When I was younger, my mother told me she’d make me kill my own brother, and that she’d kill me right after. That was ten years ago. Maybe more. I can’t quite remember the details, but I know that, as a frightened girl, I nearly shit my pants. That woman was crazy. So, I took Jared out of her crazy house and fled for our lives.
I went through a laughable foster system. We were down on our luck, and somehow, I ended up here, working in a strip club.
I don’t like dancing for these men. A lot of them are drunk. Most of them aren’t attractive. They let themselves go years ago. Now they have coffee-stained teeth and beer bellies, and some look like they haven’t washed their clothes in days. They don’t stir anything in me, and I feel like a mechanical doll when I display myself for them.
There’s music pounding through the club. The lights flash different colors and form patterns on the ground. It’s a small club, a humble one, though I’m not sure if that’s the right word to describe a strip club.
A few—and by that I truly mean a laughably small amount—of the men aren’t bad looking. They’re studs in their prime, wanting to have a good time. But they see me as an object to play with. Nothing more. A pair of tits and ass to ogle and grope. Maybe wank their dicks off to once the show’s over.
I don’t help them with the second part. Some girls do, and I don’t blame them, because the economy is bad and lots of them come from shitty backgrounds like I do. The club manager, Anya, is making it even harder for us because she keeps ripping us off every night. For these girls, sleeping with men is an easy time for easy money, and I can’t say it’s not tempting.
But I have my boundaries…
For now.
I’m a sucker for the money. There’s never enough of it. And Jared somehow landed himself in the hospital a couple days back. My twin brother gave me the scare of my life. The nurses called me and told me he wasn’t going to make it, but when I got there, he made a miraculous recovery. That day was a bitch of a rollercoaster. He’s supposed to check out tomorrow morning, and I’m happy to have him back, but he’s bringing home a huge bill that insurance isn’t going to cover, so I need to talk to the club manager about a raise.
Why did Jared have to go and get himself hit by a truck? I love the heck out of him, but can’t he just look both ways before crossing the road? And the police are still trying to look for that damn truck driver. It was a classic case of hit-and-run, and I need that driver to foot that eyebrow-raising hospital bill.
A man throws a wad of cash in my face, drawing my mind back to the club.
I sigh. I don’t like dancing for these men.
Except for that one in the corner.
I hook my leg around the metal bar, spinning as I go. I try to be classy, but it’s hard when there are two decorations clipped to my nipples. It’s terrible fashion, but hey, that was the dress code today. I spread my legs and then quickly close them, teasing the hungry wolves who are making it rain on the dance floor. They whistle and howl.
Animals.
But the stranger standing in the distance doesn’t join in. He’s been looking at me all night. I know I’m attractive, at least with my layers of makeup sticking to my skin like grime. Lashes that are too long to be real, hair dyed a fake shade of lavender, so I look kinkier to my customers, lips slightly overdrawn to make them fuller. It’s strange how cosmetics in this age make women look like glorified clowns.
The stranger wears a leather jacket. He has short hair with a long, swept-back fringe. I can’t make out more in the pulsing lights, but I can tell he exudes power. I can almost see it misting around him like a fog that follows him everywhere he goes. His sharp eyes trail my every movement. I can feel him even as I have my back to him.
Other men would have come closer to the stage long ago. They’d have tempted me with a large bill, and I would oblige, because I like the money. I’d pluck the dirty cash from their cold fingers and shove it into my thong, before pushing my breasts into their face.
Some girls in the club pride themselves in their work. Not me. I know some of these men have wives, children. But to them, fun is more tempting than vows.
I want this stranger to come close to me, so I can see his features more clearly. He’s in a shroud of mystery, and I want to know what’s underneath.
He never moves. Not once does he move as the night passes. I dance, shake, flash. But he remains just as he was the moment he arrived—unmoving. Supernaturally so, even. Other people wouldn’t be able to tell in this darkness, but I have good eyesight. Jared and I always have had good eyesight, sharp hearing, and a strong sense of smell.
How the hell is Mr. Dark and Mysterious keeping this still? It’s a little freaky, actually.
I’m left with regret and disappointment when the night ends. I pick up whatever I can from the ground. The crispness of the money rustles in my palm. I duck behind the curtains. There, Anya is waiting.
She has her hand out. “My cut,” she says.
“Thirty percent?” I ask. I need to talk to her about that. The thought of the hospital bill continues to thrum in my mind.
She nods.
She snatches my cash from me and begins counting. Her hounds are doing the same with the other girls. I watch their dejected looks as their hard-earned pay is forced from their grasps. It’s robbery in its most blatant form.
Anya hands me what’s left. She moves, and I block her way.
Frowning, she shoots a question at me with her expression.
“Thirty percent is too high,” I tell her.
She scowls. “It’s what it’s always been.”
“And I’m saying it’s too high. It’s time for a change. The other clubs are charging their girls a flat rate. Why not here?” I speak loudly, and I know I’ve gotten the attention of everyone around me.
“Then you’re free to go to those clubs.” She’s made that argument before.
I should. I haven’t, only because I started at Club Sin. Complacency has gotten the best of me. But complacency also means less money. “I will.”
Anya widens her eyes. “Wait… really?”
“Tonight will be my last night here, then.” My thoughts are still distracted by Mr. Dark and Mysterious. Is he still out there?
It’s strange conducting a negotiation half-nude.
Anya shakes her head. “Wait… Val. Come on. You can’t be serious. You’ve been here for years.”
I’m no longer looking at her. “Too long. Nothing is forever. There’s bigger fish out there. I don’t need to stay here anymore.”
I’m causing a commotion. That’s my intention. I want the girls here to know they have an option, because they’re scared of rejection and the new. Anya takes a pretty amount from us, but she’s also made the place comfortable. Everyone’s getting less money here, and she’s taking advantage of us, but that doesn’t seem like a strong enough reason for them to leave.
For me, money’s my drug, so less of it is more than enough motivation.
“Fine, fine,” Anya says, waving her hands.
I spin toward her.
She purses her lips. “Twenty percent.”
“A flat rate.”
“Two hundred a night.”
I shake my head. “One.”
“Hundred and fifty.”
“One.”
She wants me to stay because I draw the men in with my mask of beauty. I’ve never slept with any of them. I think that makes them want me more.
The warmth of the dancing fades, and the air conditioning begins to chill. I want to get dressed soon.
Her face pales at my final offer. Disgruntled, she obliges, and I grin. I eye the wad of cash in her hands.
She draws back. “Tonight’s the same. You can live one day a little poorer.”
I don’t want to, but she’s a wounded animal, so I let her win. “Fine,” I say.
She peels away and counts her earnings again. Anya’s a fox.
I stride to my dressing table and pull my robe around me. I long for a good shower. I’ll go home after this, and when everyone else rises for work in the morning, I’ll finally get some rest. I stretch my arms out in front of me.
“Thanks,” a girl says. Kylie has a meek voice. She’s a peach, with doe-like eyes, gorgeous caramel skin, and a disposition sweeter than ice cream. Her hair’s a pretty pink. It’s good to stand out in show business.
“For?” I don’t remember helping her out.
“You confronted Anya for us. We’ve been meaning to do that for months.”
“I wanted a fatter check.”
“You didn’t have to do it so openly. Now everyone’s going to use you as an example. So we’ll be able to negotiate better.”
That was my intention. I shrug anyway. “Don’t see why I had to be secretive about it.”
Kylie’s like a baby sister to me. One can’t help but want to protect her because of how innocent she seems.
“Going home after this?” I ask.
“Probably.” She rubs her arm.
“What’s bothering you?” I ask.
“There’s this guy…”
When she pauses to stare at a wall, I say, “There’s a lot of them.”
“He’s been bothering me all night. Saying things…”
I’ve met my fair share of his type. “You’re afraid.”
She nods. Kylie told me she hasn’t had any sexual experiences. Not work-related, anyway. Most strippers actually don’t want to be whores. Two very different professions. Though sometimes the lines get blurred.
“I’ll walk you to your car if you’re worried,” I say. “I’ll even tail you as you drive home. Just to make sure.”
“The tailing’s unnecessary.” She quirks a smile that looks like sugar. “But the walk would be nice. Thank you.”
“Let me wash up first.”
“Sure, of course.”
One awesome thing about Club Sin is that they have showers for their strippers. Not all clubs have the luxury. I did say it was comfortable.
I scrub and wipe myself off, don what I deem respectable clothes, and step out. I look in the mirror of my dresser when I head back. I can actually see the blue of my eyes without all that terrible makeup. Rows of piercings decorate the curve of my ear. I’m addicted to them. Makes me feel cooler. A little bit stronger. They’re a fashion habit I picked up in my younger years.
I dry my mid-length lavender hair and smooth it with my hands.
“Ready?” I ask Kylie, picking up my handbag. She’s perched next to me, tying her hair into a ponytail.
I’ve been tempted to go back out and look for Mr. Dark and Mysterious, but decide against the notion, thinking it ludicrous. Maybe he wasn’t even been looking at me, but one of my peers.
Kylie adjusts the strap of her sling bag. “Yep.” Her lips pop at the P sound.
We shuffle past the late-nighters. The streets are dark because it’s five in the morning. Los Angeles is a different creature at night. Palm trees line the sides of the roads. Their tropical green has turned into a spiky black, and they look like ominous silhouettes in the shadows.
“Thanks for keeping me company,” Kylie says.
I laugh. “It’s a walk down a block. You don’t need to thank me so many times.”
“Yeah. Still appreciate it. You’re easy to talk to.”
The air’s warmer today. I like the sensation of my sneakers against my heels. Striding around and dancing in nine-inch heels all night kills my ankles.
There’s a gaze on our back. I don’t know how I know, but I’ve always had that sixth sense. My ears twitch.
I’m on alert, but Kylie’s still relaxed.
She shoots me a glance. “How’s your brother doing?”
“Jared?” Kylie has met him three times at most. Women are often drawn to him. Probably because he looks good with his auburn hair and strong features. At least, I think he looks good? ’Cause he’s my brother, and finding a sibling attractive is just plain weird.
Kylie fidgets. “He invited me out for dinner one time.”
I keep that bit about him getting hit by a truck to myself. He’s okay now, and revealing it might cause Kylie to freak out and find a reason to visit. I didn’t want Jared hurting poor Kylie. “You said no, right?” I love my brother dearly, but he’s left a long trail of broken hearts, and Kylie doesn’t deserve being next in line.
“I gave him my number. He called a couple times…”
I don’t like where this is going. “And?”
“I turned him down.”
Good on her. “Why?” I ask. Few girls turn Jared down. They’re too ready to let him get into their pants.
She glances back at Club Sin. “Not sure if he’d like a girl like me.”
Jared likes most girls. Whether he can stick with them or not is an entirely different matter. “I don’t see why not.” My brother’s a romantic. The worst kind.
“I don’t exactly have the classiest profession.”
I sniff. “Neither do I.”
“I didn’t mean it that way!”
We round a corner. The parking lot’s right ahead. “No offense taken. You’re awesome, Kylie. You deserve to be loved. Stripping’s good money, and it’s not like we’re robbing banks or something. Let the men decide whether they want you or not. And if they don’t; then their loss. You need a little more confidence in yourself.”
“So, I should reply to Jared?”
“Not Jared.”
She lifts a brow and turns to me. “I knew it. You’re against—”
“It’s not like that. Jared doesn’t deserve you. Not the other way around.” I make a mental note to confront him about this. My friends are off-limits. Kylie especially.
“Hey,” a male calls. His voice is coming from behind.
We spin around. There’s a greasy-looking fellow strolling toward us. The street lamp darkens his form. His hair falls in clumps around his eyes, and his loose tank top looks like it hasn’t been washed in days. They reveal his arms, which are large but not muscular.
“That’s him,” Kylie tells me, scooting a little closer.
I straighten. The static rises in me. That’s what I call it—the static. I can’t explain how it works or why I have it, but I’ve always had this strange power. It makes me faster, stronger, and I can sear my opponent’s skin with my touch due to my static. It’s become useful in my trade. Keeps me safe.
He’s sauntering toward us, acting as if his cock is bigger than his brains, and shaking a wad of money at us. “Why don’t you girls let me show you a good time?”
My heightened sense of smell tells me he’s drunk. The scent of alcohol emanates from him.
“You should head to your car,” I say to Kylie.
She shakes her head. “What? No! I can’t leave you here with him.”
“I’ll be fine.” Can’t say the same for him.
“I’m staying here.”
I bite my tongue. I really don’t want Kylie thinking of me differently. “You might want to look away.”
I crack my knuckles as the stranger nears us. “You’re not actually thinking to fight me off, are you? A scrawny girl like you.” He’s not focused on me but Kylie. He’s studying her like she’s an expensive piece of steak, and it makes my skin crawl.
I look at the bills he’s holding. That money can probably pay off some of my debts. Keep me alive for the next week. Foot Jared’s bill.
“No deal,” I tell him.
He tries to push past. That’s when something clicks in my head. A primal sensation.
Sometimes I question whether Jared and I are something more than human. We have heightened senses and have always healed faster than others. Plus, I have violent tendencies. Ones I don’t believe any man or woman should have.
Red anger flashes in my eyes.
Before he grabs Kylie, my fingers are wrapped around his wrist. I force his hand at an angle that almost makes his bones break.
Kylie yelps behind me.
A menacing sound escapes his throat.
“Bitch!” He swings at my face, but I elbow him before his fist meets me.
I kick his groin. His face turns blue. He falls to the ground and curls up in pain.
“Val…” Kylie whimpers behind me. “That was…”
“You should have gone to your car,” I say.
Her eyes are like moons as she stares at me.
I smell blood wafting from our assailant. Perhaps I was too rough. He’s not as menacing as he was just moments ago, curled up on the asphalt. A rabid dog isn’t so scary with all its fangs plucked out.
Kylie’s lower lip is quivering. “Ye-eah.” She’s still stunned and doesn’t move.
I point to her car. “Your car’s right there.”
“R-r-right.” She fishes her car keys out of her bag. “Who taught you to fight like that?”
I shrug. “It’s a natural talent.”
“That can’t be right.”
“It’s morning. You must be tired.” I don’t like talking about my powers. They scare me because they make me question what I am. Right now, I have no clue what I am. What Jared and I are. He’s been looking for the answer, but so far, nothing.
My eyes trail after Kylie as she heads to her vehicle. I look at the drunk man. His money’s lying next to him, fanned out on the ground. I crouch down, pick it up, and start counting.
He’s still groaning in pain. I don’t want to, but I pity him.
The cash is tempting. I have half a mind to pocket it.
But the poor bastard’s suffered enough.
I’m second-guessing myself as I force his money back into his pocket. Adios, money. I might really regret this later.
That’s when I sense another pair of eyes on me. It wasn’t just this stranger stalking us.
Kylie revs up her car and drives out of the parking lot. She waves at me through her window as she leaves, and I wave and smile back. Her tires screech on the asphalt as she exits out to the street.
As she drives out of my view, I see him. Still a faint figure. Mr. Dark and Mysterious. He’s standing underneath a lamppost, hands in his pockets, with a presence that makes it hard to tear my eyes away. I get up and stride toward him.
Then I blink, and he’s gone.
A chill creeps over me. He feels like a figment of my imagination, but I know he’s real, and I have this unexplainable need to talk to him.
* * *
I’m sitting in my car and biting into my sandwich as I talk to Jules. It’s six a.m. Jules is an early riser. The sky’s still dark, looming over my apartment block.
“No word?” I ask her.
Jules is my agent. Her voice is fuzzy through the speaker of my cell. “I’m trying really hard. You’re pretty. You can act, dance, sing. I’m sure you’ll be able to get a role soon.”
I turn off the engine and push the car’s door open. I step out onto the parking lot. “I can’t get a role if you don’t get me any casting calls.” I turn around, bend over to reach my handbag, and search for my car keys.
“I know, sweetheart.”
I don’t like it when she calls me that because she sounds fake. “I’ve been waiting too long.”
“I know,” she says again.
It’s been years since I brought Jared with me to L.A. I wanted nothing more than to get out of the shithole we were born in, and away from our crazy mother. Dark Hollow is a town that can be cozy for those with sane families, but Jared and I didn’t have one.
I thought things would get better in the big city. I was wrong. The poor are treated the same way no matter where they are. I recall the last foster parent Jared and I were stuck with. After I saw what he did to Jared… how he defiled Jared… I promised myself to never let my brother go through that kind of pain again. Jared acts like he’s gotten over it, even though I don’t think he actually has, but the image will forever be burned in my mind.
“I’ve got you some casting calls,” Jules continues. “You’ve turned them down.”
I slam the car door behind me and grip the phone between my ear and shoulder. “They don’t pay enough.” I hold my half-eaten sandwich in one hand, my bag in the other.
“Gigs are gigs. They might not pay, but you’ll get attention.”
I know she’s right. But I just want to quickly get out of my shitty situation. Fame is one way to do it. I long for the day I can see myself on the big screen, a fat check in my pocket.
“Call me when you have something,” I say.
“Val, I did have something.”
“You wanted me to pretend and suck a guy’s dick on screen.”
“It was a blockbuster movie.”
I roll my eyes. “More people to see me sucking dick.”
She sighs. “One more. One more gig you refuse, and I’m done. This isn’t how it works, Val. You’ve got to pay your dues. Fat checks don’t show up your doorstep just like that.”
“Get me something good.”
“You’re not going to get anything good with that attitude.”
I’m taking one last big bite of my sandwich as Jules drops the call. I purse my lips, stifle a sigh, and toss the sandwich wrapper into a nearby trash can. I throw my phone into my bag and hook my bag around my shoulders.
There’s lots of nice houses in Los Angeles. The ones belonging to celebrities look fancy and give me hope. But right now, I’m stuck in a sad, pathetic apartment block. It looks like a box from the outside, but clean. Don’t judge a book by its cover, though, because the inside of this place isn’t as decent as the outside.
The elevator stops working often, making me climb seven flights of stairs to reach my apartment. I cross my fingers and hope it works. I don’t feel like dealing with any more shit today. I’ll have to cut my sleep short because Jared needs picking up in the afternoon, so all I can think of is slumping onto my bed.
I’m about to enter the building when three of those buggers come out to annoy me. I call them the batshit creatures with wings. They scared the hell out of me as a kid. They seem to like following Jared and I wherever we go. Nobody else can see them, so I stopped pointing them out, because whenever I did that, I got weird looks. They’re not natural. Jared’s trying to figure them out in the metaphysical course he’s taking at his university, but so far, no news.
I’m used to the creatures now.
One circles around, trying to trip me, but I kick it aside.
They look grotesque, with mottled, wrinkly skin that should belong to a plucked chicken. Their eyes are completely black.
One creature flings itself at my shoulder. I roll my eyes. After a long, tiring day at work, it’s a pain to deal with this shit.
I grab it and summon my static. It buzzes through the ugly little thing. It’s not enough to kill it, but Ugly gets the warning and flies away. Two of its companions are still flitting about, however. They’ll get bored and leave me alone eventually.
I press the button of the elevator—thank God it works—and wait for it to arrive.
When the elevator opens, another one of those creatures is waiting for me inside. But this one feels different. It’s bigger than the others. Sharp teeth poke out from its upper lip. Its skin is dotted with black, ink-like spots unlike the pink of those I’m used to.
I pretend it isn’t there and step into the elevator. It closes.
That’s when batshit creature attacks.
It lets out a shriek that pierces my ears and lunges at me. I try to avoid it, but this one’s fast. Sharp claws lengthen from its spiny fingers and come at my face.
It’s the first time in a long time that I fear one of these uglies. I grip it by its wing and fling it against the wall of the elevator. The metal dents and the elevator groans. There’s a security camera fixed at the upper right of the elevator.
The security guard must be thinking I’m crazy. Either that or he or she is freaked out. Or maybe the guard isn’t even watching. To others, this must look like I’m fighting the air.
The creature shrieks and flies toward me again. The harmless ones are still with us, and they zip around, disorienting me.
I’m fending for my life when the elevator dings again. We’re at the fourth floor. That means someone else is boarding the elevator. I panic. I’m sure how to explain I’m fighting thin air to a passerby.
Said passerby grips the creature and snaps its neck. It falls to the ground and slams against the metal.
I’m left both speechless and breathless.
I lift my gaze up at the newcomer. He’s Adonis in a long-sleeved t-shirt. His hair’s dirty blond and barely touches his shoulders. It’s wavy and frames his hard-jawed face. He’s wearing a necklace that is tucked into his shirt, which sits neatly over a pair of jeans.
“’Sup,” he says. He flashes a grin. I’m certain I saw hints of canines sticking out from his upper row of teeth. He folds his arms and leans against the metal wall, right beside where the creature made a dent.
I’m stunned into silence.
“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” he says.
It feels like I did. “You… you can see those things?”
“Hm?” He cocks his head. “Those… things? Oh, you mean the lesser demon.”
“Demon?”
“Yeah, like you.”
“Wait… what—”
“These nasty crazies are common where I’m from. I don’t pay them much mind. Sometimes they step out of line, but I’m used to it.”
Who is this guy? My heart’s slamming in my chest, but I’m not sure whether it’s because he’s so attractive, or because I’m hearing nonsense spout from his lips. “Go… go back to the thing about me being a demon.” He has the kind of face that makes it hard for a girl to form a coherent sentence.
He purses his lips. “Oh, you don’t know? Sometimes I forget that others can be dull.”
“Please explain—”
The elevator opens before I can finish my sentence. His eyes dart to my mouth before he walks out.
“Wait,” I tell him. I trail after him. Then I see he’s stopped at the seventh floor, where I’m supposed to go. He’s my neighbor? Can’t be right. I would have noticed him if he lived nearby. One doesn’t look at a guy like him and just forget. “Hey, mister. You can’t just drop a bomb like that and walk out.”
“Sorry, sunshine. I’ve got things to do.”
“Well, explain what you mean by calling me a demon.”
“Exactly what I said. It’s not news.”
My phone rings. I’m not concerned with that now, so I let it continue with its shrill tone.
“How can you see those things?” I ask. “Are you one, too?”
“Are you going to answer that?” He looks at my handbag. “It’s annoying.”
I groan and oblige.
I’m trying to keep up as he continues walking. He’s moving fast and makes it look easy because of his long legs. I’m of average height—five foot six. Still, I’m a dwarf next to him. I’m struggling to match his pace, and it’s even harder when I’m fumbling with my phone.
“Hey,” I say into my phone.
A coarse voice greets me. “Payment’s due.”
Damn. It’s Luc. I was supposed to wire the money over yesterday.
We stride straight past my apartment.
The handsome stranger halts and scratches his head. “I swear I sensed them around here.”
Them? Stranger’s words feel like riddles. I need to introduce him to Jared, because my brother has been obsessed about finding out what we are.
Luc, my debt collector, says, “When are you going to send it?”
“Soon.” A nerve ticks at my temple. I’ve stopped gambling, but past debts and interest rates continue to plague me.
“That’s what you said last week.”
“By today, okay? I need to cash in my earnings from last night first. Then I’ll have enough.”
“You better not go back on your word. Or I’m sending a team down.” Now I have to decide who to pay first—the hospital or Luc. Luc will probably throw blood on my walls as a warning, but the hospital bill will hit my credit rating.
Fuck this. “Yeah, yeah,” I say into the phone.
Luc begins another sentence, but I don’t bother listening. I tap the red button on my screen, silencing him.
The handsome stranger lifts a brow. “Debts?”
“Yep. Trying to get them paid and over with.”
“There’s a simple way.”
“Oh?”
His eyes darken. “Make a bargain with a devil. You’re not too bad looking. Pretty sure a demon wouldn’t mind.”
The way he looks at me makes my stomach turn. It must be those hazel-green eyes of his. They suck me in. They could suck any girl in. It’s like they’re making me think with my vagina instead of my head.
“Funny,” I scoff. “The debt’s not important. Let’s go back to the matter at hand. How can you see these things, and who are you?”
“Don’t know. Don’t really feel like answering. I have a cipher to find.”
“A cipher?”
He nods.
“Demons exist?”
“They’re those things in the elevator… amongst others. I’m guessing you’ve always been able to see them. Why are you finding this so hard to accept?”
“But how can I be one?” Maybe I’m dreaming. I won’t be surprised if I wake up a few seconds later and find myself in bed. Doesn’t help that Stranger here looks like he just walked out of a dream.
“You have the scent of one of them.” He darts his eyes to the left. “Speaking of which, I need to look for a couple people. If you would excuse me.”
I have a million other things to ask and don’t hesitate rushing after him.
But he’s too fast.
He moves away at an inhuman speed, making a blur. A moment later, I find myself alone in the corridor.
How did he…
I hunt for him, trying to find clues to his presence. None are left. My head spins. I question my own sanity, because I’ve never seen anything like this. I’m left staring at the red brick walls of my apartment complex and looking like a fool standing in the doorway.
The morning air is chilly. Fur grazes my ankle. I jolt and make to kick the sickly demon away, then glance down and halt.
It’s not a demon, but a dog. My dog.
Porky, a five-year-old Jack Russell terrier.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” I almost kicked my little darling. Porky has his tongue out and wags his tail. He barks. He does that whenever greeting me. I bend down and pick him up. His fur is warm against my skin. There’s something calming about carrying an animal as adorable as he is. He licks the bottom of my chin, and I giggle.
“Who let you out?” Did I forget to close the door before leaving? My stomach dips. We don’t exactly live in the safest part of town, and immediately, the image of my apartment getting emptied comes to my mind. “Let’s get you back inside, shall we?”
I turn a corner and enter my apartment. My heart thumps as I turn my doorknob. It’s locked. How the hell did Porky get out, then? I take out my keys to unlock the door and peek in. The lights are off, but I can still make out the edges of my furniture with my better-than-average eyesight.
Porky growls.
I frown. What’s his problem? Then I see the outline of a man. He’s lounging on my couch, ankle resting on his knee. He blends in so well with his surroundings that I didn’t notice him the first time I looked. My heart sinks, lodging in my stomach, which tightens with fear.
I flick on the lights and grab the nearest weapon I can find.
An umbrella—great.
With my other hand, I summon my static.
Is this person Mr. Dark and Mysterious?
He’s certainly carrying the same fog of danger, but no, it’s not him. He has a different hairstyle—a long, dark fringe hangs down the right side of his face, and the sides of his head are shaved short. He’s wearing a simple tee and jeans, but somehow, he manages to make it look fashionable. He turns toward me, and I’m met with striking gray eyes that remind me of smoke and ash.
My ears are ringing, and I’m both terrified and awed.
A smirk curves up the side of his lip.
“Hey,” he says. “I’ve been waiting.”
The intruder stands and stalks toward me. He’s taking his time, but I waste none. If he thinks I’m going to stand there and simply let him continue his cool-guy swagger after breaking into my house, he’s horribly wrong.
I aim the pointy end of my umbrella at him and toss my makeshift, sucky weapon. It bounces off him. He shoots me an amused look.
“Feisty, aren’t you?” he says.
Oh, come on. I’m usually stronger than most guys. This intruder isn’t like most guys. That umbrella might as well have been a feather. I pick up the second-nearest object—a photo frame—and toss it at his face.
He doesn’t even flinch as it hits his chest. The frame shatters on the ground. Porky’s growling and barking and trying to hurt the guy by biting his ankles. The intruder shoves Porky aside. My Jack Russell gets kicked across the room and whimpers. Porky huddles in a corner.
“Don’t worry,” the intruder says. “Your dog will be fine.”
My mouth is going dry, and my mind’s blanking from fear. I try to think if I’ve seen this man before. Is he a patron of Club Sin? How did he even get in without breaking the door down?
He continues to pad toward me. “If you’d just give me a chance to speak? You’re making me have to hurt you.”
I throw a punch filled with static as he nears me. He catches my fist and doesn’t react to my ability. “Valerie, is it?” he asks.
I spit in his face.
His smirk falls, and his eyes widen as his hand shoots up to wipe my spit from his cheek. I use the distraction to lunge forward and kick him in the groin—my trademark—but my knee ends up hurting, and he doesn’t react.
What the bloody hell?
He should be wincing on the ground. Instead, not even a frown mars his features.
He sighs and grabs my wrists. He draws them over my body and presses them to the wall. He’s trying to subdue me, but I don’t make it easy. I struggle. His body lies hard against mine. I kick and flail, but it’s no use.
“Just listen,” he says. His voice is gravelly and rough. Hearing it, while having his body so close to mine, makes desire flare through me. He smells of danger—it stirs the animal inside me.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. I shouldn’t be turned on when fighting for my life. My rebellious body keeps sending me mixed messages.
“Fuck off,” I respond. I try to head-butt him, but before my forehead meets his skull, a sharp impact hits the side of my head.
I fall unconscious.