Maybe the lack of sleep was to blame. So far, I’d ventured out into the forest every night and managed to find plenty of demons to fight. I could feel myself getting quicker and stronger. Even if Manuel’s training was a waste of time, I’d been able to make up for it with my nightly outings. No one was the wiser. No one suspected.
With another training session scheduled with Manuel for this morning, I needed to get back into bed. My bare feet slipped on the wet grass as I jogged toward the manor. My body ached for a nap. Or a shower. Either one sounded great right now.
“Lizzy?” Gabe appeared out of the woods to my right. Confusion clouded his face.
Crap. Just when I didn’t need any more reasons for Gabe to coddle me. If I told him about the dreams, he’d just worry more.
“Nice...” Adam appeared next to him, leering at me as if I were standing naked in the middle of the yard. “Did you just leave a wet t-shirt contest, Lizzy?”
I hugged my arms around my chest and scowled. Despite the fact that Adam and I had become somewhat unlikely friends after my battle with the goddess, I still had to take him in small doses. He’d tried to kill me my very first day at the manor and he’d been giving me crap every day since. It was hard to remember this tall, gorgeous blond man with icy blue eyes was related to my partner. They couldn’t be any more different if they tried.
“What are you doing out here?” Gabe continued. He sheathed his thin sword and came closer. “It’s early.”
I hugged my torso again in an attempt to hide from Adam’s sweeping gaze. They must’ve just got back from a patrol run. What would he say if he knew I’d been sleepwalking and dreaming about a woman I didn’t know? It sounded crazy, even in my head. So I settled for something a little tamer.
“Couldn’t sleep. So, I was taking a stroll.”
“In that?” Adam raked his eyes over my body and the thin pajamas that left little to the imagination. I fought the urge to shiver with disgust.
Gabe stepped in front of me, hiding me from his brother’s view. “You can leave now.”
Adam shrugged with a roguish grin and trailed off toward the manor, no doubt in search of Ashley. His girlfriend also loved giving me a hard time. She’d find a way to lecture me about my skimpy morning walks.
“What are you really doing out here?” Gabe turned to me and pulled me into his warm arms. “You’re freezing.”
It’d been way too long since I’d felt his arms around me. I soaked in his warmth, sighing to myself.
“Just walking,” I told him. The lie felt heavy on my tongue. Gabe was more than just my boyfriend. He was my partner. I should’ve told him the truth. “I’m fine.”
He hugged me closer and rested his chin on my head. Under his long sleeved t-shirt his heart pounded away like a tympani drum. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to listen to the beat.
“I’ve missed you.” He hugged me tighter. “You’ve been driving me crazy. I can’t stand this fighting.”
I nodded silently into his chest.
“And training with Manuel.” He spit out the name like it tasted sour. “I don’t like it. I don’t like him. What right does he have to take me away from my own partner?”
A hint of jealousy clouded his voice. I could understand why. In all accounts, Manuel was a stud. I’d heard some of the other girls talk about him at dinner. They loved his Spanish accent and his compact, ripped muscles. Apparently, he was slightly older than Gabe at 205 years of age. He didn’t have a partner, either. The girls fawned over him wherever he went. They were all madly jealous of my training sessions with him, especially my lovesick cousin, Raquel.
“He’s not even teaching me anything.” I pushed off of Gabe’s chest just enough to look up at him. “All we do is sit and meditate. It’s like driving a screw driver slowly into my skull. I want to train.”
His green eyes clouded with sympathy. “I know you hate it, but even I have to admit, the guy’s a brilliant fighter. He’ll teach you things. You should’ve seen him out there, yesterday on patrol. We were surrounded by five ferals and he slaughtered most of them with a broad sword. I almost asked him to train me.”
This time it was my turn to feel jealous. “You got to fight five ferals at once? Why can’t I go back out there? I’m ready, Gabe. I swear.”
He shook his head. “Lizzy...”
“I’m serious.” I pushed out of his embrace, even though my heart wilted without his arms around me. “Haven’t I been punished enough? I want to go out there with you.”
“This isn’t a punishment. Why can’t you understand that?” He ran a hand roughly through his hair. “Gods, Lizzy, try to understand. You need to control yourself. If you keep going out there like a loose cannon, you’re going to get someone killed. You nearly got us both killed last time.”
That was it. That was the reason I snuck out late at night to fight demons. I wasn’t a worthy partner or Nephilim. Gabe knew that and Luke knew that. They were just trying to keep me under lock and key so I wouldn’t shame them. But, I’d show them. I’d become even stronger. Soon, they’d realize their mistake.
“Come on, don’t do that.” Gabe studied my surly expression. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ll get there.”
My arms closed around my stomach to keep the residual heat from his body locked in. Over his head, a storm cloud loomed on the horizon. It fought against the incoming rays of day, masking the optimism of daylight with the menacing darkness of rain. A sudden wind picked up, blowing across the lawn and whipping my pants around my legs.
“Lizzy.” He stepped in closer.
It was only one word, but just the sound of my name on his lips made my heart leap.
His fingertips trailed along my jawline. The calloused portion of his thumb rubbed against my lips, making me unconsciously part my mouth. My eyes were glued to his strong jaw as he moved in closer, his lips set in a slight frown that only made him more beautiful.
A light rain started to fall from above. Still, neither of us made any sudden movements to retreat for dryer terrain.
“Come back to me,” he whispered in my ear. His fingers worked their way into my hair. “Please.”
A shiver of pleasure ran down the back of my neck. I wanted him. That had never been in question. Still, my mind rebelled against the way his body pressed against mine. I hadn’t quite forgiven him for grounding me. He had agreed with my father and ignored my needs. That wasn’t the sort of thing a partner should do.
But my heart overruled me as I gazed into his eyes. We needed this. I needed this.
His lips met mine, soft at first. Lightning coursed through my veins and settled in my stomach like live coals. My hands swept over his shoulders and settled on the back of his neck. His hair brushed against my fingers, soft and damp from the rain. I leaned in closer to him, my mouth hungry for more. The smell of the forest filled my nose. Soft earth and wet pine needles. He always smelled like that after a patrol.
The tip of his tongue slipped into my mouth as we gave into our urges, making me dizzy. His hand trailed down to my waist where he hooked his thumb on the top of my pajamas, as if he wanted nothing more than to rip them off of me. The idea sent a thrill down my spine.
I imagined us, naked on the lawn as everyone started their day. The idea was every bit as naughty as it was ridiculous. Still, Gabe had that way with me. I bit his bottom lip softly, pulling away the tiniest bit. He growled and pulled me in closer, exploring my mouth again with his tongue.
At that moment, the skies opened up and rain poured down like a monsoon. Lightning flashed out of the corner of my eye, forking across the western horizon. Within seconds, we were soaked to the bone. Gabe lifted his chin to the sky and laughed, raindrops trailing down his scruffy chin. I blinked at him through the water that had settled on my eyelashes and joined in the laughter. Only insane people would stand out in a storm like this and make out. We had to be crazy.
Being back together with Gabe was everything I wanted. But I couldn’t r
eally be back with him. Not yet. Not until I’d proven myself worthy of the Nephilim and of their cause.
My heart thumped with the renewed courage to keep up my training. With Gabe’s hands in mine, I felt strength coursing through my body. He looked down at me and smiled, his eyes reflecting the last rays of light from the morning sun.
“Come on.” He squeezed my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
We raced across the lawn, leaping over puddles and laughing at our drenched clothes. I wanted the innocence of this sweet moment to last forever. But in the back of my mind, I knew that it couldn’t last.
I’d have to lie to Gabe again. Because tonight, I was going out there. And this time, I was going to master my powers—or die trying.
Chapter Six
I pulled on my hiking boots and yanked on the laces, tying them tight. Raquel sat rigid on her bed across from me. Her eyes followed my every movement. After her tenth heavy sigh, I leaned back on my bed and smiled at her.
“I’m only going out for an hour. Relax.”
She did this every time I went out to fight demons. I thought she’d be used it to it by now. After sleep walking this morning and the session in the rain with Gabe, I needed to cut loose a little extra energy. Demon hunting was the perfect distraction.
“Are you sure you have to do this?” Her eyebrows knit together in concern. “What if something happens to you?”
“Nothing will.” I slipped a dagger I’d stolen from the weapons hold in my boot. “I told you, I’m very careful.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. New freckles had popped up along her nose this summer, giving her a sun-kissed look. “Still, I feel like I’m lying to Uncle Luke. You know it’s hard for me to lie.”
I knew that all too well. Raquel cracked easier than an egg. That’s why I had to keep suspicion off of her. One question, and she’d croak.
“Trust me. I’ll be back in an hour and then we can binge watch your newest reality show obsession.”
Her brown eyes grew big and hopeful. “With popcorn? And chocolate? You know this girl needs her treats.”
“Yes.” I smiled. Raquel ate enough for ten women. It was amazing she could stay so thin. “And some white wine for me.”
I left her still looking uncertain on her bed. It was getting harder and harder to sneak out. Maybe in the beginning, Raquel thought I just needed to get something out of my system. Kill a demon, and I’d be back to normal.
But there was something in the rush of being out there alone. Relying on my own strength and speed. Fighting off evil incarnate. It was a high better than drugs.
Not that I’d ever tried something like that. The women of Hanna had kept their streets very clean. Anybody found carrying an illegal substance would’ve been subject to excommunication. It wasn’t something any of the women wanted to risk.
The grounds around the manor were sopping wet. It’d rained all day, leaving large pools of muddy water across the lawn. My boots kept out the dampness as I made a bee line for the forest and pushed through the brush. The good thing about the rain was that it made it less likely for anyone to bump into me. Except for the gate keeper patrol, everyone was locked up tight in the castle, attending another European session.
Silvia had just installed these new sessions. They were basically lectures that made even the oldest Nephilim fall asleep in their seats. Something about gate security, Hell on Earth, and the revenge of the six princes of Hell. I had to admit, despite the fact that I wanted to soak in everything about the Nephilim life, even I had a hard time paying attention. Raquel was going to attend today’s lecture, but I figured I wouldn’t be missed. The hall would be packed. And Gabe and Luke would be too distracted to figure out I was missing.
I hiked for about forty minutes straight into the forest with no luck. Not a living or dead soul in sight. Disappointment dampened my spirits. Maybe even demons didn’t like to trudge through the muddy forests. Or, maybe the wet ground made it harder for their spirits to form the body shells they needed to pass as humans. Either way, I wasn’t seeing anything.
What a waste of time.
Spearfish Canyon loomed in front of me, lit by the moon hanging lazily above the pine trees. Usually, it was nothing more than a slow moving creek, but the recent rains had flooded the canyon until it rushed like a raging river through the National Forest. I peered over the bank at the water, about twenty feet below. Nothing was getting past that tonight. It might be better to call it a night and resume the demon hunting tomorrow.
The muffled sound of feet padding through the forest caught my attention. Demons. Now we were cooking.
I lowered down into a crouch, my fingers tracing the cold metal of my dagger. The semi-darkness of the forest kept me hidden. With one flick of the wrist, I could take out anything that popped out of the line of trees. My knife throws were getting much better. All I had to do was wait.
A shadow stepped out from the ridge of trees. Tall and lean, it paused just short of the moonlight. My fingers itched to throw the dagger. But before I got the chance, a second shadow joined it. It stood just as tall, with broad shoulders and long arms.
I cursed under my breath. So far, I’d been lucky enough to come across single demons in the woods. Fighting two big ones might be pushing my skills. Still, if I didn’t push myself, I’d never get better.
Forgetting about the dagger, my fingers closed around the gun I’d pilfered last week. I’d managed to avoid using it up until now. Guns were loud and drew unwanted attention. But if I had to face two demons, I’d rather have the speed of silver-coated bullets behind my assault.
I trained the weapon on the second shadow, aiming for the chest. One shot to the heart was all I needed. Then, it would be one on one. Good odds.
I liked the idea.
My finger pulled the trigger ever so slightly. Then, a slightly shrill version of Raquel’s voice entered my head. Squeeze, don’t pull the trigger, Lizzy. She’d been so excited about learning to shoot. Every day, she ran over all the details of shooting with me. I relaxed my grip and then squeezed the trigger, waiting for the kick of the gun.
The shadows stepped forward into the moonlight and my heart nearly stopped. In the pale cool light of the night stood Gabe and Luke. But it was too late. The trigger sprung back and the gun went off.
Bang!
Luckily for Gabe, I was still a terrible shot. The bullet whizzed over his head to the left and into the dark forest. He ducked and yanked a dagger from his boot, a scowl ingrained on his lips.
I screeched and threw the gun down the bank of the Spearfish Canyon as if it’d turned into molten lava. My heart was beating rapidly, threatening to disengage from my vessels and drop to the bottom of my stomach.
I clasped a hand to my chest and panted. “Why’d you scare me like that?”
“Lizzy?” Gabe’s mouth fell open when he realized it was me. “What are you talking about? You’re the one who nearly blew my head off.”
Shaking my head, I hid my trembling hands behind my back. “I wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t sneaking around in the dark. What are you doing out here?”
Quick, I told myself. Try to think of an excuse for being out here. Nothing was coming to mind. They wouldn’t buy a midnight stroll. I was busted for sure.
“We were looking for you,” Luke said in a throaty voice. He had a sword in his hand and a wicked ax tied to his belt. “We thought we’d come up on a demon trail. Instead, we find you. Mind telling us why you’re out here? I’d like to hear it from my own daughter’s mouth why she found it necessary to sneak off into the forest night after night and put herself in danger.”
I winced at the steely tone in Luke’s voice. Raquel must’ve cracked. I should’ve known she wouldn’t be able to keep the secret much longer.
“I’m training.” Pushing my chin up high, I pursed my lips. No reason to lie now. Time to come clean. “No one wants to train me, I’ll do it myself. I’ve been getting so strong, so fast. You’d never b
elieve it.”
“Oh, I believe it.” Luke glanced at Gabe. Even in the moonlight, I could see the disappointment in his face. It stung like a million bee stings. “You are, after all, my daughter. But I am also deeply frustrated by your lack of obedience. How many times must I make it clear to you that you are a danger to yourself and others without control?”
The impact of his words caused me to take an involuntary step backwards. Tears sprang to the corners of my eyes. Luke was the only family I had left. I didn’t want him to hate me.
“I’m trying to learn control.” My voice felt small and whiny to my ears. “Don’t you see? I’m trying to become a proper Nephilim.”
“There’s more to a Nephilim than killing demons,” Gabe snapped. He put both his hands behind his head and groaned. “Lizzy, can’t you see? This isn’t helping. You have to focus on learning control or else your powers will consume you. Even Nephilim children know that.”
So now I was no better than a child? The idea stung, especially coming from Gabe. I could take it when my long lost father treated me like a child. But Gabe? I’d rather take on a dozen demons at once.
“I can’t...I won’t.” The words wouldn’t come to me. Anger flushed through my veins, tinting my vision red. All this talk about control and no one was actually teaching me how to do it. Frustration poured into my voice. “You don’t understand! I’m trying my best here.”
“Lizzy...”
Gabe’s hushed tone caught my attention. He was staring at my arms. Looking down, I saw the same glow as before, leaking through my pores. In the semi-darkness of the forest, they appeared like a hundred tiny stars on my arms. Pain rippled through my skin. Fiery heat accompanied every star and burned my flesh.
“Stop, make it stop.” I swatted at the glow, as if they were flames.
“Lizzy, calm down.” Luke’s tone was deadly calm. “Concentrate.”
The pain was only growing worse. It flared to life in my head, and I thought I heard screaming somewhere in the distance. But it was all inside me.
Soul of a Demon Page 4
