Hunger (Damnation Book 1)

Chapter 10 - Need

"What do you mean? Why won't she wake up?" I hear. I know they are yelling, but it sounds muffled and far away.

"She needs to feed. Fighting off Gabriel sucked out her energy," Gil tries to explain.

"What do I need to do?" someone says. I recognize that voice. It's Michael.

No. I won't feed from him. He's too good to be used as food for my dark side. I'm not going to taint him like that. I'm not going to prove Gabriel right.

"You need to feel lust. She needs to take it from you," Gil says.

"No," I croak with the little energy I have left. "Get Chase."

"He's gone," Gil says. "He won't make it back in time."

Shit shit shit shit shit. "I don't want to use him like that," I whisper. I feel the mattress shift beneath me and I know Michael is sitting next to me. I push at him, weakly, when he lifts me to him.

"It's okay," Michael says pushing my hair back. "Use me however you need to."

When he kisses me, a shock wave moves from my lips down my body. I feel his heat and need and I know it won't take much. Michael is almost pure energy. He tastes so sweet and perfect. He presses himself against me and his warmth engulfs me. His kiss becomes more and more urgent and I even taste a bit of blood. One of us has bitten our lip.

This isn't just a kiss. It's more than that. This is love. This is pain. This is joy, agony, bliss, and defeat. It's everything all jumbled into one riotous mass of passion, burning hot and bright, like raging fire. It's going to die leaving nothing behind but smoke and ashes.

From this one kiss, I'm satisfied. He pulls back, breath short. His eyes are burning under his long lashes and I know this isn't over. Michael likes me. This isn't just him keeping me from stealing souls. This is him protecting me from everyone, including myself, just like he said. Gabriel isn't going to give up until I'm dead. I don't know how this is going to work out. I don't want to upset him by telling him the truth. It might make him turn on me and I don't think I can survive two archangels on my tail.

Gil clears his throat behind us. We look up and see my father and two of my older brothers. Oops. I'm sure Daddy doesn't like seeing his teenage daughter in bed with an angel, even my kind of daughter. "Your body guards are here," my father starts. "You are not to go anywhere without them. I would prefer it if you do not leave for any unnecessary reasons."

I look at Slade and Cotton, two of my older brothers. Slade is in late twenties, but totally one of those "love them and leave them" types, which means girls go gaga over him. Plus, he looks like a younger version of Daddy. Being handsome always helps. He could have any girl he wants, but he generally goes for those with the souls he wants to steal. So, usually he goes for the crazy jealous ones. Now, Cotton is in his thirties and is definitely trouble wrapped in a pretty package. Their job, if you could call it a job, is contract killing. Most people think they work for the mob or the mafia of some sort, but it's actually worse than that. I'm sure their price is easy to guess.

"What trouble did you get into that you need us?" Cotton asks.

Then, Slade adds, "Yeah, who'd you piss off this time?"

"Gabriel," I answer, pulling my comforter tighter around me.

Both of their faces go serious. "Who's this john?" Cotton asks looking at Michael sitting next to me.

Michael looks at my father and me then says, "Michael and I'm not a john."

Now they look confused and slightly apprehensive. Slade reaches for his gun, but only Cotton pulls his weapon. "Explain. Now," he states.

Daddy walks out leaving everything to me. Thanks, Dad. I kind of get it. I got me into this mess; I need to take care of it. It would be nice to have some support though. I'm surprised when Michael starts explaining for me.

"The Creator wants for one of the children of the Lightbringer to stop gathering souls. I tried to persuade her, but I haven't had any luck yet. Now, Gabriel believes he has to fix the situation by killing your sister."

Talk about cramming everything into a nutshell. "Doesn't he have a knack for oversimplifying problems?" Gil jokes.

"Understatement," Slade says glibly.

I fall back onto the bed and close my eyes. I've fed, but I'm still exhausted. Taking a deep breath, I feel Michael's fingers playing with my curls. All the fear that seems to keep building disappears and I feel comfortable. I let it out and curl up into a sleepy, content, little ball of demon.

"You forgot to mention something," Cotton says softly, trying not to wake me, not realizing I'm not actually asleep yet.

"What's that?" Michael asks. I can tell in his tone he's not happy to be questioned.

Cotton clears his throat. He may be a bad ass but he knows power. Questioning an archangel isn't very smart, but he speaks anyway. "You care for her. This isn't just about you not doing your job anymore. This is personal."

Slade nods and adds, "Yeah, and you and your brother have never gotten along well. This is him proving you aren't as good as God thinks you are. Bro, you act more human than you'd realize."

I guess my brothers are smarter than they look. Go figure. I always thought they were just mindless muscle. Portia certainly fits that description. Then again, I've never tried to get to know my older siblings. I only really talked to Olivia, my older counterpart. She taught me more than the tutors ever really did. I can't believe Slade just got away with calling an archangel bro. That's just ridiculous.

Cotton goes out onto the balcony and Slade and Gil take the doors to my room. For once, I just want to sleep. Michael pulls the covers up, tucking me in. It's hot underneath the cover and I pull my arms out to get comfortable and flop onto my stomach. His fingers graze down my arm and my fingers curl around his hand until he pulls them away. I don't want him to go, but I do need to rest. When the door shuts behind him, it feels like all the warmth is sucked out of the room and I pull the covers tighter.

I never knew I had been waiting for this. I need this. I need a man to love me, not just use me. I need it more than I've needed anything in my life, but how long will I get to keep him. My human side may want him more than anything in this world, or any other world for that matter, but my demon side is a bit more practical. I will enjoy this as long as I can. I owe my human side this much at least, but I won't fall for him. I won't let myself. Somehow, I think that could be deadly.