A/N: Okay, so I'm not going to lie and say that I wasn't a little disappointed to see that I only got a measly 9 reviews for the last chapter. I was hoping to at least hit double digits. So A) it wasn't as hot a chapter as I thought or B) people are starting to lose interest in my story. Oh well, here's the next chapter anyway! Enjoy!
CHAPTER 19:
The Improbable Hero
Chase watched the scene between Sheila and Caleb play out with a twang of jealousy. He'd lost his concentration in the foosball game against Pogue moments after Caleb went to her table, Chase's mixed feelings about her undoubtedly causing him concern for the contract.
Because although he would never admit it out loud, he WAS jealous. Why? Because what was currently going down between Sheila and Caleb was no Illusion of Gorman's. It was as real as it was going to fucking get and she really was sending out those shock waves... Not for him, but for Caleb...
He clenched his fist around the foosball bar, twirling it with the flick of his wrist, the ball bouncing off a plastic player's head and sailing into a nearby speaker. Chase growled in frustration.
"Hey, my man, you all right?" Pogue stopped moving all together, watching Chase in concern as he threw the ball halfheartedly back into the game. The tiny, white ball rolled across the spray painted surface for a moment, teetering precariously close to Pogue's goal before disappearing into the hole.
Chase put on a small smile. "That counts as a point, you know..."
"Anything to help you win since I am kicking your ass..." Pogue chuckled. "No, but seriously, Chase, you straight?"
Chase nodded, his eyes averted away from Pogue's and locked on Sheila. He sneered. Caleb's hand had worked its way behind her long curtain of black hair and was now massaging the back of her neck. The move made Sheila angle her head back, her mouth hanging open in an approving moan, the long, elegant column of her neck gleaming beneath Caleb's tongue.
Caleb's hand went to her breast again, squeezing gently, as he nipped her collarbone, his other hand riding up the satin skin of her thigh, trying to find home, his shoulder muscles straining for control beneath his sweat soaked wife beater. She arched beneath his touch and pulled him closer.
Chase made a disgusted noise. 'Jeez... This fool is totally sexed up... And yet...' And yet he was so gentle with her. So tender.
Chase mentally shrugged. He had to give the guy credit though. He admired his tact. If he had Sheila where she currently was, he'd take it slow too. She at least deserved that much...
He took a long drink from his chilly mug of tap beer, the frosted glass covering his eyes as Power shimmered across the surfaces. He casually pushed out a wave of jealous energy toward the pawing couple, then nodded again, smirking as Sheila pulled away from Caleb's touch, shaking her head.
"Yeah." He set the mug on the edge of the foosball table and grabbed the bars, readying himself for another game.
"True?" Pogue held up his fist, waiting for Chase's answer.
Chase smiled and tapped his knuckles to his freshly obtained friend's. "True, man. True." He reached into the side hole of the table and pulled out the ball. He held it delicately between his thumb and forefinger, quirking an eyebrow. "Another go?"
Caleb walked up then and deftly snatched the ball from his hand, laughing. "How 'bout you play against me, orphan Annie?" He slipped his leather wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a crisp $100. He waved it teasingly in front of Chase's face. Chase nodded and Caleb playfully bumped against the boy's chest with his shoulder as he made his way to the opposite side of the table.
Chase could smell the scent of peaches on the boy and had half the notion to wring his neck as he passed. Shaking his head, he pulled a wad of twenties from his pocket, and, laughing, Caleb dropped the ball in the middle of the table.
The scent of peaches heightened.
Caleb smiled, licking his lips. "We play for keeps..."
Chase's eyes flared black for a second before he regained his composure and grinned, throwing a sidelong glance at Sheila who stood across Nicky's trying desperately to get a game of pool started with Reid. "No sweat."
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He brushed his fingertips over the outside of her cotton panties and they both jumped at the contact, the dampness he felt causing the fabric to cling to her core. He rested his head on her shoulder with a groan, his eyes rolling in his head, nostrils flaring as he inhaled nothing but her scent. He touched her again, running his fingers the length of her core and, judging by the sounds that were being emitted from her, knew that if he pushed the fabric aside he would dip into a whole lot of honey.
'Oh. My. God.' She was so right there with him. So right there. And yet...
And yet, she wasn't. She was shaking uncontrollably against the heavy weight of his chest, her eyes downcast, the stiffness in her arms and torso giving her away. Caleb pulled back with a frown and looked at her. She had her eyes closed now, sweat glistening on her wrinkled brow, her teeth gritted as if fighting some inner battle.
Damn, he was a monster. The girl hasn't even had a proper first kiss yet and here he was pawing her like she was some lady of the night.
And then, as if some unseen entity flew up and sat on her shoulder, whispering all the knowledge and secrets of the world in her ear, she tilted her head back with a sigh, her body relaxing beneath his hands.
The heat of Chase's energy was cool against her scorching skin, the invisible wind causing her hair to buffet around her face and Caleb's. She paused in her actions, her hand twitching above the fly of his jeans, his erection throbbing innocently beneath the fabric.
She swallowed, her chin and long neck the only thing he could see as she took a deep breath. "Caleb... I..." She opened her eyes, Nicky's smoke and gum covered ceiling glaring back at her and blinked -once, twice-, the lust reverie breaking, and sat back, Caleb's warm touch slowly slithering away from her. He stared and she stared right back, their breathing deep and hard, skin flushed, her heart pounding with anxiety and disappointment.
She gave her head a light shake, cursing the last of the succubus' needs back with her Powers, and took a deep swig from her bottle of water as she peered around the bar, wondering with heightened confusion who sent out the energy ball and how they knew that it would Banish her succubus away (Well, for the time being...). She smacked her lips in cool satisfaction, unable to meet Caleb's inquiring gaze.
Minutes of silence stretched into what seemed like hours. Sheila inwardly rolled her eyes. 'Say something, dummy!' She tapped her fingernails nervously on the wooden tabletop.
Sheila sighed. "I'm sorry. I want to, I really do, I just-"
Caleb ran his thumb over her flawless cheek. "No need to explain yourself, beautiful." He smiled. "I'm happy just being around you. I'm not going to push you into doing something you're not ready for."
Sheila smiled. "Are you always such a gentleman, Caleb Danvers?" Her eyes were lit with grateful sadness, her voice distant and regretful. She was starting to curl into herself, close herself off from any emotions. Caleb didn't want that. Didn't want her to pretend. He wanted her to be happy.
"Yes and it's fine." He leaned forward and brushed his lips feather light across hers.
Sheila looked at him, her eyes shining, tears glossing over the surface as they slowly gathered. "I don't want to hurt you, Caleb." She dropped her head, her shoulders hunching forward.
Fuck. Why was life so hard for her? Her father's unstoppable desire to obtain money and success she could defy. The Powers she could handle. Even the succubus she could push away. But him... He brought out things in her that she never thought was possible to feel. Companionship. Comfort. Love. This was all new to her and she was beyond confused.
She was outright terrified.
Caleb shrugged. "Doesn't matter if I get hurt."
Sheila looked at him from under her lashes, a single, transparent tear falling from her navy blue eye to her knee. Her voice trembled. "It matters to me..." She reached out, giving his hand a light squeeze. His thoughts were a jumbled mess and the frown Sheila was currently sporting deepened.
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At first, she only used the Gift sporadically. Listening to her teachers, friends. What they really thought of her, of life. Occasionally, she would brush a perfect stranger, flash them a smile to ease their confusion, and continue on her way.
In the beginning, it was her way of getting to know someone. Filter out the evil. Have a little fun. But as she got older, and she discovered her true Power, the Gift was something she only used when her father needed her to. She always hated him for that…
And with that hate, she realized that the farther she grew apart from him, the more pronounced his thoughts became. She figured it would be the opposite. The people she cared for the most would be the ones she could read, but no, every time she got close to someone (or, dare she say, loved someone) the silence always came.
And she'd move on. Because those people got hurt… they always got hurt…
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Caleb furrowed his eyebrows. "Why? I can handle my own."
She took a deep breath. 'Ah, shit...' "Because I..." She looked at him, his face holding nothing but concern and passion. He squeezed her hand in silent reassurance to continue. She swallowed. "Because I..."
"I think I'm falling in love with you...' Another deep breath. One more time. She could do this, even if the only question in her head every time he touched her like that was if he was really enchanted by her and not just intrigued by the general allure of the succubus...
"Because I've seen more tragedy than most generations see in a lifetime. You want me, you have to take the history that comes with me. It's not pretty. It's not nice. But it's mine and lately, I've been having a really hard time controlling things-"
The succubus. The dreams.
"-and I want you to know that they have become more difficult to handle since I've met you." She sighed. "I don't know what it means and I don't know why certain things only happen when I'm around you, but I'm determined to find out..." She let out a mumbled curse. "Jeez, I feel like we keep going down the same path over and over again... Why is this so hard?"
Caleb shrugged. "I don't know. But what I do know is that I like you... A lot... And I'm going to take care of you no matter what..."
Sheila smiled. "I like you too-"
"Hush." He interrupted, placing a finger to her lips. "That's all I need to know..."
"Hello, ladies." Reid suddenly appeared, sidling up next to Sheila as she kept her gaze and smile on Caleb, her hand squeezing his in silent thanks. Reid knuckle-touched Caleb, nodding in a nonchalant, home boy sort of way. He set his hands gently on Sheila's shoulders and Caleb felt a slice of jealousy and anger. Reid leaned down, his breath stroking the side of Sheila's neck. "Hey Sweet Cheeks, the table's set up whenever you're ready, okay?"
Sheila nodded and stood, reaching out to run a hand smoothly through Caleb's fluffy hair. "I'll be right back."
He grabbed her hand before she turned completely away. "Wait..." She quirked a regal eyebrow. Silence on Caleb's part.
"Yes?"
'Be careful around Reid. He likes to touch.' But he didn't say it. Instead, he opted to swallow his pride and trust his playboy friend and put on a fake smile. "Watch out. Reid likes to cheat." Worry and the fact that he didn't want her to go tinged his husky voice, but he quickly covered it with a laugh.
Sheila smiled at his unsaid thought. "Don't worry about me." A brief kiss on the cheek and then she was gone.
Caleb sighed, wiping his face with his hands, and grinned as he smelled her scent there. Snippets of a few moments before flashed in his mind and he grew instantly hard... again. Downing the last of his beer, he stood, throwing a glance over his shoulder to make sure Reid was playing nice. Then with a quick sweep of the bar with his eyes, he brought his fingertips to his mouth, his tongue snaking out to taste her.
'Fuck, he had it bad...' Damn him. He'd pushed her and himself too far, too fast, the slight hum in his body jolting to life as his Powers reached out to her, the urge to take her so great he almost cracked. He sighed, swallowing her sweetness, and made his way to the back of the bar where Pogue and Chase were.
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"So, have you ever had two guys at the same time before...?" Reid slid the pool stick easily from the holder nailed to the wall and turned his gaze on her, his icy blue eyes glittering with mischief.
Sheila sputtered. "Excuse me?"
He handed her a stick, closing the gap between them to powder the end of it with the blue cube. "I meant at pool." He smirked. "You ever play two guys at once?"
"Oh." She turned her face away from him so he wouldn't see the blush creeping to her face and fiddled with the multicolored balls on the table. Tyler watched her with mild amusement. Feeling the younger boy's gaze on her, she looked up and gave him a timid smile. "Actually... I've never played before. Period."
A shared glance and grin between the two boys. Sheila let out a nervous laugh. "What?"
Reid shook his head. "Not a problem, Dollface. We'll show you how to play." He punched Tyler's shoulder. "Won't we, Tyler?"
She gave him a skeptical look and shook her head. 'Okaaaay... So this was how it was going to be, huh?' She thought. 'The two tag teaming her with their pro status and sexual innuendos.' She set her jaw, her eyes flashing, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. She may not know how to play pool, but she DID know the mental game they were playing. She was an expert at that. 'Game on, boys...'
Reid held out his pool stick. "This is a pool stick." He pointed at the table. "This is a pool table." He touched one of the billiard balls. "These are pool balls. With me so far?"
Sheila planted a hand on her hip, using her other one to poke him hard in the chest with her stick. "Stop being such a smart ass, Garwin."
Reid smirked, rubbing the spot on his chest, the blue of the chalk disappearing into the fabric of his shirt. "Okay, kitten, no need to get feisty..."
"Just get on with it." She paused. "And stop with the pet names. It's not cute."
Reid quirked an eyebrow at Tyler, who just shrugged, his arms crossed over his chest, his deep blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Okay, basically you just use your stick to drive the balls into any of the six holes. To start off, someone has to break the triangle at the far end of the table-" He pointed and Sheila nodded. "-and you take turns until someone gets the first ball in. Whatever pattern is on that ball is what the player has to go after. There are solids and stripes. Got it?" Another nod. "And every time someone gets a ball in, they get another turn."
"Okay." Sheila eyed the table, sizing it up and contemplating every possible pattern and shot in her mathematically competent head, the invisible equations overlapping each other as she circled the table. She smiled. "Got it."
"Good. Now you just need to learn how to hold your stick properly."
Sheila's eyes flashed gold for a brief moment, the flirting game back on. She cocked her hip out, tilting her head innocently to one side. "Will you show me how to hold it...? It's so long... I don't think I can handle it all by myself..."
Reid licked his lips and let out what sounded more like a growl than a laugh. "You want to take that one, Ty? We both know how good at it you are..."
"Yeah, sure." Tyler walked over to Sheila, gently tugging the pool stick from her hands and held it horizontally in front of their eyes. "It's all about balance. You have to figure out where to place your stronger hand, the one that does the pushing, so that there isn't so much slack between that hand and the other. That way you can impact the ball smoother and harder."
Sheila blinked. "Uh, yeah... All that just went -WHOOSH- over my head..." She yanked the stick from his hands and ran a palm smoothly down his chest, smiling. "I'm more of a hands on learning kind of person... You know, gain experience through practice... That straight with you, Tyler?" His name was nothing more than a purr leaving her strawberry glossed lips.
Tyler swallowed, nodding, as Reid fought hard to hold back the laughter threatening to escape his broad chest. Tyler threw him a desperate glance and Reid merely held up his hands in defeat, silently saying this situation was all his and he wasn't getting involved.
'Okay, Tyler, just breathe... Now think. What would Reid do...?' Tyler's eyes brightened, the idea striking him suddenly, his defeated expression quickly turning into a wolfish grin.
"It's easy. Here." He closed his hands over hers, the pool stick resting vertically between their palms. His touch was electric and Sheila could feel the untamed Power surging beneath his warm hands, the shock she always felt when she contacted a Son making its way beneath her skin. Her mind blanked, focusing solely on his touch on hers, the interaction timid and sweet. But she wasn't fooled. She saw the raw passion flare to life in his eyes, the succubus coyly teasing him just behind her blue gaze.
"Now-" His breath was warm, his scent innocent like baby powder. "-cup the stick gently like this." He gave her hands a light squeeze and she gasped, her need rising. "Not too hard, okay, you don't want stuff going everywhere. That'll create a mess." He grinned, eyeing Reid evilly over her shoulder. "I find that the whole squeeze and release technique has great results. Here. Try it." She did as she was told, her temperature rising. "Oh yeah, that's it. You got it. Yes, squeeze, up, down, release. Squeeze, up, down, release."
Sheila repeated the four words in a whisper, her heart rate speeding up. She could feel her skin flushing, saw the satisfied grin of Tyler and his myriad of sexual innuendos.
"For the best results, you should hold the stick at the thickest part, here at the base. And the faster and harder you push, the better the results. Doing it this way will surely get something in your hole."
Reid's jaw dropped and he wasn't the kind of guy that got struck dumb very often. He was definitely more than surprised at Tyler's flirting, the youngest of the group really was taking after him... Reid wiped away an invisible tear. He was SO proud...
"Got it?"
Sheila dumbly nodded, her heavy breathing and pale skin Reid took as a sign that Tyler had been successful in his mission. Reid was more than ready to knock her out of the park. After all, he was an expert...
"All right, all right, Baby Boy." He stepped in front of Tyler and took Sheila's hands in his. "Let's put his guaranteed lesson to the test, yeah?" He turned Sheila abruptly around, bending her at the waist, her hands flying out to the table surface to catch herself. He placed the stick in her hand. "Pretend like your about to make a shot."
She did, her body cocking in the oddest angles. She stayed that way for what seemed like forever, awkward and motionless. She turned her head slightly to the side. "Reid?"
"Hold on. I'm examining your body."
"What?"
She could feel his eyes on her and made to turn completely around, but Reid molded his body roughly against hers before she could. She gasped, feeling his hands palming her hips as he shifted her bottom into the crook of his crotch. He wiggled her hips this way and that, her butt rubbing erotically against the front of his jeans. One hand ran the outside length of her bare thigh, pulling her legs further apart.
"What are you doing?!"
"Fixing your stance. What does it feel like?"
'Like I'm about to have your baby...' She didn't answer.
"Feel my body with yours." He whispered. "Feel how it's standing, how it's bracing. Mimic it." And she did, her legs spreading further apart to stand on the outside of his. "Good girl..."
He wrapped a heavy arm across her waist, the other holding the pool stick, and drew her flush to his body. He pushed the hair from her eyes so she could see better, his breath, hot and hungry, swept across her bare shoulders and neck. He positioned the stick steadily in her hands, his hands covering hers.
"It helps if you rock your body back and forth." His voice was husky and low, a deadly combination. "Ease into your shot like this." And slowly, achingly, they started moving together, as one, back and forth, back and forth. Sheila closed her eyes, feeling every inch of his blonde deliciousness on her skin, the scent of peaches filling the air.
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Caleb's eyes flashed dangerously as he watched Reid press his body against his Lady's -er, Sheila's-, a growl rumbling deep in his chest. He also saw that Tyler's face had turned an unnatural shade of red, his gaze flicking from her face to the front of her dress -which was surely hanging open- as she leaned forward. Caleb narrowed his eyes. He knew exactly what Tyler saw when she bent down like that...
'Reid.' He sent out the single word thought, his eyes switching completely to black.
Reid looked up and around, finally catching the menacing gaze of Caleb. He smirked.
'Reid. She's not a pet. She won't start purring if you keep petting her like that so stop.'
Reid's smile widened. 'Yeah, I know, but I do love a good challenge...'
'I'm asking you to back off.'
Reid laughed and Caleb could hear it clearly in his own head. 'Yeah right...'
Caleb gritted his teeth. 'I don't like seeing her get pawed by some punk ass playboy.'
'Ooh, ouch, that really hurt, Cay.' Reid shrugged. 'Besides, last time I checked, she didn't call you back, so what tells me that she's even interested in you?'
'We're fine.'
'Look, my man, I'm just showing her how to play pool. It's all innocent fun.'
Caleb sighed, rolling his eyes. 'I've seen how you show pretty girls how to play pool and I'm more than surprised that you haven't fathered any children that way.'
Another laugh on Reid's part. 'Don't be jealous, Caleb.'
'Reid.' Caleb's voice was deep, menacing. It was a tone that said he was serious, no playing around this time and unless Reid wantedto see the full effect of his Powers, he should back away from Sheila, slowly and NOW. A tone that no matter how you labeled him, he was the leader of the pack and when it came to matters that involved Sheila, he wasn't taking shit from anyone. 'I said back off!' And with that, he sent out a good size ball of furious Power at Reid.
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Reid stumbled, his grip on Sheila slipping away as he fought against Caleb's Powers. He cursed, wiping a hand roughly across his face.
"That son of a bitch."
Sheila furrowed her eyebrows. She had only heard the conversation on his part, his thoughts filtering into her head, but knew that it was with Caleb and figured the boy had done something to ensure her safety. She threw a glance over her shoulder at Caleb. He was staring at them from across Nicky's, a smug, satisfied look on his face. She turned back to Reid.
"What's wrong?"
Reid shook his head. "Nothing." But to Tyler, he whispered "He Used on me. He's Bonding with her, I can feel it." He paused. "I can also smell him on her."
"You sure?" Reid nodded and Tyler bit his bottom lip in concern. "Do you think he's Marked her yet?"
"No way." Reid slid an unconcerned look over Sheila (who went back to leaning over the table, practicing her shots), her neck bare and exposed. He could see no visible bruises or teeth marks and let out an inner sigh of relief. "Believe me, when a warlock Claims a female, all other males know."
Sheila let out a frustrated sigh. For just one freakin' second, she wanted to forget everything going on around her. No lawyers, no school, no boy problems. She wanted to have fun, unemotional and unattached and she figured she could at least get a smidge of that with Tyler and Reid, since they were supposedly sleeping together (she had yet to prove it, although she was almost convinced that what she heard in their dorm room the other day was not her imagination...).
She straightened her stance and turned, poking Reid right in the crack of his ass with her pool stick. He jumped with a tiny yelp, turning to glare at her as he rubbed blue chalk from his jeans.
"You got a death wish, female?"
She put on her most innocent of smiles and discreetly threw a playful wink at Tyler over Reid's shoulder. Sheila shrugged. "What? I thought you liked it like that...?" Reid opened his mouth to retaliate with an equally nasty comment, but she interrupted him. "We playing or what, Blondie?"
He waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Yeah, yeah."
"I have an idea." Tyler piped in.
"What, Baby Boy?"
"How about you against us?"
Sheila nodded. "Yeah, Reid, that sounds like fun."
Reid pondered, his fingerless gloved hands tapping idly against his chin. What did he have to lose? No money was at stake, she had never played before, and Tyler was below average compared to him. He would gain praise from a new conquest (Sheila) and put all those non-believers (Because amazingly, there still were some) in their places. He shrugged. It was a win-win. "Okay." He removed his hoodie, revealing a black ACDC shirt underneath, and threw it on a nearby barstool. "Let's do this. I have yet to lose a game."
Sheila smirked at him, placing a hand on his forearm before he reached for the triangle the balls were set in. "Hey wait. You have an-" She plucked something from his pale cheek, her action gentle and deliberate. "-eyelash..."
Reid blinked at her kindness. "Thanks."
"Here." She held out her pointer finger, the eyelash balanced delicately on the tip in front of his surprised mouth. "Make a wish."
He eyeballed her for a moment and when she didn't move, he grabbed her wrist gently, pulling her body closer, and blew out, his breath sweet from his flavored cigarettes. Her breath faltered, his exhalation fanning over her face and down her neck.
"What did you wish for?"
He smiled, reaching up with his other hand, and uncurled her fingers. Electric blue eyes never leaving hers, he leaned down, brushing his lips across her palm's skin. His eyes flashed. "Are you still wearing underwear?" He whispered against her palm.
Sheila laughed, the sound a childlike melody overriding the many shot glasses being slammed onto the counter tops some 5 feet away. She placed her free hand gently on his waist, hooking a thumb through a belt loop in his jeans, and pulled herself closer to him, their pelvises brushing. She brought her mouth to his ear, the tip of her velvet tongue sneaking a taste of his lobe.
"Who said I was wearing any in the first place...?"
With that said, Reid (for the second time that night) was struck dumb.
Sheila turned from him and prodded Tyler, who seemed to be in some kind of trance, with her pool stick. 'Hey this thing does have use after all...' She smiled. "Rack 'em up, Blue Eyes, let's knock the king off his throne, shall we?"
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"You said you've never played before!"
Reid was livid. No, strike that. The guy was fucking pissed. Not only did he lose, but now had to endure the endless tirade of giggles and teasing from Sheila and Tyler. Reid sneered, his aura practically hell bent on revenge of any kind.
Sheila wiped the tears from her eyes, her stomach hurting, she was laughing so much, her breath still not catching. She didn't lie about the pool playing part, but forgot to mention that she could feel the shift in the air every time one of the Sons was about to Use and figured that Reid, a hot shot at everything, would try to cheat to prove that he was indeed the best, and she was right. So, she gave him a taste of his own medicine, countering all his Power moves with ones of her own.
He didn't stand a chance...
She took a deep, controlled breath, her eyes absolutely sparkling with triumphant mischief. She put on a fake surprised face. "I did...? Oh! I thought you said chess. That I've never played."
Reid narrowed his eyes, but Tyler's hand on his shoulder stopped him from advancing on her. "Another game, any one?" Tyler, always the peace maker...
Sheila nodded. "Definitely, but first, a bathroom break." She leaned her pool stick against the table. "Set it up. I'll be back in a sec."
Reid quietly watched her go, his anger slowly subsiding.
"So, Reid..." Tyler playfully slapped his friend on the back. "How does it feel to give up your undefeated streak to a girl?"
Reid curled his hands into fists, his annoyance spiking once more, and it took all of his willpower not to drive one into Tyler's handsome, mocking face.
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Sheila was exiting the bathroom, her hands washed and wiped dry, the paper towel a soggy wad of trash in her fist, when she felt the faint trickle of someone invading her mind. She stopped, her senses on high alert, the hairs on the back of her neck trying desperately to detach themselves from her goose bumps.
She had only gotten this feeling once before in her life and knew that this time wouldn't turn out any different than the other. She gulped, readying herself for the worst, her muscles (and eyes, which were now turned the color of wet tar) in attack mode.
"Hello, My Lady."
Sheila took in a deep breath and turned slowly around to face the voice. Her eyes fell upon a boy her age, someone she had seen around school, hanging in Aaron's circle. His hair was curly and golden blonde, face like that of a Spartan warrior, hard and determined. Although he was much smaller than the some of the other boys on the swim team, he was still bigger and taller than she was and Sheila, looking at his towering form, lost all confidence and shrank quietly against the wall.
Her eyes darted wildly around the small, cramped hallway that led to the bathrooms, the chaotic scene of the bar a mere five feet away. But if no one noticed the athletic menace looming over her then they sure as hell didn't see her tiny form crouching in the corner. She gulped, her mind racing with possible escape routes. 'It's okay, just relax. I've been gone awhile, Reid and Tyler will surely come looking for me soon...'
The boy grinned at her as if he had read her thoughts, his skin tight and tinged gray against his skull. And those eyes... Milky white and glazed...
"What do you want?"
The boy's smile widened, passing beyond the limits of any normal grin, his lips cracking and blood trickling from the stretch. He cupped the front of his jeans, stroking the hard length that had gone unnoticed to her until now.
"I thought that part was always obvious... And the fact that your so close to your catamenial period makes this experience so much sweeter..."
She licked her lips. 'Keep him distracted...' "But why me?" He didn't answer her, instead he walked right up to her, pushing a knee between her thighs, his heavy body pressing suggestively into hers. He lowered his head, his nose brushing her jaw, nuzzling her. She felt the soft, moist stroke of his tongue go up her neck, heard the animalistic groan that escaped him.
"Mmm... You taste as good as you smell..."
She braced her hands carefully on his chest and pushed, but his body was strong, unyielding. She started to squirm beneath him and he smirked against her shoulder, relishing the complete control he had over her. She continued to beat her tiny fists against his body for a few moments, her grunts of frustration fueling his lust.
He suddenly grabbed her hands and lifted them above her head, locking her arms in place, her hands immobile beneath one of his large, powerful hands. Her body slammed violently against the wood paneled wall and she let out a whimper, her muscles stretching, straining under his hold. Strands of wavy, raven colored hair fell into her defiant eyes as she looked at him, her jaw set.
"You never answered my question, Creature." Her voice held no fear, just anger.
His other hand was on her waist now, traveling upward along her side, cupping her breast in a light squeeze. Sweeping up to her neck, it paused, taking the thin strap of her dress beneath his fingers, tips moving in idle circles upon her skin.
He gave her a toxic smile. "Your father was such a delectable treat that I opted for seconds from the Lamont family tree..."
Sheila's heart pace quickened. 'Her father...' So she was correct in her suspicions. This was the same Creature she encountered the day of the accident. The day her father died. She looked up and into the soulless eyes of the poor, high school boy that was held captive by such a vile thing. The same Creature that killed her father...
"Why are you here? Who controls you?"
The Creature tsked. "All in due time, my pet. But first, we have some fun."
A dry male voice cut through the cramped hallway. "That girl in the alley didn't sate your lust, Justin, so now you come in here to prey on the likes of this innocent lady. Nicky would be pissed if you had sex in his hallway." Aaron bristled at the static magic in the air, the currents flowing passed him in heavy waves. He gulped. There was something definitely unnatural going on in here...
Sheila let out a long sigh, half in relief, the other half in frustration. She reached out to Aaron with her mind although she knew the action was hopeless.
'Help me, help me please...!'
Her mind was churning out every possible escape route, most of them ending up with her seriously injured... Or worse... Dead... She closed her eyes. If she couldn't see the Creature or the current situation, she could concentrate better. And it worked, her mind focusing itself on a dominant component.
It was nothing elaborate. Just one word. A name.
Her eyes snapped open and she said the thought out loud, her hopes soaring.
"Caleb."
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The thought slammed into his head, right between the eyes and down his back, leaving a chill in its drive. Caleb put himself on pause, lowering the bottle of water from his lips, his breath held, his eyes darting, searching wildly for the body to go with the voice.
'Help me, help me please!'
It was desperate and full of fear, the plea twisting his features to deep concern. The voice sounded distant and morphed, like it was coming through a muffled stereo speaker.
'Caleb!'
He twisted his entire body to the right with such force he almost knocked Pogue over, who had come up beside him, laughing. Caleb lifted his nose, tilting his head to the side, sniffing, searching. He looked over at the pool table that Reid and Tyler were still screwing around at and saw that they were one person short. 'Sheila...' The deep boom of a growl formed in his throat.
"Cay?" Pogue saw the tension in his best friend's body, his eyebrows furrowed together in concentration. "Caleb? Are you- Are you growling?" The sounds of Caleb's growls increased, the smell of apples and spice permeating the air.
'Caleb! Where are you? Help me! Caleb!'
Caleb clenched his hands into tight fists, his search for Sheila growing desperate. He knew the sound of her voice. Knew she was in some fierce trouble. He knew it was her although he couldn't explain why he was able to hear her in his head, all things he would consider later.Right now his main concern was to find her, to save her.
"Hey, my man, your game's on." Pogue clapped a hand to Caleb's shoulder only to pull it away quickly as Caleb pivoted and snapped at his hand. The sound of his jaw clamping shut mingling with the groans of frustration coming from him was enough to suck any joy from Pogue's mind.
Pogue leaped back, assuming a battle stance. "Caleb, what the fuck is your problem?" He paused, took a closer look at his friend. "Holy shit." He swallowed his shock. "Cay, your eyes... They're..." He reached out, but Caleb shrugged him off.
"Sheila's in trouble." His voice was gravelly, worried, eyes pleading. "Help me find her." He turned, pushing his way through the throng of writhing bodies toward Reid and Tyler.
"Wait! Caleb! Your eyes are-"
Caleb cut him off. "You coming or not, Parry?"
Pogue blinked. Let out a long breath. "Yeah. I'm coming..." He threw a shrug at Chase, who was watching the situation with mild concern. He opened his mouth, but Pogue shook his head before he could ask. "Nah, we got it." He gave the boy a small smile. "Find Kate for me. Make sure she's safe if anything goes down, true?"
Chase nodded and watched Pogue follow the uneven trail Caleb formed in his anger.
A/N: This chapter is the longest thus far and was a hell of a lot longer than I originally planned. I actually was supposed to have something else happen at the end of this one, but that's been bumped to the next chapter. So next: More Nicky's (again!)! Please review!!!