Drop Dead Demons (50 page)

The boys raised their palms in surrender. I cowered behind Ayden. So brave.

Sheriff Payne stood in the middle of the group of parents, grandparents, and uncle. “Boys—”

Blake’s voice boomed across the landscape, “Jayden was in the shower with Aurora!”

Mr. Ishida gasped, “Ayden, I’m very disappointed in you.”

Ayden went red. “He said
Jayden!”

Mrs. Ishida groaned. “Jayden, we’ve gone over the inappropriateness. And with a
girl?
”

“I have been apprised of my error!”

“Shut it!” Matthias told the guys then turned to the Hex parents. “We know we’ve got some explaining to do.”

“Nope.” Sheriff Payne shook his head. “We spoke to Jenny, and he’s assured us that it’s best we don’t know any more details.”

“What!” My eyes bugged. “Not that I’m complaining but…why are we off the hook?”

“Plausible deniability,” they all answered at once.

Sheriff Payne looked especially threatening covered in the vest, which was also covered in demon…guck. “But, gentlemen, if you ever get in over your heads again and don’t invite us to the party—”

“We know,” Logan said. “Grounded.”

His mom rolled up on the balls of her feet and jabbed a finger at us. “
So
grounded.”

“Whew,” Blake wiped his brow. “I thought we were gonna get grounded now.”

“Oh, you’re grounded now,” Uncle Reece said as the rest of the parents nodded and muttered agreement.

Logan’s mom jabbed that finger again. “
So
grounded.”

“But details to follow,” Mr. Ishida said smoothly. “Everyone head home. Except Aurora. Better come over and clean up before
you
go home. I can repair your clothes. But that hair.” He lifted his hands in a helpless gesture.

“What?” I touched my hair. Oh.

“And furthermore, young lady…” Mrs. Ishida nailed me with a piercing look and a finger pointed at my chest. I cringed, terrified a long, shiny saber was about to shoot from it and skewer my heart. “You’ll be coming over more often.
And
I’m supervising your martial arts training.”

“I’ll take weapons,” Logan’s mom said.

“I wanted weapons,” Uncle Reece whined.

The friendly bickering continued as the adults wandered off.

“Leave them alone.” It was Tristan’s grandma. “You always want to smother them.”

“That’s not true.”

“I’ve missed this.”

“Me too.”

“Maybe we should…”

Voices faded as they melded into the forest.

“I’ve got a very bad feeling about this,” Tristan mumbled.

“You?” I said. “Why can’t I just get dance lessons?” I sighed and turned to Ayden. “What was with diving in the pool?”

Jayden folded his arms. “Yes, tell her, Ayden.”

“Fine.” Ayden shot his brother a tired look. “Because Jayden was trying to show off how smart he is and blabbered
incessantly
about all the mechanical crap he was reading in the Flint manuals, it stuck into my brain whether I wanted it to or not, so I knew there was a secret lever hidden in the pool that I could use to lower the net manually.”

Jayden pursed his lips. “That is hardly an accurate assessment of my contribution.”

“Nice move,” I nodded. “And Fido?”

Ayden laughed. “No clue. She just burst out from—”

“The filtration system at the bottom of the pool,” Jayden said quickly.

“Then she broke the bloody net again,” Matthias grumbled. “And jumped through the portal. We thought she was with you.”

“Wish she had been,” I said. “Could’ve used her to take out the ghoulies.” Tristan gave me a frightened look. “Don’t ask. Anyway. We’re done, right? Mission accomplished?”

“Absolutely, babe. And I dub it Operation Demons of Deathology,” Blake said.

“We’re not naming missions!” Matthias scowled. Then a twitch of his lips threatened to unleash a dimple. “But if we were, mate, that one’s not bad.”

“Agreed.” Ayden slapped a smiling Blake on the shoulder. “But we still have plenty to be concerned with. There’s the traitor on the loose.”

“And what do we do about the treasure?” Tristan said. “And that extra umbra stone.”

Jayden added, “We have the sanctuary with its endless information to sort through.”

“Why can babe open a portal?”

“And suck Jenny’s power,” Logan said, moving slightly away from me.

Matthias narrowed me a hostile look. “And we have to figure out how to write believable Mandatum reports while covering up most of the truth in order to save our hides and protect an idiot freak like you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I said. “But our team survived a Code Olympus. Took out a hoard of demons.” I bowed deeply. “You’re welcome.”

“
Welcome?
” Matthias sputtered. “You’re the reason we’re in this mess! And you’re not part of this team.”

Shucks. Thought I could slip that one past him. “If you hadn’t been jealous of Ayden and thrown me in your car, Eros would never have had to come to my rescue which started this whole fiasco.”

“Don’t try to pin this on me!”         

“The lonely lone wolf didn’t deny he loved Aurora.” Blake chuckled and dodged out of the Aussie’s swack.

“Ugh.” Ayden walked beside me and put a hand around my waist. “Now I have to compete for your affection with both Blake
and
Matthias.”

I rolled a dramatic shrug. “I tried to put him down easy, but he’s so infatuated. It’s embarrassing. Even with all those other girls after him.”

“I can’t bloody stand you!”

Blake sighed. “Me thinks he doth confess too much.”

It was a heck of a luau.

The Ishida’s backyard, lawn rolling into beach, beach rolling into lake, looked like an island paradise.

Tiki torches, a pig roasting underground, a band, guys with ukuleles, a dance floor, bright Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, and of course tons of colorful food. There were fire dancers — Ayden’s favorites. And hula girls — Blake favorites. And everyone was barefoot, drinking through straws from hollowed out pineapples and coconuts. The Ishidas even trucked in some palm trees.

Aunt M had jetted off to an “undisclosed location” with my uncle, but the rest of the Laheys, along with all the Hex Boys’ families were here enjoying Sheriff Payne’s big shindig. Once the lawman had found out about the birthday party lie — I told him— he made Matthias throw it — my suggestion.

The boys were shirtless, wearing fragrant flower leis around their necks and grass skirts over their swim trunks— couldn’t get better than that. Ayden’s burns were healing nicely and all was right with the world. At least for the last several days since the gods had disappeared, one way or another. It was a nice break from dire and disastrous.

From the second-floor balcony outside the game room, I watched Mom and Dad on the beach attempting the limbo—yeah, don’t ask.

Ayden came up the steps with fresh coconut drinks and handed me one. “Having fun?”        

I took a fruity sip, staring down at the merry scene. “Yeah. Especially because it’s all so…normal and non-lethal.” I smirked. “Which means it won’t last. Let’s face it, disaster follows my every move. Like a newborn duck imprinted on a tsunami.”

“That…makes no sense,” he said. “But sounds like you need a hug which, being your official boyfriend, I’m contractually obligated to provide.” Ayden set down both our drinks on the railing and opened his arms with a dramatic sigh. “It’s a cross. I bear it.”

I balked. “No hug. It will hurt the wounds
I
inflicted.”

“Oh, come on. I was even going to throw in a kiss because I’m such a giver. And regardless of my idiot brother’s claims which attempt to emasculate me and besmirch my long-standing and well-deserved tough-guy reputation, I am not a big baby.”

Then despite my protests, which were half-hearted at best, because I’m not so stupid as to turn down a chance to snuggle into Ayden’s warm and naked— okay, half-naked—body, he pulled me close. My check settled on his chest which felt solid and comforting.

And naked.

I almost giggled. Get a grip, Aurora.

“Enjoy the win.” His voice wrapped around me like a soothing lullaby. “Because with the treasure plus all we’ve learned and will learn, I think we’ve finally got a leg up on the competition. Not to mention you’re using your powers like a pro now.”

I snorted. “Little fast and loose on the use of the word ‘pro,’ but I’ll take it.” I leaned back to look at him, and those eyes that were so easy to melt into. “I should probably get to the sanctuary for more reading.”

“We’ll go together.” He tucked a wisp of my hair behind my ear. “After the party. Just you and me. I could bring dessert. Something chocolate. And that sparkling cider you like.”

“Hmm. Very romantic. Especially if we set up next to the skeleton.”

“Sure, try to kill the mood. But it won’t work.” In a swift move, he spun me around and dipped me low. My breath caught and I grabbed his biceps, muscles steely under my palms. His eyes glinted warm and provocative. “I’m the master of romance.” He lowered his mouth toward mine.

“I love it!” Selena cried.

Ayden started to let go then caught me. I squealed.

“Just kidding,” he said with a devilish grin. “Because, rest assured, now that I’ve got you, I’m never letting go.”

My little sister flung her arms around Matthias as the two entered the game room, then she raced past us and down to the beach clutching a book and trailing remnants of colorful wrapping paper in her wake. Seeing us she sang, “Making a b-a-b-b-y-n-g,” which wasn’t embarrassing at all. Even when Matthias made vomiting noises.

“To be continued,” Ayden dropped a light kiss on my lips, then lifted me up and led me into the game room. “Which one did you give her?” he asked Matthias.

At the sight of me, Matthias shut down the indulgent smile that always surfaced around Selena. “
Pride and Prejudice.
”

“I love that one,” Blake said. “Heathcliff and Elizabeth were made for each other.”

“It’s
Darcy
. Or Catherine depending on—” Logan shook his head. “Never mind.”

I cast a wary eye at the Aussie. “You said the guys didn’t know about your…
collection.
”

Matthias tried to look serious, then laughter rumbled from his throat. His dimples even showed up.

“You should’ve seen your face. Thought I was breaking down.” He put the back of his hand to his forehead and spoke in a silly, high-pitched voice. “No, Aurora,
please
don’t tell them.”

His shoulders shook. With laughter. Which, now that I think about it, was probably why they were shaking before. When I found the books. When he—holy crap, the Aussie played a joke on me.

I squinted. “It wasn’t funny.”

Okay, it was a little funny. 

“It was priceless.” Matthias wiped at his eyes and pointed a mocking finger. “Thought you were keeping some
big
secret.”

Ayden threw an irritated look at the Aussie. “Did you tell her the whole story?”

Matthias tried to contain his mirth, “Hey, she invaded my house, my room, talked to my dad, and wanted to discuss romance. I had to have some fun. You can tell her.”

“Oh, no,” Ayden shook his head. “You’re not sucking me into that again. You tell her.” 

“Somebody tell me!”

Matthias rolled his eyes. “Fine. My mother was a librarian. Those books were her favorites.” When Ayden gestured for Matthias to continue, the Aussie gritted his teeth, then spoke with his words clipped, every syllable honed with precision. “Mum read them to Bindi, but I refused to join in. Called them stupid. After they were both…gone I read every one. Now I keep the books safe. Just in case. There. Happy?”

Not exactly. I didn’t know what to say. The story was sweet yet sad and warmed my heart in some odd, convoluted sort of way.

Then my brow creased. “In case of what?”

Something rippled under the surface of the Aussie’s carefully neutral expression, but he buried it too quickly for me to read. “We’re done here.”

“Not until you give me credit for keeping your secret. That shows that I’m a part of the team.”

Matthias scowled. “It wasn’t a secret.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Keeping secrets is dangerous,” Matthias said. “The fact that you’re still willing to keep them shows that you don’t get it, and you’re
not
part of the team.” He turned on his high-horse heel and headed for the door.

I stared at his back. I hated when he was right. I squared my shoulders.

Ayden grabbed my arm. “Aurora, don’t.”

I blurted, “I’m the Divinicus Nex.”

Matthias froze. It was dead quiet.

Then it wasn’t.

“No! No! No!” Matthias wailed and put his hands over his ears. He scooted around the room. The rest of the guys were in various stages of distress, moaning and groaning.

“What’s wrong?” I’d been so proud of fessing up. “You said secrets were dangerous. You wanted me to be honest if I was part of the team.”

“That was your implication,” Jayden told Matthias.

Matthias plopped on the couch, grabbed a pillow and buried his face in it, grumbling, “Don’t make it seem like she’s making sense. Like she’s not an idiot.”

So much for my atta-boy.

Matthias jumped up and paced the room. “I
already
knew you were the Divinicus, I just didn’t
know
.”

“Talk about secrets,” I said. “Why doesn’t anyone ever say anything?”

“Because I’m
not
an idiot.” Matthias ground out. “Because as long as your identity remained technically just a theory, I had plausible deniability. Until it was confirmed. Just now. By you. Which means you’re an idiot. Again. Thank you. My world is back to normal.” His laugh was a touch maniacal. “Did you miss the part where I live with a human lie detector? Sure, he said he wouldn’t ask questions, but that’s what he does. Like a vulture picking at bones.” Matthias’s hand made the shape of a beak and stabbed it at the air. “Pick, pick, pick.”

Tristan stuck his head out of the secret room. “Hate to interrupt your meltdown, Matthias, but we’ve got another crisis.”

Of course we did.

In the secret room we huddled around the computer Tristan and Jayden had put together from spare parts.

“It looks like Frankenstein,” Blake said.

“She may not be pretty,” Tristan said with pride, “but she’s only connected to Aunt M’s computer, which means I can access anything and stay invisible. Even if I hack into the Mandatum.”

“What’d you find, mate?”

“First, Eros was right. Heather is at Novo.”

At my old friend’s name, my gut stung like I’d swallowed an angry swarm of bees.

I gritted my teeth against the memories of the attack, and asked, “Is she alright?” I didn’t have warm fuzzy feelings toward her, but I didn’t want her suffering either. My emotions were utterly flummoxed. “Should we go…help her somehow?”

“I haven’t been able to access her records yet.” Tristan said. “But I’ve got her on security footage. Seems fine as far as I can tell. I’ll go visit my dad soon so we can talk to her then and find out. Second, I uncovered who signed out the tracker that was in the gorilla demon chasing Aurora. The crisis comes in how the two situations are related.”

“Which is?” Ayden asked.

“The person who signed out the tracker and the person who authorized Heather’s entry into Novo and is footing the bill are one and the same.” Tristan tapped a key and one of the screens lit up with the image of a woman.

“Oh. No,” I breathed.

Ayden put his arm around me. My knees unhinged, and I leaned against him. I felt cold. Couldn’t breathe. Because I knew the woman. We all did.

Waves of long brunette hair, dark, intelligent almond-shaped eyes, voluptuous figure, and great legs.

“Madame Sophina Cacciatori.” My legs officially jellified. I had to sit. “The Mandatum hunter in charge of finding
and protecting
the Divinicus Nex, is actually trying to kill me?”

“It’s not proof,” Tristan said. “But she’s stationed at the Paris headquarters where Eros said he came out of the portal because it was the location of Aphrodite’s contact. Plus, Cacciatori signs out a lot for personal business, and while I haven’t tracked her movements yet, here’s something interesting.” A document came up on another screen, and Tristan pointed to a particular line. “Check out these dates she was off the grid.”

I understood immediately and went cold. “She was out on personal business during the time when I was attacked in the alley. So…Cacciatori orchestrated it? She’s Vermis?”

“It’s not definitive.” Jayden’s tone was grave. “And we would need irrefutable corroboration of the facts. However, with this particular evidence and her apparent connection to Heather and Novo, it is what the vernacular would term a ‘smoking gun.’”

Tristan nodded. “I’ll keep checking for more.”

“If it is Cacciatori, we don’t want her looking at us any closer than she already is,” Matthias said. “Everyone go over your mission reports one last time so I can send them out.”

Ayden put a coconut drink in my hand and kissed my cheek. “Go to the party. Have fun. I’ll be there soon.” Then he and the rest of the guys moved away to concentrate on paperwork.  

I felt numb. Wasn’t ready to join the limbo crowd, so I sank into the nearest chair. The room was quiet but for keyboards clacking and the usual bubbling of Jayden’s lab concoctions. Next to me, Blake nudged my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, babe, your hexy knights will always protect their queen.” He placed something round on my head and went back to his paperwork.

Everything went black. I’m not talking about computer screens going black, I’m talking I went blind. I blinked repeatedly, but still couldn’t see a thing.

“Guys? Matthias? Hey, Mr. Prince of Darkness, this is not funny.”

No response to my underwhelming wit. I was sure my clever title for the Aussie would at least get a chuckle from Blake.

Then the room brightened and came into focus.

Just one problem. I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.