by C. L. Stone
The demon stepped back and looked at her pityingly. “I’m sorry, but it had to happen.”
Perplexed, Evie opened her mouth to ask him what he meant when pain erupted in her head. It felt like someone had reached in and scrambled her brains with a whisk. She screamed out in shock, the agony too much for her withstand. A hand cupped her mouth, muffling her shout. Tears ran down Evie’s cheeks as pain intensified, like shards of glass were being shoved into her skull. Her sight went black, and she found herself on her knees as her legs gave out. The demon’s touch followed her down. Wave after wave of pain assailed her. Time seemed to stop as she was locked in that hellish nightmare. The pain escalated even more. A tsunami of agony washed over her. When it reached a pinnacle where she was on the verge of begging for death, the pain ceased.
The demon released her, allowing her to slump over on the floor. She felt weak but the pain was completely gone. Even her headache from when she woke up had dissipated.
“What did you do to me?” she panted out, trying to catch her breath.
He ignored her question. “We are out of time. The powerful one draws near. Give me your hand, human.” Without waiting for her to refuse, he grabbed her wrist. Turning her hand, he pressed something cold into her palm. A fresh burst of pain, bright and fast, and then something slid onto her ring finger.
“The ring has been fed your blood. It will respond to you and only you now. When in need, call upon it, and it will assist you.”
“What?”
The demon spoke as he left the room. “The ring, Death’s Dagger. Use it, and you may live to see another day.”
Silence descended in the tiny, tomblike room as the door closed shut once more. Evie struggled back to her feet. Making her way over to the door, she used the small amount of light seeping through to examine the piece of metal sitting on her right, ring finger. It was a small pewter ring with a ruby in the center. Ornate engraving etched both sides, but the lack of light prohibited her from seeing any of the details. When she tried to remove it to examine it closer, the ring wouldn’t budge. She’d have to worry about it later. Right now, she needed to concentrate on getting out of the cell-like room.
She turned the handle on the door experimentally, fully expecting it to be locked. The handle twisted easily in her hand, taking Evie by surprise. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she gently pulled the door open, peering out of the crack. An empty, lit hallway met her gaze. She listened for any hint of movement, but when the only sound that reached her straining ears was her own breathing, she ventured forward.
The short hallway came to an end on one side with a closed door on the other. Small florescent bulbs lit the small space, casting eerie shadows on the brick mortared walls. Evie moved towards the door, opened it, and walked through.
The room she entered was larger than the previous one. Taking it in, she realized she was still somewhere in the warehouse district. Maybe even in the same building. Crates were stacked four high, crowding the available space. Trying to stay low, she moved from crate to crate, using the large wooden stacks to offer her some cover. As she got closer to the outer door, a rhythmic sound started off to her left. It was a sound Evie knew well. A blade striking a sharpening stone. Chills raced down her spine. Someone was in the room with her, and he had a weapon.
“I know you’re there. Come out, so I can get a good look at you.”
Her heartbeat threatened to explode from her chest. She’d been discovered. She looked towards the door, trying to judge the distance. As long as the man didn’t have a gun, she stood a good chance of making it.
“I know what you are thinking. I wouldn’t try it if I were you. Dominick has men on the other side of that door. You wouldn’t get two feet outside. And believe me, you are safer in here with me than you are outside with them.”
Evie contemplated her options. The man’s voice was unfamiliar to her, and she didn’t know his intentions. Thinking over her options, she realized there weren’t any. Dominick had orchestrated the whole abduction. If he or his men were to recapture her, she’d end up back where she started. Only this time, with a door that locked better.
Mind made up, she silently prayed it was the right decision as she moved from behind the crate, walking into the center of the room. A man stood there with his back to her. He leaned casually against a cement support post. His hands moved in rhythm to the small clinking sound as he sharpened a blade against a whetstone.
The pungent smell of sulfur filled the room, and with a start, she realized the person she mistook as a man wasn’t human. He was a demon.
Fear knotted her insides. The demon must be powerful to take on the appearance of a human man with such ease. He wasn’t much taller than Evie. Maybe a head taller. He had red hair with a receding hairline. As he turned around, she took in his blood red pupils. The prominent veins around his eyes gave him an aged look.
“So tell me something. Why does Dominick fancy you so much?” the demon asked, inspecting the long blade he held in one hand.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, trying to act more confident than she felt. She glanced around the room, hoping to spot another exit.
The demon nodded, as if expecting her answer. “You may address me as Hayward.”
The demon took a few steps closer to her. Whatever tool he used to sharpen the blade disappeared from his other hand, but he kept the dagger in plain sight. “I bet you are wondering why you were brought here.”
“Not really.”
“Is that so? And why not?”
“What’s to figure out? For some reason, Dominick betrayed my father. He cut a deal with you. You believe the easiest way to take my father down is to use me. But you’re wrong. My kidnapping, or whatever this is, won’t mean a thing to him. He won’t let you use me as a bargaining chip in whatever plan the two of you have plotted.”
Evie noticed a row of windows on the far side of the room. Crates stacked three high underneath them. If she could scale them, she’d be able to crawl through the window to the outside.
“You have it all wrong, little girl.”
With a start, she jumped from the demons nearness. He stood directly in front of her. She hadn’t even noticed him move. She took a few more steps back, bumping into another cement post. Hayward matched her step for step. With her back against the cement, she had nowhere else to go.
Squaring her shoulders, she met the demons gaze head on. “What do I have wrong?”
“Dominick’s cooperation was the prize. Your father needed it desperately. So he cut a deal with him. Dominick demanded you as his price. In exchange, he would help your father with his future plans.”
Hayward offered, his eyes beginning to glow with emotion. “It was your father that initiated the deal with me. I was to ensure your complete submission, magically of course, and he would pay my price.”
“What price?”
He made a tsk tsk sound at her. “That’s not up for discussion.”
Lightning fast, the demon’s hand whipped out. His grip firm around her neck, he held her against the cement at her back. His pupils bled black until only a crimson speck remained in the center. Rancid breathe rolled over her as he mumbled words in a language she didn’t recognize. She thrashed against his grip, but it was iron tight. She couldn’t free herself.
His other hand stroked her forehead in rhythmic taps as he continued to speak under his breath. Warmth spread from his fingertips, pressing deep within her skin. The smell of sulfur intensified as the heat flamed higher, almost blistering her skin. Evie screamed as pain slammed into her.
White-hot agony speared through her brain then disappeared a second later as the demon quieted in front of her. Not relinquishing his hold on her, the demon backed away slightly so he could look at her. “That my dear, was only the first spell. The next will be much worse, I’m afraid.”
Frantic, Evie gripped his hand with both of hers, trying in vain to loosen his grip. She lifted her leg up, kicking him. He blocked h
er easily.
“What did you do to me, you bastard?”
“Don’t fret, it was just a small memory spell. I haven’t even triggered it yet. Once I do, you will forget all about this night. And, as an added precaution, you will forget about any encounters you have had with the supernatural.”
“What? Why are you doing this to me?”
“It’s simple. I need your complete submission. I promised to deliver it in order to get what I want. When I cast this second spell, I will trigger the first one simultaneously. Unfortunately for you, the power unleashed will short circuit your higher brain functions, rendering you nothing more than a pretty shell. Dominick will become your master, and you will live and breathe to serve him.”
“Master? Are you completely insane? I will never obey Dominick.”
“You will when I get through with you. You will truly be his doll. When he says jump, you will jump, and you will do it with a smile on your face. That’s the beauty of the submission spell. You will be his forever. Whatever he wishes, when he wishes it. He will own you completely.”
Fury filled her as the demon spoke. She’d rather be dead than be someone’s puppet. Hayward lifted his hand up again, this time tapping her cheek as he started mumbling under his breath. Rage lapped at Evie’s insides. She felt helpless, unable to move, unable to fight back against his strength.
As if called, a whisper caressed her ears, catching her attention. Soft words spoken over and over. The volume so low Evie struggled to understand what they said. She knew it didn’t originate from the demon in front of her. She searched the room frantically, the lenient tone a musical note in the very air around her. The volume rose until it was a roaring pound in her ear drums.
Kuoleman Tikari
Kuoleman Tikari
Kuoleman Tikari
The words, unknown to Evie, repeated over and over, deafening her to everything around her. The sound demanded her full attention. Its magical melody compelled her to answer. Completely driven by instinct, Evie’s mouth opened, and she gasped out, “Kuoleman Tikari!”
Heat erupted along her hand, and the ring placed there against her will, flared to life. Metal and steel stretched alongside her palm. A hilt formed to her hand perfectly. Her fingers released the demon and closed around the metal as a blade forced its way outward, extending six inches in length past the palm of her hand.
The blades harmony still played in her ears; she moved without conscious thought. Giving him no warning, she jerked the demon closer, driving the knife up under his breastbone, straight into his black heart. Time stopped as their gazed locked on each other, disbelief filled Hayward’s eyes before they drain away to nothingness. The demon’s eyes roll back, and in the next instant, he exploded in a puff of smoke and brimstone.
Finally free, Evie slid down the cold cement at her back until her butt rested against the floor. Drawing her knees up, she sat there shivering in the dim warehouse. Her body shook uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. No relief at being left alive was forthcoming. Only shock and terror rocked her as she remember her actions.
10
CONNECTIONS MADE
Evie felt out of control. Memories assaulted her, repeatedly bombarding her with graphic images of what transpired. The feel of the knife in her hand, the way it slid so easily into the demon’s skin. The light leaving his eyes, the thud of the body as it hit the floor. The blood, so much blood, flowing away from his torso, puddling into the cracks of the cement, black as night. Her mind watched the same horror movie on repeat. Instead of being an observer, she played the main character, and it was real life.
"Evie, Sweetie. Stay with us."
The words barely penetrated the fog that whirled around in her head. The urgency in them didn’t register with her. A small part of her brain knew something was wrong, but she couldn't grasp onto that thought before it disappeared behind another scene.
The look in the demon’s eyes as the blade cleaved cleanly through his heart, his look of disbelief at being bested by a human. His mouth opened wide in surprise. The promise of retribution in his gaze just before that light winked out. After all, he was a demon. Humans couldn't kill them, only send them back to the hell dimension. The body wasn't even real, just an empty vessel for the demon to take up residence in. It disappeared within moments of the killing blow. But the aura of death would seep in deep within the concrete, a permanent reminder of the demon’s presence. Mundane humans felt the after affects when they walked into this room. The wrongness of the demons imprint on the human realm never left.
"Evie!" The voice spoke again. Hands shook her, pulling her out of her internal nightmare. For a brief moment, she saw Cyne, his eyes worried. He quickly disappeared again as the nightmare pulled her back under.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! What’s happening to her?”
Shudders racked her body as another familiar voice sounded, “Her mind is having trouble processing what happened. I’ll hold her. You distract her before she completely loses it."
Hands tightened on her shoulders, pulling her back against a warm chest. Her breathe sped up at the unexpected contact. Another set of hands grip her cheeks, callouses rough against her skin. Hands used to a tough days work was her fleeting thought before the fog took her.
Darkness churned around her as she struggled to free herself from those holding her. Fingers stiff, she raked her nails down the chest of the man in front of her, eliciting a growl from him. Satisfaction swirled within her at the sound, and she changed tactics, wanting more. She pushed against the man behind her, gripping his arms and lifting her feet, trying to gain purchase to kick out, hurting the man in front of her even further. But, the man was quick. He reacted, moving his body in closer which forced her legs back to the ground with his hands. She screamed out her frustration. The need to escape warred with a new emotion. Her body was being torn in two by their touch, driving her half crazed. An ache in the pit of her stomach demanded she relent, get closer to the warmth that surrounded her. Her mind screamed out in terror, convinced this was a trick, because she was still in that room. She felt the demon's presence around her, trying to get in under her skin. She fought against the invisible hold it had on her. It looked for weaknesses. If it found one, Evie would be lost.
"Shit, Dash! Why is she like this?"
"I don’t know how, but she killed a demon. Humans are not supposed to be able to inflict a killing blow without magical intervention. The demonic backlash is too strong. It drives them to commit suicide within seconds, tricking the mind with fake images and false echoes. Somehow she’s managed to survive this long, but if we don’t do something, it will become too much and either drive her insane or kill her."
“So we distract her? Then what?"
"I’ve activated a cleansing spell. Hopefully, it will scrub her aura of the all traces of the demonic taint. It needs time to work though. Distract her, buy us time. Once the demon's influence fades, I think she will be fine.”
“You think?”
“Yes, Cyne. To my knowledge, this has never been done before.”
"Mother fucker! Ok. What do I do?"
"Hell if I know, but whatever it is, you need to do it fast. She’s starting to deteriorate again."
"Fucking hell, I hope you forgive me for this, Sweetness."
Lips slammed onto hers, hard and demanding. Lips she’d kissed before. The hands holding her shoulders moved up, cradling her face, holding her still for his onslaught. His lips demanded entrance, and when Evie didn’t comply, his teeth nipped her lower lip. The small bite of pain had her gasping, and her mouth opened in surprise.
Cyne didn't hesitate; his tongue conquered her mouth greedily. Heat bloomed in her core, igniting a spark from within. Evie stopped struggling to get her away from the two men surrounding her; her hands now firmly grasped the shirt in front of her, pulling him in tighter against her. She wiggled, trying to get even closer. A groan sounded from behind her, reminding her of the presence of the second man. That
small noise helped lift the fog even further and Evie recognized Dashiel as the man standing behind her.
"Fucking hell, Cyne." The words ended with another groan as Evie wiggled again. "This wasn't what I meant by distracting her."
Hands pulled at her hips, holding her tighter against the body behind her, belaying his next words that were uttered in a strangled whisper. "She's human and a child."
Cyne's lips left hers for the barest of moments. His words held a hint of the anguish he felt at the loss of her lips. "She's no child."
Lips slammed back on hers. Fire burned in her belly. The need to crawl into him gripped her, and her hands slid down of their own violation, seeking skin. She clawed at his shirt until it untucked from his jeans. She moaned as her hands were rewarded with the feel of his soft skin against her palms. Hands slid down her body, brushing the sides of her breasts. They hesitated before moving lower. Evie's chest heaved. Her breasts ached at the small touch, begging for more. Cyne's hands continued to travel downward, until they reached her thighs. Gripping her just under her butt cheek before apply pressure, he lifted both of her legs off the ground. His hands firmly under each of her thighs, Cyne stepped between her thighs, bringing her legs up to wrap around his waist. His lips never left hers.
He pressed his hardness up against her core, causing her to wiggle in ecstasy. The feel of him surrounded her.
Evie nipped his lip, demanding more. The quick bite drove him even closer. His body grinded against her, forcing her back harder against the body behind her. Another groan sounded from over her shoulder. "Cyne," came the choked plea from Dashiel.
But Cyne was beyond thought. The hands on her hip tightened each time Cyne hips rocked into Evie's forcing her back against a secondary hardness. Fire ricocheted through Evie as she felt a second set of lips press against her neck, just under her ear. The hands holding her about the hips now helped move her to a rhythm that was foreign to Evie. Dashiel nipped at her exposed shoulder blade and took control. His hands left her hips, moving to grip Cyne’s, pulling the male tighter against her front. As Cyne obeyed, his hips rocked against hers, Dashiel’s grip became even tighter as he pressed his hardness against her backside.