Oengus.

Holding the guy with my power by his throat in the air, I saw Stacy falling. I didn't kill him but pressed onto his throat enough to make him lose his consciousness. My hands reached out for Stacy, and I caught her just in time before she hit the ground.

The wounds in my chest already started closing and healing. I could feel the cells of my skin and muscles regenerating with the inhuman speed. If shooting me would do the trick of killing me, I'd be long ago dead. But... I didn't just live over a thousand of years for nothing. Immortality had some perks, even if it was annoying at times.

As I felt Stacy in my arms, the incredible urge to hug her drew me to almost robotic motions. I sat down on the ground pulling her with me, and moved her onto my knees, placing her head on my shoulder and placing my forehead on hers.

Instantly, the tagging on my skin has sent electric current all over my body, spreading farther onto Stacy, morphing her body into mine. I had a feeling that we became the same living organism. I could sense her from the inside, all her emotions, or rather lack of them. She felt empty, only physically calling for my help. However, my own emotions went into a wild hike, suffocating me with its force.

I took a deep breath, gulping the air down. My hold on Stacy tightened as the overbearing ache almost squashed my insides. The pressure caused me to hiss through my teeth. The waves of pain rolled up and down targeting more and more of my body, going from my lungs to my stomach, from my bones to my heart.

I've stayed in the agony for two more minutes fighting until the pain simmered down and then permanently left my body. As if nothing happened I returned to my usual self, but before I could open my mouth and sigh with relief, another kind of sensation overtook me. It was a sweet kind of sensation. Almost joyful. Like how you feel after a long trip when you finally find yourself in your own bed at home, surrounded by comfort.

At first, I couldn't place the name of my current state. Only two words "satisfaction" and "calmness" came to my mind when I searched for the answer. I was hundred present satisfied like I've just accomplished a deal of a lifetime. I was calm like I knew no worry or trouble. And the worst part was the realization that I liked to be that way and would not be able to live without. I could only function without it.

I sighed with content and buried my face into Stacy's hair. She smelled like the wind and oxygen. Fresh and free. Maybe, it was a mistake to torture her for my own experiments. But when I have her now, here, with me, I couldn't suppress the thoughts that she belonged here. Not in a lovey – soppy kind of way, but as if she was a part of me, a good part of me that I loved and cherished despite that my demonic side dominated within me. And maybe she was. I didn't know for sure. The only thing I knew for sure was that she will stay by my side no matter what. I won't make a mistake like fifty years ago. Now my family was with her. Now she was my family. Sister, daughter, wife...Anything.

Stacy has stirred, and my hand shot up to her chest where the blood had stained her jacket and was still leaking out spreading swiftly in a red mess all over her clothes. The area of her skin underneath that was punctured started heating up. Soon, her entire body broke in fever. I pressed my hand with force into her flesh and felt her skin closing. It was slower than my own pace of healing, but it was happening nonetheless.

Like in a video in reverse, the tissue of her pierced organs grew together reconstructing themselves to the previous state. Her muscles and veins snapped together becoming whole again. And the last were the layers of her flesh, growing from the inside to the surface of her skin.

One by one the wounds vanished, and I sensed Stacy becoming alive in my arms. Her breath became strong and steady, and her body gradually cooled down. I pulled her away from my shoulder to look into her face and found her eyes wide open, staring at me with peculiar intensity. I expected her to push away from me, or at least freakout, but all that I got was a frown.

"Well, you look different," she rasped. "What's up with the ponytail?"

"And you look kind of the same," I grinned, inwardly feeling wary of her strange greeting.

"And that's how I'm going to look for the rest of eternity. Unless of course, there will be the end of the world and such..." she said flatly and unhurriedly started twisting out of my hold. I let go of her and following her each move, got to my feet and straightened up.

This time, I let my eyes drink Stacy Ann in, in close details. I studied every inch of her, finding her extremely skinny. Her face was thin with sharpened outlines. Her eyes were shaded by the dark circles around them and looked like two black pools. She didn't look unhealthy, but definitely not how I remembered her...fresh and youthful, with luminous skin and a gentle blush on her cheeks.

Wordlessly Stacy stepped away from me and started making her way towards the unconscious man.

"No, don't. We need to get out of here," I protested and hurried after Stacy, but she kept walking as if I haven't spoken. "I'm serious," I huffed, watching her kneeling by the man. She slapped his cheeks, and the man groaned.

"Well, Spence," she said in a calm voice. "The instructions were clear not to shoot, but I guess, you did well. Now I know that I'm screwed royally."

The man chuckled dryly and rolled onto his side. "You're already screwed. I'm surprised I even can joke in this state."

"Uhum," she agreed meekly. "This is actually your first time showing some humor."

What was that about? I frowned at the interaction between them. Didn't he just shoot her?

Stacy Ann

Having Oengus so close caused me to have that little feeling of anticipation tickling my stomach. As if the emotions were about to fill me, and make me complete again. They were there within my reach, just not in my grasp.

I thought I would be scared and terrified to meet him again, but all that he managed to produce in me was a sense of familiarity. I was by no means scared. Actually, I was glad that he came so promptly. I could have my mini-revenge and exercise on him my new talents that he gifted me so graciously...

An angry flare passed through my body. I glanced at Spencer, who just pulled himself up from the ground and stood to lean on the car. His eyes were closed, and he was taking deep inhales, restoring his breathing.

"Come here, Oengus," I called him and turned specifically to look into his eyes.

Oengus gave me a suspicious look, standing rooted to the spot. I raised my eyebrows, mocking his wariness. After all, he was a mighty fallen angel with demonic dominance. What such a small and useless person like me could do to him? I smiled inwardly reading the same thoughts from the depth of his eyes and watched him making a step closer.

As soon as he was in my personal space, I forced my body to simulate a state of emergency, instantly sensing electric tingles moving around me. My lips pulled up in the corners, and I saw Oengus's expression transforming from uncertainty to comprehension. But it was too late. I brought my hand to his exposed neck and in a split second, he was already laying on the smashed hood of his car.

While he was crash-landing, something pretty much obvious from the past experience occurred to me. As his back connected with the metal body of the car, a sharp pain has spread through my back, and then almost immediately vanished. The intensity of it wasn't enough to knock me off my feet. However now it was all clear to me...

"What was that Stacy," he groaned and started slowly detaching himself from the damaged mess.

I ignored his muttering and focused on Spencer. "You all right there?" Spencer nodded, taking his eyes off Oengus.

I clicked my tongue, suddenly feeling a faint shade of annoyance. After my recent discovery, I was basically stuck with Oengus. Not just mentally, or whatever bond we shared due to his and only his blood being injected into me. I was stuck with him also physically, seeing that when Spencer shot him, I was the one who suffered the aftermaths. Not to mention that my attempt in revenge made a loop and came back biting me in my butt.

I just couldn't win and have it my way, could I?

"Why did you come, Oengus? What do you want from me?"

I hooked my fingers behind my back and glanced at Oengus. He was already on his feet, cringing at whatever pain I put him into.

"Besides the obvious," he replied rolling his eyes.

"Define the obvious," I demanded narrowing my eyes at him.

Just because I could guess what kind of need forced him to seek me out, didn't mean that his intentions were valid. For all, I know he could lure me back into the asylum and continue to torture me with his experiments.

"It's a blood call. Apparently, we're related now in a certain way. Every time you used your power, I experienced slightly uncomfortable symptoms."

"Is that all?" I asked unfazed.

"I quit family business. After you've disappeared many things changed." He wiped his jeans and stretched his arms bringing them behind his head. "By the way, where did you go?" his gaze was dancing from the trees to the road ahead.

"Skipped right into the future," I returned, and he stiffened instantly dropping his arms to his sides.

"Is that even possible?" he winced muttering under his nose.

"Everything is possible. Do you want to see something, Oengus?"

"Yes, sure. Go ahead," he barked out sarcastically.

"And what did you expect? A happy reunion?" I chuckled humorlessly. "After the shit, you put me through."

He scoffed. "It's unhealthy to keep a grudge."

"Hmmmmmm," I returned faking understanding. "Sure. You only made me a walking freak, with no chances of even a small purposeless life. Anyway...what's Done is done. Do you want to see it or what?"

There was irritation written in his glare, but his mouth stayed closed. His head tilted a little, and I took it as a cue to act.

"Can you shoot into me, Spence?" I asked.

"Yeah," Spencer muttered and bent to pick up the gun he dropped on the ground when Oengus was choking him.

I made a few steps away from Spencer and with the corner of my eyes watched Oengus face turning from irritated to curious, to confused.

"If that's for your ability to heal the same way I do, then you can stop now," he commented on my actions.

A giggle escaped my mouth. "Silly Oengus," my voice came out as a purr. "Go on, Spencer. Press the trigger."

Spencer gave me a knowing look and raised his arm aiming into my head. I stole another glance at Oengus, and with a nod signaled Spencer to proceed. Without delays, he pressed the trigger and made three muted shots.

"What the hell..." I heard Oengus whisper.

"Something amusing?" I reached for the bullets and collected them into my hand. "It's funny, though." I strolled towards Oengus and when reached him, took his hand and dropped the bullets into his palm. "You wrecked my entire life. Made me something I never wanted to be. And you didn't just stop there like you brother did. No, you went further down and made us both a part of one living-breathing organism. We are so freaking connected that now I can't even express my anger properly towards you. But know that...If I could, I'd kill you for what you've done to me."

Oengus's face was hard and indifferent. He's clearly figured our situation and wasn't overly happy knowing that from now on we are one person. Sure we can live separately, but that was as far as our mutual privacy would go. However, even though I could tell he was irritated, deep down in his gaze there was acceptance.

"We're leaving. Get your stuff from your car, seeing that it's quite useless." I gave a fleeting glance to his wrecked vehicle and started walking backward.

"Are you sure about this...him I mean," I heard Spencer asking from behind me.

"It's not like I have a choice," I spat. "Come on," I added louder for Oengus to hear. "I have some business to attend."

Meanwhile...

The things were getting slightly out of hand. My main concern, however, was about Lilith and her stupid brother. Her desire to prove a point blinded her to the ways this universe was using to make a statement. She wanted to go home, but the thing is that nobody is waiting for her on the other side. Her heart will be pierced with a fire-blazing sword. She is destined to die, forever condemning her poor little evil soul to roam the surface of the earth. She will die, but won't get to the other side. Not now, not ever.

"Chris," I spun around, ripping my gaze from the snowy view outside the window. "Report me the situation."

"I have Stacy under my radar, sir. The tracking device is attached to her purse. Spencer guards her. He is one of the best assassins in our ranks."

"Does he know about the specifics of his mission?" I asked curiously. I was smart enough to build headquarter of my security organization in the location where Stacy vanished fifty years ago. Of course, George disappointed me siding with my younger son. Tyr completely forgot how the things should be done. He started getting messy and sloppy in his love for dominance and control. Killing humans were as fun for him as a ball game for a bunch of village kids. I had to step up and clean the havoc he created.

"No. I'm the only one who knows the full truth about Stacy and what she is in the reality."

"Excellent. For now, keep it that way. We don't want her getting into the wrong hands." I slowly crossed the kitchen and paused in front of the backdoor. "If something will go wrong, you know what to do."

"Yes, sir."