Desmond’s definition of love was so profound and beautiful. His concern for me struck a chord in my heart. Our chemistry was off the charts, and I was uncontrollably drawn to him. He had taken the role of my rock and my savior. However, the feeling of love wasn’t mutual.“I, uh, I.” Words got stuck in my mouth. His eyes, beaming with affection, were gazing at me like I was the most precious thing in the world. It was tough to decline such a handsome face and watch its joyful radiance fade.“Desmond, you’re the sweetest, but I can’t say the same to you.”“I never asked you. Feelings can’t be forced, delayed, or calculated. My purpose in confessing was to assure you that there is no need to fear me or confine your requests to our contract. I am willing to use my abilities for whatever you need.”The warmth of his words surged through my body, producing a sense of calm and intimacy. I embraced him like an impulse. “Thank you. Thank you for showing me a light at the end of a tunnel. Becau
My sluggish brain was barely aware of its surroundings and the time. Where would it find the energy to deal with Madame Long's lunacy? Her monstrous appearance had already given me a heart attack, and I couldn't endure more.I moved my eyes around the room in search of answers. Sunlight pouring through the gaps in the hut's door hinted at morning. And the camp, which was brown-colored, looked like Elaine's friend's hut.My curious gaze stopped at Madame Long's face, which was still stretched into an unsettling grin. Her serial killer eyes were staring into my soul. I wanted to scream for help but stopped upon remembering what she had said about Desmond."Wait, what!" How do you know that I spent the night with him?"The size of Madame Long's grin shrank. "Lucky guess. Thank you for confirming it, little duckling.""Young passion hits differently. I remember once such a sizzling affair from my younger years." Her tongue circled her lips lecherously while she was taking a trip down memor
My internal fears had manifested into reality. Evil had struck again. It constantly sought opportunities to hurt us, and I presented one to it on a silver platter. It was a bad idea to leave them alone, knowing that Desmond could follow me. With us not there, they were practically unguarded.“Oh, no. Did it hurt you? Where is Mom?” The overwhelming fear of the worst made my chest ache. “We’re fine physically. I just can’t handle the noises anymore…,” Mia’s voice quavered as she sobbed. “Mia, please tell me how it happened and what it is doing now!” My hand gripping the phone was trembling. It was difficult to make sense of the situation with unfinished sentences that provided little information. Mia’s silence was killing me. She was in a lot of distress and probably bawling her eyes out. It made me feel so guilty and helpless. I wanted to be there to hug and comfort her. “What happened?” Elaine asked from the seat next to me.“I don’t know for sure. Mia is having a tough time expl
We had crossed the hustle and bustle of the city and were about to enter my suburban hometown, Wneebeach Springs. With my head leaned against the window, I watched the houses pass by me like a fade while lost in thought. My thoughts were predominantly about Desmond. The exhilaration of seeing him soon with my family made me feel like some love-struck teenage girl from a movie.My brain replayed our passionate love-making session next to the campfire. A broad smile almost touched my ears when I thought about the loving words he had said to me.Dad was the one who made us feel safe. The cruel world didn’t seem so scary when he was looking after us. After his passing, Desmond was the first and only man who had promised to protect me and my family. For a moment, I forgot that it all started with a contract. Desmond didn’t care about the contract, so why should I? Although it might be too soon to fall in love, Desmond's protectiveness was already warming my heart. In my previous romantic
I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide there. On Desmond’s expressionless face, I swear, I could sense some irritability and disappointment. His eyes were still on Elaine, trying to figure out if she was a threat or not.The tension between the two was so evident that even Mom had gone silent. It wouldn’t have been this bad if Madame Long hadn’t further ruined the reputation of white witches in my incubus’s eyes. Out of the blue, Desmond’s face eased into a warm expression, and he extended a friendly hand toward Elaine. Elaine’s hand was visibly trembling as she shook his hand.“Dinner time!” Mom announced. “Let’s all gather at the dining table and continue to chat. Mr Demetri, I have a lot to talk to you.”Oh no, my presence had helped Mom feel comfortable, and now she was all set to interrogate Desmond over dinner.“No, Mom. I think Mr Demetri has better things to do than join us for our family dinner. Besides, you must not have had time to cook during today’s traumatic events. We
Electronic gadgets and spirits are an odd combination.Mom had asked Desmond for his phone number, and even though I hadn’t talked to him about it, I could tell he lacked one.He moved around his vegetables with a spoon while his eyes tracked the movements of it. I could tell he was trying hard to find an appropriate excuse to give Mom.“Mom, let him eat in peace first. It’s only appropriate to ask for such things after a guest has eaten. Besides, why do you need to have his number on your phone? I’ll call him if we ever need to,” I said. “Silly me.” Mom giggled. “Of course, you would have his number. Send it to me right away, dear. I am becoming so forgetful nowadays.”“Uh.” I looked around for help, but no one would make eye contact with me, not even my incubus. “Mom, I think it’s not fair for us all to call him. He must have plenty of other clients. It’s enough for one person from our house to have his number.”A storm of anger replaced Mom’s giggly expression. “Then I guess I sho
Although Desmond was the one in the basement, my heart was pounding like I was the one who had gone there to investigate the noise. My eyes were glued to the basement door, and the uneasiness was getting to me.I shifted my weight from one foot to another, incessantly tugging my sleeve. Some time had elapsed, and Desmond was still inside. My incubus had always worked fast and with so much confidence in his abilities that he was sneering the first time he saved me from a demon in the basement. Then why did he look a bit worried this time? Was he alright?My chest muscles tightened at the thought of him getting hurt. He had saved me multiple times, and maybe now he needed me.“It’s been quite a while. Someone needs to go down there and check on him. I’ll go,” I announced. “Are you out of your mind?” yelled Mom, almost ramming into me. “If the devils in our basement have trapped a demonologist, then you are nothing but a fly for them. Why do you want to have yourself killed, Cassidy? Why
Desmond had requested to spend an indefinite number of nights at my house. It was exciting to be close to him, but how long would he be able to keep up the act of a human?“You’re an angel and the result of all my late-night prayers. God sent you to us to protect us from the devil. How can I say no to anything that comes out of your mouth? From now on, this house is as much yours as it is ours,” Mom replied to him. Her teary smile was a poignant mix of happiness and misery. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Mom had handed him a spare key to our house next. Instead of doing that, she gave him a side hug and thanked him endlessly.Mom shifted her attention to me. “Cassidy, how about you let him stay in your room, and you can share the bed with Mia?” Before I could say a word of protest, she looked daggers at me.“Of course. Let me prepare the room for you, Mr. Demetri,” I told him and managed to wink his way when no one was looking. That night was going to be interesting in a variety
Two months had gone by since the war at Voocrod. With Jane and Benedict out of our lives, things were back to normal, mostly. The loss of our father was irrevocable, but we were grateful to have each other. Mom’s emotions had gotten under control, and she was slowly returning to her old self. Desmond was now her favorite person in the world. She could barely have a family dinner without him. It made me so happy to see their unique bond.Mia was doing well, too. Her scars had healed, and she had met a wonderful guy a month ago. Things were going pretty well. Her new boyfriend, Jack, had become Mom’s second favorite, so we expected a lot from that relationship.Derrick’s life had changed drastically as well. He now believed in magic and demons and supported my relationship with Desmond. What shocked us the most was when he and Becky announced they were officially dating. Good for Becky! She was a sweetheart who had always done so much to help me and my family. I couldn’t wait to have h
“Help, help!” I threw my fists at the window panically. In the building’s empty parking lot, there was no one to hear my distress-filled screams. I tried the door handle again, but it wouldn’t budge.Benedict’s demons had me cornered. Nothing was off limits for them. The fact that Alistair was on the enemy’s side was a greater shock than finding Desmond’s truth. I believed Xolmon because he acted so normal. I should have known better. Why did I agree to meet him, knowing very well that demons could look and behave normally?“Save the screaming for when we torture you, girl,” Hepzibah, the demoness, taunted. Her sharp claws gripped my shoulders, pulling me out of my seat. I struggled and shrieked. Even though it was pointless, I called Desmond’s name. The monster of my nightmares had caught me. Who would save me now? He was the only one I trusted after God.As I was kicking my feet, everything became a blur. I could hear the demons snickering at me. It all faded slowly. I had passed ou
My heart throbbed with the clock’s second needle. It was around midnight. Desmond had left fifteen minutes ago for Voocrod, leaving me and my family at Becky’s apartment. The much-awaited final war had begun. I had begged him to take me with him, but he said it was too dangerous. “Humans suffer the most during spirit wars, Cass,” Desmond had said. “Fiends will not hesitate to spill innocent blood. Violence is entertainment for them. What I fear the most is them taking you hostage to hurt me. Your love is my strength and my weakness. It doesn’t matter how close we are to winning the war. I would drop everything and sacrifice myself to save you.”Now, I was forced to wait without updates. Desmond wasn’t the only one who cared. I cared about his safety, too. Resting on Becky’s couch, I prayed to God for our victory and to bring my demon back to me unharmed.Becky wasn’t there because she had to leave to see her grandmother because of a medical emergency. My friend, however, was kind en
The water rapidly hit the rocks in a narrow stream. I watched it continuously flow. Nature is truly a miracle and the best way to refresh your mind. However, nothing can ease the anxiety of a current challenge. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Ophelia had said about not seeing a trapped child there. The war that was soon to come entailed death and imprisonment. What would I choose for my aunt when I wasn’t sure about her sins? Punishing an innocent would eat me up alive. There had to be a solution.“There is, Cass,” Desmond spoke. For the past five minutes, gushing water was the only sound around us. “I brought you here to clear your mind. Don’t punish yourself because of Jane.”With a lowered head, I walked up to Desmond. “I am sorry. Don’t you find this extremely troubling?”“No.” Desmond shook his head. “Because the solution is obvious.”“Which is what?” I said, desperate for anything.“Jane hasn’t given us any proof of her innocence. We don’t trust anyone,” Desmond began. I wa
I put a hand over my eyes, knowing very well that I could only conceal my face and not my thoughts from the two demons around me. How could I control my thoughts? For us humans, our minds and social media are the only two places to criticize safely.It was so unfair to have that taken away from you. I wished for the ground beneath to swallow me to save everyone from further embarrassment.“But I didn’t say anything, mother,” said Desmond. He must be trying to divert her attention from me. My boyfriend was very forgiving of my insulting thoughts. Was his mother the same?The lady opened her eyes to reveal the most striking golden eyes. The color was similar to Desmond’s siren irises, but they lacked the glow and appeared more natural. Her overall look reminded me of Rose from Titanic. She had red hair with the fairest skin and an elegant fashion sense.“You know I have a gift for this. You were about to introduce this beautiful human girl to me as your partner,” she spoke with a toothy
It was finally happening. Desmond’s tongue was so deep in my mouth that I could feel us becoming one. I didn’t want it to end. My mind couldn’t help but compare the kiss to the one I had shared with Charles. Kissing Charles was slobbery and warm. Whereas kissing Desmond was discovering infinite pleasures within your mouth while losing all control and touch with your surroundings. My feelings for my demon were just as massive as the difference between the two make-out sessions, which amplified the bliss even more.I liked how one of Desmond’s hands was still on my boob. He had already helped me explore the pleasures of my body in countless ways. Yet, I still wanted more. Not even an eternity locked and lost in his body could quench my thirst for him. I was addicted to him.Desmond’s hands traveled around my body, searching for more to grab and feel. With the same intention, I unzipped his jacket and slipped my hands underneath his shirt, feeling his soft skin and ripped body.“Cass, s
My eyes dropped to Desmond’s mouth, desperately waiting for a yes to come out of there. We had been apart for far too long, and only a few days away from him had felt like a million years of torture.All of Desmond’s lies and mistakes were forgiven and forgotten. His unusual appearance and true self became a part of me. Nothing mattered in that moment. My aching heart only sought solace in the man before me. He was the one. He had always been the one. The moment he walked into my life, no other man interested me. My knight in shining armor was perfect. His horns, wings, and tail were a bonus, not an unholy defect or curse. I wholeheartedly accepted and loved him exactly the way he was.Desmond was testing my patience with his silence. Deliberately, I filled my mind with passionate thoughts, letting him know how every inch of me longed for him. I could see the result of my experiment in his eyes. They looked back at me with amazement and a yearning more intense than mine.“Are you su
Standing close to the guest room window, I felt the chilly city air fan my face. Without a blanket over my shoulders, I would freeze to death. I watched the sparkling city lights and the never-ending sounds. It was two in the morning, and the streets were full of life. I would have found the scene enjoyable if my mind wasn’t troubled by a hundred different emotions.Thanks to Becky for having a three-bedroom apartment so I could have a separate guest room. That day’s events were bizarre and too overwhelming. My mind was all over the place, and I needed time to rearrange my thoughts and think of my next step.“Can I come inside?” Desmond knocked at the ajar door.“Yes, please,” I said, repositioning my blanket more fashionably. The most dominant thoughts in my mind were about Desmond. There was so much that needed to be said.Desmond walked inside, closing the door behind him. My eyes remained glued to the window. I could hear him slowly approaching me. There was tension and hesitation
Panic took over me when I heard footfalls for the third time. The first two times, it was Becky, but the steps felt heavier that time. I huffed and closed my hands into tight fists, almost piercing my skin with my sharp nails.“Cass, we’re back,” Desmond’s voice confirmed my fear.I turned around with partially opened eyes, prepared to face the wrath of my mother. Mom was unconscious in Desmond’s arms, and Becky was shocked beyond words.“Oh my God!” Becky’s jaw was almost touching the floor, and her eyes were twitching in a concerning way. “Am I magic now? Do the rules of the real world apply to me anymore, or am I now a boundless spirit floating in this never-ending universe we call life?”“None of that. You flew here at an extraordinary speed with me. The rules remain the same.” Desmond burst Becky’s bubble.Becky stared at Desmond like he was an alien or an unbelievable illusion. “I still can’t believe you are real. Cassidy must be hallucinating. He can’t be that good-looking and