The Demon Within (The Silver Legacy Book 2) Read online

  Denny threw her shoulders back and looked right at him. “Fuck you, Liderc.”

  Liderc pressed the trigger.

  Nothing happened.

  Denny didn’t wait for him to figure out why. Shoving the crossbow out of her face, she was on him once again. Still too far from her weapons, she hit him once before he returned the punch.

  Blow-by-blow, they fought, with neither gaining the upper hand until Liderc kicked Denny so hard in the abdomen, she spun around and landed face-first on the hard ground, Epée only inches from her grasp.

  As she reached for Epée, the Magyar reached for his crossbow, and once again they faced each other, the line still attached to her shoulder.

  “Come on, Liderc, you sack of shit, pull him out.” Denny laughed the deep, guttural laugh of the Hanta Raya. “You can’t do it with one bolt, can you? I am too strong for the likes of one shit-ass little pussy bolt.”

  Liderc depressed the trigger again.

  This time, it fired.

  Denny managed to deflect the first bolt, and before he could fire off another, she leapt a distance of twelve feet, landing in front of him and completely severing his right arm.

  The Magyar looked down at his missing arm, raised the crossbow with just his left hand and fired.

  The bolt landed in Denny’s shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Now, she could feel the Hanta being violently pulled from her.

  “Uh-uh,” Denny growled, getting to her feet. “You’re not getting him that easily.”

  “Oh, but I am.” This time, the Magyar leapt on her, crossbow in hand, and he was about to lower it onto Denny’s face when a voice sliced through the air.

  “Enough!”

  Liderc turned and Denny shoved him off her, reaching for her weapon.

  “I said enough, Hunter.”

  Denny paused and turned, her hand still on Epée.

  A very tall blonde woman with her hair braided down the middle of her back walked to within ten feet of the duo.

  Denny stared at her as if she’d met her before...somewhere...

  Not met.

  Read about.

  Denny had read about this woman.

  “Valeria.”

  Her mother’s mystery partner.

  The woman who had once saved her mother stood before the Magyar, palm out. “You’ll not hurt Golden Silver, demon. Not now. Not ever. Take your silly weapon and be gone. I tire of this senseless battle of yours. I find it tedious and boring. Unless you wish for me to destroy you right where you stand, you will do as I say.”

  Denny blinked, not realizing that blood, not sweat, was running into her eye.

  “You.” The Magyar backed away as if afraid. “But I thought…weren’t you…? It can’t be.”

  Valeria’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, demon. It is I, and I am allowing you to live so that you may take my message back to your master. A master who is too cowardly to fight his own battles. Tell Asmodeus that the Silver family is still under my protection. Now and always. If he wishes to wage war against my coven and six dozen others, then we are prepared to do so. This business of yours has just concluded.”

  Liderc backed away. “You would wage war against a deity who wants nothing more than the punishment of his minion?”

  Valeria stepped forward. The air around her seemed to bow to her greatness. “No, demon. I would wage a war to protect those who clean the world of beings such as yourself. Unless you wish to die at the hands of this hunter and myself right this minute, I suggest you retreat and never return.”

  “My master will deal with you, Valeria.”

  “Your master is smarter than that, demon. He is well aware of what will happen should he continue this course of action. Go now, before I render the rest of your limbs from your being, and tell Asmodeus that should he come after this family again, I will not stop until I destroy him.”

  The Magyar and his weapon were gone five seconds later.

  “I don’t understand,” Denny said, walking up to Valeria. The bolts were gone and the only wound she had left were from when she’d leapt through the motel window. “We should have killed him. Why didn’t we destroy him?”

  Valeria examined Denny’s forehead. “He was better used as a live messenger than a dead adversary, Golden.” The witch bowed. “I am, as you surmised, Valeria, Highest Priestess of the Goddess.”

  Denny didn’t know if she should bow, clap, or cry.

  “Thank you, Valeria. Thank you for intervening and saving my life, as you have my mother’s on several occasions.”

  “It is a debt I owed your mother and a promise I gave her long ago.”

  Denny looked down at her hands. “I…I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “Of course you do. You are already doing it.”

  “Hunting?”

  Before Valeria could reply, the rest of the witches came from the shadows.

  “Cassandra?”

  Cassandra’s hair was disheveled and her robe barely hung on her shoulders “The Magyar sent his cronies to burn down your home while Liderc kept you busy. They would have been successful except that your…somewhat questionable friends…interceded.”

  Denny straightened. “Is anyone hurt?”

  “Only the demons, and we were less merciful with them than Valeria was with Liderc.”

  Denny blew out a breath. “Thank you.”

  “They needed just a little help from us. You have good friends, Golden Silver, even if they do look like they just got out of prison. Good friends, indeed.”

  Denny looked over at Valeria. “So does my mother.”

  Valeria bade the witches return to the coven so she could chat with Denny for a moment. Cassandra locked eyes with Denny and mouthed “thank you” to her. If Brianna was anywhere around, Denny didn’t see her.

  When they were alone, Valeria waited for Denny to wipe her forehead and dust herself off.

  “I see all the questions in your eyes, dear girl. You look so much like your mother. She had that very same look the day I stepped in to balance the scales.”

  “Balance the scales?”

  “Oh yes. Your mother––I’m sorry for her current condition by the way–– saved my precious daughter once upon a time.” Valeria brushed dirt off Denny’s shoulder and looked at her wounds. “You’re hurt.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Valeria bent down and picked up Fouet. “You do not look fine. Come. Sit.”

  Denny sat on the base of a statue. Valeria handed her Fouet and sat next to her. A slight breeze blew across the cemetery. The half moon smiled down at the earth. “Rest a moment.”

  “My mom saved your daughter?”

  “Oh yes. My daughter, my coven, my life. Your mother was a very skilled hunter. She was a fantastic tracker and a brave killer. My daughter had been abducted by a Magyar for use as leverage against me. Your mother tracked him down and saved her. Killed him and everyone connected with him. The bloody trail behind your mother was far and wide. She made damn sure no one would return for her.”

  Valeria cocked her head at Denny. “Not unlike you. The two of you are so much alike. That’s why she knew the Hanta would choose you. Because of your similarities—similarities I see before me right now.”

  Denny inhaled deeply. She was exhausted, her body ached, her heart hurt, and she was mentally drained. “You love her.”

  “We have been friends ever since, and vowed to each other that until we could no longer do so, we would protect and watch over each other and each other’s children no matter what the threat.”

  “So when she was in trouble, you saved her.”

  “Yes.” Valeria held Denny’s hand. “We’ve been in and out of each other’s lives for years.”

  “How come––”

  “You’ve never met me? I come when needed, sometimes when called. When I knew what Cassandra was planning, I came and I stayed near enough to be of assistance should you require any. It is not my place to intervene.”

  “Kinda did.”<
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  “Kind of, yes. The Magyar are very dangerous, Golden, very dangerous indeed. You were very brave to go after one, and my sisters very foolish to call one. They know better.”

  “They in trouble?”

  Valeria lowered her face, a slight grin on her lips. “Just a little. It would appear you’ve stolen the hearts of a couple of them.” Valeria smiled as she shook her head. “Your mother charmed people much in the same way. It is a gift you Silvers have.”

  “Wait. A couple?”

  Valeria squeezed her hand. “Apparently. They wished to help you and the young woman you saved. Both witches would swallow fire for you, Golden…just as I would for your mother. The girl––”

  “Iris.”

  “Yes. Well, let me just say, when she is fully trained, she will be able to help you in your quest to banish evil from Savannah.”

  “My––”

  “All demon hunters need a powerful witch in their back pockets, my friend.” Valeria rubbed her hands together quickly back and forth before laying them on top of Denny’s bruised and torn knuckles. “Why did you fight so, Golden? You had the chance to be rid of the demon once and for all. It is why I waited. I thought for sure you would relinquish it.”

  “I couldn’t.” Denny turned to Valeria. The witch was ageless and Denny couldn’t tell if she was thirty or seventy. “Did my mother?”

  “Have the chance to be free? Once upon a time she did, yes.”

  “But she kept it. Why?”

  Valeria looked up at the moon before replying. “Why did you?”

  “You know, at first I thought it was because it had saved me tonight when I was trapped in a casket. Then I thought maybe it had saved her.”

  “And finally?” Valeria looked back at Denny.

  “And then, I realized I’d been chosen. Somewhere along the time continuum, Mom and I were chosen.” Denny looked at her knuckles. They were already practically healed. “This is what we are supposed to do with our lives whether we want to or not.”

  “Very well, then. You have your answer and yes, you are so much like your mother, it is frightening. She, too, understood that there are times in this life when we bear a responsibility greater than the meaning and value of our own lives. She battled bravely to keep her Hanta. It is, I imagine, why it will never let you down. You have bonded now, my dear girl. It owes you just as much as you owe it. It knows you fought for it and will repay that in kind.”

  “That would be good because it looks like I may need it.”

  “You fought well, Golden.”

  Denny pinched the bridge of her nose. “Still…I wish we could have just killed that demon.”

  “We could have, but then, Asmodeus would have sent more. I needed him to understand that there must be a better game elsewhere. When he does, he will leave you and yours alone.”

  “Let’s hope.”

  Valeria smiled softly. “Your friends are waiting at your house. You need to head on over there.” Valeria rose and lightly touched Denny’s eyebrow, her eyes lingering on Denny’s face. “So much like your mother.”

  “I haven’t even really had the chance to thank you for saving me.”’

  “Oh, Golden, I did not save you. I merely gave you a hand. You were doing just fine. I’m certain when the time comes, you will repay the favor.”

  Denny rose. “Absolutely.”

  “And Golden?”

  “Yes?”

  “I know you may not realize it now, but you did the right thing.”

  “By hunting the Magyar?”

  “No. By keeping the demon.”

  Denny’s body still ached, her muscles were sore, but all of that vanished as her friends surrounded her and hugged her. A million questions came at Denny all at once, so she held her hand up to silence the crowd of friends and witches.

  “Cassandra, what happened here?” Denny asked, seeing Brianna appear from the shadows.

  “Bunch of skinny little dweebs with gas cans came to set your house on fire. In a nutshell, your friends and my coven kicked their asses.”

  Denny reached for Lauren’s hand. “You okay?”

  Lauren’s wide eyes blinked once. “It was pretty wild for a moment, but we ran them all off. Frightening and invigorating all at once, really. Snake and Scar were in their element, firing their guns and hollering like wild banshees. I could have sworn they actually shot one, but––”

  Denny looked around the group. Victor and Patrick looked like two ecstatic football players; the witches eyed everyone warily; and Snake and Scar high fived like two triumphant athletes.

  They were a motley crew, but they were her motley crew, and they had saved her.

  Denny’s house was undamaged.

  Her lair was intact.

  She was alive.

  Her friends were alive.

  Her family was safe.

  All was well in Savannah.

  “Thank you, Lauren,” Denny said softly. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  Lauren gently held Denny’s hand. “Of course you could have. I’m just glad you’re back.”

  After hugging Lauren and her car full of champions before they took off, Denny walked over to Brianna and stood before her. “Thank you.”

  Brianna lightly brushed a stray hair from Denny’s sticky forehead. “For what?”

  “She didn’t just show up. You contacted Valeria, didn’t you? You saved my life.”

  Brianna looked away. “Why would you assume it was me?”

  Denny leaned in and whispered, “Because I know you really do care about me.”

  Brianna turned back, their faces inches apart. “Of course I do. You are my friend and I care a great deal what happens to you, Denny. I also know you are in this way over your head and need to stop hunting and start learning, but no, it was not me. I did not call Valeria.”

  This surprised Denny… and also somewhat hurt her feelings. “No? Was it…was it Cassandra?”

  Brianna shrugged. “Who loves you the most? Who would do anything in the world to protect you? She is the one connected to Valeria. Not me. Not Cassandra. Not Lauren. She saved you, Denny.”

  Denny blinked. “You mean––”

  Her mother.

  “From somewhere in her catatonia, your mother managed to contact Valeria and send her to you.”

  An arm went around her waist. “What sweet Bri means is you are braver than you are brilliant and you need to be both.” Cassandra flashed Brianna a smile that could freeze lava. “Your help is ever appreciated, Brianna, but I can take it from here.” Cassandra turned to the rest of the women. “Now then, everyone go on back to our house for a nightcap and cookies.”

  When Brianna hesitated, Cassandra shooed her along. “I have her covered, Bri. Go on, now.”

  “Wait.”

  Brianna stopped and Denny folded her in her arms. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Always,” Brianna whispered back. “Be careful of her, Denny, please.”

  When Brianna walked away, Denny turned back to Cassandra. “If you talk to her like that again, we are through.”

  “Through? I didn’t realize we were a thing.”

  “As friends. As allies. As anything. Are we clear?”

  “Quite.”

  Denny turned from Cassandra’s grasp. “I need a hot bath and my pillow. I’m exhausted.”

  “Sure you don’t want me in your tub and on your bed?”

  Denny shook her head. She felt like she might fall where she stood. “Rain check?”

  Cassandra kissed her softly. “Count on it.”

  When everyone had finally cleared out, Denny hauled herself up the stairs and started her bath.

  “It appears you are quite the hero.” It was Rush.

  “Not really. I got by with a little help from my friends.” Denny eased out of her torn and bloody clothes, gently lowered herself into the tub and let the hot water run over her feet. “Thank you for staying here. I know you must have been worried sick.�
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  “Baby, I have been worrying about you since you were this high.” Rush held her hand out about three feet from the ground. “That’s never going to stop. I’m just glad you have good people in your corner, even if one of them is that strumpet Cassandra.”

  Denny closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the big claw footed tub. “She’s persistent. I’ll give her that.”

  “So, is that it? Are we safe?”

  Denny shrugged. “According to Valeria, Asmodeus is afraid of witches...or of her. Not sure which. She came out of nowhere to keep me from getting my ass kicked.”

  Rush sat on the edge of the tub. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Ageless.”

  Denny didn’t respond.

  “I always got the feeling that she was in love with your mom. The way she would look at her.” Rush sighed. “So sweet.”

  Denny’s eyes popped open. “Why in the hell would you––wait––you’ve seen them together?”

  Rush nodded. “You always forget––I’ve seen so much of what goes on in this house. Not just in the house, but all around Savannah. After Valeria saved her that first time, they became good friends. They would have lemonade and sit out on the porch for hours. Much of what your mother learned about hunting she learned from Valeria. She still visits your mom every week.”

  Denny sat up in the tub, water swishing everywhere. “No way.”

  “Way. Comes at night. No one ever sees her.”

  “You can’t possibly know that.”

  Rush shrugged. “But I do. That priestess protects your mom like a lover might guard her amore. Their connection runs deep, baby. My guess is she’s been following your career ever since you took in the Hanta.”

  “That could very well be, but my mom would never––”

  “Never say never, Golden. You’re talking to a ghost right now. You have a demon inside you, and you’ve seen what witches can do. Your mom loving a woman seems pretty minor league, don’tcha think?”

  “I guess so. I was just so stunned to see her. She saved me.”

  “Of course she did. Reciprocity. Valeria isn’t like the rest of those women, Den. She’s the real deal. Powerful. Knows her stuff. She is a High Priestess, not some rookie. Your mom chose well when she chose her.”

  “So just like that she thinks she got Asmodeus off my back?”