Demons of the Sun (2 page)

Persephone narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m stronger than I look, you know.”

“I got that. My nose got it, my head got it, and my back got it. But in case you couldn’t tell, I’m well-trained.”

“Sorry. I didn’t get that at all.”

His hand shot to her wrist, then he rolled, pinning her. He wrenched the blade out of her hand and tossed it aside. She jerked, fighting to get free, but he kept her down. Irritation ran through her. She was used to being the strong one.

“I got some demon energy from your place, so I broke in. There have been a lot of attacks in this area, and I’m just trying to do my job. My fight’s not with you.” He stood and extended a hand toward her.

Ignoring it, she got to her feet and stepped back, keeping plenty of space between them. Just because he had a stupid stone and belonged to the Order didn’t mean she trusted him. Her family had misplaced their trust before. Which was why none of them were here anymore.

His eyebrows shot up. “Well?”

“Well what?!”

“Well, are you going to tell me who you are?”

She crossed her arms and glared.

“Fine. I’ll go first. My name is Jax. Sorry about wrecking your place, but like I said, demon energy.”

“I’m Persephone. And yes, you did wreck my place.”

“Any ideas on why I’m getting the demon vibe here?”

Persephone knew why, but she wasn’t about to tell him. “I had a voodoo priestess come in and perform some warding spells for me. They keep the house hidden from demons and give me a warning if they come near. In hindsight, I should’ve had her do one to keep away obnoxious, cocky guys, too.”

“You associate with someone who does voodoo?” he asked, an appalled expression on his face. “They draw their powers from darkness.”

“Not all of them. They’re just like everyone else. Some are good, some are bad.” She raised an eyebrow. “So, what are you?”

“Good of course.”

“Not what I meant.”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “You’re all business, aren’t you?”

“Pardon the hell out of me, but people breaking into my house and attacking me tend to make me cranky.”

“You’re pardoned.” The smug look on his face made it clear he thought he was hilarious. “I’m sorry about the attacking, but technically, I was ready to attack, then tried to stop when I saw you weren’t a demon. You were the one who wouldn’t listen.”

“Just like I’m not going to listen now.” She pointed to the door. “Time for you to go.”

“Hey now. How often do you come across another person who even knows about demons? Or the Order of Zeus?”

“Never, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

He flopped down on the couch and spread his arms along the top like he owned the place. “So, I’m a Warrior, obviously. What are you?”

“Pissed off,” she said through clenched teeth.

He grinned, which just pissed her off more. “I’d guess Warrior, but then I’m sure I’d already know you, not to mention you’re way too short and scrawny to be a Warrior. Which must make you one of the Assembly. Strong for an Assembly girl, but that’s my guess.”

The Assembly sat around talking. She wished she was one of the Assembly. But no, she was a Sentry. The last one. Hiding out here in New Orleans, guarding an object she hoped most people believed was folklore.

Persephone sat on the couch, as far away from Jax as possible. As annoyed as she was he wouldn’t just leave, there was something about him that made her feel safe. Probably the height and all the muscles.

With his arms spread out on the top of the couch like that, she could see the definition in his biceps. The way his shirt clung to his chest.

What in the River Styx is wrong with you? Stop checking him out and focus.
“Okay, so now you know why you got the demon vibe, you can go find out where they really are.”

“No can do,” he said. “I’m getting the very strong impression that you need my protection.”

“Whoa, go ahead and put the shining armor away. The last thing I need is
your
protection.”

Jax leaned forward and locked eyes with her. “I’m going to have to trust my instincts on this one. It’s obvious you’re alone, or someone would’ve come running in by now. And I can tell you’re not used to being around other Order members, which makes me realize my Assembly guess was wrong. So tell me the truth, and if I buy it, I’ll consider leaving you alone.”

Persephone clenched her jaw. “Look, I don’t know how to get it through your thick skull, but I don’t need you. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And you’re wrong about me being alone. I’ve got Turtle to keep me company.”

Jax’s eyebrows drew together. “Turtle?”

“My cat.”

On cue, Turtle jumped onto the back of the couch. The big tortoiseshell growled at Jax, then leapt onto Persephone’s lap. She ran her hand down his back and scratched under his chin. “A little late, don’t you think?”

He mewed, then dug his nose into her jeans and started to purr.

Amusement flickered across Jax’s features. “Forgive me. It’s clear you and your fierce cat have it all under control.” His expression dropped back to serious. “Something led me here tonight, Persephone. I thought it was the demon vibe, but now I’m thinking it was more than that. I think it was you. Everything in me is screaming to not leave you alone.”

“Well, everything in
me
is screaming for you to go.” She crossed her arms. “And since it’s my house, my screaming wins.”

He stood. For a second she regretted her words because part of her wanted him to stay for a little while. If only to have someone besides Turtle to talk to. Jax clearly knew about demons and the war that had been waged for centuries. He would probably even know about her mission if she told him who she was. Maybe he could help.

No. You can’t trust a complete stranger.

Working to keep her voice firm, she said, “Goodbye, Jax. Next time, knock.”

He walked in the opposite direction of the front door and went into the tiny kitchen area. Light glowed off his face as he opened the freezer and peered inside.

“What are you doing?” she asked, straining to see him.

“You don’t have any vegetables in here.” He pulled something out of the freezer, came around the couch, sat next to her, and pushed a frozen burrito to the tender spot on the side of her face. “This should help with the swelling.” His blue eyes bored into her. “And just so you know, I’m not leaving until I get the truth. My instincts are never wrong, and they’re not wrong now.”

The way he looked at her was unsettling. The way he looked
period
was unsettling. For months she’d been on her own, which was why she desperately wanted to trust him. But with what was at stake, she didn’t think the desire to trust him was enough.

She opened her mouth. Then closed it again. Then opened it. Then frowned.

With his free hand, he looped a finger through the chain of her necklace and lifted it in front of his face. His eyes widened and he lowered the burrito. “Are you…?” His scrutiny made it hard not to squirm. “You’ve got it don’t you? Hades Dagger?”

Fear flashed through Persephone’s eyes, and Jax knew he was right. This tiny, feisty girl who’d given him more of a fight than most of the Warriors he sparred with was a Sentry. Not just any Sentry either. The Sentry who had the dagger.

Persephone dropped her gaze to the mutt of a cat curled up in her lap. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jax put his hand under her chin and tipped her head up. “I’ll keep your secret. In fact, I’m your new bodyguard.”

She smacked his hand away. “I don’t need a bodyguard, and what you’re talking about is a myth. No one believes that stupid story.”

The girl was beyond hostile. And cute. Pale blonde streaks twisted through her dark brown hair. Her gray eyes cut through him, and he had no doubt, even if he hadn’t held back during their fight, she could’ve given him a run for his money.

“It’s more than a story.” His grandma had told him the story—a story not many people believed anymore—about a dagger formed in Hell. A dagger that gave demons the ability to walk in the sunlight. A dagger no human could touch without being burned. Until Athena came down and gave the power to a group of Sentries. Then a battle ensued, the Sentries got hold of the dagger and went into hiding. The war never completely went away, but it had never been that bad again. Lately, though, demon activity was at an all time high. With the resurgence came whisperings that Hades had something big in the works.

“I know the dagger exists. And you do, too, I can see it in your eyes.” Since touching her seemed to set her on edge, he scooted closer. “Now that I know who you are and that you need”—the muscles along her jaw clenched and he quickly revised— “I mean, that extra protection could help reinforce your obvious strength, I can help you. You don’t have to do it alone.”

Her eyes met his, and he thought he saw a glimmer of hope. But it disappeared before fully catching hold.

“You need to go,” she said. “Forget you met me, and I’ll try my best to forget you. Although the knot on my head and my trashed living room is going to make that pretty difficult.”

“Let me help you clean up, at least.”

She shook her head. “Just go. At least until I can wrap my head around all this. I haven’t met someone who knew anything about the Order for a long time, and it’s…” Her voice wavered. She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. “If you go now, I’ll consider letting you come over tomorrow to talk. If you don’t leave, and I mean this instant, I’ll never speak to you again.”

Jax wanted to argue, but then she opened her eyes, and the vulnerability in them made him bite his tongue. He stood, retrieved his sword off the floor, and walked out the door.

Tomorrow, he was coming back. And when he did, he was going to figure out a way to get Persephone to talk.

***

After Jax pulled the door closed, Persephone locked up and stumbled back to the couch. Her arms and legs burned from the fight, and the throbbing in her head grew with a fierceness that made her dizzy.

The stupid coffee table flipping up like that had done most of the damage. She wasn’t sure how bad it looked, but it felt hot and puffy.
Good thing I heal fast.

Jax had acted all offended that she’d attacked instead of waiting for him to tell her why he was in her living room, but of course she was going to fight someone who broke into her house. Not her fault he got the wrong vibe.

Except it kind of was. The demon vibe was coming from her. Faint, but there. It wasn’t like she could do much about that, though.

She leaned back into the soft couch cushions.
There was definitely something about him. The way he pinned me and ripped the weapon out of my hand…

Thinking about it sent her heart racing.

Turtle looked up at her and mewed.

“Don’t look at me like that. I already feel bad enough for even thinking he’s good-looking.” She already had someone. Someone she loved, but was far away. Someone she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to really be with.

No, we will be together someday. He promised we’d find each other.

Gathering all her strength, she headed to her room. She changed into pajamas and crawled into bed, hoping instead of the nightmares, she’d be able to drift to the place in her dreams where she and the man she loved were able to meet. Then she could forget about the Warrior who’d busted into her house, and everything else in her life would go back to being the way it should be.