Feud: The Demon Chronicles, #2

By Raven Storm

Serafina is the first Guardian in centuries, a human born with powers strong enough to rival any Nephilim's. Together with her friends and the Watcher, they have overthrown the Arch Demon and taken control of the demon hierarchy. Next, they have the rest of the world to contend with, as the other Masters don't play well with others.

 

Justin is now Master of the US demons, and is determined to force change in the demon hierarchy to live peacefully with humans. As he struggles to fight and retain his title against other warring Masters, a familiar darkness creeps into his soul.

 

Azazel is still alive, with revenge on his mind. The former Arch Demon is furious at being betrayed, and vows to destroy everyone who defied him. His ultimate goal: plunge the demon hierarchy into all out war, destroying the planet and all of humanity in the process.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven Storm
• Release date: Dec 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215807965

Raven Storm

Raven has always loved to write, but just recently gained the courage to start publishing a few of her romances. Raven's stories will always feature strong females who are figuring out their place in the world, as well as lots of spice! When she's not reading or writing, Raven is teaching music or performing. Thanks for following!

Book preview

Prologue

Asmodeus, thou shalt have no peace: a severe sentence has gone forth against thee to put thee in bonds: And thou shalt not have toleration nor request granted to thee, because of the unrighteousness which thou hast taught, and because of all the works of godlessness and unrighteousness and sin which thou hast shown to men. Then I went and spoke to them all together, and they were all afraid, and fear and trembling seized them.

---

-The Book of Enoch

Chapter

One

Get outside.

It was child’s play to intimidate them; he was nine feet tall, his eyes blazing red and ringed with soot. The rest of his features were covered by the pulsating, black aura that always surrounded him. Like some of them, he had wings, but they appeared as ever-moving shadows that danced around his body rather than a physical limb. His demon form towered over the huddled figures on the ground, his body covered in shadows and wisps of smoke.

With a grunt, he callously dragged them beyond the safety of their cave. His voice reverberated painfully in their heads, speaking directly to their minds and heard out loud. He sneered at them, as fresh scars shined against his skin. A while ago, they had been gaping wounds, but the energy stolen from the others served to heal him efficiently. His prisoners were emaciated, starved already since being trapped here, and now on the verge of death after being stripped of their remaining strength. He’d found them soon after arriving, hidden and praying to die. Death would have been a welcome escape for them, but he wouldn’t grant it. He didn’t believe in mercy after all, and he needed them. So, he supplied them with just enough energy that they continued to exist, and in return, he used them to heal.

You first.

He gestured to an astonishingly beautiful woman, close to eighty years old despite looking only twenty. This was common in her bloodline, though humans tended to use the word succubus. Her blonde hair was matted and filthy, but she stood proudly.

Tell me how far the resistance goes, and I will release you from your suffering.

She lifted her chin and replied to his mind, though her voice did not carry the same power. She wasn’t about to bow to him: not anymore.

No.

He growled and backhanded her across the face. She fell to the dusty ground and didn’t move, grey dirt getting in her mouth and nose. The landscape here was all the same; a dull, dirty expanse with no color other than shades of grey. The horizon stretched outwards without changing or shifting. Another prisoner stood defiantly.

You are a coward, and we will not give you the answers you seek.

Though he struggled to stand, his eyes blazed in defiance, his fangs glinting over the top of his bottom lip. His golden skin shimmered with effort, and his leathery wings hung limply from his back.

His collarbones and ribs stood out in stark contrast to the rest of his body, the same as the others.

You dare to cross ME, one of the Fallen, the last ances‐

tor? I am STILL THE ARCH DEMON!

The man laughed, and a golden tattoo of a triangle flashed on his lower neck.

You are disgraced, Arch Demon. Why else would you have been trapped here? Your power is weakened. You have fallen again.

The Arch Demon roared in anger, and they all screamed in pain. He spitefully threw his hand out at the woman on the ground, and she twitched and writhed in agony as an invisible, electric fire burned through her veins. She gasped once but refused to scream again. The Arch Demon muttered angrily and stormed across the expanse, disappearing in a wisp of smoke. In the shadow plane, he was weak, unable to take the information from their minds or force them to do his bidding. For now, he had been denied; but for how long? The woman sat up and rubbed her face wearily.

Are you alright, Lilin?

She brushed away his concerns with a wave of her hand.

Don’t fuss, Abad. You are right; he can’t hurt us more than we already have been. He can’t have us dying on him, after all.

They retreated into the cave, gazing bleakly at the stone walls that had been home for the past six months. Seven demons in total huddled together, though they suspected that more of them could be scattered elsewhere. Others would be able to hide more effectively depending on their form, after all. Each of them had been sacrificed for the Tempora Project and left for dead. They suffered alone, outcast and forgotten, slowly and eventually finding one another across the blank expanse to share in their agony—until the Arch Demon arrived.

It’s obvious what his plan is.

A new demon stood upon a rock, the better to be seen and heard. He was gruff, his form reminding most people of a charging beast, though the bottom half of his body looked mostly human. A myriad of golden earrings hung from both ears, and a large ring hung from his nose, daring opponents to get close enough to use it against him. They rarely did.

He’s wounded and weak, which means there was finally an uprising. Whoever did it didn’t finish the job, but the Arch Demon doesn’t have the energy to get back to our plane. He will do what he always does: leave us for dead and take our remaining talismans and use the power for himself!

Abad stretched his wings, standing carefully.

Forik isn’t wrong. We need to be careful and watch each other’s backs. We must hang in there until our brothers and sisters come for us.

Forik snorted, his hand covering the wrist where his talisman rested.

No one is coming.

Lilin hissed at him and then settled further against the rocks as she curled into herself. A few moments passed, and the only sound was the drip, drip of water on stone, eerily loud in the semi-darkness. Suddenly, a bright light came from outside the cave, flooding through the opening of the cave to dispel all the shadows. They scurried to their feet, fear and anticipation battling for dominance on their faces.

Abad grinned, directing a superior look at Forik.

Doesn’t look like no one.

They scrambled outside.

Chapter

Two

"W here is it?!"

Justin’s eyes were frantic as he grabbed the nearest demon by his shirt collar, anger driving his anxiety as the ground shook, and the windows of St. Michael’s Academy rattled in their old, tired frames.

3rd floor, outside of the science wing!

Justin released the boy, who, as a Gamma demon, looked no different than any other human. He sank to the ground, relieved to no longer be Justin’s sole focus. Justin caught the shadow of a nearby pillar and disappeared, reaching out to one of his best friends mentally, the one who was his left wing, his lieutenant.

Third floor, science wing.

He felt rather than heard the larger demon’s reply and knew he would be there. Not that Justin needed backup; as the son of the Arch Demon (and not the grandson as they had all previously thought), his power was virtually unmatched by anyone within his territory. Ever since they had overthrown the Arch Demon a month ago, the transition from a hierarchy of blood to one of democracy and conflict resolution hadn’t exactly been smooth.

Justin appeared from the shadows in his demon form, brown skin and leathery wings flared wide. His extra pair of upper and lower fangs hung over his lips, and he stood tall on legs that bent backward, like a canine’s. The demons gathered to watch the fight immediately backed away, scattering. The two demons fighting felt his presence and twitched, breaking apart to circle each other with menace. Both were already covered in wounds, their blood making the marble floor slippery. Justin pointed at the demon on the right.

Explain.

The demon on the left scowled at not being picked first but kept silent after Justin glared at her. She looked like a gargoyle, her skin a light purple that was contrasted by her black hair and eyes. She crouched to the ground, shielding her body with her wings and scowling as her dark claws scraped the floor. The other demon was much older, though you wouldn’t be able to tell at sight. He looked like an average human of medium build with brown hair, but with the inherited dark eyes that many Gamma demons did. To compensate, he was armed to the teeth with a knife in each hand and a gun at his waist. Gamma demons who chose to study with the Alpha and Betas knew it was survival of the fittest. He twirled one knife in his hand and returned it to its sheath next to the gun holster.

"She takes offense at my presence here. I’ve… corrected her."

He sneered, wiping the blood from his other knife. The purple demon screeched in rage, lunging towards him.

Down!

The command from Justin had her freeze mid lunge, falling awkwardly to the floor as her body hurried to obey an order from a superior. The watching crowd flinched in pain as they were caught in the crossfire of his command. Justin pivoted quickly towards the Gamma demon.

And wipe that smirk off your face! Protecting yourself is one thing; gloating about it is deliberately baiting her!

The grin disappeared from the other demon’s face, and he scowled in embarrassment.

Both of your actions are disgraceful. How are we to live with humans when we can’t live with ourselves?

Justin snorted, and small tendrils of flame shot from his nose. He eyed the floor and walls, both of which were streaked with blood.

Clean this mess up.

He gave a last glare to the lingering audience; his dark eyes glinted with retribution. Giving them a last disgusted look, he stalked back to the shadow in the corner, disappearing in a wisp of smoke.

She could feel her mate’s anxiety through their bond and ached to be able to give him some sort of relief. Ever since banishing the Arch Demon, it had fallen on him to try and bring change to a system that had been in existence for a millennium. Of course, that didn’t even touch the personal issues they were still working on between the two of them.

Are you alright?

He looked up at her, a mild glare his only reply. She winced.

Right, stupid question.

She tentatively entered the room, sitting down in one of the leather chairs set before a massive mahogany desk. It had belonged to the Arch Demon, like everything else in the mansion. Sera and her friends moved in immediately from their dormitories following the battle, figuring Justin needed all the support he could get.

He sighed, his head falling to rest in his hands as papers scattered in front of him.

Democracy is bullshit.

Sera laughed one loud guffaw before she slammed a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles. Justin raised an eyebrow at her, and she could feel his amusement through their bond. His eyes met hers, and she felt his consciousness wrap around hers in a warm embrace.

He spoke to her mind through their bond.

Tell me again why I can’t just force them all to do what I want?

Sera sighed. It seemed lately that her purpose in life was to remind him of his vision for the demon race. She replied mentally.

You know, all that stuff about how true change won’t happen unless it begins at the top, especially if you expect your people to ever live peacefully with humans? We must

change minds, not conquer them, blah blah blah…

His immaculate posture slumped with exhaustion, and he spoke aloud.

Right: leading by example and all of that.

Sera stood and put her hands on his shoulders.

You know it’s not an overnight process. You’re fighting a thousand years of history, and even your basic instincts! Give yourself some grace.

He barked a laugh, but it sounded bitter.

Demons don’t get grace.

Her eyes were sad, so he relented, clarifying.

What I mean is, the only grace I have ever found has been with you.

She blushed, and he changed topics abruptly, pushing a letter towards her as she sat down on the edge of his desk. It was hard to believe they had only known each other for nine months and had spent a good chunk of it in dislike. It was hard to imagine her life as anything other than it currently was. Nine months ago seemed like several lifetimes away. Justin gestured towards the piece of paper.

Whenever there is a major change in leadership, it is customary for the new leader to go on a… tour of sorts, to the other demon territories.

Sera picked up the letter, scanning it quickly.

Human royalty usually does something similar, I believe.

Sera nodded, though she also shot him a sarcastic look.

You do know that most of the human world has killed off their monarchs?

Justin took the letter back, ignoring her.

"For us, it is an important rite of passage. The Order in each country has thousands of members, with normal humans serving at the bottom and becoming more demon-born as they move up the ranks. At the top are the Masters: my grand, er, father was the unofficial Master of the US since no one dared to challenge him while he was in this territory. Universally he is accepted as our Arch Demon, which essentially means Master of us all since he is the last remaining of the original Fallen. Most of the Masters hold onto their power using the hierarchy system, and they each have varying bloodlines and abilities. The purpose of the trips is twofold: the other Masters will want reassurance that I’m not coming for their territories, and I will have to prove myself capable of my new position."

Sera’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t like the sound of that.

You said no more fighting.

He shook the letter at her, frustrated.

I may have no choice! If we can’t sway them to our side, there will be fights. To not fight would mean the destruction of everything we hope to accomplish. They could get everything: my power, my territories, my talisman, anything that I hold dear.

His eyes flew to hers, holding her with the intensity of his gaze.

They would take you.

Sera took a deep breath and released it. What would happen if another demon got ahold of the first Guardian in centuries? What could they make her do with her powers? Every few centuries, a human emerged from the Earth with abilities that rivaled even the most powerful of demons. Martin had once mentioned that Guardians were the answer to the demons’ presence on Earth, a being to bring balance and light to their darkness and chaos. Whenever humanity found itself in turmoil, a Guardian had appeared in direct defiance to fight for humanity. Sera was still trying to wrap her head around how she came to be chosen.

She shrugged, attempting to appear nonchalant.

Well then, I suppose we will have to be extremely persuasive when we visit, to convince them of our goals. Where are we going first?

Justin’s lips pursed in anger.

"What do you mean, we? You will not be going anywhere near any of the other Masters. The risk is insane! I won’t have it!"

Her eyes had once been brown, but ever since her powers awakened, they had changed to light, unnerving silver that matched Martin’s. Her lighter gaze met his dark golden one, their bond ricocheting emotions of comfort, support, and what they had managed to overcome together these past few months. After a minute, his fists unclenched, and he relaxed.

It’s unfair how you can do that, he complained, but there was no real venom behind it.

It’s unfair how you forget that our true power lies in when we work together.

Justin picked up a pen, his annoyed expression at odds with the happiness she felt through the bond.

Fine. We’ll need to gather the others since I’ll have to leave one of them as my proxy with the Council while I’m away.

Sera smirked at his false despair. The Council had been his idea: a way to give the demons of his territory a voice in their new government and to keep him from being an overlord like the Arch Demon had been.

"Don’t pretend you don’t already know who you’re choosing.

Just pick Cassandra and be done with it; at least you know her mate will keep the body count down."

Her comment was rewarded with a smirk before it quickly vanished. Reg (short for Reginald) was a perfect balance for Cassandra’s fiery, warrior-like personality. His quiet logic and rational thinking would ensure she didn’t do anything dramatic while Justin was away, such as murder the council and set herself up as queen.

At least, Sera was mostly sure she wouldn’t do that. Probably.

How quickly can you be ready to leave? With summer break starting this week, we can be off as soon as possible, though there is no break for us in the upper tier. We will need to balance our studies with the amount of time we’ll be away.

Sera jerked, not expecting that. The upper tier was comprised of students who were Alpha and Beta demons: beings with close ties to the bloodline and had a demon form. Their powers varied based on bloodline, and they needed special instruction away from the Gamma demons, who were mostly human with no demon form.

Most of the Gamma demons and human students made up the lower tier. The lower tier was currently gone on summer break, but everyone in the upper tier was expected to keep going. There was no rest in a society where your place was determined by your abilities.

If you wanted to stay alive, you pushed yourself to become the best possible version of yourself you could. If you didn’t, you died.

Though not a demon, Sera was considered a member of the upper tier due to her bond with Justin and her status as Guardian.

Uh… ok. I suppose I didn’t expect that. I need to stop by Vivian’s and spend some time with her if we’ll be gone awhile.

Justin rolled his eyes. They had argued frequently about this the past few weeks. Sera had only lived with Vivian a few months last summer before leaving to attend St. Michael’s. Her aunt had taken Sera in the year before when her parents and brother were suddenly killed in a violent car crash. Her subsequent run-in with Justin after moving to town led to an automatic invitation to St. Michael’s, and her life hadn’t been the same since. The issue was that Vivian didn’t know anything about her niece’s turbulent school year, nor its climactic ending.

Just tell her already. You don’t give her enough credit. Abby seems to think she’d take it just fine.

Sera crossed her arms in front of her chest. She hated when he used her best friend’s opinions against her. Vivian knew nothing about Sera’s journey the past year.

"Easy for Abby to say. ‘Oh, hey Vivian, I know I’m only sixteen, but I’m a lost Guardian who bonded myself for life to a demon, but it’s ok because things seem to be working out after we usurped a few thousand-year-old Arch Demon and now my boyfriend is in charge.

Now I need to go around the world for a few months on some royal tour to make sure no one else wants a go at him—’"

Justin cut her off by rounding his desk and seizing her in a light kiss.

How much time do you need?

Where are we going? She countered.

He leaned in close, his arms going around her waist. England.

Her face lit up, excited. When?

His eyes flicked down at her. Three days.

She huffed unhappily but nodded. "Fine. I suppose being bonded to you does have some benefits."

He smirked, and his lips descended again on hers.

It’s so good to see you!

Sera grunted as her aunt seized her in a crushing hug, all the air forcibly squeezed from her lungs. She let go quickly, backing up and looking Sera over from head to toe.

I need to talk to you, Vivian.

Her aunt clamped a hand to her mouth.

"Is it that boy you’ve been seeing? You aren’t—"

"NO! God, Vivian… just… no. Neither of us is ready for that!

Vivian let go of her, reaching out instead for her bag.

"Well, good. I’ve been dreading having to have… the talk with you anyway.

Sera froze, her eyes darting to her aunt’s face.

The talk?

Vivian lowered the bag, exasperated. She ran a hand through her short, spiky hair. The purple tips would probably need to be redone soon.

"Yes, you know. The talk. About…how it all works…"

Her hands vaguely waved around in the air.

NO! Oh, God, no. I mean, I’m good, thanks. Mom got to that before she… well… She trailed off awkwardly.

Vivian released a large breath she’d been holding.

Thank God. I really don’t know if either of us would have survived the experience.

Sera silently agreed, and they both made their way inside the old Victorian house. Anxiety pooled in her stomach; how was she supposed to tell Vivian she was leaving again? The older woman was already alone, her husband dying the year before Sera’s family had.

In a way, she felt bad for the one person who hadn’t abandoned her.

"So if it isn’t… that, what kind of talk did you mean?"

Vivian looked over her shoulder at Sera, her eyes narrowing.

Sera sighed, knowing the sooner it was over, the better.

Can we sit down first?

Vivian dropped Sera’s bag, uneasy. She followed Sera into the kitchen while Sera automatically began pulling down mugs and serving drinks: coffee for her, tea for Vivian. When they both had settled at the small table with steaming cups in hand, she took a deep breath.

"When I first received my letter to St. Michael’s Academy, you said I was likely invited because my great-grandfather