Asmodeus(17)

It didn't matter. He was a demon. And she was human. A very plain-looking human. As hard as it was to admit to herself, it was obvious there were no men, demon or not, pounding down her door. Besides, she was too busy with her bookstore to become involved with anyone. As Kelly would put it, she was career-oriented. Men just didn't fit into the picture.

She glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the family room, which was letting out a godawful chiming. Three o'clock in the morning. Who was going to open up her bookstore in five hours?



She turned on her side and tried to close her eyes as the grandfather clock's chimes reverberated through the house. As soon as the clock quieted down, thunderous, rowdy laughter filled the house. She pulled a fluffy red pillow over her head.



What the hell did demons have to laugh about?



She switched back to her other side and locked eyes with Asmodeus, who was standing just inside the living room. Great.



"Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?"



As if he cared. "How about my freedom?"



He grinned. A sudden vision of him in her shower, water dripping down his torso, flashed though her mind. She shook the vision away. She was only thinking about that because he wasn't wearing a shirt. Someone had given him a pair of jeans, which Asmodeus obviously thought was enough clothing. Which was just as well. Now that his skin was no longer blistering, he was the epitome of perfection. She tried imagining him as an angel, pure and beautiful. Powerful. He held the secrets to the afterlife, and that alone was intriguing.



"Soon enough, Brianna," he promised.



To hear her name come from his lips, soft and melodic, chipped at the barrier she had set up between them. She was surprised he even recalled her name. She had figured he would just keep calling her witch. "I have to open up my shop at eight in the morning."



A look of confusion crossed his features before he masked it. "Is there anyone else you can call to replace you?"



Yeah, but she wasn't going to tell him that. "No."



He shrugged. "Then it stays closed."



She sat up, clutching the red pillow in her fists. That wasn't what she had wanted to hear. "What?"



"I have already told you. You will summon Michael."



He turned and left her in the family room. She wanted to throw something hard and breakable at his head. Instead of attempting suicide she lay back down. There wasn't much she could do to help the situation, and pulling some stupid stunt would ensure she had three demons hot on her ass.



Asmodeus hadn't harmed her, though common sense made her realize he could do so easily if she provoked him enough. Strange he hadn't been furious when she tried to escape.



Just as she settled back and closed her eyes, intending to give in to sleep, she heard a rapping sound coming from the other room.



Jeez. What the hell were they doing now?



She had to get some sleep, but the noise kept her from doing so. What were they up to? She didn't want to wake up as a virgin sacrifice or something.



Well, a sacrifice anyway.



The rapping slowly turned into a pounding. She sat up on the couch again, trying to figure out just where the noise was coming from. Her gaze wandered over to the front window. There, just on the other side of the glass, stood Kelly. She was cupping her hands over the glass, peeping in at her and knocking against the windowpane.

Brianna almost passed out. What was Kelly thinking to come here?



She jumped off the couch, arms flailing back and forth. Go back, she mouthed to Kelly, coming up to the window.



Kelly threw her arm up in a show of helplessness.



"Damn it, go home," she snapped. Brianna could feel Asmodeus's presence as he walked into the living area. The air behind her became energized.



"Invite her in."



It figured. Of course he had heard them. Kelly would have known these demons could sense her as well. Why would she risk them both getting caught?



Brianna shuffled to the front door, turned the locks and opened it. A wave of cool air hit her, ruffling her T-shirt. "What are you doing?"



Kelly came out from the bushes, picking leaves off her black sweater. "I was worried. It's obvious you need my help."



"How exactly are you going to help now?"



Brianna waited as Kelly stood speechless.



"Well?" Brianna prodded.



Kelly threw her hands in the air. "Hell, I don't know. I just couldn't ignore the situation and let you face the demon alone."



Try three. "How did you find me?"



Kelly gave her a "duh" look as she picked a leaf out of her short blonde hair. "A spell. I stopped at your house and grabbed your hairbrush. Then I did a simple locating spell, and poof, I knew where you were. I tried to summon you, but for some reason it didn't work." Kelly looked around and gave an appreciative nod. "High-end neighborhood. Classy."