Valefar Vol. 1: Demon Kissed Novella
Author: H.M. Ward
Date: 2011-11-26 05:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Paranormal; Paranormal Romance; Demons; Young Adult; Angels; Fantasy; Novella; Romance
Description: It's 369 days before Ivy loses her soul to a demon kiss. And, Collin Smith, the most powerful Valefar this side of Hell, wants his soul back. He thinks he'll get it too, until a bargain with a powerful demon proves to be more costly than he hoped. As his world shifts, Collin tries to protect Ivy, but he knows he can't be with her. Torn between his affection for the girl and his loyalty, Collin is forced to be the evil creature he tries so hard to deny - a Valefar. NOTE: This is volume 1 of a series of short stories about Collin Smith from Demon Kissed. It is suggested to be read AFTER reading

Valefar

Vol. 1

The prequel novella to the bestselling

Demon Kissed Series

www.DemonKissed.com

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Laree Bailey Press

This book is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2011 by H. M. Ward.  All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without explicit permission.

Laree Bailey Press

Printed in the United States of America

First Edition: November 2011

KOBO EDITION

Demon Kissed Series By H.M. Ward

Demon Kissed

Cursed

Torn

Satan’s Stone

The 13th Prophecy

Assassin: Fall of the Golden Valefar

More Series By H.M. Ward

Vampire Apocalypse: Bane

Twisted Tales

To my sweet baby and awesome kids!

Thank you to the

Awesome fans who loved

Demon Kissed

From the very beginning.

PROLOGUE

The story begins 369 days before Ivy is demon kissed on her 17th birthday.

CHAPTER ONE

“Legend states that there were thirteen prophecies that foretold the destruction of the Earth, the annihilation of the Martis and Valefar, and the obliteration of the demon Kreturus…” Jake paused as he always did when he spoke of this with Collin. It didn’t matter how many times they’d talked about it, Collin’s response was always the same.

Collin turned away from his friend with his arms folded. His dark shirt clung to his chest defining the muscles beneath. He looked side to side; making sure no one was listening. They were backstage in the school’s theater. Long black drapes hung floor to ceiling in front of them and a cement wall was directly behind them.

Collin didn’t like Jake speaking of this here, now, so he cut him off in a hushed whisper, “And that prophecy infers my death. I know, Jake.”

Collin knew the prophecy, and he knew more about it than Jake did. However, he kept those comments to himself. The younger Valefar had proved to be trustworthy over time. Well, as much as a Valefar could be trusted. Turning to Jake he saw the worry pinched on his face and the tension that lined his arms—tension that wasn’t normally present in this Valefar.

Collin’s eyes turned to slits as he stepped toward his friend slowly, “What do you know.” It was a command, not a question.

Jake was Collin’s second in command. The hierarchy of the Valefar was precarious at best, and more accurately described as a savage blood bath. No other Valefar had ever been able to hold power as long as Collin had, and despite Jake’s age, he knew it. Befriending Collin ensured his longevity. It had occurred to him to keep this information to himself, because if Collin was destroyed, then Jake could take his place. The thought amused Jake. He batted the idea around in his mind, teasing out scenarios that could lead to Jake stealing Collin’s throne. Jake watched the man in front of him. Collin’s power was unnatural and surpassed most by far. It would be suicide to challenge him. No, if there was to be a change in Valefar power this side of Hell, it would be caused by someone other than Jake.

Shifting his feet, Jake pushed the thoughts aside, feeling Collin’s hard gaze on his face. When he looked at his master, Collin was less than an inch from him. Clearing his throat, Jake looked directly into Collin’s face and reported what he’d learned. “The Martis suspect movement.”

Collin arched an eyebrow, refolded his arms, and leaned against the stone wall. They were at the high school where Collin spent much of his time in the auditorium. Acting was something Valefar excelled in. It allowed them a tentative escape from their hellish lives. Jake also dabbled with acting, and knew how dangerous it was to approach Collin here, but the information was too important to waste time. Jake had come looking for him when he realized what was happening.

Collin smiled to himself, as if he couldn’t believe it. “And…”

Jake leaned closer, his voice not audible to the human ear, “And it’s her—the one who will destroy you and cause the prophecies to fulfill.” He smiled at Collin. “She’s within reach. The Martis rooted her out. I doubt she even knows what she is yet.”

The two separated as footfalls echoed toward them, one step at a time, from the other side of the dark curtain. Collin nodded at Jake and said, “We’ll discuss this in detail later.” Jake nodded and turned away before he could be seen, and effonated. Collin watched as Jake’s form went hazy. It looked like his entire body had heat billowing off of it, like blacktop in the summer sun before he completely disappeared.

Collin leaned against the wall, lost in thought with a soft smile lining his lips. He’d spent the past centuries aware of the prophecy and the girl who would condemn him to death, but until now, he’d never had any idea that he could find her. This single girl would be responsible for the greatest disasters known to her kind, and his. She not only brought about his death, and the annihilation of two races of immortals, but she would also be the sole being responsible for creating the apocalypse. Earth was a stepping stone between Hell and Heaven. She would be the cause of another angel demon war—a war he didn’t want to fight. Wars like that had no winners. Collin’s fingers rubbed against his chin. As he was lost in thought the footfalls drew nearer and one of the stage-crew girls rounded the corner.

Collin pushed himself off the wall, and walked past her. The perky girl was clad in pink from head to toe. She smiled at him, opening her mouth to engage him in a conversation in which he had little interest. Not stopping to indulge her, Collin nodded as he passed and said, “Jenna Marie.”

CHAPTER TWO

Thoughts of the prophecies consumed Collin. After fumbling his lines beyond belief, he excused himself from rehearsal and walked backstage. Pulling open the metal door that lead to the basement, he walked through and bounced down the steps into the darkness. He could have gone home, but he wanted a chance to think about this on his own. This school was one place where he could be at ease. A new Valefar wouldn’t suddenly show up and attack him. Valefar were slow and methodical, certain to thoroughly destroy their victims in every way possible.

Collin rounded the corner at the bottom of the landing. He moved through the darkness with ease and threw his body onto a well-worn couch. Threading his fingers behind his head, he laid there, staring into space thinking about what would happen if he killed the Prophecy One. It couldn’t be that easy. There had to be repercussions to destroying her. Would the prophecy just stop? Collin wasn’t certain. He’d never seen the prophecies himself. He’d only heard stories of them. The Martis were diligently searching for the girl in the first prophecy painting in the series. And Collin was dying to wrap his fingers around it. Not only would the painting show the face of his assassin, but it would also reveal the ancient words that had been forgotten—words he needed to break his bargain with Kreturus. Collin’s chest swelled, and his heart raced at the thought.

No one knew where Collin’s power came from. The other Valefar assumed he took the throne to the Upperworld the same way any other Valefar had—through blood and deception. Only the most powerful of Valefar survived. Being ruthless was expected, but Collin’s power didn’t come from centuries of battles. It came from a bargain—a bargain that cost him more than he realized. Collin pressed his eyes closed, trying to force back the memory. There were few things that truly terrified him, and this was one of them. Try as he might, it was no use. Thinking of the prophecies conjured the memory.

It washed over him in a second and chilled him to the bone. Collin could see himself, ages ago, standing in front of the most powerful demon alive. Kreturus had been trapped in a cave in the Underworld. No one was crazy enough to go looking for him, but Collin did. He moved through the Underworld, killing everything in his path, hell-bent on finding the demon who owned him—and all the other Valefar—so that he could demand his freedom. Collin laughed at the thought. His plan was flawed from the start. There is no such thing as a compromising, level-headed demon. But back then, Collin didn’t care. He didn’t want the life that had been thrust upon him. He hated the Valefar, though he was one. They were responsible for the pain that he remembered with vivid intensity. He saw it burned onto the back of his eyes every time he blinked - his wife; his child; both ashen faced and laid lifeless on the pyre with flames flickering high into the night sky. The Valefar were to blame. Determination made him reckless, and so Collin found the demon.

The demon’s presence was terrifying. He flowed like black ink into every crevice of the cave. The angels contained him in that prison, but the ancient demon shifted his form as needed to make his imprisonment tolerable—until he could find a way to escape. Collin’s tenacity didn’t falter when the demon’s presence wrapped around him like a cloak made of liquid ice. Collin didn’t back away, or run screaming as the demon’s vapors filled his lungs, as he breathed. Any other man would have cried out in terror. Collin did not. Rage consumed him. The demon’s touches only made Collin more irate.

Collin roared, “Return my soul to me! Lift the Valefar curse and let me go free.” He looked around in the darkness, expecting to be killed instantly for demanding anything.

But, a low rumble filled the room as Kreturus laughed at him, “You can take all the souls you want.”

“No, I can’t. I can’t take the one soul I need,” Collin growled. His jaw locked tight as his hands shook in the darkness clenched into tight fists. There was no way to force the demon to do anything. Collin would have to convince him. He would have to persuade Kreturus into giving him what he wanted. But, Collin had nothing to barter. Kreturus already had his soul.

As if the ancient demon could read his thoughts, the inky blackness seemed to purr. “There is one thing… One thing that I would bargain for.”

Shaking, Collin shot upright, and hung his legs over the side of the couch and ended the memory. His heart raced in his chest, beating wildly as he repressed the recollection to the deepest depths of his mind. Leaning forward, he clutched his head between his hands trying to forget. He had given too much. It was a mistake. A mistake that cost him more than he’d already lost.

Startled by the creak of the steps above him, Collin slowly stood and moved through the darkened room trying to see through the metal stairs. The stage lights illuminated the person standing in the doorway until the door clicked shut and darkness cloaked the person. Collin couldn’t see who was on the landing above, but heard the creak of each step as the person came closer and closer.

Thinking it must have been an enemy, Collin’s body tensed. He moved quickly and pressed himself between two flats that stretched high above him that were leaning, angled against the wall. Moving slowly, he crept behind the canvases. The person moved down the stairs and stopped on the last step, and sat. Collin carefully stepped over props and moved silently through the room. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a piece of brimstone. Pressing his finger to the side of the sharp stone, he drew blood and rubbed it against the rock. Instantly, the stone became fluid and changed shape in his hand elongating into a blade, while the section of stone under Collin’s grip swelled into a hilt. His grip tightened around the dagger as the stone became hard in his hand. Crouching close to the floor, he approached the staircase from the back. The person sitting there failed to move. They sat utterly motionless breathing in sharp breaths that were too loud for a Valefar, or for someone hunting him. When Collin slid up behind the staircase, he hesitated. Holding his weapon ready to strike, a familiar scent hit his heightened sense of smell. The grip of the blade in his hand loosened as he realized who it was. Collin ran his finger along the blade slicing open his skin. When the blood sank into the black metal, it melted back into a small stone. By the time Collin pressed it into his pocket, his finger had already healed.

He stared at her back for a moment, certain of her identity, and backed away from her. Her lungs expanded filling her body with air as she shook. Collin could hear her sniffle as he moved away, back toward the couch. Pushing his hair out of his face, he looked at her in the darkness one last time. He wished she’d talk to him and tell him what was bothering her enough to sit and cry in the shadows, but he knew she wouldn’t.

So, he retreated to the couch and silently sprawled out again. When he reached his hand for the switch behind the couch, he flipped on the lights. With a smile in his voice he said, “Only creepy people sit in the basement in the dark, Ivy.”

CHAPTER THREE

She sucked in a sharp breath, startled by him. He moved across the room impossibly fast as she wiped away the tears that had fallen across her cheeks. The playfulness in his voice managed to pull her lips into a half smile, but she faltered before it fully formed and the smile vanished.

Collin knelt in front of her, careful not to touch her, though he wanted to. “What’s the matter?” It was a pointless question. She never told him anything of importance, but for some reason he continued to ask.

Ivy looked at his blue eyes and shook her head. Her hand flew to catch a tear that was about to fall and wiped it away. “Nothing,” she said.

Collin cocked his head and then nodded. “Yes, I see. You’re hiding in the basement in the dark…” a smiled pulled at the corners of his mouth. “And nothing’s wrong. That sounds about right.”

A crooked smile lined Ivy’s lips as she leaned toward him, startling him slightly by her abrupt movement. His heart raced as she leaned dangerously close to his face, “I’m not the only creepy one down here. You were down here, too.”

Collin looked at her dark brown eyes. They shone despite the tears that she tried to hide. Ivy was complicated. She fascinated him and he desperately wanted to figure her out. But, he couldn’t. Finally he answered, “Something was bothering me. I was thinking about it.” His gaze didn’t waver as he looked at her face. A piece of hair was pressed against her cheek. It flowed from her face down past her shoulders in long loose curls—soft curls he wanted to touch. Reaching out, Collin moved his fingers towards her. He sensed her tense as her back straightened, and she started to pull away from him, but then she stopped. Collin’s fingers wrapper around the curl, as he pulled it off her wet cheek and let go. Ivy’s lips were parted as if she was going to speak, but no words came out.

They started at each other in silence, neither of them willing to move and break whatever was happening between them. Collin had felt it before, but this was the first time that Ivy had felt the attraction, too. Collin’s pulse raced when he looked in her eyes. His hand drifted next to her cheek when he’d released her hair. His hand was frozen in indecision by her cheek. Collin pondered sliding his fingers across her warm, smooth skin. All he needed to do was move his finger, just tilt his palm. But he hesitated. Ivy barely breathed while her gaze remained transfixed on Collin’s eyes. Her warm brown gaze enthralled him in a way he’d never known. His fingers began to move closer to her cheek—to brush against her smooth skin when the door above them creaked. The moment shattered and Ivy’s eyes darted away from Collin’s. She slouched back against the step, turning her head towards the sound. Collin looked up at the doorway. Light from the stage spilled into the stairwell.

“Collin!” Jamie called. The girl stood in the doorway, not bothering to look down the stairs, knowing he was down there. “They want you on stage again.” She let go of the door and turned away. As the door slowly closed she added, “Now!”

The door clicked shut. The light was gone, but he could still see Ivy clearly. She smiled a fake smile and said, “You’d better go.” Collin swallowed hard, and nodded. He rose, towering above her and waited for her to shift out of the way so he could go upstairs. But she didn’t. Instead her long eyelashes looked up at him with wide eyes. Her lips parted slowly as if she was going to speak, but she said nothing. Finally she breathed, “Better go…” and looked away from him. She shifted to one side of the step casting her face down toward the floor. Collin nodded and walked up the stairs, leaving her alone in the darkness.

CHAPTER FOUR

Later that night Collin returned to his home—a home on Eastern Long Island that housed many Valefar. It was better to keep them close, so he could learn their weaknesses. In the past Valefar had lived together to protect the group from Martis. A lone Valefar was more susceptible to falling prey as the Martis tried to exterminate his kind. However, when they banned together, the Martis were less likely to attack. The Valefar remained hidden, moving from place to place as needed. Collin had Valefar positioned everywhere. And they were all his to command. They stalked Martis, tracking them by scent. And some of the newer Martis were too young to realize what they were. Some of them were killed, while others they tracked. Collin gleaned information from every Martis before they died. The younger ones weren’t as helpful, but the elder ones—they were another issue. They knew more, but it was difficult to get them to speak before they died, but when they did… That was what he needed—what he hoped for. Information was power. And power was the only way to free himself from his bargain with the demon.

Collin was sitting behind his desk in a massive black leather chair. It was the middle of the night, but Valefar didn’t sleep at night—they hunted—and he was disrupting their hunt. The Valefar he had called looked tensely around the room. Meetings weren’t the norm, but Collin didn’t care. He looked up at the door as a Valefar with dark hair and dark skin walked into the room. Collin nodded and Jake pushed the door closed.

There were five of them in the room including Collin. Jake stood tall and lean next to the door, barring it so no one else would enter. Nicole had slid onto Collin’s desk and crossed her legs making her short skirt even shorter. Her blonde hair slid down her back just past her shoulder blades. The way she sat accentuated her tiny waist, curvy hips, and endless legs. Nicole looked over her shoulder and flashed Collin a smile that he didn’t return. She was accustomed to him disregarding her advances. He seemed uninterested in her. She didn’t understand why, and Collin wanted to keep it that way. If she understood the changes within him, then she could manipulate him. Collin straightened his back and leaned forward as he gazed around the room.

In front of Nicole sat two Valefar who were no more than two-hundred years old. They’d lived long enough to not fall victim to the follies of youth, but they weren’t old enough to be of concern. The young didn’t plot to attain more power. Centuries of boredom played a part in that, and they were too young to have that issue. Yet. Tony sat in front of Collin with tanned skin and dark silky hair. Tony’s black eyes were razor sharp. Mandor sat next to him, his dark gaze avoiding Collin’s eye.

Most of them had no idea why Collin had called them, but they had no choice but to come. Directly defying an order was the same as challenging Collin, and no one dared.

Jake moved next to Collin and addressed them, “We’ll go hunting as soon as this matter is resolved. I know some of you can’t wait much longer, so we won’t make you.” Jake looked at Collin from the corner of his eye. Collin nodded, as he folded his hands together on the desk. He watched every single one of them as Jake spoke. Jake nodded back and continued, “The Martis have been searching for someone for a long time.”

Nicole nodded, “The Prophecy Girl.” She looked back at Collin but he didn’t look directly at her. Her gaze turned back toward Jake who was annoyed that she interrupted.

Instead of scolding her, he continued, “Yes. They have spent ages searching for her. We know they have the first prophecy painting, but we have never been able to recover it. And now it doesn’t matter, because if we play our cards right—they’ll lead us straight to her.”

Collin leaned back in his chair, arms by his side, watching them. The tiny ticks that suggested they were loyal or not would surface as Jake spoke. The minute movements that stated whether they would use the information to help him or destroy him would betray them. Collin didn’t like that he couldn’t see Nicole’s face, so he slid out of his chair and leaned against the wall. Folding his arms tightly to his chest, he watched.

Nicole arched an eyebrow and shot a look between Collin and Jake, with her jaw hanging open. Mandor spoke before she said anything, “And your plan is… what? To kill her?” He turned toward Collin, looking him directly in the face. Mandor was typically silent. The expression on his face was neutral. He awaited Collin’s response.

“Yes,” Collin said coldly, moving away from the wall. He looked down at Mandor. “We destroy her before she destroys our kind. Before she has a chance to fulfill the prophecy.” While Collin didn’t state it, his reasons for destroying her went deeper than that. Mandor snapped his mouth shut. Collin rounded on him. “Do you think differently?”

Mandor looked straight ahead, knowing better than to engage Collin in a fight. “No,” he answered. Collin stared at him for a moment, waiting, watching for the tick that would betray the Valefar’s thoughts, but there was none. Nicole gaped with an open mouth. When Collin caught her gaze, she snapped her mouth shut and looked away.

Jake cleared his throat and moved toward the front of the desk. “The four of us will trail the Martis indicated until we can get more information. Each of us needs to make a new Valefar and bind them—tonight. Binding them to you will keep their mouths shut until we have more information, and it’ll allow you to track the Martis while maintaining your other obligations.”

Tony twisted in his chair, turning toward Jake. “So this is a secret? Why?”

Collin’s eyes narrowed to slits. He was in front of Tony before the boy could blink. “Because I said so. No one is to know.”

Tony’s eyes were wide as he tried to look anywhere but at Collin’s terrorizing gaze. A slim red band hugged tightly to Collin’s iris in each eye. Tony knew that Collin could kill him instantly in that moment. His heart beat wildly in his ears, but Collin backed away from him, satisfied that he’d do as he was told.

Collin growled, “Go. And stay out of my territory. Telling you to hunt wasn’t an invitation.” Valefar had their own areas where they were permitted to hunt for prey. Each of them required a human soul to survive. The younger Valefar hunted with their maker until they were old enough to go alone; or in Nicole’s case, until she got tired of them and killed them. Looking at her Collin added, “And you can’t kill them when they piss you off. Not until this is over.” Nicole’s jaw dropped slightly as her brow pinched together, but she didn’t respond.

Jake opened the door and left. Everyone else followed, but Nicole lingered behind. Collin was frustrated with her. She slid off his desk and pushed the door closed with a flick of her wrist. Then, she sauntered across the room, swinging her hips as she approached him. Collin slid into the seat behind his desk and watched her, his mood darkening. The red ring around his eyes burned. He could feel it there, threatening to push him within inches of his sanity. Collin had waited too long to hunt, again. He didn’t like what he was—he didn’t like being forced to kill to remain alive - but he didn’t want to die without a soul either. The repercussions for such a thing were unbearable. Spending the rest of eternity frozen in the Pool of Lost Souls in the Underworld was unfathomable. The dead could not escape. And every Valefar knew that would be their final resting place when they died. The only way to avoid it was to live.

Irritated, Collin watched her. She wanted something, and Nicole seemed to only push him the most when he was his weakest. “What,” he snapped as she leaned over his desk with a smile across her face. Her blouse puckered and fell open slightly.

When Collin didn’t take his gaze off of her face, she rolled her eyes and lowered herself into one of the chairs in front of the desk. Slouching back into the cushions her red lips pulled into a smile, “How will you reward me?” She pressed her fingertips together and gazed at him.

Leaning forward, Collin said, “Reward you for what?” He watched her confident posture, but knew it was an act. She was terrified of him. Nicole had been by his side too many times to doubt what he was capable of. And right then, she was toying with him—and he didn’t like it. His arms flexed as he waited for her reply.

She leaned forward, crossing her legs, “For finding a traitor.” Her voice was soft, seductive. She said the words intending to lull him to her, but his reaction wasn’t as she had anticipated.

Collin’s eyes pooled crimson as he shot across the desk. His hands grasped her throat and he threw her into the wall. Her head cracked the plaster and she slid to the floor, rubbing her scalp. “I have no time for games, Nicole.” He spat out her name. “Tell me who, or I’ll kill you and find out myself.”

Nicole’s smile faltered as her heart raced in her chest. She looked up at Collin when she lifted herself off the floor, unhurt. “That was unnecessary,” she bit the words off with hostility. “I was telling you. It’s someone close to you. Someone you’d never suspect. That’s why I didn’t just come out and say it.” She brushed herself off, and then turned toward Collin. Her eyes locked with his as she moved closer and closer to him.

Collin’s resolve was faltering. The lust that burned bright red in his eyes was all encompassing. He was hungry and needed a soul, but his body easily confused his hunger with lust. He breathed in her scent, lifting a lock of her hair off her shoulder. Their eyes locked. Collin and Nicole had been together before, but he didn’t want her tonight. He needed to hunt. He needed to keep his wits about him. He dropped the lock like it’d burned him and stepped back, trying to temper his lust.

“Tell me,” Collin demanded. Tension laced the air making every hair on his body stand on end.

Nicole’s crimson lips pulled into a wicked smile. She pressed a slender finger to Collin’s lips, and slid it along his smooth mouth. Collin tensed, ready to snap, but her timing was perfect. She removed the finger, and leaned closer to him. She whispered the name of the traitor in his ear.

“Jake.”

CHAPTER FIVE

The thick night air was damp and cold. It bit at his skin as Collin ran, seeking to release the destructive need growing inside of him. Blindly he sprinted through the trees faster than any human, and didn’t give a thought if someone saw him or not. It was three o’clock in the morning. If someone saw him, they’d die. Anger burned through him as thoughts collided in his mind. After coming close to killing Nicole, he let her go. He was suspicious of her claim, but he knew Jake too well to ignore it. Collin weaved through the woods startling the animals that hunted around him. His feet pounded the forest floor as he continued to run, not thinking about his destination.

Finally he stopped, as sweat poured off his body. Running was part of the hunt. It was the part that he enjoyed the most. It made him feel alive again, even though he wasn’t. Collin’s heart pounded in his ears as demon blood surged through his tense body. He took his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead and he caught his breath. Collin’s eyes burned blood-red. He could feel the heat within forming a direct connection to some place inside of him that demanded to be fed.

Swinging his fist into the tree truck, Collin released some of the anger he’d held since leaving Nicole. The bark splintered and flew through the air in tiny pieces. He swung another punch and the same thing happened. Not stopping to see where the bark landed, Collin took off again. Despite his anger he moved through the woods with ease.

Jake was a traitor.

The thought made Collin angrier. Collin had been watching him, he’d been watching all of them, but he missed it. Without Nicole, he would have never known. Collin pushed his feet harder against the dirt and launched himself forward even faster. The forest rushed past him in a blur of browns and greens. As he approached the edge of the tree-line, he knew exactly where he was.

Breathing hard, he slowed to a walk. Collin instantly silenced his heavy breaths when he saw the thing he wanted. Moving silently through the edge of the clearing, he kept himself hidden in shadows. The scene unfolded quickly, as he knew it would. Just as he hoped, he was not the only monster hunting tonight. In front of him there was a man dressed in a dark coat, holding onto a woman. She was trembling, and tear-stains streaked her face. Collin could smell the fear wafting off of her as he moved closer and closer. She was beautiful, with dark hair and pale skin. Her clothing clung to her body and she had no coat despite the chill in the air. The man standing with her was whispering in her ear. Every time his lips moved the woman would tremble and more tears rolled down her cheeks.

A wicked smile spread across the man’s lips as Collin watched. The woman’s fear filled him with a sense of power and he couldn’t get enough. Collin’s acute hearing heard exactly what the man whispered to her. Collin knew why she trembled, and he knew why she was terrified. Moving silently through the darkness, Collin positioned himself behind the couple, and waited.

The man whispered in the woman’s ear again, and this time she begged. Her voice rang out, pleading with him to let her go. But, his only response was to spit in her face. The cold ground bit into her knees as he forced her to kneel in front of him. Tears streaked her face as she pressed her hands to the cold dirt and was forced to lie on her stomach. The man stood over her at first, watching, anticipating with delight what he would do to her. From his coat, he extracted a silver knife. It glinted in the moonlight. He lowered himself to his knees, leaning close to the woman. As his knee pressed into her back, he lowered the blade in front of her eyes so she could see. With a vicious laugh he pressed the sharp tip against her forearm, but before he had a chance to press the blade into her flesh—the knife fell to the ground. He was gone. Shaking uncontrollably, the woman turned her head looking for her attacker, but she saw nothing but inky darkness. The woman stood shakily, looked over her shoulder into the woods, and ran in the opposite direction.

Collin dropped the attacker to the forest floor moments later when he’d drained him. The man’s soul was so corrupt that Collin knew he wouldn’t be satisfied. His hunger would continue to pain him. The woman was still within sight. Her screams for help went unanswered as she ran barefoot across the uneven ground. Tensing, Collin watched her run. He sensed her fear, and her innate desire to live. If she’d walked away, it wouldn’t have happened, but she ran. Fighting the urge, Collin felt his feet springing forward, moving silently toward her in the darkness. His heart hammered in his chest as he closed in on her. With every step he took, Collin felt the dual-existence fighting within him. He hated what he was, but his body propelled him toward the woman. With every step his thirst for her soul increased, and he knew by the time the woman noticed him, it would be too late. Moving swiftly he reached out for her, and pulled her into the shadows. His hand clasped across her mouth as he whispered soothing sounds in her ear.

The woman’s eyes were wide. She’d been saved from one nightmare only to be a victim in another. She tried to twist out of Collin’s grip, but failed. Her chest heaved as she sucked in air. Collin held her firmly against his body, fighting the desire that was controlling him. The thought of pressing his lips to hers and searching for that golden thread of life within her, and then pulling it into himself—he would taste her soul—a good soul. He salivated at the thought. He hadn’t drunk a good soul in ages. Collin tried so hard to deny himself. He tried so hard to do what was right, but in doing so he denied what he needed most, and it weakened him.

The breeze blew gently, and Collin breathed in deeply. The woman’s scent was amazing. She could sustain him for months. At some point the woman stopped struggling. She’d gone still in his arms. It snapped the internal struggle that was overwhelming him, and he looked down at her. The woman’s skin blanched when she looked into his eyes, and she went slack in his arms. Her lifeless body felt heavy against his chest. She’d passed out when she saw his eyes.

Collin lowered her to the grass, leaning over her. The entire time he held her, he only felt one desire for one thing. But, as she lay on the ground, he stopped looking at her mouth—he stopped thinking about the demon kiss—and gazed upon her closed eyes. Her dark lashes were wet, and clung together. Her makeup was smeared, and mascara ran down her cheeks. Collin kneeled above her staring at her face, until the final hysterical thread of desire snapped and he felt his some of his resolve return. Normally, he would have helped her, but tonight he couldn’t. He was too weak—too hungry. So Collin rose and backed away from her one step at a time, until he was within the woods again.

Before the dawn, Collin drained five more people of their souls trying to quench his own thirst. Guilt clung to him as he came back to himself. Repressing who you really are is impossible, and no one knew that better than Collin Smith.

CHAPTER SIX

Jake’s betrayal pressed at the back of his mind, but Collin was forced to do what he always did. Wait. Even if it was true, Jake was worth more to him alive than dead. The only part of their relationship that had changed, for Collin, was the timing of Jake’s death. Valefar had loyalty issues, and when it was no longer to their advantage to be loyal, they weren’t. Power was intoxicating and Jake was no exception. No Valefar had survived being Collin’s second in command. It was a job that ended in death. A challenge would result at some point. Collin knew it would occur; it was just sooner than he thought.

Slumping back in his chair, Collin looked up at the whiteboard at the front of the classroom. The room was decorated in a typical high school fashion—painted cinderblock walls that were once white. If the chairs were removed, it could be mistaken for a prison cell. An old oak desk sat in front of the board. It was dingy yellow with a copious amount of scrapes and gouges pressed into the wood. Collin had no interest in the lesson and already knew its contents by heart. This particular teacher had an affinity for teaching, which was rare. Collin looked across the room at Nicole. She sat there, pretending to take notes, but was probably plotting something. Like him. She was old enough to not be content with her power. She was old enough to want more. She tilted her head as she was writing and her hair fell over her shoulder. When she lifted her fingers to brush it back, she glanced at Collin, but he’d already looked away. Collin didn’t see her until he was done hunting last night. He would have regretted his actions if he’d seen her before that. It would have revealed that he was different. It would have revealed his weakness.

When the bell rang, Collin jumped up from his chair and headed out into the hallway. He weaved through a crowd of kids who were all walking the opposite direction. He heard Nicole call his name, but he walked away knowing she wouldn’t follow him. Collin moved toward the edge of the hall, and leaned against a wall of lockers and waited. While he was sitting in class he thought about being overthrown and killed. It was an effect of the bargain. Collin hated that he’d been so completely played by the demon. Fury burned in his veins making his vision go red if he allowed the thoughts to linger. But, it was true. Collin had tried to manipulate the demon. And lost. In exchange for his soul, all he had to do was destroy the prophecy girl. He swore he would. Collin knew better than to take a demon on his word, and had demanded a good-faith payment. Kreturus obliged and gave Collin a piece of his soul back. But when Kreturus tried to restore Collin’s soul to his body, the two wouldn’t fuse. It was as if his soul no longer recognized him. Rather than void the bargain, Kreturus forced Collin’s soul and body together. Since Collin had the soul of a good man when he died, the only way for the two to adhere was to corrupt it. So Kreturus did. And now, Collin was the only Valefar walking around with a soul in his body. It was a tainted, putrefied scrap of a soul, but it was there. And it changed him. Collin was no longer a calloused Valefar. He pitied his victims. He felt guilt and remorse. These things were weaknesses. And after his actions last night, he was feeling guilt-ridden and thought it better to place himself in the company of a mortal who wouldn’t notice.

When Collin looked up, he saw Ivy walking toward him. He made sure that he was leaning on her locker. A faint smile spread across her lips when she looked at him. He was nearly a full head taller than her, and he liked that. He studied the curve of her neck as she walked toward him. Her dark hair was in a ponytail - which was rare—and revealed the soft, pale skin at the base of her neck. Collin ripped his gaze away from her neck and back to her face.

“Hey,” she said as if she was surprised to see him, “What are you doing here?” He stepped aside, allowing her to open her locker door, and threw her books into the bottom before she turned back to him.

He leaned in close to her, smiling, “I’m taking you out. Come on.”

He turned to leave, but Ivy grabbed his arm and pulled him back toward her. She laughed, “I can’t leave! I’m not a senior, and besides, I can’t cut.” But, her locker door hung open and she didn’t grab her books. Ivy was actually considering it.

Collin saw the opportunity and took it. He leaned close to her face, speaking in a hushed voice, “I’ll sneak you out. Come on, Ivy. It’s so nice outside.” Collin arched an eyebrow expectantly at her.

She looked down at the books in the bottom of her locker and then back up at him. He could tell she was on the verge of saying yes. Her gaze looked over his shoulder and out the windows to the beautiful afternoon. Sunlight was pouring through the windows and the air was warmer than usual. Ivy bit her bottom lip and looked back at Collin, “Where are we going?”

He shook his head, “Nope, you gotta say you’re coming first. But, I know you’ll like it. I’ll get you lunch too.” He let the offer hang in the air waiting for her answer. Ivy was a good student, which meant she never cut class and she certainly didn’t sneak off school grounds. What he was suggesting would sound crazy to a girl like her.

Ivy glanced at him, and then slammed her locker door closed. “Okay.” His head tilted in surprise and she laughed. “So, sneak me out.” Collin’s smile widened as he told her to follow him. They walked into the auditorium, up the stairs the stage, and then around back. Before Collin pulled open the basement door, Ivy stopped, asking, “Where are we going? I thought we were leaving?”

He ushered her through the door. On their way down the stairs, he said, “We are. Don’t turn on the lights. It’ll draw attention. There is an exit door down here that’s never used.” He felt Ivy stumble on a step, so he reached out for her hand. Her slender fingers slide into his and felt warm against his palm. He smiled, squeezing her hand slightly. Collin led her through the darkness to the landing below before releasing his grip.

Turning to her, he said, “Wait here.” Ivy could hear the moving and scraping of objects being relocated, and when he reached for her again a bright light filled the darkness as a door to the outside opened. Collin pulled them both through and pushed the door shut behind them. They were standing out of sight at the bottom of an exterior stairwell.

Collin looked down at Ivy with a smile on his face, “We’re locked out now, by the way.”

Ivy pushed him playfully, and Collin’s back hit the cement wall as she pressed herself into his space, scolding him. “I can’t cut the entire day! My mom will kill me. Collin!” She smacked him with her hands lightly while laughing and looking up at him. Ivy knew she couldn’t get back inside without the school noticing that she left. She was stuck with Collin for the rest of the afternoon.

Collin grinned from ear to ear, pretending to cower from her onslaught of fists and girly slaps. “I guess that just means we have more time to have fun.” Ivy squeaked and laughingly pushed him again. His back pressed against the concrete wall, its coldness soaking through his shirt.

Before her hands left his chest, Collin wrapped his fingers around Ivy’s wrists, and then pulled her toward him. The swift action made Ivy lose her footing and fall forward just as Collin twisted out of the way. The result landed Ivy with her back to the wall where Collin had been moments ago. His strong hands wrapped around hers as he pressed them to her chest slightly. They were both laughing, but everything shifted when he leaned closer to her, pressing her to the wall. He hadn’t meant to frighten her, but she sucked in a gasp of air. Collin released her wrists, looking down at her.

Ivy squirmed against the wall a little bit, realizing how close they were. His entire body was looming right next to hers. He was so close that she could feel the heat from his skin. He moved his hand toward her face, taking a stray curl that had worked its way out of her ponytail and tucked it behind her ear. Collin’s heart was racing. He had to stop himself from running his fingers through her curls. He had to stop himself from stroking her warm cheek and pulling her lips to his. The thought made his stomach flip as he gazed at her.

Collin knew that getting involved with her would only hurt her, and he liked her. The value of her friendship was too great, so he refused to act on his feelings. And that was the other thing. These were feelings he wasn’t supposed to have. They were there because he had a soul. If anyone noticed he had feelings for Ivy, it would kill them both. Every Valefar knew that their kind felt nothing, but a lust for power and blood. But Collin was different. He’d changed since the bargain. Realizing that he was nearly holding Ivy in his arms, he stepped back from her. His protection was the one thing he could offer her. She lived in his territory. He’d keep her safe no matter what.

Ivy didn’t move the entire time Collin was so close. She didn’t know what he was doing. He didn’t move to kiss her. He didn’t move at all. Her chest rose and fell as she sucked in jagged breaths waiting for Collin to do something. When he finally stepped away, she reached for him before he was out of reach and stepped towards him. Collin paused, looking down at her as she pressed her fingers softly to his face. With both hands, she slowly traced his cheeks finally sliding her hands down both sides of his face, until her touch landed on his chin.

Collin breathed through his mouth, stunned, staring at her. He was frozen in place. He noticed the warmth of her eyes, and the way her chest rose and fell as she breathed. Her soft pink lips parted and she leaned toward him ever so slowly, as if to kiss him, but when her fingers reached his chin it was like the trance was broken, and they both came back to themselves. Ivy dropped her hands looked away.

Collin watched her for a moment wondering why she leaned in so close to him if she didn’t want to press her lips to his. He could still feel her touch on his cheek. Scolding himself, he pushed the questions from his mind. It didn’t matter what she did. He wouldn’t be like that with her. Collin stepped back and tilted his head toward the stairs, turning away from her. She looked up at him as he started up the steps and said, “Let’s go.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

The rest of the afternoon had passed with Ivy and nothing like that happened again. The moment was so short, but Collin replayed it over and over again in his mind. What was she doing? He didn’t understand her. He didn’t think she felt like that about him, but after yesterday, he wasn’t so sure.

Collin moved slowly down the street, trailing the Martis in the early morning sun. People moved up and down the street, hurrying with coffee in hand. Many of them were headed toward jobs that held little satisfaction, and he heard them grumble as they past. Collin remained behind the human filled with angel blood. This Martis was young, as were most. Collin had been following him since last night. The Martis was supposed to be reporting to someone here. Now. Collin couldn’t see the other Martis, but he didn’t dare get closer.

The stout Martis he’d followed was sitting in front of a fountain by the bank building. The water cascaded into the pool below making it difficult to hear, which Collin was certain was part of their plan. At the same time, it left the Martis vulnerable from those sitting to their backs. And that was where Collin sat.

The stout Martis spoke first, “She wants you to come. They think they found her. We tracked her for the past few days and the girl acquired a piece of Celestial Silver on her own.” His voice was incredulous.

The guy sitting next to the stout Martis answered, “She did?” He sounded equally surprised. “How?” He shook his head, perplexed. After a moment, he said, “Never mind, Marcus. Not here. I’ll talk to Julia when I get to Italy.”

Collin relaxed a little bit when they revealed the location. If he could find this girl, he could fulfill his end of the bargain. It would free him from Kreturus. He’d get his soul back—and save the people around him in the process. Collin looked around at the mass of people. For the most part, humanity was good. His gaze fixated on a young couple leaning together. The boy whispered something in the girl’s ear, and she smiled. They gazed at each other in a way that made Collin envious. He looked away. If the Prophecy Girl was good, he couldn’t do it, but knowing what she really was, he could kill her. She was a blight on the earth, someone who was going to kill millions of innocent people. Collin was carrying out justice by destroying her. Leaning forward he turned his head as the wind blew. A spray of water splattered into his face. But the wind also carried more distinct whispers, whispers that he needed to hear.

Marcus’ voice drifted across on the breeze. “So that’s it? You’re just gonna go? How can you be so certain? What if they’re wrong…”

The other Martis cut him off, “We know it’s her. That’s all there is to it.” The Martis rose and walked away. Collin stared at his back, taking in his stride and golden brown hair. The Martis looked so average that the guy could have been anyone, but his stride was distinct—confident and assured.

Marcus rose and walked in the opposite direction, leaving Collin to decide who to follow. There was more specific information he needed, and he knew he would have to extract it. Rising slowly, Collin trailed the younger Martis, patiently waiting for the most opportune moment. There was information missing. Information that he needed, and Collin knew that this Martis had it. The only thing Collin needed was a city. If he knew where in Italy the other Martis was headed, Collin could find him. He could trail him until the guy led him right to the Prophecy One.

Collin increased his stride as the Martis started to walk in front of an alleyway between a street full of shops. The sound from the cars would carry down the alley, but the sounds from the alley would not carry out to the street. He’d make certain of that. Collin slid his thumb against the blackened stone in his pocket. As the brimstone absorbed his blood, it melted into a dagger and hardened in his grip. When the Martis started walking across the alley, Collin rushed at him, pushing him into the gap between the stores before he could scream.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Collin said as he moved to press his black blade against Marcus’ skin.

The Martis moved his hands as if reaching for something, but Collin stopped him. Collin knew what he was doing. Seeing a silver chain peeking out from under his collar, Collin flicked his blade at the Martis’ throat and the chain broke, sending the piece of Celestial Silver to the ground. A faint smile spread across Collin’s lips as he disarmed the Martis. Without that bit of silver, Marcus was a dead man.

Collin held the blade of his dagger close to Marcus’ throat. “Where does Julia live?” The question was simple and since Martis couldn’t lie, he made sure to ask it so he’d get the answer that was needed.

Marcus shook his head, and backed away. But there was nowhere to go. He stepped back no more than a few feet and hit the side wall. “I won’t tell you.”

Collin’s eyes burned, but he knew he couldn’t blink the pain away. They were rimming, and he let them. He needed his strength to glean the information he needed. He needed to allow himself to be savage, if it was required, and that was much easier if he let his bloodlust overtake him. Collin hissed, “I think you can.”

Marcus’ eyes were wide, but he didn’t cower or beg. His piece of silver, his only weapon, lay on the alley floor behind Collin. “You’ll have to kill me first.”

Without another word, Collin called the shadows from the alley to him. They slid within him like cold snakes. He used their power to seal in the sound of screams as he tortured the Martis. With every press of the brimstone blade on the Martis’s flesh, he cried out in pain. Collin was methodical, knowing that if he waited and endured the man’s yells that he would eventually reveal the location. The touch of brimstone would only bring pain - not death—but plunging it through his heart would end his existence. As Collin heard the blade sizzle against his skin, he noticed that the Martis wasn’t as young as he had hoped. It was easier coaxing information from younger Martis because they weren’t as strong. They caved in faster, but that wasn’t the case with this Martis. Time was passing, and Collin knew if he didn’t learn the city soon that he never would.

Collin pressed the black dagger to the Martis’ skin again, and slid the blade slowly down the side of his face. The immortal screamed and writhed, but the shadows that Collin commanded held him in place. Blood ran down the side of Marcus’ mouth as he spat at Collin, “I hope you die a death a hundred times worse than this.”

Normally a victim’s words had no effect on Collin, but this time his blood ran cold. Collin stopped, and looked at the Martis. He no longer struggled against the shadows bonds. Weakened and wounded, the Martis knew his breaths were limited. “Last chance, Marcus. Where is she?”

Marcus looked up at him knowing that Collin couldn’t hurt Julia even if he found her, but he didn’t want to help. Marcus pressed his mouth shut and locked his jaw in answer. Collin had no choice. He pulled the black blade across his palm, ignoring the crimson that clung to the blade as he sliced his palm open. Collin didn’t wince from the pain, but squeezed his fingers closed to make the blood pool in his palm. The expression on Marcus’ face changed as he realized what Collin was preparing to do.

Marcus pleaded, “Kill me. But, don’t turn me Valefar!” But Collin ignored him watching more and more blood pool in hand as it began to run between his pale fingers. When Marcus saw that Collin had no intention of stopping he offered, “Rome. She’s in Rome. But you can’t touch her…”

Collin looked up at him, amused that he thought some Martis were untouchable. There were all vulnerable. But, it wasn’t Julia that he was after. Collin didn’t even know who she was. He decided that he ought to find out. Slowing the process down, Collin allowed the frightened Martis more time to talk.

“Where in Rome?” Collin asked watching red ribbons of blood run down his wrist.

Marcus looked pale, his face was covered in sweat and his eye twitched. Swallowing hard, he said, “At the Vatican. Julia is too high up to touch. You’ll never get near her.” This news perked Collin up. Collin reached for the Martis’ head and smeared his blood across his mark. It was out of order, and the demon blood would do nothing, but he knew Martis were afraid of demon blood. Collin hoped he could pry more information out of him.

“What is the name of the Prophecy Girl?” Collin asked.

Marcus looked up at him. At first he appeared confused, like why were they suddenly talking about her, but then he realized his mistake. He revealed Julia! “No,” he said shaking his head. “And if you turn me Valefar, I won’t remember. You’ll never get the information out of me that way.” Marcus laughed like he’d won. But he didn’t know Collin. Collin shoved his bloodied hand into Marcus’ mouth and forced him to swallow. The Martis screamed, but suddenly became sedate, glancing at Collin like he’d just noticed he was there.

“What is the name of the Prophecy Girl?” Collin repeated.

Marcus shook his head, “They didn’t tell me. None of us know everything… so if we get caught by one of you, it doesn’t matter. You can’t stop us. You and your kind will die after we find her.” He spoke with a certainty that unnerved Collin.

Collin knew what he had to do, though he didn’t like it. Protecting his identity was paramount. The Martis had to die. Without another word Collin tightened the grip on his knife and lunged forward. His muscles flexed as he forced the dagger through Marcus’s chest and into his heart. When the brimstone blade sunk in far enough, the man would die. As Collin drove the blade in the Martis screamed in one final burst.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Collin stood overlooking the square below. People moved through the space between benches, strolling to different vendors, and sitting at places to eat that had up colorful umbrellas. The square ended abruptly where dazzling blue Italian water lapped up against the docks. Collin stood in a place that held a clear view of the docks. He’d broken into the apartment and gotten rid of the man who lived there.

Collin stared blankly. He knew he was in the right place. He’d been staring at the square below for two days, waiting. Without a doubt he knew he would recognize the Martis’ gait, the walk of the man who sat next to Marcus by the fountain. Collin cursed himself for trailing Marcus that day. He had to pick which Martis to trail that day, and Collin had picked the wrong one.

The one I needed would be somewhere below, and soon, he thought. Unlike Valefar, Martis could not effonate. It could have taken him over twenty-four hours just to get to the place where Collin stood.

As Collin surveyed the people below, the door scraped open behind him. But, Collin did not turn around. Instead he said, “Speak.” Jake strode up next to him. Collin hid is distain.

“The rest of us are below. We haven’t spotted her yet, but we won’t let her escape.” Jake smiled at Collin reassuringly.

“No,” Collin answered, “We won’t. If she gets past you, I’ll kill her myself. Go and watch. An American should stand out somewhat in this crowd, even if he wasn’t that unique looking.” Collin understood the value of anonymity– it kept him alive for centuries as well.

Jake nodded and left. Collin saw him moments later in the square below. The Valefar were positioned at every corner of the piazza, while Collin looked on from above. They were certain to spot the Martis. Collin’s fingers pressed against the banister. The stone was cold and smooth. If he didn’t find this girl… Everything would be lost. He couldn’t fail. He had to find her and destroy her. His fingers squeezed and a chunk of the railing came off in his hand. Irritated, Collin crushed it in his palm and it turned to dust. Dropping his hand to his side, Collin wiped his hands on his jeans and looked up. His heart jerked in his chest. It was him. The Martis he was looking for. He recognized the short light brown hair, his stance, and the gait of his walk.

Collin signaled to Nicole, who stood directly opposite him under the balcony, near the pier. She turned her head searching the crowd until she saw him. When he passed, she instinctively searched the crowd to see who he was following. Collin was doing the very same thing from above, but the afternoon sun was reflecting brilliantly off the water making it difficult for him to see. Below, Nicole moved, falling in line with the Martis as he passed. Jake, Mandor, and Tony were moving towards Nicole once she signaled them. They kept their distance seeking the subject of his pursuit.

As Collin’s eyes searched the square he wondered what the Demon Queen would look like. Collin imagined someone completely different than the girl he saw. Not more than a few yards in front of the Martis were two girls. They were both American, and rather young—no more than seventeen-years-old—and wearing sundresses. Collin felt his brow furrow. They were cute, dainty, little girls. Shocked, he looked back at the Martis, unable to see him clearly from the glare, and then back at the girls. He was following them and Collin knew it for certain when the girls stopped. Leaning slightly over the edge of the railing, Collin held his breath waiting to see which was the Prophecy One. Both girls stood there, one brunette and one blonde. The brunette’s hair glistened red in the sunlight. She looked out at the pier and pointed, then nodded. Her friend turned away and walked back to one of the shops, while the other girl took off her sandals, and walked out onto the pier. That one was the Prophecy Girl.

The Martis didn’t follow the girl who left; instead he followed the girl out onto the pier. She stopped and turned to him, saying something that Collin couldn’t hear. The reflection from the sunlight on the water was almost too bright to look at, but Collin kept looking. Who was she? She seemed familiar, but he didn’t know why. And with that glare, he couldn’t see her face—just a lot of reddish brown hair. The Martis turned around and walked away from her. Collin watched him as he left her standing there alone.

When the Martis turned away from the docks, he slipped into the crowd, and Collin saw his face. A thin smile spread across his lips as he recognized the boy. “Eric’s a Martis. Interesting…” Collin spoke to himself softly as he watched his Valefar walk out to the girl on the pier.

The three guys walked toward the girl, and Nicole hung back in case she ran past them, but she didn’t. The girl greeted them with a friendly smile. Before she realized what was happening, Collin called the shadows from below. The shadows coldness clawed at his insides as he grabbed more shadows than he was used to. He couldn’t let her escape. With all the force he could conjure, Collin hurled the deadly darkness at her. The shadows clung to her like tar, drowning her panicked cries for help, and masking the horrors that were taking place in front of the people right in front of her. The struggle on the pier was not seen by any of the humans who witnessed it. It looked as if one moment she was there, and the next she was not—exactly the way Collin had planned it.

CHAPTER NINE

Exhausted, Collin walked through the hallways between classes two days later. He sweet-talked his teacher into allowing him to go grab something from the off-limits vending machines in the teachers’ lounge. All the women loved Collin, and smiled at him as he walked into the room. He grabbed a cup of coffee from the pot that sat on a burner all day, before walking to the vending machine. He pressed four silver coins into the slot and pulled the knob. A packet of cookies thudded on the bottom of the machine. After he grabbed his breakfast, Collin turned around and began to walk back to the hallway, but something he heard slowed his steps.

“I’ve marked it down here,” the woman said. She was on the phone in a small room that was between the teachers’ lounge and the office. “Ivy Taylor. Yes, and we’ll take care of the records. How tragic…” her voice trailed off, and Collin left the room.

Worry consumed him as he walked the halls for the rest of the morning, looking for Ivy, but not finding her. A knot the size of his fist sat cold and heavy at the bottom of his stomach. Something bad had happened to her. Nicole saddled up to him after third period and was chattering about something, but he didn’t hear a word she said. It was then that he saw someone at Ivy’s locker sifting through the mess, and pulling out books. He watched the woman, realizing that it was the same woman he’d seen on the phone earlier that day. Taking a chance, he abandoned a still chatting Nicole, and walked over to her. Nicole rapidly snapped her jaw shut, and marched off.

“Is Ivy all right?” he asked not bothering to mask the tension in his voice.

The woman stood up and looked at him. Her expression was grim. “I’m afraid she’s had a very bad night. Better if you talk to her yourself.” She nodded at him, and turned back to Ivy’s locker, gathering books. Collin almost volunteered to do it for her, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to enter Ivy’s house. The parental wards that protected her from beings like him would keep him out.

A sinking feeling pressed at the back of his throat and slid into his stomach when Collin walked away. He wanted to go to her and see what was wrong. With one last look, he glanced back at the secretary who was appalled by the mess inside Ivy’s locker. The expression on her face was rather transparent. Collin stopped in the middle of the hallway, allowing people to move around him, before he walked back to the locker.

He stopped next to her. “I can do it,” Collin offered. “I can take them to her too. I have a free period.” Collin added that last part so she wouldn’t tell him no. He flashed a smile at her and added, “She’s my best friend. I’ve been gone for a few days. Please?”

The woman cocked her head as if it were too heavy to hold up, and sighed. “Yes, Collin. You can take it to her. Just make sure you stay out of trouble. Here are the books she needs. She won’t be back for a while.” She shoved a piece of paper at him that had a list of books scrawled on it in blue pen.

Collin nodded and watched the woman walk away. As Collin shifted through Ivy’s messy locker looking for the books she needed the tension in his shoulders increased. Something felt wrong. As Collin grabbed the last of her books, he slammed the locker door shut and saw Eric watching him. Collin stared at the Martis, considering saying something to him. He was certain that Eric had no idea who he was, or that he was a Valefar, which made the situation even more unreal. They locked eyes for a moment. Eric didn’t like him, that he knew. And he didn’t care. Collin turned away and walked out of the building with Ivy’s books under his arm.

CHAPTER TEN

When he pressed the doorbell, Collin could barely breathe. What’s wrong with me? Tension laced his body making every muscle flex in response.

A woman who resembled Ivy answered the door. Her face was pale and she had bags under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in days. She offered him a sad smile and then saw the books in his arms. “Oh, you’ve brought Ivy’s books.” She turned away and walked back into the house, indicating he should follow. She stopped when she noticed he didn’t step across the threshold. “Would you like to come in?”

Collin shook his head, “No, thank you. I don’t want to intrude, but I was hoping to speak with Ivy.” The woman’s face pinched in worry as she looked up at a window on the second floor of the house. “Just for a moment…” Collin added.

The woman nodded sadly, and pressed a tissue to her nose as she disappeared back into the house. A few minutes later Ivy stood in the doorway. Shadows fell across her face masking her grief. Ivy looked at Collin’s arms full of books.

He smiled at her, hoping to lure her outside. “I cut class to bring you books…” he held them out in his arms, hoping she would step out and take them. But she didn’t. She remained in the shadows.

She rubbed her eye with her hand and half a smile slid across her face and then was gone again. “Come in, Collin.” Her voice was rough and rumbled deeply as she spoke, like she’d been crying.

He shook his head, “Can’t.” He looked around desperately wishing he could go to her and throw his arms around her. But he didn’t. “I have to go back. I just want to make sure you were okay.” He held the books out again.

This time Ivy stepped out of the doorway and onto the front stoop. She looked at the ground, avoiding Collin’s gaze and reached for the books. When he deposited them in her hands, he stepped closer to her. Carefully, he lifted her chin so her gaze could meet his. When he saw her face, his stomach lurched. Black circles hung under puffy, glistening eyes. Her skin was sallow. The normal flush in her cheeks was absent. “What’s wrong?” He whispered the words to her, hoping that she would tell him. He could fix it. He knew he could. She just had to tell him.

She didn’t shake off his touch. Instead she stared at him with dead eyes, eyes that had to bear too much pain to fast. She swallowed hard, “I won’t be at school for a while.” She gazed up at his face, looking at him, but not seeing him. Her mind was elsewhere. “Something bad has happened. My sister was in an accident a few days ago.” Her voice grew softer with every word. Collin’s hand slowly drifted away from Ivy’s chin. “She was with her friend. She was fine one minute, and the next she was gone.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him. “They think she’s dead Collin. They think someone killed her. Who would do such a thing? Why didn’t anyone see anything?” Her voice was faint and pleading. She looked up at him seeking solace in him. Collin had never met her sister. They’d never spoken. The school was large and their paths never crossed. He vaguely remembered Ivy telling him she went somewhere with a friend last week. Ivy was surprised her mother approved. Somehow her sister passed off her trip as educational, so she let her go.

Collin’s stomach slid into his shoes. He breathed in slowly, and looked down at Ivy. Tears glistened on her face as her lips parted; trying to form words that she couldn’t bring herself to say. Collin wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t know how. Loss like that wasn’t fixed with words. Ivy’s eyes welled up with tears. She apologized and ran back inside. The door stood open, but Collin didn’t follow. He couldn’t. He called after her, but she didn’t return.

Instead her mother came to the doorway. She held a small square piece of paper in her hand. “Thank you for bringing her books. I’m sorry, but she isn’t up to having visitors yet.” The woman looked sadly at the paper in her hands. After a moment she held it out to him with a stiff arm. “Could you take this to the school for me? They requested a recent picture. I don’t think I’m up to bringing it to them today.”

Collin reached out and took the photograph. The piece of paper felt cold between his fingers. He nodded, and said, “I will.”

With that, he turned away and started to walk back to the school. Car horns blared as traffic rushed past him. Collin walked. He walked with his heart hammering in his chest. He knew before Ivy stepped out of the shadows that she was wounded. Some wounds are irreparable. He couldn’t fix this, and to make matters worse… he believed he held the confirmation of his fears between his fingers. The picture felt like a piece of lead in his grip. He carried it all the way to the school without looking at it.

When he pushed open the office doors, he walked over to the long oak counter. The secretary who had given him the books looked up at him. She chastised herself as she walked towards him. “I’m sorry hun, I shouldn’t have let you go.”

Collin nodded, not wanting to discuss it. “Her mom said you wanted this.” He held the picture facedown, as if not turning it over would keep him from learning the truth. His stomach clenched tightly as turned the picture over. A burst of reddish brown hair caught his eye first, followed by green eyes, and that same heart-shaped face that Ivy had. He pressed his lips together and slid the picture of Ivy’s sister across the counter. Anger consumed him when he recognized her as the girl from the pier. The air was sucked out of his lungs all at once, and he couldn’t speak.

Collin killed Ivy’s only sister.

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DEMON KISSED

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H.M. WARD

CHAPTER ONE

“Let me go, Jake. You’re not like this.” Desperation was in my voice.

“Ivy, you have no idea what I’m like.” The moon hung high above the trees. It painted shadows across Jake’s face, highlighting his perfect contours. My arms felt like lead, useless at my sides. I couldn’t tell how he ensnared me. It felt like my wrists and ankles were glued to the ground, but nothing was there. Pulling hard, unable to move, my heart started to race. I hated feeling trapped. Actually being trapped made it worse. Moments ago everything was normal. We were laughing, rolling around on the grass.

“I thought… I thought you wanted a kiss?” I asked.

“I do want a kiss.” Leaning closer, Jake emerged from the patchwork of shadows. The dim moonlight spilled across his face, revealing his eyes. I couldn’t look away. My heart hammered as our gazes locked. An ungodly crimson ring surrounded his normally blue eyes, hugging tightly to his irises. It was like fire and blood, burning together. And they were intently focused on one thing.

Me.

Panic shot through my veins. “What’s wrong with your eyes?” I shivered, repressing the fear that crawled up my throat.

He shifted, hovering above me. Jake’s lips spread into a soft grin. “I’m still me. You can trust me, Ivy.

I’ve wanted to kiss you for so long. My timing was perfect.”

“Timing?” I asked. “I wanted you to kiss me since our first date. And you wanted to wait. So we wait, then you bait me out here, and glue me to the ground? What the hell is wrong with you? Let me go!”

He laughed softly, “God Ivy, I wasn’t sure about you at first, but I was right… You’ll get your kiss.”

Terror flooded through me, “What do you want, Jake?”

“I’ll show you,” he leaned closer, grinning. As his lips touched mine, I cried out, unable to contain the agonizing pain. The feeling of razor wire slid inside me, from my lips to my toes. It snaked through my body. Sharpness tore into me like a million little fishing hooks, all snagging my insides at once.

I tried to scream, but Jake’s lips were pressed to mine. His hands clutched my face, holding me still, preventing me from moving and breaking the kiss. Adrenaline pumped into me, making my thoughts splinter off into a dozen different directions, trying to find a way out. The sensation cut deeper, as I writhed beneath him. I desperately tried to think of a way to ease the pain, and did the only thing that would make him stop, without thinking about what would happen next.

Sucking his lip into my mouth, I bit down—hard. Jake pulled away screaming, as tangy warmth filled my mouth. A warm trail spilled over my cheek. I spit out a mouth full of his blood. Swearing, he moved away from me, cradling his lip with his palm, trying to stop the flow of crimson.

Trees creaked, snapping my gaze to their massive trunks. My eyes sifted through the shadows hoping that someone was there. But there was no one. We were alone. No one would save me.

Jake returned fuming. “That was stupid, Ivy. I would have been nice, and made it less painful. But not now.” He lunged at me. Screaming, I tried to break free. Crushing lips met mine. The razor wire sensation snaked down my throat, filling my body. It hooked into every inch of flesh and muscle, spreading deep into my bones. Then he pulled the invisible razors. Hard.

The intense pain tore through me, and I was unable to stop him. My tensed muscles tried to endure the agony, as spots formed and my vision flickered. Frantically, my mind tried to figure out what was happening. Logic didn’t have an answer, but my body knew exactly what was happening. My soul, my very being that was locked deep within me—he was ripping it out. It didn’t slide away, loose like a ribbon, tied in a pretty bow. It was attached to me, in an inseparable kind of way. Inseparable things—I learned—could be separated, but it hurt like hell.

Releasing me from his kiss, Jake paused just before I passed out. Oh God, he wants me awake. Drowsiness pulled at me, making it difficult to think. Pain spindled in my muscles as they twitched uncontrollably. Jake wiped the back of his hand across his bloodstained mouth and smiled down at me, delighted.

I spit out more of his blood onto the ground. It tasted wrong. It had a weird tang that made me gag. I knew his blood covered my lips and washed across my face, but I couldn’t wipe it away.

Hysterical sobs bubbled up from my stomach, but I swallowed them whole, not wanting him to see my terror. Trembling, a single word formed in my mind, and spilled over my bloody lips, “Why?”

His greedy smile vanished and his face contorted. His beautiful features were skewed, showing no trace of the guy I knew. Veins bulging, he spit, just missing my face. He snarled, “You’re one of them. Why else would I hunt you? Following you around for months, listening to you and your insignificant life. Why would I waste my time with someone like you?”

Hatred flashed across my face. “Why’d you wait? Why not just suck out my soul three months ago?” The words felt odd to say, but I knew they were true.

“I had to wait for this to appear.” Flicking a curl away from my face, his fingers touched the skin above my brow. “That’s interesting. Your mark is more....” He paused, sitting back, dabbing at his lip, “It doesn’t matter anyway, because you’re all the same. An angel-kissed, blue bastard. It’s your seventeenth birthday, and this happened. Just like all the others.” He leaned back laughing at me. “The first twenty-four hours are a bitch. You have no idea what you are, what you’re capable of, or why this happened to you.” The corners of his mouth pulled into a tight grin. “It’s the perfect time to kill you. That’s why I waited. And I’m usually kind of nice about it. But you bit me, you little whore. So, I’m going to make sure it hurts much more than usual.” He leered at me with a satanic smile, “I’m going to rip out your soul so fast that it cracks your bones.”

Bloodstained teeth beamed, as he moved toward me. Screaming wildly, I belted the sound through the trees, shattering the still night. Jake’s eyes burned in the darkness as he inched nearer. My roaring heartbeat drowned out all other noises. Stiffening in anticipation, tears ran down my cheeks. I couldn’t bear it. Not again.

Dripping with satisfaction, he hovered over me. “Are you afraid, Ivy?” His face slid toward me, slowly. His lips curled, as he sensed my terror. “Of course you are. I’m your mortal enemy. Well, immortal enemy. You would have been around for a while—if you’d never met me.”

The ring of fire around his eyes flashed and pooled solid crimson with only a single spec of black remaining. A wicked smile pulled at his lips, as his hand slammed the ground next to my head. Jake lowered his body on top of mine, crushing me, as he came closer for the last kiss.

“No! Jake don’t!” Terror shot through me. Bloody lips smashed down on mine. Slicing razors flooded my body, for the third time, searching for my remaining scrap of soul.

The last fragment of my spirit came into contact with his deadly kiss. Tiny hooks snagged it, and started ripping it away from my bones. My body shuddered one last time before it became limp, and my soul loosened. It floated freely, as it traveled from within me toward Jake’s lips.

Inky haze distorted my vision, as I realized death was trying to take me. Barely aware of Jake’s mouth on mine, the pain dulled as my consciousness fought to live, but my body surrendered. Strands of life slowly spilled out of me. I could see them leave my body, and spill onto the ground—like liquid gold. There was one strand left—only one bit of my soul remained.

As the last golden strand of life left me, Jake was violently torn away. My body reacted without my consent, and I shot up gagging. It felt as if the razor wire was ripped from my throat in one sharp pull. My head wobbled on my neck, as my body crumpled, and fell to the ground. Hands caught me before my head smashed into the dirt. It all occurred so fast that I wasn’t sure what happened.

Death was still trying to take me, even though Jake was gone. My chest felt like it was beneath a pile of boulders. My breaths were so shallow that I wanted to stop breathing. Just for a minute. It was so heavy and I was so weak.

As my consciousness was fading, I felt warm arms wrapped around me. A voice whispered, but I couldn’t understand the words. My muscles still vividly remembered the pain. I tried to focus on the voice, to allow it pull me away from the blackness that was taking me, but I couldn’t. Everything sounded far away, echoing hollowly in my head. It was impossible to take another breath.

The whispers of the stranger’s voice sounded farther away when I felt warmth spread across my head, with a gentle touch. Softness brushed across my lips. Feeling a surge of life, I sucked in air, and the blackness receded as quickly as it came. The haze lingered, making my body feel like I’d awoken from a dream too quickly. I swallowed, soothing the burning sensation in my throat.

Suddenly aware of the warm arms holding me, my eyes fluttered open. The moon seemed brighter than I remembered, outlining a masculine shape. The trees above me were blurred in jagged shafts of shadows and light. Attempting to focus, I looked up into a hazy face with sorrowful eyes; he said nothing.

Sleep pawed at me, making my eyes flicker, and feel heavier. Staring, I couldn’t make out more than a pair of eyes, and pale flesh. Carefully, his warm fingers pushed my curls back. An unspoken message brushed inside my mind. You’re safe.

A weak smile tugged my lips, as I leaned into his chest, and sleep stole me.

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Demon Kissed Series By H.M. Ward

Demon Kissed

Cursed

Torn

Satan’s Stone

The 13th Prophecy

Assassin: Fall of the Golden Valefar

More Series By H.M. Ward

Vampire Apocalypse: Bane

Twisted Tales

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