I know it is cheap to use the guilt trip but I will use whatever means I have to. Tears stream down her face. She says she is willing but it will kill her if it fails and I want to be sure she really means to go through with it and not let it kill her.
"Get what you need together. I'll do the ceremony but I have a few conditions."
I lean forward, grab her face, and kiss her. She kisses me back. When I pull away she is smiling but it looks sad.
"I need to talk to my grandmother alone please."
I am not sure how to take that so I do the only thing I can I nod and shoo everyone out that I am responsible for. The scientists and the team Alpha don't look like they are going anywhere. Charlotte gives a sharp wave of her hand and nods her head and the room clears. I am the last to leave shutting the soundproof door behind me wondering what they can possibly be talking about.
We are let back in fifteen minutes later. Charlotte has a poker face on and Beth is shaking so hard I worry her bones will shatter. She looks at the team as they come in behind me.
"Tranq me."
Her eyes and body tells us she is fighting a losing battle. But her voice is the old Beth. Full of command and confidence. They oblige and she is unconscious seconds later. The scientists and doctors jump into action giving her an IV with blood and prepping her room. Once the blood enters her system so she can heal the internal damage electrocution has caused. Once she is chained up in the room behind all barriers Charlotte walks into the rest room and we follow.
Jason is back in charge of his own body. Brisa looks worried. The conversation has left much to be desired. We are turning Beth into a demon.
"Jason. You have the most experience with the demons. Tell us what you think of this idea."
Jason fidgets and looks away.
"I am hosting one right now you know."
I shrug and glare at him.
"You are the host which means it cannot hurt you. You are also the most knowledgeable. Also if Beth is going to do this and permanently bond with this demon we all need to know how to deal with it. Does your demon friend think that's a bad idea?"
He is still avoiding looking at me when his body straightens and eyes turn purple again. So either the demon has a problem with it or he is going to answer my question.
"The side effects of the bond are determined by a number of things. First the bloodline of the host will affect it greatly. A human would be almost completely taken over and my personality would be the one that was present almost one hundred percent of the time. A vampire would likely be about half consumed. A werewolf is a bit different because they already have another personality inside…the wolf. I am unsure about a shifter as I have never seen one taken over and their magic levels vary. Secondly will. Will power is a contributing factor."
If willpower matters Samigina here will be lucky to show up at all. I am glad it is a factor. That gives her a better chance.
"She is on the upper scales of power for the shifter side."
The demon nods looking thoughtful.
"Given her vampire half, her having so much power as a shifter and the fact that I know her personality intimately from when she was my host I would say not much would change from before. She would have main control of the body. I could come forward when I wish but I will not be able to hide the fact that it I am me as I could with a weaker host. We will have access to one another's powers but not a whole lot. I cannot say for sure though. As I said there are many things that affect the outcome."
I can accept that and at least we know the likely outcomes. I am disappointed in Jason for not coming through but I have to hand it to this demon he seems forthcoming. Beth seems to trust him and she has fairly good taste…especially when it came to boyfriends.
Chapter Ten
True to word I arrive the next day. I am wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I don’t wear my beautiful leather jacket. No it is old and ratty clothing all the way. I don’t want to ruin any of the clothes I like. The stuff I wear when working on my bike will be better. They are already covered with fluids so what is a little blood? Okay, a lot of blood.
"You are a vampire true to your word."
I nod as Charlotte and her henchmen meet me at the door.
"Back here is where the whipping will take place."
I nod and turn to Brisa. She gave me a ride. I am not leaving my beauty of a bike here for however long it takes to heal. It would be in parts by the time I left.
"Go home."
"But…"
"Brisa you were human before the ritual. You have compassion. That will only make enemies here. I don’t want you to see this."
Jason told me last night how much Beth tried to protect Brisa's innocence. She doesn’t want her to experience the harsh realities of life. Being a Fae servant is bad enough, but she wasn’t treated the way vampires treat humans because she shares Fae blood. I can't let that hard work go to waste. Besides I’ve gotten to know her and Beth is right. Despite her hardships Brisa is an innocent. She will see me suffer and stop them. If pleading doesn’t work, and it won’t with vamps, she will use her magic. Everything will fall apart and saving Beth will be impossible.
"Get a head start on tracking down the ingredients you can. Jason and the demon can help. I will contact you when I am home and able to help."
She doesn’t like it but she rises up and flies off. Good. She won’t want to see this. Emotional support aside I would prefer not to be seen by anyone in this state, at least no one I care about.
"That was kind of you. So you decline having someone to make sure I do not kill you?"
"No one I know should be anywhere near here right now."
Charlotte nods and leads me out back. There are two posts. Well looks like I won’t be alone today.
"Take off your shirt. You don't want cloth in your wounds do you?"
I toss my shit aside and allow them to wrap my arms around the post and tie my hands. I am kissing the post when they tie my legs to it as well. Then Beth's mother is dragged out hissing and scratching. Like a cat in a bath. I would have laughed had I not known what was going to happen. Sadly I do.
"My seethe seems to be having some trouble lately. You all seem to think being able to walk in the sun means I am weak and you can break the rules of my house. I thought enough lessons had been taught already. Apparently not. Guests in my home are just that. Guests. They are to be treated with respect. Anyone I invite in is to be treated with the utmost respect. Especially another of our kind from a good family. One that will make an alliance with us through a marriage in the future."
I don’t like that my personal life is being aired, but she is not wrong. Beth and I will marry. It is a matter of when shit will chill long enough for it to happen. There is no if, just when. I completely understand superheroes that have a hard ass time getting down the aisle without shit hitting the fan. Completely feel their pain.
"My daughter's very rash actions have led to me having to punish this vampire before us. Because her stupidity led to it her punishment will be worse. However he did break the rules and attack a member of my household so he will be punished. Because all of you are my children, my responsibility. I care for each of you, full or half breed, and I will send a message to the world that ANY violence in my house, without my permission, will not go unpunished."
I expect cheering but from what I can see of the people staring from behind the pole everyone is frozen in fear. I know why. Charlotte has released that veneer of civility that allows her to pass for human in the world without them flinching from her. Vampires can do it well, pass for human, but then the gloves come off so to speak and humans run without knowing why. That is happening now.
She has let go of her humanity and the others see a vampire that had been titled in her day, has held onto power for so long, and has grown in strength. No one with a brain will draw attention to themselves right now. They will take the lesson and swallow their idiocy for a while.
"Let's begin."
I feel it then. The whip of a lash. But it is not just that. There are silver barbs on the end. Blessed ones. I had pricked myself on Beth's enchanted silver blade before to see how it would feel and how long it would take to heal. Now twenty of those are tearing into my back ripping my freshly whipped flesh open, tearing out tiny divots, slowing my healing to that of a human.
I try to keep my mind from it. I think of Beth, our predicament, our future once this is over. It works…to an extent. I am able to disconnect myself for a few moments but once the outer layer of protective hardened skin is gone I can no longer ignore the pain. That is when the screaming begins. I wish the demon was holding me prisoner. It would be so wonderful to not feel my own body right now.
Just imagine someone set your back on fire. It continues to burn only that one body part. You can’t pass out from pain or they will kill you for cheating. It won’t spread to the rest of your body and it can’t be put out. That is how I feel right now.
I hold onto my consciousness but I am not sure how. Focusing on other things has failed and focusing on the pain makes me dizzy. Even fast, healing enhanced creatures can burn. I am pretty sure we can die too and that I am about to.
"Well I am warmed up. Let's move on to even more fun."
Cold water, filled with ice cubes, hits my back. Going from lava to arctic sends my body into shock. I go limp and only the ties keep me from completely falling.
"Someone untie him and give him a blanket. I do not wish him to die. A war with another seethe would be such a hassle."
I am untied, have a blanket wrapped around me and lean against the poll. They then loosely tie me so I can’t fall over. If I weren't so weakened I could easily break the ropes…or slide out of them, but right now it is more essential than breathing. At least if I don’t want to face plant it is.
I am facing Beth's mother who is not topless as I’d been. I can only imagine how painful it is going to be as they rip the sticky fabric out of the bloody raw wounds. They’d been kind to me. The thought makes me shiver….or onset hypothermia does.
"Now let's have some real fun."
The torture commences. Charlotte uses a non-barbed whip. Which means the back heals and is ripped over again and again. The fast healing doesn’t mean it won’t hurt and after about fifteen minutes of it you see how it is worse than mine. The fabric is sinking into the healing skin. They will have to carve her like a turkey to get it out.
"Turn her around."
I shrink back into the pole and close my eyes wishing I had the ability and energy to cover my ears. The screaming and knowing how this will continue later when 'healers', and I use the term loosely, carve her up to get the fabric out….well it is too much. No one should suffer like this. I can’t believe Charlotte will go this far for some mouthy comment.
I turn my attention to her and look closely. She is smiling. She is enjoying torturing her own daughter. Of course Beth told me her daughter is trying to overthrow her…ahhh. This is not about her comment to me. This is a message. Daughter dearest has finally given her mother all the reason she needs to publicly show everyone that will support the daughter overthrowing the mother that they are betting on the wrong person.
Charlotte steps back and smiles. I can’t take anymore. I close my eyes and focus on my own pain. On Beth downstairs. On the items we have to collect. Anything but what is going to happen.
"Untie her."
Don’t listen, don’t hear.
"Here daughter. You think you have the right to decide things. Here is a knife. Decide if you want the fabric in your breasts to stay there or not."
I flinch. No matter how much I focus on other things I can’t ignore that. How horrible. Charlotte is going to make her cut the fabric out of her own breasts. Holy hell.
"If you do a good job I will have someone do the back for you."
I want to say she will no matter what, but that is not how vampires rule. It has apparently been too long since Charlotte has made an example of anyone and her daughter is paying for that now.
There is screaming, I can smell so much blood, and then a thump. Opening my eyes I see Beth's mother on the ground. She has lost consciousness.
"I guess my daughter wishes the fabric to stay in there. Well maybe next time she will make better decisions."
Charlotte turns staring down everyone gathered.
"Anyone that helps her without my command will experience far worse. Any questions?"
There are none.
"Good, leave the injured here and get back to your duties."
Never has a group dispersed so quickly. I am both relieved and terrified. Beth doesn’t have this cruelty in her and though I know Charlotte wants her to take over when she is gone I cannot help but hope Beth says no. I am not sure I can still love her if she grows to enjoy doing this. I have seen a new side of Charlotte and it scares the piss out of me.
Chapter Eleven
The next few weeks are all about hunting and gathering. Brisa uses some of her clans wealth (being the most powerful one left she is in charge…plus there aren’t all that many left so the wealth is going a long way) to buy some of the lesser known ingredients from Fae that are known to gather and hoard rare things.
Jason allows the demon to use his frequent flier miles and body to search for some things that are rare and wild only. They are never in one place for too long and it is hard to get a hold of them, but we all have our list.
I search the dark web for things that are….well, less than desirable. Who’d have known that a spell to permanently fuse yourself to a demon would have ingredients no one really wants to think about? Well it is to be expected but collecting some of them I have to say I would have preferred ignorance. But this is my contribution.
I am just glad Beth and I have plenty of money stashed and that I can access all of it. Once she is home her home care cost (sounds so benign, but really isn’t) will be astronomical. I will be working nonstop selling every piece of info I have collected to keep our house and pay for her care. It is shitty but what are you going to do. Our savings, both for the present and far future, are going to be gone after this.
That is how I found myself in this black market making a deal with very legal cash for a very illegal item.
"What assurances do I have that this is really…"
"The testicles of a catholic priest."
I can’t even finish the sentence. I am guessing that he thinks I am a gullible weenie. I will admit to the weenie but I am not gullible.
"Did you hear about the destruction of the werewolf building a few months ago?"
"Yes."
He looks confused and slightly worried I would bring it up.
"We are trying to bind that demon to a host strong enough to contain him. If it fails he will gain control of the body and all its powers and wreak havoc upon our world."
He squirms, pales, and looks uncomfortable. A twitch here and a twitch there.
"Well here's to hoping it works. Do you want to see the money now?"
"Umm…yeah…"
"Great. I left your information, where this meeting was, and so on, with the temporary host of the demon right now. And a vampire countess. If we need anything else on your list someone will be in touch."
I put down the case, grab the container with the nuts in them, and turn to walk away.
"Wait. Grab your money and follow me."
Yeah I figured. Can’t trust anyone these days. Even when it comes to binding a demon with a pair of holy balls.
We are walking in a terrible part of town yet somehow he manages to take me somewhere even shadier. A ringing phone breaks the silence. I answer not caring who it is. This is awkward and too freaking quiet. Plus no one actually knows where I am.
"Hey Jason. Oh sorry Samigina. Are you still in control of the body? Is Jason still in there? Remember when you leave the body he has to be able to take control again. You remember what happened with Beth, she started to fade and…"
Samigina tal
ks on and on about the Amazon, the animal attacks, the rare and supposedly extinct plants they found. Also we discuss how to get them back past customs without claiming them. The thug in front of me has slightly hunched shoulders and shakes a bit when I pause and Samigina talks.
"Can I talk to Jason?"
No response. I sigh. Still on the guilt trip. I thought we moved past that but I guess it is not going to go away until he and Beth talk it out.
"Well I am on my way to get the balls right now. Though they did try to cheat me until I mentioned you….no you do not need to come they won't pull the wool over my eyes. I will text you address updates though. If I go missing tear the area apart."
That is a warning as much as a request. If the response of the guy leading me is any indication it works. I am starting to see the beauty in making people feel uncomfortable. Normally I would feel guilty, but since they tried to cheat me all bets are off.
I hang up and pay better attention to where we are going texting the change of address with every turn. Good thing I can text with one hand and blindfolded.
"Where are we going?"
"Storage facility to grab the real one. For your information this wasn’t my idea. The manager, chick above me, tries to cheat one time buyers all the time."
"I don’t give a flying fuck whose idea it was."
I really don’t. I mean seriously how you can be considered a valid business…then again I am buying from the black market so hell it could be the norm. The only time I go into the dark realm is to sell information. And I only sell info on bad people. Mostly to other bad people. Basically I make it possible for groups to attack one another so none of them get too powerful. They pay the best money and the only people that end up dead are bigger monsters than all the vampires I know put together.
"Right this way sir."
"You go ahead. You have fifteen minutes until I call the demon back and tell him to take out every one of you and I have a new collection of rare shit for sale."
True to word he walks through the door and I set a timed message locking my phone after. If in fifteen minutes that minion is not back I won’t cancel the message and Jason, with Samigina in tow, will hurry home to wreck this place.
Shifting Heroes Page 6
