Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

house, he was ready to rip the man's arms off and beat him to death with them.
    It probably wasn't a bad way to feel. With what Bran had told him, retrieving the money was not going to be effortless. They were about to have a showdown. Therefore, the fact that he was pumped up and ready to face a legion of demons, was probably a blessing. He just hoped he didn't get carried away and seriously injure the human.
    Yes, he was human now too, but he had been a warrior and the harbinger of death for eons. It was instinct. Ingrained in him. Granted, he was weaker and slower than he had been. He was without his powers and could not use his wings as a shield or weapon, but that was not going to aid someone who did not know the first thing about battle.
    He had to keep his head.
    They walked together to the front door and he watched as Brandon knocked, trying to control the buzz reverberating through him; trying to cool the blood that was pounding in his ears.
    After the third series of knocks, the door flew inward and a loud "What?" was shouted at them. When the man stepped into the frame, both he and Samael just gawked at each other for a moment, open-mouthed.
    Sam moved first, pushing Bran behind him and wedging his foot in the path of the door, while smacking it with his hand, to prevent it from closing. There was a struggle over it for a minute; until finally Samael unsheathed the Demon Dagger from the holster Brandon had purchased for him, and laid it against the demon's neck.
    He could hear Brandon yelling in the background, but ignored him.
    "Asmodeus? Fancy meeting you here." Sam narrowed his eyes on the demon of lust. "I wouldn't move too quickly if I were you."
    "What the fuck are you doing here, Samael?" The demon's mouth was pressed into a thin line and he kept glancing at the hilt of the weapon.
    "Funny, I was just wondering the same thing about you."
    Brandon had quieted and was looking back and forth between them, trying to understand. "Chris? You two know each other? Wait, Sam, what did you call him?"
    "He called me Asmodeus, my tasty little morsel— for that is my name." The demon grinned at Bran before focusing again on the danger.
    "Little Raven, this is Asmodeus, the demon of lust. A… you know Brandon. Now that the introductions have been made, I want answers. You are going to provide them for me." The buzz humming through Sam was getting stronger and he took strength from it, used it to focus.
    Asmodeus leered at him. "You look good Sam. Why don't you come in, and we'll have a little… hmmm… chat ." He waggled his eyebrows and licked his lips, and Samael felt sick.
    "I don't think so. I am perfectly fine right here. What's going on A?"
    "You know I can't tell y–" he started, only to cut off with a hiss as Samael pushed the blade tighter against his throat.
    "Not what I want to hear. What is wanted with Brandon? Why the entire pretense about money? Tell me!"
    "His father. His father wants him, so he set up a situation where Brandon would have no choice." Asmodeus was sweating, filling Sam's nostrils with the stink of his fear. He never was one for fighting. Mental manipulation and sex were his strengths.
    "Who? Give me a name."
    "I can't. You know I can't. I've already told you too much." Samael drew the dagger in closer, barely breaking skin, but A just closed his eyes and prepared for the deathblow. Only two things stopped him from delivering it: he didn't want to have to explain why he killed a demon when he had been denounced— it wasn't his business anymore– and Brandon was standing behind him. He didn't want his Little Raven to see that.
    "I'm only going to say this once, so listen very closely, Asmodeus. You will call this drug dealer and see to this problem. You will ensure his harassment of Brandon ceases immediately. Then you shall spread the word that Bran is off-limits. Inform whom you must. If I catch you, his father, or any other demons around him, I shall destroy you all. Do you understand? You know I am able, Asmodeus— and I will . This is no idle threat. You have seen me in action. I am permitting you one free pass. If there is the occasion that I see you again, it will be the last time, because you will be subsisting in the Seventh level of Hell for the whole of eternity. Understood?" By the time the last words had left Sam's lips, his voice was a low growl and he was emitting serious pressure on the blade in his hand, practically leaning on A to do it. One movement and the