by G. K. DeRosa
Research was a bust. Who knew there would be a bajillion different demon marks? The only thing I discovered was that my glowing tattoo was busted. It hadn’t lit up once since that day in the dungeon and no magical woo woo either.
“Azara?” Thax waved his hand an inch from my face.
“Huh?” I squinted. After days in the subterranean castle, even the gray skies of the Nether Lands hurt my eyes.
He stood next to the whirling portal, the brilliant blue setting his ashen face aglow. “I asked if you were ready to see the greatest city in the world?”
“Yup. Sure.”
My cousin waved at his entourage, which in addition to his narkin soldiers, today included Remy and a warlock named Jasper who was in charge of transportation. Opening portals to the human world was an ability only our magical male brethren held. At least that much I remembered.
Funny thing memories… basic facts I could recall, but it was the details that were fuzzy.
Thax linked his arm with mine and coaxed me toward the portal. “Perhaps after taking care of some business, we can see a Broadway show.”
A flash of twinkling lights and a catchy melody streaked across my mind before vanishing into the ether. “Sounds like fun. What business--?” My words were drowned out as we stepped through the swirling vortex.
The brilliant glow receded, leaving us in a gelatinous vat of black. The strange texture coated my skin and a tingle puckered the flesh where my tattoo resided. A second later, the winds picked up and we were suctioned through the narrow opening into the human realm.
I landed in a perfect crouch beside my cousin in a dark alley. Nailed it. For some reason, I felt like that was a major accomplishment. I basked in my own personal glory for only a moment before Thax’s troupe of narkins broke through the magical veil.
When the entire entourage was assembled, Jasper muttered something I couldn’t quite catch, and a neon green orb closed around us. His magic danced across my skin and again, my mark twitched. I covered it with my palm, pretending to rub my arm and peeked between my fingers but it was still dead. No light whatsoever.
“Let’s go.” Thax signaled, and his demons fell into step.
“Where exactly are we going?” I may not have remembered much, but we were nowhere near downtown Manhattan. Even at this hour of the night, the heart of the city was usually bustling. From the looks of it, we were in a residential area, either the Upper East or West Side.
“I told you, I have some business to attend to.” He led the way out of the alley and onto the dim street. Quaint brownstones lined the sidewalk before coming to an end at a lush park. The street sign caught my eye as we passed under it—West 90th Street. I was right. Take that, spotty memories.
Thax slowed and signaled for Remy. “You’re certain Alacor and Domulus are still dwelling in the human residence?”
I fell back to eavesdrop.
The old seer nodded. “I sent a pair of your soldiers this morning. Despite your warning to vacate the premises, they’ve remained, and their followers have only grown in number. They’ve continued to plague the neighborhood. Last week, the human police reported the discovery of three more bodies.”
“This must be Delacroix’s doing. He’s trying to prove to Lucifer I cannot control my own people.”
“Perhaps. The hellus demon has amassed quite a following during his tenure at Darkblood. He’s made his bid for your throne rather public.”
Darkblood Prison? For some reason, the penitentiary rang a bell.
“This ends tonight,” he snarled. “Let’s go.” My cousin increased his pace, and I hurried into step beside him. I’d never seen the great Thax in battle, but according to the servants, he was quite masterful at the art of war. I supposed that was how he secured his position as dark lord of the sixth realm. I could care less for such things, but my she-demon, she thirsted for not only souls, but also power.
“Who’s this Delacroix?” I finally asked, sidling up to my cousin.
“Upper-level demon, one of my underlings who’s become a particularly prickly thorn in my side.”
“But he’s in prison?”
Thax’s eyes widened, and he shot Remy a scathing glare. “For now,” he muttered.
The dark lord’s arm slapped across my chest as we reached a dilapidated old brownstone. Unlike its pristine neighbors, graffiti tattooed its exterior, cracked glass crisscrossed the windows and the front door barely hung on from its hinges.
“Let go,” I barked.
Remy moved in front of me and whispered, “Demonae venite.”
A curtain of black whooshed over my vision, and my head lolled back. A burst of dark energy filled my insides, a powerful waterfall rushing to every nook and cranny. I blinked to rid myself of the darkness, but it only intensified.
I could feel myself slipping, my consciousness giving up to hers—to my she-demon. I fought her for a second longer before I gave in. What did it matter anyway?
“Azara?”
My lids fluttered, and Remy’s weathered face coalesced before me. “What?”
“Are you hungry?”
I swallowed, and an intense dryness coated my throat. It was like the inside of my mouth was covered in sandpaper. The familiar hunger gnawed at my insides, and I could feel my golden irises melt away to the demon black.
My arm shot out, my fingers wrapping around Remy’s neck. He squirmed, but my demon was strong. I trapped him in my dark gaze, and his eyes immediately glassed over. Inching closer, my jaw unlocked and a whisper of blue vapor slid from my lips.
“Azara, no!” Thax’s booming voice tore my attention from my prey. His fingers wrapped around my arm, and he yanked me away. Gripping my shoulders, he forced my gaze to his. “How many times must I tell you, you cannot eat Remy or any of my staff.”
“Hungry,” I hissed.
He turned me toward the house. “There’s plenty for you in there. Take your pick—demon, human, or otherwise. You’ll find a veritable buffet of delectable souls.”
I wriggled free of his hold and darted toward the shabby entrance before he finished his sentence. The narkins had already broken down the splintered door, and shrieks filled the foyer as I hunted for my next meal.
My nostrils flared, the scent of blood filling the air. My cousin’s soldiers were brutal but effective. My hunger wasn’t for blood though; I thirsted for the essence of man. That was where his true power resided. And with each soul I consumed, I grew stronger.
A blerus demon zipped by, blood gushing from a deep gash in its third arm. I lunged to the left and kicked my leg out, sweeping his feet out from under him. In the past week, I’d discovered Thax wasn’t the only one with prowess on the battlefield. My memories might have been gone, but my body hadn’t forgotten how to fight.
Once the demon was down, I stood over him, locking his terrified eyes in my gaze. I bent forward and drew in a deep breath. A hazy red vapor seeped from his pressed lips. He struggled for only a moment before his head lolled back.
I sucked in greedily as his dark essence filled my own. Power coursed through my veins, the heady sensation dangerously addictive. I reveled in the intoxicating feeling as I drained the life out of the creature.
Next.
Hopping over the blerus’s still form, I scanned the chaos. The narkins had left a slew of bloodied corpses strewn across the lower level of the townhouse. My eyes landed on the staircase in the far corner. Perhaps I’d find the living upstairs.
Sidestepping the decomposing creatures as I headed for the steps, I considered my cousin’s earlier words. Someone was vying for his throne. If the idiot lost it, that wouldn’t bode well for me. I should be the one to take it from his slippery fingers. He was lying to me. Keeping something important from me. I’d make him pay as soon as I discovered what that was.
The decaying staircase creaked with each step. I sniffed the air as I crept up, and the distinctive scent of human swirled just beyond my nostrils. Yum, tasty. I hadn’t enjoyed a human s
oul since losing my memory, but based on their scent alone, Thax hadn’t exaggerated their sumptuous nature.
Reaching the second-floor landing, I turned the corner, following the thrilling perfume. Hunger clawed at my throat and filled my mouth with saliva. I could practically taste it already. It would be light, airy and completely enthralling, filled with hopes and dreams—and love. Human souls were the best because of their richness. It was a fact that somehow remained ingrained in my hazy memories.
I reached the door from which the captivating aroma emanated, and my fingers closed around the old knob. Tugging it open, my eyes landed on a girl huddled in the corner of the dark room. She sat on the floor with her knees to her chest, her eyes wide in horror.
“Please, don’t hurt me,” she whimpered.
My she-demon laughed. “It won’t hurt a bit, darling.” It would be over so quickly, the young girl wouldn’t feel a thing. A pang of guilt streaked through my gut as I stalked forward. Odd. Tossing the unwanted emotion aside, I fixed my gaze on the human.
“Help!” she screamed. “Someone, help me!”
I erased the distance between us and locked her panicked irises to mine. “Shh… it’ll all be over soon.” I inched closer, and her lips parted without much coaxing. Her heart pounded so loud it echoed across my eardrums.
“Please, don’t,” she sobbed.
I cupped her cheeks and for the first time, really looked into her eyes. They were a light hazel with specks of dark green. A flicker of my pesky humanity fought its way to the surface. Don’t do it, Azara. Don’t kill the innocent girl.
But I had to.
I breathed in, and her delicious soul practically leapt from her clenched lips.
Loud footfalls barely registered from down the hall as I continued to consume, her warm soul igniting sensations I hadn’t felt since I’d awoken. My eyes closed, and I released a contented sigh as her light filled me.
“In here!” A male voice echoed behind me.
More approaching footfalls. I pushed the intruding thoughts away and focused on the invigorating high of the feed.
“Azara? Azara is that you?” The deep timbre of a male voice stopped my heart. I released my hold on the girl’s soul and spun toward the familiar sound. A pair of smoldering silver irises bored into me. A colossal rock sank to the pit of my stomach as I stared at the eyes that haunted my days and plagued my nights.
“Who are you?” My gaze raked over the massive shifter. “How do you know me?”
His wide jaw dropped, his brows furrowing. “You. It’s really you… You’re alive.”
I popped my hands on my hips and stepped closer. “You won’t be alive for long if you don’t tell me who you are.” I dug my fingers into my flesh to keep them from reaching out to touch the stranger.
The tense set of his shoulders straining against his leather jacket relaxed, and he took a step forward, closing the distance between us. “You really don’t know who I am?”
“No.” My feet propelled me forward, nonetheless.
The man’s intense expression faltered before it hardened to stone. “I’m so sorry, Azara.” He reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a dark metal handcuff. “I need you to come with me.”
Shaking my head out, I chased away the lingering sensations tearing up my insides. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” I staggered back. This shifter’s soul would make a powerful addition to my collection. Too bad I couldn’t keep him around because he was gorgeous.
I locked my gaze to his and those mesmerizing silver irises seared into mine. He didn’t even try to look away. Did the fool not know what I was? Most cringed in fear when my eyes met theirs.
“Don’t do this, Azara. Please, just come with me. I’ll take you home.”
Home? Again, a warm and fuzzy sentiment flared before vanishing a moment later.
The stranger held out his arms, a sad smile playing on his sculpted jaw. “I love you, Azara. Please.”
Love? Invisible talons raked across my heart, and I nearly buckled over from the intensity. Azara, go with him. That annoying little voice was back. A swell of darkness invaded my vision again, nearly blotting out the man in the doorway.
My head spun as my humanity fought her way to the surface. But my demon was strong—too strong. I eyed the broken window in the corner.
“Don’t, Azara, please.” He took a step closer and dropped the cuff, his hands up.
“You have me confused with someone else.” I darted toward the window and dove headfirst as the shifter’s shouts echoed behind me.
I landed in the narrow alleyway between the brownstones and fell back on my butt. Pushing myself up, I caught silver eyes razing over me from the second floor. I half expected him to chase after me.
But he didn’t.
My eyes refused to look away despite my best efforts. The swell of emotions behind the silver storm stirred something deep inside me.
“Azara!” Thax’s voice finally tore my gaze from the stranger. My cousin raced toward me, his dark brows furrowed and a scowl carved into his sallow jaw. “We’re leaving. Now.” He yanked me up and jerked me toward the back of the house where the narkins had corralled some demon hostages.
I couldn’t help my head from turning back up to the window as I ran. He was gone.
Chapter Four
Groaning, I rolled over and hazarded a peek through swollen lids. The dark shadows coalesced into the cold walls of my chamber at Thax’s castle. The only good thing about the underground fortress was no pesky sun streaming into the room in the early morning.
A jackhammer pounded on my skull with the slight movement. What the hell happened last night? I pressed my fingers to my temples and circled until the pain lessened to a dull roar. Damned headaches. Stretching across the bed, I reached for the potion on the nightstand. I uncorked the vial and downed half the contents. The sludgy, sweet liquid slithered down my throat, and I greedily gulped it down.
Seconds later, the maddening pain was gone. I leaned back on my pillow and drew in a steadying breath. Much better. With the mind-numbing ache gone, I could focus on what the heck happened yesterday.
According to Thax, blacking out when my she-demon appeared wasn’t uncommon for me. I sure as hades wished I could remember what I did when she took the reins. Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on the night before. The human realm… yes, that’s right!
A pair of gleaming silver irises flashed across my mind, and my heart tripped on a beat. That dragon shifter. Was I dreaming or was he really there? He’d said something… something important. I chewed on my lip as I considered. I’d ask Thax, but he was definitely hiding something from me and maybe that guy was somehow involved. He could be the answer to my lost memories.
The man’s chiseled jaw and the shock of dark hair that fell over his brow swirled in my mind, and a swell of heat lit up my insides. Whoa, what was that about?
Tamping down on the unexpected lusty thoughts, I pushed myself out of bed. I had to find him, whoever he was. And I knew exactly who to ask.
I peeled off my pajamas and threw on a shirt and jeans. Thax never woke until late morning so if I hurried I might make it. Darting out into the hallway, I traversed the long corridor, scooting by a few of the servants. The kitchen staff was usually up early to prepare breakfast for their dear dark lord.
I took the winding steps two at a time until I reached the lower level of the castle. I’d overheard Lumi speak of the dungeons to one of the other servants once. How hard could it be to find? My gut told me the difficult part would be sneaking past the narkin guards once I found the prisoners.
I jumped off the last step, and the dank scent of moisture and mildew filled the air. Smells like dungeon to me. I crept forward, sticking to the shadows down the stone corridor. After a few more steps, the narrow passageway opened up into a circular chamber. A narkin demon sat on a wooden chair beside a thick oak door, his head leaning against the wall and mouth hanging open.
Okay,
one demon wasn’t too bad.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I considered my options. Sneaking by the sleeping demon wouldn’t be a problem. It was opening that door without making a sound that would be tricky. I side-eyed my busted demon mark. Wake up! If I could only figure out how to get that magical orb to appear, I could walk right past him.
I closed my eyes and willed the glowing bubble to materialize. Come on, come on. No tingling, not even a flicker. My lids snapped open to confirm what I already knew—big fat nothing. I needed to start spending all my downtime in the library to learn more about this magic stuff.
I could simply soul-suck the guard and call it a day, but I didn’t want to risk losing control. No, I’d have to take a different approach. “Hey, guard!”
The demon jumped up, his long, floppy ears smacking him in the face. I suppressed the urge to laugh and kept my expression hard.
“The dark lord doesn’t keep you around to sleep on the job. Get the hell out of here.”
His watery eyes dipped to the floor. “I sorry, lady. I sorry.”
“I don’t care how sorry you are. You’re relieved of your duty.” I crossed my arms over my chest and seared him with a steely glare.
He shook his head and again those droopy ears whipped across his frightened face. “Can’t leave prisoners.”
“I’ll watch over them until you send a replacement.” I lunged forward and pointed at the way out. “Now go!”
He scampered away like a frightened mouse instead of a fearsome demon soldier. That was easy.
As soon as his heavy footfalls fell away, I heaved the massive door open. Inside, four cells completed the dim chamber. At least a dozen demons filled the enclosures, the scent of unwashed bodies and decaying flesh nearly bowling me over as I crossed the threshold. Were all of these prisoners captured last night?
“Ooh the dark lord has sent us a gift for good behavior.” A lanky demon wedged his head between the bars and stretched a gnarled finger at me. A few of the other prisoners chuckled—the ones that weren’t mortally wounded anyway.
