Fall From Grace (34 page)

He finally smiles back. "Smitten eh? What time dimension are you from anyways?"

"Well I was Ash. I still am, I always will be, you know." My body is aching for his touch, for him to hold me and never let go. We stare into each others eyes, letting this last peaceful moment envelop us. As he slowly moves towards me, my breath catches in my throat, the effect he has on me never lessening.

Grabbing me gently, he holds my face in his hands and slowly leans in to kiss me. A soft kiss but one with meaning that perhaps this is the last real moment we will share together. This thought makes me shiver and want more. I entwine my arms up his neck and through his hair pulling him closer to me, annoyed by the layers separating us. Unable to hold back anymore he pushes me against the large rock behind me, running his hands through my hair, down my neck and back, pulling me closer and lifting me up onto the hard stone. Wrapping my legs around him he pulls his hands from my waist and down my thighs, pulling me closer as he breaks from my lips and travels his kisses down my throat and neck. Heaving a sigh, I pull back and look deep into his eyes. I can see the passion ready to take control of him, or both of us.

"I love you," I whisper.

Breathless he responds. "There are no words to describe what I feel for you Stella." He buries his face in my neck and holds me so tight I can't breathe. That's exactly what we needed.

"I wonder when we'll actually be able to get past second base?" I joke to break the tension.

Ash pulls back and looks me square in the face. "If we get out of this alive, believe me, it won't be long. Not long at ALL." He smiles a big real smile as I go red in the face at the thought.
 

"Ok, well, let's get this show on the road shall we. There is some butt to be kicked and I refuse to die today."

"That's my girl." Ash says as he turns to unpack his weapons.

HUNTER

Thank Hell it's a Sunday night; not much happening in old Alessa. Not that I think it would be more hopin' on a Friday, but the less humans the better. I've been hanging here at
The Willow
and Gabby wasn't lying, it's a pretty nice spot. My job is to wait for old Ubi, so I've made a nice dent in a very pricey Hennessy. I 'borrowed' Ash's credit card, knowing he owes me at least this much. I have no idea what has gone off in his little brain here but he has definitely fallen off his rocker. He's different, and I'm not sure I like it. We've had our scuffles in the past but I've never seen him so hung up on a chick.
 

I owe him enough to help him out here, but I can't say that it's going to turn out alright. In fact, I am pretty sure Shit's going to go down in a handbag. My confidence in this escalates as I spot my target entering the dining room around six. It isn't hard for me to tell him apart from the humans. In fact I'm shocked that even
they
can't see the difference. Or perhaps they can as the hostess places him in a corner booth, away from most of the patrons. I'm sure the temperature in the room has dropped at least five degrees with his presence. Gabby's mention of the bitter cold in his dimension must be ingrained in his genetic make-up.

He senses me after a few seconds, glancing up from his table with a slow and seemingly disinterested gaze. It isn't helping my prediction on the outcome of tonight with the understanding that he isn't the least bit concerned with another demon in his presence. He sets his eyes on mine with a blank curiosity, lingering for only a few seconds as he returns to his slow but meticulous task of inspecting his cutlery and re-organizing his table. OCD - no kidding.
 

He's a pretty average looking guy, short brown hair, slicked to perfection with some sort of grooming product. He's tall and slim and sporting a very well pressed light grey suit and black tie. It doesn't exactly fit him perfectly and makes me wonder from what poor sucker it used to belong.

I watch him for a few minutes, until I finish my glass, but I don't want to piss him off yet or I'll end up mind Fucked into a killing spree. I nod to him as I leave the room, receiving a sickly half smile raising the hairs on the back of my neck. Bile builds in my throat and my whole body goes cold in fear from this brief moment of interaction. How could a little unassuming guy have that much power? It's evident though, the evil is permeating through his pores and it's making me panic. Now that's something that doesn't happen every day.
 

He knows I'm here, now all I can do is wait for him to come to me. And he will. I head outside and down the street, parking myself on a bench until he's ready to make nice. After about an hour,
The Willow's
front door opens and he walks out sporting an oversized trench coat to match the suit. Immediately turning in my direction, he spots me and starts his slow walk over. I've been reading the paper so I fold it in half and place it on the bench as he approaches and I stand up.
 

It had been a nice evening, quiet with a warm breeze, but since he's come outside, clouds have rolled in and a brisk wind has picked up considerably. Another tip Gabs was able to uncover about this demon; they can also control the weather - this just keeps getting better and better.

I'm about a few inches taller then him, but it doesn't make me feel more powerful. In fact I feel quite the opposite.

"Obviously you are looking for me demon. To what do I owe the pleasure?" His voice drips with sarcasm and I can tell he's more then a little pissed off.

"I, uh, heard it through the grapevine that you were looking for a particular young girl."
 

"Is that so." His lips curve up into a terrifying grin as he buttons up his coat to the neck.

"Well I happen to know where she's hiding."

"Bravo for you," he replies, carefully smoothing out the few wrinkles in the fabric. "But what, might I ask, would you know about my particular affairs?" Finished his task he sets his eyes back on mine, sending a bolt of fear through my veins.

"I know more than you think."

A flicker of something flashes in his eyes, I'm definitely pissing him off, time to switch gears. "I was in the area when I heard about you coming to town and I thought perhaps you could use my help," I lie.

He laughs out loud at his. A terrifying sound that I know will give me the willies for weeks to come as he opens his mouth and leans back into the gesture. His teeth seem normal upon first glance but staring into his mouth I can see they are slightly more pointed then regular teeth and there seem to be way more of them. Little tiny daggers lining the perimeter of his lips; all the better eat your abdomen, I suppose.

"I doubt that. Now please do not follow me anymore." He turns around to leave. Shit.

"Someone else got to her already you know." I call after him as he stops mid stride. Turning to face me, I can feel my whole body go numb, unable to move a muscle. Suddenly it's his voice I hear in my head, not my own. His lips aren't moving but I can hear his thoughts.

Do you know what I can do to you demon? If you are lying to me, do you have any idea what will happen?
He steps closer, leaning into me, his hot breath on my face. This feeling is worst then anything I could imagine; I am literally paralyzed and unable to even speak unless he allows it. He can see the fear in my eyes which answers his question quite definitely.

"I don't play games and I certainly don't appreciate threats from a fool like you," he says this out loud and releases my mouth in order to speak.
 

"I'm sorry sir, I just thought you'd want to know and perhaps reward me for the information." Beads of sweat are trickling down my temples as I struggle to move anything from the neck down.

"Reward? What makes you think that I would reward you for anything when I could control you to walk in front of a bus the moment you told me what I needed?" A slimy smile spreads across his pink wet lips as trickles of panic go shooting down my spine. Still able to speak, I blurt out.

"I have friends who work at The Register. I could get them to stop looking for you."
 

"And what would you want in return?" he snaps.

"I would tell you where they took the girl, you would let me tag along." This part makes me almost gag. "You could give me a part of her. Just a small part, but, I've heard her power is great. Greater than I've ever seen. Just a small piece would be all I'd ask for."

"You dare to bargain with me?" He leans into me so close I can smell his hot, fetid breath. Evidently he had a very rare steak for dinner - big surprise.

"Do we have a deal or not?" I say with more confidence then I feel.

He leans back a little bit, thinking my offer through.
 

"We have a deal," he answers with a sick lop sided grin. "Now where is the demon girl? Who has taken what is mine?"

"I don't know his name, but I followed them to the old conservation area this afternoon. I think he's going to
prepare the ritual
out there, where it's desolate and they're alone."

I think I've done it, he's definitely ruffled at this change of plans. I can see it's almost physically painful for him to handle. For him to show any sign of weakness is not something he is familiar with. Hopefully it's enough for him to make a mistake. The question now is whether he'll just kill me or not care enough about me and let me go.

Stepping back from me he straightens his jacket and tie, trying to regain his composure. He uses the palm of his hand to smooth back the grease in his hair.
 

"If you happen to be lying to me demon, then Hell help you because nothing that Satan could do would be the slightest in comparison to what I can do to you myself." He mentions this like he's talking about the weather. Once again calm and collected.
 

"I don't have any more use of you. The Register is ineffectual to me as are you. I will let you live. But don't ever try and bargain with me again demon, or I will make you eat your own testicles," he hisses and turns and walks away.

I am still unable to move, his power is all consuming and the last thing that goes through my mind is what evil Asher and Stella have coming for them. Everything goes black as my own hand swings up and punches myself square in the face with a force I had no idea I possessed. He actually made me knock
myself
out. It'd be funny if I could laugh.

Standing supposedly alone in these woods, waiting - just waiting is worse torture then I imagined. Ash has made himself scarce, not telling me where he's hiding for fear I will give him away. I've situated myself up on top of a big rock, pulling my knees into my chest. The air was warm earlier, but night is settling in and the chill has crept into my bones. I feel Ash near which is about the only comfort I have right now. I worry that he is too close, that HE will sense Ash as well. We have no choice, we have only one chance. A million thoughts ring through my brain but only one stays in the forefront. Control. Stay in control.

I look to the sky to see the clouds rolling in, dark and ominous, hmmm, how telling of the situation. Getting up from the rock, I feel numb and unsure of why I just did that. I can't move my arms anymore and my lips won't move an inch to scream. I'm standing rigid in the middle of the clearing, waiting. He's here.

Involuntarily my head swivels to the right to see a very unassuming man standing beside a large spruce.

"So either I was tricked or you are extremely stupid. Or both. Which do you think it is?" his nauseating voice piercing the silent air, sending thrums of panic throughout my body.

"Oh right. You can't answer me. Well let me speak for you. I think you are extremely stupid." He tsked a few times shaking his head back and forth but not losing eye contact with me as he crept closer. "Doesn't bode very well to your circumstance I'm afraid. Certainly not to that bumbling cretan from town. Interesting how some of you earth demons think you are much smarter then the rest of us. When will you ever learn?"

Standing before me, he looks very normal, but I can tell that he is anything but. Sinister, wicked, sick, twisted - anything but average I'm afraid. Lifting his hand, he moves his fingers to the side of my cheek, careful not to touch my skin, and shifts my chin from side to side, as if sizing up his prize. What a strange sensation it is to be unable to punch him in the face, which is exactly what my body is screaming to do. I feel as if my whole insides are on fire, willing myself to move and yet I remain still as a statue.

"I think a nice treat you will make; pretty young thing like yourself. Such incredible power too, I can't wait to taste you." Licking his lips he comes close, about an inch from my face, closing his eyes, inhaling my smell, savouring the aroma. If I could manage to retch right now, I would.

"You can come out now too," speaking a little louder, "come and join your
friend
," he says, still keeping his eyes on me. Ash comes walking out from behind a group of pines, still holding a broad sword but definitely under his mind control as well.

"You seriously didn't think you were going to be able to out smart me, did you?" Turning his gaze to Ash he smiles a sick and twisted grin that fuels the rage burning inside of me. I'm not sure how I could have anticipated this feeling, but nothing has prepared me for the awful, helpless, self loathing that has accompanied it.