by Rena Marks
“It could be anyone.”
They’d reached a room with cavernous ceilings, making their voices sound like echoes in a cave.
“The clues were too many to ignore. I’ll prove it to you.” Natalya headed toward a bookshelf, her voice disappearing behind stacks of shelves. “Where are the books? Jere? Baby, where did we hide them?”
Her husband followed to where she was hidden between the shelves.
“If I could find the right passage and read it to you, you’ll see for yourself.” Her voice carried.
“I believe we set it higher last time,” Jere said from behind mountains of books.
Natalya was rifling through the books on the shelves, noisily shoving some aside with loud thumps. “Enishka used to live in Court. Here. Before he became insane from delving into all four books at once. It’s unheard of to keep all four together. But he broke the rules, as arrogant as always. When insanity struck, he moved into the marsh, like the scriptures foretold. Lived in the mud. It was disgusting. So once that happened, no one was able to find the four scriptures ever again. But once he was banished to the moon, Keara and I joined our powers, and found they were simply cloaked in a spell. We thought they had been destroyed. As it was, it took a lot to separate them. We needed to balance the power and strike from both dimensions, ours and Hell. I mean, your Earth. But Keara was here in Luciefyiore, so there wasn’t any power on Earth to use. I had to use three little old ladies, fortunetellers on Earth, who inherited some residual power from me. The three of them, of course, have no idea of what they possess.”
Her voice became louder as she and Jere came to the table, carrying heavy, reddish-pink books with them. The material was rough, covered with tiny little bumps, and looked wet.
“Eww,” Holly said. “What are they made of?”
“Human tongue,” Natalya said nonchalantly.
Suddenly Jere plopped the book on the table with a thump. With a look of disgust on his face, he wiped his wet palms across his thighs.
“Like I said,” Natalya pointedly continued, “there are four. Two are on Earth in Keara and Caleb’s possession. Two are here, still cloaked. The four books can never be brought together, whoever does so faces the same insanity curse as Enishka faced. What we do from time to time is open a portal and pass the books back and forth so we can read each other’s. Keara was the one who found the scripture about you. Ahh, yes, here it is—
“The eve shall cometh to pass when demon and human shall mix. Precious are these seeds for their rarity in the ability to breed. The third seed is invisible to all and to herself, for lack of horns and heritage. By the light of the moon, she shall be captured in the Realm of Earth by the Demon Lord and forced to marry. Her power will be great, enough to shatter both planes of existence should it fall into the wrong hands.
“That was how we knew you were female. We also surmised you were a descendant of the eggs Enishka once hid on Earth, especially since you knew nothing of your heritage. Invisible to all, get it? And see…your power is great. A breeder? Well, that’s the highest power we have, enough that breeders are kept as high priestesses. But the last part is what is worrisome. Captured in the Realm of Earth by the Demon Lord and forced to marry. That’s what he did to Keara, forced her to marry him. Fortunately, her marriage wasn’t recognized anywhere but there, so her Earth marriage to Caleb stands. I’m sure he’ll rectify that mistake should he get a hold of you during his second marriage.”
“So we keep you out of the human realm and he can’t capture you,” Jere said.
“I can never go back home?”
“Technically this is your home.”
“But I don’t have horns.”
“Not many demons can have as much power as you do without their horns. The only reason why your horns cannot grow back is they were removed before they were fully formed,” Natalya said.
“See, Natalya’s were removed when she was banished to Earth. They grew back upon her return to Luciefyiore. The pheromones are triggered by other horns around us. Had she been left on Earth, they never would have grown without another to trigger the hormones,” said Ace.
“But will I be accepted here without my horns?”
The room was quiet and she knew her answer.
Acel was the first one to speak. “No one will dare utter a word about your lack of horns, Holly. You’re under my protection.”
Natalya smiled. “I knew this would be a good match,” she said triumphantly to her husband, who groaned and rolled his eyes at her. “Now, back to the books. In this one it says—
“She shall have the power to open the cross-breeding between species. Dogs will mate with cats, and monkey with man. Beware the folly. Danger exists in the manipulation of mankind, for if the strong eat the weak, balance is lost and destruction reigns.
“One creature possesses the ability to change form at will. Upon his breeding he will pass his seed to a new line of corruption, enabling the parent to become all knowing and all powerful, the greatest being of both realms. Insanity shall keep him feeble until scales are tipped with sands of time.
“A Unity of Three will protect the weaker creatures from the Insane One. But who shall protect the Unity? Feminine strength is subtle yet powerful, but weakness lies in the female heart.
“One shall learn love. One shall face her dark. One will cross her greatest fear.
“And slaughter the innocent babes.”
Once again, the room fell silent.
“What does it mean?” Holly whispered.
Natalya answered, her face white. “It means I learned love. Keara faced the dark. So you will be the one to slaughter the children.”
Holly’s heart pounded. Her greatest fear was to go crazy. And she’d have to be insane to murder helpless children. “Oh, hell no! I refuse! No way am I killing babies. I don’t even step on spiders!”
Geez, was Ace looking at her differently? As if he didn’t really know her? As if she already might be…crazy?
“Ace, really,” she said.
Natalya interrupted. “It can’t be right. Something’s off. If it were me, it would work. I’m a warrior, I’ve fought to the death. Not that I ever slaughtered innocent babes, but it would make more sense. But instead, I was handed the sentence of learning to love. Did we mess up our fates somehow?”
“What do you mean you were handed the sentence?”
“A few years ago. The Council banished me to Earth without my horns as punishment for a teensy little mistake, which almost wiped out our race.”
Jere look at his wife.
“Oh, okay,” she mumbled. “I was to remain there until I learned true love. So there can’t be two of us. Let’s think about this rationally. Holly, what’s your greatest fear? What gives you nightmares? Your biggest phobia?”
Holly stared into the fire. “Madness. Crazy people terrify me. I attract wackos, and deep down inside, even though I know it’s ridiculous, I wonder if it’s contagious. If one day I’ll cross the line into crazy too.” There. She’d said it. She’d admitted it aloud.
“That can’t be a coincidence,” Jere said. “Her fear is insanity. Enishka controls the insane.”
“But still, what is the correlation with killing children?” Natalya asked.
“I must go insane,” Holly whispered. “The foretelling says I cross my greatest fear. It doesn’t say I face it, like yours do. I absolutely go crazy and murder innocent babies. I need to be locked up.”
“Prophecies don’t have to be fulfilled. They’re foretellings, but the future can always be changed. We will do it, Holly. You won’t go crazy and slaughter babes.”
Chapter Six
Be Careful What You Wish For
It was dark outside when she and Ace left the castle. Nothing looked the same as it had during the daylight when they’d arrived. Holly looked around in awe. How did one even find their way around this place?
A horde of wildflowers crossed the sidewalk in front of them. They strutted, as if ta
unting the people already on it. A rose along the sidelines turned and hissed, thrusting its thorns at the cluster of purple wildflowers. The flowers screamed and ran, begging for mercy.
The rose, left behind, chuckled.
Holly shivered. Then she looped her arm through Ace’s. It wasn’t as good as being carried through the wicked ways of the night like the last time, but at least there was constant contact.
Ace flexed his biceps. She squeezed, feeling the muscle contract under her touch.
“That’s the secret, Holls. See the rose’s laughter? It’s all about bluster here. Never show your fear in Luciefyiore.”
“But I am scared.”
He stopped her. “Do you see anyone around?”
“No.”
“That’s because they fear me. Holly, you’re with me. Throw your shoulders back and wiggle your ass like you own it, baby. No one would dare even look you in the eye unless I introduced you.”
She giggled at his audacity. And cockiness. “That’s you they fear, though. Not me.”
“Untrue. What can capture a lion, Holl? And still look like a lamb? They think you live on the edge of danger for cavorting with me. And when we’re done hiding from Enishka and they all find out you were raised in Hell just like Jere, they’ll quake in their boots. They’ll be glad they never crossed you.”
The idea was intriguing. To be feared and respected…and not have to do anything for it?
“Practice it, baby,” he encouraged.
Holly gave him a wicked smile. She tossed her thick mane of honey waves over one shoulder and licked her lips.
“That’s it,” he purred, hoping his breath wouldn’t catch. “Work it, baby.”
She added a swagger to her walk.
This time his breath did catch. The demoness was right there, always just under the surface. Holly had no idea how easily her other half was unleashed.
“Now you have it, sexy girl.” His voice was husky deep, and he fought the urge to clear his throat. No need to alarm her.
Or trigger her need out in the open field, because public sex was illegal.
“Ace.” She turned suddenly.
“Hmm?”
“If I could control my power…my lust…would you want me without it?”
“What?”
“Would you want me if I didn’t force you?”
Holly thought she forced him? How fucked up was that?
“Baby girl, I want you now.”
“You didn’t touch me last night. I had to wake up and initiate it with you.”
“You were exhausted from the ordeal. I was going to let you rest first. Holly, your power is a gift, not a curse. You don’t force people with it. You enhance what’s already there.”
“You would be attracted to me without it?”
“Yes. I would.” His voice sounded very definite. “In fact, let’s practice it. You work on controlling the lust. Don’t let it out, okay?”
She watched him, curiosity shining in her eyes.
“We’re out in the open. We can’t have sex, it’s against the law,” he murmured. “It’s safe.”
But his touch was contradicting his words. His finger reached out, tracing the curve of her arm. It feathered along her collarbone.
Her heart sped up.
“Fight it,” he whispered.
She breathed deeply until her heartbeat slowed.
“That’s it,” he said. “Concentrate on knowing that we’re out in public, on a sidewalk, at night. Nothing is going to happen, not out here anyway. Laws are not broken here. Our punishments are too great.”
His tracing finger trailed down between her breasts.
She inhaled sharply.
“You’re doing fine. It’s all my own control still,” he murmured.
It was right there, lurking below the surface. But she felt a sense of accomplishment, because it hadn’t boiled to overflowing.
He brushed her nipple. The zoom ripped through her.
“Fight, Holly.”
“Too much lust,” she gasped.
What was he doing? He continued to tug her nipple. Surely he had to know what he was doing to her.
“It’s not lust, little Human Holly.” His voice was calm, unaffected. “I just got started loving you.”
The internal storm subsided.
“That’s it,” he said, his voice easy and soft. Slowly he pulled her trembling body to him, tucking her head under his chin. His large hands caressed her back. “You’re amazing,” he murmured. “I’ve never seen such control.”
Perhaps because she was still stunned into distraction. He’d said “loving you”. Was it a play of words to confuse her power? Did he just mean it sexually, as in making love to her?
“Do you feel it?” he asked.
The lust? The power that she’d tamped down?
“The feeling between us?”
She raised her head. He was looking down into her eyes.
The demon was beautiful. And yet…so unsure.
“You…doubt yourself?” she asked.
“I don’t know how you feel about me. Not a clue. I’m laying my heart out for you, baby. Give me some hope here.”
“I-I, uh, I—”Am a stuttering idiot! She could hardly spit out the words.
“I pushed you too fast. Don’t worry, Holly. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Come on, let’s get home.”
They walked back in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Home. Should she think of his place as home? Even if she was never allowed to return to Earth, maybe Ace would want her to get her own place.
“You look worried, Holl.”
She laughed. “So do you, Ace.”
He frowned, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Yeah. I guess.”
“Why?”
“I came on too strong. I shouldn’t have.”
“Ace, you didn’t.”
“I just didn’t have the right to tell you any of that. I never should have—”
He was serious, she could tell. And she did not want to hear this. She had to stop him.
Holly stepped up to him and silenced him with her lips pressed to his.
Effectively stopped.
Besides which, he’d started something up in the hills that he just needed to finish. Because dammit, she was melting for him.
She pulled back and slowly shimmied the dress down her hips, leaving herself dressed in skinlike leggings with a bandeau loosely tied around her breasts like a sheer scarf.
His murky eyes darkened.
Holly tilted her head to one side then brought her hands up to cup her breasts.
The demon’s face remained expressionless, but his body went completely still.
What was it he had said earlier? Work it?
She tossed her thick waves over one shoulder and smoothed her open palms down her body. She inserted her fingers into the top of her waistband and worked the fabric down an inch or two. Farther then, until her hipbones showed.
His breathing was even and deliberate, timed precisely to show no lack of control.
Carefully she pulled her leggings down farther, nearly down to her mound.
His Adam’s apple moved slowly as he swallowed.
Her fingers caressed over her abdomen, teasingly as if they’d dip lower while he watched.
He growled and took a step forward, but she stepped back.
“No touching, demon. This time is all mine.”
He looked confused but acquiesced. In one smooth move, she peeled the leggings off and kicked them aside. Then she unknotted the scarf from her breasts, freeing them.
He stared at her nude body possessively. She dropped to her knees, kneeling before him and pressing her cheek to the bulge in his pants. “Mmm, baby, you feel good,” she murmured.
The zipper of his jeans sounded loud as it scraped downward. One pop of the waistband button and his jeans were pulled low enough for the painful erection to escape.
She rubbed her cheek against
the soft skin.
Turning slightly, she placed tiny kisses alongside his shaft, from the base to the head. Very gently, she licked the seam. A drop of pre-cum wet the head and she pressed the tip of her tongue to it.
The tiny hole of his cock flattened under her tongue.
His hands fisted at his sides. She knew without looking that his horns had elongated. In fact the spots where hers had been tingled in response.
She rose to her feet, grabbing the scarf from the floor.
“Follow me.” She draped the scarf that had tied her breasts around his neck, pulling him into the bedroom and all the way to the bed. With one hand she pushed him onto the bed then climbed on top of him.
“Sit on my face,” he commanded.
Holly shivered with lust.
She spread her legs wide, rubbing her open sex against his hot skin. “I want you to know something first.”
“What?” he growled.
She whispered close to his ear. “I’m laying my heart out for you too. I want you more than I want any other demon here. I crave you. I love you.”
He placed a finger over her lips.
“Holly, I’m not a good choice for you.”
But the sexy demoness was done talking.
She nipped his bottom lip with sharp white teeth and then crawled up his body, one leg on either side of him, spreading her labia for his view. Facing him, she spread her lips with her fingers, then lowered her pussy onto his waiting mouth.
He licked greedily, slurping her sensitive flesh like a man deprived.
She raised her hips. Ace followed, lifting his head to latch on to her again. He flicked his tongue harshly against her swollen clit.
Frantically she began to rotate her hips, pushing against his mouth.
“Harder, Holly,” he commanded.
She let go with wild abandon, grinding onto his face. A finger slid into her swollen sheath, cutting through the hot wetness.
Her breasts tightened, the nipples tingling as they stood erect, as hard as rocks.
“Pinch them,” he muttered between licks of her pussy.
One of his hands reached up to replace hers in spreading her lips, so she used her own hands to rub over her breasts.
Rolling waves of pleasure coiled tightly throughout her body and she screamed her bliss.