The Twelfth Chime

Teenage Everest faces the consequences of making a life-changing deal.

A dark-haired teenager ran, terrified. Dark shadows were following her, looming over her and suffocating her. Her breathing was shallow as she tried to pick up her speed, turning a corner and looking for hiding spots. Not that it would make much of difference, which she knew. The teenager had to try something; anything.

‘Everest...’ a voice whispered eerily, coming from the shadows above and around her.

Everest shuddered, panting and feeling her legs turn to jelly. She had been running for over an hour now in this dark, dank city. She wouldn’t give up; not because she was stubborn, although there was that. No she didn’t want to die, broken in a bloodied heap with glassy eyes and mouth open in a silent scream; flecks of blood covering her face. Everest kept running, feeling like she was moving more slowly than ever before.

‘Everest...’ the voice murmured, almost lovingly this time. Everest noticed it was also closer.

Her chest was heaving as she turned to look back at the shadows that were looming over the whole city now. A howl could be heard and Everest tripped over her own feet.

‘F**k!’ she yelled as she landed on her knees and elbows, scraping the exposed skin. Her head whipped around, her hair flying out of her face.

Standing in front of her was a tall, dark man. A man she knew well. His pitch black hair had fallen into his eyes, and with what little light there was he looked dangerous. He was wearing wore-down jeans and a baggy t-shirt with some sort of shoes; Everest didn’t want to look down because her fear was building up. His eyes glinted a bright blue colour and Everest scrambled backwards on the pavement.

‘Now, now Everest dear,’ the man said smoothly, his voice almost flawless. ‘A lady such as yourself should never say such crude language.’

‘F**k you!’ she yelled, pushing herself up and turned to run; just to bump into someone else. Everest peered up at the person in front of her. It was another male; only this one had a serious face and was the polar opposite of the man behind her. This one had blonde short hair, enough to sit just above his dark, brooding eyes and silent, set mouth. He had a scruffy but neat grey suit on and a blue tie wrapped loosely around his neck. His eyes glanced over her before looking straight at the other man.

‘Blake,’ he said, voice gruff and tired sounding. ‘I understand why you are here, but technically it isn’t until tomorrow.’

The man behind her laughed; still sounding sickly sweet. ‘I was wondering when you’d show up, glory dick.’ He chuckled and crossed his arms. ‘‘Sides, I am quite sure I am allowed to have some fun. That’s not against no f*****g rules is it, Jasper?’

Everest slid herself back silently, hoping to break out the circle; all the while her eyes transfixed on both men. She didn’t know what was going on. She didn’t really want to know. Her eyes flew to the light-haired man, Jasper, who was tugging on his tie; almost nervously.

‘Well, no...’ he muttered, as Everest shifted back an inch more. ‘However, you know that’s not what I meant.’

‘Ah, my being on this plane of existence,’ Blake said, a smirk now on his face. ‘It is true that I shouldn’t be here...’

Jasper interrupted. ‘You also know that isn’t what I meant, scum.’ Everest noticed he was frowning at the tall dark man. She bit her lip hard, ignoring the pain in her arms and legs and pushing herself back two inches. She wanted out of this standoff and now.

‘One soul I’d come up to collect in my body,’ Blake said naturally, waving off the frown and accusations that Everest couldn’t see. She did a double-take after the words sunk in.

‘Soul?’

Both men turned to her as she said that one word. Her eyes widened and she clamped her mouth shut quickly. S**t, she thought. Me and my big mouth...

‘I did say that.’ Blake looked amused and Everest had no idea why. She frowned and tried scooting back further from both men. She didn’t know what was going on and it showed on her fearful face.

‘Geez, human, you have no f*****g clue do you?’ Jasper muttered, running a hand through his short blonde hair.

Everest’s eyes widened as the blonde man came over and knelt next to her. He took in a deep breath and she noticed he didn’t release it. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Blake saw the same thing; his smirk growing. Jasper brushed a strand of hair out of her face and sighed.

‘I guess you are too young to realise... God needs to help the young ones,’ he muttered leaning closer to her, hands outstretched. Everest whimpered and pushed the man away, only to have Blake at her side and grabbing her hands.

‘Tsk, tsk,’ he murmured in her ear. ‘Can’t you see the holy dick needs some sustenance?’

Everest closed her eyes tight, wishing the whole thing would just disappear. She then cried out in pain as something stung her hand. Her eyes flew open and dripping from the palm of her hand, and a nice large cut, was her blood. The mere sight of it made her dizzy and she felt like she was going to throw up.

Jasper’s head whipped up as he was dusting off what little dirt and grime there was on his suit jacket. Everest saw him lick his lips and then freeze. Blake gripped her wrists tighter to keep her from moving, but not enough to stop the blood flow.

‘Now, angel,’ Blake hissed. ‘I bet you want this so bad right now.’

Everest felt fear as she saw Jasper’s eyes turn darker as he stared at her hand. Blake had a knife in his hand, close to her other hand, ready to slice that one open as well. Everest whimpered, hoping to God that this was going to be over or was just a very strange and vivid dream.

‘No...’ Jasper whispered, his body betraying him as he shook all over and licked his lips.

‘No?’ Blake said, laughing. He leaned over to Everest’s ear. ‘All angels need blood, see.’ Everest shuddered slightly, struggling in his tight grip. ‘Not just anyone’s blood. Oh no, that would be such a sin.’ The dark haired man chuckled then added, ‘Pure blood. Virgin blood.’

Everest stopped struggling and her eyes went wide as Blake cut open her other hand. She whimpered, wincing in the pain. This cut was deeper and would need stitches; if she ever made it out of this alive. Jasper was growling deep in his throat now and not staring at her hands but at Blake.

‘Yes, angel f**k?’

‘Blood...’ the light haired man spat. ‘You sick twisted f*****g freak! You know... you...’

‘Oh yes, I do know,’ Blake said smirking wider.

Jasper sneered, a complete change from the emotionless man Everest met not even five minutes ago. ‘At least I don’t need what you need, you vile disgusting worm of the earth.’

Blake barely registered what Jasper was saying. Everest figured he didn’t really care. Jasper was shuddering badly now, shaking like leaf in a strong gust. He was trying to control himself and it was a losing battle.

‘P-please...’ Everest whispered to no one in particular. Maybe to God, but she didn’t think he was on her side at the moment. Probably looking over some couple who were f*****g each other’s brains out. Both men weren‘t listening to her now. It was like she was just a blood-bag they could use for their argument of possibly thousands of years.

‘I don’t need to rape poor innocent humans just to take their soul,’ Jasper spat out, grasping the ground beneath him.

Everest barely registered what the blond had said. Mostly because Blake was dragging her over to him and literally waving her hands in his face. She watched as his face cracked inch by inch as the blood dripped from her wounded hands.

‘Know you want it, angel,’ Blake said in a sing-song voice.

Jasper’s face turned into a snarl as he latched himself onto Everest’s left hand. She squirmed and yelled, feeling sharp teeth nip at the skin. Blake just laughed and muttered something about how angels were all the same. Bloodthirsty and not able to control themselves is what Everest guessed. She felt the shadows fall around her and the next minute she was pushed to the dirty street floor.

‘Shut up demon,’ the blond muttered around Everest’s hand. He was now pinning her down with his body. She just whimpered and wished it was over. She felt his tongue lap at her wound and shuddered.

Creepy f***s, she thought, squirming not doing her any good right now. Souls, angels, demons... and I‘m f*****g bleeding and having some freaks’ tongue lap it up. Greatest day ever...

Blake leaned over her, mouth near her ear breathing gently. ‘It’ll be over soon. Your soul will be mine.’

‘Why?’ she murmured, trying to remember if she had done anything bad enough to warrant going to Hell or even dying.

‘That little deal we made,’ Blake whispered, making Everest shudder as he breathed into her ear.

Jasper growled and made a noise that sounded like a moan before switching hands. Everest winced as he sunk his teeth into her hand, sucking and biting. He gently brushed his tongue over the deep cut. Everest let out a moan before shutting her mouth tight. She didn’t mean to make such a noise but somehow it was getting to her. Making her feel so damn horny to have a guy get off on just her blood. Which in itself is creepy, she thought, trying to keep back moans.

The dark haired man smirked at the angel and lifted up the hand he’d let go of, showing Everest. She gasped, both in shock and, strangely, in pleasure. Jasper had nibbled her thumb which she didn’t know was sensitive. On another note, her left hand was almost completely healed except for a nail size mark in the middle of her palm.

‘Interesting isn’t it, mortal?’ Blake murmured as Jasper bit down on the juncture of her index finger and thumb. Everest let out a strangled moan and the angel continued to lap and suck at her blood.

‘N-no,’ she whimpered, her eyes tearing up. She refused to let the tears fall, to let them see how afraid she really was. She remembered that deal; regretted it even after she made it. Just to make her get rid of her violent father and have a little peace. Everest’s father never raped her. Beating her until she was on the brink of death, starving her, tying her up in the basement, slicing just under her knees, breaking glass over her head and just generally treating her like s**t beneath his foot was more his style.

She remembered how she’d struck a deal with a tall, dark creepy looking man with piercing blue eyes. Her father would die, if she just gave over her soul. Everest was eight when she agreed and now ten years later would die just because she wanted some peace from a violent and obsessive father.

In the distance, she heard a clock chime. Jasper let go of her hand and blinked, cocking his head. Blake frowned and Everest just lay there, not able to move. Jasper looked at her gravely before taking her hands in his and putting them above her head.

Blake grinned and chuckled. ‘Almost time.’ He leaned over the teenager and gave her cheek a lick.

Shuddering Everest felt the tears fall from her face before she knew she was crying. The light haired man was holding her down as she turned her face from the dark haired man she made the deal with. She heard a zip and closed her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks and sobbing as she knew now what was going to happen.

How she wished she hadn’t worn the stupid skirt. How she wished she hadn’t made the deal. A deal with the devil. She felt her skirt lift and now she was mumbling a string of no’s, please’s and wait’s.

Everest knew the demon wouldn’t wait. In the next second she felt excruciating pain causing her to let out a scream. Everest blacked out from the pain, images running through her head as the darkness consumed her. Took her over and left nothing but a body. The twelfth chime was the last thing she ever heard.

Blake finished and stood, leaving the body in the middle of the crossroads. ‘Mm... fresh soul.’ He looked at Jasper, who was now standing, and the dark haired man grinned. ‘Should do this more often, Jasper.’

‘F**k you, Blake,’ Jasper growled then sighed.

It would be four more hours until Everest’s body would be found, looking like an angel with her arms spread and hair flared out from behind her head. Her hands palm up, showing the marks of God and his suffering for this poor teenager.