Julie was still studying her. Waiting for her reaction. “So what you’re saying is, that werewolf in your story is real? Cause he was hot.”
Her cousin stood so quickly she almost spilled the drinks in front of her. “You’re changing the subject. But, yes. He’s real too.”
There was something in Julie’s voice. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Julie shrugged, her smile not quite disguising the regret in her eyes. “There’s nothing to tell. Because I wasn’t brave enough to take what I wanted. Story of my life.”
Ume reached for her cousin’s hand, her heart aching at her words. “Jules, don’t say that. I’ve never known anyone braver than you. You put yourself out there every day. You wanted to write, and you succeeded. You flew to Scotland to be on camera, having no idea what you were letting yourself in for.” She smiled charmingly. “And you’re the only one who can deal with me when I get all maudlin and bitter. If you’re not brave I don’t know who is.”
Julie squeezed her hand. “You are, Ume. If you’d been there, if you’d seen the man you wanted, you wouldn’t have hesitated. You would’ve jumped in with both feet and never looked back.”
Ume’s smile wavered. “Yeah. Look where that got me.”
She thought about Julie’s last abusive relationship, the controlling man who’d convinced her family he was the perfect suitor. And Ume had had her own brush with a wild, uncontrollable hellion who loved to drink more than anything. Including her. Ume may have deserved her fate for being so reckless, but Julie didn’t. She deserved to have someone love her passionately. Someone who didn’t want to change her.
Too bad the world was full of jackasses.
A few hours later, she leaned back against her pillows, emotionally worn out. Werewolf or not, it was obvious Julie had feelings about a man she didn’t believe she could have. Ume’s protective instincts had come out full force. If she knew where he lived she would drag him to her cousin’s house herself, and wrap him up for her in a neat little bow, shifter or not.
It boggled Ume’s mind. Julie truly believed in all of it. In shifters and vampires, ghosts and demons.
Oni was the name her mother used for the demons she was constantly trying to protect Ume from. But in her stories the evil spirits never looked like the one from Shifting Reality. Saint.
When she’s seen him on camera, he’d always been looking down at some device, his dark hair swooping across his forehead, concealing his eyes. But from what she could see, he was gorgeous. Nothing like a troll or monster. Nothing that would kill you or steal your soul. The worst that beautiful creature could do was break a heart or twelve.
She had to admit, at least to herself, that seeing him in a link from one of Julie’s emails was what initially had her looking up the online role-playing game he’d created. Demon Saint.
Usually she preferred her entertainment to be active, out of doors, somewhere in nature. But being confined for the last few years had gotten her a little too involved in soap operas, reality shows and online games.
When she saw how big the world of Demon Saint was, how challenging…she simply couldn’t resist. Nothing had helped her pass the time between therapy sessions, or deal with her never-ending insomnia, better than the online quests.
Just thinking about it gave her a burst of energy. She opened her laptop and quickly typed in the password to enter the game. On the screen she could see her character statistics and the quests, or storylines, she was currently involved in.
She also saw Plum, the name she’d given the figure that she controlled within the confines of the game. Plum was the English translation for Ume, and she had to admit, she had fun bringing her character to life.
The creation of her avatar had taken days, and it was a masterpiece in her opinion. Just the right combination of warrior and mystic to be a sought-after player.
Maybe she’d gotten her mother’s imagination after all. Plum was nothing if not an homage to her mother’s beliefs. A female kitsune. A fox spirit with the ability to appear human and magic enough to fight the different demons the game created to challenge its players.
Ume had also created a talisman for her character. A necklace with a single, perfect pearl. A hoshi no tama, a star ball, believed to be the energy of the kitsune spirit, as well as protection against evil.
Her character was everything her poor mother believed Ume was. Special. A defender against the Oni. Powerful.
It was, without a doubt, the height of escapism. But she was addicted to this game. And, she reached up to grasp the teardrop pearl around her own neck, it reminded her of her past. Of her mother’s stories.
If only her mother and Julie were both right. If only it were real.
Chapter Two
What in Hell was going on?
Scratch that. He knew exactly what was going on in Hell. The stereotypical slashing and shattering of hopes and dreams. Sex, drugs, rock and roll and the occasional sacrifice. And that was just the first level. What Saint really wanted to know was, what was going on with him?
Liam was on his way to San Francisco, armed with a Bluetooth and the promise of help from a demon. Half demon, but it meant the same thing. Saint was as bound to that promise as he was to his next breath. Especially since it would get him what he wanted in return.
Ume.
He was like a junkie, terrified and longing for the next fix. He’d touched her life for an instant, and now he couldn’t wait to get back. So why hadn’t he? Why was he hesitating?
He’d felt something, a jolt, a connection that he’d never felt before. It was as though a ghost had reached in to grip his heart. Among other things. Almost as if she’d touched him back. Connected to him without even being aware of it herself.
How was that possible? She was related to Julie Wu. And Julie was one hundred percent human. From that swift influx of feeling and information he’d received, Ume was too. But then, how had she affected him so strongly?
There was nothing to do but reconnect. Find the answers he needed. He wouldn’t be able to relax until he had them.
He caressed his phone and opened his laptop, feeling the energy from both of them. Through these portals lay the life force of a billion souls crying out to be heard, to be seen in the darkness. They pulsed with desires. They resonated in his mind, a symphony of secret sins, a carnal cacophony of greed and lust, envy and fear. And hope. That one refrain that always set humans apart. Hope in the face of uncertainty and the knowledge of their temporary natures. It brought the rest into harmony. Gave it purpose.
But he didn’t want to listen to their music tonight. He only wanted to hear one voice. Hers. Find Ume.
With a thought he was there. In her home. In her life. Invading every facet without remorse. This was an unknown entity. This was war. He felt the heat of her body as though she were beside him, and he knew it was true. She was different. If the feeling wasn’t enough, irrefutable proof appeared right in front of him.
She was playing his game.
When he scrolled through her stats and found the date she began playing, his jaw dropped. Months. Closer to a year. She had leveled up dozens of times, been online nearly as often as he had, and he’d never noticed her.
It wasn’t possible.
If he was just a man, maybe. The world of Demon Saint was large, even by serious gamer standards. For a normal man it would be tantamount to finding the proverbial needle in a mountain of hay.
Saint was not a man. This was his game. It was a part of him. He hadn’t just developed the code—he was the code. He created as he went, for individual and group desires, with demons to challenge each avatar’s strengths and weaknesses. He was Demon Saint. And the only way she could have slipped past his notice would be if she had some sort of magical protection.
Her character wore a pearl necklace enchanted to ward off evil. But every character gave themselves imaginary protections. Those only worked within the confines of the game. And only when Saint wanted them to.
>
He stood up and started pacing. Was she a trick? A test from his paternal side? A Trojan horse with Helen’s allure custom made to reel him in? But no, she wouldn’t be. His father had no time for him. That sick sod had only one purpose. Seduction. He had no patience for games or vampires or any of his bastards. He was too busy making them.
Saint went back to his chair and tried to relax. Tried being the operative word. With no roommates to stop him, he was about to do something stupid. He had to have more information about her. Had to talk to her.
He was going in.
He gave himself a human warrior character he’d used before. One just strong enough not to draw attention. After insuring the penthouse was protected from any unwanted visitors, he left his physical body behind, his consciousness streaming seamlessly into the avatar.
Saint had walked through his creation before. Interacted as if he were one of them out of boredom or curiosity. It amused him to no end to talk about himself in the third person. To listen to the players postulate or brag or outright lie about run-ins with the Demon King, Saint.
This time he was on a mission with only one mantra in his head. Find her. Find her. A few tweaks to the code should do it. He’d take her out of the countryside where she was protecting a group of whining villagers with her friends and put her in a more…conducive setting. She would give in to him. He would find out exactly what made her tick.
And then he’d wind her up.
What in Hell was going on? Ume stared at her laptop, utterly disoriented and confused. Her character had been fighting off a small horde of disgusting-looking little hobgoblins with a group of gamers she enjoyed playing with, having a blast, then the screen changed without warning.
A familiar cut scene appeared around her. The short movie showed her character walking into a crowded bar. She’d been here before. It was a rest stop, a gathering place between quests. All types of creatures, all skill levels, were welcome here to make friends, flirt and trade. It was a place out of time, one part medieval tavern, one part modern nightclub. A popular band was even playing on stage, so if her character wanted to ask the bespectacled bison with the giant guns to dance, she could.
It didn’t make any sense. She still had her kitana sword drawn. When the movie clip ended and her character was allowed to move again, she turned to exit, determined to head back to her friends.
Someone was blocking her path. The avatar of a tall, stunning warrior. He was gorgeous, with a dark swoop of hair and eyes nearly as black as her own. He’d outfitted his avatar in tight brown pants, boots and a leather vest that left his muscular biceps bare, giving Ume a clear view of his weapon of choice. His left arm. It was covered in some sort of biotech that looked really impressive. That was one of the things she loved about this game. There were no limits. If you could imagine it, the creator had put it in the game, from kitana to futuristic weaponry to—she noticed the small earplug in his ear and smirked—mp3 players.
A chat window appeared beneath his image.
Sinner: That’s a dangerous sword for such a beautiful kitsune. I could use someone at my side with your unique skills.
Ume’s eyes rolled, ignoring the thrill running up her spine. This was a virtual world. In reality, she had a feeling this warrior, this Sinner, didn’t look like that. But he was clever.
She started typing.
I’m impressed. You’re the first person I’ve met that knows what I am.
He responded immediately.
*Reaches behind you to run my palm along your fur* I thought these three beautiful tails kind of gave it away.
Ume shivered. She’d felt that. A hand caressing her backside. How strange. Or maybe not, considering how long it had been since anyone had touched her in more than a medical fashion.
She’d never been one for cyber flirting. Face to face was more her style. It gave her a sense of the person’s intentions. Don’t be silly, Ume. This isn’t flirting. It’s just a game. A character.
Ume swore she saw the warrior smile.
In case you were wondering, I’m definitely flirting. Why don’t we go to that booth in the corner and discuss it in private? That, along with a job I have for you that I think you’ll want to take.
Oh my. Ume looked around her living room with a guilty blush. It didn’t matter that she lived alone. She still felt a little like a teenager about to do something she knew she shouldn’t. Suddenly getting back to the battle right away didn’t seem so important. Nor did the computer glitch that had sent her here. She was curious. And there didn’t seem to be any harm in satisfying that curiosity. She sent her character to the booth, and the warrior who called himself Sinner followed.
Ume took a sip of her soft drink to soothe her dry throat, then began to type once more.
What is this job? I’m curious.
Sinner’s reply appeared in the window.
It’s something I know you want. Something everyone wants. A treasure no one in this world has ever gotten close to. But first, *I slip my hand under the table and you can feel my fingers trace a line up your thigh, gliding between your legs* I want to know why you’re here. Why I’ve never seen you before.
“What the—” Ume looked down, lifting up her laptop and the blanket beneath it. Nope. Nothing there. But she’d felt it again. Those rough, masculine fingers between her thighs. She still felt them. And her body was responding. Heating.
Maybe it was time to lower the dosage of her pain medication.
Maybe you should just go with it, the devil on her shoulder whispered. Ume raised her eyebrows. This was a fantasy, wasn’t it? And there was no way for anyone to know who she actually was. But then again, there was no way for her to know who he really was either.
She settled in once more and bit her lip before responding.
I was in the middle of a battle. I’m not sure why I’m here. And I’ve never seen you before either. How do I know you aren’t trying to set a trap? That you aren’t working for the demons?
“That you aren’t a teenager with braces and acne?” She mumbled out loud, trying to splash a little cold reality on her overheating libido.
*Shakes his head at your distrust* I work for no one but myself. I can take you to the Demon King’s lair to retrieve his most sacred possession.
Wait a second…had he said what she’d thought he said? The Demon King’s lair? Saint’s lair? No one had ever been to that level. Ume had heard the stories. The game was a labyrinth of levels, always changing, adapting to each player’s skill. The end result for most serious gamers was to get to Saint’s lair. To retrieve his treasure and end the demon attacks once and for all. There were always rumors, but no one had ever gotten…she lost her train of thought as the hand she shouldn’t feel between her thighs heated her skin.
Her heavy-lidded eyes focused on the screen again and she typed without thinking.
Why do I think you’ve used that line before? Not that you’d need it.
She covered her eyes with one hand, groaning. She was flirting. There was no denying it. Talk about desperate. Ume peered through her fingers as he responded.
*Takes your hand and places it on my hardening cock* It’s not a line. I can prove it to you if you let me. In fact, I can do more than that.
She moaned. Was this happening? Could she really feel the metal of his weapon? The scratchy fabric of his pants? The thick erection beneath? She curled her fingers and shivered. It felt real enough. Wonderful and forbidden and real.
A ding of sound alerted her to a new window popping up above their conversation. The words there made her gasp.
The warrior has propositioned you. Do you accept? Y/N
“I know I’m going to regret this.” Ume hesitated, but clicked yes before she could talk herself out of it.
A new cutscene began to play. The characters Sinner and Plum were in one of the bedrooms above the bar, facing each other.
“Lovely. Animated porn.” Ume snorted, but she couldn’t peel her gaze from the screen.
These were superb graphics. When the warrior, Sinner, slipped off his weapon, and the rest of his clothes, her mouth began to water. He was so…it was…
Yeah. Really good graphics.
Her character began to strip as well, and Ume’s heart started to race. This was silly. But at least she knew for a fact that this character’s user was not a child. The game had strict policies and security in place to insure that minors could not access the program’s more adult features. It was something young hackers continuously complained about in the main forums.
Sinner pulled Plum into his arms, pressing her breasts to his chest, his cock against the curve of her stomach.
Ume cried out in surprise. She was experiencing every sensation as though it were real. As if she were her character. Impossible. Her imagination wasn’t that good.
But that didn’t stop her from wanting more. From holding her breath to see what came next.
She didn’t have to wait long. With a devilish smile Sinner lifted Plum into his arms and carried her, not to the bed, but to the wall. Ume could feel the soft fur of her tails against her back and her legs, her strong lean-muscled legs wrapping around Sinner.
Plum’s tails. Not hers. Shit, she was going crazy, but she didn’t care.
Her hand slid down her stomach toward her sex, desperate to ease this ache. She was so wet. She needed release.
On the screen one of Plum’s hands left Sinner’s shoulder to do the same. Sinner stopped her. “Let go, sweet. Let go and give in to me. I can make you come.”
Ume bit her lip so hard she could taste the blood. Her hand couldn’t move. He was stopping it somehow. And he’d spoken in the game. With a deep, rich voice that made her need to do what he wanted.
My Demon Saint: Shifting Reality, Book 2 Page 2