Eighth Note (Fire Ballad Book 1) Read online

  I lifted my hands, staring at my fingers. My nails grew back, pearly and shaped, and my skin radiated youth and sunshine. My hair felt fuller, thick, and luxurious as it fell down my back in curls. My chest filled out, my curves just proportionate to my height, and I felt like I could breathe for the first time in days.

  My clothes were designer, the expensive brands I’d grown up in, and I sighed deeply, finally feeling like myself again.

  It felt so good.

  “Perfection,” he breathed, nodding.

  “Okay,” I called, lifting my hand in the air. “I’m almost finished with the song. Get ready to go get your… damned.”

  “I have been ready for eons of time, dear girl.”

  I nodded, blending another tune at a lower frequency. The result was enigmatic; the demon gripped his chest, fingering the medal there with reverent pride. “Yes?” I suggested.

  “Oh, yes,” he agreed, his voice thin and high-pitched.

  He began to evaporate into a thick, black smoke, and as I controlled the tune, I could feel the moment he entered my frequency.

  Clenching my fist, I evened out the hertz, completely closing the pitch I’d created.

  His betrayed roar gutted my ears. I waited, frozen, holding my breath as I ended the song.

  “Enjoy limbo, motherfucker.”

  The silence in the forest lingered for another few seconds before birds began chirping, and sunshine broke through the treetops.

  I dropped to my knees, burying my face in my hands.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Eva?”

  Will’s voice registered for only a second before his mouth covered mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he exhaled my name again, locking his fingers in my hair.

  “You are safe… alive…,” his lips traveled over my neck, and I inhaled the warm scent of his skin.

  “I trapped him. It’s over, for now,” I answered, lifting my hand and staring at my fingertips. My nails were normal, my skin clean and unmarred by the glass. I’m perfect… exactly what the demon promised. “It tried to make a deal with me, but I… tricked him.”

  “My God, Eva, I am never letting you out of my sight again,” he groaned, capturing my face in his hands. His mouth claimed me, punctuating every promise as his tongue tangled with mine. I stirred from deep within, clinging to him as he pressed me into the grass.

  “She looks good.” Cole’s voice drew my attention, and I turned my face to watch a tired grin move over his mouth. “Course, she always has.”

  “Eva?” My dad’s words were tentative, and my parents ran to me as Will helped me to my feet. I squeezed his forearms to tell him that I was alright, and in seconds I was smothered by my parent’s hugs. “It worked then?” West demanded.

  “It worked. I’m me, everything’s okay, Dad,” I promised. My mom covered her mouth, tears flooding down her cheeks, and I gave her a chastising grin. “Mom, don’t cry. Please, I’m okay,” I swore, hugging her to me. “I did exactly what you said to do. You’re so smart. Thank you for coming for me,” I whispered against her neck.

  “You trapped the demon in music?” My dad clarified, and I nodded.

  “Yes. Only I know the melody. It’ll never be heard again,” I promised.

  Will reached for me. “And the demon remains trapped in the frequency that you closed. I am proud of you, love. Your strength, your courageousness… you are incredible. And you’re mine,” he added, so possessive, and I smirked at him.

  “Of course I’m yours. But I’ll need you to take me the fuck home and remind me. Repeatedly.”

  “Eva,” my parents groaned in unison, and Cole patted his jeans for his cigarettes.

  “Kickin’ demon ass, taking names. Thank you, honey,” he chuckled, and I smiled, snapping my fingers for a flame. My magic obeyed my command instantly, and only then did I realize that the horrible brands in my palms were finally gone.

  He accepted my flame, winking in my direction. I shrugged. “Don’t thank me. We can’t pretend that we don’t have a responsibility to this world,” I added, mocking his words.

  “Oh, Jesus,” he rolled his eyes, taking a long drag. “An immortal good Samaritan,” he teased me back.

  The cabin was a nightmare. Walls peeling, no windows, destruction in every square inch. Between me and my father, we repaired the damage, and my mother and I watched in awe as he rebuilt entire rooms.

  “I wish I could do that,” Roam admitted, and he dropped a loving kiss to her forehead.

  “I’ll try to teach you, baby.”

  “You’re a good teacher,” my mom assured him, and I turned away as quickly as I could before I had to endure watching my parents break into an impromptu make-out session.

  Will glanced at his phone with an awkward smile. “Logan texted to ask what happened. He said that Perry and Lydia are fine.”

  “You guys go home,” I began, drawing four sets of incredulous eyes my way. “Really. Will, go get Perry, take her home, I’ll leave tomorrow. I have a few things that I need to do before I leave.”

  “You are quite mad if you believe that I am leaving here without you,” Will clipped, and I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m fine. Right? Sayonara demon, all’s well that ends well.”

  “What do you need to do?” West demanded, and I brushed the drywall dust from my hands.

  “I need to thank Kellan. And pay my respects to Nina. Her funeral is tomorrow.”

  The bitching and moaning that ensued felt like it lasted for longer than my entire demonic possession. Finally, my parents agreed to go home to the girls, and Will, of course, refused to leave my side.

  Cole drove my parents to town, and in seconds Will spun me in his arms and slammed me against the back of the cabin door.

  I widened my eyes, looking up at him in semi-shock. “Will?”

  “I detest this shirt.”

  My Led Zeppelin t-shirt split down my chest as he tore it apart, and I nearly choked.

  “You know how I feel about Led Zeppelin. I can’t believe you did that.”

  “You will thank me very shortly.”

  He grabbed for a handful of my breast, untucking me from my bra as his mouth assailed my nipple. I groaned, melting against the door, but he caught me between my thighs, hoisting me against the wood.

  “Will… I can’t…,”

  His mouth let go of my chest, and his arm wrapped around my waist while his other hand tore my jeans over my hips and tossed them across the room. “You can. Destroy it all. Let go,” he ordered, turning me around.

  I flattened against the door, moaning as he kicked my legs apart, fitting my ass against him. Trying to turn in his arms, he locked his strong hands at the back of my neck, holding me.

  “You are mine,” he growled, his mouth dragging along my spine, his unshaven chin scratching deliciously along my lower back. Reaching between my legs, his fingers parted me before plunging, one, and then two. I threw my head back, and I could feel the flames pouring from my fingertips as I clawed at the door.

  “Will,” I warned, begged, cried as his mouth moved to the very base of my spine. Effortlessly he spun me again, his lips landing over the tattoo on my pelvis.

  “Did Cole touch you here?” He demanded, his fingers continuing drive into me, curling to my most sensitive place. “Did he do this?”

  “God, no, Will,” I bucked my hips, unable to resist more flames as they crawled along all four walls of the cabin living room. “I’m going to burn this place down,” I cried, sliding my hands into his hair.

  And then his mouth joined his fingers, and I was done.

  The smoke would have asphyxiated us both; he grabbed my hand, waving it in a small circle before slamming it against door. All of the windows blew outward, and the smoke poured from the room, oxygen feeding the inferno around us.

  “Fuck! We’re gonna burn!” I screamed, but God, the clenching pleasure building inside was only moments away.

  He let go and stood, gathering both of
my hands above my head before guiding himself to my opening. My eyes flashed from green to gold and back as he drove into me with no warning, no tender words, no reminders to go slowly.

  The moment he entered, the stairs exploded in a blaze. I let my eyes roll back, moaning, gripping his neck as he reared back and slammed into me again.

  His mouth claimed mine, and when his tongue plunged, I lost it.

  “I’m coming,” I whispered, so weak, and he dropped his forehead and nodded against my shoulder.

  “Then come for me, love,” he commanded.

  I did, and he joined me, his hips grinding into mine as the roof buckled and began to cave. Flames licked at our fingers, and even in the midst of pleasure, I managed to wave my hand, extinguishing the fire that inched toward us.

  When I opened my eyes, we lay on the ground on the front door… on the front porch. The door broke our fall, and I stared up at Will, arching my hips and smiling as I felt him still deep within me.

  “Will, the cabin is on fire.”

  “Yes, love.”

  “And my Zeppelin shirt is ruined.”

  “You are welcome.”

  Grinning, I tried to extinguish the flames, but it was no use. The cabin was thoroughly destroyed.

  Shifting slightly, I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “Thank you,” I hushed, accepting his kiss as he lovingly gathered my face in his hands. “Thank you, Will. I love you so much.”

  He smiled, still very much inside me, kissing the tip of my nose. “I love you, Eva.”

  When Cole returned, he found us in each other’s arms on the front porch. I wore Will’s smoke-smudged white button-down and nothing else, and he wore only his jeans that he had managed to salvage.

  “The fuck?” Cole’s glare moved from the cabin to us, and then back to the cabin. “What… is it here again? The demon?” He asked quickly, stumbling backward.

  I stood, bending to steal a kiss from Will before shaking my head at Cole. “I told you that you wouldn’t know how to handle me, Mathison.” Smirking, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Well, I need something to wear. And since that falls under the category of necessity, I would like Versace. No, Prada.”

  “Fuckin’ hell, kid. You owe me a house.”

  Waving my hand, I watched as a black sundress fell over my arm and frowned. “What in the fuck is this? Walmart?”

  “Eva. Language,” Will chided, gesturing to the dress. “Take what is given to you, and be grateful.”

  “Well, I stopped at the bank, so if magic isn’t working for you, maybe this will.” Cole stepped forward, handing me a piece of paper.

  The cashier’s check was for $200,000.

  My breath hitched. “Wait… no, Cole, we have to at least split this.”

  “You got possessed by fuckin’ demon, hon. Take it all.”

  “But I destroyed your cabin,” I protested. He shrugged, reaching for a cigarette.

  “My home is in North Carolina, anyway. I didn’t plan on coming back here any time soon.”

  I focused on the number of zeros on the check, my nostrils flaring to my ears. “This isn’t enough. Fayette promised another $200,000 when we gave him answers. Since he was the one who sicced this asshole demon on me, I think we deserve the rest.”

  “Eva, stay away from him. I forbid you to involve yourself any more with Fayette. Do you understand me?” Will thundered, and I shot him a defiant glare.

  “Will, I am going to see him at the funeral. And I am not leaving until I give him… a piece of my mind.”

  The two men accepted my words without meaning, but I knew exactly what my intentions were. I needed sixty seconds alone with Dr. Gerald Fayette.

  And that would be enough.

  “Come on, we’ll go to a motel. After the funeral, we’re out of here, agreed?” Cole urged, and I nodded, pressing a kiss to Will’s cheek.

  “Yes, that’s the plan. Come on, let’s show Will the fine dining that Walton’s got to offer. I’m starving.”

  Will grinned, tucking me into his arms.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  When Kellan opened the front door, I almost expected him to slam it right in our faces.

  Instead, just as he had done days ago, he held his arms out to me, and I let him hold me in a grandfatherly embrace. “You’re stronger than I thought you were, Eva.”

  The night in the hotel had been blissfully uneventful. Will made love to me again, this time careful to make sure that I kept my powers from destroying the room and setting shit on fire. I opened my eyes at exactly three AM, grinning as he slept soundly with my hair spread over his chest.

  Reaching for the complimentary robe provided by the hotel (I insisted on springing for a Hilton versus the Red Roof Inn again) I padded toward the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  His tired voice pulled at my heart. Even in sleep, he was worried for me. “I just need some fresh air. I promise I’ll be right back.”

  “Yes, love. I’ll be waiting.”

  Sighing, I nodded and slipped into the hallway. The balcony at the end of the floor allowed for guests to move in and out with the key card, and I could see Cole leaning against the railing through the glass door.

  He turned as I pushed the door open, exhaling smoke in the opposite direction. “Hey kid.”

  “Hey yourself. You should stop smoking, it’s bad for you.”

  He arched one brow, amused, continuing to puff on his Marlboro. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” I held my hand out, waiting, and he gave me a curious glance before finally handing over the cigarette.

  I slipped it between my lips, taking a quick drag. My I’m-a-rebellious-badass high-school days came flooding back to me, and I easily remembered how soothing the nicotine was to my system.

  “You constantly shock the hell out of me.”

  I puffed a mouthful of smoke between us, handing the cigarette back to him. “Ironic choice of words.”

  He smirked, leaning forward against the rail once more. “You ready to go home?”

  “I’m ready to hold my baby,” I corrected, staring out over the parking lot. “I don’t know why I spent so much of the past year resenting her. I’m the only one letting me down. If I want to do something, I can just do it. Aside from all the demonic possession bullshit, Cole, I really did like working with you. I’d like it if you asked me to again.”

  He grinned, shrugging. “You’re a lot to handle.”

  “I think you’re up for the challenge.” I raised one eyebrow. “Hey. How’d you earn your middle name, Cole motherfuckin’ Mathison?”

  His eyes narrowed in confusion for a second, and he finally realized what I was referring to. “Long story.”

  I smiled. “For another time?”

  Nodding, he gestured to the door. “Go on. If I need some help, I know where to find you. Get some rest.”

  “Sure, boss,” I answered, returning his signature wink before moving back to my room and to Will’s bed.

  Kellan’s house was the last stop before the funeral.

  “We can’t stay,” I replied to Kellan, returning his hug. “I just wanted to say thank you. I know that you owed Cole for something, but you really didn’t have to help us. You did, and I appreciate that. It’s my turn to owe you,” I added.

  “Debts are better left paid,” he answered, patting my shoulder. “We are even. You look well, girl. Healthy. You’ll take better care of her next time, Cole,” Kellan warned, and Will wrapped his arm around me.

  “This was Eva’s last… adventure… with Cole,” my husband responded, and I scowled at his bossy tone.

  “We have to go. The funeral is in ten minutes. Thanks again, Franklin,” Cole added, turning toward the car.

  Will followed ahead with Cole, but Kellan’s hand locked over my wrist.

  I turned to face him, narrowing my eyes at his grave expression.

  “Eva.” He took a step closer, lowering his voice so that only I could hear. “He who fights
with monsters should look to it… that he himself… does not become a monster.”

  I recognized Friedrich Nietzsche’s quote from my father. West Perry had a quotation for everything, and I narrowed my eyes at Kellan’s choice of words.

  “I’ve trapped him. It’s over.”

  “Is it?” He prodded, searching my eyes. “Be careful not to confuse righteousness with revenge.”

  I shivered. How can he know what I have planned for Fayette? I’d told no one, not even Will, that I fully intended to make Gerald Fayette pay for his sins.

  “Thanks,” I managed, pulling my wrist from his grasp and dropping my sunglasses over my eyes. The black sundress caught the breeze, billowing around my thighs as I approached the car.

  Will held the door open for me, and I slid into the back seat. He took the passenger’s side next to Cole.

  “What did Kellan say to you?” Will asked.

  “Nothing. He just wanted to wish me luck,” I lied, turning toward the window. The sun heated Mack to an uncomfortable temperature, and I rolled the windows down with a wave of my hand.

  The casket was already being unloaded from the hearse as we arrived. I leaned forward between Will and Cole, watching the people gather around the grave that would soon hold Nina. “Let me go alone. I promise I won’t make a scene. You can watch me the entire time. Will,” I cut him off before he could protest. “You know I can take care of myself.”

  He stared at me for a long moment, finally relenting. “Fine. Hurry Eva. Say what you came to say, and then let us go home to our daughter.”

  “Okay.”

  I made my way toward the funeral site, my eyes shaded by wide sunglasses. The black wrap-front dress allowed me to blend in with the other attendants, but there was no mistaking my fiery red hair as I approached the scene.

  Gerald Fayette saw me immediately, his eyes nearly bugging from his head. He whispered something to his wife before hurrying in my direction.

  Stopping next to an old oak tree, he met me there, reaching into the lapel of his suit jacket. “Yes yes, I owe you. I would have mailed Mathison the money, you know,” he added.

  “Ger-ald,” I sung softly, taking a step toward him. He went rigid, backing against the tree trunk, and I let a slow, taunting smile cross my lips. “When I left you huddled in Nina’s apartment, crying like a baby, you thought you’d never see me again, didn’t you,” I purred, tracing the lines of his collar.