by Avril Sabine
Alyssa couldn’t help the shudder that went through her body.
Blake’s arm tightened on her again. “I’m here. You’re not alone. No matter what happens, you’re not alone.”
Alyssa stared into the dark and wondered what would happen. The minutes stretched out and the demon continued to stand in front of her. She began to relax against Blake.
“Stay alert, Allie Cat. Your body’s safe in sanctuary as long as he can’t invade your mind.”
Alyssa sat up straight. She waited. Her mind drifted and she thought of other days. Days of sunshine, beaches, parties, friends. Her eyes closed. She could smell the scent of the ocean, a warm body pressed against hers on the sand. She opened her eyes to see Blake lean in to her and his head blocked the sun from her eyes. He hovered close, just out of reach.
“What do you want, Allie?”
“Blake?”
“Tell me what you want. Only ask and it’s yours.”
Alyssa looked into his eyes, her mouth opened to tell him. She noticed the glints of black radiating from his pupil to bleed into the blue of his eyes. She trembled. “Blake?”
“Come on, Allie. What do you want from me?”
“Blake… I…” she hesitantly reached up to touch him, but he drew back.
“Come on, Allie. All you have to do is ask. Why won’t you ask?”
There was a hard edge to Blake’s voice and Alyssa frowned. Playing a hunch, Alyssa tried to bring the words to mind that she needed. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done-”
Blake hissed and drew back from her. “What do you think you’re doing, Allie?”
Alyssa closed her eyes and tried to think of the next lines. She couldn’t. So she started again. “Our Father, who art in heaven-”
“Enough, Allie.” Blake shook her and her eyes flew open. “Enough.”
The black in his eyes spread until she was looking into dark bottomless pits. “Retribution.”
The demon smiled. He still wore Blake’s face. “Come on, little Allie Cat. All you have to do is ask.”
“And spend eternity in hell?”
“That’s only for those who believe in it. Hell is in their mind. Just like heaven. There is no God. Demons don’t prove his existence. There’s nothing after this life so you’d better enjoy it while you can. What do you want? Ask and it’s yours. I’ll claim you after you’ve enjoyed it all. You’ll have years to enjoy it. What more could you want, human?”
“I don’t believe you.”
“We don’t break any promise made.”
“But you twist them to suit yourselves.”
“Set the terms, Allie. That’s all you have to do. You set them. I fill them. If you say you wish to live to a hundred, then I’ll give it to you. You have to be clear. If you aren’t clear I have to fill in the blanks. That’s always the problem with you humans. You leave too many blanks to be filled in. You can’t complain if we don’t always get it right.”
Alyssa frowned. “But don’t you need a living sacrifice?”
Retribution stared at her out of Blake’s face, a smile twisting his lips. “I can wait. I have the patience of centuries. Name your price. Come on, Allie Cat. You have only to ask. I’m here to serve you.”
“No one gives something without expecting payment. What’s your price?”
“You, love. Just you. But I can wait for you. You can have your life first.” He bent close and his breath caressed her lips. “You can have the world. You can hold it in your palm and do with it as you will.”
“Me in exchange for the world. As highly as I think of myself, even I can’t see how I can command such a steep price.”
“You think too much, Allie. Try feeling instead.” Retribution’s hand moved slowly from her hip and glided along her side.
Alyssa reached out and grabbed his wrist. She ignored the warmth that flooded her body. “You might wear his face, but it’s only a mask. I see the lie in your eyes.”
“I can give you the reality. You only have to ask. He’ll be your devoted slave for life.”
“What about free will?”
“What about it? You want him, don’t you?”
“I want him, not the shell of him.”
“Then ask me for him.”
“You can’t give me what I want. Without it being offered of his own free will, it’s worthless.”
“It will be his free will. I will intensify what’s already there.”
“No.”
“You humans are stubborn creatures. I offer you the world. You dare to throw it back at me? You don’t want to do that, Allie.”
“Or what? You’ll kill me? Isn’t that what you plan to do anyway?”
“Maybe you’ll change your mind after a taste of the tortures of the damned.”
“I won’t give in.”
“We’ll see, little rabbit.” Blake’s face blurred and became Nathan’s. The eyes remained the same.
Alyssa’s first instinct was to scream. Instead she closed her eyes. She felt Retribution’s hands press against the side of her head. Pain shot through her and she was once again staring into Retribution’s eyes.
“You can’t escape me. I’m in you. Around you. I am you.”
“No.”
“Tell me you’re mine and I’ll set you free.”
“No!” Pain shot through her and Alyssa screamed. “No!”
“That’s it, scream little rabbit. Scream for me.”
“Let me go,” Alyssa said through clenched teeth. “I’m not yours. I’ll never be yours.” She writhed as more pain shot through her. She bit her lip as she tried to hold back the scream. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
Retribution pressed his lips to hers. “If I have to take it one drop at a time I will.”
Alyssa turned her head away. “I’m not some dammed cocktail you can sip on when you’re thirsty.” The demon’s fingers tightened on her head and he turned her back to face him.
“You’re mine, Allie. I’ll do as I please with you. You have only to claim you’re mine and I’ll please you instead.”
“Never!” She couldn’t hold back the scream. Pain shot through her body like fire. Before her eyes Nathan became the demon, his wings furled behind him, the heat of his body burned against hers. She pushed against him, tried to pull away, but he had her pinned, his fingers a brand on either side of her face. “Let me go!”
“I will cherish you, Allie. I’ll make you what you are meant to be.”
“I’ll make myself what I’m meant to be.”
“Stubborn child. All you have to do is say ‘I am yours. My soul I give to you’ and all the pain will vanish. You need never feel another ounce of pain again in your life.”
“No!” Alyssa gasped the word out between the waves of pain that wracked her body. “Our Father-”
“Don’t go there, Alyssa. You won’t like what happens if you go there.”
“Who… art in… heaven.” Alyssa sobbed the words out, the pain so strong she didn’t think she could handle another minute of it. “Hallowed… be… thy name.”
“Alyssa!”
She tried to block her ears, the pain of his shriek made her ears feel like they must bleed at the sound. “Thy…. Kingdom… come.” Alyssa felt her body being lifted from the sand and flung from the demon. Then he was standing over her and the beach was no more. A desert like place that had a red haze to it swam before her eyes. “Thy will… be done.”
“You don’t believe in him. Why call on one you don’t believe in?”
“On earth… as it is… in… heaven.” Alyssa struggled to her feet. She reached out to steady herself on a boulder. “I don’t believe in you either. And yet here you are.” She swayed on her feet, the pain not as strong as it had been a moment ago. “But I guess it doesn’t matter if I believe in God or not. Apparently he believes in me.” She grinned, “And you believe in him, or this prayer wouldn’t work.”
“You’
ll pay dearly for this.” The demon was in front of her. He reached out with one hand and grasped her throat. “Say you’re mine and you can live.”
Alyssa felt the air catch in her throat, but she ploughed on, her voice a whisper. “Give us this day… our daily bread.”
“This will be your last day.”
“And forgive us our trespasses.” Alyssa breathed easier as the grip on her throat eased. She stood a little straighter.
“Stop!”
“As we forgive those who trespass against us.” The hand fell from her throat. “And lead us not into temptation.”
“Alyssa, how can you treat me like this?” The demon became Blake. “I give you my love and you treat me like this.”
Alyssa focused on the eyes. The twin pools of hell. “But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.” The demon wavered before her eyes. Alyssa’s grin widened. “Amen.” Everything went black, spiralling into a lengthy nothingness.
“Allie Cat. Talk to me.”
Alyssa tried to open her eyes, but it seemed impossible. She could feel hard floorboards under her. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came to mind. Then she was being lifted and cradled against a warm chest. She breathed in, and could smell only Blake. There was no scent of bushfires, metal and rotten eggs. She struggled to sit up properly and her eyes flickered open. She squinted, the light from the lantern someone had placed nearby seemed too bright.
“Shh, Allie Cat. An hour till dawn. He’s gone for now. The coming light would’ve helped, but you did it. You resisted temptation. Nathan hasn’t the time to find us before we can move on.”
Alyssa sagged against Blake’s chest and her body started to tremble. So close to dawn? It hadn’t felt like hours. How had so much time passed? She felt someone lift her hand and press a warm mug into it. She turned and was surprised to see it was Scarlett.
“It’s sweet tea. Drink it,” Scarlett said.
Blake had to steady her hand so she could take a sip. The warmth hit her stomach and made her realise how cold she was. She watched as Scarlett draped a blanket over her. She frowned and breathed in deep. She could only smell the scent of Blake and sweet tea. She stared at Scarlett.
Scarlett met her stare with one of her own. Then she smiled. “Sorry I was so hard on you. I guess you did have what it takes to resist temptation.”
“I was prepared.” Alyssa frowned at how raspy her voice sounded.
Scarlett chuckled. “It’s a good thing the caretaker is as deaf as a doorpost. With how loud you screamed he’d have been over here demanding what was going on if he’d heard.”
“I screamed?”
“And recited the Lord’s Prayer. I was surprised you made it all the way through,” Scarlett said.
“So was I. I just kept picturing the prayer card. I’ve seen it enough times since I’ve been using it as a bookmark. And read it a few times. I can’t,” Alyssa swallowed. “I can’t believe it worked.”
Alex came to squat beside her. “We told you it was a better weapon than a gun against demons.”
“But I don’t believe in him.”
“You already answered that question once tonight, Allie Cat.”
Alyssa groaned and momentarily closed her eyes. “Did I say it all out loud?” She tried desperately to remember every word she’d spoken. The only thing she could recall clearly was the pain.
Riley put his hands on Scarlett and Alex’s shoulders. “We’ll give you some space, Allie.”
“Here.” Scarlett held a tissue out to her. When Alyssa frowned, Scarlett touched her own lips. “For the blood.”
Alyssa took the tissue and dabbed at her lip as the three demon hunters retreated. Alyssa took a deep breath. “You said the demon gains power from consuming my blood.”
“He’d have gained power tonight, Allie Cat.”
“I didn’t even finish asking my question.”
“It wasn’t hard to figure out your question. Especially since after your lip started to bleed you told him you weren’t a cocktail.”
“What else did I say?”
“Nothing I don’t already know.”
Alyssa met his eyes. “What did I say?”
“That you want me,” Blake said softly.
“Was that all?”
“That you want me of my own free will. Not a shell of me.”
“He offered to make you my devoted slave. To let me live till I was a hundred and give me the whole world to do with as I wanted.”
“What made you say no?”
“I want you, not some imitation of you.”
“And the world? Why did you turn down the world?”
“I’ve grown up in a very cynical household. If it looks or sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.” Alyssa took another mouthful of tea and made a face. “Please tell me I don’t have to drink this. There’s too much sugar in it.”
Blake’s lips slowly curved into a smile. “No, Allie Cat.” He put the mug near the lantern.
Alyssa frowned. “Are you okay?”
Blake nodded.
“What’s wrong?”
Blake’s arms tightened around her. “I could only listen. Listen and hold you. And wait. It’s been a long night, Allie Cat.”
“How many more nights have we got?”
“Not again. You don’t have to go through this again. Each night’ll be more difficult.”
“How many nights until the month is up, Blake?”
Instead of answering, Blake lifted her left hand and turned it so she could see the pulse at her wrist. There was a demon mark one centimetre in length. Alyssa looked uncertainly from her wrist to Blake.
“Welcome to the club, Allie Cat.”
“But… I…why?”
“Your body might have been in sanctuary, but your soul was out there with him. Don’t do it again, Allie Cat. Please.”
“I have to do something. I can’t sit by and let him bring Nathan to us each night. One of us will end up getting shot.” At the sound of footsteps, Alyssa looked over Blake’s shoulder to see Scarlett walk towards them.
Scarlett picked up the lantern and the mug. “Time to move out.” She looked from one to the other for a moment before she turned and walked back to Riley and Alex.
Alyssa tried to rise to her feet, but her body was exhausted and wouldn’t cooperate. Blake stood and helped her stand. He guided her to the front passenger seat of his vehicle and pulled the visor down to reveal a mirror.
“Have a look, Allie.” He pulled the hair away from her temple and Alyssa adjusted the visor so she could see. The skin was slightly blistered. She turned her head and pulled her hair back from the other side of her face.
She turned to Blake. “He had his fingers there.”
Blake had to lean forward to hear her words. “Are you listening to what you’re saying? He can harm you, my Allie Cat.” Blake rested his fingers where Retribution had clamped his. “Don’t give him another chance.”
Alyssa closed her eyes. She couldn’t watch him a second longer without giving in to the plea and pain she saw in his eyes. She felt his lips meet hers and she hungrily kissed him back, her hands encircling his neck. Heat raced through her veins and pooled in her stomach. She pressed herself close.
“Allie Cat,” Blake murmured. “We have to stop.”
“Later.” She moved forward the fraction that separated their lips. She gave herself over to sensation and was startled when Blake’s hands moved to her arms and untangled them from around his neck. When she frowned, Blake smiled slightly and glanced to his left. Alyssa looked over to see Riley stride towards the vehicle. She turned back to Blake, closed her eyes and dropped her forehead to his chest.
Blake lifted her head with a finger under her chin. “What’s wrong?”
“I hope your brother and cousins aren’t going with us on our first date.”
Blake stared at her for a few seconds before he began to laugh. “Don’t pull away,
Allie. I wasn’t laughing at you. Well, not exactly. I guess I’m relieved to see you being… you. Come on. Let’s get in the vehicle. I’d say Scarlett and Alex have already locked up and returned the key.” Blake took her arm and guided her to the back door.
Alyssa shook her head. “You hop in first. I want the window seat.” She ignored his knowing smile.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Alyssa sat on one of the camp chairs next to Scarlett while Riley and Blake changed a rear tyre. Alex was at the front of the vehicle with the small laptop perched on the bonnet. He glanced at his watch and then at the laptop. Alyssa closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see what was happening. They’d driven west most of the day so as to put plenty of distance between the church and themselves. They’d taken turns at driving and sleeping in the vehicle. None of them felt rested.
“What I’d really like to do is go to the nearest motel with a large bathtub and soak in it until my skin wrinkles,” Alyssa said.
“Mmm. Sounds good.” Scarlett waved at the flies that hung around.
“At the moment, even a shower would be good. I feel like I sweated every litre of liquid out of me when we stopped to get the first flat tire fixed.” Alyssa opened her eyes, yelping as water was sprinkled on her. She glared at Riley who grinned, a bottle of water in his hands.
“Feel any better?”
Alyssa wiped the droplets of water and sweat from her face. “No, but when I get the energy to move, I’m going to tip that bottle over you.”
“Come on, Riley. Give me a hand to get the tyre back under everything,” Blake snapped.
Alex walked towards them, the laptop closed and tucked under his arm. “No need to rush. Even if we left this very second and sped the whole way, we’d be about half an hour too late.”
Alyssa leapt to her feet. “What are you talking about, Alex?”
“We can’t make it to sanctuary in time.”
“No! I don’t want to hear that. We’ll have to drive faster. I’ll drive.” Alyssa walked towards the driver’s seat.
