Chapter Five: Unintended Consequences
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Bel had a leg draped over the arm of the high-backed chair he was sitting in. His fingers were tangled in the hair of a female student seated beside his chair, who was nearly comatose. Belial's head was tilted backwards, eyes half closed a small smile on his face. His human Form was more stable now, he had a bit more energy, and he could sense them. In fact, one was headed this way. The dream he had woven for the girl in his grasp was extremely erotic, this one was quite delicious, so very lascivious. Even before Bel had come along she had been one to have frequent erotic dreams. It took very little for Bel to nudge her mind in that direction. She moaned deliciously under his hand and her hips rocked slightly. Bel nearly groaned in response, his dream Form pushing her closer towards orgasm as the footsteps of his true intended target finally resounded down the hall. Belial licked his lips. It was time to feast.
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Something was wrong. Emma could feel it buzzing under her skin, in her brain, in her very marrow. She stood from the interview she was in and barely heard what the interviewer asked her.
“I'm sorry.. I have to go.” She mumbled in a daze, turning to leave. She had to control her instinct to vanish in thin air to go check on her son and Luci. Emma forced herself to leave the building, walking out past the secretary of the office building she had been applying to work in the filing room for and out the double doors. She heard the calls of the people behind her, but she couldn't stop. Emma ran, as soon as she was free of the building, and as soon as she was free of human sight, she transported herself back to her Aunt's farmhouse, desperate to check on Sage, Luci and all her other loved ones. Cern caught her as she practically fell in the doorway.
“Emma?” He searched her face for an explanation.
“Something.. something's wrong. Is Sage ok? Luci? Lynne? You?” She searched him for wounds. The pressure was building, Emma spun in a circle desperately, it felt almost like someone had plugged into the back of her skull. If she could just see behind herself somehow she could see what was wrong, damn it!
“Emma calm down. I don't know where Luci is, use your link with him. I'll go check on Lynne, but Sage and I are fine. Emma!” He spun her back around to face him. “Go find Luci.” He urged, taking in her wild-eyed look. Emma gave him a jerky nod, the panic she was feeling was impossible to control. She yanked hard on the thorny Bond between herself and Luci and somewhere she felt the wolf howl. She raced back out the door, chasing the sensation.
“Luci!” She yelled “LUCI!” Emma found herself pushing through branches of trees, half transporting and half running through the woods to find him. A snarl caught her attention and she turned, the hair standing up on the back of her neck. There stood the Hell Hound, glaring at her. Emma closed her eyes. Now she understood Luci's wanderings. “Oh Luci.” She murmured as the Hell Hound bounded towards her.
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Lynne was staring moodily at the display of meat in the grocery store. She had several different tastes to contend with now, which made more sense now she knew what everyone 'was'. Cern wouldn't eat meat, Sage was really picky as well, Luci was a carnivore, Emma was very delicate about living creatures, her husband would eat anything, she herself didn't care. She huffed out a breath and Cern abruptly appeared with a sleepy Sage curled in his arms. She let out a little scream and swung her purse at him. He grunted.
“Well, I keep saying stop doing that! God you startled me.” Lynne held a hand to her chest and breathed deeply for a few moments. “Now what do you want, you blasted rabbit?” She grumbled.
“I'm a stag.” Cern looked at her as though she may have lost her mind. She rolled her eyes.
“It means you eat vegetables, it's human slang, you know what, nevermind, it's not important. Again: is there something you need?” Lynne looked pointedly at Sage, who was now getting fussy.
“Emma was concerned something had happened. I was merely checking on you. That's all. Obviously you are well.” Cern replied.
“Obviously.” Lynne mimicked. Cern again looked at her strangely and she waved a hand. “I'm fine, no ghosties or ghoulies or long-leggedy beasties. Well..” She looked him up and down. “Until you showed up.” Cern looked down at his own tall frame.
“Hmm.” He responded and vanished. Lynne shook her head.
“I love that girl, but she brought some crazy into my life, that's for sure.” She sighed.
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Phoebie and Rafe walked slowly down the basement hall, carefully checking rooms as they went.
“It may be ridiculous, but I wish you could be a bird right now.” Phoebie whispered harshly, clinging to Rafe's shoulder. He chuckled softly.
“We could always come back another day.” He offered slyly.
“Are you kidding?! This thing is attacking kids?! We have a responsibility here!” Phoebie whisper-shouted at him and he looked over his shoulder at her with an eyebrow raised. “Oh, you were teasing weren't you?” She bit her lip and then swatted him on the arm. “You're mean.” She hissed. He laughed, the sound almost bird-like in the silence.
“Shh!” Phoebie shushed him, and they were both quiet for several moments, listening intently to see if anyone heard them. Nothing moved as far as they could tell, so they cautiously moved forward again. The closer they got to the 'party room' the more nervous Phoebie felt, until her fingers were digging fiercely into Rafe's arm.
“Uhh, Bee, I'm going to need some skin later.” Rafe mentioned quietly. Phoebie's fingers suddenly sprang free and she stammered an apology.
“Oh God Rafe, I'm just so freakin' scared. I'm sorry!” Phoebie rubbed her palms on her gym shorts. This was ridiculous. They had taken down plenty of Corrupted Spirits, but this was different. What if this was her Uncle?
“Phoebie, calm down. We have no proof that it's him, ok?” Rafe reached back and gripped her hand in his, tugging her up beside him and wrapping his strong arm around her. She tried to relax, but she still felt terrified.
“Mmhmm.” She agreed numbly and they rounded the last corner.
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Emma allowed her body to fall to the forest floor. She didn't fight back. The Hell Hound snapped its dripping jaws in front of her face and drool dropped onto her cheek.
“Fight back.” It snarled. “Fight back or free me. We cannot stand the strain of the Bond any longer.” The Hell Hound spat.
“I refuse.” Emma answered. “I just came to check on Luci. I didn't come to fight. I won't harm him.” The Hell Hound snorted, a sound that accompanied a vicious shake of his head.
“Ridiculous. We are the same. We are one. Your god-husband assured that when he dropped Lucian's spirit-Form back into this body. How do you intend to rectify that? You torture him! Your very presence tortures him!” The Hell Hound growled. One corner of its lip lifted, baring sharp teeth. Emma closed her eyes again, feeling the pain reflected on her face. She had been trying so hard to get Luci to open up, and it ended up being this twisted creature who tells her what he's feeling. And she knew she shouldn't necessarily trust what he said, but she could sense the truth in his words. Emma's heart ached.
“What can I do for you?” Emma asked softly.
“Release us!” The Hell Hound bellowed.
“I cannot. I cannot lose Luci again. I love him too much!” She used the force of her emotions to fuel her movements and shoved his powerful chest away from her body. She rolled and scrambled to her feet, the Hound hot on her heels. She transported forward as she ran, feeling the Hound's fiery breath on her neck.
“RELEASE US!” He howled in the distance as she cleared the trees. Emma was sobbing uncontrollably, but the ominous feeling of danger still loomed.
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