Demon Hunters 2: Retribution (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (5 page)

“Don’t worry little mouse, if I have you for dessert, I promise you’ll enjoy every minute of it.”

“No!” She pulled away harder and Des let her escape.

“Who are you saying no to? You or me?”

“You. And we’re not going any further with this conversation. What I do want to know, is if the one who told you about the future could help you find out which book you need from our collection.”

“No.”

“Then what else can we do?”

Des shook his head. “You know you’ve taken all the fun out of the game, don’t you?”

“What?” Scarlett looked puzzled.

“All future questions are free and clear. But I’m going to keep five questions that you have to answer even if you don’t want to. Truthfully and without reservation.”

“I really hope you get the chance to ask them.”

“So do I.”

Scarlett finished skimming through the page and turned it. She checked her phone. Twenty-two minutes left. Not even a full minute had passed since she’d last checked. She tried to look at the next page but it swam before her eyes. She placed the book beside her and marked it with the dead leaf that had been used earlier. She rubbed her eyes and leaned back, stretching. If only Des had been able to help read the books, but they had all been blessed so no demon could destroy them. It also meant none could handle them either. Even Des with only his minor sins would not have been able to touch the books for more than a moment.

It was just her and Des in the gazebo again. Everyone else was giving her a wide berth. She sighed as she recalled all the people she had insulted or snapped at during the day. She winced as she thought of the many apologies she’d have to make. She wasn’t good at apologies. They always stuck in her throat. Her gaze drifted to Des lying on the seat beside her. One leg was bent, one hand behind his head, the other across his chest. His eyes were closed and a lock of hair had fallen across his cheek.

She reached out and automatically brushed it out of the way. Surprised at how soft his hair was, she rubbed it between her fingers and thumb. The soft silky strands tangled around her fingers. She started to move her hand away and froze when she saw Des’ eyes were half open and he was watching her. Her lips parted and her mouth went dry. She forced her body to move and drew her hand away from his hair. He grabbed it and pressed her palm against his lips.

“Des.” His name came out as a whisper as she shook her head.

He smiled wistfully as he reluctantly let go of her hand. He sat up in a swift, yet graceful, move. “Do I get a kiss goodbye this time?”

She shook her head. “I’m so tired. So unbelievably tired.”

“Then sleep. There’s nothing more you can do.”

“Don’t say that. I don’t want to hear it.”

“What else can I say? Look at the time Scarlett and tell me what else I can say.”

“Eleven minutes! No!” She jumped to her feet and frantically looked around. “There has to be… I can’t…”

Des stepped in front of her and his hands grasped her shoulders as she started to turn from him. “Out of all the humans I have come across, I actually think you’ll be the one I miss the most.” There was a touch of surprise in his tone. Scarlett opened her mouth to argue but before she could voice anything, he covered her mouth with his.

Scarlett was surprised enough by his sudden move that she stood there for a few seconds and let him kiss her. The thought that she should pull away was overridden by one that this was the last time she might ever see him. Her answering kiss was filled with the conflicting emotions that tore at her. Her hands crept around his neck to tangle in his hair. Her eyes closed and the heat of his body warmed every inch of hers. Sanity tried to intrude, but she held it off for a few more minutes. She finally gave into it and pulled away. A single tear escaped and Des stopped it with a brush of his lips against her cheek.

“Take care, Lady Knight.” Des stepped back and started to turn away.

“No. I can’t let you go.” She pulled at the ring with trembling fingers. Grabbing his hand, she pressed it into his palm. “He can’t have you.”

“You’ll never forgive yourself.”

Scarlett laughed wildly. “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t. Guess I just have to pick the sin I can live with the most.”

“I can’t let you do this.”

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions. There are so many apt sayings for this situation,” she said wryly.

“If I walk away it’s no longer your concern.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. If I turn my back on you and ignore your plight, I’d be as bad as Retribution. Please. Don’t fight me on this.”

Des looked at the ring in his hand and turned it so he could read the inscription. The letters seem to rise up for a second. “When you bind another to you, you are responsible to and for them.” He met Scarlett’s eyes. “There will be no turning back from this.”

“I know,” she spoke calmly. The decision was made, she no longer felt torn in a million directions.

“Then you better hurry. Nathan has nearly finished. I can feel the power build. With how strong the pull is I’d say he’s only fifteen to twenty kilometres away.”

The alarm went on Scarlett’s phone and she turned it off. Bending to one of the built-in seats, she lifted the lid and rummaged around until she drew out a sheathed hunting knife that hadn’t been blessed. Her family had weapons stashed everywhere. Des held out his left palm to her. Scarlett hesitated.

“Hurry,” Des urged.

Scarlett ran the blade lightly over his palm and a line of blood dotted his skin. She did the same to her left hand. She tossed the knife onto a seat and looked up at Des. He started to hand the ring to her then paused with it held above her right palm.

“Des, I’m okay with this.”

Des smiled cynically. “I’m glad you are.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Promise me you won’t let this ring fall into another’s hands. You will wear it until I am no longer bound to it. Or if you think someone else might get the ring, release me first. I know you. I trust you. But there are many I could never trust.”

“I promise.” As soon as Scarlett spoke the words, the ring dropped into her right hand. She held it above her left palm and met Des’ eyes. “Let yourself be bound to this ring for as long as I wear it or someone with my willing permission wears it.” The ring dropped into her left palm and landed on the line of blood, to be quickly covered by Des’ left hand. The ring heated in her palm and when Des drew his hand away from her, he took the ring and slid it onto her finger. She opened her mouth to protest which finger he slid it on. They weren’t married. Once again, she found her words stopped by his kiss.

“Scarlett! What are you doing?” Riley rushed into the gazebo.

Scarlett pulled back from Des, half dazed. She was unable to form coherent words so instead she held up her left hand.

“No!” Riley grabbed her hand and stared at the ring. “You didn’t.”

Des placed a hand on Riley’s shoulder. “Leave her be. This isn’t your business.”

“I’ll-” Riley began angrily.

Scarlett pushed herself between the two of them, her back pressed against Des in an attempt to get him to move away. “I won’t have you two fight. My decision. It’s done. Now we have to wait and see who Retribution sends to Nathan since he can’t send Des.”

“It won’t matter who he sends. I’ll stand between you and danger,” Des said.

“I can’t believe you did this,” Riley said softly. He pulled a tissue from his pocket and pressed it into her left hand to soak up the blood. It was quickly stained.

Scarlett smiled fleetingly. “Neither can I. Don’t hate me for this, Riley.”

“You’re family. I’d still love you even if you killed someone.” He grinned at her. “But do you think you can avoid that, I don’t want to put that comment to the test.”

Scarlett laughed weakly. She threw her arms around her cousin and hugged him. “Deal.”

“I guess I better tell everyone the news.” Riley stepped back when Scarlett let him go. He looked towards Des. “I know I live by the belief of ‘forgive your enemies’, but there are some things even I would never be able to forgive. Don’t let any harm come to her.” When Des answered him with a single nod, he strode away.

Scarlett turned to Des, placing a hand on his chest to steady herself. She stared at the ring. “I need to get it resized. I wouldn’t want to lose it.”

“No need.” Des placed his hand over hers.

She felt his hand heat and the ring tighten. “What did you do?”

“The ring will now fit whoever wears it.”

Closing her eyes, she bit back her protests about him using his demonic powers. Exhaustion had her swaying on her feet. “I’ve got to get some sleep before I pass out where I stand.” Her eyes popped open when she felt his lips brush her forehead.

“Call me if you need me. I can’t enter the doors of your home.” The air shimmered around Des and he disappeared.

Scarlett felt the ring on her finger flash with heat. She stared at it. The ring was such an innocent looking item. She stopped her thoughts before they went any further down that path. The decision had been made. She couldn’t continue to dwell on it. Picking up the knife, she took it inside to clean.

Scarlett tossed in her bed and tried to escape the dreams that haunted her. The ring brushed against the cross at her throat and there was a spark of light, a flash of heat in her demon mark, pain and the sound of something crashing into the wall. She struggled to sit up, reaching for her bedside lamp and turning it on.

Des pushed away from the wall. “What the hell did you do?”

The fingers of her right hand brushed against her throat. She felt like she’d been burned.

Des crossed the room and knelt beside her bed to look at where her fingers touched. “Move your cross, Scarlett.”

Still half asleep, Scarlett did as he ordered. She felt his warm fingers against the burning spot on her skin. It became warmer and then cooled. When he laughed, she looked at him in surprise. “What?”

“You’re going to have to be more careful. Do you own leather gloves?”

Scarlett frowned. She played his words over in her mind and they still made no sense. “What?”

“You touched the ring to your cross. You had a burn blister there. I removed it for you.”

Scarlett started to complain about him using his powers for her benefit then stopped when she saw his expression. She knew it would be a waste of breath. “What has any of this to do with leather gloves?”

“When you hold your sword, you’ll burn your hand.”

Scarlett’s eyes dropped to her ring. There was another burn blister there. She looked up at Des. Any words she might have said were interrupted by a knock at her door.

“Scarlett? Are you okay? What’s happening in there?”

“Come in, Alex.” She pushed Des away from her, glad she was wearing a nightie rather than her usual brief cotton shorts and singlet. He chuckled as he rose to his feet and took a step away.

Scarlett climbed out of bed as Alex entered the room.

“What’s he doing in here?” Alex glared at Des.

“I accidentally threw him from my ring. Touched it to my cross.” She touched the cross with the fingertips of her left hand.

“Careful.” Des tugged her hand away. “You’re not the only one who feels it.”

“Sorry,” Scarlett said.

“Send him back to the ring before you wake the rest of the household.” Alex sent a glare towards Des.

“Too late.” Riley pushed him further into the room and stepped in after him. He quietly closed the door. “I’ve just headed off two aunts, an uncle and four cousins and someone I’ve never met before and wouldn’t have a clue where they fit into things.”

Scarlett dropped onto her bed with a groan. “Great! Just great.”

Riley laughed. “Don’t worry. I told them I’d take care of the problem.”

“I’m sure they believed you,” Scarlett said dryly.

“Well, one of the aunts did look at me rather sceptically. But if your demon could disappear again, it’d probably save you a tonne of visitors. Unless of course you were planning on throwing a midnight party.” Riley glanced towards her alarm clock. “You’re a few hours late though.”

Scarlett looked at her clock. “Three! No wonder you all came running.” It was the worst possible time this could have happened. The hour in which demonic power was strongest. She held out her left hand. “Des, do you mind?”

Des placed his hand against hers and shimmered before he disappeared. Scarlett shuddered at the flickers of energy that played across her palm as he disappeared. She closed her hand to banish the feeling.

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Scarlett,” Alex said softly.

Scarlett’s lips twisted into a smile and she shook her head as she gazed up at her brother. “Not at all Alex. I’m stumbling through this one second at a time.”

“Scarlett!” Alex looked horrified. “That’s something I’d expect Riley to say.”

Riley clapped Alex on the back. “Thanks, old man.”

“You do tend to be the impulsive one,” Alex said.

“Unlike you two perfect specimens,” Riley said dryly.

“Enough. Please.” Scarlett looked between the two of them, worried their conversation would turn into an argument.

Riley dropped onto the bed beside her and draped his arm around her shoulders to give her a one armed hug. “What can we do to help?”

“I worry when you stop smiling, Riley. Things have to be really bad when you do.”

Riley grinned. “Cheshire Cat, at your service. Any other requests?”

Scarlett smiled at him weakly. “Yeah. I need ideas on where I’m going to live until this is sorted out.”

“Here,” Alex burst out.

Scarlett shook her head. “You saw what happened tonight. I can’t stay while I have a demon bound to me. Our family has a right to feel safe.”

“But-” Alex began.

“I’ve made up my mind,” Scarlett interrupted him.

Alex continued his question anyway. “What about your safety?”

“This is my fault,” Scarlett argued.

“No, it’s not. It’s Nathan’s fault. If he wasn’t such a psychopath he wouldn’t have called up another demon,” Alex said.

“Have you ever stopped to think about why he chose me?” Scarlett asked.

Riley grinned. “You got the short straw?”

“No. I was the only one who mocked him when we ruined his plans to sacrifice Allie,” Scarlett said.

“Even if you had thrown a rock at him, this is still excessive behaviour. Leave the blame where it belongs, Scarlett.” Alex stared at her until she reluctantly nodded.

“I still have to move,” Scarlett insisted.

Riley’s arm tightened around her shoulders. “Then we’re coming too, sweetheart.”

Scarlett rested her head on Riley’s shoulder. “Thanks.”

“You didn’t think we’d let you go alone, without protection,” Alex said.

“I hadn’t thought. But I guess I’d have to say no. Although even if you couldn’t come, I wouldn’t be without protection. I’d have Des.”

“And he’s a real guardian angel.” Alex’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

“A fallen angel, maybe,” Scarlett suggested.

Alex nodded slowly. “That’d make sense. But you still can’t trust him. Fallen angels are fallen for a reason. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“He offered to kill Nathan for me if I asked him to.”

“What! Tell me you said no. Tell me you didn’t even hesitate in saying no.” Alex grabbed her by her shoulders.

Scarlett pulled away from Alex’s hands and sat up straight, Riley’s arm falling from her shoulders. “Of course I said no.”

Alex rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I guess we’re all tired and on edge. I thought it was back to routine demon hunts. The past month has been fairly quiet since we got rid of Retribution.”

Riley yawned. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m heading back to bed.”

“I was going to put ice on my burn.” Scarlett looked at the small blister on her left hand.

“Gran keeps an ointment in the fridge for burns. That’d be a better choice.” Alex held out his hand and when Scarlett took it, he pulled her to her feet. “I much prefer when it’s Riley making the stupid mistakes. Think you can leave it up to him in future?”

Scarlett smiled and threw her arms around her brother. “I’ll do my best.”

Riley stood, stretched and yawned. “Wake me when it’s time to move. I could sleep for a week. It’d be nice if I could do it without printed words swimming around in my head though.”

“Tell me about it,” Alex muttered.

“I wonder which ancestor it was,” Scarlett said.

Riley shrugged. “If they wrote anything about it, we’ll know sooner or later. The crew that are still here are systematically searching each book to find the information. Gran’s also been talking about having a catalogue made of all the information found in each book. It’d be a massive index. Probably need several books to fit it all in.”

“They should put it on a computer database.” Scarlett yawned.

Alex guided her towards the bedroom door. “Ointment and bed.”

“Yes Dad!”

“I would have thought grandpa was the better term,” Riley teased.

“You’re both hilarious,” Alex muttered.

Riley and Scarlett looked at each other and grinned. “I know.” They said in unison.