Almost Demon (The Sigil Cycle) (21 page)

Was this a date?

I was in a panic. When summoning demons, I keep my cool. Getting dressed for a night with Ian, I completely fall apart. 

Good going, Gemma. Way to set back the feminist movement back a few decades.

I had never had a mother’s help putting myself together. I didn’t even know if I would have wanted her help if she were around. I’d like to think that we would have been close enough that I would value her opinion. 

Or she could have totally been like Charlotte’s mom.
Not such a farfetched assumption considering the fact she picked up and left her kids.

I jumped from my bed to my closet and thumbed through the hangers, unhappy at every option. 

What goes with a bikini in the middle of September?

There were plenty of hoodies, denim and flowery shirts. The slinky silver dress from last year’s junior prom. 

Yikes. I need help
. 

Me: Problem.

Charlotte: What’s up?

Me: I’m seeing Ian tonight.

Charlotte: Go you.

Me: What do I wear?

Charlotte: Skin-tight jeans. The kind that show off your ass.

Me: He told me to wear a bathing suit.

Charlotte: Hot. Slouchy sweater. And those suede moccasins you have.

Me: Thanks. 

Charlotte: I want to hear all the details tomorrow.

Me: You got it.

I fluttered around for another hour. Showering. Ironing my hair. Mussing it back up when I thought I looked like a sad puppy. Trying on three different swimsuits until I settled on a black and white polka dot bandeau bikini that contrasted with the gold metallic slouchy knit sweater. I slipped on my favorite waxed-denim jeans over freshly shaven legs and slid on the supple, turquoise-beaded, brown moccasins.

Finally, after swiping on and wiping off the pink lipstick from Charlotte’s hand-me-down pile, I opted for a black leather necklace instead of fussing with any makeup. 

Not too shabby.

I twirled in front of the mirror, checking and then double checking. I was petrified when the doorbell rang at seven o’clock on the dot. My nerves were simulating a roller coaster with a genuine stomach-dropping feel. 

As I headed to the front door, I passed my father who had tidied up in his usual anal fashion but was now seated at the head of the dining room table, engrossed in a telephone conversation. I waved and mouthed goodbye, which got a nod in return and a tap of his wrist watch, his way of saying ‘you better not be home late.’ 

I took my windbreaker out of the closet before opening the front door. There Ian stood, with one hand rubbing the back of his neck, wearing a charcoal gray blazer, black crewneck tee and a narrow tie around his neck that made me want to pull him in for a kiss. Resisting temptation, I took him by the hand and we headed out into the night.

C
HAPTER
E
IGHTEEN

It was like a drug. The Drifts. My palms got sweaty and my heart sped up as I watched Ian conjure a door I hadn’t seen yet. The sight of the bright blue lapis and patina aged bronze wave handle had me itching to lose myself in the timelessness of this other place. 

“You ready?” His smiles now had me shivering down to my toes. Ian had gone from hot daydream to me shamelessly willing to rip my clothes off for him.

“Yeah,” I replied with a smile of my own.

His grip was firm against my hand while he pushed the door open. I was getting used to the feeling of getting sucked through the air and was no longer caught off guard by the power that funneled us through to the other side. As we sailed through the ether, I tried to take in the surroundings before I blinked and it was all be gone. Shapes and colors spiraled together to form streaks and clouds that looked like galaxies pinned together by jeweled stars.

When we came to a complete stop, Ian had one arm around my waist and one hand cradling the base of my head, his fingers tangled within the messy strands of fine hair. He gave me a rough squeeze before pulling me down to the ground onto a wooden slatted walkway.

Snow-covered peaks surrounded a pool of aqua blue water as breathtaking plumes of steam lifted off the lake’s surface and into the sky, where it communed with the clouds above. An arctic chill brushed along my skin, raising goose bumps that had me shivering from the cold.

“This is amazing,” I said. My voice came out annoyingly breathy and I mentally kicked myself. 

“We could’ve done Paris or the beach. I hoped you’d like this more.” There was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

“I do.” I was still avoiding the telltale look of desire in his eyes. 

There is no way this could be real. What does he see in me?

He led me down the walkway and around a small hill to a small cabin that stood like a gem amongst the black rock and mist. The glass-mirrored exterior reflected the landscape and amplified the light and  gray white colors of the sky. Each mirror was framed by beams of dark oak and the pitched roof melted seamlessly into the sides.

I freed myself from Ian’s hold and ran up to the structure, amazed at its sheer beauty. I was met with my own reflections and didn’t recognize the person who looked back at me. She had flawless porcelain skin and bright, wild eyes. I turned my head to the side and she followed without delay. I picked up one hand and moved to meet hers but all that was there was the cold slick material of the house’s exterior. 

“You’re beautiful.” Ian walked up behind me and leaned his body over me, wrapping his strong arms around my body.

“At least you think so,” I answered, meeting his reflection.

“And you’re special.” He turned his head to me and gently sucked on the thin layer of skin on my neck. The sensation sent  pulsating feelings through my body. “Let’s go inside. You’re shivering.”

“I’m not cold. It’s you.”

He lifted me off my feet and scooped me into his arms as he backed into the wall, pushing open a hinged door to reveal the candle-lit interior. The room was sparse yet luxurious. Minimalist. What little furniture decorated the space had clean lines and monochromatic tones. Two gray leather club chairs sat in front of a long narrow table that held two large silver candelabra and was spattered with dozens of tea lights. A well- made mattress rested atop a low gray stained wooden platform. The headboard nearly reached the ceiling and was the only thing blocking the view of outside. The sheets were bluish in hue and the comforter was black, echoing the scenery. 

“This is home,” he said, setting me down on the plush rug at the base of his bed. 

“Really? In the Drifts?”

“Yeah. I may not get to come here that often anymore but it’ll always be the only place I can relax. I’ve moved around so much this is the only constant I have.”

I hugged my knees as he sat down beside me. He took my hand and placed a kiss on my wrist. 

“This one’s new,” he said.

“Yeah.” I pulled my hand back and tucked it behind me.

“Gemma. You really need to stop.” His words brought back to me my brother’s warning. 

Is that what he meant? Stop the magic?

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” he said.

I winced at the realization that I wasn’t going to be able to keep it from Ian much longer. “He needs my help. He says he can’t do it without me.”

“It’s dangerous. One day you’re going to summon a monster and you won’t be able to control it.”

“I can’t stop. The Dybbuk. They’re everywhere now if you haven’t noticed. I know we go about our day like nothing is really happening but my dad is slowly going crazy and Allison is stalking me. There are ones floating out there that follow me wherever I go and I feel like they’re just biding their time before they all decide to attack.”

He cupped my cheeks with his warm hands. My breath hitched by the concern that lined his face.

“Gemma, you…”

“Thom thinks I’m right. He thinks if we can figure out who sent the Dybbuk to Harrisport then we have a good chance of kicking them out.”

“Mr. Flynn?” he asked.

“Yeah. He has a grimoire. He’s been teaching me about demons. How to summon them. Negotiate with them.” There was a measure of relief that followed my confession. I didn’t feel like I was hiding a part of me from Ian anymore.

“Then we need to go see Sam. He needs to know what Mr. Flynn is making you do. He’ll tell you what to do to protect yourself.”

“He’s not making me do anything. I’m good at it and it feels right. For some reason, I can’t put my finger on it, when I let my mind grow quiet and draw the sigils, I feel like myself. The real me. Not the Gemma that goes to school every day and puts on a normal face.” I turned my head, unable to face him as I let the last words spill out. “It’s like the way I feel when I’m with you.”

“Gem. Promise me you’ll see Sam with me.”

I knew that Thom wouldn’t want me divulging any of his secrets but it’s not like I was sharing any details. Besides, I couldn’t lie to Ian, and the amount of concern he was showing made me tingle. 

He cares about me.

“Fine,” I replied. “I promise.”

“I guess I killed the mood, huh?” Ian said, nodding towards the bed.

“It’s alright. I don’t think I’m as ready as I thought I was.” I smiled, bracing myself for some sort of rejection or smooth-talking convincing.

“It’s okay. I’ll wait as long as you want.”

That’s when I decided that maybe I didn’t know when I would feel ready to give up my last shred of innocence but it was for sure going to be with Ian.

C
HAPTER
N
INETEEN

The blaring noise of a car horn woke me. My body was still warm and relaxed after my night in the ethereal lagoon Ian had called his home. I stretched my arms over my head and languished in the after effects of a restful sleep. After Ian had brought me back home, I had gone out like a light. I hadn’t even gotten up for water.

Whiiiiine.

There it was again. Like the driver was leaning against the entire steering wheel, letting out one long stretch of a drone. I sat up and peeked out the window. Charlotte’s car was running in the driveway. I looked at my clock and saw the time.

Shit. I forgot about today
.

I practically jumped into my sweats and gave a quick stroke of deodorant after doing a fast rendition of the ABCs as I brushed my teeth. I doubt it took the two minutes recommended by dentists nationwide.

When I ran out the door, I rammed right into Charlotte, sending the two of us onto the wet grass. 

“I’m so sorry, Char. I was rushing to get out. I kind of overslept. Do you think the roads will be open?”

She took great care getting back up on her black platform wedge booties. 

“Wow. You must have had some night. Let’s get in the car and you can tell me all about it. The highway is clear and I think I can swing back around the way I came. I called the salon before I left the house. They said they’ll be open but might be a few minutes late in case of traffic.” She giggled and ran to the driver’s side of the car.

I was about to get in when I realized what it was I was about to do. I had woken up to the sight of her car and completely expected to get right in and go off with her, as if I did that sort of thing every day. I stood by the door as Charlotte gave me a questioning look. 

Can I do it?

I hopped from one foot to the next as I tried to decide whether or not I could get in the car again. I had read about treating phobias with something called exposure therapy. If the person with the phobia is slowly introduced to the thing they are most afraid of, they can start to control their biological reactions and avoid freaking out. 

Just think of this as a continuation of the ride on Thom’s bike. I can get through this. 

I heard Charlotte’s Bluetooth pick up a phone call. It was her mother.