THE TEMPTING

by D. M. Pratt

  The beautiful vision made of light gestured to a series of portals that suddenly wavered around her. “You have the power of your destiny, not the one Kirakin had created for you. Create your future and choose.”

  Eve turned and looked inside the first portal. She saw Beau standing, handsome and smiling inside Gregoire house, now warm and sunny. Philip, still a toddler, sat in his arms reaching for her, but in the shadows behind them she could see Kirakin looming impatiently behind him. This she knew was a trick. In the second portal was Gathian, he stood, strong and powerful in front of his palace. It was both ancient and futuristic. It existed on some distant other world, but it was not Earth. To his right, a massive army gathered, standing in a vast courtyard, armed and ready to fight by her side. Eve knew this was for a great battle against Kirakin and his dark forces.

  “Eve,” Gathian said as he extended his hand for her to join him. “We are ready for your return.”

  Eve turned again. Before her eyes Eve saw a third spiral of energy spin open. It looked down onto the Earth and into the tower at Thibodaux Hospital. What she saw in that portal chilled her, it was all she’d just left, unfolding around her human body as it lay on the altar inside the tower. Kirakin swooped in riding the power of the clouds, rain and wind. He had with him Beau, Cora and A.V. Millard’s severed head hung from his belt like a heathen trophy. Eve watched as he ripped the roof off the tower and landed inside. He drew his sword and began to slaughter the people who had come together to help her. Lightening flashed and thunder roared in the sky above them. She could see how all the people divided; half to fight Kirakin, the others to protect her and Mac who still made love on the altar, oblivious to all that was unfolding around them. Gathian stepped forward to battle with Kirakin. Eve looked at Beau.

  “Is it true?” Eve said as tears filled her eyes. “Beau belongs to him.”

  “I can see in his heart he still hopes to defeat the Nephilim and save you.”

  Eve’s eyes went to Cora. Her face seethed with rage as her eyes searched for Delia. Eve looked for her son and Delia and the other children. She couldn’t see them, but her heart knew they and especially her son were in great danger. She turned her gaze back to the two Nephilim as they crashed into one another. They fought while she and Mac made love on the altar surrounded by Afrine, Evine, Aria and the others who had come to help protect her as best they could. She understood the vulnerable state she was in during transition and the terrible danger she had placed Mac in by holding him there. She could see Mac writhing above her body as it lay suspended in a ball of glowing light. Inside the light she could see herself making love to this kind man who had risked his life to save her. She knew he was a brave stranger. She cared about him, but there had not been time for her to fall in love with him and now she was asking him to die for her. It was at that very moment that Beau saw her making love to Mac. Beau walked forward past the battling Nephilim toward the altar. His face fell into the pained expression of a man wounded and confused. Eve could see the very second his heart broke and his will wash away. It was in that moment that she saw Beau transform and meld into Kirakin, lost to her forever.

  “No,” Eve shouted into the portal. “No, Beau. It was the only way for me to find out the truth. Please. This is my fault.”

  When Beau became Kirakin, A.V. stepped forward to fight for Kirakin. Eve watched as A.V. crossed the room and grabbed one of the tall, iron candle sticks. He lifted it into the air and brought it down with the force of a great battle ax, not on Mac or Kirakin, but on Gathian. Gathian fell – dazed by the blow. He struggled to get back to his feet. A.V. hit him again and again. Gathian swung his arm out and his hand caught A.V. across the face with such force it sent his body across the room. A.V. crashed into the stone wall and fell into a bleeding heap, his body twisted and broken. Cora screamed and raced across the room. She leapt on Gathian who still struggled to get his feet beneath him. She began scratching at his eyes. He pushed her off holding her back as she screamed and kicked at him.

  “Give me my daughter!” Cora shouted as she lunged at him again.

  Eve turned to the woman of light.

  “I have to go,” Eve said, feeling the tears fill her eyes and the fear of losing everything overwhelm her.

  She raced for the portal that led back into the third realm.

  “I have to help them,” Eve shouted.

  She ran through the pillars of light until she reached the portal. Far inside it, Eve could see Afrine, Aria, Evine and the others. Several had stepped in to pull Cora off of Gathian. Kirakin took the momentary reprieve and rose up from beneath Gathian. He swung his sword, cutting down ten people with a single blow. Kirakin turned to Evine, Afrine and the people protecting Mac and Eve. Evine stepped forward and lifted her hands. Using her powers, she conjured up a great wind and forced him back from the altar. He opened his hand drawing the wind into the palm of his hand. Step by step he made his way closer. Evine summoned up a burning wind with searing flames. Still Kirakin sucked the flames into his hand and kept coming.

  Cora turned her attack from Gathian to Mac and Eve.

  “No, Cora,” Eve shouted.

  Eve ran harder, but the tunnel of light seemed to grow longer. She could see in the distance what was unfolding, but couldn’t get there. She ran faster. Eve watched as the priestesses and priests who had been protecting her and Mac turn on Cora and ripped her into shreds. Kirakin was getting closer. Still blocked by the fire and wind, he summoned a dozen, black shadow demons to fall upon, Aria and Afrine like oily rain, suffocating them.

  Eve’s heart filled her throat. She knew only one thing, they were losing the battle that raged around her and Mac and she had to get back. Eve ran deeper into the endless portal.

  “Remember who you are and that you have the power to exist in more than one version of your life at the same time,” the disembodied voice said, calling to her from the distance.

  “Make ya choice, Eve,” Evine called out. “Lose all fear and make it quick, chil’.”

  “I want… I want…” Eve started.

  Eve turned back to take one last look at the pillar of light that had spoken to her. Standing with the light Eve saw Philip and Delia. She felt part of her keep on running for the portal while another part of her suddenly stood with Philip. Eve, grateful for the moment, dropped to her knees. Philip ran crashing into her arm. He held her and she held him.

  “Oh, Philip. I love you so very much,” Eve told Philip.

  “I love you too, Mommy,” Philip said.

  “What can I do? What will become of you? Will I lose you?”

  Delia came close behind and squiggled into their embrace. Eve held them both, closing her eyes and giving them loving hugs and kisses.

  “We’ll find you, mommy, no matter where you go,” Philip said and kissed her cheek. “I promise.”

  “You have to hurry,” Delia said.

  With that she saw both children abruptly snatched away.

  Eve stood, shaken by the sadness of loss, but pulled by the urgency of what she was hearing from the battle below her. She returned to her still running self as she headed deeper into the portal of light. As she ran, she passed all four versions of what she had been shown. She had to make a choice, but first, she had to get back and stop Kirakin.

  “Hurry, Eve,” the voice whispered. “They need you?” Their time is short and the pain of death takes its toll on the living. Remember who you are and that you have the power to exist in more than one version of your life.”

  “Make ya choice, Eve,” Evine call out from the waiting portal.

  Eve could see Kirakin turning back the flames and directing them toward Evine. In a moment she would be burned alive.

  Eve felt herself falling forward. She plummeted through space and time back to the realm from which she had ascended. Her journey was scored by a roar of thunder. With a snap, she crashed back into herself and into the heart of the battle that raged around her.

  At first she saw only
Mac above her. His eyes were closed and his face was in a state of bliss as he passionately made love to her on the altar. She felt his hips twist, his cock, hot and slathering wet in her, joyously increasing their pleasure. She felt herself thrust her hips forward, pressing against his so he could enter her fully. Pleasure rushed over her in hot waves as she tightened around his cock with a velvet grip. Each squeeze and release of his cock heightened Mac’s pleasure. He moaned as she sent waves of wild, wet, steaming pleasure quivering through him. Eve felt him surrender as she grabbed his hips and pulled him even deeper into her. Time slowed as their motion sped up, faster and faster and faster until they were ready to explode. Panting in perfect rhythm, writhing, moaning and bellowing in absolute pleasure she released into full organism as she bent her back into an arch of pleasure and pain. Mac exploded, falling into an abyss of pure ecstasy.

  Eve could hear him whisper, “I love you, Eve.”

  “Find me, Mac,” she whispered back. “And I will find you.”

  The next moment Eve found herself standing, naked and sweating in the center of the room. She looked up to see the roof had been ripped away by Kirakin and the pouring rain drenched all who fought around her. Cora lay bleeding, pummeled by the priestesses. A.V. and Afrine were dead. Evine fought Kirakin alone using one hand to hold him back with the wind and fire she conjured and with the other, she did her best to heal the wounded Gathian. Kirakin pounded at both of them, backing them deeper into a corner until the flames were about to engulf them both.

  “Leave them!” Eve shouted.

  Kirakin stopped. Everyone stopped. The Nephilim turned his gaze to Eve.

  “You came for me, Kirakin,” Eve said.

  “Eve,” Gathian shouted and weakly waved his hand.

  The next thing Eve knew she was standing with Gathian’s sword in her hand, dressed in silver armor and white leathers. These were clothes that came from a different time, but she knew they belonged to her.

  When Kirakin saw Eve standing in the center of the room, powerful and more beautiful than he had ever seen her, he swept his hand behind him and sent a force of energy so powerful it knocked everyone back across the room and onto their knees. His next gesture held them motionless in a field so powerful they could not move. Slowly he turned his gaze back to face Eve. He opened his hand and his massive sword of blue steel appeared out of thin air in his palm. Its handle was solid gold and adorned with diamonds and precious jewels.

  “I don’t want to kill you, Eve,” Kirakin said.

  “I know what you want,” she replied.

  Suddenly, the rain stopped falling and the wind hushed to the faintest whisper. Eve looked across the room at the bruised and bloodied faces of all who had risked their lives to save her and who were now suspended in Kirakin’s powerful field of energy. She looked at Kirakin.

  “Release them, Kirakin. And release Beau from whatever curse binds him and his family to you,” Eve said. She spoke softly, but there was no question she was commanding him.

  Kirakin smiled. “And what will I receive in return?” he asked.

  “I will let you go back to your realm, but you must promise never to return to this or any other world,” she said.

  “With you?” he replied.

  “Release Beau and forever sever yourself from his blood debt,” she repeated.

  Kirakin studied her for a long moment. He ran his other hand down the side of his ribs and Beau’s limp body peeled out though the skin and crashed to the ground. Eve could see Beau struggle to find his strength. She crossed to him and dropped to one knee, gently touching his face. Using his last bit of strength, he lifted himself up to her, searching her face for a sign she would stay with him.

  “What happened wasn’t me,” he said.

  “I know that,” Eve replied.

  “I would have died for you,” Beau said.

  “Live for me instead,” Eve said and gently kissed him.

  She stood and turned to face Kirakin.

  “Don’t go with him,” Beau said. “Please.”

  Eve smiled and laid Gathian’s sword at Beau’s side.

  “Remember me,” she told him.

  Eve stood and turned to face Kirakin. Her eyes connected to his and she stretched out her left hand reaching to the side. From her fingers, streams of light shot across the room and began to spiral.

  “Time to go home, Kirakin,” she said.

  Taking his hand she led him toward the light. Eve looked back on all those who had guided her, helped her, fought for her and loved her. Mac fought hardest as the force field that held them slowly melted with each step she and Kirakin took closer to the swirling light. Eve could see the four portals the voice had shown her. They spun, each with its own life. Each beckoning her to come and live their version of her life. She looked into each portal one more time. This time there was a fifth portal and Eve saw herself, standing alone wearing the dress she wore the night of the Southern Belles Charity event. She watched herself turn to see Cora, alive, standing down the hall of the Gregoire Mansion, beautiful, happy and laughing. Beyond Cora, coming down another hall, she saw Beau walking toward her. He was more breathtakingly handsome than she’d ever seen him. Eve smiled at the simple human life she had wanted. She turned back to Kirakin.

  He stood before the portal that lead to his world. He was tall and powerful, sensual and handsome. She had loved him once and she knew why.

  “Are you ready to go home and never come back?” she asked.

  “I am ready to go anywhere you say,” he replied.

  “I’m glad you said that,” Eve replied.

  She could see by his face that he was excited and ready to return with her into his world, but by uttering the words he’d just said, he’d unknowingly agreed, on his own accord, with her mandate to never return. Eve cocked her head and smiled at him as she yanked the gri-gri bag of anumu powder that still hung from her neck off with a snap. In one graceful movement she split the small leather bag open with her fingers and flung the haze of powder at him. The power exploded, dusting Kirakin just as the sword Beau was holding sailed into his side.

  “No, Beau,” she said.

  It was too late. She shoved Kirakin back into his portal. Eve sealed the portal door and with it, sealed all the other portals but one. She could hear Kirakin’s voice as he fell back into his world, cursing her name until his voice faded from her ears.

  Eve took a deep breath and felt her body being pulled backwards into the portal that held the Southern Belles Charity event on the night that started it all. This time, she prayed, with no demons to temp her or stop her from living a human life. It would be the beginning of so many exciting possibilities. The beginning of what she had dreamed of all along. She closed her eyes as she fell into the warm blackness of the unknown, letting it wash over her until with a soft pop, she found herself standing alone in the entry way of the Gregoire Mansion, surrounded by a hundred people and wearing a stunning dress that fit a little too tight and made her feel absolutely naked.

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Eve felt a rush of absolute panic, but she had done it. She’d come to the party of the year and yet as much as she wanted to be here, she felt completely unprepared for the elegance and wealth that surrounded her. Eve tugged again at the very short, very sexy dress that clung to her curves. She was sorry she’d worn it. At least in her usual belted shirt dress she felt armed, ready to face people, but her best friend had insisted this was the first day of the rest of her life and she needed to put it all out there. So she put on the pale blue silk dress Cora had insisted she wear, added eyelashes and ruby lips and piled her thick, honey-colored hair into a twist on the top of her head. Her hair, people always said, was one of her best features; a river of flaxen, impossibly shiny and thick, which is why it was in a knot just like the knot in her stomach. She had put it out there, nipples first, and the cool air made her not-as-skinny-as-she’d-hoped naked body under the silk shift way more out there than she was used to. The co
nstant thumping of the dance music matched the nervous beating of Eve’s heart as she stood, staring into a room full of people and feeling horribly alone. She hung back, motionless, looking and listening, furious she had come and feeling more and more like an ugly puppy left abandoned on the side of a road than a pretty woman at a dance. Eve felt frustrated she was attending yet another party without a date. But what the hell was new about that? She hadn’t had a date in more months than she could remember and moving to New Orleans had only made her prospects worse. She was here so WTF!

  The swell of music echoed up from a band located somewhere beyond the grand entrance and expansive parlors that defined the infamous Gregoire Plantation Estate, daring her to enter. Each step she took was punctuated by the pounding rhythms and primitive war chants that played around her. The hypnotic melody was designed to entice people through the maze of festive décor, past the food and liquor and out onto the dance floor. She took that dare and walked through the parlor into the dining room. Eve inhaled the aromas of red pepper sauce, Andouille sausages drenched in Cajun spices, and the pungent tang of fine southern bourbon, mixed with something sugary like coke or julep. That was just the southern way: the sweeter the better. Eve ignored the wall of chatter that echoed up from the party, unable to shake the ever-present feeling that someone was watching her.

  Eve took a long, slow, deep breath and crossed the wide marble hall. She descended the steps that led into the main parlor of the house, which defined southern elegance. The original structure had been built by Lafayette Gregoire nearly three hundred years before and over the centuries it had expanded into the palatial mansion it was today. It sat on the shores of a lake just twenty miles outside New Orleans. Eight generations of Gregoires had been born, lived, married, divorced, fought and died here. Wars had been won and lost as the house stood, enduring the centuries, while patriarchs and matriarchs ruled the lush lands of the Plantation Gregoire.

  Eve had always loved this house. She made her mother bring her here at least once every summer, when they came for their annual visits from Chicago, to walk the gardens that stretched along the lake. But until tonight she had never been inside. If she hadn’t been so nervous, she would have been in total awe. She would have let her hand trace the beautifully carved wainscoting that paneled the lower half of the entry, falling in straight lines to meet the fine marble floor. She would have let her feet glide across the smooth burgundy surface that stretched out in a perfect circle in each direction and cascaded down the mahogany steps into the sunken living parlor. Eve glanced briefly back at the grand stairway that curled up from the entry and connected to the second floor. In a better state of mind she would have wondered about each of the ten bedrooms that stood like soldiers down the wide, dimly lit hallway. She would have felt each door staring back in sealed silence, keeping the long-forgotten secrets of those who had once inhabited them. But Eve had no time to let her imagination wander. She was feeling lost and hopelessly out of place. Where was her best friend, Cora, who’d talked her into coming? Why the hell have I come? She wondered. Damn it!