Demon of Desire

“There is something very familiar about that girl,” Kellan said as he leaned against the back seat of his Mercedes.

“Sir, I thought you were off high school girls?” Gabriel asked.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t look. Their naiveté and eagerness for life are what draws me to them. Even if I can’t eat them I love to smell them,” Kellan said, his voice smooth as his tongue swept lustfully across his lips.

“Of course, sir.”

“Anyway, that girl—do I know her from somewhere?” He ached for her but in a different kind of way.

“I don’t think so, sir.”

“Huh. Gabriel, take me back to the office.”

Kellan was the owner of one of the best insurance and financial agencies in New York by day and an incubus by night. He watched the girl as she walked alone down the street. Something about her fascinated him and he was sure that, until he figured out what it was, he would be Huston High School’s most frequent visitor.

“Good evening, Mr. Gutierrez. The reports on today’s sales are on your desk.”

Usually Kellan enjoyed walking through the busy offices in between the cubicles, just to see or feel the women gawk at him, but today he was preoccupied. He walked past his squeamish secretary. He remembered the first day he met her—he had only hired her because of her tits and her long black hair. But when relationship thoughts began settling into her mind he lost all interest in her.

In all his years of existence he had never been tied down to one woman, immortal or human, and he wasn’t about to start now. He ignored her as much as he could, and when she went to his office he would never let her hang around for more than ten seconds. He had thought of killing her but she was too efficient at her job.

“Uh-huh,” he responded casually.

He walked into his office and dropped into his leather chair. He spun it around and looked out of the window. He liked this view, and especially seeing all the women rushing about and knowing he could have any one of them.

“I don’t know where or when, but I have a feeling I have met that girl somewhere. But if I have, then why is she alive? I’m sure she doesn’t work in this building.”

* * * *

Sloan arrived home hours after Diana had. She could see the car already parked in the driveway. She went into the house and walked past her aunt and went up to her room.

“Why did you do that?” Diana busted into the room, clearly miffed.

Sloan had heard her footsteps behind her but she didn’t bother acknowledging her, neither then nor now.

“Can you answer me, Sloan? Why didn’t you want to ride home with us?”

“I’m used to walking. Besides, it’s healthy.” She finally found out where Chantal got her rage from as she watched Diana turn three shades of red.

“I came to pick you up.”

“You came to pick your daughter up. Chantal won’t share a house with me, what makes you think she will want to share a car with me?”

“We have already talked to her about it.”

“She must have taken it so well, considering she has abandoned her room.”

“She didn’t abandon it. She just went to her friends to do some homework.”

Sloan’s eyebrow rose in disbelief. “I thought her movement was restricted to this room this week?”

Diana looked away, her harsh voice turning into a sheepish stutter. “We lifted the punishment last night. She apologized.”

“To whom? Definitely not to me,” Sloan pushed, enjoying her aunt’s embarrassment.

“That doesn’t matter. Tomorrow when I come to pick you up, will you get into the car?”

Sloan saluted then whistled a careless tune. She was going to have to do things their way, for the meantime.

The next day of school Sloan sat quietly in the car, waiting for Diana and the kids. “We are ten minutes late, Aunt Diana,” she grumbled.

“Take a chill pill. We’ll get there in time,” Chantal spat back.

“Your cousin is right, you are late. Chantal, you’re going to have to wake up early if you want to straighten your hair,” Diana put in.

“I’ve realized that since Christy walked through our door I have never been right.”

“Maybe because no one has ever had the guts to tell you how wrong you are,” Sloan bit back at her, angered by Chantal’s challenge. She knew she wasn’t supposed to call her Christy and yet she did, just to piss her off!

“Mom!” Chantal whined.

“Not now, Chantal,” Diana retorted, then drove out the gate.

When Sloan got into homeroom she found her seat reserved by a pile of books. She had no doubt BB had put them there.

“BB, how’s it hanging?” Sloan chirped.

“How is what hanging?” A confused look crossed her face as she dropped her books to the ground.

“How is...whatever, just forget about it.” Sloan dumped her books on her desk and settled down.

“Excuse me.” A boy came up to Sloan’s desk.

“What?” BB answered.

“I just wanted to ask how you were, Christy.”

“It’s Sloan,” she corrected with a groan.

“I’m Drew,” he offered with a smile.

“Congratulations. I’m sure your momma must be proud. A blond, blue-eyed boy able to articulate his own name,” Sloan taunted.

“Don’t give him credit just yet. Drew, can you spell your name?” BB put in, a derogatory tone laced in her voice.

His smile faded and a scowl replaced it. “I don’t understand why you have to be so rude and mean to everyone who wants to talk to you.”

“Maybe it’s because we don’t want to talk to you. Actually I take that back, you aren’t that smart after all, D-R-E-W.” Sloan spelled out his name then used her fingers to shush him away.

The boy walked away, his ego and pride tucked between his legs.

“I can’t wait to be done with high school.” BB groaned, leaning on her backrest with her hands crossed over her chest.

“Two more months, BB, then no more dorky nerds and jock wannabes,” Sloan cooed.

That day after school she noticed the black Mercedes parked where it had been before. This time she didn’t walk away, she went right for it. Sloan pounded on the dark window then waited. The window rolled down and Sloan found herself staring into the hazel eyes of a strangely beautiful man.

“Hello.” The man’s deep voice carried a peculiar but sweet melody to her ears.

Sloan shook her head, snapping herself out of the trance the man had managed to trap her in with just his voice. “Why are you watching me?”

“What makes you think that I am?”

“Aren’t you? You’re looking straight at me,” she snapped back. “Are you one of those creepy old men who like little girls? You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Kellan opened the door and stepped out of the car. “Do I look old to you?”

She stepped back with a grin on her face and a slight nod. “Actually you look very beautiful, girlish beautiful.”

His eyes narrowed at her. “I’ll try to take that as a compliment. Where are you headed?”

“Do I look like the type to you?” Sloan’s impressed look turned to that of suspicion.

He looked at her in awe. “What type is that?”

“The type you can lure into your car and stuff into your trunk. Then, once you reach your hideout, tape me up and abuse me? Those types are still in the school compound. For a pervert you have a really bad eye.” She used her head to gesture at the school.

“Who has been filling your head with such rubbish?” Kellan chuckled.

“The news, do you watch that?” She grinned. “Or are you too busy staring at your beautiful face in the mirror?”

“You don’t pull any punches, do you?”

“Life wasn’t fair to me. I don’t see why I should be fair to anyone else.” She took a step back, a tightness forming at the back of her neck from looking up at him.

“Huh?” He looked back to being confused.

“There it is, the blank look and that annoying clueless sound. It goes very well with your blond hair, but the eyes are the wrong color,” she mused, her finger tapping on her lower lip as if she was deep in thought.

Kellan stepped back, laughing. Sloan exhaled then shrugged her shoulders. “Enough of this idle banter, I have to go wait for my aunt on the curb or else I will get grounded.” Giving him a salute, she turned and walked away.

“When can I see you again?” Kellan called out.

“How about never—no, that’s too soon. How about when hell freezes over?” Sloan yelled back.

“Tomorrow it is, then.” Kellan smiled.

She watched as he got back into his car. Sloan groaned when she saw Diana’s car parked at the curb. She had no doubt she was going to be interrogated.

“Who was that you were talking to?” Diana asked.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged.

“How do you talk to someone you don’t know?” she scolded in disbelief.

“If he interests you that much why don’t you go ask him for his autobiography? He is still parked there.” Sloan sank into the seat while she tried to get a peek at the car once more.

“Sloan, you shouldn’t talk to strangers.”

“Uh-huh,” she answered with very little concern.

* * * *

Kellan went back to the school the following day. He waited for Diana to drop her off and leave before he went to her. “Hi.” He tucked his fingers under her arm and gently pulled her to a stop.

Sloan shifted her gaze between his fingers and his face. Sensing the unfriendliness, Kellan let go and took a step back.

Sloan shook her head, clearly very amused. “You might take this hard, but I really think we should break up.”

“What?”

“It’s not me, it’s you. You are getting very clingy.” She started walking away from him. “Stalker type of clinging and I like my personal space.”

He couldn’t believe his ears. Never had a woman turned him down or sent him away. It was a breath of fresh air, although his ego was a bit bruised. The condescending tone in her voice was like the beautiful sound of wind chimes in autumn. Kellan looked around, trying to make sure no one saw him. He held her back again, but this time he didn’t let his hand linger. “Why not ditch school and spend the day with me?”

“I don’t ditch.”

“It’s not ditching, it’s called taking a day off.” He was eager to get her away from people to somewhere they could be alone. Although he wasn’t sure what they would do once they were.

“It doesn’t matter what fancy name you give it, it’s still ditching. Besides, what makes you think I would go with you? I don’t know you.” She turned to walk away again but he jumped in front of her, blocking her path.

“You haven’t taken the time to get to know me,” Kellan coaxed her.

“Fine.” Sloan went to the back of the car and took out her phone. She took a photo of the number plates then a photo of Kellan’s face.

“What are you doing?” Kellan looked at her, puzzled yet amused.

“This is a ‘last seen’ picture.” She pressed the send button.

“A what?” He wasn’t amused anymore. He didn’t like getting his picture taken. Especially if it was being sent to someone he didn’t know and couldn’t get to.

“If you do kidnap me, my friend is going to go to the police with the number plates of this car and your pretty face. Then they will arrest you and pass you around D block.” Sloan perked up her eyebrows at him, a challenging smile on her face.

“You don’t trust anyone, do you?” It came out like a fact rather than a question.

“Not unless I can carry them. Babies I trust, they are still immune to the evils of this world. You seem to be six feet tall and I’m sure those muscles weigh a ton.” Sloan walked across the street.

“Now where are you going?” Kellan jogged after her.

“Why are you following me? Don’t you think it would look suspicious if a young African-American girl entered the car with an older Mexican man at the school gates?”

“Are you worried that I’m older or Mexican?”

“I don’t care if you are Martian, but the school administration will. So why don’t you tell your driver to roll the car on this side of the street.”

Kellan whistled then beckoned the driver to follow them across the street. He opened the door for her and waited for her to enter.

“I guess I should thank you for the courteous gesture,” she said as she got in.

“But you won’t.” Kellan laughed.

“You’ve met me only once and already you know me so well.” Her voice was high-pitched and sarcastically sweet.

“Are you ever nice?” he asked, getting in next to her.

“I don’t know, but when I do say something nice, hit me. I don’t do nice. So, pretty face, where are you taking me?” Kellan noticed her eyes widen as she took in the interior of the vehicle.

“My name is Levy.” Kellan used the name the world knew him by.

“Congratulations I’m sure—” Sloan swallowed the last words. “Sorry, reflex reaction. My name is Sloan.” She held out her hand and he shook it.

“What an odd name for a girl.”

She raised her eyebrow in sarcasm. “Levy isn’t such a great name either. Do you have a last name to go with it?” Sloan poked at the leather seats.

He caught her fingers to stop her from ruining his seats. “Gutierrez. And what’s yours?”

She pulled her hand out of his. “Just Sloan,” she huffed. “Where are you taking me, Levy Gutierrez?”

“I don’t know. I thought that since it’s your day off you could decide.”

“The main point of planning a hooky is knowing what happens next, Mr. Gutierrez.”

“You can call me Levy. Why don’t we go to the mall…I can take you shopping?”

“No thanks. You could take me where you work, that way I can get to know you better,” Sloan suggested.

“It will be boring for you.”

“My life is boring but I’m still hanging on. Take me where you make your money, Levy.”

“Okay, Gabriel, let’s go to the office.” He watched her expressionless face, wondering what she was thinking about. He would have loved to know what she was thinking. But not knowing what she was thinking was more exciting.

Kellan anticipated the millions of eyes that were bound to fall on him once he got off the elevator, but this time it would be different. They would not only be looking at him, but at his female companion.

“Are you ready to enter the smaller half of my world?” Kellan tried to sound excited for her sake.

“Lead on, Levy,” Sloan said.

When the elevator doors opened Kellan walked ahead, only turning back to look at Sloan when she lagged behind.

“They are all staring at you. Think your good looks are hazardous to these women’s hearts.” She sniggered.

“Stop that, Sloan. You will make them think that I’m actually nice.”

“You aren’t?” She pointed at the secretary. “Look at her…shouldn’t you call an ambulance or something?”

“Why?”

“Because I think she just had a stroke.”

“Good morning, Mr. Gutierrez,” the secretary finally spoke.

“False alarm, she’s good,” Sloan teased once more.

“Good morning, do I have any messages?” His response was colder than usual.

“No, sir.” She stared at Sloan.

“Hold all my calls, unless it’s important.”

“How do I know what’s important?”

Kellan tapped the side of her temple with his index finger. “Unless the market is crashing, don’t interrupt me. Understood?”

She cringed. “Yes, sir.”

“Let’s go, Sloan.” Kellan led Sloan to his office.

“Nice. I’m impressed. The black everything really brings life into this room, and it must reflect your cold, dark personality,” she said, commenting on the office decor as she walked around the room.

“Are you teasing me?” he asked as he followed her, wondering what she would think if she actually knew just how dark he was.

“No, I’m serious. I like the color black. I think it’s mysterious.”

“You are mysterious.” Kellan looked into her eyes and found himself taken by them. He held her gaze until she broke it.

“You could get arrested for that,” she said, shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

“For what?” He grinned. This was the first normal, girly reaction he’d seen from her.

“For flirting with a minor. I am sixteen years old for your information—jailbait.”

“So you must be in your junior year.” He sensed how uncomfortable she was, but yet her strength was evident.

“Senior, actually. Apparently I’m too smart for those clowns.” Sloan walked toward the window. “Great view.”

“I like it.” He watched her move around his office with no ladylike grace whatsoever. Even men had more grace than she did.

“That’s because you can see all the little people from up here. My uncle is a big shot in the corporate world too.” She was making idle conversation and he knew it.

“Really, what does he do?” He sat on his desk and watched as the light bounced off her chocolate complexion. It exposed the delicate and beautiful side of her that she made an effort to hide behind her rude demeanor.

“Corporate law.”

“What about your father?”

“He isn’t doing anything right now. He is too busy being dead.”

As much as she tried to hide it, Kellan could hear the pain in her voice and, to his amazement, it moved him. He stood up and went to her. “I’m sorry,” he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Sloan shrugged her shoulder as if rolling the unwanted emotions off. Kellan realized that this was just one of many defense mechanisms. “Why? It’s not as if you killed them.”

“Them?”

“My mother was killed too, and somehow I survived. I guess the killers were sloppy.”

“You shouldn’t say that. What happened?” Kellan felt out of sorts. He rarely cared but something about Sloan reeled him in.

“Home invasion. I guess they were looking for something but couldn’t find it. So they went for the next best thing.”

“I’m glad you are alive.” Kellan tried to reach out to her but she only pulled away.

“That makes one of us,” she chortled, “because I’m not.” She turned to face him, leaning on the dark wall. “Now I’m stuck with my uncle and his bizarre family. I don’t know what I would rather be—a ward of the state or part of the Sloan clan.”

“If you hate it so much why don’t you leave?” He leaned on the wall next to her.

“Did you miss the part where I said I’m sixteen? Even if I join college next year I’m still under their care. I just don’t know why they decided they wanted me all of a sudden.”

“What do you mean?” He turned to face her, his shoulder against the wall.

“Six years pass without a word from them, and then Uncle Edwin comes to pick me up. Anyway it doesn’t matter now, I’m here.”

“I have to thank your uncle for that. If he hadn’t dragged you here I wouldn’t have met you.” He stroked her cheek.

* * * *

Sloan looked into his eyes one more time and retreated. “Send him a gift basket if you want to, but don’t add my name on the card.” She spoke as she walked to the other end of the room. “It’s cool that I met you and all, but I miss my grandmother.”

“If I take you to see her will you smile for me?” He walked toward her.

“That wouldn’t be possible. I mean, such a trip wouldn’t fit in one school day. She lives in Kenya.” She walked behind his desk, putting the piece of furniture between them. She didn’t like the way he stalked toward her and the way talked to her and touched her, like a piece of meat he was about to chew on.

“I can get you there. You could run away for a week or so. During that time you could spend time with your grandmother and me.” He walked round the table, but she kept the desk between them.

“I am getting a very weird, creepy vibe from you,” she said, taking several steps away.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“I don’t know if it is my imagination, but it seems like you keep following me. If you keep at it, we are going to circle this room like twenty times.”

“There is something about you that just calls to me.” There was a dreamy note in his tone, potent with desire.

She stared at him, her mind calibrating, trying to figure out if this was the part where she turned around and ran away screaming “stranger danger.” “Something about me calls to you?” She blinked a few times and shook her head. “Remember that weird vibe I was talking about? Now it’s like an alarm in my head. I think I’d better get back to school.”

Kellan stiffened, as if the idea of her leaving him made him uneasy. “How about we make a deal? I will stop creeping you out and you accompany me to lunch.”

She eyed him cautiously, wondering what was wrong with the guy. What did he see in her that she couldn’t? Why not find out? She thought to herself. “I could eat.”

“Then you should.”

“On one condition. You need to get me back to school in two hours.”

“Already?”

“It’s been a couple of hours, dude, and my school day ends at three. If you want this to go on you need to get me to school before my auntie gets there,” she said, tapping her watch.

“I feed you and take you back to school, but before that I’m taking you shopping,” Kellan instructed as he called for his car.

“Why do you have this need to spend your money on me?” Sloan eyed him with black suspicion.

“You are special.”

“Thanks, you really know how to make a girl feel like a million bucks.” She grabbed a paper clip from his desk and fiddled with it as they made their way out.

Kellan opened the door for her as a gentleman should. “I won’t be back for the rest of the day. If there are any important calls, send them to my cell,” he instructed his secretary without a glance at her.

Kellan walked away, his hand placed firmly on Sloan’s back. There was no doubt he could see all the eyes on them and hear all their whispers, but whatever they said didn’t bother him at all.

“Where would you like to eat?” He got into the car and sat next to her.

“McDonald’s has always been a fan favorite,” she answered absently as she moved closer to the door, putting some distance between them.

“Are you serious? You have the option of eating anywhere you want, and you pick a burger place?” He bit down on his lower lip as his gaze traced the contours of her face with open admiration.

“Burger and fries. Gabriel, we are going to McDonald’s.”

“I’m afraid my driver doesn’t follow anyone else’s orders,” he said with a chuckle.

“Mr. Gutierrez, would you please give the order, because I’m starving,” she chimed with a fake sweetness.

“Gabriel, take us to the nearest McDonald’s.”

They sat in the furthest corner, away from all the straying eyes. Although he was obviously the kind of man who usually liked the attention, right now he didn’t seem to want anything to interrupt him and Sloan.

“Aren’t you eating?” Sloan choked out as she wolfed down her burger.

“I don’t eat cow and besides, I want to watch you eat. I have never seen a woman eat with that much disregard for who was sitting across the table.” He handed her a napkin.

“I’m hungry and right now the only thing that matters is satisfying that hunger. I don’t have time to be fashionable about it.”

“You always seem to surprise me, and with each second I end up liking you even more.”

The compliment made her uncomfortable, as did his constant staring. “I think I have tempted fate enough for today.” She pushed her tray aside.

“Fate could never hold a candle to you, my dear.”

“There is the crazy talk. I have tempted fate because I jumped into the back of a car with a man I do not know, and I ended up alone with him more than once. So I think it’s time for me to head on back to school.” She got up and headed for the door.

“Not yet, you have to go shopping first.” He chased after her, opening the door for her.

“Oh yeah, that. I don’t like shopping.” She shook her head for emphasis.

“I’ll shop. All you have to do is accept everything I give to you. Deal?” He opened the car door for her and waited.

“Okay, I’ll bite. But we aren’t spending more than ten minutes in that damn shop,” she warned.

“That is fine with me.”

Sloan kept on glancing at her watch the whole time Kellan went around the shops. She didn’t want to get in trouble with her hosts. “Levy, we need to hit the road.”

“Just a second.” Kellan went into the last shop, a jeweler.

When he stepped out of the jewelry shops and got back into the car, Sloan called it, “It’s been three hours.

“I’m done, now we can go back to your school.”

“Great.” Sloan half-walked and half-ran to the parking lot. She didn’t wait for Kellan to open the door for her this time.

“Thanks for a strange but awesome day, but right now I’ve got to go.” She opened the door to get out but Kellan held her back.

“I didn’t spend all that time shopping so that you could leave them behind. Here--shove them in you backpack, you can look at them when you get home. I have also dropped my card in there, give me a call.” He held out a tiny bag to her. Hesitant, Sloan stared at it before grabbing it and opening the car door.

“Awesome. I’ll see you later.” She leaped out of the car and dashed to the gates just as the final bell rang.

“So there is a later?” Kellan shouted after her but she didn’t respond.

* * * *

Sloan slumped down when she got into the back seat of the minivan. She was trying to avoid Diana’s accusing eyes glaring at her in the rear view mirror. After a few seconds, she got uncomfortable under her gaze. Shifting around in her seat, she gave up trying to avoid the inevitable.

“Sloan, I saw that car again. I’m glad you didn’t talk to him today,” Diana said.

“Me too,” she lied smoothly. She looked over her shoulder and, when she couldn’t see the black Mercedes anymore, she sank deeper in her seat. Immediately after Sloan got home she ran into the bathroom. She wanted to see what Kellan had got her, since she hadn’t paid attention to his shopping at the time. The first bag she pulled out was blue with the name Tiffany engraved on the side.

“Tiffany? This better not be some doll.” She dug her hand into the bag and took out a small box. When she opened it, she was left stunned.

The diamond, angel-shaped ring was astounding. She didn’t know exactly what it was supposed to mean, and even less what it cost. She got out the other bags and dangled them upside down. A silver necklace and a cell phone dropped from the bags. Sloan sat on the floor of the bathroom, staring at her new possessions, but the one that stuck out was the ring on her finger. She sifted through the clutter inside her purse and found his card. Without hesitating she dialed his number.

“This is Levy,” came the reply from the other end.

“It better be, because he has to explain the meaning of these gifts,” she hissed back, yanking the ring off her finger. She wasn’t mad, neither was she happy. She just didn’t know what to feel, except perhaps invaded.

“You sound annoyed, Sloan.”

“Annoyed? I’m livid. There is a diamond ring, a silver bracelet and a cell phone in here.” She picked up each item as she sounded them out.

Sloan wasn’t amused. “I’m going to give all this back tomorrow.”

“No, you’re not. They are yours. Keep them....please, Sloan.”

“Levy—”

“Please, Sloan.”

“Hey, Sloan, get out of there. I need to use the bathroom.” Sloan was startled by Chantal’s banging on the door.

“You can see I’m in here, can’t you? Go to a different bathroom,” Sloan shouted back.

“But I want to use this one,” she whined.

“Well you will have to wait. I hope your bladder is good enough to hold it for another…I don’t know, two hours,” she jeered.

“Sloan, get out!” Chantal yelled.

When the banging stopped, she went back to the phone. “Sorry, Levy, my cousin and I were having a loving conversation.”

“Why do you put up with all of that?” he asked.

“What else am I supposed to do?”

The banging began again, but this time it was Edwin.

“Sloan, out. Now!”

“Who is that?” Kellan sounded angry.

“My uncle. I guess I have to go now.”

“I’m coming to pick you up.”

She laughed, very amused by him. “No you’re not. Besides, you don’t know where I live.”

“You can tell me where it is, and I will be there as soon as I can.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Besides, you are about to cross the line to being a stalker.”

“Sloan!” She could tell by Edwin’s voice his patience had worn out.

“I have to go. See you tomorrow, bye.”

Sloan shoved the bags and the gifts back into her back pack and zipped it up. Then she unlocked the door and, without making eye contact with either of them, walked out of the bathroom.

“It’s all yours.” She bowed, pointing to the bathroom.

“I don’t want to use the bathroom. I just wanted to know what you were doing,” Chantal spat out.

“You little spoiled—” she hissed between clenched teeth, her hands itching to wrap around her neck and squeeze.

“Sloan, what were you doing in there?” Edwin asked.

“What else do people do in a bathroom?” She walked away, not letting her backpack out of her grip. She stopped and turned to them, a cynical smile on her lips. “But if you want a play-by-play I could re-enact it for you. It won’t be pretty.”

Edwin huffed. “Forget I even asked,” he mumbled, walking away.

“But Daddy!” Chantal whimpered, following him.

“Mind your own business, Chantal!” he barked at her.

Sloan smiled, dropping onto her bed with her bag held close to her side. “What is it you want from me, Señor Levy Gutierrez?”

* * * *

Kellan and Sloan spent all the days she could get off school together. But it all came to a sudden halt when the school administration, having noticed her absence during classes, called Sloan and Edwin into the principal’s office.

“Mr. Sloan, your niece has only attended two classes this week. We have no idea where she spends the rest of her time,” the stout principal bellowed as he tried to fit his pot belly under his desk.

Edwin turned to face her. “Sloan, would you care to respond to that?”

Sloan’s expressionless face and sudden muteness did not offer them much. She sank down in her seat, avoiding eye contact with the two men.

“Young lady, if you do not give us a good enough explanation I will have to expel you.”

“Don’t you think you are blowing this way out of proportion?” Sloan yelped.

“We need answers, Christy.”

“Sloan! My name is Sloan, and there is no need to bring down the law. I’ll tell you where I go.” Sloan decided to concede. There was no way she would escape her uncle if she didn’t go to college.

“We are waiting,” Edwin urged.

“Work experience. I have been learning about the corporate world—to be more specific, the stock market and insurance.”

“I don’t understand—what you mean?”

“I have been visiting the Gutierrez Insurance and Financial Agency.”

“Gutierrez? By that do you mean Levy Gutierrez?” Edwin sounded impressed more than he was annoyed.

“Why did he take an interest in you?” the principal asked, evidently doubtful.

“Why? Do you think I’m lying to you?”

“Honestly, I do think you are lying. How could you have possibly met one of the most powerful men in New York?” the principal pointed out. A smug look on his face, he seemed happy to have caught her in what he clearly believed a lie.

Sloan stared the plump man down before taking out her phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Saving my hide from being expelled by a non-believer.” She waited as the dialing tone rang in her ear.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?” Kellan answered. He sounded glad she’d called him.

“Didn’t your momma teach you how to greet people? Anyway I’m in school and I’m in a bit of a jam.”

“What can I do to help?”

She smiled, arching her eyebrow victoriously at the plump man. “That’s why you are one of my favorite people.” Sloan decided to hurry things along when she heard the impatient cough of her principal. “The school noticed the number of hours I have been putting into my education and now they are threatening to expel me. So I told them I was with you.”

“Oh, okay. So why are you calling me?”

“They didn’t believe me. So if you could just jump into that fancy Mercedes and mosey on down here I would greatly appreciate it.”

The line went silent for a while. Sloan got alarmed. “Levy, you have got to help me out here.”

“I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Twenty minutes,” Sloan announced when she hang up the phone.

“Young lady, may I warn you that if this is some kind of joke you will leave this school in the next twenty minutes,” the principal warned.

“And if it isn’t, you can’t expel or suspend me. I don’t even get a minute of detention.” She decided to push her luck and bargain a little further.

“You are not in a position to negotiate, Sloan,” Edwin warned.

Sloan sat in the corridor for the next twenty minutes, hoping and praying that Levy would turn up. Edwin stayed in the principal’s office, chatting him up, no doubt trying to make sure she didn’t get expelled.

* * * *

“Where are we going, sir?” Gabriel asked as he opened the door for Kellan.

“The same place we always go—Hudson High. You need to get there in less than ten minutes.” He leaned back against the seat, wondering how this meeting would end.

At the school Kellan walked down corridors, a swarm of students rushing in different directions. He turned a couple of times when he could feel the stares on the back of his neck or hear the chatter of the girls he walked past.

Sloan leaped up and ran to Kellan when he came round the corner. Looking behind him she could see the quorum of admirers that he had managed to string along with him.

“I can never take you anywhere,” Sloan teased.

“I know the feeling. So what kind of trouble did I get you into?” He took her hand as they walked toward the principal’s office.

“Heaps of the wrong kind of trouble, and you better be able to get me out of it,” she threatened.

“I’ll try.” He dropped her hand when they strolled into the office. “Morning,” Kellan said in a very stern, businesslike manner.

“Morning,” Edwin responded, surprised and alarmed.

“Levy, this is my principal and my uncle. This is Levy Gutierrez, my mentor,” she said with a challenging smile on her face.

Kellan snickered at the last word as he extended his greetings to both men. His intentions for her were anything but mentorship.

“Levy—” the plump man began.

“Mr. Gutierrez,” Kellan corrected.

“Mr. Gutierrez,” the principal continued, “Christy insists that you have been mentoring her during school hours.”

“Yes, Sloan,” he stressed her name, “and I have been working at my office at times. I didn’t think it would be a problem since I’m teaching her something valuable.” Kellan eased into a seat next to Sloan and crossed his legs.

“Well what she learns here is equally as important. Besides, you cannot take her off school grounds without the proper authority.”

“I assume that authority is you…or is it Mr. Sloan?” he asked, turning his attention to Edwin.

“I just… I’m not sure about your interest in my niece.” Edwin glared at him with black suspicion.

“It’s completely professional. I have been thinking of offering college scholarships, but I need to know the kind of students I will be spending my money on.”

“Is my niece a candidate?” Edwin asked, his tone speculatory.

Kellan smiled. “No, actually she is a beneficiary.” Then he went quiet for a second and really stared at him. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

“I’m a corporate lawyer—”

“I know that, and it is impossible for us to have met in the professional realm. I don’t handle any of my businesses personally, but you look very familiar.”

“No, you and I have not met personally.”

Kellan dismissed it with a shrug. He’d been around for a long time and by now the mortals were all beginning to look alike to him. “Whatever…what do I have to do to make this go away?” Kellan now directed his attention to the principal.

“You can’t just throw money at it,” Edwin protested.

Ignoring him, Kellan proposed a deal to the principal that he knew he wouldn’t refuse, “This is a public school and I am sure you are short on resources. So how do two dozen computers sound?”

“It’s a big school, with many students,” Sloan contributed.

Amused, Kellan bettered his offer. “How does eight dozen sound?”

“That is more than generous, sir,” the plump man answered, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

“Let’s make it a hundred,” Sloan put in. “Come on, a hundred computers will not make you bankrupt. It won’t even make a dent in your account.”

Laughing, Kellan conceded. “That’s true. So do we have a deal?”

“Sure, but Sloan has to learn how to respect authority,” the principal said.

“That is your department, not mine. If my work is done here, I think I better get going,” he said as he stood up.

“Sir, do you think that you could address the students? I’m sure you will be an inspiration to them,” the principal solicited.

“I’m only interested in inspiring one student in this school. I better go—I have an empire to run. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Sloan.”

“Same here.” Edwin pulled Sloan to his side.

Kellan laughed at his reaction. If he only knew how right he was to try and protect his niece but, then again, Edwin could do very little against him. “Talk to you later,” he said, addressing Sloan.

“Definitely.” Sloan wiggled her way out of her uncle’s embrace and marched out of the office.

“I don’t have any ill intentions toward your niece,” Kellan said, trying to reassure him. He didn’t like Edwin at all but he knew that, as Sloan’s guardian, he had the power to make her stop seeing him—figuratively, that is.

“I’m sure you don’t. But either way I would like you to only see my niece when an adult is with you.” Edwin took a step back away from Kellan’s intimidating gaze.

“That’s fine with me, but I don’t think she will like that much.”

“I don’t care what she likes.”

Clenching his jaw and taking a step toward the physically inferior man, he said, “I do,” then turned away and walked to the door. But, before walking out, he turned to the plump man. “You will receive the computers by this evening.”

“Thank you, Mr. Gutierrez, the school—” Before the other man could complete his line of thought, Kellan had already walked out and shut the door behind him with a bang.

* * * *

“Who was the dude you were groping in the hall?” BB ignored the teacher’s request for silence in class as she asked Sloan the question on every girl’s mind.

“He’s just a friend of mine.”

“The ‘in case of abduction, last seen with’ picture you sent me…that’s him, right?”

“It is.”

“The picture doesn’t do him any justice,” BB said with a giggle, which made Sloan giggle too.

“He is kind of beautiful, isn’t he?”

“That’s obvious, but he’s not my type. I like guys with a little more cushion.”

Laughing, Sloan tilted her head to the side to get a better look at her goth friend. She never thought there was a real live person capable of feeling lust under all that black get-up.

“What are you laughing at?” BB asked, very bothered.

“Christy, Barbra, would you like to share your discussion with the class?” the petite teacher called out.

“No, not really,” BB responded.

“I don’t mind telling you what we were talking about. I’m sure all the girls in this class would like to know too,” Sloan answered.

“And what would that be?”

“The guy I was with, his name is Levy Gutierrez. He owns one of the biggest insurance and financing companies in New York. He is also the man who is going to furnish our school with new computers.”

“That is wonderful, but I don’t get the joke,” the teacher responded, a little irate.

“That’s because I haven’t said it yet. BB was just commenting on how he lacked—” She got off her seat and turned her back to the rest of the class then waved her hand over her derriere, “—the adequate assets.”

The entire class erupted in laughter, leaving the teacher with no choice but to send Sloan out.

“Christy—”

“Sloan. If you want me to respond you will address me as Sloan,” she demanded.

“All right, Sloan, please leave my class and I will see you during detention.”

With a tight smile, Sloan grabbed her books and marched out of the class. She ran quickly to her locker and dumped her books. She knew where she was headed next, and it was definitely not fifth period.

Sloan didn’t have any friends. She had only one place she could go. She made her way to Levy’s office, hoping that her already bad day wouldn’t take a turn for the worse. When she got into his building, she met the infatuated secretary who seemed to be trying everything to make her leave. For some reason the older woman thought she was some sort of threat to her.

“You can’t just come in here like this. You need an appointment and permission.” She tried to grab Sloan’s arm once more.

“Actually I don’t. Levy, could you get this stray dog off me,” Sloan said, trying to shake her hand off.

“Get out of my office,” Kellan said sharply, his stern look directed at his secretary who immediately dropped Sloan’s arm and scrambled out of the office.

“Hey, sweetheart, I’m glad you’re here, but my accountant is going to have a stroke if I have to buy Hudson High another hundred computers.”

“I know that, I just came to say thank you before I head to detention. You really came through for me. I can’t afford to get expelled—college is my only way out of here.”

“No, it’s not. You have me.”

“Thank you for that. It seems you are the only person I can depend on.”

“I’m glad. Should I take you back to school now?”

“No, I better take the bus. Besides, I don’t think Gabriel likes me very much.”

“I’ll drive you.” Kellan sifted through his desk of assorted car keys and grabbed the BMW keys.

“Are you sure about that? My uncle doesn’t want you anywhere near me,” she said, digging her hands uncomfortably in her back pockets. She didn’t want to piss off Edwin any more than she already had.

“And yet you are here.” He stroked her cheek but she pulled away.

“I don’t respond well to imposed authority. We should go now, that’s if the offer is still on the table?”

“Definitely. Let’s go. How do you like the cell phone I got you?” he asked, leading the way out of his office.

“I haven’t turned it on yet. It’s still under my mattress.”

“My feelings are hurt,” Kellan teased.

“Poor baby,” Sloan jived back. “I just don’t want my nosy cousin coming across the gifts. I already have enough problems.”

“One day I’m going to take you away and never bring you back home.”

“Kidnapping…you don’t look like the type.”

Kellan and Sloan went down to the basement parking. She wasn’t sure which direction to walk in so she walked behind him. When Kellan stopped at a white BMW convertible Sloan couldn’t restrain her shocked gasp.

“Nice wheels,” Sloan managed to choke out after sounding out a loud whistle.

“It’s not my favorite, but thanks. Would you like to keep it?” He dangled the key in front of her face.

“Stop teasing me. Besides, I can’t drive.”

“I think it’s time you learn. Here, take the keys,” he said, holding them out to her.

“Aren’t you afraid for your life?” Sloan bit her finger as her eyes locked on the car key.

“You’ll be surprised how much I can withstand without getting hurt.” He dangled the key in front of her face once more.

“Okay, okay, okay. But if I crash this car I’m not liable.”

“If you crash this car I’ll get you one of your own and you will have no choice but to take it.”

“Don’t give me any ideas.” Sloan grabbed the key and jumped into the driver’s seat. “Give me a step-by-step guide through this. What do I do first?”

Kellan chuckled as he went round to the passenger seat. He watched her as she smoothed her hand over the steering wheel and the gearstick.

“Are you sure you want me to drive this?”

“I want you to keep it, but you can drive it for now. Put the key in the ignition.”

Sloan looked at the side of the steering wheel but couldn’t see a slot for the key. “I think you were duped. I don’t see the ignition here.”

“That’s because it’s down here, next to the gear box,” he said, placing his finger on it.

“Oh?” Sloan moved her seat forward so that she could get to the pedals. “There are only two pedals here.”

“The gas and the brakes—this is an automatic car, you don’t need the clutch.”

“I must seem very naïve to you,” she remarked, feeling a little embarrassed.

“You might be oblivious about cars but you’re not naïve. Turn the car on, set the gear on drive and step on the gas.” Kellan used his fingers to indicate what was what.

“Three basic steps.” Sloan took in a deep breath then started the three steps, sounding them out as she did the actions. “Turn the car on, set the gear on drive and step on the gas.” The car lunged forward, startling Sloan. “Whoa, was that supposed to happen?”

“No, but you seem to be getting the hang of it. Now, slowly put your foot on the gas pedal and gently ease it down.”

Sloan did as she was instructed and slowly they eased out of the basement parking and into the busy city streets.

* * * *

“Thank you for meeting me here on such short notice.” Edwin stretched a nervous hand to his companions.

“What seems to be the problem, Edwin?” The man gave him a mean look, one contrary to his beautiful face. Apart from the scar that ran from his cheek to his neck he was perfect. He looked harmless, but the armory he hang on his belt said otherwise.

Edwin looked at the stranger, taken aback by his hostile tone. He wasn’t sure what to make of him but then, since he was the type to hang around Archer’s crowd, Edwin didn’t see the need for introductions.

“Archer,” he began looking away from the stranger, “I can’t be a hundred percent sure of this, but I think Kellan is alive,” Edwin said nervously.

“Kellan—are you sure of what you are saying?” Archer asked harshly.

“I’m not sure, but my brother pointed him out to me once.” He was trying to sift through his foggy memory.

“Where did you see him?” He took off his long duster and laid it on the table, exposing his multiple tattoos.

“At my niece’s school. He’s been picking her up from there for the past couple of weeks. They have been spending time together.”

“William’s daughter…she’s back in the States?” the stranger asked, very alarmed.

“Yes, she is. I brought her back a couple of weeks ago.”

“Why? Didn’t we tell you it would be safer for her to stay in Kenya? Why do you always have to assume that you are smarter than we are?” Archer banged his fist on the table, drawing the attention of everyone around them.

“Calm down, I had to bring her back. She just turned sixteen—”

“Let me guess—you want a piece of the inheritance William left her?”

“No, I just don’t want Chemtai’s family to get any part of it. I didn’t call you here to talk about the inheritance. You need to do something about Kellan.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” He stared down at the ground, deep in thought.

“Should I take Sloan away from here?”

“The only thing you will accomplish with that is pissing him off. He has a bond with her…the question is whether he has figured it out yet.”

“What bond?” Edwin inched closer to him.

“The scar on her back. He gave it to her. The only reason why he is drawn to her is because he left a part of himself in her.”

“So he’s drawn to himself?” Edwin asked, even more confused.

“Yes, and now that he knows her, he will be able to find her, wherever you think of hiding her.” He drove his fist down onto the table once more. “That’s why you shouldn’t have brought her back here in the first place.”

“You told me he had left, that he wouldn’t be coming back to New York.” Anxiety echoed in Edwin’s voice.

“Well, now he is back and I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Are you going to kill him?” Edwin asked hopefully.

“I have been trying for years and his breathing says a lot about the success of my efforts. No one can get close enough to do enough damage.” Archer took a deep breath, apparently wishing his meeting with death hadn’t been so impromptu. “I’m going to pay Levy Gutierrez a visit.”

“You know his alias?”

“It’s not his alias, those are his full names. Kellan is just a name he picked up over the years.” Archer added, standing up, “I’m going to warn him off and hopefully he will leave William’s daughter alone.”

“Thank you.” Edwin stretched out his hand but Archer turned his back to it, picked up his jacket and walked away. The other toffee-colored man who’d only said a handful of words stood up slowly, his murderous gaze on Edwin. He grunted at him, making Edwin flinch, and then he too walked away, following Archer.

“No one is going to ruin my plans, especially not the devil’s son.” Edwin muttered to himself.

* * * *

“I think you now know how to drive a car.” Kellan chuckled as they drove up to the school.

“I should get a license just in case I change my mind about keeping this car.”

“I can get you one without the hassle…just say the word.”

“Legally or illegally?” Sloan asked with an arched brow.

He chuckled. “A legal driver’s license. I wouldn’t put you in trouble.”

She pulled up in front of the school and turned the engine off. “Thanks for the ride. I guess I’ll call you later.” Sloan flashed him a smile.

“You’re welcome. You should get back to school before they realize you’re not here.” Kellan stiffened, a cold chill creeping up the back of his neck. He turned around and spotted the cause of it. Judging by his attire and weapons, Kellan knew that it was a hunter who was watching them. For years they hadn’t been able to track him and he had thought that he was finally free of them. But now that he took an interest in a teenage girl they had reappeared out of thin air.

“Go to school, Sloan.” Kellan’s voice was harsh and strained.

“What’s wrong?”

Kellan turned back to her, his lips in a tight smile. “Nothing, just go to school,” he said. His arm stretched past her and opened her door.

“Aren’t you in a hurry to get rid of me today?” Sloan pushed the door open and stepped out of the car.

Kellan walked round to meet her. He embraced her quickly and when he pulled away he caught a whiff of a familiar scent he had never noticed before.

“Hey, did you just smell me?” Sloan pulled away.

“Are you wearing any perfume?” he asked, the scent slowly making a connection with his memories.

“I come to school every day, not a social gathering at the country club. I don’t wear perfume. I better go to school.” Sloan began walking across the street when Kellan embraced her once more, but this time his hand fell on her lower back. He could feel the subtle yet present mold of her skin. “What’s this?”

“On my back? It’s a scar. I got it during the home invasion. One of those guys cut me with something. The doctors think it was a pitchfork.” She turned around and lifted her top for him to see. “Take a look, I bet it’s pretty disgusting.”

Kellan stared at the four scars that ran parallel across her back and he felt like he had a weight in his chest. As much as he wished he didn’t, he knew where they came from. Slowly he raised his hand and put his four fingers over them. The reality of it felt like a punch in the gut. He quickly pulled his hand away and yanked her top down.

“Why didn’t you tell me you had this?” he demanded with a shaky voice.

Sloan stared at him with a creased brow. “You never asked. Why are you so tensed up all of a sudden?” she asked, fisting a handful of his shirt on his side. “I’ve never seen you like this before. Are you okay?”

Kellan pulled both of her hands up and held them to his chest, “What’s your first name, and please don’t give me any snippy answers.”

“It’s…Christy,” she whispered.

His heart fell into his stomach once everything had connected to his memories. Chemtai’s pained voice screaming for her daughter Christy echoed loudly in his ears.

Christy Sloan…of course, that’s why she looks so familiar. She looks just like her mother. How was she able to survive the attack? Now I know why I’m drawn to her, but it shouldn’t be so hard for me to get into her mind. He stared into her eyes one more time as a battery of thoughts flowed through his mind.

“What? Don’t you like it? My mother picked it.”

Kellan pulled himself back to reality. He drew his lips in a smile for her benefit. “No, it’s not that. Your name is beautiful. You better get going.”

Kellan raised his head and found that the hunter hadn’t moved. He knew that he must have already known what he just found out. Quickly he held onto Sloan’s elbow and dragged her across the street.

“Hey, what’s going on with you?” she protested, half-running beside him.

“Pay close attention to what I’m going to tell you. Under no circumstance are you to get into a car with a stranger,” he rapped out, his voice filled with urgency.

Sloan laughed. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Sloan’s smile dropped and Kellan hated seeing the panic in her eyes. “You’re scaring me.”

He stopped and pulled her close, spotting the fear in her eyes. He bent down to look her straight in the eye. “Don’t be, no one will ever hurt you. We have a bond that no one can ever break, because they will never understand it. I’m going away for a while but you will never be alone. Someone will always be watching over you.”

“I don’t understand.” Sloan seemed to sense the feeling of loss that overtook him.

Placing both his palms on her face, he kissed her lightly on her forehead and then he pulled away and smiled sweetly at her. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.”

“When you say soon, what exactly do you mean?” she asked, chewing on her lower lip.

“I mean soon. I’ll be back for you, and you can keep the car.”

“As a consolation prize? It still doesn’t make up for the fact that you are ditching me.”

“I’m not ditching you. I’ll be back, I promise. Go to school. I’ll call you later.” He turned her around and nudged her forward.

“Fine! Keep your car!”

Kellan turned to face Archer, letting his anger course through his body like wildfire. He knew what he was there for, to warn him off Sloan. He only turned to walk away when Archer crossed the street and disappeared round a corner.

Now he had to leave. He needed time and space from Sloan to think. Plus he couldn’t hang around her anymore now that the hunters knew he was back. He got in his car and sped off.