Wasteland (6 page)

My chest heaved, and I propped my hands on my thighs. Sweat dripped from my brow and splattered against the sidewalk. I needed the run, though. My entire being had been cooped up and immobile for so long, it might take me another century to work out all the kinks.

“Master won’t be happy.”

“It’s only been two days, Gage. Not even. I can’t make the Mark just appear. If he had more details for me other than a fifteen-year-old orphan. . . .” I stomped through the rock landscape surrounding the garage. “I plan to visit some orphanages tomorrow during the day.”

There had to be something more going on here. Two Guardians, Gage hovering and watching my moves closer than any of my babysitters had, and Master constantly reminding me of the consequences of my failing to get his target.

I slid my fingers around my throat. The choker wasn’t visible to anyone, human or demon, but it existed. Cinching tighter and tighter.

Gage’s laughter followed me to the car. “I don’t know how your last chaperone handled you, David.”

I stopped and turned, allowing a fraction of my demonic half to surface. Its jagged features stretched my human form. A feral rumble thundered through the darkness between us. Fear tugged at the corners of Gage’s eyes and mouth.

“My last chaperone didn’t
handle
me, Gage.” My chest burned. “You’d do well to remember that.”

I had no patience for him tonight. Beka had rattled my soul, but she was a Guardian. Not only were romantic relations forbidden for me—lest I wanted to become full demon—never could I be with someone so pure. Only Angels were more pure than Guardians.

And she thought
me
to be special.

“I’d like to see you try and
handle
me, David.” Gage fastened his narrow-eyed stare on me.

The animal within me awakened. My human side didn’t want to fight. I needed to get the girl and leave. Beka’s appearance complicated things, teasing me with her elegance.

“Did you mean to challenge me,
babysitter?
” I allowed the evil closer to the surface. The pointy tips of my elongated canine teeth pricked my bottom lip. My eyesight sharpened.

The quiver of his chin told me he hoped I wouldn’t call his challenge.

“Why push me, Gage? You know the contractual bonds around my neck and wrist prevent any being from killing me.”

He paced, keeping his eyes trained on me. His mouth clamped shut, firing a ring of muscles along his jaw.

Having been in solitude for so long sharpened my senses. The rush of power flowing through my veins was intoxicating. My fingernails grew long, inching me toward transformation.

I bit at the air, tasting Gage’s acrid fear. But it wasn’t only fear of me. “What aren’t you telling me about this mission?”

He resumed pacing but said nothing.

Gage was lucky I was in such control. Had this happened last night, there would have been bloodshed. His blood.

“Be careful the next time you issue a challenge.” I marched toward the car. “My last babysitter would tell you the same—if he was still alive.”

Gage backed away. “Half-breed.”

Wait
. If Jessica Hanks was so valuable to merit two Guardians and a heightened interest from Master, then maybe if I got to her first, I could negotiate my contract.

CHAPTER 7

“Okay, hon.” The waitress set the coffee cup on the table. “Your food will be up in a few minutes.”

I dipped my chin to her and poured in the creamer. My spoon dinged against the sides as the cream lightened the dark pool of steaming caffeine to a caramel color.

My phone vibrated against the Formica table and Gage’s face filled the screen.
More checking up.
I pressed answer and propped the phone between my shoulder and ear to keep my coffee going.

“Where are you?”

“Eating.”

He huffed, evidently not appreciating my three days of evading him. “What have you discovered?”

“I must not have your charm because I was unable to gleam any information from social services.” I sipped the coffee and reveled in its bitter yet creamy taste. “You would think my demon side would come with some mind-altering abilities to enable us to get information.”

“This is taking too much time.”

I relaxed into the stiff, red leather booth and brushed away the crumbs from the black topped table while Gage moaned on about my lack of progress. Clanks of silverware hitting plates echoed around me. The scent of frying grease and sweet pastries triggered a roar in my stomach I was sure the people sitting behind me would hear.

“David.”

“What, Gage? If Master’s Seers were a bit more effective, I might have found her by now.” I glanced around the café and lowered my voice. “I will scour the schools and malls after my meal. Goodbye.”

I tapped end in the middle of his sentence and tossed the phone to the side. My search for Jessica Hanks had revealed nothing, and I refused to experience another quarter millennia in punishment for missing a Mark. I smoothed my fingers over my chest, remembering the flame.

Beka’s image dashed into my brain. When I’d first seen her, I’d flippantly teased she might be worth another stint in solitary, but I was wrong. The only thing worth punishment would be finding a way out of the contract controlling my existence.

To be free was all I wanted.

“This seat taken?”

Beka’s voice startled me, and the back of my hand grazed my cup, knocking it over. A stream of coffee spilled over the table and onto the floor.

“You really are a jumpy guy, David.”

I shot to my feet mindful of the dark puddle collecting near my shoes. “Beka?”

Her bright smile could chase the thickest clouds away. I’d not yet seen her in daylight, and she was even more stunning with the sun spotlighting her flawless, porcelain skin, and long straight nose. With her hair secured away from her face, her high cheekbones stuck out, demanding equal attention as her sea-green eyes.

“I saw you through the window.” She stepped over the pool of coffee. “How are you? Haven’t seen you in the club in a
few days.”

“Busy.” I glanced out the window. “Work.” I’d lurked around the outside of the club and tried two different times to get into Beka’s apartment only to be detoured when either she or Russell returned home.

“I see.” She analyzed the floor, while my eyes were drawn to the outline of her ample chest beneath the fitted red blouse.

I steered my attention back to the coffee encroaching my shoes.

“So, what do you do for work that’s kept you so busy?”

“Research. Very boring.” I eyed the empty booth across from me, knowing I should ask her to join me, but also knowing I shouldn’t. “Want to sit?”

Her cheeks flushed, and she bobbed her head.

“Here, let me.” I took her shopping bag. “Don’t slip.”

“Thank you. I didn’t mean to startle you into spilling your drink.” She smiled, and the bright sun caught the corner of her eye, highlighting flecks of amber.

She slid onto the booth and settled in the middle. I threw a quick survey of the store. A man with silver hair, sitting two booths down, eyed me over the tip of his newspaper.

I set Beka’s bag beside the booth. If Gage located me, I’d simply say I was researching the club, investigating employees. Maybe Jessica Hanks was on the wait staff.

I settled back and tossed a pile of napkins on the spilled coffee. The desert suddenly claimed ownership of my throat. Although my assimilation into the world was nearly complete, Beka’s lilac scent still devastated my senses, and my fingertips ached to touch her.

She reminded me of an athlete in her khaki shorts and white tennis shoes.

“Hey there, sweetie. Can I get you anything?” the redheaded waitress asked, carrying a coffeepot and a glass of water. A young, pimple-faced boy trailed her, pushing a mop in front of him and went to work on the mess I had made.

“Water’s good for me.”

The waitress set a new coffee cup down and poured the dark liquid to the rim. A lanky, nearly bald man, carrying a tray of food took her place beside the table. “Hamburger and fries?” He lifted his chin in my direction.

“Yes.” He sat the plate in front of me and my other meal, chicken salad with ranch dressing, before Beka, then turned on his heel and left.

Her eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you and your—” Her cheeks reddened as she glimpsed the departing waiter. “I didn’t realize you were sitting with someone. I—” She scooted to the edge of the booth.

I dragged the salad beside my burger and fries. “They are both for me. I am eating alone.”

She paused, one hand planted on the tabletop while she stared at my food. “Two meals?”

“Yes. But if you still want to leave, I will understand.”
Please stay.
But I knew she should leave. More for my sake than hers.

She slouched, letting out a long breath. “Gosh, I thought…”

“What?” I slathered ketchup over my fries. I sure missed eating while in punishment. In the last five days, I’d eaten enough food to feed a small country and relished every minute. The only part of the demon’s power I appreciated was the quick healing. My muscles had recovered nicely.

She scooted back to her spot and rested her elbows on the table. “Nothing. Just weird that you’re eating two meals.”

“What brings you out and about today?” I asked.

“Shopping. You?”

I dunked a fry in the ketchup. “Research.”

“Library’s on the other side of town.” She nursed the glass of water.

“Hotel is near here.

“Marriott?” She swept a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “You look like a Marriott-type.”

“Should I be insulted?”

“No. I like Marriot-types.”

A French fry lodged in my throat. She liked Marriot-types. She’d told her brother she was drawn to me, too. I was a four-hundred-year-old half demon bound to the life of a slave to Satan’s right hand man. She was an immortal Guardian. Opposite ends of the spectrum. One dark, one Light.

Impossible.

I cut my burger in half and took a bite. The salty, meaty taste burst in my mouth. I would never tire of eating again.

I held the other half up. “Would you like some?”

“Sure you have enough?” Her lips curled into a smile.

“You could have my salad if you prefer.”

“I like burgers better.”

I pushed my plate to the center of the table. “Please.”

She accepted the food from my hand, dipped it in ketchup, and took a bite. Her tongue darted out and snatched a stray bit of ketchup from the corner of her mouth.

Along with my breath.

“They have great food here,” she said.

“How long have you worked at the club?”

“I just help out whenever. My brother bought it. He’s into that sort of thing.”

“You seem to enjoy the dancing.”

“I saw you watching me that first night.” Her eyes narrowed. “But you didn’t want to dance with me.”

“It was my first night in town. Tired from travels.”

“Hmm.” Her eyebrows elevated. “Yeah, well, I help him at the bar a little. It’s fine for now.”

“For now?”

“Here you go, sweetie.” The waitress refilled Beka’s glass of ice water. “Just holler if you need anything else.”

Beka looked to her left. With her hair tied back into a ponytail, I got a clear view of the Guardian’s Mark behind her right ear. My breath stalled. A Guardian, someone so pure, sat not two feet from me. My demon stirred, but I denied his urge to pounce.

To destroy.

“So, is it just you and your brother?” I took another bite.

“Mostly. I mean, he has a staff of a few part timers, but mostly he and I take care of the place on our own.”

“I did see a few waitresses and security people.”

She nodded, taking a bite of the burger.

So, this was what humans did. Enjoyed pleasant conversation, while sharing a meal. I could learn to enjoy this.

From the corner of my eye, Gage’s hulking frame caught my attention. He made eye contact with me from across the street and hopped down from the curb.
Damn that meddling demon
.

“Beka. I noticed you wore your hair up today.”

“Hot out.” She swirled the ponytail around her forefinger.

“I’d love to see it down again. It’s so beautiful.”

“You want me to take my ponytail out?” She scanned the café and returned her gaze to mine.

She frowned as she continued swirling her golden lock with her finger, teeth raking her bottom lip. Yes. It had to be a nervous habit, one that relentlessly tempted me to take her mouth with mine. She had no idea the effect it had, probably didn’t even know she was doing it.

“Yes. Please. Would you mind terribly?”
Hurry.

 Gage quickly approached. I tipped my head to her and smiled.

“You are a strange one, David.” The corner of her mouth lifted into a crooked smile.

“It’s so beautiful draped over your shoulders.”

Keeping her gaze directly on me, she reached for the thick piece of dark leather holding her mane in place, and I looked out the window again. Within seconds, Gage would enter the eatery. I couldn’t chance him noticing the Guardian’s Mark, and her long hair would cover the symbol. One quick motion, she pulled out the binder, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders.

The scent of lilacs bombarded me. “Beautiful.”

She combed her fingers through her hair, but stopped mid-motion. Jaw clenched, she straightened in her seat and opened her eyes wide. She scanned the restaurant, nostrils flaring.

“Are you all right?” I fought the urge to touch her hand perched on the top of the table. The tips of her fingers blanched as she flattened them against the surface.

“I’m fine.” But she stayed focused on our surroundings as her gaze swept over the room.

“David, there you are,” Gage said.

Two long strides past the door, and he towered over our table. I slumped into my seat. Beka pinned Gage with a stare so intent I thought it’d tear him apart.

“Who is your lovely new friend, David?”

“You know this man?” Beka asked.

Her chest heaved, and she must be squeezing her hands beneath the table as her biceps flexed. Still, she didn’t face me.