The Devil's Ex

Chapter Two - Smoke

As she rounded the corner to her house, she could already see the plumes of smoke drifting up into the night's sky. "No." She whispered involuntarily as she began running towards the flame licked building.

There were already spectators and in the distance, she could hear a siren, so she had no hope of using her magic to undo the fire's damage. Neighbours began to notice her and appeared at her side, expressing their relief that she wasn't in there.

With a broken voice, she asked what had happened, yet none of them knew. She watched as her only remaining belongings went up in smoke. Not a coincidence, she decided, that hell had a problem they needed to outsource on the same night that her new home was burnt to the ground.

She watched and waited, the fire crew appearing in a matter of minutes. She knew if they turned up, they'd want to talk to her, investigate her and her identity. She couldn't have that. She waited until just the right time when no one was looking at her, before disappearing into a cloud of blue smoke.

When she reappeared she was on top of the church she'd driven past each morning on her way to work. Breathing heavily for a moment, teleporting always taking it out of her, she watched the rising smoke cloud in the distance.

There was no way that this was a coincidence, it seems like she needs to have another word with good ol' Luca.

--

She walked out into the cool night air, fog clouds whirling above her with each breath. Pausing to take a sip of her drink she turned and leant against the brick wall. The sky was black now with an occasional twinkling star. From out here in the quiet night, you could hear the murmur of voices and laughter that would echo loudly across the barren street every time the entrance door opened.

She stood and waited patiently, hoping that her message had gotten through. Soon enough, just as the ice in her glass began to melt, a gust of wind brought the memorable smell of smoke and brimstone. Turning to her right down the long, dark alley she watched as he emerged from the shadows, brushing his long coat down as he did.

"Twice in one night, Jennifer." He purred as he reached her, leaning one arm on the wall next to her, "social call this time?" He asked with a suggestive smile and voice to match.

Shifting to turn towards him, Jenny smiled the smile she knew well, reaching her arm up to ghost along his slightly exposed chest, then onto his neck. She felt his pulse under her touch and met his eyes for an agonising moment. 

Luca had cast a spell over her the moment they'd met, but not in the literal sense. He was a charming creature with a lifetime of practice behind him, but he was also dangerous, evil even and that was one thing Jenny always forgot. He was also calculating and she knew that either he'd burnt her house down to make a point, or he would know who had done it.

When she'd first met him she'd struggled not to fall head over heels, but soon realised his game. It had been a long time she'd been around someone that evil and not be repulsed by them. He had a charm about him that made him seem so harmless, which is probably what made him the perfect predator that he was. Since then they'd remained constant acquaintances, she wouldn't call them friends, but they knew each inside and out. Literally.

He smiled at her now, long and slow with just a glint of the sharp teeth he hid within. His eyes had already relaxed and now roamed over her with a carefree attitude. She smiled coyly as she touched his smooth, cool skin and paused at the base of his neck, her face contorting into rage as she did so. She wrapped her fingers tightly around his throat and threw him back against the wall, using some of her magic as an added incentive. "My house burnt down, Luca." She growled, catching him off guard.

Floundering in surprise he struggled and wheezed as she tightened her grip on his throat. She saw a flash of blue in his left eye, he was trying to send a message for help. Gripping her glass in her free hand she threw the remainder of the contents over his face, momentarily breaking his link to hell.

"No, no calling for help. Why did my house burn down Luca? The smell of brimstone was near it, I know it was either you or one of your cronies, so why?" She screeched, leaning into his face, allowing her magic to wrap around his head and tighten, as she had with so many people in the past. A darkness that she owned yet denied, clawed its way through her body, pooling just underneath her skin. She lessened her grip slightly as she tried to regain her clarity.

Her eyes were serious and filled with a fierce anger as she studied him. He knew that he was in trouble, her grip was tightening and he couldn't currently wipe the water from his face, meaning he couldn't send any messages for help. "It wasn't us. Honestly. It wasn't. I told you I'd be in touch. It-It must have been 'them'."

She scowled and released him, she knew he wasn't lying. "Who's them?" She barked, hands on hips, standing strong under the weight of the moonlight above.

She saw Luca's eye flash green three times, quickly. His superiors knew she'd brought him here, no doubt they'd send help soon. "The 'problems' that I was telling you about. They must know that I've spoken to you, I tried to keep it secret, but they must know."

"Who are they?" She asked, her voice louder this time. Luca began backing into the alleyway, she knew that if he reached the shadows, he'd be gone.

"You're in danger, Jenny. Hide. Keep low and I'll find you, I promise. I can't tell you what the mission is yet, I'm not allowed. I've already told you too much. Just stay safe." He urged and for a moment she could have sworn that she'd seen a flicker of care run through those cold eyes of his before he stepped into the shadows and disappeared.