Hell To Pay (Hellscourge Book 5)

by Diem, J. C.

  He didn’t outright ask if he could give me money, but I knew that was what he meant. “Nah, I’m good. Besides, I can always hock my ruby if I get desperate for cash.”

  His head turned and he glanced at the gigantic ruby that I wore on my left hand. “Don’t even joke about that,” he mock warned me. “It would tear my heart out if you ever sold your ring.”

  “I was just joking,” I said, sensing that he was serious beneath his lighthearted comment. “It means far too much to me and I’d never sell it.” The leather bracelet that he’d made meant just as much. Both gifts meant the world to me and I only took them off when I showered.

  He reached inside his cashmere sweater and drew out the necklace that I’d bought for him. It was just a fire opal on a leather chain, but he seemed to cherish it. We shared a smile then he turned back to his assignment. To my surprise, he really was working on a school project. It seemed archaic to use actual books rather than gleaning what he needed from the internet. Apparently, he couldn’t find what he needed online and reading the physical books was necessary.

  When he’d determined that enough time had passed, he left his seat to retrieve another book. In reality, he was coming over to kiss me. I put my hands on his shoulders and went up on my tippy toes. We became lost in our kiss and my passion ignited.

  Getting carried away, I pressed myself against him and felt his arousal for me. It inflamed my desire even more and my hands slid down his back to his butt. I pulled him against me and he broke away from the kiss and groaned. He’d turned us around so I was trapped between him and the rows of books at my back. He looked down at me with eyes that burned with the same passion that I felt for him. “I wish I could take you right here and now,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t even care if anyone saw us.”

  Trembling on the edge of losing control, I fought against the urge to say the words that would make me break my promise to Nathan. Then his mouth was on mine and I became lost again.

  ₪₪₪

  Chapter Three

  Captivated by Zach’s kiss, I heard a noise somewhere in the background and ignored it. An object thumped into my leg, but I disregarded it as well. Then something fluttered in my stomach and I was torn out of the moment like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over me.

  The evil from the Wraith Warrior’s toxin was changing me in two very different ways. On Earth, it was slowly killing me, but it made me stronger when I was in hell. By ‘stronger’ I meant that it was turning me into a demon.

  I pushed Zach away and tried not to gag at the horrible sensation in my stomach. I hated the feeling that something was alive inside me. Soon, I could see myself trying to carve it out with my demonic dagger.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I think I heard someone,” I replied shakily. We’d been kissing for too long and I was pretty sure it was Sam who’d been trying to get my attention.

  We froze when we heard someone approaching. “Zach?” a girl called out. “Where are you?”

  Horror stole over Zach. “It’s Candy!” he said in a hushed whisper.

  We shared a stunned look then I scurried for the end of the stack just as she rounded the corner. “There you are!” she exclaimed in an annoyingly perky tone. “I called your apartment and your housekeeper said you were here. I thought I’d come and surprise you.”

  I peered through the books in time to see her prance over to my boyfriend. Zach submitted to a hug, carefully keeping his lower body away from hers. I’d pulled his shirt out of his pants at some stage. It was longer than his sweater and covered how his body had responded to mine. “I’m definitely surprised,” he said and pushed her away again.

  She pouted and even that was beautiful. Her hair was honey blond and her eyes were brown like his. Their kids would be ridiculously gorgeous if they were to ever get married. The thought was like a stab to my heart. “I haven’t seen you for three weeks,” she said. “I thought you’d be happier to see me.” Her tone was less perky and more annoyed now. He didn’t fall all over her and worship her like she expected. Instead of being insulted, she took it as a challenge.

  “Of course I’m happy to see you. I’m just in the middle of working on an assignment,” he explained and bent to pick up the book that Sam had thrown at me. I had no idea if he needed it or not. Candy didn’t even glance at it as he brushed past her and headed for the table. It wasn’t his choice of reading material that she was interested in.

  He sat down and opened the book as she pulled a seat closer so she could sit next to him. Her bright red dress was so short that it rode up high enough to almost expose her underwear. Zach’s eyes flicked down to her legs and my blood boiled. He might not like her very much, but he was male. It was automatic for him to look at what she was displaying so prominently.

  “Have you bought me a corsage for our dance yet?” Candy asked, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.

  He hunched his shoulders, knowing that I was hearing every word they were exchanging. “Not yet. I’ll ask my housekeeper to buy one on Friday so it will be fresh.” It was a reminder that their dance was on Saturday, which was just a week away. Even with everything I’d gone through in hell, I hadn’t forgotten about the upcoming event.

  “You know what color bowtie and cummerbund I want you to wear?”

  “Yes,” he said with a sigh. “I got the dozens of photos you sent me.”

  “It’s important that we coordinate our outfits,” she said seriously. “They will be the same shade of gold as my dress, right?”

  “I’m sure my Dad will have something suitable that I can wear,” he replied wearily.

  Her pout returned. “I’m starting to think you don’t even want to take me to this dance.”

  He was treading on rocky ground and hesitated. His father was counting on him to keep Candy happy until after some kind of deal had been finalized with her mother. He couldn’t afford to upset her. “I guess I’m still not over my ex yet,” he said, playing the sympathy card.

  Instead of showing compassion, her lips tightened and her brows drew down in anger. “She’s gone, Zachariah. The sooner you realize that, the happier you’ll be. She was trash and she wasn’t good enough for you.” Her lips curved upwards in a cruel smile. “Besides, she’s probably in jail by now. Bad people like her always end up getting what they deserve.”

  Rage rose inside me and I took a step forward. Sam materialized beside me and grabbed hold of my hand. He put a finger to his lips, cautioning me not to give myself away. Candy had spied me with Zach in a café and had recognized me from the news. She knew very well that I’d been arrested because she was the one who had called the cops. What she didn’t know was that I’d escaped from custody and I was watching her try to steal my boyfriend away from me right now.

  Zach’s jaw clenched. “Violet is the first girl I ever loved,” he said tightly. “That isn’t something you just ‘get over’. If you’d ever been in love and lost that person, you’d know how I feel.”

  Candy waved her hand dismissively. “She killed her own mother. She doesn’t deserve your love.”

  “I don’t believe that she killed her Mom,” Zach replied in staunch denial. “She’d never hurt anyone.” Sam slid a look at me and I couldn’t hide my guilt. I’d killed several humans that had been possessed by demons by now. I hoped he’d never find out about my true nature and discover just how ruthless I could be.

  “The police have proof,” she insisted. “Her mother isn’t the only person she’s killed. She’s wanted for questioning in the disappearance of two women right here in New York. Did you even know she was in the city?” She waited for his reaction, ready to judge him if he lied to her.

  Sensing a trap, he looked around, pretending to see if anyone was close enough to hear him. “Don’t tell my Dad, but I saw Violet a few weeks ago.”

  Widening her big brown eyes, she managed to look surprised. “Where did you see her?”

  “I ran into her by accident and we’ve caug
ht up a few times.”

  “It was you she was kissing in the picture that was on the news,” she said flatly.

  Running a hand through his already tousled hair, he nodded. “I know I should have called the cops and turned her in so she can try to clear her name, but I just couldn’t betray her like that. I still care about her.”

  “Have you seen her lately?”

  He shook his head. “No. I haven’t heard from her for a while. She isn’t responding to my calls or text messages.”

  Candy’s expression became smug and self-satisfied. She knew my cell phone had been confiscated along with the rest of my belongings. Sam had stolen my things back, but had left the phone behind because it was too easy to trace. I’d bought Zach and myself new cell phones from the money I’d stolen from Bob. “Maybe she’s decided to move on to someone else,” Candy said carelessly. “You deserve better. You deserve a girl who you can be proud to have at your side, not someone you have to hide in the shadows with.”

  Pain stabbed me at her far too accurate summary of our relationship. I’d come to the same conclusion myself, but I didn’t have the strength of will to let him go.

  “You mean someone I can color coordinate my clothes with?” he muttered sourly. Sam muffled a snigger and I had to put a hand over my mouth to hold in my laughter at Candy’s affronted look.

  “Appearances might not mean anything to you, but they’re important to the rest of the world,” she said tightly.

  Knowing he was walking a fine line now, he took her hand. My amusement died when he drew her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. She practically melted in her seat at the sign of contrived tenderness. “You’re right,” he said. “I’ll try to stop being such a pain. I’ll ask my housekeeper to buy a bowtie and cummerbund in the correct shade of gold.”

  “Thank you,” she said sincerely and fluttered her eyelashes again. “That really means a lot to me.”

  Checking his watch, Zach started gathering his things together. He’d accurately guessed that I didn’t want to hang around and watch him flirting with his pretend girlfriend. “I’ll just put these books back then maybe we can go and grab some coffee.”

  “I’d love to,” she replied with a wide, triumphant smile.

  Sam melted away to give us some privacy as Zach headed in my direction. Dozens of books divided us, but it was his relationship with Candy that was really keeping us apart. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered when he came to a stop.

  “Not as sorry as I am to witness that little display,” I said bitterly. He flinched and I knew I’d hurt him. Taking a breath, I let it out. “You didn’t deserve that. I know none of this is your fault.”

  He sighed, taking his time to find the right spots for the books. Candy sent him an impatient look as she checked her lipstick in a small mirror. “I can’t wait for this dance to be over.”

  “Where is the dance being held?”

  “In the main hall at my school,” he replied with a grimace. “It’s going to be a nightmare trying to keep her paws off me all night.”

  “At least you’ll be wearing matching clothes,” I said in mock sympathy.

  He smirked then sent me a wistful look. “You know I’ll be thinking of you while I’m dancing with her.”

  “I know,” I said softly, knowing I could never openly date him. Our relationship would always have to be a secret and there was nothing either of us could do to change it.

  ₪₪₪

  Chapter Four

  Feeling glum that my date had been ruined, I waited for Zach and Candy to leave before I walked over to Sam. “Thanks for throwing the book at me to get my attention.”

  “Any time,” he replied. “I would have aimed for your back instead, but it was pressed up against the books.”

  His tone was almost disapproving and I was embarrassed that he’d witnessed our antics. “It isn’t really my fault that I get carried away like that,” I said in self-defense.

  He looked skeptical, then understanding dawned. “I take it the legion are responsible?”

  “His kisses affect me a lot more now,” I replied with a nod.

  “How do you feel when you kiss Nathan?” he asked curiously.

  My expression turned dreamy. “Like I’m in heaven,” I said with a wistful sigh. “With Zach I feel a sort of mindless lust. With Nathan, I feel pure bliss.” My reaction to him left me just as unable to think as when I was with Zach. My brain seemed to shut down when I locked lips with either of the men I cared about.

  “You have opposite reactions to them,” he observed. “Who do you have the strongest feelings for?”

  Hesitating, I realized that I didn’t want to keep this a secret from him. He might be an imp, but he was also my best friend. I trusted Sam more than I trusted anyone else. He’d never betrayed me and he’d rather die than hurt me. “I love them both,” I replied. “But if I had to choose…” I drifted off, unable to finish since it was an impossible dream.

  “You would pick Nathanael,” he said for me. His tone was sad because we both knew that any union between an angel and a human was forbidden.

  My date had been cut short, but I didn’t feel like returning to the store yet. “Let’s walk around for a while before we head back to our base,” I said and headed for the door. Giles had left his post near the door. He would no doubt trail after Zach and Candy on their trip to a café.

  Sam fell into step with me as I left the library. He wore a cap that hid his face from view. He’d changed a lot since Leo and I had found him cowering in a portal that led to the ninth realm of hell. His skin had lightened from black to gray and I was pretty sure he was slowly turning brown. His brow wasn’t as heavy and his eyes weren’t quite the deep caves that they’d once been. He’d been bald to start with, but now had a light fuzz of black hair growing on his scalp.

  “What nationality are you?” I asked. He’d spent four centuries in hell, so his accent was hard to determine.

  “I do not know. I was so young when I was captured that I do not remember much about my parents. I remember that they had brown skin, but that is all.”

  “I knew it!” I said in vindication. “I told that female demon that I wasn’t racist.” He looked at me in mystification. “When I was arrested, a couple of detectives questioned me. One was a demon and she accused me of being racist.”

  “Why would she say that?”

  “I said a couple of things that she used against me. Her partner is an African-American man. I said that something bad was coming and that his kind would pay the price if they locked me up. She said I was scum and that I’d murdered my mother. I replied that it was scum like her who killed my Mom. Her vessel is Latino, so she came up with a theory that I’m racist.”

  “If her partner only knew the truth,” Sam said wryly.

  “He does,” I said, to his surprise. “I waited for her to leave the room then I told Detective Reynolds that she was being possessed by a demon. I also told him that a war was coming.”

  We stopped at a red light and he studied me. “Do you think that was wise?”

  I shrugged. “Probably not. I just thought that at least one human should know what was really going on in this city.” My instincts had told me to tell Reynolds the truth and I’d learned to follow my gut.

  We’d only been back for one day, but I kept my eye out for the next portal to hell anyway as we walked. I could stumble across it at any time and I didn’t want to miss it. We also watched for the undead raven. It still had a vendetta against me and it was bound to show up sooner or later.

  Without a plan in mind, we ambled southward. It was nice to just walk and take in the sights for once. Sam was probably itching to get back to our base so he could watch TV, but he didn’t complain.

  Walking down Eighth Avenue, I saw Maddison Square Garden a couple of blocks away. Short and round, the structure looked out of place among the skyscrapers and apartment buildings in the area. Turning right, we headed westward. Eventually cresting a s
mall hill, we could see the Hudson river ahead. The entire island of Manhattan was surrounded by demonic wards, which meant we had to keep our distance from the water. I’d set an alarm off when I’d tried to leave once and had learned my lesson well.

  A row of buses was parked ahead. A long line of people were waiting for their turn to climb on board. An enterprising man had wheeled his pretzel stand over and he was doing a brisk business. Sam wrinkled his nose at the odors that wafted off the carts as we walked past it. He might be turning back into a human, but he didn’t like our food much. If he ever reached the stage where he had to eat, I wondered if he’d be able to stomach anything.

  When we walked past the first bus in the line, I glanced across the road and almost missed a step. Two police cruisers and an unmarked dark blue sedan that had ‘undercover cop’ written all over it were parked across the road. After my last run-in with the law, I preferred to avoid them at all costs.

  Six cops were gathered in a group on the sidewalk. Four were uniformed officers, but the other two wore suits. One was distinctly female and she was also disturbingly familiar. I nudged Sam in the side and he flicked a quick look at them. He stiffened when he realized how close we were to danger. It would look suspicious if we immediately turned around and took off. We tried to be nonchalant and continued on.

  My eyes darted from side to side as I weighed our options. We came to a fenced area next to an old train yard. A sign told me it was the High Line, whatever that was. The gate was open and tourists were walking along the pathway, stopping to take photos every now and then.

  I snuck a peek at the cops just as the female turned around. One look at her face was enough to verify my suspicions about who she was. Short and curvy and with waist length curly black hair, Detective Gomez was unmistakable. The man in the suit had to be her partner, Detective Reynolds.

  “Get ready to run,” I said to Sam just as Reynolds glanced over. My hood wasn’t quite deep enough to hide my face. Shock coursed over him when he recognized me.