Hypnotic

Twenty Four

It had been two months since he left. Two months since he had broken our bond and turned on us all. Suddenly, my goal was not to kill God. It was to kill Damiar.

"Venus." Once again, I ignored Caleb as he sat beside me on the hotel bed. "I know you don't want to talk to me, but please... Let me see what you're thinking."

It had been two months since I stopped talking. Two months since the need for revenge started growing in my heart. I glanced at the angel and nodded. I would let him see.

He placed his hand gently on my head, and I closed my eyes as a gentle warmth crawled through my being. I felt my muscles relax, and my train of thought derailed. His hand left my head, but the warmth of his power never left. I met his dark eyes curiously, and stayed still as his fingers traced my jawline. He said nothing, but I knew he had seen my thoughts. I knew he saw the moment that they had shifted to him.

His lips were surprisingly soft, and the feeling of his cold lip ring turning warm began melting me from the inside out. He whispered my name, and I murmured his in return. My voice was strange to hear again after so long, but it was a welcome change. He was a welcome change. He pulled away first, and I chased after him, but he held me away from him and smiled at me sadly.

"Come on," he murmured to me. "We need to get going. We'll hit the Missouri state line before dark if we get back on the road now." My heart felt heavy as he stood, leaving our hotel room to go wake up Noen and Cap in theirs. I knew what he was thinking - that I was just using him as a way of coping. And I felt even worse because I knew it was true.

Caleb had a relatively nice four door truck, but I quickly found myself missing the Mustang once I realized the truck was rather rough over bumps and holes in the road. I sat in the passenger seat while Noen and Cap hung out in the back, and I willed myself to enjoy the ride to our three day long destination. I stood the silence as long as I could before I finally plugged in my phone.

Damiar and I had made up a type of "game" when we were on our way to the house in California. Once we chose a playlist, we were unable to skip any songs. Sometimes that meant an extremely awkward three minutes. I selected my playlist, and watched as a slight smile lifted the corners of Caleb's mouth.

My last made me feel like I would never try again. But when I saw you, I felt something I never felt. Come closer, I'll give you all my love. If you treat me right, baby, I'll give you everything.

The tension in the vehicle slowly faded as the song flooded the air. It was calmer, more peaceful.

Talk to me, I need to hear you need me like I need you. Fall for me, I wanna know you feel how I feel for you, love. Before you, baby, I was numb, drown the pain by pouring up; Speeding fast on the run, never want to get caught up. Now you the one that I'm calling, Swore that I'd never forget, don't think I'm just talking. I think I might go all in, no exceptions, girl, I need ya.

It was nice. The soft snores of the two boys in the back drifted through the interior of the truck just the same as the music. I felt my own eyes begin to droop, but I wasn't ready to give up on the peaceful vibe that had settled in. "Rest," Caleb told me. "We still have a ways to go." I nodded sleepily and let my head lean against the headrest.

I'll never give my all again
'Cause I'm sick of falling down.
When I open up and give my trust
They find a way to break it down;
Tear me up inside, and you break me down.

I yawned as my eyes fluttered open. "What time is it?" I stretched my arms above my head, my body eager to move around. "11:30," Caleb answered. "We're stopping for food and Cap's gonna drive for awhile so I can take a nap." "McDonald's?" I asked hopefully. He chuckled. "Of course."

And so, our adventure was finally a bit more light hearted than it had been in two entire months. My mind wandered to Damiar at least twice everyday, but I had a new distraction. I had a new reason to smile. I had a new reason to survive.

I felt no guilt in our plan. I felt sorrow, and I was hurt. But Lucifer wasn't the Prince of Pride, the Father of Lies, the Angel of Sin for nothing. I was far too angry to care what would later happen to Michael's son. Because as far as I was concerned...

Damiar was dead to me.