“Give it up!” Pyro said. “This is mine! I’m not leaving without it!”
“Oh yeah?”
Maris kicked the demon in the face, repeating it over and over. Pyro tried to get up, but Maris wouldn’t let him.
With one last tug, Maris knocked Pyro in the solar plexus. Pyro’s grasp slipped from the handle as his breath was forced from him. As if in slow motion, the demon tumbled head over heels down the stairs. At the bottom Pyro struck his shoulder against one of the steps with a crack. Maris winced.
Pyro stopped at the bottom in a tangle of arms and legs.
Maris had done it! He fought a demon with a physical body and won! But, then he saw Pyro get to his feet, holding up the silver key from before.
“Good luck opening that thing without this!” he said, then sprinted out of the building.
Maris wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
“Damn it,” he muttered.
Whatever was in the briefcase, it had to be important for Pyro to fight for it. What could it be? Paperwork? Files on different people that Haures collected?
Hopefully I can crack this thing open later, he thought.
Suddenly a scream echoed from the second floor.
“Shelley!”
He hurried to the stairs, lugging the briefcase with him.
Chapter Twenty-Six:
Monday - 6:35pm
The invisible force that yanked Tadin through space finally let him go and he struggled to his feet. His head was spinning and he leaned against the nearest wall.
Where am I?
The room was sparsely furnished. The only light was from a window at the far end. It’s curtains drifted in the wind.
“Shelley?” he called. He knew she had freed him from his prison, but now she was nowhere to be seen. Did Haures already have her? He shuddered at the thought.
A door led out to the hallway, so he checked it out.
“Shelley, are you here?”
He heard a muffled cry from back in the bedroom.
“Tadin! Tadin, I’m here!”
He looked around the room once more.
“Where?” he replied. “I can’t see you.”
“Here!” her voice called once more.
As he waked through the room he realized, with a sinking feeling that she was out the window.
He pulled a curtain aside and looked out. There wasn't a balcony, like he expected. He spotted Shelley to the right, clinging to a fire escape.
“What are you doing out there?” he called. The wind blew through him. He tried more than anything to not look down, but his eyes were drawn to the pavement below. He squeezed his eyes shut to keep from trembling.
“Haures chased me,” she said, her hair blowing across her face. “I heard him down the hall, so I hid out here. Did you see him?”
“No,” he replied and looked over his shoulder to be sure that Haures wasn't in the room. “Do you have my ring?”
She held it up between her fingers.
“Okay, good,” he said. “We need to get you out of here right now. I don't think Haures knows I'm free. Can you climb down from there?”
Shelley tightened her grip on the railing and shook her head.
“I tried to lower the ladder, but it's rusted. I'd have to jump.”
Tadin went dizzy.
“No, you can't jump. That's way too high.”
He looked around. Of course there was nothing to climb down besides the fire escape. He shook his head.
“Damn it. You have to climb up. Maybe there's some stairs on the roof or something.”
Suddenly a voice spoke up behind him.
“Funny, I don't remember letting you out of the library.”
He turned to see Haures filling the doorway. His shadow stretched across the room, reaching for Tadin.
“Tadin, what is it?” Shelley called.
Damn it! They were both cornered.
“Is that Miss Macyntire?” Haures smiled. He walked into the room, getting closer and closer to Tadin. “I was looking for her.”
Tadin wanted to run, but the only place to go was out.
“You’re cornered, Tadin,” Haures said, his footsteps punctuating every word. “Why don't you just give up? I already caught you once. I can easily do it again. It's a waste of energy to run.”
Tadin looked down again at the street below. If he fell, there wasn't much that would happen to him. It was Shelley he was worried about. He was the only thing standing between her and Haures. If he fell, it would be crucial minutes before he could make it back up. If Shelley fell, she would die.
“Why are you doing this?” he turned to Haures. “Why can't you just let me exist in peace?”
Haures stopped and raised his eyebrows.
“Why?” he said. “It’s simple. We all have jobs to do. Mine is collecting as many souls as possible. If I do, I get rewarded. If I bring you down with me, I make back double my investment.”
Tadin shook his head. What was Haures talking about?
“I didn’t expect you to look so surprised,” Haures said. “You knew this day was coming. I’m taking you down with me, one way or another.”
“And if you don’t?” Tadin stalled before trying to flee.
“There is no room for failure. If any of you leave this building, it will be inside a glass bottle.”
Tadin gritted his teeth, grabbed the window sill, and prepared for the climb.
“Well,” he held his stare. “We’ll see about that.”
He threw his leg over the sill and stepped onto the tiny ledge.
The wind blew against the side of the building as he edged his way to the fire escape. Haures growled and peered out the window.
“Tadin!” Shelley stood up on the platform. “What should I do?”
“Climb,” he said, pressing himself to the brick wall.
He made it to the platform and Shelley pulled him over the rickety steel railing. Once he was safe, she hugged him. He appreciated the sentiment, but they needed to move.
“That way,” he motioned to the ladder. Shelley hurried over to it.
“What if there's no way down?” she asked after the first few rungs.
“We’ll deal with that when we get there. Climb.”
He looked back at the window and saw that Haures disappeared.
Where did he go?
He must be hurrying to cut them off. They needed to move quickly. If he came through an access hatch, maybe there was another fire escape on the other side of the building. Tadin had to hope.
They made it to the rooftop a few seconds later. The silence up there was unnerving. The only sounds came from an AC unit and the occasional car passing by below.
“Look — there's the door.” Shelley pointed ahead.
She went for it, but Tadin tried to stop her. Something wasn't right.
“Shelley, wait!”
But she was already in front of the grungy door when it swung open violently. The hydraulic hinge at the top was ripped off and clattered to the rooftop.
Haures spread his arms out from the doorway. His eyes glowed like embers.
“Keep running,” Haures said, and Shelley stepped back. Tadin swore he saw smoke seeping from the demon's mouth. “I love the chase.”
Shelley backed up until she stood behind Tadin. He shielded her with an arm.
“It’s a shame that you ruined your figurine, Tadin,” Haures approached them, fingers spread like claws. “I’ll have to get a new one made. There's nothing more disheartening than being caged a second time.”
Tadin's mind raced. What should he do?
There was nothing up here to give him energy. The AC unit was too far away. Everything else was slate and concrete.
“Shelley, do you have anything with you?” he whispered. “A cell phone? Anything?”
“No.” Her face was white with fear. “Everything’s back in the apartment.”
Without warning, Haures lunged forward and backhanded
Tadin. He wasn’t prepared for it and went flying sideways to his knees.
Shelley went to go to him, but Haures caught her arm and yanked her back. She thrashed around, but it was useless. Tadin knew Haures was strong. The old body was just a facade.
“Perhaps I should throw you over the edge,” Haures wrenched Shelley over to the edge. She screamed and kicked.
Tadin struggled to his feet. If he could gather some energy from the AC, he could fight. But, Haures was already dangling Shelley over the edge.
“Let us go!” she swiped at the demon to no avail. “We didn’t do anything to deserve this!”
“Speak for yourself,” Haures chuckled, tightening his grip on her arm. “You might be an innocent woman, but the ghost you’ve partnered with is hardly a saint.”
Confusion washed over Shelley’s face, and Haures raised his eyebrows.
“Are you playing games with me?” he asked, looking at Tadin. “You mean she doesn’t know what you did?”
“Tadin, what is he talking about?” Shelley asked as she struggled.
Dread pooled itself in Tadin’s gut and he shook his head.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“Oh, come now,” Haures smiled. “I’m sure it hasn’t been so long that you forgot about making a deal with a demon.”
Shelley’s confused look turned to shock.
“Tadin, what does he mean?” she asked.
He didn’t want to say anything, but Haures wouldn’t allow him to stay silent.
“Tell her,” he said, “or I’ll drop her right this instant.”
He felt paralyzed. Of course he hadn’t completely forgotten what Haures was talking about, but he’d done his best to put it in the back of his mind where it couldn’t come back to haunt him. No ghost wanted to remember their death, but when Haures was involved, there seemed to be no option. Protecting Shelley from his past was out the window.
“Tadin?” she said once more.
He closed his eyes, and replied.
“I made a deal with Haures, right before I died,” he said. “I didn’t have a job, and I needed money. I wanted to buy an engagement ring for the woman I loved.” He motioned to the ring on Shelley’s finger. “Haures saw me at Achaia, and offered to help me out. I was sure I could pay him back, but he rigged the entire situation. Before I could do anything, I was dead, and I owed my soul to him as payment for what he’d lent me.”
“But,” Shelley looked at him with tears brimming in her eyes. He’d never spoken of this part of his past with her before. “But, you didn’t know that he was a demon, did you?”
“No,” he said.
“And it doesn’t matter,” Haures interrupted. “What matters is that I get what is owed to me. Since Tadin’s taken so long to pay me back, I decided that you would be just enough to cover the interest.”
He laughed and dangled Shelley further out over the ledge.
She screamed and swiped at the demon's face, but Haures swiped back, knocking a fist into her chin. On the follow-through, Haures’s fist caught on something around her neck. Whatever it was, it clinked to the rooftop and skidded to a halt not far from Tadin.
It was the crucifix he'd given her! It glinted in the moonlight.
If he could just reach it…
Shelley dangled lifelessly in Haures's grasp.
Tadin couldn’t take his eyes from her neck. Her head lolled back and forth like a doll’s. Haures laughed and held her up like a trophy.
“Don’t worry,” he said, “She’s not dead yet. I’m taking my time with this one. For all the years that you’ve hidden from me…”
He brought his free hand up to his face and examined it with a frown. A dark ribbon of blood dripped from his knuckles. “Damn, what was that?” Haures shook his fist and the blood specked Shelley’s clothes.
Of course, thought Tadin. Maris said the necklace could be used as protection against demons! It must have sliced Haures's fist when the chain caught him.
The necklace glittered on the rooftop before him.
He reached out once more. His fingers could almost reach it.
Just as he pulled the chain towards him, Haures pulled Shelley’s neck back.
The demon’s eyes glowed like a furnace. He looked ready to slice open Shelley's throat with the heat from his eyes!
Tadin felt a burst of energy surge through his being. He didn’t know where it came from. He pushed himself to his feet and sprinted at Haures.
The demon looked up just as Tadin slashed the crucifix across his face. He used the gold cross like a needle in his hand and dragged it across the demon's cheek.
Haures cried out. The sound seemed to shake the entire rooftop. Still, he didn't release Shelley.
“You little shit!” he bellowed and swiped back, but Tadin knew he had the advantage of two hands now that Haures only had one free.
He stepped to the left, missing Haures's fist as it blew past. He grabbed ahold of the arm holding Shelley and stabbed the crucifix into the demon's forearm. With all his strength, he sliced the cross along Haures's arm and the same dark blood came dribbling out.
Only then did Haures release Shelley and she tumbled limply to the edge of the roof. One arm landed precariously over the edge of the rooftop. One push and she would fall to her death.
Tadin dropped the bloody necklace to the floor and was just crouching beside Shelley when Haures towered over him.
“You shouldn't have done that,” the demon said. His eyes glowed with intense heat. Tadin could see the rippling air waves as Haures bent closer. “Now I’ll throw both of you over the edge.”
Tadin braced himself for the end — to feel Haures grabbing him by the neck, hurling him to the street below. He clutched Shelley's hand. This is it, he thought.
But Haures didn’t grab the back of Tadin's neck. Instead Tadin heard footsteps pounding across the rooftop. He looked up and saw Maris running towards them, his arms outstretched.
Haures cried out, but his scream was cut short by Maris pushing him towards the edge of the roof. Haures staggered, lost his footing, and tumbled over the edge.
Chapter Twenty-Seven:
Monday - 6:50pm
Tadin cradled Shelley’s limp body in his arms. The silence seemed to scream at him. It was so distinct. He noticed more than ever how unnervingly quiet Shelley was. Had Haures struck her that hard that she had a concussion, or worse?
“Shelley,” he said, coaxing her to open her eyes. “Shelley — come on. Wake up for me.”
Maris knelt on the other side of Shelley’s body. He took her wrist, searching for a pulse.
“She’s still got a heartbeat.” He leaned close to her mouth and nose and listened. “Still breathing too. She’s just knocked out.”
Tadin was still afraid that Shelley’s brain was injured by the blow. Who knew what Haures was capable of doing with a simple strike to the head? He was a very powerful demon.
Tadin needed to wake her up to be sure she was fine. If she could speak — if she could stand on her own — he would be relieved.
“Come on, Shel…”
He held the side of her face and stroked her hair. She was covered in dust and sweat. Her clothes were peppered with granules of sand.
“Shel…”
He planted a kiss on her forehead, keeping his lips there for a long time.
Suddenly she stirred. Tadin sat back, anxious for her to speak.
“Are you all right?” he asked, helping her sit up. Maris crouched behind her just in case she fell back.
“Tadin?” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him so hard that he feared his ability to stay solid would be conquered. Luckily he remained strong and embraced her.
“You’re all right,” he whispered in her ear.
When they parted she looked around nervously.
“Where’s Haures?” she asked. “Do we have to run?”
“No,” Tadin said. “Maris took him down.” He motioned to the edge of t
he roof beside them and Shelley made her way slowly over to it. Tadin peered over the edge of the roof and almost stumbled back from the vertigo that leaped out at him. They were really high up, and the distance to the ground was intensified by the tiny, twisted figure of Haures in the middle of the street.
“Is he dead?” Shelley asked.
Tadin glanced back down at Haures and was shocked that the gruesome remains were disintegrating. The dust was whisked away by the wind off the bay. Within moments there was nothing left but a smudge on the pavement.
“I don’t think he’ll be bothering us any more,” said Maris.
Tadin helped Shelley to her feet and brought her to the access door at the side of the rooftop.
Before the three of them went through the door, however, Tadin caught a glint on the rooftop. He stopped and picked up the broken crucifix he’d given Shelley before the gala. It was stained with Haures’s blood. However, the crimson stain dissolved the same as the demon’s body did and nothing remained of Haures after that. The gold keepsake was good as new.
“My necklace!” Shelley said and took it delicately from Tadin.
“You were right, Maris,” Tadin said. “The crucifix was a good weapon.”
“Sometimes I get it right,” Maris grinned. “I’ll have to write that one down in my book.”
“Shelley, do you still have my ring?” Tadin asked. She reached around her finger and pulled the ring free. She held it out to him, but he stopped her. “You should hold on to it until we’re home,” he said.
“Is it true?” Shelley asked, looking him straight in the eyes. “What Haures said, is it true that you made a deal with a demon?”
He felt like a coward for looking away, but he felt guilty just hearing the words coming out of her mouth. If he’d had his way, Shelley would have never found out about that part of his past.
Maris stopped, watching the two of them.
“What did you just ask?” he said.
Tadin shushed him.
“It’s true,” he said. “I did borrow money from Haures. I shouldn’t have, but I did.”
Shelley watched him with bloodshot eyes, processing the information. He couldn’t see what was going on in her mind, but he was sure that his image was now a wreck to her.
Macyntire & Hough (A Paranormal Romance) (The Macyntire & Hough Saga) Page 15
