Wasteland

by Lynn Rush

  “Rebeka is confused by you, David. Your darkness brings her to a place she cannot afford to go. You understand that, don’t you? You’re a temptation to betray her calling. She wants to give herself to you, but knows she can’t, and she is ready to turn her back on her destiny to be with you, a—”

  “Demon,” I said.

  “I’m sorry, David. I am here under her orders, but not telling you what she wanted me to, which is to come back and be by her side. But she’s confused. I must look out for all the Guardians. For Jessica.”

  I stared him down. “You’re defying her orders.”

  “Partially. I came here to apologize as she instructed. But instead of asking you to return with me, I am begging you to stay away from her. For everyone’s sake.”

  His words were like salt pouring over an open wound in my stomach.

  “You could never be what she needs. You are demon.”

  “Half human, though.”

  “Regardless.” He gripped the hilt of his sword.

  “I will go.” I showed him my back.

  “You will? So easily you will go? I don’t understand.”

  I faced him. “Would you like me to stay and make things more difficult?”

  “No. I—” He shrugged. “I was just surprised. I expected—”

  “A fight? Fangs and claws and swords?”

  He nodded.

  I tilted back, facing the sky. “I want nothing more than to stay, to be by Beka’s side and to join with her the way only a true mate could. But I am not free to be with her in much the same way she’s not free to be with me.”

  “Tell me.”

  “As she has to keep herself pure for her future King, I have to keep myself pure to prevent full transformation into demon.”

  “You would lose your humanity if you lie with a woman?”

  “Yes.” My shoulders sagged. “I am too tempted by Beka to stay. The minute I bed her, I would convert to full demon and lose what’s left of my human soul for eternity. And more than likely, I would kill her in the moment as well.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “How could you? No one knows. I am doomed to servitude, never able to experience love, and compelled to do the bidding of the devil’s right hand man.”

  A deep sigh from Russell sent my blood boiling.

  “You said Jessica may be able to help, yet you ask me to leave.”

  “Not leave as in disappear. Only stay away from Beka until we can protect Jessica’s conversion. If she can save your soul like we think she can, I will bring her to you. But that still would not give you freedom to be with Rebeka.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You’d be human.”

  “I will stay away, but Master can call me back at any moment. I cannot resist his call for very long.” I clutched my shirt where it hid Master’s brand.

  “I had Abraham bless another location at the south end of town. A secondary location in case we needed it. Would you wait there? I believe the blessing protects you from your Master’s detection.”

  I squatted and snatched a rock into my hand. “Tell me where this place is, and I will consider it. I may just go and face my punishment for giving you Jessica. I am surprised he has not called me to him yet.”

  “The four demons that attacked, one had a collar.”

  “Yes.”

  “What is that?”

  I threw the rock at the cactus. “It renders me weak so they can escort me to Master.”

  “But not weak enough to kill you?”

  “No. Only to subdue and transport if I do not cooperate.” I rubbed my neck. “It’s been used only once, and it is not pleasant.”

  “As if two hundred and fifty years of solitude is. Yet you chose it when you gave up Jessica. Why?”

  “I’m starting to ask myself the same thing.” I faced Russell. “I’ve considered going in and getting her, but that would hurt Beka.”

  “You love her.”

  I nodded. “I love her with whatever amount of soul and humanity I have left in me, but it is that very love that will kill her. So I will go to your lock and key until you can tell me if Jessica is able to save me.”

  He smiled.

  “But, I tell you this, Russell. You left Beka to die once when you left with Jessica.” I hissed, remembering the blood gushing from her neck and over my hands holding her together. “Do it again, and I will hunt you down, unleash the beast within me and tear you limb from limb.”

  CHAPTER 26

  I settled into the hard cot near the corner of the small space and closed my eyes. Beka’s scent tainted the room. She must have been with Abraham when he had blessed the dwelling. The smell tortured me with the memories of kissing and touching her. But as long as she did not show up, I would survive.

  I slid into darkness, losing my mind to the void, but a pounding at the door slashed its peace. I rolled from the bed and to my feet, scanning the room. Only a cot with two chairs against the wall to my left and a short hallway to a bathroom stall.

  A whimper leaked through the door followed by a thud. Hairs prickled at my neck. I’d made certain I wasn’t followed after Russell and I separated several blocks away.

  Another bang and a moan prompted me to stride to the door. A silver tip of a sword split the wood. Streaks of crimson dribbled through the crack. I yanked the door open and Abraham’s massive body flinched.

  A sword anchored him to the door, but what worried me most was Jessica’s body fastened to his. The weapon had pierced her as well.

  “Demon,” Abraham said. “Pull this out and get the girl inside, we are under attack.”

  I jumped in front of the door, absorbing a dagger between the shoulder blades to shield them. Abraham coughed, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he never let loose of the girl. I gripped the hilt of the weapon and extracted it from Abraham and Jessica. Turned out the blade skimmed her shoulder.

  The Guardian stood. “Take the girl inside.”

  “Where is Beka?”

  “Our Queen fights. Holding them back for me to get the girl here. I—”

  “Hold on to Jessica.” I pushed him into the room and slammed the door shut. “I will get Beka.”

  My dark surroundings came alive. Red demons, black nails and silver swords ready for blood crawled out from the surrounding shadows. They marched forward.

  Not many places to go. Safe house behind me. Brick walls on either side. A gravel parking lot spanned before me, but seven demons ate up the distance, weapons raised.

  “There is the half breed. He is in with the Guardians,” one said, pointing his dagger.

  Distant clanks of metal hitting metal snared my attention. Must be Beka fighting. So close I scented the sparks of sword battle.

  I just had to get through the brutes rushing me. One held a collar.

  “You killed Gage,” the demon holding the collar said. “Master will be pleased I caught our betrayer.”

  I morphed into my monster. “You have not captured me yet.”

  A blade pierced my shoulder, and the demons pounced. They seemed more interested in detaining me than getting Jessica. Or maybe they realized they couldn’t get to her through the blessed room.

  Dagger in hand, I spun and flicked my wrist. The metal slid through the forearm of the demon clutching the collar. The limb fell to the rocky ground, and I kicked the blasted device away. Sure. He’d grow another hand, but at least it would not be holding my collar.

  A dagger pinged off my protected neck. I hoisted him a foot off the ground and sliced, rendering him a pile of ash. A heel cracked my knee, and I tipped. I clutched the necks of two demons on my way down. Another swipe of my lethal weapons met red skin, splicing it open. Two heads drummed against the ground and plumed into dust.

  I twisted the hand of another demon and sunk my fangs into his forearm. He howled, exposing his neck, and I slashed.

  More dust.

  My knee cracked into place, and I hobbled to my feet, head throbbing and heart ham
mering. The sulfur laced dust and ash tainted the fresh, evening air.

  Three demons inched back as I charged from the house. Bright light flashed from the one window beside the door, and it bounced off the neighboring brick building.

  I lunged at the three and slid my pointed nails along their throats. Momentum forced me into a summersault, and I jumped to my feet. The ring of clashing swords rent the air. I sprinted ahead but snuck a glance over my shoulder at the Guardian’s house. White light illuminated the cracks in the wooden door the swords and daggers had mutilated.

  The rays flooded out, cutting through the early morning darkness surrounding the small structure. Jessica’s time must have come. My human instinct to help Beka drove me forward. I would get Beka and bring her to Jessica and end this.

  I bolted toward the span of trees at the end of the lot. I burst through the foliage and into the sprawling front yard of a mansion. A driveway split the middle of the gravel landscaping. Beka battled three demons. Two more approached from behind.

  I leapt toward the two and blasted my fists through their chests. Hot flesh and thick blood coated my hands lodged in their chest cavities. One twist removed their dead hearts. I tossed their organs to the ground and finished them with my nails across their necks.

  Beka faced me. “David.”

  A silver blade skewered her gut from behind. Glancing at me had cost her a sword through the stomach.

  A shade of red tainted my vision.

  Two long strides, and I was by her side, slashing the face of one demon. The other swiped at my neck, his nails snagging skin on my cheek. His other hand rushed me, but not to hit. He aimed the collar to snap it around my neck. I ducked.

  Something pierced my shoulder, my thigh. Beka gasped and metal clanked against metal.

  I sagged to one knee, still slashing my hand at one of the demons. Beka must be getting the third with her blade. So many demons. We needed Russell.

  Beka groaned, demanding my focus. Her chest beamed. Bright white light beamed from her mouth and blanched her eyes.

  “Beka!” The demon staggered away from her, stunned. But the two on me charged on with their attacks.

  I reached for the one with the collar and cuffed his wrist. He posed the most threat. I planted the heel of my foot in the chest of the other one. He landed four feet away. I cranked the collar-holding demon’s arm back behind him and shoved his face into the ground. I snatched the collar and tossed it, knowing I couldn’t destroy the thing. I grabbed his blade and detached his head. The other demon ran to Beka, eyeing the light show.

  She faced me, eyes white as fresh snow. No more sea-green irises. Paralyzed by the bright sight, the demons crumbled to their knees, making for easy prey as I relieved them of their heads with well-timed flicks of my deadly nails.

  Another dash of light burst through the tree line separating the property from the parking lot. It was Jessica, followed closely by Abraham. She ran at supernatural speed toward us, her chest and eyes glowing exactly like Beka’s.

  That was the first time I’d seen Jessica move on her own volition. Her long, red hair flowed behind her as if facing a strong wind. She fixed her gaze on Beka. Although still in my demonic form, Beka reached for me. “David.”

  My human form emerged before I’d commanded. I brushed my fingertips against hers. Her glowing skin combusted at my touch.

  “What’s happening?” she whispered.

  “I don’t know.” I scanned her body for injuries. “Are you okay?”

  “I thought you’d left.” Tears streamed down her radiant face.

  “I was. Russell found me. How are you here?” I twined my fingers with hers, palm to palm. The heat emanating from her penetrated my skin to the point of agony. But I endured the contact not wanting to release her ever again. My heart hammered my ribs, squeezing the air from my lungs. Lilac swirled around me, imprinting her scent within me.

  “Club. Attacked.” She looked toward Jessica. “Had to get her to safety.”

  Her gaze fell on me again. “My David. You will be with me always.”

  Her light pulsed, searing my eyes. The heat equaled that of punishment. I stepped away no longer able to withstand the ache her touch provoked. My darkness recoiled from her Light. Another reminder of what kept us apart.

  She turned to Jessica again and leaned toward her.

  “Go.” I gasped, working to catch my breath. “You must go to her.”

  She nodded. “Come with me.”

  “You first.” I motioned to her to go. She faced Jessica and ran.

  Each step she took from me, the pain lessened. And my heart ached. A cool breeze soothed my fevered skin.

  Jessica fell into Beka’s embrace, and they crumbled to their knees. Their light, rivaling the sun, encapsulated them. I brought my hands up to shield my eyes. My heel caught a rock and hard ground cracked against my butt. My throat closed, like my invisible collar morphed into a noose.

  Beka.

  Abraham knelt before the glowing females as if paying homage.

  Pain seared down my spine. What is happening?

  Jessica peeled out from Beka’s embrace and looked to Abraham, then me. The glow between her and Beka dimmed, save a circle of light radiating from beneath their shirts, over their hearts.

  Jessica’s long, red hair flowed as if still running or met a gust of wind. But the trees behind her remained still. She pulled her shoulders wide and stood tall, her glowing eyes never blinking, only staring at me. She pointed and Beka nodded. They clasped hands as they approached.

  I pushed myself to my knees, heart throbbing, demon howling. Hold on, David.

  The color returned to Beka’s eyes, yet the light on her chest flashed like a strobe. I felt it because it matched how my heart beat.

  Blood pulsed my eardrums. I looked to the ground and pounded my thighs. Anything to distract from the ache. It had to be Beka’s blood within me. Or maybe Jessica was healing me.

  Please let it be true.

  Only ten feet from me, Jessica pointed at me and picked up her pace. “I must touch him.”

  Compelled by her commanding voice, I stood and reached for her. Only five feet separated us. The joy and peace radiating from the two women rolled over me, giving me a taste of what I would have if only I touched her hand.

  I have longed for this for centuries. I could face life as a human, as long as it was demon free. I would take it.

  Two feet.

  Thundering pain coursed through my body. A raging river roared in my head. My heart burst into a sprint, and my pulse throttled my ears. My legs and arms morphed into concrete appendages, heavy and tired.

  But I hadn’t touched her yet.

  “I call your contract due.” Master’s deep voice echoed in my ears.

  My knees buckled, and the ground rushed forward. Fire licked at all parts of my skin. I morphed into my demonic side without command and grated my chest trying to put out the flame. It had never been so intense before.

  So immediate.

  Then, the familiar clank of metal, chased by an instant squeezing in my neck, quaked through my body. My shoulder met the rocks of the gravel yard, piercing my skin.

  “No,” Beka screamed.

  Jessica leapt, hand outstretched. I groped the ground for her, but she crumbled beneath the weight of one of Master’s Elite guards. Inches separated our fingers.

  “Beka.” My voice cracked beneath the pressure of the choker.

  The ring of blades clashing surrounded me, but my limbs grew too heavy to move. Paralyzed by the collar circling my neck, I lay pinned to the ground, inches from my salvation. My fangs descended, and I stabbed them into my lip. Salty tears melded with the metallic blood.

  Russell landed in front of me and swung his weapon, beheading the demon wrestling Jessica.

  “Get me to the demon,” she said.

  He faced me, his eyes wide and reached for Jessica.

  A set of iron fingers clamped my ankle and yanked me back. I scratch
ed my nails into the hard ground trying to stop myself. “Beka.”

  But the collar weakened me. A sharp strike to the head triggered flashing white lights. Darkness quickly followed but not before I heard Beka screech my name.

  Something I had better get used to, because in solitary, between the scalding torture, that scream would haunt me for the next two-hundred and fifty years.

  CHAPTER 27

  “I see you have chosen not to resist my guards, son.”

  I allowed the two Elite Guards to manhandle me, pushing me toward Master. My hands were bound behind me, and I wore the collar, so I really didn’t have much choice. Not that it mattered. I’d missed my chance with Jessica and Beka. Distracted by their beaming light and the desire to be human, I neglected to see the threats approaching behind.

  Thankfully Russell had shown up. He surely would have protected them. And Abraham was there. I had to trust Beka and Jessica were safe. My mind would shatter if I thought any differently.

  “Still the silent one.” Master rose from the chair hidden behind the massive, mahogany desk.

  The office was different than the one I knew back at the manor in New York. Daylight flooded the room from a wall of picture windows to his left. A sea of rooftops lay before me.

  Bookshelves lined the walls from the floor to the ceiling. Behind me sat a full bar, complete with an ice bucket and four short glasses.

  Master liked his comforts.

  “New office?” I asked.

  He motioned the soldiers holding me toward a set of chairs facing the desk. They hauled me to them and plopped me down. Master’s witches must have increased the collar’s magic, because I’d never felt so weighted. Like lead flowed through my veins.

  “You have been with me more than four hundred years, son, yet you eye me with such contempt.”

  “I’m not your son.”

  He bared his canines. The creamy skin at the corner of his albino-red eyes creased as a smile stretched across his thin, onyx lips.

  An image of Beka flashed in my brain, and I shook my head. It would be a long quarter millennia with that slipping into my mind so often. I wasn’t sure how many days had passed since I’d last seen her.