The Demon Hunter (10 page)

And she wouldn’t draw attention by traipsing around in her undergarments?

As she came around the car, her gaze fell to the pistol in his hand. “Oh sheesh!” She shook her head. “You need to put that away, like now.”

He frowned, but tucked it into his waistband. She paused close to him, so close he could smell the scent of warmth and lilacs. Devon closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Her presence was all he needed to prove this world was real. In hell, there was nothing this sweet. She gripped his t-shirt and pulled the material over the gun, hiding the weapon.

“Seriously.” She shook her head, as if disgusted with him. “I’m all for you getting caught, but I don’t feel like being placed in the middle of the O.K. Corral. Let’s face it, with my luck I’d be the one to end up shot.”

She turned toward the building and pushed open the glass door, a bell overhead ringing. With a smile, she nodded at the man behind the counter. Devon followed more slowly, his gaze darting from corner to corner. As she moved toward a food aisle, Devon followed, scanning the small shop, looking for signs of a threat. He quickly dismissed the employee with his bright orange shirt. The only energy coming from his weak body was attraction directed at Ellie. No other cars were in the parking lot, nor any other shoppers in the small store. Where was the dark vibe coming from? His gaze slid to Ellie. Was she the reason for his unrest?

“I don’t suppose you happen to have any money?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder at Devon. When he didn’t respond, she frowned, rubbing her left temple. “Didn’t think so.” She turned back around and scanned the food in brightly colored packages.

She was acting oddly, even for her. Although his stomach clenched and grumbled, his need for food immediate, Devon kept his attention on Ellie. It wasn’t his imagination, she had gone pale, her hands trembling as she reached for a bag of peanuts. Yet, she was pretending to be fine.

Above, the lights flickered and buzzed. “Headache?” he asked.

“No. Nothing,” she muttered, but he couldn’t help but notice she glanced toward the round mirror hanging on the wall. A mirror, which because of its domed shape, made it possible to see most of the room. He wasn’t the only one uneasy. What was she looking for? Or expecting?

He picked up a packet of something called gummi bears, holding them up to the light and pretending interest. All the while, he watched Ellie.

“Oh, hey, Mate,” the man at the counter called out. “You gotta wear shoes in here.”

Devon slid the man a hard glance.

He held up his hands. “Just saying.”

“I’m not feeling well.” Ellie dropped the peanuts she held. “I think… I need to use the restroom.” She barely glanced at him as she headed toward the counter. “Bathroom?” she asked.

“Out back,” the man replied, watching her curiously.

Even he thought Elli was acting oddly. Devon started after her. No way he was letting her leave on her own. Damn it all, he should have trusted his instincts. Something was off. “Ellie, wait.”

She didn’t bother to glance at him, but reached for the door with a trembling hand. The anxiety in her eyes was the same look she’d had when they’d been in her cottage.

“Hey, you didn’t pay for those gummi bears.”

With a growl, Devon tossed the bag toward the counter. “Ellie,” he snapped. “You need to tell me what’s wrong.”

She froze, the door half open, allowing a cool, morning breeze to sweep into the shop and ruffle the newspapers on a stand. “It’s too late.”

She stumbled back, right into Devon. He wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her lush body closer. The moment he touched her, Ellie’s muscles went limp and her lashes fluttered down. Devon’s heart lurched and for the first time since arriving back on earth, true fear encased him.

“Fuck!” The employee raced around the counter, then paused. “Should I call the police?” He rushed back around his desk, grappling with the phone.

Gently, Devon laid her upon the ground, resting her head in his lap. “Ellie? Ellie, open your eyes. Tell me what’s wrong; what can I do?”

“It’s too strong,” she whispered, her breathing shallow. Sweat glistened across her forehead, her eyes wide, the pupils large and black, swallowing any color.

Hell, she couldn’t die on him. She was all he had. Lightly, he tapped the sides of her face. “Ellie?”

“Red eyes,” she whispered.

“What do you…” Realization hit like a punch to the gut. He didn’t need to ask more. Suddenly, it all became very clear. Red eyes meant only one thing…

The bell over the door rang merrily.

Slowly, Devon lifted his head. A man stood in the doorway. He was dressed in a dapper black suit, his brown hair combed neatly into place. Young, handsome, wealthy-looking. His gaze scanned the shop, then casually dropped to Ellie. Yes, a handsome, normal looking gent… but for the eyes. Red eyes. Devon’s insides went chill.

A demon.

“Well, what do we have here?” the demon’s voice was raspy with hunger.

Ellie’s back arched as she cried out. Devon gripped her shoulders, confused and frustrated. He didn’t understand what was happening to her, but he knew for a fact it had to do with the demon that had just entered the shop.

Gently, he laid her upon the ground and unfolded his body, standing. He was tall, but still a good head shorter than the demon. He was weak from fighting and lack of nourishment. And damn it all, he had no weapon other than an ancient pistol.

They were as good as dead. But then death never had frightened him. “I’ve fought worse than you and come out the victor.”

The demon lifted his hand. A ball of fire swooshed to life, hovering over his palm. “Well then, let the games began.”

Chapter 6

The floor vibrated, stirring Ellie from unconsciousness. She lifted her lashes and stared at the flickering fluorescent lights above. What the hell had happened?

White lights. Brilliant white that pulsed around her, making her skin hum. Murmured voices flowed on waves of sound she couldn’t quite understand. Mumbled garbage. The very room buzzed… or was that her body? She wasn’t sure where she began and the world ended. She curled her hands against the cold, hard floor. Her muscles bunched, straining, burning, insisting she move.

Realization hit. Oh God, she’d changed once more.

This couldn’t be good. She should have known. She’d felt the odd sensations whispering through her body as she’d pulled into the parking lot. But she had thought it was Devon’s powers, not another’s. Ellie shoved her hands onto the floor and sat upright. The aisles spun, lights and objects twirling.

“Devon?”

“Get down!” he called out from across the room.

The cashier peeked over the counter, his face pale, his eyes wide. A pathetic whimper escaped his trembling lips and an odd red glow pulsed from around his body, like an aura of some sort. Was it his emotion? His fear?

“That’s new,” she muttered.

But he wasn’t focused on her, no, he was focused on something behind her. The threat wasn’t coming from him. Slowly, she turned, scanning the room. Was it her imagination or was the shop brighter? The food and drinks vibrant and pulsing with color. Sounds grew distinct, separating into different entities. A scratch to her left. She jerked her head toward the employee. He had shifted ever so slightly. She narrowed her eyes on the pale boy. What was that thumping sound? Slowly, she lowered her gaze to his neck, lower to his chest.

His heart.

Ugh, she could actually hear his heart beating!

She jerked her gaze away and jumped to her feet in a smooth, fluid motion any cat would envy. Instinct had taken over, it thrummed through her body telling her where to focus, which way to move. And boy, how she wanted to move.

A tall man stood at the far end of the small shop. She supposed to a human, he would have appeared attractive, all clean cut, with perfectly combed hair. But what they wouldn’t realize is that they’d be attracted to a monster.

The handsome face flickered away. She could see the true
thing
behind those human features. He was one ugly son of a bitch. Red, glowing eyes, pink, wrinkled skin. Ellie’s lips lifted as she resisted the unnatural urge to growl. Another first.

Slowly, his head turned, his gaze catching hers. No shiver of fear swept over her body. Nope, just the worst craving to kill… kill
him
, the thing that was a threat to her. Kill him and suck the life from his body, his soul, if he had one. She wanted to rip his head off. She wanted to sink her teeth into his flesh. Drink his blood like a fine wine.

No!
No, she didn’t! Oh
God
, what was wrong with her?

As if sensing her confusion, his lips curled into a slow, wicked smile. Her stomach roiled even as her craving intensified. The fluorescent lights above seemed more harsh. The scents of the wrapped food in the store were too strong. And there, hovering underneath the scent of food was the scent of… blood. Not just any blood. Devon’s blood. Fear shot through her body.

“Devon!” Ellie cried out.

There was the slightest movement to her right. She jerked her gaze toward the end of an aisle of candy bars. A pulsing, white light…encompassed Devon. Pure energy.

“Ellie, stay down!” Devon snapped.

Ellie turned back toward the demon, ignoring Devon’s command. The beast started toward her. No shelf was a threat. With a growl, he tossed the first aside, throwing packages of cupcakes into the air like confetti. She didn’t know much about the supernatural world, but she had learned one thing… demons were solitary creatures who hunted alone. She was in his territory and he didn’t like it one bit.

“Oh fuck, it’s coming this way!” the employee behind her muttered.

“Just stay behind your counter,” she told him, worried he’d bolt and get in the way. He looked like a scared rabbit.

Slowly, she straightened, drawing her body to its full height. She knew she wasn’t tall at 5‘4, but today she felt seven feet.

“Damn it, Ellie.” From the corner of her eye, she saw Devon jump to his feet, his movements stiff and jerky as if he was injured. She narrowed her eyes and breathed deeply… the metallic scent of blood entered her nostrils, making her mouth water. Injured indeed. It was Devon’s scent. But how badly was he hurt?

“You don’t realize what you’re getting into,” he said.

Silly man. He hadn’t a clue what she was capable of and at the moment, she felt like she was capable of beating anyone, anything.

The demon held his arms wide, his grin deepening. “
Ignis.”

Fire,
her mind replied.

She hit the ground just as a fireball appeared. She felt the heat as it swept over top, heard the swoosh of fire through air and then the shattering of glass. She spun around to see the window behind the counter busted, shards of glass pattering to the ground like wind chimes on a warm summer breeze.

“Oh God, help me!” the clerk cried from behind the counter.

But Ellie was barely aware of the clerk, barely aware of even Devon. Fury shook her very body.
Kill or be killed.
The words whispered through her head. Ellie jumped to her feet with a boundless energy that vibrated from her very core.
Kill or be killed.

She hadn’t lived this long to sit passively by. Ellie launched herself forward. The demon swept his arm through the air and Ellie suddenly found herself flying backward. She slammed against a shelving unit, then slid to the floor with a thud. Candy bars tumbled down around her. Her anger mounted. Her need to kill intensified. It was a black hole in the pit of her belly and she wasn’t sure she could ever fill the need. Growling, she jumped to her feet.

“Ellie, stay down!” Devon snapped.

But Ellie stood her ground, knowing no fear. A darkness she’d never felt before swept through her body, leaving her trembling with the need to kill. Kill. Kill.

Devon lunged forward, hitting the beast with a thud that sent them both stumbling back. The demon shook him off as if he weighed nothing. Devon hit the window and slid to the floor, broken shards of glass raining down around him. The anger she’d been trying to control, flared. An unnatural need to protect the stupid man surged through her. Almost as if…she owned him.

The demon hissed, a thin trail of smoke seeping from between his lips as he started toward her. He had no concern with Devon, not when he sensed better prey. “What are you?” he demanded.

A slow smile lifted the corners of her lips. She welcomed the demon, welcomed the ensuing fight. “Come and find out, you sick fuck.”

Vaguely she knew her thoughts, needs and words were not her own, but she didn’t care. Only cared about wrapping her hands around his neck, killing…killing.

His lips lifted, pointed teeth glistened with saliva. “You’re not his kind.” He shoved a shelf of nuts out of the way. “The energy coming from you hints demon, yet…”

She could take him. Easily. She didn’t contemplate her sudden bravado, she only knew that she would win. But there, deep down, ringing an alarm bell was a tiny bit of humanity. She needed to think rationally. And it wasn’t rational to attack him straight on. No.

Ellie dove behind an aisle of soda drinks. Hidden from view, she glanced up at the security mirror behind the beast and watched his back as he approached her.