Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend (23 page)

“Don’t tell me. Your place is all black and chrome.”

“Pretty much.” He sat on the bed and grasped her hand, pulling her to stand between his spread thighs. Her hands landed on his shoulders. “I think the only color that’s ever come into my life came from you. You make me think of the sunlight. How am I supposed to return to my murky life after meeting you?”

“Watch out, Declan,” she whispered in his ear. “People might think you’re a real softie. Besides, you don’t have to go anywhere without me. Who knows, I might get you wearing bright colors yet.” She punctuated her words with a kiss that trailed down the side of his neck. “Now if your implant is where mine is…”

She pushed up his T-shirt and tossed it to one side. Only a faint spot of red showed on his skin where the implant had been inserted. She bent down and kissed it gently and smiled when the redness disappeared. She trailed her lips up his arm, back to his throat, and then up to his mouth while she slipped off his shirt and then worked on his pants.

“I do love you,” he whispered. “More than life itself. You’ve found a way into my heart.”

Maggie pushed him backward and straddled his hips. “How perfect a match is that?” Her smile dimmed. “I was really ticked off at you for wanting to take Courtney away from me.”

“I figured that out.” He kept his hands resting on her hips. “I was only thinking of her. I thought it would be good for her to have a chance to learn about her heritage.”

“The Librarian can help with that. That wizard may be cranky, but he knows his stuff.” She caressed his face, enjoying the rough texture. “Plus, it gives us all this alone time.”

Declan inched his way up the bed, carrying Maggie with him. Along the way, he tossed her T-shirt to one side and her pants to the other.

“You don’t need this.” He unfastened her bra and threw it across the room. “So beautiful.” He cupped her breasts as he arched up, covering the dark rose-colored nipple with his mouth. He sucked gently, pulling it into his mouth and sending shock waves through her body. “Perfect.” He transferred his attention to her other breast.

Maggie blindly ran her hands down his chest, feeling the heat of his skin against her palms, taut skin over bones. It was easy for her to intertwine her legs with his, lying fully on top of him. His cock was hard against her belly, silky to the touch. She rubbed against him, feeling it jump against her.

“I can’t wait,” she told him, inching down and rising up, taking him inside her. She hissed with relief as he stretched her inner tissues. She rocked, adding to the friction, but Declan wanted more. He flipped her over with ease and loomed over her, thrusting as she arched up to meet him.

“Mine,” he reminded her.

“Mine,” she agreed.

As she echoed what sounded like a vow, flickers of flames encircled them, giving off heat that echoed the love between them but was harmless to their surroundings.

Maggie threw her head back, laughing with joy and the sensation they shared of such strong emotions that she wanted to fly.

That was all it took for them both to fall into the abyss that sent them spiraling out of control.

***

“The last time we made love, I woke up to Wreaker’s ugly face,” Declan told her as he fought to catch his breath. “That’s enough to make sure I never close my eyes again.”

“That sounds more like a nightmare.” Maggie snuggled in against him. “Don’t worry. He can’t show up here.”

“He’s an incubus. That gives him pretty much
carte blanche
wherever there are females.” He trailed his fingers along her spine.

“Not here. Not even a bug could cross the boundaries without ending up as a spot of ash.” She nibbled on his shoulder while she snuck her hand down his abs. “Short recovery, mister.”

Declan rolled over to face her. “Some might call it witchcraft.”

This time was soft and tender. The warrior and the demon whispering words of affection and exchanging light touches and featherlight kisses. This time, Maggie brought golden snowflakes falling down around them, and Declan reveled in the clean, cool magic.

“Everything’s changed,” he said as they lay in each other’s arms.

“For the better.”

“I can fight, but not the way you can.” He rose up on his elbow, resting his head on his cupped hand. “I’m a businessman. Mal’s offered me free entrance here, but I’ve got the feeling he has something more in mind for me.”

“He’s like that, and I’m sure he does. Hellion isn’t just about the Guard. As you know, we have the Seers, healers, teachers, and families who live here.”

“But no demons.”

She nodded. “You always kept to yourselves and didn’t want us around.”

“I want
you
around.” He whispered a kiss across her forehead.

“It will work out. I’ll set up a meeting with the team in the morning so we can take out those priests, and afterward, life will be as boring as it was before.”

“I don’t think the word ‘boring’ is in your vocabulary,” he teased.

“You just wait. There will be one day when the most exciting thing we’ll be doing is lying outside, soaking up the sun and drinking Long Island iced teas.”

“I’ll look forward to that day.”

***

“According to the blood tests, you come from a revered line,” The Librarian droned, passing over a large book. “Albeit a somewhat violent one.”

Courtney took a look at grayish-colored creatures that sported spikes along their spines. Razor-sharp teeth finished the picture of faces that leered with malevolent glee.

“Oh, no. There is no way I’m like them.” She pushed the book back at him. “There was a mistake with that blood test. Just like there’s no Mayan in me. I got sick the only time I went to Mexico. I didn’t care to go again. See, no thought of ‘home.’ I think that’s all proof I don’t have any Mayan in me.”

“Someone who talks as much as you do does not have the chance to learn because that requires the mouth to be closed and the ears open. As with every race, the beings change over the years.” He glowered at her over his half-spectacles. “I am sure with time I could trace back your family tree.”

Courtney looked down at her watch only to see it was missing. A look at the wall, where she knew a clock had been hanging, showed it was also bare. All she saw was a large brass hourglass sitting on The Librarian’s desk. She was convinced that if the sand flowed any slower, it would be going up instead of down.

“What time is it?”

“No matter to you.” The Librarian turned to a scroll and frowned. “This is not right.” He started to roll it up.

Convinced it had to be something he didn’t want her to see, therefore something she had to see, she jumped out of her chair and ran over to his desk.

“What isn’t right?” She snatched the scroll from him.

“Here, here! This is inappropriate behavior,” he scolded, reaching for the parchment. “This is very fragile.”

Courtney unrolled the scroll and studied the drawing. She knew she couldn’t translate the writing beneath it, but it didn’t matter.

“I know this,” she said under her breath. “It’s—”

The air around her started to thicken and darken, while the sounds of drums and men’s voices echoed inside her head. For a moment, she imagined the smell of rotting leaves, and the feel of humid air enfolded her.

“What’s happening?” Courtney cried.

The Librarian hopped to his feet and started shouting, but she couldn’t understand anything he said or why he waved his hands the way he did. Whatever magick the wizard was doing didn’t seem to have any effect on the unseen hands that had grabbed hold of Courtney.

“
Help me
!” she screamed just before her invisible captors snatched her from the room in a swirl of black air.

***

“What the hell?” Declan yelped when the shower water suddenly ran ice cold and the lights blazed in the rooms.

“It’s the compound alarm. Something’s happened.” Forgetting that they were having a cozy shower time, Maggie ran out, toweling off quickly and tossing a second towel to Declan.

“Maggie!” Sybil’s panicked voice, along with her pounding on the door, backed up the alarm.

Wrapping her towel around her body, Maggie ran for the door. Sybil, disheveled in her sleep pants and tank top, hugged her tightly.

“It’s Courtney,” she announced. “She was taken from the classroom.”

“How? It can’t happen with all our wards surrounding the compound. The Librarian has power. Couldn’t he stop them?” Fear flooded her body like acid.
It was too soon!
She should have still been safe.

Sybil shook her head. “He said whatever took her was unseen. No matter what spells he threw at them, the spells just seemed to slide off.”

If Declan hadn’t grabbed hold of Maggie, she would have fallen to the floor.

“I brought her here to be safe. I told her nothing would happen to her,” she said woodenly. “I
promised
her!”

“We’ll get her back.” He kept his arms around her to keep her upright.

“I have to call the team together.” She fought to keep her mind on the business at hand. “There must be a trail we can follow, and I know Tita can find them. We already know which temple they most likely will have gone to.” She was still shaky as she moved to her dresser and pulled out clothing.

“Where can I get some other clothes?” Declan asked Sybil.

“I’ll find some,” she told him, looking past him at Maggie. “I’m going with you—and no arguments. I’ll be back with appropriate clothing for you,” she told Declan before she left.

Maggie picked up a communicator and ordered her team to meet her in ten minutes.

“You can catch up with us there,” she told Declan as she finished dressing and went through her weapons chest, looking for what she felt she would need in the upcoming fight. “I’m not going to leave you behind.” She anticipated his protest. “Just come with Sybil when she returns with the clothes. Feel free to take anything you want from the chest.” With a kiss she was gone.

Maggie noted controlled chaos as she left the living quarters and ran across the grounds toward the armory where the team would meet. Standard procedures went into play any time the boundaries were breached. She knew the children would be herded underground; the medical building would go into lockdown; and every Guard on the property would be armed and ready for battle.

As she passed the Seers’ Pavilion, she saw Anna standing in the doorway. The female demon looked serene, even contented.

“Keep my brother safe,” she called out with a tremulous smile.

Maggie smiled back. “I intend to.” She stopped for a moment and touched Anna’s arm. “You’ve helped us with your visions, you know.”

“I think it is you who have helped me.” She hugged Maggie and kissed her on the forehead, leaving a warm imprint of her lips there.

Maggie hugged her back and took off. She looked around, aware the Guard was ready to fight those who dared invade the compound’s borders. Except the enemy had already left, and they had taken with them something precious to her.

Her mouth firmed with determination as she thought of Courtney in the hands of sadistic murderers.

She wouldn’t need magick to kill them. She would be only too happy to do it with her bare hands.

“How did they break the wards?” Maggie asked, once her team was assembled.

“It was a dark spell that had been set centuries ago.” The Librarian mopped his face with a linen handkerchief. He looked paler than usual and uncharacteristically agitated.

“I don’t understand.” She collapsed in a chair, only sparing Declan a brief glance when he and Sybil entered the room and took chairs nearby.

“I was only able to do a brief amount of research on this, but it appears the Mayans knew they would be calling forth their god in the future and would require the right sacrifice for their ceremony. I had in my possession a scroll.” He held up the parchment. “I assure you it’s perfectly harmless now.” He handed it to Maggie.

Declan got up and walked over to stand behind her as she unrolled it.

“It’s the knife. One of Declan’s employees was killed with a knife like this drawing. It gave off images.” She went on to explain what she and Declan saw.

“To do with the sacrifice.” The little wizard nodded. “I wasn’t even aware of this piece until I found it to bring with me tonight.” He wasn’t happy at being fooled. “I should have known.”

“Something this intricate could be planned that long ago?” Declan frowned at the scroll.

“If the sorcerer is gifted enough and had sufficient blood to fuel the spell.” He wiped his hands on his handkerchief. “That scroll will be burned in a cleansing fire. Just because the spell has been used doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen again. The scroll is harmless in itself but can be used for evil in the wrong hands.”

“Always the blood,” Maggie murmured. “You’d think they’d get bored drawing blood and casting dark magick.”

Tita reached across the table and plucked the scroll out of her hand. She closed her eyes and ran her palm over the surface. After a moment, she opened her eyes and looked around the room.

“It isn’t a secret where Courtney is being held,” she announced. “She’s at the temple we were going to anyway.”

“Except the ceremony is set for a couple days hence. Why would they take her now?”

“There will be rites to follow before she is led to the altar,” The Librarian explained. “Cleansing of the body, ceremonial clothing, and even food. She will be treated like a goddess during this time.”

“The condemned always has a hearty meal,” Meech said. He glanced at his team leader. “When do we leave, boss?” He was already armed and ready, as was the rest of the team.

“As soon as we outfit Declan and Sybil with weapons.”

“I am also going,” The Librarian declared.

“Excuse me?”

“I am a bit of an historian in my spare time,” he told her. “This type of ceremony hasn’t been seen in ages. I wish to record it.”

“Except we mean to stop it, and someone who spends their time in a Library won’t have any ounce of self-preservation,” she said flatly.

“Perhaps I should mention my own lineage.”

Maggie growled. She didn’t need a reminder that while The Librarian was low wizard on the totem pole, he did have relatives in high places. It was just that he preferred the dank and dusty archives.

“You will stay out of the way.”

“Of course.”

Maggie looked around at her team of well-trained warriors who would fight to their very last breaths. And now she had a demon, with as far as she knew no formal training in hand-to-hand combat; an elf whose biggest asset was a pair of wings that wafted calming fragrance and a steely look that brought confessions flowing from prisoners; and a wizard Librarian who was stuck back a few centuries.

A witch walks into a bar one night. Kills a Bloater, meets a demon, semi-adopts a teenage girl, and finds herself traveling south with the craziest group ever. Fates help us.

***

“Get your nasty hands off me!” Courtney didn’t bother batting at the fingers removing her clothing. She kicked, punched, and even used her teeth. Maggie would be so proud of her.

The three women, dressed in simple gowns, had appeared the moment Courtney was dropped into a stone room decorated with ancient colorful paintings on gem-encrusted walls. No matter how much the girl fought them, they silently continued with their tasks of removing her clothing and guiding her to a large tub of scented water set into the earth.

“You wait until Maggie finds you,” she threatened, wondering why there was no reaction when she pinched one woman’s arm hard enough to leave a bruise even as she was dumped into the water.

“No one will find you, revered one.” A skeletal man wearing a brilliant-colored loincloth and a feathered cloak entered the room. His shaven head gleamed with oil, and colored images were tattooed on his skin. “And no matter what you do to the serving girls, they will not speak to you.”

Courtney squealed and ducked down in the water.

“Why did you take me? And where am I? Tell me that and get out!”

“You are the last of our kind. With you, we can be whole again.”

“Well, if you’re looking for a virgin sacrifice, forget about it,” she sneered, and then was unsettled by his laughter. “That’s way long gone.”

“We do not require a virgin for this,” he told her. “If you are quiet and do as we ask, it will go better for you.” He turned away.

“Wait! Why did you say they wouldn’t speak to me?” She’d hoped to get information from them, such as where she was and if there was a way to escape this place.

His smile was as evil as his laugh. “They do not speak because their tongues were removed, as were their thought processes. They only obey the simplest of commands. Think about that, revered one. We do not need you to have a tongue when we cut out your heart to present it to our god.” With that, he left.

Courtney refused to show any sign of weakness. Looking at the serving girls’ blank eyes told her apologies wouldn’t matter because they wouldn’t understand.

Until Maggie arrived, she was on her own. One thing she had no doubt about was that the witch would rescue her.

After all, Maggie had promised nothing would happen to her.

***

Maggie saw minutes as hours. Every minute she was in the compound was a minute Courtney was in the enemy’s hands.

Everyone was dressed and armed for jungle fighting. Well, except for The Librarian, who scoffed at the idea of changing from his sixteenth-century coat and knee breeches. The only concession he allowed was wearing a pith helmet he’d settled on his balding head—and his spectacles now had a brown tint.

“This will keep you in contact with the team if any of us get separated,” she said, handing Declan a tiny mic.

“No magick communicators?”

She shook her head. “Magick going up against magick can go bad. Especially when you’re dealing with the old ones. Although these mics do have their own protections, so no one else’s magick can interfere with them. No one can even mimic someone else’s voice with these.” She stopped and took a breath.

“She’ll be fine,” he assured her. “The kid’s got grit and a mouth to match.”

“Which may have them wanting to kill her sooner.” She wanted to walk into his arms and just stay there. To act like a total girl.

“Not if they want the ritual to succeed.” He cupped her shoulder. “Let’s go get our girl.”

She nodded and then turned to Tita, who wasn’t happy at all. “I wish you could go, but it will be broad daylight. Even with your age and strength, I don’t want to take the chance of losing you.”

“Then bring me back one of the priests,” the vampire said. “I’m in the mood for some Mexican food.” She flashed her fangs.

“The jet’s ready.” Frebus came in, loaded down with enough weapons to make him look like a walking armory.

“The Librarian refuses to use a portal, so we’re taking the Lear jet,” she muttered to Declan. “All right, everyone. Let’s head south to rescue our new mascot.”

Maggie couldn’t sit still during the flight. She paced the length of the cabin, muttered to herself, mapped out plans in her head, and occasionally stopped to look out the window. She thought of using a spell to increase the aircraft’s speed, but she didn’t want to tire herself out.

“You need to rest,” Declan told her, pushing her into one of the seats and then taking the one next to her.

“I need to think.”

“He’s right. Rest.” Sybil pressed a cup of warm liquid into her hands. “It’s only tea,” she told her. “Nothing else in it, I swear.”

She wanted to argue; instead she obediently drank the beverage.

“The pilot plotted a landing spot several miles from the temples,” Meech told her. “We should be far enough out to avoid any of their wards. He’ll silence the engines so they won’t know we’re coming in.”

Maggie nodded and settled back in the seat. She had to admit the soft leather felt good, even if she still couldn’t relax.

“I’ve got something to tell you.” She didn’t look at Declan. “I was the one who killed Ratchet.”

“I already figured that out. It was no loss, and I got the club.” He grasped her hand. “Although I’m curious about what you did with the body.”

“Chippers chop more than wood, you know. Even more so if they’re cursed.”

Declan winced. “Remind me never to piss you off.”

***

The humid air was thick enough it could have been eaten with a spoon. Maggie felt the sweat start to pour off her body as soon as she walked down the stairs.

“I have never liked the tropics,” Elle said from her spot on Maggie’s bicep.

“What are you worried about?” the witch muttered. “You don’t have any sweat glands.”

Once everyone had exited the jet, Maggie invoked an invisibility spell to hide the plane and ordered the pilot to get out of there if he didn’t hear from them in two days.

The sounds, sights, and smells were all that she experienced in her vision. The rich, moist scent of vegetation wafted around them while the plants appeared to have a life of its own. Once they entered the dense jungle, they were fighting dark-green vines that snaked around their ankles, threatening to jerk them off their feet. Meech hissed when he brushed against a leaf that sliced a deep cut into his arm. He wasted no time slapping a healing poultice on it and moving on.

Exotic fragrance from the brilliantly colored flowers was an intoxicating assault on their senses and made it more difficult to breathe the thick, moist air. Each step was a struggle as their boots sank into damp earth that squished around their footwear.

“Don’t get too near the flowers,” Maggie advised, frowning at a bright-red bloom that seemed to seek her out. She stepped out of its reach even as the blossoms tracked her movements. “For all we know, they’re poisonous.”

“They are,” The Librarian intoned, studying the colorful blooms from a respectful distance. “Just watch.”

A large flying insect got too close to the flower that had stalked Maggie. The blossom expelled a foul-smelling mist. The bug instantly turned to dust and fell to the damp ground.

It wasn’t long before the faint sound of drums and a metallic sound from a horn filled the air.

“They can’t do the ritual now. It’s not nighttime.”

“With adjustments, they can,” The Librarian said.

“Remind me again why I wanted to come,” Sybil moaned, slapping yet another mosquito that wanted to make a meal out of her. Her lavender wings wilted in the tropical heat.

Meech and Frebus picked up the pace, using their blades to cut the attacking vines and vegetation that got in the way. Declan grabbed hold of Maggie’s arm one time when she slipped and kept his other hand on Sybil’s arm to help her over fallen logs.

“She has to be all right,” Maggie muttered, repeating the words inside her head like a mantra as they grew closer to their destination.

They stopped several yards from the clearing, staring at a multitiered temple that seemed to kiss the sky. Vibrant drawings of long-gone deities decorated the bottom stone blocks.

But it was the sight at the top of the temple that had Maggie’s heart flying into her throat.

A tall man, his face and body adorned with colorful paints, stood before the stone altar with a gleaming knife held high. There was no doubt about the identity of the figure lying there.

The priest spoke in a loud carrying voice.

“He’s calling on the god of destruction to honor his gift of the last one with noble blood,” The Librarian whispered.

“That’s what he thinks,” Maggie said grimly, pulling her Hisshou knife
from its sheath. She hefted the blade in her hand.

“Trouble,” Frebus warned, pointing to the land surrounding the bottom of the temple.

Men carrying spears poured out of the temple, heading straight for them.

“I just love to dance!” Meech howled. “We’ll keep these fuckers busy. You get Courtney!” He unsheathed a heavy sword and ran forward with the others after him.

“I must come with you,” The Librarian insisted.

“Then you’ll have to do it on your own.” Maggie looked at Declan. “Ready to rock and roll?”

He had his own knife out. “Ready and willing.”

They flew up the tall steps, Maggie pushing her magick to keep them going as fast as possible. As she neared the top, the sky turned pitch-black, with clouds rolling in and thunder booming overhead.

“You are too late!” The priest bared his teeth, all filed to jagged points. He held the knife aloft. “We call upon the one to bring us prosperity and riches! The one who will rule our world the way it should be!”

“Courtney!” Maggie shouted.

“Maggie!” The girl struggled against the leather bonds that kept her tethered to the stone altar. She wore a finely woven linen gown with intricate colorful embroidery decorating the neckline and a hem that fell to her bare feet. “I knew you’d come.”

“Once she is dead, I will kill you as well,” the priest declared.

“Kill the witch now!”

Declan spun around at the sound of the familiar voice. “Victorio.” Hate colored the word.

“You are more resourceful than I thought, my son.” The elder demon smiled. “You brought us a wonderful prize. I didn’t think you’d do it. The witch’s death will add so much more to the ceremony.”

Maggie glanced at Declan once and then returned to stalking the priest.

“Honestly, Declan, Wreaker was bad enough, but your dad barging in on the party is just a total downer.” She divided her attention between the demon and the priest.