Craved
Chapter 30

Damon:

Damon cringed, in part, for telling Renee the news and not revealing his feelings for her. With her life in jeopardy, he couldn't ignore the terror and rage coiling through him. Clive had always been reckless and sadistic. Puzzling why the crystal wouldn't leave Renee because she wasn't a succubus. Fragments of a ritual involving blood and proximity to one of his kind for a crystal to attach to someone came to his mind, but Renee wouldn't know about that.

Somehow Cynthia knew Clive and told him everything about Damon, the urn, and Renee. Maybe Clive supposed Cynthia knew about a crystal and pursued her.

Or perhaps she did this out of spite, her way of getting back at him for dumping her. The image of Renee getting hurt caused Damon more agony than he thought possible. His heart filled with lead, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Suddenly, the knowledge of dying didn't panic him. But not Renee. He wouldn't care about the crystal or Clive or anything if she were gone. They had to escape.

"Renee," he said, grasping her hand, but she jerked away. "I know you don't trust me, but you need to for the moment. We're not safe here. My cousin will take the necklace from you even if it means having someone chop off your head and rip it from your skin." And even then, there was no guarantee Clive would be able to use the crystal because it wasn't given willingly. Knowing Clive, he wouldn't care and would take the chance.

She blanched, but he didn't have time for coating the truth. Her fingers wrapped around the crystal as if trying to pry it free. "W-why can't I take it off?"

"I don't know." He shook his head. "But we've got to leave. I will figure out how to remove it later." This time, when he reached for her hand, she let him.

If he could freeze time and see the glimmer of trust in her eyes again, however fleeting, he would. The office had no window and was little more than a large closet crammed with a desk, two visitor chairs, and a bookshelf overflowing with papers and oddities.

He opened the door. Both of the guards glowered at him. "Uh, the lady needs to use the facilities."

"Yes, right now." She danced around a bit. Good for her, playing along.

The taller of the men tossed a pair of keys to the other guard. "I'll escort you."

Damon nodded. Impossible to take out both at once, but he could take out one. Down the corridor, the guard and Renee left.

"What are you looking at?" the remaining guard asked.

Not answering, Damon surged forward and used the heel of his palm to clip the guy's chin, stunning him. Then he reached around the guard's neck and after yanking him forward, slammed the guard's head into his knee. The man crumbled to the floor.

Hopefully, Renee would understand to stall the guy who followed her to the toilet. Damon ran to the ladies' restroom. As he neared, a muffled sound and scraping made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Renee!

Without thinking, he kicked open the door. The burly guard had Renee pinned against the wall, one hand holding both of hers, with the other underneath her shirt. Before Damon reached him, the guy let out a howl, cupping his balls from Renee's knee.

"Don't ever touch me again!" She dashed around him and didn't even mutter a thank you as Damon snapped off the man's air until he fell unconscious. "Did you kill him?" She sounded like she wanted to.

"I told you, I've vowed to never harm a human." At the arch of her eyebrow, he held up his hands. "Well, unless it's self-defense or protecting a beautiful damsel, then a little pain is necessary." For a moment, his vision blurred from a lack of energy. He should feed and soon.

"Now what?" Renee asked.

Did she finally trust him? He didn't wait to debate if she would allow him to be in charge or not but took her hand and led her out of the restroom and into the hallway. Vacant, yet energy, a sexual energy mingled with violence filled his nostrils -the smell of musk and blood. Clive. He was here and feeding off Cynthia. Now was their chance to escape, but Damon didn't know how many guards roamed the museum.

During his archeology excavations, he frequented many museums, including this one. If they could make it to the office without being spotted and get to the window, they had a chance. No doubt, Cynthia would have the stairwells guarded or locked.

Around the corner, a guard stood at attention, blocking the way to the front lobby and an exit. But it wasn't the only escape route. Damon tugged on Renee's hand, leading her down the way they'd come.

"What are you doing?" Her whisper came out like a hiss. "Knock him out and let's get out of here."

"They'll be more of them at the front. I've got another way for us to escape." He backtracked down the hallway, Renee on his heels.

"Why don't we call the police?" she panted.

"Before they arrived, Clive would have your necklace and your life." Please let her believe me, even if it's just this once.

At an office door, he twisted the handle. Locked. Looked like he'd have to kick it open. He swung a leg back to do that, but she set a hand on his arm.

"Let me try." Instead of kicking it, she knelt and examined the lock.

He grinned. "My way's faster."

"Your method is also louder and would draw the guards' attention." She fumbled with the front of her shorts.

"I'm always one for watching you take off your shorts, but not sure this is the right time. Let's get out of here, and I'll watch you take off anything you like."

She rolled her eyes. "Keep a lookout." Something metal popped off her pants.

When he didn't move, she spun him around, so he faced the opposite way. "What?" he whispered.

"If you had a stepmonster-dad like I did, you'd learn to pick a lock with whatever you had or remain imprisoned in your room." The sound of metal scraping metal grated on his nerves. Did the noise echo through the museum? Yet, the guard down the hall did not flinch.

A click. "Got it. Come on." She pushed open the door.

Inside, light from the window illuminated the room so they didn't flip on the switch which would possibly alert Cynthia and her men. "How did you unlock the door with a zipper?"

"Not only a zipper. I grabbed a pen off Cynthia's desk too."

He shook his head. What else could this fascinating woman do? If he were in this situation with anyone else, say Melanie, she'd be bawling and screaming no matter what he did or said to reassure her. "You're full of surprises." "Let's get out of here." She raised the blinds on the window.

Bars? When had the museum installed these? The door behind them banged open. He jerked, pushing Renee behind him.

"Cousin." Clive sauntered into the room followed by Cynthia and three guards. The office was stuffed with people and nowhere to go. "I thought your days of playing hide and seek were gone."

"As I told you," Cynthia smirked. "She has one of the crystals, but it won't come off."

Not acknowledging her words, Clive slinked toward Renee. "Come, come. You know I always win." Clive's smile widened.

"You'll have to kill me to get to her."

Renee put a hand on Damon's arm and squeezed. "I'll give you the crystal if you tell me how to get rid of it."

"Smart woman." Clive inclined his head. "You've done much better in your choice of a woman this time. But no matter. I'm sure you'll replace another."

"No!" Damon shoved Clive backward, filling the attack with his energy, but knowing it wouldn't do much good against his cousin.

Clive had just fed from Cynthia and violence only fueled him further. "You've grown soft. All because of your precious Belinda who died in your arms. If you'd embraced rage instead of sorrow, we'd be on the same winning team now." He straightened his suit jacket. "Join me now, and together we'll wage war and feast like the emperors of old on sex and mayhem."

"You're insane," Renee spat.

"Take him." Clive snapped his fingers, and the men reached for Damon.

He blocked one man's lunge by slapping both hands against the man's ears, rupturing his eardrums, then he pierced his influence into a pressure point on the man's wrist and the man collapsed. Damon's breath wheezed out and his vision darkened. Shit. His legs wobbled. Through the pain shredding his cells and lack of energy, he gritted his teeth. This wasn't done yet...not until Renee was safe. He flew over the desk to intercept the next guard.

"Enough, Damon," Clive said next to the window with Renee in his arms. "Hmm...this one smells unclaimed. I can't believe you haven't pounded this delicious piece of ass."

"No!" He didn't want anyone else to even touch her.

A third guard slammed into Damon's back knocking him to the floor. Before Damon took another breath, the man hoisted him up in an arm lock.

Renee swayed on her feet as his cousin used his gift. Rainbow colors swirled around her aura, but they were mostly harsh oranges and blood reds and not the gold and purple of a healthy incubus. Rage bowled through Damon's veins. The urge to kill the bastard rushed through him. As she trembled, a groan escaped her.

"Stop! It's too much. You'll kill her!" he shouted, but Clive only smirked.

Cynthia glowered with her gun tucked in her waistband.

"Come and join us." Clive crooked a finger at her. "Double your pleasure like you've never known before, Cynthia, if Damon joins us, then you have two incubi at once."

This would not only make him stronger, but it would also rip away any morality or resistance barriers Renee had a mental and emotional abuse, a rape.

Using more of his reserves, Damon slammed his elbow into the guard's stomach. When he let go, he dashed toward Cynthia and poured his gift into her. She moaned, her legs buckling as he supported her. Sliding his hand down her arm, he increased the flow of endorphins into her and snatched her gun from her. Then he pressed it to Cynthia's temple and took a step back. "Let Renee go!" Clive shrugged. "Go ahead and shoot."

"What?" Cynthia paled.

"She's served her purpose, and there are plenty more for me to choose from." He ran his tongue across Renee's cheek. "Besides, from the repressed energy pouring off this one, I think I'll use her as a temporary replacement." "Bastard!" A tear streamed down Cynthia's face, and she scrubbed it away.

"No, I'm an incubus." He bowed his head. "Pity you didn't bed this one, Damon, and stake your claim." He caressed Renee's breast, and she leaned into his embrace. "So malleable."

Rage boiled through Damon. He aimed to snatch Clive by the throat and choke him until the man's eyes bulged. Damon wouldn't win in his condition against Clive, but he couldn't leave Renee in the hands of this madman. Then Renee met his gaze, her eyes pleading and trying to convey that Clive's power wasn't working on her because of the crystal. Still, she was too close to Clive and he could kill her easily. He had to get her away. "Cynthia, help me stop him," Damon pleaded.

"And then what?" she spat. "Will you take me back? Become my lover again. For how long? Until you tire of me, then try to wipe my memory of you from my mind but not my body." Her face colored reddish-purple. "No man after you can fill my desires. I'd rather fuck both her and Clive than be left and empty," she said in a strained voice.

He had to play his cousin's game. Damon lowered the gun and held out his hand. "An orgy like back in the Roman times?"

He had to get Renee to safety, no matter the cost. In an instant, Cynthia's face shifted from rage to joy. She shivered as her cool hand fit into Damon's. Reluctantly, he loosened his gift and fed from her. Recharging him. It was tempting to take it all, but he didn't want to kill her.

He forced his gift into her pleasure center, and her eyes rolled upward. She crumpled to the ground, over the unconscious guard on the floor. Desire renewed his depleted energy; he hoped it was enough to fight Clive and allow Renee to escape.

"I've found a device to separate the crystal from Renee." He kept his tone even, unconcerned.

"Is that why you knocked out one of my lovers?" Clive trailed a finger down her neck, pressing on her cardioid artery, then caught her in his arms as she passed out.

"You know the rules." Damon nodded at the remaining guard. "No humans can know our business."

"Fine." Clive jerked his head at the guards. "Leave us but wait outside the door."

After the guard left, Damon sat. "The urn Renee found holds the secret. It took me a while to figure it out, but there is a pattern showing which way to turn the crystal to extract it." Hopefully, Clive wouldn't read through his bullshit. "Then do it." He kicked the edge of Renee's boot.

"It's a complex combination-I need the urn."

"Or I could kill her and take it."

"No, from my research, it won't accept an owner who kills the host. Plus, didn't your men tell you about the chamber of bones we found? If not handled properly, the stone will blast everyone within range of it. You have to use the key, and the urn has that." Hoping his cousin wouldn't hear the lie in them, he nearly choked out, "Take Renee as a gift and token of my sincerity. I've grown tired of her anyway."

Clive snarled. "If this is a trick..."

"You've got the advantage here and all the pieces."

"Fine. I'll have the guard bring it." Clive snapped his fingers at the guard stationed near the door, who rushed forward.

"Do you really trust a human not to break a delicate relic?"

"You're right.” He nodded and the guard resumed his post.

"I am curious, how did you replace out about a crystal here? Was it the urn that led you to believe we uncovered it?"

"Yes, Cynthia sent me photos of it, but I had to replace out what else you discovered, since I know you like your secrets. So, it was quite easy to stir up unrest with the government officials concerning your dig." Clive straightened his tie. "I influenced the guards to discover what else you'd found, and to keep an eye out for a crystal."

He forced his face to remain neutral. "Guess good help is hard to replace."

He strolled to the window, looking outside for a moment. "Once Cynthia sent me a picture of the urn, I knew one of the crystals was here. Just didn't know your slut had draped it around her neck until one of my soldiers spotted it the night before your team visited the tunnels at Derinkuyu."

Damon's hands squeezed the armrests and kept his gaze on his cousin so he wouldn't check on Renee crumbled on the floor. "Clever, but you were too late."

"You know me, I don't give up so easily." Returning to Damon, Clive lifted the edge of his suit jacket and sat on the corner of the desk. "The cave-in was supposed to kill you both, but I guess the crystal has some type of protection." So, it hadn't been natural. "How'd you manage it?"

"Simple really. I just invoked the witch's curse that trapped the incubus years ago. But since neither of you died, I had to get Renee and the crystal out."

A treacherous game Clive played. The images of the bodies blown apart in the throne room filtered into Damon's mind. The succubus hadn't known how to control the crystal. And in Clive's hands, how much damage would it reap to alienate the threat?

"The ahool? That was you too, wasn't it?" That explained why the giant bat creature went after Renee in the first place.

"Yes, I always get what I want. So now I'll do things your way as long as it gets me the crystal." Clive ripped open the door turned to the guard inside. "Watch him."

The guard moved between the door and Damon.

As soon as Clive left, Damon rushed to Renee. First, he'd have to give a bit of energy to her. Enough to wake her and have enough left over to get them out of here. Sending a jolt of power into her palm, he hoped it would be sufficient. She bolted upright.

"Hey man, stay away from her," the guard shouted. "What did you do?"

Behind the guard, Renee grabbed a chair and swung, smashing it into his back. He stumbled, then spun, catching himself on the edge of the desk.

"Bitch!" He lunged for her, and Damon had no energy to stop him.

Renee thrust an elbow into his throat, and the guy's eyes bulged as his knees hit the floor.

"Betcha didn't count on this chick knowing a Krav Maga move. Let's go!" She twisted the knob, but Damon snatched her hand.

Soon his cousin would return, and she had to be as far from here as possible. Damon didn't have enough strength left to fight. "There may be more guards." Rummaging through the desk, he held up keys. "I think these are for the freight elevator." His legs buckled, but he caught himself before he fell. "Go! Before he comes back, I won't be able to protect you."

"No, I'm not leaving without you." She lifted her chin.

Stubborn woman. Moments later, they ducked into an empty hallway, Damon holding onto the wall. At the freight door, she unlocked it, then guided him in. They rode to the first floor, then scrambled outside.

"Where do we go now?" she asked while scanning the packed street. "My guess is the police won't be much help?"

"No," he said in a hoarse voice. "Sofia's."

"Food?" She faced him. "Wait, she's not just a cook, is she?"

He wanted to tell her everything. For now, he pointed to the black and red sign two streets over. She put her arm underneath his shoulders as he hobbled forward with her help. Soon Clive's guard would recover. Probably in a matter of minutes. They must reach safety before then.