Altered: A Beyond the Brothel Walls Novel

by Ryans, Rae Z.

  Cain shrugged. “Didn’t know they did juniors.”

  I released him, strolled into my office, dropped the messages on my desk, opened my drawer, and retrieved my badge before returning to his side. “Special Agent Dorian Fox.”

  Cain smirked and handed my credentials back. “I didn’t know Belle was an agent.”

  “How’d you know Tomas again?” I slid them into my pocket. “Wanted to ask you, babe, about Tomas before...” My cheeks heated.

  He crossed his arms. Dark brows rose and dropped. “He’s my cousin, remember?”

  “Cousin,” I repeated, glancing between the bleached-blonde and him, but I didn’t recall him sharing the information before. Belle’s cousin…Why hadn’t she told me they were cousins? And what of Tomas—once a Duc of some speck of an estate in some corner of southern France, but more mystery than fiction remained when it came to his valiant tales. For starters, he was an Elioud-warlock before becoming a vampire. Second, his connections seemed limitless, but only on the surface. “You never told me he was your cousin,” I countered. “Fuck me.” But what bit my ass was the Horsemen were right. “I’ve known him for a few centuries. He works as an ABDA informant.” I didn’t trust the vampire aside from the fact that he fell under my command. “He runs with another vampire. Petre von Baron.” He remained an enigma of sorts because he had transformed due to a curse. A secret to those who knew him, but I had sensed the difference.

  “Say something, boss…” Silence fell; the pings of ice and snow pelting the roof echoed in the foyer of the house.

  Since her rescue, I’d known Belle’s secret. She’d rarely voiced her blood relation to the damned fallen Angel of Light or Tomas. Her character spoke volumes of the person she was, of the woman she had become…But Cain had done nothing more than tell lie after lie, wasting my time. Pain splintered through my heart. The old memories charged toward my surface.

  “Tomas is a descendant of Lucifer.”

  Cain rubbed my hand, and I yanked it away before shoving it into my pocket.

  “Sorry,” he whispered. “I’ll go.”

  “Stay.” I shared a look with Belle and sighed. What will I do with him now? Cain deceived us. Topping it off, she had touted off more information than she should have been privy to, more information than the ABDA had made available to me. My eyes narrowed and my gaze flew over him. Can I trust him?

  He stared at his feet; hands sunken deep into his pockets, thumbs out, and shoulders rounded forward.

  What else did he lie about?

  “Nothing,” Cain said, a strange glow flaring behind his eyes.

  “What?” I blinked.

  “I haven’t lied about anything else.”

  “Did you just—”My rough palm ran over my rugged face.

  “Read your mind? Witches and Warlocks do that…assumed you knew. Elioud do it.”

  Kind eyes stared at me, and I forced mine to my partner, seeking backup.

  “Yeah, boss man.” Belle crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot.

  Of course they do. But I hadn’t considered the mind reading since Cain hated magic; though I wasn’t certain why I’d assumed that. I was off my game. That was magic.

  Shite. My face burned to the tips of my ears, and I grasped at my shirt, dragging the collar from my throat. Every thought… I glanced at him. The pounding of my heart echoed in my skull. He did every move I had thought about. My gaze drifted upstairs. Every internal struggle…the keys…my past…

  I shook my head and eased into a chair, staring at my boots, staring at anything but either of them. My head tilted, neck cracking. Belle in my mind didn’t bother me. For years, we had worked side-by-side, and she was like a sister to me. But Cain? No, he had no business knowing Death’s secrets and fears.

  “Talk to me, Dorian,” Cain said, sighing.

  I tossed on my socks and boots, and my deft fingers crisscrossed the laces. Don’t look at him.

  “You kept shit from me too.”

  I snapped back, “That was different.”

  “You assumed I knew, that I’d put two and two together, but me? I spared you pain.”

  Belle snorted and her dreads shook. “He’s right, Dorian. You keep a lot of secrets and toss up walls anytime someone tries to get close to you.”

  “Do not,” I muttered, sitting upright.

  “Pain? Hardly.” Cain scoffed and stormed to the front door, blocking my path. “Who cares if you turn into a skeleton? Was that supposed to hurt me? Or are you referring to your ‘rules?’”

  “You got a lot of those as well.”

  I waved off Belle, hating she was even here, and why the hell was she taking his bloody side? Neither of them understood the ramifications. Everyone retreated, or tried to murder me. I blinked, staring at my shaking hands. Losing my heart wasn’t an option I could afford to tamper with. Why I guarded myself, why I couldn’t fall in love. Certainly not with a Morning Star. The last time my heart broke, the world almost ended. He had been a human, not a descendent of the greatest deceiver.

  Shuffling feet creaked against the floorboards, and the heat of his body filled my personal space. In his hands, Cain seized my face, forcing me to stare into his butterscotch eyes.

  “Give me a little credit, sweets. I grew up around demons with hooves, horns, and tails. I’m not a naïve human.”

  More than who I was stopped me. Father had given me the mission to protect the key, and I failed him. Warm, rough lips brushed against mine, and my hands stroked down his back. Sink or swim. I’d rather turn the key than to see anyone hurt because of me. Working on the case would have helped if he were not involved. Hallo’s message blared through my mind. He was our enemy. Cain and his sister, neither was as important as the destiny Father paved, no matter how much I wanted him to be…my world…

  With another breathy sigh, Cain stepped backward and shoved his trembling fingers into his pockets. Past or not, I could never become what he deserved.

  I rose from my chair, strode into my office to the window, and stared at the snow. The sunlight disappeared, and gray clouds occupied the sky. My fingers curled against the molding, and my weight leaned, pressing my hot face against the icy glass. Cain deserved devotion and love, and they were two emotions I was incapable of feeling.

  Then, there were the facts. Cain lied. Bile swirled in the pit of my stomach. He was still lying, holding himself back for who knew what reason, but my instincts flared to life. Without honesty, we were nothing more than two lovers having a good time and enjoying each other’s company. But I wanted more from him, so much more, if he’d only let me in and show me what he feared.

  I glanced over my shoulder to Cain, leaning against the doorway. Tight jaw and cemented scowl were aimed at the floor. No, he would not spill his secrets. He’d rather seduce me. Keep me blinded to his rattling skeletons, but I deserved better than that.

  “I’ve got to check on a few leads. Stay with Belle.” At least I could have some thinking time in privacy and not worry about Cain listening in. Heaven knew my thoughts strayed far from perfect or pure.

  “I’m not always listening.” He crossed his arms and legs

  I scoffed and repositioned my attention to the outdoors.

  Cain offered, “Maybe we should slow down, take a step back.”

  “We can’t… I can’t.”

  It was already too late. The whistle blew at the train station for midday break. We couldn’t ignore the fate of our world any longer. Time for action had come and gone. Demons, witches, warlocks, and vampires spilled into the street. My head flew in too many directions and my heart couldn’t catch up. Any one of them on the street could have belonged to Garland; anyone could be a former slave.

  “I’ll protect you, but we…can’t. No more. I just can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  His words tore through my soul and opened my old wounds. Too late. I had already fallen for him, hadn’t I? The pieces settled in my mind, though, I tried to wipe the image away
.

  Belle cleared her throat and eased into her chair, located behind her desk. It was unfair to do this in front of her, but my office door was wide open.

  Yes, I was scared, but not for the obvious reasons. My throat constricted, burning both itchy and dry, my survival was linked into this Earth, and if the demons destroyed me, we all would die. Anyone I loved became a threat…if anyone hurt him…enslaved him…the keys…my hand touched my chest.

  It would not be the first time someone had used a lover against me.

  I cupped Cain’s cheek and prayed no one else found out about him. In the wrong hands, he became a weapon. Those loyal to Lucifer probably knew by now; I held the final key. Maybe they knew he was the Keeper. The thought of caring, only to lose Cain, weighed on my shoulders. Like the others before him, one day I would say the last good-bye. But would the world become a factor. Could my heart go there again? Would Father allow him to ascend with me? To live in Sheol and not Tartarus?

  Belle sniffled. “Don’t think like that.”

  My attention turned toward her desk, but I could not bring myself to look at her either. I patted Cain’s cheek before withdrawing my hand. Passing him in the doorway, and breathing in his fiery spice one last time, my feet pounded over the walnut boards.

  “Dorian, don’t go,” Cain called.

  But my fingers curled around metal and turned the knob. The door rattled, slamming behind me, and I inhaled the fresh, crisp air.

  “Dorian.”

  Without another word or thought, I left my home and wandered the streets of Halifax. For the most part, my head remained down, but every now and then, I glanced up.

  Empty, graffiti covered buildings of the once metropolitan city lined and scattered the whitewashed street. Most demons chose to live farther from the destruction. Although Halifax hadn’t suffered massive land loss, the quakes had toppled buildings and skyscrapers. Twelve years later and the cleanup dredged on. With the exception of salvage, it wasn’t on the top of anyone’s list. I didn’t blame them. They thought they had all the time in the world.

  Somehow, the lighthouse on Sambro Island had survived, even though the keeper’s houses hadn’t. One demolished, one burned down, and the third crumpled into the bay long before the Sundering. The red and white stripes called to me, but the real source awaited my arrival inside.

  I practiced speeches while meandering and traipsing through the snow. Hallo always had advice for me, but she couldn’t guide me with Cain. Even Father no longer responded to my prayers. As usual, I had no one but myself, and I made for a lousy therapist.

  Save the world, or risk it all to save the man I wanted to love?

  Tied to a wooden pole was the dinghy, but the tide was out. I squinted over the ocean, covering what was once the bay. Waves broke, lapping at the rocky shore, and I questioned the stability of the bobbing small boat.

  “Dorian!” A voice called for me from behind. He shouted again, “Dorian,” and his words carried over the water.

  Cain followed me, and I frowned. He couldn’t tag along. Ignoring him was my only option. My stomach tossed and turned. He drew closer, yet the knot refused to give.

  His hand closed over mine. “Know you heard me, sweets.”

  “I have to do this.” I risked a sideways glance.

  He released a long sigh before his thick bottom lip disappeared into his mouth, but his eyes glinted with shades of amber. The rope broke free, and I hopped into the boat. Its sway churned my stomach.

  “You’re running away, and we haven’t gotten to the juicy parts yet.”

  “You ready to spill?” I chewed my lip. Silence and his pleading gaze met my question. “Didn’t think so. You’ll see. Stay.”

  Waves broke against his kneecaps.

  I grasped the oars and rowed the dinghy into the frothy water. Aside from a few glances to insure I steered in the proper direction, I eyed Cain. “Sorry babe,” I murmured. “But I have to do this for you as much as for me.”

  His head cocked. He’d heard me?

  The dilapidated dock had seen better days. Half of it had fallen into the water. One final glance yielded an empty shore, and my heart ached at his footprints in the sand. Only the sloshing water and cry of the gulls remained.

  I slowed my rowing, gritting at the strange movement of my muscles. The knots from my belly slipped up my throat. With a long breath hissing through my teeth, I reached the old dock. After tying the dinghy, I grunted and hoisted myself onto the dock.

  All the while, Cain possessed my thoughts. Torn between fulfilling a duty and running after the man I would…No. No matter what, I could not allow myself to head down that road again.

  I strolled up the steep bank; the briny wind whipped through my hair. Hallo waited for me with her arms spread open. Cain wouldn’t meet her as I had once hoped. He wouldn’t meet those who helped me in my darkest hours.

  “Dorian.” Her slender frame encompassed me into a warm embrace.

  I spun the dark, where she reflected the light.

  Golden blonde hair framed her cherub face and pale blue eyes shined. Pulling away, a smile brightened her expression. “You are in love.”

  “It’s time to convene in the flesh.” I chewed my lip again.

  “Markos follows you. I’ll summon Fauna.” Hallo’s small hand lifted my chin. “It is all right to love again, Dorian.”

  Once more, I glanced over the water and toward the shore, but I didn’t seek my brother. Falling for Cain wasn’t possible, but I would make sure his sister returned. But not in this world.

  “Just friends,” I lied. Warmth flushed over my skin as she murmured and gestured me to follow her. “Don’t preach to me about love.”

  We hiked the spiraling stone steps to the top.

  “I state nothing more than the truth.” Her tight fists curled around the willowy skirt, and the fabric shuffled. She didn’t like having her love brought up life, yet mine seemed to be fair game for them all. Men veered away because of her strength. Those that had tried learned how strong willed Conquest truly was.

  I entered a small compartment at the top of the lighthouse. Large glass windows encircled us; buttons and levers lined a small desk. I rocked on my heels. “Just light the beacon, Sister. Markos and Fauna will come, and we will end this.”

  “End?” Hallo spun around, her eyes electrified and glowing blue. “That wasn’t the plan, and you know it.” She flipped a switch, and the lighthouse emitted an ear-piercing siren.

  I fell to my knees and covered my ears. I shouted, “What else can I do? He knows about the keys.”

  Her palm touched my forehead and a white, heated light bathed over me. Hallo said, “Stop punishing yourself, you stupid idiot. I told you, he’s the Keeper, so of course he knows about the bloomin’ keys.”

  Tears poured from my eyes. “When did you tell me that?”

  “You were drawn to him? You knew Father made a Keeper. Did it not occur to you that Cain is it?”

  The temperature of her power intensified, but even as my skin splintered and melted, my cries were not from physical pain. Beneath her onslaught, I grimaced.

  “I will not allow you to take the easy road and destroy us all, Dorian. You must face the reality and repercussions of your world, of your heart.”

  “It is too late,” I pled. “We are not strong enough, even with the ABDA. Why delay the inevitable.” We would fail. In the blink of her blue eyes, I saw the future. Cain wrapped in chains, Boric demanding my key, and I helpless to stop the torture.

  “Garland will fall, Brother.”

  But so would Cain. I reached up a trembling hand, grasped her hands, and yanked. “How can you allow that to pass? He is innocent!”

  Hallo’s grip didn’t falter, and the throbbing worsened, pounding deeper into my temples. The ground rumbled, as if a legion of demons marched over the surface. The world would end one way, or another.

  “The prophecy—” Her tone bordered on hysterics.

  “Prophecy?” T
he King of Babylon would return and unite the world after the end of days. The light would shine again. The whole notion was laughable and blasphemous. Hallo knew better than to believe false prophets, let alone Metatron—the voice of God. How could I make her see the truth and lead her back to the right path? “Is nothing more than the ramblings of a mad man. Father made no such prediction. Let me end this, now, Sister. Metatron is wrong.”

  “No, it is you who are wrong. I saw the Light Bringer. She is here. What you seek to free is not Lucifer, Brother.”

  Lucifer would never see the light of day again, but I would not reveal what my key unlocked. “She?” I whispered. “But you said I slept with the enemy.”

  A smile played at her lips. “Proverbial enemies, Brother, for you still live in the past and fail to embrace the future. You, my dear, are sleeping with the Keeper of Keys.” Hallo winked

  My mouth dropped. What the hell was she babbling about?

  Clapping faintly echoed through the lighthouse. “Well done, Sister. A plus for theatrics.” Markos laughed, the sound booming and vibrating through my head, and the banter didn’t stop there as he smacked my back. “Now, take him home and stop this madness. Let him lick his wounds with some dignity.” He removed her hands, and I toppled over.

  I glanced up at him. Whose side did Markos support? What wounds was I supposed to lick?

  His brow raised, a smirk painted over his face. “And you thought I was the difficult one?”

  Markos dragged me to my feet. Hallo sulked in the corner. Fauna hadn’t come at the call, though she tended to be the stubborn one.

  Hallo said, “She left this morning from the Yukon.”

  “Boric isn’t Elioud?” I ignored her ability to read my mind.

  Hallo and Markos shook their heads.

  “Why haven’t we taken him out before now?” I glanced between my siblings and rose. “We’re the damned Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The deed should take but one of us.” But the truth, even as I screamed my frustrations, Father had designed us only to be superior to humans, and the Elioud varied in their human blood from half to more or less. Our dominion to rule and annihilate anything higher was in ending the world. We needed the ABDA to step up and release their full resources for us to command. My vampires, and my siblings’ witches and warlocks were not enough. Markos’ legion wasn’t enough. All we had was fear... “We need the Council of Seven.” I glanced to the Heavens. We needed the other Archangels. “Michael. Gabriel. Saraquel. Remiel. Raguel. Uriel. Raphael.”