Connections

Damon

I was starting to think that I would never get them to their car. We put Misha in the backseat, and Ana sits in the passenger seat while I drive. “Whoa, you guys light up the car. I might need sunglasses,” Misha murmurs like a kid seeing a Christmas light display for the first time.

We laugh. “She loses her filter when she drinks like this, and she will remember everything tomorrow too. So be prepared for her to turn redder than a tomato,” Ana explains,

“I'm like that too, minus the tomato part as I don't get embarrassed.”

“Me too because I never had a filter to lose,” Ana replies.

We laugh until Misha leans up and plays with my hair. For the love of all that's unholy, it's taking everything that I have not to enjoy her touch. I look over at Ana in hopes that she'll save me.

“So soft. Mmm, you smell good too,” Misha purrs.

Ana giggles as she looks back at Misha. “Oh, I bet he does.” Don't encourage this, Ana. You are evil because I see that smirk on your lips. I sigh as I try to concentrate on anything but Misha. Misha starts nuzzling my neck and lightly kisses it. A growl escapes me before I can control it. I grip the steering wheel, “Misha, as nice as this is, and believe me, it's extremely nice, I need to concentrate on the road. We wouldn't want to wreck before we got you home, now would we?”

“Mmm, we wouldn't, but you can wreck me when we get there,” she mutters as she licks her lips. Yeah, she's going to be the death of me.

I look in the rear view and our eyes meet. There is definitely a demon in there and if I had less morals there'd be one the moment we were alone too, but I don't want the first time I have her to be like this.

“Let's just focus on getting you ladies home for now. Just sit back and relax, my Queen.” Fuck! I let it slip!

“Mmm, I like the sound of that. You can worship me later,” she purred as she sat back in her seat.

I growl and shake my head as I look at Ana. She is grinning like a kid at Christmas. I roll my eyes, “Oh, you're no help! None whatsoever.”

“I already did my duty as her friend tonight,” Ana says with a satisfied smirk. Before we know it, we hear soft sighs and light snoring from the backseat. Misha is passed out.

“Thank the fucking gods!”

Ana turns to me, “You know I think you're the first guy to be relieved that a chick passed out who was hitting on you.”

I groan, “There's a reason.”

Ana immediately responds, “I know you're not gay. I'd be able to tell. Don't bullshit me!”

“How well do you know your past, Ana, or Misha’s?”

“I was raised in an orphanage, so I got no clue on mine. Her parents died when she was young. We met a few years ago, and not having parents was something we shared,” she revealed.

“Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?”

“No, why should I?” she spats.

“What if I told you that you're sitting next to a demon?”

She turns, almost fully, in her seat and stares at me. Then a sinister grin appears on her face, “Prove it!”

“Are you sure?” I will show her, and I think she will be receptive.

“Yes, unless you're afraid,” she chides.

God, I like her. I chuckle, “Alright.” I hold out my right hand and allow a small fireball to form. I watch her eyes widen and her jaw goes slack. “Here, hold out your hand.” I place it in her hands, and she just rolls it around completely amazed.

“How?” she gasps.

“I'm a demon, Ana.” Fuck! That felt so good to say it.

“But aren't you evil and want our souls?” she asks in confusion.

“Some are, some aren't, and it is no different for angels or humans.”

“How come it doesn't burn me?”

“Because you're part demon, it is also why you glowed to Misha.”

“You knew Justin, didn't you?” she asks. “He's a demon too, isn't he?”

I laugh, “Yeah, I know him. He's my cousin, but he's no demon.”

“What is he?” she asks.

“An angel.”

Ana sighs, “But he was a slimeball.”

I nod, “I told you not all demons are bad, and not all angels are good. As above, so below.”

“Are you guys always on Earth because you said you were passing through?” she inquires.

“I am or was. It is a long story.”

“We have time, especially with it snowing like it is because it's going to take nearly an hour to get home, and there won't be cab service, so you'll take the couch,” she says.

I look at her, “And why are you okay with that?”

Ana smiles, “Because if you wanted to hurt me you would've. Besides, I like you. And you just showed me why I don't fit in here.”

“Well, I'm over a thousand years old. For the last three hundred years, I've come to Earth in search of my Queen.”

“You mean girlfriend,” she says.

“No, I meant Queen. I'm the Prince of Hell and when my father steps down I'll be King.”

Ana furrows her brow, “If you had a kingdom, why come to Earth?”

“Earth is where those not born fully an angel or demon go. Also, it's where those who are undecided are. It was foretold that my Queen would be Earthbound. Demons get the Christmas holiday to spend on Earth in search of a mate, while angels get Lent. As above, so below, like I said.”

“If Justin is your cousin…” she trails off.

“It makes him the Prince of Heaven, and those rules apply to him finding his Queen.”

“He's been around Misha since October though,” she says.

“Well, he's only supposed to be on Earth for missions other than Lent.”

“So he's cheating?” I nod. “Do you cheat?”

I smirk, “Not when it comes to this.”

“Good answer,” she says as we share a laugh. “What can angels do?”

“Similar to us but we have more power on Earth.”

“Why?” she asks.

“Because we chose to fall. We chose to live with humans and give them free will.”

“Aren't angels supposed to help humans?” she asks.

“Some do, others don't. The same applies to our kind.”

Ana grins, “You called Misha your Queen.”

I sigh, “Yeah, didn't mean to. It slipped out.”

“But she is, isn't she?” she asks. I nodded. “Is that why she can see us glow?”

“No. She shouldn't be able to, just like you can't.” She asked me why, so I explained, “You're still Earthbound, clinging to your humanity.”

“Do we get a choice?” she inquires.

“Choice of what?”

“To stay bound as you put it.”

“Yes, you always have that choice, but once you decide to become a demon then you're no longer bound.”

“What would it matter?” she asks.

“It just means that you'd embrace your immortality and the powers it brings. Also, it means that you can't live on Earth. You can visit, but only stay when it's your time to find your mate, and that's only during the holidays.”

“Misha is all that I have here, so that won't be an issue. Is she a demon too?” Ana asks in a hopeful tone.

“No,” I take in a breath, “She's far more.”

“Like a vampire or something sexy like that?” she asks,

I laugh, “Please say that's the booze talking.”

Ana shrugs, “Maybe a little, but admit it, they're sexy.”

“Not the ones I've met. I do think you'd enjoy an incubus or the right succubus though.” She gasps, and I raise my eyebrow, “Have you ever wondered why you never found your mate here on Earth?”

Ana nods in understanding, “Because he or she or both haven't found me.”

“Yep, the same as it took me three hundred years to find Misha.”

“How do you know?” she asks.

I look into the rearview mirror at a slumbering Misha and smile, “You just do. It's hard to explain. Just suddenly, all those before cease to exist, and you don't want a future with any but her.”

“Does Justin want her like you do?” she asked, concerned.

“No, he's a player. He likes mingling with easy Earth girls. I'd rather get my thrills from succubi.”

“Isn't he supposed to find a Queen? You said as above, so below,” she says.

“Yes, he's supposed to during Lent only, as I mentioned briefly before. Earth is only for missions otherwise.”

“Missions?” she asks.

“Starting or ending wars, creating or taking life, and steering decisions among humans.”

“So do all angels and demons do missions?”

“No, only those in the court or selected by it do.”

Ana gasps as it all sinks in, “Wow! One of my parents was a demon.”

“Yes, or at least half-demon. I'd guess your father.”

Ana sighs, “So he might've been a player like Justin?”

“Maybe, or else he never knew. Usually, we like to know our offspring.”

Ana points to a road and then a small house on a hill, “We're here.”

“I'll carry her up. I can teleport home.”

“We can do that?” she gasps.

“You can't until you visit Hell. You'll get your powers then, and more if you become Misha's right hand.”

“This is all a drunken dream, right?” I laugh and give her a wink, which causes her to laugh. “Well, Prince, let's get your Princess put to bed. But what is she really?”

I look at Misha with pure reverence, “The perfect being and my Queen.”

She rolls her eyes, “Ass! Stop being vague. If I'm half-demon, what is she?”

I get Misha out of the car as the snow starts falling harder. I carry her up, and she doesn't stir.

I sigh as I lay her on her bed and turn to Ana. “She's a true hybrid. She's a demon, angel, and human, but only a tiny smidge is human. You, Ana, are what we call a halfling. You're half-human and half-demon. A halfling is a hybrid of sorts but nothing like Misha.

Ana looks at me firmly, “I will make her comfortable. You go dry yourself off because we need to talk.”