THIS TIME (The Grace Allen Series Book Three Paranormal Romance) (18 page)

Madea mate for life.

“No!”
I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Grace!”
Cain’s voice was small behind me and I turned. He was holding on to a branch,
his legs were pulled out behind him as he kicked. “Turn it off! Call off the
wind!” he screamed.

With
a thought the wind died and he fell to the ground with a grunt. “Damn, woman!”
He stood as I waited.

“Take
me back,” I ground out from between my clenched teeth. “I have a few things I
want to say to a certain Demon King!”

Cain
dusted his jeans off, and ran his hands through his hair. Then with a small
smile, he bowed. “At once, My Lady.”

My Lady
. I thought. Not
My Queen
. I smiled. Maybe he was
rethinking that whole “hope” thing after all. I had no intention of letting Lu
spill any blood. And if that blood was from Lucian and Seth, well then, he was
in for a surprise.

I
still had an ace up my sleeve and I was afraid that I just might have to use
it.

TWENTY FIVE

 “So,
it’s a pound of flesh, after all.” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked at
the men hanging on jagged hooks from the ceiling.

“It’s
never just a pound,” Lu smiled as he folded his wings against his back.

“Blood
then?” I tried to move. The bonds were solid. “Theirs?”

“Mostly.
I’ll need a little of yours as well.”

“Why
even play at caring for me? Why the game?”

“I
love games,” he leaned close, “and you just kept fucking me.” He laughed and
rubbed his hard body against mine.

I
clenched my teeth as he pulled hard on my arms, causing the manacles around my
wrists to cut deep into my flesh. My blood ran in ribbons down my arms, soaking
my skin. Lu moaned and ran his tongue along my stained flesh, lapping up the
blood that flowed, only to yank on my arms and bleed me again. I cried out and
he hissed, grinding his arousal against my stomach as he continued to feed from
my skin like a parasite.

I
was chained to a filthy wall in nothing but a bra and panties. My arms were
drawn high above my head. I dangled, my toes barely reaching the filth covered
ground.

I
was no longer in the underground. I was in Hell. Once Cain and I had exited the
city, Lu had swept me up and tossed me in chains. Somehow, he had discovered
that I knew what he had done with Lucian and Seth. I knew he had reneged on our
agreement. I was still no threat to him, but that didn’t stop him from showing
his true colors.

He
was truly in his element. He let me see what he had done to Lucian and Seth.
They were alive.
Barely
.

Lu
pinched my nipple and I jerked.

“I
know your secret,” he whispered close. I cringed back at the sight of his blood
covered face.

“I
have no secrets.” I sniffed back my sob.

“Oh,
but you do. You see, I know that you still do not love me.” He gripped my chin
in his fist and I shrieked.

He
was insane. “If I had ever felt love for you, I wouldn’t now.” I closed my
eyes, struggling to fight back my tears. They flowed like water, it was no use.

“Pain
is nothing, next to love.” Lu gripped my hips as his giant wings opened. “Tell
me to take you, my darling,” he growled, digging his fingers into my hips as
his wings folded in to caress us.

I
kicked and twisted as he pulled the fabric of my bra down and took my tortured
nipple into his mouth.

“I’ll
never do anything for you again,
Satan
,” I sobbed and then screamed as
he bit into my flesh.

He
rolled his eyes up to look at me as I wept. “I could render you to nothing but
a few pretty ribbons, my darling. You should watch what you say to me.” I met
his eyes as he straightened, his lip curled up in a smirk. “Soon, you will beg me
to fuck you.” He turned and walked away.

I
watched him through the blur of my tears. He moved leisurely toward Seth and
Lucian. I squeezed my eyes, ringing the tears out of my lashes. He wanted me to
suffer, to hang here on this fucking wall like a slab of meat. He was his
magnificent self again. Well, a muted version at least. His madness was
frightening because he actually believed that tempting me with his beauty while
he made me bleed and tortured my friends would endear me to him.

I
was so screwed.

“I
do love ceremony.” He gazed at Seth’s arm as it dangled limply. He reached up
and gripped Seth’s wrist while he met my eyes, he spun the unconscious man in a
macabre circle of dripping blood and matted hair. “You will wear white while I
slit their throats.” His wings fluttered lightly, the tips dipping into the
sludge that covered the ground. He sucked in a great gulp of air. “I will fuck
you in a sea of your lovers’ blood, filling you with my seed.” He smiled and
tugged on Lucian’s leg. I cringed as Lucian swung lifelessly, clearly out cold.

They
looked dead. I could only hope that they were truly oblivious. If they weren’t,
the pain they would be enduing would be worse than hellish.

 “My
bride,” Lu sighed absently as he played with the hanging bodies of my friends.
He pushed Seth once more, causing him to sway from side to side. I closed my
eyes as fresh tears flowed.

I
could hear him moving in the muck. He was coming back to play with me and I
clenched my jaw just as he laughed close to my face. I opened my eyes and he
smiled, rubbing his hands together.

I
moved my head back, letting it connect with the wall. Screams echoed throughout
the cavernous room and the stench of rotting flesh and maggots had permeated my
nose so deep I feared I’d never get the stink out again.

“I
want you still. I’ll never change my mind about that, my darling.”

I
shook my head. “I can tell.” I gave a derisive snort and closed my eyes again.

He
gripped my chin. “Oh, I care little how you become mine or what you suffer to
get there. Make no mistake,” he squeezed my face, forcing my eyes to meet his.
“You will live with me here or in the underground. I care not which. I can fuck
you in a bed of rotting flesh or on sheets of the finest silk, these things
will matter to
you
not
me
.” He stepped back. Then, shaking his
head, he bent forward, meeting my eyes. “You think dangling above a puddle of
shit will make you noble?” He curled his lip and released me to sway backward
against the stone. “I am going to leave you here, Grace. All alone in this
fucking pit. Once you feel the cold tongues of the vermin that wallow in the
dark, you will beg me to return.”

Closing
my eyes, I turned my head to the side. I refused to give in to him. I couldn’t,
not when I knew that Seth and Lucian were suffering so horrendously.

I
could feel the heat burn off of him as he watched me refuse him.

“Are
you so fucking stubborn you don’t know when you’ve been broken?” he roared and
slashed a sharp claw across my cheek. I shrieked in shock as blood warmed my
skin.

He
glared at the wound and stepped close.

“My
love, my sweet bride,” I sagged in defeat as he slowly licked the wound clean. He
straightened, watching me, his brow creased in a deep frown. “So this is your
choice?” he folded his arms.

I
felt the sob escape as fear shot up my spine. I tried to muffle the sound but
it didn’t matter.

He
was finished with me for now. His turned his back to me and strode from the
room. His wings opened wide and then he was gone.

TWENTY SIX

“Well,
you really pissed him off, didn’t you?” Cain stood before me, his arms folded.

It
took effort to look up, my head felt like it weighed a million pounds. “Yeah. I
guess now I’ll be the Queen of Refuse.” I sobbed out a gurgle as I tried to
laugh. I was soaked. Blood and tears painted my body a dark shining gray color.
Silver Madea blood dried like dull concrete making me look like an abused construction
worker.

It’s a stupid comparison, but I’d had a lot of time to think.

“Our
King
said you were too willful. He said he left you helpless.” He
frowned. “I see he was pretty spot on. What have you suffered so far?”

“Nothing
has touched me.” I smiled, this time for real. “I’m still supposed to marry
him. Everything knows that. Nothing wants me more than death.”

“That’s
strange.” He rubbed his chin. “I still think you look good enough to eat.”

“Cain,
you must be crazy.” I said weakly. I tried to shift and ended up swaying
erratically. “You wouldn’t mind getting me down, would you?”

He
looked startled. “You want
me
to die?”

“Weren’t
you the one who bragged that he would never hurt you? Please, Cain?” I knew I
sounded pathetic, and probably looked worse, but he was my only hope. I had
used my magic to ease the ache in my arms and hold me in a way so that my arms
weren’t pulled from their sockets, but I couldn’t get free no matter how much
magic I used.

He
blew out a loud breath and then thankfully, he stepped closer. “Here, hang on.”
He reached up and snapped the cuffs open. I sighed in relief and fell to the
ground in a heap. Slime and thick sludge soaked into my panties and bra.
Maggots rose to the surface as I tried to pull myself to my feet. They stuck to
my fingers, wriggling and writhing along my skin. I didn’t care, I had no
strength left to react.

“Hades,
this shit stinks!” Cain pulled me up and then draped me over his shoulder. He
carried me over to a small cell. Straw and bits of wood covered the floor.
“Sorry, I can’t get you out, but at least you’ll be out of that crap.” He
stepped from the cell and closed the door. A loud crash thundered throughout
the room and he stiffened and looked around. “This might have been stupid,” he said
as he looked over his shoulder. “I have to go, but I’ll try to come back.” He
turned and rushed from the room.

I
was finally on solid ground. The wood and straw smelled like spoiled milk and
week old gym socks, but it was dry and I was finally able to lower my arms. The
wall had been torture. Even with my magic easing the weight on my joints, it
was horrid. I hated to think what would have happened if I had remained there.
I curled into a ball and cried to the sounds of a thousand wails and the groans
of the men I loved.

* * *

Grace?

I’m here. Wait, where is here?

No place.

Everywhere is somewhere.

I will never get used to your stubborn streak, but I am very happy
to see that your spirit has not broken. Are you ready?

I think. Mariee, is that really you?

Yes, Grace.

What will happen?

If you follow through with Ann’s plan? Plenty.

Can you be a little more specific?

Well, that is the problem. You could undo too much. Spin us all
out of time. You must understand the risk of paradox. You will need a spell.

I don’t do spells. I think, it happens. It’s that simple.

This is too big to be careless and arrogant. You have to take your
time and think. Nothing can be thought of as too small or insignificant. If a
detail falls through the cracks, so might someone’s life.

Fine, a spell then.

Are you certain this is the answer?

What other answer is there? He’s winning. I can’t let him have our
power.

Now you understand my struggle.

My struggle has never been about love, it’s not the same thing.

You do not have to pretend. We are inside your spirit and your
heart. You have never been a fool.

Who says I’m a fool?

It is always about love. Your heart would keep him despite the
abuse.

That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not a tool to be used. I’ve made up
my mind, we won’t belong to him.

I knew you did not understand. We already do.

Perhaps, but not for long. It ends.

Are you so sure that is for you to decide?

No, but some people are stronger than me. Some have more power.

You only think they have more power.

Will you stay with me? When this is all over, if I forget?

Of course, where would I go?

Mariee, I’m sorry I doubted you, sorry I believed the worst.

I know, now wake up. He’s coming.

TWENTY SEVEN

“She
looks like a sheet of filthy parchment. Get her out of there.”

Icy
hands grabbed me and I winced in pain as I was yanked to my feet. I staggered
out of the cell. I could smell my own skin, a sweet kind of rotten meat smell
mixed with the metallic scent of blood. The stench wafted thick and suddenly I
wanted to vomit. I had no idea how long I’d been in that cell.

Lucian
and Seth still hung like slabs of meat from hooks. Their skin had changed to a
spongy yellow and they no longer moaned in pain. At least I knew that they had
a few moments when they didn’t suffer. Looking up, I cringed and sent out
another burst of power, easing their pain and dulling their senses.

Lu
gripped my arm. “You dare defy me so openly?” Lu jerked me to the side. The
slap came out of nowhere, clacking my teeth together and spinning me to the
ground. Sliding in the muck, I laid there, unmoving as Lu thundered and raged
above me. He had no idea how much I’d defied him. I’d had a lot of time to
think in that smelly cell.

The
souls inside of me helped bolster my power, simply by explaining it to me. My
power was still my own, even though Lu had me bound tighter than a used noose.
Accepting that had been hard, and I felt like total shit because I’d been a
huge part of tying that rope.

“My
dearest bride. You smell like shit.” I flinched and cried out in pain as he grabbed
me by my hair. I slid through the tar-like muck of decaying bodies and blood.
Maggots and rats slid past as he dragged me along the putrid floor. I reached
up and gripped his hand as he twisted and wound my hair around his fist. I saw
stars and clawed his flesh as he jerked me along.

“You
will never defy me again,” he snarled and pulled me up to my toes.

I
gazed at him through crust-covered lashes as he curled his lip and pushed me
backward into a large pool of water.

I
went under and sank like a brick. Blood and broken bits of bone and vermin
swirled and danced from my hair. I kicked and spun trying to release the knots
in my hair that held the most filth. Then, when air had become a problem, I
kicked and rose to the surface of the pool, gasping air into my lungs. I swam
past the filth and tried to rub away the dirt. Then Lu was there. He reached in
and grabbed me by my arm. I winced as he yanked me from the pool.

“Take
her to the bath,” he barked and pushed me toward a dark figure squatting in the
corner. I landed in the creatures arms as Lu turned, a furious look on his
face. I watched as his wings unfurled and with a gust of air he was gone.    

I
was led to a room with a deep tub. It was nowhere as large as the pool Lu
tossed me into, but it was still large. The thing leading me wore a cloak. It
was hooded and covered the thing from head to toe. I didn’t care, I was finally
going to get clean.

I
grabbed my sodden panties and peeled them gingerly from my flesh. My bra came
off next and I sighed in relief. I kicked the mess aside and gingerly stepped
into the sweet smelling tub. Leaning back I tried to relax my aching muscles. I
was extremely sore.

Once
I had decided on the spell I needed to fix this whole mess, I had spent the
majority of my time trying to heal Lucian and Seth. When that was clearly
impossible, I used my magic to erase their pain and try to make them unaware of
what was happening.

The
creature must have moved because shampoo was suddenly flowing into my ears. I
closed my eyes, bracing for the hair tearing, but what followed was a gentle
massage of my scalp.

I
stiffened and moved to turn, but the creature had my head in its grip and I
couldn’t move.

I
grumbled to myself and tried to move again.

“God,
you’re a stubborn woman!”

I know that voice.

 I
jerked away and spun, sloshing water onto the floor.

“Cain?”
I gawked. “What the hell are you doing?”

He
smiled and shrugged. “I wanted to make sure you were still breathing.”

“Are
you freaking crazy?” I couldn’t believe he was sitting there with sudsy hands
and a huge grin. “You realize you’re going to get murdered, don’t you?” I
whispered, sinking into the water.

“Nah.
He is too angry to pay any attention to me.”

“Angry?”

“Yeah.
You never once gave in. You sat in that cell, wasting away and never once
called out for mercy. Believe me he was waiting.” He smiled and poured more
soap into his hands.

“I’m
not letting you wash me.”

“You
have no choice.” He dumped more soap onto my head. “You’re too weak, remember?”

“What
do you know of it?”

“I
have a few ideas.” He began combing his fingers through the knotted strands of
my hair. “You can wash that filth off your arms and legs though. I think you
may want to get going on that, too. This has to be quick.

“You
said he was waiting?” I picked up the sponge and began scrubbing at the spots
of sticky grime. It was like tar and I pushed harder. I didn't want to know
what it
really
was.

“He
expected you to last a few hours, not a few weeks.” His voice held a hint of
respect. “He’s the one who broke, not you. That bugs him. You're probably going
to pay for that at some point."

“Weeks?
Damn it felt like months,” I sighed. “Does that mean this farce of a wedding is
back on?”

He
blew out a ragged breath. “Your gown is hanging in his chambers right now. You’re
to be brought there immediately after your bath.”

“Wonderful.”
My shoulders slumped.

“I
hope you have a plan.”

“Don’t
you wish you knew?”

“What
I know is irrelevant, your men die tonight,” he stated flatly.

I
turned, meeting his eyes. “No they don’t.”

He
smiled. “Very good, My Lady.”