“I do, Malachi,” she responded with a soft smile. “And I’m sorry I ever doubted you could feel the same. I know you do. I see how much it confuses you and spins you around. But you aren’t fighting against it, you’re fighting for it. For me. Which lets me know that, however wrong others might see me, or you, or us together, I don’t care. You and I are right. We’re meant to be together.”
Folding her in his arms, he held her tightly against his body, sighing in relief as something unlocked in his chest. Warmth and pleasure spread through his veins, and he realized that right now, this moment, was the happiest he’d ever been in his life. “Kelly…” he whispered, emotion choking him, his eyes filled with burning tears, rendering him unable to see her clearly.
Well, that, and the power went out.
Fetch Me His Soul
Groans and other sounds of dismay filled the room as everyone scrambled for their phones to turn on their flashlights. Shining them around like a drunken disco, the occupants finally calmed when they saw everyone was still in the same place. “What happened?” Glenda demanded loudly. “You forget to pay your bill, girl?”
Shaking her head slowly, Chuck spoke in a low voice, “No, I paid it. Maybe there’s something going on with the transformer or line. I’ll check the neighbors.” Moving warily towards the front window, she peeked outside the curtains and surveyed the homes around hers. “Huh,” she murmured. “No one else’s house is dark. Just mine.” She eased back from the window and asked, “Malachi, are you able to sense if it’s anything supernatural?”
Eyes closed, Malachi was already in tune with his surroundings, searching the area. He sensed darkness intent on harm, creeping into the backyard from the side. Growling low, he gave terse commands. “Glenda, Kelly, into the bedroom. Lock the door. Wait for me. I can get in under the door frame once it’s safe. Do not open it, no matter what you hear, no matterwho they say they are. Nathan, with me. There are intruders in the back, and they fully plan to come after her. Not fucking happening.”
“Malachi, I’m capable of facing an intruder,” Chuck snapped angrily, her fists clenched at her sides, gritting her teeth. “Hello, police officer, not a helpless damsel in distress.”
“I know,” Malachi answered softly as he moved to her and ran his hands down her arms, noting how tense she was. Squeezing her hands, prying her fingers apart so he could weave his through them, he leaned down to her. “But you’re also vulnerable to the type of blade he has, and you are mine. You just told me you love me. I need to be able to enjoy that without watching you possibly die in my arms. Because then I would go insane and burn the whole world down, probably start the apocalypse. So please, for the sake of the whole world, go to the bedroom where I know you’re safe from this guy. I would never bench you if it weren’t for that forsaken blade. Next time a homicidal maniac shows up, and he just has a regular gun, I’ll hide behind you and whimper like a little bitch so you can redeem yourself. Deal?”
Her mouth opened and closed several times before she finally smirked and shook her head. “Fine. I’ll do what you ask this time. Next time, lead with that whole magical weapon thing, okay?”
Smiling back, he tugged a lock of her hair in acknowledgement, then shifted into his canine form. He trotted over to Nathan and stared at him.I’m going out through the dog door. I don’t know if he knows what or who I am, so I’ll feel that out and let you know.
Nathan nodded his understanding and pulled his service weapon, then crouched by the door. He offered, “Good luck,” as Malachi slipped through the flap.
In the yard, Malachi stood on the patio and let his tongue hang out, giving the impression he was just an average dog. He stared around witha vapid expression and sniffed the air. The smell of nervous sweat and desperation was thick in the gathering dusk as his senses narrowed in on the invaders. The sour stench wafting from them was nearly palpable, and Malachi shook his head. These men were full of madness and religious fervor, but he was willing to bet these guys didn’t know Chuck was a cop.
Concentrating, he realized the first man was absolutely terrified and the main source of the stench of fear. The second wasn’t as afraid, but unfortunately for him, just as intent on harming Chuck. A low growl built in Malachi’s throat at that thought. He finally knew true happiness and love, something that most demons thought was a myth, and he was not about to lose it to some misguided fanatics. Sending to Nathan, he advised,two suspects, both male. On the west side of the house, moving towards the backyard. I’ll keep them distracted; you want to slip out the front and circle around? If so, tap on the door twice. Quietly, I’ll hear it.
Waiting, he heard the faint taps to indicate Nathan had heard and agreed. With a feral grin, Malachi muted his sounds and crouched low, slinking towards the corner. He felt the men separate, one heading back towards the front.Incoming,he sent Nathan,perp two heading back your way.Silently, he crept closer, dragging the grass, and paused, ready to launch as soon as the asshole rounded the corner. Dismayed, Malachi realized the person with the forsaken blade and the darker soul was the one heading back to the front. The intruder coming towards him was just the terrified extra muscle.
A shaking hand holding a gun breached the edge of the house and was soon followed by the lean, rangy frame of an unkempt man whose eyes rolled wildly as he scanned the backyard. Unfortunately for him, he did what most amateurs did and only looked for threats level with his line of sight. He didn’t look down at his feet, which was fine by Malachi, who was blending in with the lengthening shadows anyway. As soon as the man’sarm was over his head, Malachi leapt, biting his wrist, which forced him to drop the gun.
Ignoring the screaming, although it was rather delightful, he wrestled with the intruder and dragged him to the ground. Once the man was down, Malachi shifted to his natural form and grinned demonically at him. Given that he actually was a demon, it was even more unhinged than usual. Staring at the crying, babbling mess of a person beneath his claws, he shook his head in amused disgust mixed with a heavy dose of pity. This man was a type he knew well, and a favorite pick for corruption from demons. Meaning Amaryllis was definitely more interested in Chuck than he was comfortable with, and they were getting closer to her. He disliked everything about this and growled, the sound rattling around the small yard with an ominous echo from the brick walls surrounding it. The rumbling scared the scrawny pimple on Satan’s ass even more, and he began screaming louder, shaking like a leaf.
Rolling his eyes, Malachi groaned, “For Lucifer’s sake, will you shut the fuck up before I snap your putrid neck? Grow a damn pair.” He lifted the man off the ground and shook him slightly for emphasis. “What was your goal here?” Huffing an impatient sigh as the man only whimpered while he dangled over the grass, Malachi tried to make his tone more reasonable. “Look, stop crying, and answer my questions, then I’ll put you down, okay? I don’t want to hurt you; I need to know about your orders.”
“P-p-pro-promise?” stuttered the would-be attacker pathetically as he wiped snot on his sleeve.
Mentally cursing his luck, Malachi quickly agreed. “I so swear.” He had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing as the man relaxed with the sarcastically intended formality. “Why are you here?”
“To kill the abomination,” the man answered promptly, albeit breathlessly. “The bounty was to kill the woman with the short brown hair because she’s an abomination against Heaven.”
A snarl built in Malachi’s throat, but he refrained from letting it out as his eyes lit with Hellfire. “She is not an abomination. Who set this bounty?”
“The angel!” blurted the man. “He told us she was a threat to Heaven and if we killed her, we would be accepted into Heaven when we died.”
Chuckling low, Malachi leaned closer as he lowered the man to his feet but still kept a grip on his shirt. “Did this angel tell you whatkindof abomination she is?”
Shaking his head frantically, he sputtered, “N-no, only that she was evil and needed to be taken down before she threatened the foundations of Heaven.”
Nodding thoughtfully, Malachi tapped his claws absently on the man’s shoulder, enjoying the way he flinched with each strike on his flesh. “What if I were to tell you that her only crime was being born? She’s half angel, half human. And one-hundred percent cop. Did they tell you that? She’s a police officer and armed to the teeth.” At the choked gasp from the intruder, Malachi snorted in glee. “Not only that, but Heaven itself appointed me her guardian. Now, why do you think they would do that if they truly wanted her dead? I think you’ve been lied to, my friend. What do you think?”
A slow spread of horror dawned across the man’s face as he stared into the fiery depths of Malachi’s gaze. “A c-cop? She’s a cop?”
“She’s a cop, and I’m her demon. She’smine,so unfortunately for you, now I have to kill you. Because you don’t threaten what’s mine,” Malachi delivered casually with a grin.
Mouth opening and closing rapidly while his hands fluttered like startled pigeons, the man finally squeaked out, “You promised!”
“I promised if you answered my questions, I would put you down and not hurt you. I did those things. Now, we can strike a new deal if you want. I can refrain from killing you, but I’ll need your soul in exchange.”
