Part 2 (1/2)
My insides smolder as I glance back and forth between the two of them. What the h.e.l.l is going on here?
”You missing something?” Now a mischievous twinkle lights up Bones' eyes.
”Obviously, I am.” I narrow mine, and he smirks again. I hate this c.o.c.ky look he gets...the one that says how he knows he's the s.e.xiest creature alive and no woman can resist him. I hate it because he's right. But demons are supposed to be immune to his incubus charms. Yet here Catalina sits, looking like she's just dying to jump in his lap. b.i.t.c.h.
”You don't have a drink.” He stands up and removes his black leather coat, revealing a muscular torso beneath his form-fitting sweater. G.o.d, he's beautiful. ”What'll it be?”
I wave my hand. ”Whatever.” He steps over to the bar and I catch the l.u.s.tful look in Catalina's eyes. I know this look well, too...the one that says I'll do anything to be yours. It's the same expression that must've been plastered on my face every time I looked at him. That is, until I met Kieron.
Kieron...d.a.m.n him...Where the h.e.l.l is he?
If Kieron was here, I wouldn't be having all these mixed up feelings over Bones. I wouldn't care if he was making time with some trampy demon with s.l.u.tty red hair. I wouldn't care that he was looking at her the same way he used to look at me.
”So, Lucky, when is Kieron supposed to be returning?”
It's all I can do not to slap Catalina's perfect, pouty lips right off her face. ”Dunno. Soon, I guess.” I smile and shrug.
”Must be hard on you, him being away for so long-”
”Here ya go, Lucky Lady. Jack on the rocks with an extra shot of Source Energy. You look like you could use it.” Bones returns and sets the drink down on the table in front of me.
I shoot him another glare. What the h.e.l.l does that mean? I look amazing, as always. Better, in fact, as I'm wearing a brand new, low-cut, sparkly red and black outfit specially made for me by the fire-witches of Rome. Top of the line and devastatingly s.e.xy.
I gulp my drink, eyeing the two of them. When I finish, I storm up to the bar to grab another. I return to the table to see Catalina's hand lingering on Bones' shoulder, and him leaning into her as if they're sharing an intimate secret.
”Sorry if I'm interrupting something,” I say loudly and sit back down.
”Oh, it's not a problem, Bones was just telling me about the time he-”
”I thought you were supposed to be on patrol tonight,” I say to Bones, cutting Catalina off. Like I really give a c.r.a.p about anything she has to say.
”I thought so too, but I guess it's Alik's turn at post. That's what Khalil said earlier-”
”I didn't see him at the bridge. No one was there.”
Bones gives me his full attention. ”Are you sure? He has to be. Maybe you just missed him.”
I shake my head. ”Nope. No one was there. Trust me, I looked. I was looking for you,” I say pointedly, ”but there was no one there.”
Bones stands and gulps down the last of his drink. ”I better go check it out. If there was some sort of mix-up and the bridge was left unguarded...”
”I'll go with you,” Catalina says, rising to her feet. I swear, her bright-pink outfit might as well be painted on her body. Wh.o.r.e.
By now, I'm sure steam is coming out my ears. ”Not me. I have better things to do. Later-”
Just as I set my gla.s.s down, a commotion behind me catches my attention. A thunderous crash is followed by angry shouts and panicked screams. Then a deafening explosion. And another.
I jump to my feet and spin toward the main room. Suddenly a band of unfamiliar demons storms in, shooting off fireb.a.l.l.s and knocking over tables. For a moment I'm frozen with shock, and before I can blink, the whole room erupts in a huge brawl. Bodies fly everywhere, and right in front of me, a young succubus named Zanna is vaporized by an enemy flare. A pool table flies across the smoky room amid explosions of fire and lightning.
Instantly the whole place descends into chaos, and the deafening yells and screams become the sounds of battle. Dozens more enemy demons swarm the enclave, some with weapons, others with their own b.a.l.l.s of fire hurling from their hands.
”What the-?” I stagger towards the corner as a flaming ball of electric fire the size of a watermelon comes flying at my head. I duck, and fire singes the side of my face.
”Oh...No...!”
Panicked, I turn to see a horrified Bones. Adrenaline surges through my body, and it's another whole second before I realize Catalina is no longer standing behind me. The small pile of ash beside my feet tells me she didn't move out of the way in time.
”Lucky, get out of here!” Bones shouts. He grabs my arm and pulls me to the back wall as the whole room explodes with smoke and fire.
He braces his body over me protectively and we half-run, half-stumble, blindly toward the secret exit in the back. When we finally reach the small door camouflaged in the rocky wall, I kick a stone on the ground to let us out. Together we race down the dark, twisty tunnel, guided only by the light in my palms. I wonder why Bones hasn't transformed...he's much less vulnerable as a h.e.l.lhound. I keep checking over my shoulder to make sure we're not being followed as we rush through the narrow corridor, but so far we're alone.
Finally we emerge from the other side of the rock and into one of Dryndara's Dark-fairy forests. Bones and I exchange looks as we try to regain our bearings. I don't know what frightens me more, the scene I just witnessed in Demon Bar, or the terrified expression on Bones' face now.
”Bones, what was that? What happened? What's going on?” I cry, falling into his arms, panting more from shock than physical exertion.
It takes a long moment for him to answer me, but when he does, his normally strong and confident voice sounds hollow...haunted.
”That, Lucky, was a declaration of war.”
Chapter 4. Liora.
I trudge onto the school campus, my eyes automatically scanning the parking lot. But I stop mid-step and take a sudden deep breath when I realize I am searching, not for Kieron's big, black truck, but for the fair-haired Tristan.
With a twinge of guilt I hurry on inside, annoyed with myself. I am not some flakey girl who goes from one guy to another without a second thought. And it's not like I'm even attracted to Tristan. Maybe I'm just finally coming to terms with the fact that Kieron is never coming back, and being with Tristan makes me feel good. It's a nice way to feel for a change.
”Hi, Liora. Beautiful day today, isn't it?” a melodious voice rings in my ear. I fight back a smile as I turn around.
”Hi, Tristan.” Standing beside him is his younger sister. ”Hi, Ca.s.sie.” She rolls her eyes and grunts something unintelligible.
”Don't be rude, Ca.s.sie,” Tristan chides her. Ca.s.sie flashes me a disgusted look before silently stalking off in the other direction.
”Sweet girl,” I say, and start walking toward the entrance.
Tristan falls into an easy pace beside me. ”She really is, once you get to know her. Don't take it personally...she's still adjusting to being here. The transition is much harder on her than it is for me.”
I glance up at him; the faint rays of sun glint off his golden hair and s.h.i.+ny scar. His soft eyes feel comfortable and warm, and his voice is a gentle solace. Other than Kieron and Tatiana, I've never felt so completely at ease with someone before. But whereas Kieron lit every cell of my body on fire, Tristan somehow calms it all down. Lately, I want to be in his presence more and more, and miss him as soon as I'm not.
”What're you thinking?” Tristan asks as we head down the hallway. ”You had such a happy look on your face right then.”
I brush my hair from my eyes and wave to Corrine. She gives me something between a smile and a grimace and heads in the other direction. ”I was just thinking about my boyfriend, Kieron. I bet you guys will really hit it off when you meet,” I reply, trying to ignore Corrine's indifference.
”Well, when do you think that will be? I've been here almost two weeks and have yet to see this mystery man of yours. Are you sure you aren't just making him up to make me jealous?” He laughs and holds the cla.s.sroom door open for me.
I don't smile at his joke, because I'm sad. Sad that when I take my seat, I now think of the chair beside me as Tristan's, not Kieron's.
Thirty minutes into cla.s.s, a blaring siren causes twenty-five heads to pop up from their papers at the exact same time.