* * *
Ethan spotted her easily enough. The long red hair was a dead giveaway, and for whatever reason he hadn’t bothered to close any of the curtains in the cabin. The boat was a large one, more of a luxury yacht, with two visible levels above the main deck. The lights blazed inside, illuminating the sumptuous interior clearly. Besides Cady, the yacht appeared to be deserted, no crew in sight.
She paced back and forth in front of the windows, a slender champagne flute in hand, occasionally pausing to bring it to her lips, staring out into the night. It would be light soon and for some reason, Ethan felt like he had to approach under the cover of darkness. There was nothing but superstition to it, but he couldn’t help but feel like if the new day dawned, he might lose her forever.
Light on his feet, he left his vantage point from behind a tall sailboat dubbed The Immaculata, creeping closer until he reached the shadows near the hull. Grasping the nylon rope tethering the bow to the dock, Ethan climbed hand over hand, careful not to bump against the fiberglass for fear of giving away his position. Without a sound, he hoisted himself up and over the side, landing in a crouch.
Cady stood on the deck, watching his efforts intently. The marine breeze caught at her hair, but she gave no sign that the chill bothered her in the brief shorts and tank top. “Very impressive, you always were athletic.” A faint smile curved her lips as she extended a crystal flute to him. “Champagne?”
“No, thank you.” Ethan turned down the offer, gaining his feet cautiously. Having lost the advantage of stealth, he faltered somewhat, hand hovering over the dagger, but not drawing it just yet. “I told you I’d find you.”
“So you did. I admit, I thought it would take you a little longer to accomplish it,” she smiled, draining the flute and tossing it over the side. “Well then, shall we begin?”
“Begin what?” His eyes narrowed, circling warily. Was that supposed to be a signal to someone else hidden on the boat?
“What you’ve come to do.” Her hands spread wide, taking a step in his direction. “To bind me, of course.”
Thrown off balance by the invitation, Ethan took a step to the side, continuing to circle. What was the bastard up to now? “You want me to bind you now?”
“Of course not, but we won’t get anywhere until we get this part out of the way, will we? Go ahead, do your worst. I won’t fight you.” Her lips parted in an inviting smile, but Ethan had to remind himself that it wasn’t Cady looking out at him from behind those brown eyes, it was the monster. He had to do it, he had no choice.
Forgive me, he whispered in the stillness of his mind, drawing the rusty dagger and plunging it into her side.
Her body went rigid, a sickly smile frozen on her lips. “You know… she’ll die…” she bit out.
“I’m sorry, Cady.” His voice was heavy with sorrow for the girl trapped inside the frozen shell. The girl he loved. Gently lowering her to the deck, he brushed the hair back from her brow, tucking it behind her ear. “This is the way it has to be.” Ethan plunged the second rusty dagger into her shoulder with enough force to pin her to the polished wood.
Cady cried out, eyes wide with pain. “What do you mean I’ll die? Can’t you just get it out of me?”
Ethan stared down at the transformation, the pure panic in her eyes leaving no doubt in his mind that it was his Cady whimpering in his arms. The demon had to be trapped inside her, letting her bear the brunt of the pain, the rusty dagger would prevent him from fleeing the host now. “I’m sorry… but the ritual will kill the host. It’s the only way.”
“You could have… mentioned that… before.” Her words came between pain filled gasps, chest heaving with the effort to speak.
“I didn’t want you to think of me as a cold hearted killer, just like him.”
“You’re nothing like him.”
Ethan saw acceptance in her eyes, and it killed him, knowing he was the cause of so much suffering. No, not him, Asherik; it was his fault. “It’s a little cowardly, isn’t it? Making her take the pain.” He addressed the demon inside of her, still unable to guess at his endgame.
“She’s the one… you’re killing,” he spoke from her lips, the words stilted, but dispassionate. “I thought… you might… like to say goodbye.”
Goodbye? What kind of sick pleasure was he getting out of dragging this out? Ethan pulled the dague from its sheath, breathing hard as he reached for her slender hand.
“Just do it.” Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes as Cady nodded in encouragement. “Do it. You know you have to.”
Ethan knew his duty, there was no other way. He wouldn’t say goodbye, the farewell wouldn’t come, but something else needed to be said. “I love you, Cady.” His own tears mingled with hers as the bittersweet words were spoken.
“I know,” she smiled up at him through the tears. “Come what may.”
The black dagger flashed in the pale moonlight, and Ethan shut himself away from her scream of pain as he stabbed them both through the hand. “Immundus spiritus, audite et scire timor,” he chanted through clenched teeth, beginning the ritual. “Hostis humani generis, vitae raptor…” The demon made no move to fight him, no effort to remove the poisonous daggers. “Tu malorum radix vitiorum seductor hominum…”
He was doing it, soon Asherik would be bound and Cady would lie dead in his arms. “Proditor innocentes auctor invidia…” The words faltered, and Ethan forced himself to go on. “Avaritia, causa discordiae. Exorcizo te…”
“Love you…” The words came from stilted lips, the light already starting to fade from her eyes.
“Exorcizo te…” Ethan wavered, the ritual growing harder to perform. “De cortice… cortice… Shit…” He fell back, eyes squeezing tightly shut. “I can’t… I can’t do it.” He tore free the black blade that bound their hands together, slumping beside her in defeat. Cady gave no reaction, her eyes still wide and staring. Had he waited too long? Cradling her head, he pulled the rusty dagger from her shoulder, never so glad to see demon flesh knit together swiftly.
“Cady?” he said gently, brushing the hair behind her ears, but she didn’t respond. There was still one rusty dagger protruding from her side, but he didn’t remove it yet; he wanted these final moments with her before his failure was complete. “Can you hear me?”
The bastard squatting inside her didn’t give him that peace though, she remained locked away from him. Ethan held her as the sun came up, their blood mingling to stain the expensive teak deck.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said at long length.
“What’s that?” Ethan replied, not knowing which of them spoke.
“You’re thinking you would give anything right about now for me to leave her in peace.”
“You’re not wrong.”
“I’ll go willingly for something in exchange.”
“Name it,” he said flatly, no longer caring what the bargain cost him. He could no longer do his job, and he didn’t want to live in a world where Asherik dangled Cady like a puppet on a string.
“I’ll leave her if you accept me.”
He knew instantly it was the only reason why it had been so easy to find them. Asherik had lured him there for one thing alone – the chance at a new host body. Stronger than any human, he’d be more powerful than ever.
“I want to talk to her.”
“Don’t do this,” she begged, her expressive face leaving no doubt she’d come back to him. “Ethan, you have to complete the binding ritual, it’s the only way.”
Ethan took long seconds to enjoy the sweet curves of her face, gazing up at him, so full of love. “I’m sorry, I know this is the coward’s way out, but I can’t do it. I can’t kill you.”
“Ethan, he’ll have me anyway if he takes your body. He’ll have both of us.” Her hand reached for him, shaking like a leaf on the wind, and he grabbed it, pressing a kiss
to her palm.
“Contact Rikard. You’ll find his information in my laptop, the password is Samson. Tell them to bring the diviner and another reaper.”
“No…”
“Hell, tell them to bring two reapers,” he snorted. “When he leaves your body I want you to run, get as far away as you can because he’ll know everything I do.”
“I won’t leave you,” she shook her head.
“It’s the only way.” His head dipped to taste her lips one last time before he pulled out the other rusty dagger. “I accept you, Asherik.”
Cady stretched, taking in a full breath with a sigh of relief. “I won’t leave her until she’s fully healed.”
“Thank you for that,” Ethan said dully. It would give her a fighting chance to get away, it was all he could hope for.
“No, thank you.” Her lips curved in satisfaction.