Get off him, you bitch! I shouted.
She finally noticed me, and Obsidiana shot me a single, malevolent glare before jumping off Adrian. He seemed as surprised by her instant compliance as I was, but he leapt up just as fast, going right for her throat. Hed ripped it out the last time theyd fought, yet Obsidiana mustve remembered that.
She dodged him with lightning-like swiftness, using his momentum to spin him into the wall. It dented from how hard he hit it, and before I could release the stone from my rapidly spinning sling, she had Adrian in front of her like a shield. Her blood-red nails shot out to the length of knives, and she jabbed them into Adrians throat.
One more step, Davidian, and I rip out his jugular, she said in a purr, her distinctive accent the same as Adrians.
I tried not to think about everything else they had in common. Shed been Adrians lover for longer than Id been alive, and I wasnt too proud to admit that I was ragingly jealous of her. But not enough to risk Adrians life. I lowered the sling and didnt move. Obsidiana raked her topaz-colored gaze over me, taking me in from head to feet.
Is this the real you? she asked, arching a brow.
In the flesh, I said, arching my brow right back at her.
The other times Obsidiana had seen me, Id been disguised by Archon glamour. I wasnt now, and as her expression turned contemptuous, youd think I had morphed into a dead mouse that some alley cat had dropped at her feet. Well, screw her. As Id told her once, beauty faded, but Evil Bitch was forever.
I cant believe you left me for that, she finally said to Adrian. Honestly, darling, youre punishing yourself.
I wanted to flip her off with both hands, but I didnt dare. If Obsidiana had harnessed enough dark energy to curse the ground in order to stay in our realm, she was a lot more powerful than Id initially given her credit for. That made her even more dangerous to Adrian.
He didnt seem to share my concern. He laughed, a low, vicious sound. I hadnt met Ivy when I left you, Obsidiana. I did it because I was happier alone than I had been with you.
Ooh, burn! I thought, but still said nothing. Hell hath no fury like a demoness scorned. Didnt Adrian realize that?
I remember you being happy, she said, her voice deepening into a seductive caress. Many, many times.
I stiffened, and from her smirk, shed caught it even though she acted as if Adrian had her full attention.
Too many times to count, she continued, her other hand starting to play with his hair. You hurl cruel words at me now, benhoven, but your cruelty only confirms the whispers Ive heard. The man I love is still inside you. That is why I risked so much to see you. The little Davidian tried to turn you into something you are not, but she failed. Obsidiana shot another hostile glance my way. She just doesnt know how badly she failed yet
Adrian grabbed her wrists, yanking them forward and bending over at the same time. The force he used flipped her over his head as if he were a professional wrestler. I let out a horrified gasp at the instant spurt of blood as her nails tore into his throat. Then I couldnt see anything through her dark mass of hair and the tangle of limbs as he landed on top of her.
CHAPTER SIX
ADRIAN! I SHOUTED, running over to them.
Obsidiana screamed as my sling touched her, but I couldnt even relish her pain. I was too frantic as a red gush flowed from Adrians throat. I tried to stem that flow, but unbelievably, Adrian shoved me away. Obsidiana lunged at me as much as she could while trapped under his body. Her daggerlike nails raked over my stomach, cutting through my clothes and into my flesh, then Adrian grabbed her by the throat and pulled. Hard.
Her body went limp, but blood didnt gush out. Her jugular vein wasnt in her throat. Demon physiology was different. Adrian had just ripped out her version of a heart, yet that would render her only temporarily unconscious. Not kill her the way her attack on his throat might kill him.
Adrian, stop! I cried, flinging myself at him when it was obvious that he intended to keep tearing at Obsidiana.
He swayed, then looked down at the curtain of red streaming from his neck as if only now realizing that it was there. I kicked Obsidianas limp body aside and set down my sling, then covered that gushing wound with my hands. I couldnt risk touching Adrian with the sling. He was half-demon, so when it was tangible like this, it would hurt him, too, and he was already too injured as it was.
Lie back, I said, panic rising at how much blood hed lost. Dont moveitll make it worse. Stay very still.
Oh, shit! a male voice said, then Costa, our best friend, came out of a nearby hotel room.
Some part of me was glad to see that Costa was okay, but I was too worried about Adrian to feel any real relief. Wheres Adrians bag? I said urgently. He brought it with him, and it has manna in it. Bring it to me. Now!
I couldnt get up to get it. If I didnt keep pressure on Adrians neck, hed bleed out right in front of me. With all the blood hed lost, he still might. I tried not to burst into tears as I kept attempting to stem that horrible, pulsating flow. Dont die, Adrian, please! I cant lose you now!
Costa left, and I was vaguely aware of him cursing and overturning things in the nearby room. I also noticed that the fire safety sprinklers had activated, because water pelted me from seemingly all directions, yet I didnt move to wipe it away even when it hit me in the eyes. I kept all my attention on Adrian as I tried to close the gaping wound in his throat.
Youre going to be okay, I told him, smiling so he didnt know that I was terrified. Dont die. Dont die. Dont die! I mentally screamed. You cant! I love you too much!
Ivy! My sister knelt next to me. What can I do?
As if on autopilot, I answered, Smash the mirror in the hallway. Otherwise, more powerful demons could use it to get here.
Jasmine ran off, and I heard the sound of glass breaking moments later. Then, so faintly I almost missed it, I heard Adrians voice.
Have to...kill her, Ivy.
I couldnt believe Adrian could talk with his throat half ripped out, and I tried not to panic at how more blood spurted through my fingers from his efforts.
Dont talk, I urged him before yelling, Wheres the fucking manna, Costa?
Adrian grabbed my wrist, his grip surprisingly strong. Kill...er, he repeated, jerking his head toward Obsidiana.
His movement sent another spurt of blood free. Now a strange wind began to blow my hair back, but I paid it no mind as I put more pressure on Adrians neck.
As soon as youre healed, I promised him.
Adrian grabbed his neck, blood making his hands slick enough to slide beneath mine despite the pressure Id been applying. With his throat in a tighter grip than Id dared, he stared at me, his sapphire-colored gaze seeming to burn.
Now.
Didnt he know he was inches from death himself? Yes, Obsidiana would wake in an hour or so, but until then, she wasnt a threat.
Or was she? Shed been strong enough to survive on this side of the realms when the gateways had sealed. Maybe Adrian knew shed wake a lot sooner than I expected her to.
As soon as you get the manna, I said. I refused to endanger Adrians life by killing Obsidiana now, even if it meant that waiting would endanger mine. Id take that risk.
Adrian made a frustrated sound and tried to get up. I pushed him back, gasping, Dont! in horror. He only gestured angrily at Obsidiana. Kill her now! that wave demanded.
Costa finally came out of the hotel room, a heap of manna in his hand. I was so relieved; I couldnt tell if I started crying or if it was the water from the sprinklers.
Move, he ordered, pushing me and Adrians hands away.
I watched Costa smear the manna over Adrians throat and found myself praying. That odd wind increased, until between that and the sprinklers increasing until they jetted out like fire hydrants, it was getting hard to see. If Adrians injury was fatal, the manna would do nothing because it didnt work on mortal wounds. If hed lost too much blood while waiting for Costa to find the manna, Id have to watch him die.
The clump of manna over his throat immediately turned crimson, the flow of blood turning from paste into freely running liquid. I was shaking so hard, it felt like the whole hotel was shaking along with me.
Ivy, Adrian whispered, his voice fainter as that merciless red flow continued down his throat. Please...kill her.
Adrian couldnt be dying...but if he was and this was his final wish, I wouldnt fail him. The last thing hed see was me killing the bitch who had done this to him.
I stood up and looked around almost blindly for the sling. Then my shaking hands caused me to miss it twice before I grabbed it. I love you, I told Adrian, tears choking my voice.
I spun the sling as I kicked Obsidianas body a safe distance away from Adrian, then I hurled the glass stone it contained at her. Even with my vision blurry and my whole body shaking, the stone hit her right in the chest.
Her body burst into ashes as if Id thrown a dozen supernatural grenades at her. The instant cloud of embers was caught by that strong breeze and rolled over us like a fog, coating me, Adrian and Costa in its dark wake.
For a moment, I stood there, not looking away from the ashes wetly falling to the carpet. Id faced a realm full of demons and minions determined to kill me, yet I had never been more afraid than I was now. What if I turned around and saw that the manna hadnt worked? How could I bear it if the last seconds Id spent with Adrian were the final ones wed ever get?
I tried to breathe, but my chest ached too much. The wind picked up and the sprinklers began shooting out as if trying to douse a five-alarm fire. Please dont let this be the end. Please, please, please!
Ivy.
A sob escaped me when I heard Adrians voice. I whirled, my paralysis vanishing. I fell to my knees next to him, an incoherent sound escaping me as I saw him brush the remains of another clump of manna from his now-healed throat. Then hard arms pulled me to him, his lips found mine and I kissed him until I couldnt breathe for a different reason this time.
When he finally lifted his head, he was smiling. I love you, too, he murmured. More than you will ever know.
Im glad I get the chance to find out, I said, so overcome I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
I thought a shadow crossed his features, but it must be remains of the wet ashes. One day, you might.
CHAPTER SEVEN
ADRIAN KISSED ME AGAIN. I couldve stayed that way for the rest of the night, but Costa cleared his throat in a manner meant to get our attention. When Adrian and I both ignored him, he tapped us on the arms. Hard.
Guys, Costa said through gritted teeth. Securitys here, and they look pissed.
I looked up to see three uniformed men glaring down at us. Then they looked around in a disbelieving way at the holes in the wall, the dark stains on the sodden carpet, the broken mirror farther down the hallway and, finally, the blood still staining Adrians clothes.
What in hell happened here? one of the guards asked in heavily accented English.
From the other people peeking out of their hotel rooms, they werent the only ones who wanted to know that. Adrian got up, bloody droplets accompanying his every move, and reached into his pants pocket.
Dont worryIll pay for all of it, he said, pulling out a credit card with a ridiculously high charging limit.
That was one way out of this situation. The security staff no longer looked as if they were about to tackle us, but they were still clearly pissed.
Youll pay on your way out, one of them growled before giving another disgusted look around. This flooding will take days to clean up!
Hey, thats from your sprinklers, I corrected him.
What sprinklers? the guard snapped.
I pointed at the ceiling, but the word Those! died on my lips. The hallway had several smoke alarms, but unbelievably, I didnt see any sprinkler heads. Now that I was thinking about it, the water had seemed to come from the sides, not just from the ceiling, and I still had no explanation as to where the strange, strong wind had come from.
Dont say anything else, Adrian murmured, taking my hand.
I looked down at our clasped hands. I hadnt noticed the slingshot melding back into my flesh, but it now once again resembled a tattoo instead of the ancient supernatural weapon that it was. That awful burn running along the right half of my body had stopped, too, so the staff was no longer reacting to the presence of a demon.
Wait a minute. The staff... Oh, shit, I whispered.
My sister, Jasmine, slicked her wet blond hair back before giving me a supportive, if somewhat pitying, smile. Guess we now know what your other tattoo can do.
Guess we did. Then again, Mosess staff was famous for supernatural weather events, hence all those plagues against the Egyptians that resulted in the Israelites exodus several thousand years ago. Next to that, a little indoor rain and wind was pretty ho-hum.
Get the rest of our stuff, Adrian said to Costa and Jasmine. Well meet you downstairs. To the guards, he said, Feel free to escort us to the front desk, if youre worried about our skipping out on the bill.
He received a barrage of Armenian for his reply. I was glad I didnt know the language, because I was sure I wouldnt have liked what was said. One of the guards stayed with Costa and Jasmine while the other two took Adrian up on his challenge and escorted us all the way to the front desk.
Once there, we waited while the manager checked out the fifth floor and returned to chew us out in very good English. When it was all said and done, Adrian paid the hotel an amount that could have also purchased a great used car.
Once again, sorry for the mess, he told the manager. The wife and I just love to play with Super Soakers.
And paintball guns, I added, since Adrians shirt was still stained with red.
You forgot smashing mirrors and putting holes in the walls, the manager said sourly.
Adrian flashed a grin at him. For someone who had been inches away from death less than an hour ago, he looked like his usual cocky self now. What can I say? Its our honeymoon.
The manager gave him an extremely unamused look. Congratulations. Now, get out.