The Devil's Mark (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty Eight: Last Minute Appointment

Jason

Pain. That was what I felt this morning when I first woke up. Lucifer had left for work sometime after the sun came up over the horizon. Placing a hand on my stomach, it sure felt like a cramp, that is until a wave of pain twisted and knotted my insides like a kid's toy balloon. I shoved the blankets off my body but tumbled to the floor as a jab to my stomach robbed me of sight and movement as I tried to swing my legs over the side. The coolness of the marble seemed to help ease the pain but at what cost? Suddenly I was feeling very nauseous as I quickly scrambled to get to my feet and dash into the bathroom to use the toilet.

I threw the lid back and dropped to my knees as I heaved until there was nothing left. But when it was over, it was over. The pain in my stomach came and went as quickly as it began. I wasn't sure how long I laid down in the middle of the bathroom floor, but it wasn't until I heard the phone ring downstairs that I got up and decided to go see who was calling. I took my time walking down the stairs simply because I was in no rush. I mean, why would I be? I just spent the last fifteen minutes puking my guts out like I was having a bad case of food poisoning or something. There was nothing on the answering machine but the sound of a dial tone.

Pressing the delete button for the message, the phone started to ring again as I looked at the caller ID. UNKNOWN NUMBER. Thinking that it was just a wrong number, I decided to answer it.

"Hello?" No response. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Jason."

The mysterious voice sent a chill down my spine that shook me to my core as the phone slipped from my fingers and fell to the floor. A sinister laugh came through on the other end as the voice spoke again. This time in a clear, seductive voice that was easy for me to hear as if the person was standing right in front of me.

"I know you're there, Jason, I can hear you breathing. What's the matter? Lucifer got your tongue?"

I picked up the phone and put it to my ear. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Who I am isn't the question you should be asking. And what I want is what's growing inside your belly. Can't you feel it? Or is the pain beginning to be too much for you to handle?" As I hang up the phone, the voice is still there, whispering in my ear. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Jason. I am everywhere and nowhere. You won't be able to find me unless I want you to. I look forward to speaking with you again. Until next time."

The air around me returns to normal as the temperature rises just slightly above eighty-eight degrees. Feeling light headed, I brace myself against the back of the couch as I stand my ground firmly, staring off into space. Who is he? What does he want? How does he know my name? So many questions that needed answering I feared that I wouldn't be able to find them in time. But right now I have another problem on my hands. I need to find a doctor and have them examine me. If what the voice said is true, then something is definitely growing inside of me, and I want it out.

I quickly shower, change into a fresh pair of clothes, grab my car keys and wallet off the nightstand and head straight for the underground garage. The taillights of my car flash twice as the engine starts by the time I hop in the driver seat. I quickly shift into drive and punch the accelerator to the floor as the car launches itself forward up the short on-ramp to the main road. I hang onto the steering wheel for dear life as the tires twist and turn with the road before exiting out onto the main expressway that would take me straight into downtown Los Angeles.

Using the onboard bluetooth radio, I ask it to locate any nearby Dr. Office's in the area. A minute later, an electronic chirp confirms the locations of at least four Dr. Office's with their numbers listed next to them. Picking out a name at random, I start off with Dr. Jessica Ward. A female receptionist answers the call but mentions that Dr. Ward isn't taking on any new clients at the moment. I groan slightly and tell her thank you for her time and hang up. Moving on to Dr. Number two, I cross my fingers and strike gold with Dr. Amanda Hamilton. Her clinical staff informs me that she has an opening today at 3:30. I make the appointment immediately without even thinking.