Harlee POV
"There's no way what you're saying is real! That's ridiculous!" Kayla screeched, bringing me back to consciousness.
"You just saw the man appear and disappear before your eyes. Excuse me Demon. And Harlee get injured out of nowhere!" Josh argued.
"Nope-don't believe it. Maybe I just didn't see him come and go because I'm in shock-and Harlee could have some rare skin disease or infection. I don't know. That's why we need to call a real doctor." Kayla complained.
"Hey, what happened to that powder you used to keep Zeev out of the customer service area the other day?" I coughed. "Maybe when Zeev gets back we should show her..." I let my eyes close again as Josh stammered and Kayla scoffed.
Zeev POV
Sadly, greedy people will trade their souls for the most inconsequential things. My first victim was a man that killed his father. He stood to inherit a large sum of money, if he could only find the most recent will.
Too bad he was too greedy to think beyond finding the will when I offered him a deal. His soul was tainted, but within minutes of handing him the will, I had devoured him and felt my wounds beginning to close. I needed to hurry, it wasn't only my life on the line, and I could put up a good illusion, but we were in trouble.
Harlee POV
I felt it as Zeev consumed the first soul and I cringed, but my breathing steadied and my bleeding slowed, so I couldn't complain. I heard Zeev whispering in my head to hold on as he raced desperately through the streets for a new victim.
"Harlee, how are you holding up? I brought this stuff from my dad's stockpile, it's supposed to be great for supernatural injuries. I'm gonna put some on you now, ok?" Josh asked me and I nodded weakly.
I felt a disgusting slimy cream being smeared on my back and I screamed as it sunk into the flesh almost immediately, burning as it went.
Zeev POV
I was knocked from the air and landed hard in the middle of a street somewhere as the area where one of my wings had been ripped off began to burn. Stolen Angel Grace! They were using stolen Angel Grace! They had to stop! I twitched uncontrollably.
Harlee POV
"Stop!! Zeev says STOP!" I screamed "He says it's stolen Angel Grace and he can hear the Angel screaming! Please STOP!" I sobbed. Is this what he meant by no part went unwasted when an Angel was killed? I couldn't stop my tears. The wound on my back spasmed.
"But it's healing Harlee!" Josh exclaimed.
"Oh my God, right in front of our eyes! I can't believe this!" Kayla moaned, covering her face.
"But it hurts!" Zeev and I yelled together, voicing the Angel's pain. "The pain-we can't bear to watch the suffering anymore!" We both panted. My vision temporarily overlapped with Zeev's I heard a commotion as people were approaching him, yelling about calling 911 and asking if anyone saw what happened.
"No-don't touch him." I moaned. "He's so hungry..." Josh looked at me with worry.
"Where is he? Harlee-can you call him back?" He asked quickly.
"No-it's too late for that-he can't move-the Angel Grace-it was devastating-he's going to end up..." I screeched and closed my eyes, but it wasn't my eyes that were observing the horror. Sobs shook my body and Josh tried to comfort me awkwardly.
"What just happened?" Kayla fussed "I don't understand!"
"Harlee's boyfriend just ate some people." Josh snarled.
"Ate.. people? This is all just too much for me. You guys are talking nonsense!" She whined. I felt my injuries taking a drastic leap forwards towards health and cried harder. How many was he killing? My back began to violently itch and twitch and I knew that was a good sign for Zeev-he may be able to regrow his damaged wing. Josh looked flustered.
"Damn Demon." He growled.
Zeev POV
I could feel Harlee's distress and looked around me with regret. It was too late now, but at least I was able to stand again. Harlee's body was in better repair as well, however I was still burning through them too quickly. I had gone too long... One more should do it... As I heard shouting and the sounds of sirens behind me, I drifted from the scene, searching for just one more depraved soul.
Harlee POV
My tears slowed.
"He's hunting again." I cringed. Josh clenched his fists.
"Why can't that idiot just get back here?" He slammed a fist into the lockers behind us.
"He doesn't have a choice!" I hiccuped. I grabbed Josh's hand. "See for yourself. He's trying to save us." I placed his hand on the Mark on my jaw and willed the information to him. Josh stiffened like he'd been electrocuted and snatched his hand back gasping.
"How... did you do that?" He panted.
"I don't know, borrowed a trick or two from Zeev I guess-but he said you're a sensitive, so I figured it would work." I shrugged. Kayla was watching our conversation and scoffed.
"All I saw was two crazy people." She remarked.
"Josh, help me up.." I croaked and he pulled me into a seated position. "Sorry Zeev-I know this drain on your strength is the last thing you need now." I muttered and borrowed from Zeev's power to rip one of the wooden slats from the bench I was on. Kayla's eyes bugged out.
"It could have been rotten-or adrenaline sometimes..." Kayla stammered.
"Josh-do you still have that Demon Detection glass thingy?" I asked and Josh grinned and nodded. He handed a broken piece of mirror to Kayla from inside his jeans pocket.
"Stand in front of Harlee and aim this over your shoulder until you see her reflection." Josh instructed.
"A broken piece of mirror? How do you not cut yourself on this?" Kayla griped. Josh held up his hands, revealing small cuts along his palms and fingers in various stages of healing.
"I have-so many times. But since it runs on blood magic, it feeds the spell, so..." He shrugged. Kayla's mouth fell open.
"You guys are nuts!" She whispered.
"Just-stand here and lift the mirror like so and aim it at Harlee like that and..."
"Eep!" Squeaked Kayla.
"Hey! Don't drop it! I'm lucky to have found one! These are rare!" Josh griped.
"It's an illusion-not real." Kayla whined.
"Oh really? Look at me with it." Josh instructed. "Do you see the same thing? No."
"But why do I see it when I look at me then?" Kayla cried.
"What?! Give me that!" Josh and I shouted together. Josh snatched the mirror from her and looked at Kayla in it before passing it to me and gripped her shoulders tightly.
"Kayla-what have you asked Zeev for? A trade? Tit for tat? Something in exchange for something else? A favor? Maybe something he said he'd collect on later? Think carefully." Josh urged. I looked at Kayla's image in the mirror. I knew what mine looked like already. Mine was shocking enough because we were Bonded and shared a soul. Zeev's Demonic transition state swirled around me, our Marks shining brightly, the silver cord connecting us, his orange eyes glowing, superimposed over mine. But Kayla's was perhaps even more terrifying. Zeev's Demon Form stood behind her with one taloned hand wrapped about her throat. What the actual fuck have you done Zeev?
Zeev POV
I felt Harlee's boiling rage through our link and I nearly abandoned the hunt. But we desperately needed the power. I snarled to myself and searched faster...someone truly loathsome to help put me back in Harlee's good graces...
Harlee POV
"I...didn't..." Kayla stammered, trying to back away from Josh, but he followed.
"You must have said something to him-now think! It could have been anything, even something little that you asked for. A request, a promise-a piece of gum! Something that when you asked for it, you promised to return the favor or do something in return..." Josh said through gritted teeth.
"I don't know what you're talking about... I never..." Then her eyes grew wide.
"Oh Kayla-what have you done?" I groaned, clutching my ribs.