Brianna Devereaux: The Mambo (Completed)

Broken

When Brianna woke up, Tamia was no where in sight. But Kase was watching her as he sat on a drum across from her bed, “Go away creep.” She groaned rolling over. Chuckling in his deep voice, Kase came and flopped down on the half-deflated mattress. Which of course made her bounce up and she frowned at him annoyed.

Stroking her big hair out of her face, Kase teased, “Such a mean face so early. Give me a smile cherie.” Brianna almost bit him she was so annoyed and after checking the time, she cursed, “f**k. It’s too early.” She whined at the annoying god. But Kase grinned widely, “But now you’re a witch, and you have a task at hand.”

Brianna sighed, “Yeah find two other girls to complete my coven of witches. Sounds like fun, but I’m positive I can do that at nine!”

Kase frowned at her lack of motivation and dragged her up when she went to go back to sleep. “They could be in danger right now, and if they die your power will die. And demons will come even harder knowing you’re slim pickings.” Brianna opened a tired eye, “Demons? Like ghouls and monsters from hell?”

Kase smirked, “The very same, only thing is they look like normal humans. Just wait until you run into a few. You’ll see.”

Brianna tiredly yawned, “So I need to get up right now, walk around the streets of New York looking for two girls? Who I don’t know s**t about and might mace me for being weird?”

Smirking as he realized what Brianna was saying, Kase jerked a thumb over his shoulder, “She’s not one of the four.” Brianna’s stomach clenched painfully, “What?”

Kase nodded confirming his words as he said, “She’s not a witch. But your instincts are correct,” Red eyes observing the other aura present in the cathedral, Kase predicted, “she does her own power to come into.”

Confused, Brianna realized slowly that meant Tamia wasn’t like her. But she was something else and that meant another thing for her to figure out. Which left her even more exhausted, “Proof I should get all the sleep I can.” She grumbled wanting to curl back under covers.

But Kase’s strong arms circled around her and lifted her from her bed. “Come on gorgeous,” He pepped up with a light chuckle. “I don’t wanna.” Brianna whined like the brat she used to be.

Kase’s red eyes peered into Brianna’s soul with his own power coming to the surface. It almost suffocated Brianna as he propositioned, “I could help you with this if you’d like.”

And as her ancestors filled Brianna’s head, shouting in unison, Brianna cried as pain hit her hard. It almost blinded her it was so powerful, but Kase placed a gentle hand on her forehead and the throbbing in her head silence.

So did the voices of her ancestors.

“I can help with all of this.”

Brianna felt disoriented as she kicked her legs wanting to be put down. Feeling uneasy, Brianna shook her head slowly. She smelt a stunt was being pulled on her, and she was no fool.

Not anymore.

“What do you want from me Kase? Why do you keep showing up at every turn?” Kase eerily peered at Brianna as he grumbled, “It’s my job.” Brianna’s chin jutted up in fear at what that job might be.

“What do you want from me?” She asked again. But this time, she wasn’t taking a half ass answer. Kase’s response was to open his hand and a book appeared in a cloud of black smoke.

It was black leather and bound with the blood of his victims. And Brianna was immediately frightened of the book as she could almost hear their screams in her ears. She watched him open it, and while the inside wasn’t as sinister in appearance like the outside, Brianna still didn’t feel safe.

The plain stationary with lines baring names were all written with different hands. But always with the same ink.

“If you sign your name, I can protect you. The measly mundane problems stressing you will become my burden. All you have to do is sign.”

And as another headache that rivaled the other, ricocheted through her, Brianna could here Kase tempt her, “And the power rightfully yours, denied and hidden by your kin will settle. No more pain as it grows and recognizes itself in you.”

Brianna honestly loved the idea of someone else shouldering the burden of her new normal. But she also knew how she’d been raised.

And she’d never sign her name to a contract without knowing the fine print. Looking at the book in his hand, Brianna asked, “And what do you get in return?”

Kase grinned at the wise question, he’d never been asked it before. His white teeth and dimples were so cute to Brianna, but that didn’t distract her from his eyes. She could see his eyes were calculating and dishonest as he confessed, “You will answer to me. Your magic and blood no longer residing with your family’s power. But with mine.”

Brianna heard a lot of things wrong with the measly explanation. But she couldn’t give it a second thought as Kase produced a weird black pen. It’s skull with ruby eyes seemed to glow and beacon her forward with promise of fixing everything.

Feeling a chill on her skin as Kase offered to her, Brianna fell back in fear, “No.”

Kase, surprised by her response, tried to convince Brianna of all he could give her. But Brianna backed away to her clothes, “I-I need to get ready for the day. Like you said I have a long one.”

Coming up behind her, his hot body tense with desperation and need, Kase rubbed a callous hand over her shoulder blade. “Brianna-.” Turning quickly to get his hands off her, Brianna’s eyes glowed as power fueled by rage came pouring in.

And she could suddenly see through him.

“Kase, Loa of the broken,” Kase froze under Brianna’s gaze as she hissed, “I will not sign my name to you. Because while I believe you will fix this mess for me now, I know in the end you’ll leave me broken later.”

Unable to respond, Kase watched Brianna grab her things. Approaching her like he wanted to seduce and lie to her, Brianna stopped him in his tracks, “No!”

Kase was amazed as Brianna stood tall in front of him, her magic and spirit burning even brighter. “I’ve been broken and hurt by men enough Kase. So, thank you for the offer, but I made it this far without signing my soul over. I think I’ll keep going without doing so. You can take your leave now.” Brianna instinctively sent a dismissive wave his way.

And then in a cloud of black smoke, Kase vanished and Brianna was left with her chest glowing white. Tamia slowly edged into the room and Brianna thought it was because she heard her yelling at Kase.

But she looked at the scared 15-year-old trembling. And that wasn’t even drew eyes to her.

Holding a deck of cards in hand, in her mini tank top, Brianna could see goosebumps and what looked like a brand on her shoulder. “Jesus Tamia,” She breathed immediately going over to it. Tamia shook her head holding up the cards, “You won’t believe what just happened.”