Kerrelyn Sparks: Vampire Mine

She shrugged. “Anywhere in the world. It’s how the Deliverers know where to go when people are dying.”

She can sense death . Connor paced toward the cabin, then back. This was a valuable skill. If she could sense people dying while Casimir and his minions were attacking them, then she might be able to help the Vamps find him.

He glanced up at the stars. Had God sent him a secret weapon that would help them defeat Casimir once and for all? Then Father Andrew might be right. He was meant to find Marielle.

He looked at her.

She was gazing at the distant mountains. “I have always thought the Earth was full of beautiful places. Now I can experience them as a human. It should be very interesting, don’t you think?” She turned to him with a hopeful expression. “ ‘Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.’ ”

He winced. Morning always brought him death. He was going to have to explain what he was. He could only hope she wouldn’t be disappointed. Or disgusted.

She shivered and hugged herself. “I never realized how much humans feel the cold.”

“Ye should come inside.” He motioned toward the cabin, then froze when he heard a noise in the forest.

She heard it, too, whirling around to face the line of trees. Leaves shuddered as something pushed through the bushes.

Connor whisked the dagger from the sheath beneath his knee sock. A black snout poked out from the bushes. A wolf? No, it was wolflike, but bigger. The black, furry beast emerged from the forest.

Marielle stiffened with a gasp.

Connor widened his stance, his dagger ready.

She touched his arm. “You cannot fight it. It’s here for me.”

The beast moved to the side, keeping its dark eyes focused on her. Then the eyes turned red and began to glow.

Connor inhaled sharply. “What is it?”

Her voice was whisper soft. “A demon.”

Marielle squared her shoulders and glared at the black beast, feigning a courage she wished she had. She’d dealt with fallen angels before, but always with the vast power of the Heavenly Host to back her up. Now she was alone.

Not entirely alone. Connor stepped in front of her, but his protective move only increased her fear. Didn’t he realize he was no match for a demon?

“Go inside,” she whispered.

He shook his head slightly, never taking his eyes off the beast. “Nay.”

He hardly knew her, yet he was willing to risk his life for her? Emotions swirled inside her, strong human emotions she wasn’t accustomed to feeling. She didn’t know whether to hug Connor or yell at him. One thing was certain, she didn’t have time to deal with the confusion now. She had to make sure he survived.

She eased away from him as she glared at the demon. “Begone!”

The wolflike creature tilted its head to watch as Connor moved close to her once again. She groaned inwardly. Was he determined to get himself killed? She should have yelled at him.

The beast drew her attention with a low growl. Its red gleaming eyes focused on her. Its lips pulled back to reveal a row of long, pointed, yellow teeth.

“I have come to escort you to your new home,” it rasped in a masculine voice. “I suggest you come along quietly.”

She lifted her chin. “Never.”

“I could rip you apart,” it hissed.

“Try it, and I’ll send ye back to hell in pieces!” Connor shouted, lifting his dagger.

The beast snorted. “A savior? I love killing those.” It narrowed its bloodred eyes on Marielle. “Are you willing to let the fool die for you? In that case, hell would be the right place for you. Of course, you could act like a little angel and rescue him from the jaws of death. Come with me, and I’ll leave him alone.”

Connor grabbed her arm. “She’s no’ going with you,” he said hastily as if he were worried she would sacrifice herself to keep him safe.

The swirl of emotions inside her came to rest, and she knew then that she’d much rather hug Connor than yell at him. He had a good and noble heart.

She laid her hand on top of his. “I won’t let it hurt you.”

The beast made a huffing noise. “So you refuse to be frightened or coerced into submission. No big deal. I have other strategies.” It snarled, baring its long, yellow teeth. “One way or another, I will succeed.”

Its body glimmered, then reshaped, taking the form of a human male. A very handsome male with flowing red hair, bright blue eyes, a bare muscular chest, and a plaid kilt. A perfect body with flawless skin.

She felt Connor stiffen beside her. No doubt he was shocked to see an enhanced version of himself.

The demon flashed a brilliant white smile at her. “Now do you like me?”

The demon must think she was attracted to the Scotsman if he was attempting this ploy. With a small jolt, she realized he was right. Still, the trick wouldn’t work. Connor was real, and his rough, imperfect exterior only made him more beautiful in her eyes. “Begone.”

“Before I can even introduce myself?” The demon assumed a wounded expression. “Come, Marielle, didn’t they teach you better manners than that up in heaven?”

She swallowed hard. He already knew her name.

“Oh yes.” He nodded his head, knowingly. “We’ve been watching you for some time. Poor little angel who keeps getting into trouble. We knew it was only a matter of time before those sanctimonious snots decided you weren’t good enough for them.”

Her skin crawled with goose bumps. Connor’s grip on her arm tightened.

“My name is Darafer, by the way. My friends call me Dare.”

“Go back to hell,” she said.

“Of course. And I would be honored to take you with me.” His mouth curled with the hint of a smile. “If you dare.”

“I will never go with you.”

“You will,” he snapped, his smile vanishing. “You’d be a fool to want back into heaven. Look what those prigs did to you. They tortured you. Cut off your wings. Left you in the dirt to die.”

She winced inwardly. In her mind, she knew better than to heed the words of a demon, but there was enough truth in what he said to make her heart squeeze in her chest. Banished. Connor seemed aware of her pain, for he drew closer.

Darafer’s upper lip curled in disgust. “Even your best friend rejected you.”

And that slashed at her more painfully than having her wings ripped off. “He had to follow orders.”

“Did he? Why didn’t he disobey?” Darafer’s blue eyes glittered. “You have the courage to disobey. You’re more like us than you realize.”

That shocked her out of her pain. “I will never be like you! You spread evil across the world.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “Yeah, yeah, it’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.”

Anger flashed inside her. “You make light of it when millions of people suffer because of your evil?”

His eyes turned solid black. Beside her, Connor tensed.

“I wasn’t joking,” Darafer snarled. “Somebody does have to do it. Your precious Father in Heaven couldn’t play the good guy if we weren’t doing our part. He needs us as much as He needs you. Where would Jesus be without Judas? By joining us, you can play a valuable role in the grand scheme.”

She shuddered. “You’re twisting the truth to suit your own purposes.”

“You think so?” Darafer snorted. “Maybe now that you’re disconnected from the all-holy collective, you’ll start thinking for yourself.” He stepped closer. “Who created us, Marielle? All of us fallen angels—who made us the way we are?”

She stiffened. “The Lord is good. It was your decision to rebel against Him.”