by Indra Frost
I knew Hairy didn't like me. He thought that the 'special treatment' Greg gave me was because the dick of a demon liked me. He didn't know about the contract that kept me bound to the vile man.
It was a contract that I wanted to break almost as much as I wanted Selasi dead.
"Anyway, I think a few more days with him will get me into the fights. He was already hinting at them before I left today."
I nodded. Hairy wasn't too bright, but he was vicious, and he had been taken out by a newbie in front of the entire gym. Even if Reed wasn't the one to beat him, he would take it out on anyone he could get his hands on. The fact that Reed beat Beth when he joined would be good enough for him.
I was honestly surprised he hadn't been given an engraved invitation. Especially after the insults Reed had thrown my way this morning.
"I'm sure as soon as Greg comes back and gives the go ahead, you'll be in." As soon as the words escaped my mouth I cringed, waiting for the pain to overwhelm me.
Instead of the expected pain though, I just got a mildly amused look from Clara. Worry hiding behind the small smile she sent my way.
"Right." I muttered, making a face.
I had forgotten where I was for a moment. That the brand wouldn't react and burn me from the inside out while I was here. The temptation to stay here until Greg was gone grew, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do that.
Greg would send someone for me, and I wouldn't do that to Clara. I knew she could handle whatever was thrown her way, but I wasn't going to intentionally put her in danger.
Not to mention that Selasi was still out there, hunting for me.
There was another knock on the door, and before anyone else could say a word, Ralph walked in, a bag of fast food in his hands. My mouth started to water at the smell, another sign that I had slept longer than usual.
I was used to going without food. The last meal I had eaten had been with the guys, and the day after that had been a blur of anxiety and fear.
"How long was I asleep?" I wasn't asking anyone in particular, I just wanted an answer.
"A few hours," Clara said vaguely as Ralph walked over holding the bag of food out to me.
I had a feeling it had been more than a few hours, but I wasn’t going to argue. This place was special, and though I hadn’t tested it extensively, I knew that time moved differently here. At least it seemed to move a little bit faster or slower on occasion. It was probably another spell that Clara used to mess with those that meant her harm.
I looked up at Ralph, smiling gratefully and taking the offered food. He smiled back, then walked over to press a kiss to Clara's cheek, walking back out the door without saying a word. I would need to talk to him before leaving. Maybe he would be willing to spar with me. It would be good to brush up on my skills with someone who could keep up with me.
Ralph was a vampire, so he was fast enough to contend with my half-breed self. It was fun when we were able to go full out, though it didn't happen very often. I wasn't able to come here as much as I’d like to.
Greg was horrible, and lately it had been worse. I wasn't sure what was going on with him, but I didn't like it. Aside from the fact that he took up all my time, I usually walked away from his 'tasks' injured and unable to do anything but rest. Getting in a good fight that I actually got to participate in would help me to calm down, and allow me to feel more in control of what was happening. Not to mention it would give me the illusion that I had a fighting chance of survival.
"Clara, I'd like to spar with him before leaving if that's alright?" I asked as I dug into the bag of food.
Ralph would be able to say no when I asked him, but I would need to get her permission to fight him here. It was easier if I could get her approval first.
"He would love that; it's been a long time since he's had a real fight."
I smiled, then paused as I shoved the burger into my mouth when something occurred to me. "Is this food a bribe?"
Clara smiled. "Maybe."
I shrugged it off, knowing that I would be getting what I wanted in the end anyway, but my shoulders brushed against both Jesse and Copeland. It was a reminder that I wasn't alone.
"He fights?" Walker indicated the door that Ralph had just walked through.
I snorted as Clara laughed. Walker looked between us and Copeland looked curious as well.
"Yes, he fights."
Clara didn't go into further detail and Walker sighed. Probably because he knew that was as much of an answer as he was going to get. Seems like they were already used to the way she talked in riddles. I'm glad I wasn't the only one that got fed up with it.
"So, you're going to get into the fights by the end of the week," I nodded at Reed. "And what about you?"
I turned in my seat practically laying against Jesse in my effort to look up into Copeland's face. I may have leaned back further than I needed to, as my thigh rubbed against Copeland's when I turned in the small space. He shrugged and looked down into my eyes, the lack of space between us making the moment almost intimate.
"We only needed to get one of us into the fights. If Reed is able to get in, then I can do some investigating with Walker upstairs while they're going on," Copeland looked at Walker who gave him a thumbs-up.
"And what about you? What is your part in all this?" I asked Blayze aware of how closely he had been watching me.
His gaze hadn't left my face since the mention of Hairy's mind control had come into the picture. His reaction made me think that he, too, knew the person behind the offense. Which could be good, or bad.
The trust between the hellhound and others in the room was a curious thing, but not my main concern at the moment.
"I'm only here to make sure that you help them, if I manage to help along the way, then that's all the better."
Something in his words rang false.
I saw Jesse frown and open his mouth, but Reed and Blayze both sent him a quieting look. He shut his mouth with a snap. The moment made me uncomfortable, but Jesse nodded with a frown, trusting them. That sent a confusing mix of emotions through me.
Out of everyone in this room, Jesse was the man I trusted the most. He was honest to a fault and he so clearly trusted the others that it made me question whether I should trust them too. But I knew they were hiding things from me. Like now, with whatever Blayze was really doing with them.
Instinct said I could trust them, but I wasn't sure I was ready to trust anyone.
"Anyway," I grumbled, ignoring the fact that they were being so obvious about keeping things from me. "What are you actually planning to do about Greg once you’re in the fights? You said you wanted to arrest him, but also mentioned the death penalty, so which is it?"
The guys exchanged looks again, not saying anything. I wasn't about to let that go, not with my life on the line.
"What are you going to do?" My voice was hard.
They needed to know how serious I was about this information. I wasn't going to let them move past it until I had an answer I was satisfied with.
Reed sat forward, placing his elbows on his knees as he looked at me. "If everything goes according to plan, we're going to place him under arrest. If it doesn't, we have permission to use deadly force."
The way he said it made me think that deadly force was the only option. I let that thought settle in. I knew that was the intent, but hearing it out loud only brought the thought of my own pending death closer.
I looked at Clara and found her looking down at the ground a look of concentration on her face. Her eyes, when she was finally able to meet mine, were infinitely sad. I closed my own with a nod, swallowing thickly.
It was one thing to know you were going to die. It was another thing completely to have it confirmed by one of the top authorities on the subject.
She didn’t claim her visions were perfect, but I had never known them to be wrong. And this time, I felt in my heart, that her vision was right.
"What's going on?" Jesse's voice startled me out of the p
ity party I was trying to throw myself.
The sound of his voice was enough to knock me back to my senses. But knowing I was going to die didn't change anything, and it only made it worse to dwell on it. Pretending everything was alright made it easier to do what needed to be done.
"It's nothing," I said, still avoiding his eyes.
"It's not nothing. You aren't telling us something." This time it was Walker who responded, his tone concerned, as he leaned forward around Copeland to look at my face.
"I don't think you have the right to talk to me about keeping secrets. It's none of your business, and it won’t affect this mission." I refused to tell them more.
I didn't want to take the chance that they would leave me out of their plans if they knew my life was at risk. I would die either way, but I was going to take Greg down with me. Maybe if I was the one to kill him, it would free my soul from the contract. Those odds weren't good, but I had to take them.
"But-"
"That's fine." Reed interrupted whatever Walker was going to say next.
"But Reed!" Walker turned to him, obviously upset.
"She’s right. We’re keeping things from her, too. If she says it isn't going to affect the mission, then I trust that it won’t." He looked at the others, but it was clear that he had made his decision, and whether they liked it or not they would have to deal with it.
Walker leaned back and folded his arms across his chest, not arguing, but wanting to. He almost seemed to be pouting as he sat there.
"You’re going to regret this," The wizard told Reed.
His voice wasn't more than a whisper, but the tone was different, dark. It sounded like someone else.
Reed looked at him, something like concern and fear entering his eyes before they switched to me. He looked like he was reconsidering trying to make me talk. I wouldn't, I didn’t want to tell them anything, but it would be amusing to see him try. At least it would be until he did something stupid. If they made a move against me, any chance they had at getting my help would disappear.
Walker seemed to shake his head, like he was just coming back to himself, and his hands shook as he tucked them under his thighs. Curious, I wondered what happened. But I wasn't going to ask. Asking them a question would mean they would expect the same in return.
Clara shook her head, looking for all the world like a disappointed mother as she surveyed the lot of us.
"We also need to discuss Selasi. After that, it’ll be time that you leave. It's not good to spend so long in a place like this, not when people are searching for you." Clara's words were meant for me.
She was talking about the multitude of people after me, and while I couldn't fault her, it still hurt to hear her say it.
I nodded. "Then let's talk about Selasi."
I turned to the others, and they all nodded pushing aside all their questions as we focused on the task at hand.
Yes, I was going to die, but I would take Greg and Selasi with me if it was the last thing I did.
“So, we’ve been told that he is earth side, but aside from what happened in the warehouse, we haven’t had any proof of that. Is he really that dangerous?”
“Yes,” it was Blayze that answered, and I met his eyes, feeling like we were on the same page for once.
A chill ran down my spine as memories tried to press forward, my anxiety spiking. I took a deep breath and forced myself back under control.
“He will probably have help,” I told them, not focusing on anyone in particular. “He likes to have lackeys to order around, so we can expect him to have at least a few others with him. Whether their demons or not I don’t know.”
Blayze nodded his agreement, and the fact that we seemed to be agreeing on this allowed the others to take it at face value. The tension in the room started to lower, though it wasn’t gone completely.
“So, what do you suggest we do?” Reed asked, looking between us.
He didn’t seem scared, and I wondered if that was because he didn’t understand the threat Selasi presented, or if it was because he was hiding what he felt, but I couldn’t say the same about myself.
Despite knowing where we were, it felt like he was coming closer, like he would be right around the corner if I were to peek my head outside the doorway.
He wouldn’t be of course, Clara had security measures in place that would detect him long before he got close enough, but the more people that were in this dimension when she relocated it, the longer it took, and the more power she had to use.
“Without knowing when he’s going to come, I’m not sure we can make a really great plan. The only thing we can do is pray that when he comes, we survive.” Blayze said, his voice as grim as I was feeling right now.
I can’t say I was feeling much better about our odds, but the air in the room seemed to get heavier once his words were out there.
“So, we play hide and seek with a demon and hope we win. Got it.” Walker said, breaking some of the tension.
“Hide and seek?” Jesse asked, looking to the wizard like he didn’t know what that game was.
Walker looked at him with wide eyes, and then made a sound of pity, “You poor strange man, what kind of child doesn’t play hide and seek?”
Jesse grumbled but didn’t respond, and the odd turn the conversation had taken almost made me laugh.
“Great, now Walker’s going to want to play.” Copeland muttered in a long-suffering tone.
I was so surprised to hear him speak that I looked at him and chuckled. He gave me a small smile, his fang briefly flashing before it faded away.
“Children,” Reed sighed, lifting his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.
Clara hummed her agreement, but she was also wearing a smile.
The tension had finally faded, and the argument of before seemed to have been forgotten for now. I couldn’t help but wonder what we were going to do, but I needed to focus on the positives for now.
Selasi was coming, there wasn’t anything I could do to stop that. And I would still need to deal with Greg, but for now, I was going to let myself take advantage of this time I had left to rest.
Lord knows I needed it.
We talked for a while longer before having to call it quits. We didn’t end up getting anything productive done, and had instead talked about inconsequential things and joked with each other. Copeland's wit seemed to almost match my own, and Reed could also be quite funny when he was trying.
Blayze was still his snarky self, but it felt like something had changed between us. The tension and borderline hatred seemed to have faded to general demon pettiness.
I know they were probably wondering why I was being so open now when I hadn't been earlier, but I was taking advantage of the fact that the brand couldn’t get in my way.
We did discuss Greg every once in a while, though nothing super deep. I told them about the fights but left out my part in them. I also let them know about his safe and some of the other things I knew he got up to. Some they had known about, others that they hadn't, but would look into.
Clara would put in her two cents every once in a while, but for the most part she sat and listened. She knew everything we were saying already anyways. Ralph had come in a couple hours ago and I had asked if he wanted to get his butt kicked before he could leave.
“Ha! I would love to see you try, pipsqueak!”
I smiled in response.
We may not fight very often but when we did it was all out. Clara used to tell me that watching us fight was both fascinating and frightening at once.
“I’ve never seen two people more intent on beating each other than you two.”
Ralph was one of the people who had helped to train me, of course I would want to be able to beat him. I wanted to prove to him, and myself, that I was worthy of the training he had given me. That I deserved the opportunity to live, even if my father didn't think so.
I don’t think Ralph ever thought anything of it, but it had meant the world to me when I
was younger. That someone was willing to spend more than the time it took to make a contract with me. That he was willing to teach me something, even if it was in return for a favor.
I thought of all Clara’s people as family at one point, but I knew it wasn’t smart to do so. Past experience had made sure that I didn’t trust easily. When I had overheard Clara talking to someone about me one night, I knew I was right not to trust her completely.
I can’t even remember exactly what she said, but it had cut me deeply. I wasn’t ever able to force those feelings away completely. I had started to hold them all at a distance, convincing myself that it was for the best.
Now that I knew Selasi was here, I knew I had made the right decision to stay away from them. Coming here was a stupid thing to do, even if it was out of concern. I could have led him directly to her. I hadn't been watching for a tail while running on blind fear. I'm not sure the guys had either, but the fact that he hadn't shown up yet was a good sign.
After talking for a little while longer I stood. The others followed my lead as I headed to the door. Walking into the main room, most of the Supes from before were gone. Only Clara and her staff were here to see the fight that was about to happen.
I looked at Ralph, meeting his eyes as he wrapped his hands.
“I’m not going to hold back,” It was both a warning for the match, and to let him know that I would be using my abilities.
When I was trying to survive before, I would make sure that I kept what I could do hidden. Kept it hidden and safe from those that would use it against me. There wasn’t a point to that now. I was going to die. As hard of a pill as it was to swallow, I was going to enjoy what would probably be my last spar with the man who meant so much to me.
It might seem odd to spend time fighting when death could literally be right around the corner, but Ralph and Clara, despite the fact that I put distance between us, were my family. Ralph was the man that taught me most of what I know, and I loved being able to spar with him. It was probably one of the only things I had that brought me joy. So, I was going to enjoy what could be some of my last days on this earth. And I would fight him full out.