only to freeze.
“Uh Levi?”
“Don’t call me that.” He said gruffly and she ignored his dislike
of the nickname. “It’s degrading.”
“There’s a dog in the backseat.” She finished, swallowing hard as
her eyes widened at the overweight bulldog that drooled in
return.
“Disgusting. I hate dogs. I’ve always been a cat person.” They
pulled to a stop and Kailani watched in horror as he opened his
door, grabbed the dog and sat it on the side of the road before
speeding off again.
“I take back that bastard. You are so much more than that.” He
cocked a brow at her, not knowing if she was complimenting or
insulting him. “You are the biggest bastard I have ever known!”
Leviathan just stared at her as she yelled. Honestly he didn’t
understand her and her human emotions. It was just an animal.
“Stop screaming. It will return to its master and everything will
be fine. At least he’ll have some protection out here.” He told her
and she stopped to consider that.
“…You’re still a bastard.”
“And you still like the fact I am a bastard hence this conversation
is going nowhere.”
“Just drive the damn car demon.”
They arrived in Perth within the hour thanks to the literal
speed demon behind the wheel. Kailani watched as he pulled
them into a partially empty parking lot directly across the street
from St. George Bank. Leviathan pulled to a stop, casting a look
of distaste at the backseat before opening his door and climbing
out.
“Get out.” He ordered and she complied, jumping out of the car
and moving to meet him at the trunk. He opened it and smirked at
the luggage he found there.
“What are we doing now? Why are we in front of a bank?” She
asked as he pulled open one of the bags.
“We’re changing. We’re both covered in sand from being in the
desert all morning.” He pulled out a mans white button down
shirt and tossed it at her, followed by a belt. “Put that on.” He
ordered and she hesitated, looking around at the men and women
who bustled in and out of the parking lot.
“Outside? In front of everyone?” She asked and he chuckled.
“Don’t worry. I’ll personally hunt down and murder anyone who
see’s you.” He said and she couldn’t help but smile, throwing a
final glance around herself before slipping out of her khakis and
into the clothing he’d given her. She watched him do the same,
pulling on a black t-shirt and slacks, taking their exchanged
clothing and throwing them into the trunk. After she tightened the
belt around her waist and securing the makeshift dress to her
body she rolled up the sleeves to her elbows and stopped to take
in their surroundings
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this. We’re about to do something
illegal aren’t we?” She asked but he didn’t comment. Leviathan
took her by the bicep and pulled her around the side of the car,
pushing her into the drivers seat before slamming the door shut
behind her. He knelt beside the car, his arms resting on the door
as a grave look fell over his face.
“The American Embassy is nearby, I want you to go there. Tell
them you’ve been robbed and that you’re American. They should
help you recover your passport. Meet me back here in fifteen
minutes alright?” He asked and she frowned up at him.
“What are you going to—?” She started but he cut her off by
leaning in and capturing her lips in a mind-blowing kiss. He
deepened it for a second before pulling away, his warm breath
falling across her mouth as he spoke.
“And by the seven lords of hell come back safe.” He ordered,
straightening himself and slapping the roof of the car as he
barked a: “Go. Now. And don’t be late getting back here.” Her
heart seized as she started the car, threw it into gear and pulled
out of the parking lot without another word. Leviathan sighed as
he watched her go, turning his eyes on the bank across the street
from him and smirking at the single security guard who waited
outside the front door. Who says one couldn’t simply walk into a
bank and make them give you what you needed? Quite the
contrary, this would be very simple indeed.
Chapter Nine
Kailani had to fight and elbow her way into the American
Embassy it was so crowded. The entire place was in an uproar,
everywhere people shouted and fought and even laughed. It was
almost as if they were rioting and looting the place. Finally, after
having to drop to her knees and all but crawl into the main room,
she made it to one of the large blue counters, behind which, was a
woman dressed in a pants suit. She looked as if she’d rather be
anywhere else in the world at that moment and judging by the
boisterous crowd she couldn’t blame her.
“How can I help you?” She shouted over the noise and Kailani
pressed herself against the counter to avoid being trampled by
men in suits.
“Yes, I’m a US Citizen and I was recently…uh mugged. I don’t
have my passport or any identification and I was wondering what
I should do.”
“I need your name and social security number ma’am.” She said
and Kai did her best to shout her name and the numbers to her.
She watched the woman enter the information before bending
down to pull a clipboard from beneath the counter. “You’ll have
to fill out this form and I’ll see what I can do to get you a
temporary passport. That will at least get you home.” She told her
and Kai nodded, taking the clipboard and pen and filling out the
form as requested.
“Do you know what’s going on in here?” She asked the woman
and she frowned.
“It seems there’s a hostage situation going on down the street,
everyone’s excited and brawling over it. I just wish I’d taken the
day off.” The woman answered and a horrible feeling of dread
suddenly filled her stomach. That’s when she heard it, a woman’s
voice rising over the crowd.
“This just in, the hostage situation has been confirmed at St.
George bank on St. Georges Terrace! Police have already arrived
on the scene and there is no telling how many people are trapped
inside with this mad man.” Kailani closed her eyes and counted
to ten. This couldn’t be happening. He wouldn’t dare!
“Please tell me it’s some evil little man dressed in a Santa suit
with a gun.” She whispered to herself, moving to stare around the
crowd and up at one of the four flat screen televisions hanging on
the wall. Oh great. It was CNN.
“We’re going live to Lisa Morgan on the scene. Lisa can you
hear us?” The newswoman asked as the video feed shifted to a
dark haired woman in a red suit in front of St. George bank.
Police cars where everywhere and she could vaguely make out
the sound of helicopters hovering nearby.
Oh this was bad
.
“Yes Maria, I’m here with a seventy two year old woman who
says the bank robber recently released her.” She held the
microphone for a frail looking gray haired woman who just
smiled.
“He was the most charming hooligan I’ve ever met. He
personally walked me out of the bank, and even helped me across
the street. Such a sweet young man.” She said reverently and
Kailani suddenly had an overwhelming urge to vomit.
“Are you finished with that form ma’am?” The lady behind the
counter asked and she hurriedly scribbled her signature on the
bottom of the paper before handing it back to her.
“We have another update. It has just been said that the man inside
has demanded that the police remove themselves from the area.
He has threatened to burn the bank down with everyone inside!”
Lisa said and Kailani gaped.
He wouldn’t
… “What’s this? It
appears the thief is coming out of the building!” She watched in
horror as Leviathan did indeed open the front door and stick his
head out to stare at the newswoman.
“You’re awfully loud. Must you shout Lisa?” He asked and the
woman turned to stare at him, more terrified that he knew her
name than the fact he was a psychotic bank robber. Leviathan
looked around at the police officers who were awaiting orders to
either retreat or shoot him dead, then up at the cameraman who
was trembling so hard he could hardly hold onto the camera.
“What are you doing?” He asked and Kailani felt her heart skip a
beat. “It’s been fifteen minutes, I told you not to be late.” And
with that he turned and headed back inside the building. Kai
thought her chest would explode her heart was beating so fast.
“Miss, your passport is ready.” She heard the woman say,
practically running over and pulling it from her hands before
bolting out of the building. Kailani sped down the front stairs,
threw herself into the drivers seat and burned rubber pulling out
of her parking spot.
“I can’t believe this is happening. I’m about to play accomplice
to a bank robbing demon!” She yelled, her knuckles nearly white
on the steering wheel as she pushed the Chrysler faster and faster.
Getting near the bank was nearly impossible; everywhere police
officers trudged begrudgingly back to their vehicles, forced to
retreat under the demons threat. Oh this was just great. Turning
down a side street she decided to head to the back of the bank and
hope he was smart enough not to walk out the front door. Pulling
into the alley she watched the back door swing open and
Leviathan step out. “Are you out of your mind?!” She screamed
as she came to a screeching halt. He simply walked over with a
tiny smirk and pulled open the back door.
“You’ll thank me for this later.” Was all he said as he went back
into the building, leading three women into the alley. All of them
blonde, all of them smiling like they were having the times of
their lives and all of them carrying black trash bags full of what
she suspected was money.
“Thank you?! For what, making me an accessory?!” She asked
and he gave her a grin that had her stomach turning flips.
“For putting your mind at ease.” He nodded to the women who
stuffed the bags into the back seat. “Thank you ladies.” He said
and they gave him a chorus of flirtatious smiles and winks that
had Kai wanting to pummel them all into the ground. Leviathan
climbed into the passenger seat and motioned for her to drive as
the three bimbos filed back into the bank and slammed the door
shut behind them. Kailani just gaped at him. “What’s wrong?”
“You just robbed a bank.”
“So?”
“So we are going to be hunted down like dogs and then we’re
going to spend the rest of our lives in jail!” She growled at him
and he smirked again.
“It will be a little hard to imprison a man who can be called back
to hell at any moment. Not to mention that I don’t have a human
identity. Drive.” He said and she put the car in gear, slowly
easing it forward.
“So you really thought this through huh? But what about me?! If
they catch me with this money—”
“Do you really think I’d let them touch you?” He cut her off and
she frowned at him. Leviathan held her gaze until she sighed in
defeat. There was no getting through to him. He was a demon,
what could she possibly say to make him behave?
“Where are we going?”
“To a hotel of your choice.”
“A hotel? Won’t that be the first place they search for us?”
“For me maybe, but not you. Don’t use main roads.” He sat back
in his seat and closed his eyes as if he fully trusted her to get
them to safety. What kind of madness was this?!
They spent the rest of the morning avoiding the
Australian police and come sundown they were holed up in a tiny
motel off the interstate. The room was completely outdated,
featuring a television set that still sported rabbit ears and a bed
that had definitely seen better days. It mirrored the shaggy
misshapen outward appearance of the motel itself, a place that
had probably once served respectable families, but now only saw
prostitutes, their pimps and their johns. Some clientele
that
was.
But at least it was clean, that was all Kailani could ask for.
“Especially since I’m a fugitive running from the law.” She said
