Page 37 of Destined for Dreams
“But that can’t be possible,” Caius said, leaning forward in his seat. “The angels would never allow it, and he has to know that.”
“With the stones, anything is possible,” Zoe argued. “And if he is as old and established within the demon hierarchy as I suspect, there is no limit to the amount of power he could generate. But even if he’s stopped, he must think the trouble is worth it for a chance to create havoc on Earth, and it’s not as if he’ll die. He’s probably too strong, so the angels will just send him back as they did with Stolas.”
Bartol ground his teeth at her mention of the demon she’d had her minions summon a few years ago. He was surprised she cared at all what this one did, even if she did have her reasons for the last one. “How many more kills has this demon made?”
“There is no way to be certain, though we suspect he murdered a few on his way out of Russia and into neighboring countries. They just weren’t enough deaths to draw any clear visions from my nerou sources. We have confirmed the last sighting was a couple of weeks ago in Bucharest. It was a slaughter where the demon convinced a group of thirty humans to kill themselves.” She shuddered. “They did not die swiftly.”
“Because you were there and saw it.”
Zoe stiffened. “How do you know that?”
She’d thought she had the nerou in this compound under her control, but not all of them. “We have our sources as well.”
“I don’t know how…” she stuttered. For once, he’d caught her off guard.
“Why didn’t you try to stop the demon?” Bartol pressed.
She jerked her chin up. “I went there to observe, but I couldn’t have done anything even if I wanted to since he had the stones. For nearly an hour, I was unable to move and had to watch as the humans killed each other. The demon knew I was there, but he thought it was amusing to make me observe his handiwork. Only after he left was I able to flash away.”
Zoe was probably a favorite in Hell, considering all the terror she’d caused.
“And yet you asked for my help, knowing I’ll be up against the same difficulty,” Bartol said with a growl.
It was enough to make him want to run a sword through her chest. Luckily for Zoe, he’d worked hard over the centuries to master his temper and keep it under control. He slipped a little sometimes, but never in a way that could truly hurt anyone. It was one of the main reasons he hadn’t gone after Kerbasi since returning to Earth, aside from the fact he’d never give the guardian the satisfaction. One punch was all he’d allowed himself.
“The angels will listen to you now that you’re on their good list,” Zoe said, defensive. “It makes more sense that it has to be you, and I’ve heard that Remiel agrees.”
Bartol ground his jaw. “I shouldn’t be here at all, considering you nearly killed my mate.”
“That was not my intention.” She sniffed. “But even if it was, it’s not as if you two are all that close to each other. She’s a weak little thing, anyway.”
Bartol stood, knocking his chair back. “She’s mine and a better woman than you’ll ever be. Talk about my mate again like that—or even think about hurting her—and I’ll make you pay in ways even Kerbasi can’t conjure.”
The two nephilim in the room looked at him in shock, an added mixture of worry in Caius’ eyes. Bartol wasn’t one for outbursts or a show of hot anger, but he didn’t care at that moment. For Cori, he’d break his rigid discipline. The deep need inside him to protect her was surprising even to him, but for all their differences, she was his. He knew that now more than ever. It had only taken one scheming female nephilim to show him how much he still cared for his mate. He would do anything for her, kill, maim, destroy—anything to keep her safe.
Zoe smiled. “Finally—you’re showing a little emotion. I’d begun to think the guardian tortured it all out of you.”
Bartol’s hands shook. He’d just given her a thrill by losing his temper. Bartol took several deep, calming breaths, drawing upon the place deep inside himself where no emotions or pain could reach. Zoe was not worth it. If he did not get himself under control, terrible things would happen. People could die, mass destruction could occur, and blood would run. He’d sworn he’d never let that side of himself come out again. Fighting battles had been fine until that one fateful day, but after that he’d had to learn control no matter what.
“Bartol?” Caius was rigid with alarm. He knew the deep dark secret that Bartol harbored and kept from everyone. It had been more than a thousand years, but there were some things no one could forget.
He relaxed one muscle at a time, starting from his face on down until every part of him including his toes were loose and no longer burning with rage. “I’m fine.” Picking up his chair, he sat back down. “Tell me. How did those humans die as you watched?”
Zoe glanced between him and Caius, sensing there was something more going on but unable to guess what. After a moment, she relented and answered, “They ate each other alive.”
Bartol’s stomach turned. He should have guessed if Zoe thought it was terrible, it must have been. He could not imagine such a thing.
“And the demon just left you alone?” Caius asked.
“Yes—he didn’t seem concerned about me other than enjoying having a witness to his work.” She brushed a lock of her strawberry blond hair from her face. “Bucharest was the last time I saw him, but I’m certain he’s moved on since then.”
Bartol narrowed his eyes. “Where?”
“I’m not certain of his location at the moment, but he seems to be bouncing around Europe, slowly moving west.”
Caius grunted. “Have there been any more dreams or predictions from your nerou?”
“Some, but none where we could pinpoint the location until after the fact. My sources are trying to focus on him, but they get other visions that aren’t related. It can be rather confusing for them, or when they do see the demon, the picture is too unclear to be of use. What we do know is he will be causing mass casualties again two more times over the next month,” she said, expression turning grave.
