One

 Alex pressed her fingertips into the shot glass, making her skin become pallor around the edges.

            She felt the eyes of the three daemons on her back as she tossed back the shot of whiskey, feeling the sharp burn as it seared down her throat. She inhaled as she slammed the glass on the counter and whipped her hair behind her. Platinum blonde with thin streaks of red and black interwoven made for an edgy look with it brushing past her shoulders. She often wore it in pigtails and side braids but today she decided to wear it down and straight.

            Her kohl rimmed honey eyes went to the mirror behind the fine bartender in front of her. Three bulky “guys” were huddled in the far corner, their eyes flashing from black to blue or brown. Yep, definitely daemons. Two with varying shades of blue irises and one with chocolate eyes. They were handsome, a little too handsome for human men, and dressed completely in black much like her outfit. Save for the red leather jacket she wore over her black tank and dark gray shredded jeans. She loved this jacket. Her combat boots laced around her athletic calves and gave her an inch or two in height for which she was still short.

            Around her body, an outline of light enchased her. Sort of like an aura but it gave off what she really was. A Shiner. A Lucens. Mostly angel and some human, her light shone in the dark bar that was frequented by the Unnatural. Well, she was mostly human, unlike other Shiners. But those daemons had kept an eye on her ever since she stepped foot into Death’s Door. Why, she wasn’t sure. She had never seen those three before in her life. Given this place was almost new, having been opened a few months now so they probably frequented much more than she.

            Stretching and cracking her back, she felt the curved dagger dig into her side, tucked into the waistband of her jeans. The sheath was old leather, having been passed down in her family for many generations, encased in ancient runes of protection and strength. It was her weapon of choice along with a diamond and junchstone encrusted metal whip which she left in her apartment. Damn. She angled her body so she could cross one knee over the other and held her chin high, showing them she wasn’t in the mood to fight. Well, after the week she’d had, she could do with a little a*s kicking so long as she was doing it but she wasn’t looking for any bullshit.

            “Another?” The bartender’s warm voice interrupted her plot of walking out and hiding in the shadows. He was very good looking with sandy hair and silver eyes. He was some sort of Unnatural, perhaps a fallen angel but she couldn’t be too sure. He exuded nonhuman with his extreme looks and sharp angles. Trained to see what was hidden beneath the façade, she caught the hollow cheekbones and large eye sockets that many angels tended to have. Exaggerated features was the word she was looking for.

            “Sure,” she shrugged. Not even her fourth one and she wasn’t feeling anything. Though it had been two months since she’d last gotten drunk with Gray and Ana but no one was around at the moment so she didn’t care. She was technically on duty but did her boss have to know? Nope, he did not.

            The golden haired bartender tipped his bottle to top off her shot. She nodded her thanks, slapped down a couple of twenties, and chugged that one before smacking her lips and standing up.

            “Well, thank you, sir, but I must take my leave.” She tipped her head to the side, studying the three men in the mirror, gauging their movements as they flinched to rise. Hmm, who were they? And why were they inching their wrists towards their guns holstered on their hips?

            The bartender saluted her. “My pleasure. Come back, next round is on the house. Nice meeting you Alex,” he winked and walked off.

            Alex started. How did he know my name? She cocked a brow and elected not to care. Maybe he was the rare exception and could read minds for all she knew. Even though only vamps could do that. And he was definitely not a vampire. Oh well.

            Gripping her phone between her fingers, she walked to the door, pausing as if she forgot something, turned back to the bar only to notice the three daemons already in front of her.

            “Howdy boys. Anything I can help you with?” She placed one hand on a hip and stood defiantly.

            The two blue eyed guys smirked at her while the brown eyed one just looked away. He sort of seemed bashful or not really into the whole idea of taking on a Shiner. She wasn’t sure which but if he did try anything, she would take him down.

            “Look, I don’t know you guys so please, can I enjoy the rest of my night?” She saw the bartender’s arms bulge as he leaned on the counter, ready to break up a fight if need be. Or maybe he was on this whole gang up on Alex thing. Who knew with filthy daemons; they weren’t to be trusted after all.

            Lifting one shoulder in indifference, she backed out the door. And sprinted off in to the night.

            Her phone blinded her in the darkness as she dialed Grey’s number. “Hey, three buff daemons are chasing me. I could take them on but I really don’t have a death wish,” she spilled in one long breath before Grey could even get out a greeting. “I’m at Death’s Door, hurry.”

            She hung up knowing he wouldn’t let her down. She couldn’t call her sister because Ana was too busy traipsing the globe instead of doing her damn job. The sound of feet running behind her caused her to move quicker. She ducked into an alley about a half block down from the bar and sidled along the tight space. It was cold out and her breaths came in short puffs of white.

            Once she made it out of the alleyway, she crept along the semi-wet ground to hide behind a dumpster until one or three of the daemons crossed her path. The sound of designer shoes on the pavement confirmed her anxiety and so she struck one in the thigh just as he came upon the end of the dumpster. He fell like a sack of rocks and she hopped over his chest to land a solid kick in the groin of another.

            Alex whipped out her dagger and bared her teeth. “What do you want with me?” She squared off with the brown eyed daemon holding her only weapon with one arm while the other stretched out behind her. He seemed a little familiar, like she’d seen him before in a crowd or a distant memory. Groaning and grunting erupted to both sides of her and she noticed the other ones getting back on their feet. Great.

            “Alexandrina DeLuca?” The one in front of her asked. His voice was warming, much like his deep eyes. He was tall and well built, like a lumberjack but still lean and clean looking. This daemon sent shivers down her spine, like a roaring fire in the dead of winter. She found herself lowering her blade.

            “Who wants to know?” Why were they after her? And where was Grey during all of this? It’s not like she hadn’t done anything wrong other than barely injure two of them.

The brown eyed daemon turned his head slightly to the right, fear welling in those dark irises. Was that a signal? The air had become stiflingly warm and dense as a fog seemed to roll in out of nowhere. She felt her heartbeat pick up as the epitome of something wicked pricked at her. Someone more deadly and stronger was here and she needed to get out. These daemons were the minor leagues but there was another here, she could feel it, who could rip her apart with just a flick of a wrist.

            All three daemons stepped forward but one large shadow enveloped them all, suffocating Alex as she fell to the ground, her dagger clanging beside her head. Heavy footsteps stopped near her left ear as whoever had bent low to whisper in her ear, his breath hot and thick, almost like smoke.

            Her eyes rolled back but not before she caught what the man had said.

            “I do.”

Reviews

[ghostlyhearts]

I really like this and intend to read more!

[Ja Strangelyn]

Thank you! This is my third attempt at this series so that is much appreciated!

[ghostlyhearts]

You are very welcome! The story I'm writing is probably my tenth attempt. Just keep going!