Chapter 29 - Asmodeus
Iwas at home making myself breakfast when my phone suddenly started ringing. I grabbed it and saw Thea calling me. My heart started racing, dread coursing through my veins. I picked up and answered the phone immediately.
“Thea, what’s going on? Is Blair okay?” I barked at her.
Her voice trembling. “She’s out front, there’s a hellhound here,” she whispers. My blood runs cold. She’s in danger.
“I’m leaving right now.” Grabbing my keys and running out to my truck.
“Hurry.” She hangs up the phone. My heart is stuck in my throat, barely able to breath. My instincts kick in. Protect. Destroy.
I slam myself into the cab and peel out of the driveway, going faster than I should.
I’m a couple of more miles out from the bakery when a sudden, sharp pain stabs me in my chest. A gasp leaves my mouth as I can no longer feel Blair in our bond; it has gone dark and quiet.
A ragged, distraught, pained growl escapes from me.
Kill, kill, kill. Rage now fills my veins.
I step on the gas, my speed hitting ninety miles per hour.
* * *
I could see the beast and feel the satisfaction radiating from it as I rounded the corner.
I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the hellhound.
I could see Thea pulling Blair into the bakery, closing the door behind her.
I slammed on the brakes right in front, not caring that I was in the middle of the street.
I jumped out the door and stormed to the front, blocking the door, ensuring I was between the beast and Blair.
I could hear Thea through the glass door, “I got her, don’t worry. I’ve already started my healing magic. She and the baby are going to be okay. You have my word.” I nod my head in her direction, my appreciation for the healer growing. I could now focus on the threat in front of me.
Animosity choking the air around us. Your mate and child will soon be dead, demon. Can’t wait to kill you as well, the hellhound growls before it sprints off heading towards the forest.
I ran after it, stalking the beast into the forest. It was able to hide its body, but nothing would be able to conceal its stench.
It had the advantage of not being able to die and having acidic blood and saliva, but I was going to send it straight back to hell where it belonged.
The only way to send a demon or beast back to hell was with a special blade made from obsidian.
I always kept one in my truck just in case.
I noticed the drips of acid on the forest floor, the plants were dead from the contact.
The deeper I went, the stronger the stench.
I stopped to take a deep breath, to see what way the beast went, when suddenly it was behind me, leaping in the air towards me.
I dodged the hound but only barely, its claws ripping into my shoulder. I grunt from the pain, my skin burning.
The beast was now on its haunches in front of me, baring its teeth. You die today, demon. Then I’ll go back and kill your little mate and babe again, desecrating their corpses.
“You’ll be the one that’s destroyed today.
I’m sending you back to hell where you belong,” I growl as I get into a crouching position, obsidian knife in hand, ready for another attack.
The hound leaps at me, moving to the side as I slash my knife out, making contact with the beast’s stomach.
It lands on its feet, turning around quickly to face me.
How dare you harm me! The beast charges full speed toward me, losing its sanity and mind from the anger and humiliation. Good, the more wild it gets, the less calculated it will be, and the easier it will be to stab its heart and remove its head.
I dodge its next attack but its blood gets on my arm, the skin starting to burn and bubble.
The beast tries to come at me from behind, but I’m able to get the jump on it as my knife slashes across its throat.
It wasn’t deep enough; I’m going to have to hold it down to sever the head.
One more good hit should be enough to subdue the beast, allowing me to finish the job.
It’s furious now, but its movement is slower from the damage I have done.
It charges one more time at me, weaving to try and distract me, but I stab at the exact time it jumps, stabbing it in the heart.
I take my left hand and grab its head, slamming it to the ground on its back. I dig my blade in deeper as I yell.
“This is for my mate! How dare you!” I take the blade and sever its head.
The body disappears into wispy, thin, black smoke, no longer here.
I slump onto the ground, catching my breath.
Blood dripping down my chest from my wound, my hand numb as the acid works its way into the nerves of my skin.
I wipe the blood from my blade using my pants and put it back in its sheath.
I get up and try to figure out my way back to town and my mate. I’m not able to use our mate bond since she was knocked unconscious, but a small hum is finally there again. A sigh of relief escapes me; she’s okay.
Once I arrived back at the bakery, I could see that a million questions were running through Thea’s head. Yeah, you and me both, woman. The only thing I knew was that the hellhound had been stalking my mate for over four years, and he thought she was his. What a joke.
“Was it taken care of?” She asked, Blair still in her arms on the floor. Blood was coating her rumpled clothing and wrinkly hands. She looked scared and tired.
I nod. “Yeah, sent the fucker back to hell. Watched the body dissipate myself,” I gruffly state, barely wanting to talk right now.
She gives me a curt nod, “good.” She looks down at Blair, tenderness in her gaze.
She looks back up at me, “I healed her as best I could. There will be some surface damage, such as scarring and maybe some bruising, but she and the baby are strong. I could feel both hers and the baby’s life force fighting for their lives. ”
“Thank you for that, not sure what I would have done without you,” I choke out, on the brink of crying and breaking down from the thought of almost losing my mate.
“I’m happy you found each other. She’ll be good for you. I’ve known you since you moved to Hartford. I have never seen you this happy.” She wasn’t wrong on that one.
I was always grumpy and rarely smiled. I used to come to the bakery, take my treat and coffee to go, and head back home.
It was a rare occasion that I would sit in the bakery and eat.
That all changed when I met Blair. I would spend my entire day in the shop, focusing on my business.
But without those couple of years of solitude, I wouldn’t have been able to turn my business into what it is today.
I worked hard to make a name for myself in the business of custom body and car work, excelling on classic cars and imports.
I taught myself to put a car back together, piece by piece, but that was one of the perks of being a demon, excelling at anything I put my mind to and being able to make money easily.
“She’s my world. And I agree, I was a surly asshole. Am I able to take her home now?” Looking down at my unconscious mate.
“You should be good. She will probably be out for at least the rest of the day. If she doesn’t wake up by tomorrow, let me know, okay?” She stands up, giving me room to pick her up. I bend down and place my arms beneath her head and knees, carrying her bridal style, holding her against my chest.
“Will do. Thank you again. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for what you have done for my mate, baby, and in turn for me.” I owed this woman my life.
“This isn’t something that needs to be repaid, Asmodeus. I think of her as the daughter I never had. I’m happy to have you guys in my life, and that’s all I ask for in return, to be a part of it.”
“Of course,” I nod in appreciation towards her as I walk out of the building, the door closing behind me.
There is blood splattered on the sidewalk, which I try to ignore as I head to my truck.
I lay her down in the back seat and put one of the seatbelts around her waist to make sure she is safe. I hear the door open before I leave.
“Asmodeus! Wait! Are you okay? You didn’t ask me to heal your wounds.” She stares at my arm and shoulder, worry written over her face. My arm and shoulder are coated in blood, my shirt has been ripped apart, and deep wounds in my flesh are visible.
I grunt, “I’ll be okay. It will heal. My instincts are riding me hard to get Blair home and to safety. She’s more important than me.” She gives me a slow nod and closes the door. I appreciate the sentiment, but my mate comes first. I’m taking her home.
* * *
March 3rd
I held her all night, wrapped up in my arms, not able to leave her side.
Ever since the attack, she has been unconscious and hasn’t awoken.
Thea said she and the baby were okay, to give Blair some time, and she would wake.
Even though she was healed, there were still scars on her body from the attack.
I know I had nothing to do with the attack, and it wasn’t my fault, but I still felt the shame and guilt because I didn’t protect my mate.
I wasn’t there for her when she needed me, and that killed me inside.
I barely had gotten time with my mate, and she was snatched from my arms and almost killed.
The pain in my chest still lingers. My soul is crushed from the memories of our bond going dark.
It was such a debilitating moment for me; I thought my world was ending.
I will never let that happen again. I break down, large sobs wracking my body from the trauma of almost losing everything.
I breathe her in and hold her close to ground myself in the present.
“I’m sorry your birthday was ruined,” she croaked. Her voice startled me, not expecting her to awake. I bury my face into her hair and neck, breathing her in.