Redemption (35 page)

Cassidy put a hand on her hip to hide its shaking. “Where is he?” she demanded.

“By
he,
I assume you mean Bryan? He’s busy.” Mara leaned into the doorway, still blocking anyone from getting a clear view of the room. She wrinkled her nose as though smelling something foul. “Run along now. Whatever you thought was happening with him isn’t. Bryan doesn’t want you anymore.”

Though she knew the words were lies, they still stung.

“Listen,” Cassidy began, taking one step forward, “I am not leaving without him. I know what you are, and I think you should move aside. Let me in, and I won’t have to hurt you.”

Mara threw her head back and laughed. “Little girl, what threat could you possibly pose to me? Turn around and walk away.” She shooed Cassidy with her hand.

And Cassidy shook her head no. “I told you. I’m not leaving without him. Let me pass.”

Mara’s eyes glowed red, furious at being refused by someone so beneath her. “I don’t typically give warnings,” she hissed.

Cassidy felt an energy stirring inside herself, the same strength she’d felt at the lake. It propelled her to take another step forward. Any doubt that she’d had was gone, replaced with absolute confidence that everything would be fine. Her entire body hummed with Mel’s power, with the peace of God. She saw Mara for what she was - nothing but a pretty face on a shallow, empty shell. There was nothing she needed to fear. The power within her was stronger than anything the demon could do. Without so much as second thought, she placed a hand on either side of the doorway and leaned forward.

“Nice touch with the eyes, demon,” she said and lowered her voice. “Want to see what I can do?”

Completely on instinct, Cassidy reached for her pendant, just as she’d done in the library and at the lake. Without realizing it, she’d known what to do the entire time. When her fingers encountered the stone, it began to shimmer, growing warm and illuminating the space around her with its pale green light. A blast of energy shot out from the light, and Mara was thrown backward. Cassidy quickly looked for the stones the angels mentioned and found them on the floor near the doorway. She picked them up and threw them into the hallway.

Bryan was on the floor, Mara was crouched nearby, and someone else stood in the shadows. Cassidy squinted and strained to see who it was.

“Come to play, I see,” Rhys said and approached her. “I was wondering what was taking you so long.”

Cassidy felt anger burn inside when she recognized the man from the lake. She looked from him to Mara and back to Bryan again. Her job was to get inside, move the stones, get to Bryan, and let the angels take care of the rest. But this guy had gone after her, threw her across the lake. And now he was here. Maybe he’d already done something to Bryan. A look of determination spread across Cassidy’s face. She was done being tossed around in life. She raised her hand and held it directly in front of herself.

“Stop,” she commanded, her voice reverberating through the room.

Rhys found that he was unable to move his feet. A calm had settled into the room, one he recognized from his other life. He struggled against the unseen clamps that prevented him from getting any closer to the mortals. Even Mara seemed frozen in place.

“That’s an interesting little power,” he said, his mind simultaneously searching for a way around what was happening.

“Jealous? And you.” Cassidy turned her attention to Mara. “I’d like to make you suffer for what you did to Bryan.”

“Let me up,” Mara said between clenched teeth, “and I’d like to see you try.”

Cassidy smiled. “I don’t think so.”

Melchisadek turned his face upward and closed his eyes. “It’s time,” he said briefly.

“Time for what?” Bryan asked.

“You must return,” the angel explained. “Cassidy has done well, but she will need you there.” He waved his hand through the air, and in seconds, Bryan felt himself on the floor of his hotel room.

 

“You know, I don’t see why this man is so important to either of you,” Rhys commented. “He’s nothing spectacular.”

Both Cassidy and Mara glared at him.

“Shut-up, Rhys,” Mara snapped.

Behind Cassidy, Bryan stirred on the floor, emitting a small groan. He opened his eyes, but nothing was in focus.

“He seems to be awakening.” Rhys smiled, sensing an opening.

Cassidy turned her head toward Bryan. He’d rolled to his side and was trying to move, but he seemed very weak. She looked back at Rhys and Mara; neither had moved. Whatever Mel had done, she was thankful for it. She rushed over to Bryan and placed the Sardonyx in his pocket as Bastion had instructed. At least it would help him to fight off Mara if anything happened to her before the angels arrived.

Bryan knew he was in his hotel room, he could smell Mara and sense another presence. He rubbed his head; Mel had forgotten to mention how groggy coming back would make him feel. He wasn’t supposed to remember Mel, but he could. He’d worry about that later.

Cassidy.

He had to find her. A pale green glow surrounded him, bringing him comfort and peace despite the anxiety he felt. He shook his head to clear it. This was worse than a hangover.

“Shhh,” a soft voice whispered.

He blinked to bring his eyes into focus, the light making it hard for him to see. Long blonde hair brushed against his hand as he raised it to find the source of the voice. Tranquil blue eyes smiled at him through the luminescent green light. It was a woman, and Bryan strained to see her face.

“Can you do something to tone down that light?” he asked, shielding his eyes.

The voice laughed. “Sorry. I’m not sure how.”

“What are you,” he began, “another angel?”

“Quite human, I assure you,” she answered, her smile coming through in her words.

Bryan blinked again, her voice familiar, her face finally coming into focus. “Cassidy?” Her hand found his, and when their fingers entwined, the light grew brighter, warmer. “How are you doing this?”

“Long story,” she began. “Can you stand? We need to get you out of here.”

Suddenly everything came rushing back to him. He nodded. “Let’s go,” he said firmly.

Cassidy helped Bryan up, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. He had to get her as far from Mara as he could. There was no way to say how much harm she was capable of causing, and he wasn’t in any rush to find out.

“Well, well, well,” Rhys said, amused. “Isn’t this a touching scene?”

“Ignore him, Cass,” Bryan began. “Go.” He pointed toward the door.

Bryan and Cassidy walked slowly toward the door, keeping their eyes on the demons; but before they make it out of the room, Mara managed to move two of her fingers, sending a jolt of energy into Cassidy’s leg and causing it to buckle. She fell to her hands and knees directly in front of Mara.

“My turn,” the demon said, smiling. She yanked Cassidy’s pendant from her around her neck and threw it across the room.

Cassidy’s hand flew to her chest, to where the pendant she had worn since the day Luscid gave it to her normally rested. Her panicked eyes sought out the Aventurine stone, but she couldn’t see where it landed. She stood and spun around to face Bryan, terrified.

“Bryan, without the stone I-” she began.

“Keep moving,” he instructed, his voice low. “And when I tell you to, I want you to run.”

“Don’t even think about it,” she warned. “I’m not leaving you.”

“So digustingly sweet,” Rhys remarked, rolling his eyes. He shook his head. “Ah, Mara, finally. You are good for more than one thing. Perhaps I’ll spare you after all.” He walked toward the pair of humans.

Bryan stepped in front of Cassidy and swept her behind his back with one arm. He wished he had something, anything, he could use to fight back. His jaw was set, his eyes focused. Every nerve in his body screamed with the impulse to push Cassidy out the door and rush the guy. He might not be able to take him, but he could give Cassidy enough time to get away.

Rhys laughed, low and threatening. He turned his blade over in his hands, watching the way the light danced on it and reflected on the ceiling and walls. “It’s like I told you, Mara. They make such a cute couple.”

“
Shut-up
Rhys!” Mara cried.

She was coming apart. Bryan’s will was lost to her; whatever she witnessed with that woman and her light and the way it pulsated even stronger when the two came together was all she needed to know that he was gone. Even though she’d robbed the woman of her connection to her angel, it wouldn’t change anything where Bryan was concerned. He hadn’t been bewitched by her, he’d chosen her.

Regardless, Mara wanted what she wanted. And she still wanted Bryan.

“Rhys, is it?” Bryan asked. “Who are you, the Demon of Bad Haircuts and Fashion Faux Pas?”

“Do not taunt me, human,” Rhys snarled.

Bryan smirked. “You don’t know me very well, do you?”

“Let him go, Rhys,” Mara said. “Take the woman, do whatever you want with her. Just let Bryan go. I’ll take him to Lucifer.”

Cassidy remembered Luscid’s words; and now that she was able to see and hear Mara, she knew it was true. The demon did want Bryan. She did feel something for him. And she looked very unstable.

“Oh, Mara. You’ve lost that privilege.” Rhys continued to play with his knife. “No, I think that I’ll dispose of the woman first, and then make you watch as I gut your precious pet.” His eyes flashed red. “You didn’t really think I’d let him have you, did you? Afterward, I will bring whatever is left of them to Lucifer, along with you, and I will get my reward. What do you think of that plan, Love?”

Bryan stiffened and pulled Cassidy against his body. “You’re not getting anywhere near her without going through me first,” he growled.

Rhys smiled, bowed to Bryan, and lifted the knife in the air with a flourish. “As you wish, human,” he said, lunging.

“No!” Cassidy and Mara shrieked in unison.

“Bastion, now!” Cassidy yelled.

She pushed out from behind Bryan to block Rhys’s attack. At the same time, Mara sprang toward him, reaching for the knife. It all happened too quickly.

Cassidy and Mara scrambled forward.

Bastion and the others flashed into the room, swords drawn.

Rhys and his blade soared toward Bryan.

Bryan shoved Cassidy out of the way.

And the knife found its target.

M
ara gasped and looked down at the knife handle protruding from her side. Her eyes met Bryan’s, and what she saw there was only relief. Relief that it had not been Cassidy. Relief that he would no longer have to deal with her. A tear slid down her cheek. She winced, pulled out the blade, and then pressed her hand over the wound to slow the flow of blood.

“Now look what you’ve made me do. It’ll be days before she’s any good to me,” Rhys said, frowning. He bent to retrieve his knife and turned to Bryan. “All right, let’s finish this. Who’s next?”

“That would be you.” Bastion stepped between Bryan and the demon. He pointed his sword at Rhys and glared at Mara. “It’s time to send you both back to Lucifer where you belong.”

Luscid, Vizuhn, and Feyth surrounded Bryan and Cassidy. She wasn’t sure how it was possible, but they appeared to have gotten even larger. Maybe it was her imagination. Maybe it had to do with the fact that the room was beginning to spin.

Bryan felt Cassidy wobble. “Cass, stay with me.”

She nodded weakly.

Bastion advanced toward Rhys and Mara. She looked up at him, her blue eyes pleading with him, her cheek stained with tears. He hesitated. In that moment, she was herself again. All traces of the demon she’d become were erased, and he could feel a change in her. He leveled his sword at Rhys.

“She stays,” Bastion demanded, “but you can go to Hell.”

He raised his sword, but before he could strike and faster than Cassidy or Bryan were able to see, Rhys grabbed Mara and threw her over his shoulder. She cried out, her face drawn tight with fresh pain.

Rhys pointed his knife at Bastion. “We will meet again, angel,” he said. “When she is strong enough, we will both return for you.” He turned his attention to Cassidy. With a slight bow, he winked at her. “This is not over between us either, Sandals” he continued. “We will meet again very soon.”

And with that, the demons were gone in a cloud of smoke.

Cassidy leaned into Bryan’s arms, feeling their strength and security. “Not over,” she whispered.

“Don’t worry, Cass,” Bryan said, his cheek pressed against the side of her head. “He’ll never get close to you again.”

She closed her eyes and nodded into his chest. As long as Bryan was by her side, she could face anything. Even if that meant a crazed demon or two bent on revenge. She lifted her hand, feeling for the missing pendant. She knew the key to unlocking Mel’s power was within her stone. She also knew that when hers and Bryan’s came together, something incredible happened. Mara had realized it, too. Cassidy saw it in her eyes; the demon was threatened by whatever they’d done together. She wondered what that might mean for the future.