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The Demons Inside.
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It was an expensive place; the view alone said that, but coupled with the faux modern furniture and monotone color scheme he had a growing sense of satisfaction that he had rid the world of a couple with awful taste. Of course, he had no way or really knowing if the slowly rotting corpses on the floor actually cared about each other at all. Love was so rare in demons.
Their once rosy skin was peeling off like a bad Halloween mask, reveal grotesque faces, the skin turned dark and the flesh looking scared from being pulled down from the forehead to the cheek bones so no eyes existed. Their mouths were still open in a last and now soundless scream. A dark liquid had been pooling around the bodies, staining the floor. Now it moved, slowly being pulled across the floor to an altar. It flowed into the carved grooves that ran up the legs and seeped through the ornate cloth draped over the table. The blood left veiny trailers across the cloth as it moved to the metal bowl at the center, filling it and mixing with the other unmentionable substances in the bowl.
The bored man standing before the altar glanced up from the worn book in his hand. He wore a vintage style suit, reminiscent of the 50's, and he tucked the book away inside the vest as the liquid in the bowl stilled. A toothy grin spread across his face, stretching his lips.
He waved his hand towards the darkness beyond the glowing candles on the table. A throaty growl grew from the shadows and a pair of red eyes appeared. They moved forward, a low body peeling itself from the shadows. The hound bared its teeth at the man then suddenly turned and snapped at a second hound as it emerged from the darkness. Another few moments of growling and snapping, five black hounds were waiting, muscles tense.
The man dipped his fingers into the bowl, the liquid rippling and moving away from his fingertips as if repelled. As the liquid reached a limit, his fingers broke the surface. He lifted his dripping finger then flicked them at the black hounds. The first flinched as the dark blood splattered across its face. Where it touched, the fur began to bubble like water coming to a rolling boil. All of its muscles suddenly flexed, bulging under its skin until it ripped, dark spikes protruding from its flesh. The hound howled. The skin on its face charred, fire burning it from the inside until the flesh fell off, revealing the skull. The newly born basilisk gnashed its teeth, flames, licking past glowing teeth, eyes now just burning holes.
The others went through the same process, a dark black stain spreading across the ceiling from the growing smoke. The mad grin had relaxed to a smug expression on the man's face. He leaned forward, resting his hands on the tabletop either side of the bowl. His lips moved quickly the dark liquids rose from the bowl remaining even with his hands as he slowly lifted them to face level. The liquid swirled and rolled in on itself, taking a spherical shape. The candles flickered and dimmed from the smoke clouding the room. The man's eyes glow an unnatural green as he looked at one of the hounds. The hound took a step back, the flames around his head sputtered and it shrieked in pain. The other hounds shied away from it as it fell to the floor and began to convulse. An orb of light floated through the hound's chest, rising quickly and slamming into the floating mass of liquid. The orb of light swirled around the edge of the liquid for a moment as it was pulled into the center by some unnatural gravity.
The hound's body slowly began to burn away, crumpling into ash. The man looked to the next hound and it howled in pain, then the next and the next; each orb of light joined with the dark liquid until the hounds had all fallen. The liquid began to change color, glowing the same green as the sorcerer's eyes. The grin began to grow again, his eyes dancing as the wind began to pick up in the room, throwing the ash into the air. He spread his arms and the orb stretched, light emanating from its center, sucking in the air, ash and smoke. The man began to laugh, victoriously, in relief. It worked, it had finally worked. And just in time, any longer and he would have paid a visit. The thought chilled him to his core.
Energy shot from the orb and the man flinched. It happened again and again, causing cracks to race across the ceiling and the candlesticks to topple form the altar.
The man's face fell. "No."
The edges on the orb dripped, melting.
"No, no, no. NO!"
The wind stilled and the light faded as the remains of the liquid splattered across the floor. The man stood still for a moment, chest heaving. He stepped forward and flipped the altar in a fit of rage.
"Why? Why didn't it work?" He asked no one. He wanted to sink to the ground, like a great oppressive weight was trying to crush him once again.
"Wilson Kane." The voice spoke slowly, annunciating each syllable.
The frustrated sorcerer stiffened at the sound of his name. He didn't move his head, but strained his eyes to look to the side, only now aware of the amorphous figure in the shadowed doorway.
"It seems you are having some... difficulties." Again, the voice was slow, unhurried.
"Just a minor setback, I—ack." He felt his throat tighten cutting off his words. He felt as if he was suddenly falling. Wilson tried to hold onto his lucid thoughts, his words, his rational logic as he began to slip back into himself as the seed of madness bloomed around him. Nothing was real anymore and all he could feel was this growing, unsatisfied need. A need for anything to fill the void, probably where his soul should have been. The maddening emptiness only remained for a moment before the feeling slithered back hind the barrier in his mind and he could breath again.
He gasped, filling his burning figure was standing in front of him, looking down at the toppled altar. It was dressed in a suit, much like Wilson's (actually, it was exactly like Wilson's) but made entirely of off yellows, even the shoes were a faded muddy yellow. Only the hat and gloves were black, and the pale smiling mask that turned to grin at him. Wilson didn't dare move as the monster looked at him with painted eyes. He wasn't even sure if the creature standing before him had a face. Wilson had come to the assumption that it was a he since the voice it used was masculine but there was nothing human about the creature that had so many years ago introduced himself as the King.
The mask tilted as the King fanned looking at him. "You are not looking in the right direction, Mr. Kane."
Wilson just swallowed. The figure moved away from him but without moving his feet. He stopped by the door and turned back to Wilson. The King reached into his vest and produced a worn book.
Wilson's eyes widened as he recognized the book he had just been reading and resisted the urge to feel his pocket. The King then pulled something out of this air and slipped it between the pages of the book and returned it to inside the vest.
"I am a patient man, Mr. Kane." The smile on the mask appeared to grow wider at the word man. "But, I do not want to wait forever." He tipped his hat and stepped back into the shadows of the doorway. Before his figure was complete obscured in the darkness, Wilson saw him melt into a writhing mass before completely disappearing.
He let out a slow breath to calm his nerves. Even with all his powers, that creature could take away a man's sanity at a whim. And he had batter his soul away to it... He pulled out his worn book. It was in the same pocket as before but now had a torn photo between the pages. He distinctly recalled placing the photo there himself but, with some effort, he remembered watching the King put it there. The photo was of a young woman; her hair cut short around her face and she had a bright smile. There was an arm across her shoulder but the picture was torn were the other person would have been. The sorcerer did not know the girl, though she seemed familiar. He noticed the necklace she was wearing and his eyes widened with recognition.
He remembered charming a necklace for a father to protect his special daughter from all the things that went bump in the night. That crazed smirk returned to his face and he walked from the room. He paused in the doorway and waved his hand back toward the altar. The candles that had fallen to the floor suddenly sparked to life, the flames growing beyond a natural limit. The fire spread and soon the altar, furniture and corpses were burning brightly. With a satisfied nod he left the scene.
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The club was loud, crowded and smelt of sweat and cheap cologne. The young woman at the bar was trying to be unnoticeable as she swirled the melting ice in her mostly untouched drink. She continued to nervous glance towards the entrance or eyeing people when they came a little too close to her. Her dress was cute, but a few years behind the fashion curve and she frequently fidgeted with the edges as if she wished it covered just a little bit more skin. All in all she looked very uncomfortable.
A boisterous woman on the dance floor with a tiara and a 'birthday girl' sash called a name over the music. The girl at the bar sat up a little straighter surprised and then looked towards her friend. The birthday girl waved for the girl at the bar to join her but she shook her head with a timid smile.
"Your friend looks like she's having fun."
The girl jumped, and spun around to face him, her short hair bouncing around her face. She stared at him like a deer in headlights. Wilson smiled and leaned on the bar.
"Yeah." She said slowly and glanced at the club entrance again. "It's her birthday." When she ran out of other things to look at she began to finger the silver locket hanging around her neck. He could practically feel the tension oozing off her. She glanced at him again and he smiled again. He no longer wore his suit, but was dressed in something a little more modern, as to fit in. He still appears years older than most the youths in the club, but they would never guess how old he truly was. But that was the point wasn't it.
"Why aren't you dancing?"
"James wouldn't like it." She answered instantly and again looked surprised. More slowly she added, "James is my boyfriend. I'm not sure why I told you that."
Wilson let out his most reassuring laugh. "I just have one of those faces." And adjusted the influence of his magic.
"Boyfriend? Too bad." He gave her a wink and this time she looked away with a little embarrassed smile. Her fingers returned to her necklace.
"Well that's pretty." He commented. She noticed what he is talking about and looked down at her necklace as if she hadn't even realized she was holding it. He reached toward it and paused. After a moment's hesitation, she leans forward allowing him to lift the necklace off her chest.
"My father gave it to me."
"Ah." He said and smiled knowingly. "You wear it a lot?" He asked to hold her attention as he rubbed his thumb across the metal.
"Everyday."
A little green spark jumped from the locket as he rubbed it. He released the necklace and it shimmers green for a moment before the magic he had charmed it with faded away. He looked up from it and their eyes met for a moment. He smiles, charming her once again.
"Your eyes are so green, are you wearing contacts?"
She was shy but quite attentive. He distracted her with a comment of his own. "And your eyes are silver… just like your father's."
Her expression instantly darkened. "How do you know-?"
He suddenly lifted his hand to her face and her eyes rolled back, body going limp as she slumped in her chair. He relaxed in his seat and ran a hand through his slicked back hair. Being a sorcerer made it so easy to hypnotize people. The bartender came by and handed him a drink, which he welcomed. He took a sip and looked back at the girl as she opened her eyes and sat up. She absently held her head then pushed her drink away, assuming it was the culprit.
After another moment she noticed Wilson still sitting next to her. Her eyes were weary, once again, as she didn't recognize him. She glanced towards the club entrance again. He smiled at her around his drink and set it down next to hers.
"You shouldn't let anyone keep you from having some fun."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm referring to your boyfriend," Their eyes meet and his glowed green for a moment, "whom you seem to be afraid will show up. Go dance with your friend. Have fun. Don't let him control you." She opened her mouth to comment about his eyes again but stopped as his magic affected her. "You shouldn't let anyone control you."
With a vacant expression, she slowly turned from the man and looked out at the dance floor. She watched her friend for a moment then stood, walking away from the bar. Her friend squealed with delight when she saw her. Wilson leaned on the bar looking pleased with himself as the girls began to dance and laugh.
"Only a matter of time." He muttered as he finished his drink.
The young girl didn't remember talking to anyone at the bar.
The next day she didn't remember to put on her necklace.
The next week, the neighbors called the police about another domestic disturbance. When the authorities arrived, the firemen had to pull both the girl and her boyfriend from their burning home.
The next month she moved back to her parents when James didn't wake up from a coma.
Authorities never found an explanation for how the fire started, but it was the third seemingly unrelated arson that week.
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One.
It rained yesterday. It was probably going to rain again tomorrow. It was like this city was perpetually damp. On the rare occasion it wasn't raining, fog rolled inland and the sea kept the humidity nearly unbearable. The streets, even now, were left cold and damp from the drizzle and glowed with the reflections of a hundred neon signs. Despite how warm it had been that morning it was near cold enough to see your breath now that the sun was gone. So, as people ducked beneath awnings to escape the pitiful excuse for rain, they were grateful for the dry warmth of indoors. Down a small flight of stairs that led away from the street and to the sound of music.
Opposite of the doors, the small and well lit stage held most of the attention in the room. While the music was pleasing, that wasn't the only reason for the devoted attention. The woman in front of the microphone wore an elegant dress and her long cascading locks of brunette hair made her a striking figure to behold. Her voice was full and sweet, accompanied by the soft cords of a guitar. The second young woman, holding the guitar expertly strummed each chord. Her face, framed by her amber-brown hair, hung around her shoulders and almost touched the guitar as she cradled it in her arms. She didn't have the same kind of beauty as the singer, the one that made men's head turn and their gaze linger when she walked, but it was the kind that grew on someone and the longer they looked the more beautiful she appeared. While the singer wore a slimming black dress that showed off the curve of her hips, the guitarist wore a simple satin shirt under a sweater. Despite her friends best efforts to improve her wardrobe, the sweater swallowed her, making her appear even smaller than she already was.
"Oh the silence, oh the silence I stand in." Beth sang, waiting for the last few chords from the guitar before she stepped back from the microphone, graciously accepting the applause. Jazmin smiled as her best friend glowed in the praise. Beth had talked almost nonstop about singing at the club since the owner, Jenkins, had set up the open mike night.
Jazmin ran her hand through her short hair, brushing it out of her face as Beth stepped to the side and directed the audience's attention to her. She smiled brightly, and did her best not to blush. The audience died down as Beth hopped off the stage (quite the feat considering the heels she was wearing) and Jazmin focused on gently closing the lid of the case over her beloved instrument. It had been a gift from her father when she was at school. That had been... five years ago? And she cherished it all the more when he was traveling. She gathered her things as the next act came on stage.
She slipped between the tables and took an empty seat at the bar. She let out a sigh and set her guitar against the stool next to her.
"Oh bar keep~" Her voice was sing-songy. Lacing her fingers together she craned her head back slightly to smile up at the bar tender. He turned, rubbing a glass with a towel.
"Jazmin DeVault." His expression changed from a frown to a big lopsided smile. Jenkins was a large man, not because he was heavy set or big-boned, but because it was reasonable to wonder if he had to turn to fit through a doorway. With arms that said he worked out religiously, head shaven to a shine, and a nice size mustache under his nose, Jenkins was an overall intimidating looking individual. Or at least he could be if he didn't insist on wearing his frilly edged apron. When Jazmin brought up the apron's conflicting message, he always claimed it was a gift from his wife and he would never want to hurt her feelings by not wearing it. Anyone who talked to that hulking man for more than ordering a drink, could tell he was all warm and gooey on the inside.
"Hey Jenkins." She said out of habit rather than necessity. He leaned on the bar, still rubbing at the glass.
"And what brings a pretty little lady like yourself to a place like this."
"Oh, you know, breaking hearts, taking names; the usual." She shrugged, trying to hold back a grin.
Jenkins nodded, looking impressed. "Productive week then."
"To say the least." Jazmin couldn't keep a straight face after that one and laughed. Jenkins joined in.
"The usual, Jazzy?" Jenkins asked, turning from the counter.
"Naw, I'll take a dark beer, and... a Bloody-Mary for Beth."
"Beer? That's not like you."
Jazmin leaned back in her chair, pushing on the bar to tip it back onto two legs. "True, but I have a feeling I need to sleep well tonight."
Jenkins chuckled with a knowing nod. "Alright, I'll check if there is any bacon in the back for that Bloody-Mary." He checked on a few other customers before he slipped into the back. Jazmin leaned on the counter, a smile still plastered on her face.
"Yeah, okay~!" She heard Beth say then her friend sat down next to her. "Oh Jazzy!" She gave her a hug, "You are the bestest friend ever! Thanks so much for performing with me! I don't think I could have done that if you weren't up there with me."
"Oh don't be silly. You totally could have done it by yourself; you just would have been so off key everyone would have made a run for it."
"Running for the hills!" Beth agreed with a dramatic gesture. They both cracked up laughing and Jenkins returned with a frosty beer and Bloody-Mary. "Ooo! My favorite!" She took a sip, "Thanks Jazzy."
She let out a satisfied sigh as she set the drink down. "You know, I am just so glad we moved back out here."
"You had been talking about it since we got out of college."
"Well I couldn't leave my besty all by her lonesome. Not with..."
Jazmin cut her off with a gesture but not before the guilt put knots in her stomach. "Let's not talk about him tonight, we are having a great time, no need to bring down the moody."
Beth laughed. "And look at you! You never would have been performing in front of an audience in the suffocating town. Definitely coming out of your shell."
"You can take all the credit for that, you put a lot of work into this antisocial introvert."
"And the next thing on the list is your wardrobe." She made a face, eyeing Jazmin theatrically.
"You can't make me get rid of my sweaters. I'll fight tooth and nail for them."
"I wouldn't dare awaken the beast."
They both laughed hysterically. "You, Jazmin may have found an attitude, but as much a beast as a kitten in a sweater." She said with a wink.
"You two are having too much." Jenkins said, pausing next to them.
Beth clapped, "Ooh! Jenkins! We need shots!"
"No, no no." Jazmin said with a laugh as Beth bounce in her chair and Jenkins presented them with two already poured shot glasses.
"I knew you'd want to try my new batch. You'll have to tell me if it needs more time." The bartender said as Beth inspected the whiskey like a professional.
Still chuckling the girls clinked the classes together and downed the drinks. Jazmin hissed making a face. Beth nodded in agreement. "May need another week or two."
"I figured as much."
"It'll be ready in time for your birthday then." Jazmin pointed out and Jenkins raised an eyebrow at Beth who grinned at the prospective birthday gift. Just then, someone called Beth's name and the girls looked over to a handsome young brunette who smiled at them.
Beth grinned, "Mind if I go mingle?"
"Please do."
Beth swooped in for a quick hug, "You really are the best, Jazmin."
"I know, now go. Go." She waved Beth off. Her friend always did have the easiest time wrapping men around her fingers. If it was in the hips or in the eyes or the amount of teasing cleavage she was so proud to show off, Beth had it down to a science and didn't share her formulas. Not that she really needed to share with Jazmin. Jazmin had someone, a guy that took care of her, but even as she watched Beth flirt and laugh with this new guy, Jazmin couldn't muster any feelings but longing for that burn of a new passion.
"Why the long face?" Jazmin craned her head to look up at Jenkins as he removed their shot classes. "Is it boy troubles?" One of those caterpillars of an eyebrow arched dangerously. Jazmin sighed and shrugged.
"How's the wife?" She knew the question was good bait and Jenkins wouldn't comment on the subject change to miss talking about his wife. For a bartender, he did a lot of talking. Jazmin listened to Jenkins with half a smile on her lips as she drank her beer. She loved to listen to the bartender talk about his wife. What they had, what her parents had, that was real and true love, something that wasn't going to fade, wasn't going to break and was constant no matter the distance between them. It made her sigh with longing.
What Beth always had with men was a fiery explosion of passion, but the flames burned themselves out too quickly. But Jazmin was simply a hopeless romantic with a drink in hand. Though, she usually only drank at bars, the best part was both Jenkins and her father met their significant other at a bar over a drink. Jenkins told the story like love at first sight, like the world had stopped and he could see everything about the woman he was looking at. Jazmin took a drink of her beer and scratched at the frost on the bottle. Maybe that's what she was waiting for. She glanced over her shoulder to the front door. Maybe she was just waiting for some stranger to come walking through that door.
She thought it half joking, but her eyes watched the handle of the front door intently. She let out a little sigh when nothing happened.
"Am I boring you that much?"
Jazmin looked back up at Jenkins, wide-eyed. "No! Sorry… I was daydreaming. Tell me about how you met Nell."
Jenkins leaned back with a curious smile, then after a glanced down the bar he started in on his tale. "So I was a fresh blood out of college, on my first trip out of the country…"
Jazmin heard the soft tinkling of the wind chimes over the door. Oh don't look. You're completely hopeless if you look. But she knew she had to look. The man who opened the door to the club literally took her breath away. Jenkins was now telling half the bar his story so he didn't see that Jazmin's interest had been stolen. The man was so visually loud Jazmin couldn't look away. He ducked as he walked in, holding the wind chimes away from his face before shaking his head and pushing a hand through his wet mess of hair to slick it back. His bangs didn't stay long before they fell and clung to the sides of his face. His jacket was dark from the rain but he didn't bother to take it off. He just stood at the entrance waiting for it to finish dripping.
"Who are you looking at?" Beth muttered, peaking over Jazmin's shoulder. She hadn't even noticed her friends return until she spoke. She tried to look away from the man before Beth saw who she was looking at but her friend made an approving sound. "Wow Jazzy, you sure can spot 'em. You should totally get yourself some of that." Beth nodded, sitting back and taking the empty seat next to her friend.
Jazmin shrugged and glanced towards him, then faced Beth. "I'm not going to have a one night stand with a total stronger. I am in a relationship, remember."
"Or you could spend a weekend with him. And who was just whining about their relationship the other day? Nathen is such a stick in the mud anyways."
"He's dependable." Jazmin rolled her eyes. "Well, either way, that guys looks like he walked out of the Matrix or something." She couldn't stop the dreamy tone that crept into her voice.
"Well then don't unplug me." Beth cooed. "Oh. My. God. He's totally checking you out."
Jazmin looked up and her eyes meet the man's. Even from a distance she could see they were an icy blue that kept her frozen. She felt an unfamiliar warms spread through her chest and her heart raced. A little smirk tugged at the corner of his lips and butterflies filled her stomach. She forced herself to looked away.
"If he's looking at anyone, it's you in the little dress, Beth." She studied a drop of condensation run down her bottle as if it was very interesting. What was with this fire burning in her chest? It wanted out, it wanted to overwhelm her but something was stopping the fire, smothering it. Neither of these things felt like her's and she didn't like the unusual experience.
Beth made an unbecoming sound with her nose. "And if you'd worn that one I picked out for you all these men would be drooling at your feet. While he may be boring, you don't keep a man like you're boyfriend around without that dynamite body of yours. Show it off." She pointed a finger at Jazmin and finished her drink. Jazmin felt the odd feelings fade and she chocked it up to Jenkins' unfinished whisky.
"I'd like to think he sticks around for the conversations. And besides I'm going for the cute innocent look." Jazmin fluttered her eyelashes at Beth and she giggled.
"You are many things," She paused when someone called her name. The man she had been flirting with held up a new drink. "Innocent is not at the top of the list." She finished and stood just as someone sat down on Jazmin's other side. She turned to look and saw the man in the next seat, setting his guitar case down next to hers. The bar wasn't empty but there were other seats. Why did he have to sit next to her?
"Hi!"
Jazmin could have strangled Beth then and there. The man look at her, an eye browed raised.
"This is Jazmin," She clapped her hands on Jazmin's shoulder. "No matter what she says, she's totally available."
Jazmin's heart just about stopped, not only because Beth was trying to hook her up with the man but because his lips curled into a devilish smile. She was going to need another drink. Then Beth left her, alone, sitting next to a beautiful man who probably expected her to talk to him. She swallowed again and just stared at him. She undoubtedly looked like a deer in headlights.
He loomed over her and, while not quite as broad-shouldered as Jenkins, the man looked like he could handle anything the world might throw at him. The confident air and that cocky smirk only added to that conclusion. He had such demanding presence she couldn't quite bring herself to ignore him.
He looked like he would be dangerous. Normal people didn't wear trench coats. But his smile was so disarming she didn't feel uncomfortable. She wanted to compare him to a dancer with how elegantly he moved. The long, trench coat he wore swept around his body, the red adding to the flare to his movements. The tight, black shirt he wore was distracting enough without the way it just hugged his chest. But, as distracting and attention demanding the rest of him was, his hair was stunning. It was so white it was almost silver.
After another moment of her silence, he chuckled. "Enthusiastic friend you've got there."
Oh god! Even his voice was hot, like freaking chocolate velvet. She laughed nervously hoping that weird heat didn't return to her chest.
"Yep, that's Beth for you." She took a long drink of her beer and glanced towards Jenkins. He was getting to the end of his story.
"And so I was standing there on her balcony, soaking wet with her car keys and she says to me…" He glanced to Jazmin and she watched his gaze shift past her. His paled suddenly before he smiled broadly. It didn't looked fake but she could feel his tension. Jazmin glance over her shoulder and saw the man nod to Jenkins. What was that about?
"Wait, so what did she say?" A stranger asked.
Jenkins looked back at his "audience" completely at a loss. "Um…"
Jazmin leaned forward onto the bar. "She said, 'Next time, it won't be a shot of whiskey."
The people who had been listening burst into laughter. Jazmin sat back watching Jenkins curiously. She had heard the story so many times she could recite it, but not with as much gusto as the barkeep. So why had he lost track of the story?
"Sounds like I missed a good story." The man next to her commented.
"You should hear the one about the night before the wedding. He's not allowed to tell it at parties anymore."
The man whistled. "Sounds like my kind of party."
Jenkins came out of the back and set a little fancy glass bowl of ice cream in front of the man. She tried to catch Jenkins' eye as he walked away, but he was distracted. She looked back at the man to catch him glancing at the napkin under the bowl before he slipped it into his pants pocket. Jazmin knew she saw writing on it. Okay, what was going on? When did she leave real life and become an extra in a spy movie. A spy movie where 007 liked strawberry ice cream which he didn't order. She couldn't stop her giggle as she watched the man lazily eat a spoonful of the frozen dessert.
"What?" He asked, leaning an elbow on the bar. Jazmin did her best to contain her giggles.
"Nothing."
"You don't like ice cream?" He refilled the spoon and ate it seductively, then licked his lips. Jazmin felt her cheeks blush and she turned away from the man to take a drink of her beer, shaking her head. She gestured to the man's guitar.
"Are you going to play?"
"Smooth topic change."
She gave him a look for calling her out but he just winked at her. She recognized the look in his eye, it was the same one Beth had with all things male. Beth flirted with everyone, if she interested or otherwise. So, it must have been the same for this guy; flirting was normal behavior. Jazmin relaxed.
"But no, my performances are for private audiences only."
Jazmin's eyebrows rose and she theatrically looked him up a down; God his shirt was tight. She leaned a little closer to him and he leaned towards her, the smirk returning to tug at the corner of his mouth.
"What? Are you some kind of exotic stripper?" She whispered. He sat back and stared at her for a surprised moment before he burst out laughing. Jazmin's "serious face" turned into a sly smile. She wouldn't have been so bold if she hadn't been drinking, but heck, that smile was gorgeous on him.
"Damn! You know, that's the best guess yet." Jazmin glanced over her shoulder and caught Beth giving her thumbs up. She gave her friend a little smile and took another drink of her beer. He was still chuckling and took another bite of his ice cream; pointing the spoon at her when it was empty. "I only wish that's what I did... Some of the time."
He said it with such a lighthearted tone she missed the dark glint in his eyes. "Speaking of which, I gotta get to work." He scooped the last of the ice cream up and spooned it into his mouth as he stood. He pulled out his wallet and slipped a few bills beneath the bowl. He grabbed his guitar case and hefted it onto her shoulder. He then paused and turned to Jazmin.
"Nice talking to you, babe." And his smile took her breath away before she could complain about the name. Then he left. She watched him walk to the door until she realized she hadn't asked him his name. She frowned and finished her drink. What a shame. Maybe he was a regular and Jenkins knew him. After another minute the bartender grabbed the bowl, Jazmin noticed it was two dollars too little, but the bartender didn't seem to care.
"Hey, What was that all about?"
"Huh?"Jenkins looked at her as if she had appeared out of nowhere.
"Who was that guy? You're not one to give away food."
Jenkins glanced to the door. "Jazmin, if you never listen to anything else I say, listen to this. Don't get involved with that sort of guy."
"I just want to know his na-"
Jenkins gave her one of the most "disapproving-father" looks she had ever seen. It made her snap her mouth shut and wonder if he really hadn't had kids. Beth arrived to save her from the uncomfortable silence.
"Jazzy love! How'd it go? Did you get his number?"
Jazmin kept her mouth shut until Jenkins stopped giving her the stink eye. "No, I didn't even get his name." Beth made a face that looked more like the world was ending, not that Jazmin had failed a hook-up. "Besides, nothing would have come out of it. I've got Nathen, and I'm happy with that." Jazmin crossed her arms. Beth mimicked her but with her cocked hip, it was far more dramatic
"Mmhumm. And his smile didn't make you have butterflies or take your breath away."
Jazmin scowled and wished she had more beer.
"That right, I saw how you were looking at him."
Jazmin glared at her empty bottle then up at the clock on the wall. "How'd it go with your boy toy over there?"
Beth proudly held up a card.
"Peachy, did you say goodbye?"
"Yep, you gonna walk me home, Jazzy?"
"Of course I am." She stood and gave her friend a little hug. She set a twenty on the bar and waved at Jenkins.
The rain seemed to finally have given up by the time the girls had walked to Beth's apartment. Twenty minutes in the cold, avoiding puddles was much nicer than twenty minutes, in the cold, avoiding puddles, in the rain.
"You sure you don't want to just crash on the couch?" Beth asked from her front door.
Jazmin switch her guitar case to her other shoulder. "Naw, I have to take care of my cat. If I hurry, I can catch the last bus home."
"Alright, be careful."
"I will." Jazmin said taking a step backwards, "I'll see you are work tomorrow." She said the words but the moment they left her lips they tasted like a lie on her tongue. Beth shut the door and the lights from inside left the street all the darker. Jazmin sighed, ignoring her uneasy feeling and pulled her coat tighter as she hugged herself.
The bus stop was only a few blocks away from Beth's apartment and usually Jazmin would have stayed on the streets, but it was cold and wet. She turned and took the short cut between the apartment buildings. She walked briskly, eyes focused on where she was putting her feet. She checked her phone for the time; ten minutes before the next bus arrived. She had plenty of time and then she would be home and could crawl into her warm bed.
She was so absorbed in imagining her bed; she almost missed the crawling sensation on the back of her neck. It wasn't the kind of chill from being cold. It started at the base of her neck and with a rush, ran down her spine making her skin crawl under her clothes in the mostly unpleasant way. She slowed ever so slightly and listened. She heard only her own footsteps in the wet alley. She walked a little faster, fighting the urge to look over her shoulder. She came out onto the street and she could see the bus stop half a block away. She let out a sigh of relief and took two steps when she heard breathing behind her. She spun around, her heart jumping into her throat.
Jazmin let out a shaky breath when she realized it was just a dog. It was watching her from behind a dumpster, how she hadn't noticed it when she past, she blamed on the darkness of the alleyway.
"Whoa, puppy dog. You scared the crap out of me." She said with a laugh, but her nerves kept her muscles tense. When she looked at the dog again, she realized why. She took a hasty step back as it stood and its shoulder was higher than her waist. It took a step from the shadows, lowering its head, its ears drawn back, and growled. And, as terrifying as those jagged rows of yellowed teeth were, Jazmin couldn't look away from the dog's eyes. They were red. It took another step toward her and Jazmin whirled, planning to make a dash for anywhere but here. Only, when she turned there was another black dog in her path. Her fist tightened on the strap over her shoulder, her other hand slipping into her coat pocket where she had a can of mace. She had no idea if it would stop whatever the hell she was looking at but she wasn't going to just lie down and take it. She pulled the mace out when the dog advanced on her.
"Back off!" She yelled, knowing the dog wouldn't understand. To her amazement, the dog's ears flicked toward her. After a moment it took a step back, then another, looking around confused. She glanced behind her and the other had also stopped. Well trained for monsters. She tensed to make a break for it but their hesitation only lasted a moment. The dogs growled. Three more sets of eyes peeled open along the side of the dog's head. Each pupil shifted and blinked independently before all eight red spots locked onto her.
Jazmin felt a scream force its way up her throat, but it never past her lips. She was struck from the side and thrown against the wall. She let out a short cry of alarm as her head smashed into the bricks, pain flaring up through her back as the impact caused her guitar to splintered between her body and the wall. Her eyes flew open but all she could see was white as her mind's eye flashed to her mother and father holding hands. She saw Beth and herself smiling and laughing over coffee, and then the man in red she had just met. If only she had asked his name...
The instant of weightlessness ended abruptly when damp concrete hit Jazmin's cheek. Everything hurt, particularly her head and back; it throbbed and even though her eyes were open she couldn't see anything. Jazmin felt something hot and sticky leaking over her scalp and through her hair. That was blood, her blood, wasn't it? Jazmin felt like she was going to throw up but she forced the urge back down her throat. There was a sudden pressure on her back, jamming her broken guitar into her spine. She yelled and stars dancing before her eyes. She then heard someone, (or was it two someones?) arguing, but she couldn't make any sense of what they were saying. The pressure on her back increased until she couldn't breath. Was this it? Crushed to death in an alley? It was far more traumatic and sudden than she had expected.
The dogs, or whatever they were, suddenly broke out in snarling barks like they were fighting. The pressure on her back suddenly disappeared, leaving her gasping for breath. A flame sparked to life in her chest. No, this wasn't the end, not if Jazmin DeVault had anything to say about it. She started coughing and she pushed herself onto one arm. Whatever had been stepping on her was yelling at the dogs behind her. She didn't look as she tried to pull herself away from the commotion with more strength than she thought she had.
Come on; don't stop. Just a bit farther…. She told herself. Jazmin looked up, and she thought she saw something. Her vision was blurred; from tears or head trauma she couldn't really be sure.
"Help!" her voice cracked and sent her into another coughing fit. Pain laced through her leg and she screamed as one of the dogs bit into her ankle, dragging her back.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Jazmin saw a flash of red as his jacket flared around him. It was that guy! What was he doing here?
One of the dogs dashed past her, heading straight for the approaching person.
"Look out!" she yelled and the dog bit into her ankle again. She ground her teeth and thought she was going to pass out from the pain. There was something, energy or just a presence, that blew her hair from her face and the dog suddenly let go of her let. That presence made half of her shiver in fear, but it coaxed the flame in her chest to burn brighter. She heard one dog scream followed by a hissing, popping noise that made her stomach turn.
"Where do you think you're going? The party's just gettin' started!" The man yelled and the relative still of the night exploded with a volley of gunshots. Jazmin's head swam. There was just too much going on right now with the shooting and the pain and trying to not throw up, it made it harder for her to concentrate on moving. But she had to move, she needed to get away. Jazmin started to push herself up. There were quick boot steps and the rush of fabric as someone knelt next to her. Jazmin flinched as a hand touched the side of her face but her eyes focused on those dazzling blue eyes.
"Hey, chill out, babe. Don't try to move." His voice was soft but his gaze flicked between her and something beyond her. "You're gonna be alright." He muttered then she felt jostled as he lifted her off the damp ground. Her body went limp in his arms as a wave of paint from her back overwhelmed her. She started to loose her grip on consciousness, she could feel it.
"Wha?… Who are you?" She asked in a panicked whispered. He didn't answer. The last thing she saw was the white flash of a grin, punctuated by a gunshot.
.
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A special thanks to my wonderful betas! Thanks for you help. Please hang in there! It's a good plot I promise.