by Jen Pretty
She stopped in the hall and pressed Julian against the wall, breathing heavily.
“What's your name?” I asked her around my own ragged breaths.
“Ann,” she said. “I can't go with you. My husband is back there. Is there anyone else with you?”
“Shit. Yes, but we split up.” I stared down the hall, willing Nick or Al to arrive.
“I can walk,” Julian mumbled. I looked back at him and his eyes were partly open.
“I doubt that,” I said. I didn't know much, but I knew if you couldn't stand you probably couldn't walk, and Julian's knees buckled. Ann was the only thing keeping him upright.
“I can,” he said and pushed himself straight. He moaned in pain and grit his teeth, but he was standing.
“All right, let's get the fuck out of here. Thanks, Ann.”
She smiled and bowed quickly to Julian before disappearing around the corner back into the cafeteria. Julian's breath was ragged, and he was mostly leaning on the wall, but we made slow, silent progress down the hall. My brain was screaming at me to say something to Julian, but my heart was racing too loud, afraid a guard would catch us. This was the craziest thing I had ever done, and now that I had Julian back, I wasn't sure what to do. We needed to get out of here so he could heal or whatever he did, but we hadn’t stopped Collin, and I had no idea where Nick or Al were.
We made hardly any progress, and the time was ticking by.
“We have to move faster,” I whispered to Julian.
He groaned and pushed off the wall, giving himself some forward momentum into a slow jog. The sounds coming from him were painful enough. I didn't need to imagine what it felt like for him to be moving like this after what he had been through. When we passed the first light, I saw the glistening of his blood still oozing from his shredded skin and the white of a rib poking out. I swallowed the rising vomit and continued to pace him until we came to the branch off where Nick had left me. I stopped ahead of it and slid against the wall like a ninja. Julian leaned heavy against the wall, too, but he was not stealthy about it. I peeked around the corner, and a set of arms grabbed me. I squeaked before I realized it was Nick, and then I was suddenly grabbed from behind by Julian and pulled back around the corner in a tug of war between the two idiots.
“It’s Nick,” I whisper-yelled and a moment later all the arms let go of me and Nick came around the corner.
“Thank God, let’s go,” Nick said before seeing Julian's chest and making a grossed-out face. I didn't blame him. I wanted to puke again, but the first time hadn’t helped so I swallowed it down and gritted my teeth.
“We need to get out of here now,” I whispered.
Nick nodded and jammed Julian's arm around his shoulders. I got on the other side. Nick had picked up a flashlight from somewhere and it helped speed our exit. With the two of us holding up Julian our pace increased, giving me a sense of hope we might get out of here before we were spotted. However, my optimism was misplaced. As we got back to the turn in the tunnel where we had hidden on our way in, I could hear those two half-demons that had almost found us then coming back down the tunnel.
“I told you we would get in shit,” one of them said.
“Yeah, yeah. You don't have to rub it in. Just stick to the story. We heard something and went to check it out.”
Nick flicked off his flashlight, and we pressed ourselves against the cement wall right at the corner. Nick took out a knife. Apparently, we were not just gargoyle hunters anymore. Now we were half-demon hunters and shit got real.
My adrenaline spiked, and the hot heat of whatever superpowers I had been given after my last run in with the demon started to tingle in my stomach. Sweat beaded on my forehead and the burning coals moved my blood like lava down my arms and towards my hands. I took one last deep breath as the sound of the men's boots got closer and closer.
The first man around the corner walked right past Nick, and I launched myself on him at the same time as Nick attacked the second half-demon.
My hands gripped the first man's head, and the burning heat leapt from me to him with the rage of an inferno. I bit my lip and tasted blood to keep from screaming as the temperature in the tunnel rose to boiling. The man's mouth opened in a silent scream and his arms came up to try and push me off, but instead he froze, and I collapsed to the ground in a heap. I stared up at the man who was now a statue. My vision was blurry, but he looked like a gargoyle with his teeth bared and his arms up in a defensive stance. I reached out and touched his leg and he was as hard as a rock.
I panted, trying to catch my breath as Nick stabbed the other half-demon in the chest and knocked him to the ground. Blood gushed from the hole in his chest, and he made a watery gurgle sound before he stopped moving altogether.
Nick dropped the knife and pushed past the man I had turned to stone. He fell to his knees beside me and ran his hands over me like he was checking for injuries.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“That was too much. You shouldn’t have done that,” Nick said.
“I’ll be okay. I need a second.” I knew I would need more than a second. My eyes were trying to close and my head kept spinning, begging me to pass out. If I passed out here, Nick would have to drag Julian and I back out, and that was not going to work. I slapped myself in the face a couple of times and slid my eyes to look at Julian. He was a mess and still standing. I guess I could, too. I pushed up onto my elbows and the world went black for a moment before my vision returned. I kept going until I was on my feet, leaning against the wall of the tunnel.
“We have to go,” I said, my voice shaking. I pushed off the wall, and Julian did, too. His hand slid into mine and we made our way forward. Halfway down the pitch-black tunnel, I heard a boot scuff behind us and we all turned to face the new foe, but it was Al’s lumbering frame that greeted us.
“Shit,” he whispered, taking in our ragged appearances. “I missed all the fun.”
“Yup, it was a real party, Al,” I said sarcastically.
He had the good sense to look abashed, but scooped me up and carried me along until we made it to the opening where the road had caved in. Then his giant wings spread out and he flew me up to the surface, setting me down in an alley beside the sinkhole.
“Be right back,” he said.
I slid down the brick wall to the ground and rested my head back. I couldn't believe I rescued Julian. I was an idiot, and when this was over I needed to work with this power I had. I was no use to anyone if I was out for the count after freezing someone. That was the last thought I had as my eyes slid shut and the blackness took over.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I woke up in bed in the hotel room. The rustling of a newspaper told me I wasn't alone, and I had a pretty good idea of who was beside me. I kept my eyes closed and breathing steady, replaying the last things I could remember.
Rescuing Julian and then freezing a half-demon. Oh shit. That was terrible. I wondered if the man was still frozen.
“I know you’re awake, Har,” Julian said softly. There was a rasp to his voice that made him sound sick, or like he had been screaming. I shuttered. I had heard him scream and saw the results of what Collin had been doing to him. My eyes flicked open and I looked up to see him sitting in the bed, chest exposed again. It was clean and unmarred now, like he had never been tortured. I slipped a hand out from under the covers and touched his abs. The muscles bunched under his warm skin and he set the newspaper down. His hand moved slowly to brush the hair out of my face.
I swallowed hard and pulled my hand back under the blanket, but he didn't stop stroking my hair. His eyes burned into mine and I looked away. My heart was racing, but I felt strangely comfortable around him, like I had when we were driving across the country on his motorcycle. His presence made me calm and I wasn't expecting that. He had been there when I almost died at the hands of Collin. Julian stopped him, but not until it was almost too late. Half-demons weren’t good people — at least that was the conclusion I had
drawn after my experience in New York.
I forced myself out of bed and away from Julian. No matter how much I wanted to curl up beside him and go back to sleep, I wasn't safe.
“Harlow, wait,” he said as I walked towards the bathroom door.
I was only wearing a large t-shirt and underwear. Someone had stripped me out of my leather clothes. My feet stopped walking, but I didn't turn around, feeling too exposed.
“Sorry. I should have said that sooner. I tried, but you wouldn't answer my calls and Lincoln told me you had opened none of the packages I sent you. It’s just…” He sighed.
I turned to look at him. His face was a mess of sadness. I hadn't seen that emotion on his face before and it didn't fit. His features were too strong for that expression. It tore down my walls, and I walked back to the bed.
“I swear I didn't know what he was doing,” Julian said as I slipped back under the blanket and curled up beside him.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke. “I’m afraid. Of you, and the half-demons and Collin. I don't enjoy feeling like this.”
“You don't have to be afraid of me,” he whispered, sliding down, so his face was right in front of mine on the pillow. His arm slid around me, drawing me closer to him so his warmth flooded me, making my muscles relax and my breathing slow. His dark eyes traced my features as we lay there in the dim room. There was a lot more I wanted to say but couldn't find the words.
I must have drifted back to sleep because when I opened my eyes again, I was alone in the bed. I staggered up and into the bathroom. The mirror showed me an awful sight. My hair was sticking up weird and my face had creases from the sheets. I looked all rumpled and hung over with bags under my eyes. Using that mysterious power to freeze demons did not make me attractive.
I had a shower and added extra conditioner to try and smooth out the rat's nest on my head. It worked somewhat, and when I stepped back out I felt almost human again. My suitcase sat on a low table and I rooted through until I found some clean new leather pants and a tank top that had a cartoon demon on the front. I wasn't sure if it was funny or not, but I liked it anyway. Once I had my boots on, I felt stronger, like I could take on the world again. Well, at least I could handle leaving the bedroom.
Conversation died when I entered the living area of the hotel room. Julian, Nick and my mother sat around on the couches and watched me as I moved towards the rolling cart that had delivered coffee to the room. There were also croissants and fruit. I took two of the fluffy, buttery croissants and poured myself a big mug of coffee, sipping it before I turned back to the trio who had sat silently while I prepared my breakfast.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, staring at my mother. I took a big bite, trying to act like I didn't care. She hurt me but didn't deserve to see how much.
“I’ve come to help,” she said.
“Uh huh,” I said, not believing it for a second.
“I know you don't believe me, but I have your best interest at heart.”
I scoffed. “Pretty sure you don't have a heart.” I strode back into the bedroom and slammed the door. My coffee spilled over the edges of the cup and I cursed as it burned the back of my hand. For fuck's sake, could I just not… whatever. Damn it.
I set my mug down and ran cold water over my hand in the bathroom as I stuffed more pastry into my mouth. I was starving and needed some bacon or pizza. What I didn't need was my mother hanging around. I turned off the tap and dried my hand off, walking back out to the bedroom munching on the last of my less-than-great breakfast to find Nick sitting on the end of the bed.
“You draw the shortest stick?” I asked, pretty sure they fought over who had to talk to me. My life was turning into a giant emotional mess.
Nick stood and crossed the room, stopping right in front of me. “Harlow, I know everything is messed up right now.” He looked at the door that led to the living room and lowered his voice. “I know that you have feelings for Julian and that's okay. I want to be here for you, and I want you to help end this shit with Collin. We have to.”
I threw my hands up. “I'm not saying I won't help. Just that I don't see why we have to have my mother involved. She is a terrible person, Nick.” I was talking loudly. Loud enough she could hear me, maybe the whole floor of the hotel could hear me. I wasn't saying anything that wasn't true. She was a shit mother and I wouldn’t pretend otherwise. Len raised me while she was off doing God knows what. “I ate garbage, Nick. No child should have to do that. I will not permit her in my life. If she has information, she can leave it and go. I will never trust her.”
Nick’s arms wrapped around me and pulled me against his chest. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn't know.” No one knew. Maybe Len knew, but he hadn’t said anything about it. He just gave me a job and fed me to keep me alive. The door to the hotel room slammed and I prayed that it was my mother leaving. I didn't even care if she had information we needed; I would find another way, just like I always did where she was concerned.
I needed to get out of this funk. The feeling of being lost and helpless was unsettling. Working with this new power to get stronger would be priority one. It was time to find gargoyles to mess with.
“We need to visit this city’s sculptor,” I said, pushing out of Nick’s embrace.
“Okay, what for?” he asked.
“I think I can get stronger with this power to freeze demons, but I need to practice.”
“You slept almost twenty-four hours after freezing that half-demon,” he said, looking concerned.
“Well, I'm hoping small demons won't take as much out of me. Collin has too much protection, we can't just march in there and hope to get to him. He has hundreds of half-demons in that tunnel.”
Nick bit his lip and nodded. “Okay, I’ll make a call.” He took out his phone and walked back into the living room, leaving the bedroom door open. I stood where I was for a moment, not sure if I trusted that my mother was really gone. A deep breath and three steps later, I was peering around the corner to find Julian sitting on the couch alone and Nick standing by the glass windows overlooking the city, speaking quietly into his cell phone.
I slipped out and collapsed on the couch beside Julian, snatching up the TV remote and flicking it on. The witch had left. I could relax. I switched channels for about half an hour before giving up and flicking it off again.
Nick was still making phone calls, so I pulled out my phone and googled the nearest pizza delivery place. I ordered an extra-large pepperoni and some garlic toast. Come to me carbs! Julian snickered as I hung up the phone. He knew all too well about my pizza addiction.
I played the funny bird-throwing game on my phone until there was a knock at the door.
Rising, I strode merrily across the room, unlocked the door and pulled it open expecting to see a pizza delivery person. Instead, what greeted me was a half-demon with razor-sharp horns who barreled forward, impaling me through the stomach.
I tried to scream, but he had knocked the wind out of me. I watched in horror as the man pulled back, extracting his horn from my abdomen like I was a pin cushion. He had a triumphant look on his face as if he had finished what he set out to do.
Julian appeared in front of me, his arms wrapped around the man's neck and twisted. A sickening crack echoed through the hotel room as I staggered back a step, trying to keep my balance.
My hands pressed to the place where I the half-demon had gored me, but the blood slid out through my fingers like hot maple syrup. I gaped at it for a moment longer before the pain finally reached me. Julian dropped the lifeless body and caught me as I fell toward the floor.
“Call 911!” he yelled.
I gasped for breath, the pain overwhelming me and sending shutters through my body as I writhed on the floor. I couldn't help to think it was a terrible way to die -- stabbed by a demon horn. Who the hell dies like that? I didn't even get my pizza.
“Hang on, Harlow,” Julian said. His face showed panic. I should have been panicking, t
oo, but coldness crept in. It didn't hurt so bad. Maybe it was just a shallow puncture. I looked down and saw all the blood surrounding me. No, that was not a shallow puncture. It was a deep one. Probably a lethal one.
Huh.
That sucked.
My eyes got heavy, and I cursed myself. I didn't want to pass out twice in two days. Why could I not heal this like Julian healed himself? That would be a handy trick. Instead, I could freeze demons. Not as helpful as it sounds.
My eyes slid shut. Julian was still talking, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. His voice was muffled and far away.
Then everything went silent.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
There was a soft rhythmic beeping sound and the rustle of someone moving about. I didn't open my eyes, but Lincoln didn't usually come in my room. Whispers drifted to my ears from somewhere nearby. I couldn't make out the words, but at least two people stood in my room.
I pulled a breath in through my nose and the smell of bleach reached my nose. That was the moment I put the pieces together and the memory of the half-demon impaling me returned. I tried to bolt up, but pain ripped through my stomach and I cried out. Strong hands gripped my shoulders and settled me back in the bed as tears slipped down my cheeks.
“You’re safe, Harlow.” It was Julian's voice, but I couldn't open my eyes. The pain ricocheted through my body like I was a pinball machine. The beeping sound sped up and I could feel my heart ratcheting in my chest. My breathing was too fast, but I forced myself to take several slow breaths until my heart slowed down.
When the pain eased a bit, I pried my dry eyes open and looked up at Julian. His expression was dark and weary, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. I blinked at him, my throat too dry and raspy to speak. I didn't have anything to say anyway. His hand moved to my hair and he smoothed it back from my face, his eyes sliding over my features.
The door to the room slid open, and a perky nurse stepped in, flicking on the overhead lights. My eyes burned, but it seemed inconsequential compared to the pain in my stomach.