Forbidden (19 page)

Yeah, his sleek European style hardly seems the type to pick up a hammer and manipulate wood into a birdhouse. “Have fun,” I say flippantly, and saunter up the walk. When I reach the door, I glance back and find pale green eyes mentally stripping me. Dante flashes a salacious grin that ignites a fire in my belly. I tremble and think,
Good Lord, he’s gonna rock my boat!

Chapter 18

Michael

The entire Patronus family gathered in the living room, summoned by Michael early this morning. He had returned from the café with disturbing news and waited for them to assemble.

Michael’s day started rather hopeful, because he’d been negating his concerns about Sophia. Secretly watching her the past few weeks proved more entertaining and less critical. Her main concerns were her grades, her father’s deepening depression, and her dog’s habitual need to chew rubbery substances. One morning he had sensed a strong emotional distress; Sophia was worried she’d gotten fat from eating at the Soda Shoppe every day, a notion that made him laugh. He had wanted to say,
Sophia, you are perfect to me
, but the arousing blowback had freaked him out.

But Michael had kept his word
and
his distance from Sophia. After this morning’s business was finished, he would tell his family he had changed his mind about her. Thinking that Sophia might be a test for him was overreaching. She was just a highly sensitive human, and that was all. A highly sensitive human with the ability to change his eye color, and
that
was all.
Please, let that be all
.…

*  *  *

When Dimitri Patronus received the urgent “call” from Michael, he left his theology class at Yale University in the capable hands of his assistant and rushed home. Milvi’s parents, Dr. Paavo Patronus and his wife, Dr. Sasha Patronus, left their patients at a nearby clinic and came directly. There had never been an urgent family meeting and they were justifiably apprehensive.

Katarina and the boys watched Michael pace. She had never known his anxiety to rise this high. Not even regarding Sophia St. James. His mood was unprecedented and troublesome. It made Milvi nervous, too, so she brewed tea, gulped it down, and brewed more. At sixteen, Milvi and Gabe were the least experienced working angels in the family; Uriel had yet to complete his training. But they all knew an extended family
meetings indicate a heightened priority.

Michael motioned for everyone to sit. When the room was settled, he worked to calm himself and then made his announcement. “
Dante
is here.”

No further identification was necessary, and a wave of awareness rippled around the group. Looks of concern followed from one to another. The close proximity of angelic energy made the atmosphere hum and glow with a faint cerulean aura; the sudden emotional spike in the air sent Uriel’s frightened eyes swinging from face to face.

Katarina bristled at the name. Her voice was soft but commanding when she spoke. “What does he want?”

“I don’t know yet. He’s just arrived.”

“But why here?” Milvi burst out, unable to stem the terror welling inside her. “Haven Hurst is peaceful, uneventful! He can’t possibly want anything here!” The thought of Dante prowling Haven Hurst for a victim made her stomach turn.

“What else?” Gabe asked. He had sensed Michael’s anticipation to explain more.

“Vaughn Raider is with him,” Michael sneered.

Raph had been staring at the floor with his hands fisted in anger. His head jerked up at the mention of the Demon of Affliction. Eyes narrowed to slits, he searched Michael’s face.

“And?”
he demanded, expectantly. Everyone knew Demon Knights liked to travel in packs, and Dante’s dregs were always the same. Michael spit out the name they dreaded most besides Dante.

“Wolfgang.”

It was common knowledge that the Demon of Impatience had become more reckless and vengeful with each assignment. His unpredictability was his own brand of trouble.

“And I sensed some young boy, recently Taken. But if he’s with Dante, we’ll have to watch him as well.”

Uncle Paavo swallowed hard and cleared his throat. “Persuasion, Affliction, and Impatience—three Demon Knights—in Haven Hurst. They haven’t resurfaced together in … what? Four hundred years? Who could they possibly be stalking here?”

No one had a ready answer so Katarina asked what form they had taken.

“High school students,” Michael answered, and Milvi gasped, sinking deeper into the sofa.

“I have a terrible feeling about this,” she murmured. All eyes shifted to Milvi with due concern. She may have been a young guardian but her intuition was exceedingly sharp for her age.

“Something must have happened,” Gabe charged. “Has The Council indicated a new assignment? Have they released any local Death Contracts?”

Dimitri, who had been listening intently, was now the center of attention. He paced with one hand on his hip, the other tapping his pursed lips.

The Council had not posted any local Death Contracts. So Demon Knights in Haven Hurst was an unprovoked occupation. Gabe was correct. Something must have happened without The Council’s consent.

“There has been no talk of an Unforgiven soul to be Taken in Haven Hurst, and certainly not one that would require
three
Demon Knights to collect it, which leaves me perplexed,” Dimitri said.

“Three Demons after a single soul?” Uncle Paavo questioned doubtfully.

“Highly unlikely,” Gabe said. “Unless the soul has not been marked and they expect to battle for it.”

“Then we’ll give them what they ask for,” Raph growled. Already his energy was gathering for a fight.

“Maybe they’re passing through?” Aunt Sasha offered. Skeptical looks passed around the room and her thin shoulders sagged.

The room was quiet again but for the clock on the mantel, its ominous ticks whittling down the remaining time of Dante’s prey.

After due consideration, Dimitri made his decision. “Michael, you and the boys find out whom they’re after while I speak with The Council. Be on your guard; a skilled demon can provoke you into exposing your true identity in the presence of humans. And I don’t want anyone sent home because you’ve underestimated their abilities. Who knows what Dante’s orders are, or if he intends to follow them? He always seems to have his own agenda. So be cautious. We don’t want a repeat of Salem.”

The anxious group reluctantly agreed. The air was tight and highly charged, rippling like a blue wave as their energy gradually dissipated. Uncle Paavo, Aunt Sasha, and Milvi filed out. Dimitri was off to The Council for answers, and Uriel trailed Katarina into the kitchen, begging for details about Salem.

Michael and his brothers remained behind, pensive and concerned.

“Do they know
we
are here?” Gabe asked.

“They will soon enough!” Raph snapped.

“Calm down,” Michael warned. “You heard Dad. We can’t provoke them and expose our identity.”

“I know that!” Raph barked. He was trembling with a mix of dread and anticipation. “You know it took an entire legion from the Halos to stop Dante’s pack in
Salem. Imagine if their power has grown over the years. If they’re looking to start the same trouble here, we’ve got to be prepared!”

“We’ll find out what Dante’s up to. Don’t worry,” Michael said with unabashed confidence.

“I think we should wait to hear what The Council says.” Gabe collected his books from the coffee table and turned in the doorway.

“Tomorrow, we confront Dante,” Raph insisted.

“No confrontations,” Michael corrected. “We’ll go about our lives as before. Just observe them. If they seem drawn toward any particular human, then we’ll have something to go on.” He gave Raph a hard look. “We can’t incite them in any way. You know they’ll take their vengeance out on the humans around us. Besides, we’re guardians, not demon hunters. We’re not allowed to attack first, so remember the code: Protect human souls, first and foremost. If the Demons try to interfere with that, then they’re fair game,
as long as they attack first
. Remember, Raph, we do
not
have first strike.”

Raph grunted and followed Gabe out. When he was left alone, Michael realized he had forgotten to mention his new evaluation of Sophia. Just as well. They would need all their focus on Dante. And Sophia would,
finally
, stop occupying his every waking thought.

Chapter 19

The Circle of Death

The Harvest Festival is six days away and the town is running amok. Not just a local celebration, the festival officially slams the door on summer and ushers in autumn—tourist season—when people come to satisfy their leafy love.

I’m excited to be a part of my first Harvest Festival, but the town is looking like some half-baked theater production with performers bumbling through one long dress rehearsal. My bedroom window is a box seat from where I view one act melding into the next. Goats from the petting zoo have escaped again and dart about while Mayor Jones and Sheriff White careen after them. The goats have capsized Vern Warner’s pull cart, and he is on his hands and knees gathering mail, while dogs hike on the
Harry & David
catalogues. The Nutmegger Convention has commandeered the tavern’s beer garden, much to the dismay of the Maple Syrup League. Apparently, they called dibs last year and everyone is arguing in the street and blocking traffic. The Words ’N Water bookstore has a broken pipe and all the words got wet. Work on the gazebo has stalled because the construction crew and the electricians are archrivals in the local hockey league. They are disputing a call from last season’s final match. All the while, dogs bark, goats bleat, and people yell like a disharmonious orchestra. A normal day in the loony bin, and I decide there is comfort in madness, like the smile of an old friend.

I have never felt more at home
.

Another reason for my happy mood? It’s Friday and the air is crisp with autumn. It’s a day for long walks and apple cider, a day to turn the tide. I’m feeling antsy for something different, like waiting an hour in line for a ride you’re not sure is safe but you’re certain will scare the bejesus out of you.

The courthouse bell chimes, and it’s like a schoolmaster reminding me not to daydream out the window. I scowl at the looming figure with the all-seeing eye and slam the window shut.

I wrestle with a pair of jeans until I win.
Lordy, I’ve gotta lay off the floats and jimmies
. A sweatshirt over my head, and then I begin plaiting my hair into a long herringbone braid. My mind wanders and lands on Dante, where a single perfunctory word springs to mind.

Enigma
.

Dante is a walking contradiction, disturbingly handsome with an equal mix of playfulness and something … powerful, like … well, I don’t know what. I can’t put my finger on it despite all the time we spent together yesterday. He had ignored my claims of the newbie status and insisted I show him around school, which basically entailed standing in the hallway and glancing in each direction. When technology class ended, I’d found him waiting for me in the hall. We walked to every remaining class together, sat close, and shared notes.

His interest in me is … well, flattering. Better than a poke in the eye, as Miss Minnie would say. But more than that, it contradicts Michael’s insistence that I’m easily forgotten, that I am invisible.

Since I’ve been neglecting Sundance lately, my penance involves a leash, a walk, and skipping the morning café ritual. Bummer, but Sundance and I are both better for it. My only regret is failing to enlist Dad in my penitent endeavor. We were getting along better but now he is cloistering himself in his office like Scrooge with a hangover. He doesn’t even say good-bye in the mornings.

By the time I circumvent the madness of the town square and reach school, everybody is already there. An unusual cluster of students has gathered on the lawn. The sidewalk is a concrete divider between Dante and his family on the left and Michael and his family on the right. They are still like statues, and I can’t imagine what’s happening. I slip through the quiet mass and stop between Bailey and Rachel.

“What’s up?” I whisper.

“Dunno,” Bailey murmurs. “They headed toward the door at the same time and then stopped. Jordan tried to introduce Dante to Michael but then he started grimacing like he had irritable vowel syndrome. Then somebody hit the Mute button, and a glaring fest started. I’ve never seen sugar britches look so pissed.”

We look over at Michael with his arms crossed, body rigid, and jaw set. His eyes are slits, his lashes shielding their color. This is the Michael who attacked the grungy guy.
This
is the Michael I know.

Raph and Gabe are carbon copies of him, so tense that a wrong word could shatter the facade. Uriel’s curious eyes play hopscotch from one person to another.

Rachel whispers, “Do you think they know each other?” and our eyes shift to the left.

Dante breaks his stare with Michael and wears a mask of cool indifference. His hands slide into his pockets and then he turns and speaks quietly to Wolfgang. His cousin doesn’t like what he hears and begins pacing like a cornered animal. His eyes never leave
the Patronus brothers. Vaughn is harder to read but his jaw is grinding feverishly. The sun glints off his face and highlights something dark trickling from his mouth. Like he’s chewing black licorice or something. Santiago is fiddling with his iPod and wearing a sarcastic smirk like a favorite old shirt; nothing but music seems to interest him.

The bell blasts and a cluster of confused underclassmen scurry inside. The rest of us hang back.

“This smacks of
West Side Story
,” Bailey murmurs.

“Only, who’s Maria?” Rachel asks, and our attention swings right and left again.

Dante’s eyes sift through the crowd and find me, and I can’t help but catch my breath. His black hair is spiked away from his face and affords a view of eyes as pale as the Caribbean surf and lips as red as blood. The morning chill gathers in his features, blushing his cheeks. Dante grins and tilts his head, enticingly, a look I came to understand yesterday to mean,
Help a guy out?