How To Be Deadly

by Trina M. Lee

  “We’ve been over this. I’m not Rowen’s girl. Not anymore. I am my own woman, and I won’t have either of you make decisions for me.” I should have been irritated, but mostly I felt dismay.

  He let his head fall back against the door. “You know that’s not what I’m doing. I’m making this decision for me. I don’t want to be a dirtbag. Not when it comes to you.”

  The sincerity in that loaded statement floored me. In the time Arrow and I had spent together, I found him to be a man of many layers. Gradually some of them peeled back to reveal even more layers beneath, each more intriguing than the last.

  I couldn’t stop myself. I crossed the laundry room in a small stride and captured Arrow’s face in my hands. Without a second thought, I kissed him. My lips moved on his for all of two seconds before his initial surprise passed. Then his hands slid around my waist, and he held me close, kissing me back. A passion so hot and so dark emanated from him, catching me up in a dizzying haze.

  “Holy fuck,” Arrow murmured, voice husky. “That was so much hotter than our last kiss.”

  “Who says we’re done?” I thrust a hand into the hair at the back of his neck and slipped my tongue in his mouth. The smooth metal of the barbell in his tongue bumped against my bottom lip.

  Was this reckless? Possibly, yeah. Did I care? Maybe later. I very much needed to not care right now.

  Arrow slid his hands up beneath the back of my top, pausing suddenly. “How drunk are you, Spike?” He pulled back to peer into my eyes.

  Yep, people could talk a lot of smack about Arrow. And most of it would be true. They couldn’t say he was willing to take advantage of me if I were too drunk to make a decision of sound mind. He respected me.

  Vodka blazed through my veins, strong enough to leave me warm and a little tingly. However, I was nowhere near falling down and passing out, nor was I treading into blurry-minded territory.

  “I’ve had enough to take down some of the walls that keep me from acting on impulse. Not so much that I don’t know what I’m doing.” Crisscrossing my arms I grasped the hem of my top and stripped it off in one quick motion. “I assure you, Arrow, I most definitely know what I’m doing.”

  He gaped at me like he might be asking himself if he was too drunk and imagining the whole thing. Then he grabbed me again, and his mouth claimed mine.

  I slung my arms around his neck. Beyond the laundry room the party raged on. The band played “She Keeps Me Up” by Nickelback. Not necessarily the background song I’d have chosen for this moment but it would do. Couldn’t go wrong with that groove.

  The heat of Arrow’s fingers streaked across my skin. He ran his hands over the wings tattooed on my back, then up my spine and over my bra. With one hand he slipped my bra strap aside and kissed my shoulder. His mouth carved a hot trail to my neck.

  I reached beneath the Crimson Sin t-shirt he wore to get a handful of hard abs. The raven on his hip peeked out from beneath his low-slung pants. As I touched it, he sucked in a breath.

  From steamy to scorching hot, it didn’t take long for us to get carried away. A month of pent up attraction and tension had us moving fast, unable to slow the urgency that drove us.

  Arrow turned me so my back was to the door. His mouth found the swell of my cleavage, and my breath hitched. Well, I’d never done it in a laundry room before. First time for everything.

  But we never got that far.

  Screams rang out and we froze. The music stopped and shouts ensued.

  Panic gripped me. I scrambled to grab my shirt off the floor and follow Arrow who’d already thrown the door open.

  People were stampeding up the stairs, save for a few too drunk or stoned to realize what was going on. I looked around for Jett but saw only a flash of purple hair in the rush. She was already near the top of the stairs.

  Arrow made sure I was with him before bounding up, taking them two at a time. It seemed the initial screams had come from the main floor. People were gathered in the living room, confused and unsure of what was going on. Others followed a small crowd out onto the back deck just off the living room.

  Another long wail reached us.

  Jett was already at the scene when we arrived. There was a body strung up, hanging from the gazebo that took up most of the deck. It was a woman I recognized. Because not only had I witnessed her overdose in The Spirit Room parking lot, I’d also seen her exchange a blowjob for drugs. From Arrow.

  A pentagram had been carved into her chest. And in the center of it, blood dripping from the wound, was Wren’s three triangle sigil.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  I stood on the deck staring at what Wren had left for us.

  Jett sprang into action first. Immediately she took charge of the situation. Forcing people back inside the house, she called out, “The cops have already been called. They’re on the way, so everyone go inside and calm down. Nobody leave until they get here.”

  Much to my surprise, they obeyed her.

  Beside me, Arrow trembled. I reached out to grasp his hand, hoping to offer some comfort but knowing that was a tall order. He had to believe this was his fault. In some way it was, but ultimately it wasn’t. I tried to pull him back inside the house, but he wouldn’t budge. He just kept staring at her.

  My mind raced as I tried to figure out what the hell we should do now. We couldn’t actually call the cops, and if someone already had, we were fucked. I glanced inside the house, searching what I could see of it for Rowen.

  Jett continued to talk everyone down, even the one guy in hysterics who would not stop shrieking. When words failed, Jett slapped him across the face, anything to subdue him without knocking him out.

  “Arrow, let’s go inside.” I tugged on his arm. “We have to get the party under control. We have to find a way to deal with this.”

  “But I didn’t do anything. Not this time. I haven’t even sold to her since she ODed at Spirit.” He stared unblinking, trying to put it altogether. “I cut her off. I don’t understand.”

  He seemed to be in shock. It was a pretty fucking shocking image. Paul finally shook me into action. Local douchebag and singer of Sacred Stone, not to mention Arrow’s personal nemesis, he appeared in the doorway and let out a low whistle. “So that’s two now, I guess, Arrow. Either you have the shittiest luck with the ladies ever, or you just might be a goddamn serial killer.”

  My palms burned with fire that ached to explode forth. I spun around to really let the son of a bitch have it.

  Arrow held me back, clutching my hand tighter in his. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

  But I wasn’t the only one who heard Paul’s shitty remark. Jett turned from where she stood blocking partygoers from returning to the deck. She didn’t just throw a punch like I would have. No, she lunged at him full on. She slammed into Paul and took him down hard. Then the hits began. With the strength of a werewolf, she pummeled him bloody despite his attempts to fend her off. One might think he would have learned by now not mess with any of us. Clearly the guy’s mouth made all his decisions.

  People rushed to drag her off him, and it was over seconds after it started. Paul was a bloody mess, and I worried that she might have killed him. But then, with a groan, he twitched and tried to roll over.

  Everything happened so fast. I knew I needed to do something to take charge, but I didn’t know what that should be. In my mind I pleaded for Cinder to come, hoping he would hear me.

  Somebody did come. Though it wasn’t Cinder, I felt awash with relief.

  Nova swept through the people packed into the living room, barking orders for them to stay put. I sensed a tightening in the atmosphere as he did something to ensure they’d obey.

  He stepped onto the deck and appraised the body with relative disinterest. “Alright, well we need to get this out of here before any of the neighbors see.”

  “How did you know?” I managed to ask after several attempts to clear my head and stay focused.

  “I’m part of The Circle of the
Veil. We always know. Not too bright of you idiots to host a party while there’s a vengeful, psychotic demon on the loose gunning for you. What the hell were you thinking?” Nova glared at each of us in turn. “Drawing attention is always a no-no but especially when someone’s actively hunting you.”

  Arrow continued to stare in a daze at the body. Without looking at anyone, he mumbled, “It was just supposed to be a birthday party.”

  “Yeah, lay off, Nova. It was a party for a friend. We need to be able to live normal lives outside all this shit, or we’ll go fucking crazy.” I probably shouldn’t have been telling off the person who was about to save our asses, but he had to remember we were human too.

  “Normal lives?” The demon scoffed. “If you believe you have any such thing, then you’ve already lost your damn fool mind. Get that body down while I deal with the people inside. Can’t have them remembering this.” Leaving us on the deck, Nova went inside.

  I held Arrow’s hand a little bit tighter, knowing that I had to let go and touch the dead woman staring vacantly at us. “Are you ok?” I pressed my lips to the side of his face. “You didn’t do this, Arrow. Don’t blame yourself.”

  “I kind of did though. Because I’m a traitor to the dark. Or so they say. Why else would Wren do this to me?” Arrow angled his body toward mine and leaned into the comfort I offered.

  “Wren wants to hurt Cinder. That’s what this all comes back to. You’re not supposed to be part of his team. But you are. And that’s a threat to the dark. This punishment is for all of us but especially for Cinder.” Huddled together as we were, I closed my eyes and brushed my lips over his. I needed him to know this was not on him and that we were all in this together.

  When I opened them, Rowen stood in the doorway with Jett, watching us. She shrugged apologetically. Reluctantly, I pulled away from Arrow. It was so hard to meet Rowen’s eyes because within them was not accusation or anger but merely solemn acceptance.

  “I guess we better do something about this.” Steeling my resolve, I approached the body. I had to swallow a few times and focus on breathing so that I wouldn’t vomit.

  At Nova’s instruction, the four of us managed to cut the body down and wrap it in a blanket. He took care of the partygoers, taking everyone’s memories of this part of the evening and ensuring nobody had cell phone evidence. It terrified me to think how easily this could have all blown up on us.

  At my insistence Arrow went out to help Nova send everybody home once they were successfully confused about how their evening ended. Rowen, Jett, and I stood in the cold night air staring at the bundled body.

  “I think you’re right, Spike.” Jett seemed almost at ease. “Maybe the only way to draw the fucker out is to lay some kind of trap with you as bait. This shit has got to stop.”

  Rowen kept his distance. He seemed to have a hard time looking me in the eye. “I’m starting to agree. Holding back and doing nothing isn’t working. For a demon able to so easily stay two steps ahead, he seems especially drawn to us. We might have to find a way to make that work in our favor before he kills us all.”

  I nodded, wishing Cinder had heeded my call. It wasn’t like him to ignore me in an emergency. Which made me wonder what could possibly be so bad that it had taken precedence.

  Maybe his night wasn’t going so great either.

  Jett huffed, pacing a path in the snow on the deck. “I know I said someone should be with Spike at all times, but now I’m starting to think it might be better if we all stick together. It’s too dangerous to go it alone right now.”

  Jumping in, I added, “It’s too dangerous for you to even go to work, Rowen.”

  He followed Jett’s pacing carefully, like watching her was safer than looking at me. “So what? The four of us are just supposed to hole up in Spike’s little one-bedroom apartment until we come up with a plan?”

  “The five of us,” Jett corrected. “Sam has been present too many times now to leave him alone. And yes, that’s exactly what I mean. Camping out on the floor for a few nights won’t hurt any of you.”

  Rowen slid a sidelong glance my way. “Are you sure about that?”

  There was nothing I could say, and this wasn’t the time. So I left the two of them standing outside and went in, where the warmth of the house lacked true comfort. The last of the partygoers were making their way out the front door to cabs, Ubers, and sober friends. Paul would wake up wondering what had led to his face being punched in, although I doubted it would be a new sensation based on his track record.

  Nova and Arrow stood in the kitchen, watching each person leave. They both turned when I entered.

  “I’d advise you to stick to public places if you insist on partying.” Then Nova’s frown deepened. “I can’t imagine Cinder would be okay with this.”

  I shrugged. “I doubt it, but seeing as I tried to call for him and he didn’t show, it probably doesn’t matter.”

  “No.” Nova gestured to Arrow and me. “I mean this. Whatever this is. I assume it to be hormone-driven desires or misplaced affection, but either way, I can’t see it being a good idea for either of you.”

  That threw me off guard. “Excuse me?”

  “Light and dark, my friends, do not a match make. Sure, it will be fun for a time, but ultimately you are on opposing sides. That makes you enemies, and though you may like to forget it, I assure you others will not. Nor will they forgive such a traitorous relationship.” Nova lacked emotion. He didn’t really give a shit, nor did I expect him to.

  “Why would anybody give a damn?” Arrow countered. “We’re mortal. It’s not like anything we do really means shit to the rest of you.”

  Nova regarded him with utter disdain. “You’ve still got a lot to learn. Go ahead and get your rocks off. Screw each other senseless for all I care. But then you walk away and you remember what side you’re on and where you belong.”

  The warning in Nova’s unsolicited advice shook me. I hadn’t considered what developing feelings for Arrow might mean in the grand scheme of things. I didn’t think I had to.

  Arrow looked about as exhausted as I felt. He shook his head and muttered, “Yeah, man, whatever.”

  Nova headed for the door but paused. “My advice to you, Ember, would be to use every skill in your arsenal, most especially the rare one you inherited from your father. I genuinely doubt Wren knows your parentage, and you’ll definitely want to use that to your advantage going forward. Best of luck. And if you somehow manage to survive him, come and see me. The Circle of the Veil would like to speak with you.”

  “Uh, Nova?” I called after him. “The body?”

  Without a glance back, he snapped his fingers and disappeared through the doorway. Returning to the back deck, we discovered ashes where the blanketed body had been.

  Jett wore a stunned expression. “Well, that was unexpected.”

  “So what now?” Arrow asked, looking genuinely lost.

  Rowen stared up at the night sky, as if searching for the stars beyond the pollution of the city lights. “I guess we all head to Spike’s.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  We ordered a late-night pizza when we got back to my place. Nobody had much of an appetite though. We picked at our food and tried to make casual conversation, but the effort fell flat.

  Coming home to find the apartment empty had been not only disappointing but alarming. It just wasn’t like Cinder not to show. The last thing I wanted was to jump to conclusions, but worry took my mind to terrible places.

  Gathered in the living room with the TV on low more for distraction than entertainment, the five of us existed in a constant state of turmoil and tension. Jett and Sam huddled close together on one end of the couch. Rowen sat on the opposite end looking extremely uncomfortable. I occupied my favorite spot on the big easy chair with Arrow perched on its wide arm beside me. He seemed especially careful not to touch me, but it didn’t matter now. Rowen had already witnessed what I had yet to understand myself.

  As the clock t
icked into the wee hours of the morning, I felt increasingly guilty. And tired. So friggin’ tired.

  “I guess we should probably try to get some sleep. I have zero appetite.” Jett picked a piece of mushroom from her pizza and eyed it suspiciously. “Spike and I can crash in her room, and the three of you can battle over the couch bed.”

  That seemed to be the safest way to handle the sleeping arrangements. I fetched extra blankets and pillows from the hall closet. “Feel free to grab anything you want from the kitchen. If you guys need us, you know where to find us.” The mental exhaustion was greater than the physical, and I was ready to retreat to the solitude of my bedroom.

  “But try not to need us,” Jett quipped. She lingered to give Sam a kiss that would definitely have him needing her and then bounded off to the bedroom behind me.

  I flopped onto the bed. Cramming both fists into my eyes, I groaned and might have even bit back a frustrated screech.

  Jett plopped down next to me and grabbed a lock of my hair. “What a fucking night, huh?”

  “Something like that.” I stared up at her from where I lay in the middle of the bed. “This shit is never going to get any easier, is it?”

  “What? The demon shit or the having to choose between two brothers shit?” She twisted the black lock she held into a fishtail braid.

  “Both, but I mostly meant the demon shit. Don’t even get me thinking about the other thing.” Suddenly paranoid I lowered my voice, afraid of being heard through the door. I could hear the guys talking in the living room. They weren’t listening but that didn’t matter.

  Jett stared down at the braid she twisted, head cocked to one side in contemplation. “You know it’s all tied together, right? The demons, the brothers. It’s all part of you now. And you’ve got this. There’s nothing you can’t handle, Spike.”

  Ah, best friends. The world would be a much darker place without them.

  “I wish I had as much confidence about that as you do. Cinder’s the only reason I’ve been able to achieve anything, so where is he now when I need him most?” I tugged my bracelet and rings off, letting them fall into a pile on the bed.