Dark Hunt

by Kim Richardson

  Before I had time to knock, the front door swung open. An elderly woman, white hair fitted loosely in a bun and wearing a flowered house dress and pink slippers, stood on the threshold.

  “Hi, Grandma,” I said, and my chest squeezed. “Told you I was coming to see you.”

  “You look so much like your father,” she said. My throat throbbed as her eyes watered. Please don’t make me cry in front of Jax.

  My grandmother reached out and pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m glad you came,” she said, and I could smell the wine on her breath. I let myself fall into her hug, the laptop heavy in my right hand as I struggled not to drop it. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I’d missed her, and I hugged her back.

  When she pulled away, her eyes were wet. For a moment I thought she was about to cry, but then her lined face rippled in delight as her eyes moved past my shoulder.

  My grandmother clapped her hands. “You’ve brought a boy home! A real boy!”

  I smacked my forehead as I heard Jax laugh. “He’s not a boy, Grandma. He’s my partner.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s what you young people call it now.” My grandmother beamed. “Dear me. He’s as handsome as the archangel Michael.”

  “Oh. My. God. This isn’t happening.” I rolled my eyes at the knowing smirk on Jax’s face. He was enjoying this way too much. “He’s my work partner. We’re not together, together. Oh, never mind.” I sighed since my grandmother was goggling Jax. “Grandma, this is Jaxon…”

  “Jaxon Spencer.” Jax moved to shake my grandmother’s hand. I realized that I had never even bothered to ask him his last name. “You can call me Jax.”

  “Are you a relation to Mark Spencer from House Michael? The old founding Sensitive family from France?” inquired my grandmother as she took her hand away, her face holding a trace of interest.

  “Yes, that’s right. I’m his son.” Jax gave my grandmother one of his smug smiles, but there was a new glint to it. I thought it might actually have a tinge of real warmth.

  I loved to be right. Jaxon Spencer was from an old and rich Sensitive family. Interesting.

  “Please! Please, come in!” My grandmother ushered us through the doorway. “I’m making my famous chili,” she kept talking as she moved towards the kitchen. “The secret’s not in the sauce, it’s in the meat! You’re staying for supper,” she ordered. “And I won’t take no for an answer. Jaxon—there’s red wine in the cellar. Grab a bottle of Novelty Hill Merlot and Apothic Red. It’s Rowyn’s favorite.”

  “You heard the woman,” I said, smiling and kicking off my boots as I shut the front door, “the wine’s that way—”

  “Look who the cat dragged in,” said a Siamese cat as it came strutting down the hallway from the kitchen. Its tail was straight up in the air, long legs moving with the confidence of a lion.

  Jax tensed. “That’s a baal demon,” he said. The tension in his voice pulled me to a stop, and his hands moved to his weapons belt.

  “Hey, look who actually paid attention in demons 101?” mocked Tyrius. “Maybe he’s not just a pretty face. Maybe there’s an actual brain underneath all that hair. Wait a minute—are those your real eyelashes?”

  Jax’s hand was still at his waist. “Are we going to have a problem?” I asked, moving away from the door and placing my body protectively in front of Tyrius. I was prepared to defend Tyrius if need be. I didn’t care how pretty Jax was, Tyrius was my longtime friend and he came first. “If you have a problem with Tyrius… then you have a problem with me. A big one.”

  Jax looked at me confused. His lips parted in wonder.

  “I think he’s having a meltdown,” whispered Tyrius. “Is he having a meltdown? What did you do to him, Rowyn?”

  “Nothing.”

  Jax’s features twisted in shock. There was nothing of his usual, cocky self-glimmering in his straight posture. “I don’t understand? Why does your grandmother have a baal in her home?”

  “Because I live here,” mewed Tyrius. “I take it back. This guy’s definitely a little slow.”

  Jax had gone pale and very still. “Does the council know you have a demon in your home?”

  “Screw the council,” I spat. “Why should I care about them? They’ve been nothing but hypocrites. The lot of them. I took their money for this job, but I don’t follow their rules. It doesn’t mean they own me. They don’t control me.”

  “But—there are laws about aiding a demon,” said Jax. His eyes jerked to mine and a shocked look of revulsion crossed over him. “He might look like a pet, but he’s no ordinary cat.”

  Tyrius lifted his chin. “Damn straight. I’m spectacularly magnificent.”

  “What is the matter with you?” Jax hissed. “Demons are born from the depths of the Netherworld. They are evil incarnate. There’s nothing more foul and evil than a demon. Having one as a pet is ridiculous. It’ll kill you in your sleep!”

  Tyrius sat, his tail swishing behind him. “Wait a minute? What is he saying?”

  I gave Jax a false smile and rested the laptop on my hip. “So, you’re the type to believe what is light is good and what is dark must be evil, yes? Like crows are the Netherworld spies because their feathers are black, and doves with their white feathers are angelic birds that spread the word of God? Am I right? You think all angels are good just because they are angels? Well, let me inform you, Jax, that not all angels are good. I’ve met some. Trust me. And let me tell you something else… where you think there’s evil… there is also good. Some demons are not the monsters you think they are.”

  “Are you mad? He’s a demon. A trickster.” Jax’s tone was hard, and I didn’t like the tension rolling off his shoulders. His fingers still twitched too close to his weapons.

  A tiny growl escaped from Tyrius’s throat. “Rule of the house—guests shut their pie holes.”

  Jax shook his head. “You can’t trust them. I’m not sure what spell he has you all under, but it’s clear to me he’s been fooling you.”

  “Hey, just a minute there, Clark Kent,” said Tyrius. “I haven’t spelled anyone! Tell him, Rowyn.”

  Part of me wanted to kick Jax’s stupid ass out of my grandma’s house. But his face stopped me. There was something in his eyes, something that looked like a mix of desperation and terror that broke my heart. Something had happened to him, and my instincts said he was just trying to protect us. No matter how stupid he was being.

  I took a breath and calmed myself. “Tyrius is my friend and has been part of my family since I was twelve years old. He’s been there for me when no one else was. When my parents died in that fire, the council didn’t come to see me, to console me or ask if they could do anything to help. No one did. But Tyrius was there. He was there next to my pillow when I cried myself to sleep for an entire year after the fire. Tyrius’s soothing words helped me fall asleep. His encouraging words helped me get out of bed when all I wanted to do was curl up and die.” I took a step forward and stared Jax down. “So, you see, Jax or Jaxon, or whomever you are, you are a stranger to me. Tyrius is my family. And families stick together.”

  “Here, here!” said Tyrius.

  “No matter how strange it might seem to you, it’s normal to us. If you can’t accept that. If you can’t deal with my family… then I suggest you turn around now and go home. We can work separately on this case.”

  I pushed the laptop higher on my hip. My eyes went to Jax, the width of the entryway between us.

  “What’s it going to be?” I inquired flatly.

  Jax said nothing, jaw clenched. I told myself he could think what he wanted. I didn’t care. I didn’t have to live up to his standards or the council’s. Who my family members were should have nothing to do with our professional relationship.

  His head didn’t move, though his eyes tightened in the corners. “We need to work together on this case. You obviously have connections and insights that I don’t, that I never thought possible. It’s going to help us. I want to find this demon as muc
h as you do. I don’t want Cindy to end up like her parents.” He looked at me, and I could tell this wasn’t easy for him. “It won’t be a problem.” He wouldn’t look at Tyrius.

  I glanced at him, my mood softening. “You sure about that?”

  “I am.” Jax’s voice was tight, but I could tell he was being truthful.

  “Okay then. Tyrius,” I said as I showed the Siamese cat the laptop. “I need you to do your magic and crack the password on this laptop.” I heard Jax’s sharp intake of breath behind me.

  Tyrius jerked upright, tail in the air. “Did you steal that from the council? Oh… please tell me I can finally get my hands on their dirty little secrets. There’s also a file on me I’d like to erase—you know what I’m saying?”

  “No, sorry, Tyrius. I wasn’t that lucky,” I said as I tried hard not to smile. “It belongs to a Sensitive family that was killed today. Long story. Their daughter’s still alive somewhere, and this laptop is the only chance we have at finding her before the demon that killed her parents does.”

  “Say no more,” said Tyrius as he bounded back towards the kitchen. The scent of chili peppers rose around us and my stomach growled. “Bring the laptop to the kitchen, if you please. I’ll crack this baby like an egg.”

  I turned around. Jax watching me carefully, and I nodded to tell him to follow. His solemn green eyes went to Tyrius as the baal trotted happily down the hallway looking every bit like a real cat.

  Jax gave me a tight-lipped smile, took off his shoes, and then made his way towards the back of the house. He looked tall in the tight space, the soft thumps of his socks resonating on the wood floor. Somehow even in his socks, Jax managed to move with a confident, seductive grace.

  I turned to follow him, my steps slow and calculating, with my hand on my weapons belt, just in case.

  9

  After we finished our meal of chili con carne—my grandmother had insisted we eat before letting Tyrius get his paws on the laptop, and I’d washed down every bite with a nice gulp of Apothic Red because I hadn’t the heart to tell her I didn’t eat meat—I set Tyrius up on the table next to me with the laptop. I was surprised when Jax pulled up a chair next to me. His shoulder grazed mine as he pulled himself forward, our chairs knocking together.

  “Anyone want some coffee?” my grandmother’s voice came from the kitchen just beyond the French doors. I could barely hear her over the loud Big Band music playing. She’d insisted on doing the dishes alone. Her face was flushed, and I didn’t want to argue with her when she’d had way too many glasses of wine.

  I looked at Jax and he nodded. “Two coffees please,” I yelled back. When I was sure she’d heard me, I leaned forward in my seat and flipped open the laptop to press the power button.

  Tyrius pressed a paw on the keyboard next to touchpad, and his eyes darkened to a deeper blue before closing. My skin prickled at the pull of demon magic, and I smelled the faint scent of sulfur as Tyrius sent his magic through the computer’s hard drive. The dining room’s chandelier lights flickered, and I felt Jax tense next to me.

  “How long will it take?” Jax leaned close to me, his warm breath tickling my neck, and I felt a rush of blood heat my face.

  Flustered, I reached out to grab my nearly finished wine glass and sipped the last of it, very aware of our knees touching. He didn’t pull away, so neither did I.

  “Patience, pretty boy,” said Tyrius, his eyes still closed. “You can’t rush perfection.”

  I burst out laughing and immediately regretted it. Where was that coffee? The lights flickered again and then went off.

  “Tyrius! Lights on!” commanded my grandmother. “I can’t see a darn thing in here!” I couldn’t make out the rest of her words over the crash of dishes.

  “Sorry,” shouted Tyrius, and then the lights in the kitchen flared to life. His tail whipped from side to side as it always did when he summoned his magic.

  An awkward silence followed as we all waited for Tyrius to crack the password. I felt the warmth of Jax’s thigh press into mine through my jeans. He was really close to me. Too close. I stifled a shiver. Trying not to fidget, I sent my attention to the laptop as faint tendrils of demon magic rippled over the screen like black vapors.

  “How did you two meet?” said Jax so suddenly I twitched.

  I turned around in my seat, careful to keep my shoulders from brushing against his. “When I was twelve,” I said and saw Tyrius cock his head towards us, eyes open.

  “Yes, you said that… but how? Baals are usually kept as a witch’s familiar, to assist them with their magic. And you’re not a witch. Why did you keep it?”

  I smiled at the shift in Tyrius. “You don’t keep a baal demon. It’s more like the other way around. Just like real cats, they think they own you and you’re there to serve them.”

  “Nothing wrong with that,” said Tyrius.

  I laughed. “Tyrius and many other baals have been witches’ familiars for thousands of years. Through their sharing of energy, of life energy—both mortal and demon—most baals can stay in the mortal world indefinitely. Well, until their energy runs out.”

  Jax’s features creased in thought as he addressed Tyrius. “So why an angel-born and not a witch? You have magic. Why not be with a witch?”

  Tyrius huffed. “I got bored of all their hocus-pocus.”

  Jax leaned back and looked at me. “I’m curious. How did you find the baal demon?”

  “I didn’t find him,” I said. “He found me.” Confusion cascaded over Jax’s face and I felt my chest tighten.

  Tyrius looked at me for approval, and I gave him a small nod. “Tell him.” I knew someday Jax would find out since we were working so closely together. Better it come from Tyrius than someone else.

  “I sensed her,” said Tyrius, his blue eyes alight with demon magic. “It was like nothing I’ve ever sensed before, like two separate energies, like shadow and light all bundled together in this tiny girl package. I was curious, so I followed her home. Her parents fell in love with me—can you blame them?—and the rest is history. We’ve been besties ever since.”

  Jax had a frown on his face, and his eyes met mine. “Just like you can feel a demon’s presence?” His eyes ran over my face. “Like the way angels do?” His voice sounded wary.

  My heart pounded. I’d never told anyone about this. Only my parents, my grandmother and Tyrius knew about my abilities. No ordinary angel-born could sense the presence of a demon. It was why I was such a damn good Hunter. I could track any demon.

  I watched Jax’s curious expression, praying that I hadn’t made a mistake in confiding my secret to him. I needed that mark. I needed that money. If he told the council of my gift, they might cancel the deal. Or worse, they might consider me enough of a threat to hunt me down and kill me.

  Jax leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “Can Cindy sense demons too?”

  “I can’t be sure,” I said as Tyrius lowered his head in concentration, his attention back at the laptop. “But if she’s like me, if the others were all like me, then yes.” Movement caught my attention and I saw my grandmother shuffling about the kitchen. The roast of coffee filled my nostrils.

  “If the Greater demon knows this,” said Jax, “it’s motive enough for it to track you down and want to kill you. These black-eyed bastards will want to kill anything that stands between them and free human meals. And that means Cindy… and you.”

  What Jax said made perfect sense. Still, I didn’t want to believe that a Greater just found out about us when we were pretty rare. I couldn’t suppress the feeling that someone or something had told it about us.

  “Bingo!” said Tyrius, making me flinch. “We’re in.”

  I leaned forward. My chin brushed over Tyrius’s head, and I rested my elbows on the table. Using my right index finger and thumb, I moved the curser over the folders on the desktop screen. I doubled clicked on the email icon, and a window popped open. Tyrius leaned into my shoulder and I welcom
ed the heat from his body and soft fur.

  Scrolling down, I scanned through the inbox and frowned. “There’s only one email.” I double clicked on it. “It’s from Walmart,” I said. “Asking to leave a review for their recent purchase. They deleted their emails, covering their tracks.”

  A chair screeched against the wood floors. Jax was next to me, his body doing more than the wine did to warm me. “Check the deleted folder.”

  “Yeah,” said Tyrius. “And if there’s nothing there, check the ‘sent’ folder. People always forget to empty their sent email folders.”

  I doubled clicked on the deleted folder, only to find it empty as well. My pulse hammered. I knew if we didn’t find anything here, it would take weeks or months to find Cindy.

  I moved the curser to the sent folder and doubled clicked. “Jackpot,” I said as I began to scroll through the hundreds of forgotten emails. One with the subject line “Miss You” caught my attention. “This one’s dated three days ago,” I said as I clicked on it.

  “Hi mom and dad,” I read, my pulse a shade faster. “Sorry I haven’t written in a while. Things have been pretty hectic on my end. But I’m safe now. Remember my friend Danto I told you about? I’m staying with him at his club V-Lounge. Don’t worry. He’s keeping me safe. Love you. Cindy.”

  “Holy shit,” I breathed.

  “If this Danto is the same Danto who owns the V-Lounge club,” expressed Tyrius, “that does pose a problem.”

  I leaned back feeling numb. As if sensing my quickened pulse, Jax turned to me. “What?” he asked. “Who’s this Danto?”

  I shook my head. “That can’t be right. She can’t be that stupid. Can she?”