Devouring love (21 page)

“Devils don't exist,” I said simply.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. He seemed bored suddenly.

“I am really not in mood to show a short presentation who I am, but I see that you are not a believer. It is strange, you know,” his eyes became dreamy and that scared me more than those flames in his eyes.

I sunk into my chair, my hands gripped tightly its armrests. I felt how wood kissed my skin. I knew that it should hurt, but I only felt anger in me which was growing in me like mushrooms after rain in autumn.

“And really,” he continued,“ I know what only you can know. Isn't that important?”

I didn't open my mouth, because he had already known the answer. Yes, it was important. Even if I tried to convince myself that maybe my father was imagining things, that he was lying, I couldn't be sure about that one hundred percent. And now I saw a person who was assuring me that everything what my father told me, was truth.

I turned my eyes away from him. I wanted that person could leave me and my cabinet, but I doubted that even if I asked him politely he would do that.

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

“Oh, I like that,” he crossed his legs, his hands resting in his lap. It suddenly seemed that he was the boss in this room while I was his employee. “Finally we could get somewhere. I want you out from this city and then I will pretend that you debt is paid,” he talked so freely, creating an impression that all this 'debt' thing was just a simple game for children.

“Why do you want me out from this city?” I heard myself saying that one question in a formal tone.

That carelessly expression of his face vanished like smoke in thin air. Now his was frowning and staring at me like a wolf at his prey.

“Because I don't want you here,” he said simply. “I give you a week. If you not do as I say, then blame yourself,” he stood up and walked to the door. I knew that it was now or never. I needed to stop him, to find the real reason why he was here, wasting his time on these treats.

“What did my father ask from you?”

He stood and turned his face slowly at me. I could see in his eyes that my question didn't cheer him up. Conversely. I was furious now and that only made me more curious to find out what really was going on here. Why did he appear only now? What happened so that he should be here, in my presence?

Melody, the answer hit me. This Marcus was here because of her.

“You have the right to know that, but because this knowledge could change a lot in your life, I made a decision not ever to answer into that question. I could only say that only now I understand what kind of consequences it might bring. So, be careful with what you do,” he turned the knob, opened the door quickly and left me alone, confused and annoyed.

My eyes darted at the painting on the wall. I wasn't sure if this was all because of Melody, but I needed to find out. Maybe she knew something about this Marcus and if does, I needed to know what kind of knowledge she was keeping in her head about him.

I wanted right away to come to the Spring home and talk with her, but I shook my head, like that could kill my desire to run out from this building and drive to her home. It didn't help. I still wanted to see her now and maybe I would have if not Chelsea who brought my patients into the room. I had some work to do, some dollars to earn that later I could eat bread.

Melody

Finally the day, when everyone could settle their eyes on me, knocked into my life. I didn't want to leave my room and slowly walk down to the ball room where everyone would be dresses in beautiful dresses or suits, where everyone would try to pretend to be my best friend, although I didn't know who they could possibly be.

“Are you scared?” Merdian asked, coming closer to he chair I was sitting on and staring at my reflection. In the mirror I could see two blue eyes which reminded me a puppy's eyes when the dog felt ashamed or wanted to get something tasty from the table.

“You know that I am,” I said in a small voice and dropped my eyes at my hands on my lap.

Soon I felt Merdian's heavy hands on my shoulders. Reluctantly I lifted my eyes up and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He looked concerned.

“I will be with you. I won't let anything happen to you,” he promised and leaned down. I soon felt his soft and warm lips on my cheek.

I sighed and tried to form a smile on my face. I knew what he was promising; to become my shadow. I couldn't say that this thought didn't thrill me, but I also could deny the fact that I didn't want that. For some reason I wanted to be left alone with Caspar, to chat with him. I couldn't explain from where this desire came, but it was here, in my heart and that scared me a bit.

“How do you thing, will the devil dare to come here?” I asked, taking a deep breath.

Merdian didn't answer. He just put his lips on my cheek and put a smile, which wasn't sincere. I was sure of that.

Marcus would definitively come here. And here we had a question; what does he want?

“Come,” Merdian took my hand gently,” it is time for us to go.”

I nodded and stood up. I was one hundred percent sure that something terrible would come this evening. The question was how bad it could be.

The house was decorated with festoons, flowers in vases... There were really a lot of flowers and they were all with white blooms. For some reason they reminded me not the day when Merdian would claim me as his, but as it was someone's funeral. In this case, mine.

Chill crossed my body and I gripped with my left hand Merdian's suit's sleeve. Of course, he noticed that and immediately in his eyes I could see how alarmed filled his body. Soon I felt how his muscles tensed under my touch

“I am here. Nothing will happen to you,” he whispered to my ear and planted a quick kiss on my cheek. I knew what he was doing, but that didn't help me to feel better and I even doubted if something could.

We slowly walked down the stairs. Many people stopped doing what they were doing and settled their stares at us. In some of them I could see happiness, jealousy, anger, astonishment or just nothing. I liked those ones who wear a poker face.

“Smile,” a photographer sprung from nowhere and took some pictures of us. It wasn't a new thing for me, of course, but after so long of not being in this kind or parties, it felt strange and I wasn't ready. There wasn't any doubt in my head that in those pictures I will look 'stunningly'.

Soon I was lost in time and this crowd of people who tried to steal my attention. They all had questions for me. I tried to be polite and answered their questions if I knew what to tell even though I didn't know them. For me, they were nothing; I for them was a person who would become their princess and then a queen one day. The queen of angels.

After an hour or so the dances started. Merdian, of course, asked me to dance with him. With a huge smile I accepted and let him lead me to the dance floor.

I didn't know how long we dance before Caspar appeared with the woman from the hospital. He tried to look happy to see us, but something in his eyes broadcast another message; he didn't like to see Merdian. The same message I could see in that woman's eyes, but not Merdian, but I was the person she wasn't happy to see.

Strange, I though in my head.

“Good evening,“ Caspar said politely. The woman repeated the same words, but there was spice of envy in her voice.

„Mr. Caspar Offman,“ Merdian said and tried to put a small smile on his face to look friendly. „And?“ his eyes looked at the woman.

„I am Chelsea Makinzy,“ she introduced herself. „It is a pleasure to be here.“

Soon to us a man wearing black clothes and holding a tray with glasses of red wine, approached us. Merdian took two glasses. One of them he gave me, another one he decided to have for himself. Caspar and Chelsea also took a glass of vine, but didn't hurry to take a sip. Especially Caspar, who gaped at the guy with a tray. For some reason that stole my attention and for the first time I looked at the guy and almost dropped my glass to the floor.

„Is everything alright, Miss?“ Marcus asked, pretending to be concerned.

“
Yes,“
I murmured and stole a glance at Merdian. He didn't notice my reaction and that was only for the best.

In my mind I tried to understand why Caspar was so surprised to see Marcus. Did he know him? If so, how and when they had met?

“I am glad to hear that,” and he moved to other guests, who didn't know that next to them was a true devil.

How did he get into the building this time, when the security was warned about him? Was he so clever and knew how to trick angels? After all, I shouldn't be surprised. He had proved me that he not only was smart, but also a dangerous killing machine.

“I am sorry, but I need to go to the lady's room,” I said and looked at Merdian, asking his permission. He nodded reluctantly, because he knew that it was one of those places into which he couldn't put his foot.

“Okay, I will go with you,” his head was slowly turning to Caspar and Chelsea, but I put my fingers on his cheek.

“Nothing will happen to me. I will be quick,” I planted a quick kiss and walked away from him without giving him any opportunity to create a reason why he should follow me.

I really badly wanted to believe that nothing could happen to me while I was in surrounded my angels, but I knew that I this place wasn't the safest one.

I walked around the people, my eyes searching for Marcus. I was one hundred percent sure that he would approach me again. He wouldn't miss this great opportunity when I was alone.

“Searching for me?” he asked behind my back.

I narrowed my eyes and turned to face him. On his face was a huge grin.

“What do you want?” I asked and stole few glances around. No one was looking at our direction.

“I miss you too,” he said and grabbed my hand. I tried to struggle, but he was stronger and soon I was walking after him into a room.

“What do you want?” I asked again.

His fingers traveled on my face, while our lips were separated only by a few inches. He was too close to me and instead of trying to push him away, I just stood still, looking straight to his hungry eyes.

“Did you notice that you always ask me that?”

“Maybe because you always don't answer.”

„Good answer,” he leaned a bit closer to me. I could feel his warm breath against my skin. At the same time I hated and liked that. Really, what was happening with me?

“Do you feel how your curse is affecting you?” his lips touched my chin while his hands were traveling on my waist making me dizzy.

“Curse?” I asked.

“Yes, the curse. “

“What kind of curse?”

“Our deal's curse. I did my part of agreement. Now it is your turn to do yours.”

“And what do you want from me? Money? Power?”

“I want you,” he whispered into my ear. “And you can choose: you are coming with me willingly or I just take you. It is your decision,” he pulled away from me. To prove me that he was serious, he threw out a syringe with dark liquid in it.

“You are evil,” I said through my clenched teeth. My eyes looked around, trying to find what I could use against this devil and save myself. We were in not huge room, full with chemicals, brooms, vacuum-cleaners...

“It's the sweetest words which could leave your red lips, my angel.”

I scowled. He wasn't joking. He really was intending to...kidnap me.

“You won't ever manage to take me from this building. There are guards on every corner. You are insane.”

And then I felt how needle intruded into my body, spreading its poisons.

“Don't devalue me, my angel,” he said and put the syringe back into his pocket. “After all, I am a devil,” and with those words I felt how control over my body started disappearing. I couldn't lift my hand or take a step...I started falling to the ground, but I didn't reach it, because Marcus took me into his embrace.

“Don't worry. When you wake up, everything will be done.”

And then I closed my eyes.

Caspar

It almost looked like Merdian was on fire; his eyes always looking at everything except me and Chelsea. He was moving form one side to another, like he wanted to go the bathroom. He was worrying about Melody. I was too. Marcus was here, wandering in the room. I didn't know what he wanted, but I was sure that not thoughts about bunnies and puppies were in his head.

“It was really nice to see you. I would like to say
hello
to other people,” I said and pulled Chelsea with me. Without any struggle, she walked with me, leaving Merdian alone in the crowd.

“There are so many people,” Chelsea said, but her words I heard like I had put cotton in my ears. I didn't care what she was telling me or what others were doing. The only thing I really care was to find Marcus and to ask him what he was doing here.

At the same time I tried to detect Melody, but I could see her silver hair anywhere in this colorful see. But I was able to see how two men in black approach to Merdian. They told him something what made his quite pale face to turn even paler.

Bad news, I said in my mind.

“Chelsea, could you bring some snacks. I would like talk with Mr. Spring,” and I pointed to the old Mr.Spring who was talking with some men.

Chelsea looked at where I was pointing and then nodded. I noticed that she wasn't happy that I was asking her to leave me alone, but I needed to do that.

“Okay,” she said and walked from me away.

Without wasting a second, I dashed to the bathrooms, hoping to see Melody, but instead of seeing her, I had a privilege to see four men, scanning the area with their eyes. I noticed guns behind their suits.

I stopped and turned slowly to go back. This way wasn't the one to reach bathrooms, but it was the way to attract unwanted attention.

I walked to other corridor which, for some reason, was empty. There weren't neither men in black clothes nor guests who would like have a private conversation or steal some kisses.

For some reason I heard a whisper in my head telling me to go there. Of course, I decided to listen to it and soon I was walking forward, not letting my guard down.