Immortal Fire - Book One

“I’m going to kill that fucking bastard!” he shouted and stepped away. On my bare stomach was the mark of Hunter’s handprint burnt into a pink scar. Touching my stomach gingerly, the scar was cool to the touch and smooth as if it had been there for quite some time.

“What did he do to me?” I asked panic-stricken. Hayden was glaring at the handprint on my stomach.

“He used demon magic to heal you, which makes you easy to find to demons as well as him.” Closing his eyes, Hayden was swearing under his breath.

“Okay, but he still didn’t kill me, and I am awake now, and nothing else was working. I heard everything that was going on when I was like that…”

“He might as well have killed you; would have been better than when a demon gets a hold of you.” And with that, he left the room.

What he had said was a slap to the face. How the fuck could he say something like that? I recoiled at the sound of his words. Looking around the room, it looked like an infirmary. Climbing from the bed, I watched the door that Hayden had used. I had no idea where I was, probably at Jesse’s warehouse. I felt slightly woozy as I stumbled toward the door. We were at a warehouse, but not Jesse’s. This place was abandoned, and water dripped into the cold building from old pipes that had broken from age.

It was some time in the late afternoon by the looks of it by the time I found the door that led outside. The sound of traffic in the distance was an assault on my senses and I had to take a breath to steady myself against the rough brick wall. Looking around, I found Hayden. He was leaning against the opposite wall with his head bent and the breeze shifted his hair over his eyes.

“Hayden.” I managed to say. He looked up at me then and I walked over to where he was. He seemed to be far away in thought and not in the moment.

“Hayden, I know you’re mad but…” I started to say.

“Mad? Mad does not even begin to fucking cover it. And to think I let him do this to you… I need to speak to Jesse, she…” My anger flared

“Oh yeah, go run off to Jesse… I’m sure she holds all the answers for you.” I exclaimed in utter irritation. My temper snapped. Remembering what Hunter had told me about the two of them brought forth horrible emotions and images that seared my brain.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Hayden looked as if he was having an aneurism. I would have laughed if I were not so mad.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. I know about the two of you and how madly in love you are with her. So, tell me, did my dilemma just happen to appear at the right time and you snatched an opportunity to come rushing back to her?” I sneered at Hayden. I couldn’t stop the words from fleeing my mouth and immediately regretted saying them. Hayden stood straight and pierced his eyes at me, a scowl forming on the corner of his mouth.

“You’re right, all of this was about Jesse; me saving you at school, taking you across the country to keep you safe, and then leaving the only real home I have ever known and now may never go back because I’m now a fugitive, all for you, but it was to get back with Jesse. Well done, Aria, you figured out my master plan. Fuck sake!” The tone in his voice was cold, and I felt horrible.

“Hayden, I’m sorry,” I said softly, realizing how wrong I had been…

“Just fucking forget it, I’m done. Let’s go.” He said, already walking away and I had to scuffle into a jog to catch up.

I was so weak that I thought I might pass out behind him a few times and that he would never even notice. Hayden’s car was parked in the street, and he was already in it and staring ahead. Climbing into the car, I struggled to catch my breath.

“Hayden,” I said again.

He refused to look at me and instead started the car and turned up his music. It was a band I recognized but could not remember their name. He pulled out into traffic and was heading towards the city. Trying to speak to him was useless; I gave up after the fifth try. I felt like I had just made a terrible mistake. The Hayden sitting next to me was not the one that was caring and joked about things.

The drive was quiet besides the blaring music, and it was driving me insane. We were in the warehouse districts again and I recognized Jesse’s warehouse immediately. Parking the car, Hayden jumped out and disappeared into the building, leaving me alone outside with the chill breeze caressing me through the broken windows.

Looking around, I was suddenly unsure of what to do, panic rose from within me. What if I had just pushed Hayden away for good? Trying to ignore it, I left the car and entered the building. Hayden was lying with his legs across one of the black suede sofas. Jesse came in on the opposite side of the room as I did and did a double-take at Hayden and me, lifting her eyebrows.

“Why the happy faces sweeties?” she asked.

“Hunter cursed Aria…” Hayden replied angered

“What?” she asked, switching her gaze that it landed upon me.

“Yeah, he appeared, healed her, but forgot to mention that he was using demon magic to do it. So now, Aria is cursed, Hunter is gone again, Aria is thankful for the curse apparently, and yeah, a whole bunch of other bullshit that I should have seen coming.” Hayden said. Jesse was looking at me intensely now and I wanted to squirm under her gaze.

“Are you out of your mind Aria? What Hunter did was horrible, and you want to thank him for it?” she said.

“He saved me, isn’t that all that is important here?” I asked trying to defend myself in some way. Jesse threw herself down on the single sofa and started twirling a strand of her auburn hair.

“Why did he save you?” Jesse asked sarcastically. Both Jesse and Hayden’s eyes were boring holes into me, waiting for an answer.

“How must I know?” I asked defensively. I felt like a lab rat under inspection. Jesse turned towards Hayden.

“How did this all start with Hunter again? I seem to have forgotten and maybe if we go over it, it will make more sense…” she asked Hayden.

“He was looking for me, and then found Aria, once he knew that we had met already, he wanted Aria,” Hayden said. I could hear that he was still annoyed, and he was exhausted.

“But, why...?” she asked again.

“I have no idea, but he can now appear at will and he works demon magic as well as has those fucking hell hounds following him around.”

“Well why did he not just let Aria die, why did he help her… I’m sorry but it makes no sense; none of this does and that’s saying a lot considering how much crap I’m used to…”

Both seemed to have forgotten that I was even in the room. Jealousy crept like poison through me. Forcing it down, I focused on the conversation.

“You’re right, The Hosts are our best bet, but I hate the idea of their help.”

I had missed some of the conversation.

“Who are The Hosts?” I asked. I felt embarrassed as both turned their heads toward me. Hayden looked at me like never; it was as if there was a wall up between us.

“The Hosts are Angels. Not like you, but the actual angels from Christianity. They run everything and everyone. Each millennium twenty of them are sent here for their service.”

It was Jesse who answered and the way she was speaking was clear that she was making fun of me for not knowing.

“Oh okay…” I answered quietly.

I did not know what else to say as I sat down on the wooden stool on the opposite side of the room. I was watching them as they spoke and my heart broke. They were making plans to go to The Hosts tonight and try to get their help.

“Aria, did Hunter say anything to you that might help, anything at all?” Jesse asked.

I remembered Hunter telling me that I did well and to meet him in Central Park. For some reason, I did not tell them and instead told them no. They were back to making plans and I felt myself falling asleep watching them.