The Forgotten (Demons Book 2)

by Marina Simcoe

  “Sounds like death.” A brutal one at that. The fact that any society, demon or not, would do that to their own kind was appalling. On the other hand, I knew far too well what entailed to keep one of them fed—the more demons there were awake, the more women there needed to be in the basement cells.

  “Demons can’t die. Deep Sleep is a state of immobility with no awareness but pain.”

  I remembered his tortured groans and the expression of pure agony on his face.

  “How long were you supposed to sleep like that?”

  “Until the Council decided to wake me up, which would most likely be never.”

  “So, they just left you there? Alone?”

  “They may have sent someone to check on me here and there. However, their resources are rather limited to worry overmuch about me. They had reasons to believe I’d sleep or would go back to sleep if awoke by accident. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve forgotten about me.” He rubbed his forehead as if considering something. “Sytrius must have come by, though, took my car and left his truck behind.”

  “Who?”

  “Sytrius. The Soldier who captured me and brought me to the Council for sentencing. In this very truck, by the way.”

  “Do you think he will be back, looking for it?”

  “I really don’t know. It puzzles me why he’d need my car in the first place.”

  “Is there GPS tracking on it?” Spurred by a shot of anxious worry, I frantically searched the front console for any devices. The truck seemed rather old to have one built in, not that I knew much about it.

  “I don’t think so. It is rather exhausting keeping up with modern human technology. Normally, it takes us a while to catch up.”

  I stopped searching, not because his words convinced me, but because I didn’t find anything obvious and had no idea what else to look for.

  “So. Where are we and where were you taking me?”

  He briefly scanned the area outside the windows, an expression of deep concentration settling over his handsome face. “We need to come up with a plan. So far, I’ve been just driving south, away from the base.”

  “Has anyone followed us at any point?”

  “Not that I’ve noticed.”

  “How far until the nearest police station?”

  He remained silent for a few moments, his forehead creased in thought.

  “The next town along the highway should have one—”

  “Good.”

  “If you think the best plan is to go to the police, that is.”

  “Will you stop me?” I challenged.

  “It’s not about that. My brain is still rather foggy to do a full analysis of the situation, so if you’re absolutely certain going to the police is the right thing to do, I’ll take you there. However, women have been taken for as long as I can remember, and to my knowledge, human authorities have never come searching for them.”

  “Has anyone ever escaped before?”

  He gave me a long, penetrating look, with a glint of interest and something like admiration in his eyes.

  “Not that I remember.”

  “So, maybe this is my chance to alert the police and make the demons pay for all of this?”

  Demons?

  A sudden image of Keller came to my mind. He had seemed to be comfortable enough in a place full of demons. Moreover, they even appeared to take orders from him.

  He also threatened The Priory would prevent anyone from obtaining a search warrant. His organization must have some power over the authorities then, not to mention their obvious desire to keep the existence of demons and whatever relationship they had with them in secret.

  My determination wavered.

  “Do you think the police are on their side, too?” I voiced my doubt.

  “I—I don’t know. But you do need to be careful.”

  “What do you know about The Priory?”

  “The treaty signed between them and the two Councils outlines the rules that have been governing our existence in this world for, um, about six hundred years now, I believe.” His voice sounded hesitant again, as if remembering the dates and facts still needed some effort on his part. “The agreement is about providing Councils with human sources for nourishment.”

  “The Priory allowed my abduction?”

  “Right.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Ivarr nodded.

  My insides flipped with apprehension. Looked like I was right about trusting no one.

  “What happened then that made them claim they’d release me?”

  “Release you?” he asked with frown of surprise. “I thought you escaped.”

  “That’s the thing that confuses me here. A man, claiming to be representing The Priory announced that I would be released within the matter of days. Apparently, that was in accordance with some new agreement. Then, that very night, demons abducted me from their base and were transporting me in a vehicle when I escaped. Why would they do that?”

  “Because the Council didn’t want to lose you as a source?” He suggested. “So they went against the agreement?”

  “Would the Council do that?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past Raim. Being deceptive is not natural for us, but not impossible. It requires a lot of practice and some decent nourishment to invent a lie—both of which Raim has.”

  “But Keller, the man from The Priory, said that the idea of a new agreement came from the Council. Why would they demand any changes at all if they were happy with the way the things were?”

  “I don’t know anything about a new agreement.”

  “How long were you sleeping before I woke you up?”

  Ivarr gazed at me with his baby-blues for a minute, and it cost me an effort not to get distracted. Having him this near in the confinement of the truck, made it somehow difficult to focus for me.

  “What year is it?” he asked, bringing me back to our conversation.

  I told him the year and added, “September, I was told.”

  “About two years then, since I fell into Deep Sleep. I’m sure there were no talks about any revisions to the treaty at that time. This must be very new.”

  We both went silent again.

  According to Keller, The Priory was planning to provide me with a cover story and help me to get on with my life, keeping me safe from demons. I wished that was true, in which case the best option for me would be to find a way to contact The Priory. Going to the police, for example, might alert them.

  However, the fact that they literally gave me to the demons in the first place made it impossible to trust them.

  I shook my head, confused about the best course of action. Maybe, like Ivarr’s, my mental abilities were still impaired, and I needed more time to fully recover.

  “I think we should wait before going to the police for now, Ivarr. Let’s see if we can find a place safe enough to rest and have some food first.”

  He nodded and turned the key in the ignition.

  “Wait.” Forgetting myself, I covered his hand with mine to stop him then jerked it away quickly. “Why are you helping me?”

  “What?”

  “You’ve violated your punishment. And now you’re driving me away from the demons in charge. I don’t think it’ll improve your situation in any way.”

  “My situation could hardly get any worse.” He gave me a faint smile. “I’m not too eager to return to Deep Sleep, and I’m good at running—I’ve evaded the Council for centuries at a time. I may as well help you get away from them now.”

  “What do you want from me in return?” I squinted at him, waiting for his answer.

  “You’ll need to help me form a plan.”

  “So, you won’t expect me to be your food source?”

  A wide, blindingly gorgeous smile broke out on his tired face, catching me completely unaware.

  “Only if you offer.”

  “Not happening,” I snapped quickly, afraid I might lose my resolve under the power of this gri
n.

  “Then you will have to do all the thinking to come up with the plan. My ability at logic and analysis is impaired the hungrier I am. It would be too easy for me to make a mistake or oversee something essential.”

  “Okay.” I considered this for a minute then continued, selecting my words carefully. “I don’t want you to starve, I’m not your Council. Garrett, my Handler, said he fed off my positive emotions. You can do the same. I really don’t mind you skimming anything that would help you stay awake and well.”

  By saying this, I realized I’d just willingly agreed to be his food source after all.

  In a way that wouldn’t harm me physically or emotionally.

  Still, I specified, just to make sure.

  “If you promise me that I can trust a demon, who has confessed to a lack of self-control.”

  His expression turned serious, any shadow of the smile completely gone. I realized, with surprise, that I immediately missed it.

  “I may never be able to bring a woman to orgasm only to feed someone else—whatever sexual energy I make her create is always mine.” The possessive firmness of his tone resonated through me. “But I lived among humans long enough to learn how to exercise restraint. I had plenty of practice to promise you with confidence—you don’t have to be afraid of me.”

  The sincerity in his voice was comforting.

  “Besides,” he added with a glint in his eyes. “Nothing can compare with the taste of arousal from a willing woman.”

  His gaze lingered on my face—a little too long and a bit too intensely for my cheeks not to warm up again.

  I shifted in my seat under his penetrating stare.

  “Well. Um. Willing is the key here, isn’t it?”

  “Right.”

  “Good,” I replied with an easy heart. Despite my resolve not to trust anyone, the honesty in his voice made me want to believe him. “So, when you say your abilities are impaired what exactly do you mean? I’ve noticed that your speech is more fluent now and, you know, overall you seem to be more . . . alive.”

  “The revitalizing power of human emotions.” He lifted a teasing eyebrow at me. “That tiny taste of your desire was especially helpful. Thank you.”

  “Um. You’re welcome?”

  “That said, I still only remember as far as about six or eight centuries of my life. My physical abilities are renewed, but memories and the mental power to process information need much longer, with considerably better nourishment.”

  “So, my positive emotions alone wouldn’t help much?”

  “They’ll sustain, but not improve. I’ll try to get some sexual energy in the next town we come across. Meanwhile, you’ll have to think and let me know if I miss anything.”

  For whatever twisted reason my insides dropped a little at his mention of getting sexual energy elsewhere, but I forced the sickening feeling aside.

  “Where are we exactly?”

  “In Alberta, Canada.” He glanced outside again. “About twenty minutes away from the highway south. I got off when I started falling into Deep Sleep again—driving was no longer safe—” He stopped abruptly and shook his head. “I knew I was forgetting something. What’s your name?”

  “I’m Kitty.”

  “Kitty?”

  “Well, my actual name is Katherine, but everyone calls me Kitty, so . . .”

  He stared at me closely.

  “Say your name again. Please.”

  “Kitty,” I repeated, confused by his reaction. “Why?”

  “No.” He waved me off. “The other one.”

  “Katherine.” I loved this name. To me, it sounded grand and regal, and truly beautiful. However, I didn’t mind when everyone from my family to my co-workers and my now-ex-boyfriend called me Kitty. I agreed, visually, it suited me better. According to Derek, my ex, Kitty was ‘short and cute’ like me.

  “Again.”

  “Katherine.” I smiled awkwardly at his unexplained persistence. “You know. Like Catherine the Great, only with a K.”

  He nodded. “I’ll call you Katherine then.”

  “Everyone calls me Kitty, Ivarr . . .”

  “I’m not everyone,” he reasoned. “Your name is Katherine. I can see how much you like it. Besides, it suits you very much.”

  “It does?”

  “You’ve escaped from an army of demons, Queen Katherine. That must have taken some royal courage to get away.”

  “Well, I’m not done running yet,” I reminded, feeling my face heat up from his compliment. Or was it from the way he said it? In that deep, low voice, quiet yet powerful? “Let’s keep going, shall we? South, away from the base.”

  “Right.” He turned the key in the ignition once again and brought the truck back in motion and on the road.

  Chapter 12

  DURING THE TIME IT took Ivarr to drive us back to the highway, I folded the quilt the best I could and put it in the back seat. There, I noted a camo backpack and my jacket from the Base. The grey material of the jacket was stained and torn in a few places, which must have been from my running through the woods.

  I smoothed the fabric of my pajama pants over my knees—also ripped and dirty from crawling through the ditch. At least I’d been lucky enough to avoid getting any vomit on myself. Although, I still felt filthy and stinky.

  I cast a furtive glance Ivarr’s way. He had on a pair of jeans, a pure-white t-shirt, and a grey hoodie. Simple enough outfit, but he wore it impeccably well. Somehow things seemed to sit just the right way on him and hug all the right places.

  I slid my gaze up along all those places of his. The thick thighs. A massive shoulder next to mine. Huge biceps, barely contained within the sleeves of the hoodie . . .

  He caught me watching—a blue spark twinkled in his eye, and a smile of amusement touched his mouth.

  Perfectly kissable lips . . .

  What was going on with me?

  “Are you . . . doing something to me?” I asked accusingly. There is no way I would normally admire a man I just met this hungrily. “Can demons manipulate people’s emotions?”

  “Only to some degree.”

  I knew it! It wasn’t typical for me to react this way at a mere sight of a well-developed chest. I’d always prided myself on being practical and level-headed.

  “How?”

  “Like this.” Ivarr tugged his sleeve up, exposing the thick, veiny ropes of his forearm muscles for my ogling pleasure.

  “Oh, for crying out loud!” I huffed, turning away from him to stare out the window. The effort it cost me to focus on the forest outside instead of facing him again was almost painful.

  Serves me right for waking up a demon. Should have kept my hands to myself.

  “For whatever reason, most women seem to be attracted to this body type.” His voice sounded contemplative, even detached, as if he were talking about someone else.

  Until I met him, I didn’t consider myself one of the most women. I never fell for athletic types.

  My reaction to his physical appeal was unusual. However, as handsome as he might be, I was fairly confident that I would eventually get used to his looks, no matter how startling they might have seemed at the beginning.

  It was the glimpses of his emerging personality—the glint in his eyes, the passion in his voice, combined with that smile of his—that I found truly intriguing. The more I saw of the person, the more I wanted to learn about him.

  “Don’t be mad, Katherine. My appearance is not my fault—all of us were created the way we are, to help us feed, I believe. But really, our looks are not much deeper than the clothes we wear. I spend no effort to have this body, and I don’t pride myself for it.” He inhaled deeply. “My mind is a different story.”

  “What do you mean?” I ventured a glimpse at him from the corner of my eye.

  “My collection of memories. I’ve been generating them for centuries. They’re the reflection of choices I’ve made. I’ve broken many rules—all of them, really—and I pay for it over and
over again. But I have memories like no other demon in this world. Hunger often makes me forget many, but I treasure every one that I still have.” He paused for a moment. “One of the reasons I feed is to remember.”

  “What kind of memories?” I asked quietly.

  “Feelings, emotions, and experiences I had while living among humans.”

  “Tell me.” I twisted in my seat to face him fully now. “Please.”

  “I still don’t remember much from my early years on Earth—I’d need to feed well, for a prolonged period of time, for all memories to return. The earliest ones are not the best, to be honest. Hiding, fighting . . .”

  “Fighting with whom?”

  “Humans, mostly. As far as I can remember when people learned about us—they hunted us.”

  “Why?”

  “The very nature of our nourishment is believed to be offensive and dangerous by some, even if the contact is fully consensual. With advancement of Christianity, the purpose of sex was narrowed to procreation only and was strictly limited to marriage. What we needed to survive could no longer be given freely. We had to steal whatever sexual energy we could find and fight for our very existence. If we failed, we fell into Deep Sleep.”

  “Doesn’t sound like the type of memories one would treasure.”

  “Not all of that was bad. When awake, I lived on my own, skimming from people whenever I had a chance. I got to taste a huge range of their emotions, a rich kaleidoscope of feelings. Do you know that there are many flavours of sexual energy, too?”

  “Are there? Did you . . . um. When you feed, do you have sex with women?”

  “If they let me.”

  “Right.” I exhaled a short laugh. “Like anyone would say no to you.”

  “Would you?” he replied quickly, glancing my way.

  “Me? Oh, um . . .” Unable to meet his eyes, I stared at my hands clasped in my lap, while I collected my thoughts sent in disarray by his question. “I—I don’t do casual sex, normally.”

  “Normally?” His tone was light, which eased my tension. “In the past few days at least, I believe, you’ve done many things you wouldn’t do normally. Escaping a kidnapping. Waking up a demon.”

  “Yes, because I’ve been put in an unusual situation by a bunch of criminals,” I bit out. “It absolutely doesn’t mean that I should disregard all of my principles. I don’t do one-night stands. Definitely not with demons who are merely interested in turning me on to feast on my arousal.”