by D. R. Rosier
She looked at me like I’d slapped her.
I asked, “Why do you kill angels?”
She glared, “Because it was an angel that gave me this pointless existence, I don’t fit anywhere. I have no purpose.”
“So… you made killing angels your purpose.”
She ground her teeth, “Yes.”
“What is my purpose?”
She frowned, and I went on after she realized she didn’t have an answer.
“No human has a specific purpose, except to live. We were given free will, and so were you. You aren’t bound to heaven or hell, you were born here, with more power than most, but still born here with free will. If you want a purpose, give yourself one. That’s why I told you to get over yourself. That’s why I told you what Malina told me. Your purpose is whatever you want it to be. Your dad instead of explaining that, was a big dick because he was afraid of you.
“Do you understand what I’m saying Korrina? You do belong, same as everyone else that has a mortal life on this mud ball that circles the sun, because none of us have a purpose but what we decide.”
She shook her head, “That’s only a part of it, people fear me, I have more power than any mortal. Even the fae fear me.”
I shrugged in a blasé manner, “I don’t. Not right now anyway. Angels fear you, but that’s because you are not limited as they are. It also doesn’t help that you kill them, perhaps not all would have attacked you as your father did? I don’t know.”
I paused for a second, “So you have to ask yourself, what do you really want in life? In a little while I’ll come back and give you a choice. You can either die, because I can’t let you kill Malina, or me. Or you can make a pact with me, so that I don’t have to fear letting you out of that circle.”
She sneered, “I won’t become your servant or sex slave just to survive.”
I waved that off with my hand, “Good thing that isn’t necessary. No one that shares my bed is a sex slave by the way, they all want to be there. That wasn’t what I had in mind. The question is what do you want, and then I can tell you what the cost of that is.
“For instance, if you want your freedom back and to simply leave, I’ll just ask for your word not to harm anyone associated to me either by pact or treaty, which by the way is just about every supernatural currently in the city. The only exception to that is Lilith and that other warlock.
“If you want more than that, a place where you’ll be valued, respected, and not feared, well I’d need more of an assurance than that, but it’s all up for discussion. Most of all though, I hope you give up this vendetta you have, it’s misplaced and it’s only keeping you from finding the true purpose of your heart. If you can think back far enough, you might find it again.”
I stood up, “I’ll be back soon, give you time to think, or just give a yell if you want to talk some more. I promise not to go far.”
I walked out and closed the door, and then sat behind the desk and started to read Sal.
Malina accused, “You’re insane.”
I smiled and said teasingly, “Already? Aren’t I too young for that? Maybe. But why? I thought it was a pretty good plan. At the very least we’ll be safe, at best we’ll have an ally of sorts. I think she’s really lonely.”
She giggled, “It just never would have occurred to me.”
I nodded, “That abomination thing is just another form of prejudice. Prejudice never makes sense.”
She sighed, “Stop with the soap box, you just want to get into her pants.”
I thought about that for a minute, she was amazingly hot, but that wasn’t really it at all. Of course, I wouldn’t say no either.
Malina snickered at me.
I suppose it was all mixed up in my head. I did feel a little sorry for her for what she’s gone through because of narrow mindedness, I had years of that on the street, getting kicked out everywhere I went. I wasn’t welcome to stay anywhere, and had been feared by others, it was easy to relate to her when she was feared too. Honestly it made me want to accept her and show her not everyone was like that.
Then there was also her power, if I could ally with her, or even have her as a friend, who could possibly screw with me? She’d flatten them all. I wouldn’t use her for just that, and try not to use her at all, but it was impossible not to consider that angle of things.
And… yes, she was hot. Really hot. She was an angel, half that is, of course she was stunningly beautiful. The only reason Malina was more attractive to me was because she’d designed herself to be what I most desired. Of course I loved Malina too, so that made an additional impact to how attractive she was as well.
Malina said in a dangerous voice, “Nice save, maybe you should stop thinking while you’re ahead?”
Good point, sometimes it was hard being a guy, especially when one of the woman I loved could read my every thought and desire. Even the best of us were total pigs in our thoughts from time to time.
I looked back down at Sal, always had more to learn, and magic was a safe thing to think about. Although I wasn’t sure I’d get much memorized, since Malina just crawled under my desk, I guess I as forgiven…
Chapter 20
Susan stepped into the work out room and stretched out her pleasantly sore muscles. Somehow she’d managed to walk out of the bedroom earlier without wincing. She hadn’t wanted Shawn to see just how close he’d gotten to achieving his goal. She felt much better already though, and decided to stretch out her remaining kinks.
She considered shifting to her cat and back, but the truth was she loved the sore feeling after being so well sated. She also needed some privacy to make a phone call. She thought Lilliana would probably hear her anyway, vampires had wicked hearing even though she planned on whispering, but she needed to talk to her alpha. She pulled out the phone and dialed Katie.
“Hello?”
“Katie, it’s Susan. I wanted to talk you about staying here even after the warlock is taken care of, or judged gone for good.”
Katie replied, “You’re not under duress are you?”
Susan replied, “Definitely not,” she would have said absolutely not if she were under duress.
Katie paused for a moment, “Are you sure? I know you seemed happy this morning, but…”
Susan smiled. They’d argued about her taking a mate before, but she’d continued to say no to all offers. She couldn’t imagine settling for less than respect, and how did Shawn put it? A partnership. If that cost her a true mate bond, then so be it.
“I’m sure, I’ll visit two or three times a week though, we can talk again then.”
Katie sighed, “Okay, we’ll see you soon then.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up the phone.
She turned as Lilliana walked into the room, and stared at her for a moment.
“You don’t approve?” she asked boldly.
Lilliana smiled a bit wryly, “Approve? For many generations I’ve served the Moore line, Shawn is a lot like the rest of them, but at the same time, he’s different. I’ve never fell for a specific Moore faster, and I love him. If he approves of you, then that’s enough for me. I’d prefer you not to be a spy, but Shawn believes you’re trustworthy where it counts.”
Lilliana looked up thoughtfully, “I suppose that’s good enough for me. It’s also new. For generations it’s been me, Malina, and the current Moore. Shawn has already accomplished the impossible by marrying a mage and creating a treaty with them, ending a seemingly endless sniping war. Now a shifter wants to join our little family, so why not? It will keep him safer, and truthfully I do like you, I’m just very protective of my master.”
She nodded, “He treats you like a lover, and friend though.”
The vampire beamed at her, “He does, and I suppose that’s a part of why I fell for him so fast. The truth is I am bound to his line, and must do anything he asks. It was the price for what I was given, and I need never doubt my purpose. I’ve never had cause to regret it either, none of the line have ever ab
used their power over me, even if some love me less than others.
“We should talk about his training. I’m teaching him sword work so that he can wield Krystal with more authority in battle when needed, but there is merit to teaching him hand to hand as well. I noticed you’re teaching him the yin styles?”
She nodded firmly, “He’s going to be weaker against any shifters or vampires in a fight. Yang styles although more suited to a male, will just get him in trouble. His only shot is using his opponents’ strengths against them.”
Lilliana smiled at her answer, and they spoke about his training for a while longer, and then about the scheduling of it.
She believed she’d be happier here, even if she missed her sister and the rest of the cat shifters back at the house. Nothing was perfect, she’d have to give up something to get something…
Korrina scowled at the symbols that surrounded her. No warlock had ever even attempted something so galling before, and she’d never felt so helpless in her long life. Her mind was also in turmoil, the warlock, Shawn, had managed to lay out a difficult concept so it was easy to understand. She’d always lamented not having a purpose, but had never considered that it might actually be a boon, rather than a burden.
She’d been so torn up over the rejections in her life, she’d never considered she could just choose a purpose of her own. What had he said? Get over herself? She could barely even remember back to that girl she was, but she had just wanted simple things. To be a part of the village, to be accepted, to perhaps find a partner and raise a family which brought her to the other impossibility in her life.
She was too powerful for that dream. Her looks always got her in the door, and quite often into a man’s bed. Until they learned what she was, and then they were frightened. He’d offered her a place where she would be accepted, but she didn’t believe it was possible. He’d been so sure as well, confident he could provide it, though she couldn’t imagine why. She was his enemy.
He did confuse her though, why was she not dead? She wouldn’t have shown such mercy.
She had believed one thing he’d said, that he wouldn’t try to make her a sex slave. She’d measured men’s words for millennia, and she could see his distaste at the idea, even as he stared at her attributes with a hint of desire in his eyes.
She decided she would call his bluff, ask to stay if he could truly welcome her. She was tired of being alone, and without connections. She didn’t really believe it of course, and when he demanded something outrageous for the privilege, she sneered at that thought, well then she would agree not to harm him or his people and leave Chicago never to return. That at least seemed equitable, and she didn’t want to die.
As for her vendetta, she would have to think on it. Perhaps he was right about that at least, she could find her own purpose outside of dealing out death. Not that it would be easy, it was hard to find a purpose when she was never accepted. She took a sip of water, and then groaned, she had to take a piss and she was stuck in this damned circle. Normally she would just use magic to deal with it, but she was cut off right now.
“Shawn!” she screamed.
He opened the door and walked in just a few moments later.
She had to admit, he was a good looking man, and ridiculously confident. She watched him as he walked up to the circle and then sat on the floor. She couldn’t help but notice his package, there was a huge bulge in his pants. She smiled, and wondered if she’d interrupted anything.
“What have you decided,” he asked curiously, it made her believe for a brief moment he actually cared what her answer would be.
She opened her mouth but the words didn’t come out. When she’d decided to call his bluff, she was confident he would push too far, and ask for too much. That all he wanted was her power, and he would demand subservience. When she made that decision, she hadn’t taken into consideration how hard it would be to say.
It was too much truth, it was truly what she wanted, and longed for. A place to be accepted for who she was, and would leave her soul naked before him. She really did want to belong, she longed for it, for something more than a superficial connection. She was tired of just getting drunk at bars, and seducing a stranger for a short transitory moments of pleasure. She wanted so much more than that, and always had. It was the source of her rage, and why she hated the angels so much.
She cleared her throat and gritted her teeth, “I’d like to discuss what assurances you would need, for me to stay. I believe you offered me acceptance, something I find very hard to believe since I haven’t found it in any other place or time. People fear me.”
He nodded, “I’ve been thinking about that. I told you that I’d need more than simply you promising not to harm me, those I have a pact with, and those that I have a treaty with. I’ve reconsidered.”
She felt like he’d punched her in the gut, had she really been hoping he was telling the truth? If the pain of his words were any indication, she truly had been that foolish. Of course he reconsidered, he…
Her negative thoughts cut off in shock as he said, “I believe now that’s more than sufficient. I don’t want you as a servant, in bed or out. You give me your word on that, a pact of non-aggression only, and you can come and go as you please. Help me, protect me, or leave and never come back, or just come for dinner occasionally. That’s how true friendships are built, not under the yolk of a pact. I realized to give you what you really want, true acceptance, that it can’t be purchased with service.”
She swallowed and asked in disbelief, “Why?”
He shrugged, “My uncle. It’s a long story, but until recently my family was in an undeclared war with the mages of sorts. As a baby I was spelled, both to suppress my power to keep me hidden, and to keep me from forming attachments. I won’t compare my first twenty-two years to your long life, but in essence the spell made everyone fear me. It kept me from making connections, and it meant I was never accepted until my uncle, and the rest of my family died, and I took over as the Moore warlock in Chicago.
“Let’s just say I can relate some small amount to your situation and have a minute understanding of the pain it caused.”
She frowned, “I don’t want your pity.”
He shook his head, “It’s not pity. I don’t feel sorry for you. I just understand you. Regardless, if you give me your word as we’ve discussed, we can try and be friends and see how it goes. I won’t fear you, but who knows, we might wind up hating each other anyway. For instance, you could like peas. Peas are evil.”
She suppressed a groan.
She smirked, “That was a terrible joke.”
He nodded, “Hazards of friendship.”
She snickered, “Fine, how do we do this?”
He replied matter of factly, “Verbal agreement is fine, we don’t have to shake on it, the magic in the circle will seal our pact. Do you agree not to harm me or mine through pact or treaty?”
She nodded and said, “I agree.”
She felt the magic rise around her again, and she felt it bind them both to their word, and when the magic retreated, she felt her power rush back to her. She took a long deep breath, and then felt unsure suddenly, as if not quite sure what to do. She had no idea how to be a friend.
She was also quite attracted to him, and she could even admit it to herself, especially now that he wasn’t her enemy. She’d said she didn’t want to be a sex slave, but she’d never said she wouldn’t fuck him. But the moment didn’t seem quite right for that either, she wasn’t in a bar picking up a likely partner for the night. She’d be living here for the foreseeable future. So instead of being her normal forward and brash self she faltered and fumbled with the moment.
He stood and offered her a hand up, as if she needed assistance for such a simple task as standing. Bemused, she took it…
Chapter 21
I wanted to kiss her, but behaved myself. She looked as nervous as a young teen girl at her first school dance. It was hard to believe this was the same woman tha
t hunted and destroyed angels. That had been trying to kill Malina.
“It’s almost dinner time, and if you want a shower…”
I cut off as her body flashed with gold light, for a moment I’d forgotten what she was, and she was suddenly wearing a casual red sundress, with sandals. Her straight long raven hair was perfectly brushed and shiny in the overhead light as it framed her model face and pouty lips.
Her green eyes danced in amusement at my reaction, and I couldn’t help but compare them to Karen’s. Korrina’s were slightly darker and seemed to have golden flecks in them. I couldn’t help but stare for a moment, she was stunning, and I hadn’t even looked down at what that dress was doing for her tight and generously curvaceous body yet.
She smirked, and squeezed my hand, I’d forgotten that I was still holding it. Whatever happened next, it wouldn’t be boring.
I smiled a bit ruefully, reluctantly released her hand, and we went into the next room. Malina smiled at our new guest, and didn’t look nervous at all. Of course, we were protected by the pact now.
Korrina took a deep breath and straightened, “Malina…” and then she looked like she had no idea what to say, and then added, “That was a nice strike you got in, it took me ten minutes to put all my insides back where they belong.”
Malina blushed at the compliment, “I got lucky. I’m not a warrior.”
Things felt a little awkward then, and I knew we needed to break the ice somehow. Not unexpectedly, with her in that red dress my mind went to sex. It always seemed like a good way to break the ice, right? It just seemed too soon for that though, I’d just had her locked up in a summoning circle. We all moved to the stairs a moment later and headed up for dinner.
When we got into the kitchen, dinner wasn’t even started. Lilliana and Susan chatted at the table. Lilliana turned to me and blushed.
“I ordered pizza. Susan and I were planning out your training, and then we decided to spar. Things got physical and then we, well we got to know each other better, and I lost track of time.”