Five: Out of the Pit (Five #2) (10 page)

The eternal pain slowly started to ebb. I clenched my eyes shut and breathed rapidly to stop myself from screaming. Johnathan’s voice broke through to me.

“Stop! That’s enough, Demon!” Then softer, “Paige, are you okay? Paige?”

I couldn’t speak yet. I shook my head from side to side.

The hands that held my wrists let go. Strong arms wrapped around my torso and lifted me into a sitting position. Johnathan hugged me to his chest. I took several deep, shuddering breaths. He rocked back and forth, stroking my hair, kissing my head.

“Ahh. That was extremely satisfying. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity, Incubus.” I would never hear a British accent again without thinking about the sadistic Demon.

“Shut up, Demon. Paige, can you see?” Trey’s voice, soft when he addressed me, hardened as he said, “I would like to send this creature of the Fae back to his prison.”

I didn’t want to open my eyes. I just knew it was a demented joke. That I would open my eyes and the darkness would still be there.

“Paige, it’s okay. Open your eyes. Look at me,” Johnathan urged.

I buried my face in his chest.

He put his hands on either side of my face and tilted my head up toward his. I took a shaky breath and opened my eyes.

ohnathan came into view, blurry at first. I blinked a few times to clear the tears from my eyes and my vision became sharper. Johnathan’s face was the most beautiful sight in all the world. I smiled. A small laugh escaped my throat. The strained look on his face turned to a tired smile.

I reached up and touched an abrasion next to his eye. “You’re the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen, battle wounds and all.”

“You doubted me?”
Shalbriri
sniffed.

Trey didn’t give me a chance to answer. “Your services are no longer needed here, Demon.
As you came, you now shall go…”

He was interrupted by the Demon’s laughter. “I shall return to this realm a short time hence. Along with a multitude of Demons and Fae. And, when I do, Incubus, mayhap I will let you in on a little secret I’ve discovered here this day.” It looked very pointedly at Alec then back at Trey.

“What are you talking about?” Joe asked.

“He’s just stalling,” Seth hissed.

“Believe what you will, young
Quinaie Praesidia
.”

“How do you plan to return?” Joe persisted.

“You shall know the time is at hand when the heavens gather blackness and all the elements combine to protect the way. The very jaws of Hell shall gape open its mouth wide after The Five. You should all be very afraid.” It laughed its Demonic laugh, rows of teeth dripping green saliva that hissed as it hit the floor.

“Send it back, Incubus,” Johnathan said.

“I’d kind of like to hear about this secret first,” Trey glanced a little apprehensively at Alec. He looked closer, coming to the very edge of his circular prison, and raised an eyebrow. “You… it can’t be…”

Joe looked from Alec to Trey, comprehension dawning on his rapidly paling face. “Send the Demon back. Now.”

Trey shook his head in disbelief, tearing his gaze from Alec’s. “
As you came, you now shall go. Back to the same, to your prison below.”

The smirk on the Demon’s face sent a chill down my spine. The two times I’d been a part of sending him back before, he’d gone begging and screaming for us to let him stay. His complacency, coupled with his last words, were a bad omen indeed.

All was silent for an eerie moment as the floor seemed to swallow
Shalbriri
before returning to its normal state inside the pentagram.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Johnathan’s face. I stroked his cheeks and touched his lips with the tips of my fingers. I drank in his amazing dark chocolate eyes. I didn’t realize until that moment how much I’d missed his eyes, his smile, his adorable dimples.

“You could use a haircut,” I said teasingly as I moved a strand of curly dark hair away from his eyes.

He smiled and hugged me tight.

“Ahem.” Trey cleared his throat, pulling my gaze from Johnathan. “I am so very glad I could be of assistance in returning your vision, my dear Paige.” His voice was soft and alluring—and so believable.

I hadn’t really looked directly at him up to this point; Johnathan had mostly blocked my view. Plus, there had been too much happening for me to concentrate when all I really wanted to do was look at John.

Trey’s voice called to me, pulling me under his spell once again. My newly restored vision was not prepared for Trey’s beauty. There was no other way to describe the way he looked but pure beauty. My eyes drank in his perfectly constructed facial bones. His golden skin. His ice blue eyes bore into mine, pulling me in. His eyelashes were thick and long.

I looked away from his face to take the rest of him in. His chiseled chest and muscular arms were covered in scrapes and red areas from the recent battle. His bare chest glistened with sweat. His abdominal muscles were rock hard as they see-sawed in and out with each breath. He wore faded jeans low on his hips. His feet, like his chest, were bare.

“Paige,” his voice bore into my soul. “Tell them you want me. Tell them to let me stay.”

I almost let those exact words leave my mouth. Only the tightening of Johnathan’s arms around me prevented it. I tore my gaze from the Incubus and looked into Johnathan’s eyes, finding anger and hurt.
How long had I stared at Trey? How long had I been lost in his spell?

Not moving my eyes from Johnathan’s, I said, “Send him.”

Johnathan clenched his jaw and nodded. He gently unwrapped his arms from around me, stood, and turned to face the Incubus.

“Paige!” The Incubus threw everything he had into that one word. “Please. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted any woman before. Let me stay. Let me show you. Please.”

I plugged my ears again and curled my head to my knees, my back to him.

Johnathan’s voice shook with anger as he said the words that would send Trey to the Netherworld. “
Lacio.Expello.Locus.Exigo!”

I turned and looked up at Trey just as the void opened. Our eyes met and he said, “I’ll be back for you.” And then he was gone.

ears of relief and joy flowed from my eyes. My mind was completely clear for the first time since the Incubus’s first visit to me. The memory of his touch now made me shudder with revulsion. Johnathan was the only one I wanted, now and forever.

I turned toward him. He stood with his back to me, his head hanging. His shoulders heaved with each heavy breath he took. I stood, slowly. A dull pain still wrapped around my head from the torture of the Demon, and dizziness threatened to return me to the floor. I walked to Johnathan and laid my hand on his arm. He looked down at me. At the sight of the tears on my cheeks his face reddened, his jaw clenched. He pulled his arm away from me and walked out the front door, slamming it closed behind him.

I stood, frozen, for a few seconds. I was confused.
What did I do? Why is he mad at me?
I felt another tear slide from the corner of my eye and reached up to wipe it away.

“What was that all about?” Alec asked

“I’m not sure, but I’m going to find out.” I headed for the door.

I found Johnathan just outside, pacing on the lawn in front of the porch. He looked up and frowned as I shut the door behind me. As I walked to him he turned his back to me.

I touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head.

I stepped in front of him and stood there until he looked down into my eyes. I put my hands on his chest. “What’s wrong, Johnathan? We should be celebrating.”

His look softened as he touched my face where the tears still dried. “I’m sorry. I saw you crying when I sent that…
monster
… below, and I… I didn’t think he’d gotten to you that much. I saw the way he… he touched you… the way you
wanted
him. You kissed him. You cried when he left.”

I let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “You’re an idiot. I didn’t cry because I was sad. I cried for joy. Because he was gone from our lives. Because I could see again. Because the spell he’d cast on me was finally broken.”

Johnathan looked at the ground.

“I love you and only you. You’re all I’ve ever wanted. The kissing wasn’t real. You can’t hold that against me any more than I can hold against you the
months
of anger and turmoil the changeling bite caused for you. I was under his spell. And… I fought it. If I hadn’t fought it you would have had much more than a kiss to be angry about.”