The Demon's Half

Chapter 28

A deep ache pierced my body, like I'd been torn apart and stitched back together by someone who didn't quite know what they were doing. My throat burned like I'd swallowed a mouthful of ash... And tasted like tequila.

A shard of sun was boiling my eyelids. Of course, I'd forgotten to close the curtains. I turned to the other side, searching for relief from the stupid sun. And there was someone. I opened one eye. Logan lay beside me, breathing deep. His arm barely touched mine but it still felt like too much. He looked like he was dreaming. Like the world hadn't just fractured in the last twelve hours.
And behind him: Mia's painting.

The memories from last night came fast. Alexander burned a man alive. I could still hear the screams. Feel the heat. Smell the scorched flesh and hair. And the most messed-up part was that I wasn't mad about it. This was the second death I had been a part of and it felt like I was slowly losing my humanity. But if Alexander hadn't been there, if he hadn't dragged that creep off me and turned him into a human bonfire, who knows what would've happened. I didn't know how I got to Elena's home, either. But there was only one possibility. He brought me back. He tucked me in... guácala.

As if on cue, Logan stirred, stretching with a sleepy little grunt before his arm slid toward me, reaching—

"Good morning, baby," he said.

I slipped from the bed, the cold air hitting me as I stalked toward the window. The blinds crashed shut, probably waking up half the neighborhood.

"Baby?" His voice was clearer now. I sat on the edge of the mattress. "That's your solution? You just won't talk to me?"

I said nothing.

"Where's your necklace?"

I looked down at my neck. Gone.
Fucking Alexander.
But I pretended I didn't hear him. I was too angry at him to care about a stupid necklace that gave me a rash. Instead, I pushed to my feet and escaped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I twisted the faucet and splashed my face, hoping the sharp sting would snap me out of it. Out of him. Out of all of it.

Outside, I heard him grab his violin. "I have to go to work." A pause. "Remember, we're going to the cemetery today."

The floor creaked. A moment later, the door clicked shut. And just like that, I was alone.

_____________________

Training and talking was not great for my lungs.
But no amount of talking was going to make Jade crack. I kept asking about yesterday. About where they'd gone to in my birthday party. Apparently, Jade and Alilla were up to some shady council-ordered business, and I wasn't allowed to know about it.
Pura pendejada.

"Believe me," she said as we ran another lap around the backyard, "if you knew the truth, you'd be pleased about it. So just let it go."

"Sure."

"I would have given anything to drive my blade through that demon's wretched heart."

The venom in her voice made me feel uneasy. "He saved me, though."

She stopped running. "He made it appear that way."

I stopped too. "He could've let that guy take advantage of me."

"And how do you know he didn't send him?"

"What would be the purpose in that?"

Before she could even attempt to find a response—

"Hey!"
Alilla.
I turned to find her storming toward me. Face red, the vein in her forehead visible. Her arms were covered in all sorts of weird ink markings.