Torment (7 page)

“Why did Lilith want to stop you helping us?” Lucian asked me.

“It wasn’t that she
didn't
want me to help you; she cares about you all. You’re close to me, and mean a lot to me, so you mean a lot to her too. It was because I was still learning the full strength of my power. I was a full demon then. I had no life in me, so I had no limitations. Like I told you, the Palace started shaking at the same time the church did. I think she was just worried in case I did damage or hurt anyone
there
as well as here.”

“Why did Eligos and his army come out of the floor?” Jake asked.

“They were gateways,” I explained, “from the realm of Hell to this realm.”

“Yeah but the possessed people with Argyle just teleported themselves inside.”

“Eligos and the others could have done that too, but they wanted to surprise and frighten Argyle and his followers. I mean, come on, did you see their faces? They didn't know what was coming, did they? They were all scared.”

“Yes that's true,” Danny agreed.

“Besides there’s nothing wrong with making a good entrance. I made sure I did,” I giggled.

“You’re damn right you did! We were all frightened; we didn't know what the hell was going on.”

“That creature that hit you, wow, he looked frightened to death when he saw Eligos. It tried to run away but Eligos went after him. He looked livid!” Lucian said.

“I know I was there,” I smiled at him. “I saw him go after it.”

“Why was he so pissed with the creature? I know that might sound like a strange question, but you could heal yourself and you weren’t seriously hurt,” Jake asked me.

“Because it was his job to protect me and I think he felt like he had failed. I don’t know why he tortured it so much though.”

“Aww…” Lily smiled. “I think that’s really sweet.”

I sat there smiling to myself for a moment, then all of us went quiet again.

“What happened to Argyle and the others?” Lily asked, ending the silence.

“They all had their souls destroyed,” I told them. “After being tortured.”

“Why tortured?”

“Because we wanted one of them to tell us who the big bad guy or girl was. But none of them said anything really; most of them just laughed and said the end was near for us. Oh apparently one of them said there was more of them than we could imagine, and that their numbers were increasing daily. Then it said we had no chance of winning, but other than that we got zip!”

“Who questioned them?” Tyler asked.

“Eligos questioned some of them, and I really don't know how they managed to laugh. If he’d done the things he did to
them
, to
me
, I would have told him anything just to get him to stop.”

“Why? What did he do?” Danny asked, sitting forwards.

“Danny, you’re a little too interested for my liking,” Lucian said to him.

“I don’t really want to say. Put it this way, from what I was told…it wasn’t very nice,” I said.

“Who else questioned them?” Lily asked.

“I know Lucifer dealt with some of them, and Lilith too, but other than them I’m not sure. I just know that all the little bastards are well and truly gone for good now.”

“How did Argyle know you wouldn’t be able to kill him?”

“Because he knew Lucifer would want some answers from him. He knew he would get out of there alive,” I explained.

Once again everyone went quiet.

I got up and walked into the chill-out room. I hadn't really thought about what would have happened if we hadn't have been near the viewing pool. Now that I had, it worried me.

“Are you OK?” Lily asked walking in.

“Yes I’m fine.”

“Keira, this is going to get really bad, isn’t it?”

“Yeah I’m afraid so.”

“How are people gonna cope when they find out demons are real?”

“They’ll panic; there’ll be mass hysteria, fights, murders,” I said, sitting down. “Religious wars. Well, if people live long enough to start one.”

“This sort of thing should only exist in books and movies,” she frowned, sitting next to me.

“I wonder what would have happened to us, or the guys, if we hadn't have come here.”

“I don't know, I mean, both Salem and West Chester are safe at the moment. Neither of them have been attacked. Maybe we would have been OK up to now.”

“It doesn’t bear thinking about. I feel stronger knowing I have everyone here. Does that sound silly?”

“Not at all, everyone looks after everyone here. Plus there’s a family love here too; that's bound to make you feel stronger.”

“Yes I guess.”

“What happened when you went back to Hell; you know when you left the church?”

“Yeah I wanted to ask that, too,” Danny said, walking in the room and sitting down.

“I took Argyle to the Palace and handed him over to Lucifer. Then they both disappeared,” I told them. “And then Lilith told me it was time to come here. She put life back inside me and sent me back. I arrived just outside of the church.”

“I bet she was sad to see you leave,” Lily said.

“She was a little, yes, but it’s not like I’m never going to see her again, is it?”

“I bet Eligos will miss you too,” Danny smirked.

“Why do you say that?” I asked, raising one of my eyebrows.

“You’ve spent a lot of time together lately; he’s bound to miss you.”

“I doubt it.”

“I don't.”

“Change the subject,” I told him plainly.

He sat there smirking at me for a moment, and then left the room. Me and Lily decided to have a relaxation day and do absolutely nothing.

Chapter Ten

A Difficult Position

I had now been back with the guys for three days. They hadn't questioned me about my time away since I’d told them about seeing them the night Argyle attacked. They said they wanted me to enjoy being around them again, not dread it, and so there would be no more question times. I told them I would tell them bits in general conversation, or maybe when we were sitting together having a meal. They were all happy with that and just wanted things to go back to how they used to be. I tried to be as normal as I could, but I found it very hard to hug or be close to Tyler. I knew it was upsetting him; all the guys told me so, but I couldn’t help it. Jake and Lily were back at the music store full time and the guys had moved their things back to their parents’ houses. I hadn't seen or heard from Eligos since the altercation. I’d called out to him every night, but he never came.

One day Danny was working with his dad, Lucian was going with his mom and dad to visit his aunt, Jake and Lily were working and I hadn't heard from Tyler. I made myself a cup of coffee and walked outside. I stood on the porch for a moment and looked down at the ground; all I could see was Tyler laying there, his lifeless eyes staring straight at me. I got pains in my chest every time I thought about it. My eyes started tearing up.

“Hey,” I heard someone say. “Err hello, Earth to Keira!”

I lifted my head to see Tyler standing in front of me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked when he saw the tears in my eyes.

“Nothing,” I said, turning from him. “I’ve got something in my eyes. I think I’ve had grease or something on my fingers and rubbed them or…”

“Liar.”

He stood in front of me and cupped my face, lifting my head so I had to look at him.

“Tyler, don't,” I told him.

He ignored me and went to wrap his arms around me. I put my hand against the top of his chest and pushed him away. He looked so hurt. I walked over to him and put my hand on his chest again, frowning. I knew I’d felt something. I saw a silver chain around his neck; it was quite long so it disappeared under his shirt. I pulled it out and froze on the spot. Attached to it was the bullet that had killed him, the same bullet I used to kill the ones who shot him.

“It was in your hand after you’d…so I kept it,” he struggled to say.

I couldn’t say anything, tears rolled down my face as I stared at the bullet. He wrapped his arms around me again and pulled me close to him. This time I didn’t push him away. I let go of the bullet, buried my head in his chest and hugged him back tightly. I broke down in tears.

“Hey, what’s all this?” he asked softly.

“I’m so sorry.”

“What for?”

“I should have stopped it. Eligos told me not to let my guard down, and that night I did it again. If I’d have been on guard all this might never have happened.”

“Keira, it’s not your fault, it was nobody’s fault. Besides we’re all OK now, aren’t we?” he said, tightening his grip on me. “Please don't blame yourself.”

“Every time I closed my eyes for weeks after, all I could see was you lying on the porch, dead, staring up at me.”

“And all I could see was the last smile you gave me, before I turned around and saw you on the ground,” he said, moving so he could look at me. “I don't ever want to feel the way I did that night ever again.”

“I know.”

“Is this why you’ve been so distant with me?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, wiping the tears from my eyes. “Every time I looked at you, all I could see was you on this porch; it was your eyes more than anything.”

“Well, look at them now,” he said, turning my head so he could look into my eyes. “They’re looking at you now, they’re full of life, and it’s you that put life back in them. The person they are a part of worships the ground you walk on. He always has and he always will.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been so cold with you.”

“It’s OK; just promise me, you won’t be like that anymore.”

“I promise.”

“Good, because I have something else to show you, but you need to understand something. I thought you were dead and gone forever. I needed something to help me deal with that.”

He took me inside the house and closed the door. He took his shirt off and turned his back on me. There on his shoulder blade was a tattoo of an angel, with long black hair, green eyes, purple-and-red wings, and dressed in black and red. Underneath it, written in Old English style text was my name. I reached up and ran my fingers over it, causing him to get goose bumps.

“Tyler, it’s beautiful.”

“You’re my guardian angel,” he said, turning to face me. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

Once again my eyes welled up. I wiped them quickly and was about to say something, but before I got chance to, his lips were on mine. Part of me wanted to push him away, but not because I didn’t like him; instead, I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him back. My head was screaming at me the whole time I was kissing him; he didn’t know how different I was, and how I would never be able to be with him. How could I tell him? He would blame himself; I knew he would. I couldn’t do that to him, not now, not after everything that had happened.

When the kiss ended he kept his face close to mine.

“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he breathed.

“Tyler, I don't think I can do this.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re human; I’m not.”

“I don't care,” he said before kissing my cheek.

“You don't know how different I am now.”

“I don't care, Keira. I wouldn’t care if you were a zombie; I’d still want you.”

“Tyler, I…”

I didn’t get to finish my sentence; he kissed me again, this time backing me up against the wall. He was an amazing kisser. His lips were soft and warm against mine and he held me so close to him, I could feel the warmth of his skin through my top. I realized he hadn't put his shirt back on yet. Even though I’d had my arms around him, I hadn't realized until that point. I ended the kiss and looked at him.

“Tyler, put your shirt on.”

“Why? Is it bothering you?” he said, putting his arms out so his hands were against the wall either side of me.

“Yeah, but not in a bad way; that's…that’s the bad thing.”

“Why bad?”

“Because I can’t be with you” I whispered, ducking under his arm and moving away.

“Is it because of Lucian?”

“No, it’s nothing to do with Lucian,” I told him.

“It’s Eligos, isn’t it? You want him, don't you?” he asked, putting his shirt on.

“I like him, yes, but it’s not him that’s…”

“What’s stopping us then?”

“I am, Tyler. You’re not ready to hear how I’m different yet, not after everything you’ve just been through.”

“Try me,” he said seriously.

“No, not yet; I’m not ready to tell you either.”

“What can be so bad? I’ve told you already, nothing would stop me wanting to be with you.”

“It may not stop you wanting, but it will make you understand why we can’t be together,” I told him. “Tyler, I like you a lot, I always have, and I think after recent events you know how much I care about you. But I can’t do this, no matter how much I may want to. I can’t be with any of you, please, just…just try to understand.”

“How can I understand when you haven’t told me why?” he asked.

“You always said you trusted me, well trust me now.”

“Will it ever change?”

“I don't know, I don't think so,” I told him. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

“Don’t be! I don't regret anything that just happened. I just don't want to give you false hope.”

“Can we still be friends, as close we used to be? I couldn’t cope not having you close to me at all.”

“Of course,” I said, walking up to him and hugging him. “I’ll always be your friend, always.”

“Promise me if anything changes you’ll tell me.”

“I promise.”

When we let go of each other we walked into the kitchen and I made us both coffee. He looked sad but not heartbroken. I think it was the not knowing why we couldn’t be together that was bothering him, more than us not actually being together. We spent the afternoon together, sprawled out on one of the sofas in the chill-out room watching horror films. The curtains in there were really thick and blocked out most of the light, so it was nice and dark in there. We took loads of snacks in with us and in the end we opened a bottle of wine too. It was nice spending time on our own; I’d missed it a lot. I always felt comfortable around Tyler; he never judged me or argued with me, well, not unless we both wanted to watch different films, but then I would just attack him with cushions until he let me have my own way.