Bluffing the Devil(26)

I turned and the world went black.

Chapter 18



Every time I opened my eyes lately, I feel dozens of sensations at once, usually good ones that remind me of where I had been while sleeping.

Waking up, not being able to see, feeling pain in various places, and hearing strange surroundings was not my favorite way to wake up, I decided.

"Oh good," a too familiar voice purred, "She's finally awake. Gimme that switchblade, I want to get right to it."

"Aww Look how sweet you are. You threaten me with weapons," I scoffed sounding much more confident than I felt. Hanging upside-down by your ankles in the middle of what looked like an abandoned warehouse can sometimes take the wind out a girl's sails, but I refused to ever look like I was in need or worried about anything.

"Oh Alexia, I think it's cute that you are still trying to act like a bad ass when you know I have the upper-hand here. Finally, stop being a fake bitch. Just shut up already!" she sneered.

"Ooooooh, snippy, are you PMS’n, babe?" I volleyed back.

Carly leaned down and was so close to my face, I could smell the salt on her hands from where she had just held Devin under the water.

"You have no idea," she growled. The switchblade shot a beam of light across her face. If this were a scary movie, I might feel nervous for the person hanging there, but my heart was too heavy with grief to even care.

"Why did you do that? Is Devin alive? What the hell is going on?"

"She warned you that if you didn't do what we wanted, that she would make you suffer and take everyone you love. We started with your pet project, and will move along until all of your friends are dead."

"Are you planning to off, yourself in the name of that psycho, Carly? How nice, if you need some help, I have your back. You know, up until I saw you drown someone I care about you were one of those people that I love, and would have been willing to sacrifice for. What the hell happened to you? Since when do you work for her?"

"Since always babe, for two-hundred and fifty years I have worked for her. I have perfected my flighty, sweet, innocent act over the years, don't you think?" Her voice was severe, harsh, and dark.

"Ah, so you are one of her pets that she steals and trained to be one of her bitches then? That seems about right."

"Don't try to knock me. She didn’t have to train me I worshipped her before I was sent to Hell. I asked to work for her. I like what I do. The darkness is the only thing I know. I was born for evil and died doing evil. You know nothing about me, only what front I allowed you to see." Her explanation of herself couldn't have been further from the truth but apparently what would I know about life or anything. There were such things as angels and demons, God and the Devil regularly fought over souls, and karma never worked fast enough. Every day was a learning experience.

"Well, the Carly I know is not this vile bitch, but to each their own. I would hate to be an unimportant drone that just followed orders like a little puppy," I said. My voice was incredibly even for someone who was hanging upside down with her panties flashing to the world. At least my captor was a female who had seen my panties plenty of times and wasn't fazed.

I mentally kicked myself. If only I had just put on my regular clothes, I would still have pants and shoes on, giving me a better chance to fight when I got free. Okay, if I got free.

I heard a groan from the corner and turned my head to see Rey shackled to a wall. He was unconscious, but alive. Thank you, God! At least she wasn't able to kill anyone else tonight.

"Oooh, how creative, did you plan this out, Carly? Picked out a prime location to torture me and complete the evil plots of your master?"

"No, actually, I just stumbled upon this place a bit ago when I was waiting for you guys to finish dinner. I wasn't about to sit with my mark and two ex-demons in an alliance meeting place. I like my life just as it is."

"You told us to go there and what the hell is an alliance meeting place? I feel like I am learning a new language this weekend." I could feel my frustration rising. I wasn't grasping everything that I was supposed to know. I needed some answers.

"Yeah, the food really is incredible there, isn't it?"

"It was nice, thanks..?" Her façade slipped for a moment and she was my Carly again. Maybe if I could keep her talking and ask her questions, she could come around again. "I swear, I just want this weekend to be over with already. It's been the longest weekend ever, right?"

"Totally, I was thinking… " she paused mid-sentence narrowed her eyes at me, stood slowly, and kicked me in the face. Well, so much for that plan.

"Look, I truly don't know what she wants from me. I'm nobody, a regular girl. What is so special that you guys need? Take it, for the love of God, take it and leave me alone!"

She had been pacing the floor since kicking me and turned to look down at me.

"You are ready to sacrifice yourself for them, then?"

"No, she's not." A voice from the other side of the room echoed softly. When it reached my ears, my eyes filled with tears, and my throat immediately became raw. Pain shot through my heart and everything became silent besides the soft shuffle of feet toward us.

In the darkness, I strained my neck to look up straight so I could see him. I knew my ears were wrong, but my eyes had to make sure.

The light that surrounded us suddenly became brighter, the split second he entered it. Jamison. It had been nearly a year since I saw his sweet face and this one moment made me feel like I was going to die happily. He was dressed in white linen pants and a shirt that matched. He had no shoes on, nothing else.

"What? How? Oh my God, you're here!" I cried.

"Hello, princess," Jamison said to me. His voice danced through the air and slowly caressed its way into my mind. He had always been able to soothe me instantly with one touch or one word. "Release her and her friend, now." His command to Carly was so stern and rough. Nothing like Jamison had been in life.

"Sorry, big boy, but you have no authority here. I will do as I please. I work the Dark Mistress and these are my prisoners."

A sudden and giant burst of air shot through the warehouse and he was gone, then immediately she was above the floor, hanging by one foot by Jamison's hand. He was flying! His beautiful wings looked so strong and beautiful at the same time. I wanted to be able to touch them.

"Drop me. I have been dead for ninety years. There is nothing more you can do to me accept send me back home to Hell, where she will revive me and send me back out. Has happened before a dozen times and will happen again. I am her favorite. Want me to call her up so you can check with her real quick?" The sniveling bitch quality to her voice was constant at this point. Even though she was at a disadvantage, she still continued to goad him.

"No, I don't care if you come back, I just want you gone for now" and he released her. She landed on the concrete floor only ten feet from my face; her neck at an awkward angel and her eyes vacant. I couldn't help it I shed a tear for my friend. I had no idea the whole time we were friends that she was anything other than my dear friend. I never imagined I would have seen her kill someone or hurt me in any way. Since that was only the tiniest segment of time, I was going to try to remember her as I always had.

I suddenly felt weightless and then the world spun a bit. Jamison had unhooked me and was sitting me down so that I could get my bearings. Being upside-down looks like no problem, but it messed my head up something fierce. I sat with my legs pulled under me and my head in my hands and just cried for a moment. It felt strange but refreshing.

When I finally looked up, my eyes were swollen and red then I leapt into Jamison's arms.

"You didn't answer me when I asked how you are here, nerd!" I said as punched him in the shoulder, and grinned like a school kid.

He looked up and said, "Did you feel that? There must be a swarm of gnats I can't see. I felt something touch my shoulder but then it was gone," then smiled back at me.

"Oh. Ha ha You are just so funny. Shut up, I work-out!" and showed him my flexed arm, which compared to him, Devin, and Rey might look like nothing, but I was toned and strong.

"Yeah, you really are buff, princess," he laughed. "And, well, I'm always here somewhere, I just never show myself to you."

A slight cough from the corner of the room reminded me that Rey was still chained to the wall. I glanced over and saw that he was now awake and looking terrified.

"Can you help me get him out of these chains?" I asked, as I quickly stood and carefully walked over to Rey and messed with the chains holding him.

Jamison walked over to the chains and, with a flick of his wrist, removed them. Rey didn't move a muscle.

I turned and said, "Rey, this is Jamison. Can you believe it?"

"Yes, I believe it. I don't like it, but I believe it." Rey's honest answer worried me as he stepped behind me and grabbed my hips to guide me a bit further back.