Inferno

by Erica Stevens

“Julian don’t!” she protested instantly, trying to wiggle her way out of his grasp. Julian held her firm though, refusing to let her turn back around, a fact that Devon was infinitely grateful for. She didn’t need to see this. “Let me go!”

  Julian’s gaze remained focused on Devon, insolent and cold as he continued to hold her. Fresh rage tore through Devon as he took note of Julian’s hands resting so comfortably, possessively, upon her. With a growl of fury, he twisted the creature’s head to the side, yanking it sharply back. Its head gave way with a sickening crunch and horrendous tearing sound.

  Devon tossed the head aside as he leapt to his feet, no longer caring about the Halfling, only caring about Cassie. Julian stared defiantly back at him for a moment, his chin tilted proudly, a sneer curving his upper lip. Fury flared through Devon as he took a step toward them, prepared to kill Julian if it came down to it. Julian glanced at Cassie, his eyes warming slightly as he squeezed her shoulder gently, his hand lingered briefly upon her shoulder before falling reluctantly away. Devon hesitated for a moment unsure what was going on between them, what had happened to them both, and why they were together. Unsure how to take this strange turn of events.

  Then, Cassie turned slowly toward him. She stared silently up at him, her eyes wide and searching, as tears simmered in her ruby colored eyes. Her lower lip trembled slightly as she reached shakily toward him, seemingly afraid that he might disappear. He knew exactly how she felt; this was far too dreamlike and wonderful to be real. Far too unexpected after the weeks of uncertainty and terror. He was afraid that if he did touch her, she would disappear and all of this would prove to be some sort of torturous dream. He didn’t think he could take that if it happened.

  Yet, he couldn’t stop himself; he needed to touch her, needed to feel her again. He had to know if this was real. Had to know if she was real. Unable to take one more second of their separation, he seized hold of her shaking fingers. Relief and awe pooled through him, the tight knot in his chest eased as his hand clenched upon hers, savoring in the silken, solid feel of her skin. Her fingers clenched tight upon him, her nails dug into his skin, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about anything now that he had found her again, now that he was touching her again. A small sob escaped her as he pulled her forward a step.

  “Cassie,” he breathed reverently.

  Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her against him, wonder filling him as his hand tightened in her tangled hair. She felt so wonderful, so warm, and alive, and solid. And in his arms again, where she belonged, where she would always belong. He fought back the tears of relief that threatened to fall. More tears escaped her; she clung tighter to him, her small fingers digging into his back. She was the most magnificent thing he had ever felt, the most wonderful thing he had ever hoped to feel. Closing his eyes, he pulled her tighter against him, burying his face in her silky hair.

  “Cassie,” he groaned, clinging tighter to her as her sobs increased and she tried even harder to get closer to him.

  “I was beginning to fear I would never see you again!” she moaned, her slender frame shaking with the force of her tears. “I was afraid I’d lost you!”

  He pulled slightly back from her, wanting only to look at her again, but the moment he saw her cherished face he knew he couldn’t stop himself. He cupped her face tightly, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks as he bent his head to hers. She gasped slightly, and then a small moan of pleasure escaped her as he seized hold of her mouth, taking fierce possession of it.

  Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers entangled in his hair as she held him tight. He had never forgotten how wonderful and right she felt, but the memories of their last touch paled in comparison to actually holding her again. She eagerly met his kiss, her tongue entwining with his, her body melding to his. He lifted her up, crushing her against him as he cradled the back of her head gently, savoring in everything about her.

  He wanted more of her, needed more of her. He had nearly lost her; he had been without her for so long that he was on the brink of losing complete control now that he had her again. He was closer to completely snapping and changing her than he ever had been before. If he changed her, he would never have to lose her again; never have to part from her again. He would be able to find her anywhere, and she would be immortal, safe from death, and far stronger than she was now. He pulled away from her, his head dropping into the hollow of her neck as he struggled to keep his wildly swaying emotions, and body, under control.

  He didn’t care that they were standing in a road, in the middle of nowhere. He didn’t care that at his back was the man who had once been his best friend, but was now his greatest enemy. He didn’t even care that there was an unknown amount of monsters in the woods around them. All he cared about was holding her, touching her, possessing her. All he cared about was having her with him again. All he wanted was to taste her again, to savor in her blood to join with her, and to feel her in every possible way.

  Her hands cradled his face gently as she pulled slowly away from him. Her fingers stroked over his cheeks as she gently kissed him once more, her soft lips lingering on his as she tried to ease the tension within him. She had always known him so well, always known when the beast inside was on the verge of taking control, always known how to soothe him and comfort him, and she did so now. “I love you,” she whispered, her mouth brushing lightly against his. “So very much.”

  He kissed her again, cradling her neck softly as he struggled to control the monster inside of him. “I love you.”

  His body pulsed with excitement as she opened her eyes to his. They were the spectacular violet blue color that he remembered and loved so dearly. “Your eyes aren’t red anymore,” he whispered, surprised and baffled by the sudden change.

  She grinned up at him as he wiped a few streaks of blood from her delicate cheeks. Even dirty and bedraggled she was the most exquisite thing he had ever seen. “Neither are yours.”

  Devon blinked in surprise. It had been almost two weeks since his eyes had been normal. Two long weeks since he’d had enough control over himself to keep the demon inside him securely locked away. It had been weeks since he had not seen the bright red eyes of a monster staring back at him whenever he caught a glimpse of his reflection. Her presence alone made him more of a man, and less of a monster. She made the man in him stronger, and more stable, than the demon that constantly lurked beneath his surface always wanting to break free.

  He wondered if his presence helped to do the same thing for her. But why would her eyes be red when she was still in complete control of herself? Why would her eyes be red if her body wasn’t trying to turn into something else? What had been done to her? Where had she been? He wondered fearfully as he continued to stroke her face, savoring in the delicious feel of her. It had been far too long since he had been able to touch her, hold her; smell her. He just hoped that she had not been gone from him for too long, that she had not been changed beyond repair; that she was the same Cassie he had lost.

  Though, he knew that he could not expect her to be the same. He didn’t know what had been done to her, but from the looks of her now, she had been through hell and back. He inhaled deeply, anger spiking through him as he caught the scent of her blood. It was not the same sweet scent that he remembered. There was something different about it. Something tangy and wrong. And beneath it all, he could smell Julian.

  He tried to control his emotions, tried to keep them hidden from her, but jealousy and rage were beginning to fill him once more. What the hell had they done to her in there? What had they given her to cause her blood to smell so off, and her eyes to change without her losing control of herself? Why did he smell Julian on her? Was it because they had been together, or had something more been done?

  He glanced at Julian, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied him. Julian remained impassive; his face a mask of indifference, but Devon could sense the underlying tension and pain running through him. Julian was trying to be stoic, but it w
as obvious that whatever had happened with them, Julian had also been changed by it.

  Cassie’s fingers stroked lightly over his cheeks, drawing his attention back to her. She smiled at him so beautifully that he forgot all about the strange scent clinging to her, and his worry over Julian. All he could think about now was her, and how wonderful it was to have her again, to hold her again. All he could do was hope that he could ease whatever torment she had been through, and that she could forgive him for losing her in the first place.

  “We should probably get off the street,” she said softly.

  He couldn’t help but grin at her as he pulled her close, kissing her nose gently. “Yes.”

  He wrapped his arms around her before stooping to pick her swiftly up. She didn’t make a sound as she entwined her arms around his neck, snuggling closer. Her breath was warm against his skin, her body fit perfectly against his as she buried her face against him.

  Devon turned back to the group standing outside the SUV, watching silently. Melissa was crying softly, Luther’s arm was wrapped tightly around her. Liam and Annabelle were standing with their arms around each other. Chris had moved slightly forward, his mouth parted in surprise, a questioning look was on his face. Devon studied Chris for a moment, not liking the confusion that filled his face. It brought his doubts and fears about Cassie sharply back to the forefront.

  Cassie lifted her head from his shoulder, blinking tiredly. He could feel the utter exhaustion that radiated from her. “You are coming with us,” she said softly, her gaze not focused upon him, but on Julian.

  Devon tensed, his hands tightened upon her. “Cassie,” he hissed.

  She looked up at him, her eyes dark and worried. “He’s coming with us Devon,” she said forcefully. “He is my friend and I will not leave him here.”

  Devon couldn’t stop the fierce bolt of jealousy and confusion that ripped through him. What the hell were they doing together, and just what the hell had happened between them, and to them, for her to want Julian to stay with her? “I’m coming,” Julian replied firmly.

  Devon glanced sharply at him, his nostrils flared as fury boiled through him. Cassie may think that they were “friends” but it was more than apparent from the look in Julian’s eyes that he thought more, or at least wanted more. Devon shifted her slightly, wanting to get her away from the want and need in Julian’s eyes. Then Julian looked up at him, and though he sensed envy in him, Devon didn’t sense any malice. Not like there used to be.

  “And her?” Devon growled, nodding at Dani.

  Cassie moved to look around him, her body stiffened in anger and distrust. Julian turned toward Dani, his eyes narrowed as animosity blazed forth. “She’s coming too, we need answers,” Julian snarled bitterly.

  Dani looked worriedly at all of them, fear evident in her gold streaked hazel eyes. Then she looked toward the woods and took a step closer to Julian. “I’m coming with you,” she said softly.

  “You didn’t have a choice,” Julian assured her, his voice as cold as ice.

  “Be nice,” Cassie said softly. “She did get us out of there.”

  “She also helped to put us in there.”

  Cassie bit on her bottom lip as she nodded slowly. “Can we go please?”

  “Anything you desire,” Devon assured her, striding past the two of them. He just wanted to get her the hell out of there, and somewhere safe. He wanted answers, and he never wanted to let her out of his arms again. He strode swiftly toward the rest of the group, not bothering to look back at Julian and Dani.

  CHAPTER 2

  Cassie clung tight to Devon, refusing to release him as she sat cradled within his lap. She was exhausted but she was afraid to go to sleep. She was petrified that this would all turn out to be a dream, and that she would awaken in that cramped cell again. She shifted on Devon’s lap, her hand curled tighter into his shirt as she pressed against him, trying to assure herself that this was real, that he was real.

  His chest was solid beneath her hand, slightly cooler under his shirt. His hard muscles rippled against her as he shifted, his hand entangled in her hair, holding her close. But she still could not bring herself to believe that it was real. She glanced up at the hard contour of his jaw, noting the dark bristles that lined it. He had always been clean shaven, but it was obvious that he was wearing a few days worth of growth now.

  He was just as magnificent as she remembered though. Just as hard and handsome and wonderful. He was her entire world, her everything. His presence filled the hole that had been ever present since she had been ripped away from him and placed in that horrendous cell. He made her complete. He was everything good and right and just in her.

  He looked down at her, his beautiful emerald eyes warming with love as he shifted her slightly, pulling her tighter against him to drop a gentle kiss on top of her forehead. Cassie cuddled up closer to him, meeting his lips for a brief, sweet kiss that she wished was so much more. She wanted out of this cramped vehicle, and she desperately wanted some time alone with him.

  Not that she wasn’t grateful to see her friends also, because she was, especially Chris and Annabelle, as she’d feared that they were dead. Feared that Dani had done something awful to them, but they were here before her, alive and healthy. Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the back of Chris’s blond head. He had always been her best friend, her rock, her anchor in the world, but it was Devon that she needed now, and in a way that she never had before. She had been kidnapped, tortured, brutalized and changed in ways she didn’t even know. She needed his goodness and caring and unconditional love more than anything right now. She trailed a finger under his jaw, relishing in the very real feel of his coarse hair against her skin. Loving the way his black hair fell across his magnificent face, loving the way it outlined the gorgeous contours of his refined features.

  Reluctantly she turned her attention away from him as the SUV made a right hand turn onto a strangely deserted street. Her eyebrows drew together as she frowned in confusion. Though it was still dark out, the sun would be coming up soon. There should be at least a few people moving around. Some lights should be on in the windows as people brewed their morning coffee, showered, and dressed for work.

  Her frown deepened as she sat slowly up. Devon’s hands tightened briefly on her but when she made no move to pull away he relaxed. “What is going on around here?” she asked quietly as they drove down another deserted street.

  “We don’t know,” Chris answered, his sapphire gaze worried and questioning as he turned toward her. Cassie frowned at him. He had been staring at her strangely ever since she had gotten into the vehicle. He had hugged her, had even shed a few tears, but he had not stopped looking at her as if he didn’t understand her, or even know who she was.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The General store,” Melissa answered a small quiver in her voice.

  Cassie frowned as she bit hard on her bottom lip. “We’re staying here? We’re staying in this town?” she demanded, unable to keep the tremble of panic from her voice.

  “It will be ok,” Devon said gently, rubbing her arms as he tried to soothe her.

  She turned back to him, her heart hammering in fear. “No, those people are here! Those people and those things are in this town! We can’t stay here! They’ll take us back there if they find us! We can’t go back in there!”

  She was nearly shrieking by the time she was done, and shaking so fiercely that her teeth were chattering together. “Cassie…”

  “No!” she screamed. Clawing terror seized hold of her. A sense of impending doom settled over her, her chest constricted so tightly that she could hardly breathe. She was gasping, choking, as she tried to get air into her tortured lungs.

  Devon kept hold of her as she tried to get away; she needed to be free of the vehicle and the pressing weight on her chest. Julian leaned over him, grasping hold of her chin and pulling her head forcefully toward him. “Enough princess!” he snapped as Devon released a ferociou
s growl that caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end.

  “Get your hand off of her!” Devon spat.

  Julian chose to ignore him as he continued to hold onto her. “We are not going back there. I promise you that much, we are never going back in there. They will never touch you again. You need to keep yourself under control because we have got to learn what is going on here. We need to know what they were trying to do to us down there, and what they have done to this town.”

  Cassie bit her lip hard, fighting back the wave of tears that filled her eyes. “Or what they did do to us,” she whispered, thinking of her red eyes and the strange control she’d had over herself earlier. Thinking of the shots they had injected her with that had turned her veins a different color as it seeped through her blood stream.

  “Yes.” Cassie sat silently for a moment, trying to breathe through the pressure that lingered in her chest. Julian’s full mouth twisted into a small smile. “You survived down there, you will survive this.”

  Cassie nodded, a single tear slid down her face as she set her shoulders in resolve. “You’re right,” she whispered. “We need to know. And don’t call me princess!”

  He grinned at her, squeezing her chin briefly before retreating to the far back of the vehicle. Everyone stared at her in stunned silence, and then their gazes darted briefly toward Julian. She could sense their confusion and uncertainty, sense the questions rolling through them, but no one said a word. She turned slowly toward Devon, hating the stunned, wounded look in his eyes. She squeezed his hand tightly, looking to reassure him and ease his fears, but she wasn’t sure she succeeded.

  Devon was her heart, but he was going to have to accept the fact that Julian had become her friend, and her savior, in a time when she had desperately needed both. He would have to accept the fact that she and Julian had forged a strong bond while they had been held captive, and that Julian owned a piece of her heart now. A piece that still confused her, and one that she didn’t understand. Julian was more than her friend, she cared for him deeply. Their bond had become so strong that she thought of Julian as good of a friend as Chris and Melissa, and she needed him in her life as much as she needed them.