olaiyadoam
BiadeForla
Hadow
Cadec007,
Solomombrown64, Theblessedman
Jomagibs...
drstainlex nkemdave
tunjilomo
Ultimategeneral Osasnidas
Nightie rosalieene Afz9095
Evold opeade939 Ann2012 Wonderz1 DZTZl mitchelljnr mekonglobal donteanz bimberry1307 do4luv14 Oroolorun explosive04 Phayth helenbee joshnes Bleeze2 Evold queenbetsy kaycee9242 preciousbouy Horladstar paqman rowdymind EkopSparoAyara queenitee boffinjay RegArmani coolio1 Solly1 TeameeMoses Phoenixchap cassbeat Teehsticckz bakeuhappy (welcome ma'am) Favouritetega smooth278 virtuedagirl queenbetsy arrestdarrester tonyxxx stevodot22 charminee Mynet11Godwinfury Oluwaseunliz
Souloho19

Preciousbouy:
olaiyadoam evold you guys should help me mention more people here

. Ohk BOSS

Just caught up with the story.. Nice going... Thinking jaret's just gonna get micheal's help to get revenge down there..

Present sir.. will continue from where I stopped

Preciousbouy:
olaiyadoam
evold
you guys should help me mention more people here

get us Ghostwriter he is too good

Once a month?

tunjilomo:
Once a month?

nah have been uploading lately but the fanz ain't encouraging me to go on.... just start from where you stopped....

The introduction of Jaret will make the team stronger.

More ink to your pen #Precioubouy

Following, boss

On board guys let's make it happen here

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE



It was quiet. . . Way too quiet.


“I don’t like this at all,” Michael said as he walked alongside his friend through the dense woodland they now found themselves in. “If we’re going to get out of here it needs to be soon.”


He’d noticed the screams and bellows that had filled the air around them had died down to almost nothing. It had left him with a feeling of unease that was growing with every second they were left alone. Why hadn’t anyone come for them since his fight with the guards? Surely Varesh would be even more pissed now. Surely he wasn’t about to let them leave?


They entered a small clearing “Here’s as good a place as any, I guess,” Evo said as he began to remove his duster. He placed it on the ground next to him and retrieved what he needed from the pockets. He looked up and his raised eyebrows told Michael what was about to come out of his mouth.


“So, a shifter eh?” He had an annoying grin on his face; the one that he always wore when he was about to make a smart-ass comment. Why Michael had even mentioned that he’d dated that bitch back there he didn’t know−would have been better if he’d just kept his mouth shut.


Evo retrieved his knife from his ankle strap and continued. “Well, I think it’s pretty cool that you dated a shifter.”


“I told you I didn’t know she was a shifter at the time”


“Shame.” Evo still hadn’t wiped that look off his face and Michael wanted to slap it. “Just think how cool that would’ve been. I mean, if you got bored she could just shift to look like someone else. You could have had a different woman every night.”


Michael wondered how long it would take. “Like you’d need to date a shifter. You do that anyway.”


“True. But with a shifter you could’ve had her change into anyone you wanted. Like that Megan Fox chick.” He shook his head. “Damn. Why have I never dated one?”


Michael didn’t even respond. It was just like Evo to make good out of a bad situation. It didn’t surprise him at all that he would be happy dating a shifter even though they were demons. He knew his buddy didn’t really have a preference when it came to getting laid.


“We need to hurry. What do I have to do?” Michael knew it was only a matter of time before they were spotted. He didn’t trust the place at all.


“We have to cut the shit out,” Evo replied as he held out his arm, preparing to slice his own flesh again. He put the wand between his teeth and placed the knife onto the healing flesh of the slice he’d made before. He began to open the wound again, biting down hard on the wand to stifle his grunts of pain. Veins popped out from his neck as he began to remove the lumpy mixture from his arm.


After pausing to catch his breath for a second, he took the wand out and seemed to brace himself for the next part. He wiped at his seeping wound and lit the end of the wand with his lighter, before blowing out the flame so that it was just glowing at the end. He inhaled a deep breath and began to cauterize his wound like he had the last time. When he was done, he wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to Michael. “Your turn.”


After they were done, Evo had just begun to chant the strange words he’d spoken to get them there, when a piercing screech tore through the air.


They paused to look at each other.


Whatever it was was close.


Another. . . This time from a different direction. The demons were circling them.


“Shit!” Evo grabbed his coat and quickly put it back on. He shoved the torn shroud and all the rest of the ritual stuff back into his pockets, keeping hold of his knife and holding it out in front of him.


Screech! Screech!


Both men turned so they were back to back, listening to the echoes of demonic cries that were now surrounding them. Michael knew Varesh was never going to let them leave and they were about to face something much bigger than they had before. His spine began to tingle as awareness pricked his senses, bringing his gaze to the thick trees in front of him. He saw shadows moving, lots of them.


What appeared from the black forest sent a bolt of dread soaring through the pits of his stomach.


Black skinned demons, the color of ash, now surrounded the area. Their long bodies curled over−hands with long curling fingers dragged along the floor; their faces were distorted baring sharp, jagged teeth and pointed ears. There were hundreds of them all snarling like rabid dogs ready to pounce.


So that’s what Varesh meant by “his soldiers”. The bastard was building an army.


“Evo. We can’t fight these. There’s too many of them.”

“You don’t say.”


Before another word could be said the demons charged.


Evo handed his knife to Michael over his shoulder.


“Take this.”


Michael paused. “What about you?”


Evo wiggled his finger within eyeshot. “I have this remember.”


"The ring"


Michael grabbed the knife and faced the onslaught that was now almost upon them.


This was it. He’d guessed there would be a big price to pay for what he’d done in front of Varesh. The demon was never going to deal with being overthrown by him.


All that was left was to fight, but he feared for his friend.


He threw his arm out and held his only weapon in front of him, hoping that it would at least do some damage before he was outnumbered.


He didn’t get a chance to try.


Out of nowhere a hooded figure jumped in front of him. He held his hand out and white hot sparks flew out from his palm while he turned slowly, taking out the whole of the first wave of demons, all of them flying backwards from the force of whatever it was the stranger had thrown at them. They lay on the ground motionless.


Evo spun around, his eyes wide with a similar look of what-the-Bleep? as what Michael had. “How did. . . What. . . Who the hell are you?” he managed.


The hooded figure faced them with a wicked smirk. “I’m the bloke who’s about to save your arses,” he said in a strange British accent. “Now, can we save the introductions for somewhere a bit safer?”


The stranger began to run. “Come on then!” he called back.


They had no other choice but to follow. Unfortunately, so did those horrific sounds that the demons made.


Michael threw a look over his shoulder. Shit! That blast hadn’t killed them and they were now getting pretty close. “They’re gaining on us.”


Evo was lagging slightly behind. “Hey! Guy with the hood. . . Can’t you fire some of that sparkly shit at them again?” he panted.


“No. That was all I ‘ad” the guy shouted back. “Bleep!” He halted suddenly and Michael nearly plowed him down.


“Oh shit!”

Welcome back boss

Evo, please, don't use the ring.. Micheal, do something.. . Thanks for tha update.. . Welcome boss..

Hey precociousbouy, can you recommend some paranormal series or single novel I can read, possibly without too much romance. And nice update.

I just hope Evo did not die.

Great work #Preciousbouy

wow nice

Seems jack or Micheal is some sort of half breed Angel I suppose, just like the half breed incubus guy.

So where In the hell was Lucifer banished to, cos I see no way out for they three men in Varesh territory.

Nice imagination @Op

we shall find out soon enough when am fully back.... misplaced my phone..... lost all my doc and files... will be back soon famz

Oh my, sorry about that OP, it shall soon be replaced.

tunjilomo:
Oh my, sorry about that OP, it shall soon be replaced.

yeah thanks bro

Gradually geting addicted to this story

long time preciousbouy, hope no problem, pls come and update o

Someone called my name here....... And here am I, preciousbuoy you work is great but the first issue I've got with is that u describe the scenery more, you are over flogging it and it can be discouraging atimes.

Your work is quite good and I am finding it difficult to believe it's yours bro.

olaiyadoam
BiadeForla
Hadow
Cadec007,
Solomombrown64, Theblessedman
Jomagibs...
drstainlex nkemdave
tunjilomo
Ultimategeneral Osasnidas
Nightie rosalieene Afz9095
Evold opeade939 Ann2012 Wonderz1 DZTZl mitchelljnr mekonglobal donteanz bimberry1307 do4luv14 Oroolorun explosive04 Phayth helenbee joshnes Bleeze2 Evold queenbetsy kaycee9242 preciousbouy Horladstar paqman rowdymind EkopSparoAyara queenitee boffinjay RegArmani coolio1 Solly1 TeameeMoses Phoenixchap cassbeat Teehsticckz bakeuhappy (welcome ma'am) Favouritetega smooth278 virtuedagirl queenbetsy arrestdarrester tonyxxx stevodot22 charminee Mynet11Godwinfury Oluwaseunliz
Souloho19

hey guys am not fully back, just wanted to drop something here cuz its been a while and ain't liking it so that's why I decided to use my sisters phone � .... won't be constantly updating but I'll try my best..... This story must continue.....



********

Continuation....


"More demons up ahead."


The three men stood back to back watching the approaching army that had now slowed−taunting them.


Evo began to chant words from a strange language behind Michael, but his voice sounded like it was getting quieter all of a sudden. When Michael turned his head, he saw his friend walking towards the demons, holding out his arm, fist tightly clenched, aimed at the group of demonic predators.


“Uh, you need to stop ‘im from doin’ that. Now!” The disquiet in the stranger’s voice was enough to concern Michael.


“Why? That ring he’s got may be our only way out of this.”


The hooded man’s next words came out in a rush. “Because Alethia said if either one of yer use that ring it’ll reverse itself on yer. Now I suggest yer stop ‘im.”


Alethia? Oh no!


He turned and ran towards his friend. “STOP! Evo. . . Don’t use the ring.”


“It’s okay, Mike. . . Something’s happening. I think it’s. . . ”


“EVO!”


Michael had no way of stopping what happened next. Time seemed to slow, noises faded to distant echoes and as he watched what was happening to his friend, he froze. A bright orange light grew out from the ring and began to form a dome around Evo who had started to shake violently. Michael reached out, but an invisible force pushed him backwards.


He noticed that every single one of the demons was crouched down; cowering away from whatever it was that had surrounded Evo.


“NOOOO!” Michael cried as he hit the ground. The light grew brighter and Evo’s body began to glow. It was so bright it hurt Michael to look at him, but he did for as long as he could until he was forced to close his eyes momentarily as everything went intensely white. Then it was gone.


And so was Evo.


He saw the ring hit the floor right at the spot where Evo had been standing and he ran to it. His knees hit the floor and he gripped the ring tightly in his fist.


Those deathly screeches started up again. The demons were ready for another fight and they were about to get one.


“Um, we need to move, mate.”


He heard the voice beside him but ignored it and crouched over. Rage was boiling up inside of him, filling his whole body with a heat that vibrated right through to his marrow. He lifted his head and through his eyes, everything looked brighter: the crimson sky, the black forest that surrounded them and when he looked down at himself, his hands, which were now curled into tight fists, began to tremble.


He saw the demons advancing from in front of where he was now on his knees and knew the ones behind him would be doing the same. He twisted his head to look at the stranger who had now removed his hood and was anxiously waiting for some kind of response from Michael. “Get down!” he ordered, but whether the man listened or not was of no concern to him right now. He hunched his shoulders over, feeling the vibrations coursing through him. His head felt as though it would burst and with a final intake of breath, he lifted his head, held his hands out in front of him, opened his mouth and roared.


Through his ears, he heard a deep rumble.


Through his eyes he could see a shield of energy, like a shockwave, rolling outwards from his body. As it hit the demons their bodies burst into flames and disintegrated, every last one of them.


When they were all gone, the shield returned to him as if he was breathing it back inside his body.


Silence.


Only the sound of Michael’s heavy breathing could be heard. His energy waned and he fell forwards onto his hands. He saw a movement from the corner of his eye and his head snapped towards it. The stranger pulled himself up from the ground, eyes wide open and scanning the clearing in disbelief. Then he fixed his astonished stare at Michael.


“What the Bleep are you? How did you just do that?” The stranger was on his feet now, looking around frantically like he couldn’t believe his own eyes. “I’ve only ever been speechless once before in my life and that was when me mum told me I was the offspring of a fackin’ demon, but. . . ” He swallowed hard and shook his head slowly.


Michael couldn’t seem to move for a moment. He closed his eyes tightly.


Evo!


He shot up and charged toward the stranger, grabbing him by his collar.


“Alethia? Tell me what she said,” he growled, tightening his grip.


“Time to go,” was all the dark-haired man managed to choke out before he held onto Michael’s arms and their surroundings began to shift into a swirling sea of black and crimson.


“What are you doing?” Michael yelled, still keeping a firm hold on the guy.


No answer.


Michael’s hands shifted around the guy’s throat and he squeezed. “Whatever you’re doing stop!”


The ground fell away, or they’d left the ground, he wasn’t sure but as his anger returned and the gray haze that had formed around them began to


dissipate, he realized where they were and it was no longer in Hell. He was still hanging on to the stranger’s throat when he saw the walls of Lacy’s living room appear.


“Take. Me. Back!” He didn’t recognize his own voice it was so thick with rage. “Take me back there. . . NOW!” He had to save Evo.


The man choked as he tried to speak. His hands locked on Michael’s wrists as he tried to prize him off his throat.


“Michael!” a female voice cried out from somewhere else in the room, but he was too intent on getting that fucker to take him back to Hell to take any notice.


“Michael please! Let go,” the female said. Then he felt small hands wrap around his left arm. “It’s me, Lacy. Let go of him, please.”


His head snapped towards her and when he saw her face−her beautiful, concerned face−he realized what he was doing and released his grip on the man whose eyes were now a little bloodshot.


Michael heard coughing and spluttering and saw Alethia run to the stranger’s aid.


He threw his arms around Lacy.


“Oh, thank God you’re back,” she said into his chest.


A vision of the horribly charred body that he’d thought was her flashed into his mind. He closed his eyes tightly and willed it away.


Not real.


This is real. This right now


He inhaled her scent deep into his lungs. The fresh, familiar scent of flowers with a hint of apple from her hair made his whole body relax.


He felt her hitched breaths against his chest and he moved her so that he could see her face. His hands moved up her arms, over her shoulders until they stopped either side of her face. He studied her for a moment, eyes covering every inch of her and stopping at the small red mark at her temple. The healingslice she’d received from the demon that’d held her captive would soon fade tonothing, leaving no trace of what happened, but Michael wouldn’t forget. This woman had somehow managed to forge a tangible mark on his heart and there seemed to be very little he could do about it. He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “You’re real,” he breathed.


Her full lips curled up into a sweet, tender smile which made his heart clench. “Yes,” she said, “and you’re here.”


He placed his lips on hers and kissed her gently. “Thank God you’re real,”


he whispered against her mouth before pulling her back into his tight embrace.


For a moment it felt like it was just the two of them, until. . .


Cough! “Shit!” Cough!


Then Alethia’s voice sounded from behind them. “Okay now?” She was standing over the dark-haired man who Michael had just nearly killed and was rubbing her hand up and down his back.


“Yeah!” he spat out as he crouched over, hands on his thighs. “But what the Bleep did you send me to get, Alethia?” As he stood up straight, his eyes burned Michael with a hostile stare.


Alethia’s eyes narrowed. Keeping them pinned on Michael she asked, “What do you mean, Jaret?”


“I mean what the facking ‘ell is ‘e?” He nursed his hand over his throat.


Michael didn’t react; after all, it wasn’t a question he could give an answer to. He stood with Lacy in his arms, but she too had pulled back a little to look at him now. Her brows were pulled tight and she looked concerned.


Alethia walked towards Michael. “What happened? And why are you alone?


Where’s Evo?”


Michael didn’t have to tell her as she must have figured it out from his tortured expression, or pulled it from his mind.


Her face mirrored his. “Oh, no! That stupid son of a bitch!”


* * *


Lacy stood looking through her kitchen window at the man sitting in the moonlight. She’d wondered where Michael had got to. As soon as she’d spotted him sitting on her bench by the willow tree outside, she’d left the light off so as not disturb him.


written by ©preciousbouy Aka Nightcrawler...

your comments is really needed thanks famz..

Thanks for the update man... . But alethia should be able to do something to save evo nah.. . Job well done to jaret and micheal

Nice update boss but u have to keep up

Wow... Just wow.
How did you come up with such an amazing piece?


Thank you, for the mention, and for the good job you are doing...

Its INDEPENDENT DAY, would you be kind to dedicate an update...?

Nice update. Hope everything will be back to normal soon.

olaiyadoam
BiadeForla
Hadow
Cadec007,
Solomombrown64, Theblessedman
Jomagibs...
drstainlex nkemdave
tunjilomo
Ultimategeneral Osasnidas
Nightie rosalieene Afz9095
Evold opeade939 Ann2012 Wonderz1 DZTZl mitchelljnr mekonglobal donteanz bimberry1307 do4luv14 Oroolorun explosive04 Phayth helenbee joshnes Bleeze2 Evold queenbetsy kaycee9242 Horladstar paqman rowdymind EkopSparoAyara queenitee boffinjay RegArmani coolio1 Solly1 TeameeMoses Phoenixchap cassbeat Teehsticckz bakeuhappy (welcome ma'am) Favouritetega smooth278 virtuedagirl queenbetsy arrestdarrester tonyxxx stevodot22 charminee Mynet11Godwinfury Oluwaseunliz
Souloho19

dedicate this to all my fans


******************************************************************************************
Continuation
When he’d appeared in her living room a little over an hour ago with Jaret she was so relieved to see him she hadn’t noticed Evo wasn’t with them.

Michael’s rage had surprised her, she’d never seen him like that, and she was glad he’d stopped when he did as she suspected Jaret wouldn’t be sitting in her living room, eating the sandwiches she’d made, with Alethia right now.

She’d felt something when she’d placed her hands on his arm as she tried to get him to stop what he was doing to Jaret; a strange sensation, like a buzz of electricity which nearly had her pulling back from him. It felt like his skin was vibrating.

When he’d looked into her eyes just before he’d kissed her, she’d felt something completely different: a connection. She couldn’t quite explain it, but it was there as real as he’d been standing before her.

Safe.

Her heart swelled as he’d kissed her and in that moment she knew how far she’d fallen. The time she’d spent without him, wondering if she’d ever see him again, had only confirmed her feelings.

She was in love with him; she knew that for certain now and it scared her to death.

When Michael had explained what had happened before Jaret pulled him out of Hell, Lacy’d sat speechless. She could tell in his voice that he was worried about what was happening to him. And now, more than ever, so was she.

What would become of him?

She grabbed the thick, navy pullover that was on the back of one of the dining chairs and pulled it over her head as she walked out into the garden, closing the door behind her.

“I wondered where you’d got to.” She sat down on the small bench seat next to him. The crisp fall air almost burned her lungs, but it was refreshing Michael looked at her briefly and attempted a smile. “Just needed to clear my head.’ He sighed and tilted his head back to look at the clear night sky. She did the same.

“The world seems so peaceful. I envy them,” he said.

Lacy looked back at him with a questioning frown. “Who?”

“All of them. . . The people who are blissfully unaware of the evil that surrounds them. They go about their lives normally, without fear or knowledge of the creatures that hide amongst them.” His shoulders slumped. “I wish I could go back to not knowing.”

Michael’s hand was resting on his thigh and Lacy got an urge to hold it. She wanted to reassure him that he wasn’t on his own in this anymore. She reached out and placed hers on top of his. Without saying a word he turned his hand upward and laced his fingers with hers. They both sat quietly, looking up at the dusting of bright stars that shone against the inky black sky, the moon the only source of light.

“I hope he’s okay,” he said with a broken voice. A voice that was full of pain and guilt. A guilt he had no right to carry.

She knew he was hurting, knew he was blaming himself. “It isn’t your fault what happened to him so don’t let yourself be burdened that way.”

“I have no choice. I should never have let him go with me. I didn’t try hard enough to stop him.”

Lacy shifted her body so she was turned towards him. “Hey. I haven’t known him for long, but even I know Evo wasn’t going to let you go down there alone. No matter what you did. It was his choice; just like it was his choice to take the ring from Alethia.”

He didn’t respond, instead, heaving a sigh that suggested he wasn’t convinced by her words. She hated to see him like this, but until Evo was found, she knew he wouldn’t think any differently.

He turned and took both of her hands in his, a desperation in his eyes that made Lacy’s stomach tighten. “I want to tell you something,” he said and the crease in his brow told her that it wasn’t something good.

“When I was down there, I saw something that scared me. You can’t begin to know how horrible that place is and it does things to your mind; things that you are convinced are real. I saw you. . . You’d died in a fire, or so I thought−it felt so. . . ” He closed his eyes for a second and exhaled sharply. “I held you thinking you were dead and in that moment I’d never felt pain like it.” He hesitated, “What I’m trying to say is. . . It made me realize how much you mean to me.”

Oh, God. The breath she’d been holding left her lungs in a rush and she tried to stop her hands from trembling. Her heart sped up as she looked into his eyes, which were illuminated by the soft moonlight. She’d never felt this way about anyone before, never let anyone close to her heart, so how he’d managed to find his way through so quickly she had no idea.

He leaned in and placed his lips on hers. She responded as he placed both arms around her waist and pulled her towards him. She slid along the bench until there was no space between them and she was encapsulated within his strong arms. Her arms went around his neck and as he broke away from his sweet, tender kiss and buried his face in her neck, his warm breath on her skin made her shiver.

They embraced each other tightly. She had no idea what this meant for them, had no idea if any of this was even possible, but right now it felt very real.

She felt his lips move lightly on her neck and realized that he’d begun to kiss her; small, soft kisses which made her flesh tingle. He began to move up towards her ear and she suddenly lost all of the strength she needed to hold her head up, leaving it to flop to the side. He nibbled her lobe, the sound of those tantalizingly wet kisses, combined with the sting of the cold air made her whole body prickle with a need that was overwhelming.

His name left her mouth on a whisper and she ran her fingers through his hair while he continued his soft torment underneath her chin and around the other side. When his mouth finally reached her, she kissed him slowly at first, but then it turned into something more and she was filled with a desperation that she’d never felt before. Mouths wide, tongues frantically duelling with each other, this was nothing like how they’d kissed last night before they’d made love, this was full of smoldering passion and if she didn’t keep control of things they’d end up having sex right here under her kitchen window and that was definitely not a good idea.

Somehow, through the fire that had now ignited her whole body, she managed to pull herself away from him.

“Bad idea,” she said through panted breaths. Her voice came out in a shaky whisper.

Michael’s eyes were heavy as he looked at her. He swallowed hard and leaned his forehead against hers, clearly struggling with the same internal battle as she was. “Thank God one of us was thinking straight.” He smiled. “That could have gotten awkward.”

They both laughed and Lacy leaned into him as he twisted himself around and tucked her under his arm. He placed a small kiss on top of her head and heaved a sigh.

She knew what that sigh was for and it pained her to think about what was happening.

She was falling hard, for someone who wasn’t even human and may not be around for much longer. Right now, she wouldn’t allow herself to think of the future and what might happen to him. Right now they were together. So instead, she would embrace what they had for however long they had it.

Like Michael, she didn’t know what he was, and was scared to think about that too deeply, but she knew deep down in her heart that whatever he was, he wasn’t a monster like those other things. There was no way. Alethia was right: it wasn’t evil inside his heart.

“We should get back inside.” Michael’s voice vibrated in her ear. “Alethia is going to see her father and I should talk with her before she leaves.”

After things had calmed down, Michael had hardly spoken after nearly suffocating Jaret. And even though Alethia’s ex-husband was still wary of him, he’d said he understood why Michael had reacted the way he had. Jaret had even offered to take him back, but Michael had refused, saying that he needed more information about Alethia’s ring and where Evo would have been sent to before attempting to go looking for him.

“Jaret’s offer still stands. He wants to help.” Lacy sat herself up.

Michael laughed softly. “After I almost killed the guy? Why would he want to help me?”

“Because he’s a good guy. And Alethia seems to be good at persuading him to do things.” She smiled.

“What’s with those two anyway?” He reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“He’s her ex-husband.” She saw his eyebrow rise.

“You’re kidding me? Those two?”

She nodded. “They seem to have a bit of a love/hate relationship. I think Jaret still has a thing for her.”

Well, he’s a brave man. I can’t imagine it’s easy being married to someone like−”
“Actually,” a voice said from over by the house. Lacy noticed Michael’s eyes widen as they flicked passed her shoulder. She whipped her head around to see Alethia stepping out from the back door, “it’s more like the other way around. You ever dated an Incubus?”

Michael straightened as Alethia stepped towards them. Lacy flicked her gaze between them both and the awkward look on his face made Lacy smile.

He cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean−”

“That’s okay,” the deity interrupted, “I understand why you would say it and the answer is no, it’s not easy being married to me, what with the powerful, all seeing parents and all. . . But I can assure you, it was no picnic being married to a half man/half demon hybrid with an attitude problem and a severe sex addiction.”

Michael laughed. “Fair enough.”

“I just came to tell you that I’ll be leaving for Asirus as soon as I’ve helped Jaret find a place to stay.”

“He’s welcome to stay at my apartment at the university,” Michael offered.

Alethia looked at him like he’d grown a second head. “Are you sure?”

He smiled at her. “Consider it my apology. Least I can do.”

“I’ll tell him. Thank you, Michael.”

“No need to thank me. I appreciate what he did. Anyway, I won’t be there.”

He reached for Lacy’s hand. “I’m not leaving Lacy here on her own.”

Lacy beamed at the thought of Michael wanting to protect her. It meant more to her now that she knew how he felt about her. And she was eager for them to be alone. After everything that had happened today she was pretty exhausted, plus she wanted to help take Michael’s mind off things by finishing what they’d started a few moments ago think that’s wise. Look after your woman,” Alethia replied with a knowing grin as her eyes flicked between the two of them. Your woman, Lacy thought. She liked the sound of that. “I’ll let you know as soon as I have any information.”

“Appreciate it,” Michael said. “And Alethia, thanks for all that you’re doing.”

“No need to thank me. Evo’s my friend too. I feel partly responsible for what happened to him.” Her eyes dropped to the floor for a second and then she straightened and turned to leave.

“Oh, and yes. . . Jaret does still want me,” she said over her shoulder and glanced back with a smirk before disappearing inside.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR


After Alethia and Jaret had left, Lacy had made food and she and Michael had enjoyed it with a small glass of wine. The normality of sitting with him, eating pizza and laughing and joking was nice. It filled her with hope that they’d somehow be okay. She tried not to let him think too much about Evo, talking about her time back in England and telling him how she’d love to go and visit one day, and it seemed to have worked. She’d even had him smiling.

Lacy had finished filling the dishwasher after she’d quickly tidied up the rest of the kitchen, and was wiping around the sink when she glanced up at the window and saw someone standing in her back yard. No, wait! Not in her backyard. . . She turned her head to see the figure of a young man, dressed in casual jeans and a black and white high school jacket, standing in front of the kitchen door. Her breath caught and she blinked a couple of times hoping that it would just go away. He reached one arm out towards her and mouthed something that looked like the word “leave” before dropping his arm again.

Since her experience with the woman at the warehouse, she was glad of the explanation as to why she’d been seeing things, glad she wasn’t actually crazy and knew that it was something she was going to have to learn to live with. But they were still going to scare the shit out of her, even though she knew they weren’t a threat.

From this moment on, I’m not going to let them faze me. She shivered, straightened her shoulders and whispered, “You leave,” before she put her hand right through his body and opened the door.

He disappeared.

She felt a little proud of herself for not freaking out, but decided not to mention it, determined not to let anything disturb their night.

She joined Michael who was sitting on the sofa with his laptop on his knee.

Lacy had grabbed the leftover wine on her way out of the kitchen and topped up his glass which was on the sideboard next to where he was sitting and joined him on the sofa.

He glanced up at her. “Thanks.”

She leaned back, glass in hand and pulled her legs up next to her. She placed her head on Michael’s shoulder and he kissed the top of it through her hair. It was crazy how close they’d become. She felt like she’d known him all her life and was amazed at how comfortable they both were at showing their affections to one another.

If only things were different.

She glanced at the computer screen which had lots of tabs open, the one on the screen now had different pictures of ancient looking rings, all with different types of jewels in them, as Michael scrolled up the page.

“Found anything?” Lacy asked.

“Nothing yet. I’ve been scrolling through this lot for the past ten minutes and nothing looks the same as the ring Evo had. I honestly don’t think it’s going to turn up anywhere on the internet. Our only hope is Alethia, but if her father still refuses to talk to her. . . ” He huffed, “then I don’t know what we’ll do.”

“I hope she manages to sway him, but he was quite insistent. Alethia told me earlier that he’d ordered her not to get involved because anything she did would reflect on the gods as a whole. But I don’t think she’s listening.” Lacy yawned and then took a sip of wine.

Michael closed the lid on his laptop and placed it on the floor. “You’re tired.

You should get some rest. I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day.” He lifted his arm to invite her under it and took her glass with his free hand, reaching over and placing it down next to his. She snuggled into him, her arm resting over his stomach. She thought she felt him sniff her hair and the simple gesture seemed to ignite that familiar heat inside her from earlier. There was no way she was going to sleep without spending some much needed time with him first.

“I’m not interested in sleep yet,” she said as she sat up a little and brought her face to his.

Michael pierced her with his icy blue gaze. He smiled at her, eyes narrowing as he lowered them to her mouth. She guessed he knew what she meant as he moved towards her and claimed her with his soft lips. This is what she’d been waiting for, and now they were alone there was no time to waste. She kissed him back and before she knew it Michael had scooped her up and was now lowering her down on the sofa. He followed, removing his navy sweater and dropping it to the floor as he continued to caress her mouth with his. He lay his body on top of hers and, once again, she melted into him, losing herself into his fervent kisses.

Hands were everywhere: his stroking down her sides, hers in his hair, then he slid one of his up her top and stroked up her stomach before cupping her breast. He kissed her neck, her ear, every inch of her skin with that same desperate hunger that she’d felt from him outside.

He pushed her top up and she helped him lift it over her head and heard it drop to the floor. Her skin prickled at the feel of his warm body touching hers and she ran her hands all over his hard, muscled back.

Last time they’d made love, she thought it would be their last so right now, she would savor every touch, every kiss, every whisper from him until their troubles temporarily melted away, leaving only the two of them enjoying each other, embracing the moments they had together because who knows what was waiting around the corner.

The demons, the monsters, they could all wait. Right now was only for her and Michael.

* * * * *

As the hot water ran down her body, Lacy closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. It was hard to stay away from Michael right now, especially knowing he was lying in her bed naked, but she’d forced herself away from him to grab a quick shower. Somehow, even after everything that had happened over the last few weeks, she felt happy. Though her world had changed drastically and she’d survived a kidnapping from an evil demon, she couldn’t stop smiling as she thought about the gorgeous man that was across the hall waiting for her to return.

She rinsed the last of the conditioner from her hair and turned the water off.

She leaned over and grabbed the towel from the hook on the wall, wrapped it around her body and tucked the corner in under her arm. She towel dried her hair and picked up her brush from the counter. The mirror had steamed up so she went and opened the small window on the other side of the room. When she stood back in front of the mirror, she leaned across and wiped the condensation away with her hand and began to brush her hair.

She couldn’t help thinking about poor Evo and hoped to God he was okay.

When Alethia had first mentioned what the ring could do, she didn’t really think about it properly because she was too busy worrying about him and Evo using it. But now that she was, she really feared for Evo. And knew that if anything happened to him, Michael would be ruined. She really hoped Alethia could find out where he would have gone, or at least some information that would help lead Michael to him.

She finished with her hair and decided to brush her teeth. She pulled out the drawer from the sideboard next to her and grabbed her toothpaste and brush and as her gaze returned to the mirror, she was shocked to see someone standing behind her in the reflection. She gasped and put her hand over her mouth.

Not again! Honestly. . . Isn’t there some kind of signal you can give me instead of scaring me half to death?

Lacy spun around but there was no one there. She turned back to the mirror where the blond haired woman was still standing behind her.

Then she suddenly remembered the dream she’d had, or was it a dream?

This same woman had tried to communicate with her last night while she’d slept.

Lacy didn’t panic. Even though her heart was pounding like it was about to leave her chest, she knew the spirit wasn’t there to harm her. Just like her encounter earlier in the kitchen, she wasn’t scared.

“Who are you?” Lacy asked in a soft voice.

From what she could see the woman was dressed in a long sleeve top with a navy colored neck scarf, both were torn just like in her dream. Her hair was scruffy, her skin pasty with a nasty looking bruise on the side of her mouth. Her head was lowered and her mouth began to move.

She was trying to say something, but Lacy couldn’t make it out. “What do you want? What are you trying to tell me?” The woman’s mouth was moving, but there was no sound. Lacy stared through the mirror. “I can’t understand you.

What is it?”

The woman began to look distressed and lifted her arm and pointed at Lacy.

She was still trying to say something; it looked like she was mouthing one word over and over. Her hands lifted to her head and she grabbed her hair either side with her fists, her mouth opening wider.

Now Lacy began to feel scared. She started to back away from the mirror, but the woman carried on, desperately trying to communicate with her.

Lacy couldn’t believe what happened next. Her own hand began to move on its own. She tried to stop but had no control over what was happening. The more she fought against whatever it was that was moving her hand the harder it became. She watched as she picked up the tube of toothpaste from the side of the sink.

What’s happening to me?

Looking at her own arm rising toward the mirror when she wasn’t doing it, Lacy held her breath. The woman was still beside her in the reflection, but her mouth was now closed and her stare was wide. She was no longer trying to speak; instead she was using another way to communicate with her.

Lacy’s hand squeezed the tube and after swallowing hard in an attempt to lubricate her throat which had dried out through fear, she watched herself write, spelling something out in white toothpaste. But when her hand fell back down as though the ghost had let go of her arm, she was immediately filled with dread as she read the word that she’d unwillingly spelled out:

"RUN."!!!!!

Lacy inhaled sharply and the woman on the other side of the glass disappeared.

Another memory from last night’s dream flashed through her mind: HE’S COMING.!!!!

She saw something move out of the corner of her eye and began to tremble.

She didn’t want to turn her head to see what it was because she knew, down to the pit of her stomach that something bad was about to happen. She forced herself to move her head and saw a thick black mist coming through the window.

She froze.

The mist flew towards her and she saw some kind of face in it. “Michael!”

she shouted.

She grabbed the door handle, but when she went to turn it, it was locked.

She hadn’t locked the door. How was it locked?

“Michael! HELP ME!” she cried as she continued to frantically twist the door knob, but it was no use. It wasn’t budging.

She watched in horror as the mist began to climb up her leg. It twisted around her thigh and slowly crawled up her stomach. Oh, God!

What was happening? She went to shout again but her voice was suddenly cut off. She felt pressure around her throat, like someone had their hands around it, choking the air from her lungs.

Her hands went to her throat, feeling for whatever it was that was constricting her airways. There was nothing there. She couldn’t breathe. NO!

I’m going to die right here in my own bathroom. And Michael. . .

She stumbled backwards, falling against the wall. Her hands still rubbing at her throat as she tried desperately to find what was suffocating her. Her arms began to flail with panic.

She heard Michael’s voice on the other side of the door. “Lacy what’s wrong?”

The door handle twisted back and forth as Michael tried to open it.

She tried to shout “Help” but it was no use. When she opened her mouth, nothing came out.

Next minute the mist began to crawl inside her mouth and before she could do anything else her vision began to flash and fade like what happened to the reel of tape in a projector when it had reached the end. That was all she remembered before she blacked out.

* * *