Survivor's Guilt

IX (The Softer the Skin, The Sharper the Teeth)

I wake up to my phone going crazy. Multiple text messages appear on the screen from my crew. There are missed calls from Spencer with voicemails. I can only imagine Spencie did not buy the story Johnny and Otto gave him. I sit up slowly seeing a silver tray of all my favorite breakfast foods at the foot of the bed. My duffle sits on the dresser, and Chris sits at the desk chatting on his phone. From his conversation, I'm able to gather he delayed the bus's departure. This means I can make it back to my crew and wait out the next inevitable stroll down the path of sinful indulgence.

"She's awake now, we'll be heading out soon. Thanks, Ricky."

"Do I have you to thank for the breakfast in bed?" I ask, taking my phone into my lap.

He sets his phone down smiling at me. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting this kind of reaction from him. To be okay with being my friend with benefits? I didn't care how right last night felt, the guilt was eating me alive. The desire to break down and confess everything to my husband burned in my veins. He nods offering me an actual response to my question.

"Chris, about what happened last night." I bite my lip suddenly nervous.

"Kaitie, you needed my help," He answers. "You don't have to tell me what's going on if you don't want to."

"I-do you remember the Trinity of Terror show in Oshkosh?"

"Bits and pieces of it," He confesses. "Why?"

"Dev managed to kill Asmodeus and when Spencie went to take on Leviathan the dagger got knocked out of the barrier. He was going to kill my best friend, so I grabbed the dagger, broke the barrier, and killed Leviathan," I begin.

"I'm not seeing a problem; you saved the day." He runs a hand through his hair.

"Spencer made a deal with Dev. The one responsible for our parents' death, he wanted to be the one who ended them. I interfered with that deal and well being Lilith's vessel is my punishment," I continue. "That's not all."

"What else is there?"

"Dev is the real South Street Slayer. He set up Asmodeus and Leviathan to take the fall for him. He used their deaths to undo the locks on his father's tomb. He set Lucifer free and he's on tour with us."

It felt good to get this information off my chest. To be open with someone who wasn't on the merch crew. Chris had been there for me during the first part of this nightmare. To have him here for the second wind felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. While he went to the bathroom to shower and absorb the information I unloaded on him, I eat my food and make an honest attempt to play catch-up on my phone. The voicemails left were not meant for me. Spencer addressed Lilith in every one and he was ruthless. The demon heard none of them. She slumbered peacefully in my head from the confines of her prison.

"How do you know I'm not Lucifer?"

His voice makes me jump from my spot at the table. I'd been waiting patiently for him to finish in the bathroom so that I could jump in. Chris leans against the wall outside the bathroom. I meet his eyes, searching for their light, his light. Instead, his gaze makes shivers run down the length of my spine. It's dark like a predator's gleam. They hold a satisfaction at finally cornering their prey.

"Chris?" I ask hesitantly.

"He's here, but sleeping at the moment." His voice turns dark. "I've been waiting to speak with you for quite some time."

"Give him back to me!"

My hands are shaking, and I'm barely keeping my temper in check. The South Street Slayer had me on edge. It had me afraid for myself and for my loved ones. I felt that same fear in Lucifer's presence. We were in over our heads, out of our league. How could we even begin to prepare to stop him?