

Scorched

A Leila Marx World Novella

by

Amber Garr

Copyright © 2014 Amber Garr

Smashwords Edition

www.ambergarr.com

This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

If you've illegally downloaded this book for free, stop it. No one likes a thief. Authors put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into their work and only I should choose whether or not I offer it for free. Besides, after reading this book, you should be leery about what happens to thieves.

Cover Design by Amber Garr

Photos from www.shutterstock.com

### Acknowledgements

Thanks so much to everyone who's been patiently waiting to grab another book from The Leila Marx World. This is just the first of a series of novellas planned for these characters and I absolutely loved getting into Conner's head for a while. Keep checking back to find out who's up next!

To my fabulous critique group - Gayle, Serena, Kathy, Diane, and Marisette - you make me a better writer with every note and suggestion. I'm thankful for you and always look forward to our virtual sessions! Thanks for letting me bombard you with pages - sometimes the muse just doesn't quit!

To the betas - Sandy, Rebekah, Gayle, Chasity, Ann, Betsy, and Claire - thanks so much for taking the time to critique and suggesting that I add a little bit more about "the deal" so you could have more closure. It totally works!

To Amber's Aces - Desiree, Chasity, Elizabeth, Laura, Glenn, Betsy, Claire, Serena, Deanna, Sandy H., Steph, Holly, Lisa, Jen, Marisette, Gayle, Vicki, Sarah, Rebekah, Kari, Ann, Sandy G., Tiffany, Morgan, Fallon, Tien, Teresa, Nicole, Jacquie, Rachel, Kari, and Helena - thanks for all of your input with this book and entertaining my Photoshop experiments! I feel like I have a whole crew to turn to when I need guidance, and for that, I am very, very grateful.

And to the fans - Thanks for sticking with me and supporting all that I do. I hope you enjoy Conner's story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 \- Scotland, 1798

Chapter 2 \- England, 1821

Chapter 3 \- America, 1821

Chapter 4 \- Crimson Oak Plantation, 1821

Chapter 5 \- Crimson Oak Plantation, 1821

Chapter 6 \- Valentine's Day, 1821

Chapter 7 - Toronto, 1971

Chapter 8 \- Los Angeles, 1972

Sneak Peek at Touching Evil - A Leila Marx Novel

About The Author

Scotland, 1798

Another night. Another soul.

Chugging back the last of my ale, I scanned the sordid tavern for my next victim. Or maybe I should call them my prey, since I was the hunter. A taker of souls. A destroyer of innocents. For the millionth time in my long existence, I cursed my demon father.

"That's no way to speak to a lady."

Through my hazy stupor and incessant self-loathing, I managed to turn my head toward the woman now standing next to me. Her blazing red hair and dark black eyes locked onto my gaze with a ferocity matched only by my own. Something dangerous, yet familiar trickled off her like an electrical charge ready to ignite. Had I not had so much to drink, she would have scorched me with one look.

She leaned in close enough to rub her ample breasts against my shoulder. I couldn't help but stare. "You might want to tone down the eyes," she said and then winked. "You're going to scare them away before you have a chance to pounce."

My heart beat faster than I thought capable after crippling it with homemade ale and my dead soul. I tried to form some words, tried to say something to this woman who spoke about things she shouldn't know.

"How long?" She asked just before lifting her knee and kicking away a potential suitor. Without missing a beat, she grabbed my clay mug off the wooden bar and slammed it into the man's face when he came back in retaliation. The noise in the tavern stopped for the briefest of moments before the fiddles picked up again and everyone cheered. Three men carried the foolish chap from the bar and tossed him out onto the dirt road. No one seemed to notice the remarkable woman who'd taken him down.

"So?" she nudged me again, her dress hanging precariously low.

"What?" I asked.

"How long have you been soul sucking?"

I swallowed hard and turned back to the bar. "Piss off." Anger would surely make her go away.

She laughed, a noise that captivated every part of my traitorous body. "You can't fool me cambion. I sensed you a mile away."

"You're a crazy wench," I mumbled into my new mug.

"And you're a bloke in denial." She pushed a drunkard off his nearby stool and dragged it over next to me. I watched as the patron said nothing when he looked at the delicious thief. "Trust me, it gets better." When I flagged down the bartender, she continued. "Working for demons is much better than the working for the other side."

I sighed. "You're still here?"

She laughed again and tossed her auburn hair over her shoulder with practiced perfection. Leaning close enough to touch me, she grabbed the mug from my hands. My body quivered, reacting even though I tried to will it away. Damn harpy.

"I've never met one of you before," she cooed as she stole my ale.

I raised my eyebrows, hoping that I could ignore her. Just before she was about to speak again, the bartender stepped in front of us. "Give me the soup," I said.

"And for the lady?" The man obviously had no idea who he was talking to. Or what she was.

"No," she giggled. "I'll just have some of his." Propping up on her elbows, she leaned forward so that the man got an ample view of her assets. His jaw dropped in awe. "But I may need another ale if it's not too much trouble." She brushed her hand along his cheek and against his lips.

I thought the guy died since it took him several seconds before he breathed again.

Clearing my throat, I shifted to the side, annoyed with her intrusion. I didn't need to be around someone like her. It would only lead to trouble.

"I'm Tasmin," she said. "And it's good to see you're back in control."

I snapped my head to look at her just as the bartender sloshed a bowl of homemade soup in front of me. Biting my tongue, I took a deep breath instead. "Go away," I grumbled.

She grabbed the spoon out of my hand and began slurping in the liquid. "Nope," she said with a mouth full. "I have too many questions for you."

True to her nature, I watched as the harpy consumed my meal in less than a minute. They were known as snatchers and thieves and apparently it didn't matter whether it was a child, a soul, or my bowl of soup.

She chugged the second mug of ale, pushed the empty bowl away, and wrapped her arms over my shoulder. Potatoes and leeks wafted from her breath, but it wasn't just my stomach that reacted to it. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to control the demon part of me that she'd coerced to the surface.

"So, cambion," she whispered in my ear. "Which soul shall we steal tonight?" She pushed her leg tight next to mine, watching the hazy tavern with a glow on her face. One by one, she eyed the patrons, looking for an easy target.

It had been more than a month since I delivered a soul to my incubus father. Just when I'd try to live as a human, my instincts would flare at the first sight of evil. So many crooks, criminals, and murderous men...all which made the perfect gifts. The more wicked the better. At least that was my mantra. And although I tried to stay away, I secretly craved the hunt too much to stop completely.

I was surprised my father hadn't tracked me down yet in one form or another. His ability to transform into any being meant I never knew for sure if he was watching. I turned my head and looked at Tasmin, suddenly wondering about her existence.

"Did he send you?"

She didn't drop her gaze from the room. "Who?"

"You know who," I said a little too loudly. Several patrons glanced our way. Tasmin glared and they immediately found something else much more interesting to look at.

"I know not of whom you are referring to."

Taken aback by her odd language, I cocked my head and tried to listen to her. But with all the noise and the distraction of her beauty, I found it difficult to concentrate. She'd destroyed my ability to hunt as an incubus just by her presence. Then I saw a coy smile play on her lips.

"Oh, do you mean our father?"

" _Our_ father?" I asked.

She laughed. "Well, if you mean the Dark Lord, Lucifer, Satan...then yes, I'm speaking about our father."

"I don't answer to him." Unfortunately my father was much more literal than that.

"No?" she asked, sliding even closer. I didn't know how there was any more space for her to consume. "Aren't they all the same with their stupid rules and obnoxious arrogance? I mean, really. And they way they dress? It's like they're perpetually stuck in the era of tiny pants and ruffled shirts." She brushed the hair back out of her face and shivered in disgust.

I looked at her for a second, mesmerized by her dark eyes and perfect skin...and then we both began to laugh hysterically. It wasn't too often I met someone who would dare speak that way about our creators. My face hurt, my stomach cramped, and it was the first time I'd laughed like that in a long time. It felt invigorating.

"So, now that we've established a common ground, how about you tell me your name?" She kissed my cheek and turned my head toward the exit where a drunken man stumbled near the door. "And do it quick before I have to get back to work."

I trembled in anticipation. That man wore his evil like a fur coat. Beating women, stealing from anyone, killing those that got in his way...I wanted that soul.

I needed it.

"My name's Conner," I said gruffly. Standing suddenly, I pulled myself out of the harpy's grasp. "I have to leave."

She jumped up just as quickly. "Oh no, cambion. He's mine."

I felt a sharp pain in my arm and looked down to see a handful of talons at the end of her elegant fingers. Talons that now punctured my skin and sent a burning sensation up to my neck. With her true nature hidden from the tavern patrons, she continued to slash my body in places no one else could see. Never having dealt with her kind before, I did the only thing that came to mind.

Twisting my body, I pulled her plentiful breasts against me and slid one hand around her back. The other held on tight to her neck as I pressed my mouth against hers. She gasped, then moaned, as my incubus traits seduced her into a trance. Immediately I knew there was no soul inside this woman for me to feed on, but that didn't stop my body from trying.

Plunging my tongue into her mouth, I tasted the essence that created her. A spawn of the darkness, put on this realm to do their bidding, we were kin. Trapped for eternity. Unable to live as we choose. Feeding on souls and delivering them to those that let us breathe.

Tasmin was as miserable as me.

Minutes passed as we lost ourselves in our passion. What began as a test of wills, quickly exploded into a dance of fate. Her hands gripped my head, pulling me closer with each pulse of her lips. She tried to read me, as I tried to read her. Visions of death, despair, and loneliness clouded my thoughts of ecstasy as our collective history intertwined and battled with each other.

The slamming of the tavern door pulled me back from the depths with a shock. My victim was getting away.

I stood straight and licked my lips, tasting her sweet skin on them. Not only had it been a while since I'd taken a soul, it had been quite some time since I felt the touch of a woman not under my spell. And Tasmin was much more desirable than any human woman.

"My, my," she breathed.

Even in the dark building, I saw her flushed face and pink lips. I tried not to stare. Instead I focused on her demeanor. With arms hanging by her side and eyes glazed like a love sick puppy, I knew my trick had worked.

I didn't say another word as I pushed past a few patrons and opened the front door. The blast of cold air hit me like a chastity belt and knocked me back into the present. Finding the will to focus, I honed my senses and hunted the evil man.

Across the dirt roadway sat the other three buildings that made up this small village. As late as it was, light from the oil lanterns still glowed inside. Smoke billowed from the chimneys, almost masking the man's scent with an acrid odor that made my eyes burn. Yet, that didn't stop me.

My victim stumbled down the dirt street, making an obscene amount of noise. With no concern for what may be lurking in the shadows, he shouted and laughed through his drunken state. A stray dog skittered in front of his path and he kicked it away, arms flailing with unnecessary rage. In the distance, I heard a growl. Far enough away to be unnoticed, something else didn't like the man's behavior either.

Deciding not to waste any more time, I ran forward and grabbed the man from behind. My fingers hooked into his shoulders and slammed him against the last building on the street before he had a chance to take his next breath.

"What the..." he stuttered. "Get your hands off me." Trying to sound strong, his voice faltered the moment he saw my eyes. Bright red, they no doubt complimented my demon face and teeth pulsing underneath the surface. I sucked in a deep breath and smiled. Beyond the alcohol wafting out of his mouth, the wickedness of his soul sang to me in a way that nearly made me lose total control. Why had I waited so long?

Throwing back my head, I opened my jaws wide in preparation—savoring the thrill, the hunt, and my true nature. A split second later, I sunk my teeth into his neck and began pulling out his life force. Blood filled my mouth, and within the metallic warm liquid, a hint of ash flitted through—a sign of his tarnished existence. My fingers tingled and my stomach contracted in anticipation for draining him down to nothing.

My father would have been so proud.

But then suddenly it was gone. The warmth, the satisfaction, and the man himself were ripped away from me. I jumped back to see an empty space next to the building and a light breeze blowing past the place he'd just been.

"I warned you, cambion." A sharp, piercing voice called to me out of the darkness. I heard the man moan, and then a tree rustled in the distance.

I snapped my focus to the old oak growing along the side of the building and defining the town's border between civilization and wilderness. There, sitting high above me, was Tasmin and my victim. The man's slack body hung lifelessly over the branch, reminding me of how leopards hide and covet their prey. Blood dripped from the wound in his neck, but I hadn't killed him. Yet.

Tasmin, the harpy, was a magnificent site. Bright red wings extended from her back and stretched to their full length, protecting her and her catch. Her face had elongated into something unnatural. The nose became more beaklike and her glowing yellow eyes were now slit like a snake's. Crouched between branches, long claw-like feet grasped onto the branch—one holding onto the man's leg and the other holding her in place. The dress showing the best of her human form had been replaced by a light covering of feathers. Reds, oranges, and golds dusted her body from neck to ankle, only her arms remained fully human.

"Staying true to nature, aren't we?" I spoke up at her. "All your kind does is steal."

"And all your kind does is seduce." The 's' in her words sounded more like a hiss coming from her half human - half bird face. "Did you think it would really work on me, cambion? We come from the same mold. Evil to the core and slave to our demon fathers."

She laughed and then jumped to the ground. Landing as light as a cat, her wings spread out and flapped once. Dirt flew up and into my face, forcing me to close my eyes. But I'd heard her move, and when I opened them again, I expected her right in front of me.

Taller in her harpy form, we stood eye to eye - hers yellow and feral, mine red and hungry. "The only difference is...," she pushed her body against mine, hands sliding around and grabbing my backside. "I might be willing to share my good fortune with a certain...shall we say troubled...demon, should he ask me nicely."

Her fingers continued to caress and my vision blurred with red. I felt my cheeks harden and jaw adjust to accommodate a mouth full of teeth sharp enough to tear flesh and suck souls. I had to feed now.

I glanced at Tasmin and smiled—teeth prominently displayed. She purred and squeezed me harder. A sharp nail rubbed against my back. "I'm not a fan of sharing," I said gruffly.

She pouted. "Well that's too bad because..."

Before she finished, I pushed her to the side and darted toward the tree. I should have been able to outrun her with my demon genes, but I hadn't taken her wings into consideration. In a blur, she was on me, and I fell. Shoved to the ground, with my face pressing into the dirt, her falcon feet dug into my spine. She flapped her wings for balance, each time sending a sharp crack throughout the night.

"You fool," she growled. "I was trying to help you."

I attempted to push myself up, but with another wave of her wings, she cemented me to the ground. "I don't need your help," I spat, although I wasn't sure how angry I sounded with my voice muffled against the damp dirt.

She cackled and dropped to her knees on top of me. Her wings cast a dark shadow over my face but I still noticed how close she was. The sensuality that was a part of her didn't disappear when she changed forms. Leaning in close enough to whisper she said, "You do. I've been around centuries more than you. And I can see it...you're not going to survive if you keep denying yourself what you desire most." She bit my earlobe gently between her teeth. I shivered. "I can teach you, young friend. You don't have to be miserable anymore."

Struggling beneath her unusual strength I let out a grunt and tried to maneuver away. "Piss off," I said to her for the second time tonight.

She sighed and then flipped me onto my back. Her bird-like legs and human arms pinned me to the ground. Rubbing against my body in a way that excited the incubus inside, she peered down at me. "Are you sure?" she breathed.

I nodded and gathered what strength I could. Despite the claws now embedded into my skin, I pushed my hips up and threw her off of me. Only she didn't land on the ground, instead she stayed ten feet in the air, wings whipping and face glowering with anger. Not wanting to waste another chance, I lurched to my feet and ran toward the man.

Just as I reached up to grab his leg, Tasmin's clawed foot slammed into my head. Even as I lost my balance, I watched her clasp the man in between her feet and fly away with his body. "I told you he was mine," she said with a screech, and disappeared into the night.

Damn harpies.

England, 1821

Standing in line with humans tested the very last of my patience.

Despite my eight centuries among them, there were times when their odor and lack of decorum pushed me to my limits. Scrounging, fighting, and shoving just for a chance to get one step ahead of each other. Although, I wasn't much better right now. I'd already waited two months to get on this ship, and I wasn't going to let some teenage boy take my place.

"Move," the young man said to me. Elbow pushing into my side, I gritted my teeth to keep control. When he realized his shove hadn't deterred me, he turned and stepped right in front of my face.

Some humans had the worst instincts.

"Did ye' hear me, lug? I told you to step aside and let my friend in line."

Staying silent, I did my best to ignore him. But someone pushed me from behind and I stumbled into the kid. His eyes widened, anger brewing inside. A second later, his fist was flying at my face.

And I snapped. In a move too quick for him or anyone around us to see, I reached out and grabbed his fist. His bones crunched underneath my grip and my red-eyed glare dared him to yell. Twisting his arm down toward the ground, I pulled him closer to me.

"Leave now," I demanded under my breath. His friend stepped forward, but one look from me stopped him cold in his tracks.

Tears leaked from the boy's eyes but he had enough of a survival instinct to nod his head. I dropped my hand and shoved him to the side. Both boys ran away, never once glancing back despite the curious looks they received.

I sucked in a deep breath, willing my inner demon to calm. Several months had passed since my last hunt, and despite what Tasmin had told me about denying myself, I refused to be what my father expected. I hadn't chosen this life, but I'd do my best not to make it easier for him.

Three weeks later, I found myself hating that decision. Cesspools of human filth, that hadn't yet been discarded, sloshed around with each thrashing wave. Cramped quarters, insolent drunkards, and the constant desire to hunt ravaged my psyche. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

Pulling my jacket tightly against me, I ventured out onto the deck. With the seas being uncooperative, not many braved this part of the ship. But all I needed was one...maybe two...to keep me satiated until we reached the American shores.

As luck would have it, three men approached me. Laughing loudly, they sang in German and carried mugs in their hands. When they got closer, one of them finally noticed my presence.

" _Guten abend_ ," he said.

"Good evening," I replied with a nod.

"Ah...English?" he asked.

"Sure," I said. I didn't really claim any particular heritage.

The man looked perplexed for just a moment, and then dug around in his pocket. He pulled out several hand rolled cigarettes and lifted them to me. "You have light?" he asked in broken English.

I made a scene out of patting my pockets then shook my head. "Must be in my quarters." I got blank stares, so I pointed and spoke slower. "Inside."

They all laughed and nodded. "We go get?" One of them asked.

I smiled. This was too easy. "Sure. Follow me."

I shared a room with three others, but they weren't there at the moment. So as soon as my German friends stepped inside, I locked the door and pounced. Knocking one out, he fell to the ground just as I buried my teeth in the other. After the blood pooled in my mouth, I felt his life energy draining. It thrilled me in ways I couldn't describe. Satiation, ecstasy, greed—a thousand feelings swirled inside. Seconds later, I'd fulfilled my incubus needs, leaving the lifeless man to slip from my grasp.

Suddenly, the third passenger in the room began to clap slowly. At first I couldn't explain why I'd ignored his presence and instead focused on his friends. But as I turned to face him, the demon red eyes stopped me cold.

"Very nice, my son." Asmodeus, the original incubus, had tracked me down. "You've kept me waiting far too long."

The German man who'd asked for a light, was no German at all. Or even a man. In front of my eyes, my father morphed into his favorite shape—a tall, broad male with dark curly hair, a long waistcoat, and baggy breeches. His attire was a clear throwback to the Baroque style he favored so much. All he needed was the white wig, although I remembered him complaining about having to cover up his hair before.

"Come." He beckoned to me and I had no choice but to obey. Grabbing my arms tightly, his slit eyes bore into mine. "I'm getting tired of chasing you."

He squeezed harder and I flinched. I may be stronger than the humans, but I was only half demon. My father could kill me in an instant if he wanted to.

"Why must you act so miserable?" He tilted his head from side to side, trying to get into my mind. "You should be thankful for what I have given you."

"For stealing my humanity? Killing my mother?" I spat. "Yes, I'm so grateful," I said sarcastically. I knew I'd gone too far, but something about his presence always pushed me to that edge. And it wasn't even like I ever knew my mother—those who'd been seduced by an incubus and gave birth to cambion children never lived to see their babies take a first breath.

"Why are you so weak?" my father mumbled. Suddenly, his head snapped up and a malevolent smile filled his face. "It's about time you claimed your place in this world."

Without saying anything else, he pulled the soul I'd just collected into his own body. Our arms glowed as the essence of a man living moments ago passed between us. His mouth, just inches from mine, sucked the last of the energy with a sharp inhale. I felt drained and empty and utterly distressed by the time the transfer was complete. Subconsciously, I looked down at the other German man lying in my room. My father laughed.

"You may take him for yourself. Consider it a gift." He stepped away from me and straightened his coat. "Besides, I must be going. You're about to have a visitor."

I didn't like the way he grinned as his body faded away. With red eyes lingering behind, I swear I saw him wink before disappearing completely.

Not hesitating another moment, I dropped to the ground and took the life of another man. His soul danced in my body, pushing down the guilt I felt and satiating so many other needs. He was tainted with evil, and I justified my kill by believing I did the world a favor. When finished, I tried to clean up my mess, deciding to hide the body until I could dump him overboard. Seconds after I shoved the dead man under the bed, my door slammed open with a crash.

A gentleman not much larger than me stood in the doorway, arms crossed and a deep scowl etched into his face. He didn't speak, but I had a feeling I knew why he was here.

"Yes?" I asked, wiping my mouth to not only clear the blood but also to make sure my demon features had transformed back into human shape. I used my foot to slide the German's arm the rest of the way out of sight.

"You are not welcomed here." It wasn't the man in the door that spoke, but a new one that just stepped into the opening and glared at me. Dressed like an aristocrat in head to toe expensive garments, he tried to pass for human.

But I knew better.

Turning my back to him, I slipped my coat from my shoulders and made a big deal out of claiming this space as my own. "Go away, vampire."

A barely audible sigh escaped his mouth. "I'll tell you one more time. You're not welcomed here."

I continued to tidy up the room, hoping to avoid a confrontation. "Is this your ship?" I asked, still not looking in his direction.

"In a sense," he replied calmly.

"In what sense?"

"The humans are mine."

This time I huffed and turned to look at him. "Yours?" He nodded and I shook my head. "And you know what I am?"

"Yes."

"Then you know what I must do to survive."

He stepped into the room, his bodyguard moving to block my escape. "You must do it elsewhere."

I waved my hands around, gesturing to the tight quarters. "I have limited options at the moment."

Vampires were notoriously territorial, and I did my best to avoid interacting with them as much as possible. There was a lot of bad blood between demons and vampires—centuries of wars and rebellions that I purposely stayed away from. A creation of the dark, the vampires had wanted to break free of the control demons held over them. Much like the freedom I craved as well. In a way, I had much more in common with the vampires than with my own father.

Deciding the fight just wasn't worth it, I stood tall and looked at the man. "We are almost to New York, and I have recently fed. There will be no more incidences."

"That is correct," he said, a split second before his guard jumped forward and plunged a dagger into my stomach.

Having been in many human battles over my long existence, being stabbed wasn't a new experience for me. But I didn't remember it hurting this bad, or even hurting at all. Before I could react, another blade sliced through my chest, the blades crisscrossing inside of me and paralyzing me with pain.

"What did you do?" I wheezed. Falling to my knees, I struggled to breathe. Fire burned through my body, ripping and tearing flesh from my bones. Never had I felt this kind of physical agony before.

"Enchanted iron," the vampire said coolly. "Don't fret, it won't kill you." He flicked his wrist and two more vampire guards, a male and a female, came through the door in a blur. They lifted me up by my arms, while the original guard threw my coat over my shoulders. The fabric pressed against the blades and I yelled out in pain.

"You owe me two lives, cambion."

"I don't owe you anything," I spat. But I should have stayed quiet because the movement only exacerbated the burning sensations scorching through my body.

"You owe me and you will repay me." He paused just long enough for dramatic effect. "And I know exactly how." Walking closer to me, he lifted my chin with his long, pale fingers. In reaction, my jaw descended and I felt the demon teeth fill my mouth. The vampire seemed pleased with this. "Your kind is very rare, and it just so happens that I value the exceptional."

I stared at him through red eyes. "What do you want?" I growled, the iron daggers burning me from the inside out.

"To celebrate," he said and twirled his hand. Without saying another word, he turned on his heel, as graceful as a dancer, and walked out the door.

The three vampires dragged me out of the room and onto the deck. We stumbled from side to side as the waves increased in anticipation of a storm. Every time I was forced to take a quick step, searing pain shot through me. A part of me wished they'd just throw me overboard where at least I could be free of their hands. But the other part of me wouldn't give up so easily. After eight centuries of life, survival had become an essential part of my being. Besides, I wasn't so easy to kill either.

"Bring him here," the man said. He waved us forward to where he'd stopped to admire the nighttime sky. A full moon reflected off the stirring sea and lightning lit up the clouds in the distance—a sign of what was to come. "Have you been to the Americas before?"

I didn't answer. In a blur, his hand reached out and twisted the dagger in my chest. I gritted my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction despite the tears brimming in my eyes. I'd never encountered a blade that could paralyze me like this. Enchanted iron. Apparently my demon half had a weakness after all. All these years, I'd worried about my human flaws, mainly my lack of immortality. Now I wondered if that would be a blessing in disguise.

"Oh Escher, must you be so rough?"

We both looked to the bow of the ship where a beautiful red creature sat perched upon the railing. Her fiery hair tossed wildly in the wind, the feathers on her body catching the flickering moonlight. In spite of the pain searing through me, my breath caught with admiration for the harpy who I'd once seduced in an effort to win a soul.

In one graceful movement, she jumped up in the air, expanding her bird wings to slow down her fall. When her feet brushed against the deck, she ran forward a few steps and used her human arms to catch her balance. In an instant, the feathers and wings disappeared and were replaced with an intricate red gown that fanned out around her in a wave. She'd completely transformed by the time she reached us.

And she was still as beautiful as I remembered.

Tasmin grabbed Escher's face between her hands and kissed him hard on the mouth. They were equal in height and with her dress and hair flaring out around them, she looked like the one now in control. Surprisingly, Escher didn't push her away and instead appeared to pull her tighter.

Several seconds later, she lifted her head and turned to look at me. With her flushed cheek pressed tightly against the vampire's cold skin, they looked strikingly different yet eerily alike. I think it was the evil hidden behind their eyes.

"Well, what do you have here, my love?" she cooed. Stroking Escher's back she reached forward to lift the side of my coat. When it revealed the two iron daggers piercing through me, she sucked in a shocked breath. "What did you do to him?"

Her tone had hardened and I suspected she was actually surprised to see me in this state. Or maybe it was all an act.

"I caught him stealing from me," he stated. I flinched and caught Tasmin's eye. "So he's going to pay me back."

Tasmin shifted slightly. "And just how are you going to do that?" She hadn't removed her gaze from my eyes.

I suspected she was trying to tell me something, but I didn't understand. After all, she was standing there with her arm around the very man who now tortured me.

Escher paused again. He liked the theatrics. "I think he'll make a delightful treat for my wife."

Sure I saw fear flash across Tasmin's face, she hid it so quickly I thought maybe I'd imagined it. Stepping forward, she placed the palm of her hand against my cheek. Her warmth spread through me instantly, reminding me of our brief time together in the bar. Before she'd stolen from me.

"He is a rare find," she whispered. Sad, dark eyes peered up at me in pity and her heart beat increased.

"Exactly," Escher said. He waved the two vampire guards forward to haul me away. "It will be a perfect gift for the celebration."

This time I know I saw Tasmin flinch. A moment before the guards grabbed me again, she lifted her mouth to my ear. "Don't fight. I'll come back for you."

Afraid Escher would have heard, I quickly turned my head and let the vampires drag me away. Tasmin and Escher stayed behind, and it didn't take long before I heard her high pitch giggles and Escher's moans of enjoyment.

As we descended into the pits of steerage, I wondered if I could trust the dishonest woman to help me out of this mess.

America, 1821

One week later, I found myself locked in a cage being dragged over the bumpy back roads of Savannah. We'd landed in New York a day after Escher skewered me, and had been traveling south ever since. The iron daggers still pierced my body, but I'd learned to block out a lot of the pain. His men had kept me fed—well, with human food—so at least I had some strength left to plot my revenge. The hot, balmy air helped too. Although I found it hard to breathe at first, I'd forgotten just how much I loved the warmth of the sun.

Escher hadn't made an appearance since the night I saw Tasmin on the ship. I dreamed about ways to rip him apart at the same time I dreamed about Tasmin's promise to me. Would she come? How could she possibly help me? I suspected Escher had a tight leash on the harpy. At least if he had any sense in him, he would.

Our carriage made an abrupt stop, forcing my shoulder to slam against the metal bars and shifting the daggers inside me. My feet slipped on the straw floor, and I fell to my knees. I wanted to scream in pain and frustration, but instinct told me to bide my time. If I showed weakness or fear, I knew my situation would become much worse.

Lifting my heavy head, I focused on the reason for our sudden stop. Off to the side of the road was a dirt lane lined with majestic oaks that carved out our passageway to the plantation house at the end. I could just barely make out the magnificent columns along the front of the house, and I marveled at their designs. In my many years, I'd traveled all over, secretly admiring the architects and artists who made their lasting mark in the world. Where I rid the society of evil souls, they unselfishly created masterpieces for many generations to enjoy.

A sharp squeal drew my attention back to the present. Four dark skinned men pushed a platform down the lane and out toward our waiting carriage. My drivers had yet to descend from their enclosure, leaving me to wonder if this was as far as they'd go. I honed my senses and listened. Erratic heart beats, sweat dripping from their pores, shallow breathing—they were terrified of what lay beyond those trees.

As if on cue, a howl echoed through the early evening. I knew that sound, and by the way our new visitors picked up the pace, I suspected they did too. On top of the platform sat another metal enclosure. This one looked like an oversized birdcage and my mind drifted to Tasmin. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I thought about someone trying to trap that creature in a cage.

The two drivers sat silently in the carriage while one unlucky man had the chore of transporting me into my new prison. They all reeked of fear, and despite the hunger griping at me, I refused to harm these men. I just wished they'd stop smelling so tempting.

The youngest of the group, and the one forced to do the unwanted job, shuffled over to the metal door and lifted a key up to the lock. As he attempted to put it in the hole, his gaze met mine. Knowing he saw the red leaking into my pupils, I watched his eyes widened in fear. He jumped backward and dropped the key to the ground. Reciting several words under his breath, he blessed himself with an ancient religion carried over from his homeland.

I closed my eyes and turned my face away from him. His heart raced and he continued to mutter a saying that was supposed to save him from evil spirits. I recognized a few of the words and tilted my head.

"You are safe my friend," I roughly spoke in his native tongue. "I will not harm you."

He froze at the sound of my voice. The remaining men slowly moved closer to my carriage, intrigued yet frightened that I understood their language. Their hesitant steps occupied my ears while the young man I'd spoken to encompassed my gaze. I nodded, confirming my promise to him.

After a few moments, he swallowed and let out a deep breath. With steadier hands and eyes that never veered from mine for too long, he finally unlocked the door. It creaked and groaned as all four of the slaves pushed it open far enough to line up with the awaiting birdcage. The young man beckoned me forward. When I stood and grabbed the metal bar to steady myself and will away the agony, he winced. Something about that human reaction helped me focus and I dragged myself to the edge of the carriage. Carefully stepping down from one prison to another, I maneuvered my way inside.

The youngest slave guided the blades into the cage, being sure they didn't brush against the bars. "Not much longer," he whispered and gave me a nod. I didn't know if he meant that the daggers would be removed soon or that my travels were almost over. Either way, I appreciated the kindness.

One slow step at a time, the men wheeled me down the long lane. In and out of the shadows, I watched as we passed wooden shacks and dozens of plantation workers. Their curious stares went unanswered, although some of them made the same blessing gesture when they noticed me. I couldn't imagine how much of the supernatural world they were familiar with, but I suspected they knew more than the average human just from living here.

As we passed underneath the final pairing of oaks, a grand entrance awaited us. Two extravagant wooden doors spanned the entire height of the first floor. A large, open porch wrapped around the second level, and hidden in the shade underneath was Escher. Standing as still as stone, his fancy suit and black top hat seemed out of place considering the ragged clothes everyone around him wore, including me.

He lifted his arms and smiled, being sure to avoid the sun beams. "I'm happy to see you made the journey."

"Did I have a choice?" I mumbled and Escher chuckled.

"Please, consider my home your home." He stepped forward and grinned as though the gesture would welcome me. Lifting his hand, he motioned to the workers pushing my prison.

The young man with the key hustled over and unlocked the door, this time not fumbling as bad. Once he pushed the door to the side, he quickly jumped back behind the cage. But he caught my eyes, and anger, not fear, filtered through them. I stood, the daggers pulling down to the ground, and clenched my teeth together.

"I'd appreciate your words if these were removed," I said.

Escher smiled again, fangs in full view, and reached into his pocket. Slowly, he slipped on a pair of gloves, making it much more dramatic than necessary. Setting his cane used only for show to the side, he flipped up the collar of his long-tailed overcoat and pulled down his hat.

Then, quicker than I would have thought possible, he leapt inside my cage, yanked out the blades, and jumped back into the shade. He stood with a smirk, both daggers now dangling from his hands and swaying slightly back and forth. A moment later, I felt my body begin to heal. The pain of the enchanted iron piercing me the past week seemed like nothing compared to the agony of my organs reforming and blood rushing to close the wounds. Yet, the process only lasted a few excruciating minutes before I could breathe again.

"Thank you," I whispered, ashamed to show weakness.

Escher passed the daggers to one of his workers, and finger by finger, pulled the gloves off his hands. "I want you to be at your best tomorrow night for the gala."

I raised my eyebrows. "I'm not feeling very celebratory."

Something glinted behind Escher's dark eyes. "You will. Please, come forward."

It killed me to obey his request, but it was my first chance to get out of a cage in a week. Slowly, I walked forward and lowered myself to the front porch. But to spite Escher, I remained fully enveloped in the sun's rays. He looked at me with a mix of annoyance and humor.

On a silent command from their master, the human workers surrounded me. Two of them quickly pulled my arms together in front of me and slapped iron manacles over my wrists. At the same time, the other two pulled my legs to the side so they could each lock a cuff over my ankles. An iron chain connected them all together, weaving in and out of each and brushing along the ground. The metal irritated my skin and left me feeling just as weak as before.

I glared at Escher. "More enchanted iron?"

"I'm a cautious man," he said. "Isla would be very disappointed if I didn't have everything I promised her." He looked at his slaves. "Take him downstairs."

With a flare of his jacket, Escher disappeared inside along with the other guards lurking in the shadows. I assumed Isla was his vampire wife and I worried about exactly what he may have promised her. As I stood alone with the human slaves and iron cuffs paralyzing my demon side, desperation began to settle into my bones. After all my years of hating what I was, I wished for my supernatural strength for the first time.

Two sets of hands grabbed my elbows and pushed me away from the front door and around the side of the house. I went willingly, still refusing to harm the slaves that found themselves trapped at this plantation and working for a sadistic vampire.

Instead of entering the house, we followed the wrap-around porch to the rear. Through the windows I heard more workers inside, prepping furiously for what I assumed was the grand event tomorrow. In the grounds surrounding the place, more humans skittered about cutting, burning, and scraping together pieces of tress, yard clippings, and any unattractive materials. Apparently, Isla's arrival required perfection.

When we reached the back of the house, I noticed an entrance to a cellar hidden in the stone walkway. The young man stepped ahead and lifted the heavy metal doors with some effort. Once secured, he beckoned all of us forward. However, only I began the descent. Three of the men stayed behind, wide eyes and erratic heart beats telling me they would go no further. But the youngest of the group, and the one who seemed most comfortable now, followed me down the stone stairs.

Dampness smothered my skin as we descended through a never-ending corridor. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and when we got to the bottom, the man lit an oil torch and nudged me forward. The stone walls closed in on us, dripping with secrets and generations of mold. The floor of the cavern sloped downward, and after several minutes of walking, I thought we'd be far enough below ground for even the darkness to turn black.

We eventually reached another metal door which the man unlocked with a key. His hands began to tremble again and the moment we stepped through, I knew why. We weren't alone.

And he was the only human.

The room carved out of stone contained six cells. Each one had an identical metal door with a small barred opening near the top. Some of them were made of iron while the others shimmered with their silver coatings. My usher pushed me toward the closest one on the right—the only unoccupied cell. Something scratched the door across from me and a low growl echoed through the room. Escher seemed to have a pension for capturing dangerous things.

Once inside my new prison, the human worker slammed the door and quickly locked it from the outside. I heard him shuffling nearby but not moving toward the exit. Suddenly, his face appeared in my tiny window, but it was so high, only his forehead and eyes were visible.

"I am sorry," he says in his native language. "My master is an evil man."

I huffed, thinking Escher was way more than just evil. The young man left, his fear lingering in the small space like a tempting treat. I sucked in a deep breath, taking it in and trying to satiate my growing hunger. The stress of this ordeal meant I craved more than just human food.

Another round of scratching erupted in the opposite cell. I hunkered down on the cold, stone floor and listened. Whimpers, followed by a long, low moan filled the air. Eventually a human voice cried out in pain and then the room fell silent. I'd witnessed werewolves transform before, and every time, I sympathized with the effort it seemed to take them. Although this one smelled old, his shifting sounded just as painful as the new ones.

I focused beyond the struggling shifter to see who else I could identify as one of Escher's collectables. In the farthest cell from me, two voices chanted in whispered tones. They were young, and scared, and totally in sync with each other. The Latin they spoke made me think they were witches of some sort, concocting a way to keep them safe, if my translations were correct. I'd spent a couple of years in Romania, learning their ways, several generations ago. True witch magic drew power from the elements, and they were particularly fascinated with my heritage and the way it helped nullify their abilities. After testing protection spell after protection spell on me, they grew weary of my presence and eventually asked me to leave. I'd tried to take what I'd learned from them and apply it to my own demon magic, but never progressed beyond my natural abilities to enthrall and entice as an incubus does so well.

Bringing myself back to the present, I thought I scented the putrid odor of a troll and the faint aroma of residual blood being used for voodoo magic. At the same time I got distracted by a smell and essence of something I'd never encountered before. Almost like an electrical charge, the faint taste of ozone and the empty black hole in the cell had me intrigued. I searched my memories trying to identify the being that sat in the cell next to me.

But then I caught a familiar scent as Tasmin barreled into the main cavern.

Crimson Oak Plantation, 1821

"Come ladies," she cooed, and every prisoner stopped to listen. Two human females accompanied the harpy on their own free will...or at least their will as Tasmin commanded it. Souls smelling sickly sweet with innocence, I tried to focus on something other than their presence. But Tasmin brought them directly to me, and when she unlocked my door and sauntered inside, I nearly lost control.

"Conner," she smiled brightly, "So good to see you again." Walking to the corner I'd backed myself into, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my head to her lips. Her breath caressed my mouth, warmth seeping in and making my shudder. In an automatic response, I lifted my cuffed arms over her head and grabbed her tight around the hips to be closer to them. Despite not being able to suck a soul from her, my incubus side still wanted to play.

Finally, I felt her chuckle next to my lips. She stepped away from me with glazed yet ravenous eyes, just long enough to grab one of the humans. "This is for you," she said in a breathless whisper.

I didn't hesitate. There was no need for me to entrance her, but instincts won out. And when I fed on a woman, I didn't need to bite. Unless I wanted to. I brushed the hair from her face and trailed my finger down her cheek and neck. When I reached her collar bone, I leaned forward and placed a light kiss above it. At the same time, I slipped her dress off her shoulder and enjoyed the way her heart rate increased. A second later, her mouth pressed tightly against mine and I began to pull out her soul.

Nothing tasted as delicious as innocence. For so long I'd only collected the damned—evil souls who were destined to join the likes of my father. That way I never had to take a purely innocent life. I avoided those that could tempt me most.

Because it was too hard to stop.

Waves of energy flowed into me, and memories from her life filled my mind. Orphaned at a young age, she worked in a small bakery in exchange for a place to stay. Tasmin found her in downtown Savannah and invited her to be one of her ladies. Little did she know, Tasmin was no royalty and her promises of luxury would go unanswered. The idea of hope consumed me, as the young woman wanted so badly to better her situation. Not only was she innocent, but naïve.

The bliss of her life force was suddenly ripped away. I growled at Tasmin's grip on my shoulder and turned to challenge her. But instead of showing fear, she laughed. "Pace yourself," she said, wiping the hair out of my face. My breathing calmed and the woman I'd fed on stumbled backward against the wall. Although pale, her breathing was steady enough for me to know that she'd recover. Eventually, she slid to the ground and fell asleep.

Red filled my vision despite Tasmin's touch. "Here," she said, noticing my struggle. She pushed the second female at me. "Take it slow. You'll need your strength, but you can't kill these two."

I finally focused on her. "But I'm so hungry."

She smiled and brushed her lips against mine. "You can control it, Conner." Her tongue danced in my mouth, flaring the demon inside of me again. When she pulled back she said, "Just a sip."

I nodded and pulled the human girl to me. Kissing her soft lips and feeling her fall under my spell made it very difficult to comply with Tasmin's request. And when I started to feel the woman's body go slack, I forced myself to stop. Inside the cavern, the other prisoners started to make noise. Some banged on their doors, some cursed under their breath. I'd selfishly indulged my thirst while the rest of them struggled with their own forms of hunger and frustration. As sobering as a cold shower, I stepped away from everyone and pushed my back against the hard, stone wall.

Tasmin remained in the center of the room while the two women lay slumped together on the floor. "Conner?" she asked, seeing my sudden change.

"Why are we all here?"

She made a point of looking around the room. "They're here to feed you."

"No, us." I waved my hand to the prison cells around me. "All of us. Why are we here?"

Understanding flashed across her eyes. She stepped over the women and patted her dress. I hadn't noticed before, but she was wearing a low cut red dress with a skirt that flayed out wider than she was tall. Her fiery hair fell effortlessly down her back, exposing the perfect bone structure of her human face.

"Escher is a collector," she stated. "You are all a surprise gift to his wife in an effort to make amends."

"Amends?" I asked.

Tasmin smirked. "Apparently Escher stepped beyond his boundary as a legal husband when he tried to take over some of his wife's territory." She played with a thread on her skirt. "He claims he didn't know that city belonged to her, but she suspects otherwise, as would I. Escher is ruthless, and this marriage is nothing more than his attempt to keep his enemies close."

"And we're here as an apology?" I spat.

Tasmin sighed and then nodded her head. "I'm afraid so. One of the best attributes about Escher is that he's creative. I don't believe any vampire has ever given a gift as rare as this before." She almost sounded...impressed.

"Why aren't you in here?" I growled.

"Excuse me?"

"You're a rarity just like me and the other creatures." She looked confused so I continued. "I smell the wolf and the troll, the witch twins have been spell casting continuously, and the voodoo priestess has used more blood than anyone should have to in a ritual. Plus, there's someone behind this wall who I can't even identify but who also doesn't deserve to be in here."

At the mention of the unknown creature, Tasmin's raised her eyebrows. "And your point is?" She knew exactly what I was trying to say, I could tell by the slight tremor in her voice.

"Why are you not in a cage, harpy?"

Her bird-like form flashed into existence for just a second before she got herself under control. "If you must know, I have made a bargain."

My stomach dropped with a sickening thought. "To lead him to us?" I shouted. "You've traded your safety for others?"

She pulled her head back, as though appalled by the accusation. But then I noticed the lack of compassion behind her dark eyes. "No," she stated matter-of-factly. "I had nothing to do with your capture." She slammed her hands into my shoulders and pinned me against the wall. Her nose elongated into a beak, her wings extended from her back, and she snarled. "And I resent the accusation."

Using my cuffed hands, I shoved them into her stomach and pushed her back. "Your kind is notoriously untrustworthy," I scoffed.

"And you are the only one who can put a stop to this!"

"What?"

She shook her body and sucked in a long, deep breath. A moment later, she was completely human again. The two women stirred on the floor, but neither of them woke up. "How much magic do you know?"

Her question caught me by surprise and I huffed. "Not enough to get me out of these," I said, lifting my cuffed arms and dragging the chain across the ground.

She smiled. "Iron will weaken a demon, but you should be able to fight it."

"How?" I asked.

"Your father is Asmodeus, one of the most persuasive demons. All you need to do is pull on that power." I must have looked as bewildered as I felt because she let out a cackle so evil, I stepped back. "Have you even ever tried?" she spat.

I didn't understand where her question came from. "Magic?"

"Yes! Demon magic to be exact."

I shook my head. "Not really."

"No?" She let out one of her laughs again. "And is there a reason why?"

"I don't want to be like him."

"You don't want to be like your father?" Her face began to change again and she rolled her shoulders in preparation for wings. "I can't understand that. How long have you lived? Eight centuries if I'm correct, and all this time you deny what you are?"

I clenched my teeth. Her tone irritated me and her presumptuous attitude set my blood on fire. "I'm not all demon."

"But you could act like one," she said. "I'm destined to snatch evil soles and innocent children for eternity, and yet you don't see me whining about it!" Tasmin's dress exploded from her body, revealing red feathers and a pissed off harpy underneath. "Do you think I chose this life? No, but I accept it. That's just what we are."

"I'm not like you," I said as calm as I could. "You don't understand what it's like to have a conscience grating at you every time you take a soul. You do what you do so easily because you're not human."

Her wings flared to the side and rushed forward too quickly for me to protect myself. They slapped against my body with such force, pain erupted from my shoulders to my ankles. What I said must have offended her, because she now stood inches away from my face.

"You are weak." She growled. "I should just leave you here."

"I am not like you," I said again, not knowing why I thought it necessary to repeat myself. Especially since she was the only chance I had at getting out of here.

This time she forced a laugh. "No, you are not." After glaring at me for a few moments, she finally sighed. Her wings settled behind her back and she spun on her heel to walk away from me. The moment she did, her dress returned and all signs of bird disappeared.

Grabbing the two girls on the floor, she dragged them to the door and pushed them through. I heard the lock engage and worried I'd angered the wrong ally. Tasmin left without saying another word, and although I felt stronger, doubt seeped into my human mind and the weakness began to take hold.

"Your friend is correct."

I turned around so quickly, my elbow slammed into the wall. Sharp teeth filled my mouth and my jaw cracked when it widened into its demon form. In the center of the room stood a female with long black hair and lavender eyes. A white gown covered her petite features and her presence felt like that huge black hole I'd sensed in the cell next to me.

"Who are you?" I growled.

She lifted her hands in a calming gesture. "My name is Alalia." Her small smile softened something in me, and I shifted back to my human features. I focused on the woman, listening to her heart beat and watching for signs of danger. But I saw nothing. Nothing at all.

"What are you?" I whispered.

This time her smile filled her face. "I am fae." She took one step closer but jumped back when she spotted my iron cuffs. "And I want you to know that your harpy friend is correct in her assessment."

"She is not my friend," I said childishly and thought I heard Alalia chuckle. Changing thoughts, I asked, "I didn't know your kind still existed in this realm."

She hung her head. "There aren't many of us. Most choose to stay away." Her fingers squeezed the delicate fabric of her dress, fists tight with emotion. "I came here in search of my husband, but discovered I gave my loyalties to the wrong creatures." She looked up, as though she could see through the dirt and stone. "Escher has many allies of varying species."

"Yes, I imagine he does." My thoughts drifted to Tasmin. Had she betrayed us all?

"No," Alalia said. "It was not her doing."

"How did you...?"

She smiled again. "You are human enough for me to hear."

Something inside of me filled with relief. I'd maintained my human nature despite all of the awful demon things I had to do to survive. And if the fae could recognize that, I knew I'd been right to keep fighting for my humanity. Then I had a thought. "If you can appear in here, why can't you just leave," I asked.

Alalia lifted her arms and pointed to my cuffs. "Iron. Escher lined the cavern walls with pieces of it. In here, I can move about, but I'm trapped in the confine of these rooms just like the rest of you."

Her disappointment evident, I tried to remember why she came to me in the first place. "You said Tasmin was correct?"

"Yes," she said, face brightening with hope. "Vampires are creations of the demon world; therefore, demons have control over the soulless fiends. With your father's blood, you inheritably have the ability to be free of their will. All you need to do is access that part of your magic."

Although I knew little about the fae, they were thought to be the most magical of all the creatures. And I felt embarrassed by Alalia's impression, correct or not, of my inability to accept the demon traits. When she nodded her head, I remembered that she probably heard all of my fleeting thoughts. I was used to being able to pick up on the minute reactions of humans, but I wasn't accustomed to someone else reading me so well.

"I don't know if I can do that," I finally said, answering her unspoken question.

She opened her mouth to reply but a second later her head tilted to the side to listen to something even I couldn't hear. "I will help you," she said cryptically, then disappeared into thin air.

Crimson Oak Plantation, 1821

A day later, they came for me. I was the last to be ushered away after listening to my fellow prisoners being dragged one by one out of the room for the past several hours. The pieces of innocent souls I'd been able to feed on yesterday helped me greatly. But when the vampire guards came to collect me, I pretended to be weaker than I really felt.

After moving through several dark corridors, I was finally shoved into a room with stone walls, no windows, and a porcelain bath tub. I could smell the filth from the doorway and really didn't want to step any closer.

"Clean yourself," one guard said. His strong Russian accent carried through his demand making it stronger.

"The water is not clean," I said in his language. In response, I got another shove to the back. As much as I didn't want to bathe in the grime of others, I also hadn't been near water in over a week.

After trying to converse with the guards in several languages, I accepted that I needed to cooperate and save my strength. They had the courtesy to remove my cuffs, but I still sensed something hindering my magic. Perhaps Escher had placed iron in these walls as well. Quickly stripping out of my clothes, I tossed them to the side and stepped into the tub. The lukewarm water engulfed my body long enough for me to hastily cleanse all the places that needed it. When finished, I used the damp towel on the floor to try and dry myself before they subdued me with the enchanted iron again. That was when I heard her walk into the room.

"You are needed upstairs," she said to the guards in perfect Russian. Without seeing her, I knew this vampire was old, and powerful, and extremely dangerous. Once the guards left, she stepped closer to me and lowered her voice. "Turn around."

I complied. With only my iron cuffs and no modesty, I stood tall in front of her. She licked her lips, an odd gesture for the prim and proper southern decadent look she was going for. Even without intricate ball gown, her beauty was stunning. Blonde hair had been twisted on top of her head, allowing a few curls to fall around her face. Bright red lips throbbed with desire as her fangs pressed against the moist skin. Her hungry eyes feasted on the body she saw in front of her, once again provoking the incubus.

"I knew I needed to meet you." One slow step at a time, she sauntered over to me. "A cambion." Reaching forward, she ran her fingers down my bare chest. "Half human, half demon spawn. An incubus with a conscience." She inhaled a deep breath. "Delicious."

I stayed silent, afraid I may say something wrong. She walked around me, trailing her fingers over my shoulders, lower back, and waist. Lingering on my back side, she eventually slid up against my front. "I've always wanted to be seduced by an incubus. I wonder if it feels as good as a feeding during sex?" she mumbled to herself.

With her pelvis pressed up against mine, she pulled me closer. We were nearly the same height; her long, hidden legs, giving her the advantage. "Seduce me, cambion."

I focused on her and watched. There was no heartbeat to listen to but her dilated pupils and elongated fangs told me she was serious. As did her roaming hands now touching my most intimate parts. I swallowed hard and tried to focus. "I can't."

She squeezed me. "You can." Her lips found my neck and she scraped her fangs down my skin, sending shivers through my core.

"You have no soul for me to feed on," I growled, biting back my desires. It was never a good idea to be with a vampire.

"Maureen," she breathed into my ear.

"What?" I asked, just as she nipped it.

"Call me Maureen," she said. "Now, cambion. Show me what you can do."

Just as her lips were about to meet mine, her body tensed and her eyes changed to full black. Although looking directly at me, she didn't see. Frozen like a statue, Maureen stayed like that for several moments. I wanted to step away, but her hands were still wrapped around certain parts of my body, preventing any movement.

Suddenly, she sucked in a breath and her eyes faded back to normal. She sighed loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. Snapping her fangs back into place, Maureen stepped away from me. Fingers grazed my skin one last time and something inside of me wept in disappointment.

"Fucking Escher," she groaned. "Always ruining my fun." Maureen walked to the corner and threw something at me. "Put those on."

I looked down at the lone black pants. "No shirt?"

She smiled—an evil smile that would have worried Escher himself. "He won't let me take you up there naked." Her eyes wandered over my body one more time before she winked. "He'd be very jealous."

With her hand extended, she beckoned me forward. I pulled on the pants, surprised at their perfect fit, and joined her. We walked in silence through the maze of stone corridors. Finally we started to ascend, yet when we entered into a grand ballroom of sorts, the stone walls and ceilings screamed underground lair. I wondered if I'd ever see the plantation house again. Maureen squeezed my arm as she spotted the Russian vampire guards.

"This way," she said, ice coating her voice.

We entered a cavern large enough to fit three houses inside. Flames flickered against the walls and reflected off strategically placed glass. The effect gave the impression of sunlight without actually being anywhere near the sky. Once again I admired the creativity and ingenious design.

At the far side of the room, a stone dais supported two thrones. Humans decorated them with roses while the vampires darted around with arms full of garland and other décor. So many things were going on, I barely noticed the main attractions until they were right in front of my face.

"The man likes his cages, doesn't he," I mumbled under my breath.

Maureen laughed. "He definitely has an animal side."

I cringed. Six identical cages large enough for one person lined the main aisle—three on each side. The tops nearly reached the ceiling, much higher than any of us was tall. In the first one on my left, a large black wolf paced back and forth with barely enough room to turn. Our eyes met for a moment and then he chuffed. A low growl rumbled deep within his chest each time one of the vampire or human workers got within a few feet of his cage.

Next to him was the creature I'd identified as a troll. Looking at least a hundred years old, his long white beard and hooked nose covered most of his wrinkled face. He'd climbed to the top, hanging on the side with one squat muscular arm and shouting curses at anyone who would listen. And when they didn't listen, he'd spit on them. Ignoring me, he continued to cause a ruckus and draw attention to himself.

"Come," Maureen said, and not so gently shoved me toward the right. My cage was the last one in line and closest to the entryway. In the distance, I saw Alalia watching me from her prison. Her lavender eyes and stoic demeanor gave me strength as I recalled our earlier conversation. As though hearing my thoughts again, she nodded and a smile small enough for just me to see, graced her petite mouth.

When we reached my cage, the large Russian vampire grabbed two of the bars with his hands, leaned forward, and pulled them apart.

"Show off" I groaned and Maureen giggled.

"Viktor thinks he's very strong," she said. Then she pinched his chin between her thumb and fingers. "But he is still young."

I wondered if Viktor was Maureen's child or Escher's. From the way he obeyed her, I guessed the former. He stepped to the side once she dropped her arm. Maureen nudged me forward. "Get in."

"Must I?" I said with incubus charm dripping from the words.

She smiled and for a second, I thought I had her. Then she shivered and her eyes turned cold and harsh. "You had your chance. Get in."

I had a sudden urge to obey, but I knew the compulsion wasn't coming from Maureen. That wouldn't work on me. So it must have been coming from someone else. The witch twins were sitting on the floor, facing each other and rocking back and forth. The two young girls with identical long black hair weren't seeing anything else in the room. The voodoo priestess had her light blue eyes focused on the vulgar actions of the troll, and the wolf was busy snapping at the humans trying to cover his cage with a red curtain. That left Alalia. I caught her staring again as I lifted one foot in front of the other without really wanting to. She didn't move, standing still with hands clasped in front of her as though everyone should bow down to her royal ways.

Dragging my eyes away, I stepped into my new prison and noticed a ring etched into the floor. And it was made of iron. I glared at Maureen and she shrugged.

"Precaution."

"Then can you take these off?" I asked, holding out my cuffed hands and kicking a chained ankle forward.

She shook her head and lifted her lips in a grin, fang peaking out. "Most of us don't like your kind."

"Human?"

"Demon."

Viktor bent the bars back into place and snapped his fingers. At once, two human females rushed over with a large roll of red fabric in their arms. They passed it to Viktor and quickly tried to scurry away, but one of them caught my eyes. Her heart fluttered and sped up more than it already had from her fear. She brushed her hand along her breast, most likely unaware of what she was doing. Her friend tried to pull her away, then stopped when she saw me too. Licking her lips, she started walking back toward the cage.

"Unbelievable," Maureen spat. She placed herself directly between me and the girls, breaking their trance. "Time to turn it off, cambion."

Before I could respond, the dark red curtain rushed down over my cage and cut me off from the rest. In just a few seconds, the activity ceased. The room cleared of anyone with a heartbeat. I still sensed a few vampires and my fellow captives, but the humans had certainly disappeared.

Another wave of compulsion tricked over me. I didn't like that Alalia had that much power, but at the same time I was glad we were on the same side. I felt the demon inside of me rise. Yet as it tried to burst through the surface, it hit a wall. I looked down at the floor made of iron. Although I'd had silver, copper, and steel used against me in my past, never had I encountered a metal that blocked my magic like this. Who would have thought...iron could be the demise of demons everywhere.

I chuckled to myself as I thought about how simple it would have been to control my father if I'd used iron against him. But demons could rarely be killed, and he probably would have cursed me to more soul collecting had I made an attempt. And I already owed him enough.

An hour passed before we heard movement again. The troll, witches, and wolf suddenly stopped making noise and I listened with my enhanced senses. Vampires—lots of them—filtered into the grand cavern. Silent and deadly, they filled the void and began to gather around the cages. Yet none of them removed the curtains, a sign of respect to Escher, or a symbol of their fear. In response, I went on the defensive and felt my jaw expand and eyes redden. I was tired of being a prisoner. Especially to a group of creatures beneath me.

Just as I was able to do something, another rush of calm hit me in the chest. A sign from Alalia, I eventually interpreted that as code to bide my time. It amazed me that she could transfer emotion to me without a word or a line of sight. But I let it slip to the back of my mind as I tried to calm myself and focus on my surroundings instead.

Music burst from the far corner of the room, a mix of baroque and folk that I'd never encountered before. More and more vampires passed by my cage, hinting at the secrets that may be buried within.

"He better have something spectacular," one lady whispered. "Isla is ready to kill him."

Another female vampire giggled. "I heard she buried him for a week."

"Wrapped in silver," a man chimed in. The three of them continued to speculate as they made their way around the room.

A moment later, the music changed and I suspected Escher and his bride had made their grand entrance. Where humans may applaud, the vampires stayed silent. Not a hint of movement skittered through the room, not even from those of us trapped in the cages.

"Welcome friends," Escher said once the music stopped. "Isla and I are humbled by your presence."

While I seriously doubted Escher could be humble at all, it seemed to appease the crowd. He must have run to the center of the room, because the next time he spoke, he had changed positions.

"To my magnificent wife, I am stunned by your beauty and envious of your mind." Something dark glinted underneath the surface of that statement, but he continued. "I have been a dreadful husband and must ask for your forgiveness in front of those who are our greatest friends."

Even though I couldn't see him, I heard the deceit in his voice. Escher felt about as much remorse for his actions as I had love for his kind.

"I know how much you enjoy the exotic, my love. So tonight, I give you just that."

The crowd awed at whichever creature Escher had decided to unveil first. One by one, he went around the room, showcasing his trophies. The vampires sounded excited as each prisoner was revealed. I'd counted five and knew he had saved me for last.

"And this one, my dear, is especially for you."

The curtain was yanked off my cage and silence filled the room at first. Then a round of hisses and vampire instincts took over. Shocked faces, sharp fangs, and stunned eyes stared at me. It was then I noticed that everything had a red tint and I knew exactly what they were looking at.

"You brought me a demon?" Isla scoffed, stepping back and slightly behind Escher. I wondered if she was scared or if she wanted him to be the one within reaching distance.

Escher laughed and gently pulled her forward again. "Not a full demon," he said. "I am not insane." She gave him a scowl that suggested otherwise. "Look closer," he said.

She stared at him a second longer before turning her black eyes to me. A teenager when she was turned, Isla could have passed for Escher's child had they both been human. Her long auburn hair curled around her neck, and flawless porcelain skin peeked out from underneath the indigo ball gown. With shoulders back, she demanded attention without even speaking. I sensed that she'd lived centuries longer than me and found myself wanting to bow in her presence.

Isla pulled her arm away from her husband and stepped closer to me. I stayed still, curious as to what would happen next. She sniffed the air and cocked her head to the side.

"A cambion," she whispered with interest.

Escher clapped his hands together, making me and the other prisoners jump. "Am I forgiven?" He rushed to Isla's side and nuzzled his chin against her neck. "Only the best for you, love."

She completely ignored his advances as she continued to stare at me. Our eyes met and I held her gaze. Removing her husband's arms from around her waist, she came to me. The other vampires cleared a pathway and lowered their heads as she passed. With the floor of the cage several feet above the ground, I crouched down to meet her.

She lifted her arm and brushed her finger over my hand clasped around the bars. Then, never breaking eye contact, she brought it to her mouth and sucked on her finger in a way that had a thousand meanings. "Mmmm," she mumbled. Escher stirred in the background. "A human incubus. How fascinating," she whispered.

When it was evident that Isla's interest in me was more than Escher could handle, he waved his hands in the air. "Ah, yes. Dinner is served."

Most of the vampires immediately turned to see the trial of meat walking up onto the stage. Humans of all ethnicities and ages gathered together, eyes dazed and body's covered in minimal clothing.

Isla lingered at my side several moments longer before Escher was forced to intervene. "Please, love," he whispered. "Our guests are waiting for us."

Happy to see Escher's plan backfire on him, I smiled. Isla flared her nostrils and flashed her fangs. Escher groaned and escorted her away. He glared over his shoulder at me and I shrugged.

Sometimes being a half incubus had its perks.

Valentine's Day, 1821

Dinner lasted almost an hour. Then came the dancing. Many of the vampires waltzed around the ballroom with lifeless humans hanging from their grasp. Arms dangling in an unnatural way, the bodies almost seemed to float. Their feet never touched the ground as their killers enjoyed the high they got from feasting on their blood.

Those not partaking in the macabre dance enjoyed Escher's gifts to his wife. The voodoo priestess spat curses at the vampires crowding around her cage. Crouched low to the ground, she was able to meet their gaze. Dark dreadlocks flailed furiously around her face each time she snapped her head to find another tormenter. Her almost white eyes practically glowed with whatever magic she was stirring up inside. But it didn't deter the vampires, and several of them jumped straight up in the air and hung on to the top of her cage, out of reach of her hissing and clawing. They hooted and hollered, egging her on and laughing each time she tried to hurt them.

Anger boiled up inside of me. Vampires could lose control of themselves after a feeding and like drunkards in the street, they tended to irritate us all with their antics. But at least the troll had a better solution. Somehow, he'd managed to wedge himself halfway up his cage, feet splayed to the sides holding him up and arms slapping away anyone who dared to reach inside. He continued to spit at the vampire's faces, which seemed to irritate them in some kind of way. Once they got hit, they moved on to admire one of the other prisoners.

"Come on, girl. Let me touch you." I turned my attention to the witches and the four large vampire men surrounding them. The girls couldn't have been much more than thirteen years old and I wondered how Escher was able to get them away from their coven. Typically they protected their protégés with their life. My heart tightened at the thought of how many Escher had to kill to secure this gift.

Now standing close together, the twins clasped each other's arms with fear painting their faces. One of the vampires reached inside and grabbed a bony ankle. The girl shrieked and kicked him away, her body shaking in dread. Her sister continued chanting louder, forcing her twin to focus with her. The spell they were trying to cast sparkled around them, but fizzled out as soon as it touched the bars of the cage. The vampires laughed, ignoring the girls' attempts at magic while discussing all of the horrible things they wanted to do the witches. In their own Italian language, it sounded even more vulgar.

"Filthy pigs," said a female voice next to my cage.

I knew who it was the second she spoke. "I was wondering when you'd show yourself," I said, grinning even though I didn't want to. "Does this mean we're friends again?"

Tasmin's perfect human form radiated in comparison to the corpses waltzing around the room. Red hair twisted in braids, her white gown glistened in the torchlight like a beacon. Sparkling and mischievous eyes greeted me, and the corner of her mouth turned up into a smirk.

"This means that you owe me. Again."

Something grabbed my cuffed hands so fast I didn't have a chance to react. I was pulled to the side so that my back now faced most of the guests, arms twisted between the metal bars. My shoulders burned and I almost yelled out. But as soon as I started to speak, I had my hands back. And the cuffs were gone.

Rubbing my wrists, I looked back down at Tasmin who now had a vampire standing by her side. "Don't make a scene," she said through a fake smile. I didn't understand what she meant until she nodded at my hands. I lowered them, hoping no one else had noticed that I'd been partially freed. Glancing up toward the stage, I saw Escher preoccupied with a female vampire dancing in front of him. But Isla stared straight at me.

"This is my dear friend, Aldabert," Tasmin said, pulling my attention back to them. "Let me see your feet."

The vampire named Aldabert smiled. Pale skin aside, he almost looked human with his kind eyes and warm greeting. Shorter than Tasmin, his light brown hair had been cut short to his head, and the tall black hat on top threatened to swallow his face. Flushed cheeks made me guess he'd recently fed, but at least he wasn't partaking in the dancing or tormenting of others in the room. He must have been in his late twenties when turned, yet the baby face couldn't hide that I knew he was at least several hundred years old.

Tasmin cleared her throat and motioned toward my legs. I stepped closer to the edge, giving Aldabert enough space to reach in and break the cuffs from my ankles. Pain followed the quick movement, but I just gritted my teeth until it passed. Tasmin collected the broken pieces and hid them down her dress. I smirked and she winked.

"No one will look for them there," she said, stepping close enough to press her face through the bars. Suddenly, all signs of humor disappeared. "You have to free yourself."

Aldabert moved to Tasmin's side, but positioned himself so that he could look out over the crowd. When a group of curious vampires got too close, he waved them away. And they obeyed without hesitation. I glanced in his direction, but Tasmin grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her. "Escher plans to give you all to Isla tonight."

I shook my head, even though she still held tight. "He's weakened our magic."

Tasmin huffed and dropped her hand. Cocking a hip to the side, she crossed her arms and scowled at me. "You are a demon, Conner," she hissed through a clenched jaw. "Start acting like one!"

Aldabert chuckled and then apologized with his eyes when I glared at him. His shoulders were still shaking with laughter when he turned back around to keep watch. Tasmin continued to yell at me. "Listen to Alalia. She will help you access that part of you that you constantly deny." Her disgust in my decisions was evident by her tone. She didn't understand what it was like to be part human, and it was obvious that she never would.

I sat back on my haunches and sighed. Then I realized what Tasmin had actually said. "Alalia can help me?" I looked over to the fae still standing like a queen and ignoring all of the activity around her. Isla had now taken an interest in Alalia, and her and her girlfriends giggled in front of her cage. They whispered and pointed but kept their distance, unlike the others.

"Yes. Just listen to her," Tasmin said, then stepped back. "Wait for the distraction." She looked at Aldabert and nodded. They started to leave.

"Wait!" I called out as quietly as I could. I still caught the attention of a few curious stares, including one of the witch twins. Disregarding them, I looked down at Aldabert. "Why are you helping me? Are you not among friends?" Vampire bonds often stretched centuries, and it didn't do them well if they betrayed their kind.

Aldabert smiled, again reminding me of a human. "I only have one true friend in here," he tilted his head toward Tasmin, "other than the harpy." The wolf snarled at something across the ballroom and Aldabert snapped his head in that direction. His eyes narrowed in on the scene and I swear he flipped from human to killer in an instant. Without looking at us again, he said, "And now I must go help him."

Aldabert weaved his way through the crowd as gracefully as one of the dancers, all the while focused on the vampires poking their canes into the side of the werewolf. I tried to follow his movements, but the commotion caught the attention of too many. He disappeared into the mix as the wolf continued to snarl.

"Be ready," Tasmin said, then turned on her heal and crossed the room. Her dressed flowed behind her like smoke and I thought I saw her back vibrate in anticipation of sprouting wings. Suddenly, a piercing howl echoed through the cavern and silenced the shouting from before. The black wolf jumped over the top of a line of vampires, grabbing the last one between his massive jaws. The female screamed and kicked, but only for a minute before the wolf ripped off her head. He tossed it to the side, a sickening thud ricocheting in my ears when it hit the stone wall and bounced to the ground.

For a moment, no one moved. The wolf crouched low, a guttural noise coming from deep within his bloodied mouth. Aldabert stood by his side with an arrogant smirk on his face, challenging those who dared to come too close. The music stopped and all black eyes focused on the pair. Escher stood on the stage in the distance with nostrils flared as Isla watched from the floor with a disinterested gaze.

A sense of power distracted me from the showdown. Once again I felt the demon inside of me rise to the surface only this time it tingled through my fingers and toes. Heat spread to my limbs, aching to break free. Surprised at how much I wanted that to happen, I looked over at Alalia. Her mouth moved as silent words passed over her lips. She nodded to me slowly, pushing her influence into me. Having only encountered the fae once before, I didn't fully understand how this was all working. But at the same time, the fire burning inside of me required my attention.

Plus it felt good.

I caught Aldabert's eyes a second before all hell broke loose, and I swear he tipped his hat to me. Then in an instant, he attacked along with the wolf. Vampires came at them in swarms, but somehow the two managed to hold them off. A few moments later, I saw one vampire fly through the air. Then another. Crimson wings streaked high above the crowd, tossing vampires left and right. Some landed in the torches, sending flames searing through their bodies. Some smacked against the cages, stunning them for several seconds.

Escher roared in the distance. He stalked forward to meet Aldabert and the wolf but he didn't get very far. With perfect aim, the troll spit in Escher's eye. He screamed out in pain, covering the wound with his hands, and backing up into Alalia's cage. In an instant, she bent down and wrapped her arm through the metal bars and around Escher's neck. Given her size, I worried about the pairing, but her mouth continued to move as she held the man who'd captured her tight within her grasp.

_Now!_ I heard it in my head as I watched the battles. A surge of magic enveloped me and I screamed, head back to the ceiling, arms splayed by my side. Energy crackled inside and I could almost hear my father's laugh leaving my mouth. Soon the room drowned in red as my eyes shifted to their natural form and I took on the features of my demon alter ego. With a twitch of my eyes, the metal bars surrounding me exploded into flames. Then one by one, each of the prisons erupted, bars melting and vampires running in fear.

I snarled, an unnatural but welcomed sound. The last of the metal melted to the ground and I stepped through the flames and off the iron floor. When I did, the power inside escalated. The closest vampires noticed the change and focused their completely black eyes on me. They hissed and crouched, ready to pounce yet not acting on it. The troll cackled high above me, distracting us. Tasmin had pulled him from the debris and seemed to be taking him away somewhere. As the fire burned around me, I looked to the other prisoners. The witch twins still stood on their platform, but their confidence had returned. Without the metal restricting their magic, they'd created a protective shield. It glistened around them in shades of blue and white. Each vampire that tried to break through shattered into dust the instant they made contact. I'd never seen something like that before, and a little streak of fear skittered through me. These twins were extraordinarily potent.

The voodoo priestess, with her light blue eyes and dark skin, held a knife in her outstretched arm, shouting at the vampires who encircled her. When one would try to attack, she'd lunge forward after them. Soon, they learned her weakness, and just as they decided to attack her together, Tasmin dove through the air and snatched her away. The priestess screamed at the vampires below who tried to jump up and pull them down. With just a few large beats of her wings, Tasmin had them both at a safe height and they disappeared behind a stone outcropping in the ceiling.

As my gaze drifted back down to the fight waiting for me, I saw Alalia. Her bars were gone too, yet she still held Escher in her grasp. His face wrinkled in anger and his eyes glared at Isla. His wife, capable of putting a stop to his embarrassment, stood just a few feet away with arms crossed and no sign that she would lend a hand. Alalia smiled at the female vampire then briefly looked at me. With a nod and a deep breath, she blinked out of existence.

Escher fell to the ground for a second, then pushed his way through the crowd. At first I thought he was going after Aldabert and the wolf, who were still holding their ground, but then I noticed his long strides were leading him directly to me.

I pulled the flames closer, letting them encircle me. None of the vampires attacked, survival being one of their strongest instincts. But Escher was beyond using his practical sense and instead decided to challenge me. In the depths of my being, I felt the strength of my father encourage me to act. Vampires were created by demon blood, and I had a lot of demon blood inside of me.

I lifted my arm and held up my hand. Escher froze mid-step, anger practically radiating from his pores. Yet, he couldn't move any closer...because I commanded him not to. The vampires surrounding us screeched in fear and scattered throughout the room. Some tried to flee, only to be attacked by Tasmin or the wolf. Others pressed themselves deeply into the corners, shielding their faces from the fire and the demon blood that sired them all.

"You..." Escher growled between his fangs. "How are you doing this?" His back arched and he hissed, frozen in the awkward position. Isla sauntered up to his side, eyes focused on me and trepidation hiding behind them.

"He is a demon, my love." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "And you are a fool."

Tasmin shrieked above me. In a gust of wind, I felt her slam against my side and lift us up into the air. Her skinny human arms held on tight around my chest and her clawed bird feet brushed against my legs as they dangled below.

"You're heavier than I thought," she grumbled.

I chuckled at the same time I took in the scene below me. The whisper of a dark wolf's tail disappeared through a door in the side of the room, and I hoped he and Aldabert made it out alive. The relationship between the two of them was unusual, but who was I to judge when a harpy was flying me to safety. Escher was still frozen in place, but his eyes followed us. I had no doubt that he would kill us both if given the chance. Tasmin had betrayed him and I could control him. Two things a vampire wouldn't take kindly to.

We flew behind the rock outcropping I'd noticed earlier and I was surprised to see an opening to the outside. Barely wide enough for her wings to fit through, Tasmin soared up above our escape. Once we reached as high as we could, she collapsed her wings tight against her back and we dove straight down through the opening. Air whizzed past my ears and I closed my eyes to avoid seeing the rock wall that was coming at me too fast.

The cool night greeted us when we landed several hundred feet away. I hit the ground first, running forward to try and avoid a fall. Tasmin stopped ahead of me, her wings beating one last time and clawed feet sliding on the ground. I turned around to see the plantation house off in the distance and swamp just ahead. Tasmin breathed heavily beside me. Her form slowly shifted between human and harpy, and her wings hung off her back like a burden.

"Are you all right?" I asked. I stepped closer to her but she swatted me away.

"Just give me a minute."

Shouting in the distance startled us both and the howling hounds sent a warning through the night. "They're still coming after us."

She nodded and grabbed my hand. "You can stop them," she breathed.

"Maybe we should run?"

"No. I can't," she said, shaking her head. "Don't be weak." The corner of her mouth lifted in a grin, taunting me.

I laughed and rolled my shoulders. "I'm not weak," I said. "Perhaps you should move back."

She huffed but heeded my warning. As soon as I felt she was safe, I pulled on the demon power inside. It waited at the surface in anticipation of its release. The sheer force of it frightened me but I didn't want to let anything happen to Tasmin. She'd risk everything to save me tonight.

A branch cracked ahead of us and in an instant we were surrounded by snarling vampires. Only these ones weren't dressed in their gala best. Instead they wore all black and showed no fear. Escher's guards.

Clenching my fists against my legs, I tried to control the evil inside. "I'll give you one chance to walk away," I shouted to them all.

Tasmin stirred. "Burn them," she sneered.

A vampire jumped toward her in a blink, but I was faster. With one look from my red eyes, he burst into flames, just inches from Tasmin. His scream pierced through the night, and he didn't stop until he fell still.

I looked at the remaining guards surrounding us. "Last warning."

They didn't move. And I thought we might have a chance of getting out alive until I saw Isla walking through their barrier.

"Enough of this, cambion." She continued to move closer until I lit a wall of fire between us. Startled, she froze. The wind from the heat blew her auburn hair back and she tried to gently keep it in place. Then she laughed. "Impressive. My husband really is a fool for bringing you here."

"I agree," I said.

Her gaze traveled to Tasmin who now stood tall and beautiful in her human form. I could still hear her heart frantically beating, telling me she hadn't yet recovered from her fight. "So you're the harpy," Isla said in a cold and calculated way. She eyed her some more, taking in every inch from Tasmin's head to her human toes. "Dull."

Tasmin looked like she was about to say something, but I put my hand out to stop her. Isla smiled and lifted her brows. "Please, let her speak." She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, ready to pounce if given the chance. "I am curious about her relationship with my husband."

"We don't want to fight with you," I said.

"Really?" Isla huffed. "Is that why my guard's ashes lay at your feet?" She took another step closer to the fire, her arrogance trumping her fear of the flames.

I pushed the wall a little higher. "We just want to leave."

Isla crossed her arms and sighed. Staring a moment longer she finally lifted a hand. "Go," she said to the guards.

"Madam?" one of them asked.

"Go!" she yelled without turning to look at them. They obeyed instantly and disappeared into the shadows. I kept my wall of fire going, not trusting the ancient teenage vampire in front of me. In the orange light of my flames, her black eyes reflected danger back at me. For several moments, we were tangled in a power struggle, neither one willing to back down. I certainly knew I couldn't show weakness in front of her. Finally, she blinked slowly. "I will let you go," she cooed. "But remember this night, for I may call in a favor someday."

"What about Escher?" I asked.

Isla laughed, a tinkling sound that sent a chill to my bones. "Escher is not the one you should be worried about." Her tone icy, she showed no fear. "Go, but remember what I said."

I nodded, more willing to risk meeting her again than continue to draw on my demon heritage. My body shook with fatigue and pain raced through my skull. I needed this conversation to end.

Isla smiled, showing me her fangs. The she turned around so fast that in the moment her dressed flared out to the side, she'd disappeared into the darkness. I let the wall of fire drop, and then fell to my knees. Tasmin rushed to my side.

"We need to go," she said.

"So, you and Escher..." I grinned up at her.

She rolled her eyes. "It's not what you think. Come on." Reaching underneath my arms, she helped lift me to my feet. "I don't think I can fly yet."

"That's not a problem," I said. Grabbing her hand, we ran north until we reached the state border, never once looking back.

Toronto, 1971

An expiration date. Just ask him for an expiration date. It sounded so easy that I marveled at the simplicity. Tasmin's words had haunted my mind for many years and tonight, I'd finally decided to act on them.

After escaping from Escher and Isla, Tasmin and I traveled together for nearly a century. We'd collected the obligatory souls but spent more time exploring the world and watching the cultures evolve around us. I'd fought in a war and Tasmin had performed on Broadway. But each time our travels took us apart, we always found a way to come back together again.

One particular night in Spain, almost a decade ago, we'd had another argument over my inability to succumb totally to my demon side. While always a point of contention with Tasmin, this time she was on such a high from the murderer she'd just consumed, that she managed to have a somewhat meaningful conversation about my human guilt.

"You don't want to do this anymore?" she'd slurred. "Then ask your father for a break." Stumbling over to the bed in our cottage, she fell on top of me and began twirling a piece of my dark curls around her finger. "Or better yet, ask him for an expiration date."

I chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "An expiration date? Like a spoiled piece of meat?"

Sucking on my bottom lip, her gaze continued to bore into me. "Yes," she whispered just before removing my pants and taking full advantage of her soul-collecting euphoria.

And while we didn't talk much more after that, her suggestion had always clawed at the back of my mind like a sharp harpy's talon. It took nine years for me to build up the courage to approach my father with such a ridiculous request. But the time had come, and I'd committed to doing it.

However, I had to fill up with a few more souls first. Suggesting a reprieve from my only purpose in life meant that I needed to have something to bargain with.

My eyes passed over the hotel bar, lingering on a table full of young businessmen. With drinks in hands and ties loosened around their necks, they celebrated the end of the work week in style. I watched and waited, not sure if they were quite what I needed. My father preferred those souls not completely scarred by evil, yet stained enough that redemption was no longer an option. And tonight I had to give him what he wanted.

Moving my gaze to the corner of the bar, I watched an elderly man drinking silently by himself. While his conscience wasn't entirely free of guilt, his misgivings were nothing compared to the two women who'd just set their sights on the businessmen. Tiny black dresses emphasized long, lean legs. Their shiny, black hair catching the light and the attention of every male in the room like they'd planned. Sisters maybe. No, not sisters. But definitely partners in crime.

The men could barely contain themselves when the ladies approached their table. Two of them instantly gave up their seats while two more offered up their laps with a smirk. I could barely sit still as I watched the women work their magic thinking about how they should have been working for the other side. Perhaps as succubae or maybe even as thieving harpies. My father would have loved these two.

Thoughts of Tasmin flooded my mind while I observed the women in action. While one of them distracted the table, the other casually pocketed the room key she snatched from one of the men's jackets. For a brief second, her eyes met mine. Yet instead of acknowledging that I'd just caught her in the act, she winked and licked her lips. Still sprawled on the man's lap, her gaze never left mine and something began to swirl inside of me. Power surged and my face tingled with the urge to steal just a little bit of her soul. I felt the incubus rise to the surface as I lifted the corner of my mouth in an inviting smile.

The woman stood, hand brushing the shoulder of her victim, eyes focused on me. Sauntering over to her partner, she whispered in her ear. When they both flashed a quick glance at me, I knew my charm had worked. Excusing herself from the table, the attractive pickpocket grabbed her purse and glided past the bar. Her friend kept the businessmen focused on her, laughing and flirting as a way to distract. When the first woman passed by me, she lifted the stolen room key and nodded toward the elevators. I smirked again and let her take a few more steps before sliding off my stool to follow her.

Admiring her curves from behind certainly excited me, but sensing the true evilness of her soul unlocked the incubus from its cage. Not just petty thieves, these women had killed before. Several times.

It was just the kind of bargaining chip I needed tonight.

I lingered behind, letting the woman enter the elevator without me. I'd be able to sense her now that I'd claimed my mark. With energy pulsating behind my muscles, I watched the elevator stop at the tenth floor and then darted into the stairwell. I rushed up the stairs, moving faster than humanly possible but aware that no one was around to see. By the time I stepped into the hallway, red tinted my surroundings in anticipation. But I needed to get control of myself if I ever expected her to let me inside the room. A door clicked in the distance and I inhaled a deep breath. The sweet smell of greed and lust filled my mind, and with a deep growl, I hurried down the hallway.

Before I could knock, the door flew open and bright green eyes greeted me. With a flawless face and nothing but a pair of black, lacy thongs covering her tan skin, the woman left little for the imagination. Pain flashed behind my jaw, enticed by the invitation and anxious to feed. But I fought to push that need down and focused on not turning all demon on her right this second.

"I'm Carmen," she cooed.

Smiling, I brushed my fingers against her hand resting on the door. "Conner."

She shivered under my touch and although very interested in what I had to offer underneath, she eyed my expensive suit like a huntress. Probably wondering how much cash I had on hand, when her gaze lingered on my watch a little too long, I stepped forward.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Looking up, she grinned and bit her bottom lip. "Come on in."

The second I stepped across the threshold, she jumped into my arms and pressed her lips against mine. Struggling to close the door behind me, I laughed against her mouth when I stumbled to the side. But she didn't stop and in no time at all, my jacket and shirt fell to the floor as she stepped back to admire what she'd exposed underneath.

"So what's a man like you doing all alone in a place like this?" She kicked the shirt out of her path and sauntered to me. Gliding her hands along my chest and stomach, I shuddered with desire and she smiled.

"I was waiting for you," I finally answered.

Carmen laughed. "Really?"

I nodded and grabbed her hands. Holding them tight in mine, I kissed her fingers slowly. While this close to her, I could practically taste what my body craved so much. And despite Carmen's exceptional figure and eagerness to please, I didn't have the time to play like she wanted. For a second, thoughts of Tasmin flashed through my mind. She'd make time to play and would probably be disappointed that I didn't.

A light knock on the door brought me back to the room. For a second, I panicked, worried that the man who owned the key had figured out that he'd been duped. But then I relied on my senses to note that the second woman had decided to join us.

Carmen wiggled out from my grip and opened the door. The other dark haired beauty sashayed through and glanced at her friend's lack of clothing. "Did you start without me?" Her voice was deeper and sexier and toyed with my self control.

I gave her a little smile mixed with incubus allure. "And you are?"

She stepped over to me and tugged on my belt. Moving the leather slowly and methodically, she made the move more seductive than I would have thought possible. She really did belong on the other side. "I'm Carrie."

"Carmen and Carrie," I chuckled. Carried tossed the belt on the bed and started on the buttons. I cleared my throat. "Are those your real names?"

Carrie looked up at me with pale blue eyes and grinned. "No," she breathed, sliding her hand inside my pants. Her lips met mine and I could barely control my instincts. Taking little sips of her soul, I knew Carrie was the leader of the two. She'd also been way naughtier than her partner.

I pulled back for a second, savoring the taste of evil and knowing that my father couldn't deny me my request when I delivered these two souls to him. Carrie continued to work on my pants, taking a quick moment to step out of her dress. Pushing me down onto the bed, I briefly noticed Carmen digging through my pockets in the corner of the room where she thought I couldn't see. The game these two played had suited them well, but it would all end tonight. I'd be doing all mankind a favor.

Carrie climbed on top of me, straddling my lap and holding my face in her hands. She didn't speak and instead used all of her power to seduce me into oblivion while her friend robbed me blind. But I didn't care, and as I began to suck the life out of her, power filled every cell. Like a taste of fine wine after years drinking nothing but water, her tainted soul relieved my demon desires. And her kisses certainly satisfied my human cravings.

I sucked on Carrie's soul until her moans started to fade. Not wanting to take the last of it just yet, I gently rolled her to the side and beckoned Carmen forward. She glanced at Carrie, who looked sleepy yet satisfied, and then slid into the bed on my other side. Positioned between the two women would have been one of those times when Tasmin would have encouraged me to play. But again, I was on a deadline.

And speaking of time, I lifted my arm only to notice that my watch had been removed. I looked down at Carmen, who twirled it in her hands and gave me an innocent look underneath long lashes. "Missing something?"

I smiled and nipped at her ear. She shivered when I breathed into it. "That doesn't belong to you."

Giggling, she pulled me on top of her and sucked on my lower lip. "And what are you going to do about it?"

Carrie moaned next to us, but her eyes stayed closed. Her energy was probably fading fast. Although to her it would feel like I'd just satisfied every sexual desire she'd ever had, and not like her life force was almost depleted.

"I'll have to punish you," I said and then covered Carmen's mouth with my own. She clawed greedily at my back, forcing my hips between her legs, but I remained the one in control. Carmen's soul, although not as evil as Carrie's, still tasted like diamonds and gold. Exquisite and exotic, a part of me loathed at how much I enjoyed the flavor. As it flowed into me, I viewed her memories like flipping through a photo album. All of the bad, all of the good. But I did my best to ignore them since I was running out of time.

When Carmen's arms fell to the side and I heard the final beat of her heart, I removed my lips from hers. With red eyes and an elongated jaw, I finished taking what was left of Carrie's soul. She barely moved as I sucked the energy, her contaminated life force, into my own body. I pulsed with souls, enough of them to tempt my father into cutting me loose. Carrie and Carmen had been number nine and ten.

Ten souls to exchange for a life of my own.

Grabbing the watch from Carmen's lifeless hands, I checked the time. I had five minutes. We'd agreed to meet downstairs at the bar, but knowing my father, he'd probably show up in this room.

No sooner had I redressed myself and covered the women with a blanket on the bed, than I felt a chill crawl up my spine. Whipping around, I noticed his glowing red eyes first. An amused face appeared next, followed by a body I hadn't seen before.

"Well, that's different," I mumbled to myself. Apparently my father was going for a college drop-out kind of look tonight. His large army-green shirt hung lifelessly over a ragged pair of jeans. Dark curls almost covered his eyes and unshaven hair speckled his face. "Are you hiding from someone?"

He smirked and lifted his arms. "What, this?" He twirled, actually twirled like a dancer, in front of me. "I thought it's what all the kids are wearing now."

"You're not a kid," I said, fastening the watch and picking my jacket up off the floor.

"I can pretend," he replied. Looking over my shoulder, he smacked his lips together. "My, my son, is that what I think it is?"

His eagerness made my stomach twist in guilt. I probably shouldn't tell him how much he would have enjoyed the two thieves. My father made a noise in the back of his throat and I clamped down on my thoughts. No sense in sharing too much with him.

"I need to talk to you," I said, clearing my throat and trying to find my nerve.

"Yes, I know," he said. He quickly darted to the side and rubbed his fingers along Carmen's long legs.

"I'd like to make a bargain."

My father's head snapped up and amusement pulled at his lips. "You would?"

"Yes."

"Well, usually that's reserved for humans." I stayed quiet, refusing to think about my human half right now. He tilted his head to the side and sighed. "Okay, I'll play. What do you want?"

"An expiration date."

"You want to die?" His face crinkled in disbelief.

"No. I want to live a normal life."

The laugh that escaped my father's mouth grated on my nerves. "I think that ship has sailed, my son."

"I don't want to collect souls anymore."

That got his attention and his form started to flicker. I caught a glimpse of his usual persona, but then he quickly shrugged his shoulders and came back to the homeless college kid look. "And why do you think I'd let you do this?'"

"Because I'm your son and because I've been collecting souls for nine centuries." He didn't move, so I quickly added. "Plus, I have something for you tonight."

"Yes, I can see that. You're practically glowing," he scoffed. "I smelled those souls in you a mile away."

Starting to lose my nerve, I watched the man who owned my future pace around the room in indecision. Claws dug at my chest and my fingers tingled with dread. What if he wouldn't agree? What if I'd done all of this for nothing?

Finally, he stopped and his demon red eyes bore into me. "Okay," he finally said after a several second stare-off. "But under one condition."

My heart dropped. There were always loopholes with demons. "What?" I sighed.

"I still get to visit with you on occasion."

So not what I was expecting. "Uh, okay," I whispered.

"You do know that the cravings won't go away, right?" He stepped closer and grabbed my chin between his fingers. Pain skittered through my bones. "You need to feed on souls just like your half brothers and sisters out there. It's what we are. It's what we do."

I swallowed hard. "I can control it."

He dropped my chin and scoffed. "Sure you can," he mumbled with his back facing me. "Don't come crying to me in a few years because you're miserable."

It sounded so much like something a human father would say to a human child that it made me smile. Somewhere, deep down and buried under mounds of fashion disasters and darkness, my father cared about me.

"Come here," he demanded. "I'll take those from you now."

I walked toward him and extended my hands. He clasped my forearms and began pulling out the ten souls swimming inside of me. Our hands glowed as the energy flowed from me to him. A trail of light crawled up his arm, over his chest, along his neck, and then skittered into his mouth. It took ten minutes to complete the transfer and when it was done, I collapsed to the floor. Empty and drained, my legs felt like liquid and my arms were too heavy to move.

"Delicious," Asmodeus said. When he looked down at me, his skin pulsated with energy and evil. "Where did you find all of these?"

"I knew I needed something good to convince you to give me what I wanted."

He laughed, and laughed, and didn't stop until tears glistened in his eyes. "Oh Conner, how you entertain me."

I had no idea what was so funny, but I also didn't want to ask. I just wanted to put this part of my life behind me and move on.

"Go," he said.

"What?"

"Go, get out of here." His eyes passed over Carmen and Carrie. "I'll take care of this."

"Really?" My voice squeaked with disbelief.

"Consider it a good luck gift." I lifted my eyebrows. "Good luck, because you're going to need it," he clarified.

"Thanks," I grumbled, but quickly made my way to the door. Anticipation raced through my veins like an evil soul. This had really worked.

"Conner?"

My heart stopped and red swarmed my vision. In a second I'd gone from normal human to angry demon. With my hand on the doorknob, I refused to turn around. "What?"

"I'll see you again soon," my father teased.

I opened the door and left the room, ignoring how his words made my nerves feel like tiny needles rubbing against my skin. I had no doubt he'd feel the need to pop in to see me at his leisure. But I also had to remember that as of this moment, I could live the life I've always wanted.

I couldn't wait to tell Tasmin.

Los Angeles, 1972

I twisted my hands together in anticipation. It had been almost ten years since we last met, and I couldn't wait to see one of my dearest friends and tell her the good news. Even the disgusting smell of friend eggs and burnt toast couldn't ruin my mood.

The door chimed announcing a new arrival. I looked across the diner to see the fiery red hair that could only belong to one being. Tasmin's eyes darted to mine instantly and a smile spread across her face. She walked between the tables, unaware of the number of stares she received from men and women alike. Her devastating beauty still stunned me, and once again I was thankful we were on the same side. She was a death wish wrapped up in a perfect little package.

I stood when she got closer. "Conner!" she squealed and jumped into my arms. Her lips pressed against mine and I returned the kiss with passion. Several patrons cleared their throats, but most were too preoccupied with the greasy late-night food to pay any attention.

After several moments, I set her down. Then I took a good look and shook my head. "What are you wearing?"

She twirled one of her long braids and cocked a hip. "What? It's the style now." Her endless legs were barely covered by the tiny green shorts, and knee high white socks helped accentuate their length. A rainbow colored top hung just low enough to cover the bottom of her breasts, revealing a tightly toned stomach underneath.

I shook my head and smiled. "Stunning as always."

She bit her lip and eyed me like a hawk. "And you look...the same as always." She pointed to my flip flops peeking out from underneath an old pair of jeans. "Casual suits you." Grabbing my hand she started pulling me toward the door. "Let's go. I'm starving."

"We're in a diner."

She turned and gave me a pout. "But I don't want food." Her long eyelashes fluttered and she begged me with her eyes.

I couldn't resist. "Okay, you lead," I said with a laugh.

Her lips found mine just as quickly as she pulled away. A couple sitting nearby looked up at us with narrowed eyes. Jealousy and longing passed over the female while her boyfriend couldn't tear his gaze away from Tasmin. I grinned when he got kicked under the table.

"So where are we going?" I asked when we stepped outside.

Tasmin winked. "It's a surprise."

We walked through the streets of Los Angeles hand in hand. Even in the balmy nighttime air, the place was alive. Happy people, evil people, all kinds of people lined the streets. Most were dressed like Tasmin and me—a symbol of the time when freedom and righteousness were represented in fashion.

Suddenly, Tasmin pulled me to the side. Twisting my head in her hands, she forced me to look across the road.

"What am I looking at," I asked between squeezed cheeks.

"It's right in front of you. See that club?" I nodded. "It's owned by a vampire."

Wrenching free from her grasp, I stepped back and sighed. "No, Tasmin." Ever since we'd escaped Escher, I'd done my best to avoid his kind. Word had spread quickly about my ability to control and burn them with just one look. It had made me a target and to suffice the masses, I stayed far away from their affairs. Tasmin, if she would think clearly, should do the same.

"Oh come on," she said. "It's been such a long time..." Her voice trailed off in memory.

"Why are you so anxious to get yourself killed?"

She stiffened and something dark passed over her face. I watched her swallow before she masked her emotion and smiled. "Don't be silly. I'm too hard to kill."

"I'm sure Isla would find a way," I grumbled.

Tasmin rolled her eyes and weaved her arm around mine. "Besides, there's someone in there I think you should meet."

I looked down at her and sighed. "Tasmin..."

"Don't be weak," she said with a smirk and then yanked me across the road.

The club was a row house that had been converted into a local hot spot. Once we glided easily past the bouncer, thanks to Tasmin's feminine assets, we could either go straight ahead to the bar, to the right for the dance floor, or to the left where a handful of tables and chairs had been squeezed into the small space. The placed was crowded, but it didn't take long for Tasmin to recognize whomever it was she wanted me to meet.

We brushed past numerous hairy and filthy humans who thought that not bathing was a sign of their fight against government oppression. More like a symbol of their drugged-up mind, I did my best to avoid getting their stench on me. In fact, it was so bad I almost missed the smell of the non-humans sitting at the table in front of us.

The vampire looked practically unrecognizable with his long brown hair, red bandana, and wire-rimmed glasses he certainly didn't need. Tasmin squealed in delight and slid onto his lap. Two long legs straddled his hips, lowering herself slowly and seductively. She hugged him close then kissed him hard on the mouth. Hands roamed each other and they both let out a moan in between the breaths Tasmin sucked in. Holding his head back when they stopped, she gazed into his eyes and smiled.

"Aldabert," she whispered. "I've missed you." Tears glistened in her eyes, and I could tell by the way he saw only her, that he had missed her too.

"It's Albert now," he said with a chuckle. "My, my, my...how the seventies fit you so well." He ran his hand along her exposed stomach and Tasmin giggled like a school girl. Black seeped into his eyes and fangs dropped partially below his lip. I think the rest of us could have exploded into thin air and the two of them would never have noticed. "Although you were quite a lot of fun at the speakeasies." He winked, and again I marveled at how well he could pass for human.

"Those were some of my favorite memories," Tasmin said and kissed him again. "Do you remember Conner?" She grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, excitement filling her smile.

Aldabert nodded. "Of course." He extended his hand. "It's been a long time, my friend."

"It has," I said, grasping his cool hand in mine.

"Please, sit." Aldabert gestured to the one empty chair at their table but Tasmin cut in.

"No, we can't stay long tonight." She winked at me. "We have a date."

Aldabert lifted his chin. "Ah, I understand. Well, at least let me introduce my companions." He gestured across the table to a very large vampire with short cropped, blond hair and muscles that would intimidate even my father. He wore a tight black tee-shirt and scowl. "This is my cousin, Gallus."

"Cousin?" I asked.

Aldabert smiled. "By way of our sires," he explained. "We, too, haven't seen each other in many years and since I was in the city, I thought it was time to remedy that situation."

Gallus nodded and the corner of his mouth twitched in an almost smile. Although not nearly as old as Aldabert, Gallus wasn't newly created. But he hadn't learned how to relax and blend either. One look at him and most humans would run the other way.

"And this is Henry, but we all call him King."

The young man with shaggy dark hair didn't seem old enough to be in a bar, let alone sitting next to the two elder vampires. King was a werewolf and I could tell by the smell that his control was minimal at best. If he hadn't shifted yet, his time was surely near.

Once again, Aldabert had fostered a relationship with a wolf. And it looked like Gallus had as well. Since I'd first met him at Escher's, I hadn't observed that kind of behavior. Then again, I'd tried to avoid anything with fangs.

"King is a direct descendent of Joseph." Sadness crossed Aldabert's face before he looked at me again. "You may remember Joseph from Savannah?"

The black wolf. And friend of the vampire. I nodded. "I do." Turning to King, I added, "He was very brave."

King stared at me, yellow flashing in his eyes and body shimmering with an urge to shift. Gallus placed a hand on his shoulder, and almost instantly the boy calmed. King squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds before focusing on me again. "Thank you," he grunted.

"So how long are you here?" Tasmin asked Aldabert from her position in his lap.

He quickly glanced at Gallus. "Maybe a couple of weeks?"

"Great!" she exclaimed. "Call me tomorrow night and I'll show you around." She rubbed against his hips, and it was obvious to us all what she would be showing him tomorrow night.

A part of me itched with jealousy, but mostly I just wanted to at least have tonight with Tasmin. She kissed Aldabert one last time and waved to Gallus and King. With arms around my waist, she pulled me toward the dance floor. "So weird, right?"

"Huh?"

"All three of us in the same city at the same time." She sighed with happiness and began moving to the music. "My life is almost complete."

I pressed my hands into her hips and encouraged her to dance with me. "Almost?"

"Well, you know, I'm always on the prowl." Again, I noticed a break in her façade but she wouldn't let me in. Instead she lifted her arms and twirled in my grasp. "And they smell so good tonight, don't they? This city is full of evil beings."

I wanted to tell her that things were different for me now, but I decided to wait until later. We continued to dance our way toward the back of the room. Women clutched at me each time I passed one by, just as the men drooled at the slightest inclination from Tasmin. At one point she stole drinks for us from two men utterly shocked by the fact that she even noticed them.

I laughed. "You are truly evil."

She tilted her head back and downed the drink in one swallow, eyes never leaving mine. "What can I say, it's in my nature."

Her words cut deep into my heart. We'd always come back to this same topic. Year after year she'd argue with me over my decision to try and hold on to my humanity. She'd call me weak, and ridiculous, and curse me for having a conscience. And I'd remind her that I wasn't wholly demon and nothing she could say would ever change that.

Sensing my discomfort, she laughed. The sound trickled over my skin like warm silk. "Come on, demon spawn."

She pulled me down the hallway and opened the first door on our left. A plume of foggy smoke surrounded us as it escaped into the hall, but a heavy haze still hung in the air. The room overflowed with young people smoking, drinking, and making out with each other. Some kind of Indian music hummed in the background. Tasmin shut the door behind us and clapped her hands together.

"Don't you just adore this peace, love, and happiness shit?" Her eyes grew wide in anticipation as she took in the scene. "This generation is so free with their bodies, it hardly gives me a challenge."

I chuckled. "I'm sure you can find a way to make this exciting."

She pinched my ass and smirked. "I'm glad you're here with me."

"Me too." I bent forward and kissed her. Just like that first night we'd met in the tavern, our chemistry was undeniably hot. I blamed the incubus blood, but I think I would have loved her as a human as well.

"You gonna share?"

We both turned our heads to see a scruffy man who could barely stand up straight. He hadn't shaved for weeks but his designer clothes made him a bit of an anomaly in the room. Although we could both easily pass for our twenties, this guy had to have been nearing retirement age. Dark beady eyes gazed longingly at Tasmin, but his soul called out to both of us. I pulled her closer to me.

"Maybe later," I said.

"You should share now," he slurred. Reaching forward, he grabbed one of Tasmin's braids and slid his hand down to the end. "Why wait?"

I guided Tasmin behind me. "Later," I said sharply.

"You her keeper?" He waved a hand in my face and I grabbed it mid-air. It took everything I had not to break it in half, but I still squeezed harder than I should have.

"Yes."

His eyes widened and pain spread through the wrinkles in his face. After a brief standoff, he nodded and I let him go. Cursing under his breath, he walked away and sat down next to an older lady who looked like she was dying or about to pass out on the couch.

Tasmin wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her cheek against my back. "I missed you."

I grabbed her arms and squeezed. "Are you sure you want to be in here? Why don't we go back to my hotel?"

I felt her laugh. "Are you losing your nerve?" She walked around so that she stood in front of me. "How about we just take a sip?" Her eyes traveled back toward the rude man and a grin danced on her face. "He's got a lot to share." Although Tasmin usually snatched souls, she'd learned how to steal a little for herself first. I think she was addicted.

Sighing, I reluctantly agreed. Tasmin strutted over to him, tiny top swaying and purpose etched in her steps. The man didn't stand a chance. I remained by the door, taking in the scene and wondering if I could really quit. For so long I wanted to live as a human and not have to worry about my obligation to my father or his world. My time had finally come, so why did I feel so scared? No, not scared...anxious. Worried that human needs wouldn't be enough and one day I'd snap and devour everyone in my sight.

Tasmin took a break from sucking on the man's life force long enough to give me a questioning look. I smiled and shook my head, letting her know I was alright. I would be alright. Eventually.

When she had her fill, she left the unconscious man on the couch and walked away licking her lips. "He would be a good one to steal," she said with regret hidden in her voice.

"Yeah?"

"Mmm...so many dreadful deeds." She turned her head to capture the rest of the room in her gaze. "There are quite a few evil ones in here."

Afraid I wouldn't get her out of here, I grabbed her hand and yanked her into my body. Pressing my lips against hers, I tasted the remnants of the man and something inside of me trembled. The sweet flavor of corruption and greed enticed my demon, begging to come out and play. I pulled away before I thought any more about how much I wanted that.

"Let's go," I said gruffly. Thankfully, she didn't argue with me.

We only had five blocks to travel, yet the closer we got, the more my gut twisted with nerves. Would one of my oldest friends be able to accept the choice I made? Tasmin squeezed my arm as if hearing my thoughts. This was the right thing to do. It was. She would understand.

Once inside, Tasmin skipped around the suite and opened a bottle of wine. I clenched my fingers several times trying to get up the nerve to start this discussion. In all my years facing war, famine, death...why did this frighten me so much?

"If you don't tell me what's been bugging you, I'll have to try and get it from you my way." Tasmin handed me a glass of wine and offered hers up for a toast. "To friendship."

Smiling, I agreed and took a sip. "And how exactly would you extract information from me?"

She winked and brushed her hand along my ribcage. "Oh, I have my ways." Finished with her drink, she lifted mine from my hand and swallowed it down. Always a thieving harpy. "Now tell me before you explode."

Laughing at the image in my mind, I gestured for both of us to sit on the bed. Tasmin raised a brow and bit her bottom lip, probably a habit when she was in this type of situation. Again, I chuckled. "Maybe later."

"Don't promise favors unless you plan on keeping them," she cooed.

"Definitely later."

She rested back on her elbows, crossing her long legs and exposing her perfect stomach. Her long red braids fell over her shoulders. "Good. Now, what do you need to tell me?"

Resting on my side, I lowered my hand to her hip and propped up my head. "I'm done."

"Done...?'

I took a deep breath and let the words flow. "Collecting souls. I'm done. Forever."

Her muscles tensed for the briefest instant before she tried to hide her reaction. "Very funny, Conner."

I sat up and looked her straight in the eyes. "My father and I made a deal. And as of the last soul I delivered, I'm free to live as a human."

Her laugh filled the room. "Okay. Sure." But when she realized I was telling the truth, she jumped up and stepped in front of me, her legs brushing my knees. "How is that possible?"

"You gave me the idea." I laughed at her shocked expression.

"I did?"

"Yes. You told me to ask for an expiration date. And I did." I raised my hands to wrap around both of her hips. Pressing my head against her stomach, I listened to her heart beat. "My father laughed at first, but I made him a bargain he couldn't refuse."

"Is this a joke?" she asked, pushing my head away and holding my face.

I tried to smile. "No. I'm done."

Stepping away from me, Tasmin began to pace the room. Her body shimmered, on the verge of a change. Anger, delight, and fascination crossed her face as she realized I wasn't lying. She strutted over to the wine and poured another glass. "I don't remember telling you that."

I stood and joined her by her side. "That's because you were full of that murderer in Spain," I teased.

She sucked in a breath, brows crinkled in concentration and lips pushed out into a pout. Then finally her memory cleared. Blowing out a long stretch of air, she said, "Oh, right." Turing to face me again, she crossed her arms. "But I wasn't serious."

"Well, I didn't forget."

Her fingers brushed the side of my face. "You're really doing this, aren't you?" I nodded. "What are you going to do?"

My grin spread. "I'm going to be a lawyer."

"I thought you already did that?"

"Yeah, but times have changed. And this go around I'm actually going to go to school and get a license."

Tasmin stood still for several seconds. Her hands warmed my face but the sadness in her eyes broke my heart. "So, this is it then?"

"It doesn't have to be." I pulled her closer.

She huffed. "Well, we certainly can't go hunting together. It'd be like taking an alcoholic to a bar with unlimited refills." Her teary eyes looked up at mine. "And I wouldn't do that to you."

Her lips welcomed mine as I lowered them. But passion and lust soon became overshadowed by grief and longing. She clawed at my clothes, begging to be held. I wanted to be with her one last time, but something was holding me back. As though my secret finally set me free, I worried I'd slip back into the dark depths of her world.

Sensing my hesitation, Tasmin stepped away. She wiped the tears away quickly and patted down her clothes. Suddenly, she flashed a hopeful gaze at me. "Do you think I can do the same?"

"The same?"

"Make a bargain. Live like a human." She waved her hands around. "I don't know...stop...being like this."

Shocked, I shook my head. "This is what you are, Tasmin."

She glared at me then sighed. "But sometimes I don't want to be like this."

"Really?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." Walking around the room again, she finally stopped in front of me. "I guess not. I mean, it's not like I could actually survive that way."

"As a human?"

She nodded solemnly.

I raised my arms and she rushed into them. "I'm going to miss you," she sniffed.

Kissing the top of her head, I squeezed her tight. "This isn't goodbye."

Chuckling underneath me, her muffled voice teased, "Don't be so dramatic." She shivered and rubbed her hands over my back one last time. "I'm going to go." Slapping my ass, she turned and walked toward the door. "I need to do my thing."

Longing stirred inside of me, and doubt ground at my psyche. Once again I wondered if this was the right choice. Yet as I watched Tasmin saunter away, I couldn't help but smile. That part of my life was over, but I had no doubt she and I would see each other again. Our world was just too small.

When she opened the door, she paused. "Good for you."

"Huh?"

"I'm happy for you, Conner. This is what you've always wanted." She winked. "So don't blow it."

I laughed and lifted my hand in a wave. With one last smirk, she stepped through the door and the last piece of my past vanished along with it.

### Continue reading for a sneak peek at

### Touching Evil: A Leila Marx Novel

### Available Now!

One

"This conversation is over." The last of my drink splashed on the table when I slammed down the glass. I watched with annoyance as my fiancé rubbed his hands through his dark hair and rolled back his head.

"Leila, we have to talk about this. I can't stall my mother any longer."

"Just tell her no," I snapped.

"Please don't be like this. You know I can't do that." He leaned forward and dabbed at the liquid sitting between us like neutral territory. "I don't understand what the big deal is anyway."

"And that is why I'm finished with this conversation." Sitting back in my chair, I looked around the darkened bar only to find that we had an audience. I must have said that last quip a bit loud.

Russ sighed and imitated my defensive posture. "I'm only getting married once so I wish you would indulge her one request."

One request? Was he serious? I loved his family, yet when it came to planning _my_ wedding, I had to draw the line somewhere. This hadn't been her only request and I'd been willing to give in up to this point. But I wasn't going to exchange my dress because it wasn't fancy enough for her friends, or whatever ridiculous reason she'd come up with this time. I wasn't going to do it.

Russ must have seen the resolution in my face because he pushed back in his chair and stood with calculated theatrics. "I'll see you at home," he mumbled, then downed the rest of his drink.

"Where are you going?" I asked. We didn't usually fight, but this circular discussion was weeks old. I hated how wedding planning disrupted the normal bliss of our relationship.

"To work. I'll be home in a few hours."

He squeezed around the small table, avoiding my touch. Normally that would have bothered me, but tonight I was glad I didn't have to deal with his plethora of emotions on top of mine. Besides, I was already pretty sure I knew what he felt.

Thunder crashed outside and the skies opened up like a waterfall. Great. Now I had to find a cab in the rain. A nearby couple whispered to one another and then looked over at me. No doubt they were applauding themselves for not having a fight in public.

I gave them a quick glance and stood to begin my journey home to an empty house. As I did, I noticed Russ' jacket lying on the floor in the corner by his chair. He'd want it back, so I reached forward to grab it.

Images filled my mind as I ran in the rain. My burning feet sent shards of pain through my body and my dress clung to me in places it shouldn't. The quiet street shimmered with lights so dim they appeared to lose the battle with the storm. Dark shadows glistened on the asphalt hinting at the dangers prowling through the night.

I ran but felt like I couldn't gain any ground.

Screaming for him with each step I took, I barely noticed my shoes had stayed behind with the serenity of my other life. The puddles grew, the murky water now swallowing my feet up to my ankles. There! That noise. Was that a gun shot?

I ran again with every ounce of energy I could gather, but I couldn't move fast enough. Tears poured down my checks alongside the raindrops. I kept calling for him, chasing after him, hoping I wasn't too late. The narrow alley was ahead to my left, but the darkness of the storm hid the borderless buildings.

As I reached my destination, a long shadow of a person moved toward the other end. Who was it? Where was he going? It didn't matter because at that moment I heard Russ.

He called for me, reached for me. The relentless rain and limited light cast shadows so deep I could barely make out the outline of a body halfway down the corridor.

No, this can't be happening. Please let me be wrong this time.

The sirens played like a muffled symphony. They were too far away, too far away to help us.

I pushed toward him, splashing through the puddles on the brick street without regards for my own safety. The smell of wet pavement saturated my breath while the city was washed free of its sins. The beating of the rain on the ground and the metallic ping of rooftop water droplets falling on the dumpsters, echoed through the narrow passage. I never even looked around. There could have been others lurking, waiting for me, but it didn't matter.

I had to save Russ.

With one more step that felt like my last, I fell to my knees beside the love of my life and clasped his outstretched hand.

"No," I gasped. The pain in my chest intensified and I felt my heart breaking. "Please, Russ. You have to hang on. I...didn't...know...until...I...touched..." I couldn't finish. My throat ached with unshed tears and my stomach twisted in knots.

"Leila," he whispered with a labored smile.

That small movement caused him to tense with pain, which drew my attention to his body. He slumped against the wall, arms crossed and legs bent. His tie had been loosened from the collar of his white dress shirt and although it was tattered, he still looked handsome. The gloomy alley hid his now translucent shirt, but it couldn't mask the darkness covering his stomach. I ran my hand down his arm and over his hand. Blood. It was blood.

"Oh no, no!" I looked at his face. I was hysterical, but his eyes held peace. He focused on me as he lifted his hand up to my cheek.

He smiled again and breathed, "You are so beautiful, Leila."

The sirens grew louder and sounded like a sharp ringing in my head. Why were the sirens ringing?

"I am so sorry Russ.....Russ?"

He closed his eyes. I grabbed his face with both of my hands and leaned down toward him close enough for a kiss.

"Please...Russ...." I begged between sobs.

Sirens pierced the night. From down the alley, a bright light blinded me, forcing me to shield my eyes.

An incessant ringing reverberated in my head. It couldn't be a siren because it sounded more like a phone. My phone. I heard people shouting from the light, but it was like being underwater. I turned my attention back to my fiancé. His face was drawn and his body slack, and as Russ' hand dropped from my cheek for the last time, I woke up.

When I realized I was dreaming, my heart climbed down from my throat. The thumping in my stomach stopped as it slowly untangled itself. Once the adrenaline returned to its resting spot, I could breathe.

Until my phone rang again. In a split second, I travelled from horrific dream to harsh reality. Yes, I'd been dreaming, but it was a nightmare. Russ had died that night. He was gone and I kept reliving his death over and over.

It can be nature's cruelest trick to let me forget, for just a moment, that my life isn't in ruins. Because when I remember, it's the most sickening, heart wrenching, painful realization. My stomach cramped and my heart ached, fresh tears still falling from my eyes. He was really gone.

My phone rang for the final time. I rolled over and grabbed it on the bedside table. It was a little past eight in the morning. Who would call me so early? I didn't get many phone calls anymore.

I flipped the phone open, pulled the covers over me, and tried to imagine Russ by my side. It took a few tries to get sound out of my dry mouth.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Leila? Leila Marx? It's Detective Pearson. Uh, Garrick Pearson."

He sounded unsure of his name. Maybe he wasn't expecting me to answer, or maybe it was too early in the morning.

"Why are you calling me?" It sounded cranky. Okay, I was grumpy. I've known Detective Pearson for almost a year. He'd call me on occasion, but not usually this early and he never sounded this uncertain. I cleared my throat and said, "I mean, good morning, Detective. How are you?"

"Leila, I'm sorry to wake you. I was waiting until I thought you'd be up. Am I still too early? I can call back if you prefer."

Now I felt bad. "No. I mean, yeah, it's too early. But it's all right. What are you calling about?"

My head started to clear, but the nightmare clung to my subconscious with gritty little hands. I could still smell the musty bricks and decomposing trash as I visualized looking into Russ' eyes. God, I missed him.

I shivered with emotion I could barely contain. I needed to see him one more time. Snuggling up against my covers, I faced the empty side of the bed where he once slept. The lingering aroma of his cologne was long gone but I tried to remember the familiar scent. Taking a deep breath to steady my frantic heart, I swallowed the tears and the giant lump in my throat.

"Leila? Leila, are you still there? Did you hear what I said?"

No, I hadn't. I think he may have been talking to me for a while. "Sorry. I was trying to wake up." I cleared my throat. "Can you repeat that?" Although going for strong, my voice felt shaky and fragile.

I could hear the detective sigh, preparing himself for the walk on the broken eggshells of my life. "Are you all right? Are you having the nightmare again?"

"No." I didn't even convince myself. "Look, you woke me up really early, and I'm trying to get my head clear. That's all. Now, what were you saying?"

He paused a minute, surely trying to decide if he should push me. I could hear the wheels clinking in his brain.

"I was wondering if you would come in to the station and help me with a case today?" Good boy, he'd let it go.

"Sure. I don't have much work to do today, so I can be in there later this morning." After all, I had to face the world at some point.

"Okay, great. The sooner, the better."

He sounded more anxious than normal. I've worked with him on a few cases in the past year, but something about his tone gave me a bad feeling.

"I'll shower and eat and then be on my way, say in an hour or so?" I needed the shower to clear my head and I didn't do anything without eating breakfast first.

"That'll be good." Then he added almost as an afterthought, "We have bagels here if you need." Why was he trying to get me there so quickly?

"I'll see you in an hour. Talk soon."

I hung up the phone and curled back into a tight little ball, wishing I could disappear. Life must keep moving on. No one lets you stop living when half of your reason for it is gone.

Exhausted, I took a long shower. I needed time to grieve and cry. I always wonder how many more tears I can shed until the last of the intense aching fades away. At what point will I not care so much anymore? I know that may sound harsh, but this sadness...this _anguish_ , was not healthy. It's been almost a year. Granted, some days have been more productive and tear-free than others, but all it took was one memory, one dream, and my world would crash down around me again.

I managed to dress in a pair of black capri pants and a black short sleeved blouse. I pulled my long, straight blonde hair into a low ponytail and added a minimal, but passable amount of makeup. Most of it went to cover the dark, puffy circles under my eyes. As I looked at my colorless outfit in the mirror, I realized that my mood wasn't going to improve. I dressed depressed.

Letting out a long sigh, I decided to add a cute pair of blue platform sandals to help lighten things up. It was a little better, although I also grabbed my black cardigan for the police station. Yes, it was dreary, but I'm always cold in air conditioning and black went with everything. Sue me.

After a quick breakfast of oatmeal and juice, I headed out the door. Our condo was on the second floor of a three story building, overlooking a communal pond and wooded area on the outskirts of the city. _Our_ condo. I still used that term. One day it would change so I had to keep practicing.

Walking out to my car, the smell of autumn wafted through the air. This was my favorite time of year, when the rain started to slow and the crisp cool weather moved in. Soon the trees would be covered in a variety of red, orange, and yellow leaves. Leaves that had to die in order to become beautiful.

It was a short drive to the police station, barring any heavy traffic. The building had been recently renovated to add arches and overhangs. It resembled a college campus more than a law enforcement complex. The red bricks and faux stone accents didn't really fit together, but I wasn't the architect.

I snagged a visitor's parking space right out front and prepared myself to go inside. I'd never been to a police station before last year. Never had a reason to be there. Now, I found that my visits were more frequent, although each time still wreaked havoc on my memories and emotions.

I took several slow, steadying breaths to calm my stomach and my heart. Some day this would end, right?

Walking through the double glass doors at the main entrance, I stopped at the reception desk. Shirley was working today and she offered a smile while checking me in. With the standard visitor's badge clipped to my blouse, I continued on through the security check and headed toward the elevators.

Garrick's desk was on the third floor in the homicide division, but the elevator pinged and stopped at the second floor. His partner, Detective Danny Sherwood stepped in. In one hand he carried a large travel coffee mug and the other held some sort of breakfast treat. Detective Sherwood was a large man in every sense of the word. At least six feet tall, he had once been solid muscle, but was now reduced to being called "big boned". Meaning, he probably shouldn't be eating his little snack.

He gave me a head bob and swallowed a bite. "Hey, Leila." Taking a swig of coffee, he readied himself for another taste. "Mmm, they have way better food in forensics."

His next bite almost finished off the pastry, and it was gone by the time we made it to the third floor. "So, Garrick asked you to come down, didn't he?" he said as he wiped his hand on his jeans. "I told him I didn't think we needed to get you involved this early, but he's taken lead on this one."

We turned left out of the elevator and walked down the short hallway. The space opened up into a large area filled with desks, lockers, and noise. Stale coffee, old cigarette smoke, and sweaty bodies bombarded my nose and dredged up memoires I tried to ignore. We started moving toward the conference room when I noticed a man being questioned by a detective. The civilian had graying dark, greasy hair that fell to his shoulders and he wore an old tee shirt and jeans. Although his demeanor disturbed me, it was his eyes that I noticed most. Those dark, beady orbs seemed so empty and soulless and...predatory.

The man continued speaking with the detective but caught my stare. There was something familiar about him, yet I couldn't pinpoint what it was. He followed me with his gaze as I walked beside Detective Sherwood.

"That's King. He's one of our street informants." The detective moved to put himself between me and the spy. "He's a strange character but has been useful on some of our cases. I don't know how he does it, but he's usually right on when he points us to a suspect."

King gave me a slight nod as Detective Sherwood praised him and guided me into the conference room. When I took one last look at King, it gave me an uncomfortable vibe. I usually listened to my gut feelings, and this time they were telling me that something was different about this informant.

"Leila, thank you for coming here."

Detective Garrick Pearson stood up so fast he nearly knocked over the chair. File folders and photographs littered the conference table, and he turned many of them over before I stepped further into the room.

"Uh, do you want some coffee or water? Did Danny offer you anything?" He continued flipping folders.

Close to my age, Garrick had light brown hair cut in a short, military style. He wore a pair of khakis and a light blue long sleeved shirt. His brown eyes looked tired and the day-old stubble on his face was out of character. Under different circumstances, I would have found him attractive. Well, he was attractive. I just wasn't capable of processing what that meant anymore. His long abandoned tie lay on the table and his sleeves were rolled up. He seemed flustered, which made me want to start this meeting now.

"No, he didn't. And no, I don't want anything to drink. What's going on?" I pulled out a chair across from Garrick and reached for a folder. Detective Sherwood got to it first.

"I told you I didn't think we needed to get her mixed up in this, Garrick. The boss is already giving us a hard time about involving any civilians and her in particular." He pulled the folder closer to him and grabbed the chair at the head of the table. "It's not that I don't believe in you, Leila, it's just that what you do...it's hard for us to explain. If we keep bringing you onto our cases, someone's going to notice and make the D.A.'s life miserable, not to mention our own." He gave me an apologetic smile and settled into the chair.

From time to time, the detectives called me in on a missing person or cold case. I'm a clairvoyant. To be more specific - a clairsentient or touch clairvoyant. My gift allows me to glimpse an event or emotion while handling an object belonging to a victim. Garrick had accepted my gift, and I'd volunteered to assist him whenever he thought it would be beneficial. However, it was often hard to convince others of my abilities.

"Danny," Garrick sighed. "I don't care what they think. I swore that I would do everything in my power to help these families and that is what I'm going to do. If we can find them first..." He trailed off as though forgetting I was in the room.

"Find who?" I asked, looking back and forth between the two detectives. After a brief silence, I spoke again. "Come on guys. You know I can be discreet. Isn't this why I'm here?"

"Yes, it _is_." Detective Pearson said, eyeing his partner. "This is beyond the typical case. It's pretty bad." He sat down and ran his hands over his face.

I worried about what I might see. In most cases, I catch a few quick flashes of an event in the victim's past. But sometimes I'll get a glimpse of the immediate future. That doesn't happen often, and occurs most with those who are close to me.

That's what happened with Russ. When I touched his jacket, I saw flashes of the alley, a violent struggle, him falling to the ground, arms wrapped around his stomach, rain showering down on him. I'd only envisioned the future once before when I was young and had foreseen the deaths of my grandparents. There are clairvoyants who can see and predict future events and actions. I know one. But in my family line, our abilities are limited to touch.

"Look, Detective Pearson, I've seen some bad things in my life. If I can help find...whoever it is you guys are looking for, please let me try." Perhaps being diplomatic and sensitive to the situation would help my cause.

"Leila, please call me Garrick. And I want you to help if you can." He reached for the middle of the table and grabbed a plastic evidence bag, knocking over a pile of file folders in the process.

"Garrick...." Detective Sherwood sighed one last warning as he rubbed his temples. Apparently this case was tough on him as well.

Garrick gave his partner another look and then slid the evidence bag across the table to me. "Before I tell you more, I would like for you to see if you can pick up anything from this."

I looked down at the bag to see a brush and plastic butterfly clip inside. Remnants of black hair rested amongst the bristles, and I assumed that the police collected this as possible DNA evidence.

"Let me know what you see or feel," Garrick said.

My eyebrows arched toward him in a reminder that I knew how to do this. I let out a breath to clear my head, closed my eyes, and placed my hand on the bag.

Flashes of the victim brushing her hair at a full length mirror immediately filled my sight. That vision turned to a feeling of panic as I saw her struggle to grab a hold of the wooden bed post while someone dragged her across the floor. Then darkness.

I felt her fear, her heartbeat, and her scream as she was yanked her to her feet in a dark cellar. Through my hazy glimpse, I watched a man lean down toward her. Then I sensed her life slipping away. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and a wave of desperation filled her thoughts as the world began to fade.

## Two

I threw my hand away from the bag, gasping for air. My chair slammed against the wall of windows, hitting hard enough to make them shake. The detectives rushed to my side.

"Leila! Are you okay?" Garrick kneeled down in front of me with his hands on the sides of my chair. "What happened? Do you need anything?"

"What did you see? Do you know where she is?" Detective Sherwood urged me to answer. Guess he'd reversed his opinion about my involvement. "Good lord, Garrick, I've never seen her react this way before."

I caught my breath, nodded to Garrick, and gave Sherwood a scowl.

"I'm all right. Let me sit here and get my thoughts back under control." The detectives moved away from me, but continued to stare. "Really, I'm okay. And I'll explain in a minute."

Standing up, I tried to shake life back into my arms and legs. I turned around to glance out at the office area and caught King looking at me. I held his stare for a moment, too shaken to fight it. His lips curled up in the corner with a smirk. He nodded to me once again, before walking toward the elevators.

"Creepy," I murmured as I sat down. Detective Sherwood set a glass of water in front of me. Garrick moved the evidence bag back to his side of the table and looked through the folders as though his life depended on it. He gave me some semblance of privacy while I recovered, and I realized I was grateful for the gesture.

"Thank you, Detective Sherwood." I sipped the water and tried to wash the last of the memories away for a moment. "All right, so what do you want to know?"

Garrick looked up from his folders and gave Detective Sherwood a glance. He sat down and they both pulled out their pocket notebooks. Garrick was the first to speak.

"She's been missing for a week. We're getting nowhere with our search, and at this point, we don't even know if she's alive anymore. There's been no ransom call and no inclination that she's a runaway. She just vanished."

"Why is homicide involved?" I asked. The detectives shared yet another look between them and I rolled my eyes in frustration. "I need to know these things and I assure you I can handle the answers."

Garrick sighed. "It's not that, Leila. It's just not pleasant." He reached into the large pile of files and pulled out two manila folders. Opening both he said, "We're involved because she's the third girl to go missing and we're hoping her case is not connected to the other two."

He slid the folders across the table to me. Both were opened to show a picture of two smiling teenage girls in what appeared to be school photos. Next to each of the formal pictures was another one clipped to the side. Although the girls were similar in age, neither one physically resembled each other in life. However, the two post mortem photos looked nearly identical. They both showed a naked body, shriveled up and nearly mummified in a shallow grave. The bodies had arms crossed over their chest and eyes closed. The skeletons could be seen underneath the dried, leathery skin. Their faces were sunken in, rib cages jutted out, while the hip and knee joints pushed against the surface of the skin. I've seen terrible things through my inherited gift, but these were near the top of the list. I took a moment to make sure I could speak.

"Who are they?" I breathed.

"They are the first two missing girls," Garrick replied. "Their bodies were found almost exactly two weeks after they disappeared. Both were dumped and an anonymous phone call led us to the sites."

"What happened to them?" I couldn't imagine the horror these poor girls had suffered.

Detective Sherwood jumped in. "A medical examiner couldn't pinpoint a cause of death. He said the bodies appeared to have been dehydrated post mortem. Both girls were found within hours of the tip, so they couldn't have been dead longer than two weeks."

"Two weeks? This seems like months or even years of decomposition, right?" I looked at the photos again. "Was there any evidence of sexual activity or abuse?"

Another look passed between them before Detective Sherwood spoke up. "No, we don't think so. The examiner confirmed they were virgins. And although I wouldn't normally believe the parents, all of their girlfriends also agreed."

Garrick looked at me. "Why did you ask that, Leila?"

"When I touched the bag, I saw a girl with long black hair being abducted from a bedroom. There was a man, and he leaned over her like he was about to kiss her. Then her breathing slowed."

Both detectives took notes while I relayed exactly what I saw in the vision. When I finished, Garrick grabbed another folder and slid it across the large wooden table.

"This is Erin Montgomery. Our third victim."

I opened the folder to see another perfect picture of a teenager with beautiful green eyes and thick, long black hair. I had to swallow a hint of panic and regain my composure. It was the girl in the mirror.

"How long has she been missing?"

"Ten days," Garrick replied. Silence filled the room as the severity of the situation sunk in. "You saw her die, didn't you?"

"I think maybe I did," I answered. "But we might still have a few days to find her. You know I usually can't see into the future." I said it out loud, trying to convince myself.

"But you can sometimes," Detective Sherwood added somberly. "Shit," he said as he pushed back from the table and paced around the room. "We didn't even get a call yet."

"Danny," Garrick pleaded. "We still need to do everything we can to find her."

Detective Sherwood walked toward the door, but paused long enough to look at me. "Leila, I do appreciate your help with this, but I really hope you're wrong on this one." As he marched out of the room, I wished the same.

"Look, if there's anything I can do to help, Detective...I mean Garrick, please let me know." I felt horrible, not just about the situation, but because I could sympathize with how much this case affected them both.

Garrick ran his hands over his face again. "It might be helpful for you to come to the girl's house with me. I want to talk to the whole family again, and maybe something there will help you get a reading....or feeling...or whatever. I'll take anything at this point." He seemed so defeated now, where he'd still had hope before I walked in the door and touched that bag.

"Sure. I can do that. I don't know how much help I will be, but I'd be happy to try and pick up on something."

"Okay. Good." He stood up and started walking to the door, motioning for me to follow. "I'll call the Montgomerys today and let you know when they can meet."

I glanced up into his eyes and saw pain in them. This case really was getting the best of him. He looked tired and pale. Something inside of me twitched at seeing him to be this broken.

"I'll do everything I can. Just let me know what time and I'll be there."

As I entered the elevator, I kept thinking about Erin and feeling the life literally being sucked out of her. What was happening to these girls? Yes, death was a part of life, but no one should have to bury their child. Plus these deaths were unusual. I knew I needed to help the police the best that I could.

Later that evening, I found myself running on the treadmill with music blasting into my headphones. I'm able to work from home, a necessity for someone who prefers not to touch people and their belongings on a regular basis. But sometimes, being home was too much of a distraction.

I'm an illustrator for children's fantasy and science books, contracted to work on a few stories at once. Usually I can complete my projects in a timely manner, but this current book gave me an exceptionally hard time. I don't know why, really. It wasn't that different from others I had completed before. It was about a little boy who could speak to animals. The story followed him through a tough year where he needed their company to help cope with his parent's divorce. I'd been surprised they sold children's books with adult themes, however there are many children who have to deal with divorce.

I was one of them. My parents split up when I was young and I knew that was why I'd been so hesitant to agree to marry Russ. His parents had been married since they graduated from high school and appeared to genuinely enjoy being around each other. A sentiment not familiar in my family.

Russ' brother and sisters had all married and started families right after college. Russ was the youngest, but he'd put a lot of effort into his career instead of trying to settle down right away. We met in the city following our graduations, and after four years of dating, and numerous discussions about the benefits of marriage, I finally agreed to marry him. I hadn't understood the need to sign the piece of paper, but I could tell that it was important to him.

We bought the condo together shortly after our engagement and arranged for a destination wedding in Barbados. We planned a winter wedding so our friends and family could escape the ice and snow for a week to celebrate and party. It was only a few months away when he died. Maybe that's why I was having such a hard time with this book. My mind couldn't separate my own memories for a chance to live inside the head of an eight year old boy who could speak to Hank the Hamster.

I was so deep in thought I didn't hear my phone at first. Jumping off the treadmill, and feeling a little fatigued, I grabbed my phone on the table with a quick glance to see who was calling.

"Hey Sara," I answered as I caught my breath.

"Hey Leila," she teased in a low sensual voice. "What have you been doing that has you so out of breath? Want any company?"

"Gross, and no." I shook my head. "I'm trying to force myself to draw happy thoughts."

"Well that's not very interesting." She actually sounded disappointed.

Sara was my best friend. Her husband, Ben, had worked with Russ, and the four of us were inseparable for years. Sara and I knew each other since high school, and ended up working in Baltimore after departing ways in college. She was my rock, and I had definitely used up my share of crying on her shoulder this past year.

"I'm wondering if you want to have dinner Saturday night?" Sara asked.

Something about the hesitant way she asked made me suspicious. I filled a glass with water and sat down at my kitchen table.

"And who else might be going?"

"Just us. Well, I mean, just you, me, and Ben...and maybe-a-friend-of-his."

The last words flew out of her mouth so quick it sounded like one jumbled thought. I sighed and rolled my eyes even though she couldn't see them.

"Sara, why are doing this to me?"

"Leila, relax. It's not a set up." I huffed into the phone. "I _swear_! Ben has a new friend who recently moved here and he doesn't know anyone else yet. I told Ben you wouldn't be ready and he promised he didn't even tell his friend you were coming." She sounded sincere. "Look, when you're ready, I'll be there with an arsenal of men in my back pocket. But I'm not going to push you. I wouldn't do that."

My call waiting beeped with Garrick on the other line. "Sara, hold on a minute I have to take this." I heard the beginning of her protest as I switched the calls.

"Hello?"

"Hey Leila, it's Detective Pearson, uh, Garrick." Why did he sound so nervous again?

"Hi Garrick. I'm on the other line, so I have to be quick. Did you get something set up with the Montgomerys?"

"They can meet with us on Saturday at eleven. Will that work with your schedule?"

"Yes, that will be perfect. Do you have directions?"

"I think it will be best for us to ride over together. I can pick you up at your house around 10:30 and I'll be able to bring you back home afterward," he said quickly.

"That sounds good. I'll see you then."

"Okay....goodnight."

He hung up the phone before I had a chance to say anything. I flipped back over to Sara. "Hey, sorry about that."

She immediately began to apologize. "Leila, I am so sorry. I _knew_ that you would have a problem with this and I told Ben it wasn't a good idea and you would think I'm being too pushy." Her thoughts ran together in a chaotic mess.

I tried to suppress a smile. "Sara, it's okay. I'll go to dinner with the three of you, but don't try to make it into more than it is, all right?"

I could hear the relief in her voice. "You got it. I'll make sure Ben is on his best behavior!"

"It's not Ben I'm worried about," I joked as a grin spread across my face. "What time and where?"

She told me the place, one of the new sushi restaurants downtown, and encouraged me to dress up. "Sara..." I warned. "Don't ruin this."

"Okay, fine. So who was so much more important than me that you had to talk to before?"

"The police. Well, Detective Pearson. I'm helping him out with a case and I need to do some work this weekend." Sara knew about my abilities and had accepted me for who I was since the third grade when I showed her what I could do.

"Ooh! Is that the hottie detective that I met a few months ago? Are you sure he needs you for his case or does he want you to help him crack it _wi-i-ide_ open?" She giggled.

"God, why did you even bother getting married, Sara? Yes, I think you're talking about the same detective and our relationship is purely professional. Please." I could admit that he was cute, but it wasn't like that.

"Okay, Leila. Anyway, I've got to run. Time to cook some dinner for the husband followed by his favorite dessert of me with whipped cream and --"

"Stop! Seriously, too much information."

But that's why we were friends. She managed to take my mind off divorce, marriage, and Russ in a few minutes.

"Fine. I'll see you Saturday night at eight. Take care sweetie. Love you!"

"Yeah, love you, too. And don't get too excited. I might be the corpse I threaten to be at dinner."

"No you won't."

She hung up on me too before I could respond. I set the phone down, walked over to my desk, and looked at my work assignment. I sat there for almost twenty minutes without a thought on how to proceed, before deciding that I needed to call it a night. Tomorrow would be a long day, and I was having an artist's version of writers-block. I knew it would be there in the morning, so I took a shower and went to bed.

About the Author

Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of _The Water Crisis Chronicles_ , _The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels,_ and the upcoming _Death Warden Series_. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

Titles Available Now

The Syrenka Series:

Promises

Betrayal

Arise

The Syrenka Series Box Set (with bonus stories)

The Leila Marx Novels and Novellas:

Touching Evil

Scorched

The Water Crisis Chronicles:

Waterproof

Furthermore: An Anthology

Coming Soon

Soulless

Waterfall

Touching Death

Connect with Amber Online:

www.ambergarr.com

www.facebook.com – Author Page: Amber Garr

@AmberGarr1

amber@ambergarr.com

