Chasing the Daemon - Book 2

Chapter 6 - Jaed

I wake up to the sight of Michael sleeping awkwardly in a chair next to the bed. He looks tired and worn, but the tension has left his face and softened his features. He is the exact description of the angels of Christianity. Blond haired, blue eyed, and chiseled features that would make even the most beautiful people jealous. One of the stipulations he placed on me is I have to behave, but he didn’t say I couldn’t dream. I let out a sigh and try to tuck my thoughts away. I’m just so happy that I’m back in the world of the living.

“As you should be, demon.”

The shadows in the corner shift to reveal Michael’s friend, Zean. He stares at me for a few seconds before flicking his gaze at Micheal.

“You know it will never happen. It’s his nature to hate you.” His eyes flash in the dark as they settle on me again. “I’ve seen it. I’ve seen his memory of you. The only thing that saved you back then was his unwavering need to follow the rules.”

Michael shifts in the chair and we both look at him.

“Even now, his mind goes between killing you or using you. That’s all you are to him. A tool to get closer to Kadis. To be perfectly honest, that’s the only reason I haven’t killed you either.”

He jumps down from the dresser he was perched on and stretches as Michael starts to make the motions of waking up. He stops at the door. He must have read my reluctance of his statement.

“Don’t believe me? Ask him about Mikkas.”

And then he’s gone, leaving me with my thoughts in chaos. Michael stretches and groans in the chair.

“Jaed! You’re finally up. Thank Aeris.”

He sits up and leans towards me. I can almost believe he is happy that I am well. I sense absolutely no malice or hate in him. I shake my head. I can’t believe what Zean said. There are easier ways to get to Kadis than through me.

What about Mikkas? He said to ask.

Unfortunately Zean has done a good job of sowing the seeds of distrust and I drop my gaze to my hands. I try to feel the bond linking me to Mikkas, but there is only emptiness. Nothing. Actually, I can’t even sense my pets. What is going on? Did the bonds break when I was in a coma? Was I close enough to death to sever them all? But why would Zean tell me to ask about Mikkas. I have a feeling that he would be delighted at any hurt I may experience. So to give me that tidbit, I don’t think I would like the answer he teased at.

“Jaed, are you ok?”

Am I imaging the concern in his voice? I continue to stare at my hands folded on my lap.

“Zean is here.”

“Oh! I messaged him earlier to give me a few hours of sleep.” He rubs the sleep from his face. “It feels like I only got five minutes.”

He gets up and heads out.

“Join us when you are ready.”

I can feel my questions bubble up as he walks away, but I manage to swallow them before they surface. I’ll ask him when Zean isn’t here. I don’t need that one digging around in our brains. I try to calm my thoughts and stick to the objective at hand.

I may not be able to block him, believe me I tried, but I can think neutral thoughts. I’ve had practice. The thing about living in Helis is that you always have to guard your important thoughts. I just never thought that having a s****l interest in someone was something I had to hide. On the contrary, I promoted those thoughts. They were an excellent cover for more serious matters. But now the carnal thoughts that automatically flit through my head are hampering everything. I may have to change my automatic modus. But to what?

Jane...

Zean obviously is hooked on her. If I can focus my thoughts to feel concern for her, maybe he’ll leave me alone. The trick is, not to pretend to care about her, but actually dredge up the feelings of concern for her. They don’t have to be strong feelings, but they do have to be somewhat genuine. I have to find something about her that I care about.

Or fear.

Would that work? Instead of concern for her, I express fear of her? It might, and it would be so much easier. The one time I met her, she scared me more than anything or anyone I ever knew. I can try it and maybe I can make it out of this without dying. I have no doubt that as soon as I’m deemed non-essential that Zean would waste no time in trying to kill me.

You could leave….

I could, but where would I go? When I find out what went on after the hand-binding then I can, but until then if I just leave blindly, I could be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. I have to wait. I gather my thoughts and prepare myself to surface cover them with Jane and my fear of her. Hopefully it will stop this dickhead from digging around in my head. I pull up the memory of being controlled. Specifically I bring up the emotions it caused. It’s uncomfortable to feel vulnerable, but I have to endure it to protect myself. I layer fear over fear of Jane around my head. Then I cover it with a thin sense of desire. I can’t walk out with just a whole new thought pattern, that’ll be super suspicious. I’ll release the thoughts of Jane when they mention her name, after that I’ll keep it up until Zean is gone. With my thought blanket in place, I get dressed and go out. I can hear low-key arguing as I approach the kitchen. As I turn the corner the conversation cuts off and Zean is glaring at me over Michael’s shoulder. Michael has his back to me so I cannot gauge his expression, but I can see the stiffness in his stance. His hands are clenched and a weird sense of … something … is surrounding him.

“See, you are not ready to go see her! You are not in control.”

Zean’s words are directed at Michael, but he continues to glare at me. I take a chance that it's Jane they are talking about.

“See who?”

Zean’s glare turns into a scowl.

“None of your business, demon.”

“I found Jane.”

Michael’s voice sounds weird, but I take the opportunity and drop the top layer of thoughts and let my fear of hearing her name show through. Zean’s expression turns from one of scorn to one of confusion, then to one of concentration. A smirk crosses his face as his perception of me is redefined.

Bingo.

He takes the bait and turns back to Michael, dismissing me almost entirely.

“Get control. I will do some scouting.”

“No! You’ll scare her off!”

Michael’s (aura?) swells and he growls in frustration. Opening a portal, he practically dives through leaving me and Zean alone.

What the Helis just happened?!

“Ask him, demon.”

I turn to see the smirk return to Zean’s face.

“Ask him, when he returns. Ask him about everything.”

With one final stare, and probably a quick look into my head, he scoffs and portals away. Luckily my thought-blanket is still in place. It’s actually pretty easy to maintain when you have as much practice as I do. I’m staring blankly at the spot of Michael’s portal when I hear footsteps behind me.

“Micha’el?”

An old woman is standing in the doorway of the spare bedroom. 

“Jaed? Where did Micha’el go?”

“I don’t know? I don’t know anything.”

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It’s been hours and Michael or Zean haven’t returned. But I’m fine with it. I’ve been chatting and visiting with Alya. It’s funny. I’ve never in my time on Earth, bothered to really talk to humans. I just came to hunt pets and that was it. That’s what Earth is for. If I hadn’t been thrust into this situation, someone like Ayla wouldn’t even merit a passing glance.

But talking with Alya has been… gratifying... I guess that’s the closest I can come to describing it. She’s a wellspring of knowledge on Michael, or Micha’el as she calls him. I’m thinking that she believes me to be a daemon like him or she probably wouldn’t be so forthcoming about him. She didn’t ask, so I didn’t correct her. She only really knew my name and that I wasn’t human.

She asked me how we met and I told her he saved me. She has then spent the last few hours recounting her own rescue at his hands and other stories where he came to her for help. She has dedicated her life in his service. That one caught me off guard. She willingly became his servant. No marks or bonds. It’s mind-boggling really. Even as an old woman, she willingly came when called.

I filed every bit of information away. I need to find out how to get in control or at least out from under the restrictions and rules that have been placed on me.

To keep Alya talking, as well as to stop her from asking pertinent questions, I regale her with stories of travelling the world. We spend the evening chatting and talking and before long Alya gives me a quick peck on the cheek and goes to rest for the night. But not before she makes me promise to wake her if Michael comes back. 

Now I’m sitting and trying to sort through everything that happened and everything that she told me to try a figure out if anything makes sense. The sun is gone and the room is in shadows and yet they still are not back. Patience has never been my strongpoint and I’m starting to lose it.

What would it hurt to jump quick to Helis and check on things? I’m getting kinda desperate to find out about Mikkas and Kadis.

But I feel safe here with Michael. I don’t want to jeopardize the progress I made so far. Plus he said he would tell me everything.

“Jaed. Has Zean come back?”

I involuntarily jump.

Coward!

Michael has portalled in without me noticing.

“Jaed?”

I make his silhouette out on the arm chair. He sounds tired.

“No, he left right after you did.”

His form seems to sink further into the chair.

“I hope he doesn’t scare her off.”

I stand up. I promised Alya that I would go get her.

“Jaed?”

His voice sounds so vulnerable and small.

“Alya wanted to be woken up as soon as you got back.”

“Did, did you do anything to her?”

I stop just outside her bedroom door.

“No.”

“Thank you.”

I’m just about out of earshot, and maybe he didn’t mean for me to hear, but I’m not going to lie that it hurt a bit that he actually had to ask. But considering what I am, I guess he still doesn't fully trust me. Something that I’m going to change. And when he does, I’ll have him, body and soul.