(Sarah)
I stay in the shadows, watching both Daimon and Ariel talk. Their voices were soft; I couldn't quite hear what they were saying without busting my cover.
The red string around Ariel knotted, twisted, and turned into an ugly black. The moonlight cast its magic, showing whatever around her as her string seems to want to entangle itself around Daimon.
Damn that crazy lady. She was making more work for me. I just untangled the knot; now my work was getting even more problematic. How does Daimon get into these troubles? I groaned. Why was my destiny given such a poor charge?
Ariel stood up straight, challenging Daimon. Her gaze did not shift; she jabbered. The humming power of the red string wrapped and coiled around Ariel. Taut and angry as black seeped through its very core. It changed from red and dyed to black. I hissed under my breath, the taint.
The red string swam, reaching out like a claw straight toward Daimon. It coiled. Snapping at his red thread that was once untangled, now being wrapped like a tight knot. I glared, annoyed blooming that all that work was getting undone in seconds.
I could only see this on a full moon, it was a blessing in disguise or a curse to the one who does not want to know.
The corrupted red string twisted, its strands shifted and changed into a monstrous creation. A corrupted fate, bent on one thing to take. My lips went into a snarl and my eyes glared straight at it with intensity.
Ariel's eyes started to tear, her lips trembling. Daimon glared at her as if she owed him something for all the trouble that she had caused. Daimon turned around, stormed away with a huff of anger.
With a vicious strike, the red string struck Daimon back. A dagger embedded itself as black goo bled off his back.
This was bad.
Ariel turned around, wiping her tears. A strange glimmer of darkness swarmed in her eyes that glowered with a ferocity that told anyone that she was bent on getting what she wanted. Nothing was going to stop her from getting what was hers.
I knew I could not purify that red string. I put my back against the wall, hiding myself in the shadows. Ariel stormed away, not looking back.
I looked to the side. I followed Daimon. Men and women whispered, laughed, and moaned from hidden places throughout the building's hallways and rooms. My face turned red, hurrying past some of them, dreading to stumble on something that I didn't want to see.
Can't they get a room? I blushed hard. My feet picked up speed, winding through the hallway. My face smashed to a towering block of muscle. I squealed, throwing my hands in the air. Someone grabbed my hand, holding me up before I fell. He yanked me toward him and fell back onto his stone-like chest.
"What are you doing here?" Tyler had me stable. He grabbed both my shoulders to steady me. Stepping back, he glanced up and down. "You were on the dance floor; this area is off-limits."
"Is it?" I said, detaching myself. I tiptoed, looking over his shoulder. Not too far away was Daimon with a group of men, sitting down in a circle, taking a puff of cigar smoke.
"This is a private meeting; leave to get back to the gathering." Tyler squished his nose; he frowned, staring down at me. He chaffed, pulling back his hair. Something clearly troubled him.
"Um, I just need him to come out for like 3 minutes."
"I can give him the message."
I shook my head, "No, this is personal."
"The meeting is currently taking place; it won't be done until later. Come back then."
I pushed in, knowing the moon would be gone by then. I wasn't sure if I wanted another month before the next full moon. Especially something that deadly on his back. How can his spirit be able to handle that spiritual attack? I could see the corrupted string of fate oozing out more gunk onto his shoulder? The corruption wasn't stopping; it was ratcheting up into something serious. Whatever it was meant it's going to happen sooner rather than later.
A rickety push of a cart squeaked behind me. Ariel swayed her hips, walking toward with seven cups of drinks and tea.
"Hey, Tyler. I got some drinks for you guys for the yearly council."
"Thanks," Tyler moved aside for her to enter.
Blankets of moonlight breached through the windows on the side, casting its gentle light. I could see the twirling and moving of multiple different red strings coming through the door and flying past me. Ariel's red string was tainted; it pulsed with a malevolent energy that screamed destruction and fury. The black oil that dripped out of the black string reached over, seeping itself, reaching to grab ahold of Daimon's.
I shuddered.
Ariel gave each man a cup of drink. Leaving Daimon last. She gave him a sweet smile, dipping down to show off her cleavage. Her red hair rained down her side; she tucked her hair to her ear.
At that moment, Ariel's black string stuck. Wrapping and tearing into the Daimon's red string of fate, attempting to shred it to pieces and wind it with her own, but it failed. Daimon glared at her, frowning. Even though it failed, she wrapped and coiled it around the red string of fate, pretending it to be a part of the one he was destined for.
Daimion reached over to grab the drink. He raised it to his lips, taking a deep drink. I frowned; I could tell that Ariel was up to something. They just had a fight; what was her game?
"Leave."
"Look, three minutes."
"No."
My hand gripped, still looking over Tyler's shoulder. Daimon was rubbing his head with his hand, while Ariel was leaning against him, whispering in his ear. Her hand brushed against his side.
Daimon shook his head, his eyes flickering. His hand clenching and unclenching, brushing Ariel away. He snapped a few times, which made Ariel recoil. She huffed, standing up and heading out like a storm, pushing past Tyler as the cart rolled with her.
Her pungent smell of perfume wafted behind her; I almost choked from the amount that she had poured. With a sneeze, I gagged out the strange smell that tickled my nose. I could feel a rush of tingling heat that made my blood boil. An alarm rang in the back of my head; she did something. That smell she had wasn't there before. What was it?
At that moment, I felt a tug in my guts. The feather was calling, this time a new call. My eyes glared at Ariel, I accepted without thought.
"I'll wait out here." I walked over to the nearest chair, taking a seat on the side.
"It might take hours."
"I'm fine with that. Wake me up when he comes out." I leaned back, taking off my shoes. My feet felt free from those high heels. I let out a groan of relief.
Tyler glanced at me, turning around as he went back in. With a click, the door closed.
I leaned back, getting comfortable. My eyes closed, breathing. I couldn't sleep; I knew that whenever Daimon came out was the time for me to move in and pull out that corrupted string.
This was one of the reasons the fated string got entangled, jealously, hatred, and intentional destruction, becoming an ugly curse in its own way. Normal people can't see it, nor could they tell when such ugly knots happened. Even in cities, under the full moon, the people's threads appear. It worked differently. I didn't understand its presence or the abundance of red threads pulsing with life.
I banged my head on the chair, looking up. Thinking back over the past three days, a lot has happened. I couldn't put my fingers to it, but it was odd. Out of the 3 days of my life, more supernatural things happened around me than in the whole 25 years of my life. It was mind-boggling and strange; I knew that there were supernatural and unexplainable things out there in life. Just what I wasn't sure. We never got onto that topic before my parent's murder.
Thinking about it, maybe I was looking at the murder the wrong way. What if there were supernatural beings or even killed them? That could be the reason I could find nothing. My mind swam with many possibilities, but none hit me. I was grasping straws, hoping that I would find something.
So many questions, a single answer. I got up, pacing back and forth down the hallway, keeping my mind busy. I stopped in an empty room, where I sat down for a moment. The windows were open, allowing the cool summer breeze to enter.
The window heard outside whispers. I turned, leaning close.
"You need to bring him to room 231." A woman's voice said.
"Alright. Alright. You owe me after this." A man's voice replied. "Getting into his bed and getting marked will assure her of being his mate. Did you slip the potion into his drink?"
"Yes," the woman said. I peeked a bit more, with red flaming hair, women spoke to the man with broad shoulders and sharp features. "She wants to get that mark tonight. Just make sure that you blast out that Daimon marked her to the clan's media."
"Don't worry," the man snorted. "That drug would put down an alpha and put him in a mating frenzy for a full day. Heck, she'll love it." He snorted.
"Good. Remember 231."
"Alright. Alright. Just leave and wait there."
The woman nodded; she disappeared, leaving the man alone.
Marked? Alpha? Mating frenzy? What does that mean? But the better question is, what drug and who did they drug? Then the answer slammed into me, of course. Damian. Why would it be anyone else to see that twisted poisonous string appearing; it meant she was forcing and bending fate to listen to her selfish desire? The world was listening, and I knew the consequences of it always came out bad on both ends. Worse, I would not be surprised if one of them destroyed each other.
I hardened myself. What have I gotten myself into?
I slumped. No. This was nothing. I got up, heading back to the place where Daimon was. I sat down on the chair.
The compulsion to go in was grinding against the back of my mind. It twisted my gut like a knife. I felt it growing stronger and stronger. The next feather beckoned; it was time.
Daimon stepped out with a group of other powerful men. I could tell that each one of them had power that normal people could not comprehend. They roared with a vicious beast that screamed, fuck with me and find out type of vibe.
The other men stopped for a moment, their gazes widened and their nose flickered open and closed. One of them, with red hair and a bushy beard, stepped towards me.
Tyler stepped forward, stopping him. "Let's get to the Luna halls. We have one more thing to do before the moon goes down."
The red-haired men stopped, turning, and they left. Daimon, who was trailing behind, stumbled. I got up and went straight to him. My hand went under his arm, letting his arm wrap around my shoulder. My right wing spread over him like a curtain, hiding his large body.
"Sarah?" Daimon blinked, his eyes dazed. He swayed; I grabbed his shirt, pulling him close.
"Stay with me, we're in hot water and need to get out now." I whispered a hiss.
"Huh?" His words were slow, unable to comprehend what I was saying. Even his body leaned into me, giving part of his weight.
I grunted, realizing he was going in and out.
Damn, this wasn't good. I need to get him out, and fast. My feet shuffled, half dragging him and pulling him as we both stumbled. My wings flapped a few times as I cursed under my breath. The dark hallway kept us hidden as I maneuvered the best I could. He was too heavy. I needed to find a room to dump him in.
His hand wrapped around me, slithering against my waist. Leaning in, sniffing my hair. A rush of heat blossomed on contact. My face turned red.
"Hey!" I hissed. "Stay with me and keep your hands to yourself!" I grunted, his weight became heavier.
Damn, what does this man eat? He felt as if he were carrying a boulder up a hill. My body screamed, "Drop this guy, or he'll crush me!" He kept squishing against me.
I saw a fire exit. With my foot, I kicked it open. A rush of warm summer air greeted us. We kept moving, but every minute his hand got bolder, his breath heavier, and his weight heavier, leaning into me as if I were a lifeline to his unquenchable thirst.
Luckily, we were next to a hotel that connected to the gathering. I pulled him through the front door. My dress is riding up my legs. Hair wild as if I went into battle and my mask half slipping. I put him down on the sofa; he flopped and groaned. Sweating, I rushed to the receptionist, throwing my card at her. "One room, please."
The receptionist looked at me and Daimon. Her glasses sliding down her nose, squinting her eyes as if I were the problem.
"1 room." I said it again, this time a bit more snappily. "He doesn't feel well," I blurted.
The receptionist took my card, looking at me and my wings as if I'm some kind of circus freak, but she said nothing. It didn't take long for her to finish what she was doing, sliding my card back over and handing me a card key.
"Room 232."
"Thanks." I grabbed my card and the card key. Picking it back into my bra, where I keep things when I don't have a bag.
Damion breathed, his eyes unfocused. I leaned, grabbing his jacket and pulled him toward me. Squatting, I hoisted him up onto my shoulder than he half leaned against me.
"Let's go, buddy. We need to get you safe." I grunted. This was a full-blown workout and I could feel my whole body sweating from half-carrying him.
Daimon half-dragged his feet. Each step was a fight to keep him awake and not drop him simultaneously. Words of encouragement slipped from my lips, coaxing him to keep moving. Telling him we were closer to our destination. Daimon listened, leaning in, panting as if he was fighting for his life with the air itself.
We came to room 232 with great effort. His hand was sticking to me like glue, riding up my dress. My black lace panties were half showing, and I didn't have enough hands to pull it down. My hand slipped into my bra, yanking out the card key. Hands shaking, with him hanging off my shoulder, I half-body slammed the door just to get in.
"Come on, Damion." I hissed. "We're five steps away!" I cried out, sweat dripping down my face.
Daimon shook his head, attempting to come to sense. His shoulders straightened, his weight appeared he stumbled through the door. I had to catch him a few times until I threw him onto the bed.
With a huff, I cheered. That was hard. My mask slipped off and clattered on the floor.
I could feel the tugging from the feather on his pocket. Damion's three-piece black and gold suit was half open. He groaned and shifted, the pain in his voice apparent.
"Alright. Sarah, we can do this. A simple help with his clothes, tuck him in and get out." I pulled down my dress, which had ridden up to my hips. This would not be hard, right?
I nodded, agreeing with myself. It was going to be easy. That's what I wanted to believe. My hand reached out, picking through his inside pocket to pull out the feather. When I pulled out my feather, it hissed and crackled. The sudden blossom of fire erupted, burning down the feather in seconds. Nothing was left behind, not even a single black soot.
One more problem solved, three more to go. I chanted in my head. This was going better than I thought. I reached in again, taking out another feather. This time, I placed it on his stomach. The feather glowed, merging into his stomach as he absorbed it. A flash of light sparkled for a moment, blinding me just as quickly as it disappeared.
The fever that ran hot slowly cooled. Dangerous panting and growling become steady. Whatever was in his system was being flushed out. A swirl of satisfaction welled up in my heart. Another feather down, he will get whatever flushed out of his simple system, and the task is completed. This wasn't as bad a day as I thought.
"Daimon," I tapped him on the cheek. "I'm going to need your help to pull your clothes off. You're sweating."
Daimon groaned, shifting in bed. I could tell that whatever he drank was burning him hot. The drug hadn't fully flushed out, and I knew it would take a bit of time. I could feel the heat off his skin that screamed that something was mistaken. I tugged on one end of his suit, peeling it off him as best as I could without harming him. I pulled the covers back so he could get in easier.
I draped his suit on the chair. Then I went to help with his shirt. A simple buttoned down shirt, but my fingers shook. It was as if the shirt fought him, ready to pop. Oh man, this man's smell is divine. I could lean in and just inhale his scent all day long.
No. No. Sarah, pay attention to the task. I chatted to myself.
With efficient hands, I unbuttoned his shirt. Pulling it off, I gasped. His body was a perfect specimen of muscle. Every bump looked as if a master craftsman had sculpted it, made straight from heaven. His golden hair lay slicked to the side, and this gave him a sinful look.
Nope. Nope. Nope. I looked away; this isn't the time to oogle my boss.
Now to his pants.
Damn it, do I have to? Nope. I think this is enough. I nodded. I pulled off his socks and pulled his feet into the white covers.
Daimon growled. His hands shot down to his belt, unbuckling it and freeing himself. He was in his black briefs. Shocked, I froze.
My eyes went straight down, and I shrieked. It's huge!
I snapped away, too embarrassed to look at him. This man, I hovered over him, reaching for the blanket. Stretching, I reached, trying not to look down. Why is this man a walking, breathing sin?! My morals might suffer at this rate.
I huffed.
I felt hot hands grab my wrist, yanking me in. I flopped onto him, shocked. What just happened? Warm chest welcomed like a deadly invitation. I could feel it radiating to my cheeks, making my face flush red like a tomato, flaring down to my neck and up to my ears. This compromising position! I never thought such a thing would ever happen in my life.
Yes, I have dated, and we went as far as touching one another, but I never had sex. That was something I guarded, and this man was testing every boundary. I braced myself, exploiting this man's mistake, especially when it screamed in my face that something delicious awaited.
With resolve, I shoved any thought and steeled myself.
"Daimon," I said. His hand was slithering down my back. I felt a shiver. Each of his fingers gave an electric shock. His breath caught in my ears like a sweet song. His breath heavy, and his eyes dazed.
With another forceful yank, my head snapped straight to his face. Hot breath snaked against my neck, light kisses rained down my like poison. Every kiss made me shudder. It was like leaving behind a fingerprint on my soul of hot ice and fire with each kiss. His left hand slithered up my back, where my wings connected to my back. Strong rough fingers slipped through the base, gripping it hard.
I snapped, arching my back in shock. No one had ever touched me there before. It was an agonizing sweetness, an itch and pleasure combining in momentary bliss. Daimon moved his hand, trailing up my bottom right wing, his fingers entwined with my feathers as he stroked and massaged it.
Ugh! A moan escaped my lips.
My eyes snapped. Nope! I reached for his arm, holding it still.
"Daimon! What are you-" I was silenced. His lips snapped onto my own, and he chewed. My mouth that was speaking, his tongue snapped in and tangled with my own. Shocked, I froze. The hand that I held him with was loose.
Daimon took the initiative, slithering back down, yanking my wings back. I fluttered, my wings snapping open on reflex. A few feathers flew off as I felt a few snap off. His hand caressed and clenched it, as if it were the finest silk he had ever held.
I groaned again; his mouth was working wonders. My body felt like jelly, my mind haze. This man worked wonders, and I was fighting for my breath and my mind. His other hand was behind my head, keeping me in place. Retreat was impossible; it was like he was using his hold to stop me from running away. His lips tangled and sparred with mine tongue.
I gulped, saliva dripping. He pulled back, biting and nipping at my lower lip. Horror escaped my gasp; my hand slipped up and pushed against his chest.
I wiggled, struggling to get out of his hold. My wings flapped, causing the surrounding air to pick up. Things flew, lifted, moved, and clattered off whatever was on the table, spilling onto the ground. It was as if a tornado had hit the room.
Daimon pulled me in hard, smooshing me against his chest. His other hand gripped between my wings, a shock of pure electric energy shot through my whole spine. My wings limped; I hitched. I never knew there was such a disarming spot in my back. Heck , I heard about it, but this was my first time to experience such a debilitating feeling.
His body shifted, moving me under him. My wings tucked on one side, I feared they would break if I left them out in the open. His weight shifted onto me , pinning me.
"Daimon!" I yelled. Daimon's eyes opened, doing his best to awaken. For a moment, his gaze caught mine, but just as quickly as it came. His eyes closed, he dropped on top of me, and his arm wrapped like a vice. I couldn't move.
"Are you serious?" I hissed. There was no space to wiggle out of his hold. I was stuck. Stuck, stuck. His grip on my wings made it impossible to put it away as he had a grip on it. It felt like my wings refused to go back in and instead clung to Daimon's hand. My breath and body gave up. I lay immobilized, staring up at the ceiling. Daimon was breathing, his eyes closed, asleep.
What a night. Then, the black string called to me; I lifted my head and stared. Nothing. It seemed I was too late, as I could not see it anymore. Well, until he gave me some space to wiggle out of, I was stuck in this position.
His scent of woodsy and blueberry permeated the air, bringing with him a sense of calm I didn't think I would have for a man. All the others I slept next too, didn't have such a calming scent to them.
My eyes became heavy, listening to his heartbeat beating in his chest. I felt a gentle thump, which put me to sleep.