A Job From Hell (28 page)

I plopped down on the bed and turned to face him. "I quit my job."

"What? I thought I was the only job jumper in the family. I mean, aren't you supposed to be responsible while I get to be the reckless one?" He chuckled. "No longer, huh? What wil you tel Mum and Dad when you return to London?"

"Wel , thanks for asking why I quit." I pouted. Why hadn't I thought of my mother's reaction? I couldn't say I'd been fired because no one was ever fired from a work placement. Quitting wasn't an option either; I'd heard my parents lecture Dal as over and over again.

Dal as laughed. "I don't need to ask because I know. You treat cooking like it's rocket science, and doing laundry's not your strength either. It's no big deal, but with no home you'l have to live with Mum and Dad for a while. Can't wait to hear your excuse."

"I'l say the company went bust." I nodded to myself. That was definitely a good excuse.

Dal as seemed impressed too. "Not bad. Dad might buy it, but Mum—" he shook his head and sucked in a sharp breath "—she'l probably want to send the poor guys a fruit basket and a greeting card." He had a point there. Dal as's face lit up like it always did when he thought he'd come up with a cunning plan. "You could say your boss was kidnapped."

I slapped my forehead. "You've got to be kidding."

He sat down next to me and grabbed my shoulders. "No, listen! It's bril iant. Just say your boss disappeared and the police need to keep it a secret until they finish their investigation. She won't poke her nose around for months, and by then you'l have another job and she'l have forgotten al about it."

From al his stupid ideas, this wasn't even such a bad one. I might consider it. Dal as looked at me expectantly, waiting for the praise to start flowing. I nodded to please him. "It might work. I'l think about it."

Dal as walked over to my dresser and picked up Cameron's picture. "Could he have something to do with you quitting your job?"

"That's not fair," I said.

"Is it fair to display his picture when you're dating the boss?"

"Aidan and I aren't real y dating. Besides, I've been meaning to take it down." It wasn't even a lie.

Dal as put the picture back. "What happened? I thought you two were going to take a break and then try and work it out."

I grimaced. "We were. Until I cal ed him at three a.m. and a bimbo answered his phone."

Dal as blew out a breath. "What a jerk. I'l kick some sense into him the next time I see him."

"If I don't beat you to the punch," I said. He laughed, and I found myself laughing with him, forgetting my worries for a moment.

"Can we go back now? I think I'm getting a phone number tonight," Dal as said, grinning. "There's something about that redhead."

No doubt he had Cass in mind. From al the women in the world trust my brother to be attracted to a nerdy demon. It was a bad mix, like oil and water. If Dal as screwed up this relationship, her father would be on his trail, striking him with lightning bolts, sucking his soul into hel , tossing him in a fiery dungeon, and throwing away the key. Dating Cass was not going to happen in this lifetime.

"I was thinking Cass and I could watch a cool movie on Friday night at my pad. Any suggestions?" Dal as continued.

I tapped a finger against my lips, thinking. "Drag Me To Hel , Demon Hunter, Storm The Gates Of Hel , Succubus, Blue Demon —have your pick."

"Ah, I get it. She's into horror flicks big time. Do you think she'd wear those Hal oween horns on our first date?"

I sneered. "I have a sneaking suspicion she would." I had to get him out—and fast—before bad things happened, like producing offspring.

They'd give a new meaning to the expression 'demon child'. I got up and gave his shoulder a sympathetic squeeze. "I'm sorry to have to break it to you, but Cass's not available."

"She's what?" Dal as looked confused. I rol ed my eyes inwardly.

"She's seeing someone," I said. "Besides, the girl has issues." Maybe it wasn't even a lie, I consoled myself. Judging from the few books I'd read on demons, Cass probably had a new guy every weekend. Granted, the books had been fiction but, apparently, basing one's work on research was al the rage in literature.

Dal as's shoulders slumped. His expression betrayed disappointment. For a moment, I considered laughing it al off as a joke, but I had to remain strong even though I hated to see his hopes crushed. No way was I letting my brother get sucked into this crazy world. It was too late for me, but not for him.

"You sure?" Hope flickered in him, then died down like a blown-out candle as soon as I nodded. It wasn't like him to fal for someone at this speed. Maybe there was something about the demon, some sort of demonic thing that drew guys to her.

I gave him a tight hug and decided to change the subject before he started asking questions. "Thanks for bringing the stones. I'l cal you before I return to London."

He lifted his chin a notch and turned to the door. "Yeah, you do that." We climbed down the stairs in silence. Dal as hesitated as we reached the hal on the ground floor. "I should say goodbye."

Not if Cass kept spawning her weird magic on him. I put on my most compassionate expression. "I'l tel them for you." He didn't argue, just kissed my cheek, mumbled something about cal ing and took off through the backdoor, vanishing as fast as he had appeared only an hour ago. I watched him disappear into the darkness. For a while I just stood in the middle of the kitchen, rubbing my arms through the thin material of my shirt as a cold breeze blew in, ruffling the curtains. I always felt bad for lying to Dal as, but the thought that I had done the right thing consolidated me. No point in dragging him into this crazy world. The sooner I got out of it myself, the better. After returning to the living room and watching Cass's face drop when I mentioned Dal as's departure, I realised maybe the demon liked him more than I imagined.

Cass excused herself and left soon after Dal as, and I saw my chance to leave too. After retrieving the backpack from the kitchen, I returned to my room and locked the door, then snuggled onto my bed, stil clothed. I clutched Cameron's photo to my chest, trying to conjure up happy moments we'd shared, but I couldn't remember any. The girl answering my cal , Cameron's voice and the giggle stil lingered in my mind. My eyes moistened.

I didn't feel hurt, just a little betrayed and pitiful. Cameron couldn't remain faithful for a few weeks, and al Aidan wanted was an old book. Why did I always get the nutcases?

The soft knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts. I knew it was Aidan before he asked to come in. For a moment, I considered pretending not to hear him, but what was the point? I'd have to face him tomorrow anyway when we retrieved the book. Straightening up in bed, I inhaled to steady my racing heart when his footsteps departed down the corridor.

Whatever he had to say, he probably changed his mind. I dropped back on the bed, unable to shake off my sudden disappointment. What had I hoped for? The guy wasn't interested in any sort of commitment, which made him dangerous to my heart and sanity. And my soft spot for him wasn't helping my case either. I should be careful, run instead of seeking his proximity, but for some reason I needed to be close to him. What did I think he'd do once he had the book? He'd send me away. The more reason not to get involved, because it'd end up in tears—and surely not his.

Wood creaked near the window, startling me. I turned my head sharply and shrieked, the sound dying in my throat.

"A little jumpy, aren't we?" The tal girl, dressed in something that looked like a sheer, black nightgown with slits on both sides of her hips and along the legs, laughed. Countless rings and bracelets adorned her fingers and wrists.

I shot to my feet, ready to bolt out the door, then stopped as my curiosity got the better of me. "Who're you?"

"Wel , we know who you are, you boyfriend-stealing hussy." The girl stood with her back turned to the window, the soft light of the lamp catching in her raven hair and throwing shadows on her porcelain skin. Her cat-like eyes seemed to fol ow my every move, but her features betrayed no emotions. There was no need for it anyway because her eyes said it al . She had the superior air of someone who knew she might have competition, but certainly not in this room.

"Has Aidan kept my existence a big secret?" she said. "By the look in your eyes, I can tel he has. Now I'm offended." She took a step forward, long, lean legs peering between the splits in her nightgown. For a second, I thought I saw a thin snake wrapped around her ankle. But the il usion disappeared. "I'm Layla. You could cal me his—" She trailed off, leaving the rest to my imagination.

Staring at the generous cleavage threatening to spil out of the thin material of her dress, I could definitely see why any guy would fal for her, but the name rang a bel somewhere at the back of my mind. Layla. Aidan had almost been kil ed by someone cal ed Layla. Was this the same person?

I clenched my fists, my temper flaring. I knew I should be afraid—whatever Layla was, she was strong enough to imprison a vampire—but, for some reason, I felt I could deal with her. "What do you want from me?"

"I know how you feel, little mortal." Layla took another step forward. "Look at you, al lost and forlorn in this world you didn't know existed."

Another step, and she reached the edge of the bed. "Give him up, and I'l let you return to your previous life." She picked up Cameron's picture and nodded. "He's pretty hot. What a shame you don't have him on your arm."

"We broke up. He needed his space," I said, dryly.

"He didn't want you." Her eyes flickered with amusement. "I can change that. How would you like it if you could have him back?"

"I don't want that cheater." I shook my head, realising I had no idea what I had ever seen in Cameron.

"I promise he'd never ever cheat on you again," Layla said. "He'd love you with a passion he never knew existed. Surely you've had enough of this supernatural world. I can make you forget the last few days ever happened. Just go back to the one you love. He's waiting for you this very moment. Say the words and you'l never know sadness and despair in your lifetime."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why even ask me? Can't you just do it, and then al of your problems wil go away?"

She sighed. "If only it were that simple. This kind of magic has to have your blessing to work."

If Cameron didn't want me for who I was, then why bother? No love potion or magic would fix that deep down it'l al be an il usion. Cameron would only love me because he had a big hex on him. But I was sold on the promise of having my old life back, which I'd wanted ever since coming here. Aidan wasn't mine to begin with. Leaving him behind shouldn't prove a hard task. So, why the hesitation?

Layla's fake smile vanished. "You should be jumping at the opportunity. I can make this boy love you. I can make the two of you rich beyond your wildest dreams. I can give you both prestigious jobs that you've been longing for your entire life. You'l never have to clean somebody's house again.

Just imagine how proud your parents would be."

I stared at her calmly. Why did she hurt Aidan? The question burned on my tongue. I shouldn't care, but I couldn't help it. "What happens to Aidan if I leave?"

My words seemed to take Layla by surprise. She blinked a few times, then moistened her lips. "Wel , that depends on him, of course. I'l leave the decision in his capable hands. Disloyalty usual y results in harsh punishment."

He'd tried to save me from whatever I'd brought upon myself when I solved the riddle. How exactly had he been disloyal to Layla? I brushed a hand over my jeans as I gathered my thoughts, forming a plan. "I'm only a humble employee who stumbled into this mess by accident. I assure you I have no ties to anybody in this supernatural world."

"He picked you—" Layla looked me up and down "—and the reason's beyond me. I could've given him anything he wanted, but he decided to pursue this bond thing. Not the wisest choice, if you ask me."

My heart skipped a beat. It wasn't al about the book. Aidan truly believed in a bond and wanted me over this stunning girl with her gorgeous skin and sultry mouth. Somewhere inside my mind a voice screamed to run and let the vampires sort out this mess since they were better equipped to deal with whatever Layla was, but I had never been the cowardly type. I placed my hands on my hips and took a pace forward, glaring up at Layla.

"You may be the prettier one, but he's not into the bitchy type."

Layla's gaze narrowed. "What did you just cal me?" Several hissing snakes crawled from under her dress, slithering around her legs.

Maybe crossing her hadn't been such a good idea. Gulping, I backed off slowly toward the door. The snakes slithered across the floor like some sort of guard dogs. I never feared reptiles, but I also never stood so close to them before.

Talk about skeletons in one's closet. Aidan sure knew how to pick his girlfriends. First a crazed kil er, and then psycho Medusa. This girl was as dangerous and obsessive as Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction—even had the crazy, bulging eyes to prove it. If she looked at me any harder I'd soon turn into stone.

"I'l think about your proposition and let you know," I said, paralysed by fear. My heart hammered in my chest, my palms were slick with sweat.

"Thanks for stopping by. Please take your stones with you on your way back. They're in that backpack over there." I pointed at Dal as's bag, then stretched out a shaking hand, secretly praying she wouldn't shake it, and curled my mouth into a smile.

Ignoring my outstretched hand, Layla scoffed. "They'l soon pulverise into dust. Now, who said my offer stil stands? It was just a gesture of goodwil , and I don't usual y do goodwil ."

The snakes slithered closer until they stood mere inches from my feet. I pressed my mouth shut. A squeal remained trapped in my throat as I lifted my head a notch. Rivulets of sweat trickled down my spine. Would Layla's pets attack? I kicked my brain into gear, struggling to come up with a plan to bluff my way out of this situation.