Melkor & Purity: Book Two

by Kim Faulks

  They left then, with a shove and a scuffle of steps, and we were alone.

  “Let’s go see them,” I whispered. “For me.”

  He knew a lie when he heard one, but it was a lie he let himself believe. “You really want to see my home?”

  “I really want to see your home,” I reached for his hand. “And meet your sister.”

  “She’s gonna love you,” he shook his head. But there was a curl of his lips. “I don’t think you’re prepared for that.”

  A chuckle rubbed in the middle of my chest, and the pain in my heart softened. I slid my hand downwards, catching his fingers in mine.

  And together we strode from the office, and out onto the landing. The smear of red blood glistened on the polished floor. My blood…the words filled me.

  I was close to death there, closer than I want to be ever again. I was lost in the Shadowed forest with vines reaching out across the sodden ground. Lost with the whispers of something ancient all around me.

  Something primal.

  Something I feared.

  Mine, a voice echoed as we headed for the stairs.

  Someday that voice would call to repay a debt owed, and I’d have to do battle with my soul.

  I knew it, just the same way I knew we were destined to be like this. On our own, on the road…hunting. We made our way down the stairs and out the hallway to the side entrance.

  Our truck was back at the Circle’s parking lot, but that didn’t matter. Where we were going, we didn’t need a set of wheels.

  “You ready for this?” Mel murmured.

  I opened up my sense to the portals…and felt Hell calling me. “I was born ready.”

  And with a perfect smile, Melkor stepped through the gap between realms, taking us down…down…down…until the realm of Hell swallowed us.

  Gone were blue skies and white fluffy clouds.

  Gone was the building behind us.

  We stood on the edge of the pit, my hand in Mel’s.

  But this was not the Hell we knew.

  Something was wrong.

  “Mel?”

  Hell was fury.

  Hell was pain.

  But in this moment…Hell was none of those things.

  There were no red skies raging above us. Only stillness…only gray. Like the hate and the rage had been bled from this world.

  In this moment, Hell was as silent as a grave.

  Chapter Twelve

  Melkor

  I stood on the edge of the Pit and stared into nothing. There was no fire in the Dragon’s Breath. No burning furnace in Hell.

  It was almost chilly.

  “Mel, what the fuck is going on?” Purity whispered and her hand tightened around mine.

  I swallowed hard and stared into the darkened belly. The fire still there, let out as just a flicker…a tiny, pure black flame. Not enough to warm the air...not enough to keep Hell alive. “I don’t know,” I turned to her. ‘I’ve never seen this before in my life.”

  And with the words came the image of Lucifer striding into the office at Varday Corporation with a row of daggers strapped to his chest.

  Unfortunately, I’m required elsewhere…

  Lucifer’s words resounded, and chill slipped into my bones.

  I swallowed and tugged on her hand, pulling her close. “Stay with me. Stay as close as you can.”

  The fire in Hell wasn’t gone, it was swallowed, consumed with a ravenous rage. I dragged in a shuddered breath and the scent of blood stained the air.

  I turned from the darkened obsidian walls and followed the trail I knew by feel alone. A trail I’d walked a thousand times before…many times with Dad.

  Pain cut across my chest with the memory. I kept my steps fast, watching the darkness for a shift in the shadows. My Hound rose to the call, in a breath he took us down, past the Dragon’s Breath, to my home. Rock scattered under out steps. My heart was pounding, filling my head with a roar.

  Purity wrenched her gaze toward me. Her warm body pressed against mine. “You said close, right?”

  There was no roar of Hell’s furnace. No bright, glowing river of lava to brighten the cavern and light the way. There was shadows and darkness. There was silence. Empty…chilling…silence.

  Like the rage was gone…

  No. Not gone, drawn deeper.

  My steps faltered and Purity smacked into my side.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she hissed. “Do you need my flashlight?”

  “No,” I wrenched my gaze toward her. “No damn flashlight. I can see just fine…I…”

  “Then what the hell is it?”

  How could I tell her…what if I was wrong? “Nothing,” I murmured. “It’s nothing.”

  I took a step, leading her in the dark toward the rocky outcrop where Rykor always hid when he sensed me coming. My stomach clenched. I readied myself for the onslaught. Where have you been? With your ‘other family’? Too good for us Hellhounds now?

  But there was nothing. Not snarl of anger. No blows fueled with rage. There was only silence as I stepped around the curve of the cavern and stared at the small amber flames outside my home.

  Mom sat in front of the fire, arms wrapped around her raised knees.

  She looked lonely.

  She looked forgotten.

  The sight was a shotgun blast to my chest. “Mom?” The word barely echoed, still she turned her head toward me and searched the darkness.

  She shoved against the ground and rose to stand. “Melkor…is that you?”

  And in a heartbeat, I lunged forward. Purity’s hand slipped from mine, she was barely a stride away, but in this moment, I wasn’t the protector…I wasn’t the Hellhound. I was a son.

  “Mom,” tears welled in my eyes as I raced toward her and swept her into my arms.

  “Mel,” she whimpered, and clutched my shoulders, pressing me against her chest. “I thought I lost you…I thought you were gone for good.”

  She shuddered and shook, clinging to me like I was her anchor. “Never,” the pathetic whimper tore free.

  Warm kisses against my cheek. Fingers combed my hair and, pressing against the back of my head, pulling me into her.

  “I missed you so much,” her words were stained with tears.

  Agony consumed me, twisting my heart until I thought it’d tear. I held her close as tears slid down my cheeks, and clung to her as hard as she clung to me.

  This was what I needed. This was how I was meant to heal.

  Not forget.

  Not try to ignore.

  Purity was right…she was always so damn right. I stilled, my heart clenching tight. Purity. I lifted my head from the curve of Mom’s neck and stared into her eyes. “Mom…there’s someone I want you to meet.”

  Boots scuffed the rocks. Movement shifted in the dark.

  Mom turned her head as I took a small step away and lifted my hand. “This is Purity.”

  Mom froze, her hands slipped down. And for a second, I saw this all going wrong. I saw anger. I saw resentment.

  “Oh, Melkor,” Mom whispered, and instantly that terrible image in my head disappeared. She left me, striding across the dirt and the darkness to the woman I was in love with.

  Her arms went around Purity, she held her close, pulling Purity into her…just as she had me. “You are so welcome. So…very…welcome.”

  Purity’s hands lingered in the air. She lifted her gaze to me, unable to understand. This was love. This was acceptance. This was all the things she’d never had. The whites of her eyes shimmered.

  “I’m so glad to finally meet you. I never thought I’d see this day,” Mom whispered.

  Purity’s hands went to Mom’s shoulders, and then she wrapped her arms tightly around Mom. They held each other, shedding silent tears filled with healing, silent tears filled with pain. Laughter followed, harsh, raw sounds as they found a sense of love.

  “Mel? The small croak came from inside. “Is that you?”

  I turned toward the openin
g and felt my heart lunge. I strode for the doorway, steps so rapid they blended into one. “It’s me.”

  It was as though I’d never left. Folded out sleeping mats were against the wall, the kitchen bench still packed with food and containers. But I passed by it all and headed for the small doorway to my sister’s room. Fabric skimmed against my fingers as I pushed the covering aside.

  Gasping breaths filled the space. I knew that sound, dreamed of that sound and, as I stepped closer and knelt beside the bed, I knew she’d longed for me as much as I’d longed for her.

  “Asshole.”

  The edges of my lips curled at the word. I leaned closer. Cool fingers touched my cheek. “Missed you, too.”

  “Where…is…she?”

  I turned at the sound of footsteps in the doorway. Mom struck the flint, lighting a flashlight and placed it in the holder against the cavern wall.

  “It’s okay, honey. You can go in,” Mom urged as the amber glow brightened the room.

  I rose to my knees and then shoved my boots against the ground, shuffling to the side, making room for her.

  Kelor’s hand trembled in the air. But there wasn’t a moment of hesitation with Purity. She just strode forward and caught my sister’s hand in hers. “I’m so honored to meet you. Melkor’s told me so much about you all.”

  And for the first time in my life, there wasn’t an asshole…or a you…suck…comment thrown around. Purity leaned close and gently kissed her on the cheek.

  I caught the shine of a tear on my sister’s face as Purity slowly pulled away. The disease which had ravaged my kind had left more than empty beds in its wake. It left people too scared to touch, too scared to comfort and hold…and left the kind of ache that was forever wanting—forever searching for a kind word, or the touch of a hand.

  Purity took my breath away.

  I stared at her as she smiled and looked at my sister, and knew I was hopelessly in love.

  “Mel…never…stops…talking…about you.”

  Purity beamed as Kel gasped and croaked. “He’d better. He’s been the biggest pain in my ass. Always, Don’t do it, Purity, it’ll get us in trouble.”

  “Pussy,” Kelor snarled.

  “Sing it, sister,” Purity muttered and lifted a fist.

  Kel’s hand shook as she knocked knuckles and then let out a harsh bark of laughter.

  “Your sister and I could get into some trouble,” Purity stared at Kel and winked.

  “The world isn’t ready for the two of you together,” I answered as Purity dropped her hand.

  “Maybe not,” her fingers found mine and gripped tight. “But one day we are gonna unleash Hell.”

  “Hell…yeah…girlfriend.”

  “Come on, you two,” Mom called from the doorway. “Don’t tire your sister out.”

  I pushed from the floor and then helped Purity rise.

  “We’ll be back again,” Purity stared at Kel. “I promise.”

  Fresh tears shone as my sister nodded. But there was light in her eyes, a kind I’d never seen before, as she gave a smile and murmured. “You…better.”

  We left her then, leaving the sheet to fall down to cover the doorway once more. But there was no sign of Rykor, no sign he’d been here at all. The thin mattress he used was gone, the plates on the counter only enough for two.

  “Where is he?”

  Mom stiffened, but kept walking, making her way outside the house to the small fire once more.

  “Mom.”

  She stopped at the edge of the fire. There was a faint red glow below the river of lava, like the undercurrent was alive, but on the surface, it showed nothing.

  “Talk to me,” I reached for her hand.

  She turned her head, pain ravaging her eyes. “He’s gone, Mel. He’s gone and there’s no way I can ever get to him.”

  I swallowed the flinch.

  “He blames himself for your father’s death. He hates himself, Mel. He honestly hates himself.”

  “I can save him,” the words slipped free.

  There was a shake of her head. “No, you can’t. He has to save himself. He knows we love him. He knows we’re here.”

  “I love you, Mom,” I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around her. “He’s going to come back to us…one day.”

  She reached up, patted my arm. “I know it. Right…you two have a job to do, apparently.”

  She was closing off the conversation, protecting her own heart. I straightened and let my hold slip away. “We’re hunting the Soulless.”

  “You’ll do your father proud, both of you.”

  And the pager inside Purity’s pocket made a chirp. She reached for it, digging the device free, and read the message. “They got a location.”

  I took a step away and nodded.

  “Said to meet them in three hours at the Circle.”

  Mom just watched me with red flames dancing in her eyes. “Find the keys, hunt the Soulless, and then come home, Mel.”

  My heart thundered with purpose. Purity stepped closer to my side and, as I turned away from Mom, I knew as much as this hurt, she was right…

  Dad would be proud.

  Purity reached out and took my hand in hers. I wanted to turn around and take one last look at Mom. But that felt too much like an ending.

  And this wasn’t the end. It wasn’t anywhere near the end. I’d never stop, and neither would Purity. Not until every last Soulless is back here once more…or until every key is found.

  Until my father’s murderer was brought to stand before the Lord of Hell.

  My thoughts returned to Lucifer as my Hound took us higher. I strode along the edge of the pit with its darkened flame still barely burning, but still alive…brewing like a tempest under the surface.

  “You okay?” Purity murmured.

  With her I was always okay. I squeezed her hand and let the portal draw us closer, all the way upwards to the mortal realm. “I’m learning to be when I’m with you.”

  I held the image of the Circle in my mind as the veil became thin and we pushed through. And as always, my power took me where I needed to be, to where the blue skies shone and the smell of sulphur faded.

  “We still have three hours,” Purity murmured, wincing at the bright sun.

  I took a step, leading her out of the shadows at the end of the parking lot, and scanned the packed spaces. The big black truck was parked toward the gate. My thoughts turned to survival. “We have all those weapons back at the apartment. We have to go there anyway, need our clothes and med bag.”

  “Who knows how long we’re going to be?” Purity’s eyes glinted as she turned to me.

  “Exactly.”

  My steps picked up pace, my stride lengthening. Excitement was a grassfire catching alight. In an instant, Purity was matching my strides.

  I reached into my pocket, dragged out the keys to the truck, and pressed the button.

  Her hand slipped from mine as she made her way around to the passenger’s side and climbed in. One turn of the ignition and the vehicle came to life, then we were rolling out of the parking lot and through the gate, heading back to the apartment.

  Mortals still waited outside the building, waving and shouting. I focused on crawling the car through them before we turned the corner. Silence settled in the space between us. Purity stared out of the window, deep in thought.

  “You okay?” I glanced toward her.

  There were tears in her eyes when she turned back to me. Sadness echoed through her voice. “I love your family. I mean, I always knew I would. I think to myself how we’re so different? But the sad, cruel fact is, I’m much closer to yours than I ever was to mine. It’s like they don’t see me, not the real me, only the version they want me to be, the version they’d accept. But your family just accepts me for who I am, chubby thighs and all.”

  “I love your chubby thighs,” I murmured. “And they love you as you, no matter who you are. Your family will see that, eventually.”

  “You think
so?”

  I reached across the seat and dragged the back of a curled finger along her jaw. “I know so. And if they don’t, then that’s their hang-up, their loss, not yours. The world is changing. And they either need to change with it, or step aside for the Puritys of the world.”

  She gave me a smile, and turned to press her spine into the seat. I would’ve given anything to make that happen, to have her parents waiting on the doorstep of the Circle, or at least to call. I glanced at the outline of her phone in her pocket, and felt my heart sink.

  Just call her.

  Even if it’s just to see if she’s still alive.

  It’d been weeks since she’d walked away from her home. Weeks of training, weeks of loss. She turned her head and watched me as I drove, and as much as the pain was real and savage inside me, it was pushed aside for the pure, blinding love she gave.

  She was a million-watt light in my eyes.

  She was the person always at my back.

  And as I glanced from the street to her, once more I caught the faint black Unseelie markings along her face before they disappeared.

  I’d almost lost her.

  Once to Heaven, and once to the Shadowed realm.

  And a desperation echoed. She was different. She was faster. She was stronger and faster from the Nephilim powers. But now she was touched by the Unseelie, as well.

  I hit the turning signal and turned into our street, catching sight of the building in the distance. Three hours…

  Three hours to kiss her.

  Three hours alone.

  And the thought of that set me on fire.

  Purity Jane Anderson.

  You are mine.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Purity

  Mel was acting weird, fumbling with the keys at the front door of the apartment and then he stumbled as he walked inside. I hesitated, watching him, before he stopped and turned back. “What?”

  I gave a shrug. “I dunno, what’s up with you? You’re acting weird…weirder than your normal.”

  He just shook his head and smiled, and as I followed him inside, the energy around me changed…