Redemption of Blood Read online

  “Is everything heightened here?”

  “Heightened?” Nemesio asked as she used the table to right herself. “I do not understand your question.”

  “Food, touch, and my powers have all increased since my arrival. My stomach aches when I require nourishment. It has never done that before.”

  “Perhaps it is because you’ve never gone more than the allotted time,” Masako said as she entered the room. Her long black hair was pulled up in a traditional bun and although in Hell she had a strict wardrobe, here she was allowed to be in pants and a shirt. “I was on a strict schedule when it came to your feedings, Your Holiness.”

  “Masako, please, call me LaDressa, we are no longer tithed to my chambers and you are not here as a Deumos, but as my servant and confidant.”

  “It will be a while before I can make the transition, but I thank you for the honor.”

  I loved how Masako played the docile role. I knew full well the quiet huntress inside could be unleashed at any moment.

  “Has Kanga been purged of Pivane's putrid poison?” I asked.

  “Not fully, LaDressa,” Nemesio said.

  “I did not say you could address me thusly. Only Masako.”

  “I apologize, Your Holiness. Again, to answer your question she has stopped the quaking, but still only bleeds pus when cut.”

  “Then feed her some of these…donuts and cut her some more. I need her purged and ready for the fight tonight. She and Celine shall hunt.”

  “Celine does not hunt.”

  “It is in her nature to hunt and she shall.” I turned to Nemesio and twisted my head in such a way to make her own contort. “Did you question Damarion as you have me? Have you questioned any Yahweh as you have me? If I am unclear about something I shall ask. If I give a command you all shall follow without a second thought.”

  “Yes, Yahweh.” Nemesio broke from my hold and sprinted down the hallway with a box of donuts while I strengthened myself with a coconut cake.

  Chapter 4

  PFC James Schmitt

  “WHOO-OO…we’re number one,” I said with all the excitement of a teenager who was just given a pop quiz.

  “Stop belly aching and get in your car,” KK said as she got in the passenger side.

  “Why is it that you want to kill yourself and Nye?”

  “You have no faith in me?”

  “Esther said you almost got her down.”

  “Almost as in I almost snapped her neck and left her for dead, then yes I almost got her down. Why do you and Nye both not trust me? You trust Dilana.”

  “Dilana has some major anger issues she likes to take out on bantlings.”

  “No, she doesn’t. Kiyoshi gives her extra sexual favors when she makes the kill.”

  “Right, because a guy would deny a woman sex.”

  “I didn’t say sex, I said favors. You do know what favors are?”

  “Is that when you buy the first round?”

  “Why do I put up with you?”

  “Because everyone else is afraid of Nye castrating them if you break a nail.”

  “So, you’re paying for my next mani-pedi, good to know.”

  “Mmmhuh, I don’t think so.” I looked around. “Where are we stationed?”

  “An alley on White Street behind the college. I don’t get it. Nye’s just at the train station.”

  “Must be a strong hunch Kiyoshi had this time.”

  “Maybe, I’m not sure.”

  “If Yosh says it’ll be in the alley, it will be.”

  Why did KK have to be in the action? Maybe she’s like Dilana and that’s what gets her hot. As we drove down the road I passed Trisha’s bar and couldn’t help taking a second look just in case her car was parked on the side.

  Trish was outside. I knew her figure a mile away. My mind wandered a little too long as my fingers tingled as if demanding to feel her flesh.

  “What was that?” KK asked.

  “What was what?” I responded as I returned my focus to the road in front of me.

  “Did you see something?”

  “No.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “I think I’d know if I did or didn’t see something.”

  “Then what were you staring at?”

  “I wasn’t—”

  “Temp drop,” KK interrupted and crossed her arms. “What are you embarrassed about?”

  The worst part of being Frozen—fear, embarrassment, really any bad feeling drops our temperature, but only if we feel it deep in our heart. If I just dropped the temperature in this car…shit. I need to leave Trish alone.

  “Shrink cap, please.”

  “Shrink cap, what’s that supposed to mean?” KK sounded willing to play along.

  “It means I want that whole doctor-patient thing.”

  “Oooh, this is going to be good.”

  “There’s a woman I like to sleep with that works back there,” I said as I parked along a side street and we got out. “You want this end of the alley and I’ll take the far end?”

  “I want to know about the woman.”

  “Aren’t we supposed to be fighting bantlings?” This is why I don’t want to be partnered with a woman. A man would just hear the answer and stop. Better yet, a man wouldn’t have asked in the first place.

  “I know Nye said we’re in the most likely spot, but I’m pretty sure we aren’t.” KK leaned against the wall and shoved her hands into her tight hoodie. “The nerves he transferred to me were a little cold if you know what I mean.”

  “A lie? Nye wouldn’t lie to you.”

  “Exaggerate? I think he’s at the number one spot.”

  “So, he’s three blocks away. If you feel him exerting himself, we’ll need to converge to help him.”

  “Quit deflecting and talk about this woman.”

  “Her name is Trish and it’s just sex.” The words tasted like spoiled meat as they came out of my mouth.

  “You’re horny, that’s why you looked there.”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s an easy lay and you were making sure you could get a piece after we’re done.”

  “She’s not easy,” I growled as rage burned through my body.

  KK smirked, and I knew I was caught.

  “What was that?” Kiriana turned around quickly.

  I instantly unsheathed my claustranima and pushed KK behind me.

  “Knock it off,” she snapped and attempted to shove me back.

  “I get to kill whatever you’re smelling, little lady.”

  “You really want me to beat your ass.”

  “Not really, what did you hear?”

  “It was a feeling. A buzz.”

  “A buzz?” I queried as I raised my left eyebrow.

  “I can’t explain it. There’s something—”

  Kiriana flew back against a garage door with a loud metallic smash. At the same time I became pinned to a utility pole. Three Deumos walked toward us. Only one I recognized. She had the darkest black hair pulled back into a tight braid. Another dark-haired beauty had her hair cut at her jaw line, high cheekbones, and eyes so blue even in the dark they glowed. The final one was tallest by a few inches and had blonde hair that was almost white. Her eyes were black—not just black irises; even the sclera were as black as an overcast night. The faint street light was absorbed by them as if her eyes were the absence of light itself. That wasn’t the strangest thing about her. The strangest was her face. If her hair were a few shades darker I’d swear she was Kiriana’s slightly taller twin.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kiriana and knew she was as trapped as I was. This isn’t good. For the first time in years I’m nervous.

  “KK, you okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, nothin’ like becoming one with a door to make my night.”

  At least her sarcasm’s still in place.

  “You’re the Dark One’s mate, aren’t you?” the tall Deu
mos stated plainly.

  KK was cautious. More than I thought she should be. It had to be because the female demon was holding us in a trance of some sort and we could easily be killed. We had no counter-measures for an attack like this. I’d never seen anything like it before. I could only hope KK’s attempts at therapy would be successful for once.

  “Am I not correct?”

  “No. You’re correct,” Kiriana replied, but I could see her straining against the hold.

  “This puts me in a precarious situation. For I want to kill you more than anyone in the world, but that will not get me what I truly want.”

  “And that is?”

  “His ashes.”

  “Whose ashes?” Kiriana answered like she had no idea the ashes Nye had collected were buried in the garden.

  “Don’t play dumb with me.”

  “Who’s playing? I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Maybe your mate does. If I hold you long enough will he join us?”

  “No,” KK lied. Unless this magic also bound Nye, he’d be halfway here by now.

  “Does he not love you?” the Deumos asked while her long nail ran along KK’s cheek. “My Damarion loved me very much.”

  “You mean DJ. ’Cause his head was between my legs not two days before he died. And the day he died do you know what he said to me?”

  “Whatever he needed to, to survive.” The Deumos stepped back, presumably trying to control herself as her arms cradled her body and held tight.

  “Keep telling yourself that. He told me he loved me.”

  A whistle carried through the air followed by a loud smack from the Deumos’ hand across Kiriana’s face. A red mark appeared immediately. KK couldn’t even turn her head from the hit because of the hold on her. She took the full force of the blow. I prayed to whatever angel or deity would listen to free me so I could rescue her.

  “Now he’ll come.” Kiriana spat blood in the Deumos' face. “But he’ll never give you the ashes. He doesn’t know where they are. Only I do. Since DJ was my kill, I buried him.”

  “He’s trapped,” she screeched and the windows of the neighboring houses trembled. “How could you do that?”

  The Deumos raised her hand and a knife appeared. I strained against her hold to no avail. The world slowed as I saw the knife inch closer to KK when the familiar Deumos caught the attacking one by the wrist.

  “No, my daughter, not here, not now. You need her to resurrect him and you need him to defeat your brother. If you kill her you will have to find another to mate with.”

  The familiar Deumos then turned to me and eyed my crotch. Oh yeah, so not happening lady. Deumos probably eat the man after copulation. Not this grunt.

  “You know patience,” she said to her daughter. “It has been your friend for years, do not abandon it now.”

  The attacking Deumos sheathed the blade in her sleeve, then looked at Kiriana. “I am Her Royal Holiness Princess LaDressa, daughter of Lucifer the Fourth,” she said with all the pomposity appropriate for someone with her title.

  “Kiriana George.” KK kept her chin up and her gaze locked to the princess. “I never wanted to kill DJ. He tried to kill my Other.”

  “I want his ashes.”

  “Why?”

  “To bring him back.”

  “He’s dead.”

  “He’s a demon. Give me his ashes.”

  “I can’t do anything while pinned to a door.”

  The princess released KK, but I was still firmly a part of the electrical grid holding me where I was. KK looked at me and nodded as if she was fine and could handle three Deumos with powers I’d never encountered before. Why is she so damn stubborn and such a know-it-all? Why doesn’t she realize how frail she really is? Damn it, woman.

  “What about my friend?”

  “The soldier? He is of no use to me, except as a bargaining chip.”

  “I never said we were close friends. He’s not worth DJ’s ashes.”

  The princess’ face contorted in anger as the knife became unsheathed again.

  “Let’s just see about that, shall we?”

  My heart raced as the princess stepped toward me. It’s one thing to not be able to protect KK, but to only have my mouth to protect myself? Not the way I wanted to go out.

  “You know, KK, I could really use some of that positive your-life-is-meaningful crap from our sessions.”

  “Killing him won’t make me give you the ashes. In fact it might just make me bury them deeper. Or put him in five or six different Tupperware containers so you’ll never know if you have all of him.”

  “What is Tupperware?” the princess growled at her mother. “Some torture chamber?”

  “Only if you’re leftover mac and cheese,” Kiriana chided.

  “And that is?”

  “Poison if you eat it,” her mother said. Well, isn’t that a nice piece of info? I highly doubt the Deumos are just health-conscious.

  “You were trying to kill me?”

  The princess held her hand up and Kiriana scratched at her throat like a noose was around her neck. Her feet lifted off the ground. This isn’t good. Since when are royalty wandering the streets? Then again if her mother is Lucifer’s wife we’re going to need to redefine the players.

  “Was Damarion a prince?” I asked, and KK dropped to the ground like a newly birthed foal struggling for air.

  “He will be once we are wed. He and I will kill my brother and all his descendants and take my rightful place when my father expires.”

  “Daughter, you finally see beyond the moment." Her mother’s eyes danced with glee.

  “I’m looking ahead too,” KK said as she pulled herself up. “How badly do you want Damarion back?”

  The princess lifted an eyebrow and KK’s right hand rose to a full stop.

  “You flip, stick, or choke me one more time, Princess, and the only way you’ll see Damarion again is when I drop your ashes in the coffee can with his.”

  “You have no power over me.”

  “I have the most powerful thing in the world—Damarion, and he’s all mine, tucked in nice and snug.”

  “Then you know of his power.”

  “Over you, absolutely. It’s the same power that had me killing when I couldn’t squish a bug before. You love him and I’ve got him. Let’s talk terms.”

  “What do you want?”

  “How about you let us kill every bantling that emerges?”

  “I would if I could, but that would bring my brother’s wrath on me and I am not about to deal with him.”

  “Fine, I want to close this Hell’s Mouth permanently.”

  “This mouth is closing permanently soon enough. What does it matter to you?”

  “I want those who come out during the run to fall and no other mouth to be opened.”

  The princess' mother interjected. “Do not listen to her, daughter. If you teach them to close one you’ll end up closing all.”

  “Even better,” KK said.

  “I would still have years to reverse the action," the princess said. "And each Hell’s Mouth closing would be more and more violent until I had twelve mouths again.”

  “I’ll take that chance.”

  “Give me Damarion and I’ll tell you the secret.”

  “No, I need some good faith shown now.”

  “You’re not dead. What other good faith do you need?”

  “From now until the mouth closes if you beat out the other Frozen you’ll bring the bantlings to us and we’ll dispose of them.”

  “That would be tantamount to killing every bantling,” the other dark-haired one said as she finally stepped into the light.

  “Fine, you can get the ones who arrive at noon.”

  “Don’t do it, Yahweh.” The one from the shadows warned. “It’s a trick.”

  “I’m not a fool. When the moon is a crescent and the Frozen fail to obtain my bantling we will
bring them to you to dispose of. In return you will give me Damarion.”

  “Part of Damarion.”

  “Part?”

  “Yes, part, and you’ll explain how to take down the ones that emerge for the next Hell’s Mouth.”

  The princess turned to her mother and they talked while looking at the three-quarter moon in the sky.

  “Deal. My mother said you will need to help me resurrect him.”

  “That wasn’t part of the deal.”

  “It is now. The bantling is halfway home right now, but I could call Kanga back. You could dispose of him as a sign of good faith.”

  “We’ll discuss me being a part of his resurrection later. How about you let my buddy go?”

  The three tons of force that had me joined at the back with the utility pole finally released and I was able to move. Every inch along my spine ached and cracked as I stepped toward KK. The Deumos vanished.

  “You okay?” she asked as she dropped to her shaking knees. She’d been hiding her fear well.

  “I have a new appreciation for a garage sale sign, but other than that yeah.”

  “Good, where’s Nye? I got the shit smacked out of me and he’s not here to defend me.”

  “I don’t know, maybe he’s still tracking the bantling.”

  “Call him.”

  “You want me to tell him you made a deal with the Devil?”

  “No. Something tells me if LaDressa gets within striking distance of him she’d kill him on principle.”

  “Was it just me or did you see the resemblance?”

  KK shot me a funny look. “How’d you know her mother looks like mine?”

  “I was talking about you and her, but does her mother look like yours?”

  “Kinda creeped me out. And I don’t look anything like that soul-sucking bitch.”

  “Um, yeah, you do.”

  “I have whites in my eyes and I’m not a half a shade from being an albino.”

  “Facial structure. You guys even stood the same. The only way I could tell you apart was your winning personality.”

  “I will kill you in your sleep.”

  “Can I get laid first?”

  “Sure, just get me a ride home.”