A Demon Made Me Do It

Chapter 23. Liora/Lucky


“Hey, Liora…um, can I talk to you for a sec?” Corinne leans against the row of lockers and fidgets nervously with her necklace.

I let out a soft sigh. I’d managed to make it through yet another day of school, only because I had the quiet cemetery to look forward to later. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts and dead people who don’t judge me. As much as I genuinely like Corrine, I hope she’s not looking for us to have some more girly-bonding time, as this comes into direct conflict with my desire to retreat from the outside world completely.

But Corrine is the only one who’s never judged or criticized me for my antisocial behavior. If I lose her, I’ll have no one. And I don’t know if I’ll survive feeling even lonelier.

I slam my locker shut and force a smile. “Sure, what’s up?”

“Um, well, I was wondering if I could ask you for a small favor. Well, small for you but it would be huge for me…” She chews the side of her mouth and twists her hair around a plump finger.

“What is it?”

“I was wondering…hoping…that maybe you could help me with some problems I’m having in a couple of classes? You’re so brilliant; maybe you could explain a few things to me…I figured you were able to help Kieron, maybe you could help me?” She seems to be holding her breath waiting for my answer.

Inexplicably my mood brightens, despite hearing his name. Not much, but some, and I chuckle. “Sure…what do you need help with?”

She hangs her head as we make our way to the parking lot. I’ve long since stopped looking for Kieron’s truck, having accepted that he’s gone and never coming back.

“Well, it’s kinda embarrassing. I’m not doing all that great in math, but right now I’m failing history and English. I try the best I can, but my writing is terrible…I can’t remember all the stupid rules. And in history, I keep getting confused about who did what when, and why I should care. Math…that I just suck at, period. And don’t even get me started on chem.” She lets out a troubled sigh. “I’m just really scared ‘cause if I mess up too bad and don’t graduate…” She looks away, but not before I catch the glistening in her eyes.

“No prob…I can totally help you.” Finally. My useless brilliance might be good for something other than making the stupid teachers think they’ve actually taught me something.

“Really, you can? I mean, you will? That’s great!” Her voice is overflowing with relief. “I wish I could pay you for your time, but I don’t have any money. Maybe I could wash your car or clean your—”

I laugh so loud it surprises me. “Corinne, stop it. Don’t be silly. I’d love to help you, and you don’t have to pay me or do anything for me. The extra study would benefit me, too,” I lie.

She smiles wide, flashing her crooked teeth. “Wow, thank you so much. That’s so cool of you. Um…when are you free? I know nights don’t really work for you.”

“I’m free in the afternoons. I just need to be home by dark. So any days you want.”

The more I think about helping Corinne, the more I like the idea. I desperately need something…anything… to help occupy my mind and distract me from the endless hours of torment. Something to focus on other than…

“You wanna do it now? The library is open till six.”

“Sure.”

We stroll toward the circular building, and I can’t help but think of the time I came here with Kieron. Will I ever be able to do anything again without thinking of him?

Corrine is an eager student, and listens to me carefully. As the afternoon progresses, I’m more and more amazed at how much I enjoy teaching her things…the feeling of satisfaction I get deep inside when she gives me that look of understanding. After she answers some complex math questions, I don’t know who is more proud, her or me. And the gratitude in her eyes when our session is up...utterly priceless.

“Liora, I don’t know how to thank you. You are such an amazing teacher. You explain everything in a way that actually makes sense. Already, I feel like I understand so much better. Maybe there’s hope for me yet.”

“Wanna do it again tomorrow?” I ask. The afternoon has flown by so quickly, I know I need to get going soon. But other than the days spent with Kieron, this was the best afternoon I’d had in a long time.

She bobs her head up and down eagerly. “Yes…I want to, need to…keep going, for as long as you’re willing to help me. If I don’t do well in my classes…if I don’t graduate…” She drops her head.

Impulsively, I give her a hug. “You’ll do fine…and I promise you’ll graduate.”

“I have to,” she whispers under her breath. “It’s the only way I’ll ever get out of my house and out of this God-forsaken town.”

“You can do it, Corinne. I know you can. And I’ll help as much as you need.”

“Liora, thank you…thank you so much. You really don’t know what this means to me. You are saving my life. You…you’re an angel.”

I smile, her effusive praise making me feel strangely warm. I’ve never been on the receiving end of such gratitude before and it makes me feel good inside. Really good. It’s nice to feel needed, and even better, to feel appreciated. To feel that I have a purpose.

“I’m no angel, but I’m happy to help. We’ll do more tomorrow after class.”

“Okay, great. Thanks again. See ya.” She waves vigorously, heading toward her bus stop.


Automatically, I head into the woods, only remembering a mile or so into my trek that I’d driven to school today. I wish I had remembered sooner. It’s getting dark earlier these days, and I’d stayed at school longer than I probably should have. If I don’t hurry, I won’t have time to eat dinner, and Lucky has definitely been consuming way too much alcohol lately; even more, I suspect, than is necessary for her to function properly. Every morning for the past two weeks I’ve awakened to Tatiana sitting by my side, pink hangover remedy in hand.

I weave through the trees, taking a short cut from my normal path. There’s no distinctive trail to follow, but I know the way. As I tip-toe along some rocks across a small stream, I replay my afternoon with Corinne. I remember a conversation with Kieron and how, when he asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I hated that I had no clue what to tell him. Slowly, an idea begins to form.

Despite Tatiana’s warnings, deep down I’d always assumed that my condition was only temporary, and that one day Lucky and I would wake up as one, reunited and back to our normal life, whatever that may be. And when that happened, I’d have the power to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

But as months have turned into years, I’m beginning to think that maybe this is just how things are going to be. I will be an ordinary human for the rest of my life. Well, almost ordinary.

I need a new game plan. Instead of biding my time waiting to die, I need to find a way to do something with my life that makes me happy. Really happy. Like tutoring. Maybe one day I can even become a teacher. That might work—teachers only work during the day time, and I really like little kids. Since I’ll never be able to have any of my own, maybe teaching will be something I might like…something I can do.

I’m nearing the final bend, close to the cabin. Lost in happy thoughts for my future, I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear a sharp CRACK behind me. I freeze mid-step and spin around, searching...listening.

Nothing. Silence.

Must be an animal, I tell myself, and continue walking.

A few seconds later, I hear the sound again, louder...closer. Those were definitely footsteps. And no one is supposed to be out here. My heart races as I look in every direction.

“Hello?” I call out in a shaky voice. Maybe it’s poachers, looking for game. I don’t want to get shot by accident, and maybe if they know someone else is out here, they’ll leave. But after a few moments of silence I decide I’m just being paranoid. It’s probably just a deer, or maybe a large raccoon.

The sun is approaching its final bow in the hazy sky, and I estimate I have about half an hour left. I need to get home quickly and get some food in me, so I ignore the uneasy feeling in my gut and continue on my way. But after only a few steps the loud, distinctive crunching sounds again...right behind me.

I jump and turn around, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Then I freeze in disbelief, my eyes wide. Slowly, I bring one hand over my mouth, while the other reaches out to touch the person before me.

“Liora, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to scare you.” His voice is as tender and melodic as I remember. He steps closer and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Kieron…is it really you? You’re back?” I ask stupidly, flinging my arms around his neck. “I thought you had gone away forever and I was never going to see you again…that you didn’t want me…” I climb up on my tip toes and bury my face in the scruff of his neck. He hasn’t shaved and his skin is coarse against my cheeks, but the musky scent is intoxicating. A mixture of earth and air.

He wraps his arms tighter around me, and I let myself melt in his embrace. I’ve imagined countless times how it would feel to see him again, but even my wildest fantasies hadn’t come close to the euphoria of this moment. I pull back enough to gaze at his gorgeous face.

“I’m sorry, I had to leave for a while…and...” His eyes glisten with hope.

He leans in and kisses me sweetly on my lips. They burn with desire for more.

******





“But where were you? Why were you gone for so long?” I ask after several kisses. As much as I love the feel of his mouth on mine, I need some answers. Fast.

“I had a job to do. A very important job…I’m sorry, it ended up taking a lot longer than I thought it would, and I wasn’t sure…” Stress and fatigue show on his face, and his normally crystal-blue eyes are bloodshot and weary.

“But you’re back now?” I can barely contain my elation.

“Sorta, the job isn’t exactly finished yet.” He sits down and pulls me beside him. “Liora, we need to talk.”

“Yeah, I know, but I don’t have much time left.” I glance at the darkening sky, trying not to be worried by his serious tone. After all, if he had wanted nothing more to do with me, why would he have come back? Would he return just to tell me we’re through?

“Liora…” He squeezes my hand. “Do you have any idea where I went? What I was doing?”

I shake my head. Of course I’d asked Tatiana if she knew anything, but getting information from her was like squeezing blood from a rock. I’d even gone so far as to write Lucky a note asking if she knew where Kieron had gone. She’d scribbled, “That lying, traitorous dirtbag is dead to us. Forget you ever knew him.” But I didn’t think I should mention that part to him just yet.

“No, I just…figured…you know, since I told you I never wanted to see you again…well, that maybe you actually listened. Although I didn’t mean it…” I add hurriedly.

He places his hand under my chin and looks into my eyes. “Nothing…nothing could be further from the truth. I hate how we left things between us, and I haven’t stopped thinking about you for one moment. But we’ll get to that later…right now I do need to tell you what I was doing.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

His face is grim as he stands up. “We can’t do it here. I have to take you somewhere. It’s a risk...a big one, but one I have to take.”

“Take me where? Kieron, I don’t have much time left, if there’s something you need to say…”

“We can talk more when we get there. I need you and Lucky there. I’m not sure she’d be as cooperative, so I need you to come with me.”

My heart pounds. Why is he being so mysterious? Is he just using me? Lying to me again? And why wouldn’t Lucky listen to him? The idea of him going through me to get to her makes me extremely uncomfortable.

I press my lips together and frown. “So let me get this straight: you want to take me somewhere so that when Lucky wakes up, she’ll be there?”

He nods emphatically. “Yes, and we must go now if we hope to make it in time.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Clearly, you’re not aware of the ginormous massive flaw in this little plan of yours. I’m pretty positive she won’t like that one little bit, especially if she’s already mad at you—which I’m under the impression she is. It’s really not a good idea to get her angry. I really like you and would hate to see anything horrible happen to you—”

“I need both of you there, please…We don’t have much time. Please,” he repeats, looking past my eyes and into my soul. “Please, trust me.”

“I trust you,” I whisper.


With that, he whisks me off my feet and cradles me in his arms as if I’m a baby. I feel tiny and weightless in his powerful grip.

“Hold on to my neck. I won’t let you go, but it will be easier if your arms are safely out of the way.” I lock my arms around him the same way I had with Bones.

We dash away at a dizzying speed until the forest becomes nothing but a greenish blur. I don’t want to even think what would happen if we should crash or if he should trip. I close my eyes tight, but even though I’m completely dependent on Kieron for my life, I’m not afraid. I never feel safer than when I am in his arms.

He runs—if you could call it running—for several minutes—through the forest, over mountains, down a deep valley. I open my eyes once, long enough to see that we’re somewhere in Thiberoux, but the landscape doesn’t look familiar... not that I’d be able to tell, the way the scenery is whizzing by.

Finally, Kieron slows his breakneck pace, gradually coming to a halt. He sets me down gently and places his arm around my waist to keep me steady on my wobbly legs.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah, but I think my liver and spleen are still back there somewhere.”

He smiles. I take a quick look around and almost wish I’d kept my eyes closed. Gone are the lush trees and shrubs that populate my homeland. All I see is miles and miles of sickly yellow dirt and piles of rocks. There is no sign of life anywhere; even the air is dry and stale.

During our mad run, I’d been too worried about the suicidal speed we were travelling to give much thought to where we were travelling to. But I’d assumed it would be somewhere. This vast, barren desert is nowhere...as if we’d fallen off the ends of the earth and landed in one of those creepy, post-apocalyptic TV shows on the Sci-Fi channel.

“Where are we?” I whisper, not sure I want to hear the answer. This place is beyond depressing. I’m glad it’s almost time for me to fall asleep; I don’t like being here.

“We’re in Thiberoux, but not Dryndara,” he says, confirming my suspicions. This place…it’s very special and carefully shielded from outsiders.”

“Why? It’s not exactly prime real-estate; it’s just creepy and barren. I’m pretty sure I speak for all humans and demons when I say no one will be lining up to visit here anytime soon.”

“This place serves a very important function. Inside those caves are rooms for holding fugitives and other demonic prisoners for transport to the underworld kingdom.”

Suddenly I feel nauseous. And very afraid. “Why are we here?” I demand, not even trying to hide the panic in my voice. “Why did you bring me here?”

I was wrong…I was totally wrong about him. I am so sorry, Lucky…this was all a trap for you.

Kieron tries to hold my hand, but I yank it away. “Liora, don’t be afraid…” he says, pleading with his eyes.

“It’s a little too late for that. You brought me here so you could trap Lucky, didn’t you?” The corners of my eyes well up, but I refuse to cry. I’m done crying because of Kieron; I simply have no more tears left.

He motions to a pile of rocks blocking what looks like the entrance to a cave. “I have the Amazèa locked up in there.”

“You…what?” My whole body begins to tremble. This is even worse than I’d imagined, and I pray it’s just some sick joke… but why would he want to terrify me?

Please, please don’t tell me those murderous monsters are really this close, and here I am, exposed and vulnerable...human.

“Liora, don’t be afraid. They can’t harm you. They won’t harm anyone ever again, I promise you. You’re safe.”

I look into his eyes seeking reassurance, and find it there. But my voice is still shaking. “Why did you bring me here?” I ask softly

He reaches out to me again, and this time I don’t flinch from him. His touch is comforting, calming. “Liora, I need to talk to you, and we don’t have much time. It is important that you speak with me openly and honestly. It is of the utmost importance that you do... both of our lives might depend on it.”

“Okay, I’ll try…” I whisper, still staring into his eyes, the one place I feel safe.

“No matter how hard or painful it is for you, please tell me the truth.”

“Okay, I promise…”

He takes a deep breath. “Do you agree with Lucky that it is she who must kill the Amazèa in order for you to reunify as one entity?”

“I...I’m not sure what will happen to us if she kills them. But I want them dead for what they did. No one else can or will do it…” I look away, unable to hold his intense gaze.

He gently tilts my chin back to him. “But what if someone else does do it? What if they were punished for what they did to you and Lucky and your friends?”

“It’s…there’s more than just that. I do think Lucky has to be the one to kill them for us to have a chance to undo what happened to us. It’s the only way we know that might work…”

“But there is no guarantee, correct? Say she does kill them and nothing changes between you two. Then what?” His eyes search mine.

I take a step back from him and brush my hair off my face. “I don’t know…we just have to live with it I guess…I mean, I never thought it would be forever, but if that’s how it is…I…we just have to learn to live with it, I guess.”

“But are you aware of the fact that if you—she—does kill them, she will be in violation of Order 417.74 that states no demon or demion may attack a higher ranked demon or demion without sanctioned provocation or legal ordinance or they, too, shall be stripped of their powers and banished to the Wasteland?”

I furrow my brow. “I haven’t exactly studied up on the demon legal handbook. Look, I’m about to fall asleep so whatever you need to know, ask me now.”

He takes a step closer, and wraps one arm around me, while tracing the side of my cheek with his other hand. “Liora,” he whispers. “What I really need to know…forgetting all the craziness around us right now…Do you think you and I…do you think someday…you might ever be able to love me?”

I stay lost in the depths of his gaze as the familiar burning returns. Here I am safe. Here I am secure, whole, and warm. Here I feel his unspoken love for me radiate to the depths of my soul.

“I already do,” I whisper. My last conscious memory is of his warm lips on mine.

******





He moves away quickly, but not quickly enough. I grab his throat and hiss, “And just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I throw him towards the rocks with all my might. The shattered boulders crash to the ground, but Kieron simply stands up and brushes himself off—unhurt, and clearly unfazed, judging from the cocky smile on his face.

“Hello, Lucky.”

“Don’t ‘hello Lucky’ me,” I snarl, building a firestorm in my palms.

“Wait, wait…don’t shoot, I come in peace,” he says with a smile, holding up both of his arms.

“Very funny. Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” I look around at the unpleasant scenery. This place gives me the creeps; it reminds me too much of the hideous Wasteland the Altrumina sent me to. “And where the hell are we?”


“I brought Liora here so I could show you something. I didn’t think I could get you to come with me willingly.” He eyes my flickering palms, waiting for me to unleash their fury. “And I see I was right.”

“You have about five seconds to tell me what is going on before I fry you to a crisp.” My eyes narrow in anger, but even I don’t believe my hollow threat. The harder I try to deny my deep pleasure at seeing him again, the hotter and more volatile the conflict within me rages.

He cocks an eyebrow and beckons me to him. “I have something for you.” He starts tossing aside the boulders that aren’t already smashed, and when he’s made a big enough opening, motions for me to follow him through.

I stay put, and eye him suspiciously. “What’s in there? Do you really think I’m going to just follow you into some creepy cave like an idiot?” I don’t like the feel of this place, and I like his arrogant attitude even less.

“Why don’t you try not hating me for a minute and trust me instead?”

I laugh. “Yeah, sure, I’ll get right on that. Right after I join a convent and marry a goat.”

He stops and turns around, forcing his steely gaze on mine. “Lucky, I know you think I betrayed you. I brought you here so I could prove I didn’t. But if you’re too pigheaded to see what is plain as day…”

“And what is that?”

He sighs deeply. “That I care about you. That I am trying to help you. And that I believe in you…and us.”

He believes in me? What the hell does he mean by that?

“I don’t remember asking for your help,” I retort. But the fire in my hands is already beginning to subside, and try as I might, I’m having difficulty holding on to my anger. When I look into Kieron’s eyes, sincerity stares back…and something about his smile is like cold water on my smoldering rage.

“What’s in there?” I motion toward the opening, but stay where I am. It goes against all my instincts to let myself get into a situation where I don’t have complete control over my surroundings. And this place is just too weird…the energy is unsettling and all wrong.

“In there is a cage surrounded by the strongest, most impenetrable magical shield known to demonkind. And in that cage are the Amazèa.”

I gasp. “What? Why are they here…why did you bring me here…?” I reach down for my dagger before I remember I don’t have it. Damn, Liora, what have you gotten us into?

“So you could kill them,” he says.

My eyes narrow again, and my heart begins to race as I slowly straighten back up. I stare at him for a long time, trying to discern if he’s lying...setting a trap. Maybe he’s just trying to trick me into going in there, and something really horrible is waiting for me. Maybe what he’d said before about coming to kill me…maybe he’s following through on those plans. But now he knows I’m strong…that I’ll fight back. So he’s devised a ruse to deceive me into believing he—

“Lucky…” Kieron’s voice is gentle, but I take a few steps away from him. “I know it’s not in your nature to trust…to believe in the goodness of others. But I’m asking you to try. Everything I’ve told you…everything I said to you that first night at the cliffs and every night since, well, I meant all of it. Every word. I never knew it would be possible for me to find another demion I’d care about so much. One I would want to spend the rest of my life with. One I could actually love and who was capable of loving me back. Someone I couldn’t imagine my life without.”

“Why are you telling me this? It doesn’t change the fact that—”

“I’m telling you this, because I made the deal to turn in the Amazèa in exchange for my freedom. But I only want that freedom if it means being able to have a life with you. Without you, my freedom won’t mean anything. Not if you hate me…”

“What are you saying?” I whisper, inching toward him.

“I’m saying…I brought the Amazèa here for you to kill. I know you cannot hunt them outside your boundaries, so I brought them to you. If you want to kill them, you are free to do so. I won’t interfere.”

I pause. “But…but what about your contract?”

“I will have failed in upholding my end of the bargain, therefore I’ll be bound to the Legionary for whatever purposes and for however long they see fit.” His jaw slackens, and his shoulders droop slightly.

I pace back and forth like a nervous rabbit. “So, you’re saying that you’d give up your freedom…so that I could kill them?”

He nods. “It’s not much of a choice really. I want you. But more than just that, I want you to be happy. To be whole. To be who you want to be and whoever it is you were meant to be. I don’t want to be the one who stands in the way of that. If you must kill the Amazèa in order for that to happen, then I am more than willing to sacrifice my freedom for it. I’ll do it happily and without reservation.”

I narrow my eyes as I stare at him, trying to decide if he’s telling the truth. “But…what about the Legionary? Won’t you be forced to report me?”

He shakes his head. “You’re well aware of the repercussions of your actions, but I also know that your revenge on the Amazèa is not simple blood lust. I won’t report you, nor will I participate in the hunt for you if there is one. I understand what you must do…” His voice trails off.

“I don’t know if you can ever fully understand how I feel…I don’t think you can,” I mutter.

“They killed my mother. In front of me. I’ve wanted to tear them apart with my bare hands for the past eleven years. The only thing that stopped me was the opportunity to finally put all that anger and hate behind me and trade their freedom for mine.”

He puts his head down and looks at me through lowered lashes. “I want you to know that whatever you decide to do, I’m with you on it. If you go in there and kill them, I won’t report you. Or, if you decide to let their punishment lie in the hands of the Legionary, then I’ll do my best to help you deal with that decision, also. I know you’ve been planning for this day for a long time, so I want you to take some time to think it over. But know that I’ll be here for you in whatever capacity—”

“I don’t need to think about it. Take me to them. Now.”