Page 34 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)
Lorelei
After returning to the hotel bruised and tired, the three of them ate dinner at the restaurant again. Gathered around the little booth where they sat earlier, they chatted over their progress during their training and surprisingly, Daemon couldn’t stop complimenting Samuel on how well he did.
“You were far better than I expected. You really impressed me, mate.”
Lorelei watched as Samuel turned a bright red that matched perfectly with his flaming hair.
Samuel smiled proudly, and Lorelei wondered if that was the first ever compliment he’s received for anything he’s done in his life.
The sad thought told her it was likely, and she hoped he was soaking in the true success of this day as much as possible.
Today had also been a major success for her as well.
Daemon’s hunch of her being able to tap into that connection between them, to speak Enochian and perform spells, had been true.
Although it was too fresh, and her ability to do larger spells was nowhere in sight currently, it was a start.
And it was the first time she didn’t feel totally helpless in this entire endeavor.
She felt true strength in the moment she conjured the barrier around her, and it gave her hope.
She couldn’t believe what was happening still, but as long as she kept hope, as long as they all did, they could do this.
She’d looked over the notebook of symbols the majority of the dinner while Daemon and Samuel grumbled about sparring and angel abilities versus demon ones. It was cute to see them getting along. That too, gave her immense amounts of rejuvenated hope.
When Daemon asked Lorelei to attempt to produce the Barrier Spell there at the dinner table, she hesitated, but she spoke the words softly and lo and behold, a barrier formed around herself again.
Daemon coached her to think of the bubble expanding, and with a bit of effort, she was able to push the bubble to encompass them all—if only for a moment.
Samuel and Daemon congratulated her on the result, and she couldn’t help but feel such a sense of power and relief; perhaps, she could do this after all.
She swore to herself silently that she’d practice the words and spells every chance she had until she could do more than just produce a barrier to avert eyes and dull ears. Maybe one day, she could even perform something as strong as the Finishing Spell Daemon used to eradicate demons.
The thought of killing another person—or demon—or whatever, made her stomach instantly upset.
That was the situation they were in though, the possibility of needing to defend herself to the point of taking another life.
Lorelei’s hope wavered; there was no guarantee she’d ever be able to find the strength or willpower enough to do it.
But, if she didn't, the world ends. It was all overwhelming.
Welp, there’s that headache again.
Pushing the recent walk down misery lane away in her mind for the time being, Lorelei looked to see Daemon smiling at Samuel.
She honestly never thought Daemon would come around to trusting and liking Samuel, but then again, Daemon seemed to be shifting before her eyes in his own way.
The hard, untrusting, always joking demeanor was washing away slowly.
He was opening up more, trusting the both of them, and starting to believe that despite his past, he too deserved happiness in this world.
Her heart felt so full while sitting there laughing and chatting with the two of them that for a little while, she found herself forgetting the treacherous situation they were in altogether.
After having stuffed his face more than they had even seen him do prior, which was saying a lot, Samuel left them to go take a nap before they were to head back out to Stonehenge late that night. When Lorelei finished her cup of tea, her and Daemon walked back up the stairs to Lorelei’s room.
Walking in, the light she left on in the bathroom was casting odd shadows around her room.
Her suitcase was nearly spilling out on the floor opposite the bed.
Daemon walked back over to where he set the supplies to wrap her arm up and started to pull out another piece of gauze and some wrapping.
Lorelei sat at the edge of the bed and watched him meticulously cut the right length and then turn to her arm already, outstretched for him.
As he unwrapped her arm, he raised an eyebrow and chuckled to himself.
Lorelei looked down to see what amused him.
Her arm was completely healed. There was nothing left now but some circling white marks left from the lasso that was sure to stay with her the remainder of her life.
Daemon’s hand found its way to the mark, and gently ran his fingertips along the raised skin.
She immediately felt a pulse from his touch radiate up her arm into her entire body, as if she were buzzing.
A breath caught in the back of her throat as she spoke.
“I guess I will have this as a reminder of what we have gone through during this, huh?”
Daemon’s eyes lingered on her arm a moment longer before he finally drew his hand away and nodded.
“Yes, I am just sorry that this had to happen to you to begin with. If I had been more careful, or even been better prepared, I might’ve been able to…”
Lorelei instinctively reached out for his hand and interlocked their fingers.
“You need to stop beating yourself up about that. You did protect me; you already did everything you could’ve.”
When he only sighed and said nothing in return, she figured changing the topic might be better than trying to convince him further.
“So, do you have any idea how I healed so quickly? I mean, I recall healing fairly fast before, but never this fast.”
Daemon blinked and nodded, continuing to keep his hand locked with hers.
“Yes, I have a theory. I already told you that I believe the piece of my soul I gave you has been helping you heal before. But now, I think because we are...together. Near each other, working together; I think the link between us is stronger than when we were apart before. It would make sense to think that piece of myself within you sort of reunites with my half, and so being together actually reinforces the power it gives to the both of us. I am not sure I explained how I killed off those last couple of demons when you passed out that night; but I performed a Finishing Spell. One strong enough to kill them both off at the same time before ever having to weaken them. I honestly figured it would kill me, and although I was weakened by it, it was not to the extent it should’ve been.
Since it didn’t kill me, I should’ve at least been taken out of commission for several days, perhaps longer.
But I healed much quicker—all things considered.
I was also thinking that could be the reason why you’re able to speak the Celestial language despite being human.
I have to wonder if there are other possibilities of this reunification that we might find out about, too. ”
Lorelei listened intently; it did make sense that being with each other, the pieces they shared were working together and making them both stronger in some way. Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed Daemon’s hand releasing hers, and looked up at him.
“We should probably both get some rest before we leave later. I’m sure you’re exhausted. I’ll come by your room when it’s time to go.”
Leaning down, he placed a kiss upon her forehead and was already walking back toward the door to leave.
The fire between them from the field earlier was gone and replaced once again by doubt and guilt; she could see it riddled his face, and her heart sank to the floor.
A feeling of loss overwhelmed her. After falling asleep in each other's arms last night, the thought of being without him now was suffocating.
Before she knew what she was doing, she was sprinting across the room after him.
“Wait, Daemon!”
Daemon’s arresting emerald eyes met hers as he stood with one hand on the handle of the opened door.
They stood in front of each other, neither saying a word.
Feeling almost embarrassed now for not wanting to be away from him, she tried to come up with an excuse for why she called out to him—but before she could, the hand not holding the door open pulled her by the arm and let her body collide into his own, kissing her fiercely.
Lorelei weakened at the knees slightly before meeting his intensity with her own.
Her arms found themselves wrapped around his neck, trying to make it so there was no space between them any longer.
Everything in her screamed to have his body against her, to feel the warmth of it; the muscles beneath his clothes moved beneath her fingertips.
The eruption of desire from the teasing earlier in the field was now unraveling tenfold within her.
It was like a storm of passion opened from the sky and consumed them both, enveloping them in the tornado of all their feelings for each other they hadn’t yet been able to express.
Lorelei’s mouth was greedy as her tongue met his in a flurry, and it wasn’t until she heard a low growl escape Daemon’s throat from her biting his bottom lip that he finally slammed the door he had been holding shut, without even having to stop kissing her to do so.
His hands caught at the small of her back and he hoisted her up.
Lorelei wrapped her legs tightly around his torso as Daemon walked her hastily over to the bed, gently laying her down and climbing on top of her.