Authors: Melissa Jolley
***
Two hours later, they sat sipping coffees, their stomachs full after a scrumptious three-course meal.
“Damn, I didn’t know pub food could be so good.” Melody licked at the cream moustache left by her liqueur coffee.
“Would you like me to get that for you?” Alec eyed her lips, and a shiver rolled over his body.
She licked the cream from her top lip, slower than Alec would have thought humanly possible. “Don’t worry, I’m sure I spied some cream in the fridge at home.” She looked like the cat that already had the cream.
“I like that.”
“What?” Confusion wrinkled the bridge of her nose briefly.
“You, calling the townhouse home.” Honestly, he more than
liked
it. It embraced him with a warmth that he didn’t think could ever be extinguished.
Melody’s cheeks glowed with her blush, but she said nothing.
He stood, taking his phone from his pocket. “I’m going to call a cab for us.”
“But we are only a ten-minute walk, if that.”
“I know, but I’d prefer to get you home quicker than that.” He gave her a cheeky wink, and she rolled her eyes.
Alec held Melody’s hand as she alighted from the cab. The outside bulb illuminated their approach to the door. As they walked in, he closed the door behind them, and she felt him become suddenly very still at her side. They had left the cloakroom door open, but there was no light in the hallway.
Mimicking his body’s reaction, she breathed quietly. “What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s here.” A cool emotionless voice answered her, and she watched as he stared down the hallway. She turned back toward the door, grabbing for the handle, but he stilled her movement by holding her back.
“No. It won’t do any good. At least here, there is no chance of innocent bystanders getting hurt. Stay behind me and stay close.” His gaze remained vigilant.
“Okay.” She gulped, her voice strained but quiet.
At this, he turned to look at her. He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll protect you. I love you, Melody Fremont.”
“I love you too, Alec Connolly.” When she took his hand in hers she hadn’t thought of his power. A spark lit between their fingers, but she barely even registered the electrical current.
Concern creased Alec’s brow. “Didn’t you feel that?”
“That tiny spark? I think we’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
“Melody, my hands are preparing for battle, you should be in a crumpled heap on the floor right now.” He still whispered but Melody could easily hear the disbelief.
“Oh. I s’pose you will be needing that.” She released his hand and took a step back behind him.
“It’s in the drawing room. Remember, stay behind me. Whatever powers this demon has, they have more chance of going through a brick wall than they do of me.”
She nodded once. She had decided she would do whatever he asked, without question. A glow exuded from Alec’s half-closed palms, and she knew the little plasma balls rotated there ready to launch.
There was a shard of moonlight reaching through the door. Alec pushed the door gently with his toe; it swung open, without a sound. A furtive glance around her protector was all she could manage as they entered the room cautiously. She could see a man sitting on the sofa facing the door—he looked very relaxed as he took a sip of amber liquid.
“What are you doing in my house?”
The question was rather redundant, but she wasn’t about to argue. She was all for the shoot first, ask questions later gambit.
“Alastair, now is that any way to greet an
old
acquaintance.” Melody racked her brain; the voice was familiar, but she could be mistaken.
“You.” Alec snarled the word.
“Now, now, don’t be so defensive; it’s me that should be angry. After all I’m here to give you the choice you never gave me.” The voice sneered through his speech, and awareness dawned. She poked the top of her head out from behind Alec enough to be able to see the stranger.
“Alec, he’s the one who grabbed Rosie.” Her voice was a whisper as she stared between the two men.
Alec’s muscles tightened even more under Melody’s touch, but his face remained directed at the man lounging on his sofa. “I am very sorry to introduce you to William Walsh, the man I killed over a hundred years ago.”
Her eyes widened further than she would have thought possible as she stepped halfway out of Alec’s protection. William clicked his fingers, and the room blazed with light. Raising a hand to shade her eyes, she blinked fiercely as they adjusted. When she’d regained her sight properly, she realized neither man had moved. The intruder wore a three-piece suit, the cut and material immaculate; his cufflinks bore onyx stones, which resembled his cruel eyes. His lips were thin, the only tell that his outward calm was just a facade.
“What do you want?”
“What do I want?” He stood abruptly, a lion roaring for the attention of his pride. “I want the life you took from me. I want what’s mine!” The storm subsided as quickly as it had appeared. William straightened his jacket and tie, then resumed his seat, the mask of calm returned.
She had flinched at the outburst, gripping Alec’s shirt and huddling into his back, allowing him to protect her from the demon’s tirade. Yet she was still unable to tear her eyes from
the
William Walsh. Alec’s only movement had been a reassuring pat on Melody’s thigh—a gesture not missed by their foe.
William eyed the hand that had soothed Melody as Alec turned the palm to face his enemy again.
“Hmm, it would seem the high and mighty Alastair Connolly has fallen again.” A mirthless smile creased his mouth. “You see, Alastair, when I got to hell, I did some research. Obviously,
normal
men don’t shoot lightning from their hands. So for the past one hundred-plus years I’ve gathered information: about you, Connolly.”
“I’ve killed you once, Walsh, don’t make me do it again.”
“You really think I’d come here without knowing some tricks of my own. You won’t get the drop on me again.” Walsh’s superior sneer widened as he unclenched his own fists to reveal two red, sparking balls.
Melody held her breath as nausea hit her. She’d relied on Alec’s special talent to turn any demon to dust without thinking that the demons they came up against could have similar abilities. She remembered to breathe again.
Alec responded without a trace of worry in his voice or demeanor. “You have been a busy demon, haven’t you? So what’s this deal you’re pretending to offer me?”
“Oh, no pretense I assure you. Despite your lack of generosity toward me all those years ago, I’m willing to overlook it. All you have to do is”—he paused as his gaze found Melody’s eyes—”hand over the girl.”
Alec nodded, and for a heartbreaking split second, Melody thought it was in agreement. Then an angry grimace, more volatile than the demon’s, crossed his face. “It’s never going to happen!”
Walsh straightened his tie and smoothed his lapels, seemingly oblivious to the malice issuing from Alec. “Well if that’s the case, I’ll kill you and then the girl...as slowly and as painfully as possible.”
A ball of red light shot from Walsh’s hand. Alec, obviously anticipating the strike, moved his right arm around Melody, encircling her waist as he dived to the left, taking her with him. “Stay down.” He spoke calmly to Melody, his voice betraying no fear. Above them, books from the shelves that took up most of the wall smoldered from the blast, and ashen bits of paper floated toward Melody’s feet.
Alec stood within the blink of her eyes, releasing his own blue-hued projectile. Rather than a ball, however, it was a lightning strike, lashing at its opponent like a bullwhip.
Then, to Melody’s horror, Walsh gripped the tip of the lightning bolt and laughed. Alec had continued to move to the left. She guessed it was an attempt to draw Walsh’s attack from her, but now she could see the bewilderment on Alec’s face. This was obviously a revelation to him as well.
“How?” he growled, his teeth bared, still trying to hold the bolt issuing from his hand.
Walsh inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring grotesquely, and as he released the breath his sneer widened, revealing slightly yellowed, straight teeth. He’d been waiting for his revenge a very long time, and was clearly relishing his moment of triumph over Alec. “I told you, I’ve been learning about you, and you have plenty of demons that want you dead, Connolly. Some of which were willing to give me their own powers, and when I say willing, what I actually mean is they were
dying
to help out. So many powers in one demon, well, let’s just say, your little lightning bolt is barely a tickle in my palm.”
Melody watched in horror as Alec placed his right palm over his left, only the heels of his hands touching, in an effort to boost the flow of electricity to his enemy. Walsh did likewise, absorbing the power, which only seemed to be strengthening him.
“Stop!” The scream echoed throughout the room before Melody comprehended it had issued from her lips. She stood defiantly.
Both men, stunned by the interruption, stared at her, unwilling to give their opponent the advantage. The bolt stayed locked between the two like a tightrope awaiting its acrobat.
Walsh looked amused by her. Alec looked concerned. He was staring into her eyes, and she knew he didn’t like what he saw there: determination.
“Walsh, take me away from here, but leave Alec alone, in peace.”
“Melody!” Alec growled.
“You amuse me; see, you offer no incentive, Melody. First, I’ll kill Connolly here, and then I’ll torture you until you beg me for death. Or if things really go my way, I’ll keep Connolly alive long enough to watch you suffer.” The charming ease of his tone was at odds with the menace of his words.
“Fine, but at least let me say goodbye.” Her voice was strong and clear, bordering on defiance. She didn’t understand why she wasn’t trembling or sobbing; she felt calm, stupidly wondering if this was how Marie Antoinette felt as she stepped up to the guillotine.
“Suit yourself.” Walsh sounded bored by the whole thing, though both hands remained locked at the end of the bolt.
Melody, looking between the two men, walked toward Alec. He refused to suspend his assault, so she slipped into the circle of his arms. Unwilling to turn her back fully on Walsh, she stood, exposing her left side to him instead. She felt no fear, only immense sadness at having had such a short time with Alec. A single tear trailed down her cheek.
“I love you. I’m sorry to have caused you so much pain, and now this.”
“Don’t ever be sorry for this. You have made me happier in these two short days than I have been in sixty years. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more to protect you.”
She reached up, placing her index finger to his lips to hush him as a tiny spark ignited between the two. In the same moment Alec’s hands recoiled around her like he had fired a gun. She turned her gaze in time to see a purple pulse issuing from his palms, and flying toward Walsh down the bolt. When it reached him, the demon broke the connection, jumping back in obvious pain.
She and Alec looked at each other and he smiled. “Kiss me like our lives depend on it, because I think they do.”
Without missing a beat, Melody reached as high as she could, wrapping her arms around Alec’s neck. He ducked slightly to meet her, and their lips joined to a symphony of sparks and crackling electricity.
This time there was no denying the energy surges between them. Every minute hair on her body pulled at the skin surrounding it. Even the static current in her head made her hair behave like Medusa’s snakes, reaching toward Alec. Their tongues wove together in a dance of possession and liberation. Another recoil, another blast, a heavy thud behind her.
Alec pulled away, and she opened her eyes to see him staring over her head. She turned, staying within the protective circle of Alec’s arms.
The immaculate Walsh lay in a crumpled heap at the foot of the opposite wall. Scorch marks on his suit issued fine wisps of smoke.
She began to make her way forward slightly, but Alec’s arms were reluctant to let her out of their shelter. Lifting her chin, she found his gaze as her hands touched his wrists. His resistance yielded at her caress. Caution had him in its grip and he held her hand firmly as he moved ahead of her.
As they moved closer, Walsh opened his eyes, a disdainful look marring his handsome features. “Going to finish what you started?”
“You know what; I paid penance for too many lifetimes over what I did to you. So now I’m giving you the choice. Leave and never come back, or stay and die.”
“You think you’ve got it in you again?” he scoffed.
Melody spoke first. “I think he made the right decision with you the first time around.”
In an instant her lover moved, shielding her body as a red orb shot from Walsh’s hand. Alec sent his own bolt coursing toward William, right where his heart should be. The blue projectile hit its mark and immediately the lightning branched off in a million different directions, disintegrating everything in its path. William Walsh was dust in a heartbeat.
As the demon turned to ash, the angel continued to fall.