Carry On Wayward Son(38)
“Simon!”
“Leave him alone, Annie.”
“Like hell—Simon! Turn around and face me when I’m shouting at you.” He stopped, his shoulders stiff. “Tell me what happened—why did you leave Claire alone with that bastard—”
He spun, trapping her against the car. “She’s a demon, Annie.” His voice was so vicious her heart lurched.
“She told you.” Anger shoved down her fear. “And what did you say to her?”
“Nothing.”
“You just walked out, didn’t you? Son of a bitch—why didn’t you just stab her in the heart while you were at it? It would have done the same damage—”
“She’s not human—”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” He blinked, stepping back. “She’s more human than most people you’ll meet. She walked into a gate to Hell to save us, Simon, knowing her death waited on the other side. And if you insist on judging her because her soul is shiny new, then you can—damn it, you can go to hell.”
She took in a breath, so angry she was shaking.
“Annie—”
“You reject her, you reject me. Eric, I need you to help me back to the house—”
“No.” Simon moved in front of her. “You’re not—like her. You were born with a soul—”
“And I’m a witch. Some people would consider me less than human. And what about you, with your freak gift? How often were you given grief over that?”
He ran one hand over his hair. “I didn’t mean—”
“None of us are perfect—some are so far from it they almost don’t qualify as human. But that woman in there, she is the most human non-human I have ever known. You want to know how I found out about Claire?” She pushed off the car, ignoring the protest from her hip. “Her demon-possessed cousin gleefully outed her, after luring Claire by kidnapping me, cutting off my earlobe and threatening my life if Claire didn’t show up and quietly walk into Hell. And if you feel like shit right about now, my job is done.”
“Damn it, Annie.” He grabbed her arm. “She blindsided me in there. I knew she had some dark secret, but this—I can’t, I’m sorry, but I can’t handle it.”
Letting her go, he walked away.
“Simon—ouch, ow ow—” Eric caught her when her left side decided to go on strike. “Don’t let him go—”
“We can’t force him to accept it. Hey,” he shook her, gently, just enough to get her attention. “You know how much of a shock it is. Give him time—” He cut himself off, looked over at the house. “Well, speak of the devil.”
“Claire.” Annie punched his arm, not so gently. “That was not funny. Claire!” She nodded to them, and kept moving, helping Zach off the porch and on to the lawn, heading away from them. “Where’s she going?”
“She’s going to help him fall.” Simon stood next to her. “It’s the reason he trapped you all in there. So he could be free.”
Annie raised her eyebrows. “And you believe this?”
“I am a priest, Annie. Angels are creatures of heaven, something we are supposed to aspire to. They shouldn’t want to become us.”
He stalked across the lawn, following after Claire.
“Get me over there.”
Eric picked her up. “Your wish, blondie. One rule, though.” He headed up the sloped lawn. “No fistfights.”
“No promises, handsome.” She smiled when he glanced at her. “But I’ll do my best.”
*
Easing Zach to the grass, Claire wiped her face. Blood mixed with the sweat on her fingers; she cleaned them on her trousers, ignored the pain from Zach’s assault. The wind was picking up, and it felt good on her overheated skin. She tucked her hair behind her ears, focusing on Zach even as she heard her friends approaching behind her.
“You’re certain? Once we start, there is no turning back from it.”
He looked at her, his eyes stark against the pallor of his face. “I have wanted this a long time, Claire. How do we start?”
“I need you to wear this for me.” She pulled off her amethyst, slipped it around his neck. “It will help protect you.”
“I cannot—”
“Think of it as a homing device. I am connected to it, and I need a way to track you. Now give me your hand.” She linked their fingers together, his skin like ice now. She had to move fast. “There are conditions, rules you absolutely can’t break. Number one being this—if you kill, you are condemned to Hell. No reprieve, no chance to explain. Do you understand?”