The Devil You Know (31 page)

“What if it had been me running into the dark in pain?” I asked. “Would you have left me to suffer alone?”

Jacq was momentarily silent, clearly fighting for control over her body and magic. “You know I wouldn’t. I haven’t.”

Under my palm, the muscles in her hand tightened, standing out prominently, and another silver blast rose up from her body. It swirled around us three, lightly touching me with the softest of fingertips before disappearing into the hound. Wrin whimpered and I raised my head to see her eyes, still staring into the woods, were again red, only now her breathing appeared to be slowing.

I lay back down. Perhaps Jacq’s magic also made the hound lethargic. If so, the demon-dog must be feeling very tired. I wondered how many times they had done this and if that was why I hadn’t seen the hound this morning when I’d placed her food outside the wards. That would explain Jacq’s frequent “running” excursions. The possibility worried me, but there was no time for such considerations.

“What is happening to you? What is the source?” I entreated. “Tell me and I will fight it with everything I have.”

“
Cher
…” The quiet word was tender even as it trembled with grief. “This cannot be fought. The source…is you—” She gasped, her teeth clenching in agony as larger tendrils of power moved out of her and into Wrin.

I
was the one? Pain unrelated to magic flared in my soul. I was stunned into silence as my head reeled, uncomprehending.

Jacq sighed as the power lessened and her pain eased. Between pants, she continued, “Cate, I sense…your thoughts. Let me finish. You
and
I…
we
are the source. We…are each bringing the other’s powers to their full strength. I know you have sensed it.”

This information was not the relief and alleviation of guilt Jacq had meant it to be. From the moment we met our magics had reacted together. I had felt her heat grow, had felt my body absorb it and become stronger. I longed to deny her words…longed to deny that my presence in her life could cause her this agony…but couldn’t.

“If I leave, will this stop?” It would destroy me to leave her like this. But if it was the only way I would.

Jacq looked away.

“I must know.” I touched her chin gently.

Her head turned back. Her gaze met mine but there was no judgment there. “No,” she answered sadly. “The process has begun. It must run its course.”

“What can I do?”

Jacq moaned, another silver pulse rising from her. “You both need to go now. I can’t hold this much longer. Wrin has nearly taken all she can without losing consciousness. Without her to absorb this power, it will be dangerous to be near when it is freed.”

I gripped Jacq’s hand harder. “No.” I shook my head, the grass under my head tickling my scalp, my words softly stern. “I can take some. Wrin,” it felt strange to call her by a name when I had been thinking of her as
the hound
, “can take the rest…assuming she agrees.” I looked to the hound. She simply whimpered and laid her head on Jacq’s thigh.

That was good enough for me. I opened my body as before, opening my soul wide to accept Jacq’s magic. Pleasant slivers of it began to pass into me. Jacq moaned again, panting heavily now.

“
No
. There are too many enemies about. Too much danger for Wrin to be alone in the woods, asleep and defenseless.
Go now
.” Jacq pushed the last two words out through tight teeth, their sound resonating heavily in my ears.

Go. Go. Go. Go. Go. NOW!

For a moment, I felt the overwhelming need to be away, to run, lock myself in my room and lie in my tub, mattress above me in preparation for the storm of all storms.

“No.” I gritted my teeth and batted her spell away. My determination would not be swayed.

“I can’t…talk you out of this?” Jacq raised her head to look at me.

I shook my head. “Not if you had a hundred years and a travel trailer of chocolate to argue with.” I forced a smile.

Jacq simply looked at me with sad, pain-filled eyes then lowered her head, releasing a long sigh. Our bond said she had nothing left to argue with and for once I was glad. Under my palm, her hand grew almost unbearably hot, her glow painful to see. Since she was neither directing it nor I taking it, her magic was slow to seep into me. Still, I was beginning to feel the early effects, my limbs already growing heavier.

Wrin growled again, rising slightly onto her front legs, wickedly sharp teeth bared to the dark trees. I frowned, sensing the same foul presence as the hound. It was demon but not. And it was watching us, waiting for…something. From Wrin’s demeanor, she wanted to go after it but was staying by Jacq’s side, staying to help my love. Such loyalty deserved to be repaid.

“You’re right. We can’t leave Wrin.” My jaw flexed in frustration. “But bringing her into the wards won’t be safe enough.” A week ago, I thought it impossible to get past the blue and green barrier that surrounded the house and gardens. Now I knew better.

We couldn’t leave Wrin here. We couldn’t leave her in the gardens but within the wards. We certainly couldn’t take her into the house, not as she was. And once Wrin passed out, even Jacq wouldn’t be able to budge the massive dog more than a few feet.

I had a mental image of us standing behind the hound, straining to push her large body through the back door and Nana’s face when she got up to fix breakfast and found a pony-sized hellhound snoozing on the brown tile. As humorous as that was, it wasn’t worth the lifetime of scolding I’d endure as punishment.

Then I had an idea. “What we need,” I said, “is more convenient packaging.”

Jacq snorted, breath hitching. “I really…can’t,” she gasped, “work a spell at the moment. Did you have…something in mind?”

“Yes,” I said, though I didn’t. Such a spell was more complicated than I or even a highly skilled witch such as my Nana could work, especially on the fly.

But such things do come naturally to some,
my demon-half reminded me
.

I mentally nodded, acknowledging her suggestion, and sent the hound a message, hoping she understood,
Can you shape-change? Become smaller?
I knew some hounds could. A picture popped into my head and I shared it, never pausing to consider where it came from. Jacq was running out of time and I wouldn’t leave Wrin to fall prey to whatever was in the woods or to the next bat-demon that came for my demon grandmother.

As if offended that I would even ask, the hound huffed, steam flying out of her nostrils, eyes flashing like a fire receiving a fresh infusion of fuel. Before my eyes, her body shrank. I leaned up on my elbow to see her over Jacq’s body. Within seconds, the cutest curly-haired red-eyed terrier lay beside my love. Though pained, Jacq turned her head and let out a short laugh.

“What is that?” she asked.

I shrugged, chagrined. “I watched
The Wizard of Oz
a few weeks ago. It was the first dog that occurred to me.”

Wrin wagged her bobbed tail and gave us a grin containing more sharp teeth than I remembered such a small dog…really any dog…ever having.

“We’re all set.” I lay back and laced my fingers with Jacq’s. Her eyes were again open, staring at the bright night sky.

“This is a very…bad…idea,” Jacq said, her husky voice scratchy with pain and tension, but she didn’t refuse. She turned her hand to lace our fingers together. Through our connection, I knew her other hand’s fingers were twisted in Wrin’s fur.

Jacq’s head twisted and we locked eyes, light blue to blazing silver. I smiled softly, accepting whatever might come. Jacq returned the smile, her brow still creased with worry. Her body relaxed as she stopped fighting her power.

And with that, it began.

Scorching hot silver magic, brighter than my eyes could bear, began to flow out in faster and faster pulses. I slammed my lids closed but still felt the heat searing against my skin, still felt Jacq’s gaze upon my face. I saw the bright light through the thin layer of skin and wondered how she stood it. For several seconds, I felt only the barest edge of magic as it all moved into Wrin, who whimpered, making small barking noises before going quiet. With her silence, the air around us shifted.

Wrin had taken all she could, and it was my turn.

There was a slight probing touch as the magic swept me from head to toe, looking for the entryway into its new home, finally wriggling around at my soul’s door as if accessing its space. Then a river of power thrust into me. And I held my arms wide, embracing it like a lover, taking all that Jacq could give.

Willingly.

The magic was more than before, and it hurt. But this time, I was ready. I kept making room, cleaving my soul till it seemed to split. Yet more came. The burn of it was agony, and I wondered if I would be incinerated or split down the seams and explode. Fighting the urge to scream, I bit my lip until I tasted blood then dampened our mental connection. Jacq had to know my pain, had to see the blood trickling down my chin. But knowing she couldn’t feel it through me helped.

I spread myself wide, drawing more power in. Something within me ripped. For a second, I tried to just breathe. The copper of blood in my mouth grounded me, and I panted, opening my eyes, looking past the blaze to lock eyes with my beautiful phoenix. Then the pressure eased, equalizing between the three of us. I felt full to overflowing with power.

And it was
glorious
.

Wrin snuffled, her breath slow, her body already deep within its stupor. But the magic was still flowing, little aftershocks rippling between Jacq and me.

I took a deep breath and felt as if I had inhaled the night. I tasted the air, noticing things I had never noticed before. The pine scent had a strong acidic undertone. There was a wealth of small living creatures around us. And the skies high above were full of buzzing insects and humming birds. The stars were brilliant, like colored fireworks in the sky, and I could almost feel the earth beneath me spinning on its axis. I ran my tongue across the inside of my lip. My cut from seconds before was already healed, any trace of it completely gone. Jacq’s fingers traced my cheek and down my neck. I shivered, feeling the touch
everywhere
.

Jacq’s wide smile didn’t quite meet her shadowed eyes. Her fingers lingered on my lips, and I lost my breath. “Might I have the pleasure of escorting you ladies home?”

I laughed and moved with her help to my feet, feeling as if I no longer knew my body. That sensation of soft wings rippling against the walls of my soul came again, this time stronger. Something had cracked within me, making the walls holding my demon-half captive that much weaker, the bonds my family had used to tie my powers that much looser. That knowledge didn’t worry me as much as it should have. I felt stronger, lighter, more powerful.

I felt
immortal
.

For a second, I dared whatever dark creature was infesting our woods to come and face me. Then I shook that thought away. I was barefoot, in a T-shirt and panties, weaponless, and needed to ensure that I got my exhausted girlfriend and sleeping hell-terrier home. It was a bad moment to pick a fight.

Until this exuberant feeling wore off, I needed to be extra cautious. Overconfidence and carelessness often walked hand in hand. Either could get a girl killed quick. Together they made worlds fall. I might not live forever, but I wanted to live as long as I could. Which meant not doing stupid things, like running into the woods in my unmentionables to challenge the big bad king of the backwoods jungle.

Jacq and I looked at the small dog sleeping soundly in the daisy-dotted grass. Jacq bent down.

“Let me,” I said. I owed Wrin more than I could repay, but bearing her small weight on the short walk home was a good start. I tucked Wrin into one arm. Jacq took my hand. And we walked back to the dark house. Little time had passed, and everyone was still asleep. Almost everyone, that is. We tiptoed past the kitchen where Nana sat in the dim light, speaking softly on the phone. I heard her say Aunt Helena’s name but kept on walking. Not wanting to answer any questions, Jacq and I made sure she didn’t see us. Nana and Aunt Helena frequently made calls late at night so I didn’t think anything of her being awake.

When we reached my room, I took a large blanket out of the closet, made a nice nest at the foot of my bed, and placed Wrin on her throne. Exhausted from the night’s magical, emotional gauntlet, Jacq took off her pants, gave me a goodnight peck on the lips, and fell facedown onto the bed, out before her head hit the pillow.

I tucked the sheet around her waist then sat on the bed’s edge, running my hand through her hair, over her cheek and neck, down her back and shoulders, reassuring myself that she was alive and whole. Seeing the shimmer of gold, I raised Jacq’s tank top, looked at the tattoo that covered her back, and saw what I knew would be there.

Golden feathers ruffled in a nonexistent breeze, glowing softly in the dark with a nearly white light. Feeling my gaze, the phoenix turned its fiery head and locked eyes with me. Its gaze burned through me, reading the depths of my soul.

I dropped the top, unsure who I was hiding from whom. I sat there a moment, taking in the contents of my room: bed, lover, window, chair, the trees outside, and even the cloud-shrouded, silver sliver of moon that peeked through the window. They all seemed a bit different. Not different wrong, just different.

I slowly walked to my wooden wardrobe, opened the door as quietly as possible, and removed a false panel, uncovering the leather demon book I’d hidden there. As I replaced the panel, my fingers brushed the black and gold medallion.

I wasn’t sure what instinct had kept me from turning the medallion over to the Kin, but it was the same urge that had brought me to remove it from my aunt’s office once I knew we were going to have demon visitors and hide it along with the book in the lead-lined cubby at the back of my wardrobe. It was a spot impervious to magical searches. When I saw the blazing sun emblem on one side of the medallion matched the ring Kathryn wore, my decision to hide it felt right. Now if I only knew what I was hiding from whom, and why, maybe then I might understand why my demon grandmother insisted I was needed in Hell. This was about more than requiring an heir. An instinct deep within me said the mystery of the medallion and my grandmother’s request were connected. Too bad that instinct couldn’t tell me what my answer to that request would be.