Soul Conquered (17 page)

Keira

Holy Hell, Lucifer’s managed to
remake Little Miss Perfect. Frankly, I’m a little bit scared of the new Grace.
Maybe with her around, he won’t need me anymore. Either way, he’s going to end
me. Even if I do succeed in killing Josh when he refuses Grace. I know that.
Because Josh will refuse her, thinking he can save her if he stays an Angel or
something. Ugh. He used to just think with his dick. I wish he hadn’t changed
so much.

I am super pissed at him, and I’m dying to know what
happened between him and Noah. But even if I did kill him for trying to kill
Noah, Lucifer would find a reason to end me. Probably in front of Noah, since
he now knows about our feelings having discovered us in bed together after I
supposedly dumped him. He has to know that would be the only reason I disobeyed
him.

The thing is, I don’t want Noah to lose it and do something
stupid like attack Lucifer because he’s trying to save me. I’m certain Lucifer
would win if it came down to it. And I definitely don’t want my own death to be
the catalyst for that. But the only thing I may get a chance to decide is how
and when my ending happens, and what I’m going to do until then.

The dagger weighs heavy in my waistband, but I scurry along,
trying to keep up with the long-legged She-Demon over there. Damn, she’s
pissed. He put her through a whole Hell of a lot, but I don’t think Lucifer
broke her or made her evil. She just came out of the experience a more
confident, more badass, avenging Demon. Good for her.

Grace glamours us a limo ride to LA. We drink two bottles of
champagne and stare out the window at the desert flying by.

“I’m going to need some clothes,” she says several hours in.
I was on the verge of sleep and open one eye blearily.

“Why?” I ask.

“To seduce Josh. I have to look like myself.”

Oh, Grace
. I hope for her sake she gets what she
wants. I settle back into the supple leather and doze off again as she goes
back to brooding. I’m woken when the limo pulls onto Rodeo Drive.

Grace grins and leads the way to a few stores. We get back
to the car with six packages each and go about changing in the back.

I picked out a pair of Ralph Lauren jeans and a diamond-studded
top that hugs my boobs. I also have some Versace sunglasses and a pair of Jimmy
Choos that make me almost as tall as Gracie. I might as well look good when the
end comes.

Grace is wearing a gorgeous ivory dress that flows down to
her knees; it looks like a modern version of a toga. It’s very flirty and girly—perfect
for her. Aside from the Hermes dress, she’s wearing Gucci open-toed heels and
Tiffany earrings.

When the driver opens the door for us at the Beverly Hilton,
we stride out like movie stars, but all I can think is that I’m on a death
march. I’m about to reach out to let Grace know that I’m not going to do it and
she shouldn’t worry, but I stop myself. Why should she believe me? I wouldn’t
blame her, with my history. Maybe there’s even some small Demonic part of me
that hopes she’ll succeed in seducing Josh, and Lucifer will forgive us all.

I follow Grace through the marble hall, the
click
of
our heels echoing in the enormous space. The ceiling is dotted with crystal
chandeliers, and the walls are covered in tall windows that curve toward the
arch of the ceiling and large, ancient-looking tapestries. I stare around at
all the people chatting on cellphones or hurrying to their destinations and
wonder if they even notice all the glitz. Grace heads with the same focused
purpose to the concierge, where she demands the room number for Josh Gaynes.

“What do you mean there’s no one listed under that name?”
she demands, eyes glowing.

“Whoa there, Grace,” I say, trying to rein her in. “He might
not have a room.”

Grace draws a deep breath and pouts. “Okay then. Noah Howard?”

“Room 666.”

Grace glamours a key, and once again we head up to the sixth
floor.

Noah opens the door, looking dazed and exhausted. I leap
into his arms and kiss him.

“Ahem.” Grace shuts the door behind her and waits while I
disentangle myself from Noah.

“Grace?” Noah says in disbelief, eyes wide. “Are you okay? I
heard what happened.”

“You mean you heard our Boss let me be tied up, tortured,
cut, stabbed, burnt, murdered, and then fed to a rare tiger?”

Noah’s eyes grow huge. “What tiger?”

Grace rolls her eyes. “Yeah, well, my killer is dead and
hanging out with Lucifer now. Anyway, I’m here to talk about you.”

Noah backs up as she strides into the room. “I want to
apologize,” she says, and then continues on despite the absolute shock on
Noah’s face. “I should never have forced you to try to fit into the box I had
in my head. You are not like me, nor should you be.” She crosses the room to
Noah, who hasn’t yet recovered from the surprise of her apology.

“Thank you,” he says finally. “That’s very big of you.”

“Well, I’m not done yet, so we’ll see if you still want to
thank me. But since I just murdered a man in cold blood, I suggest you listen.”

Noah’s mouth drops open. He looks to me, and I nod,
confirming it.

“Noah Howard, you are my brother, and I love you no matter
what. You’ve made some tough choices lately, and you have some more to make—”

“I killed Emily, Grace,” Noah blurts. He looks at the floor
while he lets it sink in.

Grace swallows hard, and for a moment I think she’s going to
falter, but she shakes it off and looks Noah in the eye. “Why?”

“I panicked,” he says in a choked voice. I think he may be
fighting tears, and I slip up beside him to squeeze his hand. “It happened so
fast, and I didn’t want to hurt her, but I didn’t know what else to do. She
jumped me, and that Angel was there trying to glamour her to tell the police it
was me and—”

“I’ve heard enough,” Grace says, waving it away and
swallowing back any tears she wants to shed. “Emily was a good person, so I
know she is safe in Heaven, and it doesn’t change anything I want to say. I
don’t care about any prophecy or afterlife or any other shit. I don’t even care
that you’re the Antichrist, though, after meeting a few other potentials, I’m
still not sure I understand why. I just want you to be happy. It’s your
choice
whether to be Lucifer’s protégé. It’s up to you and no one else. But
if
you do want a bit of advice, then here it is: do the world a favor
and kick Lucifer to the curb. Now if you’ll excuse me—that Angel you
mentioned? I have to go seduce him so he can join us as another one of
Lucifer’s slaves.”

Grace grabs hold of Noah and squeezes him tight in a hug.

“Oh,” she says, before he can respond, “and I’d appreciate
it if you and he could get past the fighting I’ve heard about and try to get
along.”

Grace spins on her heel and leaves the room.

Noah squeezes my hand. “Wow,” he says. “Are you okay? What
did Lucifer do to you?”

I let him pull me close and kiss my neck as I debate how to
answer. “I’m okay for now. Are you?”

“Now that you’re back. I won’t let him take you again,
Keira.”

I close my eyes, letting his lips and touch comfort me
despite my inability to believe him as much as I want to. “I can’t stay,” I say
before he can discover the dagger.

“What?” He backs up. “Why?”

“I have another job. But when it’s over, maybe he’ll let
me.” I shrug and smile. I can’t let Noah know that I’m sure Lucifer means to
end me. It will only make things worse. “Meanwhile, you have some media frenzy
to stir up.”

“Keira, you’re acting weird. What’s up?” He stalks toward
me. Damn it, he actually
knows
me.

“Nothing’s up.”

“Oh yeah? Then what’s that?” He tugs up my shirt, revealing
the jeweled cross that makes up the hilt of the deadly dagger.

Shit.

I jump back. “That is none of your business.”

“Keira, we both know I’m not letting you out of my sight
until you tell me.”

“I’ll disappear.”

“I’ll call you right back”

We stare at each other, both frustrated and stubborn.

“Ugh. Fine. It’s a cursed blade. It can kill both Demons and
Angels.”

He stares at the hilt. “Is it safe for you to wear it like
that?” he asks.

“Safer than if someone else had it.”

“Who are you supposed to kill?” he asks, pulling me back
into his arms. I can’t resist. It feels too good.

“Josh. Grace’s Angel. But only if she can’t make him fall.”
I speak into his muscled chest. I can feel it through his suit.

“That’s his name. Josh,” he says softly. “Well, that asshole
deserves it.”

I look up. “No, actually, he doesn’t. What happened with you
guys, anyway?”

Noah snorts. “It’s like I said to Grace. He showed up at the
parade and almost ruined everything. He tried to save the governor. Then he
tried to frame me for the murder. I ended up having to kill poor Emily.”

I suck in my lip. He killed Grace’s best friend in front of
Josh. No wonder they fought.

“It was his fault,” he says, shaking me a little. “Grace
understood.”

“No. It was your fault,” I snap, backing away again. “Grace
didn’t absolve you. She doesn’t have that power. She told you that she loves
you anyway, and I do, too. But you can’t blame others for things that don’t go
your way.”

“You sound pretty judgmental for a Demon,” Noah retorts.

I bristle—he’s hit me where it hurts. I haven’t felt
like much of a Demon lately. “Look, all I know is that I care about you. You
expect me to tell you the truth, right?”

Noah’s eyes narrow with anger—a look I’ve seen far too
often. “I expect you to support me. Right now it sounds like you have very
little faith in me.”

I laugh at the reference. This has nothing to do with faith.
“I’ll see you after your press conference,” I say. I can’t do this. I don’t
want the last thing we say to each other to be in anger.

I blow him a kiss and disappear in a cloud of smoke, hoping
he won’t call me right back. I materialize several floors up and reach for the
handle of the dagger, wondering if I can somehow destroy it, when I realize it
isn’t there. Panic grips me as I search my waistband, but it’s gone.

And so is my only possibility of regaining Lucifer’s trust.

Josh

Mr. Griffith and I descend together
while Shona stays behind to make sure things run smoothly above. We materialize
in a Beverly Hills hotel, but nothing surprises me at this point. Mr. Griffith
and I are dressed in suits.

Mr. Griffith smiles and turns his face to the sun.
“Beautiful.”

Behind him, a couple stands with hands entwined, looking
into each other’s eyes and blushing with happiness. My heart sinks. I miss
simple moments like that with Grace, and a part of me worries that whatever
Lucifer’s put her through will have changed her so much, she’ll no longer want
me—even when Mr. Griffith reclaims her.

“Where to now?” I ask, interrupting Mr. Griffith’s little
moment.

“First we find Grace,” he says, all seriousness again. “Once
we find her, Lucifer will follow. For now he is distracted with his plans.”

I nod. Find Grace. That should be simple for me. She’s under
instruction to come seduce me when I appear on Earth.

“I expect the concierge can help us out.” Mr. Griffith leads
the way. Tons of people are moving around the lobby, murmuring, many with
professional cameras, both still and film. I notice the press passes hanging on
lanyards around their necks, and when I look down, I realize we have them, too.

“Grace Howard’s room, please.” Mr. Griffith smiles at the
girl behind the desk.

“Wait!”

We all turn around to find Keira rushing toward us. I step
forward to intercept her.

“What happened?” I ask immediately. She’s breathing hard,
face pale and hair sticking out in spots like she’s been running. I’ve never
seen her look so human or so worried.

She grabs me and pulls me aside, away from the others. “I’m
glad I found you first. Listen, Grace is going to try and seduce you. You have
to let her.”

“Excuse me? Keira, my sex life is none of your business.”

She rolls her eyes at me, then leans in closer and whispers,
“I mean it, Josh. If you don’t, Lucifer expects me to kill you both.”

I glance back at Mr. Griffith, who waits patiently, hands
folded in front of him, rocking back and forth in his fancy shoes. Didn’t he
hear that? Is he just letting me handle this?

“Just don’t do it,” I say, irritated that she’s in the way.

“I don’t plan on it, but I’m not the problem,” she hisses,
glancing around. Apparently she’s afraid of being overheard.

“Then what is?” I ask, losing patience. I’m so close to
getting Grace back. Once that happens, she can seduce me all she wants.

“Noah. He stole the dagger I was supposed to use. It’s the
one that girl I saved you from made. Remember her?”

“Lucy? The one you killed? Yeah. I remember. Just… Keep an
eye out for Noah and don’t let him do anything stupid. We have a plan, and if
you keep him out of the way, it’ll go that much smoother. Okay?”

Keira closes her eyes and takes a deep breath like she’s
trying to be patient with a toddler. It pisses me off.

“You aren’t hearing me. Noah knows Grace is looking for you,
so he knows you’re coming here. He’s probably going to kill you, Josh. That has
to be why he took the dagger. Just go do your girlfriend, and it’ll be over.”

“Keira, I really don’t have time for this. I have to find
Grace. Where is she?”

“Here’s our room key.” She hands me the card. “Room 668.”

I nod and take the piece of plastic. “Thank you. Now go find
your boyfriend and keep him out of my way. Then he won’t get hurt.”

“Young lady,” Mr. Griffith finally speaks as I look around
for the elevator. “Keira, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. What’s it to you?” she asks, eyeing him suspiciously,
though he hasn’t stopped grinning pleasantly.

“I wish to speak to your master. Please let him know his old
friend, Michael, is here.”

Keira’s eyes open wide. “But—uh, sure.” She looks to
me in question, and I nod, having finally located the elevators.

“I’ll be back. I’m going to get Grace.”

“I’ll wait here,” Mr. Griffith says patiently.

I rush over to an elevator that’s just closing and throw out
a hand to stop it. I hate that there are people inside; they make me stop at
almost every floor. I’ve waited so long already…

Finally, the doors open on the sixth floor, and I take off
down the hall to the left, searching for the right room.

And there it is. Grace is in there, behind this door,
waiting for me.

I slide in the keycard, and the second the tiny light turns
green, I fling the door open.

“Grace?” I call, rushing inside. “Grace!”

“Josh?”

I spin around to find her standing framed in the doorway to
the bedroom. She’s more breathtaking than I remember.

“Thank Heaven you’re here. You’re safe.” I rush forward and
pull her into my arms, spinning her around.

“Josh, what the Hell is happening? You’re so happy.” She
says the last word with wonder as I set her back on her feet and take her face
in my hands. She searches my eyes with her honey-brown ones, and I can’t stand
even the small distance between us for another second. I lean in and press my
mouth to hers.

It’s like Heaven—or what Heaven should be. Her soft
lips parting for me, the way she still smells like vanilla and lavender. We
meld together like two halves of the same body separated for far too long.

I run one hand through her silky hair, and she slides hers
down to my pants.

“Whoa.” I jump back. “Grace?” This isn’t like her.

She twists a strand of hair while I wait for an explanation.
“We don’t have all the time in the world anymore, Josh. I want to be with you
again, and I don’t want to wait anymore. I don’t care where we are or what else
happens.”

“But Mr. Griffith is here. He came down with me so he could
bring you back.” I wait for the good news to sink in.

Grace drops her hair. Her big brown eyes open wide and
shimmer with moisture. “Mr. Griffith is here? Now?” She looks around like he’s
hiding in plain sight.

“He’s down in the lobby, waiting for us. Come on.” I rush
forward, scooping her into my arms, where she clings to me.

“Wait. Please, Josh.”

I set her down and wait. I can’t understand what’s wrong,
but tears spill from her eyes, and I wipe them away with my thumbs.

“I can’t go back. I don’t… I don’t deserve Heaven any more.
When Mr. Griffith finds out what I’ve done, he isn’t going to let me come back,
Josh.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Whatever Lucifer made you do— it
isn’t your fault. I ought to know.”

“He didn’t make me do anything. I just…did it. I don’t
regret it, either, which I think is even worse. At least, it will be in Mr.
Griffith’s eyes. Please. Come with me. We can be happy as long as we’re
together. I know we’ll find a way eventually.” She takes my hand and places it
over her heart.

“Grace, you have to at least talk to him. Whatever it is
you’ve done, it couldn’t possibly be worse than—”

“I killed a man.”

I stop talking and search her face. There has to be some
explanation. It was an accident or something. She blushes and turns away like
she’s embarrassed and doesn’t want me to find something in her expression.

“You sent Keira to help me, and you went to help Noah. I
love you even more for that, Josh. But Lucifer stopped her. He left us both
there without our powers and…and…” She sniffs, trying to find the right words.
“He tortured me for hours, Josh. He did all the things Cam wanted to do, but no
one stopped him.”

My stomach sinks. My heart races. I know it happened, but
hearing it from her—Grace confirming the details that I was too afraid to
imagine—it’s all too much. I only left because Keira promised. How could
I have let this happen? How could I have trusted Grace’s fate to Keira?

“He murdered me. Well, obviously I’m already dead, but he
didn’t know. He killed me and threw my body to the tiger in the hotel’s lobby.
Lucifer said he was going to kill hundreds of women. I couldn’t let that
happen. So I went back afterward and found him planning his next victim. I
killed him.” She looks me in the eyes, and though hers are rimmed in red,
they’re clear and full of hate. “He had to be stopped.”

I back away a few feet and run a hand through my hair. I
don’t know what to do. This isn’t the Grace I’m used to. I let this happen. I
should’ve been there. I should never have left. How can she ever forgive me?

“Josh?” She’s waiting for me to speak. She wants me to tell
her it’s all right. But I can’t because I can’t picture Mr. Griffith
overlooking this. Killing sends you to Hell—that was made more than clear
on our first assignment with Cam. What am I going to do?

“This is my fault,” I say. “Grace, if anyone’s to blame,
it’s me. I should have been there for you, and I let you down.”

“Don’t.” She laughs, but it’s bitter. “Don’t you dare try to
take the blame. You aren’t a superhero, Josh. You can’t come running every time
I’m in trouble. I need to be strong enough to take care of myself. And it
doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. The point is I’m not going to be welcome
back in Heaven, and we both know it.”

She’s trying so hard not to cry, to be strong. I can’t stand
it. I pull her in and kiss her again, this time with all the passion I can
muster. I don’t know how to admit that she’s right, so I try to put it all in
the kiss.

“Am I interrupting something?” Noah asks from the doorway.

I pull Grace back against me, protectively. He’s not getting
anywhere near her with the weapon I know he has.

“You need to leave. Now,” I tell him.

“Josh, don’t be rude.” Grace pulls away from me. “What is
it, Noah?”

“I need to talk to you, Grace. Alone.”

“No fucking way.” I grab Grace again and hold on tight when
she tries to shrug me off. “If you have something to say, you can say it to
both of us.” That maniac might be planning to kill his own sister. He’s the
Antichrist. The One. I’ve seen him commit murder.

“Josh! I don’t know what happened with you two, but no
matter what, I love and trust you
both
.” Grace, grasps my arm, and I
turn toward her. She’s searching my eyes, looking stubborn. I glance over at
Noah.

Noah glares at me, working the muscles in his jaw. Feeling’s
mutual. Grace might trust him, but I don’t.

“The press conference is in fifteen minutes,” Noah says, not
taking his eyes off of me. “I guess it can wait ‘til after.” He tosses
something to Grace, who catches it automatically, then leaves.

“What is it?” I ask, not daring to look away until I’m sure
he’s gone.

“It’s…the shell. From when we were kids. You know what this
means, Josh?” Grace laughs before leaping into my arms. “I was right. He does
love me.”