Secrets - [Guardian Trilogy 01] (43 page)

“No.”

“There’s no other choice. If your running away proved anything, it’s that I can’t go on without you anymore. You were gone a week and it nearly drove me mad. I can’t even fathom forever.”

“No one else will get hurt because of me.” Her decision was final—her mind firmly set. I couldn’t talk her out of it. “I’ll not risk my mother’s or anyone else’s life for my happiness.”

“So you’re going to make the choice?”

“I don't feel I have a choice, not really.”

“You do. Just because you don’t like your options doesn’t mean you don’t have them. Make your decision. Become a guardian, Liv. It will solve everything. The demon will lose interest in you and will go home. You can fulfill your destiny, and we can spend the rest of your time as human in peace.”

“I'm scared.”

“Of what?”

“Losing you. What if I make the choice and there was something else that could’ve been done? Something we’re missing. Do you really think it’ll be as easy as all of that? Do you think the guardians will let me be with a jinni? Do you think hell won’t notice you’re hanging out with the soon-to-be newest guardian? We need to take care of the demon, then worry about the decision later.”

“Take care of the
demon,
” I echoed, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of what she was proposing. For the first time, I was willing to give my life for someone, and she wouldn’t let me do it. Not only that, but this damn crazy girl was willing to give up everything to save
my
life, which was already doomed. “What are you talking about? You understand that you can't go anywhere near that thing, right? And I can’t—I don’t know how much help I’d be against it.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“Exactly how are you planning on doing that without killing his host body? I mean you’re so against murder and all.” My tone became slightly condescending, and I could feel her starting to bristle.

“Light.”

“Lamps aren't going to cut it, Liv. The only thing that
may
be strong enough is the sun. But even if he didn't escape while you were trying to get him into the sunlight, he’d have to be in the light for hours. People will notice the guy tied up and screaming on the sidewalk.”

“Once he’s in the light, can he escape?”

“I don’t think so. I’m not sure though. This isn’t exactly something people have tested.”

“How much control does he have over his host body? Does he feel what it feels?”

“Yes, but they have an incredible resilience to pain. You couldn’t hurt the host enough without killing him to even slow down the demon.”

“But if the host were to pass out, the demon couldn't really do anything. He’d just be trapped until they woke up?”

“No, he could leave the body while the host was unconscious—if the body could even pass out with the demon in it, that is”

“Hmmm.”

“Why? What are you thinking?” Her thoughts were unclear and jumbled. I needed to work on organizing them in my mind some way. How could one person think so many different things at once?

“So, the only way to keep him in is with light.”

“Keep in mind, this is all in theory. Outside of exorcisms, I don’t know of anyone who has gone head to head with a demon and lived to talk about it. And even with exorcisms they aren’t killing the demon, just casting it back to hell.”

“How much light are we talking about? Would a flashlight cut it?”

“Absolutely not—would have to be a lot stronger than that.”

“How about a tanning bed? If we could trap a demon inside of a tanning bed . . .”

“I don't know. I doubt it. You need natural light. Are you going to tell me what you’re thinking?”

“That it won't be an issue finding the demon, since he’s looking for me. We’ll go to my apartment and trap him. We can knock out the host and get him under light until the sun comes up. Then put him in the sunlight until the son of a bitch burns. Demon gone and we still have over two months until my time is up.”

“Would you like me to point out the flaws in this plan?”

“Yes.”

“First, I don’t think we can knock out the host, so immediately the plan fails and we’re scrounging to come up with a Hail Mary—and in the meantime, I’m back in hell, and you’re at his mercy.” I held her eyes, willing her to pay attention since she obviously hadn’t listened to anything I said. “Second, let’s say our Hail Mary works and we capture the demon. Where are you getting a tanning bed? How will we get him from the bed to the street? How will we avoid the attention his screams will bring once the sunlight hits him on the street—it will basically be a public execution?”

I closed my eyes and tried to think of the best way to phrase the rest of what I needed to say. “Even if all of this works, and it won't, they‘ll only send another one and another one after that.”

“Do you have a better plan?”

“Yes, 
leaving
. That’s a much better plan.”

“That isn't better, it’s easier.”

“It's the plan where we both live for a while.”

“But everyone else dies.”

“I don't care about them. At least we aren’t committing suicide.”

“No, just the rest of them will be. You may not care, Holden, but I do. There’ll not be another Juliet because of me.”

I was starting to get a handle on her thoughts. Mostly I had to filter the quick planning thoughts and just listen to stronger more demanding ideas. She was doing this her way, come hell or high water. If I didn't get on board, she’d do it without me. 

“Fine,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Fine,” she echoed

“When are we going to do this?”

“Today.”

“Damn it, Olivia!” She was too impulsive. She needed to slow down, take a breath, realize how flawed her plan was. “No. We need a couple days, at least—”

“No,” she said stubbornly, but patiently. “It has to be done now before anyone else is hurt. My mom’s coming home soon, and you can’t tell me she won’t be a target. We need to go to my apartment before dark to set up heat lamps.”

“Heat lamps?”

“To hold him.” 

“Of course, why didn’t I think of that?” I felt like I was in a cartoon, and she was Wile E. Coyote. This plan would never work. I tried another stab at reasoning with her, though I knew it was a waste of my time. “You know this is insane, right? You can’t go back to your apartment. Even during the day, people will be watching. They’ll notice you.”

She was quiet, chewing on her lip. At least she seemed to be considering it. “We could send Quintus,” she said.

“If he’ll help.”

“He will.” She seemed positive; I was less certain. He wouldn't like her plan any more than I did. Maybe he could talk some sense into her.

She shot me an impatient look.
“Stop bitching.”

“Forgot you can hear me.”

My slip made her grin though. She tried to mask it by taking a bite of eggs. Before we finished breakfast, there was a knock on the door. My stomach dropped, and I hardened all my walls around my thoughts and emotions. Obviously not quick enough, because fear instantly trickled into her mind.

“Go into the bedroom.”

“That’s not going to happen. I'm staying here.”

I calmly retrieved a gun from the top of the bookshelf and opened the door a couple inches, my foot braced against it, my finger on the gun’s trigger, mentally calculating my attack. Quintus stood in front of my door shining like a goddamned lighthouse.

“I should’ve guessed,” I grumbled. I didn't invite him in, but I didn't shut the door on him either.

Olivia gave a genuine smile when she saw him. I sat on my couch, handgun lying across my lap, and observed them. Quintus seemed to do a quick assessment of the situation and come to the utterly wrong conclusion. I could almost see the exact moment his mind made the leap from both of our appearances to what he thought happened the night before. Olivia was going to retell her plan to Quintus and I had no desire to hear her suicidal strategy again.
“And yes, I know you can hear me.”

Olivia rolled her eyes, but didn't comment.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I said without inflection, wanting to be away from Quintus and that damned light. It was giving me a headache.

“
Wow, the two of you really don't like each other, do you?”
I could hear Olivia think from the living room.

Thirty One

I watched Holden walk out of the room. He ignored my comment about Quintus and him not liking each other, and I smiled slightly to myself. This connection would be very useful. Holden smiled back at that thought from the bathroom.

Quintus took a few steps towards to me. “Did he hurt you?” he asked in a low, soft voice.

Did he hurt me? I was genuinely confused. What was he talking about? “What? No!”

His eyes strayed to the left side of my face. Oh right... I looked like Rocky after the match.

Holden let out a bark of laughter from the bathroom
. “Aren’t guardians supposed to be a good judge of motives and intent? If he thinks I would ever hurt you, then I’m not impressed.”
It was my turn to ignore him.

“I was attacked yesterday. He saved me.”

“Who attacked you?”

“A jinni.”

“Another one? How’d you get away?”

“Holden killed him.”

“He killed one of his own?” Quintus sounded astonished.

“The guy did attack me.” He nodded and looked thoughtful. “So what brings you here this morning?”

“I couldn't sense where you were, so I figured despite my advice to both of you, you were together. I wanted to check to be sure.”

“You can tell where I am?”

“Not exactly. I knew you were in city, then you suddenly dropped off my radar.”

“I’m glad you stopped by. I need your help.” He quirked his eyebrow at me and took a seat on an armless chair. I explained my plan to trap and kill the demon. He listened patiently without commenting. When I finished, he nodded slowly, pursing his lips like he was looking for the right words.

“That is the most—I mean, obviously it’ll never work. All you have to do is choose your path, and they’ll have no interest in you because they can’t stake a claim.”

It was my turn to be silent. He was so sure what I would choose, but my head said all bets were off. Holden had a hold of me, and I couldn’t let go. “I can't decide.”

“Why not? I see it in your heart. You know the right decision. You’re on the verge of making it, just speak the words aloud and it will be so.”

“No.”

“It will save you and your loved ones from further demon or jinn attacks.”