The Devil's Third (18 page)

Bael could wait.

I wasn’t his damn lackey.

I ate the last piece of my cookie and thought about Tree, wondering what he would tell Nathan about me. And then a thought occurred to me . . . what about Brayden? I hadn’t thought about that. When Brayden found out I’d broken it off with Nathan and bailed, I was sure he’d pull his resources together and find me.

Crap.

I wanted him to stay out of this. The last thing I needed was to worry about Brayden. I picked up my phone to text Tree, and when my eyes fell on the texted message I stopped breathing.

Nathan.

I held my stomach, feeling winded.

Where r u? I luv u. We need 2 talk. Pls. I’m sorry.

He left a voice message, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen to it. I bit my lip. I thought . . . I thought my letter would have halted him from trying to reach me. My only hope was Tree. My phone buzzed in my hand.

Bael.

Time 2 meet at Cannon Beach.

On my way.

After I answered Bael, I threw my trash away and went into the restroom, locking the door. I called Tree.

“Hello,” he said in a groggy voice.

“Tree. It’s Paige.”

“Paige?” He sounded alert now. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have much time to talk. I’m on my way to meet Bael, and I--”

“I don’t know about this. I have a bad feeling.”

“Listen. It doesn’t matter. If I don’t do this, Bael will have you killed.”

“But--”

“But nothing. I need you to do your part. Nathan has already discovered I’m gone. I left a note, and he’s looking for me. I’m sure he’s going to contact you soon. Also, don’t tell Brayden I broke it off with Nathan. Do what you can to keep it from him.”

“I will.”

“I have to go.”

“Be careful.”

“You too. I’ll see you when I get back.”

“Okay.”

I pocketed my phone, did my business in the restroom and left the convenience store without a second glance. When I reached the cover of darkness, away from the glaring lights of the store, I ran all the way to Cannon Beach. I could feel the difference in temperature as I neared the ocean. The cool, salty air filled my nostrils. I wondered if Nathan would be here, knowing whenever I missed my parents, this was where I came to feel closer to them.

My heart pounded.

But when I slowed to a brisk walk toward a cluster of boulders next to a massive craggy rock, I didn’t sense Nathan’s presence. I took a deep, shaky breath, not sure if I was relieved or not.

I imagined Nathan enfolding me in his arms and whisking me away from all this strife. I shook my head to dislodge the thought of him and me being together. Eventually Nathan would give up on us, especially when he realized I betrayed him. So it did me no good to wish for something unattainable. I had to forget about him and what we once had. This was my life now.

I stopped and stared at the ocean, watching the waves crashing against rocks. The surf roared and slapped the shore. The silvery moon was like a bright light on the sea, spotlighting the ripples of whitecaps.

Then my ears began to ring.

I hugged myself and scanned the beach for Bael. I saw movement behind trees on a hilltop to my right. A figure emerged. I didn’t move and was sure it was Bael as he approached me. He had a penchant for tall, dark, and handsome vessels with light blue eyes.

“I knew you’d pull through,” he said, looking pleased.

“Why is that?”

“Because you’d do anything for the people you love.” He grimaced. “Even for that wretched friend of yours–
Tree
. You even terminated your relationship with Nathan, which in my opinion was a wise decision. Nathan is too much of an altar boy and smothers the reality of this world with unrealistic values.”

“How do you know I ended my relationship with him?”

He smirked. “Did you?”

I didn’t answer.

“I thought so,” he said, still smirking. He flipped his hand out, palm skywards. “Give me your phone.”

“Why?” I shoved my own hand in my pocket, brushing my fingers against the tiny buttons on the keypad. “I’m not going to contact anybody and jeopardize my deal with you.”

“I know you won’t. However, it can be used to track you, and although I detest acknowledging this fact, I must admit that Nathan is the best tracker of them all.”

“When Nathan discovers what I’d done, he’ll want nothing to do with me,” I told him, knowing how bad I’d hurt him.

“It doesn’t matter. I take all precautions in everything I do. Now give it to me.”

“Fine. If you want it so badly”–I threw it in the ocean–“go get it.” I glared.

He laughed. “You have a fire in you I find quite charming. Kora had it as well, but I have to say, yours is much more potent and alluring.”

I knew he and my grandmother Kora once had a thing for each other, and my father was a product of it. But I didn’t know the story behind it. I still couldn’t fathom why she would date a dark spirit, but at least Bael’s darkness hadn’t transferred into her womb. Dark spirits were dark because they chose to be. They weren’t born that way. “Whatever,” I said.

“I have to say I was quite surprised when I discovered Solomon’s power resides in you instead of the ring,” he told me. “Kora was a clever little witch. I do miss her.”

“Do you know Aosoth killed her?” I spat.

Something flashed in his eyes . . . disdain? “Yes. I’m quite aware she caused Kora’s demise.”

“Yet, you didn’t do anything about it,” I said in disgust. “You used my grandmother and didn’t give a crap about her.” I didn’t know how our conversation took this track, but I was too curious enough about his relationship with my grandmother to let it go. Besides, a tiny piece of me was hoping if I stalled, maybe Nathan would find me.

“Your accusation regarding my lack of affection toward Kora is false,” he snapped.

I stared at him, unflinching. I waited for him to continue, my eyes darting around me, silently praying to find Nathan heading our way. Of course he wasn’t here, and I reminded myself to stop wishing for him.

Bael straightened his shoulders and wiped his hand down his gray wool sweater. His voice dropped to a high whisper, his tone drenched in hatred. “I will take care of Aosoth when the time is right. My actions may not suit your principles, but I assure you in the end it’ll be justifiable.”

“Well, then, let’s get on with it,” I said, wanting this whole nightmare to stop, realizing nobody would come to my rescue, and his principles were why I ended up in this horrible position.

“Follow me.” He brushed past, and I fell in step with him.

We were heading toward the public parking area, and I refused to speak to him. When we reached a black Tahoe with tinted windows, my stomach churned. I glanced over my shoulder, wondering if I’d ever see Cannon Beach again. Silently I said goodbye and opened the passenger’s door, not realizing somebody was in the backseat until now.

Chapter Eighteen

Nathan

I read the letter.

Five times.

The
letter.

Paige was gone.

Snatching it from the kitchen table, once more I unfolded the pink stationary with a faded whimsical fairy in the center and examined the familiar slants and strokes only she could make. It was real–not fake like I’d wanted to believe.

Nathan,

This relationship isn’t working for me anymore. To be honest, I do blame you for me not being with my parents. Yeah, I had agreed to immortality, but I think it was because you pressured me into it.

Remember the night I told you I wanted to become immortal? It was after the horrible nightmare I had. You were so upset because you thought you almost lost me to a cardiac arrest. Well, I felt bad for you and guilty you were feeling that way. So of course I’d agree to becoming immortal. But lately, I’ve realized you were actually manipulating me into it. You were toying with my emotions for your own gain. I think Brayden was right. You were using my vulnerability to get what you wanted.

Everything about you and our relationship is now clear to me. I have to say, though, I was totally in love with you, but now I know it was all about you from the start. I’m crushed.

I don’t want to see you again. Ever. So please remove your things from my house and never come back.

Paige.

I crumbled it into a ball and threw it across the room. Running a hand through my hair, I paced. I could feel the life inside me shriveling like a neglected plant starved of nourishment and warmth.

Paige was my sunshine in this dark world.

My everything.

But I had to admit to myself, subconsciously I’d known beforehand something wasn’t right. I had felt it in my gut when we were at the hospital, but I thought it was just Paige being worried about Carrie.
And then the same gut-wrenching feeling came to me at my house. More than once. Why hadn’t I listened to those internal warnings and confronted Paige about it?

Why?

I already tried texting her and left several messages as well. I needed to talk to her, to let her know I’d never manipulate her.

I sat on the couch and held my head in my hands.

How could Paige possibly believe what she accused me of? Unless she was right. Did I manipulate her into accepting immortality? Was I more of a selfish bastard than I thought?

Oh, God.

I did tell her I would have still turned her immortal when she was dying because I loved her too much to allow her life to end. So of course she would have taken it as me only thinking of myself.

Okay, she was right on that account; however, there was no way in hell I’d ever toy with her emotions or manipulate her into doing what I wanted.
I thought she knew me better. Her well-being and happiness were always my top priority, above anything else, including me.

My hand slipped off my face. I stared at it for a long moment. The lines in my palm glistened in the dull light from the tears I hadn’t realize I was shedding. I wiped it on my knee and leaned back with the heel of my palms pressed against my eyelids.

Paige.

How could this be happening? How could one day Paige decide not to be in love with me? It didn’t make sense. We had a rare and uncanny connection. The magnetic energy between us was undeniable.

I just . . .

Didn’t.

Get.

It.

The house was quiet, as if holding its breath.
The world outside was teeming with life, but where I sat these walls were like the sideboards of a coffin, entombing me in darkness and finality, sucking me into a chasm of despair and heartache.

My chest felt empty.

This couldn’t be over. Not like this. Where the hell did she go?
Jesus Christ
, she wasn’t safe out there on her own.

Then a thought occurred to me. I dropped my hands, my ears burning.

Brayden!

That son-of-a-bitch had to be behind this. He’d made it clear to me he’d do what he must to win Paige’s affections. I bet he was the one who used Paige’s vulnerability to twist our relationship to his favor. Their history together was his ammunition to use to his advantage.

My blood boiled.

I snatched my phone off the coffee table and called Tree. Jumping to my feet, I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 2:30, but I didn’t give a damn. I needed Brayden’s number, and Tree was going to give it to me. I swear to God, if Brayden was behind this, and something happened to Paige, I’d . . .

“Hello.”

“Paige is gone,” I said.

“I know.”

Tree’s answer threw me, and he sounded awake, but I detected a sadness in his tone, sending my heart racing.

“What do you know?” I held onto the kitchen counter for support, bracing myself for news I hadn’t anticipated.

“She called me earlier,” Tree said.

“How long ago?”

“An hour.”

Silence again.

“
And?
”

“I’m sorry, Nathan, but she doesn’t want anything to do with you. She told me she needed to get away from everything, but she’d stay in touch.”

His voice didn’t sound right, and although my stomach fell out from under me, I couldn’t bring myself to believe his admission.

“Where did she go?” I persisted. There was something about me nobody knew. I could tell when somebody was lying, thanks to over a century of interrogating dark spirits before casting them out. Tree’s next answer would verify my assumption.

“She didn’t say,” he replied.

“Why didn’t you talk her out of it? Aren’t you concerned the dark spirits might kidnap her like Roeick did? Do you really want such a thing on your conscience?” I knew I was being harsh, but I’d do whatever it took to find Paige.

“No,” Tree’s voice cracked. He cleared his throat. “Listen. I’m tired--”

“What’s Brayden’s number?”

“She’s not with Brayden.”

“How do you know?”

“She told me not to tell Brayden about her breaking up with you because she didn’t want him to find her.” His voice was unsteady, and a brutal fear slammed into me.

I could tell Tree was telling me the truth, which meant I was wrong about Brayden’s involvement. But something wasn’t right. There was no way Paige would end our relationship like this, and I knew Tree was lying to me about her whereabouts. He knew, but for some reason, he refused to tell me.

“Where is she, Tree?” My voice was low, dangerous.

“I have no idea.”

I pushed myself off the counter and moved about the room. “Don’t insult my intelligence. You and I both know you’re lying to me.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tree said, sounding mechanical. “I’m sorry. You need to let Paige go.”

“No.” I said through clenched teeth, my temper flaring. “You listen to me. You know where she is, but for some
fucking
reason you won’t tell me.” I paused to calm myself. My mind spun with rage and frustration. A tourniquet of panic tightened my muscles. I took a couple deep breaths to reorient my brain.