Chapter 10

Alluring the attackers seemed to have worked way too well. As soon as Corey felt the others far enough as he was retreating to the fields and forest, he spread his wings and took off, drawing more the attention of the angels commanding above. 

By then sensing what he was, the infested ones followed the half-demon more than the human biker caravan. Corey always wanted to keep Jim safe. In his state as he was he would only have brought danger to everyone. 

As he got deep into the rocky hills nearby, he put his wings away and rested a little in a caving, keeping his senses sharp to any danger. 

So... He was alive and hopefully the others got to the hideout too. It was true that he could blink to Jim. If he feels Jim. Or know where to appear... So with a heavy heart and a heavy sigh he just waited out the darkness, watching the setting sun...

The little group was starting to calm down after the adrenaline rush they all got hit with at that godforsaken town. It took maybe half an hour for them to get to the relative safety of the other biker gang's hideout. Which was more like a fortress. It clearly used to be a military base of some sort with watch towers, thick rock and concrete walls. That was on one side. The other side of it looked at a cliff. At least they wouldn't have to be afraid of being attacked by humans or possessed humans from that side. Though their winged "friends" would still be a problem.

The base also had a good garage, barracks and a labyrinth of tunnels underground where everyone could flee in case of a nuclear or air strike. So yeah, it was pretty secure in every meaning with tons of food and an own water supply, gardens and all that shit that could sustain an even bigger group of humans.

Jim also saw the fresh graves near the cliff and the marks of the recent attack. But at least the surviving members of the bikers were good people. Jim had met a few before, but he was usually drunk or high so didn't remember much of those encounters. But now he could tell that Gabrielle and Shawn were moving around like this was their second home.

Watching the blond girl jump up into the arms of a biker guy to kiss him, Jim's heart sank because he immediately thought of Corey. Was he still alive? Jim couldn't feel him. He should get going soon. It was starting to get dark...

"You should wait until dawn..." a voice said from his right and as Jim looked over, he saw the masked figures of #0 and #3 next to him. "He's gonna be alright," #0 added so Jim knew that he spoke for the first time too.

"He is hiding away. The attackers are still by the road. At dawn you can go around the town from East and head to the hills. From there you will feel each other," #0 continued. 

"We are still connected loosely," #3 added. "The night will hide him. And he can get further into safety. The beings born from light can't see or sense in the dark. You’re now needed here. We’re setting our strategy with Mick, Shawn, Gabrielle and once she forth called #9. Come and witness it."

"Thank you for the tips and help," Jim ran his hand through his messy hair, not looking any calmer even after the encouraging words and suggestions. He guessed from now on he'd never stop worrying about Corey whenever they get separated.

"Oh... he's gonna manifest? That's great, I think. Of course I want to see that," he said a bit distracted or rather letting himself to get distracted by that. Besides it was a rare thing to witness and at least Jim would now see how his Corey came through to this world. He also decided that he was going to talk to Gabrielle so she wasn't going to make the same mistake Jim nearly did with rejecting Corey at first.

Getting up from a table where he's been smoking, Jim followed the other two invisible demons. They went into one of the military tents that was offered for them as a makeshift place to rest while they prepare their rooms inside.

Shawn, Gabrielle, Mick, Jim, #3, #0 and the still shadow #9 were present. It was strange for Jim how fast he was getting used to seeing the demons now all the time while the president and his daughter couldn't yet. Or at least not too often.

"You ready?" Shawn asked his daughter who nodded determined and without fear in her blue eyes.

"Of course. This is so badass... How do we do this?" she asked staring into thin air where Mick said her guardian was hovering.

"First of all. You acknowledge his existence. That's done. Second, you have to need him to be here. To be able to be solid. So you can see and touch him. That will call his spirit fully over the border," Mick said while the girl was already focusing on trying to see #9. "Maybe focus on the danger along our way. You need him to be here and be able to talk with him how to keep everyone safe," the big man said calmly. 

And as Gaby was picking up the thoughts, the shadowy figure slowly formed to a more human shape. A slim young guy with shoulder long hair and the mask on. He looked around and raised his hand before his masked face to check it. Then pulled the mask off and a bearded dark brown-eyed kid smiled at the blond girl, opening his lips for the very first time in this world. "Jay... That’s what I have to say out," he said on a soft nice-sounding voice.

Gaby grinned from ear to ear and even went as far as stepping over to the boy to hug him tight. "Jay. Welcome. It's so nice to finally see you!" she said then pressed a kiss against the bearded face. "Thank you for keeping me safe for so long. I know it wasn't easy," she giggled, making the others chuckle too while she stepped back and took a good look of her guardian.

Jim smiled too, seeing and feeling that Gabrielle lacked the fear and confusion Jim felt when it turned out what Corey was. So maybe there wasn't going to be a problem there. Jim was happy for the girl and the young guardian, though a part of him felt sorry that he didn't have the chance to see Corey manifest like this.

After greeting Jay, Jim left the little gathering, worry still squeezing his heart. He needed a drink or two to ease up a bit...

*** 

Meanwhile in the forest Corey started to move under the cover of the night. He knew he was safer and after not feeling any harm on the field, he spread his wings to fly above the trees and look for a direction. And he realized that he got really lost... He couldn't see the road from where he was and had no knowledge of the hills around him blocking his view. 

After a few minutes of flying around to search for the road, he gave up and decided to try to recall where he was running when he was coming here. Maybe he was better away from the others now.. Nothing happens without a reason, really… 

With a heavy sigh he put his wings away and using his ability to see perfectly in the dark started walking in a direction against the rock walls... Suddenly sensing something weird in the energies…

***

Cracking another beer open while a lit cigarette was burning in his mouth, Jim took a long sip. Already sporting a nice buzz from the alcohol he haven't touched ever since Corey physically came into his life. Fuck, he was still worried and missed the lil shit so much...

Looking up when he felt someone approach, he watched Mick pull a chair next to him to sit down and put his elbows on the table top.

"You look like shit," he said examining Jim.

"No shit. I want him back on my side. It's like missing a limb," he grimaced and took a drag from his smoke.

"Yeah it's clearer than sunlight," the big man giggled shaking his head. "It's almost midnight. If you want to go search for him at dawn, maybe you should try to cut the beers back a bit... He needs you Jim. The changes are huge for him too, maybe even more as he had lost a lot of his old self," Mick added and for a good half minute just stared at the tall biker as he was thinking about sharing something with him. "Human emotions are powerful, it can easily destroy us if we are not careful. He is lucky you called him back…"

"Yeah, you're right. This's gonna be my last one for tonight," he raised his beer can then sighed. "Although I don't know the exact extent of how much he’s changed, I know he is changing. Just like me..." he mused then took a closer look at Mick.

"I hear you were once in love with a human. Care to share the story or it's a sore spot?" he asked with the straightforwardness of tipsy people.

"It's a sore spot. But also a sweet memory," Mick smiled with a sigh. "Just like Corey, I had fallen for my human hard. She was a small fierce woman in this gang. Even worse than Gaby is! She always felt me somehow, and one day called me through. She had trouble accepting me as I am, but I… I wasn't ready to give up all. Eventually after a while she got curious and her powers awoke more. And we became lovers for a few years. Then she got shot in the head."

"Wow, I'm sorry, man. That's rough..." Jim gave Mick a sympathetic look. "I'm guessing it was way before the time I joined the gang... I bet it was hard afterwards. But... You managed to turn back to your full demon self... Corey won't be able in case something happens to me or I die of old age if I'm lucky..." he stared ahead of him, frowning again. 

"You don't age like we do, right? Will Corey stay this young too? Will I tie him to me for the rest of... well, my life?" he whispered.

"This had happened even before you were born, Jim. I didn't…" Mick started but decided he didn't need to say anything after seeing the frown of the biker and heard his following words. 

"We don't age like you do. I'm not sure how Corey will age now. He tied himself to you. Don't worry. Just... how to say it... try to make him never regret his decision," Mick added with a smile and patted Jim's back. "Heads up dude. Try to rest a little before going after him. You will need your strength and powers."

"I guess you're right," Jim sighed again. "Thanks man... And if you ever need to talk about anything, I'll be here – I hope... I appreciate all your help for us and the gang in general," Jim said, drinking the last of his beer and got up to get back to his bunk on a pair of steadier long legs than he expected.

He wanted it to be dawn already but Mick was right. He needed some rest as it was probably going to be a bitch to find Corey. Jim just hoped they would sense each other again soon because he could feel that black void in him again without his small little demon.

***

As the dawning sun started to climb up the sky, Corey stood up against the caving of the cliff with the weird energies. 

He must try to find the road to know where to find his human. He literally felt like aging overnight without feeling Jim's spirit with him. 

He felt lucky that he found a great and special place and useful help during the night. The directions he got from his new... let’s say friend were easy to follow and soon he was at the edge of the forest. 

Peeking up, he could see some flying forms. Sentinels guarding their invaded town. Also some of the once infested humans were wandering aimlessly and mumbling incoherent lines on the road. 

It was a junction. One road took right across the town, the one was shorter and the biker gang took that the day before. The other one went around the town and followed the edge of the woods. It was double the time to get to the old military base using that, but Corey wanted to be safe…

Needless to say, Jim was on the road only after a few hours of sleep. He couldn't wait any longer and didn't care if any of the shadow demons followed him or not. It was something he had to do. He was now incomplete without his own demon boy. It wasn't even a day but Jim itched so much to touch him and hold Corey close. It was like puking rainbows, but the rough-looking biker couldn't help himself.

"Pull yourself together, man. You have a task ahead," he murmured as he sped up on the road that was going to lead him towards the town but instead of going through it, it was a way to go around more undetected. Or at least that's what Jim hoped.

But he knew he was getting closer when he spotted those storm clouds with the lightning bolts illuminating the black forms of the watching angels. Jim also saw one or two of those aimlessly wandering shells which used to be human at one point.

It was horrible. How could something do this without remorse? Just thinking about the possibility of living like that gave the creeps to Jim. Instead of dwelling on it, he sped up some more, wanting to find his man as soon as possible. He knew that whenever he'll get close enough, he'll feel where to go.

Walking in the shadows of the trees and not on the actual concrete road, Corey kept his senses on alert for danger and also if he could feel his man from closer. After a while he thought that he just wanted to feel Jim again so much that he was fooling himself with thinking his love was not that far away. 

In the back of his mind he felt that new friend around, just like how they agreed to help Corey to be safe on his journey. 

But sooner than he thought, the small creature could see the bigger mountains where the base was. At least as he was told, but as the Hollows appeared less and the road got more away from the town, he started feeling a missed warmth spreading in his chest. And with a big smile, without even looking around, he teleported to the source of that warmth.

As the miles were being eaten by Jim's trustworthy black bike, he felt a bit less tense. He was on his way to find his mate. He had to be still alive. He knew Corey got skills. The other demons have told him too that he was going to be okay. So he has to... Jim has to believe in the small redhead.

That's how he kept convincing himself that he was going to find Corey. Jim just started thinking of places where someone like his lover would choose to hide, when he realized that the little flame in his chest began to grow again. Could it be?

"Yes! Corey..." Jim smiled a bit as he felt that presence growing stronger through their bond and true to that, in less than two minutes, he saw a small figure appear on the road from out of nowhere.

Jim's smile grew bigger as he recognized the seemingly unharmed demon in him, his whole being becoming more aware and alive. But that smile quickly faded when he saw another figure appear behind Corey.

Speeding up a bit to get there faster, Jim hit the breaks to skid to a halt and jump off his bike that landed on the ground, but Jim didn't care as he marched forward, taking out his gun to point it at the... half-angel?... not far behind Corey.

The stranger wasn't tall either and had messy black hair with eyebrow piercings and a goatie, wearing some... well, a bit dirty black tracksuit. But Jim could see and feel it. That strange aura and the light-grey folded wings.

"Get down, Corey! Angel!" he shouted at his boy, ready to feed lead to the fucker.

Corey was happy that finally he could see his man and totally forgot about the being that appeared behind his back. 

So when Jim started to get in full protective mode, his blue glowing eyes widened and he turned around looking at the angel. 

"No! Jim, he is good! He helped me get here!" he yelled back running to hug his man and turn him away from the weird-looking creature who jumped behind a tree at once. 

Sadly the 'not good' angels attention got drawn to the loud scene out on the open... 

"Guys... We should go back… fast..." the angel said lisping a little from behind the tree and spread his light feather-covered wings and took off.

"What?" Jim asked confused with Corey's small body plastered against his as the biker tried to keep an eye on both on his demon and the hiding angel. He was totally confused in that moment although he remembered Corey telling him that not all angels were bad. But before he could ask more, he could feel and see the dangerous asshats getting on the move.

"Fuck..." Jim cursed holstering his gun and hugged Corey tight, guessing what was coming next. Also beside concentrating on their survival, Jim was already full of questions and had a healthy dose of mistrust and suspicion towards the already flying... guy... angel... or whatever.

Hugging his man close, Corey also took off and followed the other half-being. 

This time is was not a romantic joyride under the night sky. It was a matter of life and death and the demon was flying at full speed. Through their bond he could feel the tough biker’s stomach flipping but he only slowed down, not so gently, when they were close to that special energy on the hillside.

"Sorry..." he said watching Jim supporting his dizzy self on the side of a rock while fighting his puking reflex. " He is JD. He helped me... I bring some herbs," he said more worried when the biker started to gag and blinked away leaving the two men to each other. 

"Hi..." JD waved a little nervously. "I really don't mean harm. I'm a half-angel and stuck between the worlds as a mongrel just like that half-demon kid. Poor thing…" he added as he saw true surprise in Jim's eyes. "Till now He didn't even fully know what he became. It takes a lot of time to find your way when you don't belong to nowhere really... I’ve been the same. And as I’m stuck here, I'm trying to help the ones who want peace," JD told Jim.

It took Jim a few more moments to convince his body that puking wasn't a good idea, though probably not having a mild hangover would've helped too. Then Jim's stomach sank for a different reason as surprise took over his features as he looked at the half-angel.

"Wait... what? What do you mean by a mongrel stuck between worlds like Corey?" he whispered, carefully straightening up but he kept holding onto that rock. "I... I did that to him?" he dropped his gaze, eyes widening a bit as the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place. When put that way the changes around and in Corey made much more sense.

"You are his love... I'm sorry… I thought... Well he didn't know either so it's logical that you don't know either. He chose you. He did not go back to his own world for days and the full moon would have erased him if you didn't show that you needed him. Unlike humans, my and his kind needs a reason to stay. You kept him alive, really... He wanted that. Wanted you. He knows now what it means but don't regret it. Man, you two are something else. I'm happy to see such things. I was not so lucky with the human I chose this for…"

Just then the mentioned demon landed with some herbs and rubbed them between his palms. "Inhale their essence, Jim. It will help. I'm sorry you got sick…"

Jim wanted to ask some more from JD, but the reappearance of his lover stopped him from doing so. Instead he did as he was asked and inhaled the scent of the herbs. Only a few tries was enough to settle his stomach some more. 

Straightening up, he looked down on his worried mate and had to caress his handsome face with soft love in his hazel eyes. Everything JD just said running in circles in Jim's head.

"When we get somewhere more safe, we should talk, baby. But I'm very happy to see you unharmed. I love you," he whispered and leaned down to gently kiss him, not caring about the discreetly watching half-angel.

But he cared the next moment when he spoke up.

"They're coming! We better hurry. Follow me, little demon," JD said urgently and stretched out his wings before taking off.

Nodding to JD, Corey hugged his man and spreading his wings followed him to that strange energy at the rock walls. 

"We’re go into a… sub-dimension, kinda. It's a place between the borders and hidden away. Many find shelter there. Just... try not to be too jumpy from the beings there. It's a safe place. No one will harm you. I promise," Corey said to his man and kissed his bearded face as they landed. Taking Jim's big hand, he pulled him to go after JD and right into the rock wall. 

Which was really a portal. And inside a very modern looking tunnel led to a place that looked like one of those big ass hotels with twenty plus levels. Demons and angels were around. Everyone minding their own business and not caring about them. 

"Let's go inside, I give you a room. And once you have one, you can always come here through one of the portals. I set them up at such places like near that town. Welcome to Sanctuary," JD said as he led them into the building.

To say that Jim was totally amazed was an understatement. He had no idea such places or rather dimensions existed. Okay, theoretically he knew about some, but couldn't come up with something like this even in his wildest dreams. A sanctuary to outcasts and half-beings – and apparently occasionally for humans like him. Though he wasn't sure that he would've been able to enter without having the Nephilim heritage in his blood.

Trying not to stare too much and keep his cool from seeing all kinds of beings and their true faces, he walked next to Corey, following JD, who seemed to move around with ease.

"You own... or rather created this place?" he asked in awe as they entered the lobby of the "hotel".

"I created it with a… let's say long-term lover of mine. He was a stuck half-demon and we used to find ways to learn more and free more of our lost powers. With it we made this. It's not mine. It's everyone's who is in need," JD said handing Jim a key. "It's like what the humans calls 'no man's land' or 'sacred ground'. Even if you see your enemy here, you must keep the peace and fight outside. I think it's understandable," he flashed a businessman-like smile at Jim and Corey.

JD's reply stuck a chord in Jim, he couldn't help it. For one, it became clear that JD had a male lover. For two, it was a half-demon like Corey. And that reminded Jim of his mortality again. They'll really have to talk about a lot of things with Corey.

"I see. This place is amazing. And huge," Jim nodded while looking around. It was also quite elegant, not as... tattered as JD looked at first glimpse. "Can I ask... what happened to that lover?" Jim asked before he could stop himself. "Sorry, don't mean to pry. Just curious. This whole... demons and angels and dimensions thing is still new to me..." he mumbled as he glimpsed at the key in his hand then up to the long-haired half-angel who meanwhile stepped behind the reception counter to quickly supervise some stuff the pretty red-haired half-demon girl pointed out.

"He was captured and killed after a few decades," JD said not looking up but in his tone and tensing up body it showed that it was a sore point still. "Don't worry about the questions, ask whatever you need to. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to sort some things out," he smiled apologetic then turned his attention to the secretary lady. 

Corey was still holding Jim's hand and for that looked up at his man. He knew well that Jim learned about what he became. "Let's go… I know you have some questions for me too," he said on a grim tone, not really wanting to hear Jim disappointed in him.

"Sorry to hear... and thanks," Jim mumbled to JD then nodded to Corey as an answer, but squeezed his small hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb reassuringly to ease a bit the dark thoughts and mood in his mate.

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