I didn’t bother asking who he was talking about. “I’ve been watching them for about an hour.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“Because they aren’t doing anything except pulling up my mom’s plants and running through the yard. Besides, they can be entertaining… until I think of what they are.”
His low laughter made me smile. “Yeah. Too bad all demons aren’t like them.”
We fell into an easy silence. I couldn’t hear him on the other end of the phone. I’d just decided he’d fallen asleep when he spoke.
“I really am sorry, Milayna.”
“I know.”
“I shouldn’t have… it wasn’t your fault.”
“You don’t have to keep apologizing. You were upset. It’s okay, really.”
He let out an unsteady breath. “I’m… what are you doing for your birthday?”
What was supposed to come after the ‘I’m?’
“Apparently, I’m going to be fed to the hounds of Hell on my birthday,” I said, only half joking.
“That’s not going to happen,” he murmured. “So, after the official time of your birth and all this is behind you, what do you have planned?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I have any real plans.” I pushed the word search away.
“What about your parents?” I could hear Chay moving in bed, the blankets shuffling, and butterflies started darting through my chest. I tried hard, really hard not to think of him in bed. I really did. It didn’t work. “Milayna?”
Crap… What? Oh, right. Birthday. Focus.
“We’ll probably have dinner with family, but that’s it. Unless you know something I don’t.”
Please, not a surprise party. I just want to forget about this birthday.
“No, I don’t know anything.” He didn’t sound like he was hiding anything.
“Really? Because even though I don’t think they would, I can’t put it past my parents not to throw a surprise party. And I’m just not up for it. I just want this birthday over so I can forget about it. So if you know something, tell me so I can prepare myself.” I stood and wandered through the house.
“Geez, you’re a real party animal.” He laughed. “I don’t know anything. I swear. I have a feeling your parents want your eighteenth birthday to be over and done with as much as you do. So if this whole hounds of Hell thing doesn’t work out, you want to go out to dinner with me?”
Right then, my toes curled and my heart did a cartwheel. “Yes. I think I do.”
A date. He asked me on a date! Not… I think I do. I do. I really do. “Good, it’s a date.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
I looked out of the window overlooking the front lawn. I could see Muriel’s house across the street. “Muriel’s car is gone. I know it was there when I went to bed.”
“Any visions today?”
I thought back over my day. I didn’t have any major visions; those were hard to forget. But I hadn’t had any minor flashes either. “No.”
“Not even now? With the hobgoblins running around?”
“Ugh, those pipsqueaks. But no.” I wrapped my shirtsleeve around my fingers and stared at the empty space where Muriel’s car should’ve been.
“Then it’s probably fine. Doesn’t your uncle go into work early? Maybe he took her car,” Chay said.
I sighed. “Probably.” Then my heart sank. “Their kitchen light just came on. He hasn’t left yet.”
Chay was silent. It stretched between us. I knew what he was thinking. I was thinking it, too. Lily had switched sides. It wasn’t beyond any of us to get sucked in by Azazel’s lies.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” His tone was flat, expressionless.
“No, you’re not.”
“You’re right. I’m not. Remember, Milayna, we don’t know who we can trust.”
“What do you mean ‘we’? Before, you told me I didn’t know who I could trust.”
“You can trust me,” he said quietly.
Isn’t that something a person I couldn’t trust would say?
***
“Where were you last night?” I asked Muriel in calculus. “I looked out of the window at four this morning and your car was gone.” I pulled my calculus book from my messenger bag.
“Spying on me?”
“No, I couldn’t sleep and was walking through the house. I happened to look out of the window and noticed it missing.”
“I had to babysit for the Jenkins’ kids. The mom works nights, gets home around five.” It made sense. Muriel babysat the Jenkins’ kids a lot. But I couldn’t shake the feeling she was lying. “I didn’t know I needed to punch a time clock. You can check with my parents if you want.” She tapped her pencil on her book.
I glanced up from my homework and turned to her. “Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know, Milayna. Why would you?” She arched a brow.
“I wasn’t trying to be nosy, Muriel. I was worried.”
She sighed and tossed her pencil on her book. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get bitchy. I’m just keyed up with everything going on.”
“I know. Everyone is.”
Class started, and Muriel and I fell silent. The teacher was babbling when I texted Muriel.
Me: Who follows me after calculus?
Muriel: What do you mean?
Me: Chay told me someone from the group is always around between classes. You and I have different classes next period, so do Chay and I. So who follows me to history? I don’t see Jen until I get to class, so it isn’t her.
Muriel: Chay.
I read her text and leaned back in my chair. Doubt bombarded me like a Kamikaze pilot. Why hadn’t he told me he followed me after calculus? Why didn’t he just walk with me to class?
When the torture of calculus was over, I gathered my things and told Muriel I’d see her at lunch. I was halfway to my next class when I turned and leaned against a locker. I saw him instantly, trailing six or seven people behind me.
“Don’t you want to carry my books?” I called. When he was closer, I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me it was you?”
“I was going to—”
“Really?” I crossed my arms.
“After Saturday, I wanted to tell you. I mean, I wanted to walk with you, not seven people behind. But then Saturday night happened and you were so angry with me, I decided it wasn’t the best time to bring it up.”
“Hmm.” I tapped my finger on my lower lip. “What about yesterday when you drove me to school? What about this morning when we were on the phone?”
“Okay, I know this is going to sound bad, but it’s the truth. I was going to tell you today. I follow you to all your classes. I always have. Even when you’re walking with Jen or Shayla. And I planned to tell you today because I don’t want to follow you. I want to walk next to you and hold your hand like Saturday at the movie and, yes, carry your books for you.” He leaned his shoulder against the locker next to me. We were so close that we brushed against each other.
“And I should believe you?”
“Well… yeah.” He looked shocked that I wouldn’t.
“Okay, fine.”
“You believe me? That easily after all the warnings I’ve given you?”
“Yes.” I pushed off the locker.
“Why?”
“Because my books are heavy. It will be nice not having to lug them from class to class.”
Chay laughed and took my bag from me. “So do I get to hold your hand?”
“Let’s see how the book thing works out first. Then I’ll let you know.”
He chuckled, a low rumbling deep in his chest that warmed me to the core, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Oh, I’m such a goner. He is so gonna break my heart.
After history was over, I walked into the hallway and turned left toward my next class. I jumped when I came face-to-face with Chay, who leaned against the wall next to the door.
“Hi. Give them to me.”
“Hi back.” I handed him my books, and we walked to my next class. When I sat down in my seat, he hooked the bag over the back. His hand grazed my back and arm as he walked away, leaving goose bumps on my skin and a fluttering deep in my belly.
“See you after class,” he murmured.
I smiled as he walked away.
“What’s going on?” Shayla asked with a crooked grin.
“Oh, he’s just walking me to and from classes. You know, I’m not supposed to be alone and all that crap.”
“Mm-hmm.” She winked at me.
And I’m pretty sure it has something to do with me falling hard for Chay.
***
The first one came at lunch. It started the same as always, but it wasn’t a bad one. Only Chay knew I was having it. I looked down at my plate so no one else could see my face. Chay reached for my hand, giving it a small squeeze.
Gray hands. Person in a black hoodie.
Just as quick as it came, it left, leaving me with an uncomfortable feeling that someone was making deals with the other side.
I concentrated on the image, trying to see who was in the black hoodie. Whoever it was, they’d just shaken hands with a demon. The last time I had a similar vision was when Lily jumped sides. I looked around the table. No one was wearing a black hoodie. Then it hit me.
Muriel is wearing black. Was it a hoodie?
“Where’s Muriel?”
It was unlike her not to tell me when she wasn’t going to be at lunch, when she was going to babysit, or when we weren’t going to drive to school together. And not only was she not telling me things, we didn’t talk as often. We always talked every day, usually more than once, and we always texted each other. But I couldn’t remember the last time we talked on the phone, and she rarely texted me.
Stop it! She would not turn.
“I don’t know,” Drew answered. “She didn’t mention missing lunch.”
“Yeah, she didn’t mention it to me either.” I chewed on my lower lip. “I guess I’ll find out at swim practice.”
I looked around the lunchroom for Lily. I held my breath, hoping she’d be wearing black. My eyes traveled over the long, rectangular tables filled with rowdy students until I found her. She sat at a table on the other side of the room, laughing with her new group of friends. She wore yellow.
Damn.
Muriel didn’t show for swim practice.
***
Chay surprised me and stayed for my practice, which was good since Muriel, who was my ride, didn’t show. I was self-conscious with him watching me, but we were racing other teammates. The competitive nature in me took over, and I almost forgot Chay was there. Almost. He wasn’t someone a person could forget for long.
“You’re good,” he told me as we walked to his car after practice.
“Thanks.”
“You looked good too.” He grinned.
“Yeah, I looked awesome in my swim cap and no makeup,” I said with a laugh.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me around to look at him. “You looked awesome.”
I looked down, embarrassed. “Thanks.”
He held the passenger’s door open for me. I had one foot inside the car, my hand holding the door for support, when the second vision hit without warning.
Hot. Sulfur. Glowing hole.
I sucked in a breath. It felt like Friday night at the football game all over again. The demon, the glowing hole, the unbearable heat, and the disgusting smell.
Black hoodie. A creamy, white hand enclosed in a gray one.
My head started to pound. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the relentless waves of pain crashing into me.
Painted fingernails.
“Oh, no,” I whispered.
“What’s wrong, Milayna?” I jumped at the sound of Chay’s voice. I was so engrossed in the vision I’d forgotten I wasn’t alone. He wrapped his arm around me and helped me into the car.
“I had the vision again. Someone’s definitely turned.” I put the heels of my hands to my eyes and rubbed.
“You’re sure it isn’t Lily you’re seeing?”
“Yes… no… I mean, I don’t think it’s her. The person in the vision is wearing a black hoodie. The hood is up, hiding their face. I saw them shaking hands. It’s a girl.”
“How do you know if their face is covered?” He smoothed a curl behind my ear that had come loose of the messy bun at the nape of my neck.
“Her nails are painted.” Closing my eyes, I remembered Muriel telling me that she and her mother had their nails done over the weekend.
A lot of people have painted nails. And not just girls. But what about my nightmare… she’s been in them. She held me for the demon. No! Those are just silly dreams.
“If it’s a girl, then maybe it just has to do with Lily,” Chay said.
“No.” I shook my head and rubbed my temples. “I can’t explain it, but I have a feeling it’s someone else.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know,” I lied.
My best friend and cousin, for one. And I’m a horrible person for suspecting her.
Three weeks, five days until my birthday.
Listening to music, I hummed along while I put dishes in the dishwasher. I glanced out of the window over the kitchen sink. It was sitting on a swing in my backyard. I dropped my head on my arm leaning on the counter and cursed.
Great. Another night with the demon imp patrol.
I watched it swing, kicking its fat little legs in the air and cackling in its irritating, high-pitched squeal. A second hobgoblin marched across the yard. It glared at me through the window. I put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher and reached for my cell phone. It rang and I jumped, dropping it on the floor. I snatched it up, hitting the answer button.
“You see them,” I said.
“Hi to you, too.” I could hear the smile in his voice, and I laughed. “Yes, I see them. What are you doing?”
“I’m watching one stare at me through the window.”
“Hmm. Whatcha wearing?” His voice was low and lazy.
“Huh?” He’d never asked me anything like that before. He didn’t seem like that kind of guy… whatever that meant. I wasn’t sure. “Geez, stop playing around, Chay.” But something about the question, the thought that maybe he’d really want to know, heated my blood.
“I like you in purple,” he murmured. It was almost a quiet growl.
“How do you know I’m wearing purple?”
“Because I’m watching you,” he said behind me.
I jumped and turned, letting out a small scream. “Crap, you scared me! How’d you get in here?”
“Your dad.” He laughed.
“I didn’t hear you ring the bell.”
“How could you over your music?”
“Ugh. How long have you been here?”
“Long enough.” He grinned. I rolled my eyes. “The question is—how long have they been here?” He nodded toward the window.
“I just noticed them.”
“Well, why don’t you go out and see what they want?” He shooed me with his fingers.
“Alone? You’re going to let me outside without a security guard?” I teased, pulling my hoodie on. I froze.
A black hoodie. Just like my vision.
Chay watched me look at my hoodie. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Sure.” I smiled at him, trying to hide my panic. But I wasn’t sure. I’d like to think I wouldn’t turn, but I was sure Lily didn’t think she’d turn either. But I was wearing a black hoodie like the traitor in my vision and my fingernails were painted. Pretty damning evidence.
I went outside and walked around back. “Hi, guys,” I said, looking at the little red goblins. The smell of sulfur swirled around me.
“Milayna,” they squealed. “Swing with us.”
Sighing, I sat on the swing next to the more sociable of the two goblins. “Why are you here?”
“We want to play.”
I sighed and dropped my head in my hands. “I’m not playing tonight. Tell me what you want so I can go inside and go to bed. I’m tired.”
“No. First, you have to play.” It jumped off the swing and ran in front of me.
“I’m not playing.” I stood up and turned to leave.
“I wouldn’t do that,” they growled, and I knew the mischievous, happy little goblins had just turned into their demonic counterparts.
I stopped with my back to them. “Then tell me why you’re here. Otherwise, I’m leaving.”
“We’re supposed to tell you that she’s changed sides.”
My body started trembling and blood rushed behind my ears. First, I had one thought. If she’d already changed, it wasn’t me. Dodged a bullet there. But that still left Muriel. “Who?” I asked the goblins.
“That’s no fun. You have to guess,” one said in a singsong voice.
“I already know Lily changed sides.”
“You know nothing,” Scarface growled.
“Whatever.” I walked toward the gate when Scarface ran between my legs, tripping me. I fell with a grunt. Turning over, I sat cross-legged on the grass. He walked up to me, sticking his face near mine.
“He’s coming for you.”
“He’s coming for you. He’s coming, he’s coming,” the other goblin sang, jumping up and down.
“Tell him to come on, then. I’m getting tired of waiting.” I leaned closer to its face and lowered my voice. “He doesn’t scare me.”
“He should.”
“He’s a coward.” I waved my hand in the air. “I’m not afraid of cowards, no matter what their name is.”
“Azazel won’t like this.”
“Tell him to get over it.” I got up and brushed the dirt from my jeans. “Go back to Hell where you belong.”
With one final glare, there were two small pops and they were gone, leaving just the slightest smell of rot and burning flesh.
I opened the gate and rolled my eyes. “I should have known you wouldn’t stay in the house.”
“I came out when it tripped you,” Chay said.
“I’m surprised you didn’t come bursting through the gate like a lunatic.” I smiled up at him.
“I would have, but you sounded like you had it under control. You know, I don’t think antagonizing him is the best way to handle this.” He reached out and wrapped a piece of my hair around his finger.
“You and I both know this isn’t going to end without a confrontation. I’d like to have it sooner rather than later.”