“I’ll get you some water.” He stood and returned a minute later with a glass.
Despite my trembling hands, I managed to take a small sip. Once the refreshing liquid hit my lips, I gulped more. I put down the glass. “He saw you with me, which means you’re in danger, too. All because of me!”
“Let me worry about me.” His tone was soothing. “What I’m more concerned about is you.”
I glanced at the windows and door once again. “The magical reinforcements here should keep us protected.” We should be safe, at least for the moment.
“Then you don’t need to be afraid.” He squeezed my thigh. “What happened?”
After several deep breaths, I braved revealing something I had kept to myself for so long. “I need to start at the beginning—when I came to this realm.”
“Take as much time as you need.”
My hands continued to shake. I pressed them into either side of the cushions of the sofa to control the trembling. “When the portal opened, a couple dozen of us entered through New Mexico. I entered with my mother and aunt. For a week, all went well as we adjusted to our new world. We were happy and excited to explore. Then, we discovered we weren’t welcome. Humans found us. Hunters. Their mission was eradicating any supernatural beings like us from the world. They killed us. Everyone except me.”
My chest tightened, and that gripping sensation worked its way up to my throat. Closing my eyes, I tried to breathe through compressing ribs.
I saw them in my head. The supernatural hunters with their scythes and swords. No quarter. “Demon after demon was taken by surprise and destroyed. My mother was caught. She screamed, ‘run!’ before she was decapitated. I hid behind a car, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Why couldn’t we teleport? Something inhibited our magic, like a sort of force field. Trapping us in an invisible coffin.”
A shudder rippled up my spine to the back of my neck. I rolled my shoulders back and exhaled. “My aunt was next. Her head rolled on the grass near my mother, their spilled blood dark red on the green blades of grass.” The scent of their spilled blood flooded my senses as vividly as if fresh. “I ran and ran and ran. The hunters chased me. Once I made it far enough, I was able to teleport, and I escaped.”
Forcing the memories to recede, it took a few seconds for the nightmare vision to fade. I blinked as I took in the familiar outlines of the safehouse. Daron sat next to me. His large hand wrapped around mine. When had he taken hold of it?
I breathed in his comforting scent and leaned closer to him.
He squeezed my hand. “That was a long time ago. You’re here with me. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
An awareness of my body moving made me realize I was rocking. I forced myself to stop, yet the tendrils of the memory clung to me like tentacles. I had to get them off me. I pulled my hand from Daron and brushed my arms. It was foolish and my futile gesture exacerbated my self-consciousness. Nothing physical was there.
But, hunters were in Salem.
“They’re here, Daron. At least one of them. They found me in New Orleans and tracked me down. Just as they swore!” My voice edged with hysteria. I had to remain cool.
“You’re sure it’s him? And not someone who looks like him? That happens often when I move around. I think I recognize someone from another city.”
“No doubt. He wore a trench coat, probably to conceal weapons. I’ll never forget those eyes. Cold and full of hate, hungry for my death. And his hand.” I shook my head as I pictured it. Then I blew out a rough breath before continuing. “He’s older now, gray and portlier, but definitely part of the group who killed my mother and aunt, and more recently captured me in New Orleans. He’d said, ‘We’ve been hunting you for years. No way will we let a demon prey on our watch.’” I choked up and then took a sip of water to give myself a moment to regain my composure.
Daron groaned and then muttered, “Son of a bitch.” His face froze with a sneer until he exhaled. “Shit, Selena. I’m sorry. What happened in New Orleans?”
“They trapped me with a sort of invisible trap that wouldn’t let me teleport. They threatened me and my terror seemed to embolden them. They waved a scythe and swore they’d decapitate me, trying to outdo each other with their taunts. Their bragging distracted them. I saw into the shield—it was a dark web with layer upon layer. I worked through each one until I figured out how to loosen the strands enough to break a hole in the weave. Then I teleported to safety.”
“Selena,” Daron rubbed his mouth. “I don’t know what to say. What you went through was hell. How you escaped was brilliant. And incredibly brave. You must have tremendous insight to have seen into that dark web.”
I snorted. “I’d never had that ability to see the inner workings of magic like that before. It must have been triggered by my terror. And I wasn’t brave. I fled. I hid in safehouse after safehouse until I ended up in this one.” With a careless wave, I added, “But then you come along with this cavalier attitude and—and—you’re going to get us both killed!”
My voice edged up higher. Why was I projecting the blame onto Daron? Fear? Frustration? Likely both.
I tried to slow my quickened breaths and galloping heartbeat. Shit, I needed to get a grip. Shrieking about my nightmare wouldn’t help my predicament.
He stared at me, slack-jawed. “Sweetness, I didn’t know. I’ll be less conspicuous.”
I shook my head with determination. “You see, Daron, this is why we can’t be together. I’ve been extremely careful being alone and on the run for so long. I’ve looked over my shoulder for years.”
He squinted, his eyes troubled by confusion and concern. “I don’t follow. How did you leap to that?”
A cold shudder wormed through me and I didn’t try to suppress it. I’d lost my loved ones. I hadn’t allowed myself to care for anyone since my mother and aunt. What I felt for Daron was different from familial love, but the familiar feelings of caring for another had returned.
“Because now you’re in danger.” My voice came out small. “And I can’t bear to lose you, too.”
“You won’t.” Daron declared with assurance. “They’re only human. Weak. I’m not afraid of them.”
I fixed a stare on him. “You should be.”
Picturing Daron enduring what had happened to my family set my skin ablaze. Sweat crawled over my flesh. I stood. “I have to get out of here.”
Daron rose. “Selena, you’re running again.”
“Right. It’s called survival.”
“No. Why not stop and fight them? We can fight them together.”
I eyed him like he was nuts. “That’s a suicide pact. We’ve already sealed one with this bond.”
“No, it’s not. You’re running from me, too.” He raised a hand, palm facing me. “You were young and traumatized by what they’d done. But, you’re older now and much stronger than they could ever be. Don’t run anymore, Selena. Fight for what you want.”
My hands shook. “What do you know about fighting?” I shouted. “You don’t know what it’s like. To see everyone you love killed in front of you. To know you’re alone in the world.”
“You’re not alone anymore.” He took a step closer. “You have me.”
His words slammed a boulder of restraint into me. Was he right? Could we face the hunters together?
No, we had no chance. We were only two demons against how many? They’d easily taken out two dozen of us when they’d killed my mother and aunt years ago. Who knew how large they’d grown their ranks since then with the spread of lies and hatred?
“It’s better that we stay apart.” I fled from the safehouse, feeling anything but safe.
The only way to survive was to run.
Chapter Nineteen
Selena
Staying away from Daron drained me. Fighting the yearning made me feel physically ill, and I holed up in my safehouse, debating hour after hour over the next day on what to do. With the new moon tomorrow, this was m
y last chance to break the bond before a new cycle began.
It was time. Prolonging it would increase our agony.
I needed to muster enough energy to teleport. After dragging myself down to Salem Willows, I wandered by humans, brushing them long enough to siphon energy. My sips were so minute, they barely noticed my intrusion. A woman brushed her arms as if an insect had landed on them. It wouldn’t feel like a mosquito bite with the aggravating itch, but in a way ended with the same outcome—feeding on one life force to support another.
After I finally gathered enough to teleport, I traveled back down to Newport. I stumbled up the walkway to Eloise’s house and knocked.
Fortunately, she answered, a whirl of dark scarves over an emerald green dress. “What happened? You look terrible.”
“It’s no use. We tried to give it a go, but we’re not designed that way.” I sighed like a forlorn woman staring out from a widow’s walk. “Can you help me?”
Eloise touched my shoulder. “Have you been fighting the compulsion?
I groaned in agreement. “Yes. And this ache…” I lifted my hand to my chest and then dropped it. How to explain this longing? “Can you break it?”
“Come inside.” She led me into a lilac dark room and offered me a seat on a plush armchair with a light gray velvet cushion. One wall was lined with a shelf with small bottles. Crushed herbs on a round wooden table perfumed the air. A variety of candles and stones in different colors also spread across the surface as if she’d recently cast a circle.
She sat opposite me on the chair’s twin. “A bond like this only comes once in a lifetime—if you’re lucky. Are you sure you want to end it?”
After opening my mouth to confirm, I hesitated. Although I’d been trying to break this bond since it happened, would I be okay with losing something so rare?
I rubbed against the velvet of the cushion, noting the color change from light to darker as I altered the direction. Of course we had to end it. It was critical for survival. Demons like us couldn’t obtain all we needed from the world by committing ourselves to one partner. I was doing him a favor.
Right?
Eloise leaned forward. “You’ll never find love like what you experience with your mate.”
“We’re not in love,” I dismissed. We were simply demons who screwed and enjoyed it. That wasn’t a foundation for lasting love and companionship. Uncertainty pulsed through me in waves. I crossed and uncrossed my legs. Was I doing the right thing?
Gritting my teeth, I added, “Love is useless to our kind. The two of us have been loners for a reason. It’s better that way.”
Eloise looked at me with a doubtful expression as if to ask who are you trying to convince—me or you? “I want you to be aware of what you’re asking. This isn’t a decision that anyone should take lightly.”
“I haven’t. Neither one of us wanted this bond and neither of us want to keep it. It will be the best thing for each of us so we can go on our own way and feed at will.”
“Daron is in agreement?”
I squirmed. For the most part. He had wanted to give it a try. Well hell, we did. That party was over. “Yes. We tried living together after we left you. It didn’t work out.” Images of the wonderful moments we shared flashed before me. I swallowed. That was play time, a fantasy, something that didn’t fit in a world with hunters who tracked down demons and annihilated them.
Eloise exhaled and then stood. “I need time to prepare for the ritual. Can you return at sundown?”
I rose. “Sure, I can kick around Newport.”
We walked to the front door. After she opened it, she scrutinized me. “You can change your mind. If you don’t return at sundown, I will consider that you’ve done so.”
Like hell I would do that. Not when I’d finally have my free will restored. “I’ll see you soon.”
I spent the afternoon people watching at the waterfront. Many late summer visitors flocked to the water. No sign of hunters in trench coats. At least I had the advantage of teleporting on my side, which made it almost impossible to track me.
And yet, they did—which is why I had to stay on the run.
I caught the eye of several attractive men in their pressed shorts and button-down shirts, but felt nothing. Damn. That typical rush of endorphins when I found a prospective partner fizzled out before I even pondered what he’d be like in bed. Instead, the face of a mischievous incubus with a decadent grin appeared in my mind, luring me.
Not for much longer. My free will would return as soon as we got through this ritual.
As the sun began to set, I wandered back to Eloise’s cottage. She’d fired up a cauldron over an open fire in her back yard. Flames licked the black iron and smoke drifted up to the darkening sky.
“I’m back,” I declared with a bright smile and more optimism than I felt.
When Eloise turned to look at me, her eyes spelled out disappointment. “I was hoping you’d change your mind.”
I raised my index finger. “No way. I’m looking forward to having the freedom to make my own decisions once again.”
“Have you ever considered that subconsciously you already have by finding your mate?”
The ocean breeze carried the scent of whatever was in the cauldron my way and my nostrils curled. It smelled like burning hair and charcoal and a mix of other distasteful odors.
I grimaced. “That doesn’t sound right. When I first saw Daron, yes, I wanted to bang him. Sexual attraction doesn’t equate to a lifelong connection.”
Eloise turned back to the cauldron. “I’ve given you all the warnings. If you want to proceed, I’ll go along with your wishes.”
I shifted from one foot to the other. Enough with the judgment. “Can we get on with the ritual, please?” Since I was paying her good money, she could save the lecture.
“All right. Please sit down.” She motioned to the empty chair before the cauldron.
I sat down. “Thank you. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m anxious to get this over with.”
“Understandable.”
She reached into the cauldron with a dark red chalice, filled it, and offered it to me. “Drink this.”
When I stared at the gray, bubbling, smoky concoction, my lips instinctively squeezed shut. As I brought it to my mouth, its unappetizing aroma intensified. Definitely not something I’d ever willingly drink.
“What’s in here? It smells like ass.”
She fixed a knowing gaze on me. “Many difficult-to-find ingredients, but I assure you ‘ass’ is not one of them.”
“That’s good.” I brought it to my lips and took a short sip. It immediately came back out as I sprayed it back at the cauldron. The specks that hit the flames flared up like were fireworks. “This tastes horrible.”
“Of course. It’s not some cotton candy-flavored love potion. Destruction is often an unpleasant experience. And in your case, you’re destroying something sought after and valued by many.”
The acrid taste coated my tongue. I didn’t need her judgment. This was my decision. I pinched my nostrils shut and poured the cauldron back, swallowing as much of the content as I could before I choked on the distasteful potion. “Yech! Gross. That was disgusting!”
Eloise stared at me and brought her knuckles to her lips. “That was the easy part.”
Minutes later, I understood why. I’d fallen onto the earth near the cauldron and clutched my stomach. It felt like clawed baby demons were trying to crawl out of me.
Images tumbled in my mind. It was like I’d separated from my body and chased those random scenes through the universe. Most of them included Daron. His face. His eyes. The various ways they’d speak to me from when he was teasing me with his signature grin or glancing at me with concern. An image of him cooking for me in his shorts while singing along to Frank Sinatra struck me with a more intense pang. That was sweet. He could be so considerate.
Maybe the time we’d spent was more than sexual gratification. He cared for me and I cared for h
im.
And I was throwing it all away.
Eons later, I pulled myself out of a fetal position.
“Drink this.” Eloise offered me a flask.
“What is this?”
“It should help with the symptoms while you go through withdrawal.”
I eyed the flask as if it were a mysterious poison. “Withdrawal?” What the hell was this mate business, a drug? “You mean I won’t be able to go and access energy my usual way?”
She pursed her lips. “This might be more difficult than you think. You’re talking about a rare connection between mates. I doubt you’re going to be up to seducing strangers the moment it’s over.”
“What are we talking — a day? Two days? A week?”
“Tough to say. I’m guessing it will be a rough recovery.” She handed me another flask. “I suggest you give this to Daron as well.”
I grimaced. Seeing him after I broke the bond would be devastating. But, if it would save him pain, I would do so. I’d have to remain strong. Put my mask back in place.
A flicker of fear rose. “But we will recover, right?”
She stared at me with a long sympathetic appraisal. “I hope so.”
Chapter Twenty
Daron
What was Selena doing? It was tearing my insides up like she put them through a grinder.
I rolled off the bed and onto the rug of my hotel room, crying out in agony and clutching my knees to my chest. I never thought my heart could actually hurt, but whatever she was doing felt like it was being tortured.
The pain intensified. It felt like someone yanking on my body, mind, soul. Treating them like an elastic band being pulled out through my chest cavity. Humans came up with this notion that demons didn’t have souls. Then how would they explain how it felt like mine was being torn in two?
I grabbed a pillow off the bed and buried my face into it to stifle any roars of pain. Reaching out to her through the bond, I begged, Stop it, Selena. Please, without knowing if she could even hear me.
SCORCH: An Incubus versus Succubus Demon Romance Page 13