Immortals After Dark 10 - Demon From the Dark

smile. "Double, double toil and trouble," she murmured. "Where do you want it this time?"
    His tone stern, he said something in Demonish that sounded like an order. Carrow didn't like orders, was accustomed to giving them.
    So she fired on him, propelling him across the clearing. He staggered to his feet, looking disappointed with her.
    "You think I should respond differently?" She fired again. "Though I warned you to keep your fangs to yourself?"
    When he growled at her, frustration stamping his rough features, she cried, "Then treat me differently, goon! I'm as simple as that."
    On her third strike, he tensed his body, bowing up to take the hit directly in the chest, almost proudly. Then he narrowed his gaze on her neck and smirked, as if to say, It was worth it, honey.
    Her eyes went wide. "Oh, you are so dead," she vowed. "You don't even know how dead you are!" Using the last of her strongest magic, she launched another shot and heard something snap that time. Maybe his ribs? A collarbone?
    Yet he was still standing! She'd tapped herself out--no more spells, no more cloaking or firing--and for what?
    Gnashing his teeth, he held out his hand to her. As if with great difficulty, he sounded out, "Home."
    Though shocked that he knew even one word of English, she said, "Go home with you? Not likely." But her curiosity got the better of her. "Oh, so now you know English?"
    He frowned.
    "Heh. Or not."
    Still he tried to communicate with her. He waved a hand at the surrounding area, then ran his finger over his neck.
    "You're telling me there's danger around here? Duh! How about danger with you? You bit me twice, broke my wrist, and bruised my sternum--all in twenty-four hours!" At the memory of each incident, her temper rekindled. "Why would I ever voluntarily go anywhere with you?"
    With obvious irritation, he made a dampening motion with two flattened hands--to tell her to shut up?
    In a tone as dangerous as she was feeling, she bit out, "Did you just shush me?"
    He put his finger over his lips, then motioned around them again.
    "You did ! You freaking shushed me? Word to the wise, demon ..." She trailed off when something rustled the brush nearby. Pointing in that direction, she asked, "What the hell is that?"
    He glowered at her, as if he'd already explained this.
    "Yet another thing that can kill me? Besides Cloverfield monsters and demon rapists--present company not excluded." Yet as she spoke, she recalled how he'd saved her from the monster Xs and Asmodel's gang.
    With difficulty, she acknowledged that she wouldn't have lasted the day without him--and likely wouldn't survive a second night with no magic for a cloaking spell.
    She remembered him warning her to run before his first attack. He'd wanted to spare her.
    Unless, of course, he merely liked the chase.
    Maybe he lost control solely in the heat of battle? Perhaps it wasn't Carrow who'd triggered him last night and today, but the clash with those demons and then the monster X attacks.
    More scrabbling sounded, this time accompanied by a new sucking sound--from above. Of all the creatures she'd heard, the calls and cries at night, she'd never heard anything from the sky.
    "Alton, ara." He held out his hand for her.
    What would Ripley do? She'd face the known rather than the unknown and accept help from unlikely allies. An extra gun was an extra gun, no matter who was pointing it.
    Still Carrow was hesitant, absently reaching up to feel the demon's bite. Then she asked herself, What's more dangerous than Malkom Slaine biting and claiming me?
    Answer: Everything--else--out--here.
    Case closed.
    She had two goals. To stay alive and to free Ruby. Carrow needed him for both. But she knew a male like him would expect sex from the female under his guard.
    She would have to manage him, appeasing him short of sex. She ignored what might have been a flutter of excitement at the idea.
    "Home," he repeated.
    I'll try to establish some ground rules. "No biting." She pointed at her neck, then at his fangs while vigorously shaking her head. "Biting ... nooo."
    He gave her a look of disbelief, clearly taking her meaning--and not liking it. A spate of stern Demonish followed. Was he justifying it? To argue his point? She knew he'd enjoyed drinking her, but was it this important for him not to give up?
    She made a peace/viper fangs hand sign, tapping her neck while shaking her head. "No biting, demon."
    He flung his hands out in a What gives? gesture.
    With her palms on her