InsaneJournal

Rattled
After the incident with 'Corruption' and the exchange of voicemails with Logan and Juliet, Izzy wasted no time finding a thick pair of rubber gloves and a large trash bag. Shortly thereafter the pile of rotting flesh and broken bone, along with anything else on the surface of her workbench went into the trash bag and the tech-witch tied it closed with hands she had to concentrate hard to keep from shaking. She'd come back with bleach and other cleaning things sometime later to turn her work area so clean a person could eat off it.

That accomplished, Izzy moved to stand outside the store, hugging herself against more than cold.

Even though he could feel the burn in his lungs from the cold, Logan ran down the sidewalk toward Thoth's Library. There was some concern as to the well-being of the store, no question, but right now the former Watcher's main worry was his girlfriend. Izzy sounded particularly freaked on the phone, and considering what little Logan found out through emails before coming out, he really didn't like where things were going. That a being supposedly as powerful as Elfleda was planning something was worrisome enough; that she decided to make a house call to Logan's girlfriend was even worse.

The drive over had taken forever, Logan's mind swimming with theories and possibilities. The few books he's read at the apartment had nothing on the Corruptress, and he couldn't help but wonder if any of the volumes at the store would have anythng. It was unlikely, but he would look the next day regardless. If worse came to worse, the attachments Hayden sent everyone would probably be of some help.

If nothing else, it would be more than Logan already knew.

Turning the corner, the bookstore owner spotted Izzy standing out in the cold, slowing up once he came to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and running a hand through her blond hair. Logan took a few moment to catch his breath before speaking, loosening his hold to look into his girlfriend's eyes. "Hey," he huffed. "You alright?"

"Not really, no." Izzy responded shakily, and wrapped her arms more tightly around him. "I'd had run-in's with demons and supernatural beings before, in school. It was part of the curriculum to expose us to them and learn the do's and dont's, but this creature is much more powerful than anything I've ever encountered. She just radiated pure evil, Logan. I can still feel her watching me, as if she's just out of my sight but observing every move I make."

"I'm so glad you're here."

Though it seemed odd at the moment, Logan wondered why the store was closed. Avery was supposed to be on the night shift ... a fact that was confirmed when the former Watcher's gaze found the front door to Thoth's Library and saw the hand-written sign saying he would be back in an hour. Sighing with relief, Logan tightened his hold on Izzy, both to comfort her and keep them both warm. Kissing her forehead, Logan finally let go, taking her hand into his and leading her to his car.

"You're staying with me tonight," he said as calmly as he could, his eyes frantically searching the sidewalk and street. There was no telling whether or not Elfleda would show up again; he really hoped she didn't.

"I've already heard back from a few of the others," he added. "Rhiannon, Faith, William and Hayden all know who you're talking about. She's called Elfleda."

"Elfleda?" Izzy didn't recognize the name, and it sounded exotic enough that she'd have remembered if they'd covered that demon back in college. She didn't put up any fight at being steered toward Logan's car or the insistence she stay at his place tonight. The last thing she wanted right now was to be alone. "She broke through the defensive wards like they weren't even there; I'm going to have to research some stronger spells to see if we can keep something like her out."

Not that an entity of her power needed any of the texts that Thoth's Library could provide.

She slid into the passenger seat of Logan's car and fastened the seatbelt, and stared out the window without really seeing what was beyond it, arms wrapped around her midsection once again.

Starting the engine and pulling out of the parking lot, Logan reached his right hand across to squeeze Izzy's shoulder and take her hand into his. He gave it a soft squeeze as they pulled up to a stoplight, mulling over options and ideas in his head. He gave Izzy a look of concern, though he was glad Elfleda hadn't physically harmed her. "I could ask Purity to look up a spell, too," he offered, thinking the more mystically-inclined people they had on this, the better.

The light turned green, and Logan made a left turn through the intersection. He kept a light hold on his girlfriend's hand, driving one-handed through the part of Chicago that led to his apartment. Logan couldn't shake the sense of dread overtaking him, knowing that not only had Elfleda approached Izzy, but that she would probably approach him at some point as well. From the emails he read from William, Hayden and Faith, that was a visit he wanted to avoid.

Especially with what Faith said about her then-Watcher, Corbett Renfroe. For the first time in a good, long while, Logan was actually scared.

"Hayden sent a bunch of us his journals about Elfleda from Nevada," Logan explained. "We can read through them tonight or tomorrow if you'd like."

Giving Izzy's hand another squeeze, Logan swallowed back the lump in his throat. He could feel his heart rate a little quicker than usual, and he had even sweated a little on the drive to the store. The former Watcher was normally good at following his gut, using intuition to guide him when it came to researching these sorts of things, but right now his intuition was failing him. It was an unsettling reality.

"I'm glad she didn't hurt you," he said after a momentary silence, his voice a little shaky.

"I don't think it was ever her intent to hurt me," Izzy responded after a moment's thought. "She wanted me to send a message, and beyond that she wants to see what I'll do during this 'Great Culling'." She shivered despite herself, truly worried about what was going to happen.

"I think all I want to do tonight is soak in a hot bath and get drunk ... but I'll look at the information with you. It's probably better to get an idea of what's coming sooner rather than later."

Giving Izzy's hand another squeeze, Logan brought it to his lips before softly kissing the knuckles. He gave her as much of a smile as he could muster, given the circumstances, pulling into the parking garage adjacent to his apartment building. Turning the engine off, the former Watcher undid his seat belt and leaned over to give Izzy a soft kiss. Right now, he was just glad she was safe; he'd worry with the hows and the whys soon enough. For now, he was content to let her unwind.

Opening the passenger side door, Logan offered his hand again. "There's a bottle of wine in the fridge," he said. "Take however long you need with the bath. I'm not going anywhere."

Because I love you, and this is honestly scaring me to death.