The Innocent
Page 24
Chay gave me a kiss and placed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Things are going to be fine.”
Smiling, I nodded. I watched as he jumped the back fence and made his way home.
***
“Let’s go to the Waterway today,” Chay said.
“Sure. How are we going to get there? My car is kinda out of commission.”
Chay laughed, and I smiled at the sound. “Yeah, your car is pancaked. I have my dad’s.”
“Okay.”
There weren’t many people at the Waterway. Most people were either working or in school on a Tuesday afternoon. There were just a handful of tourists meandering through the shops. Chay and I walked through the too-expensive-for-words gift shops and looked at all the stuff we’d never buy even if the prices were reasonable.
“Fifty dollars for a seashell toilet seat?” Chay flipped it over to look at the back, and then hung it back on the display.
“I thought it was kinda cool.”
“But fifty dollars!”
I laughed. “Okay, I’ll mark it off my Christmas list.” I pretended to write on a piece of paper. “Chay will not spend fifty dollars on my toilet seat.”
He rolled his eyes. “C’mon, let’s take the ferry ride.”
It was just us and an elderly couple on the ferry. The other couple stayed in the cabin. Chay and I watched the view from the deck. We were talking and watching the dark blue waves lap against the boat when we noticed a change in the breeze. The light breeze turned into a gusty wind, causing the gentle waves to turn into angry whitecaps. The soft rocking of the boat turned into a harsh to and fro movement.
“Which one controls the air and sky?”
“Himmel.” I held my hair back to keep it from whipping in my face. The water was hitting the boat so hard it sprayed over the side.
“Can he do this? Control the wind?”
“I guess so,” I yelled over the roaring wind.
The waves were hitting the boat so hard it knocked it sideways. The water covering the deck was ankle deep. I had to hold onto the side rail to walk; otherwise, the force of the wind would have knocked me over… or blown me overboard.
Himmel—where are you hiding this time?
The boat rocked hard back and forth as the wind and waves pounded the sides.
“Himmel!” I screamed. “Don’t be a coward. Come here!”
The wind stopped so fast that the boat jolted hard to the side, sending deck furniture barreling toward us. Lifting a hand, I visualized the furniture sliding to the rear of the boat. I felt an electrical current vibrate in my fingers. I swiped my hand in front of me—the furniture followed. It careened down the length of the boat and hit the rear railing so hard it bounced up and over, into the water. I watched it bob up and down as the boat left it behind.
Chay looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I shrugged. “I’m getting pretty good at this telekinesis stuff as long as I can concentrate and have a free hand.”
The white-capped waves calmed and the water stilled. It was like a placid pond, instead of one of the mighty Great Lakes. The water was smooth, not even a ripple disturbed it.
“Uh-oh,” Chay whispered. “I don’t think this is a good sign.”
I let go of the railing and walked to the middle of the deck. My arms straight beside me and hands fisted, I looked into the sky and screamed, “Where are you, Himmel?”
“I am here,” a deep baritone said behind me. I whipped around. There was no one there. “Look up, little girl.”
I slowly lifted my gaze. There, floating in the air, was a pasty-white man. No, scratch that. A pasty-white demon.
Crap. How do I get close enough to him to use my dagger?
“You didn’t think a demon who controlled the sky and air wouldn’t be able to harness it as a means to travel did you? Silly girl.”
“So you can float on air. Big friggin’ deal. You’re still a coward. You’re hiding behind your power instead of facing me on even ground.”
With a flick of his finger, a strong wind hit me. It lifted me off my feet and slammed me against the windows surrounding the cabin. I slid down to the deck floor, landing on my hands and knees.
“Ah, just the position I wanted to see you in.” Himmel smiled. “On your hands and knees, bowing to me.”
“Screw you.”
“Such language for a demi-angel.”
He flicked his hand and the wind sent me flying against the side of the boat. I cracked my head against the metal railing, feeling warm blood trickle down the side of my face.
Chay ran toward me. Himmel held out a hand, flicked his fingers, and a gust of wind blew against Chay. It sent him sliding across the deck.
Himmel floated down like a feather falling through the air, effortless, weightless. He stepped down onto the wet deck a few feet from me.
“Tsk, Milayna, you look like a drowned rat. I thought there’d be more fight in you than this.”
“Who said my fight was gone?”
“Hmm, no one, I suppose. You just don’t look very strong lying on the wet floor, bleeding.”
I rolled to my back and jumped to my feet, grabbing my dagger as I did. Keeping my hand hidden, I slipped the blade under the sleeve of my jacket.
“So you’re who Azazel has sent to kill me?”
“Well, yes and no.”
Great… another demon who likes to talk in riddles. First the hobgoblins and now this freak. Do any of them give straight answers? It’s like talking to a bunch of politicians.
“My brothers and I were supposed to convert you and your whiny brother, or kill you both. But since you’ve killed two of my brothers, it’s personal. I’m leaving your brother for Azazel to deal with. I don’t care what happens to him. You, on the other hand, well, we have a score to settle.”
“And how do you plan to deal with me, Himmel?”
“I figure I’ll just blow you overboard.” He shrugged and drew in a breath. I dropped the dagger from my sleeve and tossed it to Chay.
Himmel blew out a wind strong enough to lift me off the deck of the boat. I went over the side and hit the cold water hard. It felt like a thousand needles pricking me at the same time. There was one thing about the Great Lakes… they never really warmed up. They were so big that they stayed cold all year. And the water was cold enough to steal my breath. I surfaced, gasping for air. My teeth already chattered from the cold.
From the frigid water, I watched a smile stretch across Himmel’s pasty-white face. “Goodbye, Milayna. Enjoy your stay in Hell.”
Chay advanced on Himmel from behind. Just as he darted in front of him, I smiled. “You first, Himmel,” I said through my chattering teeth.
Chay plunged the dagger deep in Himmel’s chest. A look of surprise crossed his face just before he turned into a plume of black ash.
Chay stuffed the dagger in his belt, running to the side of the boat. He pushed the emergency button to alert the captain that someone had fallen overboard. The engine stopped almost immediately.
Chay helped me climb into the boat. A crew member wrapped thick, heated blankets around me. I was shivering so hard it hurt, and I was sure my teeth would break from their violent chattering.
“What happened?” the captain asked. He walked across the deck to where I sat on the edge of one of the few deck chairs that hadn’t been thrown overboard.
“One of those big gusts of wind just caught her off guard. She lost her footing and tumbled right over.” Chay moved his hands up and down my arms to warm them.
“Yes, those were big winds. Sudden, too. Are you alright, miss? Do you need medical attention?”
“No, sir, I just want to go home and get out of these wet clothes,” I said through chattering teeth.
“Sure, sure, I don’t think anyone minds if we cut this trip a little short and take you back to shore.”
The boat ride back to the dock seemed to take forever. We sat in the cabin with the older couple. The woman bought Chay
and me hot chocolate.
She must be a grandma.
I had to fight back tears at the thought. It made me think of Grams.
Today would have definitely been a purple couch day with Grams.
“…just one more,” Chay said. He’d been talking for a while, but I was too zoned out to pay attention.
“Sorry. One more what?” I asked, looking up at him as we walked to his car.
“Brother. Just one more. What’s his name?”
“Oh, um, Jord, the Earth demon.”
“Hmm, sounds kind of scary,” Chay said, holding the car door open for me.
“Really? Personally, I thought they all sounded kind of scary. They didn’t disappoint either.”
Sliding into the car, he turned the heat up full blast. I shivered as cold air blasted through the vents until warm air took its place.
“Feel better?” He slipped the car into gear and slowly pulled out of the parking garage.
“Yes. I’ll feel even better when I get out of these wet clothes.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll both feel better then,” Chay murmured.
“Huh?”
“They’re wet clothes, Milayna… they’re sticking to you.” He raised an eyebrow at me. It took a minute, but it finally sunk in and I pulled my soggy coat tighter around me.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
How embarrassing. Of all times to wear a white shirt, too! Ugh.
He smirked. “Don’t apologize. I didn’t say I didn’t like the view.”
Chay and I sat on the patio. Even though I was wrapped in two quilts, I still couldn’t get warm. I took a hot shower and dried my hair when I got home. I put on the thickest pair of sweatpants and hoodie I could find, but I was still shivering.
I think it’s shock. It has to be. This can’t be my life. I didn’t sign up for demons who can blow me around like a ragdoll.
“What are you thinking? You’re frowning.” Chay gently ran his finger across my bottom lip. A new kind of shiver ran through my body. The kind that had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with Chay.
“Nothing important.”
“Everything you think is important to me.”
I smiled. “I was just thinking…” I sighed, frustrated. “It’s just that this isn’t how I pictured life, you know?”
He kissed my forehead. “Yeah.”
“But I wouldn’t change it. If someone gave me the chance to go back and change everything, I wouldn’t,” I whispered.
Chay pulled back and looked at me. His blue-green eyes stared into mine. “You wouldn’t? I thought—”
I shook my head. “No. If things hadn’t turned out the way they did, I wouldn’t have met you… and meeting you was worth fighting every damned demon in Hell.”
Chay looked down and picked up my hand. Turning it over, he ran his finger across my palm. He raised it to his lips and kissed it before gently pulling me to him. “I love you, Milayna.” Wrapping his hand around the back of my neck, he pulled me into a kiss.
“You are really pissing him off.”
“What are you doing here?” Chay said through clenched teeth. He rested his forehead against mine and let out a frustrated sigh.
“I’m supposed to tell you that you’re really making him mad. Jord is very unhappy.” Scarface pointed his sausage-like finger at us.
“So? That’s nothing new.” I pulled away and looked at the demon. “Where’s your friend?” The overly happy second demon that usually accompanied Scarface was missing.
“He’s on vacation.” Scarface flicked his hand in the air, dismissing the absence of the other demon. “Jord is planning a game for you. This time, the game is for two. Two will play. One will choose and one will lose.”
Great—more riddles. I’m really starting to dislike the hobgoblins.
“Get ready, Milayna. Jord is coming for revenge.”
My hands started to shake and were slick with sweat, but I forced myself to keep them still. I wanted to wipe the sweat off on my pant leg, but I didn’t want the grotesque creature from Hell standing in front of me to know his words scared me. I hoped he couldn’t see the sweat trickling down my neck making my hair stick to my skin.
“Tell Jord to bring it.” I was surprised my voice sounded normal. I was sure it would crack or come out squeaky.
“Oh, I don’t have to tell him.”
Uh-oh. I really need to stop pissing off demons. It would make my life a whole lot easier.
I shrugged. “Whatever.”
There was a puff of smoke, the smell of sulfur, and then the hobgoblin was gone. I let out the breath I was holding. “Oh, damn. Jord scares me.” I wiped my hands on my pant legs.
“A demon that controls the Earth and all its elements? Yeah, I’m not looking forward to meeting him.” Chay rubbed the back of my neck.
If he thinks that’s helping me relax, he’s so wrong. It stresses me out in a very different way.
“One more. That’s all.”
“And Azazel,” I reminded him.
“I don’t think Azazel is a threat to anyone. Without the Four Brothers, he’s powerless.”
“Still, it would be nice if he was gone for good. Then we don’t have to worry about him anymore. I mean, really, Azazel and the Four Brothers? Next, it’ll be Azazel and the Four Sisters from Hell. Then Azazel and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and then the Four who-knows-what. It’ll always be something as long as he’s here.”
“Okay, Azazel is officially on the hit list,” Chay said with a grin. “I have to go.” He kissed me softly, nipping at my bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth. I moaned. He pulled back and ground out a curse between clenched teeth. “You really make it hard for me to keep my word to your dad. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I watched him jump the fence and jog home.
***
The next evening, we sat around the table for dinner. Chay sat next to me, his arm stretched along the back of my chair.
“You know, I’ve been thinking—” my dad started.
“Uh-oh,” I said, winking at Benjamin. He giggled and stuffed his mouth full of mashed potatoes.
“Ha-ha, Milayna. Seriously though, I’ve been watching and it seems like the number of visions you’ve been having has risen in the last couple of weeks. Have you noticed that?” My dad tapped his fork against the side of his plate and looked at me.
“It’s been a busy couple of weeks,” I agreed.
My dad set his fork down and turned toward me. “How many did you have today?”
“Three, but I was at the mall with Muriel. Whenever I’m in a crowded place, I expect to have a vision of some sort.”
“Three?” Chay asked, surprised.
“And you’ve had an increase in the past two weeks, right?” my dad asked.
“Yes. Why?” I asked around a mouthful of peas.
“I think the hobgoblins are forcing you into visions to weaken you. The more visions you have, the more they tire you. The more tired you are, the easier it is for Jord or Azazel to do whatever it is they have planned.”
Chay nodded. “Makes sense.”
“So what can I do about it? I can’t control the visions. It’s so frustrating for you to tell me the visions are forced on me by the hobgoblin duo when there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Yes, the visions weaken me, they make me tired, and that makes me less likely to be effective in a fight with Azazel or Jord. But what can I do about it?”
Ugh! I don’t need them to tell me what’s happening; I need them to tell me how to stop it.
“Stay away from people,” my dad said with a shrug. “The less people you’re around, the less people the hobgoblins have to screw with.”
“You’re kidding, right? They’re the ones causing the problem and I’m the one on house arrest?”
“Yeah, pretty much.” He picked up his fork and started eating.
“Dad!”
“Your dad’s right—”
“Don’t encourage him, Chay!”
“Milayna?”
“In the kitchen, Muriel.”
“You’ve got company.”
“Just Chay—”
“No,” she laughed, “outside. You’ve got company.”
“Who?”
“Your number-one admirer,” she said with a smile.
“Jake?” I scooted away from the table and looked out the window overlooking the street. “I’m surprised it took this long.”
Jake and his buddies, Stephen and Rod, along with Shayla and Lily—who Chay affectionately called the bitchy duo—and three demi-demons stood in a line in front of my house.
“Eight of them and five of us. Those are okay odds.” Chay nodded.
“Well, I’m glad I had a nap.” I pulled open the door. Drew and Xavier were sitting on the front porch. “What do you want, Jake?” I shouted.
“I’ve got a message.” I motioned with my hand for him to tell me. “If you switch sides, he’ll spare the boy.”
My heart dropped to my toes. Benjamin. Could I switch for him? “How do I know he’d keep his word?”
“Milayna—” I waved Chay’s words away.
“Something mutually beneficial would be arranged,” Jake said with a shrug.
Something mutually beneficial? What the hell does that mean? Is this the answer I’ve been looking for to save Ben? Is this my chance… am I supposed to side with Azazel? I don’t know what to do. I just want to go in my bedroom, curl up on Gram’s couch, and forget all about this shit storm.
“You’re awfully quiet, Milayna. Does that mean you’re considering Azazel’s offer?” Jake smirked.
“No, it means I’m trying to figure out how to tell you to go screw yourself in the most vulgar way possible.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Yeah, well, it is what it is. So, was there something else you wanted to discuss?”
“Yes, actually, there is. I’ll come up there and we can talk face to face.”