#Chapter Eleven#

"When I was a little girl, I saw horrific things that no little girl should ever have to see. My mother pulled me aside one night and told me why I saw those things. I was born a gifted child. I'm completely human, don't get me wrong, but I can see through the disguises many demons choose to wear. Some, like Jericho, don't need to wear what is called a Glamour. He looks normal on his own. But some demons do not look normal to the naked eye and so they require a Glamour to keep themselves hidden from mortals," Selena explained while Jericho stood off to the side brooding and thinking about God knows what.

"But you could see through those," Jonathan said, leaning forward on the table between the two of them.

"Yes, I could see through those. As could my mother and her mother and so on and so on," Selena said with a nod.

"So it's something in your bloodline?" Jonathan wondered.

"Yes it is. All of the women in my family have been able to see demons and vampires and the like for what they are, not what they appear to be. And that is what started this whole mess," Selena sighed, pushing her fingers through her hair.

"What do you mean?" Jonathan asked, titling his head to the side.

Selena thought it made him look adorable and she smiled briefly before a frown marred her features. "It started a very long time ago. My family has always lived here, in Wisteria Falls, but for the longest time the women in my family kept a secret what they could see. The gift changes over the years and it's never exactly the same. Some women in my family have only been able to see a certain type of demon while others saw them all and still others could see none, but had visions.

"The women in my family kept it a secret for a very long time because they were afraid to be burned at the stake as witches—which we are not. But then, when demons started becoming bolder and attacking people, my ancestors knew they couldn't keep their abilities a secret if it meant helping the people of our home. So, they each began the war that I'm still fighting today all these years later."

"A fight against demons?" Jonathan asked.

Selena smiled sadly. "Yes. I was raised learning about magic and taught at an early age that it would be my job to take up the Grayson Family Mantle and fight for the humans who can't fight for themselves. Wisteria Falls has gotten more and more accepting of my family over the years as demons became known to be real throughout the city. But some people didn't like the fact that my family was so different and still others wanted to get rid of us any way possible."

"What happened?" Jonathan asked.

Selena cupped her cheek in her hand and looked at the table for a long moment. "Someone decided to do something about us."

Jonathan sat back in his chair and shook his head. "Meaning?"

"There was a woman who practiced dark magic—at least, that is what I was told. She was a dark soul and she would do anything to have power. She had many deals with demons at the time and she decided to make one more," Selena sighed. "She contacted a very high level demon and signed a contract in her own blood. No one knows for sure what the contract said, but shortly thereafter, a demon began hunting my family down," Selena said, tear swimming in her eyes.

"Why would someone want to wipe out an entire family?" Jonathan asked.

Selena shook her head. "I don't know why she did it. I don't think I'll ever know why she did it. But it's worse than that. A short while later the demon started killing off more people. My family was slaughtered, but that wasn't enough yet. She had to kill the entire Grayson family. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. And then she went deeper than that. People my family cared for—friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers. She began killing them as well as a part of the family."

"I don't understand. What are you telling me?" Jonathan asked.

Jericho suddenly pushed off the wall and stalked toward the two of them, his eyes a brilliant shade of red. He slammed his hands down on the desk and emitted a low growl. "She's telling you that if you get involved in this—if you get involved with her—it is almost certain that you will die," he snarled.

Selena pushed herself to her feet and glared at Jericho. "That is not what I'm saying!" she shouted. "If you do choose to get involved in this I want you to know what you're getting into! Yes, it is possible that she could choose to kill you, but then again, you've seen her so maybe that's why she would kill you. I don't know how this psycho works."

Jericho gritted his teeth together and turned to Jonathan. "Selena is a walking target. This demon is gunning for her and she's not going to be able to hold your hand and I'm sure as hell not going to do it. So if you are going to help us, you'd better not expect us to slow down for you," he hissed.

"Jericho!" Selena snapped. "Enough." Jericho looked at her and his eyes faded back to their original color, but a ring of red remained around his eyes.

Jonathan considered silently for a moment before sighing and climbing to his feet. "I understand that it could be dangerous, but I want to help. I'm going to help," he said firmly.

"It's your funeral," Jericho snapped before turning and stalking from the room, slamming the door behind him.

Jonathan shook his head. "I don't understand him," he muttered.

"You and me both," Selena chuckled.

"I mean, he's the one that wanted me to help you in the first place so I don't know why he's getting all bent out of shape," Jonathan shrugged.

Selena whirled on Jonathan, her eyes wide. "What!" she shrieked. She gritted her teeth together and glared at the door. "Wait here," she managed before following after Jericho.

She found him standing in front of the window of her store, his arms folded across his chest, his spine rigid. She stomped over to him and glared at his back for a good thirty seconds. "I cannot believe you," she hissed.

Jericho didn't even spare her a glance. "I just don't think he's going to be much help," he said flatly.

"Really? Because you're the one that wanted his help in the first place!" Selena shouted.

Jericho whirled around; his eyes were back to being brilliantly red. He grabbed Selena by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "Maybe I changed my mind," he snarled recalling now that it had been his idea and it was still a good idea to bring blind Boy along. There had to be someone to throw to the dogs so he could save Selena if it came down to that.

"Well it's too bad," Selena told him, lifting her chin defiantly. "He's going to help me and you're going to live with it."

Jericho smiled down at her, but it wasn't a kind smile. "Like I said, it's his funeral."

"Selena? Is everything okay?" Jonathan asked, emerging from the back room, moving carefully around her desk.

Jericho released her and took a step back, folding his arms across his chest once more. "Everything is fine," he said.

"Everything is not fine and we will finish this conversation later," Selena hissed, turning to Jonathan. She hooked her arm through his and led him toward the front door. "Come on," she urged. "Why don't we get to know each other a little better over dinner?"

Jericho let out a low warning growl before disappearing from her store as he Shifted elsewhere. Jonathan smiled and nodded his head once. "I would like that," he said brightly.

bookppl93- Hm, perhaps the green-eyed monster? ;)

cocolate946- Lol, I was wondering what people would think of that!

The Inevitable Truth Of Me - Don't worry. I also think, in a twisted way, it's nice of him. lol.

MidnightRomancer - Honestly? I think being mean is part of Jericho's charm. In a twisted way he's thinking of ways to protect Selena even if it means killing Jonathan-who is innocent in all of this.

Princess97- Yes, he can be quite charming, can't he? Lol.

AlysonSerenaStone- Thank you! I try. ;)