by J. E. Taylor
Alex took my hand. There was no playfulness in his eyes like he sensed the tension in the car and reacted accordingly. I wanted to fall into his arms and just stay there, safe and whole, but I had a feeling whatever was waiting for us back home would shake the very foundation we stood on.
Chapter 18
The driveway was nearly full at Tom and Bridget’s home. We pulled in behind Bridget’s car in the only space available.
Tom turned the truck off and sat still in the front seat. I didn’t move either. He nodded like he was giving himself a silent pep talk and then stepped out of the vehicle. He never turned around to prompt us to follow.
Alex didn’t move either. We both watched Tom enter the front door.
Dread pierced through me, and I did not want to leave the comfort of this cab. Alex unhooked both our seatbelts and pulled me into his arms. The tightness which he held me along with the hammer of his heart compounded my already frayed nerves.
When he loosened his grip, his lips found mine. The intense kiss stirred that heat that my mother had spoken about, and I couldn’t help but think this might be the last time I had this luxury. I didn’t break the kiss when he pushed me down onto the seat and moved on top of me. His full weight stretched out over me as he held my head and kissed me into oblivion.
He finally pulled away and laid his forehead on my shoulder. “Whatever happens, promise you will come back to me.”
I kissed his cheekbone and he turned his head to look at me. A hint of fear danced in his eyes.
“Why do you think I’m leaving?” I asked.
He huffed a laugh and glanced up at the car window and then back at me. “Tom left us alone in his truck. He didn’t even look back. And he already told me I couldn’t go whenever the shit hit the fan. Everyone is here. So, I think the shit has hit the fan.”
I wanted to say so what. I wanted to say I had no idea what he was talking about. I wanted to believe that all our lives weren’t on the cusp of changing. But I knew better. Something deep inside was on warning mode, like a silent alarm calling for the cavalry.
I palmed his cheek. “I’ll always come back to you. If not, there’s always Paradise Cove.” I smiled, trying to feign bravery.
He shot backwards into the door at the far side of the cab. “Don’t even joke about that.” His hands actually shook as he put them up in front of him.
“Alex…” I started.
“No.” He shook his head.
“Ty,” I said, and this time his façade crumbled.
“If something happens to you, this will be the last time I feel anything. I don’t want to live life as an empty shell. I want to feel this warmth in the pit of my stomach. This fondness I feel for you.” His chin trembled. “Please promise me.”
I moved towards him and planted a kiss. It was the first time I’d actually made the first move. He sighed and pulled me to him in a grip so tight, he actually constricted my breathing.
“Ease up,” I whispered against his lips and he did.
The truck suddenly rocked, and we both sat up straight. The glass behind us shattered. Alex rolled, and we fell off the seat. I hit the floor with a thud, and all of Alex’s weight landed on me. His wide-eyed stare met mine before he turned his head and glared at the hiss coming from the window.
My hands were stuck between us, and the sight of the tiger trying to work its way into the cab with murder in its eyes did little to calm my frantic heartbeat.
Alex pushed up on his knees and threw a punch that landed square on the tiger’s nose. “Back off,” he yelled.
That only seemed to make the tiger more feral and determined.
A wave of power hit the truck, rocking it more than the mad tiger. The feline went flying. Alex moved fast, opening the door closest to the house before grabbing my hand. He yanked me from the floor, and I had just enough time to grab my backpack before we were sprinting to the front door.
CJ and Tom stood outside. Both of their hands splayed out in front of them. The truck door closed on one of their silent commands, and then they shuffled us inside the house. Tom closed and locked the door and then leaned his back against it, staring at the two of us.
“The shit has indeed hit the fan,” he said, looking at Alex, and then his gaze turned to me. “You might want to change into something else. Something you don’t mind getting a little blood on.”
I recoiled.
“Just in case,” he said and smiled.
The smile was all wrong, but I nodded and headed for the kitchen. I didn’t want to glance in the family room where everyone was gathered. The hushed whispers were enough. I reached my room and closed the door before heading to the bathroom.
I peeled off the gloves and splashed cold water on my face. I stripped my new shirt and jeans and neatly folded them, leaving them on the counter in the hopes that it was an omen that would bring me back to this house. I pulled on the black gloves and glanced at my hair, debating. If I were going to be using my fire, I didn’t need fly-away hairs burning to a crisp.
I braided my hair into a single strand and secured it in a hair tie I found in the top drawer. At least the black bra and underwear wouldn’t show blood, but I had no idea what else I owned that would be appropriate for a battle.
I crossed to the dresser and pulled it open, rummaging through everything we had bought. Not one of them would hide blood. Nothing in these drawers were battle worthy.
A throat cleared, and I jumped. Alex leaned against my door, staring at me. He reached for the hem of his shirt and peeled it off as he closed the distance. I stared at his well-formed chest and tight abs. He was lean and hard, and when he reached for me, I stepped into his arms.
Having his skin against mine pulled a soft moan from my lips. Lips that he covered with his mouth a moment later. Our tongues mingled, and his hands wandered like we had all the time in the world. He dropped to his knees in front of me and ran his hands down my sides. I stopped him when his fingers hooked my underwear.
“No,” I whispered, even though right at this moment, I was so tempted to let him continue his exploration. The way his eyes begged almost cracked my resolve, but I continued to shake my head slowly.
He put his cheek against my stomach and wrapped his arms around my waist. I played with a strand of his soft hair, memorizing the feel of it in my fingers. He turned into me and kissed his way up, like he was doing the same. When we were eye to eye, he pressed his lips to mine gently.
“Wear the leather,” he said. “You look every bit of the badass that you need to be.”
He pulled away and swiped his shirt off the floor. He didn’t look back when he walked out of the room.
I turned and stared at the outfit on the chair. It was black leather like my gloves. Although I thought twice about the boots. They weren’t made for a fast getaway. I made quick work of putting on the clothing and sat to lace up my boots. Badass. When I stood, I almost believed it until I tripped on the way to the door.
I caught myself before I fell, but it was a reminder that I was only sixteen and I certainly wasn’t Lara Croft.
Still, when I walked out of the kitchen, the murmurs quieted.
Alex’s serious expression morphed into that sparkling smile that boosted my confidence. It was totally out of place with the solemn mood blanketing the house.
“I told you she was ready,” he said and sent a glare at his father.
I stared at CJ. “Protect him.” I nodded toward Alex, unsure why it was imperative that I get a confirmation that the strongest supernatural being alive protect his son. It was a given, but I still needed to hear him say he would.
“With my life,” he said.
I bit my lip and blinked back the sudden sheen of tears blurring my vision.
“Grace…” someone beyond the wall of people started to say. I thought it was either Michael or Gabriel, but Alex interrupted them before they could finish.
“Has gone crazy.” Alex held my gaze.
“She needs to
know,” Tom said, and Alex glared at him.
“What do I need to know?” I walked right to Alex.
He took my hands. “Grace said Lucifer has my soul and is looking to bargain. If she brings me to him, he will give her my soul.”
I narrowed my gaze.
“She was attacking like she wanted to kill both of us.”
“Apparently it doesn’t matter if I’m alive.” He shrugged.
A dark veil crossed over my eyes, and I squeezed his hands, trying to resist it taking hold of the rest of my being. My jaw tightened at the dangerous game my father had started. One I would end with pure fire.
Alex pulled me into a tight hug. “You should have let me make love to you like I wanted to upstairs,” he whispered.
My gut twisted with his perfect use of words, and I swallowed the bitter lump of regret. But I didn’t want my first time to be saying goodbye. And that’s what it would have been. A goodbye. This way, I had the incentive to come back in one piece, and I knew deep down I would desperately need something to cling to.
“I disagree,” I whispered in his ear. “It gives us both the motivation to make it through whatever is coming.”
“Sure does,” he said louder than I thought he meant to.
I went to step away, but he tightened his hold. “I promise I’ll come back to you, Ty,” I said very softly, and he squeezed tighter before his arms unwrapped from around me.
I turned to Tom. His complexion was ashen, but he at least attempted to smile.
“We know where the breach is.” He turned his phone. On screen was a Google Maps satellite view of a very familiar cottage.
“My house…” I stepped back as if someone had hit me with a physical blow. It was where my mother and I had last been before I rushed her to the hospital. That was the beginning of the end, and it was only a month ago, right after I turned sixteen.
“Yes. And we need to go there and fix the breach. Now,” Tom said.
I met his gaze, and a shiver captured me. I slowly shook my head as my eyes widened. Fixing the breach meant the unimaginable.
He huffed, and a crooked smile formed. “Everybody’s gotta go some time,” he said with a shrug.
I turned and ran, right out of the kitchen door, peeling my gloves off in case Grace was crazy enough to attack me. A part of me welcomed turning her into barbequed tiger. That part also wanted to set the world on fire and just let it consume me. Then I wouldn’t have to see the end of those I had grown close to.
Tears blurred my vision, and I kept running until I was knee-deep in the ocean at the same beach I had run to before. The cold bit through the leather, and my toes numbed within seconds. When I turned, the person walking through the sand towards me surprised the hell out of me.
Bridget wrapped her arms around her elbows, pressing her lips against the tremble. In her hand were my gloves. She waited for me to come out of the water with a steady stream of tears sliding down her face.
I almost turned and swam until I couldn’t anymore. Let the sea take me so I wouldn’t have to experience the cold hand of death yet again.
I walked out of the water and stopped in front of her. “I’m going to close it without Lucifer’s grace,” I said, jutting my chin out.
“I’m sure you will.” Despite her words, her tears continued. “But in the event…” She hugged herself tighter and met my gaze. “Bring him back to me.”
My hands shook, and I nodded. I would do my best to bring him back alive, and if I couldn’t do that, I would bring back what was left of him so she could say a proper goodbye.
She handed me my gloves, and we headed back up the hill. Tom stood halfway up the road. His arms were crossed, and the tension left him rigid. He didn’t smile as we approached.
“How’s April handling all this?” I asked before we reached Tom.
She didn’t answer me, and I didn’t blame her. If I were April, I would blame me for wreaking havoc on their lives.
When we reached Tom, Bridget hung back a step and took his hand. They walked behind me, and I felt as if I were being escorted to the gallows. Even the group standing outside the front door was enough to turn the chill in my bones to an outright winter storm.
CJ’s hands were clamped on Alex’s shoulders, and just from Alex’s expression, it wasn’t just his father’s hands holding him in place. CJ’s magic kept him locked away from me. In front of Alex stood April.
I had a full view of what was in April’s mind. Her hands were folded over her heart. Tears stained her face, and yet when her eyes met mine, she somehow managed a smile.
My heart broke. Bridget opened the passenger side door of the truck for me. She gave me a quick hug and made sure I was buckled in before she looked at Tom.
“I love you,” she said.
He nodded. “Ditto,” he said in a gruff voice that I didn’t recognize.
I wasn’t sure he could have gotten the words out even if he’d tried. He pulled out of the driveway and drove away without a glance in the mirror. His jaw was tight, and he reached over, flipping the radio on and scrolled through the stations until classic rock came on blaring Blue Oyster Cult.
Every song after had connotations regarding the devil or death, and Tom shivered. He reached for the dial and I grabbed his hand as “Sympathy for the Devil” transitioned into the very identifiable opening notes of a Kansas song.
It was suitable in our current situation, and it seemed to turn the tides of the choice of songs. The closer we got to the cottage, the more the music changed. It was as if the gods knew we needed something to change the course of our thoughts.
Once the tide changed, we sang every song. Loud. Off-key. With passion.
When we turned onto the dirt road that led through the woods to the cottage, Led Zeppelin came on in kick-ass fashion. Just the bass beat itself was enough to kick my heart into overdrive. It felt like a set up to battle, and as we rounded the last bend, I knew that was exactly what it was.
There to the right of the cottage was a tear in the fabric of the universe. It crackled and popped like a thousand tiny campfires. I could make out fingers lining the edges like the creatures inside were trying to tear it open. Every inch of the breach was covered.
Why here? What could connect hell to this place?
I glanced at the cottage as my mind raced. Was there something inside that I could destroy and therefore cut off the connection?
“I don’t think it works that way,” Tom said. His voice carried defeat.
“What if my mother had something of his?” I asked.
“Like what?” Tom asked, mesmerized at the sizzling air in front of us.
“I don’t know, but nothing is getting through yet. The place isn’t much bigger than my bedroom at your place, so help me look to see if there is any reason why…”
“You created the breach. Not Lucifer,” Tom said, his voice turning hard as he glanced at me.
“Can we at least get a few things before we attempt this?” I wanted to grab a couple of things if they were still here and suck down a bottle of Gatorade before I wiped myself out completely.
“We can’t take too long. They are starting to make some headway.” He nodded toward the light breaking the air.
“Okay. Come with?”
He let out a laugh. “You aren’t going anywhere alone.” He put the keys in the cup holder, and we climbed out together.
The inside was in the same state of disarray as when we’d left, except now there was no light. Tom pulled out his phone, shining it around the small space. I couldn’t quite make out his expression until I reached one of our hurricane lamps and turned it on. The place bathed in light.
Tom looked truly perplexed as he glanced around the place. The one-room shack had a mattress on the floor, an old kitchen on the other side, and a tub and toilet with a curtain as a door. He covered his mouth and slowly ran his hand down to his chin.
I went to the desk across from the mattress and pulled open the drawer. Inside was
my mother’s journal, and next to it was an old Polaroid. I slid the picture into the journal and then glanced at the book shelf. I chose three books, the vase that she and I had made in one of the pottery places in the next town over, and a mason jar filled with change. When I turned, I nodded, and he turned off the lamp. I pointed my chin towards the six-pack of Gatorade by the door. I stowed the meager items on the passenger seat floor and then crossed to meet him at the front of the truck.
I handed him one of the drinks and opened mine, then downed it. I waited for the flip in my stomach to stop before I capped the empty bottle and set it on the truck.
“What’s the plan?” Tom asked without looking at me.
“I figured if we both blast it, our combined power will close it.” I peeled off my right glove and took his hand with my left one.
“I’ve never been able to control my angel fire,” Tom admitted as we stepped into the middle of the clearing twenty yards from the breach.
I let out a nervous laugh. “I’ve only suppressed it, so I’m not very versed in control either.”
“Aren’t we a pair,” he said with a smile. “Here goes nothing.”
We tightened our grip on each other, and aimed our palms toward the crackling light. Flames licked my hand, but that was it. A small ray of white light sputtered from his. We both stared at our hands as if they were impotent tools.
I pulled my hand out of his grip. I nearly torched my face before I closed my hand. He fisted his hand before the angel fire shot into the stratosphere.
His eyes looked like wide anime eyes. I imagined I carried the same expression. We both turned and faced the breach.
“Let’s try that again,” he said, and the moment our hands opened, white and blue flame shot from our hands.
The moment it hit the breach, it was as if a thousand souls screamed. But it wasn’t screams of pain; it was screams of joy. The breach opened wider.
“Jesus Christ!” Tom closed his palm and took a shaky step back. “We weakened it! Fuck!”