Passion Unleashed (43 page)

Umber—Humanoid bodies with gray skin, charcoal hair, and gunmetal eyes. Very gentle, cave-dwelling species. They are good judges of character, having a natural ability to sense evil and good inside someone, and depending on their level of skill, Umbers can lessen or even remove the darkness/guilt that weighs an individual down. Ufelskala Score: 1

Vampire—It is believe that vampires were created from fallen angels. Any vampire may turn a human into a vampire, but after a population explosion in the Dark Ages, followed by a vampire civil war, the Vampire Council was formed, and rules were created to regulate not only turnings, but behavior in general. Many of the popular vampire legends are true, but vampires do not believe that their souls are doomed. They live with the belief that if they willingly walk into the morning sun, their souls will be carried to Heaven for judgment before God. However, any vampire killed in any other manner is doomed to suffer eternal torment in Sheoul-gra. Ufelskala Score: Varies

Viper Ghoul—Ill-tempered, nasty, man-sized reptile that resembles a cobra that has been dead for a month. Viper ghouls are easily controlled by sorcery and are often summoned by humans who play with black magic without fully grasping its power. The results can be deadly. Ufelskala Score: 2

Were-Beasts—Weres are humans who shift only during the three nights of the full moon. They turn into large, two-legged, furry beasts with both human and animal features. Only a few species of were-creatures exist. Werewolves (who call themselves wargs) werebears, and wereleopards, though werewolves are the most common. There are two classes of were-beasts: those who are born weres, and those who are turned after being bitten. Born weres, especially wolves, tend to live in packs, while turned wolves usually lead solitary existences. There are rumors of a rare breed of werewolves called dark weres, who change during the new moon instead of the full moon. Ufelskala Score: Varies

The Hospital

Underworld General Hospital (yes, that would be UGH) is a medical center that sits beneath the streets of New York City. Built by demons, it is part of the human realm. The decision to erect it under human noses instead of in Sheoul was one Eidolon, Shade, and Wraith argued about for months. Ultimately, the decision to build outside Sheoul came about because many of the spells needed to protect the hospital function only in the human realm, and because Eidolon knew he’d need to employ humans, and humans couldn’t use Harrowgates to travel to the hospital if it were located in Sheoul.

Underworld General uses the same modern equipment, supplies, and techniques known to human medicine. Eidolon stays as current as he can, and he actively recruits ter’taceo to attend human medical schools to ensure he always has enough staff. Educated, trained staff members are responsible for training those who can’t pass as humans in medical schools. Because most demons can’t attend medical school—and because some demons are natural or mystical healers—he doesn’t require his staff to have medical degrees to work at UG, but he does require that they be adequately trained and skilled.

Demon medicine provides a challenge unlike any other. Every demon species’ physiology is unique, and every doctor’s talents and skills are just as unique. For the most part, Eidolon and his staff are learning as they go.

To aid in the learning process, every new species or breed that is admitted into the hospital is given a thorough examination, X-rays, blood and genetic tests… basically, Eidolon insists that every demon be catalogued and studied. All demons are also asked to donate blood for the bank.

Running an operation such as Underworld General is expensive, as one would guess. Though Eidolon was able to raise funds for the initial costs through his family connections, coming up with additional funding required creativity… and Wraith.

Wraith’s suggestion to “squeeze the patients” was immediately met with resistance, but Shade had quickly come around. Though most demons can’t pay with money, they can pay with favors specific to their breed or their occupation. The barter system works, but it brings in only a small percentage of the income needed to run the hospital.

A large percentage of funding comes from a by-product of Wraith’s job, which is to gather ancient artifacts and magical items for hospital use. Extras and anything that can’t be used to cure patients is sold on the legitimate and black markets.

Wraith’s other suggestion, to “squeeze wealthy fucks,” was one Eidolon agreed to right away. The human world is crawling with ter’taceo who use their underworld connections to gain wealth and power, and after a little of Eidolon’s convincing and Wraith’s “squeezing,” they’ve been more than happy to donate to a worthy cause like Underworld General.

The Key Players in the Demonica World

Eidolon (EYE-duh-lawn)—Head of Underworld General Hospital, a medical center he built with brothers Shade and Wraith. Born to the Judicia, demons who serve as judge, jury, and executioner for all demon races. He was bestowed with judicial powers and served with the Judicia as a Justice Dealer for decades, until he made a choice that changed his life forever: he attended human medical school and became a doctor in order to make the most of his healing gift.

Hair: Short, dark brown/black

Eyes: Dark brown

Height: 6' 4"

Profession: Physician

Species: Incubus

Breed: Seminus demon

Identifying marks: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder

Personal Seminus symbol: Set of scales on throat

Gemella Endri—Raised by Sensor demon parents, Gemella was expected to follow in their footsteps and destroy infants born to human-demon unions. Instead, she followed her own path and became a doctor, working in a human hospital in order to root out medical issues with supernatural/demon origins.

Hair: Length and color changes frequently. Usually shoulder-length and black with streaks of blue, red, or pink.

Eyes: Green

Profession: Physician

Species: Half human, half Soulshredder

Identifying marks: Pierced tongue, eyebrow, ears, navel. Long-stemmed rose tattoo running the length of her left leg. Dragon tattoo on her abdomen. Tattooed Celtic bands around ankles, wrists, and neck.

Kynan Morgan—Former Aegis leader of the New York City cell. Joined The Aegis after being injured by a demon while on a mission as a United States Army medic in Afghanistan.

Hair: Short, spiky, dark brown

Eyes: Navy blue

Height: 6' 2"

Profession: Aegis Guardian

Species: Human

Identifying features: Gravelly voice from vocal-cord damage. Scarred throat.

Lore—Born in 1880 to a human mother who believed he was the son of Satan and raised by his maternal grandparents, Lore never seemed to fit in. Fitting in became more of a problem when, at the age of twenty, he went through a strange transformation. By the time it was over, he’d gained a tattoo on his right arm and had killed several people with nothing more than a touch. Unable to control his cursed ability to kill, he hid away in the mountains of North Carolina, where he existed as a hermit until the day he was forced into the life of an enslaved assassin.

Hair: Short, black

Eyes: Dark brown

Height: 6' 6"

Species: Half human, half Seminus demon

Identifying marks: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder

Personal Seminus symbol: None

Luc (Lewk)—Born in 1896, American-born son of French immigrants, he joined the army when his father left his mother and fled to France with a mistress. Luc requested assignment in Europe and was granted the assignment to fight in France during World War I. Before he could locate his father, he was bitten by a werewolf. He has spent the time since trying to hold onto his humanity.

Hair: Shaggy, black

Eyes: Hazel

Height: 6' 6"

Profession: Paramedic

Species: Werewolf

Reaver—A fallen angel who has never entered Sheoul to complete the fall, Reaver is stuck between two worlds, caught between a rock and a hard place. Without the power of Heaven or Sheoul to draw on, he’s weakened, physically and mentally, and he’s in a constant battle with his baser desires.

Hair: Long, to the middle of his back, pale blond

Eyes: Blue

Height: 6' 6"

Profession: Physician

Species: Fallen angel

Roag (Rogue)—Roag, the oldest surviving brother of Eidolon, Shade, and Wraith, grew up in true hell—in the Neethul slave pits. Born to a Neethul mother who kept him with the intention of selling him later as a slave, he learned early to fight dirty. He made his first kill at the age of four, when he slit the throat of a sleeping slave in order to steal his food. Roag’s mother, proud of the son she’d intended to sell off, decided to keep him close, and it wasn’t long before he was running his own slave pit. After his first maturation cycle at the age of twenty, he escaped Sheoul to live in the human world, where fragile humans were easier to trick, brutalize, and kill. He never expected to like any other being, but against all odds, he developed a fondness for Eidolon, who was the only person who has ever been able to influence Roag at all.

Hair: Shaved, dark brown/black

Eyes: Dark brown

Height: 6' 3"

Species: Incubus

Breed: Seminus demon

Identifying features: Tattoolike symbols extending from tip of right fingers to shoulder. Irish accent.

Personal Seminus symbol: Snake swallowing its tail

Runa Wagner (RUE-nuh)—Grew up with her older brother, Arik, in a volatile household with an abusive, alcoholic father. When Runa was a teenager, her father left and her mother committed suicide, leaving Arik to raise Runa. She dated Shade during a hard time in her life. His betrayal led to even harder times.

Hair: Shoulder-length, caramel brown

Eyes: Pale champagne

Species: Werewolf