Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter 13)

CHAPTER NINE

After having seen her teach her students. Xypher was even more impressed with Simone than he'd been before. "It's a good thing you're not a demon."

"Why?"

He took her satchel and books as she left the lab and earned them for her back to her office. "With your knowledge of human anatomy, you would be terrifying . . . and deadly."

She scoffed. " I'm harmless enough."

"Yeah, not from what I saw. I seem to recall you threw that Daimon to the ground and made him feel it. Where did you learn to do that by the way?"

"Self-defense classes. Tate insisted, and I agreed. If you're going to do my job, you need to be able to handle yourself around overbearing creatures."

He rolled his eyes at her obvious snipe at him. The strange thing was, he didn't really mind it. He was glowing accustomed to her teasing and actually enjoyed it. "You know . . . Come to think of it, there are a couple of demons I'd like to see you dissect."

"If one of them is your brother, I concur. He's a nasty ogre."

"You have no idea. Just be grateful you weren't raised with him knocking you around. Bloodletting Mayhem should have been his middle name."

"Ouch, I'm sorry."

He shrugged. There was nothing really to say. Kaiaphas was a demon. Causing pain to those around him was his nature.

She unlocked her office, led him inside, then took the books from his hands and put them away. "You told me last night that we were going to summon something evil today. Not that I want to rush to my demise or anything, but are we still on for that?"

"No."

"No? Why? What happened?"

"The big evil showed up at your house last night, and I fed it my blood."

She passed a chiding look at him. "I really wish you'd stop joking about that before I never sleep again."

He probably should, too, but for some reason he couldn't resist. "Well, the blood wasn't the only thing he wanted. He also requested that I do a favor for him."

Fearful doubt was etched on her brow as she turned toward him. "Requested?"

She was right to be fearful. With Jaden one never knew when a request from him could turn fatal. "Yeah, more like a request that can't be refused."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "And who is this Godfather-like character whose dubious request carries such weight?"

"He's called by many epitaphs. Al-Baraka-the Broker. Kalotar-the Summoner. Demon-Heart. Katadykari-the Damned. But as far as anyone knows, his real name is Jaden."

"And Jaden is a demon?"

Xypher hedged, "Not exactly sure."

She cocked her head as if trying to solve a puzzle no one had ever solved before. "How do you not know what he is?"

"Easy. Jaden isn't very trusting or talkative. We know how to summon him, and we know he draws powers from the primary source of the universe, but no one knows how he does it. Who, if anyone, he answers to or where he comes from or vanishes to. He's a total enigma."

"I'm confused. Why would anyone summon him, then?"

"Simple. Jaden can and will do anything without conscience, prejudice, or hesitation. And I do mean anything. If you're willing to pay his price and bear the consequences of the bargain, he can give you any dream you've ever had, no matter how impossible it may seem."

Simone scowled. "What is he? Satan?"

Xypher laughed evilly. "No. Lucifer deals with humans. Jaden baiters with the source for demonikyn."

"Demonikyn?"

"Demon kith and kin. Humans and others can call him, but if you're not demonspawn, he won't answer. That being said, it takes both human and demon blood to summon him. Again, no one knows why."

She seemed to take that a lot better than he would have thought. "And he drinks blood?"

Xypher nodded.

"So does that make him a vampire?"

"He walks in daylight. But, like a demon, he's weaker then. He seems to have the powers of a god, but no followers. What would you call him?"

"I wouldn't call him anything that didn't make him deliriously happy." Xypher smiled. "See, I knew you were a wise woman."

Simone wasn't so sure about that. This Jaden still sounded an awful lot like the devil to her. The idea that he'd been in her house and drank Xypher's blood made her want to invite a priest in to cleanse it. "So what's this favor we have to do for him?"

"See a woman on Royal Street who works in a doll shop." That hit her like a blow in the stomach. "You mean Liza?" Xyplier was aghast. "You know her?"

Simone nodded, "She's a longtime friend of mine and Tate's. I met her back when I was a kid. I love her store. It's really cool."

"Can we go now?"

She checked her watch. "I have an afternoon class so we should have time. Arc you sure you're not going to hurt her?"

"Yes. Jaden wants a necklace she has. That's it. Once he has the necklace, he'll remove our bracelets."

Simone wasn't so sure about that. "And if Liza won't give it up?"

"She's your friend. You'll have to talk her out of it. Otherwise I will steal it."

Simone let out a sound of disgust. "You can't so around stealing things, Xypher. That's wrong!"

"And I can't tell Jaden no once the bargain is set. For whatever reason, he wants this amulet. I promised it to him, and Jaden is one creature you don't renege on. Trust me, neither of us would live long enough to regret it. Why do you think I didn't go to him in the beginning to remove the bracelets? Jaden is always a last resort."