by Alisha Basso
I saw Seth. He was pacing outside the door. I felt my heart swell. He was so incredibly strong, and now I understood how horrible the demon blood was for him. I’d been there to watch helplessly as he struggled with his own battle. His heart had proven stronger than his animal desires and he had won, but he wasn’t taking any more chances. As much as it clearly pissed him off, he had to stay away.
Lucian was there, his face was a frightened mask of tears and worry. Whatever he had been doing in the beginning of all of this had been dropped once word that I could die had spread. Tobias, I knew, was in the cockpit, sitting in the small jump seat near the pilots, and Ann was nowhere to be seen. I had to assume she was back with her baby. God, what a disaster!
Then there was the woman, the demon, Helen. She was a problem and that was the truth. She was still locked in the small lavatory. When I first left my body, all of my memories had returned in a rush. It was all there, including the marathon bouts of hard core sex I’d had with Lucifer. God help me, I still had possession of my soul though, amazingly enough. But Helen. I remember now that she was the receptionist in Hell and right now she was chanting in the bathroom. Bad news! If that priest didn’t stop flinging water all over my unconscious body real soon, his blessings were going to get a smack-down, and Lu will have a perfect chance to come on up and join us.
God, I was pissed! Fucking conniving demon. Even in spirit form, I wanted to blush. Oh Lord, the things we did. Oh, he has a lot to answer for!
The bags were all cleared away and my body had remained calm. The purge was over. Everyone looked exhausted. I watched as Lucian lifted my sticky body and placed me in the shower. Jamie had entered with me and removed my clothing. Lucian helped her wash the sludge off my skin. It was a difficult endeavor. Thick bits of sticky blood clung to the shower walls. I was still pale as paper but at least I looked less blue.
“God, Jamie, she looks dead,” I heard him say as he lifted my arm. It flopped limply.
In my mind I sighed. I had to go back to my body. It was unfair to continue to let them think I was still in danger. I closed my eyes and slipped into my cooling skin.
***
It felt like only a moment had passed as I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar sight.
“She’s awake!”
I flinched.
“Dang, James,” I winced.
Opening my eyes wider, I smiled at her huge eyes and gaping mouth.
“You know me?” she lowered her brows. “Quick, what’s my favorite food?” she asked suspiciously.
“God, really? What isn’t your favorite food?” I laughed and it hurt like hell. “Oh, God, I’ve been hit by a truck,” I moaned.
“Oh man, you’re back! Oh man.” She looked around. “The others just left. Oh, my gosh, they are totally going to freak.” She tried to hug me and I moaned in pain.
“Oh jeez, sorry. I know you’re really weak.” She fidgeted, looking around the bed and then, as if struggling to be of some use, she reached for a small blanket and pulled it over me.
I glanced around, expecting to see the interior of the plane. I figured I’d still be in the tiny airplane shower. But way more time had passed than I originally suspected. I smiled. The room was round. Flowers and herbs perfumed the air. There was a tall golden, stand filled with mint-green candles, and next to me was a tall, skinny pole with another IV bag attached. I jerked and it was agony.
I took a deep breath. “What the hell is this?” I looked at my arm. A skinny plastic tube was sticking out.
“Well, you lost a lot of blood. We had to give some back.” She moved the stand closer to the bed.
I looked up at the bag. Yep, it was silver.
“Where did you get my blood?” I was completely flummoxed.
“Your blood,” her eyebrows rose, “yeah,” she faltered. “Well, you see, it isn’t your blood, exactly.” She moved back a step. “I think you need rest. I’ll go get the others.”
“Freeze, sister.” I tried to deepen my voice to sound tough but I had zero strength so instead I glared. “Spill it, James. Whose juice is this?”
She smiled and took a seat at the stool beside me. “It’s quite ingenious, really.” She fiddled with her dress. “See, Gavyn needed your blood, so Seth and Lucian both donated quite a lot. Well, Lucian is Madea-Warlock and Seth is Madea-Vampire, so Gavyn took both blood types and he’s piggybacking them so that you don’t get too much of any one creature. You know, so you won’t all of a sudden want your steaks raw or, like, cooked in a caldron, see?” She laughed at her pathetic attempt at humor. “But don’t worry, he tested it to make sure it wouldn’t kill you or anything.”
I smiled. “You’re all so amazing, you know that?” I tried to lift my arms to reach for her but nothing much happened. “I know what you did, Jamie. You sat there with me while I threw up all that poison. You didn’t run away or quit on me. You said you would stay with me and you did.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “I didn’t know that you knew.” She smiled. “I’m sort of glad though. At least you understand that I love you, Gracie. You’re my best friend, my sister. I would do it again if I had to.”
My emotions were raw and I felt overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness. I tried to chew back my tears and smiled as I felt them fall.
“How about next time you bring a tarp?” I laughed a little and closed my eyes as my muscles cramped. “What’s wrong with me?” I looked at her, frowning.
“Truthfully, I’m not sure. Gavyn is meeting with his council in the war room. Seth and Lucian are there too. I could go get them?”
I failed to nod instead my head lolled to the side. “Yeah, I need to know what’s going on.” I closed my eyes and tried to think of my body healing itself in a split second, my Madea magic to the rescue and all, but nothing. “I need answers,” I sighed, defeated.
“Okay, Gracie.” She leaned in and kissed my cheek. I smiled and closed my eyes. I was suddenly tired.
***
I only rested my eyes for a second it seemed, but when I opened my eyes again, the room was glowing with candlelight. Night had fallen and I was alone. I tried to sit up but my body was like a hunk of soggy Jell-O.
“Gracie, you’re up.” Lucian was sitting at my side. He lowered his head as he moved the small stool closer to the bed. “Jamie said you got your memory back?” He looked hopeful and scared all at once.
I looked at him for a moment. Trying to sort out what I had to say. He was a total fool but his heart was in the right place. Finally I sighed. “I know you feel like the biggest asshole for what you’ve done. And you should. You stole my blood to change yourself.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I was too weak to lift my hands so I glared as hard as I could. He shut his mouth and looked down. “Look, Lucian. I understand why you did it, but just because I understand, doesn’t mean what you did wasn’t horribly wrong. This isn’t you. You are not this guy. And attacking anyone who comes into your little sanctuary?” I lifted my brows happy that I could at least manage that much. “That wasn’t your best plan. I’m immortal, but you damaged my head. You could have really ended me.”
I saw tears slide down his face and he sighed. “Can I speak?”
I smiled and he took a deep breath, letting it out slow. “I know I don’t always react the right way.”
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “No? You?”
“Yeah. I’m jealous and quick to judge without so much as a stitch of information. So yeah, I see the sarcasm. But Gracie. We had just made love. I was finally sure that you and I would be able to make a life. Together. No vampires! Just you and I. But then, not even a day goes by and I’m less than a friend. I was kicked to the curb! You completely abandoned me and left me to dwell on what might have been. And not only that, but Seth was living with you, happy as a fucking clam! He was almost a full Madea and you were doing nothing to stop it!” His deep voice rose, “You were supplying him with your blood! You were consciously changing him over into your perfect mate.” He dropp
ed his head in his hands and growled in frustration.
I stared in shock. My God, I was the fool. What had I done? I had my reasons for ending things. Keeping him safe was my truest intent, but hearing his side made me feel that I had done more harm than good. I hadn’t just abandoned him, I’d slapped him in the face.
I had no idea that I’d done any of this. I mean I knew what was happening, but it never occurred to me how it all might seem. I was making Seth a Madea. I didn’t even think twice about it! And here was Lucian, a man I had declared my love for, and I just pushed him away. And then, when he tried to make himself closer to the kind of man I could be with, I condemn him. This whole thing was just as much my fault as it was his.
“My God, I’m so sorry, Lucian.” I slowly moved my hand. It took so much effort that sweat broke out on my upper lip. “I guess I’m nowhere as innocent as I thought I was.”
He grabbed my hand. It looked way too thin as he pressed it to his lips. “I was so scared. I don’t care if you ever forgive me, Grace. Just seeing you now, with the light of recognition in your eyes is enough to make me happy for the rest of my life.” He lowered my hand and began to slowly rub his thumb across my knuckles. “I’m not here to tell you that I am a Madea now, and you should choose me as your mate. I’m here because I love you, and no matter if you choose me or Seth, I will always be here to protect you. I will never abandon you.”
I smiled, swallowing my tears. “You understand that what happened after I was injured is not your fault, right?” I met his eyes and he looked down. “That’s all on Lu!” I struggled to shout, anger flooding my limbs. “I forgive you for what you did, Lucian.” He looked up into my eyes again, his copper irises shining through the tears.
I felt sick that he had suffered at all. God, I was such an ass.
“Now, can you forgive me?” I asked him.
“Grace, you didn’t know. Nothing that’s happened is really your fault, but if it will make you feel better, I forgive you.” He smiled sadly. A throat cleared and Lucian turned to look. “Gavyn. Good.” He stood. “Oh, hello, Seth. She’s awake.” Lucian stepped back to allow Gavyn to sit.
Seth mumbled something as Lucian passed.
“She forgives me, you arrogant prick,” Lucian spat as he moved to stand near the wall.
I was too weak to protest their petty digs and instead I turned my attention to Gavyn.
“You gave us a mighty fight.” Gavyn said as he sat down. “I suspect you are quite done-in at this point,” He smiled radiantly. “You’ll be glad to know, however, that the effects of the drug we gave you will fade. It is rather powerful.”
“What the hell is it? I feel almost paralyzed.” I tried to move my legs and nothing happened. “My powers are gone, Gavyn.” I closed my eyes. “I can’t do a friggin’ thing.” I felt anger swirling inside me. They had drugged me so many times that I was terrified my magic might never return.
“The drug inside you now is what my people call The Dead Dreg. It renders you completely immobile. Most who are given the drug are unable to perform any of their gifts. I fear until you regain your strength, you will be vulnerable. Which is why we brought you here. It is very unlikely that the one we hide from will come to you here. Demons have never crossed this plain.
“Oh, fuck!” I sucked in my breath as a memory shot into my mind. “Helen!” I couldn’t believe I forgot! “Helen, she was chanting! Where the hell is Helen?” I struggled to move, to get up and look. All I managed to do is roll a little to the left. “Seth, on the plane, you saw her chanting.”
Seth’s face jerked toward mine and I sucked in my breath. Crap, he had no idea that I had witnessed what he had almost done. The demon blood had worked its evil on him, and he had won. It was truly amazing, because even while I had been his prisoner so long ago, he’d wanted me in his bed, he never resorted to rape. He was a gentleman in that regard. Don’t get me wrong, he did manipulate the situation so that I eventually ended up in his bed, but he had never forced himself on me. He had never hurt me in that way.
I watched his face darken, his eyes narrowed and then his thoughts roared into my head.
I was going to rape the demon, Grace. Spread her tender thighs and fuck her until she lost consciousness, then tear her apart and swim in her blood. I wanted to kill her. The violence I craved was overwhelming. Have no illusions, Sweet, for a few very long seconds, I was happy to do it.
I met his gaze and, shaking my head, I smiled.
You didn’t do it. You can try to damn yourself, but you won. You’re stronger than you realize. I always knew you had it in you to be good. Now you know it too.
He looked away. His jaw clenched as he struggled with his internal battle. Knowing I knew what he almost did horrified him, I could tell.
He met my eyes again.
You humble me Sweet, but I deserve no such praise. We will no longer speak of this. It dies this moment.
I wanted to tell him that his shame was only more proof that he was becoming a better man. That his soul was strong and noble but instead, I pursed my lips and nodded my assent.
While I battled with Seth’s demon, Gavyn and Lucian had been hollering back and forth in a panic. Helen’s chanting really was a problem, and now it appeared that we were all in more danger than we assumed.
“She is still out cold from the drug, Lucian, so your spell will be useless. She cannot speak if she sleeps,” Gavyn had moved toward the middle of the room as he and Lucian were pacing. The discussion seemed to be how to get Helen to reveal what she had been doing on the plane.
“Just get me to the libraries,” Lucian shouted as he moved toward the door, shoving Seth out of his way, “and go find the damn priest.” He glared at Seth and was gone.
Gavyn knelt. “We will discover what she was up to. She’s in the dungeons, Grace. It will be okay.”
“So this is bad,” I stated. “Sorry?” I didn’t know what else to say as Gavyn shrugged and left the room.
Seth watched them leave. “It will be bad if she managed to get her summons out. Her chants won’t penetrate here, but if they did while we were in the air then we may have to brace ourselves.”
I looked at the ceiling and sighed.
“You look like a fragile China doll, Sweet. I fear you may have a long wait until your strength returns. This is unacceptable.” Seth took the stool and sat, leaning his elbow on my bed. He met my eyes. “If I was at my full power, I would demand you drink from my body. But my blood is no longer the potent vampire elixir it used to be. I’m afraid I have too much of you inside me now,” he smiled. “I could always put something else of mine inside of you if that will make you feel better?” he winked devilishly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad you’re feeling like yourself again. And no, I don’t think sex is the cure right now. Besides I’m pretty much paralyzed, how much fun could that be?”
“I don’t mind taking control,” he wiggled his brows and I laughed.
“So,” I began, desperate to change the subject before I actually gave in. “Why weren’t you sitting by my side when I woke up? I expected to see you a little sooner than now.” I frowned.
He sighed. “I knew you needed to fix your relationship with Lucian. He seemed eager. I feared he would hide away before facing your judgment. It appears he does possess a spine after all.”
“Oh, lay off, Seth. He felt bad. He thinks he did all of this. Wouldn’t you feel like a royal ass if you thought all of this was your fault?”
He smiled. “Probably not, but I am an ass, so it would matter little.”
I laughed out loud. “You’re a better man than you want people to think. I don’t know why you always try so hard to look like a jerk. You make sacrifices, just like the rest of the good guys.”
He lowered his brows. “I do not recall making any sacrifices.”
“Oh really? Huh, that’s odd. So, you never threw away your identity to play the part of a lowly human named, Adam?” I teased, laughing at his grimace. “
What the hell was with the false names anyway?” I laughed.
His silver eyes glittered as he smiled. “Gavyn was convinced that you would run if you saw the real us again. You were so frightened when you woke without your memories. He demanded we all appear in glamour and change our names.” He shook his head. “I felt the fool, but once I saw you, I knew I did not wish to scare you away.”
He looked at me and our eyes held. He smiled and what looked like a blush crept up his neck.
“What?” I laughed.
He looked at my lips. “You pleased me greatly that night, you know?”
I lowered my brows in thought. “When?”
“You were covered with Jamie’s drink. It was a calculated move, I’m sure you realize.”
“Huh, I hadn’t really thought about that.” I blushed at the thought of my reaction to him.
“I am pleased that even with no knowledge of our past, you are still fiercely attracted to me.” His eyebrow rose, a glint in his eye.
“I’m not admitting to anything.” I chuckled then frowned. “He’ll come for me. You know that, don’t you?”
All humor fled his face. “I know, Sweet, believe me. We are well aware of his claim to you and how angry he will become once he learns we have won.”
My head felt heavy. My eyelids drooped. “You haven’t won yet, Seth,” I yawned.
“You are here, Sweet, we have won.” He ran his fingers gently across my cheek.
I could no longer fight my lethargy, I tried to smile at his touch but I no longer saw Seth, but the blackness of sleep.
FIFTEEN
“The gown must be perfect!”
“Of course, My King.”
“Are you stuck on stupid?”
“No, My King.”
“Then hold it up higher! It should never touch the ground! I don’t want your slime to soil the hem!”
“I am a lowly pile of shit, My King”