Whyd you do a thing like that? she demanded.
Nothing I said would make it appear less crazy, so I might as well live up to her expectations.
Ever have one of those days when you just hate your hair? I asked, widening my eyes for maximum disturbed effect.
She didnt even wash her hands before she left. I made sure to be quick about my business as well, not surprised to see her talking to the store clerk once I exited the bathroom.
Hey, girlie, the bald clerk said sharply. Did you?
This is for the damage, Adrian interrupted, slapping a handful of blank papers in front of the clerk. My confusion increased when the man snatched them up, his scowl turning into a grin.
No problem, the clerk said, actually giving me a cheery wave. Take care, girlie!
I waited until we were outside before I said, What was that?
Adrians mouth curled into a sardonic smile. Zachs here.
Thats when I paid attention to the hoodie-clad guy next to Adrians car. Zach turned around, thankfully not projecting a blinding array of light as he faced us.
I understand you ran into some difficulty last night, he stated, as if wed only gotten a flat tire.
I blamed my response on being frustrated, under-caffeinated and hungry. Yeah, and I hope you were too busy to show up because you were saving a bus full of nuns!
A shrug. I wasnt sent to you until now.
Are you serious? Incredulity sharpened my tone. Is your boss in a bad mood, or does he suffer from time-delay up there?
Zachs face turned stony, but it didnt escape me that Adrians smile widened.
You dont know how many times Ive wondered that, he murmured, nudging me in a sympathetic way.
Zach had a different response. Why do you expect someone else to solve problems you are capable of handling yourselves?
Adrian grunted. Get used to hearing that. Its his favorite line.
Then you must want to punch him a lot, I thought before Zachs pointedly arched brow reminded me that my musings werent private. That might not be all bad, though. I seized my chance.
Tell me what Adrian is, and why hes so determined to get away from me once this is over, I thought, staring at Zach.
No, he said out loud. I gave Adrian my word, and as I told you, Archons do not lie.
What am I missing? Adrian said, casting a suspicious look between both of us.
Dont you dare! I thought, but Zach was already replying. Ivy sought the answers you are still refusing to give her.
Adrians gaze swung to me. Dont do that again, he said in an ominous tone.
You bet your ass I will, I flared. My life and my sisters life are on the line, so I have a right to know whats going on. Besides, after the fallout from your mirror omission, you said youd quit hiding things and that youd apologize.
Zach smirked at him. Actually smirked, and said, I will enjoy witnessing this. There went another note under my ever-growing list titled Things I Didnt Expect From An Archon.
Adrian gave both of us such a cold glare that I was sure hed refuse. Then he spoke.
Im sorry, Ivy, for not telling you about the mirrors. Theres your apology, and heres information you didnt knowbecause you can see through Archon glamour, you saw me hand blank pieces of paper to the clerk. He saw a stack of hundred dollar bills, and were using the same trick to fly to Mexico because we cant use the Oregon vortex to enter multiple realms through the same gateway anymore.
At my indrawn breath, Adrian went on. Demetrius will guess thats where were headed since we were in the Oregon desert when he caught up with us. Zachs here to refill our manna supply, glamour your appearance and remind me that were on our own once we enter the demon realms. The two sides cant cross into each others territories, so if were captured, Zach cant help us even if he wants to.
I was openmouthed by the time he finished, but I quickly recovered. And you are what? I asked, wanting to know that more than all the other details.
Adrian smiled. I promised to share secrets and I did. I never specified which ones.
Zach smirked again, and this time, it was directed at me.
Ill remember that, I replied, giving Adrian a look that promised retribution.
If he thought Id give up my quest to find out what he was, why he acted so hot and cold around me or what Demetrius had meant when he said that every moment the bond would strengthen between us, he was dead wrong. Now, the real trick would be to make sure that none of us ended up really dead before I got my answers.
I turned my back on Adrian, giving Zach my full attention. Youre going to change how others see me? Fine. Ive always wondered what it would be like to be a blonde.
chapter eleven
The airport tellers name was Kristin. I handed her two blank paper stubs and a stack of equally blank Post-it pages, hoping I didnt look as guilty as I felt.
One round-trip ticket to Durango, Mexico, please, I said.
Kristin looked at the blank stubs and pages. I tried to smile, but my face froze. Adrian swore that she and everyone else would see a drivers license, a passport and lots of cash in the Post-it note pile. All I saw was my imminent arrest, if the Archon glamour didnt hold up.
After what might have been five seconds but felt like ten years, the teller snapped up the two stubs from the pile, starting to type with crazy quickness on her keyboard.
Anything to declare? she asked.
Yes. Im a total criminal right now. Uh, nope.
The next flight to Durango had two stopovers, and only first-class seats available. I looked at the Post-it pages. Damned if I knew what monetary denominations they were supposed to be.
Take it, Adrian said softly from behind me.
Sold, I told the teller, pushing the pile toward her. If I didnt have enough pretend money in it, Id get more from Adrian or play up the dumb blonde stereotype as an excuse for not being able to count.
After more brisk typing, the teller handed me the two blank stubs, most of the blank pagesmy change, I supposedand a ticket with the fake name Id chosen for myself. Adrian bought his ticket, then we checked our bags and proceeded to our gate.
Thats when my last shred of denial ripped away. Some tiny part of me mustve still been clinging to the idea that everything Id seen was a hallucination, just like countless doctors over the years had assured me. But after a TSA official ran our blank stubs through a computer that authenticated them as valid IDs, the truth was undisputable.
I wasnt experiencing a psychotic break with another equally crazy companion. The fact that even computer systems were fooled by Archon glamour proved that this was nothing short of a supernatural phenomenon. Archonsangelswere real. Demons were, too, and I was going to enter into their world to find a weapon so Adrian and I could kill them.
To say I was in way over my head was an understatement.
This time, I was the one who brooded in silence over the next couple days of layovers and long flights. When the plane finally touched down in Durango, Id come to the same realization I had in Bennington over two weeks ago.
I had nothing left to lose. My whole family had been taken from me, and I didnt have someone special waiting back at college. Truth be told, there had never been anyone special. I used to blame my lack of romantic enthusiasm on the medication I took, but now that I knew the pills were placebos, I had to admit the problem was me. I even kept my roommate and my other friends at arms length, so while theyd miss me if I never came back, it wouldnt leave a big hole in their lives. Sure, we had fun hanging out, but no matter how many parties we went to or how many nights we stayed up talking, part of me hadnt really been there. I think they must have sensed that because while I didnt lack for friends, Id never been anybodys best friend. That took the kind of trust and honesty Id only shared with Jasmine. With everyone else, I was too busy pretending not to catch glimpses of things only I could see, or worrying if I was living the college life the way everyone expected me to. Most days, I worked harder at faking normal than I did on my grades, friendships or the few-and-fleeting relationships Id had. So while I was scared shitless, the only person whod really care if I didnt make it was Jasmine, and my doing this was her only hope of surviving.
It kinda sucked seeing how little my life mattered in the big scheme of things, but then again, that was also my biggest advantage. People with nothing to lose were dangerous, and since I was taking on demons, I needed to be as dangerous as I could.
As we disembarked, Adrian grasped my arm, the contact sending a familiar shiver through me. He was the only guy whod made me feel everything Id been missing all these years, and for reasons he refused to discuss, he wanted nothing to do with me. Figured.
I know I deserved it, but are you done paying me back for all the times Ive given you the silent treatment? he asked.
I looked at him, taking in his height, muscular build and devastating good looks that were invisible to everyone but me. Then I spoke the first words I had in over a thousand miles.
Yeah, Im done, and more important, Im ready.
We spent the night in a hotel in Ceballos, one of Durangos smaller towns. Adrian spoke fluent Spanish, which helped with checking in and getting dinner. Jet lag and my new resolve ensured that I slept well, and in the morning, I found out that we werent driving to the entrance of the demon realm alone. Two guys approached us as soon as we entered the hotel parking lot, exchanging back-slapping man-hugs with Adrian.
Ivy, this is my friend Tomas, Adrian said, indicating the tough-looking Hispanic man with a scar curving from his neck down to his upper arm.
Hola, I said, wishing Id taken more than two years of Spanish in high school. Tomas accepted my outstretched hand, shaking it firmly.
Hola, senorita. Then his stoic features cracked, and he flashed a wide smile at Adrian. La rubia es caliente! Hora de que empieces a salir de nuevo, mi amigo.
Its not like that, Adrian said in English, though Id translated enough to get the misassumption. Ivy and I arent dating. Were...friends.
I stiffened at his pause. No, we werent besties, but did he have to make it obvious that I was an unwelcome acquaintance? Something reckless stirred in me. Adrian might not want me around, but he wanted some things from me. Plus, I might die before sundown and I wasnt sure Id really lived during the past twenty years. Time to change that.