Dark Enchantment (Elvis Presley Story)

Chapter 27

Fury didn't begin to describe what Elvis felt as he stalked between tables and chairs towards his adversary, knocking aside anything and anyone that stood in his path. Fiery showers of sparks erupted from everything he touched. Tables cracked, glasses shattered, trays of food flew in his wake. He made no attempt to rein in the power of his rage.

He would kill the man. Rip his heart out with his bare hands. He reached the stage and leaped upon it, setting off bursts of sparks with the heel of his boots.

The Demon approached him, arms straight and rising up ready to strike. Elvis gathered his powers and flung his hands before him, streaming laser-sharp fire from his fingertips. The Demon spun. Blood sprayed from blackened slashes across his cheek and arm.

His cries of outrage echoed through the room. "You dare defy me! You, who are nothing but a lowly insect!"

"She. Belongs. To. Me!" Elvis thundered. The winds of his fury burst across the stage, whipping hair, clothing and objects into a hot tempest. He heard Sophia scream. She was on her hands and knees trying to crawl away.

Suddenly he was hit with a force, he felt invisible fists of iron close around his throat, pulling him roughly back down to the stage. He choked, unable to draw a breath, and was slammed onto the glass floor so hard he blacked out for a few precarious seconds. When he came to, he was lying on his back, his whole body in blinding pain.

"Elvis!" Sophia screamed. The demon had an arm banded around her waist, lifting her to carry her off. Her feet kicked and her nails scratched.

"Let her go!" Elvis got to his feet, quicker than lightening, ignoring the excruciating pain. He flung a fireball at the demon's retreating back. It bounced off harmlessly. The bastard put up a shield. The man was some kind of demon lord, maybe even a prince. His only chance was to confuse him. Fight like a human. Go for the heart.

Elvis summoned a crystal bottle from the nearest table, then swooped down to crack it against the floor, splintering the edge to razor-sharp shards. Brandishing it in one hand, he fisted the other and sent a smashing spell against the bastards shield. The air around the other demon shattered like broken glass. Elvis leapt, slicing the ragged glass across his throat and down his chest.

Blood sprayed everywhere. The wounds would heal quickly, but hopefully not quickly enough. With a howl of rage, the demon dropped Sophia and came at Elvis.

"Run!" He shouted at her. "Run now!"

A blinding pain seared across Elvis's cheek and shoulder, and his head snapped back. He tried to lift the broken glass bottle as a defence, but suddenly couldn't move his arms. The demon's laughter pitched high and maniacal. He rose up, shifting into the shape of a huge hooded snake, all blackness and evil. He grew larger and larger, until he towered over Elvis, big as the Devil himself. The snakes giant jaws opened wide, poison dripping fangs extended to deliver the killer blow.

Suddenly the audience gasped; those sitting nearest the stage scrambled back in panic. The snake screamed. It screamed and screamed and writhed and coiled in on itself until the reptilian illusion crumbled and it was just him writhing on the stage in agony.

Elvis rolled to a crouch. What the hell was going on? Then he saw it, sprinkled on the stage.

Salt.

He froze and glanced up. Sophia was kneeling behind the red eyed monster, her jacket clutched in one hand, coarse grains of salt in the other. Their eyes met.

"He was going to kill you," She breathed in a strangled voice.

Inside Elvis something hard and cold broke wide open. His chest filled with the strangest sensation he'd ever experienced. It felt warm and gooey and...inevitable. even more inevitable than his death at the hands of that damned demon had been just  moments before.

"Throw the rest, baby," he ordered softly. "And try not to hit me."

She nodded, and tossed the rest of the salt onto the thrashing body of their enemy.

Without waiting to see the results, Elvis went to Sophia and scooped her into his arms, closed his eyes and apported them away. A heartbeat later he stood next to his car, clutching her close to his pounding heart.

They were both alive. and free. At least for now.

For a few precious moments he just held her, savouring the feel of her warm body in his arms, and counting his blessings. Then he glanced over his shoulder checking to see if anybody followed him out. He and Sophia were probably safe. Defeating a demon lord generally brought Hell down on you-eventually-but raised the respect level of other demons. Mostly they left you alone after that. At least if you were a demon. Humans might be a different story, though.

"That was close," he murmured, wondering why she felt so rigid. "But we should-"

"Clever girl," a smooth voice said from close by. It sounded almost approving. A man stepped from behind a wall. "Very clever, indeed." It was the vampire.

Elvis held Sophia's stiff body a bit tighter. Marceau raised a hand. She stopped moving in the middle of a gasp. Stopped dead.

"Tell your little mortal that I am a friend, Elvis."

He glanced down at Sophia. She was absolutely, perfectly still. Her eyes were wide.

Anger swamped over him, fresh and potent. "What are you doin' to her?"

"No harm. Tell your woman I am here to help you." Marceau held his hands up, almost in supplication.

Elvis checked his anger. Just. "It's true, Sophia. I sought him out myself. After Marcolf's attack this morning."

Her body jerked and came to life. She sucked down a breath.

"He's a vampire!"

"Yes. He is."

She shuddered with visible distaste, shifting her body to be put down. "What can a vampire know about Marcolf?"

"I have many contacts in the mortal realm," Marceau said, addressing Sophia with an odd smile. "And in the dark realm, too. I'll find out who's after your...demon. if he accepts my terms."

Elvis set her down on her feet, but kept his arm firmly around her. "We've already agreed on terms," he said. "I'll hold up my end."

His frown grew as Marceau smile spread.

"Im afraid our bargain was never...sealed," the vampire said silkily. "So there has been a slight change."

"What change?"

"The blood," Marceau said. "In addition to yours, I want to taste-" His black eyes landed on Sophia "-hers."

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! And thanks for reading! xoxo