A table of demions —doctors, lawyers, CEO’s of major international corporations, several famous movie stars and even a former President and Vice President of the United States—sit on the other side of the room sipping champagne and keeping to themselves. The creatures—demons and demions blended with animal DNA—huddle by the fire pit telling each other raucous tales of mayhem and murder. And as usual, the vamps are gathered in the back, away from the rest of us.
All of them my tribe. My family.
Cody says something, but my attention is fixated on Ivy’s mystery man who is staring at me intently. She noticed him a few nights ago and has been curious about him ever since, but I’d been too busy with the Amazèa to give him much thought. Now that I’m looking at him I think it’s time to reconsider my indifference. This guy is hot, even by demion standards where beauty and perfection are the norm. I could use a distraction...
“…And you’re not even listening to me, are you?” Cody lightly swats my arm. “Something interesting over there?” His eyes have a mischievous gleam.
I return my attention to him and take another drink. “Nothing that interesting. What’s up?”
“I was just saying how there’s something going on around here that has some of us on edge lately.”
“What do you mean?” I glance over my shoulder to give the sexy stranger a small smile, but his back is already turned.
Cody leans closer and drops his voice. “I don’t want to be spreading stories, but I want you to be extra careful out there. I’ve been hearing whispers of some trouble.”
“Like what?” He has my full attention now. If anyone has gotten wind of my hunting the Amazèa, I’m in unspeakable danger. Other than Tatiana, only Bones knows what I’ve been up to. But I trust him with my life.
“Some funny stuff…some things that no one can put their finger on exactly. Unexplained disappearances of a few demions, some Sapies found murdered in Pine Canyon. And there were three border battles in the last week alone. I dunno. It just seems like something’s up…and nothing good.”
I relax slightly and take a few more sips. Cody is so sweet, but he has a tendency to overreact, usually out of fear. He’s one of the few demions in existence who, for whatever reason, never received active physical powers. Bones and I both agree that this flaw makes him more jittery than the rest of us.
“Doesn’t sound like much to be alarmed at. Demions are unpredictable and often go underground for one reason or another. Pine Canyon is thirty miles away from Dove Creek, and Sapies murder each other all the time. And I’m not surprised at the border skirmishes…I’m only surprised it was as quiet as it was for so long. Besides, if there was any real danger, Bones would have said something to me. In fact, he was complaining about being bored.”
Cody reluctantly nods and pours himself a drink. “S’pose you’re right. I dunno. Things were just kind of quiet ‘round here for so long, then all of a sudden things started happening. It just doesn’t sit well with me, is all.” He takes a few nervous gulps.
Poor Cody. It must be awful being so helpless. He may as well be a pure Sapie. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Besides, isn’t it a little weirder that we weren’t fighting with the border tribes? I mean, come on, we’re demons. It’s amazing the peace agreements lasted as long as they have.”
For centuries, various demon factions had been at war with one another, each for their own reasons. Whether it was for control over a territory, personal slights, or just to fight, the tribes had been battling it out for years. But after decades of carnage with no end in sight, the Legionare—the highly skilled militia unit for the Demon Empire—separated the clans into territories. Now each is forbidden to cross over into another’s land without express permission. But only in Thiberoux…the world of Man is still fair game and open to all.
It has worked surprisingly well, with few skirmishes in recent memory. Anyone violating the treaty is dealt with by the Legionare, a punishment no demon wants to endure.
Still, I’m not bothered by Cody’s concern. Most demons agree the treaty is an unnatural act and it’s only a matter of time before it’s broken. Many of us, myself included, long for war; it’s in our blood. Having the Legionare come after a few of us is one thing, but when entire clans are involved it’ll be a whole lot harder for them to single out a few troublemakers.
I turn to the fresh glass of whisky Cody has placed beside me. One last drink and I’ll be ready to get my game on. Out of courtesy for Her—well, more like Tatiana’s strict orders—I have to limit my drinks to three, maybe four if I’m really fired up. And I always drink early in the evening so it has time to metabolize by the time she awakens. But I wish I could drink all night, like other demions do. Unfortunately for me, as soon as Liora turns human again the alcohol in our system will affect her the same way it would affect any other girl who is five foot seven and weighs one hundred and ten pounds.
Reason number ten thousand, eight hundred and thirty three why it’s so annoying having to share my body with a Sapie.
I let out a long suffering sigh. I couldn’t be any less amped about my evening. No Amazèa to hunt, and Tatiana didn’t even bother to point me in the direction of any other demons I could slay instead. I need to destroy something tonight, if only to take the edge off. Otherwise, if one of the dumb Sapies I collect the tolls from even so much as looks at me wrong he’ll become nothing more than a messy stain on a wall. And I try not to kill humans. Actually, Tatiana has forbidden it…says it would make stupid Liora go crazy or something.
Reason number ten thousand, eight hundred and thirty four…
Cody leaves to tend to some other patrons and I remember my mystery man in the back. I spin my seat around to get another look and my knees bump into something, stopping me mid-turn. A few drops of Jack splash in my lap, but I don’t care.
I don’t care because I’m looking into the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen in my life.
******
I have to hurry. The three moons of Illyria have nearly become one, signaling first dawn in Sapie world. I squeeze my legs tightly, urging Diablo on. He grunts and presses his head down.
After collecting the tributes, I’d managed to find some fun after all, killing a few rogue paranoia-demons working the streets of New York City. Afterward, I’d hit up an underground rave party to dance away some of my remaining aggressions. It hadn’t worked, but I love dancing and lost track of time.
If there’s one thing Liora and I agree upon, it’s to leave our body in a safe place for the other to take over. Of course, this is much more important for me to do than it is for her. I don’t really care where I wake up; I can take care of myself. But if I leave her somewhere unprotected, her frail human state could spell trouble for both of us.
But mostly, I just don’t want her wearing my clothes. All of my outfits are custom made for me, and there’s no way I’m letting her get her grubby paws on them.
I burst through the cabin door with seconds to spare. Tatiana sits on the floor with her eyes closed. “Hello, dear, how was your evening?” she asks without opening them.
“Super,” I say, still miffed at my rudimentary chore. I toss the sack of money on the table and rush to the bedroom, the first waves of coldness already flooding through me. With no time to hang them up, my clothes lie on the floor beside the bed. Naked, I toss myself on it just as everything goes black.
Chapter 3. Liora
I keep my head low as I maneuver down the crowded hallway toward my locker. It’s a conscious decision, one designed to prevent me from rubbernecking like an idiot hoping to catch a glimpse of Kieron somewhere. But I realize it’s not the smartest idea as soon as I crash smack into the backside of Cade Johnston, one of the school’s Neanderthal football players.
“Sorry,” I mumble and scoot around him.
His friends snicker; one dramatically recoils in mock horror. I roll my eyes and ignore their immature antics, but hear one of them say, “Better burn that jacket, dude. It�
��s probably jinxed now.”
What-ev-er.
Corrine stands by my locker looking like she’s ready to burst from her skin. She and I’ve hung out for a few years. She doesn’t ask me too many personal questions and isn’t nosy about my private life. That’s why I like her—her preoccupation with her own drama prevents her from focusing too much on mine. Her father is currently serving a life sentence for killing a man during a drunken bar fight, so she lives with her mom. But her mom is no prize, either. Perpetually unemployed and permanently drunk, she barely manages to keep up the rent on the trailer they share on the outskirts of town, a place inhabited by the trashiest of the trash—poor even by Dove Creek standards. But she’s the closest thing I have to a friend here, and I’m grateful for her companionship.
“Lee-OR-aa!” she hisses, her eyes wide. “I can’t believe you totally missed it. Of all the days to get sent home from school you pick yesterday and miss the most amazing thing ever! Well not totally miss it, but oh my God, why don’t you ever answer your phone at night? I tried calling you like fifty times!” She stops to catch her breath, her chubby face flushing pink.
I furrow my brow. Corrine tends to be dramatic sometimes, but this is a bit over the top. “Slow down…I didn’t get sent home, I left. What happened? Is everything okay?”
She raises both her eyebrows and smiles wide, revealing two deep dimples and badly crooked teeth. I begin turning the combination to my lock but she places both hands on my shoulders and pivots my body around.
“That,” she whispers breathlessly. “Isn’t it just lovely? Ahhh…”
I look to where a gaggle of girls has clustered in the hallway. Correction, a gaggle of girls plus Kieron standing in the middle, clearly loving the attention being plied on him by half the cheerleading squad. Just as I expected.
I look back at Corrine and roll my eyes. “Really? That’s what’s got you so worked up…some guy?” I just hope my face isn’t as pink as hers. Just seeing Kieron again, in the flesh, affirming that he is real and not a figment of my overactive and unreliable imagination makes my blood pump furiously. I focus on lining up the numbers on my combination lock, which is exceedingly difficult with shaky hands.
She leans beside me and cranes her neck to watch him. “Seriously, Liora, are you blind? Have you not seen our selection of guys here, or should I say, lack of?”
“So he’s cute. Big whoop. For all you know he could be a world-class jerk.” I fumble through my locker and try to remember what books I’ll need for first period English. Although after what happened yesterday, I’m not sure it will even matter. Mr. Sodenberg will probably kick me out the second he sees me.
Despite my best efforts, I can’t help but peek in Kieron’s direction again. His dazzling smile lights up the hallway and two more girls have joined his swarm of admirers. “He seems like a total player,” I say and slam my locker shut.
Damn. I have to walk right past him. I move to Corrine’s other side so she can be a buffer as we head toward Kieron and his expanding harem.
“He’s the hottest thing that’s ever stepped foot in this town, if you ask me. And he’s not a jerk. He’s super polite…I accidentally bumped into him leaving chemistry yesterday, and he actually said ‘excuse me’ and asked if I was okay!” Corrine can barely contain her glee.
“Sounds like a real gentleman.” I glance over my shoulder and glower as a pretty blonde named Drusilla Van Vareen places her manicured hand on Kieron’s arm. He says something to her and she laughs as if it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard. I try not to gag.
As we get closer Corrine suddenly stops walking. She looks at me, over to Kieron, then back to me. “Hmm,” she says with a small smile, “I hadn’t noticed how similar you two look. Like you could almost be related or something.”
I stare at her, dumfounded. Him: could be a male super model. Me: not so much. “Um, clearly you need your glasses checked.”
She tosses her head and lowers her voice. “It’s just a few things, like how you both have the same black hair and blue eyes. That’s an unusual combination. And you both have such distinguished features that are very symmetrical. Course he’s a lot tanner and taller than you, but other than that—”
“Casper the friendly ghost is tanner than me,” I mumble. It’s true I’d noticed that his rich, ebony hair was the same color as mine, but his eyes were definitely a few shades darker.
Corrine shrugs and resumes walking, her head close to mine. “Anyways, there’s all sorts of stories going around about him,” she continues, “Dawn Lewis told me she heard he was an actor from L.A. out here doing research for a movie role. Taylor McKenzie said he was here as part of the FBI witness relocation program because his parents are wealthy European royalty who are being blackmailed. And Carrie Stevens said—”
“Corinne, stop. His uncle works at the mines. He just came out here to live with him. Y’all are going bananas over nothing, and I’m sort of embarrassed to be your friend right now,” I say, only half-joking.
“Ugh, look at Druslutta acting like she already owns him. I mean, three nights ago she was making out with Cade Johnston at the Curley Q…wait, what?” She grabs my arm. “How do you know that? Are you holding out on me?”
“Ow. That’s attached, you know.”
I feel Kieron’s eyes on me as we pass by, but will myself not to look. The last thing I’m going to do is join his swarm of admirers like some pathetic groupie.
“...Oh, Manhattan is marvelous, all those museums and plays and fabulous restaurants,” Drusilla coos as we walk past. “I’d love for you to tell me all about your favorite places…”
Corinne snorts. “Oh, give me a break,” she grumbles bitterly. “She went to New York once when we were in eighth grade for an uncle’s funeral or something. Now suddenly she’s all big-citified and cultured?”
As I reach for the metal handle, Mr. Sodenberg meets my gaze through the window of the door. His eyes give a warning. Mine roll back in my head. He says nothing, so I can only assume what Lucky said to poor Mr. Winters yesterday somehow got relayed back to him. Corrine, with her poor eyesight, sits in the front. I take my usual seat in the back, plopping my bag on the empty chair beside me.
I silently recite my earlier vows to myself. I must forget about Kieron. Right now, my number one priority is getting through the day without Her showing up. That means absolutely no zoning out. I have to stay alert, focused. Tatiana had told me over breakfast that she’d spoken with Lucky, but I wasn’t satisfied that she wouldn’t just pop in again if it suited her purposes. So I’d taken the extra precaution of wearing a crucifix necklace; hopefully this will discourage her or ensure her quick departure if she does decide to make a cameo.
I open Inferno and practice translating the words into French, a language I’m teaching myself. It’s the only way it will hold my attention.
When a body brushes past me, I look up and am surprised to see Kieron smiling down at me. “Hi, again,” he says softly.
“Hi.” My heart pounds wildly, and I quickly return my gaze to Canto XXIV. But the words become a blur as Kieron continues to hover.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asks.
I shrug noncommittally, still staring at my book like it holds the answer to the meaning of life. “Suit yourself.”
He chuckles. “Is this your bag?”
“Right, sorry.” I lean over to snatch it up and place it on the other side of me. Kieron gracefully maneuvers into the seat and smiles.
“Doing better today?”
“Yes.” And I’m re-reading the same sentence for the fifth time. My gaze lifts slightly to see several students turned around in their seats, gawking at us.
“I’m happy to hear that. Sorry to interrupt you…is that a good book?”
“It’s fascinating,” I respond dryly.
“Maybe you wouldn’t mind filling me in, help me get up to speed—” The rest of his question is cut off as Mr. Sodenberg calls the class to order.
>
If someone had offered me ten million dollars to recall even one sentence Mr. Sodenberg uttered during his entire lecture, I couldn’t do it. Even though I’m trying with all my might to concentrate on what the teacher is saying, it’s impossible with Kieron sitting less than two feet away. Fifty minutes pass in a blur, and before I know it the bell is ringing.
“What’s your next class?” Kieron asks as we both stand up.
“History with Jackson.”
“What a happy coincidence. So’s mine. We can walk there together.” It’s more of a command than a request. He’s so close behind me I can smell the musky scent of his aftershave. We make our way to the door and I notice several girls, including Corrine, watching us like blood-thirsty hawks. I give her what I hope is a reassuring smile but I can tell she’s not buying it. Even though her next class is in the opposite direction, she falls into step beside us.
“Kieron, have you met my friend Corrine Olsen?” I ask, hoping to diffuse any awkwardness. She stares at him in awe and I groan inwardly. I’m trying not to be embarrassed for her, but she’s just acting so swoony. I’ve never seen her like this before.
But if Kieron notices anything odd about her behavior, he makes no indication of it. “Yes, I believe we quite literally ran into each other the other day, but weren’t properly introduced. Hello, Corrine, my name is Kieron Ambrose. How do you do?”
“F-fine,” Corrine stutters. Her face is beet red. She gapes at both of us for a moment before abruptly turning and rushing in the other direction. Kieron smiles down at me.
“Friendly people here,” he says.
“Yeah, a little too friendly,” I mutter as Drusilla swoops in and touches his arm.
“Oh, Kieron, there y’ar,” she says, exaggerating her southern drawl. I’ve noticed she does this whenever she talks to cute guys. She must’ve heard somewhere they like it. Tramp. “I was hopin’ to have ya escort me to biology. Give us a chance to chat.” She pronounces it bah-awl-gy, bats her false eyelashes, and smiles coyly. Great. Now she’s morphed into Scarlett O’Hara.
The Complete Demonblood Saga: A Demon Made Me Do It; Fire With Fire; Curse of Shadows and Light Page 4
