“You’re excited.” Her mouth curved up into a smile. “Good, you should be. But being freed from your human cage is just the first step in your transformation. The hard part is still to come. Don’t worry, we’ll get you where you need to be. Come, let’s feast in celebration of your rebirth.”

  Rya took my hand and led me into her large black fortress built into the mountain. Although made of stone like that of the Demon Hunters, her fortress looked far different. The walls and floor were made of the black stone from this mountain. Ceilings were high, and flaming torches lit the rooms, each accompanied by a human skull to the right of the light source. Six of my bedrooms could easily fit in the main room. Several demon guards stood along the wall with longswords and heavy armor.

  Rya led me to a dining hall. A few demons sat and ate at smaller tables, but we continued to the large rectangular table that sat higher than the others. The tables were laden with pewter bowls of fruits, hunks of meat on large platters, and goblets full of a crimson liquid. Candles with pools of hardened wax beneath them dotted the tables.

  Rya sat in a large throne like chair at the center of the table. She motioned for me to sit beside her in a less ornate chair. Then, with a wave of her hand, a demon came and served us. “We have work to do, my love. First, you must complete your transformation. Then we will release the demons in the binding chamber and destroy the Demon Hunters.” She turned and smiled at me. “Then we will be free to rule both Realms.”

  “How do I complete the transfor…”

  “Rya! The wounded are being tended to and…he’s in my spot. Why is he in my spot?” Jace came in looking bloody and pissed off as he pointed his finger at me.

  “He’s my mate.” Rya said matter-of-factly.

  “And I’m your lead!” Jace looked ready to fly off the handle.

  “You can sit here.” She motioned to an even lesser chair on the other side of her.

  Jace scowled as he took the small seat next to her.

  “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, my dear.” She took a drink from her goblet. “Thank you for taking care of the mess back there.” She leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips.

  “You’re welcome.” He pulled back and seemed calmer after her show of affection.

  She turned toward me. “You were saying something, my dear?”

  “Uh, yeah. I was just wondering how exactly do I transform?”

  “You’ll see soon enough. Today you rest; tomorrow we’ll begin.”

  The meal was chaotic with fights breaking out among the demons at the other tables. Drinks were spilled, food was thrown, and the room filled with laugher and shouting. At the conclusion of the feast, Rya and Jace escorted me to a room to sleep in. “This is yours now.” Rya stepped aside so I could see the grand bedroom. A wall of books served as the backdrop for a large bed covered in red linens. The other wall had a massive fireplace and various floor pillows in front of it. The room was masculine but ornate.

  “Thank you.”

  “Goodnight, my love. Big day tomorrow.” Rya stepped in and kissed me. It was electrifying, her touch, her lips on mine. Was it possible to fall in love so deeply in such a short time or was this infatuation?

  A loud noise from behind her disrupted our intimate moment. Jace. She pulled back. Cupping my face, she said, “This is going to be so much fun.”

  She left, shutting the door behind her. I could hear their footsteps retreating down the hall and Rya scolding Jace for acting like a jealous child.

  My arms were covered in dried blood and dirt from the action of the day. I kicked off my boots and found a dark bathroom in a back corner. Next to the fireplace was a lantern and a long thin stick that I used to light the candle within. The bathroom was small, a large basin sat on a table. A small pot labeled cleansing herbs and a pitcher of clean water sat next to it. I filled the basin and added the herbs to the water. The water became effervescent; the bubbly concoction emitted a citrus smell. I scrubbed at my skin, watching the basin water change to a murky pink. My arms looked so different with no tattoos. I had worn them for so many years, traced them countless times. Every line, angle, and dot of each of them were committed to memory. Now the only things marking my skin were the four finger-sized scabs on each forearm, reminders of Rya and…what had she called it? My rebirth. I was new, I had power…and I hungered for more.

  Free from the tattooed cage that had shackled me for years. Free to feel my emotions. Free to be angry and wicked—and dammit it felt good, like taking a breath of fresh air after working a twelve-hour shift at the poorly ventilated Romaitis telecom factory. I chanced a look in the small mirror next to the doorway. The face staring back was foreign. My eyes were completely black; my tongue—now black and thin—forked like Rya’s. The human side of me retreated like a fading shadow. An unnatural and triumphant yell erupted out of me. “See ya loser," I said to my former reflection. "My turn to play.”

  I extinguished the lantern and lay on the pillows before the fire. The heat warmed my bare chest as I ran my hands along the scabs Rya had given me. She had freed me, and now I would become the powerful demon she longed to have beside her.

  Asleep, with the fire still ablaze, I had the most vivid dream of a young boy pushing his mother to her death.

  Chapter Twenty

  Killian

  Serena must have contacted her connections for a car because a black Saab was waiting at the cemetery entrance. After helping Cassidy in, I drove us to her house. She had been terribly anxious after we'd crossed. I finally had suggested she shut her eyes and try to sleep on the way home.

  We rode to her house in silence, though I knew from reading her energy that she was still very anxious and hadn’t slept.

  It was winter in the Human Realm, but the temperature was mild for this time of year and there was no trace of snow. Pulling up to her old farmhouse, I looked at the structure that looked untouched despite the time away from it. Cass threw open the car door and bolted for the window ledge, retrieving what must have been a key. I hurried to her side as she dropped the key and fumbled to pick it up. Her hands shook as she tried to push the key in the lock. I set my hand atop hers to steady her grasp while she unlocked the back door.

  “I need to lay down,” she said without turning toward me. She set the key on the kitchen table and continued up the stairs to her room.

  “Do you need any…”

  She shut the door before I could finish.

  “I’m gonna head to the store in a bit, but it shouldn’t take long,” I hollered after her.

  She didn’t answer. I decided I’d wait till she was asleep before venturing out in case she needed help with anything. I returned the key to the small piece of Velcro beneath the window frame and retrieved her mail, mostly advertisements and catalogs with just two late bills.

  The fridge was in bad shape, so I began cleaning out the expired food and wiping the shelves with soapy water. When I finished, I took the garbage out to the curb and put a new bag in the can before washing my hands and heading up to check on Cass.

  I knocked quietly and after a few moments, opened the door. She lay still in bed, turned away from me. I couldn’t tell if she was sleeping, but I decided she was still enough that it was probably safe to go to the store.

  Target. I had passed this store on the way to Cass’s house and decided it would be good to get some weapons from there in case, well, just in case. It’s always good to have more weapons.

  To my surprise, Target was not a weapons store, but it did have many of the goods that I sought. I shopped every aisle and came out with food and clothes that I could wear for the week here. Thankfully, the Junctures left a credit card in the glove box of the Saab. Our debt with the Junctures was paid with protective services, angel blood, and magical items like the Vinka seed from the Demon Realm. The trip to Target took longer than expected, so I headed straight back to check on Cass.

  Inside, I unpacked the bags of food and headed to the downstairs bedroom to change into my new clothes. The leathers had earned a few stares; the tats had earned even more. The older population seemed the most judgmental while the young women seemed attracted to the Demon Hunter look. Jackson would probably love to spend a week here. Of course, then we’d have a bunch of mini Jacksons on our hands afterward. I found myself chuckling at the thought of Jackson single-handedly repopulating the Clan. We’d need a bigger compound.

  After a quick meal, I climbed the stairs to check on Cass. The door to her room was shut, so I knocked. No answer. “Cass. Are you okay? I’m back from the store and wanted to see if you needed some dinner.” Maybe she was changing clothes. I knocked again. “Cass?”

  Nothing.

  Why wasn’t she answering me? Was she hurt? Dead? Gone? I pounded on the door and used a louder voice, “Cass! Open up.” I waited…nothing. “Listen, if you don’t open this door by the count of three, I’m gonna break it down.” Nothing. “1…2…” The door unlocked but remained shut. I turned the handle and slowly opened the door. The bed was empty. Cass sat on the floor with her back against the side of the bed, looking out the window.

  I headed over to her. There were no tears or salt trails on her face. “You okay?” She continued staring out the window. “Why’d you lock the door?”

  “I feel safer with it locked.” She shrugged.

  “Are you hungry? I could heat up some soup for you.”

  “Can you bring it to me in here?” She looked so empty, like she was a million miles away even though her body was sitting before me.

  “Sure. What about a drink?”

  “Just water.” She returned her gaze to the window. “Thank you.”

  On top of the refrigerator, I found a serving tray. I assembled the meal and took it to her room. Placing it on the floor beside her, I sat on the other side of the tray, back against the bed also.

  “I see you have some new clothes,” she said.

  Good. She’s talking. I continued the conversation. “Target. Hey, did you know they don’t sell weapons at Target?”

  “I thought you could get a hunting knife or fillet knife there at least?”

  I scoffed, “Those aren’t weapons. Whoever came up with the store name missed the mark.” This made Cassidy smile. She grabbed the bowl of soup and took a bite.

  “You know, you don’t have to stay with me. I know how to live and survive in the Human Realm.” She didn’t look at me as she said this.

  “I’ll just stay for a few days, make sure you don’t need help with anything.”

  “What would I need help with?”

  “I don’t know. But I’d feel better if I could stay for a bit and make sure you’re all right and settled back in.”

  She looked back at me. “Do I get a say in this?”

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think so.” She continued eating and gazing out the window. She had lost weight in captivity. Her cheek bones were more prominent and her hands were almost skeletal. But she was eating now, and that was a good sign. She also was talking more. Although it was too early to be sure, I’d bet that Cass would come out of this all the way.

  I looked out the window at the darkening winter sky. The silhouettes of the bare and lifeless trees swayed in the wind, like dark phantoms dancing across the sky. “It gets dark fast in the winter. Want me to turn a light on?” I asked.

  Cass’s face was shadowed in the darkening room, but I could still make out her facial expressions and see the sadness in her eyes. “No.”

  She ate a few more bites of food and drank some water before returning to her statue-like pose of arms around her knees.

  “Need anything else?”

  She shook her head.

  “Well, I’ll get these dishes cleaned and come check on you later. I’ll leave your door open. This way if you need something, you can just yell.” There was no response from her so I grabbed the tray and left. Midway down the stairs, I heard the door shut and lock behind me. Did she not feel safe from me? Was she fearful that I was possessed again? She had said it helped her feel safe, but it struck me as odd.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cassidy

  Here in the dark I can finally breathe. The room feels smaller, manageable. Door locked. Windows closed. Alone. Alone, ha! Thanks Rya, your sick attempt to drive me mad seems to have cured my fear of loneliness.

  I stood and looked out the window at the vast world beyond the glass pane; it was so very large. My throat began to tighten and my left arm went cold, then numb. I stumbled back to the bed and lay there staring at the ceiling above.

  I was okay. I was inside. Doors and windows locked. I was okay.

  Breathe Cass. Breathe. I’d been reduced to a panic-stricken hermit who would probably die alone in this bedroom.

  Killian wouldn’t stick around forever. He had bigger issues to deal with than the messed up Cassidy from Homer Glen. He’d leave eventually. Then it’d only be a matter of time before I’d fade away.

  I wasn’t giving up. I didn’t want to die. But I also wasn’t sure I could make enough progress in the next week to survive on my own. And Killian hanging here for even a week was a strain on the Clan and a risk.

  If Tyler, the Tyler in control of his inner demon, was in the Human Realm, I might have a chance to heal and become independent again. He would check in on me. But Tyler…The tears flowed out of my eyes. Rya had him, and I here I was, imprisoned by my own neurosis and uselessness.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Killian

  The morning sun shone through the old paned window, making my room too bright to sleep. Cass hadn’t awoken me in the night. She was probably exhausted from the crossover yesterday. I threw on the Mountain Dew T-shirt I’d worn yesterday and headed to check on her.

  Knock, knock.

  No answer.

  Knock, knock. “Cass, it’s Killian. You up yet?”

  “I am now.” She muttered through the door.

  My lips curved into a smile at the sound of her voice. “I was gonna make some breakfast. What can I get for you?”

  “Just some cereal. I’m afraid you’ll blow up the house if you attempt anything else.”

  “Very funny. In the meantime, why don’t you work on getting this door open?” I didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, I headed downstairs to search for some cereal. On the wood tray, I placed two bowls of cereal with milk, two small bowls of strawberries, and two glasses of orange juice. When I got to the top of the stairs, I yelled through the door, “My hands are full. Can you get the door for me?”

  She opened it, and I was stunned by her natural beauty. Her lips were dark pink, her skin lightly freckled, her hair long and messy…what had changed? They were the same lips as yesterday, same hair, same freckles, yet today it was as if I were seeing it all through new eyes. “Thank you. You look good, rested.”

  “On the bed is fine.” She motioned for the tray to be set at the foot of the bed.

  “Spoons! I forgot the spoons. Be right back.” I headed down the stairs and heard the door close and lock. What the hell? Surely she knew I’d be back in a moment. I grabbed the spoons and knocked at her door.

  She opened it immediately. We exchanged glances for a moment, mine probably had the “what the hell is going on” look while hers was more of a “back so soon?”. I passed her and took a seat on the bed.

  “Cass, what’s goin’ on? Why are you locking the doors? I mean, I just went down for spoons and it took me about a minute. What did you think would happen in that minute?”

  “It helps.”

  “Helps what?” I searched her face, not wanting to trigger her but also wanting to know her answer.

  “Helps me feel better, safer. I told you this last night.” She sounded defensive.

  “Have you always locked your door or is this a new thing?”

  She shrugged her answer, which meant, “new thing, not wanting to talk about it.”

  I wasn’t done exploring this, but I’d set it aside for now. Pushing her hard would only encourage her to pull away. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Killian, why are you here?”

  “What do you mean? I told you I wanted to stay and make sure you were settled and doing okay before I left.”

  “You have no intention to go back for him, do you?”

  I knew who she meant, but I was questioning my decision on whether it was worth the risk to go after Tyler. I said nothing.

  “He saved me, even with that demon within him. He’s got a good soul—he’s worth saving. Why can’t you see that?”

  “You’re right,” I muttered.

  “What did you say?”

  Clearing my throat, I said it more clearly this time, “I said, ‘you’re right.’ And as much as I have been trained to oppose demons, his human side is admirable. I just don’t know how much of that side is left in him, if any.”

  “That’s not fair. You sound as if you’ve given up hope on him. If it were me, would you give up or would you fight for me? Probably give up as you gave up on Jace. You know, if we had gotten to Jace faster—”

  “Enough!” This decision was a big one that would impact many. I wasn’t going to let Cass’s emotions sway me. I stormed down the stairs and out the back door. Would I fight for Cass? Yes. There was no doubt in my mind that I would. And maybe that was what upset me right now: the fact that I’d take the risk to save Cassidy. But could I do that for Tyler?

  I sat on the porch steps and thought about the situation. Time was running out for us to save Tyler, and I needed to be able to return to the Clan with my decision. After an hour or two of really thinking about the whole situation, I concluded that the risk was too great. If there was some guarantee that we could help tether the demon down so the human side of Tyler could takeover, it would be worth the risk. But the symbols that had lined his body and controlled the inner monster were symbols of a demonic language, ones I had no knowledge in. Without those symbols, it wasn’t worth the risk.

 

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