by Trina M. Lee
“Lilah secured her throne when she learned of Salem’s intent to cage her. She made it impossible for another to claim her kingdom, unless they completed the ritual that was recorded on the scroll. The scroll was a physical object though the magic it invokes is pure demon magic. Veryl discovered it and hid it, using it as a way to control her. She found it after his death.”
“I knew it,” I interrupted with a self-satisfied whoop. So I had been on the right track after all by searching Veryl’s office.
“Anyway,” Falon continued with a glare. “She destroyed the physical scroll, containing the words upon it in nothing more than an unseen orb. A psi ball, if you will. She gave it to me before your sister sent her back to the angel’s prison, and I want to give it to you.”
“You’ve had it this whole time?” I scoffed. “Sounds like bullshit to me. Is that why you were banging her?”
He frowned and ignored the urge I’m sure he had to tell me off. “Demons don’t half-ass anything. The power contained on that scroll is the only way to access Lilah’s vacant throne. It was bound with twin flame power because she is a twin. Her kingdom is inaccessible to any other than her without the scroll. And only if all of the puzzle pieces are in play.”
“And just what does that mean exactly?” I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of this. The twin flame reference made my skin prickle.
Arys stepped through the trees, a silent shadow in the moonlight. He came to stand next to the headstone I sat on and motioned for Falon to answer my question.
“The twin flame power is the key. Created by twin flame blood, it can be destroyed the same way.” Falon glanced from me to Arys and back, waiting for a reaction. “Of course, Lilah and Salem are immortals. Which is why it requires more than merely your weak mortal blood. Are you putting this together yet, Hound?”
“It requires my life.” It hit me with a sudden earth shattering realization. It was Lilah and her damn twin flame that tied Arys and me to this. “Because I’m a twin flame Shya can use me to open it. That’s his goal in keeping me alive while he looks for it, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. See you’re not so stupid after all. And if you accept it from me, you can destroy it. It will die with you.” Falon’s silver gaze was intent upon me.
I swallowed hard, savoring the whiskey burn. Staring into the glass, I was suddenly certain that this was the last night I would ever drink it.
“And what happens to Lilah’s throne then?” I dared to ask.
“It remains in limbo, indefinitely. At least until the bitch escapes again and blows it wide open. Of course this only works if you die before Shya takes the orb from you. He’ll try. Once he knows you possess it, he’ll stop at nothing to keep you alive until he can take it from you. And then he’ll kill you and use it to claim all that nasty power for himself.”
“Can’t he just kill me anyway?”
“He needs the ritual, the words. First the scroll has to be manifested as physical once again, an easy enough task for a demon of his caliber. He’ll tear it out of you and make you suffer every second until he sacrifices you.”
“And I don’t need to know the words to destroy it?” This was giving me a headache. It all sounded very complicated. Or perhaps I was overcomplicating it.
“You just have to die and take it with you.” Falon was so flippant, like it was just that easy.
“How do you know it will work?”
“I don’t. There’s only one way to find out.”
I stared at him, seeking a sign that he was misleading me. It just didn’t make sense. What could Falon possibly have to gain from lying about having the damn thing?
“Why are you doing this? Aren’t you on Team Shya?”
“I’m on Team Falon, nothing more, nothing less. Now are you going to accept this thing or not?”
“And if I don’t?” I challenged, feeling backed into a corner. He wasn’t leaving me much choice with that explanation.
“Then I give it to Shya and let him use you as a sacrifice and take my place at his right hand. You die either way. Don’t let your foolish pride make this choice. I’m offering you the chance to prevent some seriously bad shit. Like hell on earth kind of shit.”
Falon crossed his arms and regarded me with open hostility. His motives were questionable, but I didn’t have the ability to detect a lie on an angel.
“Why does that matter to you? Seems like something you’d like.” Arys spoke up for the first time. His expression was stone cold and hard to read.
“You have no idea what I like.” Falon smirked, enjoying the mind fuck he was pulling on us. “I enjoy my share of chaos, but I don’t share Shya’s big apocalyptic dreams.”
I sighed and gripped the headstone with one hand so I wouldn’t drunkenly fall over the other side of it. “I really hate you right now.”
“The feeling is mutual. Now, can we do this already?”
“Of all of the times for you to do this, you had to do it on the night of my best friend’s wedding,” I accused, detecting a slight slur to my words.
Falon regarded me with judgmental haughtiness. “I had to wait for the right time. It’s not about you, really, so get over yourself. Shya has reached a point of power-crazed madness that made waiting any longer too risky. It’s only a matter of time until he figures out that I have what he’s looking for.”
“How are we supposed to be able to trust you? This could all be a manipulation ordered by Shya, and we would never know,” Arys said. He seemed much calmer than I felt, but he was shut down, making it difficult to know for sure.
“It could be.” Falon shrugged and did his best to look bored with us.
“What about Gabriel?” I asked, trying to cover all bases. “How do you know he hasn’t somehow seen this?”
“You really think I’d be stupid enough to let that kid touch me? Not a snowball’s chance in hell. Which is what you’ll have if Shya gets this damn scroll.”
Falon was insulted by my question, but it was valid. “He’s touched me, Falon. He saw things that he didn’t even want to repeat. There’s no way of knowing what he’s seen or if he’s told Shya.”
“Fuck Gabriel,” Falon hissed with enough vehemence to indicate how he really felt about Shya’s prodigy. “That little shit is going to be a problem. Can’t you control him somehow? Isn’t that a vampire thing?”
Arys paced a few steps away and paused to read a headstone. He was thinking hard. I knew that without being inside his head.
“It is, depending,” Arys said slowly. “He’s of a strong bloodline with power of his own. That makes it unlikely that he can easily be manipulated. One like him never should have been made.”
This wasn’t the right time to shout an, “I told you so,” so I bit my lip and kept my mouth shut. An owl hooted overhead, and I looked up to find wide, round eyes blinking at us from a nearby tree. It was so easy to forget that we were never really alone. The chances of something or someone lurking were always great.
“Better bring your witch friend then,” Falon suggested. “You might need her to work some counter spells to block whatever he throws at you. Gabriel is dangerous, which is why Shya likes him so much.”
“Do I detect some jealousy?” I taunted, snickering to myself.
I lost my balance and almost fell backwards. With my free hand I dug claws into the stone to hold on while I slammed back the rest of the whiskey. I definitely needed to be drunk to do this.
“You know, maybe I change my mind,” Falon snapped. “Maybe I’ll just give this damn thing to Shya.”
Arys and I shared a look. I needed his input on this. So much passed between us. Words were not needed. He nodded, and my heart sunk. This was it, our purpose together. I felt it in every part of me. Even the whiskey couldn’t drown that out. It was raw and real, demanding that I take Falon seriously.
It took great effort to say, “Tell me what I have to do.”
Relief flooded Falon’s sharp features. His shoulders slumped as
if I’d just lifted a weight from him.
“I’ll give it to you. And then tomorrow night you will go to the Charles Camsell Hospital property and destroy it.”
“Why there? That’s FPA headquarters.”
“An unfortunate pain in the ass,” Falon said with a nod. “It has to be destroyed where it was made. Though it’s unseen, the door to Lilah’s kingdom lies there.”
That answered several questions. It definitely explained why the building pulsed with such evil that went far beyond that of the ghosts that dwelled within.
“We don’t have to go inside the building?” Arys questioned, a dark brow raised in scrutiny.
“No. The building is just a man-made structure. The portal to Lilah’s kingdom is in the earth itself.” Shoving away from the statue he leaned on, Falon took slow steps toward me. “I must warn you. Shya will know the moment you step foot on the hospital property with the scroll inside you. He’s gone to great lengths to monitor activity near Lilah’s doorway. His response will be swift. Be prepared.”
“What does that mean?” My head spun, and I hopped off the headstone, hoping the ground would feel sturdier. It didn’t.
“It means he won’t stand by while you destroy his chance. He will try to stop you. Bring backup and pray it’s enough. Now,” Falon held out both hands to me. “Shall we?”
I set the empty glass on the headstone and placed my hands in his. Trembling, I looked to Arys for support. He drew near, watching Falon intently.
“You better not be fucking us over,” he warned the fallen angel.
Falon ignored him, staring at me instead. “Here comes the really shitty part. Are you aware that some demons seal deals with a kiss?”
My insides shriveled. “Can’t we just shake hands?”
“Don’t look so disgusted. You’re the one who rubbed your ass all over my cock, remember?” Falon wore a mask of distaste, as if he felt ill. “I have to give it to you the way it was given to me. Just be grateful it’s only a kiss. Demons have been known to seal a deal with much more.”
“I’m not keen on your use of the word deal.” Arys shifted to stand closer so that he was almost shoving between us.
Falon rolled his eyes in exasperation. “It is a deal. I’m giving and she’s accepting. That’s just the way things work. So either back off and let this happen, or I’ll just be on my way.”
I was petrified. The reality that I would die the following night hadn’t quite settled in, yet I was shaking like a frightened child.
My hands grew sweaty in Falon’s, and I tried to look apologetic. “Let’s get this over with before I change my mind.”
I don’t think Falon wanted me to do that, despite his threat to leave. He never gave me another opportunity to back out.
Sliding his fingers between mine, he held tight. I gasped as the power flowed between us, a steady connection of his to mine. It was overwhelming and heavy, making it hard to breathe. I was ready for the kiss when he pressed his lips to mine but entirely unprepared for the jolt that came with it. Our hands pulsed where our palms touched. Dizzy from the sudden rush, I followed his lead as Falon deepened the kiss. His mouth was warm and inviting as he flicked his tongue against mine.
His technique was assertive without being aggressive. Gentle while also firm, Falon’s kiss revealed to me a tenderness I never would have expected from him. It was a far cry from the hungry way he’d kissed me in Vegas, though that had been an entirely different scenario.
Power shifted between us as he pushed a dark, heavy energy into me. My sense of self-preservation screamed to break off the connection. Only the seething need to give Shya a little payback allowed me to accept it. For a moment I couldn’t breathe as the force poured inside me. It was suffocating, making me lightheaded, though that could have been the booze. This really hadn’t been the best decision to make under the influence.
The black-tainted energy took hold, winding itself around my essence, making itself a part of me. It was mine now, no longer contained by Falon. He swept my mouth once more with his tongue before breaking off the kiss. I opened my eyes to find him staring at me with a bizarre mix of intrigue and horror.
“If I didn’t know better, Falon, I’d say you enjoyed that,” Arys observed with a glare vicious enough to wilt flowers.
“Yeah, well you do know better.” With a toss of his fair hair, Falon stepped back and scowled at me. “Tomorrow night. Midnight. That’s when the spirit realm will be most active. Don’t put it off. Otherwise it may kill you.”
“Right, my pathetic mortal self can’t take it. I know the drill.” Shaky and feeling faint, I leaned back against the headstone, knocking the empty glass atop it into the grass.
Falon pinned Arys with a stern look. “Don’t fuck this up. You have to make sure this happens. Do whatever you can to be ready for Shya when he gets there.”
“Will you be there?”
Arys’s question went unanswered. Falon had vanished without another word.
“Good pep talk,” I muttered.
We stood there in silence for a moment, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I was going to die tomorrow night. It didn’t feel real. I kept waiting for the earth shattering terror to strike. Other than the initial fear, I just felt…relieved. Soon the agony of the wait would be over.
“Arys? Are you all right?”
He stood stiffly, staring at the rows of headstones. I didn’t think he was really seeing them though. I laid a hand on his arm, and he turned suddenly, sweeping me into his embrace. For a long time he just held me. His confusion and pain wrapped around me like a blanket. It echoed inside me as if it were my own. Perhaps it was.
“I can’t believe it’s happening,” he whispered. “I’d started to think it wouldn’t.”
“Me too. Wishful thinking. Once it’s over, we won’t have it hanging over our heads anymore. It could be a good thing.” My words were true, though my tone lacked conviction. I wanted to believe it.
“Everything will change.” There was such tension in Arys, as if he might burst at any moment.
I threw my arms around his neck and stroked a hand through his hair. “Not everything. This won’t change. Me and you, like this.”
“You don’t know that.”
I forced him to meet my gaze. He was the strong one in the face of insanity, and I needed him to remember that. “I do. And so do you. You said it yourself. We are for always. Nothing can change that.”
After a few minutes of consideration, Arys kissed my forehead and said, “You’re right. It won’t change us, but it will change you. I just wish it didn’t have to be that way.”
Though we didn’t discuss it often, I knew that Arys carried a lot of guilt. He had blood bonded me almost a year ago, guaranteeing that I would rise as a vampire upon my mortal death. He’d known that it would tip the balance between light and dark that we shared.
“It doesn’t matter. We will still have the light when we need it most. Tomorrow night when we destroy Shya’s chance at greater power. It will be worth it.”
Staying strong was what mattered now. Of course I might not be quite so confident when the liquor wore off.
“So what now? Do we tell Shaz?”
“No. We don’t tell anyone. Not tonight.” I turned to find the glass that had fallen, and the world seemed to turn with me. Somehow I righted myself without doing a head dive. “We go back to the party and have a good time. No, better than that. We have a fucking kick ass time. If it’s my last mortal night on earth, then I want to enjoy it.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The party was raging when we returned to the yard. Abandoned clothing littered the ground, a sure sign that there were wolves roaming the night. I was tempted to join them, but I knew that if I did I might never come back. So I stayed with Arys who stuck to my side like glue.
Shaz and Coby were having a loud, drunken discussion about cars. Apparently Shaz was trading his in and trying to decide if he wanted a truck or SUV. Kylarai
and Jez had gone to run with the others, and Kale had left as he’d come, stealthy and unseen.
Those who remained were doing a great job of polishing off what was left of the booze. I exchanged my glass for a bottle instead. My last night with my favorite human vice called for it.
It was incredibly difficult to keep my thoughts from turning dark and negative. Only when I’d filled my blood with whiskey did the thoughts finally become too muddled to make sense.
We joined Shaz and Coby at the picnic table on the patio, successfully avoiding their questions about Falon by redirecting the conversation. I kicked off my heels, glad to be rid of the torturous things. I groaned and rubbed a foot, vowing to never wear such torture devices again. Too bad. They sure were pretty.
Shaz grasped my foot and began to massage the sore arch. He flashed me a sly grin, and his touch became unbearably sensual. Oh yeah, if I was going to die, I was going to do my damndest to die happy.
Leaning against Arys, I stretched out on the bench between them. Naughty desires formed as Shaz ran a hand up my calf. With a brow raised flirtatiously and a teasing smile, I encouraged him. My gaze fell to the pulse beating steadily in this throat. I wanted much more than that though.
“The new Jeep Cherokee is supposed to be pretty bad ass,” Coby was saying. His eyes were bloodshot, and the scent of beer clung to him. He was joyful though, and I savored it, knowing I could face the following night when those I loved were happy and safe.
“I like the new Dodge Ram, but I’m not sure I need a truck that big,” Shaz replied, playing with the amulet tied around my ankle.
“Of course you do.”
Arys had little to contribute to the conversation. Being stone cold sober had him trapped in reality. I had to put a stop to that.
I ran a hand along the inside of his thigh, pausing when I felt him tense up. With a gentle push of power, I touched him metaphysically, drawing his gaze to me. I gave him my best innocent expression, knowing I failed miserably when he grinned.
I giggled when Shaz tickled the bottom of my foot. Clapping a hand over my mouth to stop the girlish sound, I protested when he didn’t stop.
