As I slowly woke up, I felt something poking me in the back. When I tried to scrub my face to wipe the sleep away, I discovered that I couldn't move my arm. Opening my eyes and looking down, I saw that I was wrapped up in Ethane. He had an arm and a leg over me, pinning my arms down under his as he slept. I also now knew that it was his erection that I felt on my back. How tempting it was to roll over and take advantage of the situation. I looked over to the clock that told me it was eight thirty in the morning. I guess I better get up instead of giving into my harlot ways that I had picked up lately.

Slowly moving myself out from under Ethane, I got up to relieve my bladder and put on some work clothes. A lot had happened yesterday but that didn't change the fact that there were children missing that I needed to find. I had a feeling that it was demon related, because I don't believe in coincidences. I needed to tell the guys my thoughts and go back to some of the houses. I wonder if I had a picture of the child, if I could envision them in my mind and be able to go to their location. If so, that would be amazing. However, I am not sure how I would be able to keep Paraoffice from finding out about it.

I was now dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a tank top. I had plenty of weapons tucked away and no one would know unless they gave me a pat down. Even then some of my throwing knives would probably be missed. I put on a pair of sandals that strapped to the back of my leg so that way if I ever have to do any running I could.

Making my way back out, I decided it was time to wake up Ethane. I just didn't know the best way to go about it, so of course I decided to be a dick and jump on the bed while yelling his name. He jumped up with a startled look on his face, which made me immediately start cackling like a hyena. Finally realizing that nothing had happened, he moved from shocked to irritated.

“Damn it Gwen. Don’t do that.” Ethane growled at me with his face looking unusually serious. He got out of the bed and started dressing himself in jerky movements and mumbling something to himself about irritating women and spankings. It probably didn't help that I was still sitting on the bed laughing like a crazy person and his reaction just made me laugh louder. I may or may not have snorted at the spankings comment.

“Sorry, but it was time for you to wake up.” I said through the giggles. Trying and failing to stop them, I just kept on giggling until I heard the door open. I was assuming it was one of the guys and turned to see which one it was. However, a man who looked just like the demon who had converted me walked in. Ethane had the man pinned against the wall before I could even make it off the bed. Damn, he was faster than I thought.

“Ethane that's the guy who did this to me. Don't let him leave. I am going to go get the guys.” I was pissed and felt my body start to heat up, which I had noticed was a telltale way to know that I was gonna light shit on fire. What I really wanted to do was beat the shit out of him. He had a lot of nerve showing his face to me again. It might be an attractive face now, but I could change that. Asshole. I had to force myself to get off the bed and leave the room. I was fuming by the time I made it to Barrett’s room and started beating on the door. I could see the small sparks coming off of me. That was not good. I would have to attempt to calm down, but dammit I didn't want to.

“Better come to my room.” I yelled through the door to whoever was in the room. Being too mad to stay and wait on them,I moved over to Donovan's room and did the same thing. I was not waiting on them before I talked to this guy, especially because they would want an explanation and I did not have one yet. I would though, and soon. Let’s see how this guy liked the newfound powers of mine that he gave me. I am sure I could get creative on which body parts to burn.

Taking a deep breath that failed to calm me down, which was what I was hoping for, I headed back into my room. Ethane had moved demon guy to the desk chair and had tied him to it. I could hear the guy talking, but I was still too pissed to process anything that he was saying. I had to calm down. I went into the bathroom to splash some water on my face, avoiding looking at myself in the mirror. I knew that if I did, that whatever small calming effect the water had on my face would be voided.

“Gwen, You are gonna have to calm that sweet ass down or your going to light this place up.” Ethane yelled from the bedroom. He really wasn’t helping anything. I just needed some time to cool down. I mean, damn, they had the guy tied down. It wasn’t like he was going anywhere.

Taking a second for some deep breathing, trying to find the calm that came with it, I put on my serious face. I needed answers and he might even be able to help find the missing kids. Walking out of the bathroom, I noticed all the guys had made their way over here and were sitting on the edge of the bed. I sat on the edge of the bed closest to the man who had changed my world.

“So, I think you have some explaining to do. I want to know everything, and I am willing to get the information from you in anyway I can.” I was a little shocked that my voice had come out so steady and commanding. When in all actuality I was anything but those things. He had changed since our so-called “deal”. He now had light blonde hair and warm brown eyes. His lips were full and his nose perfectly sized for his face. I hated that he was as attractive as he was. Wait! I just hated him in general.

“My name is Canio. I had to find you and warn you. The other demons are coming. This conscience thing is killing me. As soon as I switched us, I was brought down with some emotion that I was unfamiliar with. I had to watch you and know you were okay. So I waited in the bushes and followed these men back. I wanted to wait until you had acclimated better, but I had to warn you. There are only a few female demons across this realm, and word has spread about you. The tattoo shop down on Broadway is a known hangout for earth side demons and they were talking about you.” He spat out as quickly as possible. His brown eyes pleading at me to do something about what he was saying. However, I was having a very hard time processing what he was telling us. Earth was a realm? Demons knowing about me? What the fuck?

“Wait. You are gonna have to slow down. One thing at a time please.” I was frustrated that I was having such a hard time comprehending all of this. I needed time to process and figure out my next steps.

I could feel myself trying to get lost in thought as he rambled on. “There are male demons that are looking for you. It is rare for us to give birth to females and the only way to have a purebred demon is to find a female demon. Some of these demons may try to charm you, but most will just take what they want. I am so sorry for what I have done to you, but I had to get out of there. In the underworld there is a hierarchy, and I was a lord. I wasn't super high up, but I wasn't on the low end either. I came across some other lords who were bringing over slaves from this realm. If they hadn’t been children I wouldn't have minded. When I brought it up to the duke of my sector, he had me hunted down. I barely escaped with my life. I was trying to keep the last girl from being taken and failed. When you followed me into the woods, I found the opportunity to save myself. I tricked you into a deal with me and you became a demon and I became human, which got the other demons off my back. Who in their right mind would refuse to help a little girl? So that was the form I used.”

“Hold the fuck up! How is it that you look like this now then? What the fuck is wrong with you?” I interrupted him and didn't give two shits if it was rude. The more he spoke the more I wished that I could gut him right where he was sitting.

“After leaving the woods I became unconscious, and when I woke up this was what I looked like. I am sorry, but I didn't have any other choice. It was a very dirty way to go about it but it got the job done.I do want to continue to help though.I have to! My human body is strong and I know about the demons. Maybe between the six of us we can stop it.” He looked at me with his piercing brown eyes and for a few seconds I actually felt sorry for him.

“One, you have no choice but to help with the investigation, and you are not leaving till I know everything. Just know that we will never be partners and do not compare yourself to these men beside me. Two, how do I keep the male demons off me? And three, I realize that you were trying to do a good thing. However you made me into this and I will never forgive you so don't even try it.” I replied, but by the end of it I was shouting. I was just so angry. I know that he had done it out of necessity, but my world was now completely upside down. At least we had a lead on the kids.

“I am sorry, miss. If I could go back I would change it, but alas I cannot. You will have to show your dominance over the male demons who try to force you. That is the only thing they respond to. You need to go see Alyanna at the Fire Heart tattoo parlor. She will know more about the female demon thing. She has kept them off of her for over one hundred years. No one bothers her now. Concerning the children, I know where the demons will make their next move. Before I left the underworld I got some information from one of the serfs that works for the Duke. They are gonna hit in two days over in the Hillview apartments. There is some special blood condition that they have found with each of the children. I have no idea what they are up to, but I know we need to stop it. ” He looked me over as he continued to spout all these things at me. My brain instantly started to work out the best course of action for what he had just said.

“Do you know which apartment they are gonna hit?” Draven asked Canio. I hadn't noticed till now but Draven’s vampire marks were on display. Really, all of the guys were giving Canio a look that if looks could kill he would have done fallen over dead. I had a feeling that the only thing keeping him alive was the fact that he had insider knowledge and we needed to get the children back. Now, I think the first thing I needed to do was to take some of the guys with me and go talk to this Alyanna while the others called in the info to Paraoffice and started to set up surveillance. Finally, a plan of action to get the children back.

“Yes, it's number 333. Please let me help all of you finish this. I have a lot of things I need to atone for.” He pleaded, looking at me like I was gonna actually let him be a part of this. Yeah, he was barking up the wrong tree. If it was up to me he wouldn’t even be in this room right now.

“I will think about it, but really the one you need to convince is Barrett. He is the one who is the lead of this group. However, first thing I am doing is going to see this Alyanna. Draven and Donovan I would like ya’ll to go with me. Barrett, you and Ethane, y’all can handle finding the apartment and the Canio issue. I gotta leave now because I can’t listen to him prattle on anymore or I am gonna hurt him.” I made this declaration while looking at Canio with disgust. I just needed to get out of here as soon as possible. I needed to do something. I was tired of sitting around and listening to his bullshit. I was gonna snap if I had to hear it much longer, and I had a feeling that would not be a good thing. Barrett’s next words proved that he understood me already in the short amount of time we had known each other. It was a heady feeling.

“That's fine. I got this. You be careful.” Barrett said before pulling me into a kiss that not only shocked me but was way too short for my liking. My heart was pounding as I looked up at him. I could really get used to this type of goodbye. That thought not only made me happy, but scared the shit out of me.

“Um. Yeah, I’ll be careful. Come on guys.” I replied back to him knowing that my face was on fire. That was quite the send-off. Now, on to get some answers from some random ass demons. Giggling to myself at the fact that twenty-four hours ago I would have thought I was insane. Damn, it's been a long ass morning and I had a feeling that it was just gonna get longer.