Hear No (Hidden Evil, #1) Page 23

  “Yeah,” Nathan replied. He could still almost feel her body in his arms, smell her scent. “I can’t detach this time. I need to find her.”

  “Something tells me Amira can help. She let me in on one of her secrets, but I know she’s got more. You ever get that feeling?”

  Nathan snorted, gaze going to the trees whipping by his window.

  “Nathan, did you tell Troy that the host is your OTL?” Amira asked from the back seat.

  “Your what?” Troy asked, slamming on the brakes a little too fast as they reached the bottom of the hill.

  “Dammit, Amira,” Nathan muttered. “I was hoping no one picked up on that.” He twisted to look at Amira.

  She smiled.

  “You have a predestined OTL?” Troy shook his head.

  “Why the fuck is that so hard to believe?” Nathan snapped.

  “For one, you’re the most Scorpio-ist Scorpio I’ve ever met. Two, you’re an asshole and a whore. Three … really? No offense, Nate, but who in the universe would you be able to put up with long term? You never commit to any girl.”

  “Obviously no one. I killed her, didn’t I?”

  Troy’s shock turned to consideration. “Then again, the problem is you, not the girls you date. If you somehow changed, I could maybe see it. I always hated the term OTL. It’s definitely an angel thing.”

  “And you’re my best friend?” Nathan rubbed his face hard, not caring if he smeared blood everywhere. “I can’t think not knowing if she’s alive or not.”

  “She’s alive.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “Zyra is pissed.”

  “Troy, we have to tell Nathan about the archdemon,” Amira chimed in. Unable to hear them talk, she was spilling secrets right and left, without knowing how stressed out Nathan already was. “Do you have any sparkles, Nathan?”

  He shook his head at her then addressed Troy.

  “I can’t believe that. I can almost believe a fallen guardian now, but an archdemon? They were just myths. I can even believe Zyra shot me after professing her love for me yesterday.”

  “There isn’t a woman out there who wouldn’t fuck you or shoot you if she could,” Troy replied. “We couldn’t figure out why Shadowman was connected to … what’s your girl’s name?”

  “Kaylee.”

  “We couldn’t figure out why he was attached to her. Shadowman is too smart for a normal demon.”

  “I noticed that,” Nathan said. “He’s strong and getting stronger fast. Or was getting stronger, before …” He shook his head, frustrated trying to focus with the memory of Kaylee dying in his arms saturating his senses. “Okay. I believe it. He’s sentient. He can’t be a normal demon.”

  “Exactly. We heard rumors they existed and now we know they do. So what kind of human would be a compatible host for an archdemon to attach itself to?”

  “Someone of equal standing?” Nathan thought for a moment. “Only an archangel incarnated.” His heart dropped. “I swear to god, I’m going to kill Pedro. He sets me up with an archangel, knowing I can hardly stand most angels? Seriously?”

  “Well, there’s never been one before. If anything, I’d say it’s a good thing.”

  “If I didn’t sense that, then she must be in generation ten million or something. There’s no way I wouldn’t notice a first gen archangel.” Nathan never thought his situation could get any worse. After three thousand years of thinking he’d seen it all, Pedro threw him for a loop he never expected.

  “I wouldn’t put it past Pedro to have helped disguise her.”

  “We need chicken nuggets, Troy,” Amira said, sounding distraught.

  “I’m thinking a bottle of whiskey instead,” Nathan muttered, facing the girl.

  Amira was gazing out the window. Something was clenched in her hand.

  When he turned, she met his gaze.

  “Who has the host?” she asked.

  “Satanists,” he answered.

  Her eyes widened a moment before the first gen angel burst into tears.

  “What the hell?” Troy glanced back. “I see the red rock in her hand. So they can’t find the portal to Hell.”

  “That’s how they do it?” Nathan’s gaze rested on her closed fist. “Amira.” He tapped her leg.

  She refused to look at him, instead twisting to bury her face in the back of the seat.

  “What am I missing?” Nathan demanded of Troy. “Are nuggets that important?”

  “Like I said. She’s hiding something, and I think whatever it is, she’s about to crack and tell us what.”

  “Because something went horribly wrong,” Nathan guessed. “I can’t stand it when they cry.”

  Amira’s sobs were heart wrenching, like only a truly innocent soul could procure. Distressed enough with his own mess, he couldn’t handle her crying her heart out.

  He unfastened his safety belt and crawled in back with her. Amira wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her close. Her slender body shook with emotion. He didn’t try to talk to her, needing a hug himself, but rested his head back against the seat and held her.

  His energy flowed into her, calming her some. Troy went through the drive-thru of McDonald’s for her nuggets, and she settled down even more. Clinging to him, Amira took the bag Troy passed back to her.

  “I have an OTL, too, Nathan,” she said. “Nugget?”

  He took one, more because he didn’t know what to do with his anxious energy than because he was actually hungry. He wanted to ask about her soul agreement but knew she couldn’t read his lips in the dark of the cab. Instead, he did what he often did and closed his eyes, syncing himself with the energy from the Other Side that constantly flowed around him. It connected him to Amira in a way few guides could do, and he was able to read who her OTL was.

  He smiled then laughed.

  Sensing his energy intertwined with hers, Amira giggled.

  “What?” Troy asked. “What’re you doing, Nate?”

  “Nothing.” Nathan released the energy and popped the nugget in his mouth. “You think you’ll ever settle down, Troy?”

  “God help me, no. Haven’t given up on quitting and ending up dead in a ditch.”

  “Someone’s gotta take care of Amira.”

  Troy was quiet, and Nathan sensed that some part of Troy liked Amira enough to stick around instead of trying to get himself killed.

  It would have to be enough for now. Troy would take some work. The only rule Nathan followed was preventing a first gen and a spirit guide from getting together.

  But this wasn’t a normal first gen, and Troy needed someone who could help him see the good in life again. Sweet, gentle and smart, Amira was the person Pedro chose to give Troy life and hope again.

  So what did it mean that Pedro assigned him an incarnated archangel? Was it a reward?

  Or a sign that life was about to go to shit?

  “That son of a bitch,” Nathan growled. “You think it’s because of my rating?”

  “I don’t think Pedro gives a shit about ratings. I think that’s something the guides started that Pedro adopted to try to be more like a human boss. I’d say you probably earned being saddled with an archangel. I mean, you’re … you. The strongest guide in history. Maybe ever. Why not give you a challenge only you can handle?”

  “Yeah, true. I am the best. Normally, that’s enough. It’s no consolation now, though.”

  Troy snorted. He pulled into his driveway and parked out front.

  Nathan untangled himself from Amira, who had wolfed down her nuggets and started to doze, comforted by his heat. She woke and climbed out of one side of the truck while he got out on his side.

  Troy led them into the house and the kitchen, where he set down another McDonald’s bag.

  Amira reached for it, face tight and features pale.

  He crossed his arms and glared down at her. She clutched the bag in her hand but held his gaze.

  “Talk,” he ordered.

  Her shoulder
s sagged, and tears filled her eyes. “The host has the stones. She can find the others. So can the Satanists that have her. I ruined everything!” She turned to leave.

  Troy caught her arm and perched on the counter, pulling her back to his large frame.

  Nathan leaned against the doorway and watched, darkly amused to know his unsuspecting best friend was dealing with the woman destined to be his OTL.

  “I know about the red stone. You’re saying there are more?” Troy asked.

  Amira nodded.

  “How many?”

  She hesitated, and Troy absently wiped the tears from her face with the back of an index finger then drew her closer to his body.

  Nathan smiled.

  “Four,” she said in a voice so faint and tight, Nathan barely heard it.

  Troy smoothed her hair from her face and tilted her chin up, so she didn’t lose focus.

  “What do they do?” he asked.

  “They locate … the others.” Her voice trembled.

  Nathan moved closer, sensing she was about to tell him what Pedro wouldn’t.

  “Three of us hold keys to open portals to Hell, where different demons will come out.” She dug into her pocket to pull out the red stone. “But it’s not just this. It’s us, too. We were chosen, and I think we’re meant to prevent the demons from coming, but I don’t know how. The stones tell me where the others are. They were dormant until a couple of months ago, and then they started to communicate with me. I didn’t understand why, until the fourth one came alive. It’s … Shadowman’s. And his host’s. They share a stone. The stones were warning me. Scott helped me figure it out but that woman killed him.”

  “What woman?” Troy asked.

  “The one Maggy was arguing with.”

  Nathan’s senses sharpened. “Zyra?” His mind began to race even more at the revelation. “She killed Scott and Mike, chased down Kaylee to try to steal her body, probably shot me, blew up an office building and killed a fellow spirit guide to try to get to Amira. Anyone else thinking she’s the bitch of the year?”

  Amira took a few deep breaths before continuing.

  “Only those connected to the stones can read them. I took them to her, because there are two I can’t understand but she could and I thought if she knew who Shadowman was trying hurt, she could protect them. I didn’t think … I didn’t know …” she began crying again and leaned into Troy.

  His arms went around her, and he pulled her into his body, his gaze on Nathan.

  “So we’re missing your woman and four stones,” Troy summarized. “Thank god they’re all together. Unfortunately, they’re also in the worst place possible.”

  Nathan nodded, his instincts wiggling. Amira’s words filled in many of the missing pieces, but there was still something … off.

  “Was Zyra after the stones or Kaylee?” he mused aloud, unable to connect the dots between what Zyra was claiming to do and who she was targeting.

  “How would she even know of the stones? If only four people can read the stones, and Pedro ain’t sharing any information on what’s going on, how did she find out?”

  “I don’t know,” Nathan said, pacing. “Her role in this doesn’t make sense, but she seems to be the only one who knows what’s going on. I don’t know how.”

  Troy rubbed Amira’s back, thoughtful. “We need an inside guy.”

  “We need to find Kaylee.” Nathan’s gut sank.

  “Like I said, inside guy. Zyra’s gonna make Kaylee and anyone else she wants disappear. We won’t know what’s going to happen until it’s too late.” By Troy’s look, he had already nominated Nathan for the job.

  “Yeah. She was pissed after losing Kaylee. If she’s off guard, now is the time to plant someone,” Nathan agreed softly. Fury started through him, but he suppressed it. The only way to get to his OTL was to ostensibly betray her and return to Zyra. It infuriated him, but it was a small price to pay, if it saved Kaylee.

  If. He had no idea if she was alive.

  “I always do whatever it takes,” he added. Why does this feel so different? The idea of siding with Zyra angered him, but not as much as the thought of losing Kaylee permanently. “I’ll let Mags know.”

  Nathan turned away to leave the kitchen.

  “Wait!” Amira cried. She pulled away from Troy. “I have to tell you something else.” She drew a deep breath. “The portals will let the archdemons free.”

  Nathan nodded.

  Amira looked from him to Troy, as if waiting for one of them to speak.

  “Archdemons,” she repeated.

  “Myths,” Troy said what Nathan was thinking. “So they’re stronger demons. Big deal.”

  “You don’t understand,” she replied. “There are only four. Death, War, Pestilence, Famine. Shadowman will become Death when he is strong enough, and I think Kaylee is supposed to help me stop him from bringing back the others.”

  “Holy shit!” Nathan exclaimed more surprised to realize this wasn’t the first time he’d heard this. The conversation with Pedro flickered through his mind, where he’d asked Pedro what came through the portal, if opened.

  Death.

  The tricky bastard had revealed a secret in mid-conversation, only Nathan had missed it.

  Troy went pale, staring at her, while Nathan’s mind raced.

  Amira shrank back from both of them, looking between the two. Nathan crossed to them and stood beside Troy.

  “That’s what you’ve been hiding?” he demanded.

  She nodded.

  “It’s just the end of the world, Nate. No big deal,” Troy said.

  “You’ve known all along?”

  Another nod. “It’s been a secret since Creation. I couldn’t tell … maybe I shouldn’t tell you now. I don’t know what else to do.”

  She’s a first gen in over her head. Nathan repeated this to himself over and over until his control began to return. He had the urge to run, kill, scream … he didn’t even know. The pain of losing Kaylee was only amplified by the emotional mess Amira’s words created. He didn’t like the feeling of not being in control, of not being able to fix something and being emotionally compromised.

  Troy had moved away and was pacing, gripping his head.

  Of the two of them, Nathan knew he’d recover first.

  Amira’s eyes were wide. She looked scared.

  “Okay.” Nathan blew out a deep breath. “We can handle this.”

  “Are you fucking nuts?” Troy snarled. “Where the fuck are my knives? Nathan, just stab me. Get this over with.”

  “I’m not going to stab you,” Nathan said impatiently. “Go outside and get some air. We need to talk this out.”

  Troy obeyed wordlessly. He slammed the back door open and marched out.

  Amira’s gaze followed him.

  “Amira.” Nathan took her arm. “Any more secrets?”

  “N…no.”

  “You sure? That last one was pretty serious.”

  She shook her head.

  “You need a hug?”

  She slid her arms around him in response, a reminder that she was still an innocent, lost first gen, even if she’d just blown his mind with her secrets.

  Nathan’s shock wore off, and he began to understand why Zyra was after the stones. Somehow, she had to know about the four archdemons of the Apocalypse. He didn’t know how, but if she uncovered that much, she probably had some insight into where to look next for Kaylee or one of the other two girls like Amira.

  I never should’ve killed Kaylee.

  He didn’t like the guilt that made him regret a choice he’d made. How long had he been able to keep the wall between him and the world in place?

  And now it was crumbling, like Kaylee had in his arms.

  Amira calmed, and Nathan released her. Troy returned from the backyard, closing the door with more control than he showed going out.

  “So. I guess this all is going to prevent me from trying to kill myself again,” Troy said. “Are you thinking what
I am, Nate? That Zyra knows this somehow?”

  “Yeah. No idea what her intentions are, though. She’s done too much for me to feel comfortable saying she’s on our side.”

  “Agreed. If you go into the lion’s lair, I’ll help Amira protect the whereabouts of the next archdemon waiting to get out. We’ll work on tracking down the other two girls, too. Maybe if we all work as a team, we can figure out how to beat Shadowman at his own game ahead of Zyra.”

  “Sorry, Troy,” Nathan said drily. “Maybe you’ll find something worth living for again.”

  Troy glanced at Amira then away quickly, as if he, too, sensed where his life was headed. He was hard to read, though, and Nathan was too mentally wired to try.

  “I’ve gotta call Mags. We’ll need all the help we can get,” Nathan said reluctantly. “Then find Zyra.”

  He left the kitchen, jonesing for a cigar and a bottle of whiskey to calm his thoughts and body. The day started with a plan to kill the woman he was falling for and ended with the discovery that they had to save the world.

  He stepped out the front door, loving how the chilly fall night turned his attention from his thoughts to the shiver running down his body.

  “Could be worse,” he told himself, reaching for his cell phone. “I could be in love with a woman who happens to be the harbinger of doom, foretelling the end of the world.”

  He froze, hearing his own words.

  “I’m in love with her. Why the fuck couldn’t I say it when it mattered?”

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Kaylee awoke groggily, feeling as if someone heavy was lying over top of her. Her body was slow to respond, her mind not even registering what her senses were trying to tell her. Had she ever awoken feeling so sluggish?

  A strange warbling came from beside her, and she turned her head with effort, trying to make out the black blob she assumed was a person. Deliberately she grew aware of the world outside her mind: grey walls that reminded her of a basement, a bed too hard to be comfortable, the scent of a hospital mixed with … burnt toast?

  Her stomach roared to life at the thought of bread, though it felt a little unsettled and her head was starting to pulse.