Wilt and Wither

Chapter 20

I could teach you a lot of things.

I could teach you how shank a goblin without getting acidic blood on you. I could teach you how to out run a hellhound. I could teach you how to resist the wild whims of a tree nymph. What I can't teach you is how to survive being trapped in a basement with an evil twin.

"Oh my god how are we going to get out of here." Sam moaned for the fifty thousandth time.

I was going to lose my every loving mind.

"Sam whining isn't helping." I snap.

After pulling up to the house the basement window opened and we snuck in while sickening thuds poured from upstairs. "I'm going up there. Danny stay with Sam. Cole you coming?" I don't know at what point he became Robin to my Batman. He nods as I unstrap a dagger from my thigh handing it to Cole.

"Are you serious, why do girls carry purses you guys are always pulling things out from various body parts."

"You don't even want to know where I like to keep my throwing stars laced with acid," Sides of my bra very handy especially if someone gets handsie and suddenly forgets what no means.

We started towards the stairs when Jackson flys through them back first landing with a bone cracking crunch. I ran over looking up the stairs to see what it was. "Jackson." He was out but lightly breathing. "Stay with them." I say to Daniel.

Magic thrummed around me as I crept up the stairs Cole close behind me. Crashing came from the living room. I crept closer getting an eyeful of the awful beast. "Lucy...what in the hell...is that?" Cole whispers.

I winced knowing the hearing on these creatures was incredible. So much for stealthy. It turned its hawk like head towards us tilting it sideways.

Inspecting its prey

It let out an awful screech with a muddy green beak no doubt filled with razor sharp teeth. It opens its wings about to take flight the long expanse taking up the whole living room. "Aim for the head." I say before running towards it. As it takes off in flight charging towards Cole I slide down underneath, slicing its talon's in the process.

The beast won't be taking anyone to hell today.

With a pain filled cry it stumbles turning it's eyes on Cole. " I took off its feet it won't bring you anywhere." Cole quirked an eyebrow at that but no time to explain.

Cole ran towards the living room except it grabbed him by the beak. Time to show off the throwing stars. I took them out with a curious look from Cole and flung them at the beast missing Cole by inches. "Hey watch it!" The beast let him go as acid ate its way through scales and feathers. They were handy, the acid was activated my blood.

I pulled my obsidian dagger out from the back of my shorts which earned me another eye roll and flung the dagger with a deathly force. "Don't get the blood on you." I said as green black ooze spurt from its chest."

"What was that?" Cole said while checking himself for blood.

"A harpy," I say shrugging my shoulders. "Theytake souls to the underworld." My alarm returns when I remember Jackson.

The stairs creaks under me as I trampled down stairs. Jackson was awake, barely. I knelt beside him. "I think he broke some ribs." Daniel said.

"I think I broke my body." Jackson turns and coughs up blood.

"Don't move." I say and held his head in my lap. My hand brushes his forehead as magic lights up my palm. I turn him slightly causing him to wince. My hand presses against his back as he bows in pain.

Cold sweat covers his forehead but after a moment he relaxes my magic taking hold knitting together broken bones and flesh.

Jackson carefully gets up like brand new. "What was that thing?"

Like nothing even happened.

I was spent, almost completely, healing did quite a number on me. "Harpy." Cole says unfazed like he is pro by now. Harpy no big deal. "Lucy daggered it in the heart." He clucks his tongue. "Quite the mess in the kitchen though those hardwood floors are done for."

I look at Daniel who is on the floor head in hands. So much for pretending to be human."Well I'm ready for round two." Jackson says standing up.

"And that Jackson is why you're my favorite person." I smile and kiss him ignoring the looks behind us. I shake away the fluttering in my stomach now is not the time or the place.

Sam looks at me her eyes dripping with hate for me as she shakes her head and dramatically gets up and follows me upstairs.

The mantra don't kill her don't kill her repeating in my head.

We surveyed the damage done the harpy broke most of the furniture which Daniel waved off. "Guess I'll be shopping soon." Sam went following him. "Jackson you okay."

He rests his hands on my shoulder drawing me in for a hug. "I don't know I may need a full body inspection later." He kisses my cheek. "I was careful not to kill it."

"If it comes down to you or the creature you kill it no hesitation do you understand me." Jackson nods though I don't think he would. "You should go rest." I say and pull out of his embrace.

"Where are you going?"

"Look I need some sleep, I don't know what's going to happen but healing you took a lot out of me." I smile shyly. "You want come up with me."

"Wait Lu come here." I frown and step towards him. "I know this is stupid but I want to take you out tomorrow. I know it's dumb with everything going on, but just one date even if it's only for an hour. All I want."

I roll that over in my mind. Tomorrow would be my last day on earth. I had a midnight appointment with death. I would be going alone to finish this once and for all. "Yeah sure five okay?" That will give us enough time before I face the devil, maybe even literally.

"Sounds perfect." He grins. "Let's get some sleep yeah?