“Melanie.” The alarm in his voice caused me to stiffen. “It's time to leave. Now.” He shoved me forward, back toward the party.
“What? Why?” I leaned my head back to look at him as he pushed us forward. I tripped over my foot and with his hands already against my back, he caught me from falling.
“You're in danger. Here, time to sober you up.” He twirled me around and touched his thumb to my forehead. My mind cleared, the dizziness left. His piercing glare scared me, that's how I knew I'd sobered. “Let's go.” He started pushing me forward again and took us back to the party raging on. “Find the ones you came with and tell them to take you home.”
“Is it more demons?” I asked, afraid.
He nodded. “Yeah. Fear has sent them after you.”
“Fear?” I asked.
“Melanie, there you are.” I caught sight of Ryan squeezing through people to get to me. His smile dropped when he noticed Killian holding onto my arm. “Who are you?” He eyed Killian head to toe and there was a lot to look at. Killian wasn't bothered by it.
“Take her home,” he ordered Ryan. I sighed, palming my forehead. He was going to make Ryan angry.
“What the hell?” He got up into Killian's face, full of anger despite him being a lot bigger and taller than he was. Ryan wasn't someone to back down but I knew this wasn't entirely Ryan. It was the alcohol. “Who the fuck are you?” Then turned to me. “How do you know this piece of—”
“I'd watch what comes out of your mouth next,” Killian’s voice boomed with anger.
“It's hard to explain,” I jumped in. His expression went from anger, to shock, then to that of hurt as he looked at me. I felt a pang of guilt hit my stomach. Ryan was analyzing the situation in his head, I watched as his eyes made assumptions of me and Killian.
“There's no time.” Killian pulled me, directing me through the crowd.
“Tell everyone to leave.” I looked back to tell Ryan who looked as if he was about to blow.
“Which one is his truck?” Killian asked.
“What the hell?” Ryan roared behind us. Killian stopped and turned around, his expression never changed, but I knew he was growing impatient. I could feel his grip tightening on my arm and the vein in his neck jumped.
“The truck,” Killian said calmly.
“Like hell I'm telling you,” Ryan spat.
Killian's body seemed to momentarily fade, changing into something else—BUT it happened so quickly I thought I might have saw wrong. His patience was gone with Ryan. Ryan had an odd look on his face as he stared at Killian. Did he see the change in his appearance as well?
Killian grabbed his head. Was he in pain? “Melanie, she's in danger.” He forced the words out. “You need to get her somewhere safe.”
“Wait, what about everyone else?” I asked.
“When you leave, they will be safe.” He lifted his head from his hand. I somehow knew he was telling me the truth.
“What...,” Ryan started.
“Ryan, please,” I pleaded. “If he says I'm in danger, I am.” I stared at him until he finally sighed.
“Just what is going on?” He was hurt and confused, but I didn't have time to explain to him.
“Later,” I promised.
“Let me find Tess.” Ryan disappeared to find her.
I led Killian to Ryan's truck. He opened the door, scooped me up, and tossed me inside the passenger seat. Ryan was back dragging a very drunk Tess. She fought him as he opened the backdoor and slung her into the backseat. “Take me back to my boyfriend,” she whined.
“I think not,” he replied, fighting off her legs as she kicked him.
Killian strode around the front of the truck and climbed into the driver's side. “He doesn't actually think I'm going to let him drive my truck?” Ryan asked in disbelief.
“Get in.” Killian told him. “Keys?”
“Listen—”
“Ryan.” I moved my body around in the seat to look at him. He took one look at me and sighed. He reached for his pocket and tossed the keys to Killian. Killian started the truck as Ryan climbed in the back with Tess and slammed the door.
“Now, what's really going on?” Ryan moved a giggling Tess to where he could press himself in between the front seats. I looked to Killian. Did he plan to tell them? “You know Melanie sees ghosts.” Killian stated and Ryan nodded.
“Yep!” Tess burped in the back. “Our Mel-Mel here can see ghosts. She's gonna grow up and be a ghostbuster.” She had the hiccups. I cringed at the old nickname she used to call me when we were younger. He ignored her remark, driving reckless through the mountains. We hit every bump and hole on the ground as we drove off-road. Ryan's head hit the top once and I held on for dear life. All I could see of Tess in the back was her hair bouncing around.
“Why are you driving like a madman, I've yet to see any danger?” I gripped the seat tighter as I glared at him.
“I'm going to throw up.” Tess sounded sick.
Ryan groaned and Killian slammed on the brake and slid us sideways. My head bounced off the window. He started back the other way. “They're here,” he told us and my stomach bottomed out.
“Who?” Ryan asked. Maybe it was because of the adrenaline pumping through my veins, but I wasn't as afraid as I thought I should be. His driving was scaring me a little, though. A gurgling sound came from the back. Tess threw up all over the back seat and into the floor. It stunk like alcohol and stomach acid. I fanned my face. I looked back to see her staring intensely through the back window. “What is that?”
I looked to where she was pointing. Five furry and very large creatures waited for us. “Wolf demons,” Killian answered. They were disgusting looking and hairless on the chest and face. They were filthy and dirty looking. Their snout was long and pointed downward, revealing ugly yellow teeth visible even from this distance. They were as tall as Killian. No bigger. The worst part was the bend of their knees, instead of bending frontward like humans, they bent backwards. One jumped, disappearing somewhere.
“Werewolves?” I scrunched my nose up trying to figure them out.
“No, these are from the Underworld. They are vicious demons. That is their true and only form.” I looked back nervously as they all jumped into the sky, splitting up. A thump sounded on top of the truck causing me to jump. I looked up. One was on top of the truck.
“What the hell!” Ryan muttered. “Are they really demons?”
Killian twitched in the driver's seat like he did at the party. He didn't look good; I wasn't sure if I should be more worried about him or the demons. “Are you okay?” I asked. Claws slammed into my window, busting it. I moved away from the window as the razor-sharp claws came at me. The furry hand caught my shoulder and tried to pull me out the window. I let out a cry as I felt Ryan pull me back. Then I watched Killian's hand in horror and fascination as he leaned over to grab the demons hand and crushed it. The wolf demon yelped, falling off the truck. But what held my attention was Killian's hand. I met his eyes anxiously.
His skin looked sweaty. He was pale and bright like his skin was close to bursting. It was like he was having some inner battle that couldn't be seen.” Killian...” My voice gave away my fear and I knew Ryan was staring at his hand too. “Your hand.” I pointed, moving my hand away and scooting away from him. Only his hand wasn't normal. His skin was gone, no muscle or tendons—nothing but a white skeletal hand and fingers. A blue light hovered around his fingers, circling around it like it was a part of him.
“This is why I didn't want you to know… but I knew you'd eventually have to. Still, I didn't want to... show you.” He clenched his teeth, barely able to drive or speak. “Didn't... Want... To... Scare…You.” A demon jumped on the truck’s hood and two more jumped each side. I slid into Killian's side as one of their clawed hands came through the window after me.
He slammed on the brake. The two on the side fell off, but the one on the hood held on. “What's happening to you?” I asked despite the danger lurki
ng outside.
“Ryan, take the wheel,” he growled before tossing his head back. His flesh faded in and out, rippling into a skeletal being. He caught hold of his changing and looked forward. “Stay in the truck, I'll take care of the demons.” He looked to make sure I was listening. I nodded, weakly. “I can't fight it, he wants out.”
He threw the door open, stepped toward the demon on the hood and grabbed him by the tail. He flipped around trying to attack him, but Killian got a grip on his neck and tossed him as if he were nothing but air. One reached into the busted window and pulled me by the hair. I screamed and Ryan moved over me, taking the demon by the arm, but it was already pulling me out the window. My back caught on the broken shards of glass and I cried out. “Melanie!” Ryan screamed. The pressure from the demon pulling my hair was gone but I fell from the window. I got on my feet as a laugh echoed beside me, familiar yet so different. I turned to see a skeletal figure digging his boned fingers into the demon’s chest. He wore a black cloak over his body. When the demon’s body went limp, he removed his hand from its chest, dropping it to the ground. He faced me. No eyes, a blue glow moved around his body underneath his cloak.
I was afraid. I stepped back until my back hit the truck. I knew who he was but right now, I couldn't believe it. I was terrified. Even more than I was of the three wolf demons hovering behind him. How could something with no eyes make it feel as if it was seeing straight through me. Like I was being stripped bare and he was peering into my soul. His boned hand grabbed me, cold to the touch.
His eyeless expression peered into mine before jerking open the door and shoving me back inside. I twisted myself around in the seat. “Stay.” His voice boomed with power. The same as Killian's but echoing with darkness. He slammed the door shut and strode to the front of the truck.
Three wolf demons danced around him, keeping a safe distance, deciding the right moment to attack. They looked between one another, one backing away unsure and afraid but the biggest protested with a howl. They weren't going to stop. Ryan sat in the driver's side watching with both disbelief and amazement. “Melanie, what is he?” Ryan asked.
I shook my head. “I don't know,” I whispered yet, something about the way he looked was familiar. Like I'd seen it before.
Bones held out his hand and a silver object took form, shaping and stretching, becoming a weapon. It was a long, dark-silver rod that grew longer than the length of him. A long, pointed, silver tip—not a sword I've ever seen before—formed a bladed weapon, curving down. The blade was massive. I didn't know anything about swords, but it wasn't like anything I'd seen before. More ancient.
“A scythe,” Ryan gasped, fascinated.
One of the demons attacked, Bones brought the scythe up and the entire weapon changed. It morphed into a dark, thick chain that caught the demon in midair and slung him to the ground at his feet. It morphed again, a normal sword. Bones brought the blade down over the demon’s throat. There was a nasty gurgling sound, blood coughed from its mouth and spilled from the neck wound. Bones twisted the blade in its neck, the demon never moved again. The last two demons learned from the first mistake and jumped, disappearing into the darkness.
Something began to travel out of the dead demon’s body. The black mass poured up from its body, circling the blade. It began flowing into the sword until nothing was left. “Your soul shall never rest. Never find comfort or peace. You are but a mere part of my blade, a weapon,” Bones spoke down at his weapon.
He turned his hooded head toward the truck. “Ryan,” I whispered quickly, grabbing his arm and smacking him. He caught on and reached for the manual-stick shift. He started toward us, large steps as if he knew. “Get us the hell out of here.” I didn't have to speak twice, he spun the truck around and sped off.
I kept my head turned as Ryan drove to see if he was following us, but it was too dark to see anything. Tess was passed out in the backseat and I couldn't believe she slept through all that. I knew I was running from Killian, but that didn't change how scary he was. That was something else entirely. My skin chilled just thinking of him.
“You need to tell me what's going on?” Ryan drove us down the mountain. Away from Bones/Killian, away from the demons, and the party that I hoped was safe. I rubbed my forehead, I could feel the headache starting.
“What else can I tell you?” I opened my hand and sighed. “You’ve seen enough, Ryan. Demons are after me!”
“Jesus, Melanie, you could have been hurt if not for,” he cut off. “How long has this been happening?”
“The night before my birthday. Killian said I was something that demons were after.”
He slammed his palm on the steering wheel before sighing. “Even after witnessing all that, it's still weird to think that demons exist. Killian was the guy back there... What the hell did he turn into?”
We were almost back to Ryan's, leaving the last bit of bumps and grinds as we hit the blacktop of his hollow “He's here to protect me,” I said quietly, unsure. So, confused and afraid.
“Protect you,” he sounded like he wanted to laugh but it came out in a hiss. He studied my face before saying, “And you believe him?”
“Yeah, I mean,” I grumbled and pressed my head into the seat. “He's never not protected me or hurt me. And believe me, he had plenty of chances to.” I thought back to all the time I spent with him in my room. And the way he helped me sleep. He saved me from the ghost, Molly, and healed my wound. Guilt smacked me in the face. I just left him there.
“If you believed him, then why did you leave back there?”
I looked down, rubbing my palms against my jeans. “I didn't mean to.” That sounded like a lie. “I don't know, I was scared. He changed entirely. You saw him too, what else was I supposed to do?” I asked.
He nodded. “He turned into a skeleton wielding a huge ass scythe that changes into other weapons. I'd say you should stay the hell away from anything like that. But why didn't you tell me, I could have helped.”
Helped with what? “Because I didn't want to get you involved. It's dangerous.” Now it was too late. He was involved. I could say nothing to change his mind now that he knew.
We pulled into the driveway and I gasped. Killian stood in the driveway waiting. “How does he know where I live?” Ryan asked.
“He knows everything.” And that scared me most.
I stepped out of the truck slowly, afraid of what was about to happen. He stepped forward. I couldn't mistake the scowl on his face. But at least he had a face. I placed my hands together trying to calm my shaky nerves. His face softened, only a moment, enough for me to see something there that he meant to hide before turning on Ryan. “I have to erase their memories.” Ryan glared, tightening his fists.
I panicked. Erase? “No, Killian. You can't. They won't tell anyone.” I reached for his arm and he jerked away like I was venom.
“That's not the problem,” Killian hissed. “They are in danger if they know. No, they are in enough danger just by being close to you.” His eyes were cold and distance making everything he said hurt more. My friends were in danger just because they were my friends.
“All the more reason we should know,” Ryan spoke up, stepping closer. He stared at Killian as if he hadn't just witnessed the things he could do. The monster he can turn in to. “It would be better this way.”
Killian looked to be considering what Ryan said. His jaw tightened before softening. “If you were smart, you'd stay away from her.” Something about the way he said it... “No, maybe it's best for me to take you out of the human world.” He looked back at me and my stomach fluttered with unease.
“You're not taking Melanie anywhere.” Ryan sidestepped in front of me, tucking me behind him. Like that would solve anything. Killian would do as he pleased. I nudged Ryan in the shoulder, feeling suffocated.
“When?” I whispered, he looked back at me confused. “Will this awful life ever end for me?” My voice broke and half-cried, half-whispered. “Will I get to be norm
al? Safe?” He looked away. The answer stung my chest.
I tumbled forward, Ryan caught me in his arms. I caught sight of Killian hurrying to help me up but when Killian reached to take me away, Ryan pulled me closer into his chest. Killian's gaze flickered from Ryan to me, staring at me a moment too long before finally walking away. He moved around the truck and my eyes followed after him. I hadn't noticed how much Ryan's truck suffered until looking at it. I stood up, moving away from Ryan. The hood was caved in a little, both sides were dented, and the hood was scratched up. Killian stood by the truck and magically the truck started returning to normal. The dents came out, the hood, and the paint were fixed in a matter of seconds.
I knew it was the work of Killian's power again, but his hands were in his pockets, his expression blank. Everything looked so easy for him.
Tess banged on the backdoor inside of the truck. Killian opened the door and Tess fell face first into the gravel. I moved my hand to my mouth, gasped, and ran to her. I gave Killian the evil eye before bending down to check on her. He could have caught her. “Are you okay?”
“What happened?” she asked, but then her brown eyes grew wide and terrified. “What about those things?” she mumbled. Before I could answer, Killian covered her eyes with his hand and her face fell into my chest. He picked her up and brought her to Ryan.
“She won't remember anything.” Ryan eyed him suspiciously before taking his sister. “You will regret knowing.” Killian turned away and I thought he was coming for me. But he didn't. He walked past me and disappeared, once again.
Chapter Nine
Tess woke the next morning blissfully unaware of everything that happened the night before. Well, not entirely. She still remembered going to the party and getting drunk, everything went blank from there. Which made me wonder if he even had to wipe her memory, she had been wasted.
'Til Fear Do Us Part (A Grim Awakening Book 1) Page 8