Ohhh. I love private, important matters that Im not supposed to talk about but do, because Im such a giver. Im listening.
Despite her convoluted confession that she meant to tattle, there was no more typing. Good. He proceeded. I want to see the dead. How do I make that happen? Sienna was a soul without a bodya soul he couldnt sense in any way. Only those who communed with the dead could see, hear and touch her. But rumor was, Viola knew a trick that rendered the ability unnecessary.
She blinked, and he noticed that her lashes were painted a glittery pink to match her phone. Let me tell you what I just heard. Talk, talk, talk, I. Talk, talk, talk, I. Well, what about me?
His jaw clenched. There was being charming, and there was being a sucker. He wasnt a sucker. Well, not all the time. Ill tell you about you. You can see the dead. Now youre going to teach me how to see them. An order she would do well to heed.
Her nose wrinkled. Why do you care about seeing souls? If theyre still here, theyre causing trouble andoh, oh, wait. Clap, clap, jump, jump, twirl. Ive already figured this little mystery out because Im highly intelligent. You want to see your slain human lover.
Instantly his fury flashed to the surface, hot enough to blister. He didnt like anyone speaking of Sienna in any fashion. Not Zacharel, and certainly not this strange minor goddess with a penchant for gossiping. Sienna was his to protect, even in that capacity. I
Tsk, tsk. No need to confirm my genius assumption. Viola patted his cheek, all syrupy sweetness for his mental handicap. Especially since I cant help you.
She tried to walk away.
He caught her wrist. Cant or wont? There was a big difference. The first he could do nothing about. The second he could change, and if she pushed him, she would discover the lengths he was willing to go to, to do just that.
Wont. See ya. Oblivious to the rage she threatened to unleash, she jerked from his hold and practically skipped to the back of the bar, her perfect ass swaying, the heels of her boots clicking.
Incensed, he followed her, shoving aside anyone who got in his way. Grunts, groans and growls abounded, the predators in the crowd taking exception to his brute-force tactics. No one attempted to stop him, however. They sensed a far greater predator in their midst.
How do you know who I am? he demanded the moment he reached Viola. Theyd start there and work their way to the mind changing, just in case one was dependent on the other.
She performed another twirl, making a production of it, as if she were a model at the end of a runway. He was a tall man used to towering over women, but Viola was a tiny fluff of five feet nothing and he dwarfed her.
Sienna, on the other hand, was just the right height. Standing, or on his knees, or lying down, hed reach all the best parts of her, no problem.
I know everything there is to know about the Lords of the Underworld, Viola said. I made the entire horde of you my business when I escaped Tartarus and learned you were responsible for my condition.
She did blame him for the demon shed been stuck with, then. And she smelled of roses, he realized with a jolt, the gentle scent suddenly clinging to his sinuses, very nearly drowning him in a warm sense of peace.
Lucien, the keeper of the demon of Death, could do the same thing to his enemies, calming them just before he struck a life-ending blow.
Pariss fury and frustration quickly chased that peacefulness away. Stop that.
Wow, thats a dark scowl. And not a very good look for you, I must say, she added, then caught a glimpse of her coral-painted fingernails and studied them in the light. So pretty.
Touch her.
He tuned out his demon and decided hed give the charm/sucker thing one more shot. Because, honestly? He had yet to intimidate this female in any way. If this next attempt failed, he would let loose his beast in full forceand he wasnt talking about Sex. There was darkness inside him now, so much darkness, and that darkness would drive him to do what was necessary, no matter how vile.
He had no one but himself to blame, for hed opened himself up to it. Just a fraction at first, like a crack in a window. But the funny thing was, once you welcomed in a breeze, there was no stopping what came next. A wind, a storm, thunder and lightning, until you could no longer reach the window to close itand didnt really want to anyway. Thats what this new darkness was. Evil in its purest form, an entity very much like Sex, urging him on.
Lie, cheat, betray, Paris thought. Here, now, like all the other times before.
He leaned down, softening his expression, forcing his demons desires to seep through his pores. Forcing his blood to heat and the musky scent of arousal to drift from him, as sultry as champagne, as heady as chocolate. If Sex wouldnt use those pheromones, Paris would. He hated doing this, because, like everyone else, both he and Sex became mindless, flesh-hungry beings at the first whiff. Worse, the memories of what he forced people to doto crave
Viola, sweetness. Talk to me. Tell me what I wish to know. His tone was a sensual caress, blissful and sure, and yet, even with the pheromones affecting Paris, he wanted only one woman and Viola wasnt her.
I meant to thank you for my demon, she went on, as if hed never spoken. As if he did not currently smell like pleasure walking. Hes the best! But then halfway to Budapest to track down your fortress, I forgot all about you. Im sure you understand. She fluffed her hair, looking away from him as she waved to someone at her right. So, anyway, now that youre here, thanks. Feel free to relay that to the others. Now youll have to Argh! Who put a mirror there? she ended in a screech.
Undiluted rage blazed from her expression for a single heartbeat, followed by rapturous ecstasy as she studied her reflection.
Look at me. She angled one way, posed, then angled another and posed again. Im gorgeous.
Viola. Seconds passed, but she never stopped admiring herself. She even blew herself a kiss. Fine. Theyd do this the other way. I can make you beg for my touch, Viola. In front of everyone. And believe me, you will beg. You will cry, but relief will never be yours. Ill make sure of it. But do you know what else? Thats not even the worst of what Ill do to you.
Several seconds ticked by, but she never offered a reply.
Fury
Frustration
Darknessrising He wanted to strike, to hurt, to kill.
He inhaled, held, heldsmelled an infusion of rosesreleased the breath. Okay. Good. This time he was able to allow both emotion bombs to fizzle before detonation, calming him.
Perhaps Viola couldnt help herself, he realized suddenly. As he knew very well, all of Pandoras demons came with a major flaw. This could be hers. She was Narcissism, after all, a lover of self.
Testing his theory, he stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the mirror. Her entire body stiffened. Her gaze darted left and right, as if searching for interlopers who might have tried to harm her while shed been incapacitated. No one had approached, and the tension drained from her. She breathed easier.
I will gut the culprit! she whispered fiercely.
Bingo. Her flaw, and one she clearly reviled.
Concentrate on me, Viola. He gripped her by the shoulders, squeezing harder than hed intended and shaking her until those cinnamon eyes rose to meet his. Tell me what I want to know and youll walk away from this unscathed.
Still not the least bit intimidated, she shrugged off his hold. So impatient. I should be used to it by now, but alas. Men falling all over mestill a burden.
Viola!
Fine. Lets see what my worshippers have to say sooner rather than later, shall we? She lifted her phone and read the screen. Four hundred and eighty-five votes for Help him by giving him my number. Two hundred and seven votes for Are you stupid, climb him like a mountain, and one hundred and twenty-three votes for Hes mine, bitch, walk away. She looked up at him, another smile taking root. The little people have spoken. Yes, I will tell you about the souls.
Urgency overrode his relief. Tell me, then. Now.
Hey, you. Demon scum. The harsh voice rang out from behind him.
Annnd one of the guys Paris had bumped into earlier was finally acting out. Paris ground his molars. His hands returned to the females shoulders. Viola. Tell me. She would tell him, and he would leave, finally beginning his search in truth.
Get your hands off my female!
Or not. Unleashed aggression dripped from the males tone, and the need for violence quickly resurfaced inside Paris.
Restrain yourself, common sense counseled. Victory is within reach. A friend of yours?
I have no friends. Graceful fingers reached up and hooked several tendrils of hair behind her ear. Only admirers.
Im talking to you, demon. The male again.
Need risinghigher and highera thick black cloud that would not dissipate until blood ran in rivers at his feet. If you want this admirer to survive, flash us out of here. Popping from one location to another with only a thought always made him sick, but sick was better than distracted.
I dont, she said. Want him to survive, that is.
Are you listening to me, demon? The tone was harsher, and far more determined. Move away from her and face me. Or are you a coward?
The cloud enveloped his mind, a single thought suddenly consuming him. The male was an obstacle in his path, blocking him from Sienna, and obstacles were to be eliminated. Always.
Another small voice of reason whispered through him, a beacon of gold amid an endless stretch of midnight. Zacharel Current path Destruction
Look at yourself in the mirror, goddess, the male commanded. I dont want you to see what I do to the demon.
Even as a curse tore from her mouth, Viola obeyed, angling around Paris as if she couldnt help herself and hated herself for it. Just like that, she was once again enraptured by her own image, pinkie-waving and blowing kisses.
The golden whisper was destroyed. Death became inevitable. Paris pivoted on his heels to glare at his opponent.
Soon, blood would flow.
CHAPTER THREE
PARIS HAD GOTTEN ONE FACT wrong. He didnt have an opponent. He had opponents. The knowledge caused a heady rush of eagerness to flood him. The day just kept getting better. Earlier hed slain a handful of Hunters, and this hours selectionaka dessertwas a trio of fallen angels, each one bigger than the last. They were without shirtsthe new fashion?their scarred backs visible in the mirror at the top of the wall.
The frothing trio formed a solid wall of muscle on the other side of the bar, their arms crossed over their chests, their legs braced apart to evenly distribute their weight. A classic Im-about-to-hurt-someone stance.
I want them, Sex said, as if that were some big surprise.
You will not walk away, he warned the men. Lately, he couldnt afford to leave survivors. They had a nasty habit of returning for revenge.
Ive seen you around, the one on the left said. You smile and women fall at your feet, but Im gonna change that when I rip your spine out of your mouth. Then Im gonna tell your enemies where you are. Yeah, I know who you are, Lord of Sex. I also know the Hunters want the privilege of killing you.
The one on the right flashed a grin, total Ive-lost-my wings-and-Im-glad evil. Yeah. I like that idea. Maybe Ill sign up with them, just to watch what they do to you when were finished, you dirty
The one in the middle, the biggest one, placed a hand on Righties shoulder, silencing him. He had a bright white halo tattooed around his neck. That could mean he was only recently fallen, that he still had ties with the angels or that he liked to reminisce. Whatever. He would experience the same fate as his friends. Less words, more pain.
Yes, more pain, Paris agreed. He unsheathed his two favorite daggers, the clear, crystal blades glinting like rainbows in the light.
Hey, no arsenals allowed inside, the bartender bellowed. Only fists.
The entire bar stopped and quieted, clearly intent on watching.
Feel free to try and pry mine from my grip. That would mean more opponents, more bloodshed. More satisfaction.
Unfair advantage, someone else called.
Exactly. If you werent cheating, you werent trying. But, all right. Even lost to the decadent taste of violence as he was, Paris knew how to pretend to play nice. He commanded the blades to vanish from view while still remaining in his hands. Magical as they were, they obeyed.
I dont care what weapons you use, Halo said.
You shouldnt have come here. Leftie unfolded his arms. This is our territory, and were taking it back.
Now, well make sure you never return. Rightie fisted his hands, cracking his knuckles. This is gonna be fun.
Fun. Yes. For me. Paris approached.
The trio approached.
All four met in the middle. The moment Paris was within reach, he kicked Leftie while punching Rightie. Leftie hunched over, gasping for breath. Rightie died. Paris had punched with his invisible blade, sinking hilt-deep into the bastards carotid.
One down. Two to go.
Halo swung a meaty fist, but the low, straight line Paris had made with his body caused the former winger to encounter only air, the momentum spinning him around. By the time Paris jerked upright, Leftie had regained his stamina and jumped on him, attempting to rip out his trachea with claws that hadnt been there a moment ago. Through dumb luck or talent, Leftie managed to angle his wrist when he realized Paris was shifting position, hitting the tendon that ran from neck to shoulder instead. There was a brutal rending before Paris shoved him off, the bastard taking hunks of skin and muscle with him.
Paris didnt release him, though. He held on tight, even as Halo got back in the game and hammered at his face. He stabbed Leftie with a quick jab, jab. Kidneys first, to shock and disable. Heart second, to kill. Leftie died just like his friend.