The Devil's Third (23 page)

“I knew he was powerful, but I never realized who he really was,” she murmured to herself. “It makes sense. The Devil’s third.”

“Ameerah?”

She parked on the side of the road and turned to me. “To answer your question, no, we can’t trap Bael or an older dark spirit, and if we can, I don’t know how. Bael has spies, and anybody who even attempts to ensnare him or his lot is punished in some form or another.”

I’ve lived for almost two centuries, and I’d never heard of the things she was telling. I suspected these were secrets coveted by the dark spirits, and since Ameerah was breeching the laws among them, she would suffer for her betrayal. She was risking a lot for reasons unclear to me.

I held a hand up, halting anything else she had to say. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Almost 7 a.m. We had to get busy before Paige left the country with Bael. “We don’t have much time, Ameerah. I need quick answers from you, so we can get on with what we need to do. I don’t mean to be an asshole or any--”

She waved it off. “I understand. I’m throwing a lot of information at you. Go ahead and ask me.”

I closed the book and latched it. “Where did you get this?”

The corners of her mouth curled into a mischievous smile. “I lifted it from Volac’s lair.”

“What’s the Devil’s third?”

“According to the rumors I’ve heard, it means the executive, legislative and judiciary.” She must have seen the confusion on my face because she continued. “Bael’s followers have been working to infiltrate the United States government, and some of them are already in, slowly spilling their agendas across the nation. Once Bael has the ring and incantations, he’ll be able to control everything. He’s grown impatient and is disgusted with what humans have done to this world. With Solomon’s power, he can seize control over not only the U.S. government, but all governments, as well as the U.N., instead of waiting for it. The dark spirits calls this operation The Devil’s Third.” She shrugged. “Personally, I don’t believe it. I think it means something completely different, and Bael is allowing these rumors to fly. He’s planning something else . . . much darker than what is being said. At least, in my opinion he is.”

Despite her doubts, what Ameerah said about the government didn’t shock me. I knew dark forces were at play within those areas, and there were immortals monitoring it. They were doing what they could to prevent a series of powder kegs the dark spirits strategically placed within the system, from being ignited and bringing the world to its knees. But what did make me take a step back was they had a code name for it, and it wasn’t progressing fast enough for Bael. The world had been sitting on death row far too long, and Bael wanted to execute it as soon as possible. But then again, maybe Ameerah’s hunch was right, and this was a ruse to throw others off Bael’s trail.

“Anymore questions?” Ameerah asked, interrupting my thoughts.

“You’re risking a lot to help me and Paige. Why?”

Her gaze dropped to her lap, and she knotted and unknotted her fingers. When she looked up, there were tears in her eyes. “One word. Redemption.” She cleared her throat, then continued. “I’ve been carving out a different path for myself. I’m tired of the existence I’ve chosen, and I miss Nadia. I’m changing my ways, Nathan, but I do want something in return.”

“Of course. If you help me locate Paige, and I find her, I am in your debt.”

“I believe Paige can open spiritual doors–doors I do not have access to. I want to know I’m forgiven for my sins. I want Paige to contact Nadia, and if my wrong doing is absolved, I want to crossover, so I can be with Nadia.”

I ran a hand through my hair and peeked at her sideways. The sadness in her eyes betrayed the hard look in her face. I knew Paige was a skeleton key who could unlock spiritual doors connected to this realm, and for some reason, Ameerah knew it as well. I wondered if Paige’s house was bugged, then quickly waved off the absurd thought. But I had to know why she thought Paige could contact Nadia. What Ameerah was asking was a tall order I wasn’t sure could be served. “What makes you think Paige can do those things?”

“When we met at Gnat Creek, and Paige touched my hand before she transported us to where Aosoth was . . .” She paused and her eyes grew wide. The tone of her voice dropped to a whisper. “I saw it.”

I leaned forward, my breath caught in my throat. I could only manage to say four words, “What did you see?”

“Doorways,” she said, closing her eyes. She leaned her forehead against her fingers and continued. “I saw several. I can’t recall much detail because they flashed before me in a matter of seconds.” She dropped her hands, and her eyes poured into mine. A beam of light swiped across them. “One was dark with flickering lights. I’m guessing it leads to our realm. But when I saw the one with dark green rolling hills covered with brilliant, colorful flowers and a lilac sky, I lost my breath. I believe it’s where Nadia resides.”

“What if you’re wrong?”

She shook her head. “I’m not. There is no doubt in my mind Paige can help my transition. If I’m welcomed there.” Her shoulders sagged, and her face fell with her last statement.

My heart went out to her. “I think,” I said, covering her hand with mine, “you have to forgive yourself and do the right things. Once you do, you’ll be able to move on.”

A weak smile formed on her lips. “Thanks.” She sat up and started the Jeep. “Now let’s get down to business.”

I looked at the image on the cover. The Tree of Life. An unperceptive eye would not catch the symbolism skillfully embossed on it. I thought about the meaning behind it. A tree of knowledge, connecting to all forms of life, including heaven and the underworld. It was interesting to say the least. But I couldn’t deny the sick feeling I had holding it in my lap. This book was definitely dark, and I particularly didn’t care for its ghoulish binding.

“What the . . .?” Ameerah said when the Jeep jerked forward. I braced my hand against the dashboard as the vehicle violently shook. “This should
not
be happening.” Ameerah shifted gears. “My human bought this car two weeks ago.”

Up ahead was a small one-story house with patches of white paint peeling from years of neglect. It stood in a round clearing surrounded by trees and bushes. There were shingles missing from the roof, and the covered, rickety porch appeared to be separating from the frame, slanting downward.

“Pull over next to the tree.” I pointed to the shoulder of the road where a huge apple tree stood. “We can walk from here.”

 Ameerah parked. She turned to the backseat and grabbed a black duffel bag. “Supplies,” she said when she saw the questioning look I gave her.

“I want to get this done as quickly as possible,” I told her as we crossed the narrow road toward the cottage. “I don’t care who we . . .” As soon as I stepped on the edge of the clearing, the book ejected from my hands. It flew across the road, arching in mid-air and then vanished.

“Evil is not welcomed here,” a female voice called, echoing around us.

I looked at the house and saw a woman in a dark purple hooded cloak standing on the porch with her arm raised and a finger pointing past me. I glanced at Ameerah, wondering if she knew what was going on or who this person was.

Ameerah gasped. “It’s Jade.”

“Jade?”

She met my eyes in disbelief. “Haven’t you heard of her?”

I shook my head, suddenly realizing for over a century I’d been too focused on being a thorn in the dark spirits’ side. I’d missed out on a lot of useful and intriguing information and made a promise to myself I wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.

“She’s a legend. I didn’t think she was real,” Ameerah breathed.

“Who is she?” My patience was running thin. The book was now gone, which knocked me another step back. I didn’t give a shit if there were campfire stories about this Jade character or if songs were written about her. All I cared about was finding Paige and if Jade would be a problem.

“She was a witch back in the 1700s and burned at the stake,” Ameerah said. “When they lit the pyre at her feet, she cast her eyes to the heavens, chanting an incantation. Clouds began to form, whipping around the sky, blotting out the sun.” Ameerah made a shooing gesture above her head in demonstration. “A fierce wind blew through the crowd of spectators, extinguishing the fire,” she continued, getting into the story. “Her laughter echoed throughout the village, and mass hysteria ensued. The crowd dispersed, but there were a few curious souls who stayed. A hole punctured the sky above her, and a shimmering ray of light beamed down upon her, and she disappeared.”

I glanced at the cottage, and Jade was no longer there. “What happened to her, and why would she be here?” I could hear the annoyance in my voice but was too perturbed about not having the book to care. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. “You know what? I don’t give a damn. We’re wasting time. All I’m concerned about is if she can help me.”

“I don’t know why she’s here,” Ameerah said. “When I checked this area yesterday, I didn’t see her, but now . . .” She paused long enough for me to look at her. Her brow furrowed. “She said evil is not welcomed. I don’t think I can go with you,” she confessed.

Jade suddenly appeared in front of us, and though her image was transparent, from the shadowy depths of her hood, her striking green eyes jumped out, holding a life of its own–solid and alive. They settled on Ameerah. “You may enter, dear child of the fallen and misguided ones.”

And then she vanished.

Ameerah looked at me. She bit her bottom lip, unsure. I shrugged and stepped inside the open space. When my foot touched the ground, a surge of warm energy engulfed me, causing the hair on my arms to rise. Blood rushed in my ears, and my heart pounded. This all happened in a matter of seconds, only to be replaced by a dose of energy I’d never felt before–a high to where I felt alert and wide awake despite my sleepless night. I turned to see if Ameerah was coming. She remained rooted in her spot, her image distorted, as if I were looking through thick, beveled glass. I glanced around the area and realized it was a perfect circle, encased inside a barrier resembling a warped lens. The trees and clouds outside it even appeared distorted.

“Extraordinary,” I said, tilting my head back to a sunny, clear blue sky, feeling its warmth on my face. I looked at the house. The wood siding was no longer chipped and appeared freshly painted white, its roof in perfect order. Even the covered porch was now attached and leveled. Daisies filled flower boxes beneath the windows, adding more charm to this homey abode. The tall trees flanking the structure were in full bloom, bearing plump Gravenstein apples, appearing ripe for the picking. I glanced in Ameerah’s direction and smiled. “You have to see this,” I called, watching her twisted image shifting back and forth. For a second I wondered if she would chicken out, but then her boot appeared on the dark, green grass. Her hand followed, then shoulder, like she was wedging her way through a narrow doorway. Finally, she made it through and the first thing she did was squeal.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Paige

I slouched in the backseat and crossed my arms, causing Brayden to shift away from me. I stared out the window, watching the forest on the side of the road whiz by. Vibrant aspen and maple trees in a spectrum of crimson, orange, and yellow colors, were shedding their leaves. Some of the bared branches exposed pockets of dull light from the overcast sky. I didn’t know the time, but it had to be early morning. The sun remained scarce, but the world around us slowly brightened into a milky, gray landscape. I closed my eyes, wishing for a cup of coffee to perk me up. I could feel the exhaustion creeping through me, something I wanted to keep at bay considering my circumstances. I sat up and opened my eyes. Yawning, I pushed the hair out of my face and blinked a couple times.

“You’re welcome to take a nap if you like,” Bael offered, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “We still have over an hour before we reach our destination. We’d arrive there sooner; however, I do enjoy the scenic route much better. Besides, if you have to relieve yourself, squatting behind a bush is far superior than those vulgar public washrooms.”

“How kind of you,” I said sarcastically.

“My sources spilled the news to me about Nathan’s merciless actions toward Aosoth and Roeick,” he said, changing the subject. “They told me when he discovered what Roeick had done to you, he became . . . what’s the word humans use . . . unglued?”

I hugged myself, suddenly feeling cold. That memory was still fresh in my mind and one I didn’t care to revisit, but obviously Bael wasn’t going to drop it. A vision of me shirtless with my chest pressed against a stone wall and my wrist bound above my head entered my mind. I could still hear the sound of the bullwhip whooshing in the air and then smacking my flesh, paralyzing me in a void of white-hot pain.

“Yes, unglued is the term they use,” he mused, answering his own question. Brayden remained quiet, sitting with his legs spread apart, his knee touching mine. He appeared in deep thought. His arms were crossed over his chest, his eyes hard and serious. I knew the look. He was planning something and didn’t seem to hear us. “I hate to admit this,” Bael went on. “I’m not one to disregard impressive behavior, even it is coming from someone I abhor. However, Nathan is quite inventive when it comes to striking against those whom rattle his cage enough to unleash a side of him I admire. It’s too bad that he’s easily distracted.”

I took the bait. “What do you mean?” Brayden slipped his hand in mine and squeezed it in short Morse spurts.

Seatbelt.

Oh, God, what the hell was he planning on doing?

I glanced at him, and he was staring at the back of the front seat with a bored look on his face.

Why?
I squeezed back.

Just do it.

“For over a century Nathan has been too focused on tracking us. It has crippled his awareness and blinded him to the great mystical chasms in this world,” Bael said.