She tried to arch her back to get him off, but he wouldn't budge. "Master..."
"He can't save you Tegan, he doesn't even know where you are. As we speak he is losing his sanity because he cannot contact you. He knows that he tried to protect you, but failed. Lucius has abandoned you."
"Never...he would never..." She cringed when he put more pressure on her spine.
Markus laughed and knelt down next to her, "You've been gone for more than two months, Tegan. Have you felt him? At all?"
"No."
"Then he has left you." Markus snapped. "Two words, Tegan, that is it. Just tell me what you are to the Father. Your connection and the torture from these demons will end."
She sobbed. "Blood whore."
"True words, Tegan."
"Blood Human, to the Father. The only one he didn't kill." She whispered.
Removing his foot from her back, he wrapped his hand in her hair and pulled her up to stand on her feet. "We have one stop before we go to the tomb. A welcome back party for you." He whispered and dragged her out.
Throwing her to a demon guard he snapped. "Unstitch her eyes and then cover them with a cloth. Her time here is done."
Tegan stumbled into the Demon's arms, but remained silent and Markus knew he had won. The demon took her away and Markus had to admit that she was a thing of beauty, but her temper needed to be tamed before she returned to the Father. Nothing would stop them now that he had everything that was needed.
The demon returned with Tegan, her white hair cleaned of all blood and a black strip of fabric around her eyes. Markus grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the demon.
They stepped up to the waiting portal, and he kept a hand wrapped around Tegan's wrist. "In we go."
Through twisting turns and dizziness, they arrived at the Circle's mansion. On the other side of the world, it would be hard for Lucius to track Tegan. If the vampire even felt her at this point it would probably be blown off as a fluke.
"Do you know where we are, Tegan?" Markus stroke her hair and urged her forward into the ballroom. Several other humans had been chained to tables, naked. He’d left one in the middle for Tegan. He led her there until her waist hit the table.
She shook her head. "I have no idea. Not in the demon realm but not home."
Her voice was harsh from screaming and it made him smile. "Good, get up on the platform and lay down."
Tegan's body tensed and she started to back away, but Markus splayed a hand on her back. "It's a table, you're laying me out to be food."
"Because that's what you are, that's what you admitted to me, isn't it?" He pushed her forward. "Get up there, or I'll force you up there. I know you are weak from your time with the demons, it'll be easy to make you."
She crawled up without another word and Markus chained her down. He stroked her face. "I'm keeping your sight from you because the Father always did, did he not?"
"How did you—"
"I saw your memories of him, you were his frightened little pet." He laughed as she moved her face away from his touch. "And now you will return to that."
Her jaw tightened and she tugged on the chains. "Lucius will come."
"And we will kill him. He cannot come into this territory, not even for you. Especially since you've betrayed him and told me exactly what you are." He tilted her head to the side and leaned over. "I love the taste of your blood." He whispered and sank his fangs into her throat. Without pushing power into her, he knew it was painful, but to her credit she didn't scream or flinch at the contact. Lucius' human was still fighting against Markus in her own little ways, but he'd still managed to get her secret out. Strong or not, she’d betrayed her master.
Orion led Danielle into the crispy remains of the forest. A fire had taken out a good part of the mountain’s trees a few years back and left black, charred trees behind. Mudslides now caused havoc in Manitou, but the people there were strong and courageous and keeping it weird—the motto of the small city. No one wandered through the forest much now, they all stuck to the incline and the tourist traps, but it seemed that Kaden had no problems finding it.
The blonde demon stood with his arms crossed. In his black jeans, combat boots and a leather jacket, he looked ready to kill someone.
"Someone kick your puppy?" Orion asked, using one of Renee's favorite phrases. Danielle stopped next to him, her eyes all for Kaden. Yeah, the demon was easy on the eyes, but Orion didn't like the way Danielle sized him up. He tried to push away the bout of jealousy that surfaced. Unless he was going to claim her as his mate, he had no right to be jealous.
"I just learned something that doesn't make me happy. Why did you call me here?" He uncrossed his arms and gestured around.
"We were hoping that the blood demon would turn up here."
Kaden rubbed his eyes. "The blood demon was summoned at this point, I can tell you that, but I can't promise that he'll return here. I can't track him unless he sleeps, and let me tell you how often that happens with those monsters."
"My guess is never." Danielle looked around. "So what now?"
Kaden shrugged. "I set a trap for it, hopefully it doesn't break free before we can kill it."
"You sound so hopeful." Danielle said in a fake sweet voice.
Orion put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't piss off the demon."
Everyone froze at the sound of crashing trees. The ground rumbled under Orion's feet and he scanned the faces of the others. Something big was coming. Turning around, he saw the blood demon rushing toward them. The moment that he saw the red eyes he vowed to repay the queen for this nightmare.
Dani pushed him to the side and pulled out a long blade from under her coat. Orion had no time to hide his surprise before she stabbed the Blood Demon full force.
It threw her back and she skidded on the ground and into Kaden. The demon turned to Kaden and snarled. Kaden grinned and muttered something under his breath, making a circle motion over the ground with his hand, a red glowing symbol appearing in the dirt. Orion knew it would trap anything it surrounded.
The circle spun to the ground and continued to grow. "Dani, stay out of the glowing circle!"
Thank gods the Hunter listened and dashed a few feet away. The Blood Demon came rushing towards Kaden without hesitation. Kaden dodged it, but the creature howled in anger as he hit the edge of the circle and couldn't go further.
"Summon a sword, Fae. He'll be coming your way."
Orion held his hand out and his own sword appeared. Summoning weapons tended to leave a bigger trace of magic, but he wanted the Queen to know he had slaughtered the beast. Kaden lured the demon toward Orion, and the Fae prepared himself. When the Blood Demon rushed, Orion pivoted, giving him the right angle. With a swift downwards motion, he sliced the demon's head off.
The thing rolled to the side and the circle disappeared. Danielle walked up to them and looked at the thing on the ground. "Now what?"
"Now we burn it." Kaden shrugged and met Orion's gaze, his mouth falling open. "Dude, your eyes—"
"Yeah I know, now focus and when this is done, you and I need to talk." Orion threw his hands in the air. "Luckily, the forest around here has already been burnt down, so lighting this sucker up won't cause any damage."
Dani stepped back and Orion pulled one hand out of his pocket and summoned a flame. He casually tossed it on the body and watched the demon ignite.
Kaden's eyes slid to Danielle who was off examining markings from the original summoning scorched into the ground. "Is that the person who brought on this new look?"
Orion bobbed his head. "Don't want to talk about it. She doesn't know what it means and I'm not sure if I can deal with being mated to a human right now."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Tegan is still missing and the Queen of Blood and Darkness sent this Blood Demon. My plate is a little full." Orion raised a brow when Kaden looked queasy at the mention of Tegan. "You okay?"
Kaden nodded. "In your words, I don't want to ta
lk about it. Now, what did you want to speak to me about?"
"Tegan, she's in the demon realm, and I know you can still go there. You need to get her out." Orion glanced at Danielle and then back to Kaden who was shaking his head. "Once Tegan is rescued, I can focus on Dani."
"I will lose my head if I go in there, literally. I'm a wanted demon."
"You're crafty enough to get in and out of there without being caught. I know you. You've done mercenary work for Lucius in other territories, it never comes back to this area."
Kaden swallowed. "You don't understand what you are asking."
"You don't know what is at risk. Lucius will snap if she's gone much longer, when she was gone for two months last time he nearly went on a killing spree. He killed some lower level vampires trying to get back at The Circle." Orion shoved his hands in his pockets. "All I ask is that you try, for the good of the territory."
Kaden pursed his lips. "And if I told you Lucius told me to stay away from the situation?"
"Why would he do that?" It made no sense, Lucius should jump at the chance to rescue Tegan. Was his insanity already getting to the point where it interfered with his judgment?
Kaden glanced away. "He has his reasons, but let me tell you this. It’s no picnic for me either, knowing that she's there."
It was a strange phrasing, but Orion pushed it away. "Right. Whatever." He turned to Dani. "You ready to go?"
"Go where?"
Orion glanced back at Kaden as he walked away. "Anywhere but here."
Danielle laughed, "I'm ready to call it a night. The demon is dead."
"Ah, but the bitch behind it still lives." And he would expect a visit from her tonight, but sleep sounded good. "I'll drop you off back at your car." He saw disappointment cloud her vision. "See you tomorrow?" He offered.
She grinned. "You owe me for tonight."
"That I do, I never would have thought about the blood demon returning here."
"Good, you can join me for dinner at my parents’ tomorrow night."
He tried not to trip in surprise. "What?"
"Dinner, my parents’ house. I mentioned that I was working with a partner and they want to meet you."
He couldn't help but laugh. "How very human." Human and normal. That made his heart ache, he didn't want to think about having to explain to her parents how he wouldn't age. Even if he could reassure them that he'd be there to watch over her all her life, it wasn't fair to anyone. He wondered if this was how Coran felt when he knew fate had mated him to a human. Twice.
"It's cause I am," But something tinted her tone. She started towards where he’d left the truck parked and he followed.
"I didn't mean to offend you." He started, but she turned around and kissed him. The touch of her lips against his sent comforting warmth through him.
"You didn't, I promise." She rounded the front of the truck and got in. Orion took a moment to gather his thoughts and wits and climbed into the driver’s side. He'd go tomorrow night, but he also felt that he was giving her false hope.
Chapter Seven
Markus gave an evil smile as his men dragged a human into the clearing. He may have failed in obtaining Renee, but a little more research showed that she had a brother. The male in question struggled against the lesser vampires holding him, but his head was covered in a brown fabric sack. The poor human probably thought he was about to become a victim of terrorism.
One of the vampires pulled the hood off and Markus laughed. The man looked much like Renee with his brown hair and his hazel eyes filled with fear. There was no doubting they were related. The Father’s blood had to be given to them far back in their family tree seeing as neither sibling resembled what Markus remembered of the Father. But that didn’t matter.
“Wondering why you are here?” Markus asked and squatted down to meet the man’s gaze. “I couldn’t get to your sister, so now I need your heart to open the tomb.”
The man paled. “You need my what?” His voice was tight and Markus knew panic was taking over.
“Look around you, you’re in the middle of a jungle in front of a cliff. What do you see?”
Wide wild eyes searched the area, but then studied the cliff wall behind Markus. “There are ruins, hieroglyphs, something on the wall.”
“Drawings and paths for your blood to flow through.” Markus stood and walked to the wall. He traced his hands over the deep carvings as he could sense the vampire inside it. Finally, with the blood of this man and Tegan the Father would rise again. Markus turned around.
The man swallowed. “You’re fucking nuts.” He ground out and tried to pull away again, but the vampires kept a strong hold.
Markus pulled a dagger from his side and gave a wicked grin as the flames from the torches flickered off it. Without a word he slammed the dagger into the man’s stomach and shoved the blade upwards. The magic-infused blade cut through the bones quickly and allowed Markus to carve out the heart of the human. Normally he’d like to play with his victim a little more but he didn’t have the time. No, he needed to get the tomb open and continue with his plan.
He shoved the body back and held the heart in his hands. Turning, he carried it to the wall and shoved it against the carved circle. The thrill of magic exploded in the air as blood seeped from the heart and down the wall, following the rivulets. Markus held it there as the magic flowed over him and suddenly the seal cracked. The stone creaked and shook as the magic shattered and revealed the opening of the cavern. The crypt where the Father was.
“Take him back to America and dump him in his hometown, we want to make sure the news gets back to Lucius.” Markus laughed and licked the dripping blood off his fingers. “He won’t know what to make of it, but it’ll be another piece of the puzzle.” And he hoped that Lucius wouldn’t be able to figure out anything. With Tegan gone, the vampire should be close to insanity.
Markus took one of the torches and walked through the strangely clean rock hall. It opened into a wide chamber that held a corpse on the table. The Father.
Liara glared at the mirror as she saw the blood demon fall. How dare Orion behead it as if it was nothing? She didn't know Lucius had another demon working for him, or she would have chosen another creature to summon and kill off the prince. She tapped her nails against her arm as she calculated her next move. The Circle would be breathing down her back soon and short of killing Orion herself, there was only one other thing she could think to do.
An image of Danielle appeared in the mirror, the woman went about doing human things and appeared to be getting ready for bed. Liara smiled. Now was not the time to strike; no, she needed to talk to Orion first and give him another chance. "Oh my dear, dear, Orion. You're in for a surprise."
She snapped her fingers and her handmaiden appeared. "I need you to do something for me."
"Of course my Queen." The woman bowed her head.
"I need you to find out everything about Danielle that you can. I want to know about her family, her weaknesses, and her pathetic human job, whatever it is. I can only learn so much by watching her through the glass."
The handmaiden nodded. “Yes my Queen, when would you like all this information?"
"As soon as you can, if I find that you dawdle I will kill you and have you replaced." Liara picked at her nail, bored with the conversation. "Follow her every move. There is a cemetery she favors, find out why." Something about the human was off and the handmaiden would find out what and a way to bring her down. Orion needed to learn his place. All those years ago when she tore his wings to shreds he should have realized that he would never go unwatched.
The fact that he had landed himself a spot under Lucius' watchful eye worked against her, but Liara never really let him be. She used her glass to learn what she could about the vampires and their territories. They had started this ridiculous war over power and land, no better than the humans they claimed to be superior to. Now every supernatural creature was being pulled in, even those with their own realms like the Fae,
the demons, and the angels. No one was safe and soon it would bloody the innocent humans as well.
"Of course, my Queen." The woman straightened up and disappeared. She'd proven to be good at what she did and Liara thought it might have something to do with making a spectacle out of the last servant's death. It was how she struck fear into anyone who wanted to oppose her. Except for the Circle, who was concerned about Orion's alliance with Lucius.
Stupid, stupid Fae. He should have known better.
"I cannot believe I let you talk me into this." Orion grumbled as Danielle adjusted his shirt. He could sense her nerves and wondered if she was regretting this. Standing outside the cream colored house, he tried to imagine what her family was like. Probably normal humans, but of course he wasn’t exactly sure what that entailed.
"You owe me for finding the summoning place of the demon." She reminded him and smoothed her hand down the front of his shirt. "I promise this isn't going to be awful."
Orion's eyes flickered to the window behind her. "Pretty sure your mother is peeking through the curtains, should I kiss you and make her wonder?"
She leaned in and shook her head. "We should go in." She turned to knock on the door, but her father swung the door open before she got a chance.
"Hey pumpkin, we were wondering when you two were going to come in. Hope you're hungry, your mom made meatloaf." He smiled, giving his eyes little crinkles at the sides. "You must be Orion."
Orion stuck his hand out and smiled. "The one and only, you must be Mr. Johnson. A pleasure to meet you."
Danielle relaxed when the two of them shook hands and they continued into the house. "Mom, you can stop peeping through the curtains now. We're inside, it's safe."
Her mother gave a small smile. "I'm just making sure. You never know." The round woman wandered into the kitchen, her hands on her hips, and muttering.
Orion examined some photos on the wall. They ranged all through her childhood, from infant to high school. There was a sudden gap in age and then some of her in a hospital and then at a welcome home party. It gave him pause, but he resisted asking what had happened. "You have a lovely home."
Dark War Chronicles Box Set One Page 39
