The Demon's Song

By Helena Shaw

The one man who can save Cadence may also be the one to destroy her.

Shadows cloak Cadence’s every move, but only she can see the swirling darkness and the encroaching shadows threaten more than just her vision. Sinister and evil creatures stalk her from beyond her sight, eager to claim a power hidden within her that she does not yet understand.

But the shadows clear within the presence of her new boss, the dangerously sexy Draven Crane. Draven’s strength comforts Cadence, but his secrets might prove to be just as dangerous as the evils that threaten her.

Draven promises he’ll protect her from the darkness, but Cadence fears trusting the mysterious man. If taken, Cadence will be devoured by evil. If Draven saves her, her life may very well be in the hands of a demon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Helena Shaw
• Release date: Jun 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386484172

Book preview

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Chapter One

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A dark shadow crept out of the darkness and rolled across Cadence's eyes as she stepped out of the shower. She blinked away the dark spot and rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands until her vision cleared.

They're getting worse, her mind told her, but Cadence refused to listen. She had too much else on her mind to acknowledge her own fears about the strange shadows she constantly banished from her line of sight.

No, what was on her mind right then was praying that she didn't look too ridiculous in Jane's blouse and blazer. Her roommate was voluptuous and sexy, while Cadence was, at most, petite. When she first tried on the borrowed blazer that was now hanging on the back of the bathroom door, she practically swam in it.

Ignoring the mismatched outfit, Cadence ran a comb through her dark brunette hair. It was nothing to style it, just a quick blow dry and her chin length bob looked as good as it was going to get. She always wondered about growing her hair out longer, but she didn't like putting in the work. Even when Jane told her that her short hair made her already large brown eyes look bigger, she just couldn’t be bothered to grow it out.

Jane had left some makeup by the sink for her to put on, but she decided against it. Jane had been trying to get her to dress sexier and wear makeup since they’d become friends in high school, but Cadence always resisted. It just wasn't her thing.

Jane's mother had once joked that the girls should switch names. Jane was anything but a plain Jane, while Cadence always thought she fit the image of 'plain' so much better. She was happier with a book than at a party, while Jane was out every night with different dates.

It came to a shock to everyone that Jane moved to the tiny town both girls now resided in. It was just an hour outside of New York City and she moved there after spending a year at community college. She took a job at the only bank in the village of Gravenhurst and made the move while Cadence was studying literature at Cornell.

Jane's unexpected move wasn't the only one that came as a shock. The shadows that had come and gone from Cadence's vision since she was a child started getting worse last November, right after her twentieth birthday. She'd seen an eye doctor about it, but he just called it stress and recommended she see the campus shrink.

The psychiatrist wasn't any better. He threw a bottle of pills at her, but they only made her lethargic and her grades had already begun to slip. The pills didn't help anything but her decision to drop out before the end of her third year. She already wasn't getting what she wanted out of school, but the pills ruined the last of her motivation to keep at it, and she pulled out of her classes just before spring exams.

Her parents were furious. They already frowned on her decision to study literature over math or science, but dropping out was the last straw. They cut her off and with no one paying the rent on her shared student apartment, she faced homelessness and worse.

It was Jane who had come to her rescue. She'd told Cadence she was renting an older, if not in perfect condition, house in the center of Gravenhurst, population 652, and asked her to come stay. They hadn't seen each other in a year, but Jane was the only one to come to her aid when she needed it most.

With no other options and a weird sense of wanderlust, Cadence fled New York City and found herself at Jane's rustic, if a little drafty, home.

It was a good switch, if not exactly what she was expecting. She got off the pills and started writing again, but her attempts at finding a job were dismal at best. Gravenhurst was a town of farmers and a few commuters. Jane couldn't even get her a spot at the bank and soon she'd been living rent free at Jane's place for four months.

Instead of money, for the time being Cadence paid her way with cooking and cleaning. She wasn't very good at either, but it was better than doing nothing other than sitting on her ass reading all day. While Jane was at the bank, Cadence swept, scrubbed, cooked, and wrote. It wasn't the best situation, but they made it work.

In the end, it was Jane who found Cadence the job. One of her clients at the bank was a secretary with Crane & Partners, a legal firm that filled a strangely out of place glass building at the edge of the village.  One of the lawyers was looking for a new secretary and Cadence found herself suddenly employed at the firm.

It was her first day and she was struggling to get ready in time. The office had a weird dress code for the secretaries, which meant that Cadence was borrowing the two black blazers and couple white blouses that Jane owned until she got her first paycheck and could not only buy her own work clothes, but finally contribute to the rent.

I look ridiculous, Cadence groaned as she stepped out of the small, slightly musty bathroom.

You look fine, Jane said, but her eyes betrayed her. Jane wasn't overweight, not really, but she had a large bust and curvy hips which meant that her clothes sagged on Jane's slender, short body. A few safety pins and no one will notice.

With the safety pins in place, her outfit was as good as it was going to be. At least the skirt and shoes were her own, and she slid them on as she moved to the front door.

A sudden crack of thunder filled the house and both girls groaned.

Again? Jane moaned. That's the third storm in under a week.

The weather had been exceptionally rainy for early October and instead of walking to work, it meant that both girls were taking Jane's old junker.

Does it normally rain like this? Cadence asked, though she knew the answer was no. The entire town was waterlogged and the coming cold of an early winter didn't help matters.

I doubt it, Jane said as she grabbed the keys to the car. Come on, we better run so we don't get soaked.

Despite running the ten feet to the car, Cadence's blazer was soaked through as she threw herself into Jane's car. It was a soggy start to the day that Cadence could only hope would get better, though she held out no expectations.

She'd googled Crane & Partners when she had the interview, but she'd found next to nothing online. Even her interview was vague and gave her no more than what she found through Jane’s computer. The building was out of place in town and no one knew much about it. She didn't even know anyone who worked there, beyond the secretary that Jane knew through the bank.

The drive was short, but Cadence's nerves were already shot and the thunder overhead didn't help matters. A shadow crept across the rain as they drove and she rubbed her eyes until they hurt in an effort to make it disappear.

You'll do fine! Jane assured her as she pulled into the small parking lot that lined the side of the short glass office building. Jane's car stuck out in the worst way as she pulled into an empty spot between a Mercedes SLK and an Audi R8. The only car in the lot that didn't look brand new was a classic looking black car that only belonged one place. A museum. The vintage car with its sleek lines and subtle elegance looked dangerously sexy and despite the showy toys in the lot, it was the classic that drew Cadence's eyes.

Thanks, Cadence said as she reached across the car to give Jane a hug. For everything. Really.

Don't worry about it, Jane assured her. Get to work!

The rain showed no signs of slowing and Cadence had no choice but to make a run for it. At least her heels were low so she didn't need to worry about breaking an ankle as she sprinted the short distance between the car and the door.

Good morning, a stylish blonde greeted her from behind the large black desk that filled the entryway.

Morning, Jane replied as she shook the rainwater out of her hair.

The storm was only getting worse and rain pounded against the windows while lightning cracked across the sky. It made the brightly lit office seem almost dark as Cadence approached the desk.

Um, she stuttered, not quite sure where to begin. I'm Cadence Lowry, it's my first day.

Yup, the young woman nodded. Suzanne Crawford is waiting for you in human resources.

Thanks, Cadence said. Um...

"Second floor, one of the girls will