Chapter 6: Caged

A few hours earlier…

Sarah stared into the crackling fireplace before her. Dressed in a skin toned silk slip and with her hair curled and pulled over her shoulder, she waited. She didn't want to finish getting ready for tonight's engagement party. It felt like a masquerade—a lie.

She had spent the last ten years believing she was doing the right thing. Believing that by leaving her family for college and never looking back was for the best. She showed up for the occasional holiday and sent a few birthday cards, but she knew that being a part of her family was a privilege she lost when she killed her father. Now she believed that by marrying Patrick, she was making a better life for herself. He was of good standing within his family and society. He had wealth and intelligence, a wholesome background and a handsome smile. And he wanted to marry her. But Patrick only knew the lie of her life, not the real Sarah Redmond—the caged dove, whose heart beat for another. For a demon—for Crowley.

Tonight, of all night's, she couldn't make herself believe the lie anymore. Maybe it had something to do with Crowley—for the passion he had shown her and the strength she felt with him. But deep down, she knew that she was doing this for herself. She had to be honest with herself now. And marrying Patrick, her perfect man, was a mistake. Prince Charming wasn't real—if anything, she believed more in the harsh realities now than ever. It was time to end this charade.

She had to tell Patrick the truth before it was too late. He deserved it.

The door to the bedroom opened and Patrick walked in, grinning.

"You look beautiful already, dear." He stepped forward, his fingers trailing her cheek and lifting her chin upwards for a brief kiss. "You should at least get dressed though—I don't want to start the evening off with my mother at my throat. Proprietary and all that."

"Patrick… I need to tell you something."

"Is it the tie?" He glanced down over his navy tie. "It's lame, right?"

She shook her head, "No—it's fine. I want to talk to you before…"

"Whatever it is, I'm sure it can't wait, hon. I have to go downstairs and help mom set up the catering before she eats the head chef."

Sarah grabbed his arm and held tightly. "No, I must speak to you now. It can't wait."

His expression softened. "Is it nerves?" He kissed her cheek once more, irritatingly sweet. "It's normal to be anxious, Sarah."

"It's not nerves…"

"Well, if it's about your dress—I can have someone come up and…"

"Patrick—I'm having an affair!"

Her words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Patrick's stunned face stared at her. "What?"

Shaking from guilt and strangely enough, relief, Sarah took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell you that so unkindly, but I had to tell you before we went through with this." She hesitated, her voice lowering. "That is if you still do."

Patrick's face cleared. "Of course I still want to marry you."

Confused, Sarah's eyes collided with his. "What?"

He reached out and took her hands into his, holding her close. "I suspected you were having doubts about us before. And your affair—well, that doesn't surprise me. I just didn't expect you to tell me like this."

She gaped at him, unable to speak.

He continued. "I love you, my dear. And understand that running to another for comfort may have been what you needed at the time—now, I feel that with your continued commitment to me, you have made your choice."

"My choice?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes," He nodded, his eyes filling with confidence. "You choose me."

Sarah's heart suddenly rebelled at the notion. Did she ever choose him? Could she? Over Crowley?

"No…" She whispered suddenly. Feeling momentarily brave she said, "I didn't choose you."

He chuckled. "You're here aren't you? I think it's pretty clear this is what you want."

She shook her head, feeling the walls of her cage shrinking and beginning to smother her. Withdrawing her hands from his grasp, she stepped backwards towards the fireplace.

"Now who is this fellow? An office clerk? An intern?"

"No one you know."

"Will he be here tonight?"
"I didn't invite him—and I don't know." She gazed into the crackling fire. Her gut coiled anxiously at the thought of seeing him here tonight. Would he come? Would he save her from another mistake in her life? Did she want him to save her? No, she thought suddenly. No more saving—this was her moment. She would save herself for once in her life.

"I mean, I don't think he would. But it is Crowley and he is ruler of…" She stopped short. "He's—he's bold. Has a tendency to do things he shouldn't."

"Crowley?"

She glanced up, noticing the hint of surprise and slight recognition in Patrick's voice. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Do you know him?"

"Of course I know him—who doesn't?" Patrick's gaze turned suddenly curious at her. Almost as if he was seeing her for the first time. "But it surprises me that you know him."

She stilled, a creeping fear tingling up her spine. "How do you know Crowley?"

He sneered distastefully. "That disgusting creature has the audacity to call himself ruler of hell. And once Dick finishes his plans for the lot of you, he plans on taking over hell. After all, he was here before Crowley stuck his nose where it didn't belong."

Eyes widening, Sarah stumbled back into the edge of the fireplace, her hand gripping the mantle. This was not Patrick. This was thing before her was what Crowley warned her about. "Oh God…" She whispered.

"God has nothing to do with it. He abandoned this overpopulated rock a long time ago. Now… back to Crowley." The monster strode forward, his eyes brightening with malicious glee. "He will come for you tonight, won't he Sarah?"

Her lips trembled. She felt something graze her fingertips on the mantel. A large candle holder. She remembered seeing it earlier—silver, plenty of spiky points. She slowly reached for it.

"Yeah, I think he'll be here. Like you said—he has a tendency to be bold. And he wants you. Crowley isn't known for playing with humans, other than to make deals." Patrick's veil hand reached up to her face and brushed her hair off her shoulder, caressing her flesh. "He's attracted to you, isn't he?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "Honestly, ever since I snapped your boyfriend's neck a few weeks ago, all I've wanted to do was take a bite out of you myself."

She saw a flash of large, sharp teeth emerge from his mouth like a set of claws. Patrick was dead and this monster planned on hurting her next. A moment of remorse for her dead fiancé was fleeting as she buried it beneath her own anger and survival. She moved instantly, gripping the candle holder and hurling it across his face.

His face whipped backwards, but quickly returned, unaffected. Fear shot through her. She swung again, this time Patrick caught her arm and squeezed painfully.

"Now, now Sarah. That's no way to treat your fiancé."

He knocked the holder out of her hand and twirled her around, facing her towards the fire and holding her tightly from behind, his breath in her ear.

"When you're demon lover gets here… I will rip his cold, black heart out right in front of you. And I'll eat it whole."

"I'd like to see you try." She shot back defiantly.

He laughed coldly. "Oh I will. Maybe I'll rip your heart out instead… I've never seen a demon cry before."

"He won't cry…" she seethed. "He'll kill you if you touch me."

Patrick hummed. "Have you forgotten already, Sarah…?" He angled his body to that she felt his pelvis against her backside. She trembled. "I already have touched you. I was your fiancé for two whole weeks."

"You're disgusting."

"No, you humans are. Nothing but cows waiting for the slaughter. But you…" his hand slipped over her stomach, touching her through her silk slip. "You may just be the exception. If anything, I can understand why Crowley's attached."

"If Crowley doesn't kill you," she hissed. "I will."

"Well, if I'm about to die—I think I should have a little fun, don't you?" he taunted. Suddenly a piercing stab of teeth into the flesh of her neck made her cry out.

"You taste almost as good as you feel, my dear." Patrick tightened his hold. "Let's play."

TBC