I pulled up to my university office parkade and set down my kickstand. I removed my helmet and breathed inhale of the crisp night air. Locking up my bike, I strode into my office. I was shocked to see Tate with his head down asleep on my desk. The clock on the desk read 9:34 P.M. I walked around him to look at the computer screen. I swallowed hard. He had my research on the Order of the Sun open and annotated. I clicked the document closed and nudged his shoulder gently. Startled he jumped up, realized it was me and rubbed his sleep filled eyes.
"You should go home, Tate. It's late." I smiled softly. He had been so eager to impress me, he insisted on screening all my correspondence, and catching up on all my research notes. His lips quirked up.
"You don't look so hot yourself, Doc. Late night hunting?" He laughed to himself. I froze and raised a brow.
"Hunting what, exactly?" I tried to laugh it off.
"Whatever you say, Doc, but there's a reason I'm on the payroll." He tapped the side of his head, grabbed his bag, and stood to walk past me. As he neared my shoulder, I swear I could have seen him sniff me. I turned my head and furrowed my brow at him. He just shook his head and continued through the door.
I shook my head and smiled to myself. Smart-ass. I sat at my desk and flipped through my research. The familiar well-loved pages of my notebook calmed me. This was familiar territory. I ran my fingers over the raised brail words.
Order of the Sun: Established c. 300 CE after the rise of Christianity, for the purpose of identifying and eliminating demonic forces. Militarized and granted weapon access in c.350CE. Noted presence up until Salem Witch trials mid seventeenth century.
I noticed underneath my entry Tate had made an asterisked note: "Modern Branches?". I paused. Modern branches of the Order of the Sun? It's possible, but what would be their purpose today? I sighed and scratched my head. Tate must have been researching something. I closed the notebook and examined my many degrees that lined the walls.
How can in one night, my life goes from fine, to being completely out of my control? I rested my head in my hands. Sighing again, I reached down and opened the bottom drawer of my dark mahogany desk. I pulled out a bottle of whiskey and a glass. I poured myself one and took a sip.
Was I fine? I've always been alone. But at least I was in control. I took another sip. My phone began to buzz on the desk, I propped it up to see Dean's face flash on the screen. I debated ignoring it. I wasn't in the mood for his antics.
"What's a girl got to do to get a moment of peace?" I answered into the phone as I picked up. I heard a loud breath on the other side of the phone.
"Kali! Where are you?" He sounded panicked. I kicked my legs up on the desk and held my glass in my free hand.
"At the office. What's going on?" I questioned, swirling my glass. It was in his character to be melodramatic. I heard a cursing and shuffling on the other side of the line.
"Kali, Rhys isn't with you I take it?"
"No, I needed time alone." I said pointedly.
"Kali, you can't leave the building. I see three groups of unidentified demons at all crossroads to your office. You're putting out a call, they can find you. Call Rhys!" He screamed into the phone. I sat up straight and peeked out the blinds of my office. Sure enough, on each corner stood moving figures shrouded in shadow.
"What do you mean I'm putting out a call, Dean?" I questioned.
"A mating call, Kali. Stay put." He hung up on me.
A mating call? That was extremely rare for one of my class. It could be triggered by extreme danger, or the presence of a mate. Most succubae were not granted mates, or at least never found them. We yearned endlessly, never to be satisfied and need to be sustained by energy. When a female is in the presence of one the demon inside deems worthy, they release a mating call at a scent and frequency sound that is designed to align with their mate. The call of a female was designed to lure in potential mates. Men have been known to frenzy over a female demons, enchanted by the siren call, even going to their deaths. The only way to know for certain if one could answer the call properly was through marking.
I locked the door to my office and stared at my phone. I've never been one to call the man to come and save me. I texted Tate to take the next two days off work. I straightened my jacket and felt myself to make sure my weapons were in place. I took a deep breath, strode to my door, and flicked open the lock. Figuring I had to get home somehow, I strode out the office doors, onto the street. As I stepped into the lamplight, I unsheathed two daggers from my sleeves. I smiled into the shadows.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?" I taunted. Figures came rushing forward, dashing madly. They nearly trampled each other rushing toward me, they salivated from the mouth. The male demons had horns sprouting from their heads and wings bursting from their backs. They snarled at each other and circled me.
"Naamah will reward us for this one, boys." One hissed, plucking at my jacket sleeve.
"Yet she won't mind if we use her first." Laughed one who slithered his hand over my backside.
I spun, knocked my shoulder into the chin of the one behind me. Taking the dagger in my right hand I slashed across his throat, severing his neck. Using that momentum from the spin I plunged forward and jammed the knife through the temple of the second demon. Both fell to the ground spluttering.
More demons emerged from the shadows, they crowded around me. They climbed over each other. I attacked relentlessly, spinning and stabbing one after the other. The sheer number was overwhelming. A slap echoed through the night and my face stung as I received the hit and stumbled back. Two demons used that to their advantage to trap my arms. Two more approached from the front, tearing my shirt open with their claws.
A roar echoed through the dark streets. The lamplights flickered out. The ground began to shake. Tremors wracked the Earth, and the demons holding me fell backward. I jumped up. A colossal shadow descended from the sky, midnight black wings expanded across the moon, blocking out any light, except for the eerie glow of ruby red eyes.