Demons

by Heather Frost

  “You couldn't have,” David protested nasally, fiddling with his glasses. “You just got it yesterday.”

  “I played all night,” Mark said.

  David just shook his head. “Your mom wouldn't have let you.”

  “Yes she did. It was my birthday.”

  “She wouldn't let you stay up all night.”

  “Yeah she would.”

  “Patrick,” David whined, hoping for back up.

  Patrick just shook his head, swallowing his bite of chicken sandwich quickly. “Nope, I'm not getting in this, guys.” He then spoke to Landen, asking if he could steal one of his apple slices.

  Landen blinked at him, appalled my boyfriend would even ask such a question.

  I smiled at the simple rejection and quietly sipped my water.

  Bianca spoke from across the table. “Stop fighting, boys,” she told Mark and David.

  Lee grinned beside the larger girl. “Yeah, boys—knock it off.”

  David grunted at her. “Why are you orange?”

  “Because I like orange. Don't you?”

  “No. It's a stupid color.”

  “Orange was my favorite color,” Mark confided. “Then I chose blue instead.”

  “Blue?” Trent asked, lifting his head quickly. “Blue?”

  “I thought you said it was green,” David said to Mark.

  “No fighting,” Bianca reminded sternly.

  Patrick cleared his throat and looked to Lee. “So, Rainbow Days, huh?”

  She smiled happily. “Like it?”

  “I love it.”

  “Want to participate?”

  “I think I'll pass,” he said casually.

  She shrugged. “Your loss. But I think you'd look great in all orange. Or pink.”

  “Purple,” Bianca added.

  I chuckled. “That I'd like to see,” I admitted.

  He grimaced. “I'm afraid you'll be waiting an extremely long time for that one.”

  “That's okay. Unlike some people, I'm really good at the whole patience thing.”

  Lee laughed along with me, and then the others slowly joined in, whether they understood the light scowl on Patrick's face or not. Landen even reached over and poked Patrick's arm, causing Patrick to grin and Landen to laugh more loudly.

  Amid the laughter, Trent gave a toothy grin and asked knowingly, “Spaghetti?” Which of course only made us laugh harder.

  When lunch ended Patrick took my hand, and we told everyone a quick good-bye. Lee promised to meet me at my car after school, and then my boyfriend and I left the cafeteria and headed to our next class. While we walked in the crowded halls, I asked him what he really thought of Lee's newest transformation.

  “I was a bit shocked at first,” he admitted with a smile. “And though it's a little blinding, it's uniquely Lee.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” I paused, wondering if I should continue, then decided I had nothing to lose. “What do you think Toni would think of it?”

  “Toni?” Patrick asked, looking surprised.

  “Yeah. Toni. I mean, you knew, right? That they're sort of seeing each other?”

  “Really?”

  I gave him a weird look. “You honestly didn't know?”

  “Toni and I don't usually bare our souls to one another,” he explained. “I had no idea he was interested in Lee. Poor girl.”

  “I don't know—she's definitely a force to be reckoned with.”

  Patrick allowed that with a nod, but his brow was furrowed, and I knew he was thinking about something else.

  “What is it?” I asked. “What's bothering you?”

  But his fingers just tightened around mine, and he offered a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. “Nothing. Really.”

  Of course I didn't believe him, but we were walking into the classroom now, and the conversation was dropped.

  The last classes of the day moved by rather quickly, and I knew that was only because I was so concerned about tonight. Time was rushing, speeding me toward that fateful moment when my grandma would pass judgment on my new boyfriend. My feelings of anxiety needed no more of an explanation than that.

  When choir ended, Patrick walked me toward my car. As was usually the case, we saw Trent in the hall, and he waved to us with excitement. We returned a greeting/farewell that wasn't quite as energetic, and then we were outside, walking the crowded sidewalks as students flocked toward their cars or the waiting buses.

  “So, dinner's at six, right?” Patrick clarified.

  “Yep—and you'd better not be late. Or too early. My grandma has always been pretty strict about punctuality.”

  “Are you trying to frighten me?”

  “I don't want to be the only one biting my nails.”

  He shook his head disapprovingly. “That's a nasty habit, Kate. It destroys your nails, and your teeth—”

  “I've heard all this before,” I assured him. “But that's why I call it a nervous habit—as in, I can't control it.”

  “Not the best excuse I've ever heard, but…”

  We reached the parking lot, and now that people weren't swarming directly around us, I felt free asking the question I'd been avoiding all day. “Any news on Far Darrig?”

  I could tell from his abbreviated silence that he didn't want to discuss this, but he answered me. “No. Jack is still trying to track him, but so far he hasn't found anything. It's like the Demon just disappeared.”

  “But he hasn't.”

  Patrick sighed. “No, probably not. But now that Ms. Rhodes has been found… Toni is going to start focusing on locating Far Darrig. Hopefully the two of them can find something Jack couldn't see alone.” Thinking of the somewhat eccentric Guardian from Australia—my grandfather's old Guardian—I knew that wherever Far Darrig was hiding, he couldn't elude the tenacious Jack forever.

  Lee was already waiting at the car, leaning against the passenger door. One hand was raised over her eyes, shielding them from the sun; the other was cradling her phone, thumb working feverishly to complete a message.

  “Hey, Lee!” I called out as we got closer.

  She glanced up, though her thumb kept moving. “Hey.”

  Patrick continued to hold my hand as he stepped around the back of the car, and with my free hand I dug in my pocket for the keys. I bent to unlock the door, and Patrick released my hand to pull it open for me. He held the door as I shrugged out of my backpack and chucked it into the backseat. I ducked into the car and stretched to unlock Lee's door and then dragged myself back out. Lee moved nonchalantly into the car, still texting, and I turned to face Patrick.

  “I'll see you tonight then,” he said, his eyes bright.

  I smiled. “Yeah. Don't be late.”

  He leaned in to kiss me good-bye, and I rested my hands against his chest as our lips met. His fingers lingered on my skin, framing my face. Reluctantly he pulled his mouth away to let his forehead rest against mine. I sighed happily, squeezing my eyes closed briefly. He put his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close before lightly tugging on my ponytail. “Lee's waiting,” he reminded in a whisper, lips shifting to brush against my forehead.

  Who's Lee? I wanted to mumble. Instead, I just sighed again.

  He laughed evenly, then pulled his head back. “I'll see you soon,” he promised, hands sliding up to rest on my shoulders.

  I kissed him a last time, my fingers moving up to push his longish hair back behind his ears. I felt him shiver, and his warm lips begged me to stay. Grudgingly I pulled back, offering him a small smile. “Six o'clock,” I reminded.

  He nodded surely. “I'll be there.”

  I turned away and climbed into the car, glancing up to see that he was holding the door, waiting to close it. He looked past me, focusing on Lee. “See you tomorrow,” he said.

  She looked up from her phone to nod. “See ya, Patrick.”

  My seat belt was locked into place by now, and Patrick gave me a last smile before closing the door carefully. I put my keys
into the ignition and watched from my peripheral vision as Patrick stepped away from the car, waiting for me to pull away.

  My life might be pretty crazy right now, but at least I had something amazing to hold on to—even if I had to wait until tonight to see him again.

  I offered to help Grandma with dinner, but she insisted she was fine. Already she was making the sauce for the chicken enchiladas, and there wasn't a whole lot I could do. I stuck around for a few minutes, hoping she might talk with me. I wanted to know what she was thinking—what she was most nervous about. But her straight face gave away nothing, and as she meticulously cut up the chicken breasts I decided she didn't really want to discuss things. I was sort of grateful, but at the same time I wished she'd just tell me exactly what was bothering her. Her forced calm was making me antsy.

  The twins were really excited that Patrick was coming over. They'd fallen in love with him the first time we'd watched movies together, a couple weeks ago. They thought he was the funniest person to walk the planet, and so they were cleaning the bathroom without any complaints—a major feat. I don't think the end of the world could have made them cooperate any better.

  Grandpa Bennett had been sent to the store to pick up something for dessert, and so I was left to entertain myself for a couple hours. I played with the idea of going to visit Aaron but eventually decided against it. It didn't seem right for me to go over there right before a night with Patrick. So I stretched out on my bed and tried to focus on a novel I'd been wanting to read for weeks.

  I had just started chapter two when my phone vibrated loudly against my desk. I reluctantly set the book aside, making a mental note of the page number since I hadn't grabbed a bookmark. I swung off the bed and moved for my phone. I glanced at the caller ID, but I didn't recognize the number. Frowning a little, I flipped the phone open.

  “Hello?”

  I don't know what I expected to hear, but the out-of-breath voice certainly took me by surprise. “Hello. Is this Kate Bennett?”

  “Um, yeah,” I said, wondering after the words were out if I should have made something up. “Who is this?” I asked, turning around so I could lean back against my desk.

  “I'm sorry—my name is Terence Blank.”

  The muscles that had been tensing in my body suddenly relaxed. “Oh.” I wasn't sure what else to say. Could I technically say it was nice to meet him, even if we were only talking on the phone? I didn't know a lot about the Guardian named Terence, only that he was the one who supplied Patrick and Toni with money and information. I guess he was the supervisor or overseer for Guardians in the area. Luckily, I was too nervous about dinner to worry about why the boss would be calling me.

  “I hope I'm not interrupting anything,” Terence continued quickly.

  “No, I'm not doing anything.”

  “Good. I won't take too much of your time.”

  My brow furrowed. “Are you… running?”

  He laughed, though it was a heavy, breathless sound. “No. Just using the stairs. The elevator is out in my building.”

  “Oh.” I blushed, but he was kind and didn't linger over the potentially embarrassing comment.

  “I was hoping I could call before dinner. Patrick isn't there yet, is he?”

  “Um, no.” It felt weird that he knew about our evening plans, but he was speaking quickly now.

  “Good. I know this must be strange for you, since we've never spoken before, but I would like to set up a time that I could meet with you in person. Without the knowledge of your Guardians.”

  “What?” I was so surprised by his words that I didn't know what else to say.

  “I know it's a strange request, but I assure you it's for your own protection.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Please, the last thing I want to do is alarm you. I'm wary to say much over the phone, but there are some things I must speak with you about. There is a reason he's after you, and I need to meet with you in order to find out why.”

  Of course I knew who he was referring to. Far Darrig. Or, ultimately, the Demon Lord. Either one made sense.

  Terence continued quickly, his voice growing anxious. “Please, Kate, I don't mean to alarm you. But there are some things I must ask you and only you.”

  “Why does it have to be a secret?” I asked, finally finding my voice.

  “Trust me, it's for your own safety.”

  “I'm sorry, but you'll have to do better than that… sir,” I added quickly, worried I'd gone too far.

  There was a limited silence, and all I could hear was his distant panting. Finally he spoke. “I know you have reasons to doubt the goodness of people. However, I promise that I'm telling you the truth. Keeping our meeting private could potentially save your life—and your family.”

  I opened my mouth, unsure of what I was going to say exactly, but he was speaking again.

  “I'm planning a visit to New Mexico very soon. I will ensure that while I'm there, you can formally meet me with your Guardians present. Before I leave the area, I will arrange a place for us to privately meet and talk. We can discuss everything then, once you are sure of your safety with me. Until then, please don't tell anyone that I have made contact with you.”

  “But, why?”

  “Please, Kate. As hard as this is, I need you to trust me. Some secrets are necessary to protect the ones we care about.”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. “How do I know that you're who you say you are?”

  “That's why I'm asking you to meet me with your Guardians first. I realize how unsettling this is for you. Until then, I ask only that you keep this call to yourself.”

  “Why even bother to call me, then? Why not just talk to me when you stop by to visit?”

  “Because I will need your cooperation. If I'm right about you, Kate, you're in more danger than you realize.” His voice changed—became lighter. “If you need me, feel free to call this number at any time, night or day.”

  I could tell he was winding things up, ready to end the call, whereas I still had so many questions. The only problem was, I wasn't sure how to ask them. “Mr. Blank, how can I just—”

  “Someone's on the other line. I have to go. Good-bye, and good luck, Kate.”

  “But—”

  He hung up. I stared at my phone, seriously considering calling him back. Instead I just saved the number as a new contact, wondering if my life could get any weirder.

  Ten minutes to six, the doorbell rang. I could hear Josie and Jenna both running, fighting to get to it first. I was in my bedroom, debating whether I should put on a necklace or not. The deliberation was a ruse, though. Honestly, all I could think about was the strange call I'd received from Terence. The weirdest part about the whole thing was his demand for secrecy. That, of course, made me want to tell Patrick about it. The only thing that had kept me from calling Patrick was Terence's vague reference to the importance of my silence—that somehow it would protect my family.

  The biggest reason I'd decided to comply was that keeping it a secret didn't necessarily seem like a bad idea. It wouldn't hurt anyone to keep quiet, and if indeed Terence was right about the silence being warranted, I would learn everything when he came here.

  I heard the front door open downstairs and the rumble of Grandpa's voice amid the giggles of the twins. Patrick's lilting accent could also be easily distinguished, though I couldn't make out the individual words.

  I decided on no necklace, and I left my phone on my desk. It was symbolic of me leaving the Terence mystery up here, where it belonged.

  I closed my door behind me and stepped down the short hall to the stairs leading to the entryway. On my way down, I had a clear view of the door, which was just closing. One hand slid easily down the railing, and I tried to keep my smile natural as I moved to join the small group gathered by the front door.

  Patrick was laughing at something Jenna had just said, and so his eyes seemed brighter than usual as they lifted to watch me. His
laugh dimmed to a smile, and his eyes didn't leave my face as I hurried down the stairs.

  Josie was tugging on his arm, but his lack of reaction had her casting a look over her shoulder. “Oh,” she muttered. “It's you.”

  “About time,” Jenna grunted to me. “It's not polite to keep your boyfriend waiting.”

  “Yeah,” Josie chimed in, still tugging his arm. “It's not like his coming was a surprise or anything.” She switched to her best mocking voice. “Oh! It's six o'clock and the doorbell just rang. Who in the world could that be?”

  I stepped off the last stair but didn't move directly to his side—that would have been weird with my sisters and Grandpa looking on. So I stopped next to Josie and patted her head. “Thanks for the tips, sis.”

  She ducked out from under my palm, still hanging on Patrick's wrist. “Ugh, get off me.” She straightened in front of Patrick, still jerking his arm. She was leaning her whole weight into the tug, but Patrick didn't budge. His feet remained firmly planted, and his eyes remained on me.

  “Kate. How was your afternoon?”

  I shrugged. “Pretty good. Yours?”

  He nodded once. “It was good.”

  Grandpa cleared his throat a bit loudly. “Why don't we wander back to the kitchen, before Josie takes off your arm?”

  Patrick allowed himself to be pulled by Josie while Jenna followed alongside him, talking about her upcoming piano recital. Grandpa led the way down the entryway toward the kitchen, and I followed just behind the group. I was close enough to Patrick that I placed a hand against his back, my way of silently thanking him for coming.

  He cast me a quick smile, but his closest hand was turning white in Josie's grip so he couldn't return any other gesture.

  Jenna was still talking quickly. “I hate my recital piece, but I don't really have a choice. My teacher says it will show off my pedal work. Like I care about that…”

  “You're coming to my soccer tournament this Saturday, right?” Josie cut in urgently, walking backwards so she could continue strangling his hand while keeping eye contact.

  “Um, maybe,” he hedged artfully. “I would like that very much.”

  “Are you coming to my recital?” Jenna pressed.