Sweet Reckoning

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN ALLIES

I pressed my body against him.

He took my shoulders and tried to push me away, gently, shaking his head, but my busy hands were insistent on touching.

Nothing else in the world existed in that moment. Just us. Nothing else mattered. I wanted him. I loved him.

“Don’t,” I said when he tried to grab my hands. He quickly covered my mouth with his hard hand and spoke lowly against my ear.

“Shut. Up.” And even that was sexy.

I wanted his hand on my mouth to be his lips. I stopped trying to push up against him, and concentrated on his hand. I pressed my lips against his palm, looking up at him as I did it. His breathing went ragged. I took one of his fingers and slowly kissed it. He stepped back and I ran my tongue slowly over his fingertip.

“Ah, damn it,” he whispered. There was flickering in his fiery eyes, and he yanked his hand from mine.

“Please,” I urged. I reached up and pulled my ponytail holder out, dropping it and letting my hair fall around me.

“I will tie you up again if you don’t behave,” he warned.

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

In a flash he grabbed me, turning and crushing my back into the giant entertainment center’s doors, making a superb racket, kissing me hard and pressing his whole body against mine. I welcomed his forceful hands and hot mouth. We made our way to the couch, where he fell on me and kissed me with a passion that obliterated all thought. I was lying on a cloud of bliss, my head a boggle of contentment, my body in its element against him. He was all I needed.

“We’re about to have company,” he said, but he didn’t stop kissing me, kissing my neck, touching me everywhere.

Company? But that didn’t mean we’d have to stop, did it? That would just be wrong.

There was a long string of insistent knocking on our door, but Kaidan mumbled for whoever was out there to go away. His hands were up my shirt, vibrant against my skin, making me gasp and moan.

“Oi!” shouted a familiar female voice. “Open the damn door.”

“I’m busy.” Kaidan bit my bottom lip with a nip, and a shiver rippled through me.

“The more the merrier,” Blake said. His voice didn’t sound completely right.

We paused and looked at each other. They were trying to stop us.

“Just ignore them,” I said. I grabbed his shirt and pulled it up, lifting myself up to kiss the skin on his chest.

He moaned, and was kissing me again.

“Don’t let that skank take advantage of you when you’re bored, son of Pharzuph.”

Ginger! Anger stirred and I tried to sit up, but Kai pushed me back down. I yelled in the direction of the door, “Who you callin’ a skank, you—”

Kai slapped a hand over my mouth and I struggled against him.

And then it was Kopano’s temperate voice that spoke, seeming to clear Kaidan’s head for the second it would take to pry him away from me and bring him back to his senses.

“Open up,” was all that Kopano had to say.

Kaidan stood abruptly, shuddering as he took another look at me lying there, still wanting him. Then he went and leaned his forehead against the entertainment center for a long moment before going to the door. I couldn’t move.

I heard the four guests pushing their way in and I felt furious at them for butting in. They looked upset with Kaidan—all of them were signing too fast for me, but I recognized caution and stupid.

Whatever.

I grabbed the beer from the coffee table and drank it all. Everyone was coming down into the living area. Their voices were excited, but when I turned to look, their faces were serious.

Kaidan looked at the empty bottle in my hand and clenched his jaw.

“Someone put on some music!” Marna said, stepping down into the lower suite where I sat.

“Ezzactly!” I slurred. “I been trying to say that.”

Marna pressed her lips together like she was trying not to laugh, but I didn’t know what was funny.

Someone opened the curtains, giving us a superb view of the city. Loud music came on, and the sisters stood in front of the wall made entirely of glass, dancing for all of Vegas to see. They were very good at keeping up appearances, considering that from the right angle outside the hotel, any Duke would be able to see us clearly with his extended sight.

“Come here.” Marna’s voice was seductive as she crooked her finger at me, and I went.

I didn’t have to do too much, since Marna danced around me, rubbing against me, slinking all the way to the floor and back up effortlessly with her hands against the sides of my body. I put my hands under my hair and lifted it up, moving my hips to the beat. When I looked up at Kaidan standing at the railing with the other guys watching, I saw the fire still in his eyes.

Ginger went to the banister, grabbed Blake’s hand, and pulled him down. She danced with him and it was, by far, the most sensual thing I’d ever seen. He kept looking like he wanted to kiss her, but she’d get within an inch of his mouth and cruelly turn, flipping her hair in his face. Marna came up behind Blake, and the twins danced with him in the middle. Their moves were so seamless that I swear they must have choreographed the dance. If these two sisters set their sights on a guy in a relationship, he didn’t stand much of a chance.

Kaidan hit a button on the wall, and electronically controlled curtains began to move inward. The second they were closed, the dancing stopped, and the twins walked away, leaving Blake standing there with his arms held out at his sides, like “what’s up with that?”

I laughed so hard I almost fell over. He came forward and stuck out his knuckles to me. I fumbled the first attempt, but was eventually able to bump his fist with mine.

“Anyone want a drink?” I asked loudly over the music.

“What have you got?” Blake asked.

We opened the fridge and found that we were sadly running low on the adorable bottles of liquor. But there was plenty of beer and wine.

“Here, Blake,” I said, “I know you want to party.” I tried to toss him a bottle of the beer, but it fell short and broke, fizzing all over onto the floor. Like everything else, it was riotous in my eyes and worthy of laughter. Blake shook his head and tsked from the side of his mouth.

“I’ll get my own this time.” He reached over me and grabbed one out, twisting the top and flicking the cap at Kaidan, who kicked it aside. Kopano picked up the broken beer bottle and threw it away, then tossed a towel onto the spot.

I looked around for Zania, but she wasn’t with them. I wanted to ask where she was, but something inexplicable kept me from speaking.

Ginger took a miniature bottle of wine. She, Blake, and I lifted up our drinks to give a cheer, and before my mouth was full with the first gulp, the bottle was snatched from my hand. I swallowed and gasped.

“Hey,” I shouted, “Give that—” Kaidan’s hand covered my mouth and he gave me a hard look. I wanted to throw a tantrum. Why was he being so mean? We were just trying to relax before . . . before what?

Ginger snorted, way too amused by the tiff between Kaidan and me. Was she laughing at me? Rage for all the nasty things she’d ever said made me lunge forward, but strong arms yanked me from behind. Kaidan still held me tight around the waist, and I kicked out, wanting to fight her. My only satisfaction was the pure surprise on her face and the fact that she wasn’t laughing anymore.

“Calm. Down,” Kai growled into my ear. I settled down, but was still breathing hard.

Everyone stood there looking at us. Blake took Ginger’s arm and pulled her farther away from me. Kaidan kicked the fridge shut and did that throat-slashing motion to the others, pointing at me. He went up the steps to the bedroom level that overlooked the suite. He seemed distressed. Was he mad at me? We shouldn’t be fighting about . . . what were we fighting about? Why was I so angry?

The music blared, scrambling my thoughts even worse. For a moment I felt lost and confused, and all I wanted was Kaidan. I went up the steps and stopped in front of him, leaning against the railing. He looked down at me, unsmiling. I rubbed my hands across his chest and down his arms. He froze and closed his eyes. Someone took my arm.

Marna pulled me down into her lap on the bed and shook her head at me. What was that about? Why were her eyes so sad? She was a beautiful person. I wanted to tell her so. I opened my mouth to speak, but she quickly pinched my lips with two fingers.

The serious look in her eyes scratched at my brain, trying to unearth something I needed to remember. Something was coming soon. Something big. A meeting. Those men weren’t very nice, and I was going to show them who was boss. Not me; I mean, of course I was not the boss, but the big guy was. The Big Guy. He could see me now, see what I’d done. I was a failure. I couldn’t control my emotions as the shame overcame me, so I buried my face in Marna’s shoulder. She rubbed my back. I could almost hear Patti’s voice telling me not to cry. Hush, baby, you’re all right.

When I finished my quiet bout of tears, we lay back on the bed and I felt lost in a fluffy sea of down. It was soft and I was warm all over and I wanted everyone to feel this cozy. I saw now that the music was blaring from the television. As I watched the images without really seeing them, I zoned out. My mind went blank. And blank, much like calm, was good. I lay there warm and numb and thoughtless for who knew how long. Then everything was black.

Sometime later I pushed my heavy eyes open, and the room started to spin. I sat up halfway and groaned. Wow, it was really spinning, round and round like a carnival ride. Ugh. I didn’t feel so good. I covered my mouth.

“I think I’m going to take a shower,” Ginger said, looking pointedly at me.

“Hells yeah!” Blake said. “Shower time.”

Ginger pulled me up and put a finger sternly to my lips. Marna went to my other side to help me walk.

It was quieter in the bathroom with no music, then one of them switched on a television up in the corner of the giant marble bathroom. Why was there a TV in the bathroom? I wasn’t able to ask. The spinning was turning to a rolling in my stomach.

We three girls turned to see Blake standing there, too. Ginger scowled and lifted her stilettoed heel impressively high, placing it in the middle of his chest and kicking him out. He stood outside of the bathroom with a grin, and Ginger shut the door in his face. Marna kissed my cheek softly and touched a finger to my lips to remind me to stay quiet. She stripped me down to my underwear while Ginger turned on the shower water.

I groaned, bending.

They quickly helped me into the shower stall. It was just in time. I went down on my hands and knees, vomiting hot liquor and stomach acid, vile and sweet, and when that was all gone, I still heaved. The hot water stung my sensitive skin. My temples pounded, and my mouth was sour and dry. I wanted to tip my head back and catch some water, but I didn’t have the strength in my neck. My stomach was still churning. I heaved several more times and then started crying.

I looked up enough to see Kaidan come in. The sisters shook their heads at him and tried to push him back, but he swept past them and opened the shower door. They watched him warily for a moment as he unbuttoned his shirt, taking it off and throwing it across the sink.

Everything hurt. I moaned.

Kaidan sat outside of the shower stall on the marble floor and put an arm around my body, pulling my back up against him and holding me. I clung to his arm in front of me, resting my head on it as my body shuddered under the stream of hot water.

When most of the alcohol had burned from my body, and my mind was shifting back into the alertness of reality, I felt very naked and ashamed. I turned slightly and looked at Kaidan behind me. Our eyes met and he nodded. He pulled away and left the bathroom, wiping his soaked arm on the way out.

Marna came over with a towel for me and we turned off the shower. I was still shaky as I stood, and my stomach was not right. Physically, I felt weak. Mentally, I was more scared than I’d ever been. I started shivering with my hair dripping onto the floor. Marna took one of the fluffy white robes and wrapped it around me. It was huge. I tried to towel dry my hair. I could hardly sit up straight. Worst timing ever for a hangover.

I tried to think of everything that had happened, but there were many blank spots in my memory. Had I done or said anything that could incriminate us? I remembered dancing. When exactly had the other Neph shown up? I flashed to a memory of Kaidan kissing me on the couch, and I was horrified to recall how I’d baited him. I looked up at Marna and Ginger. They had saved us from ourselves. I could have ruined everything.

Marna sat me down at the vanity and took a brush from her bag, working it through my wet hair. Ginger filled a glass with water and set it in front of me. I emptied it all and gave her a small smile, which she did not return. I grabbed her hand and she stilled.

I’m sorry, I signed to her.

She surprised me by grinning. You can be mean, she signed. It was nice to see.

My face flushed and I shook my head. Ginger patted my shoulder with her free hand, then pulled the other hand from my grip to pick up the blow-dryer.

The hot air felt good on my head. My body shook every few seconds with tiny tremors. I was so tired.

“Order us some food, Kaidan,” Ginger shouted at the door. “I think we’ve all worked up an appetite.” My stomach growled at the mention of food, and I realized that I was completely famished.

I took Marna’s wrist and looked at her watch. It was eleven o’clock. We had somewhere between one and four hours to prepare for hell on earth.

What was I going to do? I felt completely unprepared. How could I ready myself for a spiritual battle under these circumstances? What would Patti do?

Wait. That was it. I knew exactly what she would do.

I jumped from the chair and ran into the suite, leaving the twins with hairbrush and blow-dryer midair. I could feel all of their eyes on me in my oversized robe as I flung open each dresser drawer. All empty. Oh no. I turned and saw the night-stand. I ran to it, passing a confused Blake, and opened the tiny drawer.

There it was. The Holy Bible.

I took it out like a precious gem. It probably hadn’t been opened once in all its years in this room. It was a funny thing, wasn’t it?—the notion of keeping Bibles in hotel rooms. I wondered how the tradition had started and why it had been kept going. Maybe superstition. Maybe for me and this very moment.

I looked up at everyone staring at me. The room was wrapped in nervous tension.

Watch for spirits, I signed.

The others nodded their agreement. I climbed up to the middle of the big bed and placed the book on the terrycloth robe over my lap. Very slowly, very quietly, I opened to the back and found the Dictionary/Concordance. It was hard to concentrate with everyone on edge and the television blaring, but I forced myself to focus. Kopano walked away from the group, going to sit at the table in the living room area with his eyes closed in mediation.

Marna climbed up and sat next to me. Blake and Ginger watched television, or at least pretended to, and Kai paced silently. I first looked up “demons.” I knew there were a ton of passages about them—this wasn’t my first time looking—but in the past none of it had stood out to me as very informative. I guess the verses that stand out are the ones most relevant to you at the moment you’re reading them. Like poetry. I pointed to the lines I was reading so Marna could follow.

For forty-five minutes I read the many accounts of demon possessions. There were weird passages about suicidal, demon-possessed pigs. I didn’t have time to pick those ones apart. The use of parables and lack of explanations had me dissecting for meaning, something that I wasn’t good at.

I nearly came out of my skin at the sound of a knock at the door. Kaidan went to it, and I was flinging the puffy down comforter over the Bible. Marna patted my arm to reassure me. I tried to catch my breath and slow my heart when I saw it was only our room service. Kai had ordered a ton of food, and my mouth watered as the scent hit me.

Nobody else ate quite as enthusiastically as me. I barely took time to breathe as I downed an entire huge hamburger, then drank a soda. My stomach wobbled a little with nausea again, so I sat back on the bed. My full belly made me feel even sleepier. I patted my cheeks and pinched my cheekbones. Get it together, Anna.

I turned again to the Concordance and looked up “sword” this time, but it was all mostly symbolism for war, or proverbial lines like “reckless words pierce like a sword.”

I read about angels and their jobs as messengers and guardians of souls. Kaidan paced the room again with his arms crossed over his chest, listening for danger, his face slightly pinched from absorbing so much sensory input at once. I chewed my fingernails while I read until Marna pulled my hand down.

My palms were starting to sweat. I wiped them on the robe absentmindedly.

Can you turn the air up in here, please? I signed to Blake.

He nodded, fiddling with the temperature gauge.

I couldn’t stop peeking at the clock. It was after midnight. I wasn’t even dressed yet! I knew Kaidan would warn me when it was time to get ready, but panic was fraying me around the edges. The Sword of Righteousness was still in my bag, and we needed to figure out who would carry it—obviously not me since I’d be patted down to the max if they had one of the Neph checking people as they came in like at the last summit. I grasped my head. I had too much to figure out still!

I flipped pages. There had to be something I could use. Kopano caught my gaze from across the room. I pleaded with my eyes. Did he know something that could help? He came over and sat next to me. I felt a rush of safety and hope from his nearness.

He signed, What are you searching for, in particular?

Anything to battle them and defeat them, I signed.

I held the book out to him, and he took it, flipping pages with quick assurance. He’d get to a passage, stop, shake his head, and flip again. After three times his face softened. How about this? He set the book in my lap and pointed to Ephesians 6:11–18. My heart stirred. I read it twice and my pulse quickened. I read it a third time and I knew this was it. Marna and I shared an elated glance. I gave Kope a grateful look before he stood. Kai pushed off the wall, his eyes wide, wondering what we’d found. I beamed at him. Kope took over keeping watch for whisperers while Kaidan came to my side. Together, we read.

The Whole Armor of God

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers . . . .

I smiled as I read it. Kaidan watched me with that boyish look he sometimes gave me when he was in awe, as if I was capable of amazing feats.

The Armor was all metaphorical imagery. With the exception of the sword, all of my primary available weapons and protection would have to come from inside me. I had been fully equipped all along.

Truth. Righteousness. Peace. Faith. Salvation. And prayer. That was it.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, I slid from the bed and fell to my knees, but still I felt too high. I pressed my forehead to the carpet, and silently spoke the most important, fervent plea of my life. I lay there with my eyes closed, buzzing with the sureness of my arsenal.

“Daughter of Belial,” I heard Kaidan say. He stood at Kopano’s side.

I quickly pushed to standing and faced him.

He nodded, his eyes hard. “It’s time.”