The ground beneath her chair trembled, almost as if a subway train were passing underneath the house. Unlike the previous quakes Tori had experienced, however, the vibration continued long after the tremor would have been expected to subside. The quake increased in magnitude. The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the room, and the chandelier overhead began raining crystal pendants. It’s the end of the world.
She finally managed to scream.
The red-headed demon lay still in the grass, as much as the earthquake would allow. Raven stood and bent to retrieve his throwing stars. A cry of warning made him turn just in time to see the demon jump to his feet and whip out a knife. Cody turned a cartwheel, landing on top of the demon with his silver horse shoes. The demon exploded into dust.
“Thanks.” Raven noticed the Satyr was covered with blood and bruises. “What happened to you?”
“Never mind that now. I got here as soon as I could. My Tata is a bad man, Raven. He intends to bring the Apocalypse.”
Tori’s scream reached their ears. Raven and Cody sprinted toward the house. The ground was shaking so much it was difficult to stay upright. Worse, the lightning revealed demons cresting the walls around the estate, as if drawn by an unseen force. Shakespeareans were already battling goblins in the backyard, and panic shot down Raven’s spine when he realized they would soon be overwhelmed. He and Cody ran past Fletcher and Felicia, toward an open section of the house where the safety glass in the floor to ceiling windows had shattered into little bits. An eerie glow greeted him as he leaped into a demon-filled room. Fletcher and Felicia must have seen him run past, because moments later they arrived.
“Hell is empty and all the demons are here,” Fletcher murmured.
The demons—chanting “Sacrifice her!” and “Apocalypse!”—paid no attention to the Nephilim. Mime had opened a portal in the fireplace, and was calling even more underworld denizens to witness the coming Apocalypse. Tori, writhing against restraints, was sitting in a chair in the middle of a glowing pentagram.
Fletcher peered at the man holding a large antique book. “It’s Mr. Mime!”
“I can’t believe it,” Felicia said, aghast.
“I must get to that portal,” Raven said. “I’ve got to draw these demons back to the underworld before they tear Tori apart.”
“Raven, no!” Felicia exclaimed.
“Just tell Tori I’ll claw my way out of the depths of Hell to get back to her—if I can.”
Several vampires rushed past and began to fight demons with their bare hands and fangs.
“That’s the distraction we were looking for,” Raven said.
From inside his jacket, he produced a silver baton which expanded to staff size with the push of a button. He began to clear a path as Felicia, Fletcher, and Cody fought alongside him. When Mime realized what was happening, he shouted for goblins to attack. A young vampire, covered with blood, rose up behind the warlock and latched on his neck with a vicious bite. As Mime screamed, Raven finally reached the portal. He held Tori’s terrified gaze for a long moment. I wish I could kiss her one last time. Raven drew a deep breath, and spoke from the depths of his soul.
“Macbeth!”
All demons within the sound of his voice let out a collective wail, turned toward him, and began to charge. Raven sent up a quick prayer as he darted through the portal.
And now I run for my life.
As Raven disappeared into the portal, Tori gasped with horror and broke through her restraints. Everything began to move then, seemingly in slow motion. As she rushed toward the fireplace, Fletcher dragged her to the floor and covered her with his body. Like a miniature hurricane, demons flew past. The resulting wind lifted bits of broken crystal and glass into the air.
“Cover your eyes!” he exclaimed.
She ducked her head down, squeezing her eyes shut. As she lay there, the earthquake subsided and the lightning storm ceased. When it became deadly quiet, she lifted her head. The portal and demons were gone—along with Raven.
“No.” Tori shook her head. “Not him. Not Raven.”
Her throat closed up and she began to sob, deep guttural cries wrenched from her very core. Fletcher held her as she cried, saying nothing even when she gripped his arm tight enough to cause bruising. She felt someone kneel beside her and stroke her hair.
“When Raven went through that portal, it was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.” Felicia’s voice was soothing. “Before he left, he said he’d claw his way out of Hell to get back to you.”
Tori’s sobbing slowed and a fierce burning began to flicker in her heart. She released her grip on Fletcher and drew her sleeve across her face. I’ve got to be strong for Raven, the way he would be for me.
“He won’t have to because I’m going after him.”
Fletcher and Felicia exchanged a troubled glance. Mr. Mime was lying in a pool nearby, recognizable only by his colorful robes.
“Mime is dead, Tori,” Fletcher said. “I don’t know anyone else who could open a portal.”
Cody was propped up against the wall nearby, his face etched with exhaustion. “When you’re ready, I think I can do it.”
All around them, vampires stirred as they recovered from their injuries. Shakespeareans limped into the room, their flashlights providing illumination.
“Is everyone all right?” Birmingham called out.
“Lord Birmingham?” Tori exclaimed. Fletcher helped her to stand. “Are you a ghost?”
The director gave her a crooked smile. “Not exactly. It’s good to see you in one piece, Tori.”
Felicia’s gaze latched onto a blood-smeared vampire standing nearby. “Nicholai?”
He turned his face away. “Don’t look at me.”
She threw her arms around him. “Don’t ever say that.”
Tori spotted feeble movement in the corner. “Chase! Are you badly hurt?”
“I don’t think so,” came the reply. “Just a massive headache.”
Felicia and Nicholai hastened to check on him.
“We’ve had a great many injuries,” Birmingham said. “We should withdraw to Blackfriars and tend to our wounded.”
“How is Mr. Cassidy?” Tori asked.
“Not good, I’m afraid. He suffered a slight sting from a demon and lapsed into unconsciousness.”
Felicia and Nicholai supported an unsteady Chase as he got to his feet.
“Nicholai is coming with us,” Felicia announced.
“Have you lost your mind?” her grandfather asked. “The lad’s a vampire.”
“He saved my life,” Tori said. “If Raven were here, he’d be the first to ask him to stay.”
Birmingham made a sound of frustration. “Fine, but he brings his own food.”
Misty’s voice rang out. “Wait a minute, what about us vampires? What are we supposed to do now that Oliver is dead?”
“You should have thought of that before you betrayed my parents and me,” Tori said. “As far as I’m concerned, come morning, you should work on your tan.”
Tori pressed Cody to come Blackfriars too. The Satyr gave his father’s body one last sad glance before he picked up the battered grimoire and joined the exodus. Tori stared at the cold, empty fireplace and mirrored the words Raven had used with her on the cell phone earlier that evening. “I’m coming to get you, understand? Don’t give up hope, Raven.”
Sneak peek of the next book in this series
I hope you enjoyed Dancing With Raven. Look for Escape, the next novel in the Young Shakespeareans series, coming late 2014! Here’s a sneak peek:
Chapter One
Underrealm
SWEAT DRIPPED INTO RAVEN’S EYES as he sped through the underworld catacomb, trying desperately to elude the small army of bloodthirsty demons on his trail. With no idea of which direction to go, he sprinted through tunnels at top speed, distancing himself from the mob in pursuit. His regular workouts and wind sprints stood him in good stead as minutes turned into an hour. There was no
doubt in his mind that his speed and wits were the only things keeping him alive. Demonic growls and hisses fell further and further behind and he felt a thrill of triumph. At last, the echo of his footfall and labored breathing were the only sounds he heard. He slowed his pace to take in his surroundings and regroup.
The enclosed labyrinth reminded him of the morbid Catacombs of Paris he’d visited with his parents when he was eight. The top of the tunnel was fashioned out of crudely hewn rock, and the sides were lined with the skeletal remains of humans. The ground beneath his feet was transparent, however, allowing a strange, ambient luminescence from below to illuminate the passageway. Although he tried not to stare at the light, it had a hypnotic movement of its own. It looks like an underground river of glowing crystal jellyfish.
The vacant eye sockets of the skulls in the wall returned his stare, seemingly mocking him as he realized he was hopelessly lost. Even if the portal that had brought him to the underworld was still open—which was unlikely—he’d never be able to retrace his steps. “Where am I and how do I get out of here?” he muttered to one of the skulls. No response. Raven decided to return to the last large passageway he’d crossed and check for any signs or directional markers he might have missed. He reversed direction…and gasped in horror. A motley group of demons stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking his path.
Bloody Hell.
About the Author
Originally from Southern California, S.G. Rogers currently resides in beautiful Savannah, Georgia. She writes paranormal, historical romance, fantasy, and romantic fantasy stories, is owned by two hairless cats, Houdini and Nikita, and lives on an island populated by exotic birds, deer, and the occasional gator. Tab is her beverage of choice, but when she imbibes, a cranberry vodka martini doesn’t go amiss. To follow author S.G. Rogers:
Visit her blog at: http://sgrogers.wordpress.com
Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneGRogers
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzannegrogers
Other fantasy titles by S.G. Rogers include:
The Last Great Wizard of Yden (Book One)
Children of Yden (Book Two)
Secrets of Yden (Book Three)
Minna & the Valentine
The Druid/The Accidental Immortal
Tournament of Chance
Clash of Wills
The Temporary Wizard of Locklynn
Other historical romance titles by S.G. Rogers include:
The Ice Captain’s Daughter
Duke of a Gilded Age
Jessamine’s Folly
A Gift for Lara
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Information
Dedication
Introductory Quotation
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Sneak peek of the next book in this series
About the Author
Dancing With Raven (The Young Shakespeareans Series) Page 23
