by K. G. Reuss
“I wanted to know how things are coming along. And I wanted to know why you’ve been gone for weeks. Your absence hasn’t gone unnoticed, you know.” He dropped down onto the chair at my side.
“Weeks?” I sat up and looked at him, my brows furrowed in confusion. “It’s only been a couple of days.”
“Maybe up there it has, but down here, you’ve been gone for weeks. And the king has noticed. I think he knows something’s up, man. I just wanted to warn you. You need to be more careful. You have to watch yourself, Donovan.”
“Fuck,” I mumbled while massaging my temples, a dull ache starting in my head. I hadn’t realized there was a time difference. Hell, I hadn’t even considered it. I’d been so caught up in having Liv back that I’d pushed my common sense away. “Have you heard anything? Does he know where I’ve been or who I’ve been with?”
“I don’t know, man. It’s not like he’d tell me anyway. He only inquired if I knew your whereabouts.”
I pushed myself up, pacing just like Abe had been doing.
“What did you tell him?”
Abe’s eyes didn’t meet mine. Instead, he stared down at his hands. “I said I hadn’t seen you. Told him that I figured you were busy doing his bidding.”
“And?”
“And that’s it,” he cleared his throat and peered up at me. “Be careful, Donovan. I can’t stress that enough. He knows. I know he does. He’s just waiting. You need to be thinking ahead in the event he gets her before you can break the curse. I’ve been doing some research. Talking to other demons. There are stories that the king put this curse on another, way before we were around. He got to the surface and tried to break the curse too. Only the devil took her back to Hell before he could. And that left him stuck at the surface while she was down here. You need to finish this no matter the cost.”
“What happened to him? The one on the surface?”
“No one knows. Some say he still wanders the surface. Others say he became a monster that feeds on souls. There are talks that he was blessed by God and given a special place at His side. All I know is that he was never heard from again.”
“And her? The girl?” I asked tightly, my hands balled into fists at my side.
“Torn apart in the pits.” He shook his head sadly. “I don’t want that to happen to Olivia. Or you. This place sucks. I want to tear it down stone by stone,” his voice had become fierce, his dark eyes flashing dangerously. “And someday I will, no matter the cost.”
Something about the way he said that sent a flurry of chills throughout my body. But he was right. I needed to break this curse. If the devil was on my tail, I had no choice but to fight back. It was a corner I’d knowingly backed myself into.
“And you’re absolutely positive I can be with Liv and she won’t die?” I asked, staring him down.
“I’m positive that whatever happens, will be worth it,” he replied solemnly. “Trust me on that, brother.”
I nodded. I’d always trusted Abe. He was a cryptic mother fucker, but he was my best friend. While I knew he hated Hell for his own reasons, I also knew he wouldn’t steer me wrong. My mind was made up.
“Where are you going?” His dark eyes leveled on me as I turned to go back into dreamscape.
“Back to her.” I spun around to face him. “If he knows something’s going on, he’ll do everything he can to stop it. I need to speed things along. Tell her the truth. I’m trusting you, Abe.” Without another word, I walked through the dreamscape and closed my eyes, thinking about the new apartment I’d charmed my way into. I pictured the bed and couldn’t help but to picture the things we did in it. My skin tingled as I remembered her touch. Her kisses. The way she responded to the way I held her body close to mine.
It was the closest to heaven I’d ever be.
Donovan
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the dreamscape but standing in front of the bed I was just imagining. I looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw it was going on 8 A.M.
Fuck, Abe was right about the time difference. It felt like I was down there for five minutes, but I’ve been gone all night.
Without another thought, I rushed through the apartment and out to my Jeep which I’d also managed to get my hands on by using my powers of persuasion. I headed toward the school, hoping I could talk Olivia into ditching again today so I could tell her the truth and seal our fate for good.
When I entered the school, the hallways were crowded with students. I pushed through them all, looking for Olivia. I quickly checked in the cafeteria before heading to her locker. As I rushed down the hall, I saw her exit the girls’ bathroom, her head down and arms wrapped around herself.
“Olivia!” I shouted desperately, pushing through the students. “Olivia! Livvy!”
She quickly glanced over her shoulder at me, her green eyes sad, but she kept walking.
“Olivia!” I yelled again, but this time she didn’t turn. She picked up her pace, her red waves swaying as she pushed through the throng.
Just as she was about to dart into a classroom, I reached out and grabbed her arm, gently pulling her to my chest. When her eyes locked on mine, they were full of sadness and anger. A sheen of tears eclipsed their normal sparkle. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
“Hey.” I placed my hands on her cheeks, gently rubbing them, longing to make her troubles disappear. “What’s the matter?”
She pushed against my chest, making me step back in surprise. “What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” she yelled, her eyes wild, her bottom lip trembling. A tear slipped from her eye and then another and another. I stared at her, my stomach rolling with the possibilities of what had happened in the small amount of time I’d been gone. She’d been happy when we’d parted. But now, I could see her heart had been shattered.
“Shhh, it’s okay, Livvy. Just tell me what’s going on.” I reached for her again, desperate for my hands to touch her, to soothe her in any way I could, but she slapped them away.
“What’s the matter!” She glared at me despite the tears still falling from her eyes. “Are you really going to stand there and play dumb with me, Van? Am I a fucking joke to you too?”
“Liv, I honestly don’t understand what’s going on,” I replied softly, my voice quivering. I moved to reach for her again, but she jerked away from me with a derisive laugh. “You’re not a joke to me, Liv! I love you! Just…please, talk to me.”
“Talk to you! Why? What’s the point? Nothing you say is the truth. You’re just like them.” She gestured wildly around her to the students. I glanced around to find a few staring at us in passing. I had to get her to calm down before the entire student population became aware of our argument. “And I’m insane for all of this! I’d rather have the dreams, Donovan. This is a fucking nightmare. There’s nothing sweet about any it.”
“Liv, what the hell happened?” I demanded through clenched teeth, her words cutting me to the bone.
“This is what happened.” She yanked her phone from her pocket and swiped the screen until she found what she was looking for. Shoving it in my face, she showed me the image on the screen: me and Jessie from the office the other day. I was palm deep inside her. The picture certainly didn’t showcase me in a good light. I’d thought I heard the door open, but when I looked, I didn’t see anyone. Someone opened that door and took a picture. All to ruin what I had going with Olivia.
“It’s not what it looks like, Livvy. Just let me explain!”
“A picture’s worth a thousand words. This one is screaming at me to run as far away from you as I can. It screams that you’re a liar and a cheater and that I never should’ve trusted you!”
“That’s not what this is at all, Liv! Damnit! Just calm down so I can explain it to you. Please, baby.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “Do you think I’m stupid, Van?”
“No, Liv. But you don’t know the whole story. Just come with me, and I’ll explain,” I begged. “I’m going to tell you everyt
hing. Please. Please just listen to me, Livvy! D-Don’t do this.” My voice shook as she glared at me, her eyes saying everything her mouth had yet to say.
“Fuck off, Donovan,” she whispered, her voice cracking. With that, she turned and walked into class, leaving me staring after her, my heart in my throat.
I was lost. I didn’t know what to do. The devil knew I was up to something. It was only a matter of time before he figured out exactly what and put a stop to it. Time was not on our sides. I had to get her to listen to me. I needed her to love me and give herself to me in order to break this curse.
No way was I going to sit in class all day, hoping she’d look my way so I could talk to her. I’d hang outside, thinking about how I could break the news to her.
With shoulders slumped, I turned and walked listlessly down the hallway and out the front doors. I sat on the ground with my back against a big tree, holding my head in my hands. How was I going to make her understand… and not only understand, but love me despite the curse?
“What’s the matter? Did you little girlfriend break up with you?”
When I jerked my head up, Brent stood directly in front of me. He wore a smirk, and it only pissed me off more.
“Did you do this? Was that you who walked into the room the other day?”
He laughed. “I can’t believe this shit, you know? I mean, who the fuck are you? You’re nothing, and somehow you managed to not only get the hottest girl in school, but a fucking teacher too?”
I stood up, my anger boiling over. “You did do this?”
He sneered even wider and withdrew his phone from his pocket, showing me the same picture Olivia had. “Someone had to show her what a dick you are.” He shrugged. “It may as well be me. I mean, I’ve been dying to get into her panties for years now. It only makes sense. Now, I’m the good guy. You’ll be out. I’ll be in. And I win.”
Anger burned its way up my chest causing my lungs and throat to feel like they were on fire. I pushed myself off the ground, and without warning, jumped on him. He didn’t see it coming. He couldn’t do anything but fall backward, underneath me as I drilled him again and again with hits. “She’s mine,” I seethed between punches.
He wiggled and thrashed around beneath me, trying to knock me off any way he could, but I was lost to the rage that was devouring me. He couldn’t even land a hit.
Somehow, I managed to pull myself away. I mean, I didn’t want to kill the kid. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.
“You better mind your own fucking business. Olivia is mine, and I will kill you if you fuck with her again. Don’t make life hard for her, and don’t lay another fucking finger on her, or you’ll never make it to college. Fix this or you’re a dead man. Got it?” I hauled my foot back and kicked him hard in the side.
He let out a loud groan as he pushed himself to his feet, stumbling for the parking lot as he clutched his side with one hand and his bloody nose with the other.
I watched as he staggered away, my fists still clenched. That wasn’t even the real fight. The real one would be trying to get Livvy back now.
Olivia
“Did you see Brent?” Anita asked, rushing up to me at lunch.
“Yeah,” I muttered, not bothering to look at her. I stared down at my hands, my throat tight. Donovan had cheated on me. It wasn’t just a rumor. Brent showed me the photographic evidence. Even offered me a hug after I nearly broke down in front of him. Opting to simply escape, I’d shoved him away, wanting to get as far from everything as I could. Which had only landed me in my history class with Donovan calling my name behind me. I was still reeling.
How could he do this to me? Granted, we’d met in a stupid dream—something that still didn’t seem real, but I knew it was. Tiny blips of memory poked through in my mind. Ruby. Heat. Tears. Loving him. And him, the devil. His face was blurry in my mind, but I remembered red, piercing eyes and a low, silky voice. It wasn’t a dream. It was real. I’d been to Hell and back. Literally.
And the man who had claimed to love me for centuries had cheated on me once he found me again. The thought was sickening, twisting my guts into hideous, painful knots. Something in the recesses of my mind told me I needed to talk to him though. I needed closure. I had to get rid of all the thoughts in my head and try to forge forward with my life. Even if it was without him.
“Liv, seriously, someone beat the crap out of Brent!” Anita’s shrill voice pulled me back to the present. “Oh, shit. He’s coming over here.”
Casting my eyes up, hope blossomed in my chest that she meant Donovan. Instead, I was greeted with Brent’s hard stare.
“Olivia,” he grunted at me. I stared up at his badly beaten face, knowing in my heart Donovan had been the one to do it to him. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably, waiting for him to continue.
“I’m sorry. For hurting you. And for telling you about Donovan.” His eyes wavered as he peered down at me. Anita sat in stunned silence beside me. “I-I just want to talk to you for a minute. Alone.” His eyes flickered over to Anita who looked at me wide-eyed.
“Liv?”
“It’s fine,” I murmured. She reached out and squeezed my arm quickly before shooting a look at Brent. From the corner of my eye, I saw Wes approaching, so I figured he and Anita would be close by if I needed them.
Brent sunk into the empty seat next to me and cleared his throat. “I… uh… like you. And I didn’t go about showing you in a good way. In fact…” He ran his fingers through his hair quickly, a frown on his face. “I did it poorly. And I regret that. I just wanted you to know I’m sorry. I showed you that picture of Donovan and Jessie in the hopes that you’d see me as the good guy.”
“Brent—”
“No, just let me finish, OK?" He held his hand up to silence me. “I don’t know what that guy’s deal is. But I think he loves you. A lot. And I also think he may have screwed up. Maybe you should hear him out.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I glowered at him.
“Because I’m a royal fuck up. And I’m hoping that maybe you’ll give me a chance—a real chance—once you clear the air with him. I know I don’t deserve it. If I’d just come over here and told you from the beginning how I felt, maybe you’d be mine. Maybe you wouldn’t hate me so much. I’m so sorry for the things I said and did to you.”
“I’m not going to tell you that everything’s OK because what you did to me wasn’t. You touched me. You tried to-to make me—” I couldn’t get the words out, my eyes burning.
“I know,” he answered softly. “I’m an asshole. I don’t really expect you to forgive me, Olivia. I only know I had to tell you. You deserve to be happy. Like I said, I don’t know what’s going on with your boy. Just go find him. If he makes you happy, I think it’s what you should do. And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll probably still be here.”
“You and I will never happen, Brent," I stated firmly. “I-I just can’t get over the things you’ve done to me.”
“I understand.”
“But thank you for apologizing. I don’t think many people could find the courage for such things.” I was weary. And I wasn’t sure if this was some elaborate joke he was playing on me or what. I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.
“Friends?” he asked, staring at me.
“How about we’ll be cordial with one another from now on and see where it goes,” I replied, giving him the best smile I could muster. My lips barely turned up at the corners though. I had much more important things to be worried about.
“Deal,” he agreed, returning the same smile I’d given him. “I’m, uh, going to go. Your boy messed me up pretty good. I probably deserved it. Either way, I think he cracked a rib, and I should go see a doctor. I hope you get yourself sorted, Olivia. You really do deserve the best.”
And with that, he walked, or rather, limped away, leaving me to stare after him confused. Donovan must have beaten him so hard that some sense was knocked into place. If nothing else, I should probably t
hank him for that. My last few weeks of school would probably go by a lot easier because of him.
“Are you OK?” Anita asked gently, coming up to me with Wes in tow.
“Yeah. He just wanted to apologize for everything,” I cleared my throat, my voice shaky. I couldn’t stay there. I’d told Anita what had happened with Donovan through quicks texts throughout the day, and she’d been more than sympathetic to me. She even suggested I go home and take the day off. It was looking more and more inviting as I sat there, all my thoughts on him.
“He said Donovan kicked the shit out of him. Seems to have humbled him,” Wes mused, sitting down across from me.
“Yeah,” I answered, back to staring at my hands.
“Liv, go home.” Anita sighed. “Seriously. Go take a hot bubble bath and relax. I’ll make sure I grab your homework for you, OK?”
“You know, I think I will,” I muttered, getting to my feet. I bid her and Wes farewell. I went to my locker and grabbed out my bookbag and keys before making my way outside. Stunned, I stood at the top of the steps when I saw Donovan waiting for me at the bottom.
“Please, Livvy,” he called out to me, his face grief-stricken. “Just let me explain.”
Olivia
I was tired — too tired to fight anymore. I decided I’d hear him out, make my decision, and go home where I could rest and put the day behind me. “Fine,” I whispered.
He reached out and took my hand, tugging me to his Jeep. I didn’t have the energy to put up a fight. I just slid into my seat and sat quietly on the drive. He kept glancing over at me, unsure if he was about to lose me or not. Even I didn’t know.
The ride was a silent one, the tension palpable. There was so much I wanted to say to him, but I didn’t know how without totally losing my mind the moment I opened my mouth.
Thankfully, it wasn’t long before we were pulling up at his apartment building. He led me inside and to his room where I sat on the edge of the bed. He paced the floor for a moment. His hair was completely disheveled, and his dark eyes appeared frightened whenever he glanced at me. Finally, he halted and gazed at me.
