Blood Demon (Demon Assassin Series Book 1)

by A C Wilds

  “Stop wiggling, or I will drop you. The tent is only seconds away. We need to make this quick. I’m hoping Namir will get to us soon. It’s our only chance to get both of you out of here. We’ve lost the nuckelavees.”

  The reality of what we tried to accomplish slams into me. We didn’t have a real chance of getting out of this alive. At least I will see her once last time before I leave this existence.

  “You have to promise to continue without me. If I’m too injured, take Anima to Nox. The Holy Magic is in the safe at my office in Hallowed Grounds. She knows where it is.”

  “Shut up, King. You aren’t dying tonight, and I won’t let anyone stay behind. I’m not some young fledgling. I’m an immortal archangel born in battle and raised on the death of my enemies. I can carry a Demon king to safety.”

  If my eyes weren’t almost swollen shut from the poison, I’d be rolling them. Angels and their egos.

  Ari’s screech sounds from my side. Her presence is a warmth of comfort.

  You aren’t doing well.

  Scur’s blade was dipped in torgrot venom. We need to get Anima out of here and find Nox. Mind clearing the way?

  Thought you’d never ask.

  If birds could smirk, Ari would have done it. Her giant wings tuck themselves into her body. She dives into the crowd. At the last minute, before she would have smashed into the ground, her wings pop out, and she lets out her call. The piercing sound travels through the camp, crippling the guards in our way.

  I push my hearing protection down the bond to Anima. She’s still not immune, but it should be enough to help her stay conscious and not be a vegetable by the time we get to her.

  “Next time, we start with the bird. I had no idea how powerful she is,” Uriel says, clutching me tighter as he makes his way down to the tents.

  “It takes a lot of energy out of her. I only ask her when it’s important,” I reply, my voice a whisper. My eyes blink in and out. It’s not going to be long before the poison takes over my body.

  “Hold on a bit longer, King. We need you to help me get Anima free. I imagine she has blood cuffs on her.”

  “Fuck! That bastard, I’m going to gut him the next time we battle.”

  Uriel lands with a softness I didn’t expect. He doesn’t put me down, carrying me straight through the flap in the tent. The sight inside leaves me with no breath.

  “Anima…” Uriel’s pained whimper pulls me from shock, and I break free from his hold. I go down hard on one knee, but I crawl to her… or what’s left of her.

  She’s broken, bloody, and carved up. The blood cuffs are not allowing her to heal. He must have been torturing her the whole time.

  Crawling on the dirty, stained floor, I reach down and caress her cheek. “Anima. Can you hear me?” I tuck her hair back behind her swollen ear, and notice the bite marks on her neck. Some look older than others. Gritting my teeth, I try not to lose it. She needs me right now.

  Namir pushes past Uriel to get down into Anima’s face. His tongue licks at the many wounds marking her skin.

  He purrs, trying to comfort her, while I go to work on her hands. The cuffs have burned through most of the skin on her wrists, so I’m gentle when I place them on my lap.

  I pierce my thumb on my fanged tooth, then apply the droplet of the essence on the locks of the cuff. Blood cuffs respond only to the royal line.

  They pop open, and a sigh of relief leaves her as Namir’s healing starts to work. She tries to open her eyes, but they are still too swollen shut. I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire existence.

  “Torque.” My name passes her lips, and it’s like I’m being called home.

  I lean down to gently kiss her forehead. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

  She grips my hands, holding them to her. I wince in pain as I shift my position on the floor. It won’t be long now before the poison takes over.

  “We have to go,” Uriel says, staring at my wounded leg. “Anima, Namir is going to carry you out, but you have to cling onto him. Can you do that?” Uriel kneels next to us. She turns her face toward his voice, holding out a hand.

  “If I weren’t so banged up right now, I’d ask for Hubris,” She tries to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “Hubris?” Uriel asks, placing one arm under her knees and the other under her shoulders.

  She sucks the air through her teeth, biting her lip until he has her placed on Namir’s back. “It’s my sword. Tell me you found my sword.” Her hands dig into Namir’s coat as she lays her top half down over him.

  “You named your blade what the Greeks called defiance of the gods?” Uriel’s laughter takes us all by surprise. “You’re definitely my daughter.”

  He grabs up her weapons from the corner of the tent, strapping them to himself before coming to stand with us once again.

  Namir growls, staring at the tent’s opening. Uriel grabs me off the floor. We rush out only to find my brother standing before us with the last of his guard.

  All look like they’ve had enough fighting for a lifetime, my brother included. Still, he’d never give up this easily, especially now that he knows she means something to me. She’ll always have a target on her back.

  “You’re surrounded. Surrender, and I’ll make your deaths quick.” Scur’s lips quirk up at the side. He’s convinced we are beaten.

  “Let us leave, Scur. Unless you want me to bring down my wrath. I haven’t done it in a century or two, but I’m fairly sure I can still manage it,” Uriel says, placing me next to him on the ground.

  Namir takes a step closer to me, blocking most of my view of Scur. Anima’s fingers begin to make a sign, and I crinkle my brows, trying to figure out what she’s saying.

  I try to stand, but the poison in my leg is too much. Holding on to consciousness right now is even hard.

  “What’s the matter, brother?” Scur laughs at his joke. I didn’t think that he’d be capable of this much cruelty. I’ve been lying to myself for a long time.

  “Get ready,” Anima whispers. Her words float to me through the air. Uriel’s hands tense at his side, and I see magic coming from both.

  “Bloods! Ready your weapons. Kill them all!” Scur yells to the crowd. A roar of magic opens the sky. Suddenly, it’s thrown out like a bomb.

  Anima sits up on Namir, screaming with all her might, the Realm listening to the demon princess. Smoke captures all the soldiers by the neck, and loud popping noises are the last sounds that come from them.

  Uriel’s sword flames with his Holy Magic as he takes to the sky and dive bombs the remaining soldiers, leaving no one alive, except Scur.

  It all happens so fast. It almost feels like a dream. The way the pair cuts down my brother’s forces as if they mean nothing—as if they are nothing—is surreal.

  Anima slides off Namir, the fire in her eyes alight with vengeance. All her physical wounds are healed, her apparency now resembling a warrior goddess. Her focus is solely for Scur and all the torture he’s put her through. At the moment, I almost feel sorry for him. Her wrath is going to be worse than Uriel’s could ever be.

  “General,” she purrs, her steps steadily stalking him. He stiffens with each forward movement as they square off.

  “The power you have inside of you is intoxicating. Join me, and we can rule the Demon Realm together. We would be unstoppable.” His fangs descend, and the need he’s pushing out is clear. He’s obsessed with her blood.

  “If I wanted to rule, I’d take this on my own. I don’t need you. You are expendable.” Her silver eyes light up the night, and a phantom wind blows against us. The air is thick with magic. The force that first appeared when her magic awakened.

  Fear pulses out from Scur. He flicks his gaze to the rest of us, sizing up his choices. He’s outnumbered and out magicked.

  “Until we meet again, my love.” He disappears in a cloud of ruby smoke.

  “Anima,” Uriel shouts, rushing over to her. She’s collapsed, magic spent.

&nb
sp; “Take me to Nox. We need to finish this.” She passes out around the same time I do, the poison consuming me.

  31

  Anima

  I awake to the sound of Ari’s screech. Namir’s fur is stuck in my mouth, but his warm body keeps me nice and secure as we walk through the Darklands.

  Sitting up, I adjust to where we are. The trees have taken on a more sinister shape, and the earth is calling to me, lending me it’s magic to heal. I feel so much better.

  “Uriel?” I call out, not seeing where the angel is.

  The beating of wings signals me to turn my face to the sky. Uriel adjusts Torque in his arms as he lands next to Namir.

  I slide down my familiar, then place my feet on the soft dirt. Using Namir for guidance, I stand on my own two feet again, all my pain fleeing from my body.

  “How are you feeling?” Uriel asks, laying Torque on the ground while he stretches himself out. His skin is pale and lifeless.

  I rush over to him, kneeling and placing my hands on his face. He’s cold to the touch. Lifeless. Bending to put my ear to his chest, I hear the faint beat of his heart, but it’s so weak.

  “He’s dying.” The bond between us is fading.

  “Yes, we need to get him to Nox. He’ll be able to take the poison out of him. But I’m afraid there isn’t enough time. We are at least a day from the cabin.” He places a hand on my shoulder in comfort, but it’s the last thing I want.

  “I can heal him. I just need your Holy Magic.” I did it for Mammon. I’m sure I can do it for Torque.

  “That’s not something I’m comfortable with, Anima. It’s risky.”

  “I’ve done it before. I can heal him.” He takes a step back from me, searching for the lie, but he won’t see one.

  Running his hands over his face, he nods. The magic comes out of him, floating in his hand. I reach out, but he pulls back. “Be careful. Live Holy Magic is different than that extracted from an orb.”

  “We have to try. I can’t lose him.”

  He holds out his hands again, and I reach out for the magic. My power wrapping around causes it to float to me. My sigils light up as the overpowering raw magic courses through me. I’m invincible right now, the all-consuming life force taking over mine.

  “Control it,” Uriel screams, his voice distant.

  Pulling it in, I remember what it was like to heal Mammon. Using my hands, I mold the magic into a healing globe. I push it into Torque’s chest, gritting my teeth at the pressure. His body arcs as a gasp crosses his lips.

  My sigils glow brighter, and I close my eyes at the intense light. Our bond begins to get stronger as the magic pulses through him. It’s destroying the poison, blasting it from his system. I push down on the magic a bit more, letting it go deeper inside of him.

  Screaming, I try to stay upright when my energy wans. Namir bumps into my shoulder, and his support rallies me, making me stronger than I am.

  “I’m almost there.” The words are for me, to prove I can keep going. I have to hold on for him. He has to survive.

  Namir leans into me more, lending me his strength. A growl comes from him, making me aware of how much this is taking out of us both.

  Torque’s breathing becomes more regular. His heartbeat is strong, but his eyes aren’t opening. Something is wrong.

  “Anima, you have to pull back. It’s going to drain you.” Uriel takes my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. “Pull back, sweetheart.”

  I can feel the pain in his voice. He’s afraid of losing me. Pulling the energy out of Torque, I filter it through Namir before molding it into an orb. My breath leaves me as the pain recedes. Uriel opens his hand out for the magic. I pass it to him, relief coursing through me.

  “Fuck, that hurt.” I lean my head on Namir’s coat, his tongue lapping at my face. I’m too tired even to care.

  “With practice, I think you’d be able to hold it. Keep it as you do your shadow magic.”

  “That would be useful in times like this. I’d love to be able to stretch myself, see what I could do. There may be an upside to being a tri-bred.”

  “You may be right, especially with this new war. I imagine Scur is not going to let what happened in the Bloodlands go. There is also the matter of the witch in the Mortal Realm.”

  “She’ll be dealt with. Her wrongs are too great. Upsetting the balance of magic on the Mortal Realm is going to lead to a disaster, and I have every right to fight for my home.”

  Spotting Uriel for the first time, through the thick haze of our shared magic, I can see myself in him. He’s a part of me, and I’m starting to realize how important that is.

  “Namir should carry Torque. I’m tired. Plus, if we meet resistance again, I’ll have to fight.”

  I stroke Torque’s face, allowing Uriel to pick him up and place him on Namir’s back. The next twenty-four hours are going to be long.

  32

  Anima

  The cottage looms before us—a cute English version of perfection. I’d expect a grandmother with a knitting habit to be sitting on the porch waiting for me to come home. Not for the king of the Dark to be inside.

  Yet, as soon as we come down the path, I feel it. The raw power that comes with being a demon king. His magic wraps around me, kicking my walls down.

  Chuffing, Namir stands alongside me. I give him a pat on his neck as I make my way to the front door. The others don’t follow. It feels right—me being the first to confront him.

  The door slams open as I put my first foot on the steps leading to the porch. He’s magnificent. Where Torque is all liquid, staining my soul with his blood, Nox is smoke, slithering inside of me with enough power to make me explode.

  His silver eyes bore into mine as he studies me. His head cocks in confusion, then it clicks. Something inside of him sags, and he grips the wooden doorframe tighter.

  Namir growls behind me, but he gives the demon cat no notice. My power pushes out. It slowly seeks his, like it’s calling me home.

  My skin starts to smoke, leaking out into the space between us little by little as my magic collides with his.

  A shock wave blasts out, shaking everything around us. Trees whip wildly in the storm we’ve created. I clench my teeth as my power swirls with his, the magic threatening to override us.

  I hear Namir approach, and I glance in his direction. Torque isn’t on his back, and a tendril of panic goes up my spine.

  Then Namir bites down on my leg to keep me grounded. The pain echoes along my body. Without it, I know I’ll give in and burn up from the inside.

  “You are not possible,” are his first words to me. They sound pained and ruined. Hope flares, and he turns to search for Uriel. My other sire, the creator of my fallen light.

  Namir removes his teeth from my leg, and blood slowly trickles down my calf. We are once again standing in the depths of our magic, but there is no threat of a storm to kill us all.

  “I am. And I’m here to seek your help.” The words leave my mouth in a trembling rush. I didn’t realize how nervous I was until now. Doubt blooms through me. What if he turns me away?

  He takes three steps closer to me. When his face fully comes into the light, I gasp. My face, masculine but still mine, stares back at me. The resemblance is so spot-on there is no longer any doubt. How could the others not see it?

  “I always wear a glamor. It’s best if your enemies don’t know what you look like,” he says, reading my mind.

  My smile is infectious as he matches it. I don’t expect the warm and fuzzies from him, but I somehow think this will all work out.

  Uriel moves behind me, and the movement causes Nox’s gaze to snap to him. A sharp inhale pushes out his words. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

  “He’s helped us find you. Torque’s been hurt, and we’re in trouble. The only way out of it is with your help. There is a force using Holy Magic, and we need you to stop it.”

  “Nox, I didn’t know either. They found me less than a week ago. She is o
urs. Everything we wished for. Strong, a warrior, the one who will save us all. Her essence brought the white tyger.” Uriel’s hand digs into my shoulder in reassurance.

  Namir purrs from my other side, drawing attention from everyone. When we all look toward him, he chuffs, making me smile and run my fingers through his hair.

  “Inside. Everyone except for the Blood. I will hear you out, but make no promises.” His voice is colder, cut from a ruler, and not a father.

  “He comes.” I stand my ground. “He’s hurt and needs your healing.” We don’t have time for them to come to blows or be against one another.

  Nox whirls on me, the angry king of Shadows staring into my face. I open up my magic just a bit—a challenge. I will not back down.

  “You have no idea who he is, do you?” He smirks like he knows all the secrets.

  I give it right back to him. “I know exactly who he is, but it changes nothing. He is a part of this plan. I am not a demon or an angel first. I am a witch, a Tenebris witch who has a coven and humans to save. Regardless of what the fates deem him to be, my loyalties do not lie with him—or you.”

  “What is he talking about, Anima?” Uriel asks. For the first time, he seems unsure. I’m certain he hasn’t noticed it yet. No one would know of the bond between Torque and me.

  My only inclination of this bond was when I lost control of my powers during our kiss. He pulled me back and let his shield down. He sits inside of me just as Namir does.

  A look of disappointment comes over Uriel’s face before he says, “Later. First, we heal Torque.” I don’t turn to look at him, but keep my stare fixed on Nox. Slowly, he and holds the door open for us.

  “Come inside.”

  Uriel steps down to get Torque. He lifts him with ease, then enters through the threshold with me. Namir stays at my side as we enter the home.

  The English cottage look spills into the interior with flower-covered upholstery and decorations lining the shelves. It’s a surreal experience considering the king of the Darklands is one of the most powerful demons in existence.