Seduced by Innocencey(20)

The scuffing of shoes on cement pulled me out of my wallowing. My pulse raced as I shifted to see who had made the sound. I wished and hoped for it to be Derek, but in my gut I knew it wasn't.

Turning away from the water, I saw two figures walking toward me through the heavy mist that coated Seattle.

I didn't get a closer look until they approached me. They looked to be in their early 20s and had the staggered walk of people who'd been drinking too much. So, there was a bar around here after all. If these two were indicative of the clientele it brought in, maybe it was best I hadn't found it.

The tall one on the right wore low hanging jeans and a baggy shirt that came down to the middle of his thighs. The bandana around his head made him look like a Hollywood reject for a gangster movie. The shorter, meatier guy to his left at least had his pants on properly, but that was about the only improvement to his looks.

Walking with his groin thrust forward, the tall one leered at me. "Look at this, Johnny. Looks like the little flower lost her way. You must be cold in that skimpy dress of yours. Maybe my friend and me can warm you up a bit."

Johnny licked his lips, and I would have laughed if I hadn't been so scared.

Not scared for me, of course.

Scared for them.

My dark gift had already been called up once tonight, and it sat on the edge of my consciousness, waiting for its chance to strike. These two jerks had no idea what they were about to get themselves into.

"I'm just waiting for my boyfriend. My shoe broke and he left to get me my other pair. He should be back in a minute or so." I poised myself as if I hadn't a care in the world. "You might know him? He teaches martial arts and is pretty famous for his fighting skills."

My insides shook as they neared me. They didn't look convinced, or the least bit deterred from their course of action, and I had no intention of allowing myself to be raped or killed.

"I might believe that, except 'aint no one out here but us. So I'm thinking you're lying to me. And no one lies to me. Not never. Ya hear?" His voice dropped two octaves, and Johnny pulled something from his jacket.

A knife.

On instinct, I jumped into the fountain, hoping they wouldn't want to get wet on such a cold night. The ice water sent pulses of pain through my feet and legs, and I worried that I might be doing permanent damage to myself. Could I get frostbite this fast?

I had no time to consider my own question as the men laughed and joined me in the fountain. "You think a bit of water will keep us away? We're gonna party tonight little girl. We have more friends who'd love a taste of such a fresh peach."

He slid his hand over my shoulder and pulled down the strap to my dress, revealing the black lace bra under it.

I smacked his hand away and yanked my strap back up. "Get the hell away from me, now! I will scream so loud you'll need a hearing aid for the rest of your life."

"Oh, this one has some fire in her, Johnny. You like fire, don't ya?"

Johnny nodded, but didn't speak, and as I looked into his eyes, I shivered. He looked cold inside, heartless and empty and vicious. I wouldn't be the first girl he used that knife on if he got close enough, and I wouldn't be the last.

Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad to use my powers on these two. I'd be saving other innocent victims from future pain and death.

Power filled my hands, and I wished I could do other kinds of magic, control other elements, but aside from a few enhancing spells, I was useless. This dark gift was my only strength, the only thing that could save me just then.

"This is your last chance to leave me alone. Don't come any closer or you'll regret it." Not true. There'd be nothing left of them to regret anything.

I imagined how I looked from their eyes. A scantily clad girl, dripping went and defenseless. Nothing I could say would convince them of the danger they were in.

Images of Derek's martial arts demonstrations flashed in my mind, and I wondered if I could throw them off balance with my skills, then run like hell.

When the spokesman for the group stepped closer, I kicked out like I'd been taught, but he caught my foot easily and pushed me back. I fell into the water, hitting my head on the fountain. Bright lights spun in my eyes as I tried to focus.

They leaned in to me, one spreading my legs while the other reached for my shoulders. I extended my hand, touching the one without the knife, channeling my power. It trickled at first, my fear at war with self-preservation. The wolf-boy's face flashed in my mind, and I pulled my hand free as adrenaline surged in me, panic overriding thought as those memories transported me to that moment, as I stared at his lifeless eyes. My heart hammered in my chest, pushing so hard I felt it in my ribs.

My head ached and nothing made sense. Time, faces, events, they jumped around, jumbling in my mind.