Redeeming the Night (20 page)

Another raspy laugh. “You may end me, but the Mother can reach you here. She can reach you anywhere. Your new pets will never be safe.”

“They will not be harmed.”

“Once your transformation is complete, the Mother need only reach our her hand to control you. You will kill them all yourself. You have no choice.” Tarma crept to her right, and Ashley matched her steps.

“There’s only one alternative.” Ashley felt the beast rise within her again. “You all must die.” Wings spread. Claws sprouted from her fingertips. She would end this threat now.

A baby’s wail pierced the air.

Ashley stopped and glanced back.

Ryan straightened and did the same.

“Ah. Another pet,” Tarma purred. “You could swallow that one whole, you know, and if it’s male, it would be the sweetest treat you could imagine.”

Ashley rounded, and Ryan advanced, both growling.

Tarma launched herself and wobbled in the air a moment. “You have till sunrise. Deliver yourself or the Mother will have you dispatch your pets and return. You will come back to us, all the same.” A powerful beat of her wings and Tarma lifted further into the air. She circled the house screaming before flying into the night.

“Are you all right?” Ryan closed the distance, ignoring Ashley’s wings and still whipping tail.

She didn’t need to debate this. Changing into her own form would mean discussion. Discussion would mean at least Eric coming along, and she couldn’t put him in danger. As it was, she’d already interfered in Ryan and Lydia’s happy world. She wouldn’t cause anyone else misery.

“Tell Eric I’ll be back by dawn.” The cries of the newborn quieted. Eric would be out soon. If she saw him she’d never be able to leave. “Go. Take care of that baby.”

She leapt into the air; perhaps this was the one thing she’d miss once she returned the ring, provided she was able to survive the night.

Ryan shouted something unintelligible as her powerful wings lifted her into the sky and away from her love. For years, she’d given the concept of love no thought. Then, for one brief moment, she’d permitted herself to dream of a family, a future. She had to protect everything she held dear, the prospect of raising children with a man who completed her more than the sisterhood ever had. Eric would understand. He had to.

Cities scrolled beneath her as she winged her way back to Las Vegas.

• • •

“It’s a girl,” Eric quietly announced as Ryan approached his sleeping wife and child.

Ryan stroked his wife’s hair, then stood, and took Eric’s shoulder. “Ashley said to tell you she would be back by dawn.”

“Back by dawn? Where the hell did she go?” Eric struggled to keep his voice hushed, though even as he asked, he knew the answer.

Ryan’s hand reached as if aching to caress the child’s head. “The demon told her if she didn’t they would kill us all.” He met Eric’s gaze. “She didn’t give me a chance to talk her out of it. She said she’d be back,” Ryan repeated.

The urge to race out the door was so strong, but Eric sat. Slowly. “No, she won’t. She’s trading her life for ours.”

Ryan unfolded the baby quilt Eric’s nana had given them and tucked in his wife and child. “Go after her.”

Eric stood. Then sat, rubbing a hand through his hair. “They flew. I’ll never make it in time.”

“Call Silas.” Lydia opened an eye just a bit. “Remind him of that article you wrote a few years back. He kept saying he owed you because his business went through the roof.”

Ryan had his cell out and was already dialing. “I interviewed him for an article about the market for small plane tours. He cashed in on the publicity and has called me several times to offer us trips here and there. I’ll tell him this makes us even, and maybe he’ll leave it alone.” He smiled at his wife. “Two birds, one stone.”

“Glad I could help,” Lydia muttered as she closed her eyes again.

• • •

To avoid being seen Ashley attempted to fly over the less inhabited areas. She hugged treetops to stay off the radar. When she reached the desert she flew as low as she could, though the sand still radiated around her head and the thermal seemed to want to lift her higher into the air.

Perhaps by the end of the day she’d be worthy of Eric. He fought his fears daily. He had the most beautiful aura.

He said they were mated, and though she hadn’t known him to lie, it was hard to believe so simple a thing as sex could irrevocably bind them. It had been years, but she remembered what great sex was, and it
was
great sex. Was it more? Maybe. Probably. Toward the end, before all the nerves in her body ignited, there might have been something. She’d felt closer to him than everyone. Even now, she seemed to feel his heart breaking. Or maybe it was hers.

The lights of Vegas lit the horizon. She couldn’t simply fly up to the sisterhood’s house. She’d have to land on the outskirts and probably borrow a car. If she lived, she’d return it; if not, the sisters would move it to a place where it would be safe till found. They’d had to borrow vehicles in the past. They’d always seemed to do the right thing, like returning them.

Things like that were what had kept her so blind for so long. She’d saved all those women from toxic relationships, and she’d been stuck for years in the worst one of all.

• • •

Silas landed his small four-seater plane on the closest airfield to the succubus mansion. “Sorry I can’t take you closer.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Eric climbed down and began to sprint across the pavement.

Silas called after him, “Do you want me to stay a day or so … in case you can’t find your girl? Vegas is a big city.”

“Thanks, but I have a very good idea where I’ll find her.”

Night still covered the sky, though the stars seemed to disappear in the east. Only about two hours till sunrise. The sisters would be readying themselves for her arrival. Of course she would come.

Ashley prayed, to any deity listening, that somehow their attention would be drawn elsewhere so she could acquire the element of surprise, but of course she knew better.

She landed in a small park at the edge of the housing complex. Few were out and about this time of day. Mostly joggers in spandex with their earbuds in, eyes focused on the road ahead and minds engaged in their own worlds. She descended in a small stand of juniper.

She would require a disguise, as she couldn’t wander around Vegas as a demon. She assumed the appearance of someone on their morning run.

She jogged in place a moment or two before emerging from the brush, and trotted toward the path. Her lungs filled with the fresh morning air, the rhythm of her shoes on the pavement reminded her of the beat of her wings. In another life, she could really have enjoyed the run. But today—

A huge black figure bolted from across the deserted playground. It headed straight for her.

She braced herself, ready to shift. Then she got a good look at the creature and saw herself in his heart. She ran to meet him, cursing. “Stupid” and “pigheaded” were the nicest things she said.

In a bound, he shifted into himself, naked as a jaybird. His self-satisfied smirk was the only thing stopping her from smacking him.

“I told you not to follow me.” She was barely able to rein in the shout.

He slipped a backpack from his shoulder and unzipped it. “No, you didn’t.”

“I told Ryan to tell you.”

“You told Ryan to say you’d be back in the morning.” He dressed as if they were in private. Then he stopped, barefoot and bare-chested, to catch her hand. “It’s morning, and I’m an impatient man. You can’t expect me to wait until the sun is up to see you.”

She growled. “I wanted you to be safe. This isn’t your fight. This isn’t their fight. You all are my family now. Just being around me puts you in danger. But I can fix that.”

He pulled on an old Van Halen t-shirt and sat on a nearby bench for his socks and sneakers. “Couples compromise. I left the rest of the family at home.” Dressed, he pulled two guns and four clips from the backpack and tossed the empty sack under the bench. “We didn’t all come. Ryan is following your instructions to look after his baby. They both send their regards, by the way.”

She swatted at him. He easily ducked and then caught both of her arms. “When I was human, I thought I would fall in love and get trapped in marriage by some woman eventually. When I became … this, I was broken. I couldn’t even date anymore. I thought there was no hope of finding anyone that would be able to deal with the monster that I’ve become.” She started to protest, but he lifted a finger and continued. “Then, there you were. Accepting me for everything I am and reminding me that even as this”—he tapped his chest—“I can do so much good. I will not lose, you know.” He ran a finger under her jawline. “I’m much too stupid and pigheaded for that.”

They crossed the lawn and stood before the ornate door. It had never been locked before, and today was no different. She placed a hand on the latch and pushed. It swung open without a sound. They both hesitated.

“Is anybody home?” Eric whispered. “We’d like to kill you now.”

She elbowed him and received a wink in return. He’d given her one of his guns and an extra clip. They raised their weapons now as they crossed the threshold. Nothing. No sound other than their breathing.

When she turned around he was admiring the mural. “I’m no art critic, but this is kind of nice.”

She rolled her eyes and glanced in the adjoining rooms. No sign of anyone. She crossed to the entrance to the kitchen. Nothing. She expected someone to be around. They knew she was coming. Someone should have been there to greet her. Or at least take her into custody.

Then she heard it, and her shoulders tightened. Chanting came from the door under the stairs. The basement. They’d started a ritual. One she didn’t recognize.

Her blood ran cold, and for the twentieth time, she mentally cursed that Eric had tagged along.

She gripped his arm. “I don’t want you going down there. They will tear you to pieces just because you’re a man.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. He placed a hand on the doorknob. “Shall we?”

She kissed him and then nodded. They were outnumbered, and the Mother had more magic in one pinky than Ashley had ever dreamed of having. She was with Eric, they were together; hopefully that was all they needed.

She descended the stairs first. Every step was familiar. She ran her hand along the wall; her fingertips recognized every cool stone. This place had been her home for decades. She’d laughed and cried in this house alongside these women. The sisterhood had been her family. Now, without hearing her out, they’d turned on her and would destroy her new family. The people who truly loved her.

But the sisterhood loves you. We would give all to see you succeed. You belong with us.

Her body trembled.
This man hasn’t given anything. He’s stolen your heart, tampered with your mind. He doesn’t deserve to hold your soul.
Ashley’s stomach soured.
You should take it back. Take back your soul. Rip it out. Rip it out.

She stopped and braced her hands on either wall.

Rip it out. Take it back.

No, he hadn’t stolen anything. She’d given it to him.

Rip it out. Take it back.

She’d welcomed him. She loved him. She swayed under the pressure.

• • •

Eric stopped behind her. He couldn’t understand the chant, but he did feel its weight. It pushed on his body like the pressure of a plane at takeoff. The sisterhood knew they had entered the mansion. They pressed into the couple’s minds.

Ashley had braced herself in the passageway, her head bowed. He knew she felt the chanting more than he did. He wanted to help her. But how? He reached out a hand and laid it on her back. “I love you,” he whispered.

She gasped. Her whole body went rigid. Then, after a few moments, she turned her pale face to him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

He didn’t know what he’d done, or how it worked, but he sent out a silent prayer of thanks that it had.

The chanting continued to get louder the deeper they went. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and called out, “Your nasty singing won’t stop us. We will end you.”

Eric’s voice echoed through the stairwell, and the chanting faltered.

Then Ashley herself giggled, and the tinkle of it reverberated against the stone, again tripping up the chanting.

She called out to the chanting women. “The sisterhood is run by demons. The Mother and Tarma are not what you think. We don’t have to kill the men. They can be saved. We can make a difference without demons. Come with me. Let me show you how.”

She reached back and took his hand, and together they descended the stairs to the bottom. The chanting continued, but the damage was done. The pressure was alleviated. The passage curved at the bottom, but before they turned the corner and faced the hordes that wanted to kill them he needed to do one thing.

He reached for Ashley and kissed her deeply. They were joined. They were one. Male and female. They had balance. When she leaned back, she said, “I love you.”

She passed him her gun. He started to try to stop her. But she raised a finger to her lips, stepped back, faced the chanting, pulled a knife from her pocket, and made to cut off the finger with the black onyx ring. Around the corner, the room erupted in screams, halting her knife and causing it to fall from her fingers. Running footsteps warned them of their approach. Eric passed Ashley back her gun and stepped to her side.

Seconds later, several women sprinted around the corner. And Eric opened fire. In such a narrow hall the noise set their ears ringing instantly. It was easy for him to pick them off. With strangled cries, they fell to the floor.

They came in waves. One group would fall, a few moments would pass, and another would round the bend.

• • •

Ashley stood rooted to the spot, gun half raised, holding back sobs. Nine had fallen. They came without weapons. Nothing but their raised hands and hollow screams to defend themselves. There was only one word for it. Slaughter.

“Stop,” Ashley called to the Mother creature who held sway over these women. “You’re killing them. Give them a choice. Let them flee.”