Drop Dead Demons Read online

  Voices again.

  Crap, they were coming for me. But from which direction? And how many? Were they armed? Did they plan to kill or kidnap?

  Light and sound caught my attention. On the ground. I breathed easier. It was just Matthias’s phone which had fallen from his hand. I picked it up and held it to my ear.

  “—are you done with your vitally important job? I can’t get ahold of the guys. Did they take care of Aurora? Matthias? Matthias, are you there? What’s—”

  I clicked off and dropped the phone like it was a live grenade. But I’d already been blown to bits. Because I recognized the voice. The sound was deep and rich and most often brought goosebumps to my skin. Especially when it was whispering sweet anythings in my ear.

  It was Ayden. On the phone. Collaborating with my kidnapper.

  An anvil of dread dropped on my chest. Was he in on this? Could I be so utterly wrong about what I thought we were both feeling?

  Fan-freakin’-tastic. I was falling hard, all right. Smack dab into a concrete slab of deception and betrayal. My bones chilled. And it wasn’t the frosty night or the wet fog lacing out of the dark forest to creep around my ankles.

  I looked back at the car from which I’d just escaped.

  Panic renewed in icy streaks down my spine because even without Selena’s car seat strapped in the back, I knew this sleek, black BMW.

  It belonged to Matthias.

  Nice pick, Aurora. You always find the most trustworthy souls. My gut wrenched threatening to discharge the breadsticks and antipasto salad. I leaned forward to put my head between my legs.

  “Nice shot, dove.” The voice came out of nowhere.

  I jerked in surprise and, since I was already leaning over, it cost me my balance. My feet struggled for purchase, but no sale. I tumbled forward. My shoulder hit hard. Last second, I tucked my head. The awkward front-roll had to be painful to watch—goodness knows it was painful to do—then I scrambled to my feet like a newborn foal, all leg and zero grace.

  “I knew we’d make quite the team.” Strong hands picked up the limp Matthias off the ground like he weighed no more than a damp towel, and slung him onto impressive shoulders. “Where should I dispatch this betraying son of a jackal?”

  I stared, stumbled backward. Shock quivered through every cell of my being.

  “No way.” I shook my head, slowly at first then with frantic, staccato jerks. I pinched myself to make sure I was awake — ow — then stood tall and waved my arms like I could erase what was in front of me. “Not happening. No dice. Nuh-uh.”

  Denial and I were old friends.

  And good thing too, because if I were to believe what my eyes were seeing, it meant that my night had just gone from dire to disastrous.

  Chapter Four

  No question this guy was a fairytale-fantasy to look at. Eyes the color of dark jade and a shade of sultry just shy of indecent. Perfectly tanned, with an Adonis physique, his curls gleamed a rich, burnt gold. And to top it all off, luscious lips that offered my heart’s desire.

  “What say you to my heartfelt proposal?” he said.

  Probably what few had ever told him. “No.”

  Weeks ago he’d shown up in an uncomfortably romantic psychic vision where I’d seen enough of his hunka-hunka body to blush, and wish I’d seen more — hey, never said I wasn’t hormonal — and where he tried to suck me into some quid pro quo of giving me everything I wanted for some small favor in return.

  But my visions tracked demons and my vision had tracked him so, ergo—loved when I could use that word—I’d pulled out of the vision as fast as possible.

  Now he was here, dressed like some Indiana Jones wanna-be. Khaki shirt stretched over broad shoulders and tucked into the trim waist of tan cargo pants, a spool of weathered rope hanging off his belt. A battered, brown leather jacket, fedora, and even a leather satchel strapped across his chest. He looked mid-twenties but carried himself with a mature confidence of someone much older.

  Unfortunately, this wasn’t the kind of Prince Charming any seventeen-year-old girl needed. I may be confused by his lack of the usual fangs, claws, and oozing putrefied pustules, but, demon or not, he was trouble in every sense, especially supernatural. Dangerous as a swaying cobra, hypnotizing me just before he lashed out with the fatal strike.

  I wanted to run, but even if I could on jellified legs, he still had Matthias in his grip. Not that I cared.

  My wrists still zip-tied together, I lifted the crowbar with a white-knuckled grip, resting it on my shoulder so he couldn’t see it shake.

  “Go back to wherever you came from.” I fought hard to keep horror from injecting every syllable, but I feared it was a losing battle. “Now.”

  He flashed the most disarming smile. Seriously. I almost dropped the crowbar.

  “You naughty girl.” He wagged a long, slender finger. “Last we met, you ran away before we could conclude our business.”

  “No, I left because I didn’t want to do any business with you. Not then. Not now. Not ever. Go away. I’ve dubbed this a demon-free zone.”

  “Ah, I see the misunderstanding.” Charming nodded and readjusted Matthias’s dead weight — bad choice of words — on his shoulders. “This would have gone eminently better if this fool hadn’t interfered with my plans.”

  “Your plans.” I blinked. “Wait. Who kidnapped me? You?”

  “No. The boy was kidnapping you,” he said amiably, “I’m just here to kill you.”

  “Super.” My lungs iced. “Gosh, I’d love to help you out with that, but the licenses for this year’s Aurora Hunting Season just sold out yesterday. So sorry. Now shoo or I’ll shoo it for you.” Whatever that meant.

  I twirled the crowbar with menace. Or would have if it didn’t nearly fumble from my hands, because I forgot my wrists were still shackled by the stupid zip-ties.

  “Although I can’t blame him.” Charming sighed and looked thoughtful as he purred on in his velvet voice. “You’ve put all the Hex Boys in the precarious position of risking their families to protect you. And this one most of all can’t afford to lose anymore. But I digress.” Charming let Matthias tumble backward off his shoulders. The Aussie hit the ground hard but showed no signs of waking.

  Charming waved a hand around. “I’m aware this all looks bad.”

  “Ya think?” I barked a hearty laugh and swung the crowbar.

  The curved end hooked his leg out from under him, laying him out on his back. Before he could move, I nailed him hard in the gut. Once, twice, three times. I was in a frenzy, sweat dripping, the iron slipping in my hand. I re-gripped. Not easy with manacled wrists, but I managed a fourth blow and—

  “I surrender!” His palms jerked up.

  I considered slamming him again, but he was curled halfway into a fetal position. And shaking.

  He peeked past his upturned arms. “Please, little dove, if you only listen—”

  “Shut up,” I snapped. “Turn over.”

  He obliged. I grabbed the rope from his belt to tie his hands behind him.

  Why didn’t I just run from the guy intent on murdering me? Because stupid Matthias was lying here all useless and helpless. The only credible reason as to why was I protecting my kidnapper was that I wanted to kill him myself. Later. In a slow and painful manner.

  But right now, if my hands would stop shaking, I could at least lasso this lunatic assassin.

  “But I don’t have to kill you,” Charming said, his face kissing the dirt.

  “Lucky me.” I struggled to loop the rope around his wrists, glad he didn’t resist, and noticed that despite his rugged attire, he exuded an enticing scent, something fresh and fragrant and full of life.

  “Actually, yes. Hear me out. I’m no demon. I am a former Mandatum hunter. Gone rogue.” He chuckled. “Call me Rose. And as much as I hate the society I do still love humanity and would rather not help demons kill the Divinicus Nex.”

  I froze. Glanced at Matthias. He was still out. Good. But my hear
t kept up its merciless pounding.

  “Yes, Aurora. I know who you are, but I will let you live and keep your secret. All I need is a little help from you to ascertain a mutually beneficial bargain.” As I yanked a final knot in place, he flinched and grimaced over his shoulder. “Ow! That’s a little tight.”

  “It’s supposed to be.” I stood and backed off, wiping my arm across my forehead, confident the restraint would hold. For now.

  Rose rolled onto his back and sat up. “As leverage against me, the demons put my sister in hell. When I kill you, I get her back. Win for me, lose for you.”

  My foot to his chest pushed him flat back on the ground. “I don’t think you get the concept of mutually beneficial.”

  I wish I could afford pity, but in my experience it was better to find more rope to tie his feet. My gaze swept the parking lot. Most folk around here kept all sorts of junk lying around in the back of their pickup trucks. Chains, cables, even tools. Had to be something I could scavenge.

  “However — and here’s where I need you to stay with me, dove.” Rose flashed dazzling white teeth. “The alternate scenario would be for you to help me get my sister out, after which I lead you to your enemies and assist you in dispatching them. Hence, the previously mentioned, win-win.”

  “What a giver.”

  “You have no idea.” He gave me an inviting look. “But I’d love to show you.”

  “Riiight. Let’s book that for the weekend between never and not in your lifetime.” Maybe I could tie him to a bumper.

  He continued in a smooth, confident rumble, “Rest assured I have high hopes for our relationship, and it is my sincerest desire that you choose the latter scenario because otherwise you put me in an awkward situation.” He shrugged. “Nonetheless, family first. You understand.”

  I more than understood. Which meant I needed to ditch this psycho quickly.

  “Oh my God!” came a woman’s voice.

  I whirled.

  A middle-aged couple wearing matching flannel shirts stood a few cars away. Keys jangled as they slid out of the woman’s hand. The man threw a protective arm across her and they both stared horrified at Rose beaten and bound.

  A few steps more would offer them a delightful view of my other victim, as utterly unconscious as he was unhelpful.

  I shoved the crowbar behind my back. “Uh. This isn’t what it looks like.”

  “Of course it is.” Rose smiled so bright he practically brought on the dawn. “So we like it rough. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Flannel choked. So did I.

  “What?!” My cheeks burned to the point I was sure my skin would blister.

  “But fear not. We have a safe word. So if you wouldn’t mind moving along.” Rose winked. “I still have a fantasy I’d like her to fulfill.”

  I cringed and regripped the crowbar, ready to conk him out despite the audience.

  Mr. Flannel’s look changed from horrified to sly. He glanced at his wife. “Oh, it’s like those books you enjoy.”

  Mrs. Flannel hissed, “I told you not to tell anyone,” then she gave us an embarrassed smile. “I don’t know what he’s talking about. Goodnight.” She picked up her keys and dragged Mr. Flannel off.

  I slapped my hands over my face and tried to massage away the sting of humiliation. “I can’t believe that worked.”

  Rose shrugged. “People tend to believe whatever I say.”

  “And that’s what you went with? My reputation is shaky as it is.”

  I watched the couple duck into the restaurant and scanned the lot to ensure we didn’t have any more surprise visitors on the way. Clear so far, but how long would that last?

  “I’m trying to help, but we’ve run out of time.” Deep sadness rippled through his words.

  “Yes, we have.” I motioned toward Matthias’s car. “Get in the trunk.”

  A temporary solution, sure, but at least it got him out of my immediate hair. Who knows what tricks or powers he had up his sleeve? I started to shiver, watching my breath huff out into the cold night air in shaky spurts.

  I was about to go from kidnapped to kidnapper. Better not put that on the college applications.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” Rose said, but got up and strolled toward the BMW. With an apologetic look, he fell gracefully into the trunk. “You’ll regret not accepting my help in,” he smiled, “three, two…”

  Then the trunk magically closed on its own, and I was about to make a sarcastic comment when—

  The ground shuddered behind me and cracks crunched into the pavement. Before I turned I knew what it was — my Divinicus Nex senses were tingling. And by tingling, I meant trembling with terror.

  Demon.

  Chapter Five

  The hellion hunched in a low squat. It was a hulking gorilla covered in cracked obsidian glowing from within because of the lava coursing just underneath the surface. Like a walking magma flow from an overactive volcano. Each breath exhaled embers.

  I looked at my crowbar and still zip-tied wrists. Looked at Matthias’s unmoving form. Looked at the eight foot tall hellifed flaming ape.

  “Rose!” I dropped the crowbar and slammed my hands on the trunk. The Mandatum hunter gone-rogue didn’t emerge, so I fumbled keys from Matthias’s pocket and popped the trunk.

  Empty. Not good. Very bad actually. My head swiveled. No sign of Rose, but the volcano demon had climbed onto a silver SUV several rows away.

  “Matthias!”

  I turned to my only dim light of hope and kicked his side like I was trying to make a fifty-yard field goal. The amber light in the parking lot couldn’t hide the paleness of his skin.

  “Wake up now and you can torture me later,” I said.

  Nothing. Well, if that didn’t get a rise out of him…

  The demon pounded his chest. Flecks of lava showered down.

  I hunched over, and with muscles strained to the breaking point, dragged the Aussie toward the snowplow. I hunkered us both behind the blade of curved steel attached to the front of bright yellow truck, then used the sharp edge of the front bumper to saw the zip-tie binding my wrists.

  Metal crunched. The demon landed on the roof of an SUV parked on the other side of Matthias’s car.

  I jerked. My hands slipped and the bumper’s metal edge sliced shallow cuts into my arms. The demon gripped the edge of the car, fingers melting through the metal as it lowered its head to search below. For me. It roared in frustration. I sped up my frantic sawing.

  A shadow and heat ghosted over me from above. The snow plow shuddered and shrieked as the demon crunched onto its roof. The windows exploded under the weight. Glass sliced down.

  When the demon spotted me, a blast of hot, sulfur stinking air blew back my hair as the creature’s roar broke the sound barrier. Its fists slammed the roof with a squeal of metal. Lava splattered and pooled. The demon hopped up and down, swung its arms from side to side, knuckles dragging sparks along the metal, and made several low-pitched snorts that sprayed an impressive amount of lava snot.

  I wasn’t nearly as thrilled to see it as it was to see me.

  The zip-tie broke with a sharp snap. My hands flew apart. Freedom.

  Blood oozed from small scrapes on my wrists. I ran out and grabbed the crowbar, then staggered away from the snowplow, hoping to keep its attention off Matthias. The demon huffed a few times, shook its head with fury. Crusty bits of black rock flew off. It closed its eyes and leaned back to pound its chest again, grunting and snorting and generally going all jungle-fever, making a big show of force and giving every impression it was about to attack.

  So consumed with his big, bad display of gorilla power it didn’t see me reel back my pitching arm, and hurl the crowbar, spiraling the rod of metal through the air. Just like a spear.

  Hey, two could play the jungle-fever game.

  I’d shown a natural propensity for throwing sharp objects and this time was no exception. The crowbar rocketed through space and buried dead-nut
s into the center of the demon’s belly. As if popping an enormous zit, liquid spurted and boiling magma poured from the wound.

  Nice.

  I nodded and gave myself a mental pat on the back, wishing there was someone around to appreciate my greatness and—

  Aw, crap.

  In seconds, the metal crowbar simply turned red hot, curled around itself, and melted, disappearing into the glowing guts of the gorilla, becoming a harmless part of the churning hot mass. A layer of hardened rock shored up any sign of the wound. The demon wasn’t so much injured as just royally ticked off.

  He raked a hand up his belly, gathering up a clump of himself, and threw what took me way too long to realize was a sizzling fireball of molten lava.

  Headed right for my chest.

  I spun backwards and leapt into the bed of the navy blue pickup truck behind me. A violent shudder rocked the vehicle as the lava ball hit the side. A thundering boom followed. The truck jumped then listed to one side, as hot lava melted and popped one of its tires.

  I stayed low until Flaming Kong belted out a repeat of his blow-drying battle cry and flung another orb of lava. Illuminated against the backdrop of the night sky, it sailed a smooth arc directly at my hiding place. I shoved aside a bag of aluminum cans and latched a solid grip onto the handle of a snow shovel. I stood and swung, putting my whole back into it.

  I’m sure it would’ve been a homerun, but hard to prove because instead of hitting it out of the park, the lava ball splattered into fiery orange bits, the intense heat warping the shovel’s metal blade.

  The demon kept throwing fast balls, and I kept swacking them until the shovel curled and warped into something resembling a twisted piece of abstract modern art.

  And became utterly useless.

  I leapt from the truck, scrambled across the tops of two sedans, slipped on their polished surfaces wet from the mist, fell, scrambled to my feet, leapt onto an SUV, stumbled to my knees, slid over its hood. When another lava ball whistled behind me, I lurched up, grabbed the hook hanging off the tow truck’s tow bar, and swung Tarzan style — seemed appropriate — over a VW bug, and when I was clear, let go, and sailed through the air.