Running in Fear: New Beginnings Jubilee (10 page)

Glancing behind her she looked at Suzanne. “What was the one thing he always bragged about at the parties?”

Suzanne snarled and spit on the floor. “He bragged about the steal post in his cock, that he had it permanently placed there. He used to say that all the woman crave his cock because of this.”

“And he did have it.” She rubbed her arms. All of a sudden she was so cold. She took a deep breath and tilted her head back, waiting to see the revulsion on Nikola face. “I was forced often to give him oral when he was in a hurry.” She snorted. “I bit it twice trying to tear it off, but nothing had worked.” Nikola held her gaze, not moving. “That man was a replica of Hombre del Diablo. I don’t know why he was there, but it wasn’t him.”

Nikola glanced up at Suzanne, who shrugged. “Lissa was the one who always got stuck with him, from what Della told me. I just heard the rumors. I was never given to him. If she says that wasn’t him, then it wasn’t, but Nikola…” Suzanne leaned over the table. “If what she says is true, we have a bigger problem.”

Dominic reached over the table and pulled Suzanne back in her chair. “What are you talking about Suzanne? Why would one man be a problem for us here?”

Lissa pushed Nikola out of the way and walked towards the sliding glass door needing to look out at the plants around. Nothing else would calm her now. She glanced out at the new snow; the large fern type trees blew in the wind, calling her. “Hombre del Diablo wasn’t just a man Nikola, he was a demon wolf, and, at the end, part zombie. I didn’t know how it was possible at the time, but now I know.” She glanced over her shoulder and held his gaze. “I know you know that with Fae magic there is a pattern. Well, he too had this power.” She glanced back outside and sighed.

“I could never figure out how he knew things and could do things that shouldn’t be possible. He always believed that since I was drugged, he could speak in front of me. Some things still don’t make sense.” She frowned and turned to the table a pen and paper in her hand.

Snake people-Warren Valet

Demons-

Vampires-Drome Hounsfield

Fae-Vender

Shifter- Hombre del Diablo

“These are the men that I know run things on Earth, from what I overheard. Vender, well that we found out here, but Hombre del Diablo controlled the New York gang the Bloods, and he was also a wolf.” She glanced up at Remi. “I don’t know his real name, just what they called him, but Remi, he hated you. That much I know.” She glanced at Dominic and sighed.

“Dominic, do you know this Drome Hounsfield? I’ve only seen him once when this Hombre paid me a visit. This Drome was with him. I don’t know if he also has a connection to the demons or not. He didn’t say much, but he was almost as cruel as Hombre was.” Lissa plopped back down in her chair and took a bite of her sandwich.

“Lissa, why are you remembering all of this now?” Remi asked, frowning down at her.

Jaycee jumped out of her chair and smacked him. “What the hell is wrong with you? Didn’t you hear her earlier?”

Nikola stood back and watched as Remi tried to calm Jaycee, but he too was worried about how his mate had suddenly come upon this information. Lissa glanced up at him with watery eyes. “You would believe I would be a traitor?” Her words were broken and hurt, but enough to draw everyone’s attention to him.

He sighed and picked Lissa up, sitting in her warm chair with her in his lap. “You know I would never think that. I’m just worried Lissa. If the other side finds out you heard what they were planning, they’ll try everything to get to you.”

She laid her head on his chest. “Like they already are, Nikola?” She lifted her head back up again. “Nikola, I want to see Matlock and his brother again. They have triggered these memories somehow, I just don’t know how. The flashbacks started the night I met them.”

“No.” One simple word, but it had come out strong enough that the others eyed him. “Lissa, these men would have taken you, raped you. Why would you want to see them?”

Kissing his chest, Lissa smiled up at him, and traced his chin. “I don’t think it was they who tried to hurt me.” She sighed. “Can your people possess others? You know, like take over their bodies?”

Everything in Nikola stopped and a chill ran up his back. “
Adonis, have Tor and Norris bring Matlock and his brother here, but not inside. We’ll meet you out there.”
He lifted Lissa up and stared at Remi and Dominic.

“If that’s what has happened here, we could be in serious trouble. This world should have killed those two men, but it didn’t, and if what Lissa suspects is true, those men were in this house, with your children.”

Jaycee grabbed her throat, her hand shook as she glanced up at Remi. Remi snarled, as did Mark, who ran into the room. “We need Dane here now.” Remi snapped, and at once Pierre was gone.

He turned his attention to Lissa. “Will you be able to tell if this has happened, because all I was able to see was a shadow. That’s why they’re not dead.” He kissed her forehead and once more, she was dressed in her winter gear.

“I would know Hombre del Diablo anywhere, but Nikola, it won’t be him personally. It will be the magic he weaves. It will carry his footprint.” She glanced around the room. “This might be a good thing.” Lissa snuggled closer to her. “I hate to say this, because it will take two of my mates away from us for a while.”

Pierre returned with Dane and Adonis, nodding to him. “Tell us Lissa.”

“If I can recognize the footprint of Hombre del Diablo, we could follow it back to him, when his magic is pushed out of these men.”

Nikola shook his head. “You really believe you can do this?” He nodded to the door that Remi held open.

“Not me, you. You will be able to help them. I can follow the magic back…” She glanced over her shoulder with a small grin. “But I have these four men who would punish me if I tried to leave here.”

Nikola tried to grab her, but she jumped out of his reach. “Little slow, aren’t ya’ old man?”

“Isn’t it funny how our mates keep teasing us about our age, but yet they can’t keep up.” Dominic smiled and Suzanne yelled out the door.

“I heard that old man, and for your information, you were the one who conked out last night, not me. Plus, you’re not carrying four babies.” She slammed the door.

Nikola stumbled as he ran into the back of his frozen mate. She stared at Matlock, the color in her face turned almost white and he could hear her heart beating faster than normal.

Adonis moved up next to her, as he moved to her other side. “He cannot do anything to you, Lissa. You are safe.” He kissed the side of her neck.

She shook her head. “He actually did this, Nikola. I can smell his stench, and feel his hands touching me.”

Nikola wasted no time and pushed the images from her head and replaced them with him and their first time together. “He can no longer have you, Lissa! You are ours.” He flooded her body with his magic, and his scent.

Reaching for his hand and twining it with his, Lissa smiled up at him. “Let’s do this, shall we?” She turned and kissed Adonis lips. “Be careful, please.”

“Always. Do it!” Adonis and Pierre nodded as they all turned their attention towards Matlock and his brothers.

Tor and Norris held each man as Lissa worked her magic, all the while he could hear the demon’s threats to Lissa.

“
There is no place to hid,e Lissa. You are mine. These men might think they have a claim on you, but you still carry my mark and always will.”
Lissa faltered for a minute, weaving her magic, but continued.

Nikola could now see the yellow glowing eyes as they turned towards him. “She will be mine again!” The scratchy voice screamed, as the magic was forced out of Matlock and his brother, who both fell to their knees before them.

“There Adonis, Pierre! Do you see it?” Lissa turned to them as she too wavered on her feet, tired.

“We have it now. Rest Lissa, we’ll be back soon.” Adonis and Pierre disappeared.

“Nikola?” Matlock glanced up at him, then at Lissa. “What are we doing here? Is she your Companion?”

Tor helped Matlock and his brother stand, both men confused. Lissa’s soft cold hand squeezed his. “They didn’t know Nikola, but you might want to find out where they were on Earth, because that is where they were tainted. I also want to check the babies before going home.”

Remi sucked in his breath behind them. “You think they did something to our children?”

Lissa shook her head. “I don’t know Remi, but I don’t want to leave anything to chance. Our children are what is important and I won’t rest knowing I didn’t at least make sure they were all right.”

“Tor, Norris, explain to these two what has happened. I will speak with them later. Right now I need to be with my companion. Take them back with you to the mountains; I’ll deal with them tomorrow.” He wrapped his arm around Lissa and helped her inside Remi’s home.

Jaycee stood just inside, waiting. “Do you really believe they could have done something to the children?”

Lissa pulled her into a hug. “I don’t know Jaycee, but I will make sure before I go home.” She frowned and turned to look up at him. “I’d like to have Remi see an image of him, before he turned. It might help if he can see who we are dealing with. The same with Drome, if we know who we are fighting…”

“We have a huge advantage,” Nikola said, but he sure didn’t like that fact these men would be floating around in her head.

“Take a look at the children, then we’ll go from there.” Jaycee led the way to the children’s room where all three babies were sound asleep in their bassinets.

Lissa stood in front of Edric’s bassinet and reached down to cover his body with the blanket when all of them heard the growl that came from the crib. She moved to the other boy’s crib, and the same thing happened.

But when she stepped in front of Marcia’s crib, the child didn’t make a sound, but her tiny body rose up out of the crib. Jaycee tried to reach for the little girl, but the child hissed at her.

“Step back Jaycee, let me take care of her. Please trust me.” Lissa moved in front of the

child. “Jaycee when I tell you, Marcia will reach for you inside your head. Grab onto her and hold tight, she’ll need you to hold on to while she fights this thing inside her. Dominic, you will be needed here too. This thing inside her is part demon.” Lissa glanced back at Dominic, who nodded.

“Get it out of her and I’ll take care of it.” Dominic moved forward and waited.

“Take the other two boys out of the room. Suzanne and Blair it would be best if you hold onto the children. That way this thing won’t come near you. It will know.”

Both of them reached in and took one of the children and left the room, with the others. Dominic, Dane, Jaycee, Remi, Mark,Lissa and Nikola stood in the room.

“Nikola, seal the room so nothing can get in or out.” He nodded and watched as she took the child into her arms.

Marcia growled and hissed, scratching and hitting Lissa, but she held still, working ancient magic from the past. Nikola smiled, his queen had come across her gift after all.

Nikola watched as the child screamed and bucked, then quieted. “I’ve got her.” Dane yelled.

“Be ready, Dominic.” She whispered and kissed the little girl’s head. “Leave this little one’s body, you cannot have her.” Were the last words Nikola heard before a small back leach-like thing squirmed out of the child’s mouth to fall to the floor.

It grew large in front of his eyes and hissed as Dominic stepped forward, incinerating it. The child in Lissa’s arms let out a large cry, a normal cry. “Dane, I believe she wants her daddy.”

Lissa turned and he saw the small scratch marks up and down her face from the child.

Dane took the child and kissed her head as Jaycee pulled Lissa into a hug. “I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for us. You call me anytime Lissa, if you ever need me.”

“Any of us, Lissa. Nikola, guard her well, she is special,” Remi patted him on the back, a single tear slipped down his cheek.

Remi and Dominic grunted, and stared at her. “Warn us when you are going to do that. Wow!” Dominic shook his head.

Nikola frowned and glanced at Lissa. “I just showed them Drome and …”

“His name is Jacko Singer. He used to control part of my pack till I removed him after I found out he was raping a woman,” Remi snapped. “We hunted him for over a month, but nothing. It was as if he disappeared.”

Nikola moved fast, wrapping his arms around his mate. Lissa was shaking she was so tired. “I suggest we meet in the morning. We can discuss all of this then. I need to get Lissa home.”

She laid her head on his chest. “Dane, Marcia will need to stay connected to you for the next few day. She is going to be scared and confused. So she’ll need you more. Jaycee, she’s hungry and very tired. I’d even wake her up in a few hours to feed her again. She is weak, but she’ll be okay.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Thank you again, Lissa.” Dane opened the door to Suzanne and Blair.

“Jaycee, why don’t I take Sam home with us? You four need some time and you’ll be up with the little ones. Plus, it will give Samantha some extra time with Sam.” Suzanne asked, handing over the boy to Remi.

Nikola didn’t wait to hear the response as he whisked Lissa home. Castor waited for them both. He gently settled her down on their bed and manly started to remove her clothes. Castor crawled on the bed and kissed and licked her face, healing her.

“You over did it today, Lissa. Your body is exhausted.” Castor fussed over her.

Standing up, he stripped out of his clothes as did Castor, and slipped into bed with her, pulling the covers over them. “Come feed, and let us hold you while you sleep.”

Her warm tongue swept over his chest. “I’m afraid to sleep, Nikola.” Her fangs sank into his chest as she scooted closer to his body heat.

Castor curled up behind her, rubbing her arms. He glanced up at him with a frown. “How is he getting to her? There has to be something we are missing. He shouldn’t be able to reach her, even in her dreams.”

“Lissa, what did this man mean when he said he marked you?” Nikola held her head to his chest. “Tell me in my head Lissa. You need to keep feeding, you haven’t had enough.”

Her shoulders slumped and she tightened her grip on his arm when he felt the first tear on his chest.

“The first time he saw me, he marked me. On my lower back there is a horse shoe burn mark, but yet it’s not a burn. He had three men hold me down that night. At first there was a cold sensation on my skin. So cold it hurt. Then I could have sworn something that was alive was on my back, it slid all over, until the pain came. It was as if they were carving a knife into my skin. For over forty minutes this continued.”

Nikola pulled her body onto his when she sealed the holes. “Castor, what do you see.” He kissed the top of her head and held her as Castor inspected the mark.

He glanced up frowning. “Nikola, there is something moving under the skin. It’s small and it only moves where the mark is.”

“That hurts!” Lissa jumped and glanced back at Castor.

“All I did was touch the mark.” Castor shook his head. “I don’t recall any creature like this, even in the old days. It has to come some other place.”

He clothed all of them and slipped off the bed. “Lissa, I’m calling Dominic. King Landon should know what is going on.”

She curled up on the bed hugging a pillow. “Okay.”

“
Dominic, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but we have run across something we haven’t seen before and were wondering if you or King Ladon could help us?”
Nikola sat at the edge of the bed and brushed Lissa’s hair back.

“Beam me up, Scotty.”
Dominic teased and he laughed, nodding to Castor.

Lissa glanced up at him with a grin. “Wonder if pointed ears would enhance your handsomeness?”

He yanked a strain of her hair. “Don’t even think it.”

“I don’t know, with the long blond hair, pointed ears might be good. Don’t elves’ have pointed ears?” Dominic laughed and winked at Lissa.

“Are their elves in your realm?” Lissa asked, all of a sudden worried.

“Relax Lissa they too are moving and yes. How do you think we got so many homes built? You just haven’t seen them yet. When they are ready, you will see them.” Nikola nodded to Dominic and pulled Lissa’s shirt up while Castor slipped on the bed and pealed back her pants.

“This is where that Jacko has marked her. From what we can see, there is something alive under the skin. Castor touched it and it brought much pain to her.”

Moving to the side of the bed, Dominic ran his hand over the mark and Lissa whimpered. “What did you feel when I do that, Lissa?” Dominic asked sitting back on his feet.

“A burning sensation, almost as if someone had taken a cigarette and burned me with it.” She let out a deep breath and he squeezed her arm.

“That is what I was afraid of. This creature has some psychic abilities. The one who captures the creature can use it for many different things. Right now, it’s being used to see what she is doing; it’s also giving this man access to her when she sleeps. This creature transfers her spirit to a separate world where the other being would be waiting. So whatever is done in that world, she feels here.”