by J. N. Colon
Sebastian gave her a thumbs up. Her grin stretched all the way to her ears.
Jessica hadn’t told Sebastian how she felt when they were away in Macon visiting his uncle. I couldn’t blame her. The fear of rejection and heartbreak was debilitating. I was already in so deep with Jayson I couldn’t dig myself out. And I had no idea what our future looked like.
Because of this irrevocable bond, I was stuck with him forever.
That should have scared me, freaked me out at least, but the thought of forever with Jayson Casteel sent a swarm of butterflies dancing in my stomach.
It was ridiculous.
Sebastian threw his hand up, halting us. He put his finger to his lips.
All three of us stood still as we strained to hear whatever had stopped our fearless leader in his tracks. Muted footsteps resonated from the floor directly above us.
Holy crapola. Was a restless soul really creeping around up there? While the dearly departed librarian with questionable morals didn’t seem so bad, I didn’t particularly want a run-in with the knife-wielding Virginia Fulton.
Sebastian’s light-green eyes were so wide they threatened to pop out of his face. He pointed toward the ceiling. “Let’s investigate.”
“You lead the way.” Jessica motioned her arm for him to head to the left.
We followed him up the rickety wooden steps. I clung to the railing with my free hand, peering into the vast darkness below. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was a bottomless pit all the way to Hell.
Once we made it to the second landing, Sebastian handed Jessica a night vision camera. “See if we catch anything visual while we keep trying to communicate.”
She nodded and held the camera out in front of her, the metal shelves stuffed with books in the distance popping up on the screen. Shades of green representing room temperature splashed across my camera’s viewer.
Jessica sucked air sharply. “Seb, look!” She inched closer to him. “We’ve got orbs.”
He observed the tiny white particles floating across the small window and pumped his fists. “This is awesome.”
They still looked like bugs to me.
I slowly moved, holding my camera out as we walked. The dim moonlight streamed in through a window, barely highlighting the warn chairs surrounding a faded wooden coffee table, a stack of magazines spread across the top. My eyes lowered to the screen again, expecting the same room temperature blobs in the sitting area.
A warm spot undulated on one of the chairs.
My pulse spiked. Ghosts were generally cold. Demons were hot.
I fought the urge to race out of the library. What if an upper-level demon was waiting to suck my tasty soul out. Not only was I an avis—a person blessed by Heaven—but part of Jayson’s Nephilim soul resided inside me. That was super yum to the evil creatures.
My friends weren’t safe from upper-level demons either. The evil beasts had to eat souls to maintain their human bodies on Earth. Without them, they’d be walking around like scaly, horned extras from Buffy.
The human population would kind of notice that.
I pulled the camera down and peered through the darkness. Nothing. I nudged Jessica. “Can I see your flashlight for a sec?”
“Sure.” She passed it to me with a smile, oblivious to the creature that may or may not be relaxing a few feet from us.
My hand shook as I lifted the flashlight, shining it on the sitting area. A black shadow hovered over the chair.
It wasn’t an upper-level demon, but a dweller without a human host.
“Is there an apparition?” Sebastian whispered, his gaze trained on the chair.
It was empty to him. He wasn’t an avis like me. I could see the hellish things others couldn’t.
“Nope,” I said, lowering the light. “No ghost.” My heart thumped against my ribs. The dweller couldn’t possess me because I was bound to a Nephilim, but it could enter Jessica or Sebastian. “I’ll be right back. I just want to check something out.”
“No way.” Jessica’s fingers wrapped around my arm. “Remember what happened the last time you went off on your own during an investigation?”
How could I forget? I was attacked by a demon and saved by a Nephilim. She and Sebastian thought I’d knocked myself unconscious and took a long siesta in the Mystic Hollow Cemetery.
“It’s fine,” I reassured her. “I’m only going right around the corner. We’ll still be able to hear each other.” I wiggled the flashlight. “And I’ll use this so I don’t bump into anything.” All three of us knew the light was useless. I could trip in broad daylight as easily as I could in the dark.
She bit her bottom lip, hesitating. “I don’t know, Lena.”
“She’ll be fine, Jess.” Sebastian wrapped his free arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Lena can survive a few minutes without our direct supervision. I think.” He dramatically winced.
I shook my head. “You knock yourself out once, and it haunts you till the day you die.”
Sebastian grinned. “Just be glad we didn’t report it to the Mystic Hollow Gazette. Everyone would know what a spaz you are.”
“Seb.” Jessica smacked his arm, but her giggles made it less effective. “Sorry, Lena.”
I gave a noncommittal shrug. “Everyone at school already knows I’m a spaz. It’s only a matter of time before my reputation spreads to the whole town.”
“That’s true.” Sebastian released Jessica and motioned for the thermal camera. “Why don’t you let Jess hang onto that?”
“Good idea.” I passed her the delicate piece of tech. “I wouldn’t want to break it.”
Sebastian snickered. “I wanted your other hand free to catch yourself in case you did fall, but that works too.”
I saluted them and headed off. My smile faded as I shined the light on the dweller. It floated out of the chair and drifted around the corner. Craptacular. It was luring me away from my friends to attack. Did it know I could see it?
I stalked after it, nearly smacking into the dark form at the next row of shelves. I stumbled back, catching myself before an epic wipeout. “Son of a biscotti.” I shook the short strands of hair from my face. “Were you trying to knock me out?”
The dweller shifted closer and began shrinking into a small ball. It was going to try and rocket up my nostrils.
“Don’t even try it, parasite.” My nose crinkled. “You can’t possess me.”
“And why is that?” A feminine lilt lingered in the sinister voice resonating inside my head.
“Because I’m bound to a Nephilim.” This bond was good for something every now and again.
“Half-breed angel trash,” she hissed. “And you’re even worse.”
I scoffed. “Just a second ago you wanted to possess me.”
“And now I want to hurt you.” The dweller shot forward, a murky hand curling around my arm.
Shiitake. I didn’t see that coming. Maybe I hadn’t thought this through. Could dwellers hurt me in this form?
The shadowy grip slid lower, fastening around my wrist. Burning coldness sank through my veins from her touch. “Get the frack off me, d-bag. I’m going to—”
The musty library disappeared.
Blinding light beamed down. I lifted my hand and blinked to shield my eyes from the sudden appearance of the sun. A field of golden wheat stretched out in every direction. Warmth coated my skin, a far cry from the nippy autumn in Mystic Hollow.
Where in the Little House on the Prairie was I?
Childish giggles echoed across the countryside. A little girl in a filthy dress came into focus. Gnarled brown hair covered most of her face as she hunched over something. She clutched a giant rusty nail in her tiny hand. Something wet coated the end.
I shivered despite the summer heat. What was she doing?
Another round of laughter spilled from her, eerie and chilling to the bone. A pit of dread ripped open in my gut. I didn’t want to know what she was doing, but my feet were carrying me toward her
against my will.
A limp chick laid at her feet.
I choked on a gasp. Oh, God. What is this?
Crimson matted the downy yellow feathers and speckled the golden wheat.
No. I don’t want to see this.
I shook my head and stumbled back, falling onto my butt. Pain ricocheted up my spine. I slammed my eyes shut, but it wasn’t enough to blur the images of that little girl.
Coldness seeped over me, and the wheat poking beneath my fingers disappeared. Rough carpet pressed against my palms.
I was back in the library.
“What the hell was that?” I grabbed my chest. It felt like I was trying to breathe through a straw.
The dweller undulated in front of me. “Come back here, little human. I haven’t even started yet.” She shot toward me.
I threw my arms over my head, waiting for the impact.
It never came. Instead, a whoosh of air stirred my hair.
“Didn’t I tell you idiots to stay away from my little bird.”
My arms fell away, my heart taking a swan dive to the ground. Only one creature called me little bird.
Chapter 2
Astaroth stood between the dweller and me, his back stiff beneath the form-fitting ebony suit. Shadows moved along his shoulders and then dissipated.
I swallowed thickly. Were those his wings?
“Leave now, Xella, before I send you straight to the pits.” His smooth, buttery voice barely concealed the fury vibrating under the surface.
The dweller zipped away, disappearing into the darkness swathing the library.
The fallen angel slowly turned, those sapphire eyes searing right into me from my spot on the floor. Midnight waves framed his sharp face as it tilted toward me. “Hello, little bird. It’s lovely to see you again.” He reached out, and my hand rested in his before I made a conscious decision to move.
My breath caught as he hauled me to my feet. His touch was warm. Too warm. That oddly hypnotic aroma of fire and amber swirled around him. “What are you doing here?” I tried to back up, but I hit the shelf behind me.
He tsked. “No hello or thank you for making the bad demon flea?”
“Hello, Astaroth. And thank you.” My words dripped with sarcasm. “But the dweller wouldn’t have been here if not for you.” Son of a biscuit. I was mouthing off to a fallen angel. Did I have no will to survive?
He finally released me and clasped his hands in front of him. “I suppose you’re right. They do have orders to leave you alone, but they’re not the brightest creatures, especially in their incorporeal form. Being inside of a human helps their addled brains to function a little better.”
I crossed my arms against my chest, the flashlight cast down. “Do you know what happened? Did the dweller do that to me?”
Astaroth arched a brow. “Can you elaborate?”
“It touched me, and I saw this flash, this vision.” I choked back the acid oozing up my throat. “A little girl torturing a baby chicken.” A shiver rippled over me at the images trying to float up.
The fallen angel stepped closer as if he were going to comfort me. He reached out, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. I stiffened at his touch. “I’d be more than happy to tell you, little bird.” The edges of his lips tipped up in a smile. Blue fires began to burn in his irises.
There was a price for his knowledge. And I wasn’t willing to pay it.
I reached up and pulled his fingers from my face. His hand curled around mine, and he didn’t let go. “Forget it. I’ll figure it out on my own.”
“It’s a shame,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you.” His thumb stroked my palm, spilling a hot sweat down my nape. “Son of Nithael is quite the lucky creature. He would be wise to keep you closer.” He gently bopped me on the nose. “I’ll see you again, my little bird.”
I blinked, and Astaroth disappeared, a warm wind blowing in his wake.
I slumped against the shelf, my pulse shooting to dangerous levels. Beads of sweat collected on my nape.
Moloch was an evil, icky SOB and looked every bit of it. Astaroth was handsome and charming on the outside with rotten insides. He was like one of those horrible mystery candies in a heart-shaped box of chocolates. They looked like a delicious morsel of sweetness, but bite into one, and you got a disgusting mouth full of rancid orange cream.
That crap had no business being inside of chocolate.
And Astaroth had no business saving me from another demon. Jayson would flip his lid if he found out. I’d never be able to leave the house without a Nephilim escort.
That was precisely why I wasn’t going to tell him.
I glanced at Jayson’s two-story house from my porch, not a single light on. Where was my neighboring Nephilim? Out fighting demons?
My heart sped up. Terrible thoughts of him hurt spiraled through my brain.
I shook myself. Jayson was fine. He was a total badass—even though I didn’t like admitting that to his face. Worrying about him was ridiculous.
It was a good thing my other half wasn’t here waiting for me. I had time to get myself together. I didn’t want to accidentally mention my run-in with Astaroth.
I opened the door, tripping over the threshold.
Geez. I was a walking disaster. Literally.
“How was your ghost expedition tonight?” my dad asked from the comfy, leather living room couch. Helmets clashed on the television as the football game started the second half. “Did you remember your hex bag? I don’t want those suckers following you home.”
I stuck my tongue out at him. If my dad only knew demons were out there and they could possess you… “Funny. That joke never gets old no matter how many times you say it.” I strolled into the kitchen, jonesing for something sweet.
“Stay out of that chocolate cake, Lena,” he called over his shoulder. “It’s for the small business meeting tomorrow.”
My jaw dropped, drool instantly pouring out at the sight of the glistening cake on the counter trapped inside a glass container. “You’re evil. How could you put me through this torture? You could have at least hidden it.” A demon had to be possessing James Raven for him to do something so malicious to his own daughter.
He materialized behind me, humor shimmering in his butterscotch eyes. “There’s candy in the cabinet. You’ll live.”
“But cake.” I dramatically sniffled.
He chuckled and headed for the stainless-steel fridge, pulling out a smaller chocolate cake. “I knew you’d freak out so I made this one for you.”
“You’re redeemed.” I drooled over the swirls of chocolate frosting covering the rich, luscious cake. “I take back all the evil things I ever said or thought about you. You’re the bestest dad in the world.”
He set it on the island and grabbed a plate. “You say that until I try to get you to eat a vegetable.”
“Vegetables are bad for me.” I lifted the lid, taking in the sweet aroma. Nothing was better than chocolate. “They’re my kryptonite.”
“Watching you try to eat one I almost believe you.” He cut me a healthy piece, moist chocolate cake flopping over on its side. “I hope you at least ate dinner that consisted of more than sugar.”
“Yes, father. We stopped at Jimmie’s Diner & Pizzeria. I had a burger.” And a piece of cheesecake but he didn’t need to know that.
He handed me a couple napkins. “Try not to drop this on your way to your room.”
I grabbed the plate and saluted him with my free hand. “Aye, aye, captain. And if I do, I’ll just get another piece.”
He shook his head, the recessed lighting above twinkling off his silvery curls. “I don’t know who raised you. It certainly wasn’t me.”
I carefully trekked to my room, my stomach rumbling and mouth watering. I kicked the door closed and flicked on the light with my elbow.
“What happened tonight?” The moonlight outlined a hulking figure looming in front of my window.
I jumped and jostled th
e plate, smashing the cake into my chest.
Shitzu.
I’d been so focused on my dessert, I missed the hot zip down my spine that told me Jayson was near. “Fracken A,” I muttered, prying the plate from my shirt and setting it on my bedside table. “Did you have to sneak up on me? I was really looking forward to eating that.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. You can get more.” The edges of his lips twitched.
My eyes narrowed. He thought this was funny.
I used the napkin to scoop the ruined dessert back onto the plate. “I’m guessing my dad doesn’t know you’re here.”
“No,” Jayson said. “I came through the window.”
I peeled my sweater away and began lifting it. “You couldn’t have sent me a text?” I managed to get it off without smearing frosting in my hair, leaving me in a tight black tank top. When Jayson didn’t respond, I glanced up. His gaze slowly traveled over me, spreading a blush from my head to my toes. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.
I swallowed thickly. How could one look from him make my knees quake?
He quickly glanced away, breaking the connection and dragged his fingers through his hair, tousling the dirty blond locks. “Did something out of the ordinary happen?” he asked. “I felt your fear for a moment.”
Just craptacular. He sensed my fear that far away. Keeping secrets from this guy was going to be challenging. “A dweller was there,” I admitted.
He leaned away from the window, his irises beginning to shift into molten gold. “I knew something bad was going to—”
I cut him off with the lift of my hand. “Hold your horses, caveman. As you can see, I’m fine.” I trekked to my collection of vinyl and plucked Led Zeppelin IV album, carefully setting it in the player. I started Stairway to Heaven to help muffle Jayson’s baritone voice. It carried, and I didn’t need my dad catching him in here. “She was in that misty black form. She didn’t hurt me.” Not for lack of trying.
“What are you not telling me?” His gaze burned holes in the side of my face, willing me to crumble from the weight of it.