by Tia Didmon
Dante studied her. His eyes still flickered with red. “You were distraught at the thought of him entering your mind.”
“Well yeah, but why would he walk away like that and why did you call him Samera?”
“He is one of us and understands the bonding process.”
Jess let the reality of his words sink in. She wasn’t sure if she was afraid or excited. Probably both. She was aware of the awkward silence in the room. “We’re not bonding.”
Dante didn’t waver. “Yes, we are.”
She connected with Dante. We are not having this conversation in public.
We can have it in private then.
Get out of my mind. We are not doing this now. She disconnected.
Soon Jessica. He said before he slipped away.
Jessica cleared her throat. “I have a list of CEO’s for Ladon Enterprises.”
Valen nodded. “I have a private investigator looking in on the company as we speak. I should have a report shortly. May I see the list you have compiled?”
Jess handed him the tablet.
His brow furrowed as he read the names. He took out his phone and sent off a text. He swore in Italian when he got the response.
Dante walked over to stand beside him. “What is it?”
“I know who the founders of Ladon Enterprises are.”
“Who?” They all said in unison.
“The Lestant brothers.”
Dante’s head snapped up. “The Chameleons?”
Valen nodded. “Yes.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Yet, I am looking at a picture of Louis right now.”
Jess looked at Dante. “Who are the Lestant brothers?”
Dante took the tablet from Valen, sure his brother was mistaken. He began scrolling through the pictures, stopping on a close up of Louis Lestant’s face. “The hair, eyes and skin tone are darker but I see your point. The bone structure appears to be his natural form.”
Jess walked over to look at the pictures, her irritation still evident. “Natural form?”
His cock stirred when her shoulder touched his. His demon purred. Dante cleared his throat. “A chameleon can take any human form. They have full control over their hair color, eye color and skin tone. They can alter their density within reason as well, effectively cloning almost anyone.”
Jenner whistled. “That’s scary.”
Jessica’s eyes widened. “They could imitate me, Kiki or Jenner?” she said in a disbelieving voice.
Dante glanced at Valen. “Maybe not Kiki. A chameleon demon is over six feet tall and about a hundred and eighty pounds. Kiki is barely larger than a child. At five feet and under a hundred pounds they could not lessen their density enough to accurately impersonate her. Anyone larger is fair game.”
Jess shook her head. “That sounds like magic.”
Dante raised an eyebrow. “This from the woman who blasts missiles out of the sky with her mind.”
“Telekinesis has been around for decades.” Jess countered.
Dante nodded. “Our abilities have been around even longer. You were just not aware of them.”
Jess searched his face. “Fair enough. Who are the Lestant brothers?”
“They are the last two of their species. We believed they had died off hundreds of years ago. Valen, Rico and I were children when they claimed they were... giving up.”
“Giving up, as in committing suicide?” Jess asked.
“They had been alive hundreds of years with no hope of a bride. They said they would take a final trip to see the world and then their demons would move on from this life. It is not suicide so much as our demon’s life force choosing to slip from the world. The human part of us simply goes to sleep and never wakes up.”
Jess touched his arm. It was a sympathetic gesture yet his demon rose, purring in his ear, sensing his bride’s presence. “How did they survive then?”
Dante glanced at Valen. “That is a valid question. They were born in the 1300s. I have never heard of a chameleon lasting that long without a bride.”
Valen shook his head. “Me either but I know little about them. I did not study their species as I believed them extinct.”
Jess cocked her head. “How’d they get on the endangered list?”
Dante sighed. “A thousand years ago they killed then impersonated several of our council members.”
Jess frowned. “Why would they do that?”
“The council was comprised of at least one member from each of the demon species but there were always more blood demons on the council than any other.”
“Why?”
“The bloods have always produced the prince. No exceptions.”
“So, the prince... or two princes in your case always get a seat at the council.”
“Correct but it wasn’t just the council. It was a unique time. Not unlike humans we segregated ourselves into different... classes of demon.”
Jess folded her arms. “The chameleons were lower class I take it.”
Dante held up a hand. “We did not use surfs or slaves as was common to the human population at the time but the bloods were royalty. The remaining demons were considered common class.”
“And the chameleons didn’t like that?”
“No, they wanted to rule. They designed the coup to eliminate the blood demons in the council and take over their duties as the present ruling class.”
“What happened?”
“They killed two blood demons and posed as them for two weeks before the council discovered their true identities. The current prince connected with all demons revealing what they had done and the chameleons were disposed. When the extent of their plan was discovered it started a war between the chameleons and the bloods. The Weres had the largest population so when they sided with the bloods, the chameleons were slaughtered.”
Jess sighed. “That’s a sad story. What did the Lestant brothers do?”
Dante shook his head. “Nothing. They were the last boys born of their race. They were cordial and abided by the rules. When they found no brides among the other species, they decided to let go. Or so we thought.”
Jessica’s eyes lit up. “You can take a bride from another species?”
“Of course. A demon from two different cultures may bond if they choose one another. It was not common, but it happened.”
“Then how come your races are so... different?”
Dante eyes narrowed. “You mean why haven’t we amalgamated into one race with similar abilities.”
Jess shrugged. “Yeah, that’s kind of how genetics works.”
“In humans the child bears the genetic markers of both its parents. In the demon race it is similar for appearance but our demon is born of only one parent. We look similar to both but if they differ in species, the demon child will be one or the other. In the wild a bear has strength, and a cheetah has speed. Nature does not mix those abilities.”
Jess nodded. “Mother nature seeking a balance.”
Dante sighed. “I am sure Mother Nature never sought the destruction of the Chameleons.”
Jess rubbed her hand. “And you never considered that they would want revenge on the demon races for slaughtering their race?”
Dante shook his head. “Why would we? They were supposed to be dead and how two chameleons could orchestrate thousands of demon deaths in the last couple hundred years is... unfathomable.”
Valen stood. “They should not be alive. Their demons should have given up long ago.”
“Unless they found brides. They knew about hybrids before we did. Maybe that’s because they met theirs.” Jessica said.
Laura put the noodles in the boiling water. “That makes sense. If they found their brides it explains why they are still alive.”
Dante shook his head. “Then why kill the other psychics. Kill us? They should feel fulfilled. They could have families of their own.”
Jess shrugged. “How do you know they don’t?”
Dan
te turned to Valen. “Can you connect with the Chameleons? See if there are more of them?”
Valen looked down. “I’m not sure. I have never communicated with one directly. I will have to sort through the common link to see if they were part of the collective when I declared myself.”
Valen stood like a statue for minutes before his eyes turned black.
Dante could not connect with his brother. Valen’s anger was so absolute not even Dante could penetrate his mind. “Laura!”
Laura concentrated on Valen. Her eyes scrunched in pain. “He’s furious.”
“Bring him back. This is dangerous.”
Laura walked over and put her hand on Valen’s face. “Come back to me.”
Valen’s eyes flickered with red before returning to their natural brown. He smiled woefully. “I am sorry my love.”
Laura’s eyes were questioning. “What happened?”
“I connected with them. I did not understand the connection the first time.”
Dante put his arm around Jessica’s waist. He needed the contact. “What connection?”
“The Ladon and the chameleons are the same.”
Dante’s demon growled. “How is that possible?”
Valen pulled Laura into his arms. “I do not know but they out number us.”
“There are so few of us...”
Valen shook his head. “No Dante, they outnumber all other demon races combined and they mean to destroy us.”
Jess looked between Valen and Dante. “So, it was the chameleons who orchestrated the attack on the cotillion years ago.”
Valen kissed Laura’s head. He was struggling to get his anger under control. “No, the demon that set those charges was not a chameleon. We had assumed he had acted alone but now... I am not so sure.”
“He wasn’t a chameleon?”
Dante shook his head. “No, he was a warrior named Lorel.”
Jess looked at Laura. “I think my head’s going to explode.”
Laura laughed. “Welcome to my world.”
Valen squeezed his bride affectionately. “You do quite well in our world.”
Laura winked at Jess. “I do.”
Jess returned the smile. Seeing Laura’s natural ability to calm her husband and bring a smile to his face was beautiful. She turned to Dante. “I’m sure I will regret this, but tell me what a warrior demon is.”
Dante eyes flickered. “A warrior demon is a race of Weres that have chosen to be part of the warrior pack. They are the protectors of all demon races. Their top priority was to protect the council members and the prince.”
“So, it was the warriors’ job to protect the council from the chameleons?”
“Yes, they failed in that task. Their original mandate was to hunt down demons who were exploiting humans or threatening to expose us but after the attempted coup they became very protective of the council and its members. A chameleon was never part of the council again.”
“The warriors hunted down the criminals of your race,” Jess said.
“That is an accurate interpretation. Until two hundred years ago it was rare for a demon not to find his bride or mate. So, there were fewer instances of instability.”
Jess raised an eyebrow. “Instability?”
Dante sighed. “When our demon withdraws, we sometimes resort to some... unsavory activities in order to invoke an emotional response from our demon.”
“Does it work?” Jess asked.
Dante shrugged. “Sometimes but it is short lived. Only the other half of one’s soul can bring true peace. Life.”
Jess could feel Dante’s words. She saw his intense gaze and knew he was trying to tell her something. Whatever it was she couldn’t give it to him. “I think we should stay focused on the warriors. Where are they?”
A look of irritation flickered over Dante’s face before he replied. “They have withdrawn but they still continue to remove any perceived threat to the demon races. They were in the mountains in Canada the last time I checked with them. That was several years ago now.”
Valen dropped his arm from around Laura. “You have maintained contact with them though the centuries?”
Dante nodded. “I check in with their leader Jordane every decade or so.”
Valen frowned. “I forgot about your connection to him. I didn’t realize you kept in contact.”
Dante held his brothers gaze. “Until recently, you did not care.”
Valen glanced at his bride. “True.” Then turned to Dante. “Can you reach out to Jordane? See if they will resume their duty to the prince.”
Dante frowned. “Lorel’s disloyalty devastated them. They believe the demons blame them for his betrayal.”
Valen raised his eyebrow. “They no longer feel the emotion of that betrayal.”
“They remember it,” Dante said.
Jess cocked her head to the side. “You stayed in touch with them, anyway. Why?”
Dante looked down. “I helped Jordane when he was wounded. A few days before the cotillion disaster he returned the favor. As a result, we have a blood bond. He is a chosen brother. Not unlike Jenner.”
Jenner crossed his ankles as he stretched on the chair. “Leave me out of this conversation.”
Jess looked at Laura. “So, once you take someone’s blood you can connect with them telepathically?”
Dante glanced at his brother. “Valen no longer needs a blood bond to connect with another of the demon race. His power is of the mind and can connect us all. My power is of blood. I can connect and locate anyone I have exchanged blood with. My blood can also heal.”
“And this is the bonding you were talking about?”
Dante shifted uncomfortably. “Bonding between a couple is different. A blood bond is like a familiar bond. It allows us to speak telepathically only.”
Jess wasn’t sure she wanted to know the specifics of a couple bonding but she admitted she was curious. “What happened after the cotillion disaster?”
“They withdrew.”
“They didn’t think you trusted them?”
Dante glanced at Valen. “In our grief we also withdrew. We shut out those who would have helped us through those dark days.”
Jess rubbed her hand. “Do you think Jordane and his men will help us?”
Dante rubbed his forehead. “I do not believe they will refuse but I fear we are placing a terrible burden on them if we put them under the council’s purview again.”
Valen glanced out the bay window. The city lights flickered in the night. “I don’t believe they should answer to the council. They should answer to you. They respect you. Respect your power.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”
Valen shrugged. “I’m sure they have become bored with fighting amongst themselves.”
Dante frowned. “The trials no longer exist.”
Valen looked at his brother. “Offer them one.”
Dante felt his demon rise. It’s enthusiasm and excitement heightened by the proximity of its bride.
Jessica’s jaw dropped. “Valen, I hope you are not suggesting Dante fight one of those warriors.”
Dante’s smile was slow in coming. “Yes, he is.”
He attempted to calm his excited demon. He was born to protect his brother and had always been eager for a fight. Dante had almost forgotten how blood thirsty his demon could be. He looked at Valen. “Are you sure you wish to resurrect the trials? There is no going back.”
Valen nodded. “We need every demon of every race as part of our alliance and we require the warriors most of all.”
Dante closed his eyes to concentrate on the dormant but familiar thread that lay in his mind. He traveled the gray web to its source.
Jordane shimmered in his mind. Dante.
Dante felt the cold black void from connecting with the old Warrior. His demon shied away from the only thing that scared it. Jordane, I hope you are well.
You are different.
I have found my bride.<
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Your demon is not content. Jordane said.
We have not secured her yet. He fears returning to the blackness.
I no longer remember fear.
I doubt you feared much even when you had your emotions Jordane.
Possibly. Why would you wait to secure your bride?
She is human. Their courtship differs from ours.
We heard Valentino’s proclamation, but did not know a human could bond with one of us. We assumed he was unique.
The women are unique. They possess high telepathic abilities. My woman is telekinetic.
My mother was telekinetic.
Dante struggled with the dark emptiness that surrounded Jordane’s mind. The women represent hope for all demons.
Our time is past.
There was no empathy in his voice. As if the extinction of the warriors were nothing. The memory of Rico’s death played in his mind. He and Valen had accepted their own death just as easily. Only their duty to find their brothers murderer had instigated their call to the PIA. We need your help.
If there is a demon that needs to executed, give me his name and it will be done.
It is not one demon Jordane. The chameleons have conspired against us. They have bred and outnumber us.
The last two chameleons died out hundreds of years ago.
The Lestant brothers did not die. Dante told Jordane everything that had transpired with the Ladon and the Lestant brothers.
You are suggesting a war.
It may come to that, yes.
A chameleon regardless of what he calls himself is little threat to a warrior.
One demon poses little threat to you in a fair fight but they will not fight fair. They have already attempted to steal the PIA’s latest weapon.
The weapon used to murder Rico?
Dante’s heart squeezed at the mention of his brother’s name. It surprised him Jordane knew of Rico’s death. That was not the PIA that was PURE. The PIA has developed a new weapon. They call them DK10’s. Demon Killers. They emit a bullet that explodes in the heart consuming the chest cavity.
Ingenious.
Dante hated that Jordane could look at a weapon like that and admire the ingenuity yet not care it could extinguish his race. Valen has asked me to take responsibility for the warriors.
Not the council.