Shadows from the Past - Book 2 of To Be Claimed By Her

Chapter 44

Deimos

I felt tears stream down my cheeks as I watched her give birth. I have no idea how she had reached out to me or even managed to manipulate her pregnancy, but the glimpses she'd sent were a momentary reprieve from the torture of Erebus's shadows. The floor of my cell shimmered with my own blood as they sliced at my flesh continually, their claws forcing my mind to stay present.

I groaned as I felt the chains being lowered to the floor. "You look like shit, D," Kaylie snickered.

"You're pregnant," I observed, commenting on the small swell of her stomach.

She grinned, "Yeah, I think Ere is still disappointed it's not being carried by the fairy, but oh well." My body landed on the floor as I groaned. "Now, we have a few things to attend to, D, but don't worry, you'll get to watch everything just like a movie."

I started to ask what she was talking about when I noticed Brandon come into the room. His white eyes landed on me and a ghoulish grin spread across his face. My body was so weak from weeks of being suspended and tortured that my efforts to escape were useless. He ghosted through the cell walls and placed his hands against the sides of my head, his mouth gaping as he began to draw my essence into him. The more I tried to fight, the hazier my mind felt.

For a brief moment, I could feel the divide between my demon and my human as a bright light enveloped me.

"You're fucking kidding me," I heard Brandon's voice say. "Of all the asshats they could shove in here, I get you, really?"

I turned around and met his blue eyes, gaping, "What the hell is going on?"

He snorted, "You're the fucking demon and you don't know how hollows work? Dumbass," he scoffed. "She controls me. I'm like a giant fucking storage container, and you Deimos, just got shoved in a box." I started sputtering and he rolled his eyes, "Don't believe me, then look for yourself," he said and placed a hand on my shoulder.

It was like I was looking out a window as I stared down at my own shrunken form. My body looked like a hollowed suit lying on the floor, my eyes vacant. "Am I dead?" I asked, my hand instinctively going to the place where Eveleen's mark had been.

"I wish," Brandon grumbled, "She had me separate your soul essence from your body. It's similar to what a shade does, but without killing the original soul. Apparently, they want you to watch whatever they have planned."

"No, no, oh fuck, no," I muttered pulling at my hair. "How do I get back? He's going to kill her...or worse...Brandon, you have to help me! He's going after Eveleen!"

"Wait, what? How does using your body get him closer to her?"

"Look at my chest. That is her mark on me, she has a similar one. I...I placed a claim on her. He wants to use it to trap her...to taint her," I tried to explain and felt a crack across my nose.

"You absolute idiot! How fucking dare you put a claim on my wife!" Brandon roared and punched me again. I didn't even try to stop him.

When his blows stopped, I wheezed, "Are you done now? This isn't getting us any closer to helping her. She's weak after giving birth. He'll try to pull her to my form in her sleep."

His head snapped up, his eyes glowing slightly, as he growled, "Birth? Just what else did you do to her?"

I raised my hands shakily in surrender, "Not me. Owen and Victor - they're different now, more powerful. Wait, how did your eyes glow if you're a hollow?" I asked, finally realizing what I'd seen.

"They what? That's not possible," he muttered.

"Brandon, they glowed when I mentioned the birth...wait, did you get an odd feeling a few days ago, like a sense of love and pride that seemed to push into you even if only for a moment?" I asked him, remembering what I'd felt when she sent her joy across the connection during the boys' births.

His eyes widened, "Was that her?" I nodded, as he sobbed, "I thought I'd lost her forever, but how?"

I chuckled, "No clue. How did she destroy the hold Sang had over Owen or Kota? How did she resurrect North? How did she restore Nate and Luke? No matter what I did to try and break her bonds with all of you, she found a way. She's pulling all of you back to her, and somehow I became blessed enough to become a part of that. Then Victor becomes a god and the Void turns her into a goddess."

His mouth moved, but no sound came out. "He's a...she's a..."

"God and Goddess of Shadow," I finished his statement. "She's powerful, but if Erebus uses my claim to influence her, she may not be able to fight him. She won't even know what he's doing until he's bound her. Please, Brandon, you can fucking kill me after she's safe if you want. I won't even try to stop you, but please help me."

"I...I don't know how," he groaned.

"Reach out to your patron. If you can still access your powers - even in the slightest, he will hear you. Keep calling until the asshole answers," I begged. "It may be our only chance."

Brandon looked at me like I was insane but did as I suggested. He kept yelling out to Helios until he finally got mad. "What the fuck good is it to have a patron if they ignore you all the fucking time!" he roared, his eyes flaring a bright white.

Suddenly, it was as if we were standing in a lush meadow. I felt a soft breeze blowing - wait, I felt...where the hell are we now?

"Brandon?" a deep voice asked. "What the hell have they done to you?"

Brandon turned and in a way, I did too. Okay, this is fucking confusing. Before it was like I was stuffed in his physical body, but could look at and speak to him. Now, it's like I'm in his mind, just listening as if I'm a silent passenger.

"Helios," Brandon said, his voice sounding scratchy and slightly off. "How?"

"You called out to me, but I could only bring your consciousness...something isn't right though," the god mused. "There's something hidden that I can't quite make out."

"Demios," he answered, "Kaylie shoved his consciousness inside of me. This is so much more fucked up than twin talk," he scoffed.

Thanks, asshole, I growled, because I'm having loads of fun.

Brandon laughed, "He isn't very amused either, but that's not the point. Erebus is planning to use Deimos's form to trap Eveleen. I'm stuck, Helios. Kaylie made me into a hollow - I don't think it can be undone. You have to warn her." I felt the grief in Brandon's heart as he spoke. What have I done?

Helios gave him a sympathetic look. "Don't give up hope. If you can hear me Deimos, that goes for you as well. I'll warn her and the others. She may have to break your claim, Deimos. It might be the only way to keep Erebus from controlling her."

I winced at the thought but knew he was right. Then an idea popped into my head. Brandon, what if she uses the claim to trap him?

"Shit, that's not a bad idea," he muttered, then explained my thinking to Helios.

"I'll let them know," he replied. "I need to send you back before anyone notices. Call out if you need me." Brandon nodded and I felt a falling sensation as I blinked and met Brandon's eyes.

"Thank you," I muttered.

"You realize you might be stuck with me for a really long time, right?" he asked.

"No, you won't be stuck with me." I let out a breath, "Her best chance is to use the claim to kill him while he's in my body. If she destroys my body, it will free my soul."

Brandon's eyes widened as he let out a breath, "Fuck, you really do love her."

I felt tears in my eyes as I whispered, "With every fiber of my being."

Author's Notes:  Anyone remember Morpheus's words to Deimos in the grove?  Is his death the price?

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