by Trina M. Lee
“Why didn’t she kill me, too?” Jez sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “She barely looked at me, except to tell me it wasn’t personal. It’s fucking personal now.”
I released my hold on Jez to fetch her some tissue and a glass of water. I felt absolutely useless handing them to her. It was a poor substitute.
“Jez, I’m sorry. This is my fault. She’s doing this to force me to come to her willingly. To give her my blood.” I sniffed back the tears that threatened. Pulling my phone out, I called Arys who didn’t answer. Great. Not only had he let me go off alone tonight, he had also made himself unavailable.
“No, Alexa, this isn’t your fault.” Jez moved from the floor to the couch and promptly lit another cigarette. “It’s Shya’s fault. He made the dumbass decision to bind her instead of driving a stake through the bitch’s heart.”
“I know,” I sighed, infuriated. “He’s also the one who told Lilah my blood would break her curse. Manipulative son of a bitch.”
Unable to force myself to drag Zoey’s body out of there, I concentrated on reaching Arys through our mental connection. His resistance wasn’t what I expected. I took that to mean he didn’t want me to know what he was doing, but I didn’t have time to worry about him. Kale would have normally been the next person I’d call. So much for that. Hoping Shawn or Justin would be able to help, I called The Wicked Kiss.
“Justin is coming,” I announced after hanging up. “You should get dressed. Want me to get you something?”
She looked forlornly at the bedroom and nodded. I didn’t want to go back in there, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to make Jez do it. I longed to ease the pain she exuded. Knowing that was impossible, I fetched some things from her closet, grabbing enough to last her a day or two. I wasn’t leaving her here alone.
I paused to look at Zoey a final time. It was terrible what happened to her. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Lilah had saved me from one day having to kill Zoey myself. With her mental instability and irrational, sudden fits of violence, it was bound to happen eventually.
“Here.” I handed Jez the pile of clothing and went to the bathroom to gather her toothbrush. “Anything you need in here? You’re coming to my house for the day.”
“I can do this. It’s ok.” She appeared in the doorway, clutching her blanket like a lifeline in a storm. With her smeared makeup and tear-stained cheeks, she looked like a lost little girl. I’d never seen Jez so fragile.
“Is there anything I can do?” I felt helpless and I hated it.
She shook her head slowly. “Just don’t let her be dumped like some random victim. Please.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
The bathroom door clicked shut, and I took the opportunity to slip out onto the balcony for some air while she got dressed. Sucking in a lungful of night air, I stared out at the traffic that went by. The city continued to move and thrive despite the horror that had gone on here tonight. It was so unfair.
I was jittery and uptight. It took a lot of concentration to focus on the earth so that I could balance my energy. I needed to be calm and collected for Jez; she needed me. The essence of murder and death sought to get past my shields. I wouldn’t be manipulated by it. I refused. I was stronger than that. I had to be. Other people were counting on it.
It wasn’t long until there was a soft knock on the door. I let Justin in, quickly briefing him on what happened. I led him to the bedroom where we wrapped Zoey completely in a sheet.
“That sadistic bitch just isn’t going to stop, is she?” he asked, a sense of knowing in his dark eyes.
“Not until she gets what she wants from me.” I wrinkled my nose at the pungent odor of cigarette smoke. “Or, until I send her to hell.”
“Well if anyone can do it, you can. Especially if even half the rumors about you are true.”
“I appreciate the vote of confidence. I’m not sure I want to know what they’re saying about me.”
Justin forced a strained smile. “Probably not.”
“Look, I need you to take care of her.” I nodded toward Zoey. “As proper a burial as possible outside the city. Marked grave. Please.”
“Sure thing. No problem.” Justin hoisted Zoey in his arms. His massive frame made her seem so much smaller than she was.
It was late. The chance of him running into someone was slim, but I accompanied him down to the back door of the building just in case.
“Be careful. Make sure you’re not followed. And Justin, thank you.” I had no words. He was going out of his way to help me. Though I knew he might be helping for no other reason than self-preservation, I was still grateful. Just because Justin believed me to be the bigger bad in the city didn’t make it true, but I was thankful someone thought so.
When I returned to the apartment, Jez was standing in the doorway to the bedroom. With her green eyes fixed on the bloodstained bed, she hugged herself tight. I gave her a gentle squeeze.
“I’ll clean this up. You don’t have to.” Before she could protest, I got busy gathering the remaining bloody blankets. It was the least I could do.
She watched me in silence while I scrubbed down the crimson spots and smears with bleach. The blankets, I would take home to burn. When the sharp bleach aroma had burned away the last trace of blood along with my sense of smell, I called it done and washed up.
Nearly two hours had passed since I received Lilah’s message. Time still moved despite Jez’s heartbreak. I coaxed her away from the bedroom and the many memories within it. Memories she would no doubt replay many times tonight.
“Come on.” I tugged gently on her hand. “We should let this place air out. We’ll head to my house. Unless you don’t mind making a stop at Shya’s.”
For the first time all night, she looked at me with the spark of emerald fire I was used to seeing in her eyes. “Shya’s? Let’s go.”
I was happy to escape the chemical laden, death-riddled confines of Jez’s apartment. Wary and alert, I scanned the street for anything suspicious, including a double check of my car itself. Depositing the bloody bedding in the trunk, I got into the driver’s seat with a hunger for vengeance.
“Are you sure you’re up to this?” I asked. “We don’t have to go.”
“Oh, I want to go. I have a few things I’d like to say to him.” Jez stared straight ahead, her expression stony.
Taking Jez to Shya’s house might not be the best idea. Seeing the hard set to her jaw, feeling the hatred running hot through her, I knew it could get ugly. However, she had every right to face the demon she blamed for the death of her lover.
I filled her in on Gabriel as we drove through the city. She nodded here and there to show she was listening, but I knew she was a million miles away.
Pondering where to begin with Shya, I fell silent. Between his utter failure with Lilah and tonight’s kidnapping of Gabriel, I was at the end of my rope with the demon. Shya had saved me from the FPA, something I was grateful for, but he’d done it for his own reason, whatever that was.
Lilah might be my current priority, but it was only a matter of time until whatever Shya was hiding came to light. If I wasn’t ready, I’d be sorry.
I began to have doubts when I turned into the tree-lined driveway. Shya’s modern style home was a sprawling display of luxury and sharp angles. Nothing good ever happened when I was here. I didn’t expect that to change now.
“Are you sure you want to come in?” I glanced at Jez, finding her surprisingly focused and intense.
“This bastard has been the one behind the scenes all along,” she mused. “I thought we were all working with Veryl, keeping a lid on things to avoid public exposure. But, I think it means something more. We were all recruited. Something about each of us sets us apart from other supernaturals. That can’t be a coincidence.”
“It’s not. I think Veryl’s files will shed more light on that.” I parked the car and killed the engine. I was afraid of what we’d find inside. If Gabriel had be
en harmed, I would blame myself.
“I’ve been thinking about those files, what they said about me. I think that’s why I was recruited. It’s obvious why you were. So what about Kale? And, how many others does Shya have running around, doing his bidding?” Jez rubbed her eyes and stifled a sigh. “We need to figure this bastard out. Before more of us die.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t be here right now—” I started to say, but she was already getting out of the car.
Jez lit a cigarette on our way up the front steps. She took a few big drags before dropping it in the nearest flowerpot. I raised my hand to ring the bell. Before I could make contact, the air rippled, and Falon appeared.
“You never know when to give up, do you?” He towered over me, trying to look especially foreboding.
“Get out of my way, Falon. I want to talk to Shya, and I’m not particularly in the mood to look at your face right now.” I tried to shove past him, but he blocked my way, going so far as to shove me into Jez.
His laughter pissed me off even as it made my skin crawl. “Look at the little wolf trying to be the big bad. It’s cute.”
“I said get out of my way,” I hissed through gritted teeth as I lashed out at him with a slap of power. It was just enough to knock him aside, but I couldn’t hide my pleasure.
I let myself into the house, calling Shya’s name. Falon recovered fast. Grabbing my arm, he spun me around and backhanded me hard enough to throw me off my feet. I landed on my ass in the open foyer, momentarily stunned. My jaw throbbed and my temper flared.
Before I could get up, however, Jez’s shortened fuse snapped. She grabbed Falon’s arm and spun her body, flipping him over so he landed hard on the floor beside me. Placing a boot on his chest, she gazed at him with eyes that had gone pure wildcat.
“Don’t fucking touch her again,” she uttered, her voice dangerously calm. “Your whore killed the woman I love tonight. Why shouldn’t I return the gesture with you?”
“You can’t kill me, kitten,” Falon grunted as she put more weight into pinning him.
“Let’s confirm that theory.” With a slash of claws across his throat, Jez unleashed her vengeful need.
Blood poured forth from the gaping wound she created. Falon’s eyes widened. Grasping her leg, he shoved with a supernatural strength that sent her crashing into the opposite wall.
We all bounded to our feet, braced and ready. My hands burned with the dancing blue and gold flames of raw energy flowing through me. I ached to unleash it on Falon. Maybe I couldn’t kill him, but making him suffer would be enough for me.
Then, the scent of his blood hit me, and I swooned. Goddamn, it was heavenly; no horrible pun intended. The sweetness of Falon’s blood taunted my control.
“Alexa, how nice of you to drop by.” Shya’s voice echoed in the high ceilinged foyer.
I spun to face him, simultaneously aware of the cool vampire energy present. Shya stood there with arms crossed, his constantly amused grin perfectly in place. At his side, looking livid, was Arys.
I didn’t see him move. Just that fast he was in Falon’s face, throwing a punch the angel didn’t see coming. He followed up with another, then banged Falon’s head against the wall a few times.
Bloodlust had Arys’s pupils dilating as he too reacted to the spilled angel blood. Baring fangs, Arys snarled into the fallen angel’s face, “I don’t need to kill you to make you sorry you touched her.”
Shya watched this with glee. With his perfectly pressed suit and slick black hair in place, he looked as he always did. I was starting to see through his human façade.
Already healed from Jez’s attack, Falon’s blood ceased to flow. Angel or not, he had to have a weakness. I was determined to find it.
He stared into Arys’s angry eyes, and for just a second, I thought I saw a trace of true fear. Then, it was gone, and Falon sneered, shoving Arys away. His wings flared out behind him, massive, silver and meant to be intimidating. Arys scowled, refusing to be impressed.
“Where’s Gabriel?” I demanded. Turning my back on the asshole angel, I let Shya feel the brunt of my anger. “You can’t expect me to believe that you need him that bad. You, oh so powerful demon, you.”
My snide tone earned me a dark glare that, truth be told, did frighten me, but I’d be damned if I’d show it. Jez sidled up to me with a deadly swagger. I was worried about her mental state. Her pain had faded to be replaced with the need to hurt something, to kill. That urge could lead her to say or do something we’d both regret.
“Gabriel is here. He’s fine. He’s also absolutely none of your concern.” Shya narrowed his eyes in warning. “Stay out of it, Alexa.”
“I want to see him.” I was insistent. It was hard to keep my focus intent on Shya when I wanted to snap at Arys. What the hell was he doing here?
Shya turned his attention to Jez, ignoring my demand. “I don’t believe we’ve officially met. Veryl always spoke so highly of you. I can see why. You’re a firecracker.”
“Save it. I don’t want to hear your manipulative drivel. Because of you someone I love is dead.” Jez appeared calm, but her fangs and claws indicated otherwise. Her energy was strong with pure, venomous hatred.
“Is that so?” Shya’s self-satisfied grin grew. “Do tell.”
“Lilah killed my girlfriend tonight. She made me watch. You failed when you bound her power. You drove her to this. If you would have let Alexa kill her—”
“She would have failed,” Shya interrupted, his tone short and clipped. “Alexa’s power has limits. Sure, she may have been able to send Lilah back to imprisonment, but it would have been unlikely. Risky. Too risky while Lilah still had some of her power. I wasn’t willing to lose Alexa over something so trivial.”
“Trivial?” Jez raged, lunging forward to hiss angrily into the demon’s face. “We’re not pawns in your game of underworld chess. You don’t get to decide who lives and who dies.”
She was yelling loud enough to hurt my ears. I stood close, ready to grab her if she went for him. As entitled as she was to what she was feeling now, I couldn’t let her do something crazy.
I was dying to address Shya’s comment about being unwilling to lose me, but that wasn’t what I was here for, not this time.
“Is that it? Are you finished?” Shya studied her, peering deep into her green eyes with his snake-like crimson ones. “Demon blood might run in your veins, but if you don’t have the power that goes with it, it doesn’t mean a thing, so watch your tongue, sweetheart. I’d hate to have to pull it out of that pretty face.”
Jez recoiled in horror. Her face fell and she backed away. Unease slid through me. Shya watched her as if she were a wounded deer. Easy pickings. I cleared my throat in an attempt to draw his gaze back to me. It didn’t work.
He stared into her with a drowning red intensity. Only when she finally dropped her gaze did he avert his. The temperature in the room seemed to rise by several degrees. Shya’s strange otherworldly vibe resonated strong and hot. It was slightly painful.
Dismissing Jez, his attention swung to Falon. With a brow raised in interest he asked, “Now, what’s this I hear about your whore? Is there something you want to tell me?”
Disappointment filled me. I was bummed out that I wasn’t the one to expose Falon’s secret. However, I was more than happy to be present for its exposure. This I wanted to see.
Falon met Shya’s gaze evenly. He was unafraid, facing the demon with a stubborn set to his jaw. “I don’t need your permission to take a lover, Shya.”
“No, of course not. Who that lover happens to be, though, may affect your loyalties. I’m sure you’ve heard the human saying, don’t shit where you eat. Be careful, Falon.”
The two of them faced off, exchanging so much without saying a word. The tension was palpable, heavy enough to suffocate. If they didn’t stop staring at each other like that, my head was going to explode.
“I want to see Gabriel,” I repeated, risking Shya’s wrath. “I’m not l
eaving until I know he’s alive.”
“Fine.” Shya spun on his heel and motioned for me to follow. “Let’s get this over with. Once you see he’s alive and well, I expect you’ll be on your way. I’m busy.”
“I see that.” Finally, I got my chance to shoot a questioning glance at Arys. I mouthed the words, ‘What the fuck?’
I felt him, a light touch in my mind. ‘We’ll talk about this later.’
I didn’t reply. Instead, I chose to give him my best dirty look. My night was so full of chaos and shit already, I didn’t have the capacity for more. Whatever Arys was doing here with Shya, I wasn’t going to like it.
Shya led us into the living room. It was open, attached to the kitchen. With a high ceiling and a second floor balcony overlooking, it felt much bigger than it actually was. The back walls were glass from floor to ceiling. They looked out onto the backyard with its pool and sprawling lawn.
Gabriel was out there, seated on the back patio couch. Several spellcasting items were spread on the small table before him. His back was to us. I watched as he added a sprinkle of something black and dusty to a chalice. Shya had wasted no time putting him to work.
“There, you see? He’s fine. Happy, Alexa?” Shya’s expression all but dared me to argue.
“I want to speak to him.” I didn’t wait for Shya’s permission. I strode to the patio doors and let myself out into the backyard.
Gabriel raised his head, surprise registering on his face. His eyes were solid black. He was filled with the dark magic he performed.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, his lips curling in annoyance. “This is a delicate spell. You’re ruining it.”
“You shouldn’t be here either. And, you sure as hell shouldn’t be messing with dark forces. It’s dangerous, Gabriel. If you get in too deep, it will never let you go.”
