Chapter 12

Damnit back to the turn. If people didn't stop trying to convince me to go into the ever-after, I was going to roll heads.

We were all standing in and around Trent's office. Al was the only one sitting on the couch, being guarded by Jonathan and Quen. If Quen had his way, I am sure Al would be dead right now. Al was almost dead, anyways, held together by bandage.

Ivy was the first to protest. She stood with her arms folded across her chest, her eyes wide in worry. "Rachel, with what happened in Arizona, I don't think going there will help the situation. If anything, it may just make it worse." She grimaced, her mood black with concern.

"How so?" I demanded. I had changed out of my slacks and shirt from the rehearsal dinner, to black leather and my shit kicking boots. Ivy should be proud of me; I had planned by keeping a set of runner clothes in the MINI. I searched my bag for my splat gun, finding it at the bottom. I pulled it out and looked at it. It will probably be useless, but having it with me will boost my confidence.

"Ku'Sox is trying to put you a trap. He knows beating up on Al would drag you down there. Why are you allowing yourself to fall for a trick?" Her posture was stiffened in a way that usually meant she would tie me down to a chair as soon as possible. "Besides, the wedding is on Sunday, that's less than two days away. Will you be finished by then? You really think you can let Ceri down like this?"

Ugh. She had me there and I looked over at Ceri guiltily. I had a feeling she was more worried about my life than the wedding, but wasn't going to say anything if it kept me on this side of the lines. She also crossed her arms over her chest. The two woman standing side by side came across like beautiful soldiers used to lure men to their deaths. Or prevent their friend from going into her certain death.

"Ceri..." I said, pleading for her to understand.

"I get it." She said bluntly. "If the ever-after is gone, all of our magic is gone too. Demon, ley-line, wild, and probably even earth. Witches and elves will be nothing different from humans." Jonathan snorted at that. I suppose being a dog hasn't changed his air of superiority much.

"But Rachel, Ivy is right. Ku'Sox is trapping you. I would rather lose my magic than lose my daughters' godmother." This time her eyes were pleading for me to understand.

"But if Ku'Sox escapes with all the magic, he will be here on earth wreaking havoc, and all of us will be without magic. And by 'wreaking havoc' I mean murdering everyone in his path," I protested. I would not allow another death on my conscious. I had hurt enough people, and even got Nick killed.

I checked my splat gun and all my sleepy time potions were in there. It wouldn't stop Ku'Sox. I don't know what would stop him. But I had to try. I turned to the nearly dead demon who slouched on the couch. "Al, why do you think I'm the only one that can save magic? I'm a witch born demon, I'm easy to kill." And as everyone always says, I was a screw up and a menace.

Al coughed a few times before answer. "Student, you underestimate yourself. As a fellow day walking demon, you have understanding of Ku'Sox more than the rest of us. Sure your judgment is always sub-par and you hang out with the likes of," He glared at his guards who just snarled right back at him, "these elves, but I think you can do more. Besides, most of the demons are already injured or dead." He winced in pain. Apparently anti-pain curses were not doing much for him.

I heard a clatter of pixy wings and stomping feet come from the door. Much to my chargin, my mom and Takata came running in. "Ivy called me and told me to bring Jenks over here because you were doing something stupid, dear." She paused. "She didn't say what the stupid thing was though."

Instead of letting me respond, she hugged Ceri and squealed, "Oh Ceri, I am so happy for you! I have to see your babies! They must have grown so much! Why Rachel at their age used to sit in the bathtub naked-"

"Mom!" I exclaimed, ignoring the laughing pixy, who was making rings around my head.

Takata went up to my mom and put his hand on her shoulders, "Oh what? Yes, Rachel, what are you doing that is so dangerous?"

I glowered at my best friend who smirked. My other best friend hovered in front of me and said, "You are trying to save the world again aren't you, you stupid witch? Are you going into the ever-after?"

My mom now looked confused (well more confused than normal). "What is wrong with that? She always goes to hang out with her demon boyfriend in the ever-after." I groaned at my mother while Al perked up at my mom's answer.

"He is not my boyfriend, mom," I said through gritted teeth. "But you are right. I always go to the ever-after. This is not a big deal."

"Oh of course he isn't your boyfriend, Rachel. Unless he is your date to Ceri's wedding? Is that why you tried to hide who your date is? Because you can't help who you love!" My mom said, cheerily.

I didn't respond, annoyed at everyone butting into my life. I pursed my lips when Takata started on me too, "Rachel, I don't know why you have to do what you are doing, but please think about the consequences." He gestured towards my mom, who was now animatedly talking to Ceri about babies and embarrassing Rachel stories. "She will not survive the loss of a child."

"I am doing this to save everyone!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air. "If I can't stop Ku'Sox, we will ALL die." No one had a response to that, and I decided the conversation was over. I walked over and knelt in front of Al. I said, gently, "I'm sorry you are hurting. Is there anything you want me to do to make it better?"

Al leered through his pain, "I can think of a few things." I rolled my eyes and stood up. Once a demon, always a demon. Al's face got serious and he tried to sit up, failing miserably. "Rachel, how many stored curses do you have?"

I sighed, "Not much I'm afraid. I wish I had more time. Besides the common curses aren't going to do much anyways. I have to come up with something original." What that unique curse was I didn't know. I was going in blind, but not going in at all was a terrible choice.

"You should take your boyfriend." Al said. I shook my head vehemently, this time not protesting the title. I was not going to take Trent. My family and friends were not going to be put in risk. Ku'Sox would use them as ammunition against me.

Trent had been surprisingly quiet since Al showed up. My eyes searched for him until I saw him, leaning against his desk. His eyes followed me back and forth, his fingers turned into claws. When he saw me get up, he straightened. "Rachel? Let's talk out here." He didn't wait for me to respond, and walked out to the hallway.

Everyone could see, and probably hear us, but we were far enough away where we could pretend we had privacy.

"I'm coming with you."Trent said wearily. His face was concerned, but determined. Unlike everyone else who protested me going, his face had an edge to it, one that spoke volumes. He was not going to ask me to stay here. He was going to try to bully his way into coming with me though.

"No you aren't." I said firmly.

"Yes, I am." I narrowed my eyes at him, ready to fight him. I would tie his sorry elf ass down if I had to. He wasn't coming. Trent rolled his eyes. "Face it Rachel, there is no way you can stop me from going through that line. So you will either take me voluntarily, or I will follow you." He gave me a pointed stare and stepped closer to me. "So what will it be?"

I shook my head again, and stepped away from him, my back hitting the wall. Tendrils of my hair fell to hide my eyes. How would I explain to Trent what I was feeling? "I cannot be held responsible for people I care about. I didn't even care about Nick anymore and he got caught up in this mess." Fear coursed through me, as I remembered Kisten's death. I would not, could not, lose another man I cared about. They all left me, and the one who loved me regardless had died.

"That was his fault." Trent insisted. "Besides, he refused to stand beside you because he couldn't handle it. I will always stand beside you." The corners of his lips lifted into a smile. "Even when you do stupid stunts that you are well known for."

I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him. Instead I said, "Trent, people here need you. Your daughters need you to be a father. Jonathan will need help integrating into the world again. You can maybe give him some tips on how to put up with me." Trent's face was carefully blank. "Your employees need you to be a boss. The elves still need you to be their defacto leader." I bit my lips and the thought of him dying was unbearable. "And if something does happen to me, I need you to be there for my friends."

Trent's face was hard and intent. "I need you."

"And I need you to be alive." I whispered. I had started to tremble, the gravity of the situation scaring me in more ways than one.

Trent sighed and rubbed his face in his hands. He reached out and took the hand with his ring into his hand. He started muttering in elvish, and a faint golden glow came onto our intertwined fingers. My eyes widened as the glow got bright and died out. He whispered, "Enta Me sopertva, Ma eva shardona." He peered back into my face, but didn't let go of my hands.

"What did you do?" I asked.

His smile faint, he said, "I had a feeling you wouldn't take me to the ever-after when the time came to saving it, so I was prepared. You don't have enough stored spells. I gave you my memories, temporarily. All the spells I know are there. It's wild magic, which you don't trust, but every bit helps." He shrugged, expecting me to reject him.

But I was too stunned to reject him. He gave me his memories. Just like that. I squinted at him, and marveled at the trust he had given me. "You do realize I can go through your memories and pick out every single person you murdered."

Trent stepped closer again, and this time I had nowhere to run. I didn't want to anyways. His hand lingering at my waist, he said, "You do realize that you just asked this murderer out on a date?"

I laughed in mock astonishment. "Really? I think my morals are sliding." I slid my hands around his neck and into his hair. There were people still around us, talking and worrying. The fluorescent office lights were bright and you could hear Trent's house staff working. But we stood there, in each other's arms as if we were in a dark alley with no one around us.

This time, nothing would stop us, as Trent lifted my face towards his. "Come back to me," He said against my lips and kissed me.

I wanted to drown in that kiss. I wanted to taste the wine and trees, the sunshine and life. I needed to put my hands through his hair and pull him into me. I needed to feel his body pressed against mine so I could feel alive.

But instead, Trent drew away quickly, pulling my arms down from his shoulders. I wanted to pout, but when his eyes darted to the clock, I realized I didn't have time to let my hormones drive me.

Sighing, I followed Trent back to his office. I made a quick round of good-byes, ignoring Ivy's effect on my vamp scar, and telling my anxious mother everything was going to be okay. I didn't know if everything was going to be okay. But I was going to try.

I gave Trent's hand a last squeeze as Al gave me a nod. I stepped into the line and felt Al jump me straight into the ever-after.