The Death Skull: Relic Defender, Book 2 (35 page)

She froze. Even though he couldn’t see her face—just the dark glitter of her eyes reflected from the dim light above—he sensed her gaze on him. He could almost hear the gears in her mind whirling.

She moved again, lightly, but he felt her anyway. His dick took notice and thickened against his jeans. At the same time he groaned, he heard a sharp inhalation.

“I’m not kidding, Mari. Don’t move.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do, human?” Her voice scraped across his skin, husky and low. “I cannot stay like this.”

He chuckled. “I don’t know. I think you are just perfect were you are. I’m feeling all kinds of warm and fuzzy right now.”

Mari was glad their current environment was dark, otherwise Jackson was sure to see her mouth drop open and the shocked expression she had no doubt was on her face. Or the flush that had risen from her chest into her cheeks. Or the rapid pulse throbbing in her throat that matched the one in her nether regions.

Fires of Hell. She reared back, using her arms to push against him, breaking his hold. Ignoring his gasp of what sounded like pain, she propelled herself backward, away from his all too tempting body. Reversing, she moved until she reached an unyielding surface, which was not far enough. Sharp points jabbed her back but she didn’t care.

Having sex that one night—had it really been yesterday?—should have cured her of this desire for the human. Instead, it seemed to have intensified. She did not like how he made her feel.

Lying to yourself, Mari? You like the way he makes you feel. That’s the problem. You like it too much.

The silence in the pit was broken by raspy breathing and low swearing. “Christ, Mari, that hurt.”

Fabric rustled and the scrape of boots on rocks told her he’d stood. Air moved as she felt the brush of his passing. A small body pushed against her. She started, then realized it was Kanek. He tucked in at her side and curled one arm around her waist. His slight form trembled. For all his apparent power and the ancient look in his eyes, he was still a child. And with what he’d seen, he must be terrified.

She didn’t blame him. She was immortal and cold fingers of fright had tickled her spine when she’d seen the skull in action. If that was a fraction of the skull’s power, she now understood why Beliel must not be allowed to possess it.

No matter the cost.

“It’s okay,” she whispered to the boy. She didn’t have any practice at soothing words but tried anyway. “We are going to be fine. Nothing will happen to you, I swear.”

Footfalls approached from her other side. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we aren’t getting out of here without help. There are no seams or notches.” Jackson paused. “Can you use your powers? You know. Zap us out of here? Or fly?”

She rolled her eyes even though he wouldn’t see it. “If I couldn’t use my powers above to
zap
us, I can’t use them below. As for my wings, there isn’t enough space in here. Otherwise, I would have used them to break my fall.”

“You mean you didn’t land on me on purpose? Good to know.” His voice held a wry tone. “Sounds like we are stuck.”

“I’m afraid so. At least until we’re released.”

With her back against the wall, she slid down the stone, taking Kanek with her until her bottom rested on the floor. He laid his head on her shoulder. “We should rest,” she murmured. “We’ll need our strength later.”

Rustling sounds came from her other side, then a soft grunt and sigh as Jackson sat. Even though he was not up against her, she sensed he was close. The knowledge didn’t bother her—a part of her wanted the contact.

For a few moments, the only noise came from the far-off trickle of water, the squeak of bats and an occasional shriek that seemed to come from no Earth animal or human throat. Kanek burrowed closer to her. His warm body lessened the chill from the dirt and stones seeping into her clothing.

“What happened up there, Mari?” Jackson’s smooth tone with the hint of a twang flowed over her. “Your face turned white. And, no offense, I thought you were going to pass out.”

She had hoped no one had taken notice of her reaction when she’d been confronted by the reality of the skull. Fear twisted around her heart as she remembered what had nearly happened to her—how she’d nearly lost a soul she hadn’t realized she had. Her fist clenched over her chest, remembering the tug of the skull.

“Hey, you okay?”

She blinked and focused on where she thought Jackson’s face was. A warm hand covered hers, and she jerked with surprise but didn’t pull away. She didn’t have the energy. “Something…happened to me.”

“What? Then?”

“No. Earlier. While we were still at Mikos’s house. When Michael transported me.”

“Do you want to discuss it?”

She ducked her head, then sighed. “No, but I need to. You need to know what we are up against.”

“That sounds ominous.” The clipped edge to his tone told her he felt unsettled.

“When Michael transported me—elsewhere—he sent me to a time and place where the skull was worshipped. And used. I didn’t realize it at that time, what the skull can do or how dangerous it is. That brown-robed creature? He was there.”

“Oh?” He paused. “The same guy?”

“Yes. And those other creatures. I was taken to the top of the pyramid to the same platform and on the obelisk rested the Death Skull. They forced me to the skull and made me stare at it.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean they forced you? You couldn’t fight them?”

“No, I still had strength but not my angel powers. I was no match for them.” Her voice hitched at the memory. To be totally at the mercy of another being had been a horrifying experience.

“Holy shit.”

She had to agree. “When I stared into the skull, the eyes glowed. The longer I looked, the more I felt something happening. Inside me. A tearing sensation as if a part of me was being ripped out.” She paused and swallowed hard.

Even now, the memory of her soul—the one she hadn’t thought she possessed—being torn away twisted her into quivering knots. She clenched a fist over her heart. Not that her soul had been lodged there, but the scar of that day rested within.

His hand turned to cup hers. Before she thought about it, she curled her fingers around Jackson’s. Inhaling, she continued, “I didn’t know it at the time, but what the skull did was try to remove my soul.” She lifted her gaze to where she thought his might be. Fires of Hell, she wished she could look into his green eyes and see his strength. She could use that extra support.

“A soul I didn’t know I had,” she continued. “That any of us had. Any of the Fallen.”

Silence. Had she surprised him? By the truthfulness of her tale, or the fact that angels didn’t have souls? Or was she the only one who now had one? Something to ask Michael about. Should she get the chance.

Jackson’s fingers tightened in a squeeze, a gesture that strangely comforted her. She returned the touch, then said, “I don’t know how I survived. Why my soul is still intact. I screamed and passed out, then woke at Mikos’s place with the knowledge I possessed something I hadn’t known I had.”

She pulled her lips between her teeth. “That’s what the skull does, Jackson. It removes a being’s soul, and without a soul, they turn into those creatures. That’s what Beliel will do with your human leaders. That’s what he intends to do with us. He will bring Hell to this plane.”

A low hiss. “How do we stop him?”

“We have to destroy the skull before he uses it—before the end of the ritual which will release the skull’s full power. If we fail, nothing and no one will be able to stop him.”

“That’s just dandy. There’s not much we can do from down here.”

She shook her head. “We have to wait until we are taken to the skull.”

He snorted. “Of course.” A pause. “How do we destroy the damn thing?”

Her shoulders hitched. “I don’t know. That part wasn’t covered in my educational side trip.”

“Bloody Archangel,” Jackson muttered.

“He believes his charges should discover things on their own.”

“Unless it suits him otherwise.”

She couldn’t argue Jackson’s point. Michael did have a tendency to come and go as he pleased, when he pleased, with no apparent justification. Or apology. Mikos had once told her it had something to do with a being’s—not just human’s—ability to have free will. Although, she’d always thought free will was a human prerogative, not an angel’s. Maybe the soul was the key.

Fabric rustled against stone as Jackson shifted position but he didn’t release her hand. In the chill of the pit, his touch warmed and strengthened her. What was this power the mortal had over her? For the first time, she understood why Mikos was so willing to give up everything for Lexi. That didn’t mean Mari was in any danger of following in his steps. Despite her attraction to Jackson or her understanding, she would not give herself fully to a mortal.

Jackson stared into the darkness. They were in a heap of trouble, with no idea how to get out of it. And apparently, they were being left alone to handle the situation. Figured. Probably had something to do with learning lessons and discovering the strength inside or some other kind of bullshit. One thing he’d learned during his time working for the Archangel, he did everything with a purpose, even if he didn’t always share his reasoning.

He heard a low moan from Kanek. Air stirred as Mari shifted, probably to pull the boy closer. When Kanek sighed, Jackson figured he’d guessed right. More movement and a soft feminine figure touched his side and leaned into him. He froze, not wanting to frighten the skittish female.

Even as Mari hugged him, she held a part of herself away. He could feel that in the stiffness of her limbs and hear it in the rise and fall of her chest. She remained that way, touching him yet separate, for a few minutes. As he started to think she would pull away, her body relaxed into his and she let out a deep, long sigh. Her warmth wrapped around him like a blanket, the exotic mixture of floral and spice curling upward and filling his senses.

Her head fit perfectly into the hollow of his shoulders. Damn, she fit
too
perfectly. He’d thought that last night when they’d had sex. No, not just sex. At least, not just sex to him. What the contrary demon thought, he had no idea. That night had changed his idea of her. Made him think of a future—something he never did. And shouldn’t now.

Against him, she sagged, falling heavily, and her breathing deepened and slowed. He smiled. Jackson heard low snores coming from her other side. Both the demon and the boy had fallen asleep. He wished he could join them. But he couldn’t. Not with his mind whirling with the events of the last few days and the concern of what was to come. Plus, the fear of what would happen to his mother if he died here. She’d be kicked out of her home, to the streets without anyone to take care of her. A tightness filled his chest. Damn it to hell. He would not let that happen.

Mari sighed and wiggled closer. The heat of her body chased away the chill of the damp stones. Her heat also triggered something. Something that made the fit of his jeans a helluva lot more uncomfortable. He curled one arm around her waist. Damn, the woman couldn’t have been a better match for him.

Woman. Had he really begun to consider her more woman than demon? In the dark, with her nestled against him, her body warm and soft, he had a hard time thinking of her as anything but female.

He rested his chin on the top of her head, the vanilla and cinnamon scent of her hair filling his nose and driving out the smells of moist earth and cool air. Even when they’d had sex, he’d never seen her in such a vulnerable position. Guess she liked, and trusted, him more than she was willing to admit. A smile tugged at his lips. Guess he kinda liked her too. Hell, who was he fooling? He’d already acknowledged he loved her.

He settled back, relaxing as he soaked up the comfort of Mari’s closeness. His eyes shut. Might as well follow their example and make himself get some rest before the bastard and his bitch came for them. Jackson had a feeling they were going to need every bit of energy and strength they had to survive what was coming. And for him to play the unsavory game he had to play.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The hulk shoved Kat through the archway. She stumbled, barely catching her balance before she tumbled onto her behind. Whirling, she sent him a sharp glare. Which he ignored even though she was sure it had been the best one she’d ever given.

“Bring her here.”

Beliel’s voice slithered around her like the coils of a python, squeezing and restricting her breath. When she didn’t immediately respond, the hulk moved toward her, his heavy eyebrows perched like huge caterpillars above his eyes.

Not wanting to risk another push and possibly a subsequent injury, she skittered backward, away from him, then spun and crossed the floor to Beliel. The son of Lucifer stood before a raised platform. Some kind of stone table and a tall obelisk with a flat top was off to his left. On the obelisk’s crown rested a cloth-covered object about a foot in height. The demon hovered near it, his body positioned so it seemed as if he would throw himself on top of the object if the thing was threatened.

She halted in front of him and lifted her chin, crossing her arms over her chest. Defiant or frightened? They both worked for her right now. “I’m not going to help you.”