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When Kris regained consciousness, she found herself in a dark, dank room. A light on the wall looked dim with maybe a forty watt bulb. Her wrists were wrapped in thick metal shackles and chained to the wall. Kris managed to push herself into a sitting position and leaned against the wall. Her ears rang and from what she could see, her knuckles bled. She couldn’t move very far, but could stand. Her legs felt shaky.
The room smelled vile. Looking toward the other end, she saw baskets labeled with Brael that held rotted peaches. She must be at the winery. Sitting back down, she put her head on her knees and closed her eyes.
Roman's face appeared to her and a thought hit her smack between her eyes like a dart.
She put her head up and faced the gray wall across from her. She’d fallen in love with Roman. In four short days, he helped her through a world turned upside down, and his only reason being he cared. The fact she acted out of control, hadn’t mattered to him. He’d stayed by her side through the thick of it and she’d worn blinders. She needed to get out of this place and tell him that she’d opened her eyes and she could only see him.
She saw movement across the room and it scurried to the rotten fruit. A large rat with red eyes, stopped and looked at her. Then it squeaked and disappeared behind the baskets.
There came a creaking from outside of the room which sounded like a rusted wheel on a cart from the grocery store. Then she saw a door open. She could have sworn a second ago, there wasn’t any way in or out. A cart moved through the doorway being pushed by Derrick. He looked terrible.
As he came in, Kris stood back up and watched him. With his eyes black she could see flashes of light in them. Those were demons swimming around in his head and he’d been turned.
“Hello, Kris. The lord thought you might like to eat and nicer clothes, so you’ll be more comfortable.”
She felt goose bumps rise on her arms. “I’m not hungry,” she said.
“You will be. He also sent a bottle of your favorite wine.” He held it up and she saw the peach chardonnay. Bile rose in her throat as Derrick poured a glass and held it out to her.
“No, thank you.” Kris backed into the wall.
“I’ll just leave it here for you. I’m sure you’ll want to taste it.” He bent over and off the second shelf, he brought out a red, spaghetti strap dress. It appeared sheer and split up the side. He held it up. “This is just your size. Very luxurious, don’t you think?”
“I’m not going to wear it, Derrick.” She sat back down. “By the way, I’m no longer your agent. You’ll have to find someone else to schlep your paintings.”
“I know. You’ll be too busy with Lord Abednego and won’t have time for small potatoes like me.” He shook out the dress and held it in front of her.
“Fat chance I’ll put that on.” She looked away from him.
He laughed and she heard him step to the doorway. “Enjoy your dinner. I’ll be back in a little while.”
Kris turned her head as he went out. Putting her head on her knees, she tried to think. How would she get out of this mess? Her support was so far away.
A voice mumbled in her head, and she knew it. El said she needed to learn to listen. Did her other know this would happen? Kris could hear Elzabeth call to her.
I hear you. Can you talk louder? Can you help? she thought.
Abednego put some spell on me—probably a binding spell—and I’m stuck. God, I wish you knew how to use the power. Kris, you can do this. You have more strength than him.
El, you're fading in and out. Tell me how to get hold of this power.
You need to go back to your house. You need to contact Roman and tell him where we are.
Tell me how.
Go deep into your mind. Find his face, and feel his skin on your hands and smell his scent. Hear his voice. Let it pull you. You've felt it before, just let it happen.
Kris did what Elzabeth said. The buzz in her ears lessened and something pulled at her insides. She sensed a separation in her head. Cool air flowed through her hair. It looked dark, but the air smelled fresh and clean. She peeked her eyes open and discovered she stood in the Between.
Just keep focusing on him, sister. We're almost there, El whispered.
Before she knew it, she stood in her living room. Kris looked around and saw intense colors and smelled lavender and sage.
She saw three men in a circle. Roman looked angry and seemed to be shouting, but she couldn’t hear him. Cassie stood apart from the men. She did a double take and her mouth dropped open. Cassie moved her arm and hit Roman’s arm. He looked cross at her and she pointed at Kris.
His eyes welled and she saw him speak, “Kris.” She knew at that moment everything would be fine. She could feel his strength flow into her and wrap her in safety.
Go to him, Elzabeth said from a distance.
Kris moved to Roman and concentrated. She brought her hand up to his cheek and moved it up so her fingers covered his eye.
Tell him, Kris.
Roman, Abednego has us. He’s put a binding spell on El. He wants me to drink the wine. We’re somewhere in the winery.
Roman’s eye opened. She heard him say, Whatever you do, don’t drink anything. He’ll poison you.
Yes, thank you Roman. Find us. I’ll be waiting for you.
Kris, I love you. I’m on my way.
I love you, too, Roman. I’m yours, only yours.
Kris wanted to grab him in her arms, apologize for her stupidity earlier in the day and kiss his face.
His eyes crinkled into a slight smile. We're coming, babe. Hold on.
She’d heard of love at first sight. It may have taken her a bit longer than first sight, but shorter than a lifetime to fall for him. Knowing she wanted him with her, became a strong central warmth in her heart. She held onto it and found hope. She nodded and closed her eyes.
Something banged and Kris jumped. Lifting her head, she found herself back in the cell. Derrick came back and he looked red in the face and angry. She could see a black ring of light around his body. It occurred to her, she saw his aura.
“What have you done? You fell asleep. I can’t believe what an ungrateful bitch you’ve turned into. This is the moment of your puny life and you sleep.” He stomped back and forth, then stopped and snapped his fingers.
Two tall, muscular, bald men walked in the doorway. Both had black eyes and the same dark aura as Derrick. One picked up the red dress. Kris felt a wave of evil spread and surround her. Holding her breath, she didn’t want the evil to enter her lungs.
“You will put on the dress. Lord Abednego is prepared to meet you.”
“Sorry Derrick, not happening.” Kris held up her wrists with the metal bracelets. “Hard to do, chained to the wall.”
He let out a sigh and snapped his fingers again. The shackles opened and fell away from her wrists.
She rubbed her arms. “I’m still not going to put on the dress.” She smiled.
“Kris, my two friends will help me strip you,” he threatened and leered down at her.
It seemed there wasn’t a choice. “Fine.” Standing, she grabbed the dress from goon number one. She waited. When they didn’t move, she hissed, “What? No privacy?”
“Not enough time. Change your clothes.”
She shook her head and turned her back to them. Sliding the sweatshirt over her head, she put the dress on and it attached to her skin like plastic wrap. She trembled and then pulled off her jeans and let the gown fall to her ankles. She folded the jeans and sweater and held them in her arms.
“I’ll take those. You won’t need them any longer.” Derrick held out his hand.
Kris handed the clothes over and he put them on the cart. He didn’t take his eyes off her. His hand started to come up towards her chest.
“Touch me and I’ll tell your precious Lord. I’m sure he won’t be very happy.”
Derrick pulled his hand back as though he’d touched a flame. He turned, and started to the door.
Kris heard El whisper, Stall them.
She didn’t move and when Derrick realized she didn’t follow, he looked at her and scowled.
“Derrick.” Kris held up the hem of the dress. “What about shoes or slippers? My feet are filthy and I can’t have him see me looking so grungy.”
“It won’t matter, I suggest you move your pretty ass or we’ll assist you,” he hissed.
Kris walked up to him and looked in his eyes. “I am surprised you wouldn’t want to impress your master. You're not much of a ladder climber, are you, Derrick?”
As he started to growl and she moved past him to the door. Kris looked both ways in the hall, but could see nowhere to run. They went in silence and her ears heard strange sounds. Every time she took a step, the red dress hissed. It gave her the willies and she wanted to tear it off.
Pay attention Kris, El hissed.
This dress is touching me, Kris thought back at her.
Hush up and think. Can't you sense them?
Sense who?
Team Kris, you idiot. They're coming to save your—our—neck, which I’d slice open, if it wouldn’t kill me, too. Can't you sense Roman in the neighborhood for Pete's sake?
****
When they pulled onto the driveway to the winery, the men finished the spell. Roman said he hoped it worked. Kris needed El.
Cassie parked the car away from the house and all four got out.
“Witch, you do know the abolishing spell?” Roman asked.
“I’ve said so three or four times, but not in Latin, which shouldn’t matter, right? I even have my sage for blocking.” She waved her rope of sage.
“It doesn’t matter what language it’s done in. We find the four directions and begin the spell now,” Roman said.
They split off and went different ways around the house. Roman walked to the front door. He put a pot of sage down, lit it with the tip of his finger and it flamed up. He saw the smoke spread around him and go up the steps to the front door. Holding out his hands, he began reciting the spell.
Loudly, Roman said the abolishing spell and followed the stanzas one by one. He’d never felt such power emit from all four directions and it warmed him. The front doors opened and something low to the ground with red eyes crawled out of the house. Moving down the stairs in a wave, they scurried at Roman.
Shit! he thought. Guys, we have a problem. He heard Cassie scream from around the side of the house.
“Rats!”
“Light your sage, witch. It should hold them back!” Roman shouted. He held the rope to his fingers and got it lit. He lowered the rope down to the ground and moved the smoke around his feet. The black rats stopped and hissed at him.
If these are Abednego's hounds of hell, they’re a tad small. But watch out guys, they have sharp teeth and claws. God only knows if there's poison on them, Omar thought from his side.
We're going to need to re-start the abolishing spell. Does everyone have enough sage to keep the rats at bay? Roman asked. He heard yes from all three. One of the rats moved to his pot of sage and sniffed the air. It started to chatter to the others that waited in a circle around it.
“Dammit!” Cassie shouted.
“What's wrong?” Roman yelled.
“Bastard bit me. I swear, if I get rabies, someone’s going to pay.”
Roman sensed Omar move from his side toward Cassie. What are you doing, brother? We need to get started. Roman watched the vermin around him.
One second, Roman. I'll only be a second, Omar said mentally. It didn't break the skin. She'll be all right. I'm moving back. After a couple of seconds, Omar arrived back in his position.
Okay, let's do this, Roman thought and began to recite the spell from the beginning.
****
When Kris reached the top of the stairs, Derrick grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her in a direction she couldn’t see. She tried to look up. “I’m going to burn your paintings, Derrick.”
“Stop stalling, Kris. The lord doesn’t like waiting.”
Looking up, she saw a set of double doors. They popped open before the group reached them. Derrick pushed her through and she landed on the floor. Kris found herself in an ornately decorated room. Old-fashioned couches and chairs were placed around it, upholstered with black fabric, and the carpet was bright red. The room felt warm and Kris saw a fireplace blazed with black and red flames. She’d never seen black flames.
A tall man stood next to a window, his hands clasped behind his back. Abednego turned and moved to Kris. His black and white hair was combed straight back off his forehead. His black goatee, which Kris knew El hated, was trimmed a little and seemed to have something glossy in it. He wore a charcoal grey suit with a black shirt.
Stepping in front of her, he put his hand out to offer assistance. She backed away from it and got up on her own. She didn’t want him to touch her. He looked slimy and evil.
“I apologize for Derrick’s behavior,” he said. “It's good to see you, again, Miss Bennett.”
The overwhelming sense of malevolence in the room caused her tongue to freeze. Kris made no reply.
“Why don't you have a seat?”
He moved his hand and Kris felt something push her to a straight back chair with arms. She sat and her hands were drawn to the wooden arms. A pressure on her wrists felt as though someone held them down.
Just behind Abednego, the view shifted, which caused Kris dizziness. It began to take form and became Rochelle. The red-headed woman wore the same dress as Kris. Her eyes were black.
Abednego pulled up a chair and sat across from Kris. He looked at her and covered every single inch of her body. He pulled the gown up above her knee. When his fingers touched the skin on her leg, she felt it burn and sucked in her breath. Then he stood, moved a piece of her hair and ran his hand along her chin. She closed her eyes and pulled her head away.
“Lovely, just lovely. Rochelle is going to enjoy working with this body. We’ll have to make a few changes, but it will be fantastic in the end when I am back in her arms,” He smiled and chuckled.
Kris felt her brow furrow. “Just why are you going to find it necessary to work with my body, Rochelle?” she asked.
“When she takes it, she’ll want to be herself,” Abednego said. “The hair is a little dull for her personality. It will need to be changed to red, of course, to match her lovely dress.”
“What? She can’t answer for herself? Do you know how feminine you sound? Maybe you should direct your attentions to Derrick. He’s all for kissing your ass.” Abednego’s hand flew out, didn’t touch her, but she felt a backhand slap across her cheek and jaw. She tasted blood in her mouth.
“Rochelle never uses profanity. She is a lady,” he growled and sat in his chair.
“I’m sorry, but when a situation arises where my body is being stolen so some long dead bitch can take it over, I find it difficult to use clean language. It does make me fucking angry.” She felt afraid of this guy, but something changed and grew in her soul. She continued to stare at him and saw his nostrils flare.
“Midnight is not long off. I won’t have to tolerate you for much longer. Let me get you a drink.” He nodded at Derrick who walked to a small bar.
“You’re going to kill me?” Kris asked.
Abednego laughed. “Don’t be silly. We’re not going to kill you. We want the body to stay alive. Rochelle will take over, but you’ll still be in there, powerless. I hope you don’t find it too upsetting.” He motioned for Derrick to bring her the drink.
She heard El start to giggle. Kris, Kris. She sounded louder now. Close your eyes and stay as still as possible. Kris did as El said and could feel something move around the back of her neck. Repeat after me. The only drink to pass these lips is from the man I love.
Kris opened her eyes and repeated the words aloud.
Abednego sneered. “Lovely sentiment, but if we need to force the wine down your throat, it can be arranged.”
Rochelle's spirit looked around the room. Kris could tell the ghost seemed to sense something and started to move toward Abednego, but stopped. Her gaze turned to Kris who could feel Rochelle’s anger hit her chest.
What’s happening, El? Kris thought. The ghost is having a hissy fit.
The cavalry is here. El laughed again. Kris giggled.
“What are you laughing about?” Abednego asked.
Kris refused to answer and closed her eyes. Abednego’s spirit hand hit her across the face once more. Kris opened her eyes and grinned at him.
“I think you need a drink to simmer down.” He motioned for Derrick to give her the glass.
****
The rats continued to try to break through the sage blockade. Roman watched them out of the corner of his eye, but continued the spell. In his mind, he saw Kris in a chair. She seemed to be frightened, but held her own against Abednego. He wanted to race into the house and help her, but knew they only had one way to get her out of that situation.
As he went into the last stanza, some of the rats turned and began to run. They leapt over one another, and acted confused. Many of them flamed up and became piles of ash. Roman smiled and focused on Kris.
****
Kris felt the pressure on her wrist release. Her arm raised and Derrick put the glass into her hand. She stared at Abednego.
“Just a sip, that’s all you need. It will be over in no time at all.”
Kris wasn’t amused. “Guess again, you ass, I told you nothing passes these lips,” Kris said, and squeezed the glass. It exploded and sent the shards flying. She saw Abednego wore a dumbstruck look on his face. “Abby, this dress just sucks. Your woman has lousy fucking taste.” Kris ran her hand over the dress and it changed to Elzabeth’s black gown. She stood and stared at the demon.
Abednego got up from the chair and moved a finger to slice through one of the straps on the dress. The top stayed up, but it cut a wound on her shoulder which started to bleed. She didn’t feel it and moved her hand up as though she meant to grab his neck. He sucked in a breath
“You idiot, can you say, distraction?” she asked. Pushing out her hand, Abednego flew back and landed on the couch. She held him there and Derrick started toward her, but without taking her eyes off the demon, she waved a finger at him. “Don’t even think it, dude. I will hurt you.”
Derrick backed away and ran out the double doors. The two thugs followed and she slammed the door behind them.
Rochelle started to move toward Kris. “Woman, you can’t take me if I don’t agree to it. And believe me, I don’t, so back off.” Kris looked at the ghost and felt power. “Right now, friends of mine are in the four directions and guess what they’re doing? Can you feel it, Abby? Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to cross paths with your Rochelle in Hell. I doubt it, though. Your ghost girlfriend will be stuck here without any assistance from you.”
Abednego looked up at her with terror in his eyes. “She’s my wife, you bitch,” he choked.
Kris didn’t let go. The four outside protected the directions and recited the spell. She could hear their voices, and it sounded like music. She grinned.
Rochelle’s ghost disappeared from the room, and swept through a closed window.
“Abby, bad news, your wife just left the building.”
Abednego’s eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped open. She let go of him. His arms started to flail and hit the back of the couch. He let out a scream. She watched his body go up in flames and then a puff of smoke.
El moved around in their brain. He’s coming, sister, El said.
I know. Kris smiled.
You need to come back to ground zero and get yourself under control. Kris, are you listening to me? El shouted from their brain.
Yes, I hear you. I want to enjoy this.
Well get over it. He's almost here.
I know, I can sense him.
I’m going to let him be yours. He’s one gorgeous piece of work, but I think you deserve him.
Kris felt El pull back and she moved forward. El, don’t go far, okay?
Not a chance. You are too bitchin’.
She could hear El laugh as she went deeper into the recesses of their brain and felt a hand on her shoulder.