After meeting the Devil's debt collector, Ilya, Rayne was eager to get me out of town. He literally dragged me to Grandma's car, systematically scanning the area. I had never seen Mr. Cool loose his composure before... although technically I had only known Rayne a day, but he didn't come across as the type of guy to panic. When we reached Grandma's car, he ordered me to get in and buckle up. Rayne then got into the car, and virtually stood on the accelerator, as if the devil himself was chasing us.
Pushing Grandma's car to speeds I never thought it could reach, we violently swung around a corned. For a second the car lifted onto two wheels and I screamed, "Slow down!"
The car swung round a corner pretty sharpish and I yelled, "Slow down!"
Rayne obeyed, easing off accelerator. He glanced in the rear view mirror and said, "No one is following us."
He then took a deep breathe, gently relaxing his shoulders, "Okay, I'm calm."
"Rayne, you were going to get us killed driving like that!" I snapped.
"You don't understand, that man was a former secretary and body guard of mine-"
"Wait, you had a body guard?" I said in disbelief. "But you are more than capable of handling yourself in a fight."
Rayne raked his fingers through his hair, coolly replying, "There is a hierarchy in Hell based upon power and status. As a Prince of Hell, I am socially considered too high class to mingle with certain levels of lower class demons, which includes the low class assassins. So we employ bodyguards to take out the 'trash' rather then get our own hands dirty. What did Ilya say to you?"
"He said that the Devil was pissed off at me for stealing one of his prize employers. In fact the Devil was so pissed that he wanted compensation."
"Really?" Rayne said trying to hide his flattery.
"Yeah well, I offered to return you but Ilya said it wouldn't work. So I was then given the option of either relenting my soul to the Devil, after I had died, or signing a contract that stated I would never work in a store called 'The Cavern'. But get this, before Ilya approached me I was sat having a drink at the café when this waitress appears out of the blue. We start talking and I mention that I'm looking for a job-"
Rayne turned his head, "A job? Why were you looking for a job?"
I gave him an annoyed look and he sighed, "Continue."
"So anyway, I mention I'm looking for a job and she gives me this leaflet advertising a job for a witch. Then when I go to thank her - poof - she's gone, and the guy behind the counter is telling me there is no waitress in the store," I explained. "Then Ilya comes along, and everything moves into the twilight zone. Rayne, I'm scared. This type of stuff gives me the heebies jeebies."
The corner of Rayne's mouth curved upwards in amusement, "Heebie jeebies?" he echoed.
"Yeah, you know the creeps, the willies?"
His eye brow shot upwards and he smirked, "The willies?"
The awful tension of fear in the car, momentarily broke down as Rayne tried not to laugh, and my sense of panic was replaced with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. I folded my arms across my chest and snapped, "It's just a figure of speech."
Rayne nodded, "I know, I'm sorry. That was juvenile." He said trying to control his smile.
"Rayne, this isn't funny! The Devil wants my soul!" I replied.
"Skyler, I sincerely doubt the Devil would want your soul. Ilya is a typical bureaucrat, who likes to throwing big names about to scare and bully people. The Devil probably doesn't even know who you are, and if he did it wouldn't matter because I would never allow any ill to befall you. So please do not worry about Ilya and his petty threats."
"Rayne, how are you going to protect me from the Devil?"
"The Devil cannot leave Hell and most demons cannot live outside of Hell too long. Our friend, Ilya can only tolerate being in the mortal realm for a couple of hours, before he is forced to return. So if the Devil wants your soul he would have to send a lower demon to collect it, and I don't think many lower demons would want to go up against me."
"And what if they did?"
"I would dispose of them." Rayne said, carefully avoiding the word kill.
"Rayne, I don't want anybody dying over me, not even a demon." I replied.
"That is admirable, but foolish. A demon would kill everyone you loved and cared about, to get to you. Do you really want to put your Grandmother in that sort of danger Skyler?" Rayne asked.
My mind went numb.
Could I put my Grandma in danger?
Could I allow Rayne to kill for me, in order to save another?
"I don't know." I replied conflicted.
"Then whatever you do, do not give me an order which make it impossible to protect the both of you. If the demons come, then your Grandmother will be the first they threaten," Rayne explained. "I can not protect you otherwise, and I need to protect you Skyler."
His hand lifted from the steering wheel and rested on mine, "So please let me protect you."
I looked down at his hand over mine and felt my heart turn over. If Rayne was lying to me, he deserved an Oscar, because I was falling so fast I thought I would burst into flames. How could someone I had only known for twenty four hours provoke this kind of reaction? All I wanted to do was submit to him and follow whatever he said. My conscience that had always been so crystal clear, was now foggy and hazy in Rayne's presence.
"I will not say yes or no," I murmured finally, "I need to think about this."
Rayne pulled his hand away, placing it firmly back on the driving wheel, "When we get back, I'll need energy."
I opened my mouth to protest but Rayne quickly interjected, "In case Ilya comes back again."
That left me stuck in between a hard place and a rock.
"Fine." I said.
When we got home and Grandma was in the kitchen making pastry. This was a worrying sign because she only made pastry when she was anxious- really anxious.
"Are you okay Grandma?" I asked.
"Brilliant! A big ball of happiness." She exaggerated.
Taking a couple of steps closer I noticed some official looking documents on the side. Pointing them out I asked, "What are those?"
Grandma hesitated and grabbed them before I could even read them. Folding them up and she quickly shoved them down her bra. "Nothing dear. Absolutely nothing."
"If it was nothing why did you crumple it up and stuff it down your shirt?" I snapped.
"Oh Skyler! Can't an old lady have a few secrets!"
"But Grandma-"
Rayne's hand slipped into mine, making me pause. I looked at him, and he inclined his head towards the stairs. My heart stumbled clumisly, making my mind fuzzy. Whatever Grandma was up to, suddenly left my head as Rayne gently tugged me towards my room.
"We're going upstairs." I said to Grandma.
I followed Rayne up the stairs and through the trap door.
"It would be easier if we laid on the bed." Rayne explained, indicating to my bed.
My insides began to flip and flutter as he pulled me towards the bed.
Get a grip Skyler, he is just recharging, stop over analyzing the situation. I lay down on the bed and stared vacantly up at the ceiling, trying to think of anything but Rayne. The mattress moved, as Rayne lay beside me. My whole body became hyper-aware of Rayne lying next to me. I couldn't breathe.
"It would help if you were a little closer to me Skyler." Rayne said.
My mouth ran dry and I asked, "How much closer."
"The closer the better." He replied.
"Okay." I said pushing myself a little closer.
"That's way too far away."
Gingerly I edged a little closer him, crawling across the bed on my elbows. Rayne watched me moving toward me and smiled, "Let me show you how close."
His fingers wrapped around my wrist and he gave a little tug that threw me off balance. I fell against his chest, and immediately struggled to get up.
"Don't move." Rayne ordered. I stopped struggling and lay rigidly against him.
"This feels-"
"Perfect." Rayne whispered softly into my hair.
"Rayne this is weird." I said stiffly.
"But you know why I am doing this. Until I figure out what Ilya is up too, I need to be at my strongest."
"Are we going to have to sleep like this every night?" I said uncomfortably.
"Sadly, we will have to endure this." Rayne's arms circled around my waist.
"You don't sound put out."
"Sometimes its best to make light of a bad situation."
"This better not be a trick."
"Go to sleep." Rayne said closing his eyes..
Sighing I gave in and rested my head against his chest and splayed my hand over his heart. Closing my eyes I drifted off to sleep.