Blood Awakening

CHAPTER THREE-2

AFTER LEAVING THE DEMON's flat, Lucifer flew to Second Avenue and Forty-eighth Street, not far from the gaping hole in the ground on Fifty-seventh. Human security had retreated from the area a couple of weeks after the incident. In their place, the vampires moved in to fill the vacuum.

Lucifer entered a corner building through the revolving door, silencing the security guard at the front desk with a wave of his hand. No time for pleasantries. Another guard fired a couple of rounds before falling to the ground beside his buddy.

Fools. Were they using standard weaponry on him? They should have known what he was even if they didn't know who. Was there nothing about angels in vampire basic training? There was really only one thing they needed to know about his kind. Don't f**k with us. You would think they would learn just a little about the people outside their petty little world. They were just as bad as humans. They just had a longer life span.

After following a series of signs he came to a minion guarding the front desk of the jail area. The man started babbling something. He shut him up with a quick flick of his wrist.

“Is Kissera Eriksson here? I'd like to see her, please.” See. He could be nice.

The vampire minion looked at him with dead eyes, shaking his head. Was it the inbreeding? Were they getting dumber? The vampire ruling class, aka the Nativum, didn't have a lot of genetic options. Maybe it was finally catching up to them.

“Did you not understand?” Lucifer waited a few moments for an answer. The man moved his mouth, but made no sound. “Oh, silly me. You may speak now.”

“They already radioed me from downstairs. You entered illegally. Besides, there's no angels scheduled to pick up any prisoners.”

“I don't make appointments.”

With one smooth movement, Lucifer jumped the security barrier. Alarms blared all around, but he tuned them out. There was no time for this nonsense. He cruised down the hallway past a line of offices. There was a clamor behind him. In front, someone pointed a weapon and fired. He stopped the bullet before it came anywhere near him. Behind him, something, metal hit his back and wings, yet fell harmlessly to the ground. He walked right up to the shooter and held him by the neck, lifting him off his feet. Sure, the vampire was taller. Most Nativum were over six feet. Still, they were more fragile than their Creare counterparts and needed to breathe. The man struggled for breath while kicking his feet midair.

“Take me to Kissera. I have no interest in anything else you might be doing here.”

The man nodded as much as his head would allow.

“Tell your co-workers to back off. I have no time for their shenanigans.”

Lucifer released him and the man flipped on his radio. “Situation contained. Stand down.”

The guard led him to an elevator further along the hall. It was tight squeeze with the two of them inside. Down, down, down they went. Finally, the elevator sounded a jaunty ping as they arrived. They walked down a long hallway with mostly empty cells. The ones that were occupied held sleeping vampires.

“What time is it?” Lucifer asked.

The Nativum minion shrugged. “Morning.” He paused a moment. “Six? Six-thirty?”

Creare or Nativum, vampires had the best internal clocks on the planet. He had quite a while before he'd be able to take Kissera away from here. Nativum, untrustworthy f***s, were guaranteed to do something reprehensible to her if he left.

The waiting room was sparse with a handful of plastic chairs and a pile of three-month-old magazines. “I know you're not leaving me here. Take me to her.” Lucifer said.

“This is where visitors wait.”

Lucifer glared at the guard.

“Fine.” He shuffled off murmuring in his radio about the motherfucking angel staying until sunset.

Lucifer turned his attention to a cell door a short distance away. It was made of heavy metal marked with a strange pattern. A small window slot with enough room to slide food and water was the only opening. He touched his palm to the handle and the door swung open. The markings on the door brightened. That didn't look good. On a whim, he touched one of designs. They all went dormant. Better. Kissera would not appreciate the early wake up call of a UV burn. She lay on a cot against the wall curled up in a ball facing the door with an arm draped over her head as if it could protect her in her sleep. For all her stillness she looked far from peaceful.

“Don't worry. This is only temporary.” Lucifer stepped inside the cell and closed the door behind him, then assumed the sentry position. Nothing and no one would get past him while she slept. He smiled as a warm feeling wrapped around him. It had been a long time since he felt this protective about someone. He'd only met her once, but when you've been around as long as he had, you learned to read people right quick.

Hours later Lucifer detected signs of life coming from the other occupied cells. Sundown. Kissera hadn't moved a muscle, but her ripped shirt and tangled hair told the story of her ordeal. Asleep and disheveled, Kissera had a sexy vulnerability far different from the tough woman he'd met on the terrace. She remained still as death, but he could tell she was awake. Creare vampires didn't breathe often, but it did happen every few minutes. After all, they weren't dead things.

“Stop pretending, Kissera. We have work to do.”

Her eyes fluttered open and he noticed for the first time their golden color. Not solid gold like his, hers were flecked with black and shaped like a cat's. Interesting indeed. She rolled off the bed into a crouched position ready to strike. He stayed put until she realized he was no threat. The terrified look on her face brought back memories of his own he thought long buried. It was the sign of someone who had been locked up as well.

“How did you get here?” She straightened up, eyeing him with caution.

“You didn't thank me for the gift. Very rude by the way.”

Kissera shook her head. Her expression betrayed a variety of emotions, then settled on resignation. “Can you get me out of here?”

“But of course.” He opened the door and gestured for her to exit.

The vampires gave them plenty of dirty looks as they left, but said nothing. “Thanks for the hospitality, gentlemen,” Lucifer said, breezing past lobby security. Kissera followed close behind.

“May I fly you home?” He asked when they were outside.

“I can get there myself,” she said.

Ah ha, that was the tone he was used to coming from her.

“I know. I might be a demon, but I do have manners. I thought you might be tired from last night's events.”

“They found out about Angela.”

“I'm sorry.” Luc put an arm around Kissera's shoulders. “Offer is still good.”

Kissera's shoulders sagged. “Knock yourself out.”

In one motion, Lucifer scooped her into his arms. With a great leap they were in the air. A few beats of his wings and they ascended higher. He could have used the portal system, but didn't know if Kissera had enough demon in her to activate it. Sometimes the most direct way was best. She nestled into his chest as they flew and his being filled with content. Something about her in his arms felt comfortable, right.

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