Gravestones & Wicked Bones (Shadow Creatures Book 1)

by D. D. Miers

  I walked to him, laughing. "Maybe I'm just trying to throw you off your guard, so I can toss your favorite aged brandy in your face."

  Tsking and shaking his head, he handed me a glass. "There's my Ivy. But I know you wouldn't dare. I treat you too well. Haven't I always?"

  "Of course," I muttered into the rim of my glass. I took a tiny sip, just enough to keep up appearances. It burned my lips, and all the way down my throat.

  "I know I don't say it often enough," he began, his eyes roving over my body with admiration that wavered uncomfortably between a lover's hunger and a father's pride. "But I really am proud of you. Everything you've become. You haven't even come close to hitting the zenith of your true powers, and you're already so . . ." He searched for the right word.

  I saw all the rejected choices floating around his head. Useful. Handy. Serviceable.

  "Impressive," he said finally.

  "I'll drink to that." I smiled.

  For a moment, his expression grew thoughtful. He glanced at the fire, and then briefly back at my face. "You know, Ivy, I want to thank you for giving me this chance. I know you don't have to. And it means . . . it means the world to me."

  If I wasn't careful, I was going to end up sympathizing with the madman who cursed me to this life as a half-breed demon.

  "I know what you're thinking," he went on. "I'm never lacking for companions to warm my bed. And that's true. But after a while, you get tired of the meaningless trysts. They don't care about me. They don't know me, not really. But you . . ." He smiled, sipping his drink. "Well, you know all the worst of me, I suppose. And that's a comfort."

  I reached out and touched his arm, channeling another rush of energy into him. He almost swayed into it, and I was briefly afraid I'd overdone it. But he just licked his lips and smiled again.

  His eyes grew even darker. "Shall we go upstairs?"

  My heart hammered in my throat. This was it. The moment I had to exert every ounce of persuasion I had over him.

  "No," I whispered, stepping close to him, so our bodies were almost touching. "Here."

  His eyebrow twitched. "Anyone could walk in, doll."

  "Exactly," I breathed, closing the tiny gap between us. Right away, I could feel his arousal pressing against me. Oh, yes. The plan was going swimmingly.

  With sudden movement, he set his drink down on the cart and pulled me into a bruising kiss.

  I dropped my own glass, hearing it shatter on the marble floor, as little splashes of spilled brandy landed on my legs. Bastian didn't seem to notice or care. His hands gripped my waist, and in spite of myself, I thought of Dante.

  I remembered our encounter in the dream world, when I pulled him into my web. But just like our "practice" in the woods, it wasn't a one-sided thing, not like it's meant to be with a succubus. I was supposed to take what I needed from him and go. Instead, he took a part of me, too.

  The connection grew stronger with every moment we spent together. And now, even though I was seducing another man, Dante was all I could think about. I blocked out reality just enough to remember the taste of his lips. Imagine that it was his strong tongue seeking entrance to my mouth. I slid my hands up Bastian's back, but it was Dante who groaned against my lips.

  Finally, Bastian broke away. "Here?" he panted. "Are you sure?"

  I really didn't expect him to be so hesitant, but the urgency of his erection throbbing against my thigh told me it wouldn't take any of my special powers to convince him.

  "Please," I moaned as he ducked in to kiss and nibble at my neck. "Please, Bastian . . ."

  With a growl, he grabbed the material of my dress on either side of the side-slit and ripped it.

  Just as the threads gave way, there was a massive crashing noise from somewhere upstairs.

  Instantly, Bastian pulled away, his eyes clearing of their lust. "What the hell was that?" he snapped, raking his hand through his hair as he made for the door. "Wait here, Ivy."

  If Dante and his men were about to fight the mad scientist who created me, I was going to at least be an active participant. Even if I wasn't exactly sure whose side I was on.

  Ripping off my shoes, I ran up the stairs after Bastian. He didn't seem to notice, taking them three at a time in a graceful leap I'd never seen before. There was shouting coming from down the hall, and he made a beeline for his bedroom.

  Oh hell. We were totally fucked.

  Chapter 17

  Dante

  We were fucked.

  Ignoring the throbbing in my spine, I stared at Brax. He stared back with unbridled panic in his eyes. We didn't have a Plan B for this.

  Across the room, the bitch threw her head back and laughed. I still didn't know where she’d come from. She was dressed like a lawyer going to a business meeting, but her eyes glowed with purples and reds, the sure sign of black magic infused into her being. The invisible force field kept me and Brax flat on the floor, like a couple of damsels in distress.

  In her hand, she clutched the little vial that held my blood. After all those years of blowing off Brax's fascination about the prophecy, I thought maybe he was onto something.

  "Who the hell are you?" I huffed at her.

  She laughed, deeper than any human voice could be. "Does it really matter, half-breed?"

  "I mean, I have to admit I'm curious, too," Brax piped up.

  Oh, my gods, shut up.

  "Clearly, you know enough," she said. "You knew enough to hatch this plan with Ivy to steal back your blood. You know the power it holds. You know exactly what I'm planning to do with it. So why do the details matter? You're not going to live to see the sunrise."

  Suddenly, the door slammed open. Bastian stormed in, a disheveled Ivy in tow.

  Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.

  "Marla?" Bastian roared. "What in the seven hells are you doing?"

  The bitch turned to him, her eyes storming. "Oh, for goodness sake. I was hoping I wouldn't have to kill you, too."

  Bastian made a move toward her, but the force field knocked him to his knees. Coughing, he raised his head with effort. "I don't understand, Marla. Why are you doing this?"

  "Because you're a small-minded idiot," she intoned. It somehow sounded like she spoke with two voices at once. "All wrapped up in your stupid experiments in your little lab. You don't comprehend what's at stake here. How long do you think these human vermin will let you keep playing your little games? Their time on this world is up. It's time for us to take what's ours."

  "You're not making any sense," Bastian wheezed. He made an effort to crawl toward her, and her eyes flashed as she knocked him to the floor again with a flick of her head. I glanced over at Ivy, who met my gaze with resolve.

  Intentionally or not, Bastian was distracting her. This could be our opportunity. We might still get out of this alive, if Ivy had any of her power left to use.

  The animal side of my brain obsessed about whether Bastian had fucked her yet. Like it mattered, at a time like this. But it did matter. It mattered to me. Both sides of me.

  She mattered to me.

  So help me, but all I cared about was making sure she got out of here safely. After hundreds of years of this life, I was tired. But she had so much life left to live. So much fire.

  I couldn't let her die here. Not like this.

  Even if she ended up with that snake, Bastian, I had to give her a chance.

  With a deep breath, I reached inside myself for powers I hadn't used in eons. I knew I had them. I'd touched on them briefly, just a little, to delve into Ivy's mind when she flexed her powers in the forest. I had to try to save her.

  Dimly, I heard the argument between Bastian and Marla continue.

  "Did you think it was just a coincidence how I convinced you to get his blood?" Marla was laughing. "I knew exactly what I needed, and I knew you were just crazy enough to get it for me."

  "It was your idea," Bastian muttered. "All your idea. You told me he existed in the first place. I didn't even . .
." He stared up at her balefully. "You used me, Marla, all along. And here I thought you were my friend."

  Her laugh grew even harsher. "So stupid. Still, after all this time, you never even suspected. You trust so easily, and I even told you that you'd live to regret it."

  "I didn't think you were talking about yourself, you psychopath." Bastian pounded his fist on the floor.

  "So, it's true, then?" Brax cut in helpfully. "All that stuff about the prophecy?"

  A nerd to the very end. If I'd had the energy to roll my eyes, I would have.

  "Ah, we have a scholar in the group." Marla turned her piercing gaze on him. "I knew you couldn't all be stupid. Yes, you've put the pieces together. Well done. It took Samil's necromancers a long time to translate and understand all the texts, but they finally realized what was being foretold. We’re going to create the world-ending demon whose coming was written in the most ancient, most secret of books. It was only a few months ago that we stumbled across the original recipe, in a book bound with human skin, and written in a half-breed's blood."

  "I mean, I just went to the library," Brax said. "But, hey, whatever works for you guys."

  Marla threw her head back and laughed. "A jokester. I like this one. What's your name, child?"

  "Brax," he said, his voice steady. "I have to say—Marla, was it? It's so nice to meet somebody who actually appreciates my line of study."

  I was focusing all my energy on her. Marla hadn't caught on yet, distracted by Brax and Bastian. I looked over at Ivy and saw her furrowing her brow. She was exhausted. The sweat on her forehead, her low, shallow breaths, told me how little she had left to give.

  Between the two of us, we might be able to bring down the force field just long enough to break free and overpower the sorceress.

  Or, we might die trying.

  My head ached from the effort, every muscle in my body tensed. It still wasn't enough. The force field didn't even waver, and Marla didn’t react.

  At this point, she almost had her back to us. She couldn't see what we were doing. Not that it mattered. We were trapped here on the floor.

  Or were we?

  Shaking, sweating, Ivy reached for me. She walked her fingers along the floor, inch by painful inch. I didn't understand what she was trying to do, but I knew I had to try to meet her halfway.

  It hurt like hellfire, but I reached for her, too.

  When our fingers finally touched, I knew it. The jolt of electricity. The power.

  With a burst of energy, I entwined my fingers with hers. We both stared at Marla, focusing all our energies at the back of her head.

  With an unearthly shriek, she whirled around.

  A mistake.

  With her forehead exposed to us, we were much more powerful. I realized the force field emanated from what you'd probably call her third eye, even though not visible. It was an apex of power.

  And we were hitting it with everything we had.

  Chapter 18

  Ivy

  From the stretch of my palm, a dark tendril of energy took shape. It slithered forward in its infancy before it rose from the floor like a deadly cobra.

  The curl of my weapon seemed to hold more strength than I did as I continued to heave for breath upon the floor.

  Marla never saw it coming.

  My whip snapped toward her, the extension of my energy raging as it cracked loud like thunder. She stumbled backward, taking away my greatest advantage—surprise—and left me with something far better. A thin line of blood surfaced down the edge of her cheek and her eyes widened at the realization that I’d hit her.

  Pure rage erupted into the air. The sound poured from her mouth with a screech as her eyes darkened to the shade of night. Their burning depths flickered strong as the spike of energy she suddenly manifested hurled toward us.

  Dante wasn’t thinking. He yanked my arm which sent me tumbling beneath him. I was crushed there, unable to flex even the length of my fingers as I heard his agonizing groan mingle with her sizzling energy.

  Channeling all my strength, I shoved hard, sending Dante thudding to the floor beside me as I shoved myself to my knees. There was no time to tend to his wounds or make certain he still breathed—not with the very real threat of Marla striking us all down.

  Bastian, though, had another idea. Weak and without force, he shoved himself to his feet and staggered forward. His fatigue made him look almost drunk as he swung for her, his curled fingers flying open in a snatch of her arm. Silently, I cursed the pilfered vial that refused to fall from her grip, but the moment her fiery eyes turned toward Bastian, there was no time to waste on hope.

  Energy surged through me, flicking my whip forward with a vengeance. Though it fell short, the snap alone was enough to startle Marla and divide her attention between the two of us. Still, Bastian was closer.

  She struck at him, the slam of her hand across his chest crackling with a torrent of energy that sent him flying backward. Like a rag doll, he tumbled across the floor. His head slamming down so solidly I hoped I wasn’t the only one left.

  If I was, I’d defend us to the death.

  Partially reinvigorated by Dante’s energy and stress-induced adrenaline, I pushed forward. I rose onto shaky feet and nearly growled at Marla. This bitch would pay for what she had done.

  I charged for her, my speed pathetic and lethargic as she hurled jolt after jolt of magical energy my way. The closer I drew, the harder it became to avoid them entirely. I darted side to side, until one fateful throw had me dropping to the floor in a pile of limbs simply to avoid certain death.

  It was there, as I directly faced her towering legs, that I struck.

  She fumbled backward, a feral fury lighting her cat-like eyes. She knew she was too close as my whip reared back and cracked toward her.

  Jolts of her own dark energy, thick and spherical with her last shreds of strength, careened toward me. Our weapons collided, and in a violent shock wave, they exploded.

  I tumbled across the floor, my eyes slamming shut against the onslaught of dust and debris, and my arms shielding my head from the pelting sting of the magical eruption we’d created.

  My head lifted in the settling grime, only to find my lungs heaving in deep coughs. She’d hurt me, if only a little, and as my eyes narrowed through the clouds, I knew I had one last chance to get her—or we were all screwed.

  Our eyes met, and in unison, our attentions dragged to where the vial had slipped from her grip, resting on the floor partway between us.

  I flung myself toward it, every fiber of my muscles crying out in agony as I reached for the vial.

  “Ivy, get down!”

  The urgency in Dante’s voice had me skidding, chest down, across the floor. I glanced over my shoulder at the exact moment his crossbow clicked loudly in its release.

  I held my breath, certain this would be it.

  The bolt soared toward Marla, but before it could hit its mark, her human form disappeared.

  A screeching raven took her place, its hurried lift leaving not a single feather to be marred by Dante’s well-placed shot.

  I scrambled forward, but I was too late.

  In her sharpened talons, Marla snatched up the vial and soared for a tiny opening in the nearest window. Though Dante had reloaded, the next sail of his bolt thudded into the window’s sill just as the raven flew free.

  For a moment, the room was silent.

  "Well, shit," Brax said.

  Bastian turned to stare at the three of us before focusing his eyes on Brax. "Do you care to explain to me what in the hell just happened?"

  "There's this prophecy," Brax said, “about the end of the world."

  "Yes, I gathered that much," Bastian straightened the collar of his shirt. "I meant, do you care to explain what you're doing in my house? In my bedroom?"

  "You stole my blood," Dante said.

  We might have been somewhat united in our struggle against Marla, but he wasn't disposed to be friendly toward him.
/>   "I wanted it back."

  "Yes, well. Sorry about that. I have no interest in ending this world. In fact, I rather like it." He glanced to me. "I suppose you're a part of this, too?"

  "No," Dante said quickly, gripping my arm. "I kidnapped her sisters to get her to help me. It's not her fault. She was just doing what she had to do."

  "Or course," Bastian said, his eyes drifting from one to the other of us, reading more than Dante or I probably wanted him to know. His gaze softened a little. "Of course," he said again. "My Ivy would never willingly betray me like that. Not unless she had to."

  My Ivy. Dante’s grip on my arm flashed hot and tightened.

  "I don't think you all understand the implications of this," Bastian huffed, brushing some imaginary crap off his tailored jacket. "Samil is . . . well. Let's just say, I knew him long ago. Even when he was a young sorcerer, he had dark ambitions. Self-destructive, even. We were partners in crime for a while, but we parted ways when it became obvious we had different goals. He was willing to cut a swathe of destruction in his path if it got him what he wanted. He didn't care about the consequences. I can only assume, in the passing decades, he's gotten worse. I haven't heard of him in years. In this case, no news is decidedly not good news."

  "Shit." Brax whistled. "So, what now?"

  Bastian exhaled heavily. "Well, I guess that depends. If you're all willing, we might be temporary allies in the name of saving this world we all enjoy living in . . . I assume."

  Dante didn’t answer. He watched Bastian with a predator’s gaze.

  "We're likely the only ones who know what Samil has planned," Bastian went on. "That gives us a head start."

  "How do we know you're telling the truth about this?" Dante demanded. "You could be leading us all into a death trap."

  Brax stood up and advanced toward Bastian. "Nice to meet you. I'm Brax."

  "I gathered that." Bastian extended a hand, smiling amusedly. "I'm guessing you're about to read my recent memories, correct?"