One Soul Book Two

Chapter Nine

Zeev POV

“It’s been three days nd there’s still nothing else.”  Ash’s voice.

“I still think this is a bad idea.”  Sam responded.

“She’s in pain Sam.  Bad pain.  She’s trying to block it through our link, but it’s still too new to her.. again.. I guess?  And let me tell you, it nearly knocks me off my feet and it’s not even at full strength.  I’d hate to think what they'll feel like if this goes on any longer.”  Ash again.  “Besides, all she does is ask and beg for him.  I can’t even distract her with the dreams anymore, and I’m getting grumpy.  Half-full is worse than empty.”

“Oh poor baby.  You guys won’t even let me touch her blood yet.”  Sam growled.

“No!”  Shouts from both Sands and Ash.  Oh good, al three.  I let loose a feral grin full of sharp teeth.  More body parts to be had.

Harlee POV

“Cael.”  I barely restrained the urge to pace as I held my arms around my chest.  “Your momma’s afraid.”  I confessed.  He was back in child Form, but I’m not sure how to entirely move past seeing him as an adult.  Do I treat him as a kid, an adult?  An Angel?  What?  Cael placed his small hands on my cheeks and looked me in the eyes.

“Momma, calm down.”  He demanded in that sweet child’s voice, and I grinned slightly.

“You’re way too cute to treat like a grown-up yet, so I hope you don’t mind if I keep babying you for a while.  Like a few more years at least.”  I responded.  Cael looked smug and snuggled into my side, so I took that as a yes.  I pulled him onto my lap and he leaned against my stomach gently so he could look up into my eyes.

“It’ll be ok.”  He patted my knee.  I hoped he was right.  I hugged him tighter and kissed his little head which earned me a grin and soft sigh.  His little body relaxed in my arms and suddenly my momma bear instincts raged to the surface.  I wanted to protect this poor boy and let him be the child he obviously hadn’t been allowed to be.  I rocked him slightly to quell the urge to squeeze him tighter and his little eyes closed and his frame relaxed further with a bigger sigh.  Well I guess my decision had just been made for me.  How could I possibly ever see this little creature as anything but a child now?  And worse, a victim of his circumstance.  I began to hum and a soft smile graced his face, which made my heart ache in my chest.  I just wanted to tuck him right up against it forever and keep him safe.

Zeev POV

The first one to draw near me was Ash.

‘Damn it Ash, why’d it have to be you-I’m going to feel this.’  I sighed and Ash’s eyes widened.  They turned to warn the others, but it was too late, I was on them.  Ash’s skin had gone scaly, but my talons dug into their hide regardless.

“I will taste you, little snake.”  I hissed and snapped my sharp teeth at their side, pulling off a strip of surprisingly sweet flesh that I gulped greedily.  A shiver of power slid through me.  It had a Harlee aftertaste.  But then the scent of Angel caught my attention.  Almost thrumming with power compared to sh.  All that bright, glowing, hateful Grace, mocking me.  I felt my talk lash.  Oh this one was going down.  I lunged at Sands as he drew his sword, but he refused to attack, knowing he couldn’t harm me, for fear of harming Harlee as well.  I drove him to the ground and tore at his chest, hunks of flesh flying that I devoured greedily while the other two tried to pull me off him.  Sands refused to struggle, but Sam, blast him, hit me right behind the wing joint, eliciting a howl from me.  I turned on him, and with a snap of my jaws, took off the offending hand.  The power I had absorbed from the three of them was slowly starting to worm its way through me and calm my rage, so I have to give my attack partial credit for calming me when Ash was finally able to speak, clutching their wounded side with a grimace.

“Harlee..”  They wheezed, and I paused, head tilted.  “Harlee wants to see you.”  Ash panted, and I felt my butt drop as I sat on my haunches, my mouth open in shock.

“But not like this.”  Sam growled, holding his bleeding wrist.  “Go feed so you don’t kill her, you maniac.  Or I’ll find some way to kill you myself.”  Sam turned on a heel and stomped up the stairs, but I paid no mind.  My Heart had suddenly lit up.  Harlee wanted to see me!  My Harlee!  She remembered me!  Had asked for me!  I bounded up the stairs, and with an audible ‘pop’ disappeared, intent on hunting as many fresh victims as it took to right myself so I could be presentable.  Harlee!  I howled.

Harlee POV

I had stopped rocking Cael and was clutching my head.  Something warm ran on my upper lip and I reached up to find it was blood.  Cael was watching me with worry.

“I’m ok baby.”  I told him through gritted teeth.  Lied, actually.  My head felt like it was going to split in two and I was seeing flashes of something like I was seeing through someone else’s eyes.  There was a sharp pain in my side and I gasped, and the taste of something sweet in my mouth that made me feel a little sick, but was also sort of familiar.  Cael suddenly put his hand on the side of my face.  The tiny child issued a growl much too large for his size and then stiffened, settling himself between me and the door as if anticipating trouble.  I was only temporarily distracted before the next stab of pain hit me and I was tackling Sands to the ground.  No, not me.  Someone else.  I closed my eyes briefly and moaned.  Cael threw a quick look over his shoulder at me that was full of worry.  Too much worry for a child.  Was I killing my baby’s spirit?  I rubbed my temples and tried to ignore the flurry of activity behind my eyes.

Zeev POV

I just so happened to stumble across another Demon on my little hunting trip.  He put up quite the fight, in the end though, he was nicely crunchy.  Hunting humans was a little more difficult, I was in a rush, but Harlee liked us to go after irredeemable sinners.  I cast out a broad net for killers, s****l predators, abusers of spouses and children, hate criminals, and got so many returns I hat to retract my search, concentrating on a smaller pool of suspects.  Affluential neighborhood, abusers and s****l predators first, and try not to get disgusted by how many there were surrounding me.  And then to rush home and collapse in front of Harlee on my hands and knees and beg her forgiveness.  I cackled wildly as I winged my way to my first victim.

Harlee POV

He knelt in front of me.  Zeev.  My name a soft murmur on his lips.  He looked better, still as handsome, healthier though, but there was still something about his eyes that seemed… off.

“Do you remember me?”  He asked me, looking at me from under his lashes.  I bit my lip and shook my head.

“No, not very well.  There’s just this need, I know I have to be near you, there’s something.. It aches.. But I feel better when you’re closer.”  I replied helplessly.  He shifted closer.

“May I.. hold you, Harlee?  I feel it too, and I always feel better when we touch.”  Zeev’s eyes lit up, the pupils flashing to a slit and back.  I nodded hesitantly.  Cael gripped my arm nervously as Zeev moved closer.

“Wait!”  Ash grimaced from the doorway, holding their side lightly.  “Harlee, I insist on being here if you’re doing this.”  Ash scrambled up the bed at a flash of anger on Zeev’s face. Ash was huffing and grunting, but settled with Cael on their lap and pulled me against their shoulder as Zeev moved onto the bed on my other side.

“Sam and Sands wanted to be here too, but they aren’t doing so well right now.”  Ash murmured into my hair with a kiss.  A flash of insight went through me as Zeev settled on the bed beside me.  Ash holding his side, Sands and Sam being absent.  I looked at Zeev in fear, but he had already grabbed me with a greedy look and tugged me against his chest.  Instantly, the fear I was feeling turned to panic, but there was also an almost audible sizzle that made my back arch.  With a solid thump that I felt echo inside my chest, pain I didn’t know I was carrying, plus the empty aching hole in my chest suddenly disappeared.  Zeev moaned, and my own breath released in a whoosh.

“Oh my God, what is that?”  I breathed and Zeev tightened his grip.

“That’s our soul reuniting, Harlee.  It’s been apart too long, it’s been driving me mad.”  Zeev nuzzled my neck and my body responded instantly, arching into his touch.  I heard Zeev let out a soft huff and Ash moaned lightly.  “You may not remember me, but your body does.  Your arousal is even affecting Ash.”  Zeev blew a breath across my exposed neck that made me shudder, then tugged my shirt down my arm, baring my shoulder.  “I just need.. A little taste..”  Zeev murmured as I groaned.

“Taste?  Zeev?  No!”  Ash jumped up, trying to get to Zeev, but Zeev’s teeth had already sunk into my shoulder.  I sucked in a deep breath, my ability to scream suddenly trapped in my throat as Zeev’s impossibly sharp teeth sliced through my flesh.  He had me caught between his powerful hands and as Ash tried to yank him away, a powerful screech finally broke free.  From me.  The next few moments were a  blur with Sam and Sands rushing in, Cael returning to Angel Form, a brief flurry of activity as they tried to pry Zeev’s mouth off me.  Zeev’s rough tongue tore at the damaged skin, but the others eventually freed me and I was left with Sam, cradling me in one arm.  His other arm was held against his chest, ending in bloody bandages.