The Lariat (Finding Justus Series) (23 page)

“What? It’s not like we have to worry about Samael right now. My mother said it would take him a few days to recover enough power to reach Earth again.”

“Yeah, but that was yesterday.”

“And today’s today. Are you coming with me or not?” I didn’t wait for an answer. I reached down and pulled off one of my heels and then the other. I stood against the iron railing and tossed both shoes into the dark river. I wouldn’t need them anymore.

She pulled out her phone out of her back pocket and began texting someone, probably my father, and walked after me. “Hold on. Wait. Damn, Layla. I said
wait.
What is wrong with you? Are you really upset about the picture or is there something else? Why did you throw your shoes into the river?”

I was trying not to cry and failing miserably. I was upset about Ben’s eruption, but there was more. So much more. I had a short time left with the people I loved and I had just run out the door. I told Ava not to call Cyrus. I didn’t even know where Orrin was. I didn’t know what I wanted and I didn’t have a handle on myself. I had never felt so close to giving in to my darkness. I didn’t want to die, but I couldn’t continue down this path knowing it was either death or world destruction. This is why I drank- to avoid moments, emotions, problems like this one.

I wanted to tell her everything, but I didn’t know where to start. I needed to tell someone who would understand and not try to stop me when it was time for my surrender. We had walked away from the safety of the art gallery and stood in the shallow light illuminated by the neon lights of the other riverfront restaurants. From where we stood, if we turned left we would end up in front of the sanctuary at Travis Park church. If we went right, the paved road quickly darkened and would take us in front to the
Montrose.

It was a decision that came from someplace other than my brain. I felt it- the simple answer welled up from the place my soul resided. And hadn’t I been told enough times that it was the simplest answers that were sometimes the best? Especially when I listened to my intuition.

Ava was hugging me telling me it would be alright, that I was just under so much pressure. She sighed and pulled me in the direction I needed to go, “Come on. I’ll walk with you.”

The ground rumbled beneath my feet and I stopped. “Did you feel that?”

I had felt it before when Orrin opened a portal into Hell. Orrin had the ability to rip a hole between our world and Hell when souls needed to pass from one to the other. He also did it when there were daemons that were too weak to return on their own.

The last time it happened Samael slipped through the thinned veil.

“Feel what? Layla, are you feeling okay? Do I need to go get your dad? Or Cyrus?”

I shook my head and it happened again. I was sure of it now. But why? Why had he done it?

Is that why he isn’t here with me now? How far away is he? Why would he open a gateway into Hell knowing Samael was waiting to break free?

None of that sounded like him. He was smarter than that.

It will be tonight.
My daemon’s voice resounded in my mind.

“But I’m not ready.” I said to myself, wrapping my arms around my waist, “I still wanna…I’m not ready.”

I wanted to cry out to Orrin, I needed to see Cyrus once more, but I couldn’t. Something within me stole my voice. My eyes went wide silently pleading to Ava for help.

“Layla, you don’t look so good. Let’s go get some air. It’ll be just you and me. We haven’t had a chance to talk like this much. Just you and me. We probably shouldn’t go too far though.”

Do I tell her?

She kept moving to the right. The way we were meant to go. The ground rumbled once more as my feet carried me away from sanity and toward my hell. Toward my salvation.

Toward my surrender.

30

“Where are we headed friend?”

Ava’s words didn’t even register. I was moving on instinct. Wherever I was going was where I was meant to be. It would be tonight.

“Layla?
Layla
.” I could hear her quick steps, “Slow down. I can’t keep up with you.”

“Then don’t,” my words were cruel. “Where I’m going you can’t follow.”

“Layla, can you slow down and talk to me?” Ava yanked my arm. Hard. I tried to pull free, knowing I was on the edge, hanging by my fingernails. My fist connected with her chin on accident and she fell back. Thank God there was no effort behind my movement or I would have done major damage. As it was, Ava hit the rough exterior bricks and whipped back, ready to take me on. Maybe my dad didn’t know it, but she was more than ready to assume her role as a daemon hunter. When she turned back to me, her eyes were round and disbelieving. A bruise was already forming on the skin on her jaw.

“Ava, I’m sorry.” I stepped back, “I didn’t mean to…

“Layla, you really are the most morose girl I know. I have always dealt with your mood swings, but I don’t get your constant need to punish yourself. Don’t shut me out too. I’m here for you, but I won’t take this kind of abuse from you. Either you talk to me right now or I am leaving, and not just back to the Bennet’s party. I mean I am packing up and going home.”

“I don’t know if I can tell you what’s happening,” I looked around the darkened street wishing she could just see. I needed it to be her that read my mind, “He might hear me.”

“Who?” Ava stood a little straighter rubbing her jaw.

“Orrin,” I mouthed, but I feared there were others involved “or any of them.”

And then I felt it. I heard it. I grew dizzy from it. He was here.

Samael had come through, either with help from Orrin or on his own, but he was here.

“I need to go Ava. I was wrong. You need to get away from me. You all need to stay far,
far
away.”

A portal had opened and I was so worried that Orrin might have aided Samael through. I watched Orrin’s daemon throw a baby into the ocean. Could he have slipped up again? Could he have opened up a portal and let Samael through? I knew how good it felt to give in to the dark fire that fed our souls.

“Please, please. Don’t let it be him,” I whispered into the night. I left Ava standing by the river wondering what just happened. She watched me go and then ran back inside the gallery. It wouldn’t be long before everyone knew I had freaked out and ran off, but to where? I still didn’t know.

Actually, I was lying to myself at that point. I knew where I was headed. I had made my choice. It would be tonight. And as my feet struck the pavement I moved closer and closer to the looming, dilapidated structure that stood taller than any building in downtown San Antonio.

The
Montrose
.

And I prayed they wouldn’t follow.

Cyrus would be furious, my dad wouldn’t understand and I didn’t even know where Orrin’s allegiance lay any longer. Would he try to end this his way? Would he make a deal with the devil to save me? I knew he loved me, but could his love withstand a dictate from Samael?

There were too many what-ifs with Orrin. There always were. Fate brought us together but never gave us a chance beyond that. But I couldn’t worry about him right now, I was running head-long into an unknown certainty- tonight was the last night of my life.

***

They beat me there.

Standing in the shadow of the
Monstrose
was Samael. He was patiently waiting for me, both of his long white hands placed on his hips in the most authoritative manner. Did he know I was standing there watching him? Could he feel me close by or had I actually surprised him. He brought with him the thick black fog of Hell. It hid in the dark alleyway, but I could still see it. It climbed up the walls, rolled into itself, blossomed and withered as if it was just waiting on permission from its maker to take possession of the light and air of this world.

Orrin was nowhere to be seen, which didn’t mean much, but I began to feel guilty that I could assign the blame to him so easily when I had no proof- only Samael with two Vile in tow.

My daemon almost ripped through my skin at the sight of Lillith pacing back and forth. She was my most gruesome nightmare, always on the edge of my consciousness, waiting for me to close my eyes. She haunted me more than my own daemon. I don’t know if it was a fear of her or my need for justice, but her evil smile and hollow eyes lurked in the back of my mind. I hated her and she knew it. My heart pumped faster and I tried to steady my breaths. I needed to keep my presence hidden for as long as possible.

Orias looked on from the bench a few yards away. I could see the contempt in his eyes for both of them. I couldn’t explain away his presence here. I knew he was ultimately beholden to Samael, he was a daemon and loyal to Samael, but would he really double-cross me? Would he be crazy enough to double-cross his overlord?

I was in trouble. What was I thinking trying to take on Samael by myself? Of course he wouldn’t fight fair, but why was Lillith with him when he just wanted to get rid of her? It was likely that she didn’t even know of his plan.

“How long do we have to wait here, Sam?” Lillith’s voice broke through the silence, “The air in this place makes me twitchy. There’s too much life, too much humanity. I can’t stand it. I need to kill something.”

Only his eyes moved, “You will follow my lead while you are here, or I will do more than send you back to your home.”

“Oh really? Like what?”

“Like strip away your powers and leave you here.” His voice was even and he meant every word.

“May I have a vote?” Orias said smiling only slightly.

Lillith only pouted.

“You don’t have to wait long. Layla is already here.”

My stomach dropped to my feet. The blood drained from my face. Panic was setting in and I fought my fear. Where was my drive? Where was my anger?

Where are you daemon?

I couldn’t face them scared as I was. I needed…something. I was missing something.

“Hey,” the voice came from behind me. I almost came out of my skin until I felt it was Orrin that had jumped behind me. He had taken my hand sending me all the love he had inside him.

“They know I’m here,” I said to him.

“I know.”

I’m scared, I mouthed to him.

Orrin leaned in and kissed me. “You are the Beacon. This is why you were created.”

I nodded.

“I’m coming with you.”

And that’s all it took. His words,
I’m coming with you,
brought my daemon to life. It roared to life within me. It resonated in my body and came out as strong flames in my fingers and the crimson of my eyes. Surely those three Vile and all of downtown heard its cry. My over-protective daemon didn’t want Orrin anywhere near danger. I knew I couldn’t stop him from coming with me and the possibility of someone I loved being harmed was just what I needed to shake my fear.

Orrin was like that. He always seemed to know what I needed without me even saying the words, and not because he read my mind, but just because he was Orrin. Just because I was his.

So I took a breath, cooled my fury and grabbed his hand, “This is for me to do. You have to follow my lead this time.”

He opened his mouth to protest and then closed it. He nodded and winked. Even with imminent danger he could be charming. We walked together quietly. It was pointless to try, anything we could possible say to one another, they would hear. I wondered where everyone else was.

Dad. Cyrus. They’re probably looking for me.

And with that thought my phone beeped inside my purse which I had fallen off my shoulder when Orrin snuck up behind me. But I couldn’t answer it now. I prayed they would find me, and I prayed that they wouldn’t. I wanted to see their faces just one last time, especially Cyrus. At the same time I didn’t want their last memory of me to be my death.

Orrin squeezed my hand, sensing my riotous emotions and I could feel his resolve. He was with me all the way. My previous doubt in him was washed away. His love and faith gave me the strength to do what I feared most.

I could confront these daemons and my own.

I would take my fate into my own hands.

There was no use worrying about what I couldn’t control. Samael, Lillith and Orias were standing side-by-side under the flickering street light, with the
Montrose
, their own pillar of evil, and that black fog protecting them like a guard dog.

I didn’t shrink back. Instead, I embraced my bravery instead of my fear, fisted my hands and freed my wings and let them see who they were really threatening. I may have been young, I may not have made all the best decisions, but I knew I could beat them- I just didn’t know how yet.

Looking at Orias, I could see arrogance in his eyes. He watched Orrin, his own son, and me walk together to face a fate which he had handed us. And it was clear to me now, the reason he was here was not because he wanted Samael to succeed, it was because he needed to fix a mistake he had made years ago.

He told me what I needed to do. I needed to surrender. I needed to give my life, but surely that didn’t mean give in to Samael or Lillith. I was missing something still. I couldn’t quite figure it out, but Orias had already said I would know what to do when the moment arrived.

“Good evening,” Samael bowed low.

“Layla,” Lillith cooed and smiled and held her arms open wide. She may have even had tears in her eyes, “I’ve missed you so much. You left so soon on your last visit. Come here.”

I again said nothing and just stared her down, my face slack. She would end this performance or I would end her. I was more powerful than her. I had beaten her both times we had met and this would be no different. I had discovered more about my birthright, my fate and I would not cower before any of them.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why we are here.” Samael did not mince words, “But first let me say thank you to Orrin for bringing us through.”

My eyes darted to his. Could it be true?

“I did no such thing. You are lying, Sam.”

“Orrin,” I whispered, “I did feel it. The ground? I remember what it felt like when you opened the portal.”

“I may have opened a portal, but I did not let them through. I was on the other side of the planet. I knew better than to do something like that anywhere near you.”

I felt her before I saw her. A new player. My mother had materialized on the other side of me facing our enemies. Her eyes were trained on the Vile, but she spoke to us, “Any time a portal is opened the veil between the worlds is thinned. Even though you did not let them through, that was the opportunity they needed to find their way here.”

“You said we had more time,” he ground out.

“I did not plan on you opening a portal. Samael would never have been strong enough otherwise.”

“And what is she doing here?” I asked, glancing to Lillith.

“I just wanted to see you. Can’t a mother just come to visit her daughter?”

“Yes, she can.” I reached for my mother’s hand and laced my fingers with hers.

“I needed her here. I’m glad you came too, Layla.” Samael spoke to my mother. “I want your daughter to feel safe, and I needed all of you here for that to happen. I have a deal in mind to discuss with you.”

“A deal with the devil? Really?” I replied.

“I’m glad the irony isn’t lost on you. Making deals is my specialty. You didn’t let me finish the other night.”

“I will not help you. No matter what you ask for. If it tears me apart, I will not aid you in anything.”

His skin crawled reminding me of the creatures that hid underneath his skin. “I cannot take credit for this, actually it was Orias’ idea.”

“So that is your role in all of this, father? You’re playing the adviser to him again?” Orrin spat. I couldn’t tell if he truly hated his father or if he was hurt by his betrayal.

“Layla, you know I have a recent…
fondness
for you.”

I cringed.

“
What?”
Lillith turned her wrath onto him.

My lips curled back on their own and he continued, “But I am willing to overlook my recent infatuation if your soulmate is willing to concede.”

“Concede? He isn’t going back to Hell either.”

“No, Layla,” Orrin sighed and looked at his father, “He wants me to return to my father.”

“I only want to see you reunited with Orias. He hasn’t been the same since you turned away from him.” Samael’s concern was so far from genuine.

“That’s why you have been pursuing Layla?” Orrin took a step closer to them and I followed.

“Orrin. He’s trying to upset you. Don’t let him. Don’t give in.”

“Layla, that’s what this has all been about. All of it.” Orrin pointed to Samael, “He made everyone think that he wanted to kidnap you, and it was all a lie. He just wants me. He wants his Porter back and under his control.”