Among Demons : A Siren's Voice

Ch. 14 : Gathering Information

Panic… Fear… and so much doubt…

Every one of those emotions and more struck me so deeply that I staggered back from Nick as he leaned towards me. His words, the shocking fact behind them, rang in my head as I stared at him.

That man, that older Human male that had waltzed into my cell a few days after I had been taken, was the leader of ‘The Peoples Sword’. He had told me that himself and smiled as he said it, appearing so very proud to be in charge of a mass of Human murderers, thieves and maniacs. And after his ever proper and condescending introduction, he had paced slowly in my cell as he listed off every bit of information he had about me and my family.

My parents, who and what they were.

My home, and how long we’d lived there.

My education, along with my grades, academic habits and extra-curriculars.

My social circle, along with their own mini family backgrounds.

It had been so haunting, terrifying even, to hear this domineering stranger talk about me as if he had known me all my life. To listen to his patronizing voice jot down everything he knew about me.

And then, after staring me down for a long and uncomfortable silence, had told me that I had a choice. Telling me that I had a few options in what I could decide to have happen to me while I was in their ‘care, as he put it. Called me his new little ‘Pet’ and that I wasn’t, ever, going to leave from under his care. That he needed me and my pure, raw ability, but that I was to be able to decide how I was going to be used by him and his men.

Option one: I was to pledge my loyalty to him and his most trusted men, taking a binding potion that would keep me in line if I was to ever try to cross him.

Option two: I remain locked up, in a more comfortable cell, an upgrade, if I was willing to use my Siren abilities on other Demons they would bring to me. Forfeit my freedom in exchange for endless ‘riches’, as he’d called it.

Option three: If taking the binding potion, or using my Sirens’ call wasn’t appealing to me, then I could offer up my blood and small locks of my hair, since my ‘powerful’ Siren abilities could apparently be used and pulled from these things. Though I would remain imprisoned.

And option four: If I didn’t choose, then torture would be unleashed upon me. Everything would also be taken from me by force and I would also be made to drink all manner of potions, used as a guinea pig for them and made to use my ability to aid them with a mixture of potions, drugs and physical restraints.

All so that he and his men could enjoy a more… complaint and powerful Siren like me.

My mind had whirled with so many emotions after that man had left my cell, so much so that I found myself on my knees once the door closed. But the main things that had consumed my mind were the ones now echoing in my head once more.

How had this bastard learned so much about me? Why was he so very certain that I was as powerful as he claimed I was? Why had he refused to negotiate the release of my nephew in exchange for my submission? And why did his plans change half way through my time as his prisoner?

“Please don’t be afraid.”

Nick’s soothing voice startled me, my lungs sucking in sharply as my mind pulled away from the memory. Looking up at him now, still feeling panic and fear, I flinched away, catching sight of his outstretched hand. My chest ached a moment later when he dropped his hand and sighed, a look of sadness, pain and deep concern darkening his hazel-green eyes.

But I couldn’t help it.

Those deeply doubting voices, now louder than they had been before, were painting all manner of cruel possibilities into my mind. Laughing at me for trusting this band of Humans and Demons that had helped me heal. I tried to counter those voices, reminding myself of all the help and kindness that they had given me. All the patience and understanding. The warmth that had seemed so very familiar to me, had felt like I always did around my dad and nephew. None of it had been fake or forced, I knew this for sure. But still… Those damned voices persisted.

‘See, this is why I shouldn't have accepted their kindness so easily.’

‘I can’t trust anyone.’

‘They’re going to hurt me, now that I know the truth.’

‘It’s my fault.’

‘I’m never going to find Alder now.’

Without realizing it, I looked up to find myself further back and away from Nick with my arms wrapped around myself. My breathing was hard and I could feel sweat begin to coat my skin. A second later, my vision blurred with tears and my body began to feel strangely hot yet trapped, as if I was in a tiny locked room with a heater blasting down on me.

“Lora…” I could hear a voice calling to me over the rushing sound that was filling my ears. “Focus, Lora…” Some part of me recognized that it was Devin’s voice and I tried to pull myself away from this suffocating feeling. “I need you to focus… to think carefully and focus on your answers, ok? Think back, hun.” Her tone was calm and soothing, guiding me away from this overwhelming emotion.

“Have any of us tried to force your hand?”

‘No.’ My answer was instant, my thought formed the second she finished asking the question.

This, slowly, managed to help me cling to some sense of self, pulling me from the buzzing doubts and assisting me to regain focus in my eyes.

“Did we ever make you feel uncomfortable?”

‘No.’ Again, an instant response entered my mind and the black spots and fog started to fade, allowing me to see Devin’s calm yet worried face.

“I understand that your inner voice is trying to get you to run from us.” She continued, taking in long, deep breaths and motioning me to mimic her. “It wants you to doubt, second-guess and question everything we have done for you.” I nodded, now able to see the rest of the room I was in and realizing that I was crouched in the corner, shaking. “It’s trying to get you to run in order to protect you from a threat that isn’t there.” Nodding some more, I blink away a few tears and unclench my body slowly, feeling the ache from having been balled up on the floor. “I’m sorry we shocked you with this information.” She inched closer and placed her hands over mine as I straightened out, pressing my back into the beam behind me. “And I’m so sorry that all of this is dragging you back to memories you’re trying to forget.” My breath caught for a moment and I held it in, stopping my thumping heart from racing away from me again. “But I want you to know and believe, truly believe, that we’re here to help you… protect you, and track down where those pricks took your nephew.”

She locked eyes with me and smiled weakly, searching my gaze as I did the same.

In those uniquely ringed depths, I found that same warmth she had been offering me since I first woke up in that room. Concern and caution were also present in her steady gaze, watching me carefully as I continued to move and shift a bit, no longer disconnected from my own body. But the biggest thing I found in her eyes, the one thing I didn’t expect to find at all, was understanding. A heavy yet strongly contained sense of… insight. As if she had personal experience similar to my own situation. It was just a small flicker that I caught as I stared at her. A speck of darkness mixed with pain as some part of her mind drifted back to that moment… A time and place that hurt and scared and panicked her just like this place did to me.

It stunned me more than a little and aided me in pushing away the rest of the uneasy fog that was weighing me down.

“Better?” She asked softly, taking my hands in hers and helping me get back to my feet, though unsteadily so, thanks to how tightly balled up I had been.

I nodded to her, feeling a bit embarrassed and unsure on what I should do now, wanting something to keep my mind occupied. Not wanting to hear those damned doubt-filled whispers again. Though their echo still tried to regain my attention from somewhere in the back of my mind, I felt more in control of myself now.

Thanks to Devin.

Devin went to turn and maybe say something to the guys who were calmly standing by the door. But I stopped her, reaching out to tap her arm and mouth out a ‘thank you’. She’d simply nodded and smiled a bit wider, moving in closer to me and looping her arm through mine before turning back towards the guys.

“Let’s finish this up.” She exclaimed, beaming at every one of us reassuringly.

It didn’t take long after that for us to resume digging through the papers and computers spread out in a few other rooms. With Devin explaining her fiance's situation about his father to me while we dug through stacks of scattered papers, I was able to calm down even more. Though the large Human man still made me feel a little antsy, given his intimidating size and height compared to mine, I understood a bit of his pain. Since my own mother had turned her back on me completely before she passed, always voicing her disappointment in my every minor flaw and mistake. Sometimes, she’d go so far as to leave me out of things on purpose and start fights with my dad. Like the many times she’d plated only three meals during dinner time and instantly started a shouting match with my dad when he’d say something about it. It all helped me feel a bit more comfortable around Devins fiance. And it also helped that he was a genuinely nice and friendly guy too, though most of his kindness was aimed solely on Devin who he kept his eyes glued to whenever she stepped into view.

Thankfully, through all the paper chaos, it wasn’t a lot for us to go through and we soon gathered back in the main sitting area across from the only exit. Devin was in the process of showing Marcus and Nick the documents she and I had found while I looked around the large, messy place, kicking at things here and there. I was listening closely to their soft conversation, nodding along to their words and feeling a sense of hope growing in my chest when the loud sound of stomping feet made me freeze.

I looked towards them as they grew quiet, their eyes looking up at the earthen roof above us as muffled sounds continued to reach us from the still open wooden door at the end of the soil packed stairs. Then, after a few heavy seconds of silence, several footsteps could be heard coming down from the stairs, blocking our way out.

“Well shit.” A man's voice called out, dripping with sarcasm as said man jumped down the last few steps to the concrete ground. “We’ve got guests!”

He smiled darkly as he looked us all over, two more of his friends appearing behind him with equally amused and murderous expressions.

“Demon women…” One of them muttered, staring Devin down while Nick inched slowly backwards, stepping closer and closer to me, while keeping his eyes on the Hunters. “That one, I think, is the Succubus the boss showed us.”

I glanced at Marcus and shivered a bit, seeing a look of pure, unadulterated rage darken his eyes. His gaze locked on the Hunter that was still eyeing up his fiance.

“You.” The third chimed in, walking around Marcus and Devin, the closest to the stairs. “You’re the boss’ son right?” His two other friends spread out as he talked, their gazes bouncing from me to Devin rapidly, ignoring the men who were clearly trying to protect us. “Manny… Micheal… no, Mmmmm-Marcus, yes?” He shook his head, taking on a look of mock-disappointment as he clicked his tongue. “Turning your back on your own father,” He chuckled darkly. “On your own kind?... And over some Demon b***h too…” He shook his head again, smiling menacingly once more as he stopped moving, his hand resting dangerously on something hiding under his jacket. “Pathetic.”

That next second moved in slow motion so violently, that I was left numb, confused and on the floor before I fully realized what had happened.

Guns were drawn, the faint light illuminating the large space casting a glint on the polished metal. I saw Devin get shoved behind a thick wooden beam by Marcus, with him knocking over a large round table to use as a shield just as the first bang rang out. Nick, who had turned and ran towards me, grabbed onto my arm and hurled me hard to the right. My feet tripping over themselves with the speed and force he had used on my frozen body. A grunt left me as I landed on my side, my head whipping up a moment later to find Nick kneeling in front of me. He held a gun in his own hand and fired off a few rounds with a deadly gleam in her eyes, his body leaning out from around the corner of the hallway I now realized we were in.

More shots fired with a few insults mixed into the brief seconds of silence. I flattened my back against the dirt wall next to Nick, watching him as he leaned out, fired, pulled back and muttered softly to himself. He released the clip from his gun a short while later, pulling out another filled with more bullets from his pocket and slamming it into the weapon's empty slot. He racked the top portion of the gun, the slide I believe it’s called, before leaning out again, calling out two different numbers loudly over the shooting. I heard Marcus’ voice answer back with numbers of his own and I blinked a bit once I realized what they were doing.

Nick had ten bullets left in his current clip that held fifteen, with one more full clip somewhere in his pocket. And Marcus, nine bullets in his gun with two more clips on reserve.

The panicked pit in my stomach dropped even further as more shots fired, making me jump when one of the Hunters cursed loudly. I guessed that he was probably hit and was tempted to peek and assure myself that it was them and not Marcus or Devin when another male voice grunted. It sounded very pained and a little… wet, as if he’d had water in his mouth when he’d been hit.

Suddenly, Nick got up off the floor and made a move to step out completely from cover.

I shot up with him and, without thinking, grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back. I shook my head hard over and over again when he turned to look at me, the burn of tears starting to fill my eyes.

“It’s ok.” He told me softly, dropping his raised arms and pulling me in with the free hand not holding the gun, kissing the top of my head. “Stay.”

His reaction to me stopping him, to that sudden softness in his voice and the tender way he’d kissed my head, weakened me completely. This let him slip through my fingers as he stepped out from cover, raising his weapon and moving rapidly away. I blinked, still so very stunned, and felt a few hot tears spill from my eyes before I finally snapped out of it.