**Disclaimer: I take no credit for the characters, settings, spells, etc. that are in this story. They all belong to the great Kim Harrison.**
**Warning: rated M for reason… just wait. It also gives a lot of crap away and this is my first story, so if it's a pile of crap, my deepest apologies. Also I say "crap" a lot when I'm not channeling characters. So if you don't like the word "crap" get your lily-white ass out of here! **
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Trent's POV
"I can't believe I'm doing this." I muttered to myself.
Rachel has been gone all day and Cheri has me looking for her. She said to me that if I didn't look for Rachel, she would get out of bed and look herself. The problem with that is she is to stay in bed due to the baby.
So now I'm driving my black BMW, looking for that damned witch. Well, speak of Rachel and she shall appear. This time she appeared in the form of her red car being parked outside Eden Park. I parked in front of her car, thinking about the day she took her first job from me here. I remember her face when I gave her the money, full of hate for me because she knew I knew that she had needed it. I remember she had also tried to save my hat; Quen and I had over-reacted when she touched me in the process, and the toll that had come to her aid. I believe I heard her call him Sharps and under the bridge he had called her 'a damn fine woman' when she offered to guard his bridge if he wanted to take a swim. She had given Quen an apologetic look, as if to say, sorry to cause trouble over nothing.
I got out of the car and started to look for Rachel on foot, noticing how dark the park is compared to the city around it, only the moonlighting my way.
I found her on the bridge. Rachel was sitting on the stone railing with her feet hanging over the water. Her back was to me and her long red hair was gently flowing in the wind. It was almost pretty, but the blue t-shirt and black jeans ruined it. She didn't seem to have noticed me yet because she seemed to be talking to herself. I could just barely hear what she was saying…
"…Oh, did you know I can't bear a child, less it be a demon, or that I'm so damn close to being demon myself that I can be summoned! SUMMONED! My aura is so dirty that it's the color of whiskey. It used to be the most beautiful gold. Though it did have red streaks in it but that was fine. And it was thanks to Trent's father, my "dad" who's not even my real father, Trent, Piscary, Nick, and Al… damned demons…" and she continued on. I walked toward her as quietly as could. Which was pretty damn quiet. When I was behind and a little to the right of her, I set my hand on her shoulder and looked at her, hoping I was conveying the sorrow felt for her. Considering how much she gets on my nerves and how much I fear her, that is quite a bit.
She turned, I guess, surprised that both someone had heard her and at who was interrupting her speech. I saw the tear-paths on her cheeks that had not been heard in her voice. When her surroundings settled into her mind, her face turned angry. Maybe angry was not the way to describe it, pissed fits better.
"I do not want your pity, Kalamack!" she growled through gritted teeth.
"It is not pity I offer, only sympathy." I said dryly before patting her shoulder once and putting my hand back at my side, just noticing sharps in the water. So, she had been talking to sharps… I turned, putting my hands in my pockets and leaned against the stone railing, waiting for her to wipe away her tears. Proud women, particularly Rachel, hate to be seen crying. It's the same way for most men because it is viewed as a weakness. "…I'm sorry for all the pain that has been caused to you." And I was sincere about what I said.
"Thank you" she said softly.
"May I drive you home?"
"What about my car?"
"I'll have Quen drop it off." I said nonchalantly, walking toward the BMW, knowing she would follow. I didn't want her to drive the way she is now; Ivy and Cheri would rip me a part into small pieces if Rachel got hurt. Apparently she didn't want herself to drive either, that or she was curious, because she followed. I let her get her own door because I knew better. I started the engine, stated with a smirk "If you're wondering who sent me, it was Cheri." and started driving toward Rachel's church as a contented silence filled my car.
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I pulled up to the empty curb in front of her church and she started to open her door, when I felt something like there was someone watching me. Rachel must have felt it too, because she froze and looked at me with a mixture of fear and determination with the smallest bit of anger, the look she had while on the job. I nodded, As if to say, go ahead and try. She opened the door wide and pulled out her splat-gun. The door opened to a mess of flashing lights, which were most likely cameras. I leaned over to close the door because Rachel looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Though the action caused me to put most of my upper body in her lap. This action caused her to stiffen even more. Her scent drifted up to me as I did this, it was of redwood and salt water with an undertone herbs and amber not yet burnt. She has had that warm amber smell to her scent ever since she saved me for the ever-after. I think that's why I had tried to kill her. She smelt so much like a demon it made me angry and scared and I have to either own or destroy things that I fear. I had tried to own her and failed. So I tried to destroy her and failed. Now we just pretend it never happened.
"You can get out of my lap now." She spoke with quite menace. Effectively pulling me out of my thoughts. I rolled over on my back and gave her teasing smile.
" And if I don't?" I teased making a show of being comfortable.
She leaned forward her face inches from mine, her splat gun pressed to my chest and whispered, "I'll make you" her words low and angry. I didn't doubt she would do it but I still didn't surrender. Instead I made a counter-attack. I came up a little bit, brushing my lips against her lips. I sat back and watched her face turn as red as her hair with anger and embarrassment, grinning all the while.
Then it hit me; there are reporters outside my car! I sat up quickly and started to drive back to the park. Though a truck full of reporters followed but was quickly lost. The evil bustards made me turn down the wrong road. Where the only way to go was home. Just as well, we could hide better at my compound.
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After 45 minutes of driving, I finally parked my car and was getting out of it when I noticed Rachel sleeping. So I circled around the front of the car to carry her inside. When I picked her up she snuggled in to me, hiding her face into my pale green dress-shirt, still fast asleep. I think she said something like, "It smells like fall...but...feels like summer..." At that I couldn't help but smile. I quietly carried her through my house to one of Elsbeth's old rooms, so she could sleep in peace. When Jonathon saw me, he started to say something but I shushed him. When Quen saw me, he simply smiled and went on his merry way. I started to laid her down when her arms wrapped around me and she mumbled "daddy don't leave me... the monsters aren't gone yet..." her voice small and afraid. I smiled a sad smile and unwrapped her arms from around me. She started to whimper and tears ran down her face.
Then instinct took over. I picked her up again and got under the covers with her. Her arms wrapped around my waist again. "You're safe in my arms." I whispered in her ear, my arms around her and she smiled. Soon I was fast asleep as well, asking my self when was the last time I was hugged with real feeling. Too long...
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**I would love any advice anyone has about the story, bad or otherwise. Oh and I warn you, there are a lot of different POVs of the story I tell.**