Tarik’s experiments. He may end up destroying us before he frees us. His projects are draining the core energy from Anartia.”
“Anartia used to be a paradise. Doesn’t he realize what he’s doing?”
38
Damned and Desired
“Anartia can’t stay in this dimension much longer without consequences.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugged. “Tarik could explain it. What’s important is the demoness won’t tolerate a Drone who doesn’t provide. Understand?”
Sakari nodded. What else has Dante learned during his offerings to Gwyllain? He could easily manipulate information out of her. Being the demoness’s favorite had other benefits like telling him things that she wouldn’t dare tell the other Drones.
“Let’s find the shifter before he’s found wandering around or someone reports him missing.”
“Shifter? You didn’t mention what kind of shifter.”
“A leopard. I’ve only seen one other like him. These shifters can cause a lot of trouble.”
Now she understood why he wanted help. Could this night get any worse?
Pulling the car off the main road, she drove onto hard-packed ground and found a place to park about a mile and a half from the highway behind a group of juniper trees.
They got out of the car and started walking.
“This way,” Dante said. “It’s not far from the portal. That’s why I’m concerned.”
She followed him, unease building in this midnight task. The lightning had stopped for the moment. Was the storm over or had Tarik ceased his experiments for a time? She scanned vast expanses of desert draped in ghostly moonlight. Tree branches, bushes and grasses were coated in an ashen white glow.
“It’s very peaceful here,” Sakari said nervously. Without the incessant sound of rough seas battering the rocky cliffs and the demoness yelling her demands, this part of Earth was quite peaceful and pleasing despite having to deal with a human shapeshifter. “Why do we need to worry about this human shifter? Is he stronger than most humans?”
“Arizona was quite different a hundred and fifty years ago when I lived here,”
Dante said, his voice distant.
Was Dante completely ignoring her question or did he not know?
They were close to the portal now, she could feel the magnetic pull. As they continued to walk, the energy eased. They were moving beyond it. At least the shapeshifter wasn’t right on top of the portal. “How has the area changed?”
“More people.”
She could sense something in him had changed. His cold, hard-as-steel manner had softened. “Is there anything you miss from back then?”
Dante looked at her, his brown eyes clouded for a moment as if his thoughts were faraway and he didn’t speak for several moments. Straightening, he said, “I hope he’s still alive.”
39
Kathy Kulig
Sakari stopped walking. “You said he was injured. Now you think you may have killed him? Was that why the demoness made you into a slave for a time?”
Dante laughed. “No. I know how not to kill Kithras. That’s not why she made me her slave. I’d lost my nebula stone. A year ago, a human stole it from me and it’s still missing.”
She shook her head. “What can a human do with the stone?”
“They could travel to and from Anartia if they can find the portals.”
“Dante!” a male’s voice called from behind them.
They spun around, confronting the new presence. Valdon stood several yards away. A blond shadow dressed all in black.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Dante asked him.
“The demoness has grown impatient and awaits the presence of her favorite Drone,” he said with an annoyed tone. “She doesn’t want to be kept waiting.
Obviously, you don’t know how to stay out of trouble.”
Dante stiffened. “This is a complicated situation and—”
“And I will take care it and assist the new Drone.” He patted Sakari on her shoulder in a condescending manner. “Tell me what happened.”
Dante gave him a sharp
“Anartia used to be a paradise. Doesn’t he realize what he’s doing?”
38
Damned and Desired
“Anartia can’t stay in this dimension much longer without consequences.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugged. “Tarik could explain it. What’s important is the demoness won’t tolerate a Drone who doesn’t provide. Understand?”
Sakari nodded. What else has Dante learned during his offerings to Gwyllain? He could easily manipulate information out of her. Being the demoness’s favorite had other benefits like telling him things that she wouldn’t dare tell the other Drones.
“Let’s find the shifter before he’s found wandering around or someone reports him missing.”
“Shifter? You didn’t mention what kind of shifter.”
“A leopard. I’ve only seen one other like him. These shifters can cause a lot of trouble.”
Now she understood why he wanted help. Could this night get any worse?
Pulling the car off the main road, she drove onto hard-packed ground and found a place to park about a mile and a half from the highway behind a group of juniper trees.
They got out of the car and started walking.
“This way,” Dante said. “It’s not far from the portal. That’s why I’m concerned.”
She followed him, unease building in this midnight task. The lightning had stopped for the moment. Was the storm over or had Tarik ceased his experiments for a time? She scanned vast expanses of desert draped in ghostly moonlight. Tree branches, bushes and grasses were coated in an ashen white glow.
“It’s very peaceful here,” Sakari said nervously. Without the incessant sound of rough seas battering the rocky cliffs and the demoness yelling her demands, this part of Earth was quite peaceful and pleasing despite having to deal with a human shapeshifter. “Why do we need to worry about this human shifter? Is he stronger than most humans?”
“Arizona was quite different a hundred and fifty years ago when I lived here,”
Dante said, his voice distant.
Was Dante completely ignoring her question or did he not know?
They were close to the portal now, she could feel the magnetic pull. As they continued to walk, the energy eased. They were moving beyond it. At least the shapeshifter wasn’t right on top of the portal. “How has the area changed?”
“More people.”
She could sense something in him had changed. His cold, hard-as-steel manner had softened. “Is there anything you miss from back then?”
Dante looked at her, his brown eyes clouded for a moment as if his thoughts were faraway and he didn’t speak for several moments. Straightening, he said, “I hope he’s still alive.”
39
Kathy Kulig
Sakari stopped walking. “You said he was injured. Now you think you may have killed him? Was that why the demoness made you into a slave for a time?”
Dante laughed. “No. I know how not to kill Kithras. That’s not why she made me her slave. I’d lost my nebula stone. A year ago, a human stole it from me and it’s still missing.”
She shook her head. “What can a human do with the stone?”
“They could travel to and from Anartia if they can find the portals.”
“Dante!” a male’s voice called from behind them.
They spun around, confronting the new presence. Valdon stood several yards away. A blond shadow dressed all in black.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Dante asked him.
“The demoness has grown impatient and awaits the presence of her favorite Drone,” he said with an annoyed tone. “She doesn’t want to be kept waiting.
Obviously, you don’t know how to stay out of trouble.”
Dante stiffened. “This is a complicated situation and—”
“And I will take care it and assist the new Drone.” He patted Sakari on her shoulder in a condescending manner. “Tell me what happened.”
Dante gave him a sharp
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