Miracle

Pt. 28

"This place is filthy. Let's just get this done already," Valentine drawled, his gaze sweeping across the dusty, cobweb-draped tool shed behind Lily's house. His lip curled slightly, a silent testament to his disdain for anything less than immaculate. Jinx, however, was oblivious to his pronouncements; her eyes, sharp and hungry, were fixed solely on the prize tonight. She turned, facing him, a flicker of impatience in her expression. "You remember the plan, right?"

He merely rolled his eyes, a theatrical gesture of exasperation. His slender finger idly poked one of the rusty tools hanging on the grimy wall, creating a faint, grating sound. "Yes, darling, it's a very simple plan. I lure her to the back door and into here, where you'll be waiting with the portal open."

Jinx hated leaving all her trust to Valentine, a creature as fickle as he was dangerous, but she didn't have any other options. "I wish I could do it my damn self," she muttered, her voice tight with frustration. The human girl, Lily, seemed to carry some kind of spell or charm on her; Jinx couldn't so much as touch her without her own skin burning as if doused in acid. She looked down at the still not-yet-fully healed, blistered skin on her hands, a stark reminder of her failed attempt.

Valentine reached out a hand, his touch surprisingly gentle as his thumb smoothed out the worried frown line between her eyebrows. A predatory grin, more charming than reassuring, spread across his lips. "Don't pout, darling. It's not a good look on that beautiful face."

She slapped his hand aside, the sharp crack echoing in the small space, and turned abruptly to look out the small, grimy window. The last light in Lily's house suddenly flickered out, plunging the interior into shadow.
"Just don't forget about the nine-foot-tall cat," she warned, a tremor of genuine concern in her voice.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, his charming grin unwavering, though a hint of amusement danced in his irises. "I will simply lead her out here. Do you doubt my abilities, my dear?"

She looked down, feeling the chilling weight of his gaze on her, the unspoken threat in his tone. "Of course n—"
He quickly cut her off, his movements fluid and precise as he opened the shed door. "Then shut the hell up and watch me work." He looked over his shoulder at her, his smile widening, radiating an effortless, dangerous confidence. "Just stand there and look pretty. I'll be back in a second." He walked out, softly closing the door behind him, leaving Jinx to watch, a knot of unease twisting in her stomach, from the shed window.

*****

Inside, Lily tried to find solace in the familiar. "Okay, Lily, you've had a tough day. Don't leave this bed. I'm going to cook you some food," Alex had said, his voice soft and comforting, gently tucking her into her bed. Momo, sensing her vulnerability, had curled up in the spot beside her, a warm, purring weight. She managed a weak smile as Alex turned on her bedroom TV to Friends. Of course, he would know this was one of her favorite shows.

"Stay right here. I'll make you my famous Spaghetti alla Alex. It's my secret recipe." He glanced from side to side, a playful, theatrical gesture as if someone might overhear, before leaning a little closer. "The secret is red peppers in the sauce, but don't tell anyone," he whispered, and she had softly, weakly, laughed. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, his lips warm and reassuring, before walking out into the kitchen.

Lily closed her eyes, but the darkness behind her eyelids offered no escape. She couldn't stop thinking about the fact that she had killed four men. The sheer, overwhelming finality of it was a crushing weight. Of course, they weren't good men, but they were still people, with lives and maybe families. She had used powers last night; lava had literally flowed from her hands, burning, melting, destroying. What was happening to her? Was this her true nature, buried deep beneath the surface?

"Lily..." A soft, unknown voice, like a silken whisper, echoed in her head, seeming to slither into her very thoughts. Her eyes quickly popped open, darting frantically around the darkened room, but she saw no one. The air grew heavy, suffocating. She wanted to scream for Alex, to break the growing paralysis, but her mouth felt glued shut, her throat tight with unseen fear. She glanced over at Momo; he was undisturbed, apparently unable to hear the chilling summons.

"Come to the back door, Lily." The command was gentle, almost seductive, yet it vibrated with an irresistible force. Her body twitched slightly, a primal urge to obey, but a desperate part of her fought, digging her nails into the bedspread, trying to anchor herself.
"Oooh, we have a fighter, do we...?" The voice deepened, a low, pleased chuckle resonating in her skull, as if grinning at her futile efforts.

The deep voice laughed, a rich, dark sound that promised wicked delight. "The resistance, little one, makes the capture all the more satisfying." A cold dread seeped into her bones, but with no control of her own, she slowly, forcibly, climbed out of the bed. Her limbs moved as if pulled by invisible strings. Momo watched her for a moment, his green eyes luminous in the dim light, but not seeing a problem, he lay back down, a purring lump.

Lily began to walk out of her room, her feet moving against her will, towards the back door. As she walked past the kitchen, she saw Alex's back to her as he cooked, humming softly, completely unaware of the unseen battle being waged for her soul.

She reached the back door, her hand reaching out, compelled to open it. Standing silhouetted against the faint glow of the city lights was a man of ethereal beauty, his eyes mesmerizing, like pools of liquid moonlight. His gaze slid down her body, slow and possessive; all she was wearing was an oversized black t-shirt that reached her knees. A cruel, appreciative smile touched his lips. "Hmm, I may know why Alistair wants you now." The way he was looking at her made her body feel like it was on fire.

A crawling heat spreading over every place his eyes lingered. "We could have some fun together, hmm? Maybe after he throws you away, I can have my turn." He ran his fingers, cold as ice, over her cheek. She was completely under his control; she couldn't move, couldn't breathe.

"Lily, are you at the back door? I told you to lay down!" Alex's voice, suddenly sharp with alarm, cut through the trance. He turned, his brow furrowing as he saw her walking outside, closing the door behind her. Her movements were stiff, unnatural, not the playful defiance he expected. He watched for a beat, a prickle of unease turning into sharp concern before he reacted. He quickly followed, throwing open the door.

Valentine merely offered a dismissive wave at him as he slammed the shed door, the heavy bolt sliding home with a sickening thud, locking it. Alexander easily broke the door, splintering the wood, just as Jinx ran through the glowing portal behind Valentine, yelling, "So long, pretty boy!" The portal quickly shimmered and closed behind them, leaving Alex alone, the air still crackling with residual magic. He fell to his knees, his fists slamming into the ground, the impact shaking the house. "Fuck!!!" he cursed loudly, his voice raw with fury and despair.

On the other side of the now-closed portal, in the scorching depths of Hell, Jinx grabbed onto Valentine's shirt, her face contorted with rage. "Don't fucking waste time like that again, Valentine! She's not some plaything! She's Alistair's. You'd be wise to remember."
He rolled his eyes, a dismissive gesture that only fueled her anger, as he casually pulled her hands off his shirt.

His grin returned, chillingly charming. "Don't be jealous, darling. There's enough of me for everyone. Now come on, we have a package to deliver."

(Mia note: Hey if you like this story why not read my finished short story "See Me"?