Personal demons 2 orig.., p.7
Personal Demons 2 - Original Sin, page 7
Chase Gallagher, who happens to be the way I heard about this job, emerges from the stacks in a way-too-bright tie-dye T-shirt. He walks up and drops a stack of books onto the counter, then smooths his dark hair back into his short ponytail with his palms.
“Hey, Luc. Ready?”
“Absolutely.”
Chase orients me to the computer and filing systems while Mavis eavesdrops and interjects to underscore the importance of particular points. He wraps up my orientation with a tour.
“We’re moving the kid section over here next week—” He indicates a larger section of the library near the front that currently holds travel references. “—so we’ll need you to stay late at least one night—probably Thursday next week—to help reshelve the books.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.”
He elbows me. “Then maybe we can head over to the Cavanaughs’ for our women.”
I almost can’t suppress laughter, thinking about what Frannie’d do if she heard him refer to her as “my woman.” I picture her flipping Chase, head over heels, onto the ground. A smile breaks across my face. He misreads it and wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“Those Cavanaugh girls are something, huh?”
My smile widens. “Something, indeed.”
He dips his hand into his pocket and comes out with a key. “Mavis always opens,” he says, nodding his head toward the counter. “And we’ll switch off closing, so you’ll need this.”
As I take the key from his hand, I glance over his shoulder and see that girl from my apartment building—Lili—slip past an exiting patron into the room. She pauses just inside the door, then turns and looks like she’s going to leave again.
“Excuse me,” I say to Chase. I stride over to where she’s pulling the door open.
“Did you need something, Lili?”
She jumps a little and turns back to look at me, her eyes wide. When she sees me, she exhales. “Oh, hi, Luc.”
I smile reassuringly at her. “Can I help you find something?”
“Um…I was hoping there’d be like a job board or something.”
“You’re looking for a job?”
“I barely scraped together this month’s rent. I need to find something fast.”
“Hmm…” I glance around and the only bulletin board I see has library-related notices for children’s story time and an author reading. “Let me ask Mavis.”
She jumps again when I touch her arm to guide her to the counter, but she lets out another long breath and ventures a small smile. She walks with me to where Mavis is scanning in books.
“Mavis, do you know of anywhere there may be community job postings?”
Mavis looks from me to Lili and fingers the tiny silver cross hanging from a delicate chain around her neck. “Other than the newspaper…there’s always the community center on Elm Street. That would be your best bet.”
“Thanks,” Lili says, dropping her gaze.
“Do you know where that is?” I ask as we head back to the door.
Lili nods. “So, you work here?” She scans the stacks before settling her gaze on me.
“As of today.”
Her eyes light up as she smiles for real. “So you’re not just a pretty face.”
I laugh out loud, and Mavis scowls at me over the top of her glasses.
Lili’s eyes flick to Mavis. She cringes and lowers her lashes. “Sorry,” she whispers.
“My fault.” I give her another reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you later?”
She nods and slips through the door.
But just as I make it back to the counter, the doors swing open and Rhenorian steps through. He browses the shelves up front, but his eyes aren’t on the books. They’re on me. He nods almost imperceptibly—a reminder that he’s watching me.
Stalking me, more like.
But better me than Frannie. I wouldn’t say anything to Frannie, but after that party at Chase’s house, I’m not sure Matt is as focused as he should be. It was my fault that Rhenorian and his crew were there, but Matt should have known before they got that close. Gabriel chose Matt because he has a vested interest in Frannie, but I’m not sure that’s enough.
Rhenorian smiles with a quick flash of his fangs before turning and pushing back out onto the sidewalk. I walk to the door and watch as he slides into the driver’s seat of a silver Lincoln with a black faux ragtop. Part of me hopes he’ll leave, but when he doesn’t, I decide it’s for the best. There’s something reassuring about knowing your enemy—or at least his whereabouts.
I think about Frannie partying with her friends at the quarry. I tried to talk her out of it, but she wanted to go, and Matt swore he’d do his job. I ended up giving in because Frannie can’t live like a caged animal. She needs to have her life. Which means I need to trust Matt.
But still, it’s better to have Rhenorian where I can keep an eye on him.
When I leave the library at five, he’s still there. He watches me cross the street to the Shelby. I think about heading back to my apartment—keeping to myself, away from Frannie. But I can’t make myself do it. I need to see her—to be sure she’s okay. So I drive up to the quarry.
And Rhenorian follows me.
Even though he doesn’t seem to pose any immediate threat to Frannie, I still don’t like it. As much as I hate to admit it, a piece of me wishes Gabriel hadn’t left, because my infernal shadow is going to put a serious crimp in my ability to protect Frannie.
The thought that Frannie might be better off if I left flits through my head as I watch Rhenorian tail me. But even if that’s true, despite what I promised her grandpa, I’m not sure I could actually make myself do it.
Frannie
When I see Luc standing on a boulder near the path, I can’t help my grin. I swim to the rocks and pull myself out of the water, pressing into him and totally soaking the front of his T-shirt and jeans. But he only pulls me closer.
Being in his arms on the rocky edge of the quarry brings memories back. I glance over at the rope swing, remembering the night I brought Luc out here, under the stars. I shudder with the memory. It wasn’t our first kiss, but it was definitely the most romantic—and the most romantic night of my life up till that point. Something about the stars, maybe. But more than that, Luc let down his guard and showed me who he really was that night. I’m pretty sure that’s when I fell in love with him, though I never would have admitted it to myself at the time.
At the moment, however, one of my least favorite people has laid claim to the rope swing. Angelique Preston is sitting on the wooden disk at the bottom, blond curls blowing back, dragging her foot along the surface of the water as she swings out over the quarry, and trying to look as sexy as possible in the process. She won’t actually go in the water, though. God forbid she should trash her hair and makeup and come out looking like a drowned rat. Her double-Ds are barely contained in her black bikini, and I’m hoping Luc and I will be gone before she’s had a few more beers and they make their appearance. To her credit, they’re totally real. All of us, boys and girls alike, have been watching their progress since sixth grade with fascinated interest.
Riley and Trevor climb the rocks out of the water and come over to where we are.
“Hey, Luc,” Trevor says. “Tore yourself away from those books, huh?”
I elbow him. “Shut up, Trev. Maybe if you knew how to read…”
He flashes me a sarcastic grin.
“Where’s Tay?” I ask.
Riley points down the quarry to a group of guys showing off on the diving cliff—which isn’t really a cliff at all. Just a place where the rocks stick out over the water. It’s only about a ten-foot drop, but it makes the guys feel more manly to call it a cliff, I guess.
Sure enough, Taylor’s up there, looking killer in a red string bikini. I squint to see who she’s talking to.
“Holy shit! Is that Brendan?”
Riley nods. “He’s back for the summer.”
What the hell is she thinking?
My face twists into a scowl. “So Taylor exists again. How nice of him.”
Brendan Nelson is the boy Taylor lost her virginity to, and despite all her big talk, he’s the only guy she’s ever slept with. He’s also the only guy to ever break her heart. He left for Penn State last year on a full football scholarship, and as far as Taylor knew, they were still together. When he stopped answering her phone calls and never bothered to tell her he was home for Thanksgiving, it became clear they weren’t.
“I know,” Riley says. “I can’t believe she’s over there.”
Trevor rolls his eyes. “The guy’s a total dick.”
I look up at Taylor again just as Brendan slithers a muscle-bound arm around her waist. She wraps her arm around his shoulders, and he leans in for a kiss.
And makes me want to puke.
But the very next second, Brendan Nelson is wheeling through the air, screaming like a little girl. He hits the water and the screaming stops, only to start again when he breaks the surface. From the way he’s thrashing around, some of his buddies catch on that he can’t swim and dive in after him. They drag him to the rocks, him pulling them under every few feet, with much yelling and swearing.
I crack up as Taylor waves at us, then dives off the “cliff” in a beautiful, arcing swan dive. She swims over and pulls herself out of the water. “What a dick,” she says, echoing her brother.
I turn to explain the deal to Luc and see his eyes still locked on the cliff. When I follow his gaze, I notice three guys tucked into the trees at the edge of it, all very inappropriately dressed for swimming, in jeans and black Tshirts. I recognize the one in the middle. He’s the crazy-tall red-haired guy from Gallaghers’ and Ricco’s.
I feel Luc’s fingers weave into mine. “I shouldn’t have come here,” he says low enough that only I hear him.
I turn back to the cliff and they’re gone. “It’s okay. We can go.”
He smooths his fingers over my cheek. “Is Matt here?”
I nod, pretty sure it’s true, and then a rock flies through the air and hits Luc in the back of the head. He winces and shoots a look behind him—where, of course, nobody is.
“He’s here,” he says, disgusted.
I glare into the empty space behind Luc. “Let’s go.”
He smiles and kisses me softly on the cheek. “You should stay with your friends. I just needed to know you were okay”—he shoots a glance over his shoulder again—“and not alone.”
I tug his arm. “Stay.”
His eyes dart back to the cliff. “It’d be better if I didn’t.”
“Fine,” I huff. “Be that way.”
He laughs and pulls me into his arms. “You have no idea how cute you are when you pout.”
I crack a smile, then press harder into him and stick out my bottom lip. “Cute enough to make you stay?”
Still smiling, he glances around. Angelique steps off the rope swing and strikes a pose. He looks back at me and rolls his eyes. “Have fun and I’ll see you later.”
He squeezes my hand and heads up the path, and in the shadows of the woods, I catch three dark shapes weaving through the trees behind him. I start to take off up the path after him, but something tugs on my shoulder. Matt.
“He’s a big boy, Frannie. He’ll be fine,” comes his whisper in my ear.
So I watch Luc go, wishing he didn’t suck so bad at judo.
Matt
Once I know Frannie’s going to stay put, I follow the demons up the path behind Luc. Luc climbs into the Shelby, and when Rhenorian and the Tweedle brothers phase into the Lincoln, so do I.
“So, I’ve been thinking—”
Before I can finish the thought, three glowing fists are inches from my face.
“Nothing like shooting the messenger,” I say, lacing my fingers behind my head and slumping back into the backseat.
Rhenorian’s eyes follow Luc’s Shelby as he pulls out onto the road and drives by. He lowers his fist and the others follow suit. “What do you want?”
“I was about to ask you the same question.”
In a nanosecond, his fist is crackling in my face again. “Don’t play games with me, cherub.”
I roll my eyes. “We could do this all day,” I say, pushing his fist out of my face, “or we can figure out how to help each other.”
He’s silent for a long second, then says, “First tell me if you did it.”
“Did what?”
“Turned him and tagged him.”
I snort out a laugh. “I’m assuming you mean the demon.”
“Lucifer,” he confirms.
“First of all, the fact that he’s tagged for Heaven is making me want to hurl—if I had a stomach, that is. And second, I don’t have the power to turn a demon mortal.”
“Then who does?”
This is tricky. I have a feeling Frannie might be in danger if I tell him the truth, but I can’t lie. Even to a demon. “Why do you care? What’s it to you that the demon is mortal now?”
His eyes narrow as he sizes me up. “I have orders. I’m supposed to bring him back.”
“For trial?” I can’t hide the hope in my voice.
He continues to glare at me, but doesn’t answer.
I shift in my seat and cross my ankle over my knee. “I think we may be on the same side, strangely enough.”
“Meaning…?”
“Meaning, it wouldn’t break my heart if the demon disappeared.”
A malefic smile curls his lips, turning his face into something significantly more demonic. I’ve captured his interest.
“He’s a demon. Just as stupid as any other demon,” I say, gesturing at the moronic pair of bookends.
He growls at me and his eyes flare red, but he doesn’t move.
“So, how hard can it be to get him to sin? Reverse his tag?” I continue.
The big demon leans against the seat. “I’m listening.”
“You need him in demon form to bring him back for trial, right?”
“That’d be preferred.” Rhenorian’s face pulls into a predatory leer, like a cat eyeing a mouse. “But dragging his mortal soul back to Hell is a close second.”
“Fine. So if he could be convinced—” I stop abruptly when I realize I almost gave Frannie’s secret away. “I think I know a way to turn him demon again.”
Rhenorian’s eyes flash red. “How?”
“I’ll take care of it. You just be ready. When it’s time, you’ll need to be quick, before she—” I stop again. “Just be ready. It’ll be obvious.”
His hand darts out and grabs a fistful of my T-shirt. “I need more than that, cherub. Details.”
The Tweedle brother sitting next to me in the backseat tries to grab my arm, and I zap him with a crackle of white lightning. Just enough to back him off.
“No,” I say plainly, leaning forward and getting into Rhenorian’s face to show him I’m not intimidated.
He cracks a grin, watching Tweedledumb smolder, and when Tweedledumber turns to retaliate with a raised red fist, Rhenorian drops my T-shirt and punches him across the jaw. He turns back to me and grimaces. “So, I’m just supposed to trust you? How stupid do you think I am?”
I can’t keep the smirk off my face. “Pretty much as stupid as the rest of your kind.”
His fist is hot in my face in a heartbeat. I raise my hands, my face a mask of feigned innocence. “Hey, you asked, and angels can’t lie.”
His fist glows brighter for a moment; then he lowers it with a scowl.
“Just be ready,” I say, then phase back to the quarry with Frannie. All I have to do is convince Luc she’s better off without him. He leaves, she gets over him, and voilà, he’s either dead or a demon again. Either works for me. And if he turns demon, Rhenorian taking him to Hell will ensure that he doesn’t change his mind and come back.
I watch Frannie and Taylor splash each other in the face and almost feel guilty. But the truth is, Luc will inevitably let her down. In his true essence; he’s a demon. And who knows how much damage he could do in the meantime.
Better for her it never gets to that point. I’m doing the right thing.
7
Guilty as Sin
Luc
I pull into my parking lot and cut the engine. In my rearview mirror, I watch Rhenorian pull into a parking spot in the corner of the lot. I can’t see him through the tinted windows, but as the amber dusk swirls closer to black, I catch the glow of red eyes peering at me from the darkness inside the car.
He’s on a mission, just as I was. Failure means dismemberment and the Fiery Pit, because I’m pretty sure no one is going to turn him mortal and tag his soul for Heaven. Which means he isn’t going to quit.
I sit, watching him watch me, and wonder how this is going to go. How do I get rid of him? As long as I have this shadow, I need to stay away from Frannie. I was selfish earlier, going to the quarry. I can’t put her in danger.
Lili’s truck pulls up next to me just as I’m getting out of my car.
“Hey, Luc,” Lili says, holding up a flat white box. “I ordered a pizza even though I really can’t afford it. I was craving pepperoni. You want to go halves?”
“Sounds good.” I hold the door to the stairs for her.
She slips under my arm, and when we get to the second floor, she turns, an embarrassed cringe on her face. “Your apartment okay? Mine’s kind of a mess.”
“Sure.” I take the box from her hand and swing the door wide. I drop the pizza on the kitchen table and head to the cupboard for some plates. “What do you want to drink?”
“Whatever you’re having is good.”
I slide into my chair with plates and two bottles of water.
“What do I owe you for the pie?” I ask, twisting the top off her water and handing it to her.
She tugs a wedge of pizza out of the box and breaks the trailing strings of cheese with her finger. “Ten. I figured with a large there’d be leftovers, but then I thought maybe, if you hadn’t eaten, you might want…” She trails off and her eyes flick in my direction. “Some,” she finishes.
Her eyes connect with mine, and something raw rolls through me, tugging to my bones. With some effort, I break her gaze and pull a slice from the box. “Thanks.”
