Bones pushes his cold nose up against my hand, which is still covering my sliced-open cheek. He makes a low whimpering noise and nudges my arm until I move it. Then he starts licking the side of my face, and with every stroke of his wide, moist tongue, the acidic burning eases until it’s gone.
“Thanks,” I whisper, wiping away a stray tear. I turn my head to hide my shame from Bones. Now is not the time to turn into an emotional, blubbering mess. Now is the time to think. Figure a way outta here.
“I’m not mad at you,” Bones’ gentle voice cuts in. “This isn’t your fault. None of us suspected Gyan was dirty.”
I glance up into his toffee eyes, relieved at the kindness I see in them. “Why didn’t Aria pick up on it?” I wonder, taking a few steps around to feel out the boundaries of our invisible cage.
“I guess she just wasn’t looking in his direction. He seemed like one of us, so why would she question it? And he probably knew to control his thoughts around her anyway…”
“That’s impossible, controlling one’s thoughts,” I say, more to myself than to him, as I recall my eternal struggles with my own mind.
“Not for pure demons it isn’t. It can become a bit taxing after a while. But it can be done.”
I move forward tentatively with my arms outstretched, and when the stabbing jolt of electricity sends me flying back into Bones’ arms, I know I’ve gone too far.
“You okay?” he whispers. I nod and shake it off, smoothing down my frizzed-out hair.
I glance over my shoulder at him as I resume pacing, slowly and carefully. One step too far and I’m toast. The first sensation of painful shocks is just a warning to let me know where the barriers lie.
We’re trapped.
“Think I can blast us outta here?” I ask Bones. He sits against the grey slab of stone and fidgets with a piece of straw, his arm resting on a raised knee. He shakes his head. “What about using these?” I hold up the bag of veneficus calx.
Bones shakes his head again, his wide eyes wary. “Don’t even think about it. They might not be able to penetrate the magic of the force field, and if they just bounce off it and land in here with us…”
“Well, we’ve got to do something! We can’t just sit here waiting to die! Or worse…”
“Lucky, relax.”
“Are you crazy? How can I relax? We’re trapped and probably going to die here. Doesn’t that bother you?”
Bones shrugs. “If that’s what’s meant to happen, then so be it. But I don’t think our story is coming to an end just yet, my pet. I think you and I are going to be getting into trouble together for a long time to come.”
“What makes you so sure?” I ask, only slightly mollified by his optimism.
Bones runs his tongue over his lips and lowers his voice. “Because whatever they do, at some point they are going to have to lower the shield. When they do, we can grab Kieron and get out of here.”
“But what makes you think we can—”
Bones leans closer. “Look, I’m still in communication with Alik and Khalil. So in case you thought we were alone in this, think again—”
Bones stops abruptly at the sound of footsteps. The guard pauses in front of Kieron’s cage and stares at him for a moment, then makes his way to stand in front of Bones and me.
“I don’t think your little friend in there wants to ever wake up,” he says with a derisive sneer. “Oh well. We had plenty of fun with him already. Now it’s your turn.” With a sickening cackle he lets his tongue fly across the cage like a lasso, slicing my arms and face with burning acid. I scream out in agony, but am unable to stop the whipping that seems to come at me from every angle all at once. Bones jumps in front of me, but time and time again, the tongue snakes around him, shredding my flesh to ribbons.
“Get down!” Bones barks as he phases back into a hellhound. I crouch on the stone floor, shocked and silent, shivering in agony. One last lashing sears across my scalp before Bones manages to cover me completely with his massive frame. I’m hardly able to breathe beneath the bulk of fur and muscle, but at least the vicious tongue can’t get me anymore. I don’t know if it’s attacking Bones now, if he’s taking the brunt of the slicing whips for me. I can’t think about anything but the searing pain screaming from every inch of my skin, and growing worse by the second…as if all the excruciating agony and unbearable suffering in the world has been released inside my body. I know that soon my racing heart will no longer be able to handle the torture and will stop beating all together. I almost welcome it.
“Now, Mr. Zoran. What did I tell you about eating our guests?” Xandria’s musical voice rings out. “I want them in good condition. Come now. Leave them be.”
My body quivers uncontrollably from the stinging welts, and blood rushes freely from the many deep gashes. Even the putrid air feels like burning acid on my skin. My labored breathing turns shallow; my heart pounds erratically. I feel Bones’ massive frame moving off me, followed immediately by the soothing sensation of his wide tongue lapping my wounds again and easing the pain.
He licks the top of my head and my face, and then my arms. Without hesitation I take off my corset so he can heal the gashes on my back and abdomen. I lie flat on my back as he leans over me, licking my broken skin clean and whole. The pain gradually subsides to a near tolerable level, and I lower my pants so he can soothe the burning on my thighs.
When he finishes, I silently dress and collapse in the corner. Nothing can stop the tears now. Curled up in a ball, I let them flow down my cheeks and onto the crunch of the straw floor. Bones comes over, wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.
“C’mon, Lucky Love. Stay strong. You’re tougher than this. I know you are.”
I turn my tearstained face to him. My throat is tight, my voice soft. “This has nothing to do with being tough, Bones. This has to do with the fact that I am so cursed and so damned that everyone who even gets close to me suffers and dies and it’s all my fault. Don’t you see?”
Bones wipes away a tear and brushes my hair away from my eyes. “No, actually, I don’t see. The only thing I see is you feeling sorry for yourself because your simple little plan didn’t go as smoothly as you’d hoped.”
“We’re going to die here,” I choke out. “You know that, right?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Since when did you give up so easy? What’s gotten into you? Where’s that piss and vinegar and firespitting attitude I love about you?”
I say nothing, as I have no answer for this. Was it seeing Aria’s head flying past me and Gyan’s mocking smile? Or was it seeing Kieron, one of the strongest and most resourceful demons I’ve even known, hanging like a helpless, petrified rag doll? Or, locked here in this invisible cage, is it the fact that I am totally and utterly at the mercy of my sadistic captors…that I can’t fight back against them, but only hide under Bones like a weak, scared kitten?
I let out a long, whimpering sigh and press myself against Bones’ warm body, resting my chin on the arm he has wrapped around my shoulders. We’re quiet for a long while, and I stare over at Kieron…still hanging limply…not moving.
“Bones, I have a question for you,” I say quietly.
“Shoot,” he whispers in my ear.
“What do you think happens to us when we die? Do you know? Where do we go? What becomes of us?”
He pauses before answering. “Well…it’s different for me than it is for you…”
“Really? How so?”
“Well, as a pure demon, by design I am immortal. I will never cease to be. I am as forever as the universe—”
“But other demons die all the time! They turn to dust and—”
“Only the shells die…the containers of our spirits. Never the being inside. That goes somewhere else…”
“Where?”
Bones shrugs. “It depends. Demons were designed to be immortal. But if they are weaker than an enemy they can be eliminated…removed from the scene. Natural selection, you might say. But the spirit re
mains intact...it’s eternal. When a demon dies, then the manner of death is taken into account. Sometimes they go to another dimension, recycled for other purposes. Maybe they stay in the underworld with other spirits and souls, maybe they come back here…”
“Wait…a demon can die but come back to life?” I ask, flabbergasted. How come I’ve never heard of this?
“Well, no, not come back to life as they were before they were killed. They might come back in a different form and live in Thiberoux, but usually they’d be unable to access the Portals to mortal worlds…only other demon dimensions. The mortal Earth is one of the most desirous places to be. If a demon is eliminated, for whatever reason, he is usually deemed unworthy of inhabiting the Sapies’ plane of existence and is sent elsewhere for punishment. But on occasion, I’ve heard of a few coming back as Jumpers.”
I scrunch my eyebrows. “What’s a Jumper?”
“It’s when a demon becomes human…sort of. They jump from human body to human body. They have limited powers and can’t stay in the same host for very long, as they wear them out. Sounds like a horrible way to live if you ask me…”
“Well, what do you think will happen to me when I die?” I ask, more subdued this time. But I’d better prepare myself for my inevitable fate. I’ve heard the humans tell their stories of heaven for the good people and hell for the bad. Of course, I know it’s not quite that simple, and their version of ‘heaven’ would be my version of ‘hell’…having to spend eternity with those nightmarish Light-angels.
“You, my dear, are a bit different.”
“So what happens?”
“I wish I could say for certain, but I can’t. A part of you will never die…you’ll live for eternity just as I will…”
“But?”
“But a part of you will be lost forever. You will forget who you were. When you leave this world, you’ll have no memory when you re-enter the next. You’ll be like a blank slate at every turn.”
“You say it as if you’re different—”
“I am. Unlike you, I do remember every life, every world I’ve lived in.”
“Wait, are you telling me you’ve died before?”
Bones chuckles. “Yeah. Many times, actually.”
My jaw is practically on the floor. “Really? That is sooo cool! Tell me everything you remember…”
“It’d just be easier if you could remember,” he says with a small grin. I’m confused, and he gently strokes my hair. “Lucky, this isn’t the first time you’ve led me to my death. Actually…it’s at least the sixth or seventh time.”
“Say what?”
“Yup.” He shrugs and brushes his bronze locks from his face.
“I’ve killed you before?”
“Yup. Many times. Well, not you personally, but yes…you always seemed to be involved somehow.” His sensuous mouth turns into a grimace.
“This means…you and I…we’ve known each other for other lifetimes?”
Bones nods. “Well, yeah…sure.” He gives me a funny look before continuing. “For some reason, I thought you already knew all this…that deep inside, you knew. The way we manage to find each other, time and time again.”
“No, I didn’t know,” I whisper, my head spinning. How is it possible that I’ve known Bones for many lifetimes but was never aware? Is that why I’ve always felt such a strong connection to him? Why he seems more a part of me than a separate being?
“If I’ve killed you before, or you’ve died—I’m really sorry about that, by the way—how have you managed to come back? How’d I find you again?”
“Well, if you haven’t noticed, the bonds of my servitude are pretty strict,” he says with a wry smile. “I’m an original hound, so I’ll always come back as one. For eternity. In that regard I’ll never die, and I’ll always be bound to Thiberoux. But this time they needed me for… ahem, other duties. The number of demons is fixed and finite. But we can make as many demions as we like. And because our Light counterparts have been giving us so much trouble over the past century, allowances were made so I could help build up our numbers. Level the playing field some.”
“So you haven’t always been an incubus?” I ask with wonder. Why am I learning all of this now, when it’s too late?
“No. Actually, this is my first stint as one. And I must say, as difficult a job as it is, it’s worth it to be able to attain my human form again. A few lifetimes ago, when I was only a hound unable to phase into human form, I really missed talking to you. Sure, you talked to me, but I couldn’t talk to you, other than to bark or growl. It was horrible. I like being able to talk to you.”
“Me, too,” I whisper. I lean my head back against his chest and feel his hot breath on my cheeks. I angle my face back just enough to meet his soft lips.
His kisses, gentle and caring, lack the unbridled urgency of last night. These kisses are sweet, comforting. He gently strokes my hair while his tongue dances across my lips, his body pressing against mine as I pull him closer.
I fall back into his arms and rest my head against his strong frame, blissful despite the dire circumstances. If Bones and I have died together before, what’s one more time? At least we’re together.
From the corner of a half-opened eye I catch a slow movement. I turn my head to see Kieron, standing on the ground, upright and fully alert, staring at us. He’s badly bruised and the vicious wounds covering his face appear quite painful. But that doesn’t come close to the pain in his eyes as he watches me disentangle my body from Bones’ passionate embrace.
Chapter 17. Lucky
I gasp and jump to my feet. “Kieron! You’re alive!” I take three long strides in his direction before the electrifying shocks send me staggering back.
I stand up and try again, this time taking more cautious steps forward until I feel the familiar burn. This is as close to him as I can get. Kieron brushes his hair from his bruised face, and his deep blue eyes lock with mine—and I remember why I came here. Why I risked everything. Why this is all worth it…to be here with him, to be able to see him again. To be in that secret place we go to when our eyes meet…to look at him, and know with absolute certainty he is the one I have waited my entire life to see…
“Lucky.” His husky voice is strained with sad surprise. “What are you doing here?” The corners of his lips curl in a grimace, his eyes giving away a deeper concern.
“We’re here to rescue you.” If it wasn’t for the damned invisible forces waiting to electrocute me, I’d be rushing into his arms right now. I crave his touch in a way that’s almost unbearable. More even than with Bones. Much more.
Kieron glances around his quarters and raises an eyebrow at Bones, crouched on the floor behind me. “Bang up job you’re doing.”
“We were tricked,” I say, ashamed at my incompetence. Here I was ready to rush in and save the day, and now I just look like a foolish idiot.
“By Gyan, right?”
“How did you know?”
A pained smirk crosses his handsome face. “I found out not too long after they captured me that he was working for them. Guess he’s a rogue for hire. And with a vendetta against you. Who knew?”
“Not us,” I mutter. Bones still hasn’t risen or acknowledged Kieron’s presence in any way, but I don’t care. I’ve waited so long to see Kieron, to touch him…
But I can’t. Not yet, anyway. Not with the electric fence of death between us. But I can talk to him. I just hope the horrid guard with the tongue doesn’t return. “Why did you look so weird when we got here? You looked like a dead puppet,” I whisper loudly. Please don’t hate me for kissing Bones…
Kieron’s mouth twitches. “That’s right; you’ve never seen me sleep, huh?”
I shake my head. Was that a smile?
“I don’t do it often, but when I do I’m out for a few days. Part of being a Latros demon.”
“Kieron, how the hell are we going to get out of here?” I ask desperately.
“Don’t you have a plan?” he as
ks with a wry grin, brushing his ebony locks away from his face.
“Does it look like I have a plan?”
“Well, it’s a good thing I do. Guard!” he shouts. I scrunch my forehead and glance back at Bones, who is watching us intently. “Guard!”
A moment later, Snake-Tongue appears and smiles wickedly. “So, Sleeping Beauty is awake. I suppose you think it’s time for you to go, huh?”
Kieron locks eyes with me before turning back to the guard. “You got what you wanted. I played my part. A deal’s a deal.”
“What’s this?” I ask quietly. Behind me, Bones lets out a low chuckle. “What is this? What’s going on?” I ask louder.
Kieron flashes me a devilish grin. “You’ll see, sweetheart.”
A few moments later the guard returns with the demonic wizard. The old man closes his eyes, mutters a few words, and waves his hands. Then he turns and leaves. Kieron looks at me with a delicious smile.
“See ya later, sweetheart. Wish I could stay and catch up more but I have places to be. Thanks for coming for me. Otherwise, who knows how long I’d have been stuck in this awful pit? I’m just happy you have someone to keep you company, unlike me. I was stuck here all by my lonesome waiting for you to come ‘save’ me. Took you long enough, but thanks for finally coming through for me.”
With that, he winks, blows me a kiss, and dashes out of sight.
My jaw drops. “Did that really just happen?” I whisper a moment later, stunned.
“’Fraid so,” Bones replies softly.
A primal rage boils deep within me, fighting to be let free. Unable to contain it anymore, I scream from the top of my lungs and the depths of my fiery soul. Before I can stop myself, fireballs erupt from my palms
“NO!” Bones yells, but it’s too late. The deadly balls of electric fire spin and fly at the barriers, only to bounce back…straight at me. Bones quickly phases back as I duck and dodge, trying to avoid the double balls of electric flames ricocheting off the walls, threatening to extinguish me here and now. It’s impossible to keep my eyes on both of them as they bounce off invisible barriers, flying at almost the speed of light. Once again I’m saved as Bones pounces on top of me. The fireballs will badly hurt him, but they’ll easily kill me.
The Complete Demonblood Saga: A Demon Made Me Do It; Fire With Fire; Curse of Shadows and Light Page 41