by Rose J. Bell
“And I will kill you,” Rosa insisted, and proceeded to slam her head against the wall again.
Bleeding from the noise, Madison smiled weakly. “Not if I kill you first.”
Before Rosa knew it, Madison’s foot hit her violently in the stomach. Rosa gasped for air and staggered backward. Madison took the opportunity and lunged at her. They both landed on the floor. Madison hit Rosa twice in the face before Rosa had collected herself and thrown Madison from her.
Blind rage seized Rosa. She held her dagger in hand. She wanted to stab it into the side of Madison, but Madison jumped back and tried to crawl out of the room. Rosa grabbed her foot and pulled her back.
She slammed her legs so hard that her ankle slipped out of Rosa’s hand. Madison stood up quickly and ran from the room. Rosa followed her.
Every muscle was tense in Rosa’s body, as the adrenaline flowed through her. She ran into the kitchen after Madison, when suddenly Madison appeared. Without warning, Rosa suddenly felt a sharp pain in her thigh. She gave a muffled yell, the dagger dropped from her hand, and her eyes looked toward the pain where a large knife stuck in her thigh. Slowly, Rosa’s gaze slid back to Madison.
She smiled a wicked grin.
Rosa growled furiously. Ignoring the pain in her leg, she rushed at Madison. They both ended up on the small wooden table, which collapsed under them.
Rosa punched Madison several times in her face as Madison tried to push Rosa from herself, but Rosa pressed her entire body weight on her.
Rosa could not stop beating Madison. Her anger burned inside her. Madison struggled, unsuccessfully, as Rosa pried her other dagger from her belt.
Without hesitation, she stuck the dagger into Madison heart. Madison stopped struggling. Her eyes widened and she gave a short, shrill cry, before her body slumped lifelessly to the ground. Rosa pulled her knife from her heart. Blood flowed from her wound with a slightly greenish tint—proof that she was a shadow creature.
Slowly, Rosa stood, leaning on the kitchen counter. The more blood that flowed from Madison heart, the lower her body became until only ashes remained.
Rosa looked at what used to be Madison, unsure on how to feel. She was supposed to be happy to have killed a shadow creature. But she had not just killed a shadow creature— she had killed Madison.
Somebody she had known.
Her feelings were a roller coaster. Shaking her head, she threw the thought of Madison away. There was no time for her feelings—she had to go to Jason and see if he was still alive.
Rosa took the vial and drank from it. She was sure it would come to skin contact between her and Jason.
After a sip, she put it back in her belt and made to put one foot forward, when a sharp pain shot through her leg. Rosa grimaced and looked down at her thigh. She had to pull the knife out first. With trembling hands, she grabbed the handle of the knife and pulled it with a jerk of her hand.
Rosa clenched her teeth and suppressed a cry. She took a towel, tied it around her thigh, and watched as the cloth immediately turned red.
Then she hobbled back to the room where Jason had been, just as he was waking up.
Rosa took a deep breath. Well, he isn’t dead, so I will kick his ass, because he brought me into this shit.
Jason blinked and stood up. He looked confused before his eyes landed on Rosa. For a while, he said nothing and simply looked at her. His eyes were glassy.
“What are you doing here?” he asked with a croaky voice.
“What do you think? I’m here to save your ass!” Rosa hissed, glaring at him.
Jason blinked repeatedly. “What happened? Where’s Madison? And why is your leg bleeding?”
“Madison was a mermaid. She wanted to suck your soul and was at it already. I stopped her, and then killed her,” she summarized up briefly.
Jason seemed to be speechless for the first time. “You killed her?”
Rosa nodded. “I had no choice. I knew what she was. She’d have killed me otherwise.”
“Did she do that to you?” Jason pointed to her bleeding thighs.
“Yes, she did.”
Jason stared at her now. Then his face changed. Suspicion now lay in his eyes, and he squinted.
“You’re a hunter. How else would you have known that Madison is … was a mermaid.”
Rosa shook her head. “No, I’m not a hunter.” She could felt the blush rising in her neck, and was suddenly grateful it was already red from the fight.
He was grinning now. “I have said this already, Ice Princess. You’re a bad liar.”
She took a step toward him, stretching out both her wrists. “If you don’t believe me, look at my wrists. Do you see a mark somewhere?” she asked.
Jason bent forward, taking her wrists in his hands. Her heart jumped as his hands touched her skin. Rosa was waiting for her gift to come out, but nothing happened.
The spell worked. I’m going to kiss Andrea next time I see her.
“You really don’t have a mark,” Jason said quietly, letting go of her wrists.
“Told you so.”
“How do you know about these creatures, then?” he asked, still suspicious.
Her response to his question? Rosa’s fist landed on his face. He touched his nose as blood began to drip from it.
“What was that for?” he asked with more anger than pain.
“For all I had to do because of you! If you had listened, I would not have had to kill Madison. Everything is your fault!” Rosa snapped. “Couldn’t you let your little friend in your pants?”
He raised an eyebrow mockingly. “How do you know my little friend is little, Ice Princess?”
Rosa growled. She was so pissed off, wanting nothing more than to hurt Jason.
She took a chair that stood near her and attacked him with him. It was as if she were attacking a wall. Jason pushed her back and she stumbled, but retained the wooden stool in her hand. She kept her balance and attacked Jason again. When they collided, Jason grabbed the chair and threw it against the wall.
Rosa had never fought against Nephilim until now. Now she was able to test whether she was good or not.
“Ice Princess,” Jason said as he dodged her fists and kicks with ease. “Stop it. You can’t win.”
The arrogance and self-confidence in his voice spurred Rosa even more. She took the laptop that was lying on the table and threw it with all her might to Jason. It would hurt him if the laptop had hit him.
It missed. Jason caught it and threw it against the wall. The laptop broke into small pieces.
Suddenly a well-muscled arm slid around her throat from behind and began to squeeze.
“Let me go,” Rosa growled, trying to get free from his grasp. She knew that she didn’t have much time before her brain shut off.
“I should kill you right now,” Jason whispered in her ear. His voice chilled her body.
Rosa crouched as low as she could before she sprang backward, slamming them both into the wall. She heard a “humph” but Jason didn’t ease his grip. Rosa tried to slam him into the wall again, but before Rosa even realized it, Jason pressed her against the wall and his forearm against her throat. Her hands were unable to fight, so she tried using her good leg, but it did not help. Her kicks were weak.
Jason sighed and pressed his body to hers. Now Rosa was completely incapacitated. She tried to fight against him, but his body was hard and strong.
“Will you quit fighting?” Jason asked, his warm breath caressing her face.
Rosa could hear his heartbeat. She sighed and ceased to defend herself.
“You suck,” she said with a dirty look. “And I hate you.”
He shrugged. “I don’t care, Ice Princess. You think I suck? That’s fine. I don’t wake up every morning to impress you.”
“I regret saving your life!” countered an angry Rosa.
“Why did you save my life?” he asked curiously.
“Should I have let her suck out your soul?” she asked instead.
<
br /> “I think you hate me, or do you like me?” His lips curled up to a smile.
Rosa snorted. “I will never ever like you, Jason. It was the guilt that brought me here.”
“Someday I’m going to kill you, girl,” Jason said as his eyes went cold.
Rosa glared at him furiously. “Then kill me, but watch out, my ghost will hunt you down.”
Jason only laughed.
“Would you please move away from me now?” Rosa asked.
“Do you promise not to attack me again?”
She hesitated, but then nodded. “Okay.”
He let go of her hands first, then he moved slowly away from her. All of her impulses wanted to attack again, but she controlled herself.
Then he just stood there with his chest bare, and trousers open. She could understand why so many girls were on him. He was gorgeous.
“Why are you looking at me?” Jason asked her, tearing her from her thoughts.
“I’m thinking,” she replied.
“You’re thinking?”
“Yes, you know the thing where I use my brain and make reasonable decisions.”
“I know what that is.”
“Then you’re smarter than I thought.”
Jason gave her a hard look. She knew she shouldn’t provoke him, because he could kill her, but Rosa couldn’t help it.
A pain shot through her leg and she glanced down at her thigh. The cloth and her pants were soaked with blood. She had to hurry to the hospital, or she was going to die from blood loss.
“You have to go to the hospital,” Rosa heard him say.
“I’ve noticed it,” she shot back annoyed. She did not like to be hurt. The only result was that you were unable to fight.
“Shall I drive you?” Jason offered her.
“No, I can drive myself.”
“With that leg?”
“Yes, with that leg.”
He shook his head. “No way. You have just saved my life. I can’t let you drive with a bleeding leg.” He smiled.
Rosa narrowed her eyes. “Why are you now so kind?”
He didn’t answer, but walked over to her and supported her.
“What do we do now with Madison?” he asked.
“Nothing. They will think the hunter clan killed her. Nobody will suspect us,” Rosa lied. She had never lied in her life as much as she had today, but that is what happens when you try to keep secrets.
Jason’s eyes were hard and cold. “It’s good that you killed her. Bitch. But I didn’t get my pleasure.” Jason looked at her and raised his eyebrows.
At first, Rosa didn’t understand what he wanted from her, and then it dawned on her. She hit him on the shoulder.
“Pick someone else to satisfy your perverted needs, idiot. I’m not like the other girls.”
“Aren’t all humans similar?” His face was suddenly in front of hers. “You humans want only one thing. Have you ever had sex, Ice Princess?”
“That is none of your business, Nephilim.” She spat the word Nephilim as if it were a poison in her mouth.
His eyes went hard. “You know that I could kill you, girl. Right now.”
A tremor seized her stomach, but she raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is that how you thank people who save your life in your world?”
His eyes were still cold, but a small smile was playing on his lips.
“Why, no, Ice Princess! The one whose life was saved must serve his savior until the savior frees him.”
“This means that you are my slave now?”
“Maybe in another world with different rules. I am above you. You should serve me, not I you.”
Rosa snorted. “You angels are little bastards.”
“As are you humans.”
“One more word, Nephilim, and my knife lands between your legs,” she threatened.
Jason smirked. “I thought humans use the knee for that.”
Rosa smiled charmingly. “I prefer sharp, primitive weapons.”
His eyes shined with amusement. “I shall remember that.”
Rosa rolled her eyes. Suddenly she felt dizzy and her world began to spin. She could not walk anymore, her legs failing her.
Jason took her in his arms. “You know it takes more than a bleeding leg for a Nephilim to carry you in our world,” he said randomly.
“And that would be?” Rosa asked weakly. “Should I be dead, so you would carry me?”
He looked at her. “Don’t be ridiculous. Why should I carry you if you were dead?”
Rosa opened her mouth to say something but her eyelids became heavy and darkness surrounded her.
“Jason. I think I’m going to pass out,” Rosa said. She could feel something pulling her down into the black.
“Unless you’re not going to die, you can pass out. I will carry you,” Jason said softly. Rosa put her head on his bare chest and smiled.
Then her eyes closed, darkness taking over.
Jason watched as Rosa’s head fell to his chest. She had lost consciousness. He had to take her as fast as possible to the hospital. He stepped out into the warm evening air, looking around.
Now where is her car? He rummaged in her leather bag, finding her car keys. A BMW 1 Series.
Not bad, Jason thought, and sought the streets for a BMW. Finding Rosa’s car, he carefully laid Rosa on the back seat, noticing how frail she looked when sleeping. He did not know if he should believe she was not a hunter. Yes, she had shown him there were no marks on her wrists, but Jason knew she could use glamour to cover them, making them appear to be gone.
Jason closed the back door before he climbed into the driver seat. He started the car and sped off, exceeding the speed limit. This was normal for Jason. He always sped off when he got behind the wheel of a car—it gave him a sense of normalcy.
Unlike other Nephilim, Jason hated using his wings. He hated flying. He wanted the life that most humans lived, not having to decide between killing his father, and being a servant to him.
A second thought echoed through his mind—maybe Jasmine would still be there if he had been normal... maybe.
He would never be normal though.
Jason drove into the parking lot of the hospital, sliding the car into a spot. He got out and opened the back door where Rosa lay motionless. Taking her in his arms, carrying her into the brightly lit hospital.
“Hey, can someone help! My friend is injured,” Jason called. Rosa moaned slightly.
“Shh, everything is all right. You’ll be okay,” he whispered softly in her ear. Rosa grimaced, moaning inform the pain.
A nurse walked to him, looking from Jason to Rosa, then back.
She nodded. “Bring her in this room.” The nurse pointed to the room next to her.
Jason carried Rosa into the room, laying her gently on the stretcher. Rosa sighed, and muttered something like “don’t leave…don’t go away.”
Jason heard someone from behind him ask, “What happened to her?” He turned, as the doctor entered the room, focusing his gaze on Rosa.
“She had a knife in her thigh,” Jason answered shortly.
The doctor, suspicious of Jason, asked, “How did that happen?”
Jason shrugged. “I don’t know. When I found her she was laying on the floor in her apartment with a knife in her leg,” he lied. The doctor didn’t need to know the truth.
The doctor nodding as he proceeded to check Rosa’s pupils.
“She’ll be okay, right?” Jason said.
“At the moment, I can’t speak freely. Would you please step out of the room?”
Jason gave Rosa a kiss on her forehead, and left the room, as the doctor requested. Jason spotted a nurse. “Excuse me,” Jason said.
The blonde nurse, turning to face him, immediately, her eyes went to his bare, strong chest.
Smiling, turning on the charm, Jason said, “Do you have something I could wear maybe? I don’t think it would be such a good idea for me to walk around the hospital like this.”
R
osa awoke to severe pain in her leg. When she opened her eyes, the light was blinding. As her eyes focused, she saw Jason was there. However, he was too busy leafing through a magazine to notice she was awake.
Snatching the magazine out of his hand, she snapped at him, “What happened?”
“Ah, our Ice Princess is awake,” Jason said, smiling broadly.
“Answer my question,” Rosa replied, becoming irritated.
“You had a knife in your thigh, and then you passed out,” he explained.
Rosa frowned as she remembered the night before. “How long have I been asleep?” She had to know how long she was asleep because of the paralysis spell only lasted six hours. She had to know if she needed more of the magic.
“About four hours,” he replied. Four hours, and an hour in Madison’s house made five hours.
So I only have one hour left, she thought.
Rosa grabbed for her belt, but did not find it. She lifted the blanket to find she was wearing one of those medical scrubs.
“Where is my belt?” she asked almost in panic. It could not be away! That belt was her life. She kept everything in it.
“Don’t worry, Ice Princess. Everything is on the table.” Jason pointed behind him on a small table where she saw her belt. Hastily, she tried to stand, only a sharp pain shot through her leg.
“I think you should sit down again,” said Jason.
Rosa shook her head. “I don’t want to be here. I hate hospitals.”
“The doctor said you shouldn’t move.”
“The doctor can go screw himself,” Rosa said. She couldn’t straighten her leg, so she hopped to the table, removing the vial from her belt. She took a sip just to make sure her gift wasn’t triggered.
“What’s that?” Jason asked from behind her.
“Nothing,” she said, and hopped to the closet where there were clothes hanging.
“Ice Princess, I’m not a kid anymore. I know that nothing really means something.”
Rosa chuckled. “It’s just something I have to take. These are my mine?” She pointed to clothes in the closet.
Jason nodded. “I trashed your old ones. Then I bought new ones.”
Black pants, a black T-shirt, and her old black leather jacket. Rosa always wore black. She liked this color.
