by Mandi Oyster
Aurelia and I walked back to my room without saying anything to each other. I was stuck in my head, wondering what other side effects being marked by a demon might have on me.
As soon as I closed the door, Cody asked, “She have the amulet?”
“Yep.” The p popped out of my mouth.
Samantha spun around in the desk chair. “So, it didn’t work?”
“Nope.” Once again the p made a popping sound.
“As soon as Dacia touches it, it starts glowing.” Aurelia put her hand on my back and nudged me across the room. I plopped down in Cookie Monster, unconsciously rubbing my hand back and forth over the arm. “Sarah was able to wear it, so we thought maybe one of you could.”
Dan sat down in Big Bird, looking from me to Aurelia. “Why does it glow when Dacia wears it?”
“Aurelia says I’ve been marked by a demon.” I bit my lip.
The blood drained from Samantha’s face. “What does that mean?”
“It means that his essence is in her.” Aurelia stood behind me with her hand on my shoulder. “I imagine it will be until he returns to the Abyss. If I am right, nothing she does will change that.”
“Lovely.” I dropped my head into my hands.
“How did she get demon essence on her?” Dan asked.
Aurelia hesitated. “It could be …”
Cody interrupted her, running a shaking hand through his hair. “Please … I don’t wanna know.”
“Okay.” I started pacing. “Cody’s with me more, but Samantha has classes on her own. So, the two of you need to decide who will wear it, or if either of you will. Or, Dan if you want to, you can.” I stopped in front of the window, hoping the peacefulness of the mountains would settle over me.
I wanted to go off on my own somewhere to sulk, but I knew that wouldn’t go over very well. I heard them discussing the amulet, but tuned it out. I was trying to figure out how to avoid Mavros and how to beat him in the end. However, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with a viable solution.
Cody grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the couch beside him. “You okay?”
“I’ll live … hopefully.” I tried to smile. “How about you?”
“I’ll live. You’ll make sure of it.”
“Pizza or cafeteria tonight?” Samantha asked.
I knew she was trying to get our minds off Mavros, but it would take more than food for me.
“We could head down to The Avalanche.” Dan stretched his legs out in front of him and slid down in the chair, looking quite relaxed. “Do you feel like getting off campus?”
I shook my head. “You guys can. I’m gonna stay here.”
“We’ll stay with you.” Samantha picked up the phone. “I’ll call it in.”
I looked at each of them. “So, who’s the lucky one?”
“Me.” Cody lifted the chain. I could almost hear his eyes rolling. “Was weird when I put it on.”
I cocked my head at him. “How’d I miss that?”
“You were staring out the window.” Dan pointed to the one looking out at the mountains.
Cody threw his arm over my shoulder, and we sat in silence for a moment. I was glad he was there. He knew me well enough to back off when I needed him to, but he also knew that I needed him. Right then, it felt pretty good to be able to curl up next to him.
“Ow.” Cody’s hand flew up to his neck, and he yanked the amulet out from under his shirt. The sapphire’s glow lit up the room.
“Dan or Samantha will have to wear it,” Aurelia said. “Apparently, Cody cannot touch you if he is.”
Samantha reached her hand out. “I’ll wear it.”
“Didn’t think it’d get so warm.” Cody dropped it on top of his shirt.
I couldn’t quit staring at the amulet. “If you don’t want to wear it, you don’t have to, Sam.”
“No, somebody should.” She took it from Cody. “We don’t know if it’ll work anyway. If he’s like Nefarious, it should glow anytime he’s around, but if he’s like you, it’ll only glow if he touches one of us. It’d be nice to find out.”
I dragged my hands down my face. “It’d be even nicer if we didn’t find out.”
“Yeah, but realistically, we’re going to.” Dan patted the arm of the chair, and Samantha sat beside him.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just feel … lost.” I twisted my hoodie strings around each other. “I’m afraid Mavros’ll get me to leave one of these nights and not bring me back. Or, if he can lure me out, what’s to stop him from luring you guys out? And, if he can make me go outside by myself, why can’t he just make me agree to be bound to him?”
Aurelia cocked her head as if listening. She nodded. “You have to make that decision freely. He can dazzle you and leave you breathless before he asks, but the decision must be made of your own free will.”
I rubbed my arm. “Mavros can be quite charismatic.”
Samantha rolled her eyes, and Cody jerked his arm off my shoulders, pulling away from me.
“What?” I flipped my hands up. “He is. If it weren’t for Cody, I may have fallen for his act. But, like I told Mavros, I already gave my heart away.”
Cody leaned forward, folding his hands together. “Don’t forget that.”
“When he holds me—” I cleared my throat, hoping nobody heard how husky my voice sounded “—or looks into my eyes, I do forget. I’m afraid I’m going to lose you because of him.”
“Yeah.” Cody rubbed my leg.
I focused on the way his hand felt against my skin and let my memories of Mavros slip away.
“Tears me up, but he’s controlling you”—he stared at the floor—“making you feel that way. It’ll take more than that for me to walk away.”
“I hope so.”
Aurelia looked at me with more emotion in her eyes than I remembered ever seeing in them before. Fear and concern mingled together. She blinked, and they were masked again. “I will stay close by as often as I can. If I sense that you are leaving the building, I will stop you.”
“Don’t neglect Arion.” A sad smile touched my lips. “He needs you, too.”
She walked to the door, stopping before opening it. “He is getting better. I will leave now, check on him, and be back before nightfall. Be careful.”
Chapter 20
Whisked Away
The urge to go outside was overwhelming. I covered my head with a pillow and pulled Cody’s arms around me, but I couldn’t fight the impulse any longer. I snuck into the hallway.
Aurelia leaned against the wall, waiting for me.
“I’m sorry.” I combed my fingers through my hair, trying to tame my curls. “I couldn’t resist any longer.”
“Do not be ashamed.” She pushed off the wall and walked toward the stairs. “The best of us cannot ignore the call of a demon. Shall we?”
It took me a few seconds to comprehend her words and actions. For a moment, I wondered if Mavros could control her. She seemed more likely to lock me in my room and throw away the key. “Really?”
“If you do not go to him, he will keep summoning you.” She glanced over her shoulder. “At least if I am with you, you will be safe.”
The two of us stepped outside together. One moment, the black panther strolled toward us. The next, a god among men sauntered over. I sucked in a deep breath as I took in Mavros. I tried to picture him differently, but I couldn’t—he was chiseled perfection.
“This is not between us, dragon.” Mavros spat out the word with all the venom he could muster. “You know that you cannot interfere.”
“I am not,” she responded. “I am here as Dacia’s friend. That is within my power.”
“Make sure that you don’t overstep your boundaries.” His eyes softened a
s he gazed at me, and he held his hand out. “Dacia, my love, will you walk with me?”
I reached out, unable to stop myself, and placed my hand in his. A jolt of electricity shot through my fingers, leaving my body tingling. He enfolded me in his arms. His supple lips pressed against mine. Somewhere in the background, I heard Aurelia growl, but she didn’t move toward us.
When he pulled away, black bat-like wings sprouted from his back, blotting out the stars. He held me around the waist and flew off toward the Snowfire Mountains. I remembered thinking, Aurelia is not going to like this, but I didn’t care. Flying through the night sky with him was exhilarating. The warmth of his body kept the chill away.
He landed near a mountain lake and set me down. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t think we needed a babysitter.”
“It’s fine.” I rubbed my arms, trying to warm them. “It’s beautiful up here but cold.” I wasn’t dressed for a trip to the mountains. I was wearing my pajamas, shorts and a t-shirt. I didn’t even have shoes on.
“I should’ve thought of that.” He took his leather jacket off and wrapped it around my shoulders. “I just wanted to get you away. Without time with you, how am I supposed to prove my love?”
I slipped my arms into the coat’s sleeves and lifted the collar to my nose, breathing in deeply. It smelled like warm summer nights and something I couldn’t place. “Help me find some firewood?”
Mavros held my hand while we collected sticks. We piled the branches in a rock ring at the edge of the lake. Then I concentrated until a ball of fire ignited in the palm of my hand. I threw it, and the wood burst into flames. Mavros sat down on the beach, and I snuggled up against him, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I have something for you.” He slid his hand into his jacket pocket, pressing his body against mine, and pulled out a black velvet box. When he handed it to me, his eyes were filled with something different … hope, maybe?
“Oh.” I’m not sure if the gift or the look in his eyes surprised me more. I lifted the lid to find a panther intricately carved from a black star sapphire hanging on a silver chain. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
“Anything for you.” He smiled at me, an angelic smile that didn’t belong on the face of a demon. He took the necklace out of the box and fastened it around my neck. His hands brushed against my skin, and goosebumps rose all over my body.
“This is nice,” I said. “It’s very peaceful here.”
He rubbed my arm. “I’m glad you like it. The time I get to spend with you means a lot to me. If you do send me back to the Abyss, I’ll carry this time with me to help me get through it.”
“Why would I send you back to the Abyss?” I felt like he was speaking Greek. He didn’t make any sense at all. “I want you to stay right here with me.” I pressed my fingers against my chest, emphasizing my words. “I want you to be with me forever.”
Mavros stood up and walked to the other side of the campfire. “Do you really want me to stay?”
“Yes.” I watched him, trying to figure out why he’d left my side, taking his warmth with him when he walked away. “I want you to stay.”
He looked away from me. “Will you be mine so I can?”
“I …” My voice faltered. The words caught in my throat. I looked down and saw the ring on my finger. “I’m sorry.” I looked back up in time to see his shoulders hunch forward. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I can’t be with you. I’m with Cody.”
He walked back over, stopping in front of me, and looked down. “Haven’t I shown you my feelings for you are true?”
“You’ve shown me passion and desire.” I fiddled with the necklace he gave me. “You’ve shown me you can be kind and gentle, but I haven’t seen love.”
“Then I’ll have to keep trying.” He sat next to me but didn’t touch me this time. “I imagine the dragon is getting anxious. Would you like me to take you back?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” I said. His eyes met mine, and I snuggled against him. “But, this is the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.”
“We could stay … for a few more minutes … if you’d like.” He pulled me closer. His warmth seeped into me.
I sighed in contentment. “Just a few.” I felt his breath against my cheek and tilted my head back.
“Somehow, I will find a way to convince you,” he whispered in my ear.
We sat on the beach a while longer. The gentle lapping of the waves and the crackling of the fire were hypnotic. I stared into the dancing flames. The tension in my shoulders eased. I closed my eyes and imagined how life could be with Mavros.
“We should go.”
I opened my eyes to find a contented smile on Mavros’ lips. “You look happy.” I reached up, tracing my fingers over his mouth.
“How could I not be here with you?” He stood and helped me to my feet.
I faced the lake and acted like I was scooping water in a bucket. I threw the water on the fire to douse the flames. When it was out, Mavros sprouted his wings and flew off into the night with me in his arms.
He set me down in the shelter of the trees near Wisteria Hall. “Thank you for a wonderful evening, Dacia.” He brushed his lips over mine and disappeared.
When I walked back into my room, four relieved faces looked up at me.
I pulled the door shut quietly. “I’m sorry.”
“It is not your fault, Dacia.” Aurelia walked over, evaluating me. “I told them what happened. I explained that I took you outside. I had no idea he would take you away. I am the one who should be sorry. He would have kept calling you. I thought it was the best decision. I was wrong.”
“He took me into the mountains.” I didn’t look at any of them. I didn’t want to see the disgust on their faces. “He tried to get me to choose him, but I didn’t.”
“Were you cold?” Cody’s hands curled into fists. His body was rigid.
“Oh.” I tugged Mavros’ jacket off and threw it on the floor. The warmth leached out of my body. I stared at his coat, wondering how I could’ve forgotten I’d been wearing it. “I was. I wasn’t planning a trip to the mountains. I’m still in my pajamas. I don’t even have shoes on.”
I stepped toward Cody, but he backed away. “I … I didn’t mean to go. I thought Aurelia would stop me.” I sank down to the floor and put my head in my hands. The panther dangled from my neck. My hands trembled, making it impossible to unclasp it. “I can’t …” A sob caught in my throat, stopping my words. “I can’t get this off!”
“A necklace.” Cody groaned. “He’s giving you jewelry?”
I hated myself for what this was doing to Cody, but how could I stop it? I couldn’t avoid Mavros. I couldn’t ignore his summons.
Samantha knelt down beside me, lifting my hair to take the necklace off. “Ouch!” she yelled when she touched the chain. She jerked her hand up and stuck her fingers in her mouth. After a moment, she pulled them out. “I can’t take it off you, Dacia. It burned me.”
Cody ran his hand down his face. His lips turned up in an angry smile. His eyes narrowed.
I stood and reached out to him. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Without saying a word, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. A few seconds later, we heard Marcy yell, “Cody Hawks, what are you doing here this time of night?!”
“Leaving!” he yelled back at her.
“I’m reporting this tomorrow morning!”
My heart plummeted, leaving me hollow and broken. I doubled over, gasping. When the room started spinning, I fell to the floor. The soft ticking of the clock crescendoed until the silence was as loud as Cody slamming the door had been.
“I am singlehandedly ruining everything. I should have just put up with it. I should have put headphones on and ignored him.”
“You know that would not have stopped it. They”—Aurelia pointed at Samantha and Dan—“might think that would work, but we both know better. You do not hear him calling. You are just drawn out to him. There is nothing you can do to stop it.”
“Is that true, Dacia?” Samantha sat on the floor beside me.
“Yes, if I’d heard him, I would’ve known what I was walking into last night.” I took a deep breath and turned to Aurelia. “Can you keep an eye on Cody for me?”
“Yes.” She headed out the door.
“He’ll be back.” Dan’s hair was tousled. He was shirtless, and his hands were stuffed into the pockets of his pajama pants.
I shook my head. “Why? Why would he come back?” I swiped at my eyes. “Would you? If your girlfriend was cheating on you, sneaking out in the middle of the night to see another guy, would you forgive her?”
“It’s not like that, and you know it, Dacia.” Samantha’s voice rose in anger.
“Why isn’t it?” Without Cody, I’d never get through this. I would’ve promised my heart to Mavros if I hadn’t thought of Cody. “The guy I’m sneaking off to see is a demon, but it has to hurt Cody the same as if I was sneaking off to be with any other guy on campus. It has to break his heart to wake up and find me gone, to have me come back wearing a necklace given to me by another guy … wearing his jacket. I couldn’t be that forgiving. Could either of you?” I looked each of them in the eyes, daring them to deny the truth.
“But …” Samantha looked away from me. “He loves you.”
“I do.” Cody reappeared in the middle of the floor with Aurelia at his side. “But, I don’t know if I can do this.” He looked calmer, but fine lines of anger etched his face.
“You have to,” Aurelia said. “If you do not stand by her, she will suffer the same fate as Elizabeth. Thoughts of you make it possible for her to say no to him. Without you, she will fail.”
A muscle in Cody’s jaw ticked. “So, I’m supposed to deal with her running to Mavros and what? Be happy about it?”