Ignited Page 24

  “Why?” It’s all I can manage.

  “The killer wanted your mother to die,” she says. She tightens her grip on my shoulder. “The killer wanted you to die as well.”

  I sink to the floor. She lowers herself with me, never letting go.

  “You were not meant to survive, but you did,” she says. “It was in the news. You were called ‘the miracle baby’ who was somehow born during a car wreck.”

  Tears spill. A “miracle” is the last thing I’d ever call myself.

  “The killer saw these reports and knew you had survived.”

  “Is that why he set the hospital on fire?” I ask.

  The masked demon shakes her head. She takes a breath, though I feel it’s more for me than for her.

  “To protect you, the others working with Duane set the nursery on fire. They replaced you with another baby who would be identified as you so the killer would assume you had died.

  “Elizabeth moved you to Georgia and set you at the Pages’ door. You were placed in a foster home for three weeks while the Pages waited to adopt you. But the killer followed. As a precaution, a fire was started at the foster home to falsify your death again.”

  The fires were set to . . . protect me?

  Sacrifices.

  Her essence intensifies, soothing my shattered heart. Then it splits and enters my mind again.

  “The pattern, Maddy,” she says.

  Car crash. Fire. Fire. The same pattern over and over in my mind.

  She stands back and removes her hands.

  It takes a moment for my thoughts to settle before I can speak. “Are you saying the pattern is some kind of test? The killer is murdering the other girls by car crash and fire just to see if any survive?”

  “Perhaps. But more importantly, the pattern is a message: the killer might not know which girl you are, but it knows what the others did to protect you.”

  I look away, horrified. My hands shake. A tear slides down my cheek.

  I begin to stand. I have to leave. Now. Somehow. I have to tell MJ. He has to stop the demon. Together, we have to stop the demon.

  Before I can get to my feet, she grabs my shoulders and pulls me down again. Her essence rushes in, half going to my heart, the rest filling my head again.

  It clouds my mind this time. Thoughts disappear. The room spins. I feel lighter—free of all the guilt and pain of the day.

  “MJ suspects you are a target, possibly even who the killer is really after, but he is in denial. Tell MJ the killer is coming for you, but tell him you do not know why. Say you just know.”

  “I just know,” I repeat.

  “He may argue, saying the killer is targeting only adopted girls. Do not tell him you are adopted. Instead, tell him it does not matter. Say you do not know why, but it just does not.”

  “It just does not . . .”

  “Tell him to trust you—if he does not trust you, then he will truly know what it is like to lose you, and it would be his fault.”

  “His fault . . .”

  After a moment, she removes her hands.

  The fog lifts, and the panic and trauma rush back. I tip backward and catch myself less than an inch from crashing into the TV. She stands and tries to help me, but I push her away.

  “Stop it! You can’t just compel me like that!”

  “I have to. There is much to tell MJ and much to keep secret. If you tell him the full truth, he might take you away. We cannot have that.”

  I tense, recalling Duane’s “promise.” Is that everyone’s big plan, to take me and hide? That’s what Damien did with Elizabeth, and it didn’t work out well. Screw that—if I’m going to die soon, it won’t be while hiding.

  The masked demon’s eyes dart to the side. She’s looking at the door again. “My master will not like what I have done, but I do not care.”

  Screw her master. Screw her. My stomach knots, hating the control she has over me. She wears the porcelain mask, but I’m the puppet.

  My rage forces me to my feet. “I hate you! I hate all demons!”

  She crosses her arms and tilts her head, waiting for me to finish.

  “You say you’re trying to help me, but my life has been a disaster since you demons showed up! You’re ruining everything!”

  She leans into me, inches from my face. Even though we’re the same height, she seems to tower over me.

  “The killer has known about you since birth. You have lived as long as you have only because beings on both sides are working together. For you, they have put aside a hatred that was forged the day man first walked on Mortal Ground. Think about that the next time you open your mouth.” Her eyes burn brighter than the flames in the room.

  “I . . .”

  Words fail me. My body slumps. She’s right. I probably would have died a long time ago if it weren’t for Duane, Damien, and Elizabeth, plus the masked demon and her master.

  “I’m sorry,” I say.

  “That is a decent start.” She relaxes her stance. “Demons are not the monsters you think they are. They were people at one point. Angels are not perfect either, but they get an unlimited supply of do-overs. Demons are sentenced to the City of the Damned for eternity. The punishment does not always fit the crime.”

  I hadn’t put much thought into how or why people get sent down here. Seeing as it’s quite possible I myself will die soon, I should probably have some idea about the afterlife other than the little bit MJ has told me. For all I know, I may not have much say about where I’ll ultimately go.

  The masked demon looks at me for a long moment before it dawns on me. I don’t know what she did to end up here.

  She sighs and turns away. “I was born.”

  I wait for her to continue, but she doesn’t. “I don’t understand.”

  “Me neither. But I have spent my entire life here, living vicariously through you.”

  Her hand runs through her hair, then she looks over at me. Her eyes are brighter again. Even through the mask, I can tell she’s smiling.

  “This will sound cruel, but I like when you are in danger. Being inside you, up there, it is better than I imagined.”

  We’re both quiet for a long time.

  “What’s your name?” I finally ask. “I’d like to call you something better than ‘the masked demon.’”

  She laughs. “I like that. It is a mouthful, though.”

  “Exactly, so . . .”

  She shrugs. “I do not have a name, so it will do.”

  Not only has she grown up here, but she doesn’t even have a name.

  “What do you mean? What does your master call you?”

  “‘Girl,’ if anything.”

  “Well, then, that settles it. We’re giving you a name. What name do you like?”

  Her scarlet eyes—vibrant now—look me over. She adjusts her body to mimic my posture.

  “I like yours.”

  The atmosphere between us shifts, becoming heavy. My pulse quickens. Although she’s a demon, I haven’t been afraid of her since that first time. But this sudden shift has me wary.

  She takes a step toward me. I take a step back.

  Fear closes in. My breathing accelerates. Behind her, I see the archway of her bedroom. A bedroom exactly like mine. She’s watched me my whole life . . . She enjoys coming up to save me . . . She’s been inside me . . .

  She wants to be me.

  “You cannot understand it now,” she says, “but our fates are entwined. You get to live up there and experience everything, while I am stuck down here waiting and watching. Always watching. You are my only connection to the life I should have had.”

  She presses a button on the remote, but I can’t take my eyes off her.

  “I do not know how long this will work,” she says, taking yet another step. “But even if it is only for a few minutes, I will cherish them always. Thank you for this, Madison.”

  “Wh-what?”

  She advances while I keep backing up, putting as much distance betwe
en us as possible.

  “When I help you in moments of danger, I cannot stay in you for long—your soul fights me. But if I send your soul somewhere else, I should be able to stay in you longer.”

  “No.” I shake my head. “Please don’t do this.”

  “Elizabeth showed you a past belonging to MJ,” she continues, ignoring my pleas. “To keep things balanced, I will show you one from the other side.”

  I risk a peek over my shoulder, and the TV is pulsing in familiar waves. “No! I don’t want to go through that again. Please don’t—”

  “I am sorry, but it is for the best. You need to see that demons are not all bad. There is hope, for some. Good luck, Madison.”

  She shoves me backward into the TV.

  Chapter Forty-One

  MJ

  It’s not even five o’clock in the morning when Alexander and I enter Maddy’s room in the Veil of Shadows. I’m filled with trepidation, and not just because the night was so disastrous. I have no idea what awaits me when she wakes. Are we still over? Does she hate me? Will she send me away?

  “I’m glad you’re back,” Tamitha whispers, even though Maddy can’t hear us. “I nearly called for you a moment ago.”

  “Why? What happened?” I move to Maddy’s bedside with her and Alexander following. I scan over her, but she seems to be sleeping peacefully.

  “She was sweating again and had a mild fever,” Tamitha says, “but otherwise I saw no signs of duress. Then a few moments ago her heart raced. But then it returned to normal. She rolled over, and now she seems fine.”

  Tamitha looks at me with pleading eyes. “I don’t understand why she has these dreams, but we need to make them stop. Even with a relatively ‘mild’ dream like this, it can’t be good for her body to go through so much in such a short time.”

  “I don’t know how to stop it,” I say with a resigned sigh. “Maddy believes the dreams will end soon—once she’s seen everything the Dream Girl wants her to. I hope she’s right.”

  “Did time away help you?” Tamitha asks.

  Alexander cuts her a look before moving away.

  My shoulders slump. “Not as much as I would have liked.”

  Tamitha nods, then moves over by Alexander as they give me some space alone with Maddy.

  Of all the things that transpired during our time away, the Council’s knowledge of my “psychic” perturbs me the most. They weren’t happy with the vague answers I gave them, both verbally and mentally. They’ll want her identification soon, and I may not be able to hide the truth from them. If they summon me again, I won’t answer. I won’t expose her. If they summon me again, we’ll have no choice but to run.

  Maddy nestles into her pillow. I crouch down, watching her. While the night wasn’t a big success, it did allow me time to focus on what’s really important—us.

  My friends can help me keep her safe, but I’m the only one who can fix our relationship.

  I think back to last night and the things she and I said. She told me she was done with all of this. She just wanted to be normal right now.

  Suddenly an idea grows.

  “Maddy wants to feel normal,” I repeat, this time out loud as my thoughts come.

  “She was angry,” Alexander says.

  “She didn’t mean it,” Tamitha adds.

  “She did,” I say. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. Her whole world has been turned upside down. Maybe if I give her a normal day, it can help her find her footing.”

  I look between them, hoping they understand. It’s risky, given everything going on. But she needs this. We need this.

  They’re silent—deep in thought.

  Then Tamitha says, “That could work.”

  Alexander nods. “We’ll help. What do you need from us?”

  I take a deep breath. For the first time in days, I feel a sense of relief from it. “Take over my Protector duties. Just for the day. Alexander, be alert for the Influencer. Tamitha, keep a close eye on the Shadowwalker. Have Sissy continue protecting Amber. Give Maddy and me the day to just be a couple. Let me take her to school so she can be with her friends. She needs them as much as I need you. I’ll figure the rest out as I go.”

  Maddy stirs.

  “Go relieve Sissy and inform her of the plan,” I say as I keep my eyes on Maddy. “I’ll meet up with you all at school.”

  “Good luck,” Tamitha says.

  They disappear, leaving me to face the uncertainty of my relationship.

  Standing here watching Maddy on the verge of waking feels awkward. She explicitly told me she didn’t want me hovering over her in the Veil. I move into the hallway, do a quick check to make sure the rest of her family is still asleep, then step out of the Veil.

  When I hear her yawn, I take a deep breath and knock.

  “Who is it?” she asks on the downturn of another yawn.

  I swallow my fears. “It’s MJ,” I answer in a voice as neutral as possible. I hope she won’t send me away.

  I wait.

  And wait.

  And wait for a response.

  Finally, I hear footsteps coming toward the door. She opens it. She places one hand on the doorframe and the other on the door, blocking my entrance.

  Everything inside me clenches.

  I look up, expecting to see anger. But instead, wide green eyes slide up and down my body. Her lips twitch, fighting a smile. She pushes the door open and steps to the side.

  “Might as well come in.”

  My lips part enough to release my breath. She’s never quite looked at me like that. Angry or not, apparently she still likes what she sees.

  I enter her room, and she shuts the door behind me. My essence jolts and my senses sharpen, feeding off the tension in the atmosphere. Even though I’m in her room and we’re both safe, my body is reacting as if a demon were in here. I glance at her bracelet still on her dresser, just to be sure. No stones are black.

  “I know you have called the shots lately,” she says, “but today will be different.”

  I turn, startled by her assertiveness. She’s still mad, but at least she’s speaking to me.

  “We’ll do whatever you want,” I reply.

  She tilts her head, gazing at me for a moment, then she smiles. “I want to run and feel the wind on my skin. I want to watch the sunrise and hear the world awaken. I want to have breakfast with Dean, Marie, and Hannah. Then I wish to go to school and see the triplets, Luke and Mason, Shawn, and Kelli.” She nods to herself. “Yes, that is it.”

  I blink, confused. That’s what she’s done every day, especially since I’ve been around. Why does she think that’s any different? Then again, it’s perfect. That’s exactly what I had in mind for this “normal” day I want to give her.

  Now isn’t the time to argue or question her, however. “Consider it done,” I say.

  Her smile widens and her eyes sparkle, practically illuminating the dimly lit room.

  Muscles inside me loosen as my fear, doubt, grief, and pain vanish. Her eyes are magnets pulling me toward her. She owns me, heart and soul. Inside my chest, I feel a thump that echoes through me. It does it again and again as my heart restarts.

  I step toward her, my arms reaching out to hold her so she can feel the power she has over me. But her smile disappears, the light fades, and she steps back.

  My heart falls silent once more. It’s too soon. She’s not ready.

  “Maddy I . . . I’m sorry. For last night. For everything. Please . . . forgive me.”

  She stares at me a long while, her eyes moving all over me again. She bites her lip, then slowly slides her tongue over her teeth.

  I inhale sharply as I feel movement hit me in the nether region. The room seems to be boiling. A bead of water runs down my neck. I’m sweating. Visions flash in my mind’s eye of us together. This time we do more than kiss. My palms ache, wanting to caress her skin and act on my thoughts.

  No.

  Not yet.

  I don’t even know if
we’re still together. Nothing makes sense right now.

  “We will discuss last night,” she says, lifting a narrow brow. “But not now. The list of things I want to do is long, and I am unsure how long I have before something tragic happens.”

  Before I can say a word, she saunters past me into the bathroom.

  . . .

  The first thing on this “list” of hers is a run in the park at dawn. I barely take my eyes off her as we run side by side. She gazes over everything in wide wonder, as if she were memorizing it. She’s lived here most of her life and seen this all before, but the way she’s looking at everything . . . I can’t take it.

  Back in her room, she spoke of something tragic happening. Was it related to her dream? I don’t know. But she knows something I don’t. Something is happening. Whatever’s coming, it’s my fault she’s not ready. I should have been training her to fight, just like she said. I wanted to protect her, but I’ve left her vulnerable.

  “How about we stop and work on your abilities for a bit?”

  I know this goes against the “normal” day I wanted for her, but I have to do something.

  “It would not do any good now,” she says without slowing her stride. “Tomorrow, though, you should do that.”

  I fall back as both my mind and body slow with confusion. She’s not herself this morning. She’s overcome with joy—and passion—one moment, then full of doom the next.

  She stops on the bridge as I catch up. She leans on the railing and stares at the treetops, eagerly awaiting the sunrise. I stand behind her, watching her face light up with the first few inches of bright golden rays.

  A tear falls down her cheek.

  I watch the sky for her echoed rain, but it doesn’t come. Has Maddy figured out how to control that ability, or is this still a by-product of last night?

  “It is so beautiful,” she whispers. “Promise me, MJ, that you will never stop watching the sun rise and fall.”

  “I . . . I promise.”

  These are the words of someone who doesn’t expect to survive today.

  Once the sun has fully risen, she turns to me, wearing that same breathtaking smile from earlier. “Okay. Now I will return home to shower. Then I will have breakfast with my family.”