Fallen Angels (16 page)

I sent Abby a text about movie night when I entered the grocery store. Trying not to worry about her while I moseyed through the aisles proved to be quite a challenge. She was a teen and probably doing teenage things. That line of thinking only made me worry even more. I found myself checking my phone for a reply every few minutes, and halfway through the store I sent another text. “Abby where r you? I’m worried. Let me know ur ok please. Luv mom.”

I loved the fact that Abby considered me her mom, and I loved her like my own daughter even though I looked more like her sister. It was a joy I would never turn down. Two aisles later still nothing, so I texted Ravyn. “Hey, Abby’s not answering my texts and I don’t know where she is. Worried. Do u have any ideas?” 

I worried at my own assumption, seeing how last time Ravyn took her somewhere, Abby ended up killing a man. Just as I thought I would start hyperventilating and pass out in the middle of the grocery store, my phone buzzed. To my dismay, it was Ravyn, “Probably doing teen things, she have birth control? Be home soon.”

“What!” I replied, trying not to panic.

“Joking! We will be home for movie night,” Ravyn messaged back immediately.

I could picture her laughing her ass off while I typed frantically, “She’s with you?”

“No I’m tracking her. Ur slowing me down ttyl.”

Her final message raised more questions, as usual. I didn’t know how to reply to that so I didn’t reply at all. Just as concerning was that little TTYL. Ha! We never just talked; it always led to one of three things. A fight, a night of amazing sex, or her feeding on me, which all seemed so ironic since Lilith told me about the needs of demons. Thinking about that conversation made me laugh out loud in the check-out line at the store. My laughter quickly turned into tears as memories of Lilith filled me with sadness. I wish she had been here to marry Devlin.

“Ma’am?” The young man at the register pulled me back to reality.

“Sorry!” I blurted out, quickly wiping my eyes and emptying my cart.

After the store I picked up the movies and a pizza, then looked at my phone again, but there were no new messages. I considered driving to the city myself and looking for them, but I would never find them, so I sent another text to Ravyn. “Did you find her? Is she OK?” 

I waited for a minute. No reply came so I started for home. When I pulled onto the usually empty road that led to the gated driveway of the house, I noticed a car following me. It was pitch black out, and the headlights of the car behind me made it impossible to identify.

It could have been another neighbor that lived a ways down the street or maybe a cop, but my past told me to never assume the best. I slowed down, hoping the car would pass me, but it just slowed with me. My heart began to pound as the driveway grew closer; my mind was racing with possibilities and ways to stop anything bad from happening. I could have passed the driveway and sped away, but my past again told me I was better off staying close to my demon family.

Taking a deep breath I continued toward the driveway. Hitting the button to the gate, I prayed it would work this far out. To my dismay the gate was still closed when I pulled up and the car pulled in behind me. I watched the driver’s door open in my rear view mirror. Someone stepped out of the car. Closing my eyes I prayed for the gate to open faster. Suddenly all of my fear was gone, all the times I had done nothing in the past now begged me to fight. 

Pushing my door open I stomped toward the figure slowly approaching. “This is private property, you shouldn’t be here,” I announced. The figure didn’t stop and the lights from the car were still concealing the identity, but I could feel the shift in the air. “Ravyn?” But the demon didn’t respond so I did what Ravyn had taught me to do.

I knew there were trees on both sides of the driveway, and that would be in my favor. Reaching out to either side of the driveway I stared at my attacker. “Contain!” I ordered as my arms motioned to the figure in front of me. The trees sprouted new branches, which wrapped around the arms and legs of… “Oh my God! Ravyn? What the hell are you doing?”

“Coming home for movie night. What are you doing?”

“Going crazy I think?” I laughed as I hugged her.

“You care to call off your trees?” she whispered against my cheek.

“Not yet,” I replied, looking up at her with a devilish grin. The headlights to the car behind us went off, giving me a clear view of Abby sitting in the passenger seat. “Where did you find Abby?”

Ravyn stared at me for a moment and then laughed loudly. “This isn’t a good time for that Kara,” she said.

“You know what I’ve learned being a mom?”

“That you’re good at it?” She smiled.

“I am, but I’ve learned that there’s never a good time for anything, you just have to make time. So, since we are making time, tell me what’s going on with her,” I said while my hands slid inside her coat, slowly moving up over her sides.

“We are keeping the others waiting you know?” she whispered against my lips.

“I’ll blame it on you,” I breathed, trying to keep my senses while her lips crept over my neck. Her tiny kisses quickly fanned the flames of my desire while my hands snaked up her back, sliding over something damp and sticky.

My eyes jerked open at the familiar feel of drying blood, but I was too late in my realization. I heard the growl rumble in Ravyn’s throat as her hot tongue passed over my jugular. “Don’t you…” I couldn’t finish my threat when her fangs plunged into my skin. The pleasure spread through my body allowing only moans to escape me. 

I never wanted it to end. I wanted to feel every inch of her warm skin against mine. I knew this feeling wasn’t real, it was the blood lust, and it pained me to admit I both hated and loved it. I fought to break away from the pleasure, to stop her hold on me, but when I opened my eyes I saw Abby sitting in the car smiling at me. It was embarrassing and infuriating. With my hands pressed against Ravyn’s back I let my power out. “Cage!” I growled, shoving her demon back in its cage. 

Ravyn hissed loudly as she pulled away from my neck. “This is how you earn my trust? Really Ravyn!” I shouted in disappointment. “Pull,” I ordered the trees still holding her. They immediately began pulling at her outstretched arms and legs.

“Your trees cannot hold me, Kara. Abby was in trouble, I needed blood and you offered it freely,” she said calmly before gently pulling back at the trees, causing them to crack and split.

“Release,” I ordered, to save the trees from being shattered under her strength. “I did not offer it! You took it, like you take everything from me!” I yelled, poking my finger at her chest.

“Take everything?” She laughed loudly. “You wanted it. You want me right now. You have always wanted me Kara. That mind of yours shows me everything you want.”

Oh no, this can’t be happening!
my mind screamed as I hurried back into the safety of my car. I clicked the gate button frantically with shaky hands. She can read my thoughts? Is there anything she can’t do now? It irritated me more because she was right; I wanted her and bad. But now I couldn’t even hide that from her. 

Parking the car I looked in the visor mirror, checking my neck. The two tiny holes with trails of blood stared back at me. “What have I done?” I asked my reflection.

I jumped when my door opened. I didn’t have to look to know it was Ravyn; my body could feel her pull on me.

“I thought you knew,” she said softly.

“Nope,” I replied, leaning over to grab a napkin from the glove compartment. Cleaning the blood was easy, but the marks remained. Giving a loud huff I threw the napkin in the passenger’s seat and ran my hand through my hair in defeat. 

“I can heal it. Chloe will never see it,” Ravyn said.

“You think I would let you near my neck after what you just did?” I laughed at her offer.

“It’s up to you. I will go only by your word from now on.” She winked and then went to grab the bags out of the trunk. Looking in the mirror again, then at the house, I knew what had to be done. 

I leaned in the trunk next to Ravyn and out of view of anyone who might be watching. “Do it,” I ordered. Ravyn backed away with bags in hand. “Uh, hello?” I called out to her as she headed into the house. “Un-fucking believable!” I huffed, closing the trunk and going around to grab the pizza, still mumbling to myself about Ravyn’s actions. 

Reaching for the door I paused when I felt her standing behind me. “You’re fucking incredible you know that? What am I supposed to tell Chloe if she see’s this?” I ranted.

“It’s not becoming of a classy lady to use such foul language, nor is it classy to make rude assumptions,” Ravyn said. I turned and scowled at her. “Don’t move and don’t think.” Her tongue swept gently over the marks on my neck, then swirled around in tiny circles, making me visibly shiver. Her lips moved north, slowly closing in on my ear, kissing it ever so lightly. “I’m sorry, but you are thinking some very naughty things,” she whispered.

“Thanks, can you grab the rest of the stuff?” I quickly pushed past her, running up the stairs to the safety of a crowded house.

Movie night was going well, a little distracting with Ravyn sitting next to me and Chloe switching from my lap to Ravyn’s. I had to focus very hard to keep my thoughts on the movie. With Chloe so close, I knew to keep my thoughts as innocent as possible. I could only hope Ravyn was doing the same. 

It was almost midnight when the second movie ended. Chloe had fallen asleep curled up on my lap. I was happy to just sit there and enjoy watching my little girl sleep.

Angela and Lokie said goodnight, then Mom came to my side and whispered, “Why don’t you let me take her up for you sweetie?” 

“Are you sure?” I asked quietly.

“Of course.” She smiled, scooping Chloe up into her arms.

“Thanks,” I called out softly.

When Abby stood to take her leave I motioned for her to come give me a hug. “My brave little girl is all grown up,” I whispered as I held her.

“I’m not eighteen yet Mom.” Abby laughed.

“You’re making me feel old. Where were you today?” I asked.

“I was out having fun with friends,” she replied, almost too quickly.

“Abby please don’t lie to me. You know you can tell me anything. I won’t judge, but I’m worried, and I would like to know that you are safe when you go out.”

Abby glared at Ravyn as she backed away from me. “You told her?” Ravyn shook her head and glared back.

“Told me what? What do you know Ravyn? What are you hiding from me Abby? Are you in trouble?” I asked frantically.

“Mom, I’m really not in trouble, I promise. I’m just trying to figure some things out in my life right now,” Abby said.

“Okay, but if you need me or you get in any kind of trouble I’m here, and I will always be here for you.” I kissed her cheek. “Get some rest sweetie. Maybe we should go shopping or go to lunch and a movie this week?”

“Yeah, maybe? Goodnight Mom, night Ravyn,” Abby said before leaving the room. 

I glanced at Ravyn, who was looking up at me, and decided I had had enough for one day. “Night Ravyn,” I said taking note of the sadness in her eyes. It reminded me of how much she wanted me.

Chapter Thirteen

Ravyn

Lost Angels

It was dawn when my phone buzzed in my pocket as I settled in on the rooftop for the day. It was another message from Kara, which I again decided to ignore. Kara had successfully stayed irritated with me for almost three weeks now. I willfully took her blood without consent, and she willfully kicked me out of the bedroom for it. However, Kara’s will was starting to break as the silent thoughts and the text messaging began ramping up this week.

I filled my time by toying with the Swiss Guard who were constantly watching our every move. After talking with Lokie, I knew he didn’t agree with his father. In fact, he hated Peter, which came as a surprise. Lokie also told me that Peter locked Kara and Chloe up just to see if I would intervene; he wanted to know if I would hurt Chloe or help her. Lokie didn’t know anything more. And being my usual impatient self, I asked Lokie to go back to his father and request a meeting for me. Lokie didn’t like the idea, but I didn’t care. Peter had piqued my curiosity, and I’m sure he knew it.

I was waiting for word from Lokie and taking note of how Abby had become much more volatile lately. My concerns for her safety were growing. I knew where I could find answers. I had avoided it like the plague, but I couldn’t any longer; tonight I would go back to the city and visit a former friend in search of answers about Abby’s activities. Right now, I needed rest and lots of it. I needed a bed, but mine was currently occupied. I needed a distraction so I crept quietly into the house and up to Chloe’s room. 

She woke as soon as I entered, but was not scared. “Hey little one,” I said softly.

“Are we going to fly?” she asked.

“Not today, but I need your help with something,” I said, quietly taking a seat on her bed.

“I can help,” she agreed with excitement.

“I need you to wake your mommy and keep her busy today, keep her out of her room.”

“Why can’t she go in her room?”

“Because I need a place to sleep and regain my strength. You think you can do this for me?” I asked. Chloe immediately set out to complete her mission. 

I slept like the dead in the comfort of my own bed, and I have no doubt that Kara’s scent lent itself to my relaxed state. I knew Kara entered the room at some point, but I was too tired to care. Shortly after I could feel the darkness calling to me. My eyes snapped open and looked to the window to find it already dark. Kara was there, sitting on the bed and watching me. 

Sitting up I stared at Kara’s smiling face. “What time is it?” I asked as I reached for my cigarettes.

“If you want your room back you can have it. You need rest too, Ravyn,” Kara said. Shaking my head I lit my smoke then tapped my wrist asking for the time again. “It’s a little after ten.”

“Shit!” I hopped out of bed, looking around the room for my pants.

“On the chair.” Kara pointed me in the right direction. “You have a hot date?”