Redemption (4 page)

“I’m going to help them out, Mara.” He tried to sound strong, in command. He tried to sound like himself.

“Hmm. Do you think that’s wise?” she asked, eating another bite of scone. “You don’t need to.” She rubbed his hand with one finger, making little figure eights, tracing his fingers.

Bryan shook his head to clear it. “I need to get myself back behind a camera and
not
take any more handouts from you.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Nonsense. Bryan, you’ve come to mean something to me, and it’s not like you owe any of
those
people a thing. After what happened to you there?” Mara reached across the table to lay one hand on top of his. “Don’t you think it’s time someone took care of you for a while?”

He gasped and breathed in sharply. Why’d she have to say that? The last person to say those words to him had been...

No. No more dwelling on her.

“I appreciate everything, Mara, I do. Listen, I have money. You just refuse to let me spend any of it on you. I’m doing better, feeling better. Give me the afternoon, and I’ll even be looking better. I’ll go to New Jersey, help Nick and Carrie out, then I’ll be back. You could always come with me, you know.” He risked hoping she’d say yes.

Mara’s face fell. “I wish I could. It’s just that there’s this big deal at work, and I’m right in the middle of it. If I left now, well, I think things might go the other way.” She pouted. “I don’t want you to go.”

Seeing the sadness in her face made Bryan consider calling Nick back and telling him to go with amateur guy Roy from church. Without Mara by his side, he’d still be the guy what’s-her-name didn’t choose. He’d still have to watch them, together. He clenched his jaw.

“There’s no way you can get out of this? Ask someone at work to cover for you?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, no. I’m in way too deep with this deal. I have to see it through personally,” she answered, breaking off another piece of scone. “But you’ll be back in, what, a few days?”

“The wedding is in two weeks, and Nick asked me to be there as quickly as I could. I told him I’d be there on Wednesday. So, I guess I’m stuck there until it’s all over.”

“Two weeks? Why do you need to be there so soon then? Just show up a few days before. Why would you want to spend more time than necessary with those people?”

He shrugged. “Carrie is a detail person, completely OCD about it. I’m surprised she waited to hear from me at all.”

“Well, then, I’m really glad I stopped for this on my way home.” Mara produced a small box from inside her purse.

“What is it?” Bryan asked, taking it from her outstretched hand.

“Just a little something to remind you of me.” She smiled at him, and his world went completely still. “Though it wasn’t meant to be a parting gift.”

He didn’t love her, but he sure loved what she could do to him.

Bryan opened the small box and pulled out a black, leather cord with an o-shaped stone tied to it. He’d never been one to wear jewelry, but if Mara had gotten it for him...He studied the brown and tan stone.

What’s-her-name had always worn stones and crystals; didn’t they mean something? He swallowed.

“This is really cool, Mara, thanks,” he began. “What is it?”

“It’s called Tiger’s Eye, for clarity.” Her eyes flashed again - red, quickly hidden behind her hypnotic, blue irises.

“It must’ve been expensive; I don’t -”

“That’s right you don’t and you won’t. You’re not going to argue with me. You’re going to keep it, wear it, and think of me every, single time you feel it rub against that amazing chest of yours.” She reached out to take it from his hand, kissed the stone, and stood to walk behind him. “You’re mine, now, Bryan Roemer.”

Mara put the necklace on him and kissed the side of his neck. Bryan forgot about food, or coffee, or even life. She led him to the couch and didn’t let him leave until the next day.

W
ednesday freaking morning. Bryan stood in the airport terminal in Newark, New Jersey and mentally kicked himself. Mara had made the last few days unforgettable. If she was worried about him returning to her, there was no need. Bryan could already feel the emptiness from being without her. He felt the coolness of the Tiger’s Eye against his skin. Something about having her gift with him made him feel connected to her. Almost like it was her hand touching him instead of just stone, almost as though it transmitted a bit of the same anesthesia that being with her always afforded him, helping to take the edge off of being so near to Miranda. Being in the same town was closer than he cared to ever be again. He preferred the other side of the country.

A familiar face approached him, smile beaming, arm raised in a wave. Beside him, the woman’s smile was less convincing. Though she tried to hide it, concern was thinly veiled behind hers. The look in her eyes said that she didn’t like something she was seeing. He’d gotten his hair cut, trimmed the beard, thought he looked pretty good.

She saw something else, though.

“Bry! Hey! You made it!” Nick shook Bryan’s hand.

“Yeah, I’m back,” Bryan said, forcing a smile.

“Bryan.” Carrie hugged him. “Thanks for coming back to do this for us.”

“No problem, anything for an old friend.”

“I’ve gotta tell you, man. You look like hell. Rough flight?” Nick asked.

Bryan scratched his beard. “You don’t like the new look?” he joked.

“You look drained.” Carrie’s tone was motherly.

She was worried about him. Because of a beard?

“It’s been a busy few days, Carr,” he began. “Give me some time, and I’ll be the same old me.”

“I hope so,” she said quietly.

“Hey, let’s get out of here,” Nick began. “Where are you staying? Your parents’ place?”

Bryan shook his head. “No way. I didn’t even tell them I’m here. I got a hotel room up on the Ridge.”

“The Hilton?” Nick whistled. “You must be making decent money to stay there for two weeks.”

He was quiet for a moment before responding. Mara had paid for the room, insisting that he stay in the Hilton. She knew how hard it would be for him to be in his parents’ house. The questions about you-know-who, the prying about his
whatever
with Mara, why he looked so haggard and drawn.

“Yeah, I’m doing pretty well. California agrees with me.”

Nick nodded slowly, and Carrie squinted. Neither one was buying that line for anything.

Trust them,
a voice whispered in Bryan’s ear. Bastion.

He spun around to see where the voice had come from. No one was there. He looked in the other direction. Still no one.

“Did you hear something?” he asked, feeling a little jumpy.

The others just looked perplexed.

“Hear something?” Carrie asked, her face more concerned now than before.

“Yeah, a voice,” Bryan paused and stared at them. “That’s a no, then?”

“Let’s get you checked in so you can rest. You look exhausted.” Nick reached for Carrie’s hand as the trio began walking.

“Yeah, I guess I am kind of tired,” Bryan agreed. He glanced over his shoulder again to see if the body of the mysterious voice had materialized.

Carrie slipped her arm through his. “I’m so glad you’re back with us, Bry.”

Was he back with them? Bryan wasn’t so sure. In a way, he felt like he’d left a part of himself in California. It must be Mara. He missed her, felt strange without her.

Yeah, that was it.
It wasn’t that he was losing his mind, hearing voices. It wasn’t
that
.

 

Bastion followed closely behind. Mara let Bryan go; she actually let the human fly back to the one place he thought she’d never allow. She sent him directly toward the Circle? Bastion was amazed. Then, after considering her actions for a few minutes, he decided that she must have a contingency plan. The mortal must have a charm on him, something that would allow her to continue to manipulate him. Oh, she could whisper to him. She could even appear in New Jersey and say she came to surprise him. But Mara was crafty, and she’d plant something on him to maintain her control without enabling him to become suspicious.

And without the others noticing anything at all.

Bastion had to find the charm and destroy it. The problem was, Mara never did the same thing twice. If one man received a ring, another might receive a watch. She might even charm something impossible to remove, like a tattoo. He had to discover the item and remove its influence, if that was possible. Then Bryan would hear him more clearly.

His impression was that Bryan was a visual kind of guy, like most of them. Hence...Mara. It didn’t come any more visual than her. Words in his mind weren’t going to work with this one; Bastion would have to make an appearance. That really wasn’t a problem; he preferred the direct approach. Bryan was just so far from believing he’d have to be creative.

Bastion rolled his eyes and shook his head.

He could sense her before he saw her standing beside him.

“You can lose the drama,” Bastion began. “The lotus won’t work on me.”

Mara pouted, “You’re no fun anymore.”

“We just have very different ideas of fun, Mara. You made that very clear when you made your choice.”

“When are you going to stop harping on that? What’s done is done, Bastion. You made a choice, too.” She put a hand on his arm to make him stop walking and face her.

Judging simply on outward appearances, they could be twins - same dark hair, same piercing blue eyes. It was part of what had connected them so long ago. Two sides of the same coin, so to speak. Bastion frowned.

“Lucifer was wrong, Mara. He was wrong then, and he’s still wrong now.” Sadness crept into his voice. “I wish you’d seen him for what he really is.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything about who he really is,” Mara said, angry. “I’ve been experiencing his
truth
for millennia, Brother. If only -”

There was no sense in finishing that statement. Nothing could change the past.

“You know, of course, that I can’t let you win,” she continued, lifting her chin in defiance. “You have no idea what he’ll do to me if I lose this one.”

“He who? Lucifer? I thought you were his special favorite, or at least that’s what you used to say. Wasn’t that why you traded eternity in Heaven for the Hell he led you straight into?”

Mara scoffed, “His favorite. Right.”

Something in her tone made Bastion pause. He’d been ready to come back with a snappy comment, one really designed to sting. She was the bad guy here, so why did she suddenly have him feeling sorry for her?

She crossed her arms. “It doesn’t even matter. Bryan is mine now, and I’m not going to let you win. Besides, I want him. This round will go to us.”

Bastion stood on tiptoe so he’d have a clear line of sight to see if Bryan and the others had left. He was with the Circle; he’d be safe until Bastion could get back to him. Satisfied with that, he faced Mara again.

“Sister, even you can’t believe there’s any truth in what you just said. Surely you must know that there is no way I can let
you
win. You’ve already lost Miranda, and the Maker isn’t going to let you keep your claws in Bryan, either. The mortal is aware of what you’re doing to him, you know. Somewhere deep inside, he knows.” Bastion arched one eyebrow. “You’ve been careless.”

“I have not!” Mara cried, defensive. Her eyes darted around, looking for a spy. There were always spies, sent to check on her progress. If anyone overheard that, she’d pay dearly. “And if he’s beginning to notice anything, you can be assured that I’ll take care of erasing any trace of that memory, that thought.”

Bastion laughed.

“As fun as this has been - and I can assure you, it hasn’t - I have work to do, a human to protect, an enemy’s plan to thwart. You know the drill, Mara. I’m not really sure why you decided to pop in for this little conversation in the first place. It’s rather pointless; we can’t be friends. We can’t reminisce about the ‘good old days’ before you went evil and sided with Lucifer. There’s nothing left for us but eternity as enemies. So why bother?”

Because I miss you,
she thought.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but promptly clamped her mouth shut.

He stepped away from her, intending to continue on to the hotel where Bryan was staying. He had to claim the room before Mara could get there; he had to purify it, make it inaccessible to all things evil. She may have placed her charm on the mortal, but without entrance to the room, Bastion would be able to begin the process of undoing the damage she’d caused.

“I’ll be seeing you, Mara,” Bastion said over his shoulder.

“Just stay out of my way, Bastion. If you don’t, I’ll take you out. Not even the Physician will be able to heal you. I’ll send you back to your Heaven in bite-sized little pieces.” Her eyes had gone completely red, any trace of the vivid blue they had in common faded. She was a demon; on the outside, she might look like the Mara he’d known. But he wouldn’t be fooled by appearances; the angel she’d once been was long gone, and she was nothing but an empty shell.