by Nicole Grane
* * *
Man my feet hurt. I knew we were on a rescue mission, but damn. Would it have killed Antonio to slow the pace a little? What good was it going to do us if we arrived in Hell too exhausted to rescue my dad? “Can’t we sit down? We’ve been walking for hours. With no stimulating conversation I might add.” Antonio had been deathly quiet ever since he dropped the “troll” bomb. I’d tried to goad him into small talk, hoping he’d elaborate on how he knew we’d be facing a troll, but no luck. Antonio was as tight-lipped as ever.
He stopped now, surveying the area before taking a seat on a nearby rock—thank God.
“Do you need any water?” His voice was husky. His hand shook a little as he extended a water bottle to me. His eyes, doing the best they could to avoid mine.
“Are you alright?” I took a small sip and handed it back to him.
“Fine.” He poured some water into the cap and handed it to Havoc. He watched as she gulped it down then handed it back to him. “We can rest here for a half hour, but any longer could put us in the swamp at nightfall. I’d prefer to be on the other side before we set up camp.”
“We can sleep in the Hovenbrogue trees,” Havoc suggested.
I looked over at her. She was resting on a rock, basking in the sun, with her arms folded behind her head. I rolled my eyes at her—must be nice not to have a care in the world.
“Good idea,” Antonio agreed. “Their limbs are high off the ground. We should be safe from predators there.” Antonio lay back as well, “resting his eyes” too.
I thought about his words. What are you hiding from me? I asked mentally.
His eyes shot open, meeting my stare.
I’d been able to enter his mind—no contact needed. And as much as I wanted to know how I’d done that, I wanted to know something more: you’ve been here before. When?
That’s ridiculous, he half-laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Havoc sat up, looking from Antonio to me like she’d just missed a joke.
“It’s not ridiculous. You’ve been here before,” I accused. Why wouldn’t he just come clean?
Havoc grinned. “Do you have anything to eat? I feel like I should be munching on something while you’re arguing.”
“Shut-up!” Antonio and I shouted in unison, our eyes never breaking gaze.
That earned us a growl. “Why don’t you just tell her? She may as well know.”
I looked from Havoc to Antonio. She knew something about Antonio that I didn’t? Unacceptable!
“There’s nothing to tell. Come on.” Antonio rose, flinging his pack over his shoulder. He strode off again, heading toward a steep hill. So much for taking a break!
Havoc shrugged. “I guess your man doesn’t want you to know.” She trotted off after him.
“My man,” I scoffed at her words. “He’s not 'my man'. If he was 'my man', he wouldn’t be keeping things from me, I can tell you that right now!” Of course Havoc ignored me. She was too busy skipping along the sand dunes, twirling aimlessly, to pay any attention to anything I said—annoying pixie! I was officially in a bad mood.
Damn it’s hot; and we weren’t even in Hell yet. I unbuttoned the bottom half of my shirt, rolled it up and tied it just below my chest. Thankfully I wore shorts today. I threw my pack on again and hurried after Antonio, who oddly enough was leading the way—strange for someone who hasn’t been here before!
I was just about to point this out when the ground rumbled below our feet. I stopped mid-step.
Havoc spun around, her eyes meeting mine. “Do. Not. Move,” Her voice was low and even.
Antonio was motionless, except for his eyes. They looked around, scanning the area. They stopped at me. His stare, fixed on my . . . chest? Was he looking at my—
“Ahahh!” I screamed.
Antonio was on me in the next instant, knocking me to the ground. His staff swished past me, slicing the air I’d just occupied. A slimy green snake head landed beside me, yellow fluid oozing from its severed neck.
“Uhuhh!” I jumped up. Shivers ran the course of my body. I took off, screaming hysterically.
“Evie!” Antonio shouted after me.
No way was I turning around. This place had bugs, serpents, and god knows what else—in the middle of a freaking desert? “Uhuhh!”
The ground moved again beneath my feet, causing the sand to ripple once more. I stopped abruptly, nearly toppling over on my face. My eyes searched, ready for anything. Antonio and Havoc had caught up to me—our breathing, the only sound.
Antonio’s arm quickly snaked around my waist, yanking me back against him. “Do not move,” he warned breathlessly.
I nodded. I couldn’t move if I wanted to.
Havoc crept out ahead, testing the ground before she urged us forward.
“Antonio?” My voice cracked. I could feel his breath on my neck. His hand was flat against my stomach, pressing my back into the endless ropes of muscle that made up his chest and stomach. I swallowed loudly, trying to dislodge the lump in my throat. I didn’t know if it was from fear, or from being so close to him—though I suspected the latter—that my heart reacted so excitedly. And despite the danger we were in and the desperate need to reach my father, here, in the protection of his arms I wanted so badly to turn around and kiss him.
No Evie. It cannot be me.
I stiffened. He’d been listening again. Why was I not surprised? At such close proximity, my mental thoughts must be screaming at him as if I had shouted them out to the world. I wanted to die then and there.
“Hey, come on you two.” Havoc was motioning us along again. “It’s safe.”
And just like that, Antonio dropped his arm and moved around me. “Here.”
“You’re giving me a staff?” I’d have preferred a kiss. I took the sleek weapon. It looked like nothing more than a candlestick holder.
“Just push the button in the middle and the blades will extend. But be careful to hold it away from you!” he added too late.
I’d pressed a small silver button on the handle and yelped.
“You could have impaled yourself!” he shouted, snatching it back.
“Sorry! You might have mentioned I needed a ten-foot radius! Slight exaggeration, but damn! My heart did its best to slow itself.
“If you want to be treated like a big girl, Evie, you need to be more responsible. I shouldn’t have let you come along. You’re only sixteen; a baby.”
I needed to be more responsible? What did he think I was doing here anyway? I was risking my life, and his coming here; something I did not take lightly. We were heading into Hell—literally—to save my father. Facing God only knows what! And Antonio questioned my responsibility? “You shouldn’t have let me come?” The very thought was inconceivable. I threw my bag to the ground.
“Evie.” Antonio took a step back—a wise move. “This isn’t the time.” The hell it wasn’t!
“Oh goodie, a fight!” Havoc was clapping her hands excitedly. “Make it a bloody one, Child of Light!”
I didn’t want to fight, but Antonio and I had to get a few things straight. “I asked you along. Remember?” I took a step toward him. “You don’t let me do anything!”
We circled each other, getting closer by the second.
“I may be sixteen, but I am not a baby. I’m prepared to handle anything this world has to dish out.”
“I doubt that,” he mocked.
My eyes narrowed as we inched closer.
“You forget. Your father sent me to look after you. He wouldn’t be pleased to find me leading you into Hell.”
No he wouldn’t. But I didn’t care. My dad’s safety meant more to me than whether or not he was “pleased” with Antonio. George could ground me for the rest of my existence . . . I was getting him back—alive!
“And your safety means more to me than rescuing your father!” he announced harshly. And that is exactly why my dad chose Antonio to look after me. I couldn’t ask for a more devoted protector; and my he
art fluttered all the more for it. Still, I wanted Antonio to understand that I couldn’t let him do this without me. If anyone was going to get hurt or God forbid killed, I wanted it to be me, not him.
“That will never happen,” he promised. The fierceness of his tone took me by surprise. “It’s not too late, Evie. Havoc can take you back. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“And I don’t want you to keep treating like a child!” Out of frustration I hurdled my pack at him, mentally, knocking him in the head.
“Evie!” He yelled, as he put his arms up defensively.
I watched my bag with great satisfaction attack him over and over again. I couldn’t help but laugh, my mood lightening a little. “Are you ready to stop treating me like a child?” Ironic I knew, considering I was acting like one at the moment!
“Evelyn!” Antonio thundered. This time, his voice didn’t sound so forgiving.
“Oh, alright.” I released the charm, letting my bag fall with a thud.
I watched as Antonio righted himself. His hair was messed in a sexy sort of way. He ran his fingers through it, combing it back. Even while highly pissed off, he managed to look yummy.
Antonio met my smile and frowned.
“This is all very interesting, but we’re wasting time.”
I looked over at Havoc. “Sorry to have bored you.” I picked my pack up off the ground and huffed past Antonio, brushing his shoulder as I went. Maybe now he’d take me seriously.
We continued on in silence for some time. Well, at least most of us were silent. Havoc took advantage of the tension and used it to tell me every sordid detail of her life. She had a boyfriend, I think? He was definitely a romantic interest. They were tied to one another somehow, or maybe it was bound? I don’t know. I was too busy watching Antonio, my eyes doing their best to assess his mood.
How could he just be-bop along like our argument hadn’t affected him? How could he continue to evade my questions? He’d been here before, I was sure of it. The fact that he felt he had to hide the reasons why only fueled my belief that it had been bad.
“Now isn’t the time for this conversation, Evie.” He glanced back at me, giving me an exasperated look.
“When then? When we're standing at the threshold of Hell?”
“You’re being dramatic.”
Me? Was he kidding? I wasn’t the one hiding things. I wasn’t the one pretending to care about someone. I wasn’t the one who looked incredibly hot at any given moment. Well. That wasn’t technically his fault. But still, he used it for evil, I was sure of it.
“I do not pretend to care about you,” he groaned. “I do care about you.”
Yeah right. Mr. “it cannot be me.” What an ass!
“I am not!” He turned on his heel, my body nearly slamming into his.
“You are so!” I said, squaring my shoulders with his. “And, you shouldn’t be listening to my private thoughts all the time!” I put my hands on my hips, giving him the haughty look I’d mastered at age seven. “I can think what-ever I want.”
“If you two are going to play-fight again, you mind if I take a nap under that tree?”
I huffed at her. “We don’t have time for you to take a nap. And we are not play-fighting.” We so did not have time for this. But damn it, how could Antonio expect me to drop it? I deserved answers!
“Go,” Antonio ordered Havoc, sparing her a quick glance.
“Now you listen to me,” he inched closer, not bothering to leave any air between us. I momentarily forgot I was mad. His lips were a perfect shade of pink. So close, I could almost taste them. He grabbed my arms, pulling me tighter to him. “It cannot be me you fall in love with, do you understand? It cannot be me!” He shook me slightly, his words coming out through gritted teeth. He looked as if he would thrust me away from him at any moment. But he didn’t. He pulled me closer still.
“Why not?” God, could I sound anymore needy? Being this close only weakened my knees further. I already felt like putty in his hands.
“Just tell her!” Havoc shouted from under a tree. So much for napping . . .
“Tell me what?” So help me, if he brushed me off now I was going to kick him in the—
“Alright!” He released me, allowing me to stagger back onto a nearby rock to sit. “There’s no need to resort to that.”
I stared up at him, my heart beating at a ridiculous pace. What sort of bomb was he going to release on me now?
“I won’t be coming back with you.”
My heart stilled.
“It makes no sense to develop a relationship we cannot have.” His words were absolute.
I stared at him, incredulous. “You wanna explain that, now!”
Antonio’s eyes shut for a moment, as if gathering the strength to continue. “I can’t go back with you.” Silence. “You asked if I’ve been here before. I have. Many times. It’s how I met your father.”
I sat there open mouthed. Trying to comprehend what he was saying.
He lifted his chin high. “I am a Guardian for the Devine Army.”
I couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d smacked me in the face with a brick. “But you’re Mageian?” What the heck was he talking about, the Devine Army. I glanced over at Havoc. She nodded her head at me, grimacing.
I was adopted and raised by Mageians,” Antonio explained. “My adoptive father is a Slayer like your father. George Hollyander was the first to sense that I had . . . unusual powers.
I studied him for a moment. My eyes were looking for any sign of a lie. I couldn’t find one.
“I knew I was different than any other Slayer,” he continued. “I could hear others' thoughts and move things with my mind; I just didn’t understand why?”
I stood there speechless. How in the world could I have missed this? My dad and Antonio were BFFs?
“George Hollyander trained me to become a Guardian. He said I was the best student he’d ever had.” Antonio beamed with pride.
A small pang of jealously rose up within me; I wished my father had taken the time to train me. Now he was gone. I shook the thought away. I’d get him back—soon.
“But how did you get to be a . . . Devine Guardian?” I asked. “Wouldn't you have to be an angel to be in the heavens?” And what would my father have to do with that?
Antonio shifted uncomfortably. “It's a long story.”
I waited for more but that was apparently all the info I was going to get on that subject! I huffed in annoyance.
“I ultimately earned your father’s trust and charge of his most cherished possession,” he continued. Antonio’s eyes looked fondly into mine. “An honor to be sure.”
My heart fluttered. But I was mad, damn it! I tried to clear my mind—a futile act. “That doesn’t explain why you won’t be coming back with us?” My voice cracked. I couldn’t even comprehend the idea.
“I'll be bound to the gate. The only way one can leave Hell is if they offer a soul in exchange, a soul besides their own.”
“So. You’ve got me, problem solved! Use my soul to get us in.” I'd worry about the “getting out” later.
“No!” He blurted, causing me to jump.
“What do mean, ‘no?’”
“If I enter with you as my soul, you’ll be bound to Hell. You would be condemned there, and more Daimonas than you can imagine will seep out into the outer world.” Antonio looked uneasy. As if he’d just divulged a piece of the puzzle he hadn’t meant to.
I looked over at Havoc. She sat on a small log, her elbows propped on her knees. “A Child of Light?” I asked her.
“Yes. You’re the key to their freedom,” she explained. “I tried to tell you.”
I thought about that. “Is my father a . . . Child of Light too?”
Antonio had gone pale. “Your father has powers that you cannot imagine, Evie, powers that he has passed onto you. If you were bound to that world, the Daimonas could use the two of you together to open the gates of Hell completely. The world as we k
now it would cease to exist.”
Of course! It all made sense now! That’s why George sent me to Pinehurst. He knew I’d be hidden and by sending Antonio to look after me, he figured I’d be safe. The Daimonas wanted me too. Roland, well gargoyle Roland, wanted to capture me, not kill me! That’s why they took my father. They wanted to use us together to open the gates of Hell—permanently!
Antonio nodded, hearing my inner revelation.
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” I demanded.
“Because I feared you’d react this way. That if you learned of this before we entered Hell, I knew you would insist we offer yourself up in exchange for my freedom. But you can see now why I can’t let that happen. My sacrifice will save everything.”
The Daimonas had my dad, and now they had Antonio? No. They would not get Antonio too. I’ll never let that happen.
“They’ll never have you.” The sky seemed to darken around us with that promise. I won’t bring you into Hell, Evie. You will not be bound there.”
“You’re not going without me,” I threatened. He was not leaving me behind.
“I’ll find a way to rescue your father, I promise. I owe him everything.”
“So he taught you to fight. That's not worth giving up your life! You’ll be stuck there forever!” Desperation coated every word, every thought. Antonio was stubborn. He wouldn’t use me to get us in, and the consequence to that would make him a prisoner for the rest of eternity. I felt my hands fisting at my sides. Over my dead body—which incidentally, may be the case.
“Understanding took hold of me. “That’s why you’ve been pushing me away, telling me that we can’t be together . . . ” I opened my mouth to continue—nothing. I swear I felt like a fish at times.
“Do not worry.” Antonio squatted to his haunches, leveling his stare with mine. He reached up and stroked the side of my face. “I knew when I agreed to help you on this quest, this would be my fate. It will be an honor to save your father. He has done so much for my . . . family.”
“I don't care what he's done for your family,” I shouted, pushing his hand away. “Antonio, you can't give up your life! My father wouldn't want you to!” I knew in my soul I spoke the truth.
He forced a smile. “You’re young, Evie. You will have many loves. Don’t waste your heart on me.” By the look in his eyes, I knew he was forcing himself to believe what he was saying.
“Many loves . . . don’t waste your heart on me?” No. I’ll never love another like this. Who else would sacrifice himself like Antonio was doing for me? “Many loves?” No. Antonio was all I wanted; I knew that now with great certainty.
“You’re young, Evie. You can’t know that yet,” his words came out soft, like a whisper. But he couldn’t hide the heartache in his eyes. If he thought for one minute that I was going to let him “go gently into that good night” . . . he didn’t know me very well.
I grabbed Antonio by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him toward me, right into a lip-locking kiss that would melt the ice off a glacier.
His body took about two seconds to respond. His arms wound around my waist and pulled me to my feet, bringing me closer to him, while his lips met mine; kiss after eager kiss. He’d been dreaming of this moment too. There was no way he could hold me like this and not be head-over-heels for me. I could feel it in his lips and in the heated embrace his arms provided. He couldn’t hold me close enough, and that was fine by me. I surprised myself and deepened the kiss, unfortunately startling him back to sanity.
He pulled back. Small beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. I wasn’t sorry. Not one bit. Roland’s kiss, or whoever the heck he was, definitely rated a knock-your-socks-off experience. But, it was nothing in comparison to Antonio’s. This kiss would be legendary. It was the type of kiss dreams were made of. And my dreams were just beginning.
I blushed, knowing full well he’d heard me. “Well, I figured if I was going to Hell, I should at least be able to say that I’d been kissed before . . . by something human anyway. And since you clearly weren’t going to do it, I—”
His lips collided with mine again, stopping me mid-sentence. His hands, gently cupped my neck, drawing me closer, as his mouth moved over mine. This kiss was more passionate, heady. I’m pretty sure it was full of desire too. Yep, that’s exactly what it was— full—of—desire. Man could this guy kiss!
My legs wobbled beneath me. His hands, traveled down my neck and arms, winding their way around my back. He pulled me against him, our bodies meshing into an airtight embrace. It was then that I realized my feet were no longer touching the ground. Somehow he’d lifted me without me knowing it—or perhaps I was floating.
He released my lips reluctantly, but not his hold around me. His eyes dreamily stared into mine. He brushed several more kisses across my lips before he set me down.
My body cried as his arms threatened to leave. “No.” I shook my head, pulling him back to me. I couldn't look into his eyes. I didn't want to see into his thoughts. I just wanted Antonio to hold me a little longer. I nuzzled my head against his chest, listening to the erratic beating of his heart.
“Evie.” He pulled back and looked me squarely in the face. “You must know this changes nothing.” He sounded sad.
“The hell it doesn’t!” I challenged. “This changes everything!” He loved me! Well, he didn’t exactly say that, but I could feel it. No guy could kiss a girl like that and walk away.
Antonio’s face grew serious. “I’ll have to walk away. Evie, when the time comes, you must let me go.”
“No.” I shook my head again. “I can’t. I won’t.” Tears leaked out the corners of my eyes.
Antonio sighed deeply. “Oh, Evie.” A gentle smile swept across his face. His fingers brushed the tears from my cheeks before he leaned over and kissed me softly on the forehead. “You will have no choice.”