Page 24 of Trust the Fall

He isn’t a vampire of Hell, but one cursed with a rare blood disease. He’s the first of his kind and not at all in line with the rogue vampires who terrorize Earth.

The vampires I hunt are the ones turned by others of his kind. They’re vampires he can’t control or those sent directly from Hell. From what I’ve learned, Julian Bellamy has found ways to control the vampire thirst. It’s rogue members of his council that threaten to undo that.

The war between vampires is not to be underplayed. If Julian’s adversaries win, vampires will walk on Earth undeterred. The human population will be depleted within a decade.

Either way—war between demons or war between vampires—earthly civilization will cease to exist.

“You’d be better off siding with us, Bellamy.”

The man attempts to stand to his feet, but the restraints pull him back into his chair. “Never,” Julian’s voice booms with the authority that Nolda lacks. This man—vampire—is true royalty. “You are not the king of Hell, Nolda. You’re a simple little demon who has gotten ahead of himself.”

“It’s Lucifer, Satan, king of the damned, who remains in place by God’s order. You have no power here.” Lawrence says, coming to his brother’s aid in insulting Nolda.

“God has no place here,” Nolda sneers, jumping to his feet. “I suggest you remember that, Lawrence. I’ll have you both tortured for eternity.”

“You’re forgetting something,” Julian says. “The Fae could join Heaven’s side, and you won’t win so easily if that happens.”

“The Fae have nothing to do with this. They’d never concern themselves with Earth. They’d thank us for ending it.”

Julian shakes his head. “Not true. They’ve been preparing a weapon against the vampire revolt. They have something in their possession that could stop you.”

Nolda’s eyes narrow as he stalks toward Julian. The vampire king doesn’t so much as flinch as Nolda approaches.

“Bumalin,” he snaps. “Is he lying?”

The creature rises, staggering toward Julian. He sniffs around his body for several minutes before shaking his head. The creature doesn’t speak, whether because he can’t or chooses not to, I don’t know.

Why would the Fae work to aid the good guys? They’re scary creatures who prefer to remain hidden. Not that I’ve ever encountered one, but stories about them are widespread in Heaven and on Earth. They loathe humans.

My thoughts are interrupted by Nolda calling out, “Your life is spared … for the moment.” He heads back toward his seat and yells, “Bring it in.”

In a flurry, women wearing sumptuous belly suits in all colors stroll in carrying covered dishes. The platters are set in the middle of the tables, while the demons continue to pound their forks and knives into the wood, creating an unnecessary cacophony of noise.

The women remove the lids to the dishes, uncovering the feast laid out before the rows of hungry demons. It’s all meat. Something akin to a boar’s head stares directly at me, and I grimace. On other platters there are all sorts of meats that I can’t place. I don’t think I want to even consider what they might be.

I’m jerked backward by the chains still binding my hands and legs. The women drag me to a corner of the room, where a large, tilted, cross-like apparatus is affixed to the wall. Large cuffs strategically placed on the wooden structure are unlocked, and that’s when I know the demons mean to affix me to the contraption.

Not without a fight.

I kick and thrash, trying to break free, but I’m overpowered five to one. My arms and legs are unbound just long enough for them to lift me up and attach each wrist to a shackle. My legs are spread wider, and each ankle is locked into a cuff. My body is pulled so taut, I’m afraid I might tear in half.

The redhead’s arm shoots out, and in one fell swoop, the thin layers that had once covered my most private parts are torn from my body. My nipples harden as the cold air washes over them and my eyes slam shut. Mortification and utter rage take over as I’m bared to the room.

A gasp comes from the front, and I don’t need to look to know it’s from the plain woman, Sarah.

“Is that quite necessary?” she berates the demons, obviously having a death wish.

Something crashes against a wall very close to where I’m currently fixed, but my eyes remain shut.

“It’s very necessary. She is Lucifer’s whore. I’ll degrade her in ways worse than this. If you’d prefer, I can make you the entertainment, Sarah.”

I concentrate on breathing, ignoring Nolda’s words.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Plan each and every one of their murders in my head.