This Time

by Alisha Basso

  “So how has he been getting her to drink that shit? You don’t think she’s going along with it?” Another man stepped into my vision. He was blond with bronze colored eyes, like two shining bits of metal.

  My mind was spinning with pain and confusion.

  “Who are you people?” I choked out, trying to sit up. The fire inside my body had subsided and I struggled to move.

  They all stopped speaking and then another scream rang throughout the cabin.

  Helen.

  “What are you doing to her?” I coughed and they allowed me to sit up. “She’s a total asshole but you better not be hurting her!” My hair was in my eyes as I struggled to push up from the couch. I moved to go to her but the man with the bronze eyes quickly grabbed my arms, pulling them hard behind my back. I kicked and twisted, falling onto the couch, I struggled to get the man off of me while trying to get a look at what was happening.

  The copilot was straddling Helen. His knees pinned her arms to the ground. I kicked again, struggling to free myself. Smoke billowed up from her face as she screamed. The smell was horrendous.

  “Calm down,” the man holding me grunted as I twisted and kicked at his legs. “That thing can’t be hurt too badly,” he said.

  “She’s burning! He’s burning her!” I screamed as another sizzle hit my ears.

  “He’s only questioning her.” The man tried to dodge my foot and grunted as I connected with his shin.

  “Then question her!” I screamed. “Why fry her like bacon?” I felt sick.

  “She’s a demon.” He spun me around. “It’s holy water. She’s pure evil, Grace, Don’t feel sorry for her!”

  I froze.

  Did he say…no, he didn’t say that. Demon?

  With my arms still pinned, I looked at the man holding me for several seconds, feeling something I didn’t understand.

  “Who are you people?” I whispered. For some inexplicable reason, I no longer wanted to hurt this man. I shook my head frantically trying to toss the sudden feelings of tenderness from my mind.

  He looked sad and I frowned, watching him.

  “I can’t tell you that,” he said, “I’m sorry, Gracie.”

  “Wait.” I jerked in his grip. “My name is Alice. Why the fuck are you doing this?”

  He sat and, pulling me down beside him, he grabbed the seatbelt and strapped me in. Then, holding onto the clasp, he pulled himself closer, his face just millimeters from mine. His eyes bore into my own as he glared.

  “Your name is Grace Allen and you are not who you think you are. That bastard has been feeding you lies.” He gripped my arms as desperation made his voice shake.

  I watched him, my skin warmed where he touched me and something inside of me sparked. I opened my mouth to speak.

  “Pills!”

  We both jerked at the voice. Closing my mouth, I looked at the man who had been torturing poor Helen. He was standing beside her. I looked past him to the lump on the floor. The man next to me had been right. She looked fine. Pissed as hell and trussed like a turkey, but unharmed.

  “She said he’s been keeping her on a strict regimen of pills.” He charged over to the small closet and began tearing things out until he found my handbag. Then he started throwing my belongings onto the carpeting. When he came to my small golden box, he opened it.

  “Fucking bastard!” he roared and spun, looking at me. He took one of the pills out of the case. He looked at it and frowning, he pinched the capsule between his fingers. Thick, reddish-brown fluid squirted out with a pop. I watched in total shock as the man lifted the liquid to his nose and growled. And then, as if by some kind of magic, his eyes bled to a solid silver and his canines grew to an alarming length. Hissing, the man threw the box onto the ground and then frantically wiped the blood off his hand and onto my handbag.

  I sat and stared in stunned silence. Logic screamed at me to deny it. Explain it away somehow. It was no good, I’d seen it with my own eyes. He was a fucking vampire. Stars began to dance in front of my vision. Dizzy, I slumped back into the seat only to be jerked upright a second later by the blonde man who held me.

  The man with the yellow hair picked up the pills.

  “They smell,” he complained, scrunched his nose. “This is what he has been tainting her with? Lord, this blood is nothing short of poison.” He looked at the vampire. “Could this sustain you?”

  “Fuck no!” the vampire man flinched away and snarled again. “It does not sustain, it taints.” He looked at his hand. “That blood would suck my newly-acquired soul right out of my body. Get it the fuck away from me!” He stepped back, tossing my filthy purse into the closet, he slammed it shut.

  I felt my body tremble as I looked out at my kidnappers. Shaking my head, I laughed, “My God, who the fuck are you people?” I tried to pull out of the blonde’s grip. “What the hell are you doing to us?” I was freaking out. I looked around at the huge crowd of people and froze. “Who the hell is flying the plane?” I screamed.

  The vampire man approached. I hated that I appreciated his silver eyes and black hair. I looked at his hand, he was holding a small, clear bottle. I pressed back hard into the couch following him with my eyes. He stopped, his long legs almost touching mine. I tried to move further back into the couch, smashing into the blond man’s side. I glared at the bottle in his hands. “What the fuck is that shit?”

  He knelt in front of me. “I’m sorry, Gracie.” He tried to place his hand on my knee and I jumped. Pulling his hand back he frowned. “Please believe me, none of us wants this.”

  His alien eyes seemed sad. He blew out a breath and shook his head. Slowly, he glanced up at the men in the room and then down at the bottle in his hands. As if the decision to torture me as he did Helen was a difficult one.

  I pleaded him with my eyes. He couldn’t mean to do to me what he’d just done to Helen. She had information they needed, I had no idea what they needed from me. I watched him war with himself and then, letting out another loud breath, he looked up.

  “Do it,” he commanded, pushing back to his feet as the men yanked the seatbelt open. I screamed as I was hauled off of the couch and braced back against someone’s chest. My arms were pinned painfully behind me as my rump connected with the floor. I bucked and thrashed as the vampire tried to straddle my hips. His weight won out and I was pinned by two muscular thighs.

  He used his body to hold me, leaning down he held my face.

  “Gracie. Look into my eyes,” he softly pleaded and I squeezed my eyes tight and tried to shake his hands off. “Please Grace,” his voice was calm, “see me.”

  His breath fanned my face as his voice rolled in my head. I felt a familiar warmth bloom inside me and I slowed my struggles. His scent enveloped me and I caught my breath. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

  Oh, God, I know him. Somehow, I know him!

  Something inside me broke, cracking through the fog in my mind.

  “You?” I whispered.

  He let out the breath he was holding and smiled sadly. “Yes, Sweet.” He braced his forehead on mine and I felt a zing of awareness. “I am so very sorry. Please forgive me?” I barely had time to register his words before he gripped a handful of my hair and yanked my head back. I gasped and he shoved the bottle of fiery fluid into my mouth.

  ELEVEN

  “You must move me closer to My Lady!”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “My King will flay the flesh from your bones! I am his most valued servant!”

  “Good Lord, Helen, give it a rest, would you?” I drawled. She’d been screaming, non-stop since we landed. “Obviously, they’re not going to listen.”

  Turned out the vampire wasn’t the copilot after all. He’d been hiding out in the bedroom along with the rest of his band of kidnapping a-holes. They had grabbed Helen the moment she entered the room. That’s why the flight attendant couldn’t keep her eyes off the door. Tricky little hussy! And now I was cuffed to a chair. A hostage. Helen was tied like a ho
g on the ground, and from the pounding in my head, she was squealing like one too.

  “The Dark Prince commands legions! He will bleed your unworthy souls dry! He will cut the cocks from your bodies and fry them up to feed to your mothers!”

  “Helen! For the love of… What the hell are you saying?” I goggled at her, shocked.

  “You will pay! You will all …” There was a juicy-sounding crunch and then Helen’s voice abruptly cut off.

  “She may be sweet on the eyes, but she’s a banshee, that one!”

  He was tall, long brown hair flowed down his back in slight waves. He wore a t-shirt and faded blue jeans. He’d look like a model for a Visit California ad if it weren’t for the bloody baseball bat.

  “And you call us evil,” I watched him approach, anger settling behind my tongue, “Did you kill her?” I frowned at him as I gazed at the bat. Thick blood dripped from the rounded tip as it dangled from his tanned fingers.

  “You are not evil,” his voice was deep and smooth, “at least not entirely. And no, my dear, Grace. She needed to be silenced, so I silenced her.” He sat on the floor in front of me, crossing his legs. His feet were bare. He leaned forward gripping the bat across his knees. “You should not look so worried. She is a demon. She has suffered much more than a mere bump on the head, believe me.”

  I shook my head, I was so sick of this shit. “Are you all completely fucking insane? My name is Alice White and there are no such things as demons!” I glared. I could feel my adrenaline rise.

  He lowered his brows. “…And there are no such things as vampires?” He challenged. He rose to his knees, looking into my eyes. “Or how about elves?” He tucked his hair behind his pointed ears.

  I sucked in a shocked breath and cringed back almost knocking the chair over.

  What the fuck? He was an elf.

  I gawked at him, noticing for the first time the subtle differences in his features. They were all very sharp. His nose, jaw and even his eyebrows were made of straight lines. He was slender and willowy but very well-muscled. His skin was flawless and his hair looked almost too soft. I closed my eyes, sucking in a slow steady breath.

  “This can’t be real,” I grit through my teeth.

  He gently laid his hand on my knee and I jerked as his warmth penetrated my skin. I opened my eyes and looked at him, feeling the heat intensify, I watched his beautiful face as a calmness began to radiate from his touch.

  “The world you think you live in is a lie,” he whispered close. “You are a great being, Grace. You have powers that could help you, but first we must rid you of that black taint and keep you secluded from the influences of Lucifer. He is not your husband, my dear friend. We are not the enemy. No matter how angry you become in the next few hours, we will all remain your friends.” He stood. As soon as his hand slid from my flesh, the feeling of comfort fled. I shivered as snakes of anger slithered back into my soul. “We will be moving again soon. More comfortable arrangements are being made.”

  I looked at the baseball bat in his hands and then my eyes met his and I glared. “My husband will come for me, and when he does, all of you are going to be very sorry.”

  The man shrugged. “Perhaps, Grace. Perhaps.”

  He tossed the bat to the floor and strolled casually from the room.

  I tugged on the cuffs, my head pounding. I needed my pills back. I shifted and tried to knock the chair over. I rocked to the side and felt the legs slide.

  “Shit!” I yelled as my side smashed onto the hard floor, my head bounced and I winced. We were in some sort of warehouse or maybe an airplane hangar. I had no idea. I only knew that these people were crazy and I had to get back to Lu.

  They think Lu is Lucifer?

  These people were out of their minds which made my situation even more dangerous. I had to somehow get away. I shuffled, scooting close to Helen. She was hurt pretty badly if the blood on the floor was any indication. It pooled around her head like a halo and I shifted closer, gaining ground.

  “Helen,” I whispered. Her mouth was slack and a pool of saliva had formed to mix with her blood. I stared at it. It seemed a lot thicker than normal and sort of brownish, but then again I had never seen this much blood spilled before so what the hell did I know.

  “Helen!” I tried bumping her with the side of my head but it was no use. She was down for the count. “Damn it,” I mumbled.

  “What are you up to?”

  “You have got to be kidding!” I sighed. My head lolled as I was pulled back to a sitting position. “Thanks,” I sneered at the man from between my teeth. His hands worked quickly, untwisting my clothing and covering my legs.

  “You can’t leave, Gracie,” he shrugged his shoulders, looking regretful.

  “Obviously,” I snorted, glaring at him through my lowered lids.

  “I’m so sorry.” He pulled out a chair and sat across from me.

  I watched him move, my blood zinging with heat. His shoulders were very broad. I smiled to myself as I noticed how his t-shirt pulled tightly across his arms. This one I could have fun with. He watched me.

  “Well,” I began, “I sure hear sorry a lot, but somehow I don’t think any of you are sorry for the right reasons.”

  He lowered his eyes, when he looked up again they glistened with unshed tears. They were odd eyes, like ancient metal mirrors. The same as the vampire only his weren’t silver. I shook my head at that. God, that man wasn’t a vampire. They were just trying to scare me.

  “So, what kind of monster are you?” I smirked. “I’ve already met a vampire and an elf, and Helen here gets to be a demon.” I leaned forward. “Let me guess, you’re some kind of Incubus?” I winked. “Say yes, please?” I sat back as a blush crept up his tan neck.

  I sneered at his reaction and then smiled as he frowned, his brows coming together to form and angry line.

  “I’m not a monster, Grace.” He looked at his hands. “Well, I guess I am,” he laughed. “All of this is my fault after all. Lucifer would never have taken advantage if I hadn’t hurt you.” He looked up at me. “Oh, God, Gracie. I am so, so sorry! If you were back in your right mind, you would probably want to kill me even more than you do now.”

  “I doubt that,” I said, glaring. “You took me away from my life. My husband.” I was fuming. “I’m sick. He’s the only one who keeps me sane,” I gritted through my teeth. “You people need to be punished and then swiftly committed.”

  “No. Lucifer is playing a sick game, Grace. He’s wanted you for longer than any of us could fathom. He wants your power for his own, and now, thanks to me, he has you.” A tear slid down his cheek. “I wrapped you in a pretty bow and delivered you to his feet.”

  “I think you’re all sick in the fucking head,” I growled. “What are you trying to achieve by taking me away?” I jerked in the bonds. “Why did you feed me that poison?”

  “It wasn’t poison. It’s just water, blessed by a priest.”

  “Bullshit!”

  He looked angry. “No! This is real, Grace!” He got right in my face, and then he snarled and pulled a flask from his pocket. “See?” He took a big pull from the contents. “No choking. No vomiting up blood,” he shouted.

  “That proves nothing,” I said, shaking my head in disgust. “Do you think I’m a total fucking moron?” I shouted.

  “Take a sip, Grace, but don’t get mad when you choke.” He held the flask out toward me.

  “I’m not drinking that!” In the past few hours I had thrown up enough blood to scare me to death. I thought I was dying at one point. “You could have faked that swallow. I’m not stupid.”

  He let out a frustrated growl.

  “Fine,” he sighed, then, holding the flask high above his mouth, he poured. The clear liquid splashed onto his face as he drank it down. I watched, mesmerized as the fluid ran down his muscular neck. His golden skin looked so smooth. Tiny drops slid, following the contours of his muscles to slide into the opening of his shirt. I licked my lips.

/>   “Satisfied?”

  I smirked, admiring his wet chest.

  “Not by half.” I licked my lips again. He was too tasty and I suddenly wanted a bite. He did things to my stomach. Made things low in my body swirl and dance with heat.

  “Drink, Grace.”

  “I don’t know what you hope to prove,” I sighed and opened my mouth.

  “I’m so sorry.” His hand shook as he poured a small splash into my mouth.

  The second the first drop hit my lips, I was on fire. I screamed. Hot liquid, like acid, slid down my face, searing my skin as it flowed. I jerked as smoke billowed from my scorched flesh.

  “Fuck!” I roared and frantically tried to spin out of the chair. I spit and snarled, spray splashing my skirt. I screamed again as my leg began smoking.

  The man lunged and ripped the fabric off. I gasped and spit more fluid onto the floor. Panting, I glared at him. The desire to rub my body all over his had been quickly replaced with a fierce need to see him tied to pole and beaten.

  “Do you believe now?” The man sat back down.

  Tears streamed from my eyes as the pain slowly subsided.

  “What the fuck?” I panted and coughed, trying to slow my breathing.

  “You’ve been tainted, Grace. We are trying to help.”

  I glared at him through my tears.

  “Leave me the fuck alone!” I screamed, coughing.

  He stood. “You’re going to come back to me, Gracie,” he said, “I’ll never leave you. Not as long as I still breathe.” He turned to go.

  Something dark coiled around my heart and squeezed. “Then you won’t have long to wait,” I laughed as my blood chilled. “That pretty flesh won’t be so nice to look at when my Lu comes for me. You will suffer, I promise.”

  He looked stricken. His brow lowered. “I’ve already suffered, and I see no real end.”

  I smiled, raising my chin. “You should suffer.” I spat.