Demons of Bourbon Street (27 page)

I quickly shook my head. We needed the ruby first. Then we could figure out how to make a break for it.

While Dan stood, mouth open, staring at us, Kane slipped into the smaller room.

Please, please, please let this stone be easy to find.

I twisted my wrist, trying to dislodge from Meri’s grip. Unsuccessful, I tried to yank my arm back, but she was quicker. With a barely detectable thread of magic, Meri slammed me against the floor.

I grunted and swallowed a cry of distress. Kane would never ignore something like that. And I needed him to find that ruby.

“
Meri, stop!” Dan demanded and then reached down to pull her away from me.

The demon’s eyes lightened to clear gray. A barely contained calm settled over her as she worked hard to let go of what I could have sworn was fear.

Why in the world would she fear any of us? And why was she listening to Dan?

What in the mighty name of the devil was going on here? I opened my mouth, couldn’t get the words out, swallowed, and tried again. “Dan? Are you and Meri…?”

The demon glanced up at Dan expectantly.

What the F? Meri was waiting for the answer to my unasked question. The pit in my gut grew heavier.

“
We’re friends…” His voice trailed off. He stared at Meri, pale green eyes searching hers.

My stomach turned. “Dan! She’s a demon.”

“
You don’t understand,” he shot back.

“
Of course I don’t understand. She abducted my mother, possessed you and Lailah, and hurt Kane. She’s an evil, energy-sucking, ruthless demon!”

Kane emerged from the other room, slipping unnoticed past Meri and Dan, who’d been staring at me. He pressed against the far wall, leaning as if he’d been present the whole time. He barely tilted his head in a confirmation. He had what he needed.

“
Not anymore,” Dan said quietly.

Meri gazed at him, something close to adoration streaming off her.

I was going to be sick.

The stone door started to rumble again. Meri sprung into action, pushing Dan back into the adjoining room. She tried to close him in, but she was too late. Philip and Lailah barged into Meri’s quarters, covered in soot and demon blood.

Meri bolted forward and then froze, saying and doing nothing.

“
We have to find a way out of here,” I yelled and ran to Kane’s side. “Get Dan,” I whispered.

He took two steps, but Dan materialized on his own.

“
Got what you need, Jade?” Philip asked, scanning the room until his gaze landed on his son.

“
Now we do.” I reached for Kane’s hand.

Lailah started a chant I recognized as Latin. Her magic quickly built into a small white globe floating in front of her. Philip added a second chant.

His voice snapped Meri out of her trance. “Philip?” she asked, a quaver in her tone.

I thought he might ignore her, but with his sad gaze locked tight on her hers, he gave her the smallest of nods.

Tears rolled down her angular face. “You came,” she choked out. “You finally came.”

“
Yeah,” Philip said in a flat voice, void of emotion. “I’m here for my son.”

Lailah’s orb took off around the room. The iridescent light briefly touched each of our chests before zooming back to Lailah. At the last second, Meri stepped in its path, causing the orb to barely graze her shoulder. She hissed and jumped back.

“
Bind us to the earth,” Lailah cried. “Take us where death does not live!”

A soft tingle spread through my center, warm and comfortable. Then every nerve ending screamed in agony. My soul stretched and struggled to not shatter beneath the force of whatever was trying to eat me from within.

The world around me spun, making me nauseated. A blur of color, starting with reds and eventually filtering to blue and green, filled my vision. Wind kicked up around me as I twisted, trying to crawl out of my skin. I squeezed my eyes shut and reached for Kane’s hand again.

Only it wasn’t his. I had someone else’s smaller, more delicate hand. I didn’t care. I just needed to hold on to someone. Suddenly the nausea and pain vanished, and I found myself lying breathless in a green meadow, bordered with vibrant marigolds.

No, not a meadow. Bea’s backyard.

The fingers still clutched in mine twitched. I glanced over and snatched my hand back in horror.

Meri.

Chapter 18

Scrambling to my feet, I glared at the demon in front of me. We had to break her connection to Kane and send her back to Hell.

Now. Before she hurt anyone else.

I took a step and paused. Meri wasn’t moving. Her chest barely rose with each shallow breath. Kane and Dan were sprawled on either side of her, and Philip and Lailah were nowhere to be seen.

I fell to my knees beside Kane. He turned his bewildered eyes on me, clearly still addled from the reality jump.

“
Don’t break the circle!” Lucien’s familiar voice commanded my attention.

I spun, finally noticing the whole coven, plus Bea and my mother, surrounding us. Magic sparked between them. I hardly felt a thing.

“
Get up!” I demanded and pulled Kane to his feet. He swayed, but managed to stay upright. “Help me with Dan.”

Meri sat up and put out a hand as if to stop us, but dropped it and stared at the grass.

What was she up to? Was she too weak? It didn’t matter.

I needed to get Dan away from her. He gazed up at me as a small, playful smile crept over his lips. “It’s about time,” he teased. “I thought you’d never get us out of there.”

I frowned. Clearly he wasn’t aware of the current situation. “Come on.” I extended my hand. “We’ve got to go.”

He didn’t move. “Why?”

“
Dan, please,” I begged, willing him to accept my help.

Finally he grabbed it, but as he sat up, he noticed Meri. “You okay?” he asked her.

Not looking up, she shook her head.

He let go and scooted the few feet to her side.

“
No, Dan! It’s a trap.” My heart jumped to my throat as he wrapped an arm around her. “What the hell are you doing?”

He looked up, eyes wide and eyebrows raised in surprise. “What do you mean? I’m helping her. Just like you do for all your friends.”

“
You still think she’s your friend?” I glanced around, making sure we really were in Bea’s backyard. The coven, Bea, and my mother held the circle. Thank goodness—otherwise, Meri would be free. After we broke her connection to Kane, she was headed straight back to Hell.

The group stared at us with a mix of confusion and wonder. Bea’s emotions were closed off, as usual, but she carefully studied Meri and Dan. My mother locked eyes with me, fear and distrust written all over her face.

I clutched Kane’s arm. “Is this real? I mean, we’re not dreaming or something.”

“
No.” He pulled away from the pair still sitting on the grass. “It’s as real as it gets.”

“
But what’s that all about?” I gestured to Dan and Meri. “Stockholm syndrome?”

“
Maybe.” His voice came out strained and with his free hand, he clutched his leg.

Instantly, I went lightheaded. I grabbed on to him and we both teetered over. Kane landed on my left shoulder. “Ouch,” I cried.

“
Jade.” My mom’s voice penetrated my dizzy haze.

Kane flopped on his back in the grass, breathing heavy.

My energy came in waves, pulsing through me with each of Kane’s ragged breaths. Damn it! Meri was still sucking my energy from him. I placed my hand on his chest. “Do you have the ruby?”

With his eyes closed, he reached into his pocket and pulled the gleaming jewel out.

Dan shot to his feet. “No!” He ran over and dived to tackle me.

I rolled just in time to avoid being crushed. When I sat up, Kane already had his arms wrapped around Dan from behind, holding him in a headlock. Hot, intense anger surged from Kane, no doubt the source of his new found strength.

“
What’s wrong with you?” Kane seethed. “She put her life in danger to save yours.”

“
And I gave mine up for her.” Dan twisted, trying to escape Kane’s grasp.

“
Stop,” Meri said in a voice so quiet I barely heard her over the struggle in front of me. “Dan, stop fighting them.”

We all turned, silent in our astonishment.

Meri had gotten to her feet. Her entire demeanor had changed. Gone was the vindictive, revenge-loving demon, and in her place stood a woman bent forward, hands clasped behind her back, and shoulders hunched. Tired. Beaten. Full of sorrow.

If she wasn’t my sworn enemy, I’d feel sorry for her.

Dan stopped struggling, and Kane shoved him away. Rubbing his neck, Dan moved once again to Meri’s side.

She lifted her head, tears glistening in her now gray eyes. “Let them do what they have to.”

Dan grabbed her by the shoulders, making her straighten up. “If they do, you’ll be lost again. And after everything we’ve worked for—”

She touched his cheek, a gentle, loving caress. “I’m living off stolen energy. It isn’t right. None of this is.” She waved a hand indicating Kane and me. “They deserve to live their lives. I had my chance. It’s time for me to go…back.” She choked out the word and glanced away.

I heard their conversation, but nothing made sense.

Meri, a caring individual? A self-sacrificing one? For God’s sake, she was a demon.

I turned to Bea. “How is any of this possible?”

My mentor appeared just as shocked as I was. She shook her head, still carefully holding the powerful circle together. She wasn’t taking any chances.

And neither was I. It had to be a trick. She’d either possessed Dan again or brainwashed him. Who knew what could happen in Hell?

Centering myself, I breathed deep and sent out my awareness. Usually I made an effort to not invade other people’s energy. The intrusion left me drained. But Meri wasn’t a person. And if she was acting, we needed to know.