Soulmates

by Nadine Nightingale

  I stumble back into the bar, half frozen from the cold. The gang is gathered around a table. Guess they’re working on George’s case. Bay is there, too. He brought a box full of files and books. I’d be mad as hell at all of them, considering we should be on our way to Anna by now, but since I’m 100 percent sure she isn’t our solution, I keep my mouth shut.

  “Look who’s back,” Alex snaps. He’s pissed at me. The only way I could get out of the bar without raising too much suspicion was claiming I needed a break from all the hunter crap.

  Bonnie glares at jerk-face. “Leave her alone.” Despite everything I’ve asked of her, and the fact she went all I-want-to-beat-the-fucking-crap-outta-you on my ass, she still stands up for me. I don’t deserve a friend like her.

  Chair legs screech across the floor. A moment later, Bay holds a steaming coffee cup under my nose. “Here,” he says, smiling. “You look like you need it more than I do.”

  “How thoughtful of you,” Alex grumbles.

  Jesse grins from ear to ear. “Someone’s jealous.”

  JJ’s gaze travels over Bay’s brawny body. “He should be.” Seems like she no longer thinks he’s a threat.

  “Shut up,” Alex barks.

  I’m too tired for their childish argument and down the coffee at once.

  Bay’s eyes go wide. “Wow. You really did need it, huh?”

  I shrug and face my best friend. “B, I need to talk to you.” That’s code for I got the stuff, and we can get right on it.

  She draws a long, pained breath and nods. “Sure.” She follows me to the door leading to the apartment.

  Alex mutters something under his breath, but I refuse to listen to him. He thinks I don’t care about George and the demon hunters trying to whack me. I let him. That way he won’t get in my way.

  “You’re fucking crazy,” Bonnie barks as I empty the bag on the small kitchen table.

  “That’s not news, B.”

  “No, Amanda. This isn’t your normal crazy. This is…hell, it’s…” She shakes her head wildly. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into summoning a demon so he could possess me.” It’s a lot to ask of her. Even mambos who practice their craft wouldn’t invite demons into them, but we’re running out of time and options.

  I rest my palms on her shoulders. She’s terrified. “Summoning a demon isn’t crazier than invoking a reaper.” Or so I hope.

  She knits her brows. “What if this is exactly what the thing wants?”

  To convince Bonnie of my plan, I had to tell her everything—the visons of the hellhound and the demon, Legend and Bay being Malleus Maleficarum hunters who think a Knight of Hell is trying to get his hands on me, and most importantly Anna isn’t Alex’s soulmate. She completely freaked. Then she tried to talk me out of it. Eventually, once the initial shock faded, she came to the conclusion all of it was connected. I agreed but still wanted to talk to the thing, and B never could say no to me.

  “I guess we’ll find out soon,” I say, burning devil’s claw. The musky scent fills the room, and I start lighting candles.

  Bonnie sits cross-legged on the floor. “I really hope you know what you’re doing.” Her voice is deeper than ever. She’s scared out of her wits. Don’t blame her. Giving a demon power over yourself is horrifying.

  I sit across from her, knees folded against my chest. “You’re gonna be fine, B.” Something tells me the thing won’t harm her.

  The scent of devil’s claw crawls into every corner of the apartment. I wipe my watery eyes with the sleeve of my shirt and focus on Bonnie. Cat bones in her hand, she closes her eyes and tries to control her breath. In many ways, voodoo and traditional witchcraft are the same. Both require a helluva lot of concentration and a clear mind.

  Bonnie’s chest rises and falls slowly. “Ready?” she asks, eyes still closed.

  My gaze darts to the door. Shit, did I lock it? The hunters downstairs—especially jerk-face—have no idea what Bonnie and I are up to. Geez, they’d kill me if they found out we’re summoning a high-ranking demon in a hunter bar.

  I want to get up and check the lock, but Bonnie starts the ritual before I can. “Seyè a fènwa isit la lapriyè mwen. Pran sa yo kado mwen te fè pou ou. Monte kò sa a Mwen ofri ou.” B speaking Creole is sorta weird. No matter how much she hates that part of her, there’s no denying her power.

  The air grows hot and damp as she keeps repeating the incantation. Hot shivers curve down my spine each time the spell crosses her lips. My throat tightens, and I feel like I’m sitting in a sauna cranked to 212 degrees.

  The flames of the candles blaze higher. She says the spell one last time, throws the bones, and then it happens; Bonnie’s irises disappear, and I gaze into a white void.

  “Hello, love.” It’s not Bonnie’s voice I hear. Nope, it’s something much darker and creepier—the voice from the woods, from my nightmares. “I’m glad you finally called. I was beginning to think I overestimated your intelligence.” When I don’t say anything, the demon possessing my friend asks, “Why so quiet, love?”

  I swallow the stone in my throat and straighten my numb spine. “Who the hell are you, and what the fuck do you want from me?” God, I sound so much stronger than I feel.

  “Who I am doesn’t matter,” it says, getting on his—Bonnie’s—knees. “To be or not to be is the question.”

  “Drop the Shakespeare act and answer me,” I snap, opening some space between us.

  Laughter floats through the tiny apartment. The demon gets up and circles around me. Its proximity raises hair all over my body. “C’mon, love,” it finally says. “Use your brain. Why did you call upon me?”

  I’m tempted to cut the creepy smile out of the dumb-ass thing’s face. Too bad it happens to be my best friend’s face. “I want to know what you want from me.”

  It flashes brilliant teeth. “No, you don’t.”

  I cross my arms. “Yes, I do.”

  It shakes its head. “No, love. You really don’t.”

  Great. This could go on for an eternity. “All right,” I bark, determined to send the asshole back to hell. “Tell me Mr. Smarty-Pants, why do you think I summoned you?”

  “I’ll give you a little hint,” it says, still circling me. “The reason I’m here has to do with a certain hunter.” It flashes a smile. “Am I right, love?”

  I keep quiet.

  “Oh, c’mon, now. I’m right, aren’t I?”

  Not a word comes out of my mouth.

  The thing stops in front of me and bends down to my ear. “There’s really nothing you wouldn’t do to save your hero, is there?”

  I jump up. “Shut the fuck up!” I hadn’t asked Bonnie to let that thing ride her because of Alex. I’d never—

  “You can’t deny what your heart wants.” He approaches me like a lion stalking its prey. “I can smell your darkest desire, love.” The thing winks. “It’s one of my many talents.”

  I glare into the white mist covering Bonnie’s eyes and see a reflection of Alex. “You honestly think I summoned you to get Alex out of his deal?” I snarl through gritted teeth. “I’m a witch. I don’t make deals with demons like you.”

  Scorching fingers caress my cheek. “Is that so, love?”

  I’m here because I want answers. I’m here because that thing is probably the reason a bunch of hunters are out for my blood. I’m here because—

  God, why am I really here?

  I couldn’t expect to get information out of a high-ranking demon, could I? I mean, what the hell was I thinking? That the thing would be kind enough to supply some answers?

  I ball my fists, clawing my nails into the heel of my hand. “Let’s say you’re right and I summoned you ’cause of Alex. Would you do it? Would you let him out of his deal?” Knights of Hell have the power to cancel a contract. I’ve never heard of one who did, though.

  His fingers curl around the nape of my neck. “Oh love,” it whispers. “Can’t you see? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” Boy, I thought I�
�d seen strange stuff, but talking to a demon who wears my best friend’s body while hitting on me tops it all.

  The sun-like heat radiating from the creature is too much. I step aside, hoping the thing will give me some room to catch my breath. Surprisingly, it does. I try to get a grip on my racing pulse before I gaze into the white mist clouding my best friend’s eyes. “And what do you want in exchange for your help?” A demon never does anything out of the goodness of its heart. Hell, I doubt they even have one.

  The demon paces the room. “Does it matter?”

  “Of course it fuckin’ matters,” I almost scream. “You’re a goddamn demon.”

  “I know what I am.” The thing’s voice turns sour. “Yet, I am your only hope of saving him.” It tilts its head to the side and studies me. “And to answer your question, I think you already know what I want,” it says, a reflection of myself flickering across its eyes.

  Fear squeezes my gut so tight, I feel like I’m dying. “Y-you want—”

  “You,” it says cheerfully. In the blink of an eye, the demon is in front of me. “Your soul in exchange for Alexander’s.”

  I stumble back. My hip knocks into the table. “You’re crazy,” I yell.

  It laughs. “Oh love, don’t act so surprised. Deep down you already knew.” It closes the gap between us and runs the back of its blazing hand over my cheek. “You should feel honored. I’ve never given up a soul, but for you…” Its lips brush the edge of my mouth. I shudder violently. “I’ll make an exception.”

  Refusing to show him how scared I am, I stand my ground. “Why?”

  It narrows its colorless eyes at me. “What do you mean, why?”

  I cross my arms. “Why would you make an exception for me?”

  It grins like a moron. “Let’s just say your soul is much more interesting than the hunter’s. What do you say?”

  Dying and going to hell? Scratch that. Dying and going to purgatory—that’s where rogue witches end up—is insane. “How about…” I press an index finger against my chin. “Oh yeah, no freakin’ way!”

  The stupid grin on its lips drives me mad. “We”—it points a finger between us—“both know this whole soulmate trip is pointless. Are you really willing to let Alexander be dragged to hell?” It draws closer. “Before you answer, you should know—hell has a special place for hunters, and it’s not filled with virgins.”

  “Fuck you,” I spit out, flipping him the middle finger. “I can protect him. You can’t drag him to hell if you can’t get to him, can you?”

  The demon walks to the bed and sits down. “So feisty. Love it.” Its gaze roams over me. “There’s just a tiny problem, love. I don’t need to get to him. He’s already infected.”

  A muscle pops in my jaw. “Infected with what?”

  It tilts its head to the side. “A slow-spreading poison.”

  “You’re lying.”

  It cocks a brow. “Am I, love? You saw him cough blood and I’m fairly certain you spotted the black veins crawling all over his body, didn’t you? I mean…” It smirks. “Do you really think I didn’t anticipate you trying to protect him from the hellhound? Why do you think he was attacked before his time?”

  Shit. There’s not a trace of bullshit in what the thing says. Worse, it makes total sense. What now?

  After a long pause, the demon says, “I reckon you thought about the effect this choice of yours will have on the creature you’re so desperately trying to protect?”

  My heart leaps in my chest as something that feels a lot like pure madness floods my system. I stalk toward the bastard. “Don’t you ever talk about him. You hear me?”

  “Ah, there’s nothing quite like the fury of a m—”

  “Shut up!” I don’t give a fuck if this is an upper-level demon or not. One more word, and I will rip its head off.

  “Don’t be so rude. Hear me out first.” It draws closer. “It’s my understanding you’re hunted by the Malleus Maleficarum Order.” The sudden change of topic catches me by surprise. “You see, love,” it goes on, “these hunters are nothing like your precious Alex.”

  “So I’ve heard,” I snarl. “Fail to see how this is any of your concern, though.”

  The demon folds its hands into a praying position. “Alexander told you what they did to the coven in Kansas?”

  Can demons be strangled? “So?”

  “What do you think they’ll do to your sister and the little one?”

  One simple question. Thirteen undemanding words. Yet they shatter my world like a sledgehammer. They killed everyone. Even the kids. That’s what JJ said. It never occurred to me they might do the same to witches I know. Bonnie, her family, Melinda, Leandro—could their lives be in danger because of me? A sharp pain slices through my brain, and my heart throws a fit.

  The demon strolls toward me. “I can help you out of this mess.”

  “H-How?” I stammer.

  “Easy,” it says, shrugging. “Trade your soul for Alexander’s, and I’ll sweeten the deal by promising your loved ones protection. No one will touch them. Not even Lucy himself.”

  I shiver uncontrollably. Before I can say anything, I hear footsteps. Someone’s coming up the stairs

  The thing’s gaze darts to the door. “I think our little chat must come to an end, love.” Gracefully it reaches for my hand. I want to pull back, but my body is completely numb. “Consider my offer. Should you accept it…well, you know how to find me.”

  My palm burns. “What the fuck are you doing?” I whine, the scent of scorched skin in my nostrils.

  “Drawing you a map,” it says seconds before Bonnie’s eyes roll back in her head and JJ comes barging in.

  “Someone hungry?” she asks.

  Chapter 35

  Silence. It wafts through the apartment like carbon monoxide—invisible, toxic, and absolutely lethal. I’m cowering on the windowsill all by myself. Took ages to convince Bonnie to join JJ and the rest of the gang downstairs. I was terrified she might have heard what the demon said, but she didn’t. I did my best to convince her the creature had been less than helpful. After I swore an oath—crossing my fingers behind my back—she said, “Told you it was a bad idea.”

  Knees drawn up under my chin, I watch the edge of the woods. Moonlight slices through naked tree branches, and odd-looking shadows dance over the frozen soil. They remind me of that cheesy 90s movie with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, the one where the dude dies, but his soul can’t move to the afterlife because his love’s life is in danger. In the film, the shadows come for the ones destined to go to hell. Pretty ironic, huh?

  Hell.

  Purgatory.

  Hell.

  Purgatory.

  It’s all I can think about. I don’t believe the demon lied when it said there’s a special place for hunters in hell. Geez, I can’t even begin to imagine what sick pain these creatures will inflict on Alex’s soul. Maggots chewing on his eyeballs, vipers and reptiles slithering over his tortured body—those are the less cruel scenarios flickering across my mind. But purgatory? From what I’ve heard, it’s ten times worse than hell. Created for creatures who abused their power—evil witches, demons, and every other supernatural being dumb enough to consort with malevolent forces during their lifetime. I can still see the terror in Isobelle’s eyes when she spoke about the place where the bokor had trapped her soul. And the kid had been in purgatory for what—a day? Whereas I’d spend an eternity there if I accept the demon’s offer.

  I’m screwed.

  Bonnie has her family. They’d protect each other. What about Melinda and Leandro? There’s no doubt my sister would die trying to keep Leandro safe. She loves him more than she loves her own life.

  Doesn’t matter what she did, or how many times she slammed the door in my face pretending I don’t exist, she’s still my sister. More importantly, I, too, would rather give my life than see anything happen to Leandro. He’s innocent. Never asked to be born into a screwed-up witch family. Never had a fucking choice
in the matter.

  Damn it!

  My palm burns. I look at the sigil. It glows like burning coal. When I first examined it, I didn’t immediately recognize it but was sure I’d seen it before. Now I know where. It was carved into Mister Sinister, the guy Alex thought I’d killed. I didn’t. But I’m pretty sure I know who did. The thing.

  I’d never needed a vision to confirm Anna isn’t the one. Never needed the demon to tell me. Sure, the girl is sweet, and I have no doubt she fell head over heels for Alex. But he doesn’t love her. Accepting the demon’s offer would save him.

  I’m selfish and reckless. I don’t care about anyone but myself. Yet, I’m sitting here contemplating an eternity in purgatory and for what? A—

  There’s a faint knock on the door. “Manda?”

  Alex. Awesome. Thank you so much, God. You’re too fuckin’ kind today.

  I shove my burned palm between my knees and straighten. “Yeah?”

  The door cracks open, and he shoves his head in. “You up?”

  “No, Alex. You’re talking to my spirit.”

  He walks over to the window. “Ever since we left Bay’s, you’ve been acting weird.” He doesn’t sound pissed or anything. Just worried.

  I can’t tell him the truth. He’d kill me before he let me trade my soul for his. Neither can I lie to him. He’d smell my bullshit instantly.

  “Hey.” He scoops two fingers under my chin, forcing my head in his direction so we’re eye to eye. “Talk to me.” He tries to bribe me with puppy eyes. “Please?”

  There’s nothing to talk about. Nothing will change the reality tossed at my feet, and the longer I look into his eyes, the harder truth hits. I am selfish enough to let him live with the fact I traded my soul for his. I am reckless enough to strike a deal with a demon, consequences be damned. And yes, I do only care about myself. So much so, I don’t give a shit about how anyone feels as long as I won’t lose them.