sentence; he could pull the memory from her mind and replay it
as if it were his own. In the end she’d wrapped the car around a
tree, badly damaging Cassandra’s spine to the point that she was
paralyzed from the waist down. She’d never walk again and
Kailani blamed herself for it.
“It was fate.” He said quietly, hoping to offer her some form of
comfort but she wouldn’t accept it, it was rooted too deeply, the
pain of knowing she’d cost her best friend and sister something
so precious.
“It wouldn’t have happened had I listened to my instincts. Had I
turned back when I felt moving forward would be too dangerous
Cassandra’s life wouldn’t have been changed forever.” She lifted
her gaze to meet his, her brown eyes shining with unspent tears.
“That’s why I worry. Because when I don’t, people I love get
fucked over.” She said and he understood. He understood her
pain and thought of loosing people she held dear, but what he
couldn’t comprehend was how she still held onto it all these
years.
“You’re mortal and you made a mistake. Don’t let your past
transgressions hinder you in the present.” He said, watching a
smiling stewardess on her way towards them, checking to make
sure everyone had their seatbelts buckled. Panicking she threw
her hand on top of his belt, grabbing it to hide the fact that it
looked like it was floating.
“Well what are you doing?” The woman asked with a laugh.
“Just um…testing the elasticity?” She asked with a nervous
chuckle and the woman winked and made her way past them.
“The plane will be taking off shortly so sit up straight.” She said
in parting. Leviathan smirked at where her hand rested over his
crotch.
“You know if you want to move your hand lower I wouldn’t
mind at all.” She released his belt with a disgusted sigh, a blush
dusting her cheeks.
“Just shut up.” She said and he laughed.
“I thought it sounded like a pleasant way to pass the time.”
“You would. How on earth am I going to survive ten hours alone
with you?” She ignored the mischievous gleam in his eye. “On
second thought, don’t answer that.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. I could always teach you something,
since I come equipped with infinite knowledge and an action grip
and all.” He said sarcastically and she just stared at him before
rolling her eyes.
“You practically refused to tell me anything earlier, why are you
being so forthcoming with information now?”
“I am a firm believer in tit for tat. You shared something about
yourself that no doubt causes you great pain; now I will divulge
something as well.” He said and she felt her eyes widen.
“So you’re going to tell me about your past?”
“No. I’m going to teach you a spell.” He said and a frown
returned to her face.
“That’s not fair I know virtually nothing about you. And wait I
thought you said you couldn’t cast spells.”
“I can’t, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know any. I’m pretty sure
you know a handful of recipes but that doesn’t make you a chef,
or any better of a cook now does it?” He smirked and she
narrowed her eyes on him.
“I’m a damn good cook jackass.”
“Not the point I was making.”
“See if I cook you anything else...jackass.” Leviathan rolled his
eyes at her glare.
“Do you want to learn the spell or not?”
“Yes I want to learn it.” She sat back in her seat and stared
expectantly up at him. Leviathan couldn’t help but chuckle at her
nearly childlike behavior. One second she was seething mad at
him and the next she was perfectly content. What a puzzle she
was.
“Alright then. As you witnessed earlier, spell casting is a very
simple craft, though not everyone can do it. Like vampires,
werewolves and other races, each breed has it’s own unique
quirks. Spell casting just happens to be unique to witches, like
blood drinking is unique to the walking undead.” He explained
and she felt herself pale.
“You mean vampires and werewolves actually exist?”
“You’re sitting next to an ancient demonic entity and
their
existence surprises you?” He cocked a brow at her and she
frowned.
“Are we talking like…maybe one in a million or are they like
literally everywhere?” She asked nervously and he sighed.
“Vampires are one in every ten people, werewolves, being
usually dimwitted and easier to murder are one in twenty five.”
Her eyes widened at his words.
“So there’s a chance that we’re in the presence of vampires and
werewolves right now on this plane?”
“It’s not just a chance, it’s a fact.” His eyes seemed to shine with
a dark inner light. He was either toying with her or telling the
truth and having fun watching her squirm. Kailani risked a glance
at the passengers who surrounded them, sitting cozy in their seats
as they read books and listened to music on portable music
players. No one stood out; in fact she was probably the oddest
looking person on the plane.
“I don’t see any.”
“Of course you don’t. Like witches other breeds have spent
millennia blending in with mortals and hiding themselves from
the humans who would likely hunt them all down and dispose of
them should they ever really find out they existed.”
“Then what about witches? How many of them are around? And
Hellmouths? Please don’t tell me there are other demons on this
plane.” Her voice dropped to a whisper and he gave an
exaggerated eye roll.
“Do you really think I’d allow you to board a plane containing
the very beings we’re trying to out run?” He asked and she
paused before nodding.
“You might.” Leviathan gave a long-suffering sigh.
“No. I am the only demonic entity aboard this plane.” He told her
and she seemed to accept that.
“Okay then back to the witches and such.”
“Witches are one in fifteen, Hellmouths are one in three hundred
thousand.”
“Three hundred thousand?!” Her jaw dropped at the number.
Where there really so few Hellmouths? Compared to vampires
and witches they were damn near extinct!
“You are nearly extinct. You forget your breed is relatively new
and with my kind and the angels hunting you down and killing
you off your numbers dwindle more and more each year. By the
end of the decade Hellmouths will only be one in five hundred
thousand. In another decade; one in a million.”
“But that’s not fair. Why create a race if you’re just going to
allow it to be exterminated?” She asked and he actually shrugged.
“It’s not for me to say. I had no part in your creation and to be
quite honest I’m not sure why, when or even how you were
created.” He said and she frowned, her thoughts turning inward.
Could Hellmouths really just be one big joke, a supernatural
prank or someone’s failed attempt at playing with genetics?
“You weren’t kidding when you said I was convenient. It must
take months if not years to hunt a Hellmouth down, one sitting at
a hot spot is just asking for trouble.” She said, turning her eyes
back up to his and frowning. “What about demons? What are
your statistics?” She asked and he suddenly appeared
uncomfortable.
“We’ve gotten off topic. I’m supposed to be teaching you a
spell.”
“You can’t just change the subject!” She nearly yelled, gaining
the startled stares of several other passengers. Her face red she
slumped deeper into her chair. Leviathan had the nerve to grin.
“Keep your voice down. You wouldn’t want to ‘freak out’ the
mortals now would you?” He chuckled and she glared up at him.
“Just teach me the damn spell demon.”
“Alright, don’t get your panties in a twist. As I was saying earlier
before we broke off into a tangent, spell casting is something
wholly unique to witches, and now to your kind.”
“But why? Are Hellmouths somehow related to witches?”
“I haven’t the slightest clue. Though, recently there has been
some speculation about your breed in the demonic community.
You sprung up over night whereas others have had millions of
years to evolve and co-inhabit this dimension, causing split views
on whether or not you should be allowed to live. Some see you as
a risk to their safety, others see you as food, and others still just
want you for power.” Kailani stared up at him as he spoke.
“And what about you? Where do you stand on all of this?”
“I’m in the one percent. I don’t care either way.” He gave her a
look that seemed to speak volumes. What exactly did this man
care about? “Not much princess.” He answered her unspoken
question and she frowned.
“Well then what about the angels?”
“You already know the answer. They believe they have some
divine order to exterminate you all. Unfortunately that is all I
know about them. I’m not exactly the type who enjoys long
walks and tea time with the enemy.” He admitted and she sighed.
What kind of world was this? When the angels seemed just as
evil as the demons. Was there truly no good left in the world?
“Bingo. Hand the girl a prize she finally gets it.” He said
sarcastically and she rolled her eyes up at him.
“Just because you believe there’s no good in the world doesn’t
make it true you sadistic asshole.”
“And just because you live in some fairytale doesn’t mean the
world is all glitter and gumdrops, princess.” He retorted and she
glared up at him. “Now, do you have anymore questions?”
“Not at this time, no.”
“Good. Back to my point. For some reasons unknown to me
Hellmouths have been known to be just as good at casting spells
as witches. Spells, for those who can use them, are nothing more
than intent and will. All the extra fancy words are just a focusing
device meant to force your mind into a state that projects energy.
This is what makes the actual spell work, simple right?”
“Sound’s complicated…” Kailani began to fidget in her seat and
he shook his head.
“For you to cast the spell of invisibility you had to
want
me to be
invisible right?”
“I guess…”
“Well there you have it. Spell casting is a simple art belonging to
even simpler people.”
“You don’t like witches very much do you?” She asked and his
jaw tightened as if he weren’t expecting that question.
“No. I do not.”
“Why?” She pressed and he frowned deeply.
“It’s none of your business.”
“But…you can’t do that! I shared something about myself so now
it’s your turn!” His frown didn’t budge.
“And where has that rule been written?”
“It hasn’t but that’s still not fair!” She nearly shouted, her hands
making quick little gestures of annoyance that for some reason
pleased him immensely.
“Life isn’t fair. Do you want to learn the spell or not?” He asked
and she made a little noise of defeat before sighing and letting her
hands drop against her thighs.
“Fine! Dammit. What’s the spell?” she asked, ignoring his grin of
triumph.
“I want you to focus on what I’m about to tell you. And stop
glaring at me it’s unattractive.” He told her and her frown
deepened as he leaned closer to her. Kailani stiffened as her
personal space was yet again invaded by the demon. Leviathan
wrapped an arm about her shoulder, pulling her into his chest and
holding her tightly. He could feel her hesitation the moment he
touched her but as he reached to run his fingers through her hair
she relaxed almost instantaneously. “Imagine what it would be
like…Laying on a bed of rose petals. Their colors are vibrant and
their fragrance is so sweet you’re almost salivating with a need to
taste them.” She stiffened against him again as his hand travelled
from her hair, over her cheek and down her arm. Leviathan lifted
her hand and pressed it against his firm chest, her fingers flexing
as his steady heartbeat thud hard against her palm. “You’re not
alone. I’m with you, on top of you…” His lips pressed against her
ear and she felt her eyes closing, the vivid imagery of his words
sending heat straight to the pit of her stomach. “…Inside of you.”