jinn 03 - vestige (24 page)

“Is it ready?” I asked, ignoring his crush-based question.

We didn’t have a lot of time. Maggie had been knocked out, but she wasn’t dead. She would go for Olivia and then Olivia wouldn’t stop until she found me. If I didn’t possess the seal by then, she could potentially ruin our chance to defeat Mammon.

Phoenix blew out a breath. “Just like you asked. I also spread word about what you’re doing. It’s only a matter of time before Mammon shows up. I’m not doubting you, but are you sure about this? You’re strong and all, but—”

I shot him a glance out of the corner of my eye as I went inside with Charlie. “If you’re scared, Phoenix, leave. I’ll find you later.”

He glanced back at the door like there was nothing he’d like better than to flee. “It’s just he’s a prince of Hell. That’s sounds like a big deal, man. He killed how many jinn in here? Strong, free jinn— without so much as breaking a sweat. You saw the room. They were massacred.”

“You have a purse to go with that dress?”

He huffed out a sigh. “Whatever. I just like this freedom thing and I’d like to keep it. I’m sure you’ll be fine, but I’m not back up. Don’t count on me. You go down and I’ll be joining the other side. Olivia would be much more dependable. That’s all I’m saying.”

I let go of Charlie’s hand and slammed him against the wall, pinning him by the throat. “Why shouldn’t I kill you right now for wasting my time?”

He didn’t try to speak or struggle. I didn’t sense any fear in him, only anticipation of what his verdict would be. I dropped him to the ground. He was still useful to me. When I had the seal he would follow me without question, they all would.

I started forward again, Charlie at my side. Phoenix had set up the altar just like I told him to.

“How much do you know about the seal?” he asked.

“Enough,” I said.

He nodded. “Better make it fast. I have a bad feeling about tonight. Did you notice how dark it was getting? It’s too fucking early to be that dark. Mammon is coming.”

“We’ll be ready.” I lifted the girl onto the table and had her lie down. Her big, soulful eyes looked up at me as I pulled the knife out of its sheath. Charlie didn’t even flinch.

“Play?” she asked and smiled as if to entice me.

“Not right now.” My palms began to sweat. I could make it quick. She wouldn’t feel any pain—at least not much.

She touched my hand and the knife clattered to the floor. I stared at her small fingers against the back of my hand, powerless against them. I was supposed to protect her. I was supposed to protect all of them.

Fire flamed inside of me and I picked up the knife. This was the only way to end this. The angel knew it and deep down so did I. Hell would never stop. If I possessed the seal it would be a moot point. Anyone they sent after me or any of us would be ineffectual. The only thing standing in my way was my own sentimentality.

“What are you waiting for?” Phoenix asked.

I pressed my fingers to Charlie’s forehead, tipping her head back slightly, and sent energy in her direction to make her sleep. It would be easier that way. Her breathing went soft and even, and her long eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.

I picked up the knife, pointed it at her, closed my eyes, and slammed it down before I could think about it. But I never made impact. Less than a centimeter from her chest, the knife stopped. My hand shook, an internal war raging inside. My fingers loosened around the hilt. The room darkened.

Phoenix lunged at me, trying to force the knife into the girl, but I knocked him aside. It was no good. I couldn’t do it. I was going to have to fight Mammon as I was. Olivia had her guardian strength back, but it wasn’t enough. This was a prince we were discussing. He’d kill us both.

Light flashed across the room like an exploding star. I blinked the colored blotches away from my eyes, just in time to see Olivia and Rhys rushing toward me and Charlie.

“Holden, don’t,” Olivia said, picking the girl up.

“I’m not,” I managed to get out before all light vanished from the room. Slowly Olivia let her glow grow out around her enough to cover me. It was second nature to her now. I doubted she even thought about it. Phoenix and Rhys moved into the light as a voice spoke.

“You failed,” a deep voice boomed through the club.

Olivia’s fingers threaded through mine, and the light around us grew brighter, sending the darkness slithering back. A far too familiar form emerged from the blackness. My breath caught and my chest squeezed. It wasn’t him. It wasn’t him.

“Do you like my vessel? I chose it especially for you.” The demon spoke from my brother’s body.

I released Olivia’s hand and moved toward the edge of the light. “It won’t stop me from killing you, if that was your hope. Or did you come all this way to offer me another deal?”

“The deal isn’t for you. Your soul will come back with me to hell and will beg for mercy.” He drew in a slurping breath through his teeth. The others will forge a new deal with Hell.” He moved closer, smoke rising from his skin because even in the darkness the nearby light was too bright. I grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him into the light. His skin bubbled and burned, and the smell of charred flesh rose up around us, but the demon simply laughed.

“Do you think I cannot withstand a little pain, jinni?” The palm of his hand connected with my chest, cracking my breast bone. I flew across the room into the darkness and landed on a table that crushed beneath me. Hands and claws grabbed at me, scratching and tearing at my flesh. I fought my way to my feet and back toward the light, but something tripped me and yanked me back. Olivia had Charlie behind her, and she was glowing furiously as Mammon approached, covered completely in foot high flames.

Phoenix pulled a gun and emptied it into the prince. He didn’t even flinch. I fought harder to get to them. The pain was nothing nor was the inevitable death that awaited me. All that mattered was protecting them, Olivia and Charlie, my family. I broke free again, allowing my own flames to rocket to the surface, and moved forward, dragging whatever was trying to hold me back with me.

Mammon was within an arm’s distance of them. His flaming hand shot out and Phoenix stepped in the way, taking the brunt of the attack. Mammon’s fist sank into Phoenix and then he flung him to the side. Olivia didn’t scream. Light grew and grew in the palms of her hands. It wouldn’t be enough. I finally crossed the line into the light; the resistance melted away. I launched myself at the demon, wrapped my arm around his neck, and dragged him to the floor. I didn’t care about the burning. I didn’t feel the pain. He would never take them. Ever.

The smoke from my own burning flesh blinded me. My arm reached out, searching for the holy knife I dropped. The demon struggled to break my hold, and the moment was coming. A touch I would know anywhere placed the knife in my hand, and I aimed it for where Mammon’s heart would be if he had one. His hand lashed out and caught mine. My strength was nothing to his. He bent and twisted my arm back toward me.

“No,” Rhys said, coming into the fight. He grabbed at the demon’s arm, but the demon merely turned my hand, which still held the blade, and lunged. As the knife sunk into Rhys, Mammon twisted my hand.

Something metal smashed against Mammon’s head, quickly followed by a powerful spray of white powder that drenched the demon and me. It did nothing to put out the flames, but it did distract Mammon. He made a swipe at Olivia, knocking the fire extinguisher out of her hand as I rammed the knife into his chest.

The demon went still, but I didn’t let go. Olivia stood over us, watching as the demon cracked and chipped away, light erupting from inside of him until he was no more. She fell to her knees beside me and with shaking hands took one of mine.

“Don’t move,” she said. “You’re hurt badly.”

I knew she was right. The pain felt different than it normally did. I couldn’t feel myself piecing back together. A much smaller hand found its way into my other hand. “Don’t leave me,” I said, closing my eyes that couldn’t see a damn thing anyway.

“Never,” she said as cool drops of water splashed against my face.

“Help me find the urn and the cup. Now!” I shouted at Maggie and Corbin as I extinguished the Hand of Glory.

We didn’t have time to investigate everything that Rhys had hoarded here. Quintus was dying and who the hell knew what was happening with Olivia and Holden? The only thing I was positive of was that we were completely and totally out of time.

“I’ve got Baker,” Maggie said, hugging the urn to her chest, red tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Is it still full?” I asked, flinging things out of my way as I looked for a wooden bowl that could be the cup.

She opened it and her face fell. “It’s empty,”

I stopped what I was doing. “It can’t be.”

She reached into the urn and came back with no more than a tablespoon of ashes. “This is all that’s left.”

We were too late. Rhys had already used them. Baker was really gone which meant Olivia was, too. I’d lost. I sat down on the bed.

“The cup.” Corbin produced a worn, polished wooden bowl that hummed with energy. It didn’t matter anymore.

I shook my head. “The cup can’t save her.”

Maggie took my arm and pulled me up so hard it nearly dislocated. “It will save Quintus.”

I followed them out of the tunnel and Corbin drove us back to the warehouse. The building glowed as we approached. It was definitely bad. I took a deep breath and charged inside. Quintus was still there and his chest moved with breath, but his eyes were closed. Water. We needed water.

I sprinted back to the kitchen and filled the bowl. A burst of blue light ricocheted through the dish. Carefully, I carried it back to Quintus as Maggie propped him up. Pressing the bowl to his lips, I eased as much liquid as I could into him, careful not to spill. Slowly the light changed directions and sank back into Quintus, closing his wounds as it went. When I was satisfied he would survive I stopped, setting the bowl to the side.

Quintus opened a heavy eye. “Holden has the girl,” he said. “Something is wrong with him.”

I nodded. “Maggie told us. She saved you.”

He gave a faint smile and put his hand over hers, before closing his eyes again.

My cell phone rang. It was Olivia.

“Femi, we need your help,” she said through sobs. “He’s dying.”

“Is Rhys there?” I asked, my despair morphing to anger. That lying, cheating bastard.

She paused. “Yes.”

“I’ll be right there.” I stood up, running my hand over my face. “Maggie, can you stay with Quintus? Corbin, I need you to drive me to Xavier’s.”

I called from the car to let Leilah know what I found and where we’d be. It was possible she would try to defend Rhys, but I didn’t think it would happen. After all, she seemed to have genuine affection for Baker and had pointed me in Rhys’s direction to begin with.

Baker’s urn, still in the backseat, caught my eye. How could Rhys cannibalize Baker like that? I held the bowl steady on my lap as we drove, but stared at the empty urn. Corbin, for once, didn’t say anything. He didn’t make any wise cracks and he didn’t offer sympathy. He just did what I asked him to do. When we got to the club, he offered to carry the bowl because I was shaking. In one day I was about to lose everyone who meant anything to me. I let him have it and picked up the urn, just wanting to feel closer to Baker.

If you have any suggestions, Baker, I’m all ears.

There was no response, not even a feeling. We found them in the back room. Rhys and Phoenix laid in their own pool of blood, alone, while Olivia and Charlie, both unharmed, held the hands of a very charred Holden. The smell of sulfur and singed hair took my breath and burned the inside of my nostrils until my eyes watered.

Olivia looked up through her tears. “He isn’t regenerating,” she said.

I took the bowl from Corbin and walked it to her. “Try this,” I said.

“That will not be enough for him,” Death said passively from a chair on the other side of the room. “It may, however, work on the other jinni.” He nodded to Phoenix.

Olivia gasped, dissolving into more tears, and collapsed against Holden. Charlie cried harder, saying his name softly as she curled against him.