02 Awaken-The Soulkeepers

by Adams, Lori

  “I’m forever breaking you heart, aren’t I?” I murmur.

  He considers for a moment. “No. There was a time when we were happy as children. Our love was as powerful as the sun, and you loved me beyond all things. You believe me?”

  I lift my head and look into his eyes; they are soft with nostalgia. “You said I had an old soul. That it’s been through many lives. If that’s true, have you considered that the life you’re trying to bring back won’t come? It had its time, and the life I’m living now has a greater purpose than the one you’re looking for?”

  “No,” he answers bluntly. “There is no greater purpose than our love. It is not complicated, Sophia. I still have the memories, and I know for sure. If you had them, too, this would not be a discussion.”

  “My mom told me I come from a long line of spiritual warriors. In this lifetime, I’m meant to be one again.”

  Dante is shaking his head. “Let me bring up your memories of our past life and then you may choose which life you want.”

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “If it was easy, we would not be debating this.” He smiles ruefully. “But you are very stubborn in this life; you have been fighting me.”

  “And what if I don’t fight you anymore? The memories would come easily?”

  His face becomes still; he thinks I’m considering it.

  “Yes, I believe so,” he says eagerly. I realize his body temperature rises dramatically when he is emotional. With the idea of freely resurrecting my memories, he is practically a furnace. “Are you willing to try? Are you willing to stop fighting me?”

  I bite my lips together and gaze around the room, stalling for time while I work out the scheme that’s unfolding in my mind. Dante needs something from me, and apparently I need something from him.

  Well, here goes nothing.

  “Dante, what do you know about quid pro quo?”

  Chapter 18

  Occult Supervision

  Rama is pacing the length of my bedroom while I sit on the bed and watch. I have explained the situation: the loss of Colin Firth’s soul, my complete humiliation at failing, the plan to sneak into La Croix to get the book and use a spell to make me a twin. He’s distraught, but I’ve been arguing my point like an attorney. It’s necessary to save the lives of my flailing academic and spiritual careers. He’s been grumbling reservations.

  “Should stay in the ankle snappers where it’s safe, wahine, not dump into a wind chop. Too dangerous. Giving me chicken skin just thinking about it.” He shudders and rubs his arms.

  “I have to do it. It’s the only way. You see that I need help, right?”

  “I see a brave ha’ole with too many distractions, cha.”

  “Then you’ll help? When we get the book, you’ll help cast the spell?”

  “If you get the book,” he points out.

  Yeah, okay, there’s a snag. It seems La Croix is so secretive that no one knows where it is. I asked Dante to help find it and get us inside. I omitted the part about making me a double, knowing Dante would never agree to helping me become a spirit walker. He thinks I need a spell book to tap into my former lives, meaning former memories. That way I can decide for myself what life I will choose. Dante agreed to search for La Croix but refused to succumb to the contemporary trappings of a materialistic society and buy a stupid cell phone. He’ll make Santiago give one of his phones to Vaughn. I gave out Bailey’s number, and we’ve been waiting on pins and needles to hear from Vaughn ever since.

  “I have someone tracking down the club’s location,” I tell Rama. “So if we get inside, will you help?”

  “Dante?” he asks, and I nod.

  “He and Vaughn will escort us there. Keep us safe.”

  “You trust him?”

  “I do.”

  He wrinkles his nose and scratches his head. Then he holds out his hand. “Lemme see the name of that book.” I unfold the paper that Miss Minnie gave me and hand it over. It was gibberish to me but Rama nods and reads, “Reu Nu Per Em Hru. Means The Chapters of Coming Forth by Day. You got some serious connections here, wahine.”

  “What do you mean? I thought it was just a book of spells or something.”

  “This is Egyptian text. You’re diving into a den of demons to find the Egyptian Book of the Dead.”

  My face drops, and I start rethinking my plans. Rama continues, “It’s no good without the supplement. Gotta have the Papyrus of Ani inside. Whole thing is eighty-sixed if you don’t have it. You dig?”

  “I dig,” I mumble, feeling blindsided. I’m glad Rama has agreed to help, but why do I feel like things just got a lot more complicated?

  With business out of the way, Rama and I begin our next session. I feel rushed and disjointed through my meditation; the idea of crashing a demon nightclub is weighing heavily on me.

  We make little progress but have to call it quits; I’m due at the barn. And the story continues there; I’m too distracted to follow defensive instructions. I’ve begged Rama not to divulge our secret plans to Kanati or Chang`e. I fear they’ll stop me from going or worse, tell Michael or Raph. I can’t possibly sneak into a horde of demons with guardians on my back.

  So I go through the motions of my workout with my mind on Dante and my eyes on the barn door. I’m begging the higher-ups to keep Michael away. I can’t face him again after he humiliated me.

  After dropping a cane pole for the fifth time, I turn and hurl the other one across the meadow. “Holy shiiiiiit!” I yell out to the wide, open sky. I stand there with my hands on my hips and my chest pumping, more from anger than from my workout.

  “What is the matter with you?” Kanati demands. “And why do you keep saying ‘Holy shit’? You do know there is no such thing, right?”

  I whirl around and stare at him, and then burst out laughing. I’m so stressed out that I can’t control myself.

  Kanati and Chang`e don’t get it; they withdraw to the sidelines to scowl and discuss my lack of focus as though I’m not here.

  About that time, my phone vibrates and I all but pounce on it. It’s a text from Bailey. Vaughn says the target is located. Plan is a go. Tonight.

  I grip the phone and hold back a maniacal laugh. It’s happening!

  I race over to Rama, who reads the text and then abruptly announces that the lesson for today is over. Kanati is furious.

  “We have much more to cover tonight,” he argues, following us to the door. Rama lays a hand on his shoulder.

  “No worries, my brah. We’ll come early tomorrow and all will be righteous and pure.” Rama offers a genial smile but Kanati is not pacified, so I duck out before any more is said.

  * * *

  I begin phase one of the plan: Set up a fictitious all-night study session with Bailey so Dad won’t bother us. I tell him we have plenty of nutritional supplies and will be up late. We’ll do our best to hold down the noise.

  Next step: Bailey arrives with an overstuffed backpack for the aforementioned all-nighter. No books but appropriate clubbing apparel that I’m, apparently, sorely lacking.

  While Bailey and I get dressed, Rama faces the corner and doles out his parental warnings, “Don’t drink anything, don’t smoke anything …” Bailey and I smirk at each other and roll our eyes. “Don’t bargain with anyone, don’t make promises to anyone, don’t trade any body parts under any circumstances.”

  Holy shit! Now we’re listening.

  “Do not leave with anyone, do not be alone with anyone, do not take anything anyone wants to give you, do not touch anyone whose eyes are swirling.”

  “I think we get the idea, Rama. You can turn around now.”

  Bailey and I have finished and stand before the mirror. She’s wearing black leather pants, a white satin halter top, and red stilettos. She looks about twenty-five. I’m wearing her black leather mini with tall boots and a silver sequined top. I remind myself of Teriza and I have to look away.

  I sit at my desk and reapply black kohl around my eyes
and a heavy coat of mascara. Bailey says my normal day-wear is not hip enough for the ultra-secret and über-exclusive demon nightclub. Like she would know. She sits on the bed with her heels in Rama’s lap so he can touch up her glittery silver toenails.

  “Hold still, ha’ole, gonna muss the artwork.”

  Bailey is nervous. She hasn’t seen Vaughn since he came back and is practically hyperventilating. Dante told me Vaughn nearly died in the Death Bunker, and he needed more time to recover. I suspect Vaughn knew he needed his strength fully regenerated just to handle Bailey’s carnal needs. She dumped Duffy the moment she learned Vaughn was back, and has been like a dog in heat ever since.

  Bailey’s phone goes off and she taps the screen.

  “He’s here!” She jumps to her feet.

  “You mean, they’re here, right?” I look at her in the mirror. Yup, she’s hyperventilating.

  “Yeah, yeah. They’re here. C’mon.” She grabs her coat and creeps out the door without me.

  I stand up, gather my coat and purse, and face Rama. He looks grim. I know he doesn’t like this but when he pouts, I get all mushy and maternal.

  “Come on, give me a hug good-bye,” I say, opening my arms. He sniffles and plops his forehead onto my shoulder without lifting his arms. I pat him on the back.

  “You’re gonna remember what I said, cha?” he mumbles, and I nod. “Got something for you.” He pulls away and takes a necklace from around his neck. It was hidden beneath his puka shells so I never noticed it before. A long, thin leather strap with a pale stone on the end. It’s small and rectangular, and reminds me of the statue heads from Easter Island, except this has a hawk where the lips should be.

  “Aumakua. Guardian spirit to rest against your heart.” He places it around my neck and hides it inside my top. I feel the cold stone directly above my heart. Then Rama holds my shoulders and closes his eyes, chanting something I can’t translate. At the end, he opens his eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales in my face with a deep haaah sound. I stiffen and blink rapidly. It’s a weird sensation, as though a thousand words of sand have scattered across my face. He releases me and steps back. I touch my face, expecting to feel tiny grains on my skin.

  “You take the word of protection with you.” He smiles, satisfied, and then walks me to the door.

  “You okay?” I ask.

  “Naw, totally clucked. Think I’ll chill here till you get back, if that’s cool?”

  “Totally.” I give him a reassuring smile that says, Please don’t worry.

  I sneak out the back door and wobble through the snow on my tiptoes. I tread carefully because I’m inexperienced in the high-heel department. We agreed to meet in the alley behind the Cut ’N Dye hair salon, so I head straight there. It’s dark but I see exhaust floating from a large black vehicle with red taillights. Dante is standing by the open door, his hands folded before him and his eyes on me. He is the patient chauffeur. As I approach, I see he is wearing charcoal pants and a black turtleneck. He looks violently handsome and I stop and stare.

  “Buonasera, il mia amore. You look ravishing.” He bites his bottom lip and lets his eyes roam over me. I blush and pull my coat closed. Then I notice our ride and give him a pointed look.

  “A Cadillac Escalade? Really? And here I thought you loathed the materialistic trappings of modern society.” He chuckles and takes my hand.

  “This is true. But I also insist on the finest things for my lady.” He looks deep into my eyes while he kisses the back of my hand. Familiar electricity shoots through me and I tremble. We stare until I feel the blood swirling in my veins. My pulse jumps and Dante smiles. I wonder if this was a good idea after all.

  A squeal of laughter from inside the truck breaks the moment, and I withdraw my hand. Bailey yelps to a slapping sound, and Dante and I grin.

  “They wanted a private moment,” he says, guiding me to the door. “Apparently, your friend has missed my friend very much.”

  I look inside and am startled. This is no ordinary Escalade but a luxury stretch SUV. Dante holds my arm so that I can duck inside. I take a seat in the back, facing the front. The door closes quietly but dim lights illuminate my surroundings. The interior is a soothing shade of cream with shiny wood accents. There are four luxurious leather seats that face each other, but Bailey has opted for Vaughn’s lap. They are snuggled around each other and smiling at me. I can’t smile back. I’m remembering the last time I saw Vaughn. He was helping my dad place a noose around his neck to commit suicide—right before Gabe killed him. I understand it was Wolfgang who took Dad to the courthouse that night; but it was Vaughn who helped push him toward death. Dante never touched my dad, and so I found it easier to forgive him. I understood he was there only for me. Even though Dante has assured me that Vaughn is not here to Take any souls, including Bailey’s, I can’t forget his part in all this. Vaughn must realize what I’m thinking because his playful look fades, and we stare awkwardly.

  Dante slides in next to me from the other side and shuts the door. He takes in the scene and then reaches over and squeezes my hand.

  Bailey sits up and says, “Hey, what gives?”

  I lower my eyes. I never told her about Dad killing Steve, so she knows nothing about Vaughn’s part. She knows about his fetish for pain, but not about what happened in the courthouse. Should I tell her? Maybe, but not tonight.

  “Sophia?” Dante pries my fingers loose. I hadn’t realized I was digging my nails into his hand.

  “Sorry,” I murmur.

  “You are okay, yes?” He glances at Vaughn. “We are good?”

  To his credit, Vaughn looks genuinely remorseful, and I nod. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just nervous.”

  “Nothing to be nervous about,” Vaughn says, sounding upbeat. I suppose he’s trying to make amends. “Dante and I got this covered. No demon will lay a hand on you guys if you’re with us.” Bailey revels in his promise and snuggles against his neck. He slides one hand up the back of her shirt while the other pulls her leg over his lap. She has no compunction about devouring his neck like a starved woman, while Vaughn chats away. “And Dante insisted on rolling in style; only the best for you.” He nods behind us, and I turn and see a large, flat screen TV mounted where the back window should be. “Thirty-two-inch LED monitor, custom sound lighting, security cameras, hand-crafted wood lacquer finish, custom wool carpet, brushed metal knobs, and aviation-grade interior lighting.” I gaze around, taking it all in. The ceiling is gorgeous suede punctuated by soft lights. This is beyond impressive, and I look over at Dante.

  “We have the Internet, a monitor, and cutting-edge infotainment—whatever that means. Plus, it’s armored with maximum ballistic protection.” He smiles proudly, and I have to laugh. He’s trying so hard to catch up with the times.

  “It’s amazing, Dante. Really.”

  “I am happy to please you, cara.” He gives me that look that sets my blood on fire and I feel myself blush. I squirm and scramble for something to say.

  “Um, so who’s driving?”

  He taps a blue button on the electronic panel at his side. A small window behind Vaughn and Bailey slides open, and Santiago’s face appears.

  “I’m navigating,” he says, “and he’s driving.” Santiago is pushed aside by Degan, who is behind the wheel.

  “Hey, Sophia. How’s it going?” Degan smiles. I can see by the light reflecting off his forehead that he’s changed from spirit form into human form. I suppose it’s better, if he’s doing the driving, but I’m not in the mood to be friendly with the soul seeker who wanted to drag poor Colin Firth to Hell.

  Degan introduces himself to Bailey, and then Santiago shoves him back out of view. “Are you guys ready? This is gonna take a while.”

  “Yes,” Dante says. “We are ready. Get us there as quickly as possible.” He taps the button again and the window shuts. “It seems Santiago and Degan pooled their resources and found La Croix. The directions are a bit complicated so I’m leaving it to them. Besides, I would ra
ther give you all my attention.” He leans over and nuzzles against my neck. “You look so beautiful, cara.” He tries to kiss me but I lean away. I didn’t imagine this night to be a romantic interlude. But it’s kind of hard to focus on anything else with Bailey and Vaughn moaning and making out right in front of us.

  Bailey yelps and pulls back, clutching her mouth. “Oh my God, you really bit me.”

  My eyes snap to Vaughn. He is drowsy with lust, enjoying the pain he caused. I’m ready to lunge at him and drag Bailey away, but Dante grabs my arm. We watch as Bailey’s stunned expression slowly melts into a naughty grin, and she throws her arms around Vaughn’s neck, attacking him. They roll sideways in the chair, clinging to each other, groaning and smacking.

  I fall back against the seat. “I can’t take this. Got any music?”

  Dante’s face lights up; this he can do for me. He hits a button and our seats expand into recliners. Then he taps the monitor and pulls up a screen of songs. “Always happy to please you, cara.” He touches his selection and the soothing groove of Blue Öyster Cult comes on. I relax back and then recognize the song and turn to look at him. Dante is smiling in anticipation.

  “That’s your choice? ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’? Look at you, being all ironic.” He laughs and takes my hand.

  “You have nothing to fear, Sophia. I will always protect you.”

  I smile but think: No, Dante, I will to learn to protect myself. That’s what tonight is really about.

  This reminds me of the bold-faced lie I told him, and I feel a pang of true remorse. He’d been so happy to learn about a spell that could revive past life memories. He’d never considered it before, and if I was willing to try it, all the better. Then I compounded that lie with another and involved Rama Kuan. I told Dante that it was Rama’s idea and that he would be performing the spell. Dante didn’t question me at all, which only makes me feel worse. His faith in me is unshakeable.

  I take a deep breath and chase away my guilt before I cave and tell him the truth. With Bailey busy devouring Vaughn, I decide it’s time to learn more about Dante. I haven’t forgotten how Teriza regarded him with a sense of authority and respect. For some bizarre reason, it irks me to think that she knows him better than I do. So I ask Dante what it means to be a Demon Knight in the Royal Court of Hell.