Demons Like It Hot (38 page)

Women! So sarcastic. Like a breath of fresh air, nothing like the women he first knew. But he couldn’t imagine Serah any other way. And, frankly, he didn’t want to.

“Ahh, I guess that’s makes perfect sense.”

“Seriously, though.” Kalli lounged against the counter, examining one of her black-lacquered fingernails. “Let me try the silver before it’s blessed. We need to make sure it works.”

“Don’t you want to fight?” Serah asked Kalli. “I saw how well you kicked Larissa’s ass.”

Kalli grinned. “I’ll stick out like a sore thumb in that crowd. I’d be better off in the background.”

She
meant
to
put
herself
in
danger
to
protect
her
friends? Serah was lucky to have friends like that.
In a way Matthias was jealous. As a demon, he’d never had any close friends, save for Balthazar, and he’d seen where that had ended up. But relief always overpowered the jealousy. These people were here protecting Serah—keeping her safe. He’d be forever grateful.

“Can’t you change your appearance?” Matthias asked. She was one of the oldest and most powerful demons. Surely she had enough power to change?

Kalli twirled a dreadlock around her finger. “My kind can only change their appearance every five years. I have about six more months left,” she said with a smirk. “Besides, I happen to like this look.”

Matthias knew there would be no chance of getting Kalli to change her mind. “I just worry that you might injure yourself. Then what good would you be to the Paladins?”

Kalli leaned in, hands on her hips. “I know what I’m doing. I’ve done it before.” She patted him on the shoulder. “But thanks for the concern. I’m oddly touched.”

“Protecting Serah means protecting her friends as well.” Matthias crossed his arms. “But if you want to be the guinea pig, there isn’t anyone stopping you.”

“Perfect! I’ll go in and make the arrangements with Lucy.” With that, she spun around and strode toward the office and shut the door with a quick snap.

“Interesting,” Daniel said, scratching his chin. “At first sight, I thought she’d be someone you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. However, there’s this vibe about her that left me calm and relaxed.”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Serah winked at Daniel. “That will only get you in trouble.”

“Something I am learning quite well today,” Daniel said with a sigh. “How could I be so stupid?”

Matthias’s heart clenched. He really felt for Daniel. They had a huge thing in common. They both had been duped by Salome. Matthias had had centuries to realize her treachery. Daniel, on the other hand was a human, with not nearly so much time on his hands. He hated Salome now more than ever. But he also needed to let Daniel know he wasn’t alone.

“Don’t beat yourself up, Daniel.” He took a deep breath. “Salome is known for her skills as a temptress. Even when she was human, she had those skills.”

Serah arched a brow. He loved that expression. “I thought she lived during biblical times?”

“Biblical being the operative word.”

“No way!” Daniel shook his head. “She’s
that
Salome? What in the hell have I gotten myself into?”

Matthias took Daniel’s hand in his, his gaze stern yet gentle. He couldn’t have him losing control. Not now—not with Salome and her minions so close. “Nothing we can’t get you out of. All we need is your trust.”

Daniel nodded, placing his other hand on top of Matthias’s—an action that filled him with joy. Odd, yet extremely comforting. “I trust you.”

“Good.” He withdrew his hand from Daniel’s. It was time to get down to the problem at hand. He needed as much information as he could get. “Does she have anyone else that she works with. Pictures? Names? Anything?”

“She mentioned meeting with an old friend after the Paladins had been exterminated.”

“Any names?”

“Sally isn’t one to give out names.” Daniel pounded his fist onto the counter. “She was so damn secretive. I should have known.”

“She can be very persuasive. Many have fallen for her ploys.”

“I’ve dealt with shifty and shady people all my life. I have no excuse.”

Was there any getting through to him? Humans could be so stubborn at times. He thrust his face inches from Daniel’s, his eyes hard. “That’s the difference. She’s a demon, not human. She has powers.”

Daniel nodded and took a big gulp. “Okay. I understand.”

Did he really? Regardless, he would soon enough. Matthias pulled away and scraped his fingers through his hair. “I felt the same way when I learned she’d deceived me.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Nearly eight centuries ago.”

“Dear God, you’re old!” Daniel covered his mouth. “Oops. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be so blunt.”

“No need to apologize. I am indeed a rather weathered individual.” He proceeded with more questioning. “So there’s no one else except Sally’s old friend?” He wondered if Balthazar was her old friend. He and the sauce demon were the only two Infernati he had come across recently. Then again, there was the demon that had come pretty damn close to getting Serah in an accident.

Then there was Balthazar to consider. What part did his old mentor play in this fiasco? It was no coincidence that both Salome and he showed up in Connolly Park right around the same time. The two had worked together before. That, and the fact that his descendant was of interest to them all. Salome was the demon who had stolen his son and altered his family line, after all.

He wanted to spit. He clenched his fists. Heck, he wanted to kill the bitch. But that itself was too humane a punishment for the hell she’d put Daniel through. For the hell she planned to put Serah through.

There was no mistaking the obvious. He loved Serah. He’d always loved her. But she deserved someone more human. He was a soulless abomination, not worthy of her. And for that, he’d protect Daniel too. He had a soul Matthias could only dream of possessing.

Why did this have to hurt so much?

Because love isn’t all roses. He glanced up at Daniel and Serah. They made a perfect couple. He would not stand in the way of their happiness.

Serah arched a brow, her lips drawn. “Everything okay over there?”

“Yes,” Matthias said with a nod. “I was just running ideas through my head.”

“Care to share?” Daniel asked.

Not
really.
“I am just hoping these effects take place immediately. Like Rafael, I don’t want to risk innocent lives.”

Time was of the essence. They needed to act fast.

Kalli strolled back into the kitchen, smiling wide. “Rafe will be back soon. After I take a swig, we’ll have our answer.”

“Are you absolutely sure you want to do this, Kalli? It could kill your human body.”

“Nothing I haven’t gone through before.”

“You are brave.”

“Anything for the cause.”

Daniel smiled. “It is good to see such dedicated people. Sally would delegate such things to one of the lesser people in the group.”

“And you seriously didn’t get the Jim Jones vibe from her at all?” Serah asked with a soft chuckle. “Tell me you didn’t drink the Kool-Aid.”

“Flavor-Aid, actually. Those poor people at Kool-Aid always get blamed. It was all caused by demons, you know.” Kalli shook her head. “What a terrible mess. Thank God I didn’t have to clean that one up.”

Matthias nodded. He’d heard about that incident. After that, he vowed never to take a mission that would harm another innocent life. Then Belial had blackmailed him. He wasn’t one to break a vow. He fought as hard as he could in Belial’s dungeon to get Serah out of there. He thanked God and all the angels that Belial hadn’t had the forethought to kill Serah first. And thank goodness for Lucy and Rafe. They had defeated Belial and sent all those demons packing.

With a giant whoosh, the office door swung open. “We got it!” Lucy pumped two small bottles above her head triumphantly.

“Is that going to be enough?” Serah asked, her brow tense with worry. “Those bottles look kind of small.”

Rafe strode out of the office, cardboard box beneath his arm. “Don’t worry. I stocked up.”

“I volunteered to try it out before you take it to get blessed.” Kalli grinned. Looking as happy as a lab rat that had no idea what it was getting into, she jumped up and down with eager anticipation. Then again, she’d lived for over two thousand years. She was far from stupid.

Matthias wasn’t going to let up. “Are you sure? I’m the one who’s protecting your asses.”

“My ass? Do I really look like I need protection?” She flew up in the air and flipped backward. She sprang up again and cartwheeled across the floor. The sound of silver scraping against a scabbard echoed throughout the kitchen, and Matthias found a fine saber pressed dangerously close to his heart.

“Point taken,” he said. With calculated slowness, he pushed the blade away.

“I hope so, or I’ll make another point.” She gave the saber a quick flourish and sheathed the blade. “I’m testing the drink. No one will change my mind. Or I’ll find a way to change it for them.”

With a sly smile, she patted the scabbard. “Works every time.” She plucked a bottle from Lucy’s hand. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Was she being suicidal or just plain insane? She slit the security seal with her fingernail and untwisted the cap. Bringing her nose to the bottle, she shrugged. “No scent.”

Serah reached out and snagged the liquid from Kalli. She wasn’t going to let one of her friends go down to protect her. “That saber doesn’t scare me. Are you sure?”

“For the five-billionth time,
yes
!” Kalli bellowed, her hand still gripping the hilt. “I’ve lived over two thousand years, Serah. A nice long sabbatical in limbo could be what the doctor ordered.”

She
was
willing
to
let
this
thing
kill
her? Something wasn’t right here. What the hell was going on with her?
But Serah knew one thing. When Kalli made up her mind, there was no changing it.

“Okay, if you say so.” Serah handed the bottle back to Kalli.

With a sly grin, Kalli raised the jar high. “Bottoms up.” She pulled out the medicine dropper and dripped a little of the clear liquid on her tongue. “It doesn’t have a taste. Bonus!”

“That’s a relief.” It was the last thing Serah wanted, a secret weapon that was too obvious.

“Anything yet?” Daniel asked.

Kalli looked down at her cream-colored hands and frowned. “Not yet.” With a swirl of her tongue, she traced the tip of her labret piercing.

“Uhh…” Serah said, pointing her finger. Right above Kalli’s tongue piercing, where she had dropped the silver, a blue dot had formed. It expanded, growing larger by the second and coating half her tongue. “I think it worked.”

“Really?” Kalli stuck out her tongue and looked down at it. “Hell, yeah, it did.” She pulled out a pocket mirror and flipped it open. Sticking her tongue out further, she shook her colorful dreadlocks around her head. “I kind of look like a Chow Chow that got in a paintball fight.”

“We’ll have to use more,” Lucy said, examining the other bottle. “We need more than their tongues to turn blue.” She snorted out a chuckle. “Don’t even go there, Serah.”

“Me? You’re the one who was about to. Your head is always in the gutter.”

“We can put it in their water and wine, right?”

“Great idea. I think I can get away with putting some in the mascarpone filling too.”

Daniel cleared his throat. “We’re supposed to prepare it on the show.”

“Yeah, but it takes six hours to firm up.” Serah grinned. “The one I make on the show will be made correctly. The ones we actually serve will be poisoned.”

“Sweet. Sally wants me to inspect all the ingredients beforehand.” He looked around the kitchen. “Inspected.”

Serah giggled. “I think that’s the shortest inspection I’ve ever seen.”

“What can I say? I’m thorough.”

Matthias turned to drill Daniel with a piercing glare. “You need to act as if everything is normal. Can you do it?”

What’s
with
his
sudden
attention
to
Daniel? It’s as if his mission was to protect Daniel instead. Strange.

Daniel gulped, and his eyes widened like a kid about to get reamed by his dad. “I will do whatever it takes.”

“Good.” Matthias smiled, his gaze softening.

“Anything else we need to worry about before Matthias and I head to limbo to get this silver blessed?” Rafael asked.