Caress The Dark God [Scions of the Ankh 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Toni L. Meilleur

  She knew it because, somehow, she could see the reflection of her own expression in his dark eyes. It was the same expression, slightly sleepier, but the same. As her eyelids finally shut, Tessa couldn’t help but think what a shame that this was all a dream. She knew she would never find this sort of companionship and connection in her waking hours.

  Chapter Ten

  Anubis, where are you? Jonathan’s urgent call brought him out of sleep. Tessa’s warm body was against his and he had no desire to move.

  What is it?

  He was not there.

  Anubis knew the chances of that creature breaking free had been good. Still, he had not regretted his decision to tend to Tessa. What of the bodies of the family?

  I took care of it.

  This thing, Thoth, I have not encountered anything like it. It takes their souls and uses it as energy.

  Why did you not make sure it was securely apprehended?

  There were other matters to attend to. Anubis could not keep the irritation from his voice.

  What exactly has happened to the doctor?

  I am tending to her.

  You know the side effects of the pyramids on humans.

  You’ve no need to remind me.

  Are you prepared for that Anubis? Is she?

  I will deal with this, Thoth. If you will keep me informed about the creature, I would appreciate it. I will see you in two days. Anubis cut the contact with Thoth. There would be no guilt. He had chosen and had not regretted it. When it came time to tell Tessa the truth, he would do it. He pulled her closer and inhaled her scent. She was his. Whether she knew it or not, she belonged with him. He had waited too long to find a mate who excited him, in the bedroom and out of it.

  All he needed was two more days to heal her. What she would become or what she would be able to do would only remain a mystery until time unraveled it. Meanwhile, Thoth and Hathor and anyone else he could call upon for aid could help with the traveler. He knew he needed to get back to the pyramid to make sure the fire burned continuously. Not to mention he had to make sure the proper herbs were administered to keep her body in stasis until it completely healed.

  He phased into the chamber where Tessa’s body slept. He examined her closely and saw the tag upon her body like the others, only hers was fading. It was eerily familiar and yet Anubis couldn’t bring to mind the one who owned this tag. He fed the fire and threw more herbs upon it. That thing was out there, killing — no, feeding — off humans. It was a soul eater. He had known no traveler that ate souls, not in the thousands of years in his life. Perhaps this thing was some sort of hybrid. His senses told him Tessa was stirring. He checked the fire and the perimeter of the pyramid one more time before he phased back into bed with Tessa.

  * * * *

  “How long have I been sleeping?” Anubis watched as her sleep-ridden brown eyes opened in curiosity. She stretched languidly as she eyed him. The moment the realization hit her, her eyes opened wider. She put her hand to her lips as she spoke. “Oh. This seems odd. Before it seemed like—”

  “What?” Anubis asked, already knowing what she couldn’t quite understand.

  “It just seemed like, I don’t know, I can hear my voice. I know this sounds crazy, but for a while there it was as if I heard you here.” She pointed to her head a little warily. “I know, I’m a loon.”

  Anubis pulled her body close to his. The fact that she was now speaking out loud instead of telepathically let him know she was healing fast. Soon, he would have to explain things to her. “You are not completely crazy.” She playfully punched him. “However, you do need to eat.”

  “I do feel a little weak.”

  “Well,” he pulled her up with him, “come with me and we will see what my abode has to offer you.”

  “Wait a second.” She pulled the sheet up with her. “Don’t you have anything here for me to wear?”

  “I’m sure I could find you something. But I think the real question would be, do I want to?”

  “I can’t just walk around naked.”

  “I am.”

  “It’s your house. No one is going to say anything.”

  “No one is here but you and I.” Anubis watched as her jaw dropped.

  “You mean to tell me in this big place, we are the only two occupants?”

  “Yes, now come along. Take the sheet if you want. I must admit you are the most modest doctor I have ever known.” He led her out of the bedroom and down one of many long corridors. He didn’t miss the fact that she held the sheet around her for dear life.

  “Is that admitting you have known many doctors?”

  “I admit no such thing. But doctors by profession should have no modesty. The naked body is a common sight to you.”

  “Just so you know, it’s not like all of my patients have to be naked. If I were your patient, I would insist on it whether it was necessary or not.” She teased him.

  Anubis stopped and kissed her hard and quick. The small sound of surprise was quickly swallowed by her immediate response to him. He broke the kiss, loving the way her eyes smoldered. “As you can see, I like being naked.”

  Tessa’s eyes combed his body from head to foot. Her eyes lingered on his arousal. He liked her lusting after him. Already he could smell her desire for him building. It would seem her appetite was as insatiable as his. He chuckled lightly as he continued to lead her down the dining hall. “I have servants who come here periodically. I am sure there is something for you to eat.”

  “This has got to be the longest, most realistic dream I’ve ever had,” Tessa murmured as she followed him.

  Anubis chose not to comment. He had so much explaining to do. Perhaps it would be easier once she was fully healed. There was no doubt that she would gain something paranormal from the healing pyramids. Maybe once those new gifts were revealed it would be easier to explain things to her. He shook his head; right now he was going to enjoy just being with her. There would be plenty of hard stuff to deal with later.

  On the dining room table, a bowl of fruit sat in decoration. Of course, it was edible. “What about fruit?” he asked as they approached the highly polished oak table. Tessa eyed the fruit greedily as she chose a delicious-looking green apple. He indicated that they should sit while she snacked. As soon as Tessa sat with the first bite of apple in her mouth she spat it out. She clawed at her throat as she gagged.

  “What is it?” he asked, alarmed.

  “I’ve never tasted anything so repulsive. I’m sorry for my manners, but that was just gross.”

  “You don’t like apples then?”

  “No, I love them. Maybe that was just a really tart one.”

  “I’ll get you some water.” His curiosity was piqued as his suspicions rose. In little time, he had retrieved water for her. He set the glass in front of her and suggested she try a different fruit. Picking an orange and peeling it quickly she placed a slice in her mouth and chewed slowly. In seconds the orange suffered the same fate as the apple.

  “Torian, I am really sorry and I will clean this up.” She rose, tightening the sheet around her. “I hate to say this, but that tasted as bad as the apple. Are you sure your servants are bringing you fresh food?”

  Torian eyed her for a moment before responding. “It was more for decoration. It could be the fruit had been sitting out much too long. We can always go to the beach and see if we can catch you something. Maybe fresh fish cooked over an open fire would be more to your taste?”

  Tessa squealed at his suggestion. “I love fishing. I haven’t been able to do it often since I started practicing. That’s a great idea.”

  “Then let’s go to the beach.”

  Tessa eyed him as if he were crazy. “Like this?” she looked down at the sheet she was wearing.

  “I own this property. There is no one here but me.” It was partially true. The spirit zone was his domain. He could come and go as he pleased. He could do whatever he wanted in this plane. Still, she looked hesitant. “Doctor, hea
l thyself, isn’t that the saying? Let yourself go, Tessa, have some fun. But if you’re afraid of me I understand.”

  “I am not afraid of you.”

  “I think you’re afraid you won’t be able to keep your hands off me. And with you and I naked, well, it would be so easy to take advantage of me.” Tessa looked at him incredulously before she burst into laughter. “Are you suggesting I don’t tempt you?”

  Tessa did exactly what he thought she’d do. She unwound the sheet, giving him a succulent eyeful of her body. The sheet pooled around her feet. “Let’s see who gives in first. Now, which way to the beach?”

  Anubis grinned, loving her spunk. He pointed towards the back of the house, and as he followed her he couldn’t help but observe the exaggerated sway of her hips as she walked. She was going to play dirty, that was obvious. The minx even had the gall to throw her long hair over one shoulder seductively, as if she was just checking to see if he followed.

  As soon as they hit the beach, Tessa ran full speed ahead into the river. For a split second he thought she would try to swim to the other side, unable to resist the seductive song of death. But she appeared oblivious to it as she dove under and came back up. He followed suit quickly until he was at her side. They swam close to one another, and even dove underwater at the same time. She swam into his arms and pressed her lips against his as they broke the surface together.

  He continued to kiss her as they treaded water, loving how slick her body felt. Her long legs wrapped around him and it seemed as if his cock honed in on her core instinctively. He entered her in one stroke, and her legs tightened about him. Anubis cupped her bottom as he swam to shallow water until his feet were firmly on the ground. There he stood, holding her tightly as he pumped in and out of her slowly. Her soft lips traveled to his ear and traced the shell of his ear with her tongue. Her arms were tight around his neck as their passion increased. She bit him, hard, on his shoulder and he slammed into her harder.

  Anubis began to walk them towards the beach, each step he took sending him deeper into her. Her mouth found his again and she kissed him with complete abandon. He’d never had a woman kiss him so hungrily — and that’s when realization sank in. Anubis would give her not only what she wanted, but also what she so desperately needed. He sank to his knees on the beach, and leaned over until she was on her back. Harder he thrust into her, feeling the energy he called upon build. She unwrapped her legs from around him and spread them wide, giving him better access.

  Her small moans became louder, her hands clawed at his back as she raised her hips to meet his. Anubis couldn’t put into words how good she felt. Her chasm was gripping him, sliding him in further, taking him to heights of pleasure he had never known with a woman. His mating with her was more than just physical and it made it all the more arousing. “More.” She demanded gruffly, her hands gripping his backside and urging him deeper. The loss of his control was almost an audible snap.

  He felt like a wild animal as he mated with Tessa. His cock was so hard, it demanded a release. He could hear his own grunts as their mating became almost violent.

  “Yes!” she screamed as her hip thrusts became stronger quicker, more demanding. The pressure of energy coupled with his need to release his seed was overwhelming. Tessa’s thrusts stopped for a scant second before her body shook and she cried out. Her body convulsed as her orgasm stole over her. Her nails dug into his back as she gripped him, her body milking him in strong waves.

  Anubis roared as he expended the energy and his seed inside of her. It seemed as if long founts of semen spurted inside of her and he was powerless while in its grip. He couldn’t remember an orgasm so strong that it made him lose all sense of equilibrium. The river water thrashed just as violently as it reacted to his power, splashing over their hot bodies and instantly cooling them off. Tessa didn’t seem to notice.

  As his orgasm subsided, he watched her more closely. Her eyes were transfixed on the sky above, without exactly focusing on anything. Anubis’s suspicions were proven, as the water subsided almost as quickly as it had churned wildly. Her body shook every now and then. Eventually her eyes focused on him and she smiled. “That was wonderful.”

  Anubis pulled out of her and lay on his side as his fingers made small circles on her belly. He said nothing, the thought that assailed him both comforting and shocking.

  “Are you all right?” Her voice bit into his thoughts. He looked down at her. Tessa, the beautiful doctor who spent her life helping others. That was the Tessa of the past. This Tessa was not only a doctor, she was a hybrid. A hybrid that needed to feed off the life force of another to survive.

  Chapter Eleven

  He let the darkness comfort him as the earth healed him. He burrowed deeper as pain lanced through his body. He had been caught unaware. Never had he run into such power before. Teremun had underestimated his enemy. As precious energy flowed through him, he knew it would not be enough to take nourishment from the earth. He needed more. He required the type of energy only a life force could give. His father had only briefly told him of the others. Obviously there was more he had to learn.

  Teremun sat up in the darkness of the cavern and contemplated. He certainly couldn’t run the risk of confronting his new enemy. He was too weak. He had to find a simple source of food, one that wouldn’t require much energy to gather. He couldn’t risk the dark man following his trail. He needed a food source that wouldn’t cause attention.

  Teremun wouldn’t be able to share his energy with him, this time. Once fully rejuvenated, he would be able to gather more souls and finally complete the transformation. It was only a matter of days before his power would be unrivaled.

  He stood in the cavern, determined to do whatever was necessary to finish his mission. Shame had washed over him when he had to cower as the other being searched for him. Lucky for Teremun, his life signs had been so weak he couldn’t be detected. It took every ounce of his power to break out of the funnel that had imprisoned him. He would not be so helpless again. He needed to learn more about his foe, find his weakness. If memory served him, the man had been angry that he had killed the human female. Perhaps his enemy had a weakness for humans. Teremun smiled. If that were true, it was a good thing, for in his own way Teremun had a weakness for humans as well. He simply couldn’t resist feeding off them. As he strode out of the cave, Teremun got a good idea of just where he could go for an easy meal.

  * * * *

  Thoth rubbed his head in frustration. Books were piled high around the room, with various ones left open for quick reference. Something was staring him right in the face, and yet the answer eluded him. Hathor glided into the room with a drink in one hand. “Here, I thought this might help.” She handed him the small snifter of brandy and idly looked into the books. “Anything so far?”

  Thoth sighed before he tipped the glass and let the entire contents burn its way down his throat. “I don’t know, love. I should know this. I’ve read the reports of the attacks. I’ve even seen pictures of the tags left right above the heart. But it doesn’t make sense. The cult lead I pursued turned up one interesting fact. Its founding members had died the same way as the people are dying here.”

  “You will figure this out. There is nothing that stumps you for long.” She walked to another book, peering at it with little interest.

  “It would help if Anubis—” As soon as Thoth began speaking, Hathor’s head snapped up.

  “No! For the first time in his life Anubis has a chance at happiness.”

  “I know that, love, but this is very important.”

  Hathor came over to her husband and caressed his cheek. “Think about it, Thoth. He is the only one of us who has never had a mate. For his entire life he has lived life alone with nothing but bedmates. I know this is important, but so is he. He has helped the humans enough in the past that he should be able to pass on this. You can handle this. We can handle this. And let us not forget, husband, we have other friends who can aid us. We must stop this d
ependency we have on Anubis to always do our dirty work.”

  “Anubis is a good man, but he is a Dark One. I suppose over time we have depended on him to do the work none of us had the stomach for. But you are right, we can do this.” Thoth sighed. “I know Apep is linked to this, but I don’t know how.”

  Hathor smiled as she brushed lightly past her husband, still browsing through the books with little more than passing interest. “As for Anubis, that is his nature, dear.” Hathor flipped through pages as she continued. “Just like it is in a woman’s nature to nurture.” She moved to the next book. “You will not bother him with this until he is ready, right, dear?” Hathor waited for an answer, and when she received none she looked up in curiosity.

  Thoth looked at her with a mixture of horror and understanding. “Are you all right, husband?” Worry clouded her voice, but Thoth rushed past her to stop at one book, which he flipped furiously through. “What is it?” Hathor rushed to his side. “You don’t think …”

  “It fits.” Thoth nearly whispered to himself, as the serpent symbol of Apep glared up from the faded pages.

  “But he’s been banished. Imprisoned in a realm just outside of Creation. He has no power here.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.” Thoth retrieved his laptop and went to the web page he and Anubis had been viewing days earlier. It had been right there in front of him and he hadn’t seen it. “This woman was a founding member of the cult, and she is dead as well.”

  “And?”

  “I remember reading the reports. Apparently she had given birth not too long before she had died. They never found the child.”

  “You’re going to have to explain this to me.” Hathor sat down in a nearby chair. “You believe Apep has something to do with the killings, yet you also believe he is still imprisoned. What has this woman to do with anything?”

  “I suspected during the time that the veils between worlds thinned, something managed to either get in or out of Earth’s realm. I believe Apep managed to father a child with a human woman, probably given to him as a gift during the time the veils between realms thinned.”