by T. S. Ryder
"There is far more going on here than just you being scared."
"I'm not—"
"I mean, you not wanting to have sex with me. I doubt anybody has talked to you about this, not with your penchant of snarling and growling at anybody who doesn't jump when you snap." She clicked her fingers together, then put her hands on her hips. "So I'm not going to push too much right now, but you need someone to help you get your head screwed on."
Her robe gaped at the bottom. Thomas forced himself not to look. "What is your point, human?"
She snorted and rolled her eyes at his tone, clearly not intimidated. He wished he could see what was going on in that head of hers. She was so terrified of him that she wouldn’t even look at him before and now she was begging him to go to bed with her and shouting at him in the hall?
"You need to learn how to let yourself feel and show emotion. I know that your wife betrayed you but you are hurting the people around you with this macho display of yours."
"Are you quite done?" he snarled.
"No." Adrielle's demeanor softened. A look of what seemed like pain flashed over her face and she shook her head. "I should have brought this up before things… got out of hand."
She regretted being with him too. It should have comforted him, but all he felt was a stab of bitter disappointment. The collar of the robe was stained red with blood. It was right for her to regret it. So why did it feel so bad?
"Well?" he pushed, harsher than necessary.
Adrielle gave him a dirty look. "Look, I know that you love Clarissa. But she doesn't think you do."
Thomas opened his mouth to argue but there was nothing he could say about that. His stomach twisted as he looked Adrielle in the eye. The angry, demanding little woman from moments ago was gone. Real compassion shone from her face. When she put her hand on his shoulder, he didn't pull away.
"Today, when I was putting her to bed, she told me that you stopped loving her when her mother died. She thinks you blame her."
"No." Thomas shook his head. "No, it's not her fault. It's… It's Erela's own fault she died. She wanted a child so badly that she didn't care about the consequences. But Clarissa…"
Adrielle was silent, still looking at him with those beautiful eyes. Thomas felt his bitterness fade away. He sagged against the wall again, this time not caring that she saw his weakness. Clarissa was the most important person in his world. She was his reason to go on existing in this hell that he'd been trapped in. And he wasn't doing his job.
"I don't want her to be affected by the darkness inside of me," he admitted. "Being a vampire… I hate it. I'm evil. I want her to know goodness and I—"
"You're too hard on yourself because of this vampire thing. If you want to be all angsty about something, then agonize over the fact that you stole me, not because you're a vampire. You can't change what you are, but you can still change how you react to it." She took a deep breath. "Is it really dangerous for us to sleep together?"
"Yes. Didn't you feel it the second time I drank from you? I could have torn out your throat."
A look of disappointment came to her face, but she shrugged. "Well, then. You said vampires have voracious appetites. And yet you drank from me and stopped. You decided that you weren't going to sleep with me, even though it was clear that you wanted to, because you were putting my safety first. That's not what a monster does, Thomas. A monster would do the opposite."
His shoulders relaxed despite himself. A deep breath left his lungs, one he hadn’t even realized he had been holding. A slow smile crossed his face as he looked at the beautiful human he had brought here for his daughter. But she was bringing light to more than just Clarissa, it seemed.
"Thank you," he whispered. "And for the record… I'm sorry I stole you."
A low chuckled answered him. "Thanks. I appreciate the apology. But… if you hadn't, I'd probably be dead."
Thomas's brows knit, but before he could ask anything further, Madrid came tearing down the hallway. Long, thick fur covered her body and a snarl rose from her throat.
"Your majesty." She dropped to a half-bow, something she only did when she needed the king, not her friend. "We're under attack. A swarm of demons has breached the outer walls."
"Demons?" Adrielle gasped.
Thomas' blood filled with ice. "Clarissa!"
Chapter Eight – Adrielle
Thomas outran both Madrid and Adrielle as he raced toward Clarissa's room. Adrielle's robe shifted around her body, barely covering her, but she didn't care. Her heart was in her throat and she prayed Clarissa was alright. What if this was Samuel coming to claim her? What would happen to her if the demon took her?
Madrid easily outpaced her, leaving her far behind. By the time she caught up with them, both Thomas and Madrid were engaged in combat. Adrielle blinked, pulling up short. The demons they fought were fluid, like shadows and bursts of images. They became a comely woman, a handsome man, a three-headed dog with fire in its eyes.
It took effort to tear her gaze away from the sight. She dashed into Clarissa's room to find a creature hovering over Clarissa's bed. Its skin was shrunken over its bones. It was the color of a corpse with black eyes and sharp teeth filling an oversized mouth. Long, deadly-looking fingers reached toward the sleeping child. With a strangled shout, Adrielle jumped forward. She grabbed the lamp off the nightstand and yanked it out of the wall.
The demon looked up just in time to see the lamp collide with its face. The blow threw it back against the wall. Adrielle grabbed Clarissa's shoulders and shook her.
"Wake up! Clarissa, wake up!"
Her head lolled to one side.
"Clarissa!"
The demon sprang at her again. A horrifying screech had her frozen at the spot. The sound flooded her. It felt like ice was in her veins, stopping her from moving. Her jaw fell open, but she couldn't even scream. The sharp claws on the demon's hands swiped at her face—
And then Thomas was there. He grabbed the demon by the throat and threw it against the wall, fists pummeling against its head until there was a crunching sound and its skull caved in. It dropped and moved no more. The king raced back to the bed where Clarissa was starting to stir and gathered her into his arms. Madrid grabbed Adrielle around her waist, causing her to shriek in protest, and then they were off again.
The hallways rushed by in a blur. When they stopped, Adrielle was completely disoriented. They had moved so fast that she hadn't been able to track where they were going. Her head spun. Madrid put her down, holding her steady for a moment, then released her. Thomas, still carrying Clarissa, strode into a room full of mirrors. Adrielle blinked as she followed him, only for her jaw to drop as she stepped in.
They weren't mirrors at all. It was a room made of silver. Every inch of the floors, walls, and ceiling was all silver. Her reflected image was barely covered and she straightened her robe as Thomas put Clarissa down on a bed in the middle of the room. Shelves lined the back wall, holding everything from bottled water to granola bars.
"Papa?" Clarissa's voice still sounded sleepy. "Why are we in the panic room? It will hurt you."
"I'm fine, darling." Thomas smoothed her hair and pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead. His breathing was labored, a grimace on his face. Because of the silver? "There is some trouble outside, but we'll take care of it."
His hand trembled a little but the tremble disappeared as he straightened. His face turned hard as he marched to a safe and opened it. Adrielle's eyes widened as he pulled out a gun and handed it to her. It weighed down her hand, heavier than she thought possible.
"This has silver bullets in it. Silver is a pure metal, holy. It will kill demons, vampires, and any other unholy creature. If anybody opens that door without first saying ‘chandelier,’ shoot them."
Adrielle nodded. She opened her mouth to ask more, but Thomas raced out, slamming the door behind him. Clarissa patted her shoulder, making her jump. The little girl smiled, looking eerily calm about the situation.
"It's okay. I know what to do, Adrielle. You don't have to be afraid."
That was backward. Adrielle should be comforting her, not the other way around. She ushered the girl back to her bed and rooted around the closet until she found something that would fit her. It was a little large in the shoulders but pulled tight against her breasts. One of Thomas' shirts, probably, though she couldn't figure out why he would have clothes in a room he couldn't stay in. It wouldn't do much good against a demon, but being dressed helped center her a little more.
"They're coming," Clarissa said, utterly calm. "Get ready."
Before Adrielle could ask her what she meant, there was a thud against the door. A horrible screeching noise echoed in the room. A shudder ran down her spine and she planted herself in front of Clarissa. She rose the gun as a crack opened in the middle of the door. The screeching noise continued, accompanied by regular thumps and screams outside the door. The crack widened.
When the door crumpled inwards, Adrielle closed her eyes and squeezed the trigger. The kickback ran up her arms, jarring her shoulders and rattling her teeth. More screams, so loud she wouldn't have been surprised if her ears had started to bleed. She continued to squeeze the trigger, firing off round after round until the gun clicked and nothing else came.
Her eyes snapped open as something brushed past her. Clarissa punched a demon that reached for her, then slipped under the arms of a second one. In seconds, she was gone from view. The demons wheeled around, racing down the hall. Adrielle chased after them, calling Clarissa's name. Her heart hammered, breath coming in quick gasps as she pushed herself as hard as she could. The demons turned a corner and she was only just able to see where they went when she rounded it.
The next hallway ended in a staircase. It was steep enough that Adrielle nearly lost her balance twice. The screeching of demons came from above and she pushed herself harder. Visions of Clarissa being torn apart by the creatures swamped her mind, making it even more difficult to breathe.
She came to a door that had caved in. Two demons lay writhing on the ground, clawing at their own chests. Adrielle slipped on their blood. She fell down hard next to one as it reached for her. She punched it in the face and scrambled back to her feet. Bloody footprints showed her which way to go next. Another staircase. Her legs felt like wood, her lungs aching. The exertion had her head spinning, but she wasn't about to give up.
When she stumbled to the top of the stairs, she found herself outside. They were on a towering peak, the flat platform wide. Lights were inserted into its sides, casting a glow down below them. The sounds of screaming and fighting echoed from far below. Adrielle focused on the demons. They stood in a semi-circle with their backs to her, physical beings rather than the shifting shadows she had seen before. Through the gaps between their bodies, she saw Clarissa standing at the edge of the tower.
"Clarissa! Adrielle!" Thomas' voice came from somewhere below them.
"We're up here!"
Even as Adrielle spoke, a blinding flash of light burst into the air. A wave of the light rolled off of Clarissa's body. Her golden hair framed her face like a halo and she spread her hands, lifting several feet off the ground. The demons screeched and recoiled. The light gathered around them and they burst, bits flying every which way and burning into nothing.
Adrielle dropped to her knees, crying out as the light burned her eyes. The creatures recovered quickly, though. All around the massive city below them, demons were screeching and writhing. The vampires dropped to the ground as well, screaming. Clarissa's hands turned out wave after wave of light, beams rolling from her place in the air.
"Clarissa!" A voice from below. Thomas' voice. Full of pain.
It wasn't just the demons being affected by Clarissa's light. It was the vampires, too. It was Thomas. Clarissa's eyes were closed, her face tilted upwards. The light was so beautiful, so perfect. Adrielle didn't want it to go away, but when Thomas cried out again, she knew she had to act. She rushed forward, grasping Clarissa's arm.
Her eyes snapped open. They gazed down at her and there was something far older in them than Adrielle had ever seen in the little girl. Wisdom, compassion and something else. It was like she was someone completely different – something completely different.
"Clarissa," she gasped. "You have to stop now. You're hurting the vampires – you’re hurting your father."
The little girl blinked. "Papa?"
"You're hurting him. You need to stop now. We're safe. You're safe. But you need to stop!"
Clarissa lowered her arms. The brilliant glow around her faded away and then she dropped. Adrielle caught her and lowered her gently to the ground. Her head fell back against Adrielle's shoulders, her breathing soft and deep. Like she had been asleep all the while.
Moments later, Thomas dragged himself up the stairs. Blood smeared his chest and an ugly gash was open just under his neck. He limped over to them and dropped to his knees. Adrielle gently passed his daughter to him. The king touched her face, checked her pulse, and a look of pure relief washed over his face. Adrielle was silent as he pulled Clarissa closer and began to cry.
Adrielle sagged against the floor, dizziness spinning in her head. "What was that?" she demanded. "What… What is she?"
Thomas stroked Clarissa's hair, then looked up at Adrielle. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks. "Half demon. Half angel."
Chapter Nine – Thomas
Clarissa slept peacefully. A little smile was on her face as though she was utterly unaware of what had happened. Thomas sat in a chair next to her bed, his hands going from clenched to relaxed. He seemed to be fighting the desire to beat the wall.
This was the first time Clarissa had used any sort of angelic powers in her young life. The light that had come from her was so beautiful… yet deadly to creatures like him. It was wrong to keep someone with so much light in the underworld, surrounded by so much darkness. A good father would give her up – let her live her life above ground where she could flourish.
But that wasn't an option. This demon attack had to have been instigated by Samuel. He was trying to steal her away, and if the arch-demon came himself to claim her… would any of them be strong enough to stop him? His powers were unmatched by anyone Thomas had ever seen.
A hand on Thomas’s shoulder made him jump. Adrielle flinched as he leaped to his feet, fists rising into a defensive position. The king blinked in surprise and shook his head. His thoughts had worried him to the extent that he hadn't heard her coming.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," he said.
Adrielle sat down on the edge of Clarissa's bed and stroked her golden hair back from her face. "You need to tell me."
Thomas didn't have to ask what she meant. "It's a long story."
"I'll listen."
He didn't want to leave Clarissa, but they would disturb her even while speaking in low voices. She shifted, moaning in her sleep. The smile slipped away. Thomas took Adrielle's hand and led her to the hallway before softly closing the door. He turned to her, not knowing where to start. Her large hazel eyes were locked on him, waiting. A rush of emotion overtook him.
She was remarkable. Maybe he had first been drawn to her because of her body, but he had been right when he thought she was the one who could give Clarissa light in her life. How many people would have come into this situation, faced with everything she had seen, and still have the compassion he saw in her eyes?
"It's a long story," he repeated. "So I think it would be best if you didn't interrupt."
He closed his eyes, opened his mouth, and began to speak.
***
The coolness of dusk brought with it the promise of rest in the darkness of night. Thomas brushed a hand over his brow and ran his tongue over his flaking lips. It had been an extra hot day, and his master hadn't allowed him to rest for more than a few hours during high noon, punishing him for running off the previous day to go swimming instead of doing his work. Normally he didn’t work in the fields at all.
Although he had been given water regularly throughout the day, he was still feeling weak and dizzy. Perhaps his master would take pity on him tomorrow and let him rest. Not that he would enjoy it if he felt this way still.
He straightened, rubbing his back, and froze. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen stood in the field only a few feet away from him. Her feet were bare and she wore a white, flowing dress. It was almost more of a robe. Her dark hair flowed freely down her back. The smile on her face captured him instantly. His basket dropped, the olives he'd picked rolling every which way. A strange light seemed to glow around her. She was so beautiful that he felt the urge to drop to his knees and weep.
The woman approached him. "Hello, Thomas."
A jolt of surprise went through him. How did she know his name?
"Aren't you going to say hello?" She smiled at him.
"Hello," he mumbled. Someone this beautiful must be a princess or, at the very least, a grand lady. His gaze dropped, knowing he was unworthy of looking at her. To his surprise, she put a cool hand under his chin and raised his gaze again.
"Who are you?" he blurted.
A laugh answered him. "My name is Erela. I've been watching you for a long time, Thomas. I've decided that you are the one I want."
"Want… me?" His mind swirled. "My master is in the house if you wish to purchase me—"
"There will be no purchasing. A human being cannot be owned by another." Erela pressed to her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his.
Thomas groaned, the kiss igniting a fire in his blood despite how chaste it was. He reached for her, arms wrapping around her waist, and pulled her tight against him. Erela put her hands against his chest and smiled. She shook her head, eyes twinkling.
"Not until we're married, Thomas."
"Then we will marry at once."
