by Livvy Aarons
Aidan immediately jumped out of bed, “Shit—I’ve got to go.” Frantically he grabbed some clothes off the floor and yanked them on.
He was such a beautiful mess…my beautiful mess.
Before leaving Aidan grabbed his helmet then stopped in his tracks. “I’m sorry McKenna—no breakfast and what not. Do you think Julie can come pick you up?”
Maybe. “It should be a problem.” I knew Julie was probably at church, which is kind of ironic since her uncle went with her every Sunday and Pete is the local bar owner. She said something about giving back to the community or some garbage .
“Well there is food in the fridge or you can go to the main house. Don’t worry Paul disappears on Sundays to who knows where and Tristan will not be up before noon. He normal has a date on Saturday nights.” Aidan gave me a tender kiss goodbye and was out the door.
Startling me, my phone vibrated. I had a text message; it was from Aidan. “Love you. I will come by your house later once your dad leaves.”
Giddy I rushed to the front door; Aidan was just mounting his bike. Despite my lack of shoes or proper clothing I ran to Aidan’s side and kissed him as hard as I could.
Aidan pulled away with a grin on his face. “Hmmm, I should text you more often.”
“I think so too.” My voice was raspy.
After one last quick kiss, Aidan left me. When the rumble from the bike was out of earshot I went back inside to call Julie. Of course she didn’t answer. If Julie was at church she wouldn’t be out for almost an hour and I desperately needed a shower.
A few times during my shower when I wasn’t daydreaming about Aidan, I thought I heard the front door slam. I peeped out of the shower curtain but I blew it off as my paranoia when I saw nothing. Once the hot water ran out, I turned off the shower and went to Aidan’s room to check my cell for Julie’s returned call. Damn, no dice. I threw my phone on the bed and got dressed. I found all my things scattered among Aidan's mess. I would have to remember next time that I needed to put a tracking device on my bag. That’s not saying my room is spic and span however I can at least see the floor. I called Julie for what seemed to be twenty times--she still never answered. It was barely eleven thirty and if she was at church, it would not be over for another hour. The growling of my stomach had suddenly become the mission for the moment.
“Does Aidan have anything other than junk food?” I yelled loudly agitated that after fifteen minutes of searching through every nook and cranny in this kitchen I still could not find a suitable breakfast. If I was going to be a regular sleepover guest we would have to make some changes about the food options; chips, beer and little Debbie cakes are not nutritious in the slightest. I gave up and called Aidan.
“Hello beautiful.” Aidan answered sweetly.
“Hey, um—I hate to bother you at work or whatever but I got a question.”
“Ask away darlin’.” The way Aidan said darlin’ all thick with a touch of tang; it gave me shivers. I knew Aidan wasn’t from here but I really had not asked too many personal questions. This thing between us has mainly been physical. I needed to change that but now was not the time; he was at work and I was starving.
“How can a person live off junk food and beer?”
Aidan gave a low chuckle, “I’m sorry baby doll. It’s not like I have girls that sleep over all the time or even at all.”
“What about Tiffany?” I asked pointedly.
“Yeah, never happened—she always said she had to leave. But I tell you what, I will call Francis and have him make you something nice. Then I will make sure that Rupert brings it out to you.” In the background I heard someone yell Aidan’s name. “Listen baby doll I have to get to work. I love you.”
“Please don’t--” Before I could finish Aidan hung up. Great—pancakes and a creepy stalker elf.
Exactly fifteen minutes later I heard a knock at the front door. I had intentionally locked the door, so Rupert would have to knock. It really shouldn’t have surprised me to see Tristan at my door instead of Rupert.
“Come to assault me some more. I guess you didn’t get your fill last night.”
Tristan did not answer. Instead he seemed to ignore me as he walked by and put the tray of food on the coffee table. I tried not to notice how snug his jeans fit his perfectly toned derrière or the fact that he looked even better when he hadn’t shaved.
Stop that this instant—he’s the enemy! “Thanks for the food; you can leave now.” He ignored me and plopped down on the couch.
I rolled my eyes. “Or have a seat. Hopefully I can keep myself from throwing up every time I look at you. God, you are so annoyingly…cocky.”
Tristan was beaming, “Very cocky in fact.” He gave me a wink then continued, “I think you would be the first female to complain about my cockiness. Perhaps after you eat I could show you just how cocky I can get.”
Damn it! I walked right into that one. Gritting my teeth, I sat down on the floor in front of the tray that was on the coffee table. The food looked too delicious to turn away. Tristan did not speak while I ate, yet he did watch me eat every bite with great intensity.
I pushed the plate away, “Okay I can’t do this anymore—you have to stop staring at me.”
“Are you finished?” asked Tristan.
“If I say yes will you leave?”
Tristan grinned. “No my love--we will be leaving. I called Julie earlier pretending to be you and told her that Aidan would be bringing you to her house.”
“But Aidan is not here…” I trailed off seeing where this was heading. “You son of a bitch.”
“You underestimate me, McKenna. I have many talents that would blow your little human mind. Now go get dressed so we can be on our way.”
Too frustrated for words I stomped off to Aidan’s room to fetch my bag. When I returned Tristan seemed uneasy. “Please tell me you are not wearing that out in public.”
I gave myself a once over; purple soffee shorts and a tank top. The tank top had a built in shelf bra since mine was MIA. “What’s wrong with what I have on?”
Tristan shook his head as he pushed himself from the couch. “Females today wonder why they are never treated like a lady yet they dress in such a fashion to provoke a man’s mind into lust.”
Wow…demons have morals. “I thought lust was your specialty. Besides why do you care, you are the king of demoralization.”
Tristan was now staring at me once again. “Make no mistake McKenna I have no morals about women or their lusty thoughts. I adore the fact that when a woman bends over I can see the fruits of her body.” Before I could blink Tristan was standing behind with his arms wrapped tightly around me. He was too strong for me to break from his hold or even to wiggle free, after all Tristan had his demonic speed. “If you were my female I would never leave you alone wearing those shorts and carve out the eyes of any man who would dare look upon your beauty with lust in his eyes.” Tristan’s teeth grazed my ear lobe, “Tell me pet how is it that you would surrender your body to your nightmares and not your fantasies?”
When I jerked away Tristan let me go. I spun around having every intention of giving Tristan a taste of my anger but seeing his stormy gray eyes full of hurt seemed to tame the rage…slightly. “I would rather give myself to someone I love or someone who actually has the ability to love, rather than a demon who thinks he is my fantasy. Now would you please take me to Julie’s house.”
“Believe what you want to pet I know the truth and on the twelfth of November your precious Aidan will begin his descent in fulfilling his destiny by becoming a…angelus mortis.” Tristan swallowed hard then turned away from me. “We should go before I piss you off.” He did not wait for me to object and was out the door in a matter of seconds. Damn his demon speed, someone of us actually had to put effort into to moving our legs.
Tristan was sitting on the hood of his car when I got outside, the engine was already purring with life. Silently I got in to the passenger’s side then threw my bag in the b
ack seat. I wasn’t the biggest car enthusiast but I could appreciate the beauty of the car. From the glossy onyx-colored paint to the plush black seats, Tristan had good taste in cars; not to mention expensive. I would guess Tristan spent at least seventy five thousand.
“You’re wrong.” Tristan mumbled as he shut his door.
“About?” I asked curiously.
Tristan shrugged, “Not of importance.” He watched me for a moment then asked “How’s things going in operation Aidan?”
Shaking my head, I didn’t answer him.
“Either you tell me about your problems or I tell you how I punish naughty girls who ignore me.”
My cheeks were on fire thinking about what Tristan had in mind. Swallowing a couple of times, I found my voice. “I have already made a mess of things and I have no clue on how I am supposed to save Aidan. Aileen told me that I have to get him to love me if I want to change his destiny.”
“Do you trust what Aileen has told you about us to be the truth?”
“Aileen has no reason to lie, Tristan. I would believe her over you if that’s what you’re asking. She told me about your history and some about Aidan’s. However I am curious about Paul; there is something wrong about him.”
The corners of Tristan’s mouth twitched, “You could say that. The man has more evil brewing inside of him than both Aidan and I. Paul had the benefit of freewill to choose his destiny. That’s why God loves man over his angels; freewill. You see—angels are soldiers, messengers and even servants but they have no choice, they must serve or cease to exist. Humans on the other hand, choose who they serve and love. Aidan and I had no choice. Have you ever heard the story in the bible about Job?”
I crossed my arms stubbornly, “Of course. Have you?”
“You are asking a demon who has been walking the earth even before the death of the carpenter if he has heard the story of Job—seriously?” Tristan gave me a smirk then continued. “Anyways as you know Job lost everything to test his faith and the same thing happened to Paul. Paul’s kids died of polio; Paul’s wife Cindy, died two years later of brain cancer. The same year Cindy passed away, Paul went bankrupt and went to jail for tax fraud. Now I don’t want you to feel sorry for him, there are people every day who loose just as much and still make the right choice—but Paul didn’t. When he was approached by a crossroads demon in jail Paul begged him to give it all back to him. The demon agreed to reinstate his wife, kids and money if Paul gave the demon an eternity of servitude.”
“Wait a second; Paul sold his soul to some demon?” I asked.
“Yes my pet, it happens more than you realize. The demon however did not bring Cindy or the children back to Paul; Tabby was Cindy’s replacement and Aidan was the children’s. I was stationed with Paul as a punishment for breaking a few rules. I do loathe babysitting.”
I swallowed hard. “Should I bother to ask what rules you broke?”
Tristan’s eyes had turned black and I was shocked when the steering wheel bent under the pressure of his grip. “Look McKenna, all you need to know is that Paul found a loophole in the contact and now Aidan is going to serve Paul’s sentence as a death angel—got it.”
I blinked severally times trying to hold it together. Tristan could hear everything that was swirling around my head. This is hopeless then, nothing can be done.
“McKenna my pet, you can never say nothing can be done; there is always something that can be done. There have been many legends that say love can stop anything but I have it on good authority that there is a guaranteed way to stop a soul’s binding contact; the flaming sword of the warrior angel.”
I shook my head in disbelief, “So you’re saying I have to steal a sword from a killer angel. Wow Tristan, that sounds like my typical Thursday night; just pencil me in for next week.” I cut my eyes at Tristan who did not flinch at my sarcasm.
“There is a bit more than that lover; the sword must be Michael’s. It must pierce the heart of the demon who holds the contract and the human who summoned the original contract.”
My throat felt thick again and I could feel the tears wanting to sweep out. I put my head down on my knees. I am going to become a killer. But if I don’t save Aidan then what happens to my brother, my father.
Suddenly I felt the car pull of the road and abruptly stop. “Look at me McKenna...please larisitá.”
Hesitantly I looked at Tristan, wiping the moisture from my eyes. “What is it—I am going to have to play chicken with a werewolf while riding Pegasus or are you going to tell me I told you so? Because honestly Tristan if you say that right now I going to punch you; treaty be damned. I don’t even care if I break my hand in the process and yes the pain will be worth it.” The arrogant bastard just had to smile. “And whatever language you are speaking…stop. You are worse than those Vietnamese women who work at a nail salon and it creeps me out.”
“I am sorry to inform you little one that you are in no position to order me about and that language you hear is Demaska or Demonish. I want you to tell me how old you think I am—then tell me what you think about Paul and Tabby.”
“Whatever jerk off—this is America; not some hell pit and my name is McKenna.” I really didn’t see the point but I knew Tristan wouldn’t give up if I didn’t answer him. “You look about twenty five physically but you said that you were around when Jesus died so I am going to say two thousand years old. Paul looks about fifty and Tabby—maybe sixty, which is odd for a fairy. I thought the fae species where eternally youthful.”
“You are correct the Fae normally do not age but Tabby is aging because of Paul. Tabby is around six hundred years old, so I think the old bird has had a good go at it. She thinks that she is in love with Paul so her devotion will cost her immortality. Now here is the reason I asked you about our ages—Paul is ninety three so together they are only six hundred and ninety three years old. I am nearly a four thousand year old demon prince, so I have more knowledge than either of them.”
I rolled my eyes, “You seem like the type to not do anything for free, what do you get out of this; freedom?”
The smile vanished from Tristan’s face. “What if I told you that I am going to help you because I would rather see you alive than dead?”
“I would call you a liar. You have an alternative motive—I am just not sure what yet.” I knew Tristan could hear every thought that was running through my head so I kept my ideas to a minimum.
Tristan suddenly put the car back in drive and pressed the gas greedily. The power from the engine jolted me backwards; making me hit my head on the head rest. “Jeez! Warn a girl next time before you go only road racer on my ass.”
“Sorry pet for the bump on your head. I found it delightful to watch your breast jiggle so violently. It will be unfortunate if Rupert finds that bra you left at Aidan’s; he treasures such personal items dearly.”
I shuddered to think what he does with his findings. “That’s fabulous the little freak can get his rocks off with my stuff. What’s the deal with Rupert anyway? Has he always been your servant?”
“I guess you could say that Rupert is my assistant; he was a gift from a previous lover—Morgan la Fay.” Tristan said sternly.
My mouth fell open in disbelief. “You’re kidding Morgan la Fay; as in the Queen of all the Fae? I thought she was just a legend from the King Arthur stories.”
“McKenna, you of all humans should know that most legends have some truth to them. Morgan was just…” Tristan’s brows drew together tightly. “She was just extravagant.”
The tension on his face told me that there was more to that story but I had a bigger question pressing my mind at the moment. “How did you know I left my bra at Aidan’s? You were in the living room while I got my bag, I guess you could have read my mind but I haven’t thought about it since I was looking for it this morning.”
Tristan smiled, “I’ve got a better question for you. Why do you think Aidan didn’t have sex with you? Here’s another one while I am thinking abou
t it—when are you planning on spilling the beans to Aidan about your little plan to save his soul?”
I shook my head in frustration, “Stop changing the subject and answer the question.”
“Fine larisitá I will show you mine, if you show me yours.”
I rolled my eyes at his innuendo. “Aidan said that he loves me and that he didn’t want to take advantage of me.” I licked my lips before biting them. “On the whole spilling the beans thing…I have no clue. Do you know when his transition starts?”
“It has already started. The changes started when he was about fourteen and the physical changes started when he was eighteen. Oh his twenty-third birthday his soul aura will change from a faint white glow to a dark wine color; this is so his trainers will know how to locate him. It normal takes the trainers about eight months to find their target. After that the time table depends on how fast he learns to use his powers and how bad they need him to start reaping. Just so you know Aidan’s twenty third birthday is about seven weeks away—enjoy it while you can.” Tristan’s words sank heavy into my stomach.
I had to call Aileen and tell her what I found out as far as the time table went. Perhaps I had other motives for wanting to spend more time with Aidan but I would never tell Aileen that she was right; she picked up on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hey Aileen—it’s McKenna. Listen I’ve figured out a time table with some new intel that I have received; so can you give me a couple of weeks before we drop the A bomb? I think I could really help the situation if I can get to know him a little better.”
There was a long pause before Aileen answered. “Sure, I have no problem with that. Is Tristan with you?”
“Um, yeah—it’s a sort of a long story. What’s wrong?”
“McKenna call me later; I need to tell you something but now is not a good time. Tristan is listening…I’ve got to go.” Aileen hung up the phone without another word.
Cryptic.
I glanced over to Tristan who was humming loudly with his eyes intently on the road. Obviously Aileen knew he would be listening. The info must be important and must involve Tristan. I shifted nervously in my seat trying to think of something to break the awkward silence. “So…now that I have taken care of the Aileen issue, tell me how you knew about my bra.”
