Needing is One Thing

Chapter 16. With a thousand lies and a good disguise.

Malix sat back in his chair, balancing it on its back legs with his feet propped up on the edge of Andrew's workbench. He watched as Sam leaned up against the wall of his prison, his legs crossed at his ankles, biding his time. The devil scratched his forehead with the barrel of his gun before flipping it to spin around his fingers. Every now and then he would growl to himself, mutter under his breath.

"This is boring. This is so fucking boring!" he shouted out to no one in particular.

"That's it. Eris!" Malix barked, looking back over his shoulder to where some of the other members of his gang were sprawled. The devils all looked like your average gang-bangers, except for the deep red skin and sharp teeth. Most were playing cards for stolen cash, a pile of discarded wallets and purses in the corner. It had been a fairly lucrative day. If only they could get a pizza delivery guy out here, it would be perfect but they wouldn't send any more deliveries after the last guy came back.

Malix grunted. We were only been having a little fun.

"Eris!" he yelled again.

The she-devil brushed her long brown hair back from her eyes and looked over at him, seeing him wave his gun, gesturing for her to come closer. She rose with a huff, stretched her arms, and sauntered over to him. Her legs looked a mile long in her denim hotpants.

"Make yourself useful," Malix snapped, craning his neck from side to side.

Rolling her eyes, Eris stepped up behind him. She laid her hands on his shoulders and started to massage them. Malix hummed and tipped his head back to rub his short, white hair across her bare belly as he peered up her crop top with a lascivious grin.

Eris dug in with her talons. Malix quickly inhaled at the sharp pain as he looked up at her, licking his lips as his eyes flashed red. Eris smiled wickedly at him and leaned down, pulling back at the last second as he leaned up to kiss her, preventing their lips from meeting. Malix growled under his breath. He tried again, only to have her pull away a second time, her amusement growing.

"Bitch..." Malix warned under his breath.

"Asshole..." Eris purred under hers.

She dug her nails in deeper, causing his eyes to roll up with a grin and he leaned into it. He quickly reached up and snatched her hair at the nape of her neck, yanking her down within easy reach, her face upside-down as she leaned over the back of his chair.

"Mine," he growled and tugged her down to crush her lips with his. Eris tried to pull away, but his hand clamped down tighter. Satisfied, he slid his mouth over hers and bit her bottom lip, nestled his head into her chest and pulled her closer. Eris moaned against him and shifted, digging her fingers deep into the muscles of his shoulders to give herself leverage. She reveled in it for a second before tearing her claws out of him and pushing herself away.

Malix hissed in pain and released her, glaring as she danced back from him with a teasing smile. "Not here," she chided him, looking back over her shoulder towards Sam. The brute was staring out the windows, disinterested.

"Oh... Don't tell me you're fucking shy in front of the pretty boy!"

Eris put her hands on her waist and coyly shrugged at her boyfriend before running them down over her hips suggestively. Malix scowled at Sam. He snarled and shoved away from the table, jumping up to let the chair fall over backward onto the floor. The loud clatter startled his gang. Two strides and he snatched Eris by the collar, giving her a shake before pulling her up against him.

Eris laughed in his face, delighted. "You are way too easy, Malix."

The devil dropped the teasing completely and pushed her away. Eris stumbled back, landing on her ass to look up at him. Malix loomed, staring angrily down at her. "Shut your fucking mouth and do it."

She eyed him, looked him up and down. Her gaze rested on the zipper of his jeans as she considered.

"Not that!" Malix yelled at her, stepping back. He waved his gun towards Sam. "The circle!"

"What?" Eris looked at him like he was crazy.

"Break the fucking circle, bitch!" He reached down, grabbing her by the jacket and roughly pulling her to her feet.

Sam stiffened. Casually, he pushed away from the barrier to stand in the middle of the ring. If the devils were stupid enough to break it, he'd have his chance.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Eris shook her head, stepping back from Malix and the circle trapping Sam.

"Do it!" Malix leveled his gun at her, making her stop in her tracks. "There's no way I'm letting him get away from me this time."

"Pffft. Like you could take me," Sam taunted, grinning.

"Shut up!" the devil shouted back at him.

"Make me."

Malix snarled and strode towards the circle, Eris moving to intercept him, trying to hold him back. "Malix, don't! He'll know!"

"Fuck off!" He shook her off, went right up to the circle and leveled his gun at Sam. "I'm gonna enjoy this." He broke into a wide grin, laughing maniacally.

"No!" Eris swung her hands up, rattling off a quick series of words. A red ball of energy flared up between Malix and Sam as the devil pulled the trigger.

The air in the room distorted, the barrier rippling as Sam ran for it, throwing himself against it with all his speed and strength. For a moment he felt it soften, warping outwards before the room exploded with red light. A sharp pain slammed Sam in the hip, tearing into him, knocking him back to the other side of the circle. He banged up against the barrier and dropped down to the floor, curling away on his side in the small space.

The two devils went flying back, Malix slamming up against one of the pillars as Eris slid across the floor, both sprawled and knocked out cold.

The others stared wide-eyed as the room darkened. Shadows rippled through the space, sliding over the surfaces of the workroom. The sound of leathery wings filled the air.

"Get them out of here." A deep voice hissed from the darkness. The gang of devils shot to their feet, hastening to obey. "I don't need them fucking this up."

They snatched up the two devils' prone bodies and ran for the door as fast as they could. The shadows gathered, coalesced, and unfolded. A pair of black leather shoes landed on the floor and strode towards the circle. Smoke curled from beneath them as the wood scorched with each step until they stopped at the edge of the circle to face the downed incubus.

A slender male hand with long black nails slid over the surface of the barrier, caressing it. Magic curled out from his palm, deep red, to repair the damage the devil had done.

Sam groaned as blood welled from his hip, changing from red to black until the bullet pushed up out of his body and rolled to land on the ground with a plink. Moaning, Sam pressed his hand against the wound and used just enough energy to staunch the blood flow before passing out.

Satisfied, the shadow broke and scattered.