Scatter Light: His Mortal Demoness, #2

By Andrea B. Lamoureux

Trusting a sworn enemy has consequences. 

 

As a half-demoness, Vivika knew turning to the light wouldn't be easy. Her powers are bound, and the angel, Elias, no longer has her back, leaving her feeling betrayed and alone. When she's given three tasks and sent down to Earth, she learns how fragile life as a mortal is. Can she survive long enough to regain her immortality? 

 

Elias has been devoted to his goddess since she created him. He thought he loved her, but Vivika has opened his eyes. Now, he must do everything he can to protect her from the jealous goddess. Even if it means surrendering the light within him.

 

Will the demoness join the light? Or will the angel give up paradise? 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrea B. Lamoureux
• Release date: Dec 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781989462126

Book preview

Chapter 1

Vivika pulled harder against the single chain keeping her in the room. Focusing her mind, she reached out with invisible hands. With her demon power, she tried to pick the lock on the cuff, gritting her teeth, but it wouldn’t budge. She shouldn’t be surprised. Squeezing tiny magical fingers into the contraption hadn’t worked last time. Or the time before that.

Rubbing at the metal cuff biting into her wrist, she sank onto the round bed at the center of the roomy chamber and stared at the domed ceiling. Someone played a harp from outside the open tall arched window. This room, and all of its treasures, belonged to Ama, the Goddess of Love and Desire. Ironic, because the deity only inflicted hate in this half-demoness.

Vivika had tried, over and over, to use her invisible hands to break the chain bolted to the floor, to pick the lock and set herself free. Her bonds had to be made of some type of godly magic because she never succeeded.

The door creaked open.

She sat up straight and shifted to the edge of the bed. She hated the too soft bed, used to sleeping on the soil in Orcus, the underworld her mother, the demon queen, ruled over.

Elias stepped into the room, his gleaming white wings nearly blinding in the sunlight streaming in through the giant window framed with pink curtains.

The angel didn’t bother hiding the short blade he held in one hand, shadows flitting over his brilliant blue eyes. Ama needs some of your blood.

Why? Her voice came out harsh after not using it for... however long it’d been since she was seized.

It was true, she hadn’t expected to be welcomed warmly in Alysium, Land of the Gods, destination for righteous souls, but she also didn’t think they’d imprison her upon arrival. A gods damned angel had brought her here, had assured her she’d be allowed in... that she could become an angel. Curses had flown when she discovered her naivety. Now, he wanted her blood.

She met Elias’s stare, waiting.

His upper lip twisted, as though her very existence disgusted him. To bind your demon powers.

She’d thought he liked her. He’d kissed her, for Sator’s sake.

A fool, she was a fool.

The angel didn’t object when Ama ordered her bound to the guest chamber. Since their arrival at this so-called paradise, she’d barely seen any sign of him.

On the up side, she was safe from Tartara, her demon queen mother, here.

Then what? she challenged, not letting him see how he affected her.

Then you will be mortal until she turns you into an angel.

Her dark brows shot up. Ama can do that? I thought perhaps you’d tricked me into coming here, knowing I could never be like you.

As he stepped closer, the muscles in his bare arms tensed. Let’s get this over with. Holding out a hand, he waited for her to give him her arm.

Vivika stared down at his open palm, his long outstretched fingers, remembering the leeches her mother would use to suck her blood from her veins. Keeping it fresh for when a demon needed it so they could gain temporary immunity to angels’ powers, free to steal souls and wreak havoc without being sent back to the underworld. Her half-mortal and half-demon ancestry made her blood special. Angels couldn’t kill mortals, and so any demon with her blood in their veins was safe from Venatio’s hunter angels.

She’d left her old life in the underworld behind only to give her blood to another foe.

When she didn’t offer up her arm, Elias grabbed it himself and turned her wrist so it faced the ceiling.

I trusted you, Vivika said through her teeth. I came here willingly. I would have given up some of my blood freely if only you’d asked. There was no need to lock me up.

He pressed the wide blade to her inner forearm, keeping his focus on it instead of her face. Are these chambers not comfortable?

She glanced around the room, at the painted gold filigree on the arches around the shelves, at the statues of lovers on them, along with half a dozen vases filled with fragrant roses that always stayed fresh. Other than the fact it’s tainted with the Goddess of Love’s aura, it’s fine.

The tip of the blade pressed into her flesh on the side of her elbow.

Fighting the urge to struggle, she said, You don’t have to do this.

You could have it a lot worse, demoness. Ama saved you from Tartara’s grip. If she needs a little blood to make it safer for everyone here, we will give it to her.

With a steady hand, the angel pulled the blade along her arm closer to her hand, which rested against his bare chest.

Vivika refused to flinch at the sting the sharp edge produced. She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? The Elias I met on Earth gave a damn about others."

He looked at her then with those striking blue eyes. I am a servant of Ama, an angel who obeys his goddess. Something you would never understand.

Blood pooled on her arm, scarlet against porcelain skin.

Elias tucked the blade away and pulled a glass vial out of the pocket in his white trousers, the only clothing he currently wore.

The harp music stopped. Only the sound of the bubbling fountain outside the chamber’s doors could be heard.

I understand why the others here don’t trust me yet, but you... We went through a lot down there on Earth. You know I want to become an angel so I can do good.

He tilted her arm, holding the vial underneath it to catch her blood as it dribbled down. Until my goddess deems it safe to set you free, you will remain here. His tone was monotone. Emotionless.

Once the cylindrical vial was full, Elias corked it and released her arm, taking a step back.

Spots of scarlet dripped onto the skirt of her purple dress.

Vivika shot him a look that could kill, snatching up the edge of the pink blanket on the bed and ripping a piece of it off.

The man she’d begun to know and have feelings for no longer existed, replaced by this arrogant angel, who seemed to care for nothing but his goddess.

Saying nothing, she wound the strip of fabric around her arm to keep it from bleeding all over herself and the tiled floor. It’d heal, quicker than it would if she were purely mortal, but in the meantime, she didn’t wish to wear her own blood.

Elias dropped the vial back into his pocket, flexing his feathery wings as his chiselled chest expanded on an inhale. I will return for more blood when it’s needed.

About to reach the door, she stopped him, walking as close to him as the chain would allow her. Please, Elias. Ask Ama to unchain me. I won’t hurt anyone here. I doubt I even could.

He studied her face for a moment, gaze moving from her eyes to her lips and back up again. He opened his mouth, and then a mask fell over his features and he pressed his lips together and walked away without a word.

With a shriek, the half-demoness threw herself toward one of the shelves, picked up a statue of a naked woman, and hurled it at the door.

Chapter 2

Elias found Ama in her usual spot, on the balcony overlooking the lush scenery of Alysium.

The goddess with golden hair and golden flesh leaned her head against one of the columns covered in vines, watching two souls walking through the field of flowers below.

He slowed his pace before stopping beside her. My goddess, I have the half-demoness’s blood.

Lifting her head off the white marble, she turned to face him. Fire danced in her golden irises as a gentle breeze touched her long beige tunic, the slit in it revealing a bare leg.

Good. Ama held out her hand.

He placed the vial filled with blood in her palm. How much more do we need? The demoness grows restless inside your guest chambers.

Chin tilted, she widened her eyes. As much as it takes.

The angel’s shoulders drooped. He averted his eyes from her. Of course, my goddess. Apologies.

In one swift motion, she pressed her body against his, cradling his head. Her scent, strawberries and honey, enveloped him like a mother would a babe. My sweet, this is my first time binding a demon’s powers. It may take time, but I will render her powerless.

And then you will make her an angel? he asked from under her embrace.

She released him, but her bare leg still touched his thigh, dangerously close to his staff of passion. And then I shall make her into an angel.

The sheer white sheets between some of the columns flapped in the breeze like wings, brushing up against his back.

His head swam, thoughts of his goddess mixed with thoughts of the demoness. What was he doing?

Ama leaned closer to him, her lips so close to his, he could feel her breath on them. She ran her tongue along her bottom lip, draping one arm across his shoulder as she stroked the back of his neck with her fingertips.

A shiver shot through him at her silky touch. He forgot what he’d come here for, forgot everything but her, his reason for being.

She claimed his mouth with hers, and he tasted honeyed wine as their tongues danced. Her hand traveled from his neck, down his broad back, past his wing, and found its destination cupping the back of his hip.

His body went rigid. All he’d ever wanted was her love, but this felt wrong—all wrong.

Elias pulled his face away from hers, breaking the kiss.

Lips parted, she glared at him, like a child who’d been told they couldn’t play with their favorite toy.

He’d never turned her affections away, not once in all his existence. Usually, he craved her attention. This change had something thick and dark coiling deep in his belly... Fear.

Gaze dropping to the stone tiles between her bare feet, he bowed his head. My goddess.

Twisting a piece of golden hair around her finger, Ama regarded him.

Laughter from a soul below the balcony drifted up, filling the silence that’d begun to stretch thin.

Not feeling like yourself today, Elias? she asked, lifting his chin with a finger to examine him with those ever-seeing eyes.

No, he admitted. Forgive me.

She let her arm fall to her side and turned back to watch the souls beyond, his chance of pleasuring her gone.

For some reason, he didn’t grieve that loss. Lying with the goddess more times than he could count, he’d given himself to her completely only to receive nothing in return. Joining with her should be enough, according to the goddess. But it wasn’t. Their love-making only left him frustrated and short-tempered. Was that truly love? He was beginning to question it for the first time, and it was all Vivika’s fault. Usually, he would go to Earth to take what he needed, dousing his frustrations between the sheets. But the half-demoness had changed him, made him want to be better. It was ridiculous. She was a creature of darkness.

And still, somehow, she made him want to be better.

He squeezed his eyes shut. Vivika. Ama would wipe him from existence if she knew he thought of the demoness while in her presence.

She will be given three tasks, the goddess said, not bothering to turn from the scenery as she brought him out of his thoughts.

Pardon?

The half-demoness. She will be given three tasks once I’ve bound her powers. That will enable me to turn her into an angel.

Staying by her side, Elias nodded. Understood.

Now, she turned toward him again and scowled. Don’t you want to know what those tasks are?

Not particularly. The less he knew, the less he was involved, but he didn’t feel like being wiped from existence today, so he said, If it pleases my goddess.

She began to walk a slow circle around him. First, the little demoness will have to make two mortals fall in love. You should be familiar with that task.

True, he was, it was his whole reason for existing, other than pleasuring the golden goddess.

The next task may prove a bit more difficult. She will need to save a mortal’s life.

A muscle in his cheek twitched, but he stared straight forward as Ama made it around to his other side.

The order of the first two tasks does not matter, but this third task, it will have to come last.

He turned his head to find her watching him, a playful smile etched on her mouth.

To become an angel, the demoness will have to end her half-mortal life. How she does this, does not matter.

His brows drew closer together. Are you sure this will work?

Don’t you trust me? She pinned him with a golden glare, heat simmering behind it, ready to boil over.

This was a test. He could not fail.

Elias made himself smile. With everything that I am, my goddess.

That heat cooled to a tepid temperature. "Can I trust you?"

He didn’t miss a heartbeat. Always.

Good, because you will be the one to watch over her on Earth while she completes these three tasks.

He shouldn’t be surprised by her revelation. He’d brought the half-demoness here to Alysium. Of course she’d be his responsibility.

But how would Vivika feel about all of this? About completing the three tasks? About him, the one who’d allowed her to be locked up and then taken her blood, being the one in charge of watching over her?

She probably hated him, but at least order would be restored with her out of Tartara’s hands. Demons would no longer be able to cheat, taking mortal souls before their time without risk of being sent back to Orcus by the God of the Hunt’s angels. And Vivika would be free of the blood tainting her, putting a dark stain on her soul. Maybe he could allow himself to love her then. His goddess fed off love and desire. It’s why she’d allowed him to enjoy mortals. He’d never loved any of the humans he’d had sex with, though... Maybe Ama would finally love him enough he wouldn’t need to seek it elsewhere, and the piece that was missing inside his heart would be filled.

I am honored you have chosen to give me this responsibility. I will ensure Vivika completes all of her tasks.

The breeze blew a stream of white and pink flower petals between them. One landed in Ama’s luscious locks. She picked it from her hair and said, I’d expect nothing less.

The goddess turned back to the balcony’s railing and called out to two of the souls below. Santos! Kalika! Prepare me a bath.

The pair rushed up the long stairway to the balcony outside of the Palace of the Gods and bowed before continuing on to fill the large bath in Ama’s chambers with warm water.

She began making her way inside, hips swaying, as she beckoned Elias to follow. I want you to wash every inch of my body.

He swallowed and then trailed the train of her long tunic, his sight set on the golden crown of branches and flowers encircling her head.

Even if he wanted to refuse her, he knew the temperamental goddess wouldn’t take no for an answer. She’d punish him and make him do it anyways. Lucky for him his staff of pleasure came to life at the thought of touching the naked curves of her body. Traitor, he thought, glancing down at where his pants became tighter.

Once the deep, square quartz basin was filled, Ama stepped out of her tunic and into the water, causing the rose petals floating on the surface to