I was in awe of her strength of character. It made me want her with a ferocity I had never experienced. She was simply the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes upon.
“How are you feeling right now?” I asked, concerned about the raw power growing from within her. Her aura was bright red and flickering, her energy levels spiking into dangerous levels.
Kaniul looked at me and mouthed the words “We need to do something.” I nodded in agreement.
“Like I am about to explode.” Her teeth were clenched, and the words were practically a growl. The muscles in her jaw strained and her body moved from side to side with her agitation. She was about to explode.
I knew I needed to step in to drain off some of her energy. I took a step closer, my hand touching the small of her back. A shock echoed up my arm upon connecting with her. Raw physical and emotional energy rippled through a single touch. So much pain, so much anger. It was overwhelming her.
“Theera, I am going to siphon off some of your excess energy,” I whispered in her ear. She jolted at the contact of my lips against her skin. “Don’t panic, it is just to help you control your power. It is too much, too fast.”
My demon roared in response to her pure vitality. My lips skimmed her throat, and a growl escaped me. Her life force blazed within me, and I couldn’t control the shudder that ran down my spine as I fed. Lorelei relaxed in my arms, her head falling against my shoulder.
“Better?” I asked in a gravelly voice.
“Mmm hmmm.” She blinked her eyes at me as a serene expression took over her face. “Doesn’t mean you are off the hook for manipulating my memories for years,” she added sternly.
Kaniul chuckled. “We know better than to expect you to just let us be about that.”
After making sure she was steady on her feet, I stepped back to give her some space again. My body instantly regretted the loss of contact with hers.
“Damn right you should.” She was slurring her words just enough to put a frown on my face. Damn it, I had taken too much.
“Feel up to some training, little Iah?” Kaniul gave me a knowing look. Damn prophet always knew too much.
The door burst open and Nicolae came in carrying bags full of cash for the safe. “Aw, shit,” he cursed as he looked from Lorelei to Kaniul before finally meeting my gaze.
He had been part of the operation to rescue Lorelei, so he knew of her presence, but I was sure he wasn’t expecting us to make an appearance at Thanatos so soon. If he had known I was here, he would have knocked before entering.
Nicolae may be a council member, but he was still second to me in the hierarchy of the demons. As the head of the Nightmare demon clan, he maintained a position of power at my side, but we all knew who actually ruled the demons.
Nicolae looked nothing like you would imagine a demon would. His sandy blonde hair was shaved on the sides, the rest held together in a messy tail on the top of his skull. Aquamarine eyes that were always full of mischief sparkled, and his classic features made it so he never lacked for sexual company.
“Aural,” he addressed me in my formal demonic title, “I was not aware you were here, or I would have knocked.” He looked rather contrite, something that was not usual for him. His head lowered in respect.
I raised an eyebrow in question. “So formal today, Nicolae?” I shot to him telepathically.
“Wasn’t sure if you wanted to impress her or not.” He cracked a smile as he shrugged his shoulders. I laughed in response. He went over to the safe, putting away the cash for the day.
“Lorelei, this is Nicolae. He is my second in command and the head of the Nightmare demon clan.” Nicolae flashed his trademark smile at her as he shook her hand.
“What is a Nightmare demon? It sounds rather ominous.” Her eyes narrowed as she returned the handshake. Her aura had strengthened and was now at a normal energy level.
Nicolae smiled with a twinkle in his eye, “Oh, just the usual, invading dreams, scaring the daylights out of people. Typical demon stereotype stuff.”
I felt the shiver that ran down her spine. “I’m going to need a cheat sheet to keep all of these different types of supernatural people straight.” She ran a hand through her hair, I could see her brain trying to process all the information we have been throwing at her.
“Don’t worry, love, you will get it all, eventually.” Nicolae winked at her.
I sent him a mental slap that caused that smug smile to fall off his face.
“Ouch, a little touchy about the girl. Got it, do not flirt with her.” He grunted in pain and gave me the finger.
Kaniul laughed and Lorelei looked confused. “Did I just miss something?” She asked, her eyes darting between Nicolae and me.
“Just a little misunderstanding between Mr. High and Mighty Demon Lord and myself.” Nicolae retreated to the other side of the room.
“Before I take my leave, my lord,” he was starting to piss me off with his sass. “Just a reminder we have a show this evening.” He flashed me a hint of fangs, knowing that I had forgotten all about the bloody show.
Kaniul raised an eyebrow, “You booked a show this evening? Are you staging a comeback tour or something?” he said sarcastically.
“Shit.” I rubbed my hand over my face. “I was bored, I decided to organize a show and then obviously forgot about it.”
“Show? What kind of show?” Lorelei asked excitedly. Of course, my little songbird would love the idea of a concert.
Nicolae snickered. “Vincent here decided he wanted to play a show with our band DemonFall. Years of inactivity ending tonight, apparently.”
A small O formed on her mouth as she stared at me with wide eyes. “You are Demon of DemonFall?”
I closed my eyes and let out a breath. “Yes.”
“They have bought some of my lyrics.” She paused as she pieced the puzzle together. “That means you bought them,” she whispered.
“Yes, they were good songs.” I meant that with all sincerity. The songs and arrangements she wrote were amazing and crossed a variety of genres. I had followed her career under the different pseudonyms she used since she had started marketing her music. I had been the one to line up the programs she attended when she lived with Kyara, arranging for her sound engineering degree and private music lessons.
“You made them even better,” she whispered, eyes wide and full of awe. Her lips were slightly parted as her tongue reached out to moisten them. Our gazes were locked, heat sparking to life between us. Everyone else in the room be damned, I wanted to cross the distance and shove her against the wall and make her mine. Or better yet, bend her over my desk.
A throat cleared loudly. “While this is all very enlightening, I now only have an hour before my meeting with the council.” Kaniul tapped his foot and looked at his phone. “And we all know they don’t like to be kept waiting.”
“Aren’t you on the council, so wouldn’t you have to attend the meeting too?” Lorelei asked me directly, the lustful spell between us snapped.
“Nicolae and I both are.” This day was not going as I had so carefully planned it.
“I am reporting to them on Lorelei’s progress. They won’t require you to be there Vincent.” Kaniul then turned to Lorelei. “What would you like to learn first? I am already impressed by your control. You don’t seem to be suffering from any thirst issues.”
“I would like to learn more about my mother.” She paused, her eyes thoughtful. “I keep getting flashes of memories, but I still would like to know more.”
I laughed quietly. “I will leave you in Kaniul’s capable hands for a bit while I go downstairs to take care of some business. I obviously have a show to get set up for.” Lorelei’s eyes followed me as I moved toward the door.
“Nicolae, can we bother you for a lift back to my flat?”
“We aren’t using that crazy—” Her words were cut off with a yelp as Nicolae used shadow flight to teleport them.
Chuckling, I made my way down to the clu
b floor to take care of my club.
Chapter 19
Lorelei
I shivered, chilled to the bone, as we re-materialized in what I assumed to be Kaniul’s flat. I groaned in frustration. “I really do not like that,” I murmured, rubbing my hands up and down my arms.
“It really is the fastest way to get anywhere. You’ll get used to it, eventually.” Nicolae just smirked and shrugged. “I’ll be back in an hour?” He asked Kaniul.
At Kaniul’s nod, he blew me a kiss. “Later, love,” he said and disappeared.
My mind was running in circles, trying to process the information that was being thrown at it over the past 24 hours. After being rescued from the facility, I had to process the fact that I was a blood drinking vampire, that my mother was actually murdered by crazed radicals, my memories were erased, all while trying to fight my growing bond and attraction for the mighty Demon Lord. Throw in learning about the different types of supernatural beings then knowing that Vincent is the lead singer of one of my favorite obscure bands that I had written arrangements for? I was on overdrive.
“Lorelei,” Kaniul began. I sensed the hesitation in his voice. “You know that everything I have done—that we have done—has been to protect you and to keep you safe.” He reached out and ran a hand along my cheek.
I sighed. “Kaniul, it is hard for me to grasp when all I have been given are half-truths and concepts. I still don’t know why it is that I’m so damned important that I’ve needed protecting my whole life,” I exclaimed, feeling my frustration explode.
I paced along the living room floor, my eyes taking in his elegantly decorated flat, as I tried to calm my errant emotions. Above the mantle were several framed photographs of my mother, either by herself, with him or with me. There were several of my mother and I at Cannon Beach. We had both loved the water, visiting Cannon Beach on a regular basis when we had time on the weekends.
My breath caught in my throat as I picked up a picture of Kaniul holding a baby.
Holding me.
My fingers traced the edges of the black frame. His golden eyes sparkled as he held me, wrapped in a light pink blanket. He looked down at me as if his whole world was held in his in arms. Tears burned in the back of my eyes at the sheer emotions reflected on his face.
The memories suppressed long ago by Vincent and Kaniul kept making their way to the forefront of my mind. Fragments, echoes of conversations would replay in my head, but then fade just as quickly. I pressed the heel of my hand into my eye, trying to alleviate the pressure.
“Everything is unlocking, Lorelei. You must let it happen and not fight it,” Kaniul whispered softly, taking my hand into his, thumb rubbing a gentle rhythm along my skin.
“Why did you do all of this?” I said in anger. “Why hide all of my memories? Why keep me in the dark?” I couldn’t help the tears that formed in my eyes, but I would be damned if I would let them fall in this moment.
He just sighed. “Morgana and I knew that you needed to have a normal childhood, as far away from the supernatural world as possible. You are a very powerful Nephilim with abilities that will far surpass any that have come before you. The Syndicate has been after you since you were a small child, trying to tap into your powers for their own personal gain.”
“Who or what is The Syndicate? That is not the first time I’ve heard that term used.” I didn’t look up from the photographs as he spoke, trying to come to terms with the words that were processing in my brain.
“Many years ago, one of the members of the council decided to go rogue, creating his own sect of supernatural beings. They were hellbent on resurrecting Xandrios in order to subdue humans and have supes take what they feel is their natural place as rulers of the world.”
“What is so special about me? How am I so powerful? And why have they always wanted me so badly?”
He hesitated, something hiding behind his eyes that I couldn’t fully place. “Iah, I am not sure of the answer to that question, just that you are,” he paused. “Or, you will be, once the wards that Morgana put in place fully break down.”
I glanced up, seeing him running his hands through his hair and then down his face. “It is just a matter of time. The wall is pretty much broken down. It is why you have started to remember things. We tried for years to reinforce it, for your own protection.” He looked up at me, his amber eyes burning with intensity.
“Your powers are a beacon. Primordial in nature and too many would try to take advantage of you if they knew.” He turned and retrieved something from a bookshelf on the opposite end of the room.
My breath caught in my throat as he handed me a note. I recognized my mother’s delicate handwriting, my name written on the folded piece of paper. I tipped my chin up, my look of confusion clouding my features as I cocked my head.
“We both knew this day would come. I will leave you to read it in peace.” He cupped my cheek gently, giving me a small smile before leaving the room.
Shoulders slumped, I sat down heavily on the couch as I unfolded the thick paper.
My Angel Lorelei,
If you are reading this, it means you have found your way to Kaniul and Vincent. I hope that the path you have traveled has made you the strong and confident woman that I know that you can be. Please do not blame either of them for the sacrifices they have made. It has all been for your protection. If you ever fell into The Syndicate’s hands, the world would have been in great danger.
Everything that we have done has been for you. I know that you may not have always had the easiest of times, but every experience has shaped and molded you. Made you stronger. Living in the human world was to keep you safe. To make you who you are. Who you needed to be.
Since the first day that I dreamed of you, I have loved you with every fiber of my being. You are my everything. My precious daughter. I regret that I was not able to have more time with you, but we cannot change our final fate. Mine was to give my life for you.
Stay strong my Iah. Trust in your uncle, in Vincent. They will guide you and keep you whole and safe.
As always, my Angel, keep flying.
All my love,
Mom
My body shook as the sobs I couldn’t contain broke free. Tears streamed down my face as I thought of my mother’s words to me. Emotions that I had tried in vain to keep buried resurfaced and spilled out with my tears.
Strong arms wrapped around me and gently rocked me back and forth, while whispering soft reassurances in my ear. It was Kaniul, but I felt Vincent’s presence in my mind sending me waves of calming emotions.
Taking a deep calming breath, I pulled away from the shelter of Kaniul’s arms. He wiped away the tears on my cheeks, his eyes soft as they questioned me, making sure I was ok. I nodded to him.
“There is still so much I don’t know, Kaniul,” I whispered, my eyes squeezed tightly shut as I tried to process the words written on the scrap of paper clutched in my hands.
“Kishka,” his lips curled upward in a small smile. “You will learn it in time. You do not need to know everything all at once.” He ruffled my hair, causing me to groan.
“I hate it when you do that,” I whined, slapping away his hands and smoothing down my hair.
“I know, but it always makes you smile, no matter what.” He tapped my nose and climbed to his feet, holding out a hand for me to take.
Hesitating, I stared at the hand. “Kaniul, I’ve been meaning to ask,” I paused. “How long was I—" I swallowed, my hands circling my neck, “—trapped with The Syndicate?”
He hung his head in shame, eyelids falling shut as his jaw clenched in pain. “It took us three and a half weeks before we were able to break through their security. When we couldn’t connect with you, we thought the worst. Vincent and I almost went mad trying to merge with you.”
“Every time I tried to reach out to you or Vincent, the collar would burn me. It was like—” I faltered, rubbing at the still healing scars on my neck before clearing my throat. “I can b
arely describe it. It was the most intense pain I have ever felt. Like molten metal being poured across my skin as my insides were being electrocuted.”
Kaniul winced as I described it. “We will pay them back for what they did to you, Lorelei, I swear it. We have Antionette captive and the council is working on interrogating her now.” His amber eyes grew hot with fury at the mention of Antionette. “Another of the reasons for my meeting with the council is to figure out what they have gotten out of the bitch.”
A small laugh escaped me. “I would love a chance at taking a piece out of her. She got a thrill from activating the collar and watching me suffer.” Thinking about hurting her made me smile. “I want to watch her burn.”
I felt my fangs descend and a red haze washed over my vision. Kaniul touched my cheek, bringing me back to the present. “Your eyes turned red, that is very unusual for a vampire.” His brow creased as he thought about it. “That is more of a demonic trait,” he added, with his head cocked to the side in confusion.
“Nothing about me is usual, didn’t you say that?” I tilted my head. Of course, I was a freak, even in the supernatural world.
“Little Iah, you have always been unique and will continue to surprise me. For those of us that have lived for millennia and think we know everything, it can be confusing to be surprised.” He laughed.
“How old are you?” My curiosity was burning. I wanted to know about my family history, since I couldn’t remember any vital details from my childhood.
Chuckling, he ran his fingers through his jet-black hair, tousling the strands. “Let’s see, I was about ten years old when Alexander the Great came through and conquered Egypt, so about 343 BCE, give or take a few years? Morgana was born shortly after that.”
His phone buzzed, interrupting our conversation, and he frowned looking at it. “Apparently, the council wants to meet earlier.” He started typing rapidly. “Nicolae will be here shortly.”
Into The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy) Page 13
