And uninjured, judging from how easily Costa moved once he was free from the rocks. I stared, disbelief turning to amazement. No way had he only been asleep. He still had bullet holes in his shirt, not to mention hed been buried under a stone building; yet now, he looked in better shape than me.
One glance at Adrians face confirmed it. He stared at Zach while his expression changed from shock to expectancy.
Wake the rest of them up, he said with barely contained vehemence.
Zach didnt reply, but he did go over to another motionless body part and then pulled up a perfectly healthy Tucco.
What happened to the minions? Tucco asked, shaking the dust and debris out of his hair.
Ashes, Adrian responded in a terse tone.
Bueno, was Tuccos reply, followed by, Wheres Tomas?
In the sanctuary, I said, my voice catching on the next word. Asleep.
Not asleep. Tomas is dead, Zach corrected, no emotion in his tone.
Adrian strode over, gripping Zach by the collar of his pullover sweater. Wake. Him. Up, he said through gritted teeth.
Zachs handsome features stayed in that serene mask. He is dead, he replied, spacing out the words like Adrian had. Neither your demands nor your anger can change that.
Zachs handsome features stayed in that serene mask. He is dead, he replied, spacing out the words like Adrian had. Neither your demands nor your anger can change that.
But you can save him, I burst out, rushing over to grip the Archons sleeve. Please, save him.
Zach looked at Adrian and me before brushing our hands aside. His time had come, as with the other two. It is done.
Then he walked away, adding, There are others you can still save, if you havent given up. Tickets are waiting at the Durango airport. Whatever you decide, dont remain here. Demetrius will soon find his courage and return.
As Zach disappeared, one of the formerly silent cars revved to life. The four of us stared at it for a moment, and then, by unspoken agreement, climbed inside.
I didnt know if the rest of them were motivated by survival instinct, but I knew why I got into the car, and it wasnt just because I wanted away from the sanctuary of death behind us. I might be angry, confused and in desperate need of a shower, but I still wasnt ready to give up.
chapter eighteen
Adrian used the last of the manna hed stuffed in his pocket to heal our injuries on our way to the airport. Tucco got off on our first layover in Mexico City. Costa, Adrian and I continued to our planes final destination of Miami, Florida. Id learned on the flight there that Costa and Tomas lived in Miami, and theyd journeyed to Durango to help Adrian after he called them. Now only Costa had survived to make the trip home.
Their house was a former church located only two blocks from the beach. It even had a steeple with a cross on top. When Costa showed me around, I realized that he and Tomas had closed in that soaring, pointed ceiling, turning it into the houses second floor. That was where I stayed, in Tomass old room, and for the first day, all I did was sleep.
The second day, I went to the beach. I wasnt trying to work on my tan, but the sun, heat and tropical scenery made it the exact opposite of the demon realm, and I gratefully soaked up the differences. Already, I couldnt stand the cold or dark. Id kept the lights on when I slept, something I hadnt done since I was child, and if the air conditioning dipped too low, a feeling of dread washed over me.
Costa said that no one left the realms the same way they entered them. Adrian had warned me, too. They were both right.
I stayed at the beach the whole afternoon, moving under the shade of the pavilion when my skin began to redden. Late October in Miami felt like June in Virginia, but the beach wasnt crowded, probably because it was a Thursday. Back at WMU, Delia and the rest of my friends would be making their weekend plans. They knew which bars had a strict ID policy and which didnt, plus there were always parties on or around campus. Id joined them on the classes-parties seesaw for the past two years, but it almost seemed strange to realize Id be doing that again if I went back home. Id often had to fake my enthusiasm for going out, and that was before I knew the freaky things I saw were real. Now? I couldnt pretend to be impressed by some drunken guy pulling off a keg stand. Kick a demons ass, thatll impress me.
Speaking of guys, a few hit on me throughout the day, which wouldve been flattering under regular circumstances. These were anything but. For starters, they were hitting on my blond disguise, not me. More importantly, when I wasnt thinking about Tomass death, my sisters imprisonment or the awfulness of the realms, I thought about Adrian. Flirting with cute strangers was the last thing on my mind.
Three of the guys took my rebuff like men and went on their way. The fourth, however, was being a little bitch about it.
Come on, sugar, have one drink with me, he urged.
Again, no, I said, not adding and Im not your sugar only because simple phrases already seemed too much for him.
He grinned, showing off nice teeth. He wasnt bad-looking, either, with his short black hair and a leanly muscular build, but even if I was looking for a date, he wouldnt be it. Years ago, Id dated another guy who didnt understand the word no, and Id ended up breaking an empty beer bottle over his head on prom night. That, hed understood.
Mr. Pushy grabbed my hand, tugging on it with that same smug grin. Bars right up the street. Youll love it
Being snatched backward and flung to the sand ended his grabby sales pitch. Adrian stood over him, his foot grinding into the guys back. Somehow, I wasnt a bit surprised.
Youve been spying on me all day, havent you? I said. I told you I needed some time to myself, Adrian.
He glanced down at Mr. Pushy. Good thing I didnt listen.
I rolled my eyes. Like I couldnt handle him? If nothing else, you shouldve known that Id be able to outrun him.
...et me...up, the guy said, his words garbled, trying to spit out enough sand to talk.
Adrian hauled him up, though a hard cuff almost sent Mr. Pushy sprawling again.
Get lost, he said curtly.
The guy looked at Adrian with surly confidence, reminding me that he only saw the disguise. Not the hulking, six-six man whod ripped the throat out of the last person who touched me without my consent.
I should kick your ass, the guy muttered.
You should run while your legs still work, I told Mr. Pushy. To Adrian I said, Hes not worth the police report, so dont do whatever youre thinking of.
Either the guy sensed the danger in Adrians glare, or he suddenly remembered another girl who wanted to go to the bar. Whatever it was, with another mutter, he left, still brushing sand off himself as he climbed up the pavilion staircase.
Once he was gone, Adrian and I stared at each other. Moments ago, hed been poised to strike; now he looked almost hesitant, like he didnt know what to say.
Costas making dinner, he told me, as if that had anything to do with why he was here. Itll be ready in half an hour.
My annoyance began to evaporate. Id seen Adrian look angry, vengeful, bitter, confident, lethal and seductive, but this was different. He almost seemed...shy. Was it because Id busted him for spying on me? If so, he must not have been doing it only out of concern for my safety.
So whats for dinner? I asked, my voice soft.
He smiled. Burnt moussaka, probably. Costa loves to cook, and I dont have the heart to tell him that he sucks at it.
I laughed. Thanks for the heads-up. Ill play along and clean my plate, too.
Adrian chuckled before he looked away. The sea breeze blew his longer bangs back while the setting sun turned his blondish-brown hair into different shades of red. His shirt molded to him from the wind, and his shorts showed off those shapely, muscular legs.
You did really well in the realm, he said, still not looking at me. I meant to tell you that before, but...
Everyone died and Zach only brought a couple back, I filled in, grief chasing away my other thoughts. Thank you, by the way. I didnt get to say that before, either. I wouldnt have made it out of there alive without you.
Or out of the desert, the monastery, the other desert, Bennington... Because of Adrian, I was turning out to have more lives than a cat.
Or out of the desert, the monastery, the other desert, Bennington... Because of Adrian, I was turning out to have more lives than a cat.
He looked at me then, sadness making his eyes appear a deeper shade of blue. Did Tomas... Was it quick?
I drew in a shuddering breath, remembering that awful wound and Tomass last words. It was quick.
He nodded, returning his attention to the water, but I glimpsed the grief he was trying to hold back. I moved closer, sliding my hand into his without even thinking about it. His fingers curled around mine, and the sense of rightness I felt hit me like a wrecking ball. Had I fallen so hard, so fast?
Im glad you were with him, he said, his tone faintly hoarse. Dyings hard enough. Doing it alone is worse.
I couldnt imagine all the death Adrian had seen growing up in the demon realms. Id suffered so little by comparison, and some days, I still felt like I couldnt take it. Today had been one of those days. All the warmth and sunshine Id tried to soak up hadnt put a dent in the icy darkness rising inside me. But holding his hand did, and that scared me as much as I silently marveled at it.
Do you really think Im strong enough to keep searching the realms until I find this weapon? I asked, my voice barely audible as I spoke my greatest fear aloud.
His hand tightened on mine. I know you are, Adrian said, turning to look at me once more.
It wasnt the words, though Id needed to hear them. It wasnt even his voice, though it vibrated with surety. It was his eyes. Id never read so much from a persons eyes before, but Adrians seemed to spill all the secrets he still refused to tell me. In those sapphire depths, I knew he meant what hed said. I might not believe in me, but he did, and right now, it gave me hope that we would make it through. All of us.