Chapter 5
Deritus tumbled in the turbulent waters of the River of Lost Souls, listening to the screams of the pathetic mortals he bumped into. Occasionally, one would panic and thrash about, pushing him under and filling his lungs with water. Not that it mattered. He was dead. Again.
He resurfaced as the sound of dogs barking in the distance grew louder with each passing second. Without warning, something had him around the throat, its teeth sinking deep into his bloodless body. Pain radiated throughout. One would think the dead could feel no pain, but in the Dark Realm, pain was a constant companion.
Three sets of huge demonic eyes bored into his. The beasts that held him panted and drooled, their blood-red eyes matching the fur on their ears. The rest of their bodies were white as snow. The stench of decay on their breath caused Deritus to gag.
The hellhounds, guards to the gates of the Dark Realm, carried him for miles. Their jagged teeth tore into his shoulders and ankles. Agony seared through him with each step they took. After dragging him up a torturous set of steep, rocky stairs, they deposited him on a cold stone floor like a discarded bone.
“On your knees, ass-wipe.” A deep voice resonated throughout the cavernous chamber.
The voice belonged to Mider, current ruler of the Dark Realm. Deritus rolled over on his stomach and brought his knees underneath him, each small movement increasing his agony. Kneeling before the Dark Lord’s throne of bones, his gaze rested on the soot-covered floor, not daring to look the Dark Lord in the eyes.
Blood wraiths shrieked and swept through the air around him, sizing Deritus up for their next meal. A sticky dampness hung in the air. His skin felt clammy and dirty.
“No matter how many chances I give you, Demon, you still wind up back here, your incompetent ass floating down my river like refuse. Get the fuck up and show me the respect I deserve.”
Deritus rose, swaying from side to side. Complete loss of blood did something to one’s sense of balance.
“At your service, my lord.” He bowed with caution, concentrating on keeping his footing.
“Cut the bullshit, Deritus. You’d skewer me with that dagger strapped to your thigh and feast on my entrails if you had the opportunity.” Mider smiled, revealing a set of fangs that rivaled those of his vicious pack of hellhounds. “Of course you will never have that opportunity.”
Either he was destined for eternal punishment, or Mider would send him back to the surface to finish the task that he had failed to accomplish.
“I specifically remember giving you orders to capture the Celestial.” The Dark Lord’s black eyes convicted him on the spot.
With his imposing seven-foot frame dressed in black leather and chains, Mider intimidated the crap out of him. Deritus shifted his weight between his feet, his eyes darting from side to side looking for a way to escape. Mider controlled his realm with an iron fist. No one left this domain unless he wanted them gone.
Mider slid off his throne like a serpent primed for the kill. He picked Deritus up by the throat. Razor-sharp claws pierced his neck as flames engulfed his body. Just as the sweet promise of unconsciousness seemed a reality, the Dark Lord let go and Deritus fell to the ground.
Mider’s face held no expression. Maybe his thoughts were on what boots to wear or whether he wanted his gargon eggs fried or hard-boiled. The king bored easily.
“Do not fail me again.” Mider snarled.
“I couldn’t help it. The guardian is always on my ass.”
“You dare to make excuses for your incompetence?” Mider screamed, shaking the walls with his demonic voice.
“I resurrected you, and I’ll destroy you for good if you fail again. Bring me the goddess, or boil in a vat of wraith blood for all eternity.”
Mider resurrected him more times than Deritus could count, and living in the moment had its advantages. He would capture the goddess and hand her over to Mider but not before tasting her first. Consuming the energy of a Celestial would supercharge his engine for a very long time.
“Return to Earth and complete your task. Release more incubi, and make our presence known. I want to see mortals screaming for mercy in the streets.”
“As you wish, my lord.” Curiosity and stupidity overrode his judgment. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for another chance, but why not send another demon? One you don’t have to resurrect.”
Mider’s lips curved slightly, his smile filled with malice. “I want the dragon-shifter to see you, alive and well. He needs to sweat a little. I want him to know that no matter how many times he kills you, his efforts are wasted. I want him to know that someone else is in charge now, someone with the power to bring him to his knees.”
Mider paused for a moment, deep in thought. “I refuse to remain imprisoned in this realm.” His dark gaze turned to Deritus. Mider bared his fangs again, his eyes burning red-hot with rage.
“Complete your task, or you spend the rest of eternity engulfed in flames while gargons feast on your manhood.” Mider waved him off and returned to his skeletal throne.
As Deritus scurried from the cavern, his heart began to beat, the sharp pain causing him to double over and fall to the ground. Blood seared the inside of his arteries. He crawled and fought through the agony, intent on getting the hell out of the Dark Realm.
Resurrection could be a real bitch.
~ ~ ~
Ava appeared at the window, as if anticipating his arrival. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, Duncan finally caved in to his desire to see her again. She looked down on him like a delicate princess in a crystal tower, but inside that slender form, he knew a hellcat existed. Her sassy attitude piqued his interest. Ordinarily women feared him, but Ava wasn’t ordinary by any stretch of the imagination.
In a heartbeat, she disappeared from view. Would she come to him? The bewitching goddess dominated his thoughts since he sent her to the Goddess House. The instant physical attraction to her rattled his senses. Not once in his extended existence had he experienced a soul-consuming desire of this intensity.
The front door burst open and Ava stepped outside. She strode toward him, her movement fluid and elegant. Even in her sleazy attire, she had the presence of royalty. His skin prickled with energy, an awareness born of erotic sensations flowed from her in waves.
“Do you make a habit of rescuing women and then stalking them?” Ava crossed her arms under her chest, and a mischievous glint shined in her mossy-green eyes.
The playful lilt in her voice and sassy smile contrasted with her words. He sucked in a breath, finding her tenacity a real turn-on. He met her gaze without apology. For all he knew, this intense attraction could be due to her sex goddess wiles.
Her eyes searched his, wary but inviting. A tendril of her long auburn hair danced in the breeze, but he resisted the urge to tame it. Tension thickened the atmosphere. His pulse pounded in his head. Being at a loss of words around beautiful women had never been a problem for him until now.
“Why are you here, Duncan?” Ava kept her arms locked firmly in front of her as if to form a barrier between them.
“I wanted to make sure the others took you in,” he lied. He had to see her again—had to know if the attraction he’d felt for her earlier was real or imagined. It was real all right, real enough to keep him on edge with a desire he had no business satisfying.
“As you can see, I am well.”
A symphony of carnal undertones laced her words. Either she had the most potent pheromones in the universe or he had been without female companionship for far too long.
“I want to thank you again for saving me from Deritus.” She smiled, taking a tentative step closer. “If not for you, I would be dead—or worse.” She shuddered and moved another step closer to him. “Thanks for checking on me. I’ll be fine here.” Ava placed a gentle hand on his arm, withdrawing it a second later. Once again, a spark of static passed between them.
“I’m glad you found refuge here,” he said. “You should be safe, as long as you stay with the others and don’t go out alone.”
“Trust me. I have no intention of being out alone at night again.” The brief hint of fear that registered in her eyes nearly drove him to wrap her in his embrace. In an effort to keep his inner dragon at bay, Duncan changed the subject.
“Non-mortals must remain undetected in this world. Our survival depends on it. I need to know you understand the rules of living here.”
“I understand. I have no quarrel with mortals and will keep my distance.”
A tear trickled down her cheek, and she brushed it away with her fingertips.
His heart melted at the sight of her distress. Instinctively, he pulled her to him, holding her close. Inhaling deeply her sweet, exotic scent, he brushed a gentle kiss upon her head.
“You’re safe now, Ava,” he said.
The second Duncan realized what he’d done, he released her, embarrassed by his lack of control. The sensation of emerging scales rippled beneath his skin. Feelings of confusion and arousal caused his inner dragon to emerge, and he fought to suppress the beast.
In a few more seconds, he would turn into the ultimate predator, succumbing to his need for possession. If he didn’t want to transform right here on the front lawn of the Goddess House, he must leave now.
“Stay safe, Goddess. And don’t draw attention to yourself.”
He opened a portal and stepped into it, ignoring his desire to take the spunky goddess into his arms again.
~ ~ ~
Ava instantly missed the warmth of his embrace, wondering why he’d left so abruptly. Like a starry-eyed adolescent, she’d allowed him to flip the switch on her long-dormant libido. Her immense attraction to him caught her off guard. She sighed, hoping that their next encounter would be a little longer than a few minutes.
Careful not to disturb the others, she entered the house and tiptoed up the stairs. Back in her room, she settled on the bed. The orgy on the ceiling that loomed overhead was the last thing she wanted to see.
Duncan’s intoxicating musky scent clung to her skin leaving a constant reminder of their embrace. His mixed signals confused her. The attraction that sparked between them couldn’t be denied, but just when things heated up, he’d slammed on the brakes and pulled away.
She would regain her powers and exact her revenge on Trayan by any means necessary. If the sexy guardian didn’t approve, he knew where to find her. She had to admit, the idea of another encounter had a seductive appeal.