Bluffing the Devil

chapter 18



Every time I opened my eyes lately, I feel dozens of sensations at once, usually good ones that remind me of where I had been while sleeping.

Waking up, not being able to see, feeling pain in various places, and hearing strange surroundings was not my favorite way to wake up, I decided.

"Oh good," a too familiar voice purred, "She's finally awake. Gimme that switchblade, I want to get right to it."

"Aww Look how sweet you are. You threaten me with weapons," I scoffed sounding much more confident than I felt. Hanging upside-down by your ankles in the middle of what looked like an abandoned warehouse can sometimes take the wind out a girl's sails, but I refused to ever look like I was in need or worried about anything.

"Oh Alexia, I think it's cute that you are still trying to act like a bad ass when you know I have the upper-hand here. Finally, stop being a fake bitch. Just shut up already!" she sneered.

"Ooooooh, snippy, are you PMS’n, babe?" I volleyed back.

Carly leaned down and was so close to my face, I could smell the salt on her hands from where she had just held Devin under the water.

"You have no idea," she growled. The switchblade shot a beam of light across her face. If this were a scary movie, I might feel nervous for the person hanging there, but my heart was too heavy with grief to even care.

"Why did you do that? Is Devin alive? What the hell is going on?"

"She warned you that if you didn't do what we wanted, that she would make you suffer and take everyone you love. We started with your pet project, and will move along until all of your friends are dead."

"Are you planning to off, yourself in the name of that psycho, Carly? How nice, if you need some help, I have your back. You know, up until I saw you drown someone I care about you were one of those people that I love, and would have been willing to sacrifice for. What the hell happened to you? Since when do you work for her?"

"Since always babe, for two-hundred and fifty years I have worked for her. I have perfected my flighty, sweet, innocent act over the years, don't you think?" Her voice was severe, harsh, and dark.

"Ah, so you are one of her pets that she steals and trained to be one of her bitches then? That seems about right."

"Don't try to knock me. She didn’t have to train me I worshipped her before I was sent to Hell. I asked to work for her. I like what I do. The darkness is the only thing I know. I was born for evil and died doing evil. You know nothing about me, only what front I allowed you to see." Her explanation of herself couldn't have been further from the truth but apparently what would I know about life or anything. There were such things as angels and demons, God and the Devil regularly fought over souls, and karma never worked fast enough. Every day was a learning experience.

"Well, the Carly I know is not this vile bitch, but to each their own. I would hate to be an unimportant drone that just followed orders like a little puppy," I said. My voice was incredibly even for someone who was hanging upside down with her panties flashing to the world. At least my captor was a female who had seen my panties plenty of times and wasn't fazed.

I mentally kicked myself. If only I had just put on my regular clothes, I would still have pants and shoes on, giving me a better chance to fight when I got free. Okay, if I got free.

I heard a groan from the corner and turned my head to see Rey shackled to a wall. He was unconscious, but alive. Thank you, God! At least she wasn't able to kill anyone else tonight.

"Oooh, how creative, did you plan this out, Carly? Picked out a prime location to torture me and complete the evil plots of your master?"

"No, actually, I just stumbled upon this place a bit ago when I was waiting for you guys to finish dinner. I wasn't about to sit with my mark and two ex-demons in an alliance meeting place. I like my life just as it is."

"You told us to go there and what the hell is an alliance meeting place? I feel like I am learning a new language this weekend." I could feel my frustration rising. I wasn't grasping everything that I was supposed to know. I needed some answers.

"Yeah, the food really is incredible there, isn't it?"

"It was nice, thanks..?" Her façade slipped for a moment and she was my Carly again. Maybe if I could keep her talking and ask her questions, she could come around again. "I swear, I just want this weekend to be over with already. It's been the longest weekend ever, right?"

"Totally, I was thinking… " she paused mid-sentence narrowed her eyes at me, stood slowly, and kicked me in the face. Well, so much for that plan.

"Look, I truly don't know what she wants from me. I'm nobody, a regular girl. What is so special that you guys need? Take it, for the love of God, take it and leave me alone!"

She had been pacing the floor since kicking me and turned to look down at me.

"You are ready to sacrifice yourself for them, then?"

"No, she's not." A voice from the other side of the room echoed softly. When it reached my ears, my eyes filled with tears, and my throat immediately became raw. Pain shot through my heart and everything became silent besides the soft shuffle of feet toward us.

In the darkness, I strained my neck to look up straight so I could see him. I knew my ears were wrong, but my eyes had to make sure.

The light that surrounded us suddenly became brighter, the split second he entered it. Jamison. It had been nearly a year since I saw his sweet face and this one moment made me feel like I was going to die happily. He was dressed in white linen pants and a shirt that matched. He had no shoes on, nothing else.

"What? How? Oh my God, you're here!" I cried.

"Hello, princess," Jamison said to me. His voice danced through the air and slowly caressed its way into my mind. He had always been able to soothe me instantly with one touch or one word. "Release her and her friend, now." His command to Carly was so stern and rough. Nothing like Jamison had been in life.

"Sorry, big boy, but you have no authority here. I will do as I please. I work the Dark Mistress and these are my prisoners."

A sudden and giant burst of air shot through the warehouse and he was gone, then immediately she was above the floor, hanging by one foot by Jamison's hand. He was flying! His beautiful wings looked so strong and beautiful at the same time. I wanted to be able to touch them.

"Drop me. I have been dead for ninety years. There is nothing more you can do to me accept send me back home to Hell, where she will revive me and send me back out. Has happened before a dozen times and will happen again. I am her favorite. Want me to call her up so you can check with her real quick?" The sniveling bitch quality to her voice was constant at this point. Even though she was at a disadvantage, she still continued to goad him.

"No, I don't care if you come back, I just want you gone for now" and he released her. She landed on the concrete floor only ten feet from my face; her neck at an awkward angel and her eyes vacant. I couldn't help it I shed a tear for my friend. I had no idea the whole time we were friends that she was anything other than my dear friend. I never imagined I would have seen her kill someone or hurt me in any way. Since that was only the tiniest segment of time, I was going to try to remember her as I always had.

I suddenly felt weightless and then the world spun a bit. Jamison had unhooked me and was sitting me down so that I could get my bearings. Being upside-down looks like no problem, but it messed my head up something fierce. I sat with my legs pulled under me and my head in my hands and just cried for a moment. It felt strange but refreshing.

When I finally looked up, my eyes were swollen and red then I leapt into Jamison's arms.

"You didn't answer me when I asked how you are here, nerd!" I said as punched him in the shoulder, and grinned like a school kid.

He looked up and said, "Did you feel that? There must be a swarm of gnats I can't see. I felt something touch my shoulder but then it was gone," then smiled back at me.

"Oh. Ha ha You are just so funny. Shut up, I work-out!" and showed him my flexed arm, which compared to him, Devin, and Rey might look like nothing, but I was toned and strong.

"Yeah, you really are buff, princess," he laughed. "And, well, I'm always here somewhere, I just never show myself to you."

A slight cough from the corner of the room reminded me that Rey was still chained to the wall. I glanced over and saw that he was now awake and looking terrified.

"Can you help me get him out of these chains?" I asked, as I quickly stood and carefully walked over to Rey and messed with the chains holding him.

Jamison walked over to the chains and, with a flick of his wrist, removed them. Rey didn't move a muscle.

I turned and said, "Rey, this is Jamison. Can you believe it?"

"Yes, I believe it. I don't like it, but I believe it." Rey's honest answer worried me as he stepped behind me and grabbed my hips to guide me a bit further back.

"Why don't you like it?" Rey was acting like Jamison was going to hurt me.

"For him to show himself means you are in danger. Am I right?" Rey asked Jamison with the most sincere look on his face. "Something is up with you, and all anyone is going to see when they see me is a Demon."

"Yes, she is in danger, but we all know you are no longer a Demon and that Alexia is part of the reason you are saved. To hurt you would be an insult to her and none of us are prepared to do that. We are at peace with you."

"But, wait. Why haven't you let me see in you all of this time? All of our life together and now you choose to be sneaky? I don't get it. You should know that I would have loved to know you were close. Why couldn’t you tell me?"

"There are many times I am sure you would not want to think I am close," he gave me a knowing smile and I blushed and looked down at the ground. "You don't have to see me to have my protection, princess. I was there all the time."

"Oh, well, I guess there are times that you shouldn't see. I'm sorry." I wasn't sure why I was apologizing to him. I hadn't done anything wrong, but I guess for a moment I felt ashamed that I had been physical with Devin. Even though, when I was physical with him, I had thought it was in my dreams. That part was of no consequence either way.

"There is nothing to be sorry for. I have looked after you all of my life and will continue to do so. I have been appointed as your guardian," he said proudly.

"Whoa! There is such thing as a guardian angel? Awesome! I knew I saw someone or something outside of my window a few times. I could have sworn it was a really big bird though. Super glad it was you though; a bird that size might try to carry me off in the night!" I joked but smiled thinking of how often I saw something like that. Jamison had truly been watching over me this whole time, for nearly a year. "But, don't you have more important angel stuff to do?"

"Well, there is much to be done, but people like you need protection."

"What does that mean "people like" her?" Rey interjected while still staying a safe distance behind me. "In order for harming me to be an insult to her, that means she really is powerful. Can we know what is going on here? It will help me protect her better."

A flash ignited and burned out to the left of us and there she stood. "You still don't know what you are, Alexia? I would think surely the nuhra would know her place in the world." Her cocky attitude was accentuated by her sexy shoes and the way she walked in them. Floors everywhere were jealous that she had never walked across them, surely.

"The what-now?" I asked with what had to be the squeakiest voice ever. That octave might have been something only dogs could hear. If not, it was pretty close. "I’m nobody. You guys are truly freaks if you think I am something else," I spouted. I was getting more and more annoyed. That was like telling a kid they were going to invent something to save humanity or telling a baby that he was Jesus. What can that person do with that information?

Rey took my wrist and shoved me behind him at that point. "I had no idea, Alexia. I vow to protect you." Well, at least Rey know what was going on now. That makes one of us!

"Rey, don't be silly "I said as I moved around and stood at his side." We are better fighters together, right? I am not some waif who doesn't know how to hold her own."

"Her father taught her better than that. Since she was a kid, her dad has always taught her hand-to-hand and other ways to protect herself. She's pretty badass if you give her the chance."

"I have seen her sharp wit and am more nervous of whoever comes to the end of her fury, but that is not of my concern right now. I gave my heart to God even before she," he spat, "stole my soul and forced me into servitude. I know all about the nuhra, I just didn't know it was Alexia."

"Excuse me, but everyone is all nodding in agreement and knowing what the deal is, can this noo-something be told what that means, please?" My rage and annoyance was just barely simmering beneath my skin. I was ready to break.

"The nuhra, for lack of a better term is "the light", princess. You are the light."

"What does it mean that I am the light?"

"Haven't you heard that saying that darkness can only be defeated by the light? Usually there will be pictures of a hallway illuminated by a candle or a cave lit up with a flashlight. That is you. You are the one that is here to guide the way and defeat the darkness."

"Whoa, what?!"

"You are the light for God, here on Earth. You give illumination to what is unknown. It is like you are His breath." Jamison's explanation made me sound so beautiful and useful to humanity.

"How can that be? I am no different from anyone else."

"Do you ever want or feel that you need something and then are guided toward it?"

"Like what? I suddenly think how delicious a cup of tea sounds and then someone makes me one, or I get off of my lazy butt and make it? Yeah, happens all the time." I rolled my eyes and looked over at her. "See? While you're all stalking me and wanting my soul and whatnot, you see this superhero gig is totally not what's it’s cracked up to be I tell ya."

"No, woman. Pay attention," Rey said and turned a bit toward me while never letting his eyes leave her face or Jamison's position. "You can see what He cannot. She has been manipulating so long and steering the darkness, and organizing so much without His knowledge. You can see those things and fix them. It’s how you guided me to truly be released and how you saved Devin also."

Suddenly my heart burned in my chest. If I was some special "light", why couldn't I even save one person from her wrath. Because of the hold she had on Carly, Devin was gone now.

"So, what is my job then?" I asked Jamison. I figured he would know the most since he was an angel. "If I'm some big nuhra, do I have a specific job or do I just sort of roll with the punches until I am needed? I don't understand. Sorry for sounding so ignorant, but it's not every day a girl is told she's important in the world and sees things for God."

"Your heart is pure. You will see the world for what it truly is, and do what you can to fix it. This is why you are involved with charities and volunteer everywhere, and do all of the things you feel are "no big deal" all the time. It's in your nature to give and take care of things and people. When you see something is wrong, you fix it. When you can tell someone is hurting, you step in and try to make it better. Talking to you is like having a conversation with God's little sister. You help others see what they were missing in life, and have them chase their dreams or you help God see where there is darkness that was cleverly being hidden. In the case of Devin and Rey, God had no idea she had gotten strong enough to have slaves to do her bidding. Of course, turnabout is fair play and if he has minions, why shouldn’t she, right? The world is on a check and balances system. You are part of that." Jamison was trying to explain this complex thing to me in laments terms but my head was reeling from craziness overload.

"I might need some more explanation another day, but now my point is, what do you want with me?" I aimed my question at her this time.

"To punish God of course, losing you would cripple Him and using you against Him would be the ultimate way of revenge for all the years He has tried to stop me. He should just realize the world is full of evil at this point and it will spread like wildfire once I rule you."

"You mean like a fungus," Rey interjected. "Your filth, rot, and lies are nothing more than ways to hurt people and keep them angry, hurt, and sad. Just like you."

"Very good, Rey, now you're catching on!" Her praise made him flinch.

"For her to get control of you would be giving her a view into how God runs things. She could use you to find where true goodness, beauty, and truth were and corrupt it until the entire planet is over-run with the detestable lifestyle that she wants others to suffer with." The smile that crossed her face showed me that was her precise plan.

"She threatened to harm everyone I love until I surrender to her," I told Jamison. My heart was forever going to ache for the loss of Devin and Carly.

"Yes well, here's the thing about that. She can threaten all she wants and she can send people to hurt those that you love, but you have proven many times that you can bring back those that are pure of heart. If your friends are pure of heart, you just have to seek them and bring them back with you. She is bored and just wants to play a game with you. Once she realizes how strong you truly are, she will find something else to do for a while then come back. After all of these centuries, she tends to get bored a lot."

"I'm sure!"

"You should see the library in Heaven! You would freak out. There is an entire section dedication to her shenanigans and mishaps. It's truly some of the most comical reading you could ever have. She's a ticking time bomb waiting to happen."

"Wait, so does that mean I can bring Devin and Carly back?"

"Devin yes, I don't see why not. He is a pure soul that repented for his sins." My heart was soaring through my chest and then came crashing down again. "Carly, I’m afraid not. I'm so sorry, princess. I know you want to save her and see the good in her, but she is evil and cannot be changed." Jamison's explanation, though hurtful made sense.

"That is where you are wrong, Jamison. If nothing can banish darkness like the light and if I were given enough time with her, maybe she could be the person she always pretended to be with me; the girl that loved shoes and food more than anything. She should not be defined by her mistakes, but forgiven for her sins and loved. Everyone deserves a second chance," I said to them.

"Carly was a prolific serial killer in her time, nuhra;" her interruption grated my nerves more than nails on a chalkboard. "She was the very first female serial killer that I know of, in fact. You might see good in her because she is such a great actress, and has had centuries to work on it, but killing is the only thing she has ever been good at." The Devil loved to throw negativity around and make me second guess myself.

"Wow, you are a true piece of work, you know that?"

"Yes," she blushed. "I know."

"That was not a compliment! You see Carly the way you see her because of how you are, but I have spent the last eight years being friends with her and I know the true her. She has sometimes spent days on end with me, never leaving my side. No one is that great of an actress. Sorry. You fail."

"I will not fail. You will see!" she reached for my wrist and pulled her hand back quickly as if something shocked her. "What… Oh, very well. This is not over!"

"Ha! That almost reminds me of a wicked witch I once saw. You need some green face paint, a wart, and to threaten my dog, and then my life will truly be complete. Someone get a bucket of water, let's see if it works. Flying monkeys, anything? No?"

The male chuckles from my side of the room were enough to send her in a rage. A flash ignited and she was gone.

"Well, I guess that won't be the last time I see her, huh?"

"Oh no, most definitely not, I’m sorry." Jamison said, still chuckling.

"Why couldn't she touch me?" I asked, happy about whatever it was that kept someone like her away.

"Oh, you have the bracelet on. Nice touch!" Jamison said with a roar of laughter.

"The bracelet my dad gave me? What does that have to do with anything?" I asked, still not buying that my trinket of a keepsake could do anything to thwart evil.

"Okay, long story short, that bead there," he pointed to the antique looking green one in the center," is the soul of the first nuhra. When she reached her peak, the torch was passed on and her soul was captured to keep out of the wrong hands. See the shimmer in the bead itself? That crazy aquamarine color your eyes are? That's one of the things every nuhra has, your eyes." He went on to explain the others were for protection, strength, truth, and everything else a nuhra needs to as safe as possible. "We figured if we gave it to your father to gift to you that you would actually wear it, which is why I laughed. I love to be right!"

"Is every man in my life going to be so typical? Two demons and an angel and you all could sit right now in a crowded restaurant, eat chicken wings, and talk trash about sports like anyone else. Then go home, throw your socks on the floor, and not vacuum!"

They both chuckled at my outburst.

Rey touched my hand tentatively to see if it would hurt him. When it didn't, he asked if I would mind him seeing the bracelet.

I reached to take it off and he said, "No, never take it off, I just want to see her soul. The first nuhra, that’s all." He looked at my bracelet. Stared for some time then looked off toward the back of the warehouse, closed his eyes, and smiled.

"Are you okay?" I asked and used my free hand to pat his back reassuringly.

"Yes, I am wonderful. Thank you, seriously for everything. Thank you."

"Well, it’s my pleasure and job, I suppose. Oh GOD! I bet Rhea and Victoria are freaking out! Are they okay? How long have we been gone?"

"They are both okay. They are at the tournament, with everyone else, waiting for it to start. Two of the key players haven't shown back up yet, so they've put the game on hold." Jamison had a mischievous look on his face. Males and that look were never a good match, in my book.

"You can go back," I told Rey. "I have to get to Devin before she hurts him."

"I won't leave you. Do whatever you need. Do you want to do it here, or go somewhere else?"

"I don't want to do anything here except light a match, and watch this place burn," I answered honestly.

"Beach?" he offered.

"You know me too well!"

"Can you do a favor for me, Jamison?"

"I would do anything for you, princess."

"Go to the tournament, but put those wings away first. I know you can do something with them. When you first got here, those big things were not fluffing and looking all scary. Just go there and try to explain this in a way only you can to Rhea and Victoria. I don't know if I can, and I really need to get to Devin."

"I understand. Plus, I have a trick to talking to them easier than you do," he said with an adorable wink that I hadn't seen in way too long.

"Oh? And what is that?"

"You know that voice in your head that tells you when you should or shouldn't do something?"

"You mean your conscience?"

"Hi, I'm your conscience," he said, stretching his hand out to shake mine.

"No way, that's awesome!"

"Yes, we figured if she could plant negativity and bad things in people's minds then we could sometimes whisper things to help people do good things, or at least things that wouldn’t cause them awful loss, pain, and suffering. It's one of my favorite jobs. It's so cool!"

Jamison's excitement reminded me of when we were in middle school and had science projects due. Instead of working on his project all week, he would do it all in one night so he could immerse himself in the work. The next day, instead of being tired, he would be wired and excited and happy. He was always a weirdo.