by Claire Marta
“Of course! She stole you after you were born. Thought you belonged to her because she birthed you.”
“You’re not my father.” Her tone wavered as she fought not to cry. This thing was not linked to her. He couldn’t be. Asier was her father. Staring up into the demon lord’s grey eyes, she could see how much they were like her own. Fear stabbed its way into her chest. They even had a similar nose.
“Lexi, what the fuck is going on?” Twitch asked. Brows drawn together, he watched the changing expressions rush across her white face.
“I don’t know,” Lexi responded weakly. This could not be true. It had to be a nightmare. Some kind of sick trick.
A sneer curled Celion’s lips. “I can see you are just as soft and weak. Succubuses always are. But the blood that runs through your veins can still serve a purpose. You will provide me with strong grandsons.”
“No one is touching her, so you can get that idea right out of your horny head, demon!” Twitch rolled the bed back making its wheels squeak.
“No one will mate her, but me.” Grabbing the nearest youngster, the demon lord pinched her cheeks together with his forefinger and thumb. Fear bloomed in the girl’s eyes as she froze. “Our genes combined are enough to bare offspring more hellion than these.” With a flick of his wrist he sent the small form crashing into a cluster of burning candles.
“You said you’re my father...that’s incest!” Bile rose in Lexi’s throat at the thought. Just imagining him touching her made her want to run screaming from the room. It was vile. Monstrous and the prospect notched up her sense of terror.
“This guy is the wrong side of special if you know what I mean,” Twitch muttered.
Prancing across the floor with the grace of a supermodel, Celion made his way to the end of the bed. “You yap like one of my dogs. I wonder if you would be just as entertaining if I tortured you in the same way.”
The Pomeranian whimpered. It’s little body shaking in fear as if it had understood it’s master’s words. Viciously, he tugged at its ears. “Naming them got boring, so we number them now instead. It saves thinking them up.”
Although he stood with his shoulders back Lexi could see that Twitch was not as confident as he was acting. Tugging on her restraints, she tried to reach for his hand. Nothing budged. This was starting to get irritating. Inside her emotions were a mess of panic, loss, and disbelief. Feeling helpless was only amplifying them. Giving Twitch some sort of courage she knew would go some way to ground her.
Stretching out a clawed hand, Celion appeared to be concentrating. Lexi’s heart beat slowed. As he curled his pointed nails into his palm something squeezed around the organ.
She was tugged upwards, drawn to the monster looming above.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Yanking the bed back further, Twitch’s back hit the wall. “Stop that voodoo shit right now!” They had nowhere else to go.
Gasping from the burning behind her breastbone, Lexi arched her body in agony. Celion was trying to rip something out of her. A part that did not want to go. Her soul. No matter how hard he forced whatever he was after remained safely in place.
“Who are you contracted to?” The demon lord hissed as he recoiled.
“Contracted?” Confused and panting for breath, none of this made sense to her.
“Someone wears your demonic binding. It would look like a tattoo. It means you serve them and only them.”
There were only two males in her life that had tattoos. Realisation made her eyes widen. “Master Asier.”
Celion stilled. “The Vampire Master of London?” Caressing his dog roughly, he threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, the irony of this is not lost on me. So, Asier has a demon as a pet? I’m surprised you’ve been allowed to survive this long in his domain. If he knew who had sired you then you’d already be dead.”
“I’m not his pet,” Lexi whispered back. She was not about to tell this creature that the vampire was her father, even though now it appeared he wasn’t. That thought pained her.
“You are tied to him for eternity as long as he has your contract,” the demon continued. “His slave forever. I bet you didn’t even realise what you were giving him. Your more pathetic than I thought.” He finished in disgust.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Of course, you don’t.” Whirling in a circle the golden material of his dressing gown billowed out as he held his free arm wide. It sent the candles flickering and ominous shadows to bob across the fading wallpaper. “Asier has such a forgiving nature, after all. So, naturally he wants one of our kind at his beck and call.”
The reassuring touch of Twitch’s hand on Lexi’s shoulder cut through the explosion of doubt that had incapacitated her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’ll let you into a few facts. I slaughtered his family in front of him.” Celion’s smile was full of evil malevolence. His perfect white teeth flashed in the stark light. “I took his mother on the muddy ground like the whore she was before slitting her throat and staking the bitch through the heart. That’s why your Master would never keep a demon in London no matter how beautiful they might be.”
“You killed his family?” The words barely made it through Lexi’s numb lips. Her head was spinning. Was this all true? In a matter of seconds everything she thought she knew had been tipped on its head.
“Are you one of his lovers? I have heard he keeps a harem of whores for his own pleasure.”
The hospital bed she was laying on abruptly swung from side to side. With a shriek Lexi dug her nails into the mattress. What was Twitch doing? Had he completely lost his mind?
“As much as we would love to hear you drivel on we have to get going. I only have so many fucks to give and tonight they’re all gone.” As Stella, the blonde cheerleader took a step to intervene, he shunted the bed in her direction. “Be careful. I’m capable of anything right now.”
With a look of pure evil glee, a grin spread across her glossy lips. “Oooh, I’m trembling in fear!”
“Back off!” Twitch warned as she stalked closer.
Raising a hand, she beckoned to the other children who stood watching with an increasing hungry anticipation. “You want to come play with us, Mage? Bring it.”
“Bring me his spine. I need a new table ornament,” Celion barked at them. The Pomeranian in his arms growled with the growing tension.
Twitch’s heart rate accelerated as the magic within him that made up every fibre of his being energised. Lightening coursed through his veins. Spells he had memorised since he was able to read hovered on his lips. He would give them as good as he got and risk the torture his new powers could evoke if it meant shielding Lexi.
With squeals of excited delight, the youths scrambled eagerly closer. Their eyes changed. Their black irises thinned becoming cat-like slits. Curling their hands, claws extended from their fingertips. Sharp. Deadly. Twitch had no doubt they had already caused bloodshed and death.
“I want his pretty eyes for my collection.” Psycho cheerleader licked her lips as she snagged a hold of the end of the bed. Two of her friends joined her. Grinning to each other, their fingers hooked over the metal.
“Let go, Bitch-lits.” Twitch growled as he tried to shake them loose. As the bed swung this way and that, they laughed, holding on tighter.
“If you keep jostling me I am going to throw up,” The colour drained from Lexi’s cheeks. Bouncing from side to side, she groaned. Twitch could see she was still straining to get free from her straps.
Stella and her cohorts shared a knowing smirk before snatching the bed back out of his grip. With an unnatural ease, they tossed it aside. Wheels locking, it fell sideways. Lexi’s cry of pain as she hit the floor jarred something within his chest.
The darkness he had been trying to deny swelled up inside him. Like spilt ink staining the pristine white of untouched paper it had tainted his soul. It was not his Mother’s abilities that had awakened within him like he’
d thought. He had been wrong. This was insidious and far different than anything he had ever known. His thoughts scattered as it took over. A lightning storm formed in his head. Pain. Destruction. He would rain them down on those who had hurt Lexi.
He’d kill anyone who stood in his path. No one touched what was his. It was an overwhelming desire. Those who did would bare his wrath. No matter the cost. He would see this place burn before he was through.
Lexi stared in amazement. Twitch had changed. He looked darker. Older. Bigger. An aura of power was throbbing around him. So powerful that it sent goose bumps rushing over every inch of her skin.
He stood legs slightly apart. A confidence was radiating off him she had never seen him with before. Not arrogance. No. This was an air of absolute dominance. A darkness was present which rivalled what she could sense lurking within the house. When he looked her way his brooding gaze devoured her. Lexi’s knees went weak. It both turned her on and scared her.
The crackle of magic rose around him, sweeping upwards and fluttering their hair with its intensity. It charged the air, wild and electric. Sensing something more than they could handle the children backed away. With uncertain expressions, they edged towards the door.
“You touch her again and you’re going to regret it.” Twitch’s voice was a low threatening purr. Every word controlled.
He was defending her. Lexi felt funny right in the region of her heart. A lightness. This was part of the mage she had never witnessed before. Where had it been hiding? It was as if he had two sides to him. A ying and a yang. Light and a darkness.
“Get him!” Stella shouted, gesturing for the nearest ones to attack. After a moment of hesitation, they did as they were bid.
Holding his palms flat and outwards, Twitch’s mouth moved in silence. Whatever he was casting caused the burn marks on his neck and cheeks to sear into life. Glowing brightly, they sizzled as they blistered deep into his already ravaged flesh.
A vortex of wind and sparks swirled within the middle of the room. It sent candles tumbling over. The rotting magazines in the corner scattered to plaster themselves against the mouldy walls. Twitch stood motionless at the eye of the storm. His presence seemed to fill the entire space. With a lash of his hand he threw a lightning bolt zipping out, striking several of the demon children.
Their screams were deafened by the howling of the whirlwind. Its rage poured through every molecule of air in the room. Lexi had never seen anything like it. The pure energy was unimaginable.
Strength was returning to her limbs. With effort, she snapped the belts that held her in place. With an animal like grunt, a child scuttled towards her legs. A dark-haired boy. Odd eyes overly bright saliva foamed from the corners of his mouth. He looked rabid.
Raising one leg to her chest, Lexi kicked him in the jaw. The blow sent him crashing back.
Snapping and clawing, the other children were pinned to the floor by Twitch’s unleashed magic.
Celion was trapped. Flattened against the boarded-up window frame, the small Pomeranian slipped from his arms. Yapping crazily, the ball of fluff shot off in another direction. Blonde hair blowing this way and that, he was watching the mage with an intensity that terrified Lexi. Behind his grey gaze she could sense him scheming.
Scrambling to her feet, she turned to Twitch. He had not moved. Locks of his long messy curls were flying over his shoulders. With his thick dark eyelashes lowered she could barely make out the glint of green. Enchantments were streaming from him. Lights glimmered over his skin before being swept up in the maelstrom. The marred scars were still burning with his magic.
Lexi braced herself against the cold blast. Drawing in a sharp shallow breath she shuffled forwards. She had to get to him. Needed to let him know it was ok. To stop. Before he tore the whole place apart and brought the roof down upon their heads.
Raising an arm to shield her face against the whip of the wind, she fought her way towards the figure at its centre. Its intensity made her eyes water. Feet skidding backwards, she struggled to put one in front of the other. Whatever Twitch was conjuring it was out of control. Features devoid of their usual mischief he seemed unaware of what he was going.
Reaching out her hand, it connected to something solid. Warmth flowed through her touch. Penetrating the mage’s shirt and sinking deep within his chilled skin.
Warm fingers gently touched Twitch’s arm. Heat bloomed. It chased away the fire that was burning through his skin. The raging, bitter anger so entwined with the darkness clouding his mind began to melt away. Glancing down at Lexi, he met her worried gaze. Not fear. Not rejection. Only a gentle concern that cleared Twitch’s mind of any lingering desire to hurt.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her into the shelter of his side. Dipping her head, she buried it against his chest. Soft, pink hair brushed against his cheek. The storm he had called forth swarmed around them. No way would he call it off now. They had an advantage. Already he could feel it waning. Once it died down the demons would be on them again like a flock of vultures.
A hum vibrated in Twitch’s throat. He had lost himself for a while. Stood on the very edge of the precipice of his cracked soul and it scared the fuck out of him. Lexi had somehow drawn him back. Quenched the uncontrollable magic that had almost swallowed him whole. Knowing he had no time to think about what had happened he manoeuvred the woman in his arms towards the doorway. They needed to get out. He needed to keep her safe. Protected.
“You’ve been touched by evil boy.” Celion’s attention was riveted to him. He was still pinned in place as the spell continued to play out. “Something ancient has awakened in your soul. Join us. You’re not a demon, but I can show you the potential of what you have. Think of the power. Anything could be yours. Respect. Money. Females. Whatever your heart desires.”
“No!” Twitch snapped shaking his head. Not looking back, he guided Lexi firmly towards freedom. “I’ve played that game before and my answer is no.”
“Pity.” The demon lord shrugged. “Kill him.”
Ear piercing screeches rose as the youngsters screamed.
Joining his hand with Lexi’s, Twitch forced them into a run. As they skidded into the hallway he scooped up the small canine frantically searching for a way out.
Growling, it sank its teeth into his arm. They were like tiny needles. Curbing the urge to drop kick it, he tucked it under his armpit.
“Ungrateful little shit,” Twitch muttered as it continued to bite him. With his foot, he slammed the door shut behind them. They had a few minutes. After that, all bets were off whether they got out of this alive.
“I can’t believe you stood up to a Demon Lord like that!” Lexi squealed, giving him a quick hug.
“He’s just a dick in really bad need of a breath mint.” He savoured the contact and the feelings it brought. Ones he had never had before.
The candles in the holders flickered as they passed by them.
“What’s the plan?”
Tightening his grip on the dog, still chewing on his arm, he towed his girl along. “It’s a make it up as we go kinda thing.”
“You mean you walked into this lair without a plan on how to get out?” She asked, tone laced with stunned disbelief.
“Pretty much, yes.”
“You’re crazy.”
Assessing each room they passed, he hurriedly directed her towards the entrance. If his calculations were correct they had two more minutes before all hell broke loose. Literally. “I’ve been told that before, but crazy just got you out of getting down and dirty with a demon who claims to be your daddy.”
Her hand stiffened in his. “He isn’t my father.”
“I believe you.” Shaking his other arm, he tried to remove the sharp teeth gnawing on his brass, cog, cuff links. “You don’t have insane bitch stamped all over you like the rest of the brood in there.”
“Surprise, bitches!”
Leaping out in front of them, Zook grinned. Devilment was written all over his f
eatures. The scar across his left eye gave him a sinister appearance in the soft candle light. T-shirt smeared with grains of sand, it looked like he had been in a fight.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Twitch snapped back.
Lexi tried to kick his friend in the nuts. Jerking back, he barely missed the kick.
“Woman! We do not break the crown jewels of friends!” Zook scolded her as he cupped his crotch protectively with one large hand. “What the hell are they teaching you these days? I am all for self-defence, but that is just not fucking called for!”
“Who are you?” Lexi questioned. Arms crossed under her chest, it pushed her big breasts up beneath her pink jumper. The gesture distracted Twitch. He still thought they were the best pair of tits he had ever seen.
“You can call me, Mr. Awesome.” Zook replied, ogling her boobs with a confident wink. “And those idiots I distracted caught up with me. It came down to a bare knuckle show down which I won, lucky for you.”
The sound of splintering wood echoed up the corridor behind them. Shrieks bounced off the walls. So chilling and inhuman it sent a primitive fear race up Twitch’s spine.
“Cut it out, Zook, we have to get out of here before we become Demon chowder.” Almost tumbling over each other, they dashed along the corridor.
“What’s with the dog?”
It had finally given up its quest to chew off Twitch’s arm. Instead, it remained with limbs locked glaring up at them. Tongue darting out, it licked its wet nose.
“It needed rescuing.” He explained to Zook, wondering if he would regret it later. “Trust me, these guys are not animal friendly.”
“Look out!” Dragging Lexi out of the path of a child, it barrelled into Zook’s side. Teeth gnashing together, it dug it’s claws into his thigh.
Burying a hand in its hair, Lexi tossed it backwards. As it hit somewhere behind them with a pained cry, she pulled them both through a door.
Twitch found himself in one of the disorganised bedrooms. The air was stale. Abandoning the dog on the floor, he slammed the door shut before heaving a chest of drawers in front of it. Lexi was quick to follow with a wardrobe. Now they had a barricade.