Surrounded By Flames (The Flames Trilogy Book 2)

  She withdrew to the hallway, resting her hand on the door. Her heart thudded in her chest as she realized only one door remained unopened. Her parents’ room. It sat at the end of the hall. Jasmine wasted no time, jogging to it and barging in before she could talk herself out of it. Bael either waited here or in the kitchen, and there was nowhere to keep anyone tied up there.

  If only she would have thought about it. Taken a moment, took a few breaths, before she stumbled into the mess awaiting her. A blast of heat swarmed her face and the hair on her arms stood on end. Anger surged inside her, from the tips of her fingers all the way to her toes, moving through her like a tidal wave about to take out a city.

  Her eyes landed on Bael where he stood at the edge of the bed, staring down at Jasmine’s mom with humor glinting in his eyes. When Jasmine met Bael’s gaze, she gasped and coughed from the smell of burned flesh that choked her. Flames covered her mother, fire blazing and crackling and burning every inch of skin on her body. As Jasmine flew forward, her mother turned her head, screaming. The sound punctured Jasmine’s heart and she could have sworn it stopped beating for a moment.

  Oh my God. I don’t know what to do.

  Jasmine cringed and ran her hands over the flames. They didn’t hurt her. She didn’t feel anything, but they were killing her mom and she didn’t know how to put them out. Her power didn’t work as a fire extinguisher.

  Within seconds, she grabbed a blanket that had fallen in a bundle on the floor. The edges were scorched, but it didn’t matter. She draped it over her mom, tucking it all around her to make sure the fire couldn’t breathe.

  Bael’s sharp nails poked into her skin as he grabbed her around the shoulders, ripping her back into his chest.

  Jasmine squirmed, but remained in his grasp. “Let me go. Don’t you see? You’re outnumbered, Bael. You won’t win this time.”

  Amber moved to Jasmine’s mom, dragging the blanket from her. Bits of skin peeled away as it dropped to the floor. Open wounds covered every inch of her, but the flames were out. Tears dripped down her mother’s face and every time one dropped from her chin, she cringed. Her whole body shook with pain and her chest could hardly be seen rising or falling.

  Amon moved toward the window, facing Bael. “I suppose it was silly of me to think a demon would keep his word. Three days have passed, not five. Not five. Why did you do this?”

  Bael’s shoulders moved up and down. “She annoyed me. What can I say?” He chuckled. “The demon scratch had already begun to kill her, so if you think about it, putting her out of her misery was me being humane.” He paused, holding one hand out in front of Jasmine, gesturing toward Amon. “I didn’t mean to scratch her either. It just sort of…happened.”

  Jasmine bit her bottom lip. “How could you do this to someone?” Her voice cracked.

  Bael shoved Jasmine. She fell to the floor face-first, not enough time to catch herself. Her nose shouted in pain and she wiped at something wet running down her lip. “You broke my damn nose!” At least, if it wasn’t already broken from before.

  Bael shrugged. “So sorry about that. Sometimes I can’t control myself. I’m sure you understand.”

  Jasmine pushed the pain to the back of her mind and crawled to her feet. Her power swarmed inside her, calling her, rushing through her. She curled her hands into fists, letting it pool there. “You’re pathetic. You can’t even take responsibility for the things you do. You think this is all a game. People’s lives are not a game!”

  The blue lighting shot from her hands the minute she uncurled them. Every spark missed Bael, hitting the wall, the ceiling, and Bael bounced from one side of the room to the other, so fast she could barely keep him in her vision. The minute she stopped shooting, he stopped moving.

  He rubbed his chin. “I am going to assume since I’ve not honored my end of the bargain, you won’t be doing your part in it?”

  Jasmine growled at him. “I didn’t have a part to play. I had to come here within five days. That’s all you gave me. And if I had a part, you’ve reneged on this arrangement, so yeah, you assume right. I won’t be doing anything you want me to. Ever. Again.”

  Bael pressed his lips together and bobbed his head. “I suppose you’re right. My original plan was to offer a trade. You for her. But I suppose that isn’t going to work now.”

  Jasmine gaped at him. She couldn’t believe him. Who the hell did he think he was? “You have some nerve…”

  Bael grinned. “This might be a bit anticlimactic, but…I must go. Now.” Before she could rush forward and grab him, the sound of glass breaking hit her. He flew out the window. Demons couldn’t fly. Could they?

  Jasmine huffed. “Oh. My. God! Someone go after him. We can’t let him get away after what he did to my mom.” Jasmine went to her side, falling to her knees by the bed. A pang shot through her heart, bringing back memories of the day she lost Beau.

  Amon loitered over her, placing his solid hand on her shoulder and squeezing. “We won’t catch him. Not now. He’s had too much of a head start. But if you really want me to go…”

  Jasmine jerked away from his grasp. “Are you scared, Amon? Because I’m not. I’ll go after him myself.”

  Azzy stood in the doorway, blocking the exit as Jasmine tried to leave. “You can’t leave. Look at your mom. She doesn’t have very much longer left.”

  She fell back to her knees beside the bed, Amber moving out of the way to give her all the space she needed. She didn’t want to watch her mom die. It would be easier leaving, chasing after Bael, not witnessing another death caused by her. But that would be selfish of her. She had to face her mom. She had to be there for her. She couldn’t let her die alone.

  “Mom.” She grabbed her fragile hands and her mom winced, but Jasmine didn’t let go. “I’m so sorry we didn’t make it in time.” Even though we did…stupid Bael. Damn him.

  “It’s…okay…Jasmine.” Her mom struggled for breath between every word. “I…know…this…isn’t…your fault. Just do me…a…favor.”

  A tear slid down Jasmine’s cheek. She wanted to wrap her arms around her mother, but her body still smoked and she knew she’d only hurt her more. “Anything.”

  Jasmine’s mom smiled. “Kill…him.”

  Jasmine wiped every emotion from her face, shoving against the bed to crawl to her feet. She paused to stare out the window, then met her mother’s eyes. “You have my word on that.”

  Only a few more silent minutes stretched before her mom died. She’d been in worse shape than Jasmine imagined. But the minute she took her last breath, a realization struck Jasmine so hard she almost fell back. She’d never fix their relationship, something she’d wanted so badly. Mending it had been a possibility before, but now…

  Bael did this. And he will die for this. I promise you, Mom. Jasmine pushed past Azzy as she rushed from the room. Sobs convulsed her whole body as she stumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen. But she wasn’t alone, and the demon who stood by the sink stopped her in her tracks. “It’s you.”

  He nodded. “It’s me.”

  Jasmine glared, wrapping her arms around her chest. “Your master killed my mom. Then he ran off, leaving you behind.” Jasmine paused, letting her power flow through her. “I’m going to kill you.”

  Just as she released it, a blasting light blinded her, causing her power to ricochet from the ceiling and slam into the door, leaving a black mark on the white paint. She glanced up, only to see an angel in front of her. The glittery white pantsuit she wore reminded her of the outfit Elvis used to wear.

  She smiled, her big chocolate brown eyes looking very familiar. “Hello, Jasmine. My name is Ella, and I’m your real mother.”

  “Well, that’s just fan—I mean…that’s just great.” She stopped herself from using her favorite phrase, knowing it bothered Amon. Not that he was around, but practice made perfect, right?

  “And you’ve met Moloch, I suppose?” Ella turned, her long brown hair reaching her waist.

  Jas
mine nodded.

  “Well, I’m glad, since he is your father.”

  Moloch smiled. “Hello, Jasmine.”

  “Okay.” Her vision darkened from the outside in. She’d never been much of a fainter, but this new world had changed her outlook on that. She fell forward, and strong arms caught her from behind.

  “Who the hell are you people?” Amon’s words were the last she heard before darkness dragged her under.

  ***

  Jasmine opened her eyes slowly, realizing she lay on her old couch, in her mom’s house, and all of the day’s earlier events flooded her. She couldn’t chalk it up to a bad dream anymore. No, she had to face the facts…another life gone. Another person not saved by her. Another failure. Her chest constricted as she moved to sit up, propping her elbows under her.

  Amon sat beside her, at the edge of the sofa. She met his gaze, rubbing her forehead. “What is going on?”

  Amon titled his head to the side. “Quite a lot. But we were waiting for you to wake.”

  Amber and Azzy were on the floor beside her. Ella and Moloch stood in the doorway, exchanging quiet whispers. At least she knew that even when she passed out she had people willing to protect her. Her friends would keep her safe, no matter what. She wished she could give them a reassuring smile, but she couldn’t. Not yet. Not until she knew what was going on. Even then, a smile would be hard to draw up in light of everything that happened with her mom. But she wasn’t really her mom. Jasmine had been adopted.

  The angel claimed she was Jasmine’s mother. And the demon, Moloch, her father. Did they really expect her to believe this load of garbage? None of it made any sense. So many questions plagued her and she needed answers, but she had no clue what to ask first.

  Jasmine sat up straighter, ready to start somewhere. “An angel mom and a demon dad, huh? How the hell did that happen?”

  Ella glanced at Moloch, smiled, and turned back to Jasmine. “Nobody in Heaven or Hell knows about us. We snuck around. It just kind of happened, and once we’d turned down that road, there was no going back for either of us. When you came along, we separated and I hid until I had you. With Gazardiel’s help, I gave you up to a human family so nobody would find out about you.”

  Jasmine nodded slowly. “Okay. So nobody knows who I am. I’m not an Angel Blessed as Gazardiel told me, but am actually something else.”

  “You are more powerful than any Angel Blessed, but also more dangerous. The Angel Blessed can turn evil, but because you have demon blood running through your veins, it will be even more difficult for you to resist. With half of my blood inside you…you will have to fight even harder to stay on the path you are on. It will be extremely easy for you to give up on your quest and join the demons.” Moloch’s boisterous baritone bounced off the wall in the small room.

  “Great.” Jasmine looked behind her, out the window. “Just fan-fr—I mean, just great.”

  Jasmine felt Amon’s heat before she knew he’d come up behind her. He leaned into her ear from behind. “I see you are trying not to say your favorite phrase.”

  She flipped around, placing her hands on her hips. “Seriously! That’s what you’re worried about? My mom was just killed before I could make up with her. Bael escaped. I have a fricking angel mom and demon dad. And here you are, worried about what I say. I shouldn’t have to change for you or for anyone.”

  “I don’t think that.” Amon frowned. “I never said that.”

  Jasmine glared. “You didn’t have to say those exact words, but you made it pretty clear. If I want to say fan-fricking-tastic, I’m going to say it and that is all there is to it. The end.”

  The phrase in question had gotten her through so many things. It had been with her since middle school, so in some ways, it had been with her longer than any friend she had, even any family. Real family. She didn’t care what people thought of her anymore. If she wanted to say that phrase, she would. She wouldn’t change herself for a man. No, the only person she’d change for was herself, and Jasmine liked who she was.

  Amon slumped, pressing his lips together. He continued to stare at her, but it turned awkward so Jasmine faced Ella and Moloch. “I’m not sure what you want me to say to you. I can’t just accept I have an angel as a mom and a demon as a father and go on as if everything is right in my world. Everyone I’ve ever been close to has died. I lost my mom and dad, the people who took care of me when neither of you did. Until now, they were all I had. The demons have taken everything from me. One thing I know for certain: I will never join their side. Never willingly.”

  Moloch stepped forward, and Amon angled in front of Jasmine to stop him from getting too close. The tension between the two could slice right through her skin, so Jasmine took a deep breath. “Okay. Amon, I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I need to hear what he has to say.”

  Amon nodded before moving to the side, but he didn’t look happy about it. Jasmine shrugged. She was grateful that he wanted to make sure she stayed safe, but she could take care of herself sometimes. Plus, she wasn’t entirely happy with him at the moment.

  Moloch cleared his throat. “You may not think you will ever join them, but it could very well be inevitable. With demon blood in your veins…”

  He left the rest unsaid, but Jasmine could read between the lines. Especially since he’d already spelled it out for her.

  She faked a smile. “I guess everyone’s job now is to just keep me as far away from the demons as you can.”

  Even though it had been a joke, Amber rolled her eyes. “I’m sure that’s going to happen since you’re, like, the key to saving the world and all that.”

  Jasmine scrunched her eyebrows. “I get that. I was joking.”

  Amber looked dumbfounded. “Oh. Well, your joke wasn’t very funny.”

  Okay then. Probably a good idea not to keep this conversation going.

  “So, what’s next, then?” Jasmine asked.

  Everyone, even Moloch and Ella, looked at Amon.

  He shrugged. “I guess we go back to Beau’s.”

  Jasmine raised her chin. “Before we go anywhere, we need to bury my mom behind the tree in the back. She loved that tree.” A lump formed in Jasmine’s throat and she couldn’t swallow it down no matter how hard she tried. Her eyes filled with water, but somehow she kept it all in, not letting any more tears fall. It wasn’t right, but she had to keep her cool. Remaining calm had never been more important. “Also, I am a little tired. I think we should leave in the morning.”

  Amon nodded. “That can be arranged.”

  Azzy and Amon disappeared, only to come back about twenty minutes later, calling her to the backyard. They’d dug the hole, placed her mother’s body inside it with a blanket covering her. That was the best they could do at the moment. Demons weren’t exactly here yet, but by the time Jasmine arranged a real funeral, they might be. At least this way, she could make sure her mom had some kind of burial.

  They picked wildflowers from the tree line behind the house and laid them on the grave, which Azzy and Amon made out of a small, plate-type rock after they’d filled the hole. Jasmine chiseled her mom’s name in the stone.

  Sadness filled Jasmine’s soul, but she pushed it way down behind everything else, filing it away to deal with after this war ended.

  The only war Jasmine ever thought to see in her lifetime was a World War of sorts. She’d assumed she’d see it from afar, not be knee deep in its clutches. Instead, she’d become an actual warrior in a good versus evil battle. She didn’t know which side would win, but if she had anything to say about it, it would be hers.

  Emotionally spent, she walked inside, went straight up to her old, bland room, and fell asleep.

  Chapter 8

  Accepting Reality

  Jasmine screamed over and over, and even though she knew she’d lived this once, knew she must be dreaming, her screams didn’t wake her, even though they pierced her ears.

  She couldn’t move. A thick chain wove around her body and fas
tened behind a tree, but the tree seemed to be made out of metal. She yanked the chain, the jangling sound ringing through the air, and her dad came into view, standing off to the side and staring at her. She pulled with her whole body, but couldn’t break free no matter how hard she tried. Her grandparents were next, one by one, appearing beside her dad. As she begged them for help, they poofed out of existence, disappearing all at once. After they were gone, her mom sidled up. When her eyes met Jasmine’s, piercing blue tears ran down her cheeks, but then she disappeared too, leaving Jasmine alone. Chained. With no way to break free.

  Jasmine dropped to the ground, sobs wrenching her whole body. The chain started growing, covering her inch by inch. She couldn’t see her arms and they’d started weaving around her stomach. It wouldn’t be long and they’d swallow her face, turning her into nothing.

  Another scream poured from her mouth as she woke with a start. Sweat poured down her face as she jerked up, her hand covering her thundering heart. She gasped for breath, but it wouldn’t come, so she jiggled her shoulder. Oh. She hadn’t moved her shoulder, but Amon shook her.

  She widened her eyes and stared openly at him. “What? I’m awake. You’re a little late.”

  Amon’s brows drew closer together. “You were screaming and your eyes weren’t open. I didn’t think you were awake, even though you’d sat up.”

  As Amon wrapped his fingers around her wrist, Jasmine flinched and pulled away. “Don’t get close to me. Don’t touch me!”

  “Jasmine, calm down.”

  She leaned the top half of her body toward him. Not close enough to touch, but close enough for him to hear her. Every word. “I can’t calm down! Don’t you see?” Her shrill voice stung her ears. “Everyone who gets close to me dies. He kills every…single…one of them.” She let the tears slide down her cheeks. “You can’t care about me. You can’t be near me!” She shoved into him as she stood and skittered to the wall, as far away from him as she could get. She didn’t even know why he’d come into her room, or when. Didn’t he get it? Didn’t any of them get it?