Body and Soul (Body and Soul Trilogy) (16 page)

“I’m fine,” she said, knowing that it wouldn’t help.

“You’re not fine, Kate. You almost died. I was too weak to fight him.”

“He was using dark magic, Rico. You couldn’t have done anythin
g more than what you’ve already done. Stop beating yourself up.”

“I could have tried,” he said. “I didn’t try hard enough.”

“Yes you did, Rico. You tried with everything you had. I know it.”

Rico shook
his head but never lifted it up.

Kate stood up and stepped over the edge of the tub, dripping water onto the floor. She wrapped a towel around her body and walked over to Rico.
Kate put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it once. He looked up at her and pulled her into him, his arms wrapped around her waist, his head rested against her stomach.

“I can’t lose you,” he mumbled.

“You’ll never lose me,” Kate said. She let her fingers run through his hair, her fingernails traced down the back of his neck. “You’ll never lose me,” she repeated in a whisper.

Rico lifted his head up and pulled his arms away from Kate. He looked into her eyes, his cobalt eyes resigned.

“It’s too late,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what I say anymore. I can say that I can’t do this, but I already have, Kate. I can’t stop, and I’m tired of making myself try.”

“I don’t want you to,” she said. “I never wanted to you to.”

Kate shivered once, and Rico’s eyes grew serious.

“Get back in the bathtub,” he said. “I’ll stay in here. I promise.”

Kate nodded, and did as she was told, making him turn around as she got in. She might love watching shows that showed teenagers with babies, but she wasn’t interested in anything that had to do with that kind of silliness. When Kate was completely covered by the steaming water, she allowed Rico to turn around again.

Chapter 20

Adriana and Donovan were sitting at the table with mugs of coffee when Kate and Rico descended the stairs. Kate sat down with them while Rico made her some hot tea with cinnamon. When he lowered the cup in front of her and sat down, Donovan began speaking.

“I know a lot about Erik. We worked together, leading the armies. He was one of my clients; he would call me to weaken the humans. He needed them weakened in order to take their souls. He expressed a deep interest in dark magic, claiming that Darkness himself would grant it to us in times of need. His was a need for power. He planned to one day take over this planet. He wanted to watch the demons destroy the human race, to claim this planet as our own. In the end, all I saw was his thirst to destroy another planet.

Erik didn’t care about that fact that we would eventually destroy Earth. He was focused on destroying the humans, not caring to face the consequences that would follow. He attempted to recruit followers, but most demons don’t want to destroy the human race. Most demons want the freedom to possess humans without the fear of destroying themselves. Needless to say, Erik didn’t gather many followers.

The last day I saw him was the day he went to join Kern. He said that he would follow another leader until the day came that he could lead himself. He claimed that he would use his dark magic to control the demons, to ensure that they did what he wanted. He promised not to control me, if when the time came, I rose to stand by his side. I never thought that day would come, but I fear that it will come all too soon.”

“What about dark magic?” Rico asked. “What do you know of it?”

“I know that it has the strength to kill humans and demons alike. It is the only thing, other than an
exorcism, that can kill a demon. A demon that possesses and masters dark magic, however, is indestructible.”

“I thought that Light and Darkness could kill demons.” Kate interrupted.

“They can,” Donovan stated. “I didn’t include them because they would almost never kill a human or demon on their own. I know that Darkness would get another to do his bidding, and Light would never kill of his own accord. He would, instead, further protect the ones he loves.”

Kate nodded.

“What if a demon possesses dark magic but doesn’t master it?” Rico asked in an attempt to get everyone back on track.

“Another demon can steal his power.”

Kate blurted, “How does that happen?”

Donovan looked into the eyes of Adriana and Rico before speaking.

“I have heard that this is the way, but have never seen it done,” he said. “To take another demon’s dark magic, a demon must possess the soul that the dark magic user possesses. He must steal the soul from another demon.”

“Is that even possible?” Adriana asked.

“I’ve never heard of that,” Rico admitted.

“They say that is how it’s done. I don’t know much else about it. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you any more information, but it’s all I’ve got.”

Adriana stood up and kissed Donovan’s cheek.

“You’ve given us all we need, darling. You can leave now,” she added.

“Thank you,” he said. He kissed Adriana on the mouth, hard. Kate looked away and blushed, embarrassed at this display of passion.

Adriana sat down a moment later, flushed.

“What are we going to do?” Rico asked.

“What do you think we’re going to do, Rico? We’re going to possess Erik’s soul. We have to. Oh, and when I say we, I mean you.”

“Whoa. I’m not possessing any more souls,” Rico said angrily. “What about Donovan? Erik won’t suspect a thing.”

“You’re the only one here that’s an elder demon, Rico. You’re the only one with the strength to do this,” Adriana said.

“Don’t forget that your innocent husband helped other demons possess souls, Adriana. He should try one for himself. I’m done with possessions.”

“
Look Rico, you’re the only one here that’s possessed humans, period. You possessed them before and after the treaty. You’re the only one who can do this without dying,” she retorted.

“Listen,” Rico began.

“Stop it, both of you,” Kate interrupted. “You’re going around in circles. This won’t go anywhere if you keep arguing. The first thing we need to do is figure out whether Erik has mastered dark magic. If he’s mastered it then we’re screwed.”

“He hasn’t, Kate,” Adriana said. “Couldn’t you tell?”

“Erik’s magic ceased when Adriana ran into him. As soon as he lost focus, the magic stopped doing his bidding,” Rico stated.

“Are you saying that the demon that masters dark magic can use it from anywhere?” Kate asked
warily.

“Yes,” Rico said. “He can use it against a human or demon halfway across the world. He can use it when he is distracted. He can use it no matter what.”

“Wait,” Adrianna interjected. “What if he plans on killing Kern? We won’t have to go after Kern if he does.”

“Adriana, don’t you hear what you’re saying. If Erik gains the power to kill Kern, he will be unstoppable.”

“Fine,” Adriana grumbled. “I wasn’t thinking it through.”

“Now,” Rico said, “Let’s figure out who’s doing all the possessing.”

“I swear, Rico, that it won’t be Donovan. He won’t do it,” Adriana whined.

“So it automatically goes to me?” Rico asked.

Kate interrupted once more, annoyed with the pair of them.

“Listen someone has to do it, okay? And, frankly, I’m tired of you two arguing. You can run around pointing fingers all day and all night. But I have a better plan.”

Rico and Adriana leaned in closely as Kate told them her plan. It would take a while, but she knew it would work. She knew that it was the only way to finish this thing, once and for all. Now, all they had to do was wait until it was time to strike.

When Kate got home that evening, her mom was making a small dinner.

“Where’s Dad?” Kate asked.

“He has to work late for the next couple of nights. He said that he might just stay at the office if it gets too late.”

“He has a place to sleep there?”

“Of course, baby. He wouldn’t stay if he didn’t have a place to sleep,” Blaire said. “Why are you so concerned about your father?”

“I was just curious,” Kate said honestly. Whenever her father had a lot of work to do on a case, he would just stay at the office all night. Kate remembered one time when he was working on a murder trial; he stayed at the office all the time. One time he stayed for a whole week researching a single piece of evidence.

“What are we eating for dinner, Mom?” Kate asked to change the subject.

“I thought that since it was a girl’s night we could have grilled cheese and tomato soup. What do you think?”

Kate rushed to the cabinet and pulled out the cheese crackers. She rummaged through the top drawer in the refrigerator and yanked out some pepperoni and shredded cheese. She collected her supplies and set them on the kitchen table.

“I’d say I’m pretty excited,” she said, turning around.

“So baby, how are your friends doing? I haven’t seen them around lately,” Blaire commented while waiting for her soup to cool down enough to eat it.

“They’re good. I really like it here, Mom. I love my new friends, and I think I could be happy here,” Kate added. She knew that there was no chance that the family would remain in the small town indefinitely. Blaire’s job took her all over the world, and the family would relocate at some point. Besides, there was no point thinking about staying in one place just to stay with Rico and Adriana; they would leave when Kern was killed or when Kern ran after killing Kate.

“I’m glad, honey. I think we’ll be here for a while. You might get to stay with your friends for a couple years, at the most.”

“Yeah,” Kate sighed. “At the most.”

“Now Kate, I apologize for putting you through this, but…”

“Your work is important for the ocean, for the environment, for life as we know it. I know, Mom. I’ve heard this before. Just once, though, I would love for you to put yourself in my shoes.”

“But you’ve loved moving,” Blaire stated.

“Mom, I’ve never had friends before!” Kate nearly shouted.

“What about the girls in Australia, Kate? They were your friends.”

“No they weren’t. You don’t know anything about my life, Mom. Dad was always the one that cared. He was the one to take off work or pick me up after a disastrous evening. You were too busy with work to care about my life.”

“That’s not true, Kate. I love you,” Blair interjected.

“No, Mom. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I would say that you should ask Dad, but he wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings. He loves you too much to tell you the truth about me.” Kate stood up then, and left the room. She
couldn’t sit there and argue with her mother about something that would never be fixed. She realized that they couldn’t fix something that Blaire didn’t think was broken. Kate trudged up the stairs, keeping her tears behind her eyes until she was safe in her bedroom.

That night, Kate had no dreams. She woke up the next day well rested, and ran down the stairs, hoping to catch her mother before she left. That didn’t happen.

Kate had planned to apologize to Blaire, to fix the fragile relationship that the pair did have. She knew that it was better than not having a relationship at all, and was prepared to do whatever it took to keep some semblance of one.

Kate
spent the rest of the day alone, cleaning her bedroom and bathroom, picking up the things that she tossed on the ground the night that Adriana left. She stopped when she picked up the copy of
Pride and Prejudice
that Rico had been reading. There was a bookmark that held his place, but there was also another spot that was marked with a turned down corner. Kate opened the book, searching for what it was that Rico must have liked.

A single line was underlined.
It was the part where Darcy and Elizabeth were arguing about first impressions. The line that was underlined was where Darcy confessed his love to Elizabeth.

Kate sat down, an overwhelming feeling taking over her entire body. She looked at the book again, noticing that Rico had scrawled a quote at the very bottom of the page as well. His handwriting was an elegant script, a reminder of his true age. This one said: “
I love you fully, eternally, and forever. I love you, body and soul.”

Kate pressed her palm against her heart. It beat slowly, calmly. She shut the book, placing it on her bookshelf onc
e more, and stood up. Kate stripped her pajamas off and found a rose tank top that she tucked into white lace shorts. She slipped on her wedges and picked up her father’s fedora before rushing downstairs. This was it. It was time to tell Rico that she was falling in love with him, and after the quotes she found upstairs, there was no way that she wasn’t falling for him now. She knew that this was the only time that she could muster up the courage, knowing that it would eventually be too late to confess one’s love. It wasn’t as romantic as it appeared to confess your love right before your imminent death – or possible death, in Kate’s case.

Kat
e opened the front door and ran straight into her father.

“I’m sorry, darling. I
didn’t mean to frighten you,” Aaron said as he chuckled.

“Dad! You’re home,” Kate said, relieved that he was safe. She pulled him into a firm hug and held on to him while he patted her back.

“Honey, I’ve been gone for one night. You can’t tell me that you’ve missed me that much,” he said. “Then again, I am your favorite old man, right?” He laughed again, a sound Kate loved to hear.

Aaron
nodded his head at his old fedora. “Taking my hat out on a date, Kate?” he asked, surveying her fancy outfit. “Rico will think you’re beautiful,” he said seriously.

“Thank you, Daddy. I appreciate
it,” Kate said truthfully.

“
Don’t stand here and stare at me now; you should go, honey. I wouldn’t want you to be late. Besides, I’m just here to shower. Afterwards, I’m going to be heading out again. I probably won’t be home tonight so don’t wait up for me, okay?”

Kate nodded and rushed outside into the heat. She turned toward Adriana’s and ran. She couldn’t turn back now, and with renewed confidence from her father, she was ready.

              Kate knocked on the door fifteen minutes later. Donovan answered it and let her inside, his sandy hair disheveled like he had just rolled out of bed. He waved to her as she hastily ran up the stairs toward Rico’s bedroom, or what she hoped was Rico’s bedroom.

She stopped at the door and knocked. Rico opened it, shirtless and handsome. His eyebrows furrowed when he saw her, but Kate could tell he was pleased.

Rico’s room was perfect. The walls were stark white; paintings and sketches hung along the walls in clusters, almost as if his room was an art gallery. The most beautiful painting hung over his large bed. It was an angel in prayer, bent over a stream, his beautiful white wings unfurled. A laptop sat on a maple desk in the corner, playing soft music. A matching maple dresser sat on the wall adjacent to it, an empty picture frame and vase sat on top of it.