Annabelle laughed, the sound carefree. Oh, you are in so much trouble, buddy. But yeah, okay. Ill help you.
Relief was as potent as a drug. For a price, of course.
Nope. Not at all. I know thats how you guys like to operate, but this ones free of charge. Just invite me to the wedding, and well call it good.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
YOUVE GOT TO TRY THIS. Laila shoveled a piece of chocolate into Nicolas mouth before she had time to form a reply.
Chocolate contained caffeine, so very rarely did she allow herself to indulge. But when she did... The gooey goodness delighted her, and she closed her eyes to savor. A mistake. She and her sister were in the process of strolling along the cobbled path winding through the park, and she bumped into a trash can.
The thud brought Lailas attention around, and her twin burst out laughing. Kooky Co Co kicks a carton.
Empty wrappers, half-eaten sandwiches and Starbucks cups spilled onto the concrete, yet Nicola smiled as she cleaned the mess. How wonderful to hear her sisters amusement. When she finished, she dug the antibacterial gel from her purse and slathered her hands.
Youve got chocolate on your chin, Laila said, trying to be calm but failing. The gray of her eyes glimmered gorgeously. The sun cast bright, golden rays over skin that hadnt seen the outdoors in months, illuminating her, making her radiate health and vitality.
Nicola wiped her face with the tips of her fingers. Better?
Much. Now youre almost as pretty as me. Pretending a vanity shed never possessed, Laila studied her decimated cuticles. Notice I said almost.
Someone needs glasses. Your hair is blond but your roots are red, Nicola replied, giving her ponytail a flip. Its quite hideous.
Laila gasped with mock outrage. Ill have you know this look is all the rage right now. Total style and sophistication.
I dont follow trends. I make them.
Grinning, her sister held out her hand. You are so totally lame. Come on, walk with me.
They linked fingers and resumed their stroll. The tranquillity of the moment helped diffuse the memories of the attacksomething she hadnt shared with her sister. Memories kept trying to rise to the surface of her mind. While she was in the shower. While she selected todays underwear. While she cooked breakfast.
Once, shed almost broken down and cried. But then shed remembered Koldos kiss, his sweet, sweet kiss. His uncertainty. His vulnerability. His desire to make sure she was enjoying herself. And everything had changed.
He was such a big, strong warrior. There was a time she would have bet nothing could shake his confidence. But then she had.
As if her opinion mattered to him.
I could hear you at the hospital, you know, Laila said, delving into a subject they had previously avoided.
Really? Shed always wondered. Had always hoped.
Yes, and you kept me there longer than I wanted to stay. Anytime I would feel myself drifting away, you were right there to tug me back.
That makes me happy.
But not me. I was ready to go.
The words were like a fist to the gut. Well, Ill never regret holding on to you, La La. I love you.
And I love you, too. Lailas smile was sad. But, Co Co, if were ever again in that situation, I want you to let me go.
Nicola stopped, forcing her sister to do the same. They faced each other, right there in the middle of the path, causing the people behind them to trip to the side in an effort to avoid slamming into them.
No, she said with a shake of her head. I wont. Ill fight for you with every bit of my strength. And Koldo would fight with her. Right?
She wanted to believe it, but hed seemed to abandon her. Hed promised to give her an hour a day, to teach her, to train her, and then hed vanished for good, leaving her to believe he regretted showing her so much vulnerability.
And why shouldnt he? She had nothing to offer him. He was tough, fierce and knowledgeable. She was weak, defenseless and ignorant of the truth.
Exasperated, Laila spread her arms. Be practical about this.
Expecting a twenty-three-year-old girl to die of heart disease was practical? Koldo says we have to
Ugh. Koldo this, and Koldo that. Laila anchored her hands on her too-tiny waist. Shed gained weight since her release from the hospital, but not enough. Hes all you ever talk about anymore. Whoever he is, hes lying to you, my love. Why cant you see that? Hes not an angel any more than Im the tooth fairy.
Youre right. Hes not an angel. Hes a
I know, I know, but it doesnt matter. If hes so concerned with our health, where is he? Her sisters tone gentled as she added, Why isnt he here, giving me this information himself?
Her shoulders drooped. I dont know.
A mother pushed a stroller around them as Laila reached out and tugged at the end of Nicolas earlobe. In the background, a dog barked. Hes not a Sent One, whatever that is. Hes a con man.
Ive seen him pop in and out of thin air.
Youve seen an illusion.
Just wait until you meet him.
Laila tsked with a mix of exasperation and pity. Darling, hes only looking to sell you a miracle cure.
No. Hes giving me a miracle cure and paying our bills.
So you think.
Nicola swallowed a sigh. No matter what shed said, or what angle shed tried, her sister had rejected all things Koldo. Shed called Sent Ones a romantic idea. Shed scoffed at the concept of demons.
Frustration and upset had tried to take up residence inside of Nicolaneither of which she welcomed, per Koldos orders. She just... She had to get through to her sister. Lailas life was in danger. She needed saving, and Nicola would do whatever was necessary to save her.
Laila shook her head, saying, You only believe him because you have a crush on him. Your eyes go dreamy every time you talk about him.
Do not.
Do, too.
Not!
Too!
Laila dropped the empty box of candy and they began a slap fight, giggling like the girls they used to be, before sickness and fear and loss had taken such a vicious toll. But Laila sobered all too soon, too busy fighting for breath.
Nicola picked up the box and tossed it in the nearest trash can, then reclaimed her sisters arm to urge her forward. Shed missed this kind of interaction. A few years ago, shed gone to the local community college and Laila had opted not to waste what little time she had. Then Nicola had gotten a job at Estellä and Laila had focused on her art. Then, Laila had gotten sick. Well, sicker. After that, Laila had stopped painting and had started spending every free minute inside a doctors office or in bed.
I promise you, Laila said. There isnt a demon following me around.
Not right this second, no.
Another sad smile was cast her way. Youre seeing things again, thats all. Thatll stop, just like before.
No, it wouldnt. Not this time. Nicolas spiritual eyes had been opened, and she would never shut them again. But she didnt want to spend her lunch hour arguing. So, listen. I already said yes to this, and Id love for you to join me. Just...promise youll keep an open mind when I tell you about it, okay? Please.
Lailas brows drew together with confusion. What are you talking about?
A guy at work asked me out. Asked the two of us out, really. On a double date, not anything weird, she rushed to add. Some men heard the word twins and their minds went to strip clubs and tag teaming.
Im intrigued so far. Go on.
Yesterday I called him and accepted. For me, not for you. And shed only debated three hours before picking up the phoneand another hour after that. Shed just gotten tired, and maybe a little resentful, of waiting for Koldo to appear, of hoping for something more than a conversation and a kiss with him, of dreaming of what might have happened if Laila hadnt interrupted them, of wondering how he would look at her the next time he saw her. Tenderly? Fiercely? Or as coldly as a teacher with his student?
And what if he wasnt allowed to date? Or, what if he was already committed to someone and forever off the market?
A fiery fog rolled through her mind, and she experienced what she suspected was a killing rage. If that sleazebag had a girlfriend...
Uh, Co Co?
What? she snarled.
Nothing. Nothing, Laila said, holding up her hands, palms out. You just tell me when youre ready and not a moment sooner, and I wont wonder what this little mini makeover is all about. I mean, one second I was talking to my big sis, and the next I was staring at a serial murderer.
Calm down. Just calm down. Already her heart was pounding erratically, and if she wasnt careful she would pass out. Or worse, strengthen the demon toxin. And really, this was silly. She was raging for nothing. Koldo wasnt the type to cheat. He was the type to just flat out tell you he was done with you.
Theres the sis I know and love, Laila said. So...continuing our previous convo. You accepted a date with a coworker.
Yes. And Id love to call him back and accept on your behalf. The other guys name is Blaine and hes
Stop right there. The rest of the deets dont matter. Im in!
After Lailas last disastrous relationship, Nicola had expected a little resistance. Really?
Really. Im not sure how much longer Ive got to live, so yeah, Ill be doing anything and everything I possibly can.
That includes listening to what Koldo has to say, I hope.
Laila stuck out her tongue. Well see. So, whatd this guy at your office have to do to get you to say yes? Youve always been oblivious to the male population.
I have not. I just didnt want to have to deal with all the complications. And, okay, yes, the argument fell a little flat considering Koldo brought more complications than most.
A shirtless guy in blue shorts grinned as he jogged past Laila. Hey, beautiful.
Hey. She returned the grin with one of her own, and even waved, causing him to slow and then stop, clearly determined to approach. Her sister saved him the trouble and closed the distance.
Sighing, Nicola stepped off the path to wait. Another five minutes, and shed have to head back to work.
She sidestepped a man walking his dog and
Saw a shaved Koldo?
No, not Koldo, she realized with disappointment. A few yards away stood a male with the same body type as Koldo, with a bald head and bold features almost eerie in their similarity. This male wore a black shirt and black leather pants, and both were molded to his skin. He was, perhaps, ten or twenty years older than Koldo, the skin around his eyes and mouth lined. He was handsome, but he was without a sexy, beaded beard.
They had to be related, though. There was no way two guys could look so much alike and not spring from the same family line.
She waved, only to freeze in place when he reached up to stroke...a snake. A large snake with fur sticking out from underneath sickly green scales and the long, multipoint antlers usually only seen on deer. The rest of the creatures body coiled around the man, the tail shaking and rattling. Its eyes were as red as rubiesand watching her intently.
Not a snake. That thing couldnt be a snake. A...demon?
Evil wafted on the breeze, a hint of sulfur in the air. Oh, yes. A demon. And demons caused sickness, Koldo had saidand probably a thousand other things she wanted no part of.
No way this man was any kind of Sent One.
Laila, she called hollowly.
Just a sec, Laila replied. Im currently memorizing a very important number.
The jogger chuckled.
The bald man grinned at Nicola, but it wasnt a nice grin. A gaze as dark as the night perused her from head to toe, reminding her of the leering Mr. Ritter. Her heart, already amped up from the chocolate, kicked into an erratic beat.
Nicola raced forward and grabbed her sisters hand, tugging her a few steps backward. Come on. We have to get out of here.
But the jogger began.
Why? Laila said, turning her back on him to concentrate on Nicola. Whats wrong?
Do you see that man over there?
Laila glanced to the right. Baldy? Yeah. So?
What about his pet snake? Do you see it?
Uh, he doesnt have a pet snake. Or a dog or a cat or a bird. Honey, are you okay? Youre pale and shaky.
Her sister still couldnt see the demon, then. Come on. She pivoted and quickened her pace, dragging Laila with her.
Whats going on? her sister demanded.
Ill tell you later. The park was crowded with moms and their kids, dads and their dogs, as well as businessmen and women out on their lunch break like her, hoping to soak in a little sun before crawling back inside the shadows of the daily grind. She maneuvered around them, but wasnt quite at her best and ran into a few.
She heard Hey! and Watch it! multiple times, and had to mutter a few hasty apologies. Her blood chilled to a dangerous level, even as her skin threatened to overheat. Sweat rolled down her spine.
Slow down, Laila huffed.
She cast a glance behind them. The man was still there, still grinning at her, and still stroking the demon. But he wasnt following her. Relieved, she slowed...slowed...and finally halted.
Panting, Laila pressed her palm over her heart. Can you tell me what that was about now?
She opened her mouth to do just thatonly, another demon slithered from the tree beside her, baring long, sharp fangs with dripping ends, and the words formed a jagged knot in the center of her throat, only a few gurgling sounds escaping.