Demon Soul

by Christine Ashworth

  "We believe Sorbis has been working with both vampires, perhaps independently of each other. I'm telling you now, because we can't keep order in the city by ourselves." Danny steepled his fingers, looking at the three Caines slowly in turn. "I have heard mostly good things about you. And, of course, I owe you a debt beyond measure."

  "Your mate continues to be healthy?"

  Danny smiled. "Her unborn are fine."

  "We've heard little about the were clans in general. You have kept yourselves well hidden," Justin replied.

  "For good reason. We as a people have been hunted in the past. Finally our pack had found a measure of peace, until our lupa was captured." Sig bowed his head.

  Danny’s golden eyes grew sober. "Chandra tells me our other quickening females are in danger. We will do what we must to bring them out of that place."

  Kellan stirred, drawing their attention. "What can a vampire do to a were that will keep her captive?"

  Danny turned toward him. "Silver. They are bound with silver. We need your help."

  Gabriel studied Danny, brushed his public mind briefly. Felt the man's grief, his fear, touched lightly on the rage that ran deep. He leaned forward and captured Danny's gaze.

  "How do you guys feel about explosives?"

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rose paced the length of the small apartment for the umpteenth time. Her headache had receded and she felt strong, but the apartment plus the lack of Gabriel was getting on her nerves.

  Maggie looked up, exasperated. "I'm working as fast as I can, Rose. Chill."

  "Sorry." Rose smiled, gesturing. "You know, I think I'll take a walk. This is a good neighborhood, right?" Not that it would stop her if it weren't.

  "Yeah, go ahead. We're almost out of milk. There's a small grocery on the corner if you turn right at the end of the street. Do you mind?"

  "No. That's fine. I just—I’m sorry, but I don't have any money." Rose shoved her hands into her pockets, stifling any embarrassment. She didn’t even want to think how much Gabriel had spent on her the previous day. “I’ve got to get a job.”

  "I'm sorry." Maggie jumped up and rummaged in her purse. "Here's a twenty, keep the change. And right now, you have a job. We'll figure something out for the long term, I promise."

  Rose took the money without a blush. "It all depends on how this ends, right? I mean, I might not make it out alive."

  Maggie's eyes sharpened. "Are you worried?"

  She shrugged. "I went from a being a drug addict to being dead to being something out of a Laurel K. Hamilton novel. What's to worry about? I won't be long, I promise. Twenty minutes, max. I just – I need some air."

  "No problem. Take your time."

  Rose flashed a grin. "Back soon." She made her escape.

  The day had followed through on the promise of dawn. Clear and sunny, the air had a bite of heat to it that made Rose stretch like a cat before heading down the stairs to the street.

  This was living. The streets here were wide and clean, the tang of the ocean lived in every breath she took. Still, the habits of a lifetime stuck with her. She checked out the street both ways before setting a foot on the sidewalk. No dark cars. No ex-lovers hanging around. No otherworldly beasty wanting her for a snack either as far as she could tell.

  Rose walked slowly, savoring her solitude. For the first time since she met up with Gabriel Caine, she was alone with time to think.

  Save Gabriel. How the hell was she supposed to do that? And she'd sworn to kill Satine, her long-dead cousin, yet another thing to add to the 'how the hell' column.

  Not to mention, the demon on her belly would most likely kill her. That was a pretty big glitch in her happy-ever-after plans.

  "Fix it? How the hell am I supposed to fix it?"

  She'd just about reached the store when her instincts sharpened. She looked up and saw a couple of men standing next to a motorcycle, watching her, and she knew – she just knew they weren't human. Fear shot through her and she bolted the other way, ignoring the shouts behind her.

  The bike roared a challenge. Panic had her dashing into the small health food store. She fled through the store, out the back and into a courtyard filled with folks having their morning coffee.

  Rose bumped into a table, grimaced as hot coffee splashed on her new tee shirt. "Sorry." She edged around the table and fled, ignoring the insults the couple hurled at her retreating back.

  She found an opening between two buildings and sped down it. Barely wide enough for her, she drew a breath of relief when it opened out into another courtyard, this one empty.

  She stood, panting, trying to calm her wildly beating heart, and listened hard. The motorcycle hadn't gone—she could hear its throaty rumble somewhere to her right. Try though she might, she couldn't hear any footsteps. Damn. Which way?

  An alley led to the street to her left. A shopkeeper had just opened his back door, which would take her to the street to her right. He looked kindly, so she ran that way and passed him before he could finish his "good morning".

  She didn't see him stick his cane out, didn't see his hand come down to push her to the ground, but her instincts had her diving for the doorway into a somersault and back on her feet, the nice man now cursing at her back. She ran through the darkened shop, sparing a quick glance behind her.

  She ran right into a wall of flesh.

  Rose's head jerked up as his hands closed about her arms and lifted her to his face. He was a big demon, his skin the faded color of dying grass, his eyes a snapping black with blue flares.

  Rage filled her, smothering any fear. A wild energy crackled through her. Flame licked along her skin, causing the demon holding her to yelp and drop her hastily. She moved all the way down, rolling in a backwards somersault to come up on her feet again, an ability she hadn't been aware of before.

  It was different from changing into the demon. This was an understanding from deep inside what to do with the energy, with the flame. She knew now how to shape it, how to throw it, so she did, tossing a hastily formed ball of fire at the demon in front of her. It spattered against his broad chest and the flames stuck, licked at its clothes. Surprised, his bellowing reaction shook the building.

  She threw another fireball at him but missed, catching stacks of paper on fire. Rose knew fire, breathed it, lived it, became it until she felt herself breaking into pieces of flame, each one holding strength and destruction until the full horror of what she could do fell upon her and she came back to herself, shuddering, flames still licking at her palms. A bucket of water dumped on her from behind.

  Shocked at the cold and wet, enraged, Rose put her burning hands out against her damp tee shirt and kicked out behind her, catching the fat proprietor right in the balls.

  He groaned and fell to his knees just as his front door opened. Rose faced the newcomers with her hands fisted and her eyes filled with fire.

  The blond walked with a feline grace that had Rose narrowing her eyes. His signature energy brushed up against hers, like rubbing velvet the wrong way. A were. She remembered the sensation from the club. Two more weres stood at his back. She struggled to find the flame inside her, but the water had effectively dowsed her ability.

  "Well now, my sweet, sweet Rose Walters," said the newcomer, his voice a combination of amusement and respect. "Let's go for a ride, shall we?"

  "Why should I go with you?" Rose coughed. Her throat felt like fire and tasted of smoke.

  He raised his eyebrows. "You'd rather stay here, with these two?" Flames crackled behind him.

  He had a point. Rose lifted her chin, ignoring the water dripping off her hair. "What's your name?"

  "Chazz." He stepped forward, offered her his handkerchief. "Wipe yourself down. I don't want you dripping all over me as we go."

  She took the handkerchief, wiped herself off as well as she could, wringing the water out of her hair. She dug into her jeans pocket, pulled out a band and tied her hair back. "Satisfied?"

  "Not yet," he said wi
th a leer, openly eyeing her damp shirt, her nipples poking through her bra. "But at least you're not dripping. Come with me."

  Furiously discarding option after option, she nodded, her face carefully blank. "After you."

  "Oh no," he said. "After you."

  “Very well.” As she passed the burning papers by the door, she made a gesture and the fire went out, returned to her with a brief shock through her palm. Fire once again was hers, the water now vapor on her body. Oh. So that's how it worked.

  Chazz prodded her, and she realized she'd come to a standstill. "Get moving."

  Rose obliged, her feet carrying her to the other two men in the doorway. They took her, one on each arm, and walked into the hot sunshine.

  The sun brought fire back to her and she flamed. The weres holding her yelped and dropped her. Without hesitation, Rose took off down the street, a streak of flame in the morning sun. Did they think she was stupid? She reached out to Gabriel as she ran.

  Hey. Whatcha doin’? Got time to come to my rescue?

  Stunned at first, his tone quickly turned furious. Rose? What the hell!

  Chazz is on my tail. Damn! A body slammed into her and brought her down, one arm guarding her face as they skidded on the sidewalk.

  "Going somewhere?" Chazz stood and yanked her to her feet.

  "Anywhere you aren't," she retorted. Her knees throbbed and she tasted blood from where she'd bit her cheek.

  The motorcycle rumbled up to where they stood at the curb. Chazz lifted her bodily onto the bike, holding her easily despite her struggles as he switched places with the driver.

  He looked at her. "Hang on to me, or you'll regret it."

  The other were now slid on behind her, pressing her up against Chazz. Their heat surprised her. Her damp shirt dried swiftly between the two men.

  He chuckled, and the sound went through her body. "Enjoy it."

  She repressed the retort that wanted to come out and set her teeth when he started the bike.

  Making the best of the worst, she wrapped her arms around Chazz. She'd take him down with her, she vowed, and laid her head against his back. She felt Chazz relax a bit as they slipped into traffic.

  Still there? Rose clamped a hold on her emotions, not wanting Gabriel to know how scared she was. I just went out for milk, I wasn’t doing anything risky. I swear it.

  She could almost see Gabriel rolling his eyes at her.

  Where are you now?

  I think we're heading to Twisted, but I’m not totally sure. I’m on a motorcycle.

  She could feel the turmoil Gabriel was in, but didn't know how to soothe him.

  Keep this link open. Tell me what's going on as much as you can. We'll try to meet up with you. I'm not going to let them hurt you, he added, his mental voice a touch softer.

  Warmth that had nothing to do with fire filled her and she smiled. I know.

  I've got to talk to the guys. Stay in the background, okay?

  Yeah. Okay. Rose relaxed further. She’d done all she could.

  * * *

  Gabriel turned from where he'd braced his hands against the window and looked at the men at the table.

  Justin spoke up. "Rose?"

  “Yeah. They've got her. Found her outside of Maggie's place, going for milk. I should have stayed."

  "Damn the witch. Who's got her?" Justin demanded.

  "Chazz. Satine's were tiger is in the driver's seat." He turned to Danny. "They've got one of our women now. I'd like to get her back before they hit Twisted. Then we can concentrate on freeing the rest of your women while we're there. Does that sound fair?"

  Danny tilted his head and looked at Gabriel. "She is your woman."

  Gabriel didn't respond. Justin cursed all witches everywhere under his breath.

  Danny's eyes warmed with laughter. "These women. Difficult, no?"

  "Have you known any who aren't?" Justin asked wryly. He turned to Gabriel. "Where are they?

  Gabriel scanned Rose’s mind and brushed the last crumbs of doughnut off his fingers. "Close enough. I say let's go."

  Danny also stood. "This sounds good. I'll go with you. Sig, Favor, go with Justin and Kellan. A second wave is good for the surprise element. Bring the cars."

  Sig scowled. All the men stood.

  "Let's go, then. Keep in touch."

  “Wait.” Justin held up a hand. "Let's meet again, tonight at ten. We'll take stock and go from there.”

  "Sounds good. Let's go." Gabriel led the way out the door, his gut roiling. Chazz, Satine’s garbage disposal, had Rose. Gabriel clamped a hold on his emotions as his demon struggled to be free.

  Danny was wrong. Rose wasn't his woman, but she didn't deserve whatever it was Chazz had in store for her.

  * * *

  Rose kept her eyes closed and her mind attuned to Gabriel. She'd picked up on their plan and felt some relief that Kellan would be there as back up. If they were too late…she shuddered and thrust the thought away.

  The bike's rumbling changed tone and she opened her eyes, lifting her head from Chazz's back.

  They'd slowed, turned south. If they went toward the ocean, she didn't have a clue as to where they might go. If they turned away from the ocean - Rose sighed with relief as they turned on Pico Boulevard. Away from the ocean. So, he was taking her to Twisted.

  She relayed the information to Gabriel and held her breath.

  Got it. Kellan and Justin are in place. The rest of us are on our way.

  He shut down the communications between them before she could say anything else. So, wedged between the men as she was, she began to plot. If they took her inside the club, she was as good as dead. So it was up to her, she reasoned, to make sure the Caine boys found her—outside. If that meant she needed to play a bit with her borrowed abilities, then that's exactly what she'd do and damn the consequences. So what if she got a little dehydrated? There'd be time to drink water later.

  She looked around and realized they were still about a mile away from Twisted. Perfect.

  Rose closed her eyes and focused on her rage. Focused on the power of the flames, the voice of the fire as it fed her, as she fed it. Knew again the amazing surge of energy the fire had poured into her. Slowly, her body heat rose.

  A simmer, she thought. Warm. She started to become uncomfortably warm, but not too hot. Sweat beaded her forehead with her efforts at control, and the man behind her shifted uneasily.

  Abruptly she pulled the mental release on the heat level just as Chazz pulled into the back parking lot of Twisted. Energy consumed her thoughts, a drug more powerful than any she'd ever known. Her head snapped back and she stared at the sky, her eyes filled with flame and the power of the sun.

  "Fuck me!" The were behind her jumped off the bike before Chazz could bring it to a full stop. "The chick is on fire! Chazz!"

  But before Chazz could get away, Rose tightened her arms around him and whispered to the flame, told it where to lick, how to heat the metal of his zippers. He howled and leaped off with her still clinging to his back. He sent the bike careening from him to crash into the plate glass window facing the parking lot.

  Grabbing her hands, he pulled them wide, spun her around and tossed her away from him. Rose flew, laughed as though he were guiding her through a dance. She landed lightly on the balls of her feet. There was nothing he could do to hurt her. She embodied fire—warmth, life, energy, ruin and death.

  Demons poured out of the back of the club in response to the bike going through the window, at least a dozen of them. They hesitated at the sight of the Weres, and balked entirely at the flames licking along Rose's body.

  Rose ignored the lesser demons and watched as Chazz batted the fire at his crotch. She hovered, not quite touching the ground, outlined by fire, emboldened by it, her mind consumed utterly with the rush. The excitement. No high had ever buzzed through her blood the way fire did. Rose tilted her head as the demons drew closer to her, circling her warily. What kind of demons were they? Were any of them fire demons,
like she was? They certainly looked flammable. Things like concrete had a dark, dense look to them, but the demons were more of a papery hue.

  As an experiment, she tossed a fireball at one of them and he exploded in flame, his screams high-pitched and almost inaudible. Dogs in the neighborhood barked in surprise and kept barking. Rose pulled together another fireball and eyed the next demon. He backed up, bumped into his neighbor, turned, and ran down the alley, the rest of them scrambling to follow.

  Rose just hovered a foot above the ground, watching as the demons parted for Gabriel and a stranger, flowed on by them. The newcomer with Gabriel gave a great leap and caught Chazz mid-back, took him down to the asphalt. Both men let out a snarl and Chazz flipped, grappled with the other man. Rose turned away to study the building, unconcerned now about her enemy.

  * * *

  Gabriel approached Rose with caution. This time he got a better look at her demon form, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing—she was beautiful, eerie, flame licking along her arms, forming between her hands, flickering in her summer-sky blue eyes. Fire danced along the strands of her coppery curls. Her skin had taken on fur, an orangey hue with golden spots. He could see the horns protruding from her forehead, the ears elongated and pointy. Behind her, tiny wings, useless in flight, fluttered between her shoulder blades.

  His own demon uncurled inside him. It fought to be freed, violently attracted to this transformed Rose. He shook his head fiercely and his demon subsided, pouting, though he knew his eyes still whirled green.

  "Rose? It's me, Gabriel. How can you…it is you?" His voice held his demon, a growl that would not be denied.

  She glanced at him over her shoulder. Her eyes took a bit to focus, and it seemed to him she'd grown taller. "It's me. I've got a fire demon's powers, and look at me! I know you’ve seen me before, but look. Look at what I can do." Her smile was quick and endearing as she rolled a ball of fire.

  Before she could launch it, Gabriel caught her arm. Amazed at how hot she felt. "No." He growled the command even as his inner demon struggled again to be free.