“We have to speed this up a bit.”1
Opening her eyes at the voice, Tria stared at Paul as he sat on the end of her bed. “Speed what up, and what the hell are you doing in here?” 2
“Speed up the hunt, and I’m talking to you.”3
Moving to a sitting position, Tria pulled the covers up to nearly her neck. “Why?”4
“Because yelling through a door tends to give me a headache.”5
“I mean why speed it up,” she said, knowing that he knew what she was referring to. 6
“Roan gave us a week limit here. If Labeve doesn’t show, then we’re to move on.”7
“Oh.” She studied him. “Maybe she won’t even come back.”8
Standing suddenly, Paul vanished. Staring at the spot where he had been, Tria sighed, then got up to get ready for the day. 9
Appearing in the living room, Paul took a quick glance around, then headed for the kitchen. He walked in, pausing at the sight of Angie sitting on Dom’s lap as they read a newspaper spread out on the table. 10
He had his hand on Angie’s outstretched one, absently playing with her fingers as they read. Dom’s hair was pulled back in to its usually impeccable queue, while Angie’s hung loose around her shoulders. The couple looked like the picture of perfection and Paul could almost taste the ease in the air that they felt around each other. Always uncomfortable near people that showed affection, he took a step back, stopping when Angie looked up. 11
“Good morning,” she said pleasantly.12
Nodding slightly, he stayed where he was. 13
At times her years as a waitress surfaced, and she had the need to make sure that people were taken care of. “Can I get you something to eat?” Angie offered. 14
“No, thanks,” he told her. 15
Standing from her comfortable position, Angie turned to kiss Dom. “I’m going to check on Amy,” she told him, kissing again. 16
Folding the newspaper as she left, Dom placed it neatly on the table, then looked at Paul. “You’re about to totally fucking ruin my day, aren’t you?”17
“’Fraid so.”18
Motioning to the chair on the other side of the table, Dom took a drink from his coffee. “Might as well get it over with so we can tear it apart, redefine and then see what can be done.”19
Faltering at the practical attitude, Paul titled his head slightly. “You’re not pissed off?” he asked, sensing nothing but utter calmness. 20
“I’ve had centuries dealing with totally ruined days,” Dom said dryly as the other man took a seat. “What’s one more in the grand scheme of things?”21
“We’ve been given a week to be here,” Paul began. “After than, we’re gone, and you’re basically on your own. Chances are that Labeve will not be back, but in all honesty, I think that she will be. I can’t explain it, but it’s what I sense.” He paused for any questions, and only receiving a thoughtful stare, continued. 22
“After all you’ve told me about Amy, and being raised by both you and Angie, I highly doubt that Angie is supposed to die any time soon. So… if we could lure Labeve somehow, it would be the best chance to stop her from continuing her one-demon killing spree.”23
“And if she’s not supposed to be stopped with Angie?”24
“Then we’ve possibly, and most likely undeniably, fucked up the fabric of time.”25
Staring at the table, the idea went through Dom’s mind as he studied it for faults. Finding more than a few, he looked them over for possible corrections. It was a bad plan. Horrible, in fact. Putting Angie’s life on the line was something he had never intended to ever do. If she died, it would absolutely kill him… which would leave Amy with a different future.26
“How would you lure her?” he found himself asking.27
“I know a few…individuals…that may be able to contact her.” Looking uncomfortable, Paul shifted in his seat so he could place folded hands on the table. “If I can convince one that I’m guarding Angie, but leaving in a day or two, it may bring her out.”28
“If it doesn’t?” 29
“I don’t know.” Running a hand over his face, Paul sighed. “I’m no neophyte at manipulation, but this would be the first time I’ve ever tried it for something good.” 30
“Let me think about it,” Dom said quietly as he stood. “Let you know by nightfall.” 31
Watching as he walked out, Paul sat alone in the kitchen and exhaled. “Would some omnipotent being please let me know if I’m fucking up miserably?” 32
Not getting any reply… not that he actually expected one anyway; he stood and headed for the back door, and some time alone to consider all the options. 33
~~~~~~~~~~~~34
~~~~~~~~~~~~35
Walking out of the bedroom, Tria paused as she saw Angie coming from the other direction with Amy in her arms. Stopping by the top of the stairs, Angie looked down the other hallway, smiling at Tria. 36
Since the stairs basically divided the upstairs hall in to two separate areas of the house, with Tria and Paul on one end, and Dom, Angie and Amy on the other, they’d rarely bumped into each other.37
“Want to hold her?” Angie asked as Tria continued to stare.38
Approaching slowly, Tria stared at the small girl. “I was going to have a girl,” she said. “But she died when I did.” Blinking at how that sounded, Tria gave a small laugh. 39
“I’m sorry.”40
She looked at Angie. “That’s why Labeve has to be stopped. If we could lure her somehow, then it can be over.” 41
Staring, Angie wondered what she was getting at. “You want to use me as bait,” she said evenly. 42
“Maybe.”43
Shaking her head, Angie turned for the steps. “I can’t place my child in that danger,” she said as she made her way to the bottom. Stopping as Tria appeared in the living room, she walked past her. 44
“If I can guarantee safety?”45
Stopping, Angie turned and stared. “I’ll listen,” she finally said. “But I give no approval.” Turning as Dom entered, she gave him a small smile, and held Amy out. 46
Taking the baby, Dom looked from Angie, to Tria, then took a step back. “I think I’d rather face a pissed off pack of Gallu than even ask what you’re discussing.”47
“And that’s why I love you,” Angie said as he headed off with the baby. “Don’t take her for too long of a walk,” she called after him. “It’s almost time for her breakfast.” 48
“Quick walk around the side yard, then I’ll bring her back in through the kitchen.” He stepped through to the foyer, then popped his head back through the archway. “I have to talk to you later,” Dom told her, then looked at Tria. “And I’ve no doubt that you’ll want to discuss something with me.” 49
Once he was gone, Angie lowered her body to the chair, got comfortable, the waited for Tria to tell her how she could face a remorseless killer demon and live. 50
~~~~~~~~~~~~51
~~~~~~~~~~~~52
I need to talk to you.
Grimacing at the voice in his mind, Savitar ignored it as he laid on his stomach paddling the surfboard out to deeper water.
I know you can hear me.
Wishing Roan would stop the insistent chatter in her attempt to get him to talk to her, he positioned the board in anticipation for the next wave, and came up in a crouching position.
He knew what she wanted, and decided to let her stew and think a little longer before answering her. She’d finally had time to think about all he’d told her on Labeve and the hunt, and she was more than likely ready to tear a verbal strip out of him… if he was lucky. Sort of looking forward to her taking a few shots at him so he could retaliate, he finally decided to acknowledge her calls.
I hear you, he replied. Kind of hard not to, since you’ve been harping at me insistently since I left. 53
Bastard.54
Flattery won’t work on me. What do you want?
A huge sigh was his reward, and he could almost picture her trying to work her anger in to something that would help instead of hinder.
I need a few questions answered, and then I’ll be able to either move on with this task I’ve been given, or step back with a clean conscience.
A god with a clean conscience? Now that was something Savitar would pay to see. His conscience, although soothed by the knowledge that what he did, he did for overall good, was a dirty as they came.
Shrugging, he stood on the board, riding the wave part way to the shore before wiping out. Surfacing, he swam to the board, hoisted himself up, then decided. Yeah, sure, what the hell. One more visit, in peace. 55
Vanishing from the board, he appeared on the sand the same instant she did. Giving her a barely civil once over, he waited for her to talk. 56
Sensing that he was going to make her put it all out, and possibly demean herself, Roan inhaled deeply, then began. “You were correct,” she said, shoving down the bile that threatened to rise at admitting her faults. “Apparently I assumed too much, and instead of taking what I was told at face value, I created some extra reasons.”57
Listening as she spoke, he grew slightly confused as the satisfaction he thought he’d feel at her expense felt a little too much like regret. “Stop,” he told her. “The time for apologies is long over. Now that you’ve realized that things aren’t the way you’ve assumed, you can look at this clearly, and see what needs to be done.”58
Suspicious, she stared at him. “Why aren’t you gloating?”59
“Contrary to your belief, I don’t take satisfaction in other’s misery.” He paused, then shrugged lightly. “Okay, maybe I do, and I’ll definitely gloat about this after you’re gone, but there’s nothing at the moment to be gained by the pleasurable sport of antagonizing.” 60
Satisfied that he was being ‘Savitar’, and not trying to trick her into something, she waited for him to speak. When he didn’t, she tapped a hand on her leg and deepened her stare. 61
“I’m not going to tell you the answers,” he said. 62
“Of course not.” She knew that would be too far out of character for him that she would be immediately suspicious of any help. “Just… could you tell me who kills Labeve?”63
“Not you.”64
“Kinda figured that out.”65
“You already know,” he told her. “Like I’ve been telling you since you showed up a while back and screwed up-“ Stopping, he inhaled briefly, then continued on a slightly lesser tangent. “You’ve got to stop looking at things, and thinking of how they can be changed or worked to fit your needs. Work with what you’ve got, and trust me, it’ll turn out the way it’s supposed to.”66
”You sounded so much like Acheron there that it’s scary.” 67
“Since he’s usually right, I’ll take that as a compliment.” Taking a step back, Savitar cast a glance at the water. “Anything else? Questions? Concerns? Taking a crack at me?”68
“No, no, no, and I’ve got all eternity.”69
Laughing, he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. “Any time, any place,” he told her. 70
~~~~~~~~~~~~71
~~~~~~~~~~~~72
Staring at Dom as he talking, Angie wasn’t sure what she would do first; cry or throw up. Apparently both Tria and Paul had had the same basic plan that involved putting Angie and her baby on the sacrificial alter in order to try to get Labeve. The key word being ‘try’… there were no guarantees anywhere. 73
Talking in low tones so as to not wake Amy who was sleeping in Angie’s arms, Dom wasn’t sure what he wanted to do first; go on some crazy rampage to find and kill the demon, or throw up. The look in Angie’s eyes nearly prompted the first option, while the way she was trying to hold herself strong nearly succeeded in bringing the second one out.74
When he was done, she continued to stare, waiting for him to tell her that they wouldn’t have to do anything like putting her life on the line. When he returned her stare, she started to grow anxious. “What do you think?” she asked. “Honestly.”75
“I’d rather be killed than see any harm come your way.” Closing his eyes briefly and exhaling, he continued. “But, as someone that’s dealt with demons for a long, long time, I can see the merit in such a plan.”76
“I…see.”77
“That doesn’t mean I like it, or even want to attempt it,” Dom assured her. 78
“But?”79
“But…I’ve been told before that if nothing is done to stop this demon, then she’ll kill you.” Grabbing her free hand in his, he held tight. “Think about it from a completely insanely cosmic point of view. Why would all these resources be hovering around us unless there was the strong possibility that she can be stopped before anything happens to you?”80
“That makes sense,” Angie said, kissing the side of Amy’s head. “And I hate that it does.” 81
“I know.” Standing, he began pacing around the room, then stopped as he considered something. “Come on,” he told her, heading for the stairs.82
“Where?”83
“Bedroom.” Stopping, he headed back for her, grabbed her hand and gently pulled. “I haven’t done it since I was a Hunter, but I want to see if I can grab a glimpse of the future.”84
“Doesn’t that hurt you?”85
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, taking Amy from her as she started up the stairs. They were silent as they climbed, as once reaching the top, Dom passed Amy back. “Kid can sleep through anything,” he said with a small smile. “Just like her father.”86
Standing on her tiptoes, Angie placed a gentle kiss on his lips, then headed for Amy’s room. “I’ll get her settled, you get yourself… uh, well, do what you do.”87
Watching as she entered the room, Dom walked in to theirs, and looked around. Heading for the windows, he pulled the drapes shut, then went to a dresser and rooted around a top drawer. Taking a candle and holder out, he placed them on the top of the dresser, then went to the bed. 88
Sitting on the mattress, he leaned against the headboard and waited. Glancing as Angie walked in, he could read uncertainty on her face as she walked over to sit by him. Taking his hand in hers, she kissed it, then waited. 89
“Want me to light the candle?” she offered, then winced at the look that passed through his eyes.90
“No,” he told her. “I just use it as a focal point.” Exhaling, he moved his head from side to side to loosen the tension. “No matter how much pain I look to be in, don’t say anything. It’ll pull my concentration away.”91
“Okay,” came the small reply. “Will this work?”92
“I don’t know.” Staring at the candle, he let his mind wander, and then focus on the small shape that was wavering slightly. As expected, the small tendrils of pain started at the base of his neck, reaching over the back and top of his head, and branching out to run down both shoulders. 93
The pain intensified at about the same time the blurry candle was replaced by the image of Angie in agony. Sudden fear made the image waver, but he fought back the urge to look away. Delving deeper, he realized that the pain she was having was caused by childbirth, which brought a joy that made the agony he was in bearable. 94
Looking around, he realized that he wasn’t by Angie’s side, and that insight was enough to break the concentration he had. The candle reappeared, accompanied by a pain so pronounced that he couldn’t help the moan that escaped him. 95
Foreign hands touched him, causing Dom to draw back out of reflex. Recognizing Angie’s touch as she helped him lay down, and then curled beside him on the bed, he clenched his eyes shut as the pain slowly seeped away. 96
“Dom?” Angie whispered.97
“You’ll be okay,” he said, his throat too dry to say much more. 98
“What about you?” she asked, scared. The fear grew when he didn’t answer her. Although she knew he had a large fear of losing her, she also had the same fear of facing a future without him. That feeling had doubled since Craig and Melissa had been killed, but she’s chalked that up to normal feelings of confusion after a loss like that. 99
God, that hurt. Pain still traveled in small shots up and down his arms, making it hard to keep still. Wanting to stay against Angie as she comforted him, Dom also wanted some space so he could stretch out. 100
“Dom?”101
Moving back slightly so he could focus on her, Dom slowly opened his eyes. “I saw you giving birth,” he said, his throat still dry.102
She smiled. “What about you?” she asked. “Were you there?”103
“I was seeing it,” he said, hoping she wouldn’t hear the vagueness in his voice. True, he could have been seeing it through his own eyes… but things rarely worked that way. 104
“Good.” Sitting up, she looked down at him. “Don’t do that again. There’s nothing worthwhile to be gained from that much pain.”105
“I saw you alive,” Dom said. “It was totally worth it.”106
~~~~~~~~~~~~107
~~~~~~~~~~~~ 108
Deciding to get in as much surfing as he could to banish thoughts of dealing with Roan, Savitar moved Neratiti through time zones so that the sun would always be shining on her shores. The animals that shared the island with him were far too used to perpetual sunlight that it only took a day or two before they were completely contented. 109
Pausing to grab himself a new surfboard, Savitar glanced at the one he’d previously used, splintering it into a thousand pieces with a thought. A board only got so many chances, and that one had dumped his ass into the drink one time too many today. 110
He hadn’t actually taken a break in the past while, either. Contemplating a small respite lasted about as long as it took for a beautiful wave to crest to horizon. Smiling in anticipation, he transported himself and the new board out to the wave. 111
The wave was beautiful… almost as magnificent as the wipeout it dealt him. Sputtering as he broke the surface, and rubbing the back of his head from where the board had struck him, Savitar frowned as he teleported himself to the beach. 112
Even the water seemed to want to give him a hard time today. Fine. If the waves were going to bitch at him, then… whatever. Turning from the water, he stalked to the palace as the sky grew darker with each step. By the time he entered the opulent rooms, stars were twinkling in the sky, and the air had cooled by a few degrees.
Changing his clothes with a thought, the black wetsuit was replaced by beach pants, and not much more. Falling on to his bead, he rolled over to his back and stared at the ceiling while a multitude of images, emotions, and futures played around inside his head.
Sav?
Blinking at the soothing voice, he sat up and smiled. Hey, Babe. How’s things with your father?
So-so, Aiden replied. I think he’s kind of freaked out by the prospect of me being around. I miss you.
Closing his eyes at her words, he laid back on the bed, looking at the pillow where her head usually rested. I miss you, too.
I just wanted to hear your voice.
He was on the verge of telling her that she could come back, and that he’d find some other way to protect her… but he knew he couldn’t. “This sucks,” he said to the empty room. I love hearing from you, and anytime you want to talk, just whisper my name, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.
I will. Talk to you later. Love you.
Me too.
Wanting to talk longer, but knowing that every second gave away her location… and that was in direct contrast to the reason he’d suggested she go with Adlar, he left the conversation at that. Feeling empty, morose, and somehow a little angry as they broke connection, he rolled over on his bed so he could rest on her pillow. Banishing the anger away from any thoughts of her, he closed his eyes, and tried to sleep. 113
~~~~~~~~~~~~114
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Rubbing a hand over her eyes, Angie went back to the computer screen and an internet site she’d found. Interested in the ability to be able to change from human to animal, she’d looked it up, surprised at the amount of sites dedicated to it.
Although she was semi-familiar with the term lycanthrope, human beings gaining wolf-like characteristics, she’d also found out that although the word lycanthropy was sometimes used for any transformation of a human into animal form, the actual term for that was therianthropy.
“Dom?”
“Yeah, hon?” he asked, looking up from sorting through the mail. He still had a hard time focusing, but it was getting better as the night progressed.
“Do Were-Hunters prefer lycanthrope or therianthrope?”
“I think they prefer their animal name,” he replied. “Or, ‘hey, you!’”
“I’m serious.”115
”So am I. Calling attention to such a condition can be very bad for trying to keep it a secret.” 116
“Ah.” Going back to the computer screen, she sighed. “The strangest thing about this is that it’s not strange. Here we are, logically discussing a reality that should be a myth.” 117
“I’m not a myth,” Paul said, walking down the stairs. “And I’ll answer to basically anything.” He paused as if to consider. “Except for Pauly. Hate that.” 118
“Uhhh,” Angie said, embarrassed at being caught talking about him. She looked at Dom, who was trying to hide a smile.119
“Don’t worry about it,” Paul told her. “Although the moniker ‘were’ is a bit of an insult to some of us, it’s far better in my books than lycanthrope. That sounds like something nasty picked up from a hooker.” 120
That only prompted Angie’s cheeks to burn redder, which was what Dom suspected Paul was aiming for. “Well,” Dom said, standing, “You’d probably know all about those types of things.” Rolling his eyes as Paul gave him a ‘what’s your point’ shrug, Dom walked over to stand behind Angie. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he exhaled.121
“Promise me she won’t be hurt.”122
Paul looked from his eyes to hers, wishing he could do just that…but he knew any promises would most likely end up in making him look like a liar. “I can’t promise,” he said slowly. “But I will give you my personal oath, on what little honor I have, that I will try my best to make sure that she doesn’t get hurt.”123
Grateful that the eagle didn’t try to promise to the original part, Dom squeezed Angie’s shoulder lightly, then let his hand gently rub along her upper arm. “All right.”124
Paul could read the unspoken warning loud and clear… if Angie got hurt, then he was one dead avian. Accepting that outcome, he glanced at the steps, waiting for Tria to make an appearance. Moving quickly as something came at his head, he caught a set of keys out of the air. 125
“It’s annoying when people pop in and out of my house,” Dom said. “Front key, main gate, kitchen key…I’d appreciate them back when you leave.”126
Holding the forth key up, Paul raised an eyebrow. “Car key?”127
“Ferrari Spyder,” Dom told him. 128
“Nice,” Paul said, stretching the word in appreciation. “Black?”129
“Metallic blue.”130
Shrugging, he slipped the keys in to his pocket. “Thanks. I prefer phasing anywhere, but with Tria, one never knows when she’ll dump us in the middle of something I’d rather not be in.” 131
“Yeah, just no speeding tickets, please,” Dom advised. “The cops sort of know that car.” Grimacing as Angie looked up at him, he shrugged. “What?”132
“Nothing.” Shaking her head lightly, she stood. “I’m going to get Amy ready for her grandmother.”133
Dom’s stomach tightened at the mention of Craig’s mother. She was still under the impression that her son died in a mugging. At first, she had wanted to raise Amy, but after the reading of the will, and hearing her son’s wishes, she gave Dom and Angie her blessings and offered to watch Amy at any time. With the possibility of things getting really scary in the next week, Dom had asked if she wanted to spend some time with her granddaughter. 134
Now, she was on her way over to pick Amy up for some quality time, and quality traveling to see other relatives. Accompanying them would be two guards from the squire’s council, a fact that didn’t even raise one concern from ‘grandma.’ Wanting to escape so he wouldn’t have to see the woman that he’d known for years, Dom forced himself to stay where he was. 135
Taking a sudden step back as something appeared almost on top of him, Dom was ready to strike out until he realized that it was a sheepish looking Tria. 136
“Wow,” she said. “I really need to work on that.”137
Pulling the set of keys from his pocket, Paul swing them around his finger. “I do love it when you make my point for me.”138
“What?”139
“Never mind,” he said. “Let’s go. We got demons to annoy, favors to burn and not much time to do it in.” 140
“There’s never enough time,” Tria said as she walked in front of him heading for the door. “Unless you’re stuck in some place missing-“ the remainder was cut off as the door shut behind her.141
Looking at the keys in his hand, Paul grimaced at the thought of being stuck in the car with Tria. Great.142
~~~~~~~~~~~~143
~~~~~~~~~~~~144
The argument continued through a car ride to the city, and in to the parking lot outside of a Goth nightclub. Paul tried to drown out Tria’s voice, but was having no such luck. One little comment made by him had brought this on, and while cursing himself, he added a reminder to keep his mouth shut for eternity. 145
Sighing as they got out of the car that Dom had loaned them, and giving a smile in appreciation at how the baby handled, Paul gave Tria a sinister look. 146
“God, woman!” he exclaimed. “How much longer are you going to go on about missing ten months of reality? The past ten months were nothing but shit anyway, so consider yourself lucking that you missed ‘em.”147
“You may be used to having large gaps in your life,” she said, “but I’m not. To you, your brothers have been dead for nearly a year. It’s been like, a month for me. Not even.”148
“What do you want me to say?” he asked. “I’m sorry you’ve been jerked around by the absence of time?” 149
Realizing that he really wasn’t more than just the vessel she’d poured her complaining in to, she decided to give him a slight break. “Just…don’t say anything.”150
“Fine.” 151
”I mean it.”152
“Okay.”153
“Be quiet,” Tria growled.154
“Like a mouse, I’m quiet,” Paul said. “Mmmm… mice. Remind me to go flying later.” 155
Gagging slightly at that, Tria placed her hand on the door of the building. “What if he’s not here?”156
“He’s here,” Paul assured her. “Since this isn’t a sanctuary of sorts, feel free to pound the snot out of him if he even looks at you.” 157
“I’ll try to remember that,” she said, pulling the door open and stepping in to a dark room barely lit by strategically placed lights. 158
“Over there,” Paul said, nodding to the table at the front of the stage, and a blonde-haired man who looked to be about twenty. “Stay here,” he ordered, then took off across the bar. Before he even got to the table, the lone occupant jerked his head, then stood and headed for the side exit. 159
Motioning with his hand, Paul told Tria to intercept as he cut his way through the crowd. Grimacing as the demon made his way out of the door. Tria was close behind, and as Paul exited, he quickly caught up with Tria who was jogging behind the running form. 160
“I’ll cut him off,” Paul said, then vanished.161
Cursing him under her breath as she ran, Tria tried to keep the demon in sight. She’d lost him for a few seconds as he ran through a bush, but caught sight of him on the other side. A shrill cry pierced the air, prompting both her and the demon to look up. 162
Like something straight out of a special effects laced movie, a dark object sped down from the sky. Noticeable within a second as an eagle, it headed straight for the fleeing demon, slightly herding it towards a grove of trees. 163
Before the demon could make it to the relative safety of cover, the eagle morphed while still in the air, transforming into a man that used the momentum to finish off his attack. A hand clasped the back of the demon’s neck at the same time clothing appeared on the attacker, and his feet hit the ground at a run. 164
Slamming the demon to a tree in one fluid motion, Paul spun him around and took a quick step back. Cowering in fear, the demon only stared until he realized who he was looking at. 165
“I thought you were dead.”166
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Paul said.167
“Why are you chasing me?” He took a step back as Tria finally joined them. “Who’s she?”168
”The person who is going to whup your ass for making me run,” Tria said, trying to catch her breath. 169
Waving her threat away, Paul took a step forward, pleased when the demon cringed. “I need you to do something.”170
“No.”171
“Contact another demon for me,” Paul said, ignoring the refusal.172
“No.”173
”Tell Labeve that she’s a pathetic hag, and that if I don’t see her within a week that I’ll trade my soul to Jaden just for a chance to kill her.”174
The demon’s eyes grew wide at the message, and he shook his head. “No. She’s crazy. She’ll kill me.”175
“You know where she can be found?”176
“Well, yes, but-“177
“Then deliver the message.” 178
Tria watched as Paul operated, and was annoyed that she was being left out of the loop. She had no idea who this Jaden was that Paul would trade his soul to, but it seemed disturbingly similar to Artemis and her eternity of being fucked around. 179
“What are you paying for me to do this?”180
Paul rolled his eyes slightly and shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. How about I let you live?”181
“I’m not afraid of you.”182
”That why you ran?”183
Scoffing, the demon snarled. “You want me to risk my life with that charming message, and all you’ll do is let me live?” Shaking his head, he took a step towards the pair. “Have you lost your mind, eagle? Your psycho attitude might work in your world, but not in mine.”184
“You gonna deliver the message or what?” Paul asked in a low voice. 185
“Yeah,” he continued, “I know how popular you are among your own. Or should that be unpopular? Only a few don’t like you… that’s because everyone else hates you.”186
“Do you ever shut up?” Tria asked, bringing a smirk from the demon, and a scowl from Paul. 187
Laughing, and his earlier fear forgotten, the demon took another step forward. “That the way you operate now? Letting the female fight your battles?”188
“Look, you little fuck,” Paul growled, grabbing the demon by the throat. “Quit your fucking chattering, or I’ll snap your worthless neck.” He looked down as the demon pulled something from his pocket, and was ready for it to be a gun. His eyes grew wide when he realized that it wasn’t, and he’d just released his grip when the weapon fired. 189
The snapping sound was sharp enough to make Tria cringe, and before she knew it, Paul was on the ground with two prongs sticking out of his chest. His body shook as he went from human to eagle. The demon dropped the Taser, and took off running as Tria went to Paul. 190
Hissing as he panted, he continued to switch forms. “Stop,” he managed to say when he flashed to human. 191
Unsure, Tria pulled the prongs out of his chest, then grabbed at his changing body and pictured him safe in her mind. When he continued to change, she panicked slightly. Breathing in deeply, she tried again, pleased when he finally remained human.192
“Paul?”193
He replied by shaking violently as he tried to breathe. “Fa-uck,” he whispered. “Clothes.”194
Suddenly realizing he was naked, Tria created clothes on his body, grimacing as the shirt ended up over his head. “Sorry,” she muttered, pulling it down slightly. “You okay to travel back to the house?”195
He nodded briefly, then before he knew it, was lying on the floor of her bedroom. “Go away.”196
“I-“197
“Now,” he said, forcing his voice to be strong. Grabbing on the bedcover, he pulled himself up, and collapsed on the sheets. “Go.”198
“You’re in my bed.”199
“So sleep in mine,” he whispered before closing his eyes. One eye cracked open when he still sensed her in the room. 200
“I don’t feel right leaving you after that.”201
“Suit yourself,” he said. 202
Watching as he tried to sleep, Tria pulled a chair over and sat in it to keep an eye on him. She’d known what happened when a Were-Hunter was shocked, but she’d never actually seen it before. It looked extremely painful, and a part of her actually pitied the jerk. 203
“Paul?”204
“Mmm?” 205
“Who’s Jaden?” Tria wanted to know.206
“Demon broker,” he whispered. 207
“A what?”208
“Demons barter with him for things.” 209
Trying to work that through her mind, she stared at him as he slowly repositioned himself on her bed. “Can lycanthropes barter with him?”210
“Nope,” he whispered. “I was hoping Labeve wouldn’t think of that.” Cracking open an eye, he tried to focus. “Now please shut the hell up so I can sleep.” 211
“Think he’ll deliver the message?”212
Moaning in annoyance and pain, Paul rolled over so he was facing away from her. “Yeah.”213
“How do you know?”214
“Because,” Paul said, gathering his strength and turning to look at her, “he knows I’ll track his rank ass down and kill him if he doesn’t. And I’m going to do the same to you if you don’t shut the hell up and let me sleep.”215
“All right, all right,” she said, holding her hands up in a defensive pose. 216
“Thank you.”217
“You’re welcome.”218
“Be quiet.”219
“Like a mouse, I’m quiet,” Tria said employing his smart assed line from earlier.220
Closing his eyes, Paul whimpered slightly, missing the smirk that crossed Tria’s face. 221
222
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Comments
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Very nice. Gotta reed more. I'm considering doing what Cryptic did, with three pages at once.
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