Demon Hunters 2: Retribution (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (11 page)

When Blake arrived to collect Scarlett, he carried a latched rectangular case with a handle. It looked like it could be some type of musician’s case. Scarlett was surprised to see it. They carried their swords in the case when they needed to transport them through public places.

Scarlett rose to her feet, tucked Jesse’s arm under the sheet and bent to kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back later, Jesse.” The word ‘Des’ echoed in her mind. “Wait for me. Don’t go anywhere. I really need you to wait for me.” She stared at him a moment longer before she turned to Thomas. “Do you mind if I return in the morning?”

Thomas shook his head. “Any time you want to sit by his side you can. I’m sorry about-”

Scarlett interrupted him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologise for protecting your son. You didn’t know who I was.”

“I should have let you speak. Heard what you had to say instead of throwing you out.”

“You’re under a lot of strain.”

“And you’re too understanding.”

Scarlett smiled slightly. “Not always. But I’m working on it.” She moved to stand beside Blake.

“Make sure you get some sleep, Tom. You can’t work on a construction site when you’re sleep deprived,” Blake said.

“Construction site?” Scarlett looked between the two men.

Thomas nodded. “That’s why Jess was where he was when the car hit him. I’d talked my boss into giving him a trial. I thought if he had something to do while he waited for uni to start again he might not get into as much trouble. I don’t know why he was there so early. I can’t-”

“Don’t blame yourself, Tom,” Blake interrupted. “You can’t see the future. You can only do the best you can with what you know and trust that God will take care of the rest.”

Thomas shook his head. “Haven’t believed in him much since my wife walked out on me. Actually, it was her walking out on Jess that was the hardest to understand.” He glanced back at Jesse. “And sleep? Won’t have time to now. I’ve got to leave in about an hour to get ready for work. I wish I could call in sick, but well, I’ve used up all my sick days and holidays the last two times he was in hospital.”

“Give me a minute.” Blake handed the sword case to Scarlett and stepped out of the room. The door closed softly behind him.

“What’s he doing?” Thomas asked.

Scarlett shrugged. “I don’t know exactly, but he’ll have a solution.”

“How did Jesse get lucky enough to meet you and your family?”

Scarlett was saved from having to answer the question by Blake entering the room, Riley on his heels.

“This is my brother, Riley. He’ll come back in an hour to sit with Jesse.”

“I-” Thomas cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say.”

Riley grinned. “Thank you is usually the accepted phrase.”

“Yes. Of course. Thank you. But I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

“No offence Tom, but I’m doing it for Scarlett. I know she won’t sleep and be back here before she should. She’d have been here every minute you weren’t this past week if more of the nurses had been willing to turn a blind eye to her presence. If you can give permission for the Hunter family to visit we’ll make sure there’s always someone to sit with him,” Riley said.

“Thank you. You can’t imagine how hard it’s been to go to work and know he’s here alone. There’s no other family, well, not that I can call on anyway,” Thomas said.

Riley nodded. “We’d better go otherwise I won’t be back before you leave. I have something I’ve got to take care of first.” He glanced at the case Scarlett held.

Blake took the case from Scarlett. “I’ll see you later, Tom. I’d suggest having a sleep after work before you come back. No point being on the road anymore than you have to be when you’re tired. We don’t need you in the room next to your son.”

Thomas nodded. “Thanks. I will.”

When they were in the elevator, alone, Scarlett looked from her brother to her cousins. “What’s happened? Why the swords?”

“There’s a demon in the car park. He can’t get into the room since we’ve kept the entrances salted, so he’s waiting by the vehicle for you,” Blake said.

Scarlett sighed. She just wanted to go home and sleep. To the home Gran had bought for the four of them to share. “What sort of demon?”

“Still in the lower ranks,” Blake said.

Scarlett nodded. “I don’t think I could cope with anything stronger at the moment.”

Alex dropped an arm around her shoulders. “You’ve got to get more sleep.”

“I know. But I can’t. Not until I know Jesse’s going to live. I keep dreaming I’m at his funeral. I know you don’t like him Alex, but if he died…” Scarlett swallowed and tried again. “If he died-” Her voice broke on the word and she shook her head, unable to speak. If he died she’d have two deaths on her conscience and one of those deaths would haunt her for life.

Alex pulled Scarlett close and wrapped both his arms around her. “I’m sorry, Scarlett. I’ll take a turn watching over him for you.”

“You don’t need to.”

“Yes, I do.” Alex smiled wryly. “You should have said something earlier. You know how stubbornly I hold onto ideas.”

“A piece of four by four might have gotten through to him better than talking,” Riley suggested.

“Ha ha, very funny,” Alex muttered.

Riley grinned. “I know.” He took a bow. “Comedian extraordinaire at your service.”

The elevator door opened and they stepped into the corridor, headed towards the walkway that connected the hospital to the multi storey parking. Their footsteps echoed loudly in the empty walkway. As they stepped into the car park, the heat hit them.

“Looks like it’s going to be another scorching day,” Riley said.

“Hot as hell,” Alex muttered as they walked towards the up ramp. “But what else can you expect in January?”

“Where are we parked?” Scarlett asked.

“Next level up. Halfway along,” Blake answered.

“Shouldn’t we take our swords out?” Scarlett looked towards the case Blake still carried.

He shook his head. “Security cameras.”

“Then how are we meant to deal with the demon?” Scarlett tried to spot the cameras.

Blake grinned. “I’ve got that all under control.”

Scarlett nodded as she walked up the ramp and looked cautiously around. The demon couldn’t be too far away, she could feel the heat in her demon mark. She automatically rubbed against the warmth in her wrist.

When they reached the next level, she saw the demon beside Blake’s four-wheel-drive. He looked like a body builder on steroids. A nearly seven-foot tall body builder. Scarlett stared at the muscles that bulged and was glad fights with demons weren’t always physical. She hoped this one wasn’t, he looked like he could take them all on with one arm tied behind his back. Maybe even two arms tied and a blindfold. He waited with hands on his hips, his eyes fixed on them.

As soon as they were close enough, Blake called out, “There are security cameras in here, demon. We’ll have plenty of help to deal with you soon enough.”

The demon clapped his hands together and there was a crackle in the air. “Not anymore, human.”

Blake grinned and opened the sword case. Scarlett, Riley and Alex took their swords as Blake handed them out, slinging them onto their backs. Blake snapped the case closed and leaned it against a concrete column before he slid the strap of his scabbard over his head and put one arm through it.

The demon brought his hands together again and this time a sword appeared in them. “You have no chance of surviving, humans.”

“What should we call you, demon?” Blake asked as they strode forward, side-by-side.

“Feud.” The demon struck at Blake who was slightly in the lead. The rest of them fanned out to circle Feud. Now they were closer, Scarlett could smell the demon. This one smelt of smouldering fire, the more powerful ones smelt worse.

The demon whirled, his sword a blur in the air as he attacked them, one after the other. Scarlett’s arms vibrated with the impact. No matter how quickly they attacked, his sword was there to meet them. A blur of light. Block, attack, parry. It was a deadly dance that consumed all their concentration.

“Riley,” Blake called. “Retreat. Pray.” The ring of metal against metal punctuated his words.

Riley blocked an attack and leapt backwards, the gap he left reduced by Scarlett and Alex. Feud tried to follow him, but he was forced to defend himself from the three that still surrounded him.

Riley’s voice rose as he started to pray. His words kept time with the clash of swords and his voice was strong as he called for help to send Feud home. Minutes passed. Minutes that slowed as they fought to protect Riley from Feud. The demon knew Riley was their best chance to end the battle. Already the prayers caused his attacks to slow and occasionally falter.

Feud stared directly at Riley, his sword still in motion. “When I am called again, I will deal with you after I have completed my task.” He parried Scarlett’s sword then threw his own at Riley who dropped to the ground, his voice steady. Feud brought his hands together and there was a crackle in the air and all the overhead lights on their level broke in a shower of glass, plunging the car park into semi darkness.

They surrounded Riley who was on his feet again, their swords held ready. Scarlett felt a sword come for her, a whistle through the air. Instinct kicked in and she blocked. She guessed Feud had either called his sword back to him or materialised another one. Next she heard Alex grunt at the force of Feud’s sword connecting with his. Then there was a flash of light followed by silence.

Scarlett breathed deep. The smell of demon was gone. She sheathed her sword and reached out to her family. Her hand wrapped around her brother’s forearm. His hand momentarily rested on hers before he moved towards the four-wheel-drive. Blake collected the sword case and Scarlett made her way to the vehicle, Riley beside her. None of them talked in the semi-darkness. They worked together silently. Blake took each of their swords and returned them to the case he had put on the bonnet.

The vehicle’s lights flashed as it was unlocked and Alex put the key in the ignition and turned it to accessories so he could use the headlights to cut through the shadows. He grabbed two bottles of water and handed one to Scarlett. She gratefully had a drink before she handed it to Riley, glad that most demons couldn’t come and go from hell whenever they wanted. Riley would be safe from Feud for a time. He was likely to be more selective of which calls he accepted so he could be certain of going after Riley. She dropped onto the backseat and her eyes closed on a sigh.

Blake brushed her hair away from her forehead. “We’ll be home soon and you can sleep.”

Scarlett smiled weakly, half opening her eyes. “How long do you think Nathan will keep this up?”

“We’ll always stand beside you,” Blake said solemnly.

Scarlett sighed. “That’s what I thought. I might as well be in Europe constantly fighting demons with our parents.”

“We’ll find Nathan. He can’t hide forever. I rang Tuck and told him to be on the lookout for him. To bring him in however possible, even if it’s only for a few hours. I also gave him a mobile phone number for one of the uncles who can be at the police station within minutes so someone can be there to follow Nathan when he leaves.”

“And then what do we do to stop him from calling more demons to replace the ones we send back? Cut his tongue out?”

“Scarlett-”

“Sorry, Blake. I guess I’m tired.”

“We’ll get you home then.” Blake rested his hand on her shoulder.

“Blake.”

About to turn away from Scarlett, Blake paused. “Yes?”

“What happened when you called Tuck?”

“He was full of questions. He understands now that if we wanted him to know who we are, we wouldn’t ring him anonymously. I told him it’s for the protection of our family that we don’t want him to figure out who we are. We could always find someone else to pass our information along to. He wasn’t happy and tried to argue he wouldn’t put us at risk. He finally agreed to stop trying to discover exactly who we are. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“Are we going?” Alex asked.

Scarlett chuckled when she realised Alex had beaten Blake to the driver’s seat. “Guess you’re passenger.” She yawned when Blake shook his head, muttered that it was his vehicle, and hopped in the front passenger seat.

Riley grabbed his backpack off the seat beside Scarlett. “I don’t know about you lot, but I’m out of here. I’ll see you later.” His eyes fell on Scarlett. “I’ll look after him as I would you.”

“Thank you. I owe you.”

Riley shook his head with a grin. “We’re family. You don’t owe me anything. Just get some sleep before you collapse.”

Scarlett nodded and watched as Riley swung the backpack over his shoulder, striding back the way they’d come.

“Scarlett.”

Scarlett rose from her chair, putting aside the book she’d been reading, and bent close so she could hear Jesse’s whispers. “I’m here.”

“So tired, Scarlett. I can’t stop sleeping.”

Scarlett smiled. “I know. Your body needs it to heal.”

“I didn’t-”

“Jesse. Your Dad’s here too.” She spoke quickly, worried Jesse might say something Thomas shouldn’t hear. She looked over to Thomas who stood up and moved closer.

Jesse stared at Thomas with a frown. He looked back to Scarlett. “I don’t know him.”

Thomas recoiled like he’d been struck.

Scarlett gripped Jesse’s hand tighter, wanting to demand what he was doing. “You must. He’s your Dad.” Don’t do this, she wanted to say. Tell him you know him, he’s desperate to be acknowledged by you.

“The only thing I recall is talking to you. That’s it. Walking along a street and talking to you. And a car coming towards me. Two separate memories. The rest is blank. And the name Jesse doesn’t mean anything to me. The only name I know is yours.”

Scarlett looked towards Thomas who seemed frozen. Her heart ached for him and she wanted to hit Jesse and tell him not to be so cruel.

“Where did he go?” Jesse asked.

“Who?” The anger she felt made the word sharp.

“My father. I can’t see anything lying here like this. Help me sit up.”

“You can’t. You were hit by a car,” Scarlett protested. “You’re supposed to be resting.” He obviously didn’t understand what it meant to be human.

“Where’s my father, Scarlett?”

Scarlett looked over to Thomas. He still looked devastated. “He’s here.”

“I can’t see him.”

“Tom?” Scarlett stared at the shell-shocked man.

He took a hesitant step forward. Then another. One slow step at a time until he was in Jesse’s view. “I’m here.” His voice was barely more than a whisper.

Jesse looked at Thomas. “I don’t know you.” He smiled wryly. “I don’t even know me. All I know is Scarlett. I’m sorry, Dad.”

At the last three words, a shudder went through Thomas. “Jess, it’ll be okay. You’ll remember. You’ve been in an accident. I’m sure it’ll all come back.”

Jesse’s eyes closed. “So tired.” He struggled to open them. “Do I get a kiss goodnight, Lady Knight?”

Scarlett nodded wordlessly, her anger gone. She closed her eyes as their lips touched. The kiss was so familiar that she opened her eyes, almost surprised to see it was Jesse and not Des’s face in front of her. “Goodnight… Jesse.” She stumbled over the name.

Jesse smiled slightly. “Guess we’ll both have to get used to it.” His voice was too soft to carry to Thomas who had moved away from the bed.

“Thank you for what you said to Tom. I’m sorry I got angry with you.”

“I knew what you wanted me to say. This is the best way. I don’t have the memories. Just the body.”

“I didn’t think about that. I’m sorry.” She’d been making far too many mistakes lately. At least this one hadn’t cost anyone their life.

“Stay here, Lady Knight?”

She nodded. “As long as you need me.”

“Good. Dreams aren’t always pleasant.” His eyes closed and his breathing became even.

Scarlett pressed her lips against his forehead before she sat down. She glanced over to Thomas. “He’ll be okay. Jesse is a fighter.”

“He doesn’t know me.”

“He doesn’t know himself either. You’ll have to get to know each other all over again.” She struggled for something comforting to say. Why was it always so hard to know what to tell people? What would Alex have said? “Maybe this is a good thing.”

“How can you say that?” Thomas demanded.

“Maybe he’ll have forgotten what caused him to think death preferable to living and start with a clean slate.” It might not have been exactly what Alex would have said, but Thomas had started to lose his gutted look.

Thomas stared at her for a long time before he spoke. “How did you get so smart for someone so young?”

“My family believes children can make important decisions if they’re given all the facts.” Scarlett avoided mentioning that most of those decisions had been about demons. Her family believed if your life was at risk then you should know the reason why and be part of the decision making.

They fell into silence again and Scarlett returned to her book. When Jesse woke the next time, it was well after midnight and Thomas had already left to get some sleep. Scarlett planned to stay with Jesse until three in the morning so she could face the next demon that had been sent for her before she went home to sleep.

“Scarlett.”

Setting aside her book, Scarlett rose to her feet, a smile blooming as she met Jesse’s dark eyes. It was the only part of him that still looked like Des. “How do you feel?” He was starting to look healthier.

“How do you manage?”

Scarlett frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Human bodies are so weak. I didn’t realise how weak they are.”

“We make up for it with a strong spirit.”

Jesse chuckled. “Only some people do, Lady Knight.” He sighed. “I can’t believe how much I’ve slept. I never realised what a nuisance it could be.”

“Do you regret it?”

“What?”

“Becoming human.”

“No. It’s just going to take time to get used to being trapped by the frailties of this body.”

Scarlett shook her head. “There’s nothing frail about your body.” Her eyes were drawn to the broad shoulders and the muscular arms that had lost only some condition in the past week.

“Compared to a demon it is.”

“Why did you do it? You could have lived forever as a demon.”

“The reasons are too complicated.”

“Simplify them.”

Jesse shook his head.

She hesitated, but she really wanted to know the answer. “You owe me a question. Truthfully answered.”

“And you’re going to waste it on this question? Are you sure, Scarlett?”

“The truth.”

Jesse fell silent. He reached out and took her hand, his eyes dropping to look at their entwined fingers. His voice was low when he spoke. “I could give you any number of reasons. I was not always a sinner. I’ve lived for centuries. Boredom sets in after a while. Retribution will want to live up to his name when I’m no longer bound to you and will expect to make me pay for escaping. Any of them would be a truth.”

“Look at me, Jess.” She waited until his dark eyes met hers. “What reason will you give me?”

Jesse smiled wryly. “Lady Knight.” He fell silent. “When I was no longer bound to you, what reason would a demon have to be in your life?”

“None,” Scarlett whispered.

“As a human, only you can tell me to go. As a human, I’d have the opportunity to try and change your mind if you did.”

Scarlett stared at him. “You-” she shook her head. “I can’t…” she ran the fingers of her free hand through her hair. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“Is it so terrible that I like to be with you?”

“But to give up-”

“I didn’t give up anything. Think about it, Scarlett, what did I give up?” Jesse smiled when she continued to stare speechlessly at him. “Instead, I gained a whole soul. Slightly stained, but doesn’t your God believe in forgiveness?”

“Tell me you didn’t do it just to be with me,” Scarlett pleaded.

“I gave you all my reasons. Would you have stayed a demon if you were one?”

Scarlett laughed briefly, a sharpness to the tone. “I’m a demon hunter, what do you think the chances are I’d say yes to that question?”

Jesse smiled. “Then why are you complaining that I choose to be human rather than demon?”

“I’m not complaining… I’m… I guess you could say I’m confused.”

“Then don’t be. Just forget I was ever a demon.”

“Can you? Forget you were a demon that is.”

Jesse shook his head. “No. I remember every minute of my existence.”

Alex opened the door, interrupting their conversation. “We’re waiting at the elevator for you.” Then he was gone again.

“I wish I was well enough to be out there helping you fight the demons sent for you every night,” Jesse said.

“What did you just do?”

“What?”

“Your hand.” Scarlett let go of his left hand to stare at the feather imprint. “It warmed.”

“I don’t know.”

Scarlett ran her fingers over the feather. It was still warm to the touch, warmer than the rest of his skin. It slowly cooled as she continued to touch it. “I’m sorry about the feather. I didn’t know it would mark you like that.”

“Forget it.” He closed his hand around hers. “I guess you’d better go before your brother is back here looking for you.” He tugged on her hand so she leaned closer. “Luck?”

Scarlett smiled. Some things never changed. She lightly touched her lips to Jesse’s. “I’ll see you later today.”

“The time is going to drag while I wait for you to return. I don’t feel in the least bit tired.”

“One of my family will be in to keep you company.”

“It’s not the same. I would rather you stayed with me. Do you know how boring it is being stuck in this bed, all alone.”

Scarlett opened the top drawer and pulled out a small bible, handing it to him. She smiled. “You could try reading to pass the time.”

Jesse’s laugh followed Scarlett as she left the room. She hurried to the elevator where her family waited for her.

“What level demon?” Scarlett asked as they entered the elevator.

Alex pressed the elevator button. “It hasn’t found you yet. But it’s after three so we guessed it must be time to go.”

“Maybe it wants to meet up somewhere other than the car park. Word might have gotten back to hell that it’s an unlucky place for demons. We’ve certainly sent enough back from there,” Riley suggested.

Blake shrugged. “No point trying to figure out demon motivation. Most of them don’t think exactly like humans, so it’s impossible.”

They stepped out of the elevator when it reached their floor. Riley was in the lead, carrying the case of swords. Alex was at the rear, Blake beside Scarlett. The corridor was empty and the car park had only a handful of cars in it. They had parked one level up again since the security cameras still hadn’t been fixed on that level. The light bulbs had been replaced though so it was no longer in semi-darkness.

Scarlett checked the area. There seemed to be no demons and yet her demon mark told her different. They were nearly at the vehicle when four demons materialised in front of them. Riley handed out their swords and put the case to the side while Scarlett wondered why they hadn’t attacked yet.

“What do we call you?” Blake demanded.

The largest of the demons laughed. “Pain, Anguish, Misery and I am Agony. You cannot stop us tonight. We have been told to leave the hunter. We have permission to do what we each do best on the first innocent we find who isn’t a hunter. You cannot catch us.” He turned away, striding from the group.

“Riley, he’s yours,” Blake said. Blake quickly pointed to each demon. “Alex, Scarlett and that one’s mine.”

“Then come and get me, hunter.” The demon jumped over the side and swung himself onto the lower level.

“God go with you,” Blake called as he ran towards the ramp leading down.

“I don’t like how they’re splitting us up,” Alex said. “Forget about your demon. Stay with me, Scarlett.”

“There’s enough Anguish in the world. How can I let him do things that will bring more? Please, Alex. Pain is leaving. You have to follow him.”

“Not without you. This is wrong. The whole set up screams wrong.”

“Then I’ll follow him.”

“And I’ll follow you.” Alex smiled as Scarlett glared at him.

“You won’t be able to.”

Alex and Scarlett both turned to see Nathan standing several metres from them, a gun in his hand. His deep brown eyes watched them carefully, his black hair was neatly styled and he wore a fitted suit. Off to Nathan’s left the rear door of a black van opened and six men stepped out.

Scarlett’s heart sank. Demons were easy, a gun impossible. She handed her sword to Alex and walked towards Nathan. Hopefully he only wanted her.

“Scarlett. No!”

“Get out of here, Alex.” Scarlett didn’t look back, her eyes stayed on Nathan.

“Scarlett-”

Scarlett interrupted Alex. “Run. Now!” She couldn’t look to see if he’d obeyed, but the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps gave her hope.

“How sweet,” Nathan mocked. “But he won’t get far.” He pointed to three of the men who ran after Alex. “The rest of you in the van.” The other three returned to the van, one in the driver’s seat.

“Call them back and I’ll come willingly,” Scarlett said.

Nathan laughed. “This gun says you’ll come willingly. Now get in the van.”

“No.”

“I’ll shoot.”

“I know, but it’s probably better than what you’ve got planned for me. If you shoot me now I improve my chance of dying before you can do something worse.” Scarlett tried to remain calm, but the thought of what Nathan might be planning made her want to run screaming.

“I can put a lot of bullets in you before you die and each one of them will hurt.”

The gleam in his eyes made it almost impossible to remain calm. The thought of Nathan hurting her brother was all that kept her there. “I bet you’ve got other plans in mind. Call your men back and I’ll get in the van.”

Nathan stared at her a moment longer before he pulled out his mobile phone and made a call. “Back to the van.” He returned the phone to his pocket. “Now get in.” He gestured towards the van.

“When I see your men have returned. You could have rung anyone.” Scarlett watched Nathan who continued to hold the gun on her. The minutes passed in silence. Scarlett prayed for a miracle as she fought the urge to run.

“Here they come, get in the van.” Nathan looked at a point behind Scarlett.

She had started turning before he spoke, having heard their footsteps. All three of them ran towards her. She faced Nathan again. “When they’re all in the van. There’s no need for any of them to be left behind.” She wasn’t about to let her family be harmed.

Nathan gestured towards the van with his gun. “All of you in the van.” The men followed the order quietly and efficiently. “Now you.”

Scarlett had no other excuse she could use to postpone climbing into the van. It looked like her miracle wasn’t about to appear. Each step was an effort and climbing inside the van the biggest effort of all. She sat in the seat just inside the door and watched as it was slammed shut. The front passenger door opened and Nathan climbed in. Scarlett automatically buckled her seat belt as the engine was started and the van began to move. She was completely out of ideas. Nothing in her training had prepared her for this moment. What could she do against a gun? Why had he stopped relying on the demons? Or had this always been his plan?