Demons of the Sun (12 page)

“You know how it works?”

“When plunged into a human’s heart, it filled with the blood from the victim, and then…” Jax looked at her, a grim expression on his face. “The demons plunged the blood-filled dagger into their own hearts. From then on, they were able to walk in the daylight.”

“Demons of the sun. They no longer had to wait until night to come out. Their healing powers sealed the human blood into the heart, and that, combined with the powers of the allazium, took away their weakness. The sun no longer burned their skin. They still didn’t handle the sun’s rays very well, though. It turned them into zombie-like demons with flesh peeling off them.” Persephone shuddered as the image popped into her head. “As if they aren’t ugly enough.”

“And with the ability to walk in the sun, they killed more and more, not even bothering to project themselves as human anymore, wiping out half the people in Europe.”

“The Black Death. Not a strain of bubonic plague at all. Just Hades trying to take over the world like he always has, and always will. And he came close to doing it then. If Athena hadn’t stepped in…” Persephone didn’t like to think about what the world would be like now. Probably no humans would be around to see it. “And now it’s up to me to keep it out of the demons’ hands, so that never happens again. No pressure, right?”

“Can’t you destroy it?” Jax asked. “Like burn it or something?”

“It was formed in Hell, and there aren’t many places hotter than Hell. Besides, when’s the last time you saw an open volcano to try it out?”

“I just…” He shrugged.

Realizing how mean she’d sounded, she turned to face him and softened her voice. “Sorry. I know you’re trying to help, but believe me, our family has tried everything. It’s indestructible, so the only thing we can do is keep it from getting into the wrong hands.”

Without the demon blood running through her veins, touching the dagger, even for a couple seconds, would be impossible. She’d only touched it once—the night Mom had handed it over and said,
Sorry, but you’re our only hope. Run. Run and don’t look back.

Persephone had reluctantly taken it in her hands. It didn’t sear her skin, but the handle felt hot. The heat then traveled up her arms, ran through her body, and she felt the pull of Hell, calling the dagger back home. And she wanted to do as it asked. Wanted to deliver it to the demons who’d come to kill her family.

Even now, just looking at it, she remembered the pull and felt the demon blood calling for it. Her heart picked up speed, and her fingers itched to unlatch the case and touch it. With trembling hands, Persephone grabbed the box’s lid. Diverting her gaze from the dagger, she slammed the lid back on, and took a couple deep breaths, feeling better now that she couldn’t see it.

“So there’s the proof you claim you didn’t need. The dagger’s real, and it’s a real pain in my ass.” She set the box back inside her closet, anxious to get it as far away from her as she could, and waved her hand. “
Se camoufler
.”

The outline of the box faded, and Persephone slid the wall back into place.

Jax’s hand appeared in her peripheral vision. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. “I know it took a lot of trust to show me that, and I swear, I’ll never betray that trust.”

“I sure hope not, because I’m kind of counting on you to keep me from slipping.”

He squeezed her hand. “I won’t let you fall.”

For one brief moment, she felt the tiniest glimmer of hope that everything would be okay.

But then reality set in. Something bad was going on, she could feel it. The worst part was, she was as afraid of herself as any demon they might run into.

Persephone grabbed the notebook out of her locker, frowned at it when it looked unfamiliar, and flipped it open.
This must be Jax’s notebook.

He hadn’t written actual notes, but in the middle of a page was a circle scribbled in blue ink. Over the top of the circle were the words, “Bang Head”, below it was the word “here.”

She smiled, then held the notebook out to Jax. “I believe these detailed notes are yours.”

He leaned down and looked at the paper. A sheepish grin hit his lips. “I get kind of bored in class.”

“You don’t say.”

“The next page is even better.”

Persephone turned the page and studied the sword-wielding stick figures. She pointed at one. “This monster thing fell in a mud puddle?”

He squinted at the picture. “That’s a demon, and the little Warrior guy just cut his head off. That’s blood.”

“Looks like you really missed your calling as an artist.”

His mouth dropped open. “Hey. We talked about this, remember?” He pointed at himself. “Fragile ego.”

Persephone laughed. “Right. Can’t believe I forgot.”

He pointed to a sketch at the bottom of the page. “That one’s of you, by the way.”

The stick figure had wavy hair, angry eyebrows, and a frown on her face.

It was her turn to be insulted. She smacked his arm with the notebook. “Now my ego’s feeling fragile.”

He draped his arm over her shoulders. “That was before I knew you.” His smile got even bigger. “Now I’d fill in the pouty lips and add a little more fire to those eyes.”

She shook her head. “I’m going to get you back for that later. Soccer, or training, or whenever you’re least expecting it.”

A mischievous glint hit his eye. “Looking forward to it.”

Just down the hall, Persephone spotted Danielle stepping up to her locker. “I’ve got to go talk to Danielle. I’ll catch up with you in class.”

Jax gripped her shoulder, keeping her next to him. “Last time you said that, you never showed up.”

“I’ll be there, I promise.” Persephone held out his notebook, and he hesitantly dropped his arm and took it from her.

Realizing she was practically skipping, Persephone slowed her steps as she approached Danielle, who was busy taking her books out of her locker. “Hey, D.”

Danielle glanced over her shoulder. “What happened with you and Jax over the weekend?”

“Nothing.”

“Didn’t look like nothing. If I’m not mistaken, I even saw a smile. A smile I usually only see when you’re pummeling someone on the soccer field.”

Another smile broke free. “It was a nice weekend. We talked, and we have several things in common, and he’s fun to be around. We’re friends.” Persephone lowered her eyebrows. “You think that’s okay?”

“Of course it’s okay.” Notebook in hand, Danielle wheeled around to face Persephone. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Because of Adrastos. I’m sure he wouldn’t be very happy about it, and even though Jax and I are just friends, I still feel kind of guilty about it.” Then again, Adrastos had stood her up the last few nights, so she wasn’t exactly happy with him either.

I can’t think like that. He’d be with me if he could, I know he would.

Danielle tucked her books under her arm. “You and Jax are friends, and who couldn’t use more friends?”

Persephone looked back at Jax. He had his locker door open and was staring inside like he was searching for something but couldn’t find it. He stood out from the crowd in every way. Height, build, confidence. She’d never admit it to him, but she might need him some day. Plus, it was nice to have someone who really understood to talk to. Someone she could actually trust with the truth—most of it anyway.

Danielle nudged her. “I think it’s okay to be friends who occasionally kiss, too. Especially if they look like that, and you can’t stop staring at them.”

Persephone forced her attention back to Danielle. “No kissing. Just friends.”

“Whatever you say. But if you do kiss him, don’t beat yourself up. Just enjoy it. Then call me and give me all the details.”

Persephone
had
wondered what it would be like to kiss him once or twice. Or maybe more like twenty or thirty times. No doubt he’d be good at it. But then she’d have to face the guilt, which would end up making her miserable.

Just friends. To be on the safe side, I better start keeping a little more distance between us.

Keeping distance between them wasn’t going to be easy since they not only lived together but also had every single class together.

Persephone walked to her desk—the desk to Jax’s left—and sat down.

Jax was bent over his notebook, face scrunched up in concentration, pen moving across the paper. “Almost…” He glanced at her, then back at the page in front of him. He added something else to his drawing. “There. It’s perfect.” He held out the notebook to her. “A new and improved drawing now that I know you better.”

Persephone took it from him and held the drawing up in front of her. This stick figure had lots of wavy hair, normal eyebrows, and filled in lips that hinted at a smile. Turtle was next to her—she assumed it was Turtle anyway.

She lifted the drawing higher and squinted at the dialogue bubble, trying to read his tiny handwriting.

jax, you’re so cool. i’m so glad we met.

She lowered the paper. “Wow. It’s really realistic. Especially what I’m saying.”

“A true artist looks beyond what’s on the outside, more into the soul, you know?”

Persephone rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help smiling. Shaking her head, she held the notebook out to him. “Well there you go, Picasso.”

Without looking away from her, he took the notebook. “Did I ever tell you I like the streaks in your hair?”

“No, but thanks. It’s a Sentry thing.” Yet another reminder of the light and dark inside. She often wondered if her parents had struggled with both sides as much as she did, but they’d never said anything, and it’s not like she could ask them now. When she first felt the pull, she was too scared to ask Gran, and now she was gone, too.

What if I’m the only one who’s struggled with it? I’m the last Sentry, and I’m afraid I’m the weakest of them all.

When Sentries were born, a Shaman blessed the babies to give them strength, the ability to do their job, and to help them rise above being tempted into darkness.

Maybe the Shaman’s blessing didn’t work. Maybe he couldn’t suppress the evil inside of me.

“Persephone?” Jax’s voice broke through her reverie. “You okay?”

Doing her best to shake those depressing thoughts from her head, she said, “I’m fine. Just wishing we didn’t have to sit through class.”

“Yeah, you and me both.”

Turned out, it was even worse than she expected. When class started, Mr. Ramsey told them to go to chapter twenty in their textbooks, which happened to be about Black Death.

Persephone glanced at Jax and found him looking back at her. Her stomach felt like it was closing in on itself, and judging by his tight-lipped expression, he felt about the same way.

As Mr. Ramsey started his lecture on the pandemic, Persephone laid her head on her desk and tried to tune him out.

Persephone stood in the middle of a wide, dusty street. Squat stone buildings with straw roofs lined the road. All around her people were in a state of panic, eyes wide, scrambling around, practically tripping over themselves as they rushed toward her. The men wore long tunics, while the women wore dresses with flared sleeves that covered their hands and skirts that brushed the dirt.

They were running from something, but several of them slowed to stare at her.