Paranormal After Dark: 20 Paranormal Tales of Demons, Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Witches, Magics, Ghosts and More

by Rebecca Hamilton

He flicked his tongue out, wiggling it in front of my face and all I wanted to do was rip it out of his scaly face. Rage was pulsing through me and I didn’t know whether to embrace it and let it fill me with the power it yielded or to tamp it down to keep me from getting into more trouble. What was I supposed to do? No matter how I struggled, I couldn’t escape his claws. With every movement, they dug into me deeper, angering me more and more.

  “Let go of me, damn it!”

  He pulled me to my feet and pinned me against the wall with one hairy thigh between my legs. I looked down and saw his hooves also had talon like claws and my mind spun with fear as nausea filled me from head to toe. I had never seen a demon that hideous and I’d certainly never fought one that large on my own. What the hell was I going to do?

  “How nice of you to get us the Honeymoon suite” he hissed. “But isn’t it a bit too soon? The wedding isn’t for a few weeks. Do you think your dear ole daddy will show up? Maybe he’ll even walk you down the aisle and hand you over to me? Roberta will even stand in as your maid of honor. Wouldn’t that be divine?” The demonic asshole had the nerve to wiggle his eyebrows as he pondered that plan.

  “There isn’t going to be any wedding! And what about my father? You killed him before you could even get to know him, remember?” I’d be damned before I’d let him know how much I knew about Samell.

  My breath was ragged and shallow as he shoved his chest against mine. If he’d pressed any harder, I’d have become part of the marble wall. The pain was insane but I wouldn’t let him know that. I knew he’d enjoy each and every suffering moment as he crushed me, breaking one rib at a time as sharp bone fragments drove into my organs one-by-one. I’m sure he’d have loved to count each heartbeat until my last.

  “That ring says something entirely different. You’re mine” he growled. “And you will be until I no longer have a use for you. As for your father, you killed him. Remember?” He goaded, pushing me closer to the edge of losing my mind.

  “Really? Roberta said that you killed him, Shawn.”

  “You’re lying! She would never betray me like that. Besides, Roberta is still in Germany. You know nothing!”

  He had no idea that I already knew Samell was my father or that I’d spoken to Roberta. Which meant he also had no idea that I knew I was part demon. I tucked that bit of information away for now and took the opportunity to slam my forehead against his. It hurt like hell, but it stunned him long enough for me to escape his grasp.

  Just as I reached one of the shower door handles, the glass panels exploded outward. I fell hard, my face bounced off of the glass-coated marble floor. I rolled over as he stomped his way out of the shower.

  “Uh-oh. Cupcake has a boo-boo. Let me kiss it and make it better.” He grabbed me by the hair without even leaning down. His arms were elongated and scaly on one side and covered in hair underneath. What the…?

  I really should have brushed up on demon lore last night. I was smack dab in the middle of a deep-shit situation and I had no idea how to get out of it. My powers, good or evil were my only chance. There was no time to make a moral decision. It was live or die and if I died at his hands, he’d take my lifeless body to Hell.

  He perched atop the marble steps of the tub and stood over me. “What do you want, Shawn? Why are you here wasting my time when you could be summoning goblins with your troll and making little ass-faced demon babies?”

  He laughed a deep guttural cackle. “You know what I want. You’re mine. Did you think I would just let you run off and shack up with Jacobs? You will never be with that mongrel and I will kill you myself if I have to. Just to keep you away from him. I have a wonderful future planned for us, Selena. It’s about time you accepted that fact and started acting like a proper wife!”

  “Why do you care? You have Roberta. Soon you’ll have my powers. What more could you gain from keeping Keith and me apart?”

  I swore steam rolled out of his huge, pointed ears. He slammed his fisted paws on the copper tub, caving in the one side. There went any hope of a luxurious bath later.

  “I have no idea why I ever agreed to this plan. You are such a stupid, little bitch! We cannot allow you to mate with him, you idiot. And as long as I am around, it will not happen!”

  “We’ll just see about that! You’re disgusting and now that I know the truth, I will never be with you. I’m going to send you back to Hell with the rest of your sick friends.”

  “Sick? You want to talk about sick? Do you have any idea how much it disgusted me to put up with your incessant whining and complaining about your parents? And your crying about a lack of friends made you a pathetic, frigid bitch. I had hoped that ring would have loosened you up some, but no! The past year has been pure torture and for what? Just to please…”

  “Please who? What the hell are you talking about?” Samell of course, but he’d never say it. I wanted him to believe they still had secrets.

  Ever the conceited bastard, Shawn turned around to admire himself in the vanity mirror and I took the opportunity to slam his face into it. He never saw it coming. With a flick of my hand I repeatedly rammed him into the broken glass until green ooze, poured from his ugly face. When my arm suffered from muscle failure, I stopped but the urge to filet the nasty slime ball didn’t ebb.

  “Do have any idea how much I hate you, you bastard?”

  “Feelings mutual, sweetie! So many nights, I wanted to gut you like a pig and wallow in your entrails. Don’t look so disappointed, cupcake. That day will come.”

  As he wiped his face with a paw, I noticed his constantly changing form. For some reason he couldn’t control what shape he would be next. As I watched brown horns appear through the top his head, and a wave of pure revulsion ran through me. I’d had enough. I sent out a binding spell and he was tied to the floor by a brilliant web of power.

  “It’s bad enough that I have had to deal with this shit storm you created, Shawn. Now, I have to pay for the damages to this beautiful room because of you and that pisses me off.”

  “Oh, poor baby has to pay damages.”

  I slapped him from across the room. He laughed and licked his lips, enjoying the violence.

  “You’ll never get away, Selena. We have eyes everywhere. After the council binds your powers, you will surrender them to me and become my wife.”

  “Over my dead body. Why do you want my powers anyways? I’m sure they are nothing compared to yours, great demon.” I taunted.

  He narrowed his eyes and examined me, “I’ve always loved how naïve you are. You’ve made all of this so easy. Just a weak little girl and so effortlessly molded. Like my own personal poppet. Tell me, Selena, do you regret not using your powers on me sooner? Don’t you wish you had toasted me months ago? I cannot believe how dumb you thought I was. Pretending to be normal when I was around! I’ve known about you since your birth, you incompetent wench!”

  I couldn’t take much more, I knew my eyes were glowing and this hotel room was not the place to blow sky high. “Shut up, demon! I’m warning you!”

  “Oh? And what will you do, witch? Curse me with warts? Turn me into a toad? Please! We both know you’re no match for me.”

  His condescending attitude, once attractive, coming across as self-assured and resilient, was more sickening than anything. Why did Roberta and Shawn think they were so all-mighty? If they knew what I was all along, they had to know I could emaciate them with little effort. What was with all of the constant taunts and jabs?

  “If I’m merely a witch, why do you need my powers demon boy?”

  He shut up, knowing he was on the verge of saying too much.

  “Tell me the truth or I’ll kill you.”

  I could see his thoughts warring with each other as he tried to decide. In the end, he merely said “You’ll never kill me, witch. You can’t. You need me.”

  “Ya’ know, you are one ugly-full-of-yourself-son-of-a-bitch! Did Roberta piece you together from spare demon parts she had lying around? You’re more of a
mutt than Keith and his family could ever be. One minute asshole. Speak or die.”

  His fury was growing, yet he said nothing. His anger was palpable as it pulsed through the floor and surrounded me. He couldn’t stand anyone telling him the truth. Shawn believed he was god-like, all powerful and hot. His ego was too big to handle anyone hitting him with words of disgust. I whipped the energy inside of me into an enormous frenzy and produced a ball of green and brown tinted lightning between my hands. I poised it above my head as I counted down the seconds. “Ten…nine…eight…seven…”

  He remained silent. By the time I got to six, I was over it and threw the lighting at him, hitting him in the chest.

  “Do you have any idea how much vengeance I have rolling through me, demon? Tricking me with your lies was one thing, a mistake I could forgive. But killing my parents?” I created another ball of energy and it slammed into his head. “That was unforgiveable. The witch you see before you is far more than you know. If I have to hunt you and your nasty, vile friends down for the rest of my life I will. I won’t rest until all of you are back in hell. Imprisoned or dead, it makes no difference to me. I have nothing left to lose. Tell them I’m coming for them!”

  I threw a bolt at him and he vanished before it reached him. I collapsed on the floor as his voice rang out “See you in Hell, witch.”

  Chapter 19

  “SELENA,” STERLING WHISPERED as he tapped on the bathroom door. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just slipped on the wet floor. I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “I heard the yelling.”

  “Everything is fine, Sterling.”

  “Okay. Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “You bet.”

  I gazed around at the mess we’d made of the once beautiful bathroom and sighed. “I may as well fix it. I’m already in deep shit with the council.”

  Grounding myself, I called on the elements and my goddess as I envisioned golden beams of light tethering me to the earth. A blinding white light washed over me, its comforting presence filling me with an inner peace. When I felt calm enough, I imagined the entire room put back in order. The towels were hung, the floor was dry, the mirrors and shower were back in one piece and all was right again. My cuts were sealed and I wished the dried blood away.

  “So it is. So shall it be.”

  After I thanked the Goddess and Mother Earth and released the left over magic to return to the Universe, I felt refreshed and ready to face the next obstacles–dressing and finding food for Sterling and myself.

  Walking into the dining area, I retrieved my clothes and put them on in the bedroom. There was no point in hanging onto modesty when Shawn and his whore minion could pop in at any given moment if they chose to do so.

  “There. That’s better.” Did you decide what you want to get from room service, Sterling?”

  “Do you think they have some of that yummy chicken and egg stuff Kelly made for me?”

  What? My picky familiar was in a five-star hotel suite and he wanted food that was just like the food a wolf had made for him? Oh boy.

  “I can ask. Anything else?”

  “Can I have some cream? I mean, we are spoiling ourselves, right?” He batted his eyes at me and smiled.

  “Sure. Whatever you want, Buddy.”

  I called room service and the snippy waiter named Jay, told me they would try to make something pleasing for Sterling, but I didn’t hold my breath. After all, according to Jay, “The hotel wasn’t accustomed to creating gourmet, special dishes for animals.” Whatever. Since when was a plate of scrambled eggs and chicken breast gourmet? I listened as he rattled on, repeating his long spiel until I felt like zapping him.

  “Like I said, we don’t do this very often. Especially for animals. But since you are in the Honeymoon Suite, we’ll make an exception. Your food will be there in about thirty minutes.” The snooty waiter hung up before I could even utter “Thank you”.

  “They say they will try to do it this time, Sterling. But as for breakfast, we’re on our own. I’m sure they know who I am and it’s another act of snobbery. I’ve been thinking we should move when all of this is over. I don’t know how much more snootiness and horrible treatment from these people I can handle.”

  “The townspeople will stop once the council clears you of the charges.”

  “I doubt it. These people have changed. I’ve changed. It doesn’t feel like the same Salem Ridge anymore.”

  I flopped down on the bed and turned on the TV. Nothing interesting was on, so I laid there staring at the ceiling. Next thing I knew, someone was knocking on the door. I knew it couldn’t be our food so soon, so I prepared for another demonic attack. But would a demon knock? Who knew what the crazy-ooze-suckers I’d been dealing with were capable of?

  “Just a sec.”

  The maitre’d wheeled our food cart in and I handed him a huge tip.

  “That was fast. Thank you.”

  He turned on his heel and left without saying a word. “I hope they didn’t spit in our food.” I said as I shut the door.

  “Yuck. Was that necessary, Mistress?”

  “Sorry.” I snickered. “I forgot how sensitive your stomach can be.”

  I removed the cover from Sterling’s dish and placed it on the table. When I picked up the cover to mine, I found a note taped to the underside of the lid.

  “Enjoy your meal, cupcake. See you soon.” There was even a devilish smiley face at the end.

  “UGH!” I threw the lid down and took Sterling’s plate from him.

  “Hey!”

  “We can’t eat it, Sterling. Shawn sent a note with our meal. He might’ve poisoned it.”

  “Do you really think he’d poison our food? They need you alive, remember?”

  “I’m not taking any chances.”

  “Now, what will we eat? I’m starving.” He collapsed on the bed with as much kitty drama as he could muster, even feigning a momentary lapse of consciousness.

  I rolled my eyes and said “I don’t know. Jeez! All I wanted was a shower, a meal and some rest, I can’t even have that! This five-hundred dollar, oasis of a room is turning into such a waste! Why did I think I’d get a damn break?”

  When I threw myself onto the bed, he pounced onto the enormous pile of pillows and laid down beside me. “Mistress, it will be okay.” His whiskers touched my cheek and he rubbed his chin against mine.

  “You keep saying that. I’m just not sure I believe it.”

  “I’ve got an idea. Let’s call Keith! I’m sure he will bring us some food and then we won’t have to be alone. He can sit here with us while we wait for the council’s enforcers to show up. Plus, it might cheer you up having that big, strapping puppy-eyed man around.” He smiled and purred. I swore his winked at me.

  Suddenly, Mr. Snooty-Pants wanted to play matchmaker and who was I to argue with his sudden approval of Keith? “Sure, why not?”

  Kelly answered the phone at Tooth & Nail and said she’d send Keith over with a care package soon. Before hanging up, she asked me to give Sterling a kiss for her.

  “Seriously?” This was getting to be downright creepy and I shook my head in disbelief as I hung up the phone.

  I planted a big kiss on top of his head. “From Kelly” I said. He acted all offended but at least he didn’t wipe it off. I’d say my cat had a crush on a dog. I knew him too well and he had it bad for Kelly.

  “I can hear you, Selena. And no, I do not have a crush on Kelly. We are nothing more than very good friends.”

  “Right. Overnight, you and Kelly, two mortal enemies have become bosom buddies? Friends, you and a dog? Ha!”

  “She’s not a dog, she’s a wolf.”

  “Ohhh. She’s a wolf now is she? My mistake.” I laughed as I opened the sliding door to the balcony and breathed in the scent of spring blowing across the river.

  “What’s the big deal?” Sterling followed me to the doorway. “You wanted us to get along, didn’t you? After a
ll, we will be family soon.” If his grin were any wider, his face would’ve split in two.

  “What?”

  “Keith is your soul-mate. Stop denying it. You love him and he loves you. Besides, it’s predestined, there’s no stopping it. The book said so. That’s why Samell wanted you to be kept away from Keith.”

  “What? Why? I must’ve missed that page.”

  “Keith comes from a long line of demon hunters. That’s what his mother and brothers were hunting the night they were killed. It was an ambush.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yep, Samell sent Shawn and Roberta to kill all of them. They were all supposed to be there at the cabin for a family bonding trip while getting rid of a few demons. Kyle, their father, was stuck behind and running late because the beer delivery guy showed up with the wrong order. So, he called Katharine and told her he would bring Kelly and Keith up later with him. Around ten p.m., Kyle had set out to drive up there when the phone call came in. Another pack leader had stumbled upon the carnage and immediately cleared his pack out of the forest.”

  “Oh my Goddess, what a horrible thing to do!” My own supposed father had murdered almost everyone that I cared about. When would it stop?

  “Kyle sent Keith away and kept Kelly at his side. Raising two changing wolves and running the business by himself was too much to handle right after the murders. He feared they would be picked off one by one. Keeping Keith safely located in Tennessee, ensured there would be a male to step up as pack leader if Samell killed Kyle and Kelly was a wreck. For weeks she stayed inside crying after her mother and brothers died.”

  “So Samell sent Shawn and Roberta to kill them because of me? Why?”

  “Your powers and revenge are why. Add in the fact that your mom and Katherine were friends and you’ve got yourself a pretty close group of demon hunters, allies. Katherine and Elena held Samell prisoner until the council arrived to imprison him in his own Hell.”

  “It’s making more sense now. But why keep Keith and me apart?”

  “Because Mistress, if you mate with Keith, you will be the biggest threat to demon kind ever. You’d both be unstoppable. Plus, your demon blood gives you insight into how demons think and behave. Your witch blood has the answers on how to subdue them and send them to Hell. If you mate with Keith, you will be able to not only foresee their actions, stop them and send the demonic puke-faces back where they belong, but you will also be able to kill them. You’re a triple threat waiting to happen.”