Bedeviled

by J. Ashburn

“So much death. So much hate. I wonder how many of my brothers are influencing the humans behind these acts. Why do these humans want to destroy each other?”

  He thought of Micah and how he wanted to be in his arms again and make the world a better place for him. Any thought of Micah caused a natural smile to form on Caleb’s face. He turned the TV off.

  ###

  Nicki sped down the street at break-neck speed as Micah performed CPR on a nineteen-year-old girl. They’d gotten the call right before lunch and were surprised to respond to a heart attack victim that was so young. The sirens blared in Micah’s ears, annoying him right now more than they ever had. He looked down at the teenager and hoped for the best. His heart was in his throat.

  “How close are we?” Micah looked over his shoulder.

  “Almost there, just keeping bagging her.”

  They pulled up to the ER doors and Nicki jumped out. She flung the back doors to the ambulance open and helped Micah roll the girl out. Adrenalin shot through Micah. His muscles tensed as he kept working, moving as fast as he could into the ER.

  Jake met them as they rushed the girl in. He and a few of the nurses rolled the young girl into a bay and hooked her up to IVs and various monitors. Jake ordered adrenalin and other meds to restart the girl’s heart. The heart monitor registered a blip.

  “Her blood pressure is coming up,” one of the nurses called. “Her pulse is still weak.”

  Micah and Nicki checked in at the ER desk and filled out some paperwork. Doctor Jake came up behind Micah, laying his hand on the small of his back.

  “Micah, can you give me anymore information on this girl? So weird, a nineteen-year-old just doesn’t have a heart attack.”

  “She goes to Curry College and lives off campus in an apartment with roommates.”

  “Were the roommates there? Did you talk to any of them?”

  “Yeah, they said she doesn’t do any drugs at all, never has since they’ve known her. She hadn’t been drinking…except for energy drinks. She was drinking a ton of them the night before because she was cramming for a test. The girls said she didn’t get up for class and they went to check on her. She was non-responsive.”

  “Energy drinks. Hmm, I’ll bet she’s an undiagnosed diabetic. I need to do a full screen on her but my gut tells me that’s what it is. Thanks so much, Micah.” He patted Micah on the hack before heading back to the nurses.

  Micah stared at him, positive there was more to the touching than just camaraderie. He turned to talk to Nicki when the ER doors flung open again, the second crew, Peter and David rushed in with a gunshot victim and a police officer. Micah quickly surmised what was going on but Nicki’s curiosity got the better of her.

  “What’s going on?” she called to Peter.

  “Guy tried to rob a liquor store and the cops shot him. He’s going in and out of consciousness.”

  They zipped past them as Nicki and Micah looked on. The police officer stood right over the prone gunman’s bed as they wheeled him into an empty bay.

  “We should probably give them some space,” Micah said. “Things are getting a little crazy in here.”

  “Right.”

  The ER erupted in chaos as the gunman leapt from the stretcher and collided with the police officer. The two men went down and the thief snatched the gun from the stunned officer.

  Screams filled the ER as the thief wove the gun around and shoved nurses out of his way, making a run for the doors.

  A security officer bolted in front of the doors, a stun gun in his hands. The gunman stopped short and lunged for Micah, curling his arm around his throat. “Back off motherfuckers! I want out of here or he’s dead.” He put the gun to Micah’s head.

  Micah’s shuddered, his heart leapt into his throat, his palms grew damp but he made no sudden moves, not even a sound.

  Nicki froze, her knees buckled. “No!” her voice cracked as she watched the man drag Micah to the center of the room. “Please don’t hurt him…”

  Micah’s thoughts drifted to Caleb suddenly.

  ###

  Caleb’s eyes welled as he recalled the images of human misery from the TV and wondered how he could possibly help them all. Micah’s image appeared inside of his mind suddenly. The skin of his human body prickled and he gasped.

  He’s in trouble. Micah’s in trouble.

  He felt Micah inside of him. He could smell him and the fear that seized him. Caleb panicked. It was the first time in his existence that he’d ever been frightened. He stood and looked around. The house was still empty. Caleb stepped outside of the apartment, just beyond the door. His black wings sprouted from his back, every feather ruffling in a mystical wind and he shot straight up into the sky.

  His arms rippled with scales, his hands shifted into razor-sharp talons and his feet twisted into gnarled claws. Caleb dashed through fair-weather clouds and cut through the air currents to cross the city as fast as he could. He looked down on gleaming buildings, a grid of car-filled streets interwoven with highways and railroad tracks—a techno puzzle of chrome, brick and wood.

  Micah’s essence led Caleb through the city. The fear, the danger, Micah’s spirit called out, and Caleb answered. In the blink of an eye he was above the hospital. In his desperation he’d forgotten his transformation that allowed him to soar. He hated his demon form. Hated every talon, every scale, it repulsed him but he was not about to let anything happen to Micah.

  Caleb landed on the side of the hospital and scanned his surroundings. He knew he couldn’t charge into the ER in his true form. He shifted back into his human shape, sucked in some air, made a run toward the street and rounded the corner.

  The gunman dragged Micah toward the doors, his back to them. The doors flung open and Caleb raced in. With inhuman speed he rammed the gunman, pitching him into the air. The guy came down on the floor hard, the wind knocked out of him, the gun spinning out of his grip.

  The police officer scrambled for the gun and with the help of the security officer they overpowered the thug and put him back into cuffs. Blood saturated the man’s clothes as the gunshot wounds raged.

  “I need a doctor, assholes!”

  They dragged the man to a stretcher as ER attendants rushed to him.

  Micah collapsed to the floor and Caleb caught him, helping him to his feet. “Shit, Caleb! You’re here? You saved me…again. What…what…are you doing here? I…”

  Caleb shrugged with an innocent look and boyish smile. “I came down to see if you wanted to go to lunch. You do get to eat lunch…do you not?”

  Micah laughed and nodded. “Yes….yes I do. Nicki and I usually eat in the ambulance or the break room. Oh, Nicki…”

  Nicki ran to him, throwing her arms around him. “I’m so glad you are ok. That was freaking close.” She caught her breath long enough to glance at Caleb.

  “Nicki… this is Caleb. He’s staying with me.”

  “Is he?” A huge smile drew across Nicki’s face. “Nice to meet you Caleb.” She put out her hand.

  Caleb shook it. “You too.”

  “Micah was so lucky you showed up.”

  Caleb shook his head.

  “I am,” Micah added. “Thank you. Again.” He put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder and took his other one, caressing it with his thumb.

  “Micah, your shirt,” Nicki said, pointing.

  He looked down to see blood staining his shirt. “It’s not mine. It was the gunman’s. I have an extra in my locker in the break room. Caleb, want to give me a hand?”

  “Of course,” Caleb said shyly.

  Nicki smirked.

  Caleb followed Micah to a stairwell and the two of them climbed four sets before entering a door to a hallway. Micah gestured for him to follow him through a wooden door into the break room.

  A set of lockers lined the wall immediately to their left. Micah fished through a locker for another shirt as Caleb looked around the room. There were several tables and chairs, a TV up in the corner, about three refrigerators, lot�
��s of microwaves and a sink. A phone was on the wall opposite the lockers.

  Caleb turned back around to see Micah unbutton his shirt and toss it into a bucket with a hazard symbol on it.

  “Caught you.” Micah smiled.

  “I am sorry.”

  “I was just kidding…I’m the one that wanted you alone for a few minutes. I wanted to thank you properly for rescuing me for the second time.” Micah pulled Caleb close to him, easing the fallen angel’s arms around his waist, and kissed him. He lingered on Caleb’s lips, holding him tight.

  “I really like that,” Caleb said.

  Micah smiled. “You are so unusual and I really like that. So, about that lunch, I really can’t right now we’re so busy and I have all of this paperwork to do but let’s have dinner.”

  “Okay.”

  “Great. Meet me back in front of the hospital at six and I’ll take you to our favorite hang out. It’s just across the street.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “Cool. I’ll see you then. Let me walk you out…who knows, there might even be reporters here now after hearing about your brave deed.”

  “Reporters?” A strange feeling stirred in the pit of Caleb’s stomach.

  “Oh, you look like you seen a ghost. It’s okay. You don’t have to talk to them. I understand…. You’re one of those guys who prefers to remain anonymous. I get it. I know another exit from the ER. You don’t have to talk to them.”

  “Okay…I would prefer that.”

  “You got it.”

  Micah walked Caleb out to a side parking lot and said goodbye, returning to work. The fallen angel looked up at the blue sky, felt the wind on his body and watched the people come and go from the hospital visitor parking lot. He picked a bench nearby and sat down, counting down the time until he could see Micah again.

  ###

  Caleb waited six hours outside the hospital for Micah. It was the only place he wanted to be, he didn’t want to be far from him, not after the close call earlier in the day.

  “Hey,” Micah called as he and Nicki appeared. “There you are. Do you want to go have some dinner with us?”

  He nodded. “Yes, I would enjoy that.”

  “Cool. Our favorite diner is just across the street. Let’s head on over.”

  Caleb walked close to Micah as they went the diner and found a table. It was busy as usual, especially in the area of the hospital, firehouse and surrounding municipal buildings.

  “You have to try the burgers here,” Micah said to Caleb.

  “I do?”

  “Yeah, they’re amazing. What are you having Nicki?”

  “Um…I think the Greek salad with grilled chicken.”

  “Boring.”

  “Some of us are watching our figures.”

  “Oh please, your figure never changes.”

  “And this is why, knucklehead.”

  “You two are friends?” Caleb asked.

  Both Micah and Nicki laughed. “The best,” Micah said just as his cell phone buzzed. He looked down at it. “It’s my brother, I just want to grab this. Hello, hey Cole. Yes…Yes I will be there this Saturday. I didn’t forget I asked for it off. Yep, I know the baby shower is Jack and Jill. Yes, she’s going too. Okay, see ya then.”

  “Sondra’s baby shower?” Nicki surmised.

  “You got it. He’s afraid I forgot.”

  “He should now by now you don’t forget things… you got a mind like a steel trap.”

  “Most of the time.”

  They all looked up as someone approached the table, expecting a waitress when Jake stood at their table, Nick at his side.

  “Jake.” Micah’s eyes widened. “Nick? Hey, I didn’t know you guys knew each other.”

  “We met in the park,” Jake said.

  “Yes, yes we did.” Nick smirked and Micah was surprised he didn’t correct him on the proper use of his name.

  “Good to see you guys,” Jake continued. “May we join you?”

  “Sure.” Micah slid closer to Caleb. “This is Caleb. He’s new to the city too.”

  “Great to meet you, Caleb.” Jake said. “This is…”

  “Oh, I know Caleb,” Nick said. “He’s staying with us.”

  “Is he now?” Jake said with some surprise, squeezing himself beside Micah as Nick slid in next to Nicki.

  Micah felt a hand brushing up against his thigh and it wasn’t Caleb’s. He instantly fidgeted, attempting to move his leg. He pushed closer to Caleb who felt the discomfort flowing from him. Jake grinned as he made small talk with Nick and Nicki, all the while trying to get a handful of Micah.

  Caleb turned and looked past Micah, staring directly at Jake. All color drained from Jake, and his brow dampened. He made eye contact with Caleb briefly and nearly jumped. He pulled his hand away from Micah and gave him some space.

  “Jake, are you all right?” Nick asked. “You look a bit pale.”

  “It’s nothing…I’m fine. Just hungry I guess. Where is that waitress?”

  After dinner, Micah walked Caleb and Nicki back to his car. He smiled at Caleb and took his hand. Caleb smiled back.

  “Was it me or was that just a little bit awkward?” Nicki asked.

  “It wasn’t just you,” replied Micah.

  They reached the car and Nicki hopped into the back seat, allowing the boys to take the front. She loved watching Micah find some happiness.

  Micah turned to Caleb after they buckled in. “Hey, I would love for you to come to meet my brother and his wife on Saturday? His wife Sondra is expecting their first baby and they’re having a party for her.”

  “You want me to meet your family?”

  “Sure…. I mean… I know it’s a little soon. We just started—

  “I will.”

  “Really? Awesome. My brother is really cool. I think you’ll like him.”

  “I am sure that I will.”

  “Good.” Micah started up the car and put his hand over to Caleb’s. Nicki said nothing from the backseat, for a change. She simply smiled and let things play themselves out. And it was just perfect.

  ###

  Darkness encroached the city once more and with it Sebastian materialized. He stood in front of the Midtown Diner and glared through the windows. The patrons within window seats shivered with cold.

  The hellhounds curled around Sebastian’s legs, claws shifting to tendrils of smoke and shadow, teeth gnashing, sniffing the air and the trail that Caleb left behind but seemed to be fading rapidly. A siren blared and red lights flashed. The hounds howled but Sebastian stretched out his arms.

  “Stay,” he said. “That is one of their emergency vehicles. Lucky us.” Sebastian stared intensely at the ambulance across the street as it pulled into the ER parking area. The ambulance doors flung open and two men jumped out, pulling the stretcher with them.

  “He’s gone!” one the men yelled. “Why did you stop CPR? You let him die?”

  “He deserved it!” the other yelled back. “He had a long enough life. To hell with him….why should I bust my ass for a ninety-year-old. His time is up.”

  “You asshole. It’s your job to help and save others. I’m going straight to the top.”

  “Up yours!”

  Both men swung fists at each other and charged each other, toppling to the asphalt. Sebastian laughed.

  Inside of the diner, a gorgeous red-haired woman watched the commotion outside, her gaze fixed on Sebastian. A waiter stopped by, dropped her off some hot tea and her check.

  “Is there anything else, miss?”

  She looked up with huge green eyes that glinted in the light. “No thank you, you’ve been a doll.”

  “Hope you don’t mind but I think you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.”

  “Why thank you, handsome. I see the rest of your body agrees with your heart.”

  The waiter looked down to see a bulge in his pants. His arms prickled and his eyes grew glassy. He reached out to touch her.

&nbs
p; “Oh honey, not now. Sometimes I just can’t help my allure but I’ll be by tonight, in your dreams, my love.” She touched his hand, her fingers covered in scales. “You may go now.”

  The waiter nodded and left, returning to his work as if nothing had happened. The woman looked back outside to see an obviously frustrated Sebastian cursing the night sky.

  “The infernal Caleb! Why does his trail keep going cold?” He stormed off away from the hospital, the hellhounds at his side.

  The red-haired woman sighed with relief and drank her tea.

  9

  Micah folded into Caleb’s arms and kissed him, running his tongue along his neck. He moved to his nipples and sucked on them. Caleb moaned and squirmed. Micah moved his hand down to Caleb’s cock, stroking it, feeling it grow hard in his touch. Micah started to move his mouth down Caleb’s body but Caleb stopped him.

  “No, stay up here and kiss me,” Caleb said. “I love when you kiss me. Kiss me while your hands do the work.”

  Micah complied, kissing Caleb deeply, slipping his tongue into his mouth and letting it play with Caleb’s. He caressed Caleb’s dick and balls, slowly teasing him before jerking him.

  Caleb found his hand traveling down Micah’s waist and to his throbbing dick. He tickled him, Micah’s thighs twitching before he settled on rubbing Micah’s shaft. Both men kept pace with each other, making out and jerking one another, breathing in tandem, their moans quiet and sensual.

  Both their bodies tingled and their skin glowed with sweat. Micah and Caleb tasted each other’s lips, and smelled the heat of one another. They were united as one, a single emotion between them. Their passion filled the room and the air thickened. Warmth circled around the two men. Micah closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Caleb’s.

  Micah felt his heart pounding against his chest, his entire body ignited with fiery sex and his mouth opened, a yelp escaping him. Caleb curled his arm around him and held him tight as his breathing quickened.

  They climaxed together, quivering in each other’s arms, bodies undulating. Micah looked into Caleb’s eyes, noticing a mix of ecstasy and innocence and something else…anxiety. Or fear.

  “You all right?” Micah asked him.