14. Erin
Chapter fourteen
Erin
I turned around and a hulking beast of a man stood in the doorway to Seth’s bedroom. Darkness and all things that should send me screaming in the opposite direction—besides the fact that my stunned ass was currently propped on the floor, legs tucked under myself in the least intimidating position possible—shrouded the guy. Was that what people meant when they mentioned an ‘aura’ about someone? If so, I never wanted to see one again because the shit is fucking intimidating.
“Uh, hi. Can I help you?” Annoyance laced my voice.
Be polite, Erin. Play this right.
I cleared my throat. “Are you one of Seth’s friends? He’s out right now. I didn’t realize anyone was coming over.”
Shut up shut up shut up. Be polite, not give the guy a run down of the fact that you’re here all alone, dumbass.
The man smirked, revealing pointed teeth.
Shit. Well, that can’t be normal.
“Oh, he was not expecting a visit from me, dear, I assure you.” A chill snaked its way down my spine.
“Who are you?” My voice surprisingly steady. I moved to a crouched position and edged myself backward, reaching for anything sharp, heavy. I backed into one of the loungers in front of Seth’s bookcases and my fingers graced the spine of a book tucked underneath it. It was thick. And therefore—praying to whoever listened—heavy.
He inched closer, seeming to glide along the floor, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. “I’m an old friend of sorts. I’ve come to collect something important. Or rather, someone.” He chuckled, and a pair of onyx black wings tipped with spikes sprouted from behind him. My jaw fell open. He cocked his head to the side, his smirk widening. Spindles of his flame kissed hair fell over his shoulder. Yellow eyes now stared me down. As if he were a predator and I was his prey. “You may call me Erebus, Erin Snow.”
I chucked the hardbound book, landing it flat against his chest, then thudding to the ground. Irritation rippled through him and he lunged. He drew his arm back, claws ripping from his jeans. Aiming directly for my throat. He landed his mark, my neck clenched within his grasp. I struggled for breath, sucking in what I could as his grip tightened. He laughed, the sound reverberated along his arm and to where he held me in midair. My breath left me. I shut my eyes, scratching at his hand around my throat. I kicked outward, knocking him in the center of his chest. Nothing. No effect.
To all hell, what the fuck was the point of getting stronger with this whole Nephilim thing if kicking this dickwad in the chest isn’t going to do shit?
“Open your eyes for me, dearest. I want you to see me as you slowly fade.” I squeezed my eyes together harder.
I need to do something. Anything.
I thought back to the day before, when electricity jumped from my fingertips, then the dream I had.
There has to be a way for me to conjure it.
I dove deep. I sucked in what breath I could, then searched inward. Smoke flickered behind my lids.
There.
I imagined myself reaching for it. Grabbed it and tucked it into myself. My eyes snapped open, and I released it. But instead of my lightning, there were flames. I flicked my eyes to Erebus, cracking a strained cocky smirk of my own. I shot the flame outward, nailing him in the face. He yanked his claws back, dropping me to the ground. I landed square on my ass and scrambled back to my feet, slightly crouching into a defensive position. My flames danced in the palms of my hands, begging to be used. I shot them out again, hitting Erebus in one of his wings, then the other. He roared, shaking his head side to side, trying to dissipate the fire that engulfed his head, matching the hair that slowly burned. I took the distraction as my opportunity to dodge around him and sprint toward the living room and out the door.
I bolted out of the bedroom, throwing a look over my shoulder to see if my newfound flame still held, as well as another ball of fire, aimed directly for his ass for good measure. And ran right into solid rock. I stumbled back, my gaze trailed upward. Standing above me was another not-human-but-not-sure-what-the-hell-he-was seven-foot or more brute. Black hair shaved short on the sides, a raised, red, welted scar through his left eye, the corners of his mouth turned downward, in a scowl. He jutted his arm out toward me. I called my flame up and braced myself to fight. He stopped. Flexed his hand open, his claws extended.
A black smoke floated away from his hand. His mouth formed a loose ‘o’ and blew the thick vapor at me. My mind became foggy as a wave of confusion fell over me.
“Sleep.”
I’d woken up chained and dangling from some stone-clad ceiling. I took in the room around me. The walls followed the same theme as the ceiling, built entirely out of stone. Decorated with iron shields along the stone, marigold-stained fabric draped in between. Hues of purple accented each piece. Flails, morning stars, and a variety of other weapons dotted the spots in between. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a throne—a literal fucking throne—all decked out in the same yellows and purples that decorated the rest of the room. I huffed and rolled my eyes. Clearly someone spent too much time at the renaissance fair.
Where the hell am I? The thirteenth century?
Someone snapped their fingers, gaining my attention.
“Ah, Erin Snow, you’re finally awake. Here I began to worry that you might need some rousing. Well, maybe worried isn’t the right word.” The rimy statement dug its claws into my flesh. My narrowed gaze found the man attached to the vomit-inducing voice. He ran a grayish-purple tongue along his thin lips. I racked my brain trying to recall where I recognized the spawn-from-hell looking guy. My memory felt hazed. “You’re probably still feeling the effects of Asier’s talents.” He spread his mouth into a bone chilling grin. Dread pooled in my stomach.
Oh no.
“Erebus,” I whispered.
Erebus threw his head back and laughed. “Not so slow after all!” He clapped. “A gold star for the little Nephilim.”
I shot him a glare and flicked my wrist as best as I could in the shackles that bound my wrists. I dove inward until I found what I was searching for. I pulled on the tethers of my lightning and shot a couple bolts at his feet, missing by a few inches.
Erebus scowled. “Now, that wasn’t very polite, Erin Snow. You should mind your manners.”
“Oh, bite me, you hell-spawned dick with wings.” I spat at him and sent another spark flying toward him.
He growled, managing to catch it in his hand like he was Zeus for fucks sake. It dissipated. Vanished.
What the actual fuck?
“What the hell are you? And what do you want with me?” I demanded, gritting my teeth.
He glided forward, stopping inches from the tips of my breasts. His yellow eyes licked their way up to my face, causing me to squirm in my shackles, a cold sweat broke out along the nape of my neck. Erebus lifted a single clawed finger to my chin, lifting it slightly, assessing my pale, exposed skin.
I gulped.
His pupils dialed in on the movement. “I, little Nephilim, am your worst nightmare,” the pointed smile returned, spreading across his face. “For I am Erebus. One of the mightiest Demons from Hell.” He swooped his wings outward in emphasis, a cloud of orange and red puffed around us. Erebus pulled my chin downward, his eyes pierced mine, holding me. “And you”—he closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if he were inhaling the fear that no doubt emanated from my body—“are The Key.”
I furrowed my brows. “Key? Key to what, dude? Do I look like a small chunk of brass you could shove into a door? Have you lost your marbles?”
He licked his lips again. As his tongue neared the corner of his mouth, he flicked it, tapping my lower lip.
Pure anger filled me.
Son of a bitch.
A quick flash back to the break-in from my teenage years danced around the edges of my vision. His mouth widened in satisfaction. He lapped at me again. This time when his grey-slug of an appendage brushed my lips, attempting to slither its way into my mouth, I loosened my lips, to allow entry. Then bit down as hard as I could, drawing what I assumed was the Demon’s equivalent of blood and spat black sludge in his face.
Erebus hissed, lurching back. His fist barreled toward me.
I shut my eyes, expecting the hit to land in the dead center of my face. Instead, his claws extended and lashed straight through my T-shirt, slashing it open, and tearing bits of my bra. I felt the gooey warmth of blood as it pooled at the top of my breast. The pain was scorching. Tears threatened to fall. I clamped my mouth shut, forcing them back.
Not today, you fucking creep.
Erebus brought his crimson coated claws to his nostrils. Inhaling, his pupils rolled back. His snake of a tongue slipped out and lapped my blood off the tips, a guttural moan echoed off the stone walls. “Absolutely decadent.”
I braced myself for him to creep closer again. Instead, he waved his fingers, claws retracted, and the brute from Seth’s house, Asier, stepped forward with what looked like a bull whip in his hand. My eyes narrowed.
Motherfucker.
I squirmed in my restraints trying to worm myself free, yanking at my wrists and ankles. Only managing to further mangle myself in the process. The cuffs etched into my wrists, blood slowly seeped down my arms from the skin being rubbed raw. Asier readied his whip, bound in leather. Erebus stood to the side, bulging arms crossed over one another to rest on his puffed-out chest, shoulders rolled back. Devilish wings splayed behind him.
This fucker is going to enjoy this.
Asier jerked his arm back then snapped it forward, cracking the whip against my thigh, tearing away at my black gunk-covered leggings.
I clenched my jaw, forcing the scream building in my throat back down.
Do not give them the satisfaction.
Asier yanked the whip back again, cracking it against my other thigh, another strip of fabric snatched away with it. Twin gashes ignited with a burning pain where the whip had made contact with my bare flesh. Erebus grew smug, his fangs glinting in the light of the stoned room. The whip cracked again, lashing against my stomach. I gritted my teeth.
The next one landed on my arm, leading the whip to fully wrap itself around before it was yanked back, tearing my skin. Asier went for my legs again. And again. And again. Each time, I braced myself for the impact. Slowly pushing down the pain. Forcing myself to go numb, extracting my self mentally from the torture. I could feel the wind from the constant cracking of the whip prickling up and down my thighs, my torso. Hardly anything was left of my clothing.
Do not give them the satisfaction of seeing the pain.
I chanted over and over.
Do not cry. Do. Not. Cry.
The whipping eventually stopped; my mouth still clamped shut. I dragged my glossy eyes upward from my focus point on the blood-stained stone floor beneath me.
How is there any left inside me?
The thought drifted lazily, a fog nipped at the outer rim of my consciousness.
Erebus had drifted closer, once again stopping mere inches from me. His voice, sinister, crept along my skin, leaving goose bumps. “You seemed to have left us there for a moment, Little Nephilim. Maybe we must ensure your punishment for biting me and misbehaving…another way.”
My stomach dropped. A whimper escaped my lips. The corners of his mouth lifted, excitement lighting his eyes. I squeezed mine closed, begging.
Seth, Libby…Somebody please help me.
Flame danced behind my eyelids, forming itself into a ball. My brows furrowed together. Energy surged from it. It was searching.
An idea formed. And I imagined it hurtling through the air.
Please. Please.
A tear rolled down my cheek as I prayed that somehow, the flame I pictured was real and not my mind playing tricks on me. I had no idea why or what pushed me to do so but I imagined the flame finding them, warning them.
A gust of wind nipped at my bare flesh and I was suddenly alone.
Run.
But it dawned on me.
If…if they come…Erebus will torture them too.
He’ll torture Derik…and Libby.
Seth.
And it would all be because of me.
A sob fell from my lips.
I choked as the air thickened, my watery eyes shot open. Erebus stood before me, his tongue flicked against my exposed stomach. Bile rose in my throat. He snickered and snaked his way downward. My pulse quickened. A wave of nausea coursed through my body.
No. No. No. No. No.
He stopped at the hem of my panties. I stifled a cry. His pupils narrowed. He brought one of his talons near my center, stroking it up and down my inner thigh. My body convulsed, drained from the lashings, the fear broke through to the surface. He snagged his claw along the edge of my panties and traced the hem. His tongue jutted out and flicked my center before plunging into my folds. I cried out, tears streaked my face, as he pumped it in and out of me.
No.
I felt something inside me break and screamed as Erebus delved deeper with each thrust of his tongue.
“Erebus.” He stopped. Slowly pulling his tongue out of me. He turned to another Demon, who was panting, hands clutching his knees. “They’re here.”
Another bone chilling laugh echoed throughout the room. “Excellent. Bring them in,” Erebus returned his attention back to me. “It seems…the others have arrived.” I shook, my eyes widened in fear.
There’s more of them coming.
They’re going to rape me and kill me when they’re finished with me.
I choked back another sob.
A wrought iron door groaned open on the opposite end of the room. A Demon, their skin matching various shades of blue, walked in, dragging three bodies behind them.
I squinted my already strained eyes to catch a glimpse of who was being dragged into this hell hole. I gasped. Seth, Libby, and Derik were all knocked out and chained together. A bead of hope flickered in my chest.
They came.
Immediately it extinguished. They were unconscious and now damned with me, stuck in this medieval torture chamber. And I could do nothing to help them.
The others have arrived.
Erebus’s overly-excited voice replayed in my mind. He was expecting them.
I was his bait.
It was as if a knife had been thrust directly into my stomach.
This is all my fault.
The Demon that had dragged them in, yanked Libby and Derik toward the wall adjacent to where I was suspended and lumped them together. Libby had a patch of blood that stained her shirt around her middle. Derik seemed unscathed beyond being unconscious. Seth was dragged directly across from me. The Demon adjusted his shackles, linking the cuffs around his wrists to the chain encompassing his ankles, bolting him to the floor. He was slumped over on his side, a gash on his forehead steadily bled onto the stone floor, his shaggy onyx hair became matted with it. From where I hung, he didn’t seem to be harmed anywhere else.
Okay, so nothing too serious. Yet.
I breathed. Until I caught sight of Erebus sauntering his way to Seth, another smaller Demon trailing behind him. It was about the height of a large dog. Short, maroon wings jutted out from its back, twitching as they neared Seth’s unconscious body. The little Demon snapped its fingers and a small blade appeared in its hand. A lump lodged in my throat.
They’re going to hurt him.
I have to do something.
Anything.
I swallowed the lump down and yelled with all the venom I could manage, attempting to keep my voice from shaking, knowing full well what I might be subjecting myself to again. “Hey shit brains!” I took a quick breath.
Better me than him.
“Was that all you got? Here I thought you were supposed to be some big bad Demon,” I forced a cocky grin. “Clearly, you’re all talk, asswipe.” Erebus snapped his attention back to me. But not before kicking Seth in the stomach.
The Demon nearest Libby and Derik followed suit, nailing each of them in their middles, Libby in her unconscious state coughed up blood. I lurched forward in my suspended restraints. “Leave them the hell alone.” I spat in Erebus’s direction. He growled and motioned for Asier, before vanishing into thin air.
What the?
Asier stepped toward me, his whip cracked. Landing directly on my thigh once again.
I focused my line of sight on Seth. He began to stir. I gritted my teeth as another lash came barreling down on my flesh. The little Demon pushed Seth upward, so he was kneeling. Head tilted upward.
These sick fucks.
He blinked, his ocean blue eyes blurry and unfocused. They widened as he seemed to register where he was. I kept my eyes steady with his, the distraction a lifeline as I heard the whip crack again, biting me in my side. Seth thrashed in his chains, only to be yanked back. I could feel sweat as it coated my forehead. Seth panted heavily, eyes darting around the room.
Erebus took that moment to saunter back into the room. His hands clasped behind him as he strode in. He looked between me and Seth. He chuckled as he moved to stand behind me.
Seth growled, “Get the fuck away from her, you piece of shit.” Fire rumbled in my veins.
I felt Erebus’s slimy tongue jut out, tasting my neck. I held back the shivering that threatened to overtake my body and forced the images of moments prior to the back of my mind. Erebus snaked his tongue along my jaw, gripping my chin. “Lovely, isn’t she?” His tongue flicked my jaw, a demonic purr rumbled with the movement. “And she tastes just as delicious as she looks.”
His tongue began to slip lower, flames charged forward, enveloping me. I sent them racing outward toward Erebus, unleashing them onto his deviled wings.
Burn you son of a bitch.
Erebus jolted back, hissing. “How. Dare. You,” he ground out. He snatched the whip from Asier, raised it, and landed a blow directly on my throat. The air left my lungs. My flame disappeared.
And everything went black.