I folded the necklace into my hand and resumed walking. It didnt take my enhanced peripheral vision to see Adrians smirk as he followed. He thought hed won this round. Think again, I silently told him.
So, if youre rich, why did we only stay in crappy motels when we first met? I asked as I kept walking toward Costas house.
He let out a laugh that managed to combine the lure of ecstasy along with the dangers of addiction.
Because I was doing everything I could to kill the mood, not that it worked. Even in the ugliest surroundings, I wanted you so much that it almost killed me not to take you in every dingy room those crappy motels had to offer.
Stop it, I muttered. Thankfully, Brutus picked that moment to fly past us and land in the tallest section of beach shrubs. I ran after the gargoyle, trying to soothe him as he attempted to cover himself with beach brush to avoid the sun.
Its okay, I was saying when Adrian said, Carparata! loud enough to snap Brutuss head up.
The Demonish word turned Brutus from a cringing creature into his usual, formidable self. The gargoyle might be my pet now, but to the bone, he still belonged to Adrian. After all, Adrian was the one whod given Brutus to me as my protector. The fact that hed done so when Adrian had thought he was sacrificing his life to save mine was yet another reason why he was so hard to evict from my heart.
Still, I wasnt about to give up trying. Here you go, my good Brutus, I said, pulling out the necklace and latching it around his leathery wrist. Because of his size, it fit like a bracelet. Something shiny for you.
The gargoyle held up his arm, looking at the diamond next to his grayish-blue skin. Then he chuffed as if in approval.
See? I said, with a wide grin at Adrian. He loves it.
The glare Adrian gave me was priceless. Then, with a smile that was far too confident for my liking, he waved in the direction of Costas house.
You can give my gift to Brutus and you can keep stomping off to Costas, but no matter what, Im coming with you. Realm cracks are appearing and demons and minions are on the move again. You might have killed Demetrius, giving me the vengeance Id wanted for years, but that didnt take me out of the fight. I still live to kick demon ass, so I wouldnt sit this out for the world, and if you know anything about me, you should know that. Besides, Zachs probably aware of all this and waiting back at Costas for us. As you might recall, Archons may be nearly immortal, but theyre not very patient.
CHAPTER FOUR
COSTAS HOUSE WAS a former church, hence the hallowed ground it rested on that demons were unable to cross. The sight of its tall, slanted roof with the cross that Costa hadnt bothered to take down filled me with a mixture of relief and sadness. I couldnt say that Id been happy here, but Id felt safe, and that counted for a lot in this world. Now, it was time to leave, and I didnt know if Id ever see this place again.
Adrian was right; more people were at the house than when Id left it an hour ago. My sister, Jasmine, seemed startled to see Adrian, but it didnt escape my notice that Costa didnt look surprised. I stifled my snort as we came into the kitchen. Had Adrian been in contact with Costa this whole time, too? Was I literally the only person hed avoided these past couple months?
As I approached the table, Adrian pulled a chair out for me, but I ignored that. Ill stand.
Are you two fighting again? Costa cast a knowing glance between us. Situation normal, then.
The other person I hadnt seen in the past two months was Zach, but as Adrian had predicated, the Archon now sat at the kitchen table as casually as if hed dropped by for breakfast. As with minions and demons, at first glance, you wouldnt know there was anything unusual about Zach. His jeans and faded-blue hoodie matched his college-age appearance, and his dark brows, closely cropped hair and mocha-colored skin were a great frame for his deep, walnut-brown eyes.
One look into those eyes, however, and I couldnt imagine anyone not realizing that there was something otherworldly about Zach. His gaze seemed to reach right into your soul, and if he chose to reveal his true nature, the room would be filled with exploding light and deafeningly beautiful voices. The one time Zach had dropped his human disguise to show me that, Id unwittingly fallen to my knees with tears streaming down my face. You never realized how insignificant you were until confronted with a creature filled with the power and glories of eternity.
Archonsangelswere such creatures, so youd think Id be glad to see Zach. Instead, I felt a mildly growing sense of dread. Unlike their Hallmark Channel representations, Archons werent cuddly beings who spent their time sprinkling happy dust onto humanity. Instead, they were fearsome warriors whod been relegated to the sidelines during the most important battle of the ages, so they were ready to fight no matter how that turned out for mankind. They were also our only allies against demons, so that made them indispensable to us regardless of their seeming indifference toward the fate of my race.
Im out of time, arent I? I said in lieu of a hello.
Zach didnt take offense. Hed probably invented the custom of not saying hello. Yes. As the realm walls continue to weaken, new fissures are formed, allowing greater access between the dark worlds and this one. It is only a matter of time until those fissures rupture and parts of the demon world spills out into your realm.
I found that out the hard way, I said with a sigh. Three minions and a demon tried to nab me on the beach.
Jasmines face paled and she ran over to me. Are you okay? How did you get away? Did they know who you were?
I gave my younger sister a reassuring squeeze, a pang hitting me as I looked at her. Shed always had my adoptive mothers blond hair, but sometime during her hellish captivity, shed grown a long white streak down the center of her head. Her pale blue eyes were the same color as my adoptive fathers, and seeing them reminded me of him so much, I had to blink back a sudden surge of tears.
Oh, how I missed my parents! They hadnt deserved to die at the hands of minions and demons just because theyd been investigating Jasmines disappearance. Then again, no one deserved to die at the hands of demons and minions for any reason.
Im fine, I reassured Jaz. I got the first one, Adrian and Brutus took care of the rest. And they didnt know who I was, at first. They were just looking for new slaves.
Zach inclined his head in agreement. The demons grow bolder as they gain more access to this world.
Maybe it was the fresh wave of grief Id felt over my parents death, maybe it was my fear over what I knew I had to do. Either way, I couldnt hold back my brusque reply.
Remind me again why Archons would allow terrible things to happen to innocent people when they have the power to stop it?
The gaze Zach turned on me was hard. A better reason than why your race would rather assign blame to others than work on looking for solutions yourselves.
Yes, humanity had its flaws, but that didnt mean we werent worth saving, dammit! And I still couldnt figure out if Zach even wanted us to be saved. Some days, he acted as if he did, yet other days, the Archon seemed just as happy to let humanity burn if it meant finally ending the war between Archons and demons.
Yes, humanity had its flaws, but that didnt mean we werent worth saving, dammit! And I still couldnt figure out if Zach even wanted us to be saved. Some days, he acted as if he did, yet other days, the Archon seemed just as happy to let humanity burn if it meant finally ending the war between Archons and demons.
If you truly believe your race is worth saving, then youll be eager to get started, Zach replied, using his mind-reading abilities. How could I forget about those?
I glowered at him. It sucked being reminded that in this case, somebody doing something really meant me.
Im ready, I said, which was the biggest lie in the world, but what else could I say? Were all gonna die! seemed too defeatist, even if it was probably true.
Zach rose with his usual grace, then cast a sideways glance at Brutus, who was in the darkest corner of the kitchen. Hed be in his room, if he wasnt waiting for his breakfast of raw meat.
Would someone explain why that gargoyle is wearing the stone of Solomon around his wrist? Zach asked.
The what of who? Jasmine said.
I wondered the same thing, but Adrian replied to Jasmine before I could ask. Ivy didnt like her birthday present, so she gave it to Brutus, he told my sister.
Birthday? Oh crap, Ivy, I forgot your birthday! Jasmine said with a gasp. Costa seemed shocked for a different reason.
You gave a three-thousand-year-old diamond with famed mystic qualities to Brutus? he asked me.
Zach also gave me a look that seemed to question my sanity. I shifted defensively even as this news rocked me. I just thought it was a normal diamond, I mumbled.
It isnt, Adrian said, his arched brow implying that I should have given him a chance to say this earlier. King Solomon stole this diamond from Asmodeus, a demon king, because it was said to shield its wearer from harm. After Solomons death, Asmodeus stole it back, and when I was a child, it was given to me because demons wanted to protect the last Judian.
I was openmouthed discovering the diamonds history, not to mention its protective qualities. Adrian hadnt just been trying to buy my forgiveness with an expensive trinket. Hed given me the same talisman hed had since he was a child. Damn him for making it harder to stay angry with him, I thought, my emotions wrestling anew at this.
Very well, Zach replied, although he would have overheard my inner battle. Ivy, you will leave at once. Adrian and Costa will accompany you on your search for the staff of Moses.
Not Adrian, I burst out.
Yes, Adrian, Zach said in his best dont-argue-with-an-angelic-being tone. Without him, you wont discover the map.
Theres a map that leads to the staff? That was a surprise. One of those wouldve been helpful when we were trying to find the first hallowed weapon.
Zach shrugged. Its a map of sorts, and perhaps if you would have looked closer, you would have discovered it when you were searching for the slingshot, too.
Archons and their cryptic-speak, not to mention their lack of initiative that bordered on apathy. Figures there had been a map back then and Zach hadnt told me. For all I knew, he had another map in his pocket now, yet couldnt be bothered to mention that, either. Or, why dont you just tell me where the staff is, if you know? I said to cut through all the crap.
Because this is your task to succeed or fail at, Davidian, was Zachs inexorable reply.
Dont hit the Archon, I reminded myself while clenching my fists. We still needed him.
Zachs mouth twitched, as if he found my impotent rage amusing. Adrian is coming with you, Ivy. Dont bother to list all the reasons why you dont want him to. The fact remains that he must or you will not only fail, you wont survive. Thats why I rescinded his ban from seeing you earlier today.
My gaze swung to Adrian. What do you mean, he rescinded your ban from seeing me?
A low, almost growling sound left Adrian. Zach put a supernatural restraining order on me. I couldnt get within a mile of you without suddenly becoming paralyzed, Costa supernaturally forgot every message I tried to send you through him, and if I attempted to call, text or email you, my phone would blow up.
Really? Costa looked bewildered. You and I have talked several times since then, and I dont remember that.
Adrian grunted. Exactly.
Cock-blocked by an angel, Costa muttered. Thats new.
I ignored Costas comment in favor of giving Zach a disbelieving look. First you supernaturally prevent Adrian from so much as texting me, then you insist that he come along on the search for the staff. What kind of game are you playing?
Zachs dark brown eyes gave nothing away. No game. Only fate.
Fate. My teeth ground. I really hated that word.
Why didnt you tell me about this on the beach? I asked Adrian, giving up on getting a more definitive answer out of Zach.
Adrians coloring was darker than normal, and when I caught the look he flashed Zachs way, I realized why. Pride. Hed rather let me think that he was a total jerk than admit that Zach had shut him down so effectively, hed been helpless. Yes, for longer than I cared to remember, Adrian had had both minions and demons scurrying to do his bidding. Plus, with his incredible strength, speed and fighting skills, almost no one had been able to stop Adrian from doing something hed set his mind to. In that light, his bruised-ego silence about the way Zach had shut him down was almost understandable.
Almost. Adrian should have told me why hed abandoned me when I needed him the most. The fact that he hadnt only highlighted that he was thinking more about himself than me. Plus, if he couldnt admit something so small to me, how could I trust him with the really big things, like our fates?
And Zach. He got the other end of my stink eye. He could have said something before now, too. Men. They were the same whether they were Archons, humans or Judians.
Something else occurred to me. Zach lifted his restraining order on you the same day I came across the first minions and demon Ive seen in months? It couldnt be a coincidence...
It isnt, Zach said, using his intrusive skills again.
My irritation died away. His inconsideration paled next to making sure that I was still alive.
Thank you, I said, hoping for the hundredth time that Archons were more invested in the fate of humanity than they let on. Aside from my bloodline, I wasnt anyone special, yet Zach had saved me more than a few times. I just wished I understood why so many other people had to suffer and die.
Zach inclined his head, which was his version of youre welcome. Preparations have been made. You are to start your search for the staff at once.
Youre forgetting one thing, I pointed out. We have no idea where Mosess staff might be. This is a big world, and thats not even counting all the demon realms in it, too.
Zach glanced at Adrian, and when they exchanged a meaningful look, my hackles rose. If either of you even think of hiding something from me again I began furiously.
Were not, Adrian interrupted, his gaze piercing as it landed on me. I told you, Ivy, no secrets and no holding back this time. Mosess staff controls nature, which is why we need it to repair the realm walls and the demons also want it so they can use it to send those same walls crashing down. So, our best bet is to start with places that have natural anomalies. Even while dormant, the staff will affect whats around it.