"It feels wrong to beat up an old lady," I muttered as I stared at the wizened crone. "But, I will do it."
"Okay, dear." She paused in her knitting and reached into the glass dish on the table beside her chair and grabbed a handful of plastic wrapped sweets. "Would you like a peppermint first, or a cup of tea?"
"I…" had nothing I could say to that. I looked quickly at Kevin, but he just shrugged and shook his head.
He didn't know what to do either.
"Ah…" My shoulders slumped and I exhaled softly, deflated. It just seemed wrong to attack her. "I'll take a peppermint."
Kevin's hand wrapped around my wrist as I reached for the sweets and he hissed through his teeth, "They might be poisoned."
"Oh, heavens, no," she said. Taking one, she unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth, all while smiling cheerily. "See, perfectly fine, dears."
I pulled my hand free and took a sweet. What's the worst that could happen, I die a third time?
"No doubt you have questions."
Yeah, no shit.
She gestured to the sofa, a floral monstrosity straight out of the last century. I stomped over to it and took a seat. A moment's hesitation and Kevin joined me.
For a moment, the only sound was the soft click of the peppermint against my teeth as I rolled it around my mouth with my tongue. It was nice. I leaned back and crossed my legs, smoothing my skirts.
"You're not what I was expecting."
"I never am, dear."
"Do you have a name?"
"Morag."
I sucked on the sweet as my brows drew together, thinking. "That's Scottish, right?"
"Aye, dear. That it is."
Which explained the hint of an accent she had. I'd thought it might be Irish at first, but it was too harsh. Faint, though, as though faded through too long being around non-Scots.
"I'm kind of at a loss here, now."
"Oh, don't worry, dear. I'm ready to go back whenever you'd like to send me."
"Wait… what?"
Morag set aside her knitting and leaned forward, scooping up the cat and holding him close as she stroked his thick, fur. He began to purr, and she smiled gently down at him.
She was not at all what I expected, and I glanced at Kevin for support, but he just stared blankly at the fire, lost in his own thoughts.
Super helpful.
"I hate this place," Morag said, sighing. "It's cold and damp, and the people!" she shuddered. "I detest them."
"But, I thought you fed on their emotions. Thrived on chaos and hate, etc?"
"Bah, there's food aplenty back home and a great deal more fun to be had too." She lifted the skirt of her dress and grimaced. "More than can be had in this rotting sack of blood and bile."
I scratched at my head and winced. Anna had damaged her car for this. It was not going to be fun explaining that to her.
"Why don't you just leave?" Kevin asked, speaking for the first time.
"We all have our burdens, dear. Mine is to serve my master, and he would not allow it." She smiled widely at me as she said that. "You, could send me back though."
"You know me?"
"I know two of my brothers were sent screaming back to the void," she spat, that thin veneer of charming old lady falling away. "I felt their passing like a steel hook tearing through my skin."
Nothing much I could say to that.
"Answer my questions, and I'll send you wherever you please."
"Ask, but I promise no answers."
"Who is your master?"
She remained silent, and I grimaced. Okay, I'd not really expected an answer to that one.
"Where is your master?"
Her lips stretched tight, pressing firmly together. Kevin glowered at her, and I chewed my lower lip. There wasn't much I could do to force her to give me any information. It's not like I was gonna torture her.
Besides, she'd probably enjoy that.
No, my only real threat was to kill her and since that's what she wanted, that was no threat at all.
"How about I don't kill you," I muttered. "Maybe that will loosen your tongue."
"Silly, girl," she snapped. "Leave me alive and I'll skin a child before the day is done. That squalling brat's death will be on you."
Okay, she was definitely an evil bitch, and I would kill her. Kevin's face was betraying his horror, and it slowly changed to one of resolve as his big hands curled into fists ready to beat her senseless if I didn't kill her first.
"What can you tell me?"
"My master knows you." She smiled sweetly as she said it. "He's been watching you for some time."
My eyes flicked guiltily to Kevin, and I felt my mouth go dry. How much did he know?
"Yes, dear," she said. "He knows everything."
That wasn't good. Not good at all. My tongue darted out, wetting my lips and my fingers curled as I called on the blade. It shimmered as it formed, coalescing in my hand and it was my turn for a swift and sudden smile of satisfaction as the demon recoiled.
"What is that!"
"Do not kill her." Orryn's voice whispered sibilantly into my ear, and I stopped, half out of my seat.
"You, okay?" Kevin asked.
Not remotely.
"What the fuck did you say?" I asked, directing my words to Orryn, wherever the hell he might be.
"Send her to me."
"How?"
"Who're you talking to?"
Morag hissed, clawing herself backwards against the chair. The cat squealed and leapt to the floor before making a beeline for the door.
"No one," I muttered, eyes fixed on Morag.
"You know how!" For the first time, I heard irritation in his voice. He couldn't tell me, I realised.
"There are rules," I muttered, and rose to my feet.
Morag's irises spilt, becoming slitted like a cat, and thick whiskers sprouted from her cheeks, each hair as thick as a needle and just as sharp at the tip. She hissed, revealing long canines that more resembled fangs.
"Holy shit," Kevin said, eyes wide as he scrambled off the couch and toward the door.
"Guess your master doesn't know everything," I muttered, raising the blade. "Or he'd have told you about this."
I leapt forward, slashing the air with the blade, only for my arm to be caught in one liver spotted hand that closed around me and pulled. I had a moment of sheer terror and then I crashed against the wall with a groan.
The knife remained tight in my hand, and I was back on my feet in time to raise it as she pounced on me. She batted my hand aside easily and lifted me, shaking me much like a cat did a caught mouse, before tossing me once more.
As I groaned, breath driven from my lungs, Kevin ran in. He swung his fists like clubs, sending wild strikes at the old woman's head and shoulders. She leaned into them, skin splitting and blood flowing beneath the blows, and she gave as good as she got.
Kevin reeled back, blood bursting from his nose and then doubled over as her bony fist was driven hard into his stomach.
The old bitch laughed, a high-pitched keen that set my teeth on edge. I approached cautiously this time, knife held ready.
She darted in, I hopped to the left, slashing down with the blade.
Morag howled, the sound shaking the house as she recoiled, left arm hanging limp. The blade had passed through it, leaving flesh untouched but severing nerves and spirit, rendering it a lifeless hunk of meat hanging from her shoulder.
How the hell was I supposed to send her to Orryn?
A scream was torn from me as she grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled, dragging me down and to the side to avoid being scalped. Right into her knee as she drove it up, and I was thrown back once more, the knife flying harmlessly to wink out of this reality.
My eyes widened and I let out a gasp as Kevin traded blows with her.
Summoning the blade once more, I pushed myself up, wiping my bloodied lip with the sleeve of my blouse.
Ruining it! Which just really pissed me off.
Kevin was managing better with his two arms to her one, but she was fast, and wily, and she played dirty.
He dropped to his knees, her hand squeezing his balls, so hard tears were streaming down his cheeks, and I took my chance. Seized the moment. Ran in and stabbed her in the back.
She had a moment to register what had happened, to see my grin, before I let go of the blade.
It vanished.
Taking her with it.
"Very well done," Orryn whispered, and I preened.
No idea why. It wasn't my life's goal to please Orryn, but for some reason, his praise made me feel damned good.
Then Kevin groaned, and my eyes widened as I spun to help him.
"Are you, hurt?" his eyes met mine, full of pain. "Beyond the obvious."
"N-no."
I patted his back gently. I knew that pain. Every guy did.
Not that I could admit that to him.
"You did good, babe," I said, offering him some of the same praise, Orryn had just given me. "Really great."
"I feel like my balls were clamped in a vice."
His voice was a little high pitched and I winced. "I'll get you some water."
The kitchen was as neat and orderly as the rest of the house. Say what you will about the evil bitch, she kept a tidy house.
I grabbed a glass and filled it with water from the tap before bringing it back to where Kevin knelt hunched over on the floor, his hands cradling his injured parts.
Setting the water down beside him, I rubbed his back, wondering what I was supposed to say. It was kind of new territory for me.
"Want me to look at them?" I asked, cringing. It was the last thing I wanted but figured his girlfriend would at least offer.
"I'll be fine, babe."
"You sure?"
"Just need to distract myself for a minute till the pain subsides."
I glanced around the room. There was a TV, but it wasn't on. The clock still ticked steadily away and there were some Homes and Gardens magazines, though I didn't think he'd have much interest in them.
"You saved me," I said, smiling gently. "Thank you."
"Didn't do much saving."
"If you hadn't fought that old lady for me, she'd have gutted me."
He chuckled and then groaned loudly, leaning forward. "Christ, don't make me laugh."
"Sorry."
He really had saved me though. Without him, she would have torn me apart, I was sure of that. It was only because she was distracted with him that I'd managed to stab her at all.
I wasn't sure I would have done the same for my girlfriend. Even, Leah.
Hell, I knew for a fact I wouldn't have for her.
The only thing I'd brought her was misery and pain.
His face tilted up, eyes meeting mine. The pain in them was for the physical and there was none of that for me. Just care, and something else. Something I didn't want to face because that belonged to Chloe.
Even so.
My hand cupped his chin and tilted his face up as I licked my lips nervously.
I wasn't sure why, but I knew that I wanted to.
"Fuck it," I whispered. "You earned this."
I leaned in, lips meeting his hungrily. For a moment, everything seemed to stop, and a tingle became a heat, then a fire as I threw myself into the kiss. All the fear and the frustration, all the pain and the loneliness released in that moment of intense pleasure.
Then I pulled back, gasping, an ache I refused to acknowledge clamouring for attention.
It was wrong.
I wasn't Chloe, though he thought I was.
With tears in my eyes, I pushed myself up and looked away. I didn't turn back as I simply said, "We should go."