The Demon's Song: Paranormal New Adult Romance Page 6

  “My mom isn’t here,” the boy said, but something about his voice had changed. Instead of small and meek, it almost sounded like there was gravel in his throat as he spoke.

  “I should go,” Cadence said, suddenly wishing she’d listened to the frightened voice in her head. “My friend is probably getting worried.”

  “She should be worried,” the boy said, but as Cadence turned to face him again, he wasn’t the same anymore. He was still small, but his back was hunched and his face was pale and gaunt. His teeth were long fangs and his glasses were gone. Without his thick glasses, Cadence could easily see his eyes were that telltale glowing red.

  “No,” Cadence muttered as she dropped her coffee in her attempt to back away. “No, it was a dream. I hit my head. This isn’t real.”

  “Now you don’t actually believe that,” the monster in front of her laughed, but the sound was hollow and terrifying as he choked out each of his laughs. “God, how stupid are you?” he growled as his laughter turned darker. “Once I eat your soul, no one will mock me anymore. I’ll become more powerful than ever!”

  “Is that so?” a familiar voice interrupted the hunched demon.

  Cadence recognized the voice, but she still couldn’t help her shock when she saw Draven Crane leaning against the seductive black roadster she recognized from the parking lot at work. It came as no surprise that the classic car belonged to Draven, yet Cadence was more focused on how he knew she was there. That, and how he knew she would need his help.

  “Screw off, Draven,” the demon in front of her growled. She had no way of knowing that the strange monster would know her boss’s name, yet she wasn’t surprised. “I caught her fair and square. You can’t keep all that power to yourself.”

  “What are you talking about?” Cadence couldn’t help but cry. “What power? Just leave me alone! I’m no one, okay?”

  “Shut up,” the little demon growled at her. “You’re mine. I deserve this.”

  With that, he lunged at Cadence, but he never had a chance to get close to her. Draven moved faster than she ever thought he could and sent the smaller demon sprawling.

  “To think some pitiful, low level demon like you could believe he could take what’s mine,” Draven growled as his eyes burned like red hot coals. “Get the hell out of my town. If I even think I smell you around here again, I’ll turn you to dust. Got it?”

  Draven didn’t have to tell the demon twice. The smaller, weaker demon scrambled away on its hands and feet while Cadence and Draven watched.

  Cadence’s heart thumped hard in her chest. She didn’t know what to say. What could she say? Everything she had worked so hard to convince herself was just a dream turned out to be real and her boss was some kind of what, demon?

  “Cadence,” Draven said once they were alone again. “Are you okay?”

  “No!” she couldn’t help but choke. “How could I possibly be okay? Monsters are attacking me and my boss is one too! I have no idea what’s going on and it’s like everyone but me knows all about it!”

  “Stop,” Draven said, and with a word, she did. “Please,” he said as he opened the passenger door to his car. “I think you should come with me.”

  Cadence didn’t know if she could trust him, but Draven had saved her twice and she didn’t know if she had a choice. The rain was coming down harder and the shadows were creeping in. She was scared, but Draven might just be the only person who could help her figure out just what was going on.

  Chapter Six

  Cadence fretted with her fingers as Draven drove his sleek black car back towards town. She didn’t know what to say and every time she went to thank him for coming to her rescue, or to question him about just what the hell was going on, she clammed up. Nothing she could have said would have come out as anything but awkward and instead she stayed quiet.

  But the silence was too much. It wasn’t a long drive, but Draven kept his eyes on the road while Cadence’s heart only beat faster and faster until she finally blurted out, “This is a nice car.”

  “Yes, it is,” Draven agreed without a hint of modesty. “It has served me well for many years.”

  Cadence ran her fingers over the old, supple leather of the seats and let her eyes rest on Draven’s hands while he held the large, antique steering wheel.

  “Is it a Jaguar?” Cadence asked, trying to exercise her limited car knowledge.

  Something about what she said made Draven chuckle under his breath. Suddenly, Cadence felt foolish about her assumption and tried to recover, but Draven stopped her.

  “It’s an Aston Martin,” Draven informed her before she embarrassed herself any further. “A DB5. It’s a classic, but under appreciated in America. Everyone here is about Corvettes, Mustangs, and obscene muscle cars. You need to go to England to find the proper appreciation for a car like this.”

  “Have you been to England?” Cadence asked, knowing immediately that it was a foolish question.

  Draven was not unkind in answering though. “Yes, I’ve spent some time in England. Lovely country, but my business thrives in the American market.”

  “Mr. Crane,” Cadence said as Draven pulled on to a familiar side street. “What exactly does your firm do?”

  Cadence watched as a slight smile touched the corners of Draven’s lips. “We’ll discuss that inside,” he said as he pulled into a narrow driveway. “That, and more. You and I have a lot to talk about.”

  Cadence didn’t know what else to say. Draven put the car in park and got out before Cadence even realized where they had stopped. It wasn’t until Draven opened the passenger side door for her and lent her a hand to help her out of the low car that she had a chance to look up and see just where they had stopped.

  In front of her loomed the dark, Victorian mansion that she passed almost daily on her way to work. The street was otherwise empty and the large trees blotted out the little light that made it through the overcast skies.

  Even though the place was imposing, Cadence wasn’t altogether surprised that the home belonged to Draven. The dark exterior and old world look seemed to match her boss in every way, but as he walked towards the door, she hesitated.

  “Cadence,” he caught her attention again. There was something about how he said her name that sent a shiver down her spine and she was powerless to ignore him. “I suggest you come in. We have a lot to discuss.”

  “Um,” Cadence murmured. She was already so overwhelmed that she didn’t think she could handle anymore. “I think I should go home.”

  “That’s entirely up to you,” Draven said, his beautiful blue eyes watching hers. “But I think it’s in your best interest to come in.”

  He didn’t wait for her answer. Draven simply walked up the short steps at the front of the house and went in the front door.

  Doubt crept up Cadence’s spine. Though he’d come to her rescue again, she didn’t know if she should, or even could, trust him. She just didn’t know if she had a choice.

  Cadence looked over her shoulder in an effort to convince herself to leave, but when she did all she could see was more of the shadows. Every day there were more of them and they were no longer just at the corners of her vision. They were everywhere and they were closing in.

  There was no way to know if it was the right choice, but it was the only one she could make. She turned away from the shadows and walked towards the open door of Draven’s home.

  The outside of his home was dark and imposing, but as Cadence stepped inside, she saw elegance instead of darkness and she couldn’t deny that a part of her did feel safer.

  The door seemed to close on its own behind her as she stepped inside and Cadence couldn’t help but jump just a little. Draven was nowhere to be seen and she slowly made her way through the grand entrance of his home.

  The walls were a gorgeous plum and the ceiling was open to the second floor. The main staircase sprawled out in front of her and led to the second floor. She didn’t know whether to go up the stairs or through one of
the doors that led off the grand entrance. Draven could be anywhere and she didn’t know where to start.

  “Mr. Crane?” she called, giving up on the idea of searching for him.

  “Please,” he said as he stepped through the galley door that must have led to the kitchen. “Call me Draven. Mr. Crane is much too formal.”

  In his hands, he held a cup of coffee and handed it to Cadence. “You dropped your cup,” he told her when he saw the confused look in her eyes. “I thought you might like another.”

  Cadence had completely forgotten about her lost coffee. She didn’t even remember dropping it when the demon, or monster, or whatever it was, had turned on her, yet Draven had noticed. It was a strange moment of kindness from a man who had been mostly cold and distant to her. Away from the office, there was something different about him though. He seemed warmer and more inviting as he looked down at her and his icy blue eyes seemed to thaw as she took a sip of the coffee.

  “I think we need to talk,” Draven said. “There is a lot you don’t know about yourself and I think it’s time you learned.”

  Cadence’s stomach dropped at his words, but she did as he said and followed him as he moved towards one of the doors behind the stairs.

  Draven held the door for her and Cadence’s worry turned to awe as she stepped into what must have been Draven’s home library. Shelves lined the walls and each one was filled with beautiful hardbound books that Cadence longed to explore. Something inside her knew that his books would be classic literature, old and rare alike.

  “Please,” Draven said, breaking her focus on the books. “Sit.”

  There was an old ruby chaise in the middle of the library and Cadence did as she was instructed and sat there while Draven sat in one of the old high-backed chairs that filled the space.

  “I’m sure you have questions,” Draven said while Cadence sipped at the hot coffee.

  “Yes,” she admitted. “But I don’t even know where to start.”

  “How about with the shadows?” Draven said, but it wasn’t really a question. His blue eyes watched her reaction and while Cadence tried to hide her own concerns, Draven seemed to read her mind. “They’re getting worse, aren’t they?”

  “Yes,” Cadence admitted.

  “Tell me,” Draven said as he leaned forward just a little bit. “How long until your twenty-first birthday?”

  With everything else going on in her life, Cadence hadn’t even realized that her birthday was only a week away. “It’s on the first,” she told him.

  “Soon,” Draven nodded. “There isn’t much time left.”

  “Time?” Cadence asked. “Time for what?”

  “Cadence, you are very, very special,” Draven said as he leaned forward in his chair. She watched as he pressed the tips of his fingers together while he spoke. “You are a very rare kind of human and it makes you desirable to a lot of powerful beings.”

  “Beings?” she asked. “What are you talking about?”

  “Cadence,” he said, his voice turning cooler. “You can’t pretend you have no idea. The shadows, the nightmares, twice you’ve been attacked. You can’t hide from what you are.”

  “But what am I?” she asked, confusion pouring out of her. “I’m nothing, I’m just a normal person!”

  “You are anything but,” Draven told her. “You are more powerful than you can imagine and there are those out there that would kill for your power.”

  “People like you?” Cadence asked with venom on her words.

  “No,” Draven said, shooting her accusation down with a word. “I am no fool. To kill you would be a waste. A seer’s power is nothing to toss aside.”

  “Draven,” Cadence said, her curiosity mixing with her fear. “You aren’t... human... are you?”

  “You have the power to see,” Draven told her as he stood from his chair. “Look, really look at me, and tell me what you see.”

  Cadence didn’t want to do as Draven instructed. She didn’t want to see something like Andras had become, or worse, the small monster from earlier. She didn’t want to see him as anything but how he looked then. Though she couldn’t deny how attractive he was, with his dark hair and blue eyes that seemed to hold her gaze just a little too long. What she didn’t want was some demonic monster to appear in front of her.

  But she forced herself to do as she was told. Her curiosity got the better of her and she couldn’t leave without seeing Draven, the real Draven. He gave her no guidance as he stood before her and it was up to her to see what he really was.

  She stared, she glared, and she let her vision turn blurry, but Draven stayed the same before her. His dark hair was still lustrous as it hung to his ears. His eyes stayed their brilliant blue and he still wore the perfectly tailored black suit. He did not grow claws, he didn’t turn hallow and gaunt. He was still Draven.

  “I don’t see anything,” Cadence shook her head. “You’re just... you.”

  “Stop looking with your eyes,” Draven told her. “Look with your soul.”

  She didn’t know what he meant, but somehow the words seemed to make sense as she tried again. She ignored what she saw and relied on something deep inside her. She let the world fall away and Draven, the real Draven, came into view.

  He was the same, or at least at first. As she opened her mind’s eye, he began to change. There was no hunched back, no horrible fangs and claws. The differences were subtle at most. Before her, Draven’s dark hair grew longer and his eyes turned a bright ruby red.

  He seemed larger somehow and there was a new aura about him. It wasn’t like the shadows she had seen all her life, it was more powerful and seemed to fill the room.

  He’s beautiful, Cadence thought as she truly saw Draven for the first time.

  As she looked upon him, on the real him, her head started to ache. A pounding pain ripped across the inside of her skull and her vision went dark while she tried to maintain her gaze.

  It was too much though and Cadence found herself struggling to see anything at all. Her fingers lost their grip on the half empty coffee cup, but with lightning fast reflexes, Draven was there by her side and caught it.

  “Stop,” his voice said, though it was an eerie, beautiful purr. “Stop now!”

  The urgency of his voice brought her back to the reality of the room, or the reality that most people could see. Her head still hurt, but it was already subsiding as she blinked away the last of what she had seen.

  “What are you?” she managed to ask as the pain under her scalp began to fade.

  “I am, like the others, like the shadows you’ve always seen, a demon,” Draven told her as he sat beside her on the chaise.

  “No,” she refused to believe him. “No, I saw those demons. You aren’t like them. You’re different. You’re an angel.”

  “Ha!” he laughed. “Just because I look as I do, because I do not wish to harm you, does not change my nature. I am a demon, as I have been for the last twelve hundred years.”

  It was all too much. Cadence didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or scream. All she knew was she couldn’t believe it.

  “Listen to me,” he said, his voice turning cold again as he put a finger to Cadence’s chin and turned her gaze back to him. “Twelve hundred years ago, I offered up my soul to the demons of hell. It was a contract, a very powerful one. In return for a life, I gave my own in service of hell.”

  “In return for a life?” Cadence asked. “I don’t understand.”

  In that moment, Draven’s eyes turned strangely sad. “My daughter’s,” he told her. “I was near thirty when fever struck our village. She was one of the first to fall ill and we knew she was going to die. We could hear the rattle of death in her lungs, but I wouldn’t allow it. It wasn’t her time, so I did something about it.

  People used to believe in the power of demons. They would come to us as much as they would turn to heaven in their prayers. In the middle of the night, when the moon was full, I went to a crossroads. I called upon the demon
that held power there and begged him to spare my child’s life. When the deal was done, I belonged to that demon. My soul was his.”

  “But you don’t look like the others,” Cadence said, trying to find a way to deny his words. “You’re nothing like them.”

  “They are young,” he explained. “Andras is ambitious and struck out on his own so early. He isn’t ready, but your power would fuel him. That other little cod, well, ambition will only get you so far. Though with power like yours, when properly used, it could elevate a demon quite quickly.

  I look how I do because I’ve had a millennium to grow my power. I’ve adapted to the changing world and with more powerful contracts, the more powerful I become. I am still a crossroads demon, giving out contracts and granting people’s desires. I’ve just adapted to the modern world.”

  “Is that what we do?” Cadence asked, horrified that she had any part in it.

  “To an extent,” Draven said. “It depends on the person and what it is they desire. They wish for power, fame, glory, money, the usual things, really. I give that to them. If they choose to extend their contracts, so be it. If they are under contract when they die, their soul is mine. If they end the contract, their soul is theirs, but they will lose everything that they had originally bargained for. It is a fair trade.”

  “But what about me?” Cadence asked. “I’m no one. I don’t understand what makes me different.”

  “But you are different,” Draven said as he took her hands in his. “To devour you would give a demon access to your power, or some of it at least. He would elevate himself quite quickly, but older demons, demons such as myself, know that’s not the end of it. To truly take your power, to have it all, one needs to work harder. One needs connection, passion, even love.”

  “Love?” Cadence almost spit out. “But... you’re a demon!”

  “And yet I can know love,” Draven smiled at her. “And surely I know passion. If you give yourself to me, by choice, no other demon could have you. You’d be worthless to them as long as you were mine. You’d still have your power, but it would grow. Your sight wouldn’t hurt you like it just did. You would only see what you wanted to, and the shadows would go away. I’d protect you from the darkness, from the others, and your power would be mine to take. It doesn’t just go away, you’ll never be without your gifts.”