Daniel Taylor Between Two Worlds (10 page)

Vanessa would have liked to learn more about the magic amulet and the scepter — what made it so important for the demons, for instance — but James was moving on.

“After we had once moved on, Kitana created a portal to get the computer I had left in the hotel room we had been previously been in. At least, that’s what she claimed, but it was really just an excuse; that became clear to me later, when I found my laptop at the bottom of my suitcase. Kitana gave the amulet to me and Danny, who she left with me, so that the demons wouldn’t discover our new hiding place. She had other reasons for leaving …

“But Marla, who was supposed to remain with us, ran after her — the little girl always clung to her mother. I hadn’t yet mastered the art of translocation, and I blamed myself for what happened next.” James lowered his head. “Just when Kitana was about to get back — she had already created the portal — several demons in long, grey robes were suddenly standing behind her and Marla. They must have detected her activities. One of them grabbed Marla from the portal. And then … then I saw one of the demons walk up to Kitana and set her alight with a blue fire. The portal instantly closed. I had always assumed that Marla had perished as well.”

Anne was staring at James. It was evident that she couldn’t quite come to terms with what she had just been told.

James was looking at the floor. His hands balled into fists, he sat down next to Anne and cleared his throat. He looked very sad. Anne stroked his hand for a long time, then stood up, trembling. “I think I need a drink.”

After Anne had disappeared into the kitchen, Vanessa leaned over to James and whispered, “What do you think the demons want from Danny?”

James said quietly, “According to the laws of succession, he’ll be the next Overlord.”

“Yes, he told me that, but he said that he refused.”

“I don’t really think they ever would have accepted him as the Overlord, so I have to presume that they want something else from him.”

“The scepter.” Her heart was beating wildly.

James nodded. “At first, I thought that they would kill Daniel because his blood is impure, but after you informed me that he had returned from the underworld unscathed … Kitana once told me that the scepter must never fall into their hands. Into anyone’s hands, not even the watchers. The temptation is too great for anyone, even for those who are pure of heart. The scepter radiates a dark magic that can corrupt anyone. It grants the bearer unimaginable power, multiplying his or her own powers many times over.”

Many things had become clearer for Vanessa, and her fear for Daniel grew.

They suddenly heard a clattering noise, as though a glass had fallen.

“I’ll see how Anne’s doing,” James said quickly, standing up.

Vanessa decided to leave the two of them alone for a while. She had so much to think about.

When James entered the kitchen, he saw Anne standing at the window, her back to him. She was leaning on the wooden counter; next to her, on the floor, was the fallen glass. A piece of the rim had broken off. James carefully picked up both pieces and threw them in the trash can. Then he came up behind Anne and put his arms around her.

Anne leaned back against him, shaking. “I … I can scarcely believe it all,” she said softly.

James tightened his embrace and kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted to involve you in this, but there was no choice. You were the only person I could think of when I was looking for a safe place for Daniel.”

Anne turned around to face him. “Why me, James?”

“You were my best friend outside the Guild,” he whispered, gazing steadily into her eyes. “You had nothing to do with anything supernatural. My son would be safe with you. I never could have given him a proper home. I was constantly on the run.”

Anne opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but then shut it again. Perhaps it was time for James to explain to her how much their friendship had meant to him. “If I hadn’t been a watcher …” Although he was afraid how she might react, he continued bluntly, “… I would have asked you to marry me.”

Anne didn’t reply.

James hoped that he hadn’t been foolishly hasty in revealing his feelings to her. She looked at him, trembling, her blue eyes filling with tears. James didn’t know what to do. He wanted badly to kiss her. His pulse was thundering in his temples, making his head ache. He hadn’t been so close to a woman since Kitana, and he wasn’t used to it anymore. But he missed this intimacy. He missed Kitana, love, and everything that went along with it. He had been alone for far too long.

After an eternity, she asked quietly, “What do you mean?”

James cleared his throat. “Your letters meant so much to me, but they were a constant reminder of what I couldn’t have. I was so jealous of Peter. The whole time I was in Cairo, all I wanted was to take the next plane back here to steal you away. I missed you so much.”

A smile flitted across Anne’s lips. “Oh, James, you can’t imagine how much I was in love with you.”

His heart skipped a beat. “Really?” he whispered, pulling her closer to him. It felt so wonderful to be with her. He still loved her. Was it possible to love two women? He had given his heart to Kitana, but a part of it had always remained with Anne.

“Really,” she whispered back. Her mouth was so close to his …

“I wanted so badly to tell you everything back then, but I couldn’t. I’m no longer in the Guild, but I’m a member of an underground watcher organization.”

Her mouth came closer. Even though James wanted nothing more than to kiss Anne that instant, he knew he had to clarify matters between them. “There’s more that you should know,” he said, his voice raw. How much could she bear? “I don’t know if you can stand to hear it.”

“Tell me everything, James. I don’t want there to be any more secrets between us.”

He sighed, relived. He didn’t want that, either.

“You’re going to hate me.”

She gently stroked his cheek. “I could never hate you. You gave me the greatest gift I’ve ever received: a child.”

“I …” He took a deep breath and mustered all his courage. “I’m so sorry that I ruined your marriage.”

Anne’s forehead creased as she frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Peter knew everything.” The truth was finally out. It felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He wouldn’t have to lie to Anne anymore. Never again.

Anne stiffened. “Peter knew about Daniel? That he’s part demon?”

James nodded. He hoped that she wouldn’t throw him out of the house. “Peter had to swear an oath. He and Dr. Graham are the only ones in on it. Otherwise, it never would have worked: Daniel’s illness, the adoption … Our organization has a great deal of power, money, and influence. We have to protect ourselves. Peter did everything we asked of him, but the secret was a great burden for him. Dr. Graham, who’s a watcher, thought it would be better to inform him — in case Daniel had a relapse and needed my blood again.” James didn’t know whether he should tell Anne what Peter had confided to him — that he and Anne had never really been a good match. Now that Anne knew the truth, perhaps she should talk things over with Peter.

Tears were shimmering in her eyes. Anne looked tremendously hurt, but said nothing.

James loosened his hold on her and shut his eyes. “I could give you a thousand reasons why I couldn’t say anything to you, but I know that it wouldn’t help you right now.” He sighed quietly and let her go, but she continued holding on to him. “If you want, I’ll go. But I’m going to bring Daniel back from Hell — I won’t allow you to be left all alone. I’ll do anything, even at the cost of my own life. I just wanted you to know the whole truth.”

Anne’s fingers were clutching the collar of his shirt. Her hands were shaking, and so was her voice. “We’re not going to give up on Daniel. He’s our child.”

When she said the word “our,” something deep within James sparked to life.

“We’ll get through this together, and then we can talk about us.”

“Okay,” James replied. He was relieved by Anne’s reaction, and even more relieved when she snuggled up to him and kissed him. “Please, hold me,” she said softly. “Just hold me tight.”

James did as she asked. He never wanted to let her go.

They were sitting across from each other in the restaurant, two steaming hamburgers on the plates before them, when Mike asked her, “Who are you visiting here in Little Peak?”

“Um, just a friend,” Marla said quickly, focusing her attention on the food. “This looks great!” It really did. Generally speaking, demons hungered after the souls from which they drew their energy — but Marla was different; she had to eat. From the very start, the Council had forbidden her to feed on souls. It would have made her stronger, and the high lords didn’t want that to happen. That was her punishment — enforced by Obron — for her mother’s treachery.

It wasn’t fair!

This just increased her hatred for James Carpenter. He alone was responsible for her misery. When he was out of the picture, she would be free; she would finally be able to live like a real demon. She’d hunt for souls until she had corrupted the last human on earth, so that no mortal would ever again interfere with her world.

The little bit of energy she needed to live was given to her in secret by the Oracle. Metistakles sucked Marla’s energy reserve completely dry when he had his way with her. Otherwise, she found herself something to eat in the upper world — another secret no one could be allowed to discover. Demonic magic like the creation of a portal required a great deal of energy, so Marla was justifiably hungry.

She shuddered. She didn’t want to think about Metistakles right now. That would only attract his attention to her — and also to Mike. Luckily, Metistakles rarely focused on anything except his own interests.

Mike looked at her expectantly. “The double cheeseburger is the best. Try it before it gets cold, or don’t you like hamburgers?”

“Of course I do,” she said, holding her breath. Mike had taken a big bite, and there was a bit of sauce on the corner of his mouth that Marla would have liked to lick off.

“I almost didn’t recognize you at the fountain earlier.” Mike took a sip of his diet soda. “You looked so different as a punk, but just as cute.” Mike’s blue eyes sparkled, and Marla melted.
Damn it, damn it, damn it! Damn humans, damn my weakness!

When his knee touched hers under the table, Marla almost jumped up; it felt like an electric shock has passed through her. She quickly grabbed her burger and bit into it. She had selected a veggie burger — not because of its contents, but because the name sounded funny to her. Her teeth cut through the soft bun, then reached the patty made from grain, mushrooms, and nuts that lay between a slice of cheese and a piece of lettuce. The lettuce crunched in her teeth, and juice flowed out of the plump bite of veggie patty in her mouth. Marla shut her eyes in pleasure and sighed, then hastily chewed and swallowed. She had never tasted anything so delicious.

She heard Mike laugh. “I wasn’t exaggerating, was I?”

“Delicious,” she murmured, taking another bite.

“You eat that like you haven’t had a bite to eat in ages.”

How right he was … However, Marla was afraid he might start asking her questions, and wondered what normal humans would be talking about in this kind of situation.

“Do your parents live in Little Peak, too?” she asked. Marla really was interested in Mike’s life. She knew about his taste in music and how he had furnished his apartment, but he hadn’t yet said anything about his family. Marla didn’t remember seeing any photos of them in his apartment.

“No, my parents don’t live here,” Mike answered her, “and I’m happy that there’s several hundred miles between us.”

Marla looked up. “Don’t you get along with them?”

He shrugged his shoulders and muttered, “I never met their expectations; I could never do anything right in their eyes.” But his eyes started to shine when he talked about his job. “It’s so great to have a fulfilling job. I really like working in the bank.” He looked at Marla, grinning. “If the subject doesn’t bore you, I’ll tell you all about loans, stocks, and savings accounts.”