Day Breaks

Chapter Three: Demons in the Shadows


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Tauri threw her keys at Thomas’ head the moment the entered the apartment, but he deftly caught them in his fingers, and he even had the audacity to look worried as she ripped off her heels and threw them at various pillows on the couch followed by her purse. The entire time, the redhead’s string of curses didn’t stop. “Fucking bastard. I hope he fucking dies. Do you know what he did to me? He tried to shove a gun into my kidney and then he intimidated me… ME! Taurance mother fucking Harmon. Wonder Woman of the business world.”

She ripped the pins out of her hair that held the tight coif in place at the base of her neck, and the red mass spilled out over her shoulders like fire. She pulled off her overcoat and threw it on a chair in the living room as she paced, cursing as she accidentally kicked the coffee table while she passed.

Thomas waited patiently by the door as she proceeded to strip her clothes while still cursing at Damion. “Eye for an eye…what the HELL does that mean, and who fucking cares? He just crossed the wrong damn woman. I’ll have Frankie find him, stick his butt with a dart and bring him to me so I can shove a six inch heel right up his ass!” She ripped off her jacket and threw it over a dining room chair, and then in her rage, forgetting that Thomas was by the door, she started to unbutton her blouse.

He cleared his throat right as she got the last button, and she paused in annoyance and looked at him. “What?” He only looked at her, trying to shove the sudden rush of desire away. God, she’s beautiful when she’s mad. He stared at her with burning hazel eyes, and she stamped her hosed foot to get his attention. “Hello? Fucking HELLO?! What?”

He shook the haze out of his mind and cleared his throat again, crossing his muscled arms over his broad chest. “Um, Tauri. Maybe you should, um, undress in your room.” He fidgeted slightly, and the redhead actually snorted at him. He waited for the onslaught of curses that was sure to follow his request, but she only ripped off her blouse, leaving her in a sheer white lace bra that made her look much more innocent than she actually was.

“Oh, Jesus, Thomas. It’s not like you haven’t seen it before!” She snapped at him. She turned on her heel and opened the double doors of her room as if though she was entering a throne room. He breathed a sigh of frustration and leaned on the door behind him, his eyes shutting in relief.

There had been a time when he’d shared his bed with the spit fire, and despite it, he’d never ask to have her back. There was a reason they’d parted. He had been a cop, and a good one, too, but good cops don’t sleep with the enemy, and at the time, Tauri had been under investigation for a rash of murders that concerned a few drug dealing gangs that had attempted on moving in on her territory. She was the most obvious suspect, but of course, it had never been proven.

The fights they had when he’d been investigating had led to a feeling of separation, even when they were in bed together, and when he’d been removed from the force because of his involvement with a suspect, he’d severed ties with her in spite. Now that he thought about it, it had probably been the best thing to do, but he still wanted and longed for the days when he could just walk into her apartment and attack her body and worship with seeking hands

“Tauri, I’m gonna sleep on the couch again.” He called out as he moved to the loft kitchen to find a beer. “I hope you don’t mind, and if you do, tough luck.” He found the beer, and smiled at the choice of beer she’d kept in her fridge. As much money as Tauri had, she still had normal tastes when it came to beer. He grabbed a bottle and slammed the fridge door shut, and then he was looking into furious blue eyes. She had quickly changed into a cotton tank top and simple flannel pajama pants that probably cost more than his entire wardrobe.

“You are NOT staying here another night.” She snapped. “I was missing a whole six pack of beer when I woke up this morning, and my couch will be ruined by your fat ass sleeping on it and sinking the cushions.” Thomas was getting more and more distracted by her lips as he nursed his beer, and the more she ranted, the more turned on he was getting. Her cheeks flushed in her blind anger, and her eyes blazed. He was slowly losing control of himself. “I don’t wanna see your ugly mug on my couch again!” She snapped finally.

Before she realized what he was doing, Thomas set his beer on the counter and backed her up against the fridge, making magnets fly across the kitchen with the force, and he pressed into her, dropping his head to her neck and inhaling her exquisite blend of perfume. “Then, can you see my ugly mug in your bed?” His voice was low and sultry. She started to rant again, but she was silenced when he pressed his hot lips to her shoulder and murmured jokingly against her neck. “Calm down, Tauri, before you give yourself a heart attack.” The lips brushed her shoulder one more time, and right as he started to step back, long, slender arms slipped around his shoulders, and he felt the wet streaks of tears against his neck as she buried her face in his shoulder.

In reaction, he wrapped his arms around her waist, and releasing the pressure from pushing her against the fridge doors, he backed up slightly, pulling her closer against his chest, letting her body meld to his. The tears came stronger, and he just held her still as she began to sob out her frustration, fear, and anger. He blamed Damion for her distress, and in the back of his mind, he swore that the vengeful gunman would pay for it dearly.


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Jenny happily clicked down the dirty sidewalk towards her single daily delivery. Her heart sang when she wasn’t in the office, and her eyes even brightened when she wasn’t stuck behind the forbidding black marble desk. Her long blonde hair was swaying behind her in the wind, and as she came upon a particularly filthy alley, she turned down it, shifting the bag of delicious smelling take out to her right hand from her left. She passed a few homeless people who smiled and said hello to her, but then, she entered another part of the alley that was seemingly abandoned, except for a long, shaggy haired individual that was huddled in the corner of two buildings.

Jenny smiled lightly and slowly approached him. “Jason?” He didn’t look up from where he was huddled, and Jenny frowned slightly as a soft fear curled around her heart. “Jason, honey? It’s Jen.” The head moved, and relief flooded through her system. She moved to crouch in front of him and set the food down. “Hey, it’s your daily delivery.” She smiled sweetly at him, and she fearlessly reached to tilt his chin up so that she could see his eyes. The pupils were dilated, and he seemed unaware of her presence. Jenny sighed and sat down on a sheet of newspaper next to him, undoubtedly getting her white gypsy skirt filthy in the process.

She reached for his arm, and when he didn’t fight her for it, she gently rolled his sleeve up, revealing sickening pot marks from needles and bruises where veins had burst in his arm from shooting up too much, too fast, and too often. She gently fingered the bruises, and he shifted, murmuring slightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and enveloped his arm in the circle of hers, and she sighed. It was when the shameless show of affection happened that Jason spoke, a light, airy male voice carrying on the wind.

“You know, pink clouds aren’t all what it’s cracked up to be.” He chuckled ruefully. It made Jenny smile, and she went to a crouch in front of him and set the food at his feet, and he promptly ripped into the bag and began eating and talking to her at the same time. “So, Dot, does the marble still hurt your legs, or have you found another friend to kiss?”

She laughed slightly at his crazed lingo and her nickname, and she answered him easily. “No, I’m still stuck behind the same desk at the same company with the same men knocking on my door. I haven’t forgotten you, Jason.” She caressed his cheek as he ate, and she sighed again. “You really should go to the rehab center that I called.”

“Heh. Dot, people in cells don’t like pink clouds. They’re more trouble than dogs are worth.” He muffled through his rice. She giggled softly and shook her head.

“Well, I don’t like pink clouds either, but you talk to me!”

“That’s because you’re prettier than pink clouds, but I can’t see you all day, so pink clouds floating in the sky of my life will have to do.” He raised empty, pale blue eyes to her emerald orbs, and then, he smiled shyly at her.

Jenny touched his hair. “I wish you still worked for Daddy. I miss you so much. It was nice to have a friend around at work.”

“What about the fire on the water that always follows you around? I think its horns are getting shorter. Besides, when it smiles at you, it seems like it’s really happy.”

Jenny burst out into laughter and shook her head. “Yes, Tauri is still my friend and protector. I think she took your advice to heart.”

“So you haven’t told your friend that I’m here?”

Jenny’s eyes widened. “I don’t think Daddy would approve. I’m trying to get you into rehab. Not arrested.”

“I’ve been bound before, but I can’t see his face. It’s like storm clouds are inside my mind!” He shook his head of dingy, jet black hair vigorously, and he sighed. “It’s like I’m looking for something I remember just a few seconds ago. It hides in misty mirrors.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Jason, who bound you?”

“I can’t remember his face.”

Jason’s insanity was certainly trying, but she seemed to understand him easily enough. She kissed his lips quickly, and then Jenny caressed his cheek and stood, brushing off her now dirty skirt. “I have to go home now, Jason.”

“Ok, I know. You always go home early when the clouds are still around.” He mourned quietly.

“The clouds scare me.” She answered quietly. Jason nodded and proceeded to eat as Jenny quietly walked away from him.

“Oh, Dot.” She turned to face him at her nickname. He looked up to her in question. “Where are your wings?”

She smiled gently. He asked the same question day after day. “I left them in my car, Jason.”

Jenny turned and walked out of the small outlet. The shadows in the alley moved around the homeless and even though they seemed fairly harmless to her, she realized that she should have been home hours ago to get ready for her outing at the club with Tauri. She passed through the alley without event and breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped into the pale blue halos of the street lights.

She slung her purse across her chest so that she wouldn’t have to carry it in her hand and resumed her optimistic gait down the sidewalk. She smiled happily to herself as she rounded the corner and thought of all the fun that she would be indulging in tonight. The club was generally a dank, dark place, but for some reason, when she spent the evenings with Tauri, her mood would always lighten.

She didn’t hear the silent footsteps behind because if she had, she would have broken into a full out run. The three figures that scuttled along in the shadows of the buildings, not creating any of their own, careful not to spook their quarry. This one was beautiful, unlike so many of the heavily painted prostitutes that they occasionally preyed on. This one was small, slender, and innocent, and each of them were perfectly at ease with the idea of divesting this sweet creature of her innocence accordingly.

Jenny pulled out the keys to her Jeep just as a hand touched her shoulder. It startled her, but she turned to see who it was and was met with a furious backhand to her silken cheek. She cried out in pain as the keys skittered out of her reach, and the pavement rushed up to meet her elbows, scraping and marring her perfect skin. In an instant, two more pairs of hands were on her, jerking her off the street into arms that smelled like garbage, stale alcohol, and sweat.

Her automatic reaction came to life as she wildly began to kick and scream against her unseen captor, begging to be let go, crying for mercy. There were three of them that she could see, and each of them smelled rank and rotten as if though they hadn’t bathed in months, and even more than that, their hands were rough and calloused as they felt all over her body, making fear grip in her throat and cause bile to rise in her throat.

The tallest of the three ruffians smirked at her. “Look here, guys. I’ll bet she’s got a tight little pussy. I’ll bet she shaves it too.” The other two chortled.

“Here, kitty kitty kitty.” One sang in singsong at her legs as they shoved her onto her back into a pile of stinking garbage. Jenny screamed again, but the streets were empty, and a hopelessness slid into her heart as she realized that no one would rescue her from her fate. The smallest of the three roughly ripped her tank top half way off, exposing her bare chest to the cool air, and immediately, she let loose a blood wrenching scream that bounced off the alley walls and across the street, earning her another punch across her face.

The streets outside the alley were empty save for one individual that stood, watching the happenings across the street. His golden brown eyes narrowed as he watched the three thugs argue over who would have first try at the girl, and he smirked to himself. The stupid bastards were going to do the job for him, but he then found another thought that bothered him. Jenny Carlton was his quarry, and he’d searched high and low for her all night, asking questions and prodding for answers, and now that he’d found her, he wasn’t going to allow some street filth to take away his right to avenge his daughter.

Damion growled to himself. It would indeed be the best revenge against the man who’d ordered the hit against his daughter. It would be daughter for daughter, pain for pain as it should have been. He drew a six inch hunting knife and bounded across the stress to the alley, and the scene he came upon made him growl in disgust.

One of the ruffians were trying forcefully to kiss her while one held her down and the other pushed up her white skirt and ripped off white lace underwear that were haphazardly thrown on the alley floor, contrasting greatly with the filth around. The girl was crying now, but she seemed to not want to scream anymore. No doubt her throat was raw and tired, and she had given up hope on rescue. Damion thought smugly to himself that even though he would be killing her, he was definitely the most merciful out of her assailants for the night.

In a movement of shadow, light, and complete darkness, the three homeless thugs found themselves thrown back from the girl, and Jenny found herself tossed out onto the sidewalk in the light of the street lights like a rag doll. She blinked for a minute as the shadows moved inside the alley, and then a war cry sounded from one of the thugs along with some choice words that had Jenny wincing in shame.

When the shadows moved again, a sickening bone crunch, followed by a gurgle made her nearly want to run, but she was hurt and glued to her spot on the sidewalk. One of the shadows disappeared into the asphalt, and as she peered into the dark alley, there were three shadows left, and one was moving with exceptional grace and power, easily dodging the feeble attacks of the two thugs left.

Suddenly, one of the men were thrown up against a gray wall, and blood splattered everywhere, and the gurgle came again, and only one was left with the new shadow. The new shadow swayed as if though it was a tree in the wind or a cat in a fight, watching, waiting, and anticipating. When the last thug lunged, he let out a blood curdling scream of pain, the smaller shadow moved again, and Jenny screamed finally as blood was splattered onto the sidewalk in front of her into the light. The scariest thing came when she looked upon the approaching shadow, and what she saw was not human. Leathery wings and horns were prominent on the shadow, but she closed her eyes and swore that she was seeing things.

Everything was still, and she wanted to run, but her body wasn’t cooperating. She gripped her broken locket in one hand that had come free during her struggle, and in the other hand, she gripped her top to keep it from falling down to expose her breasts. The shadow came out, and Jenny could not look up. She was tired, scared, and she was beginning to feel indifferent about her fate until she heard a familiar click, and she looked up into the barrel of a pistol.

“Jenny Carlton?” A smooth voice asked. She didn’t answer at all, but instead, she looked up, and time stopped. Golden brown eyes, full of rage met her shining emerald orbs, and she gasped. He was beautiful in a nearly feminine way, and she could feel a deep sadness in him, stifling her heart and nearly making her want to cry for whatever pain it was that had him weighed down. She should have been afraid of the pistol aimed squarely at her head, but she couldn’t look away.

Damion was taken off guard. She was afraid. Of that, there was no doubt, but instead of begging for her life like a blubbering idiot, she just stared. And he stared back. He was mesmerized by the pale emerald eyes, and she was locked in place with furious golden brown. She blinked, but it still didn’t break the spell, and he stared at her longer with eyes that could have burned down a city.

“I…I…Thank you.” She whispered. In those words, his eyes widened, and he slowly lowered the pistol. He then, in a split second crouched down in front of her, and she squeaked in surprise. Then, Damion Jackstone did something he’d never done in his life to anyone. He averted his eyes. She seemed so honest and so gentle, and he immediately knew why this girl was so loved by all of Thurber City. She was a perfect specimen of what an innocent woman should be, and it made his blood run cold to thing that three men came close to taking away the best thing that had ever happened to the Red Light District. He’d almost pulled the trigger as well. His heart nearly stopped.

He looked back up into her questioning face, and then, gracefully, he began to shrug out of his leather duster. His muscles stretched his white T-shirt, making Jenny’s eyes widen slightly, and then, with a smooth motion, he pulled the duster over her shoulders and gently closed it over her arms that were crossed over her chest. He snatched the locket out of her fingers and then looked into her eyes.

“Eye for an eye.” He whispered. He leaned forward, and before she knew what was touching her, his lips gently brushed over hers in a breath, making her gasp. He took the opportunity to suddenly kiss her a bit harder, letting his tongue sweep into her mouth just once before he retreated, gazing at her for a minute to gauge her reaction. She blinked at him once with confusion, and he realized in alarm that she hadn’t been scared when he’d kissed her. Then, without any other words or gestures, the gunman crossed the street and disappeared into the shadows, leaving a very shocked and very scared blonde headed innocent staring after him with wonder.

The kiss had made her breath stop in her chest, and her stomach clenched as if though she wanted to throw up, but it almost seemed pleasant. She shakily made it to her feet, stuffing her arms through the coat that dwarfed her and dragged the ground, but it was warm, it covered her, and it smelled good. It smelled like that man that had just brazenly stolen her precious locket, kissed her, and saved her life…and pointed a gun at her head. What changed his mind? She could only guess that maybe he thought she was dangerous, but no. With ripped clothes, bloody arms and hands, she wouldn’t have been a threat to him, but when she’d looked into his eyes, she didn’t see a killer. All she saw was a lost soul, looking for a way to go home.
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The characters of Day Breaks belong to the Mad Hatter (not on AFF.Net) and Bruce’s Girl (BrucesGirl). The story is original, and if it is alike to any other plot, it is unintentional and coincidental. All inquiries to archiving must be directed to Bruce’s Girl or to the Mad Hatter, and fan art that is requested to be on the website will be received via email with disclaimers.

Characters are based on the personalities of eight real life friends, but the story is in no way based on real life events. Any likeliness to real life events, places, or names is also unintentional and coincidental.