by Ryans, Rae
“Sweet buns and coffee.” I turned my nose up at the sludgy substance. Vampires rarely drank anything other than blood and food, so they’d warned; demon food made us ill. “And if the lovely Korri doesn’t mind, I’d like to speak with my friend alone.”
“Find me when you’re done,” I said and added that I’d wait in his compartment. The idea of wandering off from the cache of weapons wasn’t the smartest plan, and I knew the Duc had his own stash. His compartment was also across the way, but there was enough padding and steel to muffle their voices.
Chapter Twenty
The ground shook with tremors as Petre took his last breath. I grasped ahold of his shoulders and shielded his body. After the bomb had detonated, they’d continued to shake the earth. Tomas investigated and discovered a large fissure to the south, right over the border into Delphia.
“How long?”
The freaky vampire hadn’t answered me and stared out the window. Since the accident, he’d changed and grown somber. I couldn’t blame him. He’d buried the bodies of those who died. Tomas had killed them to save Petre.
Our cars had slid from the track, and four of them dangled from a cliff. Vampire strength had limits and even two of us couldn’t have pulled the cars back up the mountainside. The screams haunted me now, and a shiver chased up my spine. There had been no choice. We’d cut them loose, but the quaking earth dislodged the glass from Petre’s car. By the time we’d returned, a shard jutted from his chest, and he wasn’t breathing. Cold silver eyes stared back at me, but his faint heartbeat struggled. Barely had he clung to life. Tomas flew into action, as I’d stood there frozen, as he gave Petre his blood. He’d removed the glass and snapped at me. When I hadn’t responded, Tomas slapped me across the face and shook my whole body. The shock left me, but a new sensation gripped my soul. Petre slept for days. Each day wrought tension and worry, as his fever and infection began, and now he slept even more.
“Tomas, please answer me?” His blue eyes blinked toward me and softened. I rose and brushed my hands over the ridiculous dress. Mine ruined when we derailed, and I grabbed the first item I’d found.
“Apologies Korri, how do you say it? Lost in your own thoughts?” By his side, I followed the former French Duc’s eyes over the cavernous valley.
Sophia, I assumed, occupied his thoughts and the others, who were either missing or in hiding. In the end, it hadn’t seemed to matter. Those I saved still suffered.
“How long will it take?”
Tomas’ hand patted mine. “Do not belittle your involvement. You did not lead them to capture. Their sins are their own and not yours to bear.” Perhaps he had a point, but the guilt still twisted within my gut. “And I do not have an answer. We must simply wait.”
He mumbled something about finding food and left me alone with Petre. Hunger would overthrow his senses if he awoke. When he awoke, I reminded myself. Night fell as the third day ended. The peace-filled times were few, but I rather enjoyed the excitement. At least, before it had endangered Petre’s life.
I hesitated when he asked for the change. The duress, as Tomas had called it, fueled his emotions, but the vampire said it had to be me. Petre requested it prior to the crash. If I’d heard the words myself, I wouldn’t have dithered. Nothing in this life mattered. If I didn’t have Petre to share my life with then none of the slaves, laws, or demons concerned me. It wasn’t for a lack of caring. Smoke rose in the distance where the cars had smashed. I chewed on my nails as the snow whipped through the broken windowpane.
A week passed and Petre had not awoken. The air between Tomas and I grew thicker with each passing moment. Neither of said what we’d known as truth. My Petre had died. Despite my blood, he would not return. Dried eyes shed no outward tears for he’d lived a full life. On the seventh day, I buried him and promised to return in the future. When there was time and those I owed were safe, I’d take him home.
Tomas placed his hand on my shoulder. “Ami, you changed me in ways I never told you; may peace find your tortured soul and end your pain.” He turned to me and said, “Cousin, we will not allow his death to be in vain, but I cannot allow your vision to come true. I promised Petre, and until my death, I intend to honor our agreement.”
He’d made a promise to take care of me if anything ever happened to Petre. “Have you informed Veric?”
“I thought it best you called. He will want to make sure you—.” I shot him a look and snatched the phone from his outstretched hand. Without another word, I stuck the phone into my pocket, and marched toward the piled luggage. No thoughts formed as I shoved clothing into a bag.
We had two bags between the two of us and only capture stood in our way. At that point, I wasn’t certain I cared. Life and death both seemed pointless. Neither of us spoke as we trekked the distance between wherever Veric hid and our wreckage. No words were spoken or needed as the vampire had full access to my thoughts. I hadn’t blamed anyone for his death but myself. They all revolved around if.
If I hadn’t forced myself upon him Petre wouldn’t have become human. If he hadn’t become human then the glass wouldn’t have harmed him. If the glass hadn’t fallen, he’d not have had the infection. If, if, if, if, if … but everything started with me.
“Enough,” Tomas yelled. “You cannot blame yourself.” My feet halted, and I bore my eyes into the back of his head. “We both lost someone we loved, but he would not want either of us to blame ourselves.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and blew out my breath. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” Tomas spun around and cocked his eyebrow. “Well you didn’t.”
“Not to Petre, no.” The sound of his name was a dagger through my heart. “But I hurt you. You were too young to remember it.”
“Call Veric,” I said and tossed him the phone. “I don’t know how to work the contraption.”
“It’s dead.” Like everything else in my life. “You will grieve a lifetime, but if you want to save Sophia and the children we must press on.” I nodded and swallowed the lump forming in my throat.
We’d walked for almost two weeks by the time we reached the ocean. The coastline spanned for miles on end, but somewhere around that area we’d find Veric and Nikolai. As it happened, they found us instead. I recalled it clearly, as if I’d watched a ghost or stepped into a dream. His black hair whipped in the wind as he stepped along the stony banks. My heart leapt into my throat and my legs itched to run, but Tomas’ hand halted the reunion.
“It is Nikolai not Petre. Merde, I had forgotten to warn you.” But where was Veric? My eyes scanned the shore and up in the air, but I saw no signs of my husband. Had Nikolai harmed him? We were a few feet from him when Tomas spoke, but my eyes hadn’t left the man, and his hadn’t left me. He recognized me, and sooner or later I would face his wrath.
Nikolai spoke back to Tomas using the same harsh tones when a rustling sound caught my attention. Veric’s grim smile matched mine as he stumbled toward us. “Where’s Petre, luv?”
“Dead.”
“Sorry.” Veric hugged me and kissed the top of my head. My fangs extended as I breathed in his acrid scent and he chuckled. “Have you eaten?” I shook my head, and he rolled up his sleeve. Without complaint, I bit into his wrist and drowned in the blood. Veric made no noise or notion of enjoyment either, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it or why I cared. “You’re being followed,” he whispered.
“I figured as much,” Tomas added and pressed his lips into a frown. “Nikolai is asking to speak with you, Korrigan.” I raised my brow and stole another draw. “He is trying to understand what happened.”
“Petre loved you in God’s eyes,” Nikolai spoke in accented English. Veric snorted, and I elbowed him. “We had a connection, and I felt what he felt for you. He would not want you sad yet you are.” He pointed at Veric. “This man spoke of nothing but you. He too loves you.” Nikolai pointed to Tomas. “He is your kin, and Petre saw him as brother.” I blinked and attempted to follow his meaning. “Bad and
terrible things I did.” He shook his head. “I want to make him proud. I wish to help.”
He’d lied about understanding English, but then again, he’d dealt with Veric. I’d have lied too. “He’s still vulnerable.”
“I don’t think I can make vampires or maybe it’s because of their curse,” I whispered. “Tomas?” His gaze drifted toward the tree line and I followed. Hope filled me for a moment as thoughts of Petre flooded back. Blond hair ruffled in the sea breeze.
The three of us said his name at once, “Jules.” A wide smile beamed over the bastard’s face.
My breath held as he strolled down the rocks, almost skipping. One look into those eyes answered every question I’d had. “Bastard.” I lunged for him, and Veric grasped my arms.
“Well, well, sweetheart.” He smiled. “I told you so.” I lunged again. “Now, now don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m here to make you a proposition.”
“The devil’s deal.”
“Oh she’d know all about the devil, now wouldn’t you Angelica?” My brow wrinkled at his question. Jules knew damn well he’d taught us nothing about religion. “Oh, that’s right, you can’t remember a thing. Tsk, tsk more’s the pity. Part of the deal is I need those keys you stole.”
Veric pushed me backward and into Tomas. He marched into Jules’ face. “You want a row? You prick, you dare even speak to my wife.”
Jules flicked invisible hairs from his coat. “You will watch your tone, or I’m likely to kill you all. I’d regret the decision, and you know how I hate murdering my family.”
Tomas and I shared a glance. “Father, she does not remember.”
I mouthed the word, and Tomas shook his head. Bile rose in my throat, and I hunched forward, heaving the vile substance up. Red splattered against grey stone … grey like his eyes had once been. Fire burned through my veins and the smoke rose from my nose. Like glass, the world around me shattered and the cracks broke through like a damn. All the pieces refilled and the gaps sealed anew. I remembered. “Luv, breathe.”
“Restrain him.” I roared and pointed at Jules. He laughed, and my fists seized into balls. I stomped to him, ignoring Tomas’ protest, and cocked him in the face. Blood poured from his nose for a second before it healed. “Did you ever think what would happen if I remembered?”
My hand thrust into his chest as a strangled cry left his lips. “Every nemesis has an Achilles’ heel. Guess what yours is?” My fist squeezed his heart, and his mouth dropped in speechless wonder. Slowly I allowed my slimed hand to strangle his life away. He deserved so much worse for the pain he’d caused, for the lives he’d ended. Jules dropped to his knees and choked on his blood. No one said a word and no one came to his rescue. “This is more than you deserve for stealing my life and hurting those I love. May you rot in eternal hell you sick bastard.”
His eyes rolled back into his head, and I didn’t let go until long after his final breath. Veric placed a hand on my shoulder, and I glanced up at my husband. “That’s enough, Angel.”
“Veric, I know where the keys are.” I spun around and smiled at Tomas who appeared a bit stunned. “Let’s get those kids out of Garland.”
Four of us set forth that day and although I’d somehow recalled my previous life, my heart and soul mourned Petre. They called to him, and I only hoped he had found the peace within the chaos. In the end, that was all there was … Petre’s memory to fuel my steps.
Peace wasn’t a place or object, but a state of mind. Sophia said those words to me when she’d taught me to withdraw. I prayed her words wrong, but in my heart, the truth murmured. Petre once told me not to lie. I heeded his advice and stopped lying to myself. Until time ceased and the world collapsed, I remained the Morning Star, the final beacon of hope for humanity and the demons who prayed for freedom from their oppressors. Hell on Earth reigned, but to obtain peace, the brothels must fall, and the people be freed.
“Angelica,” Veric whispered, clutching my tiny hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed each knuckle. Tears choked in my chest for all the pain he’d lived through, all he’d endured for me. But could we forget the last eighteen years and move on with our lives? I blinked my eyes at the red-eyed demon. Veric lied for me; he ran away for me. Most of all, he’d died and came back for me. “Always, luv, I’ll always come back for you.”
Epilogue
Petre’s eyes opened to the whitewash of snow covering his body ...
Acknowledgements
Many people helped bring this story to life. Writing is only one aspect of creating a book.
I’d like to thank my editor, Jenny for her ability to maintain my voice and catch nuisances. My beta readers, you ladies all rock, and I would be lost without your guidance. My designer, Zack at Raven Tree Design helped shape the cover and develop the theme for this saga.
Book bloggers and you, the reader, for taking a chance on an unknown author, I thank you too.
If you enjoyed Constricted, please leave a review or send me a message. I love to hear feedback from fans.
Love, Rae Z. Ryans
Excerpt from
Altered
Cain Morning Star
End times crept closer with each passing day, yet there promises to fulfill hung over my head; the ground tremored, and fissures hissed in the wilderness of the once breathtaking Canadian landscape even twelve years after the initial sundering. Failure had greeted me around every bend, and vows I’d promised my mother hung over my head. The perils rooted and hid in the shadows. Danger rested in uttering my name: Morning Star. I was a descendent of Lucifer, one of the Seven Princes of Hell, but I was not him.
Iced over streets of Arcadia were nothing new, but my steps lightened as I approached the bar. Belle from the Lost Souls Division of the Arcadian Bureau of Demonic Affairs had planned our meeting there. I laughed recalling how she had answered the phone and said, “Lost Souls, to hell with the rest.”
To the masses of demons inhabiting Arcadia, I was another former slave in search of a fresh start in the free country. They had pitied me with their pained stares and hushed whispers. My story and freedom had not mattered. The history and all I had overcome were just that, the past. Only the future concerned me, and even then, it was not mine.
Following up on a stolen lead, I contacted the agency on referral of my sponsor, Tomas. The secret sect of the Arcadian Bureau of Demonic Affairs had specialized in locating and retracting demons from Delphia and Garland; I had two to find and rescue. With my mother’s last wishes fulfilled, I could disappear from the world for good. God have pity on my cursed soul, but Hell had awaited my arrival.
Lips pressed together whistling an old but familiar tune, yet I had forgotten the name. Eyes swept my surroundings as I traipsed through the familiar ruined city sectors. I lost count of the years since the world fell to shit. In some ways, earth shitted on the elioud families sharing the earth with unsuspecting humans. Like a bubble hidden inside a bubble that was how I saw the world.
The seven families fought for power as the children of the fallen angels rose and fell. All of this happened under the noses of the human population or the new swept under the rug as human trafficking stories flashed through headlines. Yes, some were humans sold into slavery, but the sundering changed the world as the humans departed. The idea sickened my stomach no matter the victims human or demon. Angelica and Lilith fell captive, lost within the remnants of the shattered world eighteen years ago but enslaved long before the first rumble rocked the world.
We saw the signs as the archangels unleashed the seven seals and bought our time until the world became ours. God promised as much when he unleashed the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Boric Garland had other plans and cheated his way into power over the remnants of the southern lands, renaming them after his forged bloodline. On a prayer and dashed dreams, I escaped his world and traveled north, dodging bounty hunters sent after my saviour.
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, the world belonged to us. “What’s left of it,
” I muttered and blinked at the silence. A glance shot up and down the street. My eyes settled on the bright afternoon sky as a peculiar sensation tingled my half-frozen skin.
When the rapture ended, all that remained were demons in one form or another. Morning Star was my bloodline, and we were one of the seven royal families cast down from Heaven--The Grigori- according to God himself. Seven archangels fell and proclaimed themselves the seven princes of Hell according to the Book of Enoch.
Enoch was not too far from the truth. Each bred with humans and formed the Nephilim, who went on to breed a third generation: the elioud. My sisters and I were elioud.
After the sunder, Hell bled other demons into the world. Arch demons saw a leader in Boric and supported his claims while drawing strings behind closed doors. I witnessed this as a servant in his houses during the early years of the reformation. My brain reeled thinking about the new grand design they created for the new world.
I halted in front of a distressed church. An old iron bell hung in the steeple and clang with the strong wind. Stained glass painted vivid biblical scenes and reflected the bold colors humanity could no longer create. Pieces lay broken in their frame like me. I studied the scenes and ignored the draw of muffled music from the corner bar. The ADBA would wait.
The glass retold revelation. All worlds must end, but in the final days, the humans ascended, and the demons remained. Not all of us were evil but like humans, we were capable of both goodness and wickedness. I had not asked for my birth. God chose me for this life. Captured, tortured, starved, and raped by the descendants of Amon, few of us survived as the years swept by.
I blinked at the shrouded grey sky recalling the exact color on the day of my escape eighteen years ago. Snow blanketed the world as my savior brought me into Delphia, and I alone journeyed north to Arcadia. The snow fell then as it did now when the world tore apart years later.
