Demon Hunters 1: Blood Sacrifice (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (4 page)

The brush of a finger across her lip brought her to instant wakefulness. Nathan crouched beside the bed. She could only stare at him. Stare and wait to see what move he’d make next.

“Time to get up, Sleeping Beauty. You don’t want to be late for your date with a demon.”

“I prefer to make an entrance.”

Nathan laughed. “An hour and a half till you die and still you make jokes. But don’t worry, Princess, as the guest of honour, you’ll make an entrance no matter how early you arrive.”

As soon as Nathan unlocked the handcuff from her wrist, Alyssa sat up and massaged where it had rubbed against her skin. She yawned and stretched thinking, sleeping too much is as tiring as not sleeping enough. She tried to keep her mind on safe topics. Ones that wouldn’t make her scream like a lunatic.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

Nathan waved towards the door. Alyssa slung her bag over her shoulder and warily walked towards the open door. She glanced to the left first. The door was closed. She had a feeling that was the way out. She turned right and went straight to the bathroom. As soon as the door was locked, she leaned against it. Time was running out and she didn’t have a clue what to do. Her eyes were drawn to the window. She even stood on the toilet seat. It was too small. Far too small. Maybe a child would be able to escape through it, but she couldn’t.

She quickly used the toilet and washed her face at the vanity. She stared at herself in the mirror. “Think,” she ordered herself. “Think.” Her voice broke and she quickly closed her eyes. Maybe it was best not to think. It brought panic closer. She dropped her bag on the vanity and pulled her brush out. She quickly ran it through her hair and then found her makeup. There was no way she’d face death without being as composed as possible. And looking as pale as a ghost wouldn’t help her create that image. Makeup would.

There was a knock on the door. “Time’s up.”

“I haven’t finished putting my makeup on.”

There was silence for a couple of minutes. “Open the door.”

Alyssa glared at the door before she opened it. She stepped back as Nathan entered the tiny room. His eyes went from her face to the makeup strewn on the vanity and then back to her face.

He grinned. “What a waste. If only there’d been another fish to hook.” He shrugged. “You have fifteen minutes. If it takes you longer than that, too bad.” He shut the door behind him.

Alyssa quickly locked it before she picked up her lipstick. As soon as her makeup was done, she slipped off her boots, and her skirt and pulled on her jeans. Boots were next and then she pushed everything in her handbag and slipped the strap over her head and one arm. She pulled out the water bottle, had a drink and refilled it. Nathan might expect her to die, but she didn’t accept she would.

When Alyssa opened the bathroom door, Nathan leaned against the wall. He pushed away from it when she continued to stand there. Without a word, he strode towards the door that had been closed every time she’d looked at it. The one at the end of the hall. He pulled out a key and unlocked it. As he held it open he turned to look at her. Alyssa had to force her feet to move. She wanted to run in the opposite direction. She felt light-headed from lack of food, numb through choice and a scream was desperate to escape.

She stepped through the doorway into a lounge room. An ordinary lounge room. Well, maybe not ordinary. Many people wouldn’t have been able to afford the leather lounge or the large flat screen television on the wall. But it was a lounge room, and she hadn’t expected to step into something so normal.

She jumped slightly when Nathan closed the door, but continued to face forward. She decided that would be her plan. Not to look back. Nathan brushed past her and headed for a set of French doors on the far side of the room. Alyssa forced herself to follow. Her feet reluctantly obeyed. She wasn’t tied and Nathan only seemed to be giving her half his attention. She wanted to keep it that way. Surely there’d be a moment when she could escape. As long as Nathan didn’t expect her to try she was sure she had a chance.

Outside they followed a dimly lit path to the front of the house. Nathan opened the door of the car she’d so stupidly climbed into. Even with a demon enhanced smile she should’ve known better. She hesitated and he pushed at her back so she either had to hop in the car or be pressed against it. The door shut behind her. Alyssa sat quietly and tried to appear relaxed. As Nathan reached for the handle of the driver’s door, she carefully pulled on hers. The door moved slightly, just enough she could release the handle and still have the door ready to open. She held her breath. She waited. As soon as Nathan was half in the car, she erupted from her seat, the door slammed shut behind her from the force she shoved it open with.

She heard Nathan swear, but didn’t stop. She ran as fast as possible. To the right of the house was what looked like untouched bushland and she aimed straight for it. Maybe she could hide in there. She stumbled on the uneven ground, her eyes trying to see where to go in the light cast by the full moon. Everything was outlined in silvery grey, with pockets of shadows to trip the unwary. She reached the tree line, and tried to increase her speed. It was impossible.

She wanted to look behind and see where Nathan was. Instead she reminded herself not to look back. She could hear his feet pound behind her, but she had no idea how far away he was. It became harder to breathe and her lungs burned. Her legs felt like fire, instead of blood, travelled through her veins. She had to find somewhere to hide. And then it was too late.

She felt the impact of Nathan’s body before she hit the ground. His weight kept her pinned. She twisted, tried to toss him off and struck out at him. He fought her, grabbed her hands one at a time and pressed them hard against the earth above her head. She felt sticks and stones dig into her back and side. Her heart continued to pound rapidly, her breath harsh.

“The little ostrich has found her claws,” Nathan mocked as soon as she was subdued.

Alyssa stared up at him, a dark shadow that towered over her edged in silver grey. She didn’t answer. It was all she could do not to scream. But at least this scream was one of frustration and anger rather than panic. Her breath was harsh in the silence.

“You’re patient. I’ll give you that much. But you can’t escape.” Nathan let her go and rose to his feet. “Don’t annoy me and I won’t track down your friend. If you come quietly she’ll be safe. You don’t want to mess with me, Princess. I don’t make a good enemy. And I like you. So come quietly and I’ll make things as easy as possible.”

Alyssa sat up and struggled to get to her feet. She ignored the hand Nathan offered her. As soon as she stood, she said, “You must go through a lot of friends then. Their survival rate must be atrocious.”

Nathan laughed. “Come on, Princess. You don’t want to be late for your date.” He draped an arm over her shoulders and she shrugged it off. He put it straight back and tightened his grip on her shoulder when she tried to move away from him.

Alyssa walked stiffly beside Nathan. She wished she could move away from his arm. She felt more confined than she had been by the handcuffs. She knew if she made another attempt to escape she had to succeed. She had no doubt he was serious when he had threatened Erin’s life. They’d been best friends forever. There was no way she was going to let Nathan anywhere near Erin.

When they reached the car, Nathan turned Alyssa around and dusted the dirt and leaves from her clothes before he pushed her into the car. “Put your hands on the dash.” He stood with the door open and waited for her to follow orders. As soon as her hands were in clear view, he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s seat.

Alyssa stared at her hands against the black interior of the car. The moonlight gilded them in silver. Smudges of dirt created dark shadows on her pale fingers. She ignored Nathan as he climbed into the car and only looked over to him when he held her phone out in front of her.

“Save five messages I can send to your friend. I won’t send them in any particular order so keep that in mind.”

Alyssa’s fingers closed over the phone. For a split second she considered sending a plea for help instead of saving drafts to say she was safe. But she didn’t know where she was. There was no information she could pass along. Not without endangering those she loved. She turned on the phone and ignored the voice messages that needed to be listened to. They were probably all from her parents. Thoughts of her mother made her fingers fly across the buttons. She wanted to get her phone turned off before she tried to ring again.

While Alyssa wrote messages for Erin, she sent glances towards Nathan as he turned the car around and drove towards the road at the end of a long curved driveway. He turned right onto it and pressed his foot hard on the accelerator. Alyssa was jolted back in her seat as the car responded. She started to check the speed he was doing and then wondered why it mattered. Death by car accident or death by demon. She had a feeling the car accident would be the easiest.

Messages written, Alyssa worried at her bottom lip with her teeth. She ignored the small pain the cut caused. Only the living feel pain, she reminded herself. She stared at Nathan. She didn’t want to ask anything of him. But what choice did she have? This might be the end. A strange sense of calm settled over her and she wondered if she’d remain calm right through to the end. She didn’t think so. She guessed it was probably shock and her brain unable to process any more details.

“What?” Nathan glanced over at her when she continued to watch him.

“If I leave a message for my parents will you send it to them on the sixth day?”

“Depends on what it says.”

“Nothing to connect us.”

“Write it and I’ll think about it.”

Alyssa wanted to demand he send it. She knew that’d cause him to do the opposite. Instead she looked at the tiny screen that blurred. She blinked. She refused to cry. She forced herself to write the message, not knowing how much time she had left.

“Read it out.” Nathan slowed the vehicle and turned onto a dirt track.

Alyssa gathered the numbness to her again. In a voice barely above a whisper, she said, “I’m sorry for everything. I didn’t mean for things to go the way they did. I love you both. You aren’t to blame for the mess I made. I wish I knew what else to say. Goodbye seems inadequate.”

Silence filled the vehicle. Alyssa turned the phone off and automatically slipped it into the outside pocket of her handbag. She looked out the window. She didn’t want to see if her words amused Nathan. She saw a flicker of light through the gum trees. Fire. Her heart felt like it stopped beating for a few seconds before it started again at a gallop. She guessed they were nearly there.

Nathan stopped the car at the edge of a clearing beside another vehicle, this one a four-wheel-drive. She sat quietly in her seat as Nathan came around and opened her door. He waited for her to move. When she didn’t, he reached in and grabbed her arm to pull her out.

“Don’t be uncooperative.”

Alyssa remained silent. She glanced around. A man stood near a flickering fire that was surrounded by rocks to contain it. He looked like an older version of Nathan and Alyssa guessed this was Brian. His hair was cropped short with a hint of silver in the sides and he had a neat moustache. He wore a business suit as if he attended a meeting and Alyssa battled the bubble of hysteria that threatened to escape. About fifteen metres from where Brian stood was a wooden stake standing two metres out of the ground.

Alyssa stopped when she realised this was where Nathan was headed. He gripped her arm tightly and tugged her along with him. Her mouth dried and she had to fight the scream that clawed to escape. She didn’t know why she held it in. This was the end and there was no one here but Nathan and his father to see how she reacted. Anger coursed through her. How dare they do this? She wanted to strike out at them. She wanted to make them hurt. Bleed. But instead she was being helplessly led to her death.

Nathan turned her so her back was to the stake and picked up a length of rope lying on the ground beside it. He lifted her hands above her head and tied them to a metal ring set towards the top of the stake. There was no way to escape from these bonds. They were as unbreakable as the handcuffs had been.

Nathan stayed close. “No kiss goodbye?”

Alyssa forced herself to smile. “Only if you’re willing to pay the price.” She snapped her teeth to make sure he understood.

“I know you’re faking it. I can see your pulse beat as rapidly as a hummingbird’s wing.” Nathan pressed his fingers against her throat.

“Do you believe in ghosts?”

Nathan frowned.

“I’m going to haunt you till the day you die. In fact you’re going to wish yourself dead. I’m going to make you want to kill yourself.”

“Never.”

“Your life’s going to become pure torture. Revenge will be so sweet.” Alyssa mimicked the cruel smile she’d seen on Nathan. She wished with her whole heart this was possible. If she had to die here she wanted to have some way to make him pay.

“I think not. The demon will take your soul. Then there’ll be nothing of you to haunt me.”

“My soul is my own and I give it to no one.”

“You say that now. But before the demon’s finished with you, the pain’ll be so great you’ll offer it to him in exchange for ending it quick. I’ve seen it before.”

“When have I ever done as you expected? Every bit of pain I feel, I’ll imagine you feeling it ten times over. I’ll relish it. I’ll see you soon, Nathan. Maybe then I’ll give you a kiss hello.” Alyssa’s smile widened at the look of uncertainty that flickered across Nathan’s face. She didn’t know where the inspiration had come from, could only put it down to desperation. “That doesn’t interest you? I’m hurt.” She pouted theatrically then laughed. She’d have preferred to yell in triumph at the seed of doubt she’d sown in Nathan’s mind, but she didn’t want to overplay her hand.

“You’re mad,” Nathan whispered.

“No. You’re the one who’s mad, Nathan. Who invited me to come and play with demons? Surely you didn’t think I’d play by your rules. I’m not much for rules. Why else would I have been crazy enough to get into your car?”

“Nathan! What’s taking so long? It’s getting close to three.”

Nathan turned at the interruption. “One minute, Brian.” He faced Alyssa. “You will not become a ghost. And you will not return to haunt me.” He stressed the word ‘not’ each time he said it.

Alyssa’s smile never faltered. “I swear it on the blood you spill. If I die tonight I’ll haunt you till you beg for death.”

“Nathan!” His father bellowed impatiently.

“Then I guess we’ll see who’s stronger.” Nathan bent and picked up a knife and goblet from the ground beside the stake. “Time to scream, little rabbit.”

Alyssa was glad for the warning. She clenched her teeth against the burning fire each shallow cut he made on her arms caused. She felt the blood drip. She blocked the sensation from her mind, her eyes focused on Nathan. She burnt his image into her mind. His boyish, smooth shaved face and narrow chin. Brown eyes and black hair that was normally neatly styled, but was messed from their earlier struggles. Narrow nose, thick brows and a lack of expression other than the occasional wry amusement. If she could come back, she’d be able to find him anywhere. She ignored the cold metal of the goblet as it was pressed against her arms to catch her blood.

“Well done, little rabbit.” Nathan met her eyes. He paused. “Don’t be foolish, Allie. Let it end quick. Tell him your soul for a quick death. That’s all it’ll take for it to be over in seconds.”

“I’ll see you later, Nathan.”

Nathan swore.

“What? Regrets, Nathan?”

“We all do what we must in life.”

“How true. In that case, I won’t say goodbye.”

Nathan swore again before he turned and strode towards his father, the goblet in his hand, the knife at her feet. She watched as Brian took a bowl from the ground and sprinkled something white to create a circle around them. He put the bowl on the ground and she saw his lips move and wondered what he said. He looked like he chanted, but the quiet words didn’t travel to her, only a low hum of sound.

I never did try and pick the lock of the handcuffs, Alyssa thought. I wonder if it would’ve worked? I hope he sends the texts. I didn’t give him my phone. Will he get it from my bag when I’m gone? The random thoughts tumbled through her mind. She’d expected the end to be more. Where were all the flashes of memory people spoke of? Had her life been so forgettable? She hadn’t thought so. Alyssa flinched as Brian’s voice rose.

“Come! I name you Retribution!” He poured her blood from the goblet and it sprinkled the ground outside his circle. “I offer you living sacrifice in exchange for the safety of me and mine and a favour.”

The ground began to shift like it was melting. A shape pressed up out of the dirt. Then it seemed as if fire burst forth like a fountain. It solidified into an almost human shape. That is if a human had wings, horns on its head and was red in colour. Not a solid red like Alyssa had expected, more like lava flowing with its movement and shadows. Then he turned and faced her and all resemblance to a human body builder with wings evaporated. The face was a grotesque mask of evil, eyes a deep black like bottomless pits of hell in the fiery red.

Alyssa finally opened her mouth to scream. But it was too late. Fear had frozen her vocal chords and she was unable to make a sound. The demon moved towards her. He didn’t walk, nor did he glide. He seemed to grow closer the longer she stared at him. Her whole body trembled and if she hadn’t been tied to the stake she would’ve been a boneless puddle on the ground.

The demon stopped in front of her. He ran his hand down her left arm, blood coating his fingers. The burning pain of his touch made the world around Alyssa swim out of focus. If his touch caused this much pain, how was she going to manage when he deliberately caused pain? She had to hold onto her soul. It was her last hope. Not exactly an escape, but not giving in either.

The demon raised his fingers to his mouth and licked her blood from them. His body seem to pulse or flare like a fire that had been fed more timber and Alyssa gasped as pain exploded through her. The demon turned towards Nathan and his father. Sweat beaded across Alyssa’s brow and lip as heat emanated from the demon. The smell of him burnt the back of her throat. Like bushfires, metal and rotten eggs all at once. Her pain started to subside.

“I am yours to command. Retribution will be my name.” His voice seemed to be everywhere at once. You could not tell which direction it came from. He turned to face Alyssa.

She tried to close her eyes. She didn’t want to see the end. But the twin pools of hell mesmerised her and she was unable to look away. The demon reached up and snapped the bonds that held her to the stake. She dropped, landing at his feet. Her right hand closed over the knife coated with her blood. She didn’t know what she could do with it, but it was better than going peacefully.

The demon grabbed her by her hair and dragged her upright. Alyssa struck, amazed at how easy the knife entered him. He let her go with a roar. Alyssa hit the ground hard. She looked up through her hair to see the demon rip the knife from his torso and fling it to the ground.

The sounds of a fast moving vehicle and lights flickering through the gum trees caught Alyssa’s attention and she missed seeing the demon strike out at her. She sprawled backwards and her face felt like it was on fire. Pain radiated through her entire body. She heard car doors slam and Nathan’s father bellow in rage. She tried to focus. But her head spun and her ears had a faint buzzing sound in them. She blinked. At an angle to her a young woman faced the demon. She was slim with wiry muscles that held a long sword effortlessly in two hands. She wore black denim jeans, a black singlet edged with lace and sensible boots. The only jewellery she wore was a small gold cross on a leather necklace resting on the pulse at her throat. Her blond hair was cut short to feather around her face, adding to the pixyish look her fine boned face gave her. She glanced down at Alyssa before she turned her eyes back to the demon. Alyssa had an impression of warm brown eyes that brimmed with the many emotions Nathan’s had lacked.

Alyssa wondered if she was hallucinating. The young woman seemed like a modern day angel minus the wings. Alyssa could think of no one else who’d stand before a demon with only a sword. The woman advanced. Her lips moved and the demon retreated. Alyssa heard the sound of gunfire and Nathan and his father yell abuse at someone. She struggled to get to her feet. She needed to see what was happening. Finding that an impossible task, she crawled to the knife and wrapped her fingers around the handle. She turned back in the direction she had come from and froze.

A young man dressed similar to the sword wielding woman crouched beside her. The only difference was he wore a t-shirt instead of a singlet. Alyssa cringed back from him, wary of his handsome face. His sandy blond hair was short at the back and sides with a little more length at the front. He had the same warm brown eyes as the woman and wore a silver stud in the shape of a cross in one ear. He also wore the same necklace as the woman. A sword rested in a scabbard on his back.

He smiled at Alyssa and held his hand out to her in greeting. “Riley Hunter. That’s my cousin Scarlett Hunter. Looks like you could do with a bit of help.”

Alyssa could only stare at him. Maybe this was a hallucination due to blood loss. Her gaze was drawn to the blood that trickled down her arms. How much could you lose before it was too much? And she was pretty sure some of it wasn’t hers, but it was impossible to know how much belonged to the demon. She looked back towards Riley. His hand remained outstretched. A look of compassion filled his eyes.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?”

Another gunshot had her turning her head nervously towards the sound. She heard Nathan swear again. She really needed to see what was happening. She looked at Riley. She started to reach out to take his hand then stopped. It seemed too convenient. How had they known to come here at this moment?

“How about we try a different question? Do you believe in God?”

Alyssa was startled by the question. She opened her mouth to answer, but didn’t know what to say. Did she? A couple of days ago she’d have said no. But then she’d also have said demons didn’t exist. And why was she even thinking about answering his questions. She had to run. But would he follow?

“Well, that makes it a bit trickier,” Riley said softly. “Know any prayers?” When Alyssa shook her head, he sighed, but his smile barely wavered. “Ah well, a challenge is always good for one’s character. At least that’s what Gran keeps telling me.”

Alyssa shook her head in disbelief. Riley sat in front of her and talked about his Gran as if they’d met at a party. His cousin faced a demon a few metres away and he didn’t seem in the least concerned. With each hour that passed her life became more surreal.

“Come on, love. Let me help you up and we’ll get you out of here.” Riley continued to hold out his hand.

“Stop being so nice, Riley.”

Alyssa scrambled away, trying to see both Riley and the person behind her. This young man didn’t have the charming, boy-next-door looks of Riley. His dark brown hair was cut so short as to almost be shaved. He had a square jaw, sharp cheekbones, deep brown eyes and a solemn look. He had broader shoulders than Riley and held his sword ready, his feet planted firmly apart for balance.

“That’s Scarlett’s brother, Alex. My cousin. Don’t mind him. He’s always cranky,” Riley said.

“It’s not a tea party, Riley. Grab the girl and let’s get out of here.”

“Allie!” Alyssa jerked at Nathan’s shout. “Damn you, Allie! I’m going to track your friend down!”

“Allie? Is that you?” When Alyssa continued to stare at him, Riley asked, “Is that short for Alison?”

Alyssa shook her head. She scrambled back a bit further from the two young men, her handbag bumping against her hip. She had to get away from here. Had to get away from all of them.

“Come on, Riley. Grab her and get her in the vehicle. We’ve got to be ready to go the moment dawn hits the sky. Those two aren’t going to stay in their circle of power one second longer than they have to.” Alex slid his sword in his scabbard.

“She’s scared, Alex.”

“Better scared than dead.” Alex strode towards Alyssa and she cringed away from him. But it wasn’t enough. He twisted the knife from her hand, gave it to Riley and threw her over his shoulder. Alyssa exploded into action. She kicked, hit and tried to throw herself to the ground.

Alex strode towards their four-wheel-drive and occasionally staggered under her onslaught. “Keep that demon headed away from the vehicle, Scarlett. Help her, Riley,” Alex ordered as he dumped Alyssa on the ground by the vehicle.