Dark Hauntings: A Paranormal Times Novel

by C C Solomon

  I scooted backwards in the dirt, suddenly very afraid. There would be no fighting Felix. If I used my magic, it would be to kill him. There would be no middle ground. This guy was a beast that you would have to put down to defeat. At least, that’s all my magic knew how to do. And I didn’t want to. “We need to get out of here.”

  “Felix!” shouted a familiar woman’s voice.

  Felix paused his rampage and turned.

  Several feet behind him stood Olivia, besides a member of the Six, his name was Charles I recalled. “Son, I’m not dead. They lied to you. They locked me up but this gentleman here got me out. I’m sorry I couldn’t get free sooner.”

  Was it odd in that moment that all I could think was like mother like son? They both seemed to have a knack for getting captured.

  Olivia clasped her hands together walking slowly towards him “You did good, Felix. You’re so strong. But you don’t have to keep going. You’re done now. I know that the type of demon you are loves a fight. You get that from me, but there just isn’t anyone left to battle. Let that side of you rest for now. Until we can control it better. And leave that young woman alone. I know seeing her hurt is upsetting you. But she has an angel there to heal her. It’s best if you stay back.”

  Was that what he was coming to do? Heal me? Not kill me? He needed to have a different face then because his healing face was not a comfort.

  Felix remained looking at her, his shoulders rising and falling with each rapid breath. I wondered if he was calming down or thinking of his next move. I searched his eyes for the man I knew but could not find him. He actually glared at me. But then he turned and walked away, exiting the park, away from the crowd.

  Where the hell was he going? Panic took hold of me. If he left, we wouldn’t know where he went. I didn’t think he was clear-headed enough to go home. He could go to the demon realm and we’d lose him. If he shut out his connection to the Six, they wouldn’t be able to communicate with him. If he was a battle demon like Olivia stated, then he would want to look for a fight. Or to start one. That’s what those types of demons thrived on. The fact that he hadn’t tried to fight us more let me know that his angel half was not too far from the surface but I didn’t know how long that would last.

  I struggled to my feet, Carlos helping me up. If we let him go, we could lose him. He would hurt an innocent person and we would never get him back then. We’d just reunited, at least in my memories. I had to reach him even though I felt like garbage. I was still in so much pain from my injuries but Carlos’ healing was already taking effect. My throat was soothing over and my broken wrist and wraith bites were healing but everything else was still a wreak. However, I didn’t have time for Carlos to help me anymore. I had to get Felix’s attention before he teleported away.

  “You can’t leave us,” I yelled. “Felix, stop!”

  He kept walking.

  Faith got up. “Hey, asshole!” Faith shouted, walking towards him with a slight limp.

  Felix paused but then kept walking.

  Hmm, seemed he didn’t like being called names. That could get him to stay.

  “Do you think name calling is the right way to go?” Carlos asked from behind me.

  Faith looked over to us and shrugged.

  Was it the right way? Who knows, but it did get him to stop.

  “Hey, you big dummy, we’re talking to you!”

  He stopped again and turned his head to glare at me this time. His brows furrowed together in a scowl. I’d never seen him look that way before.

  So much for being nice. I guess there was a reason why foul-mouthed Faith was his best friend.

  Felix didn’t speak, but his attention was back on me, like he wondering if he should squash me like an ant or flick me like a fly. Either way, I was registering a look of annoyance from him. But heck, it could have been love. Demon Felix was kind of hard to read.

  I moved my hands near my hips then a shot of pain flared through me and I hung my hands back at my sides. Okay, Fran, be mean to the man you love. It’s not a reach for you. “You are a big jerk. Hitting your friends like that makes you a trash ass person.” I looked to Faith after using her words for Monica and she gave me a thumbs up. “Do you really want to be that guy? How’d you even get out, anyway?”

  He turned fully to me, squinting his eyes, still pondering my existence probably. I knew this was the part where, instead of throwing insults, I was supposed to tell him how much I loved him and tell him to come back to us. However, this seemed to be holding him so I would go with what worked. Felix hadn’t lost his mind. He wasn’t feral, or loupe like a were or blood lust like a vampire. He had just given in to his darker bases.

  “I’d been working on my bonds and I finally broke them” he said in a base heavy voice that, admittedly, shook me a little. I was so used to Felix being so jolly all the time that I forgot that he could be quite intimidating if he wanted to be.

  “You couldn’t break them earlier when we were fighting all those damn wraiths in that battle royal?”

  “Do you want to fight me?”

  Against my wiser instincts, I took a step forward. “No, because as I am right now, you would kick my ass. I mean, it’s really unfair that you get to showboat at the last minute. I’ve been in, like, four fights in the past couple of hours. I’m beat all to hell. I want a break. We all do. You’ll have plenty of fights in the future. Plus, we are supposed to be a couple or something. And I, your woman, as you referred to me before, am hurting.” I waved a hand vertically in front of me to showcase my injuries. I instantly regretted it as I shut my eyes and pressed my lips together in pain. “You should be helping me heal. Surely, a lame-ass half battle demon can do that.” Battle demons were far from lame. They were actually a pretty powerful brand of demon, comparable in power to hate and chaos demons.

  Felix took a step towards me and I held my breath, standing my ground. He kept moving, his eyes not betraying his intentions. I really couldn’t tell if he would hit me or hug me. My words certainly hadn’t made him feel the love but they had gotten him to stay. I could feel Carlos growing restless behind me with several mutterings hitting the air. I really hoped he didn’t make a move. I had a feeling that would just make things worse.

  I remained motionless until Felix reached me, bending my head back to stare up at him. He gave me stern eyes back before eventually switching to a lopsided grin, wrapping me in his arms. I winced at the pain his squeezing me caused my injuries but I didn’t care. I’d take it over him disappearing.

  “You got a lot of balls, baby girl,” he whispered.

  I chuckled. “That whole sentence sounded inaccurate.”

  He rested his chin lightly on the top of my head and I pressed my cheek against his chest, not wanting to move. Then I felt a radiating warmth spread throughout my body. A burning itch from Felix’s magic surrounded me in healing. I let out a comforting breath and maybe collapsed a little in his arms. I was exhausted and for once didn’t mind having someone take care of me.

  I felt Felix kiss the top of my head. “Thank you.”

  I wanted to say for what but I knew. Maybe he had needed to be brought back and we had done that for him. No, it wasn’t with words of love but he knew I cared. And I would be there for him. Always.

  Epilogue

  The next evening, I found myself rotating between rolling my eyes and glaring at Monica as Azrael, Carlos, Faith, Felix, and I gathered in a private room of some fancy restaurant near the DC Wharf. The area was a newer community run by humans and witches, although it was not part of the federation.

  I sat back in my chair, arms crossed, as our waitress came in to deliver our drink orders. The restaurant was an Afro-Caribbean fusion and the menu looked mouth-watering, but I needed Monica to be gone to enjoy it. Of course, she was paying for it all.

  Azrael continued to talk about the events from the prior day and Monica gave us wide eyes, nodding her head as if she was impressed at all the right parts. When the angel was done t
alking, they picked up their cocktail and eyed the archangel expectantly. I knew Azrael respected Monica but some part of me thought that maybe their view of her was no longer as high.

  Monica cleared her throat, clasping her fingers together on the table. “Well, I am so very impressed. I knew you all could do it. Of course, I apologize that I could not make it myself. You’d be surprised how much work goes into being an angel leader. But I’m happy I was able to send support.”

  She paused as if expecting accolades for doing absolutely nothing.

  Azrael looked down at their cocktail. “Thank you for helping us.” Their voice sounded a bit stiff. I wasn’t buying that gratitude.

  Monica nodded again, a slight smile on her lips, her brows wrinkled in sympathy. “Of course, I would never leave my people to suffer.”

  Faith snorted. “Bitch, please.”

  Carlos swore and Felix rubbed his temples.

  Azrael dropped their head to their chest.

  I let out a snorting laugh. I was so glad Faith was who she was. She really knew how to say what we were all thinking.

  She glared around at us, unashamed. “I’m sorry but somebody had to let the truth out. You did nothing. And you certainly didn’t care about those angels stuck in that town or the few tourists there. The man or woman upstairs probably gave you that assignment and you pawned it off on us for something more high level. It’s because of you one of your angels is dead.”

  Monica bristled at that and her eyes flashed silver. “I did not kill Dean.”

  Faith’s eyes blazed like fire to match Monica’s; she was really not intimidated by the angel. “Yes, Azrael had to do it. But he wouldn’t have if you had come into the town to get your angels. You’re supposed to be powerful. You could have beat that demon bitch. Or at least teleported the victims out of there. You were supposed to be on this mission. Not us. Thank you for letting some angels help us. Round of applause for you.” She patted Azrael’s thigh in concern. “Azrael could have died. I could have died. And an angel did die.”

  I was ready to tap in now. Encouraged by her outburst and thankful I wasn’t the only one who wanted to tell Monica off for once. “You sent us on that fool’s errand, dangling little bits of knowledge about my past and then you disappeared. You didn’t care about helping me undo the mess you made by wiping my mind. And a real leader knows how to get down in the field with her people, not just point her finger from afar.”

  Monica tightened her fingers together. “You have no idea what I have on my plate, little girl.”

  I gave her a squinty eyed frown, lips pursed together in doubt. “Don’t call me little girl. There’s nothing little about me. I’m a grown-ass woman who was handling your business.”

  Faith scrunched her face and clapped her hands in approval.

  “Jesus,” I heard Carlos whisper, wiping a hand over his face. I think he was sweating.

  I was on a role. I couldn’t stop myself. “You are not the president. You are one of God’s minions. Okay? And you have two jobs to do. Keep people safe and lead your angels. You didn’t do either of those things. We did. Can we be archangels? I want some cool wings.”

  Felix reached over and rubbed my back. It was most likely less an attempt to soothe me and more of an attempt to get me to fall back before Monica burnt me to a crisp with angel laser eyes. Maybe I had taken things a bit too far but I was pissed. Getting burned and bitten and chopped hurt more when I saw her stroll in the restaurant in an impeccably tailored ox-blood colored suit and her hair laid to perfection like she was about to run shit.

  Monica cleared her throat again and lifted her chin as she looked around the room. “It’s clear you all misunderstand my role here. I assign my angels things to do and they do them. I intervene only when needed. I can’t and will not do everyone’s job.” She lowered her chin and looked at me, eyes wide and cold.

  Maybe she really was going to laser beam me. Perhaps I needed to think more before I spoke. It was Faith’s thing to go off at the handle but I really couldn’t do that. Right? You know, maybe it was time to change the script of what I could and couldn’t do.

  Monica continued. “Do not mistake you and me as equals. Just because your father is a high-level demon does not make you invincible. You should know your place if you want to survive. You have time, little girl, to get where I am. Until then, sit back and learn and don’t presume to know all that is going on. You have no clue of this world and the threats that await you. Any of you. You want me as your friend, not your enemy.”

  Oh, I had a good idea of the threats that were out there. She was one of them. If she thought I was going to bow to her anymore, she was out of her mind. She no longer had anything I needed and I could find my own way to use my powers for good.

  Monica sighed as if suddenly bored with our conversation and looked at the others before getting up. “I’ll let you enjoy this dinner together. I will cover the bill. I am really impressed with you all.” She glanced at me, a slight smile on her lips. “Try the jerk chicken. It’s to die for.”

  She then turned and walked away, vanishing into a white cloud of smoke.

  I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

  Azrael laid their head on the table.

  Faith knocked back her drink. “Can we get another?” she called out with a playful glint in her still fire rimmed eyes.

  “I thought she was going to kill you both,” Carlos murmured, patting his forehead with a napkin.

  Felix chuckled. “I think Faith has rubbed off on you.”

  Faith smirked. “Could be worse.”

  I frowned, deeply annoyed. “What did she mean by ‘try the jerk chicken, it’s to die for’?” I asked in a lousy imitation of Monica. “Was she calling me a jerk? Was she threatening me?”

  The group looked at me with a mixture of stunned and amused eyes before they all burst out laughing.

  I flopped down on the bed of my new apartment back in Silver Spring. Yes, I decided to move into Felix’s town for just the time being to be closer to him. It had been a couple days since the big fight and I was just taking a moment to regroup and enjoy Felix fully with both our memories intact. I had deferred any contact from Marcus about the campaign but I would have to get back to him. I needed to tell him that there was no way we could get married now and I still had no intention of telling Felix about the arrangement. I was still trying to keep his emotions in a good place.

  Carlos had made it clear that as Felix had finally let loose his demon side, he was more prone to having it be released again. I wanted to remove any unnecessary anger and need to fight. I knew enough about battle demons to know they could be ticking time bombs. This was not Felix and he was only half but there was no reason to poke the bear.

  Felix turned to his side and lifted up on his elbow, gazing down at me. “How long do I have you?” He trailed a finger over my collarbone as he waited for my answer.

  I blew out a breath. “I should probably stick my head into the fae realm sometime tomorrow and then I’ve got to run to the underworld to do something with a minion my dad gifted me.” That was still weird to me. I really didn’t need a demon servant. However, he had popped up to help us during the battle so I suppose he was useful.

  He leaned in and kissed my shoulder. “I’d ask to come with you but I know that wouldn’t help your cause. I still don’t know how it’ll work between us when you’re made Queen.”

  I had no clue either but then again being Queen was no longer my only viable option. I could live in the human realm and just use my fae and demon magic to help others and stay as a council member to pay the bills. I could go to the underworld and rule with my father while still making a difference for the good. Or I could seek my proper place in my fae family.

  Even if being a fae Queen or royalty was still my only goal, I could change things. Live the way my mother was never allowed to live. Of course, if I were made Queen, I’d have to live in the fae realm. I wasn’t sure if Felix was willing t
o come with me. Especially now that he had his mother back. I doubted she’d be welcomed in my realm or honestly even want to go. I decided I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.

  He continued to sprinkle kisses over my shoulder and I began to want to get past this conversation and move to something more fun. “What does your dad say?”

  I turned to face him and flipped a leg over his. “I have to go see him. He hasn’t reached out but he helped us so I really want to thank him. I also need to find Yusan and work on a way to set him free.”

  Felix brushed the hair from my face. “Ah, I forgot about him. Where is he?”

  “Back with my father.”

  “Speaking of parents, do you think we’re going to have a tough time on our hands with them?”

  I snorted. “Uh, yeah.” When I had calmed Felix down on the field, I’d caught Olivia giving me the stink eye when Felix released me from his embrace. You’d think she’d be grateful that I had helped her son from disappearing. And since that day she’d practically been following him like a shadow. I was surprised she hadn’t come over here with him. She practically lived with him now.

  I needed to understand this feud my father had with Olivia. It must have been deep-rooted for both parents to not only hate each other but for them to hate Felix and I as well. We seemed to be innocent victims in a Hatfield-McCoy type battle and I wanted to get to the root of it.

  I also had a family in the fae realm that I wanted to reconnect with. My brother was on the throne by default because my mother and I were forced out. Would he want to reconnect with me or be annoyed by my return? Would the rest of my relatives who let me go, care? I remembered my grandmother on my mother’s side. She had loved me. We had good times together. How had she just let us leave? I needed answers.