Demons of the Sun (4 page)

“What part of ignore don’t you understand?” She’d always thought it would be cool to run into another person who knew some of what she had to deal with. Now that it had happened, all she wanted was for him to go away.

***

Since Persephone had the same murderous look in her eye she’d had last night when she smashed the lamp into his head, Jax decided to back off. So maybe he hadn’t handled things very well, but if she wasn’t going to listen to reason, he’d have to take drastic measures. Like being in stupid high school again.

He watched as she wove her way through the students crowding the hall. There was just something about her. Yes, she was hot, and strong—Warrior women were strong, too. Most of them were built like bricks, though. Not Persephone. She was tiny. At six three, he towered over her, probably had about a foot on the girl. 

But how cute and little she was wasn’t what was making it impossible for him to think about anything else. It was this feeling that she was in trouble and that it was his job to protect her. Yes, he was a Warrior, born to protect the world from the demons they couldn’t see. But more specifically, a Druid had told him he’d run across the Sentry who held Hades Dagger someday. And that when he did, he needed to protect her. So no matter how much Persephone resisted, he wasn’t leaving. No way was he going to be responsible for letting Hades get his dagger back.

***

Persephone tossed her World History book on her desk. Normal. That’s what she got to be at school. She didn’t have to sit around her empty house with only the company of her cat, realizing how alone she was. When she was at school, her mind was occupied enough that she didn’t go crazy worrying about if she’d ever be united with the man she loved—the literal man of her dreams. The man she couldn’t tell her best friend about because she knew how crazy it sounded.

With Jax constantly in her face, claiming to be her protector, she couldn’t escape who she was. And she hated him for taking away the precious little time she got to feel normal.

Jax entered the classroom.

She quickly looked away. But she didn’t need to look to sense him sit next to her.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “I’m just here to learn. I won’t talk to you if that’s what you want.”

She whipped her head toward him. “Good. But I seriously doubt you can do that. You haven’t shut up since you broke into my house.”

He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, irritatingly calm as usual.

If I have to stare at his arrogant face all day, I’ll go crazy.
“Did you sign up for every one of my classes?”

His blue eyes flicked to her face, then he grabbed a pen, then scribbled something on his notebook and held it out to her.

yes
took up an entire page.

“How did you even get them to—argh!”

The pen in his hand glided across the paper. He held it up.
you’ll be surprised what you can accomplish by being nice. you should try it.

And now his not talking aggravated her as much as his talking had.
I’m going to lose it, I really am. I’m going to attack him right here in the classroom.

Gathering all her self-restraint, Persephone went back to ignoring him.

For the rest of the day, she ignored him—as much as it was possible to ignore his giant presence, anyway.

By the end of the day, she was ready to get far away from school. But as she gathered her notebook and book at the end of Literature, Miss Nelson called out to her. “Miss Katsaros, stick around for a minute please.”

The classroom cleared, and Miss Nelson came around her desk and sat on the front of it, crossing one ankle over the other. “I wanted to check on you and see how you’re doing.”

Miss Nelson was younger than all of the other teachers. This was her first year teaching, and her enthusiasm was sometimes overbearing—she had that whole I’m-going-to-make-a-difference-in-inner-city-kids’-lives vibe. But Persephone knew she meant well. “I’m fine. I’m all caught up on my reading and—”

“I’m not talking about school. I’m talking about you.” Miss Nelson glanced at Jax hovering near the door, and he backed away. “I’m talking about at home.” Her gaze landed on Persephone’s cheek. “What happened?”

Automatically, Persephone lifted her hand to the tender spot. “Nothing. Just ran into a door in the middle of the night. Next time I’m
so
turning on the light.” She gave Miss Nelson her biggest smile. “So, I’m good. Thanks for asking.”

“If you ever need help with anything, you know you can talk to me.”

The kind of help Persephone needed was way out of this optimistic-about-life teacher’s league, but she nodded to make her happy. “Sure thing.”

Before Miss Nelson could ask about Gran, like she usually did, Persephone rushed out of the classroom and down the hall. For the first time all day, Jax wasn’t forcing his way into her personal space. She shoved her books into her locker, then leaned back against the cool metal door and took in a couple of deep breaths of the stagnant air.

Man, this was a long day.

People moved up and down the halls, talking and laughing. She envied them for what they didn’t know. They had no clue how many demons were out at night, projecting human forms over their true selves. Other people her age could talk about things like clothes, TV shows, or something that always caused her heart to constrict—lame parents. What she wouldn’t give to have her parents back. Losing them had devastated her. Losing Gran nearly crushed her.

Persephone hadn’t even gotten the chance to properly mourn. Instead, she had to hide Gran’s passing and deal with the fact she was now the sole protector of the dagger. With the knowledge Dad, Mom, and Gran had taught her, and armed with Gran’s detailed journal, Persephone could only rely on herself. It was for the best, but it didn’t make it any less painful.

Jax approached her and she groaned.
That wasn’t a near long enough break.

He held up his notebook. Across the page, the words
I’ll walk you home
were written.

“One, I’ve got a car, and two, I’m not going home right now.” She shifted her weight off her locker and charged down the hall. What she needed was an aggressive soccer game to forget about Jax, Gran, and all her responsibilities. Thank the gods she knew just where to find one.

Persephone found Dean, Danielle, and the rest of the gang waiting on the bleachers next to the field. With February on its way out, the temperature got warmer by the day. Sunshine with a cool breeze made it perfect soccer-playing weather.

Persephone sat next to Danielle, shrugged off her jacket, and dug into her backpack for a hair tie. Charlane and Eva, girls Persephone and Danielle hung out with from time to time, sat behind them, chatting a million-miles-a-minute.

Danielle took the red sucker out of her mouth and nudged Persephone. “That guy’s coming. Jax, was it?”

Persephone blew out her breath. “Yes it’s Jax, yes I know, and I’m purposely avoiding him.”

“Why would you avoid him? He’s hot with a capital H.”

“He’s also annoying with a capital A. He won’t leave me alone.”

Biting her red-from-the-sucker lip, Danielle gave a longing sigh. “I wish he wouldn’t leave me alone. You send him my way once you break his heart.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He’s not following me because he likes me, it’s because he—”
Way to think before you speak, Persephone.
“He feels obligated. Yeah. Because our families go way back, and now they’re gone, he thinks he needs to protect me.”

“Well if anyone could protect you, it’d be a guy that looked like that. And he likes you all right, poor guy. Go easy on him. Just because he’s a guy doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings.”

“His ego’s so inflated, I doubt he’ll notice if I go easy or not.” Persephone finally found her hair band, pulled her hair into a ponytail and stood.

Danielle grabbed Persephone’s wrist, and Persephone swiveled back to face her. “You okay?” Danielle asked. “Like really okay, not in the way you just always say you are.”

The concern in Danielle’s eyes made Persephone want to break down and cry. Not the most intimidating way to start a soccer game, that was for sure. “I’m a little stressed, and seeing Jax makes me think of my family and how much I miss them. But I’m dealing, and a brutal soccer game will make me feel better.”

Danielle released her and swatted her on the butt. “Go get em, then.”

Persephone laughed, immediately feeling better. 

But then she turned and came face to face with Jax—well, more like face to his massive chest.  With a sigh, she glanced at Danielle and the gang. “Girls, this is my shadow, Jax. Keep him company while I go play.”

Danielle, Charlane, and Eva beamed up at him. Danielle grabbed his hand and pulled him next to her. “This is where the real fun is. Believe me, you don’t want to be anywhere near Persephone when she goes into sports mode.”

Glad Jax was momentarily distracted, Persephone hurried over to where the guys were huddled. Dean looked over her shoulder at the bleachers. “Is that guy going to just follow you around forever?”

“Apparently.”

“I guess we better show him exactly who he’s dealing with then. We already picked teams, and it’s you, me, and Rob, with Luis as goalie, against the other guys.” Dean leaned in and whispered, “Rob begged to be on our team today, because he doesn’t want to have to guard you anymore.”

That made her happy, which was probably why Dean had mentioned it. He always could tell when she needed a pick me up. “You’re the best.”

A half-cocked grin hit his lips. “Don’t go getting all mushy on me. I need the stone-cold player everyone fears.”

Forcing the smile from her face, she plastered on her most serious expression. “Got it. Less mush, more crush.”

“That’s more like it.”

The two of them joined Rob in the middle of the field, and the game started. Persephone unleashed all the pent-up frustration she’d been feeling on the other team—holding back a little, of course. She wanted to expend energy, not put someone in the hospital. 

And for a blissful forty-five minutes, all that mattered was the game.

***

Jax watched Persephone go up and down the field, getting around her defender, and scoring goals. The first time one of the guys rammed her, he jumped to his feet, ready to go tell him to back off. But then he noticed the big smile on Persephone’s face.

The next play, she floored the guy who’d bumped into her, and he wondered if he should go tell
her
to back off.

He had a feeling she was holding back a bit, though.
I wonder how it’d be if I went up against her.

Could he keep up? He thought so, but he wasn’t sure, and there was something oddly exciting about that thought.

She scored another goal, they called the game, and she walked over to him—well, more like Danielle, but he was there.

“Don’t you dare ruin my high,” she said, eyeing him.

Jax held up his hands. “After what I just saw, I wouldn’t think of it.”

Dean stepped next to her, put his hand on her back, and gave Jax a pointed look. “You want us to stick around?”

Those stormy eyes of hers flicked from Dean to Jax, then back to Dean. “I’ll be okay. See you tomorrow.” She gave Danielle a quick hug. “Rain check on the
Upper East Siders
marathon? I’m dying to see the new lickable love interest and all, but I think I better take care of some other things tonight.” 

Lickable love interest? Did I hear that right?