The Book Waitress Series Volume One (28 page)

“I think you just struck gold there, my dear. Here, let’s shovel him into the wheel barrow, then I’ll take it on over and we can return him back home.”

“Fabulous!” She nearly skipped along with him. The night had taken quite a positive turn. “How many have crossed over since I fell asleep? I don’t know why, but I didn’t wake up at all until you shook the bones out of me.”

“You’ve got one left.” He stopped the wheelbarrow by the side of the well. “And you didn’t wake up because I held your hand all night long. I was a diligent, dutiful demon watching for the slightest change in you.”

“Thank you. You’re amazing.”

“And you are, too. You did a great job back there. I love how you approached him. Very natural and unassuming. You really gave us the opportunity to get close without chasing him away.” He grabbed a shovel and leaned against the top of it. “Do you realize where you’re standing right now?”

She looked around and her jaw dropped. “I’m by the well.” She spun around. “And I’m okay. I’m not hyperventilating. I’m not feeling anything weird. When I came out here, I recited a mantra and that helped me roam around with you. And now, this. This is awesome!”

“Okay, let’s get this done and over with so you can get some more rest.” He handed her a shovel and started tossing piles of ash over the well’s wall. “I think it’s time we took this show on the road. I think we should start walking around the main center of town looking for these beasts. You know, go on the offensive and seek them out. Otherwise, we’ll never be able to get rid of them all.”

“Excellent point. You’re right. We can’t wait for them to happen by us. We have to hunt them down. Town it is, then. And we can do a little shopping as well. You, my dear, need clothes!”

When the last bit of ash went over the lip of the well, she shook the shirt and pants over it, too. “We can toss these in as well, don’t you think? I mean, the well doesn’t feed water to the library anymore. It’s just here collecting whatever rainwater falls.”

“I think I’d still like to burn them, though. I don’t like leaving traces of anything around. Old habit, but a good one.”

“Okay, then I’ll go grab the lighter and be right back. We can burn them right in there.” If wheelbarrows had souls, she was sure it just sighed with dismay.

“Hurry.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed. She patted his hand.

“I will, don’t worry.” She jogged over to the back door and rushed into the office where she thought she’d left the lighter. It wasn’t there. Making a mental note to buy quite a few lighters tomorrow, she scurried to the dining room.
There it is! Great!
She grabbed it and ran out the back door.

Just as she approached the well, the burn began in her leg. “Synn!” Frantic, she reached out a hand toward him as she hobbled to a stop. “Hurry! It’s starting!”

She hadn’t even finished her thought and he was beside her, holding her hand and sending a coating of frost to thwart the pain.

“Whoa, I’m burning, too!” He took his other hand and shoved it under his waistband to send an icy patch to his mark as well. “Something’s coming through right now and right in front of us. Get your knives ready! Shit, my sword is over by the wheel barrow. Walk with me!”

They shuffled their way over and he retrieved the sword just in time to witness the air bend over the well. Camille froze, dumbstruck, as a wave slithered down the side of the well and into the grass to stretch and become erect, like a human. But it didn’t stop there. It grew in mass and size, and soon looked to her like a basketball player and a football player had a kid together.

Synn let go of her hand and wielded the weapon with both hands. She prayed his mark had stopped burning. Hers had, but she would have endured for safety’s sake. She released her knives, and they fell beautifully into place in her palms. She took a defensive stance and readied herself for a fierce battle. Now they just needed it to become opaque to get things rolling.

It started at its feet and quickly spread up its body. A very large, very muscular man was forming, and she had her doubts if they’d be able to bring him down. It turned slightly, and stopped when it faced Synn.
Oh hell, here we go!
Synn’s gonna cut him down!

Readying his sword, he stopped mid-swing, puzzlement washing over his face. “Pablo? Is that you? It is!” Recognition lit up his face as he threw his sword on the ground and he started walking over to the mammoth beast of a man.

“Are you crazy? What are you doing? We have to kill him, Synn!” She ran over and put herself between him and the giant demon. She jabbed her knives in the air, threatening anyone who would come close.

Laughter echoed around her. Synn was laughing? And the beast was laughing, too?

“What the hell is going on?” She refused to put down her knives.

“It’s all right, Camille. You can put those things away. It’s Pablo, an old friend.”

“You’re kidding me, right? Satan’s gotten to your mind and you both are going to ambush me and send me to Hell.”

“Camille, I’m not kidding. Put the knives away. Pablo is cool. We planned our escape together. Say hello to the lady before she cuts us both down.”

“Hello, lady. I won’t hurt you. I promise.” Pablo smiled and bowed.

“Well, I’ll be…” Her blades dropped to the ground. “Hell…Hello, Pablo.”

“Come join us. We were just headed in when you showed up.” He extended a hand to shake, and she watched as Pablo’s mammoth one swallowed it up. They walked toward the back door to the library together. “Wow, I can’t believe you’re here!”

She couldn’t either. Synn had a friend in Hell? And now he’s manifested here? She was supposed to trust him implicitly and allow him into her house?

“Wait! Stop right there!” The two turned around and gave her quizzical looks. “This is my home and my right to invite or not invite people in, Synn. I can’t say I’m comfortable with this arrangement at the moment. You want to catch up on old times with each other, save it for later. Before he’s allowed to take one step into my house he will have to answer a few questions and prove himself, like you did.”

“I’m sorry, Camille. I should have anticipated your reaction. Come on. Let’s sit down on the back patio and talk.”

She walked past them and led them to the edge of concrete. She took a defiant stance. “Okay. Talk, Giant.”

“I am called Pablo. When I was human, I starred in the freak show of a travelling circus. I loved a woman who belonged to the knife thrower. He found out that we had kissed a couple of times and killed her and me. Satan picked me up on my way outta here, and I’ve been doing revenge killings for fifteen years.”

“We met while coming through a portal on a team job. I’ll never forget it. We got to talking about how we felt about things and realized we both hated what we were doing. I got away first, and now he’s here.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me with all the time we’ve spent together. It’s pretty important, don’t you think? That I should be expecting another demon from Hell to cross over that isn’t necessarily evil?”

“I’m sorry. I completely forgot given everything that’s happened since we met. But it’s really okay, Camille. He’s really a good guy. Better than me by a long shot.”

She wouldn’t budge. “What are your plans, Pablo?”

“I escaped to live a quiet life where I wouldn’t have to kill anyone anymore. I just want to disappear into this world and be left alone.”

“I see. Well, that’s a noble idea, Pablo. You can come in for now. But, I think the sooner you catch up and go, the better. Satan’s probably already figured out that Synn’s defected. It won’t be long until he discovers you have, too.”

“Okay. Thank you. I don’t want any trouble for you or for me.”

She opened the door and ushered two demons into her home. How bizarre her life had become! “Well, I’ll leave you to catch up with each other. I have weapons to clean.”

Synn walked back to hug and kiss her cheek as his amber eyes glowed. “Thank you. I haven’t seen him in a long while, and he’s the only friend I have, besides you.”

“You’re welcome. I know how important connections are. Enjoy your time together.”

She turned into the office and began the process of cleaning the weapons they’d used, wiping the blades down, and re-dipping them in the charmed solution, just to make sure they were good and spelled. She reloaded the berretta with bullets and stuck the knives back in the arm holders. Looking around at the arsenal they had acquired, she felt pride and was pleased to know that all avenues to address Satan, and Hell’s portal, were now being handled.

Scuffling and the sound of shattering of glass from the living room pulled her attention away. Instincts told her run. She hurried in to find Pablo and Synn in a tangled heap on the floor. A series of curses and grunts peppered the air. Were they roughhousing? Is that something they did when they were together? She stood by and observed them for a few minutes. Synn definitely held his own, which thoroughly surprised her, given Pablo’s size, but she could tell Pablo had begun to get the upper hand. He’d gotten Synn in a headlock and wasn’t releasing. In fact, by the way Synn’s face had grown bright red she could tell he was in a spot.

“What gives, man?” He managed to choke out. “I’m tapping out.”

Pablo ignored his surrender.

“I said I’m tapping out!” He sounded like his throat had nearly been shut.

Camille’s level of concern rose exponentially. “Pablo, he said stop!”

He wouldn’t, and Synn’s redness deepened to a darker shade of maroon. Why wasn’t Synn freezing him in order to make him stop?
This was exactly what I was afraid of, damn it!
She approached the heaving mass and tapped Pablo hard on his arms. “Yo! Stop it right now! You’re killing him!”

“As Satan commands. And when I’m done with him, I’ll be taking you back to Hell with me. I promised not to hurt you. I didn’t say anything about him.”

“You son-of-a-bitch!” She pounded on his arms and pulled to try and free Synn’s head. Pablo’s tree trunks for arms wouldn’t budge. She released the knives from their holders and was about to stick him with them when he violently shrugged her off.

Camille landed with a hard thud on the wooden floor and rolled into the coffee table. Dazed by the force he’d used to toss her aside, she lay still on the floor in agony, ribs undoubtedly fractured and throbbing mercilessly. Not about to let the demon best her, she mustered the remains of her energy and crawled to a stance befitting a warrior. She saw Synn’s eyes had closed and figured he’d gone unconscious. “You just messed with the wrong woman, Pablo.” She charged at him, knives fully extended. Letting out a roar, she
took a running leap and landed on the behemoth’s upper back. She thrust each blade right through his ears, all the way to their hilts.

Instant rigidity and death followed. As he turned to ash, Synn’s body rolled away and she came crashing down. Dust plumes billowed about her as she coughed and scrambled through the remains over to Synn.

“Synn! Synn!” She screamed, frantic to know if he was still alive. “Wake up!” She shook him and checked to see if he was breathing. He wasn’t. “Shit!” She tilted his chin up, pinched his nose, and opened his mouth to start mouth to mouth resuscitation. It took five breaths before he came around. He coughed and rolled away from her, then bounced up and took on a fighting stance. “Whoa! Synn, it’s okay, he’s gone. It’s over. He’s dust.”

Acknowledgement was slow to come, but when it happened, he dropped to the floor like a paperweight. His chest heaved as though he couldn’t get enough air, and he flung his arms out wide. She sidled up next to him and caressed his cheek.

“Let me see ya, Synn,” she said in a hushed, calm voice. “Show me those pretty eyes of yours. You know. The ones you say match mine.” He blinked. “That’s it. There you are. Welcome back.” He smiled weakly. “Can you talk? Try to say something, all right?”

“What happened?” He managed a throaty whisper.

“I’m so sorry. Pablo didn’t come here to catch up with an old friend. He came here to kill you. Courtesy of none other than the Dark Lord. You guys were rough housing and it turned real. I heard a crash and came running in. He had you in a headlock and rendered you unconscious. I jumped him and killed him good and dead with my knives. I guess you can call me a badass now.” She smirked.

He coughed and whispered, “Proud of you. Thanks for saving my life.”

“I told you I had your back.” She flicked some clumps of ash off of his hair.

“I never doubted it. Help me up.” Despite her screaming back and ribs, she grabbed his hands and pulled, sending bits of Pablo rushing to the floor.

“Ugh, this is gonna be a pain in the ass to clean up! I don’t even want to see how much demon gunk is all over me. You’re a mess, too. Where to begin?” She’d be cleaning up bits of Pablo for months, she knew it.

He dragged her down the hallway to the ladies room. “Here. This is where we begin.” He pushed open the door and led her to the sink. Taking a rag from the towel rack, he then soaked it with water and gently wiped down her face. He wiped his down, as well, and tossed the rag into the sink. Without introduction or warning he grabbed her. “And with this.”

He kissed her, delicately at first, layering on more intensity as every moment passed. Overwhelmed by how much he said without saying anything at all, she leaned in, to hear more with her lips. She opened them slightly to taste his unspoken words, and responded with silent words of her own, teasing his tongue with hers, and laying bare all she’d wanted to say but couldn’t before now.