Demon crossroads, p.1
Demon Crossroads, page 1
Demon Crossroads
Road To Nowhere
Book 4
S. K. Gregory
Copyright © 2022 S. K. Gregory
All Rights Reserved
Cover Design by Taurus Colosseum
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty – Two
Chapter Twenty – Three
Chapter Twenty – Four
Epilogue
Chapter One
Lying on a wooden bench in the middle of downtown Nowhere, I stared up at the full moon above me, in a drunken haze. A grin spread across my face as I pictured Jeremiah’s face when I didn’t show up for his stupid ritual to induct me into the Council tonight. I never intended to show up in the first place, I just hoped that a good reason would come up in the meantime to get me out of it. When it didn’t, I just didn’t show up.
Sorry, Jeremiah, looks like you don’t get what you want after all.
For one month, Jeremiah had me memorize the spell I had to say to join them, while Veronica chased me, trying to get my measurements for a robe. Funny how she was so keen to do that but ignored me when I needed access to the books in the restricted section to help save Blake. Calling me constantly, demanding I come in when I had better things to do. Like watching paint dry. Seriously, could anyone imagine me in one of their weird robes? No, thanks. I’m more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl.
Veronica couldn’t be bothered to help me when I needed it most, I certainly wasn’t going to make things easy for her. For any of them.
The memory of Blake filled my mind and the grin faded away. I tried so hard to save him, but I failed. I practically watched him die while he spent the last of his energy trying to save my life again. And for what? Here I was, back in Nowhere, doing nothing with my life, drinking myself into oblivion to avoid any sense of responsibility.
And yet, despite everything that happened, despite losing someone again, I tried not to let it consume me. It wasn’t easy. I’m so used to wallowing, but this time I felt like I owed it to Blake to do better. To avoid falling into my old ways. It didn’t last long.
Dodging Council members certainly kept me distracted for a while, but now that the full moon had arrived, I turned back to the drink. But it felt good to just lie here and drift. They couldn’t complete the ritual and I wouldn’t be joining their merry band. Surely, I deserved to celebrate that.
What will Jeremiah do in retaliation?
He had threatened me with so many things, I couldn’t even be sure. He might lock me up, but so what? He might go after Jax, but he wasn’t really my problem anymore.
Jax stayed in town, still living in his trailer, but I avoided him like the plague. For his own safety. If Jeremiah believed that I cared what happened to him, he would use him against me. But I didn’t care what happened to him. Right? I barely knew Jax. Sure, he helped me in hell, saved my life a few times, but considering he came here with the demons who opened the hell gate originally, maybe we were even now.
Lifting my whiskey bottle, I took a slug, spilling some of it down my neck. Tutting, I wiped at it with my hand. Such a waste of booze.
I heard someone laugh from further up the street. Raising my head, I saw a few people heading down the road, away from me. Maybe I was being a little too obvious, lying here in the middle of town, but screw it. I wanted Jeremiah to know that I had screwed him over. That he had lost this round. There were also plenty of ways to escape if he tried to grab me and drag me to the Council buildings.
When he realized I wasn’t coming, he’d check my apartment and the bar for me first. Or he’d contact his little lackey who had been following me these last few weeks. I caught on to him pretty quickly, he wasn’t too subtle.
The last guy Jeremiah sent to spy on the demons, ended up dead. Maybe the others should have learned from that. This one didn’t do his job very well. It made it a lot easier to avoid him. He didn’t know that I could leave my apartment through the narrow alley at the back of the building. I’m sure he still sat across the street in his car, staring at my apartment. Maybe I’d screw up his night by walking back in through the front door. That way he could report back to Jeremiah and let him know what a crap job he had been doing.
Not yet though. I had to be sure that they wouldn’t have time to complete the ritual before I returned home. The bar would be closing soon, where else could I go?
Maybe I’ll just sleep here.
A bright light shone in my eyes, almost blinding me. Raising a hand to block it, I looked up to see one of the deputies standing over me. “You can’t sleep there, Nissa. We’ve discussed this.”
“I’m clearly not sleeping,” I slurred.
“No, but you are drunk. Do you want me to throw you in a cell?” Deputy Doyle put a hand on his weapon, waiting to see what I did next. I have been known to put up a fight in the past.
Considering it for a moment, I wondered if it would be worth it. If I ended up in a cell, Jeremiah couldn’t use me in the ritual, but then again, he might also use his power to get me out and take me straight to the Council buildings. “Nope. I’ll go.”
Sitting up, the world spun for a second. After a moment, I got to my feet, swaying dangerously.
“Go home,” the deputy said, sounding annoyed. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d told me off for public intoxication. Wouldn’t be the last either.
Giving him a salute, I staggered away. I had no intention of going home yet. No, I needed something. I felt a familiar itch, but who could scratch it for me? I knew one person who probably wouldn’t say no to my company, but it was a bad idea.
“And I’m the Queen of bad ideas,” I said, my voice sounding very loud in the quiet night. Chuckling to myself, I glanced around to see if anyone had heard me. The street remained empty.
Finishing the last of the whiskey, I dumped the bottle in a nearby trash can and headed out of town. To a field where a trailer sat.
It took some effort to get over the gate, but I managed to do it without face-planting in the dirt. I’d take that as a win.
About time something went right for me.
Crossing the field, I knocked on the door. Jax answered a moment later, looking surprised to see me. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
“I got lonely,” I said. “Thought I’d stop by and see if you were up.” Placing a hand on my hip, I wobbled dangerously at the movement but managed to stay upright.
If he’d hurry up and invite me in, I’m sure he has somewhere I can lie down.
“I figured you didn’t want anything to do with me after what happened in hell.”
I didn’t, up until now, but he had something I needed. With a sigh, I stepped up into the trailer, brushing past him. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
From the look of it, he had been enjoying a few beers at the table. I picked one up and took a sip.
Like I need more booze.
“What are you doing here, Nissa?” he asked, jamming his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He wore a fitted black t-shirt over them and no shoes. As usual, he looked sinfully hot, even without any effort. It made me want him even more.
I thought I had been obvious about why I had come here, but I guess not. Since I needed a place to lie low for a while, why not have some fun at the same time?
Setting the beer down, I came toward him. Placing a hand on his chest, I said, “I think you know why I’m here.”
I couldn’t be any more obvious if I stripped in front of him, which I might do if he didn’t catch on quick. How could he ignore this heat between us?
He raised an eyebrow. “Last time it was to badger me into helping you get into hell, so why not spell it out for me.”
Standing on tiptoe, I tried to kiss him, but he turned his head away. “Nissa…” He took a step back and sighed.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment at the brush off. “Oh, come on. I know you want me; you’ve made that very clear. So, let’s do it. Let’s fuck.”
Glancing behind him, I could see his bed enticingly close. That spark between us, the feeling when I touched him, I wanted to see what it felt like when he was inside me. Then maybe I could forget my miserable life for a while.
I moved toward him, but again, he stepped back. Insulting, to say the least.
“What the hell is your problem?”
How could he refuse an offer like that? I glanced down, checking I hadn’t thrown up on myself or something, but no, I had managed to avoid that so far tonight. Though it was still early.
“I’m not going to pretend that I’m not interested, but not while you are wasted. Go and get some sleep.”
Laughing, I said, “What’s the big deal? I had a drink or two. So have you.” I waved my hand toward the table behind me. Did he really think he could lecture me on drinking when he was in here drinking alone?
“I think it has been more than one or two for you. Ask me again when y ou’re sober, yeah?”
Anger flared inside me. “Like I’d want you when I’m sober.”
Smug bastard. Does he think I’ll come crawling back in the morning? I don’t think so.
It took a whole bottle of whiskey just to get me to his door, it would never happen without it. Urgh, why did I even bother?
Slamming open the trailer door, I stepped down onto the ground. Who the fuck did he think he was, rejecting me? Well, I didn’t need him. I didn’t need anyone. He was nothing more than a distraction anyway and a poor one at that.
“You’ll feel better when you sleep it off,” Jax called after me from the doorway.
Sanctimonious shit.
Raising my middle finger at him, I kept walking. What did he know? Well, I hope he knew what he had lost out on because this would never happen again. God, what was I thinking, lowering myself like that with him in the first place? And so soon after Blake. Of course, I just wanted sex, it wasn’t like I wanted anything more from someone like Jax. Why would I?
I don’t need a demon complicating my life any more than it already is.
No, I’d stick to a local from now on. I’m sure there had to be at least one guy in this town who wanted my company.
Crossing the field, my head started to spin, and I felt the overwhelming urge to sleep. Where was a park bench when you needed one?
At this rate, I might not make it back to my apartment.
Anger at Jax drove me forward, but as I walked in the dark, my foot caught on something on the ground. A root maybe.
Pitching forward, I landed face down over the mouth of a ditch, my head hanging over it. I tried to get back up, but I couldn’t.
Who knew what was living in it. Bugs, definitely. Probably rats too. I didn’t want to get too close to them.
Pressing my hands against the ground, I tried again to get up, but I just couldn’t. If I lay here, I’d likely get my face chewed off or end up covered in spiders.
Okay, I’ll just give it a minute and then I’ll get up and crawl back home.
But I guess Jax had a point, after all, I did need to sleep it off. Exhaustion hit me like a brick to the face. Sleep sounded so enticing right now.
My vision blurred and I blacked out.
Chapter Two
As I sank into darkness, I found myself back in hell, and not for the first time. Wandering through the maze of tunnels, I tried to find a way out, but I couldn’t. Every tunnel led to another, and I couldn’t find the exit. The walls seemed to close in as hands appeared, grabbing me, dragging me to the ground. I fought them off, crawling forward.
“Hello?” Someone had to be here. They had to hear me. “Help me!”
“Nissa?”
I opened my eyes to find myself staring at a hole. Lying face down on the ground, I realized I lay over a ditch by the side of the road.
“Nissa? Oh my God, are you okay?” a voice said.
With a grunt, I tried to push myself up, but my arms wouldn’t cooperate.
I felt hands on me, and someone turned me over onto my back. I winced as the light hit my eyes. Squinting, I found Jax above me. “What happened?” I asked.
“That’s what I want to know. Were you attacked?” he asked.
“No. I think I just passed out.” That seemed the most likely explanation.
Jax pulled a face. “Jesus, Nissa, you are literally face down in a ditch. What the hell are you playing at?”
Pushing him away, I tried to sit up. I really didn’t need criticism right now. My head pounded and I ached all over from sleeping on the ground.
“Come on,” he said, helping me up.
I swayed, falling against him. “Okay, you can’t get on my bike in this state, so I’ll take you back to my place. You can have some coffee and a shower.”
Too hungover to argue I let him lead me back to the trailer. As I approached it, I remembered some of what happened last night. “Oh God, did I come on to you?” I groaned.
“Yeah, but don’t worry about it.”
How could I not worry about it? I came onto another guy a month after my boyfriend died. What did that say about me?
That I’m scum.
Jax helped me to the table, before making me some coffee. I sat slumped in the seat, supporting my head in my hands.
Jax placed a cup in front of me and a bottle of aspirin. “Drink that. Look, I have somewhere I need to be. Use the shower and you are welcome to have a lie down on the bed if you need. I’ll be back soon.”
When the door closed, I reached for the cup. Dragging it toward me, I took a sip. The bitter taste hit my tongue and I pulled a face. How did he drink this shit?
With a weary sigh, I struggled to get the cap off the aspirin bottle. Swearing, I pulled hard, scattering half the contents over the table. Rolling my eyes, I snatched two of them up, threw them in my mouth, and washed them down with a mouthful of the vile coffee.
Jax’s offer of the bed sounded good, but glancing down, I noticed how much of a state my clothes were in. Mud caked my clothes and chest. I would need that shower first.
Getting up, I slipped off my clothes, shaking off some of the dried mud. I’d have to throw them out when I got home.
The bathroom was tiny, and the shower wasn’t up to much, but it got rid of the mud and made me feel slightly more human.
After towel drying, I headed into Jax’s bedroom. The bed was unmade, and some clothes lay on the floor. I expected worse.
Feeling exhausted and sore, I flopped down onto the bed as I was, closing my eyes. I’d lie here for a minute before I looked for something to wear.
I awoke to the door being opened behind me.
“Nissa?” Jax called.
How long was I out?
I turned my head to look at him, only to find him purposely looking at the floor. “What time is it?”
“Close to noon. Get something on and I’ll make you some food.” Closing the door, he left me to it.
Sitting up, I remembered that I had no clothes on. Guess I gave him a sneak preview.
No, not a preview, because nothing is going to happen between us.
I spied a t-shirt on a chair in the corner that looked clean. As I pulled it on over my head, I could smell the faint scent of Jax’s aftershave. Once covered, I left the bedroom.
Jax stood at the stove making some food. I should leave, but my stomach grumbled loudly. It couldn’t hurt to get some food first, especially when I had nothing at home.
Taking a seat at the table, I waited for him to dish some food out. Once he had, we sat across from each other eating it.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Good. Look, I know things haven’t been easy since what happened with Blake, but…”
“That’s not why I got drunk. Well, not the only reason.”
He waited for me to go on.
“I agreed to…join the Council, but I couldn’t go through with it.”
“Why would you do that?”
I picked at my food. “It was the only way to stop us both from getting into trouble.”
In truth, I agreed to keep him out of trouble, but I didn’t tell him that.
“And what happens now that you didn’t go through with it?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I imagine they’ll try again on the next full moon. You might want to avoid them for a while just in case they come for you.”
“Why would they come for me?”
Sighing, I set my fork down and took a drink of coffee before I remembered how crappy it tasted. “Bleurgh. You need to get some decent coffee.”
“I have decent coffee. I just give that stuff to guests.”
I glared at him. “Seriously? I take it you have an issue with guests in general?”
He chuckled. “Don’t get many.”
Glancing down at the cup, I said, “Oh, is this your subtle way of telling me to go.” I started to get up, but he waved me back down.
“No, of course not. Finish your food.”
Feeling a little relieved, I continued eating. The food tasted too good to leave it half-finished. “Where did you learn to cook?”
“A culinary institute in France.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Seemed like the best place to learn, though I don’t cook a lot of French cuisines.”
