Last Minion Standing

Chapter Six

As soon as Drake stepped through a portal to his apartment, I missed him. I sat up in bed in shock. No, I had to have misinterpreted my emotions. But crazy as it was, and foreign as well, I, the love ‘em and leave ‘em gal, missed a man. Not just any man, Drake.

“No, no, no.” I rushed to look at myself in the mirror and my familiar features stared back. Physically, I hadn’t changed, but inside, oh damn it all to Hell, I cared for him.

How and when had it happened? Sure I’d lusted after his body. And I’d admit he was the best lover I’d ever encountered. But, this was all about sex. No emotions. Just great sex with some conversation and cuddling thrown in.

I groaned and dove on the bed, hiding my head under the pillow. How could this have happened? And an even better question, what would I do about it?

Drake had implied he’d be sticking around for a while, a thought which didn’t send me in a panic and rushing for the airline for an impromptu vacation in a very remote location. Actually, I’d kind of gone all soft and warm inside when he’d promised to see me after the show. Speaking of which, I had to get ready. Hopping out of bed, I had another shower since the first one had led to more sex and… Well, let’s just say I had some sticky areas that really needed cleaning.

The titillating memories of the morning, the previous night, the middle of night and the shower wouldn’t stop running through my head so that when I finally wandered out of my room, I couldn’t help the silly grin plastered on my face.

“I see someone had a good night,” Jezzie said with a smirk.

I just smiled at her beatifically as I poured my coffee. “Drake slept over.” Jezzie choked on her java. “Is he still here?” she wheezed.

“No, he had to leave to get ready for the competition today.” Jezzie suddenly looked nervous and I watched her suspiciously as she chattered brightly about inane topics while making breakfast and then tidying up. Given Jezzie never did either, it wasn’t hard to figure out something was up.

“What are you hiding?”

“Me?” She opened her eyes wide in feigned innocence.

“Spill it before I tell about the alp incident on national television.” I knew more than one secret she wanted to keep under wraps.

Sweating and fidgeting, she tried to avoid my eyes, but I have a pretty good glare when riled. It was only a matter of time before she caved and divulged. “It wasn’t my idea, honest to Satan. But the network, they said it would make an awesome segment and I didn’t realize when we’d signed the contract, they’d included the clause to–.” Impatient, I interrupted. “What’s going to happen today?”

“Each of the three remaining contestants has to discover and divulge a juicy secret about you or which directly relates to you. It might be something you know or don’t.” My mind worked furiously. What secrets did I hide? A few like any semi-demon of my age, mostly schoolgirl pranks I’d gotten away with. As for something involving me without my knowledge, well, I’ll admit that was information I’d like to know actually.

“It’s okay.” I said the words absently, suddenly wondering what secret Drake would reveal. The way I liked it when he bit down on my nipple as he fucked me? No, not secret enough just ask any of my previous lovers. I both dreaded and anticipated what I’d learn, and in front of an audience.

Things kept hidden should remain so for the simple reason revelations usually meant someone would get hurt—then killed. Demons, even half ones, weren’t known to turn the other cheek. Vengeance was our middle name. Seriously, according to the public registers of Hades, Vengeance ranked number one for middle names followed by Misery.

I now wondered more than ever what Drake would do to win this round. What secret about me had he discovered? And would whatever he revealed, force me to never see him again?

It wasn’t just my mind which screamed “No!” to that scenario—my head and heart did, too.

The moment of truth, literally, arrived. I barely heard the emcee as he detailed the task for the remaining minion contenders. Okay, I lied. I listened to every word and alternated between simmering and nervousness. I’d take battling a creature with claws and spitting acid over dread any day.

This time when the curtain went up, I didn’t smile. My eyes veered right over to Drake and held his gaze. His face didn’t betray any emotion, something I didn’t find reassuring.

First up stepped the dwarf looking nervous for once. He fidgeted before the microphone and I impatiently squirmed, too, not really giving a shit about what he had to say.

“The secret I discovered—um…” Raxnor trailed off and peered down at his feet encased in dirty work boots. He swallowed audibly. “Sally’s middle name is Dawn and her mother was a country singer.”

I lost some of my tension and giggled. Okay, I’ll admit the fact the woman who birthed me liked to croon corny western songs embarrassed me and was a fact I assiduously hid, but really, it wasn’t that big of a deal. And as for the stupid middle name, again, blame my momentarily insane father. Talk about boring revelations.

Apparently, the crowd agreed with me. They booed and jeered as the dwarf’s already ruddy face turned an even brighter shade of red. At least he didn’t cry out with fear when the trap door beneath his feet opened and he tumbled down. Rumor said the hidden chasm led to the home of the lamia—half-snake, half-woman; those nasty bitches knew how to make a man scream, just not in actual pleasure.

The spectators cheered wildly. I went back to watching Drake though, tapping my nails on the armrest. His eyes held mine and I imagined he tried to convey something, but mind reading was my half-sister’s ability, not mine. Whatever secret he planned to reveal, I’d have to wait a moment longer for the demon Dretnor approached the microphone next.

I didn’t like the nasty gleam in his eye, nor the bared teeth as he smirked. Why did I suddenly get the impression he wasn’t truly on my side? Ridiculous, if he didn’t want the job as my minion, why compete?

“My secret is one Sally the half demon is unaware of and involves another contestant.”

My stomach tightened into a knot and fear made me sound harsh. “How am I supposed to know you’re telling the truth and not spouting some load of garbage to try and discredit your opponent?”

“I submit myself and the secret I have to tell to the Fire of Truth.” The crowd ooh-ed and even I sucked in a surprised breath. To the ignorant, the Fire of Truth was a spell cast upon a being who wished to prove the veracity of their words. It surrounded the truthsayer in a nimbus of flames. If they told the truth, the flames didn’t touch them. Lie, and they burned alive for the next millennium. Not exactly the most pleasant fate. As denizens of Hell, truth wasn’t something often seen or heard of, hence the spell was rarely seen. The fact Dretnor offered to submit to it meant he believed the information he’d found was sound. I hoped so for his sake, for the spell didn’t care how much a being believed in what they said, or if they’d been misled, if the information imparted was false they’d burn anyways.

Dretnor must have warned the show producers of his intention for barely a moment passed before a cloaked figure stepped onto the dais with the demon below.

Raising his arms and chanting in a guttural tongue which made me shiver, the mage enchanted Dretnor. With small whoosh, blue flames ignited on Dretnor’s body. Again the crowed ooh-ed and my stomach drew tighter.

The mage stepped away and Dretnor moved to the microphone with a triumphant smile. Slowly, the crowd quieted and leaned forward in expectation, as did I.

“Drake is half-demon, half-shifter: dragonshifter.” The crowed aah-ed and I sat back stunned. I’d known Drake had shifter blood, but dragon, the rarest of all types, that surprised me. But it wasn’t a big deal. Actually, it made him hotter. I wondered if he could fly? I also wondered why he hadn’t told me. Surely he didn’t think I’d kill him and skin him for his prized skin, tempting as the idea would be to some.

Drake’s face tightened and I suddenly knew this wasn’t the only secret.

Dretnor smiled, his pointed teeth glistening. “He’s also misrepresented himself to our prospective employer. The first night he met her, he was tasked with discrediting her, or even better, allowing her to be killed. He also, after the demon attack outside the club, made inquiries into the bounty placed on her head and offered himself up as an assassin should the patron of the first attempt wish to pay for a second.” I shook my head no, but the flames around Dretnor burned merrily without a sizzle or a pop. Sickening to say, I really wanted him to start screaming. I knew my heart was.

And by Satan’s horns, did it hurt.

My tear filled eyes—damned dust—met Drake’s and I read the truth in his eyes.

“You bastard,” I whispered, a word the invisible microphones picked up and echoed around the stunned coliseum.

Dretnor, pleased with himself stepped back and crossed his arms. It was over. He’d won. The crowd went wild.

But wait… Drake strode to the microphone and held up his arms. It took a moment for the audience to notice, and when they did the heavy silence hung with anticipation.

“Cast the spell of truth on me.” A cacophony arose at Drake’s words.

What the fuck is he doing? Even in my pain over his betrayal, a part of me didn’t want to see him hurt, not until I’d had a chance at him, the rotten, lying asshole.

The mage stepped quickly onto the stage for the second time and cast the spell of truth. The blue flames sprung up around Drake, dancing along his tanned skin.

His eyes met mine and I couldn’t look away. “Yes, I am a dragon shifter. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to get you used to me before I let you know of my beast. It is not easy for me to trust, knowing how my kind are hunted.” The flames burned steadily, his words truthful. But we both knew his dragon wasn’t the real issue.

My hands squeezed tight around the armrests of the throne. “And when we met, were you there to discredit me?”

“Yes, I admit someone hired me to make you look bad, or if I had the chance, allow the soul we both hunted to kill you. And I’d planned to do it. I’m a mercenary and bounty hunter. Give me the right price and I will do just about anything. But once I saw you, I changed my mind. I couldn’t hurt you.”

“You stole my bounty.”

“Aah, but that didn’t actually hurt you did it? However, it did get your attention right where I wanted it. On me.”

“Were you hired to kill me?” I wondered if I should feel flattered he’d decided to fuck me before killing me. When did he plan to do it? The next time we got naked and I was vulnerable?

“I did make myself available should someone wish to put out a contract on your life.”

One large tear rolled down my cheek and a crushing pain enveloped me, not a physical one but mental, a debilitating sensation, one which made me drop my head and stifle sobs.

“But I never intended to actually kill you.”

I waited for him to start screaming at his obvious lie. When not even a whimper sounded I looked up and met his eyes filled with sorrow.

His eyes pled with mine. “The offer of my services as assassin was to flush out whoever wanted to hurt you, so I could kill them and keep you safe. I would never harm you.”

“Why not?” A simple question meant to convey a dozen questions I couldn’t voice.

“The moment I met you, my beast recognized you as our mate.” I snorted. “Great, so because your dragon wants me, you decided to pursue me instead of killing me.”

“My dragon wants you, very much, but the man, he wants you even more. You intrigue me Sally. I love your feisty attitude. I love the way you kick ass. I love that thing you do with your tongue. Don’t you get it, I love you.”

Now I really expected him to start screaming as the Fire of Truth seared his lying skin from his body, but the flames still danced harmlessly.

Oh, by Satan’s horns, he told the truth. I tried to get up and run away from the love in his eyes, from the love bursting forth from my heart. I couldn’t give in to it. Love would hurt me, destroy me. Make me into someone I wasn’t.

A force held me in place though. I vaguely heard the crowd cheering and whistling.

Then the emcee boomed. “Both have told a deep dark secret and proven their worth.

There is only one challenge left now. Tune in tomorrow to see who will be the Last Sidekick Standing.”

The curtain dropped and the invisible force holding me let go and I ran, straight to Daddy.