Soul of a Demon (The Dark Souls Book 3)

  She would never figure men out. Her mother had told her she never would.

  “All gods believe their cocks are bigger than the others’. They strut around as if no other god can satisfy you like they can. If you love them, it’s your job as a woman to make them believe it.”

  “Even if it’s not true?” Zerina had asked her mother.

  “If you love them, then it is true.”

  “What if you don’t?”

  “Then my question to you, daughter, is: why would you care about a god’s cock if you didn’t love him?”

  She paused in the doorway of the library. She had come downstairs to search for a book to read. Changing her mind, however, she stood there in indecision.

  “Bored?”

  Sighing, she turned to see Hades standing behind her. “I’m not in the mood to read a book.”

  “I have time if you want to play chess?”

  “No, thank you.” Spending time alone with Hades was not on her agenda. She had no intention of sinking further in love with him. “I’ll just go back to my room …”

  “There are a few places I haven’t shown you yet.” A frown appeared on his brow, as if he were already regretting his decision to show her.

  “That would be nice, unless you’ve changed your mind? I didn’t mean to disrupt your day. I had intended to read. I can find a book and return to my room.”

  “I’ll show you.” Hades held his hand out toward her, and Zerina smiled, taking it. He then stared down at their clasped hands, his frown growing darker when she had trustingly taken it. “Zerina …”

  Zerina sighed. “Hades, if you’re going to warn me about having ulterior motives to seek a way to escape, you’ve already warned me. You can easily read my mind; do you see any deception in there?”

  “No.”

  “Then you don’t need to repeat that warning. And if you’re worried that I will make more of it, I learned that lesson, too. May we go now?”

  “Yes.” His face etched in a compromising line. “You can watch, but don’t talk and don’t sway my opinion.”

  Zerina found herself transported to his office, where Hades motioned for her to take a chair that sat behind his desk to the left. He gave her an enigmatic expression as he took his seat behind his desk.

  With a wave of his hand, Zerina was startled when she saw a doorway appear across the room from her. She twisted her hands in her lap as Grimm came through the doorway, carrying the soul of an attractive woman with brown curly hair. Her slim, struggling body was then thrown to the floor in front of Hades’ desk.

  The sight had a nightmarish quality that had her reliving when she had been tossed down in front of Hades.

  “Rise, Sena.”

  The woman scrambled to her feet, screaming and running haphazardly, looking for the doorway that had disappeared after Grimm had carried her through.

  Hades idly raised his hand, freezing her in place.

  Zerina was moved to pity at her horrorstricken face. She wanted to leave, but remained sitting, knowing how frightened the woman was. She had been terrified when it had happened to her, and she was Moirai who knew Hades was real. Most humans didn’t really believe in Hades until they were confronted with him in the flesh.

  Hades gave her another warning look as he stood up in front of his desk, leaning indolently back on it.

  “Where am I?”

  “Come on, Sena; you’re not that naïve.”

  “I’m in Hell.”

  Hades nodded, his arms crossed as he stared at her.

  “I didn’t do anything to be here.” While her body remained frozen, it didn’t affect her ability to speak.

  “You and I know that is untrue. I know you weren’t responsible for contracting the death of your husband, but you were instrumental in the death of your mother-in law.”

  “No! I’m innocent. That happened years ago. I was found innocent!”

  “True. Time has treated you well. You were allowed to live your life without any repercussions. Unfortunately, that life has ended and you have entered another chapter of your life where you won’t find it so comfortable.”

  “I’m innocent. Why should I have to pay for something I didn’t do?”

  “My court does not have twelve jurors where your lawyers can cast doubt on your innocence.” Waving his hand, he let Zerina see what had transpired through her mind; how Sena had committed the crimes that Hades spoke about. From Sena’s gasp, she knew Hades was replaying it in her mind also.

  “My husband was a monster …”

  Hades shook his head before she could finish. “He wasn’t a monster. I’m the only monster you’ve ever had to face. Your mother-in-law was frail and eighty-four years old. She did nothing to deserve you taking her life, other than holding on to the purse strings that kept you from buying that expensive home you wanted.”

  Hades then showed the painful death the elderly woman had been forced to endure.

  His newest prisoner’s eyes widened, then turned cunning when she realized there was no way to lie herself out of trouble.

  “The woman was an old bitch. I’m not sorry she died. I should have done it sooner.” Calculatingly, the dark soul tried to hide her true color. “What are you going to do to me?” she asked suggestively.

  Hades arched a perfect brow. “What do you suggest I do?”

  Zerina began to feel uncomfortable at the blatantly sexual look she was giving him.

  “It might not be so bad here if we can come to an agreement on how I spend it. I don’t mind putting out to make my stay more comfortable. I’m not into that BDSM shit, but I’ll make an exception for you.”

  “So, me chaining you up wouldn’t bother you?”

  “No, I’m game if you are.”

  Hades tsked her. “I’m afraid you don’t measure up to the women who share my bed.”

  “Baby, we don’t have to use a bed. I can get as down and dirty as you want.”

  “Now, that’s an offer I’ll take you up on.” When he waved his hand, Zerina saw Sena morph into a small snake. Zerina winced when Grimm picked it up. “Send her to Stheno,” Hades said as he went back to his chair.

  The snake disappeared from Grimm’s hand as he turned back to the doorway that reappeared.

  When he left, Hades swung his chair toward her. “You want to leave, or stay and watch another?”

  “I’ll stay.” She watched as the doorway opened again. This time, a young man was flung inside.

  Hades stayed seated, lifting one of the balls that sat on his desk. “Welcome, Flynn.”

  Zerina recognized the dark soul of the young man. It was one of the souls she had hated gifting to the unsuspecting parents.

  “You don’t need me to explain where you are?”

  “I know where the fuck I am.” His ugly soul didn’t bear a resemblance to the handsome face that stared back at Hades in contempt. “I’m not afraid of you. I’ve done worse than what you can do to me.”

  “I may not have your imagination, but I think I can come up with an appropriate punishment for you.” With a negligent wave of his hand, Flynn disappeared as Grimm left.

  “Why didn’t you show me his crimes as you did Sena’s?”

  “I saw no need to ruin yours or my lunch.”

  “That bad?”

  “Yes,” Hades answered bleakly. He might have spared her the memory of the atrocities the man had committed, but Hades couldn’t spare the reality of Flynn’s crimes.

  Hades didn’t ask again whether she wanted to stay or go, as one soul after another were brought before him.

  The variety of punishments Hades gave out had her glad she wasn’t sitting in his place. There had been one or two for whom she had expected the punishments to be more severe due to the crimes they committed, while some of them were so incongruous his prisoners believed they were getting off lightly. She was relieved she wouldn’t be around when they found out their punishments were heinous.

  As they were waiting for Grimm to bri
ng Hades his next victim, Zerina noticed he was drumming his fingers on the desk, becoming bored.

  When Grimm returned, a handsome man in his thirties willingly stood beside him.

  “This is going to be interesting.” The thought that she could clearly hear in her mind from Hades had her eyes jerking to him. He had never spoken in her thoughts before.

  He didn’t return her stare, concentrating on the man who walked forward to stand a few inches from his desk.

  “El Diablo?”

  “Si.”

  “I am honored to meet you. I have worshiped you most of my life.”

  “Cortez, you would have done better worshiping Mother.”

  The man pressed a hand over his chest. “You know my name?”

  “There isn’t anything I don’t know about you. I’ve been looking forward to your arrival. Thank you for speeding things up for me by taking your own life.”

  “Those idiots who thought to imprison me found that a man of my stature doesn’t apologize for his deeds.”

  “Believe me; no one thinks you’re sorry,” Hades said wryly, picking up one of the balls on his desk and rolling it along his palm.

  “Imbeciles! I’m not sorry. I’m proud of the deeds I accomplished. I knew you would reward me. We are both types of demons, are we not?”

  “Of course, mi amigo.”

  Cortez’s face broke into a smug grin, then broadened when Hades leaned back in his chair, staring at him appreciatively.

  “I witnessed when you threw that young couple in the ocean, tied to an anchor, laughing as they screamed for help.”

  “The puta said she didn’t want me to touch her. She was begging for my touch when I threw her in.”

  “And the husband?”

  “Bastardo learned, what I want, I take.”

  “Yes, he did. I’m a great believer in giving others what they deserve.”

  “I know you are. Is she meant for me?” Cortez’s eyes flickered toward her.

  Zerina stiffened in her chair, revolted by his greedy eyes traveling down her body and lingering on her breasts.

  “No, she’s mine.”

  “A man of my own taste.”

  “Not exactly. I find I like my women alive, not decomposing in an ocean.”

  “Lessons must be learned.”

  “That’s very true.” Hades gave a mock sigh, leaning forward in his chair and dropping the fake friendliness. “It’s been nice chatting with you, but my companion and I have lunch waiting for us. I’m sure we’ll talk again. I’m sorry to say, the next time, you may not look at me as favorably.” Hades waved his hand as he spoke.

  “What …?”

  Zerina knotted her hands together on her lap to keep her scream from escaping.

  Cortez had bent down, trying to untangle the seaweed that had appeared around his ankles. It twined around his legs, holding him still as it grew upward. Then the hands that had tried to tear it from his body were pinned to his side. Continuing to grow upward, it then covered the screams coming from his mouth until it completely enclosed every part of his body except his nose.

  “Grimm, take my new friend to the river Phlegethon. Let him choke on the streams of fire that will burn him internally.”

  Grimm bundled the bunch of struggling seaweed under his arm before disappearing.

  “I hope that didn’t destroy your appetite?”

  “Are we having wine with our meal?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then I’m good.”

  Chapter 23

  The moon was high in the sky, leaving the compound swathed in moonlight. Destiny stared out the clubhouse window, watching every shadow intently.

  “Are you worried the vampires will break their word?” Broni’s soft question had her taking her eyes away from the window.

  “I won’t be relieved until we’re sure they have come and gone from town.”

  Her niece looked just as worried as she did.

  Everything was going according to plan. They had managed to return to the compound with five semi-trucks, which were still parked beside the others in front of the gate. Rhys, Adam, and Balder had climbed on top of the semis to fire warning shots at the Road Demons who hadn’t been happy to see them driving through town. The men had held them off until it had turned dark and the Road Demons had retreated.

  She knew they expected the battle to begin again in the morning, stupidly not imagining the next morning wouldn’t arrive in time to save their lives.

  The two women were waiting anxiously for a sign of the vampires’ arrival.

  “I’m not worried about them hurting Rhys, Balder, or Rocque, but Adam is mortal. He should have stayed inside the compound’s gates.”

  “He’s a fool. I don’t think the vampires can breach the gate because of the protection spell you placed on it, but damn, I wouldn’t chance it if I were mortal. A vampire’s fangs are a hard way to find out you were wrong,” Destiny said matter-of-factly, feeling Broni drop her hand.

  “I wasn’t the one who placed the protection spell.”

  Destiny wanted to bang her head on the window at her slip.

  “I told Fate to tell you that your soul was old.” Destiny cupped her hand on her niece’s cheek. “It’s been you who has been protecting the clubhouse. You died near the spot where we’re standing now. When you died, Fate directed those in your village to bury you here, and she spoke a protection spell that Rhys gave her.”

  “Neither my mother nor Rhys told me! How did I die? Tell me, Destiny!”

  Destiny gripped Broni’s hands in hers. “You don’t want to know, Broni. It was when Zerina was still a child. You showed such bravery that Fate and Mother wanted to reward you with another life. You protected your family then, just as you have with the new one you found now.”

  The semis’ lights came on, stopping the conversation. They waited expectantly for the large trucks to drive away, holding their breaths, then sighing in relief when they finally started moving.

  “I was getting worried,” Broni admitted.

  “Me, too.” She didn’t fear for her own safety, but until her niece was immortal again, Destiny was uneasy with her being so close to the vampires.

  Abby came up behind them to look out. “They’re leaving?”

  “Yes.” Destiny gave a sigh of relief as the red lights glowed in the distance.

  Giving a smile, she went to open the clubhouse door for the men who were approaching, noticing that Abby went back to help Zandra give out sandwiches to Rocque’s warriors. They would keep watch for the night to make sure that the clubhouse remained safe as the vampires searched for victims.

  None of the men looked happy that the vampires had left. Destiny knew what was troubling them. It was the same feelings that were attacking her.

  Broni hugged Rhys as soon as he cleared the door. When he slipped an arm around her waist, Destiny was close enough to hear his murmured assurance.

  “I was never in any danger from the vampires.”

  “I know, but I can’t break the habit of worrying about you.”

  The love between the couple had flourished since earth’s destruction had begun. It was only one of the few bright spots that Destiny had seen since Morgana had ripped them from the Halls of Death.

  Destiny also saw the covert looks that Abby was giving Adam. She had been keeping an eye on the young woman since Tank had ruthlessly kidnapped and beat her, leaving her stranded when the apocalypse had begun. If Adam hadn’t sent one of his men to watch Tank, she would have been just another victim of Dionysus’s treachery. Jace had brought her back to the clubhouse.

  It had been traumatic to find herself captive, but Broni and Jace helped her recover, though her mind was still healing from when Tank had kidnapped and tortured her, nearly breaking her mind. They would have succeeded, if not for Broni and Zandra.

  Broni had helped her and Zandra to escape. Zandra was the same age as her younger sister who had perished. Her mind, while not totally healed, was
on firmer ground. From the secretive looks she was giving Adam, her feelings for the hard biker were developing faster than her mind could handle.

  Rocque and Adam went behind the bar to pour themselves glasses of whiskey. Destiny took one of the stools, reaching over the bar and finding a glass. Rocque filled it for her, watching as she downed it, then refilled it.

  “The Road Demons have dark souls. Instead of having a safe haven for humans, they torture and kill those who sought their aid. Those they didn’t were massacred in their homes and beds. We should be rejoicing they won’t get their hands on another woman or child.”

  Destiny nodded her head at Abby and Zandra before turning back to the two men whose faces showed the ravages of what they had facilitated. “As a Moirai, I know the souls that are being taken have no redeeming values, but that doesn’t make it any easier for me, and I know it doesn’t for you both, either. We have to remind ourselves that there will be battles we can win in restoring the human race, and then there will be times we have to accept the realities of loss.”

  The men stared at each other as if she had lost her mind.

  “You think we’re upset because of those pieces of shit?” Adam asked, refilling his and Rocque’s glass then reaching under the bar and taking out a glass to pour one for Rhys as he and Broni moved to sit down on stools next to her.

  “You’re not?” Destiny’s eyes narrowed.

  “Fuck no. We’re worried about the vampires making it to Colorado. I didn’t know they had children with them. Those semis are going to put a target on them, and the kids are already scared.”

  “Vlad won’t let any harm come to them.”

  “I gave them two of the RVs for the kids. Balder is moving one of the semis that is blocking our gate to give to them. I’m going to kick my own ass if we have to make a break for it and don’t have enough vehicles to carry everyone.”

  “I can relieve you of that worry. You won’t find any place any safer to go.”

  “It can’t be this bad everywhere?”

  “It’s worse.”

  They all grimly stared at their drinks, each lost in their own thoughts. None of them noticed that Zandra had gone to the window to peer out. It was only when she waved her hand that Broni took off, pulling her away from the window.