Torn(Demon Kissed Series)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The rest of that night was weird. Eric moved around me like a spooked cat. Before then, it was clear that he had control over me, but now he knew that was a fa?ade. I could kill him whenever the urge struck me. Tension was building. I didn’t want to leave and face Collin. I couldn’t tell Al that I got away from Eric because I became the girl everyone said I’d become. The thought made me want to crawl under a rock and die. Eric didn’t try to comfort me. I would have punched him if he tried. I wanted to punish him for making me lust after his blood. Whenever he got too close to me, I’d lose my thoughts and want nothing but for him to give me a taste—a tiny drop of his blood. I fought the longings, but it was impossible to deny. If Eric wanted to give me more of his blood, he could—and I’d eagerly accept.

Finally, Eric broke the silence. “I need to know,” he demanded. “You have to tell me what happened in the Lorren.”

I looked up at him, “What do you mean; you’re not the same as other Valefar?” He’d said it before, but being more powerful and smarter, well, Eric was powerful and smart before. What’s the difference?

“I shattered the celestial silver chains. They splintered like cheap glass.” He touched his arms, where he still had welt marks from the chains. “The silver can still kill me, it still hurt, but I was able to shatter it. I’m stronger, faster, and you already know I have proficiency with blood.”

“So,” I asked. “You said all Valefar do.” I didn’t like him mentioning blood. It made me long for him again. Damn it! Focus Ivy!

“Yeah, but mine’s more powerful. And the cost factor seems to be…unusual,” he answered. “I can’t tell you more than that, but it’s enough that I know something’s different. I need you to retell what happened the night I died.” Eric rose and gestured for me to come. “We’re going to a different room.”

I got up and followed him. He walked swiftly down an elaborate hallway lined with framed pieces of art. When I recognized that a few of the oil paintings were real, I stopped and blurted out, “Where the hell are we? Did you break into some rich guy’s house?”

Eric kept walking, and looked annoyed that I stopped. “Keep moving. And no. He gave it to me. And he’s still here.” He winked at me over his shoulder, and my stomach turned to ice.

“Where? Eric!” I ran up behind him, and he flinched turning toward me.

He slammed his body into mine and pinned me to the wall. I tried to push him away, thinking he was playing, but he breathed, “Nothing’s changed, Taylor. It takes you time to flame out into the psycho chick. Seconds that I could use to kill you.” My heart raced as he stared at me with wild eyes. I could feel his heart beating rapidly as he crushed me to the wall. “I know you’re still here because you’re afraid to tell them what you are. Fine by me, but never think you’re safe around me. I intend to make the person who did this to me pay for it tenfold. Even if it turns out to be you…” With that, he pushed off me and continued walking down the hall.


My eyes narrowed to slits as I followed him. What was I doing? Eric was crazy and totally unpredictable. Collin told me as much. And I knew it watching him, but there was something inside of me that couldn’t leave. Not yet. I hadn’t come to terms with what I’d done. And if I left, I’d have to tell Collin that I turned Eric into a Valefar. And I couldn’t bear it. The look on his face would be crushing. No, I had to stay here longer.

The interior of the house was dark. Eric and I slid through the hallways with ease. It seemed like no one else was in the entire house. And it was huge. The enormous windows that would have lit the corridor from the sides and above where obscured by large velvet draperies that stretched to impossible heights. The paintings along the walls kept coming, showcasing a fine art collection that rivaled some museums. The size of the house and the riches within made me think we were in the Hamptons. I didn’t bother to ask Eric, because it didn’t matter. I could get home by effonating and Collin could heal me. A pang of longing washed over me. I wanted to tell him everything, but I was afraid he wouldn’t understand. Or worse.

Eric swung opened a door and stopped, indicating that I should pass him and enter the room. It made me uneasy when I passed him. He glared down at me with an intensity that was difficult to endure. His amber eyes burned into me, and his jaw locked while I passed. The scent of his blood subtly slowed my movements as I passed him. Without thinking my tongue licked my upper lip as I passed him, causing a slight smile to spread across his face.

I looked up at him, realizing what I’d done, and muttered, “You suck.”

He smiled back, “Yeah, but I also saved you from yourself.” He let the door close and walked across the dark room to a high wing backed chair that was facing away from us. I froze when I realized someone was sitting in it. An old man looked up at me from behind round glasses. His pale skin and slumped form made me think he’d been sitting like this for some time.

“Eric?” I questioned, but he waved a hand at me to shut up. Eyes wide, I watched him cross the room to a small closet. There was a black padlock on the outside of the door. He inserted a key and twisted. The brimstone lock opened in his hands. As he undid the lock from the latch, and I realized that someone powerful was locked in that tiny room. My heart sank into my feet. What if it was Collin? Or Al? And I’d been sitting down the hall with him for hours. Repulsion at my stupidity shot through me. Eric was a Valefar and acted like it. I had to stop thinking he was something else. He completely screwed me. My thoughts shifted back to the closet as he finished unlocking it.

The tall slender white door opened with ease. I expected someone to come charging out, but Eric reached down, and took a tiny hand in his and pulled the person out of the shadows. The tiny hand was attached to a slender arm, on the petite frame of a girl, with silky cinnamon colored hair. My fists balled in fury as I ran to rip her eyes out of her head, and shove her ass through the black mirror permanently.

“You!” she screamed, recognizing me. Shannon turned to fight, instantly contorting her face with rage. “What’d you do to him? You already did enough!” We fought like high school girls, not like warriors. I was so mad at her for turning on me. My fingers wrapped into her long silky hair and I pulled hard, thrusting her head into the beautifully plastered walls. The owner watched the outburst and ensuing chaos placidly, saying nothing. The vacant expression in his eyes was notable, but I didn’t realize what it meant yet. At the same moment that Shannon landed her cat claws on my face and started to rip my skin open with her nails, the aroma hit me.

Breathing hard, I stopped and turned instantly. Shannon’s movement echoed my own. Heart racing, I stood in front of Eric, wanting what he had. On each forefinger there was one drop of bright red blood. He held it in front of each of us, and used it to slowly lure us away from each other and toward him. My mind was screaming, telling me to leave, to run away, to do anything but follow that beautiful drop of blood on Eric’s beautiful fingers. Burning intensity shot through me with longing I’ve never known. When he stopped moving, I finally looked up at him.

Eric’s eyes were wide as he gazed at me. In that second, I wasn’t afraid of him. There was something less feral about him, less angry, and more like the old Eric. I forgot about the blood, and stood transfixed until he asked me to sit. I complied without thought, willing to do anything Eric asked of me.

His voice was smooth and sweet, “I have a drop for each of you. All you have to do to get it is answer my questions.” He turned to Shannon and my heart fell. I wanted him to talk to me. I wanted his eyes on me, his perfect face turned toward me. But, I heard him ask her, “Were you there with us in the Lorren?” She had a goofy expression on her face and nodded. Eric turned, asking me the same question.

“Yes,” I answered eagerly.

I felt so strange. I didn’t like Shannon, but I could no longer remember why. The hatred that seared through my veins moments ago was gone. My fixation shifted between Eric’s golden eyes and the dark red drop of blood sitting on top of his index finger as he held it up careful not to spill it. I decided that if the drop rolled off his finger, I’d have to get it before it hit the floor. My eyes widened at the thought. I shook my head. It felt like I was encased in a cloud and everything was surreal. Eric moved closer to me, breathing in my ear causing me to shudder. I forgot what I was thinking.

His voice was patient. Apparently he was repeating himself, “Did you throw Brimstone dust on me?” I looked into his golden eyes and shook my head slowly, “No. No, I found you covered in Brimstone. I didn’t realize what it was at first. You were in so much pain…” my voice trailed off.

Eric nodded and asked Shannon the same question. She moved slowly, like I did, with wide green eyes eager to please him. “No,” she said, “I saw Ivy do it, and leave. When she came back, she kissed you. I couldn’t help because I couldn’t touch you…but I wanted to. I wanted to help you.”

Eric was quiet for a moment, and stared at me. “Did you see the Lorren? Did it hurt you?”

I smiled softly as my head swam.  “Lorren is beautiful. He healed me, he didn’t hurt me Eric. Why would he do that?”

Eric arched an eyebrow at me, not understanding me. He tried again, “Ivy,” he waved the drop of blood under my eyes. I sucked in with delight wanting to taste it and feel it slide against my tongue. “I need to know if the Lorren—the golden maze—made it look like a person appeared when we were separated. Did you see someone who wasn’t supposed to be in the maze?”

I laughed, “You’re so silly! Of course I did. Collin was there, and then later Lorren was there.” I tried to place my hand on Eric’s forearm, but he pulled away. Disappointment was clearly visible in my frown.

Shannon’s wide green eyes stared at me confused. She asked me, “Why do I know you?” Eric distracted her by waving his finger before her again. She was fighting through the mental haze Eric had cast over us. Maybe it was his blood, maybe it was more than that. Either way I felt giddy and wanted to suck his finger. The thought shocked me and I giggled.

Eric turned to me, “Ivy, did you kill me?”

Surprised he’d ask me, I nodded, “Yes. I gave you a demon kiss. I drank your soul to try to save you.” I paused, looking up at him, frowning, trying to remember. “It didn’t work. You died anyway.”

Eric asked us both a few more questions. Shannon said she saw me kill Eric. She said she tried to avenge his death, but that I overpowered her and sent her through a mirror. He arched an eyebrow at her as she looked up at him adoringly.

“She liked you,” I blurted out. “She said I stole you from her. But you were stuck on…” I searched for her name. I could feel it on the tip of my tongue, “Lydia.” Eric’s amber eyes were wide. “You still loved Lydia. I only reminded you of her. You didn’t love me, like Shannon thought.”

Eric’s voice was odd. I could hear it even through the haze. “Kiss me Ivy. Remember what I told you about Lydia when you do.” Ecstatic, I moved to comply. Eric held his hands out to the side, careful not to drop the blood. I was remembering Eric telling me about Lydia and how he tried to save her and failed, and I brushed my lips against his. He shuddered at the touch, and I pulled away. My smile faded when I realized that he wasn’t pleased with me. The expression on his face was displeased. He blinked at me, and shook off the expression. Shannon was sitting on the edge of her chair ready to fly out of it if I upset him. Eric held his fingers upright and the blood began to trail down his finger. He said we did well, and offered us each the thing we desired most. Shannon latching onto him until the blood was gone. He asked her to go sit in the closet and she left.

I stared at Eric, watching the drop of blood as it slid down his finger and onto his palm. I wanted it so badly, but I couldn’t act. I couldn’t do the thing I pictured in my mind…I couldn’t slide my tongue over his palm and take what he was offering.

Eric’s voice was deep, and commanding, “Take it, Ivy. Do it.”


He watched me fight, trying to resist the need that he made me have. Looking up into his eyes, I took a deep breath, and turned away. It felt like someone ripped my arms off. I wanted the drop of blood. I wanted it so badly, but my mind kept telling me not to take it—run. When I felt him press himself to my back, I sucked in a shocked gasp. I was so close to giving in. His left hand slid around my waist and under the hem of my shirt. His warm hand pressed into my skin, pulling me closer to him.

Trembling started to make it impossible to hold body still, and when he spoke softly in my right ear it sent a shiver down my spine. “Drink it,” he purred. “You know you want it, Ivy. Drink it, and be in bliss… I’ll give you anything you want. Anything...”

His lips pressed against my neck and an explosion of butterflies erupted in my stomach. A moan escaped me as his fingers lifted and touched the tiny drop of blood to my lips. I closed my eyes, fighting it. The blood was right there. It was all I wanted. That tiny drop contained instant bliss. All I had to do was open my mouth and taste it.

Heart racing wildly, part of me wanted me to break free of his hold and run. That part recognized how dangerous Eric was. In in the back of my mind, I was screaming, terrified. But somewhere else, I realized what had drawn me to Eric; why I stayed when I could have left, why I was thrilled when he touched me, and why I was having so much trouble fighting him off—I liked him. On some level, I always have. And now, he was impossible to resist with his hands stretched across on my stomach, his lips pressed to my neck, and his blood so close to my mouth.

Turning slowly in his arms, I looked up at him. My lips parted as I whispered, “No.”