Darkblood Prison: Demon On A Dime (Supernatural Prison Squad Series Book 1)

by G. K. DeRosa

  “So that’s why she has magic… her mother is a witch. Why was that such a secret?” Talon’s brows furrowed. I wasn’t sure how long before he figured out there was more to it.

  “Because Azara doesn’t and she never has. Why would it suddenly emerge?” Logan supplied.

  Talon eyed the mark on my arm. “My money is on that symbol. Even from here I can sense its power. Whoever put that on her, tied it to her magical abilities.”

  “And why is it coming undone now?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Self-preservation? It seems to only make an appearance when you’re in trouble. But it does seem to be growing in power. Maybe it’s an age thing.”

  I was almost nineteen, but I didn’t think my parents had locked away my magical powers as a special birthday present. No, there was definitely more to this. And if something magical was involved, there was only one person to get answers from.

  Grandpa Garrix.

  No need to fill Talon in on that crazy part of my family. Not yet anyway.

  I met Logan’s eyes and mouthed my grandpa’s name. He nodded in understanding. If he knew my family as well as he claimed, I was sure his brain had made the same leap as mine had.

  Garrix must have bound my powers, and now they were breaking free.

  But what did that have to do with Thax and Delacroix? Hopefully, Garrix could shed some light on all of this.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  I paced the length of the warden’s office, my nails digging into my palms. How could my parents keep this from me? For over eighteen years, I was convinced I was magicless—except for the soul-sucking, demon-cursed part of course.

  “He’ll come,” said Logan, glancing up from the computer screen.

  I didn’t doubt Garrix would show. My grandpa had always been there for me when I needed him. He and Mom had a rather tumultuous relationship, but we’d always had a special bond. No, what had me freaking out was telling him the truth of what brought me to Darkblood Prison.

  Garrix was no saint, but I doubted he’d ever murdered over a dozen supes in cold blood.

  I shuddered, wrapping my arms around my middle as if somehow that could chase away the terrible things I’d done. When I lifted my gaze, I met a pair of steely silver ones across the room. Talon had insisted on being here to meet my grandfather.

  I wasn’t overly concerned because if I knew Garrix, he’d show up in one of the many different skins he chose to step into. Only a handful of people knew his true form. My grandfather was a cunning old bastard, and he’d never let anything slip in front of a stranger. I was surprised he’d agreed to come when Logan called.

  The charred scent of magic filled my nostrils only a moment before a swirl of dark smoke caught my eye. The murky fog expanded, covering nearly the entire stone fireplace. A jolt of energy skimmed the surface of my skin, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

  A figure coalesced from the darkness, brilliant blue eyes piercing the obscurity. A wry grin tipped Garrix’s lips up as the fog receded. The man in front of me was not my grandfather—or at least not the version of him I knew best. This warlock was young, only a few years older than me with deep mocha skin and buzzed blonde hair. But those eyes… I’d recognize my grandpa anywhere because of them. They were as profound as the Pacific with the glittering turquoise of the Caribbean, and when he caught you in his gaze, there was no escape.

  “That’s your grandfather?” Talon strode over to the young warlock, his dark brows twisted.

  “Garreth,” he snapped. Looked like he was going with one of his aliases. Like most of my grandparents, he refused to be referred to as grandpa, gramps, grandfather or any of the traditional titles. And he obviously didn’t trust my bunkie with his real name.

  “Yup, that’s him, good old Grandpa Garreth.” I smiled nervously. Garrix was the high warlock of the Coven Council, though not many beyond his inner circle would recognize his face, his name was legendary.

  Talon loomed over Garrix or Garreth, his broad shoulders taut and his reptilian eyes narrowing.

  Gramps didn’t even flinch. No one intimidated the high warlock. “Hello, my darling.” He flitted right past the imposing dragon and pulled me into a hug.

  I melted into his embrace, the familiar scent of smoky magic clung to him like Indian curry takeout. Tears filled my eyes, but I quickly blinked them back, burying my face in his silky shirt. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed my family until now.

  He pushed me out to arms’ length, and his penetrating gaze ran over me. “Oh, Azara, what in all the realms did you do?”

  Logan moved between us, glaring at my grandpa. “How did you get in here? You were supposed to enter through the main gate to be granted entrance.”

  A wicked smile curled his full lips, those cerulean eyes twinkling. “Oh, Warden, that’s cute. Like your wards could stop me.”

  Talon’s eyes widened as they scrutinized my grandfather. “Who is this guy?” If he was trying to remain incognito, he should’ve been less showy with his powers.

  Logan muttered a curse as Garrix sauntered by him and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Now, my dear child, tell me what happened.”

  It was kinda weird staring at this young stranger speaking in my gramps’ words, but I pushed the awkwardness aside and focused on his familiar eyes. “I did something bad, GG. Like really bad.”

  His thick brow curved up. “How bad?”

  My lips pressed together, all the words stuck at the back of my throat. I just couldn’t bring myself to say it.

  “She slaughtered thirty-six Fae and an SIA agent that tried to bring her in.” Talon’s voice cut through the dense silence.

  A stab of pain jabbed me in the gut as guilt pummeled my insides. One look at my dragon bodyguard, and I knew the sharp pang hadn’t only originated from me. My eyes swept to the ground. When would this damned blood tie dissipate? Feeling my own guilt was bad enough, I didn’t need to feel his burning hatred too. Maybe Garrix could help with that as well.

  Fingertips lifted my chin, and I was forced to meet my gramps’s eyes once again. “Azara, look at me. You are a demon, an animas demon that feeds on souls for energy. It’s what you do, who you are. Never be embarrassed of that. It would be like me being sorry for performing spells or borrowing other people’s bodies.”

  Talon grunted, mumbling something under his breath.

  “But GG, I killed so many innocent people…” Tears burned my eyes, and I couldn’t keep them at bay this time. One trickled over, then another. Before I turned into a complete mess, I swept the tears from my cheeks and pivoted toward the window. Brilliant oranges and reds haloed the towering snowy peaks and jagged crags. After weeks of being stuck indoors, the magnificent sight gave me something else to focus on. Sniffling, I gripped the windowsill and reined in my emotions.

  A hand squeezed my shoulder and though the dark skin didn’t belong to my grandfather, I could still feel him through the stranger’s flesh and bones. “You did nothing wrong, Azara.”

  “Well, in the eyes of the Assembly and Tribunal, she did,” Talon muttered from his perch on the couch.

  Jerk.

  Garrix spun at him, his eyes shooting daggers. He erased the distance between them in a few long strides. “Who are you, anyway?”

  Logan stepped between the two as tension thickened the air. “He’s a friend, Garreth. He’s been keeping an eye on Azara since she arrived.”

  “Why is she still even behind bars, Logan? Surely, Luna and Ryder could’ve gotten her out by now.”

  “They don’t know.” Panic gripped my insides, and I darted toward my gramps. “You can’t tell them, GG. Please, swear it.”

  His lips twisted into a scowl, his eyes widening. “You don’t mean to tell me you intend to remain here?”

  I nodded quickly before I lost my nerve.

  “That is ridiculous, Azara,” he growled. “No granddaughter of mine belongs in a place like this.”

  “She’s trying to do t
he right thing, warlock,” Talon snarled back.

  Again, Logan intervened, his expression a mask of calm. “I’m working on it, Garreth. The King of Winter can’t merely rescind his claims against her. The families of the deceased Fae expect retribution from their ruler.”

  “I’ll speak to that insufferable Elrian and get this straightened out.”

  I reached for my grandpa and squeezed his forearm. “No, GG, please, don’t. I’m not ready to leave yet. Talon is helping me gain control of my powers. Once I feel confident I won’t go all murdery again, then we can talk.”

  Garrix’s head whipped at the scowling dragon. “Again, I ask, who is this convict? What makes him an expert on demon training?”

  “He’s not a convict,” said Logan. “He’s an undercover SIA agent.”

  Talon’s silver orbs nearly doubled in size. “Are you out of your mind, Warden?”

  Logan waved a nonchalant hand. “Relax, he’s not going to blow your cover.”

  His big arms folded across his chest, and he leaned back on the couch sulking. “Still, it would’ve been nice to be consulted beforehand.”

  Big dragon baby.

  Garrix turned to me, his bright eyes assessing. “I’m confused as to why I was called here today? If you don’t want my help in extraction, what do you need?”

  “I want answers about this.” I tugged my sleeve up, revealing the faintly glowing mystical tattoo on my arm.

  His jaw dropped a fraction of an inch before he schooled his expression back to its typical icy calm. “It’s the guardis sigil, a common demon mark. Hasn’t your father explained it to you before?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Sure, gramps, but it never glowed before or released any nonexistent magical powers.”

  This time he couldn’t contain the surprise. His eyes widened, a hiss escaping his clenched jaw.

  “Don’t you dare lie to me, GG. There’s only one person I know strong enough to bind powers like that. I want to know why and how come they’re leaking out now?”

  His frosty gaze whipped toward Talon then bounced to Logan. “I’ll tell you everything in private. These two have nothing to do with our family—or our secrets.”

  “What Logan said was true earlier. If it wasn’t for Talon, I’d be dead at least three times over. And Logan, well, he’s kind of been my gargoyle guardian angel since he found me here. I trust them.”

  Garrix shook his head. “This is not only your secret, Azara.”

  I was right! This was about Mom’s warlockness. “Okay, I get that. Can’t you skim over the super-secret stuff?”

  He smirked and loosed a breath. “Your mother is right. You do have me wrapped around your little finger.” He threw Talon a predatory look that would’ve had me cowering in the fetal position. “If you breathe a word of what you hear today, dragon, I’ll jump into your body and throw it off the nearest cliff, then do the same to each and every person you love.” He pivoted to Logan, his eyes blazing. “Same goes for you, gargoyle.”

  Talon shot me a barely veiled glare. “I see where you get your gentle disposition.”

  I shrugged. “Do you swear to keep my secret or not?”

  “Yeah, whatever. I’m already in this deep.”

  Logan nodded, not that I questioned his dedication for a minute. He’d trained Mom and been friends with my parents for years, probably knew most of their secrets too. He’d never divulge anything.

  “GG, continue please.” I settled down on the couch beside Talon. It could’ve been my imagination, but I could’ve sworn he scooted away an inch. Dragon douche.

  “You are correct in your assumption, Azara,” he began. “When you were born, your parents made a decision to bind your magic due to the likelihood you’d inherited your mother’s special abilities. As a half-demon, the mix could’ve been… unpredictable.”

  Translation: I could’ve turned into an unstoppable soul-sucking warlock monster.

  Shitzu. This meant I could be a female warlock just like my mom. “Okay, and why is my magic spilling out now?”

  Garrix’s dark brows furrowed. “That is a good question.” He rubbed his cleanshaven jaw as his eyes scanned the room. “My best guess is the wards in conjunction with those cuffs are undoing my spell.” He turned to Logan. “I assume you use some sort of magic siphoning in combination with the obsidian bracelets?”

  “We do.”

  “Then that’s likely the reason. The more time you spend here, the weaker my spell will become. It’s only a matter of time until you have full access to your powers.”

  “Fantastic,” Talon grumbled.

  I ignored the grumpy dragon and kept my eyes on Garrix. “There’s one other thing… This demon in here has kinda been on my case since I arrived.”

  “He tried to kill her is what she means.” Talon’s thick arms tightened over his chest.

  “Let me explain,” Logan interjected. “Though Talon’s point is valid, the real issue is that he hasn’t killed her. In my short time here, I’ve come to understand that anyone who doesn’t bow down to Delacroix and his crew mysteriously ends up with a knife in the gut or worst. The high-level demon has given Azara more than her fair share of chances. Which makes me believe there is more to this than we know.”

  “And Lucifer basically confirmed that he and Thax are pretty tight,” I added.

  My grandfather’s brow lifted. “Thax, the warlord of the sixth realm?”

  I nodded. “Luxora’s son.” I waited for the surprise to register on Garrix’s face, but it never came. Instead his expression only darkened. “You knew Luxora had a son and that he was wandering around the Underworld all this time? Do my parents know?”

  “Yes.”

  I shot up, anger twisting my insides. “How could you guys keep all this stuff from me?”

  Garrix reached out, but I squirmed away from his touch. What else was my family hiding from me?

  “It was for your own good, Azara. We were simply trying to protect you. We don’t know that this has anything to do with Luxora or our family. It could all be an unfortunate coincidence.”

  I threw my hands up, motioning at the fortress’s obsidian walls and grunted. “Look how well protecting me turned out.”

  Talon rose, his gaze darting from Logan to me and back. “Okay, I really need to be brought up to speed here. I know I’m still missing something.”

  “Later,” I muttered. There was no way I was telling him everything about my mom yet, but maybe I could provide him some details to quell his curiosity.

  “Azara, I’m sorry you’re upset.” Garrix moved closer, and this time I didn’t recoil. “I need you to reconsider remaining here. It’s not safe, for many reasons.”

  “If you want to help, see what you can find out about Thax.”

  He shook his head and forced a breath through his clenched lips. “I’ll see what I can do, Azara, but I won’t let this go on forever. I’ll give you one week to sort this out and if Logan cannot ensure your safety, I’ll be forced to go to your parents. We will get you out of here.”

  “Fine. One week, GG. Until then, promise you won’t say anything to them.”

  “I promise.” He pulled me into his side, and all the fire drained right out of me.

  “I have a tail on Thax by the way,” Logan said to Garrix. “Hopefully, we’ll discover what he may want with Azara.”

  My gut roiled. No one was saying it, but I knew what they were thinking. Either Thax wanted revenge for his mother’s death or this had something to do with the prophecy about my mom all those years ago.

  Either way I was screwed.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “So let me get this straight…” Hayden’s eyes sparkled as he perched on the workout bench, his exposed biceps glistening. At some point during my story, he’d quit working out to focus all his attention on me. “Your mom was prophesied to end the division of the realms and bring about the collapse of Luxora’s reign?”

  I nodded quickly. Talon had insisted Hayden
and Dallas be brought up to speed on the situation. I’d been hesitant at first, but at this point, I needed all the help I could get if we had to resolve this Thax situation within a week.

  “Sounds like the oracle was correct,” said Dallas. The vampire member of the Triad was propped against the wall shirtless, all sinewy, lean muscles. “I remember hearing about Luxora’s death all those years ago. The SIA touted it as a win of their own and used it as leverage to continue with the training of the supernatural slayer squads.”

  “And it bought Lucifer a seat on the Etrian Assembly, essentially ending the division of the upper and lower realms.” The vein in Talon’s forehead twitched as he paced in front of me. He’d already heard the story from Logan yesterday, but this time he peppered me with questions along the way.

  “If you ask me, it’s pretty obvious that Thax is looking for a little revenge.” Hayden quirked a brow in my direction. “And I still can’t believe Lucifer is your grandfather B.T.W.”

  “Great,” I muttered. “And regarding Luci, yeah, me neither.”

  Dallas chuckled and dropped the ginormous dumbbell he was casually holding. “I can’t believe you call the prince of hell Luci.”

  Talon hadn’t chimed in on me being the granddaughter of the devil which was pretty shocking. Surely, it only cemented his idea of my being a total monster.

  They’d never believe the part about Mom being the only female warlock in history. If I ever got out of here, I had to find a way to get tested. Was that even a thing? Ugh. I dragged my fingers through my hair and plopped down on the workout mat.

  “So fearless leader, any ideas how we’re going to figure this out in six days?” Hayden turned to Talon, who’d been uncharacteristically quiet.

  “Working on it.” He disappeared behind the counter where the mini fridge lived and popped up a minute later revealing a shiny silver key clenched between his fingers.

  “You’re going to show her?” Dallas’s eyes widened, showcasing the profound onyx ringed in brilliant crimson.