Brolach (Demon #1) (7 page)

Brolach

“
We cannot enter, no matter how much we may wish,” Braedan said.

“
Speak for yourself, brother,” Nolen said in a dry voice.

Brolach was devastated, his knees driven into the asphalt. “That half-blood horror of a father has taken her.” Brolach looked up into the eyes of the angels and realized he could meet their stares, that even the small bit of angel's blood that ran in his veins was enough. The question was: would it be enough for Ruby?

Braedan crouched down beside Brolach. “Come now warrior of both
below
and
above
, can you not rescue the one that might save us all?” His brows of metallic silver arched, that iridescent gaze questioning Brolach, entreating him for an answer. The right one, the only one. Brolach looked away, the piercing light from the angel's gaze was blinding.

Braedan stood as Brolach staggered to his feet, his spirit torn to shreds. He needed to get to Ruby. He knew damn well what waited for her at the hand's of Lucas.

The angels' eyes took in the thing that had burst out of his skull then met his gaze. “I am Braedan,” the angel with the silver hair like Christmas tinsel and eyes like white prisms announced.

The other, who had a streak of white through his black hair like lightning, folded his wings against his body slightly as he tipped a nod of introduction Brolach's way. “And I... am Nolen.”

Brolach looked at the two. “Are we friend or foe?” Brolach searched their neutral and slightly arrogant expressions. “For on this day, I seek a breeder: part of the water, part demon....”

“
And part... of heaven,” The one whose eyes he could not meet said in a voice filled with meaning.

Brolach exhaled his relief. At least they knew what he was up against. Ruby was meant for him, as mixed as him.

“She is important... as you are important.” Braedan and Nolen gave each other a significant glance after Braedan's words.

“
What?” Brolach asked, stepping forward and they took a step away.

“
Too much demon for me,” Nolen said, his voice strained. Braedan nodded and palmed his chin. “However, as a warrior of both demon and angelic bloodlines, you could enter where we cannot. You could rescue the one who could breed true.”

Brolach hissed, steam rising from his exhalation and the thing above his head pulsed with a single icy fire, his hand moving above his head just as circles of blue-white fire appeared above the angels heads. Brolach sucked in a raw breath as his hand gripped the smooth disc, bringing it down to shoulder level.

The angels wings unfurled in a black and white mixed tide, halos of light in their mighty grips and Brolach looked at what his hand held.

It was a disc as well, but unlike theirs, it was smooth and dark, like black smoke. He moved it in front of himself like a shield and Braedan and Nolen moved backward. The black fire came alive to the deep colors of a sun which bled from day to night. He felt the tail at his back grow the spikes in preparation for battle.

Nolen flinched, flinging his hands up in front of his face. “It burns!” he cried.

“
Put it atop, again, demon,” Braedan said, his eyes pegged on Brolach's.

Brolach straightened, his grip tightening on the halo, trying to shake off that splintered diamond gaze. “I am not so grateful as to lose sight of what you are and what needs be done, angel.”

Braedan stepped forward and the low-burning glow of red deepened, strengthening. “Let us align demon, and regain the breeder.”

Brolach raised the disc above his head and the pulse grew painfully hot, then was gone. Brolach watched the angels halos disappear above their heads. He chuckled. “I have many questions.”

Nolen exhaled. For a moment the three of them had been tottering on the edge of battle or alliance. He had not looked forward to defending himself against a warrior of both realms.

Nolen had some doubt who would be victor.

“I am Brolach,” he held out his hand and Braedan took it, wincing as his pure angel blood revolted from the part of Brolach that was pure warrior demon.

Their painful contact continued. “As long as you know that the breeder is mine. I, and I alone, will breed her.”

Braedan jerked Brolach closer, his very being struggling to get away, his skin beginning the slow broil inside the clutch of Brolach's hand.

“
She cannot be mated to just one... even you must know the numbers of both realms are frightening.

They released each other's hands at the same moment, a stalemate of male posturing a millennial old.

“We shall see,” Braedan promised.

“
I hate to mention,” Nolen said, his lips quirking. “But no one gets to partake of a female if said female is not located.”

They turned as one to glare at Nolen who coolly replied, “Be as angry as hornets without a hive, it does not change the fact that you both argue for a ghost.” His gaze moved from his arrogant commander to the nearly black gaze of the demon warrior, his skin so pale a red it looked like a cherry washed of its color.

Braedan sighed, angry with himself for posturing with this demon that he could use; should be using.
Let him believe what he wants
, he decided. It only matters insomuch as they reacquire the breeder. She was exceptional, for her offspring could potentially bear warriors who could travel in Hades and Heaven. If indoctrinated into the divine realm, they would not stray, but could possible weaken the underworld. It was the ultimate goal of those who served
above.

“
What is the breeder's name?” Braedan asked. Sometimes there was power in a name.

“
Ruby,” Brolach answered cautiously. He felt strongly that the less knowledge they had of his future mate, the better. He began to itch from wanting to leave this place. Every second they lingered in acquainting themselves, it was another second that Ruby was at the tender mercy of Lucas.

Who had none, tender or otherwise.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies...” Nolen said thoughtfully and Braedan gave him a sharp look.

“
What does that mean?” Brolach asked, the words causing an ache in his ears for having heard it. His thoughts were already on returning to Hades and infiltrating a realm where he was no longer welcome, but hunted.

“
There is meaning in a name, demon. It is no small thing that she owns a name that is referenced in The Book.”

Brolach scowled. He understood that his angelic blood had saved Ruby, who was also part of the realm from above. What he did not give a vague shit about was the philosophy behind it all. And that was definitely his demon side acting up. Demon's were fearfully practical when it came to the schematics of events. Manufactured or spontaneous of nature.

Or both.

“
We do not have time for discussion,” Brolach hissed, a smolder from his rage-filled words leaked from the gap of his lips. “We need to find Ruby. That is all.” It seemed rudimentary to Brolach.

“
She is closer than you think, demon,” Braedan said in a smirk.

Brolach realized his anger had clouded his tracking abilities. He forced himself to go flat, as he thought of it, his emotions like a heartbeat that no longer performs its rhythm but lies like a lump of dying flesh inside his chest. He closed his eyes and thought of Ruby and there... like a deep, marrow crawling drumbeat of responding heat, was her signature.

“How did you know she was near?” Brolach answered.

“
He is a talented discerner, Brolach,” Nolen said, using his name for the first time. He said nothing about their thoughts of Brolach as a potential locator of those of Walker descent.

“
I'm not some slouch,” Brolach said.

“
But you... you have both bloods and they constantly war, one with the other,” Braedan's hands came together in a smacking punch and Brolach's light frown became heavy. Like Nolen, Braedan did not elaborate on their suspicions of his possible discernment for finding angelic breeders. That would come later, if at all.

Brolach couldn't argue the logic on that. But it was those very mixed-blood elements that had led him to Ruby in the first place, had protected her and guided these two angel warriors to his reluctant side.

They were not above using him to get to her. And Brolach was absolutely not above using them to help protect her. Those dual purposed might serve the end he sought.

For if she had escaped from Hades, Lucas would pursue her. Even if it was dangerous for the dark commander to leave his hellacious post, he would light out in pursuit. All Brolach could hope for was Lucas might have stumbled into something outside his evil skill set. For many things waited in the human realm that could cause a demon to stumble.

Perhaps Brolach would get lucky and some mishap would befall Lucas, giving him much needed time to find Ruby before his liege.

Brolach's gaze shifted to the angels, the night sky growing light, the day taking possession again from night's stubborn hold. “Let's work together then.”

“For now,” Braedan said and Nolen nodded his agreement.

A small smile washed over Brolach's face and was gone.
Angels-- pathologically honest,
Brolach thought, shaking his head. Out loud he answered, inclining his head in acknowledgment, “Allies for now, and perhaps something else later.”

An uneasy truce commenced as they went in the direction of the wayward breeder.

Ruby's soul cried out to the piece that Brolach had. It was small, yet it matched hers perfectly.

Brolach ached for the joining.

*

Ruby

Ruby moved off the main road as a car passed. She wasn't dumb, with the outfit she was wearing, she'd look like a worked-over prostitute. She'd had enough of that shitbag treatment when she worked at
Shimmies
, Fred's exotic dance club. Headlights rolled across the front of the tree she hid behind and were gone. Ruby cautiously came out from behind the treeline, the taillights looking like twin bloody eyes as they disappeared into the distance and a shaky exhale whistled out of the tightness of her chest. Gawd, that was close.

She'd let hunger and thirst make her almost numb to her surroundings. But the second sign kept her moving.

Seattle waterfront, one mile.

And that almost worked. Until she saw the very demon she was escaping from.

But not.

He looked like that rat bastard from the caves of Hell. But... he was all paled out and being led by two women like an invisible leash was wrapped around his muscular throat.

Their gaze locked and Ruby poised to sprint. Without the benefit of energy, food, water or a concrete plan except to get back to her humble abode. Every fatigued muscle tensed when one of the girls spoke in a low deep voice of command, “Wait!”

Ruby hesitated, looking into the coal black eyes of the girl that stood beside the demon.

“I own him,” she said and her words nailed Ruby to the spot.

Shocked to her core, Ruby looked from the one who'd spoke to her friend, a pale shadow next to her, her disheveled appearance indicating some things Ruby would rather not think about. Nevertheless, her accusing eyes found his again.

Finally, after looking between the odd trio, she licked her dry lips and asked, “How?” That one word dropped out of her mouth. Slow. Deliberate

“
Simple. I'm a Walker.”

Ruby didn't know what that was but the demon beside her groaned and she said, “Be quiet or I'll make you service me again.” Ruby met the girl's eyes. They were filled with raw pain. They were also edged by a steely determination.

Lucas mewled his ineffective rage against the human angel. For that was what she really was. There were so few true believers left, ones who
lived
the life they believed in, kept to the law and held that seed of humility within themselves. Lucas had been helpless against one such as she. Now he was under her commands, without an end in sight.

Oh how the mighty shall fall,
he thought miserably.

And there stood his quarry. He could burn in place for this irony. Lucas was not a fan of it usually. He felt Heather's eyes on his.

Ruby walked slowly to the women as if pulled by a string she couldn't see. Her eyes shifted to the friend who stared vacantly back, her eyes were a washed out non-color by the faint light the sliver of a moon provided. Then Ruby searched the form of the young woman in front of her. She was tall and robust, very curvy with a round butt, large breasts and a small waist. Her spiral curls were out of control, ruling the soft face and wide eyes that stood out like coins of dark velvet chocolate outlined by her dusky skin. Ruby's eyes caught the glint of gold at her throat-- a small cross lay at the hollow, her slow and steady heartbeat giving it motion as if alive.

“
What is... a Walker?” Ruby asked, shivering from the cold.