The Beloved Fire

by Chelsii Klein

  Ander regained consciousness staring down at a red tile floor, he could tell he was hanging by his wrists, but as he tried to lift his head up to see his surroundings a sharp pain struck him in the back making him scream out in pain and drop his head back down, giving up in his attempt to look around. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been like this, or where he was, but he had a feeling the pain must have come from either the position his neck was in or from one of his wings. He tried stretching them but only his left wing moved, and another sharp pain hit his back, now clearly coming from his right wing. After suffering through the pain Ander finally forced his head up getting his first look at his prison, which was a black stoned mid evil prison chamber with just a single torch lit near a barred door.

  Ander looked to see a black braided rope, which felt like plastic, was suspending him. He needed to escape, he looked back to see his right wing broken and hanging in a crooked position on his back, clear iridescent blood was dried and crusted amongst his feathers. Using all the strength he could gather he took drew a deep breath, tightening his muscles and pulling downward as hard as he could to break the ropes; only the ropes didn’t break, they got tighter. Ander screamed out in frustration giving up in his attempt. How was he supposed to get out of here?

  It wasn’t until an evil familiar laugh pierced over his grunts of frustration that Ander quieted and noticed for the first time since he’d been conscious that he wasn’t alone. James walked out slowly from the shadows, his wings contracted back in his skin and he wore light wash jeans and a black tee, his blonde hair was speckled with red blood making Ander wonder who he had killed recently.

  James paused after a few steps only enough to reveal himself but before he could say anything Ander asked the first thing on his mind. “Why are you doing this? I thought you cared about Mikayla!”

  James chuckled putting his hands behind his back and pacing the space in front of Ander. “We’ve already been through this; I do care about her that is why I’m doing this. This is what needs to happen in order to save her. Oh man, you know for being her guardian angel you don’t seem to be willing to give up your life that easily for her.”

  Ander grunted out again in frustration, writhing under the tightening black rope feeling a temporary rage. He quickly stopped his anger and took a deep breath calming himself, it was the only thing that separated himself from mortals, or demons. He was created for peace and he needed to maintain his calm, peaceful demeanor to be allowed to take in and live amongst the crown in heavens glory. He would not allow James a creature created, and in battle constantly with himself to ever break his heavenly vows. Ander was a son of the almighty.

  James continued to pace while watching him in amusement. “What, do you give up already?”

  Ander took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “How is capturing Mikayla’s guardian angel going to help save her?”

  James paused his pacing and looked at Ander from the corner of his eye before fully turning and walking towards him. He had an irritating smug look on his face as he approached making it hard for Ander not to wish to break his jaw.

  “You are not saving her, I am, and I’m getting the credit for this! I’m going to get credit on both sides! Just wait…you’ll see.” James yelled out before calming his voice. He sounded crazy.

  James reached out before Ander could shift away, pulling a feather from Anders broken wing. Ander didn’t even have time to hold in the scream that broke out from the intense pain of his feather being plucked and the jolt that moved his broken bones.

  James turned tossing the feather on the ground on his way out, laughing as he slammed the barred door shut and disappeared into the darkness. Ander never thought he’d be captured by the dark side; his job was always to die fighting not to be left alive in a prison. In situations for backup he could always send a silent message to Gabriel, but he didn’t want to get anyone else involved in this, so instead he hung his head back down, closed his eyes, and thought of Mikayla’s smiling face as a frustrated tear trailed down his cheek.

  15

  Fighting

  Alexis waited patiently in front of the huge dining room doors for Mikayla to catch up.

  She had come knocking on Mikayla’s bedroom door just as the twins finished getting her ready. Cain had dressed her in a body tight black dress that trailed on the floor behind her, and silver high heels that were just as tall as all the other ones they made her wear. Elijah had pinned one side of her hair back away from her face, the rest laid in loose curls over her shoulder. She had a classic, sexy and vintage feel that she loved. They pushed her out the door, whispering for her to stay calm and the plan would work. She scoffed but sucked up her attitude when she saw Alexis’ cute smiling face.

  Alexis had on an adorable white dress that flared out, a pale pink ribbon around her middle that tied in the back with a bow. She had a cute matching ribbon in her hair. For as cute as she looked, it still didn’t stave off the temporary dread Mikayla felt when thinking how the night could go wrong. What if something happened to her?

  When Mikayla asked Alexis if she was ready for the night, Alexis gave her a confused little look and said she guessed. It was clear that the twins hadn’t told her she was a distraction. How would they use Alexis? The question made her arms itch as she followed Alexis’ skipping, humming self to the dining room.

  Zoning back into the present, Mikayla was just getting ready to ask if Alexis was ready to go in when both doors opened on their own, welcoming their presence.

  Well, ready or not, they were here now.

  Alexis happily skipped inside, and Mikayla wondered how that girl could be so happy. She seemed to be the only one her age, wouldn’t that be lonely?

  A gloved hand tapped Mikayla’s left shoulder breaking her stare from Alexis and she turned to see one of the waiters holding a tray of champagne. The tray was silver, adorned with crystals hanging off the end that matched the chandeliers, it was almost enough to make her laugh. Who would have thought hell would be so fancy? She took a flute of the bubbly drink and walked off heading for Blake and Anock. She couldn’t see Cain or Elijah, or she would have headed over to them first, it was nerve wracking to think what could happen.

  Approaching the men, they both seemed to be locked in a heated discussion. She walked up between them noticing Blake’s eyes looked green, and Anock frowning deeply with clenched fists. Blake noticed her first, cleared his throat and looked over to her, breaking Anock’s rant. They both looked in awe when they saw her. Too bad she couldn’t have been sneakier on her approach, to see what they had been talking about. Every time she saw them alone, they seemed to be arguing about something.

  Anock took Mikayla’s hand kissing the back of it gently before letting it rest at her side.

  “You look breathtaking my love.”

  “Thank you.” She said just as a loud clatter of a tray hit the floor followed by the shattering of champagne glasses. Mikayla turned to see Alexis backing away from the shattered tray of glasses with her hands over her mouth, eyes wide in fear. Before even Anock could react one of the dinner guests, who Mikayla had never seen, with champagne spilled on her started in on Alexis.

  “Why you little shit!”

  The lady had long black hair that curled slightly at the ends right underneath her boobs. She had a shiny silver dress on, mermaid style with a split open chest that closed right above her belly button. Her skin was paper white making her red lips almost too bright for the look.

  Mikayla shoved her champagne glass into Blake’s hands and started walking before she could even stop herself, heading over to defend Alexis. She didn’t make it in time before the lady reached out grabbing Alexis up by the throat, squeezing hard as the little girl started to turn purple. The shaking started before the heat did and Mikayla knew her rage this time was going to be bad. The twins said she wouldn’t get hurt, and yet she was. How had she been so stupid to believe demons wouldn’t lie to her?

  The lady noticing Mikay
la quickly approaching, laughed a demonic laugh while holding Alexis up higher in the air. Her little legs kicked frantically while all the bystanders stood by, and shockingly, laughed. “And what are you here for? To protect the bastard angel?”

  That was all it took.

  She faintly heard Anock yelling, “FELLEN STOP!” It was ignored though.

  Mikayla let all her pent-up energy out, tightening her hands into fists and letting out a scream that shattered the champagne glasses around the room. Heat rose to an extreme as fire burst out from the floor in an odd blobbed shape around her. She didn’t know whose powers she was stealing, nor did she care.

  She would make Fellen pay.

  Seeing Mikayla’s reaction Fellen threw Alexis down backing up quickly to get away but Mikayla only walked forward faster, slightly noticing the fire that trailed at her sides. She heard Anock’s voice again which brought a sudden thought. Why hadn’t Anock helped his little girl? Just as she turned her head to see Anock approaching she felt a sharp pain fill her head at the same time Anock gasped out in pain and dropped to his knees on the floor grabbing his head.

  Mikayla wasn’t sure where the ideas were coming from, but death was the only thing she wanted for this child abuser and felt the idea leaving her head before she could even stop it.

  It wasn’t until the woman walked to the dinner table, grabbed a butcher knife and stabbed herself three times in the stomach and then slit her own throat that Mikayla knew she had controlled the woman through Anock’s powers.

  Just as Fellen dropped to the floor leaking a black sticky fluid everywhere, the fire vanished along with the pain in Mikayla’s head and she couldn’t help but let out a small laugh of pleasure and craze, right before her knees gave out and she was tackled to the floor.

  Mikayla shifted her head breathing in a woodsy smell. Something crunched slightly under her head as she started to drift back to sleep, but the memories of what happened blasted images into the forefront of her mind waking her.

  Her eyes flew open and she blinked, confused to be staring at a tree trunk. She was on her back, shifting her head to look up, tree branches intertwined above her showcasing a star filled sky. Sitting up she felt a paper like texture and looked down seeing leaves crunch under the weight of her hands. She was in a sheer black nightgown similar to the white one she wore when she was with James on the beach.

  Now it became clear, she was dreaming.

  “How do you feel?”

  She snapped her head to the left seeing Blake leaned up against a tree. His blue eyes flashed purple for a second, the color that reminded her of their bathroom hookup. As if on que her heart fluttered, and her body flushed. Tearing her eyes from his to distract herself she looked down and saw he was still in his suit from dinner, with the tie loosened and hanging casually. More than just the first few buttons were undone to his white undershirt and his tan smooth skin showed.

  She stood, looking away and started picking the leaves from her hair even though she could feel his burning stare still focused on her. When she tried to shift her train of thought she immediately remembered everything that happened in the dining room, she stopped her attempt to pick out leaves and stepped back slowly on bare feet raising her hands to her mouth, as her heart squeezed.

  She killed someone.

  Maybe not someone, a demon, but Mikayla was still the cause. Images of the woman’s, Fellen’s, shocked face ran through her mind. It was like Mikayla was still right there in front of her as blood dripped from her open lips and down her chest from her slit throat, as the obnoxious laughter of everyone around them continued. She shivered. The memory haunting her nerves.

  “Hey.” Blake said stepping forward, concern clear in his voice.

  “Don’t.” She said throwing up a hand and taking another step back. Shame and hurt filled her.

  “Stop that.” He said coming closer. She stared at him watching as his eyes turned brown. “Stop, I know you’re starting to freak out about Fellen’s death, but that’s not why we’re here.”

  “Oh I’m sorry I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to feel like a monster after killing someone!” She snapped before taking a calming breath. “I just wanted her to stop hurting Alex. I hadn’t meant to kill her.”

  His only reaction was to raise an eyebrow and run a hand threw his hair, loosening it from its gelled back style. “Are you finished? We don’t have a lot of time. I’ve entered your dream so no one can catch us.” He took another step forward.

  She swallowed her pain, looking around at the dream he created wondering why he chose the woods. “Catch us doing what?” She asked.

  “What do you think?” His eyes flashed purple again as he loosened his tie more.

  Was he serious? She just killed someone, and he wanted to have…sex?

  “Blake I just killed someone!”

  “And…it was fucking hot.” He said his voice so low and rough it instantly made her wet. She hated that her body was so traitorous when it came to him. Her mouth dropped and her freak out was completely thrown off.

  He was so serious right now.

  “So you’re just going to ignore what happened? Not even try to make me feel better. Just try to get in my pants?” She asked trying to keep the shake from her voice, and she wasn’t sure if it was from being angry or turned on. How had he turned her emotions around so fast?

  He was unbelievable.

  Blake took another step, his eyes turning to the lustful color that promised a repeat of his sinful pleasure. “And? I’m a fucking demon Mikayla. I am what I am. Seeing my true form didn’t make you less attracted or stop you from kissing me back in the bathroom. The same as seeing you kill someone doesn’t make you any less attractive to me. It certainly isn’t going to derail my train of thought of fucking you so hard against that tree that you won’t be able to walk for a week.”

  She watched as he pulled his tie free from one side of his collar before tossing it on the leaf ridden ground, never breaking his stare from her. She gulped at the intensity. Just that small act was enough to flood her with desire, but guilt and confusion about what happened was still there.

  Seeing her uncertainty, he walked forward, making her back towards the tree he’d just talked about fucking her against. “I don’t give a fuck what you just did. What I care about is what the fuck you are about to do right this moment, and that’s take my hard cock into that tight virgin pussy. You’re going to take it hard. I’m not going to go easy and you’re going to love every last minute of it. I want you to remember how I feel every time you wince in pain as you heal up.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. Lost inside her head she didn’t realize how close he was until he brought his hands up lightly grabbing her shoulders. She was surprised by his gentleness from how rough and vulgar he talked.

  “Blake we can’t.” She whispered, not entirely sure anymore for her reasoning. Her nose was assaulted with the smell of his cologne tinted with his usually smell of whiskey and god did it smell like heaven. She breathed in letting his scent shoot fire in her veins.

  “Why not?” He challenged, voice deep, with hooded eyes. His tongue ran out, wetting his upper lip before biting it. She watched his lip pop back out from his bite and the temptation to kiss him was almost painful. He was teasing her.

  “Because…” She said trying to explain, as her body heated and tightened at the same time. Her heart raced in anticipation and she glanced down at his strong, warm hand on her shoulder trying to come up with a reason. Yes, she was still upset, but she wanted this. She wanted him. The timing was a little off and other than her guilt, if they were running out of time, having sex with a heart-stopping sexy as hell demon wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Was it?

  She swallowed looking up into his purple eyes getting ready to agree but, he spoke instead. “Tell me you don’t want this?” The strong timber of his confident voice had her tilting her head back. She was already caught in his lust filled
haze.

  He pushed her back until she felt the rough bark at her back as he grabbed her nightgown up enough to reach his hand underneath. She sucked in a shaky breath when his fingers glided up her thighs while her heart hammered painfully against her chest. His fingers didn’t stop until they slid along her wet folds causing a moan before she could stop it. Her head swam with lust, and she fought the urge to move, wanting to ride his hand.

  “So fucking wet.” He growled while he continued his slow tease on her, only pushing his fingers in between her folds enough for her to craze more and whimper in frustration.

  “Blake.” She begged.

  The hard determination slipped to amusement as he gave her a wicked grin, before licking her bottom lip. She jutted forward, done with his teasing, trying to take his lips to hers but he pulled his head back at the same time he grabbed her tight and almost painfully.

  She stilled as she screamed out from his assault, both pleasure and pain hitting her at once. “What do you want Mikayla?” He then loosened his hand before massaging where he held her making her core tighten and her eyes roll back in her head. His touch was pure heaven.

  All stress forgotten, she let a breathy moan. “You.”

  His sexy chuckle broke through her lustful haze. “Are you sure? Because if you’re sure there’s going to be some rules.” Stopping his massage, he tightened his grip again giving her back the pain. She sucked in a shocked breath, her eyes flying open to look into his frightening stare. It made her shiver.

  “Yes.” She said again, wanting him to stop messing around. She wiggled in his hands and reached out grabbing onto strong arms, trying to get him to release his hold.