The Devil's Third (19 page)

 Tree was only being loyal, like my father who kept my immortality a secret when the rest of our family thought I was dead. There had to be a damn good reason for Tree to withhold vital information from me, knowing how fragile a position Paige was in.

“Nathan. I’m sorry, man. I know--”

“Listen. Just give me Brayden’s number, and I’ll leave you alone,” I told him.

Without further objections, he rattled off Brayden’s number. I called Brayden right away. He didn’t answer, and the mailbox was full. Gritting my teeth, I texted him.

Where is she?

I waited with my breath caught in my throat for his reply. And then my phone jingled, alerting me I had a text message. When I read the two words Brayden sent, I had to restrain myself from smashing my phone because I didn’t have another spare. I glanced at Brayden’s message again and roared.

I win.

Chapter Nineteen

Paige

A hand reached between the driver’s and passenger’s seats. I jerked away and screeched, standing halfway out of the vehicle with one foot on the floorboard and the other on the pavement. Bael took the phone offered to him and threw it on the ground.

“It’s okay, Paige,” an all-too-familiar voice said.

“Brayden?” I peeked around the seat and squealed. “Omigod.” I hopped in and grabbed his hand, an onslaught of tears clouding my vision.

“I’m here. Everything is all right,” he said.

“But you shouldn’t be here,” I choked, even though I was secretly relieved he was.

His fingers flitted to my cheek, and he gently brushed at the tears. I sucked in a sob, comforted by his touch and feeling guilty that I wanted to latch onto him like a spider monkey, to be in the safety of his arms.

“Yes, I should,” he said. “My place is by your side.”

“No. Don’t you see you’re a pawn in Bael’s twisted plan?”

 Bael glanced at me, his eyes glowing. “Brayden is here on his own accord. I’m simply allowing it because he shares in my ideals and to give you some solace.”

 “Don’t do me any favors, and I’m sure you have
other
reasons,” I said.

“My, my. What would they be?” His tone was mocking. I balled my hand into a fist, fighting the urge to punch him.

“Don’t worry, Paige,” Brayden said. “I’m not an idiot. I know what I’m doing.”

“I don’t think you do.” I shook my head, wondering if Bael told him about Solomon’s power residing in me instead of the ring, and that he wanted me to destroy the incantations. I opened my mouth to ask him, but decided on another question instead. If Brayden knew, he would have mentioned it already. “Did you know Bael gave me an ultimatum? If I don’t help him find the incantations, he’ll have Tree killed?”

“Yes,” Brayden admitted, “and that’s one of the reasons why I’m here, to make sure you’ll be okay, so you can find the incantations and spare Tree’s life.”

“How can you even be around him knowing he’s willing to kill Tree?” I didn’t try and hide the disgust in my voice.

“I know it--” Brayden started to say, but Bael cut him off.

“Where are the incantations? Are they in Ethiopia?”

I let go of Brayden’s hand and turned to Bael in surprise. “How did you know?”

He smiled. “For centuries I’ve had a feeling they were there. You see, there’s a tale of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Her kingdom is believed to have been in Ethiopia. They fell in love and procreated. Their son’s name was Meneliki, and he became the first emperor of Ethiopia.”

“Why hadn’t you ever followed through on this assumption?” I was dumbfounded he had all this knowledge, yet he disregarded it.

“He needed the ring to find the incantations,” Brayden replied, “and a person worthy enough to break through the barriers Solomon placed around them.”

I snorted. “I’m not a
worthy
person.”

“On the contrary,” Bael said, looking at me. “Your youth and humbleness blinds you of how significant you are to all of us.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“It’s true,” Brayden said. “I always knew you were special.”

I made a disagreeing sound, thinking I was far from those things because right now Nathan was in pain because of me, and there was an internal battle I was fighting at the moment.

I wanted to be in the backseat with Brayden, in his embrace to ease the fear swelling in my chest. Brayden reminded me of home and eating an ice cream cone on a hot sunny day. He was the laughter echoing through the woods when Carrie chased after him and fell into a mud puddle. He was the past I longed for, but Nathan was the future I wanted.

“Where in Ethiopia are the incantations?” Bael wanted to know, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“They’re somewhere in the Sof Omar cave in Bale.” I glanced out the window and realized we were on Route 30, driving toward Portland. “Where are we going?” My heart raced.

“You and Brayden are going to be my guests for a few days while I get my affairs in order.” He paused as if considering something. “After our deal is fulfilled, you can go on your merry way.” He smirked. “However, I have no doubt our paths will cross again, and I may require your assistance in other matters.”

Will this ever end?

I didn’t like the hidden meaning behind those words or his self-assured tone. I knew then if he remained in this world, I’d be forced once again to do what he pleased. He was the puppet master, and I was his puppet. I hugged myself and stared out the window into the night. The headlights cast a bluish tint on the road ahead. The darkness seemed to press against the cold glass, and there was no escaping it.

 I turned to him, boiling mad as the thought of being at his mercy kept wheeling in my mind. “I’m not your marionette,” I said, and before I could stop myself, I continued. “I will destroy you before that could ever happen.” I blinked, surprised at my brazenness at threatening an ancient spirit.

“You are a pistol.” He stared at me, not minding the road, his eyes glowing once again, his expression turning dark. “But you need to hold your tongue and show some respect. Just be--”

I burst into laughter. I didn’t know if it was out of nerves or his obnoxious behavior, but I couldn’t quit. I glanced at him and he glowered at me. I laughed harder. My sides began to ache. I curled an arm around my stomach, trying to catch my breath. I could hear Brayden snickering behind me.

“Silence!” Bael shouted.

Startled, we stopped.

“You infantile immortals have no idea who I am or what I’m capable of,” Bael spat.

“Yeah, we do,” Brayden said, trying to sound serious. “You’re the great and powerful Oz. I mean Bael.”

“No,” I said between giggles. “He’s actually Jesus Christ, and he got so pissed at God for bringing him here to sacrifice and suffer for a bunch of worthless humans that he went rogue. I mean, he does have a messiah complex and thinks he can walk on water.”

Brayden roared with laughter.

“Jesus Christ never existed, you imbeciles,” Bael said, annoyed.

“So?” I shrugged. “That’s soooo not the point. The point is you
think
you’re ‘all that’”–I did air quotes–“but really you’re not because if you were, you wouldn’t need me.”

“I had enough of your lack of respect.” Abruptly, he pulled to the shoulder of the highway, took the keys out of the ignition and stepped out.

I turned to Brayden. “What’s he doing?” I clutched his arm when his door opened. “No!” I screamed when Bael snatched Brayden’s other arm.

“Get off me.” Brayden hollered, kicking him.

“Leave him alone.” Awkwardly, I climbed to the backseat and laced my arms and legs around Brayden’s torso, yanking him back.

But Bael was stronger. He grabbed Brayden’s ankles and dragged us out. My back smacked into the asphalt. I yelped in pain, and my grip loosened. Brayden was now out of my reach. He jumped up. In a flash he shoved Bael’s chest, and he flew past the sparse trees lining the road into a vacant field.

“Brayden, no. He’ll hurt you.” I scrambled to my feet, wincing from the road rash. I rushed to his side. I could hear his heart thumping and his quick breaths.

“C’mon”–he took my hand–“let’s get out of here.”

“Are you insane?” I watched Bael push himself off the ground. “If I leave with you, he’ll kill Tree.”

“Tree will eventually die anyway,” Brayden said, “but you and I will live on. Do you really want Bael to continue to have a hold on you by threatening Tree’s life?”

I released my hand from his grip and stared at him in disbelief, stunned he would casually disregard Tree’s life. “How can you be so . . . ” I lost the word, but then it came to me. “Callous?” Bael was walking toward us. “Tree is our best friend.”

“You know Tree means a lot to me,” he said. “But you mean a hell of a lot more.”

“I’m not leaving,” I crossed my arms. “Besides, I thought you were pro Bael.”

“I believe in his vision of reshaping this world in how it’s suppose to be. To go back to the old ways. I don’t, though, like the stranglehold he has on your life. And I won’t stand aside and watch him make your life miserable until Tree or Carrie dies of old age or whatever.” He pointed a finger in Bael’s direction, jabbing the air, and yelled, “It’s not happening!”

Bael’s arrogant laughter echoed across the field.

Impulsively, I threw my arms around Brayden. Standing on my tiptoes, I whispered into his ear. “Listen to me. Solomon’s power is inside me, not the ring.” I felt him jerk in surprise, and I tightened my arms. “Bael knows this and wants me to destroy the incantations, but if I’m quick about it, I might be able to use them on him. Now, act like we’re saying goodbye, and don’t breathe a word of this to anybody.”

“I don’t want you to go. Not without me,” Brayden said, playing along.

“You lost that privilege when you disrespected me.” Bael halted in front of us.

Brayden wheeled on him. I darted between them and quickly decided to take Bael’s side, not only to appease him, but to hopefully blind him to the fact I would consider controlling him. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but hoped Brayden would catch on.

“Back off,”I said. “I’m going with Bael, and you should accept the fact he doesn’t want you coming with us.”

“Like hell I will.” Brayden glared at Bael. “He’s lucky I didn’t snap his neck.”

“I’m not a fool, Paige,” Bael said. “I know you crave Brayden’s presence, yet for some reason you’re suddenly willing to release him from our company. Why the change of heart?”

My stomach dropped.

He
knew
.

My mind went blank. I could feel the blood draining from my face, and my mouth went dry.

“You’re naive to think I haven’t considered you defying me once the incantations are discovered.”

The world seemed to cave in on me. I staggered into Brayden. He locked his arms around my shoulders so I wouldn’t crumble to the ground. It was useless to try to defeat Bael. He was too wise and always one step ahead.

“I’m going to be candid,” he continued. “I wasn’t expecting anything less from you considering your stubbornness and youth tends to be your downfall. Those months of me impersonating Matt were quite useful. And although you have qualities I admire, and I do enjoy your company . . . when you’re being reasonable that is, I won’t think twice to wipe the people you love from this earth if you were to attempt to harm me. You see, I already have reinforcements in place to ensure my safety and to carry out my orders.”

In the distance, I could hear several vehicles heading our way. I turned to look. Headlights pierced the night. They must have been doing at least a hundred miles per hour because in no time the beams were spotlighting us, causing me to shield my eyes, while a high-pitched ringing sounded in my ears.

“Get in the car.” Bael barked, reaching for me, but Brayden backed away, pulling me with him. “If you want to come, then get her in the car now,” he said to Brayden, suddenly filled with an anxious energy that caused my stomach to sink.

As Bael opened the door behind the passenger’s seat, Brayden swung us around. We hurried inside. White brightness flooded through the windows, and tires squealed on the asphalt. A glossy black extended cab truck parked sideways in front of us.

Nathan?

I leaned forward, digging my nails into the leather seats, peering through the glass.

Please be Nathan
.

My heart thudded at the anticipation it could be him.

“Paige,” Brayden said behind me.

I didn’t respond or move. I kept my eyes trained ahead of me. But when several people exited the truck, none of them Nathan, I released the air from my lungs and hung my head. I was pathetic. Why couldn’t I stick to the agreement I’d made with myself? Nathan wasn’t coming to my rescue, and being with him wasn’t part of my life now. Dealing with Bael was.

“We’re in deep shit.”

I turned at Brayden’s troubled voice. “Wh-what?” He gestured to the three vehicles boxing us in. I hadn’t realized it until now, but Bael remained outside, standing beside the driver’s door. “Crap. Who are they?” I glanced around, counting ten people moving toward Bael. None of them I recognized.

“I don’t know.” Brayden glanced out the window toward the sparse trees and open field. “I think we can make a run for it.”

“Volac,” Bael said.

I gasped, knowing Volac was an ancient dark spirit who wanted me dead so Bael couldn’t go through with his plans. Anwar had cast Volac out not too long ago, and I couldn’t fathom how Volac regained his energy so quickly. It usually took weeks, if not longer, for that to happen.

“Fuck,” Brayden mumbled. “This must be Volac’s group.” He snatched my hand and popped the door open.

But when we stepped out, we were confronted with a wall of bodies, halting us in our tracks. Three pairs of eyes were glowing at us, a beam of light swiped across the other two pair, and their arms were linked together, forming a powerful barrier we couldn’t breach.

We were so screwed.

Chapter Twenty