by Schulte, Liz
She hit me. Her clawed hand, slicing across my chest, laying it open. I gasped and uttered a small cry as pain flooded me and blood washed over me. But just as it always did, the skin reconnected and bonded back together like it had never been touched. She watched the wound heal. “Try again. What are you and why have you made a deal with the jinn when you could work for me?”
Anger spiked in me. I wanted to spew threats at the bitch, but that wouldn’t get me anywhere… “I will never work for someone like you.”
She ran her talon threw my hair. “It will happen, one way or the other. Why not cut out the middle man?”
Was she trying to rile me up, or were we finally coming to the crux of Phoenix’s deal? “What middle man?”
She laughed, sending terrifying chills down my spine. She continued to run the razor-like claw lightly over my skin, barely cutting it open just to let it heal. It hurt like hell and set my nerves on edge. “You don’t know. What a sweet little pet you are.” She ran her fingers along my cheek. “The deal I made with the jinn. They kill my enemies and I give them information on a world that has abandoned and betrayed me to this cesspool. You were better than I dreamed possible. Once I knew why he brought you, I was thrilled. Four demons without a mark. Without a fight. The perfect killing machine.”
“I thought—what about your lover?”
She waved my words off. “I have reconsidered. When Phoenix explained, I understood. You were an audition. He’s replaceable. You aren’t. You are a gem.”
An internal struggle roared to life inside of me. I wouldn’t put what she was saying past Phoenix, but I also didn’t want to believe it. Regardless though, he didn’t have any control over me. He could make any promise he wanted to any demon and that didn’t mean I would follow through. “There isn’t a single offer you could make that would get me to work with you.”
She met my eyes. “You will or I will flay the flesh from your bones and feed it to you as fast as you can heal for the rest of eternity.”
I didn’t flinch at the graphic mental image of that. “I’m going to get untied and when I do, I will put your sick and twisted soul to rest for the last time,” I said. I hated bullies. Every time she hurt me would just strengthen my resolve to kill her.
“I’d like to see that,” Phoenix’s voice carried across the room. Valefor looked away from me for a moment, and I began to work my hands, trying to break the ties. “I thought you understood me, Valefor. Maggie is under my protection. You can’t have her.”
“If you didn’t want to share, you shouldn’t have paraded her in front of me, jinni. Now I believe I will keep her and kill you.”
Phoenix strolled further into the room, not looking at me, his hands in his pockets. “She’s not easy to handle. You really don’t want her. She’s in constant need of pep talks.”
“Then perhaps I should kill her.” Her hand flew out in a smooth arc and sliced across my neck. “To save you the hassle.”
I choked, blood gurgling in my throat. It felt like I was drowning.
“Amazing little human, isn’t she? Watch how her skin stitches itself back together. I wonder how much she could survive. Don’t you want to find out?”
Other than his jaw tightening, he didn’t react.
“You’re boring. I remember when your kind used to be fun. Why are you here?”
He edged closer to me. “I’m here for the girl. Touching her is breaking the terms of your contract with me. You need to be very sure this is what you want to do. You won’t be the first or last demon I kill.”
Valefor’s lip curled. “And if keep her, do you honestly believe you can hurt me? Where is your weapon? Where is your backup? What are you going to do?”
“I think you have failed to grasp exactly how personal this is for me.” He moved past her and bent over me, pressing his lips to mine as he slipped a small knife into my hand. He kissed me once more, enticing me to take a pull off of him before he broke away. “But if you decide to keep her and kill me, obviously there is nothing I can do to stop you. Holden will undoubtedly kill you, but you already knew that.”
I started sawing at the bonds around my wrists.
Valefor ran her tongue over her lips, and kept her eyes trained on Phoenix. “Have you tasted her blood? It burns with life.”
He smiled. “If you like that, you should try kissing her. It’s like being struck by lightning over and over again.”
The demon’s eyes brightened with desire, and she brushed him out of her way. She pressed her lips painfully hard against mine, her breath catching. The rope around my right hand finally loosened, and I stabbed the knife into her ear, holding her mouth against mine—and I stole every last bit of her darkness.
The arm of the chair snapped off beneath the pull of my left arm, and I let Valefor fall to the ground at my feet. Power coursed through me. I felt wonderful, like I could do anything or defeat anyone. Including a goddess.
Phoenix took my hand and led me toward the red door. Before we went outside, he shrugged off his coat and handed it to me. “You might cause a scene if you go out like that.”
I looked down at myself. My skin might have healed, but the shirt was in shreds and red with blood. I pulled it off the rest of the way and handed it to him before I put on his long black coat. “You lied. You promised to tell me the truth and you lied again,” I said. “You wanted me to work for them. Holden didn’t know about any of this, did he?”
“No, he didn’t know anything. But you were never going to work for her. You would have worked for me. And only me. That night was an audition, Maggie. I needed to see what you could do and how much potential you have. You can accomplish so much more than I ever imagined. You took out Valefor with a kiss. We could change the whole face of this city without ever starting a war.”
I stared at my hand in his and pulled it away, shaking my head. “Valefor wasn’t hiding. She was in the club the whole time.”
“I know. I needed her to come after you and she took the bait. You were supposed to kill her when she attacked you in the alley, but you didn’t. I think it was because you never got a good grip on her, or maybe more intimate contact is necessary for more powerful beings. I don’t know. But I never intended for her deal to go through. I have no desire to work with the demons again, but without something special, something like you, eventually we’ll have to.”
I stopped. “You were there in the alley?”
“I haven’t left your side.”
Anger licked at the edges of my many, many emotions. “Were you planning on stepping in, or were you going to let her kill me.”
He shook his head. “It wouldn’t come to that. I told you, your survival matters to me.”
He was just as bad as she was. “Because I’m useful.”
“Not just that. It’s more than that.”
I shook my head. Why did I keep setting myself up for hurt? “Well, I’m glad it all worked out for you.” I struggled to not let my anger get the better of me. “Now you get to do something for me. You are going to help me defeat Holda. You used me; I get to use you.”
He crossed his arms. “It’s suicide.”
“Then I’m done with you. Stay away from me. Keep your people away from me. Either you help me or you leave me alone.” I walked away, head high, body well within control after feeding as deeply as I had.
I wasn’t going to be a pawn on anyone’s chessboard. Not anymore.
****
Izzy waved from behind the counter as I came in. Considering the night she had, she looked rested and relaxed. Though I struggled with the idea of her and Kyle apart, maybe it was exactly what she needed, especially when he treated her like that. I hadn’t seen her this happy in a while.
I smiled and waved, lingering by the door. As soon as the last person in line left, I flipped the closed sign, locked the door, and dropped into a chair. I rested my head on the table, enjoying the sensation of tiredness that I usually didn’t have.
Izzy came and
sat down next to me. “I can see why you do this now.”
I turned my head so I could see her.
Her eyes twinkled in her wide face. “Where did you disappear to? I had so much fun today. I’ve worked in an office so long I’ve forgotten what it’s like not to have every minute of your life planned or dictated by scheduled meetings. You know, we could try to set up some interviews to promote Knead to Know, and attract patronage from a greater area. Oh, and catering. If we can increase the traffic you already have coming into the store, within five years I bet you could open a second location.”
I laughed. “Can you also get about ten more hours in a day? Emery is only part-time. All the rest of the time, I have to bake or cover the front. If we increase traffic, we’ll sell out by noon.”
“What about Hotty McTattoo? Could he pull a few more hours and stay through the morning shift?”
“I don’t think he’s going to work out,” I said.
“What about me? I could be a partner. I’m not much of a baker, but I can help decorate cupcakes and cookies and run the café and do your public relations. Set up the catering business.”
I could see the benefit in her proposal and having the extra help would be great. “Are you just talking or is this something you’re seriously considering? There are no late mornings.”
Her head swiveled as she looked around the room, obviously still riding a euphoric wave. “I think I am. Why don’t we both sleep on it and talk tomorrow? Deal?”
I shook her hand, still not sitting up.
“Did Phoenix find you? He came in about an hour ago, looking for you.”
I nodded. “He found me.”
“He seemed nice and kind of crazy about you last night. How have I not heard about him before now? You obviously know each other well and the way he looks at you … I want to be looked at like that. He’s definitely not your usual type though, but maybe that’s a good thing to get out of your comfort zone.”
I closed my eyes, letting my neck and shoulders relax. “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say? I want the gory details. I want to know how you met him, how long you’ve been seeing him, and, more importantly, what he did to tick you off?” She kicked me lightly. “You never used to be this secretive.”
I laughed, pushing myself back to an upright position. “He knew Baker. We’re not in any way dating. And I’m pretty certain he has never spoken a word of truth in his entire life, especially when the words are directed to me. I don’t think he even likes me very much. He just likes what he thinks I can do for him.”
She grimaced. “Yikes.”
Maybe I was a hypocrite, but while I might have had to lie to Izzy about a few things to keep her safe, I didn’t use her.
“I know I just met him last night, but guys like that don’t wear frilly aprons, stay up all night, and listen to a girl’s drunk best friend complain about people he has never met unless he really likes the girl. And like I said … when he looked at you, especially when you weren’t looking at him, well, I wish Kyle had ever looked at me like that.”
She obviously still had her drunk goggles on, if she saw him look at me as anything more than a prize he could win and sell to the highest bidder. “I think you’re romanticizing him.”
“And I think this is about Baker and not about him.” Izzy’s hands fidgeted in her lap the way they always did when she was worried whatever she said was going to cause a confrontation. “Your relationship with Baker wasn’t perfect.”
I could feel my mouth tighten at the mention of Baker. This wasn’t about him. “I know.”
“Do you? Because to listen to you talk about him now, it sounds a little like he walked on water. I mean no offense, I know he died and that was beyond tragic, but, Maggie, don’t you remember how it was? He never told you anything about himself. He didn’t introduce you to anyone he knew. You spent most of your time with him, obsessed with the idea he was hiding a wife and kids.”
“He wasn’t,” I said.
“True, but you didn’t know it and you certainly didn’t trust him. Maybe Phoenix is the same way or maybe,” her fingers wound together, “after dating one super secretive man, you’re scared to allow yourself to get close to any other man. Phoenix definitely wants to get close to you.”
She didn’t understand. I knew now why Baker kept his life from me. It was the same reason I had to keep mine from her. Phoenix was different. He wasn’t protecting me. He was testing and using me. I shrugged. “Whatever the reason, it doesn’t change my mind.”
Izzy and I closed up and went home. We ordered dinner and binged watched a TV show. But more importantly we laughed and chatted just like we used to. We didn’t talk about anything important. She didn’t mention Kyle and I didn’t think about Holda or Nicole or the missing kids.
What we did do was make plans for the bakery: brainstorming promotions and whether or not the bakery could feasibly support both of us and if I could handle catering too. The more we talked about her becoming a partner, the more I liked the idea.
Izzy went to bed early, exhausted from her full day. As I cleaned up, I kept thinking about what it would be like to work with her. I had nearly settled on it, when the phone rang, bringing back the reality of my not so perfect life. My stomach sank as I looked at Megan’s name on the screen. I swiped my finger across to answer.
“It’s back,” she said, giving me the address with as much dread in her voice as I felt.
“Did you call Boone?”
“I left him a message. I don’t know if he’ll be there or not.”
He’d be there. I had no doubt about that. “You don’t have to come with me,” I said, though fear clawed at my chest. It was possible her magic wouldn’t even work in another world. All of this might be a horrible plan. Olivia wasn’t exactly known for playing it safe.
“I’ll see you there.” She hung up.
I considered calling Phoenix, just to see if he changed his mind, but dismissed the idea. Instead, I tossed up a quick prayer to Olivia, letting her know where I would be, then grabbed Izzy’s keys and left her a note just in case.
Chapter 14
Megan and Stephanie were waiting for me at the entrance to the parking garage, a green glowing crystal in their hands.
“Is she here?” I asked as I climbed out of Izzy’s car, not quite legally parked.
Megan glanced at the crystal. “Not yet. When it turns blue, her spell will be fully realized. That’s how it worked last time.”
“Good, let’s go.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for Boone?” Stephanie asked, as Megan and I turned to the door.
I pressed my lips together. This could be our last chance. There was no guarantee that Holda would keep coming back, especially if she was collecting. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to catch the door. “You guys wait for him. I’m going to head up. What level?”
The girls looked at each other.
“I’ll know it when I see it,” Megan said. “I’ll go with Maggie. You wait for Boone.” We raced off to the stairs.
“What’s your plan?” I asked as we pounded up the first flight.
“I don’t know what floor, but I should be able to feel it in the air. Interdimensional magic is no joke.”
I opened the door on the second level and she stepped out, closing her eyes. “Nope.”
The third floor was the same, but when we opened the door on the fourth, Olivia was waiting, staring at an empty parking space. “What took you so long?” she said. “I was worried you wouldn’t make it in time.”
Megan skidded to a stop. “Who’s this?”
Olivia glanced over at her and smiled. Megan immediately relaxed. “I’m Olivia. It’s nice to meet you, Megan. I’m glad you’re going with Maggie.” She looked back at the parking spot. “The door will break through here. I will do what I can to neutralize her time manipulation, but I don’t want to spook her. If there was a car parked in the spa
ce next to it, that would be better, but I guess we can make do.”
“I have a car.” I held up Izzy’s keys. “Be right back.”
I raced down the stairs and through the door to the street, running squarely into Boone. My hand darted out, catching his shirt before he went sprawling to the sidewalk. When I was sure he was steady, I let him go, afraid to meet his eyes and to see the same accusation in them that had been there the night before. Nicole’s disappearance wasn’t at all my fault, but he obviously needed someone to blame. Was it fair? No. But sometimes fair didn’t matter when it came to friends. “We’re on the fourth floor.”
I climbed into the car and drove up the slow circles to the parking spot Olivia was still standing in front of. She was watching Boone and the witches argue about something, and no one looked super happy. I put the car in park and hopped out. “What happened?”
“I mentioned that I don’t think more than two of you should go through the door. The other two should stay behind to be ready to destroy it, just in case. Even if you can’t save the others, we need to make sure it ends here.”
“Trapping the two who go in?” Stephanie said.
Olivia nodded. “Whatever it takes.”
Harsh, but I agreed. We couldn’t allow Holda to continue to have free access to our world. I nodded. “I agree. Who stays and who goes?”
Olivia made a face. “I recommend that you and one of the witches goes inside, but it isn’t my decision.”
“I’m going,” Boone said. “It’s not up for debate. The witches can stay behind. It’s my girlfriend who was taken, and I had the visions that brought all of you here.”
“But I have magic,” Megan said. “If I go there’s a better chance we can get everyone back. Let Maggie decide.”
Everyone looked at me.
“Boone,” I said without hesitation. It was the only answer that felt right. I turned to Megan. “You’re right. Magic could be useful in there, if it works, which it might not. But it’s personal to Boone. If Stephanie was in there, would there be anything that would keep you out? It isn’t fair to ask him to stay, plus I need you to help Stephanie destroy the door.”