20
Rayne stepped into the bathroom, telling Mark she'd join him in a minute, giving him time to talk to Randy alone. She wanted to look at her back again. She felt like she had to.
She lifted her shirt and turned so her back was to the mirror. Craning her neck, she looked...then did a double take. There was something there. A black...what the hell was it? Some kind of skeleton. At least, from this angle that's what it looked like.
Mark's symbol? Some kind of declaration of ownership? It was not the two sixes that he had described, that he had said belonged to Dominic. She actually found herself relieved that Mark's father no longer had even that much of a claim on her body.
She hurried down the stairs. The men were standing in the kitchen, both looking as if someone had dropped a bomb on them. She came to a stop, tilting her head. The rain was starting to fall, the sound soothing and at the same time...ominous.
"They're already coming." Randy said softly.
Mark nodded grimly. "You ready for this? If it's Pandora, you might have to be the one who goes for her."
Randy shrugged. "What choice do we have?" He rolled his neck on his shoulders, popping it.
Mark looked at Rayne. "We'll do what we can to get rid of them. You stay inside, out of sight. The longer we can keep them away from you, the better."
"But..."
"No buts." His tone was final. Rayne could do nothing but nod her head. "Just...be ready. Just in case."
"Mark...Randy..." She did not know what to say to them. In case of what? What was she supposed to be ready for?
"They're pulling in." Randy said, distracted. The rain was coming harder now. He looked amazingly...calm. Eager almost. "I say we go on outside and welcome Pandora."
Mark nodded and reached out, grabbing his shoulder. Randy grinned at him. Rayne felt something inside her twist at that simple gesture. They were about to risk their lives for her. This wasn't what she wanted. She did not want them to take the fall for her.
They were leaving the kitchen before she could voice that thought. She stumbled after them, fear building, reaching out and grabbing Mark's arm before he could follow Randy through the front door.
"Mark..." She said his name, looking up into his eyes. He kept his face neutral, but leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. "Be careful."
"Always." He touched her cheek with one finger then was gone, out the door into the storm.
Rayne closed the door and paced nervously. She couldn't hear anything except for the raindrops on the roof of the house and the occasional roll of thunder. She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against the door. "Please...please...help them..."
"How very touching." The deep voice sent a chill down her back. Rayne slowly turned around, opening her eyes. A tall dark haired man stood there, his features handsome but twisted in hatred. "Too bad there is nothing you can do for either or them now."
"Dominic." It was not a question. She already knew who he was. How he had gotten into the house without Randy or Mark...or herself...picking it up was beyond her.
"Teleportation, my sweet..." He smiled, sending a chill down her back. "A little gift that I passed on to my son." His face grew serious. "And he has taken what is rightfully mine. I so would have enjoyed you...enjoyed making you mine..." He came forward.
Rayne backed up against the door. She wanted to call for help, but couldn't do it. There was a shout from outside, followed by a scream of pain. It sounded like the guys had their hands full enough as it was.
So it was up to her then. Gathering herself, she waited as Dominic closed the distance between them, willing herself to stay calm, to focus, to not give in to the sudden panic she felt.
The door had no more than closed behind Mark when the car appeared. He joined Randy on the bottom step, oblivious to the falling rain. The doors opened. Pandora stepped out first, followed by her 'friend'. They seemed to be holding a conversation.
"You go for the guy. I'll deal with Pandora," Mark said quietly. Randy looked at him.
"Uh...he's young. Younger than me even. I think I should..."
"No. I should have dealt with her a long time ago." His tone said he wasn't going to argue the point. Randy nodded.
Pandora and her driver made their way toward the porch, both grinning in anticipation. Mark steeled himself, feeling his anger rising to boiling point. Why couldn't the bitch just mind her own fucking business?
"My, my, my..." Pandora said, voice dripping with venom. "Whatever have we done to warrant such a warm welcome?" She smiled as she stepped over the broken demon line.
"You were warned once about leaving this place." Mark said, tone low. Pandora looked up at him, then widened her grin.
"Do you think I fear you?" She laughed harshly. "You gave up everything. All so you could have what was not rightfully yours. Now you pay. And we get her anyway. Two birds with one stone, right Andrew?"
The demon she was with nodded slowly. He was rocking back and forth on his heels, making fists. He was green. It was obvious. Pandora had taken him under her wing but had not fully trained him yet.
Randy took a step forward, baring his teeth, a low growl issuing from his throat. He could feel his control snapping. And he welcomed it. He would need that extra power.
"Now, now..." Pandora said mockingly. "I would keep your wits if I were..."
Randy let go, using his telepathy, shoving out at the younger demon with everything he had. Andrew shrieked, falling to his knees. Blood poured from his nose, from the corners of his eyes, his ears. He turned a questioning, wondering glance at Pandora and fell forward on his face.
Pandora moved so fast neither man saw it coming. She swung her arm, slashing out at Randy with her talon-like fingernails. He yelped in pain as her nails cut through his shirt, the skin of his chest. The cuts burned like acid...he staggered backward and raised a hand to the gashes, feeling his blood pouring over his fingers.
"Stupid child..." The mocking note was gone. Now she was just...mad. She turned her eyes to Mark. He noted, without surprise, that they were now as red as the outfit she was wearing. "Do you still think you have what it takes to beat me, Mark? Do you?" She stepped toward him. "You're little friend is dying already. I have tricks of my own you know..." She pointed. Mark couldn't help himself. He looked down at Randy in concern.
The front of his shirt was melting away. So was the skin under it. He was in obvious pain but was trying to get up. Pandora's gift...if one could call it that...those acid claws of hers. She was right about Randy though. He would die. There was no way to undo the damage as the acid worked its way into his skin, melting him.
Pandora started laughing. "Come...human," She spat the word out in obvious distaste. "Let us see how long you last. Perhaps your death will not be as quick as...as...as..." She did not finish. Mark was staring at her intently, focusing. There was still some power in him, he'd seen it that morning. He just needed one little spark...
And he got it. Despite the heavy rain, the red of Pandora's outfit glowed brightly for a moment, then burst into flames. She screamed, turning, panicking, trying to shrug out of the long coat she was wearing. Mark willed the flames brighter, hotter, and it happened, catching her short hair on fire.
Randy had finally gained his feet. His face was pale, a mask of pain. "Go into the house, Randy."
"Mark..." his voice sounded strange, watery. The acid was already working into his lungs.
"Go. I'll take care of her." He gave Randy a gentle shove and walked toward Pandora, who was still screaming and trying to put out the fire that burned on her head.
He heard Randy's shuffling footsteps and the sound of the door opening. Satisfied, he stood in front of Pandora for the last time. "Did you not believe me that I would kill you this time?" He asked quietly. Her only answer was a scream as her hair burned to the roots, her scalp turning black. "You forgot something, Pandora. Human or not...I am driven by something you will never understand. Something that is far stronger than you would have ever been."
He reached for her, taking her cheeks in his hands, ignoring the heat of her skin, the way the remaining flames burned his hands. She was trying to swing at him, to rake him with those nails of hers, but he did not give her the chance. With one small sound of disgust, he twisted her head sharply. He felt and heard the snap as her neck broke. He let go, watching as her body crumpled to the ground in front of him.
Mark slowly brushed his hands, wiping away the imagined feel of her burned skin. A scream broke through the sound of the storm. The house. Rayne. Not sparing Pandora another glance, he hurried toward the door.