True Loves (A Collection of Firsts)

by Michelle A. Valentine

  Rick rubs his eyes. “Look at me getting all mushy on you. New topic. One that doesn’t bring tears to that pretty face of yours.”

  I dry my face with the sleeve of my sweater and clear my throat. “Oh yeah. I almost forgot what I came in here for.”

  He leans into me, and puts his elbow on the table while he waits on me to spill it.

  "Do you mind ditching your classes, because I want to get this deal done as soon as we can.”

  He leans back in his seat and folds his arms. “How soon do you want to leave?”

  I look down at my watch. “Is now too soon?”

  He shakes his head. “Let’s go. I know the perfect soul to collect.”

  Chapter 24

  I lean my elbows on the table at Drake’s while we wait on our food. The aroma of greasy diner food wafts around my face, making tiny cramps clench in my stomach as it growls. Rick insisted I grab lunch with him while we wait on our next soul collection.

  “I think you did an amazing job the past couple of days,” Rick says.

  I shrug and pick at my black fingernails, not ready to hear about the great job I did murdering people. “I really didn’t do anything.”

  “Are you kidding? You’ve shown no fear. And you’re more than happy to punish scum bags. You’d make an excellent demon.”

  “Well, those guys all deserved it, but there’s no way I want to do this forever.”

  My head begins to throb, and I remember I still have my hair pulled into a tight ponytail. I release the rubber band, shaking my hair free. I run my hands through it, instantly relieving some of the tension on my scalp.

  Rick’s eyes scan me while he wears an appreciative smile. “Your hair looks nice down.”

  My cheeks grow warm from his compliment and I fight back an embarrassing smile. “Thanks.”

  His gray eyes soften, and he licks his lips. An influx of heat of floods through me as his stare transfixes on my mouth.

  The attraction vibe between us overwhelms me. I bite my lip and look away. Is it wrong to find your demon attractive?

  I shake my head. Yes. It is very bad to think he’s hot. He’s a cold blooded monster and I think I still have some sort of feelings for Stew even though he’s an ass.

  What’s wrong with me? Having a thing for two guys at the same time is a very, very bad thing.

  I rub my forehead viciously, trying to rid the thoughts of his killer smile from my brain.

  “You okay?” Ricks asks.

  I need a subject change, quick. “So do you know where the next soul is?”

  He clears his throat. “It’s not a definite yet, but I think one will be popping up pretty soon.”

  My body tenses. “You mean, you already know who it is?”

  Rick shakes his head. “Not exactly. I just sort of get this ominous vibe.”

  I draw my lips into a tight line. “I see.”

  “What?” He raises an eyebrow. “You think I’m lying?”

  I tilt my head and eye him with suspicion as I recall him saying in the library he knew the perfect one. “Not lying, exactly. But not telling me the total truth, either.”

  “Believe me, if I knew who it was for sure, we’d already be on our way. Nothing’s set in stone. We have to wait for the choices of the soul to put them in death’s path. And in this part of the city, that sometimes takes a while, but I’m getting a vibe.”

  The skin between my eyebrows crinkle. “What, you’re like a psychic or something?”

  His deep throaty laughs bounces around the restaurant. “No. I develop a connection with the soul I’m tracking. It’s not an exact science or anything. I sort of have an internal compass, pointing me in the right direction of the soul.”

  "Is that how you find me?” I ask, my eyes focused on his. “Through a connection?”

  “Every time. We’ve been linked ever since I marked your soul.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “How many times have you used it on me?”

  He smiles sheepishly. “Too many to count.”

  “So the time you saved me from Trevor—”

  He nods. “Yes. I knew you were going to be there, and when I didn’t see you, I used it to track you.”

  A flashback of Trevor’s breath on my face makes me shiver. “Thank you for that. If you’d been a couple minutes longer…” I shake my head, ridding myself of the thoughts that threaten to flood my mind. “Thank you.”

  Rick reaches across the tables and touches my hand. “I meant what I said that night about Trevor. I would’ve killed him if you asked me to. Deal or not.”

  I smile. It would’ve been easy for him to kill Trevor. “No doubt. And I’m sure it would’ve looked like a suicide or an accident.”

  He grins. “I am pretty good at covering up my crime scene evidence.”

  I roll my eyes. “Whatever. I think you kind of enjoy it.”

  He shakes his head. “I didn’t at first. I hated it and thought I made a mistake. My first assignment was difficult, and I lost the soul. But eventually I got used to it and started going after the really bad souls. But you…”

  “Me?”

  "Yeah.” He squeezes my hand. “You’re a natural. It’s like you have a gene in place to show no fear to your prey.”

  My mind traces a path back to the two souls I’ve helped Rick to my place. Both times, it was like someone else talking through me, ready to punish both of those sadistic bastards. “Is that normal?”

  He chuckles. “Normal? Who knows what that is in this situation? Demons are better than humans at allowing inner darkness to take over.”

  I swallow hard. “Inner darkness? Like my evil side?”

  Rick nods. “But in your case I’d say it doesn’t have anything to do with that. You’ve always been ready to put people in their place.”

  He says that like he’s known me for ages and in his mind I know he thinks he has. He peers down at me with his stormy, gray eyes. Butterflies churn in my stomach, and even though I should hate him for what he’s done to me, I can’t help but be taken in by his handsome face.

  I stretch my arms above my head so the thoughts of Rick will stop. I need to get away from him before he has the chance to convince me being a demon is a good thing. “When can we get the next soul? I’m ready to get this thing wrapped up.”

  He frowns. “You want to be rid of me?”

  Without thinking, I touch his arm in an attempt to comfort him. “It’s not that.” He wraps his fingers around my hand and I’m surprised by how nice the feel of his skin against mine is. “You’re actually a good friend.”

  The smile on his face nearly touches his ears and then he gives my hand a little squeeze. “Friend? It’s a start.”

  Ruining our bonding moment, the waitress sets our hamburger platters on the table. The food on my plate makes my mouth water as the smell teases my nose.

  My stomach rumbles at the sight of the food. I can’t remember even feeling this hungry. Maybe there is something to this stealing souls business that drives a body into hunger overload. “Is it always like this?”

  “What?” He asks as he squeezes ketchup onto his plate.

  “The cravings.”

  Rick’s eyes jerk up to meet my face and my heart gallops in my chest. “I’ve had one I can’t shake since the first time I met you.”

  Chapter 25

  I pull my hair back while in front of the mirror at Drake’s. The skin on my neck has been burning all day. I gasp when the newly branded patch of skin reflects back at me. The snake tattoo outline is darker—the shapes of the snakes now totally distinguishable shapes.

  My eyes widen as one of the tales of the snakes wiggle.

  “Shit.” The word whooshes from my mouth while I steady myself against the sink.

  Lunch time is over and we need to stop screwing around. Time is ticking.

  Rick sits in the corner booth and stares out the window completely relaxed. When I approach the table he peers up at me. His face morphs into a concerned expression w
hen our eyes meet. “What’s wrong?”

  The fingers on my left hand clutch my throat. “It’s starting to move. We need to hurry.”

  Rick nods and then stands. I’m glad he knows exactly what I’m talking about and doesn’t make me say it out loud.

  “Let’s go.” I follow him out of the restaurant to his car.

  The music already blasts from the speakers as I slide onto the cool leather seat across from Rick. The warm air blasting from the vents causes the spicy cologne he’s wearing to swirl around me and invites me into him, but I refuse to let those kinds of thoughts distract me.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We…are going to a party,” he says as he squeals his tires on the pavement while he pulls away.

  I check the clock. “A party? Now? It’s only four o’clock in the afternoon. Whose is it?”

  Rick shrugs. “Some guy from school is having a get together.”

  Shoving my hair away from my face and tucking it behind my ear, I look at him. “Why are we wasting time at a party? Today is my last day.”

  He steals a glance at me. “Relax. We’ll still get your soul. We’re just going to kill a little time until one’s ready to harvest.”

  Leaning back in my seat, I do what he asks and try to loosen up even though he’s being ridiculous. The beat from the stereo pumps in the car’s interior and vibrates my muscles. This is the last thing I want to do right now.

  Rick on the other hand looks happy and completely ready to attend a party. He looks amazing in a black oxford and his long, brown hair neatly tucked behind his ears. I, on the other hand, look like a complete mess. My hair is still a little damp from the bathroom incident and most of my make-up gone.

  “You don’t look happy,” Rick says. I don’t answer him and continue to stare through the windshield. “You know being a demon isn’t all bad.”

  “I’m not a demon yet,” I remind him.

  He pulls up in front of a house party in full swing. People pour out from every possible opening and it’s not even five o’clock yet. There are tons of people from Capital here, but some of the others I don’t recognize.

  “How did you find out about this party?

  He runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Everyone was talking about it this week.”

  My brow furrows. “They were? Why didn’t I hear about it? Not that I would’ve scored an invite or anything.”

  “I think you were a little too busy hating me to notice much else.”

  “You’re probably right. I was pretty mad at you.”

  Rick grins. “Were? As in not anymore?”

  I smile. “Don’t push your luck, but yeah. I mean, you’ve put a lot of effort into helping me break our contract, so I don’t totally hate you.”

  He nods and smiles at me. “Come on then, friend. Let’s go try to have some fun.”

  I pop my door open and the club thumping bass from the party wafts inside the car. Rick strides around the car and closes the door behind me. We walk inside, shoulder to shoulder, our feet moving in step on the concrete.

  His warm fingers take my hand. “Is this okay?”

  I should recoil from his touch, but today he’s been so nice to me, I don’t mind his closeness. “Sure.”

  Once inside, the overpowering stench of cigarettes and spilled beer assaults my nose. Immediately heads whip in our direction. My defenses shoot up as the stares continue. I pull my hair down around my face, making an instant shield.

  “Um, Rick? Why are people looking at us like that?” I whisper in his ear.

  He faces me. “Probably because of what happened last time we went to a party.”

  My eyebrows furrow. “But that was forever ago. Why would that draw attention now?”

  He grimaces. “Maybe because this is Trevor Humphrey’s house?”

  A lump instantaneously forms in my throat as my eyes grow wide. “Why would you bring us here?”

  I turn to bolt from the house—no way do I need to deal with this right now—but Rick refuses to let go of my hand. “Because the soul is here.”

  The soul? This is bad. My stomach clenches. This means the soul is somewhere in this mass of my peers. Up until now, I’ve been pretty cool with stealing the souls of wicked strangers, but this next deal will present a problem. “I can’t…”

  Rick tugs my hand. “You have to.”

  He leads me over to the keg, fills a red plastic cup, and then hands it to me. Sipping my bitter beer, my eyes scan the crowd, wondering what terrible thing will happen here that’s brought a death demon.

  Rick takes a drink. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”

  I take a step away from him. “What’s upstairs?”

  His eyes scan the ceiling. “Our assignment.”

  Knowing this is Trevor Humphrey’s house makes my skin crawl with the sensation of a thousand bugs as we snake our way through the crowed staircase. People stare at us as we walk past them, their eyes excited with the possibility of another fight in the air.

  We make it to the top of the stairs and Rick thrusts his beer cup in my hands. “Are you ready for this?”

  I didn’t see anything crazy go down. He has to be kidding. “You mean right now?”

  With a quick clap of his hands, he answers my question.

  The party goes still and this place suddenly looks like a bad teen movie on pause. There’s a girl to my left frozen in the process of spilling her beer all over the plush tan carpet below our feet. To my right there’s a couple stuck in a permanent make-out pose.

  Rick takes off in the direction of a bedroom door, but stops before entering and waits for me to catch up. He balls his hand into a fist and knocks two quick raps.

  “Who the fuck is it?” I’d recognize that voice anywhere. It’s Trevor Humphreys.

  Shocked, I rub my face. “He’s our next deal? I can’t do this, Rick. There’s no way I can help kill someone I know.”

  “Yes, you can, Nat. You have to do this. Do you even need to see what his sins are?”

  I shake my head. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”

  My mind flips back to all the encounters I’ve had with Trevor and my nerves bounce around under my skin.

  “He’s going to die tonight, Nat. He’s drank enough liquor to poison an elephant, so either we make the deal or another demon will. Besides, do you really want to give up the opportunity? You can have your soul back after this.”

  Trevor Humphreys is by no means a friend. He is, however, Stew’s friend, and he has a family that loves him. He needs to be punished for what he did to me, but it doesn’t exactly warrant death, does it?

  Rick throws open the door, revealing a pathetic looking Trevor laying on the floor in his own puke in the fetal position. The room permeates with the smell of vomit and urine. I plug my nose and breathe through my mouth. Trevor lifts his head and remnants of his supper drips from his chin. His bloodshot eyes appear glassy, and his head wobbles around while he tries to hold himself steady.

  “What do you assholes want?” he snarls. “And why are you in my house? I didn’t invite you. I hate you two.”

  “We’ve come to help you, Trevor.” Rick’s voice is calm, like he’s talking to a frightened child.

  “I don’t need your help.” Trevor falls down on the floor again. “Get out and leave me alone.”

  I begin to pace around in his bedroom because I can’t figure out what to do with myself. I don’t want to be here.

  There are pictures of naked women all over Trevor’s walls, and I guess that’s a pretty typical thing for guys to have in their room, but some of the poses are so provocative they make me look away.

  I know Trevor Humphreys is one—if not the—biggest asshole in the world, but I wonder if the whole incident with me was a one-time thing. Maybe he can be saved?

  "Rick? Maybe we shouldn’t take his soul. I mean, this is Trevor, and I know what he did to me was horrible, but maybe it won’t happen again.”

  Rick shake
s his head. “It will. You weren’t the first.”

  My hand clutches my throat. “There were others?”

  “Yes,” Rick whispers. “One just a couple hours ago, but she wasn’t as lucky as you.”

  I grit my teeth as I squeeze my hands tight at my sides, burrowing my nails in my skin. This needs to happen. I can’t allow him to hurt anyone else. “Do it. Before he hurts someone else.”

  Trevor’s glazed eyes shift between me and Rick. “Do what?”

  Rick smiles at Trevor. “Help you, of course.”

  “Okay,” Trevor slurs as he closes his eyes.

  Rick kneels down in front of Trevor and holds out his hand. “Shake my hand, and tell me yes you want my help.”

  “Yes. Help me.” Trevor’s hand barely moves from his body, but it’s enough motion to cue Rick to grasp it.

  The shock of their agreement courses through my hands. I know what comes next, and for the first time, I dread it. Even though random thoughts of inflicting pain on Trevor have crossed my mind, I never dreamt I’d be the one to actually kill him.

  Rick stands over Trevor and glares down at him. “Trevor, this is for what you did to Natalie.”

  Before Trevor can say another word, Rick raises his hands and a strong wind blasts throughout the room, causing the only window in the bedroom to fling open. Rick’s eyes narrow as he sets his sights back onto his victim. A steady breeze zips all around me and the curtains strain violently against the rod bolted into the wall. Every loose piece of paper close swirls in the air and it reminds me of all the times Rick would make an appearance in his child form.

  My hair whips around my face as I glare down at Trevor. His eyes close and he remains oblivious to what’s about to happen to him. With an outstretched hand, Rick levitates Trevor’s limp body into an upright position and sends him sailing towards the open window.

  Trevor’s hands hang limply at his sides. His chin presses against his chest and the lashes of his closed eyes rest against his skin.

  “Go on, Nat. Give him a push,” Rick says while concentrating on holding him in the air.