by C. L. Stone
“But you drank the same thing I did. The house special. It’s just root beer.” Evie’s nose scrunched up in confusion. He had four or five bottles of the stuff but it’s not like it contained any alcohol.
Cyne smirked at her. “Yours was root beer. Ours wasn’t. The house special is a spelled beer. The age of the drinker determines what he or she drinks. If you are underage, the contents morph into root beer. If you are of age like we are, you get the real thing. It also detects what race you are and adjusts the alcohol content. Human beer normally has around six percent, Surmata beer has ten times the amount of alcohol. It takes a lot to make us tipsy. If we want to get drunk, we don’t rely on human liquor at all. We have other sources we use.” Jade eyes sparkled in merriment. “Let’s get back to the others before I do something really stupid.”
Glancing at her lips one last time, Cyne shook his head and moved back away from her. Immediately, she missed the contact.
“Let’s go, Love. Otherwise, Max might send out a search party. It’s late, we need to get you home.”
8
Unexpected Mission
The next week passed quickly. During the day, nothing changed. Not wanting to rouse suspicion, Evie performed her daily duties with robotic precision. Her mind occupied with making plans for the approaching night; she didn’t speak with those around her. Instead, she plowed through task after task until she finished for the day. She never even stopped in at the diner or the bookstore when she went into town, preferring instead to head straight to the post office.
Night was another story. Her regular routine of studying into the early morning hours changed, replaced with a shortened schedule until just past ten each night. This opened up more time for her new nocturnal activities; sneaking out to meet the others. Leaving the house unnoticed was tricky. She had to be careful not to be discovered. Sentries nearly spotted her several times, but luck was always on her side, allowing her to meet the others at the spring. Some nights, they teleported to other destinations so they wouldn’t be discovered. Other times, Max insisted they stay closer to camp, and they sat by the water’s edge and talked.
Max and Caleb were both constant presences at each meetup, but they usually huddled together into a small corner with each other, leaving the others to entertain Evie. Both men knew their time together was ending and tried to make the most of each moment. Caleb and the rest of the guys would have to report back to duty soon, leaving Max and her alone.
Cyne visited regularly as well. He kept his distance from Evie, which made a sliver of pain slice through her heart. Logically, she understood the necessity. They had no future; why push for what can never be?
The heaviness in her chest lightened slightly when the others arrived alongside Cyne. Normally, Surmata never traveled alone, but to traverse into enemy territory without backup created a breach in protocol, so Dashiel and Jaxon made regular trips. Some nights, they both accompanied Cyne, while other nights only one came with him. The additional companionship helped alleviate some of the tension that hung in the air. Surmata males were naturally more observant, but neither man seemed to catch the wistful gazes Cyne and Evie shared. They acted as if nothing was wrong.
For the first few nights, Evie awoke feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time. Then one morning, the extra activity each night finally took a toll on her body. She slept in a few hours past her normal time. Luckily, her father didn’t call her out on it when she dared to show her face downstairs. Instead, the minute her feet stepped into his office, he was all business.
"I want you with Dominick on the next truck out."
"Yes, father. Where are we going?"
"Supply run. Just you and Dom."
"But Marcus and the others just got back yesterday with a month's worth of supplies. Was something forgotten?"
Her father shook his head at her; his mouth pressed into a fine line. "This is a special run. Nothing you need to be concerned with. Dominick will handle all the details. You are just there because Dom wants some company."
Evie knew arguing would do no good. It would earn her a slap in the face, and she would still be forced to go. She nodded and rushed back up the stairs to grab her bag. If she was going to be stuck in the cab of a truck with Dominick for who knows how long, she wanted her headphones and iPod. She’d listen to music the entire way and try to ignore him.
A makeshift garage that at one time served as a large barn housed the camp trucks. The expansive building held five trucks. Another row of trucks were parked around the back, out of sight from the main camp. Evie knew Dominick would be waiting for her next to his favorite Humvee, which he affectionately dubbed Betty. It was an older model, well-worn, but road worthy.
Being a few years older than Evil, Dominick was old enough to drink but still young enough to maintain the chip on his shoulder some teens never outgrew. He liked to feel important and stepped on anyone in his way. Even though she didn’t like the man, she gave him credit for being a fair mechanic. Members who utilized the vehicles never complained about Dom’s quality of service.
Evie entered the garage from the side door, waving up at the security camera as she walked by. Everyone knew her in camp, so her presence went unchallenged. Evie practically had the whole run of the camp with only a few select locations off limits to everyone except for her father's top lieutenants. Armed guards patrolled those locations. Evie's curiosity was stirred, but she never tried to see what those buildings housed. Her father warned the camp members, herself included, that all trespassers would be deemed traitorous and faced severe consequences.
Evie located Dominick where she expected him to be, checking the fluids under Betty’s hood. He named his Humvee after his favorite cartoon character when he first got her. She was black with a red and black interior. A necklace featuring the iconic figure hung from the rear view mirror, swaying slightly from side to side.
Dominick glanced up as she neared. "Ready for a ride, Doll?"
"Don't call me Doll," Evie retorted, opening the passenger side door and throwing her bag onto the floorboard. Grabbing the handle, she pulled herself up into the seat, slamming the door to cut off further conversation.
Dom finished up under the hood, shutting it carefully before he crawled into the driver’s seat. Looking over at her, he smirked. "Buckle up, Doll. It's going to be a long ride."
Evie heaved a sigh, but complied with his request. They pulled out of the garage and within a few minutes, were out on the main road. Evie put in her headphones and started her favorite playlist. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head back against the soft cushion, trying to get comfortable.
Dominick turned on the stereo, but he kept the volume down. As he fiddled with the radio, scanning the different stations, Evie covertly opened the GPS tracking app on her phone. She wanted a record of their destination. She wasn't supposed to ask so she came up with this tactic a few years ago in order to track her forced comings and goings. Satisfied that the app worked, she minimized it to run in the background.
They drove for a few hours before Dominick turned off the highway, driving them through a rural area. Run-down buildings, graffiti-covered walls, and remnants of homeless shelters sprawled around the area. Evie didn't see any visible road signs announcing where they were, but she knew it was somewhere she wouldn't venture out on her own.
Maneuvering the vehicle into the garage of an old, rundown warehouse, Dominick stopped the Humvee when they were fully concealed. With the windows boarded up, the sunlight didn’t reach far past the building’s exterior walls. The building was quiet, the low hum of the engine the only sound that reached her ears, but there was a heaviness to the air. Something wasn’t right.
Evie shifted in her seat as her body tingled with sudden awareness. Something waited for them further inside the decrepit structure. She could feel it, like a rock sparking against her bones. Something not human hid nearby in the darkened shadows. Something malicious.
Chilled air swept across her skin a
s trepidation ran down her spine. The feeling of evil so predominate in the interior of the building, it was soaked into the very walls, puddling onto the floor.
"Dom, what's going on?" she asked, her voice shaking as her eyes tried to peer through the darkness, looking for some hint of light.
No answer came back to her. Ragged breathing filled the cab of the vehicle. She craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Dom's features in the darkness. The Humvee still ran with the exterior lights off, but the interior ones illuminated the dashboard. They cast an eerie haze within the small confines of the cab, but they offered enough light for Evie to see Dom's profile. His jaw clenched shut. His eyes squeezed closed as he panted heavily. His fists clenched tightly around the steering wheel that she feared he would break it in half.
Panic snaked up Evie's spine, causing her to shudder. Dominick was an ass, always cocky and overconfident. She never witnessed something shake him so thoroughly. The feeling of wrongness built, and she felt the overwhelming need to escape. Escape from what, she wasn't sure but she learned a long time ago to trust her instincts. They currently stood on a mountain top, shouting at her to run away. Fast!
She reached out and grabbed his shoulder while simultaneously gripping one of his hands on the steering wheel. His eyes flew open at her touch. Wide with panic, he looked at her like she was a stranger. Recognition slowly filled his eyes.
"Dominick,” she spoke slowly, not wanting to startle him. “We need to go. Something’s wrong."
He just stared at her, not uttering a single word. His gaze flew over her shoulder, out the passenger window. When he returned his eyes to hers, they were filled with sorrow and a hint of pity. "I'm sorry, Doll."
He turned further toward her. One hand gripped hers; the other moved to caress her cheek. The urge to leave beat at her skin. She scrambled back, reaching for the handle, but he stopped her.
"You don't understand the depths I will go to, to have you. You reject me at every turn. When this is all over, just remember, you had a choice, and you chose wrong. He promised if I did this, you’d be mine forever. This is all your fault, Evie. You should never have rejected me. We’re meant to be together."
The hand on her cheek whipped behind her head, taking a firm grip on her hair. Holding her securely within his grasp, Dominick pulled her forward to kiss her forehead gently. Like a man wishing his lover farewell, he rubbed his nose against her skin softly before pulling back. Evie too terrified to comprehend what was happening felt a heavy presence behind her, its aura holding her hostage, unable to move.
Air whooshed behind her as the passenger door was yanked opened. Rough hands grabbed her, pulling her out of the vehicle. The damp air of the warehouse threated to suffocate her. Hands, strong and large, held her prisoner against a wide muscular chest. The scent of sulfur assailed Evie's nose causing her fear to turn to terror. A demon was nearby. It wasn't the one holding her. The scent wasn't strong enough, but it was here somewhere, cloaked in the darkened interior. Evie fought against the grip that held her prisoner. She was half panicked, and her moves proved ineffective.
"Keep rubbing against me girl, you’ll get more than you bargained for."
The meaning of his words sunk into her frantic thoughts as one of his hands gave her breast a squeeze. Evie forgot how to breathe as she tried not to move. The man pulled her roughly backwards, jerking her further away from the vehicle.
The sound of the SUV door slamming shut echoed in the small space. Evie heard Dominick before he came into view around the hood of the vehicle. “Don’t you fucking hurt her, asshole! Just hold her still.”
Arms tightened around her, keeping her immobile. She tried to calm herself further, going completely still. If she played possum, she might get the chance to break free.
A feeling of dread raced through her as she watched Dominick saunter up to them. An almost maniacal glint filled his eyes. Whatever he planned to do, she knew it would not be good for her.
“Evie, Evie, Evie.” Dominick shook his head at her, drawing her name out again and again. He stood in front of her captive form and crossed his arms against his chest, cupping his elbow. The bout of pity seen earlier gone from his eyes.
“Last chance, Evie. Prove to me that you will be mine and this ends here. Make this easy on yourself. Otherwise, you won’t like what happens.”
She blinked slowly, trying to think of a way to stall for time. “What do you mean, prove it to you?” She asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Dominick reached out to grab her chin in his hand. His thumb stroked slowly over her lips. With an audible groan, he jerked her head up, forcing her to meet his lust filled gaze. “I mean,” he licked his lips as his gaze looked her up and down. His other hand lifted up and pointed towards a door on the far wall. “We go into that room over there, and you let me between those virgin thighs of yours.” Dominick shuddered, shutting his eyes. When he reopened them, they were dark with repressed desire. “You have no idea the things I want to do to you, Evie. All I dream about is you. You on your knees in front of me, sucking me off.”
With his thumb still caressing her lips, he said huskily, “So which is it going to be? Are you going to be mine, or are you going to be stubborn and go with option two? Let me be clear. You will not be the same after option two. I am the best choice you have.”
Disgust at his words made her want to vomit right on his shoes. She’d rather be doomed to a life of eternal damnation than to be with him. “Go to hell!” she growled. She let her hatred bleed into her eyes. “There is nothing worse than the thought of being with you. Option two, whatever it is, has got to be better than being intimate with you.”
Dominick snarled, his fingers hardening against her chin. “You stupid girl.”
With his other hand, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small vial. With the tip of his thumb, he flicked it open. He looked at her long and hard. “Just remember. This was your choice. You decided your fate, not me.”
With those words, he waved the vial under her nose. A pungent, slightly sweet odor assailed her. Dominick started to blur. Darkness seeped in, and she felt her eyes closing of their own volition. She fought against the rising darkness, but the draw of unconsciousness grew too strong. She went limp in the arms of her captor. The last thing she remembered was Dominick stroking her hair as she succumbed to the overwhelming tiredness that descended upon her.
9
DEMONS EXIST
Evie awoke shivering on a cold, damp floor. Groggily, she sat up, hugging her arms around her and trying to warm her chilled body. Her head throbbed, sharp and heavy. Rubbing her temples, she tried to dispel the rising headache. Whatever Dominick drugged her with, the side effects played havoc with her system. When she moved, her whole body felt heavy, like the very air around her had thickened, weighing her down.
Squinting, she took in the darkened chamber. The small store room was empty except for a few puddles of water that formed in multiple spots on the floor. With no windows in the room, the only source of light shimmered from under the doorframe.
The sound of footsteps made her tense. Someone approached.
The door groaned opened with a squeak. A tall, skinny man with eyes the color of rubies appeared in the opening. He stalked his way into the room, closing the door behind him. Instant fear made Evie scramble back, plastering herself as close to the wall as possible. Her chest heaved as she began to panic.
“Easy there. I am not here to hurt you. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
She stuttered out, forcing the words past her dry throat, “Bullshit. You’re a demon.”
“I am but an Alempi. Are you familiar with that term?”
Nodding her head yes, she pushed herself up tighter against the wall. The throb in her head sped up with the movement, but she ignored the pain.
“Good. So you know I am a just a minion, following my masters orders. And his orders are clear. No harm is to come to you.”
With her hand
on the wall behind her for support, Evie inched herself onto her feet. “If he meant me no harm, why did he bring me here?”
“My master had nothing to do with you being abducted. That was another of his kind. I was sent to help you.”
“So you are here to get me out?” she asked skeptically, not believing a word.
“I do not have the power to accomplish that. I am borrowing energy from my master just to appear to you in this form. I am here to give you the tools necessary for you to ensure your escape.”
“If you want to help me, just get out of my way. I can get myself free.”
“No, you can’t. The being that awaits you outside this room is powerful. He is Visailla. A mid-level demon. He could crush someone like me without expending much power. You are a mere human. You don’t stand a chance against his influence without aide. Take what my master offers, human. Don’t be stupid.”
“No thanks. I’ll take my chances. Just let me leave.” It had been ingrained in Evie at an early age to not trust any demons, no matter their power level. All demons had a hidden agenda. Once you accepted their help, it became a slippery slope. They would own a piece of you and chip away at your defenses. Before long, you found yourself under their influence. You became a Demoni Kosketti, a marked human. A demon’s taint forever imprinted on your soul.
“Hmm. Is that your final decision?”
Evie nodded decisively.
The demon let out a heavy sigh. “Very well. I guess I should apologize first. This is going to hurt. Quite a lot actually.”
Before she could respond, the demon stood in front of her. “You must be made to see the truth. It’s the only way you will survive and become the one you are destined to be.”
With those words, he jerked her forward into his embrace. For a split second, spikes of terror erupted along her spine, but all the demon did was kiss her on the forehead before he released her.
