Page 29 of The Devil and His Ghost

Yeah. I knew those memories. I’d possessed the one responsible for torturing Kendyll in her sleeping and waking hours, and I’d gone through the horrors she’d suffered from the glimpses of his memories. I wanted so badly to take those experiences away from her. I wanted to give her peace, safety, love, and happiness, everything she’d always been denied.

“Take me away.”

Her quiet request was nearly inaudible, but I picked up on the desperate, tearful plea. It took me back to the very first time I’d stumbled upon Kendyll who had asked for the same thing. I wished I’d accepted her request back then. I wished I’d seen the signs that something wasn’t right and whisked her away. How much suffering could I have saved her from enduring? How would our current situation differ if I’d just kept hold of her small hand and said, “Okay?”

I blew out a breath and wrapped my arms around her to pull her in between my bent legs. She leaned into me and clung to my shirt. I tucked her head under my chin and squeezed her as hard as I could, reminding us both that the other was there. This was where we both belonged. I wasn’t sure when I’d started to feel that way. I wasn’t sure if it was a single moment that changed things for me or if it was a gradual process of falling for her over time.

But I knew it began sometime back then after I’d found her again.

Chapter 13

Xander

(2 Years Ago)

“THESE PARTIES ARE ANNOYING,” DANTE grumbled under his breath, sipping on his champagne.

I smirked and glanced sideways at the lead guitarist in our band. “We know you’re allergic to people. What did you think would happen when our band became popular?”

“Shut up,” he huffed, turning to complain to Zagan instead.

I shook my head and looked around the crowded ballroom while drifting aimlessly. Men and women were dressed to the nines in expensive suits, gowns, perfume, and jewelry. Both up-and-coming celebrities like our band, Sinners Do It Better, as well as longstanding names were here looking to network and grow. Perseus had already mingled his way into the center of some actresses’ attention while Zagan, Coldin, and Dante stood at a candlelit table, whispering about who they should approach first with Zagan leading the way. That was to be expected, considering he was the leader of our rock band, which had debuted and blown up earlier this year.

I didn’t care so much about actual networking. I just wanted to find something entertaining to do—maybe find a soul I could fuck with throughout the night or a person I could actually fuck all night. Either way was a win in my book.

“Oh my goodness! Are you Xander from Sinners Do It Better?”

I turned at the sound of the excited voice. An older woman stood before me. Her white hair was piled on top of her head with dark adornments, and a black velvet gown hugged her skeletal frame. Standing next to her was a lanky guy in a navy suit with combed over chestnut hair, and slightly behind him was—

Fuck. She’s gorgeous.

The third member of the group had forest green eyes that could put Perseus’s to shame. Hair the color of polished obsidian fell over a bare shoulder. Her sleeveless red dress hugged her curvy figure while a pale leg poked out of a slit that ran up the length of the dress, stopping on her thigh. She smiled knowingly at me as though she’d caught me staring a second too long and was just waiting to toy with me with those black-painted nails.

I couldn’t wait for that.

Plastering on a charming smile, I ignored how badly I wanted to give all of my attention to the stunning woman in their group. Somehow, I focused on the older woman who’d called out to me. “In the flesh,” I told her, bowing slightly. “To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”

The wrinkly woman chortled happily while the dark-headed beauty behind her scoffed under her breath and rolled her eyes before looking around the busy room. Her crossed arms tightened over her chest. Someone had an attitude. I barely contained my grin.

“I’m Bethelma,” the woman introduced, shaking my hand. “I was hoping I could grab you tonight! I’m the host of the paranormal investigation show, Haunted Days and Nightmares. These are my assistants.” She waved her wrinkly hand at the lanky nerd and hot pouty girl.

“Alex,” the man introduced, shaking my hand. “We’ve become big fans of your band, and we thought it would be a great opportunity for everyone to have you on the show as a special guest during an investigation.”

Haunted Days and Nightmares was the most popular ghost hunting show right now. Normally, I didn’t pay much attention to those things, because I knew a lot of them were fake. I only knew of this one because the host, Bethelma, was rumored to be the real deal. She was constantly in headlines because of her work in the paranormal field, gathering real information about spirits, unveiling mysteries through communication with the dead, and mediating conversations between people and their lost loved ones. I’d never met her, but now that I was face-to-face with the world-famous ghost expert, I was more than intrigued.

Though, the longer I studied her, the more disappointed I grew. She didn’t seem special. She was in a room where five demons lurked, disguised as humans with more than a couple ghosts floating about, too. Yet she didn’t bat an eye in their direction, even as one drifted right by us. Perhaps that was a practiced response to ignore spirits if she was in a group setting, but I wasn’t too sure.

I wondered how she’d made a name for herself … and what her female companion was doing later. Hopefully, I could alter those plans to involve shedding that red dress and messing up my sheets.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I bounced lightly on my heels. “I’m honored that you’re considering me for a special guest role. I’d love to hear more about it and potentially set something up when our schedules align.”

While I now suspected this show was just as bogus as the rest, I couldn’t deny that it would still be fun to participate. I could just picture their petrified faces when I created situations that appeared to be authentic hauntings while they were used to faking them.

“Wonderful!” Bethelma clapped her heavily ringed hands. “Let’s discuss—”

“Bethelma! Over here, please,” an older gentleman nearby called. “I want to introduce you.”

“Oh. That’s the producer.” Bethelma gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m needed there, but my assistant can give you the details and answer questions. If you’ll excuse me.”