Ignited

by Laurie Wetzel

  That contract will be signed by tomorrow—even if I have to use the blade on MJ and his team to accomplish it.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Maddy

  MJ was right about the day moving faster. As the final bell rings, I’m relieved. I’m anxious and excited for the surprise MJ has planned after school.

  His arm is around me as we walk to my locker. He’s done this since math. I like this even better than holding hands. I feel closer to him, more cherished, more loved, more protected.

  As we round the bend in the corridor, I see my girlfriends and my sister, Hannah, standing at my locker as well as Tamitha, Sissy, and Amber. Flashbacks of earlier in the week pop uninvited in my head. I tense up, hoping Justin’s not here. Last time all my friends gathered like this, he was controlling them.

  MJ places a kiss in my hair. “Don’t worry. It’s okay.”

  His ability to guess what I’m feeling by the slightest change in my body is becoming a comfort to me. Even with our secrets, he still knows me better than anyone. Even myself sometimes.

  “Run along now, MJ,” Tamitha says, bouncing up to greet us. “We’re ready to take it from here.”

  I turn in the nook of his arm to stare up at him. “What is she talking about? Aren’t we going to spend the afternoon together?”

  He smiles. “Actually, spending time with your friends is part of the surprise. I know how important they are to you. Go shopping, do your nails or whatever you ladies do to get ready for a date.”

  “Date?”

  He leans down so his lips are against my ear. “That’s the other half of the surprise. Tonight I’m taking you out for dinner and dancing with all your friends. Pick out something special. That’s a dare. I can’t wait to feel you against me while we dance, like we did on the dock yesterday.”

  I feel weightless as a million troubles plummet from my shoulders to the linoleum floor. As much as I want to spend time with MJ, I want to be with my friends too—my time with them could be ending. How did he know I needed this?

  He places a sweet, swift kiss on my lips. As he pulls away, I feel his essence lingering inside me. Even though he won’t be with me physically this afternoon, at least I’ll still have a part of him inside me.

  “Enjoy your day, minn hvatvetna.”

  He lets go, and I’m completely, utterly lost in him. All I can do is watch as he turns and saunters down the hall with a little extra strut in his step.

  I smile, knowing I’m responsible for his happiness.

  Kelli comes up beside me, linking our arms together and resting her head on my shoulder. “Seriously, how often does Norway work out? ’Cuz damn.”

  Kayla, Maggie, and Hannah appear on my other side, murmuring in agreement as we all ogle my immortal boyfriend’s behind.

  “What did he call you?” Kayla asks in a breathy, distracted voice.

  My smile widens. “I don’t know what it means. It’s his native language.”

  Our view is suddenly obstructed by Amber. Her hands are on her hips as she taps the toe of her stiletto.

  “Yeah, yeah. MJ’s a slice of heaven with the butt of a god. We get it. Now let’s get this ridiculous afternoon over with so we can destroy whatever shreds I have left of my social life.”

  “I’m sorry,” I say as sweetly as possible. “But MJ said I’ll be hanging out with my friends. That doesn’t include you.”

  Her lips twist into a grin resembling the Cheshire Cat’s. “Take it up with them.” She nods to Tamitha and Sissy.

  My heart sinks. They’re protecting me. But they’re also protecting Amber. She has to come—it’s a package deal.

  Suddenly I remember my friends don’t know Tamitha and Sissy. But as I look around, no one is questioning them. They’ve placed themselves in my group of friends. They compelled them.

  Knowing there’s no point in arguing, I leave with Hannah and my girlfriends flanking me while the Protectors and Amber follow close behind.

  Hundreds of students are gathered on the sidewalk outside. Normally they would be peeling out of here with that joyous sense of freedom coursing through their veins. Especially with it being Friday.

  Is something wrong? Is it a demon? I glance at my bracelet, twisting it around to ensure each stone is still its usual color.

  “Where did you get that?” Sissy asks.

  I look up, and her steely gaze is glued to my bracelet. I cover it, protecting it—protecting MJ’s love for me. I turn to Tamitha. She’s staring at Sissy too.

  After a moment, Tamitha gives her head a little shake. She smiles at me. “Come on. You’re going to love this.”

  The crowd splits as if an invisible ship were passing through. As the last students clear the way, they reveal a shiny black Hummer limo.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  MJ

  I watch from the Veil as Maddy and her friends drive off in the limo. I hope she enjoys her day of fun. I hope she’s looking forward to our date tonight as much as I am. The way her eyes lit up with that elated sense of pure happiness assured me this is the right path for us.

  But I know she’s holding back. When we were getting to know each other, she told me she’d never fall in love. I just don’t know why yet. I can’t get her to open up to me about it, but hopefully my next surprise—waiting for her at the mall—can help with that.

  “Don’t tell me we’re shopping too,” Alexander says beside me.

  He was joking, but in a way he was right. While Maddy’s time will be spent relaxing, as she deserves, mine will be spent gearing up to keep her with me. After the events today with the demon possessing her, I know it’s only a matter of time before someone or something comes after her again.

  “We are going shopping,” I reply. “Just not down here.”

  He arches a brow. “Okay. Lead the way.”

  “In a moment,” I say as I turn to him.

  Suddenly, my hands feel damp. I’m sweating. I’ve never been nervous around Alexander before. But then again, I’ve never done what I’m about to do either. I myself need to open up.

  “There are things I need to tell you first.”

  Alexander tilts his head.

  “Remember how I said I’d tell you why I’ve hidden my thoughts from the Council for so long?”

  I start from the beginning, telling him about the day I died and the role the Acquisitioner played. Then I tell him about Lifa’s thirty descendants I secretly protected—unsuccessfully, that is. I tell him how the Acquisitioner is responsible for their deaths as well.

  As it pours out, I can’t even look Alexander in the eye. “I’ve done all this without the Council’s knowledge or approval. Without anyone’s knowledge.”

  I know he would have helped me, had I only asked. Maybe we could have saved some of them together. But I never gave him that chance. I foolishly believed I alone had to carry that burden. I’m making the same mistake with Maddy.

  “Well, what’s done is done . . . ” Alexander begins. “So let’s focus on what we can do now,” he says. “I’ll help you protect Maddy from the beings after her. Once she’s safe, you and I will deal with the Acquisitioner together.”

  His support should lift my spirits, but the situation is much more complicated than he realizes. It’s time to open up about everything.

  “You were right all along,” I admit. “There’s no such thing as coincidence. Maddy is connected to everything.” I hesitate. “She’s the true target of the demon serial killer.”

  He staggers. “What? Have you . . . when did she tell you this?”

  “Earlier today.” I turn to him, my eyes beseeching his. “I’m going to lose her.”

  He straightens. “No, you won’t. We’ll help. We call more Protectors down if we have to. And Maddy—she’s not defenseless either.” He pauses, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not alone, brother. Together, we will stop this.”

  In his face, I see determination. I smile as my chest lightens. A sensation I haven’t felt in d
ays fills the air—hope.

  I don’t know much about the demon killer or the female demon who possessed Maddy, which means I don’t know what chance I stand against them. And eight centuries of experience tells me I have zero chance against the Acquisitioner. But I’m going to battle him anyway. Battle them all. With help from Alexander and the others, there’s a chance—albeit slim—the Acquisitioner won’t get Maddy. None of them will.

  “Thank you, my brother,” I say.

  Then together we step into the Great Divide.

  . . .

  With a renewed sense of purpose, I stride through the gates of Immortal City with Alexander quick on my heels. The main streets are polluted with more angels than I have ever seen. They call out to me, but I ignore them. I’m on a mission.

  I know what they want to talk about. There’s a buzz in the air. They’re filled with confidence, counting on me—us—to stop the demon serial killer. They know we’re close, especially now that there’s news of my “psychic.”

  The Supplementum is crowded when we enter. I breeze past the desk, again ignoring the angel’s protest, and open the double doors of the workshop. There are more angels than before immersed in projects.

  “Whoa,” Alexander says, taking in the massive number of weapons scattered across every available surface. “I’ve never noticed how overwhelming this room is.”

  I nod. There was a time when this place was run by one weapons master and a lone assistant. But as time went by, demon attacks increased, and so did the need for heavenly tools. Thus, more assistants were added. Yesterday John had eight assistants. Three more angels have been added since then. The space has grown to accommodate them.

  My stomach tightens, knowing war is fast approaching.

  With time no longer on our side, I rush to the back of the shop. As we walk, I reach out to Alexander using Cerebrallink.

  What happens here you are not allowed to repeat. Not even to Tamitha. Not yet.

  His eyes drill into me as I continue on to the last workbench cluttered with the weapons of the multi-tool pocketknife. John is where I saw him last, standing over a blade and bending it to his will. This one seems like a simple long sword, but knowing him, it’s much more.

  I clear my throat in between bangs.

  “Yes. Yes. Just a minute,” he says, waving the hand with the mallet in our general direction.

  We back up to avoid being hit.

  He bangs the orange blade several more times, then dunks it in a barrel of brilliant white light. He turns and removes his goggles.

  “Ah, MJ. I was hoping you’d come back. I have something for you.” He pulls out the sword he just made and hands it to me.

  As before, fire dances along the blade once it’s in my hand. I hear Alexander inhale. All breath leaves me too. Memories come rushing back.

  The clang of metal on metal echoes so loudly, my bones brace for impact. The putrid stench of charred flesh fills my sinuses. And in my mind’s eye, I see Nikolas and Lifa. She was brave, like Maddy. She kept trying to hide me and get me to safety, even though I was the king’s warrior. And then there’s him, the bastard Acquisitioner responsible for eight centuries of torment.

  The memory fades, leaving his black gaze seared in my mind, as it has always been.

  I turn my attention back to the sword. The hilt is shaped like a closed fist, the grip is wide enough for single-hand use, and the blade is long and double-edged. In the inlay, beside the fire insignia, is the inscription “Ulfberht.” It’s an exact replica of the sword from my mortal days.

  “How did you come by this?” I ask in astonishment.

  He taps his temple. “Knowing the how and why ruins the beauty of mystery.”

  Alexander’s gaze is glued to the fiery sword still in my hand. “Is it true, then? Is the Holy War upon us?”

  John rubs his chin while I grab a scabbard from the counter and sheath the sword, extinguishing the flames. I hold up a finger to John.

  “Excuse us a moment, will you?”

  Then I turn to Alexander and connect with Cerebrallink.

  I believe it is, I reply. And because of this, we must do whatever we can to keep the demons from getting Maddy.

  If she’s connected to everything, as you said . . . do you think she’s somehow connected to the war too? he asks.

  I sigh. Justin, Damien, the unknown demon killing the girls, the female demon from this morning, and the Acquisitioner are all after Maddy. Why do you think that is?

  I don’t know, he replies.

  Think about what she can do. Then think about what would happen if they managed to get her right before the Holy War. The scales would be tipped in their favor. We would lose. There isn’t a weapon in this room that could stop her abilities. And even if there were, I wouldn’t allow anyone to use it on her. I will do whatever it takes to ensure I don’t fail her. I cannot lose her. I can’t ask you to help me with this, but I hope you will.

  He gives a small smile. I’m with you until the end. So that’s why we’re here? To arm ourselves?

  Just as a precaution, I say.

  He slowly exhales and takes a closer look at the weapons surrounding us. All right. Grab whatever you think is necessary.

  I nod and turn my attention back to John, whose eyes have been flickering between us.

  “What do you have to ward off entities?” I ask. “Demons, spirits, renegade angels, et cetera. All are dangerous at the moment.”

  “Hmm . . .” His bushy brows pull together. “Nothing like that exists that I am aware of, but I will work on it.”

  That’s not what I wanted to hear, but I had suspected as much. If he had created something like that, we’d be using it already.

  “For now, though, take this.” John picks up the multi-tool pocketknife and holds it out for me.

  “I thought you said it was a prototype.”

  “Someone has to test it out. Seems fitting it’d be you.”

  I shove it in my pocket. “What else?”

  “Take whatever you think you’ll need. Everything has been enhanced with the power of the Veil of Shadows as well as the Immortal Flame insignias.”

  We load up, both of us harboring dozens of weapons concealed on our bodies through the Veil of Shadows. Even Tamitha and Sissy will not detect them.

  I think about Tamitha and Sissy, back there with Maddy and her friends. I hope, for all our sakes, tonight goes smoothly.

  But if not . . . Alexander and I will be ready.

  Chapter Fifty

  Maddy

  We pass dozens of shops in the mall and finally enter one with barely covered mannequins in heels that could cut down the height gap between MJ and me. It would make kissing him a lot easier, but I’d probably break my ankle.

  I linger in the entrance while everyone scatters for different racks. Even though I’m smiling and even though this excursion has been fun, I feel this dark cloud forming in the distance, casting a shadow on everything. It just feels . . . strange. I’ve been dealing with angels and demons for so long—real life no longer makes me feel welcome.

  “Are you okay?” Sissy asks, walking back to me.

  “Sorry, it’s just—”

  I pause, debating whether I should confide in her. I look to Tamitha, and she’s watching us with a hopeful yet cautious expression.

  I turn back to Sissy and sigh. “This will sound crazy, but I feel like I’m dreaming, like this isn’t real. I feel like I’m actually somewhere else—somewhere bad—and I created this happy scene to cope with it.”

  “Well,” she begins, “I’m not an expert on you or anything. But I’m fairly certain that if you were going to create some alternate world to make yourself happy, it would not contain Amber. Or me.”

  I drop my eyes. She does have a point.

  “You are having fun, though, right?” Sissy asks.

  After a moment, I nod. Hanging out with my friends has been a nice change of pace from all the crazy.

  “So why are you hesita
ting?”

  “I can’t help but feel something is going to come along and ruin all this.”

  She tilts her head and narrows her amber eyes. It’s the same look my mom gives me when she’s worried about me. “Why do you think that?”

  I shrug. “Because I’m happy.”

  “So?”

  “So, something bad always happens when I’m happy. At least this week, anyway.”

  She frowns. “Nothing bad will happen.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  “True. But if something were about to happen, you have us and that.” She points to my bracelet. “I’m not sure how much MJ told you about its powers, but if a demon were within five miles, we’d know about it. As you can see, we’re fine.”

  My left hand rubs over my bracelet. It does help to know I have a warning, but it isn’t enough to fully dissolve this sense of foreboding.

  “This was optional for me—coming on this girls’ day,” Sissy adds in my silence. “I wanted to come, though.” She looks me in the eyes. “I want to apologize for trying to kill you.”

  I stare back at her in shock. “Uhh . . . thanks,” is all I can manage.

  The other Protectors have told me she’s sorry, but I never expected her to say it to my face. Actually, I never expected to be face-to-face with her like this. MJ didn’t want her around me until he trusted her again. Her being here and talking with me must mean she’s earned his trust again. He wouldn’t put her—or me—in this position otherwise.

  “He’s important to you, isn’t he?” I ask.

  “Who?”

  “MJ.”

  She nods. “He’s important to us all. He’s the first Protector as well as the best. We all look to him for guidance.”

  My heart clenches. I didn’t know he was the first. But then again, I’ve been avoiding finding out anything about that part of him.

  She gives me a weak smile and motions to the store. “Shall we?”