Stuck With You

Part 21

The vampire shook his head, denying the command.  “Touch her, Drake.”  He shook his head once more, and that was good enough of an answer for Aidirian.  His hand rose, empty when the vampire looked into it, but as Aidirian swung it towards Drake’s heart, the wooden stake formed.  It slid through Drake’s ribs, hitting his heart directly.  As the vampire’s ash fell to the ground, Aidirian let the stake disappear.

“The rest of you now,” Aidirian said, motioning towards Celeste.  “Touch her.”

Innocence blinked at him, a smile on her face.  Turning towards Celeste, she bounced towards her.  “I like him.  I really, really like him.”  Her small hand reached out, running down Celeste’s cheek, to her chin, and down to her neck.  The fae wrapped her hand around Celeste’s throat, right above the necklace.  “Why would anyone want to hurt you?”  she whispered, loud enough for Aidirian to hear her.  It took everything in his power to stay still as the fae continued to speak.  “Such beautiful wings are worshiped in our land.  It is why we really fight with you, your gold.”

Her hand dropped from Celeste’s throat, and an audible breath escaped a few people’s mouths.  It seemed that it wasn’t just Aidirian that was creeped out by the little fae.  Innocence still stood there though, not looking as if she was going to move.  When Celeste took a step around the fae and walked towards him, Innocence followed.  Stopping next to him, Celeste grabbed his hand.  “What is she doing?”

“Ask her,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on Innocence.

Celeste cleared her throat while glancing at the other female.  “Why are you following me?”

Innocence smiled a smile that was filled with happiness.  “If I stand next to you, maybe your Jinn will allow me to kill the next who wants you to die.”

“Oh,” Celeste breathed before shaking her head as if to clear it.  Turning towards the others in the room, she motioned them over.  “Let’s get this over with.”

Antonio was the first to step forward, an apologetic look on his face.  “If I knew that he way lying when he promised to protect you, I would have killed him long ago.”

“It’s okay, Antonio,” she whispered, a small smile on her face.

Not hesitating, Antonio reached out and hugged her, pulling her grip from Aidirian’s.  Aidirian watched the display, unimpressed.  “Touch her skin,” he said, while the two of them hugged.

Antonio looked at him from over Celeste shoulders, a glare on his face.  “I understand you are doing this because you care for her, but it’s starting to get annoying.”

“Touch her skin.”

Standing there, he watched as the vampire, whose arms were still wrapped around her, lowered his hands until the touched the edge of her shirt.  Aidirian knew what the man would do next.  Antonio lifted the shirt slightly, his finger sliding against Celeste’s back.  “Happy?”

“No,” Aidirian answered honestly, “but you made your point.”

Antonio tightened his grip once more before letting Celeste go.  Nodding at Aidirian, the vampire stepped away.  Far enough to be out of the way, but close enough to be of help if it was needed.

“Daryn,” Celeste said, a smile in her voice. 

The man sauntered towards her, a large grin on his face.  “No dramatics for me,” he said as he stopped in front of her.  He reached out, grabbing her face in his hands before pecking her on the lips.  He pulled away faster than Celeste could even move. 

Aidirian could practically see the glare forming on her face as she froze in shock. He didn’t have to see her expression to know what it would look like.  “You didn’t even have to touch me,” she reminded.

Daryn just shrugged, the same grin steady on his face.  “And pass on the opportunity?  Never.  Go on, Star, but touch her hand.  We have business to attend to.”

Star did her own version of a saunter as she walked towards Celeste.  As she past Daryn, she let her hand trail across his back.  Stopping in front of Celeste, she smiled.  “A kiss would be nice; you have enough energy to feed me for a year, but Daryn’s orders.”  Her hand touched Celeste’s, and when nothing happened, she removed it before turning to walk back towards Daryn. 

“Happy?” Daryn asked, repeating Antonio’s question from before.

“No,” Aidirian answered again.  “Where is your incubus?”

“On the job,” Daryn said with an unworried shrug, “but when he is done corrupting, I’ll send him here.  If you’ll excuse us, Star needs a little nourishment.”

Celeste looked at Aidirian before locking her eyes on Daryn.  “I thought she was going to feed on me?”

“No,” Star answered before Daryn could say a word.  “He took care of my payment.  Believe me,” the woman said, staring at Daryn’s body with a grin.  “It is something that I’ve been wanting for a while.”

Daryn’s arm wrapped around Star’s shoulders.  “There is your answer.  Now, may we leave?”

Nodding, Aidirian motioned towards the doorway.  The diamond bars that were once there disappeared.  He stood there, watching as Daryn and Star left, feeling satisfied that the two of them truly were on their side.  He needed as much power as he could get to keep her safe.

“I didn’t get to kill anyone,” Innocence mumbled, tears in her eyes.

Celeste reached out, patting the fae on the shoulder.  “Don’t worry.  If you hang around me a little longer, I’m sure someone will appear that needs killing.”

“Really?” Innocence asked, her eyes wide and filled with hope.

“Really,” Celeste answered, a kind smile on her face.

Aidirian shook his head at the exchange.  When she had fallen, she definitely did not lose her heart.  It took a very caring person to be able to treat Innocence the way she was, but Celeste’s words rang true.  Aidirian knew that they may be safe now, but as long as Celeste was out in the open, she wasn’t safe.