33: Demizens Mingling With Humans

I’m not sure how I feel about being here again. Something about this place makes me despise it. Maybe it’s the sinister people that put on a cheery facade to lure you in. Maybe it’s all the tents and their haggling hellbent on your money or your soul. Maybe it’s the enticement of being able to purchase anything and everything for the right price. On most days I’m not a fan, but when I’m hungry I’m all for it.

No matter how busy the city is, it can never be as busy as the Demizen Market. Bodies are shoulder to shoulder, tents are lined up for miles and rhythmic music comes from every direction. It’s all the makings of a peculiar parade that only the odd and peculiar themselves are allowed to come.

I let Gabriel lead the way as we weave through people to get to that one special food truck. Once we reach the dining section of the market, sweet and savory smells attack my senses. Everything smells so good, even things that I know taste awful.

My heart starts to sink into the depths of my empty stomach when I don’t see the truck. I know Gabriel is depending on me to point it out, but as we walk further and further into the market he speaks my unsaid concern. “Maybe he’s not here tonight.”

“It’s possible. I’ve never known him to not be here, but…” My words fall short as I see just the corner of the white truck. “There.” I lurch forward, dragging him with me as I take off in the direction I caught a flash of it in.

I bounce on the balls of my feet as we wait in line. Once we make it up to the window, a smile finds my face like it always does. “Not in your usual spot tonight, huh?”
“Ah, Hazel.” His eyes flash to my bruised eye.

I point at my own face. “Got into a fight with a vampire. Not one of my best ideas.” I joke.

“Thankfully, you have more good idea than bad.” He jokes back before darting his eyes between Gabriel and myself. I know that he recognizes him and is slowly analyzing us together once again. No doubt, wondering if he was the vampire that popped me in the eye. “The usual?” He asks, keeping his concern to himself.

“Make it two this time, Kiko.”

He flashes us a smile before slicing and flipping. It’s almost magic how fast he gets the two orders up to the window. “Enjoy.” He says as he gives me a wink and Gabriel a stern brow.

Gabriel holds both bowls as we go in search of a table. It’s a busier night than usual and pickings are slim. It takes some time finding a small bench wedged between a trashcan and a brick wall of one of the buildings lining the market. The size of it barely fits both of us on it and we’re forced to squeeze together. The once muggy air is quickly replaced with the coolness of his skin.

Conversation is almost nonexistent as we eat. Gabriel shows his approval of Kiko’s food as if it gets him brownie points in agreeing with me. “I’ll have to pick next time. I already have an idea.” He flashes me a smile and a terrible thought runs through my mind. He must see me cringe. “That’s a good idea too.”

“No it’s not.” I blurt out.

“I was thinking about a small local pub downtown before you considered yourself to be the meal. They have the best food in the-”

“I’m sure they do,” I roll my eyes at the words, “because if a vampire that doesn’t eat food says the food is good, it has to be, right?”

“But I’m a vampire that does eat food.” He shakes his empty bowl reiterating the eating part.

“Which just makes this conversation even more crazy.” My own bowl is empty and my stomach is full. “Ready to go?” A yawn slips out of my mouth.

“I won’t keep you up any longer.”

We stand up in unison from the bench. We don’t get far before we’re stopped by a familiar face. “Amelia.” I look her up and down. She seems healthy, happy.

She beems a genuine smile at me and Gabriel. “I’m so happy to see you. I’ve been wanting to thank you for helping me.” The arm she clutches must be her mate. That’s the only explanation for the excessive happiness that pours off of her. She’s so chipper that she doesn’t even mention my black eye.

Her mate is a wolf I’m unfamiliar with. If I was on talking terms with Caleb I would find out as much as I could, but I’m not.

“You’re welcome. I’m happy if you’re happy.” I say with a heavy tongue. I guess if he treats her well, then I am happy if she’s happy, but if not, she definitely deserves someone better than a wolf, someone human. “We were just going. It was nice seeing and you always know where to find me if you need to talk.” My words cause the wolf’s face to go stern and I swear I hear a growl, but I don’t care.

“Of course.” She jumps across the small space between us and gives me a hug.

I can’t help but to think that the Ameila I knew, the one that came into Mystic Moon is gone. This girl is a loyal servant to Marcus in the making.

Gabriel doesn’t question the encounter on our walk back to the mouth of the alley. Mainly because it’s so loud and so busy. We’re shoulder to shoulder, getting slammed into every other step until the street of the city comes into view and it’s in those last several feet the more congested with denizens it becomes. All types of monsters mingling with humans.

The time after three o’clock in the morning and before sunrise, is the worst time to visit the market. Humans aren’t allowed past a certain point, a simple chalk line on two brick buildings marking the cutoff. But that doesn’t stop those hungry, deceiving demizens from pushing the limits.

They cluster at the threshold of the alley. Drunk women and cocky men, the homeless and curious, the stupid and naive. Some of them will make it home, some of them will disappear, some of them will be initiated into a new family, while some never leave this alley.

It doesn’t take much to sense Gabriel’s vampire strength. It allows him to weave through the cluster of bodies easily. But, me? Not so much. A few of the loitering denizens in the alleyway rise to attention as I pass them.

They lean away from the wall perking up and their footsteps quickly match my own. My heart hammers in my chest as I keep pace with Gabriel. As if sensing my distress his hand swings out grabbing my arm, locking us together.

Whispers of ‘little witch’ coo from a couple of mouths and Gabriel’s grip tightens on my arm. I’m positive there will be a bruise tomorrow. Like I need another one.
We’re almost at the sidewalk, feet away from the city limits when a hot hand latches onto me. The searing pain of my flesh heating up under that grip is painful and a yelp escapes my lips. The mystery stranger jerks me to a stop and Gabriel, unaware of the situation, keeps walking and our hands slide apart.

I catch a glimpse of Gabriel’s wide eyes as he searches the crowd for me, but I’m quickly dragged away, getting engulfed in the crowd.

I’m slammed up against a nearby wall of one of the buildings, mystery stranger front and center. A demon in disguise. The beautiful skin suit can’t hide the ugliness within. “Hello beautiful.”

“I have to go.” I duck around him ready to flee, but he catches me again. That burning touch crimples me.

“Not so fast.” He leans in and the heat that radiates off his body makes me feel as if I’m sweating. “I’ve always loved sweet, tiny, witches.” His hands rest on my shoulders and slowly slide down my arms.

My brain can’t comprehend his words that describe me as something to eat when I’m being burned alive. “Gab-”

“No, no, no.” He wags his finger in my face shunning me like some child.

I’ll show him a child. As he leans in even closer, I jerk my leg up until my kneecap slams into his balls. “I don’t play with demons.” I go to stalk away, but unlike human men, demon men recover faster.

His searing touch paralyzes me yet again, but I quickly get relief as Gabriel rushes in. His cool hands replace the hot head demon’s grasp. I pant hunched over, slowly looking over my arms searching for handprints, but finding none. That’s the magic of demon heat. It hurts like hell, but it doesn’t leave a mark. You can’t claim a demon tortured you if there’s no proof it ever happened.

“Gabriel. I didn’t realize you owned this one.” The demon’s cocky behavior oozes into his tone.

“Back off Felix.” Gabriel says as he turns his back on the demizen. His hand wraps around my upper arm so tightly I flinch, but he doesn’t loosen it.

“I didn’t realize Phillip let you get a pet, but then again you are his favorite freak.”

Gabriel goes completely stiff at Felix’s words. I feel his grip loosen as he turns around. It’s a struggle to keep him in my grasp. The last thing I need is a fight between a vampire and demon. Before Gabriel has a chance to reach the obnoxious demon, quick words tumble off my tongue.

*Demon’s breath and devil’s burn
Your threatful freight holds no sight.*

Gabriel aggressively pushes through several watching bodies all eager for a fight to reach Felix, but seconds before coming face to face with him, Felix drops to his knees screaming in agony. His hands rub and scratch at his face, his eyes.

I follow the path that Gabriel made and grab the sleeve of his shirt. “I can take care of myself too ya know.” This time I’m the one turning away dragging Gabriel behind me.
No one stops us, in fact, the bystanders step out of the way, parting the crowd, giving me a clear walk to the edge of the alley. I don’t look back as I cross the boundary line. One second the sounds and smells of the market are present and the next the rush of the city replaces it. The honk of car horns and the drunken banter from the bars. The strong scent of exhaust and light glow of the moon.

“What the hell was that?” Gabriel says nearly after an entire block.

“I saved myself and you, for that matter, from a wasted night.”

“And what time would’ve been wasted if I spent five minutes tops putting that lowlife in his place?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” I tease as we come to a stop in front of my apartment complex. I quickly walk up the couple steps to the door and hurry inside.
Gabriel is quick on my heels. I don’t even get halfway down the hall before he has me in his grasp for the third, fourth, fifth time tonight, I can’t even remember. There’s barely time to catch my breath as his mouth touches mine. I stumble backwards, but Gabriel keeps me on my feet. He doesn’t however keep me from slamming into the wall.

His hands push against the tops of my shoulders pinning me in place, but it doesn’t deter me. It only excites me. My fingers creep up his chest as his hands disappear from my shoulders. I barely feel one arm go behind my neck and the other behind my knees before I’m swept off my feet.

Everything is a blur and it’s hard to breathe as in a snap of one’s fingers we’re in the hall and now we stand before my door. He places me back down on the ground. A blush attacks my cheeks and I quickly turn my back on him trying to hide it as I retrieve my keys. It isn’t until the door is swung open and I take one single step across the threshold that I look back at him.

There’s a silence that eats at the both of us. I hold onto that silence as long as I can, but Gabriel cuts it short. “Goodnight, Hazel.” He goes to walk away.

“I thought,” my words stopping him, “that you would come in and stay awhile.” The words don’t filter through my brain before it's said. “But, if you have other-”

This time Gabriel is the one to cut my words off. He rushes into the apartment, slams the door and crashes into me. The sweet kiss downstairs is more aggressive. My lips quickly go numb and my skin and muscle beneath his grasp starts to sting.

I don’t stop it though. I remain putty in his hands as he lifts me off my feet once again. It’s hard to keep my eyes open as he runs at a vampire’s pace. Dizziness and vertigo stop my heart as I freefall for a couple of seconds. A huff gushes out of my tight lips as I crash down on my plush bed.

A giggle slips out as Gabriel crawls up the length of my body, positioning himself between my legs. He only leans in to leave a trail of kisses from my mouth to my collarbone for a fraction of a second before he leans back to rest on his knees. The coolness of his skin is quickly replaced with warm, muggy air and like a magnet I’m drawn to him.

I wiggle my way up to my knees desperate for the coolness of his skin against mine. We’re not eye to eye due to our height difference. It’s more like eye to chest and eye to a point way over my head. There’s no controlling my heart as he flawlessly takes his shirt off. I try to follow suit, but he tugs at the hem of my shirt before my fingers have a chance to get there.

One article followed by another article. Before I know we’re completely naked, still on our knees, face to kinda face. There’s no denying that I’m over my head, that I’m blood lusting hundred percent, but for the first time, I let myself enjoy it.

Gabriel’s mouth touches mine, gentle at first and then harder. His hand snakes down the length of my body before hooking in the crook of my knee. He lifts my leg up to his waist taking most of my weight as we fall back. Me on my back, him perfectly between my legs.

“I’ve never been with a vampire before.” I whisper as his lips tickle my neck. A giddiness overtakes me. It’s almost dancing with the devil himself. Being bad never felt so good.

“It’s much better than being with a wolf.” He breathily replies before burying himself deep inside me.

I gasp with an excitement that I haven’t felt in awhile. Gabriel no doubt can feel my racing heart and the stickiness of sweat on my skin. It’s hard to catch a breath from the slow withdrawal and strong thrust of Gabriel’s rhythm.

The thrill doesn’t last long, because apparently I can’t handle being fucked by a vampire.

Gabriel lets out a small husky laugh as I give a groan of pleasure beneath him. “Told you it’s better than a wolf.”

Before I can ask how he would know, Gabriel’s mouth is back on me. He’s still deep within me as he rolls over, tightly holding onto my hips, I roll with him and end up straddling him. He shows off his muscles by easily shifting so he’s sitting upright with me still in his lap.

We’re finally face to face. His golden eyes boring into mine for only a fraction of a second before he kisses me. A soft, gentle kiss. Maybe it’s the blood, maybe not, but I don’t want it to stop. I need more. I open myself up as wide as I can, taking every inch of him in and slowly grind against him.

I go nice and slow matching Gabriel’s soft kiss, but he has other plans. His hands cup my asscheeks in his palms bringing me to a faster pace. I quickly become breathless again and my legs get weak. There’s no hiding my embarrassment from my lame human lungs.

What little breath I have left gets stuck in my lungs suffocating me when I feel the scrap of fangs against my neck again. Gabriel pulls away, but I stop in his tracks bringing his face back to my neck, burying my fingers in his hair.

“Do it.” Breathily. I grind into him harder. “Do it.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice. He brushes his lips against the tender skin before placing his open mouth on me, but the pierce of his fangs doesn’t come. One single fange scratches my skin only barely breaking the surface. His tongue slides along the small scratch and immediately after he gives a groan of satisfaction.
“Not yet, Love.” He whispers as his forehead meets mine.

Part of me is thankful, because it was said in the moment and I’d most likely regret it. Part of me is hurt is blood lusting is nothing compared to the elation of being devoured.