Hybrid Misfit

Chapter Four

I sensed them the moment they walked in, which kind of distracted me as I was hanging upside down on a pole at the time. I managed to make my unintentional slide down look like part of my routine; however, in my new position, I couldn’t see Gene or Simon, even though my hormones were jumping up and down screaming “They’re here!” I unwrapped my legs from the pole and rolled to lie on my stomach on the stage. I pushed up with my arms in a hands and knees position. I crawled slowly, and flicked my head up and down to make my hair arc and flutter in silky strands around my face-I called this my lioness move, guaranteed to make men purr. My doggie position-also a bedroom favorite-allowed me to scan the crowd and I thanked my enhanced eyesight that allowed me to see past the glare of the lights that spotlighted me on stage.

I found the guys sitting at the bar and Simon inclined his head in my direction as our gazes touched. Gene just tossed me a wide grin along with a thumbs up gesture. I couldn’t help the flush of heat-a molten wet desire-from flooding my senses. I can’t believe they came to find me. The idea made me quite giddy and horny-who could forget their sensual promise of a threesome.

I dry humped the stage in time to the music, my hips rotating sensually in rhythm with my building delight over seeing my new friends again. My excitement radiated outwards, a cloud of invisible pheromones that touched the patrons of the club, erotically so. Catcalls and bills rained over and around me. I didn’t bother picking them up. Bruno had an employee to take care of the tips we got for our performances so that his dancers didn’t have to scramble all over the stage like crazed magpies. With one last flick of my hair, I rolled to my feet and with an exaggerated wiggle, walked off the stage.

I exited through the rear curtain and made my way to the dressing room where I shrugged a see-through, lace babydoll over my skimpy bikini-think teensy tiny triangles held on by string. I ran a brush through my snarled locks, cursing when the bristles caught.

I forced myself to slow down and breathe deep. My impatience stemmed from my eagerness to see and talk to Simon and Gene again. I wondered what brought them by-and then chided myself for my coyness. I knew why they were here. To see me.

Confidence restored, I finished brushing my hair and freshened my makeup. I killed fifteen minutes before I finally exited into the club-a girl should never appear too eager. My iron will kept me from skipping over to them like an eager puppy with her tongue lolling-but my anticipation was still apparent in the damp crotch of my panties.

Refusing to give in to my hormones-even as anticipation increased my level of horniness-I worked the room, speaking to my regular admirers and accepting with smiles their bills stuffed into my bra. I rewarded them with light touches across their cheeks or hands that fed me their desire while making their eyes glaze over in pleasure.

Thus, did I slowly make my way to the bar where, with a nonchalance I didn’t feel, I greeted the guys with a simple “Hi.”

Simon chuckled, his low rumble vibrating through me with more effect than the bass of the music blasting. “Nice show.”

Gene, the irreverent one, grinned at me devilishly. “I think I’ve found my new hang out spot. And, might I say, I look forward to receiving a private performance.”

Simon elbowed Gene, who grunted, but continued to smile with twinkling eyes.

Odd, with any other man, I would have probably become offended. Gene was so brazen and cocky, but I liked it, just like I enjoyed Simon’s more subtle admiration. The reason, I realized, was simple. I was the one causing the reaction, not my abnormal side, and under their obvious admiration, I bloomed. And grew even hornier.

“What brings you guys slumming?” I asked, sitting on a stool between them the short skirt of my lace cover-up stopping just short of my crotch.

“Just out for a drink,” said Gene.

“We wanted to see you,” said Simon with an honesty that shocked and pleased me.

“I’m glad you came,” I said. In truth, I hadn’t stopped thinking of them, and I’d fought the urge to call them all day.

“When are you finished?” Simon asked. “Can we take you to dinner?”

“Ah yes, dinner. We’re so very hungry,” Gene said with a wink and a leer that had me laughing.

Once again Simon glared at his friend and I grabbed his closed fist between my two hands-the man was freaking huge! “It’s okay, Simon. Given my profession, I get the innuendos a lot. I’ve also discovered the ones with the biggest mouths usually have the smallest dicks.” I said this with a mischievous smile at Gene. My sly rebuke didn’t cause him to blush or get angry; instead, he laughed.

Simon relaxed his fist and curled his fingers around mine. “Don’t worry, what he lacks in size next to me, he makes up for in innovation.” The subtle innuendo coming from him caught me off guard, but soon we were all laughing, which, I had to admit, was different than my usual experiences with men. Grunting, sweating and bellows of “Oh my God,” tended to be the more usual interactions I had with the opposite sex.

“Listen, I’ve got another set to do and then, if you don’t mind waiting, we can go for dinner.” And then back to Simon’s place or Gene’s bottle for dessert. My succubus side would be well fed tonight, and if I was lucky, maybe they’d feed my dark side, too. I wondered what drinking genie blood would do to me? Which reminded me, I still didn’t know what Simon’s other half consisted of.

Before I could ask, Claire came up, wearing her waitress costume consisting of a short black and white maid’s outfit along with a bunny tail and ears-the irony of it made us laugh like fiends at home. “Hey Trixi, who’re your friends?” she asked with a bright smile and eager eyes.

I introduced Gene and Simon to her while reining in a suddenly jealous side that reared its head with a snarl at the interest in her eyes. She looked them up and down and then in a mock whisper said to me, “You’re right, they are yummy.”

With a mischievous giggle, she hopped away leaving me facing two grinning men.

“Cute friend,” said Gene. My eyes must have turned green or smoke must have billowed from my ears, or some other noticeable sign, because he quickly added, “If you’re into herbivores. Me, I prefer a girl who likes to sink her teeth into me while I sink into her.”

Simon simply added. “Your bunny friend doesn’t hold a candle to you.” Mollified, even if I didn’t understand my unreasonable jealousy, I chatted with them about the club for a few sets.

At a signal from the bartender, I made my excuses and went out back to change. For my next number, I pulled on my darker side and I dressed to match the part. Black latex undies that zipped up the front, tight bustier held on with laces, fishnet stockings and lethal high heels. A coating of dark makeup with a blood red lipstick and I was every man’s fantasy of a girl gone bad.

I strutted onto the stage to the thumping rhythm of Rihanna’s song, “S &M.” A hush fell over the room as I started to dance.

My skin tingled and I had to concentrate on my motions as I found myself self-conscious knowing Simon and Gene watched me avidly. I went through the motions for my second act in a heightened state that made me breathe hard. Usually, I could run through my routines with my eyes closed while compiling a grocery list, but having Gene and Simon following my every move, added an element of sensuality to everything I did. When I grasped the pole-thick and hard-between my hands, I undulated my hips at it while locking eyes with Simon’s burning ones set in a face tight with tension-the sexual kind.

When I pressed my breasts around the pole, cupping and squeezing them, Gene’s wicked smile tightened my nipples and sent a rush of moisture to my cleft.

I undulated, skimming my hands down over my body and closed my eyes, momentarily forgetting I was onstage. I danced faster, my motions erotic, my mood even more so. Gasps and sighs came to me faintly even with the booming music. Flicking my eyes open, I almost stumbled when I saw the front row-my fervent perverts-panting with glazed eyes, their hands hidden under the table.

I bit my lip as I realized my own sexual interest radiated out to touch the humans in the crowd. Not that they were complaining, several already wore satisfied grins.

I almost ran from the stage when my act was done. I was so horny, an emotion I didn’t have much experience with. I provoked desire-I didn’t suffer from it. When my succubus side required feeding, it made me stalk sex in a very clinical manner, but even when I’d starved that side of myself, I’d never found myself in the grips of lust.

Until now.

My cleft throbbed and my panties were a wringing, wet write off. My nipples were puckered so hard I wasn’t sure they’d soften without some oral attention. I was tempted to lock myself in a cubicle and stroke the bud between my legs to relieve some of the sexual tension. I abstained. Horny as I found myself, I enjoyed the sensation, for it meant I wasn’t just a monster who fed on sex and arousal. I could want and need sex, the pleasure that came with touching and fucking because I was a woman. It turned out I just needed the right man-make that men.

Going through my clothes in the locker, I lamented the fact that nothing I had stored was appropriate for a dinner out. My least shocking ensemble consisted of a black skirt that barely hid my ass, a ruby red blouse and ballerina flats-which I used in my college coed routine.

Tucking the blouse into the skirt instead of trying it under my boobs, toning down my makeup and securing my hair into a neat chignon, I managed to look like a high priced hooker instead of a street one. Shrugging, I gave up my battle with my clothes and hoped I wouldn’t suffer the embarrassment of being refused service for being underdressed.

Maybe I can suggest we pick up Chinese food and head back to their place.

Having made plans to meet them out in the alley so as to not get delayed by clients looking for lap dances among other things, I headed out the rear door manned by Bruno who lamented the fact Bernie had walked off the job and not returned. Poor Bernie.

“Nice act tonight,” the club manager said, holding open the door for me.

“Who says it’s an act,” I replied blowing him a kiss.

Bruno just shook his head. For a man who managed a strip club, he was pretty straight.

The guys waited for me just outside and I smiled upon seeing them.

Gene’s eyes lit with mischief as he looked me up and down. “And here I was hoping you’d still be wearing the latex.”

“Oh, but I am,” I replied impishly.

Simon’s eyes flared bright for a moment and I warmed at his interest. With Gene, I knew where I stood, but with Simon, I had to pay closer attention. Such different personalities, and yet I’m drawn to them both.

We stepped out of the alley and I felt like the gooey, creamy filling sandwiched between the two of them. We commenced walking and to my surprise, Simon’s thick fingers found and curled around mine. To say his holding my hand pleased me was a vast understatement. It almost made me want to cry.

Say what you would, there was something about holding hands that was intimate, cozy; it made me feel like a precious thing and I preened under the glow of his attention. Not to mention, because of my illness, I’d never done the whole dating thing with boys. And since my change into a walking menace to society, I didn’t so much date as fuck for food and run.

We’d only walked a few blocks when a dark shadow stepped out from an alley, a hideous creature that I recoiled from-not that I got to see if for long. Simon, who surely had some ancient knight’s blood roaring through his veins, tucked me behind him, shielding me with his own body.

I swear the man knew how to press my emotional buttons. Aw, dammit, the jerk is going to make me fall in love with him. Say what you would, a protective man was a hot one.

Gene didn’t slack off either as my escort. A ball of flame formed in the palm of his hand and he tossed the fiery orb back and forth, his casual threat more menacing than words.

Oh yeah, so totally hot, too.

I peered around Simon’s large form, shuddering as the vision of Hell before me brought back memories of my incarceration-and my past meeting with the benefactor who’d unwillingly provided the darkness to my DNA.

Taller than my gentle giant, the demon stood before us, a hulking evil presence, whose oily, murky aura ringed him fatly. He’s old, as old as Simon, and nasty. Bright red eyes stared right at me, the evil promise in them making me shudder. It sniffed loudly through two holes in its face, the lack of nose giving it an alien visage. The disgusting creature flicked out a black, ridged tongue to lick the tips of its pointed fangs.

The demon didn’t speak so much as it hissed. “Step away from the female. My business lies with her.”

Gene spun his fireball on the tip of a finger, Globetrotter style, and replied in a soft voice, “Consider your business cancelled. The woman is with us.”

A rusty chuckle from the evil one saw me clenching Simon’s shirt as I tried not to react vocally-screaming didn’t seem like a good idea, yet. Super sexy succubus and part vampire I might be, but faced with a creature from Hell-yes, Hades did exist-I was a shivering coward. I still well remembered the words of the captive demon upon our forced meeting. Human bitch, know that when I escape I shall tear open your body and feast on your innards. I shall abuse every orifice in your body and create new ones. I shall… Needless to say, the demon the government captured and used in its experiments wasn’t happy they’d donated his DNA to mere humans. When they’d accidentally killed him when testing his reaction to an injection of angelic blood, I’d breathed a sigh of relief, because I’d had no doubt the confined one would live up to his promises. But apparently his death was not the end.

With a mental shake, I forced myself not to let my mind stray as I paid attention to what happened before me.

“Foolish Ifrit. The abomination cannot be allowed to live.”

Hey, he’s talking about me. I think.

Simon growled drawing the attention of the demon.

The demon flicked its forked tongue and narrowed its eyes. “You keep interesting company, ís dreki. And here we thought your kind extinct. My master will be most interested in knowing of your existence. Now, do the smart thing and hand the female over. You wouldn’t want to draw the annoyed attention of the one I serve.”

“Perhaps it is you and your master who should tread cautiously,” Gene replied. “The girl is under our protection. So, if you want her, you’ll have to go through me and my friend here first. Somehow, I think the prognosis for your success and continued stain upon the world isn’t so good.”

The demon looked as baffled as I did. Gene, with his flowery words, had confused the subject. Simon cleared it up with a simple, “Touch her and die.”

I must be a sick puppy, because his simple announcement totally raised my arousal level.

The demon gnashed his teeth and his eyes flared bright, but he stayed his hands-make that big, nasty claws. “Have you forgotten the words engraved on both the walls of Heaven and Hell?”

“Whence walks the one tainted unnaturally with the essence of darkness and light, the world shall tremble and the planes known as Heaven and Hell cease to exist out of time. Hail beautus unus, suus cruor vadum attero fines finium…” Gene recited some strange passage that started in English and then went all gibberishy. It made absolutely no sense to me, but seemed familiar to them. Just another thing that I didn’t know since I hadn’t gotten my membership card to join the club of Fucked Up Beings. Great.

“She must be destroyed like the rest of her brethren in the great cleansing.”

“No.” Simon bristled in front of me. “She’s different than those tainted creatures. Look at her and see her humanity. She is not like those twisted ones.”

The beast hissed and snaked a slimy tongue in my direction. “She is the seed of our destruction and now that I know her scent, I shall not stop the hunt until she breathes her last.”

“Then you’ve signed your death warrant,” said Gene shaking his head.

Simon didn’t reply; he acted. The other night, busy fighting for my life, I’d not watched Simon in action. What a mistake.

If it was possible, he seemed bigger all of a sudden as he charged the nasty demon. His shirt strained around muscles that bunched and rippled. I caught a glimpse of long, almost silvery claws, extending from his fingers that he used to slash at the creature.

My would-be knight and the evil villain battled, their weapon of choice: claws, which they wielded like a many pronged sword. The clicking sound and grunts as they jousted back and forth held me riveted, until I noticed Gene standing still.

“What are you doing?” I hissed. “Help him before he gets hurt.”

Gene turned to me with a look of surprise. “You don’t actually think that thing can hurt him do you?” He chuckled. “Simon’s just toying with him.”

I fumed. “I don’t care. What if someone calls the cops? Or the slime ball gets a lucky shot?”

“Fine, I’ll help, but just so you know, I’ve had a protective shield around us since the fight started to prevent any humans from observing.”

Really? I looked around, saw nothing. A growl brought my attention back to the fight.

With a flurry of slashes and pivots that at times seemed physically impossible, Simon finally struck a killing blow, one that made the demon’s eyes widen as it sank to its knees, black ichor gushing from the fatal wound in its chest.

I rushed over to Simon and hugged him while furtively checking for injury, thus did I hear the demon’s last whispery words-even though I wish I hadn’t.

“Protect her if you will for now,” it hissed. “But know we will return for we are Legion, and we will kill her before she destroys us all.” Then the light in the demons eyes went out, rendering them dark and lifeless. A swirling black mist surrounded the demon and with a gagging sulphuric stench, the corpse disappeared, taking my previous arousal with him.

Reassured Simon was in one piece, I stepped back from him and, placing my hands on my hips, I glared at both men. “Does someone want to explain to me what the fuck just happened? Why does a demon from Hell want to kill me?”

“The information you are asking for isn’t the kind of conversation to be had over dinner. Do you mind if we adjourn somewhere more private?” Gene asked with a creased brow that told me without words I wouldn’t like what they had to tell me.

I wanted the security and familiarity of home and family. While Claire was still at work, Lana was home and would provide an extra pair of ears. “Fine, we’ll go back to my place. I’ve got hard liquor to soften whatever it is you’ve got to tell me.”

“Huddle up then,” Gene ordered. Simon tucked me under his arm, his warm solidity reassuring. Gene grabbed us in a hug and in a shake of Jeannie’s pony tail we were outside my apartment complex. They followed me upstairs. I led the way, my arousal slowly seeping back as I walked up the stairs, conscious of my short skirt and the view I knew they were enjoying. What they had to tell me must be serious, because Gene didn’t crack a single joke.

We walked in to find Lana, with her feet soaking, watching Jaws-a favorite of hers. She especially enjoyed grossing us out by saying she’d do the shark if she could ever figure out how to change into her tail. Another siren issue she was dealing with along with Thalassophobia.

Her eyes widened as she took in my two companions. I smirked at her and gestured absently at them. “Lana, meet Simon and Gene. Our dinner plans got waylaid because of a run in with a demon.”

“A what?” Lana’s screech followed me into the kitchen where I pulled out a bottle of whiskey and poured myself a shot. I downed the burning liquor, before grabbing a few more shot glasses and carrying everything out to the living room.

Simon and Gene sat at opposite ends of one couch with a tempting spot between them just right for me. I bypassed the invitation and sat beside Lana.

I poured everyone a generous dollop of whiskey and raised my glass, saying. “Salut.”

My friends followed suit and we slapped our empty glasses down on the table. Fortified by the alcohol, I spilled the encounter with the demon to Lana, whose eyes grew rounder and rounder.

“Ah shit, Beth. That doesn’t sound good.”

“We’ll protect her,” rumbled Simon.

“Excuse me,” Lana said and I almost smiled knowing they were about to see why it was best to leave annoyed sirens alone. “But, first off, you just met Beth and I have a hard time understanding your motives in wanting to protect her in what is surely a deadly endeavor. Second, you both seem to know an awful lot about what she is and what’s going on, which I find pretty freaking suspicious.”

“Which we will explain if you give us a moment,” interjected Gene. He shut up though when Lana, with a high pitched, hummed note, glared at him. I snickered.

“And finally, exactly how are two guys supposed to stop the hordes of Hell if what the fiend said was true?” When the boys didn’t immediately answer-probably too cowed to reply-she let out a shrill whistle that would have probably caused a school of fish to commit suicide.

Gene winced at the strident sound. “Again, Beth, I must say your friends are interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever met a siren who lived so far from the sea.”

Lana blanched and I hastened to shut him up. “Ixnay on the biggay water thingy,” I said in very poor pig Latin. I think the finger drawn across my throat with the accompanying gurgle sound got the point across better as Gene clamped his lips shut. Simon said not a word, but I could read the mirth in his eyes. Okay, so my friends are special. It’s why I love them. “Now stop stalling with the attempt at idle chit chat and fess up.” As queries went, I should have probably been more specific, but there was too damned much I didn’t know, so I figured any information was better than nothing at this point.

“Where would you like me to start?” Gene asked. “You heard the prophecy. The demon thinks you might be the one mentioned in it and wants to kill you. What I don’t understand is how you don’t know about the message?”

“Humor me,” I said not willing to get into why I missed my membership to the supernatural club. “Why is there such a hoopla about some stupid message? Did it never occur to them that maybe someone was playing a joke-a really mean one?”

Gene appeared shocked at what I thought was a reasonable question. “You’re a creature of both light and dark, even if raised by only one side, you would know the message carved using the words of creation themselves; a power beyond even the Lord of Light and Dark means serious business.”

I squirmed. Their assumption that my state of being came from natural means made me uncomfortable, but exactly how should I explain my creation at the hands of mad scientists? I hedged. “So what if some unknown super dude posted a message? I still don’t understand why that demon and his friends want to kill me. And what’s this about cleansing others like me?”

“About two thousand years ago, when the words appeared on the walls around Heaven and Hell, there was panic. The forces for good and evil, fearing the end was nigh, set out to destroy those they believed the prophecy spoke of.”

“The cleansing?” Lana interjected.

“Exactly, “said Gene with a sage nod. “All Nephalim, whose blood by birth contained the seeds of both good and evil, were destroyed, hunted down like the vilest of vermin and eliminated. Once the world and the various realms were cleansed of their presence, a ban on matings between angels and demons was put in effect with the verdict of immediate death if anyone chose to ignore it.”

“So I’m a Neflim?” I replied scrunching up my nose at the awkward name.

“How can you be so ignorant of your own history?” Simon asked in a wondering tone, but I could read Gene’s confusion. The moment of my outing fast approached.

“Well, I was raised by humans,” I said releasing a bit of the truth.

“Ah, that would explain a lot. Your mother must have been an angel forcefully seduced by a dark one. Giving you up would have been her only option to let you live. I guess your upbringing explains why you seem so human.”

I fidgeted at his mistaken assumption. “Isn’t there any other way for me to have gotten my powers?”

Gene frowned at me. “Anything other than birth would be unnatural.”

I almost snorted. Unnatural, that’s funny coming from a genie. I drew in a deep breath and decided the time had come to reveal my dark secret. I just hoped they wouldn’t regard me as some kind of Frankenstein creation. Although, I wouldn’t blame them, because there are times when I cry because of what was done to me. “What if I was created?” I whispered the words, ashamed and afraid of their reaction.

“What do you mean, created?” Simon looked at me in confusion, but I could see dawning understanding-and horror-on Gene’s. Those looks were quickly followed by pity.

So much for thinking I’d be accepted and find answers to who I was. Even among the freaks, I was an outcast. Angry at the pill Fate force fed me, I decided to wipe the pity off their face. “You want to know who I am? What made me into a monster?” I smiled at Simon, and in a nonchalant tone that bordered on sarcastic to hide my anger and bitterness, I told them my tale.

“I was born human, and by the age of seven, I was sick, really sick with leukemia. The doctors, as soon as they diagnosed me, didn’t give me long to live. They hadn’t counted on my mom and dad though. My mom ended up being a close marrow donor match, and she donated to the point she jeopardized her health. Not that she cared. She just wanted me to survive.” I blinked back the tears that always brimmed when I thought of the woman who’d birthed and loved me. I missed her so freaking much even though she’d died years ago-killed because of her love for me. “My parents also turned to religion and prayed almost constantly. They stayed abreast of all the latest research, but leukemia is a killer and by the time I hit sixteen, bald as the day I was born, I’d just about given up the fight to live. And that was when my parents got the offer.”

Oh, how I remembered their excitement. “A chance,” they’d crowed gleefully even if that chance was experimental. And free of cost, a golden egg to loving parents who’d given everything they had to pay for my survival.

Gene and Simon watched me with rapt expressions, not interrupting me. Lana, at my side, gripped my hand tight, already knowing my story. I gave them what they wanted to hear even as I knew my story would make them turn from me in disgust-/the demon was right. I am an abomination/.

“They flew us and other families in the same situation like we were celebrities-first class. Everyone was still so happy at that point. We were taken to a top secret facility, government owned and operated.” I jumped up and stood, pacing in front of the couch as I waved my arms. “Welcome one, welcome all, to building nine where children are mutated as you wait. Hey mom and dad, have some coffee and cookies while you talk with the other parents. Be blinded by our façade while we inject your precious darlings with a toxic cocktail.” I mocked the start of my torture, my mechanism for fighting the tears that threatened to choke me. “But as it turns out, while we were receiving our first doses of the vaccine that would change our life, our parents went through their own life changing episode. The institution laced their food with cyanide and killed them all. Not that many of us had time to notice or care, we were too busy dying.” I spoke stonily, fighting the screaming despair that remembering brought.

Simon’s face registered shock and I stopped him before he could voice his query. “How could they, you say?” I laughed bitterly. “They thought they were doing something for the greater good. After all, we were sick children and our parents, unfortunate victims in their narrow sighted struggle for greatness. They told the public they died in a plane crash to avoid scrutiny and as far as the world knew, we died with them.” What I still didn’t understand was why us? Why sick youngsters? Why weren’t our parents experimented on as well? What made us so special? Years later, I still hadn’t found the answer.

Simon bounded off the couch, his body tense and he let out a roar that no human throat could have uttered. I gaped at him, once again wondering just what he was. The demon had called him something, but English was my one and only language.

“What did they inject you with?” Gene asked in a soft voice drawing my attention away from the pacing Simon and setting me back on track.

“Ooh, all kinds of good stuff.” At Gene’s stern look, I sobered up. “The government managed to capture a demon and an angel.”

I heard a thump and a crack and turned to see Simon pulling his fist out of the wall-a solid brick wall which now had a hole of crumbled dust. If they were still talking to me after discovering my dirty secret-and I was beginning to think they would by their reaction-I’d have to find out once and for all just what Simon was. “According to the doctors, who liked to brag, they performed all kinds of tests on their captured prizes. They were fascinated by their ability to heal and regenerate damage. They tried to inseminate human women with their sperm, but it didn’t work.”

Gene shook his head. “No, it wouldn’t have. Special conditions need to be met for their seed to take in a human receptacle, and even then, the pregnancies rarely come to fruition.”

I made a mental note to ask him more about angels and demons later. It was sure to be an interesting conversation. But first, I needed to finish my tale. “They decided to up the ante and inject humans directly with the genes. They couldn’t just start picking people up willy-nilly, so they came up with a fabulous plan to use sick children, to have their own parents volunteer them. Thus did the drug trials start with us as the guinea pigs. There were three groups. Those injected with demonic blood. Those with angelic. And then the ones who got both. Most of their test subjects went into seizures and died. They were the lucky ones.”

“Don’t say that,” Lana cried. “You survived and you’re a great person.”

I looked at her stricken face, framed by hair that always had a green tinge despite all the peroxide we poured on it. “It’s true though. Those of us that survived became monsters, ones that need to prey on humans to live. I can be the most awesome person in the world, but it doesn’t make what I do for survival right.” I turned from her and resumed my retelling of a story that never fully left my thoughts. “In the first group, only some of the boys survived, but the demon gene turned them into vampires.”

Gene shook his head sadly. “Humans can be so foolish. They have sowed the seeds of their own destruction. This is not good news. I must ask, what powers did your vampires inherit? I wonder if the splicing of the DNA might have made them weaker than those born to the curse.”

I looked at him sharply? Born as vampires? There was so much I needed to learn. Especially if I was to survive, for despite the loss of my humanity, I longed to live. I answered Gene’s question. “Keep in mind, my knowledge is from years ago when we were no better than caged animals. The boys might have expanded their powers since. Not your classic Count Dracula’s, my brothers in the institution became a highly intelligent, extremely powerful, psychically gifted bunch with an unfortunate penchant for human blood.”

“That’s a species wide trait,” Gene said nodding his head while Simon just stood facing the wall, his forehead touching the brick. “Go on.”

“I’ll start with the tests the scientists did following the legends. The idiots brought crosses and holy water to work. Forget the Catholic drama, vampires, or at least the lab created ones, don’t care about that shit. They do drink blood, and tests revealed that their special diet is what makes them sensitive to the sun, so they go out only at night. The scientists, fascinated with what they created, ran them through live simulations to see what a vampire was truly capable of, and how to best kill them.”

Gene dropped his head in his hands and shook. “Oh, that must have made the fledglings happy. Let me guess what worked? A stake in the heart which, I might add, kills pretty much everything along with decapitation, chopping the body to pieces and fire.”

I nodded my head as he itemized the tortures inflicted upon my departed brothers. “They killed quite a few before they stopped. What fascinated them though was their healing rate-most wounds mortal for a human healed quickly. And they could even regenerate limbs after a time. The scientists wanted to harness that ability for humanity.”

“And as a vampire ages, his healing abilities increase as does his imperviousness,” said Simon, finally adding to the discussion, his face a stoic mask. But his eyes blazed and when they looked at me, I felt comforted by the warmth still evident in them.

“That I didn’t know. Keep in mind, the ones I knew were only a couple of years old. One interesting thing was the fact that they didn’t like to drink the blood of people who imbibed large amounts of garlic or hot spice. Apparently they taste bad.”

“Curry is famous for repelling blood suckers as well. Did they have the power to mesmerize with their gaze?”

“I don’t know. They might have, but I never heard of it.” I tried to recall if the vamps who’d attacked me outside the club had tried, but in all honestly, I couldn’t remember.

Simon moved back to rejoin us, but instead of sitting across from me, he slid onto the couch beside me and with some titillating manhandling, placed me in his lap. I snuggled into his embrace, a huge relief off my chest as I realized abomination or not, he still liked me.

“Tell us of the second group. The ones injected with the angels’ blood,” Gene urged.

“Group two, injected with the angel blood, died more than they survived, and in even greater proportion than those who got the demonic stuff. Those that lived through the convulsions became incubi and succubi. They fed off people’s emotions and auras. Like the vamps, they were hard to kill, but healed more slowly and could walk in daylight.”

“Sexuality is increased in them as the pleasure and intensity of sex allows them to connect with their partner thus making the feeding more enjoyable and powerful. You said there were fewer of these creations?”

“Maybe a half dozen if they all escaped when I did.”

“And now we come to you, one with both sides, light and dark. How many like you did they create?”

“Ah, yes, the third group if you count one member as still making a group. Lucky me, I got dosed with both strains of the DNA. As you both guessed, I’ve got a vampire side, but I am not affected by sunlight. I heal quickly and I’m strong. There might be more powers, but I’m not crazy about the blood lust thing so I don’t encourage it.”

“You don’t need to feed regularly?” Gene asked leaning forward.

“Oh, maybe once a week or so I’ve got to use the fangs and feed the hunger. A few ounces and I’m good.” I didn’t mention that my victims never even knew what bit them, for I tended to take my blood from an intimate area while feeding my succubus side. Overcome with lust, they never even noticed.

“That’s amazing. Natural born vamps, especially young ones, must feed daily and more than once.”

“My brothers could usually go a few days at a time,” I said with a shrug of incomprehension.

“What about your succubus needs?”

“Again, I give that part of me a good feed about once a week, but the club makes it easy to supplement in between. The sexual energy is so thick it’s like I’m bathing in it and it keeps me from going all nympho.” Lap dances worked especially well because of the light skin-to-skin contact.

“Amazing,” Gene said. Simon’s response was to tighten his arms around me. His hug reassured me, but even more awesome-to me at least-was the fact that my science experiment existence hadn’t made him run. On the contrary, evidence of his interest poked at my backside insistently.

“I don’t know if I’d call it amazing. I mean, I’m thankful that they wiped my Leukemia out, but I can never forgive them for taking my parents away and taking my humanity.” Although, had they given me the choice, I admit I would have taken life at any cost. And honestly, once I’d escaped, life ended up not sucking too bad even if I sucked people.

“So how did you escape?”

“They underestimated us.” At the remembrance, I grinned ferally. “My brothers destroyed them and set the place on fire.” The place was a leveled wasteland of debris, which I was thankful for. I hoped the records of the experiments and our existence were wiped in the conflagration. It was enough I had the Legion of Hell possibly after me, I didn’t need the government, too. “In the confusion, I escaped and ran. Eventually, I stopped running and found work that appealed to my succubus needs.”

“And met other freaks who let her know she wasn’t alone,” Lana piped in, squeezing my hand.

I smiled at her. “You’re not a freak. You’re just different, like me.”

Lana grinned back and gave a happy trill. “So knowing she’s an experiment, does it make her more or less in danger from the demons?”

Gene spread his hands and shrugged. “Yes and no. And it’s not just the demons who might come after her. Heaven’s angels may very well decide to eliminate her, too.”

“I thought God’s rule was thou shall not kill,” I grumbled.

“Humans,” Gene corrected. “Anything else is fair game. And keep in mind that the position of God and Devil is an elected one. The rules change depending on who’s in power. But, don’t lose hope. Not everyone believes the etching means an end of everything. There is a group who believes the words signal a new beginning, one where the division between Heaven and Hell is removed and the lines drawn between good and evil scuffed.”

I frowned. “Um, is it me or does opening Hell up sound like a bad idea?”

Gene grinned. “Maybe, but we won’t know until it happens, will we?”

I wanted to growl at him for being so nonchalant, but I couldn’t maintain my scowl. How could I when I’d divulged my dirty secret and not scared them away?

Gene stood. “You’ve given us much to ponder on. I need to report what you’ve told me to those who would see you live. You should be safe. Demons, like vampires, are bound to public places or locations they’ve been invited to. So be sure to not allow anyone to enter whom you don’t already know.”

“What about angels?”

Simon rumbled behind me. “By killing the demon, we have hopefully eliminated the threat of your discovery. And even if the demons do know, they’re not exactly on talking terms with the Army of Light.”

“And might I add,” said Gene with his characteristic mischievous smile. “That the angels never do anything fast. Too many committees and votes compared to Hell’s method, which is do it now or die.”

Stupid me, even with this reassurance, I didn’t want them to leave. Simon as if sensing my sadness squeezed me and whispered in my ear-the loud purr of a lion. “Wear something pretty and be ready for dinner at eight tomorrow. If you need me before that, call. I will come to you if you need me.”

I warmed at his words, a reassurance Gene reinforced. “Or make a wish and I’ll come. Fear not, sweet one, we shall keep you safe, even against Legion. Oh, and wear heels for dinner tomorrow.” He winked at me and my cleft quivered as I could read his unspoken intention in his eyes. I could picture myself nude and on my back, my heeled feet up around his neck as he plowed me.

Heat and moisture pooled between my thighs, a pleasurable sensation that increased when first Simon then Gene kissed me thoroughly goodbye. Then, like a whirlwind, they left, and with them gone, the silence was deafening.

“Looks like someone is going to get her clock cleaned.” Lana cackled.

More than once if I’m lucky, I thought with a smile.

Gene popped them back to Simon’s place before letting out a string of curses that would have made a pit demon blanch.

“Unfucking believable. The humans experimented on her. A mere child!”

Simon, calmly went about making them a coffee, reinforced with liquor.

Gene paused in his rant to glare at him. “Why the fuck are you so goddamn calm? I got the impression from the fist mark you left at her place, that you were pissed.”

“I was,” replied Simon pouring a generous dollop of Irish cream into the coffees. “Then, I realized if they hadn’t experimented on her, she would have died.” His eyes rose to meet Gene’s whose shoulders slumped.

“I hadn’t thought of that. And truly, I have no problem with what she is. I am as drawn to her as you are, but, keeping her existence secret isn’t going to be easy.”

“Why, because some random demon came across her?”

Gene shook his head. “No, because the vampires who were created from the same gene as her know of her existence.”

“I killed them.” Simon stubbornly stated.

“Not all of them. So long as any of them are alive, along with the angelic creations, she is in danger of discovery. Fuck, for all we know, the vampires have already hooked up with a demon and relayed that information.”

“Only one way to find out,” said Simon and at Gene’s narrowed gaze, his face twisted into a chilling grin. “We find them and question them before we kill them all.”

“And if Legion already knows of her existence?”

Simon smacked his fist into his open palm, the loud sound bringing a dangerous glint to Gene’s eyes. “Then we help her fulfill her destiny.”