by Mary Ting
But if Dom and Malum lived, and we did nothing to help, Dom would cut all ties with me. I had no choice.
“If I am to get a seat in Trinity Order, it’s time to help.” I raised my hands but dropped them when the walls shook behind me.
Corian had left my side to get our sisters. They gathered around quickly as if they knew what I was about to ask them.
“Sisters. Now. We must act now.” I raised my hands, and they did the same.
We chanted words of darkness and death as I focused on the demons. Malum jumped on a vampire, but before he landed on him, the vampire burst into fire and then ashes as if he had stepped into the sunlight.
One by one, all the vampires burst into dust.
Dom and Malum peered up and saw us. With a nod of thanks, they glanced about the remaining debris as they changed back into human forms.
A loud boom rocked through the air. The ground shook.
Malum spoke to his mic on his watch. “Give me an update.”
He paused to listen. Then his eyes narrowed and panic crossed his face.
“Liana. That blast came from the east wing.” Malum raced past us.
Dom dusted ashes off his bloodied, torn suit. “Well. What took you so long, Awan? Did you enjoy watching us get our asses kicked?”
I furrowed my brow, my voice steady to tame his anger. “You’re being ungrateful, Dom. Magic doesn’t work with a snap of a finger, not when we have so many to get rid of. I’ll be in my room. You can stop by to apologize after you clean up the mess.”
“You know. The strange thing is … we haven’t had an incident with vampires for centuries. If I find out you did this to get my sister to trust you, so help me, you will not live to see another day.”
Oh, you have no idea what I’m capable of. I did set up today’s rendezvous, and it will be worth the outcome.
I pounded the banister with my fist. Magic rippled out of me like an invisible punch, knocking Dom to the ground. So much for holding my temper.
“Threaten me again, and you’ll get nothing in the end. Do you hear me?”
Dom got up, straightened the lapel of his suit, and plastered on a fake grin. “I was a bit startled by the blast.” He extended his arms on either side. “I believe you would be too, had your family been attacked. So please forgive me.”
Much better. He needs to remember his place.
“These vampires were—” Dom rested his arm on the bottom edge of the banister. “Not like anything I’d seen before. They are newly born. I assure you, Trinity Order will know of this. Vampires are forbidden to create more of their kind, or they are to be hunted and their species wiped out of existence.”
“Oh. Then they must be desperate. Why would they commit such treason? Do you have any idea?”
“No. But I assure you, I’ll find out.”
“Where’s Lotus?” I asked.
“She left this morning.”
“And had she made up her mind to speak on our behalf?”
Dom waved his hand in front of his face to clear away ashes. “We’ll know when she comes back. I already told you I would do my best. My sister does not trust easily.”
Nor do I.
“Well then. My sisters and I will be in our rooms. You did promise we would be safe, and no one would know of our staying here.”
Dom released an agitated sigh. “I assure you, you are safe. Even if you had not helped, we would have had the situation in hand.”
“Would you now?” I angled my eyebrows.
Silence lingered until a demon rushed in and spoke out of breath.
“Malum sent me. Paymon, Balen, and Liana were in the wing that collapsed. We don’t know if—”
I smiled to myself. Good. Liana and Paymon were home, and my plan was going perfectly. But what in hell was Balen doing in her room? I didn’t care about Paymon and Liana, but I did care about Balen.
I disliked his carelessness, and sometimes I wanted to kill him. Many times I had hurt him, like when I sent a flying knife into his chest. But I never wanted my kind dead.
Dom rushed out, and I followed.
Chapter 24
The Fall
Liana
“So did you find anything?” I asked Balen.
He sat on my desk, took out his phone and began to scroll.
“You have a picture of Keira?” I planted my butt next to him to get a better look.
“No. He doesn’t.” Paymon plopped on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. “Just names in NU. He found a girl named Keira Sutton. She lives with her guardian named Ezekiel Sutton. She was officially adopted by him at the age of two. I believe this is the girl you’re looking for.”
“Are you going to let me have a word, or are you going to take all the glory?” Balen huffed.
“You two sound like a real couple.” I snorted.
“Shut up,” they said in unison.
I shrugged and rolled my eyes. “Back to the list. How did you get that information? You would have to bribe someone or …”
Balen sauntered away and sat on the edge of my bed. “I am an enchanter, after all. I have my ways, and I do not tell.” He winked.
“He tells me,” Paymon said nonchalantly, looking at his phone messages.
“Well, I have to, or you’ll withhold sex.”
I put out a hand to stop them from sharing anything else. “Whoa. Wait. Too much information here. I’m glad you feel comfortable talking to me about pretty much anything, but this is where I draw the line. I don’t want images of you-know-what.”
Balen tugged me so fast I fell across his lap, my stomach down. “It’s called sex. Making love.” He whacked me on the butt. “You need to lighten up, girl. You seriously need to get laid. When was the last time?”
“Balen.” His name came off as a shriek as I rose. “None of your business. I don’t do one-night stands.”
“Meaning not in weeks, or months, or maybe years,” Paymon said, still rooted to his phone.
“Ugh. You know if you’re talking about my sex life, it only means you boys need to get a life.”
“Sorry, Liana. We didn’t mean to offend you.” Paymon put his phone down to meet my gaze.
“I know. It’s all good. I’m joking too.”
Paymon was right though. It had been a year, at least. I had been so caught up with the nightclub, killing demons, and plotting ways to kill Malum—and failing at it—that I had lost interest in relationships.
I had dated humans, but I broke it off before it got too serious. What was the point when I knew we couldn’t have a meaningful relationship?
To be honest, I would never date a demon or any other supernatural being. Perhaps after I figured out why I had those visions and how or why I had seen Keira, I would leave and never look back.
I wanted peace. No killing. No political drama between the supernatural groups. I didn’t belong at Malum’s house. I wanted to start fresh, with a new name and new identity, and live peacefully until I died of old age.
“So tell me more about this Keira.” I took off my sweater, draped it over a chair, and plopped next to Balen. I needed to say something to break the awkwardness between us.
“I’m afraid there’s nothing to tell. How about you?”
“Paymon,” I hollered when he roped his arms around Balen and me, causing us to fall back.
“You know,” he said, “I’ve always wanted to try a threesome.”
“Oh. My. God.” I giggled and jerked from side to side as Paymon poked me. “Stop. Stop. Mercy. You know I hate this.”
Then Balen started poking me on the other side.
“This isn’t fair. Two against one.” I wiggled out of their grasp and halted.
I turned to the boys, and they froze too.
“What was that?” Balen jumped off the bed and dashed to the window.
Paymon rushed over. “I can’t see anything.”
I dragged a chair to the window, stood on it, and peered out. My heart dropped, pulse gallopin
g in alarm. Then another boom. Smoke rose to the sky this time.
“Do you see it now?” I barely got the words out. “I think it’s coming from the front of the house.”
More explosions. Louder this time.
“We need to help them.” I leaped off the chair, but an arm slinked around my waist and pulled me back.
Either we’d fallen on the bed, or I had been purposely thrown.
I felt it before it happened. The ground underneath us rattled. On the bed, Balen got on his knees with his arms extended. A shield of light burst from his palms, creating a bubble around us.
While he protected us from the fire and the flying debris, he didn’t account for the floor collapsing under us.
Chapter 25
The Damage
Malum
I had never been as scared as I was that day. It wasn’t the unexpected barrage of vampires attacking our home, nor the suicide bombs, but Liana and Paymon.
When the messenger told me the east wing had been blown up to nothing but debris, I almost killed him. But that would have been the old me. So I ran.
On the way, my only thoughts were of them. Please let them be safe. Though Paymon had been nothing but a pain in my ass, he was still my brother, and I did love him despite appearances. But Liana …
She had been the only bright side of my life. She had taught me patience, understanding, humility, and most of all had taught me the meaning of unconditional love.
My father, Sin, only praised us when we did as he asked, mostly to kill, to deceive, or prey on weaker beings. But raising Liana had changed me. I hadn’t known how much until Dom had pointed out how soft I had become.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have a spine anymore. I would still snap someone’s neck if they looked at me wrong, but I did think before I acted on the impulse.
I halted when I couldn’t go any farther. My heart stopped beating, and I lost my breath.
The whole east wing had crumbled to nothing but wood chunks, broken plaster, shattered glass, and lingering smoke.
“Are you sure Liana was home? Maybe she’s out,” Dom said, standing next to me.
I hadn’t known he had followed me. I didn’t think he cared.
“Her car is parked in front. She—she …”
Get a hold of yourself, Malum. Don’t show weakness to anyone.
“They were here. I sense Balen.” Awan had her hand out as if to feel the air around her.
I steadied my pulse and rolled back my shoulders. “But are they here now? Are they under the debris?”
I wanted to ask if they were alive but couldn’t. I couldn’t bear it if the answer was not in my favor.
She closed her eyes, her fingers undulating like an ocean wave. Then when she opened her eyes, they widened in terror.
“Yes. They are, but it’s faint. I don’t know how much longer they can hold on. If we …”
I didn’t wait for her to finish. I’d gotten my yes, and that was all I needed to hear to get moving. After I ordered my soldiers to dig, I did the same.
With the help from my men, the witches, Dom, and myself, we plowed through the rubble. With each armload of debris, I poured my anger and love for Liana into my strength.
I didn’t know how much time passed, but we moved the wreckage swiftly.
Then finally, Liana’s boot showed between two beams.
We pushed through the rubbish again.
Another set of legs, then arms, and then three bodies emerged on the mattress, tangled in each other’s arms.
“Mal … um,” Paymon breathed. “Li … ana. Ba … len. Where?”
“Don’t talk, Paymon. Liana is right next to you. Balen is fine.”
A metal pole was embedded in Paymon’s chest, dark liquid soaking his sweater. If it wasn’t too deep, he would be fine. And though Balen’s chest was rising and falling, I couldn’t assess his injuries. Blood soaked his shirt, too. His own? I didn’t know.
“Balen. Wake up.” Awan lightly tapped his cheek. “What the hell were you doing here?”
Giselle had told me Balen had checked himself into the Ritz Carlton so he wouldn’t have to run into Awan. I didn’t blame him.
“Call Doctor Shin.” I turned to one of my men nearest to me. “Call right now.”
“Paymon. Listen to me,” I said. “I’m going to pull out something from your chest, you hear me? It’s going to hurt.”
Paymon’s eyes fluttered as he blinked in and out of consciousness. “Don’t hurt me, Malum. I’m good. I never meant to do any wrong. I’m sorry.”
He didn’t make sense, but his words gutted me. “I know. I’ve been hard on you. I’m sorry.”
He pulled me closer and whispered so only I could hear. “You don’t understand the demons I fight every day. They tell me to kill myself, but I think of Liana and you. I don’t want to die. I want to be strong like you.”
A pang in my heart stabbed deeper. “You don’t want to be like me. I’m a monster. I’ve done terrible things.”
“But you can change. I see that you have … because of Liana.”
“Enough talking. Save your strength.”
My words came out sharp and harsh, but I didn’t want others to wonder what we were talking about.
I gripped the rod tightly and counted to three. When Dom, standing on the opposite end, gave me nod, I yanked it out of him.
Paymon didn’t scream. Not a sound escaped him. But his eyes rolled back and his body convulsed. Such a brave soul.
“Here. Put pressure on his wound,” I ordered the minion nearest to me. “You …” I tugged one of my men. “Carry him back. Make sure he doesn’t bleed out. If he does, I’ll kill you myself. Now go.”
I ordered another man to carry Balen to the guest rooms in the west wing, while I bent to pick up Liana. Something shiny caught my eyes beside her.
I dusted off the dirt—I couldn’t believe my eyes. How in the world had that gotten here? No. Not how. Who? Liana? Why would she? I could be jumping to conclusions, but perhaps Liana had asked Balen to be here for a purpose. Something to do with the globe.
Father had given me the empty globe centuries ago before we’d cast him out of the living world. He had told me a sorcerer had given it to him as a gift. His interpretation of giving a gift was not the same as mine. He’d most likely killed the poor being and stolen it.
He had told me the globe would take away someone’s memory. All I had to do was put something precious that belonged to my target inside it. My target was Liana. I didn’t want her to remember her life before me. Simple as that.
Now I worried. If Balen had successfully channeled the two of them together, Liana would find out who she’d been in her other life. Then things would ripple. Connections would be built.
I didn’t say a word about it to anyone. I pushed the globe aside, hiding it under the debris. After I placed Liana somewhere safe, I would come back for it.
I should be furious with her, but under the circumstances, I deemed my further action unnecessary.
I gingerly picked up Liana and carried her toward my bedroom.
“Liana. Can you open your eyes?”
“Dad. Where are you? I can’t see you,” she murmured, hardly audible.
My heart swelled. She hadn’t said that word since I couldn’t remember when. Liana had decided one day she wouldn’t call me Dad. She’d said it made her sound too young.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re going to be okay.” My chest swelled and something knotted in my gut.
“Where’s Mom and sis?”
Mom and sis?
I stiffened. Liana dreamed of her family? Had she before? And it seemed she was calling out for her dead father.
“We’re almost there. Just hold on,” I told her anyway.
I went through the front, where the wreckage was not as bad as the east wing. Stepping over the damage, I took her to my bedroom. After I took off her boots, I placed a light blanket over her.
I went to the bathroom to
get a wet towel and wiped the blood off of her forehead and arms. Some blood had come from a cut on her head, but most of it was Paymon’s.
I was about to go check up on Paymon when Liana shifted and moaned.
I sat on the mattress beside her. “Liana. Anything broken? Any pain?”
“Malum? Where am I? What happened?”
Her eyes were half-closed and she struggled to speak.
“There was an explosion. Do you remember?”
“Yes. We would have been dead had Balen not pulled up his magic. He put a shield around us. But when the floor collapsed under the bed, his magic failed and we dropped. Are they okay?”
At the word dead, I flinched and thanked Balen for being there. Liana had such good luck.
“Yes. They’re fine. Now that I know you’re okay, I’m going to check on Paymon.”
Liana grabbed my hand just as I planted my feet on the rug to leave. “Thank you.”
I felt the sincerity of her words and kissed her forehead. “We’ll talk later. Get some rest.”
Chapter 26
The Voice
Liana
I drifted in and out of sleep. The daylight filtering through the slit of the closed curtains told me it was still bright out. It also informed me I was downstairs in one of the guest rooms.
I’d dreamed about things I didn’t understand. They were not from the present but perhaps from my life before.
Mostly I dreamed of a man with wings—beautiful, stunning alabaster wings. I had never seen wings as gorgeous as his. He’d kissed me, and things happened between us that made me hot with desire. Then I dreamed of a little girl, the same little girl that the snow globe had shown me.
What did it all mean?
Maybe touching the snow globe had done something to me.
Crap! I’d had it with me when my side of the wing collapsed. How was I to explain to Malum?
I had to find it. I also wanted to get up to see Paymon and Balen, to see for myself they were fine.
Shifting, I swung my feet off the bed and straightened my spine. Huge mistake. My body screamed in agony. A sharp pain shot up my neck. The mirror attached to the vanity told me how bad the injury could have been.