The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (25 page)

“Why were you forbidden to go to the warehouse?” I asked and was surprised when I got his humourless grunted laughter.

“Of course,
that
would be the part you focus on.” He laughed again and turned round before wiping a hand down his hooded head and over his face. I gathered it would have gone through his hair if his hood hadn’t been concealing it.

“Why do you still hide your face from me?”

“No! No, no, no…” He started spinning round to face me (well sort of).

“No?”

“Yes no! As in NO more questions!” He shouted and then took another bite of the apple that had been forgotten during his little outburst.

“So where was I…oh yeah, but of course, you being kidnapped
. But was this a clue for you to stay safe, oh no…not my blood bound little human, pain in my ass…no, you just hop on a plane to London and I find you just in time after trying to get into the Devil’s Ring…”

“But I don’t…” He quickly showed me his palm to stop me in my tracks.

“And of course when you obviously weren’t admitted, you were then pursued by two Warlock lackeys and dragged into an alley way.” He shook his head as he obviously played out the scene in his head but then he smiled before saying,

“Well
, at least you’re not afraid of fighting dirty, lille øjesten, I will give ya that”

“Well that’s something that comes from dating a bad ass, over-protective half Angel/
Demon King like Draven. He kind of rubs off on you.” I said without thinking about the pain saying something like that would bring me. And one look at my face told Sigurd all about that pain.

“Keira…I…”

“Just forget about it, big guy.” I waved off his concern and reburied the memory of me and Draven down in his training room with him throwing me down on the mats, showing me some self-defence moves. Of course, it turned into a different kind of work-out pretty quickly after Draven tossed me to the floor gently and commenting on how good I looked down there. I felt the tears mist up and that little burn you get in your nose when you try to hold them off, reminded me about trying to stay strong.

“I know about the pain there
, øjesten and I am sorry for it, but maybe it is time to just go home and try to live a normal life.” He said softly and I found I couldn’t conjure up my anger as I wanted to with hearing that idea being voiced.

“But that’s just the thing Sigurd, I never had a normal life and wouldn’t know how to start living one even if I had the
damn handbook. Besides, that life you talk about just doesn’t exist for me without Draven. So you want to know my plan, here it is, I am going to Hell and I am not coming back again without bringing Draven back with me.” I stated standing up and folding my arms over my chest.

I saw him take a staggered step back as the truth of my mission came to light. His lips got tight and he looked so taken aback that it stunned him to silence.

“So there you have it and before you do something pointless and stupid like trying to talk me out of this plan, I will just remind you that the Oracle not only knows about the reasons I am here, but she is also the one backing up this plan. She gave me the book to communicate the steps I must take in reaching my goal and neither you nor every bloody supernatural being is going to stop me!” I tried to storm past him to get myself to a place I could freely cry without him seeing me, as I clearly wasn’t as strong as I made out. However, this didn’t happen the way I wanted, as a solid arm snaked out and pulled my body back to his.

He held my back firmly to his chest and whispered for me to stop struggling against him.

“Just think Keira, just…just take a minute to think about what you’re saying. You want to try to get into Hell for a man who has made it clear he wants you to get on with your life. Why would you darken the memory of him by going against his last wish for you?” He asked this question in hushed tones by my ear and I could almost hear the crack in my armoured resolve his words caused.

“Because I knew if it was the other way around, he would stop at nothing in
trying to get me back, no matter what I asked of him.” I counteracted and I felt him stiffen behind me. Then he took a deep breath and delivered the final blow,

“Yes
, but what if he
doesn’t
want to be rescued, Keira?” I let the tears roll down as I slammed my eyes shut at what that sentence did to me.

“That’s…that is not true, he…my
Drav…he wouldn’t feel like that…I…” I stammered out my argument but even coming from my lips it sounded like a far cry from what I truly believed. I mean how could I be sure? What if he was right, what if Draven just wanted me to move on and forget him in his new resting place. I mean, what was Hell like for him anyway, was he down there partying with the big red boss man?

“NO! That’s not true, get off me!” I shouted twisting out of his hold, killing all thoughts like that. No, Draven just wanted me to be safe and that was the only reason he wanted me to move on. No other thought was worth the wasted time thinking about.

I whirled round and faced the mask of material, but I could swear I could see a flash of something looking up into the shadows, where his eyes should be.

“Now you listen to me and listen good. I don’t care if you have to protect me or if you walk out that door rig
ht now, but nothing you say will stop this from happening, do you understand me? I am going to find a way into Hell, one way or…or the dead way…you get me?! Now you can rather help me or get the Hell out of my way, either of those choices I won’t lose sleep over, no matter what type of darkness you say will inflict my mind, because Sigurd, if there is one thing this ‘Little Human’ is used to, it’s living with seeing the worst type of nightmares…so trust me, anything you show me will just be a walk in the damn park when it comes to the demons in
my
dreams.” I said walking away from him.

“Wait…where are you going?” He said in a gruff tone that was clearly affected by my little speech.

“I have to go and get ready.” I stopped on the way through the sitting room after looking at the clock, to notice the afternoon had come and gone. I looked at him one more time, pausing at the door wondering if this wasn’t the last time that I would see him. I mean I wouldn’t have blamed him after what I had just said, but I needed him to be on my side. If not, then there was just no point having someone around who kept on trying to stop me all the time. After all, I had a job to do, just as he had his. So with this in mind I said the one thing that would seal his decision, which was the truth and a sure glimpse of things to come.

“I’ve got a pub to go to and a Devil’s Ring to find.”  

Chapter 25

Bands of Bone

I spent a long time getting ready and must have changed my outfit choice ten different times. It was just too tempting to go with jeans and a dark top, clearly ignoring all the revealing clothes RJ had given me. But then I knew the mistake I would be making as I remembered the Oracle’s words about having to disguise myself. And after a night playing victim in an alleyway, I could now see her point.

It was obvious the new hair was not enough, so it was time to play little Goth girl to the fullest. I ended up grabbing a mixture of stuff, having no idea if it went together or not. But I didn’t really care what people thought, just so long as they didn’t think, ‘Oh look, there goes the Chosen One’.

I stood in front of the ornate mirror for a long time staring at the me that was no longer there, as in my place was the girl I had to become to get the job done. So I took in the multiple holes in black rose pattern tights, the short black combat skirt that had straps hanging
lower than the hem. I tucked the long sleeved dark red top in so that the thick belt buckle was showing and to prevent the brushed copper skull cross bone from digging in my belly.

The front of the top had a faded grey skull that looked half decayed. The sleeves not only had thumb holes but also crude stitch work in thick black cord that crisscrossed up the arm. This continued along the neck, pulling it in different angles that gave it a plunging neckline. I decided that I didn’t think it wise to show my necklace as I wasn’t sure if people would use it as a tool to recognise who I was or not.

But this wasn’t the only reason I grabbed the little jacket that zipped up to a high neck that passed my chin. It was also because I didn’t think it a good idea to draw any unwanted attention to myself and having the puppies on display the way the low neckline promised, wasn’t a good idea in my book.

The little jacket had cute puffy little capped sleeves that cut off at the top of my arm. The material was black canvas cut into sharp lines and a pointed bottom half. The top part was soft velvet that met the stiff canvas in a V shape in between my breasts. And the side zip was reinforced with three large leather buckles that were fiddly to get through the copper squares. The last one was the easiest to deal
with as it was across my covered neck and once secure, the weight made the neck flop to show my painted black lips.

By the time I had finished with smoky eyes, thick mascara, and lots of black liner, I looked like a different person altogether. I had towel dried my hair and layered on the hairspray to give it more volume in a messy style at the back.

And little Goth girl was ready to play in the big leagues.

It did occur to me that this wasn’t going to be like a night at Afterlife. That was if I even got in there in the first place. Which reminded me, just how much I really wanted to see Sigurd still waiting in the sitting room when I finally plucked up the courage to walk back in there. After what I said to him, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he had walked away without looking back
, but it was an unfortunate test he needed to pass. I just knew I couldn’t continue this quest with him holding me back at every turn.

So
, with this in mind, I took a deep breath, as much as the tight clothes would allow, grabbed my knee high boots, courtesy of Libby and walked back into the sitting room, head held high. I was so sure I was going to be embarrassed facing Sigurd again, especially dressed like this, which is why when I walked into the sitting room I almost stumbled to a stop.

He wasn’t there.

He had left me.

“Crap, crap, crappy, crap, crap and double
crapola!” I shouted storming into the centre of the room.

“That’s a lot of shit, even for a troublesome lille øjesten like yourself
.” The deep gravelly voice from behind me had me dropping my boots. I spun round to see Sigurd leaning against the door frame like some biker version of Robin Hood.

“You’re back!”

“I never left, sweetheart.” He pushed off the frame and came closer to where I stood until I had to look up at him.

“Besides, without that book I would have been forced to take a vacation and I don’t fancy Florida this time of year…” He leaned down closer to my ear and whispered,

“It’s the damn humidity…its pisses off my darkness.”

“And here I was thinking you were going to tell me you hate having frizzy hair.” I said causing him to throw his head back where a deep laugh erupted. I thought this might have been my chance to see him but that damn hood stayed in place all the same. I did notice
he had a thick corded neck though, which wasn’t a shocker considering how gigantic and muscular my dark guardian was.

“Well I think I can safely say that this job won’t be boring, not with you around.” He said taking a slow and predatory intake of my body. The way that lip raised higher on one side told me he didn’t mind what he saw. That thought made me blush, which I tried to hide with humour. 

“That’s the spirit.” I said patting him on the chest and bending to pick up my discarded boots. I turned to walk over to the yellow couch to put them on when a hand circled the top of my arm.

“Why are you dressed like that?” he asked, all traces of good humour worn away. I looked down at myself and then shrugged my shoulders like it was nothing, feeling the heat in my cheeks start to betray my actions.

“Why do you think?”

“Well, unless you tell me you are off to a Goth style Pyjama party, you are not stepping one foot out of that door dressed like that.” His stern voice sent shivers down my spine and prickled my skin.

“Is that a fact?” I said looking him up and down, outrage clear as day twisting my tone.

“Oh sweetheart, that is a FACT. ‘Cause if I find you as delicious as I do, then trust me, others will see you as just as sweet, and I don’t mean to look at.” He whispered seductively causing a deep shiver to scurry along my spine. I knew he was just saying this to try and scare me
, but I couldn’t let fear prevent me from going through with this, no matter how crazy it sounded. 

“You know, that last time I checked, you weren’t the name on my birth certificate on the line under Daddy!” I snapped making him growl.

“And would you stop that, I am not a damn cat!” I yanked my arm from his grip after my little jab. My God, what was wrong with us, it was like our friendship would take one step forward and then a car journey backwards.

“Look øjesten…”

“No, you look big guy, if you think for one minute I am just going to sit here and wait for stuff to happen, you are mistaken. I am walking out that door and I AM going to find this place, with or without you… like I said, your choice.” I said after huffing down on the sofa and jamming my foot into the boot with enough force to hurt my toes.

“Are you always this stubborn?” He snarled crossing his arms across his chest in what I was coming to recognise as his macho ‘me man, you weak woman’ stance.

“Yes, so either get used to it or cut me loose, your ch…”

“My choice, yes, yes, you said that. Fine! But I am telling you now, you’d better listen to me once we are inside or this little crusade of yours won’t end with a slap on the wrist, but more like a good mauling of the flesh and the last I heard, humans die from shit like that!”

“Fine!” I snapped.

“Fine!” He growled.

And that was pretty much the ground rules laid out for me ready to break.

The rest of the daylight hours were spent with me and Sigurd sharing yet another room service selection while talking shop. I first had to explain from the beginning how this plan came to unfold and brought me to this point. Most of the way through this conversation I could tell he wanted to express his feelings and it was clear which direction those feelings were headed. I was thankful that he had it in him to refrain from commenting, as this was a good sign for things to come. Especially when he started to explain exactly what it was I was getting myself into.

The Devil’s Ring was a fight club where the supernatural could come and bet on just about anything. Humans were forbidden unless they were ‘owned’ which was highly illegal in its own right. But according to Sigurd bringing an owned one to fight night was like bring a snack to eat between rounds. I didn’t take this piece of news well.

This then
, of course, brought on a heated discussion as to why anyone, let alone the Oracle, would think it a good idea to send me to the wolf’s lair.

“Exactly my thoughts
, lille øjesten, which is why I think it’s safer to just forget this kamikaze mission. It’s time to go home.” He said which had me shaking my head even before he had finished. I slammed my plate down on the coffee table and then gripped the arm rests in frustration.

“No! That is not an option so get that out of your head now. There must be a reason the Oracle wants to send me there.” I said tilting my head to one side and scratching my eyebrow.

“Well, I can’t think of a reason, other than getting you killed and unless you broke all ten commandments in your spare time that you’re not telling me about, then I would say there is no reason, as you don’t exactly have a one way ticket to Hell.” He stated and that’s when I saw it.

“Wait…say that again
.”

“You don’t have a one way ticket to
Hell.” He repeated cautiously.

“No, no, not that, the first bit
.” I demanded and this time I watched him more closely.

“Well
, I can’t think of a reason?” The way he said it was definitely questioning my sanity but none of that mattered as I now had my proof.

“You lied!” I shouted getting up.

“What!”

“Don’t try and deny it, you’re a shitty liar and I may not be a poker player but trust me when I say I know when I see a ‘tell’ like that o
ne! My father can’t lie for toffee, which is probably who I get it from.” I muttered this last bit turning round to face the window to gather my thoughts. He just lied about not knowing why the Oracle would send me there, which meant he knew a lot more about this place than he was willing to tell me.

“How did you know?” He asked me quietly and I was at least happy he wasn’t trying to deny it.

“Whenever my father had to lie to my mother about stuff, he would rub his chin like he was relaxed but his body would be as stiff as a board, you know, shoulders tense like yours were and the way your free hand had the side of the couch in a death grip…you hate lying don’t you?” His growl was all the answer I needed and I knew it wasn’t helpful, but I couldn’t keep in the knowing smile. 

“So what if I do
, Human?” He barked and again I couldn’t suppress the grin.

“My father was the same, that’s why he hated buying my mother gifts on her birthday, he can’t keep a secret to save his life and yours won’t save mine
.” At this he grunted.

“Can’t blame me for trying, it would
, after all, make my job a lot easier.”

“You don’t strike me as the type to take the easy way out of things, so
‘fess up matey, why does the Oracle want me to go there?” And we were once again back to me crossing my arms over my chest being about as intimidating as a snail is to a booted foot. I waited and waited and then…I waited some more.

“Oh for Christ sake Sigurd, just tell me!”

“Fine! She…well the only reason she would send you there is to meet Jared Cerberus.” It was made quite apparent that this was information he didn’t want to tell me and the way the name was uttered at the end made my skin bump after a shudder.

“Yeah, that’s the right reaction you got there
, lille øjesten.” He remarked darkly.

“So…so who is he?” I was almost scared to ask. Sigurd shook his head down as though thinking a silent plea for me to just drop it.

“He not only owns the Devil’s Ring…if only it were that easy…no, he lille øjesten, was the guardian into Hell itself and the very thing where your myths about werewolves come from.”

“What?
” I shouted. NO way! Could this life of mine get any weirder?

“Wait, Demons, Angels, Vampires, even Warlocks but now you
’re expecting me to believe in Werewolves too…please tell me you’re kidding, right…this is just a ploy to scare the shit out of me…right?” He started laughing, although there was obviously no real humour behind it.

“
Hell, if I thought I could get you to give up this insane plan of yours by scaring you shitless, then I would be happy to tie you down until you have heard everything there is to know about what’s truly frightening in this world.” He said then his lips got tight before he carried on,

“But I doubt even then that would stop you. So here it is øjesten, Jared Cerberus is not merely a wolf in his other form, as none are. No, the myth started with a beast and
fairytales took that horror and twisted it into something cute and fluffy but trust me sweetheart, there is nothing cute and fluffy about Jared Cerberus.” I bit my lip as I waited for him to continue, suddenly not feeling quite as brave about going to this place.

“This guy…
I mean Jesus… this guy even gives me nightmares and I deal with guys like this for a living, you get me?” I nodded bringing my knees up under my chin in a defensive manoeuvre.