Demons of Abyss - Retribution

Chapter 5

Elea

Since I split the sixteen-hour drive over two days, I didn't arrive in Denver until yesterday morning. I spent my time settling into a cheap motel room and asking around town where the Demons hang out. The most valuable source I found was at a thrift store. A brunette with way too much makeup and a band shirt whispered to me which bar they were looking at for fresh meat. She proudly told me that she's there every weekend to get her hands on one of the Demons. After all, some of them would be so hot. She really wants to be an old lady for once. I could only shake my head at those words. I am sure that the Demons don't treat their Old Lady's any better than the women in their brothels. Furthermore, I couldn't help it and told her to be careful. But she ignored that with a laugh and a throwing away hand gesture. So I paid for my dress, one that says, "Take me, I will do anything for you" and headed back to the motel. Once there I make my way to the shower. The faucet makes a shrill squeak as I turn on the water. Even after a few minutes it is only lukewarm and the bubbling of the water pipes has still not stopped. Still, I enjoy the water running over my tense muscles. In my mind, I prepare myself for the evening. I will not impose myself on them, and yet I should manage to make them notice me. Only now do I realize that I have absolutely no idea how to attract a man's attention because I've never done it before. I didn't have time to do it and I counted on having a few more months to prepare better. But I didn't have that time, and now I have to jump in at the deep end willy-nilly. I have the cheap fumble, but that alone won't be enough. I just have to hope that it works, because I don't have any other plan.

As the water turns cold, I remain under the icy stream for a few minutes before turning off the squeaky faucet and stepping out of the shower. My skin is red and my lips almost blue. But I hold back the chattering of my teeth. I do this every day to get stronger. It takes concentration and a strong will to suppress feelings and pain. But if you can do it, then you have power over your body and not the pain or a stranger. It means that no one else can possess me.

I dry off and wrap the scratchy towel around me before reaching for my black panties and black lace bra. I hate those things. Otherwise, I prefer to wear my sports tops since they're less distracting in combat. Then I make my way back to the f****d up bedroom with the musty mattress. I'm already about to reach for the black, way-too-short dress when I hear a deep throat clearing behind me. Immediately, I am on the alert and reach for my kunai, which lie under the dress. I tense my shoulders and am about to strike when strong fingers grip my wrist, and I am whirled around so that my back bounces against something hard. I resist, but as I'm about to lunge again, I hear a voice I know.

"Hey, calm down. It's just me."

Do I hear amusement in his voice?

"Damn it, Kilian, how did you find me?"

When he notices me relax, he lets go of me, so I can turn around. His crystal blue eyes survey me reproachfully.

"One thing you should have in my job is a good judge of character. And you..." he points a finger at me and raises an eyebrow, "...you were different in training. Kind of desperate and unfocused. I knew you were up to something, so I kept an eye on you."

I shake my head in disbelief.

"If you're here to take me back...FORGET IT!"

He smiles as he lets his gaze wander curiously up and down my body. Just now do I remember that I'm standing in front of him in only my underwear. I immediately grab the shirt from the floor and pull it over me. Kilian grins dirtily and winks at me.

"You're right, I can concentrate better that way."

He smirks, which I counter with a disdainful sigh.

"Why are you here?"

Before he answers me, he drops into the old couch chair that sits at the far end of the room. He stretches out his long legs, which are tucked into a pair of jeans, and leans back comfortably, as if he hadn't just tracked me down, instead he's here for a visit.

"You do realize Joe and the others are freaking out right now? You just took off."

I feel a twinge in my stomach at the thought that I didn't get to say goodbye to them properly.

"I had to do that. You don't understand me. Nobody understands me. And I said goodbye to them, if you must know."

Kilian presses his thumb and index finger against the root of his nose and closes his eyes. When he opens them again, that usually bright blue is a shade darker.

"Your shitty goodbye note isn't really a goodbye. And if anyone understands you, it's me. I understand you, and I'm not going to force you to come home with me. But I can't just stand by and watch you throw yourself into the hands of those fuckers and get yourself killed."

"Then what are you doing here? You can't stop me and getting killed in the process is an option I have to consider."

"Who says I'm here to stop you?" He straightens up a bit. "I want to offer you my help."

"I don't need help, I've got it covered."

Reprovingly, he shakes his head before speaking up again now, somewhat amused at my response.

"Well then, enlighten me." He spreads his hands and places them on the back of his head. Then he leans back in the chair challengingly.

"I don't have to explain anything to you, I can just assure you that I've got it all figured out."

Now he laughs. Which makes me angry.

"So, if I may guess...you're going to wear this cheap rag..." he points his finger at me and raises his eyebrows, "...and hope the Demons pick you up and take you back to their clubhouse where you hope you can kill Charly. Just like that...without anyone stopping you?" His voice drips with mockery. Heat rises in my cheeks. It angers me. Mostly because he's right. I thought I'd be able to pull this off somehow, but now that Kilian brings it to my attention, I know I'm just being naive. The only thing I've been thinking about is the moment when I kill him. When Charly lies bleeding in front of me. I want him to suffer. The way my parents suffered. The way my mom suffered in her last minutes. The way they killed my little brother, and never had a chance to know life. I want it so badly that I don't care when or how I die. And yet I know Kilian has experience. More than I do in such matters. So I admit defeat. I grudgingly swallow my pride. Still, annoyance resonates in my voice.

"Tell me, what do you propose?"

A victorious grin settles on his prominent features as he stands up and approaches me again. His gaze is still dark, but he seems pleased that I'm not stubbornly listening to him.

"We'll before we attack, we will get to know our enemies."

***

A few hours later, I'm sitting on a converted Harley, wrapping my arms around Kilian's muscular stomach as the warm Colorado summer air blows around my body. I hate riding in the back seat with someone. I hope all this action isn't for nothing. Because Kilian and I have spent the last few hours intercepting a guy who staggered out of a bar, only to steal his frock. The frock with the logo of the Hunters, a friendly club of the Demons. Kilian loaded the guy into the back of his pickup and I followed him as he drove up on the guy's Harley. He hauled his lifeless body into a rusted dumpster that was sitting in an abandoned lot. I don't know what Kilian did to him, but I fear the worst. I did not ask him. However, his look was so dark, that for a second I lost my breath. Kilian said I should learn to kill, but I made up my mind years ago that I would only kill those who killed my parents. I didn't ask him if he killed. I don't think Kilian is the type to let someone live if they get in his way. And yet, I trust him. In a sick way, I have a connection with him. He understands me, even if I can't figure him out. His hard shell still exists around him, even though he has spoken to me more than he has spoken to anyone else. So, just as in my heart, this darkness exists in his as well. If what Kilian says is true, with each life you take, you lose a part of your soul, a part of your light. But I don't mind the darkness. It is more welcome to me than the light. Because the darkness can obscure. It doesn't let me feel the pain as clearly.

My thoughts are interrupted as we approach an old factory building and Killian slows down. Most of the plaster on the meter-high walls has peeled away, revealing rust-red brick. The few working streetlights give off a flickering light and countless insects buzz around them. The windows are protected by bars, as if it were a prison. Kilian parks the machine between dozens of others lined up like dominoes on the side of the road, in front of the building. I finally release my hands from his waist and undo the buckle of the helmet. Even though I want to stay calm, my heart is pumping blood through my veins twice as fast. I have almost arrived. Everything I wanted in my life is within reach. My eyes are on the prospects standing around, and the gate behind them, which is open a bit. I'm about to take my way to the gate when Kilian wraps his upper arm around my neck from behind and pulls me back. My back is now pressed tightly against his chest and his breath tickles my ear.

"Calm down. If you're going to fidget like that, we're not going to get anywhere near the President. Don't stare at them like you're trying to get at their throats, instead show them a look that says you'd suck their d**k any day."

I snort and swallow my pride, trying to dispel the heat that shoots through my body at Kilian's touch. No one has ever touched me like this before, and it makes me nervous. There wasn't much time besides my training and especially no boys I was interested in. All I wanted was revenge. I thought if it happened, if I didn't manage to fight back, at least I wouldn't know what it was like to do it willingly. It would have just made me weak. So I nod and give a forced smile, which elicits a grin from Kilian.

"With that spasmodic smile, they'll think I just f****d you in the ass."

He laughs, throwing me off my game. His hand settles over my shoulder and I try to do as we discussed. So I put my hand around his waist as well. I snuggle up to his side like I'm enjoying it. So I smile dumbly as Kilian greets the two prospects with a nod, and they actually let us pass. One of the prospects examines Kilian's cowl a little too interested. But when Kilian scowls at him, he turns away, intimidated.

We move toward an archway, at the edge of which two heavy iron wings stand open. Loud guitar sounds and bass penetrate my ears. I immediately scan the surroundings. I want to memorize everything exactly. It's a square courtyard with other buildings connected to it. Here, it doesn't seem as f****d up as it appears from the outside. The plaster here still completely covers the walls of the facade and the windows are not barred and look clean. The only thing associated with dirt here are a couple of bikers getting it on with a couple of women in the dark corners of the courtyard. At this sight I have to think of what they do to all the girls who are not here voluntarily. Anger rises in me, but I manage to calm down again. Taking another look, I spot a couple of men wearing the Demons' crest on their robes. At the image of intertwined horns over a skull, heat rises up inside me. My fingers automatically settle on my thigh to feel the handle of one of my Kunai. Kilian did tell me to leave them off since my dress is so short, but I just managed to get them on my thigh without anyone noticing them. I can't march to hell without weapons. Not like this. My fingers twitch. I would love to reach for the knife and slaughter everyone wearing this patch. But I wouldn't get far. So I don't, partly because I haven't yet found the person whose death I most desire.

Kilian's grip on my shoulder tightens, and he looks at me seriously. He knows my mind was elsewhere at the moment, but I give him a put-on smile, which he acknowledges with a roll of his eyes.

"If you keep that death stare on your face, we're going to blow up faster than we thought."

He shakes his head and looks at me reprovingly. He's right. I am too excited. My fingers are shaking and my pulse is way too fast. I can't stand out and look like a normal, put-upon chick who wants nothing more than to screw her way into the Demons' good graces. I follow Kilian through a door that leads into a bar. Immediately the smell of sweat, smoke and alcohol creeps into my nose. Royal Blood with Trouble's Coming pours out of the speakers and swallows the other sounds. We move towards the bar on the left side, where Kilian casually props himself up with his elbow and orders two beers. Afterward, he turns around, leans back against the bar, and lets his gaze wander through the bar. He may look like he's just relaxing, checking out the surroundings, but I know he's trying to take it all in. He's trying to assess the situation. Furthermore, he's looking for escape routes, potential enemies, and Charly, the Demons' president. The man I rip out the guts every night in my dreams. The man I will kill, if it is the last thing I do.

The smell of beer creeps into my nose as Kilian holds a bottle in front of my face. He toasts me and takes a sip from the ice-cold bottle. Maybe it won't hurt me if the alcohol takes away a little of my nervousness. Although I've never been drunk, I imagine it puts a fog over everything. But I have to stay clear-headed. I have to focus my thoughts. That's exactly what makes me take the bottle from my lips again. So I just hold it in my hands, using it to hide the shaking. I turn my attention to the crowd in front of us. A pool table stands to my left, where two Demon hunks are having a duel with two half-naked women. All in all, it looks like a party, like any other. If it weren't for the guys whom I would love to see dead. But the one, the most important person is not to be seen. I only know him from a photo Ben hacked through the police database. In the picture is a man with cold blue eyes, a shadow of a beard, and short-cropped hair. When I saw the photo, my memories were refreshed. In my nightmares, he looked scarier. But in the picture, he looked like a man I could and would kill.

Not wanting to strain my patience, I lean closer to Kilian and try to tell him over the noise, that I need to go to the bathroom for a minute. I see the skepticism in his face, but he nods. His suspicion is not unfounded, as I just want to look around, and the best way to do that is to find the restroom. So I make my way through the crowd. I am bumped into, and a guy grabs at my butt. I almost want to slap his hand away when I think of what I should represent. So I give a dopey smile and excuse myself with a "Maybe later, sweetie," which the guy acknowledges with a grunt. Then I move on, I spot a door on the other side and a corridor leading off to the right. I decide to take the corridor. Unobtrusively, I cast a glance over my shoulder and act as if I'm actually just looking for the restroom, when in fact I want to find Charly. The further I walk, the more muffled I hear the music. I pass two closed doors from which moans can clearly be heard. I pass a door that is open. Dull screams come out of it and I can't help but take a peek through the crack. In the glow of the darkness I can see what is going on inside. I freeze, I remain on the spot.

A stocky guy with bald head bends over a scrawny figure with long black hair. He drills his greasy fingers into her hip. His pants hang to the back of his knees and the woman lies with her upper body on the bed while he rams himself into her with his eyelids closed. Her face is turned towards me, and she is looking at me. Her eyes are so empty and tears are running down her pale cheeks. They are distorted with pain and there are so many dark spots on her body that are visible even in the pale light. Her fingers claw at the dirty sheet.

He hurts her and smiles. He just smiles. I feel hot. I'm angry. My heart is pounding. I feel like the air is heavy as lead. Memories pop into my head. The image of the man who made the last minutes of my mother's life hell. Something clicks in my head. Something I can't control. My feet move, I have to help her. But then I feel a hard grip on my hip. Someone is pulling me closer. The smell of sandalwood enters my nose. I look up, into the almost black eyes of a man who is taller by far more than a head. I thought it was Kilian, but I was very wrong. Even though he somehow has almost the same scar as he does. It runs from his left eyebrow, down his cheek to the corner of his mouth. His eye, however, is intact and framed by dark long eyelashes just like his other one. His chin is covered by a dark beard. He is eyeing me as unabashedly as I am him. He has tied his black hair into a braid. A glance at his frock makes me angry. He is everything I hate. He's a demon. There's also a patch on it that lets me know he's the Vice. Charly's second-in-command. I quickly wriggle out of his grip, but he forcefully pulls me closer by my upper arm. Away from that door. I want to reach for my knife, if he wouldn't upset me so much. His beard scratches my skin. His mouth moves to my ear, and he speaks so, that only I can hear.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you."

He clicks his tongue reproachfully before standing back up, but not without letting his lips graze my cheek as he does so. My skin tingles where his lips have touched it. He still keeps his long fingers wrapped around my upper arm. His thumb strokes my skin as if at random, his dark eyes watching my reaction. My damned body seems paralyzed, but as I send the tenth command to him, I finally move and take a step back. The closeness to him and his breath tickling my lips does something weird to me. Something I definitely don't want. Especially not with a Demon. So I glare at him angrily. As controlled as possible, I bring a "Let go of me, right now" across my lips. I almost think he's not going to do what I said. But he lets go and apologetically raises his hands, which are decorated all over with black ink.

"I'll give you some advice, little one. If you don't want to get f****d, don't put on one of those cheap w***e outfits."

He grins filthily, and I would love to smack him right in the face with my fist. But I have to think of Kilian. So I turn around without a word and disappear. Just away from this guy, whose gaze bores into my back like a laser beam. I'm glad when the booming music and the people envelop me. I quickly push through them to get to Kilian. Only after a few seconds, I realize that the guy saved me from making a mistake. If I had intervened, the whole club would be after me now. Still, I feel the twitch in my fingers at the memory of the girl's empty eyes. Damn, what is she going through right now? What has she already been through? I should have helped her. But, my whole plan would be ruined. To distract myself from the guilt, I stand next to Kilian, who is talking to two guys. Even though he is talking to them, I know he is watching me. I move toward him. I stand next to him at the counter. Waiting for him to say something. I try to distract myself with the beer bottle label by scraping it off the glass. I do this until Killian says goodbye to the two guys and gives me a stern look. He comes closer, thus drowning out the music and speaking in a way that only I can hear.

"I really hope you didn't f**k up."

I shake my head, even though I feel like he sees right through me.

"Nothing happened."

He rolls his eyes and moves even closer.

"While you were busy doing your girl things, I found out something that won't make you happy," he pauses and takes a deep breath, "Charly's not here. No one knows exactly where he is, but he's going to be out for a while according to these two guys."

My blood races even faster through my veins. Anger is growing inside me. I feel like I'm suffocating. My mission in life is within reach and now this crippled asshole isn't here. Inwardly, I curse everything, but only a single "damn" makes it past my lips. What am I supposed to do now? I can't wait that long. My savings will only last me a few days.

"I know what you're thinking now. But the meeting with the friendly clubs is next month again, and we can prepare better by then."

"In a month?"

Horrified, I stare at him. I can't wait that long, I have to get it done. The sooner, the better. No matter what it takes. I shake my head in annoyance. My finger twitches. I'm sweating. It's so hot in here. I have to get out of here. I have to get some fresh air. So I turn away from Killian and quickly make my way to the exit. Kilian wants to grab my arm, but I escape. Once outside, I breathe the fresh air deeply into my lungs. I have to think of something else. I have to find out where Charly is. I will find him and kill him.