The Devil's Angel (Devil Series Book 2) (8 page)

Lucien quickly retreated to the other side of the room where moonlight pouring in from the open window wouldn’t reach him. He did not want Eve to see him in the light.

She spotted him in the shadows. “You’re still here.”

“I wanted to make sure you would be okay.” Lucien involuntarily stepped toward the door. He shouldn’t be here.

Eve she sat up, her eyes wide. “Please, don’t go.”

He placed his hand on the doorframe, secretly trying to keep his legs beneath him. “I don’t know who you are or how you found me, but you shouldn’t have.”

“Stay with me, just for a little while.” Her eyes pooled with tears. “Please?”

Lucien wanted answers, wanted to know who she was, but he couldn’t bring himself to remain in her presence any longer. “I’m sorry—for hurting you.”

“You will hurt me more if you leave.”

He clenched his jaw tight and glanced at Eve one last time. Before she could stop him, he disappeared.

Lucien drove fast, ignoring any speed limits, through the scarce traffic of Seattle. The sun wasn’t up yet and wouldn’t be for another two hours. He twisted his fingers tightly around the steering wheel and pressed on the accelerator even more.

Normally his mind was clear, but he couldn’t put a coherent thought together to save his life. He needed advice, and there was only one person he trusted to give it.

Scott Peterson’s three-story colonial-style home didn’t fit in with the other affluent homes in the ritzy Laurelhurst neighborhood. It was white with tall pillars in front; on the second balcony hung a long, scooped American banner flag. This was another reason why he liked Scott—he didn’t care what others thought of him.

Lucien was about to knock on the front door but stopped when he realized the early hour. He removed his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Scott’s number. From somewhere within the house, a phone rang.

A groggy Scott answered. “Yes?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Go ahead.”

“No, in person.”

“Now?”

“Yes. I’m standing outside your front door.” Something crashed to the floor.

“I’ll be right down.”

It was only a short moment before Scott opened the door. He greeted Lucien in blue striped pajamas, hair that had been hastily smoothed back, and thick glasses. He pushed them further up his nose and said, “This is a surprise. Come in.”

Scott led Lucien to a study and turned on a fire. It sputtered and spit until its flames entirely filled a wide stone hearth.

“Would you like some tea?” Scott offered.

“No.”

Scott touched his head as if remembering. “Right. I forgot. What brings you here this late hour?”

“I need some advice.”

Scott lowered himself into a chair near the fire. “Does this have anything to do with your questions about the Deific?”

“Yes, specifically the woman, Eve Andrews. There’s something different about her.”

“You think
she’s
different?”

Lucien placed his hands upon the marble mantle and stared down into the fire. “I know that sounds crazy, but there’s something wrong with her.”

“Why do you care?”

Lucien flexed his jaw, and shook his head slowly. He lowered his arms and turned around. “That’s what I’ve been asking myself. I can’t get her out of my head. She’s all I think about!”

Scott eyed him thoughtfully. “You’re in love.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“I’m incapable of love. Besides I don’t even know who she is.”

“I was in love with my wife the moment I laid eyes on her. It was if my soul recognized hers.”

“Seeing as how I don’t have a soul, that’s not a consideration.”

“How do you know you don’t?”

Lucien frowned. “Must I remind you?”

“If you don’t have a soul, why are you good?”

Lucien visibly jerked. “I’m not good.”

“Well, you’re not bad. I’ve put bad men behind bars for over thirty years. I know evil when I see it.”

Lucien moved to the window.

“Have you spoken to the woman? Asked her what she wants?” Scott asked.

“She begged me to stay tonight. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand to be near her.”

“Why?”

“She was too
intense.”
He glanced back at him. “Does that make sense?”

“No. Why are you making this so complicated?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. Up until a year ago, my life was predictable.”

“What happened a year ago?”

He shook his head, trying to think how best to explain what had happened. “A light came into my life, something I couldn’t see or touch, but I could feel it as sure as I can feel the heat from these flames. And it’s been growing.”

Scott tilted his head. “It sounds like hope.”

“But I don’t hope. There is no hope for someone like me.”

“Apparently there is. Seize it, Lucien. Take hold and never let it go.”

“How do you know these things?”

“It’s called living. You should try it sometime.” Scott smiled warmly. “Go to her. If she begged a vampire to stay with her, then she must really need someone. Don’t let her suffer alone.”

He’d never thought of it like that before.
One more stupid mistake.

“Besides, don’t you want to know who she is, and how she came to be in your life?”

“More than anything. Thanks for the advice.” He walked to the front door, and Scott followed.

“I consider you a friend, Lucien. If you ever need anything …”

“I know. I’ll call you later.”

***

Lucien parked in front of Eve’s house and listened closely. He’d become so familiar with her breathing that he could tell by the way she exhaled, the air slightly forced, that she was still awake.

He exited his car and stepped onto her porch. Very quietly, he turned the doorknob and ascended the stairs to her darkened bedroom. Eve was lying on her side, staring opposite the open window. He watched her for a moment, hidden within the shadows, then stepped out of the darkness and knelt at her side. When he came into her view, she looked at him as if dreaming.

“I’m back,” he whispered, wishing he had something more clever to say.

She searched his face. “Lucien?”

“I’m here.”

She reached for him and pulled him close, burying her face to his chest. He sat awkwardly not knowing where to place his arms. Suddenly, his body tingled, and a sensation like warm liquid poured into him, warming his extremities. He pushed himself away and stood.

Her eyes flashed to the open door way and alarm spread across her face.

“Who are you?” he asked.

She sat up easily and pain free. “You’ve met me before, years ago, but I was a different person then.”

“The witch in New York. But that is impossible.”

“You remember?”

“I remember a cruel and power-obsessed woman.”

Eve glanced away, ashamed.

“That couldn’t have been you,” Lucien said. “You may look similar, but there are too many differences.”

“It was me.”

“But you’re too young!”

“I’m immortal.”

He shook his head, more confused than ever. “How?”

She paused, and her eyes grew dark as if remembering a painful past. “To put it simply, a vampire injected altered vampire venom into me, creating whatever it is that I am.”

Lucien tensed. “What vampire?”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s dead now.”

“Why would he do this to you?”

“He wanted me to live forever by his side, but he didn’t want me to be a full vampire because he was afraid I would be more powerful than him. We did many terrible things together. I did terrible things.” She lowered her head. “Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?”

“You don’t need my forgiveness.”

“Yes, I do. I almost killed you.”

He shook his head. “No, you didn’t.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them back up, she said, “Remember the black witch you fought in the woods?”

Lucien did remember. She was the most powerful being he’d ever encountered. He thought for sure she would be the one to end his life.

“That was me, too.”

And then before he could reply, Eve told him everything: the abuse she’d endured at her parent’s hands in a twisted attempt to force her to use magic, the vampire’s deception, and the cursed necklace that nearly destroyed her had it not been for Lucien.

Her mood lightened when she also told him of the Deific and the magic of beauty she’d first felt from a crimson rose. She also mentioned the special children and the work she did at the Academy. Lastly, she spoke of him.

“But why? Why did you need to find
me
?”

“Because of our connection.”

He shook his head adamantly.

She quickly continued, “I’ve never felt such beauty with anyone else.”

“Beauty?”

She reached out and caressed his cheek. “Don’t you feel it?”

He flinched and stepped back.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not used to being touched.”

She moved past him to the window and stared out, her body only a shadow in the darkness. Her breathing was slow and steady, and she remained still.

Finally, she turned to him. “There’s so much more to life than what you know, but I can’t force you to see what’s right in front of you. It’s your choice.”

“My choice to do what?”

“To live.”

“Why do I have to choose?”

“You are already choosing—whether to be in the shadows or in the light. There is no such thing as
not
choosing because not choosing is a choice, too.” She moved close to him. “I know it will take time for you to want goodness in your life, but when that time comes, I’ll be waiting.”

“I’m not sure what you’ll be waiting for. There can never be anything between us.” And he believed it. She was crazy to think they could have any kind of relationship, even that of a friend.

She tilted her head slightly. “Maybe you’re right.”

A ribbon of moonlight stealing in through the window illuminated her sea-green eyes. He wanted desperately to read her calm expression, but there wasn’t a hint as to what she might be feeling or thinking.

She returned to the bed and sat down. “Why did you save me when I fell from the bridge?”

“I find you interesting,” was the most he could say.

“So is an ant farm. Why did you jump after me?”

He waited a minute before answering. “I couldn’t bear the thought of you being in pain.”

“And yet you hurt me tonight.”

A pain wracked his heart.

“I need you to see the monster I am,” he said with barely enough air to get the words out.

“If you truly are a monster, then why do you feel guilt?”

The pain in his heart raced to his head. These questions were twisting his brain all kinds of wrong.

“My life is complicated,” he said, because he could think of no other answer.

“Then uncomplicate it.”

“I can’t do that.”

Her shoulders dropped, and her eye closed briefly. “What happens now?”

“I’ll leave you alone.”

“I don’t want to be left alone.”

“You won’t be. You have good friends. And Charlie.” He tried not to say his name spitefully but couldn’t help it. “He would follow you to the ends of the earth.”

“I don’t want Charlie following me.” Her voice rose. “I found you for a reason.”

Lucien said nothing.

Eve stood. “Fine. You’ve made your point. You prefer your empty existence over a life of happiness.”

“It’s not like that.”

“It’s exactly like that.” She crossed the bedroom to the door. “Go back to your alley or wherever you live and keep being depressed.”

“I’m not depressed. I’m a realist.”

She gave him a cold, hard stare, and then stormed over to him, taking his hand in hers. The cells in his skin leapt as if reacting to a fierce heat.

“
This
is real!”

He pulled his hand away. “Not to me.”

Eve shook her head and inhaled deeply, the tight lines in her face relaxing. “I’m sorry. I said you could choose, and I meant it. I didn’t mean to pressure you.”

“Please don’t apologize. This is for the best, you’ll see.” He turned to leave but stopped to say one last thing. “I’m sorry for ruining your kitchen. I’ll send a company by in the morning to fix it.”

“I don’t care about the stupid kitchen.”

“And I’m going to leave my number downstairs. If you are ever in trouble, please call me.”

He left before she could say anything else.

Back in his car, he leaned forward and rested his head against the steering wheel, exhausted
.
At least he knew who she was. As for why she sought him out, it was probably more out of some sense of responsibility she felt toward him for saving her life than any deep connection between them. Sure there was a physical reaction when they’d touched, but that could be because it had been so long since he’d experienced physical contact with someone, especially that of a woman.

He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. It was better this way, he told himself as he started the car. Now that he knew who she was, he could leave her alone. Mystery solved. End of story.

Instead of returning to the hotel, he drove to the marina. He sat on his favorite bench that overlooked the sea and thought about nothing—for the first ten minutes. Then all he could think about was Eve.

He tried to hold still, but he didn’t remember the bench being so uncomfortable. He tried to stretch out on it, but he was too long. He tried slouching into it, but his legs were too cramped. He tried sitting up, but the back of the bench forced his body forward. How had he ever been comfortable here?

He stood up and paced the boardwalk. Behind him, the city lights glowed in the darkness.

Eve wanted to be with him. Him! Of all the people in the world, she foolishly thought he was the one who could make her happy. He couldn’t make a leech happy, let alone someone as beautiful and complicated as Eve.

Anger swelled in his chest. In one swift motion, he picked up a garbage can and tossed it far into the sea. He had to get out of Seattle.
Now
.