The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

5

After Eddie and I had our talk, we rejoined everyone. They had found a park a little ways down past the buildings. It was small, but you couldn't miss the huge tree that sat in the middle of it. On the tree, vines covered every square inch possible. There were the black particles flying around it almost, as if it was trying to protect it. There were screeches, and suddenly bats started flying around it. I back up, my mind throwing me into a flight mode. I notice Eddie do the same and hold my shoulder.

"I think this is it." Robin says.

"It had to be," I say. "Just look at it. It looks like Vecna had it guarded."

"So what do we do, just.. chop it down?" Eddie asks.

"No, we can't.. but what we can do is try and destroy those portals. They were made of a thick goo- like a weak webbing. They're going to break easily enough and that can stun Vecna for now until we can figure out our next step. We can't fight those bats right now, not realistically." I say.

We all turn back and head towards the portal. Everyone was silent, all figuring out what we should do. I was just as lost as they were, but I knew we would figure it out with time.

We all crawl back through the portal.

"Alright let's destroy this thing." Steve says as he starts to take swings at it. Everyone joins and the black substance starts to bounce and retaliate, but it dislodges from one another, landing on the ground. We keep taking stabs and ripping at it, making sure it won't try to connect itself again. I bring my pole up and look at the black goo that was covered my weapon. I toss it down, and it clanks.

"Alright. Let's head into the RV and find where to go next before Vecna notices we caught on," Eddie says.

We all agree and head back, covered in black substance and out of breath. Everything seemed like some sort of dead end. Vecna was making sure he didn't show himself, but show what he was capable of doing. I wanted his head on a stake more than anyone else, but I also knew that that reality may not come into the picture for a long time.

We all pile into the RV and Nancy finally takes over driving duty, giving Steve a break.

"Alright, I was thinking." We all look over to Dustin who stares at a book, putting his finger on the cover. "I say we try and find a watergate portal again."

"You're crazy?!" Eddie says.

"We need to get to Victor Creel's house just like last time. If Vecna is anywhere, he is there." Steve says.

"Precisely." Dustin points at Steve and then opens the book. "According to this book, fire is Vecna's greatest weakness-"

"Which we know." Robin finishes.

"But that's not all. He needs to be burned at extreme rates. So; what if we try to light the Creel house on fire in the Upside Down and our reality? Then we wait to arsonate his ass as soon as he tries to escape." Dustin closes the book and looks at all of us eagerly.

"I think that's smart." I nod slowly. "My mom- the letter she gave me said to burn him with fire. But I never thought about burning him that way. It'll trap him. And maybe I can use my visions to make sure he's in there and maybe distract him a little."

"Uh- no! You are not—" Eddie starts to retaliate, but Steve interrupts.

"Alright, sounds good. So what- back to Hawkins?" Steve asks leaning over the table.

"Kinda. We are going to go back to Skull Rock" Dustin says.

"Great memories, eh Sparky?" Eddie nudges me on the shoulder.

"Okay. So we need matches. And gasoline. And rope." I say slowly.

"There was a general supplies store a couple miles back," Nancy says.

"Alright that works with me." Robin says clapping her hands. "Let's get this show on the road, huh?" She skips over to Nancy and sits down in the seat next to her.

Dustin starts showing Steve the book and points out stuff while Steve throws his hands up in confusion.

"I'm going to get a nap in," I yawn. I start to walk back towards the back room, and stretch my arms above my head.

"Can I come?" I hear Eddie ask almost too politely.

"Yeah, that's fine. Just let me sleep in peace." I hop onto the bed and Eddie follows, shutting the door and flopping onto the bed well. I turn on my side and face him, as he does the same and faces me.

"You think your abilities and stuff have gotten strong enough to use by now?" Eddie asks.

"Yeah. I think my batteries are charged enough. I mean, back in the Upside Down I was completely drained but the rage I had felt gave me that extra push.. it was strange." I sigh.

He reaches his hand out and takes his index finger, softly stroking my exposed collar bone. I feel my legs grow tingly and my stomach heat up to the touch. "Good," he says. We stare at each other for what seemed like ever until he opens his mouth. "I want you, Clary. So bad."

"Want? You have me?" I say looking puzzled.

"No, just like- every bit of me wants every bit of you. It's like a kid addicted to candy- and I can't get enough of you. Whether it's kissing, or m hugging, or even looking at you I cannot get enough of it." His hand cups around my cheek and I lean into it.

And just like magnets, we start to draw in closer to one another. His mouth goes to my ear and a tickle shoots down my body. "You're just so perfect." He pulls back and gives me a cheeky smile, immediately smashing his lips into mine. His hands go from my cheek and travel down my stomach, finding their way up my shirt.

Everything felt hot. He lightly strokes the scars, and I hear a small whimper under his breath. He takes a position to where he's almost on top of me. Our tongues start to glide together in unison, and his hands grab at my hips pulling me into him.

I lift up my neck, and he slowly takes his lips tracing it then kissing it. My hand feels under his shirt, skinny but muscular. His body smashes into mine more and I feel.. the outlines. My whole downstairs started to tingle, and my body felt like it was going to melt into the bed. He had complete control, and he knew it.

He pushes against me harder and by now my whole body was under his spell. His hand covers my bra, both of them being the same size. His mouth travels up to my ear, slightly biting it, then returning to my mouth. I arch my body so I could somehow be even more closer to him. I hear him softly laugh. This boy drove me crazy and he knew it.

I feel his hands tug down the collar of my shirt, and his lips travel across the top of my cleavage.

"Is this okay?" He asks looking up.

I nod, and start to breathe heavily. My whole body was tingling and fluttering but I couldn't do anything. He makes his way up and kisses me heavily, pulling back.

"There's more where that came from," he says winking.

"Oh yeah?" I ask raising an eyebrow. I reach my hand and softly trace his abdomen, pulling him into my embrace.

"You're all I've ever wanted." I say as I stroke his hair.

"I could say the same, Gregerson." He says as he kisses my neck one more time.