Body and Soul (Body and Soul Trilogy) (15 page)

“It’s meant to remind me that there is
always light, even in darkness,” Rico said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

“Where did you get it?” Kate
whispered, focusing her attention on Rico’s face.

“It is a stone from Lilith. I stole it and brought it to Earth when Darkness brought us here. Years later I found this chain on the ground after an especially brutal battle. I kept the chain to remind me of the pain I caused. When I chose to keep it as a reminder, it was because I relished in the pain that I inflicted. Now, it symbolizes my guilt and regret.”

Kate watched as Rico carefully put the necklace back in his pocket.

“As you know by now, all demons were monsters when we lived on Lilith, myself included. We didn’t know any better. I guess you can say that we have a neglectful parent,” Rico smirked and paused, taking a deep breath.

“Rico, you don’t have to tell me this,” Kate said. “I know that I wanted this before – I even thought I needed it – but I can see that it’s hurting you. Please stop, I don’t need to know anymore. You’re right, it doesn’t matter.”

“No,” he whispered. “You were right, Kate. If you are to feel anything for me, I want to know that it is for my past, present, and future. I want to know that you feel everything that I am. I want you to fall in love with all of me.”

“Body and soul,” Kate whispered.

“What did you say?”

“It’s called body and soul. Loving someone that much is loving them body and soul.”

“Of course,” he said sarcastically. “They would use that terminology.”

“I’m sorry,” Kate said. “I wasn’t thinking.”

Rico smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He readjusted himself so that he was lying on his side, head propped up on his hand. He patted the bed in front of him, letting Kate know that she could lie down next to him. She moved so that she lay on her back and looked into his eyes. It was exciting being this close to
Rico, and she felt her heart fluttering because of his proximity.

Rico continued. “When I was placed on this planet, I rebelled. I hated humans. I thought that they were worthless, parasitic beings. I watched them steal from and kill each other. I took this knowledge, that humans would harm each
other, and used it as my excuse to harm them. I took human lives in war and whenever someone upset me. I was a monster.

One day, when I was roaming through the forest, I saw a pair of lovers. They were so consumed with each other physically and emotionally. I couldn’t understand how they connected in both manners, because until then I had only witnessed physical satisfaction. That was the first soul I took.”

Rico looked into Kate’s eyes, searching her thoughts. Kate could sense his fear, his worry at her reaction. All she did was nod, a silent okay to continue.

“I’ve taken many souls; I’ve taken so many that I lost count over the millennia. Even after the treaty, I took souls. I craved the love, the emotions. I craved everything about being human, right down to their physical weakness and their inability to remember things. I wanted it all, as long as it meant that I was able to have a soul.

I searched for evidence that supported my desires. I hoped to find a shred of information that could lead me to a soul of my own. I figured that until then, I would share one with a human host. You see, I couldn’t understand that it was wrong of me to steal from others, especially when I wanted it for myself. I knew that if I had a soul I wouldn’t want anyone to take it, but I didn’t generalize that information and think about it when I took the soul of another.

When Adriana found me, I was living in India. The people in the slums give in easily. They don’t mind giving their souls over to you. The people there, though, are weakened by starvation and dehydration. They don’t last long. I would take another soul every couple of days. Adriana found out about me, my reckless behavior. She came to kill me.

As you can see, she and I work on the same team now. I am like Donovan in every way when it comes to Adriana. She saved me from myself. I thank her for it each day; I thank her for giving me another chance to exist, to change who I was and become who I wanted to be. She still listens out for news of how to obtain a soul without possessions. She does that for me, because that’s all I really want. There are rumors that it can be done, but that’s where it ends.”

Rico stopped speaking and looked at Kate. They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment but didn’t talk. Kate could tell that Rico was reading her thoughts, and she attempted to read his as well. She saw the same calm blue that had shimmered in his eyes the night that they drank coffee. Kate loved seeing his cobalt eyes like this. She loved knowing that his thoughts weren’t swirling around evil memories; she wanted him to stay like this, to remain open to her and her heart.

“Thank you again for telling me about your life,” Kate said later that night.

She and Rico had talked all night, and now his fingers were untangling her curls. She liked the feeling of his hands running through her hair, pulling gently. It felt good even though he wasn’t really touching her. She could live like this, she thought, savoring the feeling.

“Your hair is so soft,” Rico said. He pushed Kate’s hair over her shoulder, lightly touching her cheek, making sure that he pulled away quickly. She closed her eyes, enjoying his touch, and fell asleep within a few minutes. Rico placed a pillow under Kate’s head and tucked her in tightly, kissing her lightly on her forehead. Afterwards, he picked up
Pride and Prejudice
and read while he kept watch.

Chapter 19

Kate was standing in the middle of the street again. This time it was foggy like it had been the day of her accident. She kept looking around, searching for signs of a car, and jogged to the side of the road, afraid that this dream world had the potential to hurt her in real life. Kate walked slowly, barely able to see what was two feet in front of her. She had no idea where she was headed; the fog enveloped her in a bubble that kept the rest of her surroundings hidden from view. She shivered, despite the heat, but kept walking. She knew from her previous dreams that she would be shown something important.

Up ahead, something shimmered in the sunlight. The surface was golden, the light a beacon in the shadows. Kate headed toward it, eager to release herself from the fog’s grasp. A moment later, the shimmering light turned into a shape, and Kate realized that she was looking at the telescope that she
previously found at the log cabin. Kate’s heart beat furiously as she looked around. Why was she able to see the cabin here? Why wasn’t she able to see it in real life?

Kate moved closer and stepped through the fog. She shook her head disbelievingly. It wasn’t the log cabin
anymore; the ramshackle house stood in front of her now. What was going on?

Suddenly, the scene shifted. Kate was standing on the front porch of the house directly in front of the log cabin. She could see it clearly here. Inside, her heart beat calmly, the pieces shifting in her mind as she organized her thoughts. The pieces clicked together, and Kate smiled a beautifully determined smile.

Kate’s eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Rico; he had fallen asleep in her
pale green reading chair. His features were smooth, his expression peaceful; there was nothing that darkened his thoughts or crept into his dreams. Kate hated to wake him, but knew that she had no choice. She couldn’t figure this out on her own. Not this time.

Kate slipped off the bed and shook Rico gently. He stirred before op
ening his eyes. She watched as he stretched and stood up before saying anything to her. She could tell that he wasn’t really a morning person.

“What’s wrong, Kate?” he said, finally taking in her disheveled appearance,
her messy curls and ashen face.

“I had a dream, Rico. It was about Erik.”

“A dream?” he asked.

“Actually,” she said, tiptoeing around the issue, trying to figure out how to say it
. “I think it might have been a vision.” Kate held her breath, waiting for Rico’s laughter or denial.

“Okay,” he said
as he sat up and leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees and hands clasped together. “Tell me.”

Kate first told
Rico about what she had seen the first time. She told him about the log cabin and the telescopes. She told him that she was hit by Donovan’s car because she had gone down to investigate, only to find the worn down house. Then she told Rico about the dream she had just woken from.

“What do you think it means?” she asked when she was finished.

“I didn’t think it was possible,” he muttered.

“What isn’t possible, Rico?”

He looked into her eyes then, and she could see a touch of fear in his eyes. Kate grew worried, knowing that if Rico was afraid then she should be terrified.

“Dark magic,” he said. “Kern must be using Darkness’ powers, harnessing them as his own. It’s the only way that Erik would have been able to hide the true identity of the house from you, from everyone that walked by.”

“Shouldn’t we go see if we can see the real thing before tossing out answers, Rico? What if we can’t see it?”

Rico sat down again and looked at Kate. He took h
er hands into his own and squeezed them gently. He took a deep breath before speaking.

“Adriana and I have suspected that you have special abilities. Do you remember the day that we first met?”

Kate nodded.

“I wasn’t looking at the trash that you left on the ground. I was looking at the picture that you drew next to where you sat. Do you remember drawing something
in the sand, Kate?”

Kate’s heart pounded. She wasn’t ready to tell Rico. She wasn’t ready for him to see the darkness that lurked within her own soul. She had just barely gotten a hold on him, and she wasn’t going to let him go.

“No, I don’t remember drawing anything,” she said firmly. She needed to sound as honest as possible, and hoped that Rico couldn’t feel her pulse skip a beat.

“I thought so,” he said.

“What did I draw?” Kate asked, even though she knew the answer.

“You drew the Earth, Kate. It was ablaze. Are you certain that these dreams are the o
nly ones you’ve had so far? You haven’t had any about the Earth?”

“Not yet,” she said.

Rico nodded at Kate’s response and stood up.

“You were right,” he said as he walked to the door. “We need to go check this out. I’ll call Adriana and ask her to meet us there. Hopefully she’s not too tangled up in Donovan to come.”

They met on the beach behind the house across from Erik’s. Adriana, for once, was wearing a pair of black jean shorts, her feet shoved into a pair of Vans. Her raven hair was tossed into a bun that sat on top of her head, and she wore minimal makeup. Kate had scampered around her room that morning and was now standing in a plain tank top and linen shorts, her wild curls pulled halfway back.

Rico and Kate filled Adriana in on what they were doing. Adriana kept gasping and shaking her head the whole time, and when Rico mentioned dark magic, Adriana almost stumbled backward. Kate was getting the idea that dark magic was very bad.

“What are we going to do, Rico?” Adriana asked as they snuck up the side of the house.

“I don’t know,” Rico hissed. “Does Donovan have any knowledge
of dark magic? Was he able to tell you anything about Erik last night?”

“I’ll ask him about
the dark magic when I go home. And I’ll tell you and Kate what he said about Erik when we’re done sneaking around.”

They fell silent
then, and Rico hopped over the banister and onto the front porch silently. He pulled Kate over, with Adriana pushing her up as though Kate weighed ten pounds. Kate reached her hand out so that Adriana could take it, but Adriana was already standing next to her. Kate looked at her curiously, and Adriana flashed a gorgeous smile.

“Demons are stronger than we look,” she stated before turning around and crouching.

Kate, Rico, and Adriana ducked down and practically crawled across the porch floor. Kate’s heart beat with excitement, mixed with a hint of fear. This was the first time that they had actually done something worthwhile.

When they reached the center of the porch, the
y poked their heads up over the edge and looked across the street. The log cabin was there, and even more grand than Kate had imagined it. They gasped in unison, finally grasping at a piece of the truth.

“Well, well. Who shall I charge for breaking and entering?”

Surprised, Kate looked back to see Erik. He was standing behind the three of them on the porch; the front door was open behind him.

“You live here too?” Kate asked, confused.

“Of course I had to purchase this house, Kate. The weakest point of an illusion is always right in front of it. I couldn’t risk anyone seeing what I had done.”

Rico and Adriana stood up, pulling Kate up between them. They each stood in front of her, flanking her, she realized. They were protecting her as if they were fearful of an
attack. Kate stepped back involuntarily and hit her back against the railing.

“Be careful, Kate. I would hate to see you get hurt. We need you as strong as possible.”

“What do you need her for?” Adriana asked.

“Do you honestly think I would let you in on the secret, Adriana? I’ve heard all about you. You’re the demon who pretends that she is a human. You save miserable human lives. Why do you even try when you haven’t been successful?”

“Just because we’re demons doesn’t mean we have to be monsters,” she spat. “Humans belonged here first. We’re lucky that we’ve been invited to stay this long.”

Erik laughed. It was
a slow, methodical sound. “You are absolutely crazy,” he said, his voice deep and rough. “Humans are worthless. Even Rico here knows that it’s true. Don’t you Rico?”             

“I made mistakes,” Rico started.

“Yes,” Erik interrupted. “You’ve made millions of mistakes. Tell me, does Kate know about your millions of mistakes? Does she know that you were on our side once? Does she know how much power flows through your veins?”

“Kate knows everything about me, Erik. There’s n
othing to hide from her. There’s nothing that you can reveal that she doesn’t already know.”

“But do you know that she still hides things from you?”

Erik glanced sideways at Kate. Kate blushed furiously but spoke up. “I’ve told him everything that was important,” she said.

“You dare lie to me, Kate?” he laughed. “What’s worse, lying to someone you barely know or someone that you’re falling in love with? Let’s decide this together, okay?”

“Shut up,” Adriana spat, butting in. “Kate tells us everything we need to hear. You can’t tear us apart. We’re going to protect her no matter what. We don’t care if it means life or death, Erik, as long as we get rid of your boss.”

Erik laughed even louder this time. He turned to Kate once more.

“They don’t care about you, Kate. They care about destroying Kern. They will sacrifice you, if it means that they are one step closer to killing him.”

Rico sprung forward
suddenly, knocking into Erik. Erik’s body hit the wall with a sickening crunch. Rico pulled his arm back and released a fury of punches that Kate could tell hurt. Adriana moved in front of Kate protectively. She crouched, waiting.

Erik caught
one of Rico’s punches and twisted his arm suddenly. Rico fell onto one knee, and Kate watched in horror as Erik began kicking Rico’s stomach.

“Stop!” she screamed. “Stop, p
lease! You’re hurting him!”

Erik paused. He looked at Kate and flashed a dangerous smile. He let g
o of Rico, and Kate watched as Rico fell to the floor. A sudden gust of wind swirled around Kate, and she watched as a strange fog began to roll in. Kate’s knees buckled, suddenly too weak to hold her up. The fog began to close in, and Kate could feel it caressing her skin. It was cold, and Kate watched as icicles clung to her hair. She looked into Erik’s eyes, at his almost all white eyes, and felt true fear. He was using dark magic to harm Kate, to kill her. This was going to be it, the end of living.

In front of Kate, Adriana sprung up and pounced toward Erik. She crashed into him, knocking him back into the wall. The fog dissipated, and Kate was left gasping. Rico,
who had come back sometime during the attack from the fog, rushed to her side but wouldn’t touch her. He kept asking her to look at him, but for some reason Kate couldn’t process the information. She sat there, holding herself, not seeing or hearing anything.

“Rico,” Adriana warned. “
Kate needs help.” She was still working toward disarming Erik, her small arms choking him until he passed out completely.

Rico just sat there, shaking his head back and forth, muttering something a
bout being too cold to touch Kate.

Kate heard a
loud bang as Erik’s lifeless body fell to the floor, then felt Adriana’s arms encircle her. Adriana lifted her up and jumped off the porch, running for her house.

Minutes later, Kate was tumbled onto Adriana’s bathroom floor. Adriana was barking orders to Rico and Donovan, telling them to draw a hot bath. Kate watched, without really seeing, as Donovan began to pour salts and drop herbs into the tub while Rico turned the water on and checked the temperature.

Adriana began tearing Kate’s clothes off of her body, leaving Kate in her bra and underwear. When the bath was ready, she gently set Kate into the steaming water. She held Kate’s head back and poured the water over her hair. She began to hum a slow melody, calming everyone down in the room.

Kate’s eyes began to focus and she blinked furiously, zeroing in on Adriana. Adriana grabbed Kate’s face in her hands and looked into Kate’s grey eyes.

“Kate?” she asked. “Kate, can you understand me?”

Kate watched as large tears slid down Adriana’s cheeks. S
he lifted a hand up and wiped them away, leaving Adriana’s face more wet than before. Adriana pulled Kate into a quick, fierce embrace and sobbed.

Kate comforted Adriana
by rubbing her hand along Adriana’s back.

“I’m okay now,” Kate
said calmly.

“I’m so sorry, Kate. I never meant to let him hurt you.” Kate focused on Rico who sat with his head in his hands. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated.

Kate watched Rico, barely noticing as Donovan and Adriana walked out, leaving the two of them alone.