scientists, would come up with that for an example.
Nick sighed as disgust filled him. He dreaded what was to come, but he knew it meant only one thing.
He’d have to search the coach’s office and see if he could find something about his past. Crap. Crap. Crap. How do I always get into these things?
Whatever he’d done in his previous life that warranted the misery of this one, he hoped he’d enjoyed every minute of it.
C’mon, Nick. Think. There has to be another way.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t. This was it. He’d have to go in and pray he didn’t get caught.
“All right,” Nick said. “I’ll get more information for you tomorrow. Thanks for looking it up for me.”
“De nada. And be careful. I don’t know why, but he creeps me out.”
Given the fact that Nick was pretty sure the coach had killed his classmate, Devus didn’t exactly fill him with warmth and sunshine. “Good night, M.”
“Bye.”
Nick hung up, then called Caleb, who answered on the second ring.
“You dying?” Was that a note of hope in Caleb’s tone?
Or was he being paranoid?
“No,” Nick answered, praying for paranoia but pretty sure Caleb was hoping he was on the brink of death.
Caleb let out a deep breath. “Then why are you calling me?”
“I was wondering if you knew anything about Devus.”
“Other than he’s our new coach?”
“Yeah, Caleb. Something a little more than that.”
“Not really. Why?”
Nick hesitated, then decided this was the one creature he could trust with the truth. “He threatened me earlier.”
Caleb materialized right in front of him with his phone still in his hand. “What do you mean, he threatened you?” he said in his demon’s tone.
Now that was service. Completely shocked by the sudden appearance, Nick looked from the phone in his hand to Caleb, then back again. Yeah, okay, so he knew Caleb had demon powers and such, but dang …
Impressive.
He hung up the phone, since he obviously didn’t need it any longer to talk to Caleb. “He told me that if I didn’t steal some things for him, he’d have me put in jail.”
Caleb snorted. “And you believed something that stupid?”
Offended to his core, Nick glared at him. “Stupid or not, I’m pretty sure he’s the one who framed Dave and then had him killed while he was in lockup tonight.”
Caleb rolled his eyes, which set off his temper. “Nick, really? Your paranoia should be in a record hall of fame somewhere.”
“I’m not paranoid,” he growled. “Use your powers and see. I’m telling you the truth.”
Caleb gave him a look of irritation before he closed his eyes and concentrated.
Feeling cocky, Nick folded his arms over his chest and tapped his foot. Now the truth would come out and he’d be vindicated and one vicious demon would owe him a massive apology.
One Caleb was going to serve with a huge slice of humble pie.
After a few minutes, Caleb opened his eyes. “I’m not getting anything.”
Dread went through Nick. He had a feeling this wasn’t good, and he was about to have to put the humble pie back in the oven. “What do you mean?” he asked apprehensively.
Caleb’s cold stare went right through him. “The coach is human. I know that much, but…”
Hope came back as he mentally put an oven mitt on the pie again. “But what?” Nick asked.
Caleb shrugged. “It’s like he’s a wraith.”
“A ghost?”
“Not exactly. Wraiths are apparitions who appear in the form of someone who’s living.”
Nick was trying to understand. “Like an after image?”
“Closer analogy. But unlike an after image, a wraith usually appears right before someone dies … to the person who’s marked for death.”
Now that wasn’t something Nick wanted to hear. “You just made my flesh crawl.”
“Mine, too.” Caleb hesitated before he spoke again. “I’ve been around a lot of wraiths, and he doesn’t feel like that either, though. It’s a strange sensation. Like human wrapped in evil.”
“Oh, great. Our coach is a pig-in-the-blanket for Satan.”
Caleb let out a sound of frustration. “You know there’s no dealing with you when you’re in this mood. Let me do some digging and get back to you.”
“I’ll be here … unless the coach kills me.”
Caleb appeared less than amused by his attempt at humor. “Don’t let him in the door, and if he shows up, call me.”
“As long as the fingers work.”
With one eye fluttering with his annoyance, Caleb vanished in a cloud of red smoke.
Alone and worried, Nick considered everything going on. None of it boded well for him. In fact, he felt the flames licking his