Aimee breathed through the invasion of her body. At least the woman was gentle in her probing and several minutes later, the worst was over.
“Sit up,” came the icy command.
“Does this mean my DNA tested positive?”
The woman ignored her and instead stuck a stethoscope to her chest. “Deep breath.”
Aimee complied and pulled in a ragged breath, then released it. The woman removed the instrument, wrapped it around her neck and grabbed an otoscope. She proceeded to examine both her ears. She stepped back. “You are exceptionally healthy. That’s good.”
Aimee swallowed, but her throat was parched. “You never answered my question.”
The doctor sat on a stool and started jotting notes on what she assumed was her file. “You can get dressed.”
She wasted no time in jumping off the table and pulling on her clothes. Once back in her red and white scrubs, the doctor indicated for her to have a seat. She climbed back on the table, the paper crinkling beneath her.
“Look. You might as well understand there’s no way out of here. I don’t have the results of your test yet, but either way I think you’ll be moved to cell block B.”
Aimee frowned. “What’s that?”
“The maternity ward. Even if you test negative for the DNA, you could become a surrogate. The half breeds are bigger than full human babies. Therefore, not all the females are capable of carrying to term or giving birth.” The woman laid her hand on Aimee’s knee and leaned closer. “It’s the safest place to be in this shithole.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Everything is done artificially, and the women there are treated well. It’s the best you can hope for.”
Aimee shook her head, which now felt like someone had jabbed an ice pick in her eye. “What’s all this about?”
The blonde glanced around as if to make sure no one was within earshot. “These demons believe some bullshit about Atlantis, and how it’s not really sunk under the sea but hidden by magic. Something about whoever can get in and bring the city back to life will become the ultimate ruler. They seem to think their ancestors bred with select humans in order to save the DNA code. Since they can’t get into the forgotten city themselves, they hope to create a child who can do it for them.”
It was simply too much to wrap her mind around, and she couldn’t think of anything to say other than the obvious question. “Why don’t you help us escape?”
The woman rolled her eyes. “Do you think any of us want to be here? Believe me, we’ve all looked for a way out, but so far there is none. I’m not even sure where the hell we are.” She stood and smoothed her top. “I just do what I’m told in order to survive, and you’d be wise to do the same.” Her cold demeanor returned and her spine went rigid as she walked to the door and flung it open. “The girl’s exam is complete. Take her to cell block B.”
Aimee tried not to let the news she’d just heard bring her down. I’d give anything for a handsome demon named Greydon to rescue me.
Greydon and his team landed at the edge of a white-capped ocean. When he turned around, he was greeted with a narrow strip of sand and a wall of sheer rock that spanned several hundred feet into the air.
“Sooo, where the hell are we?” Bethany asked.
“Oshivana?” Fang tipped his head back and looked up the cliff face. “Please tell me we don’t have to climb that.”
“No. The gate should be hidden in the rock face. I just need to let the stone lead me to it.” He tugged on the chain around his neck and pulled the stone from under his shirt. The pendant pulsed a faint blue in rhythm with the low-pitch tone it emitted.
Fang’s gaze dropped to the stone. “It will lead you.”
“Lead us to what?” Bethany asked, her voice crisp with impatience.
Greydon only gave her a quick glance before he headed toward the rock face, the pendant still gripped firmly in his palm. He hated to ignore her questions, but he didn’t know how to answer when he felt as clueless as her. After walking fifty paces straight ahead, the stone hadn’t changed. He was almost touching the wall, so he turned to the right and took a few steps. The stone responded by dimming further. “It’s a start at least.” He countered by turning around and heading the opposite direction.
“What is he doing?” He heard Bethany whisper to Fang.
“Shush and watch. If this works, it will be the most amazing thing you’ve ever witnessed,” Fang shot back.
The stone’s color pulsed faster. The deep sapphire grew lighter as the hum increased in frequency. Greydon was headed in the right direction now, so he continued to follow the stone’s lead as they walked along the rock wall. They came upon a large boulder that jutted out into the sea and forced to scale over it to reach the other side. The entire time Bethany complained, not that Greydon could blame her. Her worry for Aimee radiated off her body as a constant reminder of why they were here. He worried as well. If the Concosa hadn’t gotten to her, who knew what type of torture her own kind would bring down on her. His body tensed at the thought of anyone touching her.
After a half hour hike of trudging through sand and over rocks, the stone pendant turned a brilliant turquoise. The increased vibration caused it to hop in his hand. “I think we’re here,” he exclaimed.
“Now what?” Fang asked, looking at the wall of stone in front of them.
He looked over at his friend. “Now I ask for permission to enter, and pray the legends were true. If not, then we may all perish right here.” He took in a slow, deep breath and pulled his shirt off, handing it to Fang. His tats pulsed, fading from black to pale gray, in time with the stone. He placed both palms on the rock face, closed his eyes and hoped something happened.
“As a descendant and rightful leader of Oshivana, I demand you grant me and my companions entry.” He ordered in his most commanding tone. The stone around his neck began to hum so loudly it pierced his ears; he feared the pendant would shatter. The tattoos that marked him felt like thousands of claws digging into his skin. Something warm trickled down his waist, and he heard Bethany gasp. He was bleeding.
His lungs expanded and burned until he thought he would choke. Every muscle in his body had gone rigid and screamed for mercy. When he thought he could take no more, that his true destiny was to die a slow, painful death in the very spot where he stood, something happened.
The pain ebbed, and the ringing in his ears subsided. He opened his eyes and looked down. The trail of heat that coated his abdomen was indeed blood, and he questioned how that had happened when he had no open wounds. Before he could spend much time contemplating it, the rock wall began to shimmer and then became transparent.
“Holy shit!” Fang exclaimed.
“Whoa, what’s happening?” Bethany brought her hand up to touch the now see-through barrier.
“I’ll go first, then Bethany and Fang you bring up the rear.” He didn’t see any reason to waste more time. The clock was ticking, and he only hoped they weren’t too late. Greydon stepped through the shimmering wall that previously had been solid rock. Behind him came Bethany followed by Fang. Each stepped up beside him and stood with mouths gaping open. He had not been prepared for what stood in front of them.
Calm, crystal-blue water surrounded an island city. Winged, twin marble statues that towered at least a thousand feet in the air flanked the entrance. Each held its arms toward the sky, offering a large bronze bowl into the clouds. A bridge that stretched several city blocks stood between them and the front door.
“What the hell is this place?” Bethany murmured, the awe evident in her voice.
“Oshivana,” Greydon replied.
“So do we walk the bridge or teleport across?” Fang scrubbed his chin in contemplation then looked at Greydon.
“I think it best we walk. We don’t know what we’ll encounter.” Greydon grabbed his shirt from Fang and pulled it over his head. Both the stone and his tats had calmed since he’d crossed the barrier. “Let’s get going.” He put one foot onto the bridg
e—nothing happened—so he began to walk at a clipped pace.
“Do you know where to go?” Fang asked from behind.
“Should be a special chamber. We’ll find the scrolls there that will tell us the blood chant.”
Everyone remained quiet as they walked over the water and up to the towering statues. When they had reached the entrance, Greydon wondered how they would get in. Suddenly the giant gate began to lift on its own. Once high enough to walk under, he wasted no time in crossing the threshold. On the other side, they were greeted by stone statues and trees whose green leaves rustled in the warm breeze. Small bushes with fragrant white and pink flowers dotted a large courtyard.
“This is weird. Why does it feel like there’s no one here?” Bethany asked as she inhaled the spiced scent of a bush.
“Because there isn’t.” Greydon scanned the area, looking for their next step. “This place has been abandoned since twelve-hundred B.C.”
Bethany spun around and stared at him. “What?”
Fang snorted. “Oh please, let me tell her.”
“Fine,” Greydon grunted. “But we need to move.” He stalked off to the east.
“This, my dear human, is what your people call the Lost City.”
Greydon wished he could have seen her expression, but he was in too much of a hurry to look back. He stepped inside the large, marble structure and closed his eyes. The stone would lead the way.
Chapter 13
Aimee was escorted to cell block B. Her guard put her in a room that resembled more of a suite, if that term could be used in a prison. The walls were a soft cream and the floor covered in a thick, chocolate carpet. The room was sectioned off into three areas. On one side, a small, caramel-colored sofa faced a flat screen television on the wall. A double bed took up another wall, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower was situated at the back of the room. Rather than bars and a gate at the front, she had a regular door, which would only be locked at night—or so she was told. Apparently, all the other prisoners shared a common area and dining room. She was free to come and go from her room to those areas. It all sounded hunky-dory except for the fact she was still a prisoner.
After a quick shower to wash off her exam, she decided to check out the rest of her surroundings and talk with the other women. She wanted to snoop around and see what information she could find. There was no way she would give up finding a way out. Hope was the only thing she had at the moment.
She wandered down the brightly lit corridor and passed several other doors that she assumed led to rooms similar to her own. How many others are being held here? She supposed she would find out soon enough.
She rounded the corner and came into a large room filled with several couches and chairs. An extensive bookshelf covered two walls. A flat screen television, double the size of the one in her room, sat on top of a large entertainment center that housed a large DVD collection. Three women sat transfixed with a program on the TV. Aimee approached with caution, not sure what to expect from them. She took a seat in a chair off to the left of the girls and wiped her sweaty palms on her pants.
“Hi.” It was like showing up to a new school on the first day and worrying if you’d fit in. This is crazy.
The tiny blonde who sat closest to her, turned and smiled. “Hi. I’m Jamie, welcome to our hell.”
“I’m Aimee and what can you tell me about this place?” Might as well get straight to the point.
The gal who sat in the middle twirled her long black hair and pinned a green-eyed glare on Aimee. “Who the fuck you think you are? You can’t just waltz in here and demand answers.”
“Megan, be nice. She doesn’t know the rules yet.” Jamie whispered back. The third gal, who also had long black hair and looked like the younger sister of the one called Megan, just chewed her nails and kept her eyes on the TV. Aimee fought to keep from rolling her eyes. It was obvious that this would be no different from a regular prison. Someone had to be the bitch, and it seemed to be Megan.
Jamie cast Aimee a look that begged her not to cause trouble, so she picked up a magazine and settled back into her chair. After flipping through several pages and feigning interest, Megan and her look-alike got up and left the room. After they were out of sight, Jamie leaned closer.
“Don’t mind Megan. She’s just trying to protect her little sister as best she can. Obviously you got your exam, but did you get your blood tests yet?”
“No, you?”
Jamie shook her head, her blonde curls bounced. “I’m only here because I have wide hips. No demon blood here.”
Aimee glanced around. “What can you tell me?”
“There are cameras everywhere. As far as we know, none of the babies have survived. Some women have miscarried only after a few months.” The girl sucked in a breath. “They’re here you know, have you seen any?”
“The ugly demons? Yeah, they pretty much escorted me everywhere.”
“No, the other demons. I spotted a couple males being led to the labs. I’m not sure how many they have, but my guess is they are here to inseminate any girls with positive DNA.”
It took a moment for her statement to sink in but when it did, her heart fluttered. Were they Greydon’s people? “You mean the ones who look human?”
Jamie gave a little giggle. “If I had met one of them on campus, I would have swooned. They are drop dead gorgeous.”
Aimee blinked. “You’re being held here against your will. You’re nothing more than a baby factory!” The girl’s eyes glistened with tears, and Aimee felt like an ass.
“I was abducted while walking across campus one evening.” She gave a forced smile. “My dad always told me I shouldn’t be out at night alone, but I didn’t listen. Thought I was smarter than him, and now look at me.” The tears slid down her cheeks. “I’m not even sure how long I’ve been here, but it feels like forever.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things to you.” She jumped up, slipped in next to Jamie and gave her a hug. The girl clung to her for several minutes before she finally leaned back.
“I haven’t forgotten why I’m here. I just do what I have to in order to survive.”
Aimee nodded. “I can get that.”
Jamie pushed herself up to her feet. “I’m going to my room for a nap before dinner. See ya later?”
She threw on her best smile. “You bet. Think I’ll do the same.” She stood and gave Jamie another hug before she headed back to her room. The longer she was in this place, the more she began to feel like there was no way out. Still, she would work on finding an escape until she drew her last breath. Her mind raced back to Greydon. She seemed to have a hard time keeping at bay the mental image of his half-naked body and his fangs stuck in her wrist. She’d give most anything to have him rescue her now.
Greydon walked the vacant halls. The only sounds were those of his and his companions’ footsteps. Their echoes sent a shiver up his spine. The past spoke to him, but he didn’t have time to listen to his ancestors’ plea to resurrect their ancient home. That would have to wait for another time. The only thing that occupied his mind was finding Aimee.
The stone around his neck had turned a bright blue and had burned steady since he’d entered the main palace—almost like it was content and happy to finally be home. He had to admit he also felt different since stepping through the front gate. Something in his DNA kicked in. A familiarity, apparently ingrained so deep in him, he instinctively knew where to go.
After traversing through a large dining area and a library lined with dusty books, they finally came to a wooden door. Its simplicity made it stand out among the richly decorated rooms he’d seen so far.
This was where he would find what he sought. He touched the handle then hesitated. The ancient ritual that would lead him to Aimee had not been performed in his lifetime. He had no idea what to expect and worried about becoming tied to her. This was something usually reserved for mates. However, he hoped the blood bond would only lead him to her and
not cause him to crave her further. He wasn’t sure he could deal with that.
Taking a deep breath, he shoved his fears aside and pushed open the door to a small, dimly lit room. Only a trickle of light filtered through a stained glass window on the opposite wall. Its rainbow of color left patterns on the worn, wooden table in the center. Beside it stood a case with several small cubbies that had rolled parchments stuffed inside.
He moved closer to examine them. Fang and Bethany hovered in the doorway. Greydon reached out his hand and hesitated for only a moment, before he was drawn to one scroll in the center. He carefully pulled it free then turned around and laid it on the table. With great care and anticipation, he unrolled it and his companions stepped closer.
“It looks like it’s written in Chinese,” Bethany said.
“It’s a language our ancestors used. Luckily we are taught to read and write it as children, in the hopes that one day we would end up here,” Greydon replied.
“I’m still not sure where ‘here’ is, but I’ll worry about that after we find Aimee,” she whispered.
Greydon glanced at Fang then back to the paper. “I have no idea what will happen, so be prepared for anything.”
“Done,” Fang replied and pulled Bethany away from the table.
He studied the language and began to whisper the chant. “Blood that is yours, blood that is mine. Blood lies between us, blood is the bind. I summon the life forces and command our fates intertwine, and let this blood between us forever bind. Bonded by blood, now bonded two souls. Blood flows together, making us whole.”
The symbols jumped from the page and swirled in the air over the parchment. His tattoos pulsed and her blood that coursed through his veins took on a life of its own. It spoke to him in a soothing tone, and he knew he was royally screwed. Even her life force knew he wanted her.
His heartbeat nearly shattered his eardrums as he balanced on the precipice of shifting. Black claws extended from his fingertips and dug into the table. Being stuck in a hellish limbo, and not able to completely shift either way, sent searing pain deep into his marrow. Bones twisted and his wings pressed through the skin on his back, begging for release. The bonding was complete. He only needed to do one more task.
Taken By Desire: Demonic Desires Book 1 Page 9