A Serpent's Kiss

Chapter Thirteen

“You need to improve your security. What is going on?”

The two demons shot wary looks at each other as if they were unsure whether to let her in.

“I know it’s about me so you may as well tell me,” she snapped, annoyed.

“Very well. It seems your little boyfriend kept his promise of trying to find you. We have reports of increased angel activities and we are assuming they are hostile. He’s coming to find you.”

Arloh felt nauseous. The thought of an angel ever loving her made her want to lash out. The thought was so vile, so disgusting that she wanted to block it out completely. Judging by their grim faces, the threat was serious. Damn that angel boy. Did he never give up?

“That bonding ceremony, Apophis, we need to perform it, don’t we?”

He started to nod but the other demon cut in brusquely.

“You can’t perform the ceremony until Arloh has passed the test.”

Arloh rolled her eyes. This ‘test’ was testing her patience. If she could find some way to slip through their net and perform it, the better everything would be.

“So what do we do until then?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Wait. Arloh, you have to stay with Rakna whilst I investigate.” She opened her mouth in protestation. “We have to protect you here and if I am not around, then I can’t do it.” He stepped towards her, placing a hand on her cheek, his breath uncurling in a fog around her face. “You are special Arloh.”

Fury threatened to rise within Arloh but she knew that this was neither the time or place to lose her temper. Why could she not be allowed to stay at Apophis’ home? It seemed far-fetched. She had thought that she was a free demon but now she was starting to feel like a trapped one.

Rakna took a step toward her. In the dim light, she saw a lanky man with grey stringy hair, a scar that bit across his cheek and flint grey eyes. Instantly she knew his true form was that of a wolf.

“Come with me now,” he said his tones reeking of cunning. Arloh glanced at Apophis who nodded, his arms folded across his chest.

“How long will you be gone?” she asked him as Rakna placed a guiding hand on her elbow. He shrugged and raised his hands vaguely. Helpful. Arloh allowed herself to be led forward by Rakna. They began their descent down the hill and when she turned around, Apophis had gone.

Rakna was not the most communicative of companions and Arloh soon quickly realised that in order to maintain a conversation, she would have to ask a load of questions. Answers would come, sooner or later. Right now, she had to focus on staying out of the angel’s grip.

They came to a halt outside an ultra-modern house in sleek black. Surprised Arloh followed Rakna up the drive. Somehow, she had expected all the houses to be the same as Apophis’ own. They certainly all had the spiked tower but now Arloh realised that they were some form of monument standing proudly in their drives. Investigating further she walked up to it, reaching out a hand to run over the smooth surface.

“Don’t touch that!” Rakna barked. Alarmed, Arloh whirled around. His eyes had taken on a fierce glint and some teeth had emerged as he snarled at her.

“What is it?”

“Each demon owns one in their home. They serve to ward of the angels, it prevents them from finding that demon .”

They had reached the front door and she followed Rakna in. The hallway was sleek and looked like a celebrity owned it. Arloh couldn’t help but wonder where these demons got their money from. It was a question that had been nagging at her mind since the first day of her transformation.

The living area was just as tastefully decorated and Arloh flung herself onto a long leather sofa. A fire burned in the grate and for a moment, an image replayed in her mind of people around her with what she recalled as a Christmas tree. It was unwelcome and she shook it off but it seemed to linger. These images were beginning to give her an insight into the past life she once belonged to. Behind her, Rakna stalked into another room, slamming the door behind him. Aloh rolled her eyes in complete annoyance. He clearly did not want to be her babysitter.

Sighing, she grabbed a control that sat on the ebony coffee table and pressed a random button. The plasma tv flashed with life and on screen was a dramatic news report. A windswept reporter was bellowing into his microphone whilst from the bruised skies above him, forked streaks of lightning tore open the sky. Interested, Arloh leaned forward.

“Questions are being asked as to the intensity of this storm; one of such violent proportions as has never been seen. Witnesses report blue skies just a few hours ago and now, the skies seem to be heralding the end of the world. No one knows just what is happening and weather experts have no explanation. Maybe it really is our end?”

Arloh came back to reality as she realised she had forgotten to breathe. Could this be linked to her in some way? It had to be the angels; there was no other logical explanation for the turmoil. She turned off the tv, lobbing the remote onto the sofa, and stormed over to the door Rakna had just entered. With all her strength, she hammered on it, half expecting Rakna to launch himself at her as soon as the door was opened. There was no answer.

“Maybe he’s outside,” she told herself and went to the door from which she entered. Her fingers curled around the door knob and she twisted. It didn’t budge. Misjudging it to be stiff, she tried again with more effort. Nothing changed. So she had been locked in, again. Growling in anger, she stormed over to the window and stopped in surprise. The ward in the middle of the courtyard was consumed by blue sparks that rippled and hissed over its entire surface. A faint blue line, almost like a thread, was shooting up into the skies and the clouds above it were moving ever so slightly. A sudden blur of movement blocked out the light momentarily. This was obviously to do with the storms the outside world were having.

A door crashed open behind her, slamming against the wall. Shocked, Arloh wheeled around and bit back a scream as she saw a huge wolf standing metres away from her. Its teeth were bared and sharp, pointed teeth seemed to crowd in its mouth.

“Rakna?” she asked unsure if this was the right way to address a feral lupine.

Yes. stay here and don’t do anything stupid he growled in warning, padding to the door.

“Wait, where are you going?” Arloh halted him in his tracks.

It’s none of your business. Just stay here.

Arloh was blocking the door in a flash. “Tell me or I won’t let you leave,” she snarled.

You can’t stand up to me half – blood.

Momentarily winded, Arloh struggled to reply. She didn’t need to be told she didn’t belong to the demon race yet. It was something she knew and something she was desperate to change. A resolute determination settled over her.

“Tell me. I know everything that’s going on has something to do with me. The more I know, the less likely I am to make the situation even worse. An you forget, I am still a strong demon, even if I’m not pure.”

Rakna paused, his eyes darting to the door behind her head, clearly assessing the possibility of using brute force to knock her out of the way. But her threatening tones managed to make their mark and he backed down. A snarl was plastered on his face but Arloh knew she had won.

These are the physical signs of the angels gathering some sort of force. As you can see, it is a serious matter. Apophis was sent out to inspect how dangerous this could be but he needs backup, me. It’s because of you. You’re right. We’re all beginning to wish Apophis had killed you completely.

Arloh felt the breath knocked out of her. The demons were beginning to hate her. She would show them that they had gained a valuable recruit in her. As soon as Rakna had gone…

Smiling sweetly, she stepped aside. Rakna gave a her a suspicious look but didn’t say anything. She smiled again. Growling, he batted the door open with one swipe of his massive paw and went bounding off into the night. Arloh slipped one foot into the door, propping it open slightly. Eagerly, she watched as the wolf’s form moulded into the night. Then she slipped out of the door, letting it slam behind her. Faintly there was a click, just as she had thought there would be.

Taking a few gulps of the air, she transformed. The process was becoming easier day by day and this confirmed to her that she was ready for what she was about to do. Less than an hour ago, she had easily been distracted by her mission. Not now. If she didn’t do it tonight, then she knew her place as a demon would be jeopardised forever. They had told her not to interfere, that to go out into the world now would be fatal. But she was a demon; strong, powerful and in control. If anyone got in her way, they would be dead before they had time to scream, even if it was another demon.

As she moved through the demon underworld, it was eerily quiet. Everywhere she looked she could see wards shooting up their blue ribbons of light up into the sky. The effect was magnificent but terrifying at the same time. Arloh felt an unexpected surge of pride that she alone had managed to create chaos but on the other hand, she didn’t want to consider what would happen if it should become even worse. Rakna had already told her that many of the demons were beginning to hate her. Well, now was her chance to alter their opinions of her.

The cliff top gateway was deserted. Grateful, Arloh quickly began to chant, knowing that she was saying the right words. Sure enough, she heard a slight tear and the familiar whirlpool began to spin in front of her, opening out onto a scene of devastation. She could see figures racing past, civilians desperate to escape the lashing wind and rain that had now begun to fall and blow. She could so easily reach out when the next person passed….No, she was going to challenge herself.

She glided through, hearing a loud scream nearby. Whipping around, she saw a young woman staring down at Arloh with fear plastered across her face like a mask. Arloh tensed, preparing herself to launch. A hiss escaped her lips. In that second, the woman turned and raced down the street yelling at the top of her voice. Springing forward, Alaura followed her, weaving through legs and over fallen trees. It required no effort. The woman was slow and clearly in a state of panic, making her falter and stumble. Arloh could smell the sweet scent of her blood, her mouth beginning to water.

They were nearing a main road and Arloh knew if she didn’t act soon, the woman would soon be lost in the traffic. Arloh put on an extra surge of speed, ending up inches away from the woman’s exposed calf. Without hesitation, she threw herself forward, sinking her teeth through flesh, muscle and meeting bone. The woman sighed as she collapsed to the ground, Arloh’s venom working quickly through her. Immensely satisfied and brimming with adrenaline, excitement and the prospect of being accepted to the demon world, Arloh wrapped her strong body around the woman and began moving back towards the gateway.