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ability to see the Hellworlds and demon souls drove her in to a world of sin and sex, attracting the unwanted attention of the Underground. After months of torture, the She-demon, Lilith, attempted to take Annette's body and drive out her human soul. Unexpectedly, Annette's soul fought back, trapping Lilith and
leaving them to reside together on a shaky truce.
Along with the help of Michael Daltry, a detective with the Metropolitan Police and Rowan, a demon ordered to protect them, Annette and Lilith must work together to uncover the reasons behind a spate of grisly murders that has hit the the busy city of London.
If they fail, it will truly be Hell on Earth!
Chapter 1
Silently, I moved through the dark sidelines of the club, barely noticed by the crowds of people who danced long in to the night. Scented skin, rich perfume and the undertone of wine drifted on the air. I breathed it in, drinking in sexual desires, glimpsing dark fantasies and shivered against them, wanting them.
How I envied them. Envied the way they moved; chins held high, exuding confidence, certain nothing
terrible could ever happen. I envied the way they laughed, the way they embraced, the way they trusted.
Women, in short dresses, tight skirts and low tops, encouraged men to watch, to whistle, to pant with
need. Never wondering, never caring that maybe, just maybe, the one they beckoned with those salacious smiles and inviting eyes could be the one who took everything from them, who could end their lives.
They were ignorant. Oblivious to what lurked in the shadows, oblivious to the monsters that waited
for them in the murky darkness. They were oblivious to me.
Yet it was I who would give up everything to be like them. I would give up everything to fall in love, to dance with a man and not fear his intentions, to laugh carelessly, to…to be human! Instead I was forced to walk the edges of this world, to look in, but never be a part of it.
Turning away from the dancing throng, I followed the unlit seating area and pressed against the countertop of the bar, gripping the solid wood to steady myself. I ordered a drink and gulped it down in seconds, relishing in the warmth of the Brandy as it spread through my body and soothed my nerves. For a moment it chased away the fears.
People frequented clubs like Pandora to drink their life’s problems away, to forget their responsibilities
for a night. Why should I be any different? Well…sure mine were the kind of problems no human could even imagine comprehending, but I still had problems. Ones that, like any other, would be waiting for me in the morning, but for now I was here, among those who were here for the same reason.
To forget.
I called the Barman over to fill my glass and knocked it back, exhaling sharply as it burned the back of my throat. It instantly sent my head swirling with calming cloudiness.
Pushing away from the counter, I moved through the multitudes of intoxicated people and stepped on to the dance floor at the centre, joining a horde of heated bodies writhing against one another in the tiny space. They smelled of sweat, of trepidation and excitement. I closed my eyes and inhaled. It was a heady mixture, one to get drunk on. Blood tasted like chocolate on the tip of my tongue. Flicking it over my pulsing lips with my tongue, I allowed my body to sway to the beat of the music. Throwing back my head, the vibrations of the speakers poured over me like syrup, perspiration clung to my skin, dampening my hair. I was a kitten surrounded by catnip. Human bodies intoxicated me, their proximity called to the part of me I kept hidden. A darkness. A monster.
Before realizing it, power spilled from my body in scorching waves, calling to those closest to me.
Reaching hands found their way on to my body, caressing. Men and women pressed against me hungrily as the music consumed Pandora. They touched me, they wanted me. Lips brushed against mine. Teeth scraped my throat. An arm curved around my waist.
The thing residing inside of me, the thing that gave me this unwanted power poured in to my consciousness and took control. It chose its victim. It chose a man who cupped my chin and pulled me close to bite at my lips, who snuggled against me as if he could crawl inside of me. The darkness wanted him. I wanted him. I almost…almost…let my demon have him. I could. He would not care. He would beg me to take him, to ride his body until he screamed in pain. He wanted me to tear at his throat, to drink down his blood. He wanted me to rip the flesh from his bones as he cried out in pleasure and pain. He wanted this as much as I did.
I felt my teeth sink in to his lip, felt the soft skin split and a drop of blood slipped in to my mouth,
the metallic sweetness called a moan from my throat.
I froze.
Shock and disgust pulled me from this hypnotic state. I called my power in so quickly I staggered back with the force of it. I stumbled away from the man, his eyes confused, but not afraid. Thank God he was not afraid. The others had moved away, unaware of being under my spell. I backed away from the dance floor and sagged against the bar, taking deep, ragged breaths. I gulped down glasses of brandy, trying desperately to fight the memory of the man’s body against mine, his blood in my mouth.
“You might want to slow down a bit, miss.”
My head snapped up, meeting the dark chocolate eyes of the young Barman who filled my glass with another shot despite his warning. He smiled apologetically and I followed the movement with my eyes, admiring the way his lips twitched at the corners of his mouth, the way the dimple deepened in his left cheek.
"Miss?”
His mouth moved deliciously when he spoke.
“Maybe I should call you a taxi?”
I frowned up at him, head swimming with alcohol. “What?”
I cringed at my throaty voice, the musical sound of it, the way it softened the young man’s eyes.
“I think you have had enough for one night,” he said. “Where do you live?”
“Live?”
The Barman grinned and his looks became boyishly handsome. His unblemished skin was naturally tanned, his blonde hair sprinkled with golden highlights.
“Let’s start slowly. What is your name?”
“My name?” I cursed inwardly at my befuddled brain. “Annette. Annette Anderson.”
“Good. I am Todd. Now let’s think about getting you a taxi home,” he said. “Can you remember where you live?”
I glanced up at him under dark, heavy eyelashes. “Yes.”