Beelzebub Girl (7 page)

I winked. "Not yet." I took a step forward, hoping he got the hint. If Dad approved of our relationship instead of forwarding both of us to opposite sides of the world, we'd have to seal this deal once and for all. Since Auntie never mentioned how, I figured a kiss might be my best bet.

Dallas peered down at me, his eyes searching mine. I started counting the golden speckles, getting lost in their number. His lips inched closer until our noses almost meet. My stomach clenched and that feeling of floating outside my body returned. I held my breath, waiting for his lips to graze mine. Why was he delaying the inevitable?

My hand moved up his chest as I whispered, "Dallas." He smiled but didn't make a move.

"You must really be used to this heat. You're not sweating a drop," he said.

So much for our undying love and finally settling it all with a kiss. "Women don't sweat, they glow."

"It's hot like Hell. I'm sweating buckets."

A giant, blinking neon sign flashed in my head. Talking of Hell reminded me where we were. I might never get him out alive if we didn't strengthen our bond to show Dad our relationship was serious.

Dallas meant well by wanting to make our first kiss special, but I figured he'd seize any opportunity available if he just knew what was at stake.

"I don't mind," I whispered. "As long as we're together nothing could bother me." My last attempt at signalling Dallas I wanted to be kissed ended in him peering at me, embarrassed. The magic was broken anyway, so I headed for Dad's four-story mansion carved into the red mountain cliff. Like a fata morgana, the air around it seemed to vibrate from the unbearable heat. We reached the tiny patch of front garden with its withered bushes and stone borders. The dry and cracked ground could've easily passed for the Sahara Desert. Smoke and steam rose from the zigzagging fissures, giving the impression of a snaking cobra.

The wrought iron gate squeaked when I pushed it open. Dad got a laugh out of that every time and refused to fix it. He liked the creepy factor. "This is where I grew up. Home, sweet home."

Dallas stared at the gothic Transylvanian castle, shimmering in red sandstone. The towers, spires, and colonnades glittered in the sun against the glaring blue sky. Specks of light danced off the giant stain-glass windows. "It reminds me a bit of
The Haunted Mansion
, right here in Disneyland."

I laughed. Yeah, my dad loved the classical grandeur of Gothic.

"Dad still thinks he's a kid. The creators had a blast designing this place. Since he borders a little on the eccentric side, he put on all the bells and whistles."

Dallas nodded, seemingly impressed. "You don't have a resident dragon living inside, do you?"

"Nope, but I had a hound until he grew almost as big as a room and started eating the furniture." I grinned, even though it was the truth.

"Can't wait to see this place at night." His gaze shifted to the monstrous stone gargoyles perched on each side of the steps. Whispers echoed in the air. I ran a hand across my lips for the guardians to zip it. They did, but not before Dallas jumped back.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Its eye opened! I swear it did."

I rolled my eyes and vowed to kick the demons into next week for scaring my boyfriend. "Did its wings start flapping too? Or did smoke come out of its mouth? It's only stone, babe. Let's get you something to drink. The heat's messing with your brain."

He let out a breath. "I must be making a terrible first impression. First, I faint, and now I'm seeing things. You must think I'm crazy."

I winked. "Never." If anyone was crazy, it was me—for bringing him here.

Grabbing his hand, I pulled him across the drawbridge. Dallas gazed down at the moat of flowing red lava. "Now that's a river."

"Don't get too close. The crocs bite."

"The special effects are beyond amazing. I wonder where the projector is."

"If I told you, the magic would be gone."

He smiled and pulled me closer. "When I'm with you, the magic's always here."

My heels clicked on the cobbled path as we made our way to the large double door. I grabbed the massive brass knobs and pushed the heavy wood panel open to reveal the hall with its marble floor, crystal candelabras and candleholders in every corner—and, most importantly, air conditioning.

Dallas hovered in the doorway so I said, "Come in. Don't be shy."

"Your dad sure likes candlelight, huh?"

I shrugged. "Not really, but I do. I had the house redecorated as soon as I could walk."

"You're officially hired to decorate our home," Dallas said.

Our
home? He must be joking. Either that, or things were moving very fast. I certainly didn't mind. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Dallas wasn't smiling.

"I'd like that," I said, squeezing his hand.

"The air's cooler here. I feel already a thousand times better."

He turned to face me, sending my stomach into somersaults. His gaze focused on my lips as he ran a finger down my cheek. I could hear his heart racing, drumming against his burly chest.

"Cass?" Dad's voice carried through the silence, making me jump a step back. Why wasn't he working? Torturing the next best sinner, or whining about how little respect mortals seemed to pay him nowadays?

"Wait in the library, okay? I need to change first," I yelled, pulling Dallas up the stairs to my room. I locked the door behind us and dropped on the bed with him next to me. "Why don't you take a shower while I get you a glass of water?" I pointed at the bathroom door. He nodded and left.

I got up again and headed downstairs in search of clothes for Dallas. Luckily, he was about the same size as Dad, maybe a few pounds lighter, so I figured there had to be plenty of stuff that fit him. I sneaked into Dad's walk-in dressing room and skimmed through the pants and shirts, then returned to my room with my find and a glass of water filled to the brim with ice cubes from the kitchen.

After the scorching heat Dallas had endured, I assumed he wasn't coming out of that shower anytime soon. Who could blame him?

It suited me just fine since it gave me the perfect opportunity to catch a moment alone with Dad. I left everything on the dresser and joined Dad in the library.

"Dad?" Even though the door was open, I knocked on the wood to get his attention in case he hadn't noticed me.

He turned slowly, eyeing me up and down. "You said you needed to change. Where's your suit?"

"Couldn't be bothered. We need to talk." I sat on his desk, crossing my legs, the way I always did.

"Your mother used to fall for the wrong ones too."

"What?" I blinked, unsure whether I'd heard him right. Did he just mention Mum? And how did he find about my secret boyfriend? I guessed nothing slipped past his eyes.

Dad shook his head. "Never mind. Let's talk."

He knew. I could see it in his green eyes and the serious expression on his face. "Did Thrain spill the beans?"

"Thrain knows?" A shadow crossed Dad's features. "When did you two talk?"

Dad might be the devil and a master of disguise, but I could see right through his lie. "I saw him on my way here. And now I'm going to give him one swift kick that'll land him in Egypt or Africa. If he thinks what you did to him is bad, he has yet to see me in action."

"That's my girl." Dad leaned back, smiling. "He didn't tell me. I wish you'd stop underestimating your old father. I know everything, Cass."

I narrowed my gaze. "You're still watching me?"

"Of course I am. Do you honestly think I'd let my only child walk on Earth without constant supervision?"

"I won't have it." I shook my head. "Everyone has a right to privacy."

"That's not what this meeting is about though, is it?" Dad took a deep breath. "We agreed if you wanted to see someone regularly, you'd run it past me first."

I smirked. "You said if I wanted to date any of
your
guys blah, blah, blah."

"So you chose a mortal, and the best part is you brought him here to meet me." His tone was nonchalant, matter-of-fact. I didn't expect him to remain so calm.

I raised my chin defiantly. My temper threatened to flare any minute. "Dallas isn't just anyone. We have a bond."

Dad rose slowly, palms pressed against the polished desk.

"You're talking about that wicked connection spawn by Fate herself in order to mess up everyone's life?" He scoffed. "Trust me, it doesn't mean a thing. As much as you want it to, it won't work, Cassie. So you'd better get out while it doesn't hurt so much."

Wrath choked up my throat. I narrowed my gaze. "How would you know?"

"Been there, done that."

"When?" He must be lying, which made me angry because, in spite of his reputation as a major trickster, Dad had never lied to me before.

He hesitated. "Been a while."

"When?" I leaned forward, staring at him.

"Before your time." He was avoiding a straight answer.

"Even before Mum?" Silence. "You're hiding something. Spit it out, Dad," I hissed. He couldn’t be talking about Mum, or why else would he keep quiet about it?

"It's not important," Dad said, scowling.

"I want to know."

"Because you're curious."

I sneered. "I wonder who passed this particular trait onto me.

Now that's a good question."

"Cass, just drop it. Please."

"I'll bug you until you tell me. Don't count on me forgetting because I won't. If you don't, I swear I'll join Mum and the seraphim troop in Heaven."

He sighed and dropped into his leather chair, gaze fixing on the fiery-red mountains in the distance. "It hurts to talk about it."

Changing tactics wasn't going to work its magic on me. "The sooner you open up, the better for your healing process."

Dad smiled. "No sympathy for your old man, then?"

I grinned. "None whatsoever."

"Okay, but you've been warned so don't blame me if you can't handle it." He took a sip of his sugary afternoon coffee.

Drumming my fingers against the smooth surface of his desk, I wondered whether I actually wanted him to reveal his secret. Of course there were other women before Mum, and some were yet to enter his life, but the knowledge didn't make the thought any easier to bear. Even though it had been years since my parents split up I still dreamed of a reconciliation, or at least a few hours without fighting.

"On the day I was sent down here, I met this beautiful woman.

Five minutes with her and I knew she was the one," Dad said.

Just like me with Dallas. Dad had felt the bond...the connection. Leaning forward, I listened intently, because it was cute.

I still wished he were talking about Mum though. "You were in love.

What happened?"

Dad moistened his lips, his eyes glazed over as though he was in deep thought, reliving his past. "I tried to get a date for years, but she kept blowing me off."

"Your charm didn't work on her?" I laughed. "That's a first."

Dad nodded. "Still doesn't."

"You're still seeing her?" Did he cheat on Mum during all those years they were together?

"Not as often as I'd like to," Dad said.

"You—" My eyes threw daggers. I was lost for words. "You were thinking about her when you were with Mum. I'm going to tell her." I jumped up, knocking over his cup. The black liquid spilled onto Dad's papers. With an irritated flick of his hand, the stains disappeared, leaving behind white paper and no traces of what just happened.

"No, Cassie. It's not like that." Dad grabbed my hands, pulling me to face him. "Please, let sleeping dogs lie."

"She knows?" I don't believe it. No wonder she couldn't get fast enough out of Hell."

Dad avoided my gaze again. "You could say that."

In that case I'd rather not remind her and risk making her more upset, but that didn't mean I couldn't use the knowledge to my advantage. "I propose a deal. I'll keep quiet and you give Dallas a chance."

"Cass, you know I couldn't possibly agree. He's mortal, your time together is short. I don't want you to suffer when he grows old and dies."

I waved my hand around. "You're worried, got it. Now let's get back to business. I promise I won't tell Mum if you vow to like and accept Dallas."

"How could I when I don't even know him?"

I shrugged. "Who cares? Spend some time with him, make him feel welcome. If he takes off because of something you do or say, I won't ever forgive you."

Dad laughed, eyes glinting. "You'll make an excellent second-in-command."

"So you keep saying." I rolled my eyes. "Promise, Dad."

He nodded. "All right. You have my word. I'll treat Dallas like I'd treat my own son."

Given Dad's constant pressure on me to do as he said, I wasn't sure treating Dallas like he was part of the family was a good thing.

"Just don't go overboard."

"Done." Dad peered around. "Well, where did you hide him?

Bring the boy over so we can start bonding before I change my mind."

Why did everyone keep calling him a boy? I jumped up, heading for the door, then stopped in my tracks. "I almost forgot. There's something else."

"What is it?" He sounded suspicious, slightly annoyed. "Please don't tell me I'm going to be a grandpa."

I puffed. "Fat chance. We haven't even kissed yet. You should know, since you have me spied on twenty-four hours a day."

Dad smiled, self-assured. "Yes, my invisible ghouls are my eyes and ears."

"Suck-ups."

"They're loyal." His green eyes flickered as he crossed his arms and leaned back, relaxed, as though a weight just lifted off his shoulders. "The fact that you and the boy haven't gone further than a peck on the cheek's the only reason why I haven't yet whisked him off to Dungeon 283."

"Dad! Are you bonkers?" Dungeon 283 was reserved for people like the bloodthirsty Roman emperor, Nero, and Ivan The Terrible. I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, my gaze connecting with his as I whispered, "Dallas doesn't know who we are. Let's keep it that way."

"What do you mean?" Fake confusion crossed his face.