Redemption (29 page)

You don’t have to, I’ve said it for you.
He chuckled, low and deep.

Cassidy narrowed her eyes.
I can tell you’re enjoying this. But I also notice you’re keeping yourself less-than-visible, my friend. How convenient for you.

I’m right here,
Luscid said, sighing as he materialized next to her, making Cassidy jump. He grinned, the hardness melting from his features, returning to him the cool, surfer-vibe that he’d had when first meeting Bastion. Cassidy always made him feel playful.

You know I hate when you do that,
she said, communicating the full weight of her displeasure in her eyes and expression.

Luscid just laughed.

Cassidy scowled.
Just go and do something angelic, will you?

Bryan lowered his camera. Cassidy was frowning. She was acting like someone had said something that irritated her. Since there wasn’t anyone else in the room, and it didn’t make sense that he’d done anything to piss her off, he was a bit confused. He walked over to where she stood.

“I’m done here. C’mon.” He put his hand out for hers. “I have plans.”

“As you always do,” she said, not quite smiling, but making an attempt.

Bryan winked.

 

“Don’t you think they make the
cutest
little couple?” Rhys whispered into Mara’s ear.

She whipped her head around and pierced him with her glare. “Shut-up, Rhys.”

Mara watched as Bryan closed the door for Cassidy. Obviously, she’d been barred from entering the church. The Spirit’s presence wouldn’t permit her to do more than peer in the windows. She’d had to endure the photography session, the laughing, the hands-on-arms touching...all of the intimate gestures that indicated she was losing more of Bryan with each passing moment.

Rhys tilted his head to the side and studied the mortals. They were so insignificant. So irritating. So much fun to play with. “Honestly, Mara. You’d lose everything just for this...man?” He had difficulty saying the word. “He’s so weak and powerless compared to us.”

“I’m not going to lose anything over a pet,” she began. “He’s pleasurable and that is all. I will deliver him to Lucifer; I just need time to get him away from the female.”

“Well,” Rhys said, walking behind her, placing his hands on either shoulder, and leaning in until she could feel his hair against her skin, his breath on her neck, “time is almost up, my lovely. Lucifer is giving you until the end of this human week to obtain the mortal. And I am to assist you in any way necessary.” He lowered his face and kissed the side of her neck. “Leave the woman to me.”

Mara was suddenly, and uncharacteristically, nervous for Cassidy. It wasn’t that she
cared
about the mortal woman. That wasn’t it at all. But if Rhys went after Cassidy, Bryan might be injured, or worse, while trying to protect her. She knew he’d try to shield the woman. He couldn’t help himself. Bryan was the Breastplate, and as such, he shielded much more than the emotions of others. He had a long track record of throwing his body in front of any danger that threatened those he cared about. And in this case, that threat was the Demon of Passion, all-consuming, devouring, and extremely powerful.

“Leave Bryan out of it. He. Is. Mine.” Mara’s voice vibrated with anger, fear, and something else less familiar.

“Don’t worry about your toy, Mara,” Rhys chided her. “He’ll still be in working order when this is over, more or less, anyway. Lucifer just wants to use him; he doesn’t want to destroy him. Calm down. I’d be much more concerned about myself than I would some
inconsequential mortal
.” He added extra emphasis to the last two words, almost spitting them, smoothing his hair as he did so.

Mara stepped away from him and scowled. “Bryan is not
inconsequential
. And you, Rhys, will make sure that you keep your hands off him.”

He stepped around to face her. “Now, Mara. You should know me better than that.” His eyes flashed red, and he bared his teeth in a sinister grin.

“Precisely,” Mara responded.

As Rhys vanished in a column of smoke, his laugh echoed around her, sending chills up Mara’s spine and causing her to glance in Bryan’s direction. She had to act quickly or she would lose everything.

T
he shutter clicked as Bryan took another picture of Cassidy skating on the lake. The way she moved was the most graceful thing he’d ever seen. It was more like she flew above the ice than glided across it. He thought, again, that she must be more than human. She had to be something else. Something purer. Something...better.

Something
angelic.

He lowered his camera and let it hang by the strap on his shoulder. Bryan leaned against the fence that ran along the side of the lake nearest the parking lot. He could watch her every moment of every day and never tire of it. How was it possible to feel this deeply about someone in such a short amount of time? He shook his head.

“Who cares?” he said quietly and smiled.

She filled him with serenity. There was something about her that continuously drew him more deeply into it. All he needed to do was see her, hear her voice, and he felt lighter. More sure of himself. Healed.

He’d all but forgotten about Mara. He knew she was around somewhere, but if she wasn’t coming to him, he wasn’t going to waste any time thinking about her.

A contended sigh escaped him.

And then it happened.

 

Cassidy circled the lake, feeling the wind in her face, enjoying the moment, the sense of freedom, the joy it gave her to skate again. She knew Bryan was taking pictures of her. She chuckled softly to herself and smiled. She had to admit it thrilled her that out of everything he could photograph, he chose her. Bryan Roemer. Her smiled widened as she shook her head in mild disbelief. How many girls get to live out their fantasy?

They could do this. They’d figure out a way. Maybe she’d leave with him for California. Maybe he’d move back to New Jersey. Somehow, someway, they would make it work.

While she considered the possibilities their joint future might hold, she scanned the lake. Families, as well as couples young, and old populated the ice. Cassidy smiled as she watched a father skating with his young daughter. She remembered holding her own father’s hand, shaky in her skates, excited and nervous all at the same time.

A lone figure stood on the edge of the frozen lake. The man’s dark eyes were fixed directly on her. He was handsome and frightening at the same time. Something about the look on the his face caused the hairs on her neck and arms to stand on end. As she skated closer toward the mysterious figure, she noticed a change in the man’s features. Cassidy squinted to get a better look; eyes she’d sworn were dark now glowed red. She gasped but the man simply smiled at her, sinister and threatening. Out of instinct she reached for her pendant, but her fingers couldn’t find it under the many layers of clothing. Cassidy tried to pull her eyes away from the man, will herself to skate faster, farther from him; but her feet moved as though skating through tar.

When she drew closer to him, his smile widened, and she was certain he mouthed the words,
Let’s play.

A jolt of energy passed through her, concentrating with the greatest amount of force on her bad leg, causing it to buckle. She felt herself being lifted from the ice, and her initial fear quickly became panic. Unable to stop or control what was happening to her, Cassidy was powerless against the force that sent her through the air and plummeting to the ice.

Before she could push herself up and get away, Rhys flashed to her side and pinned her down by the shoulders.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he purred. “We have business to discuss.”

Cassidy’s leg was on fire, and her head throbbed. Though this man might terrify her, she would not give him the satisfaction of knowing it.

“Let me go,” she demanded, forcing her voice to remain steady.

“The mortal man belongs to us,” Rhys said. “You should not be with him.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Cassidy strained against him. “Get off of me!”

“Yes, you do.” He pressed her harder into the ice. “Bryan. You will leave him to us or suffer the consequences.”

At the mention of Bryan’s name, fury rose in Cassidy. Strength she did not know she had coursed through her body, rising from deep within, its power finding its way to her arms. She pushed back against the demon’s weight, causing his grip to loosen.

“I said, get
off
!”

The demon felt his hold on her falter. Rhys wasn’t certain how this tiny, mortal woman was able to move him, and it only infuriated him more. He regained a firm grasp on her arms and squeezed, the pressure threatening to crush them. He bared his teeth and growled.

“You will regret that, and I shall enjoy tearing the flesh from your bones, Sandal.” Rhys lowered his face next to hers and spoke at a whisper. “You will bring me my reward.” He inhaled deeply as he rubbed the side of her face with his own.

Her skin crawled where he touched it.

“Here is something to remember me by,” he continued.

He raised one hand and held it in front of her face. Energy shot from his fingertips like bolts of lightning. Cassidy’s head connected with the frozen surface of the water with a loud crack, and the last thing she heard before blacking out was Bryan’s panicked voice in the distance, crying out for her, the wind carrying its sound to her ears.

 

“Cassidy!” Bryan yelled as he raced across the ice. “Someone call 911!”

He couldn’t be sure of what had happened. One minute Cassidy had been skating along just fine, smiling and enjoying herself. The next minute, her face froze in fear and she fell.

No,
he thought,
she didn’t fall; she was thrown.

Cassidy was already beginning to move when Bryan knelt beside her. She blinked several times and tried to push herself up.

“Stay still, Cass,” he said. “You hit the ice hard.”

“The man that was on the side of the lake. His eyes - they weren’t normal. They turned red.” She turned her head to the right and left, searching for him. “Where did he go? He held me down! He was right here!”

Bryan cradled her head in his lap. “Cass, I didn’t see any man. You were skating and then just...fell.” Even as he said the words, he could hear the lie in them. It had been more than a fall.

She tried to push herself up again, but that only intensified the pain in her head. She rested on Bryan’s lap again. “I know what I saw, and I know what happened, Bryan.” Cassidy groaned, regretting that she’d tried to move. “He was watching me, and I don’t know how he did it...he
made
me fall.” She didn’t want to think about the rest of it until she could talk to Lu.

Miranda’s words echoed in Bryan’s mind.
Dark hair, red eyes...demonic.

Bryan cursed under his breath. He was going to have to call Miranda.

For six months he’d pretended he hadn’t seen them. He told himself that he’d imagined the huge, flying...men...with...swords that last day at Miranda’s house. Who sees flying men with swords? Crazy people, that’s who. But now he had no choice. Cassidy was in danger, and Miranda knew something about it. Of course Miranda knew something about it. She had those dreams. Bryan shook his head.