Convergence

The feelings of fear and betrayal didn’t stay away for long. I woke up in the middle of the night and snuck off to make sure Azazel hadn’t killed Rick. In the basement, he was curled up in a corner sleeping with his back against the wall. He heard me coming down and his eyes popped open ready to defend himself until he recognized me. He didn’t even have the strength to stand let alone defend himself if it came to that.

“Hey, Princess.” He sounded horrible. His voice was scratchy and he looked so tired. “Have you come to finish me off?”

“I would never hurt you, Rick.” I stood at the base of the stairs afraid that he would think I was trying to hurt him.

“You don’t know that anymore. I can see the change in you. It’s like looking at identical twins except I can tell the difference between the two.”

“What do you mean?”

He chuckled a little. “You don’t even realize it yourself, do you?”

“Realize what? What are you talking about?” I took a hesitant step towards him.

“When one power takes over the other. It’s different for every half breed. Some stay strong for weeks at a time only losing their power on full moon or new moon nights. Some alternate every other hour or so. Some half breeds can even choose the time at which they lose their power. Every one of them is different.”

“So I don’t have my power right now, is that what you’re telling me?

“Not your demonic ones, no. They’ve been suppressed, maybe by the witch, maybe because it’s just time in your power cycle.”

“Could….” I took another hesitant step to him bending down in an attempt to whisper. “Is there a potion or something that can suppress demon magic?”

He turned to me. “Why would you ask that?”

I stepped back. “What difference does it make? It’s just a question.”

“Did he give you something?” He started to stand. “What was it? What did it look like? Was it red and a little sticky, perhaps sweet and the consistency of syrup or just like drinking salty, fizzy water?”

“Um… water.”

He let out a deep sigh and fell back to the ground. He collapsed so far into the concrete I thought he passed out and rushed to his side.

“Rick? Rick, are you okay?”

He smiled and reached his hand up to my face. “You’re so beautiful. Did you know that?”

It was sort of an awkward moment. Here I was trying to gather information and he just starts hitting on me, or whatever he was doing. Perhaps he was just a bit delusional.

“When was the last time you ate something?”

“Aunt Auggie told me…” he drifted away and dropped his hand from me. “I haven’t eaten anything since before those little monsters brought me here.”

“I’ll bring you something.”

As I stood to rush upstairs, he grabbed my arm.

“Do you trust them, Kari?”

“I don’t know how to answer that.”

He let go and closed his eyes. “Just like that, Princess. Just like that.”

I raced up the steps leaving the door wide open. I had to find some way to get him out of this, but the more pressing matter on my mind was feeding him.

The house I was in had a fully stocked kitchen so I made him two sandwiches then grabbed the chips and two bottles of water before rushing back down to him. He was greedy with the first sandwich taking it in three bites but took his time with the second knowing how grossed out I would be at his atrocious manners. It didn’t bother me, though. Not like it used to. I was just so relieved to see the color return to his face.

“Thanks for that,” his said between mouthfuls. “I guess I didn’t know how hungry I was.”

“Drink that water up too. I’ll bring you more.”

He obeyed taking a giant swig. “You plan on keeping me down here like a pet?”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do.” I leaned against the wall next to him.

“Dear old dad wants to kill me, you know.”

“He promised me he wouldn’t.”

“You want so much to trust him, don’t you?”

“I guess.”

“Why?”

I shook my head. “I can feel it. There’s a connection there, one that I just can’t ignore. It’s strong. It calls to me.” I let my head fall back. “But so does my connection to you.”

He stopped eating. “You feel connected to me?”

“It’s not in the same way but yes. Why fight it? Why deny something I’ve clearly been fighting all year just because… well, because?” I sat up and looked into his deeply beautiful eyes. “Don’t you feel it too?”

Rick took my face in his hands before leaning into me. “You really want to know how I feel about you?” His eyes met mine as if asking for permission.

“I think I have a pretty good idea.”

His lips touched mine ever so gently and then he broke away with a pant. I could feel his breath hot against my lips before returning his touch, tangling my fingers in his hair. A deep shiver ran through my body. I heard a slight chuckle and he kissed me harder. My passion pulled him into me for only a moment before he pushed us apart.

“You should go, Princess.” His eyes looked apologetic.

“I don’t want to go.” I reached out to grab him again but he held my hands preventing me from grabbing hold. “What is it?”

“The little potion dear old daddy gave you is wearing off. Your demonic powers will be returning soon and I don’t want you to kill me.”

I took in a deep breath trying to steady the excitement from his kiss. “How can you tell?”

“I just can.” He rubbed my arm and went back to his sandwich. “You should go before someone notices you’re gone.”

“So, the thing Azazel gave me suppressed my demon powers?”

“They were probably getting too out of control.”

“Or?”

He looked at me like he didn’t know what I was talking about.

“There’s always an ‘or,’ Rick. Tell me.”

“Just beware of the syrup one, Princess. If he gives you that, then you’ll know for sure that you can’t trust him.” He glanced up to the top of the stairs and his eyes narrowed.

I followed his eyes but didn’t see anything. “What is it?”

“If you ever distrust him, it means the witch has taken over. That’s how you can tell when you’re you again.”

“Okay. I’ll remember that.”

“You should go.”

“I can’t just leave you like this.”

“In a few minutes, you won’t even care about me anymore. Don’t sweat it. I might have enough energy now to get myself out of here.”

I nodded and went to leave.

“Talk to Squeak,” he said. “She’ll be a better guide than I can ever hope to be.”

At first, I didn’t want to go anywhere. I wanted to stay right there at his side. But as the moments passed, I could feel that desire waning and being replaced with something a bit more sinister. Thoughts similar to what a mantis might feel after she has mated, right before she has ripped off the male’s head.