The Demon's Grave (32 page)

“Let him go,” I shouted, more out of reflex than common sense.

Unconcerned, Jordan shook Aidan hard enough to make him gurgle and blow spit bubbles. It didn’t sound good and Aidan wasn’t struggling the way he should. Remembering the sound I’d heard, I hoped he wasn’t too out of it.

“Hey, darling, how about you come with me?” Jordan’s brown eyes met mine and he started to leer, but stopped. “Are you as dirty as you look, girl?” He even laughed at his own joke.

Awful
.

My eyes flickered around the room for a weapon. The wax on the candles might be hot enough for a distraction, the holders looked flimsy and plastic, but the stone cross on the wall above the bed…‌

“I said, let him go,” I repeated, clutching the bottom of my camisole with one hand.

“Me? Let geek boy go? But, we have so much catching up to do. Look at who you’re hanging out with, sweetie.” He swung Aidan a little again. “He can’t defend himself, let alone a girl.”

He said
girl
as if I were a lower class. I’m not easily offended but that last part stung. If I were to face off against Jordan I’d probably lose but I didn’t plan on being unarmed‌—‌not if I could help it.

With slow, careful, movements I stepped up onto the bed. Bad side was, I was within arm’s reach of Jordan. Good side was, I was closer to the stone crucifix. One good swing with that against Jordan’s face might give us a head start, if Aidan were faking it.
Please be faking it
.

“Jordan, let him go.” I gritted my teeth, balancing so that my move would come as a surprise, I hoped. If he saw it coming he’d have us both. In that moment that I realized I really didn’t know what I was doing. Everything could go wrong.

Jordan raised his eyebrows. “A little hostile aren’t we, sweetie?”

Repressing a sneer, I asked, “Why won’t you let him go?”

“Because,” he said simply.

“Why not let him go?” I repeated as patiently as I could. I reminded myself that it would have been the same response my seven year old sister would give if she wanted to stalemate me and save her hide.

Jordan looked at me and smiled. “You’re a curious one.” He looked back down at Aidan. “Isn’t she, Aidan?”

Aidan moaned; the blood must have been rushing to his head. From my new angle I could see his face was scarlet.

“Can I have her?” Jordan chuckled, looking down at his victim.

My hand shot out, grabbing the stone cross. It was heavy and I dropped it behind my back as Jordan swung Aidan one more time. I wasn’t close enough to attack, plus being higher meant he’d see it coming.

I needed a surprise‌—‌I needed to hide.

Jumping back off the bed, leaving the obstacle between us, I said, “Sure you can have me. But, you have to let Aidan go first.” I forced a smile. He was stronger than me, faster, and probably had plenty of nasty ideas in that thick head of his, but if the focus of the game was hide and seek, I’d find my opportunity. At least I hoped so. I sprang for the doorway, careful to keep the crucifix out of sight.

“You can’t carry him and catch me at the same time,” I shouted and raced from the other room.

Taking two steps at a time I scrambled up the staircase. I wasn’t as fast as I knew I could be. My body wasn’t allowing any more strain and by the time I reached the top I wanted to collapse.

Luckily, this new hallway wasn’t entirely shrouded in shadows, but the one on the left still was. It was similar to the previous Challenge.

My choices were simple: lose Jordan in the shadows or take my chances with the light and find a place to lock him in or hit him with something better than the stone.

Peering down the stairs, I saw Jordan skidding to a stop at the base. Aidan wasn’t with him, which worried me.

The second our eyes met, Jordan bolted after me.

Veering right, I saw three closed doors to choose from. I opened the second one and closed it behind me with a jerk just as I heard the heavy combat boots reach the top of the stairs. Or maybe that was my heart.

Spinning around, I faced a sitting room, much like the one downstairs, except it was classier. There were dark chairs and a velvety sofa surrounding a heavy black coffee-table. A bay window was framed by thick dark curtains that touched the floor and were wide enough to hide a person.

Scurrying to the maroon drapes, I swept them away from the wall before slipping behind. They fluttered back in place, settling around my body as I pressed my back against the wall. I prayed I didn’t make them look misshapen.

My knees buckled and I squeezed my eyes shut, begging my body to hold me up for just a little while longer. I strained to listen over the rain.

With brute force, Jordan burst through the door making me jump.

My cheeks puffed as my swear stopped cold.

“Hey baby, I’m here,” he gloated.

Holding my breath, I squeezed every muscle to be still. His combat boots squished with water against the carpet, drawing closer.

I barely heard him sigh over the thunder in my head.

I waited for the curtains to move violently to the side. If he found me, I’d be trapped. My hand readjusted on the crucifix at my side, slowly, carefully.

Outside the curtains, Jordan swore under his breath and I heard a jolting thump as a piece of furniture slammed against a wall. His heavy footsteps began to fade, but he didn’t close the door behind him. I wondered if I was going to get off that easily.

I waited, my fingers restless and wiggling until I heard another door open with a bang. “Where are you, sweetie?” He roared in filthy delight.

I peeked out from my hiding spot. Jordan was nowhere to be seen.

Creeping from the drapes, I tip-toed to the open door. Was he out there waiting to pounce like a wildcat? The idea would have been comical if it were anyone but Scar-Face.

Silence haunted the hallway and I poked my head out. I could hear those boots squeaking in the first room I had passed.

“Come on, little girl,” Jordan snapped from Room One, his patience wavering.

Unexpectedly, I saw his boot thump out of Room One.

Flinging myself back into Room Two before I could be seen, I pushed my back up against the wall trying to sink into it. I tried my best not to fidget as the heavy footsteps came closer, echoing in the hall. My heart outpaced his steps five to one and I shied away from the threshold. Watching the door, I wished it had a lock on it.

Tugging at my shirt, I saw one of the chairs shoved to the wall. It must have been what he had pushed on his way out. I could hide behind that for a while, but if he came within a few feet, he’d see me.

As I decided what to do, Jordan passed my room.

Peeking along the wall, I saw his camouflage pants as he stalked in the direction of Room Three. The door flung open and he laughed. “Don’t be afraid, girl. I won’t hurt you…‌much. You might even like it.” With that he erupted in loutish hee-hawing that propelled me into the hallway.

I glanced at Room Three and noticed the edge of the black door. It was wide open and I knew Jordan was inside by the sound of his voice. He was uttering chiding nonsense. All the other doors were white, except for door three. Creeping forward to get a better look, I tried to hasten my steps. As I drew closer, I could make out a carving of what looked like a plume of smoke or a cloud.

It was our door all right.

I could just run through it, alone, but the idea of going through a Challenge without Aidan made my stomach turn. As much as I wanted to save myself, I couldn’t leave him behind on purpose. He could be hurt downstairs.

Dancing on tip toes, I made my decision and darted away from the black door. Keeping my footsteps light and noiseless in my sneakers, I shuffled down the stairs, hoping that a step wouldn’t creak under my weight.

Above, I could hear Jordan’s distant shouts as I rushed into the bedroom where Aidan was floundering to climb to his feet.

Blood trailed down his face, from a gash in his forehead, staining the bedspread. Wiping at his face, he smeared the crimson across his temple and cheek and sniffled. Looking to his hand he stared at the bright red as if it were bright green instead.

Hurrying to his side, I put his arm around my neck and helped him to his feet, leading him to the doorway. My legs screamed a protest and each step was agony with his weight leaning against me. I wrapped an arm around Aidan’s waist, pressing the crucifix to his side.

Aidan attempted to lift his own weight, fresh blood accompanying the streaks down his face.

“Come on Aidan,” I whispered, “we have to get out of here.”

Aidan made a feeble noise, he was trying to move his legs faster but it didn’t help much and I couldn’t just carry him out of the bedroom.

We fumbled to reach the stairs when Aidan breathed in sharp.

My head snapped up to see Jordan at the top of the steps, brown eyes blazing. His bulk filled the entire passageway.

A shot of fear punched my guts and I almost dropped Aidan.

Jordan reached into his back pocket and produced, with the snap of his wrist, a hefty switch-blade.

Gesturing at me with the knife he started to plod down the stairs. “Found you. The game’s over, sweetie,” he said. “You’re mine now.”

I glanced at Aidan. We could try and run to the front door and into the storm, but I didn’t think we’d make it. Our black door was up those steps past the bully and I was certain he was going to make it difficult.

Aidan squinted at me before closing his eyes.

“Stay awake,” I said.

His head bobbed in what could have been a nod before he whispered, his voice barely audible, “You can’t carry me.”

At first I thought against it, but the way my thighs trembled I knew it would be easier to save my strength for the fight. What little strength I had anyway.

In the process of setting Aidan on the floor, I collapsed with him. I wanted to give up, I realized. I wanted the weakness and hounding consternation to end and never be felt again. I wanted to be warm and safe in my bed and know that my family and friends were safe. How could I have taken those things for granted? Sitting on the floor, I felt the shag carpet against my legs.
What could I do?
I thought despairingly.

Jordan’s clunky boots descending the stairs pinched me from my daze. Looking up, my stomach dropped upon seeing the triumphant smile on his scarred face. He stopped at the landing, looking down at us like he’d won, the handle of his hunting knife turning in his anxious hand.

No
, a voice urged in my head.
You can’t give up to his guy. What about Robin, Phoebe, Read, and Cody? What about Aidan?

Turning to Aidan, his face was drawn tight and pale. I couldn’t just give up. There had to be some escape. Renewed with a sense of defiance I asked. “Why are you doing this?” I gripped the stone in my hand tighter though I wasn’t sure how effective I’d be at wielding it. Jordan had a knife and I had a bloodied college guy.

Jordan smiled. “The little dork didn’t tell you?” He asked.

I think my brain sloshed when I shook my head and I winced.

“Well, I guess that that would be understandable,” Jordan glanced between us. “I wouldn’t admit I was a loser like him either.”

“Oh?” I asked feigning interest. I inched back on my knees, gauging a proper swing.

“Have you ever wondered why Aidan came to Leland? Of all the places he’d been before, he chose some small city to go to college? That doesn’t seem a little fucked up?” Jordan cocked his head to the side.

I swallowed hard. “His family moved around a lot. It’s also none of my business.” I scooted back until my ankles were level with Aidan’s hip.

“Yeah,” Jordan snorted. “I forgot you two aren’t supposed to like each other. Sometimes, an inheritance can call to a person.”

I shook my head. “You’re talking gibberish,” I said and glanced at Aidan. He wasn’t moving, sending an alarm.

Leaning forward to take Aidan’s hand, I squeezed, waiting for him to oblige me with a response. He didn’t.

Jordan’s gravelly voice cut through what self-control I had left. “I met Aidan when we were in junior high. He made the mistake of insulting me in front of Mariah Fields, of all people.”

Keep stalling,
a voice inside my head urged, though the other part wanted to panic. Every instinct said to run and hide, tugging at me with ghostly finger. Instead, I stalled. “Who’s Mariah Fields?”

Jordan snapped a harsh laugh and paused in his descent. “She was this girl I tried asking out but Aidan got in the way.”

I frowned, I couldn’t imagine Jordan’s borderline hostility impressing a girl. Aidan was always helping people, it seemed. It would be only natural for him to save a girl from being bullied into a date. I felt a little swelling of pride for my new friend. He had always tried to protect me even when he made it clear he was suspicious.

Jordan swaggered down the last few steps, leering unpleasantly. “So, I paid Aidan here a little visit.” He kicked Aidan’s foot, which flopped, making my stomach crawl. “After that I got quite fond of the kid. He always had money and some cool merchandise that went like crazy on my own little market.”

“Like the camera,” I said flatly, glaring.

Jordan shrugged. “He fought back when most of the others would stop after a while, if they tried at all.”

The aspiration of revenge writhed in the back of my mind. I hated that I’d been was so distant before. Even if he did feel like I didn’t belong, he hadn’t acted on it and I had. I tried to exclude him whenever I could. I’d cast him out the way Jordan had in his own way. What kid would play with the one who wore a bull’s-eye?

I gnashed my teeth. I knew I’d have to move fast for a good swing. I’d have to aim for his head, eventually.

My gaze landed on Jordan’s knees instead. I’d have to get him to fall first. The living room was devoid of any weapon other than the lamp and I didn’t want to jeopardize a source of light. The pale candle atop the thin candleholder might be a weapon, if it was heavy enough. If the holder was as cheap as the furniture, it could be useless.

Taking a deep breath, I shook my head. “Why aren’t we supposed to like each other?”