Page 38 of Princess of Hell

Silver

River found a nice motel. Well, nice was pushing it a bit. At least it was clean.

Jacks had already recovered enough to stand on his own feet. “Silver, one of us will stay with you in the room. I can’t have you alone.”

“That’s nice of you, but I can manage to sleep on my own.”

Jacks coughed and leaned against the wall.

“Well, if you insist, can you stay with me? I prefer your company.”

Could I tell Jacks how worried I am about him? How I thought I’d die when I saw him bloody and naked on the floor? How was I ready to face Dad to get to Jacks and save him?

“River is getting some food,” I added before he could answer. “Text him what you’d like?”

As Jacks sent River his order, I entered my room and lay down on one of the beds.

“Are you okay?” I asked Jacks as he entered. “Do you need painkillers or anything?”

“Shifters recover fast, Silver.”

“Demons, too, so I understand you’re going to be okay.”

“I’m just so hungry. My body burns tons of calories normally, but more calories are needed when I get injured.”

“What did you order?”

“Everything. Pizza, Chinese food. River knows what I need food-wise. It’s not the first time.”

We lay there in silence, looking at the ceiling, each of us doing our best to ignore the other because we each wanted the opposite. I wanted to be as close as possible to Jacks, to put my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat. Silver, what’s wrong with you? I couldn’t fall for someone and, worse, I couldn’t allow him to feel for me, not more than maybe lust, but nothing deeper.

“What about this Preach guy?” asked Jacks. “What’s with him?”

I bit my lower lip. Preach didn’t care if he slept with Drae and River or if he slept alone. He was surprisingly well balanced for a mental guy.

“He probably saved your life.”

“I get it. I’ll pay for the next round of beers. Who is he? Is he a Demon? Do you know him?”

“I don’t know him. Some humans have deep cracks in their mind and souls, and those cracks allow them to be more perceptive.”

“Silver, I’m still not one hundred percent. Talk clearly, please.”

“Okay. You know there have been people who saw Angels or Demons and had visions. Those people can see through the veil. I can’t explain it better. They usually get labeled as Saints or as crazy, depending on the time they live in.”

“Oh, I get it. I need to know if you trust him.”

“I trust no one.”

I could hear Jacks breathing in deeply. “Not even me?”

“Jacks….”

“Silver, I.... What I said, I mean.”

Just as Jacks lost himself in his own words and I felt deeply uncomfortable, River entered the room. He had a stack of pizza boxes, Chinese food, Indian food, and lots of cans of pop.

“I called the guys to come over and eat with us. You mind?”

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