The Demon Inside (Hell's Creatures Book 1)

by Katerina Degratte

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “I thought you cared about specifics,” I challenged him. He was getting under my skin

  “All right then the witchy, bitchy shape shifter.” He rolls his eyes. “While witches can be either good or bad, we’re not supposed to acquaint with them, and you are sadly.” His teeth glisten with his perfect smile. “Chose one of the rotten eggs. She’s working for Damien, and that whole big ceremony you did with her was to bring out his demon so he could destroy. So, you tried to conspire against us by waking his demon early and taking several innocent human lives. Ones who wanted to believe that there could be other forces and got killed for it.” He says the words with fake empathy toward the ‘human.’

  “That’s not how it happened. She kidnapped him.” I try to spell it out for him. “I wasn’t working with her!”

  “Kidnapped a demon? That’s preposterous!” He makes a ticking noise with his tongue. “None of those other things matter though because after all you are a rogue angel.” A term for someone who doesn’t play by the rules to the point.

  “Couldn’t you have spared me the trouble from listening to your boring voice drone on for hours upon end?” I scoff at him.

  “You’re lucky you have a pretty face Aura.” He grins at me wickedly. “If you don’t complete your mission successfully, you can be my pet.” Disgusting. “At best.” The worst fate was having one’s wings ripped off, a fate worse than death.

  “How can I complete the mission successfully?” I humor him.

  Two simple words. “Kill him.”

  Chapter 30

  Gabriel

  “Still no sign of Aura?” I ask Luke, hoping his answer is different, from what it evidently will be. She took off last time the demon made another grand appearance; yet no one would tell me what he did. When I re-awoke, I was in a place far different from the circus, as I was curled on Luke’s couch. His insistence on protecting me was enraging.

  The diner is busy with music, people. The only angels in sight were the ones in sexy costumes

  He shakes his head solemnly. “I think she took off early Gabriel.” The last day, and I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye. Not that she had any reason to want to be around me. After whatever happened in the circus tent, she wouldn’t be in the same vicinity as me. It was surprising Luke didn’t kick me out the moment I walked through these doors.

  “There’s no use crying over spilled milk.” He grabs me a drink from a nearby waitress.

  I shake my head. “I think I need to get some fresh air, Luke. I’ll be back soon.” Time was ticking. If she couldn’t help me with this problem, I’d fix it myself. And after the demon was a part of certain erased deaths, I’m sure I could find someone willing to do so.

  “Gabriel, are you sure that’s best right now?” Luke looks concerned, making me want to leave all the more.

  “I want to enjoy one more peaceful scene before the chaos takes over. When I do turn, kill me, please.” The look in Luke’s eyes says he could never do that. “I’ll need you to.”

  “Where are you going?” he inquires.

  “Down to the shore.” I would take a pleasant walk, maybe attempt some other less savory things. Save the world from my demise.

  “Gabriel, are you sure?” he looks concerned. “Why not go elsewhere?” He was hiding something, confirming my need to go there.

  “Bye.”

  xxXxx

  I walk along the shoreline, enjoying the pleasant evening breeze. Alone. I finally allow some of my feelings to overflow, as the tears are let go.

  Monster.

  You’re the monster, hiding your true self.

  I don’t even bother replying to his antics today, as I walk down to sit by the shore. Maybe to let the ocean wash me up. If my damn body would let me go, instead of healing.

  “You.” I hear a voice from behind me, the water rising around me. Who did I piss off this time?

  A merman, with auburn flowing hair, gleams in the night. Gills flare like slits in his throat, on the side of his neck. His torso is insanely muscled. His eyes held nothing but hatred towards me.

  WHAT DID YOU DO? Once again, the demon’s quiet, as I try to stumble away. I’m too late though as a chain of water grabs my leg and holds me upside down. His prisoner.

  “You caused her death, mortal!” The words are screamed in my face, as I’m paralyzed by fear. Maybe this was what I deserved all along, maybe he could take me out of my misery.

  “What did I do?” I yell out to him, desperate. I had to at least know.

  “How could you not know?” He places his hands on either side of my head, frowning. “You have a memory blockage.”

  “No-” I started to say, but he cut me off from finishing that thought. All the demon’s killing’s that he could see. He....

  “Just need to snap that barrier.” No sooner than the words are said, memories come crashing back around me. The poor child that tried to steal pocket change, getting beheaded. His mother was crying in pain.

  The woman I killed that wanted to see my demon. How I tore her limb from limb, laughing maniacally about it. Like it was some twisted game.

  An elderly lady tossed in the street for giggles. Killing all those people that Minx tricked into thinking I was something that could be controlled. More women, mean kids, and... like there were no limits to the damage he was willing to encase.

  A pregnant lady? The one that he touched her shoulder, to replace her twins with flesh tearing monsters. Fuck. And so many other twisted games that he loved to play.

  “Kill Me!” I scream, wanting the pain to stop. The memories stop. I needed them shut off, as they kept whirling around in my brain on a constant loop. His killing streak was enormous. My body is stained in puke, from the sheer horror of it all. I couldn’t live like this.

  “You killed our last daughter! You monsters act was like we’re some sort of prize, to display and mantle. As you’ve killed far too much of our population.” A triton rests at my throat. “Any last words?”

  “Don’t kill him.” I hear her voice. The woman that I’ve been longing to see, Aura. Her body was barely visible through all the tears.

  “Do it!” I yell back.

  “What do you have to offer me angel? If I spare his life.” She managed to gather his interest. It wasn’t every day that an angel offered themselves willingly.

  “I’ll take his place.”

  Chapter 31

  Aura

  “Aura don’t do this, don’t be punished for my deeds.” Gabriel’s begging me through his tears. The veil of the demon’s memories, and Gabriel’s mesh together as one. The horror of it all is out in the open for him to see. He could survive this.

  “No. It was my carelessness that killed her. Take me in his spot.” I challenge the merman, staring directly on—even with how difficult that is. His stance was intimidating, honorable, strong.

  He drops Gabriel, just letting his body fall in the water to gain his own wits about him, and such a task that was. Hopefully, he wouldn’t drown in his trauma.

  “Why would you give your life for a demon like him?” He looks unable to grasp the concept. Confusion, disgust, and fascination transform his face.

  “I love him.” I shocked myself with the words that were not what I meant to say. Damn merfolk, unhinging secrets even unknown to me. I see Gabriel in the corner of my eye, struggling to get up. “And it’s the right thing to do.”

  “I see.” A smirk. “You could be more useful than that halfling.” I bite back nasty comments; sick, and tired of people only telling me how useful I am, not appreciating me for who I am. Or only giving me value for my pretty face. “I was going to kill him.”

  He goes to the shoreline, fins transforming to human legs. His structure is incredible...I try to force myself to look up in the muddy green eyes. “You could be far more useful; I am short daughters.” He wanted me to be like him.

  I weigh my options. The other angel’s likely wouldn’t b
other going through such trouble, to find such a replaceable part. I wouldn’t have to kill another, and there was no chance my wings would get torn off. Anything was better than the feeling of them being ripped from your spine, nearly crippling.

  “Can I have the evening to myself, before?” A bold request, but I could wrap up loose ends.

  He sighs heavily. “I foresee you can. Don’t try to cross me, because anywhere there is water I can, and will find you.” A warning, and a promise.

  “Thank you.” I nod, letting him know his act of generosity wouldn’t be forgotten.

  “Until we meet again, at the next nightfall.” He solemnly nods, returning to the water, giving Gabriel another painful flip over before finishing his fight with him.

  Gabriel stares at me, a sniffling mess. “Aura. Is that true?” The words come out pained, as the memories keep rushing through.

  “Gabriel.” I walk towards him, taking him in my arms. He lets out a relieved sigh. I release healing energies to put ease to his troubled mind. His head rested upon my chest.

  His breathing calms, as those ocean hues stare at my own sky-blue eyes. “You.” His index finger traces my bottom lip, staring at it. Wanting. Hungry. His touch sets my skin ablaze. He was a demon, it was unethical; but did it matter anymore? After tomorrow my life was over as I knew it.

  “Gabriel.” My voice jolts, and he takes my lip in his own chapped ones. His tongue begging for entrance, I can hardly resist. It was heavenly.

  I crawl on his lap to get better access. Straddling him once for pleasure instead of fighting. Running my fingers through his drenched hair. His shirt sticking to him like a second skin.

  His voice hilts as I start to pull off his clingy clothes. “Aura, are you sure this is what you want?” His voice is solemn, giving me the way out in case I had a momentary lapse of sanity. In case, this isn’t what I want.

  “I want you, Gabriel.” My voice is husky, needing.

  Those words set off some spark in him, as he pins me down on the ground. My white dress is quickly pulled over my head. Rough hands grope my breasts. “I wanted to do this from the first moment I saw you. You were standing there, everything on display in that soaked white dress. I knew I had to have you.”

  I gasp as his teeth bite my neck, moaning in pleasure. My body spasms underneath him.

  “I can’t take this any longer.” His pants come off. And seconds later, he’s inside of me. His thick cock causes me to scream in pleasure as he stretches me out. I scream like a porn star in the middle of the nights in the woods.

  Epilogue

  Damien

  I cry out in pain as dark powers come over me, filling my very being. The pain only lasts for a second though until I’m smiling in glory.

  I feel stronger, fiercer as my dark powers have come back to me. Back to the rightful owner as they should have long ago.

  I would make Theresa pay, I would make them all pay, then I would rule. Humans would cower at me as I passed, and I would treat angels as my slaves. Soon I would have everything set in motion and nobody would have the power to beat me! I will rule!

  My black wings glisten in the moonlight, my horns growing back into their rightful place. My hair black as ink, with my eyes matching in color. Almost fang like teeth jut out of my gums, matching my paler than a ghost complexion. Nails grow out an extra three or four inches with the transformation.

  I am the damned.

  “Children!” I yell out to my followers. “We come again to cast our blight, and take back what is rightfully ours,” I yell out, smiling in triumph as demons of all types gather around me.

  “Where do we start?” one asks from the shadows.

  “We start with the damned angel that took away my powers,” I grin thinking of the sweet revenge that I would inflict upon her. She would forever regret the day she ruined me if she lived long enough.

  And now for a sneak preview from the second book in the Hell’s Creature’s series…

  Hell’s Rising…

  Prologue

  His heart pounded against his chest, threatening to escape as he stared at the towering, pristine gates. Frozen in awe. They seemed so unreal; stuff made of fiction. Yet they were here in all their glory, just as they had been in his dreams. Would they accept him? Could he belong?

  Tentatively, he lets a few clawed fingers brush against the golden bars. Jumping back as they immediately open. Maybe that was a sign? He peers in, seeing the greenest grasses he’s ever laid eyes on. Skies bluer than any he had ever laid under. A place only angels could enter. Away from the cruelty of the monster who left him to die.

  He steps a foot through the gates, immediately getting attention from an angel across the way. A young woman with auburn hair. A look of shock on her face, eyes wide, before just as easily being washed off with a smile.

  “I’m sorry.” He second guesses whether he should really be here. Maybe it was a mistake.

  She waves it off. “You’re fine, we just haven’t had a new arrival in quite a while.” She looks over him, spotting the differences. “And you seem to be a new type.” Confusion, yet fascination covering her features. The darkened wings, blood-red eyes, talons---just to name a few.

  Hm.

  “I’m sorry, where are my manners?” She shakes her head, embarrassed. “Please come in." Curtsying.

  A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth for the first time in far too long. “Thank you.”

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for taking the time/chance to read this.

  If you could please take a few moments to review this work that’d be great. The words live off of your feedback. Below is the link.

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  Best,

  Kat