Authors: Cheryl McIntyre
She is purely and simply good. He has never known anyone like her. He believes this is how his mother must have been. The Demon King has always spoken of how weak
she was for
her kindness and
humanity.
Asmoday doesn’t see it as a weakness. It has taken him more strength to do right than it ever did to do wrong.
And wrong may be fun at times, but good, it does something inside of him. A feeling more pleasurable than any other. And the more time he spends with Keely, the more the feeling
consumes
him. She is his
addiction. She has no idea what she is doing to him. Has no clue
that if this had been three days ago, it would have been the worst choice of her life to allow him into her room.
The fact that he can control himself now for fear of harming her is proof of how powerful she is. No one must ever hurt her. Especially not him.
So he watches her
and he thinks. What will Keely do when her mother steals her away in the middle of the night? When she takes her from her home. From her friends. From Nick. She will fight. She will cry. She will be scared and lonely. He knows scared. He knows loneliness.
How far can she go before the tie that binds them breaks? He couldn’t bare that again. Neither could she, he’s sure.
It pains him to know who she will turn to when he wakes her. Because he must wake her. He cannot hide her. Not without her permission. And she will never give it. She will go to Nick. He will be her hero. Never him.
Never. Him.
Asmoday runs his hand over her cheek moving
the soft hair covering her face
. Smoothes his fingers over her jaw line. He struggles against the desire to kiss her. She doesn’t want that yet, though sometimes he believes she is fooling herself. But he must respect what she says.
“Keely, you must wake.” He shakes her shoulder gently.
She mumbles something incoherent and turns on her side.
Asmoday pulls the covers off of her and shakes her again. “You must awaken.” He sits beside her on the bed. This would be humorous if he knew how much time
t
he
y
had before her mother comes barging in. He nudges her arm. “Keely.”
Disoriented and still half asleep, Keely stretches and tries to focus on Asmoday. “What are you doing?”
“Your mother wants to take you away.
Tonight. I thought you would no
t like to go.”
Keely props herself up. “What the—she can’t make me go. What’s she going to do? Carry me?” She rubs her face. “Who does she think she is? I am an adult.
How do you know this anyway?
”
“I heard her. She thinks t
he Hierarchy is going to kill you.
She
is your mother
and
she needs to protect you. And yes, I do think she will carry you if it comes to that.”
“It won’t. I won’t be here.” Keely gets up. Puts on a pair of jean shorts over her pajamas. Grabs a tee shirt and hoodie. Slips on her shoes. “Can you, you know? Poof m
e out of here?”
“Where to?” He holds out his hand for her to take though he doesn’t need physical contact to travel with her.
She grips his fingers
. “Anywhere but here.”
Twenty-Nine
:
He takes her to the field. Holds onto her until the disorientation wears off. Watches her as she puts on her tee shirt and hoodie.
“I need to think,” Keely says. She is still too tired. Her brain is fuzzy and working slo
wly. “When she goes to my room
and I’m not there she’s going to freak. I don’t want them to think something happened to me. That’s the worst feeling ever.
Well, almost.
” Her eyes meet his as s
he tugs her hair trying to concentrate. “I need to call my mom. Let her know that I’m all r
ight.
” She looks at Asmoday. He’s standing very still, watching her with his arms crossed in front of his chest. “I need a phone. Can you take me to Nick’s?”
It took longer than he expected.
He inclines his head in a bow
though he knows she doesn’t like this. He isn’t exactly sure why he does it. To provoke her? To do something, even as childish and petty as
it may be, just to irritate her? Because she
hurt him. He is
fully aware she doesn’t know. She d
oesn’t mean to. But yet, here he is wishing jus
t once, she would choose him. “Yes, Princess.”
Keely’s eyebrows pucker. “What’s your problem, Asmoday?”
“No problem, Princess.” He holds out his hand. “Your chariot awaits.”
Keely shakes her head. She can feel it through the cord that connects them. He’s mad about something. Sad too. And lying on top of those emotions is bitter jealousy. She does not have the time,
or
the patience
,
to deal with this right now. All she wants is a phone and a bed. “Fine. Let’s go.” She takes his hand and in the amount of time it takes her to blink, they are standing in the yard across the street from Nick’s house.
She sways slightly. Inhales the cool night air. “I guess
I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’ll walk with you. Escort you safely to his door.” Asmoday keeps pace with her, his hands in his pockets. Acts like he’s out on a leisurely stroll.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I appreciate the, uh, ride? But you a
nd Nick don’t exactly get along
and this is his house.”
“I will see you safely to the door before I leave.” He says this with such finality, Keely doesn’t bother to argue. Nick will just have to deal. Asmoday opens the door for her and they go inside the building and down the steps that lead to Nick’s apartment.
She can hear voices inside and sees light from the crack under the
door. “He’s home. Thanks again
.” She hesitates at the door, waiting for him to leave. He reaches ar
ound her and
raps on the door. Keely glares at him. “You said to the door.” She runs her hand up and down indicating the door in front of her. “Go.”
Asmoday smiles widely at her. “Shortly, Princess.”
Keely inhales a deep breath, r
eady to lose her temper,
when Bryon opens the door.
“What’s wrong?” He looks past her to Asmoday and doesn’t know how to react. His hand goes to his pocket on reflex
, reaching for his throwing stars
.
“He’s fine, Bry. He just wante
d to make sure I got here o.k
.”
“Keely? What’s going on?” Nick stands behind Bryon and gestures for her to come in.
She turns to her brother
,
her irritation swaying. It melts into a mellow kind of sadness. “Bye, Asmoday.” He bows more dramatically than usual and disappears.
Demons
.
“I n
eed to use your phone
then I’
ll explain.”
Nick smacks his pockets checking for his cell phone. Finds it on the T.V. tray and hands it to her. Turning toward the wall, though it gives her no extra privacy, Keely dials her house. Her dad picks up on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Dad, it’s Keely.” She plays with the zipper on her hoodie.
“Where are you?”
“I’m with Nick and Bryon. I’m safe. Tell mom I said I am not running away. Problems like mine can’t be outrun.
I’ll see you guys tomorrow at the judgment.”
Kevin is quiet for a moment.
“She’s not going to be happy.”
“I know.”
“I love you, Keels.”
“Love you too. Good night.”
“She tried to make you skip out?” Bryon sits on the futon and crosses his legs at the ankles.
“Yep.” She hands Nick his phone. He takes it and pulls her in for a hug. “Can I stay here tonight?”
“You don’t even need to ask,” Nick says.
“Well, I
can’t stay. Sorry,” Bryon sighs
.
“What? No slumber party? I was going to do your hair,” Nick whines.
“Rain check. Besides, you’re terrible at French-braids.”
Keel
y smiles. They are so dorky. S
he loves them.
**
*
Sleep comes quickly for Keely. There is no better sleeping pill than the crook of Nick’s arm. Right here, in this spot, she is home. Where she finds comfort, stability, and security.
So of course, this is when she is forced into a dream visit.
Keely kicks her feet
in frustration. Shoves the sheet off her legs and jumps from the bed. She throws back the door and stares at her father. All the rage leaves her as soon as their eyes meet. How can she hate him
, but love the sight of him? How does she fear such a beautiful being?
“Sit
,
my Keely,” he sings. Everything about him is bright. Clean. Pure. His face, his clothes, the sound of his voice.
But Keely saw the prophecy. He was anything but clean and pure then. He was tarnished from his hunger to destroy. His longing for revenge against
his
own father. And in those moments, he was hideous.
He watches her closely as she pulls out a chair. Follows her movements with his eyes. “How are you my daughter?”
She nearly rolls her eyes. As if he cares at all about how she is. And the ‘
my’
thing is on her last nerve. She is not his. “I’m great. How are you?” Keely forces a pleasant smile.
“I am always good when you are near.”
Yeah right
. “So, did you need something? Or need to tell me something?”
He sits forward. Runs his finger around the rim of a golden glass that could be nothing else than a goblet. Who drinks from a goblet? She hopes it’s not blood inside. Her stomach just can’t take that again. “Where is Asmoday?”
Keely swallows down the surprise. Nearly chokes on it. That was the last thing she expected. “I don’t know,” she answers honestly.
He stares at her so long
she begins to squirm under the pressure of his gaze. “
I haven’t seen him since his last dream visit. Since
your
last dream visit. Are you certain you have no idea of his whereabouts?”
Keely shakes her head slowly.
“
The
union sh
ould have secured itself by now,
”
he says distracted.
Eyes wide, Keely asks, “The union? What is that?” She has a pretty good idea already.
“Do you feel an attachment to Asmoday?”
“Yes. What is it?
Why do I feel it?”
He smiles showing dazzling
white teeth. “Perfect.”
“What is it?” She rubs h
er sweaty hands together
.
“It’
s your betrothal. It began
the day of the blood sacrifice
and it should seal itself soon.”
“My what? What do you mean seal itself? What does that mean?” Her hands shake. She folds them into fists.
Betrothal?
“Your promise to marry.”
“Marry Asmoday?”
“Yes, my Keely.”
“Does he know?”
“He has always known he was to be yours.”
He always knew?
“Does he know that’s why we feel like we do?”
He tilts his head. Takes a long look at her face. “What is the answer you want to hear?”
Keely is trembling all over now. Shock doesn’t even come close to describing how she feels. “I want the truth.”
He laughs like chimes in the wind. Claps his hands together and sits back. “Free will. I do so love it my child. I do not suspect he could have known. I never spoke of it to him beyond his duty to wed.”
“What did you mean when you said it would seal?”
“
When the union is completed it will be as if you are one being. Then you will be ready to wed.”
“I can’t marry Asmoday. I
l-
love
…
Nick.”
“Your union has nothing to do with love my child. As two, you are stronger.”
“One, two. I don’t even understand what you’re talking about. And you said the blood sacrifice was needed for my accolades. Do you ever tell the truth?”
He stands. Towers over her. “I do whatever needs to be done. You will learn this quickly. And you will obey me.”