Author’s Note: Hmm, second part. Look, we’re near the half-way mark! Lessee, we’re at Veritas’ apartment and the plot thickens!! YAY! We hear about a few more of the characters, not too much of them and...well, you’d have to read it to see. =====================================================================

Fenrir sat with his hands in his face, listening to the steady sound of Veritas’ breathing in the next room. She had just fallen asleep after having another crying session over the end of Charlotte’s Web. He couldn’t help smiling as he listened to her, trying to cover up the sobs as she shut the book and placed it on an ever-growing stack by her bed. No, he hadn’t looked into her room, but one could assume.

He waited until she fell asleep to leave. He passed through the shadows, from his room, to the hallway, and stopped just outside her door. He slid a hand over the door and set up a psychic barrier around the perimeter. While he was gone, if anyone tried to come in and attack her, they’d come across a very...nasty and painful surprise. He turned to leave and saw something flicker at the corner of his eye. He froze and melted into the darkness, watching, waiting.

A demon was teleporting. It appeared in an ellipse of shimmering light and landed softly, wide, clawed feet stepping carefully around an unknown room. Its muscles rippled with strength, its red, growing eyes moving to and fro as it took up the layout of the room. It turned its head, sniffing the air. It chuckled and moved towards Veritas’ room, intending to have a little fun. It raised a callused and badly burned hand to her door and jumped when a demonic aura snapped up and sent a shockwave through its body.

“Get away from there.” Fenrir growled.

His new body was formed from the shadows and he stepped into the hallway, his very shadow dwarfing the demon itself. He snarled lowly, his teeth sharp and white in the darkness. His hair floated around his face like a living fire, his eyes as red as fresh blood. Muscles pulsated while veins coursed with barely uncontrolled power. His back arched and a pair of black, membranous wings protruded from two diagonal slits on his back, stretching and flaring out, making him seem three times as big. He clenched and unclenched his fists, his fingernails sharpening and lengthening, turning into blade-like nails. He lifted a heavy-set foot and snarled, loud enough to warn off the demon.

“Leave. Now.”

The demon cackled and hunched over, claws braced on the floor, ready to charge. “No. The bitch is mine.”

“Your funeral.” Fenrir replied. He moved just as quickly as the demon, grabbing the other in his massive hand. “Couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”

The demon struggled and screamed, a sound that Fenrir knew as a call for help. He hated demons like that and quickly silence the other with a simple twist of its neck. He hunched over the demon, holding his breath when he heard shuffling from the room. The door opened and he hoped she wouldn’t turn on the light.

“Fenrir?” Came Veritas’ slurred voice. “Is that you?”

“Sorry,” Fenrir answered. He cleared his throat and hoped she didn’t hear the demonic tone in his voice. “I tripped.”

She stayed where she was. “Are you okay? You sound...different. Did you stub your toe?”

“No. I’m fine.” Fenrir growled. He winced. He didn’t mean to sound so testy, but he wasn’t in any position to-

The lights turned on and Fenrir moved quickly enough that he pressed himself against Veritas. He pinned her arms above her head and leaned over her, staring at her neck. Breathing hard, he didn’t dare look in her eyes. She wasn’t suppose to see his demon form, yet. In fact, she wasn’t suppose to see it at all. Who knew what she was thinking, looking at a demon from only a few heartbeats away? He risked a glance at her, but what he saw in his eyes wasn’t rejection or condemnation. He saw acceptance, understanding. He didn’t quite know if he appreciated her understanding or loathed how she could come to accept him so easily. He took a step back, to apologize, but the look in her eyes changed from compassion to worry.

“Fenrir, behind you!”

He turned and felt the fist impact the left side of his face. Veritas screamed, but he accepted the blow just as easily as Veritas accepted his demon form. He smiled, blood dripping from a wound within his mouth. He thrust his fist forward, the blade-like fingers sinking into flesh and coming out in a red ruin from the demon’s back. He pulled his arm out, the rush of blood splashing over him like a warm rain. He would have laughed, but a voice, soft and hesitant, came to him.

“Fenrir?”

He turned to her, saw her kneeling on the ground, her fists clutching at the tee shirt she wore to bed. Her bottom lip trembled and her eyes filled with unshed tears. She jerked when he reached for her and he went to one knee, shaking his head.

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t...I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have done this to you.”

She shook her head, staring at nothing. “I would have found out sooner or later. I mean. I’m used to demons. I see them around all the time. But...they’re all deformed, they’re...ugly. But you...you’re...”

“I look human.” Fenrir whispered. She was right. Most demons resembled things that had been run over by a truck and sadistically run over again and again. But him? He looked like a human with red eyes, blade-like claws, and black wings. Nothing terrifying, nothing disfigured. It was all him in human form with a few side benefits.

“Do you enjoy...killing?” She asked, releasing her clenched fists.

“I’d be lying if I said no.”

He didn’t dare look at her. He couldn’t bear to see what was in her eyes now. If she didn’t condemn him before, then now she would. He heard her stand and walk away. Finally he was alone to think. But before he could change back, Veritas appeared next to him with a wet wash cloth, wiping the blood off his face and chest and arms. He stared at her as she avoided eye contact, wondering what was going on in her head.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because...” She said. She didn’t elaborate.

“That’s not an answer.” He stopped her hand with his, careful not to cut her. “Why?”

“I took you in, knowing who and what you are. A little change and a blood thirsty nature shouldn’t throw me off this much.” She took her hand back and finally looked him in the eyes. “It caught me off guard because...all demons look like they were hit with an ugly stick. But you. You’re the only other demon I have ever known that looks the same when he looks like a demon and when he wears the mask of a human. But the thing is...he’s a full-fledged demon and you became a demon.”

Fenrir’s hackles rose. “Is he a demon lord?”

“Demon...lord.” Veritas whispered. “Is that who you’re looking for?”

“Yes.” The answer came out of a hiss of breath.

Veritas shook her head and placed the bloodied cloth in a plastic bag. “You shouldn’t be looking for the demon lord. He’s dangerous.”

Fenrir shifted so that he was face to face with her. “You know him, then? You know what he looks like?”

“Please, Fenrir. Don’t pursue him. He’ll kill you.”

He tried not to be angry, he tried not to become violent, but he was the demon who had turned him against his family! He had to go after him, to avenge his family and what was left of his soul. “Veritas, if you know anything...please, tell me.”

She tried to look away from him, but there was pain in his eyes that she had no right to prolong. “Everyone knows him, at least, they know of him. Anyone who has met him has surely died. The demons all protect him especially three of the strongest he calls the Three Tiers of Pain. Prism is the only female, her voice, when she’s concentrating, could separate flesh from bone. Then there’s Razor, he is as fast as a bullet with wings that can cut air, and lastly, the second strongest demon aside from him, is Arcane. We don’t know much about either of them.”

Fenrir realized she wasn’t speaking about Bane and Arcane. She was talking about Arcane and him, the man who she gave no name to. He stood and circled her. “What is his name, Veritas? You told me nearly everything. But tell me who he is!”

She stared him until she could see the violence lurk above the surface of his eyes. She knew with the tension in his back and arms that he would probably kill her if she didn’t answer. She tried to soften her voice, to try and take the sting out of her voice, but she didn’t like feeling scared. And right now she was terrified of him.

“Vermillion.”

She stood and walked away from him, slipping into her room and closing it with a soft click. Fenrir stood by himself, the name turning in his mind, over and over again. Vermillion. The demon who had changed his life forever. He was torn between staying and atoning for what he put Veritas through or going into the night and looking for Vermillion. For a long time he couldn’t decide. He sat on the couch and counted the minutes until the sun rose.

* * *

Veritas squeezed her eyes shut as a mirror reflected the bright, burning light of the sun. She sat up, groggily, rubbing her seeing organs. She trudged to her closet and took out her clothes for the day. She chose a soft, cashmere sweater and a sundress with a light, rosy floral pattern, and white sandals that were meant more for walking and comfort than style. She grabbed the towel from her dresser and stepped out into the hallway.

“Morning.”

She stopped and looked over her shoulder. Fenrir stood at the doorway, hair wet from a recent shower and beads of water rolling off his bare chest. Unconsciously she licked her lips, her throat and mouth going dry, while other parts of her turned to liquid heat under his gaze. She gave him a once-over, knowing she’d never get an opportunity like this again.

He wasn’t wearing anything but black leather pants that molded against every muscle of his legs and everything in between. Every part of him was large and muscled, from his shoulders to his chest, the defined muscles in his stomach, the size of his arms, and down to his hips where she could see the V-defined muscles leading into the tops of his pants. He was tall, that was also a plus, but his skin was kissed by the sun, an equal tan with no hindrance of tan lines. For humans, that was slightly impossible not to go into the sun and not burn on one side and not the other. But for him, he was perfect.

“Morning.” She whispered, turning away from the face that reminded her of a fallen angel. Dark and moody, demonic and strangely humane. What made men into angels and angels into demons?

She shut the bathroom door behind her, before she could initiate a conversation. She didn’t appreciate losing a few hours sleep. What she didn’t appreciate even more was being terrified and sleeping with a knife. She knew she couldn’t really kill him, but she could wound him. If she did, that would be a reminder to him of what he’d done. Serves him right.

She showered, relishing in the feel of hot water bombarding every part of her body. At least here, she felt warm. Outside was cold, too cold for her to seek comfort in a man. But what man? The men she knew were either assholes or dead. If she had a choice, she’d choose the dead men.

She finished her shower and dressed slowly. She shook her head a few times, deciding to let it dry the easy way. She stepped out of the bathroom and looked at Fenrir who was once again decked from the neck down in black. She noticed he wore gloves and a trench coat that covered everything underneath. His booth were shiny and black and big, stained with what she thought was blood. She glanced at her bedroom door and sighed. She was raised not to be rude.

“I’m going to get my book and my purse and then I’ll-”

“We.” He corrected.

She nodded softly. “We’ll go.”

Veritas ducked into her room and grabbed a new book, Peter Pan, and her purse and turned towards the door. She paused and returned to her bed, grabbing the knife she had been sleeping with. She hid it into the folds of her purse and joined Fenrir who stood in the living room, looking like a real-life bodyguard.

“Where’s the demon?” She asked him. She looked around the room, kicking at miscellaneous book stacks.

“I took care of it.”

She turned on him, hating how he was so calm and cool and she, still terrified of what he might have done to her. She bit her tongue and looked longingly at the front door.

“You don’t have to accompany me. Do what you need to do. Find Vermillion. I was fine without you, I’m fine now.”

Fenrir all but snarled at her. “We had a deal.”

“A deal, but not an obligation.” Veritas answered. “I shouldn’t have suggested you be my bodyguard if-”

“IF what?” Fenrir demanded. He took a step closer and saw her back away against the wall. He saw her hands go into her purse, as if reaching for something hidden. She reeked with fear. He shook his head and backed away. “You’re afraid of me.”

“I’m human.” Veritas answered.

“That’s a goddamn pathetic excuse.”

Veritas’ eyes blazed. “What am I suppose to do? You were in your demon form, you were in the middle of a blood lust, you just killed another demon! What was I suppose to think?”

“I said I’d protect you, doesn’t that mean anything?” He growled.

Veritas turned, facing the door. “More than you know.”

Fenrir noted the tone in her voice. She was one of those women who was independent, but occasionally needed a man in her life to feel the semblance of balance. Would he dare cross that oh-so-thin line and give her what she needed and what he wanted? He would only stay for a few days. That would give them enough time to fool around, but not get serious.

He reached for her and the thrill of touching someone ran through him. It was a powerful attraction that had pressing himself against her. He liked the smell of her hair, the way it felt on his face. He liked how short it was so he could see the pulse in her neck. He liked the way she felt, so warm and silky smooth, body trembling as his fingers trailed down her hips. He could feel her heartbeat, feel her breath come out ragged as he lowered his mouth to her neck.

“I saw you looking me over.”

“It was a woman’s appreciation at looking as such a...flawless man.”

Fenrir smiled, brushing his lips over her frantically beating pulse. “I’m half-demon, remember?”

Every warning signal she had about him drifted when he turned her to face him. His eyes were beautiful in the morning and she could only wonder what they looked like at night or glazed over with lust. She touched his face and he shut his eyes, moving into that affectionate gesture. His eyes opened slowly and his mouth touched hers, like hesitant butterflies.

The kiss shouldn’t have mattered. He felt her energy as quickly as water splashing onto an electric current. It course through his body, through every nerve ending and cell and shot through her, making a current of sexual energy bubble out from within. He pulled away to let her breath, his body growing hard at the sight of her, breathless and shaking.

He lifted her and brought her to the couch, ravishing her face, her neck, her breasts, with hot, passionate kisses. He groaned when her legs moved over his hips, the very sound of her voice in his ear making the erotic images in his mind come to life. He undressed himself quickly and came back to her, taking her clothes off as slowly as possible.

“Fenrir?”

He smiled as he splayed his hands over her stomach and moved lower until he reached the hem of her skirt. Then his hands moved upwards and pulled at her underwear. If she wanted to be descent, he could work around the dress. His smile widened when she sat up, understanding his intention. She pulled off her sweater and reached for the straps of her dress.

“No.” He shook his head. “I want to do it myself.”

She lay back down, watching as he pulled the straps off her shoulder and shimmied the dress down her body. She watched him as his eyes roamed over the curves of her breasts, the flat slope of her belly, and the dark triangle of hair at the junction of her legs. She swallowed hard when she felt him brush over her leg. He was large and imposing, placing each hand on her knee and spreading her legs as he leaned over her.

“I haven’t been with a woman in a long time.” He whispered.

His mind was fixated on her body. Every muscle, every curve was smooth and perfect, like it was fit for his hand and his mouth, made only for him to caress and kiss. If he couldn’t know her personality, then he would know every inch of her from the inside out. He could smell her sex, could feel the way she burned for him as her hands moved restlessly up and down his arms. He kissed her, lovingly, softly, preparing her for his intrusion. He had made love to Phelan before, but as a demon? He was worried of hurting Veritas. He couldn’t-

“Fenrir.” She whispered close to his ear. “Come inside me. I need you inside me.”

The words alone made his body tremble. No one had wanted him this badly except for his wife. But she was dead. This was a mercy for both of them. A kind of...unspoken agreement. He wouldn’t get attached to Veritas. It was stress-relief. That’s all he had to tell himself.

He lowered his body into hers, felt her instantly mold and clamp around him. He groaned as he passed through her inner muscles, felt her gasp when he hit that delicious spot within. He waited until she could breath again before he began to move. Her eyes widened and she let out a pleasured moan escape her lips. Her nails dug into the small of his back, kneading and digging her nails, inadvertently forcing his body to jerk forward. He shut his eyes, the feeling of absolute ecstasy run through him. As a human, he could say he had had memorable moments with Phelan, but with Veritas as a demon, it was a whole new experience.

He lifted her, allowing her to rest on him for sole support. With his hands guiding her, he moved her hips against his while he rose on his knees, spearing her in place. She rested her head on his shoulder, groaning as the position forced him deeper within her. Her hands were braced on his shoulders and she arched her back, her muscles gripping him as he forced her up and down on his organ. He bared his teeth, culmination only a few deep thrusts away. He placed her back onto the couch and surged forward the last few times, feeling his body explode inside her. She yelled his name as she writhed and gasped underneath him, fingers digging into his hips while her legs tightened and tightened, then finally, releasing him.

Fenrir braced himself on the arm of the couch, looking down at where he and Veritas were joined. Beads of sweat rolled down the valley of her chest and he bent hid head to lick them off. Her chest rose and fell fairly quickly, and he couldn’t deny himself a taste of her nipples. He took one breast into his mouth and nibbled and suckled, listening to her enthused moans of approval. His tongue swirled around the hardened peak and moved to the other, giving it the same treatment. He finally looked at her, her gold eyes glazed with the afterglow of sex. He kissed her, the passion still raw between them.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked, his hand leaving the armrest and moving down to knead her breast.

“No. I’m ok.” She lifted a hand and trailed it down the side of his face. She noticed something. “You’re not hot and sweaty like me.”

He smiled, hoping she wouldn’t take offense. “I haven’t sweated since I became a demon. I can’t really give an answer to that.”

“Oh.” She snuggled into his neck, planting kisses here and there. “That was wonderful.”

“It was good for me, too.” He answered. He shifted so that he was on the bottom and she was on top. He liked the feel of her back as his fingers slid up and down her spine. He grabbed at his jacket and strew it over her body. “Did we have to be somewhere important today?”

“No.” Veritas shook her head which gave her a sultry, sex-kitten look. She kissed his eyelids then lay her head against his. “Just the usual. Go out and eat, read, get bullied, have my bodyguard kick their asses, come home-”

“Make love.” He added, smiling.

“Make love.” She agreed. “Then...sleep. And repeat...until you leave.”

“Until I leave.” Fenrir repeated.

That ended the mood. She sat up and looked down at him. “I shouldn’t have said that, right?”

“But it’s true. I am leaving in a few days, so...”

Veritas pulled away from him, feeling the slight shock of being...empty. She blushed, her decency morale was jumping in. She grabbed her sweater, covering herself. She knew it was too good to be true. She found someone who could protect her, but he wasn’t intending on staying. Then what was this? Make love for a few days, then, one morning, he’s gone? She hated being terrified of someone, but she hated it even more when she was being used. How could he do this to her?

“Veritas?”

“It’s nothing.” She leaned over her knees, searching for her clothes. She should have been used to being alone. She never knew her mother. She only knew her father...but... If she was anyone else and came across someone who had the same problem as her, she would leave, too. Why would Fenrir be any different? He was looking for her father.

Fenrir knew the tone in her voice. He reached for her, trying to get her to sit still. “You know that was the first thing I told you. You knew I was only staying for a few days.”

“I know.” She answered, out of his reach. “I’m not blaming you.”

“You say that, but you sure as hell don’t act like it.”

Veritas stopped to grab her underwear and slipped on her dress. She decided not to wear the sweater since she was still a little hot. She turned and saw Fenrir sitting up, eyes blazing, ready for a fight. She put her hands on her hips, dropping the sweater.

“What do you want me to say, Fenrir?” She demanded. “Yes, I know you said you were staying for a few days but what was the point of fucking me if you were just going act like nothing happened?”

“I wasn’t intending to sleep with you.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Then what was your intention? Making me feel better?” She said acidly. “You scare the shit out of me and you atone by fucking me. Then for fucking me, you’re going to leave.”

Fenrir ran his hands through his hair. “I’m not here for a goddamn commitment!”

Veritas shook her head and bent over to pick up her sweater. She walked stiffly towards the door and gave Fenrir one last, hardened gaze. “Go to hell, Fenrir.”

The door slammed with barely controlled fury.

=====================================================================