Beelzebub Girl (10 page)

The Omnidus nodded. "Yes, yes, Princess. And then he said he'd take care of himself and she needn't worry."

I tapped a finger against my lips. "Of course, she's worried something might happen to him as well. As long as she's a necromancer people will go to great lengths to get a piece of that, meaning they might come after him to get to her."

"He said he hasn't seen anyone and that he'll be staying in California until he's figured out what to do if they come. That's all, Princess."

"Thank you. You've been of great help." I smiled at the demon.

He'd been in Dad's service for ages. Maybe it was time to promote him from kitchen helper to a more important position, a job function that would infuse reverence into his fellow demons rather than make them ridicule him at every opportunity.

He bowed deeply, his forehead reaching his naked feet with their thick soles and long, curled nails. "Anything, Princess."

"Would you like to leave the kitchen?"

"No, please. No." He shook his head, vehemently. Fear flickered in his eyes. "I did as you said. Please don't send me back to Scalov."

I laughed and patted his shoulder. "That's not what I meant.

You’ve been a good servant. You've done a tremendous job around the house." His shaking became less violent, but angst lingered in his eyes.

I continued, "You're too clever for your job." I was surprised Dad didn't see his intelligence. "I'll personally see to it that we find you a replacement. Someone who's worthy of your place and does the job just as well."

My praise wasn't lost on him. The softest hint of a smile crossed his features, disappearing just as quickly like a blown-out flame.

"What am I supposed to do instead, Princess?"

"You'll be my personal assistant." I laughed at his surprised expression. The creased skin on his forehead softened visibly, giving him a more youthful appearance. I wondered how old he was.

"I'm honoured, but I know nothing about serving someone as high as the boss's daughter."

I jumped to my feet and reached down to help him up from the uncomfortable tiles. "You'll learn. Now, get back to work before Dad returns. We wouldn't want to give him an excuse to deny our plea, would we?"

My spirits lifted as I returned to my office, finding Dallas leaned over a sheet of paper, scribbling in concentration. I was still mad he didn't trust me, but I also understood he had no idea who I was and only tried to protect me.

"You sure take your duties seriously." I traced a finger down his arm before I pointed at the countless bullet points. "Let me see what you came up with."

"Maybe when I'm done." He shot me a lazy smile and pulled me on his lap, planting a peck on my forehead. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

His eyes shimmered. "You know what I just realised?"

"What?" I snuggled into his arms, inhaling the clean scent of his shower gel.

"I never knew there were erupting volcanoes in California,"

Dallas said.

Busted.
Kinky laughed.
How are you going to explain this one?

Wait! Let me grab my camcorder so I can record it for future
reference.

I grimaced. Granted, I didn't think of the possibility Dallas might look out the window, but it was nothing I couldn't fix. "It's all for show."

"Huh?"

Moistening my lips, I turned to face Dallas as I pointed at the highest peak, the flickering red flames giving the impression of a huge halo towering above it. "See that one over there? It's called Bursting Mountain. All kids are scared to death when they see it because it looks so real, but it's all plastic and special effects."

"You can do anything with lighting nowadays," Dallas said.

I nodded, thankful he bought my bluff. "Uh-huh."

"Since we're here we should visit it."

"Yes." I bobbed my head enthusiastically, then grimaced. "Oh no. So sorry, babe, I forgot it's closed for renovations. Maybe another time."

"Why are the special effects on then?"

Gee, he missed nothing. "Thanks for mentioning it. I'll point it out to Dad. They might have forgotten to turn it off. What a waste of resources." Hopefully, Dallas forgot and never asked about it again.

Otherwise, Dad might have to find a way to put out the volcanoes. I got up from his lap and returned to my chair, flicking through his notes.

"These are just suggestions," Dallas said. "I'm nowhere near a breakthrough yet."

"I like them." It was a lie. Organising a Halloween party? Booking the spookiest hotel in the world for a launch party? He had to be kidding. Children might end up scared for five minutes, but that was about all the fear he'd get.

"This one's great." Dallas pointed at a few sentences squeezed near the edge. I leaned forward, squinting, as I tried to decipher his impossible handwriting.

"Jock thy Keeper? What's that?"

He laughed. "No, silly. Jack the Ripper. We could hire him."

"Nope." I shook my head. "Dad will never let him out of that dark dungeon. I hope he rots there for eternity. That nut tried to kill me because I knew his true identity."

"He's dead. Pulling my leg again? You're such a jokester."

Amusement sparkled in Dallas's eyes.

I blinked, realizing my blunder. Dating a mortal was more difficult than I ever imagined. I had to keep all these secrets bottled up and sometimes they just spilled out of my mouth. When I dated down here in Hell, I could say what I wanted openly and
everyone
knew what I was talking about. "Of course it was just a joke. He's dead. I'm glad we'll never have to see that crazy dude."

"I wasn't talking about the real guy anyway," Dallas said. "Your dad could hire an actor to play him. Maybe even organise a whodunit in the style of Agatha Christie. Only, visitors will think there's a serial killer on the loose."

Jack the Ripper's picture still lingered at the back of my mind, making me shudder. Boy, did that bring back bad memories. In history class, we went back to London during the murders for a week of watching it all live, during which I had a really close encounter with Dr Thomas Neill Cream aka Jack the Ripper. I tried to help Sherlock Holmes solve the case by revealing the killer's identity. Unfortunately, Sherlock was pig-headed and refused to believe me. He went down in history never solving the case. Sucks to be him. In Heaven, everyone still taunted him.

"What do you say?" Dallas prompted, jolting me out of my thoughts.

Nodding, I let the picture flash through my mind. The idea was quite original, but how would Dad fit into it? We could claim he was Jack the Ripper, but I couldn't quite see the connection to Hell.

"What do you think?" Dallas asked.

"Sounds great. I'll run it past him. He might want a few more options though. He's very hard to please."

"I'll get back to brainstorming then." Dallas gave my hand a quick squeeze before he resumed his scribbling.

Peering out the window, I gathered my thoughts. The conversation with the Omnidus zoomed through my mind. Dallas was keen on moving to California because he was scared of something or someone. With Hell, Dad's identity and Dallas's focus on turning his home into a fortress, there were too many secrets between us. How was this relationship supposed to work when we weren't honest to each other?

"What did Amber say?" I asked, hoping he might open up to me.

Dallas peered up from his notes. "What?"

I flicked open my phone, then shut it again. "You never told me what your sister said."

He blinked. "I did."

"No, you didn't." Waiting, I crossed my arms over my chest. He didn't reply. "Was she upset because the parcel didn't arrive on time?"

"How do you know about the parcel?"

I rolled my eyes. "Dallas, you only called a million times to complain about it."

"Right. I forgot." He nodded, still tight-lipped.

I wished he'd share his worries with me instead of bottling up.

Grabbing his hand, I forced him to look at me. "Why is she worried about you?"

What are you doing?
Pinky hissed.

I grimaced, ignoring him.

"What makes you think she's worried?" Dallas asked.

There, now he's suspicious
, Pinky said.

"You grew up together. When two people are this close, it's only natural to be concerned." Would he get the hint?

"Of course. We're very close, even more so now." Dallas sighed.

"Let's get some work done before your father sacks us both."

Changing the topic wasn't going to work when I was as stubborn as a mule. "Last time I checked she left Scotland. Where's Aidan hiding her?"

Dallas's head snapped up, a frown crossing his brows. "What makes you think they're hiding?"

I groaned inwardly. If we kept going in circles like this we'd still be talking about it the following week. "Don't take it literally."

Obviously, if I cared to find out where they hid I'd only need to give Thrain a call.

Dallas nodded, still avoiding a clear answer. "Okay, sorry."

My gaze searched his, the mental wall inside his head hindering my probing mind. Amber must've told him what happened, and Dallas kept it from me because he thought I was just a normal girl who couldn't handle the supernatural. I wished I could tell him I
was
the supernatural, but that might freak him out even more than having a necromancer in the family who could raise Great-grandma if she so desired.

I sighed. "Dallas, you know Amber and I go way back, right?" Way back was an exaggeration when we only met thrice a few months ago, but the truth didn't sound quite as indicative of my friendship with her. Dallas nodded so I continued, "To cut a long story short, she told me everything."

He gawked at me, disbelief reflecting in his magnificent eyes.

"Really? She did? Even the last part?"

"Yes, she did. What happened back then is—" I whistled "—crazy stuff."

He laughed. "Loco. You could say that. I can't believe she told you. She said almost no one knew." No one? How about half of the supernatural world?

I got up and snuggled into his arms, brushing his hair off his forehead. His skin felt so warm and soft. "I'm one of the selected few.

She trusts me implicitly." That was a lie too. Amber didn't tell me a thing. I had to read her mind.

Dallas buried his face into my hair mumbling against my throat,

"I wish I could protect her. I'll never be able to sleep soundly knowing she isn't safe."

"She has Aidan."

He nodded. "I'm not sure about him." How could an immortal not be good enough to protect Amber? "I have some really bad news,"

Dallas continued.

I pushed his arms away to look at him. "What?"

"I'll have to leave as soon as possible. What we have is special, but I can't just leave my sister. I'm not ready for this until all the issues in her life are sorted out."

Dallas was so loyal to family. It amazed me. He'd do anything to protect the ones he loved. That instant I knew he'd fight for me too if it ever came down to it. He needed me now more than ever. I had connections he couldn't even dream of so, naturally, I'd stand by him.

"I'm coming with you."

Dallas hesitated as though he was leading an inner battle whether to be honest with me. I guess his wish for honesty won. "No, that's not a good idea. Amber wasn't keen on us meeting again."

"What?" My anger flared up. Forget Layla, once I got hold of that wrench Amber I'd show her what a real immortal could do. I had every right to help protect the man I love, with or without Amber's blessing.

Dallas winced. "Her exact words were that you're trouble."

I snorted. "Me? That's a ridiculous insinuation. I've never been trouble in my
life.
"

Pinky emerged on my shoulder.
May I remind you of that one
time when you set Heaven on fire because you thought it'd be fun to
watch the Cherubim run around like headless chickens?

I was only five, and it never happened again.

"Please don't get upset. She didn't mean it like that," Dallas said.

"You bet she didn't." Amber might think she had the upper hand, but I wasn't going to give up on Dallas so easily. I smiled, sweetly. "I understand your concern, and if you want to leave I won't stand in your way."

"Thank you." He sounded relieved. How could that thought of leaving me ever
cross
his mind when we actually shared a bond?

"Did you know Disneyland boasts more security than a prison?

We have cameras everywhere. No face escapes the highly trained ex-marines living in the observation department."

"Really?"

Obviously, I had no idea, but I loved how gullible he was. My fingers brushed his cheek. I marvelled at the softness of his skin. If Amber wasn't safe, neither was Dallas. I truly cared for Amber's safety, but I didn't want her problems taking away the man of my dreams. Surely, she would understand, particularly since she shared a bond with Aidan and knew how it all worked.

"Trust me on this one." I leaned closer whispering in his ear, "I'll share a secret with you, but don't ever tell anyone. It's so safe here, sometimes people placed under the witness protection scheme stay with us. We've never had an incident." I laughed inwardly. How could we have an incident with millions of guardian demons defending Hell with the help of their abilities?

"That's exactly what I'm looking for," Dallas said.

Putting on my poker face, I peered at him from under my lashes. "I should be mad at Amber for calling me trouble, but friends forgive and forget. If she needs my help, I'll be there for her."

Dallas smiled. "You mean she can stay here until they've figured out what to do?"

"What an excellent idea!" I popped my eyes wide open in fake surprise, hoping I wasn't going overboard. "Why didn't I think of it?

You're so clever."

He tapped a finger against my nose. "Technically, babe, it was your idea."

"No, it wasn't. I would never take credit for your suggestion." I lowered my face until our noses met. "Why don't you call her and see what she has to say. Don't forget to mention you came up with it."