Demon Rapture

Demon

RaptuRe

Lee Pearce

passion in pRint pRess www.passioninprint.com

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Copyright 2011 by Lee Pearce

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Published by Passion In Print Press 3052 Gaines Waterport Rd. Albion, NY 14411 Visit Passion In Print Press on the Internet: www.passioninprint.com Cover Art by Deana Jamroz Editing by Lawan Williams

Ebook ISBN#978-1-60820-460-1 Issued 2011 This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher.

Demon RaptuRe 1

Chapter One Jess was still trying to get her bearings. It had happened all too fast. One moment she was jogging along the waterfront path, the next moment she was being tossed into a boat, her hands and feet securely tied. The smell of rotting fish filled her nose. The boat’s engine raced across the water, slapping down hard on the waves. She had been kidnapped, that much registered. But by whom? And why? Everything had been going so well up until now. She had moved away from home and gotten a job as a purchasing agent for a college. She got used to consuming human food and human customs like dating. She had managed to live a normal life among the humans, look like a human, act like a human and even fool a lot of the humans into thinking she, too, was human. It wasn’t easy when she was not at all human. Her parents came from the supernatural community, her mother a shape shifter, her father a demon. She had never shown any supernatural abilities, not having inherited any skills from either of her parents, something she actually appreciated. She so wanted to live a normal life. But now she lay, hands and feet tightly bound, on fishing nets smelling like rotting carcasses, and knowing she would never get that smell out of her clothes, in the bottom of an aluminum fishing boat driven by a guy who seemed to not know what he was doing as he hit every wave straight on. What was his rush? What did he think? That she was going to get up and attack him? Her hands had been tied behind her back with one of those annoying plastic ties. Her feet, too, were tied with another tie, a little too tight, as it bit into her flesh. If she could shift, she would turn into a snake, slither up his leg and bite him square in the crotch. That would teach him for not treating her better. But then again, that was what seemed to be the problem. She couldn’t shift. Sure her parents and her extended family

2 Lee Pearce could all shift. She was the odd one. Sure, she had the genes. She should be able to change into another form. Or many forms like her mother, the special one, the one people would love to kidnap. But of course, they’d have to go through her father. And he was not one to let anyone touch her mother ever. She had never seen a more devoted and loving man, or demon, as that was his true form. He could make himself look like a human male when both he and Mother lived on land. When they went for their underwater stays with his family, he returned to his true form and mother took a demon shape. Jess knew they loved being underwater. But they had spent so much of their time on dry land because of her, a child who couldn’t change shape. She had jumped at the chance to get a human job and move away. Does a child ever stop feeling guilty? Her first year on her own had been wonderful. She met a few new friends, one of which, Lenore, became her best friend. Of course, Lenore didn’t know everything about her but she knew enough of the truth. Jess came from a family of recluses who didn’t have much money. Her clothes didn’t have designer labels. They came from one of those huge department stores. In reality, she really didn’t fuss about clothing too much. Jess had grown up around people who shifted all the time and when they changed back, often forgot to put on clothes, and would wander about in just their skins. Lenore. Jess wondered where she was. Was she safe? Had she gotten away? They had been together when she had been grabbed. And now she didn’t see anyone else in the boat. Hopefully, Lenore had run away, was safely back inside and calling the police for help. But Lenore might not have thought of that. She was a real stickler for following the rules. She might go first to Campus Security. The campus was their territory and Lenore would feel she had to contact them as they had gone for a jog on the school’s property. The boat continued to rise up high and smash down in the swells. She sneaked a glance at the man holding onto the

Demon RaptuRe 3 steering wheel. He wore dark pants and a sheepskin jacket, clothes meant for warmth out on the sea. They were definitely headed out into the lake. How far? Freighters still travelled up and down the waterway. If she was going to be put on a freighter, then she could be going anywhere on this world. Water splashed into the boat, soaking both of them. He grimaced with each wave. Wimp, she thought, feeling some satisfaction. Raised by the ocean, her body was used to the salt water. But then a large wave washed over her and she shuddered under the onslaught of frigid water. Okay, so now I’m going to die of hypothermia before we get to our destination. Great. Won’t that look good? Explain that one to her parents. “You haven’t said much about your summer vacation,” Jess had said as they did their warm-up stretches. She liked hearing about Lenore’s life. She had never experienced a human life and she was fascinated by what Lenore called her “routine existence”. They were both in their second and final year of graduate school. Her best friend looked away, her face hidden in shadow. “It was boring. Nothing exciting happened.” “Did you go away, again? To the park with the roller coasters?” Jess loved roller coasters. She had gone to a theme park with her family once and had ridden all of the roller coasters there. It had felt like flying. Again, since she couldn’t shift, it was the closest she was ever going to get to being a bird. They had to drag her off the coaster as the park closed. “No,” Lenore had shaken her head. “No, we didn’t go anywhere. Daddy had just changed jobs and couldn’t get any time off. Too much pressure at work he said.” Jess did a series of slow lunges. “You came back early,” Lenore said, “Was your holiday not what you expected?” Jess sighed. “They were obsessed with rumors flying around our community. I couldn’t get them to talk about anything else. So I came back here.”

4 Lee Pearce Lenore nodded. “Yes, my mother became obsessed about my father’s job. She felt he was doing something he shouldn’t have been doing but he had said he didn’t have a choice. So when you sent me a text you were coming back early, I came back, too.” Jess squeezed Lenore’s arm. “I’m glad you did. I missed you.” “How about your gardener? Have you seen him around?” Jess felt her face going hot. “Once or twice.” They had nearly collided with one of the newer campus maintenance men when they had first started running. She had not been able to get his rugged good looks, piercingly bright eyes and secretive manner out of her head. They both giggled. “That man has it bad for you,” Lenore said, “showing up every time we come by. Are you going to ask him out this year instead of just trying to get him to order more fertilizer?” “I don’t think he’s interested. It’s always been business with him,” Jess said. Truthfully, she had never encouraged anything more. She couldn’t have a relationship with a human. What would she tell him? Hey, I am normal but meet Mom and Dad. Dad’s a demon. Mom’s a shape shifter. So if you see a mouse running around the house please don’t step on it. Maybe a one night stand but no relationship. But for some reason she didn’t think he was the one night stand type. “Oh, just make small talk. Ask him what his favorite plants are, or if it’s time for pruning, or, more to the point, ask him to show you his hot house?” Lenore smirked. Jess blushed, again. She wouldn’t mind having him even just for one night. Lenore laughed. “Maybe you’ll get all dirty finally and get him out of your system.” “Me?” “Oh, I’ve seen the way you look at him.”

Demon RaptuRe 5 Jess smiled even though in the dark she didn’t think Lenore could see her face. “He is kind of good looking.” “Kind of?” Lenore sounded upset, her voice rising. “Kind of? With a body built like a line backer? Every girl is lusting after him. But that man only has eyes for you.” “He’s got to be at least ten years older than me. He’d probably think I’m this immature girl who’s got a silly crush on him.” Not wanting to discuss the gardener anymore, Jess took off at a fast pace. Lenore soon caught up and led them both along the trail that would take them along the waterfront. After a couple miles, Lenore slowed near some large boulders. An old dock, partially broken up by storms over the past winter, creaked out in the water. Jess thought she heard the dull aluminum thud of a boat. “Jess?” Lenore paused, her voice subdued. “Yes?” she prompted when Lenore didn’t continue. “Did you ever feel you were trapped in a situation you couldn’t get out of?” “Well, yes. Why? What’s happened?” Jess asked, concerned. “It’s…it’s just my father. He’s being forced to do this thing and it’s affecting all of us. I wish…” “You wish what?” “I wish I could--” Then she turned and looked like she wanted to say more but her eyes went wide. Jess felt hands grab her shoulders and a sack being drawn over her head. She tried to call out but when she breathed in all she got was a mouthful of dust. She lashed out with her hands but they were grabbed and tied behind her back. Then she was lifted high and held tight while her feet were bound. She was too busy being scared that she couldn’t remember hearing what had happened to Lenore. And here she was now. Getting banged about and bruised in a boat heading out into the lake. The hood had fallen off during

6 Lee Pearce one spectacular soaking and she was starting to get angry. She really wished she could change into something fierce and ugly, like a bear or squid, and show the driver she was not one to trifle with. The boat kept jumping up and slamming down on the water. Her whole body ached. The ropes of the net raked her skin. Her head hit something hard, perhaps one of the floats fishermen attach to the net. Whatever it was, she now had one hell of a headache. Probably going to get a concussion soon, she thought. Why would anyone want to kidnap her? She’s not a shifter. Her parents didn’t have any money. She was just as inconsequential as any other human. Suddenly, the boat stopped in mid-climb. The engine revved loudly. The bow rose up and up until she was looking down at the driver. He had such a look of panic and shock on his face that she actually felt sorry for him. The engine roared. Her body became weightless and fell away from the boat. The net clung to her body. The water rushed up to meet her and she hit it hard, air forced from her lungs. The net pulled her beneath the surface. She looked up through its murky depths to see the driver swimming away from the overturned boat, his body growing darker. The water grew colder. Only then did she realize she was drowning. But she didn’t panic. She figured if she’s about to die then no sense wasting energy trying to do something about it. The net was everywhere, its weight heavy on her body. She couldn’t move. Her lungs burned from a lack of oxygen. It wasn’t a great way to die but it could be worse. Black spots formed in front of her eyes. One of them grew larger. Silver flashed and the net dropped away. Free, she twisted toward the surface where she knew the air to be. The shadow moved in closer. Bright blue eyes flashed. A man. He reached out and grabbed her arm. Warmth flooded her body. She began to rise. His touch made her feel calm. Even as she felt water force its way into her mouth she knew everything was going to be all right. She drew upon a strength she felt

Demon RaptuRe 7 coming from where his hand touched her arm. She struggled to see his eyes again but her own darkness was too overpowering.

Adam stood staring down at the unconscious woman, lying in the small cave. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm so he knew she was well but had not woken yet. A large bump on her forehead stood out like a sea urchin and he was afraid her head had been damaged beyond repair. Her body would be frailer than a normal shifter. He feared he might have failed in his duty. Even as he watched and hoped she would wake soon, he enjoyed gazing upon her face. She had delicate features and the glowing skin of one who had spent time along the shore, the sun reflecting off both the sand and water. Her body was athletically formed as would be one who had to keep up a shifter’s life. He found her attractive enough that if she had been given to him as a possible mate, he might have considered the possibility. He had met her through her job. She had taken it very seriously and he knew deep down she was trying very hard to fit in with the humans. She had rejected her other life for some reason. If she ever were to find out who he truly was, she would not consider him as a worthy mate. Not ever. Jess was cold but something warm touched her lips and sweet air filled her mouth and she so wanted to kiss him back and then she realized it really was the strangest kiss she’d ever had-not that she’d had that many--and air flowed down her neck and into her lungs and she took a breath and started to cough, spitting up salt water all over her face and his face and he backed away and she didn’t want him to but she couldn’t reach out to him because her hands were still tied. Panicked, she tried to roll away, only to have him grab her shoulder, roll her body toward him and onto her side. Silver flashed in his hand. This is it, she thought, he’s going to finish what

8 Lee Pearce the other man had started. Then her hands were free and he rolled her onto her back. All she saw were his bright blue eyes. Their image burned into her retinas and even as he moved down to her feet, she could still see them glowing. Her feet sprang free. She gasped as the blood flowed down to her toes. He grabbed her ankles and started to rub the raw spots. Her thudding heart slowed its attempt to break out of her chest. His touch was soothing. Maybe it won’t be so bad being controlled by this kidnapper, she caught herself thinking. Heat rose up her neck. She was so glad for the darkness in this space. “Who are you?” she rasped, her voice sounding like she’d had one too many rum punches. It echoed and she realized she was in a small chamber. She sat up. He didn’t speak. Instead he gently lowered her feet, stood and walked to stand beneath a beam of light. His dark skin glistened in the moonlight. He didn’t lift his head but still gave the impression of listening. His short hair dripped trails of water down his bare chest and back. He stood in profile. She recognized him and felt slightly more at ease. “Adam,” she said. He turned his head. She felt him looking at her even though his face had gone into the shadow. “You saved my life,” she said, “Thank you.” He turned away and looked back up into the moonlight. He looked confused for a brief moment then his face became smooth and unreadable. Jess had a strange thought that perhaps he was attempting to hide something from her. She looked around. The chamber seemed to be an underground cave. Water lapped at the edge closest to her feet and disappeared beneath the rock wall. The cave was V-shaped, the pointy end finishing just beyond where he stood. With very little room to move about, she knew she would not be able to escape if she found it necessary. The only way out, other than the cold, watery one, was up through that hole in the roof. Small rocks jabbed into her rear and she pulled her feet in

Demon RaptuRe 9 close to stand. As she put pressure on her ankles, pain shot up her legs. She must’ve groaned because suddenly he was at her side, holding her arm tight. She tried to pull away but he held her closer. She smelled salt water on his skin. It was oddly comforting. She had grown up near an ocean. All her happiest memories were of the shore. She closed her eyes and leaned in close to him, breathing deeply of his scent. There was something very familiar about him. She saw he had a long horizontal cut on his upper left arm. A small trickle of blood dripped from his elbow. “How did you get that?” “From the boat,” he said. “I had to stop it before it got out beyond the islands.” “You…you stopped the boat?” Jess shook herself as if from a dream and pushed away from him, not really wanting to but she had become a little too aware of his nakedness, his strong body and that she didn’t want to encourage any kind of reward-type thinking on his part. “Why?” He didn’t try to stop her so she limped back just out of his reach. She glanced at the water and realized with a sinking feeling why he had rescued her. “They sent you to watch me, didn’t they?” He nodded his head. “Damn it.” She slapped her hands against her thighs. “They promised to leave me alone. How stupid was I to think they would do that?” Infuriated, she began to pace. She managed only one step and stumbled against the cave wall, her ankles collapsing. She twisted and put her hands out to stop her fall. He grabbed her arm but, off-balance, she fell against the wall. Her hands raked the ragged rock face. Sparkling fragments rained down. Her hands scraped down the rock as she fell to her knees. It felt like hardened molten lava. She rolled away from the wall, cradling her burning hands in her lap. Blood oozed from the scrapes. Adam crouched before her, staring at her hands. He glanced

10 Lee Pearce at her then his horrified gaze traveled to the wall. Panic lanced her chest as she followed his gaze. Two paths glistened where her hands had scraped down the wall. The fire in her hands grew. She scrambled over to the water’s edge and dunked them into the cool water. The fire slowly diminished. She could still see the sparkles on her fingers and palms even though she scrubbed her hands beneath the water. Lifting them above the surface, she wiggled her fingers. In the distant light from the ceiling, the sparkles danced with a myriad of colors. Jess knew she should be more scared. Her skin was lacerated from the lava rock and blood seeped into all her crevices and wrinkles, filling her lifeline and all the other lines that were so important. But her panic was vanishing. In fact, she felt hardly anything at all. Her hands tingled with warmth. But as the warmth spread up her arms, she felt an odd sense of calm as if her body had been waiting for this to happen. Jess looked across at Adam as he crouched down. His cut still oozed blood. It stood out like a beacon demanding her attention. Her hands began to tingle. Without even realizing what she was doing, she reached up and pressed her palm over his torn skin. He did not move. Heat built and radiated from her hands onto his skin. She heard his breathing quicken. After only a few seconds, the heat stopped. She pulled away. His cut had stopped bleeding and sealed shut. Her palm print was a faint dark stamp on his skin. Her arms felt like lead weights had been attached and they fell to her lap. She felt tired and as she started to fall backward, he reached out, grabbed her shoulders and held her steady. She looked up. He looked back at her, surprised, again. “How do you feel?” His voice brushed against her skin sending a chill down her body. She shivered and thinking she was cold, he lifted her to her feet and pulled her close wrapping his arms around her body. She tilted her face and pressed her lips against his. He opened his mouth touching her lips with his tongue. She opened to him, feeling his need, wanting his warmth, his fire to fuel her body.

Demon RaptuRe 11 Surprised at her need to feel his skin against her own, Jess struggled to take off her soaking wet shirt but she could barely move her arms. His hands moved up her back, grabbed the collar of her shirt and dragged it from her body. She gasped with impatience and pressed her breasts against his chest. He pushed and held her body away so his fingers could slip beneath the straps of her bra and peel it down, letting it drop to puddle at her feet. She stood on her toes and wrapped her hands around his neck, pressing against his chest, her aching nipples digging into his skin, sending shocks down to her pelvis. His cock dug into her stomach. She lifted her left leg, wanting to feel his tip against her weeping slit but his height was a frustrating barrier. She moaned with frustration against his mouth, biting his bottom lip gently, wanting to take his attention away from her mouth to the sensitive area between her legs. Adam drew away and looked down into her eyes. “Are you sure you want this?” She dropped her leg and put her arms around his back, pulling him close. “All I know is this feels right. You. Me. Our bodies.” “I will stop if…” Jess grabbed his head and kissed him again, short but deep. When she pulled away, she said, “I know. But right now I don’t want you to stop.” He scooped her up and carried her down to the water’s edge where a large, flat stone lay. He laid her down beneath him, pushing her legs apart with his thighs. His fully-erect penis rubbed against one of her thighs as he bent his head over her left breast. He trailed his tongue over the pointed nipple before pulling it into his mouth. Jess felt his teeth rake her skin sending tiny shocks that became a deep pulse between her legs. Wetness flowed down her crease. An ache grew and she lifted her pelvis, trying to rub it against the tip of his cock, needing it to penetrate her body. Her whole body ached for his touch. He raised his head and shifting his body sideways, reached

12 Lee Pearce down and placed his hand between her legs. His fingers parted her flesh and pressed against her channel. Jess gasped as he ran his finger up to her nub and drew circles around it. This was not what she wanted him to do but it felt right anyway. His thumb dipped into her moist opening, sliding up and down, rubbing against the side. Her pulse fluttered, her breath caught in her throat. She felt glued to the rock, unable to move. His touch held her still. She dared not move, afraid to lose contact. Looking into his eyes, Jess saw determination. He looked like a man who had been planning this conquest for a long time and was going to prove that she belonged to him. She felt a thrill go up her spine finally recognizing that yes, she had always wanted him, too. Now that she had his body, she felt a deep desire to love him. But as his fingers had aroused her body, all thought left her mind except for one, the need for him to fulfill her demanding body. Jess grabbed his head, tangling her fingers in his hair. She was growing too close to orgasm and she had to show him she wanted him now. She pulled his head up until their lips touched. His mouth opened reflexively and she sucked his tongue into her own mouth, savoring its sweet firmness. At the same time, she reached down and grabbed hold of his cock. Adam’s body tensed and as she positioned it against her opening, he placed his hands beneath her buttocks and lifted her body into a more comfortable position. Slowly, he pushed his shaft inward. She wrapped her legs around his hips and he plunged deeper, his pelvis grinding against her clit. She cried out as he filled her body, her internal muscles tightening. Electric shocks shot up her spine. Her hands moved down feeling his back arch with each movement, down to his hips and then grasped his buttocks, holding him tight against her body. She felt tiny bony protuberances along his spine and across his back where his ribs rubbed through to his skin. She recognized one of her own people. Even more aroused now, she raked her fingers across these sensitive spots knowing what it would do to his

Demon RaptuRe 13 already heightened nerves. Adam cried out against her lips and slammed his cock deeper. She wrapped her legs around his thighs, pulling him close to her body. With each thrust, her breasts stroked against his chest. He lowered himself, pressing heavily against her body, his nipples grazing her skin, his torso sliding between her breasts, his abdomen glued to her stomach. Each thrust drew her closer, a pressure building, swimming slowly up her back, filling her head with the darkness of her approaching orgasm. His strength moved her body each time. He grabbed her shoulders, holding her tight, his cock moving in and out with ferocity. Lost in his motion, she moaned sadly when he shuddered and withdrew, his seed spilling onto her stomach. Aware of his consideration, she couldn’t speak just yet, her body clenching tight on the emptiness. Tears of need stung her eyes. She breathed deep, closing her eyes, trying to make her voice work when he touched her nub. Lights exploded behind her lids. Her body jerked and she felt solidness once again in her channel. She started to cry out but he clamped down on her mouth, kissing her once again. Remembering the kidnappers might still be looking for them, she gasped into his mouth even as her pussy clenched, tightly sheathing his fingers. He pulled her tight when her body settled, wrapping his arms around her back. He buried his head into her hair, murmuring quietly. She didn’t understand him but felt the passion on his warm breath. She must have slept because when she woke up he was sitting upright on the stone, her body cradled in his lap. She finally looked up into his face. Enjoying his proximity a little too much, her body started to tremble again. She lifted a hand to brush damp hair out of her face only to see a white blur in the dull light. She touched her face with hands wrapped in a soft, white cotton. “What the hell?” she tried to pull the wrappings off her hands. Panic made her heart pound against her chest, remembering the cuts from the rock face.

14 Lee Pearce Adam pushed her to her feet and stood, grabbing both her hands and holding them tight until she stopped struggling. “They are still bleeding, Jess.” “What happened to me?” she demanded, “What is this place?” “I made it to look like home,” he said, sadly, “our home.” “Our…?” “I am from the southwest waters,” he said, quickly as if changing the subject. “I was sent like you said.” She heard frustration in his voice. He glanced at the murky black surface of the water then up at the hole, seemed to make a decision. “We need to leave this place. We’ve been here too long already.” Adam stepped over to what had looked like, at a glance, a pile of seaweed but was actually a pile of clothing. He pulled out a number of articles and walked back over to her side. He held out a pair of pants and a t-shirt. She ignored them and bent over to pick up her damp clothes. She stared at her bra as it hung lifelessly from her fingers. She saw her bedraggled shirt lying on the gravel. Neither appealed to her. “You need dry clothes, Jess,” he said. Knowing he was right, she took the pants he offered and pulled them on, holding on to his arm for balance. She wasn’t going near that wall again. “Adam, do you have a human parent, too?” she asked. He glanced to where her hand touched his arm with its lack of ridges. It did look like a human’s arm. He shook his head. “I never fully developed.” She removed her hand to take the t-shirt and pulled it over her head, thrusting her arms through the holes. “You say it like it is wrong. I have seen ones like you in my father’s community.” She pulled the shirt over her breasts and down onto her hips where it fit snuggly.

Demon RaptuRe 15 “Are they not shunned?” Adam pulled on a pair of pants and as he straightened to fasten his fly, she reached out to touch his arm, again. “No,” she said, running her hand across his skin. “They are considered beautiful. I think--have always thought--you were very handsome even before I knew you were a demon.” He lifted his free hand to her head and ran his fingers through her hair. She gasped as they caught in a knot in her hair. He pulled her close and gently pulled her hair free. She breathed in his scent again, closing her eyes; it felt like she could spend the rest of her life with him. Suddenly, he stiffened. Quickly picking her up, she felt his knees bend and launch them both into the air and through the opening in the ceiling. His feet landed on grass. The cold night air made her gasp. He started to run. “Put…me…ooof…down.” She bounced in his arms. Flopping around like a dead fish, Jess was not enjoying her ride. “Where are we going?” Of course, he ignored her. Like any hero would. She tried to catch his eye but he stared straight ahead, intent on his destination. She saw street lights and guessed they must be on the back part of the campus where all the utility buildings sat. Her apartment sat across from the far side of campus. The closest building was the library. No one would be there tonight. It’s the start of the school year. No homework yet. No one to hear her call for help. They hadn’t run for long but he’d covered a great distance as the grass was a blur in her vision. They both heard the shouts at the same time. Adam spun around and she barely had time to see two dark forms emerging from the hole before he spun around and ran faster. The men started running after them. And quickly, too. Three more popped up from the hole. And she meant popped. She’d never seen such quickness in a being before. Abruptly, Adam turned around a corner of a building and

16 Lee Pearce stopped. Opening a door, he stepped inside and dropped her on her feet. She swayed dizzily. The smell of wet earth, fertilizer and oil assaulted her nose. She felt nauseous. He rooted around on top of a wooden table shoving aside spades and claws and pruning knives. He ran his hand across a pegboard joined to the table top sending screwdrivers and hammers swinging. He bent down to search the floor. “What are you looking for?” she asked. “Keys.” He bent down onto his hands and knees, his back stretching his shirt in a most obscene way that Jess had to fold her arms across her chest to keep from touching him. When he turned so his hind end pointed in her direction, she had to look away. She barely knew the man yet they had just had sex and now she wanted more. A selection of tools sat on the table. She grabbed a small knife, feeling its edge. It bit into her skin. Thinking she’d rather be prepared for whatever might be happening, she pushed the blade and handle up between the bandages on her left hand keeping the sharp edge between the fabric. He stood as she lowered her hand to her side. “Keys to what?” “The van.” Her throat went dry. “Why don’t we just call the police? They’ll help us.” He didn’t respond. Instead, he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a cell phone. It was tiny and worked on voice command. She recognized the type. It was more than a cell phone. She had one, back in her apartment, that her parents had given to her for communicating. The differences were huge. First, it was a satellite transceiver, sattran for short. She could call her parents on a secure channel. It also recorded medical information. “Will you tell me what is going on? Who they are?” She’d had enough. Time to take control.

Demon RaptuRe 17 “No time,” he glanced outside. She heard the running feet, too. His sattran vibrated. She heard the hum. He glanced at it quickly, then shoved it back in his pocket and reached for her. She stepped back, holding up her hands. “I can run.” He shook his head. “Not as far as we need to go.” He picked her up and moved outside before she could take a breath. More pain. Her ribs were being crushed. She glanced up. The men were much closer now. She saw their faces. Their very determined faces. But Adam moved fast. His strides were long and quick and the distance increased as he pulled away from them. Gravel crunched as he moved onto the outer ring of pathways then onto the smooth tarmac. Tires screeched. “This way,” another male called out. His body turned and headed toward the voice. A few seconds later he stopped abruptly, flipped her over and onto softness. She looked up at the ceiling of a van, its dome light shining brightly and sat up. He stepped into the van, crouching in the low interior and slid the door shut before climbing into the front passenger seat. A blond-haired man sat in the driver’s seat. His upper body built like a wrestler, his shoulders spread far out on either side of his chair. Adam even had to shift sideways to fit into the front seat. She wondered if they both went to the same gym to work out. The driver put the van into drive. Hands pounded at the side of the van. Jess gasped as one man running alongside struggled with the locked door. His dark eyes stared straight into hers yet she felt he really didn’t see her. She glanced out the back and saw another man, anger in his eyes. She leaned away reflexively. The van turned to the right and screeched out of the parking lot. Driving quickly through the town’s streets, the driver took the first interchange onto the interstate. Once settled on the highway, the driver glanced in the rear view mirror. His eyes locked onto hers. She stared defiantly back. No way was she

18 Lee Pearce going to let him think he could over power her. He broke contact first. She felt unsettled. “They looked pissed,” the driver said, his attention back on the road. Silence. “What made you change your mind?” he spoke again. “I’ll tell you later,” Adam said. “Just for the record, I knew you couldn’t do it.” “Just drive, Mark.” Adam sounded angry. “Adam, we should contact her parents.” Her heart started to pound. They would be worried once they find out she’s missing. “No, no contact. They’ll be tracing us.” Adam glanced back at Jess. Did he look guilty? “Can you tell me what’s going on?” Jess spoke. Adam and Mark looked at each other and then back to the road. Their silence had begun to wear on her patience. “You can’t be bad guys. Adam, you saved me from drowning. Then you bandaged up my hands.” “Yeah, what’s up with that?” Mark asked, directing his question to Adam. Adam looked back at her, his eyes sad. “Apparently, she’s a healer.” “What?” Mark asked. “You said she had none of the traits.” “Well, she’s not so latent after all.” “What do you mean?” Jess asked, lifting her hands. A healer? Just because she had stone fragments embedded in her hands? Of course, when she had touched Adam’s arm the bleeding had stopped. That had been a strange yet wonderful feeling. Had these stones given her this ability? Where had the stones come from? “And when they find out what she can do...” “Uh-huh,” Adam said, “She’s going to be the cause of that

Demon RaptuRe 19 civil war we’re trying to stop.”

20 Lee Pearce

Chapter Two They all sat in silence for the next few miles. Jess stared at the white lines flashing by. Mark gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. Adam kept an eye on the side view mirror. “What do you mean a civil war?” she finally asked. “You are valuable just as a latent,” Adam said, turning around. “Something has happened for them to want you now.” “A latent?” she asked, confused. “A demon whose skill had not yet manifested.” “I’m only part demon. I was never expected to have a ‘skill’.” She held up her hands. “Look this is probably just a virus. Drop me off at a hospital or a clinic. I’ll get some antibiotics, get better and then I won’t be so valuable.” Adam stared at her hands. “This is my fault.” Mark glanced at him then back at the road. “You didn’t know.” “I should have. Her parents never took her down into the ocean. They must’ve known.” Jess began to shake. “Known what?” “That you had this affinity to the lava rock,” Adam said. She shook her head. “I never went down because I couldn’t shift like my mother. I couldn’t make myself breathe underwater.” “You could’ve used oxygen tanks to go down. There are air chambers down deep you could’ve lived in for short periods of time.” Jess looked out of the side window. Yes, he was right. She could’ve gone down but her parents had never taken her. Did they really know she would have this reaction? Why hadn’t they told her? Warned her? “And your job was to protect me in case something like this happened?”

Demon RaptuRe 21 “I was to watch you. To see if your demon side ever came out.” “Then why are you trying to save me?” “Because I believe you are worth the risk.” Her heart thumped in her throat. This man with the beautiful blue eyes thought she was worth saving. She felt her body aching for his touch, again. Adam turned to stare out the front window. She saw Mark glance at her in the rear view mirror. “You don’t even know me,” she said. Sure they had just had sex. Their bodies had needed the release and they hadn’t questioned something that had seemed so instinctive and right at the time. But that didn’t make them best friends. “I had hoped we could get to know each other better over the next year,” Adam said, looking out at the road. “You were going to ask me out on a date?” “Would you have agreed?” She thought for a moment. Would she? Would she have run away, not wanting to accept that she might not belong to the human race after all? That she couldn’t fall in love with a human? That fate had decreed it had to be a demon once she had gotten to know him better? But then again, Adam was very handsome. Her body warmed at the memory of his lips on hers as he breathed life back into her lungs. And after. Never had another man or demon loved her in that way. “You’ll just have to ask me properly sometime,” she said. She really didn’t know if she would have let him take her out on a date. But now dinner, a movie and then home to bed seemed out of place. She felt the car accelerate. Mark pulled into the outside lane racing past other cars like they stood still. He kept glancing in the rear view mirror. Adam studied his side mirror. “That was fast,” Adam said. “They must’ve had a car waiting.”

22 Lee Pearce “There will be more,” Adam turned around and looked over Jess’s head, his concerned face glowing in the headlights behind. “How much longer until our turn off?” “Where are we going?” she asked. Adam ignored her question. “You might want to buckle up.” His stern voice made her reach for the seatbelt and pull it across her chest. But with her fingers all bundled together, she couldn’t push the latch to snap the belt in. Adam unfastened his belt and reached back to help her. Bright lights lit up Adam’s face. Metal crunched. The van lurched forward. Adam fell halfway out of his seat against Mark. Jess was thrown forward then back against her own seat, her head snapping back on the headrest. Mark struggled with the steering wheel as the car skidded to the right. Adam shoved himself into his seat. The back bumper crunched against the guardrail. The van jumped but remained upright, whipped around to the left and kept moving. Mark raced the engine and sped off the rumble strips on the shoulder back onto the highway. A car shot up on their right and smashed into the side. Jess was tossed against the far side off the seat and slid onto the floor. Adam landed against Mark, again. Metal screeched as the van scraped against the guardrail. Adam shoved himself away. Mark jerked the wheel to the right. He jammed on the brakes. Cars shot past. The van rocked. He pressed the accelerator. The van sputtered. Jess thought the engine had died then it roared and the van shot forward, across two lanes toward an exit. A pick up truck appeared on their left side. Mark swerved out of its way, hit the shoulder, jumped the curb and flew over grass. Jess saw a row of trees loom up in the headlights’ beam before the van slammed to a stop. Adam leapt out and yanked open the side door. He dragged Jess out and onto her feet. Mark lay crumpled over the steering wheel. She reached toward him but Adam grabbed her arm. “Leave him.”

Demon RaptuRe 23 Three cars plus the truck skidded to a stop at the side of the highway. The doors opened and men toting guns jumped out. Adam shoved her toward the trees. “Run, Jess. Don’t stop for anyone. Just keep running.” She took two steps and when she didn’t hear him follow, stopped and turned. “What about you?” “Run, Jess.” Adam ran up to her and shoved a piece of paper in her hand. “Find this woman. She’s a scientist. She will help you. Now, run, damn it.” Adam turned to face the men. He spread his arms, bent low and ran toward them. She didn’t want to leave him. He had saved her life. And he wouldn’t last long outnumbered as he was. And Mark. She could still see him slouched in the car. He needed her help whether she was a healer or not. But she was afraid. And fear made her feet move. She ran into the trees. The ground immediately dropped away. She stumbled through the bush, brushing against the undergrowth. Branches struck her arms, snagging on her shirt sleeves. Lower limbs caught her legs. She tripped and fell face first in the dirt, her hands outspread. Both her hands stung. She felt the tip of the knife digging into her palm. Kneeling, she slowly pulled the knife from between the wrappings. Blood seeped through. She kept the knife out just in case she needed to protect herself. She could still hear the traffic from the highway, yells from the men and then gun shots. She ducked her head then slowly raised it, chastising herself. No shots could penetrate the trees. Were Adam and Mark all right? Should she go back? Or keep running? Go where Adam said she had to go? The crumpled piece of paper. Where was it? Jess felt around on the ground. She heard more yells, closer now. They had entered the woods. “This way. She went this way.” “You smell her?”

24 Lee Pearce “She has a powerful scent.” Trackers. She had heard about mutated demons with heightened senses. They could follow the slightest scent in a raging current or wind. They’d be on top of her in a very short time if she didn’t find a way to mask her smell. And her sweaty clothing didn’t help at the moment. “Remember, we need her alive.” A low voice grumbled. “She must be alive. And intact. You keep him under control. If he damages her in any way then it’s on your head.” A wild tracker. She remembered the man with the dark eyes staring through the van window. He had her scent. He’d never give up. Jess staggered to her feet and plunged into the dark. Branches grabbed at her legs. It didn’t matter now where she ran. She just had to keep going. In the moon’s faint light, Jess could barely see. If she remembered her geography, she should soon come out into a fruit tree grove. This part of the continent had hundreds of farms. If she could get to a barn, she might be able to find something to mask her scent. They still used organic chemicals here to keep pests away from the delicate fruit. But right now, in the dark, the next farm could be miles away, for all that she could see. Her lungs ached from running. Her legs shook, threatening to collapse. She had to stop and chose a small clearing. Her heart pounded so loud she couldn’t hear anything else. She took several deep breaths. It slowed. Not hearing any signs of pursuit, Jess stopped. Exhausted from the stress of the past couple hours, she bent over at the waist and put her hands on her legs. The handle of the knife bit into her palm. She had nearly forgotten she still held it. She was shifting it in her palm when she heard him breathing. She didn’t know how he had moved up on her so silently. She grasped the handle tightly and waited. When his arm

Demon RaptuRe 25 whipped around in front of her face, she dropped to the ground, twirling around to face him, swinging the knife in his direction. It lodged into soft flesh. She continued to fall to the ground. He fell beside her and rolled onto his back. Mark’s pale face stared up at her. He clutched at the knife. Blood seeped out around the wound. Horrified, she scrambled to her knees. “Oh, no, Mark, no, no.” Her hands began to burn. She struggled with the bandages, yanking at them with her teeth. “Mark, I didn’t know it was you.” He blinked in the moonlight but his eyes lost their focus. He showed no sign of having heard her. The left bandage loosened. She stuck her hand between her knees, clasped it tight and yanked. The bandage slowly unraveled. Too slow. She growled under her breath. “Mark, hold on.” She tore off the other bandage using her thumb and first finger, the pain forgotten. “Don’t die on me.” She had to get to Mark. She had to heal him. Every bone in her body told her so. Nothing else mattered. His wound gaped around the knife’s handle begging her to stop the blood flow, close the hole and heal him. Against all logical thought, she pulled out the knife. Blood gushed across his chest and down his side. She stared at it and began to shake. Mark groaned once. His eyelids fluttered and closed. Her hands pressed through the blood, felt the edges of his wound and molded them together. Almost as if the blood was glue, her hands fastened to his body. Warmth flooded onto his skin. Steam rose in front of her face. Beneath her hands, his skin folded together, the edges vanishing. The blood flow ceased. Jess crumpled beside his body, her limbs and body weak. Her hands ached and she clenched them into fists trying to squeeze out the pain. Instead she felt the stones cut into her skin, again. As she rolled open her fingers, the tiny cuts oozed fresh blood, her blood. Why could she heal other people’s wounds and not

26 Lee Pearce her own? As she fought against the exhaustion and struggled to keep her eyes open, she watched in vain for Mark’s chest to rise. It didn’t. She had failed to heal him. A great crash sounded on the other side of the clearing. Adam leapt out. He saw her and Mark lying on the ground. Sorrow flashed across his face. Then the trees parted. Another man appeared beside Adam. He scuttled forward on his hands and knees, leapt over Mark’s body and pounced on top of Jess, forcing her onto her back, his hands pinning her shoulders to the ground. A bulbous nose stuck out of his squished face, leering so close to her own she could smell rot on his breath. He leaned over her cheek and ear, drawing in a deep breath. His lids opened. She stifled a scream. Empty sockets stared down. His mouth drooped close to her neck. Drool dripped onto her skin. She felt his teeth graze her jugular vein. “Off, Kik. Now,” a man’s voice called out. The wild tracker whined then lay down on top of Jess, his body compressing hers to the ground. Jess’s breath whooshed from her chest. His weight was so great she could barely draw a breath. “Kik!” He turned his sightless eyes. “Miiiine.” Jess looked helplessly over to Adam. He strode forward, grabbed Kik by his neck and yanked him off, tossing him across the clearing. Grabbing Jess by the arm, he dragged her upright and pushed her behind him. She grabbed his belt for lack of anything sturdier, still weak and unsteady from her attempt to heal Mark. Kik stood on his hind feet. “Miiiine,” he growled at Adam. “Mine,” Adam said, his voice low and threatening. Kik growled. “Found her. Me.” He poked his chest. “Down.” The third man stepped up. Kik fell to the ground silent.

Demon RaptuRe 27 This male had the lighter brown skin of a shallow-water demon. His skin ridges had worn down and his body showed many battle scars. He must be over a century old even though his face did not show the wrinkles of an elder. He had not yet earned his place on his community’s council as he did not wear the forehead mark. He did not deserve any show of respect just yet. “So this is the female latent?” the man stood so that he had a full view of her body. “Jess, is it?” “Who are you?” she asked, shifting a little closer to Adam’s back. “I am Wallert,” he said, bowing his head slightly, “I reside in the southern ocean. I am very pleased to finally make your acquaintance.” “Why?” No sense being polite at this point. This demon turned her stomach. His eyes grew close together but he managed a smile. “I do like the direct approach.” He glanced up at Adam. “You haven’t told her then, have you?” Adam said nothing. “Jess, you are a latent.” “That I have been told.” “You can walk among the humans fooling them into thinking you are one of them.” “I don’t have any demon abilities,” she lied. Wallert shook his head. “Not yet, but I have my suspicions.” Adam growled under his breath. Jess recognized the warning. A cold hand grabbed her ankle. She jumped. Dizzying darkness filled her head. She felt herself tumbling through a rainbow shower of lights. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t feel. The air grew cold. Then one bright light filled her sight. Her feet touched solid ground. She stood in an alley. The smell of coffee filled her lungs. Her stomach grumbled. Adam spun

28 Lee Pearce around and lifted her into his arms, crushing her against his body. She clung just at tightly, her arms around his neck, not knowing why except a feeling she had just nearly been forcefully taken from him. “I am so, so sorry you had to go through that,” he said. “It’s all right,” she said, still too weak to push him away, enjoying the feel of his body. Yes, she did know he was sorry. Instinct told her this was so. “What took you so long?” Adam asked, his breath blowing through her hair, warming her neck. “She killed me,” Mark said, “It took me a little longer to regenerate.” Jess twisted in Adam’s arms to look at a now sitting Mark. “What just happened?” “Jess, meet Mark, a Jumper.” Mark smiled. “Pleased to meet you, Jess.” He glanced at Adam. “I was beginning to think this guy would never get to know you.” “I’ve never met anyone like you,” she said. She reached out and touched his chest where she had plunged the knife in. “That’s how you snuck up on me.” Mark grimaced. “Yeah, next time I’ll wear a bell.” “I did not kill you.” “By pulling out the knife so soon, it didn’t give my heart time to regenerate.” “But I fixed you.” She held up her hands. “You stopped the outer damage. You didn’t start my heart.” “I think we’ve found your limitation, Mark,” Adam said. “But Mark, how is it you started your own heart?” He smiled. “My father is a genetically engineered soldier. His body can regenerate from most wounds. I seem to have inherited that quality from him.”

Demon RaptuRe 29 “And this jumping?” “My mother is a psychic. Her family has a variety of mental abilities. This is the one ability that manifested with me. I can move people and objects I touch to another place.” “And where are we now?” “Back in town, near the university. We need to rent a car.” As she looked closer, she recognized the small mall. “Why?” “We’re going to find that scientist I gave you the note about,” Adam said, “She’ll be able to figure out what’s happening with your hands.” Adam glanced at Mark who looked back at him with a pained expression. “You okay with that?” Mark nodded. “Guess I’ll have to be.” “Uh, that note,” Jess said. “I lost it in the forest.” Adam grew stern and looked at Mark. “Then we haven’t much time. It won’t take Kik very long to find it now that he has Jess’s scent.” “Let’s go get ourselves a car,” Mark said. Wallert stared at the empty space on the forest floor. The air crackled with electricity. Beside him, Kik tipped forward, sniffed at a pile of white cloth then yipped and jumped back as if stung. The men behind him hissed. “Adam has made a new friend,” one of the men took Kik’s place beside him. Wallert nodded. “A jumper. We need to find out more about him, Hends.” Hends lifted his cell phone high, the blue screen lighting up the night sky. “I did get a picture. I am sending it now.” His darkly ridged fingers worked slowly with the small touchpad. The screen flickered. “If there is anything to know about our jumper, then it shouldn’t take the lab long to discover it.” “She is taller than I thought she’d be,” Wallert said.

30 Lee Pearce “And stronger,” Hends said. “Very pretty.” Kik raised his nose into the air, sniffing into the wind. He twisted to face the breeze then dashed into the forest. “Where is he going?” Hends asked. “Follow him,” Wallert waved to two of the men standing close by. They ran into the woods after the tracker. “Did you see her hands?” Wallert asked. “They were covered in blood. She sported no injury,” Hends said. “There was blood on the jumper’s clothing, though.” “So if he was injured and still managed to take them both away together, he must be very strong.” Wallert crouched down and lifted the blood-stained cloths with a stick. He swore he saw sparkles embedded in the cloth. “But why was she wearing these? Is it possible the healer cannot heal herself?” Hends took the stick from his hand and held it up in the moonlight. “I will get this back to the lab.” “Be sure to get a full genetic makeup done on the blood,” Wallert said, “If it is hers then I want to know everything about her immediately.” Hends glanced at the cloth thoughtfully and nodded. A blur dashed out of the woods and skidded to halt at Wallert’s feet. Kik held up a piece of soggy paper. “Heerrrr’s.” Wallert opened it carefully. Holding it up to the van’s interior light he read the scribbled words. “Everyone in,” he called out, sliding into the van. “We’re going north.” Back in town, again, Jess and Adam sat in a small coffee shop staring at each other over two steaming cups and a plate of untouched donuts. Her hands had healed enough that she no longer needed cloth bandages but she still held the paper cup

Demon RaptuRe 31 gingerly with her fingertips, bending down to sip at the cloudy liquid. They sat silently, taking their first quiet moments to actually think. But something Mark had said did bother Jess. And she thought this was as good a time as any to ask Adam. The man sitting across from her seemed content to sit still. He stared at his half-filled cup but looked up whenever she shifted in her seat. This man, who had just saved her life and then made passionate love to her, the memory of which sent tingles through her body, now sat across from her his face unreadable. “Adam, tell me what is going on.” Adam leaned forward and grasped his cup with both hands. Looking directly into her eyes, his light blue eyes sparkled against his dark skin. She watched his full lips. She remembered the feel of those lips on her skin earlier. As he started to speak, his voice low and sultry, she had to grip her warm cup tightly to force herself to concentrate on what he said. She listened but found it hard to believe this could happen nowadays. It sounded all too much like a bad sci-fi movie. “I was sent to watch you,” he said, “by my father as a favor to your people. My people had heard about you. A latent. Someone who carried all the genes of a demon and a shifter but showed no outward signs of becoming either. They were fascinated. Wanted to know more so they agreed.” Jess remained riveted in her chair. No one from her own community had ever shown any curiosity as to her genetic makeup. Sure she’d had a few extra tests and blood work done during her annual physicals but she figured that was because of her mixed heritage. “So for the first year, I just watched you.” His voice softened. “I watched you go to work. I watched you go out with your girlfriend. And I watched you run.” “Would you ever have come forward? Made yourself known to me?” “If it had become known that I had started more than a

32 Lee Pearce business relationship with you, I would have been replaced.” Jess felt sick all of a sudden. She held out her hand. “Give me your cell phone, Adam.” “Why?” He handed her his cell. She started to dial her parents. “My parents will be worried.” He took the phone away from her. “What?” “You shouldn’t call them.” “My parents? Why?” “Wallert will be tracing the call.” She sighed and watched as he closed up the cell phone and tucked it into his shirt pocket. “What made you come after me in the boat?” “Seeing you leave in that boat,” he paused, “I panicked. It felt like you were being ripped from my side.” He touched his chest. “I knew this was not going to end well for you. I didn’t want to see you harmed. So I came after you.” Jess sighed. She could see the pain in his eyes. Did this man care that much for her that he risked death to save her? “And what now, Adam? What are we going to do? They are not going to stop looking for us.” She turned over her free hand, letting the serviette roll onto the table top. Her skin glistened in the fluorescent lighting. “What about this makes me so valuable to them? Others can heal.” He covered her hand with his other hand. “I don’t know, Jess, but I will not let anyone harm you or take you away. Ever. When we find this scientist, an anthropologist friend of Mark’s, she will be able to help us.” Then he lifted both of her hands and held them to his lips. His kiss was warm and inviting. She leaned across the table and brushed her lips against his. His hand snaked out, grabbed her head and held her tight as his tongue darted between her lips. She opened her mouth, pulling his tongue deep into her

Demon RaptuRe 33 mouth, savoring the warm taste of him as he tantalized her tongue. Close by someone cleared his throat. “If you two lovebirds are ready to go…?” Mark stood behind Jess’s chair, keys dangling in his hand. Jess sighed as they separated. Her body ached for his touch. Adam helped Jess to stand and put a hand on the small of her back as they left the coffee shop. “Well, at least you two have come to an understanding,” Mark said, following them out. “But please remember we don’t have time to stop at a hotel.” Jess giggled and Adam shot Mark a stern look. “Where’s the car?” “So this anthropologist,” Jess said, a few minutes later in the rental car, leaning as far forward as her seat belt would allow toward the front seats, “where do we find her?” “She works up on the Janus Peninsula,” Adam said, taking one hand off the steering wheel to turn down the radio. “How do you two know her?” Adam glanced at Mark. “You tell her. She’s your girlfriend.” Mark shifted in his seat turning sideways so he could look at Jess. “It’s not a very romantic story.” He paused as if gathering his thoughts. “So,” Jess asked, “tell me about this scientist and why do you not want to see her?” Mark sighed. “I suppose you need to know. Her name is Laurel and I’ve known her for a very long time. We practically grew up together. We both went away to university together and planned to marry once we finished. She got her doctorate in anthropology and was hired by the brothers who run a sanctuary on the Janus Peninsula to study a cave they had found deep underground. I found work as an engineer about an hour away so we were quite happy sharing an apartment and commuting

34 Lee Pearce to our jobs. “Then her job started to change. The brothers wanted her to stay on site more often. She started doing overnights which extended into weeks. I got upset but she said it was nothing to worry about. It took long enough for her to get below that she didn’t mind the extended stays to get into her work in depth. “One day, she came to me saying she and the others were going to be taken away on a retreat for a month. I got very upset. I thought the brothers were doing it on purpose to separate us. You see I had met the brothers and they knew exactly what I was. I got a very cold reception. After that we met off site. So when they suggested this long retreat, I didn’t think I could be separated from her for that long. Something snapped. I grabbed her and transported her. I didn’t know where I was going. I hadn’t put a destination in my head.” Mark paused, his eyes watering. “What happened?” Jess prompted. “I must have been thinking of a place where we’d be alone together,” he continued. “We landed somewhere out in Lake Huron. The water was very cold that far out. Within seconds Laurel began to lose consciousness. I panicked. I thought of our cabin again and took her back. We landed hard on the floor. I had to take her to the hospital. After a day they released her. The brothers at the sanctuary didn’t let her go home with me. Instead they convinced her how dangerous it was to stay with me. I don’t exactly know what they said to her but by the time I had arrived to take her home, she had decided to return to the sanctuary full time. She, with Brother Frank standing right there, made me promise to leave her alone for the rest of the year. She needed the time to work. I agreed. I had no other choice. So I left.” “And the time is almost up?” Jess said. “Two days,” Mark said, “including tomorrow.” “You never tried?” Jess asked. Mark shook his head. “I promised.”

Demon RaptuRe 35 “What was she working on?” Jess asked. “Laurel said she had found ancient artifacts and writings on the cave walls. Some of the artifacts had been broken but others were still intact. It was a very exciting find, she said, and important. The University of Toronto was very interested.” Mark’s voice became low, almost conspiratorial. “She thought it had to do with the Rudialma.” Jess felt the car start to spin. A dark blanket rose in front of her eyes, rage causing her heart to beat quickly. She felt Adam’s hot hand squeezing her fingers. Bright light shot through the gloom. The blackness stopped, recognizing the touch and dropped away. Jess glanced at Adam’s hand. His fingers seemed to be pulsing with light and faded even as she watched. She drew in a deep breath, steadying her pounding heart. “The Rudialma is a myth,” Adam said, his hand still gripping her own. “A long ago story of our own creation made up to counter the humans’ creation myth. We are evolved beings. That is all.” “We all know the story of our creation,” Mark began. “The gods Radi and Lune, the sun and the moon, whom we call the Rudialma, took over two sub-demon bodies and their union created a new race of demons. Us.” “The people that came before us supposedly were a warring bunch,” Adam continued, “They were bent on destroying themselves. They needed a new infusion of hope into their bloodlines. Of all the gods, Lune and Radi were the most fascinated with those people. They fell in love with them and were heart broken to see them killing each other. They were doomed to become extinct within the next generation so the gods approached each of the religious sects until one accepted the gift. “They selected a healthy female from their priestesses and a male from their soldiers, both of whom had already shown a liking toward each other. They were given the choice, of course. We would never force anyone to do this. They accepted. So for

36 Lee Pearce the next seven days and nights, Lune and Radi loved as only physical beings can love. And they created a new life. “Slaves brought them food and drink every day. They were in love even though the gods knew they had only seven days together. You see, that was how long the mystic needed to create a holding spell strong enough to encase the tower. The gods didn’t know what was happening. They didn’t suspect a thing. “On the seventh morning, a new slave brought their food and drink. It was thought this slave was actually another demon god, Ala, the bringer of thunder clouds and the destroyer of crops, the creator of eclipses and therefore the devourer of the sun and the moon. They did not recognize him even though he was their enemy. The wine was drugged. When the human bodies had become incapacitated, Ala separated the gods from the bodies and left them to float around in the tower. Lune’s rage filled the room. The sub-demons left them alone, imprisoned. Time passed. They came back one day. Using new magic they put the gods’ spirits into containers and hid them away.” “Is this what Laurel thinks she may have found? The hiding spot?” Jess asked. “With some of the artifacts broken?” Marked looked nervously at her in the rear view mirror. “If the gods have been released,” Jess said, “and the one who was hidden in a volcano that probably hardened into solid rock a long time ago and wore down to small stones and washed close to shore, could that one not actually be free and wandering this world right now?” “Are you saying that in the lava rock I used to line the cave walls, one of the gods had been existing in those tiny specks?” Adam said, glancing at her glittering hands. He turned around in the front seat. “We have to get to Laurel. She’ll know the answers. Drive faster.” “No worries there,” Mark said. “I have a feeling I need to get to her, too, ASAP.” Two hours later, they turned down a dirt road, heading west off the main highway. About a mile winding through a forest of

Demon RaptuRe 37 cedar trees, Mark stopped in front of a steel gate. They got out and went up to the intercom and camera strapped to a hydro pole. Mark pressed the buzzer. A few seconds later a man’s voice spoke. “Who is it?” “It’s Mark Jacobs, Laurel’s friend,” Mark said, “I have friends here who need to speak to her.” They heard the buzz of the camera as it moved to scan all three of them. Jess thought about covering up her sparkling hands but then thought better of it. They might as well see the truth now. “You can enter,” the voice said, “We have been expecting you.”

38 Lee Pearce

Chapter Three “Brother Frank,” Mark said, “where is Laurel?” The demon would have passed for a human except Jess could sense the demon part of him and when he turned a certain way in the sunlight, his skin shone. She shivered, feeling strangely cold in his office. Brother Frank had met them at the front door of the lodge and had ushered them into a room off the main foyer. Maps cluttered a large desk. Computers with more maps on the monitors sat on a table along one wall. “Is she in trouble?” Mark demanded, standing close to the brother. “Is Laurel in trouble?” They all waited for Brother Frank’s answer. “We know where she is.” He waved his hands at the maps. “But Mark, please, there’s been a collapse. She’s fine. The two other people who were working with her are fine. It’s just that…” “Where is she?” Mark said, running his hand through his hair. “What happened?” “The tunnel leading to the cave collapsed,” Brother Frank said dryly, sounding like he didn’t care. “What?” Mark cried out. He lunged at him. Adam stopped him before he could get hold of the brother. “What did you make her do?” “Nothing that she did not agree to do,” Brother Frank said. Jess stared at the man, liking him even less. Why could he not give a straight answer? “She was down in that cave,” Mark said, pacing in front of the desk, “the one with all the writings? Why was the tunnel not secured? Reinforced? Why did it collapse?” “We think there was an earthquake.” “A what?” “It only registered about a two but it was enough to destabilize

Demon RaptuRe 39 a small part of the tunnel leading down,” Brother Frank said. “We’ve got people working on clearing away the debris but it’s a slow process.” “Does she have food? Water?” Mark demanded. “She has a little. She was planning to be down there for a week this time so if she and her team ration it then they’ll be fine.” “How close can you get us?” Mark asked. “No, Mark,” Adam said. “It would be too dangerous.” “I can’t leave her down there,” Mark said, shaking his head, “I have to try.” “Then you’ll be taking us with you,” Jess said. All three men stared at her incredulously. She held up her arms. Her skin had been transformed into a denser, darker matter. They could see it now covered her upper torso, the darkness a shadow through her t-shirt. “If I truly am a healer, then I will go first with Mark. If Mark makes a miscalculation then I can fix him before he goes back.” “What if he miscalculates with you?” Adam said. “I don’t think he will,” Jess said, she and Mark staring at each other. “Mark will have to concentrate on maintaining enough control if I am along with him. Right, Mark? You won’t do anything impulsive if you have to worry about me, too.” “I’d rather not,” Mark said. “Exactly why I will be the first to go with you,” Jess said. Brother Frank stared at her hands. “How did this happen?” “Can we tell you on the way?” Jess said, “Laurel may be running out of time.” Outside again, Brother Frank drove them to the tunnel entrance in his jeep. Adam told him about Jess’s failed kidnapping attempt. When he mentioned Wallert and the tracker, Brother Frank radioed back to put more security along

40 Lee Pearce the property’s perimeter. Three sides of the property were impenetrable forests. The fourth side was a sheer rock face dropping down directly into Lake Huron. Being demons, they would have all four sides well protected as rough water and hardto-climb rocks never stopped a demon before. He pulled up to a shack. A pile of rubble sat to the right. Very small, thought Jess, perhaps the cave-in wasn’t as terrible as Brother Frank had said. She glanced at Adam. He stared, his jaw firm, at the doorway. Mark sniffed once and wrinkled his nose. “What should we expect?” she asked Adam. He turned his head as if it pained him to do. “I think we should expect the worst.” Jess took a deep breath and glanced at Mark. The pained look on his face was hard for her to take. She held up her hands. Her body no longer felt like her own. Something inside felt different as if she had become empty. As if she had become ready for something else, for today. She reached out and took his hand. “Then we’d best be going.” Mark lifted her hand up to his chest. “You are sure of this?” She smiled. She was not sure at all. “Of course. Let’s go to Laurel.” He nodded once. Jess looked at Adam. He remained very still, very stoic, almost without emotion. As the air began to shimmer, Jess saw pity flash across his face. In a flash she lost sight of Adam. A lantern glowed in the dark room. Mark released her almost before she felt the solidness of the rocks beneath her feet. Piles of rubble lay about the room, leaving barely any place to walk. A man and a woman, sitting under shelter of a rock ledge, stared at them. Mark ran toward them. The woman jumped to her feet. Mark scooped her up and spun her around. “You bastard,” the woman said, smiling, kissing his face, “Now you show up.”

Demon RaptuRe 41 “Laurel, are you all right?” Mark’s hands touched her face, her hair, her shoulders, her arms, moving downward. Jess looked about the cavern, walking a few steps into the center. Her foot struck a piece of crockery. It scattered across the floor a couple inches. She stooped to pick it up. It felt cold and lifeless in her hand. A breeze, warm and joyful, ruffled her hair. She closed her eyes, feeling a hand soothing, brush against her cheek. As the warmth dissipated, Jess searched out Mark. He stood still holding Laurel’s hand. “You’d best go get him,” Jess said. Mark nodded. Laurel suddenly pushed him away. “No, take Jack. He’s sick. Needs to go.” Mark touched the still-sitting man’s shoulder. They both vanished. “Have you felt it?” Laurel asked, glancing around the room a little fearfully. Jess nodded. “She feels good.” “She?” Laurel stepped toward Jess. “Do you know what you felt?” “I think I do,” Jess said, a slight smile on her lips as she looked up to the ceiling. At that moment, Mark returned with Adam. Jess watched them materialize. She watched Adam start to walk in her direction. Suddenly a loud roar filled the cavern. A wind lifted from the floor, swirling behind Jess. She felt the air moving and slowly turned. The tiny cyclone moved forward until it surrounded her body. The wind swirled, tightening around her body. She felt her skin touched, the pressure building. Felt in a vacuum, the air gone from her lungs. A presence filled her body while a voice filled her mind. Adam stepped toward the dais, hope on his face. “Radi?” She nodded. “Yes, Lune, it is I.” They heard a gasp behind them. Laurel looked from one to

42 Lee Pearce the other and back, again. “What have I done?” “Laurel, you did nothing,” Adam replied, rushing forward to sweep Jess up into his arms, kissing her deeply. When they paused, he continued, “The keepers of the sanctuary forced you to set Radi free.” “You…you were already free?” Laurel asked. Adam nodded. “I have been free for a while. My shell was not as strong as the ceramic jar for Radi. Mine ground down with the movement of the oceans and the seas. Once I became one with the crystals, it was only a matter of time until I found a body able to accept my presence.” “The stones. Adam set you free,” Jess said. Adam nodded. “He was the only demon to feel an affinity to the stones. He didn’t know it but he was born to carry me.” She turned her hands so she could look at her palms, holding them against Adam’s chest. “They’ve stopped bleeding,” she said, happily. “I am whole. I can heal myself, too.” “I knew as soon as your skin took and held the stones that I had to get you here,” Adam said. Mark looked at him. “You knew this was the place?” “I suspected,” Adam continued, “when the brothers who had been guarding the caves all these centuries finally opened them up for exploration.” Jess looked around the room. “So this is the place of my imprisonment?” Adam nodded. “And what of the child?” Jess asked. Adam glanced at Laurel and Mark. “She and her children have grown into a remarkable race.” “Uh, excuse me,” Mark said, still holding Laurel’s hand. “What happened to my friend, Adam?” Adam smiled at Mark. “I am still here.”

Demon RaptuRe 43 “But you are, were, our god Lune? Of the myth?” Mark asked, disbelief in his voice and etched on his face. “You can still call me Adam,” he said, nodding. “Yes, I am the person you befriended.” “But what of Jess?” Mark asked, “Is she still in there?” “Mark, I am still Jess,” she said, “I have just become whole. Part of me was still stuck here and had to be released. I am now whole.” Excitement bubbled inside of her and overflowed. “Part of you?” Laurel asked. Jess nodded. “Each of you could have been the vessel. As Lune said, he had to wait for a body that would accept his presence. Jess just had the strongest link for me to join.” Adam still held Jess very close. She bent her head so she could look into his eyes. “It is good to be this way, again.” He bent his head and they kissed, once again. “Perhaps we will make another child, you and I.” Mark cleared his throat. “Before you two get down to, uh, business, should we not be asking why Radi was released?” He looked at Laurel. “I smelled sulphur on the other side. I think this cave-in was man-made.” “Someone purposely made the roof fall?” Laurel said. “That would make sense then. I couldn’t crack the code to the, uh, Radi’s urn. I had told Brother Frank this in my last report.” She grew angry. “We could’ve been killed.” Mark pulled her hand up to his chest. “Thank the gods you weren’t.” “I think we should go ask this Brother Frank why I was released,” Jess said. Adam looked at Mark. “Do you have the strength?” Mark nodded and vanished with Laurel. A second later the room darkened then became light once again for Jess. They stood outside on the driveway, Mark and Laurel a few feet away. Mark looked confused. “You brought us here?”

44 Lee Pearce Adam nodded. “I think it better we confront Brother Frank out here in a more neutral space than in that tiny house.” “You think they might have prepared a trap for you two, don’t you?” Laurel said. “Well, I have your back,” Mark said, then he broke into a wide grin, “even if you are a god but you know, you’ll always need someone to look out for your best interests.” The front door burst open. Brother Frank led a group of soldiers outside. Adam grinned back. “Ready?” Then his body flew backwards, landing in the garden of rose bushes. Jess cried out in surprise. Seeing Adam start to rise, she turned to face Brother Frank. “Why?” He looked at her, his hands weaving in the air. She noted the strange pattern, decided it would not be of any good to her, and braced herself by putting up an invisible barrier around her body. Adam wouldn’t be able to touch her but she would get more of his touch later, once she had dealt with these so-called keepers of her religion. His fingers became still and a look of surprise came over his face. “Tell me, Brother Frank,” she said stepping a little closer, “why did you call me forth? Why did you nearly kill some of my children?” “Your children are abominations,” he said, glancing at the men behind him. They all looked back at him nervously. “My children were meant to evolve as they would naturally,” Jess said. Adam came up to stand at her side. “They are fractured,” Brother Frank said, scratching at his chest. He pointed to Mark. “That one is not even a true child. The humans changed his father on the cellular level. He inherited false genes. And that one…” he pointed to Laurel, “is a shape shifter. Did you want your children to become an animal?”

Demon RaptuRe 45 “Is this true?” Jess turned to Laurel.

Laurel spoke proudly, “Yes, I am an avialae.”

Jess smiled. “I thought I heard the song of the wind in your

wings. The human part of me has memories of all sorts of supernatural creatures: weres, vampires, and even part-demons. I am impressed.” “Impressed?” Brother Frank said, his voice rising slightly with anger. He scratched more, tearing his shirt open, showing a patch of dark skin, bleeding and raw. “Impressed? They are evolutionary freaks.” “Tell me Brother Frank,” Jess said, “What are you?” “Nothing,” he shook his head, clutching at his shirt, trying to cover up the evidence. “Nothing at all. I am human, I tell you. I am human.” “Show me,” she said, her voice low and soothing. She saw Adam step forward. Brother Frank continued to shake his head. “Stay away from me.” He held out his hand, palm toward them. Too late, Jess felt the ground rear up. Both she and Adam lay several feet away in the garden, together this time. She felt the thorns tearing at her skin. “This is most uncomfortable.” Adam just grunted and slowly stood. “He is powerful for a half-demon.” “He reminds me of someone,” Jess said, taking his helping hand. When she stood upright, she noticed Adam looked a little too serious. “You’d best leave this up to me,” he said, stepping forward. She put her hand on his arm, stopping him. “I don’t think Ala has manifested yet in him. We may be able to save him.” “I’m not taking the chance,” Adam said. “I won’t have him bring thunder clouds down upon us.” Even as they spoke, Jess could feel the wind whipping up. Dust devils twirled from the surrounding yard and up the

46 Lee Pearce driveway. “Don’t antagonize him, Adam. He may not be one of us yet.” “How can you be so forgiving, Jess?” Adam demanded. “Ala was behind our entrapment. He put us into the vessels and separated us for thousands of years. I will not be without you again. He needs to be punished.” Adam threw himself at Brother Frank. Darkness filled the sky. Lightning flashed as Adam fell upon the startled cleric. A loud rumble sounded from the sky. Jess glanced up, saw the roiling clouds. “This is not going to be good.” As she stepped forward to help Adam, the wind grew stronger, sending dust into her face. She tried to shield her eyes with her arm but to no avail, she felt the sting of dirt and her eyes immediately filled with water. She couldn’t see. In the next few seconds, she felt her body lifted from the ground. She twisted and turned in the air. Forcing her eyes open, she saw she had been lifted very high off the ground and was still travelling ever higher. Soon she would reach the point in the sky where the oxygen would be so thin, this body would suffocate. Then she would be forced to go formless again, something she did not want to do again. She did not want to be without Adam either. Adam watched with horror as Jess vanished above him, growing too small for him to see. Brother Frank had wrestled him onto his back so he had a good view to watch his love disappear. Laurel leapt into the air. Mark reached out to her, calling out a “No!” but she had begun her change. As Adam saw the form she took, he landed a large fist on Brother Frank’s face. He felt the crunch of bones as blood squirted from Frank’s nose. Frank howled inhumanly but also a little fearfully as his eyes followed the giant eagle’s flight upward. As Frank had stopped fighting, Adam shoved him to the ground and stood. He felt he couldn’t do anymore harm to Frank if he didn’t put up a decent defense. Adam turned his back. Mark stood looking up, bewildered. As Adam moved up

Demon RaptuRe 47 beside him, Mark said, speaking loudly over the howling wind. “I don’t know how to help her,” he said. “I can’t even see them anymore.” “Go to her,” Adam said. “What?” Mark asked, a look on his face that said “are you crazy?” “Trust your heart,” Adam said, “You didn’t let her die the last time. You won’t let her die this time.” “But I can’t even see her,” Mark said, pointing to the cloudfilled sky. “Don’t look with your eyes,” Adam said, taking a step back. “Go or she will die. Alone. Without you.” Wallert stood outside the house’s entrance, watching the darkening sky, his face grim. Kik stood beside him, his body tilted upward as he stood upon the corpse of one of Brother Frank’s guards. “Not good,” Kik hissed. “No,” Wallert replied, “It seems Lune has found Radi. And Ala has found them both.” “Must go,” Kik said, twisting his neck to look up at Wallert. A young woman joined them. “I thought I was to be the one to carry Radi,” Lenore said. “Slight hitch,” Wallert said, barely glancing at her. “Your time will come.” “Jess is not strong enough,” Lenore said, angry, “even if she is a healer.” “Who is to know how the gods choose their vessels?” Wallert said. “You must have patience, Lenore.” “If your man hadn’t screwed up and taken me as planned, this would all be over by now,” Lenore said, kicking out at a moaning body close to her feet. The man moaned and went

48 Lee Pearce silent. “I said be patient,” Wallert replied, turning. “I had to put up with her whining for the past year, pretending to be her friend,” she said, shuddering, “and she’s only a halfdemon. Do you know how distasteful that was?” “Your sacrifice has been noted,” Wallert said, through a clenched jaw. Lightning flashed in the distant sky. A funnel cloud dropped to the ground, then lifted just as suddenly. Kik whined his impatience. “Are we going to stand here all day?” Lenore stepped over the body she had just kicked, heading toward a jeep, its engine still running. Kik looked up at Wallert, again, and growled. “Soon, my friend,” Wallert said, following Lenore, “soon it will all be over.” Fighting the wind was impossible. Jess knew she only had a few seconds to do something. She stretched out her arms and legs as if she wore a parachute, which of course she didn’t, but if she could slow her ascent, she might be able to work her way out of the updraft. What she would do then she didn’t know but breathing once again was her top priority. She didn’t want to be separated from her human body. She wanted to be with Adam again, to love him. In this form. A piercing cry from somewhere close in the sky nearly shattered her ear drums. She felt before she saw the eagle’s mighty talons take hold of her arm. The bird was beautiful: its brown feathers puffed and strong, its white head shining, its black eyes glittering with intelligence. It struggled in the buffeting wind trying to pull her out of the giant updraft. The two of them kept moving upward. Jess could feel the air growing colder. Her lungs ached. She knew it was from lack of air. Still the eagle pulled, its body pointed downward. One

Demon RaptuRe 49 moment, she was being jerked up, the next they were both falling, her body too heavy for the eagle to handle. Yet the eagle would not let go. They were both falling toward the ground. If they couldn’t get slowed, they’d both crash killing themselves. A form appeared behind a cloud. Jess turned to look but it had vanished. The form appeared again, stretching out to them, fighting with the air currents. It--Mark--reappeared again directly in front of them. He grabbed hold of the eagle’s claw where it held on to Jess’s arm. A flash blinded her then her feet touched solid ground. Laurel morphed into human form. Mark removed his shirt and handed it to Laurel who struggled against the rising wind to pull it on. Adam did not move. He looked at Jess who looked back at him. She knew instinctively what he was thinking. The demon god Ala of the wind would not stop until he had destroyed them. But if they were to become their corporeal forms they could stop Ala. The resulting devastation to this world would be unforgiveable. They had worked hard to make a new, just race of supernaturals. Now Ala was forcing them to destroy what they had lovingly created. Brother Frank stood as the howling cyclone fell toward them. “You two never could make a decision together. Time’s a wasting.” “Do you really want this showdown to happen?” Adam asked, shielding his eyes against the dirt that had begun to fly. “You know we will win.” “I think not,” Brother Frank said. “Your creatures are weak and genetically dysfunctional. It is time for a stronger race to take over. I am going to kill them all, starting with you two.” “If you destroy us, your new world will die,” Jess said. “You need the sun to heat the lands and the moon to control the waters.” “My race will need neither of you two,” Brother Frank said. “What you propose will not be able to have a shred of human in it,” Jess said.

50 Lee Pearce Brother Frank nodded solemnly. “It is time for this world to begin again.” “We won’t allow it,” a new voice called out. They all turned to see Wallert, Kik and Lenore step out of a jeep. Several other jeeps followed loaded with more of Wallert’s guards. “Lenore?” Jess said as her friend walked up. Wallert and Kik stood off to the side. His men formed a circle around them all. Lenore stopped in front of Jess and Adam. “Radi was meant for me.” She turned to face Adam. “And so were you. I am a full demon, Adam. I have the strength to carry Radi.” “But Jess is the vessel,” Adam said. “She is weak,” Lenore replied, “she will not survive for long.” Jess bristled at her friend’s statement. “I feel fine.” She turned to Adam. “This body will do.” “Yes, but for how long?” Lenore said, still looking at Adam. “Don’t you see? You need a female who will love you for a very long time. I am that female. I have been chosen. I am to be your mate.” Adam looked confusedly to Jess and back to Lenore. He seemed to make a decision. “Jess is the one for me. I have known this from the moment I saw her.” He pulled Jess into his arms. “She is strong enough to hold Radi. Radi and I want nothing more than to live in these forms until they pass on, whether it is for a day or many, many of your years.” “You are making a mistake,” Lenore said, her voice low. She glanced at Brother Frank. “Is this how you wanted it to play out?” The cleric peered at her through narrowed eyes. “I don’t want them here at all.” “Lenore, don’t take his side,” Jess said, “He wants to destroy all the creatures here. He wants to create his own race.” “Perhaps there is a place for me?” Lenore said, sidling up to

Demon RaptuRe 51 Brother Frank. Frank watched her approach, not moving. When she stood close to him, he looked upon her distastefully. Grabbing her arm, he twisted her body around, holding her tight against his chest, his arm bent over her throat. Lenore’s eyes went wide as she struggled to breathe. Before Jess could reach Lenore, she heard a sickening crack. Brother Frank let Lenore’s now lifeless body drop to the ground. “No, there is no place for anyone like you.” “Ala, it is time you returned to the netherworld,” Jess said, staring at her dead friend, feeling sick. She couldn’t let him kill anyone else. If it meant surrendering her own human form so be it. Already she could feel her human body ceasing to be. A bright light infused her skin, the heat of which set the ground about her feet to smoking. She glanced at Adam and saw the pain on his face. She felt a pain stab through her chest. Five thousand years. And now they had only spent a few hours together. She knew it wasn’t fair but without this world, they as gods would not exist. “Jess, don’t,” Adam cried out. “I am sorry,” she said. She glanced sadly at her love. She watched through glowing eyes as Adam’s own body became as dark as the night that would soon surround it. To relinquish hold on their human bodies meant that they must return to the nether region surrounding this world forever to keep it alive but also to never be together. As the sun and moon gods, they were destined to partner together to give life continually to their children but to never be together themselves, again. Mark watched as his friends began their transformations. “Did you know?” Laurel asked, too amazed to look away. Even Wallert and Kik stared fascinated. “No,” he said, “but if they are truly our creators, we can’t just let them sacrifice themselves.”

52 Lee Pearce “I agree,” Laurel said. Mark felt her lips touch his cheek. He turned in time to see her body shimmer into the eagle once again. With a leap, Laurel flew toward the cleric. “No!” Brother Frank screeched in fear as he tried to back away, tripped over his feet, and landed on his back in the dirt. The wind whipped crazily tossing dirt even into his face. Laurel pounced upon his body, her talons digging deep into the flesh. Blood soaked through his clothing as Brother Frank struggled to get away, striking uselessly at her giant body. Then he stopped moving, the body lying still in the dirt. Meanwhile Mark had moved in front of Jess and Adam. “You don’t have to do this,” he said, nearly yelling over the rising volume of wind. “We will help you destroy him here on this land, now.” “It is too late,” Adam said, his voice as frosty as the moon’s atmosphere. “It is not too late,” Mark said, “I can still see your human bodies. Return to them. Live out your lives with us.” The wind continued to race around them, picking up small rocks. One rock struck Mark in the chest. He felt a sharp pain but ignored it. “Don’t start this war. It’s what he wants.” Another rock struck his forehead. Mark touched the spot, felt liquid gush onto his fingers, knew it was his own blood. “Ala is just air. He needs your power to kill everyone. Without you he is nothing.” Another rock whizzed through the air. A hand reached out and grabbed it, just before it struck his head again. Adam, solid once again, turned his hand to let the rock drop to the ground. “Your reasoning is most effective, Jumper.” “This was not the day for gods to fight,” Jess said, once again in her human form. She reached up and pressed her hand against Mark’s wound. As he felt the pain fading, he watched Jess as she looked up into the eye of the storm. “Do you hear me, Ala? Go back to your unsubstantial realm.” She took Adam’s

Demon RaptuRe 53 hand, smiling warmly up at him. “We are going to stay a while longer so that we might learn more about our children.” The eagle jumped from Brother Frank as he stirred. As it landed on the ground, it shifted and Laurel stood in front of them once again. Mark handed back the shirt she had tossed in his direction a few moments ago. “This is not over,” Brother Frank coughed, blood splattering his shirt. “You will face retribution once those bodies have failed and you are forced to return.” He saw Wallert. “Kill them. In the name of the demon god Ala, I order you to kill them now.” Wallert shook his head. “I will not. I did not know of his plan to destroy our world.” He looked at Jess and Adam. “Do I want to go back to being the creatures that were here before Radi and Lune created a new race? I shudder to think what had come before. Come Kik, we will leave these people now. There is no need to interfere with them anymore.” Kik bounded up to Jess and leaned heavily against her leg. He let out a great sigh. She smiled and reached down, touching his shoulder, speaking in a soft voice that no one else could hear. She removed her hand after a moment and Kik let out another sigh, one of satisfaction this time, then ran off to join Wallert in the jeep. As he leaped into the back seat, Kik seemed to sit a little straighter, more like a person than an animal. After Wallert and Kik had driven away, Jess took Adam’s hand and pressed it against her cheek. Adam smiled. “So we are to stay in this place for a while.” “I think so,” Jess said. “We might even try to live forever down here.” He bent down and gently brushed her lips with his own. Jess felt her body responding warmly, a flush spreading down her neck and breasts and below. Adam drew her close, wrapping his arms around her body. She could feel his need through his jeans and kissed him back hungrily. She was going to like being with him for a long time. Adam pulled away only when they heard

54 Lee Pearce someone coughing. Adam knelt beside the god trapped in Brother Frank’s dying body. “It seems you shall be going to the netherworld sooner than we. If I ever hear of a rumor of your return, I will not hesitate to destroy you.” “There are others who did not like what you did,” Brother Frank spoke, his voice growing faint. “You won’t be able to fight them all.” Jess placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, gripping it reassuringly. “We will be ready.” She glanced at Mark and Laurel, wondering what surprises she was about to discover about her children’s descendants. Were they as strong, intelligent and loving as these two? She hoped so, for when Ala returned to the netherworld she had no doubt he would spread the word among the other demon gods of their return. There will be those who will want to take their revenge. She looked at Adam. He seemed to read her mind. “We will all be ready,” he said, standing. “This world--our world--is strong. It will not fall.”

The End.

About the Author

LEE PEARCE has been writing fantasy stories most of her life and received her first award in high school for a short story about ancient Greek philosophers. She has moved on to modern times writing urban fantasy romance stories about demons, werewolves, vampires and the odd human. She has written two papers for Kent State University for its children’s literature conferences, travel articles and is currently working on a young adult urban fantasy series as well as a literary mystery. She spends her free time at the family cottage on the Bruce Peninsula and travels when she can. She is a proud member of the Canadian Authors Association.