Fear Episode Two Read online

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Brian

  I was sitting on the bed, fully dressed and waiting for Dakkar to finish dressing. He was almost done as he was fastening his diamond cufflinks now. He was as bad as Raphael was, but I really couldn’t complain, because I loved the finished look. The navy blue, three-piece suit was stunning on him, tailored to perfection to hug every straight line and curve of his body. He gave himself a once over in the floor-length mirror, then smiled his approval.

  “About the queen, what do we need to ask her?” I asked.

  “She’s an old friend, I just want to know if she may know something,” he said, then turned to me. “Let’s go.”

  I rose and walked over to him so he could teleport us. We landed on the outside of what looked to be a mini-mansion. I could tell we were in the Hyde Park area of Chicago. I’d been here twice when visiting my sister during her college days. I was actually surprised a demon queen didn’t have a larger house. This somewhat humble abode would be what Raphael would call “modest”.

  It was a three-story, red brick home on what looked to be an acre of land surrounded by shrubs and trees missing their leaves due to the chill in the weather. But I bet the place was beautiful with color during the summer. The white shutters on all the windows gave it a traditional look that was similar to some of the other homes in the area.

  Dakkar released me, then rang the doorbell like a civilized person. I figured it was best to announce our presence rather than just teleport inside. We didn’t need to be killed by any wards that might be up. We both waited until a demon answered, opening the door just a crack. “Your queen is expecting me,” was all Dakkar said.

  “Your Grace, Lord Dakkar, yes. Please come in,” the demon said, then stepped to the side as he opened the door wider.

  We both entered and the demon bowed. “Lord and …?” he looked at me.

  “Knight Brian,” I said, leaving it at that.

  “Yes, of course.” The demon nodded in acknowledgement. “Please, follow me.”

  We did as he led us through the home with its modern furnishings, an art deco style of design. The tiled floor that was laid throughout added a nice touch, though it must have been a bitch to keep clean since it was stark white. He stopped at a set of double doors that led to the backyard where we could clearly see the queen swimming in her pool. The demon escorting us opened the French doors, then motioned for us to walk through, so we did.

  The pool and entire backyard patio was surrounded by a thick glass enclosure, keeping the whole area temperature controlled. Well, that was one way to enjoy your backyard in Chicago all year round. I looked around quickly, surveying the area, and noticed one other demon lounging on a chaise. She was quite the sex goddess with her dark skin and long, slender legs stretched out before her. Her afro was immaculate, enough to make Pam Grier proud, and her gray eyes were beautiful as she gazed at us all the while bobbing her head to R and B music that was playing in her headphones.

  “Eighth-hell lord and knight are here to speak with you, my queen,” the demon said with a bow.

  The chick sitting on the chaise cocked an eyebrow then and rose from her chaise to give us a curtsey. “Your Grace and Sir,” she said, finally paying Dakkar and me our due respects.

  Dakkar nodded and I smiled, keeping up appearances. I returned my attention to the queen as she swam to the ladder, then climbed out of the pool and by the steam coming off the water, it was heated as well. Nice. Of course, I was used to such luxury, as where I lived had an indoor pool over our living area. Only Raphael, Andre, and I had access to it. We did fuck in it a few times, too. But I digressed. The queen was one hot chick. Golden skin that looked like it’d been kissed by the sun. Blue eyes that were intense and sensual at the same time, and long, silky hair that flowed down to her ass.

  She smiled when she came closer to Dakkar, then held out her hand for him to take. “Lord Dakkar, always a pleasure to see you.”

  Dakkar took her hand with its long, elegant, slender fingers into his and kissed the back of it. “And the same to you, Queen Zahor.” He released her. “May we?” he asked, gesturing to the seven-piece glass and wicker table set to our left.

  “Please.” She walked over, taking a seat, and Dakkar and I did the same.

  “This is Brian Cordero, an Agoto,” Dakkar said, making the informal introductions for me.

  Her eyes panned over to me, giving me the once over. “A pleasure to meet you, Sir Cordero.”

  “Same, Queen Zahor,” I said. I’d heard about this demon royal. Knew she was the only other royal on earth’s plane besides Adriel. Queen of Forth-hell, and I wondered what Dakkar wanted with her. What powers did she have? Maybe that was why we were here, because Dakkar had been very hush-hush about our mission, not telling me anything in specifics.

  “Why hide your auras?” the queen asked, her attention back on Dakkar.

  “To show you respect in your home, of course,” Dakkar said.

  I guess that was as good an excuse as any. Not really why I was hiding mine. I just didn’t want to show my hand out of habit. I kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t know what to say anyway.

  “And I do appreciate that. I must be honest, Lord Dakkar, I am confused as to why you are here.”

  Dakkar smiled and it wasn’t all that friendly and it set me on edge. “Et-ya bahala et-yon andes.” You betrayed our king. That was what he told her and before she could say anything, he reached out faster than even I could see and slipped a bracelet on her wrist. “Eos da tani donet haki et-ya.” I am here to end you.

  “What is this?!” she cried out as she snatched her hand back and tried to take the trinket off.

  “My Queen!” our demonic escort cried out and rushed toward us.

  “Brian,” Dakkar said as if that was some sort of cue for me. Hell, I guessed it was.

  I didn’t know what the fuck was going on, everything was happening so fast, but I knew I had to have Dakkar’s back. The demon running toward us in a rage to protect his queen was a threat and I had to take care of him. I teleported in front of the demon, grabbing him by his neck. He swung, punching me across the jaw, which was mildly jarring. I still held my grip on him. It was time I put this asshole down. I opened my Agoto up and sucked down his green soul, relishing every ounce of it. My cock was throbbing in my pants and I knew I was going to blow my load.

  “No!” the queen screamed, but it was too late. Whatever this demon was to her, he was dead now.

  I quaked as I flooded my pants, and actually had to drop to one knee. I turned to keep my eyes on Dakkar, wanting to stay in the loop. Dakkar winked at me, then turned toward the other female demon who was attempting to sneak up on him from behind.

  “Whatever you have planned, my dear, I would not try it,” Dakkar warned her.

  “You have come into my queen’s home, attacked her, and killed her guard. I am honor bound to protect my queen,” she said, and I watched as she began to transform into her demonic form.

  Dakkar laughed, then back handed Zahor, sending her to the paved patio with a bloody lip. He turned back to the other female demon with the lustrous fro. “Oh please, you are so far out of your league. Save the theatrics for a lessor demon. Stay pretty for me and observe.”

  That seemed to give the female demon some pause, as she began to revert back into her human form. To be honest, I was glad he’d managed to convince her to stay that way. Her demonic form was as ugly as any other demon. Scales, horns, claws, fangs, and red eyes.

  “That’s a good girl. Now, stand there and don’t interrupt,” Dakkar said, then he turned from her to look at the queen cowering on the ground. He reached down, picking her up and tossing her into the chair she’d been sitting in before he attacked. “Why did you betray King Adriel?” he demanded.

  “I did not, I swear,” she gasped, then looked over Dakkar’s shoulder to the other demon who was looking on but making no move to come to her queen’s aid. “Dalani, help me!”

  “I�
��m sorry, my queen, I cannot,” was all Delani said as she remained standing.

  Now, I was really fucking intrigued about what was going on. My orgasm was over and I was back on my feet, ready to kick some ass if need be.

  “You disloyal bitch! You are to protect me even onto your death!” Queen Zohar bellowed.

  Dakkar grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Enough of that. You will get no help, and anyone who tries will be dead before they can even lay a hand on me. You do realize what Agotos are, don’t you?”

  Her jaw tightened, but she nodded.

  “Good. Now, you know what kind of demon I am, Zahor. I already know you have made it possible for Katashniel to remain hidden from my king, I just want to know why? Oh, and by the way, very rude of you to spy on me and my friend last night and this morning. Did you really think I wouldn’t sense a demonic aura in my presence?”

  She had been spying on us? Hell, when and how much did she hear and see? How come I hadn’t sensed this bitch being a looky-loo?

  “Please spare my life,” she begged.

  “Answer me!” Dakkar roared and moved his hand from her chin to her neck, and by the way her eyes bulged, I could tell that he was adding some serious pressure.

  “For… power!” she forced out between harsh gasps.

  Dakkar cocked an eyebrow and loosened his grip. “Power? You’re a queen, don’t you have enough?”

  “He would make me… his equal on this plane, regardless of my… status in hell,” she confessed.

  Dakkar laughed. “And you believed him?”

  “Adriel never promised me anything like that. He subjugates.”

  “As is his right,” Dakkar snapped. “You, my dear, are beneath him as are all other royals.”

  “Katashniel will bring a new era,” she snarled.

  “What he will bring is death to all those who have sided with him. As you will learn.” Dakkar laughed. “Pathetic. You beg me to spare your life, as if you deserve such mercy. You should have never been stupid enough to betray my king, you dumb bitch,” he growled and the sound was probably more menacing than any sound I’d ever heard. He snatched her up again, bringing her to her knees before him, then sank his fangs into her neck. The attack was brutal, the queen’s body frozen from the pain of his bite, and I wondered if he’d allow her to feel the pleasure of his feeding.

  As the seconds passed and the look of excruciating agony didn’t fade from her expression, I had my answer. I panned my gaze over to the other female demon, Dalani, and she was still frozen in place. I wondered if she was afraid Dakkar would kill her, too. I was sure he would if she made a move to attack or if she betrayed our king. Since she looked to be playing nice, I returned my attention to Dakkar. He really was vulnerable when he fed. Zahor might not be enjoying his feeding, but he sure as hell was. His body quaked with an orgasm that had him moaning through the blood he drank. When he pulled away, he dropped Zahor’s body and kind of just keeled over onto his side.

  I ran to him, scooping him in my arms.

  “Be… alert,” was all he could say as he continued to quake from the pleasure of his feeding.

  I nodded and turned back to Dalani, and she raised both hands, as if to tell me that she wasn’t up to anything. “Stay where you are or I’ll suck your soul down so fast, you won’t know what fucking hit you,” I warned.

  “I won’t attack.”

  “Good.” I gave her another threatening glare before I looked down at Dakkar as he shivered one last time. I guessed he was getting the rest of that nut out. All I knew was he looked so fucking hot and I understood for certain why he needed backup.

  “I’m fine,” he said, then sat up on his own.

  I released him, then rose to my feet as he did the same.

  “Did you see anything in her blood?” I asked.

  He nodded. “A great and disturbing deal.” He looked at Dalani. “Zahor can no longer be your queen, which only means that the position is now available for you, Delani. As Lord Regent, you are the next in line. Are you prepared to be elevated? I will allow you to make the final blow, take her heart and devour it along with her power if only you swear your fealty to King Adriel. If that is something you don’t think you can do, you can die right along with your queen.”

  Lord Regent? That was a phrase I’d never heard of before. I’d have to ask Dakkar what it meant.

  Dalani smirked. “You had me at, ‘she can no longer be my queen’,” she said.

  “What did you do to her, why can’t she fight?” I asked.

  “Vahiel gave me the bracelet I requested, stripping a demon of their demonic abilities. She’s merely as powerless as a human now,” Dakkar said.

  I looked down at Zahor’s body, she was laying limp on the patio, but still breathing, shallowly, but still alive. I then looked at the bracelet on her wrist and it looked harmless. A simple gold bangle. Seeing such a weapon in action made me think about the time Raphael told me about the demon who’d enslaved him with that same type of weapon. He couldn’t teleport nor overpower his captor and it took Isabella to rescue him. That was one of the reasons he was so badass now. He would never let himself become a victim again.

  Dakkar was smart to play it the way he had, sneaking past Zahor’s defenses. She never saw it coming. “How was she spying on us?” I asked, remembering part of his interrogation she’d refused to answer.

  “Zahor has the ability to astral project herself from her physical form,” Dalani said. “She can either be invisible, or corporeal. It is an ability I hope to gain when I take in her power.”

  “Indeed. I felt her presence upon waking up today, which is why I was very careful about what we had discussed in our hotel room,” Dakkar said.

  “That explains it,” I said.

  “A credit to you for not pressing,” Dakkar praised.

  “Figured it wasn’t my place to demand anything from you, my Lord,” I said.

  Dakkar smiled. “Indeed. Now, back to business.” He walked over to Dalani. “Your queen is helpless, at your mercy, but I do not want you to show her any. She needs to be punished for her betrayal and I will watch you do so. Convince me that you stand with my king and not against him.”

  Dalani bowed. “It will be my pleasure. I want you to know, Your Grace, that I was unaware of my queen’s transgressions.”

  “If I sank my fangs into your flesh and drink your blood, will it confirm that?” Dakkar asked.

  Dalani bared her neck. “Drink.”

  I watched in silence as Dakkar looked at the pulsating vein beneath that beautiful cocoa-toned flesh. Just when I thought he was going to take her word for it, he struck. She gasped, her back arching as she gripped his biceps. I figured Dakkar was leaving no stone unturned. This time, it looked as if they were both enjoying what Dakkar was doing. He pulled back before he went too far, so no orgasm, but he did look satisfied as he licked the blood from his lips.

  “True to your word. Already, you’re on a good path.” Dakkar released her and she sagged against him, clinging to his clothes to keep from falling.

  “I’m… no disloyal… scum,” she panted.

  “Good,” Dakkar said, then he pulled her off his chest to help her stand steady. “Are you healed?’

  She nodded, then sighed. “Yes, Your Grace.”

  “Excellent. Now, take your claim of the throne,” Dakkar ordered.

  “Will she need other demons from her…I don’t know… queendom to see this whole process?” I asked.

  “They will sense it when it happens, but one demon as witness should be good enough. A lord from your kingdom, perhaps?” Dakkar suggested.

  “I am a lord, Your Grace, but there is one more who can bear witness,” she said. Dalani walked over to the chaise she’d been lounging on and picked up her cell phone. The conversation was brief, and she turned back to us. “He is on his way.”

  It didn’t take five seconds before the ‘he’ in question popped up in the blink of an eye. He was a scrawny demon,
but I would bet that was all a façade. Couldn’t be too weak if he was a lord. Handsome, though a bit on the, I guess, nerdy looking side. Although, I didn’t see anything wrong with people wearing glasses, but his went to the extra trouble to look like movie props from Revenge of the Nerds and I was sure it was all for the look. There was no way he didn’t have perfect fucking vision, he was a demon after all.

  “What’s going on here?” he demanded to know as he looked around. “My queen!” he gasped, then ran to her side, scooping her up in his arms. He looked at Delani, pure rage in his eyes. “What have you done?!”

  “Your queen is being replaced. Now, shut the fuck up and watch. I have things I need to take care of and don’t have all day to witness this ceremony,” Dakkar said.

  “And who the fuck are you?” the new lord asked, turning his attention to my lord.

  “D’lore, he is Lord Dakkar of Eighth-Hell,” Dalani said. “He has exposed our queen’s betrayal.”

  The incredulous expression on D’lore’s face transformed into shock as he looked at Zahor, still laying helpless in his arms, then back to Dalani. “Can you be certain?”

  “Enough!” Dakkar barked. “Let that be a conversation you two have once we leave. For fuck’s sake, I would have killed the queen myself if it didn’t mean a demotion. I care not to be the king of Fourth-hell, so… begin.”

  The two lords didn’t bother to argue and it was smart on their part.

  “Release her, D’lore,” Delani said.

  Obeying the lord who was obviously higher ranking, D’lore placed the queen’s body back on the floor and took several steps away. We all watched as Dalani approached Zahor, kneeling beside her. She let her claws come out and slowly began to dig them into Zahor’s chest. The old queen screamed with whatever energy she had left as she was being murdered in such a methodical way. I’d seen a few torture scenes in my time as a demon. Hell, I’d been a part of some, but I wasn’t numb to them. I winced as blood bubbled up from the wound. It wasn’t a lot, but enough to soak her bikini top. I would bet when she woke up this morning and decided to take her swim, she didn’t see her day ending like this. And it wasn’t even noon.