A/N: Hey guys! I feel like it's been a while, but really it's only been about a week. So far, I'm only seeing another five or six chapters left if I end up writing myself into a corner. I hope I can milk another ten at least, but I really don't know. This is only the first book in a trilogy, so trust me there is more plot to come! Thank you to those who sent me reviews! As always, I enjoy reading them! Please review! And thank you faithful readers for once again staying with me! I'm not sure I'll be able to get another one up before next weekend or even by next weekend for that matter. This week is filled with a lot of rehearsals for me. Ah, the life of a music major! Reminder: this is an ORIGINAL story. I own these characters and the twisted plot! Finally, here is chapter 9 for your reading pleasures.
Counting Trains
"I'm fine, Red. Just stay back. I won't tell him what we did as long as you don't ever let me drink blood like that again. Deal?" I put my shirt back on and stared at him seriously. "And don't treat me any differently. This never happened, whatever it was that we were about to do. As far as I'm concerned, I spent all night dancing with a stranger in the crowd." I left him sulking in the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. What was I doing? Was I really going to have sex with Red? No, I wasn't. I just wanted to play him, right? I tried to clear my head, but got distracted by a blond headed guy staring at me from the corner. His hair reflected the color spectrum as the strobe lights flashed throughout the room. He looked tall and young. His facial features were soft and his eyes prodded at me. I neared him and immediately recognized those striking blue eyes: Justin. I slowly moved closer to him, trying not to draw any attention to myself.
"Well, hello there. Do I know you?" I winked at him.
"No, I'm a complete stranger," he said, catching on.
"Dance with me?" he nodded and I dragged him out onto the dance floor. "How did you find me?" I questioned. I really had no idea where we were, but we had to be somewhere close to home if Justin was at this club.
"I didn't know you would be here. Farrah asked me to come here in hopes I would stop moping around about you. We've both been pretty depressed and she just needed a night to have some fun." He swayed a little bit to the beat of the music and smiled at me.
"So Farrah's here as well?" I stuttered. "Shit! You guys have to leave! I'm working and my job is not something you should get yourselves involved in. Find her and leave!" I whispered.
"After two songs? Then we can both find her. You can tell her what is going on." I just stared at him, deep in thought. I hummed an approval at his suggestion, because I wanted to see my best friend.
"How's my family?" I dared to ask. I was worried about them, too. Mom was probably bawling her eyes out and who knows what little Aiden was doing without his big sister?
"Sad. Aiden cries a lot. Ms. Night isn't doing so well. Farrah was telling me that she is sick. With what, I've no clue. But it doesn't sound too good. They need you back, Dani. Hurry up and do whatever you have to, and then come home. Soon. We all miss you. Even Gretchen. She's got no one to pick on at school, and most of the cheerleaders have resigned from their positions. The other girls who went missing we found alive in the woods. But your disappearance has everyone jittery. The police are searching everywhere for you," he leaned into my ear. "Your dad even returned. The bastard tried to stay at your house, but Farrah wouldn't let him through the door. Farrah's moved in with your mom. Her foster family allowed her to. They thought she needed to help out in whatever way she could. Dani, how much longer? How much longer do you have?"
"Eight weeks? I think? I'll talk to Master and see if I can get him to strike another deal with me. You all need me home, I know. I want to go home, too. I need you all." He hugged me and then kissed me furiously.
"Damn, I miss you," his lips smoldered mine with passion and agony. Our tongues familiarized themselves with dusty territory until they'd been well re-acquainted. I didn't want to, but at the end of the next song I pulled away from him.
"We need to find Farrah," I spoke breathlessly. He reluctantly released me and nuzzled his head into my neck and hummed his approval. "C'mon. Let's hope we can find her in this crowd."
We wandered for ten minutes before finally finding her sipping from a water bottle at the bar. I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw her conversing with Red. Farrah and Red? No. Oh, God no! I shook my head at Justin before he took another step. I tugged him back toward the dance floor. I saw Red's eyes flash at me from the corner of my eye. "Dance," I whispered at Justin.
"Dani, what is going on? Who is that guy?" Justin pulled me against him and leaned his mouth close to my ear. We were the only two people slow-dancing to a relatively fast song.
"He works with me. One of S—Master's people." I gritted my teeth as he asked
"Ah, I see. He's dancing with Farrah…is he a good guy?" I could hear the worry in Justin's voice. I really didn't know Red well enough to settle his nerves, but I attempted.
"He's not going to harm her tonight." My voice was confident, though if he looked at my face he'd see through my façade. Justin moved to pull back from me, but I held him tight. "He knows you, remember? Don't give him a reason to injure you. Which reminds me, your arm isn't wrapped up. Why?"
"I didn't break it, Dani. I've got a bandage wrapped around it though, and I'm on some heavy pain killers."
"Did you bring extra bandages?" I asked him.
"Yeah, why?" he cocked an eyebrow at me then realized what I was asking. I wanted to see it. "I'll show you. Follow me," we wove through the groups of soured people toward a door in the back. "What they don't tell people," he said softly, "is that this room is actually a private suite. My uncle owns the joint, and he's the only reason we were able to get in here. Although, I've no clue how you got in. Dare I ask?" I shook my head and he sighed. "Ah, I see."
"Let's sit down on the couch. My legs are burning from dancing too much," I joked. He gave me a weak smile and sat beside me on the black leather love seat. "I love your smile," I stated plainly. Justin smiled wider and winked at me, but his happiness was short-lived.
"You won't get to see it every day. And he will get to see yours more often than I will." Justin's words made my heart pang with guilt. I told Satan that I loved him after we had sex. That's typical, right? I didn't really mean it, did I?
"Marry me!" the words fell from my mouth before I could pull them back. His eyes widened and glazed over.
"Danielle, I—I don't know what to say," me either, I thought silently. "I…yes. But what about you know…?"
"I don't think he could marry me if I married you first," I took a moment and thought about it. "He said I could have lovers, but never mentioned that I could marry someone else. I suppose if I were married, Heaven wouldn't let me wed him." Justin had a blank look on his face, but eventually he saw the logic in my words. Under Heaven, my second marriage would be null if I was married to another man first.
"I will marry you, Danielle Night!" he threw his arms around me and held me tightly. I smelled his scent and shivered. He smelled like lilac and lemons. His lips grazed mine softly as he lay me down on the couch. I pulled away from him.
"I can't do this, Justin. There's something I have to tell you," I knew he needed to know what Satan and I have done. What I no longer possess. "I've had sex," I whispered.
"You're not pregnant are you?" he asked. I shook my head.
"He cannot reproduce," I explained to him why.
"Well, then I guess that is quite fine. I just do not like the fact that he was your first. I should've been. I could've showed you what true love is supposed to be. But I will show you. Not right now, but after I have a wedding band on your finger and a document that states you are my wife. My equal. My missing piece. I love you, Dani," he gasped for a big breath of air. "We should go check on Farrah," he helped me sit upright.
"Wait. You didn't show me," my voice trembled with anticipation. I wanted to see his wound. The wound he got because of me. He reached for the hem of his shirt, but I stopped him. "Let me," I reached for it myself. He let me pull his shirt over his head, and then he let out a shaky breath as I unwound the bandage around his arm. I could tell that his pain medicine was wearing off, because he cringed when my hands brushed it. I saw the pink hole in his arm, and a thick brown scab covered it. "What did the doctor say?"
"He said I wouldn't be able to do any sports that involved that arm. He also said that I can't lift heavy things for about a year. The inner muscle has to heal perfectly or else there will be a lot more scar tissue than necessary." Again, Justin smiled weakly at me. I felt wetness gather in the corners of my eyes.
"It's my fault. I'm the reason you are hurt, Justin. If you hadn't met me, saved me, you wouldn't be hurt. You would be perfectly fine." He brushed my tears off my cheeks with his thumbs.
"Shhh, baby. Don't cry. It isn't your fault. I love you and want to protect you always. I would jump in front of another arrow for you any day, any way." He pressed his lips to mine, and then warmed up both my hands in his. He broke away to put his shirt back on before we left the room.
"There you are!" exclaimed Farrah. When she saw me, her eyes just about popped out of her head. "Are you a ghost?" she whispered. I shook my head and she embraced me. "You've had me worried! Your family misses you! Come home!" I shook my head once again.
"I'm leaving with you both tonight. We're sneaking out. And that boy you were chatting with earlier…stay away from him. He's bad news." Farrah looked at me like I was crazy.
"I was only talking to him, because he looked sad. Apparently his friend had shoved his affections away earlier, and-," I cut her off with a hand.
"That was me. He's someone who works with me. I'll explain on the drive home, but we have to leave now!" She grabbed my hand and Justin's and led us out a back exit.
"We came by train in case either of us decided to get drunk," she admitted. Train? Our escape may not be fast enough, but we have to try.
"Then lead the way. I'll keep an eye out for Star and Red," the names meant nothing to Farrah, but Justin knew who I was talking about. He explained everything to Farrah on our walk to the train station. I watched for figures in the shadows, but saw none other than those of stray cats or mice. My mind focused on keeping both of my friends safe from the demons. Although, wasn't I a demon now? Do I need to protect them from myself? Am I a threat to their lives? No. I'm sure I could control my hunger. Maybe?
We watched three trains pass before ours pulled up to the station. We all climbed up into our car and took adjacent seats: Justin and Farrah sat together while I took the aisle seat across from them. The man beside me shifted in his seat, and I cringed. A familiar scent fluttered into my nose. Blood. I gulped and faced the seat in front of me, resisting the urge to glance at my neighbor. Shit. How did he get here? When did he come up from the depths of Hell? I didn't think he would come and retrieve me himself. I just wanted to go home and see my family. Marry Justin. So what if we're eighteen? But now my plan was ruined. Damn it all! Fuck it all!
"Danielle. Did you really think you could escape me?" his voice was low and velvety. I nodded my head slightly. "How interesting. I have spies everywhere, not just my two dogs. I thought you loved me? Then when my source told me that you were fleeing, I rushed up from my cavern. I'm surprised at you. I thought you loved me. Understood me. So, tell me: what exactly were you going to do once you got home? Hmm?" he blew into my ear lightly, igniting my body.
"I was going to get married." Damn him. Could I really not fight against him?
"No, you cannot fight against me. I'm now your Master, therefore you obey every order I give you. You will not get off with them. You will get off with me, and you will return to Hell with me after another task which I have yet to decide. I obviously cannot let you stay a Blood Spiller for three months if you cannot even stay for one without running away." A low chuckle erupted deep in his throat, and I only grumbled in my seat.
"The Naomi in me wants to chew you out right now, but I cannot bring my own self to. Especially in public. What exactly will my task be, sir?" I gritted my teeth.
"I've not yet decided, Butterfly. Now, go to sleep. I will take care of your little friends." My eyes stared deeply into his, daring him to do anything bad to them. "I don't plan on hurting them. I was just going to introduce myself, dearest. Now, sleep."
When I awoke, they were gone. Farrah and Justin. Once more, I belonged to Satan and not myself. "Awaken, Beast," his words taunted my ear. No! No! I pleaded and pleaded with myself. Hold her back! Hold the Beast back! Only God knows how many people could die this time! "Open your eyes, Beast!" he exclaimed impatiently. His hand rested on my thigh, and I lost the only edge I had against the raging Beast within me. The hunger overpowered my palate and stomach. She, I, was hungry. Starving. I needed blood and fast. My eyes jolted open, but I was not me anymore. She was back and in charge. "Oh, good! You're back, my sweet! You must kill everyone in this train station before I take you home. Can you do that?" I felt my head nod and then a grunt rumble in my throat. Shit, this was really about to happen. "Start with the little girl sitting on the bench, then clear the room. Clock-wise." My feet moved on the gray tile toward the small blond-headed girl.
"Why hello there, little one. What is your name?" my voice sounded low and groggy, but soft and caring.
"Beth. My mommy told me not to talk to strangers, but you seem nice. Would you like to sit with me?" the little girl offered and scooted over on the bench. No Beth! Run away, right now! You're about to die! I'm not good. I'm not good! Another voice inside my head reprimanded me: shut the fuck up, bitch! I'm in charge! Master wants you to do this, and you will. It will please him. Besides, you're hungry. A little more than hungry if the pains in your stomach are clenching with the truth. So sit back, relax, and let me do everything. I don't want to hear a peep, or else I will go to Master and he will coerce you to do this yourself. Not as me. I did not fight the alien in my head. She was right. I don't think I could handle killing everyone in a sane state of mind. But as my body bent to drain the life of the tiny girl, I let tears fall from my eyes. I would not let Satan have the satisfaction of controlling every aspect of my body. I would at least control these tears of hate. These tears of pain and sorrow for the lives I was about to take. I felt my incisors pierce the little girl, the hot blood flooding into my mouth, and the sweet trail it left as it slid down my throat. I lapped up what blood decorated the outside of her skin, and moved on. Two-hundred and forty-three more people to go. I counted them all and cried for every single one of them. A woman in the bathroom begged me to stop, but I did not let up. She felt my tears caress her neck, and then she sighed her last breath. A man thought I was a seductress and moaned with passion up until his last moment. The rest to follow screamed and dropped. I swear that if Satan himself attempted to suck any leftovers from the veins of the dead, he'd find not a single drop left for sampling.