Author's notes: For some reason this part gave me a lot of trouble and feels really short. My mind kept wandering to a nasty scene featuring a bit of past history between our favorite elf and that bitch Ellasbeth. It doesn't really fit in here but I may be able to squeeze a one shot out of it. The head cold and NyQuil combo didn't help with the focus either. Anyway, thanks again for the reviews and for reading my fangirly ramblings.

Chapter 4

"Such a pale light, such a long night

Pick up that key, don't drop your gaze in your coffee. Is it me?

Do I look beautiful in the half light?

It's been so long, years have gone, since I belonged

Hold me please. Stay with me and I will sleep"

Porcupine Tree "Half-Light"

The small bedroom was hazy with mid-morning sunlight. My legs ached, wanting to stretch out in Rachel's old twin bed. I couldn't bring myself to move. Rachel was snuggled next to me. If I moved, she may wake up and I didn't want her to. After our second round, she started crying, feeling guilty for betraying his memory. I wasn't planning on staying, but I couldn't leave her in an upset state, so I wrapped my arms around her. And with each soft kiss she placed on my face, I felt far removed from Trent Kalamack, the murdering drug lord bastard. I stayed awake until she fell asleep and then I dozed off. I was content holding her in my arms and fearful of the morning after regret.

"How long have we been sleeping?" Her voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"We slept here all night." Rachel frowned at me. I stretched out my arm and glanced at my watch. "Its about 10:30."

"Crap on toast. I gotta call Ivy." Panicked, she stumbled over me and fell out of the bed, onto the floor. I moved to help her up. Her eyes scanned my nude body, as I helped her to stand.

"Do I look better than you imagined?" I lowered my voice, aiming for a sultry tone. I did a quick, playful peck on her forehead. Her soft touch teased my stomach.

"You better get dressed, elf."

I pulled her hands to my lips, kissing and biting her knuckles, "Are you sure?" Our eyes met, and she hesitated with a response.

"Yeah, I really need to let Ivy know I'm ok." I nodded, admitting defeat. We started getting dressed.

"Do you regret last night?" I asked. I finished putting my pants on and sat down on the bed. My dress shirt was unbuttoned. Rachel stood across the room, topless with her jeans on. She saw my stare and quickly slid into her sweatshirt. It felt like she was standing on the opposite side of a canyon.

"Not at all." She blushed. "It…you were good."

"You have that look on your face."

"What look?" Rachel sighed as she crossed the room, searching for her socks.

"You know the look. What are you thinking?"

"I'm not sure what I want."

"I already told you, I'll take what you're willing to offer."

"What if its nothing? Will you act like a spoiled brat and try to kill me?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Morgan. If I couldn't kill you because of the sins of my father, I'm not going to get worked up over a one night stand." I got the desire to fuck her out of my system. We can return to the way things were, I thought. It was just one night, my inner voice consoled me, it was just one kiss, one touch too much; just pure simple lust. As I watched her, I buttoned my shirt and heard a nagging voice in my head whisper, Liar.

"I better get going." My voice sound flat and unsure. "Would you want to go out for dinner sometime?"

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

I shrugged and then got off of the bed. I reached into my back pocket, pulling out a slim gold case. I took out one of my business cards. I walked over to Rachel and clasped her hand, forcing her to take the business card. "My personal cell phone number is on there." I said. I put a finger to her lips when she started to protest. "I know you miss him, but its not a bad thing to have someone to help you heal the wound he left behind."

"You assume I'm going to say yes." She looked up at me, her eyes demanding yet unreadable. Like an instinct my hand touched her cheek.

"I don't know. My luck isn't the greatest with girls." She kissed me.

"It will never work out, you know, with you being involved in numerous illegal activities." Rachel said catching her breath. I kissed her back.

"My wicked little witch forgets that she isn't so lily white either." I replied in a hoarse whisper. I smiled, laughing internally at the idea of having pet names like Murdering Bastard and Demon Kin. I kissed her again, with force, letting my tongue slip past her lips. Her hand tousled my soft hair. "I'll see you for dinner sometime."

*****

Ellasbeth spotted the tall, painfully thin elf at the restaurant's entrance. She waved to catch his attention. She smiled as he approached her table.

"It is good to see you Jonathan. I was worried." Ellasbeth gestured for him to take a seat.

"I appreciate your concern." He sat across from her. She looked perfect in her tan slacks and navy shirt. "You know how his temperamental he can be." Ellasbeth winced, not wanting to remember the bruises and black eye.

"You should come back to Seattle with me." She reached out and touched Jonathan's hand. "Your services would be better appreciated." He moved his hand reaching for the menu.

"Trenton is my responsibility." Ellasbeth sighed, signaling the waiter. They ordered food. She frowned, as Jonathan people watched.

"Does he know you are here?"

"No. He left around sunset last night. He had not returned when I left."

Ellasbeth snickered. "New girlfriend?"

"I don't know. We have not been talking." Jonathan unfolded the napkin and placed it over his lap.

"I made arrangements with someone to get the blood sample and his genetic research documents." She pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear as she leaned closer to Jonathan. "I need you to draw a map or give me directions. He never let me get close enough to his 'businesses'."

Jonathan's lips twisted into a cruel smirk. He took a sip from the glass of water. "Isn't there any other way to resolve this?"

She sat back, green eyes shooting daggers at her companion. "You are still protecting him." Ellasbeth accused, "He threatened you and you are…"

"Protecting Mr. Kalamack's business interests." His voice was calm. " I do not have the authority to negotiate on his behalf, but I'm sure he would meet with you to come to an agreement regarding the sample."

Ellasbeth's hands balled into tight fists, turning her knuckles white. "I will only tell you this because I care about you." She hissed, "The compound will be broken into on Monday night." She stood up, tossing her napkin on the table. "I would not be there if I were you." The young blonde stormed off. Jonathan took another sip of water as another figure approached the table. The scar faced man sat down.

"You certainly have a way with the ladies." Quen quipped.

"I don't know who she hired, but she said it would happen Monday."

"I'll talk to Morgan and Jenks. We'll be ready." Quen attempted to reassure Jonathan.

"This wouldn't be happening if I hadn't overstepped my bounds."

"Trenton will get over it." Quen smiled as the waiter brought over two plates overflowing with salad greens, cheese and grilled chicken. "Do you think Ellasbeth would mind?"

The usually somber Jonathan laughed, "I could use the company."

*****

Later that night….

Lee sat back in his office chair. He lit a cigarette. He had quit smoking years ago, but picked it up again when Algaliarept possessed him. He kept going over Ellasbeth's plan. It should work he thought. Breaking into the Kalamack compound was going to be a breeze, since Lee was the one who set the wards. He propped his feet up on the desk, staring at the wall. He wasn't happy that he would have to share the spoils with that uppity elf bitch. They had dinner the other night, to discuss the break in. She was flirty, sending all the right signals. The minute he tried to put the moves on her, she turned to ice. It didn't surprise him that Trent preferred going to jail than getting married to her.

He exhaled smoke and tapped a line, creating a circle. He chanted the familiar Latin. The smell of burnt amber filled the room.

"Stanley Collin Saladan!" The velvet clad figure gasped. "Its been ages, love."

"A pleasure to see you again, Al." Lee snuffed out the cigarette. "I need your help learning a curse."

"All things for a price." The demon grinned.

"Of course. I want to learn how to twist this curse." Lee got up from his desk, grabbing the spell book from the drawer. He showed Al the page through the circle.

"Ooooo," Algaliarept cooed, "Quite a torturous spell. Someone must have really got on your bad side."

"Will you teach me how to do it? There are pieces of the Latin phrases missing."

"For your soul, I will teach you."

Lee smiled, "A soul is a little pricey for a few phrases. I have something better to offer. Remember Ellasbeth?"

The demon grinned. "Ahhh, yes, the young lady who was to be Mrs. Trenton Aloysius Kalamack? We really got on well during the rehearsal dinner."

"I will give her to you for one night, to do with as you please, as payment for teaching me the curse."

"Two nights and minor demon mark." Al countered.

Lee paused for a whole second, feeling a smidge of regret passing through him. The demon shouldn't hurt her too much, he thought. Bitch shouldn't have turned me down. "It's a deal." Lee lowered the circle and gave his wrist to Al. The demon traced a circle on Lee's wrist and put a slash through it. After the mark was drawn, the Latin words of the spell flowed into Lee's mind.

"Are you satisfied Stanley Collin Saladan?"

Lee nodded, "You are free to do as you please with Ellasbeth Withon for two nights." Algaliarept bowed, disappearing in a smoke cloud. Lee chuckled, remembering the games he played with Trent when they were young. The end game was near and Lee was playing to win.