Ebony Fight (The Guard Duet Book 2) (16 page)

TWENTY-SIX

After standing at the shore until the sun was merely a bleeding flicker behind the lush green that blurred with the greedy flames, Becca excused herself. She had a plan to stick to if she wanted to keep more loved ones from dying. Yet, at the thought of stepping into Arthur’s home, her feet paused and her stomach churned. Gritting her teeth, she crossed the threshold. She didn’t have any time to waste. She couldn’t let Stone start wondering what was taking her so long and come running in.

Not daring to look around at the place that felt as if it was merely waiting for Arthur to come back home, Becca headed straight for the hidden trap door in his room. With swift moves she opened it and quickly made her way down the narrow ladder to the small landing below. When her gaze fell on the boat hidden there, she stopped short.

Stone was already sitting in it.

“Should I feel insulted that you tried to sneak away without me?”

Becca’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to lose you, too,” she pleaded.

“Well, then we have a problem. ‘Cause that goes both ways.” He patted the seat next to him. “Come on, let’s be logical about this. I’m a trained assassin and you’re a kick-ass witch. Our chances of making it back alive are better if we do this together.”

When she didn’t move or respond, he went on, “Alone this is a freaking kamikaze mission. Do you really want to do this to Quinn?”

“That’s low.”

“I don’t care, as long as I get through to you.”

Becca didn’t know how to respond to that and just stared at the man she loved. Her mind knew he made sense. Her heart recoiled at the thought of losing him, yet it squeezed knowing that he was afraid for her too.

“Damn it.” Her decision made, she stepped into the boat and sat down next to him. At his triumphant smile, she wagged a finger in front of his face. “You better make sure you make it out alive.”

He held her by the neck and pulled her into a kiss that swept like a molten sea. It desperately told her of all the things they still needed to do, of a lifetime shared. It was a promise of making memories together.

Pulling away, he said, “Ditto.”

Her heart was still beating too fast when he started the motor and slowly maneuvered them away from the secret landing. Shouts from the shore erupted, first in surprise and then in apparent anger. Fortunately, Arthur’s back up was a small boat made for speed and within seconds they escaped through the green maze.

Becca sighed with relief.

Stone looked at her, and she shrugged her shoulders a little sheepishly. “I didn’t want to say good bye. Only to Quinn…but not the others. Lillian is blaming herself enough as it is.” Quickly changing the subject, she asked, “How did you know about the emergency boat, anyway?”

“I noticed it when we visited. Despite his oracle oddness, Arthur was a rational and practical man. He’d have a back up. The layout of the house and steep level of the shore provide an ideal space, and the jetty hides it perfectly.”

Impressed, Becca smiled at him. “Handsome and clever to boot.” She made a gesture with her head, “Now move over and let me steer.”

Facing the cool evening breeze, they fell silent and hardened themselves for the mission that lay ahead. Soon they reached the broader arms of the bayou that ran parallel to the road. Seeing their destination ahead, Becca brought them closer to an old jetty.

Stone eyed it suspiciously, “I hope this thing will hold our weight long enough for us to get out.”

Becca shrugged, daring him with a grin. “Only one way to find out.”

Luck was on their side.

Following instinct and the pull in her blood that told her where to go, they crossed the road and headed towards a church. The world turned a glaring shade of pink and got harsher as they ran for the cover of the trees nearby. The Spanish moss tickled her face, brushed against her cheek as she ducked under a branch.

There it was. A swirling chaos that reminded her of blood whirling down a drain.

“You sure you want to do this?” Stone asked beside her, his voice gentle.

“Yes. I’m sure.” She looked up at him. “So much good could come from this.” Yet, even knowing that didn’t change the fact that she was scared as shit. Her hands were clammy, her stomach a knot of raw nerves. She couldn’t count the times she almost died living a life on Hell’s edge, secretly preparing their escape. And now she was about to head right back to where she started.

Stone was about to head in when she touched his arm.

“Want to hear a joke?”

“Now?” Stone shook his head, a soft smile curving his lips. “You’re crazy.”

“That’s why you love me. It balances your whole seriousness.”

“The joke.”

“Right. Ever heard the one about two snowballs headed into Hell-”

“Not funny. Now move your ass and let’s get this over with.”

Becca was grateful when Stone joined their hands and they stepped through the portal together.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Abby still shook her head. “I can’t believe she pulled this off.” 

Lillian had angry tears in her eyes and wiped them away. “I should never have gone to her.”

Raz put an arm over her shoulder. “You went to her for a reason, and you know it. Becca is the only one who can do this, and she’s strong. Don’t forget that.”

Abby agreed with him, but knowing that their friends weren’t facing an ordinary challenge, she prayed that they would make it back safe.

While they had been watching the sun kiss Arthur’s cheek one last time, they heard the muffled growl of a motor. All of them could only stare when they saw a boat shoot out from beneath Arthur’s house. Abby’s jaw had almost hit the floor when she recognized Becca and Stone as its passengers. Within a second they all called out and waved their arms. But to no avail. As sleek as a water snake, the boat had disappeared around the next bend, lost to them. Abby had stood staring out at the water as if the boat might actually return.

Bastards, she thought once more.

Someone tapped her shoulder and pulled Abby back to the here and now. Quinn held his little notebook up.
Becca didn’t want to say good bye.

Abby’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “You knew about this?”

Yes, she told me back at home. Before she even talked to you guys.
He shrugged, a guilty grin on his face.
Her plan was to lose Stone but that didn’t work out.

“Thanks to you?”

Team work. Stone had a feeling Becca would try something, I simply assured him she would.

“Excellent.” Abby sighed with relief, and pulled the boy in for a quick hug.

He scribbled some more. His face was serious when he looked at her and held up the pad.
I couldn’t let Becca go alone. Stone will look after her.

Her heart heavy with fear, Abby nodded. “Yes, he will.”

The two of them turned in silence to look out onto the water. An odd feeling filled her and Abby was amazed to realize that despite it all, she felt whole again. For weeks she had lived in a hole that had opened up in her chest when she started to question her purpose. Something that had been so clearly defined for her once the angels had come into her life. Now she knew that it was her choice and discovery to make. It was for her to decide what to do with the mission and task set out for her. There was a difference between being told to fight, and finding the reason and passion for what you are fighting for. In the beginning it was about protecting human souls, now her job was to protect the ones in need - be it demon or Ebony, angel or Ivory, or human. People like Becca and Quinn, like Arthur or Sli. People like Lillian and Raz. It gave Abby an inner peace, a feeling of deep content that could not be shaken. Whatever happened, she would keep on fighting for what was right, listening to her heart above anything else.

Abby touched Quinn’s shoulder and asked, “Wanna go home?”

The boy nodded. There were shadows of fear in his eyes, and Abby hoped that she could somehow find a way to ban or at least distract him from it.

Linda remarked dryly, “Well, at least they left us a boat so we aren’t stranded out here. Now I know why that little witch asked me whether I’d remember the way. Cheeky shit.”

“And, do you?”

“Of course I do.” Linda strolled to the jetty. “Okay, let’s take the wounded and kids first. Dave, Ed, climb in first.” Her smirking gaze looked up and fell on Quinn. “Come on, boy.” Her eyes searched the shore, and her smile turned into a frown. “Where’s Sli?”

Her stomach sinking, Abby looked around.

The girl was gone.

“Sli!” Abby put her hands around her mouth and called out for her, hoping that maybe the girl had gone off into the shrubs. “Sli!”

It was useless.

Dammit.

Abby whirled around, “Quinn, when was the last time you saw her?”

He grabbed his pencil and scribbled,
A few minutes ago, not more.

“She must have followed them.”

Linda cursed wholeheartedly. “That girl is too brave for her own good.”

Raz steeped forward, his eyes dark. “There’s a hellhole a few minutes west from here. At a church.”

Lillian jumped at that, spreading her wings. “Let’s go. With any luck we can still catch her before she steps through.”

TWENTY-EIGHT

Hell was exactly as Becca remembered it, but after having spent quite a while in the human realm it seemed even worse. The sun was just setting. An eerie color, it was a ball of fire disappearing in a pink mist. Like a bullet tearing flesh and spraying blood. The air was dry, leaving a taste of copper and sulfur on her tongue.

She hated it.

Looking up at the darkening crimson sky, Becca pulled the hoodie of her sweatshirt up over her head. Her blonde hair shone pink here and was too easy to spot. They guessed that Andras would give Stone two or three days to kill Becca before any suspicion would arise. However, the city was filled with posters of wanted deserters and even offered rewards. They didn’t know for sure whether Becca’s face might already be on one of them. It was better not to take any chances.

“Ready?”

Becca patted down her leather jacket to check whether everything was where it should be. Its inside was lined with hex bags and daggers. Her low boots offered a backup supply regarding the latter. Satisfied, she nodded. “Let’s go.”

They walked out of the alley they had arrived in and onto one of the busier streets. Becca was glad they had landed near the outer ring of the city and didn’t have to make their way through the slums. She knew them too well.

“How long do you think it will take us?” She had never been this far into the city, much less the heart of Hell where Satan lived. They had to walk since Becca, being a witch, didn’t have any wings and Stone’s only supported his own weight.

“A couple of days, probably. See the tower over there?” he asked, pointing at the gleaming tip that dwarfed all the other buildings in the vicinity. “That’s Andras’ place. This is his territory. Afterwards comes Balan’s, and since he’s a prince of Hell, we should be close to the Heart by then. We’ll walk through the night, then find some place to rest. One day at a time.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She was about to entwine her hand with his again, when Becca remembered that affection wasn’t something to be shown openly in Hell. Lust and desire, yes, but not affection.

Seeing her predicament, Stone flashed a brief smile before draping one of his arms around her waist so that his hand rested on her hip. It looked lusty and possessive; no one would look twice at them. To Becca, however, it felt warm and safe.

Love is for the weak.

Her mother’s voice echoed through her mind. She had said those words the day she wanted to kill Quinn. Becca had stepped in, declaring she would look after her baby brother. Her mother had looked at her in disgust and merely walked away.

Becca shook her head at the memory. Love was the essence of life for her; it kept her going when nothing else could. Love was why she was here to begin with. She treasured and cherished it, and in return it gave her strength. She knew she would need it in this place.

The streets here were different from the slums. The moans of pleasure and screams of torture that hit her ears were the same, but the shops weren’t. They were a bit more posh, more refined - just like their prizes. Becca’s eyes grew wide when a woman walked out of one of the stores with a lower demon, more scuttling creature than intelligent being, on a studded leather leash. After less than an hour of watching Hell’s upper class, Becca missed the human realm and her life there so much it hurt.

A thought suddenly popped up in her mind. “After all your confessions, there’s one thing you haven’t told me yet.”

“And what is that?”

She looked at him, not wanting to miss any expressive reaction. “How did you find me?”

“Oh. That.” Stone rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. Was he embarrassed? “Your friend Greg told me.”

“Told you? He wouldn’t have told a soul.”

“Well, I gave him a bit of a fright,” he explained, looking like a boy who’d just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“A fright?”

“I didn’t hurt him, I promise.”

Smiling up at him, Becca assured, “I believe you.”

He shook his head, expelling a hard breath. “That still amazes me.”

For a moment, as they continued on in silence, Becca wished she could pretend that they weren’t in Hell and this would just be a romantic evening walk. She wanted nothing more than to share the small and simple moments in life with him. Wake up next to him, to laugh, to snuggle up on the couch while watching a movie, go for walks, dance in the middle of the kitchen. The list was endless.

Stone’s arm around her tensed, abruptly pulling her back into the present and making her heart beat faster in fear. Before she could ask him what was wrong, he whispered to her, “We’re being followed. Don’t turn around! Just keep going.”

She did as he bade her, trusting in his abilities.

“When I tell you to, walk into an alley with me, and laugh as if I made a joke.”

Becca gave a subtle nod. Her body was tense, alert.

“Now!”

They turned left and Becca laughed throatily as Stone pushed her against the cold brick wall and moved in close. “I want to hear more of that one day.”

His lips brushed her ear, before he suddenly pulled away and faced the mouth of the alley. Waiting.

Waiting.

“Something’s not right.” Stone frowned. “I’m gonna have a look from above. Stay here, and keep an eye out.”

Taking a hex bag in one hand and a dagger in the other, Becca nodded.

“Be careful,” Stone warned her before he spread his huge black wings. A couple of powerful thrusts, stirring dust, and he was airborne. For a moment Becca could only stare at him and forgot about watching the alley. He was magnificent.

Hovering for a moment above the alley, he pointed with his hand towards its mouth. Right. She was supposed to keep an eye on the street, not him. She gave a nod and then took a stance. Ready for battle.

She didn’t look at him, but could have sworn she heard a soft whooshing sound when he disappeared into the night sky. On her own now, fear and doubt wanted to sneak in like uninvited guests. Not for the first time she wondered how she had ended up here. And not for the first time did Quinn’s innocent smile pop up in her mind as an answer. This time, however, it was not just his image that she could see in her mind’s eye. She saw Stone and even herself next to him. A family. No, there was no place for doubt in her heart.

After a few minutes Stone landed sure on his feet. “Anything?”

“No. You?”

“I didn’t see anyone.” His frown deepened. “But I’m sure I felt someone watching us.”

Becca held up a hand and brought it against his lips. “You don’t have to explain. I trust your instincts.”

He kissed her fingertips, the small gesture rousing a swarm of butterflies.

“Let’s keep going.”

Stone nodded, looking over his shoulder once more. The tension in his body didn’t dissipate, even when he wrapped his arm around her waist once more. They walked for hours, on alert, and from time to time even Becca could feel eyes on her. Or was she just imaging it? Whether a figment of her imagination or not, in the end she was glad that Stone had insisted on coming along.

When dawn stretched its fingers to touch the horizon, Stone and Becca had to find shelter for the daylight hours. Fortunately, those hours weren’t as long as in the human realm. They were on the edge of Andras’ territory and couldn’t risk being seen or recognized so close to their goal. Unfortunately the posh outskirts of the downtown area exceeded their means - big time.

Or at least that’s what she thought.

When Stone lead her to a hotel, she frowned at him. He didn’t look at her. Once inside, they walked up to the front desk. The woman there, dressed impeccably in a sexy uniform, raised an eyebrow in such a subtle manner that it felt even more condescending.

“How can I help you?” One look at them and she didn’t even bother with a ‘sir’.

Charming.

“A room, please.”

“That’s 400 souls.”

Becca almost choked.

Finally looking at her, his eyes were full of sorrow when he reached out his hand. “That’s all I have. At least it’s for a good cause.”

Her heart squeezing, she put a hand on his shoulder. “Second chances. That’s why we’re here.”

The woman scanned his prints, her eyes widening slightly. “Thank you, Sir. Do you need someone to take your luggage for you?”

“No, thank you.”

Handing him the card to the room, she flashed a fake pageant-winner smile that was scary to look at. “We hope you’ll enjoy your stay.”

In the privacy of the elevator, Stone pulled her close and rested his forehead against hers. “I’m not proud of where I come from, of what I did.”

“Neither am I,” Becca confessed. “What counts is where we’re going.”

“Becca…” Her name sounded like a prayer on his lips. “You’re too good to be true.”

“I’m just me.”

“I love your
you
.”

The elevator doors opened with a
ding
and they stepped off onto the fifth floor. Their room was to the right. Once the door was open and Stone invited her inside with a gesture of his arm, Becca’s mouth fell open. Silk, crystal and creamy leather. Posh and classy. It looked like a picture taken out of one of the magazines she’d seen in the human realm. Except there they didn’t offer a minibar so well-stocked that it included various drugs, and even handcuffs and a range of leather equipment in the bedroom. Ugh.

The couch was huge and looked inviting enough. Becca tested it, falling back into the soft pillows. Yes, this was better. Taking of her boots, she wiggled her toes with relief. They’d been walking for hours and her feet needed a break.

After Stone poured them both a glass of water, he joined her on the couch. Within minutes Becca’s eyes felt heavy and fell closed. As if from far away, she sensed it when Stone lay down and guided her head gently to rest on his shoulder. Breathing in his calming scent, she sighed happily and slipped away.

It felt like she hadn’t slept for more than minutes when she woke up. The red light of day was streaming through the creamy curtains, almost looking like an elegant night gown moving in the breeze.

What had pulled her from her sleep?

Stone tensed next to her and she looked at him to see if he was awake. He held a finger to his lips. Becca got the message loud and clear.

Someone was in their room.

Her stomach sinking with dread and fear, Becca wondered how they could have gotten inside. Motioning for her to stay put, Stone got up and went to check every room.

When he stepped into the bedroom, a movement out the corner of her eye caught Becca’s attention. Turning her head, she almost screamed.

A figure stood at the windows, silhouetted by the bellowing curtains.

Jumping off the couch, her heart calmed when she suddenly realized it was Sli. The girl had her head cocked to the side as if curious.

“Dammit, Sli.” Needing a moment to recover before more words came, Becca felt oddly comforted when Stone walked back into the lounge. “What are you doing here? We told you to stay home.”

“I am home.”

Only when Sli moved did Becca see the dagger in her hand. One leap; that was all it took. Becca was flooded with a sharp, burning pain. A roar filled her ears, but she couldn’t tell whether it was her blood or Stone. Falling back onto the couch, she held her stomach. In shock she watched everything as if in slow motion. Stone moving to protect her, Sli’s eyes holding a nothingness that chilled Becca to the bone. No regret, no love. Nothing. What had happened to the girl that had started to blush and had been learning how to smile?

“Why?” Becca managed to get out.

Her mind just couldn’t comprehend what was going on.

“Because you make us weak.”

The next instant the girl’s eyes rolled back in her head. She fell to the floor like a doll before Stone could reach her. Confused and robbed of the target for his apparent anger, he only stared. Shaking himself, he pulled his gaze away and took in Becca.

Through a haze, she saw the shock, tears and love for her in his eyes. He bellowed and put one knee on the couch. Picking her up, he cradled her in his arms. His hand went to her stomach and came back gleaming.

Black crept up on her vision, quickly gaining.

“Take me home, my love,” she whispered.

“Becca!” His voice sounded faint, as if she were under water. “Becca! No!”

The darkness won.