Forsaken Blood

- TEMPEST -

"You have to find her, Sophie," Jeremiah said as he paced up and down the living room.

They had tried everything already, all their ideas had been exhausted but they knew they had to find Layla before it was too late. Time was ticking and Sophie felt the pressure, she knew that every moment they wasted could be the cause of Layla's undoing.

"Can't you try a location spell?" Jeremiah asked.

"I don't know... I don't know if I can," she said with sunken eyes.

Jeremiah crouched down next to her.

"Sophie," he said looking in her eyes, "it's our only hope, you have to try."

"I feel lost and afraid, I can't find my focus. How can I make this work?" she asked.

Jeremiah put his hands on her shoulders and helped Sophie up. He smiled at her and she could feel the love radiate from him as he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace.

"You've got this, Sophie," he said, "I believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself."

Sophie took a deep breath and exhaled, while looking to Jeremiah in hope.

"Grab me the four blue candles from over there", she pointed toward the old wooden cabinet that sat alone in a corner. "oh, and the goblet next to them."

Sophie dashed to her buffet beside the cabinet and pulled open the top drawer. She shuffled through the assortment of oils and incense until her fingers found the soft black velvet she was looking for. She carefully unravelled the cloth and took out some crumbly cones of Myrrh and grabbed a box of matches before closing the draw with her hip. She cleared a spot in the centre of the room and sat down on the wooden floorboards. Jeremiah brought back the candles and goblet and watched her place the Myrrh in a small silver disc, that was embossed with a sun whose rays twisted outward toward the edges. Sophie lit up the incense, took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"Jeremiah, please fill the goblet with some rainwater from the tank out back."

When he returned she told him to place the goblet in front of her and she began to light the candles. She ordered them around her, one to the north, one to the south, one to the east and the last to the west - the way in which she faced.

Sophie sat in silence with her legs comfortably crossed. She fought to rid her mind of negativity, and began to seep into her hypnotic state. She felt the calm darkness flow over her and began chanting.

"Custodis evanescorum, iam mihi audis,

et apari audes. Invenis mihi qui rem quareo."

She repeated the lines over and over and Jeremiah could feel himself sweat as the room grew humid. Finally, Sophie raised her right hand and moved it over the plain silver goblet where she placed her index and middle finger into the water, swirling it clockwise four times. The flames on the candles died out and Sophie knocked the goblet over. Her eyes flung open, and she swung her head to look at Jeremiah.

"I found her!"

***

Ardat was right, no matter how Layla wanted to look at this, she was pregnant, and it was her child. It was a soul, a life. She knew she couldn't bring harm to it. She tried to lift her battered body off of hell's table and noticed the clothes dumped in a heap on the floor.

"Get those clothes and follow me," Ardat ordered through Dean's soft voice. "You need to bathe, we are going out."

Layla followed Dean's body as Ardat led her down a dimly lit hall to a dark bathroom which was easily half the size of any normal house. A large bathing pool dominated the centre of the room with huge marble columns surrounding it. A crackling fireplace at the back of the pool threw light into the room and let shadows dance between the pillars and the aroma of rose wafted through the still air.

Layla slowly undressed and felt every bruise, as she eased herself into the warm waters of the pool. She sat alone and washed her body with a sea sponge, and took extra time to run her hand over her stomach, coming to terms with the fact her body had already begun to prepare for a life. Tears ran down her face and she eased her head back on a towel and felt the warmth of the water embrace her supple skin until it sent her off into a light sleep.

"What are you doing," Ardat hissed, "get up and change!"

She almost slipped under the water, being scared half to death by Ardat's unexpected entrance.

Layla shuddered when she saw the tight black mini dress and matching stilettos that Ardat had brought for her. They were definitely picked by demons...

She pulled the dress over her head and felt the tightness of its size as it reached her shoulders. Luckily it was made with spandex and stretched itself for her womanly curves. She pulled it down as far as it would reach to her mid-thighs and realized that bending over wouldn't be an option. The low cut of the V neck line didn't leave much to the imagination, and it was at that point she knew that she was being used as a trophy. She slipped on the stilettos, walked over to the mirror and noticed she had been over sexualized - but for what reason she wasn't sure.

Layla made her way to the hall slowly, making sure not to trip in her high heels. Ardat was leaning on the wall waiting for her and as she walked out the demon looked her up and down like a piece of meat.

"Ah, perfect," Ardat said.

"Why am I wearing this?" Layla asked

"We are going to an underground club called Tempest to celebrate our newest achievement," the demon said smiling ear to ear.

"I'm freezing, can I at least have a jacket?" Layla asked.

"Pathetic..." Ardat hissed and began to flick through a wardrobe full of clothes.

Layla wondered how many souls had passed through this place in the past, and which one had 'donated' the mini dress she had on now.

"Here, this should do," Ardat said throwing a black coat at her. "Put it on and let's go."

They walked out to the car and as Layla stepped into the back she noticed Rezaal sitting alone on the far side. She was hesitant and nervous to sit next to him, but she had no choice. He spoke not a word to her on the short trip down the road.

They pulled up to an empty alley of abandoned warehouses with no one in sight except for a single shadowy man standing near an old door. A single street light gave just enough illumination to see the plumes of steam rising from beneath the street. Layla thought the stranger looked homeless with his dirty ripped jeans and soiled sweater.

They stepped out the car, but something didn't feel right. There was an off vibe about this place and Layla could feel it in her gut. Have I been tricked again?... she thought as panic began to grow, why have I been dressed up!?...

Hey guys, i hope you are enjoying your read. Just taking a short break while i finish off my other book. Will be back soon :)