Demons in My Driveway (9 page)

If this all went wrong, I had to hope that an otherwise ordinary guy with the ability to snatch souls out of people’s chests could handle the powerful creatures I’d invited into my home.

No sooner did I have our visiting monster royalty settled than Maurice came out of the pantry, arms filled with extra plates I recognized as coming from Sara’s house. Maurice had taken to treating Sara’s kitchen—twenty miles away—as an extension to mine, since he was able to travel from my closets to hers in an instant.

Maurice hummed while he worked to set the table, oblivious to the four sets of eyes watching him from the living room. Riley cleared his throat, and Maurice looked up.

His eyes widened. “Oh. Hello.” He set the plates down. “I’ll make more coffee.”

I felt the nervous energy wafting off of him as much as I read it from his jerky movements. I’d have warned him if I could have, but nobody ever warned me before crazy dropped in my lap. In fact, that sort of thing tended to happen most days around here, so the sun coming up was probably warning enough.

Which reminded me. Mom had been at the window when we went outside, but she’d disappeared before we came back in. I shook my head.

She wondered how I’d managed to stay alive for so long.

I wondered how she ever managed to get anything accomplished.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Do either of you know what the point of all this is? Why go to the trouble of opening portals? Why switch from demon to vampire?”

Dino relaxed into the couch cushions and stretched his arms across the back of the sofa. His shirt gaped open farther. “I’d say the why at the bottom of everything is that someone wants you dead.”

“You and the rest of the Aegises.” Talia crossed her legs. “Someone wants to break the Covenant. I thought we’d established that.”

I frowned. “Yes, but why? And why go to such an elaborate scheme to do it?”

Dino chuckled. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve outlasted a number of other elaborate schemes, and so have the few Aegises who are left. The only ones remaining are either extremely tough or extremely lucky.”

“So, what do we do? Assume an aswang is coming out of there at nightfall, magically hypnotized into tearing out my throat?”

“I told you, the aswangs of my world are simple, and they’re all confined in one village.” Dino’s demeanor hardened, and his voice was stern.

I leaned forward. “I’m sure Talia would have told you what happened with her aswangs was impossible too.”

He glanced at her and she confirmed with a short nod. “Plus,” she said, “there’s the additional question of how in the Balorian hells somebody managed to open our portals in the first place.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, thinking hard. “I don’t understand why they stopped opening demon portals and switched to vampires. When you mentioned the werewolf people, you made it sound like they were next. Like there was some strange order to all this. But it seems totally random to me.”

Talia shook her head. “No. Not random at all.” She pointed one taloned finger toward the ceiling and made a large circle with her arms. “This is my world. It’s the outer ring. My world is the easiest to access, which is why I have so many rules. The demon world is the barrier between the human world and the others.”

“Except the djinn, of course,” Papa Dino said. “Their world is separate.”

“Sort of off to the side.” She rotated her finger. “When portals are opened too many times, too close together in my world, it stops spinning and locks into place. When my world is open, it’s possible for someone to access the next world in.”

Papa rolled up the pressed sleeves of his dress shirt. “That’s my world. And if someone continues to open up mine, the vampire world will lock in place and we’ll likely see the world spinning on the other side of mine open up.”

“The werefolk,” Riley said. “They’re next in line?”

Talia dropped her hands in her lap. “Yes. My world protects the rest, but Papa’s is the second line of defense, and someone’s already broken into it.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t really want to know this, but zombies come next after werewolves, don’t they.”

Papa Dino’s expression looked sad. “I’m afraid so, doll. Ultimately, all the other worlds are in place to keep the zombies and the humans apart.”

Maurice came in with a tray of coffee and homemade chocolate-almond biscotti. “I’m sorry to interrupt.” He poured coffee into each cup. “Has anyone thought to check with the other rulers? If only a ruler or a fully charged djinn can open a portal, maybe someone should contact the djinn world.”

“I like how you think, my friend.” Dino stirred four spoons of sugar into his cup. “Unfortunately, Talia and I are the only ones friendly with each other.” He winked at her and she ignored him. “The others sort of keep to themselves, if you know what I mean. We can give it a whirl, but no promises.”

Talia sipped her black, unsweetened coffee. “You’re right. If the plan—whatever that is—fails with the vampires, they’re likely to move on to the lycans. Maybe we can get ahead of the game and get word through. I can only try.”

I hesitated, afraid to ask my next question. “What about...the zombies? Shouldn’t you warn their king, or whatever?”

The vampire and the demon shifted in their seats and avoided eye contact with me. “If we can’t stop this before they come to the zombies, it’s over.”

Riley had been dunking his biscotti in his coffee. He set it down on the saucer without taking a bite. “What do you mean it’s over?”

Talia’s foot tapped on the carpet. “As far as anyone knows, there is no ruler for the zombie world. They mill around in there with no purpose, mindless and empty. If a portal to their world opens, they’ll follow the scent of humanity into this world.”

I steadied my shaking hand and set down my cup. “Then what happens?”

Talia’s jaw clenched. “The human world will be completely destroyed.”

Chapter Nine

A person might think the queen of demons and the father of vampires would be light on the chitchat. That person would be wrong. After hitting us with the dire warning of impending doom for all humanity, Talia seemed unconcerned. In fact, she and Papa Dino were more interested in playing catch-up with each other than with the task at hand.

Their lack of concern and further info was killing me.

Papa waved an elegant hand in the air as he told her about a recent altercation between his second-in-command and a warthog. “And that’s why we no longer keep jelly donuts in the break room at the knitting factory.”

Talia threw her head back and they laughed together, as if it were the funniest story ever.

I found the idea of a warthog wandering into a knitting factory run by vampires who eat jelly donuts to be absolutely absurd, and the fact that the vampire world’s deputy happened to be there was highly suspect.

Once the laughter tapered off, I cleared my throat and tried to steer things back to current events. “So, let me ask you something. Can either of you tell me what exactly is in the Covenant? I’ve been told different things that don’t appear to mesh with each other. The Hidden governments say a breakdown of
their
system will break the Covenant. But they also say that it breaks if all the Aegises are dead.”

Talia scratched an eyebrow with the talon of her pinky. “Well, that’s hard to say.”

Papa Dino nodded. “The Covenant was written a long time ago. Nobody alive today was there.” He scratched his chin in thought. “In fact, I’d guess the Covenant didn’t have a thing to do with your Hidden government, considering they’re only about four hundred years old and the Covenant was forged when the first Hidden was born.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense.” I wasn’t sure whether to be furious at how egotistical the Board and its foreign counterparts were or sad that they all seemed to believe their own lies. “Why would the government think they had anything to do with a document that predates them?”

Talia smiled and bit into a cookie. “Why indeed? Seems to me, it’s easier for a government to control people if they’re afraid of their fate without it.” She snickered and waved her biscotti at Papa Dino. “Just like the time I sent you that delivery of marzipan tarot demons. Remember?”

Papa Dino choked on a sip of coffee. Riley patted the vampire on the back until the coughing turned to chuckles. “You were a naughty one when we were younger, Talia. It took me three days to reorganize the night watch after you did that. And nobody could find matching shoes for weeks.”

I stared at the two of them, wondering if they’d lost their minds. Not a damn thing they said made sense, though, admittedly, I was getting it all out of context. Which also made them rude as hell.

I took a deep breath. One more try at getting them back on task before I gave up entirely. “So, you’re saying you don’t really know what’s in the Covenant either, but it has nothing to do with the Hidden governments?”

Talia turned her head, a smile still on her face, and looked at me as if she’d forgotten I was sitting there. “Yes, that’s what we’re saying. I do believe, however, that it has plenty to do with
you.
Or rather, all the Aegises. When the last Aegis dies, the Covenant is broken. That part isn’t made up.”

“As far as we know.” Papa brushed a crumb from his suit. “It’s not like we were there.”

I sighed. “As far as you know. Great. Do you know of anyone who
was
there?”

Talia shrugged one elegant shoulder. “Maybe the First Hidden. But she’s a rumor. I for one think she’s got to be dead by now.”

Papa nodded. “I agree. Long gone.”

They each sipped their coffee, unconcerned with offering further information. I forced myself to smile and be polite, despite wanting to grab the two and bang their heads together. “Could you tell me about the First Hidden?”

Talia cocked her head to the side. “Nobody really knows. Some say the First was a great dragon made of stone and fire. My mother used to say it was a giant tortoise the size of a house.”

Papa stared at the demon queen as if she’d lost her mind. “I don’t know where people get such crazy notions. The First Hidden was an enormous bird.” He smiled, flashing pointed teeth. “A bird so big your tortoise wouldn’t stand a chance.”

* * *

That was the last of the useful—if cryptic—information I got out of the two of them. When the coffee and biscotti were gone, the queen of the demons and the father of vampires went home through their portals with a promise to return if they had any new information.

They’d been practically useless.

Mom, it turned out, had grabbed Sara to keep her away from Talia and bolted out the back door to make sure Andrew and Daniel didn’t wander into the middle of things. I had to admit, that was smart thinking. If things had gone wrong and Riley and I smelled too good to keep the vampire docile, I would have wanted everyone else safe.

Maybe I walked myself into constant danger, but I’d preferred not to risk my friends.

The portals hadn’t been closed for long when the O.G.R.E. squad showed up. Lionel sported a brand new, equally handsome face since our last encounter. The skin seemed to fit better than the last one had. Even though the Board helped him legally acquire his skins, he weirded me out so bad I had to force myself to shake his hand when he offered it. Dude had been shopping for a new face at the morgue. So gross.

“I’m sorry you came out for nothing.” I fought the urge to rub my palm against the leg of my jeans. “The portals are gone now. There’s nothing for you to guard.”

“If it’s all the same to you, ma’am, I’d just as soon stay. Obviously, someone is trying to kill you, and you’re the only Aegis we’ve got.” He lifted his sunglasses to the top of his head and stared at me with serious, green eyes. “Leprechaun scams and domestic disputes can wait. My team needs to remain here. The more protection you have, the better.”

I would have preferred he not stick around, but I had to admit he was right. Another portal could open at any moment, loosing a hungry aswang with my face in his head or spilling out a bajillion mindless zombies hungry for humans. Either way, I had some awesome people on my side, but they weren’t enough. We needed professional watch dogs.

Because, you know, I didn’t already have enough people in and around my house.

Unfortunately, two of the people I most wanted to spend time with were the only ones who had to leave to get back to their own lives. Since I couldn’t go to the office anymore, I didn’t see either of them nearly enough. I was used to dropping in on Andrew nearly every day when I worked around the corner from his shop. Dropping in was now a forty-five-minute drive.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” Andrew put his arm around my shoulder as I walked them to their car.

I sighed. “Right as rain. I guess. The house is as safe as anyplace can be. We’re following up on that cult, so maybe we can track down who’s behind everything. The folks who were here are definitely a subgroup of the original church. I think it’s pretty obvious they’re being used to control the aswangs, if not the portals. I just wish we could figure out who’s controlling the cult and why so we could stop him.”

He stopped and spun me to face him, his freckled face serious. “Let people take care of you, okay? Don’t run off half-assed trying to save the world. This time, the danger is after you.”

I made a sour face. “Yes, sir.”

He gave my shoulders a small shake. “Seriously, Zo. This time you have to take a back seat for the saving. You’re not the heroine of this piece, you’re the damsel in distress.”

I rolled my eyes. “Been awhile since I was that. I don’t think I like it.”

He chuckled. “None of us do. But we’ve all taken a turn or two at it lately.”

He wasn’t kidding. The Leprechaun Mafia had strolled into town last year and nearly killed him when he’d refused to pay their protection money.

Daniel returned from putting Milo and Howard in the car. “He’s an adorable damsel in distress, though, isn’t he?”

I grinned. “Cute as a button.”

Andrew released his grip on me, and Daniel took his hand, lacing their fingers together. The way they looked at each other warmed my heart. Not everything had fallen apart around here. Some romances were working out fine.

They hugged me then got in the car. Andrew rolled down the window with a pensive expression. “Zo, it occurs to me that the bad guys know where you live. If this stops being a safe place for any reason, we have room for you at our place. And your mom.”

I cringed inside at the idea of sharing a room with Mom. “I’ll remember that,” I said.

I stepped back over the line to the safety of the fairy ring while I watched them drive off. They both stuck their arms out their windows and waved as they disappeared around the corner.

“He’s right.”

I startled and turned to find Riley standing behind me. “Right about which part?”

“You’re the damsel in distress this time. I know it’s killing you.” He spoke in a soft voice, as if I were a deer he was afraid of startling.

“Not entirely correct. Mom’s a target too. Plus the handful of other Aegises around the world. It’s not just me in danger.”

He scratched his ear. “True, but only in the sense that, if you die, a lot more could die. Save the Aegis, save the world.”

I didn’t answer at first. I listened to the wind blowing in the trees, the grass rustling, and far off, probably behind the house, laughter. “Riley, what if all the Aegises die and the Covenant is broken? If we don’t know what the real consequences of losing are, how can we know what we’re fighting for?”

Riley dropped his gaze, and his voice was so low, I almost didn’t catch what he said. “I’m fighting for you. Your life is the only thing I care about.” His fists clenched and unclenched by his side as he tried to compose himself. He met my gaze and cleared his throat, his voice louder. “Mailman’s here. I’ll go take care of it.”

My heart ached while I watched him walk down the driveway to grab the mail and exchange a few words with Rick. Neither of us had wanted to break up. But neither of us had been entirely happy together.

“Save the Aegis, save the world,” I said under my breath. “Then maybe the Aegis can have her life back and make some better choices.”

* * *

That night, my sleep was broken and fitful. As I lay in the dark staring at the ceiling, I decided the “toss” part of “toss and turn” referred to the chucking movement of throwing the covers to the side because they were too heavy on my legs. They kept me from flipping over with enough momentum to emphasize my disgust at still being awake. Unfortunately, as soon as the heater kicked off, my body objected to the lack of covers and I woke from a light doze, shivering.

I was insomnia’s bitch.

When I did drift off, my dreams were filled with vampires—both the sexy and the pus-faced terrifying kind. I had no idea where those images came from, but I jerked awake, sweating and panting from chasing the creature while carrying a plate of spaghetti that, for some odd reason, I had to keep from sliding off the plate and hitting the floor or I would die.

I sat up and took a few sips of water from the glass on my nightstand. My stomach gurgled, and I wondered if there was any leftover spaghetti from dinner. After a moment of serious consideration, I fell back asleep, still sitting.

This dream was different. I couldn’t see anything. Either I was blind or there was no light. Murmurs came from the darkness—a soft voice whispering to me, but I couldn’t make out the words. Wind whooshed over me, as if a thousand birds had taken off in flight. The whooshing receded, and one word echoed in the velvet dark:
Curator
.

My eyelids flew open, and I fumbled to click on the light. Bleary-eyed, I scanned the room. I appeared to be alone, though a person could never tell in my house. “Maurice?” I waited for the closet to drift open, but it remained shut. Bending at the waist, I hung over the bed to peer underneath. “Stacy?”

A pair of large eyes blinked at me in the darkness. The monster under my bed yawned. “Hey, Zoey.”

“How long have you been there?” My hair pooled on the floor and blood rushed to my upside down head.

“Not long.” She yawned again. “I haven’t slept much lately. I always sleep better here. You were already out cold when I showed up a little while ago, and I went right to sleep for once.” She flipped to her back and slid the top half of her into the room so I could sit up. “Is everything okay?”

I pulled myself to an upright position and rubbed my neck. “Just a weird dream. I thought someone was whispering to me. And there was the sound of birdwings.”

Stacy climbed on the bed and her eyebrows rose. “What kind of bird?”

I shrugged. “It was dark. No idea.”

“Was it a big bird? I mean, a really big bird? Kind of rainbow colored?”

I scrubbed my face with the palms of my hands. “I told you, it was too dark to see anything.” I dropped my arms and my hand brushed something laying on the other side of the bed. Stacy let out an odd squeak. Her eyes were wide and focused on the object next to me.

The feather was the length of my leg, and it sparkled with iridescent colors. I ran my finger down the hard quill, then traced the colors that followed the rainbow from brilliant crimson at its base all the way through to the violet at its tip. It was lovely but completely off-putting, since it was in my bed with no explanation.

I cradled it, appreciating the softness of the downy edges. “Do you know of a bird that would have feathers like this?”

“No.” Stacy swallowed. “But it must be pretty powerful to send you a feather through your dreams.”

I pinched the quill between my fingers, careful not to crush it, and strode from my bedroom into the hallway.

Mom stood in front of her door, a baffled expression on her face. An identical feather trailed from her hand. I stopped walking and held mine up.

“Curator,” Mom said. Her face paled when I nodded.

“What does it mean?” I took a few steps toward her, and we compared feathers. Definitely the same bird.