by A C Wilds
Dark Demon
Demon Assassin Series - Book 2
A.C. Wilds
Copyright © 2020 by A.C. Wilds
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
A.C. Wilds asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
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First edition
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For everyone who survived the VID. Fuck you 2020!
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Sneak Peak at Death Card
Acknowledgments
Also by A.C. Wilds
About the Author
One
ANIMA
Time has stood still since we’ve arrived at Nox’s cottage. Torque hasn’t woken from his slumber, and I think we could be in real trouble.
Frowning, I gaze down at his prone form. It has been two days, yet there has been no improvement. When Nox said he’d come out of it soon, I guessed he meant a few hours.
“Are you still here?” Uriel asks from the doorway. His huge form fills out the frame, his hair tousled like he keeps running his hands through it.
“I was checking on him. I think I fucked up. What if I pumped too much of my magic into him? When I did it with Mammon, it wasn’t this bad. He woke right away.”
My fingers brush the hair from Torque’s brow. He’s so vulnerable. The Princep of New City, King of the Bloods, lying here helpless as a babe.
“Your magic isn’t to heal demons. It’s holy magic. My magic.”
Uriel is my father, the angel who gave a piece of his soul to create me. Nox is that other half. I went from having no family to two fathers who seem to want to know me. It will take time to get used to.
“Then what is it good for? I thought holy magic was raw and ever powerful. If it can shape worlds, it should be able to heal morgot poisoning.”
“Before all this happened—angels and demons, humans and supernaturals—there was only holy magic. It’s the essence of all the other types, but it’s wild and unpredictable. To wield it takes strength, and demons aren’t created to handle that power. You gave Mammon a boost, and his vampire took care of the rest.”
Vampire.
A human buffet to the Blood Demons. A person who gives their life over as a blood supply to satisfy the needs of their master. Does Torque have one?
“We have to go to New City. To Hallowed Grounds. If Torque has a vampire, we’ll use their blood to bring him back.”
“You’re not going to New City. Have you forgotten Rahna is out to get you? You are her missing link in carrying out her plans to take over the Realms. It’s too dangerous.”
I inhale deeply. It would be very wrong to strike the angel whose soul lives in me.
“I know this is all new to you, the father thing, but let me clarify something right now. I’m not a schoolgirl in need of protection. I am an assassin. The lead assassin of the Tenebris witches, the dark magic sanction in New City. I am feared and revered. Rahna will get nowhere near me.”
Hands clenched at my sides, I stand from the bed and make my way over to the door. Smoke drifts down my arms of its own accord. Since being in the Demon Realm, my powers have grown.
“You’re definitely my child.” Nox chuckles from behind Uriel.
He places a hand on the angel’s shoulder, and the king saunters past him. Between the two, I am the spitting image of Nox. We have the same inky hair and silver eyes. Our noses match, but my mouth is more pouty, just like the angel.
“You cannot keep me here. I’m going with or without you.” I will not allow another man to tell me what I’m capable of. This is not his decision.
“I’m not trying to stop you,” Nox confesses. “I ask if I can accompany you. It will make me feel better to know you had someone on your side.”
I consider his offer. It’s not a bad one. To open up a portal, I will need a king. I’m not sure I could manage it myself yet.
“Deal. But when we get to Hallowed Grounds, let me do the talking. The MC that Torque is the president of is not keen on accepting the Dark. They don’t know I’m more than a witch, so things will go smoother if I explain.”
“As you wish, daughter.” His mouth tugs up into a smile, and I roll my eyes. I can probably expect more parental love from him.
“I don’t like either of you going out of this realm. There’s no way for me to know if something happens.”
Uriel’s lips are tight as he watches us. We’ve only met, but his relationship with Nox has been for hundreds of years. Their separation, almost as long.
“We’ll be fine. Nox can portal us into the park. Hallowed Grounds is about a mile from there. I know all the shadows of New City. Since we can both use our shadows, no one will know we are there.”
“You’re putting a lot of faith in your power. Sometimes thinking strategically is the better option.”
He turns and leaves Nox and me alone. Giving Torque one more glance, I follow Uriel out the door. We must go right away.
“He gets like this. Overprotective. He’s seen too much, and he doesn’t have faith anymore.”
“I do. I’m capable, and I think you know it.”
“My confidence is in you. However, this witch doesn’t seem to be any less confident. I want her to burn for what she did, but, first, we must make Torque whole. You cannot be without your fated.”
His omission stuns and frightens me. There’s no way I will solidify the bond between Torque and me. Our worlds are too different. We’re too different. It could never work.
Instead of replying, I walk out of the room in search of Namir. Talking to him will settle my nerves and prepare me for what’s next. Having the White Tyger for a familiar is something I never thought I’d say, but I’m grateful nonetheless.
The backyard is open to a thick cropping of a forest. The brush is dense and lush with life. When I pictured the Darklands, I didn’t t
hink it would feel so vibrant. I thought it more of a wasteland.
Namir sits beside a creek, lounging in the sun. His white coat glitters in the light, and his tail lazily flicks up and down.
“Comfortable?” I ask, plopping down next to him.
He picks up his head and opens up one eye.
This is as much rest as I’ve gotten in days. I’m enjoying myself.
“I have to go to New City. Torque isn’t waking up. I think his vampire could help.”
I cannot go with you. I’m a demon cat. We cannot jump realms.
“I figured it was the same between you and me. Ari couldn’t come with Torque when he first came to the Mortal Realm.”
Will you take Nox?
He rises from the ground and stretches out his back, shaking his coat. His head bumps me in the side, forcing me to open my arms. I lean down on my giant tyger, soaking in his powerful aura.
“Yes, Uriel will stay with Torque. I think a demon will blend in more than an angel. I’m not sure the Mortal Realm can take his holy magic. It might act as a beacon.”
I pick the blades of grass between my legs, staring out at the water. There is so much uncertainty. I don’t like it.
It is a necessary task, but do not linger. There is something in the air. I’m uncertain we saw the last of Scur.
He yawns in my face, huge teeth inches from my neck. I smile at the black spot on his pink tongue. A normal being would be frightened, but I know my soul-bonded would never harm me.
“It feels like everyone wants a piece of me. Rahna, Scur, Torque, even Nox and Uriel. A few weeks ago, I was an assassin doing my job, and now I’m a piece of a gigantic puzzle that I can’t solve.”
Fate has a way of throwing us everything at once. It won’t be easy from now on, but you will prevail. You are my soul-bonded. We are strong. More so than Nox and Torque. Allow the magic to settle in you. We will be unstoppable.
Namir and I didn’t have time to talk about us. He found me when I needed him the most, but we’ve been on high alert since. It’s nice to lie with him and sort things out.
“For all our sakes, I hope you’re right.”
Two
ANIMA
The scent of home hits me as soon as we step through the portal. The sun is shining high in the clouds, and the weather is warmer than in the Demon Realm.
“This is your home?” Nox asks, turning in circles, trying to take it all in.
“It’s the park. I live at the citadel on that hill. Or at least I did. You could say I’m homeless.”
I trek in the entrance’s direction. I forgot how much my life changed before I went to the Demon Realm. There’s no one in this realm besides Shelley who I can count on.
“Remember what I said, let me do the talking and try not to reveal yourself as the Dark king. In New City, the Dark and the Blood don’t exactly see eye to eye, especially since they have no Princep.”
Nox turns toward the window as if he’s ashamed. “I shouldn’t have left them alone here. I was selfish and grieving. It was so long that I’d been without Uriel. Nothing else mattered.”
“I thought he left you years before the invasion. I’d have thought you’d get over it by then.”
My flippant tone doesn’t go over well as he glares at me. His hand snakes out and grabs my wrist. I try to push him back, but it’s like iron.
“When you mate with the Blood, you will understand. My life without Uriel meant nothing. We are your fathers, and even if we did not raise you, you will respect us.”
My jaw clenches, and I grab the handle to the cab. We’ve pulled up to Hallowed Grounds. Slamming the door behind me, I don’t wait for him to get out of the car. I’m not a child. Once we’re alone, we’ll have to speak about boundaries.
The door to the club swings open, and Mammon storms out. Fire is practically coming out of his ears as he approaches. Nox moves fast, standing in front of me.
“Where is he?” Mammon growls. His hands are clenched as his sides, ready to attack.
“He’s still in the Demon Realm,” I answer, pushing Nox out of the way.
Mammon tracks the movement, glaring at Nox. Recognition clicks, and he begins to bleed. Armor coats his skin, and a sword appears in his hand.
“King of the Dark.” The name is a curse on his lips. He readies his stance to fight.
“Mammon, General to the Blood. Nice to see you again,” Nox says. His posture is relaxed.
“Where is Torque, witch?”
I sigh, standing next to Nox. “I don’t want to fight, Mammon. I came here to talk and ask for help, but if you aren’t feeling gracious, I’ll have to make you wait outside before I talk to the rest of the club.”
Two others exit the club to stand with Mammon. A tall blond demon comes up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Let’s take this inside. We need to listen, at least. And then if she needs killing…” he says, voice trailing off at the end.
Nox’s smoke appears, wrapping around the demon. It moves silently and with blurred speed. My magic pulses out from me, ready to defend my soul-maker.
“We come in peace, but if you need reminding that you are to respect the heir to the dark, then I will gladly give it.”
I close my eyes, yelling inside my head. He had to tell them. This was the ace up my sleeve, the eight ball in the corner pocket. Now it’s out in the open where I can’t use it.
The blond demon chokes on the smoke, and Mammon tenses. “Come inside, but I warn you, Dark, there will be hell to pay if my king is in trouble.”
The club is quiet, with only a few demons hanging around the bar. Mammon leads us into the room where I saved his life. As he walks, his armor drifts away until he stands before us as himself once more.
Once we are all seated, I explain our story. I leave out the part of Namir and my lineage. Most listen, but I see anger and frustration throughout the room. Mammon bangs on the table when I get to the fight with Scur.
“That motherfucking piece of shit. I will bury him.”
“We will get our revenge, but, for now, our task is to heal Torque. We need his vampire.”
I wait, hope in my chest. If he doesn’t have one, then all is lost. He needs the connection to bring him back. Part of me feels the pang of jealously, but if it wakes him, it will be worth it.
“Camyn, send for Vita.”
Camyn’s jaw clenches, but he takes out his cell phone. He walks out into the hall to make the call.
“Now that we have that covered, someone show me to the king’s office.” We all face Nox. This was not part of the plan. What is he doing?
“What purpose do you have there?” Mammon barks. Fury burns in his eyes. He’s about to do something stupid.
If I don’t dissolve this fast, there will be a fight. I can’t allow that to happen. Too much is at stake, and helping Torque is the number-one priority.
“I will not make my intentions known with all the demons in this room. Should you wish to know my reasons, remove them.”
Nox’s smoke floats around his body. His long fingers rest on his crossed legs. Under the table, his foot taps to a silent beat. As casual as he seems, there is a fire underneath.
“Everyone, leave,” Mammon commands. Demons file out of the room with scowls on their faces. Death stares come my way, but I shrug them off. I’m used to people not liking me.
The door clicks closed, and magic stirs in the air. A bubble of shadow smoke elopes us. A privacy dome? Nox has to teach me this trick.
“We require the holy orb.” Nox picks at his fingers, waiting for Mammon to calm down because if we saw anger before, it has nothing on this.
“No. It is too dangerous. And I will not relinquish the only weapon we have against Rahna to the king who abandoned his people.”
Nox throws Mammon against the barrier, and he lands in a heap. The demon gets up and tries to rush Nox, but Nox blocks his movements and freezes him in place.
“You will do well to remembe
r your station, General. I will not tolerate your outbursts. I am the king of the Dark. We work together to take down the witch. I have made the bargain with your king. Anima is his mate.”
Gods! We have to work on his timing. Spilling all our secrets like water from his lips. Can nothing be between us?
“Mate? How is that possible? She is a witch.”
“She is also half-demon. Heir to the Dark. My child by soul merge. You will respect her.” Nox’s voice goes into a proud-dad tone, and I can’t help but feel a tinge of longing. How would it have been to grow up with two fathers who loved me?
Mammon climbs to his feet, looking between the two of us. I shake my head as I lean against the barrier. There’s no need for me to get involved if this escalates. We don’t have time for this.
“We need the vampire. That’s what I’ve come for. If Nox has another agenda, then take it up with him,” I say.
“If you want the orb, then I’m coming with you. I don’t trust either of you. Torque should have never gone alone. Now he’s paying for it,” Mammon snarls. His upper lip curls, and he exposes his teeth.
I push off the barrier to get in his face. His chest heaves, and a bit of sweat coats his brow. Sweetly, I smile up at him. He doesn’t scare me. No one does. Not even my fathers.
“You got the one hit in, Mammon. It was your free card. Don’t mistake it for weakness. I will end you if you make this difficult.”
He growls under his breath, but he retracts his fangs and takes a deep breath, centering himself. Taking a step out of his space, I wait for his answer.
“Agreed. I will take Caymn as well. If there is trouble in the Demon Realm, you’ll need all the help you can get.”