Fallen Angels (4 page)

She was annoyingly persistent and I had nothing to lose, so with a shrug I gave her the answer she had been searching for. “Fine.”

Jeanie’s hand fell from my arm and she cheered in celebration. “We can start tomorrow night. I will meet you at your place around midnight,” she said.

“All right.” I left without any further argument from Jeanie. She had gotten what she wanted; the problem was I still didn't know her true reasons for wanting me as a project.

It was fifteen till midnight when the soft knocking at my door broke the dead silence in my empty penthouse. Opening the door I found the wildly punk Jeanie standing with a brilliant smile. She held a brown paper bag in one hand and what looked like a colorful laptop bag over her shoulder. I motioned her to come in, and then closed the door.

“Do you mind if I change before we start?” Jeanie asked as she followed me into the kitchen and set the brown bag on the counter.

“Go ahead,” I replied, peeking into the bag. Finding a bottle of Jack I wasted no time in pouring two glasses, nearly dropping the bottle when I noticed Jeanie was undressing right beside me. “What the fuck? I do have a bathroom you can change in.” My eyes remained focused on her body though, betraying my love for Kara.

“I didn’t know it would bother you so much. I am not ashamed of my body, but I will respect your request,” she said with a sexy smile. She headed for the bathroom with her clothes in hand, giving me a fantastic view as she walked away.

Chugging my drink and lighting a cigarette, I paced around the empty space of my home reminding myself that Jeanie was not a sexual option. She was here to help me get back to Kara. Or was she? Her motives seemed more than strange. She wanted something else from me, but what?

“Are you ready to begin?” Her soft voice was right behind me, but I held my ground and showed no fear.   

“What exactly are we beginning? You are hiding something from me, but I can’t see it clearly,” I whispered as I turned to face her. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she wore shorts and a plain t-shirt.

“A lesson first, then I will show you what you do not see.” She turned away.

I watched her walk slowly around the open space while she waited for me to finish my cigarette. “What is the lesson of the day?”

“Control. Your demon must remain under your control at all times. It cannot control you, nor can your anger be allowed to control it. The fight begins when I say, and not a second sooner.”

Putting my cigarette out I watched her carefully while slowly closing the distance, purposely leaving a couple of feet between us when I came to a stop. Jeanie smiled and let an innocent giggle escape her. I recognized her distraction tactic, and when her hand tried to strike, mine was there to catch it. But her other hand was already in motion and quickly found my face.

Jeanie was fast. Her movement was as smooth as silk, and her hands were like striking snakes. She was extraordinary. I had never witnessed anyone strike like Jeanie, effortless, swift, meticulous, and dangerous. She was kicking my ass. I matched her speed but couldn’t see her next attack because it was already in motion. Her hands, feet, legs, and head all worked in unison to deal damage and stop my attack.

I finally found an opening and took a shot; my fist slammed into her side. Seconds later I was on the ground, and Jeanie was smiling down at me. I didn’t know what happened, but her forceful attack told me she had been toying with me until now.

“Control it, Ravyn,” she said sternly.

I hadn’t even noticed my demon had broken free of its cage. Looking at my claws I shook my head in disappointment and closed my eyes, shoving my demon back in. Jeanie was right; I needed help. When I opened my eyes I noticed blood seeping through her shirt where I had struck her. “You’re hurt,” I said, pointing it out to her while I stood.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, turning away from me.

I inched closer, never taking my eyes off her blood-soaked shirt. Why hadn’t she healed yet? I stared curiously. Wanting to see the actual wound I reached for her shirt, only to have her knock my hand away. “Let me see. Why aren’t you healing?” I asked.

“It takes time to heal. It’s deep, I can feel it,” Jeanie confessed when she turned to face me.

“Deep or not, you should have healed by now,” I said, reaching for her shirt again. This time she didn’t stop me. I slowly lifted her shirt over the three small puncture wounds just below her ribs. It didn’t look serious at all. To our kind certainly more of a scratch, one that should heal in the matter of seconds. “This is why you don’t fight. You can’t heal?” I whispered.

Jeanie suddenly pushed me away and rushed to the privacy of the bathroom. I didn’t understand it; moreover, it didn’t seem possible for my kind. I had never seen a full-blooded demon or one of the Fallen who didn’t heal in at least a matter of minutes. It both puzzled and worried me. I had to find out the truth, so not wasting any more time I barged into the bathroom where Jeanie stood shirtless, inspecting her injury in the mirror, looking like she might cry.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, moving to her side.

“Yes. Why are you in here? Please just leave me alone for a minute.”

Jeanie’s emotions were honestly throwing me for a loop. If she were human I would have a better grasp on it after my time with Kara. But such emotion from someone so strong was unusual, not to mention her lack of healing ability was mystifying. “I thought we could all heal. What is wrong with you? Use your ability, make it heal!”

Jeanie laughed at my demand. “You think it is that easy? You can’t make it heal Ravyn, it doesn’t work like that!”

“Yes it does. Demon form heals it for you and faster, but like this, we have to give it a push. I’ve been doing it so long its almost involuntary now. I can show you. I can teach you.”

“Show me what?” She stepped closer. Taking my hand she pressed it against her bloody side. “What can you show me?” she whispered as her body closed the remaining space between us.

The warm blood over her soft skin made me swallow hard. I tried to stay focused on Kara, but Jeanie’s exposed body was tugging hard on strings that desperately needed to be strummed. “I… This can’t happen.” I finally came to my senses, gently pushing her away to create much-needed space between us.

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean that. The blood and the fight, I didn’t mean anything. But I do want you to show me how to heal. I need a shirt. Do you have one?” she asked, covering herself with her arms.

“I do, but first you need to heal. Watch,” I said. I let my demon out and raked my claw over my arm, then quickly caged my demon. “At first you have to envision it. See the muscles mend, the blood clotting, and skin growing to seal the wound.” We watched the deep cut on my arm heal before I even finished speaking.

Jeanie stared at my arm, blood the only trace of any injury, no redness, no scar, healed to perfection. Her fascination with my ability was childlike. “That is amazing. It’s so fast. So perfect,” she said.

“Try it. Trust me you can do this.”

It took several minutes, but she did it and was thrilled. Hugging me tightly for a moment she suddenly backed away. “Go find me a shirt.” She quickly shooed me out of the bathroom.

The lessons continued night after night. When we weren't training I was at Wonder Lust studying the crowd, the fighters, and feeding on the hired help. Jeanie was proving to be a great friend and valuable asset. Not only was she teaching me new fighting techniques and control, she was desperately trying to bury my hatred for Kara’s baby to be.

With all the time we were spending together I figured Jeanie might as well move into my penthouse; hell, she was there all the time anyway. Not to mention my place was way nicer and it needed her decorating skills. My invitation came with a serious condition though—our relationship had to remain platonic. There could be no sexual accidents, ever. She quickly agreed and thanked me.

Jeanie picked out some furniture for my empty penthouse and moved her things in, but we left the large open room unfurnished for our training sessions. It was her first night living with me and she seemed fidgety, almost nervous while she sat on the balcony, celebrating with a drink.

“Are you nervous about staying here?” I asked.

“Nervous isn’t the word I would use.” She paused, smiling at me. “I think unsure is a better description.”

“Unsure about what?”

“How long I will be here. You will go back to Kara, it’s only a matter of time.” Jeanie shrugged.

Her shrugs were always a sign of her hidden emotion. I just never knew what kind of emotion. “I am hoping to go home very soon. When I do, I know this place will be in good hands,” I offered. Her smile widened.

“Bribery won’t work on me. You should know this by now,” she teased.

“Speaking of bribery, I’ve been thinking about your little establishment. What if I partner with you and we go all out in a new building? We can create a modern coliseum of sorts.”

She looked at me with curiosity written all over her face. “I can’t afford something like that. I mean if we did this, it would have to be somewhat hidden yet in plain sight. It would have to be modern yet a tribute to ancient times, and it would have to be big.”

“Consider it done. You can handle the design, the management, the fights, the fighters, and I will front the money. You run things by me and keep me posted, a partnership.”

Jeanie couldn’t contain her excitement and immediately agreed. “Wait, why are you doing this if you plan on going back home soon?” she asked.

“I will still need a place to blow off some steam. Going home doesn’t mean I will stop fighting,” I confessed with a wink. I didn’t know where all of this with Jeanie would lead, but she had done a great deal for me and I didn’t want to leave her empty-handed when I returned to Kara, which I knew would be soon.

Chapter Four

Ravyn

The Things We Do For Love

I was finally scheduled for my first fight at midnight. I was the opening fight, but Jeanie explained I would have to earn the main event. For the first time since my rebirth I was truly in control of my dangerous abilities, and I owed it all to Jeanie, who was currently in the shower.

I was focusing on the fight to come when I felt the familiar presence growing closer. The last thing I needed today, after all of my hard work and Jeanie’s patience in our training, were the visitors heading our way.

Slowly I moved to the door. Pulling it open, I leaned in the doorway, waiting for the elevator down the corridor to open.
Ding.
The elevator announced its arrival, and the doors slid open. Devlin stepped out first, pausing when he saw me waiting for them. He gave a curt nod and waited for me to give him a sign they were welcome. I moved back inside, leaving the door open as an invitation.

I wished Jeanie were out here with me, to offer me her calm confidence. I was nervous, but there was another feeling slowing bubbling to the surface, an unexpected excitement. I had worked hard to get back to Kara and tonight’s fight was my test, but now I had my true test. I couldn’t hide my curiosity about Jeanie being involved in their sudden appearance. I would have to ask her about it later.

To my surprise Angela stepped into my penthouse first, a relieved smile spreading over her lips when she saw me. “Hello Ravyn,” she said softly.

“Angela,” I said, dipping my head slightly to her. “What’s the occasion?” I watched her carefully while she closed the distance between us.

“Kara needs help. She’s pregnant Ravyn,” Angela whispered, urgency in her voice.

“I know. How am I supposed to help with that?” I asked. Angela didn’t get a chance to answer because Kara’s exhausted voice echoed in my ears, pulling my eyes to the doorway. What I saw could only be described as disturbingly sad.

Kara was far too thin for a pregnant woman, and her once-tan skin was pale with a very light blue tinge. Her sparkling turquoise eyes were dull and lifeless, accented by dark circles underneath. And then there was the horrible scent of the thing growing inside of her, the monster killing her from the inside. Her belly was bigger than it should have been, which should have told Kara and the others how horribly wrong this pregnancy was. Death was lurking at Kara’s door, and I didn’t know how to stop it.

“You’re not going to fly away again?” Kara joked weakly.

Shaking my head I said, “I have no need to fly away, just as you have no need to beg me to end your life.” My words were calculated but not careful. I wanted her to know I knew she was dying.

“You knew about this that night, didn’t you? That’s why you wouldn’t look at me,” she whispered, reminding me how smart she was.

“I did. I could smell his blood in you just like I can smell it now. You should sit,” I said, pointing to the dining room table. I wanted to help her, but I couldn’t get any closer. Her scent only reminded me of my numerous failures.

It took a minute, but when she was seated she stared at me. I could tell she was being careful in choosing her words. Devlin sat beside her, then whispered in her ear, making sure she was all right. She quickly nodded, never looking at him.

“Ravyn? Did I hear someone at the…” Jeanie’s voice died out as she walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel atop her head. She froze in her tracks. “This is not what it looks like,” she blurted out before scurrying to her room.

Kara looked devastated and shook her head quickly. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Was that Jeanie?” Angela asked, surprised.

“Yes, and it really isn’t what it looks like. She is only a friend. You don’t have to go, Kara.” I tried to assure her without sounding too desperate.

Kara’s eyes turned back to mine, searching for the truth like she used to. Finding it, she almost smiled. “I need to talk to Ravyn in private,” she informed Devlin and Angela. They allowed it and moved to wait out in the corridor.

“Why are you here Kara? Is this to remind my of all of my failures?” I asked.

“Ravyn, you never failed me until you left. I thought you were dead and then I found out you weren’t, only to have you leave me without any explanation. You left me with Astoroth’s words ringing true. He said you would never want me again. Was he right? Are you disgusted by me?”