Bluffing the Devil(28)

"Wait, so does that mean I can bring Devin and Carly back?"

"Devin yes, I don't see why not. He is a pure soul that repented for his sins." My heart was soaring through my chest and then came crashing down again. "Carly, I’m afraid not. I'm so sorry, princess. I know you want to save her and see the good in her, but she is evil and cannot be changed." Jamison's explanation, though hurtful made sense.

"That is where you are wrong, Jamison. If nothing can banish darkness like the light and if I were given enough time with her, maybe she could be the person she always pretended to be with me; the girl that loved shoes and food more than anything. She should not be defined by her mistakes, but forgiven for her sins and loved. Everyone deserves a second chance," I said to them.

"Carly was a prolific serial killer in her time, nuhra;" her interruption grated my nerves more than nails on a chalkboard. "She was the very first female serial killer that I know of, in fact. You might see good in her because she is such a great actress, and has had centuries to work on it, but killing is the only thing she has ever been good at." The Devil loved to throw negativity around and make me second guess myself.

"Wow, you are a true piece of work, you know that?"

"Yes," she blushed. "I know."

"That was not a compliment! You see Carly the way you see her because of how you are, but I have spent the last eight years being friends with her and I know the true her. She has sometimes spent days on end with me, never leaving my side. No one is that great of an actress. Sorry. You fail."

"I will not fail. You will see!" she reached for my wrist and pulled her hand back quickly as if something shocked her. "What… Oh, very well. This is not over!"

"Ha! That almost reminds me of a wicked witch I once saw. You need some green face paint, a wart, and to threaten my dog, and then my life will truly be complete. Someone get a bucket of water, let's see if it works. Flying monkeys, anything? No?"

The male chuckles from my side of the room were enough to send her in a rage. A flash ignited and she was gone.

"Well, I guess that won't be the last time I see her, huh?"

"Oh no, most definitely not, I’m sorry." Jamison said, still chuckling.

"Why couldn't she touch me?" I asked, happy about whatever it was that kept someone like her away.

"Oh, you have the bracelet on. Nice touch!" Jamison said with a roar of laughter.

"The bracelet my dad gave me? What does that have to do with anything?" I asked, still not buying that my trinket of a keepsake could do anything to thwart evil.

"Okay, long story short, that bead there," he pointed to the antique looking green one in the center," is the soul of the first nuhra. When she reached her peak, the torch was passed on and her soul was captured to keep out of the wrong hands. See the shimmer in the bead itself? That crazy aquamarine color your eyes are? That's one of the things every nuhra has, your eyes." He went on to explain the others were for protection, strength, truth, and everything else a nuhra needs to as safe as possible. "We figured if we gave it to your father to gift to you that you would actually wear it, which is why I laughed. I love to be right!"

"Is every man in my life going to be so typical? Two demons and an angel and you all could sit right now in a crowded restaurant, eat chicken wings, and talk trash about sports like anyone else. Then go home, throw your socks on the floor, and not vacuum!"

They both chuckled at my outburst.

Rey touched my hand tentatively to see if it would hurt him. When it didn't, he asked if I would mind him seeing the bracelet.

I reached to take it off and he said, "No, never take it off, I just want to see her soul. The first nuhra, that’s all." He looked at my bracelet. Stared for some time then looked off toward the back of the warehouse, closed his eyes, and smiled.

"Are you okay?" I asked and used my free hand to pat his back reassuringly.

"Yes, I am wonderful. Thank you, seriously for everything. Thank you."

"Well, it’s my pleasure and job, I suppose. Oh GOD! I bet Rhea and Victoria are freaking out! Are they okay? How long have we been gone?"

"They are both okay. They are at the tournament, with everyone else, waiting for it to start. Two of the key players haven't shown back up yet, so they've put the game on hold." Jamison had a mischievous look on his face. Males and that look were never a good match, in my book.

"You can go back," I told Rey. "I have to get to Devin before she hurts him."

"I won't leave you. Do whatever you need. Do you want to do it here, or go somewhere else?"

"I don't want to do anything here except light a match, and watch this place burn," I answered honestly.

"Beach?" he offered.

"You know me too well!"

"Can you do a favor for me, Jamison?"

"I would do anything for you, princess."

"Go to the tournament, but put those wings away first. I know you can do something with them. When you first got here, those big things were not fluffing and looking all scary. Just go there and try to explain this in a way only you can to Rhea and Victoria. I don't know if I can, and I really need to get to Devin."

"I understand. Plus, I have a trick to talking to them easier than you do," he said with an adorable wink that I hadn't seen in way too long.

"Oh? And what is that?"

"You know that voice in your head that tells you when you should or shouldn't do something?"

"You mean your conscience?"

"Hi, I'm your conscience," he said, stretching his hand out to shake mine.

"No way, that's awesome!"

"Yes, we figured if she could plant negativity and bad things in people's minds then we could sometimes whisper things to help people do good things, or at least things that wouldn’t cause them awful loss, pain, and suffering. It's one of my favorite jobs. It's so cool!"

Jamison's excitement reminded me of when we were in middle school and had science projects due. Instead of working on his project all week, he would do it all in one night so he could immerse himself in the work. The next day, instead of being tired, he would be wired and excited and happy. He was always a weirdo.

Chapter 19



Rey and I made short work on the walk to the beach even though I had no shoes and was physically exhausted, bruised, and starving.

The warehouse where Carly had taken us was just a few blocks over from the hotel. It was just an old abandoned mirror factory.

I dashed for the beach and ran straight to the water. I splashed my face and sunk my feet deep into the sand. I calmed my mind and just took some deep breaths and paused to thank God for my life.

I turned to see Rey standing quietly in the grass, waiting for whatever I would do next. He was my unofficial bodyguard at this point. He protected me when I needed it he badgered me about things like my brother when needed. He was just there for me. Funny how things turn out, huh?

I walked up and gave Rey a tight hug. "I really appreciate all that you did for me in the last few days. I know it's tough to be alone in the world, but hopefully you will want to be a part of our little herd."

"You speak as if you are animals," he chuckled.

"Hi, have we met? Of course we are animals," I cracked up with him.

"It would be my great honor to be welcomed into your herd."

"Okay, I guess that means I need to go get Devin. He might like to be invited to the herd as well."

"Please be safe. You do not know fully what she is capable of yet."

"I'm not going to mess with her and she cannot mess with me," I said. "Plus, I'm too stubborn to die, and I'm pretty sure there should be a rule somewhere that I'm not allowed to die. None of us are allowed to, in fact!"

"Yes, we are banning dying from now on!" Rey agreed.

"You promise?"

"I promise!"

I lay back, letting my hair spill across the sand. I was going to need a shower, hot tub, another shower, and God only knows what else to scrub this day off.

I closed my eyes and imagined Devin's face. I called him to me and immediately was swept away to him.

"My love. Oh God are you okay?" Devin jumped on me as soon as I appeared and checked me over.

"Yes, baby. I am fine. Are you okay? You are the one that was drowned, if you recall."

"I don't care. I didn't know you are the nuhra, love. I didn't. I promise. I wasn't trying to be with you for any reason other than that I care for you and have always been drawn to you."

"I don't even truly understand all that it means to be the nuhra. I will learn more as it goes and I didn't, for a second, think that you were with me for anything other than really great sex at first. Then we had a good time together and it was almost magical. I am not sure what is in the future for me but for now, I want you there with me. If you will have me, that is. What I'm saying is Devin, would you be my boyfriend?"