Taming the Demon - Book 1 (Completed)

Chapter 7 - Kadis

I open my eyes to the morning sun coming through the window. I stretch and relish in the memory of last night. Rolling over I let my gaze wander over the figure laying next to me. We didn’t stay at the club long. After getting back to my place, my partner was only too eager to change her looks to my preferences. Oh the things we did. But looking at her now I see she has reverted back to her natural form. Though she is still beautiful, I feel a twinge of disappointment that it was all really just an illusion. My pet wasn’t really here, though I can carry the images as a stolen memory that will have to carry me until I can get the real thing. At least I was able to release my frustration and urges.

Getting out of bed, I head over to my dressing area to clean off from last night. As I head back into the bedroom, I see the Anarch is up.

“Feel free to let yourself out.”

“Can I see you again?”

“I’ll call you.” Already dismissing her, I open a door to the hospital on earth. I step through, without further acknowledgment to the Anarch and find myself outside my pet’s room. Peaking through the window I see that she is still in bed. Quietly entering the room I move up to the bed and see a lock of blond hair. Turning on my heel, I even don’t bother checking, I know it's not her. 

She must have been released, which means she is probably at home or work. With her being able to see me, I can’t check on her in her apartment, so I decide to see if Jaed is mobile yet. Portalling back to Helis, I knock on his door. The Anarch he picked up last night answers and I brush by him as I enter. Jaed is lounging in bed, looking like he just woke up.

“Kadis, you're up and about early, I would thought that Neira would have kept you busy longer than this. If she is half the lover Mikkas is, you should have been down for the count at least until noon” he smirks as he stands up wrapping the sheets around his waist. My stomach does a little flip as I remember the night before with Neira, I guess that’s her name, pretending to be my pet. I lock away the memory for now, and sit down at the table as Jaed and Mikkas bring coffee and a plate of muffins.

“She sufficed.” I state as I take a sip. A frown crosses Jaed’s face and he whispers something to Mikkas. Giving Jaed a quick, but passionate kiss, he gets up and heads out towards Jaed's playroom. When he has gone, Jaed grabs his cup, takes a sip and moans with pleasure.

“He does make a damn fine cup of coffee, amongst his other talents. I may just have to keep him around a little longer.” Jaed says, giving me an exaggerated wink. “But tell me my friend, what is on your mind? I’m sure you didn’t just stop by to see how my night went.”

I tell him everything about my chosen pet. Well, almost everything. I leave out the fact that she can see me without permission. But I tell him about the encounter in the library, her fainting, and her being taken to the hospital. I tell him about going to check on her yesterday multiple times. I tell him about releasing Claire. This tidbit shocks Jaed, as I’m not one to release my pets on a whim.

When I’m done, I sit back feeling oddly relieved. Jaed has since finished his cup of coffee, and gets up to grab another. Sitting down he takes another sip and stares thoughtfully into his cup. His silence starts to make me nervous and the feeling of relief starts to fade. I take a muffin and pick at it to do something in the silence that seems to go on forever.

Finally leaning back, Jaed takes a deep breath. “From what you have told me, you have released your pet because she wasn’t your next chosen. You spent all day yesterday thinking and worrying about her. And now you appear this morning after what I assumed was supposed to be a ‘fun’ night, saying your partner sufficed.” Leaning forward, Jaed’s stare pins me to my seat. “You my friend, are obsessed with this new pet. Why? What is it that makes her special?”

“I don’t know. I just know I have to have her. I honestly don’t know what will happen if I don’t get her. It’s starting to concern me.”

“Hmmmm. Let me guess, last night you had Neira change to look like her, right? And now you're mad that it wasn’t really her.”

My silence answers his question.

Jaed sighs, “Right. Well you could either go two ways. First, stop all contact. But I don’t suggest that, as I can see this has gone a little far than to just let it go. Or you can go with option two and this is the one I suggest you do.”

I shift uncomfortably, as I know what he is going to say.

“Mark her. Mark her now and get it out of your system.” Holding up his hand to stave off the protest building in my throat. “Listen to me Kadis, if you need to make her yours, make her yours. Quit pissing around with ‘learning’ about her. Just do it. Then you can see that there is nothing super special about her. Use her as you would other pets and then release her. That is the way it is. If you want any piece of her, that is the way you have to do it. It won’t work any other way.”

Picking up his cup again, he takes another sip. Letting his words sink in, I struggle against them. Is she not really that special? But Jaed doesn’t know about her innate sight. He hasn’t looked into the depths of her eyes and gotten lost in them. There IS something more to her, I can feel it. I can’t accept the advice, I just can’t. As I contemplate my dilemma, I hear Jaed sigh.

“It’s not going to work, Kadis. I can see it written all over your face. You are going to do it the hard way, aren’t you?”

“I have to, it’s who I am.”

Getting up, he rinses out the coffee cups. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now if you will excuse me, I have a previous engagement to attend.” Dropping the sheets covering his waist, he heads towards the playroom. Looking back at me, he shakes his head and sighs again, and then leaves me with my thoughts.

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After leaving Jaed’s place, I head back to the library to see about any other books I can find on human and demon interactions. But I think I really just want to be in the place where I had last seen her.

Dammit! I almost wish she couldn’t see me. Then this would be so much easier to be able to watch her, to learn about her. I can’t risk her seeing me in an intimate setting. She would freak out if she saw me watching her from her balcony.

Combing through the books again, I come to the alcove where she approached me. The table has been cleaned off and the books have been put away. I have found nothing new about humans and demons. I’ll just have to go to a different library. But I linger, reluctant to leave. Is Jaed right? Am I becoming obsessed? It can’t be, I just have to figure this mystery out, make her my pet, and everything will go back to normal.

Heading back to the main library, I hear her voice. My chest flutters and I have to stop myself from sprinting towards the sound of her laughter. Turning the corner, I see her laughing at something the librarian has said. The librarian is standing on the other side of the counter, leaning forward showing her something. As she is looking down at what he is showing her, he is looking at her. I see his eyes roam over her face. They follow the sweep of her hair, the curve of her neck, and they stop to stare at her lips. Rage hits me like a hammer. How dare he look at my pet like that! Throwing a permission to him, I approach the counter with an authoritative step.

As I near them, his gaze flits towards me. I see his body stiffen and his head snap my way. I’m almost at the counter when my pet sees that the librarian is looking over her shoulder. Turning to see me behind her, her lips form an O in surprise.

“Hello again,” I purr, “I’m so happy to see you are well. That was quite a scare you gave me the other day. I was getting worried about you. I didn’t even know what hospital you had been taken to.”

Looking at me in disbelief, she seems to be having trouble speaking.

“Forgive me, I am an i***t. Let me start again…,” I hold my hand out, “Hello my name is Kadis, I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

Placing her hand in mine, she squeezes it slightly. Waves of pleasure run up my arm.

“Jane, I’m so sorry for the other day. I didn’t mean to cause such a ruckus.”

“Think nothing of it. I'm just happy you are okay. I’m afraid to tell you I panicked. I yelled for help and one of the workers came and called the ambulance.”

Clearing his throat, the librarian interrupts us.

“That would be me that called. Hi, I’m Michael.”

I turn to find him holding his hand out to me. I take it in my grip, and squeeze it just a little too much. His eyes widen, then narrow as we shake. I look over at my pet and she is looking back and forth between the two of us in confusion.

“Now that I know you are doing well, can I be a little forward and ask you to join me for a coffee?”

Her eyes continue to shift between me and the librarian.

“I’m sorry, but I already promised Michael I would go to lunch with him. Thank you for the offer though.”

I grab a piece of paper and a pen off the counter. Jotting my number down, I offer it to her. Surprise crosses her face as she takes it.

“Here’s my number then, please give me a call when you have a chance. I would love to see you again.”

I saunter towards the exit, and just before I go out, I look back. Both of them are still watching me, but I only have eyes for her. Curling my lips into a smile, I wink and give a small wave then leave the building. As soon as I’m out the door I open a portal to Helis.

How dare he!

I grab a chair and throw it across the room. Does he really think he can compete with me! I have had centuries to perfect the hunt. I have countless ways to make someone desire me beyond their imagination. He’s just a human, he doesn’t stand a chance. Besides, as long as I stay within the Rules, I can cause unseen amounts of chaos in his life if need be.

Like I need to resort to fighting dirty. Like she would choose him over me when given the choice.

Finally calming myself, I smirk. That pathetic excuse for a man won’t be able to hold her attention for long. As soon as I can get her to meet me, she will be putty in my hands. Then I can take my time learning every inch of her mind and body.

Dropping onto the bed, I spy a note that the Anarch left on my pillow. Neira, that's her name. I dial the number and I give her instructions on how she should look upon arrival. I groan in anticipation as a portal opens up by the bed and the vision of my pet steps though it.