Needing is One Thing

Chapter 24. And even though I tried it all fell apart.

Andrew paced back and forth in his living room. The over-abundance of energy he'd inadvertently pulled from Mika triggered his nerves like a caffeine overdose: irritating, anxious, and distracting.

My plan isn't working. Nothing is working. Hell was waiting in the form of five demons and a devil to follow. I could take out Sam... but he balked. He wasn't sure what that would do with the new magic coursing through him; wasn't sure if he could still use Sam as leverage with his brothers to get himself out of this mess.

Like James would let you. Andrew snorted at his own stupidity.

Mika. The demon had his claws firmly buried in her. She fought my charm far longer than I would have thought. I should never have let her go after the funeral.

Harold, what did you see in them? Andrew asked himself for the hundredth time. What made you look past their nature? He scowled, turned, and strode through the room once more. Was it the same reason you looked past mine? He refused to go there. He wasn't the one betraying Harold's trust; he wasn't the one using Mika.

A sudden burst of music echoed in the room. Startled, Andrew reached under the coffee table, pulling Mika's bag out to see her phone tucked into the top. He tugged it out, tossing it up into his palm to read the caller ID.

<3 James <3

With a yell, Andrew threw it against the wall. Glass shards exploded. Black plastic and green circuit board scuffed the white paint before dropping in a pile of scattered fragments.

*

"James, she's awake!"

"Mika?!" She heard her name as she slept, clinging to the darkness, her body aching. The voice was far away, a shout that sounded like a whisper and echoed through her. "Mika, Princess! Can you hear me?" Someone was calling her. "Please, where are you?"

She tried to answer them but couldn't say anything; her voice was trapped in her throat. She heard talking in the distance, heard an urgent, warm brown voice that played at the edge of her senses, bringing a sense of longing.

"I can't; there are wards... Please, Princess, answer!" Mika furrowed her brow, she couldn't. She couldn't speak; she wasn't awake. Her body wanted and needed to sleep.

"Mika! I need you to..." She heard the sound drift away, leaving her in silence to sink into the darkness once more.

*

Mika woke, a cool, damp cloth smelling of herbs folded and draped over her eyes. She flinched, her head throbbing as she pulled it off and sat up. The light from the lamp felt way too bright. She was lying on top of a large bed, laid out on the soft gray duvet. What happened to me? Her thoughts were so fuzzy.

She looked around, saw the clock on the nightstand. 11 pm. What have I been doing? Where am I? Dimly, she remembered being with Andrew, having dinner with him. Our first date. It was their first real date. This must be his bedroom.

Something poked at her, irritating her at the edge of her jeans. Reaching down, Mika pulled a small, battered white card from where it stuck out of her front pocket, digging into her skin.

Tell him.

-D

Tell him? Andrew? Mika's fingers slid over the script. The letters flared magenta beneath them and she felt the pull of magic. Surprised, she read the card again. Tell Him. Him. James! The name triggered a flood of memories. They came back to her in a rush. James. Amber eyes, a rich tawny voice, strong arms holding her close. A man that made her heart race. James. His name was followed closely by another. Erik. Erik wrote this card, it feels like him. Feels like him? What does that even mean?