by Alex Lux
His fangs popped out and heat pooled in my stomach. I tilted my neck and before he could overthink this or change his mind, I pulled his head toward me, pushing his mouth to my neck as I stroked his cock and worked to undo his pants.
When his teeth sunk into me, my world came alive. Color and music blended. A hot liquid filled me, setting me on fire. His pants fell to the ground and he stopped sucking on my neck as I tore off his shirt.
"Oh, Sam." Blood trickled down his chin and I kissed him as he pushed me to the bed. I wrapped my legs around him, our bodies hot and needy.
He shoved aside the crotch of my panties and teased me with his fingers as he bit into me again. My orgasm built so fast, so hard, I couldn't stop it. I kicked out my legs, a scream pulled from my lungs as he thrust himself into me and split me open with his fire.
Our worlds collided as my blood gave him new life, new strength. He glowed golden, light shining from him as he flipped me over and stood, holding me as he fucked me against the wall, his arms hardly straining at all under my weight. When he came, I came again, both of us buckling under the soaring heat of our love.
FIVE
For Surety
DRAKE
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety.
— William Shakespeare, Othello
THE SUN GLARED into our bedroom, casting shadows over the remnants of snuffed out candles and wilting flower petals. Sam lay curled in a ball, asleep and looking so beautiful. I kissed her gently, then noticed the now-healing bite mark on her neck and cringed and pulled back, disgusted by the monster I'd become.
I had no control over my powers, didn't even know what I could do, how far I could take this. I needed control, needed to learn about who I was before I hurt someone I loved.
Resolved, I dressed quickly, the early morning greeting me with the quiet of a school still asleep, as I went in search for Beleth. He had a guest room in the mansion, but I knew he wouldn't be there. Instead I went into the woods and found him moving as if in a dance through a sword fighting form, his Nephilim blade shining brightly in the sun.
He stopped when he saw me, slipping the sword into a hidden sheath on his back. "I was going to come find you when I thought you'd be awake."
Beleth had a stillness about him that was disquieting to most, but I relaxed in it, wanted to emulate it. His body, hard and dark with ancient markings tattooed everywhere, could remain immobile if he so desired. No fidgeting, no unconscious movements. Like a mountain. Even his inky black wings could still into a statue on command.
"I'm awake now," I said. "And I need to talk to you."
He nodded once. "I only have a short time. I'm leaving."
"What? No, I need you. That's what I came here to talk to you about. I need you to train me. I have all these powers growing in me and I have no idea what to do with them."
Beleth rested a hand on my shoulder, his skin cool and stone-like. He didn't look like most Nephilim, at least from what I understood. Genetic testing had changed him, just as it had changed me. "I wish you had never completed your transformation. It was my intention to keep you in the dark about your heritage, protected from our people. But I couldn't let you die." He dropped his hand and stepped back. "If you were to grow more powerful, you would draw attention from the Nephilim. They would seek to use you for their own ends, particularly since you've had a child."
I hated when anyone used Ana as a pawn in anything, even an argument. "Then teach me to defend myself and my family. Don't leave me weak and useless."
"It's impossible. Even if I were to train you in everything I knew, you could not defeat the Emzara. The Enforcers of the Royal Court of Sunrise & Nightfall are all-powerful and undefeatable. Your only hope is to remain uninteresting to them."
Beleth looked up, as if noticing something only he could see. "I must leave. The Emzara will come for me. Are likely already seeking me. The Twilight Queen can already sense that I've turned you. I must meet with her and explain. No one is allowed to create a new Nephilim without her leave, but you were born of Nephilim blood so I believe I will be exonerated in this one thing, if I leave now."
Before I could reply, could protest or argue, Beleth rose into the sky. "Goodbye, son. Be safe."
I shouldn't have been surprised that moments later a shimmering form appeared next to me. Toby stood to my elbow, a small boy full of piss and vinegar, as they say. Raised on the streets, he saw me as his savior, but he really saved me from myself, and for that I owed him.
"Wow, man, that was wicked. Yo, dude, how cool that he's your dad?"
I ruffled his dark head and smiled. "You know, it's rude to eavesdrop."
We started walking back to the mansion, his small legs struggling to keep pace with me. "Whatever, dude, it's the only way to learn anything around here with all you square adults who don't tell us kids shit." He paused, considered, and corrected himself. "Crap. Don't tell us kids crap. Is that better?"
I nodded. Toby had worked hard to learn how to be 'normal' and not a street rat struggling to survive. Some of the kids here came from sheltered middle- to upper-class lives, and Toby could be a bit of a culture shock.
Toby tugged my hand, and I stopped and looked at him. "What's up, kid?"
"Listen, and don't say nothing ‘til I'm done, k?"
I nodded solemnly.
"I been thinking lots about this, and I know it's the right thing. I want you to turn me, yo, like you been turned."
I bit off my first response and took a breath. "Toby, I know this may look cool from the outside, but even I don't know what it means to be Nephilim, and you wouldn't be the same kind of Nephilim as me. Beleth hasn't told me much, but he has told me there are two types of Nephilim. Those of the Court of Sunrise and those of the Court of Nightfall. You're Sunrise if you were born with Nephilim blood, and Nightfall if turned. I don't know what kind of beings Nightfall Nephilim become, but even if I did, you're young, too young to give up your life to turn into something neither of us understands. Nephilim are dangerous. You need to grow and live a normal life as a normal kid."
Toby smacked my arm away, his scowl deepening. "Man, that's a load of bullshit and you know it. I ain’t normal and I ain’t never gonna be normal, no matter how pretty you try to make my words. Even without para-powers, I'm still that kid on the street and I'm always gonna be. At least if you turn me I can be something, man. Something great."
"Oh Toby, you already are something great. I'm sorry, but I can't turn you."
Before I could explain more, he disappeared. I saw his footprints in the grass before they too vanished and I knew he'd left to sulk and lick his wounds.
I went back to the mansion with a heavy heart, wishing I could do more for the boy, wishing I could give him something to hold onto, something to give him hope about his own life. I'd hoped Elysium would give him that and, in a way, it had—he'd made some friends, learned some things—but he still seemed so alone, so desperate and sad. So out of place. I didn't know how to fix that, because he was right. He'd always have that street kid in him, nothing would change that. It was a part of him. He had to learn how to make that work for him instead of against him.
We all had our crosses to bear.
Hoping Father Patrick could give me some advice on how to handle Toby, I headed toward his room and paused outside the door to the sound of arguing.
"I will have no part in their plan. It is slaughter!" Alaric, who'd never sounded so impassioned, stormed out of the room nearly crashing into me.
Father Patrick, Hunter and Mr. White all crowded into the small room, standing and talking quietly with serious expressions on their faces.
I nodded to Hunter and ignored Mr. White. The big black man gave me bad vibes and I didn't trust him, but Hunter I trusted. He and Lucy had been dating awhile and he and his team at IPI—International Paranormal Investigations—had been instrumental in helping us bring down Rent-A-Kid and save a lot of kids. He'd always have my resp
ect. "What's IPI doing here?" I asked.
Mr. White walked out, and Father Patrick excused himself. "I must speak with Alaric. Hunter can fill you in, but only our core members should know the details."
I turned to Hunter, now alone. He ran a hand through his black hair streaked with silver, his strange eyes nearly glowing green. "We're having a party at the mansion, to gather as many paranormals in one place as possible. IPI will be waiting in hiding."
"You're going to use our kids as bait to capture the Beast?"
"Basically. Yes. It's the only way. We control the scene, we control the outcome. No one will get hurt."
"You can't promise that."
"It's one against our entire team, I can promise that."
"And what if things go wrong? We have little kids here. Children too young to even run for help."
"None of the young kids will be here. They'll be in a safe place with Alaric. Just the older teens and adults who have some control of their power. I'm hoping we can count on you to fight, if it comes to it."
My mind flashed back to the fight with Ryder and I shook my head. If I couldn't defeat Ryder three to one, how could I defeat the Beast? "Sam and Ana will need me to protect them. I can't help you with this, I'm sorry."
Hunter sighed, but didn't argue. "If you change your mind, let me know. But I understand. Even without you, we've got this. There's no way this Beast can take us all on."
SIX
Of Peace And War
DRAKE
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
— William Shakespeare, Othello
I HAD MY doubts about the party, but the weather accommodated. A bright warm day made the perfect outdoor party scene. The older kids set out tables as Greta brought food out with the assistance of her kitchen helpers. Tables with chairs flew through the air and landed in place as those with telekinesis made quick work of decorating. A fire starter lit lanterns around the perimeter and an ice maker created an elaborate life sized sculpture of a Greek god, in honor of Elysium. When the music started the kids and even some adults were down to party. Only those of us who knew what was really going on kept our guard, nervous but hopeful that this plan would work and the threat to our lives would end today.
We'd talked Father Patrick into staying with Alaric and the younger kids. He'd not been a fan of the idea, but he didn't have powers and we couldn't risk someone hurting him. Besides, there were a lot of kids. Alaric looked sick to his stomach when he realized he'd be alone with all of them. I personally begged him to stay and keep an eye on Ana. We hated leaving her, but this was the best way to protect her.
Sam stood at a makeshift podium covered in white Christmas lights. As she cleared her throat, the music quieted and so did the crowd. "Thanks for coming, everyone." She smiled and my heart skipped, remembering the other night, the passion and intensity of our lovemaking.
"We are here to celebrate life. To celebrate the special gifts we've all been given and to remind ourselves that no matter how dark times get, there is always hope. Always a reason to smile and laugh and dance and enjoy our lives."
Suddenly, someone screamed and Sam turned, looking behind her, toward the woods. I followed her gaze and saw the red glowing eyes a fraction of a moment before the Beast leaped at her, growling.
She stumbled to the side and ran, just in time. The Beast tore through the podium, breaking the tiny white lights and biting a chunk out of the wood as it sought Sam, caught her in its sights, and lunged toward her.
From the perimeter, men in black and armed with guns jumped out of the woods, surrounding the beast. A few trainees from our group were with them, including Luke, Lucy and Ocean. The adults who had been brought into our plan ushered the kids to a safe place as IPI took over the attack.
They shot at the Beast with darts, and it paused, stunned for only a moment before charging again.
I ran for Sam, my heart pounding as she stumbled over a rock and skinned her knee. I could smell her blood, but ignored it as agents tried to trap the Beast.
But their carefully laid plan fell apart as the Beast charged the agents, knocking them away like pins in a bowling alley. Hunter put himself between the Beast and Sam as I reached her and helped her up. He fought with this large blade as he lunged, parried, and dove for the Beast with an agility not entirely human. Derek joined the fight in wolf form, growling and nipping, not giving the Beast any quarter. I pulled Sam away and protected her as we ran toward the mansion, keeping my eye on the fight as we did.
The Beast grabbed Hunter with one paw and tossed him aside like a rag doll. When Derek attacked, the Beast rose to his hind feet and growled so loud it shook the ground. He growled again, longer, and roots from the trees rose from the earth, coming to life and pulling down any agents who go too close. What kind of creature had these powers?
Luke and Lucy turned their attention to the trees and roots, fighting them with swords they'd taken from fallen IPI agents. Luke used his para-power to stop attacks coming at him, but it wasn't enough. The trees around us came alive, attacking, tearing, trapping and destroying anyone who tried to harm the Beast. Even Ocean, draining part of the lake to push the trees back with powerful bursts of water using her witch powers, couldn't hold them back for long.
The Beast threw Derek aside, and both he and Hunter lay limp, either unconscious or too hurt to go on.
Behind the Beast I noticed a shimmering, and I froze.
No. God. No.
Toby materialized behind the beast and sunk a knife into its back.
The brave fool. I ran to him as the Beast backhanded the boy and threw him several feet into the air. He landed hard, knocked out and bleeding from everywhere it seemed. "Sam, run! Get safe. Protect Ana. I can't leave Toby."
Hoping she listened, I went for the boy, picking up Hunter's sword on my way. It glowed in my hand, sending power pulsing through my veins. Had it ever done that before?
The Beast leaped for Sam who had turned to find me, and I leaped through the air using everything in me to stop it from hurting my wife.
I felt like I was flying as I soared through the air in a way I never had before. Strength surged in me, strength I thought I'd lost forever when I lost my old powers. Now that old strength paled in comparison to this. I drove the sword into the beast, ramming it through its stomach as we both collapsed on the dirt-packed ground.
The Beast raged, roared and swung its claw at me, flinging me to the side as it stood and pulled the sword out of its stomach, blood spilling into pools around its feet, soaking into the earth. It charged me, and I grabbed the Beast's claw with my hand, holding it back as my muscles stretched and tore.
A look of surprise flashed across its face.
With my other fist, I punched into the Beast's wound. It stumbled back and I tried jumping again, jumping high, landing on the other side of the beast. I pulled out the knife in the Beast's back and slashed at its neck, but I wasn't fast enough. The Beast turned and bit into my shoulder.
I screamed, falling to the ground as my muscles tore and blood gushed out of me. The Beast kicked me into the air and I crashed to the ground, the poison from the Beast seeping into me even as my own body, now Nephilim, rejected it, purifying my blood as I struggled to heal.
The Beast turned its attention back to Sam, who hadn't left, who'd instead picked up a sword and tried to fight. The Beast gained on her, was about to kill her when Rose, who hadn't turned, who hadn't fought, jumped in front of Sam and protected her. "No!" She screamed at the Beast. "Leave her alone!"
While Rose faced off against the Beast, Sam ran to me, dropping to my side as she used the sword to cut her wrist and drip her blood into my mouth. "You need to feed. Don't fight me."
I was losing consciousness, and her blood smelled so good. Tasted so good. I wanted to resist, to push her away, but I drank and my body sighed in relief and set to repairing itself. The Beast glared at Rose and I feared she'd be torn apart, but instead the Beast ran into the woods, leaving a t
rail of blood in its wake and leaving Rose alone.
SEVEN
What Remains
DRAKE
Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.
— William Shakespeare, Othello
SO MANY WOUNDED, mostly IPI agents, but also some of our people. Toby faired the worst. I'd recovered quickly after feeding on Sam and had scoured the battlefield. When the smell of blood from the injured tempted me, I ignored it, hating the urge even though blood worked to heal wounds that would have killed anyone else.
I carried Toby into the infirmary as Dr. Susie set the lounge area to accommodate so many injured. Fortunately, no one had died, and the worst injuries were from the living trees. The Beast hadn't bitten anyone but me, so no one would die as Curtis did. We considered that a miracle given the level of destruction wrought.
Serena, so small with her long blond hair, dressed bandages and helped Dr. Susie. She'd become an apprentice to the nun-turned-doctor and was learning to use her healing powers in small doses, enough to help accelerate healing in others without draining herself and risking her own life. Her white Persian cat followed at her heels, hissing at anyone who threatened her human with too much closeness, especially anyone with shifter blood.
Rose stood next to Derek's bed, holding his hand and whispering something to him. Lucy did the same with Hunter. They'd both heal fast, but it couldn't be easy seeing someone you loved hurt.
Sam hugged me, shaking as the last of our friends and allies were given care. "What the hell happened out there? How could he control the trees like that?"
I kissed the top of her head. "I don't know. I've never seen powers like that. He's going to be harder to defeat than we'd thought."
