Inferno

“Yes,” she breathed, not at all convinced.



Annabelle squeezed her hand gently before slipping silently into the shadows. Cassie returned to staring out at the dark night. The moon danced across the snow, casting bright light off of its white surface. Stars twinkled in the sky; they were bright hopeful lights against a curtain of black night. The skeletal branches danced and swayed in the gentle breeze that wafted through them.



Julian and Devon had to be freezing out there. A shiver raced down her, she rested her fingers against the board on the window. She desperately wanted to go out there, to search for them herself; she hated feeling helpless and alone. She hated feeling this torn and adrift in the world.



Then she saw it, a darker shadow amongst the night; a figure amidst the woods. Cassie’s heart turned over, thumping with a mighty heave that left her breathless. The darkness caressed his hard body; the moon lit his black hair. Though she could not discern his features, he was the same size and shape as Devon. His hair was the same dark color. Devon would not have gone far from them, she knew that. He would not have left her alone.



And she was not going to leave him alone.



Spinning on her heel, she fled toward the door. Chris jumped toward her, trying to block her before she could get her hand on the knob. But she was faster than he was. Throwing the lock, she tossed the door open. “Cassie!”



The wind hit her, the chill of it blasted against her, but it did not slow her. She plunged into the night, needing to see Devon, to hold him. To ease the ache that burned in her bones and muscles. She plunged across the street; her breath blew out in bursts of steam in the frigid air. She pushed herself faster, harder.



She was halfway across the street, when he emerged from the shadows. Relief filled her, then confusion and surprise. She sprinted forward a few more steps before true realization sank in. This man was not Devon; he did look oddly like him with his dark hair, and sleek build. Even some of his features resembled Devon’s. His cheekbones were high and defined like Devon’s, his mouth full, but his nose was slightly bigger, and his face thinner. He was slightly shorter, stockier, but the differences were so small that she had not immediately picked up on them. His eyes though, it was his eyes that confused her the most. They were not the same bright emerald color as Devon’s, they were a darker almost forest green, and they were crueler, with an edge of malice that finally slid her to a halt.



She stared at him, her mouth wide open, and shock hammering her heart against her ribcage. He and Devon were so alike, and yet so different. Who the hell was this guy?



She shook her head, taking a step back as terror filled her. She didn’t know who he was, but it was more than apparent that he was not on her side as evil and hunger radiated from him. Yet, he did not appear to be one of the creatures either as his eyes remained clear and he did not appear half crazed. Malevolent yes, but half crazed no. She took another step back, swallowing heavily. She wanted to turn and flee, but she instinctively knew that she would not get away.



“You must be her,” he purred.



Cassie frowned as she took another step back, trying hard to keep her terror in control. Who the hell was this man? She knew what he was, but who the hell was he that he thought he knew her? And why was he staring at her with such malice when she didn’t even know him?



She took another small step back, trying not to draw his immediate attack. She could sense his power, his strength. She could feel it thrumming from him like a tightly wound guitar string. Taking another step back, she tried to breathe through the lump of fear in her throat and the tight constriction in her chest.



A small, cruel smile twisted his lips. Lips that weren’t as full as Devon’s but the upper one was stiff like Devon’s, while the bottom was soft. Confusion continued to twist through her. The similarities were so striking, so fierce. Yet so different. There was no softness in his gaze, no love, no humanity.



She took another step back, but knew instinctively that it didn’t matter what she did, he was going to come after her anyway. “Pretty.”



Though the word was barely a soft hiss, Cassie heard it as clearly as if he had been standing beside her. She shivered, suddenly certain that he could be beside her in an instant. Her skin crawled as if he had touched her, crawled as if he were already next to her.



The corners of his eyes crinkled as his smile widened. “This is going to be fun.”



Cassie’s hands clenched as she prepared herself for the attack she knew was imminent. Then she felt the ground begin to rumble, felt the earth shake and tremble as it lifted and shook with mighty waves. A fissure sprouted in the street, zigzagging rapidly toward her as the pavement cracked and heaved. A startled cry escaped her as she jumped out of the way of the rapidly growing hole in the middle of the street.



She wanted to turn and flee, but as she took a step back, her foot came up against the edge of another hole. She glanced wildly around, terrified to realize that a large hole had formed around her. A hole she was beginning to realize she could no longer see the bottom of. Dirt and pavement fell into the widening gaps; it clattered as it bounced off the sides of the dirt and rock.



Chris, Liam, Melissa, and Annabelle skidded to a halt at the edge of the hole. They stood, gaping at her across the widening five foot gap. Behind them, she could see Dani and Luther gathered at the edge of the store, watching in horror as the earth gave another mighty heave. Cassie stumbled, falling as she lost her balance. A small cry escaped her as her hand fell into one of the ever growing pits, and her leg skidded off the side.



“Cassie!” Melissa screamed.



Terror rushed up to replace her shock. For the first time she realized that the earth may just swallow her whole. She scrambled away from the edge of the growing cavity, knocking more rocks and pavement away, causing her small shelf of safety to become even smaller.



“Cassie!” Chris was kneeling before her, stretching his hand across the widening breach. “Reach for my hand!”



She gathered her legs beneath her. Kneeling, she leaned forward as she reached for his questing hand across the gap. Her fingertips were just centimeters from his, just within reach. She stretched herself as far as she could, but it was not enough. Frustration filled her; helplessness consumed her as her small plateau began to shrink.



“Jump!” he hissed at her.



Desperation seized her as she lunged forward, leaping for Chris’s hand. She fell forward; air and space rushed up to meet her as she tumbled toward the large chasm. A small scream of terror worked its way up her throat, but it lodged there as Chris’s hand grasped hold of her arm. His fingers dug into her skin, he held her tight, his grip painful and bruising, but greatly welcome. Cassie’s breath froze in her lungs, her body stiffened as she waited for the impending, painful contact of the wall of dirt and rocks. She lifted her other hand, preparing to use it to block as much of the blow as she could as she fell rapidly forward. Her legs kicked out, catching a glance blow off the wall. The impact of the wall threw her off balance, spinning her around in midair as Chris clung to her.



Arms suddenly wrapped around her, grasping her so tight that the air exploded from her lungs. A startled cry escaped her as Chris’s hand was ripped away, leaving long scratch marks down her arm. The crater rushed away from her, the arms encircled her tighter. She would have panicked against the sudden hold, but she recognized Devon’s smell and solid embrace instantly.



All of her terror disappeared, the tension eased from her body as she allowed herself a moment to melt against him, to savor in him, to take comfort in the strength and reassurance of his embrace. Then, they were on solid ground. His legs bowed as he took the impact of their landing, lifting her high so that her feet did not touch the ground.



He held her against his chest for a moment, his nose buried in her hair as he inhaled her scent deeply. A shiver of delight and desire raced down her spine. For a brief moment she allowed herself to forget everything as her fingers dug into his hard arm. His lips touched briefly against her ear, then her neck, before he gently lowered her to the ground.



He rose slowly, his hand encircling hers as he lifted her to her feet. His eyes were hard as they met hers, his jaw locked tight, and his shoulders stiff. For a moment love filled his gaze, and then resignation and anger blazed forth. Cassie’s eyes widened, her hand tightened around his as she clenched it tighter. This Devon was different than the one that had fled the store. That one had been terrified that he would hurt her, that he would take her against her will. This Devon looked prepared to do war as he released her.



He kept her behind him, his arm braced in front of her as he turned to face the strange man across the way. The strange man with the frightening power to make the earth split apart in order to swallow her whole. The man was grinning at them; his eyes alight with mischief and delight. “There you are!” he cried eagerly, clasping his hands before him. Cassie’s eyes widened in the face of his obvious, malicious delight at seeing Devon. “I was so hoping you would join us!”



“Here I am,” Devon growled.



Cassie wanted to reach for Devon, to cling to him, but she found herself unable to move as she watched the exchange in wide eyed fascination. Standing across from each other, the similarities between the two were even more noticeable, as was the immense hatred they had for one another. Devon stepped closer to her, blocking her even more from view as the strangers gaze darted quickly toward her, his smile widened to reveal his long fangs.



“She’s a fine little piece.”



A low hiss escaped Devon, his muscles rippled beneath his shirt. Cassie thought he was going to lunge forward, but instead he pushed her back a step. “I’ll destroy your mind and rip your throat out before I ever let you near her.”



The stranger’s amusement did not wane at the threat. Instead, he seemed even more intrigued by the notion as his head tilted to the side, trying to get a better look at her. Cassie stared in disbelief at the back of Devon. Even against Patrick he had not wanted to use his ability. But now, not only was he threatening to wield it, he was also threatening to destroy this stranger with it. She did not know how to process this strange turn of events. Cassie started in surprise, jumping slightly as Julian suddenly appeared beside her, his arm firm against hers as he boxed her in. She tilted her head to look up at him, her confusion evident as she met his electric eyes.



He gazed briefly down at her; the hatred in his gaze leaving her breathless. She knew that hatred was not for her, even when he had wanted to kill her he had never looked at her like that. There had always been an air of amusement, curiosity, and admiration about him when it came to her. There had never been hatred. In fact, even when he had claimed to hate Devon, she had never seen this look in his eyes. This was absolute abhorrence, and it was apparent that it was for the man standing across the street from them.



Who was he? She wondered again, her gaze darting back to the stranger. He had to be someone bad if they were both reacting to him in such a way.



“And if it isn’t the venerable sidekick,” the man purred, his eyes lighting upon Julian. “I thought you two parted ways when Devon went vegan on us. Imagine my surprise when Matthew informed us that you two had reunited, and for this girl no less. Our enemy.” Devon stiffened even more at the name Matthew, while Julian hissed a soft curse. Cassie glanced wildly between them, sensing that the name, and this man’s presence, was far worse than she had even begun to fathom.



“How are you not killing each other over her?” The man continued. “Or are you sharing her like you’ve shared so many others before?”



Cassie winced involuntarily; the words were a stabbing reminder of Devon’s past that she did not want to hear. A past that she had so recently come to terms with. “Enough!” Devon roared his hands fisting as he took a step forward, bracing for an attack.



“Easy,” Julian warned, grasping hold of Devon’s arm. “It’s what he wants Devon, and that cannot be good.”



Though Devon did not lunge forward, his tension did not ease. “Still a good sidekick, always sticking by your leader’s side,” the man commented lightly, pinning Julian with a disgusted look. “Always second best, especially now.”



Julian quirked an eyebrow, amusement flitted over his features. It was a look Cassie recognized well, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh Robert, even after all of these years your jealousy has not eased. You were never best, second best, or even third, how pathetic and sad.”



Cassie’s forehead furrowed, her eyes narrowed as she glanced toward the stranger.



Robert.



For the first time, he seemed aggravated by the situation, and not as in control. Julian’s words had affected him, rattled him, and annoyed him. But even more than that, the name rang a bell in Cassie’s memory. She had heard it before, she couldn’t recall where, but she was fairly certain that Devon had been the one to mention it.