Shifters of Grrr 2 (84 page)

They were gone in a flash before she even had time to get loose or realize she was in danger. They reappeared in an unfamiliar castle. It seemed darker than and not as luxurious as Zorth's. "What have you done, Douen?" she asked.

"I've saved my cousin some heartache and captured a prize for myself. I'll be smart enough not to fall for you and ruin my future," he replied.

"Zorth is going to kill you," she vowed.

He paled for a second and then grinned. "Not if he can't find me and he has no way of knowing who took you. He'll suspect his father first. He may never get past believing he did it."

"Bad deeds will always catch up with you," she promised.

"I have no worries about things catching up with me. I do bad deeds all the time and never suffer any consequences. Now come here and show me some attention. I've stolen you fair and square," he said with a chuckle.

"I don't think so, you buffoon."

"You have to, I'm an incubus and you can't resist me," he insisted.

"I can resist you without a problem. Take me back to my mate, now!"

"You're not going back so you might as well adjust to me. I'm as attractive and smart as Zorth. I'm smarter actually since I took you from him. Did I tell you I love artists? I have a couple other females who paint for me. Behave for me and I'll get you some supplies so you can paint a picture of me."

"Does that actually work?"

He looked at her confused. "Yes, every time until you. Are some humans immune to incubi?"

"I think I might be immune to most magic." She thought it might be because she was a fulcrum. Her ability to concentrate magic might depend on her immunity to it. The more thought she gave it, the more certain she was that it was true.

"You are truly amazing. I've picked up an incredible prize. Even if I can't do anything with you, I know several demons who would be unable to resist the challenge." He rubbed his hands together fiendishly. What was going to happen to her?

He led her to a wing of the castle that was kept under guard and herded her inside. He stepped out and pushed the door shut. She heard it lock. She turned back to face the room and was confronted by two women. They stared at her neither friendly nor threatening silently watching to see what she would do. She looked around the large room noting that it was set up like a living room with couches, settees, and chairs. One of the ladies, a blonde, was doing embroidery. The other lady, a red head, was sewing something.

There seemed to be no books, certainly no TV, and no way to entertain them except womanly pursuits. She saw stacks of cloth, wool, spools of thread, needles and other items used in crafts. Some she recognized, others she could only guess what they might be used for. She looked out the windows but saw they were covered with bars. She walked to the nearest empty chair and sat down.

"I hope I'm not imposing, ladies," she said. The blonde one giggled while the red head gave her a regal nod which she assumed meant she was alright. "My name is Arabella."

"Oh what a lovely name. I'm Serreh and this is Neveha," said the blonde. She was clearly the friendlier and happier of the two.

She smiled and said, "Those are both lovely names too. Have you two been here long?"

"Too long to keep count. Douen doesn't visit us often I'm afraid so you'd best find a hobby," Serreh said. She smiled mischievously. "It is fun when he does visit and even more so when he takes one of us to his room."

Arabella was getting the picture and she wasn't pleased with Douen at all. She was sure these two ladies had families that wouldn't be pleased with him either if they knew what he was doing. "I'm a human. What are you two?"

"Well, I'm a witch. I was visiting my cousin who is half demon and Douen came to visit. The rest as they say is history," Serreh finished with a giggle.

"If you're a witch, can't you escape?" she asked.

"Probably not since the castle is likely warded against it. I'm not really sure, I've never tried," Serreh admitted.

"Might I ask why not?"

"Why would anyone want to escape from Douen? He's so handsome!"

Arabella could see that Serreh was totally besotted and no doubt under the influence of Douen's magic. "So Neveha, have you ever tried to escape?" Neveha just looked at her sadly.

"She doesn't talk. She tried to escape once and Douen had a silence spell put on her. She can't say a word and hasn't for more years than I can remember. When Douen's been gone a while, Neveha gets feisty and tries to leave. It never works."

"Can't you help Neveha escape?"

"Why ever would I do that? Douen would get mad!"

"Yes, but if she were gone and you convinced him it wasn't your fault, you would have more time with him.

"Well, yes, that's true. It would be nice to have more time especially since you're here too."

"If you helped us both escape, you could blame me and have Douen all to yourself!" She smiled at the poor obsessed witch who didn't even realize if Douen had taken her, she must not have been willing to come in the first place. Maybe his magic had been used on her so much, that it was permanent?

"That would be nice, to see more of Douen. He can be so sweet and he loves me. He really does."

"How could he help it? He just needs a little push so he'll see what you really mean to him."

"Do you really think so?" she asked shyly and full of hope. "Maybe we could find a way to get you two out of here. Neveha has magic but I don't know how much or what kind."

"Can you reverse the silence spell?"

"Maybe, I'm only a mid-level witch but the spell Douen used was a cheap one usually used for a nagging wife. It was never intended to be permanent. Do you have any magic?" she asked looking at her.

"I've been told I don't have enough to cast spells but I have a small amount I can add," she said not entirely truthful. Zorth had told her not to tell anyone she was a fulcrum and Serreh was wacky. Who knew what she'd do with the knowledge.

"Okay, I'm willing to try if you are. The guards don't pay much attention but we should keep it quiet anyway. Of course Neveha is always quiet," Serreh said thoughtlessly. Neveha looked angry but hid it quickly.

"We need to hold hands to join our power." Serreh stood and held both her hands out to them. Neveha stepped up on one side and grabbed that hand so she stepped over and grabbed the other. She worried about trusting Serreh but at this point what did she have to lose?

"Let the quiet one come undone. Silence was wanted but now let the voice be free. As I commanded, now let it be."

"Did it work, Neveha?" Neveha tried to speak but only a croak came out. She kept trying and her voice got better but it still was so raspy, it made no sense.

"I'm sure it will take her awhile to get the voice to work properly. Like everything else, use it or lose it. Once it's gone you have to work to get it back," Serreh said matter-of-factly.

There was nothing to do now but wait. She looked through the craft items and found a crochet hook and some yarn. She sat down and started to crochet a scarf. She wasn't very good, but she could make simple rectangular items. She was stuck for now and Neveha couldn't speak and Serreh spoke crazy shit. She was completely dedicated to Douen but she liked the idea of having him to herself. Hopefully the idea of harming them to get rid of them faster wouldn't appeal to her.

Chapter 13

Douen

He went back to see his mate after the last of the company left. He was anxious to see her and pull her into his embrace. He'd missed her while he'd dealt with all the family visitors. It was a problem to be expected when he'd been away what was considered a long time even by demons who lived forever. He walked into the sunroom but she must have left. He checked everywhere he could think getting more and more frustrated. Could she be angry and be hiding from him? He didn't think she would do that. He went to find Lilith and she was in her room.

"Lilith. Have you seen Arabella lately?"

"Not since this morning. She concentrates so hard on her painting I hate to bother her."

Well that was no help. He hit himself hard in the forehead. Why did he keep forgetting this was a magical world? With his witch's powers added to his demon's magic, he could do almost anything here. A simple spell would locate her. It would be a big deal back home but here it was a piece of cake especially since she was in the castle.

He cast the spell and waited. It flashed a scene of her with two other ladies but she wasn't in his castle anymore. He knew she didn't have friends in this realm so what the hell was going on? He calmed himself so he could think. She had no magic of her own so someone had taken her from here. He went back to the sunroom which he suspected was the scene of the crime. Only the fact that she'd looked calm and unworried allowed him to remain in control. A simple spell would tell him who had taken her. A spell only a high level witch like he was could do. He flashed away to get the needed ingredients, he would make someone suffer once he found the culprit.

He gathered all he needed for the spell and flashed back to the sunroom. He almost shook from anger and worry. Whoever had done this, family or not, would pay a heavy price. He combined the ingredients and lit them on fire. The smoke curled up and around making something like a picture frame. Once the smoke was strong enough, he demanded it reveal the truth. Shapes took form and he saw all. He had a cousin to find and punish, and a mate to reclaim. He was glad it had turned out not to be his father, because he didn't know if he could have overcome him. Douen would be no problem to overcome. That was, once he found out where his castle was.

He hurried to his room to call up Jarnel. He trusted his brother to help him and be honest unlike most demons. He waved his hand over the mirror and waited. Jarnel appeared moments later. He must be tied to his mirror to always appear so fast.

"Brother, have you run into trouble so soon?' he asked with a hint of amusement.

"No, trouble has run into me. Can you tell me how to get to Douen's place?"

"Douen? What's he done this time?" he asked.

"What is it he's done before?"

"I'm not certain, but there are rumors that he's abducted females. I've not seen any proof and the times there were complaints, they were rescinded." He had a grimace on his face showing he didn't want to believe his cousin would do such a thing.

"I can tell you without a doubt that he has taken a female against her will, a female that belongs to another."

Jarnel looked angry. "Your mate?" he asked.

"Yes, he took her a few hours ago. She is in a room with two other females."

"Douen has no females. I wonder who they could be."

"Probably more unwilling females." There was a time in their early history when females were treated more as property by some of their males, but laws protected them now. Taking them was not allowed and Douen knew it.

"Wait a second and I will come with you. This needs to be dealt with," Jarnel said.

He waited only a moment before Jarnel flashed to him. He looked as angry as Zorth felt and Douen would not be happy to see them. Jarnel grabbed his hand and they flashed again. This time they were in front of a castle smaller and not as well built as his own. The door was huge and made of heavy wood. There was a giant doorknocker in the shape of a devil. Jarnel grabbed it and pounded on the door. Instead of making a banging sound, it hissed.

He wouldn't wait long for someone to open the door. If no one came quickly, he would flash inside and smash Douen's face into the rock wall. He had no patience anyway and less when it came to his love and his mate. Jarnel pounded the knocker again and the hissing sound seemed even louder this time. It seemed to personify the impatience and frustration he was feeling. He could hear a sound on the other side of the door and a small panel slid open.

"Oh, King Jarnel, it's you. I wish you had let us know you were coming so we could prepare. We've only a small castle and we don't always keep things on hand."

The voice wasn't Douen's so he must have a steward in charge of his place. It was clear he knew Jarnel well. The door opened and a rather young demon stood there and he noticed him for the first time. "Who is this with you?"

"This would be your cousin Zorth," Jarnel announced.

"Zorth, this is Jeffe, Douen's son." It was unusual for a demon Douen's age to have offspring already. It wasn't encouraged to have children until a parent was in a position where they could provide properly for them. Douen still lived off his father's subsidy and had no income of his own.

"Nice to meet you Jeffe. Where is Douen?" he asked trying to sound casual but clearly failing if Jeffe's panic stricken look was anything to go by.

"He's gone and won't be back until tomorrow. Perhaps you could come back then?"

"I don't think so, Jeffe," Jarnel said. "We're coming in right now."

"Please, Jarnel. He'll be angry with me for letting you in when he's not here," Jeffe pleaded.

"I think he's going to have other worries besides you pretty soon," Zorth said as he pushed past the boy and into the room.

"How will we find her?" Jarnel asked.