Demon Hunters 3: Tainted (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (12 page)

Cassidy eased slowly away from Gabe and slipped out of bed.

“It’s too early. Come back to sleep,” he muttered, his eyes half open.

“You can go back to sleep, but it’s late afternoon. And I’m hungry.”

Gabe groaned as he struggled to his feet. “What’s wrong with sleeping in?”

Cassidy stared at him. “Sleeping in? Didn’t you hear me say late afternoon?”

“Is the sun still up?” When Cassidy nodded, Gabe continued. “Then I repeat, what’s wrong with sleeping in?”

She shook her head. “I’m getting something to eat.”

“Try ice cream with your cereal. Has to beat eating it dry,” Gabe called after her.

She nearly reached the kitchen when the phone rang. She froze. It continued to ring. She slowly walked back to the lounge room to stare at the phone. The caller ID read private.

“Are you going to answer that?”

Cassidy looked up to see Gabe standing in the doorway wearing his usual black jeans. “Maybe.” The phone continued to ring.

Gabe strode into the room and reached for the phone.

“Don’t touch it.” She hit his hand away.

“So I guess that’s a maybe not.”

The phone stopped ringing and Cassidy headed for the kitchen. She grabbed out cornflakes and a bowl.

“You answered when I rang.”

“That was really late. And you weren’t here.”

“So if someone wants you to answer the phone they need to ring after midnight.” Gabe put the kettle on.

“Is there a point to this conversation?” She glared at him over her bowl of dry cereal.

“Do you have a mobile phone?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“How can you not know if you have a mobile phone?” He took a cup from the cupboard and held it up. “You want coffee?”

Cassidy shook her head. “I threw it at my wall because it wouldn’t stop ringing. Now it’s under my bed. If you want to know if it still works have a look for yourself.” She strode from the room, ignoring Gabe when he called her name. She retreated to her room, locking the door before she slid down it to sit on the floor. She banged her head against the door several times then swore.

She should apologise, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her mood had gone to crap the moment she’d woken and realised she knew the ritual off by heart. There was no excuse to postpone hunting Castigate. Other than she was scared to hell of facing him. She set her half eaten bowl of cereal aside and drew up her legs to drop her head onto her knees.

“Cass?”

“What?” She winced at the snap in her voice.

“Can I come in?”

“What for?”

“So you can tell me what’s wrong. You’ve been in a bad mood since you got up this morning.”

“Nothing’s wrong.” She rested her head against the door again.

“Then I guess you must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed.”

“You were on that side.”

“I know.”

She reluctantly smiled at the humour she could hear in his voice. “I’m still not letting you in.”

“Okay. If you don’t want to talk to me, is there someone else you’d rather talk to?”

Cassidy was on her feet with the door open and snapping out the word ‘no’ before she had time to think.

“Whoa. Steady on.” Gabe reached for her, pulling her close. “You don’t have to speak to anyone at all if you don’t want. We’ll stand here all afternoon without a word.” He remained silent a moment. “Hmm, I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do than hold you all afternoon.”

“What happened to the silent part?”

He laughed softly. “I used to get into trouble for talking in class. I don’t think the silent part’s going to work real well. Maybe you can do the silent part and I’ll do the talking part.”

“I know the ritual off by heart.”

Gabe pulled back to stare down at her for a moment. “Okay, that was a conversation stopper for a minute there. So what are we going to do about it?”

“It feels suicidal to even think about going after Castigate. I don’t want to die.”

“Let’s run away then. I vote for somewhere with a beach. I like to swim. You can pick the next destination. A week tops at each place. That should keep him at bay.”

Cassidy groaned, pressing her face to his chest. “We’ve got to face him. I’m just not sure I can do it tonight.”

“Cass.” He waited for her to meet his gaze. “Whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to rush this. I’m not going anywhere”

She reached up to press a finger to his lips, running it down to his chin like he often did to her. She smiled when he bent his head and nipped her finger. “Why are you here?”

“I thought we’d already decided that. I’m crazy, remember?” He moved forward to brush his lips across hers. “Absolutely crazy… about you.”

“You’ve certainly got the crazy part right,” she said just before he kissed her again, this time more than a brush of lips. His hand went to the back of her neck, the other staying at her waist. Cassidy tried to remember why it was a bad idea, then she recalled as she felt the day ending and pulled away from him. She stared up at him, lips still parted. “The sun’s set.”

“You felt it?”

She nodded.

Gabe grinned. “I guess that makes you officially a hunter then.”

“Really?”

“It’s not just about hunting them down, you’ve also got to know when they’re about and how close to dawn and dusk it is. Not to mention the feel of three a.m. when they’re most powerful.”

She frowned. “That’s what Castigate was planning.”

“Huh?”

“He’d expected my father to start the ritual at three and be there at four to catch Remedy. It wasn’t about four people at all. It was about the time. Dad stuffed up his plans by being impatient. Whatever happened I bet Castigate wasn’t going to let anyone walk away from that building. Not Dad, not Remedy and not me. It was a set up right from the start.” She felt anger burn away the fear. Remedy had been right. She wasn’t blaming the one who deserved it.

“So what are we going to do about it, demon girl?” Gabe touched her lightly on the face near her left eye.

She smiled, guessing there must be flames in her eyes. “We’re going to make sure he regrets ever messing with my family. But first, I have some things to do.” When Gabe started to speak she shook her head. “Alone.” There were people she needed to see. She wouldn’t have gotten so angry at Gabe’s suggestion to talk to someone else if she hadn’t already been thinking it was past time she did.

Gabe stared at her a moment before he nodded. “Make sure you take plenty of blades with you. And I’ve got holy water in my room if your vials need topping up.”

Her smile became a grin. “Well that’s a change from, have you got your phone and purse?”

“No point giving you your phone until I find out if it works.”

She shook her head. “I don’t need a phone.”

“Humour me. You can ignore all other calls but it’d be nice if you’d answer mine, okay?”

“Fine. But you get it. I’m not climbing under my bed. It’s been months since it was cleaned under there.”

“The sacrifices I make,” Gabe said as he strode to the bed and crouched down to have a look. “I can see it. I think.”

She smiled as she watched him, admiring the way the denim fit him. “Take all the time you need.” She grinned when he looked back at her. He grinned at her before he returned to rescuing her phone.

Moments later, he held it up triumphantly. “Still looks in one piece. How about I charge it and see how it handled the impact.”

“The charger is still plugged into the power point on the other side of my bed.” She hadn’t seen any point in removing it. There hadn’t been a reason to. “But if it’s not charged by the time I’m ready to go, I’m not waiting around.”

Gabe chuckled. “Not even if I asked you really nicely?” He plugged the phone into the charger before crossing the room to stand in front of her.

“No.” But she could see that he didn’t believe her. “I’m serious.”

“I know.” He continued to smile.

“You’re not wearing me down.”

“So what do you want to do while we wait for the phone to charge?”

She slowly shook her head, a reluctant smile forming. “Practice sword fighting?” After her daggers, it would have to be her favourite form of combat.

“Up close and personal. Sounds good.”

She rolled her eyes, pushing past him to stride to his room. But he was right. She much preferred that style of fighting to using ranged weapons.

Cassidy stood in the hallway, staring at the door several metres away. She couldn’t bring herself to take the last handful of steps to her mum’s doorway. In the past two weeks she’d faced down numerous demons, hunting them and even sending some back to hell. Yet she couldn’t cross the distance separating her and her mum. How pathetic was that? Her jaw clenched. This was ridiculous. She couldn’t stand here all night. Forcing her feet to carry her to the doorway, she stared in at her mum.

It had been months since she’d seen her. She barely recognised the woman sitting in the chair staring at nothing. Taking another step forward, her hand continued to grip the doorframe tightly. Letting go, she started to turn away. She couldn’t do this. Hunting demons was far easier.

“Have you brought my dinner?”

Cassidy turned back to face her mum. “Ahh… no.”

“That’s okay. I’m not very hungry.” Sylvia smiled. “I guess I’m just lonely. Tony’s taking our little girl for a walk in her pram. He couldn’t wait to try it out. Maybe you saw her on the way in here? She’s a doll. Not much hair though, but hopefully that’ll change.”

“Oh?” Cassidy’s eyes darted around the room. Nothing gave her inspiration, but it didn’t seem to matter. Her mum continued even without further encouragement.

“Eleven hours labour. And for such a tiny little thing. Not even eight pounds. But the most beautiful smile already. That nurse earlier tried to tell me it was wind.” Sylvia made a negative motion with her hand. “What would she know?”

Cassidy could only shake her head, her throat filled with a lump almost too difficult to swallow past.

Sylvia giggled. “I wanted to call her Treasure, but Tony wouldn’t let me. After all those hours of labour and then having her put in my arms, all I could say was what a little treasure. But Cassidy’s a good name. I think she’ll like it. What do you think?”

“I… I have to… go.” She started to turn away then remembered what her father had asked of her. “D… Tony. He loves you. He wanted me to tell you.”

“You did see them on your way in.”

Cassidy nodded. “They both love you.” She spun and ran from the room, not stopping until she was outside, hands on her knees as she leaned forward, gasping in gulps of hot summer night air. She wanted to throw back her head and scream. Anger and pain burned through her and she wanted to hurt something. Make something else feel the pain instead of being the one to feel it.

She spun to face Remedy as she felt him drop out of the sky to land near her. “What do you want?”

“What’s wrong? Where’s the danger?”

She stared at him a moment. “There’s none.”

His eyes narrowed. “I would swear you’re telling the truth, but I sensed your pain.”

“My mum’s in there.” She gestured towards the building behind him.

He inclined his head and started to turn away.

“I want you to heal her.” It took all her willpower not to beg.

“I’m not some genie who grants wishes.”

“But you could heal her, you were going to.”

“You didn’t honour the bargain made.”

“I wasn’t about to kill myself.”

Remedy held her gaze, flames burning brightly in his eyes. “I can’t heal her.”

“You lied to us?”

He shook his head. “I’m as bound by my word as a human is bound by rope. More so. Rope can be cut. My word can’t.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I gave my word to heal her in exchange for yours and your father’s deaths.”

“Change it. Make another deal.”

“It doesn’t work like that. Nor can you try and bargain with another demon to cure her. I am bound to prevent them.”

She crossed the space between them, grabbing fistfuls of the shirt he’d materialised once his wings had disappeared. “Make it work. I want my mum healed.”

“It would kill both of us. Is that what you want? To die? If so, you should have stepped out of the circle the night your father summoned me.” He untangled her hands from his shirt, his tone cold.

“No. There has to be another way.”

He remained silent.

“Ib-”

“Don’t.” This time it was him grabbing a fistful of her shirt as he dragged her close. “You agreed not to speak that name. Invoke it and force me to heal your mother and it will kill us. The deal was made, it cannot be unmade. Our life for her health. That’s the only way.”

She wanted to protest, wanted to tell him he lied. But she could taste the truth of his words. Anger evaporated. “I miss her.” The words were soft and she looked away from his gaze, unable to hold it any longer.

He let her go. “Where is the boy?”

“At home.”

“Why isn’t he with you?”

She raised her chin. “I didn’t need him here. I can visit my mum without anyone’s help.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t.” He turned, striding away from her.

She wanted to yell at him to come back. That she wasn’t finished talking to him. But what else could she say? Nothing could change the situation. Her mum couldn’t be healed. Not unless she wanted to give up her life. And even if she was willing, she doubted Remedy would let her.

Her phone rang and for a moment the unfamiliar sound startled her. She pulled it from her pocket and stared down at it. She glanced around the dark car park. Was Gabe following her? She put the phone to her ear as she pressed the connection button. “Yes?” Her voice was low and hesitant. Why was he ringing?

“I wanted to let you know I’m not at home. I got a lift to a gym. It was boring at home without you.”

“Okay.” How was it that he always managed to be there when she needed him, even if it was only a phone call?

“Think you can pick me up once you’ve finished your mysterious errands?”

“Where are you?” She repeated back the address he gave her.

“Are you okay?”

She remained silent a moment. “Yeah.”

“You can pick me up now if you need some company.”

She thought about it, but finally said, “No.” There was one more thing she had to do on her own. Hopefully it wouldn’t be as difficult as visiting her mum had been.

“See you later then.”

“Yeah.” She stared at the phone for a minute once she’d disconnected. What was he, psychic? She shook her head. Obviously he had good timing. Sometimes. She tucked her phone in her pocket and took a deep breath. The pain was subsiding. Striding to her motorbike, she tried not to think about the next destination. Once she reached it, she stilled, checking the area for demons. She was still safe. The direction she was headed in only had minor ones. They wouldn’t be a problem. The moment they felt her come into their area they’d probably head as far from her as possible.

Twenty minutes later she pulled up in front of a highset house. She hung her helmet from the handlebars and strode around the back, slipping through the wooden gate that had a broken hinge and always sat partly open. She stopped in front of a tree that branched out towards the house and picked the corner of her scab, smearing only a little blood across her mark. Energy rushed through her, not as much as when she used it to fight, but she didn’t need that much.

Jumping for the first branch she swung herself up, making her way towards Amy’s window where she was bent over a laptop at her desk. She was probably messaging her numerous friends. She’d always been the more outgoing of the two of them. Reaching the window, Cassidy popped the screen out and dropped silently onto the carpet.

Amy turned at her movement, and eyes wide, her mouth gaped open. Worried she’d scream Cassidy was across the room in a flash, hand pressed to Amy’s mouth. “Shh. It’s me.”