Chapter 19: Eating Out

The concrete room was quiet, save for the steady drip of some far-off leak. Lily basked in the silence, staring at the ceiling and imagining there were cracks to count. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, her nerves stretched to the limit. Whatever prayer or hymn Deacon had used on her had actually caused her to burst into flame at one point. It wasn’t the fires of hell that had tormented her, but the flames of salvation.

Which was a giant load of bullshit. Deacon shouldn’t have been able to tap into holy magic, but there was no denying the experience. The man had stopped only long enough to make the occasional demand for information, and that was only on the rare occasion that Legion left the room. The demon had appeared not to be affected; however, Lily suspected that was a pretense.

“You look terrible.” Spirit Mike stood over her now, contemplating the burnt flesh. “I mean, even terrible, you look great. But you’ve certainly looked better.”

“Here to be my cheerleader?” she muttered. “If so, you should have dressed appropriately.”

“Oh. Sorry.” Mike stepped out of view for a moment, then returned in a cheerleader’s outfit. He turned around and did a little squat, revealing that the bloomers didn’t quite cover his rear. “Better?”

Lily snorted, then groaned. “You always know how to make a girl laugh.”

“Humor is the most powerful weapon in my arsenal.” He turned around and lifted his skirt to reveal that his cock stuck out of the top. “And there’s this, too.”

She laughed again, the sound more like a cackle. The pain was starting to fade, but the memory of it was still too fresh. If she laughed any harder, she could slip into madness.

“You’re not healing,” Mike observed with concern.

“No shit.” She licked her dry lips and squinted at him. “I’m just as surprised as you are.”

He examined her wounds and shook his head. “They’re definitely trying to break you.”

“That’s what I have you for.” She lifted her head enough to look at herself. Her entire body, clothing included, was made of demonic magic. With just a whim, she could be anybody, look like anyone, with the only caveat being her own cloven feet. Steam lifted from her body where Deacon’s hymn had scoured away layers of her essence, occasionally punching holes in her. These wounds should have been nothing, and in any other circumstance, she could heal with just a thought.

But not now. It was like her mind and body were disconnected, and she no longer had the control she once did. She was weakened in every way possible, but Deacon knew better than to dismiss her. The bastard had been handed a proper way to torture a demon, and he was quite good at it.

“Don’t suppose you could help a girl up?”

Mike shook his head. “Can’t. Pulled my hamstring last week, not allowed to lift any other girls on the squad.”

“You ass.” She laughed again, then went still when the door behind her opened. Looking up, she was able to make out a pair of figures. One was Deacon, the other was one of Legion’s meat suits.

Deacon had slight bags under his eyes and held a cup of coffee. Legion was wearing a man who looked like a stereotypical trucker complete with puffy hat, beard, and a vest.

“Now, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Deacon yawned. “You’ve been awfully chatty on the monitor. Who were you talking to?”

“You’ve got your man in the sky, I’ve got mine.” Lily winked at Mike. “Though mine actually listens and gives a shit. May even love me, who knows?”

“I’d ask if you ever tire of your own voice, but I already know the answer.” Deacon moved to stand at the edge of the circle. “I must say, I was impressed by your restraint last night. You answered so many of my questions with absolute nonsense that sounded like it was grounded in truth. My team spent the better part of the evening going down rabbit holes with nothing to show for it, other than knowledge of a perverse sex act called a blumpkin. Your lack of candor isn’t good for you or me.”

“Aw, did I upset you?” Lily stuck out her bottom lip. “How ever will I live with myself?”

Deacon sighed. “No matter. The sun is almost up, which means Timotei will be back soon. I fully expect your tune to change once I start dismantling your friend in front of you.”

Lily frowned. “That’s an odd choice of words.”

“Is it, though?” Deacon looked at Legion, who chuckled in response.

Legion walked around the perimeter of the sigil as he spoke. “You see, we’ve found that once you start carving pieces off of someone, they are pretty happy to talk. Now we can’t quite do this with you, but your associate? I won’t even ask her anything. We will bring her here and you can watch me take an arm, or maybe a leg. Timotei can do it without killing someone, and the look of shock in their eyes when they see the damage? Exquisite. Pain, disbelief, shock, all rolled into one.” He did a little chef’s kiss with his fingers.

Deacon made a face. “And then we wait. She’ll tell us everything we want to know, and more. But what she won’t know is that we’ll do it again. Not that I quite have the stomach for it, but that’s what’ll happen. I’ll leave Legion and Timotei in charge, of course. While I may be a monster in your eyes, I am still only human.”

Lily growled, her whole body tensing up. Other than moving her head, she was unable to move.

“Now, now, save your energy. Unless you’ve decided to tell me something I can use, that is. If so, maybe we can leave her with enough limbs to—” There was a distant bang, followed by the sound of the door opening. Lily turned her head to see Timotei storm into the room, his shoulders hunched. He was alone.

Deacon stared at the vampyr, lines of concern on his face. “Please tell me you caught her.”

“They got away.” Timotei sneered in Lily’s direction, then stepped over the sigil. “They were working together and the Order got involved. I almost had them, but wouldn’t have time to bring them back.”

Lily laughed. “Aw, was it past your bedtime? Don’t forget to brush your teeth, wouldn’t want your breath smelling like—”

The vampyr picked her up and slammed her back into the concrete. He did this over and over, but Lily could only flop uselessly. It hurt way less than the hymn had. Timotei was an asshole, but he was definitely a one-trick pony.

“What is she?” Timotei demanded, his fangs in her face. “When I tried to devour her essence, it was like I had been poisoned!”

“Maybe she’s just too much woman—” Lily didn’t get another word out as the vampyr hit her.

“Enough.” Deacon raised a hand, and Timotei dropped her. “You need to stop letting our guest antagonize you.”

“Yeah, where’s your sense of hospitality?” Lily grinned.

“We need to move.” Legion looked at Deacon. “While I don’t think he’ll come down on us too harshly, I do believe a change in venue is in order. But if he decides that you’ve disappointed him, then none of us are safe.”

Deacon frowned, then looked toward the door. “But I’ve got another show tonight.”

Legion’s facial features twisted as the demon within pressed his way forward to the surface. Harsh lines appeared on the trucker’s face. “Holding the wolf was a personal request from him. He may decide to take you apart, instead, to see what makes you tick. I can’t protect you from him while I’m spread so thin amongst the flock.”

“Ah. Well...” Deacon sighed. “I suppose we’ll have to have mass early. Send out the special invites, we’ll have our service this evening. I don’t suppose you still have eyes on her?”

“I’m moving in already, but...” Legion looked at Timotei. “If he had problems, then I’m not assured of my own success. I only sent a few vessels, I didn’t expect our new friend to be so ... resourceful. We’ve got more of the bitch’s blood and can renew the spell later. It would be in our best interest if I collectively pulled myself together for tonight.”

“Damn.” Deacon looked down at Lily. “Looks like you’re going to be a consolation prize. Maybe the Curator will be satisfied with you instead. Legion, have her prepped for transfer right away. Timotei, I expect our time is short. Once we’re ready to move, pack yourself away.”

The vampyr bowed in Deacon’s direction, then melted into the shadows. Shortly after he left, the door opened up and a group of men came in carrying small panels with lines carved into them. They moved into the circle with Lily, holding the panels upright as they closed in on her. The lines flared to life as they drew close, and Lily realized that the panels had a modified version of the script on the ground that was holding her in place.

Her helplessness reminded her of being trapped in Amir’s ruby, of being bound only by his direct commands. Terrible memories surfaced, and her anger flared as the walls were latched together, the runes completed. They glowed with a sickly light that lifted her into the middle of the pattern. She could hear chatter outside the box, but couldn’t see what was happening.

“You can’t do this,” she whispered, the magic lifting her to float in the very center of the box and pinning her in place. She had never seen magic like this before.

“My dear succubus.” Deacon appeared up above, clearly standing on a ladder. “I already have.”

With that, he slid the top panel into place, trapping her inside the box.

Tasia dreamt of the forest. Things were simpler in the woods. The smells all blended together like paint on a canvas, forming a tapestry of information that she could reference with a single sniff. There were no roads, no exhaust fumes. The sounds of the forest were like music, punctuated only by the passage of a predator or the sounds of prey dying.

She remembered her training fondly, weeks out in the European wilderness, hunting game with her pack. Their sole instruction had been to become in tune with the wolf within, to allow the power they had been given to bloom and run free.

They hunted, they fought, they mated. The trappings of the human world had faded into distant memory, the past now a phantom. It was here that most of them passed the first test, embracing their new strength and flourishing. It had only been when they were forced to reclaim their humanity that most of them had failed.

Between dreams of hunting deer and hunting her own, Tasia floated in darkness, listening to the steady hum of the road beneath their car and the distant, muffled buzzing of the engine. Sensing no danger in these moments, she had slipped blissfully back into sleep.

Car rides put her to sleep because they helped shut out the world of man, and she embraced those dreams fully. Sadly, all she would ever have of the pack now were her memories. She thought that the Order would become her pack, but that had fallen apart shortly after it began. There would always be doubt, even if she somehow cleared her name. In her quest for power, she had only served to isolate herself even further from the only people she ever knew.

With this epiphany, she woke up and sat in silence for several moments, letting her mind drift. The events of last night came back to her in a rush. She took a deep breath and let it out, knowing that today wasn’t going to be any easier.

When she finally cracked her eyes, it was to the dawning rays of light that crept into the cabin of the Kia. She yawned, her jaw cracking, then sat up in her seat. They were parked along a dirt road, out of sight from the highway and surrounded by trees. The interior cabin smelled of sweat, blood, and something musky that teased at her senses. Realizing that she was alone in the car, she sat up in alarm and looked around.

Dana was leaning against the back of the vehicle, hunched over as if trying to catch her breath. Curious, Tasia opened the passenger door and stepped outside, inhaling the scent of the nearby trees. With the rising of the sun, they were now safe from the vampire, but the demon might be nearby. The Kia’s engine creaked as it cooled, which meant they hadn’t been pulled over for long.

Chuckling, Tasia wandered toward the back of the car. “Piss break?” she asked, turning the corner and freezing in place.

The air was saturated with the smell of arousal. Dana leaned forward with her ass on the bumper and her pants pulled down to her knees, frantically rubbing her engorged clitoris. A silver vibrator was discarded on the ground nearby. When she looked up at Tasia, it was with lust-filled eyes. There was something primal lurking in that gaze. Something hungry.

“What’s going on here?” Tasia asked in disbelief, her voice almost a whisper. She didn’t know why, but she took a step closer. The air was heavy with the smell of sex, pulling her in like a magnet.

Dana pointed at Tasia with one finger, then beckoned her forward.

“Are you into chicks?” Dana’s voice was guttural, her torso flushed. Her eyes had fallen to Tasia’s chest. “It would really be great if you were. I’ll even settle for mildly curious.”

“I...” Tasia’s mind flashed back to the woods, to the pack. For them, sex and violence were two sides of the same coin, and they had flipped it often. Man, woman, it hadn’t mattered. What mattered was strength, pleasure, and fulfilling each other’s desires.

But the pack was gone, and with it, a part of her had gone as well. That had been part of the experiment, to see if the wolf could be tamed and bring its power back to the Order. Unlike most of her brethren, she had been able to resist the animal inside, to keep it at bay when it wasn’t needed.

This was a woman whom she had fought, who had saved her life, and now desired her. These were all things the wolf in her head instantly understood, and she found herself taking another step forward. Her pulse was pounding in her ears as instinct took over, driving her toward the desperate woman.

“I might hurt you,” Tasia whispered, staring deep into Dana’s eyes. “I like it rough.”

“Good.” Dana licked her lips and lifted her shirt to reveal firm breasts. Her nipples were engorged, standing at attention beneath the rising sun. “I don’t mind rough.”

She let go of her snatch and grabbed Tasia by the shoulders, forcing the werewolf to her knees. Tasia didn’t resist, the sweet smell of pussy filling her nostrils. Her heart was beating loud inside her head, as if distant drums were playing just for her. She was drooling now, confronted with a pair of cum-soaked thighs.

“The safe word is chucklebunny.” Dana grabbed Tasia’s hair and guided her into place.

Tasia buried her face in Dana’s crotch and inhaled deeply through her nose. A surge of information entered her brain, the smell reminiscent of the air after a summer rain. Dana’s slippery thighs left slick trails on Tasia’s cheeks as she opened her mouth and tasted her.

Dana gasped, gripping Tasia’s head firmly. The werewolf ran her hands up Dana’s legs until she was clutching her by the hips. Powerful muscles flexed as Tasia stood, continuing to suckle at Dana’s labia while she lifted and pressed Dana against the back of the car. Dana wrapped her legs around Tasia’s muscular shoulders and let out a whimper of delight.

Tasia felt the heat of the sun on her back as she pinned Dana’s hips against the top of the hatchback, fingering her with one hand while squeezing her own breast with the other. Dana’s arousal was contagious, and her own pussy clenched in anticipation. Yesterday, this woman was her enemy. Now?

Well ... that was complicated.

“More,” Dana cried, digging her nails into Tasia’s scalp. “More fingers!”

Tasia obliged. With her current angle, she was able to work her way up to three fingers inside of Dana’s vagina while continuing to nibble and lick her clit.

Strong hands tugged at Tasia’s hair, but she kept going, eventually working in her pinky. Dana’s labia were stretched tight, causing her clitoris to emerge from beneath its hood. Her hand was soaked with Dana’s fluids, and Tasia briefly considered seeing if her fist would fit.

Dana squealed, and struck the roof of the car so hard that a side window shattered. When she came, her vaginal walls tightened down enough that Tasia thought her fingers would break. She struggled to keep her hand from being pushed out, and winced when Dana shifted further onto the top of the car, denting the roof with her ass.

“Oh, fuck that was good.” Dana was panting on the car roof now, her body limp. If anyone were to pull off the road right now, there would be no hiding what they were up to.

Tasia grabbed Dana by the thighs and helped her slide down the car. Once they were eye level with each other, Tasia grabbed the waistband of her shorts and pushed them down. She kicked them away and put her hands on her hips. The breeze teased the hem of the dress up to reveal her bare ass.

“You done?” she asked, lifting the skirt to reveal her hairy crotch. “Because I’m not.”

Dana wiped the drool from her face and smirked. “I’m just getting started,” she said, then guided Tasia away from the Kia. Turning around, she undid the latch on the hatchback and pushed the back seats down. She climbed in and gave the floor of the cargo area a friendly pat.

When Tasia moved to join her, Dana grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her down, her hungry lips now dancing along Tasia’s neck. Tasia wrapped her legs around Dana’s waist as the two of them made out, their kisses both rough and frantic. Dana’s ponytail had come loose, creating a blonde curtain that obscured the outside world.

Tasia gasped when she felt a finger slide inside her, then growled. Dana was nibbling on her breasts now, sucking hard on her nipples. Though they were inside the Kia, the emotions and desire took Tasia back to the forest, to those happy moments with the pack once again.

Dana scooted herself out of the Kia, sliding her arms under Tasia’s thighs to lift her pelvis off the floor. She held the werewolf up, kissing the tender flesh of her inner thighs while continuing to finger her. Tasia moaned in delight as Dana’s tongue found her clitoris, her arms stretched wide as she pressed her hands against the back doors of the car. She felt the material give beneath her fingertips.

“I hope ... they paid ... for the extra insurance!” Tasia gasped as a shock ran through her lower spine. Pleasure was coming in intense bursts, her stomach filling with heat as each stroke pushed her closer to orgasm.

Dana lowered Tasia’s body, wiping her mouth with one hand. “That’s right,” she muttered. “You said you like it rough.”

“Yes, but this is fine.” Tasia wagged her hips back and forth. “Please don’t stop.”

“I don’t plan to.” Dana crawled up Tasia’s torso and kissed her, her lips needy against Tasia’s. The werewolf shivered in delight as she felt a pair of fingers enter her again, curling up to stroke her G-spot. Tasia gasped when Dana pinched her nipple with her other hand.

“Feel free to resist,” Dana said, then pinned Tasia down by pressing her palm against Tasia’s sternum. “Use the safeword if you’re uncomfortable.”

The blonde lifted Tasia’s pelvis from the inside, all while pistoning her fingers. Tasia gasped and moaned as she tried to push Dana away, but her arm was like steel. Dana’s talents with her hand had Tasia gasping for air, and she let out a cry of delight as she fought back, unable to break free.

Dana was clearly stronger than she was, and Tasia didn’t know why. Short of transforming, she was unable to escape. The heat was building throughout her entire body now, her nails elongating as the beast within struggled to break free. The wolf didn’t crave a fight, nor did it fear for Tasia’s safety. Instead, it wanted to join in the fun.

Tasia cried out as her muscles tightened up, her body struggling to contain the wolf while crying out for sweet release. Her hips jerked up and down, fully out of her control, as Dana power-fingered her closer to orgasm. The back seat was shredded by her flailing hands, and hair was sprouting along her forearms.

When Dana slid a finger into Tasia’s ass, she came so hard she howled. The sound was magnified inside the interior of the Kia, causing Tasia to become disoriented as she reached for the nearest headrest and ripped it free by accident. The tension in her entire body melted away all at once and she went limp, whimpering in pleasure as Dana continued fucking both of her holes. Through bleary eyes, she could see the smirk of satisfaction on Dana’s face. She slowed her movements and started kissing her way up Tasia’s belly.

By the time Dana’s lips met Tasia’s, the wolf had receded, but the damage to their stolen car was done. The two of them held each other for several minutes, Dana’s skin cool against Tasia’s warm flesh. Tasia had wondered more than once if she would ever get to experience this again, the closeness of another person. Nobody in their right mind was likely to hook up with a werewolf, and the damaged interior of the car was a perfect example why.

Yet Dana didn’t seem to care. This woman that Tasia had hated for so long was now a source of comfort, and she leaned into it. While her own feelings might be complicated, the wolf was satisfied that Dana wasn’t just safe, she was a friend, maybe even something more. Though it was temporary, Tasia felt like she was part of a pack again, experiencing a connection far greater than what the Order could give her.

The Order.

They were likely already making efforts to track her down. Sitting up, she pushed Dana away and gestured out the back door. “We should probably get going,” she said, sad to break the spell that had fallen over her. “It’s ... we’re ... I don’t want to get caught.”

As if remembering where she was, Dana nodded and got out of the car. It took a minute for the two of them to get dressed and put the seats back up. When Dana shut the trunk of the hatchback, It didn’t quite latch all the way. She slammed it into place, and Tasia wondered if it could ever be reopened.

Dana paused long enough to pick up the discarded sex toy, and then they got into the car. The cabin smelled of sex and sweat, and Tasia inhaled both scents deeply. This was something she would remember, a memory to cling to.

When they pulled back out onto the road, the wind whistled through the new gaps in the trunk of the car and the broken side window. Despite the noise, a sense of calm descended over the cabin of the vehicle, and Tasia looked over at Dana. It was like a switch had been flipped, the woman now entirely focused on the road ahead.

After nearly twenty minutes, Dana broke the silence. “So libraries have witches.”

Tasia looked over at Dana, pondering. All the lust and excitement of earlier had passed. What had happened to that moment of passion? To that connection? Was Dana a master at putting her feelings away or was there something else at play?

“They do. It should make sense that libraries are a natural place to find magic users. It’s where knowledge is collected.”

“That makes sense, but you made it sound like all libraries had a witch running them.” Dana looked over at Tasia. “In hindsight, librarians seem like they know everything already, so maybe it’s been magic this whole time.”

“To clarify, not all librarians are witches. It’s pretty rare to find a branch that doesn’t have one, though. After World War II, the Order did some lobbying and got the federal government to fund public libraries. The US was woefully unprepared for some of the magical atrocities they saw over in Europe, and this was a natural way to seed witches across the country without anyone being the wiser. Naturally, this was a secret buried so deep that I doubt the current government even knows about it, but that’s kind of the point.” Tasia’s stomach growled, and she chewed at her fingernail in response. Her finger still tasted of Dana, and she started salivating. She would need to eat some actual food real soon.

“So a nationwide cell of magic users, ready at a moment’s notice.” Dana chuckled. “Imagine that.”

“A majority of them aren’t fighters at all. It’s all about what most of them call white magic, and acting as a neighborhood watch of sorts. When they encounter something they don’t understand or can’t handle, they call the Order in to handle it.”

“And you think one of them can undo the demon’s tracking spell?”

Tasia nodded. “It should be within their skillset. Where are we, anyway?”

“Georgia, actually. Had to take a straight shot north on 95 to keep Count Dracula off our tail.” Dana sighed. “I actually saw him a couple of times. Bastard would be a couple of miles back.”

“Was he flying?” Tasia felt a chill run up her spine.

“Maybe. Looked more like he was jumping to catch up, but I couldn’t be sure. I would see him pop up above the treeline for a moment. He had to stay off the road to avoid being seen, but there was an empty stretch for a bit where he just sprinted after us T-1000 style. Kept worrying that he would turn into a bat or whatever and catch up to us.” Dana frowned. “I’m guessing vampires don’t do that.”

“Not all of them, no. The best way to think of vampirism is like a virus that mutates whenever it gets passed on. Some new vampires become shapeshifters, others become insanely strong, lucky ones might get both. I came across a nest of them once where their supernatural abilities were almost non-existent, save for being very attractive. The only thing they all share is a hunger for lifeforce in one form or another, which gives them strength.”

“Lifeforce?” Dana touched her neck. “So not just blood?”

“Blood happens to be the easiest conduit. When you get bitten, they can drain you of your lifeforce without making too big of a mess. If it doesn’t kill you, it leaves your body weak to vampirism, which is how you might become one, or even a thrall. A thrall is like a vampire’s slave.”

“Good to know. So this guy may have servants.”

Tasia nodded. “Perhaps, but thralls are usually just humans, so he would have to be stupid to sic them on us. What are the odds we can stop for breakfast? I’m fucking starving.”

“There’s food near the library, which doesn’t open until 9 anyway. We’re almost there.” As if elaborating her point, Dana pulled the car off of the highway and drove a few miles into town. They passed a couple of gas stations and a Wal-mart, then pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant. Mama’s Diner had a picture of a breakfast skillet that made Tasia’s mouth water.

“I’m afraid we can’t split the bill,” Tasia said.

“Don’t worry about it. You earned it already.” Dana winked at her, then jogged ahead to open the door. Tasia found it a little unsettling to see how quick the switch was flipped. It was almost like Dana was acting, but she couldn’t see any seams in the performance.

Her smell had also changed. Earlier, Dana had smelled largely of blood and sweat, but also the pack. It was as if she had temporarily become a werewolf. Now, however, she carried the faint smell of death all around her. The only times Tasia had smelled something similar was when she was standing over a body or tracking a predator.

What kind of predator are you? she wondered.

Dana led them inside and asked the hostess for a booth. They were taken to the back of the restaurant where Dana requested to be sat by the window. The hostess obliged, and they sat down across from each other, giving both of them a view of the road.

“I’m so fucking hungry,” Tasia muttered, going over the menu. “That shouldn’t be a surprise, given my ... condition.”

“Order what you need.” Dana looked over the top of her menu. “Seriously.”

“Are you sure? It might draw attention. There’s a reason why it’s called wolfing down your food.”

Dana shrugged. “I’ll think of something.”

When the server came, Tasia took Dana’s advice to heart and ordered most of the special menu. There were three different skillet meals that were meat based, but she also ordered a ham-steak, three sides of bacon, and the chocolate chip waffle stack. Dana put in a similar order, which caused the server to pause and look up from his tablet.

“Are y’all ordering for someone who isn’t here yet?” he asked.

“We’re food vloggers,” Dana said. “If you don’t mind, we’re planning on recording content for a mukbang video. Go ahead and bring the plates as they are finished instead of all at once.”

“Ah, gotcha.” He finished writing down their order. “What do you want to drink?”

“Water is fine for me. You?” Dana looked at Tasia.

“Do you have tea?”

The server nodded, then took their menus and left. Once he was gone, Tasia leaned across the table.

“What the fuck is a mukbang?” she asked.

“New streaming trend. You watch someone eat a shit ton of food, question their life choices, but can’t look away.” Dana used the condiment tray to prop up her phone. “When he drops stuff off, talk to the camera about what food means to you, or whatever. We’ll eat off of each other’s plates to help sell it, like we’re sampling everything.”

They spent the next several minutes discussing potential plans. If everything went well, they would head back down to Florida in the afternoon. Tasia was worried about running into the vampire again, but Dana kept brushing it off. She was under the impression that they would have plenty of time to return before nightfall.