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  He guided her through the hole in the wall. Mira struggled not to look back at her mother. The witches tottered after them into another cave. A large circular bed sat in the center with a small table cluttered with what looked like the back shelf of a sex shop. Mira did not have much time to contemplate it. Xander ripped off her shirt and shoved her down on the bed.

  “Now watch and learn how to perform for me.”

  Mira trembled. Her rage had been replaced by fear. How could she find her power if she was too afraid?

  The girls cowered on the floor below him. He reached for the whip. Mira saw the scars on the back of the girl closest to her and her world got small and cold.

  He raised the whip over the smaller girl. She looked at Mira with despairing eyes before closing them.

  “Stop!” She said it before she even realized what she was doing.

  “You dare question me?” Xander brought down the whip. “You are mine.”

  The girl curled in a ball as the lashes beat down mercilessly.

  “Please, I beg you!” Mira cried.

  “You beg me?” He laughed at her but he did stop. Instead he stalked toward Mira, dragging the girl behind him and flicking the whip again and again. He paused only to cup Mira’s chin in his hand.

  “You will always beg me.”

  He pushed her down on the bed and climbed over her, yanking down her underwear and trapping her arms under his knees. Mira struggled to find the magic that had filled her before but the humiliation of having Xander dominate her was too much.

  “Show her,” he commanded the girl. “Show this witch how to please me.”

  With her head down the girl took a long, thick dildo from the table and poured oil on it until it shimmered. Mira’s eyes widened as the girl pushed the dildo into Xander’s ass. The demon closed his eyes, moaning and throwing his head back. The girl pulled and pushed the dildo in, staring down at Mira.

  With the girl’s stare something snapped inside Mira. The demon above her wasn’t paying attention. She wasn’t in his power. The girl’s hand moved the dildo in and out, hypnotizing Mira with its movement. Xander thrust harder and harder. Someone pinched Mira, the other witch behind her, pinched her again, reminding her of her power. She focused her emotions, thought of her mother, stuck as a sex slave, of the old witch who was used just as cruelly, drained. The power came swiftly and Mira let it. She screamed in rage and fury, light exploding from her pores. Her head jerked back, catching a glimpse of Xander’s expression of surprise then fear before she blacked out.

  Chapter Five

  Judgment of the Devil

  Karnon froze. He strained with all his senses to trace the heat that lingered in the wake of a surge of power. Mira. It came from the lower levels. Cursing Xander for bringing him so far away, Karnon hurried back down the tunnels. Half-relieved that he had a link to his missing witch and half-frantic that her power had been used, he broke into a run. As he raced through the obsidian hallways he prayed that she was okay. He had to be the first to find her because the amount of power she had just unleashed was enough to attract others. The residual heat faded and he pushed himself to go faster. His feet flew like his thoughts as he went deeper and deeper into the bowels of Hell.

  A different fear filled him as he neared his brother Xander’s corridors. The acridness in the air warned him that something was very, very wrong. He slowed down, resisting the tug of Mira’s power and stood in the hallway outside his brother’s room, uncertain. What was she doing there? Was she snooping? Why had she unleashed her power? His skin prickled. He touched the wall, straining to sense movement within. Nothing. With a wave of his hand he opened a hole in the wall and stepped through. Two figures lay on the bed.

  Jealousy flared and then faded. Neither figure moved.

  “Xander? Mira?” he whispered. No response. He crept closer.

  “Holy Mother.” He stared down at the burnt corpse of what had been his brother, fear and anger filling his thoughts. His gaze traveled over the body and he closed his eyes when he viewed the charred remains of a dildo stuck up his brother’s ass. His fury flared at the degradation. Who could do such a thing?

  Mira lay on the other side of the bed, her arms flung back, her head thrown to one side, the curls of her hair springing in all directions and still crackling with energy. She appeared unconscious, but unhurt.

  Swallowing his revulsion, Karnon stalked around the room looking and hoping for any evidence that pointed to Mira’s innocence. Empty, no one else. No other way to explain it. Mira had seduced and killed Xander. He didn’t know why or how but she had done it. A clamor from outside sounded, others marched on their way. He forced himself to look at the body of his brother and steeled his nerve. Time to wake her up and get her out of here before they found Xander. At least then she would get a fair trial and not a lynching. If he wanted to throttle her, what others would want to do to her would be worse. A small voice whispered in his head, It might be better if I let them have her.

  The noise of more demons coming grew louder. Karnon shook his head. He couldn’t leave her to the mob. He needed to hear what happened from her lips. Her face was in repose, beautiful and sweet in its unaware state. She was so enchanting. He reached one hand down and put it on her forehead. Time to face the music.

  She stirred under his touch.

  “Witch, wake up,” he commanded.

  Mira woke from the nightmare only to realize it hadn’t been just a dream. A demon stood over her, his expression terrifying. The sickly smell of burnt meat filled her nostrils. She sat up and fell back, unable to stand. All her energy had been drained by something. But what? Her head rolled to the side. Xander’s blackened skull grinned back at her. She screamed.

  “Quiet!”

  Something in the back of her head acknowledged that Karnon spoke. Her screams stifled into sobs and she reached out to the familiar voice. There was little comfort in the steely arms that lifted her out of the bed but she clung to them anyway, recognizing his cinnamon scent. She leaned her head on his chest and wept, all of the traumatic emotions streaming out of her. He carried her away from the grisly scene. As the wall closed behind them she remembered why she was there and flailed in his arms.

  “Mommy!” she wailed.

  His arms tightened. She fought his grip, frantic to go back to her mother. Electricity started to build inside her. Karnon cursed and muttered something and the heat disappeared. She stared wide-eyed at him. Of course, Xander couldn’t control her because Karnon did. He must have done something in the original Calling spell. He had had control this entire time. She fell limp with shock.

  “There they are!” The shout rang down the hallway. An angry mob of demons appeared. Mira’s stomach sank as she spotted Ferr at the head of the pack.

  Karnon dropped Mira to standing. “Don’t try anything and do not say a word,” he whispered, his tone not to be argued with.

  Wobbling, Mira crept behind him, continuing to cling to his torso. The painful betrayal had faded to a stark realization of the situation. Even if she hadn’t meant to kill Xander she was in trouble. Xander’s skull grinned at her in her mind, mocking her. Even in death he was going to bring her down. The breath in her chest tightened. Karnon didn’t know why she had done it, and he controlled her magic. Her hands fell away from the demon. What would he do? Was he going to give her over to the mob? What chances did she have? Her instincts told her that if she ran they would be on top of her like a pack of rabid wolves and even Karnon’s towering presence wouldn’t be enough to stop them. Mira swallowed her panic and moved closer to the demon shielding her as the mob reached them. Karnon didn’t budge.

  Finding a blockade to their target caused the mob to pause, uncertain. Ferr, the demon who had almost attacked her earlier, pushed to the front.

  “Give her up, Karnon,” Ferr said.

  “For what reason?” Karnon replied, still not moving.

  Mira marveled at the calm in his voice. His brother dead and he acted as t
hough nothing had happened. The tight band on her chest loosened with hope.

  “Don’t pretend you didn’t feel it! That witch’s power could have taken down a small army of mortals!”

  “Yeah!” another demon added. Karnon’s eyes swept over to the source and whomever it was retreated back into the group. No one else spoke up.

  Ferr drew himself up to his full height. “Something happened! That blood bitch is dangerous to have here. Now I demand that you put her away and allow us to investigate the situation.”

  “Okay.”

  Stunned silence met Karnon’s response. Whatever more Ferr was planning to say wilted as he stared back at Karnon. Mira’s stomach lurched.

  “Karnon,” she said, moving forward, her voice pleading.

  “Shut up.” He didn’t look at her.

  She fell back a step, hurt. Had she really expected him to help her after what she’d done? Her stomach swirled and contracted. And he controlled her magic. She risked a peek at Ferr, wanting to see the face of her soon-to-be fate.

  “Yes, well, as long as that is seen to.” Deprived of his righteousness and position of mob leader, the shorter demon had deflated.

  “Let’s go, Ferr. We can talk after we have the witch locked up,” Karnon said.

  Angry mob turned escort service flanked Mira on all sides as Ferr and Karnon led the way in front. She didn’t dare try to run or to use her power now that she knew Karnon would rein her in as soon as she did. Resigned, she trudged through the black halls of Hell, herded by russet-skinned, horned, naked men. A part of her wanted to break into hysterical laughter, the other part of her wanted to cry. She did neither. At least her mother was no longer in the grips of Xander. Mira comforted herself with the thought as she watched Karnon’s stiff and cold silhouette marching in front of her.

  * * * * *

  “Why have you called this meeting, Karnon?” Cronus asked. They sat around a circular table in the royal conference room. Their other brother Pharic was there, as well as Ferr, which irritated Karnon—he had hoped to speak to his brothers alone. He tried not to look at Satan’s empty chair, wishing more than ever that his father could be there to guide them.

  “He brought a blood-witch here and she used her powers,” Ferr spoke up.

  Karnon resisted snapping back at the shorter demon. Ferr had been strutting around, bragging about the crazy witch in the cage ever since they’d locked Mira away. It had been hard enough to keep the other demons from swarming around her, staring at her as if she were a wild exotic animal, prodding and poking at her, without Ferr advertising it. Karnon shook away the memory of Mira behind the iron bars, her eyes turning honey-colored as they brimmed with tears. How come he wasn’t angrier with her? She had betrayed him and killed his brother yet here he sat, reluctant to speak up. He hadn’t told anyone yet. He believed it was because he wanted to speak to his brothers first, to figure out how to handle the situation and not create a panic, but maybe he didn’t want to tell? What was wrong with him?

  “Ferr, can you go and check on the witch?” Cronus spoke up, interrupting Karnon’s musing. Karnon flashed his brother a grateful look. Cronus was good at reading a situation. Ferr’s expression darkened but he got up without complaint and headed to the exit.

  “And Ferr?” Cronus called after the demon.

  Ferr paused.

  “I know that a demon of your caliber would not let his personal feelings guide his actions, considering how important the responsibility to guard the witch is. This is why I choose you to be the captain of her guard until the trial.”

  Ferr straightened proudly and gave them a curt salute. “Your faith is not unfounded, Cronus. She will be in good hands. Thank you for the position.”

  Karnon shook his head in admiration as Ferr exited. Cronus really did know how to handle personalities. With one smooth move his older brother had turned Ferr from a vengeful witch hunter to Mira’s protector.

  “Now…” Cronus turned back to Karnon.

  “Shouldn’t we wait for Xander?” Their youngest brother Pharic spoke up.

  “That is actually why we are here.” Karnon cleared his throat.

  His brothers fell silent.

  “So, my son, I hear you have brought a troublemaker into our midst,” the deep voice boomed through the meeting cavern. All three brothers fell silent. The Prince of Darkness swept into the room, his nurse escort unobtrusively disappearing back out the door. Although weakened by illness his figure was still impressive, tall with a massive torso and thick neck. The long horns curled back and out, longer than any other demon’s in the realm. His presence filled the cavern and Karnon quieted along with his brothers, humbled before their lord and father.

  “Father, they told us you were too sick to hold court,” Cronus said, his voice apologetic.

  “Well, I am better now,” Satan said. “Do not worry, Son, I am not inclined to be upset or threatened you attempted to carry on my duties. A good ruler understands when their own abilities become limited, they must allow others to step in. I do appreciate the work you put in.”

  Cronus bowed his head, his face effused with pride. Karnon caught Pharic’s jealous glare and Pharic blushed. Glad his younger brother had the decency to be embarrassed, Karnon patted him on the shoulder. Cronus was a hard act to follow and he hoped Pharic would not attempt to. Xander had been enough of a pain in the ass, no need to have Pharic fill those shoes.

  “Where is Xander?”

  Cronus and Pharic both looked at Karnon, who cleared his throat again, regretting his disrespectful thoughts about the dead.

  “Xander is dead.”

  The news dropped like a heavy stone.

  “It’s that witch, isn’t it?” Pharic hissed. “She should burn for this.”

  “Pharic.” The warning in Satan’s voice was enough. “Let us hear what happened.”

  Karnon controlled the shudder from the thought of Mira being burned to death.

  “I am not sure what happened. I felt a surge of the witch’s power and followed it to Xander’s chamber. I found his body charred and she was passed out next to him.”

  “Burn her!”

  “Pharic!” This time it was Cronus who admonished his brother. “If this gets out who knows what the reaction would be. Like it or not, we need the blood-witches and they need us.”

  “So we cover up our own brother’s murder?” Pharic hissed.

  “No,” Satan spoke up. “She will be brought to trial—if found guilty she will be punished in accordance to our laws. You, my son, will also serve a sentence.”

  Karnon bowed his head. He would take his punishment without complaint.

  “And I will have to meet with the Lady Gaia to explain.”

  Karnon’s head snapped up when Satan named the leader of the blood-witches. Pharic shrank back into his seat. Gaia was as powerful as Satan, the Lady to their Lord, and if she became angry during their meeting, with the lord of Hell being in such a weak state, he would be in danger.

  “Father, are you sure that is wise?” Cronus spoke up hesitantly.

  “I have no choice. We cannot execute one of hers and not give her an explanation. It is a part of our treaty. Now go, release the news.” Satan paused. “Is the witch protected?”

  Cronus nodded.

  “Tell them I have the situation in hand. Pharic, do a sweep of the room where Xander was killed, see if you can find anything that will help us understand what happened, and bring me the body for interment. And do be discreet.”

  Pharic snapped to attention and nodded.

  “Pharic, there is something else.” Karnon hesitated. His father and brothers turned and waited. “Xander died in an awkward position. It would be best if no one else saw him.”

  Pharic’s expression grim, he left the room, followed by Cronus. Satan turned to his remaining son.

  “Prepare the Grand Hall for the trial.”

  Karnon swallowed the argument that threatened to explode from his mouth. He wanted to yell, I know
something is off about this. But he simply nodded and, shoulders stiff, walked toward the exit.

  “And Son?” Satan called after him. Karnon stopped without turning, willing himself not to tremble like a little boy in front of his father.

  “We all make mistakes.”

  He looked back at his father’s smile, took a breath and nodded. Knowing his father had handled him as deftly as Cronus had handled Ferr previously, Karnon left to carry out the orders.

  * * * * *

  Mira’s eyes were gritty from the constant tears that streamed down her face, her nose swollen with snot. She had sworn to be strong, but curled up inside a hanging iron cage, with nothing but angry or curious stares to keep her company, she broke. She swore if she ever got free she would never have a pet that lived in a cage. At least Ferr was leaving her alone, a surprise. When he had returned and stood near her, she had thought he’d returned to torment her. Instead he had kept the steady stream of onlookers from getting too close. A demon brought her food but no one spoke to her. She wondered where Karnon had gone, which brought fresh tears. She caught Ferr’s uncomfortable sideways glance.

  “What, didn’t think a blood-witch can cry?” she asked before she could stop herself.

  His jaw twitched but he didn’t respond.

  She curled her knees up against her chest and let the tears come. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there crying—long enough that she dozed off.

  She was startled awake by a commotion in the room. Her heart jumped at the sight of Karnon in the swarm of demons around her cage. The crowd parted as he made his way to her. She shrank back when she caught his expression. Whatever came next for her, she would find no help from him. It was confirmed when she sensed the subtle pull of power locking her energy. He had trapped her.

  Her insides shriveled and she went limp as her cage door opened and a demon grabbed each arm. Shackles were locked around her ankles. This was it, they were going to execute her. As she was dragged through the halls of Hell she wondered if anyone would be looking for her back home—maybe Tink. But no blood-witch would know she was gone, as most of them didn’t know she existed. She had a fleeting moment of anger at her grandmother before it faded to pity for herself. This was her own fault. At least she had found her mother, even if only to lose her again.