Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Adkins, Heather Marie

  Since I had no idea how long I would live, I could be scarred eternally by this display.

  “Oh, honey. You’re going to have to get used to it. Devlin’s moving in.” I uncovered my eyes to have them dart back and forth between Mom and Devlin. My mouth opened and closed wordlessly.

  “I’m spending the next few nights with Amy and Caine.” I blurted out.

  “Over my dead body.” Devlin ground out.

  My mother was the boss so I silently asked her with my eyes. Yes, I was twenty-five years old and old enough to leave home but it had always been the three of us. Now Devlin was openly in the picture. I wasn’t needed to help take care of them. Devlin would do that now.

  We gazed into each other’s eyes and she nodded, reluctantly.

  “Sher, how could you?” Devlin protested.

  “It’s what needs to happen, Dev. Leave them be now.” Mom watched the way Caine touched my shoulder in an absent-minded manner.

  “I’m going to run up and get some things. I’ll be right back down.” Caine nodded his narrowed eyes on Devlin. They glowered at each other. I rolled my eyes at them and Mom and I smiled in silent agreement about the he man antics.

  Taking the stairs two at a time, I ran up to my tiny attic bedroom.

  When Ben came along and started growing up, we decided he needed his own bedroom on the bottom floor next to Mom’s. So, we made the attic a small but livable area for me.

  Opening the door to my room, I relished the cool night air entering through a window I had left open this morning. I ran a bit hotter than most people and the temperature would have to be below zero for me to get cold.

  Not being sure how long I was going to be gone, I closed the window and set the latch securely. With my hands on my hips, I surveyed my room trying to decide what I would need for a few days.

  It took literally two steps to get to my handmade wardrobe where my clothes hung. The attic had no closet so Mom bought one made by hand and had it set up here. It had been carried up piece by piece and assembled in this room. It was heavy and I took good care of it. It would last forever.

  I slid the doors open and surveyed my clothes. Black tanks, black button-down shirts, jeans in dark wash and black. I wasn’t big on brands and designers. Comfort and casual finds were more my style.

  From the deep depths of the wardrobe, I pulled out a backpack and began throwing clothes inside.

  When I got to nightwear, I stood undecided. I chewed on my pinky fingernail as I considered my options.

  My cute canopied twin bed clothed in navy blue with silver accents was my salvation. When the kids in school were mean to me calling me soul stealer​​, because of my light silver almost white eyes with my black pupils, I could see into their souls and steal them for my own.​​ I would huddle under my comforter and close the drapes on the canopy. Be in my own haven. Read about heroes and the heroines who fought beside and loved them. Wishing I could be strong like those women.

  My hand on the doorknob I turned it and entered, step by slow step. I knew where each board would creak and stepped to the side of it before standing by Ben’s bedside.

  He looked so adorable sleeping on his side with one hand under his head and the other hanging off the side of the bed. I wanted to kiss his forehead goodnight but he was such a light sleeper I was surprised he wasn’t already awake.

  Night, Ben, I mouthed to him after giving him an air kiss. As I reached the doorway to leave, I gave my little brother one last look before closing the door.

  * * *

  I snorted, trying to not laugh as well. At a growl from Caine, I raised both my eyebrows in question. I dared him with my eyes not to comment. When there was none forthcoming, I thought, Smart man.

  After hugging Mom goodbye, I nodded to Devlin and preceded with Caine out the door of my home.

  8

  Sitting in Caine’s car in front of a large house was a surprise to me. I didn’t know why. The thing that also surprised me was the number of cars on jacks in front of the house. And there was my car, sitting forlorn by itself under a metal carport.

  I turned to Caine with my mouth open but not exactly knowing what to ask. I only spread my hands and looked at the cars.

  With a sheepish expression, he explained, “I like cars and working on them. They talk to me.”

  Gesturing to my car, I asked why it was there without words. What had happened to my voice? I was now so tongue-tied I couldn’t even speak. What the heck was wrong with me?

  “Aww, is that your baby?” He looked at me with a quizzical gaze. “I’ll take good care of her. Dev said it was the starter?”

  I nodded, my eyes gazing longingly on my car. I know it didn’t look like much but it was mine. Completely paid for.

  His hand patting mine said, “No voice? It’s shock over everything that’s happened today. I’ll give you something to help you sleep and in the morning you’ll be fine.”

  I shook my head back and forth in disagreement. “I don’t take anything. Drugs of any kind, I mean.”

  A slow smile caressed his lips my eyes following the movement. And what fine lips they were. I lost my train of thought as those lips moved. Moved? What was he saying?

  “No drugs.” This time his finger moved from his forehead over to mine to lightly tap at it.

  Reluctant but I nodded anyway knowing I needed the blissful healing powers of sleep. “Come on in to the castle, young miss.”

  Holding my head held high I sniffed in response as I opened my door and followed Caine into the house.

  The outside of the house hid the comfort and grandeur of the interior. The cathedral foyer with its thirty-foot ceiling, to the cozy open living area with a huge stone fireplace. A set of comfortable looking light green leather furniture was set around the fireplace, that being the focal point of the room. Across​ the room were two upholstered chairs set next to light and bookcases and lots of books.

  The squeal I heard next was enough to set dogs barking and howling. Pivoting so fast my arms swung away from my body, I saw Amy rushing down a long stairway to fly over and grab me into her arms. My teeth rattled loud enough to give me a headache from her man-handling. Or woman-handling.

  As she jumped up and down, she grabbed my hands, swinging them back and forth. I had never had anyone be so happy to see me other than my mother and brother.

  “A girls’ night! A girls’ night. We’ll have so much fun, P.”

  P? “She’s kidding right? P? You want to call me urine?” I turned to Caine not being sure how to deal with Amy. She was a couple hundred years old, but she was acting like a teenager.

  I furrowed my brow looking to Caine who was bent over, laughing his ass off, his hands on his knees almost rolling on the floor. He wasn’t mu

  Narrowing my eyes at him, I wanted so much to walk over and kick him in his perfect behind. My eyes wandered as I forgot what I was doing for a moment. I stood transfixed.

  “Uh-huh.”

  I heard so quiet I almost missed it.

  “Stop checking out my father’s ass. Gross.” But Amy was smiling with her head cocked to the side.

  “You like my ass?” Caine asked, with a self-satisfied grin on his face as he gave his behind a quick glance.

  The heat rose up so hot I thought I would burst into flames from embarrassment. Still chuckling, Amy placed her arm around my shoulders and led me into the kitchen. And what a kitchen it was. I was in awe.

  There were two large stoves with ovens. What did two people need sixteen burners for anyway? A large double door refrigerator that looked brand new. And was that…yes it was. In the island that took up half the room was an under the counter fridge. Why wasn’t I jealous that they had so much? But I wasn’t.

  Amy opened one side of the fridge, taking out sandwich fixings which she placed on the counter. She closed the door with a slim hip and stuck a pickle into her mouth munching on the sour sweetness. “What do you want? Chicken or beef or both?”

  My mouth watered
at the thought of food. The last time I had eaten was…ah, yesterday. And I had no idea what time it was. It could be tomorrow already. “Both and cheese, lots of cheese. And both mayo and mustard. Veggies, please. I’ll get them, if that’ll help.”

  My words ran together fast the more I thought of food. My eyes jerked to Amy who nodded as she began humming an off-tune song and moving her body in a graceful dance. Something I had never heard before but since she was ruining it, I was not able to know what it was.

  Pulling veggies out of the appropriate container, I piled them next to where Amy was dancing and she twitched her head toward what drawer the knives were.

  As we were making our sandwiches, Caine strolled in to shoulder us out of the way, taking Amy around the waist to move her out of the way to make his own, all of us laughing as he did so.

  After making our sandwiches, we piled potato chips on our plates with Caine carrying a couple bags as well and strolling into a theatre type room to watch a movie. Of course it was a car crash one with lots of noise and fun.

  I don’t think I have ever had so much fun with someone other than my family. Finally getting so tired my eyelids started closing. I knew I had a problem when my head would drop to my chest and I’d jerk my head up again.

  “Take her to her room, Dad,” Amy said quietly as if not to wake me up.

  Strong arms lifted me and after holding me close, a hard chest pressed against my head. I tried to pillow my head against it but it was too hard. Rubbing my cheek against the cotton shirt like a cat would and moaned.

  “Girl, you have no idea what you’re playing with,” A deep voice rumbled in consternation.

  With my eyes still closed, one of my arms snaked up to twine around his neck. “I think you should stop

  P.”

  Light and carefree, I laughed at the strain I detected in the voice. He thought he would piss me off by calling me P. He didn’t know he could call me anything and I would come.

  A sigh of relief was audibly heard as I was set down on a soft surface. “Come on. Under the covers, now.”

  A thick blanket was pulled over me seconds before I fell asleep.

  * * *

  My arms stretched over my head, my back arching, a loud crack filled the room until I touched the wood headboard. Wood? I had no headboard on my canopy bed.

  “Are you finally awake?” A gruff voice asked, “I’m tired of waiting.”

  My head shot up at the voice to peer at a small demon sitting in a chair in a corner of the room.

  His three-foot body, small in the chair made his made his legs shoot out straight in front of him. He appeared dignified even in his red jumpsuit.

  “Why are you here?” I sat up, making sure my nightgown covered my modesty.

  “The master wants you so I was selected for the chore, or um, ...joy of collecting you.” As he said these words, his body grew until he was six- feet-tall. But still he sat in the chair, his arms resting lightly on the arms.

  As I opened my mouth to shout for help, he teleported to stand before me. He gathered me up, blankets and all in the to his arms and everything went black.

  * * *

  I wasn’t sure whether my eyes were open or not, because blackness filled my vision. But around the edges there were shades of red and orange, like flames that leapt, high and low.

  Concentrating on feeling my eyes blink multiple times, so that I would know for sure I was awake and not dreaming, I stretched my arms out and touched something.

  That was when arms tightened about me and a deep raspy laugh feathered against my ear. I jerked my head forward and then back to try and break the nose of whomever had hold of me. I forgot. It was a demon that had me.

  Kicking back with my heel I tried to kick him in the shin. He appeared to be one step ahead of me.

  Gritting my teeth, tears leaked out of the corners of my eyes in frustration. “Come on, girl. Enough fun and games. We must see the big boss. I’m tired of this.”

  Suddenly a red glow surrounded us as if hidden until needed. I was able to see for the first time. As my eyes adjusted to the faint reddish light, the demon pulled me along behind him impatiently as if I were a recalcitrant child.

  My bare feet stumbled over the stones in the dry dirt baked as if in fire to make the ground ceramic-like, the rocks and dirt becoming one.

  As I was pulled along, the landscape became bleaker in the haze, if that were at all possible.

  Sweat dripped down my face in rivets as heat beat down on me. A quick glance at the demon showed the extreme temperature didn’t affect him at all, especially as he practically ran dragging me behind.

  Off in the distance, the far distance, I observed a castle. Large and grand, made from stone it looked like from where I was.

  I don’t know how we got here, but it must have taken a lot of energy out of me because a heavy weariness overtook me.

  My eyes drooped but I still tried to dig my heels into the ground but that wasn't working. I fell to my knees and he kept walking, dragging me behind on my knees, one hand in his, one flat on the ground, being scrapped with gravel being buried as I was dragged.

  Screaming and crying at the pain that was overwhelming, tears joined the sweat that poured down my face.

  The demon finally slowed as the dead-weight he dragged indicated a problem. Stopping he swiveled to face me as he opened his hand to release my wrist.

  I grabbed the appendage back and rubbed the tender red flesh as I glared at him. Slowly standing I glanced ruefully at the bloody tears in my favorite nightgown. I hadn’t even noticed at first that my feet had been bare until the pain started.

  “You know, I don’t think your master will be happy if I come to him injured.” After brushing myself off I stood before him, hands on my hips, defiant.

  It was almost comical as his face fell at my words. He stood in deep thought as he rubbed his forehead around his horns.

  I don’t think he was the brightest brick in the building if it took him this long to figure the problem out, but he finally did.

  Standing before me he waved a hand and my injuries disappeared as well as my nightgown to be suddenly clothed in boots, jeans and a tank top.

  Taking the bottom of the top I mopped at my face glaring at him around the edge of the shirt.

  “Are you ready yet? I’ve clothed you. Let’s go.” He leaned his back further than I had ever seen anyone do before. The crack of his spine, loud enough to make me wince, was followed by another crack.

  The oppressiveness of the air, thick with smoke and heat, made even a slight breeze hard to breathe.

  “Give me a minute, will you?” I clenched my back teeth as I raised my voice as I asked.

  I stared at the castle that appeared closer than the he structure had before. From here all I could see were towers, turrets and stone. Very fifteenth century.

  “Come on.” The demon interrupted my sightseeing and after grabbing me by my forearm began dragging me again. Getting tired of it by this time, I dug my heels into what dirt there was and grabbed his after in both of mine. I pulled the arm as hard as I could, dropping to my heels as his surprised face come at me fast. I stood, hitting him in the abdomen hard enough to finish his flight over my shoulder.

  Deciding to try a Deception, I imagined myself gone as he face planted on the ground, chanting in my head repeatedly, gone, gone, gone from his sight.

  I watched as he raised himself by his hands with a groan. Not being sure it had worked, I almost held my breath as he shook his head, his palms flat on the dry ground as he raised himself to his knees.

  He sat on his knees as he glanced around panic plastered on his face as his eyes widened the black pupils taking over what brown of his irises were visible. I almost sighed with relief at what that meant. I wasn’t visible. I was gone.

  He slowly moved in a circle; his hands wide outstretched but I was nowhere within his sight. I imagined all he could see was the dusty red-colored dirt with the blue-red flame covered mounta
ins off in the distance, a castle hazy in the steamy heat.

  “Ugh!” He screamed, his eyes closing as he hunched his head down, his ears grazing his shoulders, gripping the horns in his hands so tight it looked like he was going to pull them off his own head in his frustration.

  He stomped past me, muttering under his breath about bitchy half angels that made a half smile of relief escape my lips. I did it.

  My gaze settled on the barely visible castle again, when flames popped up from the ground next to me making me jump to the side out of the way. When the flames disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared, I carefully slid the toe of my boot where the flame had exited from but found no hole as the boot dug into the ground.

  Now even more cautious my gaze stuck on the castle briefly as I also watched for flames bursting out of the ground. With a deep sigh I began trudging toward the castle my eyes alertly surveying the grim landscape for more flames popping up out of nowhere.

  9

  For what struck me as if I had plodded along for hours. Hours that the castle appeared to never come closer I finally came within feet of it as it suddenly loomed ahead of me. There was no way I’d be able to sneak in, so I decided the direct approach was what was required.

  Confidently I approached the tall double doors, twenty feet high at least, I frowned as I considered a way to enter. Lifting my head, sniffing the air and sneezing as the scent of brimstone and sulfur wafting toward me being strongest here at his den.

  At first glance all I observed was what appeared to be steel doors. Hesitantly I placed my palms flat against the steel doors trying to push them open expecting them to have the chill of steel. They instead were warm and soft as if I were touching flesh. I immediately drew my hands away, looking down as I rubbed them together as I glanced at the door up, down and sideways.