The Devil You Know

Okay, longer than the last! Worked hard to finish it, and I'm anxious to post it, so I hope there aren't too many mistakes. Thanks for all the support C; Hope you like~

I met with Crowley the day after the next and it was unsettling to see him so weak. I was almost completely healed, but he didn’t seem okay. He didn’t look like he’d slept and his eyes were dull with sickness. He was sitting on a window, his eyes on the mountain below, but I could still tell his full attention was on me.

“I think she’s on our side.”

He closed his eyes. “Your mother?”

“Yes.”

He opened his eyes, his gaze settling on me. “You do realize that she drained you with high hopes you would kill me to survive? She’s ruthless.”

It’s true, after I had my head on straight I’d come to the same conclusion, and even if I’d decided I didn’t loathe Crowley, I didn’t blame her. I said, “So are you.”

He asked, “What did she tell you?” I could feel his stress shaking the very air. That sensitivity hadn’t really gone away, and as enlightening as it was, I didn’t like knowing how everyone felt all the time. It wasn’t a strong feeling, just a buzz, but enough to feel intrusive and emotionally wear me out. I hadn’t told anyone I could, I didn’t want to feel any more mistrust than I already did.

I said, “She says we’ll have her loyalty if she’s set free.”

He said, “You mean you’ll have her loyalty.” My silence was answer enough. He looked away. “Why should I risk setting her free? She indirectly tried to kill me-“

I snapped, “And you ‘indirectly’ were just going to let it happen!”

His mouth quirked up in a humorless grin. “You’re not going to let that go.” He slid from his perch, and even tired and sick he was threatening. I took a step back, my tail curling tighter. He asked, “What else did she say?”

“She told me why they take the souls.”

His eyes widened, his shifting irises glowing just a little brighter. “Did she?”

“Their God is dying, she says they used to only take a few to keep it alive, but now they’re desperate. She says without it, they’ll all die.”

“Desperate? Like killing living humans.” It wasn’t a question, his voice layered with derision. He asked, “Why would she give you her loyalty if it’s all but a death sentence for her? Why should I trust her?”

“You know jack shit about them, you don’t even know how to cross onto their plane. She’s not going to share anything else unless she’s free, what choice do we have but to trust her? Even if she lied, what do you have to lose if she runs?”

He grabbed me by my arm and jerked me closer. “You. She could tell them you exist, what you are, how to kill you.”

My wings spread of their own accord in a sliver of fear. “I don’t think she would.”

He leaned closer. “I won’t risk it.” He let me go, but didn’t back off. He said, “Talk to her again.”

“I don’t think she’s going to be quite as friendly if I go back without the intention of setting her free.”

His lifted his lips in a silent snarl. “Then let her rot.”

“Crowley! You made me with the intention I’d have an edge that you lacked, and so far I know jack shit about that part of me. Who else is going to show me how it works but her? You?”

He herded me back until my back hit the wall, his hand snapping out and closing around my throat. “You seemed just fine with using it before.”

I growled, “I drained you on accident. I was dying and you were suicidal, I hardly see that as useful. I doubt my enemy will be as easy and I don’t even think that would work on one of them.”

His hand tightened and he hissed, “Then what do I do?” I felt a wave of fear through the contact, and it shocked me. He wasn’t even hiding it, he wanted me to know.

I grimaced and squeezed his wrist and his grip loosened. I said, “Let her go.”

He stared down at me, then shook his head. He backed away and said, “No. You can talk to them all?”

I rubbed my neck with my hand and drew in a breath. “It would seem that way.”

“Then take Luzizi and find another in the field. Question it, then kill it.”

I said, “Ask it what?”

“How to get to its world.“ He looked at me. “And then I’ll consider it.”

I asked, “How do you kill a shadow person?”

“Luzizi will show you. Now go.”

He turned away and I took a tentative step closer, then turned and left. He wasn’t going to talk to me, and I couldn’t expect him to. He’d only given me a vague list of what he wanted. How to do it and how to go about it were apparently up to me.

Locke was nowhere to be found, and that was a good sign. I found Luzizi and shared what Crowley told me, then said, “Take me to Locke.”

“Why?”

“I think his human can help us.”

He had a tone. “A human?”

My tail twitched in annoyance. “Hey. I used to be one.”

He ignored me. “What can he do?”

“He wants to live just as much as we do. He’ll be thrilled to help.”

“But what can he do?”

“His wife was taken. You don’t think he has eyes and ears on every shadow person he can find?”

“Point taken.” He looked me up and down. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, why?”

“Your hands are shaking.”

I clenched them into fists and blinked heavily, looking elsewhere. “I’m scared. I’m scared I’m making a mistake, I’m scared more people will die because of me.” I knew he wanted to touch me, but he wouldn’t let himself. I said, “Let’s just go.”

He brushed my shoulder and we were in the Mid. When we finally got to Alex’s house I didn’t bother knocking, I gripped the handle and shoved. The lock ripped from the wood and the door swung open soundlessly. He could afford a new door and no one in this neighborhood would dream of robbing him, he’d live.

I literally followed my nose, moving from the foyer to the living room and through the kitchen and damn did he have a nice house. I spotted Locke laying in the corner as a tiger on what looked like an enormous dog bed, his eyes tracking my movement in feline curiosity and confusion.

He stood and padded after us, the question clear in his ears and his low yowl. I dropped my hand on his hand in a quick and possessive pat of reassurance. “Don’t get your stripes in a twist, I’m just here to talk.”

He let out a huff, a feline equivalent of ‘bullshit’. I made a sound in the back of my throat. “I’m serious.” I stopped in another living room, or entertainment room with a wall of windows and a view of a pool and called, “Alex!”

I heard something fall, a curse, and he appeared at the top of a winding staircase in the corner. He glared at Locke, rubbing his head. “What the fuck is the purpose of blocking spells if they don’t fucking work.” The tiger flattened his ears sheepishly, eyes wide.

He started down the stairs with a demand. “What do you want?”

“I need you help.”

He hopped the last steps and frowned. “Yeah sure, what makes you think I’ll give it? You threaten me and break in and lack any proper manners.”

I took a swift step closer, the back of my fingertips grazing his cheek. “I could make you…” I heard Locke’s growl of disapproval as Alex’s legs shook, his breath hitching. I continued, “But I’m not going to do that.”

I was hidden beneath my natural disguise, but that small touch was enough to remind him that I wasn’t human. He cleared his throat, his face flushed. “What do you want?”

“What you want.” I said, “I need you to point me in the direction of a shadow person. Preferably a weak one.”

“What for?”

“I need to find one so I can interrogate it then kill it.”

            “You can’t talk to Shadow People.”

I gave him a dry smile, glancing away to touch a clock that appeared to be made of bone. “Seems I can.” I looked up. “Will you help me, Alex?”

He hedged, “What makes you think that I can?”

“You’re human. Ties are everything. When your wife went missing I’m sure you threw all your resources into finding her. Into finding Shadow People.”

He paled, his front crumbling. He might have been able to fool Luzizi and maybe even Locke, but not me, not anymore. His pain was like a wound that wouldn’t clot. It filled the air with despair and loneliness and guilt.

I took his wrist when he tried to turn away, to compose himself before he fell to pieces. I hadn’t realized how much pain he’d been in before, but I’d also been missing the point. People like Alex were everything. Everyone was important. Every soul had its place.

I blocked off my instincts and my desire to feed. Such emotion was more than tempting. I pulled him forward and stepped closer, wrapping my arms around him in a hug before he had a chance to push me away. I said, “You don’t have to hide from me. From us. I know it hurts.”

A thread of anger found its way into his voice, his hands clenched in my shirt. “Why would you care?”

“Why wouldn’t we? We exist for you.”

I heard the sob in his voice. “I want her back.”

“I know. I’ll try.” I could smell his tears and I let him hide, picking up the pieces of his pride. When he pushed me away he was composed on the surface, but that was all, and that would have to do. He turned and waved for us to follow. “Here, I’ll show you what I have.”

Locke rubbed against my leg when he trotted past in silent approval, outpacing Alex since he already knew exactly where he was going. He led us down a hall and down into a basement, the walls lined with computers, and on the concrete walls behind that, crudely spray painted runes.

He explained the dungeon theme. “Thick concrete blocks radio waves, which they use to get their bearings. Not sure how that works, but I’m positive that having them around is bad.”

He flung himself into a rolling chair, the momentum sending the chair rolling into the nearest desk. He started away at the keyboard, his password had to be at least 20 characters long. He asked, “What kind of shadow person are you looking for?”

“There are kinds?” I asked.

“Well, sort of. I track their movement, for whatever good it does. Some seem to just watch, which is creepy as hell, let me tell you. And then there are those that frequent a place of someone about to die, hospitals and such, and then the unpredictable ones.”

He swallowed thickly on the last one, and I was glad I wasn’t going to be the one to force him to linger on a sore subject. I said, “How about one that watches. That sounds regular enough that you could show us exactly where one is.”

He nodded, pulling up his email and starting a blank email. He said, “I’ve got just the person to help you.”

Luzizi wandered the room, reading post-its and poking electronics. Every time he touched something expensive, Locke would peel his lips back from his teeth in a warning snarl. I snorted and leaned over the back of Alex’s chair and asked, “What’s their name?”

“Kimzee. I think her real name is McKenzie, Kimzee is just a nickname. She’s 23, just got her first real job, can’t move, but the fuckin’ shadow people are ruining her life. She can’t sleep, it ruined her relationship, she thinks she’s losing her mind.” He could have just given me a name, but he wanted me to understand this was a person just like him. A person that could so easily be taken away.

I repeated. “Kimzee. Where does she live?”

“Nope. I’m not letting you magic your way over there to terrify her even more. I’m coming with you.” He stopped typing and looked at me. “She trusts me.”

I wanted to argue, but there really wasn’t a reason to, so I jerked my head in a stiff nod. “Okay.”

He sent the email and pushed back from the desktop. “What do you think you can do?”

I said, “Find a way to chase them.”

He asked, “Chase them?”

I clarified, “Get on their turf.”

His brows squeezed together. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

I put a hand on Locke’s head, right between his ears. “Hell yeah, but what other options are there?”

He grabbed his coat and we followed him up to the entertainment room while he explained, “I warned her I was heading over with people that might be able to help, but please let me be the one to explain you aren’t human. She already isn’t going to take it well, and if she’s the bait, I take it you and her are going to be spending the night together, and not in the fun way.”

“Basically,” I said. Locke shifted mid-step, picking up clothes off the couch I hadn’t seen earlier. He pulled the pants up and followed after Alex with shirt and shoes in hand.  It had taken me up until that moment to realize he had to physically shift in this world as well as ours. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed earlier.

Alex led us to his garage, paused and took one look at us and mumbled, “Yeah, we’re taking the escalade.”

Luzizi and I were in the backseat and Locke hopped in next to Alex, straightening his shirt before buckling his seat belt. He looked at Luzizi’s lack of safety restraint and gave him a pointed look. “Hey, that shit’s illegal now. Buckle up before you get us pulled over.” He scowled and buckled the seat belt. I’d buckled mine on reflex and fear. I mean, okay cool, son of satan, but I didn’t want to put that title between me and asphalt and metal at 80 mph.

He’d barely even pulled out of the driveway before I whined, “Are we there yet?”

“Holy shit,” Alex said, “Really? It’s a two hour drive. Get comfortable.” Easy for him to say, if I accidently touched someone I might give them an orgasm. Woe is me.

I spent some time looking out the window before I got bored with that and decided to make everyone in the car uncomfortable. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

Luzizi looked at me from where he was sitting, arms crossed, from all the way across the center seat. “Excuse me?”

“You haven’t said a word to me since I accidently on purpose almost killed Crowley.”

Alex butt in. “What?” I saw his eyes on me in the rearview mirror.

Locke said urgently, “The road.” The eyes went away, but those ears were still only a foot away, and listening intently. He turned off the radio and everything.

I sighed, “Luzi.”

            “I don’t have anything to say to you.” Ouch. Locke shifted and glanced at me from the front seat, waiting for my response.

“Clearly.” I said.

A few seconds passed by in moderate silence before he added, “I don’t want to end up like Locke. No offense.”

He turned completely in his chair. “How was that not offensive?”

Alex’s voice sounded cautious. “Hey. Don’t fight. No distracting the driver and stuff.”

I cast Locke an apologetic look and turned back to Luzizi. “Explain.”

“Even if by some miracle you can stop yourself from feeding, I’ll still become an addict, and then what?”

Alex’s voice was quiet. “What’s happening?”

Locke snorted and threw himself back against the seat. “Luzi’s too much of a pussy to act on his feelings.”

I felt rather than saw him move. I had my hand on his arm and the seatbelt had my back for his other arm. I was breathing hard, my arm straining against his, a knife clenched in his hand. I felt the car swerve a little.

Locke was twisted in his seatbelt, pressed up against the window and the dash panting. I growled, “Don’t antagonize him.” To Luzi I snarled, “Really? Stand down.”

Luzi tensed, then sat back, the seatbelt and I letting out a sigh of relief. Luzi growled, “He doesn’t love you.”

“At least I’m man enough to act on my feelings instead of cutting my wrists in a corner.”

Really, bickering like children? I let out an aggravated sigh. At least Locke was optimistic. I said, “Locke, stop goading him, Luzi, stop being a prick.”

Alex ventured, “Is it always like this?”

“No,” I growled.

Locke snapped, “If you’re not a pussy, prove it. Kiss him.”

Luzizi’s eyes were murderous. “No.”

I didn’t intervene because I genuinely wanted to know what he would do.

“Do it! You can’t, can you? So afraid of change you can’t even kiss him.”

“Stop.”

“But that’s all time demons do isn’t it? You’re useless. All you do is watch.”

“Shut up!”

“Prove me wrong!”

I gasped in genuine surprise when I felt his lips smash against mine, eyes squeezed shut. His hand was wrapped over mine, and it was shaking. I could feel the fear on him, it tasted bitter and sour. I couldn’t help it, I drank it in. I wanted to feel it, to understand it.

Locke’s voice was quiet. “What’s the point of love if you won’t sacrifice to have it?”

I pushed on his shoulder roughly, my hand finding the seat belt catch so I could push him down against the seat. I straddled his lap, Alex’s voice in the background. “Shit. Keep it PG rated!”

Locke snorted. “Succubus. He’ll stop when he feels like it, arrogant bastard.”

I smiled against Luzi’s lips, but pulled away, aware that he wouldn’t be completely in control of his faculties if I kept this up. And I was pretty sure Alex wouldn’t take too kindly to two demons rutting in his backseat. I asked, “Locke’s a bully, is this really what you want?”

He panted and it sounded like he was on the verge of a meltdown. “He’s right. I do nothing. I watch.”

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and rested my forehead against his. His heart was pounding with frantic arousal, but I could fix that. If it had to do with pleasure, I could fix anything.

I whispered, “Shhhh. Stop watching the future and focus on the present. It’s all that matters anyway.” He closed his eyes, pushing his forehead against mine like the pain would keep him from his fear. I pushed my influence on to him, but it was just a whisper of a feeling to keep him calm.

Alex whispered to Locke. “Um, should I pull over?”

Locke muttered, “He’s handling it, keep driving.” He really was a good sport. He was willing to fight for me, and he wasn’t a sore loser. I could respect that.

Luzizi’s breathing started to even and I slipped from his lap and back into my seat. He mimicked my actions, buckling his seat belt after me. I kept my hand on his to keep him calm and asked, “Better?”

He stared into the back of Locke’s chair. “I’m sorry.”

He muttered, “Don’t be sorry you stupid bastard.” Locke was pushy in his element. I should have been bothered that I made a mental note to fuck him in the human world, but I wasn’t. What was the shame in tagging a good restaurant to eat at? I didn’t see a difference between them.

Alex’s asked me. “How do you do that?”

“What?”

“I mean, authority is one thing, but you just control them.”

I winced and corrected, “Coerce.”

Locke grumbled, “We’re still here.”

I said, “You felt it. It’s how I feed, but it has other uses.”

“So what’s the purpose?”

Luzi let out a huff of laughter, and it worried me if only how uncharacteristic of him it was. “Succubae draw you in with lust, but when they touch you, you belong to them. All they want is a taste of your soul, and they’ll do anything to keep you compliant. What better way than sex?”

Alex said, “You sound like you hate them, but isn’t Telli…?”

He said, “Telli is different.”

“Okay.”

I asked, “How much longer?”

“Seriously?”

Luzizi answered for him. “Thirty-two minutes.”

“Thanks.”

He was right. Exactly thirty-two minutes later we were parked at an ihop across the street from an apartment complex. Alex threw himself out of the car like he’d been holding his breath the whole drive. “Holy shit I’m never doing that again. You two are getting your own ride home.”

I cracked a grin, at least we’d distracted him from his pain. He pulled out his cell and stood there a minute before he nodded and flipped it shut. “Okay, she wants to see me first, then you guys after I explain what you wanna do.”

He darted across traffic to the complex while we waited, doing our best not to look creepy. I should say Locke and I looked creepy. I don’t think anyone else could see Luzizi. There were some handy perks to being a time demon, and not being gawked at was on the list.

We didn’t wait long before Locke’s pocket vibrated. He pulled out his phone and said, “Okay, we’re good. Luzi, don’t forget to blink.”

We found ourselves on her front porch, aka her doormat. We waited a good three seconds before the door was cracked open. She got a look at us, then flung it open and stepped aside. She was beautiful, but looked terrible. She looked sick she was so exhausted. Her hair was curly and red and pulled back in a ponytail, her skin fair like a princess.

She let us in with a curt nod, kind of confused that we weren’t the nerdy, paranormal people she was expecting. She outright blushed when Locke brushed her arm. I made sure I didn’t make that mistake.

Alex gave us an expectant glance when we filed into her living room/dining room. He looked at her and broke the silence. “So, this is them, but before I continue you might want to sit down.”

Her eyes widened. “Why?”

“Just, it will help.” She sat, her eyes on us expectantly. I felt bad for being another reason she would toss and turn at night.

He said, “This is going to sound crazy. Really crazy, but they aren’t human.”

Her eyes widened even more and she froze. She trusted him enough to believe him completely, and she had jumped all the way to the middle rung; terror.

He said, “They aren’t going to hurt you, they’re different.”

I know he didn’t want me involved, but I felt responsible for this, and I couldn’t hold my tongue. I said, “You don’t have to be scared of us.”

She was shaking, the air was thick with her fear; it made it hard to focus. “The last non-human I met started stalking me when I was sleeping. You lot don’t have a good track record.”

I walked up to her, my eyes on Alex and Locke in a silent plea to stay silent. I tried my best not to look like I was staking her, even if a small part of me wanted to. Her fear was so deep, feeding from her would be- no.

I sank to a crouch and said, “We exist to protect you, hurting you is the last thing you want.”

            “What are you? Don’t lie to me.” Her voice shook with her decision. She was agreeing to years of sleepless nights and uncertainty.

Locke warned, “Telli.”

“She asked. She’s helping us, she deserves the truth.” I pushed my nature through, my skin returning to it’s natural red color.

She sucked in a breath. “Devil.”

I grinned. “Son of the devil. It sounds worse than it is.”

“But hell is for evil. You’re evil.”

“I’m not evil. And it’s not hell, not the way you’re thinking. Everyone goes to the same place.”

Her eyes widened. “What’s it like?”

“I don’t know. We can see you sometimes, but we don’t see what you see. We’re just guardians.”

She gripped the edges of the chair like a lifeline. “You’re not lying.”

I pulled my tail closer, my wings tightening toward my shoulders. In every effort to seem harmless. I said, “No.”

She looked away, blinking rapidly as she processed. Finally, she asked, “What are you doing here?”

I said, “We’re going to catch the shadow person that’s been watching you.”

She froze. “You can do that?”

I dipped my head and said, “We’re going to catch it, question it, then kill it, but we need you to be brave for us.”

Her jaw clenched in understanding, her eyes snapping to Alex. “I’m the bait.”

He grimaced and blew out a slow breath. “Yes.”

She asked, “Why do you need to talk to it?”

I said, “We’re trying to stop all of them, but to do that there are things about them we need to know.”

She asked, “How many more?”

Luzizi murmured, “Lots.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Do it. What do I do?”

Alex asked, “Just like that?”

“Jut like that. So what do I do?”

I straightened, hiding my true form. “Hopefully, nothing.”

 

I sat in the corner of her room in a crouch with Locke on my left and Luzizi on my right. She had tile floors, so I didn’t feel guilty drawing a circle on her floor. Locke had the knowledge and Luzizi could get the materials, so according to them, the scribbles in Yajik blood were going to keep us off the radar. If everything went according to plan, the shadow person would have no idea we were here.

            Kimzee was already sound asleep. She’d wholeheartedly agreed to take sleeping pills. She didn’t want to see what was happening, and we didn’t want her to get hurt. She wanted to wake up and know she’d never see us or him again, and I promised her that. Alex was in the car across the street either sleeping or waiting. The ihop was 24-hr, so maybe he’d grabbed some coffee and some pancakes. Hopefully he had, he hadn’t eaten all day.

Luzizi had already explained all I needed to know to fight them, so hopefully this worked out. I had a feeling it was only going to makes sense when I saw it for myself. I remember the power I’d felt around my…mother, but supposedly she was the strongest.

Luzizi broke the silence. “You’re sure you’ve got this?”

I grunted. “Once I see it I’ll know what to do.”

Locke said, “If you say so.”

I was going to say something smart, but a pull in my gut made me pause. I asked, “Do you feel that?”

Luzi said, “What?”

I stood, the churn of energy getting closer setting my nerves on edge. I didn’t have to speak for Luzi and Locke to pick up on my tension. I held my breath, the energy slipping into the room, but I couldn’t see it. It flickered into existence at the foot of her bed, its head almost breaching the ceiling. It couldn’t see us inside the circle, it didn’t even know we were there.

Now or never. I clenched my jaw and stepped over the line, shoving my hand into its side. It screeched in panic and turned to run, but I clenched my hand into a fist, grabbing the energy there like a fishing line. I snarled, “You’re not going anywhere you sunovabitch.”

I blinked, reaching into my soul for the energy I knew was there. With my arm inside the equivalent of an energy hurricane, the feeling was easy enough to remember. The shadow person screamed in anger, my eyes screwing shut in pain at the sheer power in the sound. It lifted its arms to attack me, I could feel the violence inside it. I shoved back, that same darkness swirling up and over my skin in a dark cloud. It covered my arms and burned the shadow person from the inside out. It screeched and tried to run. While I was attacking it, I had no power to stop it.

            Luzi appeared next to it, eyes narrowed in concentration. The air behind him jerked and shifted like it was just out of place. He’d separated us from the time stream, but just for a moment. If the shadow person stepped out of this circle, it would die immediately. It hissed, /Demons./

/Fuck yeah, demons./ Luzizi let go of the distortion and the room was flooded with light. The shadow person fell to its knees with a screech of pain, its anger hitting me like a punch to the face. Locke had turned on every light in the room and then retreated to crouch near Kimzee’s bed defensively. The room wasn’t huge, but if the shadow person went too close, Locke would be able to hold him back, even briefly.

I let out a heavy breath to steady myself, pulling that energy from deep inside and letting it protect my forearms and hands. I could feel that power snapping at the door, demanding to let me set it loose, but I held it back. Last time I did that I’d forgotten who I was. The shadow person looked at me in shock, twitching in pain under the light. It asked, /What are you?/

/Does it matter?/ I took a step closer, the darkness over the shadow person swirling faster with fear. I snapped my hand out, tightening it around his throat. Its energy collided with mine ferociously, fighting to gain control. I bared my fangs in frustration at the annoyance and shoved back in a surge of fury.

I pushed hard, slamming it down into the ground, the energy inside me crawling up my arms, all the way to my shoulders before I stopped it. Once his energy gave way, I found that I could steal it, so I did. I tore it away from him.

It panicked, the darkness flooding off of him, revealing the same glowing white core I’d seen on my mother. /Stop. What do you want?/

/Not so fun when it’s you being drained, is it?/

/What do you want?/

I tightened my grip with a snarl. /How do I get to your world?/

It stared without even having eyes, but I could feel its attention searing into me. /Why would you want to go there?/

I snorted sarcastically. “Gee, I dunno.” /Why do you want to come here?/

Now I felt that fear. I didn’t bother taking his energy away from him anymore, I forced mine inside him, and I think it was painful. It arched with a scream of pain. I closed my eyes against it, but it wasn’t a sound I could hear. I felt it in my head, and I’d be lying if I didn’t feel the desire to make it stop.

I demanded, /How do I get there?/ Whatever I was doing to it was making the light in him dim, areas on him going dark completely.

It was silent, and I could only imagine what was going through its head. It said, /In the dark. Tear. The energy of the world. You tear./ That was just maddeningly unhelpful, but from his tone, it was the best and only answer I was going to get.

I narrowed my eyes and let go. I wasn’t inclined to let its death be swift. I could see its power, the energy holding itself together by thought and will. I slammed my hand down into its chest, not in its heart, no, they didn’t have a heart, but at its core. I screamed in anger, drawing its energy into me. It felt like grabbing a tornado, there was just so much energy, but I took it anyway, its energy heating up the air and churning the air into a frenzy.

It fought me, but it didn’t stand a chance, I could feel that now. Its light faded and I could feel its life flicker. I pulled harder, tearing everything it had into me. It went grey, nothing more than a sculpture made of ash. I tightened my hand into a fist and jerked it from its chest. It collapsed in on itself, crumbling until there wasn’t even ash left. Its like it never was.

I looked down at my hand, the darkness that was there before gone, but I ached like it wasn’t. I took a frantic step back, my chest heaving, on the verge of hysteria. I felt like I was being electrocuted from the inside out. I couldn’t stifle a pained sob.

I squeezed my hand into a fist and looked up at Luzi. He was watching me with his back to the wall with wide, fearful eyes. I sucked in each breath like it was going to be my last with a deep panic tightening in my chest. There was too much energy inside me, way too much, but I didn’t know how to fix it. I asked, “What do I do?”

The look he gave me was enough. I was desperately wanted to get out of there. I needed to. I ran.

I was burning inside and it wouldn’t stop, it just eroded my sanity, the power too much to handle. I didn’t even realize where I was when I turned, headlights blinding me.

There wasn’t time to think or react, I just ducked down, covering my head, certain I was going to die. I heard the screeching of tires and a honking horn, then the crunch and screech of warping metal.

            When I didn’t feel pain, I looked up, the car bent like it had hit something just a foot before me. The metal was blackened and melted, the rubber on the tires dripping onto the concrete. Every breath I took hurt, but that car hadn’t hurt me.

I staggered back, people around me getting out of their cars. The guy that hit me kicked his door open and fell out, jumping to his feet. He had blood on his face, but his eyes were clear. He looked at his car, then at me, his hands shaking in shock. “Holy shit, kid, are you okay?”

I stared at him wide eyed, chest heaving.

“Telli!” I jerked my head to the side, Luzizi watching me in panic the reflected my own. His eyes shifted down in horror and I followed his gaze. I still looked human on the outside, but my hands and arms were glowing white hot. He took a step towards me and I whispered, “Don’t.”

The man from the car moved closer and I screamed, “Stay back!”

Luzizi was closer now too, my head dizzy from either hyperventilating or the heat. I begged him to stay back. “Stop. You don’t know what this feels like.” He listened to me, indecision on his face. I could ear sirens, and I wasn’t sure what to do.

/Let it go./ I sucked in a breath in surprise and spun. It was my mother.

/I can’t./ I sank to my knees, sobbing. There were screams in the background, but I ignored them. I saw Crowley standing just behind her, his expression unreadable.

/Look at me./ I did. /You’re going to die and kill everyone on this block if you don’t let. It. Go./

My voice shook. /How?/

/Direct it. If you stole it, I know you can./

I let out a shaking breath, my whole body tense in pain. Direct it where? There was so much, I didn’t want to kill anyone. I closed my eyes and focused, I tried to ignore my panic and my pain. It was hard.

I opened my eyes and saw nothing but pure energy, kinetic, passive, all of it swirled and spun like a storm just on the verge of blowing itself out. Direct it. Direct it where?

Then I looked down and gasped. That couldn’t be what I thought it was. The energy beneath me dwarfed me in ways I’d only felt when I looked up at the stars. I was so small. It was so beautiful.

I felt my mother’s hand on my cheek. I knew it hurt her to touch me, but she didn’t flinch. /You see? Give it to her./

I looked down again at the miles and miles energy writhing beneath me. I shoved my energy away from me and down, the Earth sopping it up like a sponge. The tarmac split and cracked under the sudden heat, the pain inside me just, gone.

Crowley was suddenly at my side, his eyes on the crowd and the police officers with their guns pointed at my mother. His hand was on my shoulder, his eyes flickering to my mother in a silent plea. She put her hand on me just as I heard the ear-shattering discharge of guns.

We were back in hell. The silence was proof enough of that. Crowley was gone, and then a minute later he reappeared with both Luzizi and Locke.

I didn’t get up, my whole body was shaking. My mother was still crouched next to me, she explained, /You’re in shock. Slow, deep breaths./

/How did you know?/

/Crowley. He took a risk and brought me to you./

I looked from her to Crowley, his eyes glazed with exhaustion. I wrapped my arms around my middle, shivering violently. I said, “Thank you.”

Crowley paced over and crouched, his eyes watching my mother cautiously. “No. This is my fault. I was being stubborn.”

My mother twitched in fury, her head jerking towards him. /Of course it is. You sent a bomb to perform brain surgery without giving him instructions./

Crowley sighed. “What did she say?”

“Um. She’s mad at you.”

“Thought so.” He asked her, “What does he need?”

She looked back at me. /Rest. Time./

I asked, /When I spoke to you before, you drained me?/

/I did./

/You hoped I would kill Crowley?/

/From the look of him it almost worked./

I asked, /Are you on our side? You’ll help me?/

She stood. /Yes./

I was still shivering, but I wasn’t cold. Crowley squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sorry.” He stood and looked at Luzizi. “Take him to his room.”

He looked at my mother and held out a hand. “If you don’t mind.”

She stared at him a moment, then took his hand and they vanished. I had no idea how they were going to communicate, but I guess Crowley had it covered.

Luzizi crossed over to me and fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around me and squeezing. “I thought you were…” He stopped and I noticed Locke leaving. He cast me a reassuring smile, and left.

I hugged Luzizi back. “Help me up.” He didn’t give me an option, he just picked me up. “Or that.”

He carried me back to my room and set me down, caging me against the bed with his arms. He stared for a moment, then pressed his lips to mine in a kiss. I gasped, his lips soft and hot against mine, melting perfectly against my own. I shoved him back, eyes wide. He looked down at me, hurt and surprise on his face.

I wrapped my hands over the back of his neck. “No, no, no, Luzi. I felt that. I felt it.” I pulled him down for another kiss, plunging into his mouth. I could feel him relax under my venom, but the bone-grating desire to feed wasn’t there. The arousal I felt when his tongue scraped my teeth and tangled with my tongue, that was mine.

I pulled back with a gasp. I was still shaking, panic lacing my voice. “Why can I feel you?”

Luzizi stared at me in disbelief, but I could see my imposed arousal clouding his thoughts. He shook his head. “I don’t know. Does it have something to do with…”

I dug deep for my instincts, but they weren’t there. For that moment I was actually more shadow person than succubae. It couldn’t be permanent, the universe was never that kind. But I fully intended to take advantage of it.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, grinding my hips up against his. The arousal I felt wasn't calculated or measured or fake, it was real. I gasped, arching my back, thrusting up against him, desperate for friction.

Luzizi spread his legs over my waist, thrusting back down against me. He gasped, his chest heaving. “Fuck, Telli.”

I wrapped my arms over his shoulders, trying to get him closer. I panted, tightening my legs over his waist so he couldn’t move. “Wait, wait, wait. If we keep going like this I’m going to cum.”

He tried to move, his hips jerking against mine. “So?”

I said, “No. I want to cum and feel you inside me.”

He groaned, his body shuddering in desire. He sat up, jerking my pants down to my knees. He didn’t waste time taking them off completely. He just unzipped his pants, freeing his erection with a grunt, and flipped me over. He forced inside without warning, sheathing himself in one solid thrust. I yelped in pain and pleasure. The beauty of being a succubus is that it never really hurt, even if they took you dry. Score one for genetics.

I spread my legs and let him hammer into me, each thrust wrenching a gasp of pleasure. I curled my hands in the sheets, my entire core thrumming in desire. I’d never felt anything like this. I needed him in me with a primal, animalistic desire I’d never felt before.

I begged, “Luzi..fuck-more.” I didn’t know what I was asking for, it felt so good. I moaned, drool wetting my cheek. My balls ached with the need to come, but I couldn’t move to touch myself, Luzi was thrusting so hard.

He slammed hard into me, balls deep in my ass and I felt his hot seed spill inside me. I moaned, clenching around his length, milking him for all he was worth. I felt his hand around my cock jerking me to completion. I tensed, gritting my teeth past a scream, my cum heating my stomach.

My orgasm pulsed in rhythm with Luzi’s cock in my ass. I just laid there and breathed, Luzi’s weight on my back heavy, but comfortable. I waited for my pulse to settle, my fingers and toes still numb in pleasure.

I heard Luzi’s voice near my ear. “Shit, Telli, you’re beautiful.”

I pushed at him weakly and he rolled off, his cock slipping from my ass and leaving me wanting. I turned, curling into his chest, my arm over his side. “Is that what it’s supposed to feel like?”

“Yeah.”

I felt sleep dragging me under, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was so tired, but when I woke up, this would be gone. I held on to Luzi, his heartbeat thudding under my cheek. And I fell asleep.