Demon Hunters 2: Retribution (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (13 page)

Scarlett forced her body to stay still until the urge to run was again under control. Then she crawled forward. Minutes passed, she didn’t know how many. She sat up and looked towards the house. She could barely see a metre in front of her, but the house stood out clearly with the lights of the van shinning on it. She rose to her feet, certain they couldn’t see her now. She stumbled onto the track and forced her legs to take larger steps. Running was beyond her.

Her fingers touched her demon mark and she whispered, “Des, I could really have used a demon who could track me down right now.” She paused, then corrected herself. “Jesse.” And who would be there to help him learn how to survive as a human. Would her family? “I hope it wasn’t just for me you became human. Looks like you might have wasted your time.” She stumbled in a rut, landing on the ground, a rock jabbing into her palm. She checked to make sure the skin was unbroken and breathed a sigh of relief. Pushing herself back to her feet, she forced herself forward, untying the bottle as she walked and taking another mouthful. She was tempted to drink it all, but she didn’t. That’d be the same as admitting defeat. Until Nathan had her, she wasn’t beaten. She looked over her shoulder, the house no longer visible, only a faint glow of light in the distance showing where it was. She frowned and wondered how much time had passed.

Tying the bottle to her jeans, she pulled out her mobile phone, gasping in shock. One hour and fifty-two minutes until three. And still no coverage. Pushing the phone into her pocket, she forced her legs to move quicker. Her breath came fast and she had to consciously slow it down. She didn’t want to hyperventilate.

Hearing the sound of an engine in the distance, she frowned. Not a car. A motorbike? She froze. What if it was one of Nathan’s men? She had no energy left to run. Seeing the single light bob towards her, fear and regret hit her. There was so much she hadn’t done. So many things she wanted to say to so many people.

She wrapped her fingers around her demon mark. She’d always known a short life was a possibility. “Gran…” she guessed there was nothing she had to tell her, Gran knew how she felt, often before she did. “Jesse…” Scarlett gasped at the sudden flair of heat that raced through her demon mark. She stared at the motorbike coming towards her. A demon? She frowned. That couldn’t be right.

The motorbike pulled up beside her and she looked at the leather jacket, dark jeans and motorbike boots, the combination so familiar. The helmet came off and Scarlett stared. “Jesse?”

He grinned and handed her his helmet.

She automatically took it. “You’re meant to be in hospital.”

“How can I lay about when you’re calling me?”

“What?”

He pulled off his left glove and held out his hand. Scarlett touched the feather imprint. It burned to the touch. “I checked myself out at five o’clock this afternoon. My father wasn’t impressed. He took me home and I found out this was my method of transport.” He patted the road-trail bike affectionately. “A good thing too. You can take a lot of shortcuts on a motorbike.”

“I could have sworn you were human, yet now I can feel demon.”

“It was the feather. It’s dormant unless it’s called on. I accidentally called on it when I wished I was healed enough to be out of the hospital and helping you. You called on it when you summoned me. I think if I chose, I could become a demon again, but I don’t think I could ever return to being a human if I did.”

Scarlett tentatively touched the feather. It was still hot beneath her fingers. “Will you? Become a demon that is?”

Jesse shook his head. “No. I’ll remain human. I think if I used it for anything major it’d cause me to turn into a demon. I was lucky I was almost recovered when I used it to finish healing.” He pulled his glove back on. “Hop on, Scarlett. We need to get out of here before three a.m.”

She pulled the helmet on and forced her limbs to cooperate so she could climb on behind him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she leaned against his back. A shudder of relief went through her and some of the trembling in her body subsided as she relaxed slightly.

Jesse covered her hands with his momentarily. “Hold on tight. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

She wanted to protest when he took his hand from hers, but knew he needed both of them. He slowly turned the bike in the direction he had come from and they were off. Scarlett clung on tighter as they flew over the ground. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see how fast they went. With her eyes closed, each bump felt more jarring, and then suddenly the ride was smoother and Scarlett opened her eyes. They’d reached the highway.

It was half past two when they stopped at a service station for fuel. Jesse left Scarlett in the shadows near the curb before he rode to the bowsers. She pulled her phone out and was relieved to see she had coverage. Ignoring all the messages, she rang Blake.

“Where are you? We’ll come and get you.”

“I’m with Jesse.”

“How’d he find you? We went up there yesterday afternoon and they told us he’d checked himself out. His father didn’t know where he was, just that he took off on his motorbike. What’s going on, Scarlett?”

“Never mind. I’ll tell you later. Nathan swore he’d track me down. He has six men with him and they’ve got guns.”

“Okay, let me think. Can I ring you back in five?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks. And Scarlett? How are you?”

“I’ll live.”

“Good.”

The phone went dead and Scarlett looked up to see Jesse wheel his bike over to where she stood. He kicked the stand down and turned to her with a packet of macadamia nuts and a bottle of water.

Scarlett dropped wearily to the ground and Jesse sat beside her. He opened the water bottle and waited for her to take it. After she had a few mouthfuls, he handed her the open packet of nuts.

“They didn’t have much choice in there. I thought chocolate might be too rich for you.” Jesse rubbed at a smudge of dirt on her cheek. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them to stare at her. “Do you know how I felt when you called for me? I was so close to becoming a demon to get to you quicker.”

“Don’t ever do that. If you become a demon never let it be because you think I need saving. I don’t want that sacrifice from you.”

“I know. That’s all that stopped me.” He pulled her against him, his arms tightening around her. “Don’t do that to me again. I don’t think this frail body could handle the shock.”

Scarlett smiled as she felt the strength that held her. “I bet this body lifts weights.”

Jesse chuckled. “Unless the weights in my bedroom are for show, I’d say you’re right. But it’s still frail after what I’m accustomed to.”

Scarlett’s phone rang and she reluctantly pulled away from Jesse to answer it. “Yeah?”

“We’ll meet you at Uncle Leo’s place.”

Scarlett groaned. “Isn’t there anywhere closer?”

Before Blake had a chance to answer, Jesse took the phone from her. “How far do you expect her to travel?” As Jesse listened, he draped an arm around her and pulled her close. “Impossible… don’t try and tell me her life’s in danger, you weren’t there… you can’t see her so forget it… no. She won’t last that long on a motorbike.”

Scarlett tried to pull away, “Jesse-”

Jesse shook his head and pressed hers back against his shoulder. “Good. I’ll meet you there. And bring her a change of clothes and a first aid kit… I don’t know, but the rags she’s using as bandages are soaked through in places… okay.” Jesse ended the call and handed the phone back to Scarlett.

“The cuts aren’t that bad,” she murmured.

“Think you’re up to going a bit further?”

Scarlett sighed. “Think you can help me up?”

Jesse rose and pulled Scarlett to her feet. She swayed and he held her close. He leaned back so he could look at her. “Not much further and then you can sleep.”

Scarlett nodded. Talking seemed to be too much of an effort. She let Jesse put the helmet back on her and watched as he swung his leg over the bike and started it. He patted the seat behind him and she wearily climbed on. Her limbs were like lead.

Time felt suspended and she dozed on and off as she continued to cling to Jesse. She knew she should be worried about not being able to stay awake and coming off the bike, but exhaustion was the only sensation she could focus on.

Scarlett was brought back to her surroundings when the motorbike stopped and Jesse put his hand over hers where they were clasped at his waist. She looked around at a roadside stop and Blake’s four-wheel-drive beside them. The doors opened and her brother and cousins poured out, crowding around her to help her off the bike.

Her helmet was removed and then she was pressed against Alex’s chest. Her eyes closed tight as she tried to hold back tears of relief. She didn’t want to freak her family out by breaking down.

“I thought one of us could have gotten back in time to follow the van. We were too slow,” Alex said.

“Let her sit before she falls down,” Jesse said.

Alex left an arm around her as he guided her to the vehicle. She looked back as Jesse was about to put his helmet on. She pulled away from Alex.

“Jesse?”

Jesse was at her side instantly. “Your family will take care of you.”

Riley put his hand on the helmet Jesse held. “Stay with her.”

“You can ride a bike?” At Riley’s nod, Jesse let go of the helmet.

Riley pulled on the helmet and took the leather jacket Jesse handed him. It was a little large on him. “I’ll meet you at Uncle Leo’s place.” He grinned as he started the motorbike.

Blake shook his head at how fast Riley took off. “Both Mum and Gran made him promise not to buy a bike until he’s twenty-five. They ganged up on him when he was sixteen. He’s regretted caving in for years now, but they won’t release him from his promise. They tried to make him promise not to ride one until then either, but they were never successful.”

Alex climbed into the driver’s seat. “Come on, let’s get out of here. It’s just gone three. If we’re lucky, we’ll be able to get to Uncle Leo’s before a demon tracks us down and leads Nathan to us.”

Blake opened his mouth to say something and then with a shake of his head and an amused smile at Alex, he changed his mind and climbed into the back of the vehicle. Jesse helped Scarlett in then climbed in beside her. The moment everyone was buckled, Alex pulled out onto the highway.

Blake rummaged around in the backpack on the floor at his feet and pulled out a snaplock bag with a wet washer in it. “Not much, but it might make you feel a little better.”

Scarlett pulled the washer from the bag and wiped at her face. She looked over at Jesse when he took it from her. Smiling at her, he gently wiped the smudges of dirt from her face and neck. Then he did the same for her hands. Blake unwrapped the makeshift bandage on her left arm while Jesse unwrapped the one on her shoulder. Irritation built in her at all the attention.

She pushed their hands away. “I’m not an invalid.” Irritation mingled with her exhaustion.

“Never said you were.” Blake dabbed at the cut on her arm with a cotton wool ball soaked in antiseptic.

She hissed. “Enough. I’ll take care of it.” She tried to grab the cotton wool ball, but the effort was too much.

Blake had no trouble holding it out of reach. “You’re such a baby at times.”

Scarlett glared at him then rounded on Jesse as he cleaned the cut on her shoulder. He smiled at her and quickly finished cleaning and bandaging it. She ignored Blake as he did the same for her arm.

“Want me to kiss it better?” Jesse asked.

Scarlett tried not to smile. And she almost managed. She ignored Jesse’s soft laughter and turned towards Blake who rummaged in the backpack again. Scarlett took the wide-mouthed thermos and spoon he handed her. She stared at the thermos as fatigue swamped her further. She didn’t even protest when Jesse took it from her and opened it. The smell of Gran’s soup filled the vehicle. Her stomach grumbled and her mouth began to water.

“You going to feed yourself or do I need to feed you?”

Scarlett met Jesse’s dark eyes and dipped the spoon into the soup. The first mouthful caused her to close her eyes so she could savour the warmth and flavours. She managed another four mouthfuls before her arm would no longer obey. “Later,” she murmured.

Jesse took the spoon. “Now.”

It was easier to open her mouth and accept the spoonful rather than argue. She managed half the soup before she shook her head and closed her eyes again. She felt Jesse’s arm slide around her and pull her close. Her head rested against his shoulder. The last she recalled before she drifted off to sleep was Blake’s voice, a hard edge to it.

“You want to explain how you knew where to find Scarlett?”

Everything came rushing back to Scarlett the moment she woke. Except she was confused for a few seconds when she opened her eyes to find she lay on a bed and stared at a ceiling instead of still being in Blake’s four-wheel-drive. She turned her head to see Jesse sitting in a chair beside a window that had a heavy curtain drawn shut to keep out the sunlight that danced on the floor every time a breeze managed to shift it. She recognised the room as one of her uncle’s guest rooms. The bed she lay on had an old blanket over the multi-coloured quilt that was always on the bed.

Jesse rose to his feet, crossing the room to sit on the edge of the bed. His knuckles brushed her cheek. “How do you feel?”

Scarlett slowly sat up. “Thirsty. Desperately needing a shower.”

Jesse smiled. He reached for a bottle of water that sat on the bedside drawers, opened it and handed it to her. “Do you want something to eat first or a shower?”

Scarlett swallowed a mouthful of water. Then several more as it dawned on her that she didn’t need to conserve this bottle. “Shower. Then I need to know what’s happened while I slept.”

“You didn’t miss much. Your brother drives like a lunatic, which I’m surprised didn’t wake you.”

Scarlett laughed. “He always does when there are demons after us. I guess I must be used to it. Dad taught him how to drive, so I’ve had a lifetime of it. You haven’t sat with me the whole time I slept, have you?”

“No, your brother was here earlier. I knew if I took the second watch you were more likely to wake up. They want me to tell them as soon as you’re awake.”

“I need a shower before I can face anyone.” She needed to get rid of the feeling of having been locked in a rodent infested house.

“There are clothes in the guest bathroom for you. You might want to head there while I tell everyone you’re awake.”

Scarlett nodded. She nearly reached the door when Jesse called her name. She turned to watch him cross the room. He stood close enough for her to feel the heat of his body. She waited for him to speak. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. His lips met hers. Her arms automatically slid around his neck and she clung to him. Eventually he pressed her head against his chest, his heart racing loudly in her ears. Then he drew away from her and his fingers entwined in hers.

“Next time you’re in trouble, call for me sooner.” He let go of her hands and held the door open for her.

Scarlett stared at him a moment before she fled to the bathroom, her feelings and thoughts a confusing tangle.

When she returned to the guest room after her shower, Scarlett paused in the doorway. Jesse reclined on her bed, the old blanket pushed to the side. Blake sat in the chair and Allie leaned against him. Riley had pulled back the curtain and was staring outside and Alex paused in his pacing when he saw her. He strode to her side and hugged her tight.

“Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I can’t breathe,” Scarlett protested.

Alex relaxed his grip. “Do you know how I felt when I came back to find you gone?”

Scarlett pulled away. “I survived. Now tell me what happened. And when did Allie get here?”

Alex muttered under his breath and went back to pacing.

“I got a lift out here with one of your rellies,” Allie said.

Scarlett nodded, but that hadn’t answered her other question. “Blake?” Scarlett looked towards her cousin.

“I think he realised it was a trap. We had people stationed out near the turn off, but he didn’t come that close. His sense of self preservation is amazing.”

“Does his knowing about this place compromise it?” Scarlett asked.

“I hope not,” Allie said. “It’s cool your family has their own retreat to go relax at.” She nudged Blake. “Why didn’t you tell me about this place before now?”

Blake gave Allie a fleeting smile. “Because I knew you’d try and talk me into bringing you here for a weekend and it’s not that type of retreat.” He turned to Scarlett. “I doubt very much Nathan will tell anyone.”

Riley turned from the window. “I don’t believe he’s that clear headed. He’s completely focused on revenge. He’ll have scenarios in his mind that he’ll be trying to make happen. I don’t think he’s going to be very flexible in the way he caries them out. He needs them to go a certain way to derive satisfaction from them.”

“So I’m still the target?”

Riley nodded. “Afraid so, Scarlett.”

“I’m sorry. If I hadn’t gotten in his car, none of this would have happened,” Allie said.

“It’s not your fault.” Scarlett paused. “What’s the new demon like?”

“Try nine new demons,” a deep voice, from behind Scarlett, said.

Scarlett turned with a smile. “Uncle Leo.”

The man, in his early forties, was large. In both height and breadth. He wore a faded flannelette shirt, jeans and his beard had a touch of grey in amongst the brown. His smile reached his blue eyes and laughter lines radiated out from them. Unlike the rest of his face, the top of his head was shaved.

“How are you, Scarlett girl?”

“Ready to hunt.”

“That’s good. Those demons are wearing a track around my property. It’s nice to know the land doesn’t need to be blessed again yet, but they’re spooking the horses. I think there might have been another two, but when daylight arrived we could only see the nine. You lot must be pretty troublesome to warrant nine low level demons and two higher ones.”

Scarlett laughed. “We do our best, Uncle.”

“You get ready, Scarlett girl. I’ll go round up the boys. Can’t get those demons to stand still. I’m thinking if they catch sight of your pretty face, they’ll stick around long enough for us to send them home.” Leo clapped her on the shoulder before he strode down the hallway.

Scarlett turned back towards the bedroom. “Where’s my sword?”

“Scarlett-” Alex began.

“My sword?” Scarlett interrupted.

“And you lot reckon I’m stubborn,” Allie muttered.

Alex sighed heavily. “The swords are in our room. I’ll get them if you let Blake tend your wounds.”

Scarlett frowned. “I don’t-”

Jesse laughed as he swung his feet off the bed. “Didn’t you complain I was a terrible patient? I guess it takes one to know one. The wound on your shoulder’s bleeding again. At least make sure no demon can get your blood.”

Scarlett looked at her shoulder in surprise. “Fine.”

By the time Scarlett had let Blake bandage both her wounds and eaten the light meal he put in front of her, it was late afternoon. Leo and ‘the boys’, as Leo called his two younger brothers, waited by the two vehicles at the front of the low set brick house. Scarlett paused on the verandah that went the perimeter of the house.

She felt like she should apologise for bringing her troubles to their door. She knew the three of them were semi-retired from demon hunting. Now they bred horses and took care of any of the family who needed a break from demon hunting. Bringing demons with you wasn’t considered good manners.

“Come on, Scarlett girl. Daylight’s wasting,” Leo called out.

Alex, Blake and Allie were already in Blake’s vehicle, Riley in their uncle’s. Jesse was the only one who stood beside her. With a nod, Scarlett stepped off the verandah. As she reached the vehicles, Saul and Adam came forward and took turns at folding her into their embrace. They were both as large as their brother. Adam, the youngest, was a couple of inches taller than his brother. Both had receding brown hair, Saul had the same blue eyes as Leo and Adam’s were hazel. Both grinned at Scarlett as they greeted her and Saul ruffled her hair and patted her cheek.

“Good to see you Scarlett,” Saul said. “No need to bring an entourage with you though.”

“I hear they’re more like unwanted fans,” Adam teased.

“Ahh, the pain of being famous.” Saul sighed theatrically and shook his head.

“Get in the ute you clowns,” Leo bellowed.

Scarlett couldn’t resist returning their grins. “Guess we should teach them the error of their ways.” She staggered as Adam clapped her on the back. She was relieved Saul strode towards the ute without clapping her on the back like the three of them had a habit of doing.

“That’s my girl. And your mate Nathan even got the numbers right and sent a demon for each of us.” Adam glanced at Jesse. “That’s if your young man’s willing to fight with us.”

Jesse nodded. “If you’ve got a weapon I can use. I haven’t got my sword with me.”

“It’s in my bedroom at our new place,” Scarlett said.

“Ever used a bow?” Adam asked.

Jesse smiled wryly. “I’ll say yes.”

“Arrows have been dipped in holy water. Makes a nice surprise.” Adam glanced back towards Leo who called his name again. “Guess we’d better move before Leo has a coronary.” He strode towards the ute. “Save it for the demons, Leo. You’re going to blow a valve if you keep that up. Patience is a virtue brother.” He tried unsuccessfully for a saintly expression.

“You want to explain what you meant when you were asked if you’d used a bow?” Scarlett clambered into Blake’s four-wheel-drive. He was in the driver’s seat, Alex beside him in the front. Scarlett grinned at her brother and looked pointedly at the driver’s seat. Alex shrugged philosophically. She turned back to Jesse. “Well?”

“I wouldn’t have a clue what this body’s done. As a demon I’ve used many weapons and done many things. I just have to find out if this body’s capable of doing what my mind knows how to do.”

Scarlett grabbed the seat in front of her when she was jarred by the four-wheel-drive hitting a washed out part of the track they followed. She looked out the window before she asked Blake, “Where are we going? This doesn’t lead to the main entrance.”

“There’s a flat clearing at the rear of the property that’s only half on blessed land, making the other half accessible to demons. Uncle Leo said it’s the best place to meet the demons. The set up makes it easy to retreat if we need to,” Blake said.

Within minutes of arriving at their destination, demons began to appear. Adam, a sword belted to sit low on his hips, handed Jesse a bow and quiver.

“Thanks.” Jesse slung the quiver onto his back.

“You’ve only got two dozen arrows. Better make them count,” Adam said.

Jesse nodded, an arrow in his right hand, the bow clasped in his left. “And when I’m out of arrows?”

“Pray.” Adam grinned before he returned to his brothers’ sides.

Leo buckled on his sword, his gaze on Jesse. “Stay on my property. Shoot any demon that seems to be getting the upper hand. I’ll take two demons.”

“Two!” Saul punched his brother lightly in the arm. “Why should you get all the fun?”

“I’ll toss you for it.” Adam threw a coin up in the air.

Saul snatched it before Adam caught it, glancing at it. “Tails. I win.”

“You didn’t call,” Adam protested.

“Yeah, I did.”

“It doesn’t count after you’ve looked at it.” Adam grabbed his coin back.

Scarlett smiled as she watched her uncles. Riley wasn’t the only family member who used humour to deal with the stress of demon hunting. She started to walk towards the demons and called over her shoulder, “I’ll try and leave a demon for each of you, but if you don’t hurry up you’ll miss out.”

Jesse automatically fell in beside her. Blake, Allie and Alex walked on her other side, Riley striding ahead of them. They drew their swords, almost simultaneously.

Scarlett turned to Jesse as they stopped on the boundary. “So, do you know any prayers?”

Jesse shook his head. “Not a single one. We better make sure it doesn’t come to that.”

Scarlett grinned at him. “I probably should teach you some if you’re planning on hanging around with us. That’s if you can say them.” Her gaze was drawn to his left hand as she thought of his feather.

“I don’t see why not, I can read a bible now.”

“I still can’t believe you became a human.” Allie looked past Scarlett to speak to Jesse who only shrugged in answer.

“Guess we should give learning a few prayers a try.” Jesse lifted the bow and put an arrow to the string, drawing it back. “Any preference on the demon you’re going for?”

Scarlett gestured with her sword. “The tall skinny one that looks like it has ram horns.”

Jesse aimed and let the arrow fly. The demon Scarlett had indicated bellowed with rage. Before the hunters had a chance to attack, Jesse had hit three more demons with arrows.

Adam leapt forward and attacked one of the demons. “Nice work, Jesse. You’re not half bad with that bow after all.”

“Enough talk.” Leo swung his sword at a demon, who had materialised a sword to meet his attack. “This lot look like they need serenading.” He began to sing ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ and his brothers instantly joined him.

Scarlett laughed as adrenaline rushed through her and made her forget the bruises and aches she had gained in the last couple of days. She had forgotten her uncles’ quirk of singing prayers and psalms. She raised her voice and joined them. The ring of metal against metal the music for the hymns.