by KD Jones
Michael picked up another piece of chicken. “Right after lunch.”
“So how did your night with West go?” Father Raphael asked.
Oh man, she felt so guilty for lying about it. She took a deep breath and told them the truth. “I wasn’t with West. I went to dinner with Abraham and Avenia Knight, my grandparents.”
“What?” Michael spit out the chicken he had in his mouth.
“I didn’t want to tell you at first because I know how you feel about demi-demons, and then I didn’t want to tell you because I wasn’t sure how it would even turn out.”
“How did it turn out?” Father Raphael asked calmly.
“Okay, I guess. They’re filthy rich, which I’m not that comfortable with. They have all these pictures of my mom. They asked me to come over every Sunday. I agreed. I’m hoping to learn more about my mom and how we got separated.”
“I will pray that you get the answers you’re looking for.”
“Thank you, Father, I pray for that, too.”
Chapter 17
Later that evening
Cass waved goodbye to her customers as they exited the door to the diner. It was a busy night and she was grateful for that. She was also glad that Ari hadn’t made an appearance, but he had messaged her that he was watching the nightclub for the blood demon. She was still reeling over their encounter earlier. Her body was still tingly all over and she kept replaying it over and over.
Her phone vibrated in the back pocket of her jeans. Pulling it out, she saw it was West calling her. She hit the decline call button. West had been calling and sending her messages most of the night. He wanted her to come by his dorm when she got off work, but she had told him she had some homework to do when she got off. He initially seemed to accept that, but thirty minutes later he was texting her again, wanting to help her study. For the first time since meeting West, she was starting to get angry with him.
“West still calling you?” Leeza asked, coming up to the counter to get the pot of coffee.
“Yeah, he just won’t leave it alone.”
“He knows that you’re about to end things and is trying to hang on. I didn’t think he was the clingy type, but people surprise you sometimes.”
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Then you’ll have to be honest with him, and if you can’t be honest, end it and have no further contact. If you cave on the no-contact rule, he’ll take that as a second chance and really hound you.”
“Good advice. I don’t remember you having an ex-boyfriend that you had to get rid of.”
“Not like West, but you remember the guy that was in my English 101? We went out once and I refused to go out with him again. He kept coming by my dorm saying he wanted to be friends, but that was a lie.”
“You didn’t tell me about that.”
Leeza shrugged. “I had campus security deal with him.”
“Order up!” Jerry yelled out, putting plates on the window. They both went over to grab their customers’ orders.
Michael bussed two more tables for them, taking the dirty dishes to the back. The dishwasher was working overtime tonight. She would have to save some of her tips to give to him and Michael. Though Michael, of course, made tips of his own from the female patrons. The diner was different now. She and Leeza joked about it, referring to BM and AM: before Michael and after Michael.
The bells over the door jingled. Cass looked up and spotted West coming in. This was getting ridiculous. She motioned for Leeza to watch her tables for a few minutes.
Walking over to West, she took his arm and pulled him back out of the diner. “What are you doing here, West?”
“I needed to see you. Can we take a walk?”
“I’m working right now.”
“I just need a few minutes to talk.”
“Fine, we can go sit on the bench over there. I have five minutes, but then I need to get back.”
“Great.”
They walked the few feet over to the sidewalk bench and sat down. She didn’t look at him but looked out into the distance instead. “What did you want, West?”
“You’re not returning my calls and are turning down seeing me. Did I do something wrong the other day when I kissed you? I thought you wanted that, too.”
Turning to glance up into his face, she could see he looked tired, like he hadn’t slept in days. “I’m going to be honest with you. I am not in the best place in my life right now to have a relationship.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” West looked panicked.
She started to reach for his hand but thought better of it. She needed to keep physical distance so she didn’t send mixed signals. “I’m sorry, but I think it’s for the best.”
“You want to take a break, but for how long?”
“Uh...for forever.”
“Damn it!” West stood up and started pacing back and forth in front of the bench. “I knew that leather-wearing biker was making moves on you.”
“This isn’t about Ari,” she told him, but he wasn’t listening to her.
“He’s always around flirting and watching you. I should have beaten the shit out of him the other night at the club.”
Cass was a little shocked at how furious West was. She had never heard him raise his voice other than the one time when he and Ari got into the fight at the club. That had also surprised her, because he never seemed to be the aggressive type. Did she bring out the worst in people?
West knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. “Give me another chance. I’ll be anything you want me to be. You want gentle, I’ll be gentle; you want aggressive, then I’ll be aggressive. Just...don’t end this.”
He was breaking her heart. “West, I’m just going through some personal stuff right now. I need to deal with this on my own.”
“So once you deal with this personal stuff, you’ll be ready to start again? I can wait as long as it takes.”
Cass cupped his face. “I don’t want you to wait. You deserve someone who doesn’t come with all this baggage and can give you want you need.”
“I need you, Cass, just you.”
She leaned forward and put her lips on his forward kissing him lightly. “I’m sorry, this is how it has to be.”
He stood up angrily. “I’m not giving up on us.” Then he stormed away into the dark. Should she go after him? No, he needed time to himself.
She wiped the tears from her cheeks, then stood up. Walking back to the diner, she got a tingly sensation up her spine, like someone was watching her. She turned and looked around, but didn’t see anyone.
Leeza opened the diner door and leaned out. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah...no. I know it was the right thing to do, but I hate being the one to hurt him like this. He doesn’t deserve it.”
Leeza put her arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “He’ll survive it. Why don’t you go to the bathroom and splash some cool water on your face?”
“Is that your nice way of telling me I look like shit?”
Leeza laughed. “I’m not that nice. I would tell you straight out if you look like shit. Even with red cheeks and watery eyes, you’re still cute.”
She glanced at her tables, but her customers were all eating and talking. They would be fine for a few more minutes. She quickly went to the bathroom. The reflection in the mirror wasn’t horrible, but Cass didn’t see cute in her appearance at all. She turned on the faucet and patted some cool water on her face. Then she reached for the paper towels to dry off. Pulling her shoulders back, she opened the door and went back to the main area of the diner.
She checked on her customers, refilling their drinks. The doorbell jingled. She turned to greet the new customer. “You have got to be shitting me.”
Ari’s fiancée, Tara, came at her, getting right in her face, clearly furious. She slapped Cass. It shocked her so much, she hadn’t even seen it coming.
“You think you mean something to him? I have been promised to him since be
fore we were born. He’s mine!”
“Cass, do you need me?” Michael was there beside her, glaring at Tara, who seemed to do a double take at the gorgeous arkangel.
“I’m fine, give us some room.” Cass motioned for Tara to follow her out of the diner. Another confrontation was just what she didn’t need.
“What are you talking about, Tara?”
“Ari called off the engagement, like he has the power to do that. This contract was enforced by my family’s demon broker. It’s sealed in blood by three members on each side of the family. If the contract is not upheld for some reason, which has never happened before, then those who signed with blood will lose their souls and their lives.”
Holy shit! Ari didn’t tell her that there were such dire consequences to ending the engagement. “Why would you want to marry someone who doesn’t love you?”
“You really don’t know anything about incubi or succubi, do you?”
“I haven’t really had the urge to find out.”
“Succubi can’t breed with their own kind. Something in our genetics prevents it. We have to breed with humans or other demi-demons to continue our species.”
“Wow, I didn’t know that. But I have nothing to do with your issues with Ari.”
“You’re lying. I’ll get you back for this and Ari will still be in my bed before the year is over.”
“That would be up to him, not me.”
“You’ll be seeing me again,” Tara warned her before disappearing into the darkness.
“Looking forward to it.” Not. Cass went back inside the diner. She hoped there were no more surprises tonight; she didn’t think she could handle the excitement.
Chapter 18
Cass finished her shift and sighed with relief when she turned the CLOSED sign around. She went to help Leeza clean the tables.
“I’ve got this. Michael and I will help Jerry clean and close up. You go ahead and do what you need to do.”
She had told Leeza about what Tara said. Her friend knew how badly she wanted to confront Ari and get the truth from him. She had been texting and trying to call him for the past two hours, but he wasn’t responding. That worried her.
“Thanks, I just need to talk to him. Have Michael follow you home.”
“Actually, I’m going to drive to my cousin's tonight.”
“What? Why? It’s late, Leeza, it’s not safe to be out alone.”
“She texted me that she wasn’t feeling well and she’s only thirty minutes away. I’ll probably stay the night with her just in case she needs to go to the emergency room or something.”
“Text me when you get there.”
Leeza smiled, “I will. You be safe, too.”
“Don’t tell Michael where I’m going. Just say I went home.”
Leeza frowned but agreed reluctantly. “Okay, I’ll call you later.”
Cass quickly left before Michael came back from taking out the trash. She used her super speed and ran for fifteen minutes over to the other side of the city where the club was located. Slowing down, she reached out with her senses trying to find Ari but didn’t pick up on his presence. She wished she knew how to hone her senses better.
Maybe he was inside the club. She zipped up her leather jacket and made her way to the entrance. The bouncer looked at her, about to turn her away, but she gave him the best dazzling smile she could muster.
“Hey there, sexy, want to let me in?”
The man’s eyes tracked her body in the tight jeans and form fitting leather jacket. “Shouldn’t that be my line?”
Yuck! She played off his creepy remark by giggling, “Oh, you are a sassy one. Maybe later, honey.”
“I’ll take you up on that.” The bouncer smacked her ass as she walked past. Damn it, she hated it when guys did shit like that, like they thought her body was theirs to play with, but she didn’t have time to deal with him now.
Shaking it off, she entered the busy club, looking around for Ari. She didn’t see him. There was no point trying to use her senses, the music was too loud and the smells from all the heated bodies were making her feel a little nauseous. She walked over to the bar and took a seat.
“What can I get you, honey?” the bartender asked.
“Just a Coke—in the can, please.”
The bartender reached down and pulled out a canned soda. She preferred getting it in bottle or can so that she could make sure no one had tampered with it. She opened the can and took a sip. It was so good, lots of carbonation and sugar. She felt someone sit down next to her, but she didn’t turn around
“Hello, schöne Frau. Can I buy you a drink?” a man’s German-accented voice said beside her.
She didn’t bother to look over at the guy, just shook her head and held up her can of Coke. “No thanks, I’m good.”
“What’s your name?”
“I’m not interested in talking.”
“Come on, you might find out I’m what you’re looking for.”
Frustrated that the guy wasn’t taking a no for an answer, she turned and glared at him. “I said I wasn’t…” Oh shit! It was the blood demon she was supposed to be hunting. She started to stand up, but his hand on her arm kept her in the seat.
“Not so fast, we’re just getting to know each other. My name is Karl Strauss. What do I call you?”
“Trouble for you is what you call me.”
Karl laughed, not taking her seriously at all. “A little thing like you? No, you’re no trouble for me.”
Why hadn’t she felt his demon power? Checking him over, he didn’t appear to have a bracelet like hers, but she did notice that he had a yellow gold ring with a huge, blood-red ruby. It could be bespelled to hide his demon powers.
How did she get him away from all these people? “Why are you here?”
“My time is almost up, but before I leave, I have one thing that I must do.”
“What’s that?”
Karl leaned closer to whisper in her ear. She was acutely aware of how close he was to her neck. It sent chills up her spine.
“I must know...what are you?”
She moved away from him, but turned to face him. “I hunt demons like you for a living.”
“You won’t tell me your name?”
Shaking her head, she crossed her arms over her chest. “You need to leave.”
“I will, after I have a little snack first.” Karl waved his hand and a blonde woman in a short, tight red dress was suddenly at his side. She was human and there were clear bite marks on her neck. Most of the color was drained from her face already, but she had a smile on her lips and glazed-over eyes. She was definitely under his thrall. “Come, my dear, let’s take a little walk.”
Cass was furious. “Don’t…”
Karl raised his eyebrow, “Don’t what?”
“Just...don’t,” Cass couldn't finish what she was saying, there were too many people around.
“I simply must.” Karl guided the woman out of the club.
What the fuck! She couldn’t let him take this girl; she looked like it wouldn’t take much for him to suck the rest of her blood and leave her for dead like he had the other two women. No way, not while she was here and could do something about it. She shoved her way through the crowd, following in the direction that the demon went.
She should have texted Ari or Michael, but now there was no time. Exiting the club, she looked around and caught sight of the demon and the woman turning into an alley. She used her speed and ran after them. The demon was waiting for her.
Stopping a few feet away, the demon held the unmoving woman in his arms, blood dripping from his fangs. He dropped the woman to the ground, and no sound came from her. Was she still alive?
“You fascinate me.” The demon didn’t bother to wipe the blood away from his mouth as he began walking toward Cass.
“Did you kill her?”
The demon shrugged, “If she’s not dead yet, she soon will be.”
Cass used her speed to pass by
the demon and kneel next to the woman. She searched for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief when she found one, but it was weak. The woman needed help immediately or she would die.
“Let me take her and I’ll let you go.”
He laughed. “Do you think you can hold me, Süsse?”
She stood up and faced him. She had left her bow at home, but she still had the knife in her boot. “I think that I’ll be killing you.” She rushed Karl, thinking to take him off guard and knock him down, but he managed to slide out of the way.
Karl was fast, faster than anyone she had come across. He must be an older demon. All the ones she had met were in their twenties or thirties, young. This guy, the way he floated and moved was measured and sure, clearly well practiced. His voice was just as smooth.
“Are you a demi-demon? I can’t sense what blood runs through your veins and that is both perplexing and thrilling,” Karl said.
She threw a punch at him but he blocked her easily. Kicking out, she managed to land a hit on his knee, making him step backward a few feet. Expecting his fury, she was disappointed.
He smiled at her widely, showing his fangs. “I love a female that fights. You would be a good pet.”
Pet? “I’m not a damn dog or a goldfish!” She used her speed to add power to her punch. She did land some blows, but hitting him was like hitting a wall. He hit her back making her fall down on the ground, scraping her palms. She managed to pull herself back to her feet.
“How old are you?” She needed a reference to go by.
“That is an impertinent question. I will answer only if you give me your name.”
What could it hurt? “Cass.”
“Is that short for Cassandra?”
“I answered your question, now answer mine.”
“I am turning five hundred years or so.”
“You seem to be able to stay on the Earthly plane longer than other demons. Why is that?”
“Older demons can resist the pull of their demon circle much longer.”
A moan from the woman on the ground caused Cass to take her eyes off of the demon for a second. Karl took advantage of her distraction and moved quickly behind her, wrapping his arms around her and trapping her arms against her sides. She struggled, but he was much stronger than her.
