Inferno (24 page)

Nick shook his head. “Humans. Alan and Tyree. They didn’t recognize me until after they had dropped a bead on me.”

Both of Caleb’s eyebrows shot north. “Are they still alive?”

“Alan is. Not sure about Tyree. I shot at him with Alan’s gun, and he ran off.”

After rising from the chair, Caleb closed the distance between them and grabbed Nick’s jaw in a fierce grip.

“Hey!” he snapped, trying to push him back.

He wouldn’t loosen his hold at all. After a minute, he sighed in relief and let Nick go. “He’s alive.”

Yeah, okay, that was a little creepy.

Nick rubbed at his now sore jaw. “How do you know?”

“You’re still yourself. If you’d killed a human, even by accident, and especially with malice, the Malachai would be in the process of devouring all your humanity.”

Nick gaped. “You’re just now telling me this?”

“It hasn’t been an issue until now. But with your father weak, it wouldn’t take much to convert you over.”

Nick was sickened by the thought. But at least it clarified one thing that had worried him. “So that’s why my blood turned blackish in the fight.…”

Caleb snapped to full attention. “What was that?”

Nick lifted his hand to show him his busted knuckles. “While we were fighting and I wanted to kill Alan, my skin changed and my blood darkened. It was really creepy and gross.”

Caleb cursed under his breath. “We have a
bad
situation here.”

“How so?”

He saw the hesitation in Caleb’s dark eyes. After a minute, he let out a slow, tired breath. “I’m not going to lie to you, Nick. Your father has royally screwed me, and I have no idea why I’m surprised by it.… But you remember when I told you that I’d have my freedom when he dies?”

“Yeah?”

“He’s bound me to his powers.”

Bemused, Nick wondered why Caleb was so upset about that. “I don’t understand.”

Caleb returned to his chair. “When a demon is enslaved, we are tied to our master’s life force. But a Malachai is a different kind of beast. Unlike others, their powers and life force are two separate, living things, so a Malachai can bind a demon to his lifetime or to the life of his powers. When he does the latter—”

Nick sucked his breath in sharply as he caught up to Caleb’s ire.”You will be enslaved to whatever takes over my father’s powers.”

Caleb touched his finger to the tip of his nose in a silent salute to Nick’s correct answer. “And because he has charged me with watching over you these past few years, I know who you are and where you live and sleep.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Nick … Think about it for a second. Go that extra step, past the obvious. If my next master bids me to bring you to him so that he can drain you, too, I will have no choice but to follow his orders and hurt you.… I will never again be free, and so long as I live, I am a
huge
threat to you. Now do you get it?”

He considered Caleb’s predicament a second, then came up with another alternative. “But if I take my father’s powers, I can free you, right?”

Caleb shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way. Because of what Adarian did, I am and will forever be enslaved … unless the creature holding his powers is utterly destroyed.”

“Even if you die first?”

There was no missing the thick bitterness in Caleb’s dark eyes. “You know how Dark-Hunters turn into Shades when they die and live in eternal hell and misery?”

“Yeah?”

Caleb inclined his head. “Bingo. They’re not the only ones.”

Nick groaned in sympathetic pain for him. How awful. “Why would he do that to you? What’d you do?”

“He’s the Malachai, Nick. He’s completely incapable of caring about anyone or anything. I’m his tool and he did this to motivate me to find whatever is weakening him and kill it so that I won’t become their property.…
But
if
you
kill him while he’s weak, I won’t stop you from it.”

He made it sound so easy, but Nick knew better. “Caleb—”

Caleb lifted his hand to cut his argument off. “I know, Nick. It’s a risk for you. But either way, we’re both screwed. You cannot afford for whatever is killing him to get his powers and then come after you. You won’t be able to survive their attack.”

Raking his hands through his hair, Nick tried his best to think of something else, but he couldn’t. More than that, he kept coming back to one simple truth. “I’m not ready to be a Malachai.”

Caleb laid his head down on his folded arms. “We could try to bind your father’s powers as he dies. To lock them down so that they don’t hit you all at once. That way, we could take our time training you and expose you to them individually.”

Nick was highly suspicious. “Can it be done?”

“In theory.”

He let out a high-pitched half laugh. “Theory, Caleb? Are you high? I don’t like that word. What if something goes wrong?”

“What if it goes right?”

“Oh yeah, that’s helpful … thanks, Cay. Throw some optimistic possibility into my face, why don’t you? ’Cause as we both know from much experience, nothing I try
ever
goes wrong.”

“Cut the sarcasm, Gautier.” Caleb sighed. “You’re right. Everything you touch goes nuclear in ways we never foresee.”

Nick nodded in agreement. But in the end, he knew that Caleb was right. If, God forbid, something else took control of Caleb’s slavery, Nick wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

And it wasn’t just that. Caleb was his friend. The demon had bled for him, multiple times. There weren’t many people Nick would put at his back.

Caleb was about it. And he wouldn’t hesitate to trust him. Ever.

“All right, Cay. Let’s say we try this your way. What would we have to do to bind my powers?”

A light of hope shined in Caleb’s dark eyes. “Don’t play with me, Nick. Not about this.”

Nick was aghast. “You know, we are friends. At least that’s how
I
think of
you
. Do you honestly believe I would be able to live with myself if I let someone hurt you after all you’ve done for me? Gee, thanks for the love, Malphas.”

Caleb rose slowly from the chair and moved to stand in front of him. The expression on his face said that he couldn’t even conceive of real friendship. That in his world, it was the most alien concept he knew. “I don’t know what to say to that … I haven’t had a friend since before human time began. At least not one who wouldn’t hesitate to betray me to save their own skin. And with you being a Malachai…”

“I’m not just a Malachai, Caleb. I’m a Gautier first and foremost, and Gautiers take care of their family. Always. And until you give me reason to think otherwise, we are brothers.”

Caleb froze as he heard a word no one had applied to him since the day he’d buried his wife.

Family. In his world, with the exception of Lilliana, family had just meant they were the first to offer you up as a sacrifice for whatever selfish thing they wanted.

And as he stared into Nick’s sincere gaze, he realized that he considered Nick a brother, too. That he would die to protect him. Not because Adarian had ordered it.

Because he finally believed Kody was right.

Nick wasn’t like the others before him. He had a soul and a heart. He cared about other people.

Against all odds and genetics, Nick was decent.

Caleb held his hand up to him. “Brothers in arms?”

“Brothers in arms,” Nick said, taking his hand and shaking on it. “Now, what do we need to do this?”

“Honestly? One hell of a miracle.”

Nick actually laughed at that. “Hey, boy, what are you? Blind?” He tapped at the religious medallion he always wore around his neck. “I’m Catholic. Miracles are our specialty.”

Caleb wished he shared Nick’s optimism about that. But as Nick had pointed out, everything they touched together blew back on them. And while he was grateful Nick was at least willing to try, there was a really good chance that they both could die while trying to bind a Malachai’s powers.

To his knowledge, there had never been a Malachai who was half human. In the past, they had always bred with demons, gods, and other preternatural beings. Creatures who had the strength and the stamina to withstand the weight of a Malachai’s preternatural strength. At least in the beginning.

But in time, one by one, they had all gone insane with it and become the worst sort of monster.

“Nick?” Cherise called from the kitchen. “Your food’s getting cold, baby.”

“Coming, Mom,” Nick said before he turned to face Caleb. “When do we do this?”

“As fast as we can. I don’t know how soon the creature who’s draining Adarian’s power will strike. We have to kill him before they do.”

Nick swallowed at those words, especially after what Ash had told him about killing someone.

And they had been talking about strangers then.…

Would Nick
really
be able to execute his own father? Granted, they weren’t close, but …

It was his dad.

His doubt was swallowed by the memory of what had possessed him when he’d confronted Alan. He’d not only been capable of it, he’d been relishing Alan’s pleas and cries of pain. Something that truly sickened him.

Conceived in violence to do violence
.

Afraid of the destiny he was about to willingly step into, Nick reached up to rub his mother’s St. Nicholas medallion that she’d given him for Confirmation. The saint he’d been named for. While most folks only knew St. Nick as Santa Claus, Nick’s mom had made sure that he well understood why she’d named him for the medieval bishop. The name itself meant
victory of the people
. And St. Nicholas was the designated patron saint and guardian of children, women, innocents, and those who sought justice, and refuge from storms, as well as safe passage home.

May St. Nicholas hold the tiller.

Through the darkest nights and most dangerous of storms, St. Nicholas guide me safely back to the light and security of my family.…

And he would find his way home. There was no way he’d allow his father’s powers to corrupt or change him.

Nick clenched the medallion in his fist.
I will not fail in this.
While he might be a Malachai, he was also a guardian. Somehow, he was going to defy the odds that condemned him. And he would save the lives of those he loved.

He would.

Demonic laughter filled his head.
Believe your lies, Malachai. But I will feast on your heart and use your powers to slaughter the very things you’re trying to protect, starting with your mother.

You don’t stand a chance.…

CHAPTER 14

“You ready for this?”

Nick jumped at the sound of Ash’s voice in his room. He’d expected Caleb to be waiting for him after dinner. Instead, it was the Atlantean. “Jeez, you scared the crap out of me! What are you doing here?”

Ash held his hand up. There was a small piece of plastic between two fingers that he wiggled back and forth. “Didn’t think you’d want to wait.”

Nick frowned. “On what?”

Laughing, Ash held the card out to him. “You don’t play this game right.”

Nick took the plastic, then glanced down. He did a double take before he gaped at Ash. “No way!”

“You’re a Squire, slick. We tend to pull a few strings for you guys, and there’s no chance on this planet that I’m going to spend hours waiting at the DMV for you to get called and then possibly fail. I’ve done my time in hell. No more.”

Still, Nick couldn’t believe it. He held the license up to check it against the light. It looked authentic.… It even had a bad picture of him in a tacky shirt. “Is this real?”

“Absolutely. But the one drawback is if your mom changes her mind about you driving, it will be revoked. Until then, welcome to the world of grown-up responsibility.”

Nick could shout he was so excited. “This is so awesome. Thank you!”

“No problem.” Ash turned as if he was going to leave, then stopped. “By the way, you probably want to meet me outside for a few minutes.”

“Okay. I’ll be right out.”

Ash vanished while Nick went to ask his mom if he could run a couple of errands.

“Don’t be gone too long.”

“Won’t. Promise.” Nick left her on the couch and headed down to the street.

It took him a second to find Ash, who was a little ways down by a set of parked cars.

“So what do you need me to do?” Nick asked.

Ash handed him a set of car keys. “Just don’t hurt yourself, or anyone else.”

Nick scowled. Ash talked in more riddles than Nashira did. “Huh?”

Laughing, Ash shook his head and stepped back. He indicated the silver Jag he’d used for most of Nick’s driving lessons. “It’s all yours, kid. Enjoy.”

No way …

Nick couldn’t have been more stunned had Ash pimp-slapped him. In fact, he’d have expected that over this. But there was one small problem.… “You know my mom won’t let me accept this, right?”

“It’s a company car, for your personal use. Kyrian’s name is on the lease, but you’re listed as the primary driver on the insurance. When you graduate, we’ll sign it over to you.”

Letting out a loud whoop, Nick threw himself against Ash and hugged him. “I love you, man! You’re the best!”

Ash clapped him on the back. “I’ll see you later, kid.” He headed for Ursulines.

“Hey, Ash?”

He turned to look back at Nick.

“Really … thank you!”

“Anytime. Just stay out of trouble.”

A sick feeling settled in his stomach as he watched Ash vanish into the darkness.
Stay out of trouble.…

That had always been his plan, but trouble kept tackling him to the ground and sitting on his chest.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

He jumped at the sound of Caleb’s voice behind him. “Ash just gave me the keys to the car he’s been training me on.” He grinned like a moron. “I can drive!”

“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

Nick slid the keys into his pocket, along with his license. “Now I get to find out, don’t I?”

“You do, indeed.” Caleb inclined his head toward the street. “You ready to do this?”

“Yeah, just don’t kill me tonight. I’ve got places to drive to later.”