I reached out, trailing my free hand down his arm. Thanks, I said softly.
He stepped closer, brushing my hair back, and I closed my eyes. I felt so safe with him, which hed say was the last thing I should feel. Still, if nothing but betrayal loomed ahead, how could Adrian be the only person I trusted? And how could he be the only person who made me feel alive if he was destined to be the death of me?
I believe in you, too, I told him, not opening my eyes. Youll beat your fate. I know you will.
He let out a strangled sound, and my skin felt cold from how fast he let me go. When I opened my eyes, I wasnt surprised to see only surf-soaked sand in front of me.
Once again, Adrian had vanished, but like all the other times, he wasnt really gone. Whether by destiny or by choice, neither of us could completely walk away from the other.
Not yet.
chapter nineteen
The next morning, I awoke to a strange man sitting on the end of my bed. His back was to me, and I wouldve screamed if I hadnt recognized his faded blue hoodie. Good thing Id caught myself. Adrian and Costa wouldve run in with their guns drawn.
What are you doing here? I asked Zach.
The Archon set down a picture of Tomas as a boy with his father. Family pictures occupied most of Tomass room. I hoped looking at them made Zach feel guilty. He couldve saved Tomas, but hed chosen not to for reasons I still didnt understand.
I am here to glamour your appearance, Zach replied, ignoring the thought I knew hed heard. Adrian has chosen the next realm for you both to search, and demons will be more watchful of blond women.
I ran a hand through my hair, remembering that only Adrian, Zach and I saw its deep brown shade. As for my face, well, I hadnt seen that clearly in almost two weeks. Not being able to look in a mirror without risking a demon attack cut back on any feminine urges to check my appearance.
Dont overdue the hotness factor this time, I said. We might have made it out of that realm without a fight if Mayhemium hadnt gotten a hard-on over my glamoured looks.
Zach nodded. I will make appropriate changes.
Then he placed his hand on top of my head. Like last time, I didnt feel anything, but when he said, It is done, I knew I now looked completely different. Pity I couldnt see my disguises. When I looked at my reflection in shiny surfaces, it still looked like the real me.
Okay. I got out of bed, put on a robe and went to the door. Im making coffee. Dont suppose you want any?
The side of his mouth twitched. Im trying to cut back.
Had he just cracked a joke? I looked sharply at him, but that twitch was gone and his expression was back to its normal, placid mask. Deciding I had more important things to worry about, I left the bedroom.
Zachs here, I announced on my way to the kitchen.
Costas door flung open, and he stared at me, shock creasing his features. Ivy? he asked with disbelief.
I waved a hand. I know. Zach gave me a makeover, so minions and demons dont recognize me from my old disguise.
They sure wont, Costa croaked, his lip curling in a way that said Zach had taken my admonition seriously by beating my new appearance with an ugly stick.
I gave a mental shrug. I was shallow enough to care if Adrian saw me that way, but he didnt.
Speaking of Adrian, his door opened as we passed. Hed been in the process of pulling on a shirt, which gave me a glimpse of his muscled chest and ripped abs before the loose material covered them. I swallowed, glancing away. With a mind-reading angel in the house, now really wasnt the time to dwell on how much Adrian affected me.
Zach. Adrians voice was brisk. We need more manna, plus a new appearance for me, too.
Costa said something in Greek that had Adrian whipping around to stare at me. Then he let out a snort of amusement.
Nice, he told Zach, the edginess gone from his tone.
Had Zach given me Halloween-style warts, too? I lifted my nose and started making coffee. Some of us were too mature to worry about things like unattractive fake appearances.
Where are we going this time? I asked.
Zach remained standing, but Adrian and Costa sat at the kitchen table. I pulled three cups out from the cabinet. None of us were trying to cut back on our coffee habit.
Roanoke, North Carolina, Adrian replied.
Not another desert, at least. Theres a vortex there?
No. The edge was back in Adrians tone. No more vortexes.
I turned around, still holding my empty coffee cup. Why?
Demetrius now knows the weapon is hidden in a demon realm, Zach answered for him. Hell expect you to try vortexes, since they are the most efficient means of entry into their realms.
Adrians shrug conveyed, What he said. Costa still seemed to be reconciling my new appearance with who I was, but I was focused on the information no one had told me before.
You mean the demons didnt know the weapon had been hidden in one of their realms before they caught us looking for it?
Thats right, Adrian said, with a sidelong glance at Zach. Itll be a race to see who finds it first, and you can bet theyll be searching their worlds from top to bottom.
Do you know where it is? I asked Zach bluntly, remembering Adrians accusation about the Archon.
As if he knew the source of my question, Zach gave Adrian a measured look before he responded. No.
Archons dont lie, I reminded myself. Then again, I only had an Archons word on that, so it wasnt exactly unbiased.
But your boss knows, I prodded. Right?
The faintest smile curled Zachs mouth. He would not be much of a boss otherwise.
How about we save a lot of lives by having him tell us where it is, then? I asked, barely holding back my sarcasm.
Zach gave an infuriating shrug. If that were His will, you would already know its location.
The coffee cup in my hand shattered. I yelped, both at the pain and the clattering sound as pieces hit the floor. I hadnt been aware of tightening my grip, but in my anger, I must have. Adrian started forward, but I waved him back with a frustrated swipe of my hand.
Sorry, I muttered to Costa, bending to pick up the pieces. To Zach I said, Then your boss sucks. Its to his benefit that I find the weapon before the demons do, but instead of helping, hes grabbing popcorn to sit back and watch.
Get used to it, Adrian said dryly.
Isnt that what you would rather do? Zach replied, his gaze flashing as it swept over me. If your sisters life wasnt tied to this weapon, would you risk yourself searching for it? Before I could respond, he started in on Adrian. And if it wasnt the key to your vengeance, would you risk your fate to help her? No, he answered for both of us. Therefore, sit judgment on your own sins before you presume to judge others.
Now I was glad Id broken the thick glass cup. Otherwise, I might have thrown it at him. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to save my sisters life, I almost snarled.
Untold thousands are trapped in the dark realms. If hers is the only life you care about, something is very wrong, Zach responded at once.
Thats out of my control and you know it. If I could save all of them, I would! I snapped back.
Absolute silence fell. For a second, it seemed like the traffic noise outside Costas house vanished, too. Adrian closed his eyes, anger and resignation skipping over his features. Light briefly gleamed in Zachs gaze, and he stared at me with such intensity that a wave of foreboding swept over me.
Something significant had just happened, and as usual, I was the only one who didnt know what it was. Also per usual, none of them were going to tell me about it.
Whatever. Id get it out of them eventually. I threw the last of the shattered cup into the trash and then ran my hand under the tap, washing the cut one of the shards had made.
When do we leave for Roanoke? Costa asked, breaking the loaded silence. And before you argue, Adrian, I am going with you. Tomas died fighting for Ivys chance to find that weapon. Im seeing this through until she does. Then my best friend can finally rest in peace.
Id started this to rescue my sister, but in a short amount of time, the stakes had grown much larger. Now more than Jasmines life hung in the balance. So did Adrians revenge, Tomass justice and Costas tribute to his friend, all hinging on my ability to find and successfully use a supernatural weapon, if the demons hunting us didnt kill us first.
No pressure, right?
Adrians gaze moved to Zach, and the two men exchanged a look I couldnt read. Whatever it was, it wasnt happy.
Did you bring my car? Adrian finally asked.
An oblique nod. Of course.
Adrian went over to the now-full coffee pot, downed a steaming mug like it was a single shot and then flashed the rest of us a grimly expectant smile.
We leave in an hour.
chapter twenty
A glimpse inside Adrians trunk explained why we were driving to North Carolina instead of flying. It looked like an NRA gold-member kit, with row upon row of handguns, regular rifles and assault rifles. We barely had room for luggage, not that I had much to bring. Aside from the clothes and basic hygiene items Zach had gotten me, all I owned was a lipstick, gum and face cream, all stuffed inside a tiny, clear travel bag.
I took that bag out to put my lipstick on during our first pit stop. Costa wasnt the only person who stared as I contorted my head in order to see a distorted reflection in the chrome from Adrians empty side mirror. Not that I cared. I wasnt doing this to look prettier for Adrian, Costa or even myself. I did it because it was my last link to a semi-normal life. Everything else had been turned upside down or taken away, but this small feminine ritual was my silent promise that one day, if I survived, Id get it back. No matter how long it took, or what I might change based on truths I now knew.
That looks...disturbing, Costa said when I was finished.
I smacked my lips at him, unperturbed. Ill get better at doing this without a mirror. Now, pass me the rock and gloves. Im hitting the ladies room before we leave.
Uh, I dont think Costa began, only to be cut off by Adrians Dont. This I have to see.
I gave them a questioning look as I accepted the gloves and rock Id need to smash the mirror. That turned to suspicion when they followed me into the gas station, not even pretending to browse as they watched me enter the bathroom. Jeez, had I screwed up my lipstick that badly?