by Con Template
I wrinkled my nose and tried to peer-pressure him into fixing my car. “Aren’t you an all-powerful Prince? Can’t you use your powers?”
My efforts earned another frown of disapproval from Eclipse.
“It’s better for us if I avoid using my powers on this trip,” he explained over the gushing wind that was whipping our clothes about. “My powers are already running low as it is. Not to mention, using one’s power has a tendency of leaving traces behind, even when they’re long gone. I don’t want to attract attention to us.” He assessed the dead road we were on. There was no civilization around us, only the rural countryside. “We don’t know what’s around us and we can’t be too careful.”
I blew out a tired breath, crestfallen that we couldn’t utilize his powers. What good was it to be a Demon if you couldn’t use your powers when you needed them?
“You’re saying you have absolutely no suggestion as to how we can fix this problem?”
“I actually do have an idea.”
My eyes ignited in premature happiness.
“Let’s put the car in neutral . . .”
“Uh huh,” I responded agreeably, my eyes wide and willing to help do anything to fix my car.
“Push it down the road . . .”
“Mm-hmm . . .”
“Shove it off the cliff and watch it crash and burn.”
My elatedness morphed into a scowl because I knew he was dead serious.
“I saw a sign for an inn a couple of miles back,” I supplied, now eager to get him away from my car as quickly as possible. The car sucked, but it was still my car. Since I had no more money left, I would very much like to salvage it if I could. This desire meant that I would have to get the hotheaded Demon away from my car. Knowing Eclipse, he would push my Rav4 off a cliff and watch it burn. “We can walk and try to find help there.”
“Let this be a life lesson for you, Gracie,” he told me moments later as he grabbed our backpacks. “This is what you get for choosing pretty shoes over a Ferrari.” He glowered before we began to pathetically trek down the road in the pouring rain like bums. “It’s like choosing your soul over my existence. It’s offensive, and in the end, all that you’ll be left with is a broken down car that will take you nowhere in life.”
I gave him a blank stare, excess rain blinking off my eyelashes. “Did you really just use that piece of crap analogy to try and convince me to give my soul to you?”
He grinned bashfully as he slung our two backpacks over one shoulder and wrapped a free arm around me.
“That was pretty stupid, wasn’t it?” he murmured sensually, playfully nipping his nose with mine and nearly causing me to go gaga for him. No matter how pissed he was at our situation, Eclipse would never fail to put the moves on me and leave me yearning for him.
“You’ll still be my friend even though I want your soul, right, Teacup?” he asked innocently, his sultry eyes staring deeply into mine.
Though entranced, I gave him a taste of his own medicine by innocently batting my lashes and asking, “You’ll still be my friend even if I won’t give my soul to you, right, Ashtray?”
Eclipse chuckled, gazing at the broken down Rav4 while clearly thinking about his pitiful new station in life.
“Damn,” he whistled, walking beside me in the stormy road. “Being your friend sucks.”
I sniffled, trying to hold back my emerging nosebleed and trying to resist his charms. How would I survive this friendship when all I wanted to do was get down and dirty with my friend?
Wiping my nosebleed away, I sulkily said, “Being yours sucks too.”
And on that lovely note, we continued to dejectedly slosh through the rain in search of the inn.
Unfortunately for both of us, being put out of our misery was the last thing that would happen once we reached this inn.
“Let calamity ravage over it then.”
02: Halo’s Inn
After walking down the road for what felt like an eternity in the pelting rain, we eventually found what we were looking for.
We read the wooden sign that hung from the awning of the building: Halo’s Inn.
The two-story inn was planted in the middle of an open green field, encased by a forest of trees. Decorative ivies and icicle lights hung from the inn’s yellow awning while its wooden sign creaked back and forth, as if summoning us forward. Halo’s Inn couldn’t have looked more inviting and warm. And at that freezing moment, warmth was all that mattered to us.
Eclipse and I sloshed through the puddle of mud with chattering teeth and proceeded towards the ocean of orange lights beaming from the entrance. The iciness of the evening vacated as soon as we stepped across the threshold of the inn. We moved into the warm foyer where there was a small check-in area. There was a group of three couples at the front counter, all soaked from the rain and all obviously seeking refuge from the storm.
As we waited in line to check in, my eyes traveled over the large room. There were comfy looking brown sofas in the foyer, a fireplace sizzling away, and scenic paintings adorning the crème colored walls. My gaze moved further behind the wooden counter. I smiled faintly when I spotted an elderly couple up front, doing the check-in. Well, actually, there was a nice, bald elderly man up front, doing the checking in while his wife, who had long gray hair and a very grumpy face, was watching some soap opera drama off to the side.
“Nice place,” I warmly commented to Eclipse before we approached the front desk.
The couples ahead of us grabbed their keys and were instantly whisked away by three bellboys who were already carrying their luggage.
“Hi,” I politely greeted once it was our turn. I beamed at the elderly man. He was gazing at me through his squared spectacles. He was wearing a gray vest and black pants, and he couldn’t have looked smaller or more approachable. “Our car broke down on the road. We were wondering if there’s a mechanic around the area who could take a look at it.”
“Oh, you poor dears,” the elderly man squeaked, motioning towards the group who were headed towards their rooms. The echoes of their squeaky shoes could be heard as they bounded up the stairs. “Their cars broke down on the road too. There’s no car shop around here for miles. Our youngest son is a mechanic, but he’s not back for another couple of hours. I could have our eldest son bring your car in, if you’d like. It might take a little while because there are three cars ahead of you.” He offered an apologetic smile. “It’s just our son working on them.”
Eclipse sighed, his face taut with regal displeasure. He didn’t like the answer he received and much like a King, he had no qualms about showcasing it. “There are no other mechanics in this town?”
“Eclipse,” I called when I saw the old man react as a servant would to his King: he began to freeze in terror. My eyes swiveled from him to the old man. Silently, I mouthed, “You’re scaring him.”
“I apologize,” Eclipse said politely to the nice old man, who was blinking in fear. “We’re in a hurry to meet her parents. It’s my first time meeting them and I do not want to make a bad impression by being late. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course, of course!” the man squeaked again, finding bravery within himself after Eclipse’s apology. “I’ll call him right away and tell him to hurry. I’ll also see if I can arrange for your car to be fixed first since it’s just the two of you and the other couples are traveling together anyway.”
Boom!
The deafening roar of thunder seized Eclipse’s attention. He turned, his watchful eyes accessing the stormy skies through the foyer window. I turned as well and noted that the storm outside had become more menacing. The rain had certainly picked up.
A light changed in Eclipse’s eyes. He seemed to have reconsidered his previous stance about being in a rush.
“What do you think?” he asked, redirecting his attention to me. “Should we stay here for the night?”
“The storm doesn’t seem to be letting up,” I observed, secretly pleased that the typical
ly hardheaded and arrogant Demon was genuinely asking for my opinion. I gauged the weather outside again. Despite how quaint the inn appeared, I honestly didn’t want to sleep here. There was something about it that perturbed me. Regardless, if it were between seeking refuge at the inn and braving the storm, I’d choose the inn any day. “I think we should stay the night. It’s safer.”
Eclipse nodded his concurrence. So against our own hesitancy—and because Eclipse and I were too chicken to brave the storm—we decided to stay for a night and wait for our car to be fixed. What other choice did we have?
“No, please tell your son to drive safely,” Eclipse said to the old man with a kind smile. “We shouldn’t be driving in this weather anyway. We’ll stay here tonight. Hopefully the car will be fixed by tomorrow morning.”
“We’ll make sure of it!” the man beamed, relieved that he was able to get some business out of us. I couldn’t imagine this inn receiving a lot of business during the year. It must be exciting for him to get some customers for the night.
While Eclipse spoke to the man about our room and told him where we had left our car, my eyes feathered over to the old lady. She was sitting so quietly behind the counter that I almost forgot she existed. My eyes traveled past her gray dress and cardigan and landed on the TV screen she was watching. I hid another smile when I noticed that she was watching Tears of the Rainbow—a popular drama that made everyone in the country (except me) cry when the main guy died from cancer and the main girl was left with amnesia, blinded, and all alone.
I laughed, finding hilarity in the fact that she was watching a passionate kissing scene shared between the two leads. Her wrinkly old face may have been taut with bitterness, but her eyes were proud.
“That’s a really good drama, isn’t it?” I asked, trying to make conversation with her while her husband and Eclipse were talking business.
Her blank, cat-like eyes evaluated me briefly. Finding no interest in me, she returned her focus to the television screen.
“Oh yeah, I really like that scene,” I went on babbling, “but I think it would’ve been better if the main actress showed more emotions. She’s kind of emotionless in that scene, don’t you think?”
“What do you know?!”
The glare and scream that came at me nearly had me keeling over from shock. In a huff of anger, the old woman turned off the TV, whispered a curse under her breath, and stomped off, causing her husband and Eclipse to turn to me quizzically.
With my face reddening like a tomato, I smiled tensely at them. I was utterly shocked by what had taken place. Was it something I said? I didn’t even say anything to personally offend her. I was simply dissing the actress’s acting abilities. Was she mad because Coco Cho was her favorite actress? I shook my head internally, completely at a loss. What was that old woman’s problem?
“I guess not everyone is in the palm of that pretty hand of yours, Gracie,” Eclipse mocked lightly. I could hear the smile in his voice. Of course he’d be entertained by my humiliation.
“Sorry about that,” said the nice old man. He grinned sheepishly, never losing his cheery mood, even though that bitter wife of his was probably cursing my existence somewhere in the back of the inn. “We had an arranged marriage. She’s been miserable with me ever since.”
Whoa, too much information, I thought awkwardly.
Eclipse and I feigned an understanding smile as the cheery old man went on, oblivious as to how uncomfortable we were.
“Please wait a moment while I get our son to help you.” He gestured at the young man who appeared around the corner wearing a white shirt and jeans. With black hair coiffed to perfection, he turned to us once he heard his father’s call. “San! Could you help show this nice couple to their room?”
“Yes, of course,” answered the son, walking over to us right away. He stepped forward, already going for the backpacks we had placed on the carpet. “Here, let me help you with that.” San grabbed the key to our room and then motioned his head towards the stairs. “If you’ll follow me up the stairs, I’ll show you directly to your room.”
“Thank you,” I uttered while Eclipse nodded cordially at him.
“You’re welcome,” San said with a warm smile as he ascended the stairs. “I do apologize for the wait,” he continued politely, making a right turn onto the landing. He herded us further down the dimly lit hall. “I couldn’t help but overhear about your car troubles. In this storm, nearly every piece of machinery betrays you. We rarely get visitors, so needless to say, my parents are very excited.”
“Well, we’re lucky to be able to stay at a nice place like this and not some run-down motel,” I replied pleasantly, coming to a stop once we reached our room.
“We can take it from here,” Eclipse graciously dismissed, taking the backpacks from him and handing him a tip. “Thank you for all your help.”
San flashed us a big smile. “No problem. Have a good evening. We’ll be sure to get your car fixed by morning.”
And with a cordial bow, he left as Eclipse and I unlocked the door to our room.
The room we walked into was very picturesque and homey. There was a large bed in the center of the spacious room, a white vanity shelf, an office desk, and a big screen TV that faced the white bed. For an inn in the middle of nowhere, I was very impressed.
We wearily set our bags down on the bed and went to stand in front of the window. We had a view of the green grass and the forest of trees that circled the establishment. Streaks of water swam across the window as the trees danced from the powerful wind. Apart from the muffled and happy chattering of our neighbors in the next room, I would go as far as saying that the room was peaceful. Nonetheless, it would be a fib on my part if I were to say that the inn didn’t make me feel more and more uncomfortable by the second.
“This inn looks like the ones from those scary movies you forced me to watch with the kids at Sanctuary,” Eclipse commented casually, saying exactly what was on my mind.
“It is creepy, isn’t it?” I pounced, relieved that he felt the same way.
He nodded seriously. His grave brown eyes would’ve been effective in scaring me if he hadn’t inappropriately added, “I should shower with you in case anything shady happens in here.”
I snorted, glowering at him with hardened eyes. I couldn’t believe him. How could he continue to hit on me when we were here on official business?
“I don’t think so, Ashtray,” I rejected firmly, crossing my arms over my chest in defensiveness.
“Why not?” he asked, innocently staring at me as I moved towards the bed to take out my books to study.
“Nothing is as dangerous as you naked and showering with me,” I wanted to tell him. Instead, I simply said, “How about you just shower first?”
Eclipse bounced his head with a laugh. With a tender smile, he swept past me. Just when I thought he was about to walk into the shower, he stopped and brought his lips to my ears.
“I suppose the one good thing about being stuck in the middle of nowhere is being able to spend some romantic and quality time with you. Try to finish studying so we can have some extra fun tonight, Teacup.”
I gasped, staring at him wide-eyed. His sexual innuendo—or in this case promise—did not elude me. The sexy Demon gave me a charismatic wink, and I didn’t know whether or not he was joking.
Without giving me time to respond, he grabbed a white towel and went into the bathroom.
“I’ll leave the door halfway open,” he announced carelessly, taking off his shirt and revealing his naked upper body. “You know . . . in case you need me.”
I nearly flat-lined when my unyielding attention went to the hard muscle ridges that made up his incredible abdomen. My gaze fixed on that and the tapered V muscle that peeked slightly above the hem of his pants before disappearing beneath the denim fabric. The sinful sight made my mind wonder how glorious the rest of him would look. It took everything inside me to whip my eyes away from the live porn show in front of me. Hon
estly, how could a single creature be this mind-bogglingly sexy?
I gulped stupidly, feeling hot all over. “Okay,” was all I managed to say.
He nodded back with a lazy and breathtaking smile.
Then, I nearly squeaked out loud when I saw his hands reach for his pants. Luckily—or unluckily—he moved out of my vantage point as he took them off, effectively jarring me out of my perverted state.
“Get it together, you perv,” I scolded myself.
I sat on the bed and began to busy myself with studying. While Eclipse indulged in his warm bath, I tried to focus on studying as I munched on my chips. Sadly, I found myself unable to concentrate. My mind was too congested from the storm, our screwed up car, and my own sexual frustration. Stressed out, I kept eating and eating. I only stopped when I realized that I had emptied our two water bottles. The only water bottle left was the one in my backpack. Considering what I needed it for, I definitely couldn’t drink that.
Extremely parched, I hesitantly advanced towards the bathroom to tell Eclipse that I was going to quickly run outside to get some soda. I stepped in past the steam and looked over to the bathtub. I made sure to keep my gaze solidified on his face and not his naked body.
“Eclipse?” I called through the fog of steam.
I received no response.
I walked closer, wondering why he was so quiet. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw him lying there, his arms hanging listlessly over the bathtub—like a dead person.
“Oh my God!”
Panic struck me like a lightning bolt.
I rushed to him, ready to slap him back to consciousness when I heard him murmur something unintelligible before readjusting himself over the tub. My pounding heart slowed when I registered that he was only sleeping. He’s fine, I thought in relief. Thankful that he wasn’t dead—and now amused with what he was doing—I smiled at the image of my Guardian Demon napping in the bathtub. He resembled an Angel sleeping there soundly, his powerfully built body much too big for the puny bathtub.