Chapter 29
The Real Monster
“Just hurry up and grab her would you!”
I heard a frustrated voice say in an American accent as I felt my body being moved around.
But it was strange, as though I was only sort of semi-conscious to what was happening around me.
But I still couldn’t seem to move my body as for some reason it just wasn’t working.
“Well, I thought we would jump her on her way home.”
A boy said, with a German accent this time and when I finally opened my eyes I saw again that demonic face, but now at an odd angle as it was now on top of his head instead on…well, his face.
I couldn’t understand it as it seemed just frozen in that one facial expression looking as if it was about to take a chunk out of you.
“The van isn’t far, then we can have our fun with her just like the rest and then dump her somewhere, she will wake up tomorrow without remembering a thing other than being fucked by two demons!”
The American said chuckling and that’s when I realised he was also helping to carry me, but I couldn’t make out where.
It was like a fog was stopping me from getting my body to do as it was being told.
which was when I started questioning if I had somehow been drugged?
I felt myself being heaved into something after I heard a door being unlocked and slammed.
Then I felt hands on me and I frowned not liking it.
“Oh, looks like we have a fighter on our hands this time,”
the American said in a pleased tone.
“Oh, good I like it when they…wait, what was that?”
he stopped and started whispering as I felt the hands on me stop moving as well.
I looked up and saw the German pull his face down making me realise now, even in my drugged state, that it must have been a mask.
“Never mind, its nothing, let’s cut this fucking dress off her, I want to see those big tits,”
the American said and even if I wasn’t fully aware of what was happening, I knew that was a bad thing.
I heard the snip of something by my ear and felt myself being man handled up a little, until suddenly I had the biggest urge to scream.
In the end, I don’t know how I managed it but I opened my mouth and let go of all the energy I had left,
“LUCIUS!”
I screamed his name so loud even my own ears hurt and suddenly I felt pain explode over the side of my face where I must have been punched.
To be honest, it probably should have hurt a lot more than it did but a second after it happened, I didn’t feel a thing.
What I did feel, however, was when the van started to rock and suddenly what sounded like a door being ripped clean off its hinges.
I managed to open my eyes and get them to work for a short time and this time there really was a demon knocking at the door.
And he was without a doubt, the most terrifying creature I had ever seen.
It was Lucius, but not as I had ever seen him, even if my mind was showing me a clouded version of him.
There were two crimson glowing eyes that looked like the Devil himself had gifted him his own.
Two mighty wings stood at his back and they morphed between that of a demonic bat and a flaming phoenix.
But I couldn’t make out any of his features as there seemed to be a black shadowed aura that floated around him like Hell’s essence was clinging to his form.
Then came the scariest sound I had ever heard in all my twenty years alive, all of which had been lived with the knowledge of demons.
But this was something else! It was a demonic roar so deep that it sounded as if a beast from Hell had just broken loose and was now on the rampage right outside this van.
Then I saw a black hand slap to the top of the last remaining door before it was slowly peeled back as if it had been made from tinfoil.
The sound of screams followed less than a second later and I closed my eyes as one started to sound as if it was dragged out of the van.
I then opened my eyes just in time to see the petrified face of one of my attackers getting smaller before he disappeared altogether.
Then, in the distance, I heard one last blood curdling scream before a wet slashing and tearing sound followed.
After that the only screams left were the ones belonging to the last man standing and he was still in the van with me.
I knew that even without looking as he was currently trying to scramble past my numb body.
Then the shadow emerged once more and even though I couldn’t focus, I could now see that it was a figure bathed in crimson.
“So, you like to play dress up, drug young girls and pretend to be a demon, do you?”
I didn’t recognise the demon’s voice, but this time I most certainly knew it was the real thing and that it belonged to the deadliest one of all…
Lucius.
The guy next to me started begging for his life, which was a pitiful sound and the strong smell of urine soon filled the small space around me.
“Then, it’s time I introduce you to the real thing, after all…you will be seeing a lot of them in the place I am sending you…”
This part was said with eerie calm for such a monster.
Then his shadow was gone from the end of the van where he had torn off the doors and dragged the other guy out.
The German was looking all around for him in panic and then cried out when the side door was suddenly punched through, telling me that it must have been locked.
Then I watched in fascination as a strong demonic hand emerged through the punched hole and calmly unlocked the door by flicking off the lock with a curled razor sharp, black claw.
The guy scrambled back further away from the door on my side, stepping on my hand and making me cry out.
This was when the door was quickly yanked open.
It was done so hard that in the end it came clean off its runners and I saw it through the back as it went skidding down the street creating sparks along the floor with the force.
Lucius now stood panting like a wild beast in the opening and I could see the two massive horns emerging from his back as his demon side took over completely.
“FUCK NOOO! Please…oh fuck, please man, look just take the bitch and… AHHH NO!”
The guy started to say, but then the second he said ‘bitch’ the movement came as a blur of colour as Lucius was inside the van.
I could only just make out that Lucius’ body had been outside one second and the next he was right there.
Then, as I looked up and back over my head, I could just make out the single stretched arm above me.
One that had now cut the guy’s screams off by pinning him to the inside of the van.
I could hear the dying gargling sound and saw the blood trickling down his neck from where Lucius had his talons embedded in his flesh, looking ready to rip his throat out.
“What did you call her?”
Lucius’ threatening question must have made me flinch and he didn’t miss the slight movement, because in that moment Lucius’ burning crimson eyes looked down at me and their Hellish stare, that was one still filled with blood lust, now strangely took on a softer side as they gazed at me.
Then, with his free hand, and as if compelled in this strange horror fueled moment a tender second passed between us, he ran a single finger just under my eyes as I still looked up at him from where I lay.
“Close those pretty eyes for me, Sweet I don’t want you to see as I rip him to pieces for you.”
I swallowed hard, unable to nod or move other than to do what he asked.
I was so terrified in that moment that my eyes snapped shut as I took his threat as seriously as death itself.
So, as I closed my eyes for him, what followed swiftly after was a quick breath of movement, as if something extremely fast had moved past me.
Then, after a quick scream, a very angry demon finished his threat in the scariest voice I had ever heard spoken…
“Enjoy Hell…after I tear you, limb from fucking limb first!”
Then I felt a spray of something wet hit the side of my face and even behind closed eyes I saw a crimson mist before I finally passed out and I did so to the distinct sounds of…
Torture and death.
“Ssshh its alright, it’s alright…I have you and you’re safe now.”
I heard the calm tender sound of a man whispering by my ear as I shifted as if something was holding me still.
That’s when I realised I must have been in someone’s arms as it felt as though my body was weightless.
I decided to test my single thought of who it could be, but even then asking myself why it would be him, when I whispered his name,
“Lucius?”
I heard the shuddered breath in return before it was confirmed,
“It’s me, sweetheart.”
I don’t know if I was imagining it, but in those three words alone it sounded like it held a weight of emotions that were like a ticking time bomb about to erupt.
They were on a fine edge…or was that just my own?
“I don’t care which, just get me a fucking car here now and do it fast!”
Lucius snarled making me tense in his hold as I could now feel some of the movement coming back to me, even though my head still felt lost and fuzzy.
At least I seemed to have more of my eyesight back as the second I opened my eyes I was looking up at him.
But wait what was that across his face…?
Blood.
He couldn’t see me looking up at him as he was too busy on the phone, snarling into it with every order he issued.
“Just do it and bring the team,”
Lucius snapped and once again I flinched, making him hold on to me tighter in a reassuring way as if it was an impulse.
“I need clean up, two bodies and lots of parts, so tell them to get their asses here quickly before someone notices a van pissing blood!”
he shouted this time before ending the call.
I don’t know why but I tried to get away from the angry sound and started squirming in his hold.
“Ssshh, calm yourself little one, calm for me now.
I will not hurt you… nothing can hurt you now,”
he told me in a soothing voice when I couldn’t stop my lips from moving, wondering if the sound ever made it out of them for I couldn’t tell,
“You already did.”
The only indication in the fog of lies that was my mind was the feeling of someone inhaling a quick, sharp breath before pulling me tighter to their chest.
And again, I couldn’t be sure, but I could have sworn that the answer to this had been a whispered,
“I know… as intended.”
After this I must have fallen unconscious again or at least in and out of consciousness as I would pick up bits here and there, asking myself what was real and what was a dream.
The first of which was the feeling of being in someone’s arms and them sitting down with me nestled in their lap.
Then I felt a hand smooth back my hair before cradling my head against a very hard chest, one’s whose breathing sent me to sleep with the steady rise and fall.
“What is to happen now, my Lord?”
I heard someone ask and it was a voice I didn’t recognise but sounded strangely as if it belonged to a young lad.
Lucius didn’t answer right away, but instead I felt a hand come to my face as if examining it, as though there was a bruise there or something.
“My Lord?”
the unknown person prompted making Lucius release a sigh.
“Get the Imp here, she will know what is to be done,”
was Lucius’ reply and I frowned in response.
Then, I felt the pad of his thumb smooth out my frown before he cooed down at me,
“Ssshh now and sleep, my girl.”
Then just as the other person started to speak Lucius interrupted,
“We will speak of what is to be done later for she is restless and listening…isn’t that right, my little royal ?em?ā?”
Lucius whispered down at me, humming the foreign word I didn’t understand.
I released a sigh and then after long moments of silence, this time when I found sleep I stayed there.
And I stayed there to the feel of Lucius’ gentle hand stroking my hair and him holding my hand.
I don’t know how long it was after this that I woke up, but when I did I knew that I did so in his bed for it smelled like him and the comfort I felt knowing that made me want to say here forever.
I was about to open my eyes in curiosity, wanting to know what it would look like in his bedroom, but the second I heard voices nearing, I remained still and clung to the sleepy state I was still in.
“Oh gosh, just look at her!”
I tried not to frown or make a move to give away the fact I was awake or the fact that I had just recognised my Aunty Pip’s voice.
But what was she doing here? Unless of course, Lucius had called her to come and escort me home? That was a depressing thought.
“Was she hurt?”
Pip asked in a tender and worried tone that nearly broke my heart to hear.
“You mean other than being fucking drugged in my club and nearly fucking raped after I’d just let her walk out of here?!”
The sound of Lucius’ snarled response made me clench my fists under the covers.
“This wasn’t your fault, Luc,”
Pip said reassuringly in a soft voice.
“It was, just not as it intended to be.”
This was his strange and confusing response in return.
“How long has she been asleep?”
Pip asked, obviously thinking it best to change the subject.
“Sixteen hours but it will take longer before it fully leaves her system,”
Lucius stated in a stern voice that sounded less than pleased.
“Any other injuries?”
Pip once again asked.
“A bump to the head, no doubt from when she first passed out and a punch to the face, which she received after she screamed my name for help,”
Lucius said and again, it sounded as if his jaw was that tight, he could have chewed through nails.
“I heard you made them pay,”
Pip said sounding happy about this and Lucius growled,
“Not nearly enough for touching her,”
Lucius said like a sworn vow and again I wanted to frown in confusion as to why he felt so protective over me.
Was it just because he felt responsible for it all? Pip laughed at this and said,
“Luc, you tore one guy to pieces and ripped the other guy’s genitals out before slashing his throat, I am pretty sure that wasn’t fun for them.”
Lucius grunted and said,
“It should have lasted longer.”
This made Pip laugh and reply,
“Spoken like the true badass, killer assassin we all know and love.”
Lucius growled but there was no malice in it as it was done more playfully as he warned,
“Careful, little imp, you and your husband are still on loan to the Dravens, for I will be asking for you back before long and then once I do, your punishment will be of your husband’s choosing.”
Pip laughed and clapped her hands a few times before saying in a genuine tone,
“Oh goodie!”
“How is my right hand these days, bored I imagine?”
Lucius asked Pip as I knew they had once worked for Lucius back before my parents were together.
“I must admit, he is eager to come back, but I… well, you know I will miss my Toots,”
Pip said referring to my mum who was often like a sister to her, being as they were best friends.
Hell, but I had never known an Afterlife without Pip in it.
“You have time yet, I am sure,”
Lucius replied making Pip sigh dramatically.
“What about you, when is your time, Luc?”
Pip asked making me wonder what she meant.
“It is foolish to believe there will ever be one, but you know this,”
Lucius replied and again I really wished I knew what they were really talking about.
“Then what now, are you really just going to send her home after everything…oh no, what did you do?”
Pip asked, obviously after something in Lucius’ expression gave him away.
“I did what I had to do for the girl’s own good,”
he snapped.
“Oh no, Luc… please, oh please tell me you didn’t end up telling her about being in love with…”
The second Pip’s words were out I swear I felt my heart stop beating for a time but then Lucius replied, interrupting her before she could finish her sentence.
And in the end, I really wished that he hadn’t.
“No, Pip, what did you think I did, just take one look at her and then tell her to go home…That I…”
He paused a second as if he was frustratingly dragging a hand through his dark sandy coloured hair and couldn’t form the right words.
As if they were too painful for him and I didn’t have to ask myself why for long.
Because unfortunately for me he didn’t stop.
He didn’t stop speaking, for if he had then I would have gone home, yes, but I would have done so at the very least with some of my heart still intact…before of course, he utterly destroyed it…
“You think that I would send her home knowing something like that…to actually tell her that I love her fucking mother!”
The second I heard those devastating words I couldn’t help my silent gasp as my eyes snapped open to see that Lucius was facing Pip.
He was in the middle of his frustrated rant, one focused on having to deal with me.
So much so in fact, that he didn’t realise that Pip was now staring at me with nothing but horror and sorrow in her beautiful forest green eyes.
“Uh…”
she mumbled trying to break through, but Lucius carried on and said,
“Who thought that was a good idea, because yes, I want to push her away and I am a cruel bastard granted, but I am not that fucking…”
This time he finally stopped, and he did this the second Pip grabbed his shirt and looked back to me before telling him…
“Uh…Luc, I think you just did.”
My mouth dropped open as I sat up, staring at him with our gazes locked.
His was in shock and mine, well mine was as if he’d just shot me in the heart and was still holding the smoking gun.
“Amelia, I…”
This was the first time I’d heard him saying my name and I wanted to tear my gaze from his but couldn’t.
No, instead as I felt the tears pouring down my face, I could only find the strength to say one thing to him.
It was as if I needed it confirmed.
Needed it said and out in the world just to know that I wasn’t, in fact, just locked inside a new nightmare, one far more horrific than what the last twenty-four hours had given me.
For that pain would fade along with my bruises.
But this pain, this sheer agony…the one he’d just inflicted would stay with me for the rest of my life.
And he knew this.
He knew this when I uttered in disbelief the last words I vowed to ever say to him…
“You’re in love with my mother.”