Deadly Desires (28 page)

“Behind you!” he yelled at Dom, but there was no way his friend was going to be able to turn fast enough. He really hoped he didn’t miss his shot. The barrel was lined perfectly for Dom’s head. He pulled the trigger just as the demon stepped into the shot. Light exploded and Dom’s threw up his hands against it.

“Dude, that was fucking close,” Dom yelled. “You could have…” He paused and looked at Nemmy. “What do you think would happen if one of us got shot with one of these bullets?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Donavon walked up angrily. “You’re not getting shot, Dom.”

Nemmy shrugged. “It sends demons to hell, but I have no idea where it would send one of you. Isn’t the portal closed to y’all?”

“Yes. It’s too risky. I can guarantee you that you’re blocked off, too, Dom. All of us will be. We have to go along with this plan. It’ll work. It has to.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

The former demon was getting just as antsy as he was. Marcella needed to come home. They were lost without her. “If it doesn’t work then we come up with a new plan. Don’t give up on this one before we even see where it gets us. Calm, Dominic. Let’s finish out the night and see what happens.”

His curls bounced as he nodded. His hair was getting really long. It was almost down to his shoulders now. Samael couldn’t believe how long it’d even gotten since Marcella had left. His heart ached as he tried to picture her. How big was her stomach now? Was Micah still okay? He put the gun in the back of his pants. “Let’s fucking go. I want my wife back. The more we get, the better.”

* * * *

The steak tasted so good as Marcella chewed. She closed her eyes, feeling like a completely different person. Ever since releasing all her collector’s energy three weeks ago she was thriving. She put another piece into her mouth and looked up at Lucifer. “You should taste this. It’s so good.” She moaned and closed her eyes.

“You’ll eat the salad tomorrow.”

She took him in and groaned. “Do I have to?” She purposely pouted her lip to him and watched as he tried not to laugh. “Please don’t make me. I’ll be a good girl. I promise. Please. Please. Please.” She batted her eyelashes and laughed while she brought the fork to her mouth.

“Fine. But the day after that you eat the damn salad.”

Marcella looked down as the smile dropped from her mouth. Had she actually gotten her way with him? “Thank you,” she mumbled. She was actually getting somewhere. She was so happy she could have jumped up and down. Of course, maybe she shouldn’t actually do that. Micah probably wouldn’t have appreciated it very much.

An innocent expression came to her face and she looked into his eyes. “I was wondering, since I’m probably not going to be able to see my son grow up, can you walk me down to the museum that has all the pictures in it? I’d love to hear about who they were. It’s nice knowing that Micah will join those brave men on the wall someday.”

Lucifer leaned forward. “As you wish. Finish your food and I will show you our warrior wall.”

She smiled big and popped another bite into her mouth. From what Marcella could tell of her observations of the castle, no one ever seemed to be around, yet it was as though she constantly saw shadows out of the corner of her eyes. Things were not as they appeared here. That was for sure.

“Done.” She stood and held her hand to him. Lucifer hesitated and then locked his grip to hers. As they headed in the opposite direction that they usually went to get to their rooms, she made sure to take in every detail and door in their path.

The museum was at the end and off to the right. By the time they got there Marcella was breathing heavily. She had been trapped in that room for so long that she got winded very easily. Her stomach tightened and she pressed her hand against it and froze.

“What is it?” He leaned forward to look at her.

“Nothing. Just one of those Braxton Hicks things I read about probably. I never got the chance to see a doctor so I’m kind of lost when it comes to what’s going on.”

He helped her stand back up and it shortly passed. “You’ll tell me if things change, right?”

Marcella looked into his blue eyes. All she could see was Samael. Even though this man had killed her and held all the evil in the world, he didn’t seem so bad to her at all. “Of course I will. You seriously think I’d go through this alone?”

They entered the room and she listened to him explain who each person was and what had landed them on the wall. Each one horrified her. What he deemed a triumph, she saw as murder, adultery, and every other sin imaginable to establish their
victories
. It was sickening, and it opened her eyes up to who this man truly was. He may have appeared good, but deep within him was pure malice. She’d hoped to charm him, but the joke was on her.

Marcella’s fingers dug into his arm. The tightening of her stomach almost brought her to her knees.

“Okay, enough for today. You need to lie down.” One minute they were standing there and the next they were outside Marcella’s door. He helped her into her bed and she tried to breathe through the pressure. Once it subsided she opened her eyes. “Thank you for the lovely evening. I should probably get some rest.”

“Yell out if you need anything. Your guards will come get me.”

She nodded and reached out for him. How had she forgotten? “Your grace. How long are soul collectors pregnant for?”

His eyes burned into hers. “I guess we’ll find out.” He couldn’t speak as she watched him walk out. Fear rushed through her. She’d assumed that it was the same length as humans. What if she was wrong? Marcella searched the room with her eyes. It was time she got out of here. Now. She just had to figure out how.

Marcella went to the door and turned the handle. Locked. So much for the easy way. Voices caught her attention and she lowered and tried to listen.

Your grace, we must speak with you.

So he was still out there. She closed her eyes and focused. It sounded like one of the masters talking.

Your sons are causing pandemonium across the state in which they live.

Marcella’s eyes flew open, but she quickly closed them again. She didn’t want to miss a single word.

What do you mean?
His voice was deep as he asked.

Samael and Zepar are posing as masters. Between the two of them, they’ve killed over seven hundred demons within the last seven hours. We’re getting so swamped that we’re not sure. We’re on the verge of going in and trying to take them out ourselves. We have to. They’re threatening to start taking out the ranks unless you hand over the woman or face them.

A laugh came from Lucifer.
Ah, my sons. Always so passionate about things they care about. You can blame their mother for that one. Don’t do anything. I’ll take care of this.

News about Samael and her men made her begin to pace. She had to find a way out of this castle. Maybe then she could repair the link to home. Marcella studied the door. As her eyes fell down to the knob she bent down. Her finger traced over the screw that held the lock together. Well, she sure as hell didn’t have a screwdriver on her, but there had to be something. A metal nail file came to mind and she raced to the vanity.

She pulled out every drawer searching for it, but she couldn’t find the damn thing anywhere. In frustration she slammed her fist into the wood. Pain shot down her arm. Dammit. She sunk to the chair and a cry came from her mouth at an increased pressure taking over her stomach. Marcella stood and froze. She looked down and stepped back. A small puddle rested on the floor. “Fuck. Oh, shit.”

She rushed for the door and screamed out as it flew open.

Standing in front of her was her daughter. “Leena!” Marcella said in a loud whisper.

“We have to hurry. I’m not sure how long he’ll be gone. I’m going to get you out of this castle. From there you must be on your own. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Marcella grabbed her stomach and took Leena’s hand. Silence filled the hallway as they rushed toward the dining area. Leena stopped and pressed against the wall. Marcella followed her actions trying to catch her breath.

“Okay. Stay as close to me as you can. The spiritual energy is thick in here. I’ve already taken out your guards, but I’d like to get out without anyone else seeing us.” Marcella wanted to ask her where they were. She’d yet to see them, but if they were spiritual then it was no wonder she’d missed their presence.

They rounded the corner and took off toward the back entrance. Leena stopped abruptly and turned to Marcella, holding her in her arms. A rippling mirage covered the outside of them and she stared at it in wonder.

“They won’t see us. But I can’t stay like this for long.”

Tall dark shadows floated down the hall and Marcella could feel her eyes get big. So this is what they looked like. Red shining eyes stared in their direction but kept going until they rounded the corner. The shield broke and Leena began to run again. Marcella felt sick at all the jostling of her stomach. Tightening had her pulling back on her daughter’s hand.

“Shh. I know it hurts, but please try to be as quiet as you can.”

Blood swept into Marcella’s mouth as her teeth cut into her cheeks. Her body was shaking at the pain. She tried to walk forward but felt her legs barely working. It only made the pressure worse. “Leena. You have to go. I can do the rest by myself. Hurry before they catch you here.”

“I will not leave you.” Leena pushed Marcella’s hair back from her face.

Marcella straightened and took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s try again.” The door was in view and if they hurried she was sure she could make it out before another contraction took over. Something sounded behind them and Marcella saw a dark shadow flying toward them.

The door burst open and Leena let go of her hand. “Mom, go! The moment you disappear, so shall I.”

“Thank you for everything. I love you,” Marcella shouted. Lightning flashed in the dark sky and she looked around at all the men rushing in their direction. She closed her eyes and felt for the link to the fortress. Before she could take it, the High Priestess came to her and she grabbed it and pulled as hard as she could.

Marcella fell to the porch on her knees. The impact had her screaming in agony. The contraction that took over was beyond any pain she could ever remember feeling. The front door opened and the old woman was surrounded by so many people Marcella wasn’t sure what to say.

“Come, child. We knew you’d be here. We have everything ready for your son to arrive.”

A sob came from her throat as a woman she’d never seen before helped her stand and brought her inside. The black silk dress was wet against her legs. “Wait, I have to call my husband and let him know I’m all right. She let her collector take over and materialized her phone. More than anything, she wanted to summon Samael, but she wasn’t sure she had the strength.

The phone rang and she cursed as it went to voice mail. The women began stripping her and she let them. She dialed Jason’s number.

“Marcella?” He answered the phone out of breath.

“Jason. Oh God, Jason. You have to get Samael to come to the High Priestess’s house. Micah is coming. I need him here.”

“You got out? Holy shit. We were just leaving the fortress to hit up Corpus for demons again. He’s in the car ahead of me. Hold on.” The sound of a horn honking repeatedly echoed over the phone. Rustling and wind took over and then she could hear Jason in the background. “It’s Marcella.”

“What!” More sound and then Samael’s voice broke through. “Marcella, where are you? Are you okay?”

A scream came from her mouth as the women moved her to a bed and another contraction stronger than the last took over. “Yes, I’m at the High Priestess’s house. Leena rescued me while your father left to go after all of you.” Another cry came from her mouth. “But Micah is coming. I need you.” She sobbed.

“Let me tell the men and I’ll be there.”

Marcella hung up the phone and slid on the short nightgown one of the women handed her. “Thank you so much. I’m forever indebted to all of you.”

The women were quiet as the High Priestess began chanting. Samael burst through the door and ran to her side. As the words were finalized, energy shot through the room. “No one containing evil intentions will be able to pass through this door. We shall be safe.”

Samael grabbed her cheeks and pressed his lips into hers. “Marcella, I was so afraid I’d lost you. Tears welled in his eyes. “I should have protected you better.” He kissed her again and pulled her close. “I missed you so much. Your touch.” He inhaled, deeply. “Your smell. God, I can’t thank Leena enough for what she did.” He pulled back. “My father will pay dearly for this. I promise you that.”

A contraction started to take over and Marcella jerked back. “Breathe, baby.” Samael looked at the High Priestess as she settled between Marcella’s thighs. The pain nearly made Marcella sick. She pulled her legs up higher against the pressure and lifted her head.

“You’re close.” The old woman motioned to the women. They brought over things that Marcella had no clue about. Incense began burning and the smell seemed to relax her a bit.

Metal sounds clinked in the background, but Marcella was over trying to see what they were doing. She pulled Samael’s hand to her chest. “I love you.” She kissed it and he lowered over her, burying his face in her neck.