Fire With Fire: A Demonblood Novel Part 1

Fire with Fire.

Demonblood Series.

A novel.

by Penelope King.

Prologue.

It's cliche to say it's always darkest before the dawn, but in my case it's true. There is a brief window of time, just before I wake, when I am not Me, and she is not Her. We are together as one, unified in our blissful state of unconsciousness.

Sometimes this sleep lasts for a few seconds; other times, a few hours. It is during this time that we exist in harmony, slumbering away our fears, hostilities, our mutual disdain and resentment of each other. It is during this time that we have a few fleeting moments of peace. Because for more than five years, it has been only during this time that we are together as we should be. As we were meant to be.

It is also during this time that we can dream of him...remember the way he held us, kissed us, looked into our eyes and filled us with such love.

The memory of loving and being loved by Kieron is the one thing she and I now share, along with the unbearable pain we've silently suffered since he's been gone.

Now, we also share the soul-crushing fear that he's never coming back to us.

...And we are more d.a.m.ned than ever.

Chapter 1. Lucky.

I don't know what it is about strip clubs that seems to draw the nastiest types of demons, but for some reason they're attracted like stink on fish. To be honest, I'm not sure which is worse-the soul sucking Lazerines who work these places, or the sc.u.mmy human men who frequent them. I swear, if one more grubby Sapie asks me for a lap dance I'm going to rip his thing right off.

"Hey, s.e.xy, want some company?" asks a middle-aged Sapie wearing a rumpled business suit. Apparently my disgusted glare isn't enough to dissuade him as he moves to the empty chair beside me and, without waiting for my reply, begins to sit down.

I roll my eyes and swish my hand, causing the chair to fly out from beneath him. He falls hard on his backside, spilling his overpriced c.o.c.ktail all over his cheap suit. A few patrons glance in our direction, but quickly return their gazes to the center of the room. They are far more interested in the scantily clad girls moving seductively on the raised stage beneath the pulsating lights than some clumsy drunken fool.

The cheesy voice of the club DJ rings out over the loudspeakers. "And now get those dollar bills ready and help us welcome the very lovely Serenity to the stage."

Hoots and catcalls sound as a slender brunette wearing a miniscule skirt and bikini top sashays out from behind the thick velvet curtain. She begins her seductive routine, rolling her hips, swishing her hair, and spinning herself around a tall, metal pole. As she bends backward, letting her long hair fall free, I catch the distinctive markings on her back under the flash of the strobe lights.

To anyone else they look like tattoos, but I know better. They are the Mark of the Lazerine... powerful female demons who control men's minds through l.u.s.t and desire. Only the Prince of Darkness knows how many countless Sapies have lost their house payments and kid's college funds under their spell. Not like I care about that, but Lazerines are loathsome creatures who are particularly satisfying to kill. And right now I could definitely use some satisfaction.

I take a few sips of my Jack Daniels and stand up, careful not to trip over Mr. Mid-Life Crisis struggling to get off the floor. As I make my way to the stage, I retrieve a fistful of bills from my inside my bra. Lazerines are addicted to money and use their powers to drain their victims dry. The money will keep her distracted. Otherwise she might realize that I'm a demon, and I am so not interested in a public brouhaha tonight. I'll kill her clean and easy, in the VIP room where there are no witnesses. None who will be paying any attention to me, that is.

The room of men turn to gawk as soon as I start laying dollars down on the stage, their faces aglow with carnal pleasure. Of course they love it...this is their best fantasy right here. I'm by far the most beautiful girl they've ever seen, and Sapie men are such suckers for a little girl-on-girl action.

I wonder if they'd still be so turned on if they knew I was planning to rip her heart out in a few minutes.

"Hi, beautiful," the Lazerine purrs in my ear as I lay down a row of five-dollar bills in front of her.

"Can I get a VIP dance with you when you're done?" I ask as she rubs her face against my cheek in appreciation.

"I'd love to. It starts at one hundred dollars." She reaches for the money and slips it into the side of her tiny pink G-string.

"Not a problem." I flash another thick stack of bills under her nose. Her eyes glow brightly before giving way to a smug smile.

"I'll be right back, darling." She collects the rest of her tips before prancing off the stage.

I return to my table and signal the waitress to bring me another drink while I wait. When she returns, I take several sips of my Jack Daniels and let out a long sigh. My heart just isn't in the game anymore. There was a time when I loved nothing more than slaying unsuspecting demons-if not for fun, for the practice. All so I could keep my human half, Liora, protected from harm, and to make sure I was ready to face the Amazea when it came time for our final reckoning. But of course, that didn't go as I'd planned.

I've had more than my share of second thoughts since that night in the cave when Kieron took me to face the Amazea-the demons responsible for killing my closest friends and splitting my soul in half. I had a decision to make...I could kill them, but I would lose Kieron forever. Or, I could let him turn them in to the Legionare and we could be together.

I still blame Liora for whatever emotional insanity swayed me to choose a life with Kieron over killing the Amazea like I'd always planned. Many nights, I wonder if I made the right choice.

It would be so much easier if Kieron would return so I could look into his eyes again and feel his lips on mine. To give me a reason to remember why I'd chosen him...why I'd chosen us. But he's been gone for over two months, and now I'm starting to wonder if he's ever going to come back. And the more I wonder, the sicker and angrier I feel.

In the meantime, I have to do something to keep myself from going completely crazy. If it's killing some low-level Lazerine in a seedy strip club outside of Fairfax, Virginia, then so be it. A demon's gotta do what a demon's gotta do.

"I'm ready when you are," the unsuspecting Lazerine whispers in my ear as she comes up beside me. I take a quick swig of my drink and flash her a smile as I rise to my feet.

Together we enter the gla.s.s doors and head to a darkened corner. "You're so pretty," she coos as she leads me toward a couch in the back. "What's your name?"

I sneak my hand down into my thigh-high boot and remove my emerald dagger.

"They call me Lucky."

"Cuttin' it kinda close, aren't you Lucky girl? You don't have much time until sunrise in Sapie land. Don't want your better half showing up and making a scene." Bones laughs and rubs my leg affectionately. Scowling, I elbow him in the ribs and take another drink.

"Last one and I'm outta here," I say, and spin my barstool around. Demon Bar, the place where all demions, demons, and creatures in Dryndara come to replenish off the Source Energy, is nearly empty. Most of its usual occupants are off preparing for their lives in the human world, just as I should be doing. But the nagging sense that something is wrong has been plaguing me for many nights now, and gotten much worse over the past several hours. I just needed a quick stop off at the Bar on my way home, and a chance to chat with my best friend, Bones.

Things had been pretty weird between us for a while, so I'm glad we seem to be getting back to normal. I hated the awkward tension. But it was my fault, I suppose. In a moment of weakness, I'd given in to his irresistible charms and almost allowed myself to be seduced by him in his mountainside lair. If it wasn't for the fact that, in my euphoria, I'd said Kieron's name instead of Bones', who knows what would have happened?

Actually, I know what would have happened: We would have made love, it would've been amazing, and my feelings for Bones would be more confused than ever. If I think I'm emotionally unstable now, I can just imagine how I'd feel if I let myself fall for him. It's bad enough that Kieron just abandoned me. But to watch Bones leave me every night to make love to other human girls-many other human girls...forever-well, that's a recipe for self-inflicted torture if there ever was one.

But there are times, despite my intense feelings for Kieron, I still can't help but wonder what it would be like to be with Bones. To really be with him. To run my fingers through his luscious bronze hair and lose myself in the depths of his coffee-colored eyes. To feel his intoxicating energy flow through me, and succ.u.mb to his delicious masculinity. When Bones looks at me, really looks me, I feel like I'm softly melting under his gaze. If he was a drug, I'd be addicted.

Just say no, Lucky.

Now, with Kieron being gone so long, Bones and I have started to ease back into our normal routine. Our playing and flirting has almost reached "pre-Kieron" levels. As I catch Bones' gaze, I can't help but wonder if he hopes Kieron never returns, just as I desperately hope he will.

I swallow the last sip of my drink and lean over to give him a light peck on the cheek as I stand up. "Bye, sweetie, see you tomorrow."

He rises to his full height and wraps his arms around me, smothering me in his gentle warmth. "Later, Lucky love."

Once outside, I sprint across the Bridge of Kings, barely glancing at the churning river of fire below. Upon reaching the other side I let out a sharp whistle. Almost immediately, my black stallion emerges from his hidden spot deep in Dryndara's forest. I leap onto his back and lean forward, clutching a fist of his onyx mane.

"Home, Diablo."

I pause outside the cabin, half-hoping Tatiana is in her room busy making a potion or casting a spell...anything that'll prevent her from seeing me and giving me a hard time about my night.

"Greetings, Lucky. May I presume you stopped by the Bar on your way home?" Tatiana asks as I walk through the door. I roll my eyes and sigh. Of course she's waiting for me...when is she not?

But I play it cool. I walk over and give her a pat on her back. Five inches shorter than me, older by who knows how many years, and sitting on the floor in the lotus position with her eyes closed, my beloved guardian looks no more threatening than an ordinary housefly. But I know better. Tatiana is one of, if not the, most powerful witches around. A mere utterance from her lips, or a well-designed potion of her making can cause effects even I can't believe a mere mortal can create.

"Sorry, had to talk to Bones." I give her shoulder a light squeeze.

"May I presume Liora will be needing some of my remedy when she wakes up?" she asks, opening one opaque eye to fixate it firmly on me. Although she's completely blind, Tatiana has a way of seeing things. Too many things.

"She might need a few sips," I admit, not guiltily. Why should I feel bad about who I am and what I need? It's not my fault my human half can't handle it.

"Any particular reason you drank so close to sunup?" Tatiana asks, this time with both eyes open.

I avoid her gaze and head to my room. "I had a nasty encounter with a Lazerine earlier," I call out over my shoulder. "Didn't realize she had several friends with her. Took a lot of energy to take them all out and then put a forgetting spell on all the Sapies there. Was kind of a pain, actually."

Tatiana doesn't respond, and I let out a deep breath. Good. Maybe she won't be angry with me. Perching myself on the edge of Liora's four-poster bed, I carefully remove my steel-tipped boots, then stand to peel off my tan leather pants, noticing some ash marks left by one of the Lazerine demons.

I sigh and brush them away, annoyed with myself. This is what happens when I get distracted-I get sloppy. Their attack had caught me off guard. Fortunately, I was able to rip out their power sources and reduce them all to dust, but not before freaking out a whole throng of witnesses. Not exactly how I planned my night to go. But it's hard to stay focused when I'm worried.

Where is Kieron? Why hasn't he returned by now?

As the familiar blackness creeps in around me, my last conscious thought is that I'll never see him again. And I gave up my only opportunity to fix my broken soul for nothing.

Chapter 2. Liora.

Aww, man, she did it again.

My head spins as I struggle to sit up, and I wrap the blanket around my shivering, aching body. "Tattie?"

The moment the weak cry leaves my mouth, I notice the pink-tinged water concoction beside my bed. Thank you, Tat, I silently praise my guardian. I reach over and eagerly gulp it down, grateful not to have to suffer the consequences of another one of Lucky's late-night drinking binges.

As I empty the gla.s.s, my body eases back to normal and my mind clears. Instantly, my thoughts return to him.

Kieron.

My heart brightens, but my mouth falls into a frown. Will today be the day he comes back? As much as I desperately hope so, a bigger part of me feels I'm setting myself up for more disappointment. If Kieron doesn't come back to me today, then this will be day sixty-three of his absence. Sixty-three long, painfully lonely, confusing, and heart-wrenching days. It feels like sixty-three years.

"Good morning, Liora dear. How did you sleep?" Tatiana greets me as I amble out for breakfast. I ignore the plate of blueberry pancakes she's set out and head straight for the pot of freshly-brewed coffee. Although her remedy worked wonders, as usual, my stomach is still uncomfortably clenched.

"Fine," I mumble and sip the piping hot beverage. There's been an uneasy truce between me and my demon half lately, and I know Tatiana is grateful for this. I'd hate to burden her with any more of my problems.

I force myself to go through the morning routine one step at a time, like everything else these days. The thought of facing a whole day without seeing Kieron is downright unbearable, so I just concentrate on one minute at a time. After a quick shower and a lazy brush through my long hair, I give Tatiana a kiss goodbye and head out. I hate that I can't stop from automatically glancing around to see if by any miracle, Kieron is out front by his shiny black truck waiting for me.

Nothing.

Of course not. Why should today be any different than yesterday? Or the day before? Or the day before that?

By now I should know better than to expect miracles, but I can't stop the rush of disappointment that floods my heart.

Where is he?

I stroll through the woods wondering, as I do every day, just what is taking him so long to return. The last time I saw him, I told him I loved him. The last thing he whispered in my ear as he leaned in to give me my final kiss was that he loved me, too.

So where is he?

The bitter morning air slaps across my face, and I shove my frozen hands into my jacket pockets. I wish it would get colder...so cold it would numb my entire body, and I wouldn't have to feel this aching abandonment any longer.

And that is the truth I have to face, no matter how painful. Kieron has abandoned me. He's abandoned us. Can't say I really blame him, though. One doesn't have to be Dr. Phil to see why Kieron would get the h.e.l.l out of Dodge and as far away from me as possible. Who in their right mind would want to be with me, anyway? A broken Dark-angel with a fractured soul. I don't get to love. Why can't I get this through my thick skull?

Maybe it's because of Lucky. Maybe she's still hanging on to the delusion that he's coming back for us. She'll just have to find someone else, and hopefully soon. Maybe there's another demion out there that will turn her on.

Not for me, though. I'm done. Of course, I've met other demions since becoming human, and I hated every single one of them. They're nothing but evil pretenders hiding beneath their human facades like lying little cowards.

But Kieron...he wasn't like them. He seemed so real...so pure...so loving. I shake my head. Just another evil pretender.

I have to find something...anything...to fill this aching void left in my soul. But what? I only have one sort-of friend, Corrine. No one else likes me, or even really talks to me if they don't have to. I've turned down social invitations for so long they never come my way anymore.

When I had Kieron- even just knowing he was nearby-everything seemed better somehow. With him, my life had become not just tolerable, but actually pleasurable. More pleasurable than I'd ever dreamed possible.

But now it feels worse...so much worse. The poet Tennyson famously wrote, "It's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all." But he was so totally full of c.r.a.p. It's way better when you don't know what you're missing, than to be constantly tortured with the memory of how good it once was.

I sigh and kick some rocks out of my path as I trudge forward, and resign myself to the fact that I'll never be able to enjoy that part of my life ever again.

I force myself not to look around the parking lot as I arrive at Dove Creek High School. Thankfully, I spot Corrine by the entrance and run to greet her, grateful for the distraction.

"Hey, Liora. So Kieron's still not back yet, huh?" she asks.

I shrug and look down at the cracked sidewalk. Corrine doesn't know the truth about him...that he's half-demon just like I am. Of course, she doesn't know the truth about me, either. If she did, there'd go my one and only friend.

"Nah, I guess he's still away visiting his relatives."

We head down the hall toward our lockers. Corrine chats in my ear, but I don't hear what she's saying. I just concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, and try to remember my locker combination.