Demonically Tempted (Frostbite)

by Stacey Kennedy

  Had anything ever sounded so ridiculous? I tried to wrap my mind around such logic, but failed miserably. “Demons really do live in Hell?”

  The side of Dane’s mouth arched. “Where else would they live?”

  “I have no idea,” I countered. “I’m still trying to believe this is all happening and I’m somehow involved.”

  Kipp laughed.

  I might have snubbed his humor since this was in every way not amusing, but Dane’s sigh distracted me.

  “This isn’t a quick conversation. And to be honest, I’m not as skilled as I would like. But I do know someone who is.”

  “Who? A priest or something?” I’d watched enough movies to understand how it all worked and such, even if my brain had trouble accepting it.

  Dane shook his head. “A priest would bless the man who is being possessed to get rid of the possession, but it won’t banish the demon. And seeing we’re not dealing with just a ghost, I think it’s best if we look for outside help. This isn’t something to mess around with.”

  “Yeah, no shit,” I bit back. Kipp, again, laughed. “This isn’t funny. Seriously, this is scary. Why are you laughing?”

  He inclined his head, his posture lax, even if amusement still played in the depths of his eyes. “You’re right, it’s not funny, but you are. I love your reactions as much as I love you.”

  “Okay, that was sweet and all, but stop it. This is serious.”

  Dane grunted. “If we want to deal with this, we need to go to Salem, Massachusetts.”

  I ignored the annoyance creasing his features, and waved him on. “And we need to go there because….”

  His gaze burned wicked. “Gretchen Howe, a witch, lives there, and she’s the best to assist us now.”

  I chuckled. Maybe to rid the nerves that drifted up from his reaction. What was up with him? He appeared so angry, and at what? Just another thing to add to list of shit I didn’t understand. “Wonderful. First a demon. Now a witch. What else are you going to throw at me? Are we about to take a trip to Hogwarts?”

  Dane’s brow creased. “You both might find this all amusing, but I’m not making a joke, and she’s the best one to help us. I don’t trust in my abilities to deal with a demon properly. And I don’t know about you, but I would rather not make a mistake when dealing with anything from Hell.”

  “Good point.” I glanced at Kipp, who studied Dane, then I focused on the man in question myself. “So this woman is a real witch?”

  “Her family ties with witchcraft run all the way back before the Salem Witches.”

  Kipp asked, “This witch will know how to deal with the demon?”

  I relayed Kipp’s question, and Dane nodded. “She’s beyond skilled, especially when it comes to dark energies.”

  My options were limited. I couldn’t back out now seeing that I’d told Holly I would help her. I did trust in the fact that Dane seemed knowledgeable. But one thing remained heavy on my mind. “I’m not in danger here, right?”

  Dane’s features tightened. “We’ll all be in danger if you do nothing. It’s best you learn of the darker side now, then when I’m no longer with you and you have no one to ask.”

  I blinked, yet again. “Did you just avoid my question?”

  His expression somehow grew even tenser, and the smile that grazed his face was as cold as Kipp’s icy touch. “You don’t want me to answer that question.”

  Before I could either find someone else to deal with this demon, Kipp interjected. “I’ll come with you to meet the witch and see what she’s all about. Once I believe you're safe enough, I’ll return here to watch over the house.”

  I jerked my head toward him. “First of all, I think I can go somewhere without you and take care of myself. And second, I don’t think sticking around here where a demon dwells is a good idea.”

  Kipp’s gaze shifted to Dane. The air seemed to thicken from his death stare. “You’re not going anywhere alone with him, Tess.”

  “Why?”

  His tone dipped low, as his steely eyes returned to mine. “Because I don’t trust him.”

  I sighed at Kipp, then studied Dane. His jaw was clenched, obviously he could feel Kipp’s disdain. But I couldn’t see what Kipp did. Sure, Dane had stepped over the line with the soldiers earlier, but I did believe he acted that way because he thought it was in my best interest.

  Was that a reason to distrust someone?

  And I had enough of this shit! I needed Kipp to be helpful and tell me everything was going to be all right, not add to the tension.

  “Oh. My. God!” I threw my hands up. “We don’t have time for this. If you haven’t noticed there’s a demon and I’m somehow suckered into finding out how to deal with it. You’re just going to have to chill out and accept that, right now, we have to deal with things we don’t want to. Got it?”

  Kipp merely stared at me, arms folded, and said nothing.

  I huffed at him and avoided the latter topic like the plague, wanting—needing—to move on from a conversation that I didn’t understand.

  Either he needed to confess what his problem was, or shut the hell up about it. Both men were withholding information from me and I didn’t like it one bit. “And what do you mean, you’re going to stay here? Is that safe?”

  “The ghost cannot be harmed by the demon,” Dane said, clearly catching onto the conversation. “Besides, I agree with him. It’s good to keep watch just in case he gets through the protection.”

  Good point. “What was with the salt anyway?”

  Dane shifted on his feet, as if he wanted to get out of here, and all this talking annoyed him. “Salt is a pure substance. Haven’t you ever heard of the superstition about throwing salt over your shoulder?”

  At my nod, he continued, “We place salt around any exit points so the demon can’t step over it.” How odd. “In other words, trapping him because he has no defense against anything so pure. Trust me, I’ve seen it work.”

  “As long as it keeps him in there, I will believe anything at this point.” I looked at Kipp. “But I still don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come back here later.”

  “If he gets out, I can follow him,” Kipp replied, his tone firm. “I’ll keep a good distance from him, but do we really want a demon walking around the streets?”

  He wouldn’t waver from his decision. So why bother trying to persuade him? Besides I was done being in the middle of an argument. More so, done with both the man and the ghost in front of me. “Okay, no, not when you say it like that.”

  The strain in Kipp’s expression softened. “Call Max and he’ll arrange for the flight for you. We cannot waste time here.”

  “Ya think?” I reached into my back pocket to grab out my cell phone, but paused. “Will Max be okay with this? Won’t it ruffle his feathers that we’re using department funds to fly to Salem?”

  “Tell him there’s a demon here in Memphis and I suspect he’d fly you around the world to get what you needed to stop it.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Kipp was dead right about Max. He said he’d do exactly that. And three hours later, we landed in Boston at Logan International Airport, rented a car, and drove the forty-five minutes to Salem.

  The journey remained like it had on the plane while Kipp stood in the aisle, in complete silence. Not a huge surprise since Kipp kept his burning gaze on the back of Dane’s head who sighed occasionally. For two men who couldn’t even talk to each other, they really didn’t get along.

  I racked my brain trying to figure out Kipp’s jealousy, but kept coming up short and had no idea what threatened him. Dane might be nice to look at but Kipp was better. Besides, I was sure I hadn’t been giving off any come get me feelers. I had zero interest in Dane except for the knowledge he held.

  Later, I’d ask Kipp what was riding him. Right now, I had bigger problems. And that was the eerie yellow brick house with ivy covering it from ground to roof, surrounded by an endless display of wildflowers littering the garden
.

  Dane stopped the car by the curb, cut the engine, and was out of the car before I could even open the door. I followed, not nearly as enthusiastic. I’d never met a witch—didn’t really believe they existed—and I wasn’t at all thrilled to be meeting one now.

  When had my life become so insane?

  At the front door, Dane knocked, and a moment later it opened to a woman clad in a black lace, tight-fitted blouse that led down to a crimson, silk skirt. She didn’t look like a witch. In fact, she looked like a woman who was no older than my twenty-five years.

  She scanned me from head-to-toe, then glanced over to the space next to me where Kipp stood before she grinned at Dane. “It’s nice to see you again. I hope your flight treated you well.”

  Dane offered a kind smile that I hadn’t once seen from him. “Quick flight and a perfect drive here.”

  His curt tone displayed the dig at Kipp. Although I could have sighed because seriously their rift weighed on me, I was too enthralled with the witch in front of me to care.

  “This is the woman I told you about on the telephone.” Dane gestured toward me. “Tess Jennings.”

  Gretchen brushed her cinnamon-colored hair over her shoulder, as those blue-gray eyes twinkled at me. “It’s lovely to meet you.” She eyed the direction of Kipp. “And your ghost too.”

  “She can see me?” Kipp exclaimed.

  I didn’t need his question because I was equally as shocked. “You can see him?”

  “Oh no.” Gretchen’s eyes widened. “I don’t possess the gift you do, but I can see the shift in energy beside you there. That’s how I know you have a ghost with you.”

  I scanned Kipp, but didn’t see anything about this energy. All I saw was hunky ghost who looked by all appearances, totally normal.

  Before I could say anything, Gretchen continued, “I might think he was your guardian angel since he’s so protective of you, but the anger littering his soul tells me he’s not.”

  Anger directed at Dane. But I wasn’t about to point that out. “So, you’ve got the gift, too?”

  “I know a few things, yes.” She opened the door wider and moved aside. “Please do come in and we’ll chat about this problem you have.”

  Dane entered and Kipp and I followed. Her home, while a little spooky on the outside, was lovely inside. Simple. Antique furniture decorated the home with textured wallpaper on the walls.

  A set of stairs was in front of me and the kitchen appeared to be in the back. She led us into a room to the right off the main foyer.

  Her sitting room was much like the rest of her house, quaint. Two cotton flowered print couches rested in front of the fireplace, and a table sat under the bay window with a flourishing plant on top.

  “Please have a seat and I’ll get you something to eat.” She strode out of the room, heading into the hallway. The creak of her floorboards made me assume she went toward the kitchen.

  I glanced at Dane as I sat down on the far couch. “She’s not at all what I expected.”

  He chuckled, sitting down across from me while Kipp remained at the doorway. “What were you expecting?”

  “Someone older. Wrinkles. Long, white hair pulled into a tight bun. I don’t know. Just more witch-like.”

  “She might appear young, but her knowledge is centuries-old, believe me.”

  “How does he know her?” Kipp asked.

  After I asked Kipp’s question, Dane shrugged. “In this line of business you meet many who have the gift. We’ve been friends for years now. You have no reason not to trust her.”

  “Oh, you should never just hand over trust,” Gretchen said, reentering the room carrying a tray with sandwiches and iced tea. She placed the platter down on the coffee table and stared at me. “Always keep your guard up. It’ll keep you safe.”

  Why had that seemed much more direct than I thought it ought to be? Was she giving me advice? Or was that just a simple statement?

  I wasn’t in the mood, or the position to figure it out. Right now, I needed to get rid of this demon to get my life back to normal, get Dane to go home, and return to my bubble of delusion with Kipp.

  That was my plan and I was sticking to it. Checking off the items on my to-do list until life resembled what it had before Dane entered the police station and brought a world of trouble with him.

  “Please have something to eat.” Gretchen smiled, and took a seat next to Dane. “You must be hungry.”

  “Starving actually.”

  Once Dane took a sandwich, I followed suit. I took a napkin and grabbed a ham and cheese sandwich. I bit into the bread and the garlic mayo exploded into my mouth, delighting my taste buds.

  “Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice,” Dane said, chewing. “It’s appreciated.”

  “Not to worry.” Gretchen sipped at her iced tea. “It sounds as if you’re in a tight bind.”

  I swallowed. “That’s saying it lightly.”

  She zoned in on me and I couldn’t deny that while her face looked young, the depths of her eyes seemed quite old. “Demons are troublesome, but they’re easily banished. So while it might seem to you that things are out of control, I’ll help you gain what you need to set things right.”

  I took another bite of my sandwich, inhaling the scents that reminded me of the deli back in Memphis. “So you’ve done this banishing bit before?”

  “A couple times.” Her knowing smile declared it’d been more than that. She asked Dane, “Are you sure this is what you’re dealing with?”

  He took a big gulp of his iced tea, then placed it down on the coffee table, and nodded. “I have no doubt.”

  Gretchen stood, settling the crinkle of her skirt. “Let me go and get my book.” She left the sitting room in a few strides leaving me to wonder what book she had that could help us.

  Kipp cleared his throat, drawing my attention to him. “I’m going to go home now to keep an eye out.” His stare remained on Dane, and his gaze practically threw daggers. “You’ll be fine here, but don’t listen to him. If you’re uncomfortable, contact Max and I’ll return.”

  I heaved a sigh, as so much of what he said was just irrational, and I placed my sandwich on the napkin. But I fixated on the one statement that was incredibly stupid instead of continuing to beat my head against the wall that was Kipp McGowen. “Just how is Max going to talk to you?”

  His brow furrowed, and he paused for a long moment, and then finally said, “Just don’t listen to Dane.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Okay, fine, whatever, but you be careful.”

  “You as well.”

  Before I could get another word out, he vanished like he always did when he did his weird ghost travel bit. In all actuality, I suspected he didn’t want to leave, but what other choice did he have?

  I rubbed my temples. This was important. Even I knew that. We could really do without his jealously especially since I had no idea what he was jealous about.

  Dane groaned. “I’m glad he’s gone.”

  I had the sense he didn’t just mean the heaviness he must have experienced from Kipp’s rage. The simmer in his gaze—that he’d not show outright yet—became quite clear. I needed to put a stop to this before anything could start. “I’m in love with him, you do know this?”

  “I’m not interested in you in the way you think. That’s not why I’m interfering.” His tone was cold. “The problem is that he is a ghost.”

  “Yeah, I know he’s a ghost.” I didn’t want anyone to point out a truth that I’d been good at avoiding. “But you can’t choose who you fall in love with.”

  His eyebrow arched. “You’re right, you can’t choose who you love, but you can choose not to pursue it.”

  And with that response, awareness struck me like a smack in the face. Had this been Kipp’s problem? It hadn’t dawned on me that his dislike for Dane stemmed from the knowledge that Dane wanted me to end the relationship with him.

  Dane didn’t like me being open with ghosts and my relation
ship with Kipp went so far past that. Had Kipp’s jealously not been about Dane having an interest in me, but more so, because he suspected Dane wanted to push Kipp out of my life? I didn’t know. I didn’t care. “I don’t believe I asked you for your advice, so zip it.”

  Gretchen entered the room and held a leather book in her hands. “In what capacity did you see the demon?”

  Dane’s frown stayed on me a moment longer before he shifted his stern gaze to Gretchen, and his expression softened. “It had possessed someone.”

  She sat down in next to him, her features calm as if she discussed the sandwiches in front of her. “You saw it in the human body?”

  I interjected before Dane could answer, “Yes, and if you don’t mind, so I can understand this, can you explain that?” At her empty stare, I added, “How can a demon go into a body and why would it?”

  She crossed her legs, and held the book on her lap. “A demon finds its strength within the souls of humans. Without it, it wouldn’t survive long in this realm, and it can’t spend too long in its demonic form.”

  At my crinkled nose, since her answer only raised more questions, she continued, “A demon needs the shell of a body to thrive. It takes over the soul of a human, and then makes them do unthinkable things. Those heinous acts make the demon flourish. Remember, demons enjoy causing pain and injury. The more it does. The stronger it becomes.”

  Made sense. If anything about demons made sense. “And what, you banish it to Hell and it won’t come back?”

  She nodded. “Demons are allowed to come here once. When they are banished, it’s forever.”

  “That’s a bit of good news.”

  She laughed, but with no amusement. “In a house of demons there are thousands. Just because we banish one doesn’t mean another won’t come.”

  “But Dane said there weren’t many,” I countered.

  “You’re right. There aren’t. But that’s because there are ones like you who choose to fight against this evil.”

  I stopped that line of thinking in its tracks. “Don’t go getting ahead of yourself. I’m doing this because it sprung up on me. Trust me when I tell you, I’m not a demon hunter and I don’t plan to be.”