Lost In Time: A Fallen Novel (25 page)

She leaned forward and Marcus wrapped her braid around his wrist as he flipped her over. “My turn to be in control.”

Celeste growled and thrust up to meet him, but he held her steady with his hips. One hand wound in her hair, the other held her hip as he slowly inched out of her, the pleasure so intense he knew it wouldn’t take long. Even now he felt his sacks tighten. He pushed back in slower.

“Faster,” she urged, trying to wrestle free, but he wouldn’t have it. He moved like that until she was nearly sobbing with need.

“Say it,” he said into her ear, pulling out so just the head of his cock lay against her opening. He rotated his hips, the hand holding her hip moving so he could circle the nub at her center with his thumb.

She screamed, both in rage and passion. He kept up the torture.

“Say it,” he moaned this time, pressing just a little farther into her. With a hand in her hair, he moved so he could look her in the face. Violet swirled with the black and red of Demon. Pronouncing exactly what she was, and he loved every inch of it.

Then he plunged so deep he felt the entrance to her womb. He did it several more times, moving one leg over his shoulder, he rocked against her. He moaned her name. “Say it Celeste, and I’ll give us both what we want.”

She looked at him, fathomless emotion showing deep in her eyes. “Marcus,” she moaned his name.

He smiled, leaned down pressing a gentle kissing on the tip of her nose, before sliding out and then giving into their passion he ground into her over and over again, rocking the bed until one leg gave way. But that didn’t stop them. He continued to pound into her. She locked her free leg around him tilting her hips so that he could get deeper. Then she exploded; warm juices soaking his cock and sack she vibrated around him like somehow she had been plugged into an electrical socket and it pushed him over the edge. His body strung tight as a bow. He growled her name as he spent himself into her.

Celeste watched as his orgasm overcame him. His strong muscles tightened making him look the conquering warrior from times past. Her conquering warrior, she thought as she dragged her hand down the center of his chest.

Finally, he collapsed on top of her. Small vibrations and ripples shivered through their bodies. “I’ve waited five hundred years for you,” he whispered pulling her tight against him.

The words were meant as an endearment, but stung like salt in a wound. A wound that had started over two hundred years ago. He hadn’t even known she existed until a week ago, but she had loved him for the last two hundred years. No, he hadn’t been waiting five hundred years for her. How could you wait for something you didn’t know existed? But she knew. Tears stung her eyes, and she pushed away from him before he could see them.

“I need a shower,” she said. Getting out of the bed, she headed into the bathroom. The hot water hit her, and she let the tears fall. The water stung like needles against her overly sensitive skin her Sex Demon demanded she go back and get physical attention. Instead she turned the water hotter. The last thing she needed was more Marcus, her heart hurt badly enough.

She couldn’t blame him for not knowing who she was, what she had been to him while he healed in those times he had been in the Infernos. If she had revealed herself to him, she knew nothing would have come of it. He would have thought her one of her brothers’, or worse yet one of Dante’s concubines.

She let her tears fall, and when there weren’t any more, she washed and climbed from the shower. Just as the entire house shook with such intensity it knocked her off her feet.

“What the hell?” Marcus bellowed as he and Celeste came running into the living room. The majority of the teams were there.

“Calliope has taken our bait, and now he wants in,” Ryder growled. Kyra was sitting on a chair behind him, her eyes closed. Eric sat on the floor next to her his eyes also closed.

The house shook again, and Kyra screamed out in pain. Eric flinched.

“Kill it now,” Ryder shouted at Marcus.

Celeste Flashed back to the room grabbed the Sword and Flashed outside.

Calliope flew above the house and every once in a while he dipped and slammed into the invisible barrier. However, when he saw Celeste, he stopped and dropped to the ground, his toes barely touching the dirt.

“Ah, sister.” His voice grated over her like sandpaper. “You’ve brought the Sword as I asked.” He held out his hand as if they had been working together the entire time.

Someone from behind her swore. “I knew we couldn’t trust the Demon.”

Celeste ignored whoever said it and walked forward. “If you want the Sword, I would be happy to bury it in your chest.”

“Please, step outside your Druid safe haven. I would love the chance to taste you again.” She shivered with fear, but refused to allow him to see it.

Victor stepped forward and whispered urgently, “Did he taste your blood when he had you?”

Celeste thought back. “Yes,” she said, wanting to kick herself. This had been a big game to Calliope. He could have come for her anytime he had wanted. “Victor, I forgot.”

“He’s Tracing you,” Victor snarled. “Kill him now before he gets too you. No one can protect you now.”

They both took several steps toward the barrier, when Calliope stepped back. “Do you really think I would make it that easy? I’m not nearly done with you yet.”

His body shivered, and then his black eyes rolled into the back of his head. Celeste had seen it enough to know what he was doing. Reapers held souls within them, and Gods only knew what Calliope had within him.

“Everyone get away from him,” she yelled, as she headed toward the house.

Victor was right behind her as they turned and ran for the house. Calliope’s laughter taunting them.

“What the fuck?” one of the vampires said. “I’m not running from the flying piece of shit. Isn’t he the one we came to kill?”

Celeste turned, trying to grab his arm, but he was already moving, and Victor had ahold of her hand. Marcus was on the other side. They stood at the threshold of the house as Calliope continued to regurgitate until something black and inky seeped from between his lips, then his nose and ears and finally, his eyes. It congealed into the form of a man. And then a horrible looking woman with hair black as pitch, exploded out of Calliope.

Calliope swung up into the air, hovering over the invisible barrier. “Have fun. Until we met again, I’ll be back for you, sister.”

****

“Mother of all the gods, is that what I think it is?” Ryder asked from the doorway.

The blackness stepped across the wards and enveloped the vampire that stood there and the other two just as quickly.

The female stepped across the wards as well and lifted her head into the night air and sniffed.

She turned the most malevolent look at the four remaining individuals. “I smell innocent Air Element.” Her head tilted to the side. “And she owes me a soul.”

The inkiness lurched forward, just as Aiden and four of his men, including the Demon, surrounded it. Holding it back, Aiden turned to them. “We have this.”

“Get in the house,” Marcus demanded. Throwing Celeste back, she landed on her butt, watching as the woman phased into shadow and flew toward the house.

“KYRA!” Ryder bellowed. It was so loud, the house literally shook.

They raced into the living room. Eric had Kyra in a corner and was throwing balls of fire at the unphased woman. Celeste couldn’t believe that Kyra hid behind her brother. She had never imagined the Element would hide from anything.

It snapped sharp teeth at Eric. “Her soul belongs to me.” It shrieked the sound, making Celeste want to cover her ears.

“What is it?” she asked

“A very demented banshee,” Ryder said. Pulling his gun out, he fired it at the banshee several times, but it phased out, only driving it back, but not stopping it.

The banshee turned and looked at Ryder. Her eyes and face changed until she looked just like Kyra. Celeste shook her head. “We could have been beautiful together, you and I,” she screeched in Kyra’s voice.

“Really?” Ryder asked moving forward. He was inches from her when she completely materialized black gauze hanging off her emaciated body, her true form showing through.

“All I asked for was one night.” This time her voice was quiet.

“But your price was too much,” Ryder said. Kyra had moved behind her.

“And my body to go with it.” The banshee swung around just as Kyra pulled the trigger. It went straight into the other woman’s forehead, picking her up off her feet and throwing her back. Ryder barely stepped out of the way.

She twitched on the floor. Celeste rushed over to Kyra. “Is she truly evil?” she asked Kyra. “Does she belong in a box?” Celeste asked.

Kyra shook her head, looking over Celeste’s shoulder. She knew the banshee was recovering. Nothing on this earth would be able to kill her. They could trap her body and soul, but only one thing could destroy her.

“Does she deserve retribution, another chance?”

Kyra shook her head, as the banshee started to screech. Celeste pressed the Black Sword into the Elements hands. “You are pure goodness and this is pure evil. Handling it could be painful, but her death belongs to you. This sword will wipe her from the face of existence. Are you willing to take the chance? To wipe her soul from the world?”

Kyra nodded and took the sword. She wavered for a moment as the darkness in the sword recognized what she was and revolted.

“Hurry,” Celeste urged, pushing her forward.

Squaring her shoulders, Kyra stepped around her mate, brandishing the sword.

The banshee still lay on the floor, but the wound in her head was starting to close, and Kyra stood over her body until her eyes focused on the woman above her.

“Sophie, you don’t deserve to go to hell. You deserve nothingness, and while you languor in that latitude of emptiness, remember who sent you there.” Then Kyra plunged the sword down straight into the heart of the banshee.

Kyra released the sword and fell. Ryder caught her before she hit the floor. Celeste moved forward and pulled the sword from the heart of the banshee and watched as she turned to dust. In moments even the dust had disappeared.

“Now let’s take care of the thing outside,” Celeste said, moving toward the door.

It was easier said than done, but they didn’t lose anyone else before Celeste was able to step in and plunge the sword into the center of the being. It dissipated quickly, leaving them all in the dark staring at nothing.

“That was extremely anticlimactic,” Aiden said, one eyebrow raised. He wasn’t even breathing hard.

Celeste smiled, she couldn’t help it. “But you enjoyed my ass kicking moves anyway.”

“Yes, but that still leaves my bed empty for the day,” he said, leaning down into her space. “Unless—”

Celeste shook her head imperceptibly and whispered, “As you well know, I have someone to share my bed.”

Aiden clutched at his chest. “Say it isn’t so, my little Demon.”

“She isn’t your little Demon,” Marcus snapped.

Celeste shivered. He wanted to fight for her, which only made her want to take him upstairs and have her way with him.

Celeste winked at Aiden and shrugged. “I have your number if it doesn’t work out,” she whispered so only he could hear.

“What did you just say?” Marcus asked coming to stand next to her.

Aiden patted Marcus on the shoulder. “She says she is fine with the partner she currently has.” With that, he turned to Ryder and held out his hand. “I have enjoyed the opportunity to fight alongside of you.”

Ryder nodded and took the King’s hand.

“Lordus is in hiding, even from me. Spies within my circle are alerting him of my movements in trying to locate him. He has created several creatures and beings that need to be destroyed,” Aiden said, with all seriousness. “My spies are saying he has created something that will be impossible to destroy. Something that will change us all forever,” Aiden explained.

“He won’t get away with it,” the vampire with the Demon sidekick announced.

“If you continue to hunt him, our paths will cross again,” Aiden said solemnly to Ryder. “He is staying one step ahead of me and mine.” He motioned with his head to the four that stood behind him.

“A sharing of information among the Other’s who would rather avoid an apocalyptic type of catastrophe would be a good idea,” Ryder said, holding out his hand again.

“I agree completely.” Aiden smiled. “We shall be in touch.”

“How do I contact you?” Ryder asked.

Aiden laughed softly. “Celeste has my number on speed dial.” With that he and his men left, none of them said anything more as they sifted into the blackness of the night and were gone.

“Give me your phone,” Marcus demanded.

Celeste made a point of searching herself. “I seem to have misplaced it,” she said with absolute innocence.

“We have a bigger problem,” Victor said, getting everyone’s attention. “Calliope pulled two souls from the ones he has reaped. Gods only know how many more he has. He can also Trace Celeste.”

“What does that mean, Trace her?” Kyra asked.

“He tasted her blood when he tortured her,” Victor shook his head in disgust. Celeste saw Marcus flinch as if he had been the one to be tortured. “Now he can sense where she is. Tracing her like a Tracker might, except it’s linked to her very soul. He can feel her wherever she is, follow her wherever she goes. She has become a liability, and if father finds out about it, he will have all our heads.”

“She is a walking time bomb.” Ryder shook his head.

“I have now become the main focus, with his ability to Trace me. If I go back to the Infernos, he would be able to follow me there if he were close enough to me when I Flashed. However, if I stay here in the mortal plan, I am more vulnerable. He can attack any time he wants,” Celeste finished.

“So we return to the Staten,” Ryder said, making up his mind for the rest of the group.

“No,” Celeste said. “I will not put you all in danger. We need to split up. He can’t Trace you, only me. I will go in the opposite direction. Hopefully, he will follow me. We still need to find the Touched.”

“Oh that,” Victor said, a little sheepishly. “Dante informed me when things went sour here, the Touched left and went to Boston and I am needed back in the Infernos.” Celeste turned to him, her emotion written all over her face. “I know you must do what you must,” she said, hugging him. “Please tell Dante I am safe for now.”

Victor nodded. “I will try to not be gone long,” he promised and then turned to Ryder and Kyra. “It took a great deal of power to do what Calliope did this evening. You have at least a twenty-four hour head start on him. I wouldn’t let one second of that time be wasted.”

And then he turned to Marcus. “Walk with me.” It wasn’t a request. So Marcus fell into step with Victor as they moved away from the house.

Finally Victor turned to Marcus. “She is my only sister. The one sibling I am closest to above all the rest.”

Marcus nodded, knowing baring himself like he was doing was difficult for the Ruler of Violence. “I trust you Marcus to be fair. I trust you to protect her not only from Calliope but from herself. Please do not let me down.”

Marcus was stunned at Victor’s words. He had been expecting to be threatened. “I trust you not to break her in anyway. Because I truly believe causing her pain at this point would cause you pain.” Marcus nodded. “She doesn’t know what she feels. Be at peace with her and maybe she will let you in.”

Victor turned and then looked back over his shoulder. “But I wouldn’t count on it, Fallen” and then, laughing, he Flashed out.

Marcus turned back to the house. It was quiet now and the sky just beyond the line of trees turning a lighter shade of blue. Celeste stood in the doorway. Silhouetted from the light of the house, he could see only her shape, but he knew he would be able to pick her out of a crowd of a million silhouettes. He hadn’t lied to her that night when he told her he had been waiting five hundred years for her. Now he just had to make her understand that.

He walked back to the house. “Ryder and Kyra are leaving within the hour. They should make it back to the Staten by nightfall.”

Marcus nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He shut the door behind them and headed up the stairs. “Will you be going with them?” she asked.

“I can’t even believe you would ask that question,” he said.

“That’s what Ryder said.”

He led her into her room. “Why my room? Your bed is bigger,” she said as he tugged at the shirt he was wearing.