Wicked Revelations and Brimstone (Legacy of Sins Book 2)

by J. N. Colon

  “Oh, come on!” I snatched a pillow and tossed it at him. Unbelievable. Only James Raven would joke at a time like this.

  He snatched the pillow out of the air. “What? If you two are that serious, you should be prepared to make a long-term commitment.”

  I glanced at Jayson, his brows puckered. “He’s joking.”

  “No, I’m not.” My dad tossed the pillow on a chair. “I know you’re still in high school, but I’ll sign the legal documents, and I’m sure Max will do the same for Jayson. You can both live here.”

  I slumped lower on the couch, my cheeks burning so hot my flesh threatened to melt off. “This is a freaking nightmare.”

  Jayson cleared his throat again and palmed the back of his neck. “I’m really sorry. We just got caught up in the moment. I-I don’t think marriage—”

  My dad cracked a wry smile. “Relax. I’m only kidding. You look like you’re going to pass out.”

  A breath of relief blew from Jayson, and his body slumped.

  We were soul mates—stuck together forever. You’d think marriage wouldn’t freak him out so much.

  Guys.

  My dad dragged his fingers through his hair, his stare drifting to a photo of my mom on the mantle. “I get it. You love each other.”

  “Woah!” I held my hands up, my eyes so wide they strained to stay in my skull. “Hold the front door. Who said we were in love?” We hardly knew each other. Half the time, we were arguing.

  “Denial isn’t just the name of a river in Egypt, Lena.”

  Jayson chuckled under his breath, and I shot him a death glare.

  “But seriously, we’re going to have to set some kind of rules.” My dad huffed out a heavy sigh and dropped into the comfy chair across from us. “I’m too young to be a grandfather.”

  Oh, gawd. Shoot me now.

  “I work a lot, and I can’t monitor what’s happening in my house twenty-four seven.” The firelight danced across his handsome face and tinted his silver curls orange. “I know I can’t stop you from being here, Jayson, and I don’t want to. You look out for Lena.”

  “I’d never do anything to take advantage of her. I promise,” Jayson said, his knees anxiously bouncing.

  “I know.” My dad scratched at the five o’clock shadow spreading along his jaw. “I like you. I just don’t like thinking of your hands all over my one and only daughter.”

  Heat swept across my cheeks. Jayson’s hands had definitely been all over me a few minutes ago.

  I peeked at the Nephilim from the corner of my eye. His emotions were closed off again, but I couldn’t deny how much he wanted me. I’d felt it in his every touch. And lust wasn’t the only driving force behind it. Jayson cared. He’d do anything to protect me, to keep me safe.

  But at what cost? How far would he go to keep Hell from yanking me under?

  Chapter 22

  Jessica and Sebastian walked down the hall together, making a beeline right for me. Blood drained from my cheeks, and I shoved my head in my locker. I pretended to be sick yesterday when they asked me over to Sebastian’s to view the evidence.

  I hadn’t been ready to face them. I still wasn’t.

  The tips of Jessica’s blue Chuck Taylors appeared in my line of vision. “Hey, Lena. Are you feeling better?”

  I pretended to be busy switching out my books. “Um, yeah…”

  Sebastian leaned against the locker next to mine. “That sucks you got sick Saturday during the investigation.”

  Thanks to Seth, they both believed I came down with a sudden fever at the Meriden Mansion and called Jayson to pick me up.

  “We collected some cool evidence,” Sebastian said, his voice rising higher with excitement.

  I grabbed my notebook and finally pulled my face from my locker. “Did you?”

  “Orbs floated all over the place, especially in the master bedroom.” He slipped his phone out of his pocket. “I downloaded one of the files.”

  A shiver spilled down my back, recalling what happened in that dark bedroom. The ghostly woman was only the tip of the spooktacular event.

  Sebastian passed over his phone, playing a clip from the night vision camera. Floating balls danced across the screen. Most of them swirled around the end of the bed where the woman had been. This was the first time they didn’t resemble bugs or dust particles.

  “Cool.” I leaned closer, peering into the upper left corner. The gossamer fabric on top of the canopy fluttered. “Oh, look.” I tapped pause.

  A grin reached all the way to Sebastian’s ears. “You saw it moving.”

  Jessica came around to my other side. “I noticed it before Sebastian.”

  “It’s true,” he said. “I totally would have missed it.”

  Her tawny eyes slanted toward him. “It’s only because you taught me what to look for. You’re the best.”

  A light flush blossomed in his cheeks, darkening the smattering of freckles across his nose. “Nah. It was you. You’re a natural.” He ducked his head and ran a hand over his white-blond spikes.

  Holy cupid. Was I witnessing a little flirting between them?

  Sebastian cleared his throat and took his phone back. “We caught some EVPs too.”

  “Remember the crying we heard?” Jessica asked, pushing her glasses back up her nose.

  “Yeah.” How could I forget? The woman appeared and then warned us about the demons. Neither of them remembered her.

  My stomach tightened. Seth sure did a thorough job.

  Sebastian tapped at his phone and then held it between the three of us. Soft sobs echoed through the speakers. “It was totally Lucile Robertson having a mental breakdown.”

  “Wow.” I shifted on my feet, choking back a flutter of panic. What else had they caught? Did Seth or Nithael think to check the cameras and EVP recorder?

  My heart did a nosedive to the floor. What if they caught the whole incident in the bedroom of Sebastian getting possessed on audio?

  Jessica put her hand on my shoulder, squeezing. “Are you okay, Lena?” she asked. “You look a little pale. Are you still feeling sick?”

  “Kind of.” It wasn’t a lie. Guilt ate away at my insides, making me nauseous. I took a calming breath. If they’d caught something that incriminating, they would have brought it up by now. It must have been erased.

  Her brow furrowed. “Do you want me to get a ginger ale from the vending machine? That might make you feel better.”

  “That’s okay.” Jessica was too sweet for her own good. She had no idea her best friend—the guy she was madly in love with—almost died because of me.

  A sudden sting resonated through my chest, and I sucked air sharply.

  What the frack?

  Jayson stalked down the hall, his shoulders pulled in and his face carved out of stone. Hannah was quick on his heels.

  Something was wrong.

  He stopped in front of his locker and yanked it open with enough force to rip the door off. I wouldn’t be surprised if the hinges were bent. A swell of fury mixed with heartache rolled through him. He wasn’t blocking me too well.

  Hannah rested her long fingers on his bicep and spoke, but he paid her no attention. The redheaded Nephilim wasn’t deterred. She leaned toward him, whispering in his ear.

  A shot of heat ran through my blood. He told her to back off. I was his girlfriend for crap sakes, and she still tried to weasel her way in between us. Was that chick part angel or part evil temptress?

  Jayson whipped around, baring his teeth. Vibrant, molten gold spilled across his hazel irises. They could have burned holes into Hannah’s face.

  My nape prickled. This was more than Jayson’s typical moody behavior.

  Hannah finally took a step back. He slammed his locker shut and smashed his fist into it, the metallic crunch bouncing through the hall.

  Everyone stopped and glanced in his direction.

  My heart squeezed, stealing my breath. Crapola. Someone needed to save him before he went into a supernatural rage.<
br />
  “I’ll see you guys later.” I marched toward Jayson without glancing back at my friends.

  Hannah’s body remained planted in my way. “I think it’s best if you leave him alone,” she said, crossing her arms against her chest. “Today’s not a good day.”

  My jaw ticked. If I were strong enough, I would have physically moved her out of the way. “And I think it’s best if you step aside and let me get to my soul mate,” I gritted out under my breath.

  She flinched at my words but didn’t budge. “I’m protecting you. He’s not in the best state right now as you can see.” She jerked her head in Jayson’s direction. He stood in front of his locker, his fist still pressed against the metal. It could ram right through the door. “There are things you don’t know. You have no idea what today means.”

  Was this the anniversary of something horrible—like the death of his mother? My birthday always sucked because my mom died the same day. The pain was a million times worse for Jayson.

  I stepped toward Hannah, standing so close her cherry lip gloss wafted up my nostrils. “Jayson would never hurt me. But if you don’t move, I might hurt you.” Total B.S. of course. I’d injure myself trying.

  A sneer stretched over Hannah’s face as she reluctantly slid out of the way.

  Jayson didn’t seem to notice the exchange at all. I laid my hand over his, pulling his fist from the dented metal. He flinched.

  “Jayson,” I whispered. “It’s okay. It’s me.” I unfurled his fingers and pressed my hand into his, gripping it.

  After what felt like an eternity, his head slowly swiveled, his eyes meeting mine. Turbulent storms roiled in them. “I need to get out of here,” he grumbled, his voice strained. “I can’t be at school today.”

  “I’ll go with you.” I wouldn’t let him out of my sight like this.

  He shook his head. “I need to be alone.”

  “Not this time. I’m going with you.” He was there for me Saturday when those dweller memories wouldn’t leave me. It was my turn to help him.

  Unfortunately, a little making out wouldn’t yank him back from the brink of darkness.

  Jayson’s chest heaved as he took several ragged breaths. Warring emotions clashed in him.

  “Let’s go.” I wasn’t giving him the chance to push me away.

  A flash of anguish crossing his features. “Where?”

  “Anywhere you want.” I stepped forward, and he followed, clutching my hand tightly.

  The icy wood of the picnic table seeped through my jeans as I perched on top. Jayson sat next to me on the bench, his face a mask as he stared at the small pond in front of us. He hadn’t said a word since we left school.

  A cold chill spilled over me, and I shivered.

  He glanced in my direction, his brows dipping. He stood and slipped his leather jacket off, wrapping it around my shoulders.

  The warmth left behind sank into my body. “Thanks,” I mumbled, breathing in the ocean scent soaked into it.

  Jayson walked toward the edge of the pond. He bent and picked up a few rocks, flicking them across the placid water. They skipped a dozen times before falling beneath the dark depths.

  “You probably already guessed, but she died today.” His pained whisper carried on the gentle wind.

  “I’m so sorry, Jayson.” I couldn’t imagine losing my mother to some vicious monster. I wanted to get up and hug him, but I was afraid he’d freak out on me and shut down.

  With a sigh, Jayson dropped the last rock and wiped his palms on his jeans. He stalked back to the table and sat on the bench again. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “He killed her Lena. He killed her right in front of me.”

  A sharp pang sliced through my chest. Tears burned in my eyes. I pictured the six-year-old Jayson witnessing his mother being torn from him by a demon. The catastrophic event changed him. Thick scars that would never heal riddled his insides. A child shouldn’t have to carry that weight. Never.

  Was this one of the dark secrets Jayson had been harboring?

  I gently laid my hand on his shoulder, my heart breaking. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not enough, but—”

  “Astaroth killed her.”

  Shards of ice shot through my veins, freezing my internal organs. My hand fell away, swinging limply by my side. “What?” When Jayson said his mother was killed by a monster, I assumed it was a demon.

  Astaroth? The same Fallen who wanted me?

  “My mom took me to a park for a picnic. It was cool like today, but she’d brought hot cider and blankets.” His stare remained fixed on the pond, but they saw the memory of that day. “We ate pie she kept warm in one of those thermal bags. We played cops and robbers—that was always my favorite game—and then we sat on the swings.” His breathing quickened.

  A fist knotted in my chest, the same thing happening to Jayson’s. Beads of cold sweat began to form on my neck, mirroring the ones on his. The thick barriers around him crumbled.

  “My mom was human, but she was a seer too.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, pulling at the roots. “She saw him coming.”

  Fine tremors erupted through my body. I couldn’t sit still anymore. Jayson’s emotions were flooding into me. So much sadness tore through my insides I wanted to collapse.

  I slowly stood so I didn’t startle him and took several deep breaths. His mother was a seer? Like Brenna?

  “She told me to stay on the swing while she disappeared into the trees.” He shook his head. “I knew something was wrong. I should have called my uncle. I should have called anyone.” Moisture began to collect in his eyes. “I waited a few minutes and ran after her. She was arguing with Astaroth. I knew he wasn’t a demon, but he wasn’t human either. He said something about killing two birds with one stone.” Jayson’s breath hitched, and a tear escaped his eye. He didn’t brush it away.

  I stepped closer, touching his arm.

  “He grabbed her and…” His lips trembled. “The sound of her neck snapping was so loud. I’ll never forget it.” His words choked off.

  Oh, God. “Jayson.” I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him against me.

  He buried his head in my shoulder, his body trembling. “I should have done something.”

  “You were a kid.” I rubbed his back, trying to soothe his pain. “He’s a Fallen. He could have killed you too.”

  “Sometimes, I wish he had.”

  A tear spilled down my cheek, and I held him tighter. He blamed himself even though he couldn’t have done anything. Astaroth had taken his mother and his childhood in one single moment.

  My teeth ground. Astaroth was a monster. He was worse than a demon. Next time I saw him, I was going to make sure he knew what an evil, twisted creature he was.

  His charming mask wouldn’t fool me again. Never.

  Jayson clutched me for a long time. I’d stay with him forever if it took his pain away. But I knew nothing ever would.

  When he finally pulled back, tiny drops of moisture remained on his lashes. “I haven’t been blocking you, have I?”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  He blew out a long, ragged breath. “I don’t want you to feel this, but I can’t seem to get it together.”

  I ran my fingers through his hair, brushing the silken strands out of his face. “I’m here for you. That’s what soul mates are for.” My mouth opened and closed, hesitating. “And girlfriends.”

  “Ah, so you finally admit it.” A ghost of a smile pulled at his lips. “I knew it was only a matter of time.”

  I dramatically rolled my eyes. “Don’t make me take it back.” I started falling for Jayson Casteel the moment he stopped me from crashing to the ground my first day at Mystic Hollow High. He’d stolen my heart even while he was insulting me.

  Giving in to him scared the Snickers out of me, but it was too hard to fight. Why fight it anyway? We were going to be in each other’s lives for a long time. Forever actually.

  Jayson’s lids closed again as I continued massaging
his scalp. “That feels good,” he murmured.

  I chewed on my bottom lip, mulling over his words. The details of his mom’s death were nagging at me, but I couldn’t bring myself to broach the subject again.

  “Go ahead and ask whatever it is that’s on your mind,” he mumbled.

  Crapola. I should have known he’d sense my curiosity.

  “Where was your father?” Most Nephilim didn’t know their angel parent, but Nithael seemed to be here often. I’d already seen him twice within the last few weeks.

  Jayson’s body stiffened, and he drew away. Hard lines cut into his face. “He wasn’t around much when I was a kid. I rarely saw him until after…”

  “Oh.” My brows dipped. “But your mother knew what he was and what you were since she was a seer?”

  He gave a quick nod. “She wasn’t—” His head tilted to the side, listening to something in the distance.

  “What is it?” I whispered.

  Jayson shot up, forcing me back. He grabbed my arm before I could fall. “Stay right here.” He pivoted and headed for the line of trees.

  No way was I staying here alone. I’d watched that scene play out in every horror movie, and it never ended well.

  Jayson whipped around when he noticed me following. “What are you doing?”

  I closed the distance between us. “I’m safer with you than alone.”

  Jayson’s lips thinned, but he grabbed my hand. “Stay behind me and do exactly what I say.”

  “I will.” Within reason.

  We tiptoed through the foliage, the light fading within the shade of trees. The sun sprinkled dim streaks across the bracken. A knot fisted in my stomach as I thought of the hike Jessica and I had taken. Would we encounter a demon sucking down a human soul?

  Something delicate floated toward me. I plucked it out of the air with my free hand.

  An iridescent glow shimmered along the pure white downy feather as I twisted it between my fingers. “Is this what I think it is?” Astaroth had the same kind of feathers but black as midnight.

  Another one swirled on the wind, and I snatched it. Tiny droplets of crimson clung to the white gossamer strands.