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Page 17

 

  "Right," he replied, "he cant kill the Valefar who bound him - you already did. So hes coming after you, the only other person who was there. Its revenge. But, I dont understand why he didnt just kill you or why he used that kind of magic with you. It was risky. "

  Curiosity spurred within me. I realized that Eric used some weird kind of Valefar magic, but I was afraid to ask Collin about it since he didnt seem keen to talk about such things. I took the opportunity to ask him, "When Eric effonated, I had no choice but to go with him. How did he do that?"

  Collins gaze turned from mine, his eyes widened. "He didnt make you effonate next to him? It was his power that pulled you? Not his?" I shook my head. "Tell me everything he said and did when he found you. " I told Collin about everything from Eric forcing me to swallow his blood, to his taunting words and how he used people to cause us to run out in different directions. When I was speaking, Collin pressed his fingers to his temples and closed his eyes. When I was done he asked, "Did you swallow? Did his blood go down your throat?" I nodded. Collin let out a rush of air like something heavy fell on his stomach. He turned away from me, pressing his fingers to his eyes.

  "Collin, please tell me how he did that. I had no idea he could do any of those things. It caught me totally off guard. " I walked up behind him, and gently touched his arm. He turned toward me. I looked up into his eyes and said, "I cant protect myself if I dont know what he can do. "

  Collin started to speak and stopped. His arms folded tightly to his chest as he tilted his head. His voice was cautious. "Valefar can intensify their magic if they use blood. There are things that can be done with their blood or their victims blood. " He paused, staring at me. "He was able to effonate with you because he made you swallow enough of his blood to take you with him. It only works once, but he could have forced you to do it again. The blood allows the same magic that the Valefar wields to be used on the victim. Its helpful when fighting immortals. Most of the Valefar have forgotten how to do what Eric did, which is making me wonder how he knew to do it. " Collin looked to me for answers, but I didnt know. Eric didnt say much, besides that he managed to nab Shannon, too. He probably baited her out and caught her the same way. And Id turned her into something that I wasnt certain of at this point. Shoving a Martis through an evil mirror would have some seriously weird side-effects.

  Collin continued, "If he wanted to kill you, he could have done it before I got there. If he wanted to kidnap you, you wouldnt have escaped. He knows what hes doing, and you dont - which is why Ive been trying to protect you. " Collin shook his head, and laughed hollowly, "When I realized you effonated I thought the bastard was going to slaughter you after he toyed with you first. "

  I shook my head. "Thats what I thought, but he healed me after he realized what effonating did to me. " Collins fingers wound around my curl with a thoughtful expression on his face before dropping it and shoving his hands in his pockets.

  "That makes no sense whatsoever," was all he said about the matter. He was right about that. It didnt make any sense, even considering that Eric wanted to torture me and have fun watching me die. He still could have done that, and I was so weak that I couldnt fight back - but he didnt. Collins sapphire eyes bore into me, waiting for me to reveal something more, but I didnt.

  "I know. It really doesnt make sense. Al reminded me that he isnt Eric anymore. " I shook my head, trying to shake off the guilt that crawled out of my stomach. Collin sensed it. He tilted his head, but I shoved those feeling back down to where they were hiding, and asked, "Have you ever heard of the Satan Stone?" He shook his head. "Al thought it could heal the poison in my chest. " Collin went white as his jaw locked. I wanted to comfort him, and tell him it was going to be okay, but for all I knew - it wasnt.

  "Apparently," I continued, "its a forgotten Martis fable from a really long time ago. Als one of the oldest living Martis and said she barely remembered stories about it. She said that Satans Stone can give its owner power, so it can heal me. " I didnt really believe the words coming out of my mouth. It was a rock. What could it do? But, I learned not to question immortal objects. After walking through the Lorren, nothing would surprise me. So Satan hid all his power in a rock - Id seen weirder things. I looked over at Collin, "But no one remembers the fable, anymore. All the documents containing mention of it are gone - except one. Al said there is a letter from the first Angel Demon War documenting how it ended - someone held up a stone and the fighting stopped. " Collin arched an eyebrow at me. "I know, right? Sounds weird. But that document is the only trace left of the legend of the Satan Stone. And I know where it is. " I took a deep breath. "Someone else had heard about it too, while he was tracking me down for the Martis. Al said he had the letter. . . "

  Collin shook his head in disbelief. "Eric? Youre telling me that Erics the only other person who could have helped us? And now hes. . . "

  I finished for him, "A crazy-ass Valefar. Yeah. Sounds perfect. " I explained to Collin that we needed to go to Erics old apartment and steal his book. I only hoped that I could find it and that Erics stuff was still there. Turns out I should have hoped for something else altogether.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Erics apartment was in an old three story brick walk-up. We were listening at the door and didnt hear anyone when a neighbor came out. A short round woman folded her arms and glared at me from behind thick glasses. Her black hair was smoothed back into a ponytail where it frizzed into a massive puff. Her shirt was a size too small and rode right at the top of her jeans. Startled, I gasped like I was up to no good, but quickly explained that we knew Eric.

  Sympathy instantly diminished her previous perception of us. "Oh, Im so sorry for your loss. " Her eyes shifted between us as she rubbed her palms together. "I cant image knowing someone who died like that. "

  Wide-eyed, I glanced at Collin. He nodded in agreement and laced his arm through mine. His thoughts brushed my mind, Play along.

  "It was," he agreed, "Ivys known Eric since they were children, and wanted to say goodbye. "

  The woman nodded, with her mouth hanging open in an O, before saying, "Oh, thats right. There was no burial, because the body. . . " she cut herself off before she said anything else. "Oh, dear-heart, Im so sorry. " She blinked back a tear and wrapped her arms around me in a bear hug. I stiffened and tried to wiggle out of it, before Collin mentally chastised me to be more mournful.

  When she released me, Collin continued, "As you can imagine, its very difficult to get closure when things end like that. . . "

  I shot a thought at him; Do you even know what youre talking about? What did the Martis tell her?

  But Collin ignored me and kept talking to the woman as if he knew, "I suggested taking her to his apartment one last time to see where he lived, but it seems that its already been rented and we didnt want to intrude. "

  The woman had her hand over her heart and looked at me with huge weepy eyes. "Of course! I know the girl who moved in there, after his accident; in fact were good friends. I suppose I could let you in, just for a minute. Tahlia isnt home. Im sure she wouldnt mind. " Collin nodded somberly and thanked her while she ran off to fetch the key.

  I arched an eyebrow at Collin, "How do they think Eric died?"

  Collin shrugged, "Beats me, but the Martis must have covered Erics tracks well, because this woman didnt expect to see anyone. Asking to see the apartment was the best I could do. Do you think you can find the book quickly, if its still there?"

  "Its worth a try. I saw where he hid it. I just hope its still there. " There was a niche in the wall where Eric withdrew the book before he thrust it under my nose. Eric was irate that night. He said that I undid a lifetime of work. He didnt like me then. And he detested demon blood to the point that he didnt treat me the same way once he found out I was tainted. But, his actions were different than his words. He saved me. I saved him. It happened so many times that I was beginning to think that we were friends. Eric had changed aft
er our descent into the Underworld. I pushed the memory away, as Collins fingers laced through mine.

  "Pretend youre sad. " He squeezed my hand.

  I squeezed back, "Dont have to. "

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  The woman opened the door to Erics old apartment. It looked so different. None of his stuff was there any more, not that I expected it to be, but it still jolted me. It was like the Eric I knew had been blotted from existence. Releasing Collins hand, I wrapped my arms around my middle and walked over to the window. These windows shattered when Jake came crashing through one night and attacked us. I slashed Eric in the chest that night by accident. I thought Id killed him, but he just laughed at me and saved me - even when he wasnt sure about me.

  The large woman whod let us into the apartment then excused herself for a moment to go water Tahlias plants. She remained in the apartment, but wasnt watching very closely. I stared blankly as the memories plagued me. Collin touched my shoulder, instantly pulling me out of the memories and I flinched.

  I looked back at him. "Sorry. Its just. . . I dont know. Its like this was the last piece of him, and now its gone. " I didnt expect to get so choked up, but I knew it wasnt the normal pangs of loss I was feeling. It was loss laced with guilt - soul-sucking guilt.

  Collin refocused my attention on the matter at hand, "Where was it?" he whispered.

  Shaking off the slew of emotions, I walked over to the wall where the book had been hidden right as Peggy bustled back into the bedroom. She spoke to Collin while I stood looking at the bookcase, and back to the window wondering what to do. I couldnt try to get the book with her watching me. Shed think I was stealing. Peggy didnt leave us alone again, and I didnt get the chance to see if the book was still in the wall. Eyes wide, I pleaded with Collin to do something, but he shook his head slightly and brushed my mind, Later.

  Not understanding his intentions, he thanked Peggy and we left. When we were outside, I asked, "Why did we leave? I didnt get a chance to look. "

  Collin had his hand on the small of my back and was pressing me towards the alley. "Theres something odd going on. Im not sure what, but I felt like we had to leave. Well go back later, and get it when Tahlias asleep. "

  That was the first time Id broken into someones house. I didnt like it. My mind flashed pictures of a thin thirty-year-old with dark hair waking up screaming, and beating me senseless with a frying pan. Once I entered her house, it didnt matter how quiet I was, my pounding heart made me feel like an elephant trying to tip-toe through her dark home. Collin waited for me nearby, but he wouldnt tell me where. He was being secretive and wanted to keep it to himself. I didnt understand why he wanted to keep things secret from me. Okay, maybe I did understand. I had my own secrets after all.

  Narrowly missing the black coffee table, I moved around in the dark with ease. Thank God for Martis vision. At least I could see. Too bad stealth wasnt one of my abilities too. Youd think it would be. There are enough clumsy people in the world that gracefulness should be a requirement of being turned immortal, but it wasnt. Lucky me.