by Jen Pretty
He laughed; the sound was lighter than you'd expect from the old man. “You be good and apologize to those men. They are doing right by you.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“All right. Goodbye.” He hung up the phone before I could say goodbye too.
I set the receiver down and curled up tighter in the bed, hugging my knees to my chest but carefully not to press on my stomach too hard. I stayed like that for an hour, until I had to use the ladies’ room too bad to ignore it anymore. I slid out of bed in almost the manner the nurse had shown me, so I didn't strain my abdomen. I ended up on the floor beside the bed but made it to the bathroom in time by crawling. Once I finished, I checked my face in the mirror. I looked lost and disgusting. My hair was a mess and I had bags under my eyes. Classic.
I made my way back out to the room and then continued to the nurses' desk. She came back with a basin and a washcloth so I could try and clean myself up. She also helped me wash my hair in the sink in the bathroom, so I at least felt a bit cleaner when I finally stumbled back into the bed and picked up the phone to call Julian and apologize for being a shit.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next morning Julian and Nick both showed up in my hospital room as I was signing the discharge papers. Thankfully, the Demon Division had full medical coverage, and I didn't need to work a street corner to pay for my private room and extended stay. The total was staggering.
“I brought you clothes,” Nick said, setting a bag down on the bed beside me.
“Thanks.” I grabbed the bag and hustled to the bathroom to change. Nick had brought baggy jogging pants and my comfy hoodie. Raising my arms hurt a lot, even with the extra strength pain killers the doctor prescribed. Hopefully, this half-demon who was coming to heal me would be here soon. I was still on the fence about trusting whoever it was, but Len had been right. I needed to step up and get this done. There was no way I could do that with this injury.
As I stepped back out in the room, the guys stopped talking and looked at me. Obviously, they had been talking about me.
“What?” I asked.
They looked at each other and then back at me, but neither said anything.
I dropped the hospital gown on the bed and headed for the door. If they wouldn’t tell me, I was sure I would find out soon enough.
Julian slid past me in the hall and led the way to the multi-level parking garage. We took an elevator down and stepped out into a below ground level. There weren't many cars down this far, but there was a limo parked diagonally along three spaces just across from the elevator.
The driver got out and came around to open the door, and we all slid in.
“Hello, demon-touched hunters,” an eerie voice rasped from the far side of the limo.
I jumped and squinted, trying to make out the person in the darkness, but the guys didn't react so I assumed this was someone they knew.
“Who are you?” I asked.
I saw white teeth flash, but no reply.
“Harlow, this is Darla. She is from the Demon Division,” Julian mumbled.
Crap. Not just any old half-demon then. One who decided I should be out here hunting a half-demon instead of happily chasing down gargoyles. I narrowed my eyes and tried to make out her form as the car started up and began driving out of the underground garage.
The silence grew thick, but the creepy lady said nothing until the car rolled out of the dark parking garage and into the daylight. I could finally make out Darla’s features. She looked like a wealthy heiress, dressed in a sleek pantsuit with one leg crossed over the other. Her elbow rested on the window frame, and one long slender finger tapped on her cheek as she inspected me. Her eyes roamed up and down like I was some curious puzzle she was determined to solve.
“What?” I asked, breaking the silence and startling Nick beside me.
Darla’s lip curled up like I had done something amusing. I hated her already.
“I am the first of us to meet a twice demon touched human who survived. I am ensuring I have all the details correct so I can relay this day to the rest of the Division.”
I snorted. Great, I was a fishing story. I wondered if she would exaggerate the size of me. I tipped my head back on the seat and closed my eyes. My life had gotten too weird.
I could still feel Darla’s eyes on me as the limo cruised through the city and finally pulled to a stop at the hotel. I prayed we had a different room, or someone had deep cleaned the carpet.
Thankfully, Julian hit a different floor button in the elevator once we were all inside. My heart raced at the closeness to Darla in the confined space, and my breathing sped until I was barely holding it together.
Nick slung his arm over my shoulders and the heat helped ground me, but I was still out the doors like a bullet when they slid open again.
Julian looked disappointed, but that was too damn bad. I wouldn’t stop being afraid of half-demons just because I liked him. He would have to get used to it.
“This way,” Julian muttered, and we followed him to a door where he produced a key card and let us in.
“Are we safe here?” I asked.
“Yes, the hotel is locked down. I hired a private security company to monitor everyone who comes in,” Julian said, stepping aside so I could see the room.
It wasn’t as lavish as the other room, but it was similar in design. Wood floors gleamed in the last rays of sun shining through the floor to ceiling windows.
Darla sat on the leather couch in the small living room, and we all joined her. She still wore a slight grin that made me nervous.
“Now, I have come to help you recover from this injury so you can continue with your important job here,” she said.
“Why is it exactly that I have to do this? Don’t you super powered half-demons have a better chance of stopping Collin than I do?”
Her smile broadened. “We are not warriors. We make the rules, and the rest follow.”
I shook my head. Whatever. “Well, then who usually enforces your rules? Cause I'm just supposed to be chasing gargoyles.”
Her eyes slanted to Julian. “The leaders enforce the rules. We do not say how they must enforce the rules, only that they must. Stopping Collin is now Julian's responsibility.”
I shot Julian a glare. He had blamed the Demon Division for bringing me here to stop Collin. They were a handy scapegoat I suppose.
“Fine. So how is it exactly you can heal me? I thought demons only had powers for evil.”
Darla chuckled and leaned back on the couch. I wasn't joking. Why would a demon have the power to heal someone?
“All immortal half-demons can eventually heal others as well. It seems to be an extension of our ability to heal ourselves. Eventually young Julian will also possess the ability.” She spoke, staring at Julian with a creepy, hungry look in her eyes. Gross.
“Let’s get this over with so you can return to your job, and I can return to the Division with news.”
She stood and stepped towards where I sat on the leather chair. I jumped to my feet with a groan of pain, uncomfortable with her hovering over me, but she pushed me back down. She placed her hand on my injury, pressing hard enough to make me gasp. I tried to sink away from her, but she just pressed harder.
Her eyes turned a solid black, and then the pupil turned red. I felt heat pour from her hand until it was so hot, I couldn't even gasp a breath. The pain rolled through me like an ocean wave, spreading from my stomach to cover every part of me.
The sound of a thousand people screaming filled the room. My vision turned white like I was staring into the sun. It seemed to go on for days and weeks. No end to the heat and the pain, until finally it all stopped and blessed peace sifted through me. I opened my eyes, and it was Nick’s face in front of me now. It took several moments for my eyes to focus on him properly and several more for me to notice we were alone now.
I glanced at the window and the moon blinked back at me from high in the sky. I had definitely lost time, but m
y throat was dry and scratchy when I tried to speak.
“It’s okay, Harlow. You’re okay.”
Easy for him to say. Some ancient half-demon didn't just send him to hell and back. I sat forward in the chair and felt no pain at all. I lifted my shirt and pulled the gauze off my stomach. In place of the nasty gash with ugly stitches I had what looked like a tattoo except it was bright red. It was in the shape of a star and centered on my stomach above my belly button.
“Whoa,” Nick said, tracing his finger over it.
I shivered and pulled my shirt back down. “I guess it worked,” I said, my voice still raspy.
Nick got up and brought me a bottle of water. It cooled my raw throat. Water was freaking delicious.
“Thank you,” I said.
Nick shook his head. “You should thank Darla. She was exhausted when she left. Julian had to carry her out of here practically.”
“I’ll send her a fruit basket,” I said sarcastically.
Nick chuckled.
I would thank her if I saw her again, but right now my mind kept replaying the heat that flooded into me. It felt like my heat, the one I used to freeze demons, and I was sure that meant something. Probably something bad. Or maybe it meant nothing. After all, my super magic powers came from demons and so did hers. I shifted until I had my knees tucked up beside me on the overstuffed leather chair and rested my head back.
I heard Nick on the phone ordering pizza and silently declared my undying love of the man. When he sat down on the couch, he had two beers in his hands and passed one over. I tucked it in beside me in the chair and waited for my pizza. I deserved beer and pizza after what I had been through.
I glanced around and located the mini bar. I was officially taking the rest of the night off from all things demon — Just me and that minibar, and maybe a bath.
There was a knock and my body tensed. Nick stood, picking up a large knife off the table by the door before peeking through the peephole. He set the blade back down and swung the door open, allowing Julian in. He was carrying two pizza boxes.
“I came up the elevator with the pizza delivery man,” he said to my questioning look. He set them on the coffee table in front of me and then collapsed on the couch. “You feeling better?”
I nodded and leaned forward to grab a slice of pizza. The cheese was stringy, and I had to lift the slice high to separate it from the rest of the pizza.
The first bite was like heaven in my mouth. The piping hot cheese slide across my tongue and the thick crust was perfectly doughy — not dry like some pizza. I hummed my joy, and Nick laughed before taking a bite of his slice.
“This is good pizza,” he said around a mouthful of cheesy goodness.
“Mhmm,” I agreed.
Julian's dark eyes watched me until I finished the slice and uncapped my beer. I chugged most down. Beer was the perfect companion of excellent pizza.
“Did you get a hold of the local sculptor?” I asked Nick as I rose to raid the minibar.
Nick finished his slice of pizza before replying. “Yup, he said we could come anytime. You want to start tomorrow?”
I nodded and pulled out a few tiny bottles of alcohol, popping them into the pocket of my hoodie before returning to my comfy chair and a second slice of pizza.
Nick and Julian talked about some random stuff. I didn't care about anything by the time I had my third slice of pizza and a second tiny bottle of alcohol.
Eventually, I wandered into the large bathroom and flicked on the hot water to fill the whirlpool tub. I needed to get one of these for at home. After dumping a bunch of small bottles of soap in, I watched the bubbles form and pop as I waited for the water to get deep enough.
“Are you sure you won't drown? You’ve had a lot to drink,” Julian said from behind me. A closed door meant nothing to him.
“I’m reasonably sure I don't care right now.” I stripped out of my clothes and by the time I was in my underwear I heard the door click closed behind me. Ha. I scared him off.
I wondered for a moment if that was a win since I scared him off with my half-naked body, but drunk Harlow didn't care about such trivial matters.
Catching my reflection in the mirror, the red star on my stomach looked like blood.
Unfortunately, it didn't wash off in the bath, but on the plus side, I didn't drown. I staggered out, pruned and relaxed and fell asleep on top of the blankets on the bed, wrapped up in a fluffy white housecoat.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Try again,” Julian growled.
“Fuck off,” I replied.
I had been freezing gargoyles for a week now. Working every day until I collapsed, and then Julian would carry me back to the hotel room and I would sleep. When I woke up, he would drag me back to the sculptor's shop and the cycle would start all over.
The first day I froze and unfroze three small gargoyles before I passed out. Now I was up to five large gargoyles, but what Julian failed to realize was that passing out sucked and I didn't want to keep doing it every day.
His sour look didn't affect me. I was immune to it. Okay, fine. It worked, and I froze another freaking gargoyle before my vision went blurry and my knees gave out.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered just before I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes, I was still in the sculptor's studio, laying on a dusty couch. The lights were way too bright, and I squinted as I rolled onto my side and glanced around for Julian. His voice was coming from a hallway on the opposite side of the workshop. I stifled a groan and stood up, making my way in the direction of his voice.
“She is almost ready. I think she can take down Collin and his top enforcers. The rest will fall once they are taken care of.” He paused, obviously listening to whoever was talking on the other end of the phone call. “I will take full responsibility for her once we leave here. She will be under my thumb. You don't have to worry.”
I reeled back. Pardon me? I would not be under anyone's thumb. I turned on my heel and headed for the door to the studio, but I tripped over some smaller stones and fell. Causing a racket and bruising my shins.
I swore and pushed myself up to my feet, planning to continue my exit, but now Julian stood in front of me. His broad chest blocked my way.
“Move,” I said, trying to push past him.
“Were you listening to my conversation?” he asked, his brow drawn down.
“You weren't exactly quiet about how under your thumb I am.”
“I’m sorry you heard that,” he said taking a step closer to me, so I had to look up to see his face.
“You should be sorry you said it. In fact, you can call whomever it was back and tell them that I won't be anywhere near you ever again because you can go to hell.” I reached out to freeze him, but he dodged my hand. I tried again and he jumped back another step. I figured I could keep doing that until I was outside, but it might take all day at the current rate.
“You don't understand the political implications of what you can do, Harlow.” He sounded angry again. His ability to summon any emotion he wanted, or to block out all emotion, made him untrustworthy. Was he mad or just putting on a show?
“I don't care about politics! I care about having a life I want to live. I don't want to keep doing errands for half-demons and getting my ass kicked!” I yelled.
“You can have a life and do some work for the division. You will find a balance.”
I scoffed and pushed forward again, my hand outstretched towards him. This time he didn't move but since I hadn't pulled up that hot source of magic inside me, my hand rested on his chest and he didn't turn to stone.
His lip ticked up into a half grin when he realized he wasn't solid like a stone.
“Thank you,” he whispered, pressing into me.
I was uncomfortable suddenly, as if the fact I didn't freeze his ass was a declaration of my undying love. I should have just frozen him and made a run for it. I had enough money to live comfortably in Mexico. Maybe there weren't any
demons in Mexico since it’s so hot there. The heat would probably remind them of hell.
Julian took another half step forward, bridging the last of the space between us, and his arm wrapped around my back.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“It should be obvious,” he whispered, lowering his lips towards mine.
I brought my hand up and covered his mouth before it made the final descent to my lips, and I lost all control of my body and its reaction. It was the last moment of clarity I had before I let my hand fall and his lips crashed into mine.
Damn, Julian.
I shouldn't want him at all. I should hate him and wish he was dead, but my stupid hormones thought otherwise. As his tongue tangled with mine and his strong hands lifted me off the ground, I found myself wrapping around him like a baby orangutan and holding on for dear life.
A throat cleared behind me and I gasped, trying to push off Julian and get back on my feet, but his arms didn't release me. He held me to him and I was helpless to escape.
“I was just checking up on you,” Nick said.
“Fuck,” I whispered. “Put me down.”
Julian finally let me go, but he looked like the cat who got the cream. It was a good look for him. Much better than the stern or blank stares he usually wore, and I tried to bank it in my mind for later.
“I froze a bunch of things and passed out,” I said turning away from Julian.
“Good,” Nick said. “I got us some supplies and weapons.”
“Weapons?” I had never used any kind of weapon except for my net. That was hardly a weapon.
“Not all of us can freeze an attacker on the spot,” Nick said. He bumped my shoulder with his and took a knife out of his duffel bag. It was sheathed in leather, and when he pulled it out the blade shone in the fluorescent lights.
“You are going to kill them?”
“Hope not,” he said. “But if it’s them or me, I'm choosing me.”
I glanced at Julian, but his face was carefully blank. I hated that look more and more every day. I didn't like the idea of killing anyone, even if they were half-demons hell-bent on destroying us, but I definitely didn't want Nick to go running into a war unarmed.