Chapter 21

"Ivy?" I asked, alarmed. Her eyes had widened; filled with pain. "Ivy?"

Her breathing came fast and shallow; her hands balled into fists. Oh God. Did taking my blood hurt her somehow? Was it the aura thing?

"God…damn it…Rachel." Ivy gasped, and I knew it was nothing I had done.

"Ivy, breathe." I told her, watching her fangs cut into her lip. "Come on, baby, just hang in there." I reached out and took her hand. Ivy recoiled and screamed.

Ivy doesn't scream. This is worse than before.

"Raaaaaaachel!" Al called from the kitchen. "Where are you, itchy-witch? Get your lily white ass in here!"

Oh, this just gets better and better. Can't you hire people to unfuck your life? I wonder how much they charge.

"Don't go." Ivy begged when I rose from the bed. "It isn't safe."

"Stay here." I ordered, even though I was unsteady on my feet. "I'll take care of Al."

"No." her eyes widened in terror.

"Ivy, you do your vamp thing." I said, wanting to touch her, afraid to. "I do my demon thing. It's what I'm good at."

"Don't…" Ivy curled into a tight ball of pain and tears filled my eyes.

I have to.

I left the room and entered my unsanctified kitchen. Al lounged on the counter looking like a jilted lover. I knew, beyond any doubt, that if I didn't play this right, it would be my ass on a silver platter in hell. but I had to stop him. He was torturing Ivy and he had no right.

"Why are you here?" I asked, making sure I didn't stand too close.

"How are you still standing?" he asked, equally displeased. "I felt Tamwood take your blood, itchy-witch. Don't those little excursions to Ivyville tend to leave you weak as a kitten?"

You bastard. "Since when is Ivy and my business any of yours?"

His lip curled in a snarl. "Since your little misadventure led you to seek my assistance. You owe me, Rachel."

"You made your deal with Ivy, you son of a bitch! Stop making her pay! She did what you asked!" I wasn't ashamed anymore. I let the tears fall. "Stop hurting her, Algaliarept!"

"What will you give me?" Al grinned as a muffled groan from the direction of Ivy's room assaulted me.

"You sick fuck." I'd had it.

I was tired of running, of being afraid. Sure, he was a demon. Well guess what? I was better. I could kindle their magic and walk in the sun. I didn't have to manipulate, or own people. I was better than that. I was better than him.

"You take that mark off of her now." I said. "She paid your price."

"Not without something in return." he smiled, thinking he had me backed into a corner.

"All right." I agreed. "Here's what I'll give you. I'll call Newt. I'll bring her up here every damn day and remind her of what I am, and what all female witches could be. I'll fuck up your world and mine, Algaliarept. I will bring the wrath of every topside race into the ever-after until reality is screwed sixty ways from Sunday. Hell, I'll help Trent if I have to. And do you know why?"

"You ungrateful bitch!" Al pushed himself off of the counter. "You wouldn't dare."

"Wouldn't I?" I asked. "You're torturing the woman I love and you expect me to pay? You wanted her to hurt me, didn't you? Or for me to hurt her? What did you expect, Al? That I'd run away and come jumping into your arms?"

The flash of surprise in his goat-slitted eyes told me everything I needed to know. I wanted to throw up but I remained grounded, listening to the sobbing from Ivy's room.

"Take it off." I said. Al did nothing.

I stalked to the counter and grabbed a stick of magnetic chalk. I knelt on the floor and began drawing a circle.

"What are you about, itchy-witch?" Al asked after I finished.

"I told you what I would do." I stood and tapped a line. "I'm going to throw you under a bus, Al. There won't be enough of you to fill a thimble when Newt finishes with you."

"You wouldn't…"

I opened my second sight. The ever-after lay before me in stark shades of a world I never wanted to consider being a part of. But this insane, suicidal madness was for Ivy. Yes, Newt would obliterate Al, but she would kill me too. And both of us knew that.

Ivy, I'm sorry I couldn't save your soul. You deserve so much better. Please, don't hate me, beautiful girl. I love you so much.

"Bitch!" Al screamed, and my head slammed into the counter as my feet went out from under me. Something warm ran down my face, but I didn't let go of the line.

"Newt!" I called.

"Don't do it!" Al bellowed.

"Then take your mark off Ivy!"

Al crossed his arms.

"Newt!" I yelled again, praying that he wouldn't call my bluff. Not that it was a bluff. I just…I really didn't want to see Newt. Again. Ever.

"Fine!" Al agreed.

I dropped the line and clawed my way back to my feet. "Take the mark off and get out." I growled. "That circle is still drawn. Do it now and leave."

He sneered and snapped his fingers, vanishing into the ever-after as he did so. I started running when ivy howled in pain.

She was white, bloodless white, and there was blood on her neck. This was Al's last punishment for me. Making me watch this. I moved closer, still afraid to touch her.

Don't be dead don't be dead don't be dead don't be dead don't be dead. Please, dear God, don't be dead.

"Ivy?"

She didn't move.

"Ivy?" I knelt beside her and brushed her hair away from her neck. The mark was gone. "Ivy, honey, please wake up."

Her eyelids fluttered and she made a soft noise of pain. "Rachel?"

I bit my lip to control the emotions swirling inside. "I'm here, Ivy. I'm here and I'm not leaving."

She took a deep breath and smiled. I loved her smile. "It doesn't hurt anymore." she breathed. "Rachel, am I dead?"

"No, honey, no." I smiled, running my fingers through her hair. "You're fine. Al was getting back at me. But he won't be trying that again. I promise."

Her hand reached up and our fingers interlaced. "I'm so sorry, Rachel." she whispered. "I screwed everything up."

"No, no you didn't." I tried to save off the blanket of guilt I could see covering her. "It's okay, Ivy. Everything turned out okay. Nothing's wrong."

"That's what you think."