Chapter 27 #2
Snorting, Malachi whipped his claws out fast as a snake and wrapped them around the man’s ankles.
Snatching him into the air, he dangled the attacker upside down and peered into his eyes again.
“So, this is the part where you drop that blade.” A wordless denial from the inverted man, made Malachi growl and shake him like a rag doll.
The metallic clang as the sword hit the asphalt below drew a satisfied hum from his throat.
“There we go, now you’re being more reasonable. ” He bobbed his chin encouragingly.
“Put me down! Let me go!” the man screamed, terror causing his voice to crack and shake now.
“No, I think I’ll turn you into a chew toy for my friend Reena.
She’s a little bit psycho and needs to taste human flesh before she becomes a fully-fledged Hellhound.
” Malachi raised his arm up and down a few times, bouncing the man like a yo-yo, chuckling as the captive screamed.
The smell of his fear was delicious. “Hey, do you think you’re gonna piss yourself?
It makes this a lot more fun,” he confided wistfully.
A soft hand on his leg drew his attention to Chuck, standing beside him. He blinked, suddenly highly aware that she was seeing the real him. Waiting for her to shudder and withdraw, or maybe scream and run, he held his breath.
“Put him down, Mal, let me arrest him. We need to know if he killed my father,” came her soft admonishment.
Startled, he exhaled on a heavy gust before he slowly lowered the man to the ground and placed one massive taloned foot on top of him, pinning him in place.
“Yeah, if that’s what you want,” he mumbled.
“I was kidding about the Hellhound thing. Reena’s too small to be a real one.
” He shrugged apologetically, waiting for her next reaction.
“This is your true demon form, isn’t it?” came her quiet, but not timid question. Her voice was steady and low.
Nodding reluctantly, he stared at his toes, watching her attacker squirm, trying to get away.
“Bend down so I can see you better,” she instructed, her tone brooking no argument.
Perplexed now, he slowly crouched, sitting back on his heels so his eyes were level with hers.
He held perfectly still as she studied his body.
Reaching up tentatively, she traced her fingers over one of his horns, marveling at the complexity of the swirling spire.
She ran her fingers through his hair, still black like his human form, but trailing down almost to his waist. Squatting as he was, it nearly brushed the concrete beneath him.
A smile crept over her lips as she wrapped his hair around her wrist, then let it fall like a curtain around him.
He finally smirked at that. He knew she was obsessed with his hair, but she hadn’t finished her study of him yet.
Finished with her perusal of his front, she began a slow, torturous circuit around him.
Standing behind him now, she made an inquisitive hum, which he understood was her asking permission to touch his wings.
“Yes,” came his quiet reply. Soft fingers traced the scarred patterns on his back before they finally tangled in the feathers and stroked them.
He shuddered and moaned at the touch, overcome by how sensitive they were.
“Sorry!” she yelped, snatching her hands back. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No,” he reassured her quickly. “It didn’t hurt. In fact, it felt good. Really good. I’ve never had anyone touch my wings before. Chuck…” He trailed off, not wanting to ask her what she was thinking, but slowly dying inside, not knowing.
Her footsteps sounded as she finished her circuit and stood in front of him again. “Malachi, you’re beautiful.”
Mouth dropping open in a near comical fashion, he stared, unable to formulate any words.
“Uh… I… um…” he sputtered. Taking a deep breath, he shook his large head and smiled ruefully at the tiny woman staring at him defiantly now, hands on her hips, ready to take him down with the slightest provocation.
“Wow, that was intelligent. Chuck, I think you need your eyes checked. I’m not beautiful.
” He snorted as she started to disagree.
“I’m Hellspawn. A demon. Dark and brooding. Monstrous. You should be terrified.”
Shaking her head fiercely, refuting his words, she threw her hands in the air.
“Yeah, okay, maybe. To be honest, I probably would be if I didn’t know you.
But I’m not, Mal. Because I do know you, and I know I trust you with my life.
You saved me again tonight. And you are beautiful.
Your wings are gorgeous! You look like an oncoming storm, a harbinger of the fury within.
But you’re still you, just… bigger. And darker.
” Stepping closer, she whispered, “Malachi, you’re my storm.
” Her hands landed on his shoulders, and she leaned in, placing her small lips to his while carefully avoiding his fangs as she kissed him gently.
When she backed up, he couldn’t find the words to say what he wanted.
He didn’t understand the emotions coursing through him.
They were new, shiny, and warm. She wasn’t scared of him!
She liked his demon form. Tilting his head, he studied her smile for any sign of duplicity but only found straightforward acceptance and trust. Finally, he smiled at her.
“Thank you, Kelly. You might be crazy, but I’m glad you are.
I… I feel… shit. I don’t know how to say those words and mean them.
I never have before, and I don’t know if I’m able.
I feel… I’m…” He stared forlornly into her eyes.
Raising a claw, he gently rubbed it down her cheek.
Chuck smiled softly, and he hoped it meant she understood what he couldn’t say. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, rubbing her face against his massive palm. “Mal…” she breathed.
A choked, sputtering cough broke the spell they held over each other as they glanced down at the man under Malachi’s foot. He’d been suffocating as the demon subconsciously leaned towards Chuck. They both studied him disinterestedly until the man’s lips turned blue.
“So, what do I do with this?” Malachi inquired as he pulled the man to his feet, chuckling at his ragged gasps. Shrinking back into human form, he shook the captive again, still strong enough to lift him off the ground.
“First, I want to know his name,” Chuck declared darkly, her cheeks flushing and her eyebrows bunching together like thunderclouds. “And why he killed my father!” Her eyelashes fluttered at this, as if trying to hold back angry tears that were no doubt boiling hot.
“I’m not telling you anything!” the captive shouted. “You’ll kill me!”
Malachi shook him. “She won’t, but I will if you don’t start talking.”
The man cackled, a crazed braying. “A demon in love with an angel. What world am I living in?”
“You heard the lady, you miserable piece of shit. Answer her before I make you taste pain,” Malachi growled.
He picked up the forsaken blade and waved it under the man’s nose threateningly.
When the man merely clenched his lips together tighter, Malachi flashed Hellfire in his eyes and shook the creep so hard his neck nearly snapped.
“Or I’ll just take your soul now and find out everything I need to know.
” He inhaled hard and tugged lightly at the edge of the dark, tainted soul, just enough so his prisoner could feel the searing pain of it.
“B-B-Blake!” the would-be assassin shouted. “Please! Stop! My name’s Blake. Blake Bennett.”
Chuck froze, and all color drained from her face, leaving her pale and sickly appearing. She swayed on her feet, then grabbed the wall for support as her knees almost gave out. “No,” she cried. “Not Nathan’s son.”