Lover's Leap
Chapter 3
"Oh, I love this song!" Phoebe cried when the band set in a new up-tempo tune. She sprang up from her seat. "Let's dance some more. Please?"
"No, no." Cole warded her off with a little wave of his hand. "I think I'm done dancing for the night." The music was buzzing in his ears and the snare drum made him flinch with its high pitched 'tzing!'.
Phoebe's eyes narrowed as she studied his face. "Cole? Are you all right? You look pale."
He shook his head. No, he didn't feel so good. "Sorry," he murmured. "Maybe something I ate... I need some air." He groaned; he didn't want the evening to end in this way.
"Come on," Phoebe said. She grabbed her purse. "I'm taking you home."
He curled his fingers around the edge of the table and forced himself upright. Sweat broke out on his brow and a wave of nausea washed over him. He blinked, taking several deep breaths.
"Woah there." Phoebe took his arm and held him upright until the roar in his ears faded a little and he stood more firm. "You're not going to pass out on me, are you?"
Cole shook his head. He didn't trust his voice enough to speak and rested most of his weight on her shoulder while they stumbled their way through the throng of people.
It was a good thing that his car was parked nearby. Cole struggled to stay in command of the knees that threatened to buckle beneath him; he clung to the roof of the car while Phoebe collected the keys from his pocket and opened the door. Grateful to be sitting, he rested his head against the support and closed his eyes. Phoebe ran over to the driver's side, started the car and drove off.
Once they arrived at the apartment building, she parked near the entrance. A yellow line was painted on the sidewalk but a parking ticket was the least of Cole's worries at the moment. During the drive home he had faded in and out of semi-consciousness and Belthazor stirred within, testing his mental barriers. Phoebe's concerned face swam into his view. "Let's get you to bed," she urged.
They stumbled through the front door and tottered to the bedroom. Cole flopped down on the bed and moaned.
Phoebe lugged at his torso until he was more or less comfortable. "I'll get you some water," she offered before she dashed from the room.
Cole struggled to sit up. Belthazor battered at the restraints and he had to warn Phoebe. He had to tell her to get out before the demon would break free. He tried to call but his vocal cords refused to function. And when his final hold on consciousness snapped, Belthazor seized control.
* * *
Phoebe grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water. She worried about Cole. Did food poisoning progress so fast? Maybe she should call Leo? Grunts and moans drifted from the bedroom. She opened a cupboard beneath the kitchen sink; she looked for a bucket, or a pot. Cole sounded like he could use one.
Pail in one hand, glass in the other, Phoebe returned to the bedroom. She froze on the threshold. It wasn't Cole that sat on the edge of the bed; it was Belthazor. "Oh boy..." The bucket and the glass fell from her hands. Cold liquid splattered against her bare legs and it broke the spell. "Oh my God..."
Phoebe put up her hands to defend herself as she began to back away from the bedroom. "Cole? Cole! Oh no... Oh God... You don't want to hurt me. Believe me, you don't!"
Belthazor smirked and revealed a row of small, pointed teeth. "Cole is gone," he growled. "This is me. The real me. Witch!" He lunged for her and she lashed out with her foot. He easily avoided her kick and clamped a large hand around her ankle. He laughed. "I know your every trick. You can't fight me."
Phoebe hopped on one leg. It was impossible to keep her balance and free her other foot. She did the only thing she could do: she levitated.
Belthazor laughed again and tugged hard until she fell down. He caught her and wrapped steel arms around her. Once he had her immobilized, he whirled her around and tossed her on the bed. "This time I'll kill you, witch," he spat. "Not quite yet though." He towered over her and she scrambled backward on the bed. Belthazor followed her. He seized the front of her dress and tore until it ripped. "Why should he have all the fun?"
Phoebe screamed and struck out again. "Stop it! Don't do that! Cole? Cole, I know you're in there! Please wake up!" She knew she was begging, yet she couldn't help it.
Belthazor roared with laughter. He took hold of her wrists and pinned her arms above her head. "Don't count on him to save your pretty ass this time. I'm in charge now."
There was only one person she could think of that might be able to help her. "Leo! Lee-" Her scream was cut off when Belthazor belted her in the face so hard that she saw stars. Phoebe closed her eyes at the horror of the red hands on her flesh and tried not to gag when a demonic tongue was forced into her mouth.
TBC