“Val, I did have something.”
“You wanted me to pretend and suck a guy’s dick on screen.”
“It was a blockbuster movie.”
I roll my eyes. “More people to see me sucking dick.”
She sighs. “One more. One more gig you refuse, and I’m done. This isn’t how it works, Val. You’ve got to pay your dues. Fat checks don’t show up your doorstep just like that.”
“Get me something good.”
“You’re not going to get anything good with that attitude.”
I’m taking one last big bite of my sandwich as Jules drops the call. I purse my lips, stifle a sigh, and toss the sandwich wrapper into a nearby trash can. I throw my phone into my bag and hook my bag around my shoulders.
There’s lots of nice houses in Los Angeles. The ones belonging to celebrities look fancy and give me hope. But right now, I’m stuck in a sad, pathetic apartment block. It looks like a box from the outside, but clean. Don’t judge a book by its cover, though, because the inside of this place isn’t as decent as the outside.
The elevator stops working often, making me climb seven flights of stairs to reach my apartment. I cross my fingers and hope it works. I don’t feel like dealing with any more shit today. I’ll have to cut my sleep short because Jared needs picking up in the afternoon, so all I can think of is slumping onto my bed.
I’m about to enter the building when three of those buggers come out to annoy me. I call them the batshit creatures with wings. They scared the hell out of me as a kid. They seem to like following Jared and I wherever we go. Nobody else can see them, so I stopped pointing them out, because whenever I did that, I got weird looks. They’re not natural. Jared’s trying to figure them out in the metaphysical course he’s taking at his university, but so far, no news.
I’m used to the creatures now.
One circles around, trying to trip me, but I kick it aside.
They look grotesque, with mottled, wrinkly skin that should belong to a plucked chicken. Their eyes are completely black.
One creature flings itself at my shoulder. I roll my eyes. After a long, tiring day at work, it’s a pain to deal with this shit.
I grab it and summon my static. It buzzes through the ugly little thing. It’s not enough to kill it, but Ugly gets the warning and flies away. Two of its companions are still flitting about, however. They’ll get bored and leave me alone eventually.
I press the button of the elevator—thank God it works—and wait for it to arrive.
When the elevator opens, another one of those creatures is waiting for me inside. But this one feels different. It’s bigger than the others. Sharp teeth poke out from its upper lip. Its skin is dotted with black, ink-like spots unlike the pink of those I’m used to.
I pretend it isn’t there and step into the elevator. It closes.
That’s when batshit creature attacks.
It lets out a shriek that pierces my ears and lunges at me. I try to avoid it, but this one’s fast. Sharp claws lengthen from its spiny fingers and come at my face.
It’s the first time in a long time that I fear one of these uglies. I grip it by its wing and fling it against the wall of the elevator. The metal dents and the elevator groans. There’s a security camera fixed at the upper right of the elevator.
The security guard must be thinking I’m crazy. Either that or he or she is freaked out. Or maybe the guard isn’t even watching. To others, this must look like I’m fighting the air.
The creature shrieks and flies toward me again. The harmless ones are still with us, and they zip around, disorienting me.
I’m fending for my life when the elevator dings again. We’re at the fourth floor. That means someone else is boarding the elevator. I panic. I’m sure how to explain I’m fighting thin air to a passerby.
Said passerby grips the creature and snaps its neck. It falls to the ground and slams against the metal.
I’m left both speechless and breathless.
I lift my gaze up at the newcomer. He’s Adonis in a long-sleeved t-shirt. His hair’s dirty blond and barely touches his shoulders. It’s wavy and frames his hard-jawed face. He’s wearing a necklace that is tucked into his shirt, which sits neatly over a pair of jeans.
“’Sup,” he says. He flashes a grin. I’m certain I saw hints of canines sticking out from his upper row of teeth. He folds his arms and leans against the metal wall, right beside where the creature made a dent.
I’m stunned into silence.
“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” he says.
It feels like I did. “You… you can see those things?”
“Hm?” He cocks his head. “Those… things? Oh, you mean the lesser demon.”
“Demon?”
“Yeah, like you.”
“Wait… what—”
“These nasty crazies are common where I’m from. I don’t pay them much mind. Sometimes they step out of line, but I’m used to it.”
Who is this guy? My heart’s slamming in my chest, but I’m not sure whether it’s because he’s so attractive, or because I’m hearing nonsense spout from his lips. “Go… go back to the thing about me being a demon.” He has the kind of face that makes it hard for a girl to form a coherent sentence.
He purses his lips. “Oh, you don’t know? Sometimes I forget that others can be dull.”
“Please explain—”
The elevator opens before I can finish my sentence. His eyes dart to my mouth before he walks out.
“Wait,” I tell him. I trail after him. Then I see he’s stopped at the seventh floor, where I’m supposed to go. He’s my neighbor? Can’t be right. I would have noticed him if he lived nearby. One doesn’t look at a guy like him and just forget. “Hey, mister. You can’t just drop a bomb like that and walk out.”
“Sorry, sunshine. I’ve got things to do.”
“Well, explain what you mean by calling me a demon.”
“Exactly what I said. It’s not news.”
My phone rings. I’m not concerned with that now, so I let it continue with its shrill tone.
“How can you see those things?” I ask. “Are you one, too?”
“Are you going to answer that?” He looks at my handbag. “It’s annoying.”
I groan and oblige.
I’m trying to keep up as he continues walking. He’s moving fast and makes it look easy because of his long legs. I’m of average height—five foot six. Still, I’m a dwarf next to him. I’m struggling to match his pace, and it’s even harder when I’m fumbling with my phone.
“Hey,” I say into my phone.
A coarse voice greets me. “Payment’s due.”
Damn. It’s Luc. I was supposed to wire the money over yesterday.
We stride straight past my apartment.
The handsome stranger halts and scratches his head. “I swear I sensed them around here.”
Them? Stranger’s words feel like riddles. I need to introduce him to Jared, because my brother has been obsessed about finding out what we are.
Luc, my debt collector, says, “When are you going to send it?”
“Soon.” A nerve ticks at my temple. I’ve stopped gambling, but past debts and interest rates continue to plague me.
“That’s what you said last week.”
“By today, okay? I need to cash in my earnings from last night first. Then I’ll have enough.”
“You better not go back on your word. Or I’m sending a team down.” Now I have to decide who to pay first—the hospital or Luc. Luc will probably throw blood on my walls as a warning, but the hospital bill will hit my credit rating.
Fuck this. “Yeah, yeah,” I say into the phone.
Luc begins another sentence, but I don’t bother listening. I tap the red button on my screen, silencing him.
The handsome stranger lifts a brow. “Debts?”
“Yep. Trying to get them paid and over with.”
“There’s a simple way.”
“O
h?”
His eyes darken. “Make a bargain with a devil. You’re not too bad looking. Pretty sure a demon wouldn’t mind.”
The way he looks at me makes my stomach turn. It must be those hazel-green eyes of his. They suck me in. They could suck any girl in. It’s like they’re making me think with my vagina instead of my head.
“Funny,” I scoff. “The debt’s not important. Let’s go back to the matter at hand. How can you see these things, and who are you?”
“Don’t know. Don’t really feel like answering. I have a cipher to find.”
“A cipher?”
He nods.
“Demons exist?”
“They’re those things in the elevator… amongst others. I’m guessing you’ve always been able to see them. Why are you finding this so hard to accept?”
“But how can I be one?” Maybe I’m dreaming. I won’t be surprised if I wake up a few seconds later and find myself in bed. Doesn’t help that Stranger here looks like he just walked out of a dream.
“You have the scent of one of them.” He darts his eyes to the left. “Speaking of which, I need to look for a couple people. If you would excuse me.”
I have a million other things to ask and don’t hesitate rushing after him.
But he’s too fast.
He moves away at an inhuman speed, making a blur. A moment later, I find myself alone in the corridor.
How did he…
I hunt for him, trying to find clues to his presence. None are left. My head spins. I question my own sanity, because I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m left staring at the red brick walls of my apartment complex and looking like a fool standing in the doorway.
The morning air is chilly. Fur grazes my ankle. I jolt and make to kick the sickly demon away, then glance down and halt.
It’s not a demon, but a dog. My dog.
Porky, a five-year-old Jack Russell terrier.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” I almost kicked my little darling. Porky has his tongue out and wags his tail. He barks. He does that whenever greeting me. I bend down and pick him up. His fur is warm against my skin. There’s something calming about carrying an animal as adorable as he is. He licks the bottom of my chin, and I giggle.
“Who let you out?” Did I forget to close the door before leaving? My stomach dips. We don’t exactly live in the safest part of town, and immediately, the image of my apartment getting emptied comes to my mind. “Let’s get you back inside, shall we?”
I turn a corner and enter my apartment. My heart thumps as I turn my doorknob. It’s locked. How the hell did Porky get out, then? I take out my keys to unlock the door and peek in. The lights are off, but I can still make out the edges of my furniture with my better-than-average eyesight.
Porky growls.
I frown. What’s his problem? Then I see the outline of a man. He’s lounging on my couch, ankle resting on his knee. He blends in so well with his surroundings that I didn’t notice him the first time I looked. My heart sinks, lodging in my stomach, which tightens with fear.
I flick on the lights and grab the nearest weapon I can find.
An umbrella—great.
With my other hand, I summon my static.
Is this person Mr. Dark and Mysterious?
He’s certainly carrying the same fog of danger, but no, it’s not him. He has a different hairstyle—a long, dark fringe hangs down the right side of his face, and the sides of his head are shaved short. He’s wearing a simple tee and jeans, but somehow, he manages to make it look fashionable. He turns toward me, and I’m met with striking gray eyes that remind me of smoke and ash.
My ears are ringing, and I’m both terrified and awed.
A smirk curves up the side of his lip.
“Hey,” he says. “I’ve been waiting.”
The intruder stands and stalks toward me. He’s taking his time, but I waste none. If he thinks I’m going to stand there and simply let him continue his cool-guy swagger after breaking into my house, he’s horribly wrong.
I aim the pointy end of my umbrella at him and toss my makeshift, sucky weapon. It bounces off him. He shoots me an amused look.
“Feisty, aren’t you?” he says.
Oh, come on. I’m usually stronger than most guys. This intruder isn’t like most guys. That umbrella might as well have been a feather. I pick up the second-nearest object—a photo frame—and toss it at his face.
He doesn’t even flinch as it hits his chest. The frame shatters on the ground. Porky’s growling and barking and trying to hurt the guy by biting his ankles. The intruder shoves Porky aside. My Jack Russell gets kicked across the room and whimpers. Porky huddles in a corner.
“Don’t worry,” the intruder says. “Your dog will be fine.”
My mouth is going dry, and my mind’s blanking from fear. I try to think if I’ve seen this man before. Is he a patron of Club Sin? How did he even get in without breaking the door down?
He continues to pad toward me. “If you’d just give me a chance to speak? You’re making me have to hurt you.”
I throw a punch filled with static as he nears me. He catches my fist and doesn’t react to my ability. “Valerie, is it?” he asks.
I spit in his face.
His smirk falls, and his eyes widen as his hand shoots up to wipe my spit from his cheek. I use the distraction to lunge forward and kick him in the groin—my trademark—but my knee ends up hurting, and he doesn’t react.
What the bloody hell?
He should be wincing on the ground. Instead, not even a frown mars his features.
He sighs and grabs my wrists. He draws them over my body and presses them to the wall. He’s trying to subdue me, but I don’t make it easy. I struggle. His body lies hard against mine. I kick and flail, but it’s no use.
“Just listen,” he says. His voice is gravelly and rough. Hearing it, while having his body so close to mine, makes desire flare through me. He smells of danger—it stirs the animal inside me.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’t be turned on when fighting for my life. My rebellious body keeps sending me mixed messages.
“Fuck off,” I respond. I try to head-butt him, but before my forehead meets his skull, a sharp impact hits the side of my head.
I fall unconscious.
Fall of Dragons (Sera's Curse Book 3) Page 30
