Satan's Captive

Prologue

Kaitlyn looked unusually nervous. She was hardly eating and her hands were shaking.

'Eat, Kaitlyn,' Jacob told her.

Kaitlyn took the smallest bite of her burger with a grimace. Jacob scrunched up his cheese and mayonnaise covered burger wrapper and tucked it into the pocket of the door.

'Here,' Kaitlyn said, handing over her packet of fries. 'I can't eat these.'

Jacob frowned but didn't argue as she struggled through the rest of her meal. When she was done eating as much as she could, he tucked her rubbish into the door alongside his. He rested his hand on her leg as Kaitlyn continued to grimace, her hand on her belly. She looked pale and her skin felt cold. Catherine had tried to help with her sickness but it wasn't enough.

Jacob wondered what it meant. It reminded him too much of the last time she'd been sick. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She'd admitted that she and Satan had been together recently ... Could she be with child again? He shook himself. No. You're not thinking straight. It's too soon.

He was about to ask what more he could do for her, when she said in a strangled voice, 'I think we need to stop.'

Samuel pulled the car over moments later and Kaitlyn thrust open her door. Catherine was at her side in an instant, helping her over to the trees. Jacob wasn't so quick, his cumbersome wings making it difficult to exit the car. His cloak caught in the seatbelt. His feathers slammed in the door. By the time he caught up with them, Kaitlyn had already emptied her stomach.

'No. Let me get up what I need to get up,' Jacob heard Kaitlyn tell Catherine.

'I wonder what's wrong with her,' Jacob said worriedly as Samuel stood by his side.

'Nerves, Catherine thinks.'

'You don't think ...'

The angel looked at Jacob. 'Think what?'

'Nothing.' Jacob shook his head.

'We'll look after her,' Samuel said. 'Go take care of yourself.'

Jacob pressed his hand to his bladder with a grimace. 'I won't be long.'

He hurried into the trees. Even after so many days since his transformation, Jacob still wasn't used to his mortal body. Unlike Kaitlyn, who was well practiced in understanding her mortal urges, Jacob was often taken by surprise. His needs crept up on him without warning: his hunger, his thirst, the need to relieve himself, his desire for Kaitlyn. There were so many things to do and remember in order to replenish and satisfy his body. How did humans handle it every day?

Jacob studied his surroundings. They were on the outskirts of a national park. It was peaceful. A bird was singing. A cool breeze wafted through his hair. There were so many smells he couldn't put a name to. He could hear the whoosh of traffic from the busy road beyond. He turned his head at a sudden bout of laughter. To his right was what looked like a walking trail. He moved further along.

When he felt safely concealed, he was about to unzip his pants when he paused at the sound of a snap, as of a stick breaking. He didn't have a chance to turn when something hard and heavy slammed into the back of his head. He staggered as the world spun. His knees bowed weakly. But he managed to blink away the darkness and furiously whip around. Just in time, he seized his assailant's wrist before he could imbed his long sharp knife into Jacob's guts.

Jacob's eyes widened. 'But you're just a man.'

Not a demon. Not one of The Fallen. Just a man. Ordinary. His wrist was warm in Jacob's grip. The man was sweating. With inhuman strength, Jacob twisted the knife out of the man's grip. And now it was Jacob brandishing the knife.