Page 13 of A Demon’s Resolve (Demonic Tales and Adventures #3)

CHAPTER 13

Kian sat in the freezing cold cell trying to concentrate on Danara’s words which were starting to creep him out. Having two voices warring in his mind, one of which was his own, was driving him to the edge of insanity.

This just couldn’t be real. Less than a year ago, he was excited about his senior year of college. Somehow that had turned into being kidnapped by a demented demon bent on torturing Kian and Alec. Oh yeah, and the best part was the first Danara of demonkind, who was dead by the way, was talking in his head like she was right there next to Kian.

You are absolutely hopeless. Danara’s wasn’t exactly pleasant at that point.

Maybe if you would get out of my head I would be able to concentrate. Danara had been trying to teach Kian how to control the elements with the powers he’d recently gained. The easiest element to control, fire - actually, water was the easiest but there was no water so they had to go for the next one. So far, Kian hadn’t even managed a spark.

Fine, I will leave but keep practicing.

No problem there. Not only didn’t he want to die at Brant’s hands but there wasn’t anything else to do but sleep. A shiver rolled down his body as thoughts about that six-year-old boy watching Brant beat Kian’s mother came forth. Suddenly, a spark arched between his fingers.

Oh my God. Could that have been real? Maybe he’d just imagined it. He tried again to concentrate on the electricity he’d felt flow through him. Nothing. This was hopeless. No. You can do this .

Mentally shaking himself, Kian thought about what happened before to cause the spark. His mother. The picture through the closet slats flashed before Kian’s mind. Another spark of energy raced between his fingers. Focusing on the picture, each blow as well as the fear he’d felt as a child, had the spark quickly flickering into a flame.

Letting the terror from that time and anger wrap itself around him like a coat, Kian let the flame blaze, lighting the entire room. I did it. Excitement coursed through his veins, extinguishing the light.

For a whole ten seconds. Somehow I do not think that is going to defeat Brant. For someone who had been dead for thousands of years, Danara sure had mastered sarcasm quickly.

Kian may not have been able to hold the flame for long but he’d at least done it. Danara could go to hell if she didn’t like it. Hey, when I want criticism from the peanut gallery I’ll ask for it.

The what?

Never mind. I thought I told you to go away. Kian used his irritation at Danara to create that spark once again. That little bit of power wasn’t going to defeat Brant. However, now that he knew how to make it work, Kian might be able to increase those abilities.

I cannot, Danara insisted. You must succeed or all is lost. But I will stay quiet for you to concentrate .

Kian didn’t bother saying anything more, choosing instead to keep practicing. It came much easier the next time. It was so strange to see a flame leaping from his hand yet not getting burned. Oh it was definitely making his palm and fingertips warm but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Uncertain how long it had taken, soon Kian had managed to sustain the light long enough to search the entire cell.

There was nothing useful inside the tiny enclosure. Actually, other than a door and stone, with a few patches of dirt, there was nothing at all. Brant clearly didn’t care to provide any kind of comfort, like a blanket, or even a bucket to pee in.

After carefully examined every inch of the confinement without allowing the light to go out, Kian felt confident enough of his fire skills to start the next phase of training.

Kian cocked a hip, holding the flame up as if were some sort of trophy. Calling out to Danara, Kian said, “Okay, what’s next?”

Danara laughed. You think that paltry flame means you’ve mastered it? A slight breeze blew it out like the candles on a birthday cake. Danara’s laughter turned into a cackle. Whoops, looks like someone put out your fire .

Kian scowled and cursed the queen under his breath. But he lit the flame again; this time he forced it stronger and brighter. Smiling at the success, it once more went out and doused Kian back into the darkness.

Kian sighed. This was going to get old, fast.

“Mr. President, we have not been able to find a natural cause for the destruction.” Jackson Pierce updated him the moment Daniel entered the bunker deep within the Rocky Mountains.

It was not the news he’d been hoping to hear but deep down had doubted one would be found. Mother Nature may be a force that man had no hope of competing with, but nothing about what had happened had been natural.

Everyone in the room collectively held their breath as they waited for Daniel to react. Some were even visibly shaking. Daniel had a reputation for expecting the best from those who worked for him. To be fair, he gave the same kind of dedication to serving his country. It wasn’t his fault not everyone could handle the pressure.

Daniel Burrows was imposing to most men. It was one of the reasons he’d been elected as the President. After a simpering President pandered to the weak for eight years, this country demanded in overwhelming numbers, someone strong. A leader who would do whatever it took to keep this country safe.

Daniel had never even considered running for President until he’d watched men and women die day after day by terrorists the people of America didn’t seem to think were a real threat. Daniel knew differently. His wife and child had died by the hands who hid behind religion.

He’d never expected to find the American people were in more danger from their own government than any terrorist. All his illusions of his country had been shattered within months of taking office. Not that it had changed Daniel’s resolve to fix the mess America was in.

No. He’d only become more determined to do his job and get things back on track. It had taken bashing many heads together, but he’d been making progress. Not that he’d let the need to eradicate terrorism take a back seat, but it also hadn’t been his only focus. He stared at the satellite images of the destruction along the entire east coast all the way to the plains.

As much as he hated to admit it, Daniel had made a mistake. He’d taken his eye off outside threats and now America was suffering because of it.

Studying the faces of those in the room, he knew whatever the news was he wasn’t going to like it. Not showing any emotion, his expression like a stone slab he asked, “Then what is causing it?”

“S-s-sir I d-don’t know.” Kurt, one of the many analysts, cringed as if waiting for Daniel to explode. Daniel had a reputation for his infamous temper, which was highly exaggerated, yet still valid.

Daniel didn’t like mistakes. People died when things weren’t done correctly and he refused to accept that possibility.

Annoyed at the man, Daniel didn’t have time to waste on him. “You may go.” After the door shut, the President’s steel gray eyes turned to the rest of the men and women in the room. “So, what do we know?”

The room was silent for several moments, no one wanting to be the first to talk. Finally, Secretary of Defense, Albert Grish stood. “Mr. President, the truth is we don’t know. A few fringe groups have tried to claim responsibility, but they just don’t have the ability to do…”

Albert waved a hand to all three screens before them, each showing a section of the world that had been affected by everything from earthquakes, to fires, and tornados. There were even unusual sandstorms in the Middle East, suggesting it wasn’t a group from that region, as so much of the area had been buried under sand.

“Albert’s right, sir,” Jackson Pierce said. “To be honest, we’d suspect the Chinese but they’ve been hit too. Although not to the degree that America and Europe have.”

“What about Russia?” Daniel asked. From what he could tell, they hadn’t been hit at all.

Secretary of State, Sandra Dickson shook her head. “Anything is possible, sir, but I don’t believe its them. They appear to be just as confused as everyone else.”

Daniel didn’t speak, just stood staring at the brave woman waiting for her to elaborate.

Putting her reading glasses on the table, Sandra sighed. She’d known the President wasn’t going to like her answers but it was the truth. “Sir, obviously, we are still looking, but there is no evidence of anyone having a way to cause this phenomenon.”

Slamming his hand against the table, he roared, “Do we know anything? Have you figured out who those men and women were?”

No one answered, mainly because they just couldn’t explain it. Across the world, speculation of witches and aliens abounded but no one really knew.

Daniel placed his hands on the table, palms flat against the cool surface as he stood. His eyes pinned each member in the room with a look so ruthless they all shivered. “That is not acceptable. You are not to sleep until you figure out what is going on. Is that clear?”

Every person in that room froze, but nodded as if willing to do whatever Daniel demanded. All except one.

His gaze landed on the only person not appearing to pay him much attention as she read from a file. He shouldn’t be surprised.

Jennifer Lanning was an analyst to the Secretary of Defense, a damn good one, which is the only reason she was in this room now. She excelled at reading through reports and finding the bottom line. Still, her ignoring him was not something he would tolerate.

“Ms. Lanning, do you have something better to do?” The ice that formed his words was felt by everyone in the room, yet all she did to acknowledge him was hold up a finger as she kept reading.

Stunned, he said, “Everyone out of the room except Ms. Lanning - Now .”

No one would disobey him but Albert must have felt the need to at least try to help his analyst. “Um, Mr. President, if I may…”

The look Daniel shot his Secretary of Defense cut off the rest of the words. Instead, Albert grabbed his folders and rushed out of the room with the others. Still, Jennifer didn’t seem to understand the danger she was in. Daniel was fairly certain she hadn’t noticed the others leaving as she kept reading the report in front of her.

Since she was so engrossed, Daniel took the opportunity to study her. Even though she was wearing a pant suit, she still had that look of rumpled casual. He didn’t know how she always managed to look so unkempt but she seemed to make it an art form. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a messy bun but as usual several strands had come loose to frame her face.

Chewing on her bottom lip as she concentrated, he couldn’t help but be taken aback by her beauty. There had been something about her from the first time he’d met her. Since his wife had been killed, Daniel had been with many women. Never more than once or twice as he refused to enter into another relationship.

Jennifer had been one woman he’d refused to approach. Deep down, he feared he would never get enough once he tasted her.

When she closed the file, she lifted her head. Her chocolate brown eyes met his across the room with a look of disbelief. “Mr. President, I think I might know what is causing the destruction.”

A tingling sensation crawled through him as he waited for her to tell him. Something in her voice made him want to stop her from speaking, yet he’d never run from trouble, which only made him dread what she was about to say more.

Looking around the room, she saw they were the only two there. “Where are the others?”

Moving to a chair next to hers, he turned it so he’d be facing her. “I sent them away. What did you find?”

Daniel was an expert at reading others and Jennifer was obviously beginning to chastise herself for giving voice to her initial thoughts to him. What he didn’t know was why. There was a flash of fear in her gaze before she glanced away from him to study the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“Jennifer, what is it?” Daniel hadn’t meant to sound so harsh, but his patience was nearly nonexistent at the moment.

Daniel saw the indecision on her face, along with the lie she was considering telling him. If this had been anyone else, he would have threatened her with imprisonment for even thinking about lying, but it was Jennifer, and try as he might, Daniel couldn’t find it within him to treat her that way.

Leaning forward, he took Jennifer’s small, cold hand within his. He held her gaze and reassured her. “I promise I will keep you safe, but I need to know what you’ve discovered.”

For several moments, Jennifer stared at Daniel as if measuring the truth of his words. Never had Daniel known such a profound relief as when she gave a slight nod. He told himself it had to with finding out what she knew, but Daniel was having a difficult time fooling himself. At that moment, it had nothing to do with what she knew and everything to do with her trusting him.

“I understand you want to know the bottom line but I need to explain before I can do that.” Jennifer’s voice shook slightly before pushing on. “This isn’t something you are just going to believe.”

She gave a harsh laugh. “You will probably lock me away for what I’m about to tell you, but I am willing to trust you.”

Daniel’s heart swelled before he could stop it. They were in the middle of a crisis. This wasn’t the time for him to let his feelings take over. He had better control than that.

Jennifer pinned him with those chocolate brown eyes. The seriousness in their depths caused him to sit up straighter. She shook her head and sighed. “The fact is, there’s nothing you can do to stop this.”

“The hell there isn’t.” Daniel was a man of action. If there was one thing he’d learned as a Marine, there was always a way. “Make no mistake, I will stop whoever is trying to destroy us.”

Jennifer stood and went to stand behind her chair, as if she needed to put something physical between them. There was such fear and sadness in her eyes as she said, “That’s just it, no one is trying to destroy America.”

“Really?” Daniel practically shouted. He pointed up to the screens at the front of the room showing just how much of their country had been leveled. “Those images say otherwise.”

He was currently residing in a bunker in the Rocky Mountains. Considering the damage to the Appalachians, Daniel wasn’t certain he was all that safe but there weren’t any other options.

His voice quickly turned furious. “Hell, the entire Eastern Seaboard was almost wiped off the map. If that doesn’t say someone is trying to destroy us, then tell me what does it say?”

Jennifer took a fortifying breath. Her knuckles were white with the force she currently placing on the back of the chair she was standing behind.

Daniel thought he’d been ready for whatever she’d been able to tell him. He couldn’t have been more wrong.