by Kirk, A
“But we need Blake down here so he can map those new tunnels,” Logan said.
“He’s right, mate. We had no idea about those. They could lead to the treasure.”
Ayden’s jaw ground shut. “Then Matthias, you can take her.”
“Too busy.” Matthias slicked clumps of hair off his forehead. “Besides, she’s your girlfriend. You’ve got to play the part even when it’s not fun anymore.”
Ouch. I think he nicked an artery.
Ayden slammed an elbow into the Aussie’s shoulder. “Shut up!”
“Forget it. I can get myself home.” I turned to walk away.
“Not a chance.” Ayden grabbed my wrist and pulled me around. “Don’t listen to him. It’s not that I don’t want to—”
The floor rumbled. Ayden shoved me behind him and turned to face the portal, arms alighting with flames.
The wall still shimmered, but now, as if made of a thin, rubbery membrane, it was stretching toward us in three places. As if some things were determined to break through.
It stretched farther and farther until, with a wet thwap, two demons burst into the cave.
The size and shape of chubby ponies, they flew on leathery wings and dripped pus-green goo off flayed, hairless skin. They had manes and tails of blazing fire which reflected in the shiny orbs of their bulging black eyes.
Logan’s arrow took out one in a hail of splatter just as Fido flipped her head up and snapped massive jaws around the second, easy as catching flies. She crunched a few times, swallowed, then flumped back down to rip on Matthias’s jacket, drool now tinged with pus-green soaking into the wool.
A third demon, finally thwapped through, but the wall suddenly re-solidified and cut the creature in two. Its head tumbled down the wall, streaking the sticky green slime from its severed neck. Before the still-flaming body part hit the cave floor, one of Fido’s antennae claws flicked out, snapped it up, and brought it back to stuff into her mouth. It was gone in one gulp. She didn’t even chew.
Ayden’s arms snuffed out. “What is going on?”
“Hell if I know.” Matthias let his whips disappear. “I came down here because the warning sensors activated. Then that thing,” he scowled at the centimole, “crashed through and ever since the portal’s been unstable. I think it broke it.”
I peeked over Ayden’s shoulder. “Broke the portal to hell?”
“To the Waiting World,” Ayden said. “It’s like the transfer station to hell.”
“Whoa.” I backed up. The Waiting World was my least favorite neighborhood. “Should we be standing so close? What if it sucks us in?”
“Good thinking,” Matthias said. “You should get closer.”
I backed up further. “So it’s not supposed to be doing…that?”
I pointed to the wall which kept changing form, blinking in and out from solid stone to a shimmering swirl of liquid, as if a giant blender was trying to make a sedentary-rock smoothie.
“No,” Ayden said as we all stared through the hole. “It’s supposed to be solid rock ninety-nine percent of the time. But then, without warning it can open, the rock disappears for a few seconds, and a demon, or two, can get in.” He eyed the centimole chomping on Matthias’s jacket. “Usually, the net contains it until we get here to send it back.”
I stared at the hypnotic blur of the wall. “How do you open the portal to send the demon back?”
“You twit,” Matthias scoffed. “Nobody can open a portal. We kill the demon as usual and it disappears back to hell. As usual.” He rolled his eyes. “Open a friggin’ portal. You’re such a moron.”
“Well, how am I supposed to know, Captain McSmarty pants? It’s not like you guys tell me anything.”
Logan shrugged, “Truth is, Aurora doesn’t even need a portal to travel to and from the Waiting World.”
He said that like it was a good thing.
“Good point.” Ayden paled and moved me back. “But since it puts her body into a coma in this world, while she runs for her life in the Waiting World, let’s keep her far, far away.”
“Sounds good to me.” I backed up even further. “Can it really suck us in like Blake said?”
“There have been stories,” Ayden said. “Portals are unpredictable and uncontrollable. Once the Mandatum finds them, we mostly just monitor activity and contain what comes through.”
I kept backpedaling because if the Waiting World was just on the other side of some unstable supernatural doorway, far, far away was even too close for me. My tension ebbed when, in a few moments, the wall became solid with only a few spots of liquid blur.
“Looks like it’s stabilizing.” Ayden sounded relieved.
“The net is going up for repairs.” Logan pointed to the large metal net that was rising and feeding into the ceiling. The broken pieces in the middle sparked and sizzled, already starting to reattach. “It fixes itself up there,” He told me. “Comes down when it’s done. I’ll stay to make sure it rolls all the way up. I’ll keep this demon too.” Logan nodded at the centimole. “Don’t want it running around school.”
“Fine.” Ayden led me out of the cave. “We’ll send Blake to help.”
The centimole started to follow us, the jacket hanging from her slobbery mouth.
Ayden said, “Aurora, tell it to stay.”
“Why?” I glanced back nervously.
Ayden sounded grim. “Because if you don’t give it an order to obey, it will follow you and potentially eat anyone in its path.”
Chapter Thirty
Ayden had been rushed and on edge ever since he’d hustled me out of the caves and into his car, which we had to ourselves since Luna and Lucian were at their afterschool clubs. He was talking about as fast as he was driving.
“I canceled our golf game at the country club today, but kept next week’s tennis reservation. For now. And I already signed us up for a hot air balloon ride. They start next month so shouldn’t be a problem.” He laughed nervously. “We hope, right?”
I’d thought we could squeeze in a mini-date, kind of make up for last night’s fiasco, maybe even find out what he wanted to talk about. I was trying to find a bit of personal life in the midst of this demon crap taking over my existence, but he’d shut me down on all counts.
“Sure you don’t want to stop for coffee?” I tried again, talking in a rush to get in an entire sentence. “My treat.”
He looked uncomfortable. “I would, but I’ve got this…meeting thing. Rain check?”
“Sure.”
Why not? I might be dead by morning, the whole assassin thing going on and all, but what the heck, rain check sounded peachy. I white-knuckled the door as Ayden fishtailed around another corner.
When the car was back on four wheels, I said, “I could’ve taken the bus.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Ayden shook his head, eyes straight ahead. “If you’re not in a shielded building then you need to be with a hunter. And if you remember, the last time you ditched me for the bus, things turned disastrous.”
“Sure.” I thumped into the seat. “Bring that up. Like I was supposed to know a Kalifera would hunt me down.”
“Sorry. I’m just…” He sighed. “Please. Stay home so I know you’re safe while we figure some things out. Now, what was I saying before?” He worked the clutch of his Audi, shifting hard as he weaved in and out of what little traffic Gossamer Falls could muster on a weekday afternoon. Someone honked. Again. “Right. Explaining blood contracts.”
Because that was so romantic.
“I get the gist.” I gripped my seat to help steady. “Someone, somewhere, sometime made a contract with the demon to protect me if certain conditions were met. We don’t know what conditions or who set it up, but my hand bled. It activated. And now I’ve got a slobbering demon guard dog. See, I was listening.” I chewed my lip. “Will she go after Rose?”
“If he was attacking you directly, yes,” Ayden said. “But he’s too smart for that. And since she’s more brawn than brai
ns, it’s your family I’m worried about. Best she stays in the tunnels.”
“Meaning?”
“For instance, if she saw Lucian fighting with you for the remote or Oron throwing oatmeal at your head, she’d take them out as fast as if Rose was coming at you with a chainsaw. She can’t differentiate between threats.”
My eyes bugged. “Oh, God. What if she shows up at my house?” I leaned toward him and put a hand on his thigh.
He jumped, the car jerked left, we swerved into oncoming traffic, horns blared, Ayden swung the wheel right. The seatbelt checked my sideways freefall as we skidded briefly onto the gravel of the shoulder, clipped the metal guardrail with a high-pitched ping then steadied into the correct lane.
“You alright?” he almost shouted, his head swiveling back and forth from the road to me.
“I’m fine.” Once I’d swallowed down the multitude of internal organs that had jettisoned up my throat.
He swore under his breath and thumped the steering wheel. “We don’t have to worry about Rose killing you. I’ll do it for him! I am such an idiot.”
I nearly choked on the pungent smell of burnt rubber. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about this afternoon’s meeting?”
“What?” Ayden barked another nervous laugh then cleared his throat and wiped a hand across his mouth. “Why would you say that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe…” Juggling two women can make you jumpy. Literally. “What’s the meeting about?”
He regripped the steering wheel. “Boring stuff. You wouldn’t be interested.”
“Sure I am.” I struggled to keep the frustration from my voice. “Is it Mandatum stuff?”
“Uhhh, yes.” He nodded. “Stuff I’m required, as part of my training, to analyze with…someone my dad knows regarding recent incidents and how best to,” he pulled one hand off the wheel to wave it in the air, “handle the fallout of some unexpected supernatural reactions that could have disastrous long-term effects on…various scenarios that hunters have to deal with and — Trust me. Boring stuff. Oh look, we’re here.”
We actually weren’t there. We were still a few blocks from my house, but Ayden cut off his babbling and used the time to grab my backpack from the rear seat and plop it on my lap. As we pulled up to the curb outside my house, he leaned across me for what I thought was an amorous move at a kiss, so I started to pucker up. Even closed my eyes.
“That son of a—” Ayden glared out my window.
Then he was out of the car. Halfway up my driveway he doubled back and opened my door.
“Sorry.” He took my backpack and hauled me out of the car, nudging me and my shredded ego along faster.
Chapter Thirty-One
Our kitchen smelled heavenly, but I made a face because it was infected with Australian scum. Ayden hadn’t been happy when he’d seen Matthias’s BMW in the driveway. I was less so.
Mom plopped a slice of banana bread onto Matthias’s plate.
“Not another one.” The Aussie sat at our kitchen table playing thumb war with Selena who was perched on his lap. “I’m stuffed.”
Mom pointed the knife at him. “It’s still warm. Eat.”
“What is the royal Payne doing here?” Sometimes I cracked myself up. What didn’t make me laugh was mom treating him like a king and serving him yummilious, baked goods that he didn’t deserve.
The glass on the French doors to the backyard squealed as Helsing pawed frantically to get in.
“Ugh.” Mom groaned. “Ayden, could you get the door? What a spaz! He was doing this a few hours ago to get out. Make up your mind, cat.”
Ayden opened the door and did a quick glance over the backyard. Helsing darted in, flung a hiss at Matthias and laced through my ankles with a motorboat purr. At least one family member was on my anti-Aussie side.
“I thought you were busy?” Ayden flicked the back of Matthias’s head, then stole the banana bread Mom had put on the Aussie’s plate and made a big show of taking a huge bite.
“Ayden!” Mom admonished.
“Sorry,” Ayden said through guilty mouthfuls. “Too delicious to resist.”
“There’s plenty.” Mom smiled and pulled on her bright red lobster claw pot holders to pull out a fresh loaf from the oven. “But Matty gets the most because he saved my baby.”
Matthias blushed. “I didn’t do anything.”
Selena trapped his thumb. “I won!”
“Saved her from what?” A centimole demon? My heart stuttered. No. That didn’t make sense.
“Some boy tried to kiss her on the playground.” Mom turned to Selena. “Show them what you did, honey.”
My pint-sized blonde sister scooted off Matthias’s lap, handed him Bubbles, and got into a fighting stance, feet planted, fists raised like Popeye after he’d downed a can of spinach. She scrunched her face into a scowl and yelled in a faint Australian accent, “Get the bloody hell away from me!” then she jabbed a tiny fist into the air.
“Yeah,” Ayden smirked. “Kind of has your name written all over it.”
Selena climbed back onto Matthias’s lap. “Then he cried. There was blood.”
“A little bloody nose. Nothing he didn’t deserve. Principal threatened to suspend her. Unbelievable.” Mom made a disgusted noise. “I gave them a piece and a half of my mind on that. Then Aunt M threatened a sexual harassment lawsuit with her corporation’s team of ‘best lawyers money can buy,’ and Sheriff Payne showed up to smooth things over. It’s all good now.”
Great. The big jerk was a hero. Man, I hated when they treated my nemesis like the golden boy. If they only knew. Kidnapping, anyone?
Matthias caught my sneer, and smiled ever so sweetly. “Mrs. Lahey, I’m just glad someone was able to protect her.”
What was that supposed to mean?
I wanted to strangle the obnoxious creep, but had to refrain because Mom smiled and kissed the top of his head as she went by. He flinched. Mom didn’t notice.
But I did.
I strode over from behind and wrapped an arm around Matthias’s neck in a loving chokehold then put on my most perky voice, infused with cheerleader-level enthusiasm.
“Oh my gosh, Selena, isn’t Matty like the best big brother ever!”
Then I started kissing his cheek over and over with loud smooch noises.
“What the bloody—”
He stiffened and was about to shove me off, but Selena squealed, “Ever, kever, tever!” and started kissing his other cheek — like I knew she would — and Mom uttered a sentimental, “Ahhh,” and he had to freeze and suck it up. It was a beautiful thing.
Until Ayden pulled me off.
“Can’t have my girlfriend kissing other guys,” he said with a laugh. “Selena, I think Bubbles’ eye patch is coming off.”
“No!” Selena took the toy to better light and studied it closely.
A strange look passed between Ayden and Matthias. I didn’t understand it, but the high color in the Aussie’s cheeks started to dissipate.
Peachy. Along with keeping secrets and his distance, Ayden was ruining what little fun I had torturing Matthias. I couldn’t win.
“I’ve got homework.” I glared at Ayden and grabbed for my backpack, but he slid it out of reach with his foot and caught my elbow.
“Sure, right after you show me that thing outside that you promised to show me.” When I tried to pull away, he whispered, “I think the demon followed you home.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
As Ayden led me through the sliding French door and headed toward the rear of the backyard, I frantically scanned the area.
“Where did you see her?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “You were angry and I needed you alone to say sorry, but I had to shut down that down. Matthias couldn’t take anymore.”
“What? You scared me to death!” I hissed as my adrenalin pumps switched from fear-based to fury-driven. “Besides, I thought it was because you didn’t want your girlfriend kissing other guys.”
He pulled me behind some hedges then let go, facing me.
“Not that I’m worried about Matthias, but come to think of it, no, I don’t want my girlfriend kissing other guys.”
“Why not?” I grumbled. “Not like you’re doing much of it.”
Disbelief contorted his face. “Wh-what?”
“Nothing.” I folded my arms and kicked my toe into the grass.
“Oh, no. Let’s…explore this.” He flicked his jacket back and rested his hands on his hips. “I take you places. We do things together. Share interests. I enjoy your company because I enjoy spending time getting to know you. We talk. But…and let me get this straight, I am a bad boyfriend because I’m not trying to jump you twenty-four seven. Did I,” he cleared his throat, “did I get that about right?”
I didn’t know where to look. Just knew I didn’t want to look at him. “I didn’t say, ‘bad.’”
“Not in so many words but…” He tried to catch my eye. “You do know how that sounds, right?”
“Sure, now that you said it like that.” This was embarrassing. The guy practically wrote the Perfect Boyfriend Manual, and I was complaining.
“Said it…like that?” He spread his arms and leaned back. “How else am I supposed to say it?”
“Maybe a better term would be…neglectful?”
“Neglectful.”
“Not as far as…doing stuff.” Explaining this was a little tougher than I thought.
His lips curved into a suggestive smile. “No. Just as far as doing stuff.”
I blushed. “You know, maybe I meant more that you seemed...uninterested. In, ah, in ahhh,” I moved my palm in circles in the air in front of me.
He lifted one brow. “Uninterested in your…chest?”
“What?” I realized my hand had been circling right over my boobs. Nice move, Aurora. I rolled my eyes. Was he playing with me? Didn’t matter. “No! Not…that!”
“Good.” His dark eyes glittered with amusement. “Because I can assure you I find your chest very interesting. At times, downright mesmerizing.”