by John Corwin
"It decided the matter for me." Mom looked at Dad. "For us. With demons, you can never trust their words, only their actions. Tyler committed a selfless act by saving you. He has earned redemption."
"Decided what?" I said, looking at the light glinting from the red gem. The closer I looked, the more it seemed the light came from within it, not the candles around us.
"We decided to save him. To give him a chance." For the first time in years, I saw my mother's eyes light with something like wonder. "I've never seen his like. His true form was...remarkable."
"He's not at all what I expected," Dad said. "And so, daughter, we give you his life. All we ask is that you be careful." He handed me the gem. "I set this soulstone next to him before we started the ritual. It drew in his essence instead of the portal."
I looked at the red gem. "Tyler is in there? He's alive, and I can have him back?" My knees went weak, and I almost collapsed in a heap. "Did it cause the blinding light?" I said.
"Yes."
I felt my brow crease. "Didn't the other Exorcists suspect something?"
Dad shook his head. "No. Some exorcisms cause backfire from the rift to Haedaemos, especially with more powerful demons. The flash wouldn't be unexpected, especially since the group tonight contained several new recruits who wouldn't know any better." He pulled out a silvery chain with a pendant at the end that looked a lot like the unfamiliar characters I'd seen written on the scroll. "This will keep him hidden from our instruments so long as he wears it."
"But don't they know who he is?" I said. "He's a well-known businessman. The minute he appears in public again, they'll know something's not right, especially if I'm with him."
Dad shook his head. "Your mother works in intelligence gathering for the organization. She'll alter his records to remove all records of his possession. And for most of those here tonight, if they see him again, they'll assume he's like any other person we've successfully exorcised."
"We're supposed to be administering a memory block to you at this very moment," Mum said. "So it's very important you never mention any of this to anyone. Are we clear?"
Somewhere my body found more moisture, and tears welled in my eyes. "Yes, Mum." The hatred and pain and betrayal vanished, and I gripped her in a tight hug.
Her arms went around me, and she kissed my cheek. "There, there, Emily."
Dad's big hand squeezed my shoulder. "Everything will be all right, kiddo."
I laughed and threw myself into his arms.
Mum and Dad put Tyler and me in the back of the last remaining SUV in the parking lot, and whisked us back to Tyler's penthouse. Using Tyler's body to get us past the biometric security and into the garage, we went in the back. Despite Dad's assurances the place wasn't being watched, my heart raced as we entered the penthouse.
It was empty.
Dad laid Tyler on the couch, stripped the shirt off my love's body, and laid the gem atop his bare skin. Mom laid a hand over the gem, and spoke an unfamiliar word that sounded as though it belonged to the same strange language the Exorcists had used in their chant.
The gem glowed a dull red. Mom watched for a moment. Nodded. "It will take several hours, but the process has started." She flicked her gaze to Dad. "We absolutely must go now, or the others will wonder."
"Do the others know I'm your daughter?" I asked.
Dad shook his head. "We've done our best to keep you hidden from this part of our lives, Emily. That's why we don't see much of you."
"But didn't the other Exorcists see you at the restaurant with me and Tyler?" I said. "Won't they know?"
"We were supposed to be there spying on Tyler," Dad said. "Unfortunately, we had no idea they planned to go ahead with his capture so soon."
"There are elements inside the Exorcists." Mom's eyes narrowed. "Dangerous, radical elements that concern us greatly. They wish to form an alliance with someone truly evil." Her mouth formed a firm line. "You must always remain a secret."
My heart seemed to stop at their casual mention of these dangerous elements. "Why are you still with them then? I don't want anything to happen to you."
Mom shook her head. "No. The organization has done too much good to leave it to the rats now." She took my hand and squeezed it. "There's too much evil in the world already, love. Too bloody much, and I won't abandon the good people fighting the good fight."
"She's right, kiddo." Dad placed a hand on Mom's shoulder. "Don't worry about us. We've been doing this a long time."
"Which is why we need to go now, Patrick." Mom kissed me on both cheeks and gave me a brisk hug. "Remember what we said, and you'll be okay."
Dad squeezed me in a bear hug, kissed me on the top of my head. "Be good, sweetie." He held me at arms' length and smiled. "And be happy." He kissed me on the forehead.
I nodded, my emotions a confusing mix of happiness, worry, and a note of regret, that there was this huge part of my parents' life that I knew almost nothing about. "I love you," I said, and watched them until the lift doors closed shut.
I raced back to Tyler's side. A tendril of green mist seeped from the gem and into his body. I sat by his side, waiting, watching, and waiting some more. When hunger rumbled in my stomach, I fixed a meager meal and ate it by his side. Night came, and still I waited. His pulse grew stronger, and his breathing deeper with every hour, but he seemed no closer to waking up than before.
My parents must have recovered my purse because I found it on the table nearby. Tapping in my passcode, I saw several texts from George Walker.
The company you keep has put you in grave danger. Come to us. We will help.
The Custodians seemed powerful. Perhaps my parents were right about the pendant they'd given me protecting Tyler, but extra insurance wouldn't help. I called George.
"Miss Glass, why didn't you answer my messages?" His voice sounded calm, but tense.
I told him the story. Told him about Tyler's nature. I even told him how I'd nullified Stephen's vampiric abilities. I did not tell him about my parents' affiliation, deciding it might be best to keep that to myself.
George remained silent throughout, speaking only when I stopped. "Your ability is even more impressive than I first thought."
"Will you protect us if I continue to work for you?" I asked.
"We do not condone demon possession, Miss Glass." His voice was calm. "And it appears that you're now aware of the supernatural world."
"Perhaps you could state the obvious," I said dryly, trying not to let doubt seep in. "What do you say to my proposal?"
He said nothing for a time, building tension in my already overwhelmed nerves.
Finally, he said, "It would appear Mr. Rock is a special case. The previous owner of the body is deceased and the demon is not displacing a soul. If you agree to work with us, to help us track down rogue supernatural elements and keep secret their existence from the normals—noms as we call them—I believe we have a deal."
My heart leapt with joy but I forced my voice to sound neutral. "That sounds acceptable, George Walker. Now, what happens next?"
"Take some time to recover from your ordeal. The world is full of terrors, and your life will soon get far more interesting." He grunted. "Welcome to the Custodians, Miss Glass. I will let you know when yours and Mr. Rock's orientation is scheduled."
"Orientation?" I asked in a puzzled voice.
"Oh, yes. You'll need it. Good day." George ended the call.
I would have danced and twirled with my phone if I hadn't been so tired. Instead, I laid my head on Tyler's chest and listened to the precious beat of his heart. At some point, I must have fallen asleep.
"Emily," said a disembodied voice.
I swam in pitch black toward that beacon.
"Emily."
The voice grew closer, and closer.
"Wake up, Emily."
My eyes peeled open, heavy with exhaustion.
Tyler's beautiful green eyes smiled back at me.
"Tyler!" I pressed myself into his
arms, peppering his face with kisses.
He stood and picked me up. Face lit with joy, he carried me onto the back deck where he set me down, and gave me a long blood-boiling kiss. When we came up for air, the sun was just painting the sky pink. Tyler looked at the horizon far away above the canopy of trees and behind city skyline. He took in a long deep breath and smiled a beautiful smile.
"When I thought the train would kill you, I thought nothing of myself. I realized the world would be a dim lifeless place to live without your presence to brighten it." He stroked a finger through my hair and drew in a shuddering breath. "I knew in that perfect moment what it was to love. I knew my heart, demonic or not, belongs only to you, my dear, sweet Emily."
My heart felt so light, I might have been able to fly. "I love you so much." I kissed him. "You are mine, Tyler Rock."
"And you are mine." He burst into a deep-throated laugh. "I want to shout it to the world." And he did, tilting his head back and yelling, "I love you, Emily Glass."
I couldn't help but laugh and yell, "I love you, Tyler Rock!"
As our laughter faded, he turned his gaze at the dawning sun. "Looks like a perfect day for a new beginning."
I smiled as tears of pure joy ran down my cheeks. He loves me! The sun peeked over the edge of the world and I had to agree with the man I loved. "It is a perfect day."
###
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Section A
MEET THE AUTHOR
John Corwin is the bestselling author of the Overworld Chronicles. He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
Connect with John Corwin online:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/johnhcorwinauthor
Website: http://www.johncorwin.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/John_Corwin
Books by John Corwin:
The Overworld Chronicles:
Sweet Blood of Mine
Dark Light of Mine
Fallen Angel of Mine
Dread Nemesis of Mine
Twisted Sister of Mine
Dearest Mother of Mine
Infernal Father of Mine
Sinister Seraphim of Mine
Wicked War of Mine
Dire Destiny of Ours
Overworld Underground:
Possessed By You
Overworld Arcanum:
Conrad Edison and the Living Curse
Stand Alone Novels:
No Darker Fate
The Next Thing I Knew
Outsourced
Seventh
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Possessed By You (Overworld Underground, #1)
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
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42