Above The Flames (The Flames Trilogy #1) (5 page)

The demon’s body convulsed on top of her as if he was touching an electric fence. His red eyes went in and out, turning black, then red, then black again. Over and over. Jasmine wanted to laugh as his skin sizzled underneath her fingers. What that said about her, she didn’t know, but even as the smell of burning flesh overtook her with nausea, bubbling giggles spilled from her mouth.

The demon collapsed in a heap to her side, and she got up in time to see Bael cutting Amon and Beau off. She launched her power from both hands, streams of blue arcing between Bael and Amon. She pulled from deeper within, and the stream turned into a wall, almost transparent. It looked like a sheer pastel blue curtain, and she thanked her lucky stars that her ability was working the way she wanted it to. It didn’t always. She stretched the wall, wrapping it around the demon so he was completely trapped.

Amon turned to look at her, and she hoped the look she gave him told him what she needed it to. When he ran through the woods at his side, she knew it had. Now she was left alone with Bael, and she had a feeling he was a lot more powerful than the demons she was used to. His eyes didn’t glow, and that had to mean something.

His eyes sparkled with interest when he met her stare. “Well, well, well. What have we here?”

“You are going to let me leave here, in one piece,” Jasmine said, her voice strong and clear.

“Of course I will. Lower this wall and I’ll show you just that.”

Jasmine risked a couple of steps, trying to keep her concentration on the wall, but it fizzled with her second step, so she stopped and the wall remained as strong as before.
So, I can’t move and hold this thing. Just fan-fricking-tastic.

She’d figured it out, even before her arms were seized by two different demons, that there was only one way out of this, and that was as a prisoner. Her blue fire shot back inside of her and she gasped at the sensation.

Bael ambled toward her, and her knees buckled, but the demons kept her upright, even though she wanted to melt into the ground and hide.

When Bael stood in front of her, she did her best to keep her eyes down, but he jerked her chin with his thumb and index finger. “You have given us quite a surprise. We will use you, I think.” He smiled, showing sharp yellow teeth. His breath made her want to gag, so she opened her mouth and breathed through it.

“I think you could use a shower,” Jasmine spat.

“Ah, a smart mouth too. You will fit right in.” He turned to the demon on her left. “Take her to the house. And make sure the fallen angels don’t see you.”

Something hard hit the back of her head. Pain lanced her skull, and even though it was the worst pain she’d ever felt, she knew it wouldn’t kill her. Her vision darkened from the outside in, until all she saw was darkness.

Chapter 5

Chains

Jasmine awoke with a start, placing her palms against a cold, hard floor which was painted gray. Heavy chains jangled with the movement, and she followed their length to the wall behind her, where they attached to a copper-colored hinge.
Where the hell am I?

She grabbed the chain, yanking with everything she had, but it didn’t budge. She tugged again and again. How many times she tried, she wasn’t sure, but by the end the skin on her palms was red and raw.

The air was thick, and moist, as she took a deep breath. It was so hot sweat soaked her red dress and it stuck to her skin as if she’d soaked in a layer of flypaper.
I’ve got to get out of here!

Jasmine mustered her strength, and then jerked against the chains again with everything she had.
I'm not strong enough!
She blew a strand of hair from her face, which came right back down. She brought her hands up and the smell of metal assaulted her, reaching the back of her throat and settling there. She coughed, but the taste lingered.

Jasmine slammed her heel against the floor and slumped back against the wall. Then she scanned the dimly lit room, taking note of a giant column in the middle, which blocked her view of the opposite wall. There was no furniture, only more hinges with chains connected on the other walls.
Guess this is some torture chamber. Why wouldn’t it be when demons are involved?

Lights flickered through the only window in the room. It was small, high, near the ceiling. Like a basement window. The light flashed again and she caught a reflection to her right. There were two tables, side by side against the wall. The dim light pulsed again. Where had she seen tables like that? Metal tables.
Oh my God! In an operating room!

With a racing heart, she stood, the chains long enough to allow the movement. She moved as far as she could, and behind the column there was a black shoe. “Is someone there?”

The shoe jolted, and chains rattled. “Yeah, who are you?” a man’s voice said. He came into view, and he looked a lot younger than his voice sounded. He had messy brown hair, and a thin face with a very prominent, pointed chin. His eyes were too far away to see with this light, but she knew they were dark, and not the best feature on his face.

“Pretty sure I asked you first,” Jasmine said, knowing her response wasn’t the best way to make friends.

The man narrowed his eyes, but they widened as he smiled. “I’m a gentleman, so ladies first.”

She wanted to argue, to act like a child and throw a fit. The guy was being obtuse, and it made her want to scream, but there wasn’t time for any of those reactions. If she wanted to get out of here, she had to be smart, and what could telling the man her name hurt?

“It’s Jasmine. My name is Jasmine.”

He laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” Her voice was clipped, but it did nothing to stop his giggles.

Once he gained control over himself, he said, “My name is Cole.”

Jasmine bit the inside of her cheek before frowning. “Okay, and what about my name made you laugh hysterically?”

“Nothing. I promise. Your name isn’t funny, just the circumstances,” Cole said.

“I see. You think it’s hilarious when people are kidnapped and chained to walls. That’s just fan-fricking-tastic. So glad I got stuck in here with you.” The words flowed from Jasmine’s mouth like water from a sink, and even though she didn’t really want to speak this way, she couldn’t stop herself.

Cole raised his eyebrows as the corners of his lips tilted downward. “No, that isn’t what I mean at all. It’s just, I have a gift…”

“Don’t we all.” Outwardly, she spoke calmly, even though inside she felt like her stomach was flopping around.
Are there really other people like me?

“No, we don’t. But some of us do, just not sure why. There has to be a reason.”

“Sure does, but unfortunately, whoever cursed us with these gifts forgot to leave the manual,” Jasmine said.

Cole grinned. “Listen, the reason I laughed when I heard your name is because it was ironic to me. You are the person I saw in one of my visions, yet I didn’t recognize you. I was laughing at myself, and my visions for not being clear enough.”

Jasmine thought his words over. Should she believe him? Or was he lying to save himself? She had a feeling she could trust him, and she wasn’t sure where it came from, but it was there nonetheless. Her instincts never failed her, as long as she listened to them. Perhaps she should start now.

“All right, Cole. It’s nice to meet you. Now, how do we get out of here?”

Cole shrugged. “If I knew that, I would have already left.”

“Aren’t you just the embodiment of helpful?” Jasmine asked.

“Listen, I don’t think there’s a way out unless they let us out, and I’m sure they won’t do that.”

“No, they won’t be doing that,” a high-pitched voice said, coming through the open doorway. “Especially since I’ve ordered them not to.”

It was Bael, his gray skin looking darker under the dim basement light. Two people followed him, a short, round woman with graying hair and a large man with bulging muscles and a tiny head. They both wore white lab coats.

“What do you want with us?” Jasmine gritted her teeth. “We can’t help you.”

Bael ambled closer, moving slowly but with purpose. His gaze went back and forth between Jasmine and Cole, and when he stopped directly in front of Jasmine, he stared at Cole. “That is where you are wrong. You can, and you will help me. Your powers will make this takeover a lot smoother, and I have every intention of using you.”

“You may have every intention of using us, but we have every intention of not helping you. So, I guess there’s a bit of conflict there. Hope it can be resolved before go time.” Jasmine knew it was a bad idea to say the words, but they vomited from her mouth anyway.

Bael’s black eyes turned to her, and he smirked. He walked a circle around her, his finger grazing her stomach. Her hips. Tracing along her back. Cold shivers ran down her body as she tensed, afraid to move a muscle.

He stopped in front of her again, but left his finger resting against her stomach. “I do like your spunk, but this isn’t the time for it.” His hand went up, and before Jasmine could register his plan, he slapped her across her face with his open palm.

She closed her eyes as tingles spread across her cheek. The metallic taste of blood hit her. Weakness wasn’t her thing, so she opened her eyes and faced her kidnapper, but this time she kept her lips pressed tightly together. No words could escape that way.

Pleased, Bael backed up and spread his arms wide. “I want you to meet your new friends. Doc here will be taking some blood, running some routine tests. And Tony is here to make sure you two behave. Any questions?”

“Yeah. Why do you want to take our blood?” Cole asked.

That’s all you got, Cole? Really?

“Because, I do,” Bael said as Doc wheeled a cart in to the room.

And that’s what you get for asking that question.

Doc moved in front of Cole, and Jasmine froze as she brought forth a long needle. She tied a rubber band around Cole’s upper arm, then wiped a small cloth over his arm. When that was done, she pushed the needle through his skin, attached a vial to the back, and red liquid poured into it. After she filled four of the vials, she pulled the needle out and released the rubber band. She finished by placing a bandage over the spot where she had the needle.

The cart’s wheels scraped as Doc pushed it toward Jasmine.

Jasmine panted to catch her breath, even lifted the thick material of her dress away from her chest.
There’s not enough air in here.

“Yeah, I don’t think this is going to happen. I’m afraid of needles.”

The big man, Tony, came over. He didn’t look like a Tony, though. Jasmine decided she would call him Grizzles.

He stepped behind her, holding her still by grabbing her shoulders. Her hands shook as the cart stopped in front of her, and she got a good look at the needle.

“Listen, really, you don’t need my blood. It’s just blood, type AB, pretty standard really.”

“I will have that blood of yours and I will find out why you are so powerful. I’ve never seen anyone, not even the angels, do what you did last night. And I want to know why,” Bael said.

Doc lifted the needle.

“For God’s sake, at least use a different needle. That one’s not sterile,” Jasmine said, louder than intended.

Doc met her eyes, trying to reassure her, but they widened with fear. Sweat dripped from her brow and she wiped her forehead with the back of her arm.
She’s terrified. She doesn’t want to be here. I bet neither of them does.

“Please. Don’t do this,” Jasmine pleaded.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have a choice here. He’ll kill me, and my family,” Doc whispered.

Jasmine steeled her resolve. She wouldn’t be the reason a family was harmed. Not today. Not ever. “Okay, just do it quick. I can handle it. But please, don’t miss the vein.”

Doc smiled, and Jasmine braced herself.

“Relax a little or it’s going to hurt,” Grizzles’ deep voice boomed behind her, and Jasmine jumped, but then she loosened her tense muscles.

The needle slid in and was relatively painless after the initial pinch. Jasmine looked the other way, making sure she didn’t see her own blood leaving her body. She was pretty sure that was what made her faint every time, but she couldn’t be completely sure. It seemed like it took forever, but it was probably only a minute or two, and she was done.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Doc asked.

Jasmine shook her head. “No, not bad at all. Thanks.”

“Isn’t this just precious. Doc and Jasmine have bonded.”

Doc spun around, her legs wobbly. “No, I haven’t—”

“Remember Doc, I can kill your family with one slice of my claw. It will do you good to remember that.”

“Yes, Master Bael. I will not disappoint you.” Doc turned back and gave Jasmine a defeated look before wheeling the cart out. Grizzles released her and followed after Doc, leaving Bael, who didn’t follow.

He stared at Jasmine with intensity, as if he could get every answer to every question he had just by looking. Jasmine narrowed her eyes, refusing to look weak again. It was important to stay as strong as she could.

After a few moments, Bael left the room, and Jasmine released a long, shuddery breath.

“I didn’t think he’d ever leave,” Cole said. “He sure was interested in you, Jasmine.”

“He was—er, is. He is interested in me, and I can’t change that. Even if I wanted to.” Her voice came out more breathless than she wanted. It was impossible to breathe down in the musty basement.

After a few moments of silence, Jasmine found Cole, his eyes watching her with concern. “Anything I can do to help?”

Jasmine shook her head. “This isn’t going to end well for us, is it?”

She’d hoped that Cole would have something insightful to say. Since he had visions, maybe he’d seen something.

“Probably not,” he said.

Every ounce of hope Jasmine had tried to hold on to about getting free escaped from her body, the thick air swallowing it in one mouthful.
There has to be a way out.

But she knew deep down that there wasn’t. She would die here, in this basement. Or she would wish she was dead. Probably the latter.