One Hundred and Twenty…

One Hundred and Twenty: Trials & Tribulations

“I spent almost a whole year on the city streets,” Mila said. “Then a vampire offered for me to live with him. I was so desperate. He gave me food, shelter. But in return he fed off me. Never enough to kill me, unfortunately.”

“I got the courage to leave him. Then some human guy told me he loved me. He was a liar. A liar who got me addicted to drugs. Prescription painkillers. Now I’m going through… withdrawal. I think.”

“I only know it hurts. Hurts so bad,” she continued. “I want to die.”

“Mila, don’t say that. It’ll be okay.”

“You don’t understand. I really wanna die. It hurts so bad. I wish I never took all those pills, or got addicted.”

Lucifer crouched down.

“It’ll be okay. I promise, Mila.” His hand migrated to her shoulder. She jolted when he touched her. “You’re right. I have no idea what you’re going through. But I know how it feels to be in pain.” Emotional pain.

“You know how it feels?” she asked. “To wish you would die? To feel like every emotion… every nerve in your body is raw?”

“Kinda,” he replied. “Mila, I promise you. I’ll take care of you.” I still love you. I care about you. It’s all I know. My mother (Lauren) was the one who taught me how to love; to take care of those in need.

“Thanks.” She sniffed, sobbed a moment.

Lucifer sat on the floor.

God. I loved you so much. I still love you. I don’t want you to be in pain, Mila. I never wanted you to be in pain.

Almost a year ago you lost your mom. No wonder you’re in so much pain. And my own nephew, no less, killed your mother. Guilt was like a nasty sensation in his stomach.

Why? Why do I have to be kin to Shadowvale’s worst??

He couldn’t stand keeping bedside vigil any longer. Lucifer went into his closet to clean up.

He cleared away enough space for Mila to stay there undetected.

Gazing at all his clothes, he planned to raid Azura’s closet to steal some threads for Mila. Hopefully Azura wouldn’t notice anything missing.

Then he made up the spare bed.

It was a bed used for Lucifer’s sleep overs, though he hadn’t had any friends spend the night in quite some time. Which gave him an idea: if anyone asked, he could simply tell them Mila was a friend who was only spending the night. Or two.

Mila sobbed outside the door.

“Mila,” he began.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?’

“I already told you,” she sobbed. “I’m so depressed I can’t stand it.”

Hesitantly, Lucifer stroked her back. “Sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”

She clutched her stomach, heaving. “There’s nothing you can do.”

“Oh, God. I don’t know how much longer I can stand this shit. I need something… anything!” she cried. “Please, Lucifer. Get me something. Something to help me get though this shit. I need some pills.”

His arms slid around her, though Lucifer was frightened of scaring her off.

“I don’t think it’d be a good idea to get you pills. It might make things worse, Mila.” Jeez. I don’t know what to do!

“I know… you’re right. I just can’t stand feeling like this anymore. Please, Lucifer. Help me.”

He squeezed her. All he knew how to do was to love her. Love her until the pain was gone.

Once she settled down, he helped her to the bed.

Lucifer held her until she fell asleep.

“So tired,” she mumbled.

“I know. I promise I’ll take care of you. I promise.”

“Sometimes I still can’t believe I’m lying beside you in your bed,” Paris said. “Still seems like a crazy dream.”

Cody chortled. “Seems like my whole life has been a crazy dream. Then again, all I’ve ever known is vampires, witches, shifters and hybrids. I never knew anything else existed until I was about 8. Then I found out there were whole other civilizations that didn’t thrive on blood, or have populations made up of supernaturals. I found out that Shadowvale was the exception and not the rule.”

“I’m glad I found you,” he added.

“Yeah. Me too.”

Cody nodded off to sleep…

His mind lit up with images.

Strange, colorful mist parted.

Esha appeared.

“You can’t hide from me. Your time is coming within the next 12 months. Shadowvale’s time is coming as well. The land will be swallowed whole by shadowy creatures.”

“The clock is ticking.”

“For whom the bell tolls, Cody.”

He jerked awake.

Azura leaned back. Brent’s lips made a sensuous path across her skin.

She exhaled. Electricity passed through her lower body, originating from his mouth and fingers as he stimulated her.

He slipped off her bra, panties and then tugged down his own boxers.

No one else made her feel the way Brent did. She’d never felt so drawn to another guy. Azura knew it had to do with Brent’s naughty reputation.

Bad boys turned her on.

And boy, was he bad…

They’d been making love since last year. Now that she was a little older, it felt even better.

She never dreamed he’d be the one to take her virginity. But he was. Now they were destined to stay together forever.

Right?

“Oh, oh… Azura...” Brent gasped and grunted while banging her. “I love you. I love you.”

Silence.

“Do you… believe me?” he asked, stopping for a moment to gaze at her.

“Yes. I love you too, Brent.” Now start moving again.

He did.

Brent was very bad, yet very good at lovemaking. He always finished it off with a bite to her neck.

She didn’t mind. His fangs clamped to her was an exhilarating experience, though a little painful.

He always climaxed seconds after biting. She liked it. Only turned her on even more.

And he’d suck and suck, creating massive hickeys she had to hide with her hair.

Azura thought it was normal. She figured all vampires did it.

“Damn,” he said. “You make me so fuckin’ horny...”

They held each other afterward. Brent kissed her head.

“You keep leaving huge hickeys on my neck,” she said. “They get bigger every time. Eventually my family’s going to find out you’ve been biting me.”

“So? What are they gonna do about it? Nothing. Reznik owes me for giving you that information about Garland last year.”

“True. But we should still be more careful.”

“I’m worried more about doing it without condoms,” he said. “I need to buy more before it’s too late. We’d be screwed if you got knocked up.”

Yes. We’d be totally screwed.

Especially me.

The next two weeks dragged by as if time progressed through quicksand.

It was difficult. Mila still suffered through withdrawal.

However Lucifer was thrilled to have her at the manor, and happy to take care of her.

He started locking the door in case Lauren or his father came knocking.

Lucifer took food from the mini fridge and cooked for Mila. Sometimes he drank blood for nourishment, just so Mila could consume human grub without his family getting suspicious regarding missing groceries.

That first week she wasn’t interested in eating. Gradually her appetite returned.

If she was enduring head rushes, he was there to comfort her. If she couldn’t sleep, he was there to hold her until she drifted off to dreamland.

Mila got better, began primping in front of the mirror checking to ensure her clothes were perfect (or rather to ensure Azura’s clothes were perfect).

She also stopped asking for painkillers to get her through.