by April Wood
She found her way to the bed and sat down. It was obvious there was something on her mind when he made his way back into the room.
“Penny for your thoughts.” He sat down behind her and split his legs. He pulled her back into his chest.
“I’m just thinking about what a slut I am.”
“You aren’t a slut, Athena.” He pulled her tighter into his body. She was falling apart, but he was still so turned on.
“How do you figure? I mean I let a strange man in my house then took him to bed. Isn’t that the definition of slut?” His hand gently moved her hair away from her face. Then he wiped a tear away from her eye. She wasn’t a slut. They were meant to be together. Nothing about their making love was dirty. He wouldn’t let her think it was.
“I’m not a stranger.” He whispered in her ear.
“What do you mean? I just met you yesterday at the grocery store.”
“You know me, Athena. You’ve always known me.” He kissed her neck softly.
“I don’t follow. I mean I just moved here a few weeks ago. I’ve never seen you before yesterday. How do I know you?” He knew she was lost, but he didn’t know how much to spring on her now.
“From your dreams.” His breath was hot on her neck. It was confusing her thinking process. She wanted to panic, but her body wanted more of him.
“That’s just weird.” She was trying to understand what he was talking about. The dreams had started just recently after her accident. There was no way he could really know about them.
“Maybe you aren’t ready right now. Just trust me, you know me.” He put his muscular arms around her and squeezed her tight.
“You know there are things about me that you don’t know.” She stood up and walked over to the dresser. She grabbed a pair of sweats and pulled them up.
“I know all there is to know about you.” He stood up and pulled on his boxers.
“So you know I was a kidnapped a month ago.” She walked out to the living room. She curled up in a ball remembering that horrifying event.
“I know.” He sat down beside her.
“This entire town thinks I’m nuts. I told the sheriff a woman grabbed me and made me sit in a tent filled with purple smoke. I don’t remember anymore. They found me naked two days later.” She shuttered remembering how scared she was. Darian found himself being filled with guilt. He wasn’t trying to hurt her, but he had to know for certain.
“I know.” The look on his face spoke of concern and love. Everyone else in the town thought of her as the nut. She made up stories. There was no way some stranger would rob her of clothing and dump her off in a hotel. The police officer wrote it up as a drunk weekend gone wrong. Thing was Athena had never drank anything harder than wine. She didn’t go out and party or hang with messed up people. She didn’t know why the entire town thought so little of her.
“You know and it doesn’t make you want to run away screaming?” He had his arms around her. She looked him in the eye. He didn’t seem to want to run. She couldn’t figure that out. Every other man in this town wouldn’t touch her.
“Why would it?” He nuzzled her neck and placed gentle kisses there.
“Most people think I’m nuts and that I made up the entire thing. I guess it’s because I’m new here and keep to myself.”
“You aren’t new to me and I don’t think you are crazy.” In his arms, she felt surrounded by warmth once again. They were like coming home for her.
“Why do you accept me?” She was sobbing.
“I’ve told you, Athena. I know you as well as you know me. We belong together no matter what plain we are in.” He touched her chin with his finger. He knew she really didn’t understand, but she would. The dreams were going to get stronger and more detailed. He was a little nervous about her seeing her death. He had no way of knowing if she had.
“What does that mean?”
“Have you not dreamed of the day you left Spire?”
“How did you know that?”
“Because I was there with you. Don’t you remember me?”
“It’s just a dream.” She was trying desperately not believe the truth.
“It isn’t just a dream, Athena. It really happened.” His voice almost sounded angry, but not quite. All the questions were aggravating. Her brain wasn’t understanding the truth of what he was saying.
“What do you mean?”
“You and I are Prins. We hail from a world called Spire. It is our sacred duty to hunt rouge demons and bring them back to the palace to face judgment. Your father is the ruler of Spire.” She wished his explanation made sense, but it didn’t. She was more confused now than before.
“You mean I’m evil?”
“We are really neither. We are like bounty hunters for the spiritual plain.” She looked at him to gage whether or not he was being serious.
“So what is my father then?” Darian looked at her closely. He wasn’t sure how the next statement was going to go.
“He is the leader of the Prins and overseer of all demons.” He said this without a flinch. She thought for sure he was joking, but he wasn’t laughing.
“My father is the devil?” Tears started rolling from her eyes as his words were finally able to sink into her head.
“In so many words.”
“Great.” Going from sobbing to anger in seconds, she stood and started to pace the floor.
“You aren’t evil, Athena. You are the most pure creature ever to be born in Spire. You were the first in nearly a thousand years to be born with white wings.” Darian wanted to tell her everything all at once, but he was afraid she would have a meltdown. She was already acting like the world was going to end.
She stopped dead in my tracks and spun to face him. “Wait. Wings? So that whole dream of me cutting them off and plunging out the window is real?”
“Unfortunately, it is.”
“It can’t be. My parents were Ed and Linda. They lived in Indiana. I am not a Prin. I’m human. There is absolutely nothing extraordinary about me!” She went back to pacing as it seemed to keep her nerves just below the boiling point. Darian got up and started pacing with her. He wasn’t sure what was going to make it alright for her.
“If you weren’t extraordinary you wouldn’t have survived the witch.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sent her to test you. I needed to know it was really you before I exposed myself.” He had stopped her right in front of him by grabbing her hands. He looked her right in the eyes. Her blue eyes were watering and turning red at the same time. He knew if she could see herself in the mirror she would know she wasn’t human. Red eyes in a Prin meant get back. They had to be incredibly angry for it change.
“So you tried to kill me?” She was stomping her feet and acting like a spoiled child.
“No. I asked her to test if you were still Prin. The purple smoke wouldn’t have killed you.” He stepped back from her. Her anger was radiating. The red was three quarters the expanse of her eyes. Darian only had a few more minutes before he wouldn’t be able to stop her.
“What would it have done?”
“I’m not entirely sure. She did tell me it wouldn’t kill you though.” He wasn’t sure it wouldn’t kill her, but he had to know for sure. He had to make sure all his many years of looking hadn’t been for nothing. She was ready to go back home. She had to be.
“Great. I took a killer to bed.” She dropped to the ground and buried her head in her knees.
“I would never hurt you, Athena.” He got up and knelt down beside her. He gently stroked her back as she cried uncontrollably. She was completely falling apart. His arms weren’t even enough to stop the onslaught. It was all just too much for her.
“I don’t know what to believe.” She turned her head and buried it in his chest. She was searching for the warmth and loved she required to get passed all this information. It was there. His heart was beating out a steady rhythm.
“Believe your heart.” He put his
arms around her tighter. He leaned in and smelled her hair. It was fresh like the dew on the flowers. He could feel her quivering.
She was still trying to process there were other beings on the planet. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and covered her with the blanket. He made the room dark and let her sleep. Once he knew she was soundly sleeping he grabbed his jeans and headed for the door. There were police officers in the parking lot. They were looking at the truck. Darian laughed a little in his throat. The guy looked devastated. He was actually crying while talking to the cops.
Darian jumped on his bike and headed to the house on the outskirts of town. It was a perfect farmhouse. It was his refuge when he needed a break from reality. His children had purchased this house years ago. They had long since passed on. They left to him when they died. He kept up the look of the house so he would have somewhere to go if he needed.
He walked up the stairs and packed a bag with a few essentials. He wouldn’t be staying with her long. They had to move soon. His presence in the area would only bring out the demons. They wanted to kill him. He used to fight constantly. He didn’t have the will to live. Now they would not survive. He would do anything to stay with Athena. Bag packed, he hopped on his bike and drove back to her apartment. The cops and the truck were gone. He moved her car to her spot and laughed all the way up the stairs.
She was sitting on the throne next to her father. He was angry. She sat nervously wondering what he was doing. Then she saw Darian. He was beaten and tied up. The guards drug him in and she fought to run to him. She was still not sure what her father knew.
“What have you to say for your misdeeds, Darian?” Father was stern and his tone warned of the seriousness of our offense.
“I have committed none.” Darian was as steadfast as her father. He would not be moved by anyone, not even a King.
“You deny knowing my daughter, Athena?”
“I don’t deny I know her.” Darian’s defiance was an inspiration.
“So you have slept with her?” The King was undeterred. I didn’t like the way this was going. I didn’t give him a chance to answer. I stepped down beside Darian.
“Yes he knows me. I gave myself to him many months ago.” She was trying to be defiant. She saw the feelings in her father were confused. He was angry and hurt.
“He is not of noble blood. You can’t have a relationship with him.” That was an edict from the King, not her father.
“But I love him.” Tears were flowing down her face like a river.
“I’m sorry, daughter. Darian, you are banned from Spire forever.”
“I can’t leave her!” Darian shouted as the guards dragged him away.
She woke up in Darian’s arms. She didn’t know if it was day or night. Darian had covered the windows up. She got up, walked over to the window, and pulled the curtains back to reveal sunshine. Then she looked at the clock on her dresser. It read five o’clock. She slept for over eight hours.
“Are you feeling better?” She heard him stretch out on the bed.
“I had another dream.” It wasn’t until just then that her nakedness was brought to her awareness. Grabbing the curtain, she tried to hide her body.
“You know that it is no use. I’ve already seen your naked body a hundred times. I love it.” He walked over to her and squeezed her body tightly. He nuzzled his stubbly face in the crook of her neck.
“No fair using your animal magnetism to distract me.” Laughing, he spun her around to face him. He kissed her passionately then handed me my robe.
“Are you going to tell me about this dream?” He walked over to the bed and grabbed his boxers. She didn’t know how she had gotten naked. Darian knew. When he returned from getting more clothing, he found her sweating. So he took off her clothes and then joined her in bed. He wasn’t about to tell her. It was more fun to let her think something went on.
“I dreamt about the day my father discovered us.” She put her robe on and headed toward the bathroom. She was ready for a shower. All that sweating last night was starting to bother her. He wasn’t sure what had made her so upset. The day he left was tragic, but it wasn’t that bad. Not from his view anyway.
“Ah. Well that explains the sweat on your brow. It wasn’t the best day.” He followed her and stood in the door.
“What did my father do to me after they took you?” She turned the water on in the shower and sat on the edge of the tub while it heated up.
“He erased your memories of me.” He stood there watching her for a moment. Her father had done the one thing Darian figured she would not be able to process this information. He had to come up with a plan to distract her.
“Can I join you?” Darian wanted her to feel better.
“Sure.”
She took her robe off and climbed in. Darian dropped his boxers and followed her in. He closed her frosted glass doors and stepped under the water. Her tub wasn’t huge, but they had enough room to maneuver around each other. She started to grab the shampoo when he stopped her.
“Let me.”
“Okay.”
He lathered up his hands and started massaging her head. The feeling was so fantastic that she couldn’t help but let out a moan. It had an immediate effect on him. His erection was now pressing firmly against her backside. His ability to get hard just by the sound of her voice was mesmerizing.
“Do you want me?” His voice was making her knees go weak.
“Yes.” Her body was a little shaky. It was begging for his touch.
He ran his hands quickly through her hair. His hands were putting pressure on her scalp. All she wanted was to feel him inside her again. He got most of the top rinsed out before he spoke again.
“Bend over.”
“Like this?” She bent over at the waist. She put her hands on the shower wall to brace herself. Darian licked his lips while looking at her luscious rear.
“Good, now spread your legs apart.”
She did what he asked. He ran his hand in between her legs just barely grazing the sensitive bits. His fingers were deft and found their target easily. He massaged and flicked gently making her lower half warm from the inside out.
“I see you are wet with anticipation.” His voice was seductive. It was deep and manly. Darian wanted her to know just how much he wanted her.
“Always.”
He stopped massaging her and gripped her hip with his right hand. He guided himself into her with his left. Barely teasing the opening at first, it didn’t take him long to thrust hard into her. She arched her back and cried out in pleasure. He slammed into her three more times before he grunted out her name. His hands stayed gripped tight to her hips for a minute after he released, then he massaged her lower back and buttocks. When he pulled out, she stood up. His arms wrapped around her and he fondled her breasts a little.
“We should probably finish washing.” He kissed her neck.
“Oh yeah, I forgot we were in the shower.” What that man could do in the shower was nothing short of mind blowing. They got out a few minutes later. He toweled her dry than himself. They went to the bedroom and laid down.
Darian wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her tight to his chest. This day had been a long one with lots of information. He knew she was going to need to sleep. It wouldn’t come as easily to him. The road ahead was going to be long and full of danger. He could handle it. He had an entire host of punished Prin he could call on. He worried whether or not the witch could really change her back. She hadn’t been a Prin for so long. It could be that she would be able to change back. He had to believe. His faith couldn’t waiver now.
CHAPTER THREE
When the sun came up again, Darian took off. He had gotten a few minutes of sleep. It was enough. He had to locate the witch. He had to know if she could actually help him. It was driving him today. He headed to the diner down the road for a little breakfast. He knew she was going to sleep for a while.
“Can I hel
p you sugar?” The waitress behind the counter was old enough to be his mother. He smiled at her. She was just being a southern friendly woman.
“Coffee, scrambled eggs and bacon, please.”
“Comin’ right up.”
Darian sat there for twenty minutes. He ate as slow as he could. The feeling started to brew in his stomach. He knew she was close. Witches were known for having demons around them. They sucked the energy. Whenever a witch or demon was close by Prin’s would get a butterfly feeling in the stomach.
He paid the bill and took off again. He found her just outside of town.
“Sheila.”
“Darian.”
“You need me again?” She was sitting on a log stirring a pot over an open flame.
“I will.”
“Do I get details this time?”
“No.” Darian paced back and forth. He hated to deal with witches, but this was a necessary evil.
“Then we will meet here in two days.” She threw a ball down and disappeared. He didn’t know why she always felt like making a production of leaving. He knew she would be right back there when he left.
He made his way back to the farmhouse. He looked through the pictures to center himself. He had children with a human many years ago. He had lost hope of ever finding Athena. Looking at the pictures he really didn’t have any regret. He had lost her scent. It seemed impossible to him. Then she was born in Indiana. He felt it the moment she arrived. Everything in his world shifted back. His children were dead and gone. Now he could live for her as he was meant too.
He went back to the apartment. The truck was back with brand new tires. He snickered. He knew the guy would be in with his woman. He slid easily underneath. The brake lines were too easy to cut. Darian couldn’t really escape his mischievous side. The times this man had been mean to Athena pushed him on. He smiled all the way to the apartment. He walked in to find her deep in sleep. It would be another day before she awoke. Her body and mind needed to be completely strong for her to survive the change. He knew that.