Cook, Kris - Captivation [Eternally Three 2] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Read online

  “Stop. You’re making a mistake. I really can help you. David doesn’t give a damn about me.”

  “Neither do I.” Irkon raked his long fingernails over her left breast.

  Stinging pain burned her, igniting trails of fire. She looked down and saw five tracks of blood on her skin. Irkon clamped down on her nipple with his thumb and forefinger, as if he wanted to rip it off.

  Unable to hold back due to the pain, Eve screamed.

  The other two men snickered wickedly in response.

  Acid burned in her mouth. “Get your fucking hands off of me!”

  “That’s it. Fight me. Makes it much more fun.”

  Eve closed her eyes to calm herself… and to think. Since he hadn’t paralyzed her mouth with his mind control, she could speak. But words seemed futile with Irkon. What could she do to distract him? The only weapon she could come up with sat at the back of her throat. A risk, but she had to get his attention.

  “I can’t wait to hear you scream, bitch.” He leaned down.

  Closer…

  When she could see her own reflection in his black eyes, she sent a wad of saliva flying. Bullseye!

  His two partners cracked up, but he didn’t. Irkon wiped off her spit then his free hand curled into a fist and whapped the side of her head.

  Pain exploded across her cheek. Eve tasted blood. Hate broiled inside her as her face burned and throbbed, but she knew that punches were better than rape.

  Irkon brought the tip of his sword to her throat. She felt it slice the top layer of skin. Fight roared through Eve, but she couldn’t move. No more options. Her street smarts didn’t stand a chance against Irkon’s kind. If he’d been human, she could’ve gained some advantage to eventually escape. She’d done it before with other menaces. But the jerk wasn’t remotely human.

  The monster tore her pants off. Only her panties covered her now. Though she couldn’t move her body, she still felt the chill.

  This can’t be how it ends. Time to change tactics. “You want a struggle? Too bad. I won’t fight. Just take me and get it over with.”

  Another punch and more pain. “You better fight.”

  “Forget it. I won’t.”

  “But you will, bloodliner.”

  The tiny bell jingled as the door opened. For an instant she wondered if it might be someone who could help her, but the smell of sulfur that accompanied the new arrival dispelled that hope quickly.

  “Irkon, get off the human.” The new arrival was a woman.

  When she came into view, Eve marveled at her beauty. Straight black hair cut chin-length. Pale skin. Violet eyes. She wore thigh-high black boots and skin-tight leather that outlined an incredible body.

  “Azlian, what are you doing here?” Irkon’s face showed his anger at the female’s presence. “I’ve got this under control.”

  “No doubt.” The woman tilted her head. “I was sent to assist.”

  “Why did you bring a van?” the smallest of the three males inquired.

  “Clean up for these other humans, Pratt. But this one,” Azlian pointed to Eve, “is too precious cargo for that. I’ll use a portal to transport her.”

  “What makes you think we need a van for these humans?” Pratt licked his lips. “There won’t be anything left when we’re done.”

  “You’ll have time enough with them later.”

  “Then why not use a portal with them, too?”

  Azlian narrowed her eyes. “Use your brains! One large enough for these mortals and yourselves would easily be detected by Alliance warriors in the area. A small portal for the bloodliner and me would not. We need to move—now!”

  Irkon’s demeanor darkened. “Who said you could take charge?”

  Azlian didn’t answer.

  Eve felt the magnetism on her arms and legs relax. Without hesitation, she punched Irkon in the throat. He fell backwards. She tried to free herself from him, but the bulk of his body remained on top of her. Then she felt her hair jerked hard as Azlian pulled her out from under his weight.

  The paralysis returned, clenching down on Eve as her feet dangled inches from the floor.

  Irkon coughed violently as he stood. His face contorted into a murderous form.

  “You’re something all right, human.” Azlian’s violet eyes sparkled. She turned to Irkon. “Take care of the witnesses. I’m teleporting her directly to the Master.”

  The Master?

  The woman’s free hand moved in a circle. An electric charge spread over Eve, but within moments it ended.

  Azlian’s eyes narrowed. “The Alliance must’ve put some kind of dampening spell on her.”

  The short monster snorted. “Never heard of such a thing.”

  “Neither have I, Pratt, but how else do you explain it?”

  “That must’ve been how she broke free from my restraints.” Irkon choked out.

  “I can’t teleport her.” Azlian studied her. “How am I going to get you to Vincorte?”

  “If we had more time,” Pratt informed, “I believe I could break through the white magic.”

  “Azlian, isn’t it?” Eve prayed for any advantage, however miniscule. “If you will turn me loose, maybe I can help.”

  “Very impressive indeed.” The woman smiled and eased Eve down, releasing her hair.

  Eve’s scalp hurt from the hair-pulling, but she wouldn’t rub it or otherwise indicate weakness. Azlian might be a monster, but she was female. She also liberated her from Irkon and seemed to be in charge now. Best to get on her good side and avoid more molestation. “Thank you, Azlian.”

  Then, Eve watched as enormous bat-like wings popped out of Irkon’s back and horns formed on his forehead. Black fire shot up from his feet to his knees.

  Oh God! He’s a demon. They all are.

  As a teen, she’d worked as a fortuneteller for a traveling Renaissance fair to make ends meet, but had never really believed in the supernatural.

  Years later in one of the V.I.P. rooms at Zone Three, when Kro had introduced her to a guy named Jared and asked if she’d triple with them only to be flung across the room by some invisible force the second they touched, she had questioned her disbelief. Even Kro seemed stunned by it, but never explained. Still, she’d stayed, trying to convince herself that her imagination had gotten the best of her.

  Then three nights ago at Zone Three, all hell broke loose. She’d spotted some people with wings flying up the stairs of the club to what sounded like some kind of battle. Freaked and panicky, she hadn’t waited to find out what the ruckus was about. Instead she’d made her escape. Hours later, her rational side had kicked in again, trying to explain away the occurrence. Now two feet from Irkon and his display, denial seemed ridiculous.

  What the hell have I gotten into?

  “We could fly her to the Master,” Irkon growled.

  “With all the Alliance warriors in the area, not a good idea.” The female’s voice, sounding like silk, never faltered.

  “Listen, you have nothing to worry about with me.” Eve hoped she sounded convincing. “I don’t work for David. Never have. My cousin introduced me to him. At first, David seemed nice. He gave me a job, a place to stay—”

  “Slow down. What’s your name?” Azlian asked.

  “Melody,” Eve lied.

  “Good. Melody, you’ll now be staying with us.” Azlian pointed a pistol at her chest. “See that van outside.”

  Her gut tightened, but she nodded.

  “That’s the chariot that will take you to your new residence. Turn around.”

  Eve complied. “If you’ll just tell me what you want, I’ll gladly give it to you.”

  She felt the barrel of the gun between her shoulder blades.

  “Move.”

  “What about our hors d’oeuvres, Azlian?” Pratt whined.

  “You can’t use the van. That’s for Melody now. So, each of you take one of the humans and head out in different directions. When you’re far enough away, open a portal and get them to the inta
ke location.”

  Eve turned and found that the old couple and Nancy had been stripped of all their clothing. One of Nancy’s breasts bled from fresh teeth marks.

  “What the hell have you done to them? They are innocent. Leave them alone!”

  “Move, Melody. I won’t say it again.”

  Dread rolled through Eve for the old couple and Nancy. She wished she could do something, but with the steel of Azlian’s weapon pressed to her back, she knew she couldn’t.

  She thought about asking for her clothing, but the shreds that remained would barely cover a few specks of skin and they were on the floor near Irkon and his buddies. Instead, she pushed the door open, walking out with her head held high in nothing but her panties.

  The air hit her like a razor. She wrapped her arms around her chest. She thought about trying to scream for help, but the street still looked deserted. Fear like she’d never felt before rose up, threatening to choke her.

  Eve tried to calm herself. She needed to think clearly. Irkon could’ve raped her—and worse. But he hadn’t. As long as she kept moving ahead, she had a chance.

  The sliding door to the van opened as if by magic. The gun at her back nudged her forward. When Eve entered, Azlian slammed the door shut, leaving her isolated inside.

  What’s happening to Nancy and the old couple? A pang for them poured through her. Hoping for the refuge of safety in numbers, she’d put them in danger. Regret seared her insides.

  She hated how alone she felt, even though she’d endured it for most of her life. Facing these monsters with no ally overwhelmed her. When the lock latched, Eve felt exactly how alone she really was.

  Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the dark vehicle’s interior. The space looked more like a cage than a cargo area. The transportation her captors provided wasn’t built for luxury. She sat on one of two metal benches soldered to the van’s walls. Another wall separated the passengers from the driver’s seat. The only light afforded those in the van’s coach class shined through the wall’s single window decorated with steel bars.

  The vehicle’s engine roared to life. Where they were taking her, Eve didn’t know. Anger zipped through her, along with fresh fear. Who are these monsters, and what do they want?

  She spotted what looked to be a small pile of rags next to the dividing wall on the floor between the two benches. They rose and fell as if breathing. She squinted in the poor light and realized that the rags were not rags at all, but a person. A girl.

  Azlian had not tied Eve up, so she could still move freely about the back of the van. She leaned down over the little form. The rag girl breathed erratically. Her hair appeared matted and dirty with no sign of its original color; now it was a puckish black.

  Eve checked for a pulse, putting her finger to the side of the girl’s neck. She detected a faint heartbeat. Eve was relieved that the poor thing wasn’t dead.

  “Honey, are you awake?” she whispered.

  A moan came suddenly from the child’s mouth, as if Eve’s question and touch raked across some hidden wound. Her moan resounded with desolation and despair. Eve’s own desire to connect with another human in this alien world pushed her on.

  Looking closer, she saw that the rag creature was not a young girl at all but a malnourished adult woman. Her body was but mere bones and skin, which showed years of suffering in the scars and infected wounds that covered every inch of her.

  Horror washed over Eve. God, how this woman has suffered!

  The woman coughed violently, causing her tiny body to shake. Eve touched her, hoping to soothe her, but felt helpless. What else could she do? How could these monsters do this to a human being?

  After a few minutes the coughing stopped and was replaced by a wheeze. Eve suspected extreme pneumonia wracked both the woman’s lungs.

  “Can you hear me?” she continued. “Can you open your eyes for me?”

  The rag lady roused. Eve was reaching her, and hope vaulted within her as she leaned down. The woman’s eyelids popped open, revealing sockets that didn’t contain eyes. Instead, one housed a spider, the other dead flies.

  Eve stood but could not move further, paralyzed not by some demonic spell but by the horror of the scene. But when the poor creature let out a piercing screech, Eve stumbled backwards, falling onto the metal bench with a thud.

  Oh God!

  She watched as violet smoke appeared, and then Pratt materialized on the bench. “I love when the food plays together, don’t you, Irkon?”

  The buzz-saw disembodied voice of her would-be rapist echoed in the vehicle. “Vastly entertaining.”

  Eve’s heart jumped up to her throat as she felt Irkon’s invisible hand grab her breast.

  Chapter 2

  I’ve read until my eyes burn. It seems that immortals need humans for life essence. But it takes a triad, similar to the laws of electricity and the flow between positive, negative, and conduit. In this case, an angel, a jinn, and a human. If I try to tell anyone this, will they believe me?

  Eric’s Flash Drive: day 9—entry 3

  * * * *

  Cloaked in invisibility, Nash stood at the corner of the street, the center of his team’s latest sweep. They searched twenty blocks in every direction. This part of the city was dotted with liquor stores, seedy motels, and boarded-up buildings.

  Flying towards him, Stone sent a silent, nothing yet, sir.

  The soldier landed next to Nash with a thud.

  Breathing heavily, his muscled black body was coated in a layer of sweat. Even his shaved head glistened.

  Seventy hours without rest was clearly getting to the angel. Stone needed to triple for life energy. Sex with a human and a jinn would have him recharged and good as new.

  Get to Zone Three, soldier. Triple. Be back in an hour.

  Stone bowed, spread his white wings, and shot into the sky.

  The search party under Nash’s command hadn’t found a single sign of the bloodliner escapee, Eve Rousseau. If the Dark got their claws on her, he knew all too well how that would end.

  The Bloodline had been thought extinct for at least a thousand years until Eric, Eve’s cousin, had shown himself to David. The unanimous edict from the Council of Seven came shortly after that. The Alliance must gather up all living bloodliners before the darklings did. Should the Alliance fail, a new Dark Age more horrific than any before would encircle the globe, ending in the destruction of all humankind: Armageddon. Hopefully the others looking for her were having better results.

  The newly formed Perfect Triad—Bradley, an old friend and an angel; Jared, an even older enemy and jinn; and Micki, Eve’s bloodliner cousin—searched west with a large Alliance group. The last communication from them had been the same: no luck.

  Nash’s commander, David, hunted with a group of over three hundred angels and jinn to the east. They were also coming up empty.

  Kronos, a warrior angel, led the largest team in the north. He’d demanded to lead a troop, and David had conceded. It was strange, but Nash supposed his commander wanted to give the angel who’d failed his assignment to keep Eve safe a chance to redeem himself.

  Nash knew that Kronos had tripled with Eve. But truly brow-raising was the knowledge that Kronos had also coupled with Eve. An immortal joining alone with a human amounted to nothing more than sex. Pleasurable, yes, but it produced no energy. A waste of time in Nash’s opinion. But Kronos exhibited signs of possessiveness, something almost unheard of in their world. The angel’s passion for the human could very well jeopardize the mission—something they couldn’t afford.

  Nash spotted another on his team flying towards him. Trey, a jinn, landed on the sidewalk and saluted.

  “Commander, we found remnants of the spell David placed on the bloodliner. We know where she’s been staying.”

  “And?”

  “A motel three blocks over. She’s not there now, but the manager of the place said Ms. Rousseau paid for four more days.”

  Alarms went off in Nash’s head. Three hour
s after midnight and the woman was not in her room sleeping?

  “Did you check the place out?”

  “Yes, sir. Nothing was disturbed. Looked like she hadn’t been in it since the maid cleaned the room yesterday morning. She might have found another place to stay.”

  “Maybe.” Why would she abandon a paid room? It was likely she hadn’t, but had been captured. His gut clenched. “What about the surrounding area? Have we checked that out?”

  “Yes, sir. She ate a bagel at the coffee shop two blocks away. Other than that, no sign of her.”

  “Any more traces from the spell?”

  “None that we can find.”

  Nash rubbed his chin. “Probably something to do with her being a bloodliner.”

  Commander, we’ve spotted her. The message came from Raf, team lead of his blue squadron.

  Nash questioned, Where are you?

  Seven blocks due west of your location. The Dark captured her and stashed her in a white van.

  Nash morphed into his smoky jinn form, his human body vanishing. The warmth of his green power circled around him. He rocketed into the air.

  Nash sent, How many darklings?

  Raf responded, Four, but we sense more headed this way, sir.

  Trey winged beside Nash. They flew over rooftops of empty buildings. Seconds later the vehicle that housed the bloodliner came into view. The van headed south on the freeway at a steady speed.

  A demon flew above it. Nash sensed other immortals in the vehicle, but couldn’t get a clear read. Two or three. No more. Strange. Perhaps the darklings were keeping a low profile, hoping to elude the Alliance’s detection.

  He pulled out a ball of green energy from his core and threw it in front of the van. When the vehicle hit his spell, it stopped, causing its back wheels to lift off the ground before slamming back to the pavement.

  A female ifrit and two demons left the van and joined the aerial fight, guns and swords drawn. Bullets flew, not deadly to immortals but able to slow them down. Still, the darklings‘ blades could deliver a final blow to angel or jinn with just the right strike.

  Nash barked silent orders to the Alliance warriors, Take them out. Make a path to the bloodliner.