by Kailin Gow
“Lux, who are you talking to?”
“Really? Pinned to the wall the way you are, you hardly seem in a position to be so confident. Can it be that the demon fighter has finally stumbled, fumbled and is facing her demise?”
His fingers tightened around my throat, rendering the bright afternoon sun a dark spot in the ever blackening sky. My vision tunneled, and a spell of dizziness was taking over. I had to overcome him and fast.
“By the powers that…”
My voice was stifled by the grimy cold hand that pressed my lips heavily against my teeth. The fingers at my throat closed, cutting off the scant amount of air that had helped keep me from fainting. The words I so needed to vocalize remained crippled while my fingers fought to find my crucifix beneath the unyielding fingers choking the life out of me.
The world faded away and my legs lost the ability to keep me standing. I was losing, and there was nothing I could do. With my fingers lax around on the demon’s hand, I felt the last ounce of my consciousness ebb away.
As I began to slip to the ground, the demon released me. Gasping for breath, my fingers soothing the tender skin of my neck, I watched with astonishment as the demon was tackled to the wall.
The brawl was loud, violent as the demon was thrown around like a rag, barely able to fight back from the force that had suddenly attacked it.
Braxton.
I could hardly believe what I was seeing. Braxton shouldn’t be able to see the demon, much less fight him. Yet there he was, fighting like a seasoned warrior, a human warrior. Each blow sent the demon falling back, but, as demons were apt to do, it constantly came back for more.
“How do I destroy it?” Brax called out. “How do I end this?”
My strength, though greatly diminished, had returned enough to allow me to grab my crucifix and get to my shaky legs. I rushed to Braxton, pressed the cross to the demon’s brow and called, “By the powers of God, I cast you away, Demon!”
As we both panted, our breathing difficult from battle and the acrid air that had suddenly invaded us, we watched the demon crumble to ashes and smoke.
“What was that?” I said softly, still unable to believe what I’d just witnessed.
He stood quietly, staring at the spot the demon had last occupied.
“You saw it, right? Since when can you see them?”
“Right after you arrived here. First I saw angels, then…” He nodded at the pile of dust on the ground. “What about you?”
“Funny,” I said with an amused grin. “This is exactly what I was going to tell you before we were so rudely interrupted. I’m a demon hunter and have been since I was twelve.
His eyes widened and he smirked. “That certainly explains a lot of things.”
“Really? Like what?”
“Your lousy school record. I mean, I’ve never met anyone who’s been expelled so often.” He laughed and reached out to take my hand, his fingers lovingly playing around my wrist. “Your reluctance to make any kind of bond with anyone, to make friends, and the tough façade you’ve created.”
“Yeah, and that I’m a freak.”
A light chuckle escaped him. “You're the furthest thing from a freak. I mean, I admit I thought I was going a little nuts for a while, seeing the weird things I was seeing, feeling a bunch of things that didn’t make sense, but now, now everything that had been upside down is right side up again. It all makes perfect sense. That quick glimpse of you that first day as you drove by, the strong feelings I had for you even though I barely knew you… this was all meant to be.”
“But you didn’t get a guardian angel to help you along?” I asked. “Don’t get me wrong, you fought valiantly, admirably, but you obviously lack a few basic skills in order to win against these demons.”
“I didn’t know I was supposed to have a guardian angel. I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do.”
I pulled away from him and paced before the empty fountain in the center of the courtyard. “I don’t get it. You should’ve had some kind of guidance.” I turned back to him. “The only other person I know here who is like you is me. I’ve had more than one guardian over the years, each with messages about the gifts I had.”
Returning to the comfort of pacing, I turned away only to have his hand warm my shoulder bringing me back to him. “Maybe you're my guardian angel, Lux. Maybe you're the one who’s meant to show me what I should be doing with these demons.”
I smiled as Lothario’s words came back to me. I was to find others like myself. The task hadn’t been as easy as he’d let on, but perhaps now I would truly find people like me, people who could help me.
“I think you might be right,” I said. And I will teach you, I thought.
Chapter 15
Virtually every free hour of every day was spent with Braxton. With the exception of having Asher show up at my house a few times for dinner and to hang out with my parents and me, I tried spending whatever time I had, training Brax on how to exorcise and slay demons. Our mutual vision of demons and angels, the fight he helped me with, and discovering, more than ever before, just how completely we were meant to be together, brought us closer and closer. Whenever I was with Brax, I felt as though he was my love, yet whenever I was with Asher, I felt as though he could possibly be the boy in my dream, too. Never having even one boyfriend in my life before because I didn’t stay anywhere long enough, now I was facing the intense feelings and love of two gorgeous guys of which fate has brought us together.
As I got out of Braxton’s Escalade, I hardly took notice of his imposing home. It had become second nature; getting into his car the moment school let out, enjoying the peaceful and lovely drive to his front gate, entering the grand manor and feeling as cozy and at home as if I’d lived there all my life.
“Did I tell you the results of that flash quiz we had in math yesterday?” I asked him as we passed through the breakfast nook, each grabbing an apple from the tempting fruit basket and heading outside. I was so proud of the great work we’d been doing these past weeks. “I only made two mistakes… and they were silly mistakes. I knew better, but allowed myself a moment of distraction.”
He set his books down on the coffee table of the outdoor living space at the back of the manor. “I’m not at all surprised. Every time I sit to study with you, you understand and pick up everything the very first time.” He pulled me into his arms and stared into my eyes.
The pride, joy and love I saw shining in his eyes made me want to melt into him, cling to him. “I’d be a mess if it weren’t for you,” I whispered.
“Yes,” he conceded. “And what a lovely mess you’d make.” He chuckled softly, letting the depth of his passion travel from deep within and ride on the throaty sound of his laughter.
I wanted to kiss him, as I so often found myself longing to do, but we’d carefully avoided any prolonged or overly passionate embraces in the hopes of curbing Moore’s control over my emotions.
Sensing my desires, Braxton came in close and laid a chaste kiss on my lips. Far from extinguishing my desire for him, his quick kiss heightened my longing to touch him and get closer still.
“What do we have on our agenda tonight?” he asked, the gruff passion still clinging to his voice.
“The joys of English.” I pulled out the novel I’d been assigned to read weeks earlier, but had yet to crack open. “You know, it’s not so much that I hate to read, but why do they have to make us read such dull, metaphor filled novels.”
“I take it all that fighting demons over the years hasn’t left you with much time to appreciate the classics.”
“No offense to Dickens, Hemingway or Steinbeck, but I’ll take the opportunity to kick some demon butt over reading any time.”
He cocked a brow. “Hmmm, I’m impressed. I didn’t think you’d be able to name one author, never mind three.”
“Funny.” I gave his knee a playful, but resounding slap. “Now show me just how smart you are by helping me through this.”
> Having already gone through several chapters, Braxton poured us some iced-tea, settled on the outdoor couch and proceeded to give me a play by play of the book so far.
“You’re really a great raconteur,” I said. “Your voice lends itself well to such storytelling.”
“I think you might be a bit biased.”
A silly grin crept to my lips. Of course I was bias. I could easily confess to loving everything about him and thinking him utterly infallible. Feeling the love I had for him swell inside me, I reached for his hand and gently ran my fingers up his strong arm.
“I have to admit, learning of your capacity to see…” I paused, not yet willing to say the vile words that best described what we both saw. “… beings, let’s say, has brought me all that much closer to you. There’s something liberating in knowing you know what I’m going through.”
“Have you ever tried sharing your experience with others?”
“The few times I did it was a disaster. School mates thought I was nuts, teachers just looked at me funny and the principal thought I had a drug problem. The only place I could truly open up and speak out about all I was going through was at home.”
“Your parents are remarkable.”
“Tell me about it. I think I truly would have gone nuts had they not been so understanding. They’ve literally bent over backwards in order to make my life as normal as it could be under the circumstances… and that’s no easy feat.”
“How long did it take for you to stop being spooked by the whole thing?”
“The first angels I saw didn’t really spook me at all. I mean, even if I was young, I knew I was facing something good and I didn’t really allow their intimidating size to… well, to intimidate me. But the first demons I saw… that was a whole other story. You know, you grow up fearful of monsters, of unimaginably ugly creatures, but nothing on this earth can prepare you for that first encounter with a demon. Beyond the visual ugliness of these beings, it’s their vile nature, the depth of evilness that is what they innately are that is so repulsive and so frightening.”
“I can’t imagine being a little kid and having to face one. I mean, I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t feeling too brave when I finally came to see that demon who attacked you the other day. Not only did I have to deal with the disbelief, but then the thought of approaching that thing… Man, had it not been you in its clutches, I don’t think I would have done anything but run in the opposite direction.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself. When faced with such evil, it’s surprising what we can do. I remember the first time I saw one. Before I even saw it, I could sense it. The air chilled and a putrid scent wafted around me, something indescribable; something I’d never smelled before. My skin still crawls when I think of it, but when I have to face such demons now, I’m filled with a degree of rage that leaves little room for fear of any kind.”
I caught the flash of surprise in his eyes.
“Their only purpose on this earth is to destroy all that is good and cultivate all that is evil. That’s all I have to keep in mind when I face them.”
“It’s amazing you’ve not become more jaded with all these encounters with demons. I admire you; your guts and courage.”
“Thanks. I actually surprise myself sometimes. Just when I think I’ve seen enough, fought enough, I find a whole new wealth of strength and bravery.”
Brax pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around my waist, kissing me on the top of my head. “Knowing that you’re a demon hunter makes me love you even more, Lux. It’s so dangerous, yet you put yourself in the middle of danger to protect everyone else. I’m so proud of you. You know that, right?”
I nodded. I wouldn’t think anything less than acceptance from Brax. He was that good of a person that it was not surprising to hear he cared more for me for being me, freak and all. “Brax, I’m not the only one, though, who fights demons.”
“What?” Brax asked suddenly surprised. “There are more of us?”
“Yes…I’m not so sure he’s like us, though, because I think he’s supposed to be more like Lothario.”
“Who?” Brax asked. “Does he go to Shadowlight? Is he someone I know?”
I swallowed. “Asher.”
Brax’s eyes widened. “Asher, Thrasher, Dasher…the bad boy on the bike. Him?”
“Yes, he sees them, too, and I think it’s one step further. He’s supposed to protect me…like Lothario.”
Brax’s mouth opened to say, “Ah ha… so that’s why you’ve been, I mean Asher’s been…hanging out with you so much.” His eyes clouded over with jealousy. “He’s supposed to be your guardian, that’s all?”
“He also sketches angels and suddenly knows a lot about them,” I said. “He’s a good friend, Brax, and my mom loves having him come by for dinner.”
Brax’s jaw tensed, and he couldn’t help the jealousy that crept through his speech. “So he’s now part of the family…I see.”
“Brax…I’m not ready to be serious with anyone, and besides… Asher is just a good friend.”
“A friend who wants a lot more from you, Lux. I can see that as clear as day. And now he has the perfect excuse to hang out with you…your guardian!”
“He is, believe it or not,” I said. It can’t be helped that despite him being my guardian, we also shared an undeniable chemistry. I guess I must in order to be so intimately and intensely connected to anyone remotely like me. “Hey Brax, don’t worry. You know I cared a lot for you, too, right? Or I wouldn’t be spending all this time with you, and…” I kissed him long and slowly. “Showing you how much I cared, right?”
He kissed me back, but still looked worried. Suddenly remembering the surprise I had for Braxton, I jumped up, grabbed my purse from the table and came back to sit at his side. “I almost forgot. I brought something for you, something to give you a winning chance with your next encounter.”
He gave a light huff and chuckled. “I appreciate your confidence.”
“This isn’t a male female thing, Braxton. Fighting demons doesn’t rely on brute strength alone. It’s something that comes from within. Your faith, your belief, your knowledge of who you are. But…” I pulled out a thick platinum cross. It was far too bulky for me to wear, but I’d always loved its strong gothic lines. “This weapon is crucial.”
He sat up to look more closely at the crucifix. “Yeah, I saw what you did with a cross the other day. You know, for a few days after that, I still tried to rationalize it all; you fighting, demons appearing then crumbling to dust. I wanted to make sense of it, even tried to convince myself it was some type of dream.”
“I understand how you feel. It’s not easy accepting this.”
“But it was that smell… the awful smell that filled my nostrils. I could even taste it at the back of my throat.”
“Fighting demons isn’t pretty, and I have to warn you, you never get used to that awful smell. If anything the death of that demon the other day didn’t leave behind the more pungent of odors. I’ve smelled worse… much worse.”
“Thanks for the warning.” He reached out to finger the crucifix, and I saw his eyes light up the moment his fingers made contact.
Smiling, I set my free hand over his. “You felt it, didn’t you?”
Surprised, yet clearly understanding what I meant, Brax gazed at me and nodded.
“That’s the faith I was telling you about. It’s always been in you, Braxton.” I released the chain, relinquishing the power of that crucifix.
Hearing footsteps from inside, we both stiffened and I noticed how his fingers instinctively wrapped around his new weapon. He would make a fine warrior.
“I’m not ready to fight just yet,” he whispered as we stood.
“Stay close to me, Brax.” I led the way inside, more nervous about this fight than ever before. Following the sounds of movement from the study, I inched my way closer, every step making me more and more apprehensive. It was Brax, I suddenly realized. My concern for his safety was hinde
ring my capacity to think straight.
“Hold on, Lux,” Braxton said as he walked into the hall and stepped in front of me. “I know you have more experience, but I can’t let you go in there before me.”
He entered the room and exclaimed, “Uncle?”
“Braxton!”
I could hear the nervous surprise in Dr. Kingsley’s voice as I wedged my way into the doorway and peered over Braxton’s shoulder in time to see Kingsley shelve an old tattered book. I resisted the urge to stare blatantly at the book, to try to read the title from across the room, but took a mental note of its placement to get a better look later.
“I had no idea you guys were here,” Dr. Kingsley went on, his eyes shifting between Brax and me. “I thought you had lacrosse practice or something.” He gazed more pointedly at me. “Hello, Lux.”
“Lux came over to study. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. In fact, I’m happy to see you're spending so much time together. Shadowlight isn’t an easy school to acclimate to and I’m sure Lux, as well as her parents, appreciate all you’ve done for her.”
I smiled, pleased to see my presence wasn’t an intrusion.
“How do you like Shadowlight, Lux?”
“I like it more and more, thanks to Braxton. I’d be drowning in work if it weren’t for him.”
Dr. Kingsley offered Braxton an approving nod. “That’s good to know. Braxton has always been a responsible and reliable young man. I knew he’d do a good job.”
“Thanks, Uncle, but it’s not really a job. I love being with Lux.” The back of his hand brushed against mine and he shot me a look that anyone could see was a young man in love. “Truth be told, studying is just an excuse to spend more time with her. I love just hanging out with her.”
Our discreet touch went unnoticed while Dr. Kingsley turned his interest to another book on his desk. He picked it up, tapped it affectionately, then walked around his desk. “Well, I’ll get out of your way and allow you guys to… hang out. I have a few things to attend to, like final preparations for the auction tomorrow night. I need to peruse the finalized list of antiques that will be up for bidding.”