Love Hurts: The Killing of Rose

by Holly Hood

  Frankie stepped into the bathroom, surveying the broken glass and torn shower curtain. “This place looks like a wolf got a hold of things.” Frankie lifted a foot shaking away the glass. Sam sat up. He looked like hell.

  “Is she okay?” he asked, pulling himself up and staring at his image in the mirror. He turned the faucet knobs catching the water in his hands.

  “She looked quite well, satisfied even.” Frankie watched his brother hurriedly splash water on his face. “You did well.”

  “I can’t get it out of my mind. I can’t stop thinking about it and her.” Sam shook the water from his face and dried his hands on a towel. He stared around the bathroom at the big mess he made.

  “Does this ever go away?” Sam asked, as if he expected an honest answer from Frankie.

  “I always want to hurt something or someone. But that could be because people piss me off all the time. I think you’re ok, bro.” Frankie crossed his arms, “On to bigger and better things today?”

  Sam raised an eyebrow. “Elcina. That was the least of my worries last night. Fighting the urge to unlock this door and do god knows what to Delaney was my biggest issue last night.” Sam sighed.

  “Strangling the life out of her, that’s god knows what.” Frankie smirked, leaving the room.

  Sam pulled it together. He headed from the bathroom, undoing the robe as soon as Frankie shut the door. He didn’t look at Delaney. He hurried to get dressed before he knew what to say to her.

  She watched him pull on some jeans. “Good morning.” Sam took a seat in the chair from last night. “You hungry?”

  Delaney smiled. “Not really.”

  “I’m sorry I left you out here all night.” He watched her smile fade. She stood up, coming over to him. “I’m sorry for a lot.”

  Delaney worked her way into Sam’s lap. She rested her head against his chest, listening to his racing heartbeat. He ran his fingers along her arm, glad to be holding her.

  “For now on let’s agree you stop apologizing to me.” She kissed his cheek, running her fingers along his chin. “I believe you’re sorry.”

  “How could you ever want anything to do with me again?” He kissed the side of her face, smoothing her hair, waiting to hear her silly answer.

  “Because it doesn’t take much to fall for you over and over again or to realize that no matter what you do I will always love you no matter what.” She laced their fingers together looking at the perfect match their hands made. “Just promise me one thing.”

  Sam stopped running his hand through her hair. “What’s that?”

  “Promise me you’ll always be truthful with me. You’ll always tell me everything, no matter how awful.” She looked into his eyes for the promise. Sam placed a kiss on her lips, pulling away, nodding his head.

  “I promise.” He stared into her eyes. “And since you’re looking for honesty, I hate to say this but I have to take off and get this thing out of the way for my father.”

  “What exactly does he want with this girl? And what do you think you’re going to do?” She ran a hand through his messy hair. Sam pecked her cheek, a serious expression forming on his face.

  “When a demon places a curse on someone they are bound by that curse. Completely powerless until the demon agrees to remove the curse or they find a way to break it. My father believes getting his hands on Abaddon’s daughter Elcina will help him remove the curse.”

  Sam watched as Delaney mowed over his explanation.

  “I feel sorry for her,” she said finally, “Sorry that her father has her tangled in a mess that has nothing to do with her. Just like you.”

  Sam shrugged. “My father is not one to be confined and restricted ever. As long as he is free to do what he wants he will leave me alone. The sooner I get this done and over with the better off I am.”

  “What about Elcina?”

  “Elcina is not some naive girl. She’s far from any normal girl, Delaney. I can’t say that I know what he wants with her.”

  “Maybe a bargaining tool?” Delaney asked. She hoped so. The thought of the beautiful girl in the picture being used as an end to all means made her heart hurt.

  “Maybe, it’s hard to say. I really need to head out. So, promise me you will stay here and stay out of trouble?” He kissed her forehead before standing up to get ready to locate Elcina.

  “No place I would rather be.” She sat down on the bed watching Sam throw a shirt on. “Sam, do you ever think if things go wrong that you will be used just like Elcina? Does it ever scare you to think someone could be out there after you because of something your dad did?”

  Sam gritted his teeth, sitting down to put his shoes on. “I was too busy fearing my dad to ever imagine someone out there worse than he was. But anything is possible. Doing his dirty work opens up a side of life I tried very hard to stay away from. But I always take care of me…and you now.” He placed one last kiss on her lips before heading out.

  Sam tapped the guest bedroom door, “Leaving right now, Frankie.” He hated to take his brother to anything important. But it was part of the rules. And if they wanted to break free from their father they would do what they needed to do so. Neither of them wanted to put up with Amarus more time than necessary.

  The nightlife

  Elcina worked the club like a powerful magician, parting the massive crowd with the bat of an eyelash. Guys and girls alike immediately were attracted to her presence, a girl like her, thick brown almost black hair, simple yet flawless features, chocolate brown eyes with flecks of gold, every part of her unique and all her own. She was enough to drop the jaws of every man that was lucky enough to lay eyes on her. Elcina was beyond beautiful and she knew it. She was what every girl wished they could be. The girl everyone was comparing themselves to, striving to be like.

  She took the stool beside her best friend, looking around the bar at the plethora of men.

  “I dare you to bring one home,” Eden said. Eden was Elcina’s only friend, the only girl who could stand to be around her. And the only person she really understood and tolerated.

  “My father would kill anyone I brought back.” Elcina ignored her friend’s attempt at matchmaking. She accepted the fruity drink the bar tender set in front of her. Familiar enough with him that he knew what she drink.

  Elcina studied Eden’s big grin, her dark eyes combing over the sea of men. They both were daughters under lock and key of their families. Eden’s parents were powerful. They had only one daughter—her and this made for a very stifling existence. They were judged by their entire families. Always expected to follow every rule, and never were they suppose to ruin their lives.

  Elcina hated her family. She did nothing that they expected from her and she stayed as far away from them as she possibly could, only returning for school or meetings.

  “Give me about five shots of jack,” Frankie said planting several bills down on the bar only feet from Elcina and Eden. He was aware who he was standing by. This was all part of the plan.

  He hardly paid attention taking the drinks around the bar to their seats.

  “I hate this hat,” Frankie grumbled, tugging it down farther on his head.

  Sam ignored Frankie’s griping. “Do you think the girls will stay put?” The only thing on his mind was back home. The thought of Delaney not taking everything serious and taking off was haunting him.

  “I think she has plenty reasons to stay.” Frankie insisted. “One, you didn’t kill her. Two you slept with her.”

  Sam shook his head. “You have to give human beings more credit than that.”

  “It’s human nature. When you satisfy a human, or give them what they want they are content. It’s when you deprive them they go nuts.” Frankie picked up his drink, staring down the bar at Elcina and Eden. Eden her friend, she wasn’t bad to look at. If anything she was exotic and beautiful. Frankie shook the idea from his mind. He was here to help his brother not toy with the likes of demons.

  Sam downed the three shots
in front of him. Cringing and nearly losing it at the taste of Jack Daniels. “We never drink Jack.”

  “Blame it on Dylan. The girl loves it,” Frankie said, thinking about Dylan and the likelihood she would try to escape while he was gone. He wasn’t like Frankie he didn’t care what happened to her. Or so he thought.

  “I’m going to get a couple more,” Sam said, standing up. He moved in, pretending to be ordering more drinks nothing more. His ears perked up at the conversation taking place between Elcina and her friend.

  “Could I get two whiskeys neat?” He set some bills down, giving the girls a casual nod. Elcina recognized him quickly this time.

  “You’re the guy from the other day.” She pointed one long fingernail in his direction. Sam touched his chest. “Yes you.”

  Sam nodded in agreement. “Guilty. Why does it seem you’re always following me around?” He grinned, taking the drinks, ready to head back to his brother. Playing it casual would get him everywhere.

  “I follow nobody. This is my hangout,” Elcina told him.

  Sam gripped the drinks, his back to the two girls. He headed back to Frankie.

  “Whiskey. How boring,” Frankie said, downing his in one swallow. He was bored. He winked at Elcina and Eden as they watched them from around the bar, a bit giggly and interested in Sam already. His brother was great at drawing the attention from even the snobbish of woman. Frankie was capable, but he didn’t like to waste his time on girls that had big egos. His ego was big enough.

  “So now what,” Frankie asked. His idea of getting a job done was not sitting around some lame bar hoping the girl would just come to him. He had more aggressive tactics.

  “We wait,” Sam said.

  Eden studied Frankie. “He has amazing eyes. And when I say amazing I mean amazing. I have never seen eyes like that before.” Eden rested her cheek against her palm enjoying the view.

  “They both are quite interesting. You never see guys quite like them around here.” Elcina smiled coyly looking away quickly before he thought she was a little too eager. She didn’t want him to think she was impressed. But the truth was, she was.

  “No you don’t that’s for sure.” Eden poked around in her margarita, occasionally glimpsing at Frankie as he so easily downed drink after drink, a little too easily. She looked at Elcina.

  “Why are you looking at me so weird?” Elcina said disturbed by Eden’s shift in mood suddenly.

  “Look around. These guys aren’t normal everyday guys.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Didn’t you say you seen him before?”

  Elcina nodded, she stared at Sam, their eyes meeting up for a few faint seconds. Eden was right, these weren’t normal guys. And they had to be stupid if they thought they were getting away with whatever it was they were trying to do.

  “I love a good time. It seems Mr. Gorgeous is looking for one too. It’s a shame he doesn’t know who he is going up against.” Elcina licked her lips, she tug the barrette from her hair, letting her hair fall around her shoulders.

  “Elcina we can just leave.” Eden hated the idea Elcina was willing to toy with anyone. She took things to far sometimes. She didn’t understand the deadly consequences.

  “This is who I am. This is why I stay away from men. But I think he’s cute.” She smiled playfully at Sam. He smiled back.

  “And just what do you think you’re going to do?” Eden pushed her drink away. She no longer was having fun. She thought back to Brice, the cute guy from across town that Elcina met at a rave. She really did a number on him.

  “I don’t think he will mind. Look at me.” She hopped down from her stool. Throwing her hair over her shoulder and walked over to Sam and Frankie.

  “I’ve been watching you.” Elcina told Sam getting right in his personal space. She rested her hands between his legs, leaning into him as he sat staring at her in awe. “What’s your name?”

  Sam licked his lips. He could smell the shampoo she used—lavender—she was that close to him. “Sam.”

  “Such a common name,” She grinned, exposing dazzling white teeth.

  “I promise you there is nothing common about me.” Sam smirked.

  Elcina pulled away, looking at Frankie now. “My friend thinks you’re cute. Her name is Eden and I really think you should go say hello.” Frankie stood, shrugging his shoulders before taking off.

  Elcina took the seat next to Sam. She reached in her bra pulling out a tube of lip-gloss. Sam watched her seductively apply a light pink to her gorgeus lips. She pursed her lips, keeping her gaze locked on him. “You’re really cute.”

  Sam nodded. “So are you. More like stunning actually.”

  Elcina giggled a twinkle in her dark eyes.

  Frankie took a seat. He exhaled giving Eden a look. “Frankie.” He extended a hand.

  Eden smiled, accepting. “I see they sent you down here.”

  “Oh I wanted to come. Who wouldn’t your gorgeous?” He stared around the bar. “You two are the hottest chicks in this place.”

  Eden’s cheek’s warmed. “You mean Elcina right?” She wasn’t used to attention. Whenever she hung out with Elcina it was always about her. She quite honestly forgot she was even beautiful because Elcina stole all the attention everywhere she went.

  “I mean you.” Frankie winked, leaning into her. He pushed into her playfully. “So tell me about you. What has girls like you out at bars all alone? Where’s the big macho boyfriend?”

  Eden bit at her lip, a little nervous to give up so much information to a complete stranger. She wasn’t a simple girl. And she didn’t have a simple life. She looked at Frankie, he offered a genuine smile, his eyes searching hers for an answer.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “I’m sure it is. I’m a pretty complicated guy myself.” He fiddled with the little umbrella in front of him from one of Elcina’s drinks.

  “What do you mean?” Eden asked.

  “Oh you know, the norm. My dad’s a demon.” He quickly looked at her. “I mean an asshole. He’s a huge asshole.”

  Eden swallowed. Her theory was correct, but she wasn’t sure how to feel about it. He seemed like an okay guy. “That’s what I thought.”

  Frankie nodded. “So tell me about your friend. Is she a good girl or a bad girl?” Frankie knew there wasn’t much good in demons. He also knew Elcina a long time ago and she was pure evil back then. He could only imagine what she was like now.

  “Do you have a week?” Eden laughed. “She is super complicated.”

  Frankie raised an eyebrow confused.

  “Elcina stays away from men. Men have a hard time whenever they are around her.”

  Frankie’s eyes widened in surprise, he watched Elcina toy with Sam like she was a playful kitten. “Could you elaborate a little more for me?”

  Eden nodded. “Abaddon’s has children with a descendant of Dantalion.”

  Frankie nearly choked. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Dantalion.”

  Eden shook her head. “The one and only. Elcina is capable of making any man fall in love with her against his will. Head over heels in love until it destroys him and everything he ever loved.”

  Frankie did all he could to keep his cool. He didn’t need this girl knowing they were here to snatch her best friend. “But it’s her choice to do that right?”

  Eden eyed Elcina and Sam. “Yeah, we all have choices in what we do. Elcina is capable of a lot, she can’t help that everyone is drawn to her. She can make anyone have feelings for anybody. It scares me sometimes.”

  Frankie sighed. They were in a bigger mess then he had ever imagined.

  Fatal

  Sam opened the door for Elcina. They had driven to the edge of town. He offered her his hand and she accepted climbing up on the hood of his car so they could watch the sunset together. Things were going just as he planned. They were alone and he was getting closer to what he needed to do.

  “It’s so beautiful at night.” Elcina told him. She pulled
off her heels dropping them on the ground. The wind slipping through her hair, she drew her legs close, wrapping her arms around them as she watched the dying sun.

  “I’d sound like all the rest if I compared you to the sunset.” He told her. “So I’ll just stay quiet.”