Marie Harte - Below the Surface

“Why not let me taste the prize, my lord?” Davis asked ‘Sin Garu with surprising deference. “I promise to leave few scars, just enough to ensure her worthiness to the great and future king of Tanselm.”

She snorted, unable to resist. “Why don’t you just kiss his ass already and get it over with?”

Death surely stared at her through Michael Davis’ eyes, but his extreme irritation did a small part to soothe that piece of her needing to hurt him in any way possible. She’d disliked Davis from day one, and now she knew why.

‘Sin Garu laughed at Davis’ boiling rage. “Well, Michael, I’ll agree she’s a pleasure to look at, even for an awkward xiantope . Oh, I’m sorry, Tessa, how rude. Xiantope is what we call those of you from the primitive, non-magic worlds.”

He nodded at Davis. “She has a knack for reading people, ferreting their strengths and weaknesses. She had you pegged from the beginning.” The sorcerer smiled, showing too many teeth. “Well, she didn’t know what you were, but she knew enough of you to be wary, didn’t she?”

Davis clenched his jaw tight and took another step towards Tessa.

“She bothers you, doesn’t she?” ‘Sin Garu baited, but Davis only shrugged. “Oh, what the hell. You’ve earned it, and I daresay I’ll enjoy watching the two of you. Such unfettered beauty,” he muttered, his eyes dark with what Tessa could only describe as hunger.

The fear she’d successfully been suppressing bubbled to the surface when she read the sheer pleasure on Davis’ face.

“Strip, melea ,” he sneered.

“ Melea means whore,” ‘Sin Garu translated.

“Thanks for being so helpful,” she snapped, using every bit of anger in her to overcome the fear making her knees shake. Though she’d been obnoxious to both of them since they’d spirited her out of the lobby doors, neither had lifted a hand to touch or harm her, yet.

“If you wanted me to strip you , melea , all you had to do was ask,” Davis said and drew closer, his intent to hurt her plain on his face.

“Get back, you freak. I’ll do it.” She glared at him and slowly removed her hair pins. Stall, stall. Marcus, where the hell are you?

“Ah, such fire, such magnificent tresses,” ‘Sin Garu said with a sigh. “I like it better down.”

“Yeah.” Davis sneered. “That way when you’re on your knees sucking me off, I can manage your head with those sleek red reins.”

Apparently, his crudity excited the sorcerer, for a brilliant lust flared in ‘Sin Garu’s eyes, and the bulge between his thighs became prominently visible.

Great , Tessa thought, terrified and trying to hold it back. Rape by two evil creatures was certainly worse than by one. How the hell am I going to get out of this?

She didn’t have long to wait on her answer. The minute Davis lunged at her, the moment his hand touched her flesh, a film of water rushed from her shoulder to cover his hand and every pore of his body. He coughed and gagged, struggling to breathe as he fell to his knees. But the water would not relent. A thin sheet, it looked almost like a wrapping of cellophane in which Davis had become entangled, except that it moved and shimmered like an unearthly spa wrap.

She watched in horror as Davis choked to death on water that appeared from out of nowhere. Instinctively, she knew she had Marcus to thank for the show.

“Very impressive.” ‘Sin Garu nodded, pleased. “I hadn’t expected such dramatic fanfare, a simple protection spell would have sufficed. But Marcus outdid himself.”

Tessa stared at him, still coming to grips with the now-dead Djinn on the floor. Davis lay staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, his mouth bubbling into the thin film that had suffocated him to death.

“You knew something like this would happen?” She turned to ‘Sin Garu.

He shrugged. “Why not? I would have done the same in Marcus’ place. Apparently he’s claimed you.” He stared at her, his eyes seeming to glow for a brief moment. “And you’ve accepted him. Tsk, tsk. I’m disappointed in you, Tessa. I didn’t expect you to be so easy.”

She flushed and he grinned, a dark smile that sent shudders down her spine. He looked hungry, and despite his monstrous fangs and clear intent to hurt and no doubt kill her, his power was incredibly seductive. She shivered. How she could find anyone as horrible as ‘Sin Garu appealing was beyond her comprehension, and the longer she stared, the wider he smiled, as if he understood her dilemma.

“Have no worries, Tessa,” he said gently and stood, stretching out his long limbs. “I won’t hurt you, much.” He approached until he stood a hair’s breadth from her. Reaching out a long, pointed finger, he ran the nail parallel to her cheek, close but not touching.

He seemed pleased when she clenched her jaw and refused to glance away. “I’m really going to enjoy you, Tessa.” He sounded surprised. “But we have much to do before we can succumb to pleasure. First I need to see what you and the Storm Lords are really made of.”

Striving to overcome her fear, she focused her nervous energy on ‘Sin Garu, imagining shoving him hard against the wall and away from the door. She could feel energy pulsing around her, a conscious effort to use the telekinesis that dwelled within Marcus, but to her disappointment nothing happened.

‘Sin Garu, however, looked entirely too pleased. “Excellent. You’ve harnessed outside psychic abilities, just as I had suspected. But I wonder just how much elemental power you’ve absorbed from the Storm Lords.” He reached forward until his palm was a whisper away from touching her cheek, then stopped. “But not here. There’s not enough room.” He shook his head. His expression turned crafty and he pointed at the door. “Run, Tessa. Just to make it interesting, let’s see how fast and far you can go before I find you.”

She wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. Without a backward glance, she threw open the front door and vaulted out into…nothingness.

Marcus flashed back to the house with Aerolus, his heart beating so strenuously he prayed he’d live long enough to save Tessa from ‘Sin Garu.

“I really hate teleporting.” He glared at Aerolus, knowing he had no right to snap at his brother, but his anger kept him just this side of sane. “Cadmus,” he roared.

“I’m right here.” Cadmus appeared in the foyer sounding as annoyed and discomfited as Marcus felt. “Quit shouting, you’re only adding to my headache.”

“Cadmus,” Aerolus warned, apparently seeing what Cadmus was too dense to realise.

Striving hard to keep himself in control of his emotions lest he flood and destroy everything in his sight, Marcus stared directly into his brother’s brown eyes. “Where. Is. She?” he asked in measured tones.

Cadmus’ eyes widened. “Damn it, cut it out, you’re seriously spooking me.”

Everything around Marcus looked hazy, and eerily, distortingly blue. It was as if the world in which he stood existed, but was buffered by a wall of murky, pulsing water, a liquid world of life and death. He focused his will and his vision cleared, though he still felt as if he stood in water.

“Take me to her, brother,” he commanded Aerolus, conscious his voice sounded off, muffled.

“Control it, Marcus, until you know when to release it,” Aerolus said quietly. “You’re more powerful now than you’ve ever been, and you’re going to need it. Unfortunately, we can’t summon Arim or Darius. Don’t ask questions, there’s no time. I’ll explain it all later, after we’ve rescued Tessa. Both of you, take my hands.” Marcus and Cadmus grabbed him. “Whatever you do, Cadmus, let Marcus lead today.”