Dancing With Raven (The Young Shakespeareans Series) (18 page)

Despite Birmingham’s assertion, Raven wasn’t about to let down his guard. “If you’re not here to kill the Leap Year child, why did you come?”

“We’re here for the same reason you are, lad. To protect the girl.”

Raven shot his father a startled glance, which Birmingham observed.

“No, Ian didn’t breathe a word of her identity, I can assure you,” he said. “I asked Felicia and Fletcher to study photos of the Arthurs, and asked them to identify likely candidates from amongst your friends.”

“Tori Moss is the very image of her mother,” Fletcher said. “I recognized the similarity immediately.”

“And your supposed indifference to the most beautiful girl in the school was confirmation of it,” Felicia said. “Although admittedly, it was an excellent act.”

“True. Your attitude actually threw me for a little while,” Fletcher admitted. “But when she joined you in the weight room after lunch, I was convinced.”

“You followed her?”

“Naturally,” Felicia said.

“By the way, what did you mean by telling Tori not to flirt with me?” Fletcher asked.

“Furthermore,
all
my relationships are serious—until they’re not,” Felicia said. “You above anyone should know that, Raven.”

He bristled. “How dare you eavesdrop on my private conversation!”

“Enough bickering!” Birmingham exclaimed. “We’ve identified chatter amongst the denizens indicating the Apocalypse is near. Somebody else has identified Tori as the Leap Day child and is preparing to sacrifice her on the first of March.”

“Who?” Raven, Fletcher, and Felicia spoke at the same time.

“We don’t know yet, but the seismic activity confirms it. In addition, the Los Angeles basin is slowly filling with demons who are awaiting the big moment. Other Shakespearean chapters have become aware of it, and are requesting a meeting with me in London. I’ll be flying back on Monday, attempting to assuage their fears. If I don’t succeed, we’ll have them to deal with as well.”

“We’ve got to figure out who is targeting Tori and stop them,” Raven said. “Do we have any clues at all?”

“Only one, but the trail has gone cold,” Ian said. “The chances are quite good the culprit is the same person or persons who killed her parents.”

“What?” Raven exclaimed. “I thought her parents died in a car accident!”

“That was what Tori was told,” Ian said, “but I’ve always had a hunch something wasn’t right about it. A few days ago, I requested a copy of the police report. Their car careened down the side of a canyon and burst into flames in broad daylight.”

“It was a hideous tragedy, to be sure, but what makes you believe it wasn’t an accident?” Fletcher asked.

“Gerald and Hannah were in the trunk.”

A stretch of stunned silence ensued.

“For some odd reason, the investigating officer speculated the accident was due to a deer in the road. Obviously it was foul play.”

“Were the Shakespeareans involved?” Raven asked.

“Not to my knowledge. And it makes no sense to kill the Arthurs and not their daughter,” Birmingham replied.

“If Tori’s identity has been compromised, I suggest we move her to Blackfriars,” Raven said.

“I agree,” Ian said. “With a few architectural and security modifications, we’ll have a defensible compound.”

Quigley appeared in the doorway to announce dinner. Ian and Birmingham went in, but Felicia held Raven and Fletcher back a moment.

“How are you planning to convince Tori to move here, Raven?” she asked. “I got the impression she doesn’t trust us.”

“When she understands you’re not here to kill her, she might like you better.”
And when she realizes my father and I aren’t responsible for compromising her identity, she might like me better, too.

“Let’s invite her here for dinner first,” Fletcher suggested. “Tori can get to know us.”

Felicia’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “Wait…I thought you wanted her to
like
you better. If she gets to know you, Fletcher, that defeats the purpose.”

Fletcher’s gaze slid to Raven as he cocked a thumb in Felicia’s direction. “Tell me but truly—but then speak the truth—Do you not love my sister?”

“
King Lear,
” Raven replied. “And since I’m in America, I plead the Fifth.”

“If I had a fifth, I’d drink it,” Fletcher quipped.

A snip of the scissors removed the tag from Tori’s new red dress. She slipped the garment over her head, pulled the zipper hidden in the side seam closed, and examined her reflection in the mirrored closed door. The dress was sexier than she was used to, with its strong color, mid-thigh length hem, and low back. Even so, it flattered her figure and made her feel…desirable. She was surprised at how breathless she’d become at Raven’s dinner invitation.
Don’t be stupid. Romance is the last thing I need. Right now, survival should be my only focus.

A soft smudgy line drawn in the crescent of her upper and lower lashes gave her eyes definition, and a generous coating of non-clumping mascara intensified their brown color. As she reached for a mauve lip pencil, she wondered why she was going to so much trouble.
There’s nothing wrong with looking pretty.
Tori dusted some vanilla-scented powder across her shoulders and collarbones. The shimmery powder lent an eye-catching golden gleam to her skin. The Celtic Shield knot charm necklace was a necessity, of course, but she slipped a pair of diamond studs into her ear piercings as well. The stunning earrings had been her mother’s, and she rarely had the opportunity to wear them.
I wish she were here to help me get ready.
Although she debated for a few minutes whether or not to pin her hair up, she decided to leave it loose and wavy.
I’ve spent too many years restrained. It’s time to relax.

The doorbell rang before six. Tori grabbed her lightweight pashmina shawl and a clutch purse and stepped into the hall. As she descended the stairs, she heard Misty chatting with Raven in the entryway. His masculine voice sent a shiver of excitement down Tori’s spine. When he caught sight of her, his mouth opened slightly.
Just exactly the reaction I was hoping for.
Raven wore a sport coat with a pair of black jeans, and a button down shirt—casually handsome and completely perfect.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

His accent is so sexy.
“So do you.”

Misty beamed. “You two make a beautiful young couple.”

Tori felt a blush creep across her cheeks.
I wish she hadn’t said that!

Raven cleared his throat. “I’ll have Tori home before midnight.”

“This old lady won’t wait up, I’m afraid,” Misty said. “Have fun.”

He ushered Tori outside, where a black limo waited in the driveway. A uniformed driver held the passenger door open for them. Tori gave Raven a curious glance. “What’s this?”

“It’s a loaner. I thought it would be kind of fun.”

She slid inside the vehicle, awed by its luxurious leather seats and gleaming fixtures. “If you wanted to impress me, you’ve succeeded.”

He climbed in next to her. “I’m glad.”

As the limo pulled out of the driveway, she giggled. “This makes me feel like a movie star.” Her smile faded as an unpleasant memory surfaced. “Wait a minute…isn’t this the same limo I saw at school yesterday?”

Raven made sure the privacy partition between them and the driver was closed. “Yes, it’s Lord Birmingham’s. He, Felicia, and Fletcher are going to be at dinner tonight.”

“
What?”

“They’ve moved into the house. You see, everything has changed.”

Tori’s consternation turned to relief as he told her why Lord Birmingham and his grandchildren had really followed him to Los Angeles. “You’re
sure
they’re not here to kill me?”

“Absolutely. If I weren’t certain of it, you and I would be in hiding by now.”

“So I’m to have two additional bodyguards at school?”

“Yes. And although I hate to admit it, you couldn’t ask for better.”

Confused, she shook her head. “If I’m not in danger anymore, why do I need protection?”

Raven’s eyes flashed in the illumination cast by a passing streetlight. “I don’t want to scare you, Tori, but you’re in greater danger now than ever before.”

Chapter Twelve

Hot

R
AVEN
T
OOK
A D
EEP
B
REATH
, wishing he didn’t have to tell Tori the rest. “I’m sorry, but there’s no way to put this gently. My father believes the accident that killed your parents was actually a double murder.”

He described what Birmingham had told him about the accident. To his surprise, she nodded. “Deep down, I’ve always known my parents were murdered. One of the police officers who came to my school that morning to tell me they were dead was a demon in humanoid form. He had red eyes and a forked tongue, but nobody else seemed to notice anything wrong with him. Maybe he discovered my parents could see him.”

“Sometimes demons take it upon themselves to hunt Nephilim, but more frequently they take direction from humans.”

She swallowed hard. “When I was younger, I thought they died because I was evil.”

He covered her hand with his. “You’re far from evil. You’re Nephilim. And I’m glad I met you.” Although he half expected her to pull away, she didn’t.

“It’s been difficult for me to accept, but it is better to know the truth,” she said. “You were right, and I’m grateful—really grateful—for your protection.”

A surge of tender emotion swept over him and he fought the temptation to blurt out his feelings.
It’s not the right time, and I don’t want to risk making her uncomfortable.
He gave her hand one last squeeze before letting go. The moment contact was broken, an awkward silence followed. To fill the void, he cast about for a topic of conversation. Tori beat him to it.

“Do you know if I have any relatives?” she asked.

“Both sets of grandparents are still alive, I think. I’m sure you must have aunts, uncles, and cousins, but my father would know more about that than I would. Perhaps this summer you can travel to England to meet them.”

The limo was approaching Ventura Boulevard and Sepulveda, en route to the freeway. Clusters of demons were roaming the sidewalks, and as the limo rolled through the intersection, Raven caught a glimpse of a demon with a red mohawk.
Oh, no!
When he looked again, however, the demon had disappeared.
It’s just a coincidence. It’s absurd to think the demon I tried to kill in London would be in L.A. of all places.

“Is something wrong?” Tori asked.

“Er…there was a bunch of demons back there.”

“I’m trying to ignore them.” She chuckled. “It’s as if they’re in town for some sort of Apocalypse convention.”

When he didn’t laugh, her smile faded and her eyes grew wide. “That’s it, isn’t it? Demons are coming to Los Angeles, anticipating the end of the world. Somebody knows who I am and is waiting for my birthday to perform the sacrifice.”

He nodded. “You’re perfectly safe until then, but my father and I are prepared to offer you sanctuary at Blackfriars. If nobody knows where you are, they can’t hurt you.”

“What about Misty?”

“You can’t tell her, either.”

“But she’s very trustworthy!”

“Would you like it if she were tortured into revealing your location?”

A groan. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

This time, Tori reached for his hand. Her skin was cold and her fingers were trembling.

“You’re freezing!” he exclaimed.

He started to remove his jacket to drape around her shoulders, but she stopped him.

“I’m not cold. I’m scared.” Her fingers laced with his. “Don’t let go.”