Of Ash and Spirit: Piper Lancaster Series

by D. G. Swank

  I realized I’d been bouncing my leg out of nervousness. “Sorry.”

  “Hey,” he said in a husky tone. “You have every right to be nervous.”

  I turned to face him, wondering how I’d been paired with this guy. He was almost too good to be true. “You’re not going to run off with these things once we get them out, are you?”

  He laughed. “And what would I do with two spelled daggers?”

  My smile fell. “I never said they were spelled.” The thought hadn’t occurred to me.

  His expression turned serious. “You really don’t trust me.”

  “I . . .” But did I? I hardly knew him, but he’d just said he wanted to partner with me in something dangerous. What if he had some ulterior purpose? At least Abel was honest about having a motive.

  His mouth dropped open and he removed his hand from mine. “You don’t, do you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Without saying a word, Jack got up and walked out the door.

  Did that imply his guilt or innocence? I knew I’d offended him, but the last thing I’d wanted to do was lie. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d doomed myself by chasing off my best ally.

  “Ms. Lancaster?” the bank manager called out. “The locksmith is here.”

  I got up and met the locksmith in the bank vault, and the manager and I watched him drill a hole in the lock. Once the drawer could be removed, they both left me alone in the room. Feeling the gravity of the moment, I took the drawer out and set it on the table.

  While I was upset that I’d chased off Jack, I wasn’t sorry I was doing this alone. I had no idea what to expect, and I needed the privacy of the empty room to prepare myself for what Dad had left me.

  I opened the metal lid to find a large manila envelope on top of a wooden box, and while I was curious about the envelope—had my dad written me a letter?—I was even more curious about the contents of the box.

  I set the envelope on the table and pulled out the box. It was plain with no ornamentation and a simple lock. While it was only a few inches tall and about six inches wide, it was definitely big enough to contain two daggers. I tried to lift the lid, not surprised to find it was locked.

  I picked up the envelope and felt a small, thin lump at the bottom. Ignoring the stack of papers inside, I reached into the envelope and fished for the lump. A small metal key. The key fit into the lock, and I held my breath as I lifted the lid.

  I expected some kind of metaphysical reaction, but the only thing I got was a puff of dust that made me sneeze. When I opened my eyes, I was staring at two silver daggers. The handles were engraved, but the designs were different. They were each about a foot in length.

  How would these help me kill a demon? I’d have to be incredibly close to the demon to use them, which meant that I’d likely be dead before I even struck a blow.

  Why hadn’t that occurred to me before?

  I closed the lid and locked the box, then stuck the key in a pocket inside my purse. I wanted to look at the documents in the envelope, but I’d prefer to do it in the privacy of my home. After folding the envelope lengthwise, I stuffed it in my purse. Then I tucked the box under my arm and walked out of the vault.

  “Got everything you need, Ms. Lancaster?” the manager asked in a cheery voice.

  “Yes, thank you. I won’t be needing the box again.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, it’s paid up for another six months to the day.”

  I stopped in my tracks. “Wait. My father opened this box on February 25?”

  “Yes. Does it matter?”

  The day he’d been murdered. And the Guardians had paid for it every year since.

  I walked outside and realized dark clouds had rolled in, bringing the promise of a storm. I clutched the box to my side as I hurried toward my car, wanting to get inside before the rain let loose. I stopped next to my car, but as I reached into my purse to dig out my keys, someone slammed into me from behind and wrestled the box from under my arm.

  Oh, hell no.

  Slipping the keys between my fingers, I spun around and jabbed toward the man’s face, digging deep into his cheek and dragging the keys downward.

  Blood burst to the surface of his skin, and he shouted in pain and dropped the box. Fury filled his eyes as he lifted his hand to punch me.

  Suddenly, the man flew several feet to the side, shoved into the brick exterior wall of the bank by a black-clad figure. My rescuer fisted my attacker’s shirt, and I realized with a start that it was Abel.

  He leaned close to my attacker with a deadly glare. “Tell your people that if they ever try to touch her again, I’ll kill what few of you there are left.”

  The attacker looked terrified. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Do not lie to me or I will send them your head, which will strike the same message.” Abel’s voice was low, but his words were menacing.

  The expression on my attacker’s face told me he didn’t doubt his word.

  “If I ever see your face again, I will kill you on sight. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then go before I change my mind.” Abel gave him one final shove against the wall. The man slid down the wall a bit before he took off running.

  Abel watched him for a few moments, then turned and strode toward me, his eyes still dark and menacing.

  I took a step back, for the first time truly afraid of him. He stopped in front of me and squatted to pick up the box before rising to his full height. “You found the daggers.”

  I stared up at him, trying to hide my fear. “I . . . yeah.”

  He reached for my left wrist and roughly examined my palm. “You’ve been busy. You’re ready.” He was all hard edges and nothing but business.

  I swallowed. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  “Do you know the truth?”

  “What truth?”

  “The truth of your lineage? Weren’t there papers in the box?”

  “I haven’t looked them over yet.”

  “Then let’s hope you guard them better than you did the daggers.”

  That pissed me off. “Look,” I said, poking his chest with my finger. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but I’m doing the best I can here.”

  He seethed with anger. “No. You’re not. You knew the Guardians have paid for that deposit box for fourteen years, yet you waltzed out of there like you didn’t have a care in the world. Didn’t it occur to you that the Guardians would want their daggers back?”

  While the possibility had occurred to me, I’d thought there would be a little more time. I certainly hadn’t thought I’d be attacked seconds after leaving the bank. Then again, they’d likely killed my parents over these stupid daggers. I should have been more careful. But his self-righteous attitude was pissing me off. “They didn’t get them, did they? And after you threatened to decapitate that guy, they’ll think twice before they try again. But in case they do, I’ll do a better job of protecting them.”

  “They don’t just want the knives, Kewasa. They want you too.”

  “You told me they were inconsequential!”

  “I was wrong!” he shouted.

  “I bet you don’t admit that very often,” I said in a snotty tone. “And I thought you weren’t following me. What are you doing here?”

  “I may not be watching you myself, but when I heard you’d come to the bank, I decided to take matters into my own hands. And good thing that I did,” he said with a sneer.

  “I had it covered!”

  “Right.”

  Then a new thought hit me. “I thought you didn’t know where the daggers were!”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Then how did you know the Guardians had been paying for the box?”

  “Because I make it my business to know things.” His breathing was slowing down, but his eyes darkened. He took a step backward. “Tonight you face the demons. I’ll pick you up at midni
ght.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “Who the hell put you in charge?”

  His face contorted with anger. “Me. I need you to become stronger, and you obviously still need more direction. I’m taking charge of your preparation so you don’t get yourself killed before you’re useful.”

  My eyes narrowed to slits. “Right, because you need me for your own purpose.”

  “I’ve made no secret of that.”

  “What is it?”

  “There’s no need for you to know until it’s time for you to do it.”

  I wasn’t surprised by his answer; I would have been more surprised if he had told me. “Why do I think I’ll end up being collateral damage?”

  His brow lowered, but he didn’t respond.

  He’d never once hidden the fact that he had a purpose for me, but what if his purpose ultimately killed me? Or hurt someone else? I needed more time to think through the consequences of working with him. “I’m not facing the demons tonight,” I lied. If I changed my mind, I could call him later and ask for his help. I had no doubt he’d be close by. “If Thargos killed that woman last night and what you say is true about their killing pattern, I have a few nights to come up with a plan. On my own.”

  “Thargos didn’t feed last night, Kewasa. Valvad fed again.”

  The blood rushed from my head. “What?”

  “I suspect it’s strong enough to come down from the mountain tonight. And it will be heading straight for you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  My mouth hung open. “Say what?”

  “The demon knows you’re the demon slayer.”

  I placed my hand on my forehead. I knew that part—it was the whole coming-after-me-tonight part that threw me. “Well, crap.”

  “You need to strike before it realizes you’re coming for it.” He reached out and grabbed the pendant hanging from my neck between his thumb and index finger. “You need to wear this so you’ll have the element of surprise.”

  I nodded dumbly, but the horror of the situation weighed down on me all at once. Sure, I’d planned on confronting a demon tonight. But I’d thought I could start with the little one. Instead, I was going to have to face an even stronger version of Valvad. “It’s got the wrong person. You’ve got the wrong person. There’s been a huge mistake,” I said with a shaky voice.

  His face softened. “You can do this, Piper.”

  “I don’t think I can,” I whispered.

  “You must. Your life depends on it . . . and not only yours.”

  I took a breath and tried to calm down, but I was becoming even more anxious. “But those daggers . . . If I get close enough to use one, Valvad will be able to shred me to ribbons.”

  “You have the power to overcome it, Kewasa. You just need to trust that you’ll find it.”

  “And risk my life in the process?” I demanded.

  “I’ll be there to make sure you survive,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “So I’m around for your higher purpose,” I said bitterly.

  He didn’t respond.

  “And this isn’t it?”

  “No, Kewasa. I’m certain you have several demons to kill before you’re ready.”

  I still didn’t trust him. “How much do you know about the Guardians?”

  His eyes widened slightly. “Do you plan to align yourself with them?”

  “No, I want to know if Jack is affiliated with them.”

  His lip curled in disgust. “He left you here. Why do you care?”

  “Because I want to know,” I said, getting irritated. “Is he or not?”

  “How can you trust my answer?” he asked. “Obviously you want to find him trustworthy, yet you have doubts. You know that I despise the man helping you, so why would I want to give you reassurance?”

  “So he’s not?”

  “And if I said he is in league with them, would you trust my answer?”

  Damn him. “Fine, don’t tell me.” I turned and reached for the car door.

  He moved up close behind me, his breath on my cheek as he leaned in. “You can save them, you know.” His voice was low and husky and sent a thrum through my body. It was like a siren call to something deep inside me. Something that had been asleep, waiting.

  I resisted the urge to push my back against him. Barely. “What?”

  His hand was on my waist, slowly sliding down to my hip. “The daggers will not only kill the demons. They can set the souls they’ve consumed free.”

  I gasped.

  “I shouldn’t have told you that,” he said in a murmur into my ear, his breath sending waves of lust through me. “But I find myself doing all kinds of things I shouldn’t with you.”

  “Like what?” I asked. Why did he feel so right when everything about him screamed danger?

  He pressed his chest to my back and his mouth hovered over my neck, his warm breath sending a shiver down my back. “Like this.” He slid his hand from my hip to my abdomen, his fingers splayed.

  A heat like I’d never felt before filled me, and my core ached with need. Overwhelmed by sensation, I closed my eyes. Was he using his power against me?

  Oh my God. What if he was?

  Instinctively, I knew that he wasn’t. He was just as drawn to me as I was to him, and it scared me. I was certain I could lose all sense with him, and if I ever needed sense, it was now.

  I stiffened. “Back up, Abel.” I tried to sound fierce but instead sounded unsteady. Nevertheless, the words had the intended effect. Abel dropped his hand and broke contact.

  “Be ready at midnight,” he said in a gruff voice. “Wear your thickest pants and a jacket that will offer you some type of protection against claws, preferably leather.”

  I swallowed. Would leather really protect me from demon claws? I almost asked him if he needed my address . . . but then I remembered he’d been stalking me. Not exactly reassuring.

  I wouldn’t have gotten the chance anyway. By the time I’d turned around to look at him, he was across the parking lot and rounding the corner of the bank.

  Hudson’s car was in my driveway when I got home. I found him inside, lowering a box onto a pile of other boxes and suitcases at the bottom of the staircase.

  “Do you need to go back and get more?” I asked.

  “That’s all of it. I must have subconsciously known it wouldn’t last because everything else is in storage.” I could hear the sadness in his voice.

  “I would have helped you, Hudson.” I pulled him into a one-armed hug, the box with daggers under my other arm.

  He hugged me back, then stepped away. “You’ve got more than enough to worry about without adding my personal life to the mix.” Then he quickly added to change the subject, “Have you heard from Rhys? I thought she was coming back after her last class at three.”

  “I thought so too. Maybe she got sidetracked.”

  Not likely. She hadn’t even wanted to go to that class. I grabbed my phone and called her, worried when she didn’t answer. I gave Hudson an anxious look as I hung up the call.

  “Maybe her phone died.”

  I shook my head. “It rang and went to voicemail.”

  “Maybe she couldn’t answer because she’s in the middle of something.”

  “Maybe . . .” I called her back and left a message this time. “Hey, Rhys. I’ve got some really important news, so call me back ASAP.”

  “I take it your important news has to do with that box,” Hudson said.

  “Yeah.” I walked over to the dining room table and set the box down, then unceremoniously lifted the lid.

  “Holy shit. Are those what I think they are?”

  “That’s them.” I picked one up, once again expecting to feel something when I touched it, but I felt nothing but the cold metal under my fingertips. What if there was nothing special about these stupid daggers after all?

  “Where in the hell did you find them?”

  “My dad put them in a safe-deposit box,” I said. “And the Guar
dians have been paying for it ever since.”

  “You’re shitting me.”

  “I wish.”

  “Can I touch the other one?” Hudson asked.

  “Sure. Why not?”

  He picked it up while I examined the engraving on the handle of the first. It was covered in a flowering ivy and bore the image of a monster that reminded me of a demon. Okay, so maybe these were the right blades.

  “These things don’t look all that old,” Hudson said.

  “Agreed. I wonder if we can take a photo of them then do an image search. Maybe it’ll help us figure this out.”

  “Good idea,” Hudson said. “I can get started on that if you have something else you need to do.”

  I set the dagger back in its place in the box. “I haven’t figured out anything for dinner.”

  Hudson pulled his phone out of his pocket. “How about I just order a couple of pizzas? I can see you have something you’re eager to get to. I’ll be fine.”

  The papers were burning a hole in my purse, but Hudson was right. I really needed some privacy for this part. “You’re the best. You have no idea how much I need you right now.”

  “Just tell me what you need, Pippy, and I’m there.”

  I reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  I grabbed my purse and headed up to my room. While I knew Hudson wasn’t about to walk in on me after offering me privacy, I shut the door behind me.

  Sitting on the middle of the bed, I tugged the envelope out of my purse and opened the flap, revealing the thin stack of papers.

  I gasped when I realized the paper on top was a handwritten note from my father.

  My darling Piper,

  If you’ve discovered this note, then I’ve left you. I suspect it happened not long after I wrote this, but that was the price I willingly paid for trying to save you.

  Do not mourn my decision to protect you, Piper. I’d do it again if I could.

  If you’re reading this, that means the Guardians have killed me for defying them and set this mess in motion.

  You once asked me about my family and why you don’t have any aunts and uncles and cousins, but I never gave you the real answer—it’s the way of the Lancasters. A line destined to have only-children for generations, not by choice but by fate. I told you that our family lived in the Outer Banks area until my grandfather moved to Asheville. My grandfather had a disagreement with his father and brother and left.