Chapter 25
Nickelback is Not a Sin
Sitting in his own room, Malachi thought about Chuck’s words, that she felt something for him.
Something that wasn’t just pure lust. He desperately wanted to know what it was, but he was scared to ask.
Groaning, he pinched the bridge of his nose, conflicted.
All at once, the absurdity of his situation hit him, and he let out a small sound of disgust at himself.
A demon. Scared of a tiny woman. Granted, she was half angel and could hold her own in a fight, but she was a human, nonetheless.
He was a being made for corruption and darkness.
They didn’t make sense. They shouldn’t work.
But he’d never been happier in his life than he was when he was with Chuck.
She didn’t want him to use his powers on her; he wouldn’t.
He would do anything for her, the thought curving his lips.
Slowly, the smile left his face as he knew that anything could include dying.
Something he would be doing soon. He needed to know how she felt before then.
His head snapped up, and his nostrils flared as he caught a whiff of floral rot and decay.
As if summoned by his thoughts, Hyacinth climbed through the floor and grinned at Malachi with his rotted, broken stumps of teeth.
“Malachi…” came Hyacinth’s rumbly evil hiss.
His breath coated Malachi with a film of filthy slime that he felt might never wash free.
“Naughty puppy, what are you doing in here? I heard you took out another lieutenant yesterday. That better be part of your plan to seduce our angel. Otherwise, I might get a little—irritated—about it.” A knowing smirk crossed his warty face, and he cracked his knuckles.
Dirt trickled to the floor from under his nails.
“It was!” Malachi reassured him quickly with a near-frantic nod.
He glanced towards Chuck’s door, hoping against hope she couldn’t hear them.
Lowering his voice, he grudgingly moved closer and bowed his head.
“I was helping her find a missing child so she would think me a hero. And it worked. The other demon tried to interfere, and she’s the one who killed him. ”
Nodding slowly, Hyacinth squinted then grunted out, “But you told her how.”
Shrugging, Malachi spread his palms in a helpless gesture.
“Well, I can’t seduce her and steal her grace if she dies.
” He figured he was safe with this stance as he wasn’t supposed to know Hyacinth’s true plan.
“And it’s going great! Last night, she wanted me in her bed like this, and she admitted to feelings for me.
We’re going out on a ‘date’ tonight,” he exclaimed, using air quotes.
“I’ll have that bitch out of her panties and begging for more really soon. ”
“Huh,” grunted the squat demon, tapping a finger on his jagged wrinkly lips. His eyes were squinted as if he were in deep contemplation. “You know I almost believe you, Malachi. But I’ve never seen you take so long to bed a female before.” He smirked, “What’s the hold up?”
Raising his eyes to the ceiling, Malachi sighed as if he were long suffering.
“Satan’s ass boils, the chick is a bit of a prude.
But don’t worry, I’ve got her firmly in my power.
She could walk in here right now, and I’ve made it so she wouldn’t even see you.
I’m this close!” He pinched his fingers together, almost touching before clenching his hand tightly as Chuck’s door opened and she strolled out.
“Mal, baby, aren’t you going to change? I want to show you off on our date tonight.
” She ran her hands over his chest and moaned seductively.
“Oh, wear that black dress shirt, it looks so good on you.” Pressing her body against his side, she stared into his eyes with her gaze full of lust. Her fingers curled into the hair at the nape of his neck.
“And be a good boy so when we get home, I can show you how… grateful I am,” she murmured, pulling his head down to hers and locking their lips in a passionate kiss.
Changing the angle, he gripped her waist with one hand and cupped the back of her head with the other.
He licked the seam of her lips and moaned as that sweet mouth parted, allowing him to trace his tongue over hers, her passion and lust kicking into a whirlwind of desire surrounding them both in the eye of their own hurricane.
When the kiss tapered off, he leaned his forehead against hers, breathing hard as they each fought to catch their breath.
“Is he gone?” she whispered against his ear, where she was nibbling on the lobe.
Jolting back to the situation at hand, Malachi peered over her shoulder, then relaxed as he saw Hyacinth had indeed left.
He shuddered and sagged against her. Leaning back, he stared into her eyes and gently ran his hand over her hair.
“Not that I’m complaining, because I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks, but what was that for? ” he murmured.
Releasing a shaky sigh, Chuck leaned into him and laid her head on his chest. “Keeping sane,” she murmured as he wrapped her in his arms. “Mal… who was that? What was that? I heard you talking, and the words just didn’t make sense.
I didn’t know why you were saying such disgusting things.
Then I peeked out and saw that… awful creature, and I realized you were trying to protect me.
Again. You saying you could control me gave me the idea. ”
Stepping back, Chuck stared at him warily now, and he knew something fragile was about to break or grow stronger depending on how he handled this.
“Could you?” she asked. “Could you really have done those things to me, Mal?”
Slowly nodding, he took one step forward with his palms up in surrender. “I could, but I would never. You asked me not to use my power on you. And I promise I won’t. Chuck, I would never hurt you. I care about you too much. Please, don’t be scared of me, Kelly.”
Still studying him with an uneasy gaze, she pursed her lips and raised her chin. “So, what was that creature?”
“That was Hyacinth, my former commander. He’s the one who turned me into a dog in the first place.
It was supposed to be a punishment because I uh…
” he broke off, embarrassed. He rubbed the back of his head and grinned sheepishly.
“Well, I had a fling with his daughter. He didn’t like that, so he forced me into the canine body and locked my powers down so I couldn’t use them.
I couldn't turn into this human form. I didn’t have any contact with him again until just before Glenda did her thing.
He appeared in the middle of the night in the backyard.
You were asleep. That’s when he told me to corrupt you, and he would give me my powers back as a reward.
But he warned me that if I failed, he would punish me with a fate worse than final death.
So, that’s why I have to leave soon, because I won’t go through with it. I won’t corrupt you.”
Chuck took one step closer. “I see,” she said. She gently placed her hands on his arms and gazed into his eyes. “Malachi, I also remember I told you, you belong with me, and he can’t have you.”
Trembling, he gazed back at her, overcome with whatever this emotion was. “Kelly,” he said before his throat closed.
“Shh, Malachi. Thank you. I believe you. I know I shouldn’t.
Common sense says no.” She took his hand and placed it over her heart.
“But this… this tells me to take this chance. I was never one to listen to reason. My dad always told me to follow my heart.” Leaning forward, she kissed him again.
Softer this time and with more emotion than lust.
“Kelly, I have to know something. If I can’t find a way to break away from Hyacinth, he will kill me within days.
I don’t have long. So, I need to know, what is this between us?
How do you feel about me?” His breath caught, and he shook inside, his stomach twisting and aching, waiting for her answer.
Shaking her head, she smiled softly. “I don’t know what to call it. But I care about you a lot, and I could see being happy with you. I don’t want you to leave. I don’t want anyone else in your life or anyone else in mine. Is that enough for now?”
Nodding, he closed his eyes in relief. “More than enough. Chuck, no one has ever cared for me before. I’ve never cared either.
” He opened his eyes and brushed his fingers over her cheek.
“Until now. Until you. So… please. Be patient with me. I guarantee you I’m going to mess up and say something stupid.
Do something stupider. But always know, you’re it for me. ”
“I do have one question, though,” Chuck asked with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she tried but failed to keep the grin from her face. “Do you have another form? A demon form? Like that plant guy? That was horrible, and I don’t know if I want to see you like that.”
Malachi blinked once in surprise, then threw back his head and laughed heartily.
“I do actually have another form. A demon form. It’s nothing like his, though.
He comes from one of the ‘pure’ demon lines.
” He shook his head as he made sarcastic finger quotes.
“There are a lot of demons that believe the uglier you are, the closer to Satan you are, therefore the more powerful you are. I don’t subscribe to that, but looking like I do, I had to fight my way up the ladder to get where I was. ”
“Can I see it?” Chuck asked timidly, a small voice unlike her usual confident tone.
Sighing, Malachi shook his head. “Not yet, please. I’m not ready for that.
Soon, though,” he reassured her as her lips parted to argue.
She looked disappointed and relieved at the same time, and he congratulated himself on making the right choice.
His elation was short-lived as she smirked like she was plotting something. “What?” he asked warily.