by K.N. Lee
Halston reached out for her hand. Koa’s hand slid into his with ease. It felt right.
He gave her small hand a squeeze and turned to her. His eyes locked on hers and he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. “I won’t be long. I promise.”
Koa nodded, stomach full of butterflies. “And I’ll try not to worry.”
“You must not forget, you’re a Netherworld agent. You better start acting like it again.”
Koa cracked a grin. “I somehow recall someone firing me.”
“Oh yes,” Halston said. “I like to think of it as more of a suspension.”
“Really?” Koa’s grin widened. She batted her eyelashes at him with an exaggerated look of feigned innocence. “Are you saying that I’m reinstated?”
Halston made a skeptical face. “Sure… reinstated but under probation.”
Koa laughed and nodded. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Halston pulled her in for a kiss that caught her off guard. She savored the warmth and taste of his mouth and moaned with yearning. She did not want the kiss to end. She did not want to break apart from him again.
When he finally set her back on her feet, she was dizzy and drunk off of her love for him. She knew she had a goofy grin on her face, but she didn’t have the strength to hide it.
He smiled at her warmly as he stroked her cheek. “Be good,” he said.
Koa nodded. “Only for you.”
Halston kissed her forehead and turned to the old church.
Koa stood there and watched as he walked away from her. It was daytime, but she was sure she saw someone watching from the stained glass window. She tensed. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to make out who it was. Even though she couldn’t be sure, she had a feeling that she knew who watched her. Someone had seen her kiss Halston.
Koa swallowed and turned away to hide the look of worry on her face.
She was certain that it was Jax and couldn’t explain why she felt as though cold water had been splashed on her face.
26
Svorn held out a hand and watched in wonder as droplets of rain fell into the palm of his large, white, hand. “Water? From the sky?” Svorn lowered his cloak and exposed his bald tattooed head to the rain.
“Remarkable,” he said in Netherworld dialect. “What is this place, Master?” He nodded up to the black castle that stood at the top of a craggy hill and looked to Greggan with deep-set black eyes.
Greggan stepped forward. He held his arms out and breathed in the fresh sea air. It was magnificent. The rain was refreshing and something he’d missed since his first journey to the human world centuries ago. The Netherworld could never compare to the beauty of the human world. Greggan grinned. Soon, it would be all his.
He looked up at the grand castle. It would make a fine home. He’d had the Syths and his vampire soldiers remove the rotting corpses from the pikes of the gate. Bund had done as he was told and killed all of the vampires and left the human pets locked in the Keep. But still, he had gone too far with displaying the bodies like trophies. As always, Bund took things a dozen steps too far.
Greggan put a hand on the big Syth’s shoulder. “It is our new home. Our headquarters.”
The Syth backed away when Bund flew out of the darkness and landed before them. Svorn fell back in line with the other Syth’s, bowing his head to the demon.
Bunds eyes brightened and an evil grin spread across his bony white face. He rubbed his cleanly shaven chin. “It’s all cleaned out of greedy vampires. I feasted on their souls. Hope ya don’t mind if I ate a few of the pets…”
Greggan looked away from the demon. He hated being surprised all of the time, but Bund wasn’t one for punctuality or following all of Greggan’s orders. He would need to find a way to control the demon better. For now, he would remain cordial. He had no other choice.
Greggan’s brows drew in as he wondered if Bund knew that. By the look on Bund’s face, he doubted it. The demon was easily manipulated.
“You’ve done a fine job, Bund. Good work.”
Bund scoffed. “Did ya doubt me, your highness?”
Greggan held the collar of his black trench closed against the chilling wind that swept in from the crashing sea. He noticed the disdain in Bund’s voice when he said your highness, but chose to ignore it. “Of course not. Come now, we’re all getting what we want here. I want you to do something else for me.”
Bund lifted a brow. He lifted himself from the ground and glided across the cool night air with more grace than Greggan thought he had. He landed before Greggan and sniffed at his coat like a dog.
Greggan looked down at him and twisted his mouth in disdain. Bund’s pale skin was illuminated by the moonlight. Greggan could see his bones and his black veins through his thin flesh.
Bund stopped sniffing and gave Greggan a look. “The Netherworld scent fades from you. You’re startin’ ta smell like a New World vamp. You stink.”
Bund glared at him. Even Greggan was put off by Bund’s eyes. Hollow, a deep blue like the sea at night, and deep-set. But there was much more within the eyes of a demon. A knowledge that they could see into your soul and that they could do horrible things to you without warning.
“That’s to be expected,” Greggan said. “Go and take care of business, and you won’t have to smell me.”
“What do ya want?” Bund asked. He came to his feet and stood a foot taller than the vampire king.
Greggan patted the demon’s shoulders, put off by the demon being so close to him. “What you’ve been waiting for, of course. Time for a little fun, my friend. Has the girl fallen asleep yet?”
Bund closed his eyes for a moment. Smoke shrouded his face. A thick, black cloud, surrounded him as he searched. When he opened his eyes, a smirk came to his thin, rubbery, lips.
“Yes.”
Greggan nodded. “Then, you know what to do.”
Bund cackled then. Not like a man, but a monster, a beast from the darkest depths of Hell. The smoke covered his entire body. He folded his arms across himself and fell backwards as the smoke gently carried him to the ground.
Greggan watched with amazement as Bund’s thin body was wrapped in the smoke. It laced around him until you could see nothing but small traces of his clothes and face.
Bund’s body slowly sunk into the earth. The ground opened and swallowed him up. There wasn’t a trace of the demon.
Greggan relaxed. The tension in his neck and jaw settled and his shoulders slumped. He stared at the ground and knew that Bund was gone, but he could still feel his presence. He looked forward to the day when the demon would be trapped in the Netherworld.
He stroked his red beard and thought of how grand that would be.
Soon, he thought. Very soon.
Lera was out tracking the angel, Alice, and Koa’s cursed mother. Bund would keep Koa occupied for a while. He thought of what Bund would do to the half-blood and chuckled. She would pay for leaving him. She would wish she’d never betrayed him with her son. Jax and Evina had turned against him because of her treachery. His chuckle faded and he glared at the ground.
“Make her pay,” he said to the dirt, hoping that Bund could hear him. “Bring her to the brink of insanity. Kill the bitch’s spirit. Make her beg to be returned to me.” He didn’t realize that he had balled up a fist. His fist was covered in flames.
Greggan stared into the red flames for a moment. They licked and consumed his entire hand, and yet he felt no pain. All he felt was rage. He only wished he could see her face while Bund tortured her.
Soon, he reminded himself again. Greggan let out a slow breath to release his anger.
Now all he had to worry about was Halston. He grimaced. That would be his biggest challenge. The rest was easy to him. But Halston worried him. He needed a plan. A small smirk came to his lips.
He had an idea. Greggan clasped his hands and looked towards the castle. Bund would be kept occupied for a few hours, and he could take over the VRS just as he’d planned. The human
s were falling under his spell already. Their leaders could not resist his glamour, and their fear of the killings kept them in their homes.
Of course there was a little opposition. It was to be expected. Greggan had plans for the Netherworld Division. Big plans.
He motioned for his quad of Syth’s to come forward. “All right, Svorn, Ulia, Yohan, and Rikie, let’s make ourselves comfortable.”
27
Koa stood outside of Jax’s room. She wrung her hands as she stared at the mahogany wood. She worried about what would happen when they were face to face. She knew that he had seen her with Halston, and decided that she might as well face the subject head on.
Koa knew that he was her first now. For years she had thought that she was a virgin and that she was saving herself for Halston. Having her memory back presented her with quite a few problems.
Was it possible to love two people?
Koa closed her eyes. She shook her head. No, she thought. She had already made her choice.
Koa clenched her jaw. It was time to get serious. There were innocent humans being punished and while she felt helpless about helping them, this was one thing that she could put right. Time would only make the situation fester.
She knocked twice and stood back. She couldn’t let Jax see her weakness around him. She put on a courageous face.
Jax opened the door and stood before her. Koa pursed her lips when she saw him in nothing but the new boxers she’d bought him. He looked her over, leaning against the door’s frame.
Koa’s face flushed. She willed herself to keep her eyes on his face. Not his defined abs or the toned muscles of his arms. She bit her lip.
Jax reached his hand out and stroked her cheek. “Is everything all right, my love?”
Koa moved away from his hand. “Please, don’t call me that.”
Jax took his hand back. He looked hurt. “Why not?”
Koa couldn’t form the words. She couldn’t say it.
Jax pursed his lips and gave her an inquisitive look.
She shook her head. Her stomach churned with anxiety. She was sure he could see her face flushing with embarrassment.
“It’s nothing. Nevermind.” She started to walk away and he caught her by the forearm.
He pulled her close and leaned down to her face with intensity in his eyes. “What is wrong with you? You’re acting all strange.”
Koa swallowed. She feigned ignorance. She hated to act dumb, but sometimes it was just easier. “What do you mean? I’m fine.”
Jax shook his head. “Stop pretending, Koa.”
Koa’s face paled. “What do you mean?”
Jax ran his hand through his red hair and sighed. He leaned against the door frame and gave her a pointed look. “You know that I saw you kiss Halston.”
Koa tried to keep her face free from expression. She shook her head, too afraid to speak. She feared that if she said anything she might croak.
Jax leaned closer to her, his face growing annoyed. “Are you going to lie to my face? I thought you were better than that. At least tell me the truth now so that I can move on.”
Koa’s lips parted. She couldn’t believe that his words hurt her a little. She felt a little selfish for wanting Jax to fight for her.
Her shoulders slumped. She swallowed against the dryness of her throat. She looked in his eyes. “You’re right. I’m glad that you’re here,” Koa said softly. “And I cherish our memories as teenagers, but it would be best if we were friends.”
Jax scoffed. “Typical spoiled little brat.” He shook his head in disgust. “Whatever you want, Koa. Let’s be friends.”
Koa put a hand on his arm. “Listen. It’s for the best. I care about you and don’t want you to get hurt.” Koa realized that she sounded as if she was pleading.
Jax removed her hand from his arm. “You’re so noble, Koa. You care about me,” he said sarcastically. “I think this conversation is over.”
Koa stood there with a stunned look on her face as Jax closed the door. She didn’t know what to do. She considered knocking on the door and smoothing things over. She decided against it. Breakups were never easy, but this was Koa’s first time. It felt awful.
Koa sighed as she walked back towards the room she would catch a little sleep in. Her head pounded. She didn’t feel any better about what she had done.
It’s for the best, Koa told herself over and over, but it didn’t make her heart feel any better.
While Jax and the others rested up for the night ahead, Koa took a quick shower. The water was cold and left her shivering even after she stepped out of the old rusty tub. Koa cringed. She hated rust, dirt, and grime. The stone floor was cold and cracked beneath her feet.
She glanced at herself in the old mirror and saw nothing but a blurry reflection. Her hair was flat against her head and her face was clean of all eyeliner. Koa rarely looked at her natural reflection anymore. She was reminded of a pure childhood that was far gone now.
She sighed, and left the bathroom. She quickly ran down the hall to the small room that she would sleep in. If Halston hadn’t told them to stay together, she would have been happy to get a hotel room somewhere closer to where the Oracle lived.
Koa slipped on a T-shirt and looked down at the meager bed that was made with a wool blanket. Koa made a face and just lay on top of the blanket. She only wanted a few hours. Just enough to take the edge of her fatigue off.
Her night of passion with Halston had worn her out. She smiled at the memory. She needed to rest and have enough energy for all that she and the others needed to do once night came.
She lay there staring at the door for a moment, listening to the silence. Then, she turned off the light on the nightstand.
The room went black.
Koa closed her eyes.
Only minutes passed until Koa felt something soft tickle her ears. Koa wiped at her ear, thinking that a bug had crawled onto her.
She tried to clear her mind. Too many thoughts ran through her mind.
Koa sucked her teeth and slammed her fist into her pillow. She didn’t see sleep coming to her. She sat up in her cot and glanced towards the door.
Koa’s ears perked up as she heard a faint whisper. She tensed.
The rooms before the catacombs didn’t have windows to let in any light. This one was bare, except for her cot, a small lamp, and a simple nightstand.
Koa imagined one of the keepers of the church sleeping in that same room ages ago. She wondered if they were as afraid of the dark as she was. Not only were there dead bodies from the Middle Ages in the catacombs, but there were also rooms that had been sealed shut in the deepest floor of the old church.
Koa held her breath. She listened. The others should have been up and preparing for their trip to the Colony. Koa and Jax would need to visit the Oracle first, but she was nervous about going to the infamous Lady Colleen and asking her for help.
Koa sucked in a breath as her eyes darted around the dark room. She was certain that she heard a voice call her name. “Who is there?” Koa whispered.
She strained to listen, but heard nothing.
She couldn’t hear the others, but she could feel something drawing near. Koa’s throat tightened. She wasn’t sure how she knew it, but something evil was there with her. She froze, too afraid to turn around, but she knew it.
She could smell him. She’d never forget his scent. Or his low chuckle.
Bund was watching her.
Koa could feel his eyes boring into her back. The fear clutched her, and held steady. No amount of counting could ease her fear. Koa did count however. She did it whenever she was really afraid. When she was a child, she would count to herself in bed whenever she felt the hunger gripping her. On the nights when she was hungry for blood, she would have the worst nightmares.
“Koa,” a voice called from the dark recesses of her mind.
Koa’s shoulders slumped. A whimper escaped her lips. Koa knew it then. She wasn’t awake.
No one w
as there to hear her scream. No one was there at all. She was trapped in a nightmare, alone.
With a demon.
Her heart screamed when he appeared before her. Pale face, sharp teeth, and black veins pulsing in his face and neck. He growled low like a wild beast.
Koa whimpered. This was one battle she’d have to fight alone.
Koa reached beside her bed. She gripped her Lyrinian sword’s cold scabbard and pulled the blade free. The clinging sound of metal rang as the Lyrinian blade was set free. Koa sucked in a breath as the power of the sword filled her. She shuddered at its intensity. Rarely had it ever felt such evil.
The Lyrinian blade squealed, loud, like a banshee as it sensed Bund’s evil presence. The blade wanted him, but Koa knew, not even her sword could stop that demon.
Bund vanished.
Koa gasped. She swirled around ready for him. She found herself alone in that tiny room once more. She stood there with her sword before, her feet apart, and ready for a fight. As her eyes darted to every dark corner of that room, they adjusted. They landed on the door’s brass knob.
Koa wasn’t ready to face him. She wanted to wake up and run for help. Their last encounter nearly killed her. She’d never fought anyone like him.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “God, help me.” A small measure of courage quenched her fear. She wasn’t sure if it was the power of her sword, or if God really had answered her prayers.
Koa ran to the door, turned the knob, and nearly fell out into the dark corridor of the church. The silence heightened her fear. The stone walls reminded her of a tomb. She jumped when the door to room slammed shut behind her. She pressed her back against the stone wall and looked down towards the stairs that led to the others. Koa knew they weren’t there. Still, she had nowhere else to go.
The temperature dropped and Koa looked before her to see a puff of her own breath. She rubbed her bare arms with one hand to fight the gooseflesh, and held her sword with the other.