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Twenty Two
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2025-01-10 17:00:44“If it makes you feel any better, Thorne and I don’t have parents anymore either. No demons or angels do. We’re… possessed.”
“Possessed?”
“Yeah.” Noah put the cap on his water and dumped it beside him, before picking himself up and going to the bookshelf again. Pulling out a different tome, he came back and sat beside her. The heat from his thigh against hers had her stomach fluttering, but she shut it down and watched as he opened the book. “The soul… no, that’s not quite the right word… uh… the essence of a demon is housed in a crystal.”
Noah flipped a couple pages and showed her a picture. There was a pile of crystals heaped on the floor of a room and a body strapped to a table in the middle. He flipped over another page and showed her the picture.
“One of those shards, houses a demon’s essence. It is then surgically grafted onto the
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Claimed by the Horde Twenty Three
“So now what?”Noah grimaced and Serenity’s heart flipped as he looked back to her. there was something he wasn''t telling her. He and Thorne had been keeping her safe for so long, by not telling her anything, or showing her their world... now it seemed to not be sitting well with him, having to explain things and exposing things which might put her in danger.“We know the angels are not loathed to using dirty tactics and Manipulators. So, we just keep ahead of them. I’ll have to call in some contacts, and possible a few favors, just to keep you safe, until your birthday. Then… well then the real fun starts.”“What do you mean?”Noah leaned forward, his blond hair dropping over his eyes and he stared at his hands. “We have to get you to the leaders of the Horde.”There were leaders? Well, she guessed if there were higher ranking angels, there would be higher ranking demons too.
Last Updated : 2025-01-11Claimed by the Horde Twenty Four
“No.”“There’s no other way around it, Thorne.” Noah said, pacing in front of the sofa Serenity was sitting on. Thorne was standing in the corner of the room, his blue gaze watching the blond pace.“I said no.”Serenity rolled her eyes and lifted her legs, tucking them underneath her, while the pair in front of her argued.“You know Claudette doesn’t travel and she’s the closest one who knows the ritual to bind Serenity to the Horde.” Noah was becoming frustrated, she could see it in the way he moved, the way his gaze constantly flicked back to her, then to Thorne. “We have no other way.”Serenity’s gaze shifted to Thorne. His leather funnel-coat had a sheen of water to it, his hair slicked, and she glanced at the window, noticing the drizzle of rain. He had an air of tenseness to him, as if he’d pounce at any moment.“And yo
Last Updated : 2025-01-12Claimed by the Horde One
Another free cup.Barely had the words been scratched into the soft flesh of her inner wrist, when a shadow fell over twenty-year-old, Serenity Monaghan.“Another cup? On the house.”Closing her fist around the toothpick, Serentiy turned her wrist to the table and lifted her head, smiling at the young waiter. “Thank you. That’s awfully nice of you.”“You’re a regular customer, it’s fine.” Ian, no older than her, smiled and leaned forward, filling her cup, the coffee’s steam rising in lazy circles. He poured in cream and smiled as he wandered off, tending to other patrons in the small café.Snapping the toothpick, she sighed, discarding it onto the saucer. Adding sugar from the little jar on the table, Serenity stirred it in and picked up the fresh coffee.She shouldn’t do it, shouldn’t use her gift as flippantly as she did, but when she could get through life so much easier with it, why not?Sipping at the hot beverage, Serenity’s gaze shifted to the world outside the small coffee sho
Last Updated : 2024-12-24Claimed by the Horde Two
Serenity moved through the beaded curtains, through the storeroom, past the chiller and to rickety the stairs at the back of the building.Joe had been letting her rent the small apartment upstairs for just over a month.Well… rent was a big word. More like she was borrowing it, and he couldn’t remember how she had come to be there, or when the rent was due. So far, he hadn’t been too particular, and she’d not reminded him either way. He seemed to be happy to have her there and when she could, she’d help around the store for some groceries.Climbing the stairs, Serenity moved along the small corridor, past Joe’s own apartment and up the next set to hers. Letting herself in, she closed the door and looked around.Nothing had been moved or touched.Taking the food to the kitchenette, she deposited it into the small refrigerator. Leaving out the milk, she opened the bottle and drank from it, while she moved through the small apartment, stripping off her wet clothes as she went.Hanging t
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Serenity gasped awake, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. The sheet stuck to her clammy skin as it prickled with gooseflesh, sweat quickly cooling. Throwing her legs over the side of the bed, she scrambled to her feet and reached for the light switch.Click click click.“No, no, no…” Her stomach churned as icicles of fear stabbed into her. “Fuck!”It had never been so strong—the sense of danger.She’d always been able to pick it. Sometimes, it was a chill, or invisible eyes on her; but this was—violent. Invading every fiber of her being with dread.Serenity shook, as another wave of fear raced through her and she fell to her knees, vomiting. Her dinner splashed on the floor, the sour scent lifting to her nose, and she spat out the last of the foul liquid. Struggling to her feet, she staggered through the apartment and threw on whatever clothing she could find in the dark.An over-sized sweatshirt and ripped jeans. Forgoing her sneakers, she grabbed the bag near the front door, gr
Last Updated : 2024-12-24Claimed by the Horde Four
Speeding down the alley, she ran out onto the abandoned street and dashed across it, to the next alley. Her feet hurt, her legs ached with faticgue and her stomach churned with the idea of being caught. She'd heard of what they did to kids like her, of what they pulled, and broke and sliced and pricked. Serenity didn't want to become a science experiment.Hide.That’s all she needed to do. Find somewhere to lay low, until she could change her appearance. She’d cut and dye her blonde hair and take out her nose ring, hell, she’d even start wearing dresses and learn to do make-up… all to not look like Serenity Monaghan anymore.Through another alley and out onto another street, Serenity ducked to the left, racing past the darkened shops. They weren’t open yet, and by the light tinge to the sky, it was just going four am. This would be a whole lot easier if there were people around. She’d be able to call out for help, someone surely would be able to help…“Serenity…” The voice seethed fro
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Joe screamed.A high pitch squeal which bit into Serenity’s bones and made her ears ache. The chopstick dropped to the ground; the words still bright on her skin. She lifted her hands, shielding her face as Joe screamed again and threw himself at her.The inevitable impact of a larger body hitting hers didn’t materialize and Serenity lowered her arms to the scene in front of her.Bulk.The figure between her and Joe was huge. Broad shouldered, encased in tight denim jeans and leather jacket; a large hunting knife hung in their hand.“Iraziel. I thought, I sent your sorry ass back upstairs.”“Noah. So nice of you to crawl up from the basement.” Iraziel drawled, through Joe’s fat lips. “Step away from the Skin Writer.”The knife spun in Noah’s hand and his head shook, blond hair flashing in the dull lighting. “Not going to happen, featherbrain. We both know, Skin Writer’s, belong to the Horde.”Iraziel hissed, his stance lowering, and Serenity’s gaze snapped to Noah, as he mirrored it.
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“You’re young. For a Skin Writer.”Serenity didn’t lift her head. Kneeling on the floorboards, her wrists flexed in the cuffs Noah had placed on her. By the time they’d returned to his apartment, she’d overcome her influx of power and had practically fought him to put her down. He’d slapped the cuffs on her quickly, to stop her scratching out at him.She was sure, in the scuffle, she’d heard the words bitch and feral more than once.“Come on, Serenity. I’m not going to hurt you.”“Then why cuff me?” she asked, finally lifting her head. “Hmm?”Noah lifted himself from the chair and walked to the window. It was huge and the view of the city beyond; breathtaking. But it did nothing to calm her nerves. She’d just watched someone—she’d considered a friend—have his own neck broken. Then she’d been taken to a strange place and put in handcuffs.She wasn’t exactly confident in Noah’s words.“That’s for my own protection, because I know what you can do.”“Yeah? And what’s that?”He turned back
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“No.”“There’s no other way around it, Thorne.” Noah said, pacing in front of the sofa Serenity was sitting on. Thorne was standing in the corner of the room, his blue gaze watching the blond pace.“I said no.”Serenity rolled her eyes and lifted her legs, tucking them underneath her, while the pair in front of her argued.“You know Claudette doesn’t travel and she’s the closest one who knows the ritual to bind Serenity to the Horde.” Noah was becoming frustrated, she could see it in the way he moved, the way his gaze constantly flicked back to her, then to Thorne. “We have no other way.”Serenity’s gaze shifted to Thorne. His leather funnel-coat had a sheen of water to it, his hair slicked, and she glanced at the window, noticing the drizzle of rain. He had an air of tenseness to him, as if he’d pounce at any moment.“And yo
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“So now what?”Noah grimaced and Serenity’s heart flipped as he looked back to her. there was something he wasn''t telling her. He and Thorne had been keeping her safe for so long, by not telling her anything, or showing her their world... now it seemed to not be sitting well with him, having to explain things and exposing things which might put her in danger.“We know the angels are not loathed to using dirty tactics and Manipulators. So, we just keep ahead of them. I’ll have to call in some contacts, and possible a few favors, just to keep you safe, until your birthday. Then… well then the real fun starts.”“What do you mean?”Noah leaned forward, his blond hair dropping over his eyes and he stared at his hands. “We have to get you to the leaders of the Horde.”There were leaders? Well, she guessed if there were higher ranking angels, there would be higher ranking demons too.
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“If it makes you feel any better, Thorne and I don’t have parents anymore either. No demons or angels do. We’re… possessed.”“Possessed?”“Yeah.” Noah put the cap on his water and dumped it beside him, before picking himself up and going to the bookshelf again. Pulling out a different tome, he came back and sat beside her. The heat from his thigh against hers had her stomach fluttering, but she shut it down and watched as he opened the book. “The soul… no, that’s not quite the right word… uh… the essence of a demon is housed in a crystal.”Noah flipped a couple pages and showed her a picture. There was a pile of crystals heaped on the floor of a room and a body strapped to a table in the middle. He flipped over another page and showed her the picture.“One of those shards, houses a demon’s essence. It is then surgically grafted onto the
Claimed by the Horde Twenty One
Thorne spun on his heel in seconds, his eyes wide and Noah spat out a spray of his drink and stared at her. “What?”“I mean, it’s okay if you are. I don’t mind. In this day and age, two guys being together is nothing new and it’s kind of adorable to think two demons might be—”“Just stop.” Noah held up his hand and she looked at Thorne who was shaking his head and silently chuckling to himself. She looked at the blond again and Noah leaned forward. “Thorne and I are not together. We never have been and never will be. I happen to think all women are goddesses, should be treated as such and shown the wildest passion imaginable.”Serenity’s face heated and she lowered her gaze for a moment.“Thorne and I have known each other for over one and a half centuries. We are as close to being brothers as we can get and that is it. There is nothing romantic or sexual going on
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“So, the angels are down one Manipulator.” Noah was shuffling through the papers in front of him, while Thorne stood near the window, forever looking out it to the city beyond.While he watched the city, she watched him.Brooding.Serenity thought Noah had been bad. Thorne was worse. While he physically didn’t speak, even when he answered in sign language, something was dark about him.“Are you listening to me?”Serenity looked at Noah and nodded, before shaking her head. “Sort of.”“For fuck’s sake.” Noah looked at Thorne. “Did you notice anything on your way back?”Thorne turned and shrugged, his hands lifting. “It’s eerie out there. I haven’t seen an angel for over six hours. Before…” Thorne looked at Serenity. “Her… there were at least a dozen in the district.”“Fuck. The
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Serenity was a bundle of nerves.It’d been an hour since Noah had texted Thorne. An hour of sitting, waiting. “Jeez, where is he?”“Thorne doesn’t like using public transport. He’d be walking.”“From where? London?”Noah snorted and stubbed out his cigarette, coming back inside. “He would have been looking for a new factory, and possibly a new apartment. This one’s been compromised.”“Uh, duh.”Noah ignored her and walked to the kitchen, opening the cupboard to make more coffee. “Plus, we need to find somewhere with a never-ending supply of coffee.”“Or you could not drink it all.” Serenity smirked and Noah turned back to her, flipping her off. “Well, I wish he’d hurry up.”“Getting nervous?”“Sort of. I mean-well…”Noah chuckled and pulled his phone out of hi
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Someone was trying to cleave her head in two. Serenity groaned and opened her eyes, wincing at the bright light coming from the open door.“Take it easy. Here.” Noah’s voice was soft, and he touched her hand, putting pills into her palm. “These will help.”She gingerly took them, the glass of water he offered and sat up, swallowing the aspirin. Laying back again, she watched as Noah lifted himself and took the glass out to the kitchen.Serenity frowned and rolled to the side, climbing from the bed slowly, and walked to the door. Noah stood at the kitchen bench, but didn’t turn around, as he asked, “Coffee?”“Yeah, thanks.” She walked across the floor to the sofas, taking the blanket off the back of one of them and snuggled down into the plush furniture, wrapping the fabric around her. She watched the demon as he made her a coffee and turned back to her.“Well, whatever you did, sent
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“She’s not going to make it, Thorne. She can’t control her powers enough!”Strong arms, the smell of brimstone and leather and a deep hum…Serenity gasped away, her hand going to her chest, and she dragged in a ragged breath.“Holy shit…”She’d never suffered from nightmares. Not once in her life. But that was terrifying. Swinging her legs to the side of the bed, she gripped the side of the mattress and looked at the carpet. She picked out every fiber, the tiny specs of dirt, the shadows which dipped in between the piling. Anything to take her mind away from the nightmare.For close to five minutes, she sat there, calming herself.When she finally felt able enough, Serenity looked up and noticed the toothpick on the nightstand. The pale golden stick was no longer than her finger and wickedly sharp at the ends. Her hand reached out, taking it gently and sh
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The cab ride back to the apartment had been silent. Noah hadn’t uttered a single word to her. There was a lot of information she had to process, on top of what she had already learned and it didn’t seem like the right time to try and strike up a conversation with someone who wasn’t in the mood to talk about it either.But now, sitting back in the apartment, surrounded by books which couldn't shed any light on it either, she couldn’t help it. “I thought you were supposed to know everything about me?”Noah looked up from his phone and blinked, narrowing his eyes at her. “That’s not how it worked. We were told to look out for you. We did, but from a distance. If you needed us, like in the alley with Iraziel, we’d be there. Everything we knew about you, outside that, was purely from watching you.”“Yeah, because that’s a comfort.” She spat, crossing her arms over her chest and she stared a
