Demon Hunters 3: Tainted (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (4 page)

Shaking her head, Cassidy allowed herself to be led inside. There was no way she was going to tell them everything that had happened. She couldn’t even think about it let alone talk about it. It was bad enough reliving it each night in her dreams. She was led into a lounge room off the foyer, to her right, and collapsed into the first armchair. “Do you have to tower over me?”

Gabe sat across from her while Riley retreated to the doorway. He glanced behind him. “Maybe I should wake Gran.”

“Grow some balls, Riley. Cut the apron strings and make your own choices for a change,” Gabe growled.

Riley crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe with a chuckle. “Like you? You’re still here, aren’t you? I bet if you really tried you could find a way home to Mummy.”

Gabe leapt to his feet, his hands becoming fists. “It’s only been two days.”

Cassidy instantly jumped to her feet too. “That’s it. I’m out of here. You pair can smash each other’s faces in for all I care.”

Gabe held a hand out in front of her like a barricade. “Stay. Our fight can wait. What did you do to earn yourself a best friend like your flame loving mate who left you here?”

“I was trying not to get myself killed.”

Riley crossed the room dropping into a chair. “Alright. Let’s all sit down and figure this out. I’m sure something can be done about the problem. Now what happened?”

Cassidy stared down at him. No way in hell was she telling him anything. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“What if we start with when?” Riley asked.

“When?” Cassidy looked at him blankly.

“When.” Riley grinned at her. “As in when did the incident occur? Well gee officer, it was a dark and stormy night last week.”

Cassidy couldn’t return the grin. “October.” Even saying the month brought the scent of blood to her. “The fifteenth of October.” She would never be able to forget that date. Dropping back into the chair, she watched as Gabe returned to his. “Last year.”

“Not good,” Gabe said.

Riley nodded. “So what’s changed that he’s brought you to us now?”

Cassidy shrugged. “He said he found some hunters to teach me.”

Gabe shook his head. “That’s not it. Demons know we’re here. We’re like a beacon to all the hell dwellers.” He tapped his demon mark. “Just like we can feel them, they can feel us nearby.”

Cassidy rubbed at her mark, which was still moving lazily under her skin. “Is that why it burns?”

“The more it burns the stronger the demon,” Riley said. “But it shouldn’t move like that. You must be part demon. How did you do it? It’d take more than just his blood.”

Cassidy shook her head. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. She closed her eyes as her fingers wrapped around her wrist and she took a deep, shaky breath, refusing to let the words escape. She opened her eyes and blinked back the vision of blood.

Gabe leaned forward in his chair. “What’s your name? I’ve been told calling someone girl isn’t very nice. More like what a demon would do.”

“Cassidy. Cassidy Wells.”

“We can’t help you unless you tell us what the problem is.” Gabe reached out to unwrap her hand from around her wrist, clasping it in his. “Look around you. These bookcases contain books on demons and how to deal with them. Our family has been getting rid of demons for centuries.”

Cassidy looked around the spacious room. A floor to ceiling built-in bookcase covered the wall opposite the door, crammed with books behind its glass doors. She had never seen so many books in one place outside a bookstore or library. The rest of the room was filled with a pale brown lounge suite, a rustic coffee table, a couple of large square footstools and a long display cabinet filled with ornaments and framed photos. “Can I read them?”

“We can start you off with the basic manual.” Riley rose to his feet and opened the furthest glass door, pulling out a paperback book. “My great, great grandfather wrote it.”

Cassidy took the book and stared at the title. Demonology by Patrick Hunter. The demon on the cover looked like a demon. The face was pure evil and he had five short horns on each side of his arms starting from his shoulders and becoming progressively smaller as they went down his arms. “Why doesn’t Remedy look like this?” She tapped the picture.

“Some demons can take two forms. Their natural form and a human like form. But some demons look human naturally,” Riley said.

“So I could walk past a demon and not even know?”

Gabe shook his head. “You’d know.” He pointed to her wrist. “Your demon mark would let you know.”

“But before this, I wouldn’t have known?” Surely not. People would have to notice demons, no matter how human they appeared.

“Welcome to the world of demons. No more fun for you and sinning is definitely out.” Gabe’s voice was filled with bitterness.

“What do you mean?” Cassidy looked from Gabe to Riley. “There are rules I have to live by?” Why hadn’t anyone warned her? She was not good at following rules.

Riley shot a dark look at Gabe. “Don’t listen to him. He’s mad at everyone for something someone else did. Look, why don’t you take that book with you and read it. I’ll give you my phone number and you can call me if you have any questions.”

Gabe rose to his feet. “How about I give you my number instead and we can go out and complain about how demons screw up your life. Or better yet, are you over eighteen?” When she nodded, he continued, “Then how about we forget all about demons and go nightclubbing this weekend.”

“How about you both keep your numbers and I get out of here.” Still clutching the book, Cassidy headed for the door.

Before she could open it, Gabe reached her, his hand wrapping around her upper arm. “Sorry.” He dropped his voice. “Riley’s right, but don’t you dare tell him I said so.” He glanced over his shoulder. Riley wasn’t in the foyer. “Take his number and call him when you’ve got a question. Demons aren’t something to mess around with. People usually end up dead when they have dealings with them.”

The word dead brought to mind her father. As if she needed any more reminders. She pulled out of his grip. “I don’t need help from either of you.”

Riley strode into the foyer, holding out a piece of paper. He grinned. “Both our numbers.” When his phone rang, he pushed the paper at her. “Go on. Take it.” When she did, he answered his phone. “I know, I know… shortly… we had an interruption…was it a demon disturbance?” He closed his phone with a chuckle and turned to Gabe. “Time to go hunting.”

“Hunting?” Cassidy stared at Riley. “You’re demon hunters.” It all fell into place. “I want to hunt demons with you.”

“Oh, no you don’t.” Gabe shook his head. “No way in hell. You’re not ready.”

“I didn’t ask you.” Cassidy turned from Gabe to Riley. “I asked you.”

“Same answer, sweetheart.” Riley reached out and tapped the edge of the book. “Do a little study, pass your exams and I’ll think about letting you come along.”

“There’s a hunter exam?” Cassidy’s frown became a glare when Gabe laughed. “Fine.” She spun on her heel. “I don’t need either of you anyway.” She’d figure out how to hunt them on her own.

“Thanks a lot, Gabe.” Riley hurried forward and placed his hand on the front door before she could open it. “It was a figure of speech. I wasn’t teasing you. Ignore Gabe. And call me when you get to the end of that book.” He smiled at her. “I’ll let you borrow another one.”

“I’ll think about it.” She pointedly looked at his hand. When he moved it she opened the door and stepped outside. It was still night and Remedy was nowhere in sight. She turned to stare at Gabe and Riley. Words tumbled through her mind. Not a single one seemed right. Instead she turned again, without speaking a word, and walked to her car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, she stared at the two hunters who remained at the front door, watching her.

Not knowing what else to do, she started the car and headed for home. She was nearly there when Remedy appeared in the passenger seat, causing her to swear and nearly drive off the road. “Don’t do that again.”

“You’ll have to be more specific. Do what?”

“Just appear like that. What are you trying to do? Get me killed?”

“Killed? Not even close. Were the hunters of use?”

Cassidy shrugged as she pulled up in front of her home. “I don’t know. They gave me a book to read.”

Remedy looked at the book, which sat between the two seats on the centre console, and chuckled. “Some things never change. They’ve been using this book for decades. At least Patrick knew what he was doing. And he was an interesting man to talk to.”

Cassidy stared at him, her mouth open, glad she was no longer driving.

“Close your mouth, girl. It makes you look like an idiot.”

She closed her mouth with a snap. “You knew him?”

“Of course I knew him. Are you going to sit in your car all night? If you plan to spend this much time in it, I suggest buying a larger one. Something more comfortable.”

Cassidy grabbed the book and hopped out of the car, slamming the door behind her before striding inside. When Remedy followed she turned to him with a glare, her finger pointing at him. “Stop following me and stay out of my house.”

Remedy stilled. The air crackled around him. “If they told you to get your house blessed, then you better think again. You are never to bar me from your house. Understand?”

Cassidy felt fear at the look in Remedy’s eyes. She held his gaze, forcing her voice to remain steady. “If you can enter then what about other demons? You can’t always be here.” At least she hoped he couldn’t. She didn’t want a demon living with her permanently. And particularly not this one.

“Salt across all the entrances. Put one of my feathers in the middle of the salt you cover your bedroom window ledge with. I’ll be able to cross that line only. The salt must be continuous and unbroken. That will keep the minor demons out during the day when I can’t be here to protect you.”

“What about the major demons?”

“Didn’t the hunters teach you anything? Major demons can’t roam in the day.”

Cassidy felt like growling in frustration. “Will they be able to cross the salt lines?”

“No. But I can be with you of a night.”

“Isn’t that the answer to all my prayers?” Cassidy’s tone was heavily laced with sarcasm.

Remedy’s lips curved into a smile as he drew closer. “Prayers aren’t what bring us.” He drew her left hand to him, breathing in the scent of her wrist near the demon mark. “Blood brings us forth.” His grip tightened on her when she started to draw away.

Cassidy continued to meet his gaze, refusing to look elsewhere. “I’ll remember that.” Flames flickered in his dark eyes and she had to remind herself to breathe. To remain still and keep breathing.

Remedy stared at her a moment longer before he nodded once, released her then turned and walked away.

Cassidy watched him go then swore when she realised she’d forgotten to ask him why he’d chosen now to take her to the demon hunters. She made a mental note to ask him next time she saw him, then headed to bed with her book. She read until she fell asleep, waking to find the book on the floor beside her and her bedside light still on. After using the bathroom she returned to her bed, finally dragging herself out of bed late afternoon once she’d finished reading the book.

Heading for the kitchen, she poured herself a bowl of dry Nutri-Grain and picked them from her bowl one at a time as she thought over what she’d read. She had a million questions, but she wasn’t going to ring the hunters. Patrick had far too many rules and believed in all sorts of religious stuff. No wonder Gabe complained about not sinning. The poor guy had probably been raised on this crap and hadn’t been allowed to enjoy life at all. Not for her. No way. She’d figure out her own way of doing things. But first she needed salt.

She pushed the bowl of cereal aside. And some decent food. There wasn’t much left in the house and she was down to the last of the meals people had made her, during the early weeks, and shoved in the freezer when she wasn’t interested in eating.

After a shower, Cassidy stared at the handful of clothes still in her wardrobe. She’d thrown out everything except her black clothes and she’d never had very many of them. But every other colour had seemed drenched in blood. An image of her white jeans came to mind and she pushed it aside. She’d had to burn them. During the early days, the world had seemed drenched in blood. Nights had been safer. And black, well black didn’t show blood so easily. She’d been able to look at it without seeing large puddles of blood spreading across it.

Dressed in a pair of black shorts and shirt, she grabbed her handbag and headed for the car. She eyed the passenger seat. New transport too. A motorbike. Remedy could find his own way around. She wasn’t his chauffer. Cassidy’s eyes closed momentarily as thoughts of motorbikes brought back memories of being on the back of her father’s motorbike when she was a kid. It had been those memories that had convinced her to learn how to ride one. She forced the memories away before they brought tears. She’d shed a lifetime of tears in the past few months.

She had to stay strong. There was no one but a demon to look out for her and she was damned if she’d ask him for more help than she needed to. Damned. According to Patrick Hunter she probably was. Well he could keep his religion because there was no way she was going to hell or living by his narrow beliefs.

Cassidy started the car and headed for the supermarket, arriving as night fell. Walking inside she was hit by the noise of humanity. It took all her willpower to move forward rather than run to the safety of her car. Salt. She had to get salt. Maybe a little food. But salt was the most important item.

Each step forward was an agony. She saw her father’s favourite aftershave was on special, there was a shirt like one he’d bought a year ago and when she reached for a jar of coffee it was to automatically pick his usual flavour. Her hand closed into a fist before she could grab the jar.

“They say it’s bad for you, but you only live once, right?”

Cassidy turned to see a guy grinning at her, one hand on a hip. She could only nod when all she really wanted to do was tell him to leave her alone. Once she would have been flattered to have a good looking guy strike up a random conversation with her.

“Go on, you know you want a jar.” His grin stayed in place as he lowered his voice and leaned closer. “I won’t tell anyone.”

Remedy slipped up beside her and draped an arm around her shoulders as he reached for a different jar. “This one, baby.”

She tensed at hearing her father’s name for her on his lips. Before she could speak, his grip tightened on her shoulder.

The guy chuckled. “Guess you didn’t need any help after all.” He shrugged. “It’s always the way.” With a grin and a nod he strode away.

Remedy bent his head so his lips brushed against her ear. “I own you. No other can have you.”

Fear fought with anger. She kept her voice low, glad their end of the aisle was momentarily empty of shoppers. “It’s the other way around. I own you.”

“It’s the same. You’re mine. Don’t even think about a boyfriend. They won’t live a second beyond the moment they put a hand on you.” His lips twisted into a mocking smile. “That shouldn’t worry you. Haven’t you pushed everyone away since we met? You don’t want to get close to anyone. That involves letting yourself care.”

She glared at him, biting back the angry words she wanted to shout. Instead she spun away, leaving her trolley in the aisle. She almost reached the exit when she remembered the salt. It was bad enough having one demon in her house, she didn’t want to leave it open for any who wandered by. She turned and saw Remedy waiting at a checkout for her, with the trolley. Her jaw clenched as she strode back to him, ignoring his smile when she reached his side. She kept her gaze on the handful of groceries and the two bags of salt in the trolley.

“I knew you’d be back, baby.”

Cassidy’s hands tightened into fists. She bit back her anger and waited to be served. Once they were home she’d tell him what she thought about his choice of words. Not here. It was bad enough being surrounded by so many people without having all their attention on her.

They were scarcely in the front door when Cassidy turned on him to yell. She jumped back, dropping the bags of groceries as his wings unfurled behind him, his shirt missing. She gaped, shutting her mouth quickly as she recalled his comment on that habit. Her eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”

Remedy reached up and removed a feather from his wings. “Don’t forget to use this when you salt the entrances.”

She took the black feather, pushing it into the pocket of her shorts. “It’s probably a waste of time anyway.”

“And why would that be?”

“Because I’m going to kill you myself if you don’t stop calling me baby.”

“Then don’t anger me. Remember. You’re mine.” He pointed a finger at her. “Never forget.”

“I know who belongs to who, Ibaelcaurzanon.” Her victory was short lived when she found herself pressed against a wall, Remedy’s hand around her throat.

His face was close to hers and flames leapt in his eyes. “You were told never to call me that.”

Cassidy’s hands reached for Remedy’s but she stopped when she would have tugged at his grip. She raised her chin and met his gaze. “Go ahead. What are you waiting for?”

“Don’t try my patience. One day I will kill you. Anger will eventually win out over self preservation.”

Cassidy continued to stare at him, waiting. He finally let go and stepped away. Her gaze never left his. She didn’t know what she felt. Fear. Emptiness. Triumph. Or maybe some screwed up combination of all of them. “You don’t call me baby and I won’t call you by your true name.”

Silence stretched out. Remedy nodded then turned to walk away, his wings tucked in close to his body.

“Wait.” Cassidy pushed away from the wall.

Remedy faced her, his wings seeming to fade into him as he did. He still remained shirtless. “What do you want now?”

She ignored the irritation in his voice. “Why did you take me to the demon hunters last night?”

“To train you.”

Cassidy shook her head. “No. Why last night? Why not earlier? And don’t bother lying to me either.”

Remedy inclined his head. “You have figured that out, have you? It works both ways. I can taste the lies on your lips too.”

Cassidy tried to hide the shock she felt at his words. Taste the lies? How the hell was she meant to do that? And did it really matter if he already thought she could? “Well?”

“Our bond is now known by some. A human is much easier to destroy than a demon. We tend to survive nearly anything. They will come hunting. Don’t do anything stupid.” He turned again and walked away.

Cassidy watched him go, fear taking over once he was gone. She slid down the wall to sit on the floor. Hunting. Demons were hunting her? She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. So much for her father’s promise that life would get better for them.

“Damn it.” She banged her head against the wall, wincing at the pain. “I haven’t gotten this far to curl up and die.” She forced herself to her feet. She’d salt the entrances and then figure out how to become the hunter rather than the prey. There was no way she was going to spend her time cowering in her house. Not with eternity stretching out before her. She’d go crazy if she did. Picking up the grocery bags, she headed for the kitchen, turning the light on as she entered the room. Dropping the groceries on the floor, she stared at the swords and daggers scattered across the table. She guessed Remedy had come here before he’d tracked her down at the supermarket. Picking up one of the daggers, she slid it out of its sheath, eyeing the sharp blade.

Tomorrow night she was going hunting. Demons better look out because she wasn’t about to tolerate any of them in her town. She thought of Remedy. Okay, but only one.