Dezirah Volume 2

Dezirah Volume 2

By Jacey K Dew

Published by Jacey Dew at Smashwords

Copyright 2017 Jacey K Dew

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To all my friends and family who have supported me through the years.

Chapter 1

It makes no sense. What’s their story? They decided to come with us really fast; too fast. Daniel makes subtle accusations in his questions. The same questions have crossed my mind a couple times now.

The whole situation felt a little too convenient and scripted like coincidences that happen in movies to move the plot along. They threw themselves in front of our truck and talked with us for no time at all before they were suddenly a part of our group.

We’re supposed to be besties now; apparently.

A feminine voice starts on my right side. She had gone unnoticed in the dark outside the glowing half circle of the fire. Let me put it this way, a King comes to you and asks you to join his group with no explanation; what would you do? Or, do you not even realize how important a person James is? Why did you decide to follow James when you don’t even know that he’s magic folk royalty? Besides, isn’t that basic nature, something instinctual that humans or rather most beings crave to be in large groups for protection? There is bite to Calli’s voice.

I almost feel guilty for Daniel when Calli pipes up. He looks as surprised as I’m certain I look, yet not as bashful.

Welcome to the group. Now were going to talk about you behind your backs, but still within earshot.

All three newcomers had heard what he said. They emerged from the dark one by two.

Her mention of magic folk royalty brings back memories from a couple weeks ago. Memories forced into my head from Sandra’s magic. I cringe at the memory of the itchy feeling magic. There were four people up on the stage, and James had been one of them. Seth had been another. I haven’t seen the other two yet, but one was Ashlynn’s sister; the fire elemental.

I wonder how long before the war did that gathering happen. Where did it happen?

Looking further back, I don’t remember any of the guys gone for any long periods of time. Maybe it happened close to home? It would explain why so many important people were in and around our town.

The war started and I was immediately introduced to two council leaders and two elementals. Four people apparently very high up in demon society. It couldn’t have been just coincidence that all those important people were in the same area at the same time.

Daniel sputters, and stumbles over some sounds. That doesn’t explain anything.

Calli rolls her eyes. She and the other two settle down in our circle around the fire. Yes, it does. James is the magic folk council representative. He is one of four people who rule all supernatural beings. He and Niklas, the diurnal council representative, are against the aggressive revolution. They tried to stop all this from happening. They are trying to restore peace. We want that too. Is that good enough for you, or do I have to explain it for you further? Calli arches her eyebrow questioning him.

So, what are you? Brad asks her in a notion to save Brad from further embarrassment. There is an undertone of distaste impossible to miss.

A shiver creeps up my spine. I pull my limbs closer to me. The wind has shifted and I no longer have the heat directed my way.

I’m a succubus. Calli smiles at him, flashing teeth.

I’m pretty sure succubuses have sex with men and steal their souls. At least, that’s how they are portrayed in movies.

Are all of you succubuses? He doesn’t look to happy. I would go so far to say that he is disgusted with the news.

Succubi if it’s plural. Calli corrects him and explains as a matter of fact. But no, they’re both as human as humans can be. She waves her hand at Jaiden and Lucas.

Why are two humans with a succubus? Brad directs the question towards her companions.

Lucas ignores the question, leaving Jaiden to answer. She looks up at him from the ground. It doesn’t matter. We’re friends.

Did you know what she is? Brad sneers.

Jaiden scrunches her eyebrows and shakes her head. Yes, again, not that it matters.

Of course it matters. Brad throws his hands up in the air. Shawn sits looking at his friend with a blank face. His jaw line tightens.

No, it doesn’t. Jaiden paces her words. A small space of time between each of the three words reminds me of how one might speak to a small child to get a point across. She continues on at a normal pacing. What she is, what anyone is, doesn’t have any bearing on how I think of them. Nor should it matter to anyone else. Sure, it’s interesting to know ancestral background, cultural behaviour and nuances, or particulars, but no one should be judged on their species. Judge them as a person. Are they a generally good person; yes or no? That is what is important. And, if you want to be friends with them, it helps if your personalities get along or you have a couple common interests.

You’re naïve. Brad accuses her. Her jaw drops slightly as her right eyebrow raises, and she looks deeply offended.

You’re an idiot. Calli’s volume raises a couple levels, and deepens in her anger. She’s a certified genius, and if more people thought like her we wouldn’t be in this mess. Maybe supernaturals would have felt like they had the option of revealing themselves without hate and backlash. Maybe we would have been assured that we wouldn’t be killed or experimented on. Maybe, we would have felt we would be accepted as more than a second class citizen. Maybe, we would have thought we wouldn’t suddenly be scrutinized and treated like we were dangerous monsters. If more people were like Jaiden racism wouldn’t exist.

I’m not racist. I’m cautious. Brad’s defence of himself falls short of being convincing.

You’re a racist. You’re disgusted by me because you learned what I am. The first thing you said to me was ‘what are you?’ Then, you ask my friends if they knew; as if that would change their mind about me. You sir, are a racist. Calli points at him to further make her point.

Well, if you’re so goody goody, what was the first thing you said to her? Brad asks Jaiden. I can see he is trying to deflect the attention off him and to someone else now, but I don’t think it’ll work the way he thinks it will.

Lucky Daniel got out of this conversation while he still could.

Even in the fire light, I can see a blush rise on her face. I don’t remember exactly. She looks at Calli for help.

Calli laughs a little. Well, after you were done screaming, you grabbed your knife and told me to stay where I was. She looks back at Brad and addresses him. But, to be fair, I broke into her room while she was sleeping. Once I explained what I was doing there, we kissed and made up; now were friends.

So if you didn’t ask what she was, then how did you find out she was a succubus? He asks smugly.

That was part of her explaining what she was doing in my room. She had planned on taking a couple years off my soul, but I woke up first. Jaiden explains.

I feel like there’s a good story in there somewhere. Stephanie pushes for more information.

Jaiden shrugs her shoulders. Not much extra to say about it. Calli went to my house to gather supplies. I was sleeping in my room, and woke up when she opened my door. At first I thought if I pretended to sleep she might leave, but she didn’t. So I grabbed my knife and jumped out of my bed. I threatened her and got her to explain herself. I decided to trust her and she took me back with her to the group she was staying with. She trails off. Calli and Jaiden exchange looks.

A few people comment at the same time. I don’t catch any of it.

Calli sighs. I’m not a danger to any of you. I just need to eat souls sometimes in order to live. I only take a couple years at a time, and never more than that from the same person. No one ever notices it by the end. How many humans actually die of old age? It’s practically nonexistent.

Her explanation raises more questions than answers, but most important of all is ‘how do I know she hasn’t already stolen part of my soul?’ Or, it could be ‘will she take some of my soul in the future?’

Brad, of course, is the first to voice his own question. But you could take more right?

Yes, I could. There are some succubi that will devour the entire soul; killing the person and their soul in the process. I’ve never done that though, and I don’t ever plan on doing that. At least she sounds sincere about this part. I have my doubts that she wouldn’t ever eat a soul belonging to someone in our group. Demons are still demons after all. If she has to, I’m sure she wouldn’t hesitate to take part of someone’s soul.

At this point, I’m quite sure her first target would be Brad, so at least I’d be safe on the first round.

But you could just take our souls while we sleep. Brad gets to the point that I am sure is on everyone else’s minds too.

Just as easy as you could stab me with your dagger while I sleep. While she makes a good point, I would rather deal with someone coming at me with a knife, than doing whatever it is she does to steal my soul. The whole thing sound shady.

The fire pops and crackles loudly against the tense silence. A lit ash floats into the black sky. The chill is cut by the fire, but I squirm in my seat to work some of the cold out.

I didn’t know that I would ever have to protect my soul from anything. Blood and heart I can understand. They are physical things that I can see or visualize. Souls have never been more than a word in a few common phrases. Nothing tangible that science has ever proven the existence of.

Okay, enough. No one’s killing each other. Shawn tries to break the tension. I don’t think it works, but for a moment he is able to divert the conversation. Jaiden, you look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere? Have we met before?

She looks him over and thinks for just a moment. No, I don’t think so. She shakes her head in the negative. Jaiden concludes. I don’t think we’ve ever met.

You probably saw her picture somewhere. Little miss perfect and her rich dad are always in the newspaper because of charity events and business things. It’s as though Daniel spills some great secret about the girl. It’s a revelation. I didn’t know she was, basically, a local celebrity. But, I don’t read the newspaper. My memories of her just involve her being quiet and sticking to herself; people teasing her in the halls.

All eyes, including my own, turn to her. She visibly stiffens. I think we made her uncomfortable both from our new found attention and from Brad’s confession on her behalf.

You’re rich and famous? Her female companion didn’t know this tidbit either. It must be extremely localized. Something, long time locals are aware of.

Something that she hides and lies about by omission. Nothing she’s said so far has led me to believe she’s rich and famous. Though, with the apocalypse, she wouldn’t be rich and famous anymore I suppose.

Her family owns half of Leduc. Lucas reveals.

Jaiden glares, for a moment, at Lucas. My father was rich; not me. And, I wouldn’t say famous more well known in certain fields. She sounds like she’s either in denial about it, or trying to distance herself from her privileged lifestyle.

Wow. Rich, famous, a genius, you sure got beat with the lucky stick. Leah makes a motion like a whip, or rather someone getting hit with a stick.

Ya, sure. Jaiden brushes her comment off. Typical rich girl. Does she even realize the hardships the rest of the world has to go through? She probably hasn’t had to work a day in her life. She lives in her own bubble and can’t possible relate to any of us.

I certainly remember you; little miss perfect. Daniel points to Jaiden. But, I don’t remember either of you. He wags his finger back and forth between Calli and Lucas.

Lucas and Calli look at each other. A quick silent conversation passing between the two before Lucas starts first. I lived next door to Jaiden for a few years, but I used to live in Toronto. I’m twenty-nine, so I don’t think we would have hung out at the same places. Lucas’ ends his introduction with a sarcastic tone.

I was passing through town when things happened. I don’t really live anywhere. I just travel around. Calli reveals.

And, steal people’s souls. Stephanie elbows Brad in the side; a jab for a jab.

Calli brushes off his comment with a bit of a joking tone. Mostly, I go sightseeing and create websites for people. I freelance code. It pays my lifestyle well enough.

A throat clears. Excuse me. James appears from the darkness. He catches all of our attentions. I will be taking my leave to obtain information about Nikki and Rayleen’s whereabouts. You all will stay here until I return. I should only be a couple days.

Wait, I thought that’s what we were doing? Leah asks.

I’ll go with you. Miles stands up.

I will be going by myself. It’s safer and less conspicuous that way. I don’t know if James heard the first question, or if he only chose to answer the one comment because Miles stood up. I’m leaving. Don’t kill each other before I get back. He waves once and walks into the dark.

Bye. I wave despite his back already turned to me. There are a few echoes of the same from others around the fire. Miles and Kelly exchange glances after he sits back down.

People get pretty quiet after James leaves. He broke the tension and stopped the direction the conversation was going in. But, no one seems confident in starting up another conversation at the risk of another lash out.

I look to see if I can catch any glimpse of James in the darkness, but I can’t. I couldn’t really pin down what direction he took off in.

All I can see are the outlines of the fort surrounding us. There is only one entrance and one exit that I know of, so I assume he would leave through there.

Unless, he has some special magical way to leave this place. He might have another tree he can travel through. He might fly a broom. Do wizards actually fly brooms? With the numerous movie adaptations on how witches and wizards can travel I’m sure some of them are probably true. There are probably some wizards in the writing rooms providing a hint of authenticity.

I look around. My eyes slowly adjust the longer I look away from the glow of the flames.

There are four look out towers that are on the four corners of the tall log fencing.

We had stopped for the night in Fort MacLeod. A three hour trip, had taken double that as we were delayed by empty fuel tanks.

Jaiden and Lucas had to ditch the motorcycles. Jaiden ditched hers back at the house with the old couple, but Lucas stubbornly hung onto his. He drove it through the snow and to the next town.

We drove through towns and cities. We had to stop to get fuel. Which, as I found out, isn’t as easy as it appears in the movies. We picked up a car along the way too.

It had been getting dark so we settled down at the historical village.

The historical landmark, and the actors working there had been a godsend to the locals, and to us. They have been able to operate this section of the town like it would have a hundred, or two hundred, years ago. They have survived off these skills, and they’ve helped many other people to survive off those skills.

People in the town opened their doors to displaced locals and visitors. The heritage site did the same, though much more able to accommodate larger groupings such as ours.

They didn’t have too much damage or fighting here.

There was one demon that had decided to attack the town, and the town’s people captured her alive. They got the story out of her, threw her in jail and bunkered down for the last couple weeks.

They don’t have power, running water, or gas, but they’ve managed to not just survive, but thrive.

Who are they? Lucas’ question gets my attention.

Nikki’s a prophet and Rayleen is Alexa’s five year old niece. Kelly explains.

Almost six. She’s almost six years old. I announce before I can catch myself. It’s a reflex from having a child that’s too excited to grow up. She’s been reminding me for a couple months now that she’s not just five years old; she’s almost six. A few months from now she’ll upgrade her age to six and a half. The extra half a year matters when you are that young.

Why are we rescuing them? Lucas’ words infuriate me.

How dare you? We have to rescue them! Rayleen is my niece. I’ve practically raised her since she was a baby! I can hear myself getting louder with each sentence.

As I’m about to continue and rip him a new one, he speaks and interrupts me. Stop, stop, stop. That’s not what I meant. Lucas holds both of his hands us in defence. Before you go on some huge rant, I meant why are all of us rescuing them? Or do you have another group somewhere focusing on fighting back against the demons?

I guess he wasn’t trying to be rude. Oh, well, there was a group that broke off to stay near Leduc on the farm, but I don’t think they are actively fighting against the demons.

Nikki and Rayleen were taken by the leader of this district’s rebellion. Darius leads over all of Alberta. Within the same group there are other important people to the revolution and maintaining how the province will be run. We find the girls, we find the leaders and we can take care of them. Once they are dead or captured we shouldn’t have much resistance to our own rebellion. Cut off the head of the snake so to speak. Kelly explains further.

This information is new to me. Is Kelly telling the truth? Had that been the plan since Rayleen was taken? I certainly hadn’t heard anything about them planning on killing Darius; they can’t. They can’t kill Darius. I still love him.

We just need to go and rescue Rayleen. I’ll need to try to warn Darius so he isn’t hurt.

I’m certainly angry at him, and he did try to kill me, but I do still love him. I can’t let him be killed.

I wonder if he would take me back. If I could avoid the fight, and get to Darius before the rest attack, I could get him and Rayleen to safety. He might take me back if I can prove that I’m loyal to him and always was.

Daniel catches my attention in my side view. I had forgotten about Daniel for a moment. He’s nice to me, but he doesn’t understand me and we don’t have as much history as Darius and I.

I honestly don’t think Daniel will survive too much longer; maybe years but he’s human. The world has gone to the demons and you either need to join them or you will die.

I don’t think this group will ever accomplish anything. Nothing can ever go back to the way they used to be, and the new pecking order places humans at the bottom.

Darius will turn me into a vampire, and we will turn Rayleen once she gets older. I can protect her until then.

How did Darius become the leader? I don’t think Jaiden directs the question at anyone particular, but her gaze lands on Kelly near the end.

Instead, Miles answers. Seth took an interest in Darius when he was brought before the council for his crimes against the humans. Darius was turned by a rogue vampire. According to a treaty made between humans and supernaturals, it’s a crime to turn any human into a supernatural and it’s a crime for any human to be killed by a supernatural. Of course, it still happens, but it’s more hidden. Darius was a human in Germany during world war two, and an unknown vampire turned him. Darius went on to kill many humans to drink their blood. He was hunted down, captured, and taken to the council for judging. As Seth’s sire was the council representative for nocturnal supernaturals, and Seth being his right hand man, Darius was reconditioned under Seth. Darius turned into Seth’s right hand man, so he of course got status in the revolution.

So then Shale went with Darius. And you, Kelly, and Alexa decided to fight on the other side. Jaiden summarizes the information she’s received.

Well, Alexa was with Darius at first, but they had a messy break up and we had to rescue her. Kelly’s joke jabs me the wrong way.

I tense. If they hadn’t of ‘rescued’ me in the first place, Darius wouldn’t have thought I betrayed him and broke up with me. It’s their fault. All of this is their fault. Rayleen wouldn’t be kidnapped if they had let us be. She would be with me, I would be a vampire, I would be with Darius, and we would rule together.

I bite my tongue, and take in a deep breath. My nails bite into the palms of my hands, and the cuts on my legs itch to be reopened.

So, you were at the school when the attack happened? Miles asks Jaiden.

Jaiden pulls away wisps of hair that have fallen into her face. Sort of. Umm, I was in class, and the teacher ran in telling everyone to evacuate the building and go home. I had heard a rumour about a bomb threat when I was walking through the halls. I went and grabbed some food across the street and went home. I was up all night working on a project, so I fell asleep for a few hours. Went I woke up and looked outside I saw fire in multiple locations around the city. I figured I’d stay put until my family came back, or maybe the military. But, umm, they never came.

Well, maybe they just got trapped somewhere and couldn’t get back to you. Stephanie offers.

They’re probably dead. Jaiden states.

What, no, I’m sure they are alive and well. And, maybe, they just missed you. They would have thought you were at the school maybe they went to find you there. Stephanie’s optimism is bright against Jaiden’s pessimism.

I doubt it. If the person isn’t in front of me, or I have tangible evidence they are alive, I’m assuming everyone I knew is dead.

Jaiden’s glum remark is a surprise to everyone. We all hold out hope that our loved ones are alive. Calli voices our thoughts. How can you say that?

Because that’s war. That’s how it works. Realistically speaking, people have to die, and it has to be someone. I’m not dead and you all are alive, so that means it was someone else. Only a small part of me sees where Jaiden is coming from. But, I wonder what she’s been through to make her so cold hearted.

So that’s it. Like, you wouldn’t search for family or friends. Brad looks at Jaiden with a smug grin.

It would depend on the circumstance. With further goading from Brad’s snort Jaiden continues. Like, Nikki is probably alive and we’re searching for her. But, I wouldn’t go look for my step mom or half-brother. I’ve had no sign of them since before the revolution. I assume they are dead, and if not they probably will be by the time the war is over. If they survive long enough for communication to be restored, then we might find each other again. But, I’m not risking my life chasing ghosts.

So you didn’t go looking for anyone? Brad accuses.

No, I did. After about a week alone, people broke into my house so I decided to drive to my grandparent’s house. There was a group there that let me stay for a couple days, but I found out they had shot all the family members that had been there when they arrived. So, you know, I left. Jaiden’s response sounds rehearsed. I wonder how many times she’s had to tell it. How many times does one have to tell a story about their whole family dying, before they can rattle it off like they are reciting today’s dinner special?

Her cold response creates an awkward silence. How should someone respond to her? ‘I’m sorry’ sounds right because she just mentioned that pretty much her whole family died. Yet, I also itch to call her out for being a heartless bitch. I would be devastated if Rayleen died. Hell, I was a complete wreck for a year after my family’s death. I can talk about it now, but couldn’t at just a few weeks past.

I lost my dad too. I came home and found him on the bed. His insides- She trails off. Stephanie gulps for air, and tears gleam in the fire.

"You don’t have to continue. I’m sorry, that must have been devastating. No one should have to