Clash of the Otherworlds: Book 1, After the Fall (12 page)

"Who is that?" I asked in a whisper.

"How am I supposed to know?" asked Maggie, straightening her robes around her middle.

I glanced at her, praying her robes wouldn't open up to reveal anything, knowing it would scar me for life to see her two-thousand-year-old boobs hanging down to her knees.

A sudden movement from the demon brought my attention fully back to him.  He had walked up to the edge of my bubble to tap on it, getting himself a nasty shock in return.  He yanked his hand back and shook it a few times, trying to get the pain to go away.  Once he'd recovered enough, he stepped close again, being sure not to make contact with the energy.  His eyes moved first to Maggie and then to me.  He stared and stared, not moving a muscle.

"Fuck,
Maggie ... he's staring at me!" I whisper-yelled.  "What should I do?"

"Don't stare back!" she hissed, whacking me in the arm.

I flinched away from his gaze, rubbing my newly bruised bicep muscle.  "Damn, Maggie, have you been lifting weights or something?  That hurt."  I looked back at the guy for a second and then again at Maggie.  "What kind of demon is he?"

"He's a vampire.  I think."

"A vampire?!" I squeaked, unable to keep from looking at him again.  He was dressed all in black, just like my incubus friend, Spike.  "Vampires are demons?"  I could already tell my lack of education concerning the whole Underworld structure was going to be a problem, because this situation made absolutely no sense to me.

"Demon is a generic term.  It covers all manner of Underworld inhabitants.  Stop
looking
at him!" she yelled, hitting me again.

I stepped sideways to get out of her range, jumping in fright when the vampire spoke.

"Who are you?  Where am I?"  He had an accent - British maybe.

"You first," I said, ignoring Maggie's attempts to shut me up.

"I am Garrett.  I have been in the Underworld for ... a long time.  Am I no longer there, then?"  He looked around the room again, stopping when his gaze reached the window.  He turned and walked over to it, peering outside.  "I am in the Dark Forest of the Here and Now, am I not?"  He spun around and strode back over to the bubble, stopping just in front of me.  His body language oozed high energy intensity.  He reminded me of Spike so much it prompted the memory of something he'd said once - that one day he could end up being a vampire in the Underworld if things didn't go as he hoped in the Here and Now.

I took a step back, even though I knew this vampire couldn't get to me.  His eyes blazed red, no swirling blackness to them at all.  I had always thought Spike's eyes were a little freaky that way, but now I decided I much preferred a little black mixed in.  It made them look less ... demonic.

Maggie answered his question.  "You are in the Green Forest, in my home.  I have called you here to answer my questions and to do my bidding.  Do you accept these tasks?"

Garrett straightened his shoulders and took two slow steps over to be in front of Maggie.  His posture could only be described as rigid.

I watched him warily, worried about the devious expression that had gradually appeared as he glided along the edge of our power shield.  "Ahhh, so you want to make a deal with a demon, is that it?  I wondered what you were about.  And with whom do I have the honor of dealing?"

"I am known as Maggie.  And this is Jayne," she said, gesturing to me.  "She is of no consequence to our interactions.  I will send her away."

Garrett looked over at me, lifting an eyebrow.  "Of no consequence?  I am afraid I do not agree.  It is she who holds this energy around you, is it not?"  He didn't look at Maggie, but continued to examine me from my head to my feet and back again.

I glanced nervously at Maggie.

She frowned, sticking her pursed lips out but saying nothing.

He shrugged delicately, bringing my attention back to him.  "No need to respond.  I already know the answer to my query.  She nearly vibrates with the power, doesn't she?"  He licked his bottom lip, making me feel faint in the process.  "No.  I think I would prefer that she remain in my presence."

When I first saw him I thought he was old like Valentine.  I think it was the way he moved, so confidently and almost arrogantly, like royalty.  But then as he spoke and I watched him closer, I realized he was much younger than that - probably in his early twenties; but he spoke like I imagined someone from the seventeen hundreds would have.

"Drop the power shield and we will converse like civilized fae, hmmm?" he said to me softly.

"You cannot mesmerize her, Garrett.  She is impervious to your charms," said Maggie, snorting at him.  "And while you are in my home, you cannot harm me or anyone else, so you can wipe that smug expression from your face right now."  She looked over at me.  "Drop the shield, Jayne.  We don't need it."

I looked back and forth between Garrett and her, not sure I trusted her knowledge of demon power.  He looked way too happy at the prospect of being able to get at us.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure.  I would actually like to see him try.  It would be very entertaining."  She smiled, showing off her three remaining front teeth.

"I'm trusting you on this, Maggie."

She shrugged, moving up to the edge of the bubble, preparing for it to disappear.

I closed my eyes to shut out the visions of this scary guy in front of me, showing the Green that I wanted it to go back where it had come from, picturing it leaving my surroundings and going back into the earth.  It left, but not willingly; I could feel it trying to cling, even as it went.

As soon as it was down, Garrett stepped in close to me, grabbing my hand and pulling it up to his face.

I was too shocked to move, my feet rooted to the floor and my mouth hanging open in a silent, unspoken cuss word of surprise.

He whispered his next words, closing his eyes as he pressed my palm to his cheek.  "I cannot tell you how long it has been since I have felt the warmth of a living creature's skin on my own."  

His face was cold - colder than the ambient temperature of the room.  Before I had time to figure out how it was that someone living in hell could have cold skin, he opened his eyes again, and I was struck by how strange it was to see such bright red eyes that looked like fiery heat coming from such a cold-blooded creature.

I pulled my hand away, breaking the stare between us.  "Keep your grubby dick beater demon fingers to yourself," I said, stepping back to get some breathing room.

"That, I will," he said, smiling vaguely, "for now."  He turned his gaze to Maggie.  "So, witch ... you have questions.  Perhaps I have answers.  Let us strike a bargain then, shall we?"  He clasped his hands together behind his back and tilted his head almost politely, waiting for her answer.

She grunted and nodded, gesturing to the seating area near the one window she had in the room.  They both moved to sit and I followed, choosing a footstool as my place to rest.  I set it down near the front door, several feet away from them, so I could make a quick getaway if necessary.

Once everyone was comfortable, Maggie spoke.  "I have summoned you here for your help.  I am not foolish enough to think you will give it for nothing in return.  Name your price, but be reasonable.  If you upset me, I will send you back with less than nothing."

"And you have so much to give," he said, his gaze sliding over to me meaningfully.

"Jayne is not on the auction block.  Try again," she said.

He shrugged.  "All I ask is for a little taste.  I would make it worth your while.  I know about that information which you seek.  And time is of the essence, my dear Maggie.  Make no mistake.  Events are unrolling as we speak."

"What's he talking about, a taste?  As in blood?  Sucking
my
blood?" I asked, sickly fascinated with the awfulness of it.  No way was this guy getting his fangs anywhere near me.

And just as I thought that, I saw them. 
Holy gecko balls, he's got fangs
.  More like really sharp canines, but there was no doubt they could puncture my skin with little effort.

He smiled at me, the tip of his tongue flicking the pointed end of one of them as he winked.

I shook my head in horror, the hair on the back of my neck standing up and a shiver moving down my spine.

"You could not manage it.  But feel free to take some of mine."  She held out her arm, pulling up her robe's sleeve as she did.  Her purple-veined, boney arm looked about as appetizing as I imagined a buggane's butt would be.

He curled his lip in distaste.  "No, thank you.  You are too kind."

She smiled evilly.  "What's the matter?  Too sweet for you?"

He put his bent finger to his lips and cleared his throat, hiding a grimace, I think.  "A-
hem
, yes, quite right, quite right."  He dropped his hand and looked over at me.  "No, only she will do.  I have decided.  If you do not agree, you may send me back.  I shall take my information about Torrie with me."  He winked at me again, lowering his hand to rest his forearm on the arm of the chair.  His legs opened wider and he slouched down in the seat ever-so-slightly, suddenly giving me the impression of a cocky teenager.  His other hand stroked his thigh towards his knee, and he flicked his head, causing a lock of hair to fall down in front of his eyes.

I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering why he looked so familiar and ... current.  Before he'd reminded me of how I'd pictured Sherlock Holmes or one of those old-time fancy English guys to look.  Now he looked like ....

"Noooo ... !" I whispered, staring at him, taking in the high cheekbones, olive coloring and red eyes.  Had they been green, they would have made him look almost exactly like someone I knew only too well.  The closer and longer I examined him, the more the resemblance came into focus.

He smiled at me lazily, cocking up an eyebrow and gently biting his bottom lip before saying, "See something you like?"  He could have stood up and said,
Want to go have some kinky sex?
and his message wouldn't have been any clearer.  This guy was seriously hot and bothered, and it was all about the blood he wanted a taste of.  From me.

I looked quickly over at Maggie who was frowning at him.  "Maggie, is this guy related to ... you-know-who?"

"I do not know who he
was
related to or what his position in the Underworld is now.  I merely summoned a being who had a connection to this mess in the Here and Now.  So whoever he is, he knows something.  The question is, how much?  And is it worth bothering to find out?"  She stood up slowly, using the arms of the chairs to steady herself.  She stared at him for a few moments before declaring, "I think not!"   And then she shuffled off towards the kitchen.

Garrett sat up straight, losing his come-hither look and shoving his bangs back over the top of his head.  "Wait!"

Maggie didn't even look back.  She just waved him off, muttering to herself.  "Melvin, where are you, my sweet?  I need some droppings.  Come to Momma."

I looked at Maggie and then at Garrett in alarm.  Maggie had made her decision, but Garrett knew something good, I was sure of it.  He knew about Torrie, and Torrie was no minor player in this crapstorm.  He was at the dead center of it.

Garrett caught my panicked look and gave me his full attention, speaking hurriedly.  "I'll tell you what you want to know.  All you have to do is give me a sip of your blood.  Just a sip, that's all I'll take!"

"Be quiet!" yelled Maggie from her kitchen.  "You had your chance.  You're going back with less than nothing, just as I've promised."  She cackled with glee.

Garrett launched himself from his chair and threw himself down on his knees at my feet, taking both of my hands in his and pulling them to his chest.  

I had no time to react or think about what he was doing before his face was right in front of mine.

"Please, Jayne.  I'm
begging
you.  I could just
take
your blood right now, but I'm asking your permission.  Please spare me.  I can help you."

"She's not listening to you, demon.  Save your empty, soulless breath."  Maggie's cooking implements made clanging and banging sounds as she rushed to put together her potion.

"Why do you look like Ben?" I whispered, freaking out so bad I was unable to put more volume to my words.

"Ben?  Ben who?"

"Ben the elemental."  I searched his eyes.

I thought a saw a flicker of recognition there, but then he said, "I have no idea.  Perhaps we have some distant relation.  If he is special to you, then I appeal to that emotion.  Spare me from that purgatory.  Let me taste your lifeblood."

"Why were you in the Underworld and not the Overworld?" I asked, not knowing what I should do yet.  I was stalling for time, looking for something that might tip my decision one way or another.

"I made some terrible mistakes.  Several terrible mistakes, actually, and a lifetime in the Underworld was my punishment.  I was soon to be reborn into the Here and Now anyway, so this is hardly any interference in the Order of Things at all.  A trifling, really.  Please, Jayne."  He leaned in, staring me in the eyes and whispering, "She's nearly done with her potion and then so will I be.  I beg of you.  I am but your humble servant."  He squeezed my hands and at the same time, pulled them to him, forcing me to come close so he could kiss me once, gently on the mouth.

I didn't resist, struck speechless by what he was saying and his resemblance to Ben.  Even his kiss what like being with a ghost.

He put my hand on his heart, where I felt no beat at all.  "I will be forever in your debt.  Just.  One.  Sip."

I did the calculation in my head in less than a second. 
Vampire demon who knows what Torrie's up to who also promises to owe me for life. 
"Do it," I said, clamping down hard on my jaw, waiting for the pain to start.

CHAPTER TWELVE

HIS TEETH WERE ON MY wrist as soon as the last word was out of my mouth.