Stupid to have come up here after the concierge had told her the electricity was out.
Asking for trouble, she muttered, and made her way along the kitchen counter. Her fingers glided before the knife stand. She considered arming herself but decided the demon would have the weapon out of her hand and to her throat in but a blink. She had a more powerful weapon.
Whispering a command and forcing her earth magic through her fingers, she sent a stream of phosphorescence before her. It whipped through the loft, snaking below the chandeliers and illuminating, if but for a moment, its surroundings.
Her jaw snapped shut and her chin tilted up. He held her from behind, painfully wrenching her head. Sneaky, the demon growled. Lets take that magic to the streets. This dark witch wont let me tap into his magic. Hes strong. But I know his bitch isnt as strong. Come on.
An arm about her neck, he tugged her from the kitchen. Vika would not go peacefully. She dropped her body weight, forcing the demon to drag her. And she grabbed for everything they passed, clutching a stool and slowing his progress.
I like you, red one. Youre a fighter! Youll bring lovely chaos to the streets of Paris.
I like you, red one. Youre a fighter! Youll bring lovely chaos to the streets of Paris.
Youll never make it to the streets! she yelled, finding her anger gave her strength and determination.
As he dragged her over the threshold, she gripped the door frame with both hands and strained to keep hold. She shouted, Harrahya xum! A spell to focus her power.
That repulsed the demon and sent him stumbling toward the stairway. He gripped for the wall, his fingers sliding, and Vika winced. If he fell, it would be CJs body that took the damage, and she didnt want that.
Sending out her air magic, she swept it around and behind the demon, teetering him on balance as one of CJs boots slipped off the step. He fell forward, landing on his palms. Flipping back his hair, he grinned menacingly and crawled toward her, red eyes narrowed.
The lights flickered again. Vika shouted, Lumos!
Inside the loft, all the chandeliers lighted. And stayed lit.
She scrambled across the threshold just as CJ grabbed her about the ankle. Out in the hallway the bright lights flickered on. The demon howled and let go of her. Shuffling beneath the safety of the prismatic lights, Vika waited to see what would appear around the corner.
CJs hand slapped the threshold and clawed to drag his body forward. Sorry, he muttered.
Vikas heart fell. CJ?
Im back. He crawled over the threshold. His fingers bled, as did the cuts on his face and his biceps. Reaching her, he looked her over, his hand sweeping up her body and to her face, where his shaking fingers barely touched her. Mon Dieu, did I hurt you? Please forgive me.
She grabbed his hand and pressed his palm to her cheek, feeling shivers overwhelm her now she knew safety. Cold and wet, her heartbeats pounded. Hell, CJ, I dont think I can do this anymore.
He dipped his head to her lap and wept.
Chapter 10
Youre shivering, CJ said to Vika.
He tugged off his shirt, which clung to his body and felt like a dirty shroud after being controlled by the pain demon. His blood soaked the shirt and his pants, but thanks to numerous healing spell tattoos on his body, his wounds were already scarred.
Take off your clothes and Ill put them in the dryer. Ill get a blanket.
He went to the closet behind his bed, leaving Vika to disrobe, if she would. He wanted to step away from her for a few moments to give her some space. Hed tossed her around like a ragdollPain had. He wouldnt blame her if she turned and ran from here and never returned. He hated he couldnt control the demon from within, though he had been able to hold on to his magic. If the demon had gotten its mind over that, nothing would have been safe.
And had he almost pushed Vika down the stairs? He slammed his forehead against the closet door frame, cursing himself. Because it was his fault. He was the one who had purposefully journeyed to Daemonia and had brought back the means to torment Vika.
Grabbing a folded blanket from the shelf, he turned to find a wet witch standing right behind him, her sodden clothes in hand and her lips shivering. She wore a bra and held her clothes before her bare loins, and looked like a drowned kitten.
He couldnt dream to look at her in a sexual manner. Instead, he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and hugged her against him. Im so sorry.
She didnt say anything. He felt her cold lips touch against his collarbone.
Slip your underthings off and Ill have them dried in a bit. Ill make hot tea. Can you forgive me, Vika?
Wasnt your fault.
She managed a weak smile, but he sensed shed been pushed to some edge and had fallen. Wrapping the blanket about her, she then performed a bra removal without exposing herself to him.
Ill toss them in the dryer. He dangled the sheer white bra. Does this need special care?
She shook her head. Dryers fine.
Go sit down. He kissed her wet head. Ill be right back.
She turned and shuffled to the couch, where instead of sitting, she folded herself into an upright ball on the gray velvet cushions.
Earlier when hed clung to her on the threshold, shed said she didnt want to do this anymore. Neither did he. Not if it caused the one perfect thing in his life pain.
Swallowing down a vicious curse, CJ inwardly screamed at his demonic passengers. But he couldnt let on to them how desperately his heart ached to see Vika in such a state. Already they were aware she was special to him. The pain demon had known. Any chance they got, they would use that against him. The deadliest cuts struck to the heart.
The washer and dryer were located off the bathroom. He shuffled out of his jeans and tossed them in the dryer. Vikas delicate bra gave him pause, but shed said it would be okay, so he tossed that in, as well. Claiming a folded pair of black jeans, worn and torn at the seams, he pulled them on, toweled off his wet hair and grabbed a clean towel for Vika.
He gently patted her hair with the towel, she sitting there with her eyes closed and shivering lips. When she opened her eyes, she touched his forearm where Pain had dragged the jagged metal down his skin. It had hurt like a mother. And every moan, every shout had only bolstered the demon into writhing ecstasy.
Its healed, she whispered in a tiny voice.
He kissed her forehead. Yes. He forced himself to go make tea. A stupid ritual, but the hot liquid should warm her up.
You could wrap her in your arms and simply hold her. That would warm her.
But he had no right to touch her like that now. Hed destroyed the trust theyd built over the past few days.
He put the teapot on the stove and sighed, glancing over his shoulder to the shivering witch. Welcome to my nightmare.
The azure chandelier above the comfy gray sofa cast blue shimmers against the surrounding clear crystals. The effect was strangely calming, and staring at it brought Vika into her body and to a place of stillness. Shivers dissipated as she focused on the colored light beams as if they were lifelines.
Wanting more than anything to walk away and be done with the dark witch and his manic infestation of demons, instead shed moved as if by rote when CJ had directed her to disrobe. Defeated and out of sorts, shed simply complied, as if the soul bringer were requesting she do the same. Shivers had encompassed her body, but now she was warming thanks to the soft thermal blanket wrapped tightly about her limbs. Shed stay because leaving this protective cocoon felt impossible right now.
That thingPain or CJhad almost tossed her down the stairs. It was difficult to look at him without cringing, yet logically she knew the man had nothing to do with it. CJ had hurt himself at the direction of Pain. She cringed forward to remember his bloody wounds stirred to streaks by the rain, and how Pain had laughed and then moaned as if harming CJs body were an erotic turn-on.
Would heithave laughed at her had she tumbled down the stairs, surely breaking bones?
Dont think about it. That didnt happen. You were able to get into the light.
CJ sat on the couch next to her and handed her a cup of black tea. The glass cup fit into her palms, and the warmth quickly traveled up her arms, seeking her core.
CJ sat on the couch next to her and handed her a cup of black tea. The glass cup fit into her palms, and the warmth quickly traveled up her arms, seeking her core.
Sorry, he said quietly. Im just...so sorry.
She sipped the cinnamon brew and it slid down her throat, bringing her back to life, to the surface, where she bobbed for air yet wasnt sure if she could find a steady rock to land.
Stop apologizing, she said. We know it wasnt you. I just needed a few minutes to collect my thoughts.
He nodded, his head bowed and his hands clasped between his legs before him. He smelled like rain. His bare, broad shoulders were rounded, defeated, revealing more spellwork tattoos. Were none designed to protect him from demonic possession? It was sad to see him like this, but at the same time, Vika couldnt quite rally to head his cheer-up crew.
Tonight theyd been beaten by the demon.
Yet despite her revulsion, she wanted to be here, sitting quietly beside him, because home felt too far away right now. And she was too tired to leave. They needed to be together, to come to terms with the unspoken alliance they had entered into with a few kisses, touches and promised trust.
Outside the rain continued to clatter the windows, yet the lightning had ceased. Vika hoped they were safe from another power outage. If the lights went out again, she was doomed.
Are you hurt? he asked, his voice cracking on the final word.
Scuffed the skin on my palm, but otherwise, Im just shaken.
And bruised, her consciousness whispered. Your heart has been bruised.
That made little sense to her. Her heart could be bruised only if she felt something about the man beyond the desire to clean him up.
You do.
CJ took her hand and examined the palm, carefully touching around the tenderness. It hurt, but she didnt pull away. Placing his palm flat against hers, the one covered with black tattoos, he closed his eyes and whispered, Flesh, bone, blood, vita.