Nocked Asunder

by Sam Cheever

  When Lila answered her phone, the tears in her voice were a bad sign. “Hello.” Sniffle.

  I bit my lip. “Lila. It’s Athena Googlios. How are you?”

  Another sniffle. “I’m just fine, Ms. Googlios. It’s so nice to hear from you.”

  The poor woman’s voice wobbled dangerously on the word “fine”. She obviously wasn’t. “Lila. Are you home right now? Or at the church?”

  A sigh. “I’m home. I haven’t been…feeling very well for the last couple of days.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Nothing serious, I hope?”

  “No… I mean…yes… I mean.” A bigger sigh. “Chad and I have had a big fight.” Her voice broke totally. “I think I’ve lost him.”

  “Oh no.” I listened to Lila sobbing across the phone line for a few seconds and made a sudden decision. Glancing at my watch, I saw that I had plenty of time before our lunch meeting. “Lila, I’m coming over there now. I’ll see you in about fifteen minutes.”

  I slung my purse over my shoulder and hurried out of the building. I didn’t call Damian until I was in my car and on my way.

  I knew he’d try to stop me.

  As I pulled up to the first red light I glanced at the sky. It was so dark that the lights on my dash had come on. The sky roiled with new energy and the cloud cover had thickened. The horizon was now nearly black except for the violent bursts of lightning that provided regular illumination to the boiling cloudbank.

  I pulled my cell phone out of my purse and redialed my last call. Damian didn’t pick up so I left a message on his voice mail and disconnected, feeling fortunate not to have spoken to him.

  I was pretty sure he wouldn’t have been supportive of my current mission.

  The first fat drop of rain hit the windshield when I was about five minutes from Lila’s place. Within the space of a mile I could no longer see to drive. I had to pull off the highway and wait for the rain to slow down.

  It didn’t look as if it was ever going to do that.

  I sat there for a few minutes, listening to the thunderous roar of water hitting the top and sides of my car. Unsettling bursts of wind rocked us from side to side at regular intervals.

  The air in the car warmed and thickened noticeably. Rubbing my arms against a sudden wave of foreboding that brought goose bumps up on my arms, I considered starting the car and taking to the road again. If only to feel like I was taking steps to escape the claustrophobic atmosphere outside the car.

  I reached for my cell phone and tried to dial Damian. The call wouldn’t go through. There was no cell service.

  I threw the phone back down on the seat and looked up.

  Thunder pounded the air and I jumped. A second later, lightning flashed briefly, illuminating the road directly ahead.

  Two horrifying creatures stood in the illuminated area.

  Only a few feet from my car.

  Medusa and Euryale.

  Chapter Ten

  Succubus Dreams

  I screamed and reached for the key, turning it frantically in an effort to start the car and get the hell out of there. The car ground painfully but didn’t start. The smell of gasoline filled the interior.

  I’d flooded the engine.

  Lightning flashed again and the road ahead was clear.

  My gaze flew around the car, searching the blackness outside for some sign of where they’d gone.

  Something hit the top of the car, sending it rocking. I grabbed the steering wheel, looking around with panicked eyes. A second concussion followed quickly. That one sounded as if it had hit the back of the Jeep.

  Then nothing.

  Silence.

  The rain continued to drill against the outside of my car but no other sounds emerged.

  The glass of my moon roof shattered and a huge, scaly arm plunged toward my face.

  I shrieked and dived into the backseat, huddling as far from the grasping arm as I could get. The arm pulled back and a horrifying head, writhing with snakes, replaced it. I quickly averted my eyes, using only my peripheral vision to avoid the slithering invaders as they strained toward my skin.

  The sound of hissing filled the car. All too soon I felt the questing flick of several tongues against my arms. I sobbed in horror, wishing I’d never been stupid enough to venture out alone.

  I lashed out with an arm and managed to knock the snakes away but they came back, madder than before. I had time only to worry whether they carried any venom before the first one sank its fangs into my forearm and yanked me across the car, wedging me between the seats, mere inches from the gorgon’s ugly head and within easy reach of a dozen more writhing snakes.

  Screaming frantically now, I flailed around on the front seat for something to beat them back with and found my purse. I grabbed it and swung hard, managing to send them scurrying away, only to return and pierce me several more times with their fangs.

  Finally the head withdrew and I barely had time to take a breath before the arm returned. The huge, clawed hand grabbed the front of my shirt and hefted me upward, toward the gaping, glass-edged hole in my car’s roof.

  I spread my arms and legs and made it impossible for the thing to pull me through.

  But the price was steep.

  My back felt as if it would shatter into a million pieces as the pressure increased and my body didn’t want to fit through the hole.

  I screamed as something popped painfully across my shoulders and the claw released me. I hit the gearshift with my back and had the wind knocked out of me for a moment.

  When I could breathe again I crawled into the backseat and huddled there, listening to the sounds of scuffling and cries of pain outside the car.

  It was still pitch black outside.

  All I could do was wait for a bolt of lightning to illuminate the area around the car enough for me to see what was happening outside.

  The only thing I knew for sure was that I was not going out there. Not until I saw two dead gorgons draped across the car, or a friendly face at the window.

  Something crashed behind me and I jumped, screaming a little.

  Shrieking pierced the air and a series of thumping sounds followed.

  Then silence.

  The sky started to lighten and I peered around.

  Something hit the side of the car with a thud and I shrieked, scrambling to the other side, my terrified gaze locked onto the window across the car.

  A startlingly white face appeared. “Open the door, Athena.”

  Damian!

  With a sob I flung myself across the car and hit the unlock button. The door came open and I launched myself into his arms, sobbing wildly.

  He wrapped me in a spine-crunching hug and buried his face in my neck. Just holding on, waiting out my hysteria.

  But when I’d calmed I realized he was quaking too.

  The muscles of the arms wrapped around me were taut with tension and his breaths came in short, violent bursts. His heart thudded hard against my chest.

  I tried to pull away. “Damian?”

  He clutched me harder. “You could have been killed.”

  I shook my head, trying again to extricate myself. “They still think you have Stheno. They wouldn’t have killed me.”

  Something warm and wet ran down my chest. I realized then I was smelling the metallic tang of blood. I pulled back enough to look at Damian’s throat. It was torn nearly from ear to ear. And bleeding profusely. “Oh my gods! Damian!”

  His eyes rolled back in his head and he sank like a rock. I couldn’t stop him from hitting the road. All I could do was slow his fall.

  I lowered his head gently to the road and stood, looking around frantically. Unfortunately I’d chosen an isolated stretch of highway to pull over onto and there were no other cars in sight.

  I remembered my cell phone and ran to the car, praying I could get a cell now that the snake-head twins were gone.

  My foot hit something semi-squishy on the way to the car and I looked down. A severed head rolled dow
n the road alongside my car. The snakes still writhed and snapped as it rolled away.

  I jumped back in disgust. “Gak!”

  Grimacing, I reached into the car, grabbing my phone. It rang before I could dial a number.

  “What’s wrong with Damian?”

  “Peter, I—”

  “Athena, tell me what happened to my brother!”

  “He’s…oh, Peter. Hurry.”

  The phone disconnected and Peter was suddenly there, bending over Damian.

  I hurried over. “If you could do that why didn’t you do it before you called me?”

  He reached under Damian and lifted him, holding him as if he weighed nothing. “Touch my arm.”

  I shook my head. “What?”

  “No time, Athena. Touch me.”

  I grabbed his arm and the area around us dissolved in a fit of sparkles. The world went white, losing sound and color. I could feel Peter’s hard arm under my hand but I couldn’t turn my head to look at him.

  Finally sound returned in a whoosh and I sneezed as the sparkles tumbled into my nose.

  Peter laid Damian on the bed and sat down beside him.

  “Can you help him?” Tears slid down my cheeks as I realized how pale Damian had become. I didn’t know how sturdy demons like Damian and Peter were. I suspected they were hardier than your average human. But the gash across Damian’s throat was impressive and I figured he’d lost a lot of blood.

  Peter lifted his wrist to his mouth and ripped it open.

  I gasped. Thinking he’d lost his mind, I ran over and grabbed his arm. “Peter, what are you doing, stop!”

  A soft hand closed over my wrist, pulling me away from Peter. “Leave him be.” Simone’s pretty face was stern but I saw only kindness in her eyes. And she was damn strong for someone who looked so dainty. She wrenched me away from Peter and pulled me to the other side of the room.

  Peter lifted Damian’s head and held his wrist to his brother’s lips. “Drink, Ahthelphos. Heal.”

  Damian stirred, his hands coming off the bed to clasp Peter’s arm. At first I thought he was going to push it away. But instead he grabbed the arm in both hands and yanked it down, spreading his lips over the torn flesh and pulling Peter’s lifeblood into his body.

  Beside me, Simone began writhing and moaning. I pulled my eyes away from the bed when her hands slid around my waist and she pulled me back against her lithe body, rubbing herself against me and licking my neck.

  “Whoa, girl!” I said and shoved her away.

  She only smiled at me and licked her lips suggestively.

  I glared at her. Repulsed. Or…mostly repulsed… I tried to ignore the slight tightening between my thighs, writing it off to the succubus’s magical influence.

  When I turned back to the bed Peter was standing again and Damian seemed to be asleep. His color was much better.

  I hurried over to the bed and looked at Damian. Already the horrible gash on his throat was starting to heal and close. I turned to Peter. “Thank you, Peter. He…”

  I caught him as he started to topple. His weight almost threw us both to the floor.

  Simone suddenly appeared and wrapped herself around him. “Come, Peter. Let us rest.” The succubus practically carried him out of the room. Peter could barely hold himself upright let alone walk. Once again I marveled at Simone’s strength.

  Damian groaned and tried to sit up. “Oh no you don’t. You just lie there and rest for a while.”

  I pushed him gently back down and sat on the bed next to him, clasping his hand in my lap. I reached over to brush a lock of dark gold hair off his forehead. He had more color in his face but his skin was still clammy to the touch. “How are you feeling?”

  His eyes were closed, his lips pinched as if he were in pain. “I’m fine. I need to get up. Medusa…”

  I settled a hand on his chest to stop him from even considering getting out of the bed. “Medusa is gone and we’re in your house. We’re safe here. You need to rest and so does Peter.”

  His eyes snapped open. The intense blue gaze raked the room. “Peter? Is he all right? He didn’t get hurt, did he?”

  I stroked my hand down his cheek, hoping to soothe him. “No. Peter’s fine. He’s just worn out from saving your life. Simone took him into the other room to…erm…rest.”

  Damian chuckled. “Poor Peter. I have a feeling he won’t be getting much rest.”

  I laughed too, remembering the predatory look on the succubus’s face. “I’m afraid you’re right.” I stood up and bent over the bed, reaching to pull Damian’s shoes off. Settling them on the floor beside the bed, I pulled the covers up and tucked them around his shoulders. “You go to sleep. When you wake up we’ll talk about what we need to do next.” He sighed and gave me a stiff nod. After a moment I felt his muscles starting to relax and a minute later he was breathing deeply and evenly.

  I was exhausted myself, but I had one more thing to do before I could go to sleep. I found my cell phone and called Lila, leaving her a message that something had come up and I would get back to her as soon as I could.

  Then I climbed into bed and wrapped myself around Damian, kissing him on the forehead. His skin felt warmer and drier. A good sign.

  I closed my eyes too. And dropped deeply asleep almost immediately.

  *

  I woke to the sound of groaning. At first I thought it was Damian, in pain. But when I propped myself up on an elbow and looked at him, he seemed to be sleeping deeply and peacefully.

  The groaning started again, louder this time.

  I climbed out of bed and headed for the door, opening it to peer out into the hall. The groaning was louder as I moved into the corridor. I followed it down the hall and stood outside a door that was slightly ajar.

  Knocking softly, I called out. “Peter? Are you all right?”

  Peter didn’t hear me.

  Neither did the lithe, beautiful succubus who rode his cock in the center of the huge bed. Simone’s skin shone with a pale, flawless light as she writhed and undulated upon Peter’s body. Her long hair shimmered through a changing array of colors, hanging in soft curls that caressed her back, her waist, her hips and touched against Peter’s quivering thighs.

  Her hands stroked his smooth, golden chest. Her feet, wrapped around his legs as she rode his body, caressed his softly furred calves. Peter seemed to be enjoying himself, though his eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep.

  He still looked pale, with dark circles under his eyes.

  I knew the succubi preferred taking their sensual prey in their sleep and it seemed wrong that she would take advantage of him that way. In his weakened state.

  I knew I should step forward, enter that room and stop her. But something kept me rooted to the spot. Something made my mouth go dry and my thighs clench. Something made my skin break out in a sweat and my skin bubble into gooseflesh.

  I clasped the doorframe and leaned hard against it. A jolt of pure, sensual pleasure swamped me, making my knees almost give out underneath me, as Simone leaned over Peter and captured his mouth, nibbling and sucking his lips as if they were the finest chocolate and then continued down his body, licking the glistening flesh between his pecs and pulling first one and then the other hard, brown nipple into her lush mouth.

  The succubus lifted off Peter’s cock and slid down his body, wrapping herself like pale silk around his long limbs and lapping at his flat stomach.

  I licked my lips and leaned harder against the doorframe. Warm cream flooded my panties and I realized I needed to stop. What I was doing was wrong.

  Instead of watching the succubus take advantage of Peter, I should be stepping in and helping him. But my feet wouldn’t move. My legs barely stayed functional beneath me. Overwhelming sexual need infused my body, making me helpless and weak.

  I knew the exact moment Simone’s lush mouth closed over Peter’s cock. He stiffened and cried out, his pale face suffused with the most incredible pleasure.

  At that m
oment warm hands slid around my body. One hand lifted the soft fabric of my sweatshirt and cupped a breast, pulling gently on the rigid peak of an energized nipple.

  The other slid down my belly and into my panties, heading unerringly to the throbbing nub of my clit, where I thought I’d die of frustration if I didn’t get some release soon.

  I moaned and my head fell back, resting against a broad, warm chest with a strongly beating heart beneath it.

  As the incredibly talented fingers pulled on my nipples and made mind-shattering circles upon my throbbing clit, soft lips touched my ear. “Come to bed, Athena.”

  I turned in his arms and climbed his body, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.

  My lips fastened on his.

  I consumed him, a starving woman who was frantic for relief from her starvation. My fingers wove through the silken strands of his dark gold hair, pulling him to me and forcing his mouth to open and capitulate.

  When it did, my tongue speared inside, tangling frantically with his.

  Damian carried me back to bed and laid me on it. He pulled the formless sweats from my body and bent over me, covering my throbbing mound with his hot mouth.

  I screamed in pleasure as the warm, wet pressure of his sucking mouth pulled the near-painful pressure from my clit, bringing me inexorably toward that soothing edge. I wrapped my fingers in his hair, my head thrashing mindlessly on the bed and felt myself go over.

  I hung suspended at the top of my release for the beat of a heart, incredible feelings of pleasure and warmth suffusing me and then plunged, screaming into the vortex of sensation.

  Before I’d even found the bottom of my orgasm, Damian pulled his lips from my clit and covered me with his body, plunging deeply into the still-convulsing flesh of my pussy.

  I screamed again and tightened around him as my body was thrown into a new level of sensual awareness.

  Wrapping my legs around his hips, I allowed myself to become immersed in the essence that was Damian.

  His musky, male scent, the warm satin of his skin, the soft puffs of his sweet breath against my face, the cool silk of his hair and the incredible rigidness of his hard flesh within my body.