by Bonnie Vanak
“Once we achieve the right energy flow, I can work on pouring white light into your spirit and chase away the negative energy and vibrations.”
Keira passed the crystal over his body, hovering just above his torso. His gaze tracked her as she held the clear quartz over his heart. The crystal grew black. Alarm raced through her. This had never happened. There was more darkness in him than she’d realized.
“You’re filled with negative energy,” she murmured. “I have to infuse you with positive energy first. Concentrate on something soothing and healing. Relax.”
But he remained rigid. Keira set the stone on the windowsill.
“What do you do for fun?” she asked.
Dale looked bewildered.
She tried again. “Isn’t there anything you enjoy doing that gives you a lot of pleasure?”
He raised himself up on his elbows and gave her a slow smile. “Yes. But usually it involves a bed, and getting naked.”
Heat filled her cheeks. She looked away as he softly laughed.
“I didn’t mean sex.”
“It’s how I relax and unwind. You should try it instead of playing with magick stones and energy fields.”
Mischief twinkled in his gray eyes. She didn’t want to think about it—Dale’s strong body, naked and mounting her as they writhed together in ecstatic...
Don’t go there. Be professional.
“Sex is overrated,” she muttered. The demons had wanted her to lose her virginity and use sex to lure men to her side. Keira refused and even when they beat her, didn’t cave in.
“Maybe you’ve never had the right man to show you how it’s done.”
Keira shook her head. “Sex without love and emotion is as pointless as fighting evil with bullets and guns.”
“Bullets and guns protect people against the bad guys. You’re very innocent.”
The remark stung. “I’m no innocent.” She’d seen things that would send strong men screaming into the night.
“Naive, then. Thinking evil can be fought with herbs and crystals.” Dale lay on his side, watching her, propping up his head on one hand. “Wanting only to see the good in people.”
“I hope I never lose my ability to find the good in people. Because that’s what keeps me functioning from one day to the next. If someone could tell me how to find joy another way, and shove away the bad stuff, I’d sell my magick stones and follow him.”
His expression softened. “No one can tell you the true way to joy and how to avoid evil. All I know is you have to stand on your feet and take in life as much as you can, and face it with courage.”
For all his stubborn resistance, Dale Curtis was a good man and had a compassionate heart. He camouflaged it with gruffness, but once in a while, it peeked through.
“Thank you.” Then she gave him a gentle push. “Now lie down and let me work with my magick stones.”
Dale closed his eyes. She chanted sacred words as she passed the crystals over his body.
When she stopped, he sat up, alert and aware. Already she felt his aura pulsing stronger bands of red and blue.
“We’re finished for now, and I’d like you to rest for a while, then we can do another session in two hours. I need time for the crystals to drain of negative energy.”
“Can’t we do this tomorrow night?”
“The faster we work, the better. You can take a break tomorrow night.”
She needed to investigate his aura more clearly. Keira suspected the Centurion demons had implanted something in Dale, but she hadn’t been able to find it yet.
He jumped off the table as she walked to the mirror.
“I’ve cleansed this room, but it still has very faint traces of residual energy. Not sad or negative, just hopeful. What was in here?” She paused. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be nosy, but I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Dale’s gaze turned haunted. “A nursery. I started painting it the day Kathy told me she was pregnant. I was overjoyed, always wanted children and we’d been trying, or so I thought. I mirrored one wall to reflect the light because I wanted our child to have a bedroom filled with sunshine. Went out and bought baby clothing. Friends gave me their baby clothing they didn’t need anymore.”
He gave a derisive snort. “Fool I was. The paint was barely dry when she came home and said she was leaving me. She was pregnant, but with another man’s child. Her lover.”
Then he touched the mirror. “I wanted to feel angry at her leaving, but realized we’d grown apart a long time ago. Never wished it to come to that. Odd, how empty I felt. As if I ached more over losing a child than losing my wife.”
Keira’s eyes filled with tears. She turned to hide them. So much emotional and physical pain, yet he’d remained staunch and solid.
When they left the room, she closed the door, wanting to keep the stones and herbs protected within the sanctuary. Any negative emotions Dale experienced would remain outside the room.
He glanced at her. “If we have two hours to kill, how about watching an old fifties movie? Want to join me?”
Silly of her heart to beat so fast, for that flutter of excitement to spread through her body. “Only if you let me make popcorn.”
Dale grinned. “Only if you let me put extra butter on it.”
“Calories.”
“I’ll work them off tomorrow.” He stopped, braced an arm on the wall, effectively trapping her. “Some things in life are meant to be savored.”
He had the most extraordinary eyes, gray as morning mist, gray that could turn hard as cold steel. Dale Curtis was a man who looked you straight in the eye and did not shy away. But his voice was deep and husky, stroking over her like the brush of warm velvet. She wanted to wrap herself in his voice to ease the constant yearning and longing for what she could not have.
They would never be lovers.
They would never be friends.
And yet this was a man of deep integrity and courage, who represented everything good and decent she wanted to see in the world.
* * *
He drew near, his warm breath feathering against her cheek. Close enough to kiss her. Close enough to coax all her dead dreams into life. Such a firm, sensual mouth, contrasting with his masculine chin and hard, lean cheeks.
Keira put a palm on his hard chest, but not to push him away.
Dale regarded her beneath his hooded gaze. Then his nostrils flared as if he’d scented something. He turned his head sharply.
Keira’s heart stopped as she looked toward the stairs.
She hadn’t effectively warded his house against all the demons, after all. One materialized and now stood at the stairs, cackling with glee. Dale stared.
“What the hell...”
“It’s a Geldsen.” Keira backed away, recoiling in disgust. “A minor demon, drawn to nobility and strength, because it lacks any of its own. It was a human woman, and traded its soul for power.”
“How did it get in here?”
“I think you brought it here.” This was worse than she’d thought. If Dale were a demon conduit, how many other ugly creatures would come chasing after him?
“The Geldsen is drawn to your strength and courage and honor.” She breathed deep, pushing down panic. If only she had enough power and white light to ward the house, this creature could not have entered. But it was here now, and they were hard to vanquish because they had to be weakened first.
The Geldsen cackled and raked a claw down the wall, shredding the elegant gold-and-white-striped wallpaper. Dale’s expression tightened. He pushed Keira behind him in a protective move.
The Geldsen advanced, pointed spikes shooting from what were once wispy strands of red hair. With its slit of a nose, and slash of a mouth, it looked hideous, though it once was pretty, she guessed.
Stepping from behind Dale, Keira threw a crystal at the Geldsen, but the crystal cracked and shattered before touching the demon. Stunned, she reeled back, summoned a small energy ball and tossed it a
t the demon.
The Geldsen laughed and batted it away like a child’s toy. She simply wasn’t strong enough to fight demons. Then the demon ignored her and fixed its gaze on Dale.
“How the hell do we get rid of this thing?” Dale asked.
And then insight slammed into her. “Let’s lure her into the therapy chamber.”
The Geldsen advanced, her glittering yellow eyes fixated on Dale. “You’re a handsome one,” the demon cackled. “I’ll eat your insides for lunch and save your man parts for dessert.”
Dale grabbed Keira’s hand and tugged her down the hallway. He threw open the door to the chamber. The Geldsen followed, screeching like an enraged banshee.
“In the corner by the mirror,” she told him.
She prayed this would work. Hatred and envy fed the Geldsen’s demon strength. Both were powerful sources. But Dale was a courageous navy SEAL and a Primary Elemental Mage.
Dale crouched in attack position as the Geldsen advanced. “Die, bitch,” he snarled and threw her against the mirror.
Keira raced for the light switch. Harsh overhead lights flooded the room.
The Geldsen looked stunned for a minute. Then it snarled and reached out with red talons for Dale.
“See yourself for what you are, demon.” With a hard kick, Keira sent the Geldsen reeling.
The Geldsen caught its reflection in the shiny glass and staggered back, screaming.
White light glowed in Dale’s right palm, the energy ball dancing in his outstretched hand like a child’s toy.
“Do it,” Keira choked out. “Send her straight back to hell.”
He threw the ball. It hit the Geldsen’s chest, where a human heart once resided, and exploded. The banshee scream turned into a pathetic whimper as the Geldsen shattered into thousands of dust particles and then was no more.
Keira gulped down several breaths, more shaken than she wanted to let on. The Geldsen was an unwelcome surprise. She’d warded the house with as much powerful white light as she could muster, but her feeble powers weren’t enough. She needed Dale stronger.
She went down the hallway and cringed at the shredded wallpaper. “Sorry about that,” she told him as he joined her.
Dale’s grin made him look boyish. “Never did like that wallpaper. Was planning to remodel, and that bitch just gave me a head start.”
“Guess this is a good lesson.” She flexed her fingers, thinking of her meager, diminishing power.
“Hoo, yeah. Don’t mess with a navy SEAL.” He gave another lopsided smile. “Or a pretty Luminaire. That was some kick.”
“You didn’t do so bad yourself, sailor.”
His smiled faded and he got an intense, dangerous look. Keira sucked in a breath. This was no man to trifle with, and a powerful Mage who could fry demons even when not at full strength.
Intelligent man he was, if Dale figured out the Geldsen had not attacked her, and started asking questions why...
Let’s really not go there.
“Forget the movie for now.” He turned and folded his muscled arms over his chest. “Tell me why you know so much about demons. I want to know everything. Starting now.”
Chapter 11
For the next two hours, Keira told Dale most of what she knew about demons, how she’d made it her business to go to libraries on her travels and consult with books.
By the time they returned to the therapy room, she felt drained and numb. Keira lit several fragrant candles and breathed in their scent, then took the largest crystal and poured all her white light into it. She placed the glowing stone gently on his chest.
Trying to keep her emotions even wasn’t easy in this room filled with past pain and her own inner guilt. Keira studied the crystal and his aura and concentrated.
She needed to see the inner striations of his aura for a hidden demon signature.
Continuing with the chanting, she finally was rewarded with sparks of yellow and red that formed a pattern she knew well.
Sucking in a deep breath, she removed the now dull crystal.
Dale opened his eyes and regarded her with his usual intense focus. “What is it?”
“Demons implanted a signature pattern in your body. I didn’t see it before because it’s hidden deep in your aura. The crystal has brought it into sight.”
“What kind of demons?”
“Centurion demons. Basically, it acts like a homing beacon so the demons can find you, no matter where you go.”
He looked stricken. “Get rid of it.”
“I can’t, not without your help. I need to cleanse all the darkness from you to do it.”
“Terrific. I’m a walking demon target.” He sat up, looking alert. “Wait. Maybe I can use this to my advantage. Lure the bastards here, including that demon wolf, and then break their necks. I’ve made it my goal to find that bitch.”
You won’t have to look that far, she thought.
Keira bit her lip and rubbed her sweating palms against her dress. “I wouldn’t do that. You’re the target, but the demons will use you to get to others. Maybe even your men.”
Dale would use himself as a target, but refused to endanger others. “Too risky. How can I trap them for good? Tell me what you know.”
Must tread carefully here. If she revealed too much, he’d get suspicious. “Centurion demons are not corporeal when they roam the earth. They’re not easy to vanquish. How did your SEAL banish them?”
“He chanted a powerful Mage spell.”
“Probably only strong enough to vanquish them for a little while, until they can access their bolt-hole here in this world. Once they do, they’ll head straight for you.”
His jaw tensed. “How do I kill them?”
She had pondered that question many times over the past twenty-three years. “Probably the only surefire way is vanquishing them and then sealing the bolt-hole they use to access this world. That way they can never return here.”
“Bolt-hole. I’ll get one of my men on it ASAP.”
“It won’t be easy to find.”
She knew, because she’d sacrificed some of her free time searching for it herself.
“What would be the sig pattern of this demon bolt-hole?”
At her surprised look, he added, “I have some experience with them. My team sealed a few.”
Hope filled her. If his team had sealed bolt-holes, then they had a fighting chance.
“It’s not like anything you’ve encountered before. It has to be in the earth, connected to the earth and the elements. You won’t find it in an urban environment, but it will be surrounded by an area of past violence.”
He looked thoughtful. “Not Iraq or Afghanistan?”
“No. The violence isn’t controllable.” She struggled to explain it. “Terrorist violence is sudden, unexpected and destructive. This bolt-hole is like a rift to the underworld. It opens and shuts like a door. Enough dark energy opens it, and terrorist violence is too random to give it adequate strength to stay open long enough for the demons to use it.”
She hesitated. If she gave an approximate location, it would speed up the search. But she couldn’t risk Dale finding out too much about her past.
“The violence keeping it open is probably induced by the demons and not by humans. In my travels, I’ve come across residual dark energy from past wars, and extremely violent campaigns in Central America. Civil wars there were brutal, especially in Nicaragua. The bolt-hole may be there, in an area where villagers whisper of ghosts from the war.”
He jumped off the table and headed for the door. “I’ve got work and I’ll be in my study. Feel free to borrow any DVDs and watch a movie in the living room.”
“I have work, as well.” She needed to set more protective measures around the house. Keira had once felt safe and secure here, but now the house felt filled with demon land mines. She rubbed her palms against her skirt. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. I need you to drive me into town with your truck to pick up some plants.”
As he ar
ched an eyebrow, she added, “Herbs and plants to ward the house. Might help.”
Dale’s eyes grew hard and cold. “Not as much as finding that bolt-hole. And the woman who put me in this mess in the first place. The woman in the basement who tortured me. When I find her, she won’t have to worry about a bolt-hole to hell. I’ll send her straight there myself.”
He headed for the stairs as she sank against the wall, shivering and afraid.
* * *
Two hours later, Dale sat in his leather easy chair in the study across from a tall vampire with shoulder-length chestnut curls. Stephen was ST 21’s best asset, a good friend and the best man for finding the demon bolt-hole.
The vampire had been in D.C. visiting with friends. He not only changed his plans at Dale’s request, but also brought a bottle of 200-year-old French Hennessy cognac. As they drank snifters of the amber liquid, Dale filled in Stephen on the details of the demon visits and Keira’s attempts to heal him with light therapy.
“A demon bolt-hole, probably in Nicaragua, surrounded by violence. Shouldn’t be too difficult for me to find.” Stephen sampled the cognac. “Demon sig patterns are fairly consistent, with overlays of crimson and black striations. It’s how they recognize each other, even disguised as humans. They can even use the patterns as a calling card.”
“The same sig Keira saw in my aura. She’s trying to cleanse away the demon traces and negative energy.”
The vampire looked thoughtful. “It’s a time-consuming and draining process that takes a lot of power, more than a Luminaire usually has. Their methods are too fruity for me. Unconventional and feel-good. I like to kick demon ass, not bathe it in white light.”
“Oh, she can kick ass all right.”
Dale inhaled the cognac’s fragrance of spices, flowers and nutmeg. Rich and heady, it suddenly reminded him of Keira. She seemed as delicate as oak-barrel-aged brandy, but that leg kick to the demon... He grinned and swallowed a sip.
“You’re looking much better than you did in the hospital, my friend. You look alive again.”