Because I've Lost Everything

Chapter Thirteen

Caleb Grimm

I stood in the middle of the bar, my breaths quick and heavy. Each breath was a struggle. Between the tear along my neck and shoulder, the tear across my abdomen, and the knife still sticking out of my hip, breathing was, well, difficult to say the least. I kept a hand on the handle of the knife, preparing myself to pull it from my flesh, even though humans were highly advised not to do that kind of thing.

Good thing I wasn't human, I guess.

Nonetheless, I was in pain. I was immortal, yes, but it didn't mean that my injuries immediately healed. I felt pain. Blood still trickled from my wounds.

Xaphan hadn't showed up yet, even though I had killed the werewolves. Ghost's werewolves.

A low whistle sounded from behind. I didn't turn around. I wasn't even concerned. It sounded like Xaphan.

"Jesus."

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Lucifer."

"How're you feeling over there, Caleb?" Lucifer asked.

I rolled my neck, hissing at the pain. "Not great." I turned to face him. He stood in his human form, arms crossed over his chest, a smirk pulling at one corner of his mouth. "You know where Xaphan is?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Last I knew, he was with you. Where'd he go to?" he asked.

"I don't know."

"Oh."

"Is he all right?" I asked.

Lucifer glanced around the room as if contemplating the question. "I can still feel his life. He's fine," he declared.

"Good."

"Nothing on Ghost, I presume," Lucifer muttered, kicking one of the dead werewolves as he walked closer to me.

"Nothing yet, no. I'm hoping he shows up at some point to collect his minions," I said, gesturing to the werewolves with my free hand.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow as he looked up at me. "Want me to heal some of that?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I'm fine. I just... I want Laura."

"So you're just waiting." He lifted himself so that he was sitting on the edge of the counter. He reached back and grabbed a bottle of scotch and two glasses. I watched as he set the glasses on the counter and opened the bottle. "You really think Ghost is just going to walk straight into your death trap? Do you think he's that stupid?"

"No, not really. But he's unaware of what I've done here. If his men don't go back, he'll assume I'm dead or that I've done something to his men. He'll be here, and it'll take me straight to Laura," I said.

"Tell me, Caleb, why are you interested in her? She's not immortal."

"Immortality doesn't define interest, Lucifer." I rubbed at the wound on my shoulder. The edges of the mark burned, telling me that it was beginning to heal. God, it hurt. "Immortality doesn't decide anything. I've known her for decades, centuries. I love the woman. I just need her to stick around long enough to understand that," I said.

Lucifer smiled faintly as he held a glass out to me. I crossed the room and took it from him. "Well, then. A toast to... Laura," he said. I raised my eyebrows quickly in acknowledge before tilting my head back and downing the drink. Lucifer shook his head and cleared his throat. "Ugh. I'm not much of a scotch guy, apparently."

"You've been here forever. How did you not know that?" I asked.

"I like wine. I assumed I'd like everything," he said with a dismissive shrug.

"That's stupid."

He nodded. "Yep."

There was a sound at the door of the bar. I whirled around to the entrance. A woman stood there. Her curly brown hair was highlighted with blue, which looked incredibly stupid and immature on a girl of her height. Her eyes were such a bright yellow that I didn't even have to see her ears to know that she was a werewolf, which was good since her ears would've been hidden under the beanie she was wearing.

She looked down, her gaze roaming the bodies on the floor. "Was this you, Grimm? Or was this Lucifer's work?" she asked.

"The hell does it matter to you?" I asked. My wings itched to be released. It ached in my shoulder blades and my upper back. God, they wanted to be free. But why? It didn't make sense. I wasn't in danger, not any more.

The woman smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Stella. But, you probably know me as Ghost." My lips parted, but I couldn't speak. "I have Draculaura in the basement of our base. You want her? Come and get her."

I swallowed roughly. My heart beat so fast in my chest that it made my body shake. "Ghost is a man."

"Mm, no. People think Ghost is a man because he's violent and aloof. Truly, Ghost is just a woman that has nothing to lose in this God-forsaken world."

"Hey!" Lucifer exclaimed from behind me.

"Oh, sorry, Lucifer. Didn't mean to insult your daddy like that," Stella said.

"What do you want with her? With me?" I asked.

"Well, you've done me wrong a time or two, obviously. Draculaura, on the other hand... Well, my boyfriend thought that the little vamp was his mate. I want her out of the picture so he doesn't make the same mistake twice," she said. I hated her voice. I hated everything about her.

And then it clicked.

"Your boyfriend is Clawd Wolf," I whispered.

She smiled wickedly. "Bingo. Now what ever will we do?" she asked.

Lucifer appeared behind her. Time seemed to slow down as he placed a hand on her head and wrapped the other on her chin. I cringed when he snapped her neck. When I opened my eyes, he was holding her head by the hair, her body crumpled on the floor. His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "We're sending her head to Clawd. And then I'll punish this... wolf back in hell."

***

I didn't care about the wounds, the blood, or the pain. I cared about getting to Lulu. And I was so close to getting to her. Even with the assumption that no one was in Ghost's base, I was quiet as I stalked through the building. I opened door after door until I found the one that led to the basement. I headed down the stairs, and there she was.

She looked tired. Her head was bowed, but I wasn't sure if she was sleeping or not. I crossed the room quickly but silently. I kneeled down in front of her. Her hands were tied behind her back. I reached out and brushed her hair back behind her ears; I couldn't help myself.

She lifted her head, her lips parted as if she were ready to say something rude or hateful to whomever had touched her. Upon seeing me, her eyes started to water. "Caleb?" she asked, her voice rough.

I nodded and placed my hands on either side of her face. "Did they hurt you?" I asked quietly.

She shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, nodding her head. "I was in a bedroom until a couple hours ago when they moved me down here."

"Good," I said. I reached behind her and untied her hands. Instantly, she threw her arms around my neck. I let out a low hiss of pain.

She pulled back quickly. "Caleb? What'd they do to you?" she asked.

"Nothing for you to worry about," I said.

With a frown set on her face, she pulled back on the collar of my shirt. She didn't seem fazed at the gaping wound on my shoulder and neck. "Werewolf bite, huh?" she asked.

I nodded. "I killed them, Lu. I tried not to, but they made me so mad," I said.

Her hands moved to my face, her fingers buried in my hair. "I don't blame you." One corner of my mouth lifted in a smile. "You saved me," she said quietly. Before I could say anything, she leaned up on her knees and pressed her lips to mine.

I didn't think it was possible to take my breath away, but she did it without any problems.