Strange Fire

by Trina M. Lee

  “It does a great many things, when its required. It provides its keeper with a connection to the strongest parts of the light. It’s divine. It expands the mind, protects and nurtures. Don’t be too quick to dismiss it as a mere trinket. There is power in that stone.”

  Ambling through the living room, beer in hand, Arrow headed for the terrarium where my tortoise Seth sat on a rock staring at us. “But the demons want these stones, right? So if they realize Spike’s carrying one around, won’t they just work even harder to convince her to hand it over? Seems pretty risky.”

  Immediately I thought of Nova, a trader of wares, a possessor of many magical and rare items. With thoughts of the demon came the memory of a conversation we’d had not so long ago. He’d asked me to work for him. To help him find a highly sought-after gem.

  Alarm bells rang. I slapped a hand on the table, my tongue tying in my haste to get the words out. “Nova,” I all but shouted. “He wanted my help finding a gem that only you knew the location of, Cinder. I told him to shove it, but now I’m thinking the amethyst is exactly what he was talking about. What if he finds out I have it? He’s no lightweight. He could make me want to hand it over, even if I don’t want to.”

  Panic sent a shot of ice down my spine. I shivered despite the warmth of the apartment. Though I had limited experience with Nova, I didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d hit me harder than he ever had if he discovered I had something he wanted.

  “And he’s just one of many,” Arrow added, reaching in to touch Seth’s shell. “That’s all Spike needs is another target on her back.”

  That caused me to spin in my seat to face him. “What does that mean? Just how many targets do I currently have on my back?”

  Ever the calm, even-tempered soul, Cinder never wavered. “Nova may suspect I possess one of the stones. I doubt he’d know which one, although it likely wouldn’t matter as they’re all highly sought. Those that remain anyway. He can only speculate. Let’s try to keep it that way.”

  Both Cinder and I eyed Arrow.

  He managed to look offended. “What?”

  “Can we trust you to keep this secret?” Cinder asked, fixing Arrow with a scrutinizing stare that made him shift from foot to foot. “Not just from Nova but from anyone. Even Rowen. There isn’t a demon in existence that wouldn’t make a play for this stone given the opportunity.”

  Arrow’s chin jutted in arrogance. He scoffed, evidently insulted. “Why give it to her then? Hide the damn thing away somewhere and be rid of the problem.”

  Silence. Tension filled the apartment. I’d never trusted Arrow. He’d never given me reason to. Sure he’d helped out a few times for the sake of his brother, but he was dark. All dark. And that made him unreliable.

  “The best way to hide something is in plain sight. Three of the stones have been stolen by the dark.” Cinder spoke, his tone sharper now. “Nobody is infallible, not even angels, but it belongs in Ember’s care. It will serve her when she needs it most. When she’s ready. Now answer the question. Can we trust you to keep this secret?”

  Arrow met my gaze. A storm of indecision brewed in his hazel eyes. I waited, breath held, hoping this would not be one of those times when he acted like a dickhead. He let out a heavy breath, as if he too had been holding a lungful. “Yeah, of course. I won’t say a word to anyone. But what about Fiona? She knows.”

  “Fiona won’t remember seeing the stone long enough to tell anyone.” Shoving out of his chair, Cinder returned to the kitchen and fetched several cookies on a plate.

  I exchanged a look with Arrow who seemed to share my unasked question. Perhaps we were better off not knowing the details of that statement.

  Cinder shoved the cookie plate at me. “Here. Try one. They’re macadamia nut.”

  Although I had zero appetite for cookies right then, the hopeful glint in his eyes made me take one. If eating a damn cookie was all it took to make Cinder happy, then I’d stuff it in my face whether I wanted it or not.

  Overwhelmed by the events of the evening, I craved nothing more than to be alone with my thoughts. Possibly in a hot bath with a good book on my Kindle. Leave it to Jett to ruin that plan by texting with a demand that I meet her at the jam space to hear a new song she had nearly finished.

  I considered declining, then thought better of it. If anyone could talk me through the sudden doubt and second thoughts that plagued me, it was Jett.

  As Cinder pushed a cookie on Arrow, I slipped deeper into doubt. Taking on this role had been my choice. Nobody had forced me to join the light or to do anything Cinder had asked. In fact, I enjoyed the feeling of doing something of worth, knowing that somehow I made a difference in the grand scheme of things. Even if that difference was miniscule.

  Since leaving Fiona’s, self-doubt and fear had nagged me. I’d hoped Cinder would set my mind at ease. He hadn’t. If anything, now I felt even more unsure. Not only did I have to find a way to stop Dash from initiating Rowen before Koda killed him, now I had to walk around with this constant awareness that I carried something demons wanted. All while trying to live a human life and chase a human dream.

  Yep. I needed some girl time.

  * * * *

  “I’d really like to have this song ready for the tour. It should be on the set list, if you’re cool with that.” With a spliff between her lips, Jett puffed away and waited for my reaction.

  The song she’d been so psyched to show me was good. No, it was great. I genuinely loved it. The problem was getting my face on board. In the back of my mind, I continued to fuss and fret. “Yeah, for sure. It’s a kick ass song. We should definitely play it on the tour.” I sat stiff on the couch in our jam space, unable to relax. It sucked. This was our dream. Music was our passion. But I couldn’t get my head in the game. Not tonight.

  “Ok, what’s going on? It’s like you’re barely even here. Spit it out.” She shoved the joint into my grasp and flapped her hands for me to speak.

  “I’m sorry, Jett. I really do love your song. It’s just been a strange night.” In careful detail I recounted my night to her, leaving nothing out. I didn’t question for a second that I could trust her with the details of the amethyst stone.

  She plopped down on the couch beside me and listened attentively as I whined and worried. When I’d finished she pursed her lips in thought and cocked her head to the side.

  “You know Arrow’s totally into you, right?” She gave no warning before flinging that unwelcome theory my way. “His tarot reading, the Lovers, that’s totally about you. Temptation of the heart. I saw that one coming a mile away.”

  I gaped at her. “That’s the first thing you have to say about any of what I just told you? I hardly think Arrow’s tarot reading is the most important aspect here.”

  Jett snickered and slapped my arm. “I didn’t hear a denial.”

  “Arrow is not into me,” I declared with more force than necessary. “He’s into cocaine, rock n’ roll, and as much random pussy as he can get his hands on.”

  “Yeah.” Jett nodded and blew a purple lock out of her eyes. “He is. But he’s also into you. I’ve suspected it for a while now. More than once I’ve caught him staring at you, and last week his heart rate went up when you walked into The Spirit Room. I thought it might have been the coke, but nope, it was you.”

  This was not a path I wanted to go down. My mind refused to fully compute what she was saying. “No. No way. I don’t believe it. Arrow and me, we barely get along. I mean, yeah, he’s made a few filthy remarks about doing a nephilim, but that was when we first met.”

  Jett raised both brows and smiled with a knowing look that made me want to slap her. Leaning back against the arm of the couch, she cackled, enjoying this far too much. “You like it. Part of you deep inside knows I’m right, and you fucking like it.”

  I couldn’t possibly frown hard enough, which only made her laugh harder. “Arrow and me, we share a common goal, to protect Rowen. That’s it.” That was my opinion, and I planned to d
amn well stick to it.

  Pulling a cigarette out of the crushed pack in her back pocket, Jett stuck it between her lips and gave me a teasing wink. “Brothers. Now that could be interesting.”

  “Shut up, dude.”

  “Remember that night Alexa came into Spirit and pinned Arrow against the wall like she was going to eat him right there?” Jett waited for my nod. “As they were talking, he kept looking at you. All concerned like. I wonder what they were talking about.”

  I did recall that night. We’d been on stage, but there’d been no missing the blonde vampire queen as she prowled through the bar. Usually when she came in to talk to Arrow, it had something to do with a mutual friend they shared. But that night Alexa had turned her succubus gaze on Arrow. It meant nothing to me then and still meant nothing to me now.

  “I doubt it matters. Can we get back to the point? I’m starting to feel like I can’t do this anymore. Like maybe I’m not going to save Rowen after all. Or any nephilim for that matter. I don’t think I’m the right person for the job, the right… flame bearer. And now I’m supposed to banish demons? If only that were as easy as it sounds.”

  “Why so negative? Because Cinder trusts you with an ancient power stone?” Serious now, Jett sat up straighter. “Spike, if anything, that goes to show that you can do this. You’re more than a one trick pony. He believes in you. You just have to believe in yourself.”

  Commitment had never been my strong suit. Life had taught me that it was easier to be fickle, to ride the fence. If I didn’t commit to anyone or anything, it couldn’t come back to hurt me. “You sound like a self-help book.” The laugh I tried to muster died on arrival. “Feels like it would be so much simpler to play human.”

  Puffing away on her cigarette, Jett made a sound of derision. “Uh, yeah. Tell me about it. My pack just got its ass kicked by the fucking government. The only reason I’m still here is because of the music. It keeps me busy. I don’t spend as much time with the pack anymore. Only on moon nights. And trust me, I feel guilty as fuck for surviving. If I’d just been there…” The pain she so rarely showed flashed through her dark eyes. Jett’s loud mouth and sarcastic attitude went a long way in covering up the sensitive softy beneath.

  I didn’t quite know what to say. There was no way I could relate to what she’d lost. Her pack still existed, though the numbers were much smaller. A powerful force in the city had been reduced to a smattering of wolves.

  It was the brutal reminder I needed that this wasn’t all about me.

  We all played a role in this cesspool of a city. If none of it meant anything, then our entire existence here was a waste. Forfeit. That meant Rowen’s sacrifice for Arrow and me, joining the dark to save us, it would be for nothing.

  I couldn’t let that be true. The pain in my best friend’s eyes shook me, dragging me out of my pity party and slapping my face with the harsh sting of reality. “If you’d been there, you’d probably be dead too,” I reminded her gently. “You’re here now, and there’s got to be a reason for that. Don’t hate yourself for what you can’t change.” I shuffled closer to her on the couch and pulled her in for a cuddle. I hoped this part of our friendship never changed. When we were old and decrepit, I wanted to still be able to have a comforting snuggle on the couch with my best friend.

  Jett leaned in close, the side of her head resting against mine. “I know. I’m trying. And that’s why you have to keep trying too. We’re playing the biggest New Year’s Eve show in the city in a few days. We’re going on tour this summer. Living our dream. A human dream, and we’re going to kick its ass. But we’re not human, Spike. There’s no sense pretending.”

  “Think we can balance both worlds?” The thought of giving up the music to fight demons and chase down artifacts full time gave me a heavy sensation in my chest. I loved working for Cinder, and nothing matched the exhilaration of running the Midnight Star through a demon. Maybe I could never go back to a human life, but did that mean giving up everything I’d ever wanted?

  Jett gave a lazy half shrug and sighed. “We already are.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Three days of graphic design work and practicing for the New Year’s party kept me busy. So busy that I didn’t obsess or worry. I simply didn’t have the time. The full moon kept Jett occupied, giving me no outside distraction.

  She had been right. Somehow we were balancing the various facets of life as something more than human. It sure didn’t come easy, but the thrill of excitement that filled me on the day of the party was so worth it. It was the next big step in our music career. Sure we were just an opening act in our own city, but tonight was the biggest party of the year and great preparation for the upcoming tour.

  The local rock radio station had been good to the local rock scene. Over the years they had helped launch the careers of several bands. They’d included us in the New Year’s show they were sponsoring, and they’d started spinning a few of our tracks regularly. We couldn’t have asked for a more supportive station.

  Online downloads were up, and our social media presence grew daily. It wasn’t quite overnight success, but I didn’t expect any such thing. This was what we wanted, and I remained grateful for every opportunity.

  A few days of distraction had allowed me to refocus my intent. Not only did that mean a renewed commitment to my band but to my calling. To Cinder and to Rowen. Tonight I would make it clear to anyone watching that I would not back down.

  The anxiety still lurked in the back of my mind, but as we prepared for our gig, it wore a muzzle.

  Jett asked, “Tash, do you still have that Kat Von D foundation? Mine’s almost out. Your shade should be a close enough match.” Without waiting for a response, Jett dug around in Tash’s makeup bag.

  The four of us filled the jam space with a flurry of activity. Talking excitedly while the rock radio station blasted from Jett’s phone, we littered the place with hair irons, accessories, and beer cans.

  I peered into the makeup mirror propped on top of my amp. Thick, winged black eyeliner and bright red lips adorned my reflection. My hair left down and poker straight, I’d opted for what I considered casual wear, going for comfort on what I presumed would be a tipsy night. It was New Year’s Eve after all. A chain hung from the studded belt slung low around the hips of my tight black pants. A tank top with a sheer back revealed my bra and the tattooed wings that draped me from shoulder to hip. An impulsive tattoo choice for sure that I’d spent hours in the chair second guessing. Three years later and I still loved them. They’d probably be the only wings I’d ever have.

  “Is Mr. Country going to stop by?” Jett teased Tash without glancing up from the small mirror she held as she expertly blended foundation. “I know it’s not quite his scene, but it is New Year’s Eve.”

  Tash pulled her red hair back into a sleek ponytail and laughed. “Expose him to you crazy bitches on a night like this? No way. I’m going to take off early and meet him before midnight at Cowboys.”

  “The country bar?” With a shake of her head and a cluck of her tongue, Jett wagged a finger. “For fucking shame, Tash. You keep this country bumpkin shit up, and you’ll have to hand in your rock card.”

  I half listened to them go back and forth at each other. In the pit of my stomach, a flutter began. Nervous but excited, I looked forward to both playing the show and seeing Rowen. We hadn’t spoken since that night in my kitchen.

  “Spike?”

  I spun around at the sound of my name. The expectant expression Jett wore suggested I’d missed a question. “What?”

  She waved a hand over the long Iron Maiden t-shirt dress with cut off sleeves that draped her curvy frame. With a toss of her hair she arranged her purple curls in a tousled, come hither fashion. “Is this too short? Does it show my ass?”

  My gaze traveled over the thigh-high boots that laced up her legs. I spun a finger, and she turned to show me her covered behind. “No, definitely does not show enough ass.”

  Jett smirked and tipp
ed a beer to her burgundy lips. “Sam has no idea what’s about to hit him.”

  “You seem to really like him,” Rubi observed. “He must be something special to have lasted longer than a week.”

  Jett pondered this with a contemplative head tilt. “Yeah, he’s alright. Eager to please. Knows how to take orders. Accepts me as the dominant. Pretty much all I want or need in a guy.”

  The girl talk went on, delving into jokes revolving around Sam’s sexual prowess. Did they talk about us like this? I didn’t want to know.

  After loading our gear into Tash’s borrowed van, we piled in and headed for the venue. The large conference center downtown hosted many such parties. Holding about five thousand it certainly wasn’t stadium size, but it did make for a pretty wild party location.

  My anticipation grew in leaps and bounds. I couldn’t wait to lay eyes on Rowen. Once we’d lugged our gear inside, I scoured the place, seeking out his blue mohawk.

  Molly’s Chamber would be playing first. We’d be next, followed by the headlining band’s opening act. The headliner would take the stage just after the midnight countdown. It was going to be a good night.

  People trickled into the place in a steady stream. The doors had been opened, and those looking to get their good time started had arrived early. It was also the only way to ensure one obtained a table. A bar had been set up at one end of the concert hall, the stage at the other. Molly’s Chamber had already set up their gear.

  As expected, Koda lingered near the bar, a drink in hand. We couldn’t make a move without him watching us, no matter where we went. Just as well. I wanted him to see what I was about to do.

  At Jett’s insistence that we had to kick off the night with drinks, I ambled along to the bar, soaking in the environment. So many times I’d attended shows here. Never had I been invited to play one.

  With a vodka in hand, I met Koda’s watchful gaze and winked. His frown filled me with satisfaction. Suspicion furrowed his brow further. Good. I’d grown tired of his taunts and torment. Tonight I’d come to play the game.