Jade's Spirit (Blue Collar Boyfriends Book 2) (24 page)

He found himself liking her a great deal. He prayed they would succeed.

Are you ready?
he asked her at last.

You bet. Let’s go kick some demon ass.

Having grown accustomed to her frequent unladylike oaths, he merely smiled. Her determination was inspiring, to say the least.

Now, we shall ascend up into the sky. You will find there is a barrier, rather like a surface of water, only upside-down. Once we penetrate it, we will be buffeted by immense winds and bitter cold. Without a body to inhabit, it will feel as though the elements wish to tear you apart. But so long as you focus on holding yourself together, you shall not disperse. Whatever happens, do not let go of my hand.

She wrapped several tendrils, strong and flexible as spider-web ropes, around the shadow hand he extended.

I do not know where we will be in the physical plane,
he reminded her as they rose higher and higher.
It may be quite a journey to your body. But do not fear. I shall get you there.

Why are you helping me?
she asked.
Not that I’m complaining. But I know this is costing you energy, and since Draonius released you, you don’t have a demon to feed from either, so aren’t you risking—well, you’re already dead, aren’t you?
Her thoughts squeezed with regret he could read as easily as the words she projected.
What’s in this for you?

He felt the sharp focus of her curiosity and, bless her, her suspicion. He ached for the woman who had known so little unselfish kindness that she suspected any good-doer of having ulterior motives. In his case, it was true. He did have a motive in addition to her wellbeing, although her wellbeing was, indeed, important to him.

He decided to be impeccably honest with her. Slowing their ascent so he’d have time to tell her everything, he said,
I once thought, as many Believers do, that once God created his Heavenly Host, He’d had no reason to create more. I was wrong.

I have been made an angel. Whether it was my reward for bearing over a century of imprisonment by that vile demon or whether it has ever been my calling, I do not know, but I have tasted the peace of heaven and the eternal love of Almighty God. In His unfathomable wisdom and by His perfect will, I have been blessed above all mortal creatures and given charge over a small measure of His power.

God has given me the power to guide and protect you in this plane and the one above. And when I have done all I can for you, I will offer guidance and protection to another in need.

You’re an angel?
she asked as they reached the shimmering ceiling of the abyss.
As in wings and harps?

He winced at the common misconception. His time in heaven had felt like a thousand glorious years, and in that time, he’d learned much about the world Almighty God had made, the visible parts and the invisible.

Not quite. Think lightning bolts of power, swords of fire for slaying demons, and diamond-plated armor to protect against the enemy. The music I make with my cohort would shatter the Earth if the barriers between heaven and the physical plane fell.

Her tendrils slipped from his hand. Her essence furled into form and she spoke with her mouth. “It’s all true? There is a God, and he’s all-powerful? There are angels?” The black holes of her eyes widened. “Is there a...hell?”

He nodded, catching her as she began to drift downward. She relaxed into her pure essence form. Her tendrils closed around his arm uncertainly.

“It is all true,” he said with his voice. “But I must warn you, once you win back your body from Mercy, I cannot guarantee you will remember your time here. It is likely this encounter will fade like a dream and you will retain no memory of this forsaken place.” He spoke the rest into her thoughts, encouraging her to conserve her energy.
You may have no memory of me save for our brief interactions inside your house.

Why?

Because God desires your faith.

That’s not fair. What if I never believe what Emmett believes? What about all those people who don’t believe? If there’s really a hell, who goes there? Could I go there?
Her essence shivered with apprehension, which quickly spiked to indignation.
I’m not bad. Maybe I’m a little bit carnal, but not bad. I’m not evil. I don’t deserve to go to hell.

He ached for her. He remembered what it was like to have such limited understanding of God’s love.
It is God’s desire that every mortal finds heaven’s peace. But His greatest gift to mankind is free choice. Some choose Him. Some do not. But His arms are open to all.

What will I choose?

I do not know the future. I pray you choose God. I think if you remain by Emmett’s side, you will come to cherish his beliefs.

What if I don’t?
Her grip on him loosened.

He regretted telling her everything. He needed her determined right now, not frightened of the future.

Acting on impulse, he embraced her essence as they floated below the ceiling. She molded to his form like a doll made of dandelion fluff. She was next to nothing in his arms, her vibrant life without a home. What had been done to her was an egregious sin. He vowed to make Draonius pay.

Unfortunately, no amount of determination on his part could secure Jade’s fate. Once he placed her back in her body, she would have a battle on her hands. It was not for him to know the outcome, only to prepare her for the fight.

I am not omniscient, dear Jade. But God would not have sent me to you unless He had plans for you. He made you. He fashioned you with the love of a perfect father. He desires a relationship with you. He will not give up on you easily. Now, are you ready to live?

A pause.
I’m afraid.

I will be with you until you are back in your body. And then you will know what to do. Come, let us put Mercy and Draonius in their place.

Her essence furled tight, determined.
Okay. Let’s do it.

He brought her through the ceiling, praying with all his might.

* * * *

Wind ripped at Jade’s essence. The roar of it was discordant and deafening despite her lack of ears. The physical plane was pure unadulterated chaos.

She should have been terrified, but thanks to Joshua cocooning her, shielding her from the worst of the gale, she didn’t fall to pieces, literally or emotionally.

After what felt like several tense minutes, Joshua’s thought to her,
I found your body. Here, do you feel that?

He pressed her tendrils into something warm and soft, something humming with a vibration that instantly calmed her. It felt like an island of salvation in a raging storm. It was her physical self. She let the warmth draw her in until the storm abated.

A sense of rightness surrounded her. She was home.

Releasing Joshua’s hand, she thought,
Thank you so much.

His response was,
Fight, Jade. Take back your body.
Then he was gone.

The second he left, she sensed an unpleasant crowding. Something pushed at her, resisting her effort to snuggle in where she belonged.

Mercy.

The sound of Emmett’s voice infused her with strength. He was saying, “Yeah, I think it did. There must be a draft or something.”

She imagined her tendrils turning to tent pegs, anchoring her in place. The pushing kept up, but she withstood it. Then she focused on having sight.

She caught a fleeting glimpse of Nick across the kitchen table. He was rubbing his arms as if he were cold. Dirty dishes strewn over the table suggested they’d just finished dinner. Emmett sat beside her, holding her hand.

She told her fingers to squeeze his hand and they obeyed, but loosely, as if someone else fought the command. Suddenly, everything went dark. Wind pulled at her, and she knew Mercy was trying to push her out.

Bitch.

She turned her tent pegs into railroad spikes, sending them deep. Mercy pushed harder. The spikes trembled. Weariness pressed at her, urging her to release all her tension to the threatening wind.

Joshua had warned her Mercy would be strong and determined, but she had refused to believe the former witch might be stronger than she was. Now she believed.

She had a single charge by Joshua, one thing she must accomplish at any cost.
Tell Nick, ‘I am possessed by a spirit named Mercy Abigail Birmingham. Pray for me.’ If you do that, he will take care of the rest.

It had seemed so simple. But her strength was running out after less than a minute of fighting the witch bitch. She’d barely gotten a glimpse out of her eyes. She couldn’t even give Emmett’s hand a proper squeeze. How was she going to wrest control of her mouth?

Doubts assailed her. What if she couldn’t do this? What if, after everything Joshua had told her, she lost to Mercy and wound up in hell?

She heard herself say, “I have a headache. I think I’ll go upstairs and lie down.” Damn it! Mercy had taken advantage of her moment of weakness.

Emmett said, “Okay, babe. Feel better.”

The sound of a kiss made her shake with rage. How dare that woman kiss her man!
Hurt that bitch. Feel pain, damn it!
She couldn’t afford to leave the room. She needed to talk to Nick.

A familiar, genteel voice in her head chuckled as she felt her body climb the stairs to Emmett’s room.
You can’t hurt me.
Nor can you stop me. I am stronger and smarter than you, Jade, and I shall not give this body up without a fight.

Oh, yeah, you ancient witch whore? Well, guess what. Neither will I.

Chapter 21

Emmett handed Nick a freshly washed casserole dish.

Nick accepted it and swiped it dry with the kitchen towel. “You sure, man?” His forehead scrunched beneath the bill of his hat. “I really don’t mind trying again tonight.”

Emmett had mixed feelings about sending Nick away, but like Jade had said over dinner, if they didn’t find anything paranormal at her house last night, maybe it meant whatever had attacked them had moved on. It would probably be nothing but a waste of time to try again. And Nick didn’t need to lose any more sleep over this while he had finals to study for.

“Don’t worry about it, man. You’ve got classes and exams. If you head back now, you can get a decent night’s sleep and a last minute study crunch. If Jade has any more trouble at home, we can figure it out when you’re done with finals.”

Nick set the dry dish on the counter and slung the towel over the oven handle. “I’ll be done Friday after next and then I’ll have practically the whole month of September off. Chiboza’s got some work for me, but it’s stuff I can do from home. I was planning on staying with my parents for my month off—to save on rent and be closer to Ali. So yeah, that would be a good time to get down and dirty and try to figure this thing out. But what’ll you do in the meantime? I’m not sure it’s a good idea for her to stay in her house alone.”

“She can stay with me.”

Nick scoffed. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea either. Maybe Jade can bunk with your sister, or Lisa could stay here and, like, chaperone you two crazy kids.”

He wanted to argue and insist he could keep his hands to himself, but the truth was Jade pushed him to his limits. Seeing her in just a flimsy tank top and a thong this evening had made every cell in his body surge with sexual hunger. He wanted her in the worst way, and it didn’t help that he was falling hard for her. What he felt for her went way beyond the physical, and that was saying something where Jade was concerned, because physically, she was a smoking hot ten.

Maybe this was love.

He’d said the words to Chelsea, but only after she’d said them to him first. Uttering the phrase had always come with a twinge of guilt, like he knew he didn’t really mean it but couldn’t justify not saying it if he was going to stay with her. The relationship had been comfortable, like his leather recliner.

Jade was like the body-hugging seat of a Lamborghini. Loving her was going to take him places, and take him there fast.

When he thought about sex with her, it was about more than just his own release. He wanted to claim her with his body. He wanted to give his woman pleasure, bind her to him with it. It wasn’t about an orgasm. It was about protecting her with every ounce of his strength, about making her his and giving himself to her in the most intimate and visceral way.

He’d never thought of sex that way before. It was humbling. It was frightening.

He’d always thought of “no sex before marriage” as a rule. Now he saw “sex within marriage” as a privilege.

And just like that, he knew. Jade was The One.

As quickly as the realization struck him, he shoved it away.

She was in a vulnerable position right now, and it was probably making him sentimental. He wasn’t cut out for marriage. As much as he cared for Jade, he couldn’t see them carving out a lifetime of happiness together when he was a small-town steady guy and she was a big-city party girl. Heck, he’d already taken her to the one cool place within a twenty-mile radius. A couple more visits to Billy Bob’s and she’d be missing her clubs back in Boston. He didn’t have a prayer of keeping her happy for long.