The Invisible Defenders: When Night Feasts

By Nicholas Taylor

In the throbbing heart of Newland City, Ruby's life transforms after a chilling encounter with a demon. Her savior is a man named Tom, a member of the Sect, a clandestine organization that hunts demons. Now endowed with new-found abilities, Ruby joins Tom in a terrifying game of cat and mouse as they hunt a demon with an appetite for murder. Will Ruby and Tom find the demon and protect their city from supernatural predators? Or will they be the demon's next meal?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Somnium Press LLC
• Release date: Aug 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781938387104

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Ruby Simons stepped out of the club and was engulfed in the sights, sounds, and smells of Newland. She merged with the throngs of people walking down the wide sidewalks. She smiled, enjoying the buzz of the city. Buildings loomed overhead, their silhouettes punctuated by the occasional airship. Many were adorned with neon signs, promoting various restaurants or shows in the city.

 Next to her, the growl of car engines echoed as they moved down the street. The smell of exhaust, the street, restaurants, and the people mixed together, giving the area a distinctive odor. She moved with the crowd, allowing it to dictate her pace as she made her way towards her apartment. In a city that never slept, there were rhythms to the days and nights, and there was no use fighting them. She passed several shadowy alleyways where dark figures huddled, looking out at those on the street. Others congregated around small fires flickering in trash barrels.

A gust of wind whipped through the buildings and she buttoned up her jacket. She turned down another street, this one had far fewer people on it. Her pace slowed to a more leisurely stride as she passed various buildings until she reached her own. She opened a heavy metal door, stepping into the welcoming warmth of the entryway. The elevator door creaked and clanged as she stepped in and shut it. The elevator was small and bucked and bounced a bit as it started its reluctant ascent to her floor.

Ruby glanced at her watch. It wasn't late, but she had work in the morning, so she planned for an early night. She sucked her lip waiting for the elevator. It came to an ungraceful stop, bouncing slightly. She opened the door, stepping into her hall. The hall was narrow and lined with doors, each marked with brass numbers. Ruby walked down the hallway, rummaging in her handbag for her keys.

She inserted her key into the lock and turned it, careful not to make a sound. Her roommate should be getting up soon, but Ruby didn't want to wake her. The apartment was dark and she gently closed the door, clicking the lock.

She took off her jacket, immediately noticing an unusual chill.

Hello? She whispered into the shadowy apartment.

The faint city light filtering through the window provided just enough light to confirm the room was empty. Strange, she thought, and hung up her bag. As she was getting a glass of water, it hit her that she hadn’t called her parents in a while. They were probably worried. They hadn't been thrilled about their daughter moving to the big city. She felt a twinge of shame about disappointing them. They’d wanted her to settle down and start a family, not go get a job in the city. She thought it hadn’t been much for them to expect of her.

Her good mood left her as she thought about her parents. She took a sip of water and tried to suppress her guilt. She quietly opened the door to the bedroom in an attempt not to wake up her roommate, Alicia.

She froze.

Alicia lay on her back, her eyes shut tight as tears streamed down her face. Ruby heard her roommate's whimpers as dread gripped her. Atop the bed, she saw what looked like some kind of creature. At first, it resembled a cloud of smoke with tendrils of darkness coiling around Alicia's head. But after a moment, the creature took shape. With a snap, Ruby could make out its form.

A small creature, black with a body like smoke, perched on Alicia's chest. Its long-fingered hands clung to her temples, pulsating with a dim red light. A jolt of shame coursed through Ruby, causing her to gasp and drop her glass.

The glass shattered on the floor, and the creature's head snapped towards her. Glowing red eyes locked onto her, and a mouth filled with rows of teeth opened as it let out a shrieking roar. Its hands jerked away from Alicia. Her eyes flew open, and she let out a blood-curdling scream. Ruby echoed her scream and backed out of the room.

The creature growled, lunging towards Ruby. She sidestepped its attack. As it flew past her, one of its clawed hands reached out. Ruby felt lines of burning pain in her side where the claws grazed her. She tumbled onto the floor, rolling onto her back, scrambling to get to her feet. Terror ripped through her as the creature leaped on her chest, swiping at her face. She felt its claws burn as they made contact with her skin.

She shoved it off and rolled, getting to her feet. She crashed into the kitchen, her fingers wrapping around a knife. She spun around, searching for the creature. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and her heart hammered in her chest. She felt like she was going to throw up and the edges of her vision blurred.

Her eyes darted around, hunting for the monster. She slowly moved towards the front door, desperate to find help. As she neared it, the thing jumped from a shadow. Ruby lashed out with the knife. She felt a slight resistance as it passed through the creature. It tumbled to the ground, missing an arm.

It looked up at her, its red eyes almost seeming annoyed. She watched as the severed arm on the floor turned to smoke and slithered over to the creature, where it reformed.

Oh god, it can't die! she yelled, panicked.

She fumbled with the lock. The creature slammed into her back as she got the front door open. She fell hard in the hallway, feeling claws rake down her back. She rolled, kicking the thing off her. She backed down the hall on her back. There was a shadow behind her, and she covered her face.

The creature hissed, and she heard the gruff voice of a man. She moved her hands away from her face, catching a flash of metal. A knife, perhaps? A man in a heavy coat stepped into her apartment. There was another hiss from the creature. Ruby rolled over, her stomach clenching, and she vomited on the floor. She collapsed on her back, her mind spinning with terror. Her breathing was labored, and her vision blurred as the man came out of her apartment. She looked up at him, trying to make out his features, but her vision faded to black and her head lolled back as she fainted.

CHAPTER TWO

Thomas Dover, child of Diligence, gazed up at the grey, drizzly sky. It had been raining steadily for several hours, and he was grateful that it had ebbed down to a light sprinkle. He leaned against the wall, taking a drag from his cigarette, feeling the smoke fill his lungs and the nicotine subtly erode his frustrations.

He was in a narrow alley that dead-ended at the back of one of the city’s hospitals. On either side of the alley, the hospital towered over him. The area was largely deserted, except for an ambulance parked by metal double doors. Its engine sputtered out smoke as it idled.

Tom took another drag from his cigarette and exhaled, resisting the temptation to glance at his watch. He was on time, and that was all that mattered. At least, it was all that truly mattered to him. The doors swung open, and two men wheeled out an empty gurney, stowing it in the back of the ambulance.

Sorry, slick, Tom said under his breath, referring to whomever the men had recently transported to the morgue.

The sound of shoes on the pavement caught his attention, and Tom turned his head to see a man in a heavy black coat walk quickly around the corner. The man was in his late twenties, with chin-length black hair framing a sharp jawline and angry brown eyes. Cameron Frost, child of Wrath, seemed to be doing his parentage proud this morning.

Cam strode quickly up to Tom. He spoke before Tom so much as opened his mouth. Yeah, yeah, I know, save it, I’m late, Cam said, anger etched into his tone, fucking trains are running late this morning. He offered by way of explanation. Some fuckin bumpkin backed a flatbed onto the tracks this morning. I bet the dumb fuck was watching some skirt instead of paying attention to his job, or noticing the bloody train bearing down on him.

Is the guy alright? Tom asked.

Cam shrugged, The fuck should I know? Do I look like I have a crystal ball in my jacket or something?

Tom raised his hands. He wasn’t angry. Instead, he stayed quiet and let Cam get it out of his system. That was all there was to it. It wasn’t personal, it was just Cam's nature. Tom waited until Cam huffed, his anger subsiding.

Thanks, Tom.

Tom nodded, Anytime. He took one last drag on his smoke and flicked it into a puddle, Shall we?

Cam led the way to the double doors. He pushed them open, and the men walked into the scent that could only belong to a morgue. The sharp tang of death mingled with the acrid smell of chemicals. Contrary to Tom’s childhood beliefs, the morgue was well-lit. Men in lab coats and women in nurses’ uniforms went about their tasks, only a few of them noticing Cam and Tom.

Stainless steel doors were embedded in the walls, and Tom noticed a few bodies covered in cloth. His and Cam’s shoes squeaked and clicked on the linoleum floor as they sought their quarry.

They found Doctor Ronald Harvey in a small room. He was standing at a table with a cloth-covered body. Tom noticed patches of blood seeping through the cloth. Dr. Harvey looked up at them. He was short and pudgy with thinning blonde hair and watery blue eyes. He smiled grimly at Tom and Cam.

Morning, Doc, Cam greeted as they entered the room, Have a cold one for us?

In a manner of speaking, yes, Harvey replied, Came in last night. The third one in the last month and a half. He pulled back the cloth, causing Tom to instinctively flinch.

Fuck me, Cam swore.

Sorry, Cameron, you're not my type, the M.E. retorted without missing a beat.

On the table lay the remains of what Tom was fairly certain had once been a man. His head was missing, and his limbs were torn apart. Jagged cuts crisscrossed his chest, and his abdomen was split open, whether from the attack or an autopsy, Tom couldn't tell. He peered at the body, suppressing his sense of gore. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he felt uneasy.

Do you think a demon did this? Tom asked.

Harvey nodded.

Could've been one of those mob hits, Cam suggested, sounding uncertain. I've heard they've done some pretty messed up stuff.

The M.E. shrugged. Doubtful, but we can always hope.

Cam looked closely at the body and shook his head. Yeah... but I think you're right. What do you think, Tom?

Tom kept his gaze fixed on the deceased man. It was a demon. No doubt.

Cardinal? the M.E. inquired.

Or possession, Cam said.

Could it have been a dream? Harvey asked.

Tom shook his head. Not even a powerful one could do this. Sure, their claws and teeth burn, but they only leave welts.

Cam looked up. Did you get that one you were tracking?

Tom nodded his head and looked up from the body with a sigh. Yeah, I did. It was a shame demon. Some gal walked in on it feeding on her roommate. It attacked her. When I got there, she was in the hallway with it on top of her.

Shit, that's bad luck, Cam said. And the roommate?

Tom shook his head. It tore through her mind. She's at a hospital outside of town, babbling incoherently.

Will she be okay? Harvey asked.

Tom had to remind himself that while Harvey was well-versed in medicine, he was new to the world of demons. Tom pulled out a notepad to jot down some notes. She will be. Give her a few weeks of rest and she'll be alright... Probably.

He began scribbling notes about the body before him. When did he die?

Late, Harvey replied. But I don't know much more.

What are you going to list as the cause of death? Cam asked.

I think decapitation should cover it, Harvey said.

Cam gave him a look. Yeah, funny, he huffed. Are the cops looking into it?

Yes, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. They suspect it's the mob.

Good, Tom said. We don't need them getting in harm's way. He jotted down some more notes. Whatever did this is a nasty one. Thanks, doc.

They exited the morgue.