She nodded gravely. “I’m afraid that’s where Steven is channeling magical ability from—
the demonic energy that already exists within him. That’s why we’re moving.”
“You’re moving out of the country so—”
“So his father can’t find us again. He wants joint custody.” Her expression soured. “Over my dead body. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my darling son from that jerk.”
“I can’t imagine having a demon for a dad would be a good thing,” George said. “For one thing, the commute between Toronto and hell during rush hour would be… well, hell.”
“It’s got nothing to do with his being a demon. The creep cheated on me when we were together and I want him to suffer eternally.” Her bottom lip wobbled. “Sending him back to hell wasn’t a good enough punishment, in my opinion.”
I heard the toilet flush, and a few moments later, Steven rejoined us. I looked at him a bit differently now.
Demon spawn.
I was seriously going back to church. ASAP. And not just for Easter and Christmas.
“Steven, let’s go,” his mother said sharply. “We have more packing to do.”
I opened the door for them. Meredith went out first with barely a glance at me. Steven paused and extended his hand.
That seemed rather polite, considering how ornery he’d been in the past. I took it to be a good sign and hoped very much that he’d washed up after using the facilities.
I shook his hand. I wouldn’t have minded talking to him in private about my eradication options, demonic or otherwise. “When did you say you were leaving for Germany, again?”
He didn’t answer me. His hand was cool to the touch and his grip tightened so much that it hurt.
I grimaced. “Hey, you can let go of me now.”
Steven raised his gaze to mine, and I couldn’t help but gasp in surprise. His eyes had turned red again—dark red with no whites showing.
“Let go of the nice vampire lady,” his mother snapped. “Now.”
“We’re close to the end now,” Steven said. “And if you don’t step aside when the blood begins to flow it will devour you whole.”
His voice didn’t sound like a teenager’s at that moment; it was deeper and raspier and filled with darkness.
“Let go of me,” I managed. My fingers were turning white.
But he didn’t let go. He grasped my other wrist, his gaze fixed on my own. “You should have died long ago—immediately after you were sired. But fate shifted that night.”
I didn’t think it was Steven who was doing the talking anymore—it was a demon. Just an educated guess. Cold fear slithered through me.
“Uh,” George approached us. “What exactly is going on here?”
Steven narrowed his red eyes at George, who staggered out of the door as if he had been shoved by a large, invisible hand. He now stood beside Steven’s mother on the front step.
Then the door slammed shut.
“Okay—” My heart rate was going twice as fast as normal. “Party’s over. You can leave now and there won’t be any problems.”
The demon currently hanging out inside Steven tilted his head to the side as he studied me with those freaky eyeballs. “You cause nothing but problems, vampire. The fact that you still exist is a problem.”
“You’re actually not the first one to say that. You don’t know somebody named Barry by any chance, do you?” I tried to keep the tremor from my voice but was failing miserably.
The demon brought his face close to mine, and he sniffed along my neck. “Your blood runs thick with power. I don’t think I like that.”
“You and me both.”
“A witch has touched you. She left a trace of her magic on your skin.”
“You make it sound way sexier than it was.”
His red eyes went to my gold chain. “Such a tentative hold you have on the eternal darkness inside you. Perhaps it would be easier for you if you simply embraced your true nature.”
I tried my damnedest to pull away from him but he was, not surprisingly, supernaturally strong. “My true nature isn’t being a nightwalker, if that’s what you mean.”
“Then, in the end, this flimsy object you wear will mean nothing.” He smiled and I felt it chill my insides. “We shall see if darkness or light will be the stronger force for you.”
“Who are you?” I gasped.
“Someone with a great interest in the choices you will make.”
“How about a little hint about what I should do? Pretty please with fire and brimstone on top?”
“Very well.” The cold smile widened. “He who kills your kind, but gives you diamonds, holds a clue in his hand—a glimpse of a betrayal you would never expect. One has already stepped too close to the flames and your choices will decide if they will burn.”
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” I asked, then lowered my voice. “Are you talking about Gideon? Something he holds in his hands? He was burned by hellfire.”
A smile twisted up the side of his mouth. “His and your destinies are now bound together.”
“I’m not in love with him. I love Thierry.”
The demon’s eyes brightened with intensity, and I could have sworn I saw the flicker of flames inside. “Love is not enough to save you.”
Before I could respond to that, the smile fell away from his pimply face and in the blink of an eye his hands shifted to my throat. He squeezed hard.
The door pounded as George tried to get back in. I heard Steven’s mother yelling his name.
I clawed at his hands, trying to get away from him. This wasn’t the grip of somebody who just wanted to give a friendly squeeze. I was strong enough to peel a few of his fingers back until he finally released me completely and I gasped for breath.
I held a hand to my tender throat. “What are you trying to do?”
“I’m trying to help.”
He backhanded me so hard that I spun around and smacked my head against the wall.