Deadly Desires (27 page)

“I’m sorry.” She stepped back and wiped her face. The second step was to get him to believe that she wasn’t indeed Marcianna. If she could at least make him doubt it then it was a start.

“Come, let’s eat.” His voice wasn’t harsh at all. Not like it usually was. She let him lead her into the dining room and she took in the demon masters who always came over for dinner. They weren’t anything like she’d imagined when Lucifer had told her she’d first be joining them. Marcella had imagined them being old and fat. These men looked to be in their thirties and were like gods of men.

They stood as she and their leader entered the room. The only remaining empty chairs were his at the end of the table and Marcella’s, directly beside him. She looked at her grilled chicken salad and seriously didn’t feel like eating it again. Her appetite wasn’t even really there, but she knew she had to eat for Micah. Although her stomach was big, she had lost weight everywhere else.

“Please sit.” The chair was pushed up behind her and Marcella stared down at the food. She couldn’t believe how easily the tears had come. Now that they’d finally broken through, she wasn’t so sure she could stop. Her lip quivered while she picked up her fork and kept her head down.

The usual talk of Earth’s happenings began to float around the table, and like always, Samael’s father was completely silent. She pushed the food around and felt a light-headed sensation take over. Sweat began to take over her body and she breathed through the nausea that threatened.

Anger took over. Why did she have to get sick now, of all times? She had plans. How was she ever going to get the process going, feeling ill? Her chair scraped the ground as she pushed back. The talking ended and she looked up at Lucifer. “May I please be excused? I’m suddenly not feeling so well.”

“She’s as white as a ghost,” the master sitting before her said, turning to his leader. “Should we get someone?”

Marcella tried to stand and felt herself sway. Her creator caught her before she hit the floor. “Leave!” He roared to the masters. Movement caused her to gag and she noticed that he was carrying her down the long hallway. She focused on the blue room. In all of her times of being in this castle, she’d never been into his chambers before.

Blue satin sheets were soft against the skin of her arms as he laid her down. Shackles appeared on her hands and legs, and she felt them tighten, strapping her to the bed. “Bring on your collector, it’s been too long and it grows sick.”

The clothes disappeared and all that covered her were the sleep clothes he’d provided when she’d first gotten there, a black camisole with matching shorts. Cobwebs shot up her body and a moan came from her lips. It felt so good to have her collector back. As he took in her new tattoos his eyes grew wide. Marcella wanted to smile. All that hard work had paid off. That’s right. Her dark tribal was gone, and the beautiful intricate lines that twisted around her symbols looked elegant and delicate.

“You weren’t like this when you first got here.” He took in her stomach, exposed from the small shirt. “Micah strengthens you. Amazing.” He shrugged. “Well, have at it. You can’t leave and you can’t hurt me. Let’s see what you got, Marcianna.”

“My name…is Marcella!” Power burst from her body and she could feel the whole castle shake around her. Fire burned through her eyes and she searched for the connection to her fortress. It was within reach and she grasped to the link. She just couldn’t quite make it happen. He was still more powerful than her. Anything she wanted to try was pointless. If she attacked him, it would ruin her future plans to escape. The best thing she could do was truly try to increase her gift.

“Spectacular power.” He walked around the bed as she pulled against the chains. It was time to see what she was capable of.

Marcella lifted her head and looked at him. “Get on the bed.”

“Excuse me?” His eyes narrowed at her.

“I said get on the bed. I have too much power and I need to release it. I hope you’re not too fond of this castle or anything within Lord knows how far away. I’m about to try to level it. I want you on the bed so you’re safe.”

“You wish to protect me?” He laughed at her, but she didn’t miss the surprise he tried to hide.

“You’re meant to play an important role in Micah’s life. That means a great deal to me. I don’t know how most people treat you, but where I come from, family is the most important thing there is. The way I see it, you’re basically the only family I have in this land right now. “

Blue eyes glared at her. “You
come
from here. Enough of this human life you speak of.” He climbed on the bed, putting as much space between them as he could. “The only reason I’m obeying your command is because I’m curious to see if you’re truly capable of doing it. You see”—he smiled at her—”I have my own protection set up, so good luck.”

“What if I kill people?” She was really concerned as she asked.

“They cannot die. Now, go. Do your damage, if you can.”

His words made her seethe. Marcella looked at the surrounding walls and pushed against them with her mind. Pieces began to crumble and his eyes shot to her. She looked over at him and smiled. Oh yes, she was just barely even tapping into the core of what she was capable of. Her hands tightened onto the chains and she gripped them with all the force she could muster. She’d never been able to go this far with her collector, and it was time. A scream burst from her mouth as she focused, leveling everything she could remember from her past.

The bed shook violently and the air pressure pressed against her eardrums. The magnitude of the energy that expelled from her body felt like the best release in the world. Cracking and popping filled the air and she opened her eyes and pushed out the remaining power from her body. Larges pieces of wall and foundation exploded out from around her in all directions. It was as if she was watching the pieces fly in slow motion. The wind began to blow, and clothes were in tatters and spread for as far as she could see.

Samael’s father stood from the bed and looked at what she’d done. They looked to be the only two people for as far as the eye could see. The apocalyptical land was completely deserted excepting for the surrounding debris. He slowly turned to her. The shock on his face was priceless. Before she could let it settle in too much, she closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were back in the room. Everything was perfect and the way it had been before. His hand came up to his mouth while he stared.

“I’m hungry. Would you like me to put my collector back? Micah wants to eat.”

He continued to be silent. Marcella said good-bye to her collector and laid against the bed in pure contentment. She was close. So damn close. Now, all she had to do was reconnect the link, and she was so out of here.

The cool air brushed against Samael’s freshly shaven face while he walked past the bouncer of the nightclub. A hand grabbed his shoulder and tried to force him around with no luck. Samael turned and glared into the guy’s eyes. The demon power stirring inside of him had the muscular bouncer letting go and waving him in.

Music pulsed in the darkness and Samael walked up to the bar, ordering a drink. He took the shot and sat on a barstool. He spun around and faced the entire length of the room. Red and blue lights shot around the dance floor, shining on the college kids grinding on each other. The strobe lights made them look to be moving erotically, in slow motion. A growl came from Samael’s throat. His evil was so much stronger since he’d started his training. It went beyond anything he could have imagined.

Evil stirred within, and Samael projected his authority out into the room. Four heads snapped in his direction. His mission was going to be like a kid in a candy story. What demon would be stupid enough to not listen to a master?

The three men and woman came toward him and Samael stood. He walked out of the club and headed for the back alley. The darkness encircled him as he turned and made his way to the end, just below the dimly lit Dumpster. The demons stopped just within the light, and waited for him to speak. Dominic slid the protective shield around them so smoothly that they never even noticed the difference in atmosphere.

“I was going to end your life tonight, but I have a better idea. You’re going to go back and tell your masters that Samael wishes to speak to his father. That the killings will not stop until Marcella is home, or he comes forward and stops being a coward.”

Nemmy dropped into the circle as the demons began pushing against the invisible barrier. The shots from the specially formulated gun hit its target, and light flashed as the demons were sent back to hell. It was the twelfth bar they’d hit up, and the head count for them so far for the night was now at fifty-eight. It wasn’t nearly the message he wanted to send. But they’d only just arrived in Houston. The sin here was so much more than Corpus Christi, and the next bar would have three times as many demons inside. It was still early, and he wanted to go until sunrise.

“Great job, guys.” Dominic and Donavon walked over to him and Nemmy. Zepar was out with Caspius, Ambrose, and Jason. They were hitting up Dallas and Austin. Tonight would make history in the angel’s record books. And all of hell would be in an uproar by morning.

Samael wished there was an easier way. There had to be. Not that he didn’t enjoy what they were doing, but he wanted Marcella back now.

“Get back into position. I’m going to head up to the next club.” He paused. “Dom, you think you can portray a master?”

The collector tattoos vanished as evil took over the collector. He’d been a demon prince before his change. It wouldn’t have been long before he would’ve moved up to a master anyway. His power now blew what he’d previously had out of the water. Samael wasn’t even sure why he’d asked. He should have just told him to change over.

“Perfect. Donavon you set the barrier up. Dom and I are going to go into two separate clubs. When we have the demons we’ll meet in the front and walk back here together with the group. Be ready in case anything happens. I don’t want a single demon escaping.”

“Got it.” Donavon dematerialized and took his position on the building across from them. Nemmy pushed from his legs and shot in the air. Samael knew he was hidden above them in the shadows.

Samael looked over at Dom. The dark suit fit him perfectly. It was the traditional wear for a demon master, and if Samael had been a regular demon then he would have never have had a second thought believing Dom’s role. The evil that manifested around him was much stronger than that of any of the masters that served today.

“You ready, brother?”

Dom looked over at him. “More than ready.”

They strolled down the alley and broke to the left. The crowds standing in lines to get into the row of clubs were thick. Dominic entered the first and Samael continued to the next. He gave one look at the bouncer and the guy didn’t even stop him. Humans were funny like that. The moment they sensed true evil, the fear inside caused them to cower for their life.

The loud rap music settled around him and Samael quickly went to get his shot from the bartender. The cleavage busting out of her tight halter top was directed to his attention as she ran his shot glass between her breasts and handed it over. The vibe Samael threw her had the blonde turning away fast. She quickly grabbed her jacket, covering herself in embarrassment.

The liquor burned his throat, and he breathed in hard and turned to the crowd. He closed his eyes and let his power explode through the room. Almost everyone stopped and turned to him. Oh shit. Well, hell. This was interesting. He stood and headed for the door. They began to move forward and he smiled.

Dom was already waiting with a group of ten. As the crowd gathered behind him, Dom met his evil smile with one of his own and they stood side by side as the darkness from the alley embraced them. Music drifted in from the background of the clubs, but the silence coming from the alley could have been cut with a knife.

Samael looked up at the dim light above the Dumpster and used his eyes to make it brighter. There was no way the glow would reveal everyone like it had before. Gravel crunched under their feet and he and Dom turned around to face them all. Energy vibrated his skin as Donavon set the perimeter. More than one demon started looking around, startled.

“I need you all to pass a message along for me.”

“Who are you? You’re not my master. Why should I do anything you say?” a man from the front of the crowd yelled. A few yeahs went around, and Samael laughed and looked at Dom.

“You’ll do it because I’m the Devil’s son, and I told you to.” Samael projected the evil of his true self out, and they all pressed back to get away from him. “You will tell your masters that I wish to speak to my father. He will give me my wife, or I will kill every master and demon that holds rank until I make it to him myself.”

Nemmy dropped down and threw him and Dom a gun.

“You’re crazy,” one whispered. “You want to fight Satan?”

Samael walked toward him. “You’re damn right I do. You be sure to tell them that.” He put the barrel of the gun against his head and pulled the trigger. Light exploded as the demon disappeared. Chaos broke out and demons began pushing against the barrier. Samael had gotten damn good with a gun since they’d been practicing their skills. He never thought he’d have to use one, but now he was glad he was such a damn good shot.