First And Last (10 page)

Rotten apples layered the ground, which was almost in contradiction since the apple trees at the small farm in New Jersey flourished. “What in the hell is with all the apples?” I asked Kyden.

He shrugged in return.

Tonight, Detective Garver resembled a ‘made man’. Dark gray trench coat, designer suit, and even the classic homburg hat, he looked impressive and handsome.

Just because I was bonded, didn’t mean I was dead. When a man looked like Garver did, a woman took notice.

Kyden cleared his throat loudly. I glanced toward him to see his brow arched—not in a pleasant way either. He’d noticed my ogling the suavé detective. Either felt or saw it. Either way, he didn’t like it.

Oops!

“What was that you said?” Kyden asked, apparently moving on.

I laughed a little at his briskness and kicked an apple. “The apples. They were at the last scene too.” I looked back up to the group, which included Detective Garver, Kyden and I, plus Haven and Finn. Of course, Finn wouldn’t be left behind now knowing what we were involved in. “Wonder if there’s some meaning there, or if it’s just a coincidence.”

Kyden grabbed an apple and tossed it in the air. “There are no such things as coincidences, Álainn.”

He thought so. Me, I still believed some things just happened with no reason for them. Now wasn’t the time for such a conversation.

Haven stepped up in beside me. “Ready Freddy?”

I looked at Kyden. He threw the apple into the bushes, then nodded at her. She raised her hands to the sky, and in a blink, the demon was before us. It was a complete replica of the last scene. Normal looking guy—who was anything but—same rune, same human body lying the center. Yep, the exact same scary shit.

Right on cue, the demon began to circle around the black ash, spread the blood within it. Suddenly the scene took a different turn.

Just as the demon began to start to chant, he gasped and fell to his knees. Slowly, the rune began to twirl, spin—fast. Then, a black figure grew from the ground and just as it formed, it flew straight into the human’s body.

This was something out of a horror movie, but the difference being, this was real. The man jerked, screamed, then went dead quiet. His eyes slowly opened and he stood.

This was no human. His eyes were dark, the essence of pure evil. The man turned toward the demon that was bowed, then he inhaled deeply and smiled like the devil himself. Then, poof—they were both gone.

The vision froze.

“Holy Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I gasped.

Kyden arched a brow. “Why does this trouble you?”

I had to laugh. “Ahh, hello, why does this trouble me? Did you not just see that?”

Kyden glanced back to the rune, his face a mask of confusion. “I saw what we saw before.” His gaze fell back to mine. “Why is this different?”

Clearly, he could sense the fear that shivered through me. He knew this was different, but the question was, why was he asking such a ridiculous question? My gaze dragged to Haven. Even she looked confused, which only seemed to intensify as she looked around. Where these people blind?

“Did none of you just see that?”

Finn gave me an equivocal look. “The demon and the guy disappearing?”

“No, the black thingy that went into that guy’s body.” Every face stared back at with a blank expression. “You really didn’t see that?”

Kyden answered. “I saw what I did before. The demon did the rune, then he and the human vanished.”

Oh, this couldn’t be good. Why was I seeing things the others weren’t? I needed help and needed it now. “We need to get Quinney here, I’m not sure…”

Before I even finished, Quinney appeared in a pink negligee. “Bah,” I screamed, startled. Then, I glanced at her attire. “What are you wearing?”

“You called for me…” she glanced down at her perky breasts, which were clearly visible through her nightgown, “I was in bed.”

“Er…ahh…sorry about that.”

Her form shimmied a little, then a black pant suit appeared on her body. “Being a demon has its advantages.” She winked. “I’m actually glad you called for me. I have just found the information we were looking for, but first, what is it you need of me, Nexi?”

“The short story, we were called to another one of these demons rituals. But this time, when the demon closed the rune, a black figure formed, then took over the human’s body.”

“You all saw this?” Quinney asked.

Her face was like Kyden’s—unreadable, which only annoyed me. I needed to learn that trick. I couldn’t hide anything, ever. Maybe I was a tad envious they could.

“No, none of us witnessed it, only Nexi.” Kyden replied.

Intrigue flashed across Quinney’s emotionless face. Then, it went blank again. “Would you mind showing me the vision again? It is important I see it.”

“Righty-o.” Haven raised her hands back to the sky.

Within minutes, the vision came before us and ran through the same events. That was just the handy part of it all because it was a moment in time that could replay repeatedly if needed. But who would really want to watch these types of events again? Not me.

By the end of it, Quinney stood stunned. Speechless. We all glanced at each other waiting for something to happen or be said, but it never came.

Kyden cleared his throat, broke through the thick air of silence. “Quinney, are you all right?”

She glanced to him, an O formed on her moth. She shook her head.

My patience began to wear on me after a few minutes as she tried to regain her composure. “For Christ’s sake, say something already. What is it?”

Quinney gave her head another shake as if coming back from wherever it was she went to. “I…I…”

“You’re sounding like Elmer Fudd.” I grabbed her arms and shook her. “Get on with it. Did you see it too?”

“Yes, I did see.” Her voice came out in a whisper. “And what that was, was a demon summoning another.”

“For what?” I managed.

She shrugged, looked back to the rune on the ground, tension filled every part of her. “That is the question now isn’t it?”

“Do you know who he summoned?” Kyden inquired.

Quinney paled. She glanced up and looked right at me. “Mammon.”

“Mammon!” I squeaked. “Like one of the seven original demons, Mammon?” This could not be true.

Quinney nodded.

My mouth recovered faster than my fear. “Why and how could he do that?”

“The history of the Demon Lords is far different than the history of Satan,” Quinney explained. “When Aaliya banished him to the Realm of the Dead, the Demon Lords went willingly with him.” She rubbed her hands together. Was she shaking? I sure as hell was. “They were deathly loyal, but since it’s Satan’s realm, they’re not trapped there like him. They can be summoned back. The human here,” she waved, “was given up as an offering—as a vessel for the demon to take shape.”

“Why would anyone want to bring a Demon Lord back?” I didn’t understand any of this. The whys and hows weren’t adding up in my mind.

“That I cannot answer, but it’s in no way good. Why Lyrn—the demon—would summon Mammon is only something he can answer. I would suspect it is for personal use, but since this is the second incident, I’m afraid it must be something more.”

“But this didn’t happen at the last scene?” I observed.

“Not everyone has the strength and power to summon a Demon Lord. The last scene you were at the demon must have failed. Therefore, the human was destroyed in the attempt. At the time, I didn’t see that this is what anyone attempted to do. But now, it all makes sense, doesn’t it.”

Pure protectiveness suddenly ran straight through me. Kyden latched onto my waist and pulled me tight against him. “Why was Nexi able to see this when none of us could?”

Quinney’s gaze examined me, curiously. “Must be her connection to the Underworld, the bond she had with Magnus. But that is all just guesses at this point.” She glanced back to the rune on the ground. “Just before you called for me, I stumbled across the rune you drew. It’s a summoning rune.”

I snorted. “Which is now old news.”

Quinney nodded. “We will need to look into this further before we go after Mammon. I’m not quite sure how to defeat him. Even a weak Demon Lord will be a strong offender. Let’s get back to the Underworld, maybe Azar or Misa will know more.” She glanced between Kyden and I. “Besides, you are both needed there soon anyway.”

My brows rose. “We are?”

“It’s time for you to deal with those who have betrayed your new laws.” She twinkled a little. “I’d recommend you taking this as an opportunity to read into these betrayers.”

Oh joy!

Quickly, we used the portal to get back to the Otherworld and picked up a few stragglers on the way. Of course, no one would miss this. Then, we transported to the Underworld. It was a good thing I’d become more adjusted to these portals or I might be a little winded. Okay, maybe I still had a hard time with it, the world had spun for a moment, but I wouldn’t admit that since everyone else seemed fine.

As we headed past Misa’s house towards the auditorium, I asked Quinney, “So explain to me how I said your name, then voila, you appeared?”

“I’m your Guard, Nexi,” she answered as if that should answer my question.

“Yeah, so?”

Weird!

“If you have need of me, I’ll come to you.”

Once we arrived at the auditorium, Kyden and I sat in the ridiculous throne chairs. The room once again filled with Witches and Warlocks alike. Sure, it was a little less since I destroyed a bunch of them, but still, a good many.

“Now, Nexi,” Ryker leaned down, spoke in a low voice. G.I. Joe look-alike gave me a stern look indeed. “We have come for a show tonight. Let’s not disappoint.”

Kyden let out a loud laugh, as did Haven, Finn, Zia and Talon.

I just rolled my eyes at them.

Azar stepped into the center and the awaiting crowd quieted. “We have come tonight under grave circumstances. First, if you have not heard, our ruler was attacked last night. Hunted by our kind.” The entire room gasped and low whispered hums filtered through the auditorium. “As expected, those who betrayed her were dealt with appropriately. Is there anyone else here that feel as those betrayers did? If so, step forward, and declare it.”

“Does he seriously think someone will?”
I asked Kyden.

His gaze fell on me.
“He’s making a point.”

I thought for a moment, tried to ascertain what point that was exactly. After a minute or so, I came up empty.
“And what point would that be?”

“That their assembly is united and anyone who acts now is acting alone without their strongest support.”

“Oh.”
I shrugged.
“Guess that makes sense.”

Of course, as expected, no one stood.

Azar spun around to face us. “No more will betray you.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” I whispered under my breath.

Azar quickly left the center, walked toward me with purposeful strides. He cocked his head when he stopped in front of me. “Trouble?”

“Oh yeah—heaps of it.”

Quinney approached and whispered in Azar’s ear. His face slowly lost all of its color. He staggered back a step and stared at Quinney.

“You should say something,”
Kyden told me.

“What the hell am I going to say?”

“Your mouth has never been a problem before.” Kyden said aloud, his grin devilish.

I smacked his arm, the jerk. “That is so not funny, Kyden.” I stood and approached Azar.

I grabbed his shoulders and gave him a little shake. “Let’s get this over first.” I looked around the room, my gaze settled on all the faces that looked all too intrigued by what was going on. No need to send everyone into a frenzy. “This is not the place to discuss this.”

The cloud of horror slowly began to fade from his eyes. “Yes, you’re right.” He quickly gestured toward Quinney. “Bring them in.”

She immediately responded to the order and fled the room, only to return with three demons. I didn’t recognize any of them. But why would I?

Kyden stood from his chair the second they entered the room and stood protectively beside me. Also expected.

When the demons stopped in front of me, I looked them over. It was really hard to believe how much evil lurked in these beings. They look so ordinary. Young, mid-twenties, perfectly cut hair, pleasant faces—so deceptive.

I finally looked at Azar. “So, what have they done?”

“Each one has taken an innocent soul,” he answered.

Naughty demons. I started to approach them, but Kyden pulled me back. “Come with me then, geesh!” Kyden inclined his head, and
let
me step forward.

“Why have you done this?”

The young girl was the one who answered. She looked like your original teeny-bopper—long hair, too much make-up and clothes that were entirely way too tight. “The rules you have set about are ridiculous. We are demons. It’s what we do.”