Part 9

Phoenix just glared at him, really not in any mood for witty exchanges or insults. "What do you have to do with all this?" she asked, slightly confused. "I thought Blaine was supposed to be trying to kill me."

Donavon snorted in disgust. "Oh please. Blaine's an asshole. He probably couldn't even kill a rabbit if he was told." His contempt and disgust was obvious. "He can't do his job so I'm doing it for him."

Phoenix shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't believe it. She glared, annoyed. It was starting to get kind of pathetic. Why, all of a sudden, was everyone trying to kill her?

"Because you're apparently pissing off a lot of important people," Donavon answered her.

Phoenix stared at him. "Stay *out* of my mind, asshole. I piss of a lot of people, most of the time, and none of *them* try to kill me."

Donavon chuckled. "Hey, I'm not in your mind. It's written all over your face."

Phoenix held her temper. She resisted the urge to put a first into *his* face. "Night World officials are idiots, though," she added, almost to herself.

Donavon snorted again. "You know, I couldn't agree more. We Wolves are so much more superior."

Phoenix didn't say anything. They actually agreed on something. Shame he was such an asshole. He was actually pretty cute.

~Did I just *think* that?~ she thought. ~What the hell is *happening* to me.~

Donavon was giving her a very strange look. Phoenix just looked evenly back at him. She folded her arms. "Look, I'm bored now, and I'm *going*."

Donavon smiled unpleasantly. "No you're not."

Phoenix uncrossed her arms, ready for a fight. "Take your best shot."

* * *

Phoenix drew a breath, waiting for Donavon to make the first move. He just stood there, apparently waiting for her to do the same thing. Men, she thought sourly.

He continued to stand there, irritatingly silent, not doing a thing. She'd given him all the openings he needed to take a shot at her, so why wasn't the stupid idiot moving?

"Whatsa matter?" she taunted him. "Afraid you'll break a nail?"

Donavon glared at her. All he needed to lunge forward at her. Phoenix dodged out his way easily. She was fast, but hadn't been prepared for him being faster, and stronger. He lunged at her again, grabbing her around the waist before she could twist out the way.

He tackled her to the ground like a linebacker, pressing all his weight on top of her. She bucked, trying to throw him off. She scrambled around, trying to face him, not liking the fact that he pinned her and she couldn't see him.

"And you were saying?" he smirked at her.

Phoenix spat at him. "Go to hell."

He slapped her, hard. "Already been. I'll tell 'em to reserve a space for you."

Phoenix glared at him. "So come on then," she sneered. "Do it." She didn't realise until that moment, with Death on top of her, how afraid she was of dying. She dealt with the subject of death all the time, killing other people had never been any sort of problem for her.

When it was her on the receiving end, it was an entirely different story. He smiled at her unpleasantly, making her hate him even more. "Not so tough are you, really?"

She didn't even dignify him with an answer.

He just laughed, cold and harsh. "No last remarks? No more witty replies? Whatever. Say hi to Satan for me."

He reached for a glass knife inside his jacket, and raised it high. Phoenix saw her opportunity. She kicked him harshly, aiming for where she knew it would hurt.

He dropped the knife and cried out, shocked and in pain. He collapsed heavily on top of her. She twisted, trying to get out from underneath him.

She didn't get very far. He reached out, grabbing her bare shoulders. "Oh no you don't," he hissed. His bare hands touched her skin, and something went horribly, hideously wrong.

Her mind seemed to explode from within, a feeling as if she'd been electrocuted was running through her skin. She stared at Donavon in alarm, he looked just as shocked as she did.


"What the hell - " he began.

"I don't know." She cut him off before he could finish the sentence.

His grip on her hadn't lightened, and was getting harder. She could sense his fear through his touch. He was just as freaked as she was. A fine trembling was running over her body reminding her faintly of an orgasm. But this was *not* a pleasant one.

The feeling was starting to grow and intensify, and at the same time a faint white light was starting to glow, surrounding Donavon. She closed her eyes to block it out, but it was still there.

It was moving her along, closer to him, mentally rather than physically. ~Oh just go *away*, I don't *want* it~ she thought pitifully.

~This is all your fault~ Donavon's moody voice said inside her head.

~Drop dead~ Phoenix snapped back at him. ~Whatever the hell this is, it's *not* coming from me, so it must be coming from *you*.~

The white light was trying to pull her into his mind, the deepest parts of him, letting her see who he really was underneath his tough guy exterior. And worse, she knew he was inside her mind, seeing *her* for what she really was.

And at that realisation she shoved him off her. The connection was broken and they were thrown back into the dark night and harsh reality. She scrambled to her feet. Donavon looked slightly stunned, then moved away from her.

"Oh no," she whispered. She knew what it was. The strange thing that had happened between her and Donavon. She had taken the piss out of it happening to Aurelia and Blaine. She had convinced herself nothing that ridiculous would happen to her.

"Soulmates," Donavon said flatly. His eyes closed. "Somebody just fucking kill me."

"It can be arranged," Phoenix said dryly. "And aren't you supposed to be killing *me*?"

Donavon didn't say anything. He just turned around and walked away into the night. ~Fine, be like that~ she thought, annoyed. She realised she was still shaking, and knew she wouldn't be able to drive home tonight. She turned and headed back into the apartment building.

Aurelia was going to *love* this.

* * *