Only By Moonlight (36 page)

“LaShaun?” Chase stood in the doorway with an
uncertain expression. “I don’t know what’s supposed to happen
but...”

“We don’t have much time.” LaShaun made the
sign of the cross, grabbed both his hands and continued the prayer
she’d been reciting for two hours. She spoke rapidly in French and
then switched to Latin. She struggled over the pronunciations.

“What are you doing? I...” Chase started, but
stopped when LaShaun squeezed his hands tightly.

“Say you love me, promise you’ll trust me
tonight. I don’t have all of the answers, but we have to go
anyway,” LaShaun said. She checked her pockets as she spoke.

“Go where? Feels like my head is splitting
apart these days, and I can’t be sure what the hell is going on
half the time. So I’m gonna need you to explain.” Chase jerked back
when LaShaun tried to lead him back outside.

“Do you remember us going to the Sweet Olive
B&B?” LaShaun glanced past him to the woods. She saw flashes of
light.

“Yeah.” Chase rubbed his forehead.
“Kinda.”

“Then what happened? Think about where you
were after that, what you remember,” LaShaun insisted. A hint of
blue appeared. “Think honey. We have to hurry.”

“Then I... went to work and you... were
wearing a wedding dress. Wait, that sounds crazy. Where did I get
that about a wedding dress?” Chase tilted his head to one side as
though listening.

LaShaun shivered, but not because of the cold
air coming in through the still open back door. She wrapped both
arms around his waist and pulled him close. “We love each other, no
matter what has happened. Say it.”

Chase smiled down at her. “I hate to
interrupt this tender moment, but we need to take a walk. I will
make a promise. Tonight I’ll pleasure you until we are both
breathless. But first, to business.”

“Bastard,” LaShaun screamed.

She beat her fists against his chest while
Chase laughed at her. He grabbed both her wrists. In seconds the
strong arms that had held her close in adoring embraces dragged her
across the back lawn to the woods. A soft blue mist glimmered in
the distances. LaShaun tried to dig her heels into the soft ground,
but the rubber slid easily on damp grass.

“I don’t know why you seem so reluctant to
visit your beloved forest tonight,” the demon said. The sound of
his voice seemed to scrape out of Chase’s throat.

“You turned it into a filthy dung heap, you
and those worms you call followers,” LaShaun snapped. She tried to
twist free of his iron grip, but the defense techniques she knew
were no match against his superior strength.

“Such hostility when I’m trying to make you a
queen.” Chase suddenly stopped and yanked LaShaun against his body.
A pulsing heat came through the layers of his clothes. “I am going
to transform this pathetic man you chose as a mate into a world
ruler. You should thank me.”

LaShaun pushed against him, but froze at his
words. Heart pounding, she looked up into eyes that gleamed with
cruelty, and triumph. “What are you talking about?”

“Your ancestors called me forth, and then
left behind mewling offspring. They whined about Him,” Chase spat
as he pointed to the sky. “They got down on their knees and crawled
begging Him to forgive. My cunning and power had enriched the
LeGrange and Rousselle families, but I was ignored. Still I knew
the true nature of man would win out. So I waited. Finally another
one called on me. I grew stronger. And I waited again. Two
generations later you came along to captivate me with your beauty,
intelligence, and ruthlessness. You were the best of them all,
until you crawled in the dirt on your knees as well. Lighting
candles and mumbling empty words. I was sorely disappointed in you
until you gave me this gift, a vessel. A body to let me enjoy the
pleasures of the flesh. We can be together.”

“No, we won’t,” LaShaun shouted back at him.
She felt dizzy at the impact of what he said.

“Face the truth, ma cherie. You delivered
Chase into my hands the day you ensnared him in your love. He could
not fight his passion for you. Do not lie to yourself, LaShaun. You
knew,” the voice coming from Chase’s lips now bore no resemblance
to the man she cherished. “Just as you pulled other men into your
sensuous web to get your way, you set just as delicious of a trap
for this one. Oui?”

“Liar.” LaShaun kicked his legs with as much
force as she could.

Chase stumbled, but held on firmly to her.
“Why deny who you really are deep inside? I’m giving you this man.
Feel him; the body that brings you delight.”

“Stop.” LaShaun tried to pull away, but
couldn’t. She could feel the heat from Chase’s body, and his
arousal as he pressed his pelvis against her.

“Even now your body responds to him,” he
whispered in her ear.

Though she whipped her head from side to side
in denial, LaShaun could not look away from the dark eyes that had
captured her heart. Their mouths touched, and a flash of fire
seemed to lick at her very soul. More than physical desire, LaShaun
felt an overwhelming hunger to have him inside her. A powerful
memory of the way Chase felt when they made love left her weak.
Though a small part of her mind rebelled, LaShaun clutched at Chase
with a moan. She kissed him greedily, raking her hands over his
body. After a few seconds he pushed her away.

“Chase,” LaShaun gasped.

“Sweet one, we will have plenty of time
later. But right now we have one more task before we can taste the
delights of human lust.” He laughed and yanked her farther into the
darkness.

LaShaun clawed at his arms in pure rage born
of frustration. She’d allowed his filth into her mind. For a brief
moment she almost gave in to the temptation. His suggestion that
she accept him as Chase should have sickened her. Instead LaShaun
became seduced. Anger with herself as much as with the deceiver
burned like a hot branding iron.

“You don’t know me,” LaShaun rasped, panting
with exertion against her own inner demons and the one made flesh
in the man she loved.

“But I do, love. That’s why you fight with
such intensity. I’m a mirror, and you do not like what you see.
Enough,” he growled and waved an arm. Cloaked figures separated
from the shadows as though they were part of the tree trunks. “We
begin.”

LaShaun pushed back against his effort to
play on her deepest doubts and fears. She needed to stall for time.
“Why didn’t you inhabit Manny Young? He’d probably love to team up
with you.”

Chase let go of her. “I would have settled
for him, but he foolishly became imprisoned. I tried to counsel
him, but he has little self-control. His release could take years,
if it happens at all. Poor chap.”

“Like you give a damn about Manny,” LaShaun
spat back at him. “If he becomes useless he’s dead. The rest of you
better listen up because that goes for you, too. This thing will
use you and walk over your dead body when he’s done.”

He yanked LaShaun against his chest again and
put his lips to her ear. “They don’t care. My followers have tasted
the freedom I offer.”

“Freedom? You’re his slaves, his fools.
You’re not free,” LaShaun yelled at them. The figures stood still,
waiting for orders.

“Some say I’m entirely too indulgent with
you. If I didn’t need you awake for our ceremony, I’d knock you out
myself.” Chase’s features twisted into a frightful scowl. He
pointed a forefinger at her. “Don’t push me.”

“Montgomery, this is insane. Serving evil
will lead to damnation,” LaShaun shouted, trying to gain time.

Chase lifted LaShaun in the air in a bear
hug. Then he let one hand roam over her body. His breath became
ragged. The cloaked figures started to chant. Once again LaShaun
felt his arousal as Chase moaned. He brushed a hand across her
breasts. Quickly he reached into her jacket and took her knife.
Murmurs of admiration came from the figures when he held the knife
up. LaShaun counted six, but felt sure more blended in the
darkness.

Montgomery stepped forward wearing a smile of
victory. “Ah yes. The legendary sacred knife of purest silver. That
will make a nice addition to my collection.”

“You’re among friends here, no weapons
needed,” a familiar female voice cackled.

“I’m going to cut you first, Gina,” LaShaun
snarled in her direction.

“I said enough.” Chase nodded to someone.
While the figures moved around in some kind of purposeful activity,
he whispered to LaShaun again. “We’ll finish what we started once
this is over. I can’t wait to part your legs.”

He dragged her to an older part of the family
cemetery. They went through the wrought iron gate LaShaun had
installed after her grandmother’s burial. Her pulse quickened.
Abiku headed in the direction LaShaun had seen on the old map.
Moving through thick brush they came to a clearing. A large tree
had been cut and only the stump remained. An iron fire pit had been
embedded in it. Blue and yellow flames licked the night casting a
glow in a wide circle.

“You have an awful choice. Kill the man you
love, and you will banish me. Or accept the inevitable and rule by
my side. Of course you must get over that unfortunate need to be
good.” The demon twisted Chase’s features into a grimace, as though
the word tasted sour on his tongue.

“I can’t kill you,” LaShaun replied.

“Of course you can’t, dear one. I’m the man
you adore, the man of your dreams. I’m your husband, bound to you
by our eternal vows.”

“Forever to rule this world in darkness, we
claim our right to make the meek bow down. Strong is the way of the
wicked. Yea, we crush them beneath our boots as we stride across
this land,” the cloaked figures changed on cue.

LaShaun swung a fist hoping to hit Gina
first. Strong hands pulled her back to the center of the clearing.
Looking down she noticed symbols drawn in the dirt. A raised mound
stood opposite the fire pit. She stared hard and realized what
looked like a mass of vegetation appeared more solid. LaShaun
started for Chase. Three cloaked figures came toward her, but he
waved them back.

LaShaun reached into her lace bra. She held
up a silver wolf’s head with black onyx and lapis. “Remember when I
gave you this? Here, take this symbol of our commitment. You
haven’t worn it lately because of work.”

Chase pushed the collars of his jacket and
shirt away to expose his neck. The cloaked followers murmured in
protest, but he chopped a hand in the air demanding silence. He
then turned back to LaShaun. His eyes glowed as he looked at her.
“This trinket cannot harm me because she gives it freely, a symbol
of her devotion. Still warm from the heat of her flesh.”

“L’union fait la force,” LaShaun whispered
fiercely. She cupped his face with both hands, kissed him and began
a prayer in old Louisiana Creole.

Chase’s eyes blinked rapidly.
“LaShaun...”

“Together we fight. Always,” she whispered in
desperation.

When he swung away from her, LaShaun let out
a cry of desolation. The cloaked figures around her closed in and
resumed chanting. As their voices rose a blue light pulsated from
the wall of vines, illuminating them so the leaves became
translucent. LaShaun recognized the outline of a door. One of the
figures, a tall masculine hulk, stepped forward. Still chanting, he
swept aside the living curtain that concealed a cement crypt. A
huge iron ring served as a handle. The blue light came from
within.

“I want to see,” LaShaun said, pretending to
be in awe. Her mind raced, sorting through how and when she should
make her move.

“Not yet,” Chase said softly.

LaShaun looked at him closely. She couldn’t
tell from his voice or expression who he was in that moment. With a
nod she turned back to watch the macabre ceremony taking place. She
had to find a way to stop it, and stop these people. Suddenly one
of the cloaked figures behind her gave a whoop.

“Why should you be the first?” came a screech
of protest. “I’ve served him longer and better than you!”

Startled, the other cloaked figures turned in
tandem to gape at their companion. The offender punched the
follower closest. The hood of the cloak fell away and Allison
Graham yelped with pain. Her attacker jammed an elbow into
Allison’s midsection. Allison’s eyes rolled back in her eye as she
fell. For a few moments everyone stood frozen.

With a growl, Montgomery threw back the hood
of his cloak, his face twisted into a mask of hatred. “Grab the
intruder.”

Another cloaked figure rushed forward to
obey. From the darkness a large stick landed a crushing blow on his
head. The man grunted in surprised agony as he went down. Two more
cloaked figures jumped into the circle of light and a battle began.
LaShaun took advantage of the confusion to race away into the
darkness. She desperately searched the darkness. Sweat trickled
down her face as LaShaun strained to find the bag she’d concealed
earlier. After what seemed like an eternity she found it. She
whispered a prayer of thanksgiving as she raced toward chaos. An
all out brawl raged in full force. Shouts, curses and screams of
pain rang in the night air.

Gina, her red hair plastered to her forehead
by sweat and blood, blocked LaShaun’s path. “You won’t walk away
this time, bitch. I don’t give a shit what anybody says.”

“I’m afraid she’s right, Ms. Rousselle,” Neal
Montgomery said. He wore a grin. “Even Abiku agrees. None of you
will leave these woods alive tonight. Fresh blood will only enhance
our rite.”

LaShaun’s heart broke at his words. She’d
failed to free Chase from the hellish fate of being possessed by a
loathsome fiend. Faced with making a last stand, LaShaun vowed to
do as much damage as she could. She glared at them both.

“If I take anybody with me, Gina, it’s going
to be you,” LaShaun barked and assumed a defensive position.