by Lexi Ostrow
Demon in Steam
Alliance of Silver and Steam Book .5
By Lexi Ostrow
and
Published by
Hot Ink Press and Steamworks Ink
Imprints of
Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, LLC.
Novi, Michigan 48374
The right of Lexi Ostrow to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him/her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it was published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Cover art by:
Dreams2Media
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 Hot Ink and Steamworks Ink
All rights reserved.
Chapter 1:
The wind whipped her strawberry blonde hair out from its perfect coif, but Felicia didn't care one bit. It had been a few days since her father had been home in the evening, his work at the clock maker’s guild often kept him late and overnight. Today was her 16th birthday and he had sent a telegram that he had a special present waiting for her at the guild. She impatiently tugged her mother down the dark London street.
All proper women would not be walking the streets after the gas lamps began to shine, but to meet with her father… Well, she had never been a female of high society and there had been no reason to start this day.
Felicia had to tug her shawl up over her shoulders more than once, and she walked rapidly down the cobblestone street. Tears blurred in her eyes from the chill of the winter wind as she walked. But she could already see her father standing outside the guild steps, only a few buildings away. Smiling wide, she let go of her mother's hand and picked up her skirts to move quicker to her father.
Felicia didn't see the strange gun in her father's hand or think it strange that Master Agardawes and a few other apprentices were outside with him. She continued on her path towards him when she felt a slice at the back of her neck. Her cry mingled with a roar from her father and she tripped and tumbled to the ground. Tears of pain welled up in her eyes as she heard the men shouting something about demons as they raced passed her. She recognized the shriek that slicked through the air as her mother's and her blood turned to ice.
Pushing into the ground with all the strength she could muster, she forced her body up and to turn. A scream tore past her lips as she saw her mother’s body lying face down on the snow dusted cobblestone, blood encircled her and two horrific creatures crowded around her mother's form.
“Mama!” Her voice was lost in the shouts of the men and she started to walk towards the group. Six men stood around her mother, strange gleaming guns in their hands that radiated a sharp purple beam. A sizzle of smoke rose off the flesh of one of the deformed creatures even as the other launched with its claws drawn at her father. “No!” Once again, her shout was lost.
Bile rose in her throat, burning a path as it went and she forced herself to push it down. Her father wielded the strange weapon well at his attacker but it did not stop the horrid thing from gutting him. She swore she heard her father's exhale as the creature pulled its hand free, causing a spill of blood from her father's body as he toppled forward next to her mother.
Her knees buckled and gave out from under her. Felicia felt the cobblestone under her knees as she fel,l but her vision was blurred with tears, her throat raw from the screams she hadn't realized she was uttering. She barely registered the feet that pounded past her or being picked up into Master Agardawes’ arms and raced into the safety of the guild walls.
Sweat beaded in tiny rivulets all over Felicia's body as she jolted upright from her dream, her memory. Grabbing the pocket watch off the wooden end table, she cursed. Twelve fifteen in the morning. It was officially February 19, 1840 and her twenty-fifth birthday. “Of course the dream would come this day. When has a birthday come and gone with your mind at peace?”
Sighing, she pushed back the covers of her small, single bed and looked around her quarters. Nine years had passed since her parents’ brutal murder and she never forgave herself; she never would. Master Agardawes, head of the guild, had taken her in after the massacre. More than that, he had opened her eyes to a world she had never known existed, one that used to cause her to shake in fear at night and now pushed her to commit sins a lady never should in the name of vengeance.
The guild her father worked for was nothing more than a cover, a place filled with scientists who bent the rules the outside world knew, creating technology beyond comprehension to fight off the demons that patrolled the streets of the London underground after dark. The Alliance of Silver and Steam worked in secret; all in its halls were skilled scientists and brutal warriors working in secret behind the clock workers.
They had taken her in and taught her everything. She was no longer an innocent child. In the name of vengeance she had killed, cheated, and seduced every demon she had come across looking for a way to bring herself peace from her past.
Knowing there would be no peace for her now, she slid her legs over the bed into her leather boots, something unheard of for a woman in her society but necessary if she were to protect her feet. Crossing the small space, she pulled open the chest of drawers and removed her long white linen skirt, black leather corset, and her own personalized crystal beam gun and dressed quickly.
Perhaps the Alliance would have a mission for her this eve, and she could shut the demons of her mind up that way.
Chapter 2:
The alarm that blasted through the corridors of Greyston Westham's home set him on edge. He didn't waste any time with clothing, he threw the covers of his bed back and jumped out. The blonde beside him groaned and turned over. “Sorry love, play date is over.” She groaned and he yanked her out of bed. “Do not disobey me, it does not suit you.”
Without another word, he padded down the long hallway from his room to his office, the cold barely affecting his naked body. His body ran hot; high on the powers that sex gave to an Incubus demon, nothing would affect him in this state. A grin spread across his lips as he thought about the whore he had bedded. She had been a handful but had caved under his practiced hand. He liked when they behaved, when they listened to his every command.
Shoving open the office door his voice was just as harsh with his partner as with his lovers. “Well, what the fuck is it?”
Steven Parks pushed the lush chair back from the desk and Greyston walked up to it, his eyes scanning the screen of a device that was a secret to the world still. A device powered by refractor crystals and magnet forces that could be programmed to track and alert of anything he chose. He chose murderers.
He chose murderers.
He may have been a demon, but by demon standards he was useless. As an Incubus, he had the form of a human. It was easier to seduce them and fill his appetite, but it wasn’t as if he had any choice in the matter. His kind had no use for the sex demons, or any lesser demon that didn’t have a true demon visage, and when he had been cast out after maturity he had no squabble embracing humanity. He was captain of the Guard, and one of London's most respected war heroes. It gave him entry to demon attacks unnoticed, and no one questioned his brutalit
y or punishments when someone was caught.
“Fuck. Again?” This was the fourth attack this month in the same area. Something had made the river banks its home and was evading Greyston every step of the way. He growled as his hand slammed onto the wooden desk.
“For someone who has just had himself a bedmate, you seem awfully on edge.” Steven grinned at him and Greyston scowled.
“If you hadn't saved my life one day, I wouldn't tolerate your disrespectful ass. But yes, now I fear I'll have to exert all the wonderful sex energy because I can't have this thing hunting in my city any longer.” Greyston had been eliminating demons in the London Underground for almost ten years in the dark of night, and the fact that this one kept eluding him was enough to send him into a full blown demon rage, something even a lowly Incubus demon could pull off and scare the shit out of someone.
Snarling again at Steven when he chuckled, Greyston turned on his heel to leave. “Uh might I point out that putting on some clothing is probably proper? Even the Captain of the Guard can't run around in forms of impropriety.
“Not another word, Steven, or so help me I'll stick a letter opener through your arm and pin you to that chair when I'm through.” His friend’s laughter followed him down the hallway.
Seeing the blonde still in his bed he frowned and once more yanked her up by her arm. “Louisa, it is time for you to leave. Do not think of lingering or returning, and your disobedience has offended me. Begone from my property before I step out of the dressing closet, or you will not like the Mr. Westham I will introduce you to.” Fear flickered in her eyes and the demon in him relished it.
Without giving her another thought he stepped into his dressing closet to prepare himself to track a demon.
Chapter 3:
Felicia's boots clicked softly on the marble floor as she walked through the guild hall. She was always enamored with the resplendence in the corridors, and as a child had thought it to be the same in all guilds. Now she knew though, the truth was in the science. The many inventions and gadgets that the guild accomplished were the reason for the abundance of wealth spent on decorating. They may work in secret but the Crown knew of their trials and often bought them to use themselves, and she enjoyed the beautiful artwork and high end finishings the hallways bore because of it.
A dog automaton—that had been created by an apprentice for her when she first arrived, to keep her company—sped around the corner and smacked into her leg. She chuckled and patted the metal creature on the head. Some of the inventions amazed her. She didn't have a gift for cogs and gears, she provided her worth on the streets taking out the demons that lurked. Years of training had left her lethal, and one of the Alliance of Silver and Steam’s best agents.
Fido rolled over onto his back, clanking into the tile just as a shrill alarm rang through the grand hall. “Demons.” The word rolled off her tongue like a curse, but she was almost grateful something had popped up. The Alliance of Silver and Steam had a tracking device for demons. Little crystals scattered over London's streets had been imbued with some energy that allowed them to pick up on demons. Using magnets, they connected with the large crystal on the guild roof and sent a print-out with the same process to a machine that printed coordinates.
Hitching up her skirts, she ran quickly through the hall and up the stairs to Master Agardawes’ chambers. Throwing decorum to the wind with the man that was like a second father to her, she threw open the doors. “I want to go. Send me.” Her sentence was separated with labored breathing and the guild master and three others looked at her.
Master Agardawes stroked a hand over his chin and sighed. “My child, I know from the look in your eyes there is no stopped you this night. Promise me you will make it back in time for the birthday celebration?” His statement was jovial but his smile did not meet his eyes. She knew he hated sending her alone but she passed the initiation for solo work three months ago, and was tired of being babied simply because she was female.
She offered him a lopsided smile and walked to place a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you. I will be careful.” She knew he wanted to offer her a summon for backup, if she needed it. But she wouldn't. Tonight this was for her parents.
“So be it, then. It's on the banks of the Thames. And do be careful Felicia.”
Running the length back to her quarters, she fastened the arm band communication device to her wrist and grabbed her reflective goggles and the strange skeleton key that operated the steam driven bicycle they used to quickly chase down the demons. Patting the gun in her skirts’ pocket she closed the door behind her and went to the tunnels where the bikes were kept.
The technology that ran the steam bikes amazed her and confused her. She'd never once understood the explanations, but she sure as shit knew how to ride. An apprentice had taken apart a steam engine and figured out how to make it work on a smaller scale, a female apprentice at that. Throwing the steam bike into gear, she took off down the tunnel and emerged on the streets. The cold air didn't bother her much as the goggles protected her eyes, and the long skirt protected her legs.
Turning down the street she stopped the bike dead in its tracks when she saw the same demon species that killed her parents leaning over the remains of a street walker. Anger gripped her. Just as she drew her ray gun, a bullet rocketed through the air and missed, allowing the demon to run off.
Chapter 4:
She stuck the gun back in her skirt waistband and was getting ready to take off after the demon when a warm hand wrapped around her arm. She knew it was the imbecile who shot at the demon, and she whipped her head around after yanking off the goggles to tell the man off, but her throat went dry as she found herself face to face with Greyston Westham, a man who had starred in many of her fantasies. His green eyes bore into hers but they had a softness about them.
“Miss, you shouldn't be out here alone after dark. Please allow me to escort you home, I am Greyston Westham, Captain of the Royal Guard.” His words stunned her. His choice of “miss” meant he didn't think anything strange of her off exposed shoulders that indicated a lady of the night, or the goggles over her eyes a moment before. His voice sent chills over her. She had seen him many times in the paper and heard him speak in the courtyard, but had never had his attention directed at her. A trail of lust swept through her body at the idea of his focus being on her and then she realized, he had fired at a demon and at no point had the panicked reaction men normally did. Which meant Greyston Westham knew too much, and she was determined to find out how someone other than the Royals themselves knew of demons.
She had played frightened plenty of times in the past and her voice raised in pitch, taking on the quite shrillness of panic. “Mr. Westham, that thing you shot at, what was it? Surely it was not of this world.” Her eyes locked with his, and she noticed a small flare of his nostrils before he composed himself.
“I've seen you before, when the royal clock was presented. Your name is Ganon correct?” His eyes bore into hers and she was caught between the need to lash out at him and see what he knew, and the desire for him to strip her bare and slide into her body. She'd heard all the rumors about how well he knew his way around a woman's body and she had often fantasized about him. His long dark hair and striking green eyes fueled her even when she couldn't see him. Standing close enough for him to dip his head and kiss her senseless, she had to force herself to breathe.
“You are correct Mr. Westham. I assure you I am no lady, as you suggest, so please do not spare me the details of what we just encountered.” She held his gaze in her own to prove her strength and he snorted.
“Miss Ganon-”
“Felicia.”
He sighed and she watched his lips plump at the action and heat coiled in her body. “Felicia, allow me to escort you home. I can promise you, I know nothing of what we encountered. I assume it was merely a man dressed in costume to better scare his victims.” His words were clipped but his eyes had left hers and she knew the lie immediately. As Greyston's hand s
lid down the side of her body to the top of her skirt she knew the minute he felt the unique gun in her waistband. His eyes flickered for a brief second from their emerald green to a soulless black and fear wrapped around her just as his hand wrapped around her arm and unmistakable lust spiked through her as she wanted all his power on top of her, driving her to release.
He knew his mistake the second it happened. He lost control of his anger the minute he'd felt the strange weapon on her body. She was a hunter. For years a group of humans had run the streets of London, hunting down very demon in their path. He'd killed one accidentally a few months ago and had examined the possessions the man had, ones that mirrored the advanced technology he had in his home.
The tiny woman jerked her arm trying to escape him and he held tighter, causing her body to crash into his. Her breasts were certainly large under the wanton leather corset she wore, and they pressed into his chest as his cock hardened at the feel of her body against it. He inhaled deeply and took in her scent, blackberries and cinnamon, an odd combination but he had smelled stranger on the whore he bedded. She struggled against him and his growl of need cut the air between them.
Fear flickered briefly across her face and then was replaced by determination. She brought her knee up in between them and he snarled as pain streaked up his body when she made contact. Greyston lowered his head and slanted his mouth over hers. She resisted and he pressed further into her, releasing the arm he'd been holding her with to yank up her skirts and pull her directly against him. Lust wafted at him and his lips curved into a smile. She would be his. He lowered his head again and when he tried to kiss her she bit his lower lip.
“I know what you are. Demon. Devil.” Despite the lust passing between them, her words were laced with venom. He assumed it was purely because she hunted down his kind, not because she knew she would be giving herself over to him shortly. The idea of her strength pleased him. He liked women with good heads on their shoulders and fire in their hearts. She struck him as such, even though he had just met her and was well sated he couldn't wait to fuck her.