Pure Hell (Seventh Level Book 1)

by Charity Parkerson

  His brow drew together in a frown. “We don’t have any record of her ever filing a police report. I wonder why? It’s the first thing I would’ve done.”

  Anne brushed away an invisible piece of lint. She hated the direction of her thoughts. “What if…” she began then stopped.

  He nudged her with his knee. “What?”

  She sighed and met his gaze once more. “What if it was her? What if she was schizophrenic? Is it possible she did things then lost touch with reality and didn’t remember?” She wanted to take the questions back as soon as they left her mouth but she needed to hear someone tell her it wasn’t true. Mark didn’t disappoint.

  “Honestly? No. I don’t believe that. You’re forgetting a few key points. When I interviewed Madame Curion—”

  “Oh, Kylie mentions her in her journal,” Anne interjected.

  “I’m not surprised,” he said, seeming unperturbed by her interruption. “Anyhow, she told me Kylie was the strongest psychic she’d ever met. Although you may not believe in those things, I’ve seen enough unsolved cases hit major breakthroughs because of their tips I think there must be something to it. Plus, you saw her apartment. That happened after her death. That mess was made by someone very much alive.”

  She drew in a sharp breath steadying her nerves. “Or by a demon named Septem.”

  Under different circumstances, Mark’s reaction might have been funny. His mouth didn’t quite fall open but almost. He managed to catch it right before it happened by swiping his hand over his lips. Crossing his arms over his chest, he tapped his foot. Then as if it gave too much away, he uncrossed his arms.

  “Septem,” he repeated. He didn’t sound disbelieving or even questioning. It was flat as if he was wrapping his mind around her words or maybe questioning her sanity.

  “You said yourself you believed she could see ghosts. There are several pages missing from her journal but this Septem is mentioned quite a few times before that point. I know it sounds crazy but I have to know what happened to her if I’m ever going to find any peace. As you pointed out, her apartment was trashed after her death. If her killer is still out there—specter or not— then there is nothing stopping him from following me back to Tennessee. Just because I can’t afford a plane ticket doesn’t mean this person can’t.”

  Anne fancied he was mentally going down the checklist of what his body language gave away about his thoughts making sure to correct his actions to reflect his openness to the topic. Since he was already agitated, she decided to throw more fuel on the fire. “I’m going to stay at Kylie’s tonight.”

  He exploded. “The hell you are!”

  She clasped her hands together so he wouldn’t see them shaking. “My name was etched into her wall.”

  He tapped his foot again before sighing in defeat. “There’s no way in hell you’re spending the night in Kylie’s apartment without me. You forget, you’re my responsibility until you fly home. If there’s still some nut job out there with his sights set on you. He’ll have to come through me first and it ain’t happening on my watch.”

  It was a little disheartening to hear Mark was only interested in her safety because it was his job but it was for the best anyway. She had her own job and responsibilities back in Tennessee. She needed to put a halt to the attraction she felt for him. It wasn’t going to lead anywhere so there was no point in letting it distract her from finding out what had really happened to Kylie. Anne had neglected her little sister in life. She wasn’t going to do the same thing to her in death. The least she could do for her was to find out what Kylie had gone through during her last days and why she’d been murdered.

  Mark tilted his head as if a thought occurred to him. “What if Septem isn’t this person’s real name?”

  “Huh?” Anne felt her face scrunch up in confusion and she forced her features to relax. She’d always hated that look. Not as if it mattered because Mark’s gaze had turned inward and she didn’t think he was seeing anything any longer.

  He nodded as if convinced he’d found the answer. “You know, it’s the same as saying you think someone is the devil or always refer to them as ‘the bitch’ when you talk about them. Maybe this is something similar. What if this person was someone she thought of as evil? Therefore she always referred to him as Septem.”

  Anne preferred his explanation better than anything else she’d formed in her head. She pointed to the diary. “I think we should talk to Kylie’s boss at Madam Curion’s. In the diary, Kylie wrote she told her about this Septem. Maybe she can shed some light on who he is.”

  Mark’s eyes narrowed. “Funny. She didn’t mention that when I questioned her. Unfortunately, it’s Sunday and they’re closed so it will have to wait until tomorrow.”

  A spike of anger ran through Anne at the thought of Kylie’s boss omitting such an important piece of information, causing her to growl, “Well, I’ll be waiting for her when the door opens. Maybe by then, we’ll have already learned something new from Kylie’s apartment.”

  Chapter Four

  Home to fifty-four species of reptiles and amphibians—almost all of which could kill you—the swamp still held a haunting beauty in Liam’s eyes. Its moss-covered cypress trees caused a person to feel as if they were floating through a cave above ground. It was never quiet even in its seclusion. The frogs and birds could get so loud, sometimes he thought he’d go insane from the noise. Kylie was on her knees in the bottom of the rowboat. She stared at the water apprehensively, as if she could die a second time.

  “I grew up in this swamp,” he said, in an attempt to reassure her. “I have never been bitten by anything poisonous.”

  “I’m more concerned about an eight-hundred pound gator deciding to eat the whole damn boat.”

  She was worried about him, not herself, he realized with a start.

  “I’d leave a bad taste in its mouth.”

  She smiled at his joke. “I don’t care for nature,” she said as if she was confessing a dirty secret. “There are bugs, heat plus it’s outdoors.”

  He shook his head and kept up his steady paddling. “How have you survived this long?”

  “I didn’t,” she reminded him.

  “But a gator didn’t get you.”

  “That’s true,” she said on a laugh.

  It was so easy being with her. With the exception of his mom, no one knew of his real nature and although he’d never admit it, his life was empty. He worked long hours and avoided his own home because there was nothing there. The sad fact was, he’d accepted there never would be, then Kylie had appeared. He shook his head and Kylie lifted an eyebrow in question.

  “I was just musing over the ironies of life,” he said in explanation.

  Giving him her full attention, she crawled toward him. He stopped paddling and allowed the slow current of the river to carry them in the right direction. Tugging her into his lap, she wrapped her legs around his hips and her arms around his neck. Her smile caused his heart to turn over in his chest. Holding her close, he said the first thing that popped into his head. “Tell me why you sexually assaulted me that first night.” It wasn’t a question. He didn’t want to give her the option to not answer. She flushed red.

  “Sexually assaulted you,” she repeated sounding outraged. “You jacked off in the shower while looking right at me, or did you think I wouldn’t remember that?”

  He bit back a laugh at the irritated look on her face. He decided to meet her halfway. “You moaned.”

  “I’ve moaned many times in my life,” she said pertly.

  “When I was getting in the shower,” he explained. “I knew you were watching me as I got undressed, but hell, I needed a shower so whatever, but you moaned. Damn, it sounded exactly as if your hand was shoved in your panties. I went hard as a rock and didn’t think I’d be able to climb into the tub.”

  She looked thoughtful as she admitted, “I didn’t even realize it.”

  Smacking her on the ass, he drew her back to the present. “Do
n’t think I’ve forgotten about you.”

  “I’m a deviant.” He released a mock sigh at her words and she smoothed her features into something seemingly serious. He didn’t believe it for a minute since her eyes still shone with humor. He felt pretty certain it was at his expense. “Lust gnaws at my insides when you’re around.”

  He sighed for real this time. “Fine. Keep your secrets.”

  The laughter left her eyes. “I’m being serious Liam. There is something about you. It’s almost as if there is this invisible line drawing my hands to your body. I’m not content to simply look at you and sometimes touching you doesn’t feel as if it’s enough.” Absently, she toyed with the neck of his t-shirt as she stared past his shoulder. Her gaze turned inward as if she searched for a way to explain what she was trying to say. He could have stopped her then. He knew what she meant because he felt the same way, but he wanted to hear her say it. Finally, she said, “I was dead until I died.”

  She blushed and moved as if she meant to climb from his lap but he held her in place. He hated that she was embarrassed over something she shouldn’t be.

  “It’s right here,” he said, holding her gaze. Running his fingertip along her collarbone before dipping inside her cleavage, he added. “And it spreads outward.” Splaying his fingers wide, he flattened his palm against her chest. Smoothing his hand down the front of her body, he came to rest at her navel. “It’s also right here.”

  Her eyes appeared dazed and the first blush of arousal rode high on her cheeks. Her question came out in a whisper. “What?” Her voice gave hints as to how turned on she was.

  “This thing between us,” he explained. “This feeling of a connection. It tugs from the inside and binds us together.” Burying his hand in her hair, he cupped the back of her head, drawing her closer. “It defies explanation.”

  Without giving her a chance to respond, Liam opened his mouth over hers forcing her to match his every move. When their tongues met, she moaned and the sound went straight to his cock. His body was greedy for hers. Years of hiding and strict discipline had almost succeeded in making him numb, until Kylie. She set his life on its head and caused his nerve endings to tingle.

  His dick stayed hard so often with her around, he was surprised he could still walk. Her flowing skirt pooled around his hips and her hot pussy ground against his crotch. With nothing standing between them but his zipper and her underwear, he wasn’t going to let this moment pass him by.

  Slipping his hand between their bodies, he shoved her panties aside. He buried his finger inside her. She was so fucking warm and wet, he almost came right then. The bite of her nails against his shoulders gave him something to focus on as he called his body back under control. Kylie rocked against his hand. The most alluring sound escaped her lips. It had him tearing at his zipper. She protested the loss of his touch.

  “I need to be inside you,” he confessed as his erection sprang free of its restraint. Only when he was finally buried inside her to the hilt, did he feel as if he could breathe again and everything went calm.

  Flexing his ass, he pumped slowly inside her as she ground down against him. Her eyes fell closed and her lips parted on a gasp, warning of how close she was to the edge. His balls drew up tight. His cock twitched. Watching her come was a beautiful sight and he didn’t want to miss seeing a second of it.

  With his thumb pressed against her clit, he allowed her to set the pace. Her panties were rubbing a raw spot on the side of his dick but he couldn’t care less. Her pussy locked tight around him, milking him as she found her release and his own orgasm shot out of him on a gasp. Her body pulled greedily at his until he’d given her everything.

  Keeping their bodies joined, he massaged the globes of her ass. There was no way he could go again right away after such a mind-blowing orgasm, but he needed her to come at least one more time. The kneading became more of an urging until he had her moving against him again.

  “Use me,” he whispered, using his words to entice her. Holding her tightly so she couldn’t get away, he slipped from the bench onto the bottom of the boat, giving himself more room to maneuver. With his head leaning against the bench, he relaxed, enjoying the view above him. Kylie’s dark hair stood out in every direction and her lips were swollen from his kisses.

  “I want to watch you get off on my body. Grind your delicious cunt against me until you scream.” She blushed at his words and he decided then she wasn’t nearly turned on enough if she could still get embarrassed. He let his fingers slide along her crack.

  “Just feel me, Kylie. Don’t think.”

  Reaching her perfect puckered strawberry, he lingered, giving her time to adjust to his being so intimate. He rolled his hips, allowing the friction between them to tug at her sweet spot. He fingered the spot where his dick and her cunny met from behind until the tips of his fingers were covered in their juices. Tracking a wet path back to the strawberry begging for his attention, he circled it while watching her face for any sign she didn’t want what he was doing to her.

  Her eyes were unfocused, as if she’d turned inward and nothing mattered but the sensations of her body. That’s where he wanted her. Without warning her of his intentions, he dipped the tip of his finger inside her ass. She dropped her forehead against his chest and moved closer to his touch with a moan. He wiggled the digit inside her and she began to whimper.

  “This isn’t enough for you, sweets. You need to touch yourself.”

  At his direction, her hand moved slowly between them, but he could feel her hesitation. “Please, Kylie? You have to touch yourself for me.” She kept her face hidden, but did as he asked. A roar of satisfaction rang through his mind as her fingers began rubbing a slow circle around her nub. His mouth watered with jealousy. At some point while watching the show, he’d begun pumping in and out of her ass without realizing he was doing so. Kylie was trying to move in every direction at once as if torn as to which sensation she needed the most.

  He was held in thrall watching her seek her pleasure and wild in her desire. He didn’t want it to ever end, but when her orgasm hit, it took his breath away. For a moment, her face lit up as if she’d just seen heaven for the first time. He knew in that moment, he would never be able to let her go. No matter what they learned on this visit, she would always be his.

  * * * * *

  The rustic wooden cabin was barely visible through the surrounding trees. If Liam hadn’t pointed it out to her, she might have missed it. A clicking noise caught Kylie’s attention. Seeking out the culprit, she spotted several bones tied together with fishing line hanging from a tree. As the wind picked up, it knocked the bones against each other. Liam tied the boat to a short dock covered by tall weeds before helping Kylie climb out.

  “What is this place? It looks similar to something a Voodoo witch doctor would live in.”

  Liam snorted out at laugh. “This is the house I grew up in.”

  With a rush of horror and embarrassment, Kylie’s face flushed. “I don’t even know how to recover from that one so I will just say I’m sorry.”

  “Why? It does look similar to something a Voodoo witch doctor would live in. It’s intentional. It keeps people away.” Linking his fingers through hers, he tugged her toward the house. The front door flew open and a tiny blonde woman shot out. She ran full speed in their direction almost barreling Liam over as she threw herself at him. Dropping Kylie’s hand in order to protect himself, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest. The woman’s green eyes twinkled and her face flushed in her happiness. She was so tiny and cute. Kylie was only five-foot-two, but she still had a couple of inches on the other woman.

  “I’m so happy to see you!” she cried. “It seems as if it’s been forever since you came to visit.” She eyed Kylie curiously. “Who’s your friend?”

  It wasn’t until she asked the question that it occurred to Kylie she should be surprised the woman could see her. Being with Liam had a way of making her forget she wasn’t normal. S
tepping back, Liam urged Kylie forward. “Mom, this is Kylie. Kylie this is my mom, Delphine.”

  She didn’t look a day older than Liam and Kylie was trying desperately to puzzle it out while not appearing to do so. “It’s nice to meet you,” Kylie muttered. After a moment she added, “Ma’am.” She felt a little stupid saying it but she was at a loss. Holding out her hand, she hoped she wasn’t making a mistake. Just because Delphine could see her didn’t mean she could touch her but she didn’t want to be rude. With a luminous smile, Delphine clasped Kylie’s hand and hauled her against her for a hug. In her surprise, she merely patted Delphine’s back awkwardly.

  “You’re the first girl Liam’s ever brought home to meet me.”

  Kylie glanced over at Liam. He rolled his eyes. His smile told a different story. He was pleased. With her arm still wrapped around Kylie’s waist, Delphine steered her toward the house. The closer she came to the front porch the less ominous the cabin seemed. In fact, a wooden porch swing hung from the awning making the place resemble more of a home.

  “I feel as if I’m the worst sort of mother, but I didn’t know y’all were coming out and I was about to leave for the night. I wish it was the sort of thing I could reschedule but I don’t have a choice.”

  Liam’s mouth tightened in the corners in disapproval but he kept whatever he was thinking to himself. Delphine shot a nervous glance in his direction, before adding, “But I expect the two of you to stay the night anyhow. It will be dark out soon and I have a list of things that need fixing since Liam never visits.”

  Dropping her arm from Kylie’s waist, Delphine rushed ahead a few steps to open the front door. Liam’s smile returned. “It’s fine, Momma. We can entertain ourselves while you’re gone. I had plans to defile Kylie in my childhood bedroom anyhow.”