Demon's Kiss (4 page)

                  Chapter Three

Dressed in all black attire, he materialized behind her. Mel silently watched as she sat on the couch. She was a stranger in his otherwise almost unoccupied dwelling. Softly, so as not to startle her, Azamel spoke. “Is there anything you need? Would you like food or something to drink? I will have my servant, Shara show you to your chambers as soon as they are ready.”

His scent reached her nose before his voice reached her ears. At the mention of food she realized with the exception of water, she had ingested nothing for over twenty four hours. She should be famished but everything she learned made her too upset to eat. Turning her head back to the fire, unable to look at him knowing what she now knew. “I am fine.”

Mel frowned at her sudden cold demeanor, not sure what brought it on. Gently probing so to not alert her to the extent of his powers, Azamel realized she was starving yet she refused any sustenance. He waved his hand and the table became laden with delicious dishes which appeared in front of them. “We might be here a while and you need to keep your strength up. Please join me?”

Clarissa concentrated on the fire, knowing if she looked at him or the sustenance he provided, she would lose all resolve. The smell of the food already enticed her as her stomach betrayed her by growling in anticipation of eating. “How long do you think I will be,” She thought
stuck
but said, “here?”

“You are not a prisoner. I only asked you here for your own protection. Xon would not dare come to my home and that will give us time to plan without concern for your safety.” He stood very still, watched her intently as he took a plate and held in towards her.

She knew how powerful he was and wondered if he could read her thoughts or just heard the sound of her body as it grumbled emptily again. Clarissa kept her mind purposefully blank. Her mental shields, although weak, were up just in case. She still had so much to learn that her family never got the chance to teach her, like this destiny she was now burdened with and failing miserably at. Still, if she were pleasant but watchful, she might be able to use Azamel instead. She knew what he wanted from her now so if she enticed him and was friendly then maybe she would be able to keep him thrown off-guard. Maybe she would succeed in getting the stone returned to her trust while at the same time also prevent Mel from acquiring it.
‘Just think with your head and not your hormones,’
she told herself and turne d to finally face him as she gave a slight incline of her head as she took the plate from his hands. “Thank you.”

He nodded as he moved to sit at the table, watching her carefully. “You managed to trace the demon and knew where all the traps were set. How did you obtain that information?”

Clarissa shrugged as she put some food on the plate. “I just did. How did you find me? Know about me? How did you know the stone was in more than one piece?” She turned a stoic look to him. “You seem to know a lot, want to tell me about it?”

Mel chuckled. “Now, now love. I asked you first. Besides you forget that I not only live with demons, rule demons but I also am one.”

“I cannot forget something I did not know. Maybe you should tell me more about yourself and I might possibly consider answering your questions.”

“You should know better than to play that game with me. I thought we moved past this in the jungle? I want to know how to help you. Me and my background have no relevance to this and trust me you really do not want to know. There is only one person that knows everything about me and you are looking at him.” He leaned forward. “You and I both know I do not need to ask you. I can take the information from you without your knowing. I gave you my word that I would help you and that includes not violating your thoughts. Now, can we try this again?”

“Why should I tell you all my secrets if you’re not going to share? Do you not think that is a bit one sided. If you want to,” Tried to think of a word that might irk him. “Rape my mind and steal my secrets, I am not going to be able to stop you. I know you’re far more powerful than me. I can sense that much of you. Therefore, I am sure I will be unable to do anything to prevent you from forcibly taking from my mind anything you wish to know.”

Clarissa stood holding the plate with both hands so the shaking she was inwardly feeling would not show. She stood with her chin raised, proud, stubborn and defiant. “The fact that you chose not to have done so yet is gallant, to say the least. But you might wish to remember you came to me. I did not seek out you or your assistance. Although, I appreciate your offer, your motives concern me. As for moving past this in the jungle, the goal was different then. You deal with the demon, I deal with the stone, both happy and both move our separate ways. I failed in getting to the stone first. You offered strategy where I know none. I accepted. But if it is contingent on my telling you about me or the stone then the price for your guidance is too high.”

The guardian wondered what his next move would be. Will he relinquish information for a chance at the stone or just push her away? Her heart beat rapidly as she looked at this sexy man, wanting the help but not willing to show weakness.
‘Gods give me the strength I need to resist him and focus on my duties.’

“The goal has not changed and I will not violate your mind. I made a promise and my word is my honor.” He turned away from her and towards the fire, his hands clasped behind his back. “You are young and your powers are still growing. I was only suggesting you tell me since I may be able to help you either develop them or add some of mine to help you find Xon easier.” He turned back to face her. “Trust is as hard for me as it is for you.”

His words shocked her so much she dropped the plate. The little bit of food she had placed on it scattered across the floor. Her mouth went dry, her mind raced. He was someone willing to teach her? Help her? Someone who can add power to her abilities? She did not know what to say. Yet she felt there was an underlying ambition to his offer of assistance like the Gem of Power. Still as promised, he had fought by her side. He had even saved her life. He knew about her but not enough to decipher what powers she controlled. Mel could tell they were raw but then anyone who knew anything about weres knew the young ones were still learning. By were standards, she was still very young in her power abilities.

“Answer the question of how you know the stone is in more than one piece. Please.”

She stood ramrod still though she was a bowl of jelly inside, nervous and worried of what his reply would be or even if he would answer.

“Honestly, I did not know the stone was in more than one piece. I felt the demon and his lust for power. Believe me, he is the last one you would want as keeper of that gem. He is only after the power it will enable him with and has no concern of who he may hurt in the process. That means you too. I assumed something was amiss when he got the stone and nothing had happened.”

“That makes sense.” Clarissa thought about his explanation. It certainly was logical enough. In all fairness she answered one of his questions.

“Psychometry is the official name for the power that allowed me to gain the knowledge of the traps he set, though most would call it premonitions. However, I also see past and future events as well when I hold or touch a person or object.” She used her telekinesis to clean up the mess she made and then held it in the air around her. The guardian appea red to be the center of the universe with the planets orbiting about them only it was pieces of food and bits of broken plate suspended instead. “Garbage?”

Mel waved a hand and all the pieces vanished.

“Garbage. Now eat please. If you want me to teach you, I will need you at full strength and fully rested. I will warn you, training with me will not be easy.”

Clarissa gathered another plate and concentrated on the food laden table. “What do you get out of this? Helping me, teaching me I mean.”

“I get to keep a demon from having one of the most powerful tools known to our kind, how much more noble do I need to be?” He sat down at the table across from her.

She tilted head and could not resist looking at him. “You do not need to teach me nobility.”

“I know.” He took a sip from the goblet in front of him, watching as she ate. Mel wondered what it was about her that drew him. She was beautiful but he had been around beautiful women before. Azamel cocked his head slightly, his gaze still unreadable. She had a fiery spirit and determination that was like a magnet to him. The way she lifted her chin, her passionate resolve to protect those near her, she intrigued yet scared him. She concerned him but still enticed him to help her, to be around her.

“Let’s just say I don’t like to see an innocent harmed.”

His face was shadowed and blank as if he were trying to figure out something as he surveyed her. She in turn watched him questioningly. He admitted he was a demon and yet she found herself drawn to him. A creature she should have not and in fact, does not have any reason to trust, yet something about him compelled her to want to confide in him, believe in him. She had to remember that her visions were never one hundred percent accurate due to interpretation. The perception of them together could be completely off base and she would end up dead at his feet regardless of what she saw in her mind’s eye. However, she knew he wanted the stone. She nibbled at a strawberry while she continued to think. If the custodian knew the ultimate goal of his was the gem, she can maybe blind-side him when it came down to the final moment between them. Maybe if he got to know her, he would show some true compassion to all that he had been pretending and let her hide the powerful object safely away again.

Becoming resolved, she decided to try a little kindness. Her mother always told her, “You attract the bees more with honey than with vinegar.” Maybe her mother had a valid point. “Nice place. Lived here long?”

Mel smiled at her obvious ploy at changing the topic.

“Longer than you will know, love. Is there anything you need? I can have your things brought here if you desire.”

He focused on his drink so as not to look at her, all vulnerable and still looking defiant as if she dared him to abuse her in any way. She had spirit and it drew him to her like a moth to a flame. He thought back on how her lips felt under his and he had to close his eyes for a moment to banish the image and the feelings that stirred within him. But that only made the memory more vibrant. Once he opened his pale blue orbs, he could not seem to focus beyond her lips and the way her teeth nibbled on the ripe fruit in her hand.

“If all your answers are going to be so vague, should I continue asking questions?” She took another bite of strawberry, her lips molded around the red juicy fruit before she bit down on it. “Are you not eating? Or does your fare consist of only what you drink?”

Azamel gave a tiny shake of his head to clear the image from his mind. “Believe me, love, pray you never find out what I eat.” He rolled the stem of the goblet in his hands. “You seem to have ignored one of my questions. If you don’t need anything from home and would rather prefer to walk around naked, who am I to complain?” He gave her a charming smile and a slow, hot once over.

His look sent shivers down to her toes and made her stomach clench with desire. “A room with a hot shower would be nice. I think I can handle my own change of clothes without running around your abode naked despite how exciting that would be for you.” She put a bit more food on her plate, picked at the chicken with her fingers before putting them in her mouth, slightly sucking on them. “You said you would train me. Should we begin after my shower?”

He felt his throat constrict gazing at her. What she was doing to the food was cruel and enticing his body to respond in a way he had no desire for it to. Needing the space, he stood up and shoved the chair back harshly. “Finish your meal while I see to the room. We can start after you are settled.” He stalked down the corridor, his hands in his pockets while trying to stop the slight tremble they seemed insistent on doing.

She jumped slightly at the scrape of chair and her eyes followed him as he stormed off wondering what she said or did to upset him this time. And she did it without even trying. Scooping up one more spoonful that she polished it off quickly, Clarissa made her way once again to the hearth. The fire sent warmth to her chilled bones but the heat did not seep in. It was probably because the chill was not caused by anything exterior. In her mind’s eye she saw her home on fire, stared as it burned to the ground, along with it all the memories and dreams, happy and otherwise that she had. She realized right then how scared and solitary she was. Clarissa pretended it did not matter, that she did not care and her obligations and responsibilities were all that concerned her now. But in truth, she missed her family and her friends terribly. She felt alone and hated it.

Mel made sure her suite was comfortable and ready. He sauntered back to the hall, knowing that his servant, Shara could have done what he just did but he needed the space to clear his head. As he entered the room, the executioner saw the guardian in front of the mantle. She looked lost and forlorn and it tugged at a heart that he had thought dead for a millennia. What was it about her that made his body respond in ways he never thought possible? He stood and watched her a moment longer then cleared his throat so she would know he was there.