Page 24 of Firefly

He slid his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, listening. The house creaked, settling in for the night, and the sounds of the home’s occupants blended into a soft melody as they went about their night’s tasks.

He left his room, going down the hall to the back stairs, stepping lightly. The smell of sulfur grew stronger.

He was only two demons shy of his promise. He would capture the final two this night and tell Rebecca of his plan. While he was away, too far for Alexander to reach him, and with no time restraint holding him to the property, she could run. Take the money he’d saved and book passage with him across the ocean.

When they were far enough away, Alexander couldn’t force him back.

Alexander always thought of everything, but he hadn’t thought of placing a restriction on the amount of time Simon could go. As long as Simon stayed in Europe, he was out of Alexander’s reach.

Alexander would send Astaroth to retrieve him. He was counting on it because Alexander had never explicitly forbidden Simon from draining the demon dry. And although demons could return, it would take him some time.

Simon would spend the rest of Rebecca’s life draining him if that was what it meant to ensure she was safe. Finally, they would be free of him. He hadn’t imagined this future, but now that it was in his grasp, he would do anything to have it.

As he pushed the door open, light flooding the dim space, his dreams shattered.

Chapter 18

Simon

Time moved in slow motion as Simon sped through the room, sinking his teeth into the first demon and wrenching it across the room. He reached for the second as it misted into nothing and slid down Rebecca’s gaping mouth.

“Noooooo!” he screamed, reaching her as she dropped to the floor. He caught her, cradling her head in his arms. “Rebecca. Rebecca, open your eyes,” he begged. “Please!”

He rocked her as terror shot through him.

She was still, her soul fighting the demon—and losing. He’d seen it a dozen times. Sometimes, they took only minutes; other times, it was hours. But eventually, the demon won, forcing the human’s soul to depart the body.

He pressed his forehead to hers, a tear escaping his lashes to drip onto her smooth cheek. Her body convulsed, and he wrapped her in his arms, cocooning her in his embrace.

If he could only pull the demon from her before she lost the battle.

His canines lengthened and he bit into her neck, sucking deeply. Effervescent life-giving blood ran down his throat, and it was like nothing he had ever tasted. It was the most intoxicating thing he had consumed. He sucked harder, pulling her life force into him.

It was sweet, like crisp apples and chocolate, mixing to form the most exquisite drink. Something about that registered in his mind: humans tainted by demon essence had a bitter tang, something almost rancid in their blood.

Rebecca’s blood was pure. She wasn’t possessed. Not yet. And he was sucking out her life. He pulled back, wrenching his lips from her tender flesh. “Rebecca, I’m sorry. Please, fight.”

Alexander’s low chuckle rebounded from the circular walls of his laboratory as he stepped into the room. “You’ll kill her all on your own.”

Simon glared up at him. “You did this,” he demanded. “You set the demons free and sent her down here.”

Alexander folded his arms over his chest. “I released the demons, yes. But Rebecca came down here all on her own. She was going to leave you. She told me so herself.”

Simon shook his head. “She would never say such a thing. She loves me.”

Alexander tossed a note at his feet.

“I told her what you’ve been doing to keep her safe. My daughter deserves better than a monster like you.”

Simon reached for the note with one hand, even as he cradled Rebecca in the other. He tore it open, reading her words. He read them again. She was… condemning him? Blaming him? Calling him a soulless creature.

“What did you tell her?” He spat the words, panic gripping him. She would die, and her last thoughts of him were that he was a monster.

“I told her you’ve been bringing me humans. Not demons. And all of your own free will.”

Simon glared up at him, meeting his steely gaze.

“Did you think you could fool me? I’m thrice your age and have seen more of the world than you ever will. Did you think you could devise a plan I wouldn’t see through?”

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