Demons Forever (Peachville High Demons #6) (8 page)

I stood on my third floor balcony looking out over the garden behind the castle. My mother's beloved white roses swayed in the wind. I wished she were here now. Maybe she could explain to me why my father was the way he was. Why he closed up so fast and was so afraid of getting close to anyone.

Behind me, familiar footsteps brought a smile to my face. I didn't turn around. I just waited for his strong arms to circle my waist. When they finally did, I closed my eyes and leaned against him.

"How did it go?" Jackson asked. His warm breath caressed my neck.

I didn't even know how to answer. There was so much I still hadn't worked through. "We fought with weapons," I said.

Jackson pulled away and came up beside me, his eyes wide. "He really sparred with you?" he asked. "Didn't you guys talk at all?"

"Yes, and we sort of argued," I said, frowning. "I think. He's a difficult man to understand."

"Maybe that's because he's not a man," Jackson said. He raised an eyebrow. "Did you kick his ass?"

I rolled my eyes and playfully pushed his shoulder, not even sure how to answer that.

"Well, did you?" he insisted.

"It was weird," I said, searching for the words to explain what happened in the training room. "He pushed me to the limit, and I just got so angry. I wanted to give up. But then I started thinking about everything I'd been through just to get here, and I raged on him. I don't even know what happened."

Jackson pulled back, then his face wrinkled with concern. He stared down at a spot on my side. "What did happen? Did he hurt you?"

I looked down. Blood coated the side of my shirt. "Oh I almost forgot about that," I said. "I've got so many scratches and bruises from the training lately, I barely even noticed."

"Did your father do that to you?"

He crouched down and lifted my shirt a little to get a better look at the wound.

"It's only a scratch," I said.

"Harper, your whole side is bruised and bloodied," he said, standing. "Why didn't you tell me how bad it had gotten?"

I lowered my shirt. "I didn't want you to worry about me," I said. "Or worse, tell me to stop training for a while. I need this."

"I know you do," he said. "But there's no reason for you to be in pain all the time."

He took my hand and pulled me through the archway, back into my bedroom.

"I want to get a better look," Jackson said. He motioned for me to lay back on the bed. "Take off your shirt."

A hot blush flared on my cheeks.

He laughed. "I just want to see where you're hurt."

Slowly, I pulled my shirt off and laid down on the bed. Jackson crawled on beside me. He ran a hand along my bare skin, so soft it made me shiver. I closed my eyes, my heart racing at his touch.

With gentle movements, his fingers traced the outline of every single bruise and scratch across my torso, my arms, my shoulders. I shivered as his touch sent a shocking chill through each wound, one by one. When he reached the spot on my hip where I'd fallen earlier in training, he leaned over, his breath icy against my flesh. I sucked in a shaking breath as his lips brushed against my skin.

I felt an intense flash of cold, then relief as the throbbing pain melted away.

"Better?" He moved beside me on the bed.

"Much," I said. I glanced down at my body and gasped to find every mark had faded to almost nothing. The wound from my father's spear had stopped bleeding and was now only a tiny scratch. I pulled my shirt back on and sighed. "I wish healing was one of my gifts."

"You heal in other ways." Jackson took my hand in his and brought it to his heart. "Before I met you, I was completely broken."

I blushed again, hyper-aware of how close we were. I took his hand in mine, our fingers entwined.

"What's going to happen to us?" I asked.

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged and studied our hands. "I mean despite what my father wants, we can't stay here forever," I said. "Haven't we stayed long enough? What about Aerden? If we don't do something, sooner or later the Order will come after me again and we might lose our chance at setting him free."

"They can't get to you in here," he said. "Your father's council put a new protection spell on the dome. Even if they could crack it again, we would still be able to fight back before they could get to you."

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. "Don't underestimate the Order of Shadows," I said. "You know that better than anyone."

Jackson sighed. "You're right, but it's safer here than anywhere else right now," he said. "And Aerden's not going anywhere."

"I know, but aren't you anxious to find out if the reversal spell even works?"

"The only problem is that finding out whether it works or not means going back to Peachville," he said. "And we can't do that. It's too dangerous."

I sighed and flopped back on the bed. I stared up at the gemstones on the ceiling. I let them hypnotize me as I tried to think of a new approach to this subject.

Jackson and I had been having this same conversation for weeks. And it always came down to this. We had to go back if we wanted to reverse the ritual. But we couldn't go back because it was too dangerous.

"We just keep going in circles," Jackson said, echoing my thoughts. "I wish we could find a way to free Aerden without risking your life at the same time."

"The thing is," I said, turning again to face him, "this goes so much deeper than me or Aerden. It's about all the innocent demons enslaved by the Order of Shadows. All the humans who have had their choices taken from them. It's time for someone to stand against the Order. You and I both know that's where we're headed, regardless of danger. And the longer we stay here, the more we put everyone in this city in the Order's path."

His eyes searched mine. "What are you saying? That you want to leave now?"

I sighed and snuggled closer to him. "I don't know," I said. "I was willing to stay here this long because I thought I'd eventually have a chance to really talk to my father and ask him all these questions swimming around in my head. But it's been weeks and he keeps pushing me away. I don't know that he'll ever open to me. It feels like we're just wasting time."

"Let's give it another week now that he's home," he said. "Your father's throwing you that welcoming dance in a week, right?"

I nodded. Despite my protests at having a party in my honor, my father had insisted on throwing a formal ball here at the castle to officially welcome me to the city.

"Let's at least wait until that's over," he said. "Give him a chance to turn things around. Then we can talk about what to do next, okay?"

"Okay." I ran my index finger along his jawline. "I love you," I whispered.

"I love you, too," he said. "You're my life now, Harper. We're in this together until the end, for better or for worse."

His words made my heart soar. Then he kissed me and the world around us slipped away like a forgotten dream.

Beyond The Barrier

The next afternoon, Jackson and I walked down to the edge of the domed city to visit the school. It was a mixed school where demons, humans and hybrid children all played and learned together. I had been coming here to spend time with the kids every afternoon for weeks. It was one of my favorite parts of living under the dome.

As we approached the playground, a young boy ran up to me and threw his skinny arms around one of my legs. I laughed as Jackson scooped him up and twirled him around. It was so amazing to finally see the boy healed and healthy again.

When we'd first seen him in the deserted village in the Northern Kingdom, I had no idea how much I would come to care for the little guy. He'd been so strong and brave to stand up to the hunters for me, and I was terrified he would die from his injuries. Thankfully, my father's healing powers had saved him just in time.

A few weeks ago, he'd actually started talking and had told us that his name was Ryder. When I asked him what had happened to his parents and his village, he'd told me the hunters had taken them all away.

How many demons had been stolen from this world for the sake of the Order's power and greed? Watching Ryder now with Jackson, my heart ached with regret. I wanted so badly to be able to help reunite him with his family, but I had no idea where to even start. There was no guarantee his parents were still alive or that I could free them even if they were.

"Harper, come push me," Ryder said when Jackson finally put him down. He smiled and took off running toward the row of swing sets near the dome's border.

I leaned over and planted a soft kiss on Jackson's cheek. "I'll be by the swings."

"Have fun," he said, then headed over to where a group of kids were playing magic games.

The border of the domed city was clear, as if the city lived inside a bubble. You could see and feel the edge of the barrier as if it were made of glass, but it was much stronger than glass could ever be.

I stepped close to the border and pushed Ryder in his swing. He giggled as I pushed him higher and higher.

That's when something out in the woods just beyond the barrier caught my eye. At first, I assumed it was some kind of animal. A deer, maybe. I hardly paid it any attention.

Then, the figure stumbled out from the protection of the trees and fell to the ground.

I sucked in a pained breath and brought my hand up to my mouth to stifle a scream.

It can't be.

I stopped pushing and walked as close to the dome's border as I could get. I squinted toward the bloodied figure and my hands went numb at the sight.

It was Mary Anne.

A Hatred So Deep

I took off in a frantic run. I had to get to her. To help her.

The guards at the dome's entrance crossed spears as I approached.

"I'm sorry, Harper, you know the rules," the first guard said. His name was Everett, I think. I'd seen him here before, and I knew he was one of the king's trusted guards. Strong and tall.

"You don't understand," I said, out of breath. "I have to get out there."

"The king said not to let you outside the dome," Everett said. He stepped in front of me. He was human with bulging muscles under his uniform. He clenched his jaw and didn't take his eyes off my face for one second.

I didn't care if I had to lift this guy with my own two hands to move him out of the way. There was no way I was going to let Mary Anne suffer out there in the woods.

What had she been thinking? Had she been attacked by hunters? Why didn't she contact me on the communication stones? I hadn't talked to her in a few weeks, but she definitely hadn't mentioned heading this way.

Was Essex with her? Surely she wouldn't have left without him? Panic seized my heart. What if he'd been hurt?

"I don't care what the king said," I argued, my pulse racing. "My friend is hurt out there, and I need to help her."

The two guards turned to see who I was talking about.

"I don't see anyone," the second guard said. I had no idea what his name was, but I recognized him as one of the hybrids on my father's guard. Half-demon, half-human. Just like me.

"Here, I'll show you," I said. I moved away from the entrance and pointed toward the edge of the woods. "Come here. See her there by the trees? She's injured and she needs help."

The two guards both lowered their spears and took a few steps toward me to get a better look.

I seized the opportunity and shifted, turning to smoke as I zipped past them and through the city's gate so fast they didn't have time to stop me or even realize what was happening.

I reached Mary Anne's side in a matter of seconds. I shifted back to human form and reached out to her, planning to pick her up and rush her back inside the safety of the dome.

"Mary Anne?" I reached for her, then quickly pulled my hand back as if it had been bitten by a snake.

Her face elongated, morphing into an entirely new face. It happened so fast. One second I was sick with worry. The next I was filled with fear.

I recognized this person. Her amber-colored pixie haircut. Her dark green eyes.

She snarled up at me, then shifted into an orange and black tiger, her fur matted and dirty, not at all like the sleek and beautiful animal I'd faced all those months ago when we'd first come to the shadow world. This tiger's eyes were filled with a hatred so deep and ugly it took my breath away.

I shifted and headed for the entrance to the city. This whole thing had been a setup. How could I have been so stupid? I needed to get back to the safety of the dome.

Before I could slip back through, a solid black barrier formed over the only entrance to the city like a door with no key. The king's guards ran up just as the wall formed, locking them in.

And locking me out.

Lost Without Her

I turned, prepared to fight.

A trio of witches emerged from the trees to join the tiger. I didn't recognize them, but I had a good feeling I knew who had sent them.

The orange tiger shifted back to her human form and the four of them surrounded me. My back pressed hard against the solid black barrier. I swallowed and tried to remember to breathe.

"We have some unfinished business, you and I," the tiger witch said. Her amber hair stood straight up, wild as the look in her eyes.

"I'm not going back to Peachville with you," I said. I touched the blood-stained white scrap of fabric tied around my wrist. A piece of the dress the Order had forced me to wear when they tried to kill me. I would never be their prisoner again. I'd rather die fighting.

"Who said we were here to take you back?" she asked, circling me.

"I know Priestess Winter doesn't want you to kill me," I said. "We've been through this before, remember?"

Her eyes widened and filled with a level of anger and madness I'd never seen before. "How dare you bring that up to me now," she said through clenched teeth. "My sister died by your hand that day. Do you really think I care what Priestess Winter wants? I'll just tell her you died while we were trying to capture you. What can she do? Kill me?"