The sun was already streaming through the windows when she woke the next morning. Small dust particles floated effortlessly through the air, playing in the beams of light. She wasn’t sure what time she fell asleep, but it was definitely much later than she was used to. She somehow ended up on her pillow and under the covers but was still dressed in the clothes she had worn at the bar. She was groggy and, closing her eyes, she contemplated going back to sleep. Snuggling back into the pillow, a creaking noise reached her ears. It sounded like someone was sitting in the chair on the other side of the room. Leaning on her elbow, she glanced over her shoulder and saw Ben.
He was hunched over and glaring in her direction. To say he looked upset would be an understatement. There was a fire in his eyes that caused them to glow unnaturally. Sitting up, Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something but a strange object caught the corner of her eye. Glancing to her left, a human-sized lump was wrapped under the covers. Scrambling out of bed, she screamed. Ben’s eyes never left the bed. She was relieved that he wasn’t staring at her but all of the noise she had made caused the mysterious lump to move.
Sitting up, the covers fell off a very drowsy Raguel. Rubbing his eyes, he let out a long yawn then noticed Belial. Instantly his body went rigid. “Listen, Belial, it’s not what it looks like.”
A growl rose out of the demon’s throat. Launching himself across the room, he hit the bed, landing on top of Raguel. The angel struggled to get out from under him. The sheets and comforter were thrown from the bed, but eventually Raguel was able to escape Belial’s grip with only a few shallow scrapes. They were both breathing heavily and their wings shot out, coating the room in a blanket of feathers.
Between breaths Raguel was able to eke out, “You weren’t… supposed to be… coming back.”
Belial growled in response, anger seeping from his eyes. “Lucifer had a change of heart.” Lunging for Raguel, he missed by only an inch. Cowardly, the angel flew behind Elizabeth. He hoped her presence would calm Belial down, but all it did was enrage him more. “Get over here angel, or I’ll rip your wings off!”
Elizabeth’s heart felt like it was going to beat straight through her chest. She could hear Raguel’s ragged breaths behind her and in front of her was Ben who appeared more like an animal now than a human. Her legs were weak and she wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take. With what remaining energy she had, Elizabeth yelled, “Stop it, Ben! Nothing happened!”
“That’s good to hear.” Belial’s eyes were focused intently on Raguel--still. He hadn’t moved and her voice hadn’t registered with him. The voice that responded was calm, and came from the doorway. Lucifer was standing there with his arms folded across his chest. His face was stone cold and his eyes were narrow, but she was still relieved to see him.
All of the activity had drained her and her legs suddenly gave way. Raguel was quick and the second she started to fall he caught her. Pulling her up, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. Flames flew out of Belial’s eyes. Seeing Elizabeth in Raguel’s arms enraged him even more. Bending, he crouched near the floor ready to pounce.
“Belial,” Lucifer said. “Calm down. We need him alive.” A guttural sound escaped the demon’s throat, but eventually he straightened and relaxed. No one showed signs of leaving. The demons’ eyes remained locked on her and Raguel, whose grip only tightened around her. Once her legs felt steady enough, she gently pried Raguel’s arms from around her and took a seat on the edge of the bed. The three beings continued to stare at each other. It felt like she was in the middle of a battlefield.
Eventually Lucifer broke the silence again. “Elizabeth, what is he doing here?”
Running her fingers through her hair, she looked over her shoulder at him. “He left me a note last night asking me to meet him so I did and we ended up back here afterwards.”
Lucifer’s eyes narrowed. He knew she had gone to a bar with him but was more curious about what happened after they got back to the house. That’s where his intel ended. Smiling slyly, Lucifer continued to pry. “And what did you do here to pass the time?”
Frowning, Elizabeth knew what he was getting at. Looking away, she stared at the floor, “Nothing. We talked. I really don’t remember about what; I was drunk. But I know nothing happened.”
Meeting Belial’s eyes, Lucifer motioned slightly towards Elizabeth with his head. Walking slowly over to her, the demon took a seat on the bed next to her, his eyes never leaving the angel. Placing an arm behind her, he leaned towards her and tested the air. He was an intimidating sight with his wings out, but his serene look had returned, which made him an absolute vision.
All eyes were on them while Belial tested the air around her. Moving towards her face, he slowed and took in a deep breath of air. “You kissed her?”
“What?” She was shocked and, looking up at Raguel, said, “You did what?”
A thin smile parted his lips. He wasn’t ashamed or upset about what he had done. He had hoped to do more than that, but she had too much to drink at the bar and fell asleep rather unexpectedly. “Only a kiss goodnight.”
Belial growled again. Grabbing his arm, Elizabeth made a poor attempt at calming him down. She was still in shock over what Raguel had just confessed. What was he thinking?
Glaring at the angel, Lucifer was quick to comment, “You know the laws, angel…”
Locking eyes with Lucifer, Raguel quickly cut him off. “I’m aware of the laws. I’m one of their enforcers. But there are no laws when it comes to this. She’s not a pure demon and is in fact half-angel as well, so what I did breaks no laws.”
Lucifer took in what he said sinking deep into thought. Raguel was becoming a pain in his side. He was sharp and knew where and when he could push his luck. It would be no easy feat getting him to leave his great-granddaughter alone.
Belial’s eyes never left Raguel. Looking away from Lucifer, the angel locked eyes with Belial. Putting his arm around Elizabeth, the demon pulled her closer to him. Raguel’s smile melted off his face. His eyes narrowed and he now returned Belial’s glare.
“You were planning to mate with her.”
Lucifer’s voice was distant. Frowning, Raguel’s eyes never left Belial. “That wasn’t my goal,” he said, “but I definitely wasn’t against it happening and knew with Belial out of the way, it was a possibility.”
Belial’s body tensed and gripping Elizabeth’s arm tightly, he pulled her even closer to him. Placing a hand on his leg, Elizabeth prayed that he wouldn’t attack the angel. Glancing over her shoulder, she tried to see what Lucifer was doing. His eyes were on fire. Raguel’s confession upset him. Elizabeth was confused, though, and definitely wasn’t catching onto the bigger picture. They were keeping something from her again. Unwisely she opened her mouth to ask, “I don’t get it. Besides being sneaky, what’s the big deal?”
Belial’s eyes fell onto her. Glancing up at him, she quickly looked away and focused on the floor. Crossing his arms, Lucifer leaned against the doorframe and said, “He was trying to take your virginity in hopes that you wouldn’t be of use to us after that.”
Elizabeth was taken aback. The corners of her mouth rose ever so slightly. She tried not to smile but couldn’t contain it and after only a few seconds was giggling uncontrollably. Belial physically jerked and Lucifer’s arms fell to his side. Even Raguel’s eyes softened and he shifted nervously. The thick air in the room instantly cleared and wiping the corners of her eyes Elizabeth gained control of herself. “I’m twenty-six years old. There’s no way you actually thought I was still a virgin.”
No one answered. Belial stared Lucifer who was having issues registering this new information. His eyes darted around the room, and then rested back on Elizabeth. They returned to their radiant amber color and she couldn’t help thinking about how gorgeous he was. “I wasn’t told anything about this,” he said solemnly.
/> “Her mother never mentioned anything either.” Raguel said, “It wasn’t in any of our reports.”
Elizabeth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her parents were giving reports on her to the other worldly beings? Her blood was boiling and clinching her hands into fists she glared at Lucifer. “They didn’t know. Why should they? I didn’t tell my parents half of what I’d done.”
“How many?” Ben’s voice cut into her like a knife. Her anger melted and was replaced by fear. She was scared of him leaving again. She didn’t want to be alone. Swallowing she couldn’t look him in the eyes and instead opted to stare at the bed.
“Two.”
Belial’s eyes locked onto Lucifer again. She could only imagine what they were talking about. The silence lingered and was grading on her. Finally unable to take it any longer, she said, “What’s the big deal?”
The demons didn’t answer her. They didn’t even acknowledge her presence. Even though the room was filled with people she felt strangely alone. Eventually Raguel’s voice reached her ears, sending a wave of relief through her. “Demons like their women to be virgins. That way they can truly own them, in a sense, and the union is seen as binding.”
Normally when Raguel would talk about the demon world the others were quick to stop him. Today, however, they didn’t say anything, much less look fazed. Suddenly Belial stood from the bed and circled around towards the door. Lucifer left ahead of him and when he reached the door, she called, “Wait! Where are you going?!”
A choking feeling filled her throat and she could feel the tears welling in her eyes. He paused at the door and without looking back said quietly, “Lucifer has called a meeting. I must go.”
His words hit her like a ton of bricks. Closing her eyes, she choked back the tears as best she could.
“Belial,” Raguel said, “if you see Samuel, tell him I’m looking for him.”
Holding onto the door frame, the demon turned his head so he could see the angel. “So it’s as we suspected?”
“Yes. But he’s gone missing.”
Belial nodded his head then left the room without saying another word. Elizabeth listened carefully until she heard the front door open and close. The energy had been sucked from her. Slumping over, she fell onto the bed. Raguel’s figure loomed over her but she wasn’t in the mood to hear what he had to say. Sensing her desire to be alone, he left quietly.
Elizabeth didn’t stay in bed for long. Instead of moping she decided to change into work clothes and kept herself busy downstairs. Finding the primer she had bought with Ben, she popped the top on one and started priming the walls. After an hour she couldn’t take the silence anymore. Turning the radio on, she hummed to the songs and got back to work. In only a few minutes she was singing and dancing. Painting was normally a chore, but today it was a blessing in disguise. She forgot all about Ben and Lucifer, and instead focused all her energy on the task at hand.
She worked straight through lunch, and by the time dinner was approaching, she had nearly finished priming the entire downstairs. Her stomach was killing her, so after picking up, she raced upstairs and jumped into the shower. Standing under the water, she realized that she hadn’t locked the front door. Letting out a sigh, she closed her eyes and let the water wash over her face. Waiting patiently her heart raced. She listened to the water hitting the tub, praying that the curtain would open, that Ben would walk in on her.
Lowering her head she opened her eyes. The shower curtain was still closed and the house was still quiet. Sighing again, she turned the water off. Climbing out the tub she dried off and straightened her hair. Taking her time, she stared at the mirror solemnly. The silence was getting to her again. It was horrible.
She wanted someone to visit her. Anyone, really. Raguel, Lucifer, Crocell… anyone…
She just needed interaction, noise, or something. Staring at the empty makeshift kitchen, her foot tapped the ground softly. For how big the house was, it was closing in on her. Jogging down the stairs, she grabbed her purse and skipped out the house. She was going out for dinner and had the perfect place in mind. It was a Mexican restaurant not too far into the city that had great daiquiris. She needed to get Ben off of her mind, so a little bit of alcohol should do the trick.
It was early so the restaurant wasn’t crowded but that was fine with her. Her waiter was a cutie and since she was his only table, he was extra attentive. Chewing on a chip, she scanned the numbers on her phone. Pausing at Claire’s, she stared at the green button. It would be so easy to call her and apologize. Tell her that she was right and that Ben was nothing but trouble. Putting the phone back in her purse, Elizabeth let out a long sigh. Life was getting too complicated.
After dinner, she trudged back to her car. She enjoyed eating out but going back to an empty house was an ill prospect. Sitting in the car, she drove around the city aimlessly. Every few minutes she’d stare at the purse sitting on the seat next to her. Reaching over, she stuck her hand in the purse and fumbled around until she found her phone. Pulling it out, she dialed Claire’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me,” Elizabeth said. “Um, can we talk?”
There was silence on the other end of the line. Claire was still upset and wasn’t ready to forgive her friend just yet. She wanted her to sweat a little, but then again she did make the effort to call. “Yeah,” Claire said. “I’m not home right now, though.”
“Me neither.”
“What are you doing? You’re not with Ben?”
Smiling weakly, Elizabeth smashed the phone between her ear and her shoulder. Turning right, she straightened the car back up and said, “No, we had a fight. I was thinking of going get a drink somewhere downtown.”
“Yeah. Um, I can meet you somewhere. What about… uh… Sammy’s?”
“Yeah,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll see ya there.”
“’Kay. Later.”
Ending the call, Elizabeth tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. The first chance she got, she turned the car around and drove to the bar. The area wasn’t crowded yet so she was able to park out front. Soft music thumped out of the building and onto the street. Taking a seat at the bar, she ordered an amaretto Coke and settled in to wait for Claire. There weren’t many people there--only a couple guys sitting alone near the back.
Sipping her drink slowly, she stared out the windows. There were a few people walking up and down the sidewalks, and several cars drove by slowly. Looking down at her glass she swirled the dark liquid. The cherry was barely visible at the bottom of the glass, and it knocked against the clear walls, moving with the drink.
The bar was filling up by the time Claire arrived. Taking a seat next to Elizabeth, the girls nodded at each other hesitantly. Glancing around the building slowly, Claire took in her surroundings. She checked every face in the crowd for Ben, but surprisingly he wasn’t there.
“He’s not here.” Elizabeth’s voice was solemn. Rolling the cherry around in the empty glass, she stared at the red ball intently.
“So it’s that bad, huh?”
Shrugging her shoulders Elizabeth stared at the bottles stacked neatly behind the bar. “It was nice not being alone, ya know?”
Nodding her head, Claire waved the bartender over. “Can I get an Abita beer?”
“Which one?”
“Any,” Claire said. “Surprise me.” The bartender nodded and smiled at her. Grabbing a beer, he popped the cap off skillfully and sliding it onto the bar winked at her. A thin smile crept across her face. He was cute and, leaning on the bar, she watched him walk to the other end.
Elizabeth was completely ambivalent to their whole interaction. Pinching the cherry stem between her fingers, she twirled it slowly. Popping it into her mouth, she dropped the stem back into the empty glass.
“So what happened?”
Glancing at Claire, she shrugged her shou
lders. “I don’t know. What didn’t happen?” Putting her elbow on the bar, Elizabeth rested her head on her hand. Rubbing her nose, she stared at the empty glass. “Everything just got… too complicated, I guess.”
“He’s not still living with you, is he?”
Shaking her head, Elizabeth said, “No. I think he’s going to move out.”
Taking a long sip of her beer, Claire’s eyebrows raised. “You think?”
Shrugging her shoulders again, Elizabeth straightened. “Yeah, well, we really didn’t talk about it. He was so mad that he just left.”
“Wow. What did you do?”
Shaking her head, Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. It was so stupid and sounded even worse out loud. Leaning close to Claire, she whispered, “He… he was mad because he found out that I’m not… that I…” Pausing. she couldn’t say it without smiling.
“That what?”
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth smiled and said, “That I’m not a virgin.” Claire busted out laughing. It was so dumb that Elizabeth laughed with her. “I know, right?”
Waving her hand in front of her, Claire was at a loss. “You’re twenty-six. What did he expect?”
Rolling her eyes again, Elizabeth really didn’t know. Raising her hands in the air, she was at a loss. “You want another drink?”
The bartender was smiling brilliantly at her. He was cute, but not as attractive as Ben. Smiling back at him, Elizabeth said, “Yeah, why not? I’ll take another.”
Winking at her the bartender poured her another drink. Maybe she was going about this the wrong way. Maybe she should relax a little and say screw Ben. Then again, he was so hot. Picking up her drink, she drank half of the contents.
“You gonna be okay?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Elizabeth swirled her drink around. “Yeah,” she said. “I guess.”
Drinking her beer, Claire stared at the wall. “He was really hot.”
Glancing at her friend Elizabeth said, “What?”
“Ben. He was really hot.” Glancing at Elizabeth, she drank some more of her beer. “So was his friend. That brunette guy.”
Nodding, Elizabeth agreed. Letting out a sigh, she finished her drink. “Thanks for coming, Claire.”
“Eh, it was nothing. You do have to drive me home, though.” Smiling, Elizabeth laughed. She did owe her that much.
His finger tapped impatiently on the outside of his arm. Leaning back in the chair, he couldn’t get comfortable. The council had been meeting for too long. What could they possibly be talking about? Surely Lucifer was fighting for his great-granddaughter.
The large door creaked open. A single demon emerged and quickly raced off down the hall. Frowning, Belial let out a deep sigh. The air was stifling. How long was he going to have to wait?
The soft tapping of footsteps echoed down the barren hall. Barely lifting his head, Belial glared at the demon approaching. Even while walking Crocell looked like a statue. Looking away, he stared at the large doors again.
“Have you been out here the whole time?”
Crossing his arms even tighter across his chest, Belial didn’t answer him. Smirking, the demon moved towards the large doors and entered the room hidden beyond. The large door shut with a loud thud. Clenching his hands into fists, Belial couldn’t take it anymore. The suspense was killing him.
The large doors swung open suddenly and Belial shot to his feet. Standing perfectly still he watched the demons pour out of the room. Finally he saw Lucifer. He was taking his time and was still talking to one of the council members softly.
Kneeling, Belial waited patiently for his orders. Lucifer wasn’t in a hurry, however, and took his time getting to his subordinate. “Come, Belial.”
Nodding, the demon stood and followed his master down the long hall. Lucifer walked silently with his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Pausing at a window, he stared out at the dark sky. “Belial.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“The council has made a ruling which you should find quite favorable.”
Belial was smiling on the inside but knew to remain still and cold in front of Lucifer. If he would show emotion now, he would be pulled away from Elizabeth. Glancing back at the demon, Lucifer examined him for a moment, and then continued, “The council is willing to overlook certain past activities. You are to return to Elizabeth’s home and continue to guard her until farther notice.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Frowning, Lucifer’s eyes narrowed. “And Belial?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Make sure that angel doesn’t get too comfortable. I don’t want him alone with her for any reason. Is that understood?”
“Yes, my lord.” Bowing, Belial quickly turned and strode down the long hallway. He was excited and anxious to get back. Heading straight for her house, he raced up the porch steps and was met by a locked door. Pushing on the door, it didn’t budge. Banging on the wood, he peered through the window but none of the lights were on.
“She’s not here.” Frowning, Belial glanced over his shoulder. Raguel was walking up behind him slowly. “She left a few hours ago and hasn’t returned.”
“You’ve been spying on her?”
Smiling, Raguel chuckled. “Only as much as you have. Someone had to keep an eye on her while Lucifer debated if he’d still accept her as kin.”
Turning around Belial marched down steps. Why would she leave and alone? What was she thinking? “Where are you going?”
Growling, Belial barely looked back at the angel. “I’m going to find her.”
After paying for their drinks, the girls left the bar and made the short walk to Elizabeth’s car. Unlocking the doors, she climbed into the driver’s seat but Claire took more time getting in. Bending, she finally took a seat and closed the door. Pointing to the back seat she said, “What are those for?”
Looking behind her, Elizabeth saw the two shotguns still sitting on the back seat. She had forgotten they were back there. It was a good thing that she wasn’t pulled over. There was no way she’d be able to explain that to a cop. “I put them back there awhile back and forgot to take them out.”
Claire made a face but didn’t say anything. Pulling on her seatbelt, Elizabeth threw the car into drive and waited to pull out onto the street. The traffic was picking up. Tapping the steering wheel she watched the rearview mirror meticulously.
“Man, talk about a creepy-looking guy.”
Glancing back at the front of the car, Elizabeth saw what Claire was talking about. He was there, the man in the trench coat. The one Lucifer and Ben had warned her about. Lifting his head slowly, his eyes met Elizabeth’s. They were completely lifeless. Shuddering Elizabeth saw her chance and pulled out of the parking spot and onto the road. The man watched the car the entire time.
“What a weirdo.”
Nodding her head Elizabeth agreed. She needed to get Claire home as soon as possible. He meant nothing but trouble and she didn’t want Claire getting caught up in whatever he had planned. While Claire flipped radio stations, Elizabeth’s stomach tightened. What was his goal, assuming that he was behind the attacks at all? Maybe Lucifer sent him, or maybe he was just there to keep an eye on her.
Turning onto another road, flashing lights in the distance caught the girls’ attention. Staying calm, Elizabeth remained at the speed limit, but her eyes never left the red and blue flashes ahead of them.
“Is that a check point?” Claire asked.
Frowning, Elizabeth nodded. “I think it is.” She had no desire to go through a check point. She’d had a few drinks, and with the guns in the back seat in plain sight, she couldn’t risk it. Being casual, Elizabeth flipped her blinker on and took a right into a subdivision before reaching the cops. Staring out the back window, Claire watched until the blinking lights were out of view.
Letting out a deep sigh, she stared at Elizabeth, wide-
eyed. Elizabeth was focused on the road ahead, however. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, she weaved through the subdivision streets until they came out the other side. Looking in both directions, the road was dark and vacant. Glancing at each other, the girls smiled and laughed. They had dodged a bullet and they knew it.
Pulling out onto the road, Elizabeth planned her next course of action. There were a few ways she could go to get to Claire’s apartment but she wanted the path of least resistance. Slowing down, she stopped at a light and waited to turn. This road should end past the check point and she’d be able to get back to the road Claire’s apartment was on. Claire was flipping radio stations again and was completely ambivalent to what was ailing Elizabeth.
One hand gripped the wheel tightly while the other remained locked on the shifter. A few cars passed them, going in the opposite direction. She eyed them all with suspicion. Something was making her uneasy. Her gut was in knots and it continued to tighten with every passing second.
The light turned green and Elizabeth slowly turned onto another road. The boulevard didn’t have much along it. There was a football stadium and practice fields, as well as a park and a small workout facility. During the day this area was filled with people and cars, but tonight they were the only ones traveling down it. Claire continued to poke at the radio in disgust. Nothing good was playing.
A loud pop filled the air, and Claire jerked sideways, her head hitting the window. Gripping the wheel tightly, Elizabeth threw the car into the neutral. It swerved and skidded off the road into the grass. Coming to a rough stop, Elizabeth leaned back in her seat breathing heavily. Rubbing her head, Claire was disoriented. “What happened?”
Shaking her head, Elizabeth ran her hands over her face. “I dunno. I think one of the front tires blew out.” Looking Claire over, she said, “You okay?”
Rubbing her head, Claire grimaced. “Yeah, I think so.” Looking back at her friend, Claire gasped. Turning, Elizabeth saw an all too familiar sight. It was the man in the trench coat. He was standing a good distance away from the car but Elizabeth was tired and wanted this to end.
“Stay in the car.”
“What?” Claire said. “What are you doing?”
“I’m ending this.” Grabbing the door handle she barely got the door open when Claire grabbed her arm.
“What? Ending what? What are you talking about?”
Closing her eyes, Elizabeth grimaced. She now knew how Ben and Raguel felt. She not only had someone to protect but was unable to explain what was going on. Pulling her arm away, Elizabeth looked back at the man and closed the door behind her.
He remained completely motionless. The noise from the car door didn’t faze him. Looking around cautiously, Elizabeth took a few wary steps towards him. Eventually his head rose, revealing a pair of bright red eyes. The hat he wore cloaked most of his face in shadows but his eyes glowed in the dim light.
Pausing, Elizabeth swallowed, determined to hold her ground. Smiling crookedly, the man raised a hand and removed the hat from his head. His face was thin and had a pronounced bone structure that did nothing for his appearance. Thin, straight hair fell to his shoulders, making him look sickly.
“Cousin.”
Elizabeth’s heart froze. His voice was creepy. It wasn’t that of a man or a woman. It was flat and gender neutral. “Who are you?”
Cocking his head, the man’s eyes narrowed. “How rude,” he said. “Hasn’t Lucifer told you about me? He’s told me all about you.”
Crossing her arms, Elizabeth wasn’t buying it. Lucifer wasn’t the talkative type and wasn’t much for sharing. “Are you Samuel?”
A weak smile parted his thin lips. Dropping the hat on the ground, his eyes lit up. “Ah, yes. See, you do know me, cousin.”
“I’m not your cousin. I don’t even know you.”
Samuel’s smile grew. “We are alike, you and I. We’re different from the others. We’re unique. A perverse image of their perfection.”
Taking a small step backwards, Elizabeth contemplated her situation. There was something off with this guy. He wasn’t all there.
“Elizabeth! Come on, let’s go.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Claire standing on the other side of the car. She had one of the guns in her hand and was pointing it straight at the Samuel. Looking back at the man, his eyes were wide with excitement. He had been looking forward to this moment for months and was ready to revel in her pain and torment.
“Pathetic human. Do you really think you can hurt me?” Pushing his trench coat aside, Samuel drew a long sword hidden beneath. It wasn’t like the swords Belial and Lucifer carried. It was a normal steel sword. The blade was beat up and the end was covered in dried blood. He held it with a confidence that said that he had killed before. “I think I will kill your friend first, cousin. That way you can watch.”
Elizabeth’s hands clinched into fists. “Don’t you touch her! I’m the one you want! Leave her out of this!” Samuel’s eyes grew wider. He fed off of their fear.
The sound of gunfire echoed down the empty street. Claire had pulled the trigger but missed. The bullet ricocheted off of a tree behind Samuel. His smile faded and, gripping the sword tightly, he took a step forward. Two wings shot out of his back. They weren’t pristine like the others she had seen. One was devoid of feathers. Thin, splotchy skin stretched over the bones. It looked more like a bat’s wing. The other was covered in pathetic, gray feathers. They were dingy and actually made Elizabeth feel a little sorry for him.
“Did you like the last present I left you?” Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed. She had no idea what he was talking about. Taking another step, Samuel continued, “That girl was easy to control. She was depressed and had contemplating killing herself several times before. Did you like how I did it? Humans are so easily fooled.”
Elizabeth’s breath grew still. The gun discharged again behind her. Claire’s hands were covering her mouth and fear cloaked her face. She had dropped the gun. Sidestepping, Elizabeth blocked her view. She wanted Samuel to focus on her and not Claire. The corners of his lips raised and taking another heavy step he said, “How noble of you, cousin. Too bad you couldn’t protect your other friend or your parents.”
Whatever fear she was feeling was now replaced by anger and hatred. Samuel was enjoying himself. He had her right where he wanted her and she was falling for the bait. “Lucifer wouldn’t tell me where you were so I found your parents. He wasn’t concerned about protecting them like he was protecting you.” Snickering, he continued, “They died easy enough. Airplanes are vulnerable. Although they didn’t want to tell me where you were either. Quite stubborn.”
Elizabeth had heard enough. Grinding her teeth, a single tear slid down her cheek. “Shut up.”
Samuel’s smile grew. “If you would have just died then they could have been spared. But you wouldn’t die. No matter what I did you wouldn’t follow the script.”
“I said shut up!”
Samuel’s body went limp. His arms hung loosely at his sides. Grinning from ear to ear, his eyes glowed intensely. “We’re unique, cousin, and that won’t do. There can’t be two. I can’t have you running around getting all of the attention.” Cackling, his mouth opened so wide it split his face in two. “Now, cousin, it’s time to die, and we’ll see who the highest bidder is. Will your precious Lucifer save you or will He be bothered enough to wake up from His sleep?”
Swaying effortlessly, Samuel charged Elizabeth. Her feet felt frozen. His sword was raised, pointed straight at her, but she couldn’t move. A piercing scream woke her from the trance. Leaping sideways, she narrowly escaped the blade. It plunged into her car like it was made of butter. Grinning he pulled the blade out and said, “Stand still, cousin. I’d hate to miss and hit your friend instead.”
Claire was petrified. She remained crouched on the ground
next to the car. It wasn’t great protection but it was something. Staring at the gun, Elizabeth wished that she could reach it. Samuel wasted no time and charged her again. Stumbling backwards, she was falling but never hit the ground. Closing her eyes, she felt the wind rush by her face and then something wrap around her.
“Are you alright?”
Smiling, her muscles relaxed. Gripping his clothes, she opened her eyes and nodded. “I’m fine, thanks.”
Samuel screamed in disgust. Whipping around, he saw Claire still huddling by the car. Rage consumed him. Flying towards her, he readied his sword. Claire was frozen in fear and Elizabeth was unable to move. Samuel reached his prey in record time. His sword fell down over her but was stopped short of its target.
A clear blade hovered over Claire’s head, guarding her from the sharp steel. Pushing Samuel back, Raguel glanced down at her. “You okay?”
Unable to speak, Claire only nodded her head in reply. Grinning, Raguel took his place between Claire and Samuel. Claire was awestruck by the pair of pristine white wings blocking her view. Her heart was racing but no longer in fear.
Letting go of Elizabeth, Belial left her next to the car and took his place next to Raguel. Samuel was no longer smiling and was now contemplating his next move. His prey was so close to leave now would be counterproductive. Screaming, he leapt towards Elizabeth again but was easily cut off by Belial. Screaming, he swung wildly at the demon trying to break through his defenses.
Leaning against the car, Elizabeth ran her hand along the smooth surface, her eyes never leaving the fight. Fumbling for the door handle, she eventually found it and cracked the door open. The second gun was lying on the ground between the seats. Reaching in, she grabbed the barrel and pulled it out of the car.
Samuel wasn’t winning but he and Belial were in a deadlock. Raguel made no attempt to help and instead waited in the wings, sword ready, just in case. Readying the gun, Elizabeth rested it on her shoulder and kept it pointed at Samuel. Ben was blocking her shot, but the second she had one she was going to take it.
Screaming wildly, Samuel drew a short knife with his free hand. Swinging, he caught Belial in the arm. Blood trickled down his arm and, jumping back, he had to refocus. Guarding against two weapons was exponentially more difficult and he was quickly becoming overpowered.
Raguel still didn’t move. Watching silently, he had no intentions on saving Belial. He would protect the women, but the demon was on his own. Slamming into Belial, Samuel grinned evilly. Picking up his foot, he kicked the demon in the stomach, throwing him to the ground. Elizabeth was ready for him. Before Raguel could react, she had Samuel in her sights and fired the gun.
The bullet hit him just under his right shoulder and passed straight through. Dropping the knife, he raised his hand, allowing the blood to drip onto it and then onto the ground. A crooked smile crossed his face. Turning towards Elizabeth, he staggered towards her. The noise from the gun echoed in the still air. This time the bullet hit him square in the chest.
Stopping, Samuel’s smile faded. Coughing violently blood flew out of his mouth, painting the ground red. Stabbing the ground with his sword, he rested his weight on the weapon. Blood oozed out of his chest. Coughing, he gasped for air but was having problems finding any.
Elizabeth leaned against the side of the car. She kept the gun pointed at the being kneeling before her. Staring at her, the corners of his mouth raised. Coughing violently, he wiped the blood from his mouth and whispered softly, “Well played, cousin.”
The ground distorted and caved in around him, sucking him into the pavement like quicksand. His eyes never left Elizabeth and hers remained locked onto him. The concrete rippled and pooled around him until even his head was completely engulfed. The air diffused and the sky lightened. Everything seemed brighter.
“Where did he go?” Claire looked exasperated.
Shaking her head, Elizabeth wasn’t sure. Walking over to the red, stained ground, Raguel touched the concrete. It was solid. Crossing her arms, Claire shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes darted between everyone present. “Is he dead?”
“No.” Everyone looked at Ben in unison. His eyes were still locked on the bloody stain on the ground where Samuel had once stood. “His wounds will heal. It’ll be awhile before he’s healthy enough to come out again, but he’ll be back.”
That wasn’t what Elizabeth wanted to hear. Letting out a sigh, she shook her head in disbelief. The last thing she wanted was for that psycho to start going after her again. Turning towards the car, she opened the door and placed the gun on the floor. Slamming the door shut, she leaned her weight on it. Shaking her head again, she glanced over her shoulder. “All right. Let’s go home.”
Cocking his head, Raguel cross his arms over his chest. “Does that mean you’re asking us to move back in?”
A thin smile parted her lips. “I suppose I am.” Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Raguel nodded and made his way over to Claire. The instant he left, Belial was at her side. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her tightly.
“Thanks for coming.”
Shrugging, he let out a sigh. Looking down at her, he said, “I went back to your house and you weren’t there. Raguel had been watching you and saw you leave almost an hour earlier.” Pausing, Belial leaned against her car and ran a hand through his hair. “Lucifer’s not happy about what he learned, but since the two in question were human, he’s acting like they never happened.”
Pushing away from the car, Elizabeth walked around to the passenger side. The front tire was blown. The last thing she wanted to do was change a tire. Walking around to the front of the car, she picked up the other gun. Belial was staring at the bare sky, completely ignoring what she was doing. He’d never changed a tire before and wasn’t about to start now.
Taking a seat in the grass, he watched Elizabeth silently. She seemed confident enough and really looked like she knew what she was doing.
“Where did you learn to do that?”
Pulling the old tire off the car, she placed it on the ground gently. Lifting the new tire into place, Elizabeth said, “My father taught me.”
“You miss him?”
Pausing, she looked over her shoulder at the demon. He was sitting cross-legged staring intently at her. “Of course I do. Why would you ask that?”
Shrugging, he watched her tighten the lug nuts back on. “I don’t know. You never talk about him.”
Frowning, she didn’t know what to say. Lowering the car, she removed the jack and brought it back to the trunk. Glancing around, she asked, “Where’s Claire and Raguel?”
Picking up the old tire, Belial carried it to the trunk. “They left a while back. Raguel said he was taking her to dinner and would catch up with us later.”
Glaring at Ben she knew she heard no such conversation. Wiping her forehead with the back of her hand she slammed the trunk shut. “Can you drive? I had a few drinks and already saw a check point tonight.”
Nodding, Belial casually climbed into the driver’s seat. Lowering the windows, they drove in silence with the radio off. Resting her arm on the car door, Elizabeth leaned her head towards the open window, allowing the wind to caress her skin. Smiling, she watched Ben. He also had an arm resting halfway out the window and was leaning back in the seat casually. Just being close to him calmed her soul. It was similar to the effect Lucifer had on her, just not as potent.
Back at the house, Belial unlocked the door for her. She’d never thought about getting the key back from him. Locking the door behind them, he walked around the downstairs silently while Elizabeth fumbled with her purse. Nodding in approval, he was amazed by how much work she had gotten done in such a short period of time.
Following her up the stairs, he walked to his room. Standing in the doorway, everything looked exactly the way he had left it. It was like he had never left.
Taking a seat on the edge of the bed he looked around the dark room. Leaning against the doorframe, Elizabeth crossed her arms and watched him silently. Staring at her he stated softly, “You know I have no reason to stay here anymore.”
Looking down, there was no way she could respond to that. Her heart sank but he was right. With Samuel out of commission, the attacks would stop and there would be no reason for Lucifer to order him to stay. Swallowing, she asked, “Where will you go?”
Shaking his head, he stared at the ground. Pushing off the bed, he walked towards her. Swallowing, she stepped out of the doorway to let him pass. Stopping next to her, he looked down, but she refused to return his gaze. Smiling, Belial wrapped his arms around her.
Resting her head on his chest, she listened to his heart’s steady, rhythmic beating. His chest rumbled from under her when he spoke. “Until Lucifer calls me back, I’m not going anywhere.”
Smiling, she didn’t believe him. Pushing away from him, she wanted to say something but the second her mouth opened he stopped her. His lips were warm and his tongue quickly found a steady rhythm inside her mouth. Her heart was racing and her skin tingled. Holding onto his shirt, her hands wrapped around his back.
Lifting her off the floor, Belial carried her to the bed in one smooth motion. Lying on top of her, his weight pressed her into the mattress while his mouth moved down her neck. She held onto his back while his hands moved under her shirt and up towards her chest. He slowly worked the shirt up over her stomach and towards her breasts. Arching her back, she tried to make it easier on him.
“I hope I am not interrupting anything.”
Belial launched himself off of her. He was just as startled as Elizabeth. Standing in the doorway was the monochromatic Crocell. Frowning, he stared intently at Belial. “Lucifer wants you to report in. He has heard some disturbing news from an angel and wants to be debriefed. Immediately.”
Letting out a deep sigh, he glanced at Elizabeth for a moment. Shaking his head, he followed Crocell down the stairs. Elizabeth listened intently. The stairs creaked under their weight then the door opened and closed. Silence. There were no other sounds. No car engine, no noise from the gravel. Rolling out of the bed, she took a shower, and then climbed into her own bed.
It was late. She was groggy but was sure she had heard something downstairs. Rubbing the crust away from her eyes, she blinked at the clock and saw 2:47 in bright red lights. The stairs creaked beneath someone’s feet. She was frozen in place, her body rigid. Raguel had come back hours ago and had already gone to bed.
A dark figure slowly appeared in the doorway. Elizabeth’s fears melted away. She couldn’t see his face and he didn’t say anything but the calm feeling that took over her body could only mean one thing. It was Ben. Without a word he walked towards his room and she slowly drifted back to sleep.
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Danielle Broussard
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