Demon Kissed (29 page)

“Spill,” I insisted. “What are you talking about?”

“If you’re doing something really big, you need six people to form a circle. Everyone always thought that you—the prophecy chick—would rule the Underworld from below, not above. Maybe you called them up here?” His eyes were wide as he looked at me.
 
“That would suck.”

“Collin, I didn’t call them.” I shook my head. “Well, I don’t know who called them. I just know something was happening. What makes you think the Underworld was called up here?”

He shrugged, “
It’s
part of the prophecy. Probably not a part you heard. When the purple one rises to power, she kills me, and rises up the Valefar. Apparently, that’s literal. You call them
up
here.” His uncertain gaze was lingering on me, and the expression on his face told me that he didn’t totally trust me.

“Don’t look at me like that! I’m not going to kill you. Damn it! How does this happen?” I held my head in my hands. Panic wove tightly through my muscles, landing in my stomach. I wanted to run away, and leave this nightmare behind, but I couldn’t. I was trapped. Breathing deeply, I tried to steady myself. I couldn’t fall apart. I swallowed, asking a question I didn’t want answered, “What did I do, Collin? I had to do it, right?”

His blue gaze held mine. “The prophecy says you
will
—it doesn’t say you
want to
.” His words hung in the air.

“Damn.” There was nothing else to say.

Collin’s ideas about destiny didn’t mesh with Al’s. If it didn’t matter what I did, then the prophecy would just come true. But, she said visions showed paths, so I should be able to change it by choosing another path. I just needed to know how and when. Al had more details that she didn’t tell me. If she gave me the information, I could derail my future. I had to try.

I jumped up. “Get up, Collin. I have to go talk to a nun.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

I pushed Collin within inches of his sanity to snap the bond. As soon as I felt the bond slacken, I launched my body through its hold. Pain shot through me. It felt like bone was ripped out of my skin in one big chunk. I screamed. Breaking the bond left me breathless, and writhing in pain. I knew I had to get to my feet and run before Collin’s animal instinct to kill anything that hurt him woke up.

I ran before he came after me. But, I wasn’t stupid enough to think I was safe. My feet beat the ground. My lungs sucked in air, aching. I didn’t stop. I focused on the ruby and saw the church building in my mind—its dreary brick façade, and the trees that faded into the distance behind it. I imagined it from across the street. I felt my blood boil as heat surged through me.
Efanotation sucks
. My body felt like it was on fire and disappeared into the air. I had no idea how far I was from the church, but it felt like forever. The burning didn’t stop. I wanted to cry out, but had no breath to scream. The fire licked my stomach, searing my insides. When I wished I would die, the mist dropped me on my knees in front of the church.

I clung to the grass, coughing as my body protested being hurled through space and burned. I fought the urge to lie down on the cool ground, and pushed myself up. My thoughts raced. I had to get to Al. I needed to know what was happening. Pain shrieked from my shins, and stabbed at my ribs when I moved. I was almost there, but transporting my body had weakened me. I was safe though. I’d made it to the church, one of my safe spots.

A wave of relief flooded over me. It ended as an ear-piercing scream echoed behind me. Spinning on my foot, I saw Eric remove a silver sword from the chest of a man with a red scar above his right brow. The sword flashed in the light, slicing through his throat.
 
The night was quiet again. The ground around him was glistening scarlet.

My hand covered my mouth, as I fell to the lawn. The man’s blood and his entire body turned to thick black goo. It looked like tar mixed with molasses. It sunk and was reclaimed by the earth. My body reacted without my consent. I dry heaved onto the lawn. Eric grabbed my underarms, dragging me toward the church. He was talking to me, but I couldn’t hear him. Nothing registered. I don’t know why it shocked me, but at the moment being around Eric was the worst thing I could imagine. He angled my uncooperative body through the door, and sat me on the nearest pew.

“Ivy. Ivy!” his voice crashed through my haze. “What happened? Where were you?” I sat there mute, wiping my mouth. The death of the Valefar danced before my eyes. Suddenly, I realized that was also my fate. No, wait. My fate was worse. I felt myself blanch. My head felt light, as it swayed with unseeing eyes.

Eric’s warm hand was on my neck before I fell. He forced my head down between my knees. Warmth flooded my skull. The pounding of my heart thundered in my ears. His gentle voice said, “Breathe. Just breathe.” His hand remained firmly on my back, waiting for me to pull it together. “Ivy, what happened to you?” Eric whirled in front of me and lowered himself to his knees. “I swore I’d protect you, and I will. Tell me what happened.”

My long hair fell forward. It obscured my face. My throat stung. “I have to tell you something. It’s not good.” My heart hammered. I fought to control my voice. “Do you trust me, Eric?”
  

He recoiled.
“Of course.
I just risked my life for you. I’d do it again.” His hand was on my forearm. He gave me a gentle reassuring squeeze.

“You mean that? It’s not just because I’m a Martis?” I asked.

He sounded offended.
“Of course not.
Ivy, I’m your friend. I was your friend before you were blue.”

“Sometimes people can’t be friends. Sometimes they’re just on the wrong side of the line. Sometimes they can’t help it.” I swallowed, hoping he’d see where I was going, “Sometimes blue is just a color.”

He looked at me like I hit my head too many times, “What are you talking about?”

“I can’t lie to you anymore,” I breathed. My heart raced and my muscles tensed. I felt sick.

“Lie..?” he asked. “Martis can’t… ” Shaky fingers pulled the long silver tines from my hair. I sat back in the pew with the comb on my lap. My curls fell away from my face. My bangs hung in tight, wet ringlets, revealing my purple mark.

His sword was loosely gripped, as his jaw fell open in shock. He backed away from me, appalled. I breathed softly, “I know you’re looking for me. I tried to tell you before, but… ” My pulse raced. I could taste the salt on my skin when I licked my dry lips.

His gaze was wide, as he stared unbelievingly at my mark. “It can’t be you...”

“It is.” I swallowed hard, “I didn’t ask for this. I don’t want it. It
happened
to me. I don’t even know why. The only thing I know is what I saw in my visions.” I tentatively reached my hand out, but he backed away. I stood, giving him more space. “I need
you
. None of this stops unless you help me. Killing me doesn’t change things either. The demons still come.
Soon.
I saw it.” I placed the comb into my jean pocket. I wouldn’t hide who I was, and I wouldn’t fight him.

Eric’s face was white. His fingers twitched on the hilt of his sword. Anger seared his words. “I’ve been tracking the purple demon—the Prophecy One—for nearly two millennia. She’s supposed to become ruler of the Underworld. How did you
… ?”
His muscles tensed. “How is it
you
?”
Betrayal burned behind his eyes.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Shannon thinks I swallowed demon blood the night I was attacked, but I don’t remember. I didn’t do it on purpose, and I can’t change what’s already happened. Eric, the visions I saw… ”

“They match Al’s?” His brow pinched.

I nodded, “They were the same vision. The demons are coming
here
. The only way we stop them is with
you
.” He breathed in deeply. His eyes shifted from my face and then to my mark. His hand rested on his sword.

“What are you supposed to bind me with?” It was a morbid question, but I wanted to know what he was thinking. The silence was killing me. I was tired of hearing my heart thundering in my ears, waiting to die. Al was right. I should control what I can. If he planned on killing me, I had to know.

His gaze snapped to attention. “You knew I was hunting you?
This whole time?”

I nodded stepping toward him. “Yes. I freaked out with good reason. I know you’re the Seeker—the Regent Polomotis. I know you were working with Julia and Al to try and find me. I know what you’re supposed to do when you find me, too. I heard Julia. I heard
you
.”

He shook his head and stared at me. His brow was pinched tightly. “How is it
you
? The prophecy—it was supposed to be someone inherently evil. You were supposed to be a demon.”

“Yeah, I’m not.” I rubbed my arms, trying to calm myself, swallowing hard.

“I can see that. But still. You can
lie
. You lied to me this whole time. How can I believe you?” And that was it—the moment I’d been dreading. The look of betrayal infused his entire face with disgust. But the worst part was his eyes; his amber eyes were wounded, disappointed, and disgusted. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had nothing to say. There was absolutely no reason why he should believe me.
None at all.
I lied to him this entire time—about everything. Ashamed, I couldn’t bear to look at him anymore and turned away.

That’s when Al spoke from the shadows, “Because I say you can.” Her voice echoed through the hall.

Eric spun around to see her. His jaw dropped in surprise. “Sister, you knew?”

An odd smirk crossed her lips.
“Of course, boy.
I’m a Seyer. I saw what she was as soon as you brought her here. Thank God she told you. Now don’t mess it up and kill her.” Her candor was awesome. If she was afraid, I couldn’t hear it. She continued, “If you do, the prophecy happens anyway. What’s been done can’t be changed. She’s the catalyst, but she’s also the key.”

“But she’s the enemy!” His face contorted with rage, as his finger flew up to point at me. “She’s the force that rapes the world of good and ushers in a demonic age. Humanity will be enslaved. We’ll lose. Sister, I can’t… ” Eric’s words were cut off.

Her old voice barked. “Think boy! Don’t let the laws cloud your brain. If things have already been let loose, then what happens if you kill the gatekeeper?”

His lips pressed tightly into a straight line, as his jaw locked. He stared at me with burning hatred. I wanted to die. Seeing him look at me like that was more horrible than I’d imagined. It took every ounce of strength to stay, and be ruthlessly judged by someone who was my friend—but was now clearly my enemy. His amber gaze burned holes in me, but I wouldn’t look away.

His voice was gruff, “We can’t close the gate.” The words came out grudgingly.

Al said, “That’s right. Now if you want to be an idiot and make the prophecy come true, kill us both.
If you want to stop this—let us live.”

I finally spoke, “Al, you can’t… ”

Her old bark cut off the rest of my words as she turned to me, “I can so. I said I’d protect you, and I have to, otherwise everything I’ve worked to prevent happens. It
happens
Eric.” She turned her haggard body back to him, shaking her head. “I can’t let it happen, no matter the cost. If you kill Ivy, you’ll have to go through me first.”

Eric eyes were wide as he looked at Sister Al. His hand gripped his hilt so tightly that his fingers turned white. For a long moment Eric said nothing. Then he pressed his sword to his mark. It became the cross I’d seen hanging around his neck at the diner. Grudgingly he said, “Sister, I respect your vision and will do as you ask. Ivy. Come with me.”

I reached for the comb slowly, unlacing it from my hair. My curls tumbled forward. I sat down on Eric’s couch. I held the cold silver in my hand. He dragged me across town, not telling me where we were going or why. His gaze rested on my mark. I knew that he didn’t trust me. “Touch it to your mark.” I pressed the silver filigree against my mark, and then lowered it. Eric’s gaze shifted to the silver. He told me that celestial silver would melt to a weapon that suited its owner. He wasn’t sure what mine would do since I had a ravaged soul and was part Valefar. But whatever he thought would happen, it must have been worth the risk of removing me from the church.