The Ghost Hunter

by Lori Brighton

  He floated back, gasping. “Ye,” he whispered, as if she’d done something wrong. But he didn’t look furious. No, instead he tilted his head back and started laughing deep, rich chuckles of mirth.

  Sweat beaded on Ashley’s forehead, her breath coming out in harsh pants as she tried to comprehend the situation. Why wasn’t she dead yet? Not that she was complaining.

  Finally he stopped laughing and instead started shaking his head as if bewildered. “Yer more powerful than I’d realized. Blocking me, are ye?”

  “No,” she snapped. Blocking him? She didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. The pressure on her body decreased and she slumped toward the floor, but she knew she wasn’t really free.

  His silver eyes narrowed. “Fine then. If ye wish tae play that game….” He turned and lifted his arm. Red light burst from his fingers, stretching down the tunnel away from them.

  “Come forward, me dear.”

  For a brief moment, she thought he was talking to her, but his gaze was focused on the tunnel. A soft whimper whispered down the corridor toward them. Slowly, a person emerged from the shadows, the woman’s face downcast. She shuffled like one injured, beaten, exhausted. Halfway toward them, she paused. Ashley’s heart hammered in her chest as she waited…waited… The woman lifted her head. Camile’s familiar face stared back at Ashley.

  Ashley jumped to her feet and bolted toward the woman. She could get to her. Together they could beat the demon. Suddenly she was shoved sideways. Ashley stumbled, slamming against the wall. Jarred, her mind went blank for the briefest of moments as stars danced before her eyes. Weak, she slid down the wall and landed on her ass.

  “Now, now, not so close.” The demon swept up beside her.

  Camile’s gaze met hers, her eyes pleading for help. Hopeless. Ashley’s fingers curled, her nails biting into her palms. What could she do?

  “What do you want?” Ashley demanded, turning her attention to the demon.

  “Ye.” He turned to face her. “Come, tis a fair exchange. A Witch for a Seer. I’ll let her escape, if ye give yerself over tae me.”

  Ashley released a harsh laugh. “You think I believe you?”

  He lifted his arm, his hand stretched toward Camile. The woman’s back arched and she swept forward as if pulled by an invisible string. She was so close to them that Ashley could reach her in three steps. He dropped his arm and she fell to the ground, exhausted, defeated. Her shoulders were shaking, a fine sheen of sweat covering her face. Ashley’s heart ached to help her friend.

  “I can only concentrate on one at a time. While I’m using ye, she’ll be free tae run. She’ll have time tae escape.”

  So tempting. The offer was so incredibly tempting. But hadn’t Cristian told her not to trust the demon? Still, Ashley couldn’t look away from Camile, her one true friend. She’d had so few friends in her life who accepted her completely. It wasn’t supposed to be this way; she was supposed to be safe with Devon. Despair washed over her. Could Camile make it in time if Ashley gave herself to the demon?

  “Please,” Camile whispered, reaching out to Ashley.

  Even as her heart clenched, something nagged at the back of Ashley’s mind. Camile, the brave Camile who’d fought a wolf wouldn’t beg, wouldn’t ask her to give up her life for hers. Had he tortured her until he’d broken her? But that didn’t feel right either. She was missing something, something important.

  The demon moved closer, the sparkle of success already burning in his gray eyes. “Decide, my dear. Tick tock. Tick tock, time is running out.”

  She would not panic, she would regain control. Something was wrong, she felt it. Ashley slid the beast a sidelong glance, looking for any indication of dishonesty. She could read nothing in his handsome face.

  “Ye have the ability tae release that wall in yer mind.” He moved closer, so close they were almost touching. “Give yerself over, and she goes free.”

  Her attention slid once more to Camile. The woman’s body was trembling, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. She didn’t lift her hands to swipe them away, merely let them drip to the floor as if she’d given up. Ashley’s pulse thumped madly in her chest. What to do? She searched for that elusive answer, attempted to unravel the question that nagged at her mind. What was wrong with this picture? What was she missing?

  The bracelet.

  Camile’s blue beaded bracelet. Her wrists were empty. Why was the bracelet gone? Frantic for answers, Ashley’s scanned the woman’s body. Was she wearing what she’d been wearing when she’d last seen her? She didn’t remember!

  “Time’s running out,” the demon said, his cold breath fluttering her hair.

  “She’s not wearing her bracelet.”

  Ashley met his gaze straight on, determined not to cower. She was done cowering. A long moment of silence stretched before them. His mouth curled and a low hiss slipped from his lips.

  The person wasn’t Camile. Ashley laughed, a harsh sound that echoed down the tunnel. “She’s not wearing her bracelet.”

  He growled low in his throat and suddenly Camile disappeared. He’ll try to trick you, hadn’t Cristian said so? Pain shot through Ashley’s head like someone had shoved a sharp blade into her brain. Unable to stop herself, she cried out and squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t catch her breath.

  Heat spread down her neck, further down each limb until her entire body felt afire. She didn’t know what he was doing to her, but she knew it would only get worse. He might not be able to control her mind, to suck the energy from her being, but he could still torture her.

  “Luv, I will break ye,” the demon said. “So much untapped strength, I can feel it, just out of reach.”

  “Let her go.”

  Through the haze of pain, Ashley realized that she recognized that deep, male voice. In waves, the sharp pain pulsed, over and over. Her stomach clenched, bile rising to her throat. She’d get sick all over the floor and she didn’t care.

  “Ye’ve bonded yourself tae her,” the demon said, the surprise evident in his tone. “How sweet.”

  “Of course,” that familiar voice spoke again, sounding so sure, sounding anything but concerned. Didn’t he understand that she was being tortured? Why wasn’t he helping her?

  Suddenly, the pain waned like a wave receding. The fire sucked from her limbs leaving her pulsing and numb. Weak, Ashley slumped to the floor, the stone cool and so wonderful against her fevered skin. She wanted to fade into unconsciousness, to sink into oblivion.

  “Ashley, open yer eyes,” that familiar voice demanded.

  No, no, she didn’t want to. She just wanted to die.

  “Damn it, open your eyes.”

  A groan slipped from her lips as her eyes opened. Cristian stood before her. Beautiful, wonderful Cristian. She closed her eyes again and cried out because she knew, deep down, it was too good to be true. Cristian wasn’t real.

  The demon was trying to trick her again.

  Chapter 34

  Cristian’s gaze flickered toward Ashley so quickly that someone watching would think he didn’t care. He couldn’t let his father know how much she meant to him. He couldn’t let the demon know that at the moment, looking down at her battered body, he would slit his own wrists if it meant she could go free.

  “I connected with her as soon as I realized she wasn’t going to leave,” he explained, surprised his voice came out as strong as it did.

  The demon lifted a dark brow, the face so similar to his own that it made him sick. “She’s stubborn, I’m surprised she gave intae ye so readily.” He said the words as if they were discussing the weather. He had no conscience. Perhaps he never had.

  Cristian’s jaw clenched. “We didn’t bond that way. There are other ways.”

  The demon smirked. “Not sex? Ah, yes. Blood then.”

  Cristian didn’t answer, merely continued to stare at his father. He wouldn’t cower to the demon, he would show no fear. He was done giving his sire information. Blood. Ye
s, blood. That day they’d closed the portal when he’d clasped his wounded hand to hers he’d given her his strength. He hadn’t needed her blood for the spell. And thank God he’d done it, for she’d be dead right now if he hadn’t given her his blood.

  The demon clapped his hands together, although the contact made no noise. “So yer connected. Brava. And what, pray tell, do ye think tae do with yer strengthened power?” He paced slowly back and forth, watching Cristian with that knowing look upon his face. A look he’d seen so many times when he’d been a child trying to pull one over on the old man. “Ye still think ye can kill me? Ye tried before, didn’t ye. I’ve had years tae gather my strength.”

  He was right, why give the bastard more time to recuperate? It was time to take care of the demon once and for all. Cristian moved forward, positioning himself between Ashley and his father. “So have I. The lord is my shepherd,” he mumbled, throwing holy water into the air. The droplets sprinkled harmlessly to the cavern floor, sparkling like diamond chips.

  As if sensing something wasn’t quite right, Ashley stirred, managing to sit up. Cristian’s heart leapt. He wanted to tell her to lie still, to pretend she was unconscious. But by even looking her way, he’d only draw attention.

  His father laughed, a deep chuckle that vibrated the stone walls. “Ye tried this all before, my son.”

  “I shall not want.” Cristian held out his hand and a blue powder appeared. He threw it into the air. It burst like a fireworks, sparks of aqua, then sprinkled to the ground.

  Suddenly, his father disappeared and the tunnel grew dark. Cristian’s senses went on alert. He knew the demon was there somewhere, lurking.

  “Cristian?” Ashley stood and blindly reached out for him. “Oh my God, you’re real.” She gripped his shirt and buried her face into his chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist and squeezed her close. He could have this one moment to feel whole again.

  “Shhh,” he whispered into her hair. “Everything will be all right.”

  Her body trembled against his. What had his father done to her? Disgust and anger combined in a lethal combination. Cristian raised his arm, palm up. A glowing orb of light appeared. He’d kill the demon. Destroy him slowly; make him suffer. The familiar domed walls arched above them. Without moving a step, they’d somehow ended up back in the main room. The lid of the coffin still split, had fallen to the floor, the tomb empty.

  “How? Did you teletransport?” Ashley looked up at him.

  “No, we were here all along.” He shook off that uneasy realization and pulled her closer, taking comfort in her warmth merely for a moment.

  “Where’s my father?” she asked, her voice quivering.

  Cristian stepped back from her. He needed distance in order to think. “He’s here. He can see, hear everything. But he’s too weak to appear.” Cristian raked his hand through his hair, desperately needing time to come up with a solution. “I knew he wouldn’t be strong enough to contain my father for long.”

  “Why?”

  He closed his eyes briefly. Time to admit the truth. “Ashley, my father is hundreds of years old. Yer father was a newborn compared to him. My father is even more powerful than I’d expected.”

  “What do we do?”

  He cupped the sides of her face and peered into her beautiful hazel eyes. Blood was trailing down the side of her head, brilliant red against her pale skin. His body heated with anger. Damn it all, this was his fault.

  “Ye do nothing but go.” He released her as he noticed Devon hesitantly entering the room, Camile behind him. Ashley didn’t need him, she had Devon to take care of her. And Devon would take care of her, he’d already promised. Cristian turned and strolled away, forcing himself to move toward that coffin. Forcing himself not to fall for her soft voice and large innocent eyes. What he did was for her own damn good.

  “But…but what do you mean? I’m here to help.”

  He paused, his back to her, and forced himself to laugh, a harsh sound. “Ye think ye can help?”

  She paused for a telling moment. “I don’t know.”

  She was questioning herself, just as he’d hoped. She couldn’t be here. He needed her to leave for her own good and for his. He couldn’t concentrate with her near, he couldn’t see her hurt again. He spun around to face her. “When the time is right, yer father will disconnect. He’ll use the last of his powers tae do so. Ye can’t be here or ye’ll be destroyed. Now, please, go. It would be best for everyone.”

  She didn’t look upset, she looked angry. “You don’t make sense. You insisted I be here and now you want me gone?” She shook her head. “Tell me what you’re going to do.”

  Cristian gritted his teeth. Why did she have to be so stubborn? “Get her out of here, now!”

  His voice echoed across the room, so loud Ashley jumped. Devon wrapped his arms around her before she even knew he was there.

  “No!” She screamed, but Devon ignored her, dragging her backward, further away from her father, further away from Cristian, further away from death. And all he could do was stand there and watch her go. Stand there and regret that she’d ever gotten involved. Mostly, regret that he’d never see her again.

  “Please, Cristian! Please let me go!”

  He turned his back to her. He didn’t dare look at her again. If he saw her face, he’d fold.

  “Tell me what you’re going to do!” she demanded.

  “He’s going to bind himself to his father so your father’s spirit will be released. It’s the only way. He’s the only one strong enough and old enough to hold him,” Devon finally responded.

  Cristian silently cursed the man. Why hadn’t they left? He stopped near the coffin and dared to glance back at Ashley. Just one more time. Their gazes clashed. She jerked from Devon’s hold and bolted toward Cristian.

  Red light suddenly flared through the room. His father was coming. Ashley froze, her gaze pinned to Cristian. “Don’t,” she whispered, but he heard her all the same. “Don’t, we can bind him, we can contain him here.”

  It wouldn’t work, she must know that, yet it didn’t matter. None of it mattered because in that moment Cristian realized that she cared. She cared so much that she wouldn’t leave him.

  Nothing else mattered. It was all he needed. He looked at Devon and nodded, a silent command.

  Devon gripped Ashley’s arms. “No!” She struggled in his hold. “I can stop him. I can hold the demon just as well. Maybe not for long, but until you can find a way to destroy him.”

  Cristian blanched at her comment. She couldn’t be bloody serious.

  Devon voiced his outrage. “Don’t be ridiculous! You’d be destroyed within moments.”

  “Devon,” Cristian demanded. “Get her out of here now!”

  But Devon hesitated. As the ground shook below them, he merely stood there. What the fuck was the man waiting for? The apocalypse?

  “I can’t do it, Cristian,” he said.

  Cristian started toward them, his steps angry. “What the hell are talking about? We had an agreement.”

  Devon disappeared. In a blink, the man was gone. Ashley stumbled, caught off guard. Damn him! Devon was supposed to leave with Ashley and Camile. What was he planning? He had no doubt he was planning something. Devon was a bloody hero, he wouldn’t abandon Ashley.

  “Pater Noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum,” Cristian murmured, rushing the ritual. Devon was going to do something stupid, he could sense his presence.

  Suddenly, Devon appeared next to him.

  “What the hell are—”

  Devon slammed his fist into Cristian’s face. The pain was overwhelming and immediate. Cristian stumbled back, not far, but far enough. It happened in a split second, so quickly that he could have blinked and missed it. Devon held out his hand and the silver sword appeared.

  Cristian knew immediately what the bastard planned to do. He burst forward, determined to stop him. “No!”

  Devon lifted the sword and shoved the blade in
to his own chest. The point moved through his body easily, killing him instantly. Devon was gone, his essence slipping away. Cristian froze only inches from the man who, at one time, had been like a brother. He was too late. Once again he was too late. Sorrow burst anew through his chest, pain exploding inside of him.

  “No!” With a growl, Cristian latched onto the hilt and pulled the sword from Devon’s chest. Brilliant red blood poured from the wound, soaking his light-blue t-shirt and pooling to the floor. Devon stumbled, falling forward into the tomb.

  The red light flared through the cavern, shaking the walls. Pebbles tumbled from the ceiling and scattered across the floor like raindrops. It was over. Done with. There was nothing they could do. Devon had bonded himself to the demon, the tomb was closing.

  Cristian looked at Ashley, the bloodied sword still in his hands. She was staring at that coffin, perhaps praying Devon would come back to life. Would she blame him, as she did before? The room trembled, sending them all off balance.

  “Ashley!” Camile said, grabbing onto her arm. “Devon did this for you. He’d want you to be safe. We have to leave now!”

  But Ashley didn’t move.

  “Go,” Cristian said, looking directly at Camile. “We’ll follow.”

  Camile glanced at Ashley one last time before darting into the tunnel toward that door. Devon was gone. Dead. She’d loved him. It was obvious. She might care about Cristian, but she’d loved Devon and he’d let Devon die. She’d never forgive him. He might not have been able to save Devon, but he would see Ashley safe.

  “I can’t leave him here in this hell,” she whispered, confirming Cristian’s suspicions.

  Cristian gripped her upper arms. “We have to go.” Still she didn’t move. “Bloody hell, Ashley, we have to leave now!”

  “I won’t!”

  Blue light seeped from the coffin. The magical color swirled around the top of the dome, hovering over them. He knew without a doubt that light was Ashley’s father. Just as suddenly as it had come, the blue light was fading, fading.