“Something smells good,” I told her as I locked the door behind me.
“It’s only fajitas.” She shrugged.
That wasn’t a favourite. I preferred meat and two veg kind of dinners but if someone else was doing the cooking, I’d take whatever was going. “Sounds good.”
“He’s been acting weird for a few days,” she started, as usual ready to spill her guts without any prompting. “Making excuses. Avoiding me.”
Ugh. He’s ghosting her. I hate guys who do that.
“I’m sorry, Lucy.” I knew not to say anything much else. There was still a chance he’d be around for a while. She’d be pissed at me later when they made-up if I started ripping into him for being an arsehole now.
“I thought it was different this time. He was different. I was so sure.”
Same words, different guy. I had been sure Dawson was a decent guy, but I really didn’t know him that well. We’d never been close. It would make sense if he was as big an arse as the rest of Lucy’s exes though, I supposed. She’d only ever seemed to be attracted to that one awful type.
“Yeah, he seemed like one of the good guys.”
“Do you think…” She sounded hopeful for a second before shaking her head. “Never mind.”
“What is it?” I’m going to regret asking, I realize the second the question leaves my lips.
“You’re friends with him, right?”
Oh no. She wants me to speak to him. I sit down and try to come up with an excuse. My head promptly emptied of everything resembling intelligent thought.
“Um, sort of.”
“You could talk to him, maybe. Try to find out what’s going on with him?” She had a pleading expression that made me groan inwardly.
“I don’t know, Lucy. I haven’t really spoken to him since the fire.” Maybe if she hadn’t been keeping him all to herself I’d feel less awkward about attempting to talk to the guy. As it was, I couldn’t see how I could do it without it seeming kind of pathetic.
“Please?” She asked as she dished up the dinner.
“What do you want me to ask him, exactly?”
She sat and started to fill a wrap with chicken and salad. Shit. This was going to be a big ask. It already was, but the pause told me she wanted to figure out something more than just if a guy was done with her. I should have said no to the whole thing. I needed to find a spine. I didn’t seem to have one where Lucy was concerned.
“I want to find out if he’s been sleeping with someone else.”
“You think he’s been cheating?”
She nodded. Apparently she was all cried out over this. She was almost cold about it. That only happened after she’d already had a good long wallow. “I can handle being broken up with him if that’s what it is. I just don’t want to have a big ugly fight where I never really know what happened. I’ll feel better if I know.”
Okay. I started to eat, wondering when exactly she expected me to find time to have a talk with a guy I knew from school who I’d barely spoken to in years. “Won’t he be suspicious if I try to talk to him about you?”
She pulled a face, and that’s when I knew she had more to ask before she even tossed in the apologetic smile. “That’s the thing. I kind of need you to flirt and see how he reacts.”
I almost choked on a bite of my dinner. I took a sip of water before I shook my head at her.
“I can’t do that. I’m with Mason.”
“Since when is it a crime to flirt?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not asking you to sleep with him.”
“Lucy. This is messed up.”
“I know, but I think he could be the one. If I can figure out what’s going on, I can decide what to do. Please, Tina? I need to know if I can trust him.”
Shit. I seriously needed to grow a spine. “I’ll try. Once. That’s it.”
What the hell was I getting myself into?
Chapter Eleven
I found myself in my last dreamscape again when I went to sleep. I didn’t know what was going on, but I couldn’t seem to let go. At least this time I knew it was just a normal dream. Or whatever passed for normal these days.
I sat down on the ground this time and leaned against the wall. I’d wake up sometime. I had to.
At first nothing happened. I just stared at the wall opposite. Bathed in the sickly yellow colour of the demon. I imagined the colour changing, but nothing happened. Probably wasn’t trying hard enough. This dream is mine; being conscious of that I should be able to alter anything I wanted.
Too bad real life wasn’t quite so easy. I didn’t try harder. The colour wasn’t bothering me. I was just trying to waste time until I woke up. Mason would still be in a mood. I knew it because he didn’t try to text or call all night. It stung if I thought about it, so I pushed it out of my thoughts.
“He thinks you’re a slut with a junkie ex you might still be into.” My evil twin was now leaning against the doorframe across the hall. At least this time she wasn’t brandishing electricity. She had her arms folded and was smirking at me.
“Oh fuck off,” I muttered. I wasn’t in any mood for symbolism and I’d much rather talk to myself without having to see those superior looks on my face.
She didn’t go anywhere. My subconscious must have thought I needed this. Trouble is, when you fight yourself, no-one wins.
“I don’t blame you for the sleazy ex, Tina. He’s fucking hot, but it’s kinda weird that he thinks you banged him on Friday night. I mean, you were all tucked up safe in bed with your boring-ass boyfriend, right? There’s no way you could have gotten up after midnight and snuck out to the club to get some action.”
Ugh, no. I was not even going there. “I don’t sleepwalk. There’s no way that happened.”
She shrugged. “It’s a very specific thing for him to think if you didn’t.”
She might have had a point, but I wasn’t going to let it haunt me. “He’s on drugs. That’s not my fault.”
“Isn’t it?” She raised an eyebrow. “You come back to town and in less than two months he’s hitting the hard stuff? Seems kind of coincidental.”
Fuck that. I wasn’t going to sit there being guilt-tripped for everything I did. I got to my feet.
She smiled. “Okay, whatever, you didn’t force the pills down his throat. It doesn’t make you innocent. Not by a long shot.”
I wanted her gone, but she still wasn’t leaving. Apparently, I wasn’t having any impact on this normal dream tonight. It was probably mental exhaustion. I should have stopped fighting it and just let the dream take me where it wanted to. It would force it to end sooner.
“Just don’t fuck Dawson when you go to talk to him.”
“Don’t be disgusting.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed how good looking he is.”
I was aware. It didn’t mean I was attracted. “He’s Lucy’s boyfriend. And I have Mason.”
“He never wanted Lucy. He wants you.”
Ugh. Was I really this conceited? Apparently on a sub-conscious level, that answer was yes. Nothing like a messed up dream to make you hate yourself. I was so done here. I just wanted to wake up.
Two seconds later I was blinking and staring up at the ceiling of my bedroom in the flat. It was dark in the room and when I checked the clock it was only four a.m. I spend the next three hours tossing and turning, wide awake. I couldn’t go back to sleep. I didn’t want to go back into that dream.
When it was time to get up for work, I moved around like a shambling zombie to get ready. Lucy was already up and making breakfast. I felt slightly more alive once I’d eaten the roll on bacon and egg she placed in front of me. I only took two sips of the tea.
“You look tired,” she told me. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. I wasn’t going to speak to her about Mason, and there was no way she was ever going to specifically ask. She’d seen the mood he was in at the Starlight yesterday. It wasn’t the same with Lucy as it was with him. She didn’t hate him.
She’d given him a job. She just wasn’t interested in engaging with him on any level. Even if he was my boyfriend.
“Just promise you won’t fall asleep at work.” It was a joke, I think, but I didn’t laugh.
That’s not the kind of promise I could ever make. I nodded so she’d know I’d taken her seriously. That was as far as I was willing to go.
“Oh, Mason called in sick,” she said as we were leaving the flat.
My stomach twisted into knots. “He did?”
She nodded. “It’s only like the second time he’s ever done it. I’ll need you on the front desk all day. We don’t have enough staff in to move you around a lot. The kitchen assistant will waitress for the lunch rush.”
“Okay, cool.” I checked my phone, but there was still no word from Mason. He really wasn’t talking to me. I hoped he was actually sick. I didn’t want to know what it meant if he wasn’t.
My nerves were rattled by the time we got to work. I was shattered and no amount of caffeine was going to keep me awake. A day on front desk by myself wasn’t something I wanted to have to get through. It would be just typical if a demonically possessed person decided to stroll in and force me into a coma. Two months was a long time for someone like me to stay employed at one place. I was bound for a major slip-up and I could see it happening soon.
Chapter Twelve
I sent Mason a message at lunch time. The morning had passed without any major problems, but I was exhausted. I couldn’t wait to get home to sleep. I just wasn’t totally sure what I meant by home. Mason’s house had started to feel like it. The flat was just a place to stay. I wondered if he even still wanted me to move in.
“So much for trying not to be an arsehole,” I muttered as I picked through the pasta I’d ordered for lunch. I shoved my phone into my pocket when it became immediately obvious he wasn’t going to just call me back.
When I looked up, I realised there was a shadow blocking the light from the window next to me. I glanced at the guy and he smiled at me. Dawson. Must be looking for Lucy.
I smiled, though it froze a little when I remembered what I’d promised Lucy I’d do when I saw him. “Hey.”
He came over. “Hi, Tina. How’s lunch?”
“Kind of overcooked,” I said, putting my fork down. The room was pretty empty. The rush was over, and I was pretty much alone in the room while the kitchen assistant manned the front desk during my break. “If you’re looking for Lucy…”
“Actually, I was looking for you.”
I raised my eyebrows as he sat down. His gaze became intense as he leaned in.
“Last night was incredible. When can we meet up again?”
Chills rushed down my spine. What the hell? I hadn’t even gotten a chance to flirt yet and he was talking like we’d been intimate already. I didn’t even know what to say now.
His hand brushed over mine. “I’ll tell Lucy it’s over, as soon as you ditch that freak who talks to himself.”
I pulled my hand away. “Excuse me. I think I might be having a mental break right now.”
That had to be it, right? It was me. I was the sleep-deprived dream walker. This had to be a waking daydream brought on by my weird dream from last night. I hadn’t even looked at Dawson as a potential love interest before. What the hell was I doing to myself?
“Tina, wait.”
“I have a boyfriend,” I called back over my shoulder as I went to the front desk.
The girl covering for me widened her eyes. “You’re back already? It’s been like ten minutes.”
“Wasn’t hungry.” I forced a smile. “It’s fine, you can go back to work.”
“Tina, please.” The emotion in Dawson’s voice made me shiver.
I turned as the kitchen assistant went back to her job. At least there was a counter between us now. It felt far sturdier than a table. “If you don’t want to be with Lucy anymore, break up with her, but leave me the hell alone. I’m not interested in you.”
He frowned at me. “I didn’t think you were this twisted.”
He walked away shaking his head. My heart was hammering as I watched him go. Whatever was going on, I didn’t like it. Not one bit.
Chapter Thirteen
Mason still hadn’t replied by the time my shift was over. I headed home to the flat, after an aimless wander around the park. I tried to will Mason to get back to me. It didn’t work. Sighing, I decided that was it. If he was going to go all moody arsehole, he could fuck off. I didn’t want to speak to him if all he wanted to talk about was the past.
I dreaded the thought of seeing Lucy. Not knowing what I would say to her. She’d never taken it well whenever I’d told her a guy wasn’t good enough in the past. Even though she’d asked me to find out, I suspected her reaction wouldn’t be much different this time. I couldn’t stand the thought of having her mad at me while Mason wasn’t talking to me either. Turns out, I didn’t need to worry about it.
Lucy and Dawson were making out on the couch by the time I got in. He was lying on top of her and they didn’t stop when I closed the door. It wasn’t unusual, but I hesitated for a second before making the dash to my bedroom and closing the door.
I must have imagined what happened at lunch time. I had to have imagined it, right? Men weren’t suddenly flocking to me. I hadn’t become some sort of irresistible goddess. I shoved a chair in front of my door before I passed out on the bed again. I had a major case of the creeps, and I was so fucking tired.
I let exhaustion claim me, hoping I wouldn’t dream. You’d think someone with inherent dream walking skills could control her sleep-state. You’d be wrong. I went to that same damned dreamscape, again. Tried to change it, tried to find an exit. Nothing got me out of there. I couldn’t even change the colour of yellow that was clinging to every surface. Couldn’t even tweak it.
I called the weapon to my hands and it was slow, but it came. Electricity, crackling and blue.
“Something must be sticking me here.”
I’d been troubled by this host, but I was sure there was more to it than that. I hadn’t heard of this happening before. Gran had taught me everything she knew. This was something different. Personal, maybe.
I was going to have to work it out for myself. The thought made me groan.
I was so sick of being alone in this mess. Being with Mason had started to change things for the better. I should have known it wasn’t going to be permanent. Life is change. I should know that by now. It’s impossible for things to stay the same.
Aside from this damned dreamscape, apparently. I thought back to the exorcism. It had been a strange one. Quickly executed, which was always a good thing. It had been easy. Sloths weren’t exactly slippery to catch. So, it should have been easy. Had it been too easy?
I didn’t know. The demon was gone. I’d done my job. So why did I have to keep coming back here?
Maybe it was the host. She was still out there. Still capable of attracting another demon. I had to think of a way to help her, to stop her attracting another demon. Maybe that’s what this meant. Maybe that would be what it took to kill this dreamscape.
I wasn’t sure I was right, but it was a starting point. At least I had something to try.
You’ve found others who were demon magnets, Tina. She isn’t the first.
The voice in my head was right, but at least she wasn’t manifesting in the flesh.
“Maybe she’s the first one I can save.” Here’s hoping.
Chapter Fourteen
My day off came around, and still no word from Mason. I forced myself out of bed a little after ten. Putting a chair in front of my door seemed kind of silly now. I’d only had some weird daydream about Dawson, he wasn’t actually crazy in lust with me. I removed the chair and picked out clothes.
My day had to involve finding and following the host around. Figuring out a way to help her. To stop another demon from possessing her. It seemed an impossible task. I was trained not to do this.
Do not intervene.
Freedom from the demon leaves the host a choice. They must make it themselves.
Sorry, Gran. Can’t do it. Not this time. Something is different, and that means the rules go out the window. Considering the thing about not telling anyone turned out to be bullshit, I’m not even sure which of the other rules are truly unbreakable. Something tells me none of them are finite.
I went into the bathroom and took a long hot shower before I headed back into my room to change into the clothes I had laid out. That’s when I noticed there was something on my bed. A folded slip of paper. It wasn’t there before. What the hell? I closed the door and shoved the chair in front of it.
I picked it up, holding the towel close around me with my other hand.
My hand shook as I unfolded it. The writing was in thick black felt tipped pen.
He’s not your boyfriend, Tina. I am. You’ll see.
I couldn’t tell whose writing it is, but I was suddenly freaked out that whoever wrote this note might still be in the room with me right now. I opened the wardrobe and blew out a breath when I realised no-one was hiding in there. The only other potential hiding place was under the bed. I shuddered before I forced myself to get down on my knees and check. It was pretty dusty under there, but no men were lurking.
I got up and dressed quickly, not drying off properly and grimacing when my T-shirt sucked up the water from a wet patch immediately. It was cold, but at least I was covered up now. I towel dried my hair, too freaked out to turn on the hair dryer.
I listened carefully at the door before I moved the chair and left the room. I had my phone in my hand and I instantly brought up Mason’s number. It was instinct, I couldn’t help it.
I was ready to hit dial. I checked the bathroom. Empty. I went to Lucy’s room and hesitated before I pushed the door open. Her room was bright. The curtains were open. The window was too. Please tell me whoever left the note went out the window. I went inside and did the same quick check I did in my room. Then I went over to the window and looked outside. No-one was around.
Quicksand Nightmares (Seven Deadly Demons Book 2) Page 4
