I met Asmodeus only a few nights later, he had been prowling the local bars, fuelling himself on the lust and emotion in the air. As a demon of the succubae class, he fed off of sexual energy. I had lured him out into the streets, he had taken me into his car. He became frenzied as he bit the side of my neck hard, me feeling two tiny pinpricks, at the same time his hands roamed my sides. Then I heard a click.
I jumped out of the way as the glass in the window next to me shattered, as something shot through the front driver's side window of the car. Red blood splattered across the windshield as a body launched in front of the car. I jerked away from the man beneath me, tearing his fangs at my neck, I gripped the knife in my boot and spun to hold it against his carotid. I could hear smashing and hissing from outside, felt jarring impacts against the vehicle.
"What the hell is going on, Demon?" I hissed. Examining the sudden carnage outside. I kicked the driver's side door open easily, extracting myself from the vampire's lap. I held my free hand to the side of my neck, pulling it away to see black blood that had been trickling down. Emerging from the Bentley, there were three bloody, mutilated vampire corpses surrounding us. Dents covered the driver's side, and the windows were smashed. Amid the male bodies on the ground, stood a figure.
He was tall, well over six feet. His long, thick muscular legs were clad in dark jeans, bottomed with steel toed leather combat boots. His expansive chest was clad in a white T-shirt that clung to his rippling muscles, the bulges of his biceps stretched at the arms of his worn leather jacket. His thick black hair was shaggy, and hung in loose waves about his face, shaping his aquiline angular features. His full lips, and strong previously broken nose were overshadowed only by his piercing deep ruby eyes. Something was familiar about those eyes. The corner of his lip was quirked up in a smirk, and the barest hint of a fang prodded his bottom lip. In each hand he gripped intricately shaped metal short swords.
I was pulled from my reverie as the man in front of me curled his lip and hissed at a demon behind me. His body vibrated with fury. I cursed and whipped around to see the vampire I had been with climbing out of the vehicle. His eyes glared. He rushed toward me. He scanned the vampire bodies around us and grasped my wrist tightly.
"Kali, you need to come with me. This demon is dangerous." He looked deep into my eyes, and I saw the crimson glow beneath, showing he was attempting to use suggestion on me. He squeezed my wrist. I heard an animalistic snarl come from the new figure. I firmly pulled my wrist from his grasp.
"I never told you my name." I stated and reached into my sleeve for my dagger. I pulled out the blade and lovingly ran my fingertips over the razor edges. I looked up through my lashes at the vampire. I saw his eyes widen, and his muscles tense as if to run.
I struck, like a viper from its nest. I slammed the dagger hilt deep into the Asmodeus' shoulder. I twisted roughly, and he screamed.
"Who sent you!" I snarled at him and yanked the blade down slicing him further. I saw red, haze filled my vision. My nails sharpened to claws; fangs protruded my lip. The vampire whimpered and cowered away.
"Naamah!" He cried. I growled. I jerked the dagger out and raised my arm above my head. Before I could slam my arm down, a large hand gripped my arm. I could feel a warm body behind me, the trail of breath on the back of my neck.
"Kalaratri, stop." A deep rumble echoed in my ears. I shivered. My body froze. No. He knew my true name. Use of the true name could control the soul. He gently pulled me back, he took the dagger from my hand, and then brushed a stray curl behind my ear. I stood still, frozen.
"Don't be who they created you to be." He looked into my eyes, I tried to place where I had seen his before. I blinked and shook my head, breaking myself out of his spell. He frowned, but then looked back at the vampire.
"Tell Naamah she's going to have to do better than that." He called with a smile, shooing the demon off. As he waved, I saw the trail of blood dripping to the ground from his arm. He looked a bit pale. Asmodeus got up and growled, dusting himself off.
"It's inevitable, Rhys." With that he turned and strode off into the night. After the Asmodeus disappeared, Rhys stumbled to one knee. I rushed next to him and examined the gaping wound on his forearm, he was losing too much blood. He looked flushed as he glanced up at me, mumbling.
"Sorry...for interrupting." Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped over. Shit. I glanced around me at the dark alley to ensure no one was watching, then I slung his arm over my shoulder and lifted him. What am I going to do with you?
When I managed to get him into my apartment, I laid him out on the bed. I tore his T-shirt down the center and wrapped it around his upper bicep, I examined the deep gash on his forearm. Noticing signs of the flesh beginning to stitch together, I gathered gauze and bandages from my bathroom, and set to work binding the wound.
I had been working for a few minutes when I noticed his breathing became ragged. His face was flushed and sweat beaded on his forehead. I grazed my fingers over his skin, and it burned to the touch. I pulled open the edges of his wound and saw a dark ooze, puss sizzled.
"Fuck!" I cursed and pried open an eyelid. His pupil was dilated and the rest of his eye bloodshot. I got up, threw my tools to the ground, and began to pace.
I don't know this guy. I can't trust him. What does it matter to me if he dies? He's a demon!
He saved your life. He knows your name.
I looked over to examine the gasping figure. A curved, intricate dragon symbol appeared branded on the left side of his chest, over his heart. It stretched and moved as he breathed. It appeared familiar to me. I placed my palm over it and felt the rapid beat of his heart. His energy sizzled against my palm. I gently slid my hand over his shoulder, down his arm and turned his forearm up so the wound faced me. I sighed and closed my eyes.
"Don't be who they created you to be." Echoed in my mind.
I lifted a dagger from my boot and slashed my wrist. Blood seeped from the wound, and I dripped the black blood into his open wound, I heard the sizzling increase. I raised my hand over his face, and blood dripped on to his chest, onto his brand. I held my hand over his lips and allowed a few drops to pass.
His chest lurched off the bed, and his fangs descended in a deep scream. His eyes glowed red, flames flickered within the depths. His brand blared with light; his body sizzled. An anguished scream shook the walls. Black feathers burst from his spine as his back arched, great wings spanning the length of the room flung pictures from the walls, and books from the shelves. His claws tore through the bedsheets.
As suddenly as it all began, everything stopped. He dropped back on the bed; his wings folded beneath him. His eyes closed and he was silent. He took in a deep breath, then began to sleep normally. I cautiously approached, and placed a hand to his forehead, his fever had broken. Exhausted, I dropped to the floor and wrapped a shredded piece of cloth around my wrist.
Staring at his exposed figure, I shivered. My body flushed, and my head spun. I need to figure out what's going on here. I stood and grabbed my leather coat. I needed to retrieve my bike as well. With one glance back at the now sleeping demon, I locked the door behind me.