Valerie let a nervous laugh escape but her eyes didn’t break away from mine. Instead, she crossed the distance, blocking me in. I flinched when she went to touch me, knowing I’d lose my ability to distance myself if her skin connected to mine.
The closer she got, the more the storm colors in her eyes swirled and when her hands connected with my chest, I lost control of my reserve.
“Don’t do this if you have no intention of following through,” I whispered and she pressed the rest of her body against me, taking full advantage of my weakness. Her hand threaded through my hair and she pulled me to her lips.
A shadow passed over my vision and I closed my eyes, drinking in her vulnerabilities, her fears, her sorrow and uncertainties. She opened everything to me, including her deadly fear of losing me to my past or worse, to the devil. When the kiss broke, I opened my eyes, meeting hers and I let a small smile of understanding form.
I walked some of the same pathways, had the same fears, and only god knew why we were thrown together, but I took a moment to say thank you. He could have let me wander like a lost nomad, but he delivered her to my door, gift wrapped in sass and strength.
I glanced up at our surroundings and then back down at her. “We have to stop meeting in the bathroom.”
She grinned. “I like having you in nothing but a towel. It makes you vulnerable. And you’re adorable when you’re vulnerable.”
Just what a guy wants to hear. I ran my hand through my wet hair and chuckled. “I thought you just liked the view.”
“Well, that, too,” she said and I sidestepped around her, heading to the bedroom for a change of clothes. She followed, closing the door behind her. At first I thought she was going to make another move on me, but she took a seat at my desk and stared out the window instead.
“What’s up?” I asked after I had a pair of jeans on. I pulled a flannel shirt on and started buttoning it before I glanced at her contemplative profile.
She turned away from the window, meeting my gaze. “How’s this going to work?”
I shrugged. “How’s what going to work?”
“Us. This.” She pointed at her chest then me. “I’ve still got another year of med school and then two years in rotations followed by residency. It’s going to be a few years before I get any kind of break.”
“Would you consider something closer?” I asked. I really didn’t want to leave my family high and dry right now, nor did I want to leave her alone, even with her home as secure as Fort Knox. She still had to go out, no matter where she was. My gaze dropped to the necklace Raven had given her and then back to her eyes.
“Where?” she finally said, not wanting to shoot my ideas down after the last twenty minutes of strife we conquered.
“How about somewhere in Boston. That’s closer than Farmington.”
She scoffed at me. “What? Like Harvard?”
“It is the number one medical school in the country.” I raised my eyebrows.
“I can’t afford that,” she said.
I pressed my lips together suppressing the smile. “I can.”
“I don’t want your money,” she said and stood up.
“Would you like a medical degree from Harvard?” I asked, keeping my voice soft and reasonable and her eyes sparked with interest.
“I can’t afford it, so it’s not an option.”
“Can you get into Harvard?” I purposely kept using the name of the school and every time I did, I saw the inclination to keep me pushing.
“Of course, I can,” she snapped, her hands finding her hips. “I may not be a fucking genius, but I’m damned smart.”
“I never said you weren’t,” I smiled. “And you damned well know you want a degree from the best school in the country.” I stepped closer. “Transfer and I’ll foot the bill just to have you closer.”
She opened her mouth to say no, but closed it just as quickly, studying me. “If I say no, you’ll come to Connecticut with me, right?”
The conflict between my family and her brewed inside me but I nodded anyway. If that’s what she insisted on, I’d follow her. After all, I was just tinkering and could do that anywhere. Same with teaching self-defense. It didn’t tie me to a place like the path to what she wanted to do.
“Harvard?” she asked after a few minutes of silence.
“If that’s what you want.”
“What about my house?”
I shrugged and looked at the ceiling. “This is legally mine now that I’m twenty-one.”
“What about Tom?”
“He’s got a place in New Hampshire and an option to take the house across town once the lease runs out.”
“And Steve and Jen?”
“They’ve got a place in New Hampshire and New York.”
She got quiet, studying me in a way that made me wonder what was churning behind those beautiful eyes.
I loved this quaint little town, it was home and I really didn’t want to leave it behind. It was all I had left of my parents. I waited for her to make a decision and then she nodded.
“Connecticut is probably not the best place for either of us to be right now,” she said and her eyes darkened. “Besides, my house is one of Lucifer’s prime targets, so a change would probably be in order.”
“So, Harvard?” I asked.
“I guess I can at least apply,” she conceded. “But, when things blow over here, I will need to take a ride to pick up some things.”
“That’s no problem. I’d really like to see Michael’s artwork.”
Her smile faded. “Didn’t Damian booby trap the basement?”
I grinned. “I’m a fucking genius, remember?” Damian was borderline genius, but I could get around his computer programming as easily as an adult could snatch a piece of candy from a child.
She laughed and turned toward the laptop on my desk. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” I said and turned it on, typing the passcode in and relinquishing the computer to her. I went to leave when a familiar voice came through the speakers.
My blood chilled and I kept my back to the Skype screen that was set to automatically come up when she called.
“Who the hell are you?” Sandy said.
Valerie didn’t speak, she just got up and gave me a sideways glance as she passed, leaving me alone with the video screen of my ex.
“Val, you don’t have to leave,” I said and she turned at the door, meeting my gaze. The fear present in her eyes shut down my voice. She gave me the slightest of nods before disappearing down the hallway. The hurt in her eyes haunted me and set my fury switch on high.
“Chris, who was that?”
“None of your fucking business,” I said, still refusing to turn. I stared at the empty hallway and my heart pounded in my chest.
“I’m sorry, Chris. I fucked up.”
My hands clenched into fists and I glared over my shoulder. Her hazel irises were surrounded by red lines, like she had been crying. It dug under my skin, but whatever I may have felt for the girl died the moment that door opened.
“You’re too late for apologies.”
“Please...”
“No. I didn’t fuck around on you with the first girl who threw herself my way, and honey, I had a lot of girls propositioning me over the years. But you, you jump into bed with the first guy that turns on the charm just to get in your pants. Was he the first one or just one of many?” The anger blew wide open and I knew the dig was wrong, but I couldn’t help it.
I shouldn’t be reacting like this, but the callous way she let me loose really burned my ego. The fact I had Valerie not didn’t make a difference where Sandy’s shitty treatment was concerned. I leaned over, planting my fists on the desk. The fury encompassing me was a massive beast and I almost lost control of it until a hand landed on my shoulder.
I looked at the hand’s owner and my fury reined in. Valerie’s touch tempered the wild beast and I refocused on Sandy.
“You’re right, you fucked things up
beyond the ability to ever fix.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I was wrong,” she whispered and then the screen tilted, widening the shot.
I took an involuntary step back, bumping into Valerie. A sick understanding swept through my gut as I stared at her possessed boyfriend and the knife he held to her throat. Three days ago I would have been on my knees begging for her life, but now, I just stared at her, with a total sense of loss raking my skin.
“That’s not your boyfriend,” I said softly and a crease appeared between her eyes. “I mean it was, but now he’s possessed by one of hell’s demons.”
“He’s right,” Josh whispered in her ear, his red eyes shining in the camera. “And he’s going to either trade his soul for you or watch you die.”
Sandy paled and her eyes widened. As much as she’d hurt me, she really didn’t deserve to die for it. The anger flooded back into my skin and I shook my head.
“My soul is not a bargaining chip,” I said and concentrated, opening my hand and envisioning it wedged between the knife and her throat.
Tears sprang to Sandy’s eyes and she started to shake as fear blazed through her slight form.
“Say goodbye,” the demon said and the knife sliced flesh.
Pain and anger fueled me and I took a step, right into her room. Both their eyes widened and I pushed out a blast of power along with the roar of fury that escaped my lips. Josh, and the demon possessing him, exploded. The sound of it wet and vile followed by the sound of metal on tile as the knife hit the ground.
I stared at Sandy’s shocked gaze and stepped back into my room, blinking at her image on the screen and the blood soaked room behind her. She shook in the seat just staring at me. I dropped my gaze to my hand and the gash splitting the skin to the bone. Throbbing pain resonated up my arm and I moved my gaze back to Sandy.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shook her head on the verge of hysteria. “Did you say demon?” she asked, her voice shaking as much as her body.
“Yes.” I glanced at Valerie. “Think you can go get me one of Raven’s stone necklaces?” I asked her and she nodded and left the room. I focused back on Sandy. “A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks.” I refrained from saying she’d know what was going on had she not been fucking that asshole when I came by.
She let out a high pitched laugh and her gaze dropped to the knife.
“He... he,” she gulped and brought her gaze back to mine.
I raised my hand into view and she stared at the ugly gash. Her chin began to tremble and tears snaked down her cheeks. Valerie stepped to my side and handed me a necklace with one of the smaller black pendants.
I took it in my good hand and met her gaze. The hurt there burned at the pit of my stomach. “Watch my back, okay?” I asked and she nodded without speaking. I refocused on the monitor and stepped forward.
This time the tingling sensation of the transition overtook me and I stepped into her dorm room, opposite the desk she sat at. Her gaze bounced from the monitor to me and I moved around the desk to her side, unclasping the necklace in my hand and putting it on her. When she moved to throw her arms around my neck, I caught them and shook my head, pushing her gently back into the chair.
“I was serious before. It’s over and there’s no backtracking. I just want to make sure you’re safe,” I said and let go of her arms. My blood stained her forearm and she looked at the blotch and then my hand.
“You really saved my life,” she said, and I stood, stepping back to the front of the desk.
“Yeah,” I said and let the transition take hold.
Sandy stared at me in the monitor and her gaze dropped to her arm and then the necklace before returning to mine.
“Why?” she asked as the shakes started to quell.
“Because no matter how angry I am at you, you don’t deserve to die.”
She blinked and made the mistake of looking over her shoulder. “Oh, god,” she gasped and her hand shot over her mouth, but not quickly enough to stop the flow of vomit.
“Sorry about the mess,” I said and she gagged and spit before looking back at me. “Wear the necklace. It’ll keep you safe,” I added as her gaze transitioned from horror to panic.
“How am I supposed to explain this?” she asked, pointing her thumb over her shoulder.
I looked at the dripping walls and shrugged. “Freak accident?”
She burst out laughing, but it was that ‘I’ve gone over the edge’ laugh that would transition to a scream any second.
“I gotta go. I need my hand fixed,” I said and she nodded, still laughing that edgy laugh. I shut down the session before she started screaming and turned toward Valerie.
“Are you okay?” My concern for her was greater than it had been for Sandy.
“Yes. Are you?” she asked, and I knew damned well she didn’t mean my hand.
“Honestly, I’m numb right now,” I said. I wasn’t sure when my actions would catch up to me, but right now I was still riding the adrenaline high that kept real feelings at bay.
She reached down and took my wounded hand. “Have you ever done this before?”
I just raised an eyebrow. She had the memories, she knew this was the first time I’d put myself between a blade and someone I cared about. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I did care about what happened to Sandy. It was in my nature to protect those close to me and Sandy had been one of those people for fifteen years.
“Okay, stupid question,” she said and pulled my palm to her lips.
Pain magnified. “Oh, fuck that hurts,” I whispered and she smiled, wiping the blood stain from her lips.
“Not numb anymore, eh?” she asked.
I rolled my eyes and squeezed my hand, pressing it to my chest. “At least I don’t pass out from the fucking pain,” I snapped and turned away, trying not to double over. A deep wound hurt worse than broken bone and I forced my breath into shallow pants, repeating the word fuck with every exhale. The springs on my bed creaked and I glanced over at Valerie.
She seemed to be highly amused by my pain.
“What are you smiling at,” I hissed.
“You,” she said and crossed her arms. “The ultimate hero acting like a major wuss.”
“It fucking hurts,” I growled.
“I’m sure, but you’re dancing around like a kid having a temper tantrum.”
“No, I’m not,” I said and straightened. Okay, maybe I had been, but in my defense the pain made me a bit nutty. I’ve had broken bones mended along with scrapes and bruises, but never to-the-bone slices before. It was more than just unpleasant and I glanced at her side and then back to her eyes. No wonder she passed out cold.
The pain began to abate, replaced by that weird pins and needles sensation that drove me equally insane. I started flexing and squeezing my hand until it passed and then I took a seat next to her, staring at my closed monitor.
With the numbness gone, the full impact of everything I’d done hit and I dropped my chin to my chest. “Oh, man,” I whispered just as the shakes took hold and my stomach started that slow roll that sent me running. I made it in time, spilling the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl.
Valerie knelt next to me and rubbed my back. I spit and flushed and then met her gaze.
“I blew her boyfriend to bits,” I whispered. “He was all over her walls.” My words didn’t do justice to the horror I felt. Cold dread wrapped around my body plummeting me into a shivering mass of flesh and bone.
Steve stepped into the bathroom doorway. “Damian said you might need me,” he said looking between the two of us before his gaze landed on my bloody hand. “What happened?”
“The demon decided to attack in a different way,” I said and his brow creased. It took a second and then his brow smoothed over.
“They went after Sandy?”
I nodded, pushing myself to my feet, and crossed to the sink, cleaning out the vile taste in my mouth before I sta
rted scrubbing the blood from my hand.
Steve hadn’t said anything; he let me get myself in presentable order before he spoke.
“Tell me what happened.”
“The bastard didn’t possess her,” I said to his concerned look and his shoulders relaxed.
“Thank god,” he said and leaned on the doorframe waiting for the rest.
“He possessed her boyfriend,” I said and Steve straightened again, concern retracing the lines in his face. I looked at my healed palm. “He tried to bargain for my soul. When I said no, he slit her throat.” I met his gaze and held up my clean palm. “Except I blocked it and then I stepped into the dorm room and blew him to bloody bits.”
I held his gaze as he processed the information.
“And Sandy?”
“She’s going to be a disaster for a while, but she’s alive and now has one of Raven’s necklaces to ward off evil spirits.” I dropped my hand to the buttons on my ruined shirt, stripping it off and dumping it in the trash before heading to my room again. I stopped in the entry and stared at the droplets of my blood staining the carpet and turned toward my closet, pulling out another shirt. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling right now.
Both Steve and Valerie left me at the entrance to my bedroom, heading downstairs and letting me have a little space to deal with what had happened. If I hadn’t witnessed Raven’s successful exorcism, I wouldn’t be second guessing myself right now. Before that, a demon possession was certain death for the host, but knowing there was a way to save the guy, well, it just compounded the guilt and made me wonder if all my wrath was aimed solely at the demon. I probably could have vaporized him into dust, but I made a choice, however subconscious it was, to make a bloody fucking mess.
Chapter 21
“This has to end. Now,” I announced when I walked into the family room where everyone was sitting, enjoying each other’s company. Silence blanketed the room and all eyes locked on me. Valerie shook her head.
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