15 Chapter 15: Demands

The Demon's words are like a punch in the gut and suddenly, I want more than just answers. I want to save Uncle John's life. Not for me but for Aunt Kelly. I can't allow this monster to destroy him, no matter how horrible he's been to me.

Dominic leans down and whispers, "You must demand the Demon to reveal himself. You have more power over him and he knows it. Get his name and it will weaken his hold. Separate him from his host." He pauses and takes my hand. "But be quick, we do not have much time."

I nod and glance back up into the Demon's black eyes. He's still smiling back at me but I can tell he's in pain as fresh blood pools behind him, dripping from his bandaged wrist.

"Tell me your name," I demand in a low, authoritative tone, keeping my gaze glued to his.

Laughter erupts again from the Demon's mouth but I try to ignore it. "Why are you so protective of him?" he asks, and I can tell he's trying to avoid the question. "It's not like he's ever done you any favors. Well, none that you've allowed." He shifts in his chair and winks, his smile widening. "If you know what I mean."

"Tell me your name, Demon!" I raise my voice even more, not holding back, and his expression suddenly becomes serious. I'm not sure what changed but I feel compelled to keep going. "Tell me!" I scream. "Now!"

The Demon begins to shake violently, as if I've unleashed a pack of wolves inside him. I take a step to my right to get closer to Dominic, watching the Demon in Uncle John's body contort grotesquely, bucking against the restraints. Without warning, the chair begins to lift from the floor, levitating slightly as deep growls begin filling the room from all directions. Dominic pulls his cloak around me, raising his hand and pointing.

"Quis es?!" he roars, his voice reverberating off the walls and overpowering the Demon's growls. The chair slams to the floor, making Uncle John's head wobble like an infant. I cover my mouth with my hands, stifling a scream. I can't tell if he's asleep or...

Shit!

I scramble to get to him but Dominic pulls me back. He glares down at me, the warning in his eyes is palpable. "Stay here!" he demands, advancing on the Demon.

I can't see the Demon's face. His head hangs lopsided off his neck and from where I'm standing it doesn't look like he's breathing. Dominic gets close enough to reach out and push on his shoulder but the Demon doesn't move.

Dominic glances back at me, making sure I haven't moved, I'm sure, then shifts his feet, kicking the side of the Demon's shoe. The movement must have awakened him, or he was totally faking it, and he slowly raises his head.

His smile is slow and cruel, like he's having a blast screwing with us. "You want my name?" he asks, his voice like gravel as he looks straight at me. "Not before a little kiss from the Queen."

Without warning, the door flies open, pounding against the wall before it slams shut, echoing in the room for another deafening couple of seconds.

The Demon shuffles in his chair, pulling himself up like he's preparing himself for battle. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the Master himself." He chuckles. "Looks like someone called in the big guns."

Zack walks methodically into the room, glaring at the Demon, the loud clicking from his shoes driving the point home that he means business. I'm beyond relieved that he's here. The Demon's expression is filled with mockery, but there's something else behind it. Could it be fear? Apprehension?

"Come to help your little sissy and her boyfriend, I see," the Demon spouts off. "I mean, her husband-to-be." He directs his eyes to me and then to Dominic. "Oh and you better be careful, you two," he singsongs, "I don't think a pregnant Queen wearing white on her wedding day sends a very good message."

Before I even look at Dominic, I can feel the lava bubbling through his veins. The Demon is trying to piss him off and he's doing an excellent job. Clearly a strategic move. I'm pretty sure the Demon thinks that if he can somehow keep the attention on everyone else but him, maybe he'll have a fighting chance.

Zack stops just next to Dominic and me but keeps his eyes locked on the Demon's black eyes. "That's enough!" he bites out. "Tell us your name!"

The Demon laughs again like this is all child's play."Tsk, tsk, Master Zack," he mocks then coughs a little, and I can see his skin going whiter by the second. "You're seriously going to have to do better than that."

Zack leans over to Dominic and whispers, "She shouldn't be here. She's not ready." He glances at me, thinking I didn't hear him.

Dominic stays silent, ignoring Zack, and looks back at the Demon, who continues to suck the life out of Uncle John. "You will tell me your name, Demon," he commands, pulling a cross out of his cloak.

It's not just an ordinary cross, it's a freaking masterpiece that looks like it could be from the Middle Ages. It's at least fifteen inches long and the surface is beautifully carved in brilliant gold with ruby red stones set on each end. They're the most spectacular sparkling red I've ever seen. If I didn't know any better I'd swear it was yanked straight off of King Arthur's tomb or at least the Smithsonian.

"Tell. Me. Your. Name!" Dominic pauses between each word, and this time, it's as if each letter is being laser cut into the Demon. Screams and horrific, animalistic cries shoot out of his mouth. A rush of sadness, anger, and resentment pours into me. I nearly fall to the ground but Dominic pulls me up, wrapping his cloak around my body. 

"I am Zull!" The Demon's words sound like they're being ripped from of his mouth one single syllable at a time.

Zack grabs the cross from Dominic's hand and moves closer. The Demon twists back and forth, contorting his body like he's fighting his way out of a straightjacket and Zack takes advantage of the moment and touches the thick cross to Uncle John's forehead. A horrendous sizzle echoes through the room, and his skin smokes, branded by the cross.

"Go back to hell where you belong!" Zack commands, shaking something at him from a small white bottle.

Otherworldly shrieks and screams from voices I haven't heard yet blast around the room and I slam my eyes shut, tightening my grip around Dominic's waist.

"I command you, Zull! Leave this body!" my brother shouts. "Leave this body now!"

On Zack's last word the room goes completely quiet. The quiet is so complete it's deafening on its own. What happened? Did we actually get rid of the Demon? Could it even be a possibility? It's hard to believe since he fooled us once already.

I open my eyes when I hear the sound of shuffling feet, lifting my head to look out from underneath Dominic's cloak. Zull, or Uncle John, or whoever the hell he is, is still in the chair but this time it's pretty clear: he's gone. Or at least he sure looks that way. Zack crouches behind him and I watch as Uncle John's arms are freed, swinging to his sides-one clearly missing a hand. But he's too white. It looks as though every ounce of life has been completely drained out of him.

"Hurry!" my brother calls. "We need to get him to the infirmary!"

Before Dominic can ask, I give him a quick nod to let him know I'm okay before he abruptly lets go and rushes to help Zack. I follow, hoping I can do something, anything other than completely freaking out when Dominic swoops my uncle up like he weighs nothing. He glances at Zack and then to me and shakes his head. I don't want to believe it. I can't believe it. It can't be too late.

"No!" I scream. "Do something!"

Without hesitation, they both rush toward the door, sprinting down the dim corridor as I try several times but fail to see Uncle John's face. He's no longer bleeding but the bandages around his wrist, once completely white, are drenched in blood. His body looks artificial, almost like a rag doll, moving awkwardly with each thump of Dominic's rushed stride.

It feels as though we've been running uphill, around corners, and along stretches of long hallways for miles until finally, Zack slows down and stops outside a set of huge metal double doors. He shoves one side open for us to pass and I watch in awe as a team of three men and two women surround Dominic. They take Uncle John's body and place him on an operating table.

"I'm not getting a pulse!" one of the men shouts.

"Martha!" another man yells over his shoulder. "I need three units of O neg, stat!"

"Yes, doctor," she says, handing him a crimson bag as the other woman begins CPR.

I watch in horror as they go to work, hoping like hell they can bring him back. Dominic takes my hand and I look up. He tilts his head toward the door and I follow his lead into the hallway. 

"We must tell your Aunt," he says, glancing past me at the sound of someone approaching. Hurried footsteps, too close together to be male, become louder the closer they get and I have to squint before I realize Aunt Kelly is running straight for us.

"Where is he?" she screams, completely out of breath.

My eyes go to the double doors and Aunt Kelly wastes no time taking off in a run, but Dominic reaches out and pulls her back.

"Let go of me!" she screams, trying to yank her arm from his grip.

"Wait!" I say, knowing exactly why Dominic stopped her. He releases her and immediately moves in front of the double doors.

"Aunt Kelly, he's-he's not..."

"Get out of my way!" she screams at Dominic, not even listening to me.

I yank her other arm so hard I almost apologize. She jerks her eyes in my direction-eyes that used to be a dark brown but are now a new shade of deep green-and my breath hitches.

"You have to stop!" I shout, struggling to keep her from getting away. "Aunt Kelly, please! He's dead!"

She drops to her knees. Zack rushes to her side as her palms cover her face but her cries are loud and clear. Guilt slams into me. I kneel down to touch her shoulder but she flinches, pushing my hand away, like she already knows it's my fault.

And she's right. It is.

All of it is... 

My hand goes to Aunt Kelly's shoulder again. "I'm so sorry," I murmur, over and over again. I slowly kneel down to her side and she lets me console her, my fingers gently stroking her hair. I'll do anything to help take away her pain.

She raises her head as tears stream down her cheeks. "Why, Kate?" she asks, her voice barely a whisper. "Why does everyone have to die around you?" Her new green eyes stay locked with mine, her words piercing my heart, each letter chiseling away a chunk at a time. I can't take it. I can't take seeing her this way. She's right; I must be cursed. Everyone I'm close to really has died, one way or the other. I can't allow this to happen-I have to make this right or at least try.

"Please don't cry." I try to swallow the new lump in my throat, darting my eyes to Zack and then back to her. "I know what to do."

Aunt Kelly's brows push together as confusion blankets her face. I smile, kissing the side of her face and rising to my feet. "Be right back."

Dominic doesn't move aside as I approach the double doors. He remains standing guard and I watch his expression change. "Don't do it, Kate," he warns, his voice so low it's almost a whisper.

"Dominic, you need to step aside," I order, staring at him with as much intensity as I can muster.

"It is not right," he shakes his head, "and you know it."

I glance back at Aunt Kelly, wondering if I'm making a huge mistake. She meets my gaze, wiping away fresh tears with the sleeve of her shirt.

I have no choice.

"Please don't make this difficult," I plead but he doesn't budge.

Frustration floods my initial reluctance and I realize I'm going to have to use a different tactic-something instinctual that might appeal to his duty towards me.

Keeping my eyes glued to his, I clear my throat. "Seraph Warrior, I command that you allow me to pass!"

A look of resentment washes over Dominic's face, or maybe he's simply pissed. But I'm pretty sure he can't deny my request.

Not his Queen.

He pulls his eyes away from mine and bows his head slightly. I know it's killing him to obey me as his hand slowly pushes the door. I step past him, trying not to think about what just happened. I see the doctors and nurses still attempting to bring life back to Uncle John's lifeless body.

I approach the doctor in charge, tapping his shoulder just before he stops counting his chest compressions. His eyes go wide when he glances up at me, confused. His forehead glistens with sweat as I place my hand on Uncle John's cool arm.

"It's okay, you did your best," I assure him. "Can you please give us a minute?"

I can see Zack and Dominic standing side by side just inside the doors, watching everything. Watching me. Zack nods his permission for them to leave and one by one the team stops what they're doing and files out of the room.

I look down at Uncle John's body, gently touching his cool face before glancing over at my brother and my husband-to-be. Their disapproving expressions make what I'm about to do even harder.

I have to do it. Aunt Kelly simply can't go through another death. Not when I can do something about it.

I lean down over his face, never imagining that I would place my lips anywhere near his, but I press down anyway. Nothing happens at first and I open my eyes, watching for a reaction, hoping it's not too late. After a moment, his body jerks like he's been shocked. Startled, I pull back, but the connection has been made and I'm immediately sucked back down to him as he takes in a deep breath. His hand presses my body even closer to his and I'm suffocating, my arms flailing as I struggle to get free. A sharp sting sears down my throat, sending crippling pain throughout my body. Fear traps my thoughts and I try again to tear myself away before someone grabs me from behind, breaking Uncle John's hold.

I collapse in Dominic's arms, finally able to take a breath as I clutch my chest from the lingering pain. Zack stands over Uncle John, who's already sitting up and looking around, confused as hell.

"W-where am I?" he asks, darting his no-longer-black eyes around the room.

Before Zack can reply, Aunt Kelly comes flying in the room. "John!" she screams, wrapping her arms around him as she nearly pushes him down. "You're alive!" Her voice is full of relief and joy as she kisses his lips, his face, his cheek. "You're alive..."

I watch the awkward reunion, Dominic's arms still wrapped around my waist. The pain in my chest is starting to go away but my eyelids feel like they have weights attached to them. I can barely keep my body upright but before I can ask for help, Dominic scoops up my legs, cradling me as he walks out the infirmary double doors. His steady stride is familiar and comforting, making it easy to give in to the exhaustion.

"Dominic," my brother calls out to him and he turns around, "she needs rest, but stay with her." He pauses. "I'll come by in the morning to check on her."

Dominic nods but doesn't say a word. My body aches all over, like I have the flu, and I can no longer keep my eyes open. I snuggle closer to him, reveling in the safety of his incredible scent, but his arms keep me just far enough away to reveal he's not happy with me. Not even a little bit.

I'm too exhausted to care. His steps echo a steady rhythm off the stone walls and everything starts to drift away...

***

I'm awoken by hushed whispering across the room. I have to really focus on the blurry figures standing just feet away. The voices help. It's Dominic, in his usual long, black cloak, and Zack in a white button down with the sleeves rolled up and black slacks.

"She's awake," Zack whispers, walking toward me as Dominic follows behind.

I smile but their expressions are way too serious to notice.

Uh, oh. Now what?

"How are you feeling?" Zack asks, and now his scowl is starting to make me nervous.

"I...I'm fine." I pull myself up but my head slams back down to the pillow, throbbing from the quick motion.

"You're not fine," Zack deadpans. "And you have no idea what you've done."

"What are you talking about?" I rub my temples, hoping to press some of the pain away.

Zack turns to look at Dominic, then back to me. "You shouldn't have done it, Katie." He spoke in barely a whisper, but I can still hear his words loud and clear.

"What?" I say, pushing the covers back in an attempt to show my frustration. "Saved my uncle's life?"

"Yes!" he shouts, looking around the room bashfully, as if he didn't mean to raise his voice.

Fighting the urge to keep my head on the pillow, I pull myself up again. Nausea hits my gut and threatens its way up my throat. I take in a breath to refocus, trying to hold back my frustration while also attempting not to hurl all over myself as my eyes shift back and forth between them. "Let me give you a little reminder." I pause, swallowing the acidy bile trying to make its way to my mouth. "Nobody handed me a freaking guidebook on how to become an entirely different person in such a short amount of time." I cough as my anger continues to build. "Much less become a Goddamned Queen! So I suggest you chill on judging my every move!"

"Watch your language!" Zack shouts, completely ignoring my rant.

"Seriously?" I yell back. "It's like I can't do anything right! I clearly don't know what I'm doing! Hell, I'm not even sure I want it to begin with!"

Zack's brows push together like the answer is obvious. "You don't have a ch-"

"Yeah, yeah," I interrupt. "It's my destiny, my duty and all that shit. Well, you can fire me and find someone else! I only did what I thought was right!"

"That's just it," Zack says, his new blue eyes blazing even bluer. "Everything you do, every single decision you make is completely up to you." He stops and shakes his head. "We have no say so once your mind is made up."

I have to swallow again to push back another wave of nausea.

Holy shit.

"Then why is everyone so upset? Like I said, I only did what I thought was right. Hell, I didn't even do it for me, I did it for Aunt Kelly."

"We know..." Dominic chimes in, his deep tone redirecting my thoughts.

"Then how can you be so pissed? How can it be a bad thing?" I plead, looking back and forth between them. "I saved him for her."

"Because, Katie," Zack says, his voice soft and low, as if attempting to dial back our high emotions, "you brought back a Demon."

"Wait a second, what? The Demon was gone!" I pause, waiting for them to agree. "You both saw him leave. We all did."

"Yes," Zack answers. "Technically. But the risk outweighed the act. You could have died." He looks down, as if it hurts just thinking about it. "Only time will tell if it was the right thing to do. And for the next couple of days, you're going to feel like you've been hit by a Mack truck."