She glanced in the mirror seeing that the color was still high in her cheeks and that her eyes were overly bright. Waving her hand as if to erase the facts, she rationalized that it was just because she was happy that her brother was back and somehow uninjured.
That better be all it is, Alicia mumbled self-consciously trying to second guess her first diagnosis. The last thing she needed right now was to be in a house full of attractive men and be in heat. It didnt happen often, but if a female shifter went in heat without a mate, then the female had two choices lock herself away and suffer for as long as it took, or have a string of one night stands until it was over. Or at least thats what the girls shed gone to boarding school with had told her.
Either way, Alicia cocked an eyebrow at her reflection. Getting out of this house is a good idea for everyone.
Packing all of her stuff back into the suitcase, Alicia figured she might as well take it downstairs since she would be leaving with her brother. Shed miss the freedom but smiled softly knowing she would be near Micah again. Still lost in thought, she left the bedroom and turned the corner to go downstairs only to run into what felt like a brick wall.
Damon reached his arm out and wrapped it around Alicias waist, pulling her flush against him to keep her from falling down the stairs. Being in a bad mood, he had planned this little encounter if for no other reason than to prove a point that he wasnt the only one feeling this attraction. He wanted her to notice before Micah took her out of his reach.
The moment he touched her, he could hear her pulse speed up. Already feeling justified, he let his hand slide just under the rim of her short shirt and across her soft skin as he righted her. He had to admit Micah was right about her having a fever.
Alicias lips parted as she inhaled sharply and gazed up at Damon feeling every inch of him pressed against her and liking it. He was mad at her she could see the anger in his eyes. And why shouldnt he be. Shed tried to kill him and in return hed saved her life. She owed Damon more than one debt and it wasnt right to just leave with Micah without telling him how grateful she truly was.
She would be leaving in a few minutes and that alone gave her the courage she needed. Rising up on her tip-toes, Alicia placed a slow gentle kiss on Damon's lips wondering if it felt the same way to him as it did to her. He smelled wonderful and his skin was smooth and cool to her heated lips.
Thank you, she whispered as she withdrew.
For what? Damon asked feeling like shed just thrown him completely off balance.
For saving me again, she smiled.
For a moment, Damon felt the heavy weight that had been crushing his chest ease until she had to go and ruin it.
And for helping to bring Micah back to me. Alicia picked the suitcase back up and started to slip past him, but to her surprise Damon grabbed her upper arms and backed her up against the wall, pinning her there. He leaned down within an inch from her and she watched his dark eyelashes lower as he gazed at her lips.
If its rewards youre handing out, then lets up the stakes. Damon slashed his lips across hers, showing her the difference in the kiss shed just given him and the one he needed. He made sure it was one she would remember for nights to come.
Damon was ready for her to push him away or even fight to get free of his hold. When she did neither, he intensified the kiss feeling his own head rush. To his amazement, she was suddenly kissing him back and with just as much passion.
Feeling like she had turned his punishment back on him, he ended the kiss just as quickly as hed instigated it and backed away from her this time jerking the damned suitcase up himself. Turning, he started down the stairs two at a time, leaving her standing there in a daze.
Alicia took a moment to relearn how to breathe. She hadnt been able to stop herself when hed kissed her so demandingly shed wanted more. She still wanted more. Damn it. What gave him the right to turn her on like that then leave her like this? Rubbing her temple, she gave him the benefit of a doubt. If she was in heat would a vampire feel it?
No, she answered her own question. It was a shifter thing. She was sure of it.
Damon was already in the living room relaxing on the sofa beside Michael when Alicia got the courage to come downstairs. Or at least he made it look like he was relaxing not that she was staring. She looked away when he gave her that damned smile and turned her attention to Micah who was sitting on the huge overstuffed love seat. He was leaning forward, lost in conversation with Michael.
Micah glanced up as Alicia came further into the room. So I hear youve taken up suicide missions as a hobby. You know, I was only gone for a couple weeks. He patted the cushion beside him and slid his arm across Alicias shoulders as she sat down. After what Michael had just told him, he wondered who had been in more danger him or Alicia.
Alicia nodded trying to keep her gaze averted from Damons. She shifted it to Michael's and felt the butterflies take flight in her stomach. She finally decided: out of the vampires, Kane was the safest though she doubted anyone would agree with her.
I owe all three of them a huge thank you. She tried not to flinch when she felt Damon's glare. Feeling a touch vindictive, she gave him a slow smile letting him think she would. She quickly learned who would win that staring contest and turned her attention to what Michael was saying to her brother.
The city is dangerous right now, Damon pointed out. He had saved her three times, though she was only aware of two of them. Add Michael and Kane's saves to that list and that was five deaths avoided within the last couple weeks. He suddenly didnt think it was very safe for her to leave their side.
I agree, Micah shrugged sensing Damons protectiveness. Michael had informed him that Damon was his brother and had come offering to help. When hed questioned him about the bite on Alicias neck, Michael had confirmed shed gotten it during an attack behind Moon Dance. That still didnt mean he trusted Damon. Something in his blood told him the vampire was a threat.
Tightening his arm around Alicia and praying he was making the right decision, Micah directed his attention back toward the owner of the house. And thats why I hope Alicia can stay with you guys for a little while longer. Right now, this is the safest place for her.
It was amazing how one simple request could change the atmosphere of a whole room.
What? Alicia shrank away from him. How could she tell her brother that right now this house was probably the most dangerous place in the world for her much less this city?
Damon cocked an eyebrow hoping he was getting ready to see a horrible break up. He was an idiot anyway. What man in his right mind would leave their girlfriend in a house full of guys? Yeah, hed be happy to throw the idiot out the front door or window. Whichever was the handiest or the closest.
Feeling her moving away from him, Micah reached out and grabbed her shoulders, making her turn toward him, Alicia, you know I love you with all my heart, but think for a moment. He ignored the growl that was coming from the sofa. We just attacked the werewolves and killed their alpha. Anyone dumb enough to seek vengeance will be coming after our family. Plus, Michael tells me youve already been mauled by monsters.
Alicia shot Michael a quick thanks a freaking lot look, then turned it on Kane when he opened his big mouth.
You do seem to be a magnet for the soulless, Kane added trying not to laugh out loud at the fact Damon was counting the ways he could kill Micah without anyone knowing. The poor cougar didnt realize how much trouble he was in. Knowing Damon would do it, he decided to drop the bomb. You might want to listen to your brother on this one.
Alicia growled at Kane then took the time to give Damon a threatening look, daring him to put in his two cents worth. When Damon gave her a slow, almost wicked smile, she knew he could blow her out of the water. She quickly turned back to Micah, not giving Damon enough time to tell on her, If we are in so much danger, then maybe we should just take off together and not tell anyone where were going.
Micah frowned at Alicia, tightening his grip on her arms for an instant knowing he was missing something. He searched her face and again took note of her overly bright eyes. Letting go of her arms, he pressed the back of his hand to her forehead narrowing his gaze.
Alicia pushed his hand away feeling defeated and in a world of trouble. The last thing shed wanted to do was insinuate hed run away from anything. That was one thing Micah would never do and they both knew it. If he figured out why she was overheated, then shed be lucky to see the light of day for months.
Ill stay on one condition, she conceded.
Whats that? Micah raised an eyebrow.
At Night Light, Quinn put the guards on me to the point that I had to dress up in disguise just to leave the club without being followed. If I stay here, then I come and go as I want to no babysitters. She made her voice firm. I am not a baby.
No, youre not, Micah smirked down at her then turned to look at Michael for conformation.
Agreed, Michael nodded. If its freedom she wants, then she shall have it as long as shes living here.
Damon kept his mouth shut because he didnt agree to the amount of freedom, but no one had to know that little fact. He inhaled slowly, letting most of the tension drain from him now that she wasnt leaving and murder was off the list. Brother Micah was her freaking brother.
Michaels phone vibrated as a text came in. Reading it he looked up at Micah. It seems your sister isnt the only escape artist among us.
Chapter 4
The alley became a bit darker than the rest of the city as Misery descended on it to check the rip in the dimensional wall shed created with Kane's blood. She liked the fact that the humans couldnt see it, though she was sure some with a stronger sixth sense would avoid the alley.
Letting the darkness implode, she stepped forward choosing the childs form as she knelt beside the opening. She didnt dare touch it for fear that it would drag her through the barrier, but she could now feel demons gathering on the other side. Those demons could see the rip and that was the purpose of its creation. Misery let some of her own evil slither down her body in dark smoky tendrils and giggled as it seeped into the crack.
Within moments, the same thing happened but this time in reverse. Miserys back arched and her eyes turned blood red as the snaky darkness squirmed its way up her body then sank into her aura. The other side would wait until Misery gave them a sign then they would have their strongest attack from the other side.
Miserys expression turned mischievous. Shed been careful up till now feeling the pure blood fallen tracking her movements. Now was not the time to become careless but she needed the power it would take to break through the portal. Miserys expression slowly changed into one of anger as she felt a presence behind her.
Exploding into a cloud of darkness, she reformed as she attached her corpses form around the demon that had been spying on her. Misery will give you a closer look.
Zeb didnt flinch as the rotting arm tightened around his neck and he was suddenly staring down into the rift. Would you banish Zeb for offering his help? His plump lips twisted in a sneer, Such lust I feel from you. What is it Misery is hungry for?
I can get what I need from the humans why would I need your help with this? Misery ran a hand over the short fat mans balding head then she released him only to circle his bloated body.
Why dont you see for yourself? Zeb had barely finished the invitation when Miserys bony fingers punched their way through the flesh he used to hide in.
Misery could feel the demon within and smiled sadistically as she read its soul. This demon had been in the city for a very long time and had been wise enough to keep a low profile. She could sense its fear of the fallen that lived here along with fear of other creatures she knew nothing about.
Zeb was a weak demon and useless in a fight. He would be easy to kill, but Misery could sense his other powers powers she could exploit to suit her purposes.
This demon could detect the lust within a human and magnify that to deliciously evil measures. She saw some of the things Zeb had done recently as she tapped into his memories. Like the jealous husband losing his cool and killing his wife an angry employee taking a gun to work for revenge the desperate man robbing a bank and getting shot as he walked out the door.
Zeb could make a hungry human eat until their guts split open, or make someone depressed become suicidal. He could even go as far as to make a druggie or alcoholic overdose on their poison of choice all pushed beyond their control. Zeb made people hungry for whatever they craved, their darkest of secrets and Misery could feed off the evil spawned from them.
Misery will use you, she hissed as she pulled her hand from his flesh.
I know, Zeb smiled as the blood spilling from him reentered his body in a backwards waterfall sealing the wound.
If he were human, then he would have been labeled a business man of sorts. Making deals with other demons was how hed survived this long. If he teamed up with Misery and fed her the power she wanted to bring more demons into the city, then he would not be so noticeable to the fallen.
*****
Chad stared at the crime scene in horror as he kept his gun trained on the man who was already cuffed and being dragged out of the operating room. The police department had called him in because this was the third time today they had found something this disturbing. What in the hell would make a man do something like that? He was a doctor for crying out loud supposed to be saving lives, not take them.
I just wanted to see what it would look like, the doctor yelled as he struggled to get one more look before he was taken away. Shes perfect now.
Chad felt the nausea rise and had to look away. Right there on the operating table lay the mans masterpiece. Hed taken a elderly bedridden lady whose body was shutting down and replaced her insides including brain, with parts from a young woman who had come into the emergency room with an ear ache only a couple hours ago.
Hearing a female gasp behind him Chad turned his head seeing Angelica, Zachary and Trevor coming into the room and frowned. I was going to call you.
Trevor shook his head, Angelica has been tracking our demon all day and weve already been to your other crime scenes.
Angelica gazed down at the young woman who had been tossed on the floor like an empty rag doll. Theyd been one step behind Misery and she could feel the demons power growing but what disturbed her the most was the fact that even though Misery could feed off this she couldnt cause it to happen.