“I have to?”
I really did not want to do this.
“Do you want to live out the next week?”
I thought about my family and my friends and Hayden's green eyes and soft lips and the ridiculous fact that I still hadn't experienced third base. “Yes, I do.”
“Then drink,” he hissed.
I slowly bent down and pressed my tightly closed lips to my grandpa’s throat. I shut my eyes and hoped that if I couldn’t see what I was doing I could pretend I wasn’t doing it. I’d tasted blood before—my own. The many times I bit down on my lip trying not to laugh at something that wasn’t supposed to be funny and drew blood. Blood tasted like metal, kind of like vitamins. I would pretend I was drinking liquified metal vitamins. It would make me stronger, smarter, possibly make my boobs better than Blanche’s. Not to mention it would give me the ability to destroy cities with the blink of an eye. Crap. I jerked back and my eyes shot open. They locked on my grandpa’s.
“There’s more at stake than just your life,” he told me with a gentle urgency. “The future of Hell will soon rest in your hands. You have to do this.”
“I might throw up,” I told him.
“For the Love of Hatred, please don’t. I have a very active gag reflex, and if you go I’ll go too.”
I started laughing. I’d had many bizarre conversations during my short life in Hell, but this one took the cake. “Okay Grandpa, I’ll do my best not to hurl.” I took a tentative lick. It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.#p#分页标题#e#
“Latch on and drink.” Grandpa grasped the back of my head and forced my lips to the gaping wound on his neck.
I drank.
The second his blood entered my system something strange happened. Bolts of heat ricocheted through my body, down to my toes and out through my fingertips. It was violent. I tried to pull away, but Grandpa held me fast. As much as I wanted to stop drinking, something compelled me to continue. I was losing control, of myself, my mind, my body, my soul.
I convulsed and shook as if I were having a seizure. It quickly subsided into a gentle hot wave churning inside me. It didn’t hurt. It was surreal, floaty and powerful.
I knew now that I possessed a power I had no business owning. I wasn’t old enough or mature enough to wield Black Magic. Only the strongest beings in the Universe were blessed with Black Magic, and now I was in that club.
“Um, Grandpa, I’m guessing I shouldn’t share the arrival of my new super powers with anyone?” I gave him a small smile as I floated down from my bizarre blood high.
“That would be correct, although some will know.” He grinned as he ran his fingertips over the gash on his neck. It magically closed.
“Could I have done that?” I asked, referring to his healing.
“Yes, you can now,” he replied as he retrieved a small silver book from thin air. “In this tome are some of the things you need to know. Don’t read it all at once or you'll die.”
Laughter burbled from my lips. I waited for him to join me. I waited some more. He didn’t join. My laughter died in my throat.
“For real?”
“Yes.” His cute little dimples appeared and I couldn’t help myself. I squeezed him, but not too tight.
“What’s in the book?” I ran my hands over the cover and I could swear it had a heartbeat. I jerked my hands back. “Grandpa, it’s breathing,” I shouted.
“Oh, how wonderful.” His eyes were shining with glee. Of course he would think that was awesome. What in the Hell was wrong with my family?
“Wonderful,” I agreed sarcastically as I moved away from the freaky silver book with a pulse. “What’s inside that book?”
“Spells, how to cope with your gift, how to cure magical hangovers, how to destroy the world.”
“Great. That’s just frickin’ great,” I muttered as I attacked my now raw cuticles.
“Isn’t it?” Grandpa giggled and hugged me tight. “I love you, little Demon Princess. I really do.” He slowly let go and then disappeared in a breathtaking mist of black glitter. I looked down at my suitcase loaded with sharp, glistening weapons and I shook my head. I tucked the book into a corner, carefully zipped it shut and prayed I wouldn’t have to break in any of my shiny new toys any time soon. I walked to my closet, yanked out another suitcase and continued to pack.
Ahhhhh, just another effed up day in Hell.
Chapter 14
“I'm going to go to Earth to kick some ass in a timely manner and then come home. However, I'd like to go on record and say that I'll probably do something horrifically embarrassing to Hell and get my Demon card revoked." I paced my bungalow as a wave of apprehension crashed through me.