UnGuarded (10 page)

9

I’D BEEN PASSED OUT EXACTLY thirty minutes,
with just a little disorienting memory loss. Luke was across the
basement while I lay on his sofa, waiting for my dizziness to wear
off so we could leave. He kept a watchful eye on me as he paced
back and forth. He’d already expressed doubt (and a little concern)
at least five times. He was working on the sixth, saying, “I know
you’re holding out. What is it? What’s wrong with you?”

“For the last time, there’s nothing wrong.
We just need to plan on me passing out for thirty minutes when we
get to Charon. I’ll mask both of our auras now, and when I come to,
I’ll lift the mask off of mine.”

Luke stared at me a moment and then
submitted. “Fine. If you say so.”

I sat up, thankful the dizziness was gone.
“Come here.”

Without seeing any movement at all, Luke was
sitting next to me. Startled, I half laughed as I brushed my hands
against my jeans.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Cole used to sneak up on me like that.”

Luke smiled, a glimpse of fang showing. “Our
speed is one of the perks to this, for sure.”

“Hopefully it will be a
perk
to our
little plan. Vampires have always been faster and better skilled at
fighting, compared to demons.”

“Touché.”

I leaned closer, holding my hands open,
palms facing his face. Then I started moving them very slowly
around his body.

“Will this hurt?” Luke asked.

A vampire asking me if something hurt? I’d
heard it all now. “No, you won’t feel a thing.”

It only took a minute to finish masking him
and another minute to do myself. I scooped up his hand and asked,
“You ready?”

He hesitated a moment, then replied, “Ready
as I’ll ever be. Since I’ve never
orbed
before, can you just
tell me a little bit what it’s like before we go?”

Interesting. Luke really was nervous about
this. Cole had seemed more excited, but maybe it was because we had
something more positive to look forward to, like being in each
other’s arms without the threat of getting caught—or so we had
thought—only Raphael hadn’t been the one to catch us. Oh, how
different things would be if he had. Cole would’ve been returned to
Earth and I would’ve been reprimanded and sent back to my charge.
Then I’d never have had a reason to leave Caitlyn unguarded and
she’d be awake and happy, carrying on with school, her friends…and
Jack.

“Angel,” Luke said. “Is there a reason
you’re not answering me? Is there something I should know before we
orb
?”

“Sorry, um, no. There’s nothing you need to
know. Your skin may tingle a little while we travel, but we’ll be
there in a few seconds so you may not even get a chance to feel
anything. You’re already accustomed to moving fast anyway.”

That answer seemed to comfort him. Luke’s
grip tightened. “All right. Let’s get this over with then. Shall
we?”

I smiled, closed my eyes, and concentrated
on Charon.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a
deserted, war-infested-looking terrain. Some strange, and yet
slightly familiar man, was next to me, holding my hand. Startled, I
shook him off, stepping back one slow step at a time. “Wh-wh-who
are you? What’s going on?” I frantically looked around as fear
prickled up my back. There were mountains off in the distance,
rippling black water separating them from me. My feet were partly
covered by ashy-looking sand—or maybe it was just ashes. I peered
over at the man—no wait, not a man. I closed my eyes momentarily,
breathing in his essence. My eyes flared open. “You’re a vampire!”
It wasn’t a question.

He gaped at me, eyebrows raised. “You’ve got
to be kidding me. It’s Luke. I’m Luke.”

He approached but I backed up. “Don’t come
any closer!”

“Angel, what are you doing? This isn’t
funny!” His hands hung at his sides, balling into fists.

“Don’t even think about fighting me!” I
warned.

Luke the vampire glared. “I wouldn’t dream
of it, Angel, but you’re really starting to piss me off!”

I took a few more backward steps and closed
my eyes. A tingling heat spread over me.

“What are you doing?” the vampire
shouted.

“I’m getting out of here.”

In a blur of movement he was gripping my
arm, shaking me. “Angel! You cannot leave! We have a deal to make
with a demon before that! Quit acting like you don’t know why we’re
here! More importantly, quit acting like you’re gonna leave
me
here!”

“Let go of me!” I yanked my arm, but the
vampire’s grip didn’t loosen the slightest. “Release me now!”

Luke let go and looked me up and down. “Wow,
you really had me fooled. I honestly believed you loved that
vampire enough to pull this off. Turns out you just used him to
bring me the same fate.”

“What are you talking about?” I hissed.

Luke ran his hands through his hair. “How
did you project those memories of Cole to me when I glimpsed your
mind?”

Cole. I knew that name. An avalanche of
memories gushed through my mind. I grabbed my head, pressing into
the skin, trying to ease the pressure. It throbbed badly, warping
my vision. I closed my eyes, squeezed them shut, my whole body
trembling as images blurred inside my mind. It was Cole. The man I
love…no, vampire I love. Cole was why I was here in the first
place, with…with…

“Luke,” I breathed. “I remember. I’m so
sorry.” I walked to him and grabbed his hand. It was stiff and
cold.

“What-the-hell-just-happened?” Luke
roared.

Crap. I guess I should have explained what
had been happening to me every single time I orbed somewhere I
wasn’t supposed to go. But I just didn’t want him knowing I had a
weakness—not yet anyway. And though I still wasn’t sure if I could
trust him, as I stared into his anger-filled eyes, I felt guilty
for not mentioning it. “My orbing has been a bit…dysfunctional
lately,” I offered by way of explanation.

His brows furrowed together, his gaze
hardening. “What do you mean by ‘dysfunctional’?”

I shrugged. “Blacking out, a little memory
loss, and sometimes I end up in strange places.”

His fingers tightened around mine. “Don’t
you think you should’ve told me those little details
before
we orbed anywhere? What the hell else aren’t you telling me,
Angel?”

My guilt intensified, making me defensive.
“You didn’t have to come with me this time!”

“Yes I did!” he shot back. Then he let me go
and started pacing in a small circle nearby. He kept running his
hands through his hair while refusing to look at me. Obviously, he
was very upset, but it had been his idea to tag along even though
he wasn’t needed until I struck a deal with Limos. I remembered how
Luke had said he wanted to “scout out” the place and also keep an
eye on me in case anything went wrong, and it made me feel even
worse.

“I’m sorry,” I called out. And I meant
it.

He stopped pacing and locked eyes with me.
His voice came deep and loud: “I’m sure glad I
did
come so I
could learn about your little secret
before
I start a war
with my own damn kind!”

I cowered from his voice, but felt the need
to get back to why we were here. I couldn’t stand the horrible
memories I had of this desolate place, and being here pushed each
one of them to the front of my mind. “Luke, we’re here now. Let’s
just get on with this. Please.” I gave a small smile and started
walking toward him.

Luke’s features darkened with anger, but I
ignored him the best I could, releasing the mask that covered my
aura. “It’s showtime,” I mouthed.

There seemed to be a reply on the tip of his
tongue, but thankfully he refrained and took off in the other
direction. I guess he was exploring the surroundings and finding
the best place for him and the army to take cover when we
returned.

After waiting impatiently a few minutes, an
orange cloud of smoke appeared. Moments later, Limos materialized,
statuesque and tall, with dark, blazing-red eyes looking down at
me. “Selene.” His voice slithered in my ears. “I wondered how long
it would take for you to return, my child.”

I took a small step forward, finding courage
in my desperation to get Cole back. “I’m here to make a deal.”

Limos laughed, deep and guttural. “And what
makes you think you’re in any position to make a deal with me?”

I glared at him. “Because you want me! You’d
be willing to make a deal if
I
were the offering.”

As he tilted his head to one side, Limos’
clawed hand gently rubbed his chin. “You have my attention.”

“I thought so. I’m willing to make a trade,
me for Cole. Release him back to Earth and I will be yours.”

The demon moved closer, leaning down so our
eyes were level. “Why in all the Earths would you do that for a
lowlife vampire?”

I couldn’t stand being this close to Limos.
I wanted to back up, or at least look away. But I knew that if I
did, he wouldn’t believe my offer. So I swallowed down my fear and
spoke in a very calm voice: “I’m willing to give myself for Cole,
because I love him. That is all you need to know. You cannot
comprehend love or anything of its nature, so do not try to
understand why love would make me do this. Just concern yourself
with the fact that if you agree to my terms and take the deal, then
I will be yours.”

Limos reached for my face. My body instantly
lit up—a bright, radiant light. He flinched and threw his arm over
his eyes, retreating several feet. “You are still protected!”

“Yes I am.” I stole a deep breath and
continued. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t give myself to you. Like
I said, you’ll have to agree to my terms.”

“If I can’t control you, then what is the
point of having you?”

I let my light fade as I approached the
cowering demon. “What point is it to have me if I’m not obedient?
I’m offering my obedience to you.”

Limos straightened, his eyes locking onto
mine. “Allow me to touch you and we shall have an agreement.”

I turned away, staring off into the
blackness. Luke was nearby; I could feel his presence on my skin.
My chest tightened as I considered what Limos was requesting. All
angels were protected. When we’re in the presence of danger and the
emotion of fear is released, an automatic shield from
him
surrounds us, causing our lights to shine big and bright. No angel
had ever tried to shut that off. But perhaps no angel had ever had
a reason to even try. In my haste to get Cole back, I never
considered Limos would require this of me. Now I didn’t have time
to think about it, nor did I have other options. There wasn’t
enough time for another plan. Either I find a way to remove my
sense of danger, or this deal would not be made.

I gave a long sigh as I turned to face the
demon. “When can I have Cole back?”

“By the death of three days from now.”

“Where?”

Limos chuckled but it wasn’t pleasant. “We
must meet here, my child. Typhon’s Earth is not within my
perimeters at the moment.”

I put my hand on my hip. “I thought you’d
grown more powerful?” I said it like a question but it sounded more
like an insult.

Limos growled, his eyes glowing a deeper
shade of red. “That is not your concern, nor is it part of this
deal!”

I’d hit a nerve—goody for me. But I’d also
confirmed that Limos was afraid to enter Typhon’s territory, which
meant Limos was even weaker than I’d thought. So whatever minions
he’d have at our little meeting at midnight three days from now
would be more inept than him. Luke’s army shouldn’t have any
problem defeating all of them…including Limos.

I cleared my throat. “You understand,” my
tone crisp, “that if I meet you here to get Cole back, then you
must allow me some time to return him to Earth before I give myself
to you.”

“That is correct.” He rubbed his hands
together, claws scraping against each other. “I will even allow you
extra time for your little amnesia problem.”

I pondered what he said, then replied,
“Okay. After I take Cole to Earth, I will need at least twenty-four
hours before I can attempt to return here.”

His eyes slanted into a glare. “That is far
too long!”

Feeling confident, I inched closer. “Take
it, or leave it! That is my offer.” I closed my eyes and forced
away any fear that might have been lingering inside me. “If you
agree to the terms, you may touch me.”

I squeezed my eyes, concentrating as hard as
I could on Cole. All of this was for him. Even though the words I
said to Limos were truthful, the unsaid reality gave me strength.
Limos would never really have me. I wouldn’t leave Charon without
seeing for myself that Limos was destroyed. Then, and only then,
would I orb Cole and everyone helping me back to Earth.