by Anni Antoni
“If this happened to Claire, how would you handle it?” I needed to know he fully understood what I was planning.
“No question, I'd have to be with her, I’d never let her go through it on her own.” He shook his head in emphasis.
“Even if you died?”
“I’d try to heal her with everything in my power, or die trying.”
“Exactly, and that’s why I can't leave Kat. Frank has no idea because he doesn't have a mate and doesn’t realize the strength of the bond.” Understanding of my choice shone from his eyes. “Can I ask a favor, Esau, please?”
“Anything, Joe.” The earnest expression on his face warmed my heart.
“If I don't survive, please inform Kaleb. He’s a Cambion we met today, a decent, responsible chap, surprisingly.” I fished in the pocket of my pants and handed Esau his card. “Call him and let him know what happened, if I… can't. Bring him here and make sure he takes Kat to his Center. Kaleb can help her start a life without me. Above all, don’t touch Kat and keep her away from the others. She could be a danger to you all.”
Esau was silent for a while, pacing back and forth near the balcony edge. Finally, he turned to me, a look of deep compassion on his face.
“How will I know if you die?”
“You’ll know instantly. I’m your Guardian and we share a bond. Even if you’re asleep, you’d feel it. Can I count on you to do as I ask?”
“Don't worry. I'll do whatever is necessary.” Esau’s face showed me he understood the full implications of everything I said.
“Kat deserves a chance. She’s young and at the beginning of her life. I've lived a long time. It won't matter if I die. The important thing is to keep Kat alive.”
“You can rely on me.” Esau’s voice choked up. He grasped my right hand and pulled me to him in a man hug, patting my back. “Now go! Do your best to heal her.”
I grinned at him, my heart lighter now I’d made arrangements for Kat, if the worst happened. “Don't worry, Esau. According to Marron, the bond is never wrong, and I've got theories of my own to test.”
Chapter 31.
Death by Ecstasy Wouldn’t be Bad
Kat slept fitfully, sweating, breathing fast, struggling to overcome the demon energy within her. As I stood looking down at her, thoughts tumbled through my head. If I died this day, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go -- death by ecstasy -- better than any of the potential deaths I'd faced in years of battling demons.
Now I faced a demon battle of a completely different kind. A wry smile tugged at my lips. This time I wanted desperately to live!
Ironic really, for so many years I had hoped for death, and it had eluded me. Now, the passion for life throbbed in my breast with an almost unbearable intensity, but it would only be possible with Kat, the light my soul had been missing, all these years.
Kat, Kat, it’s Joe. Can you hear me? Using mindspeak, I attempted to communicate, but there was no response. Moving closer, I tried again, still no response.
Worried, I bent down and touched her cheek. My healing energy flowed into her like a river of life, leaving me with a warm tingle of bliss through my body in its wake as it depleted me. Kat, it's Joe here.
She stirred, and I moved my hand from her face. She leaned into my touch, wanting more. Kat, it's Joe; I want to heal you.
Joe? I'm scared. What’s happening to me? Am I turning into a demon?
Good, she was using mindspeak, although faint. Mindspeak was part of my plan.
Not if I can help it darlin’. I communicated, adding a reassuring chuckle.
Joe, make love to me while I’m still me. I’m so scared. Her mindspeak was stronger and louder – good signs.
I'm scared too darlin’, but we’re a team now, and together we'll beat this. Do you trust me?
Yes, I trust you, and I want you. Hold me, please.
Although her eyes were closed, she reached towards me. Was this the demon in her, enticing me? I decided to trust my theories.
Oh Kat, I want you too, sweetheart, but please do as I say. We must communicate by mindspeak only. It will activate your Guardian side and my healing energy will strengthen it. That will mean the demon energy trying to emerge will have a harder battle. Understand?
Got it. Kat’s response found its way into my brain.
Happiness swept through me. Kat was smart. That's the Kat I know and love, and I do love you, sweetheart.
Her eyes opened, briefly connecting with mine. I saw her fear melt as she attempted a smile. She understood, but then her eyes rolled back and a convulsion shook her.
You’re doing well darlin’. Demons don't understand love. It repels them. Think love, feel love, be love. Your demon side will retreat from it. I'm going to undress us now, and get into bed beside you. I’ll show you my love.
A burst of love and longing from Kat rewarded me, communicated through mindspeak. My heart overflowed with joy, feeling the depth of her love. Knowing Kat returned my love, was a different kind of bliss to the energy siphon.
Tears sprang to my eyes as another convulsion tore through her. I'm so proud of you. We’ll beat this thing pet, and have such fun together afterwards.
Our life together will be wonderful. We can visit cities, jungles, deserts and palaces, wherever you want, do whatever you want. I'll teach you sword fighting and how to flash. You’ll soon be a Guardian, a magnificent Guardian.
I kept talking to her with mindspeak while I undressed. I had to keep her mind occupied with loving, positive messages. Then, leaning over her, I unzipped her dress, took it off, and removed her bra and panties. Every time I touched her skin I melted with ecstasy as the rush of energy flowed out of me. I craved more breathtaking bliss.
Naked, I moved alongside her on the bed, holding her close. She gasped and wrapped her arms around me.
The bliss of my healing energy flowing into her was almost more than I could bear. I inhaled deeply and floated with it. Maximum skin exposure darlin’. I sent the message to her with a chuckle. She wriggled her curves into me and sighed.
Arms around each other, we melted together in a warm cocoon of love. Take all the healing energy you need. For you, it’s without limits… Love you pet…
My mind gave way to pure sensation, and my physical self took over, as I worshipped Kat with my body.
Chapter 32.
Back from the Brink
Lost, alone and in darkness, a mindless, savage hunger possessed me, terrifying me with its unrelenting scratching need. I would kill to get living energy to sustain myself if I wasn't so weak, and I knew anything alive would suffice.
It was all I wanted. I craved this energy, and it eclipsed everything else. When Joe's voice entered my head, I latched on to his presence as if I was drowning.
He gave me something to focus on, instead of the relentless, nightmarish hunger. I turned from the thing that was changing me into a demon towards Joe.
Communicating through mindspeak, he reminded me I could become a Guardian. At last, I opened my mind to him in complete trust. His calm, loving presence drew me away from the nightmare that tried to pull me under and destroy me, and he gave me instructions on how to fight it.
He even made me giggle and showed me all the things we would do together after we had beaten the demon energy. Joe was my rock, my stability, and I clung desperately to him.
My love for him was boundless – all I needed, and, as I focused on it, the darkness and hunger within faded.
When he climbed naked into bed beside me, my heart swelled with love. He took me in his arms joking about maximum skin exposure and I giggled again. Then, the sweet rush of his healing energy flowed into me, making me stronger. I wiggled against his body, enjoying the fit of my body against his and sighed.
Only happy, loving thoughts filled my mind. He calmed all my fears and communicated his love for me through mindspeak. I showed him how much I loved him in the same way.
He kissed me -- a soft, sweet kiss. Then, our lips locked togeth
er and our kisses deepened. Soon we shared wild, passionate kisses, and my lips throbbed and buzzed. Joe's hands were everywhere roaming over my body, in my hair, stroking and kneading my breasts, over my butt and between my thighs.
Everywhere he touched throbbed and tingled. Locked in his embrace, I had never felt so alive, so wanted or so desired. A sweet ache for him blossomed deep in my core and my love for him flooded my being.
“I love you Joe,” I whispered. He growled, a deep masculine, animal sound that inflamed my desire. His hard manhood, already pressed against me, bucked and he groaned.
His hot shaft entered my wet folds effortlessly as though it belonged there. It was deep in my core with a few powerful thrusts, satisfying my deep ache.
The tingling and throbbing had stopped but as Joe's thrusts increased in intensity, tension built in my body. Heat and passion overwhelmed me, increasing in intensity.
A warm sensation in the center of my body spread in waves until it reached my outer limits, intensifying until I was hot. Like an earthquake, wave upon wave of pleasure engulfed me. I moaned and clutched Joe tightly, until slowly the waves dissipated, leaving me drained, happy and at peace.
Joe nuzzled my neck and murmured something incomprehensible, while I draped myself over him and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
When I woke, a soft darkness blanketed the room, and I reached over and switched on the bedside lamp. Joe slept. I leaned over and kissed him, but he didn't respond.
Something felt wrong. Fear stabbed through my heart as I reached over. He was pale and still. Was he breathing? As if in answer to my question I saw his chest rise. “Joe,” I said. “wake-up,” but he just lay there.
What was wrong with him? I had to keep my head. I felt his neck for a pulse. Yes, a faint pulse beat beneath my fingers. Relief washed over me, but the strangest thing happened.
Energy flowed through my fingers into Joe. He took a deep breath and color returned to his face. Was I healing him?
I put my hands on his chest and, once again, energy flowed into him. His eyelids fluttered and opened. As he looked into my face, he smiled. It was the most wonderful sight I could have imagined. A huge sigh of relief escaped me. Joe was okay. I put my hands on his cheeks and he nuzzled into them.
Joe chuckled. “So, you’re healing me now? Kat darlin’ you’re a Guardian, doing what Guardians do. He closed his eyes again, stretched, and smiled. “I’m enjoying your healing; it’s so good.”
I must have taken a lot of energy from Joe for him to remain so still, and knew he wouldn't ask for more healing unless he needed it desperately. So, I continued pouring energy into him. It was a strange sensation, but wonderful to be able to heal Joe, especially as he had healed me so often.
After a short while his eyelids drooped, and he slept. As my energy had stopped flowing into him, I figured he had absorbed all he needed.
Although I wanted to talk to him and to be with him, I knew he needed the rest, so I planned to have a shower. When he woke, I wanted to be showered and dressed in something pretty, so we could eat out, like we had planned before all this happened.
Clean clothes! They were all in my room, and I needed them. With a whoosh of air, I stood shakily on one leg in front of my closet. I squealed in delight, lost my balance and sat down hard on the floor with my legs in the air.
I had flashed, a little awkwardly maybe, but I had done it. Joe was right, I had become a Guardian.
Pleased, I opened the closet door. Now I was a Guardian, leather seemed more appropriate to wear, so I pulled out matching red leather pants and jacket, and a black tee-shirt.
After quickly showering, I stepped out of the shower and toweled myself dry, wrapping a smaller towel around my head. Dressed in bra and panties, I reached for a hair dryer, pulled the towel off my head, and wiped the towel across the steamed-up mirror over the hand basin.
My mouth dropped open as I saw my image in the mirror. My hair was completely white. After the shock wore off. I turned the hair dryer on, styled my hair, and stood back to view the results.
Kinda cool, I thought, as I appraised my image in the mirror, and wondered what Joe would make of it. Surviving demon energy would do that to a girl, I guessed.
Dressed in red leather, I decided to flash to Joe’s room, to see if he was awake. I thought of my need to be with Joe. With a whoosh, I was in Joe’s room, but on top of him, in his bed.
Joe’s reactions were like lightning. His arms clasped me firmly, and his lips stifled my surprised shriek. One eye opened, followed by the other, and his amusement rang in my head. Flashing now, and without being taught? Clever. Mindspeak was useful when your lips were occupied.
A tiny worry gnawed at the back of my mind. Before I surrendered, I had to know. Do you like my hair like this? I used mindspeak to communicate the thought as well as my image glimpsed earlier in the mirror.
Joe’s answer was to flip me on my back, pin my shoulders to the bed with his hands and half raise himself up, to get a good look at me. His action also pressed his manly bulge into my groin, and I tried to ignore my growing desire, as he studied me.
“White eh? On you, it’s gorgeous.” He drawled. “But then, you’d be gorgeous bald.” He lowered his head to kiss me, but when his eyes flashed red, I panicked and turned my head aside.
Joe’s brow knitted in concern. “What’s wrong?”
My chest was heaving, my heart racing. I turned, looking into Joe’s face through my own red mist. My panic increased, and I was having trouble breathing. Red eyes meant demon influence.
“Joe… I think we’re… demons.” I gulped.
He shook his head. “We’re not demons Kat. You’re worried about the red eyes?”
I nodded, too distraught to speak, hoping he was right.
“Probably a result of what we went through earlier. That was some struggle. Perhaps a little stray demon may be left behind. We’re probably like Esau.”
I sighed, my heart rate slowed and I could breathe again. “Are you sure about that?” I was desperate to believe him.
“I’ll prove it to you,” he said. “As I’ve told you, demons can’t flash, they don’t heal each other, and they can’t use mindspeak. But the most important difference between us, humans and demons, is demons can’t love. A demon could never do this. Using mindspeak he shared his love for me. It was all-encompassing, soft, warm, hungry, passionate and fiercely protective all at once.
Reassured, cocooned in Joe’s love, I melted. “That’s the Joe I know and love.” I breathed into his ear. Opening my mind to him, I shared my love for him with mindspeak.
Joe’s hungry lips sought mine, and I returned his torrid kisses with equal passion. Needless to say, we didn’t venture out to eat that night.
Chapter 33.
One Week Later
Hand in hand, Kat and I flashed to the shared living room of our apartment complex to meet Dr. Frank. It was late Sunday afternoon and I had been training her to use the sword. As with everything else she attempted, she was a quick learner.
Dr. Frank had the results of our blood tests, which I hoped would put Kat’s mind at rest. However, I believed some of her demon had transferred to me and what demon energy we had was no longer active. I wondered if Frank had reached the same conclusion.
After exchanging polite greetings, Frank sat in an armchair while Kat and I shared a couch, still holding hands. Frank opened his briefcase, cleared his throat and produced a folder stuffed full of papers.
Scratching his head, he gave an embarrassed laugh. “The results of your blood tests are here. However, I’m not sure what to make of them.”
I sensed Kat’s apprehension, squeezed her hand and sent her an image of a monkey scratching his head, much like Frank was doing. She pretended to cough, covering up a giggle.
“First, I’d like to discuss your result, Joe.”
“No, please show us Kat’s results first.” Kat’s anxiety level was rising fast, and I wanted to put her out of her misery
.
“Oh? Very well.” Frank shuffled his papers. “Kat’s blood test shows a marked reduction in demon to ten per cent. What’s more interesting, is it’s completely dormant.”
Good. Exactly what I thought. I even guessed the percentage.
“Dormant? Will it stay that way?” She asked, clutching my hand.
“Ten per cent dormant demon in your makeup is nothing to worry about. It shouldn’t affect you at all, and there is no reason for it to reactivate.” He scratched his head again. “As for what’s left, there’s no human energy, only Guardian. How it happened is a mystery, but now you’re a Guardian.” Frank looked and sounded puzzled. Kat looked overjoyed, and I was happy to get confirmation.
Frank turned his attention to me. “Your results are even more surprising. Kat was born a human, demon, Guardian hybrid, but you… you have always been pure Guardian. Now you also have ten per cent dormant demon in your makeup and I have no idea how it happened. It shouldn’t be possible.”
Frank shook his head in bewilderment, then looked up and smiled, at us. “The scientists at the Research Center are excited by these developments, and they would love to run more experiments…”
“What! Kat and I as laboratory rats?” I interrupted. “It won’t happen, Frank. Kat and I are too busy living to bother with that. If you like though, I can tell you what happened.”
I smiled as his eyes lit up with interest.
“It’s not scientific, I warn you.” I chuckled as the light in his eyes dimmed a little. “Having spent many years among demons, I’ve observed they can’t love. They don’t understand it and love actively repels them.
“When I attempted to heal Kat, the demon part of her was growing fast and hungry for any living energy. Faced with my energy, it seized it, but was repelled, because my energy was laced with love for Kat. It tried to escape the healing energy by entering me, but Kat was also sending her love into me by mindspeak. There was nowhere for the demon energy to go that was free of love.