“I saw it, in a vision from the cemetery. He changed, Galen. Somehow, Devlin amassed power within himself. He’s storing it. Maybe he’s figured out a way to siphon power from his victims, like a succubus feeds on sexual energy, maybe he’s feeding on magick. Devlin pulled Roark into his own body using amassed power. A possession. But I don’t think Devlin can keep enough energy in himself to hold Roark for long. Demons can short circuit a body quick if the mind and power levels are not strong enough.”
Galen stood up. “I have to kill, Devlin.”
I stood up, too. “No, no more killing, Galen, not by you. We’ll get him, stop him, he’ll be held accountable.”
“By your puny human laws and faulty sense of justice? I don’t think so, Anwyn, not this time. Not when it comes to Roark. I cannot let him back into this world and Devlin is determined to bring him back. He must have the master to serve, the crazy bastard. He always hated I was Roark’s favorite. God, he can have it. Have him. The things Roark did to me, had me do because I was his favorite…” he stopped with a choked off sob and shuddered. He took a deep breath, as if trying to compose himself, something he didn’t do often. “Anwyn, I cannot tell you all of the horrible, depraved, humiliating things I have done. You would never look at me the same.”
“Galen, what’s happened is in the past…”
He cut me off. “It has affected the man I am today. Even if I am not the one killing those women, I did things to them, Anwyn. It was not like they were just gentle sips. I fuck and feed together. And when I let myself go, I like to do things that aren’t exactly vanilla. I cannot help it. Roark made sure my sexual appetites would be quite extreme. I have held back with you, but if I did not you would be scared…and your fear would turn me on even more.”
“I don’t believe you, Galen. I think you’re just trying to scare me away so I don’t get hurt.” I prayed to the Goddess I was right. I had never seen Galen like this before, not even when he bit me at his apartment. No, it was shear hunger; he had been close to starvation. The look in his eyes now…he wanted to eat me alive, split me open and fuck me while he sucked the life out of me. I had to admit, it scared me. I shivered.
He smiled a wicked grin.
“I can smell your fear little witch. I can see my warnings are sinking into your pretty little head. Strangely, I can also smell your arousal. Does fear get you hot?” He moved closer to me in a very menacing way, pushing me up against the wall. My traitorous body responded. My nipples grew hard and poked out of my thin cotton nightgown, lower parts of my body grew tight, hot and slick.
He grabbed the neck of my gown and ripped it right down the middle. The fabric fell uselessly to the floor with a soft slithering sound as I sucked my breath in with a gasp. I didn’t even see him move, but felt fangs pierce my breast around the nipple. I cried out in pain, but my body clenched with need. He pulled away and looked up at me. A surprised expression flickered across his face, so fast I almost missed it.
Then with a sneer my Galen was gone again. He latched back onto my breast and sucked hard on my nipple. I felt the blood flow into him. I couldn’t control my body as it quivered and thrust against him.
He ripped off my panties with an easy tug then forcefully thrust two fingers deep inside me. Even though I was already slick the force tore at my tender flesh and hurt, but he paid no attention to my cries as he forced another finger inside me and roughly pumped them in and out. Soon pain gave way to pleasure; I spread open as much as I could by putting a leg up on his thigh to give him more clearance. His thumb circled my clit. I was on the edge of orgasm when he stopped.
He grabbed me roughly and tossed me to the floor. “You’ll come when I tell you to come, bitch.”
My wide-eyed look of shock, coupled with the whimper of pain, must have startled him out of his…whatever because the menacing sneer quickly turned into one of concern. It was like he was waging a war within himself. His posture completely changed as he kneeled down by my side.
“My god, Anwyn, are you alright?” He delicately touched my bleeding breast. “I did this?” he asked quietly, like he had no recollection of what just transpired between us. Before I could reach for him, he stood up and ran out the front door not even taking the time to shut it behind him. Good thing I didn’t have any close neighbors who could peer in from across the street.
Confused and utterly defeated, I thumped the back of my head on the floor and just lay there for a moment, all sprawled out, staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.
Probably not a good idea considering I was totally naked, almost spread eagle, and bleeding. I must have dozed off…maybe from all that pesky blood loss.
The next thing I knew, Malone was cradling me in one arm while the other was calling in “officer down” on the radio. I tried to stop him; this was way too embarrassing to have the police force in my house.
“No, no, Mike, I’m fine. Really. It’s not what you think.” Whatever he saw in my face must have convinced him.
As the dispatcher asked for a location, Mike responded, “Never mind, it looked worse than it is. Everything’s okay, cancel that.”
I looked around, crap the door was still open and I was still naked. “Mike can you shut the front door and grab me a blanket or robe or something to cover myself?”
He gently let go of me and grabbed the nightgown on the floor. When he realized it had been ripped to shreds his face grew very dark. Those tingly hunter senses of his probably told him a vampire had done it. He dropped the gown, pushed the door shut and grabbed a blanket form the sofa, handing it to me while he wore a big scowl across his face. “What happened here, Annie? It was him, the bloodsucking leech wasn’t it? Did he rape you?” His fists clenched at his sides and his muscles tightened and bunched all over his body. He was going to pop like a spring at any moment.
I stood up and wrapped up in the blanket. “Yes, it was Galen, and no he didn’t rape me. But it wasn’t…I don’t know Mike, he wasn’t himself. It was like he was possessed.”
“He’s a vampire, Annie. That’s how they get when they’re hungry.”
“No, this was different, he was trying to scare me, punish me with rough sex.” At the mention of sex Mike twitched with jealousy. I could see it seething inside him.
“So he fucked you hard, bled you, then just left you lying there?”
“No, he didn’t. He stopped and ran out. It’s like he realized what he was doing…”
“He assaulted you, Anwyn. He needs to be stopped. There have been way too many vampire assaults lately. I’m filing a report.”
“No, you’re not. I am not pressing charges. It was consensual. I never said no.”
“He probably had you enthralled.”
“You forget I’m immune to the thrall.”
“So you like it rough?” he asked low, dangerous.
Shit, I wasn’t up for round two of “who’s your daddy, bitch.”
“No, Mike, it was just different. It all happened so fast…”
“Did you get off on it, the pain, the roughness?”
“That’s a really personal question, Mike. I am not going to answer.”
He moved close to me, pushing the blanket aside. “I’ve seen you naked, I’ve tasted your body, I’ve been inside you, Anwyn. The question isn’t too personal. We’re lovers. I want you, Anwyn. I want to know what turns you on, what gets you hot.” The blanket fell and his hands were all over me, then they slid around my back and pulled me into a hug. “I don’t think I can hurt you, Annie, not even if you want me to, but I’ll do just about anything for you. Anything to please you, just tell me what you want.”
Holy witches circle! He pretty much said he loved me, almost. Maybe what he said was even better than those three simple overused words. He said he’d do anything for me and do anything to please me.
I sagged against him. The night had simply been too much.
“Can I run you a bath or something?” he asked with his m
outh against the top of my head.
“No, I’m too exhausted. Can you take me to bed?”
He didn’t answer, just scooped me into his arms and carried me to my bed where he tucked me in. I was dozing slightly when he climbed in next to me. His warmth curled around me and a strong arm pulled me close as I drifted into a wonderful, dreamless sleep.
Chapter 37
I woke up alone but smelled the tantalizing aroma of eggs and sausage coming from my kitchen. More importantly I smelled coffee.
My stomach growled as I slipped out of bed and put on a robe. I followed the delicious smells and found Mike wearing one of my aprons, looking utterly domestic and sexy as hell. He was flipping pancakes and adding them to a platter already full of eggs and sausage.
“Wow, I can’t remember the last time I woke up to someone making me breakfast.”
He smiled. “I was starving since I missed dinner last night, plus I knew you would need some replenishment today.”
I touched my breast and his smile disappeared. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
It didn’t really hurt, but I still reeled from what had happened. I know Galen had not been in control, it was Roark. But the million dollar question was how many times had Roark been in control of Galen’s body?
“Mike, I know you don’t like vampires and you especially don’t like Galen because of my connection to him, but I need you to listen to me with an unbiased outlook.” I waited for him to say something but he didn’t. I grabbed mugs and filled two cups and sat down at the table with one in front of me.
He didn’t say a word as he moved about my kitchen like it was his; he seemed to know where everything was. He set the table and placed the platter full of food between us, then he sat down across from me, his expression intense as he forked food onto both of our plates. He didn’t say anything, just chewed thoughtfully with his brows knitted together and his jaw tight.
“Okay, Anwyn, tell me why I need to listen to you with an open mind.”
I swallowed a mouth full of the most delicious pancakes I had ever tasted and said, “Galen did attack me last night, sorta, but he wasn’t himself. I think he was possessed by a demon.”
Mike dropped his fork and it clattered onto his plate. “I didn’t think demons could possess vampires.”
“Yeah, well normally they can’t. This isn’t your average demon though. He was born a vampire and a demon so he’s some weird hybrid. That probably makes him able to possess a vampire. His original earth bound vampire body is gone, but that’s not the whole story. I think this demon is able to possess Galen because…” I paused and chewed my lip. Revealing this could be very, very bad. Mike just looked at me, waiting for me to spill. “The demon is Galen’s sire.”
Mike stood up abruptly and tipped over the chair. “You’re telling me your fangboy is a fucking vampire and a demon?”
I stood up, too. “I’m not exactly sure. I don’t think he’s a demon, but he may have special abilities only demons normally have. Plus, because this demon hybrid is his sire, they share blood, which makes the demon able to possess Galen’s body.”
“He’s the one killing all the women, isn’t he? Look, Anwyn, I don’t care if it’s your fanged boy-toy or the demon steering the body, if we kill the vampire the demon can no longer do any damage.”
“Mike, I trusted you with this. Please don’t be rash. And I don’t know if Galen has been used for any of the killings. Devlin has been the one behind the murders, he’s taunting Galen. I know Devlin is the one who started summoning Roark, the demon. I thought Roark was Devlin’s sire but it turns out Galen is. Roark forced Galen to turn Devlin.” I took a sip of my coffee trying to figure out how much to tell Mike. “I think Devlin is growing weak from summoning Roark too much—his blood isn’t strong enough to keep doing it. Galen’s blood link to Roark is direct, there’s no middle man. I think this makes Galen stronger, so Roark is now being summoned into Galen.”
“So what are you telling me? You don’t think it was Galen, but Devlin who committed the murders?”
“Yes and no. Roark is the one committing the murders. I know that. But I’m just not one hundred percent sure whose body he has used. I know it’s mostly been Devlin, but after last night I’m worried he may have used Galen’s body, too. I know Devlin has been more than willing to be used, he likes it. Devlin planned it all to begin with. Galen is just a pawn. Devlin committed the murders as a way to toy with Galen, to get revenge against him. And he’s using the murders to force Galen into cooperating with him to bring Roark back to this dimension. He wants Galen’s body as Roark’s host.”
“So this is all guess work?”
“Mike, this is my educated opinion combined with bits and pieces of things I know. I am entrusting you with this information because I am going to need help to stop Devlin and Roark…without harming Galen. This is not his fault. He did not ask to be made by a demon vamp, he didn’t ask to live the life he has led. I will not have him killed for this.”
Mike suddenly looked deflated and sank back into the chair with his head in his hands, he asked, “You love him don’t you?”
“I care for him deeply.” I grabbed his chin and made him look up at me. “I also care deeply for you. I would ask the same of him if you were in this position.”
“All right, Anwyn, I’ll help you save the vampire, even if it goes against what I feel.”
“Thank you, Mike.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I sat down and finished my breakfast.
Chapter 38
Along with parties and good times Halloween brought fire, power, and something else I couldn’t quite discern as I prowled the streets searching for magick gone wrong.
And Galen. I was mainly looking for Galen.
Since the rest of the P.I.T. Crew had a handle on the supernatural hijinks and craziness, I concentrated on finding Galen. I knew he was out there somewhere being used and abused by Devlin. I could feel it. And if I didn’t find him tonight, I knew I’d lose him. Forever.
I could feel magick in the air everywhere. Mostly ceremonial Samhain magick, witches were thanking the goddess for a good harvest and preparing to settle down for winter. All standard magick, not harmful. The slight smell of it was herbal, a sweet aromatic blend of the earth, cinnamon, maple sugar, and the lingering aroma of bonfires. Autumn.
Among the delightful aromas I caught a hint of something acrid. Burning ozone and stink. Imagine the smell of burning plastic mixed with sulfur and sewer stench. I bet if I followed that disgusting odor I’d find Devlin and Galen.
I followed the acrid traces of dark magick into one of the mostly abandoned neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area of Flint. Some of the neighborhoods were so empty they became creepy modern ghost towns.
So creepy, the homeless people, vagabonds, and drug dealers had not even taken up residence in them. Many of the houses were filled with actual ghosts, some with ghouls and other entities that used to hide in the sewers, cemeteries, and dark underground places humans didn’t often venture into. I could feel inhuman eyes watching me as I made my way along the dark streets. I heard the raucous antics of the ghosts partying in the flesh as Halloween is the one night some spirits are able to take corporeal form once again. I had no idea what allowed some spirits to be flesh on Halloween while others were stuck as nothing more than ectoplasm. I made a mental note to ask Mel if she knew. I was glad they were too busy being frisky with each other to seek out truly living humans to antagonize.
The magickal stink led me to a clearing behind a couple of completely abandoned and boarded up houses. The smell of blood, sex, and dark magick turned my stomach, almost making me gag. So thick, tendrils of it hung in the air like disgusting incense smoke wafting in the breeze.
I slowly crept closer to get a look. Hiding among the bushes and trees I prayed they wouldn’t spot me. I needn’t have worried. Devlin and his demon minions were too caught up in the action to notice me sneak in.
Galen w
as naked, arms stretched above his head in chains. Silver chains he couldn’t break through. His fangs were fully extended and blood dripped from puncture marks in his neck, chest, and on his legs. He didn’t seem to be healing. Devlin was starving him. The silver bindings probably weren’t helping either.
As I watched in horror a pretty redhead was escorted over to Galen by one of those large demons. They were both naked as well, hell everyone was naked. Even Devlin. Many of the demons were in stages of fornication either with each other or with humans who had been brought to the ritual. Some of the women appeared to be enjoying themselves…a lot. A couple women huddled together looking frightened.
The redhead was pushed down to her knees in front of Galen. She promptly grabbed his flaccid penis and began working it into an erection. I watched as Galen struggled against her and his chains, but once she sucked him in her lush mouth his cock grew long and hard. She smiled as she pulled it out and tongued the tip. Devlin and the demons jeered at Galen’s traitorous appendage. My stomach curled with jealously and fear.
The redhead returned to fellating Galen while one of the demons mounted her from behind. I tried not to make a sound as I watched the demon’s huge spiny, shaft thrust into the small woman. I couldn’t believe she took him inside her without splitting in two. She seemed to enjoy it. I could hear her loud moans as she thrust her hips back and forth while working Galen with her mouth.
Galen growled and continued to struggle as blood tinged tears streamed down his face.
“Come on Galen, enjoy the fun. You remember how much fun we used to have. Come on now, enjoy this little blood bag of pleasure. She will work you good.”
Galen looked murderously at Devlin, but Devlin just continued, “If you do not like the party just let go, let Roark in, and you will not have to bear the pain and horror of it all anymore. Roark will take care of it.”
Hex and the Single Witch (Vehicle City Vampires) Page 21