Darkened: An Avery Tywella Novel

By S. L. Gavyn

It was life as usual for half-Demon Avery Tywella when she chases a Demon convicted of murder into a local club. As an agent of the Human’s Rights task force, it is her duty to execute any Other proven to harm Humans. But her actions in Halo attract the attention of Jared Damascus, the lead singer of local rock band sensation, Darkened. And, a night of clubbing with her friend leaves her with unwanted attentions from, not only, a Fallen Angel but a psychotic murderer.

Now, with a Fallen bodyguard at her side, she has to find a crazed killer before he strikes again. The only problem is convincing her Fallen admirer to let her do her job instead of protecting her. Because she is going to need the help of him and his band of vigilante crimefighters to take out this crazy Angel so she can get back to her life before she does something she regrets with a certain hot rock star.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S. L. Gavyn
• Release date: Feb 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310781841

S. L. Gavyn

S.L. Gavyn lives in Mobile, Alabama with her husband, three children, two dogs, two betta fish, one guinea pig, and a tree frog that hangs out in her bathroom shower. She tries to write fantasy novels that are funny, interesting and adventurous with just the right amount of romance worked in. You can find her blogging about her books and various other things at slgavyn.wordpress.com.

Book preview

Darkened

An Avery Tywella Novel

S. L. Gavyn

Copyright 2013 S. L. Gavyn

Discover more about S. L. Gavyn’s books at http://www.slgavyn.com or like her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/slgavyn or follow her on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/SLGavyn.

This free ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person (living or dead), business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Darkened

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2013 S. L. Gavyn

Cover Design © 2018 S. L. Gavyn

This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited without the express written permission of the author.

First edition: November 2013

Available Books by S. L. Gavyn

The Forged by Magic Series

Brimstone

Iron Made

Dragon’s Flame

Ange Noir: A Forged by Magic Prequel Novella

The Avery Tywella Series

Darkened

Deadened

Deceived

Craven: An Avery Tywella Companion Novel

Damned

Devoted

The Fabled Series

The Fabled

Fable City

Fabled Lost

The Fallen–Fey Chronicles

The Darkness

The Cursed

The Light

The Broken

The Driven

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Preview of Deadened

1

One

Gallion. From the info I have, he’s one of Rallizon’s horde, I said.

Do you have a description or anything, angel? Craven asked.

Yeah. I pulled out the picture I carried in my back pocket and looked at it. He’s got dark hair and eyes. Looks to be about six one with a lean build. I know that’s not a lot, but the only pic I have of him is a surveillance photo, and it’s kind of grainy.

He sighed. I will keep my ears open, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for any results with the minimal information you’ve provided.

That’s about what I expected but figured I’d give you the specs just in case.

In case what? He walks into my shop wanting a tattoo?

Or one of your other services.

I see. I will let you know if that happens.

I appreciate it, Craven.

Anything for you, angel.

I hung up and continued down Peachtree. As I passed the various clubs, bars, and restaurants, I couldn’t help but wonder how I was ever going to find this guy. It was like a needle in a haystack and all I had was a crappy surveillance photo. This Demon had killed a Human and had eaten her soul. If I know anything about Demon, it’s that if they kill once and get away with it, they will continue to kill until they are caught. Oh, and the plural of Demon is Demon. Whether it’s a horde or one, they’re still Demon. I guess they don’t deserve the s the other species get.

I had just turned onto Paces Ferry when I passed what looked like a drug deal in progress. Not my division. If Humans want to kill themselves, that’s their business. I have enough to take care of by chasing the Others who were killing them. Drugs were not my prob.

I had just walked pass them when I realized that one guy matched the description of my perp. No, surely it couldn’t be that easy. I turned around and took a better look at him. Same dark features and about the right height. I walked up to them like I was interested in what they had to offer. I looked typical enough—a twenty-something chick with auburn hair wearing a dark shirt, a hoodie, blue jeans, and black boots. It was too dark for him to get a good look at my eyes.

Ya got anything good, brotha? I asked the possible Demon while looking around like I was watching for the cops.

Whatcha looking for, baby? I might be willin’ ta work out a deal wit’cha, he said.

I smiled at him, reached out, and ran my hand down his arm like I was interested, but in actuality I was feeling him. One touch and I could usually tell what species an Other was, especially a common one like Demon. I smiled again, only this time because I had found my perp. This night had just started to look up.

Gallion of Rallizon. You have been found guilty of killing a Human—

That’s all I got out before he was gone and the chase began. He ran back up Paces Ferry and took a left onto Roswell. I pulled out my cell and hit one on my speed dial.

Yo, señorita, what’re you up to tonight? Kansas asked.

I’m chasing Gallion down Roswell. Per protocol, I need backup.

’Kay. I’m in the alley running behind Dallas right now. I’ll cut up to Roswell.

Then we’re heading your way.

The Demon took a sharp left and managed to slide past the bouncer outside of a club who was arguing with some obviously underage chick. I tried to follow the Demon inside, but of course, the bouncer saw and stopped me.

Kansas, stay in the alley and head for Halo. My perp just entered the club. I’m following.

Dallas was the bar two businesses down from Halo. Kansas could cover the back door while I entered from the front.

Ten four, Ave.

I hung up the phone and pulled out my badge for the bouncer. Avery Tywella. Humans’ Rights Task Force. I’m chasing a suspect into the club. Stand aside.

The bouncer eyed my badge for a moment, then looked at me, then back to my badge.

Come the fuck on. Do you need a blood sample to verify DNA? Get out of the damn way.

He raised a brow and then stepped aside. Good idea. I’d hate to hurt him in order to catch my perp. I entered the club and found that I couldn’t see any one particular person other than the band that played on the stage. Everyone else was so packed together I couldn’t pick out one over all the others. To the right of the main dance floor was a raised area with the bar. Beyond that, tables ran along the entire side of the interior until you get to the back where the VIP section is located. I headed for the raised section so I would be able to see over the entire dance floor. My cell rang.

Avery, I said as a greeting.

Ave, you find your perp yet? Davis asked.

Not yet. I chased him into Halo but got hung up by the bouncer. I’m casing the joint now.

I’m out front. I’ll hang here in case he tries to double back on ya.

Roger that. Ave out.

I hung up. Kansas and Davis were partners that worked for the task force. Actually, everyone on the task force had a partner except me. I don’t work well with others so my boss agreed to make an exception as long as I called for backup if I was actively in pursuit of a perp.

I started through the table area while scanning the dance floor and the darker areas along the back wall where the booths were. If I didn’t find him on my initial walk through, I’d go have a seat at the bar and wait him out. My best friend happened to be one of the bartenders on duty tonight, so I knew she’d help me keep an eye out.

Suddenly, it felt like I was being watched. I stopped and looked behind me first, but there was no one, so I scanned the dance floor. When I didn’t see anyone looking my way I scanned the stage since it was directly across the club from me.

The lead singer was belting out some hard rock song I had never heard before, and he was looking directly at me. I looked behind me again to see if he could have been looking at someone else, but again, there was no one. I shrugged it off. Since I was still directly across from the stage, I assumed he regularly looks there so he didn’t have to watch the people on the dance floor bumping and grinding to his song. It wasn’t really the type of song I would think people would dance like that to, but apparently some people will bump and grind to anything.

I continued with my sweep of the club and didn’t see him anywhere. The most likely place would be that he’d hide out in the men’s room, but I’d be damned if I go that route unless I absolutely had to. I decided to take a comfy seat at the bar, which just happened to be across from the restrooms. That way I could keep an eye on them and the front entrance at the same time. If he tried to pull a fast one, he would have another thing coming.

As I sat on the bar stool, I saw Temmy serving a drink to a guy at the other end of the bar. I waited until she turned around and spotted me.

Oh my gods, Avy. I’ve been trying to get you to come to this club for the last six months and you pick a night that I’m working to decide to come?

I’m working too, Temmy. A Demon ran in and I’m in pursuit.

Well, let me fix you a drink while you pursue.

She went about mixing me a drink while I continued watching everyone. Temmy’s real name is Temperance Desire Lovely and she absolutely hates it, hence the nickname. She and I have been friends since we were twelve. I was raised by my maternal grandmother and she raised herself, at least until we met. Then my grandmother raised her too. See, Temmy is one of probably a thousand demigod children Bacchus, the god of grapes and spirit, has fathered. Needless to say, she has never met her dad and her mom was just as absent. Cinnamon Lovely, or Cindy to her friends, was a showgirl in Vegas when she met Temmy’s dad. The last we heard from her, she was married to some rich guy in south Florida. Good riddance. She should have given Temmy up for adoption as soon as she was born, but I think Cindy hoped Bacchus would return, and she wanted to hold on to her meal ticket.

There you go, Avy. I call it a Temmy special.

I raised a brow. I did say that I was working, didn’t I? This isn’t going to knock me on my ass with one drink?

Lord no. I like my drinks fru-fru. Taste it. You’ll like it.

I took an experimental sip. It did taste good, but I would take it easy. Just because it tasted good didn’t mean it wouldn’t get me shitfaced. I needed to stay on top of my game for when I found my Demon.

I felt eyes on me again, so I scanned the crowd. I looked at the stage, and found the lead singer was looking at me again. That was strange. I wondered what his deal is. Maybe it was just a coincidence.

He is totally hot. I have been trying to get in his pants since I started working here. Mmm-mm, the fun I could have with him, Temmy said when she saw where I was looking.

I thought you were dating Mr. Self-Absorbed. What happened to that?

Oh, I’m still dating him, but a girl can dream can’t she. And, if he decided to make those dreams a reality, I wouldn’t say no. She waggled her brows.

When it came to men, Temmy was like her dad was with women. She never kept one man for more than a couple of months and always had a wandering eye whether she was in a relationship or not.

Tell me you don’t think he is fine, she said, challenging me.

I looked back at him and saw he was still watching me. Then he smiled and I quickly turned back to Temmy. He’s not too bad looking.

Not too bad? Are you crazy? That right there is one fine ass mofo. If I’m lyin’, I’m dyin’.

Didn’t that saying go out in the eighties?

Some things live on forever. Kind of like you and me. She winked.

As a demigoddess, she was most likely immortal, and with my half-Demon ancestry, it was likely that I was too.

I continued scanning for my perp. If he didn’t show himself soon, I would to have to invade the men’s room, and I really didn’t want to have to do that. Walking into a bathroom with a dozen or so drunk men was not something I wanted to do.

You know, it looks like he’s watching us.

Who? I looked around.

Mr. Sexy on the stage. That’s who.

Oh. I don’t have time to play groupie. I’ve got to find this Demon. I sighed. I guess I’m going to go check out the restrooms. See ya, Temmy.

Wait. That’s it? You just waltz in here and hang out for five minutes then leave? That’s wrong.

We’re both working, and I’ve gotta find this guy. I promise I will go out with you soon. Okay?

Next weekend. I’m off Saturday, and you should be off too. Right? Your one weekend a month that you’re not on-call.

Uh, yeah. I’m supposed to be off. Okay, next Saturday. We can hang out at my place. I’ll buy the pizza.

Oh, no you don’t. We will come to this club, get drunk, and flirt with guys.

I rolled my eyes. Fine. Call me tomorrow.

All right, Avy. Have fun killing your Demon.

I used the stool to push myself up so I could lean over the bar and give her a brief hug before I left. I walked toward the hall where the restrooms were, and had no longer entered the corridor when the men’s room door opened and my friend, the Demon, poked his head out. He saw me and immediately went back into the restroom, and tried to shut the door. I stuck my boot in the way and pried the door open. As I entered the room, he tried to stab me with a short knife. Well, two could play at that. I pulled my katana from the back sheath my hoodie mostly covered and stabbed him through the shoulder.

The wound wouldn’t kill him, but my blade went all the way through and into the door behind him. That would keep him in place while I pulled the stiletto from my hip sheath. The weapon was made from the same thing the Hell dimension was made of. My maternal grandmother had given it to me on my sixteenth birthday and had said that my mother had wanted me to have it. There was also an ancient ritual written on a piece