InSpire (5 page)

“Well it’s been a couple of days.” She rolled on to her back and slid up. He was kissing his way up her torso.

“You take a shower and get dressed and I will make you some food.”

She watched him walk naked into the kitchen. He tied an apron on and started working. She headed into the shower. Her body had never experienced this much appreciation. It was exhausting but exciting. The past three days had changed her life irrevocably. Sitting on the edge of the tub waiting for the water to warm, she heard him singing and clanging pots. Laughing, she got into the shower and let the water sooth her worn out body. The smell of bacon and eggs wafted into the bathroom as she tied up her robe.

“Smells great.” She walked around the corner. He had set the table like a fancy restaurant. There was even a poured glass of juice for her. He pulled out her chair and they sat next to each other to eat.

“Enjoy, my love.” He raised his glass to toast her. He was sitting in his chair with the apron on and nothing else. It didn’t bother him in the least. There was nothing he wanted to hide from her.

“Do you often cook in the nude?”

“It’s kind of dangerous, so no.” He was chuckling lightly. She wasn’t sure if it was her uninhibited scarfing or his own comment he found humorous. The food was far too good to just let it go cold on the plate.

“I must say my apron has never looked better.”

“Well, thank you.”

“So where are we headed? Should I tell my landlord not to expect me back?”

“You are full of questions today.” He raised one eyebrow at her. The sight of him doing that made her core heat up immensely. It wasn’t distracting enough having him sitting there naked, now he was making suggestive facial expressions at her.

“Well I want to know what I am supposed to do.” She finished her last two pieces of bacon and stared at him. She was genuinely curious, but genuinely aroused. Her attraction for him was getting in the way a lot.

“You don’t have to do anything. I seriously doubt your landlord will care if you never come back. He’ll make a profit off of some of your stuff and be content.” His explanation didn’t sit well with her. Passion be damned, she needed answers.

“You mean I can’t take any of this with me?”

“You don’t need it. Once we go back to Spire you will have everything you need.”

“Oh.” He watched her look around the room sadly. To him it was just junk, but to her it was a lifetime of collections. She had gathered this all herself. He was sure it meant something to her, but she didn’t understand they couldn’t take it where they were going.

“Let me throw some jeans on then we can go.”

“Um, I’m naked under here.”

“That’s an enormous temptation but we really need to get going.” He winked at her again. He was driving her crazy.

“Good thing I wasn’t offering.” They both got up and walked toward the sink. He threw the dishes in and slapped her butt as she walked by.

“Oh believe me, I’ll get plenty on our trip.”

They headed to the room. He pulled a bag out of her closet. She looked at him like he was growing two heads. He hadn’t had a bag when he arrived. She would have noticed that for sure.

“When did you get that?”

“Yesterday. You were soundly sleeping, so I figured I should get a change of clothes.” He threw it on the bed and opened it. Then he walked over to where she was standing. He opened the top drawer in her dresser to reveal his underwear with hers. He smiled at her then grabbed a pair of boxers. She took out her purple lace bra and matching panties, then headed to the closet. Sure Darian had seen her naked, but he hadn’t seen her get dressed yet. A girl needs a little privacy every once and a while. When she came out he was sitting on the bed lacing up his boots. Guys always seemed to look well put together even when they’d only had a minute to do it. She went to the dresser and took out a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt. She pulled them up and threw the shirt on. Her boots were still in the closet. He was busy putting clothing in the bag as she went to retrieve them.

She walked into the kitchen after tying up her boots. Darian was standing leaning against the counter. He had an apple in one hand and the bag in the other. She had to admit he made her apartment look good.

“Is there anything you absolutely need?”

She looked around the room. There really wasn’t anything here she was so attached to that she had to take it with her. “No.”

“Are you positive?”

“I think so.”

“That doesn’t sound positive.”

“I am. It’s just…”

“I know, my love. This is a new experience for you. It will get easier.” He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

They walked out of the apartment with just a few important things. She put her keys on the table. She locked the door knob feeling a little sad. It dawned on her how mean these people had been, so why miss it? She hadn’t had it easy from the moment she moved there. The neighbors looked at her funny before she was kidnapped. After it was like she had some kind of disease. That man always taking her parking spot was another problem.

When she first arrived she wanted so badly to go back to Indiana. It wasn’t possible. The fire was considered an accident, but the stigma would follow her everywhere. Her parents were gone and she survived. No one could explain how she came out of it practically unscathed. It was either a miracle or she set the fire. Even with the finding of electrical failure, people still believed she had manufactured her parent’s death. She couldn’t live in the same place they had. She wiped a tear from her eye as they headed toward the parking lot.

The truck wasn’t there anymore. It had been there for the last few days. Darian couldn’t stop his smile. He hoped that prick found a good tree or telephone pole to smash into. He actually wished he could have seen the guys face when he realized the brakes no longer worked.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh nothing.”

“That doesn’t sound like nothing.”

“I’m just happy.”

“You’re just happy?”

“Yeah. I have my love and we are going home.” He grabbed her hand and pulled up to his mouth. He kissed the top gently. It made her heart hammer in her throat. They walked up to a motorcycle. Athena stepped up to it, but didn’t get too close. He saw fear in her eyes. That also made him smile. He loved being her first at everything.

“You can’t seriously expect me to ride that?” Her jaw was hanging open looking at the two wheeled beast in front of them.

“I can and I do.” He handed her a helmet. His smile was mischievous at best. It was times like this she could believe the Prin story. He had an air about him that wasn’t exactly good or bad. He was definitely given to playfulness. She put on the helmet against her better judgment. He climbed on then patted the seat behind him. She looked at it for a moment then threw her leg over. He started up the bike and patted her thigh.

“Hold on to me here.” He took her arms and wrapped them around his waist. He took off slow at first. She squeezed him tightly then relaxed as she saw could handle this.

CHAPTER FOUR

Darian couldn’t let her know the witch was close. He drove her around the county for a day or so. It was more than her body wanted to do, but he couldn’t just show up. She would know he had this all mapped out. He didn’t want her to think less of him so he kept going. When they made it back to the outskirts of town she was lost and confused. It was exactly what he needed.

“How will we find her? I mean we’ve been hundreds of miles now and no sign.” She stepped off of the motorcycle. Now she knew what they meant by saddle sore. She’d never ridden anything this long. She stretched out her legs and rubbed them lightly. It was a complete turn on for him. He decided to just watch her for a second. He didn’t want to get off of the bike and reveal how much she could affect him.

“We are getting close. I promise I won’t make you ride any longer than I have too.” He took off his helmet and stretched his body. She saw riding wasn’t easy on him either. She watched him closely as he bent over to stretch out his back. The curvature of his butt in those jeans made her warm. She didn’t think her body could handle sex right now, but his body was driving her nuts.

“Good cause that thing may be fun, but it hurts after a while.”

“We can eat dinner here then get back on the road. That will give your delicate rear a break.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the diner. It was the same diner he had eaten breakfast in while she was sleeping. He knew they would both feel her presence soon. He just needed to stall. He stopped at the door and put his left hand around her waist pulling her in tightly. He wrapped her hair around his wrist and pulled it gently effectively opening her mouth for a kiss. He kissed her passionately until her stomach made itself known. They had gone far too long without eating. He always forgot how she needed food. He could go for days. She would be able to soon. A Prin could last a month on very little. Humans didn’t have that luxury.

“Time to eat.” He took her hand and led her into the diner. They took a corner booth. The waitress brought them some water and took their order. She ordered a cheeseburger and fries. Chances were they couldn’t mess that up. Darian ordered the same.

“So how do you know we are getting closer?”

“It’s a little trick I’m sure you will remember in time. Demons love to possess witches and vice versa. Witches can use their power but only if they know how.”

“Then you have run across witches before?” He didn’t answer her right away because their food was being put on the table. It smelled like grease, but she was starving. She dove right into the fries while he answered.

“Hundreds. So have you. Since our job is to wrangle rogue demons we run across them quite a bit.”

“And what is it that you think she can do?”

She took a big bite out of her burger. The grease started to run down her chin. Darian reached over with a napkin and wiped it up before she could. Then he took a bite out of his own. He was a little more graceful than she.

“She can give you back your wings.” He winked at her as she took another big bite. She needed to distract the thoughts going through her head.

“How is that possible? I mean I cut them off then killed myself.” Over the last few days she had come to accept the few things she knew to be true. This being one of them.

“You should know by now that anything is possible.” He was chuckling in between enormous bites. There was no embarrassment for him.

“Then what?” He waited for a moment before answering her. The waitress had come back over to check on them.

“Then we go home, together.” He kept eating as if their conversation wasn’t a big deal. Her heart was hammering again. She wasn’t sure if going home to a controlling father was what she really wanted to do.

“Are you forgetting my father?” She was suddenly over taken by the fear of what her father could do. Her memories were sporadic at best, but she could still recall the frigid way he threw Darian out of Spire after discovering their love.

“How could I forget Lord Malaicom? He’s the reason I have been walking this cursed earth for so long.” Darian nearly broke his glass slamming it down on the table. She didn’t realize he had such anger.

“My father’s name is Malaicom? I thought it would be Lucifer.” She was not trying to intentionally distract him from his anger, but it seemed to be going that direction.

“You are confusing man’s folklore with reality. They like to change names they can’t pronounce or understand. Your father is the Lord of the underworld, I assure you.”

“I guess I never really thought about it. You know my memories are still spotty at best.”

“I am hoping she can clear that up too.” He touched her hand. A spark of electricity passed between them. It was something they both felt. She gulped. Just the touch of his hand made her excited.

“You certainly have a lot of hope resting on this woman.” She smiled and wiped some ketchup off his chin. She hadn’t finished her burger, but he was waving for the check already. She shoved a few bites in her mouth before he answered.

“I have too. You are the only one who knows how to get back in.”

He threw some money on the table and took her hand. She was more than a little stunned by his statement but he didn’t give her time to respond. Still chewing her dinner, he handed her helmet. They got back on the bike. She closed her eyes and let the wind hit her in the face. Then she was struck by an odd sensation. It was almost like hunger pains, but deeper. She squeezed Darian tighter as he pulled over.

“I feel it too.”

“What is it?”

“She is close.”

“Oh.”

“We walk from here.”

“Into that?” There was nothing but dark forest in front of them. Athena’s heart started to hammer again. This time it wasn’t passion, it was fear. She had never been a big fan of dark places.

“Yep.”

He smiled and held out his hand for her. She bit her lip tentatively but then slung the bag over her shoulder and took what he offered her. This was the darkest place she had ever been. Athena grew up in a city. Going out to the woods was not something she had ever aspired to do. Darian, on the other hand, seemed to be right at home in this environment. He led her through the tall grass and over a barbed wire fence. He wasn’t fazed by an obstacle they came across. Once they reached the tree line she could no longer see the bike. It was there, but there was no evidence of it from that distance. Darian puffed out his chest and led on.

“You know I can hear your heart thumping madly.” He let out a little chuckle.

“I am sorry, but I am a mere mortal still.” She swatted his behind for laughing at her.

“I know.” He turned around and kissed her cheek hoping that would calm her nerves a little.

“Are we nearly there?”

“Nearly. Shh…” He put his finger to her lips. She tried to steady her heartbeat and breathing. He crouched to the ground and she followed suit. It felt like they were soldiers on some secret special ops mission. This was her creative imagination hard at work, but they were being extra stealthy. Duck walking behind him trying not to laugh, she noticed the smoke. There was a fire ahead of them. Then she was hit by stronger pains in her belly then before. This pain was much stronger then when they were on the road. It made her want to cry out. He must have known as he turned and covered her mouth before a sound could come out. She tried to calm herself.

Her entire body was alive. It knew what it wanted. It wanted blood. The instinct to draw a sword was so strong she had to fight her hand. It was moving on its own. She couldn’t help but feel this was what she was meant to do. He slowly took his hand away as she gained control. He motioned for her to stay low. Then he bolted around the fire. She had never seen anyone move that fast. He was behind the woman with a blade to her throat before she could blink. Wanting to hear, she moved closer.

“Darian, nice to see you again.”

“I bet, Sheila.” He kept the blade tight to her throat as they spoke.

“What can I do for you?”

“I need your help.”

“Then I guess you should take your blade away from my throat.” This was all theatrical presentation for Athena’s sake. Darian wanted it to seem real, but it wasn’t. It appeared to Athena this sort of thing happened to the woman a lot. She was awfully cool for someone being threatened.

“Are you going to behave?”

“Define behave?”

She couldn’t see her face yet, but she was sitting on a stump next to the fire. She was wearing a purple gown tucked in between her legs like pants. It was obvious it was a dress because of the length in the back. It did appear she had a nice figure.

“I don’t want you pulling your usual tricks. You must swear you will not.”

“Really! Do I have to swear?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, I swear I will do you and your friend no harm this night.” She ran her hand across the blade. She took his hand and they shook.

“You can come out, Athena.” Darian was looking straight at her. Her hiding place must not have as secret as she thought it was. She stood up and marched over to the fire. Darian stepped toward her, but never took his eyes off of the mysterious woman.

“What the hell was that?”

“I had to have her swear, otherwise she could be dangerous.”

“Blah, blah. Nice to see you again, Athena. Please have a seat.” Sheila was not a good looking woman. Her hair was like black straw and her face had been hardened by the sun. Guessing her age would have been a mistake. She could have been fifty or a hundred and fifty. Whatever it was she moved around the fire with the grace of an acrobat. She stood and pointed to a stump.

“We’ve met?”

“A month ago.” The woman watched Athena wipe off the stump and take a seat. She waited until Athena was comfortable before returning to her seat Then it hit Athena all at once. This was the woman that kidnapped her a month ago. She was the reason the people of her town thought she was nuts. She was suddenly full of rage.

Sheila’s face was starting to show a considerable amount of concern. Darian turned to look at Athena. Her eyes were nearly all red. It wouldn’t be long before something incredibly bad happened. He had to act quickly.

“Calm her down before she does something stupid.”

“You worry about you.” Darian looked at Sheila for only a second. Then he turned his full attention to his woman. “Athena.”

“Yes.” Her teeth were clinched and bared. She looked like a wild animal ready to pounce.

“We talked about this. You know she only did what I asked. If it weren’t for Sheila we would not be together now.”

“But she made me look crazy!”

“To a bunch of mortals, which we are not.” Darian rubbed the top of her hand hoping the contact would bring her back to reality. Her eyes were slowly going back to blue. When they were finally the right color Sheila took her opportunity.

“Now, what can I do for you, Darian?”

“I need you to make Athena whole again.”

“Whole?”

“Yes. She is a Prin.” He sat beside Athena so he could face Sheila directly.

“Where are her wings?” Sheila haphazardly stoked the fire. She seemed almost bored by the conversation.

“Therein lies the problem.”

“How did she lose them?”

“She cut them off.” Darian said this as if it were no big deal. Her reaction was quite the opposite.

“WHAT!?!” Sheila was on her feet and moving rapidly away as reality sunk into her.

“Sit down. Are you trying to get us all killed?” He stood up and moved toward her.

“Do you know who this is?” She was now pacing the fire anxiously. Athena was a little lost, but it was clear Sheila knew exactly whom she was dealing with.

“Of course.”

“You want me to restore Lord Malaicom’s daughter? Are you insane?” She stopped dead in front of him. Her anger was radiating but he was unmoved.

“No I’m not. We just want to go home.” He was simply stoic in front of her. It was as if this was an everyday conversation. Sheila’s body language wasn’t backing down in the slightest.

“No.”

“What? Why not?” Athena finally found her voice. Sheila was stunned by her sudden utterance.

She turned toward her and pointed her finger. “Let me explain something to you sweetheart, your father is not someone I care to piss off. He can end my worldly run with a finger snap. I have no desire to stop breathing right now.”

“So you are saying you won’t help me because of who I am?”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” Darian moved over toward her. He was using his considerable height to make her feel small. It was working.

“I already told you. I can’t risk it. I’ve already pissed people off by helping you. You really think I have a death wish?” She was wringing her fingers tightly. Her concern was obvious. She was literally afraid for her life.

“I think if you don’t help us you will die anyway.” Her fear didn’t move him in the slightest. He drew his blade again. He was standing leaning over the fire. His intentions were also very clear.

“So now you are going to threaten me into helping you?”