Ravenous

by Sherri L. King

  Strong white teeth bit into the tender flesh of her neck, and she went wild beneath him. Her hands sought out his flesh under his garments and she sunk her nails into him like a she-cat when she at last found it. She clenched her legs tight around him, dry humping him like a bitch in heat. Her mouth roved over his jaw, his ear, his neck, leaving hot, fierce kisses in its wake.

  In the back of her mind she knew she should slow down in her wild flight towards ecstasy. After all, she didn’t know this man, didn’t know if she should trust him or fight him to the death. But the thought was swept away in the tumultuous storm of her arousal. Right or wrong, good or bad, she knew she hadn’t a chance in hell of denying him. He played her body like an instrument, his masterful touch making her body sing beneath him.

  She’d never been so ready for fucking.

  Their clothes were an impediment to their progress. Obsidian rose up from her and brought both of his hands to the neckline of her shirt. Less than a second later he ripped it away from her with impatient strength, rending it cleanly down the middle. Her bra soon followed, the sound of tearing silk reminding her of the sound of tearing flesh.

  Tearing flesh, gleaming fangs, snapping jaws. A feeling of dread and dark foreboding swept over her. Her body’s arousal cooled, as quickly as if someone had dumped buckets of ice water over her flesh. A thrumming, electric hum suffused her whole body, but it was different from the wonderful feelings Obsidian had aroused within her. Far different.

  A Daemon was near…maybe more than one.

  “S-stop,” she whispered. Her brain was scrambled, but her internal warning system was sounding a fierce alarm—bringing her back to the present, if only a little bit.

  “Stop.” Her command was a little surer this time. Not much, but a little.

  Obsidian stilled with his hands resting on the fastening of her slacks. His gaze rose to meet hers, his expression inscrutable—guarded.

  “You want me.”

  “Yes, I know, but it’s dark out…it’s night…and something’s wrong.”

  Immediately Obsidian was all business. In that moment, Cady could clearly see that he was indeed the fierce warrior he’d professed himself to be. That, and so much more.

  “What is it?” He rose and helped her to stand.

  “I can feel them.” She closed her eyes and concentrated. It was difficult, but she forced herself to ignore the last lingering thrum his kisses had awakened within her. She opened herself to other things. “I can feel them moving.”

  “Where are they?” He clearly knew what she meant.

  “Not far. Maybe a couple of miles.”

  “More than one, then?”

  “I think so.” She opened her eyes and met his gaze with her own.

  “Get dressed,” he commanded.

  She gritted her teeth at his domineering tone. But she obeyed, since it was obvious that she couldn’t fight the monsters naked. Even though the arrogant jerk would probably get a real kick out of that, she thought churlishly.

  Chapter Six

  “Wait here, human. I must go and gather my warriors. I’m now close enough to feel the threat and there are many of the Daemons. We should not try to take them alone.”

  “My name is Cady. Kay-dee. Use it.”

  “Wait here. I mean it. I will not tolerate any foolishness from you.”

  “You’re not my keeper,” she hissed.

  They faced off in the darkness of the woods. Though Obsidian seemed to have the uncanny ability to cloak himself in the darkest of shadows, Cady could still see his jaw clench in frustration.

  “We don’t have the time to argue, Cady. I would take you with me when I go to gather my crew, but I do not know where I might find them. They might be patrolling the Gates, a place where no human can go. You would die if I took you there, for the place is hostile to humans, close as it is to the world of the Horde.”

  “You could try asking, instead of bossing me around. I’m not one of your warriors.”

  “No, but if we are to join forces, you will likely fall under my command. Get used to it now, for your own safety.”

  “I never said I would join you.”

  “Just stay here,” he bit out.

  “Fine!” They were standing toe to toe, neither ready to back down completely.

  Obsidian seemed to relax a little after a moment. “I’ll be back in a moment. Be silent. Be alert.”

  “Well, duh.”

  He sent her a strange look, and she had to remind herself that he wasn’t human. He probably wasn’t hip to much of her slang. The thought brought a sudden grin to her lips, displaying both of her dimples. She looked forward to flooding her language with similar words he wouldn’t understand. She could tell it would really annoy him after a while.

  A girl had to have her goals, after all.

  “Sure, I’ll chill out here. No problemo. I’m cool. Catch ya’ later, ‘kay?”

  With a frustrated growl, and one last stern glare, Obsidian vanished before her eyes.

  “Wow. Now that was cool,” she whispered to herself. Soon her grin faded from her lips and she squared her shoulders. “Now to get down to business.” With those words she popped a new clip into her mini-Uzi and moved silently into the shadows.

  * * * * *

  “What the Horde is that woman doing?”

  “She looks like she’s…taking a walk.”

  “Through a wood? At night? With no man to protect her, she’d have to be out of her mind.”

  “Cinder, I think it’s safe to assume that she is out of her mind. Most humans, slow witted though they are, know better than to walk around a darkened wood at night. I think.”

  “But, Edge, how will we keep her safe from the Daemons without alerting her to their presence? Or ours? The creatures are too close to hope they haven’t scented her. She’s giving off plenty of psychic emanations. You know how they have a ravenous hunger for the psychically gifted. How can we protect her?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Edge, Cinder, on your guard.”

  The two men whirled around at the command. “Bloody Horde, Obsidian. Where have you been?” Edge asked.

  “Seeing to business. Which is what you should be doing as well. I thought you were on patrol tonight. What’s brought you out here?”

  “The Elder relieved us of Gate duties tonight,” Edge told him. “He told us to patrol this Territory instead.”

  “He told us it could be a learning experience for all of us,” added Cinder. “A statement that I’m inclined to agree with. I’ve already learned that mortals are a very strange bunch. Take the woman in that grove of pines for example. She’s just strolling through the trees with no thought to her own safety. It’s most peculiar.”

  Obsidian came beside his men and looked through the foliage that concealed them. “What woman?” he growled. He suddenly had a strange feeling that he knew just who the woman in question was.

  “That one there.” Edge pointed through the trees. “The only one around for leagues.”

  Obsidian looked, his face filled with dread and exasperation, and swore. “Shit. I told her to stay put. She’s almost half a league away from where I left her.”

  “You know her?” asked Cinder, his tone puzzled.

  “Who is she?” interjected Edge.

  “That, my friends, is the legendary Cady—scourge of the Horde, protector of the Territories, and the most stubborn woman I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.”

  “Amazing,” breathed Edge in awe.

  “That’s Cady? But she looks so…harmless.”

  “Her appearance is deceptive; I’ve the bruises to prove it. I was sent here to speak with her the last two nights—that’s why I haven’t been on patrol with you. The Elder wants her to join our ranks. Though she’s proving most difficult to recruit.”

  “A mortal…one of us? But why? Granted, she may be the fiercest warrior outside of our own kind, but she cannot help us patrol the Gates. No mortal can.” Cinder sl
iced his hand through the air decisively, leaving tendrils of fire dancing through the air. He was after all an Incinerator, and those of his Caste were flame handlers.

  “I trust The Elder knows what he is about. It is not for us to question his motives.” Obsidian stoically refused to dwell on the fact that he had already done so, though it hadn’t gained him any answers from Tryton.

  “So that’s the legendary Cady, hmmm? That would explain why she’s giving off such strong psychic emanations. I’ve heard rumors about her, about how similar her talents are to ours. I wonder just how gifted she is?” Edge trailed off and looked at Cady thoughtfully. “I’ve never actually met a psychic human before.”

  “Curb your interest, Edge. She may be a fierce warrior, but she’s got the disposition of a Horde Canker-Worm. Where is the Traveler?”

  “I am here,” spoke a dark voice from deep within the shadows.

  “Show yourself,” Obsidian commanded.

  A tall, cloaked man emerged from the shadows. He moved silently, fluidly. “Have you need of my services, Obsidian?”

  “I have Traveled as much as I can tonight. I’ve already drained much of my strength by doing so, looking for all of you. I’ll need you close by during this battle. I won’t have the strength to take us home should we have need.”

  “It shall be as you command.”

  The man stepped silently back into the shadows. Even with their exceptional night-vision, which allowed them to see as clearly as a human would by daylight, there was no sign of where The Traveler lay hidden.

  Obsidian turned back to Edge and Cinder. “Now wait here while I go and—“ There was a sudden explosion of sound throughout the woods.

  The Daemons had arrived. And they were hungry.

  Before the three men could make a move, a Daemon came into view. One huge leap and the monster was flying through the air—straight at Cady. Obsidian made to shout a warning to her, but even before the words had left his panic-choked throat, she moved to strike at the monster.

  She lunged upward, meeting the Daemon in mid-air. One hand deflected a blow from the monster. The other hand aimed the mini-Uzi at the beast’s chest. A spurt of ammo and they both fell to the ground, with Cady standing over the fallen Daemon.

  The fight had lasted mere seconds.

  “By Grimm’s name,” all three men swore in unison.

  There was no more time for gawking, as heartbeats later four more Daemons moved into the thicket. Even as Cady set fire to the fallen form of her adversary, Obsidian, Edge and Cinder moved to engage in their own battles. The night’s work was begun.

  * * * * *

  Cady looked about her. She’d only killed three beasts thus far, and already her clothes were caked with Daemon blood. She looked around her and saw Obsidian, and two men who she assumed were members of his fighting crew. She was relieved to see that she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t seem to keep from getting filthy during a Daemon fight. They all looked to be just as dirty as she was.

  She walked toward them, ignoring the sickening smell of burning Daemon flesh that surrounded her. She was used to it by now. Well sort of, anyway.

  “How many does that make tonight, Sid?” she asked.

  “Excuse me? What did you call me?” Obsidian asked incredulously.

  “Sid. It takes too much time to say Obsidian all the time—no offense.”

  “Well I do take offense. My name is an honorable one, given to me for—“

  “Just answer the question. I’m too tired to argue with you right now.”

  Obsidian gritted his teeth, “I’ve killed four. Cinder, Edge—how many have you taken?”

  “Two.”

  “Two for me as well.”

  “So with my three that makes eleven. My God, their numbers are rising every night. My record is only eight kills in a night, and a few years ago I would have thought five was the most I’d ever see at once.” She glanced at her watch; the face was covered in Demon blood but luckily it was waterproof, and when she wiped it clean she could see it was still functioning properly. “It’s only three a.m., the night is still young. There could be more.”

  “I had no idea so many were escaping our patrols at the Gate. This is madness,” one of the men said.

  “Cady Swann, allow me to introduce you to two of my warriors. This is Cinder. He’s of the Incinerator Caste. One of the best.”

  A man with whitish blond hair, standing at about six-foot-five, bowed low at the waist to her.

  “It is an honor to meet you, Cady.”

  “Likewise. What does it mean—Incinerator Caste?”

  “It is my class distinction within the Shikar society. The family to which I belong. Though, like any warrior I am skilled in many fighting arts, my greatest skills lie with the ability to make fire. When my team fells a Daemon I incinerate the remains while they move onward down the battlefield. I keep the fallen Horde from rising again.” So saying he demonstrated for her.

  Cinder held a hand out towards one of the already burning Daemons, and a ball of fire shot out to send the burning carcass exploding into even more flame.

  Cady tried not to look uncomfortable. What Cinder was doing was oddly familiar. She looked away from the fiery display.

  Obsidian drew her attention again. “This is Edge. He is of the Foil Master Caste.”

  A man with dark auburn hair, standing just an inch shorter than Obsidian, stepped forward. He also bowed and greeted her. Even before Cady had a chance to ask him about his Caste, he showed her exactly what it meant.

  Twirling like a dancer, moving far more swiftly than her eyes could follow, the man raised his arms and sent blue-white blades shooting from his arms in all directions. The blades were the same as the ones she’d seen Obsidian use against her the night before. Only these flew through the air like boomerangs, glowing brightly in the night as they soared around in all directions before flying back into Edge’s arms.

  “Holy moly. So those things are called foils? Do all Shikars have them?”

  “Yes, but only those of the Foil Master Caste can use them as projectile weapons,” answered Edge.

  “Amazing. Are these all of the men in your group, Sid?

  Obsidian ignored her use of a nickname instead of his full name this time. He suspected she did it on purpose to get a rise out of him, and he’d be damned before he gave her the reaction she wanted. “There’s just one more in my crew, for now. Traveler!” he called out.

  In the blink of an eye a man appeared at Cady’s side. She was so startled that she jumped back and raised her gun before she realized he wasn’t making any threatening moves. She lowered her gun slowly and eyed the newcomer cautiously.

  “The Traveler is new to my crew, though he was the personal Traveler of The Elder until Tryton assigned him to us.”

  “Tryton. That’s the guy who wants me to join up with you guys, right?” she asked, remembering the short back-story Obsidian had supplied her with as they’d made the trek out into the woods earlier in the night.

  “Yes, he’s the one. He is our wisest and oldest leader. He felt that this Traveler was the best, and thus he assigned him to aid my crew.”

  “And I take it your crew is the best?” Her tone was droll.

  “Of all the warriors in all the armies of the Shikar, my men are the most skilled, the most brave, and the most respected of any.”

  “Very nice. So, is Traveler your name or your Caste or what?” Cady asked, turning to the man who had as yet remained still and silent. His face and form were hidden beneath a heavy black cowl, but he stood tall and lean beside her. He was at least seven feet tall if he was an inch. She had to crane her neck up to look where his eyes should be beneath the hood.

  “My name is unimportant.” His voice was deep and smooth. “I am The Traveler, my Caste is Traveler, and my abilities are self-explanatory.”

  “Okay. Excuse me for asking, sheesh.”

  “How often do you find Daemons in this Territory?” asked Cinder, dra
wing her attention away from the hooded Traveler.

  “Well it used to be about once every week or so. Sometimes a month would go by and there would be nothing. In the past three months, though, I’ve met up with them almost on a nightly basis.”

  “Then they are gaining in strength…or our patrols are failing,” Cinder said.

  “What patrols? Do you know why these creatures are suddenly running loose all over my town?”

  The three men whose eyes she could see exchanged weighted glances. Cady assumed that Traveler shared in whatever unspoken communication passed between the other men. She really hated being ignored.

  “Well, since you guys seem to have some dialogue to share without little ol’ me interrupting, I’ll just be going—”

  “No. You will come with us and meet The Elder.”

  “What if I don’t want to meet him? Maybe I have other appointments to keep tonight.”

  After hearing her words, Edge moved to speak. “By that you mean you will hunt for more Daemons? Surely you do not think there will be more of these creatures to hunt tonight?”

  “No, there aren’t any more out tonight. I just have other—”

  “How can you be sure?” Edge asked, interrupting her.

  With a weighty sigh, Cady closed her eyes and sent her senses seeking out into the night for signs of any more Daemons. All she felt was the still, calm quiet of the night around her. A moment later she opened her eyes and leveled her gaze at the men who flanked her. “I don’t feel any. If there were more I would feel them.”

  “You can sense them? Track them?” Cinder turned to Obsidian. “But I thought she—” Obsidian silenced Cinder with a hard stare. Whatever Cinder had meant to say, Cady could see it was obvious that Obsidian didn’t want him to finish.

  “Look guys, this is starting to grate on my nerves. If you can’t speak openly in front of me, why should I bother cooperating by going to meet this Elder of yours? How do I know he’ll be any more forthcoming with me than you have been?”