The Death Skull: Relic Defender, Book 2 (22 page)

“If you help me find the skull and show me how to use it,” he continued when she didn’t respond, “I’ll grant you your greatest wish.”

She pulled her head back as she felt her eyes widen. Her greatest wish? No one knew what she wanted most.

He smiled. “I will tell you about your father.” His smile widened. “And your sister.”

Catherine couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped. She was less surprised about his knowing of her father, but a sister? When she took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, she said, “A sister? I don’t have a sister.”

“I know you weren’t told of this, but you most definitely have a sister. Help me get the skull and use it, and I will tell you all about her. And where to find her.”

Catherine shook her head. “I don’t believe you. My mother never mentioned a sister. I would have known—here.” She pressed a hand to her heart.

He nodded. “Your mother thought she was doing the right thing, for her, mind you, by giving up your sister.” His chin lowered and he tapped his lips with a long finger. “Probably the only thing she did that was in someone else’s best interests instead of her own, even if she did it out of self-preservation.”

“I don’t understand. I would have known had my mother had another child.”

He tsked. “She didn’t actually
have
another child. She was merely given a second child to raise.” He shrugged. “Your mother didn’t want that child so she gave your sister away.”

“Doesn’t matter. I still don’t believe you.” Catherine surged to her feet and Davar lifted slowly to his. “I’ve heard your story. Tell me. Where is my mother?”

A small smile tugged at Jahi’s lips as she moved
 
to Davar’s side.

“Your mother is dead. I had no further use for her.” Jahi licked her fingers one at a time as if she’d just taken a bite of fried chicken. “Yes, and she was quite delicious. There was so much pain and guilt. Very tasty.”

Catherine’s knees weakened. From the moment the demon entered the room looking like her mother, she’d suspected her mother was dead. The knowing didn’t make it any easier, and in such a way.

Oh, Mother, I’m so sorry.

“Enough,” Mr. Davar snapped. “My patience is wearing thin. It’s time to go.”

He jerked his head at Jahi. She reached for Catherine, who, without thinking, swung the shovel at the demon as though the fireplace tool were a baseball bat and clipped the woman on her shoulder. The blonde screeched and stumbled backward. Anger or pain—it didn’t matter. Before Catherine could turn and bolt for the door, Mr. Davar had her upper arms in his punishing grip.

He yanked her back against his front. One hand came up and grabbed her neck. He hissed in her ear, “Listen, mortal. You will take me to the skull and tell me how to use it.”

Catherine trembled, frozen at the menace in his tone and the cruel grip of his fingers.

The door to the study flew open and crashed into the wall with a loud
crunch
. Stripped from one of its hinges, the slab hung drunkenly. A slender leg, clad in dark jeans, kicked at the other hinge, sending the whole thing spinning into the room, nearly knocking into Jahi. The female demon spit like a cat and pivoted away from the flying wood, then turned and faced the gaping hole.

Through the splintered doorframe, a tall woman, hair flaming a rich auburn, strode into the room. In her hand, she carried a sword—its long blade gleaming from the glow of the fire dancing in the fireplace. Eyes scarlet like Jahi’s but appearing lit from within, unlike the flat red of the demon’s, glared at Davar. The woman’s lips pulled back and showed lengthening canines.

“Let go of the human, Beliel,” she snarled. “And instead of cutting you into tiny pieces, I may just send you running back to Hell.”

Chapter Fifteen

Mari spared a quick glance at the slender human woman standing near Beliel. Wide eyes—a pale blue that seemed familiar—stared at her. One of the bastard’s hands was at the woman’s throat, his fingers wrapped around her neck.

His bitchtress, Jahi, shifted and Mari swung her sword at the succubus. “Uh-uh. Don’t move.”

Jahi hissed at Mari but stayed in place at a look from Beliel.

“Sister, I never thought you would give up freedom to work for the Light.” He spoke with a slight bitterness.

Mari shrugged. “I haven’t given up my freedom. I’ve just chosen the better side to be on.”

His lips peeled back, lending an edge of sharpness to his thin face. “Better side? The Light? You’ve given up, sister.” A sly look came into his eyes. “You could come work with me. Be my right hand.”

At that, Jahi’s head whipped around and she glared at Beliel.

“Don’t worry, my dear,” he drawled. “She’d never take your place.”

Jahi’s expression cleared slightly before she turned back to face Mari. The succubus wore her skepticism in the vertical lines cutting into the space between her brows.

“Not interested, Beliel.” Mari lifted her sword and pointed it at him. “Now, let go of the human.”

He shook his head. The woman choked as his fingers tightened around her neck. Red flushed her face and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. “I’m afraid I must decline. I need this delightful little mortal.” He released his tight grip and she sucked in a gasp.

“Well, now, son, we can’t let you do that.” Jackson’s smooth drawl came from behind Mari.

He stepped around her and stood at her side. Instead of his sword, he held some kind of gun pointed at Beliel. Where, by Cerberus’s heads, did he get a gun? And how many times did she have to tell him guns did not work on immortals?

“What is this, sister? A pet of your own?”

“I’m no one’s pet, hoss. Let the woman go.”

Well, she’d give the Texan points for courage, if not for intelligence. He had no idea the kind of demon he faced. Beliel was not like Jahi, and certainly not like Pammon, or any of the other lesser demons Jackson had previously fought. She hoped she could keep the handsome mortal from losing his head and his soul.

“Beliel,” she snapped to force his attention back to her. “You know we cannot let you take the woman.”

He jerked his head at Jahi and she came up to the other side of the mortal female. After shoving the female into the succubus’s grasp, he held out his arm and his own sword appeared. “You will stop me, sister? You and your pet? I don’t think so.” A sneer curled one side of his lips. “Jahi, my dear. Your turn.”

At the same time the succubus twisted the woman’s head around and placed her mouth on the mortal’s, Mari shifted, sweeping her sword in an upward arc. In a blur, Beliel met her with his. Sparks flew from the two great swords. Movement from the side as Jackson leapt for Jahi distracted Mari enough for Beliel to duck under her guard and kick her in the stomach.

She swore as she crashed backward into the splintered doorframe. Then, using the momentum, she bounced off the wood and pushed herself forward. The arrogant ass must not have expected her to rebound as fast as she did. It was her turn to score as she dodged his strike and hit him with an elbow to the chin. His head snapped back.

She heard a shout—Jackson—but couldn’t take the time to look as Beliel came at her with renewed ferocity. The swords clashed, drew apart and clashed again. When the pommel of his sword caught on hers, she used the advantage and shoved forward until their swords were crossed in front of their faces, their bodies within inches of each other.

“I see you’ve gained some skills in your service to the Light,” Beliel rasped.

She let a small smile tug on her lips. “Not everyone has been sitting around plotting world domination. Makes you soft.”

A growl rumbled from his chest into his throat. “The humans do not deserve what the Father gave them. If they will not protect the planet, I will.”

Mari couldn’t control her burst of laughter. “You expect me to believe you are doing this for the good of the planet? Don’t be ridiculous. You are doing it because you are tired of Daddy running the show and since you couldn’t get him out of Hell, you’ve decided to make Hell on Earth.”

His eyes widened. “So,” he whispered, “someone is telling secrets.”

Before she could react to the twitch in his cheek, she was thrust away from him, her sword ripped from her hand. It fell to the floor, clattering as it hit the tiles. In shock, she stared at the fallen weapon. How had he managed to dislodge her so effortlessly?

He spun and strode to Jackson.

“Jackson! Watch your back,” she shouted as Beliel approached the Texan who struggled with Jahi to release the woman.

Beliel planted the tip of his sword under Jackson’s chin and the mortal froze. The human female sagged in Jahi’s arms. “Is she the one?” Beliel asked.

Jahi nodded.

“Good,” he said, a smooth purr of satisfaction. “Jahi, if you will.”

With one arm holding up the female, Jahi reached out and touched Jackson’s neck. He stiffened. His throat pulsed as he swallowed hard. The movement pressed his skin against the sword’s edge and a thin stream of blood coated the steel.

Mari swung her arm and smoothly snatched up her sword. “Jahi! Let him go.”

Jahi gave her a sideways look as she dragged a finger through his blood and licked the tip. “Mmm. This human tastes so delicious. No wonder you want him as your pet.” She turned an imploring gaze on Beliel. “Can we take him with us, my prince? He’d be a lovely addition.”

Mari didn’t think. Her arm lifted and swept toward the fire which leapt to her fingers. Cradling the flames, she held her hand out to the succubus and Beliel. “Release him. Right now.”

She heard the black rage in her voice and briefly wondered where it had come from. The fire, as if to match her mood, flared, the flames spitting and crackling.

Beliel nodded his head toward Jahi. “Let him go, my dear. You can play with him later. We got what we came for.” He glanced down at the mortal female. “Take her.”

Even as lust glazed his eyes, Jackson threw himself backward, away from the sword’s deadly edge. At the same time, Mari threw the fireball, then lunged after it and Beliel was forced to defend himself and Jahi. Knowing that Beliel, weakened as he was, would be unable to apport without Jahi’s assistance, Mari kept hitting at him until he had no choice but to retreat. She was not going to lose Jackson or the mortal female.

She would not fail.

Kat sat on the stone wall staring at the house she’d grown up in. She imagined that aromas of fresh-cut grass mixed with that of daffodils and pansies danced in the air. Smells she’d always associated with her childhood but could no longer experience. Even after she’d ended up on the streets, the scents were a warm memory she brought out when things got tough. And things had definitely gotten tough on the streets. But now, as a ghost, she didn’t even have that because her memories of the sensations had faded.

A soccer ball sailed past her, nearly clipping her head. Not that it would have mattered, since a ghost couldn’t actually be harmed by a round plastic item. A child’s laughter, silvery and sweet, followed the path of the bouncing toy. The little girl, somewhere between five and seven, running behind it had chestnut curls that bobbed and her brown eyes were bright and smiling.

When she neared Kat, she slowed then stopped. Tilting her head, she looked directly at Kat. “Hello,” the little girl said.

Good heavens, she can see me.

After she got over her surprise, she smiled. “Hi.”

“I’m Abby. What’s your name?” Abby came nearer and Kat slid down from the wall.

She crouched down and peered into the sweet round face with its puffy pink cheeks and dewy skin of innocence. “Hi, Abby. My name’s Kat.”

Abby giggled. “Cat? Like a kitty cat?”

Despite the pain that stabbed through her at what used to be a term of endearment, Kat chuckled. “Kind of.”

“Abby, honey, who are you talking to?”

The man walking toward Abby had the same chestnut-colored hair and brown eyes. Stocky instead of tall, the formfitting shirt and jeans he wore showed he was in excellent shape. Kat rose to her feet.

“Hi, Daddy. I’m talking to Kat. Like the kitty cat.” Abby tugged on her dad’s hand. “Come on. She’s very pretty.”

The man’s brows lowered as he looked at Kat and right through her. “Honey, I don’t see anyone. Are you feeling okay?” He turned his head and looked up. “I think it’s time to go in and get cool.”

“No, Daddy, I wanna stay and talk to Kat.” A mutinous expression formed on Abby’s face. Oh, this one was going to be a heartbreaker when she got older.

Her father bent and caught up his pouting daughter. He cuddled her to his chest and bent his head to hers. Both heads topped with chestnut curls touched until Kat couldn’t tell where they separated.

“Come on, baby. Let’s go inside. I’ll make you a chocolate milkshake, okay?”

Abby squealed and clapped her hands together. Her father turned and headed back in the direction they’d come from. Kat watched them walk away; as they stepped into the other lawn, Abby peered out from behind her father’s neck. She smiled and waved at Kat.

Kat smiled and waved back until they entered the adorable white house with the front porch, cheering daffodils nodding their heads in the wind and the gentle tinkle of the chimes.