by Мишель Роуэн
He had no idea why.
“Well?” he prompted after another moment. Best not to get distracted from why he was really here.
Theo’s gaze continued to move appreciatively over Darrak’s borrowed body, lingering at Eden’s chest for a moment before returning to her face.
Then, suddenly, his eyes widened with clarity. “Oh, shit.”
Finally. “Bingo.”
The demon’s mouth gaped open. “Darrak?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been staring at your tits for the last five minutes.”
“They’re not mine, of course. But they are lovely, aren’t they? All natural, too.” Darrak blinked. “You can stop looking at them now.”
“Not sure I can.” Finally Theo yanked his gaze away from Eden’s body. “What is going on here?”
It was vaguely encouraging that Theo’s first reaction was confusion rather than destruction.
“I was cursed,” Darrak explained simply.
Theo raised an eyebrow. “Cursed.”
“When I disappeared, I was summoned by a witch during the Salem trials. She trapped me and forced me to do her bidding before I managed to escape.”
“You killed her, I hope?”
“Not exactly, although that was the original plan. She fought back and threw out a powerful death curse at me. If I’d been less than an archdemon, it would have decimated me completely. As it was, it turned my body to ash. Let’s just say, it stung like a bitch. I’ve been forced to possess humans ever since.”
Theo had covered his mouth with his hand, obviously shocked. But after a moment, Darrak realized he was concealing his laughter.
“Sorry,” Theo managed after a moment. “It’s really not funny, is it?”
“No, it’s really not.”
Theo snorted. “It’s just. . I mean, look at you. Just look at you.”
Darrak stared at him. This was the fearsome demon he thought might destroy him on sight? The archdemon was practically giggling. “Maybe I’ll laugh about it in the future. The distant future. At the moment, not so much.”
“Oh, wow.” Theo gasped for breath, then grabbed his freshest drink and took a quick swig. “I needed a good laugh. Things have been way too serious for me lately. Thanks.”
“Glad my tortured existence can bring you some joy.”
“Why didn’t you summon me? I thought you’d gone to the Void.”
“I haven’t had any control over my previous hosts. Besides, even if I could, summoning an archdemon from inside a human never would have worked.”
Theo eyed Eden’s body again. “And you’ve taken this woman over completely? Burned out her soul so you can take up permanent residence?”
The thought made him inwardly cringe. There had been a few incorporeal demons who’d done just that, treating their hosts like nothing more important than taco shells. “No. She’s just asleep right now.”
Theo considered this. “So she knows about you?”
Darrak nodded. “We’re looking for a way to break my curse and return my power. So far, no dice.”
“Is your strength returning? I know witches’ curses can be a bitch to deal with.”
“A little, but not as much as I’d like. There’s something different about Eden, though—”
“Eden?” Theo repeated. “That’s her name?”
“It is.” Darrak’s lips curved despite himself. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
“I’d say so.” Theo laughed again. “At least you didn’t pick a host named Heaven. That would have been hilarious.”
“I’ll take the potential for comedy gold into consideration next time I’m cursed.”
Theo leaned forward and put his hand on Darrak’s shoulder, his expression sobering. “Hell hasn’t been the same without you. We used to have lots of fun painting the town red, didn’t we?”
“Yes, we did,” Darrak agreed. Although, their paint of choice at the time couldn’t be found at Color Your World.
“I can help you find the witch, and together we’ll tear the heart from her chest to break this curse. It’s the least I can do.”
Darrak tensed. “Sounds like a blast, but unfortunately the witch is already dead and not by my hand. The curse stands.”
Theo laughed again. “So you’re saying you’re screwed.”
“Essentially.” If this was happening to someone else, he’d probably be able to see the humor a bit better. “I do have a perk with Eden, although we haven’t figured out why it works. She’s psychic, and I seem to be able to draw on that energy to take solid form during the day.”
A waitress brought over another rum and Coke, placing it in front of Theo and indicating that it was bought by a brunette at the bar. He tipped it in the woman’s direction and took a sip. Darrak glared at the woman, and she slunk back into the crowd.
How rude.
“Interesting.” Theo rubbed his chin. “Never heard of that before — psychic energy assisting in possession.”
“Me neither. But it’s been helpful.”
Theo templed his fingers and studied Darrak’s current form, a frown creasing his brow. “The solution is simple. We kill this body you’re stuck in to release you, temporarily trap your essence in a crystal for safe keeping, and return you to Hell where you might be able to be restored by hellfire. It’s just a theory, but it’s worth a try.”
The demon was dead serious as he said it.
“I’m not killing Eden,” Darrak said evenly.
“But if you’re looking for a simple solution—”
“I never said I was looking for a simple solution. I’m looking for a solution. One that won’t result in her death.”
“She won’t survive a trip to Hell,” Theo reasoned.
“Then there has to be another answer.”
“Of course there is. You can come with me during the day when you have form. It won’t take long.”
Darrak shook his head. “I can’t go far from her side. I’m bound to her.”
“More reason to kill her, then.”
“Not going to happen.” Darrak glared at him.
Theo studied him, and Darrak grew uneasy. In the past he wouldn’t have hesitated to take the simple way out. A human life for his continued existence? It was a no-brainer.
“You’ve changed,” Theo stated. “Haven’t you?”
Darrak clenched his fist, ready to will whatever power he could muster into it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re all. .” The demon’s expression soured. “Emotional. And human. I can sense it now that I’m paying attention.”
“Who told you I was here?” Darrak demanded, any attempt at friendliness disappearing.
Theo’s eyes narrowed, and an unpleasant smile snaked across his face. “It was a rumor that I was sent to investigate. I confirmed it by talking to the local wizard master and convincing him to fill me in on the details. He knew more than I expected.”
“And by convincing, you mean you tortured him.”
“Of course. He’s left town for a while to recover.” Theo’s knuckles whitened on his drink glass. “Do I see disapproval in your eyes, Darrak?”
Disapproval that Theo was acting as a demon should? That would be irrational, wouldn’t it?
“I have to go.” Darrak stood up and turned away, moving through the crowd. He now saw it had been a huge mistake to come back.
A hand closed over his arm. “Hey, you’re back.” It was the man who’d briefly hit on Eden earlier that night. His other hand closed on Eden’s ass. “I knew you couldn’t stay away, baby.”
“Think again.” It only took a modest shove to launch the loser across the room. He landed heavily on his back in the middle of the dance floor.
How do women put up with this kind of crap without resorting to violence?
Darrak turned, only to be faced with Theo now in front of him, blocking his way to the exit.
“I wouldn’t try that with me,” Theo said. “I’m a litt
le harder to push around.”
“Get out of my way or we may have to test that theory.”
Theo’s eyes went to Eden’s amulet as if seeing it for the first time. “What’s that?”
“What does it look like?”
“I thought you said Eden was a psychic.”
“She is.”
“And she’s also a black witch?”
Darrak grimaced. “The original witch cast a spell on me so any psychically gifted woman I slept with would be imbued with black magic.”
The grin returned to Theo’s face. “I suppose I can fill in the blanks there.”
Yeah, he could. Darrak had no further comment on the subject. Sex with the witch who’d cursed him had been business as usual. It was difficult for an ex-incubus to see such an act — especially one he was compelled to perform against his will — as anything more than a day at the office.
But with Eden. . it had been different. He’d never felt true bliss before in his entire existence, but that moment came as close as he’d ever been to it.
However, that blissful moment had also ruined Eden’s life forever.
Great. More guilt, right on schedule. He squeezed his eyes shut. Bring it on.
And if the wizard master had left town after being tortured by Theo, how was Darrak supposed to find him? They were out of answers, and he didn’t know how much time they had left.
The next moment, Theo grabbed his arm and directed him over to a quieter corner of the nightclub.
“It’s humanity,” Theo said. “I can smell it on you now. You’re overflowing with it.”
Darrak eyed him warily. He tried to will power into his hand to fight against his old friend, but there wasn’t even a spark. “Three hundred years can change a guy. There’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Theo shook his head. “You’re delusional.”
“Excuse me?”
“You don’t even realize it, do you? No wonder you’re so screwed up. This, whatever it is you’re feeling, is just an illusion. It’s not real.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“I’ve seen it before. Not a lot, but it happens. You’ve been absorbing human emotion all these years without a body of your own as a shield. No wonder you’re so concerned with this Eden babe.”
Darrak’s mouth felt dry. “It’s not real?”
“Of course not. The moment we break this curse, you’ll be back to normal. It’ll be like shedding your skin and starting fresh. Quite literally, actually.”
Darrak eyed him skeptically. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I can help you.”
“Is this the killing Eden and putting me in a crystal plan again? Because real or not, I haven’t changed my mind about that.”
“No, something else. Something better.”
“What is it?”
“It’s all about knowing the right people,” Theo said. “And I know the right people. As a matter of fact, I’m on an assignment at the moment for Asmodeus.”
“Asmodeus?” Darrak was surprised to hear the name. The Lord of Lust was almost as powerful as Lucifer. “Since when are you working for Asmo? I thought you were with Lucifer.”
“Things change. Opportunities present themselves. Anyhow, here’s the deal—”
“Deal?”
Theo grinned. “Of course. It’s all about deals. You know that.”
True. Any demon who’d do something selflessly without any personal gain should be looked at with deep suspicion.
“What’s the deal?” he asked cautiously.
“I’ll help you break this curse—”
“How?”
“Not yet.” Theo’s smile widened. “First you need to do something for me. I want you to meet me the day after tomorrow at lunch so you can accompany me on an errand.”
“What kind of errand?”
“I mentioned a weapon to you a long time ago. Do you remember?”
It only took a moment for him to locate that piece of information. Was Theo talking about the weapon he’d been searching for to destroy the lords of Hell?
Darrak nodded. “I remember.”
“Good. It’s nearly time, Darrak. I’ve been very patient. It’s not my favorite virtue.”
“So you found it in the human world?”
“Yes. And if you come with me to get it, I will move hell and earth to help break your curse and return you to your former glory. Do we have a deal?”
Was it true? If Darrak’s curse was broken, would he shed this heavy suit of human emotion he had begun to wear on a daily basis? No more guilt, no more second-guessing himself, no more strange attraction and affection for Eden?
No more weaknesses.
It was almost a relief to think it could be possible. No, scratch that. It was a relief.
“Will it be dangerous?” Darrak asked. “Eden will have to come with us.”
“It won’t be dangerous.”
Was he telling the truth? There was no way of telling. Was the risk worth the potential gain? Did he trust Theo even after all this time?
“She’s never to know what you’re after,” Darrak said, working it out in his head. He couldn’t turn down an offer like this. He had no choice but to agree to Theo’s terms. “And you can’t tell her we met here tonight. She wouldn’t understand why I had to borrow her body. She’s funny like that.”
Theo held up a hand, grinning. “Say no more. Women are very particular about their bodies wandering around town without their knowledge, aren’t they?”
“You have no idea.”
“Then I promise not to say anything of your nocturnal omissions.” Theo’s grin widened. “Get it?”
“Your sense of humor has not improved in three hundred years.”
“There’s a restaurant next door. Meet me there at noon the day after tomorrow. Agreed?”
Darrak took a moment to turn it over in his head. Help Theo find the weapon to kill Lucifer and the other lords in return for the help he desperately needed to break his curse.
Sounded fair enough to him.
“Agreed.”
Theo slapped his back. “Now, cheer up. It won’t be long until you’re back to normal. At which point, I strongly suggest you steer clear from witches.”
Words to live by. He might even have it printed on a T-shirt.
Sunrise.
It was never a very pleasant time of the day.
Darrak gasped in pain as his essence was torn out of Eden’s body. Bracing himself for what he knew was coming never helped. It was better just to give in to it as best he could.
Ten long seconds of agony later, he lay next to Eden on her bed as he instinctively changed from a formless cloud of black smoke to an exact replica of his former self. The pain dissipated. He lay still for a moment as he regained his strength.
As the pain receded, he was able to feel other things. Eden’s bedsheets were soft. Her mattress was a bit lumpy, but the sensation of it — lumps and all — was sheer pleasure to him.
And, as she did every morning shortly after he became corporeal, Eden reached for him in her sleep. She slid her hand over his bare chest, and he inhaled sharply at the feel of her warm skin against his.
“Darrak,” she murmured. “Mmmm. . yes. .”
He had to agree with her.
Eden talked in her sleep. Frequently. It was one of the many reasons he’d decided to dampen her during his trip out to see Theo. Otherwise, he might have sounded like someone with Tourette syndrome.
She dreamed about him, and they were not always chaste and platonic dreams of friendship. Despite what had happened in the past, and the promise that it could never happen again, the thought that Eden dreamed about him pleased Darrak more than he’d like to admit, even to himself.
Her hand drifted over his now fully aroused body as he studied her beautiful face. Her lips moved as she whispered his name.
“Eden. . this isn’t real,” he said quietly, remembering clearly what Theo had said, and stroked th
e long dark red hair off her face. His mouth was now only an inch from hers. She must have sensed this, since she closed the distance and brushed her lips against his.
Not real. None of what he felt was. It was just an illusion — one that would vanish the moment his curse was broken.
“I want you,” she murmured. “Darrak. . I want you so much. .”
Her hand moved down his abdomen and slipped under the edge of the sheet covering him. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, but didn’t try to stop her.
Then he had a vivid flashback to what had happened the last time she’d touched him like this — when she’d been awake and willing and about to make the decision that could ultimately cost her soul.
Guilt worked as well as an ice-cold shower.
He swiftly moved away from her and sat up on the edge of the bed. With a focused thought he conjured clothes to cover his naked body — black T-shirt, black jeans. Same as usual. He watched Eden sleep for another five minutes, before forcing himself to stand up and leave the bedroom.
Real or not, he really wished he could dream as well.
FIVE
Eden’s dreams lately hadn’t been very helpful. Especially the ones she had about Darrak.
All of him. Every single inch.
After these dreams, she’d wake up all hot and bothered and still exhausted. It was like she’d been out all night gallivanting around town, rather than tucked safely away in bed.
At least Darrak was respecting her wishes. The first few days he’d possessed her, he’d stayed in bed after taking form, and she’d been dismayed to wake up wrapped around him like a flannel-clad anaconda.
Eden’s unconscious self seemed compelled to grope the demon in her sleep. How embarrassing. During her waking hours she was totally in control of herself. To find that she couldn’t do the same at night was embarrassing, to say the least.
This morning, he was gone. That was good, of course. What sane woman would want to wake up snuggled against a gorgeous, naked demon?
Not her. No way.
This morning, she awoke still feeling weary, but filled with purpose. They’d been close last night. Really close. She’d seen it with her own two eyes.
It had been a long, bumpy road, but the end was finally in sight.