The Light of My Hearts

A/N: Just a WARNING...this chapter will contain mentions and attempts of rape. You have been warned.

Several blocks away...

“Come to me, my beautiful Mila. Come to me.” The man’s pleasant voice filled Mila’s head.

His voice felt as if it was filling her, warming her, comforting her, calling her. She felt lighter than a cloud as she walked barefoot down the street. Mila wasn’t even sure where she was or where she was going, all she knew was she was walking toward that handsome voice. She had to...there was nothing but the voice.

Time suspended. It could’ve been seconds...minutes...hours...she didn’t know. His voice grew louder, more enticing. She could feel a tingling warmth filling her chest and nether regions.

“Yes, Mila...come to me, Mila.” The voice crooned beautifully.

Mila entered through a doorway. She had no idea where it was and she didn’t care. At first everything inside was dark but then a warm golden glow lit up the room to splendor. A garden of silky red pillows covered the floor surrounding an island of a bed with a lavish silk canopy. Settled amid the golden silk sheets was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. He was perfection: every bronze-colored muscle was clearly defined on his powerful form, his eyes were the brightest green, and his long hair was jet black. A white smile split his masculine features as he beckoned to her.

“Come here, Mila. I need you.”

She obeyed immediately, treading across the pillows until she was next to the expansive bed. His hand extended out to her, green eyes alight with joy. Mila took his hand and he gently guided her on the bed beside him. She didn’t know who he was, but she didn’t care. All she seemed to know was she belonged to him and she must obey him.

He put a hand next to her face, stroking her cheek. Slowly, his large hand moved down and encompassed her throat. Mila shivered, not resisting. He paused for several seconds and then looked her in the eyes.

“Kiss me, Mila.” He commanded.

She didn’t protest as she rose up to kiss him. Their lips met; fire burned through her. It was nothing but bliss. Mila began to feel weaker, to the point she needed to slump. Despite her euphoria, she suddenly felt like she wasn’t herself, like she was breaking apart into a million little pieces. The weakness was overwhelming.

“You are mine. You belong to me now.” His voice filled her senses until all went red.

...

Jaalith held his mouth to the young woman’s, drawing in her sexual energy, draining her soul of its vitality. His black wings curled in, encompassing them both in a cocoon of darkness until he finished with her. The woman’s body disintegrated until it was nothing but a single ball of light. His clawed hand guided the light until he pressed it into the underside of his jaw. Jaalith hissed pleasurably as the light disappeared into his mark, binding the woman’s soul to him.

She was the sixteenth one he had taken since breaking free of that accursed orb. But...she was one of thousands he kept.

Jaalith was a demon incubus, a child of Lilith, young by demon standards but vastly powerful. Out of his realm he stood over nine feet tall, was built with taut muscle under golden skin. His eyes glowed as whitish yellow candles amid an inky black pool and his black hair was long and silky. Elegant, bent horns with a ridged texture grew from over his eyes to swoop back behind his head as a crown. His ears were sharp points and a long, prehensile tail flicked behind him. Behind dark lips sharp fangs glistened and wings as black as the endless universe sprouted from his muscular back. He was indeed a beautiful demon. He needed to be to gain his power.

Jaalith attained his power by stealing the souls of young women who fell under his enchantment. At night he would incant the ancient demon language and would enter the dreams of young women as their ultimate sexual desire. Once under his spell they would come to him willingly from wherever they slept. Their appearance, wealth, or lifestyle didn’t matter to him, but he favored virgins above all others.

If a girl he called was not a virgin he would kiss them to draw out their soul’s energy. Once he had them, their physical body would disappear, leaving only the essence of their soul behind. He would then trap her soul in his demon mark. And then he could have them whenever he wished.

A virgin he would savor. A virgin he would defile first. It pleased him to defile purity. In this way he would truly own their soul and gain that much more power. For the demon who attained the most human souls was the most powerful. And Jaalith would grow stronger every single night.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been trapped in the Infernal Orb, but it didn’t seem like a long span of time. It still enraged him that some mere humans had trapped him. Yet it was humans who freed him. They knew the ancient tongue and the spell to unleash him. As thanks he made their deaths swift and painless. They were an acceptable snack to satiate him until he could cast his enchantment and bring in his true prizes.

This was his second coming.

He’d enslave every last human bitch in this city and when he finished, he’d move on to the next one and the next. He’d have them all.

However, his time was almost done for this night as the dawn was approaching. A demon’s powers were weak to useless in the light of day and any woman he didn’t enslave before the rise of the sun would be released from his enchantment. Jaalith would have to bide his time until the following night. Until then he would take every woman he could.

...

Later...

Despite their search, the trio of slayers were not finding any errant women wandering the streets. Lachlan seemed particularly frustrated since he expected to see some and his crippled leg was hindering his pace. He found himself falling behind his much fitter daughter and the fae. He tried to keep a level head since anger only led to sloppiness, but he was finding it difficult. When he was Helia’s age he could keep stride with the fittest of men and he usually our paced anyone.

There was no way he wanted that demon bastard to take any more women. He’d taken hundreds on the Venagard Islands in just a few nights. Tegath had a population many times that of the islands.

Who knew how many he’d already lured in?

An hour into their search and finally Gillam pointed, “There!”

In sight, young woman with dark skin and short hair was walking through the streets wearing little more than a long pajama tunic. Her walk was steady but not very graceful, almost drunk. The trio of slayers caught up to her. Her eyes were open but glazed. She almost didn’t look alive, like a marionette.

“Don’t touch her.” Lachlan reminded them.

Gillam nodded to confirm, “She’s enchanted. I can feel that same dark magic coming off her.”

“All right. Now we just follow her until she leads us to this demon.” Helia stated.

Keeping a small distance, they trailed the woman. She didn’t move quickly which made them a bit antsy. And then dawn broke, the faintest glow of golden light shining across the sea.

Suddenly, the woman’s head jerked and she blinked blearily, “Wha-? Where...?”

“Damn it!” Lachlan swore venomously. “We’re too late.”

The dark-skinned woman’s chocolate brown eyes were now wide with bewilderment, “Who are you? Why-why am I out here? What’s going on?”

“You...were sleep walking it seems.” Helia explained in partial truth.

The woman pulled down her night shirt with embarrassment, “Oh!”

“Were you dreaming anything?” Helia inquired, wrapping her cloak around the confused woman.

“I-I don’t know...I think...”

Lachlan spoke gently, “Was a man calling to you?”

She blinked, “Y-yes. Yes, there was!”

“Did he tell you where he was or where you should go?”

“No. I just...I just felt like...like I had to go to him. I couldn’t stop myself.” She admitted. “W-was that just a dream?” she sounded frightened.

Helia didn’t really answer but began leading her away, “Well it’s over now. Let’s get you home.”

The woman nodded but seemed utterly confused as Helia walked with her.

Lachlan looked to Gillam, “That’s exactly what some of the girls who we rescued on the Islands said.”

“That’s the demon’s enchantment at work.” Gillam confirmed.

“Now we have to wait until nightfall. Unless you can detect him?”

The disguised fae frowned, “A demon’s power is weakest in the day...but they are able to hide themselves more easily because of that.”

Lachlan growled stormed a short distance and sat on an empty crate.

Gillam cautiously came closer to him, “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, Mr. Colborne.”

He waved a meaty hand at him, “It’s not you. I just can’t believe this shit is happening again.” He jerked as he swore, “Damn it! Who knows how many girls he got a hold of last night?! He took so many on the islands.”

Though he sounded angry there was deep regret in his voice too.

“We’ll just have to be ready for him tonight.” Gillam concluded. “Don’t worry, Mr. Colborne. We’ll stop him.”

Later on when Helia returned the woman home and rejoined Gillam and her father, they began the trek home in the first light of morning.

“Helia, I want you to take your horse and ride up to the hills to warn your sister of what is happening. No matter what she CAN’T fall asleep tonight.” Lachlan insisted.

She nodded.

"You can’t sleep either.” He added.

“I’ll sleep today so I’ll be ready.”

He nodded.

“I’m going to notify our Baron of this.” Lachlan decided, “If we can warn more women not to sleep tonight that bastard won’t get so many.”

Gillam and Helia nodded, “Will he believe you?”

“He ought to. He’s hired me to slay dangerous beasts before no stranger than a demon.”

...

Early afternoon...

Thankfully, Lachlan was able to get an audience with the Baron of Tegath and he informed him of the demon threat. The reports of twenty-six missing women as well as the horrific deaths on the ship helped bolster his claim. The Baron knew Lachlan and his former prowess as a slayer so he had no reason not to believe the outlandish story. Word was sent out across the city warning its female residents to not fall asleep that night and for the others to keep vigilant for unusual activity.

Una was horrified by the news but she was also adamant that her husband should not go and risk his life. However, it was an argument she could not win.

...

That night...

Long before the sun was down, the trio took to the streets in anticipation of the hunt. Though forewarning was given of the demon threat there was no way everyone would heed the warning. The plan was to either follow a girl under the demon’s spell to his hideaway or have Gillam methodically “feel out” its power. As a precaution, Gillam cast a “cloaking” spell over himself to hide his magic so the demon wouldn’t be able to sense him so quickly.

When they found the demon, according to their plan, Gillam would provide a distraction since the demon would most likely be incensed by his presence since fae and demons were natural enemies. When he discovered the location of the demon’s mark, Lachlan would use the divine wooden spear to incapacitate him and then Helia would move in with the Infernal Orb and trap him. Hopefully, it would all go to plan.

As darkness settled, Gillam took to the rooftops to gain a better vantage. Given the high alert the city seemed to be on, flying wouldn’t be a safe option. (Someone would probably mistake him for the demon and shoot him down.) It didn’t take long for him to spot a young woman wandering the street in her night gown, dazed.

“There!” Gillam shouted down to Lachlan and Helia with a point.

The trio converged and spotted the enchanted woman walking steadily ahead of them. (Apparently, she didn’t heed the warning about not falling asleep.) They gave her a bit of distance but never let her out of their sight. She kept plodding along until they were nearly at the northern edge of Tegath and they came upon a large stone house. The girl walked through the open entryway and the slayers could see two more girls heading for the house some distance away.

Stealthily they snuck inside. The house was pitch dark and seemed unoccupied; dusty even.

The girl walked through the house and then out to the back of the home where a lovely paved garden was situated amid the walls of the backyard. Gillam made a gesture to indicate that he sensed the demon close by, so they stopped. Helia and Lachlan bordered the doorway, finding small window openings to peek through.

But instead of seeing the demon they saw what looked like an opening in the ground that tore through the nice paved space in the garden. The top of the girl’s head could be seen descending, as if down some stairs, into the pit.

“Son of a bitch is dug underground…” Lachlan whispered.

Gillam nodded but almost startled when a second girl appeared behind them, walking like a zombie through the house to the demon’s lair. He blinked in shock when he saw who it was.

Helia was mortified when she saw her sister, “Sessy!?”

“No…Sessinae!” Lachlan whispered in horror.

But she didn’t hear them, her blue eyes were glazed as she walked. Though Helia had gone to warn her not to sleep earlier that day it seemed she gave in to the temptation.

Helia reached out to grab her arm, but her father stopped her.

“No! Don’t touch her. She’ll burn you.” He choked, wanting nothing more than to grab his youngest daughter himself but knew the attempt would be futile.

“We have to stop her!” Helia shook her head.

Lachlan let go of Helia and then made a gesture for the pair to follow him. Right behind Sessinae they walked to the pit. A set of unexplained stairs were formed, leading into the darkness underground. Sessinae led the way, heeding the demon’s call. It was dark until they reached the bottom of the long stairway. A warm glow shown ahead through a tunnel bored into the earth. Sessinae continued on and the trio slowly, cautiously went after her.

At the end of the tunnel, it opened up into a vast cavern dominated with glowing lights and a large platform with an enormous bed at its center. Surrounding the red silk bed were three women, sitting as if patiently waiting to hear a story. And upon the lavish bed lounged the huge golden demon, easily over nine feet tall with black wings that spread even wider across the bed.

Sessinae entered the chamber undaunted but the trio held back, hiding so as not to reveal their presence too soon and spoil their plan.

Smiling with white fangs the demon watched Sessinae enter his chamber and held out a hand to her from the bed. She walked straight over to the bed and took his mammoth hand as if she had no fear at all. He pulled her closer, being eye level with her even from his reclined position on the bed.

“Welcome, sweet Sessinae.” He crooned smoothly before fondling her breasts and then smelling the side of her neck and jaw. “Hm. You’ve not been a pure, innocent girl, have you? Bad…bad girl.” He sneered at her but pushed her back away slightly, “Go sit over there with the other bad girls. I’ll have you all in a minute.”

Obeying without question, Sessinae dumbly took a seat next to the three other girls in attendance. Both Helia and Lachlan breathed a silent sigh of relief. But it was not to last when the demon’s horned head perked slightly and his wings rustled toward them.

“Well…that’s more like it.” He stated. “I know you’re hiding there my dear.”

Gillam’s eyes widened at Helia with realization. The demon could either sense or smell her.

How had he not considered that?! He’d concealed his energy but not…

“Don’t be shy. Come here.” He crooned, voice suddenly becoming heavy and laden with magic energy.

Helia winced, blinking her eyes several times as if something was crawling under her shirt. She felt so strange. It felt as if the very blood in her body was being pulled toward the demon like iron to a magnet. A sweat broke out over her skin. She knew she didn’t want to go out and walk toward that infernal creature, but it felt like if she didn’t, she’d begin to boil in her own skin. Gillam shook his head when she started to move and tried to stop her.

But she mouthed, “I’ll distract him.” And showed him the Infernal Orb pieces hidden against her arm guards. “Be ready.”

If she could get close enough, she might be able to trap the demon without Gillam or her father even making a move. And even if she couldn’t, the demon wasn’t aware of her backup and they could still take him by surprise. Despite Gillam’s look of protest, Helia emerged into the expansive chamber.

Jaalith tipped his head when she appeared, “I didn’t even call you…and yet you found me.”

Helia glared at him, “You called my sister. I came to get her back.”

“Ah. I see. How fortunate for me.” He grinned, “I get two little birds with one stone.” His elegant clawed hand beckoned, “Come closer.”

“Fuck you.” Helia resisted.

His fanged smile flashed as did his eyes, “But of course. You cannot resist my call…not at this range. Come.”

Helia winced as her body obeyed despite her mind’s stubborn refusal. She walked across the large chamber as if she were carrying a massive bag of concrete, passed her sister and the three other women, and stood before the demon’s bed. He slid across the bed, massive black wings moving around toward her. The little clawed “thumbs” of his wings gripped her shoulders and pulled her closer. At this range she could definitely see he was remarkably good-looking…like Gillam but darker. He smelled like cologne and sulfur.

Helia shivered when he leaned in and placed his nose and cheek against her neck, then moved up until they were cheek to cheek. She tried to punch him but her arm wouldn’t obey. It was as if she were paralyzed but aware. The demon pulled away, looking much too pleased.

“Oh…my first virgin of the night.” He purred. “How delightful.”

Though Kendrick overshadowed him in every sense of size, this demon was still a giant by human comparison. A surge of revelation hit Helia when she spotted a dark symbol under his jaw just before the curve of his throat.

His demon mark.

All she had to do was slam the Infernal Orb halves into either side of his jaw and she could trap him, ending this whole ordeal. Her hands flexed, trying to will her arms to do as she wanted, when suddenly his massive clawed hands seized her upper arms in an iron grip. He eyed her a moment and forced her arms up to reveal the two Infernal Orbs hiding under her forearm guards.

His eyelids lowered and he clucked with his tongue, “Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You sneaky little bitch.”

His wing claws slashed down and her arm guards were ripped from her. She grit her teeth as he cast them in opposite directions with a mighty snap of his wings.

“I was curious why you were dressed so…unconventionally.” He stated as a lustful grin flashed his teeth again, “But under that…”

His hand lifted back, glowing with a red light before flicking to the side like he was swiping crumbs off of a table. For a brief instant Helia felt a terrible heat consume her as if he had just set her on fire. When it subsided the cold air of her nakedness tingled across her skin as everything cloth or leather on her person turned to ashes. Her armor, belt clasp, and weapons clattered to the floor leaving her only in her chainmail jerkin.

“Under that…you’re all the same.”

In an instant he grabbed her and threw her down on the bed. Helia cursed him violently as his bulk shifted on top of her. He yanked her chainmail up and pinned her arms over her head. The demon purred as his thin tongue licked up her body and across her face. She cursed him, struggling to fight as his black wings encircled them.

“Good. Fight me. Beg me to stop. I’ll fuck you until there’s nothing left.” He hissed in her ear.

Suddenly, Jaalith’s wings snapped up and he jerked to the side violently. He only managed to dodge his head to the side when a crystalline sword slashed for his head.

“GET OFF OF HER YOU SON OF A BITCH!”