The Overture of Fear & Passion (The Daemonica Symphony Series Book 1)

by Eloisa Clark

  “Don’t stop.” She said, “I’m still in control.”

  He continued, his hardness digging into her from behind. There was little room in the tight-fitting jeans she was wearing, but somehow Niko managed to slide his hand lower and teased her opening with two fingers, circling them around before returning them back up to her clit, spreading her wetness.

  She heard the sound of his breath quicken as his strokes changed, the figure eight motion causing her own breathing to become rapid. The power exchange restarted and this time she let it, consciously allowing her Demon side to engage.

  The knowledge that she was now able to control it so well sent her over the edge and she let out a small scream of pleasure as she came hard, riding his hand through her climax until the last of her shudders subsided.

  He kissed her neck, nuzzling the delicate skin behind her ear as he removed his hands from underneath her clothing, refastening her jeans for her while she remained jelly-legged and shaking from aftershocks.

  “WHAT DO YOU know about Sean?” Juliet asked, her thoughts returning to Fiona as they sat drinking in the pub.

  Doctor Livingstone had finally eased up on their lockdown and Juliet had agreed to meet Fiona after she’d finished with Niko for the afternoon.

  When Niko had asked to tag along, she hadn’t been able to think of a reason to refuse.

  “What do you mean?” He asked, looking up from his beer to find Fiona at the bar.

  She’d offered to help Sean to collect menus, but they’d been gone far longer than necessary.

  “Do you know him well? Is he a nice guy?”

  Niko shrugged his shoulders, “I haven’t spoken to him much, just at parties like you. Why?”

  She hesitated, not knowing if it was any of her business to be talking about it with Niko.

  He sat up, intrigued.

  “Hang on a minute. Is something going on between him and Fi?” He asked, looking from the couple at the bar and back to Juliet.

  She bit her lip, still unsure of how much to reveal. He smiled at her obvious tell.

  “Well good luck to ‘em.” He said, leaning forward to rest his chin on his fist.

  “Do you think they have a chance?” Juliet asked.

  “To make it work?”

  She nodded and he looked back at them again before shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders.

  “I dunno, maybe. I’d like to think so. But in all likelihood, they’ll probably just be a thing while they’re here and then go their separate ways when all this is over.”

  Juliet was surprised by his cynicism.

  “You really don’t think they can be together?”

  “Not a Witch and a Shifter. Witch covens are even more fanatical than Demons. Shifters are pretty low on the food chain amongst Otherworlders. They don’t really have any power apart from extra strength, some of them can’t even change into anything special, I’ve heard of some Shifters that can only change into tabby cats.” He snickered, “Maybe Sean can be Fiona’s familiar.”

  “I can’t believe you’re so pessimistic, here I was thinking you were the romantic type.”

  She said, she didn’t like the derision in Niko’s voice.

  “I might be a romantic when it comes to us. But I’m not an idiot. I’m a realist. And realistically, those two have a whole lot working against them.” He turned to look at Juliet with a slight frown.

  “I’m not sure why you’re so worried about them anyway. You seem pretty happy with our little arrangement, if it’s good enough for us, why couldn’t it be good enough for them?

  Juliet grew hot as her mouth open and closed but no response came to mind.

  “Unless maybe you’re more of a romantic than you’d have everyone believe?”

  Juliet stared at Niko, she was confused by his tone and wasn’t sure how such an innocent conversation had so quickly turned into some kind of inquisition.

  “Anyway, the same problems they’ll face don’t apply to us.”

  “How so? I have a right just like anyone else to date whoever I like.” She said, finally finding her voice.

  “I would be pretty pissed off if Otherworlders tried to tell me who I could and couldn’t date. I have the right to have a relationship with whoever I want.”

  “Of course, you do. But it’s a moot point.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I’m a Demon, you’re a Demon. No one is going to object to us being together.”

  “Except for maybe, I dunno… Me.” She could feel the colour spreading across her face, but she kept her voice low.

  “You need to remember, just because we have this ‘little arrangement’ as you so adequately put it, doesn’t mean there is an ‘us’.”

  “Juliet, come on.” He reached out to take her hand, but she pulled it away.

  Niko shook his head before returning his attention to his nearly finished beer. Juliet watched as his jaw clenched and the muscles beneath his shirt bulged, belying his casual posture.

  “I think I’ve been pretty straight forward with you about my feelings, Juliet. But maybe I’ve bitten off a bit more than I can chew with you…” He said, his eyes meeting hers again before he scanned the crowd and exhaled slowly.

  “I want you, Jules. But I’m not interested in playing games. So, if all I am to you is someone to snack on when you get horny, fine. But quit the bullshit.”

  He finished the last of his beer and looked into the empty glass. Juliet felt suddenly hot, in spite of the cool weather. She felt her heart rate increase as the sting of Niko’s words sunk in and she tried to calm her thoughts before she responded. Instead, she said the first thing that came to her mind.

  “I’m done.” She said, “I think you’re confused about what ‘this’ is between us. It’s probably best if I find someone else to help me with my…” Her words trailed off and she swallowed hard, demanding her voice to comply, “Needs.” She finished.

  With flaming cheeks, she stood up and went over to the bar to join Fiona and Sean. When she looked back at the table, it was empty.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Niko’s vision blurred and blood splattered as Scott’s left hook broke his nose. Yet again his face was paying the price of fatigue and distraction. Two weeks had passed since his argument with Juliet and this time, he wasn’t going to chase after her.

  He’d gotten to know her pretty well and he knew she was full of shit when she said she would use someone else to feed off. Eventually she’d get hungry again and she’d need him, so he was just going to ride it out and wait until then. He was even considering playing hard to get this time. The knowledge that he was the only guy to ever make her come was all the evidence he needed to support his hypothesis.

  The defence session ended, and Niko didn’t hang around to see if Juliet would show any concern over his bruised and battered face. He’d watched her take a few punches herself and knew they signalled her waning speed and strength. As much as he liked knowing she would need him soon, he still hated seeing her get hurt and he wasn’t sure if his determination would hold up against looking at Juliet’s bruised face.

  The walk back to his room was only a short one as Niko headed for a shower. The rest of the guests tended to hang around on Saturdays before taking the bus to the village. As he rounded the corner, he nearly crashed into Adrienne who was backing out of the trunk of one of the castle’s vans, carrying a pallet loaded with vegetables. Niko held out his hands to steady her and she swore in French while regaining her balance.

  “Can I help, Chef?” Niko asked, holding out his hands to take the pallet. She nodded in apparent thanks and mumbled under her breath. The dialect was old, but he was fluent enough to pick up a few words here and there and got the impression that she was annoyed at having to do everything herself now that they still hadn’t replaced William.

  “Were you and William very close?” Niko asked. Adrienne’s eyebrows rose, clearly surprised that he understood her.

  “Oh,
Oui. Yes, we were very good friends. I knew him a long time, since he first came here.” She replied in English. As Niko helped to finish unloaded the van she began to hum an old tune to herself, effectively cutting off further conversation.

  “Merci, au revoir.” She thanked him before closing the service doors abruptly in his face.

  Before he’d even moved away from the doorway, he was again robbed of his solitude. Fiona popped out of the doorway he had been heading for and when she spotted him, she quickened her pace. He turned to go the other way, hoping to avoid her but she seemed determined.

  “Nikolai Dmitriyev, don’t you walk away from me!” She said sternly. He couldn’t understand how someone so small could wield so much moxie. He stopped, allowing her to catch up.

  “What th ‘ell ‘appened?” She demanded.

  He rolled his shoulders and gave her a blank state, trying to get the message across that it was none of her business.

  “Don’t you roll your eyes at me. You’ve been avoidin’ me for two weeks. She won’t tell me what ‘appened either. All she says is dat you ‘ave “conflicting interests”. What the ‘ell does that even mean?” She placed her hands on her hips, universal woman-speak for ‘I’m not leaving until you talk’.

  Niko sighed.

  “We had a fight. Don’t get involved. Please, Fiona. She needs to sort out what she wants on her own.”

  “What did you fight about?”

  “You, actually.” He said, running his hand through his hair.

  “Me?” She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side.

  “Well, you and Sean, technically.”

  Her eyes widened, “Whaddya mean, Me and Sean?”

  “We started talking about how you guys have your work cut out for you because you’re from different factions. But she and I don’t have to worry about that. She seemed to be of the opinion that after we leave here, we’ll just go our separate ways and never see each other again.”

  “Oh.” Fiona’s lips pursed and moved to the side as she looked down momentarily.

  “But you guys have a soul-bond.” She said, looking back up at Niko.

  “Doesn’t she know how rare that is?”

  “Obviously not. Or she doesn’t care.”

  “Maybe if I explain...”

  “No Fiona, please. Just leave it. For whatever reason, she’s resisting the bond. It’s up to her now.”

  Fiona nodded, but she was still chewing on her lip, Niko sighed again.

  “Was that all?” He asked.

  She nodded but then stopped.

  “Do you ‘tink there’s any chance?”

  “What for me and Juliet. Sure. I mean-”

  “No.” She said, cutting him off, “I mean, for me and Sean?”

  She looked so sad; he didn’t want to be the one to dash her hopes.

  “Anything’s possible. Like I said, you guys just have your work cut out for you right? That doesn’t mean you can’t make it work if you really try.”

  She smiled weakly. He hoped that it wasn’t too late, and she hadn’t already gone and done something stupid like fall in love with a Shifter. But, knowing how tenacious Fiona was, if anyone could overcome such an immense challenge, it was her.

  Chapter Thirty

  The flames were visible from the window of Juliet’s room. She’d spent an extra hour practising, to help ease her nerves, but it hadn’t worked. She cursed herself, wondering what the hell she was thinking. Agreeing to a date had not been her plan but she’d been blindsided and hadn’t known how to politely say no.

  Maybe she could cancel; fake an illness? Pretend she had a headache? It would be a complete lie; she’d been running out of energy all week. Which is why her mind had been foggy when she’d been asked out and hadn’t been quick enough to think of a good reason why she should say no. Even now, she really couldn’t think of any valid excuse, other than she wasn’t interested. But she needed to feed and maybe just a little kiss would be enough to sustain her until she could think of a better strategy.

  She finished applying her make-up, put on her beanie and slid into her boots. She’d decided to wear them as well as her leather pants, knowing Niko would see her in them, she knew what they did to him. She shouldn’t care, she wasn’t supposed to care. But for some reason, some bitter little part of her wanted him to keep chasing her. She wasn’t playing hard to get. She was able to admit to herself now that she wanted him, she just didn’t want all the strings that he came with. She wanted him on her terms, uncomplicated and mess free. And she wanted him to accept that she would have him on her terms or not at all.

  Fiona had already left for the bonfire hours earlier, having made plans to meet up with Sean beforehand, so Juliet made her way to the party alone. She heard the beat of drums before she’d even left the building.

  As she approached the clearing where the towering pyre burned, against the contrast of the bright flames, Juliet could see the silhouette of people gathered. Some danced, some walked slowly around the fire, as if they were satellites in its orbit. She walked closer and was able to make out some familiar faces; many of the people gathered were dressed in strange costumes featuring horns, crowns or wings and there were three or four dancers who twirled flames through the air, either on poles, fans or pois, while some of the flames seemed to float in the air.

  She’d seen a few fire dancers before, at renaissance fairs and winter solstice festivals, but these flames seemed to be controlled by the dancers and Juliet realised they must be Fire Demons. She was thrilled to see them displaying their talents and her heart sped up with excitement.

  “Good turn out.” A voice said from behind her.

  She turned and smiled.

  “Hello” she said, doing her best to show at least some enthusiasm. Eric nodded his head slightly and returned his attention to the bonfire.

  “Shall we?” He asked, inviting her to lead the way.

  They walked along side by side but not touching. The Vampire had surprised her when he’d asked her out and his gentleman-like manners were even more unexpected.

  The Samhain party was apparently the biggest Otherworld event of the year, bringing the factions together to celebrate and pay their respects to the dead. Juliet had always seen Halloween as a consumerist American holiday, but Fiona had spent the better half of the month of October correcting her views on the matter. And, by the look of this party, Juliet was starting to come around.

  As they joined the crowd, she caught sight of Fiona and her mouth fell open. Scraps of leather and lace covered her shoulders and the top of her breasts down to nipple only and a piece of fabric that could barely be called a skirt was wrapped around her hips. What was even more shocking was that she was boldly making out with Sean. Juliet looked around, worried that someone might see and intervene, but she soon relaxed. No one cared. For some reason, whatever social rules regarding mixed relationships in the Otherworld, didn’t apply here.

  Fiona broke away from Sean and spotted Juliet, her eyes opened widely as she began to laugh. They approached each other and Fiona greeted Eric, although Juliet noticed it wasn’t with her usual warmth.

  She struggled to look at Sean, he had always been a three-layers kind of dresser but standing in front of her shirtless made her feel like he may as well be naked. His chest was covered in Celtic-looking symbols and his pants hung so low that a set of well-toned obliques and more than a little bit of a happy trail were on full display.

  Juliet was glad that the fire light shone red, allowing her blushing cheeks to go unnoticed. She nearly fell when she was bumped into from behind. She turned and almost laughed at Clarissa whose eyes were bulging out of her head as she sputtered out an apology before backing away slowly as though she were terrified of Juliet.

  She and Fiona laughed and grabbed a couple of drinks that were being offered around on large trays. The liquor burned its way down Juliet’s throat as Fiona dragged her over to where several people were dancing.


  The music did something inside Juliet as she began to dance. Her thoughts and worries began to melt away, leaving her feeling free and light. She moved smoothly, feeling spontaneous and safe to express herself without fear of judgement or ridicule. Her eyes half closed as she danced, writhing against and touching those around her. She lost track of whose hands belonged to who as they all seemed to blend together. Hours must have past, but she had no sense of time, instead of tiring she felt herself become more energised. There was desire in the air, she could feel it, like static electricity.

  Lips found hers and she returned a kiss that felt different. She hesitated as her mind recognised that the lips weren’t Niko’s, a part of her rejected anyone but him. But her Demon side was hungry and latched on, wanting to feed.

  She broke the kiss only after it had its fill and released its control of her. She pushed herself away from Eric, feeling disoriented and dizzy. She needed air, the music and alcohol were making her thoughts fuzzy and slow. She shook her head and moved away from the group, past the band and in the direction of the castle.

  Before getting very far she stopped in her tracks as a case on the floor caught her attention. She was drawn immediately to it, wondering why the band wasn’t using the instrument that sat within. She was captivated by it and she examined the piece with the reverence of a religious fanatic, her fingers itching to reach out and touch it.

  She looked at the musician closest to her who was beating away on a hand drum. She wondered whether or not he would mind if she just had a little peak. He must have noticed her inching forwards because he turned in her direction and smiled. His eyes went to her hands which were already reaching out for the fiddle and he smiled, nodding in encouragement. She smiled in return and bit her lip as she picked up the piece.

  The wood was warm and even the bow was primed and ready to be used. She brought it up to her chin and the drummer gave her another small nod. When she still didn’t move, he rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulder in the band’s direction. She moved closer and raised the bow, listening to the band and counting herself in. She’d never had any official lessons in folk music since her father had discouraged the improvisational style.