by G. K. DeRosa
I may not have remembered much from the past few months, but something about taking human souls felt wrong. Perhaps it was because I was half-human. Perhaps it was something else.
“Azara, it’s time to go.” Remy appeared from a cloud of dark smoke. The old seer was a mage, among other things. I guessed when you lived for centuries you picked up new tricks.
I gave him my best pout. “But I haven’t even eaten yet.”
“I’m sure we can find you a snack at home.”
Home. The word provoked a swirl of emotion in my gut. As quickly as it came, it vanished.
“Where’s Thax?” I rose to my tiptoes to scan the crowd.
“He’ll join us later.”
“I’m not tying myself to that warlord meathead, by the way. You can tell my cousin he’s wasting his time.” The guy might have been pretty to look at, but I wasn’t binding myself to some demon to further my cousin’s political aspirations.
“You can discuss that with the dark lord later.”
“Oh, I will.”
Remy’s wrinkly fingers closed around my bicep, and a swirl of dark smoke blossomed around us. My head spun for an instant before everything went black.
Chapter Two
“Lady Azara, are you all right?”
I stopped playing with the bangle around my wrist and glanced up to meet a pair of mismatched irises through the mirror. Lumi dropped the brush she pulled through my tangled hair and swept her own tight curls behind her pointed ears, her penciled-in brow arched.
For the third time this week, I chased away slivers of images, or maybe memories, I couldn’t quite place. As hard as I tried to hold onto them, only a tiny flicker remained—of whatever they were. Something was eluding me, and for the life of me I couldn’t figure it out.
“Lady Azara?”
“Yes, Lumi. I’m fine, just bored. I don’t understand why my cousin insists I remain within the confines of this castle.” I glanced around the barren chamber, stark gray stone walls closing in on me.
Her nervous eyes dipped to the floor. “It’s for your safety, my lady.”
“Then why can’t we go back to Thax’s castle in the Underworld if it’s so unsafe for me in the Nether Lands?”
She shrugged. “The dark lord thought a change of scenery would be best under the current circumstances.” The young servant pointed at her temple and twirled her finger in a circle.
“I’m not crazy, Lumi!” I snapped. I just couldn’t remember anything before a week ago. And occasionally I blacked out. Bits and pieces of what I assumed were memories would streak across my mind and vanish just as quickly. Despite Remi and the healer’s best efforts, my memories were gone.
“I’m sorry, my lady. You’re right. It was wrong of me to tease you.”
I gave her a half-smile through the mirror. Of all the servants in Thax’s castle, she was the only one who treated me like a person, instead of a royal being to adore on a pedestal. I still didn’t understand how I could’ve tolerated that for the last ten years.
If I was being honest, there were a lot of things that didn’t make sense. Thax claimed our castle in the sixth realm had been attacked by SIA agents, and I’d nearly been killed in the chaos. It was all a case of mistaken identity, apparently, and the director of the Supernatural Intelligence Agency had apologized for the gross error. When I awoke, my dear cousin had brought me to this underground fortress to heal, a secret stronghold only his most trusted circle knew existed.
From what I’d overhead from the servants, this was the first time I’d been to the castle and yet, Thax claimed we spent a few months here every year. Then there was the story about my parents. Apparently, I’d gone on a soul-sucking bender in the human world, and they’d dropped me off to live with my grandpa, Lucifer. So how did I end up with my half-cousin? I didn’t have a clear memory of my parents, but something didn’t feel right.
I rubbed my temples as a mild headache began to form behind my eyes.
“It’s back, my lady?” Lumi’s concerned gaze met mine as she dropped the brush on the vanity, giving up on taming my wild locks.
“Yes,” I gritted out. The only thing I remembered clearly were these blasted headaches. Every damn day.
Lumi darted across the room to the bedside table where the healer’s pain potion sat. I was drinking the stuff like water, sometimes two or three times a day. Luckily, it tasted like candy.
Rushing back, she offered me a big spoonful of the pink liquid. I gulped it down, licking my lips. Leaning my head against the chair, I sighed. Within seconds, the building pain was gone. Remi might have been an arrogant old blowhard, but he knew how to pick healers. He boasted she was the best in the land, and if this concoction was any indication, he wasn’t kidding.
“Now that you’re feeling better, I’ll go fetch your dress for this evening’s dinner with the dark lord of the third realm.”
Ugh. Why was Thax in such a hurry to sell me off to the nearest warlord? I must have rolled my eyes because Lumi threw me a scowl. “Lady Azara, out of all the possible mates his lordship could have paired you with, Drayax is certainly the best option. He’s young, handsome and strong, and second in power only to your cousin. Lucifer himself couldn’t have chosen a more suitable mate.”
Lucifer, my grandfather. His name incited a swirl of emotions in my gut, but like everything else they were fleeting and disappeared before I could delve deeper.
“Whatever, Lumi.” I popped up from my chair and dragged my finger across the stone vanity. Impeccable as always but still cold and drab. My personal servant lingered by the door, her gaze boring a hole into the back of my head. “I thought you were getting my dress?” I called out over my shoulder.
“Yes, of course, my lady.” She scampered out of the room with her tail between her legs. Literally. Lumi was a denji demon. She looked almost human except for the sharp pointed ears and long barbed tail.
For the hundredth time since I awoke in this underground fortress, I trudged to the “window” to stare into the muddy soil. Why was it so necessary to hide me dozens of feet under the earth’s surface? None of it made any sense. If only I could remember…
I bellyflopped onto the massive mattress, narrowly avoiding one of the stone pillars that served as a bed frame. Closing my eyes, I drew in a breath and tried to force my lost memories to the surface. A flash of silver danced across my vision—those molten steel irises were always the first to appear. And then vanish. Then came the screams, faces contorted in agony, and dull, glazed over eyes.
I shook my head, chasing away the images. I was an animas demon. Sucking souls was my life. Then why did I feel such guilt every time those memories surfaced? The familiar hunger clawed at my throat. I swallowed hard. It wasn’t time for a snack—not yet anyway. As much as I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt, I couldn’t. When I gave into my she-demon I forgot about all else. Right now, I needed to focus on something more important.
Pushing myself off the bed, I sucked in a breath. I needed fresh air. Too bad I couldn’t get any down here. Or could I? Remy’s magical smoke couldn’t be the only way in and out of this underground dungeon. How were the servants getting around? I glanced up at the clock as I hurried to the door: I had one hour before I was expected for dinner with the dark lord. Plenty of time for an escape attempt.
I crept out into the hall, checking both sides of the long corridor. Why did I feel like a prisoner in my own home? I turned down the left passageway to explore the servants’ quarters of the castle. Thax had specifically mentioned I shouldn’t go down there… It had to be the way out.
I passed door after door, poking my head in each room. Every single one was empty, except for the pounds of dust and shimmering cobwebs. When I reached the end of the corridor, my shoulders sagged in defeat. One more door to go. I tugged on the iron handle, but the thick wood wouldn’t budge.
Wrapping both hands around the metal lever, I pulled harder, throwing all my weight into it this time. With a sharp groan of
protest, the door opened to a dark stairway.
Bingo!
Glancing over the railing down the endless spiral, my head spun. Geez, how far down did this go? I raced down the stairs, my heartrate quickening with each step. After a week of being escorted everywhere I went, the idea of freedom sent an uncontrollable fluttering through my insides.
After what seemed like forever, I caught sight of the last floor, only two more levels down. My head was really spinning now. Holding onto the iron bannister, I took the last few steps two at a time. When I reached the bottom, my heart sank.
Dead end.
No doorway, nothing. Just four solid rock walls.
I muttered a slew of curses as steel bands of desperation squeezed my lungs. Leaning against the cold stone, I slid to the floor and hot tears pricked my eyelids. Something wasn’t right. I didn’t belong here. I didn’t care what Thax said.
Burying my face in my hands, I let the tears fall. No wonder I’d let myself indulge in souls so much lately, when my she-demon was in charge, I didn’t feel anything. I didn’t want anything. I only cared about the thrill of the next hunt.
I rubbed my eyes, and the gleaming silver of my bracelet caught my eye. I’d found it around my wrist when I’d awoken. A gift from my cousin, apparently. He said it was my favorite, but now that I looked at the ugly chunky thing, I didn’t understand why. I tried to slip it off my hand, but it was too tight. I tugged at the clasp, but it held strong. Stupid bracelet.
Focusing all my pent-up frustration on the horrid piece of jewelry, I wrenched the bangle off and sent it flying across the room. It hit the wall with a clang and shattered on the stone floor with a satisfying crunch.
A surge of energy rushed through me, like a hundred-pound weight had suddenly been removed from my shoulders. I stood and stretched out, the pressure in my chest gone and the tears all dried up. From the corner of my eye, a faint lavender glow caught my attention.
What the hades?
The demon’s mark on my arm was aglow in purple. I ran my finger over the family sigil and power surged over my skin. There was something so familiar about the sensations, something so right.
I scanned the dark room and my feet led me to the far corner, unbidden. The mark pulsated with light the closer I got. I lifted my palm to the wall and searched the roughhewn crevices. A charred, smoky odor wafted to my nose, and my nostrils flared. I knew that smell. I knew it as well as the heady perfume of a powerful soul.
“Apertum.” The foreign word slipped from my lips before I could stop it.
A crack snaked down the stone and the wall shook, making the floor under my feet tremble. Squeezing my eyes shut, my arms shot out to brace for the impending quake as images of tumbling rock and being buried alive assaulted my vision. Instead, the rock shifted, and a door appeared in the wall.
“Unbelievable,” I muttered. Did I just do that? I couldn’t have. Thax never mentioned anything about magic. I was half-demon, half-human, that was it. It must have been a secret passage I’d accidentally stumbled upon. I tabled the thought, deciding to discuss it with my cousin later.
Peering through the opening, I found another long passageway. I crept forward, a few torches haphazardly placed along the corridor providing a sliver of light. Logic told me I was going the wrong way. I seemed to be traveling deeper underground, but my instinct told me to keep going. I’d been abiding by Thax’s rules for long enough. It was time to listen to my gut for once.
Hushed voices filtering down the corridor froze me in place. I backed against the wall and strained to listen. There was nowhere to hide, no doorways, not a single alcove. Slowly, I inched forward. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, they landed on a doorway a few yards ahead. Where the voices were coming from.
I drew in a breath to steady my racing heart as the hushed murmurs coalesced into words in familiar tones.
“You’re positive, Remy?” asked my cousin.
What were they doing down here?
“Yes, my lord. I consulted the oracle last night when we returned to the castle. My visions have changed. Azara no longer poses a threat.”
“It worked, then.”
“Yes, it appears so.” The old seer cleared his throat. “But as I’ve told you many times, prophecies are fickle and constantly changing. What is true today, may not be so tomorrow. I will keep an eye on the oracle as things develop.”
“Very well. Perhaps it is time to push Azara over the edge. Make sure there is no coming back for her.”
My insides churned as I listened, sweat dripping down my spine. What were they talking about? I wrapped my arms around myself as goosebumps puckered my skin.
Silence interrupted my racing thoughts, and I strained to listen once again. Crap! Did they hear me? The smack of Thax’s boots on the stone floor sent my heart leaping up my throat.
I spun around to hide and muttered a curse as I stared at the long, narrow hallway. I darted on tiptoes, hoping I could reach the staircase before they turned the corner.
“Who’s there?” The thundering boom of Thax’s voice halted me mid-stride. I backed against the wall again, hoping to melt into the shadows.
My mark lit up, and a deep glow illuminated the darkness. No, no, no! I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.
“There’s no one there, my lord.” Remy’s quiet voice stilled my frantic pulse.
I snuck a peek through slitted lids, and my heart rammed against my rib cage. Thax and Remy stood not five feet away, staring right at me. How could they not see me? How could they miss the giant glowing orb surrounding me?
They walked right past as I held my breath. Once their footfalls completely fell away, I sagged against the wall and the purple bubble disappeared.
What in the world was going on?
Chapter Three
“Drayax is very interested.” Thax loomed over the banquet table as I popped some goji berries in my mouth. “He’s already requested a second meeting—this one in private.”
My skin crawled at the idea of the warlord’s paws anywhere near me. He’d gotten handsy at the dinner table last night, and I’d had to restrain my she-demon from lashing out. “Well, I’m not interested,” I barked back.
Thax’s pitch eyes widened, the profound black swallowing up all the white. “Azara, we’ve already been through this. You’re not feeling like yourself these days, but I assure you, this is what you wanted. An advantageous pairing with Drayax will secure both of our positions along with our progeny in the Underworld for centuries to come.”
“I don’t want progeny, and I don’t care about ruling the Underworld.” I was angry and hungry and not for berries. After overhearing my traitorous cousin and Remy, I’d lost my appetite and now my she-demon was ravenous.
“You will, once you’re feeling better.”
I threw him a good eye roll.
“And I know exactly how to speed up the process.” A twinkle lit up his dark irises.
“What’s that?”
“A hunting trip to the human world.”
My parched mouth filled with saliva. I hadn’t had a human soul since I woke up. Thax claimed they were my favorite, but now I didn’t know what to believe. I’d spent half the night awake mulling over their words. What threat did I pose and how was my cousin going to push me over the edge? But…the idea of leaving the confines of the castle was too great to pass up. “Fine. When do we leave?”
“Nightfall.”
I licked my lips. “Perfect.” Hopefully, I’d be able to wait that long. Even Lumi was starting to look tasty. I scooted my chair back and waved at my cousin. “See you at nightfall then.”
“Where are you going?”
“To the library. I’ve already read every book in my chamber twice. Surely you’ve got more?”
“By all means, help yourself.” His lips curled into a wry smile as he pointed down the corridor toward the castle’s archive.
With the sudden appearance of magical abilities, I resolved to fi
nd out what I could about the mysterious mark on my arm. It had to be the key to my surprising new powers. Spending the next few hours with my nose buried in ancient tomes was far better than remaining in my lying cousin’s company.
When I reached the library, the scent of weathered paper swirled around me. It immediately calmed the burgeoning hunger and turned my attention to the stacks of sky-high shelves. I ran my finger across a row of books, scanning the titles. This was going to be harder than I thought.
“Can I help you find something, my lady?”
I spun around to find Lumi lurking in the doorway. Dammit. “No, thanks. Just browsing.” I tipped my head back to the countless rows of books that reached the soaring ceilings. It would take me years to find what I was looking for by myself. “On second thought, maybe you can help, Lumi.”
The young girl’s lips lifted into a bright smile. “How can I assist?”
I didn’t doubt she’d inform Thax on my reading choices, so I had to play it cool. “Remy was telling me how he learned spellcraft from various old texts. I was thinking maybe I could pick up a new hobby to distract me from my ravenous urges. Could you point me in the right direction?”
“Of course, my lady.” She motioned down a never-ending row, and I followed. When we finally reached the correct section, she stopped and signaled at an entire segment of spiraling bookshelves.
“Great, thanks. And one more thing…” It was risky, but I had to do it. “Are there any books on demon marks? Drayax has the most interesting one I’ve ever seen, and I was curious to which clan it belonged.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. You see, I told you he’d be an excellent match. I’m so glad you’ve decided to give him a chance.”
I plastered on a fake smile. “You were right.”