Crave(15)

Beth: I’m scared.

Jared: You should be. If you weren’t, I’d be scared for you.

Beth: So, what do we do?

Jared: I have been doing some heavy research, looking into other cases where people claimed to be trying to get out of deals with the Devil.

Beth: And?

Jared: And I need you to get to a phone. We need to talk. I don’t trust you being in that place, and me telling you this information.

Beth: I’m afraid to leave. I keep hearing things outside. If I go out there, they will do something. I can’t. Not right now.

Jared: +39 347 5555555

Beth: What’s this?

Jared: My cell. I need you to get up before dawn, that time of day is when Heaven and Hell are said to touch. It is like a ‘safe’ if you will for all creatures in the planet to roam. You will leave at that time, look it up on your phone when dawn is and head out. It would help if you had something like blue lace agate, celestite would be better.

Beth: I have both!

Jared: Good girl, take the celestite in your pocket and he won’t be able to track you for a bit, it will fuzz him out. That is a stone of angelic protection. Basically it is said an archangel will be hovering blocking you from anything evil.

Beth: Does it count if you’re promised in wedded bliss to the king of all pain and suffering?

Jared: We are going to find out. Just get out, call me, and I will give you details. I’ll get you out, I promise.

Beth: Thank you.

Jared: Don’t thank me yet, we have to pull this shit off and I’m scared as fuck he’s gonna figure it out and hurt you.

Beth: I’ll be careful. I just... I just want freedom.

Jared: I know, Bethy.

Beth: Night.

Jared: Night.

Elizabeth was too nervous to think. How she was going to sleep? She decided it would be better if she stayed up instead of risking closing her eyes again. She pulled a chair up to the window, tucking her legs under her body. As she leaned forward and rested her head against the pane, she thought about everything. Up until this night, she’d had no hope, but she knew with Jared beside her, they would find a way—he would find a way. Together they would end this bullshit, and she could get on with her life that was currently stalled by some crazy asshole. Elizabeth took a deep breath and settled in for the night, awaiting dawn.

*****

Elizabeth had eased out of the convent without issue. She felt no eyes on her for once, no one getting in her path and questioning her about her movements. Relief flooded her once she got into the main part of town. She only knew of one place that would be open this early, the grocer at the end of the row. He opened up at dawn every day for the people working the vineyards just outside of town. She’d made friends with the man when she first got there and she was sure he would allow her to use his phone. She felt the weight of the celestite stone in the pocket of her hoodie. Shoving her hands in, Elizabeth locked it in her fist and moved faster. The sun was slowly crawling its way over horizon and she wanted this call done with before anyone knew she was missing. Her twenty-four hours was nearly up. Somehow she got the feeling if he got too impatient, he would just snatch her anyways.

Finally making it to the end of the road, she saw the dull glow of the grocer. Elizabeth nearly ran the rest of the way. She was slightly panting when she entered. The old, weathered face of Mr. Crose greeted her and she felt instant ease.

“Morning, my little bird. What brings you here huffing and puffing this early in the morning?” His heavily accented voice was hard to understand. She smiled and moved toward him quickly, worried at any moment the beast would show up and suck her into his realm of hell.

“I need to use your phone, if that is okay, Mr. Crose,” she asked with trepidation.

“Si, Si, come.” He walked her over to the public phone and, after patting her on the back, shuffled back to the front counter.

Fumbling with the notebook in her hand, Elizabeth quickly turned to the page with the number on it and dialed. The tell-tale double ring of Italian phone lines filled her ears and she waited, her heart pounding. On the third ring, Elizabeth started to panic, unwanted tears filling her eyes as her throat got tight and pained.

A click.

“Fuck, thank God! I thought you forgot, or something happened.”

His deep, husky voice washed over her and she nearly collapsed to her knees in thanks.

“Bethy? Beth, it’s you, right?” His panicked whispered tones did warming things to her body. He sounded handsome, and a little bit dangerous.

She shook off those silly thoughts and answered.

“Yes, yes, it’s me.” Her voice a little hoarse from the running, she took in a deep breath to calm her thumping heart.

“Fuck, if it ain’t good to finally hear your voice, Bethy. I thought you would just disappear one day without ever knowing—” He paused. “You know what, nevermind. We need to get you the fuck out of that fucking hole. Look, I made a mistake, a huge mistake. Or Asmodeus is just that fucking clever with the shit he drops around the web. Who would have fucking known the devil knew how to make fake webpages?” He scoffed.