16. Punch

Levi knew very well the reason why he liked to throw huge parties. He didn’t want to tell Elise though. ‘If I tell her the truth, she may not get over it but if I lie then I am no better than her uncles. And I am no liar!’ he resolved to tell her the truth.

“I will tell you, but please promise you won’t get to mad. It is just my nature.”

She nodded.

“I throw parties like this one for two reasons. First, I like to make deals and second, I enjoy watching people make bad choices. It is a form of entertainment to me. Some humans enjoy bird watching I have this.”

Elise was stunned. Had he invited her so he could watch her live in this depravity. Levi could follow her train of thought.

“Oh, no. Please don’t think I asked you here for that.” He said quickly.

“Then why did you invite me here?”

“I enjoy spending time with you.”

“But you are doing, what? I guess you would call it your hobby. And you are inviting me to participate?”

“Did I ask you to sit and watch people? No, I didn’t, and did I ask you to make deals, no I did not. In all honesty, I haven't been people watching at all today because I like your company more than I am tempted by all of these fools here.”

Elise blushed. She remembered that she had promised not to be angry. After all he had told her the truth. He knew that she would most likely be offended. Yet, he had told her. That meant that maybe he trusted her as much as she had trusted him. Also, it was gratifying to know that when she was around, he wasn’t doing those things. She decided that she had better stick around. “Well, that’s ok.” She said.

“Alright then.” They sat in silence for a while.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” Levi asked.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun. I want to swim in the ocean though. Not where everyone else is swimming in the pools.”

“Alright I will go tell the captain to drop anchor.”

“Thank you.”

“I'll be right back.”

As she sat sipping her ice water, she noticed that Marcus had made his way to the top deck. She watched as he grew closer. Marcus was low on the totem pole of being a demon. His great great grandfather was a lower-level demon. He knew enough to stay out of the way of higher-level demons, but he had never encountered an angel. He was such a small nuisance that no angel had ever thought he was worth their time.

Just now he was using his influence to gather attractive women around himself. Most likely to try to distract himself from that nastiness below deck. He had already gathered quite a few when he suddenly looked up at her. He could feel her grace and inner light shining through, and he wanted it.

Elise looked back at him. She was not Georgia’s number one fan. Even so she did not liked how Marcus had treated her. She took a deep inhale and caught it as she realized Marcus was a demon. It was such a small percentage that she had not sensed it before. Now that he was actively using his aura it was obvious.

He released the arm from one of the girls who were with him and approached Elise.

“Well, well well, what do we have here.”

“I suggest you leave Marcus.”

“No, you don’t tell me what to do.” He said as he got closer to her. He was drunk. Elise could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Now come be a good girl and take care of me.”

“Marcus we thought we were going to take care of you?” one of the blond women pouted.

“No, I want her. There is something different about her.”

“Marcus, I would suggest you go with the girls I have no patience for you.”

She had all the patience in the world for humans, but she had zero tolerance for demons when they got out of line. It was one reason she was amazed by Levi. He didn’t act like any demon she had encountered. Any that dared approach her were all the same; mocking or lustful and sure of their superiority.

Most demons just ran away. Over the years a few had approached her though. They all ended up regretting it. Marcus reached out to pet her beautiful black hair, but she grabbed his wrist and twisted it. “I asked you to leave politely. I suggest you do, or a bent wrist won’t be all you get.” Elise was holding back. She didn’t want to cause a scene.

She released his wrist. “You bitch!” He shouted holding his wrist. He tried to slap her in the face, but she ducked to one side and then standing up with a huge amount of force she punched him right in the face. He stumbled back and fell on his butt. Now everyone on the deck was watching. He got back up rubbing his face.

“You bitch! I think you broke my nose.”

“I did. Now run along before you break anything else.” A broken nose would have been no problem if he were a full-blooded demon or possibly even half demon depending on the parent. But since he was neither of those things the bones would have to be set and take the normal amount of time to heal.

Elise believed that he had had enough and turned to sit back down. But as soon as she turned her back, he charged at her. She felt his rush coming and simply side stepped, tripping him as he passed. He got back up fast to come at her again. Elise now knew that he would not just go away. His ego was too big.

He tried for a sucker punch, but she grabbed his fist and held it. She pushed him back, and the force of her shove made him shake. Then she roundhouse kicked him in the head, and he fell to the deck, unconscious.

Elise calmly straitened her wrap, sat back down, picked up her water and began to sip it again. Levi returned to find the man lying on the deck. There were still a few people looking on in disbelief. He looked over at Elise as she sat quietly sipping her water.

“What happened?”

Elise was going to tell him but before she got the words out one of the women spoke up. “That freak knocked him out.” she said pointing at Elise. Levi waited quite as two crewmen approached out of nowhere. “Clean up this mess.” He ordered. The two men grabbed hold of Marcus and hauled him off the deck, slung his arms over their heads, lifted him by his swim trunks and dragged him away.