Two Parts Demon Read online

  Argyle cleared his throat. “I have wondered how it works with your parents, Benny.”

  Benny made a face. “Well, Dad manifested as an incubus, and he is in love with my mother. She provides him with everything he needs, and he is satisfied. His blood binds them, so he would never stray, but he does get sexually frustrated very easily, which did mean that I couldn’t have sleepovers. They created a schedule that worked for all of us, and I learned to reheat things in the microwave. Eventually, I learned to cook.”

  Tremble leaned in, “What do you mean manifested as an incubus?”

  “No demon is a copy of their parents. It is a random assignment of genetics and magic. Kyria is a succubus, her child was a book demon and his child was an incubus. Kyria’s father is a demon king, and she definitely is not one of the ruling demon classes.”

  Tremble was genuinely curious. “How do you know?”

  Benny smirked. “The horns. The kings have large racks like deer do. They are born with those as their crown.”

  Smith chimed in, “So they are automatically in charge?”

  “No. They have to take down another king. It just gives them the right to pick the fight.” Freddy mumbled around her taco.

  Argyle glanced at Freddy. “How do you know about it?”

  Freddy snorted. “One, I am Benny’s best friend and have been since we were six. Two, my family has had some occupational exposure to demons in the past.”

  Tremble cocked his head. “Why?”

  Benny took the glance that Freddy threw her. “Okay, I can see that they are more annoying than decorative. How do I get out of this?”

  “Tell them if you want to and tell them it is none of their business if you don’t.” It was fun to see someone else on the interrogation end after the week she had had.

  Freddy sighed. “My dad is a hellhound.”

  The guys just blinked in surprise. Benny sipped at her soda, revelling in the sugar and carbonation. She had really missed it.

  Smith dived in. “So, are you a hellhound?”

  Benny started snickering, and Freddy kicked her under the table. “Shut up, Benny.”

  Benny finally decided to pity her friend. “Can I describe it?”

  Freddy slumped in relief and nodded.

  “She has a canine form with access to the energies of the demon zone. Most of the time, she just reports on sports for the same company I used to write for.”

  Freddy looked relieved. It was the truth without being the whole truth. It made her other form sound exceptionally impressive, which is why Benny had phrased it that way. Freddy needed more respect than she got.

  Benny scooted toward Smith, pressing more firmly against him. “What are the odds of me starting next week?”

  He shrugged. “They will probably take a week to work out the paperwork. The mage council has to sign off on your participation as you are a registered mage, not an extranatural.”

  Tremble chuckled. “Smith is the only one of us who thrives on paperwork. If he says it is so, it is so.”

  Benny sighed. “It has been a while since I took a week off.”

  She got up and headed for another round of food. A crowd was starting to gather, and she wanted to fill up before she headed home.

  She nodded and held up four fingers when it was her turn at the window. She got a wink and a nod in return as he called the order back in a harsh and guttural tone.

  She paid, went to wait with the others and grabbed a handful of sauce packets before she returned to the table, her arms laden with food.

  When Benny returned to the table, she had to ask, “So, do you guys normally hang out together, or is this like a time-off thing?”

  The agents looked at each other and shrugged.

  Tremble said, “We just all wanted tacos tonight, so I called Smith and he got Argyle to drive.”

  Freddy leaned forward and pointed to Smith, “So, you don’t live with your pride.” She moved her finger to Argyle, “You don’t live with your master, and you, Tremble, don’t live with your clan.”

  The men all nodded, and Benny wondered where she was going with this.

  “So, none of you really have a place in the world, according to your own people.” Freddy seemed intent on nailing that down.

  Benny whispered, “What are you getting at?”

  Her friend snorted. “They have been staring at you like they were hoping that you would put as much enthusiasm into wrapping your mouth around them as you have the tacos. I think I need to know if they can put their focus on you or if they will have split loyalties.”

  Benny blinked. “Their first loyalty is to the XIA, same as mine will be.”

  The men looked from one of them to the other. Tremble finally spoke. “Our loyalty is to the XIA, of course.”

  Argyle leaned in and cleared his throat. “Though, from what your parents have told us, you might be amenable to having all three of us in a relationship.”

  Freddy gasped, but Benny cocked her head. “I have considered it, but while it is culturally fine for me and my family wouldn’t have an issue with it, I think yours might.”

  Benny worked on finishing her second order while everyone at the table was in shock. Freddy grabbed one of them, and before Benny could warn her, she bit into it.

  Freddy’s eyes flared blood red as she fought the heat in her mouth. She gasped and reached for the soda, but Benny shook her head.

  “Damn it, what was in there?” Freddy grabbed one of the sodas from the agents and slugged it down.

  “Uh, four spicy hot?” Benny felt apologetic.

  “And your soda?”

  “The same. I needed a bit of a kick today.”

  The flame in Freddy’s eyes faded, and she sat down, eyeing the remaining taco warily. Benny was reaching for it when her phone went off.

  She paused. Everyone that would have called her was here at the table. Who the hell could be calling her?

  Chapter Three

  “Benny, this is the manor. Please come home.” The flat voice of the house she lived in came through the call. The phone was on speaker, and she disconnected the call as it finished speaking.

  Benny wadded up her remaining food. “Sorry, folks, I have to go.”

  Argyle got to his feet, his pale features serious. “We can drive you.”

  “Pooky will drive me. Freddy, I can drop you on the way home.”

  “Fuck that, I am coming with you. Get in the car.”

  The men got up and cleared the table at the same time.

  Benny tossed her garbage into the troll-occupied trashcan and headed for the car. The last time she had been called home by the house, one of her school friends had seen her father without his glamour. An investigation had been pending, but her mother passed it off as a demon glamour that she had cast on her husband. It had been a heart-pounding moment.

  Pooky opened his door, and she slid into the driver seat. To her shock, Tremble sat in the passenger side. “Freddy is coming with the others.”

  “Home, Pooky. Quick as you can within legal limits.”

  The seatbelts snapped into place on both of them, and the car reversed into the lot before taking off on the way home.

  “Um, Benny?”

  “Yes, Tremble?”

  “Who is driving?” He was very polite about it, but she could tell he was nervous.

  “Pooky. He’s my car or any other type of conveyance I need. I got him when I was fourteen.” She smiled and stroked the dashboard as the car danced with traffic.

  “It is enchanted?”

  She snickered. “Not specifically. It is a living being that has specific shapeshifting categories. It tends to end up as a vehicle, so Mom and Dad asked if he would be my ride, and he agreed.”

  “I see. It is an excellent driver.”

  Benny smiled softly, “He really is. He is also a great designated driver.”

  “Did I misunderstand earlier, or did you
say that you would have a relationship with all three of us?”

  Benny blinked at the sudden change of topic. “Um, well, yeah. It wouldn’t be right to pick one and leave the other two out of it. So, since you three are partners, I would have to take all three of you on, naturally.”

  “Some would say there is nothing natural about it. Our species do not blend in nature.”

  “You work fine in the field. I have seen you three in action. It is a solid balance of teamwork, and I wouldn’t put my oar in to knock any of you out. I respect the team, so if I date one, I date the team.”

  His eyes were wide and his ears were quivering with shock. “That is...that is a very interesting way of thinking of it.”

  “You have met my parents. I understand that what is required for one relationship is not for another. When you care for someone, you adapt to what they need as long as it doesn’t change who you are. You have to know yourself to be able to give that to someone else.”

  He threaded a hand in her hair and leaned forward. She gave in and kissed him, but when his tongue touched her lips, he jerked back. “What the hell is that?”

  She blushed. “Spectre peppers. They were in my soda and my taco. Sorry.”

  Pooky turned and pulled up to the house, two mage guild cars were parked in the drive. Benny got out of the car the moment that the seatbelt released.

  She ran in and yelled at the mages who were firing spells at the library. “Hey!”

  The spellcasters paused.

  A woman with dark hair asked, “Do you live here?”

  “Yes. What is the issue?” Benny asked.

  “There is a demon on the premises, and we have to take him into custody.”

  “May I look?” There was no reason not to ask to see what they were trying to pry out of the library. It might actually be a demon.

  “Be careful, miss.”

  Benny glanced over, and her friends were arriving. “They are with me. I was out when I got the call.”

  She stepped into the group of mages and looked into the library. Her mother and father were floating in the air, and between them was an actual demon—Yomra the demon high king, her great-great grandfather.

  Huge antlers sprung from his head, his clawed hands and dark-blue skin gleamed wetly; the spikes down his back were almost as intimidating as the club between his legs.

  An oily voice in her mind knocked her to her knees. Ah, little Beneficia, just as lovely as Kyria with far less wear and tear. I will strike a deal with you. Your parents can return to their lives if you agree to come and work for me. I think you would make an excellent succubus.

  The distended erection he sported made her gag. Benny shook her head. No. I will not work for you, but I will come for them.

  I give you a week to change your mind, pet. You will be mine. If you don’t come to me, I will call you by blood and that is not going to be a comfortable moment for you. Remember, it is my blood in your veins. I own it, and I will own you.

  A thunderclap of power and they were gone.

  Benny was still on the floor, and the moment the pressure on her mind disappeared, she fainted.

  Waking with her friends around her confused her; it took her seconds before she realised what had just happened. “He took them.”

  Freddy nodded. “That is what the mages say. They are waiting to interview you. I am guessing that they are pissing themselves at having seen an actual demon for the first time in their lives.”

  Smith leaned forward. “Why did he take them?”

  She cast a silencing spell on the area around them and whispered, “He wants me. He wants me to take over for Kyria. If I don’t agree, he will pull me in by blood and that won’t be good for me.”

  Tremble took her hand. “What does that mean?”

  “Blood call will take my free will and imprison my soul. You can’t normally have a soul and be summoned by blood, but if anyone could find a way, he would.” She shivered. “My brain still feels oily.”

  A thud on her silence spell told her they weren’t alone anymore. She dismissed the spell, and the four mages surged in.

  Argyle got to his feet and held up his hand. “Our teammate has just had a nasty shock. Not only were her parents kidnapped, but there were mages in her home.”

  The woman that had first spoken smiled, “I am Agent Wells. I need to ask you some questions about the intruder.”

  “Do you have access to the records of the Ganger family? The recent ones?”

  Agent Wells looked uncomfortable discussing it in mixed company. “Yes, there is some demon in the bloodline?”

  “That demon is where the blood originated. His name is Yomra. He has kidnapped my parents.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Because he is a fucking demon. He was a contributing factor in the women who were murdered two weeks ago. These officers of the XIA stopped those plans.” She gestured to the men around her.

  Freddy smiled and waved.

  “Ah, and Freddy is my best friend. She is familiar with my family dynamic.”

  Freddy nodded, “I have known the Gangers for years. They are good citizens, excellent teachers and Lenora is a great cook.”

  “Why would he come to you?”

  Benny sighed. “Blood binding. He can do a lot with the blood of two of the strongest mages of our current age. Either I turn my blood over or he will capture me and hurt my parents.”

  “Why not just take you?”

  Argyle snorted. “Blood taken from the unwilling loses power. It can still be useful for a purpose, but you cannot build on its strength. He needs her cooperation.”

  That he was supporting her in her lie was a relief. She tried to look pale and shaken. It wasn’t too difficult.

  Agent Wells stared at her, but nodded. “You have had a rough time. We will begin negotiations with the demon zone and see what we can find out. I am afraid that your father’s bloodline might make that awkward for him, but your mother should be fine.”

  “Thank you, Agent Wells. I will be here or you can get me through the XIA. I have just been cleared to be mage liaison for this XIA team.”

  Her chair shifted, and to her shock, she was sitting on Smith’s lap. No wonder she had been so comfortable.

  Benny looked up at him, and he smiled down at her, looping his arms around her waist. It wasn’t the most professional appearance, but it made Agent Wells uncomfortable enough to quickly take down her contact information before mentioning that there would be a car out front until they had answers about the origin of the demon.

  Benny asked a question. “How did you find out about the demon?”

  Agent Wells flicked through her notes. “Someone named Manor called it in.”

  Benny nodded. With the suspension spell, it would have had to have been the house itself. “Thanks.”

  “Do you know Manor?”

  “I do. He lives in the area.” She suddenly had a thought. “Jessamine!”

  Benny jumped out of Smith’s lap and ran for the alcove where Jessamine’s remains were stored. Benny opened the box and sighed with relief. In a tiny portrait, her friend and housemate was sobbing softly, claw marks and blood stained her clothing, but she was still in one piece. “Jess. Oh thank goodness.”

  Jess looked up and sobbed with relief. “Oh, Benny. He was here and through the wards in no time. He used some of Kyria’s blood to break in.”

  “Do you need help?”

  “Please.”

  Benny whispered a spell to heal ectoplasm and watched the claw marks fade. Jessamine manifested near her, and she looked devastated.

  “I couldn’t do anything.”

  “Mom and Dad couldn’t either. Don’t worry about it. We are going to get through this.”

  Agent Wells was staring in shock. “You have a ghost?”

  Jessamine stiffened and floated up to the woman. “Hey, Benny, you have an idiot?”

  Benny snorte
d. “Jessamine was a friend of the family a few centuries ago. She is now a companion and my roommate. I normally live at the dower house at the end of the lane, but my parents are doing renovations, so I am staying at the manor until the renos are done.”

  Agent Wells nodded. “Well, I have your information, so I will be on my way. Take this and keep it on you in case you need anything.”

  Benny took the card the woman handed her, ignoring the zing of tracking magic embedded in it.

  When the mages were gone, her ghost was back, the agents were staring at her and Freddy was eating cookies. Benny got ready to go and rescue her parents from the demon zone.

  Chapter Four

  Benny took a deep breath and muttered, “Just like Easter.”

  Freddy explained the comment to the men. “She means it is time to make a battle plan.”

  She walked to the library, put her hands on either side of the doorway and sent a cleaning spell through it to remove every trace of blood. When the nine popping flames finally confirmed that she had found them all, she mentally cursed her great grandmother and headed into the best magical library for several hundred miles.

  “You might want to keep your heads down.” She called out the warning before she set up a summoning spell. The spell was specific. She wanted a way to expunge the link to the living demon in her bloodline. With her growing power, there was no way that Yomra wasn’t going to try to get his hands on her, now that he was aware of her.

  Books flew toward her, and she caught them, stacking them on the table one by one. The books would get her close, but she might have to get help.

  “Can any of you read spell books?”

  Her four companions shook their heads.

  Benny fished her phone out of her pocket and flipped through her contacts. She hoped it wasn’t too early.

  The phone rang three times before a scratchy voice answered. “Hello?”