The Demon’s Lover

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Vicky heard humming. She opened her eyes and saw darkness, and something wrapped around her. She kicked and pulled. Finally, she saw an opening. The sheets and blankets were wrapped around her. Her aunt sat in the chair by Vicky’s desk. Rachel had been humming.

“You used to sleep like that when you were little.” She smiled at Vicky. Rachel looked at the desk. The desk was tidy; Vicky’s laptop was still on. “You’ve been busy.”

“Yeah,” Vicky replied. “I started writing my paper. Everything came to me so fast. It is almost done,” she said and sat up.

Rachel stood. “I’m going to work,” Rachel said. She took a deep breath. “I don’t feel comfortable letting you leave the house.”

Vicky frowned. “Why?”

“It’s only temporary,” Rachel said.

“When can I leave my house?”

“We will start working on your skills. You can leave the house when I feel you are strong enough.”

“I’m a prisoner in my own home,” Vicky said.

“No. It is until you can defend yourself.”

“Defend myself from who?”

“Other Demon Houses, vampires, fae, humans like your parents. You are special, Victoria.”

“What about my job?”

You resigned this morning.”

“No, I didn’t,” Vicky said.

Rachel changed her appearance; she took on Vicky’s appearance. “Yes, you did,” Rachel said. She mimicked Vicky’s voice and tone perfectly; she changed her appearance to Aunt Rachel. Vicky was blinded in shock. “And don’t open the door for anyone,” Rachel said. Vicky sighed and her aunt went to work.

It wasn’t long was bored and frustrated; she pulled out the necklace that Revyk gave her. “How is this supposed to take me to Revyk.” She said out loud.

“It took you long enough,” Revyk said.

Vicky looked around. She wasn’t in her room; she sat on a black leather couch in a darkened room. Revyk sat in a high-backed black leather chair behind a long mahogany desk. “I expected you hours ago.” He smiled.

Vicky looked at the pendant. “Your name is the trigger.” She said. “You could have told me.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” He snapped his fingers, and a fire began to roar from a fireplace. It brightened the room a little more. “Since you’re here now,” he said. He joined her on the couch. “Let’s have some fun.”

Revyk reached for her and pulled her in for a kiss.

Vicky turned her head; Revyk kissed her neck. “No, wait.” She said.

“Would you prefer my bed?” Revyk snapped his fingers again. They were in his bedroom.

Vicky felt the soft down comforter on Revyk’s bed. “I’m not here for s*x, Revyk.”

“Then why are you here, my lovely?” Revyk said. He lowered his body onto Vicky.

Vicky pushed Revyk off of her. “Aunt Rachel won’t let me leave the house. I can only proofread my paper so many times.”

“My sister had locked you away, and you want me to rescue you? I’m touched, Victoria.” He leaned in for a kiss.

Vicky placed her hand on Revyk’s face and pushed him away. “No!” She said. “ I was sitting in my room and I was talking to myself wondering how this necklace would bring me to you.”

“Do you talk to yourself often?” He teased.

Vicky sighed. “I am bored out of my mind. I don’t want to watch TV, I’ve read all my books, and I don’t have anything to do.” She said. Revyk gestured to his body. “I don’t want to have sex.” She groaned and flopped back down onto Revyk’s bed. “I want to hurry up, learn to use my powers, and have a normal life.”

“My lovely Victoria. You will never have a normal life,” Revyk said. “Besides, normal is overrated.” Vicky covered her face with her hands and screamed. “I could help you, love.” Revyk slithered next to her.

“Revyk, why do I have the suspicion that your help has strings attached.”

“I’m a demon. All my assistance comes with a catch,” He said. “But I will offer you help just because I desire the pleasure of your company.”

“You’re serious?” She sat up.

“Like a heart attack.”

“Yes,” Victoria said. “Help me.”

“Fantastic.” He got up from the bed. Revyk took Vicky’s hand and guided her to the middle of the room. “Sit.” He gestured to a rug with intricate black and silver shapes. Vicky sat and crossed her legs. “Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and relax.”

“Like meditation? I’m not good at that.”

“Victoria, pay attention.” Revyk’s voice was stern. “Do as I have instructed.”

Vicky followed Revyk’s instructions. She relaxed her shoulders, unclenched her jaw, and took deep breaths.

“Clear your mind, Victoria.”

She tried to empty her mind. Slowly, she let go of all her thoughts and worries. She heard a ringing. It sounded far away from her.

“Concentrate on the ringing,” Revyk said. “It should become louder.”

The more she concentrated on the sound, the louder it became.

“You are sitting in a circle. Picture the circle around you. It is your barrier; it will protect you.”

Vicky could see it. The circle on the floor began to glow; she was bathed in silver light. She concentrated on the ringing sound and the light around her. Time lost all meaning. The light around her rippled. The ringing stopped. Vicky reached out to touch the ripple. Her hand connected with Revyk’s; she opened her eyes. Revyk grasped her hand and pulled her up. Crumpled wads of paper scattered the floor around her.

“What’s all this?” She asked.

“It took a while to get your attention,” Revyk said.

“And that’s good?”

“No,” he said, crossing his arms, “You need to be able to react.”

“But you said…”

“Victoria, don’t argue with me,” He said.

Vicky rolled her eyes at the demon. “Fine. How do I get home?”

Reyvk’s eyes turned black. He caressed her cheek, his mouth was inches from hers. “Why would I let you go?”

Vicky ran her fingers through his hair. “Because if you don’t, Aunt Rachel will come here to get me. And something tells me you don’t want her here.”

“Fair enough.” Revyk ran his thumb across her lower lip. “Think about how you got here.”

“I want to go home.” Vicky stumbled back, and she bumped into her desk. The bedroom door opened, and Rachel walked in.

“Hi, sweetie.” Rachel smiled. “Did you spend all day in your room? You didn’t have to stay upstairs.”

“Oh, um, I know,” Vicky replied. “Can we start working on my skills?” She asked.

“Not tonight, sweetie,” Rachel said. “I’ve had a hectic day. Are you ready for dinner?”

“Sure,” Vicky replied. Rachel smiled again and walked out of the room. Vicky thought about meditating before dinner. She heard a tapping on glass and looked at the window. There was nothing outside. She heard it again and realized it was coming from the corner of her room by her vanity. Revyk was in her mirror.

“Don’t try what I showed you. Not now.”

“Why?” Vicky asked.

“You don’t have a protection circle. You don’t want to bring anything back with you. And you are vulnerable without one. “

Vicky wrinkled her nose and wasn’t sure what Revyk meant. Then she remembered the paper surrounding her. She never felt them hit her. “Understood,” she said. “Will you teach me to make one?”

“Of course, my love.” Revyk smiled at her. “When you come back, I will teach you.”

His image disappeared.

Vicky ran downstairs and joined her aunt in their cozy kitchen. Rachel was taking food out of takeout containers. “I hope you don’t mind takeout, but I know how much you love Antonio’s and their pastas. And I got those breadsticks you like.”

“It’s okay,” Vicky said. The smell of the food made her realize she hadn’t eaten anything. “Can we work on my powers tomorrow?”

“Mm, I can’t,” Rachel said in between mouthfuls of pasta. “Early morning and late night.” Rachel swallowed her food. “I got that coffee you like. Oh, and I got groceries too. Do you think you could make dinner tomorrow night?”

“Yeah, sure,” Vicky stared at her plate.

“Don’t worry, honey.” Rachel reached out and patted Vicky’s hand. “I will teach you very soon.”

Vicky nodded and accepted her aunt’s response.

After dinner, Vicky went back to her room. She tapped on the mirror of vanity. “Revyk, hey Revyk.” She continued to tap on the mirror.

“Yes, my lovely?” He said.

“Aunt Rachel can’t work with me tomorrow either. Can I come back tomorrow?”

“Absolutely. Any excuse to see my beautiful Victoria.” He grinned. “Did Aunt Rachel say why she couldn’t work with you tomorrow?”

“She said she would be busy all day and working late.”

“What does she do?” He asked.

“I dunno.” Vicky shrugged and wrinkled her nose. “Something with mergers and acquisitions.”

“Sounds about right for Rachel.”

“Demons have real jobs?” Vicky asked.

“Yes, of course. We are great with finances. We make fantastic lawyers. And if you want to be a superstar, you better have a demon for your agent.”

“Okay. I’ll see you after my aunt leaves.”

“Good night, my princess.”

Vicky wondered if Revyk watched her undress from the mirror. “Probably,” she said out loud, answering her own question. She grabbed her pjs and went to her bathroom to get ready for bed.