Damned and Desperate (9 page)

I woke from a nap, stretching my arms to the headboard as I let out a satisfied sigh. Then I had to fend off steamy dog breath licks before I could sit up. Jack jumped from the bed and barked at the balcony door. He was obviously ready to leave my old bedroom. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to dealing with Mar, and I certainly wasn’t ready to get into it with Aedan about Boner. Hopefully, Boner had changed his mind.

I noticed the box of cookies had been shredded, bits and pieces of cardboard strewn all over the floor, but not a crumb in sight. Hmmm. Now I knew why Jack was so eager to go out. He probably had a monster cookie bomb ready to explode.

Luckily, my headache had subsided to a dull throb. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was something I could manage. Maybe a strong cup of coffee would chase it away. Jack bounded out the door as soon as I cracked it open, his tail wagging constantly as he raced for the stairs. I trudged behind him at a much slower pace, feeling as if I was marching toward my own funeral. Odd analogy, considering I was already dead.

After Jack left several recycled cookie droppings all over the back yard, and I secretly hoped Mar would step in one of them, we went back inside. I was relieved to find only Cam in the common room. Jack made himself at home on Cam’s lap, soaking in as many pets as he could get. My heart slammed against my chest when I saw the way they were looking into each other’s eyes, almost as if they were silently communicating.

I moved toward them, feeling as if I was walking on a cloud as this weird tingly feeling raced through my extremities. “Do you know him?”

Cam scratched behind Jack’s ears as he continued to stare into his eyes. “He’s a guardian to be sure.”

Omigod. This could be the moment I learn the identity of my dog.

But did I really want to know? Did I want to associate a human spirit with my canine companion? Because once I figured him out, then what? Would he go back to being human? Would I lose my best friend forever? I was a selfish bitch for wanting to keep Jack as my dog, but I couldn’t help it. I’d missed Jack for so many years. I wasn’t ready to give him up yet. I needed him, and yet I knew I’d have to find out his identity eventually. If Jack was meant to be human, he deserved to be free.

“But do you know who he is?” I asked with a shaky voice and held my breath, awaiting his response.

“No.” He frowned before patting Jack on the head. “I’m afraid I don’t.”

I sighed, though my relief was short-lived. Someone had to know who Jack was. “Well, how do I find out?”

Cam shrugged. “Start by asking relatives.”

Uncle Mikey and Grandma would have mentioned something if they’d known him. Then I thought about Mar. Even though I was loathe to accept it, she was a relative, too. Maybe she knew who Jack was. But the thought of asking Mar to do me any sort of favor, other than to go fuck herself, left a sour taste in my mouth.

“Do you know how long he’s going to stay my dog?” My voice sounded small, even to my ears. I searched his eyes and crossed my fingers as I awaited his response.

His wings fluttered open as he flapped to his feet. He pulled a beeping cell phone out of his pocket and frowned at it. It was weird seeing cell phones in Purgatory. We seemed to have nothing but hand-me-down technology from 1995, as in big, clunky computers and ancient corded telephones.

“There’s no telling with guardians.” He trailed off. “Excuse me,” he said and walked out of the room.

No telling? So he could be my dog one day and my long lost uncle the next? I hated this uncertainty. Well, one thing I did know. I was going to make each day with him count. Jack slapped the sofa cushions with his tail as he barked at me, not an angry bark but the kind that was mixed with a whine because he wanted more scratches. When I sat on the sofa, Jack rolled over and let me scratch his tummy. His leg started to twitch as soon as I found that magic spot running down the side of his back, and he laid there with his lips pulled back in a quirky grin. I loved him so much.

When I heard a commotion coming from the hall, I assumed Cam had returned. All moisture in my mouth went south when Aedan walked into the room with a pained look in his eyes. “Hey, we need to talk.”

Oh, great. He already found out about Boner. I stiffened my spine as I prepared for verbal war.

I warily eyed him as he fell into an oversized chair beside me. He dropped his head, groaning into his hands.

“What is it?” I asked. This wasn’t like Aedan at all. If he was angry with me, he’d be in my face, foaming at the mouth and steam shooting out of his ears.

He looked at me through hazy eyes. “They took my badge and my scythe.”

I moved to the edge of my seat, searching his eyes as my heart began to pound out a wild rhythm in my ears. Was Aedan saying what I thought he was saying? “Who took what?”

“I violated protocol when I let Sarge borrow my spare scythe. They fired me.” His lower lip trembled ever so slightly, and his childlike eyes melted my heart.

Oh, no! They can’t do this! Aedan loves being a Grim.

My hand flew to my chest as I struggled to keep my composure. “Can’t you appeal their decision?”

His expression hardened, and I could tell it was taking all his willpower not to break down. “Nope.”

Jack jumped down from the sofa and nuzzled Aedan before resting his snout on his knee. He stared up at Aedan with sad puppy dog eyes before licking his elbow and thigh.

“Thanks, buddy.” Aedan’s voice cracked as he patted Jack’s head.

I reached for Aedan’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”

His eyes darkened. “I’ve got to get that scythe back or pay a fine.”

“A fine? How much.”

He shrugged, flashing a sour grin. “Basically every credit I have.”

I squeezed his hand tight. “We’ll get the scythe back when we get Sarge.”

He shook off my grip as he slowly stood. “There’s no telling if he still has it.”

I jumped to my feet. “Well, I’ll just give you half my credits.”

His jaw dropped. “You won’t get into the Penthouse if you do that.”

“I don’t care.” My voice broke like shattered glass and I wiped the moisture from my eyes. “I’d rather be on level six with you than the Penthouse without you.”

Aedan stepped around my dog and pulled me against him. Those stupid tears of mine flowed harder, especially when he kissed the top of my head and told me he loved me. Didn’t those Grim Reapers care he’d battled a demon army and prevented an apocalypse? He should have been given a promotion, and instead he’d gotten the boot. And here I’d thought life was unfair. Death was far crueler.

“Don’t cry, sweetheart.” Aedan rocked me in his arms. “We’ll get through this.”

But how when he hadn’t been without his scythe in a hundred years? Aedan had told me he’d been a Grim since shortly after he died. I pulled back, looking into his eyes which were definitely wet. It was the closest I’d ever seen him come to crying. “Isn’t there some other weapon you can bring?”

A sheepish grin tugged the corners of his dimpled mouth as he pulled something out of his backpack. “Already got something. What do you think?”

I froze, and I got this feeling that all time had stood still as I stared at the thing Aedan had in his grip.

Could it be? No fucking way!

“Where did you get that?” I pointed at the rusty hammer with the long handle as a shiver stole up my spine. There was still crusted blood on the blunt end of the weapon.

“At a consignment shop downtown.” His grin nearly split his face in two. “It used to be stuck in some guy’s head.”

I stepped back, swallowing the bile that projected into my throat. “You don’t say?”

“Come on.” He grabbed my elbow, motioning toward the door. “We need to get going.”

“Wait.” I pulled out of his grip, searching his eyes with urgency. “You can’t go down there with just a hammer. I don’t think it will be effective.” How was he going to chop off demon heads and shoot fire bolts with a hammer? Besides, didn’t he need the scythe to summon the elevator back up to Purgatory?

Aedan’s brow furrowed. “What do you suggest?”

“Here.”

I spun around as Cam fluttered back into the room. He pulled the golden star emblem off his neck, dropping it into Aedan’s hand.

Aedan frowned. “I can’t take this.”

Cam’s eyes narrowed as he closed Aedan’s fingers around the star and pushed his hand away. “You can and you will.”

Aedan clutched the necklace to his heart before slipping it over his head. “Thank you.”

I looked at Aedan as the star glistened against his chest. “What is it?”

“It’s a wishing star,” he said with a gleam in his eyes. “This is going to make our trip a whole lot easier.”

I perked up at that. “Can we wish for anything?”

Aedan looked down at the necklace, tracing the shiny gold points. “I think so.”

Oh, this was awesome. Why hadn’t God given us one of these in the first place? “Then why don’t we use it to wish Sarge and Callum back?”

Cam chuckled. “It doesn’t grant those kind of wishes.”

“Of course not.” I threw up my hands. I should have known nothing in the afterlife was ever easy. “What
can
it do?”

“It brings aid to the wearer by transforming objects.” Cam pointed to Aedan’s hammer. “It will make your hammer a sword.”

Hmmm. That might work. I sure would have loved a wishing star when I was dying of thirst in Hell’s sweltering heat. “If Aedan’s hungry, he can turn the hammer into cheesecake?”

Cam and Aedan shared a condescending look. The kind of look one guy gives another when he rips a loud fart or watches his favorite player make a touchdown. The kind of look that wanted me to take Aedan’s hammer and shove it up both their asses.

“I think wishing for a weapon will be a lot more useful where we’re going,” Aedan said with a smug smile.

“Well, duh.” I planted my hands on my hips, channeling my inner-demon as I shot each of them a look that was hotter than the flaming pit. “I knew that. Forgive me for thinking gorging on cheesecake sounded more appealing than chopping off some demon’s head.”

Cam’s long golden hair swept across his shoulders as he bowed. “I apologize if I’ve offended you, Ashley.”

Aedan laced his fingers through mine and squeezed. The heartfelt look in his eyes said he was sorry, too. Awww. I squeezed Aedan’s hand back and leaned into him. I wasn’t offended anymore. I guessed getting my ass kissed by two hot guys made it all better.

I looked up at the gleaming star around Aedan’s neck. “King Og has this same necklace.”

“It was given to him by another member of The Council,” Cam explained.

“Whoa.” My jaw practically hit the floor. “So the pyramid and the delicious food was provided by the star?”

“No.” Cam frowned. “Those things were provided by The Council as well. The star only grants wishes to the wearer.”

Well, that sucked. I was hoping Aedan would be my own personal genie, wishing me up some chocolate and pedicures to make my time down below more bearable.

“This will definitely come in handy.” Aedan beamed. “Thanks, Cam.”

Sure he was happy. He got to make all the wishes.

Cam’s wings hummed, lifting him off the ground. “My pleasure. Just do me a favor and don’t lose it.” Little creases I hadn’t noticed before formed at the corners of his eyes. “A wishing star in the hands of a demon is dangerous indeed.”

Aedan tucked the star into his shirt. “I shall guard it with my soul.”

I did my best not to cringe as I thought about the trials we’d face below. I was certain demons would try to steal the necklace from Aedan. I hoped Cam’s gift wouldn’t turn out to be a curse, and I prayed Aedan had better luck keeping track of the star than he did his scythe.

An ear-piercing scream echoed through the house, rattling the walls and my eardrums. Though I’d never heard Mar scream before, I’d listened to enough of her grating voice to know that was her. Aedan, the valiant hero, had released my hand and was already racing toward the hall, followed by Cam who flew behind him. Guess Mar figured out the ultimate way to get attention: scream like a banshee.

I trudged after the guys, swearing under my breath. I knew it had to be something stupid, like she’d chipped a nail or stepped on a spider. I was met with a mixture of shock, horror, and then amusement when I saw Mar clutching a hand to her heart while shielding her eyes. She’d fallen on the landing while Boner stood at the bottom of the stairs, his long dong slapping his thighs as he shifted from foot to foot.

“What’s going on?” Aedan stormed up to Boner.

Mar peered between her fingers as she pointed at Boner’s swinging snake. “I refuse to go anywhere with this man.”

“Boner?” Aedan’s eyes bulged as he waved erratically at Boner’s flaccid fire-hose. “Where are your clothes?”

Boner threw up his hands in a defensive gesture. “I don’t wear clothes when I ghost. They fall off.”

“It’s indecent and immoral,” Mar cried.

Oh, she was so in for the shock of her eternity once she got to Hell. Indecent and immoral would take on a whole new meaning. Even though I wanted her to come with us about as badly as I wanted a double-dose of period cramps, I was actually looking forward to her reaction when she met up with her first demon.

Aedan’s shoulders bunched up like he was wearing one of Mar’s corsets. “You’re ghosting? I didn’t hear the alarm.”

Boner turned up his chin. “I’m coming with you to save Sarge.”

“Like Hell you are!” Aedan roared.

“But Ash said I could go.” Boner nodded at me.

I backed up a few steps, doing my best to fade into the hideous floral wallpaper. It obviously didn’t work, because Aedan nearly burned holes through my skin with his eye lasers.

He stormed up to me like a bull in heat. “I didn’t agree to this.”

Jack growled beside me. Even though my boyfriend deserved a good ass kicking, I didn’t want Jack to bite him. “Easy, boy,” I whispered.

He answered with an obedient whimper. This was not Jack’s battle. This was mine, and I was determined to put my angry bull boyfriend in his place. I balled my hands into fists and envisioned my ability to conduct lightning channeling through my veins, even though I couldn’t summon so much as a spark when I was in Purgatory. The energy I felt now was nothing but pure bitch, fueled by annoyance and something else: hurt. I was freaking hurt by Aedan’s treatment of me in front of everyone, especially in front of Mar. When we were alone together, he acted as if his world spun around my axis. When Mar was with us, I could feel her gravity pulling him from me. And what pissed me off even more was Aedan let it happen. He’d let her come between us, just like he agreed to let her follow us to Hell without so much as consulting me first.