quick-change step to the right. Smash. Smack. Bang. Double time.
“Nooooo…” a demon screamed as my boot crushed his tiny body.
“Oh yes. That will teach you to fuck with someone a hundred and
seventy-three times your size.” I did a quick mental count. “Lesson learned.”
I stomped down harder until I reduced him to a fly-splattered puddle.
Bodhi tracked down the rest of the runaway demons, most of the
time swallowing them whole. Lilith was right. He was one hungry cat.
When the last of the demons were smited, I scrapped off my boots
over the trash can and glanced around Lilith’s demon-sprayed apartment.
Please let the market be busy, I prayed reaching for a broom and
dustpan. The place was a mess. What wasn’t broken was covered in demon
splatter. From floor to ceiling, the room looked as if it had been hit by a
hurricane, and not the good alcohol-fueled kind.
Keys rattled in the door.
Fuck.
Lilith opened the door, her eyes growing wide as she took in her
newly redecorated living space. Demon Feng Shui.
Bodhi circled Lilith’s long legs before letting out a cry, hacking once,
and spewing demons guts over her shoes. New Prada black leather boots, I
should add.
“Why me?” she whispered to Heaven.
The angel answered, “It is not your place to question Him. I could
smite you for that.”
She growled, “Get out, all of you. I’ve had a bad enough day, and
now I have to spend the next four hours mopping up...” She pointed to the
splattered floor. “What the hell is that stuff?”
“Tiny demons. I’ll clean it up.” I showed her the broom in my hands.
“You go lie down. Take a nap.”
“Nap?” Her right eye twitched.
I glanced at her bed, its sheets covered in crushed demon. “On
second thought, we should go.” I picked up the cat, grabbed the angel’s foot,
and disappeared through the door.
Her screams followed us down the hall.
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Thirty One
I sucked down two beers while Hades laughed. He laughed so hard
he fell off his barstool and bounced like a yo-yo. Yet laughter continued to
pour from his fleshy lips.
“It’s not that funny.” I rolled my eyes, feeling bad about leaving
Lilith, but I was damn sure if I’d stuck around, she would’ve killed me.
“The greatest succubus in the Universe reduced to a cleaning lady. It
ain’t unfunny.” Hades grabbed his sides to catch his breath. “Worse, she
saved your miserable hide from Samuel and you repay her by wrecking her
place.” He shook his snake infested head. “You are never gonna get laid
now.”
Yeah, the thought had crossed my mind too. “What do you know
about her and Samuel?”
“He wanted her to sacrifice you, but she refused.” Hades sobered, his
eyes growing hot.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing good. Lilith is dammed, so Samuel couldn’t kill her
outright, but what he done to her today…” Hades frowned. “Even the bravest
of Gods wouldn’t have survived it.”
Sickness pooled in my stomach. Whatever happened I’d make
Samuel pay for that, and repay Lilith. Another thought occurred to me. It
hadn’t been Lilith at the gardens today, but someone had wanted me to
believe it was. My question was who? What did they gain by separating us? I
had no idea. Nothing made sense right now. Scrambled brain aside.
“What are you going to do with the cat?” Hades eyed the beast.
“No.”
“What?” He raised his hands innocently.
“You cannot eat her cat.” I tucked Bodhi further into my sweatshirt
and slipped off the barstool. My head spun, more from its earlier abuse than
alcohol. “I have to apologize to Lilith.”
Hades nodded. “Maybe bring her some flowers. Women like
flowers.”
“Good idea.” I gazed at the angel, who played a game of Mage with
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the Goddess Aphrodite. “Angel? Watch the cat for me. I’m going back to
Lilith’s.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.” I shoved Bodhi at him. “And if Hades eats him, I’m going to
tell Lilith you did it.” Tossing a few bucks on the bar, I waved at Hades and
headed from the Underworld into hell.
~ * ~
“Lilith?” I tapped on her apartment door. No answer. I knocked
harder, a smattering of fear rippling through me. Had something happened to
her?
The doorknob twisted easily in my hand. Unlocked, shit. I pushed
through the door, ready and willing to slay dragons with the bouquet of black
roses in my hand.
“Any one here?” I scanned the pristine room. Not a smashed green
demon glob in sight. For Lilith, cleanliness must have been next to evilness.
Her white sheeted bed was made, bookcase restocked, and cat food neatly set
on the counter.
The bathroom door opened a crack, and I spun toward the sound
catching a glimpse of Lilith’s naked back in the steam-fogged mirror. Angry
red scars lined her skin. Recent, newly healed scars. Scars inflicted while
protecting me. Scars like the one on the back of her neck. This wasn’t the
first time she suffered at Samuel’s hands. I swallowed hard, a greasy feeling
churning in my gut.
I tapped quietly on the doorframe, careful not to startle her. “I
knocked but you didn’t answ…”
“Go away.” Tears fell unabated from Lilith’s eyes, her face patchy
and red. Not an unpretty sight, but one I had never hoped to witness.
She slammed the door, which narrowly missed my foot. The pain I’d
seen in her eyes would haunt me for a lifetime. My protective instincts
surfaced, as did my stupidity. I reached for the door handle.
She surprised me by opening the door at the same time. It bounced
off my nose, sending me spiraling to the floor. Stars circled my head, little
blue ones with silvery edges.
Lilith stalked across the room in a t-shirt, and I was damn sure, she
didn’t wear anything underneath. Gone were her tear stained cheeks,
replaced with a steely, cold look.
“Why are you here, Jace?”
I stood, bridging my busted nose with my fingers. “I came to
apologize.”
“Well?” Her hands flew to her hips.
“Um, I’m sorry.” I held out the now decapitated black roses. “I wish
I could make everything all right. Make up for Samuel—”
“Don’t.” Her face tightened.
“What?”
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“Don’t be nice.” She flexed her fists. “I hate when you’re nice.”
“Too bad.” I pulled her into an awkward hug, and patted her back
like a child. She kicked me in the knee, following it up with a hard left to the
collarbone.
“Damn it.” Releasing her, I rubbed at my throbbing shoulder.
“There’s something seriously wrong with you.”
“Me?” Redness exploded across her face. “You all but accuse me of
kidnapping J.C. this afternoon, not to mention wrecking my apartment, and I
have done something wrong?”
“I fucking s
aid I was sorry.”
“Do you even want to find J.C. or are you too busy fucking your
sweet Mary to care?” She shoved me hard enough to rattle my teeth.
Rage washed over me. “Don’t bring Mary into this, and don’t you
ever—” I poked her in the breastbone, “—question my loyalty to the kid.
He’s the only reason I put up with you, and your demonic P.M.S.!”
“P.M.S.,” it came out like a squeak. Lilith started glowing scarlet
around the edges of her skin, eyes turning fiery. “You stupid mother—”
A hum buzzed from across the room. Tyrfing floated in the air. I
swallowed back some of my rage, and walked toward the sword. The feel of
the hilt in my hand ignited the bloodlust locked deep inside my heart.
Destroy.
Devour.
Dominate.
I lifted the blade, watching Lilith’s eyes reflected in the shiny
surface. Each step I took closer to her gave me a tiny thrill, like stalking prey.
A few feet separated us, me with my demon-killing sword, and her with the
blackened heart of demonic bitch.
Glancing at the sword with regret, I tossed it into the bathroom and
slammed the door. “Now, you were saying?”
Her fist caught me just above my left eye. Lucky for me, my earlier
brain injury had numbed much of the feeling on my left side. I’d have to get
the angel to look at it.
I grabbed her hands and tossed her onto the bed. “I’m not a fucking
piñata. I don’t hit women, but next time you deck me, I’ll make an
exception.”
Her lips curled into a snarl. “Try it and I’ll rip you apart.”
“Don’t push me. I’ve had it with you, with all of this demon shit.” I
bent closer until our faces were inches away. Her breath was hot on my face,
sending a mixture of signals to my fucked up brain. “Why can’t you just act
human for once in your fucking life? I offered a shoulder to cry on, and you
twisted it into something evil.”
She struggled to rise from the pillows, but I refused to back down.
She’d be submissive for a few seconds, even if it killed me.
I grabbed her hair and tugged. “Well, fuck you. From now on, you’re
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on your own.” I threw her back down on the bed, and turned for the door. I’d
find the kid on my own.
“Fine. Good,” she yelled behind me. “Like you were any help
anyway. Stupid momma’s boy.”
Snap. Yep, I actually heard my brain snap, and went from pissed to
crime of passion mad. The sword, reacting to my violent temper, smashed
into the closed door. But the sound did nothing to cool my rage.
I spun to face her, ran the ten feet from her front door to the bed, and
pounced. Slamming her body against the bed, my fingers wrapped around her
skinny neck. Her skin felt red hot, her lips twisted with hate.
My erection took me by surprise. One second I wanted to kill her,
and the next I wanted to screw her until one of us met our maker. Preferably
her, but who was I kidding.
“No.” She ground her pelvis against me. “You’re not man enough.”
“And you’re not Mary, but I’ll make do.” I pinned her arms
underneath my hands, and crushed my mouth to hers. For a few seconds she
fought me, a growl escaping her throat.
“Fuck,” I spat when her teeth ripped a layer of skin from my lip. I let
go of one of her hands to wipe at the blood dripping down my chin.
“Bastard.” She slugged me in the jaw.
I rolled off her, the taste of my blood calming my rage. Not
completely, but enough to question whether I had a death wish or I was
merely stupid. Stupid won out. I blew out a breath. “Lilith, I—.”
She wrapped her legs around my waist, and yanked at my hair. “Shut
up, Jace, or so help me, I will break every bone in your body.” She pulled my
mouth to hers, and like a pirate pillaged my lips at will.
I knocked her hand away, but didn’t break contact. Instead, I dragged
her off me, pulling her upright so I could remove her t-shirt.
She shoved at my chest, knocking me back, and stripped her own
shirt from her body. Her skin flamed against the room’s whiteness, glowing
like fire. The sound of heavy breathing and rushing blood filled the room.
She licked at her swollen, bloodied lips, and smiled. Her finger curled,
taunting me to come closer.
I shook my head. Not this time. I planned to win this round, and that
meant Lilith would submit. I cracked my knuckles and waited.
She brushed an imaginary piece of lint from her breast, her nipple
hardening under her fingers.
Bitch.
“This is a limited time offer.” She stroked a finger across her lips,
running it down the curve of her neck. “And I expect foreplay.”
“Good luck with that,” I said, moving towards her. Fuck it.
Submission, like foreplay, was overrated anyway.
Twelve thirty-one a.m. My jeans circled my knees, and my boxers
followed suit. I tugged on her hair and she bit me, but complied with my
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suggested positioning. Something taken straight out of the Demons Guide to
Karma Sutra. Her back arched, and I lost myself to the feel of her hot skin.
Twelve thirty-eight a.m. My leg cramped and Lilith twisted
underneath me. Her evil eyes burning with lust. “You know, Satan can go all
night.”
I shrugged, rolling her on top of me. “So can Mary.” I caught her fist
before it slammed into my eye. “Now shut up. I’m trying to concentrate.”
Twelve fifty-two a.m.
“Don’t stop.” Lilith raked her nails across my chest before exploding
with her fourth orgasm in fifteen minutes. Bells and whistles, bright glowing
light, blah, blah, blah.
One thirty-four a.m.
Crack. “I think that was my spine.”
Two sixteen a.m.
“Yes. Yes. Oh God, yes.”
Three forty-five a.m.
“You’re on the pill, right?”
Four fifteen a.m.
“I can’t move.” I groaned. Lilith lay curled on my side, her naked
body pressed against my sweat-soaked skin.
She lifted her head. “Poor baby.”
“No, I mean it. I really can’t move.” I tried to lift my arm, but it
wouldn’t comply. “I think you crushed my spine.”
“Oh.” She laughed, but like a trained chiropractor, she snapped my
vertebrate in place. “Better?”
“Thanks.” I closed my eyes, basking in our post-coital bliss.
With a yawn, Lilith said, “Get out.”
“What?”
“You heard me.” She stabbed her foot into my ribs, and pushed.
“Nothing’s changed.”
“You’re kidding me.” I stumbled from her bed, searching the floor
for my jeans. “Where am I going to sleep?”
“Like I care.” Lilith pulled a cell phone from her nightstand, and
tossed it at me. “I’ll call you when I find the kid.”
Bitch.
“Oh, and don’t forget your,” she glanced down, “little sword.”
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Thirty Two
I took the D train from Lilith’s apartment, Tyrfing riding shotgun in
the seat next to me. A group of teenagers pushed throu
gh the empty car, took
one look at the sword, and headed in the opposite direction.
Hopping off the subway at Grand Avenue, I wandered the streets
mumbling to myself until the sun peeked over the skyline.
Fucking Lilith.
Forget about her, my brain ordered. Find the kid and leave that evil
succubus behind. I laughed, knowing it wasn’t that easy. She’d broken more
than my spine tonight. My defenses had taken a beating, and I’d be damned
if I didn’t want her more now than ever before. Was it witchcraft, some
succubae sex magic, or complete and total stupidity?
I yawned, exhaustion plaguing my every step. As I turned onto
Avenue D, rain started to fall from the clouds.
Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.
Not rain. Hamsters. I looked up, and took a hamster to the skull. Shit.
I ducked under an awning while the streets filled with small furry rodents.
Small furry confused rodents. They bumped into each other, chirped and
squeaked, as more dropped from the sky.
What the hell?
The kid. He must be close. I searched the hamster packed street, but
saw nothing. Maybe I really had snapped, and the past five days were
nothing but a delusion. It made as much sense as God entrusting his only kid
to a guy like me. Looking to the heavens, I prayed for a sign.
“Jace?” Mary appeared in front of me, her face scrunched with
concern.
“Mary? How did you find me?” I pinched my arm to make sure I
wasn’t dreaming. That, in fact, the once object of my desire, was standing in
front of me.
She motioned to my finger. “You’re ringing my apartment.”
Damn so I was. I released her doorbell. “Sorry.”
“Are you all right?” She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and
half dragged me into the building, Tyrfing flopping behind me.
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“It’s raining hamsters.”
“What? Did you fall and hit your head?” Her hand brushed through
my hair checking for injuries.
I searched the now empty street. No hamsters. Shit. “I don’t think
so.” My eyes lost focus for a few seconds, and I tripped up the stairs, landing
face first on the smelly carpet.
“Come on, let’s get you upstairs and into bed.” Mary hefted me up
and dragged me up the rest of the steps.
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