A knife suddenly slammed into the top of his head, twisting with vicious force. My would-be killer abruptly went cross-eyed and dropped his gun. I snatched it up, clutching it but not firing. Adrian was now right in front of me, and I didnt want to hit him, plus my would-be killer looked really, really dead.
Adrian yanked his knife out and the minion began to fall. As he did, his body transformed, turning dark as pitch and then dissipating altogether. What landed on the blood-spattered floor wasnt a man. It was a pile of ashes that coated me when the Jeep bounced from Tomass wild acceleration as we finally cleared the mountain pass.
Adrian knelt, one hand roughly cupping my face while the other searched me for injuries.
Thank God youre okay, he breathed.
For some reason, hearing Adrian thank a deity he mostly seemed to despise shocked me as much as seeing my would-be killer disintegrate before my eyes. I stared at Adrian, the ashes covering me and then the horizon. No more leaping, murderous minions appeared, and since Costa and Tomas had stopped firing, I assumed we were finally in the clear.
But with the sun hanging lower into the sky, we wouldnt be clear for long. Night was coming, and with it, demons.
chapter fifteen
We didnt go back to our hotel in Ceballos. Tomas drove straight to an empty, ancient-looking monastery, and we passed through the gates right as the last rays of sunlight disappeared. I staggered into the abandoned sanctuary with relief so intense, it felt like a cheap high. Who knew that entering a church would be my new favorite thing?
Hide the Jeep, Adrian ordered. Howre we on ammo?
Nearly out, Tomas said, running a red-splattered hand through his hair. Ill make a call, try to get more.
Costa. Adrian threw the bag of manna at him. Here.
The curly-haired man winced as he reached up and caught it. Thanks. Bastards got me.
When Costa lifted his shirt and I saw two oozing holes in his abdomen, I ran over to him. Youve been shot!
Mentally defective is right, I immediately chided myself. Talk about stating the obvious.
Let me help you, I added, tucking my shoulder under Costas arm so he could use me as a crutch. Adrian shook his head, muttering something unintelligible as he left the gutted sanctuary. I led Costa to an alcove, seating him on the groove.
You know what youre doing with that? Costa asked, sounding pained yet amused.
Scoop n slap, right? I replied, digging my fingers into the mushy substance. Out of everyone, my hands were the cleanest, but I still left bloody smudges in the bag.
Costa grunted. Thats it. Then he visibly braced as I held my manna-smeared hand over the first entry wound. Do it.
I pressed it against the bullet hole, wincing in empathy as his whole body jerked. After a few minutes, his harsh breathing eased, so I pulled my hand away.
No more blood oozed from the hole, which was growing smaller before my eyes. After another minute, it disappeared entirely, leaving a smooth, shiny patch of skin in its place.
One to go, I said, reaching for more manna.
Did your hands get shot, too, Costa?
The question startled me. I hadnt noticed Adrian return, but there he was, standing where the doors would have been, if the sanctuary entrance still had them.
Costa lifted one shoulder in a shrug. Only a fool turns down attention from a pretty girl.
Costa lifted one shoulder in a shrug. Only a fool turns down attention from a pretty girl.
Adrians expression hardened even more than his current scowl, which made no sense. First, having your bullet wounds treated could hardly be counted as flirting, and second, why would he care even if Costa was flirting?
Im trying to help, I said, placing manna over the second bullet hole, which effectively silenced Costa. I didnt prove too useful with a gun, but this, at least, I can do.
Adrians stare went from my face to my hand on Costas abdomen and back again. Oh, Im sure he appreciates it.
After those quietly growled words, he disappeared. Costas brow rose. I lifted my free hand in a dont ask me gesture. Maybe his rudeness was just another side effect of having been raised by demons.
I dont think he likes you touching me, Costa said, his mouth curling. Adrian, acting jealous. Thats a first.
Hes not jealous, I muttered, wiping my hands on my shorts after I confirmed that his wound had healed. He keeps reminding me that he cant wait to get away from me.
Thats not about you. Something dark flitted across Costas expression. Thats about him.
Tomas returned, stopping me from probing more. Jeeps hidden, he announced, and more guns are on the way.
Relief swept through me. Who knew that guns would be my second favorite thing after hallowed ground?
Whatre the odds the demons wont find us until we get those guns? I asked, hoping for a high percentage.
Fifty-fifty, Tomas replied, dashing that. They know you cant have gotten too far by sundown, so theyll have minions search every hallowed site within a hundred miles.
Right, they want me dead because Im the only person who can find a demon-killing weapon, I said wearily.
Thats not Tomas began, then shut his mouth at the warning look Costa gave him.
Not what? I asked, suspicion replacing my fatigue.
If Adrian hasnt told you, he must have a reason, Costa said, landing himself right after Demetrius on my shit list.
Yeah, because hes pathologically secretive, I snapped. Im getting sick of being the only person who doesnt know whats going on, so one of you had better talk.
Tomas exchanged another look with Costa, then he leaned back against the wall.
You know what it was like for us in the realms? he asked in a conversational tone. We were beaten, forced into cannibalism, worked almost to death...and that was on a good day.
Sympathy tempered my anger. I am so sorry, I said, meaning every word.
Tomass dark brown stare held mine. Dont be. We survived. Know how Adrian was treated before he started fighting demons? Like a prince. He paused, letting that sink in. Anything he wanted, he got. He didnt even have to ask. They practically worshipped him, and when demons want to shower someone with adulation, crèeme, they make it rain. Beautiful women, more gold than Fort Knox, power to rule any realm he entered
Why? I whispered, stunned.
Because of his lineage, they believe hes going to do something that will make demons unbeatable in their war against Archons.
Its your destiny! Mayhemium had roared at Adrian. Demetrius had said something similar when he caught up with us. Even Zach had told Adrian he couldnt escape his fate, but Zach was an Archon, so he couldnt believe Adrian was destined to help demons win the war against them. If he did, why wouldnt Zach kill Adrian as a preemptive strike? The demons sure wanted to kill me, and all I could do was find one ancient weapon....
I sucked in a breath, realization shattering me. Its the weapon, isnt it? Adrian said if the demons knew where it was, theyd have already used it for their own purposes. I didnt think it through at the time, but that means it must do a lot more than just kill demons.
Tomass mouth thinned into a straight line. Costa got up, dropping a hand briefly on his friends shoulder.
Youve heard of David and Goliath? Costa asked evenly. Thousands of years ago, a shepherd boy killed a giant with nothing more than a slingshot and blind faith, thus Davids fame was born. You are the last Davidian, so in your hands, that ancient slingshot has the one-time power to overcome any and all odds. In short, whatever you point it at, it will defeat.
That sounded too good to be true, so there had to be more. What can the demons do with it?
Costas smile was grim. Goliath was no ordinary giant. He descended from demons, and some of his originating bloodline lives on. If one of those demons gets the slingshot, they get a one-time ability to overcome unbeatable odds, too. So with it, demons think they can win the war against Archons in a day.
My head was starting to pound, probably from trying to process information that was too incredibleand horribleto believe. If I hadnt crossed through to a different realm today or seen multiple examples of supernatural phenomena all my life, I would have called Tomas and Costa crazy.
Unfortunately, I knew they werent.
Is Adrian descended from Goliaths line? was what I asked. Is that why the demons think hes their savior? Because if he gets the weapon, he can use it against Archons?
Tomas and Costa exchanged another look, then Tomas let out a deep sigh.
No, Ivy. Adrians the last of another line.
Whose? I asked in a steely voice, my glare daring them not to tell me.
Get out, both of you.
Adrians voice cut through the silence. Like before, hed come in without anyone noticing. Tomas and Costa rose at once, leaving without another word. When I saw the expression on Adrians face, part of me wanted to follow them, but the rest wanted the truth so much, I didnt care about the consequences.
Whose line are you the last of? I said, refusing to back down. Tell me now, or I leave that weapon lost, and after what I just heard, lost is probably where it should stay.
He smiled, the seductive curve of his lips not taking away from the lethal hardness in his jeweled gaze. His jaw was shadowed from not having shaved recently, and that hint of darkness only made his high cheekbones look more pronounced, giving an edge to his already unforgettable features. Even in his bloody, torn clothes, Id never seen him look more gorgeous, and for the first time, I was also afraid of him.
Havent you guessed? he asked, his voice caressing the words like silk draping across daggers. Who in history committed such a heinous act that it made his name forever synonymous with betrayal?
I dont know, I said, backing up as he came toward me with slow, stalking steps.
Yes, you do.
A rough, throaty whisper, and then he was in front of me, his arms a cage that blocked me in while the wall behind me made retreat impossible. Despite my fear, I shivered as he leaned down, his mouth only inches from mine and his hands sliding to rest on my shoulders. The last time wed been this close, hed almost kissed me, and God help me, I still wanted him to. My feelings for him defied logic, sanity or safety, and judging from the intensity in his gaze as he wound one hand through my hair, it was possible he felt the same way.