by Claire Marta
Taking a black shirt that hung from the corner of a chair, he shoved his arms into it and with nimble fingers buttoned it up securely.
Raking his hands through his knotted strands, he scanned the room. It was such a mess. He was going to have to clean up. A shower was a must and something that couldn’t wait.
Check his laptop, the screen was still red with an unsuccessful search. Twitch knew these things took time, but he wanted results. Finding his cousin’s birth parents who were part of his family was now a mission. His Grandfather was also eager to know what he learnt. So far it was nothing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the photo frame he had hanging over his desk. The large ornate frame was crammed with photographs. It was something new. Jasmine had been given a collection of them when they had visited his home some weeks back. Their family who she had not known anything about, had wanted her to have them. Now frames similar to this one hung in several places throughout the house.
Twitch’s gaze settled on the worn photo of two children. They looked the mirror image of each other. Two halves. Twins. Pain tightened in his gut as he stared at his sister. She had fallen to a darkness much like the Demon Lord they had met last night. A darkness he could feel sleeping within him. Last night he had given into it. For one brief moment, he had allowed it to take him over. Melancholy wove itself over his good mood. Looking down at his scarred hands, he could hardly believe that Lexi had found him so desirable. Maybe she had done it out of pity? The niggling doubt took hold.
Kicking the pile of clothes by his feet out of the way, he stomped bare foot towards the door. He needed to talk to Zook and Nelly. They seemed to understand what was going on and if they could shed light on what was happening to him then he wanted to know. But first he needed a shower.
Wagging its tail, the dog trotted after him.
Fifteen minutes later, refreshed, cleaned, and in new attire, Twitch left the steamy confines of the bathroom. He felt invigorated and ready to face the world.
The house lay in silence. It was familiar and comfortable. A small spark of static electricity crackled across the ceiling. Ears picking up, the Pomeranian whined.
“You were all teeth last night.” Twitch pointed out as he glanced at it with amusement. “And after what we both witnessed you’re going to let a stray wisp of magic scare the crap out of you now?”
His magic lay within the very fabric of the building. This was quite normal for his kind. Magical wielders naturally left some of their power when they lived in one place for so long. It was if the space became a reflection of its owner. A mirror to their soul. Sometimes it could even become a living entity.
Taking the steps two at a time he descended the stairs. Someone had drawn back the curtains in the rooms below. Afternoon sunlight was flooding onto the wooden floor of the hallway.
“I’m getting tired, Zook.” Nelly’s voice filtered through the kitchen door which stood ajar. “This body can’t last much longer. Not with the force of what I really am. We both know that.”
“Then I will find a way so it will.” Zook’s reply was determined.
Stopping on the last step, Twitch paused to listen. Paws tapping on the wood, the mutt sniffed its way along the hall.
“Have you ever taken a minute to consider that I might not want to continue? That maybe it is time I let go.”
“Nell, you can’t leave me. I won’t let you.” A chair scraped across the tiles of the kitchen floor.
Nelly audibly sighed. “That’s not your decision to make, now is it?”
“Where you go, I will follow.”
“Now you’re being stubborn.” She huffed back.
“Listen up, woman, I am not going to let you fade away.” Zook’s voice dropped to a fierce mutter. “Don’t even think, for a second, I won’t go after you and drag your arse back to the earthly plain kicking and screaming.”
With a yap, the dog scratched at the door. A second later it swung open as Zook stuck his head out to let it in.
“Your cousin, Jasmine, left for the day.” He informed Twitch as he noticed him standing awkwardly on the stairs. “She said she would see you later.”
“You look better.” Twitch told him as he hopped off the last step. The make shift bandage was no longer duck taped across his thigh. The rip in his leather trousers revealed smooth muscled skin.
“Yeah, all healed up. Just took a while.” Stepping aside, Zook let him into the kitchen. “That always happens when I tamper with luck. The fates hate me tweaking their work, so I end up with a rash of bad luck afterwards, courtesy of those bitches.” Heading for the fridge, he threw it open and rummaged through the contents.
Nelly was sitting at the kitchen table. Spoon in hand, it looked like she was in the middle of a late breakfast. “We need to start your training,” she told Twitch before spooning cereal into her mouth.
“Training?”
He was still trying to work through Zook’s comment about the fates. With lack of food and sleep, nothing was making sense.
His friend turned with his arms piled high of food. He had so much stuff he was having a hard time keeping hold of it. Scampering about with eagerness, the fluffy Pomeranian jumped around his feet.
“You planning to eat me out of house and home?” Twitch asked dryly.
“I’m hungry.” Zook said with a snort. Carrying his bounty, he laid it out across a work surface. “We saved your arse last night. This is a good way to repay me.”
“You’re training as a Guardian,” Nelly continued, ignoring the other male. “You’re destined to be one of us, Twitch. It’s time for you to embrace your new powers and join our ranks.”
“I have a job already, thanks.” Plopping down into a chair, Twitch swept some messy hair from his eyes. It was starting to get annoying. Maybe it was time he got it trimmed.
“This is your calling. There is no escaping it and you will need it wherever you go.”
Scrunching his nose up, he cast the old woman a serious look. “You’re like superheroes, right?”
“I told you before we keep the balance.” Her sharp hazel gaze moved to her partner’s back. He was busily cracking eggs into a frying pan. “These things don’t just happen. They always need someone to give them a nudge.”
“It’s too bloody early for cryptic shit. What happened in Brighton? That’s something to do with balance, isn’t it?” The smell of bacon cooking filled the air, distracting Twitch. Sitting patiently at Zook’s feet, the dog sat staring up at him. Waving its paw expectantly, it hungrily licked it’s black button nose.
“For the future, yes.” Zook confirmed, not bothering to turn from his task. “Way in the future.”
“You’re still not making any sense.” Twitch sighed in irritation. He was hungry, tired and needed some straight answers. “I’m more worried about those demonic school kids coming after Lexi again.”
“Look, we have to train you that’s all you need to understand.” Sliding food onto two plates, his friend switched off the cooker. “If they try to get into the city we will know, but that won’t happen. Celion would never risk riling Asier they are already in a state of stale mate neither wants to tip over.” Collecting the dishes, the cursed God strode to the table and placed one in front of him. The aroma of bacon and eggs made Twitch’s stomach rumble.
“I have things to do. I have to trace Jazzy’s parents.” He protested as Zook gathered some cutlery from a drawer. Dropping the knives and forks beside his plate, Zook fished out his dice from his trouser pocket. The odd runes gleamed in the sunlight with his silver rings. Archaic magic Twitch had sensed the night before awoke as his friend curled his fingers around them. Shaking them in his hand, he let them fall. Zook frowned down at them. “You aren’t going to find anything today, not for a while, in fact.”
Peering at them, Twitch wondered what his friend saw. “I am so glad your Christmas cracker prizes could clear that up for me.”
Across from them, Nelly snickered.
Her slim shoulders shook ever so softly as she glanced their way.
“I will have you know these were hand crafted by another God,” Zook told him indignantly, as he lifted the dice. “They’re priceless.”
“You’ve been touched by darkness. It has marked your soul. This means you can go either way.”
Nelly’s abrupt words sent a chill through Twitch. “You mean I could turn to the dark side?”
“Yes, my boy. That is why you need us.”
A whine drew everyone’s attention. The dog was up on its haunches begging to be fed.
“Have you named this thing, yet?” Zook asked as he gave it a scrap of bacon. Small jaws clamped down on the morsel. It scurried to stand by Twitch’s chair.
“All that’s coming to me at the moment is Little Shit,” he replied, reaching a hand down to pet its brown fur. His attempt at affection was greeted with the snap of its sharp teeth. Yanking his hand back, he glared down at it.
“It’s a mean, tiny, flea bag.” Zook chuckled before forking some food into his mouth.
“He’s frightened and needs time to learn to trust. That’s all.” Nelly scolded. “And you can’t name it Little Shit. How about Fang as he likes to bite?”
Ignoring the beast, Twitch picked up his cutlery. “Fine. But I don’t even know if I’m going to keep him.”
“Why not? He’ll make an excellent guard dog.” Idly, the old woman stirred the contents of her bowl.
“Yeah, Fang can chew the burglar’s ankles off when they break in.” Zook pointed out as they watched him cock his leg and take a pee on the kitchen floor.
“We’ve been looking for you, Pet. Where have you been?”
Kane’s voice behind her made her jump. She’d been in the middle of daydreaming about Twitch. They had spent the night fucking each other’s brains out. For a virgin, he sure had a lot of kinky stuff hidden away in his room. Any worries she’d had about him not wanting to experiment with sex had vanished. He was a fast learner. She was worried she had drained him far too much. His sexual energy was potent and she’d fed well. Better than she ever had before. For all his loathing of his ruined body, Lexi had found nothing wrong with him. Not one inch. Twitch was beautiful inside and out.
So much so, that she was itching to draw him and bring what she could see to life on paper.
“None of your business,” Lexi replied, turning to meet Kane’s assessing gaze. They were alone. The rest of the evening staff were already out in the club working.
She had decided to pretend yesterday’s seaside trip had not happen. Sleeping through most of the day with Twitch had not given her time to return to her flat to change. She didn’t want to come in, but she had no choice. Asier would look for her if she skipped her shift. He always did.
Hoping to avoid both vampires, she had taken the back door to the staff locker room where she kept a spare outfit.
Head tilted to the side, Kane was staring at her clothes. He had seen her in them the night before. From the cold look he was giving her, he’d worked out she hadn’t returned home.
Lexi could barely look at him. Did he know? Was that why he called her Pet? Because he and Asier viewed her as one? Was everything Asier told her a lie? Was her life a lie? Was she destined to turn out like those children in Brighton? Cruel heartless monsters with no warmth or empathy? She had always been confident knowing she was loved by her father, but doubt had seeded itself into her mind. Lexi no longer knew what she was to Asier. And it was terrifying.
“Oh it’s my business.” Pushing his hip off the door he’d been leaning against, Kane stalked towards her. “You’re going to be mine soon; spread out on my bed and mine for the taking. I can’t wait to suck on those titties of yours. Maybe I'll get them pierced.”
“That’s never going to happen,” Lexi responded fiercely. Nervously, she crossed her arms over her breasts.
Kane’s deep laughter rumbled around them. “It’s only a matter of time. Asier will get bored of playing Daddy eventually. You aren’t his little girl who used to sit on his knee any more.”
Panic washed over her. If what Celion had said was true then Asier would kill her if he discovered who her birth father was. She had witnessed his ruthlessness, seen it first-hand. Imagining his cruelty turned on her made her quiver with fear. He would show no mercy. The male she had loved like a father would become a cold killer.
“Where have you been?”
Spinning around at the sharpness of the accented voice, Lexi found herself face to face with the male in question. Asier stood, watching her with an intensity she now found unnerving. Something that had never bothered her before, but now…
Bare chested, sweat glistened over his skin. Below his left pec, the green scales of his snake ouroboros tattoo shimmered with the sheen it left. Standing tall, he clutched a whip in one hand and a leash in the other. A naked female attached to the leash by a leather collar had her head bowed submissively. Cat shifter. One he had played with before. It looked like he had just come from one of his play rooms after a session.
Lexi’s succubus senses detected the scent of sex still on him. Attention skipping to the smooth olive skin of his forearm, she stared at the tribal tattoo he wore there. A demonic face leered back at her with its tongue poking out. Was that her contract?
“Wi..with the mage as you requested me,” she explained quickly.
Asier grasped her chin. Forcing her head up, she knew it was an order to meet his gaze. “What is going on, Lexi?”
“I was on a date with Twitch.” Lexi rushed out, resisting the urge to jerk away at his touch. “I spent the evening and day at his place.” It wasn’t the whole truth. Too many questions would be asked if he ever knew she had been kidnapped and taken to Brighton. This was better.
“A date?” Asier said the words as if it was something unpleasant. Tilting his head to the side, his long, silky hair rippled around his shoulders with the movement.
“Yes.” Flinching, Lexi struggled to meet his stare.
“I told you to distract him, not date him.” His tone was harsh.
Kane snickered. He had a look of amusement plastered on his face as if he was enjoying watching her squirm. “Looks like she banged him good and hard as well.”
“I don’t want you seeing him again.” The Master vampire continued, ignoring his second in commands words.
“Why?” Her attention snapped back up to meet his. The thought of not seeing Twitch again sent a twinge of discomfort through her chest.
“Leave us, Kane. Vai.” Handing the titan male the leash to his plaything, he nudged his chin towards the door.
Kane grinned, accepting it. He looked like a kid who had just been handed an early Christmas present. The shifter on the other hand looked far from pleased. Panic flashed on her face as she could no nothing but follow him as he tugged her along.
“Lexi, you are a succubus. If you feed from the same human male for too long you will drain them of their life force. They will become sick and eventually die.” The Master vampire explained the moment they were alone. His eyes softened as he looked down at her. “Why do you think I let you have the pick of the club? To keep it varied.”
“Twitch is a magic wielder. He isn’t human,” she protested. Wrapping her arms around her body, the discomfort turned into an ache.
“Si, but even their life spans are extended only by a few hundred years. They are not immortal.” Concern washed over Asier’s angelic features as he read her body language. “You are a baby, young and yet to come into your full powers, but it is still dangerous, capisci?”
“Why did my mother leave me with you?” The words blurted out before she could stop to consider the consequences.
Asier became still. For a moment, his gaze probed hers. “Why all the questions, amore?”
“I’m...just curious.” Lexi’s voice had dropped to a whisper as fear travelled up her spine. The vampire was far too intelligent not to wonder why she had asked. “We’ve never talked about it.”
Seconds ticked by as they stared at each other. Keeping her expression casual, Lexi tried to hide what she now knew. Asier’s body language was closed off, but she could still see his mind working behind his amethyst eyes.
“You look tired.” He stated, ignoring her questions. “Go home. Rest. Someone else can cover your shift tonight.”
“Ok.” Lexi knew better than to argue. He was right. She was tired. She’d kept Twitch up all night showing him different ways she could pleasure his body. What she needed to do was sleep. Maybe tomorrow she could figure out what she would do. Because life was no longer the same.
The warmth of the April sun gave a summer vibe to the laid back atmosphere in Covent Garden. As ever, the place was busy.
Twitch checked his phone for the millionth time. Finding a message, a goofy grin spread across his face. The day Lexi had left his house she had texted him that same evening. Since then, they had sent texts back and forth every hour for the last few days. Work had kept her away. Twitch had feared she didn’t want to see him again, but once she explained her schedule, he understood why she was tied up. He wanted to be with her. Desperately. It was an impulse. One he was unaccustomed to. Their paths had crossed for a purpose. He was more than sure of this now. Felt it in his bones. How was it possible to feel like you needed someone within days of meeting them? As if your very existence stuttered to a halt whenever they weren’t there? It was absurd. Ridiculous. But he could not deny how he felt. And it was not all about sex. Twitch wanted to get to know her better. Discover what made her smile.
“Twitch, are you paying attention?” Head snapping up at Nelly’s sharp tone, he shifted his butt nervously on the metal bench. Without a word, he guiltily shoved his phone away in the pocket of his black pack.
Sitting primly on her rickety wooden cart, her long, stained wedding dress puddled around her feet. Only small patches of ivory hinted at the original colour. Now grey over time, the tiny handmade flowers gracing the bottom were damaged and falling away.
“Nelly.” Twitch’s voice was curious. “I was thinking maybe we could buy you a new dress. Something less….weddingly...unless you want a new one?”