Summoned

~`~`~`~`~` ( Author Notes ) `~`~`~`~`~

Time for Chapter 28! I got a lot planned for these next few chapters so I hope you are all eager to to see what unfolds in this installment of Summoned!

ShelleDW – Thanks! Any feelings that Harley will develop for Slaiden will come way later because when Slaiden collects his payment, Harley will not be going easy. I’m curious myself to see where I take the two from here since I don’t have a set plan yet. A lot of their interaction has been thought up as I write so even I’m not sure what will happen next. ;)

Jackpot7374 – Lol, feel free to lose yourself, I’m just glad you and the readers are enjoying the sex scenes. ;) Harley does try but she realizes that in the end she has to give in if she doesn’t want things to get worse for her when being around a demon like Slaiden. She is a strong character, one I put a lot of effort in developing. She’s come a long way since the first 5 or so chapters. And yes, time is running out. Wonder how long Jeff will have left before Harley figures it out? Only time will tell…..and when I think of it, haha.

Jungle Drums – Thanks for checking my story out. It’s not too dark since I want it to appeal to a wide audience, everyone has different tastes. Sorry the summoning scene was short but at the time I was basically testing the water with the first few chapters which I feel I could’ve done a lot better on looking back. I should’ve spent more time on it since I’ve gotten better at preplanning with each chapter. Same can be said about the action, honestly. Glad you think the dialogue is believable, cuz that tends to be my biggest challenge when writing a chapter so I spend the most time on it. Hope you continue to read my work and thanks for the constructive criticism, it is most appreciated. :)

Thanks for all the Reviews, Hits, and Rates!

Enjoy and Please Review or leave feedback in the forums!

Note: Story is in Harley’s POV unless stated otherwise in chapters.
“Blah blah” – Normal speech
“Blah blah” – Thought of character
(Blah blah) – Author comments

Chapter 28

I had just gotten off the phone with Trisha in my car that was sitting in the Denny’s parking lot. I told her what had happened, what was said, everything. It felt good to be able to talk to someone about this. I felt as if I was coming clean of a dirty secret when I talked to her. It was nice to not be judged by someone even though I felt disgusted with myself for sleeping with the enemy. Cliché? Yes, but I had…twice. I had given up my body to protect other people, a good cause but I felt like crap. “Slaiden can still show up at my house again, damn it. Why couldn’t this all have been a bad dream?....Maybe I should start carrying a gun or knife on me to better my chances next time we cross paths…but that didn’t do the gang any good, or Manning’s guys…Detective Gavin might not like that either, not that I’d have any way to really hide it on me anyway.” I think halfheartedly. I’m not even being serious with myself anymore. I rub my temples, getting a headache from beating myself over all of this.

I think back on last night…technically this morning, of what happened. Sure Slaiden’s sinful touches felt good but I do not like being used like that. I had given in to make it easier but I hated myself for it. If it was with any other guy and not a killer demon then I would probably welcome the advances and intimacy. That’s not the case though, not even close. “Might as well call me a demon’s whore cuz that’s what I feel like.” I think bitterly as I shuffle through my bag to find the Advil I keep in there.

Locating it, I pop two in my mouth. “Seriously Harley, get a hold of yourself.” I think, “The night is over. I’m safe now and Slaiden is far away. I don’t have to worry about running into him until at least next weekend if at all. Just shove it all in the back of my mind and go on with my day.”

With that pep talk, I start my car and head home. I keep my mind off of demons and death. Eventually my mind does wander to a point in my conversation with Trisha that had at least brightened my mood. Her and Bill had gone out on a date last night. Bill had asked for her number the other day and called her up early Saturday to join him for dinner. It sounds like Trisha had a good time and that she hopes they do it again soon. I give a small smile as I drive, remembering the way her voice sounded so happy, like a teenage girl who just got her first kiss. It seemed like everyone around me was finding someone. Bill and Trisha had a good first date, Tina and Jeff had started dating casually, Ryan and Claire were now official and even Conner has been talking to Courtney a lot lately since Jeanette’s death, that sheepish grin he gets was proof enough that he has a crush. Then there was me. Alone. No one there who was interested in me for a relationship…..Slaiden didn’t count no matter how intimate we’ve got. Not that I mind being single but being around others who have someone makes me want to have someone. Someone to protect me from pain, someone who enjoys my company, someone who wants to be near me and kiss me with love. I'm not going to go look for someone just to have them but I wouldn’t mind if a guy came along down the road. Preferably when Slaiden is gone though. I wouldn’t want Slaiden to kill him because of his possessive nature. That would not be good at all.

I give a sigh as I get near my area. Figuring that I need to keep my mind off of a lot of things, I focus on driving and what I need to do for the day. Soon I pull into my subdivision and get to my house. I see that my dad’s car is in the driveway but my mom must be out doing errands. I park in my usual spot and go inside with my stuff. I go straight to my room as I say good morning to my dad. I drop my stuff near my closet and pick up my small mirror. I check out my neck to see the latest damage. The bite mark from Slaiden is visible but any redness it had is gone, faded away during the night. I could possibly pass it off as a bad scratch if anyone asks since all that’s left is four little indents. I pick up my cover up and apply some on the abused area. Soon the marks disappear from sight, only slightly showing, hardly noticeable now. Giving my reflection a small smile in satisfaction I go to collapse on my bed, looking up at the white ceiling. I gaze up at it, my mind blank. I just relax.

*Knock*

I’m startled at the sudden noise and rise up slightly to see my dad in my doorway.

“Hey kid, mind if we talk?” He says with a half smile.

“Sure.” I say as I get into a sitting position, legs dangling over the edge. “About what?”

“You.” My dad simply says as he takes a seat on the edge of my bed next to me.

“Uh-oh.” I instantly think as I hear that word. I swallow slightly, hopefully not noticeable to him before I speak. “What do you mean?”

My dad takes a deep breath before speaking, looking slightly away as if trying to find the right words. “Well your mother and I have noticed that the past week or so you have been a bit more reserved, quiet. We are getting the impression that something is weighing on your mind. Is anything bothering you? You can be honest with me.”

“HELL YEAH! There’s this evil demon killing people and has the hots for me apparently. He’s been here while you’ve been sleeping and killed people, including Steve Crandall. I’ve lied to you and the police, more than a few times might I add. And to top it all off he made me sleep with him!…TWICE! How’s that for honest, Dad?!?” I mentally scream, wanting to burst. But instead, all I say is, “Nothing’s bothering me.”

My dad gives me a hard look, studying my face and body language. I don’t think he’s buying my lie. Parents always seem to know when something is up. He gives me that ‘What’s the real story?’ look, the one that every teenager and college kid knows all too well. I keep my composure, trying to appear as if I wasn’t about to burst at the seam to spill out all my secrets, which lately I have racked up quite a lot. “Seriously Dad, nothing is bothering me.”

“Are you sure? Is that young man’s death bothering you? Do you feel guilty about it? Or that you feel responsible in some way for Steve Crandall’s death? Talk to me, Harley. I know something is eating at you.” My dad says with deep concern.

“Dad is actually pretty close there. Always perceptive when it comes to people’s feelings. If only he knew the whole story.” I think as I consider my options for believable answers. In fact, since I do feel guilty about Mark Hanson’s death as well as Steve’s, any answer I give won’t exactly be lying. I could satisfy my dad’s need for me to be open with him and feel a bit of relief myself despite the fact that I can’t be completely honest. Looking at my dad then to my hands, I get out an honest response on my feelings. “Well…I guess I have been feeling a bit of guilt about what happened to them, Dad.” I give a sad sigh before continuing, not exactly meeting my dad in the eye. “I just feel that I could’ve reacted faster or tried harder to stop the attacker. That was just so hard to watch, seeing that man fade away like that as I held his hand. And Steve…..That was just so…so unbelievable! We had just seen him! I had fought him! The last thing he did was fight me! I feel horrible about that! Why couldn’t he had been able to be with his family or friends, not pissed off at me?”

Tears were coming down my face at this point, the pent up emotions finally being released. My dad brings me into his chest, hugging me tightly as I cry. I really feel horrible about all of this, differences aside, Steve’s death was cruel. I felt responsible because I couldn’t stop Slaiden. Slaiden had his way with me and Steve that night, touching me on the roof and murdering an unsuspecting Steve. Steve didn’t die slowly either, Slaiden probably took his time, toying with him. I started to cry even harder as the other victims flashed across my mind. Images of Jackson Palori, The seven gang members and woman, Mark Hanson, Jeanette Miller, Steve Crandall, David Manning and his four men, and Don Fletcher all run through my mind like an old movie reel, some from my dream while others are of the gory scenes that I have witnessed. Eighteen people dead. My dad hugs me tighter as I grip onto his shirt, not wanting to let go. I didn’t mean to break down like this but at this point my body is too emotionally exhausted to care. Even if I can’t say more, it doesn’t need to be said.

I just need to cry. I just need my parents. I just need to be normal again.

“It’s alright, Harley. It’s alright…” My dad whispers into my hair as he rubs my back soothingly.

My dad doesn’t say anything more for a while. He just lets me sob a bit more until I start to calm down. I sniffle a bit and wipe my eyes as I pull away slightly to look at my dad. I even out my breathing and swallow down a few more sobs from escaping. Once I start to steady my breathing more, my dad speaks again in the same quiet tone. “Some things we just can’t change, sweetie. What happened was horrible and sad but you can’t blame yourself for something that was out of your control. People die, it’s a part of being human. Unfortunately, it was Steve’s poor decisions that led to his death. No one can even be certain if he wouldn’t have gone without you interacting with him. It was his time. He’s in a better place now and so is the other. You were there for him when he needed someone. I bet he’s watching over you right now, thanking you for helping. ”

“I really want to believe you, Dad, but if my dreams have any truth to them then their souls are trapped with Slaiden’s other victims. I’m not God, I don’t know how to save them. How can I save a soul when I can barely save a life? I just want to consider giving up at this point.” I think sullenly. But I can’t say this out loud. I can barely listen to my own father. Nothing my dad says will reassure me. It wasn’t Steve’s time or anyone else’s time. Slaiden robbed them of life, him and his summoner. Even if they were in heaven or caught somewhere in between, their lives were lost and I couldn’t save them.

“Look at you. Get up and step up. The past is the past. Listen to Dad. Tell him you understand and that in the end, everything will be fine.” I tell myself. I need to start healing from my emotional wounds and build my life back up. I’m not a coward or a quitter and I’m not going to let Slaiden and his summoner come out on top at the end of this. Blinking back the rest of my tears, I look my dad in the eye. “You right, Dad. It’s not my fault and Steve and Mark are resting peacefully now. Life maybe unfair sometimes but in the end, it’s all okay.” I sniffle slightly and give a small, forced smile. “Thanks Dad, I guess it was bothering me more then I realized.”

“You’re welcome. I’m just glad you’re being open with us again. Don’t bottle things up inside Harley, it’s not healthy. I want you to be able to come to me and your mother when you have a problem. Feel better now?” My dad asks. I nod and give him a small smile. “Good.” He says. “Now why don’t you get your day started? Grandpa and Grandma are coming over for dinner so we need to get the house clean.”

“Alright, Dad, I’ll be down in a bit.” I say as I wipe my face of any remaining tears.

My dad kisses me on the cheek then gets up. He gives me one last smile which I return and leaves my room, closing the door behind him. I give a small sigh, feeling better now that I got some of my guilt off my chest. Even if I couldn’t confess with everything to my parents, this was a start and I’m okay with that.

“Dad is right, I can’t change the past but I can affect the future. On Monday I’m going to pay close attention to the people around me to see if any possible targets show up. No more, no more victims, no more threatened lives and no more lies!” I think as I get up, my confidence returning. “First step, think of connections to bring up on Wednesday while I clean the kitchen.”

-------------------- ( Third Person POV ) --------------------

( Later That Night )

It was a quarter past 9pm when Jeff got home from his weekend away. He was tired after a fun time with his cousins. He dragged his bags into the house and tossed a bag full of dirty clothes into the laundry room on his way to the stairs. He greeted his parents and told them he was going straight to bed. He slowly makes his way up the stairway, in no rush to greet Slaiden. In fact, Jeff enjoyed his time away from the intimidating demon. He just hoped Slaiden didn’t get into any trouble while he was gone.

When he got to his room, Jeff found Slaiden lounging on his bed like usual with a book in hand. He didn’t even acknowledge Jeff’s presence as the young man entered the room. “Hello to you too.” Jeff thinks sarcastically as he tosses his bag near his closet. Releasing an annoyed sigh at the silent demon, Jeff decides to speak. “So how did it go the other night?”

*Snap*

Slaiden shut his book and sets it down beside him, looking up at the boy. His unexpressive face quickly forms a smirk. “Very well, most successful.”

“So, no issues? No Harley getting in the way either?” Jeff asks, hoping that Harley had been home all weekend.

“She showed up. In fact…she brought friends. It was an interesting turn of events.” Slaiden says coolly, enjoying what is about to take place.

Jeff’s eyes widen at this. “What do you mean by friends?” The boy asks, his voice cautious yet curious with a hint of fear.

“Apparently our little Harley has been talking to your authorities. They were looking for her because they were suspicious of her actually, assuming she was involved in the murders. The detective wasn’t all that surprised about seeing me, he had pervious suspicion of something was amiss. I snapped Fletcher’s neck before they could interfere further. Such a trivial annoyance.” Slaiden says, thinking back to the other night.

“Damn it. What did you do the cops then?” Jeff asks, getting a bit pissed that someone was clever enough to put the pieces together about Slaiden.

“We talked.” Slaiden replies simply, being vague as always.

“Ta-Talked?” Jeff chokes out, surprised by such a civil answer.

“Of course, Harley wasn’t going to let me kill them without interfering and the detective wasn’t going to let her fight me either. So the best option I found was to make a deal for her.” Slaiden says, flashing his fangs.

“A deal?!” Jeff’s mind screams as his face turns pale. He manages to get out his next words with a stern yet forced voice. “What. Did. You. Do?”

Slaiden gives a dark laugh as he rises from the bed. He faces Jeff, golden cat eyes gleaming in mischief. “I gave her a choice. Either she come with me for a night of pleasure or the detective and CSI die and she is linked to their murders. She accepted the former, to the displeasure of the detective. I feel the male will be a thorn in my side the rest of my time here.”

“NO! NO! NOOO!!!” Jeff's face instantly heats up in a boiling rage, his hands clenched tightly together. “You Fucking Bastard!” He screams as he charges at Slaiden, not caring who may hear.

“Pathetic humans. So emotional.” Slaiden’s eyes flash in amusement as the human comes at him. He side steps Jeff and grabs the boy tightly at by the back of the neck. Slaiden puts Jeff in a steel-like headlock and whispers coolly in the boy’s ear. “Let’s take this somewhere more private, boy. We don’t need your parents to check in, now do we?”

Not giving Jeff time to respond, Slaiden leaps out the window with him and flies to a nearby woods. Jeff struggles in Slaiden’s hold, fighting for air. Slaiden descends into the heavily wooded area, scaring off the active wildlife. He then roughly shoves Jeff away and watches the young man stager to regain his footing. Jeff then turns to meet him with a bruise forming on his neck, his face contorted into anger.

“Damn it Slaiden! I can’t believe you! You make me absolutely sick!.....Oh God, Harley!...You…and her…OH FUCK!..FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!!”

“Fuck is right. Best I had in a long time. Taking her flower, her moaning for me, absolutely delicious.” Slaiden remarks, licking his lips in memory.

Jeff is fuming at this statement, wanting nothing more than to rip Slaiden apart. The only thing stopping him is the little factor of the demon killing him. “Harley, oh God Harley I am so sorry, what have I fucking done? It’s all my damn fault. Because of me, you had to give up your virginity, something you shouldn’t of had to give up to this damn demon! Why do you have to be so noble? Protecting those men? You couldn’t just let them die, damn it!”

Slaiden looks on in amusement as Jeff’s expression changes as he battles his inner turmoil. He is about to speak when Jeff beats him to it, regaining some composure. “Please tell me that was the end of it, that you dropped her off after in one piece and left them like that. Please tell me nothing more went on, I can’t bare the thought of your damn claws being on her anymore.”

Slaiden’s smirk just widens, exposing a glistening fang in the pale moonlight. “It would have been that way if I had not realized my earlier statement of the authorities being aware of me. Obviously they want Harley to work with them now so I paid her a later visit at her home for a nice late night chat.”

Jeff is about to blow up again but as he processes that information he realizes that Slaiden has a point. They needed to keep tabs on Harley now if they were going to get away with the remaining names on the list. He releases a defeated sigh as his eyes fall to the ground. “What did you find out then?”

Glad the human realizes that he is correct, Slaiden answers with confidence. “That Harley met the detective when Mark Hanson died but has been lying to him up until this point. Also that Harley is very determined now to stop you even though she has no idea who you are. Tread wisely around her from now on, she will be more perceptive. I also made it clear that I will kill those two men if they proceed to get in my way.”

“Hmm.” Is all Jeff says for a while as he considers this turn of events. “Guess I’ll have to really keep a close eye on Harley at school then, maybe even indirectly lead her to suspect someone else.” He thinks before speaking. “Good to know then. Anything else I should be aware of while I was gone, since you’ve apparently taken matters into your own hands…err claws?”

“This will be most amusing.” Slaiden thinks as he prepares to release the other intimate night he had with Harley to the boy. He takes a few steps closer to Jeff, relishing the hint of fear radiating off of him. Stopping about a foot away from the boy, Slaiden looks down at him, smirking devilishly. “Since I had such a lovely evening the other night with our dear Harley, I decided a repeat performance was in order for last night.”

“YOU FUCKED HER AGAIN!?!” Jeff booms. He attacks Slaiden once more, completely losing all control. He doesn’t even care about his earlier failed attempt, he just swings his fist hard at Slaiden’s head.

Slaiden easily doges it, as well as the others that Jeff throws. He lets the boy continue his futile attempt to harm him, enjoying the show. Slaiden gives a small laugh as Jeff starts to tire, his fists never making contact. Getting bored though, the demon decides to end the human’s suffering. Slaiden grabs Jeff’s fist, engulfing it in his own, and squeezes down on it.

“Ahhh!” Jeff cries out in pain as he feels the intense pressure on his fist.

“Now that I have you undivided attention human, listen carefully.” Slaiden says coldly, all amusement gone from his voice. “You aren’t the one in control here, not even close. I may be here because of you but you signed a binding contract and signed over your friend in the process. Harley will be mine soon enough so I am entitled to do with her as I please. When I see opportunity, I grab it. She was alone at her dojo so I dropped in. She put up a fight if that comforts you but when her family’s safety is on the line, she is more than cooperative. While she thinks this is only temporary, she won’t for long. You caused this so live with the consequences of you’re stupid actions. I enjoy a vengeful, evil scheme as well as any demon but what I can’t stand is a weak human losing sight of his goal, that I am making happen. You want revenge then revenge you shall get. Just accept that everything comes at a price, boy. Nothing is free.”

With every word Slaiden had pulled a pissed off Jeff closer to him so that the boy had no choice but to look the intimidating demon in the eye. His words cut through him like a razor blade. The truthful words of reality stung more than any physical pain ever could. Slaiden was right as always, seeing beyond the surface of the matter. He was always three steps ahead of Jeff, a fact that scared the young man a great deal.

“I can’t win here, I just can’t win. I screwed up. I can’t save her. I’m a coward, wanting to save my own sorry skin over one of my closest friends…Harley will hate me, even if she said she would always forgive me, I know that she won’t. Not over something like this. She had plans, goals, dreams, and with the scratch of a pen I wiped that all away. Nothing will ever be the same again…….I regret my decision but no going back now. What’s done is done. All I can do now is enjoy what little time I have left with her before this bastard takes her away…..Maybe one day…or in heaven, we will meet again.” Jeff thinks as he finally comes to realize what was happening before him. He is shaking slightly as he beats himself up, avoiding eye contact with the dark demon clutching him.

Seeing that the boy has heard him loud and clear, Slaiden releases his hold on the boy. He not too gently pushes him a few steps back, wanting distance from the lowly human who summoned him. Slaiden just looks at the boy with a hard gaze, remaining silent to hear what he will say.

Jeff finally composes himself to stand up straight, meeting his brown eyes with Slaiden’s gold ones. “You’re right,” He says, “I get it. It’s my fault, all of it. I can’t change what’s been done and I can’t change what you want as payment. I may dislike what you’re doing with Harley and what you will do but since it’s not actually force then I will accept it, no matter how much I hate you or myself for it. I’ll just have to appreciate my time with her now and pray to God that she won’t hate me for the rest of her life for forcing a new one on her.”

“So you are finally coming to terms with reality,” Slaiden comments, “Although, you should have done so long ago. You are no better than a demon now boy, thirsty for the blood of those who have wronged you. Justice is a foreign concept now. In its place is dominance, the need to conquer you’re enemies. Embrace it. It is what you wanted, is it not?”

“Yes, it’s what I wanted. It’s still what I want. I guess you’re right, I’m no better then you.” Jeff replies.

“I said a demon, boy. Not me. I am better then you.” Slaiden replies sharply, verbally putting the young man in his place.

Jeff just gives a small grunt in agreement before speaking again. “I have the lives of eighteen people on my conscious, some guilty, some innocent. If that has tainted me enough as a human being to consider me evil in nature then God have mercy on my soul.”

Slaiden gives a small, yet dark laugh at this statement. “Asking to be saved on judgment by some higher being, how pathetic of you. You mortals are such a foolish race, putting something as trivial as faith into an ideal based on stories. Striving for a truth that you will never grasp until death, of heaven and hell, angles and demons, the Good Lord of all that is Holy and the fallen angel that is Lucifer himself, all human kind’s efforts to believe that their pathetic, sinning souls can be saved. While there is always some truth to every tale, there are also lies to cover it up. Over history your species has lost track of what is true, redemption long past. So pray all you might but your God will not answer until your time is up, if he truly cares that is. I wish I could personally be there to witness your judgment. If your so called God is watching human, you can bet that your soul is damned for all eternity. Now that is the ultimate truth for you to accept.”

Jeff’s eyes are lowered to the ground in defeat while hearing this speech, feeling as if he has been kicked while already down on the ground. Once Slaiden is finished, Jeff meet’s his eyes again, not wanting to be beat down anymore. “Leave my faith out of this, Slaiden. A demon is hardly the one to be preaching of judgment.”

“Well played,” Slaiden comments, a smirk forming. “The demonic race is a race of sinners to the core but we are also above you. Just remember that fact next time you cross me. So far your times of growing a backbone have worked against you. You’re very slow at learning your lesson.” Slaiden’s eyes flicker to Jeff’s discoloration on his neck to emphasize his point.

Jeff gives huff in frustration. He subconsciously rubs over the slight bruising on his neck as he stares daggers at the sadistic demon. “Hmph, whatever. I don’t care anymore. We still have a few more names that I want done so let’s just put this past us.”

“Hnnn.” Slaiden says with a slight nod in agreement. “Excellent, the sooner I kill, the sooner Harley is within my grasp.”

“Can we go now then? This is at least a 15 minute walk back and I’m tired from the long drive back.” Jeff says, the tiredness reflecting in his eyes.

Slaiden just flashes his fangs and extends his wings out to their full length, an intimidating sight. “Have a nice walk then.” He says as he takes to the air.

“HEY!!! What about me! Slaiden!” Jeff cries out.

Slaiden turns his head and hovers a few yards away from the distressed boy, about twenty feet off the ground. He gives a cold smirk as he looks down at Jeff. “Nothing is free, boy. Learn it and use it.”

With that he takes off back to Jeff’s home, leaving an angry young man in his wake. Jeff stomps hard on the leaf covered ground below and curses loudly at the wind.

“Fucking Bastard! I hope you rot in hell Slaiden, I really do.”


~`~`~`~`~` ( Author Notes ) `~`~`~`~`~

What an intense chapter! So much raw emotion, I love it. Harley shows her vulnerable side and Jeff and Slaiden have at it. One of my fave scenes between Slaiden and Jeff yet.

I hope you all liked it. Look for chapter 29 around Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

Please Review!