Part One
1
Cullen tugged the sides of his cloak around him as he wandered down the dark streets of the city. The very quiet, very empty city. There were no cars, no people working corners or stumbling in and out of the clubs that lined the block.
A dead section of the city that their academy had been built nearly on top of, an area decimated by demons in recent years that had been left cursed so badly that humans almost never came to this place, the curse giving them a subconscious feeling in their guts that kept them far away. Despite the fact that the demons no longer remained, having been cut down by the Diviners–a group of trained demon hunters that were the only things that stood between humans and Hell’s creatures–however pointless it proved to be.
But at least he and his classmates–only six other students, whose ages ranged from sixteen to nineteen–had managed to clear out this part of the city. There was hardlyeven any graffiti on the walls now.
And most of it he recognized as symbols that signified they had come from the Diviners themselves.
Teenagers that had come down here in the past to get away from the dramatic lives they lived, he was sure. He'd ventured down here himself once in a while, though usually he'd been dragged here by friends. The pressures of the jobs they had to do, the dangerous missions they were often sent on, had never seemed so bad to him that he needed a destructive outlet, but he usually went along with whatever his boyfriend felt the need to do.
It was because of his request now that Cullen was wandering these dark, empty streets, shivering from the cold and glancing anxiously at each dead street light that he passed under before darting his eyes into the empty alleyways he continued to walk past.
The shadows in them called to him, to the pulses of hot energy that flowed in his palms, readying to fling out and protect him at a moment's notice. He ignored the call of the darkness with everything he had.
Because the thing that owned those shadows…that thing was deadly and evil. That thing had stalked him before and was stalking him now. Cullen could feel it hovering in the air, that strange intensity andcoldthat only came when the demon washere.Watching him like some kind of–
Something moved behind him, making him jerk to a stop. Trash blew past his feet with an unnatural burst of wind and a slow shudder ran down his spine as a too-familiar gaze pricked into him.
“My, my.” A deep voice teased from just a few feet behind him. “So late for you to be out, Cullen. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
He blushed at the implication in his voice, knowing he didn’t mean sleep. This bastard had been all too present for all those years he’d shared a bed with Walker, his long time boyfriend, which meant he knew their schedule–everything about them, really–down to the very basics. Cullen had known the deal long before they’d started dating, of course. Walker shared a body with a powerful demon. He had since he was thirteen. It had been that way in his family for a long time.
A very, very long time.
Centuries had passed by with Walker’s family sharing the ancient demon’s–a Prince of Hell himself–soul down their bloodline. Father to son, mother to daughter…for so long the history of how and why had been lost, though Walker had heard family rumors that there had once been angel blood in their veins. But it was only a rumor; all they knew now was that it was their family’s responsibility, their burden to bear, for whatever reason.
Burden, because when the demon was poured into them, his vicious, immortal soul shortened their life spans and made their strong, well-trained bodies weaker and slower. But it was a sacrifice they had to make. Because if the demon was freed…the hell that would be unleashed would make them all wish they were dead anyway.
“Leviathan.” He breathed, slowly turning to face him, his heart hammering harder in his chest as he prepared himself for yet another one of these meetings.
He grimaced at the sight of him, his stomach flipping.
He would never get over this. This terrible way this demon looked so very like Walker, with his tan skin and his dark hair, though Leviathan’s was several shades darker than Walker’s dark brown. Ink and shadows instead ofchocolate. Black scales ran up the sides of his face, enhancing those sharp cheekbones–that Walker certainly didn’t have–and his jaw was sharper, more defined, a man instead of the boyish features that still spilled over Walker’s face. He’d only turned eighteen a few months ago, but this man…this demon that had escaped from his soul bindings…he looked well into his twenties. Maybe even a little older than that. It was practically a joke; Cullen knew this monster was more than several thousand years old.
It made him even more sick that the demon had taken a liking to him. Had watched from inside Walker’s body as they kissed and touched and discovered each other… He didn’t like to think about it. And he definitely didn't like to think about the times when Walker had touched him, touched his face or wrapped an arm around his waist, and Cullen had looked into his ice-blue eyes and seen terrible shadows there. He didn’t like to remember the time–just a few days before Leviathan had broken free–that he’d felt Walker’s hand wind up into his hair and curl tightly there. A very unusual way for Walker to touch him.
Cullen was almost sure he had felt claws that day…but when Walker had pulled away, he had had his usual bright smile on his face, so Cullen had only smiled back and remained silent about his suspicions.
He supposed that failure meant he deserved what he had been dealing with for the past few weeks.
Leviathan’s eyes slid down his body, making Cullen flinch and slide back a step on instinct, his entire body recoiling at the deadly aura that rolled off the man–the immortal demon–and pulsed against him in a tangible wave.
“It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, my dear pet.” His voice dropped and Cullen winced again at the promise in the words. The threat that had always hung over their heads.Hishead the entire time he’d been with Walker. If he’d known, he wasn’t sure he would’ve… He shook that thought away and gave Leviathan a hesitant and wobbly smile.
“It has. I’ve missed you.” The words tasted like acid on his tongue.
Leviathan grinned, his lips pulling up into an unnaturally stretched smile. “Liar.” He purred, a deeper undertone to his voice now, reflecting the monster within. Cullen shifted anxiously on his feet, his eyes focused on the sharp fangs that gleamed at him. Human teeth–but not. The canines were too long…too threatening…
Leviathan took a step towards him and Cullen stumbled backwards despite his years of training, the overwhelming fear taking over just as it always did with this demon. The power that rolled off him…the murderous intent…it was too much for anyone to remain calm around. Even other demons cowered before him. Cullen had seen it himself.
Still, he held his ground, very carefully keeping his eyes from any of the nearby buildings.
“Why would I lie?” Cullen hazarded. “It’s just you and me out here.”
He chuckled and the sound instantly sent a bolt of terror down Cullen’s spine. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to believe that?”
