Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1)

by Paula Nicole

  “Where does this labyrinth lead?” She asked curiously.

  Lord Shade glanced back at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he addressed her. “This world, my world…” He spoke softly, his voice almost hypnotic. “It is full of wonders Lindsey. I want to show you them all.”

  Something ahead caught Lindsey’s eyes. She stopped dead, pulling Lord Shade back a little before he too was motionless.

  “What is this?”

  Lindsey stared ahead, her eyes stuck on a white door which was built into the green wall of the labyrinth. As she moved forward again she found that there were many doors of varying colours attached to the labyrinth, some were even bright red.

  “Is one door the way out of the labyrinth?” Lindsey asked curiously.

  She approached the first door, the white one, and as she stroked her fingers down it she was surprised to find the wood was warm. A gentle hand placed itself on Lindsey’s shoulder. She glanced up to find Lord Shade standing directly behind her, his body almost against hers. His fingers tenderly skimmed down her naked arm and entwined in hers, holding her hand as he moved it to the door knob.

  The little hairs on Lindsey’s neck flared up at his touch.

  “You can go in any door,” he whispered into her ear. “Lindsey, it is all yours.”

  Lindsey felt a soft smile tug her lips and a sense of belonging came over her, a feeling she had not had the pleasure of knowing for some time.

  “There is only one thing I ask of you,” Lord Shade went on quietly. “One minor thing,” he added, probably sensing Lindsey’s glow fade slightly. “Do not go through the red doors. Lindsey you may go through any other door you please.”

  Lindsey glanced down the line, spying a red door only feet away from where they stood. The door seemed to glint before her, tempting her and yet at the same time its brightness acted as a warning.

  “Lindsey,” Lord Shade said, his voice becoming firmer.

  Lindsey turned to him, her hand still on the door and under his strong hand. He was gazing at her intently, a look that Lindsey had seen only recently from the man Lord Shade had saved her from.

  “Do you understand?” Lord Shade asked, becoming gentle again. “It is very important, Lindsey.”

  Lindsey gave a slow nod and this made Lord Shade smile with satisfaction. “Then enter,” he urged her on in a soft whisper.

  Lindsey obeyed silently and turned the knob on the door, gradually opening it up to reveal the splendour beyond the plain, white wood.

  “Oh my,” Lindsey gasped.

  Right before her eyes appeared a bright, sandy beach, with cool clear waves and a cloudless blue sky. A wonderful warmth brushed against Lindsey’s face and arms, followed by the smell of the tropics, where even the air was warm and thick.

  Lindsey stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the exotic island. She kicked off her heeled shoes and was ecstatic to feel the smooth, warm sand on her pale feet.

  “This, this is amazing!” She cried happily.

  Lord Shade watched with keen eyes as Lindsey wandered on the island beach. The pair laughed as she scooped up the sand into her hands and let it slip through her fingers. Lindsey was well aware of the attention she was receiving, but she did not mind; she was enchanted by his creation.

  “Behind each door is a different land for you to enjoy,” Lord Shade said as he approached his guest. “You are welcome in each at any time you wish.”

  Lindsey looked to the sea, straining her eyes to look beyond the horizon. “How far does it go?” She asked curiously.

  “As far as you like,” Lord Shade replied with a smile.

  Lindsey could tell he was examining her reaction.

  “Lindsey, are you impressed?” He asked her calmly.

  She looked to him, unaware of how bright her eyes sparkled. Smiling, she nodded energetically and held her hands out, gesturing to her surroundings.

  “How could I not be?” She grinned, feeling like an astonished child.

  Lord Shade beamed back at her.

  But the mood soon sunk.

  Lindsey rubbed her sandy hands on the white wedding dress and the thoughts of her groom returned all too suddenly. But as soon as his ghostly face began to haunt her mind again, his threats against Nadine echoed in her ears.

  Lindsey cried aloud, startled that she had completely forgotten about that world she had left behind her. It was not like her to forget such things. How could she? The panic increased when Lord Shade’s hand clamped down on Lindsey’s shoulder.

  “He’s going to hurt Nadine and Katie!” She howled.

  Suddenly, Lord Shade pulled her close, holding her against his warm chest. Lindsey melted there, comforted by the rhythm of his heart. Her panic slowly drifted away, making way for a gentle calm. She breathed in deeply, smiling stupidly as Lord Shade hushed her. He ran his fingers through her hair, tenderly rubbing her scalp.

  “There’s nothing to worry about,” he promised her in a calming voice. “Everything is fine.”

  Lindsey felt her eyes flickering as she struggled to keep them open. Her shoulders slumped and she found it hard to stand up straight. A small smile glazed across her lips and before she could suspect anything Lord Shade was supporting her weight.

  “Oh Lindsey, what a strange and stressful day you have had,” Lord Shade said to her, his voice becoming faint on Lindsey’s ears. “You need to rest.”

  “I-” Lindsey tried to protest.

  “You need to rest, my dearest,” Lord Shade murmured.

  Lindsey closed her eyes, her head lulled back slightly.

  “I do,” she admitted quietly.

  A wonderful feeling swept over Lindsey, making her feel more warm and comfortable than she had ever felt in her life. It was as if all her needs, physical and emotional, were met, causing her great pleasure.

  “Rest,” Lord Shade breathed.

  But his voice seemed far away now and Lindsey could no longer feel his arms around her. She peaked through her drowsy eyelids and was surprised to find she was no longer on the spectacular beach. No, she was laid out on a grand four poster bed, draped in fine silk sheets.

  “Yes,” Lindsey purred happily.

  She lay there, spread out on the bed, completely immersed in her own ecstasy. Her mind was so frazzled that Lindsey did not even realise Lord Shade had left the room. All Lindsey could do was grin dumbly as she stared up at the white canvas above her- she could not move. But this was not like sleeping; it was more like a paralysis, one that was caused by this feeling of utter relaxation.

  The feeling seemed to stay with Lindsey for only a few moments, and when she came around, disappointment flushed the wonderful feeling away, followed by confusion. All her thoughts and memories came flooding back to her. The calm had passed completely. Now she was panicking

  With her heart racing, Lindsey struggled out from under the covers and onto her feet. Stumbling, she fought her way to the door but froze when something that sat on the bedside table caught her eye. It was the music box Lord Shade had given Lindsey in a dream.

  Forgetting to be tender, Lindsey threw it open and the same melody trickled out, just like in the dream. But now Lindsey could see inside the box and it was empty apart from one trinket. Lindsey scooped it up in her fingers and twirled the glass locket in her hands. She then proceeded to snap it open; discovering that the brown object inside was a lock of hair.

  Lindsey held the hair in her fingers and slowly held it up against her own. She took a staggered breath, realising it was a perfect match. It was her hair.

  Angry and ready to demand answers, Lindsey left the music box and locket to continue her storm to the door. She threw it open, revealing the long, graceful hallway. “Lord Shade!” She yelled angrily. “Where are you hiding?”

  Fury had seized her suddenly and when it had its grip it only grew stronger. “I know you did something to me and I won’t be manipulated!”

  Lindsey had enough of being manipulated.

  �
�Where are you?” She cried as she stalked down the hallway, pushing doors open as she went. But he was nowhere to be seen.

  And then, from out of the rooms down the hall, Lindsey heard a muffled murmur. She hurried towards it, hiking the hem of her wedding dress up as she stomped towards the sound, which was coming from a door that was different to all the others. This door showed a reflection of Lindsey. It seemed to mock her, showing her standing there still in the wedding dress.

  Without warning, Lindsey barged into the room, expecting to find Lord Shade inside. However, Lindsey discovered that she was wrong. No one was in the room. A lonely silver chair sat in the middle and on the wall it faced hung three long mirrors.

  Feeling a little uneasy, Lindsey turned to leave, but then she heard a loud angry growl. She looked around the room, but she was sure no one was there. Dragged by her own curiosity, she wandered into the room and approached the three mirrors. As she approached them, she began to see them flash with colour and movement until they showed a complete picture. It was as if she were watching three different films at once on three different television sets. Only, the characters that were starring in them Lindsey knew only too well.

  One mirror showed her Alec and Carly. They were outside her house, standing on the lawn as they argued angrily. Carly threw her hands in the air and suddenly her voice echoed out from the mirror.

  “This is all your fault!” She cried. “You should have done as you were commanded.”

  Lindsey rolled her eyes and turned to the next mirror, yet no one appeared inside. All she could see was a swirling red mist, which blocked the view. And so, Lindsey turned her attention to the last mirror, where a ghostly face stared hauntingly back at her, his icy eyes flashing murderously. Lindsey jumped back, screaming in terror as the face seemed to enlarge on the mirror. But Kyle did not jump out the mirror to get her. Instead, he turned away; he couldn’t see her.

  A hand grabbed her shoulder, squeezing her tightly and pulled her up onto the chair. Lindsey looked up, fear glinting in her eyes, but it soon dulled when she saw Lord Shade’s warm smile.

  “They can’t hurt you,” he promised her softly. “They are just images, images of what is happening now.”

  Her eyes flickered to the red mirror.

  “People don’t show up when they are here,” Lord Shade told her calmly.

  Startled, Lindsey gazed into the mirror. She could not see her own reflection, but she knew exactly who the mirror was meant to show.

  “How long have you been watching me?” She asked quietly.

  Lord Shade’s eyes were stuck on her, examining her every move, registering her every emotion. “For quite some time,” he replied honestly.

  Lindsey closed her eyes and bit down on her lip. She couldn’t believe she was hearing this. There was no way she could have ever predicted that not only was a deranged man stalking her, but an unearthly creature was watching her through a bewitched mirror.

  Before Lindsey could question why he had a lock of her hair, a noise attracted Lindsey’s attention back to the mirror, drawing her in to Kyle’s horror show. Lindsey’s eyes widened and a loud gasp tore from her lips.

  “No!” She cried aloud.

  “Lindsey, what is it that displeases you?” Lord Shade asked. He stepped forward and ran his fingers down the cool glass of the mirror. “Kyle wastes no time,” he said with a sigh. “Barely a day and he’s exacting his revenge, on you.”

  Lindsey knew then she had lain on the bed longer than a few mere moments.

  A tiny face appeared at a window. Her hair was messy and her cheeks bright red. “Mummy!” She beamed. “Someone is in our driveway!”

  Lindsey’s blood was cold, her hands trembled and her body quaked with adrenaline.

  “No!” She screamed again. “Stop it!”

  Lord Shade did not watch the mirror, he watched Lindsey.

  She spun her desperate gaze onto him, pleading with her wet eyes. “Please, let me go there and I will stop him!”

  “You are free to go,” he said simply.

  Lindsey jumped up from the chair and sprinted towards the door, but Lord Shade’s words stopped her dead.

  “They will be dead by the time you get there,” he stated. “You need to find the door back.”

  Lindsey stared at him, seeing no emotion on his face but a hint of empathy in his light frown. She came back to his side, taking his hands in hers.

  “Please, which door will take me to them?” She questioned. “I need to stop him!”

  Lord Shade held her hands gently and at last his eyes began to glimmer with sadness. “Lindsey,” he said to her softly. “I cannot tell you. I am sorry.”

  “Why?” She cried angrily. She ripped her hands from him, throwing them aggressively to her side. “You can’t keep me here! You said I could leave when I wanted to!”

  “And you are free to leave,” Lord Shade said, a small smirk breaking his frown.

  Lindsey’s cheeks began to blaze.

  “You,” she growled. “You know that it would be impossible for me to pick the right door!”

  “It is not impossible,” Lord Shade told her calmly.

  He took long, graceful strides over to the mirror once more and stared into it, watching with his back to Lindsey. “He is armed now,” he informed Lindsey. “The imbeciles have acquired guns. I wonder if they remembered their bullets.”

  “You are no Angel!” Lindsey hissed hatefully. “An Angel would save them!”

  Lord Shade looked over his shoulder to Lindsey, looking her up and down carefully. “Who said I could not save them?” He mused.

  Lindsey froze, hope slowly dripped into her pale face. “You could?” She cried happily.

  “Yes, Lindsey. I could,” he admitted. “I could go there now and stop him. But I could also make them all forget Nadine and Katie entirely. They would be invisible to them.”

  “Please,” Lindsey murmured. “Please save them.”

  “I am not a hero, Lindsey. I want you to understand that now.” Lord Shade said suddenly. “And you were right; I am not an Angel.”

  “What are you?” Lindsey whispered.

  Lord Shade smiled crookedly.

  “I am a demon, my dearest,” he hissed.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Lindsey lips quivered as she faced her demon. The mist that had seemed to glow around him had darkened now, leaving a deathly atmosphere that chilled Lindsey to her inner core. She looked again to the mirror, shocked to see Kyle was already at the door of the house. Nadine and Katie had taken refuge in her bedroom.

  “One thing about demons, my dearest child, we like to make deals,” Lord Shade said in a low tone. “We thrive on them.”

  Lindsey went to speak, but froze instead. Once again her trust was shattered; again the hope she had built was ravished and destroyed. But Lindsey could not despair; she had a deal to make.

  “You are a lot like Kyle,” she muttered. Her eyes flickered towards the madman on the mirror. He was banging angrily on the door.

  “I am nothing like that idiot,” Lord Shade sneered. “I am giving you choices Lindsey.”

  “They are very limited choices,” she retorted.

  Lord Shade coolly swiped her remark away and turned to the mirror once more. “You want your friends spared; you want them to be safe. I will give you this, if you give me something I desire.”

  “And what is that?” Lindsey asked. She was becoming desperate. The deal was tempting her, and she did not even know the price.

  “I want your soul Lindsey,” he whispered.

  “M-my soul?” Lindsey stammered.

  She could have never predicted such a price.

  “Yes, I want your soul,” Lord Shade confirmed with his hand extended. “What I am about to do takes a lot of energy. It needs to be worth my while.”

  “What will happened to me if I-”

  “You don’t have time for questions,” Lord Shade interrupted loudly. “And it will be a higher price if I mu
st bring back the dead.”

  Lindsey looked down at her hand, knowing if she made this deal, it was with the Devil himself. Kyle had only been a pawn in his game.

  “Time is running out,” Lord Shade said as Kyle stormed through the house.

  Lindsey felt light headed, but she fought on.

  “You charge more than Kyle,” she murmured.

  “I am wiser, dear child,” he smirked. “Kyle was merely a puppet to me. He delivered you to me, Lindsey. And he made you vulnerable enough to agree to follow me. Only the weak seek help from a demon.”

  Lindsey avoided his gaze; she knew Lord Shade was triumphant. She was going to accept his deal and damn herself into his arms. They both knew she would accept; she had to.

  “It is a deal,” Lindsey said in a whisper.

  Lord Shade stepped towards her, his hand extended. “It is customary to shake on a deal,” he grinned widely.

  Lindsey stepped forward and looked him dead in the eye. Their hands connected, forming a strong bond, a promise.

  “And the deal must also be sealed with a kiss,” Lord Shade then said.

  His eyes glistened.

  Screams from Nadine and Katie echoed around them.

  Lindsey looked around desperately and in that instant she made her ultimate decision and she allowed Lord Shade to claim her lips with his. This kiss felt far more than a way to seal a deal to Lindsey. For this kiss was passionate and sent unfaltering warmth around her body. It was a moment of ecstasy.

  Lord Shade pulled away suddenly and he looked Lindsey up and down, smirking at her bewildered face. “When a woman kisses me she is mine forever. Her soul belongs to me,” Lord Shade said in a low, husky voice.

  Lindsey swallowed hard. The kiss was instantly tainted with fear and regret; Lindsey knew there was no way out of this deal. Yet it had been the right choice, the only choice.