Chapter 23 — Why is life so complicated?

Zoe:

“Damn, girl, your man is fine!” Lana says with an ecstatic shudder the moment I walk into the apartment. Bree slumps down on the sofa with yogurt in hand and chuckles. “He is freaking hot! So, how’s the sex?” She asks with a deadpanned smile. I feel a flush journey down my cheeks at her question. Bree loves putting me on the spot. I mean, I love the girl, but sometimes I just want to choke her. I guess that is part of being in a friendship. Lana jumps onto the couch from the back of the seat and crosses her legs with anticipation. “Yes, do tell.” She says while rubbing her hands together like a sixties villain.

Shaking my head with a roll of my eyes, I sit in the seat across from them and give them a crafty yet reproachful smile. “Now girls, you know that I don’t kiss and tell. It’s not ladylike.”

Both women groan in disappointment. “Aw, come on, Zoe. Just one thing.” Lana says with a pleading pout. Bree follows suit and clasps her hands together in supplication. “Come on, Zoe. Let us live vicariously through you. It’s the least you can do since you disappeared on us for a couple of nights.”

Puffing out a deep breath, I slide down my seat and rest my feet on the coffee table. “Fine, I will tell you this—and only this. It was amazing, and I can’t wait to do it again. That’s it.” I say, covering my face with embarrassment. Lana claps her hands with an excited squeal and jumps on her sister's shoulders. “I knew it! I knew it! You lucky bitch!”

Bree pushes her sister off her back with exasperation. “Geez, Lana, calm down; he’s Zoe’s boyfriend, not yours. You’d think that you were the one getting laid based on your reaction.”

Lana giggles at her sister’s response and rocks back on the couch with a gleeful tilt of her lips.

Bree straightens her shirt out while giving Lana a scathing glare. It’s a familiar scene that loosens some of the tension that began when I set eyes on the frightening magic surrounding our apartment. But I don’t want to think about that now. Bree settles back in her seat and tucks her feet under her hips with a suggestive wave in my direction. “So are you two dating? Or is this just a hookup?”

Her question brings me back to the conversation Azazel and I had about supernatural mating the night before. There’s no way that I can tell Bree that Azazel and I are practically married according to supernatural mating rules. I can’t even wrap my mind around this myself. I mean, I know that I feel something strong for Azazel, but I don’t think I’m ready to even admit to myself that it might be something more than an attraction. I try to buy some time for myself by pushing my hair behind my ear. But I can tell that the girls are not buying it. Throwing my hands down on the seat, I play with a loose strand on the armchair. “Well…I mean…he said he wants me to be with him. He said he wants to be what Americans refer to as “my man.” So I guess he’s my boyfriend.” I say, trying to hide my enamored sigh.

Bree’s smile widens, and without a word, she picks up one of the couch pillows and throws it at my head.

“Ouch, Bree!” I say with a fake glare.

She throws her arms up with a flutter. “Oh hush, it’s a freaking pillow. I can’t believe that you’re dating. You! The woman who hates relationships and their constrictions. I’m glad you changed your mind, though. I was worried for a while about you.”

Her words make me stand to attention. She’s right. I’ve been wary of men since I found out that my mother’s boss was my biological father. Bile rises up my throat at the mere thought of calling him, my father.

I remember confessing to Bree and Lana about it a year ago when they tried to set me up with some frat guy at school. After an hour in his presence, I realized that he was actually a nice guy; and to Bree and Lana’s consternation, I walked out of our date. When they confronted me about it, I broke down and told them why I never want to be in a relationship, even if the guy was nice. We cried together and spoke about it for a while. However, after hours of trying to convince me to change my mind, they abandoned their campaign and acceded to my decision. We never spoke of it again.

However, now, unlike before, I feel assured. I don’t know if it’s the fact that Azazel and I are mates or the fact that he confessed to waiting for me for so long and falling into hopelessness. There’s just something about a guy confessing to feeling desolate for so long without me. There’s just no denying our bond after learning so much about our past and what we are. I guess I’m ready to give this relationship a chance.

“I know what I said before, but Azazel’s different. It feels different…and right.” I say, trying to make them understand. Bree and Lana look at each other in silent communication, then turn back to me with a supportive grin. Bree shrugs and winks. “We say go for it, girl. He seemed to be really into you…”

Lana mischievously chimes in. “Plus, he’s hot!”

Bree and I chuckle at her exuberance. Leave it to Lana to simplify something so complex. Bree rolls her eyes and snickers in deference to her sister’s words. “…yeah, he’s hot. Good for you, girl! Now, we just have to find me and Lana a boyfriend as hot as yours.”

Lana nods her head with a sly grin. “Yeah, does Azazel have any brothers?” Bree raises her eyebrow expectantly.

Shaking my head, I give them a negative shake. “Sorry, girls, he doesn’t.”

Lana pulls back deflated and snaps her finger with disappointment, and Bree simply shakes her head. “Oh well, we tried.”

Lana shoots up from her seat and raises an index finger up as if she just got an idea. I can almost see the little light bulb go off in her head. “I know...” She says with a victorious smile. “Does he have any hot, single friends? Perhaps one with an accent like his?”

I bite my lip and think about Mikhail and his other friends. Mathias and Mikhail are most definitely taken. Then there’s Fallon, the son of Lucifer. It’s almost comical to think about introducing him to one of my friends, especially considering that he’s protecting Bree without her knowledge. No. There’s no way I would introduce her to him. It would be completely nuts.

Keeping a blank face, I shake my head and give them a consoling shrug. “Sorry, girls, the few that I met were taken.” Lana purses her lips and places a pillow on her lap with a sulky frown. “Well, that sucks!”

Bree and I chuckle at her sulky pout and toss a pillow at her chest. “Hey!” She cries out with feigned outrage. We pillow fight for a couple of minutes to lighten the mood. It’s fun and normal, which is what I need right now.

My phone dings reminding me that I have class in a little over an hour. I can’t believe we’ve been messing around for this long. Rising from my perch, I adjust my clothes and walk to the bedroom. “I’m going to get ready for class. Can you give me a ride, B?” Bree nods her head as she strides to the kitchen. “Yeah, sure.”

The ride to school is uneventful. Bree and I split off as soon as we get there. She has to meet one of her professors about a research assignment. That girl is always studying. What surprises me, though, is when I see Fallon following a few feet behind her. He gives me a two-finger salute as he passes me by. What is odd, though, is that no one seems to notice him, which is crazy considering what a strong presence he is. I mean, the man is panty, meltingly, gorgeous. The girls on campus should be in a tizzy from seeing him. But no one comments or even looks in his direction. It’s as if he’s invisible. I want to ask him about it, but he disappears before I can even move.

Classes are boring as usual. To my chagrin, I spend most of the time thinking about Azazel and our shower. My body heats at the thought of our erotic interlude. I try to clear my thoughts for a few moments, but no, they have a one-track mind. All I can think about is my gorgeous boyfriend’s beautiful pouty lips, soft golden hair, intense amber eyes, and rock hard body. I shift my knees, trying to alleviate the aching need that overpowers my senses.

As soon as the class is over, I rush out of the room and find a quiet spot under the stairs to think and find some control. It’s crazy how difficult it is. It’s as if my body is having Azazel withdrawals. Just then, my phone dings. Reaching into my jeans pocket, I look at the screen. It’s Azazel.

“Meet me in the library.” I look around incredulously and gaze back down at the screen to type. “Are you here?” He replies a moment later. “Yes, I’m at your school. Now hurry up and meet me at the bloody library, you termagant.”

I have to laugh at his use of old-world words. My gladiator is very well-read. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering how old he is. Sending a quick reply, I make my way to the school library, and I try to stifle my excitement at the thought of seeing him. I’m at a loss at my jubilance, considering I saw him a couple of hours ago. It’s just crazy that I miss him, and it hasn’t even been a full day. The man is too potent for his own good, and he knows it. I guess that’s what scares me about us. He seems so sure of us. A part of me dreads that this is all some kind of dream. I spot him as soon as I walk into the library.

That’s when a memory surfaces. It was not that long ago either. I can’t believe that I didn’t recognize him, considering how unforgettable he was. Azazel and I have definitely met before. It was months ago, and I was walking out of the library when he ran into me. He looked so magnificent with his golden hair and muscled body. I remember he was wearing this really hot leather outfit. I thought he looked like a bad boy. Unfortunately, we didn’t start off on the right foot. I was not in the best of moods after having lost my job and dealing with my mother. I chuckle, remembering him calling me a shrew.

Unlike Fallon, Azazel is noticed by the crowd. He’s leaning against one of the library walls, surrounded by a gaggle of girls who are sitting or standing near the wall. One of them is giving him flirty smiles as she leans forward to showcase her ample “attributes.” The woman is practically falling out of her shirt. The only saving grace is that Azazel is ignoring them. Instead of giving them his attention, he’s gazing down at his cell phone as if engrossed by something. The women are literally parading themselves in front of him, and he’s completely indifferent to their efforts. Now, all I can do is feel bad for those poor women. He looks so sexy in his short leather jacket, gray t-shirt and fitted ripped jeans. Any woman would kill to be with him. But he’s mine. Pride replaces pity as I observe how women desire what I have. It’s a heady experience.

As if sensing my presence, Azazel stiffens and focuses his gaze on mine. Without a word of apology, he pulls away from the wall and strides confidently towards me. Giving me a welcoming smile, he places his hands on my waist and kisses me. His firm lips curve, and his tongue dances around mine in a thrilling swirl. The kiss is deliciously short. Taking my hand in his, he ushers me past the envious crowd and leads me to the back of the library.

“Where are we going?” I ask when he opens a door and pushes me in. The room is small and dark, with several old tables stationed on one side of the room and a few empty, dusty shelves on the other. Azazel backs me into a nearby shelf, pulls my arms over my head, and whispers. “I really need this, luv.” His lips meet mine with a passionate force.

My mouth moves under his, and my arms twine around his neck. We cling tightly to each other, feeling the desperation of the moment. My nipples tighten into tight pebbles when his hands slip beneath my shirt and settle around the middle of my back caressingly. I grind the hard nubs against his firm chest, feeling pleasurable tingles inside of me with every drag. My tongue rubs enticingly over his to retreat and let our lips suck and lick. The sound of our heavy breathing is amplified by the emptiness of the room. However, I can’t help but feel excited at the thought of someone coming in and discovering us. I tighten my hands around his hair and run my fingers through the silky depths of his mane, trying to get closer. My thighs ache as I raise my hips and rub my covered mound against his hard shaft. I want to strip off all of my clothes and mount him then and there.

One of Azazel’s hands moves down my waist to unbutton my jeans and slide inside my panties. He rubs his thumb across my throbbing clit, igniting the already burning embers of my need. Electricity rushes through me with every swipe of his finger across my swollen nub. I close my eyes, enjoying every delicious, swirling caress of his firm fingers. My breath hitches. “Oh,” I sigh as I grind my hips against his fingers. The world explodes around me when Azazel plunges a stiff finger inside my needy folds. The dam of my ecstatic release bursts, and my body shudders. Fireworks explode behind my eyes as I cling tightly to Azazel’s shoulders. A soft, melting feeling rushes through every pore of my body.

I bite my lips to stifle my cries, but it’s hopeless. Thankfully, Azazel takes charge and covers my lips with his. After a moment, my body goes limp and falls into the comfort of Azazel’s strong arms. He lays soft kisses down my neck and makes a few gentling sounds. Leaning my head on his shoulder, I savor every moment of his affection. No one has ever made me feel so cherished.

Placing a gentle kiss over mine, he pulls away and looks into my eyes with a gentle smile. “Thank you, luv.”

I shake my head and snort. “What are you talking about? I should be the one thanking you.”

He shakes his head and pulls a strand of my hair behind my ear. “No, luv. It’s my pleasure and duty to take care of my mate when she needs it. Nothing makes me happier than making you happy. So, accept my gratitude.” I frown at his words and lay another soft kiss on his lips. “Well, regardless of how happy that makes you. I owe you one, and I pay all of my debts.” His smile loses its gentleness to become a more roguish one. “Very well, my lady. I will hold you to your promise.”

Feeling rejuvenated, I pull away from his arms and adjust my clothes. “How did you know?” I ask shyly. He tilts his head to the side for a moment as if gauging my question, then shrugs his rugged shoulders. “It’s only natural for new mates to feel strongly about their bond. And since we’ve already made love, it has become even stronger. My demon and I could feel your need. Since it is what we desire, we responded. Trust me, luv, I was more than willing to do it.”

My body heats up again at the look of his smoldering amber eyes. However, his sincerity is what is really disarming me. I want to jump back into his arms and kiss him until we finish what we started together. Instead, I bite my lip and takes his hand in mine. “You’re the best boyfriend ever; you know that, right?”

His face lights up at my open affection. I know that I’ve been resistant to our relationship, but I can see that he’s doing everything he can to show me that he cares. He gives my hand an affectionate squeeze and leads me back to the door. “Enough of that, luv. We have some business to take care of for now.” I follow him out the door and look around the hallway worriedly. Thankfully, it’s empty of any wandering spectators.

To my surprise, Azazel does not lead me back to the main part of the library. Instead, he takes me deep into the area where they store the archives.

Walking hand in hand, I quirk a brow at the empty hallway. “What business are we handling now?”

He arches a brow at my firm question. “We are going to see a good friend who might have an answer to your siphon predicament.”

After a few moments, we stop in front of a large door. I’ve never been this deep into the library before. I don’t think anyone has.

Remembering the memory I had before I spotted him, I pull at his arm and stop him before he steps through the door. “You know, you and I have met here before,” I whisper with a mischievous smile.

Azazel frowns in puzzlement. “What?”

I nod my head and giggle. “Yeah. A couple of months ago, I was walking down the hallway, and you ran into me. We were pretty rude to each other. If I recall correctly,

you called me a shrew.” I raise a superior eyebrow and smile. His face blanks for a moment. Then a gleam of realization dawns in his eyes. “Bloody hell. That was you?” He asks with astonishment.

I give him my best glare and pinch his arm. “Yes, that was me. And I think you owe me an apology for being so rude.”

He rubs his arm and narrows his eyes with a reproachful scowl. “As I recall, you were rude to me first, luv.”

He pulls me into his arms with a possessive look. “But perhaps I was a bit harsh. Perhaps you will let me make it up to you later, in my bed.”

I pull out of his arms and walk ahead, feigning disinterest at his suggestion. “Is that all? Hmm, I guess I can think about it.” Before I can walk too far, he grips me by my shirt and pulls me to his chest. “Trust me, luv. You won’t regret it.” I give him a mischievous smile but don’t respond.

As we get closer, the doors seem to expand. They’re ancient looking with solid pine wood and some kind of gilded brass etchings.

Azazel knocks once on the door and waits for an answer. After a second, the door opens to reveal a large room. I step in behind Azazel and look around in amazement at what I see. The area is quite beautiful. There are large antique volumes in glass casings and tables upon tables loaded with old scrolls and bound books. However, what amazes me most is the man who is standing behind one of the tables. He’s beautifully horrifying. His face is very pale and tight. The man is bald, his ears are pointed, and his teeth are sharp like a piranha’s. My hand tightens beneath Azazel’s. Fear crawls through me, but I don’t move.

Azazel steps forward with a genuine smile. “Apologies for being late, mate. This is Z—”

Creighton’s eyes widen as he steps close to me with wonder. “Bloody hell, you found your mate. And she’s a Siren to boot.” Azazel and I both stiffen at his estimation. “How did you know?” I mutter bewildered.

Azazel looks at me, then back at Creighton. “How did you know that she’s a Siren?”

Creighton shrugs bemusedly. “I’m a Squalus. Which loosely translated is a shark person. Our people lived side by side for centuries until Sirens began mating with humans. Because of that, Sirens are very rare now. I honestly haven’t seen one in centuries. Most of the time, children born of humans and Sirens will have little to no power. Are both of your parents, Sirens?” He asks me with a direct look.

I shrug incredulously. “I don’t know. I just found out that I’m a Siren. And I’m still wrapping my head around the idea that Azazel and I are mates.”

Creighton chuckles with bemusement. “Bloody hell when I heard about Azazel being mated, I didn’t believe it. The wife and I were amazed. But here she is!” He announces with an astonished gleam on his face. “And you are quite beautiful, my dear. Even more so than the other birds he’s brought here before.”

My eyes narrow at Creighton’s words. Azazel sees my angry glare, raises his arms in surrender, and shakes his head vehemently. “It’s not what you thin, luv. I’ve only brought Kell and his mate here. Amara and I have most definitely never had any kind of romantic encounters.”

Creighton throws his head back and laughs boisterously before he answers. “He’s telling the truth. But I won’t pretend that I’m not enjoying his suffering. It’s quite amusing to see the powerful demon Azazel be brought down by his mate.”

Azazel sighs in relief, then gives me a, ‘you see what I have to deal with?’ look.

Rolling my eyes over Creighton’s amusement at Azazel’s expense, I settle back and give Creighton my most unamused scowl. Creighton’s laughter fades, turning into a contrite one. “Sorry, luv. I didn’t mean to be such an arse about it.”

Creighton clears his throat and moves towards a large table. “All bantering aside, why are you two here?” Azazel puffs out a breath and moves towards the table with a loose stride. “I’m here because my mate is the siphon that Marael is using to end the world.” My stomach tightens at his words. Even though I know that I’m the siphon, it still pains me to hear it. Azazel must notice my discomfort because he extends his hand towards me and gives me a gentle smile.

My breathing quickens, and my body trembles as I move close to the comfort of Azazel’s hand. “It’s alright, luv. Remember, I'm not going to let anything hurt you.” He whispers with assuredness. Creighton’s gaze roams over me with curiosity. “I’ve been doing some research on how to separate the siphon from the host. There are a few theories out there. However, nothing concrete. There is still the situation of transferring the power that we have to deal with. We need a host who can take the remaining power and not die in the process.” He reaches under his desk, pulls out a few dusty old books and scrolls, and slips on a pair of wire glasses over his eyes.

We watch patiently as he sifts through the pages until he reaches a page that he’s looking for. Clearing his throat, he runs an index finger over the page. “Alright, then. This is what I’ve found.” He waves his hand around the books with a serious frown. “I’ve reviewed a few scriptures, and one thing that they all say is that you need a host to siphon the power.”

He turns the book so that we may both gaze upon it. However, the books are written in a foreign language. Perhaps one that no longer exists. “This is the Caeleste Codex. It’s the book of all Supernaturals. Here is where we found information on the siphon and the spell that Marael is using to end all existence, the Potestatem Vitae Mortem. According to the Codex, the Siphon is the gateway to bringing all hell on earth. From what we gathered, once the Siphon is connected to the witch, there is no reversing it. Even if you kill the witch, all of the power would need another containment vessel or a host. If we don’t have a new vessel, the release would be disastrous. Needless to say, it would be equivalent to releasing several hydrogen bombs.” His lips pucker, mimicking an explosive sound, and he extends his hands out to emphasize the impact.

“It would be bloody disastrous. However…” He says as he reaches for an ancient, yellowed scroll and lays it over the book. “…according to this scroll, the power can be transferred or destroyed somehow; we just don’t know how yet.” Azazel’s face hardens into a cold mask as he gazes down at the scroll contemptuously. I bite my lip, feeling hopelessness surround me. Creighton and I jump, startled when Azazel slams his fist on the table with an anguished cry. “How the bloody hell are we going to destroy it? The bloody thing is powerful.” He snorts contemptuously.

Creighton remains quiet as Azazel wears off his anger. Unable to bear his pain, I reach for his arm and grips his chin to make him face me. “Stop Azazel! Stop it! We’ll figure it out!” I say with a firm voice. I almost falter in the face of his despair. His eyes look lost, and his mouth is in a tight line. Pulling me into the comfort of his embrace, I wrap my arms around his waist to soothe his anger. “We’ll figure something out, Azazel. Please just don’t give up. I don’t think I could handle it if you did.” His body trembles with his rage as he pulls me closer and places a soft kiss on the top of my head. “I won’t give up on you, luv.”

Creighton clears his throat, drawing our attention back to him. “I understand your plight Azazel. Do not despair, mate. I will keep searching through our archives for a solution.” Azazel nods his head in agreement. “Thank you, mate. Perhaps I can speak to Lucifer. He might know of a way to destroy the amulet.” Creighton shakes his head at Azazel’s hopeful tone. “It’s possible that he might know something about it. I hope for your sake that he does.” Azazel’s face falls again. But this time, he is able to control his disappointment.

Seeing that Azazel has control of his temper, Creighton pats him on the back with an understanding nod. “We will find someone, mate. I just need a bit of time to sort through the archives. For now, I need you to go home and continue to protect this lovely creature. I’ll call you as soon as I find something out. I give you my solemn oath.” Azazel gives his friend a respectful bow and takes my hand. “Very well, then. You have my mobile.” Creighton nods his head and extends his hand in friendship. Azazel takes his forearm and gives him some old-world handshake. It’s very telling of how much he respects Creighton.

I wave Creighton goodbye and follow Azazel’s hurried footsteps out the door. His jaw is tight with a grim frown as he makes his way down the hallway. Somehow his silence shakes me. Unwilling to take another step, I stop in my tracks and pulls his arm to stop him. “Talk to me, Azazel. Please.” I whisper shakily.

He doesn’t answer at first. Instead, he keeps his gaze on the wall behind me. His eyes are hollow and full of despair. Moving closer, I reach my hands up and settle them over his muscled chest. I close my eyes, letting the feel of his body warm the coldness that has settled over me. Azazel places his hands over mine and pulls me closer. With a resigned sigh, he takes a deep breath and answers. “I’m sorry, Zoe. I just don’t know what I’d do without you. I’ve never been in love, and it kills me that you’re mixed up in this bloody mess.”

My ears ring at his words, and my body heats up with glee. Swallowing deeply, I take a deep breath and bite my lip. “Did you just say...?” I clear my throat and puff out a breath to continue. However, I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I’m ready to open the floodgates of our relationships. Biting my lip, take a few deep breaths and exhale. “I…I don’t know what to say, Azazel.” He quirks a brow and tilts his head with a smirk. “You don’t need to say it back. You don’t even have to mention it. I just want you to know where I stand in this. Because I will not put you in danger, and I will do everything I can to protect you.”

I think his words through. He’s so sincere in his feelings that it’s disarming. At that moment, I realize that my feelings for him are a lot stronger than I’d like to admit to myself, and I appreciate that he’s not pushing for me to reveal how I feel. Taking a deep breath, I nod my head. “Okay,” I reply lamely. I feel like such an idiot just saying it, but I don’t have the courage to do it.

Azazel takes my hand and guides me to his vehicle. We remain quiet on the way to my apartment. But it’s not an uncomfortable silence. Azazel sighs and puts the car in park as soon as we arrive. I gaze into his eyes and lean my head back on the headrest. “I hate coming here. I was never a big fan of the place, but now that I know what it is, it makes it even worse.” He nods his head and narrows his eyes at the apartment’s window. “I can stay over if it makes you feel safer.” I shake my head. “Thanks, but it’s probably not a good idea since Bree, Lana, and I share a bedroom. As good as it sounds for us to sleep in the same bed, you’d probably be uncomfortable in a twin bed where my roommates are a few feet away. And you’d definitely look uncomfortable sleeping in our really lumpy couch.” Azazel waggles his eyebrows with a roguish chuckle and snickers. “Oh, luv, that would definitely be a first for me. I guess I will go home then. Either way, I’m a phone call away if you need me. Fallon and I will keep an eye on the place.”

Without another word, I open my door and step out of the vehicle. However, Azazel doesn’t let me go. Instead, Azazel follows me out and cages me against the car door. I close my eyes, inhaling his manly scent. He looks at me from beneath the soft fringes of his lashes and smiles. “Kiss me before you go.” He whispers with his deep husky voice. My hands rub up against his chest, memorizing the contours of his hard chest and abs. He leans down with his lips hovering over mine so temptingly. My lips tingle pleasurably, and my breathing heightens. I’ve never felt such a strong desire for a man in my life. He’s everything I crave. Rising to my toes, I rest my hand on his jaw and lay a gentle kiss on his firm lips. He exhales and tilts his head, teasing me with his tongue, then deepens the kiss. His lips taste like ambrosia as our tongues entwine and swirl in a sexy dance. My body slumps back into the car’s door as Azazel leans closer and wraps me in his arms. The only sound you can hear is the rustle of our clothing and our heavy breathing as we strain to get closer. My body heats with every touch of skin. After a moment, we both hastily pull apart and gaze into each other’s eyes. Azazel rubs his nose with mine and caresses his hand over my neck before he completely pulls away. “You are such a temptation, Zoe. I don’t know how I function without you around. It’s quite vexing.” My mouth twists into a snicker. “You’re not the only one distracted Azazel. I could barely get through my classes without thinking about you all day.” His smirk widens. “You don’t know how glad I am to know that, luv.”

Not wanting to inflate his ego any further, I shake my head in bemusement and roll my eyes. “Okay, enough of that. I have to go. We’ll talk later.” He chuckles before he raises his arms up in surrender and gives me an innocent smile. “Very well. I will give you a respite for now.”

We’re about to move to our places when the ground begins to shudder and shake. We look around, horrified as light posts and cars begin to rattle around erratically.

Azazel grips me by the arms and shakily leads me to his house’s doorway. “Quick! Get to the doorway!” He yells out. I follow him to the house’s doorway and open the door holding on tightly as our bodies wobble in place. Azazel closes the door and holds me against it making sure that I don’t fall or hurt myself. I cling to his shoulders and look towards the living room, observing nervously as the furniture trembles and moves around with a large rattle. Just then, a blinding spark of light illuminates every window. It’s the strangest, most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen, like something from a sci-fi movie when the aliens come to capture people for experimentation.

One thing you should know is that I was born in California, so earthquakes are not unusual to me. However, I’ve never experienced one of this magnitude. It’s as if the house is in the middle of a vacuum. All sound in the room is dulled by the roaring thunder of the earth’s massive shudders. The light pulses in the room, making my head throb with a headache.

As soon as the shaking and the light begins, it ends. The earth stops shaking, and the light fades, leaving the world into an eerily quiet stillness. My body shudders with fear as we stand there, clinging to each other. It’s the creepy feeling you get when you feel like someone is watching you. I’m sure that my tight grip on Azazel’s arm is very uncomfortable, but he doesn’t comment on it. “Are you alright, Zoe?” He asks with a concerned frown. It’s odd because he doesn’t look freaked out like I’m sure I do. I nod my head, release his arm, and walk towards the window to check out the damage. “I’m fine,” I utter, shaken. “That was the worst earthquake ever. Are you okay?”

Azazel tightens his jaw and scowls as he glances out the window. “Do you feel that?” He asks with a rough voice. I shake my head and raise a speculative brow. “What?” He shakes his head, confused, and gestures to the street. “The air has changed. I don’t think that was an earthquake, luv. It was something different…”

Just then, the door slams open, and scowling, Fallon strolls in. “We have a problem, demon!” Azazel walks towards him with a purposeful prowl. “What is it? What happened out there?” Fallon shakes his head and rubs his hand down his neck with a frown. “I was standing on the apartment’s roof, keeping watch when all of a sudden, the air changed, and the sky darkened into a pitch-black fog that spread through the ground like a blanket. I’ve never seen the like. It surrounded the building. I could barely breathe from it, so I spread my wings and took off before it could touch me. I’ve never felt so much corruption and revulsion, not even in hell. Then it’s I felt the fog let out a large exhale and slammed into the building. The ground shook, and the ley lines began to beam like a beacon in the ground. It was brighter than anything I’ve ever seen.”

He moves across the room and stands before the window facing the apartment building, pulling back the curtain and pointing a finger towards our apartment window. “The light moved like a snake, slithering and crawling to enter their window until it disappeared inside. Then, poof, it was gone. It’s as if the building absorbed it.” Foreboding crawls through me at the thought of what might have entered into my home. “We have to go in there and check on them. What if they’re hurt or…”? I don’t utter anymore of my thoughts. I’m scared of what else might entail.

Azazel steps forward and takes my hand. “It’s alright, luv. We’ll go and investigate.” He nudges his chin towards Fallon in a silent order. Fallon nods his head and extends his wings before he flies out the door. However, I’m not confident about what he’ll find. I need to see that my friends are okay. Walking towards the door, I call from over my shoulder. “I can’t sit here and wait for Fallon to come back. Come with me or stay, but I’m going.” Azazel sighs in defeat then falls in step beside me. “Take my hand, luv.” He utters gravely. I look at his hand, raise a questioning brow, and utter suspiciously. “Why?” He shakes his head impatiently and gestures to the building. “Because we’re going to fly up there to see what is going on. I can’t let you walk in there without knowing what is happening. It's best if we don’t give whoever did that use this as an opportunity to hurt you. So take my bloody hand and hold on tight.” He says with a resolved tone. I can tell that he’s at his wit's end and won’t let me in unless I do what he says. Not seeing a point to argue, I exhale deeply and take his hand. Azazel pulls me close and wraps his arms around my waist before he takes off into the night.

I don’t know how to feel about flying in my boyfriend’s arms. I guess it would have been incredible if it wasn’t for the fact that I was concerned for Bree and Lana. We land on the roof where Fallon is standing. “It seems fine.” He utters with a puzzled frown.

Azazel shakes his head, runs his gaze over the roof warily, and walks towards the edge. “I don’t see anything. Not even the ley lines.” He raises his head and quirks a brow in question. “The ley lines shouldn’t have disappeared so quickly if they regenerated the other day.” Fallon shrugs. “Perhaps the power imploded, or it’s fading because she’s running out.”

I step towards the roof’s doorway and pull the door open and stumble back with a gasp. Turning towards Azazel and Fallon, I call out. “Oh, my G…” I don’t finish my sentence because, at that moment, dark shadowy tentacles of smoke wrap around my throat and waist, lifting me up from the floor. Azazel and Fallon turn in horror as they watch the shadow pull me into the doorway. I reach my hand out for help, but the force that is pulling me is very strong. A scream lodges in my throat as my body begins to get sucked in, and the energy begins to fade around me. Azazel’s eyes glow with the fire of his demonic power as he rushes to reach me. Unfortunately, his body bounces back from the doorway. It’s as if he’s being pushed by an invisible force. A gust of wind like a hurricane flows around me, pushing Azazel and Fallon back while the force gripping me tightly pulls me further in. My vision dims as a darkness envelope my body. I feel like I’m being sucked into a black hole as I try with all of my strength to push against the force, but it’s no use. Before I know it, my body goes weightless, and I disappear inside the pitch-black void. Tears fall down my face as I catch one last glimpse of Azazel’s struggling form and feel regret for not telling him how I feel. My last thought as the world fades away is that I will never get to tell him now.