Five: Out of the Pit (Five #2) (7 page)

“I
am
tired, exhausted really. But, there’s more to my request than that. I prefer to tell you in a more private setting, though.”

“Let’s go get a couple of hotel rooms, then. It’s getting colder out here.” Joe led us up the street to the Best Western. He paid cash for adjoining rooms. One for him and the boys and the other one for me and Halli. We planned to leave the door between the rooms open, just in case. The thought of sleeping in a bed and taking a real bath nearly overwhelmed me with happiness—until I remembered that, if they agreed to my plan, we wouldn’t be getting much sleep.

We gathered in the boys’ room. Johnathan sat next to me on one of the beds, holding tight to my hand. I was glad I couldn’t see his face when I started to speak. I didn’t want to see the hurt when he realized I’d lied to him earlier.

“The Incubus,
Trey
I guess, contacted me while you all were mini golfing.” Johnathan’s grip tightened on my hand and an angry sound escaped his throat. I winced and continued. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, I didn’t want to discuss this around Mariah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me out in the alley? Mariah wasn’t there, then. No one was there but us.”

I could have handled it better if I’d heard even a trace of accusation in his voice, but all I heard was hurt and concern. That was hard to take. I deserved accusation. I was prepared for it. I wasn’t prepared for the gentleness.

I couldn’t turn back, so I just plowed ahead. “That was right after we… after
he
… after the encounter. My mind was messed up. It wasn’t until later that I realized the advantage I’d gained during this… encounter.”

“What advantage?” Joe asked.

“Well, he showed me, in my mind, where he lives. He’s expecting me to show up there sometime after sunset.”

Johnathan’s grip on my hand tightened even further. The bones of my fingers ground together painfully, but I figured I deserved it, so I left my hand in his. “He’s
expecting
you? What, exactly, are his expectations for this evening, Paige? What plans did you make that you felt you couldn’t tell me… us?”
Ah ha, there’s the anger I was anticipating.

“I didn’t make any plans. He told me to come to his house tonight—”

“For what? What were you going to do at his house? Or, should I say, what
are
you going to do? Is that why you wanted to stay in town tonight?” That was a little more anger than I expected. I couldn’t blame him, though. If the tables had been turned, I would be thinking some seriously murderous thoughts right about now.

“Take it easy, Johnny. Jeez,” Alec said. “Let her finish. Since when are you so quick to jump to conclusions? Paige wouldn’t cheat on you, bro. Relax.” It always surprised me when Alec came to my rescue.

Johnathan released the death grip on my hand and jumped off the bed. I could hear his footfalls as he paced in the small room.

“You know what he wants, John. You know why he wants me to come to his house. Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“Wait,” Halli said. “Didn’t Mariah say he never takes anyone to his house?”

I sighed. I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to get too detailed about this. Hopes are for dashing, however. “He said he wants it to be special for us. He said he can cure my blindness.” I rushed on before I lost my nerve. “He said if I will consent to ‘give him my innocence’ he will give me back my sight. He wants me to see his face while he… does his thing.”

I went too far. Johnathan hammered his fist into what was likely the hotel mirror and glass rained down onto a dresser or bureau of some sort, the sound like hundreds of wind chimes, sharp and chaotic.

ohnathan! Stop.” The bed next to me squeaked as Joe stood. “Go get a towel, you’re dripping blood all over.”

My pulse sped. “Blood? Is he okay?”

“He cut his hand when he smashed the mirror.” Halli’s voice was quiet. “I’ll go check on him.” The bed bounced a little as she jumped off.

No one spoke while Halli tended to Johnathan’s cut hand. When they returned from the bathroom, Joe sat beside me once more, placing his hand on mine. “I guess now’s as good a time as any to start teaching you healing; cuts are fairly easy. Paige, you first.”

I was pretty sure Johnathan didn’t want me to touch him at that moment. “Maybe you should let someone else go first.”

“No.” I was surprised to hear Johnathan’s voice. “I want you to do it, Paige. I’m not mad at you… okay, maybe a little for not telling me earlier. I’m mad at
him
. I can’t wait to get my hands on him. I’ve wondered if I would be able to kill someone, knowing the time would come when I might have to. I don’t wonder anymore.”

I didn’t know what to say. So, I said nothing.

“Both of you come sit at the table,” Joe said.

Johnathan cupped my arm as I stood, then he led me to the table. He pulled out my chair and made sure I was seated before seating himself.

“Paige, take his hand in yours. Your blindness won’t affect this spell; in fact it might help strengthen it as it works best if you close your eyes anyway. The spell isn’t difficult but it does take up more energy than most.

“I want you to choose only one cut—he has several. Choose one and save the rest for Halli, Seth and Alec.”

Johnathan flinched as I felt the cuts on his hand, his fingers twitching in mine. A deep one right across the knuckle below his middle finger dripped blood. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Continue to hold his hand in yours, keep your fingers on the cut. There needs to be physical contact near the area of healing. Concentrate on the injury. Send your will into it. You should be able to feel the wound, feel what’s disconnected. You’re going to transfer some of your power into the cut. The word to use is
sano.
Say it. Concentrate on weaving the layers back together.”

“
Sano.
”

I felt the small amount of power leave me and enter Johnathan’s cut. Both my fingers and the area of his hand I touched flared with heat. I felt, both within my concentration and with my fingers, his wound start to knit back together from the inside out. It felt strange yet exhilarating as the wound closed beneath my touch.

“Let me do the rest of the cuts,” I said excitedly.

“No,” Joe said. “I want the others to try and I don’t want you to use up any more energy. I’m afraid we all need our tanks to be as full as possible tonight.”

I reluctantly let go of his hand and gave my chair up to Halli.

The others, even though the cuts they healed were all smaller than mine, had a harder time with it. They each took twice as long.

“I think maybe Paige has found another strength. I hoped one of you would show an affinity to healing. It’s one of the most important spells you will learn,” Joe said after Seth had healed the last cut.

“What about me?” Johnathan asked. “Shouldn’t I learn it as well?”

“Of course you should. But I’m not going to have someone intentionally injure themselves just so you can learn. You’ll have to wait.”

“Could he try to heal Paige’s arm? Then she could take the cast off,” offered Seth.

Joe was silent for a minute. “That’s actually a good idea, Seth.”

“Don’t sound so surprised. I have good ideas all the time.”

Joe laughed. “Yes, you do. It won’t take too much power to heal now because the healing process has already begun. The brand new break would have been too difficult for your first time. And, Paige having full use of both hands tonight would be a very good thing.”

“Will I be able to heal it through the cast?” Johnathan asked.

“Hmm. Probably not. I didn’t think about that. We’ll have to cut the cast off first, so you’d better get this healing thing right. Bones aren’t as easy as skin. Paige, are you willing to do this?”

I nodded. Getting rid of the bulky cast seemed like a great idea.

Joe and Johnathan cut the cast off with Joe’s super sharp hunting knife. I was really glad I couldn’t see what they were doing, surprised they managed to get it off without slicing my arm open.

It took Johnathan several minutes of concentration before I felt the warmth transfer from his hands to my arm. Once he figured it out, it still took him more than thirty minutes to heal me. There was some discomfort as the bones in my arm and wrist fused back together, but I worked hard not to let it show.

The heat dissipated and Johnathan let go of my arm with a sigh. “Well? How does it feel?”

I tentatively moved my arm up and down. I lifted my hand up and down and twisted it around. No pain. No grinding of bones. “It feels as good as new. Thanks, John.”

“It’s getting late, let’s go get us an Incubus.” Alec sounded like he was getting ready to play football instead of face a deadly half-demon.

“Let’s make a plan first,” Joe said.

I led the way to Trey’s house. I kept flexing my newly healed wrist, amazed at how good it felt to have full mobility. His house was a ways outside of town, up on a hill. It took a good hour to get there; it was after nine o’clock when we stopped just down the street. I waited there while Alec, Seth, and Halli snuck up to the house and hid in the shrubbery near the front door. Johnathan and Joe stayed near me, but out of sight.

I was terrified. More so than I’d ever been. I wasn’t afraid of being hurt—I was afraid I would do something to hurt Johnathan. There was no doubt Trey had had an easy time exerting his power over me with every other encounter, and I had no reason to believe he wouldn’t be able to do so this time.

Johnathan and Joe stayed back where they’d be able to see the front porch and yard, but Trey wouldn’t be able to see them. They hunched behind the rock wall that surrounded the property. They also had camouflage spells on that made them blend in with their surroundings.

“Okay, Paige. Go,” Joe whispered.

I took a deep breath. My entire body shook and my head swam like I might pass out. I navigated my way to the front door more from the image he’d sent me than from my sonar. I tripped on the first step but regained my balance before I fell. The aroma there momentarily stopped me in my tracks. A sweet smell like honeysuckle and fresh clean rain accosted my senses. The aroma had another effect—it made me think of Trey. Of kissing him. Of his body pressed against mine.