by Tiffany King
I could smell their rank breath as they laughed at what they thought was their advantage. Waiting until the last possible moment, I finally reached out with lightning-quick reflexes and grasped one of them by the forearm. Twirling him around so his arm was twisted behind him, I felt the bone snap as the arm became limp. I used his body as a shield as he thrashed against me, trying to break my hold.
"Let go of me, you bitch," he snarled, bucking harder.
"As you wish," I said, releasing his arm abruptly. My arms were around his throat before he even realized I released his arm. Using gravity against him as he stumbled against me, I snapped his neck. I smiled as his useless body dropped to the ground in front of me. Knowing my touch would reduce him to ash in his regular form, he burst into a ball of flames after snarling at me one last time.
Taking advantage of my distraction with the fallen Daemon, the other two moved in on me together, hoping to use brute force against me. I laughed darkly as one of them wrapped his arms around me from behind. His strength was greater than a normal human, making it hard for me to wiggle around. His toothless friend stood in front of me, grinning crookedly, thinking they had the advantage.
"You must like Matterhorn a lot," I said, oozing sweetness.
"Matterhorn?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Yes, Matterhorn. The maker of my boots," I said, kicking up with all my might. The blow caught him in the chin, snapping his head completely back and breaking his neck like his fallen soul sucker friend. The Daemon fled his human host before the body he had hijacked had even hit the ground.
Without pausing, I reared my head back, catching the Daemon behind me full in the face. I heard the bones in his face break as his hold on me slackened. Twisting around before he was even aware of it, I placed one hand on his face that no longer had any bone structure and the other on the back of his head. With one twist his neck snapped and he landed in a heap at my feet.
"You're dead," the Daemon that had been holding me hostage only moments ago snarled at me, breathing heavily in his natural form as god knows what oozed from ruptured pores on his body.
"Gah, ever hear of a breath mint?"
"Who are you anyway?" he asked, blowing a large breath of rancid air in my face.
"I think you have bigger problems to worry about than who I am," I said, grasping his face in my hands, working not to grimace at the boils beneath my hands. "Like how you're going to explain to your boss that someangel scum took you out," I added as flames licked up his face where my hands had been.
"You won't always have that advantage," he snarled, looking at my offending hands.
"Whatever helps your burning time in hell," I mocked. "You can also tell your boss this village has protection now," I added just before he disintegrated in a ball of flames.
Cheering and clapping erupted behind me.
Taking a bow, I grinned at my audience as they strolled into the village.
"Are you okay, Jordyn?" Krista, ever the worrywart, asked, checking me over for injuries.
"Well, I broke a nail," I said, holding up my pinkie on my right hand to show her the damage.
"Show off," Mark said, ruffling my hair with admiration.
"What? My nail almost hurts," I pouted.
"You are one badass," Shawn said, giving me a mock punch in my arm. "Those were some impressive moves. That last kick, I bet your foot got this high," he said, holding his hand up near his chin.
"If my legs were longer, it would have been here," I bragged, moving his hand up several more inches.
"Truth, sista," Lynn said, slinging an arm around me. "That was amazing, my friend."
"Thanks."
"Well done, Jordyn," Haniel said, stepping into the circle of well wishers. "Almost flawless," he added, eyeing me critically.
"Almost flawless? Dude, she nailed it," Shawn championed for me.
"Nah, he's right. Flawless is no injuries," I said, holding up my hand again.
"What's a broken nail? You just trashed six Daemons single-handedly," Shawn grumbled, clearly aggravated on my behalf.
"Broken nail, broken finger, broken hand, broken arm, or broken neck. The first four can be fixed, the last is irreversible," Haniel reminded him gravely.
I nodded, accepting his words. This speech was nothing new to me. I'd heard it many times before. Above all else, I was to protect myself from injury. One false move and it could've been my neck that was snapped instead of just a nail.
"I still think it was badass," Shawn muttered as they broke up into groups to search the rest of the village.
Haniel stayed behind with me. After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke. "You did well."
"OMG, was that a compliment?" I teased, nudging him with my hip. "Thanks for letting me come," I said as my anger over his interference the night before finally melted away. At the moment, Emrys seemed very far away, and not quite as appealing as he had the previous night. I was in my element here. My body hummed from the adrenaline I had used to take out the Daemons. Despite all my gripes about my differences, I freaking loved sending Daemons back to hell in an ashtray.
Haniel and the Guides spent the next few hours coaxing the villagers into returning to their homes. The Guides used their gifts to soothe emotions and help those who were grieving for the family members they had lost during the Daemon occupation. While they were working their magic on the traumatized villagers, the Protectors and I cleaned up the village. We buried the dead and made grave markers for the villagers who had lost their bodies to the Daemons. Burying the dead was not fun. It was a glaring reminder of how fragile humans were and exactly how important our jobs were. My emotions felt tattered and ragged as we gently carried the bodies to their final resting place. The death of innocent people weighed heavily on me, leaving a glaring reminder that this wasn't a game. It was real. I tried to direct my mind on anything but the bodies that we lowered into the ground. I didn't want to think about the horror they had faced without any protection. They needed Protectors who were dedicated to help them, not someone who was fraternizing with a potential enemy. I knew nothing about Emrys with the exception that I thought he was hot, which at the moment seemed insanely shallow. Haniel was right. I had other responsibilities that required my attention.
CHAPTER SEVEN
By the time we left the village the sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon. Of course, when we reached home, the sun was setting, which was disorienting. Everyone was obviously exhausted from the journey. We all slumped on the furniture in the living room while Krista ordered a half-dozen pizzas.
"I'm going to shower," I said, following Krista into the kitchen as I rolled my shoulders, trying to work out the aches and pains that had developed from the mission.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, just stiff. Probably all the digging. I'm not used to that kind of physical labor," I said, not bothering to hide my grimace.
"That's never my favorite part either," she answered solemnly. "Normally, the guys handle that stuff. I'm sure it was hard to see that," she added. "I'm sorry, sweets."
"It's all good. I'm tough, remember?" I replied glibly, trying to hide how much it had bothered me. "Actually, it was kinda weird. Killing Daemons is one thing, but these were real people. Not that I was the one who killed them, I get that. It's just—it all seemed so final, you know?"
"Experiencing death like that for the first time can be tough for a kid. We sometimes forget that, probably even more now that we've seen you in action," she mumbled, pulling plates and glasses from the cabinet.
"Hey, I'm not a kid," I stated. "I'll be eighteen in two months," I reminded her. "I'm fine," I added forcibly, heading toward my bathroom. I wasn't in the mood to debate my age for what seemed like the millionth time. At times like this it was hard to remember that Mark and Krista were only a few years older than me. Sometimes they acted and sounded like they were a hundred.
The hot water worked wonders on my muscles. It was funny that I could train
every day with Haniel and not feel as sore as I did at the moment. I stayed in the shower as long as possible, knowing any longer and someone would show up to "see if I was all right." Holding a towel around my torso, I shuffled back to my room to put on my pajamas.
"So, how'd it go?" a familiar voice asked when I opened my bedroom door.
"Holy shit!" I jumped while trying to hang on to the towel that nearly exposed everything I had to offer. "You asshole, what the hell are you doing in here?" I hissed at Emrys who was leaning back against the plum-colored throw pillows on my bed. "Haniel will shit if he knows you're here," I added, closing the door swiftly behind me.
"Haniel left a while ago. You were in the shower for like an hour. I almost thought you were waiting for me to join you," he drawled, crossing his ankles.
"You wish. Now get your feet off my bed," I demanded, trying to regain control of the excitement that raced through me at the sight of him. My resolve from earlier disappeared like smoke in the wind. I couldn't remember the reasons I had come up with as to why I shouldn't like him. "That may be, but the Guides are going to sense you in here," I said, looking at my bedroom door apprehensively as if I expected the door to burst open any minute.
"Chill, babe. Your crew's outside. Besides, I can tell if they sense my presence. We have the house to ourselves. More importantly, we have this great big bed to ourselves," he said, winking at me. "Why don't you come join me?" he added, patting the bed next to him.
"Right, I'm not that easy," I snorted. "I know you think you're all that, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to come jump on you." Of course, that's exactly what I was thinking. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"I missed you. It seems like ages since we hung out. You've been in no-man's land all day," he complained, swinging his legs off the side of my bed.
"We hung out last night," I reminded him, although I agreed with his sentiments. "Not to mention, everyone here would have a coronary if I went off with you again. Besides, I'm bushed," I said, feigning an over-the-top yawn.
"You sure?" he asked, slowly getting up from my bed.
I nodded my head, trying to ignore my throbbing body that wanted me to drop the towel and dive on him.
"Really?" he whispered huskily, a breath away from me.
"Uh, yeah, super tired…" I gulped, trying not focus on how close he was.
"Positive?" he asked again, leaning in and brushing his lips along my jaw line.
I shivered at his touch. His lips sent a ripple of awareness through me. My words were saying one thing, but my body was trying hard to divulge my secret.
"Well shit," he muttered, pulling back abruptly. Without another word, he disappeared in front of me.
Shocked by his sudden departure, I was ready to call his name when my bedroom door was abruptly thrown open. The suspect look on Mark's and Krista's faces was priceless.
"Gah, how 'bout a knock?" I said sarcastically as they stood in my doorway panting breathlessly. I made a point of clutching my towel tighter. "What's the deal?" I added as innocently as I could muster.
"Uh, nothing," Mark answered, looking suspiciously around my room. He looked at a mystified Krista who shook her head slightly.
"You were taking so long I thought maybe you were sick or something…" Krista answered lamely, still scanning my room as if she expected Emrys to pop out at any moment.
"The shower felt so good I had to force myself to get out," I answered truthfully. "But I would kind of like to get dressed now," I added, looking pointedly at my door.
"Right," Krista said, grabbing onto Mark's hand and dragging him out of my room. "We'll be in thekitchenif you need anything," she chirped, emphasizing their location.
"Thanks for the heads-up," I said as they reluctantly closed my bedroom door behind them.
"Frick," I mumbled, shaking my head as I hastily threw on some clothes in a rush. I kept the towel around me as I pulled on my yoga pants, not entirely convinced that Emrys wouldn't suddenly pop back into my room. Once I was dressed and could finally breathe easier, I walked to my patio doors and peered out into the darkness. As much as I didn't want to deal with "the no fun crew," I was disappointed that Emrys really was gone.
"Get a grip, Jordyn," I said to my empty room. One minute, I wanted nothing to do with the Soul Trader, and the next I'm ready to tear my towel off and jump his bones.
That was it. I was definitely disgusted with myself. I headed out of my room, closing the door firmly behind me.
Krista and Mark were talking in hushed tones when I entered the kitchen. Both of them looked at me critically when I walked in.
"Did you two take your weirdo pills tonight?" I asked, pretending that I didn't know I was the topic of their discussion. "Where did everyone go?" I added, opening one of the half-empty pizza boxes on the counter.
"They headed home after they ate. Everyone was pretty tired. Plus, Sam and Shawn wanted to straighten up their house before their caseworker shows up," Krista said, reminding me of the young charge that could be joining our ragtag group soon.
"Did they give them any indication when they could get him?" I asked, grabbing a can of Coke out of the refrigerator.
"No, these things can drag out," Krista answered.
"Well, hopefully they'll be experiencing the joys of parenthood like you two," I joked, sitting at the counter with my dinner.
"Oh, you are sooo right, princess," Mark said, patting my head before grabbing a slice of pizza from the box.
"Right. They could only wish the kid is half as sweet as me," I said, fluttering my eyelashes at him.
"If not, I'm sure you can teach him," Krista joked, putting an around my shoulders. "You still sore?"
"Nah, my shoulders are a little stiff, but it's all good."
"For such a tough chick, you sure have some spaghetti arms," Mark teased, squeezing my bicep.
"Please. Just because I don't have man arms doesn't mean I'm any less strong than you. Besides, my strength comes from here," I said, pointing to my head. "Not here," I said, giving his bicep a light punch.
"Oooh, smack talkin' me now. Come on, little girl." He countered my light punch with his own jab, which I deflected before it could touch me. He retaliated by sending another quick jab my way, aimed at my midsection. I danced back and countered by throwing a harder punch to his chin. He jerked back at the last moment so my fist just barely grazed him. He laughed and threw another punch my way. Ducking my head, I avoided the blow, while throwing my own, which landed with a resounding smack of flesh on flesh.
"Hey, not in the kitchen," Krista complained as Mark collided with the table while trying to step back. "If you guys want to spar, take it outside."
"Nah, it wouldn't feel right to whip my uncle's ass," I said, grabbing another slice of pizza.
"Always with the language," Krista chastised.
"Aw, come on, Krista, 'ass' isn't really a bad word, it's an animal. Besides, I bet even The Light drops swear bombs sometimes," I joked, balancing my plate of pizza with one hand and my soda with the other as I headed out of the kitchen.
"Regardless," she answered, trying to give me a stern look.
"Fine, killjoy," I grumbled.
"And don't leave your dishes in your room overnight," she called after me.
"Right," I answered over my shoulder as I closed my bedroom door behind me. I settled on my bed and switched on the TV to the History Channel. My obsession with the History Channel bordered on fanatical. I chalked it up to the fact that I had no idea about my own history. At least, anything prior to eleven months ago. I wished something would spark in my head. Anything that would add some light to the void that filled my memory bank.
Once I finished my meal, I set my plate on the bedside table and sank down under my blankets. Burrowing my head into my pillows caused a mental flashback of Emrys lying here not that long ago. I needed to stop thinking about him and focus on the job I had been given, but that was way easier said than done. He was like a drug. Mindlessly fo
cusing on the TV helped, and after a few minutes, I stifled a yawn as the day's activities caught up to me. I knew I'd catch hell for it in the morning, but I let myself drift off to sleep with my dinner plate still on my table. Emrys was my last thought as sleep pulled me completely under.
***
My TV was still on when I woke several hours later. Grabbing my cell phone off the nightstand table, I squinted into the bright screen to check the time. "No," I groaned when I saw it was just past two in the morning. I set my phone back on my table and rolled over, trying to will myself back to sleep. After a few moments, the annoying voices from the infomercial on my TV started to grate on my nerves. I fumbled around on the bed with my eyes closed, searching for the remote. Finally finding it, I pointed it at the TV screen and sighed happily when the annoying voice of the girl trying to con shoppers into buying her closet organizer abruptly cut off. Several minutes later, I was still awake. "Damn." I switched on my bedside lamp, grabbed my dinner plate from earlier and headed out of my room. I was surprised by the living room light and low mumble of quiet voices drifting down the hall. I had no intention of eavesdropping until I heard Krista mention my name.
Unfortunately for them, creeping around without making a sound came effortlessly to me since Haniel and I had spent hours over the last year practicing.
"You can't keep all of us in the dark forever," Krista stated.
"It is The Light's decision. He will tell me when I can share what I know with all of you." I was surprised to hear Haniel's voice. "His word is my command."
"True, but you yourself have to admit that holding back crucial information can lead to disaster," Krista persisted. "Don't you agree, hon?"
"I agree that we can't be kept from the truth forever," I heard Mark say. "But I trust that The Light knows what's best," he added, sighing deeply.
"Obviously, you're forgetting how secrecy can blow up," Krista said, sounding pissed.
I would have voiced my agreement with her sentiments if I wasn't trying to hide my eavesdropping. I fought the natural urge to burst in the room and demand to know what The Light was keeping from me, but past experience held me back. Haniel never divulged information until he, or I should say, until The Light, was ready. It was bullshit if you asked me. Hell, you didn't even have to ask me. I would tell you.