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“Some souls are too dark to change,” he
snapped. Leaping to his feet, he let Julie tumble onto the cold
wood floor. He didn’t even acknowledge her sprawled out on the
floor. He just started pacing.

“Anybody can change.”

She wanted him to see that he did have a
choice. He could be good. They could be together. He kicked the
bedside table beside her across the room; it shattered into a
million pieces.

“You don’t know anything,” he screamed.
Trucker’s body shook violently. He literally vibrated with pent up
rage.

Julie retreated further from him, not knowing
what he was capable of in that state.

“Trucky,” Sea yelled.

Julie flipped her head around and saw that
Catherine and Sea had walked in. Trucker immediately had Sea
wrapped up in his arms. He fell back on the bed, rocking her.
“Sorry, sweet pea, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

The sight of Trucker trying to calm his
sister mesmerized her. Julie was a mess; a quivering, scared, in
love, in conflict with her own emotions mess. She watched as he
held Sea and brushed his hand through her curls. Trucker started
ever so softly singing. It was so light Julie couldn’t quite make
it out except for the sweet melody. He was a demon. Julie had seen
things she had never dreamed possible. But at that moment, she
witnessed the gentle monster that had stolen her heart. She felt
swollen with endless love for him. His soul was anything but dark.
He was her light knight. My Truck, your unbelievable beauty drew me
to you, but it’s not what gripped me. It was your sweet spirit and
never ending love that captured me. Now it’s your fragile and
damaged soul that calls me. Against her better judgment, she
crawled up onto the bed beside him.

“You said I don’t know anything. I agree I
don’t know a lot, except I’m a walking contradiction. My heart
tells me to stay. That it belongs to you. But my mind tells me to
run, fast and hard. That nothing good can come from this.” Julie
reached over and traced the length of Trucker’s arm.

Astounded at what she had just said. Trucker
asked, “Which one will you listen too?”

Sea placed her hand on Julie’s arm, and
calmness washed over her. “My heart. Granny always told me to
follow my heart. Your mind can lead you astray, but your heart is
incapable of lying,” she answered, softly.

“Your granny never realized someone like me
would walk into your life,” Trucker said and buried his face in
Sea’s hair.

“My heart knew who owned it before my mind
would accept it.” She forced him to look at her. “You own it.”

“Do you know what you are saying, dear?”
Catherine asked. She had knelt down beside them and stroked Julie’s
hair.

“Yes, Ms. Catherine, I love the wrong guy,
too,” Julie said to Catherine, but looked at Trucker. “I love you,
Truck. It’s probably the craziest thing ever, but I can’t help it.
I really do love you.”

He appeared indecisive, like he couldn’t
comprehend what she was saying. He tilted his head. “I never
believed in love. Till you.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I didn’t
think I could love, but I do love you.” He reached out for her, and
his hand shook. She placed it on her waist.

“I know,” she told him. He pulled her to him.
Julie sat as close as she could get and trailed her fingertips down
Sea’s back.

“I can’t promise I won’t hurt you again.”
Trucker said with regret. “I never want to see you hurt again.”

“Everybody hurts at times.” She held up her
healed wrist and smiled. “Hey, I think you got me covered if you
do.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make sure you
never hurt.” He kissed her on top of the head. “I don’t ever want
you to regret this.”

“I already do regret it, but I can’t help how
I feel. Can I talk to your mom alone?” she asked. He nodded his
head.

“I’ll meet you out on the patio. Let me find
Ruby so she can watch Sea.” Catherine patted Julie’s knees. “It’ll
be okay.”

“Thanks,” Julie replied.

“No.” Trucker spoke up. “Julie, can I show
you something first? It is right down the hall. Then you can talk
to my mom.”

Chapter 11

Julie started gnawing on her lower lip.
Trucker raised his hand to stop her, but paused. She wondered why.
He always stopped her. After Catherine took Sea, Julie lowered
Trucker’s face
.
She sensed his trepidation.

“I’m scared of all of this, but we belong
together.”

Trucker relaxed against her, his arm
protectively around her waist, and kissed her shoulder. “Let me
change shirts then, Angel, I want to prove that you do belong in my
world.”

“Change shirts?” Julie asked as Trucker
turned showing two perfect slashes going up the back of his shirt.
She reached out to touch each rip. “I like your wings.”

“So does my mom.” Trucker turned back to face
her and wiped a thumb over her tear-stained cheeks. “Angel, you’re
my other half. I’ve never wanted anything like I need you. Let me
show you something then if you want to leave I’ll let you go.”

One glance at him and Julie was not sure he
could ever truly let her go.

She followed him down the hallway to those
ghastly pictures hanging on the wall. He stopped and stared up at
the biggest canvas. It held a picture of a single demon. Julie
reached up and touched the face on the painting. The similarities
between Trucker and the monster were striking. It was bigger, but
still even with the black eyes and swirling veins it was enticing.
The hair was the same shade as Trucker’s, but a tad longer. Its
skin appeared pearlized, but it definitely had Trucker’s
features.

“He’s beautiful,” Julie said in
disbelief.

“It’s me.”

“You’re beautiful. Where’s your wings?”

“They only come out if I’m feeling an unusual
emotion for a demon.” Trucker smirked. He placed his hand on her
shoulder and directed her attention to another painting. “My dad
and that one there is Eddie, Emily’s dad.” He pointed to the demon
beside his dad. Julie noticed a demon dressed in black with long
flowing black hair.

“That one is Emily?” Julie murmured.

“Yeah, Angel, it is. The prophets painted
these pictures when they prophesied my life.” He showed her the
first one. The face was hidden, but it was a woman with long, light
brown hair handing his dad a baby. “My mom hasn’t always been
blond,” Trucker informed.

“That’s you as a baby.”

He nodded his head.

“A son will be born half demonic, half human.
His powers will be immense. His greatest strength will be his
infinite empathy. His greatest weakness will be his vulnerability,
his humanity.”

Julie stroked her fingers along a small
plaque on the frame where that very prophecy was etched. “You’re
human?”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m very much human. Half of me, anyway.”

Julie glowed. All was not lost. He could be
what she needed. His soul was his greatest gift.

“Don’t get excited. I’m half demon too. My
darkness is stronger than any good in me.” He paused slightly. His
fingers wiggled their way around her ear and down the nap of her
neck. He shuddered. She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips
over his, so lightly it was not even a kiss, merely a touch.
No
baby, your goodness is your greatest strength.
He clutched her
face in his hands and dipped his head until his lips rested against
Julie’s. His kiss started off softly as though she was breakable.
She opened her lip, allowing him to explore her mouth with his
tongue. He squeezed her hip as his kiss got harder and more
demanding. They were in no hurry and kissed a kiss that was more
powerful than anything either one had ever experienced.

“Let her kiss me with the kisses of her
mouth— for your love is more delightful than wine. Song of Solomon
1:2,” Trucker muttered against her lip.

“A bible verse, you know the bible?”

“Almost every word. It’s part of the
job.”

He turned and led her to the last picture; it
had six demons in it. She recognized four of the demons: Trucker,
Larry, Eddie, and Emily. She realized they were standing on Main
Street in her little town of Promise Land. “That’s?” Julie asked,
fingering the painting.

“Yeah, your Main Street. See there’s the drug
store.” He tapped the drug store in the picture. “Angel, look at
the very end of the street on the right.”

Julie focused and saw a young lady with her
back to the street, going into the bank. There was a slight glow
coming off of her, and she had a mound of blond curls on her
head.

“That’s you, my love.” He kissed the top of
her head. “These pictures were painted before I was even born, but
you’re there.” Julie settled her head on his shoulder. They stood
in silence for what seemed like eons, and then, languidly, he
started to talk. “I never noticed the girl until after I met you
but when I saw it I knew. You do belong with me and everyone does
have more than one destiny.”

Julie touched the canvas and ran her finger
along each stroke. “I own a shirt just like that,” she said as she
traced the outline of the girl in the picture.

“It’s my favorite,” Trucker whispered.

Julie moved to Trucker’s image on the canvas.
She couldn’t believe how monstrous yet appealing he was. Emily’s
demon image was even more intimidating than her human facade. She
noticed how overprotective Larry appeared of Trucker. He was the
ultimate demon in Julie’s eye. She didn’t understand how someone
like him could even care. Then it caught her eye. Trucker and
Emily’s pinky fingers were interlocked with each other’s. She
touched where their hands were connected.

“Don’t try to read anything into it. I chose
that future.” Trucker kissed the side of her head and fingered her
picture in the painting. Julie still had her doubts about where
Emily fit into his future and theirs. She glanced up at the other
two demons.

“Who are they?” Julie pointed to the face of
the most sinister one.

“Two evil creations I hope you never meet.”
He yanked at her hand. “Come on, Angel, Mom is probably
waiting.”

“I don’t want to be in your world,” she said,
unable to look at him.

Trucker stared in horror. He grabbed her
wrist, pulling her taut against him. The thought of what had
transpired early that day when he held her like that caused her to
squirm. He didn’t speak. He didn’t have too. His stare told her
everything. Stop and be still. Her body instantly obeyed. He
smirked and proceeded to trail kisses up her arm, hitting a very
sensitive spot behind her elbow. He didn’t stop there but continue
toward her shoulder, across her collarbone, and up her neck. Before
he found her mouth, he whispered, “I won’t ever let you go.”

She didn’t want any part of that life, those
paintings, his world. The thought of all of it devastated Julie.
But the thought of those eyes never staring at her, those lips on
someone else’s neck, his hands holding Emily shattered her. “I
don’t want to be in your world, but I want you in my world.”

“Ditto, Angel.”

Trucker led her out to the patio. Julie could
see a difference in his skin, but most of all his mannerisms. He
motioned for her to have a seat. He turned and started walking
toward the house without a word but before he went in, he glanced
back at her. His face was already distorted. His skin appeared
pearlized. Julie’s nerves went berserk. She started pacing along
the edge of the patio.

Lost in thought, she jumped when his mother
appeared. Catherine was shaking, obviously troubled. She sat down
and motioned for Julie to have a seat. Catherine Castleman was
stunning, humanly so. She was kind and loving, her devotion to her
son was undeniable.
Oh God, this is probably a bad time, but
please guide me. Also let Catherine tell me the truth and not what
I want to hear to protect her son.

They sat at a small round table overlooking a
magical garden, the kind of garden that belonged in a fairytale not
a horror story. “Your garden is lovely.”

Picking at her bottom lip, Catherine let out
a loud and exhausting sigh. “You wanted to talk to me?”

I guess small talk is out. That’s okay I
don’t really want to beat around the bush either.

“Ms. Catherine, I really do care for Truck.”
Julie begin. “I need to know what I’m up against. I guess I need to
ask, why you chose this life.”

Catherine peeked over at Julie and a small
smile shot across her face. “That one is easy, Trucker.”

Julie shook her head in confusion. Catherine
had to have chosen this life before Trucker. He was the byproduct
of that decision.

“Let me clarify, I didn’t just choose it,
more it chose me. I was twenty-two years old and going for my
masters at Vanderbilt. I was very book smart, but very naive. I met
his father, Larry, one night in the college library. He was
ravishing and charming. I couldn’t believe my luck when he asked me
out on a date. I’d never dated much and the thought of someone that
charismatic wanting to be with me was very exciting.” Catherine
looked away as if she was in a daze. Julie thought of Trucker and
his pull on her. She could only imagine Catherine’s feelings to
those early memories. Catherine looked back at Julie, her eyes
somber and her expression blank. “I was a means to bear the perfect
child. Larry made me believe he loved me, that he cared, and then
he left me pregnant with Trucker.”

Julie gasped. Catherine cocked her head like
Trucker often did. Julie saw the uh-oh moment in Catherine’s eye
when it dawned on her Julie was scared that this was Trucker’s plan
for them. “No, sweetheart, Trucker is not that kind of man. His
feelings are true. I almost wish they weren’t.”

“Why?” Julie’s heart felt like it had
stopped. Even Catherine saw she wasn’t good enough.
That’s
right, I’m not good enough. How could I possibly believe I could
drag a demon into the light?