by Janie Marie
“I do.” Janie hugged him, showing him the sketch even though he’d already seen it. “Did you show her a picture of Hero?”
“No.” Logan glanced at Kylie. “Did you just imagine her this way?”
She rubbed her hot cheeks. “Yeah. I hope it’s okay.”
“It looks like her,” Janie said, taking the drawing from Ryder to show Luc.
Luc smiled as he studied it, but he was staring at Janie when he said, “Beautiful, my queen.”
Ryder must’ve noticed Janie’s smile widen, because he grunted then left without saying a word to Janie.
Logan called after him, but Ryder kept walking.
Janie saw, but she didn’t rush off after Ryder. She stayed with Luc, and it surprised Kylie she felt the urge to chase Ryder down to tell him to get his ass back over here.
“Will you sit with me?” Janie asked Kylie.
“Um, sure.” Kylie cringed when Janie pulled Luc closer to whisper something to him. He nodded, kissing her cheek before leaving with the drawing.
“You may go, Logan.” Janie gave him a serious stare as she lowered herself to the ground. “I have these four guards you can see and four you can’t—Astaroth and Beelzebub are among them. We’ll be fine.”
A nervous chuckle left Logan. “Those are code names.”
“Oh.” Kylie was about to joke wasn’t Luc supposed to be the King of Hell, so who was this Beelzebub hanging around, but she decided not to.
Janie patted the grass. “Sit, Kylie. We need to talk.”
“Baby doll?” Logan had an odd tone as he watched Janie.
“Go with Lykos, Logan.” Janie didn’t turn, but the atmosphere was heavy enough that you’d think they were nearing their deaths.
“Brother,” Lykos said, tugging Logan’s arm. “Let’s go find Ryder. You have shit to discuss with him, anyway.”
Logan sweetly kissed Kylie’s head. “I’ll see you later.”
Then they were alone.
“They’re planning something,” Janie said, not moving her eyes from the grave. “I heard them talking last night—they’re going to be bait to let Kevin and Trevor think they can take them out.”
“What?” Kylie immediately sat beside her, not at all expecting this. She figured they’d talk about their old disputes, if anything. Not this.
“All that will happen if Logan and Ryder go after them is they will get hurt. Logan would get hurt.”
“Why are you so sure Logan would get hurt and not Ryder?” It always frustrated Kylie that everyone considered Ryder better than Logan.
“Because you don’t realize what Ryder is. And Ryder would let Logan get hurt if it meant I’d be safe.” Janie darted her eyes around, her breathing becoming faster. “Even worse, Logan would too. He’d sacrifice himself for us.”
Kylie shook her head. “No. I won’t let him do anything stupid.”
“It’s too late. They’re already leaving.” Janie held up her phone. It was a text.
Sweet Death: Going out with the Grimms. Don’t go anywhere.
Sweet Death: I’m sorry.
Sweet Death: I love you, angel.
Sweet Death: For longer than always.
“Call him before he gets far.” Kylie reached for her phone, realizing her pockets were empty.
“Did you know, there’s a story that only a few get to witness, The Beginning. It’s about Jane and her demon,” Janie said calmly, as though she was talking about the weather. “Jane fought against her for so long, but she always struggled to believe she was brave and good enough. And the demon was so powerful, so confident. When Jane learned another had power to control her demon, she asked him to help her; she’d give him anything he wanted.”
“Janie, this isn’t time to discuss your fairy tales. I know you believe in them, but we have to stop them.”
“Jane lost her battle,” she said serenely. “Innocent blood spilled because she gave up.” Janie reached forward, sliding her fingers over an old plaque Kylie hadn’t noticed. The name was David Hunter Grimm.
Kylie covered her mouth, shaking her head as two plaques beside that one came to her attention: Maren Lorelei Grimm and Arianna Maura Grimm.
“The demon, Kylie, it was part of Jane. Like a sister.” Slowly, Janie turned her head, her eyes glowing as tears danced in them. “Opposites. They’d been one, but they were ripped apart to make two half-souls.”
“Janie, those are stories.” She closed her eyes, refusing to stare at the names that were at least a hundred years old. The thing that had her heart racing was Maren was Lorelei’s middle name, and Arianna was Maura’s. It couldn’t be real.
Janie took a deep breath as she cleared away a morning glory vine. There was another marker there. Jason Winters. Someone had scratched the middle name out. “They think I don’t know about him. She traced the name, making what looked like an ‘L’ for the middle initial. “This place exists because of him. In that world, Jane failed him—she failed all of them.” Janie grabbed Kylie’s hand. “She gave Hell a second chance for him, and for her demon.”
“Janie, it’s just a story.”
“Is it?” Janie lifted her fingers to her lips, kissing them before pressing them to the name Jason. “I dreamed of him, you know? I was marrying him, having his babies.”
“Okay.” Kylie glanced around, wondering for a moment if Janie’s grief had really screwed her up this time.
“You can come with me.” Janie pulled out a strange, grenade like object. “Or you can stay, and I can bargain for them to take only me. Just promise you’ll keep Maura safe. If I fail, you’re her only hope.”
Kylie gripped her arm. “Okay, we’re going to call Ryder right now, and you’re going to stop talking crazy. I’m crazy enough for both of us, and you need to wake up now.”
“If I wake up, it ends.”
“Yeah, give me your phone. I’ll call myself.”
“No.” Janie lifted the phone again. There was another text. “If you call them, they’ll die.”
Unknown: It can end with you two. Your blood will pay the price.
Unknown: Noon.
Kylie’s heart pounded. It was noon. Janie was going to leave. “You made Ryder angry on purpose. You knew that before coming out here, and you made him leave so you can run off and do something stupid. Dammit, Janie!”
“The guards are not mine.”
Kylie’s breath hitched, her whisper shaking as she asked, “Who are they?”
“The Big Bad Wolves.”
The four guards approached, only their eyes visible. The two men in the center were the only two that had her hyperventilating. Blue eyes. His eyes, so big. So pretty.
“You will let Kylie choose,” Janie said, staring at the one who glared down at her.
He turned his head to the man beside him, and it was that man who spoke in an all too familiar voice.
“My disgusting stepdaughter comes with you, or she dies here. Choose.” The area around his right eye was scarred, and a glass eye took the place of the one she’d destroyed.
“Kevin, please,” Kylie whispered.
He didn’t look at her. He simply shifted his stance, aiming his gun at Kylie’s head.
“I’ll go.” Kylie scrambled back. “I doubt we’ll make it out of here, though. You’re going to get caught.”
Janie got up, pulling Kylie up with her as the horses from earlier returned. “No, they won’t get to us in time. We never had a chance. They’ve been pretending to be the guards since Sunday.”
“Why didn’t you warn them?” Kevin asked.
“Because I needed Ryder and Logan safe from you.” Janie held up the grenade thing. “Lead the way.”
Kevin eyed the horse lowering its head to him. “Your horses won’t hesitate to throw us. We’ll take a vehicle.”
Janie shook her head and acted as though she’d pull the pin. “You can get on behind me. I know you’ve rigged explosives to the mansion and other places you believe have value to me, who knows where else
. I know there’s no way to find them all.
“The horses will know if you detonate your explosives or kill me. That’s when they’ll buck us.” Janie approached the largest horse, one of the gray ones. “King will do what needs to be done.” She pointed to the smaller gray one. “Kylie, that’s Prince. If you’re coming, get on.”
The men didn’t have to be told twice. They mounted up, obviously sensing Janie had figured out too much already, and they were possibly at risk of being found out. One of them grabbed her arm and dragged her to the horse, lifting her onto its back and joining her.
Janie pulled a pin from the grenade, and she threw it at a spot where there were several dirt bikes and ATVs. The explosion was deafening.
Kylie closed her eyes and didn’t hide her tears as they raced down the field, heading toward the woods. “God, help us.”
Twenty-One
THE GOLD FLAME
“Janie,” Kylie whispered into the dark. There was only a sliver of light on her right, but they had strapped her down. She could only turn her head, but not enough to see where the light was coming from. It was probably a door. “Are you awake?”
“Yes.” A shuffling noise made Kylie tense, but she realized Janie was a lot closer than she expected, though not close enough to touch, or to help her with the wounds she knew the girl had.
Kevin had a vehicle hidden at a campsite, and when they stopped and got off the horses, Trevor attacked. Kylie’s stomach rolled as she remembered how sickening Janie’s face smacking the pavement sounded. She hadn’t even tried to stop him; she only closed her eyes and let him yank her before he punched her in the stomach, then smashed her face onto the road.
Janie’s cheek had busted open, and she needed stitches. Kylie was thankful one man stopped Trevor from killing Janie because she passed out instantly. “Are you okay?” Kylie fought against the zip ties to no avail.
“It hurts. Do you know how long I’ve been out?”
“No.” Kylie whimpered when she pulled on her restraints. Her arms were stretched over her head, and they had tied her legs down. “Do you remember the campsite?”
“Yes. I know he got me. He always gets me.”
Kylie sniffed. Her wrists were burning. “They did something to me after you got knocked out. I only remember white when a man stopped Trevor from attacking you again.”
“Oh.” Janie was quiet for several seconds. “You weren’t supposed to be down there. I was going to make it seem I alone would be the better option. But you showed up, and I knew they’d kill you there. I’m sorry.”
“I can’t believe you were just going to give yourself to them. All your damn stories about that woman giving up and letting everyone down, and you do just that.”
“Because it’s my fault.” The bite in Janie’s words gave Kylie hope the girl was still hanging on, but as she continued, her hope slipped away. “Everyone still suffered. They were willing to take my blood for all.”
“Oh, shut up.” Kylie thrashed, tears building in frustration and fear. “Maybe everyone suffered because they were still atoning, Janie. You can’t save everyone. But, hell, look how many of them look to you to lead them. Stop thinking like this and become what you wanted to. Those damn letters you wrote, you were writing to a version of yourself. Stop thinking that version deserved more, that she would be more. Show her it’s okay to not be enough in your eyes. Because what matters is you’re everything to so many.”
Janie let out a sob. “See? You are stronger than me.”
“You’re just sad.” Kylie sniffed, hating that she’d never see her family again, that Logan would probably blame himself for all this. It wasn’t just her he was losing; he was losing his baby doll. No, she would not let that happen. “We’re getting out of here.”
“I’m pretty sure we’re underground. We could be anywhere.”
“So?” Kylie tried to peer around the dark space. “Come on, Janie. You’re a badass. I’ve seen you fight. I’ve seen you get knocked down again and again, and you get back up, roaring each time. Be that girl who doesn’t give up. It doesn’t have to be like the story. You don’t have to be the Red Riding Hood that dies.”
“I already died.”
“No, you didn’t,” Kylie snapped. “If I recall, you grabbed Ryder’s hand, and that asshole told you to live. Stop moping and think. We’re not leaving our boys. Dammit, I just made up with Logan, and he’s been so happy to have what he does with you. Are you going to let them go on without you?”
Janie kept sniffing. Her hiccups were pitiful, but Kylie was hopeful her words were getting through. It would take both of them to escape.
“Janie, they’re going to kill us both, and that won’t satisfy them. They’ll still go after the boys and my family. And you know those men won’t rest until they’ve avenged you.”
“Luc.” Janie’s words were shaky. “He’ll come.”
“Does he know?” Kylie had little faith in Luc, but the dude could obviously pull off just about anything.
“I made him promise to get Maura and Lorelei to safety first. We found devices around the house, and I didn’t want anyone getting killed. He had to stay.”
Hope filled Kylie’s heart. “Do you have any way for him to find you?”
“The moon.” Janie sounded so tired now. “I’ll glow.”
“Are you okay?” Maybe the girl was hallucinating. “You’re not glowing. I don’t care what your fairy tale says.”
“I’ll glow,” Janie whispered before going silent.
“Janie?” Kylie squinted, trying to see. Maybe the girl would actually glow, and Kylie could finally surrender to their fairytale magic. Nope. “Not a damn thing is glowing.”
“She means his homing beacon on her will glow.”
Kylie went to scream, but a hand pressed over her mouth.
“Shh,” said Mr. Cold Hands. A light from a phone illuminated the darkness. A half-moon was flashing on a map. A star was blinking right beside it. “King and Queen have quite the bond, you see.”
The hand lifted and Luc’s face came into view. He was dressed just like the guards, his mask pushed up like a beanie.
“Please tell me you’re here to save us and you haven’t been working with Kevin all this time.”
He held up a knife, his eyes flashing silver as he lowered it close to her face. “The last time she dimmed this much, Darkness laughed at her tears—feasted on them like a hungry wolf. Yet, this time, in the same company, she is told to fight harder.” He moved the knife to her hands, cutting her restraints there before doing the same to her feet. “It seems she did not fail, after all.”
Kylie sat up slowly. “I don’t think it’s failure just because bad continues to happen.”
“Agreed.” He turned toward where she knew Janie must be. “Oh, my little queen.” He began cutting her free, though Janie was unconscious now.
“Oh, God, is she dead?” Kylie rushed to her side.
Luc kept Kylie from touching her as he leaned down to kiss Janie’s bloody cheek. “She just needs a little light to help her see again.” Then he kissed Janie on the lips.
Kylie gaped at him. “You can’t just kiss a girl when she’s unconscious, asshole.”
He didn’t pull away. Silver light suddenly lit up Janie’s face. For a tiny moment, Kylie thought something magical was happening, but then she realized it was simply a star symbol on Luc’s watch flashing. A moon tattoo on the inside of Janie’s wrist began pulsing in time with his watch. It looked like something had been inserted under her skin. A homing beacon.
“You have a GPS tracker on her.” Kylie grabbed Janie’s hand, squeezing it as she slid her fingers over the moon.
“A king protects his queen,” Luc murmured, lifting Janie into his arms. “She’ll wake in a moment. We must hurry. They’ll find the bodies soon.”
“You mean you’re alone?” Kylie hurried after him.
“She didn’t want Ryder and Logan to come.” He made a frustrated grunt when Janie di
dn’t seem to improve. “Stay behind me and don’t open your mouth.”
Kylie nodded, placing her hand on his back to make sure she didn’t lose him. He shifted Janie in his arms and opened the door. There was only a lamp sitting on the floor where a set of stairs ascended into more darkness.
“Luc,” came Janie’s broken rasp. “My king.”
“I’m here.” There was a kissing sound that had Kylie flinching, then Luc continued, “Stay quiet. I will alert the others when we get out.”
“Kylie?” she asked.
“Behind me. Now silence.” Luc was climbing the stairs fast after that. Kylie had to tighten her hold on his shirt because she couldn’t see anything. There were voices ahead, and Luc slowed, moving Janie again. He wrapped Janie’s legs around his waist before pulling his gun free.
Then he took off again. They passed two bodies, and Kylie had to hold her breath as the stench of stale blood hit her in the face.
She stayed composed as they passed another body. She could only hope Luc had taken out Kevin, but she didn’t think they were going to be that lucky.
They came to a landing, and Luc carefully opened the door.
Just as a gunshot rang out.
It was so loud, her head felt like it was stuck in a bell, but Janie’s scream was even louder.
“He missed,” was what it sounded like Luc said before collapsing with Janie on top of him. Kylie couldn’t move. She could only stare in shock at the scene happening at her feet.
“Luc,” Janie cried, her shaking fingers sliding over Luc’s bloody face. “Luc, please.”
“Looks like he’s just a mortal man, after all.” Kevin put his gun into his holster and approached Janie, roughly yanking her up. Janie screamed and instantly began punching him, her nails inflicting the most damage and ripping away the black eye patch he now wore. It looked like the skin melted over his eye.
He growled, slapping Janie’s busted cheek, and she cried, falling to her knees. “Behave, and I’ll only hurt you when I have to.”
Kylie shook away her shock and dropped to the floor to grab Luc’s gun. Yelling, she aimed at Kevin and pulled the trigger. The shot went off, but Kevin was still standing. Janie, however, was screaming in pain as blood spread down her side.
