by S. Young
Crap.
To shrug off whatever it was Jai made her feel, Ari called Charlie, but his cell went straight to voicemail. She wondered if he and his mom were spending some more quality time together. God, she hoped so. Still, it would have been nice to talk to him, tell him about her dad. About ‘the big talk’ her dad had planned, the one in which she was pretty sure he was going to bully her into going to Penn. She knew she should stand her ground, but it would be easier to let her dad have his own way. She didn’t want to disappoint him. Again.
Without meaning to, Ari’s eyes drifted over to Jai again. His willingness to confide in her about his family took her aback. He’d let down his guard and let her in so she wouldn’t feel so alone in this thing with her dad. It was incredibly unselfish of him. Settling her chin on her hand, she studied the way the light played over his face. When Jai was talking to someone, his entire face was tight, the muscle in his jaw flexed a lot, and his eyes glinted like sharp cuts of emerald. But when he was reading, he was more relaxed. And boy, did he have attractively long eyelashes for a guy. He turned a page and Ari followed the lines of his large, strong hands. They were nice hands, masculine and rough, but somehow graceful. The tendons on his muscled forearm twitched as he turned the page and Ari felt a deep flip in her lower belly. Her heart picked up speed as her gaze feasted on him. Flushing at her wayward thoughts, reprimanding herself for being disloyal to Charlie (and yeah, she was aware they weren’t actually a couple). Ari wanted to tear herself away. But she couldn’t. Jai had gotten under her skin somehow, and now she wanted to know more.
“So what the Red King said? You live a completely human life?”
Jai raised his head at her soft question, his brows furrowed together as he processed it. “What?”
“What he said… you live a completely human life?”
He pulled himself up into a sitting position so he could look at her without craning his neck. “Uh… yeah. The Ginnaye are among the Jinn who live a mortal lifespan. Although… well...” he rubbed the back of his neck, seeming uncomfortable. “With my mother’s blood I don’t know what that means for my lifespan.”
Ari’s eyes widened. “Your mother is immortal?”
Jai made a face and put the book down on the coffee table. “Ari, didn’t you read the book I gave you?”
“Yeah. It was interesting. Despite the revulsion I felt reading about my so-called father, I’m glad I read it. You were right. I needed to know this stuff. I especially found the whole Seal of Solomon thing fascinating.”
His gaze sharpened on her. “Really? Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, I just did.”
“Interesting.”
“Why—”
Jai cut her off. “The only immortal jinn are Azazil and his sons. And Asmodeus, for some reason we can’t fathom.”
“Yeah, but there are jinn who live a long time?”
“Yes.”
“How old was your mom?”
Jai’s expression tightened and Ari immediately regretted the question. “I don’t know. But her kind have been known to live for hundreds of years.”
“Okay. So besides the possible extended lifetime, you live a normal human life? You what? You have an apartment in L.A.? A life? A car? A girlfriend?” she threw in.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. None of your business.”
Ari grunted. “You’re so easy to get to know, Jai.”
“I know, I’m an open book,” he muttered dryly.
“Ugh!”
He exhaled wearily, his head dropping with a groan. “Ari—”
The phone rang beside her, interrupting him. Ari hoped it was Charlie. Yet, as the voice on the other end of the line explained who they were and why they were calling, she felt the room tilt a little as she forgot to breathe.
“I’ll be right there,” she replied hoarsely and dropped the phone without hanging up.
Jai’s concerned face hovered above hers. “Ari, you okay? What’s happened?”
Ari blinked, feeling nauseous. The sounds of sirens on the television made her head pound and the flicker of blue across the living room walls from the screen disorientated her. As if he had read her mind, Jai reached for the remote and switched off the television.
“Ari?”
“It’s my dad,” she told him, standing up on shaky legs. She fumbled for her phone and searched for her shoes and keys. “He collapsed at the office. He’s in the hospital.”
Jai cursed, snatching her keys up from the windowsill. “I’ll drive.”
In the car, Ari called Charlie and was thankful that this time he picked up. He promised to meet her at the hospital and she felt better just hearing his voice. As Jai drove them through town, Ari tried not to hyperventilate. They said he’d collapsed. Was it a heart attack? A stroke? A terrible flu virus? As her mind wandered into the morbid, she started berating herself for the way she’d acted over the last few days. She’d blamed her dad for her real father’s crimes, and that was unfair. What if something awful happened to her dad and the last thing she ever said was how disappointed he was in her? That could not be their last conversation.
The rough and hot touch of Jai’s hand jolted her out of her dark thoughts as he reached over and thread his fingers through hers. He squeezed her hand. “Stop,” he said quietly. “Stop beating yourself up.”
Ari squeezed his hand in return. The entire moment was surreal. “Can you read my mind or something?”
“No. I just know what you’re thinking.”
“How?”
He smiled sadly, an unfamiliar expression for Jai. It tugged at something in her chest, and she gripped his hand even harder. She felt warm, safe even, as his fingers flexed and tightened around hers. “Spending 24/7 with someone gives you some insight into their thought process. He’s going to be alright, Ari. He’ll be alright and you and he can sort out all of your problems.”
God, she hoped so.
Any hope Jai had given her evaporated when the doctor led them to her dad’s room in the ICU.
Her dad had fallen into a coma and the doctors couldn’t determine the cause. They were doing several tests, but for now he was stable.
That was it?
Ari felt like screaming. The pale blue room seemed to tilt as Jai led her into her dad’s room. Her dad was a tall man, but lying there in that cold, white bed, he seemed smaller somehow. His skin was a horrible ashen gray, and there were purplish dark circles under his eyes. The skin on his arms seemed papery and translucent. Even his hair looked thinner and lank. A sob caught in the back of Ari’s throat as the doctor left them alone. She took hold of her dad’s hand, hoping that would magically awaken him. It didn’t. His touch felt cold and empty. Ari never used to believe in stuff like auras but standing there looking down at him, it was as if she could feel him dying. There was no vibrancy; very little life pulsed from him and she gasped, feeling breathless. She gulped for air, tucking her head into her chest, and she ignored Jai’s comforting hand on her back. He coached her in his hoarse voice to breathe.
“Where is he?” she whispered. “He’s not in there, Jai. What’s going on?”
“Ari… this is… this is jinn enchantment.”
“What?” she gaped up at him.
He nodded grimly. “Jinn did this to him.”
The door of the hospital room squeaked open and Ari looked over her shoulder. Charlie strode in, his hair askew, his face pale. “What kind of jinn?” he asked fiercely, looking from her to her dad on the bed.
She was so relieved to see him, so grateful to him for coming when she knew he hated hospitals. He hated the walls and the smell and the squeak of linoleum under foot. All because of Mike. Without thinking, Ari flew at him, throwing her arms around his waist and crushing herself against him. Charlie’s arms encircled her, holding her fast, his lips pressed to her hair. Wanting to immerse herself in him, Ari inhaled a lungful of him and then promptly pulled back, frowning. He smelled like a bar.
Ari tried
not to grimace as she stared up into Charlie’s bloodshot eyes. “Thanks for coming. Where were you?”
Charlie’s gaze cast about, as if he couldn’t meet her eyes. “I was hanging with Rickman.”
Bitter shock jarred her and she retreated from him. He was still getting wasted with Mel? She shook her head, dazed, not able to deal with her disappointment. It was too much all at once.
God, how naive she’d been to think that Charlie could change overnight.
“Thanks for coming,” she mumbled, fighting hard not to cry as she leaned on her dad’s bed and wrapped her hand around his white blanketed foot. “This isn’t happening.”
“Ari,” there was a world of regret in Charlie’s voice, and she watched from the corner of her eye as he reached out for her. Something stopped him, however. Perhaps the brittle tension in her body. “Ari, I’m sorry about your dad. What can I do?”
Apparently nothing. She shook her head and turned to Jai. “What kind of jinn would do this?” Strangely, at this moment, he seemed like the only one she could rely upon.
“I don’t know. There are many jinn capable of causing physical illness in humans, physical illness that no modern medicine can cure.”
Ari tried not to panic. “What do you mean there’s no cure?”
Jai’s face was taut with determination. “We could try tellicherry bark. It’s usually the only thing that brings a human back from jinn poison.”
“Okay.” Ari nodded, breathing too fast. “Good. okay. Where do we get it?”
“It’s scarce but my tribe should have some.”
“Then go get it.”
He studied her. There was a sternness in his eyes where only moments ago there had been sympathy. “I can’t leave your side.”
Another burst of rage shot through her. Rage at her own dependency on the three men in this hospital room who all seemed bent on letting her down. “This is my father we’re talking about,” she growled, glaring up at him.
“The Red King hired me to protect you with specific instructions not to leave your side. Ever. Do you think I usually spend 24/7 joined to the hip of a client? No. But that’s what your uncle wants, and so I do it. I can’t leave your side, Ari. I’d be in breach of my contract with the Red King.”
Ari’s jaw locked. She was trying desperately not to cry angry tears. She looked at Charlie, wishing he could help her just this once. It would have been nice if Charlie had shown up sober and together, so she had one less thing to worry about. And Jai. Ari glanced sharply back at him, surprised to see his gaze pensive as he watched her with what almost seemed like uncertainty. Jai always projected authority and capability. Like he could take care of any situation. Like she could be safe with him. Why did he have to let her down, too?
“Please,” she begged, throwing her pride away. “Please, help me. Jai, he’s my dad.”
He was silent for a long time. Tension manifested between them, rippling in the air. Finally, he stepped from her, shook himself, and cleared his throat as if discomfited. Ari’s cheeks were hot. Her heart pounded. “Okay.” He nodded, grim-faced. “I’ll go get it.”
The crushing weight on her chest eased and Ari had to wrap her arms around herself to stop her from diving into Jai’s arms in gratitude. “Thank you.”
Without another word, the air around him flickered and he went up in a blaze that brought a surprised curse from Charlie’s lips. He departed and the silence afterward was thick and uncomfortable. Ari didn’t know what to say to Charlie.
How was it possible to miss someone when they were standing right next to you?
When he took a few steps toward her and wrapped his arms around her, Ari let him embrace her. She couldn’t speak.
She wanted more from him than this and now she was finally beginning to believe he might never be capable of more.
Little over two minutes later, the air in the room crackled, the lights flickered, and shadows seemed to slither across the walls. Flames erupted on the other side of her dad’s bed and both Ari and Charlie jolted at the unexpected appearance of the Red King. He stood in a black T-shirt and jeans, his massive frame seeming to occupy the entire room. His red hair shone under the fluorescents and his blue eyes cut through them like shards of opal.
“What the…” Charlie stepped in front of her.
Ari made a huffing noise as she pushed him gently aside. “Charlie, this is…” How should she introduce him? She grimaced, feeling awkward.
The Red King, however, merely smiled. “Nice to see you again.” Then he turned to Charlie and his eyes turned to ice chips. “This must be Charlie Creagh. I’m Ari’s uncle, the Red King. You may call me Your Highness.” He shifted his gaze back to Ari. “Jai doesn’t trust this guy. I’ll remain wary of him.”
It did not surprise Ari that Jai didn’t trust Charlie. He thought everyone had an agenda about everything. That the Red King respected Jai’s opinion and intuition did surprise her. She frowned, seeing Charlie’s jaw flex with indignation. If she didn’t say something quick, Charlie might, and she didn’t know if she could stop her uncle from harming him. If he did, he could kiss any kind of relationship with her goodbye.
“Look—”
The door to the hospital room squeaked open and a nurse entered. Her eyes widened at the sight of the Red King, her mouth falling open and shut like a fish gulping bubbles. When it became apparent she was paused in astonishment, Ari hit the play button and strode over to the nurse. “Is something wrong?” she asked worriedly.
The nurse swallowed hard, her head turning toward Ari, her eyes following her head slowly as if they were struggling to pry themselves from the Red King. “Um…” she made a weird, hysterical little noise in the back of her throat and glanced down at the papers in her hands. Her face flushed lobster red. “I have hospital forms you need to fill out, insurance, etc.”
“My niece has already filled those out,” the Red King said before Ari could take them. His voice was warm as he walked toward the nurse with a charming smile on his face.
“Uh.” The nurse shook her head in confusion. “No. Forms haven’t been filled out for Mr. Johnson yet.”
“Yes, they have,” he assured her, tapping the papers in her hand. “Check them again.”
Nodding shakily, the nurse flipped through the papers, her eyes widening and her cheeks turning an even darker shade of red. “So they have. So sorry for intruding. I’ll leave you alone with your father, Ms. Johnson.” She spoke to Ari but still continued to stare openly at the Red King. Ari couldn’t blame her. “Visiting Hours are over in about an hour.”
When the nurse made no move to leave, Ari felt bad for her. Her uncle kept smiling at the poor woman and it was hypnotizing her. Finally, he sighed, gesturing to the door impatiently. She blushed hard again before stumbling and fumbling for the door. Ari breathed a sigh of relief when she left. The effect of the jinn on the human woman made her extremely uncomfortable.
“So.” She retreated to standing at Charlie’s side. This silently told her uncle that he may not trust Charlie, but of the two of them, the human won her vote. “Why are you here?”
The Red King strode over to her dad. “Jai contacted me to tell me he had no choice but to leave you unattended. I came to watch over you while he retrieves the tellicherry bark from his tribe.”
“You’re the Red King?” Charlie suddenly asked, taking a step toward him, his eyes round with awe. He had that same rapt look on his face he’d had when the Aissawa Brothers were doing the exorcism.
Ari watched nervously as the Red King circled him, his gaze calculating. The energy he projected seemed to wash over Charlie, who shivered visibly. Just when Ari was sure she would stop breathing altogether, her uncle drew to a halt in front of her friend, a strange smile on his face that reminded her way too much of the White King. “You scream of pain,” he whispered, suddenly seeming just as fascinated by Charlie. “No wonder Jai is wary of you. There is so much power in your pain, Charlie Creagh.”
“Rea
lly?” Charlie asked hoarsely, desperately.
The Red King nodded and they shared a silent, long look that sent an indecipherable shiver through Ari. She didn’t know what passed between her best friend and the jinn, but whatever it was, she didn’t like it, and she didn’t like how spellbound Charlie was by all things jinn.
To distract her uncle from her friend, she gestured to her father and asked, “Do you think this was the White King?”
The Red King was suddenly on the other side of the bed, staring down into her dad’s face. Ari squeaked in fright at his supernatural speed and he glanced over at her with a smirk.
“So cool…” Charlie murmured.
Ari made a face at him and he tried to cover up his awe, his features evening out as he attempted to look somber.
Taking a calming breath, Ari turned to her uncle. “Well?”
“We won’t know until Jai arrives with the tellicherry bark,” he muttered noncommittally.
Chapter 16
A destiny that tastes like the end
Sweat rolled down Jai’s temples and he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain in his head. Giving in to Ari’s pleas meant summoning the Red King, which meant using telepathy across the realms, which meant agony for those too young and not powerful enough to handle it. His legs trembled as he stood in his father’s office, the two of them waiting for the healer with the stock of tellicherry bark to arrive.
What was taking so long?
All he wanted was to lean against his father’s desk and have someone pour a bucket of cold water over him, but he refused to appear weak in front of the old man.