'Til Grim's Light (A Grim Awakening Book 2)

by Michelle Gross

  Did he realize what he was saying, what he was admitting? Out of all the places this could have happened, why here? I was bursting with happiness and I guessed that was how it went. There was no control over how these moments worked… they just… happened.

  It was weird how the feelings of love could make it feel like you could take on anything.

  He kissed the place at the bottom of my eye, then my nose. Hurrying, time couldn’t be wasted here, his right hand roamed down my side, on down to my hip where he grabbed my butt. I gasped as he hauled me up. My arms fell into place around his neck. His left hand slipped inside my legs, wanting me to spread them. He pressed into me—forcing them open and lessening the gap between us. It caused my dress to ride up, exposing my panties to the bulge in his jeans. My body—mind went into a frenzy.

  He cupped my cheek and pulled me in for a kiss. He was rough, but I was always left amazed at how much I responded to all the things I’ve never done before. Killian’s body shook; felt like violent trembles against my skin and he ended the kiss. His took a deep breath and dropped his forehead between my cleavage. “Killian,” I panted, worried that he was shaking, but also wanting him to go on.

  “It has to be more than this,” he mumbled in my chest.

  “You’re shaking.” I touched his arm, finding beauty in his madness.

  “It’s you, Love, all you.” I smiled. “Let me give you something.” His voice was raspy—dark.

  “What?” I breathed deep. His hands idled at my sides.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll like what I’m about to do, and I can take from your pleasure to sustain myself.” His words alone fueled the fire in my stomach. I leaned my head back and nodded. He brought one hand between us, leaning away from me so that his hand could move between us. Was it possible to fall apart under someone’s penetrating gaze? Because the way his eyes molded over every part of me as he slid his hand along the inside of my thigh—I tried not to crumble. I closed my eyes. “Melanie.” He wasn’t going to let me, it seemed. I reopened my eyes and turned my head slightly so that I wasn’t looking directly at him. “Don’t,” he warned. “Look at me.” He held me captive with his beautiful dark eyes. His fingers found my panties, grazing across them.

  I gasped, letting my head fall against his. He pushed me right back on the wall with his forehead. He smiled and met my panties with his finger. Up, down, his finger moved with precisely the right amount of pressure that my libido increased to insane levels. My body couldn’t decide whether it wanted to tense or tingle. My stomach heated—knees weak.

  “Beautiful.” He leaned in and tickled my ear with his breathing. He pulled at my panties, parting them to the side. I was stuck in between breathing and waiting on him to touch me more. I bucked my hips into his hands before even realizing what I was doing. Once the contact was made, we both moaned. My stomach was in knots and clenched for more.

  Killian found my eyes and held me there. He traced my slit until he reached my opening. I was wet and it coated his finger. “Fuck,” he muttered softly, breaking our eye contact momentarily. “Just enough for the both of us,” he promised. I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or reminding himself. He brought his hand out of my panties and I moaned in protest. He cupped my sex with his hand right after. I fell silent, wondering what he planned to do. His hand heated and it hit me out of nowhere; I unraveled. There was no further build up, no warning; I just exploded into millions of tiny fragments and only existed within the waves of pleasure racking through my body. My sex clenched and unclenched, threading into my stomach. I still felt amazing even after it was over.

  When I was able to open my eyes—regaining my senses after the mind-blowing orgasm I just had—Killian admired me in a way that made me fall for him even more. I noticed I was clinging to his shoulder and could only grin. He was noticeably healthier looking now and his face wasn’t so pale. I wasn’t sure how I helped when he was the one that pleased me, but I was glad. He tried to hide his smile in my cleavage, but I saw it before he hid it. “I didn’t know you had power like that,” I told him.

  He stepped away, dropping my legs down. I felt shaky but good. I adjusted my panties and they were soaked. “Incubi aren’t good for much except for orgasms and seduction,” he told me, helping me slide down my dress—not that it covered much. “Are you okay now?” Dark eyebrows rose to question me.

  I nodded. “What about you?”

  There was something in the way his chin lifted—the slight change in his smile that left me alarmed. “All that matters are that we got you up and operating smoothly again,” was his answer.

  I arched an eyebrow, suddenly feeling suspicious. “But you were the one on the verge of losing control.”

  He looked out of the alley at the festival raging on. “Yeah… now, come on, we’ve been here too long as it is.” He placed a kiss on my forehead and took my hand. I had a feeling that maybe he wasn’t so out of control as he had made it seem… that maybe his purpose was to get me out of the panic attack I was having. And it worked. I gripped his hand as he led us back into the nightmare.

  ___________

  I clung to Killian’s hand as he led through the crowd. Sex was everywhere; a demon was killed in front of us. The demon that killed him gave a victory hoot and Killian shoved him to the side so that we could get through. My body was still in a tingly phase after what Killian had done to me, not that I minded. He could do whatever he wanted to me. And being with Killian in any way—instead of through power—I just knew it would be intense. Those thoughts are what I focused on as my arms smacked into the demons fighting and screwing. Nothing else.

  I spotted Grim in an opening that we came to. I studied him, confused. Why was he sitting in a huge, fancy-looking chair? It made him stand out, in a way that felt dangerous. He sat, legs crossed—looking either agitated or bored, could never tell with bones. The space around him was free of demons, opened and a clear view. Two empty seats were next to him. Again, something didn’t feel right. I looked to Killian and his expression gave way to my worry. “What’s wrong?”

  “Time to put on a game face, Love, looks like the Devil’s wanting to play with us,” he answered me. My heart thudded with unease. “Come on.” He pulled me into him, placing his arm around my neck as we walked toward the seats. Grim turned in our direction and I was already squirming, wondering if maybe he knew what we had just been up to. I took the seat in the middle and Killian sat on my other side. I placed my hands in my lap and straightened my back. Nerves don’t fail me now, I chanted to myself. I didn’t want a repeat of earlier.

  “Want to tell me the purpose of the chairs?” Killian looked to Grim.

  Grim shifted in his seat, bringing his skeletal fingers to rest on his skull. “A gift,” he spoke quietly with an unmistakable anger. “From the Devil.”

  Killian leaned back into his seat, looking ahead with his forehead wrinkled. “I knew it,” he spat.

  A demon with a potbelly and a pig snout came waddling toward us. He was hideous. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me. “What a lovely one you have,” he spoke through his nose. He must have been referring to me, I realized. “When shall we see her at her best?” he asked. I wasn’t sure what he meant at first, but then my eyes widened—I think I knew now.

  “Shall I cut out your tongue?” Grim spoke calmly but there was always something in the way his voice carried when he did. It was terrifying—powerful.

  The demon stumbled back, completely frightened—even his movements seemed piggish to me. A snort or a plea came from him. “But Grim… it is said that your human is the main entertainment for the festival.” Killian slammed his hands onto his chair’s armrests.

  “She’s mine. Mine to look at, mine to touch and do as I please. She’s not a spectacle for a lowly creature such as you to even gaze at!” Grim stood up.

  “What if it was Satan that made that choice for you?” I could recognize Fear’s sinister voice anywhere—not that he sounded like the evil he was
. His voice sounded beautiful—honey dripping even. I looked past the pig demon and saw him standing relaxed and dressed to impress. He must have a thing for wearing kimonos. The one he wore now was silver and black, revealing pale skin underneath. His hair was placed into a ponytail, long and silky-straight. I felt my face heat with anger when I saw Ryan next to him, dressed in chains. Chains that Fear held on to. Ryan wasn’t looking toward us; he wasn’t looking at anything. He was completely focused on staring at the ground. I felt twisted seeing him so worn down and beaten. He couldn’t stay with Fear any longer, I could see the defeat in the way his shoulders were slumped. He wouldn’t make it. Molly stood next to him and there it was, that distasteful look on her face like she didn’t want to be here. She was a puzzle to me, one that I didn’t care if I never solved.

  “She’s. Not. For. Show.” Grim punctuated each word slowly.

  “Is that okay for you to decide?” Fear asked Grim, but it was me he was looking at when he spoke. There was something cruel in his eyes before he smiled. “Very well.” He turned toward Ryan, yanking at the chain, and Ryan stumbled off balance. My instinct was crawling at me to run and go to him, but I gripped the armrest instead. “He’s the human I brought tonight… well, technically he’s dead, but I gave him flesh. Wasn’t that nice of me?” He looked to Ryan. “I made you something other than a pathetic ghost. Since Grim won’t cooperate, I guess you’ll be the entertainment for tonight.” My heart stopped and his words did something to my very soul. “Think you can handle being used and abused by any demon that wants to have a go at you?” I watched Ryan visibly shake but when he lifted his head to look at Fear, I saw it. The hope I needed as he glared at Fear.

  “Don’t worry. See, actually, I have other plans for you.” Fear clapped his hands together in excitement. “I have another human here tonight.” Killian tensed in the seat next to me, and Grim’s essence flared to life under his cloak. Fear’s tail materialized behind him and it shot forward in my direction. It stretched towards me and I leaned back, automatically protecting my neck because that was what I assumed he was going for but he went for the strap on my dress instead. He ripped it, tearing the fabric to reveal the X. It heated and glowed red against my skin. I winced, hiding it with my palm.

  “Let’s make them both our show for tonight,” he yelled over the crowd. He brought his hands out above his head and circled the demons that waited around with eager excitement. “What do you say?” The demons roared in response. I felt the blood drain from my body.

  Ryan held his palm out in front of his face as it burned his skin; the same as mine. He looked at me and all I could see was sadness and defeat. He looked guilty, and that was when I realized that maybe he blamed himself. Because he was Ryan, and Ryan could never see the things he went through because of me. He only thought of what I would have to go through, never himself. Because that was what kind of human he was—honest and loyal, caring and the boy I would somehow save.

  “You won’t touch her.” Grim’s essence grew around him, darkening the space around him.

  “With that mark, she will always be mine,” Fear reminded him. They stood glaring at one another. Killian got up and stood in front of me.

  “You’re not the one that brought her here, she’s mine,” Grim snapped.

  “She carries Fear’s mark,” I could hear the voices in the crowd saying. They grew louder until things erupted into chaos. The demons were sure to take Fear’s side because of the mark and they wanted a show. I was scared and the idea of losing what hope I did have only made it worse. I leaned forward, enough to reach Killian’s hand. I needed that bit of comfort. He turned slightly and gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Do you want to ruin the festival and upset Satan?” Fear arched an eyebrow at Grim.

  I knew Grim was at a disadvantage. Fear had provoked and moved the demons just as he wanted them. Now we could possibly be at the mercy of Fear’s twisted games. “Move,” Fear hissed at a demon in his way. The demon was quick to listen. He jerked Ryan by the chain, dragging. Ryan looked at me again, but this time, I was the one that looked away. I was afraid of what might happen to us and ashamed that this was happening to him when it should only be me.

  Grim turned around, his eyeless sockets swirled with blackness as he came for me. My stomach filled with dread. I knew what he was coming for. We had to play along. Killian stepped aside. I stood from the chair quickly, placing my shaking hands against my dress to hide them. Before Grim could say anything, I spoke first, “We have to, I know. You wouldn’t make me if there was another choice…” He looked down at my hands. I forced a smile on my face—it was a pathetic attempt to make us feel better. I reached for his hands and lifted his head. “Let’s get this over with and do what we came here to do,” I reminded them, looking back and forth between them. “But, just so that I know, what is going to happen to me?” I knew it would have been better if I hadn’t asked. But the feeling I got in the pit of my stomach—the fear—made me want to know.

  Instead of answering, he pushed me out into the center of the circle where everyone could see me. I glanced around nervously, taking all the demons in. Grim walked back to his chair—pulled it closer before he sat down. He crossed his legs and leaned back. Killian stood next to him, both were watching me. Their gazes alone could swallow me whole. Grim brought his hand to his skull, almost in a bored like manner. I realized whatever was happening had started.

  And I wasn’t prepared.

  “You want a show. I’ll give you one.” This time, it was Grim’s words that had the demons roaring with excitement.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Melanie,” Ryan yelled my name. His worry was beautiful—because he always knew how to worry for me, but never himself. I called it beautiful but it was more like a torment for me—the person that continued to destroy his life and afterlife.

  “Perfect!” Fear played his part well, adding fuel to the fire. The demons formed a circle around us, cheering and giving me lustful eyes. Some were screwing while they watched eagerly for something to happen. I felt the fear raging inside of my ribcage, but I put a clamp on it. I couldn’t afford to fall apart here, not when I had no clue what would happen to me. This time, though, that fear could be valuable, it would keep me alert.

  I ignored all the screaming and ugly laughter and put my focus on Grim and Killian, and what might happen to me. Grim’s scythe materialized in his hand. My heart pounded so hard, I could see the imprint of it thumping outside my chest. My forehead beaded with desperation. What did he plan to do?

  “Step forward,” he ordered, and I obeyed. My stilettos clicked on the dark stone as I moved towards him. I was still a good distance away from him—several feet. He brought his scythe out, pointing it at me. It grew and stretched forward. It made me think of the way Fear’s tail could do the same. My instinct was clawing at me to step away. The tip of the blade was heading for my chest, and I couldn’t handle it anymore so I stumbled back a step. “Don’t move,” he barked out another order. I froze, his voice alone feeding my fear.

  Calm down and Relax, I told myself. I was past the point of comparing Grim to Fear; no matter what, he wasn’t Fear. Even now, when I had no clue what he was doing, I trusted him. It was better that he made a show out of me instead of giving Fear the chance. As bad as this was, it could be worse. But I knew my expression was slipping and my fear was put on display. Grim was scary when he wanted to be. Right now, he was, but there was a sweet, dark ache that crept across my skin at the thought of his strength.

  The tip of his scythe moved down my dress. Then he started back at the top of my dress—between my breasts—and snagged it with the tip. It started ripping. He moved it down slowly, deliberately, and continued to destroy my dress until it reached the bottom, between my legs. The crowd erupted into cheers. The once tight dress parted, exposing my bra and panties underneath. He didn’t stop there. He went on to touch the blade across my leg, pinpricks broke out on my skin wherever the blade went.r />
  When he traveled it across my stomach, the pinpricks spread all over my body. I sucked in my stomach, afraid that I would get cut. But it didn’t happen. The blade traveled on up and found my bra. I had a horrible suspicion of what he planned to do next. And it happened. The blade snagged my bra in the middle—pop—and you know those horrible cheesy animated pictures of a woman’s bra being busted open because her jugs were too huge? That was exactly what I felt like, only my problem wasn’t my bust size, but they did hold that bouncing effect as they sprang free. I covered them with my hands immediately. My face, neck, and chest were all on fire from my embarrassment. The crowd was thunderous with their hooting and hollering. “Drop your hands,” he said coolly.

  Killian’s eyes were going insane—flickering in and out of the blackness as they drank me in. Some of my embarrassment faded and I slowly dropped my arms from my breasts. I closed my eyes, taking in a lungful of air. This wasn’t how I wanted my first strip to happen in front of Killian—with all these nasty demons. I had always thought he would have taken my clothes off himself, but in a way, he did… I studied Grim, hollowed eyes peered through me.