reforms is just a demon possession.”
Bailey tsked, looking away. “While it’s not a rule, often you’ll find the reason for the change is because a Fallen has taken over. It’s what happened to me.”
My gaze shot to Jonathan. He didn’t look at Bailey but continued to meet my stare. “I was an improvement over her late husband, but I normally am. The witch’s situation was far from those extremes she listed. When I came along, her husband was practically asking for possession.”
“Who was your husband before?” Elisa asked Bailey.
Gayle answered for her protégée. “His name was Thaddeus. He was a warlock with the given ability to affect people’s moods and to create potions that would do the same.”
Roslyn hissed, drawing near. “Black magic. This is why we don’t allow men into our coven. It’s too easy for them to fall.”
“You don’t allow men? That’s seems… feminist,” I said.
“Perhaps to you.” She looked over Darius, feigning disgust at his display of bulging muscles and facial hair, but beneath I sensed more than she was willing to admit. “Men are a distraction. They only cause heartache and invoke feelings of jealousy and pain. The more modern groups tolerate their membership, but we are traditional.”
“Regardless,” Gayle interrupted, “Thaddeus worked within his coven for years, helping mortals who suffered from traumatic experiences and life-changing events, but he grew restless with his power. He wanted more.”
“Yes,” Bailey said, skimming the shelves with a delicate finger. “Around that time, he was sought out by either the Destroyer’s or the Annihilator’s followers. Whichever one, he began working both sides. Before I could confront him, your demon had already found him ripe for the picking and took over.” She smiled at Jonathan. “When I challenged him, he didn’t try and kill me, and he never denied the possession. More honest about things than my husband ever was.”
Gayle placed a hand on Bailey’s arm. “You failed to mention this encounter. Why didn’t you tell your coven? I’m sure they could’ve taken care of him together as a whole unit.”
“Oh, please,” Jonathan groused, but Bailey merely shrugged.
“They’re weak, which is the real reason I’ve sought a different coven. Besides, Jonathan was better than Thaddeus. Jonny put money in my account, something Thaddeus never did, and he left me alone to do my work. What more could I ask?”
Gayle shook her head. “He was a Fallen that took over your mate, killed him, and then continued to work for the Destroyer.”
“I’ve watched the demon since then. He never does more than what’s asked. He doesn’t revel in taking life, only when necessary.” She leaned against the back of the couch. “And then Sarah came.”
“That’s not my name anymore,” I said through clenched teeth, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“How did you get him to do it—to go rogue?”
I couldn’t answer what I didn’t know, so instead of trying, I moved away from her. She turned to Jonathan. Her hand twitched to reach his, but he took a step back. “Jonathan, you could be useful to me. To our coven.”
He glared. “No.”
Roslyn’s blue eyes examined the young witch. “No coven would be willing to go along with what you’re suggesting.”
“Are you so sure about that?” Bailey asked, and Roslyn only stared. “Jonathan, you have no place to go. Even if the Destroyer takes you back, he’ll never trust you as he once did.”
He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “I’m not going back—”
“And you’ll never be welcomed here. They’re just using you.”
My blood curdled in my veins. “Watch what you say, witch. Jonathan is my friend. You are the one trying to take the advantage.”
But Bailey ignored me. “Jonny, there’s so much more that we can do together. Just think—”
“You shunned your husband for working both sides, but now you want a demon to help you? The very same demon that took over your husband?” Elisa’s voice was infused with shock.
“Thaddeus was long gone by the time I returned. I was thankful to be spared his downfall.” Bailey flicked her hand as if shooing an annoying fly. “What’s more important is my coven and all the others out there. We’re under attack. Think of how much more powerful we could be with a demon such as Jonathan at our side, protecting—”
“You don’t need additional power,” Elisa said, her voice rising above Bailey’s pleas.
Bailey glared. “Typical. Of course a Herald wouldn’t want to share.”
I crossed my arms. “Demon possession takes a while. Why weren’t you there to help him? You were his wife.”
Bailey shrugged. “Like the Mighty Three, we were often separated for long periods of time.”
“Excuse me?” The way in which Fiona spoke caused me to shudder. Her face was the color scarlet.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is it a secret that our mother witch often leaves her mate for months if not years at a time because she has a—
In less time than it took to blink, Fiona had Bailey around the neck. With a single hand she lifted her three feet off the ground. Shelves fell from their place, books tumbled to the floor. Bailey’s white fingers pried at Fiona’s hand, but Fiona’s grasp held firm.
“That is enough, child,” Fiona said. The density of her accent warned, her voice barely more than a whisper. “You have disrespected this home and its inhabitants more than should have been allowed. You will leave here until you learn some manners. Until then, I don’t want to see your face again. Hector!” She kept her eyes pinned on Bailey’s blood-drained face. Hector and Roman entered, and even though the room seemed frozen in place, the security team looked bored.
“Yes, my lady Healer?” Hector surveyed the room, shutting the doors behind him.
“Hector, darling, this hot-headed witch needs an escort out of our sanctuary. Take Roman and Noah with you to make sure she doesn’t give you trouble.”
Hector’s look sug
gested wounded pride, but he nodded. Fiona released Bailey. The young witch fell to the ground in a heap, gasping for breath.
Hector gathered her to her feet, but it was Gayle that seized her by the arm. “Roslyn and I will go as well to ensure she leaves. We’ll return to see the birth of Madelyn’s child. My apologies for this upstart.”
“Very well.” Fiona ghosted to the back window, a signal for their removal. Cedric traced a finger down the side of her arm. A smile touched the corner of his mouth.
When they had gone, the tension melted from the room almost instantly. I rolled the built-up stiffness from my neck.
“That was... interesting,” Elisa said. She fell to the couch with an exasperated breath. Laith shook his head, joining her.
Jonathan shrank back into the corner, his expression calculating and anxious, but I wasn’t ready to excuse him just yet.
“What did she mean, that a Herald wouldn’t share their power? Are witches immortal?” I asked.
Fiona leaned against the window sill, regarding me. Exhaustion pulled at her features, which made me even angrier at the young, stupid witch for causing my aunt such visible grief. I sighed and went to her, wrapping her into my arms. “I’m so sorry. She said some really horrible things.”
Fiona patted me on the back. “She spoke the truth. I just wasn’t ready to hear it—”
“Especially from the likes of her,” Elisa interrupted. “Now I can see why you left her, Jon.”
Jonathan huffed a laugh, and Fiona’s lips twitched up in the corner.
“Bailey is someone who obviously thinks herself above other mortals,” Fiona said as I released her.
“But if she’s a witch—”
“You’re thinking too hard on the subject, my niece. You’ve watched too many movies. A witch or a warlock is only a witch or warlock when they proclaim themselves to be.”
“I don’t get it.”
Personal Warriors: Book 3 in the Personal Demons series Page 9
