Author's Note: This is a paranormal romance submitted for the Literotica Halloween Contest. If you enjoy it, please take a moment to vote and maybe leave a comment. Thanks!
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Vivienne was ready, but still, she hesitated. Was there any other way? Anyone else? No, he was the only one she could think to ask for help and there wasn't time to delay. Her sister's life might depend upon it.
She took a steadying breath and pushed back the cloud of golden hair that had tumbled free as she worked. She brushed the dust off her hands on the iridescent skirt of her ball gown then looked down at the streaks she had left and grimaced.
Should I change? It's been a year. He's probably moved on, started to forget all about me.
She wasn't entirely sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Need to focus.
Halloween was historically the best night for summoning a demon but she had never done it. Vivienne took a deep breath, exhaled, and leaned down to touch the circle she had hastily prepared. She said a few words to put the spell she had spent the last hour preparing into motion and willed power into the circle. Then she said his name.
Smoke roiled up in a cylinder from floor to ceiling, confined by the circle. It seemed to reach a limit and rebound, shrinking in and becoming denser, taking on color and substance. It coalesced into short dark hair, broad shoulders, well defined pecs, and golden skin above sapphire blue pajama bottoms, with a white towel flung over one shoulder and white shaving foam covering half his jaw. One hand was raised to his face with a razor and his blue eyes focused on her.
"Vivienne," he breathed out.
She shivered. It was the same reverential tone he had always used when he said her name and it did something to her, just the way it always had.
No one should wield that kind of power with just their voice.
His hand dropped the razor and reached out to her but an electric shock met his fingers when he reached the limits of the circle. He jerked back then looked at her reproachfully. "Viv, a summoning? Really? You could have just called. We get great cell reception over here these days."
The last time they'd spoken, she had been backing away with a knife in one hand. To be fair, she
had
just found out he was half demon and heard his surname was Beelzebub.
He had thrown his hands up in exasperation. "It's a family name!"
She had walked in on a conversation with his mother via mirror. His mother... who had green skin.
"Vivienne, I'd like you to meet my mother, Katya," he had said in a strained voice.
Katya had smiled, which didn't help. Those sharp teeth had a decidedly predatory look.
Jack had told Vivienne he had come over from Europe to stay with cousins while going to college, but it had been a bit farther than that. After college he'd set up shop as an information agent, calling his firm, "You Don't Know Jack." That was his sense of humor and how he had originally met Vivienne.
She cleared her throat and stared at his knees. "I need some information."
Oh, God, why did he have to be half naked?
She heard a low mirthless chuckle. "The more things change, the more they stay the same, huh?"
"My sister is missing. She was supposed to be home this weekend for Halloween but she never arrived. From what I can discern, her boyfriend is gone from the college too." She forced herself to meet his gaze. He had crossed his arms and his face was blank. Would he even help her?
He shrugged. "They probably just came over for a visit and lost track of time. It happens all the time."
Vivienne shook her head. "You don't understand. She has come home every single weekend since school started. She wouldn't miss one without calling."
Jack frowned. "It's Halloween night and everyone is partying. She's in college, things are going to change. And, not everyone is as prejudiced about demons as you."
Her head shot up. "I am not prejudiced!" she said hotly. Witches had been at odds with demons for a millennia but the trade restrictions had been suddenly lifted two years ago. She had been shocked when she found out he was a demon. She had grown up on stories that demons were evil, not to be trusted, and he had been hiding it from her!
He had called after she threw him out, tried to explain, but she had cut him off . . . and out of her life. But then her mind had gone over all the stories and she simply couldn't reconcile them with what she knew of him. She had wanted to call him a million times since then, had started to a hundred, but how could she trust him? He had hidden that he was a demon from her! But what if he had been afraid she would react exactly the way she did?
"Racist then," he ground out.
Vivienne closed her eyes and tears pricked at her eyelids. Tasha was in trouble and not only had she ruined her relationship with Jack, but she had destroyed her only chance for help in finding her sister. She really couldn't blame him. She took a deep breath and prepared to beg.
But he kept talking. "Your sister was doing fine when you kicked me out. Why should this be such a big deal?"
Vivienne shook her head and crushed the skirt of her long gown in both hands. "You know how Tasha was after she developed the . . . drug problem. It got very bad, very fast. She would do anything to get her hands on it, she was dealing. She had a relapse after you left. She's been in counseling for the last three months and doing very well but . . . there was a time where I couldn't leave her alone at all. I had to take her to work with me. I'm afraid she could have relapsed again."
He stared at her for a minute, the expression on his face unreadable but hope flickered to life in Vivienne. He hadn't said no. Even if he thought she was overreacting, it wouldn't take him long to check into it.
"She's gone," Vivienne went on, talking fast. "She disappeared. She's been doing well, really well. She went into rehab this summer then back to school. She went out for pizza with her friends then she went to the bathroom and never came back. I did a tracking spell and it ended at that restaurant but a portal was opened to the demon home world. Please." She twisted her hands in her skirt. "You're the only person I know who might be able to help."
Finally, he sighed, pulled the towel off his shoulder and wiped the shaving cream from his face.
"If, IF, mind you, I agree to help you, there are three things you need to consider. One... I didn't come because I was compelled to, I came because I wanted to. Two, don't ever summon anyone else. Someone could tear you apart." He reached out with a toe. There was a brief crackle of energy as he smudged the circle and stepped though.
Vivienne stepped back in alarm but he was already circling her, so close she could feel the heat from his body and his breath on her neck. "Lucky for you that isn't what I want."
When his fingertips grazed her bare upper arm, she jumped but they were gone so quickly she wondered if she had imagined it. "We're going to be working very closely on this." His breath warmed her ear. "Very closely."
He circled to stand in front of her. He was smiling slightly. "And third, witch, when this is over, you will owe me, big time. When I name my price, I expect you to comply without hesitation."
She swallowed. "What price?"
His eyes held hers. "I haven't decided yet. Do you accept?"