Quantum Flux: Demonworld, #4

Imprint: Science Fiction Romance

Quantum Flux

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2016 by Severine Wolfe

First E-Book Published 2016

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission from the author.

All characters, places, and events in this book are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations are strictly coincidental.

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Smashwords License Statement

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Dedication

I am dedicating this book to the woman who handed me my very first romance to read when we were both at the tender age of 14. Debbie Hand, red-head extraordinaire, gave me the Johanna Lindsay book, ‘A Pirate’s Love’ during choir class in ninth grade and thus began my love of reading about romance. Debbie has always been one of my favorite people and I had the delight of going out to lunch with her and her mother (who I had not seen since I was 16) and visiting the Magnolia Market here where I live.

Thank you, Debbie. If not for you I would probably be writing science textbooks with boring pictures.

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Acknowledgements

I simply could not have gotten through this book without the unwitting aid and assistance of a few other writers. SE Smith has given me so much support and help when I have had troubles with a scene. If you get confused, it’s my fault, not hers. But there are touches of her all through this book, although she’s only read a chapter of it. She’s a wonderful mentor.

The final two writers are due my most humble thanks for helping me write a fight scene with multiple players in the mix. I simply could not have done it without the genius of Jim Butcher or RA Salvatore who write the BEST fight scenes I’ve ever noticed. I could not have done it without their wonderful books and imaginations. Thanks for teaching the Master Class, guys.

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Torn apart centuries ago...

Aliera is thrown into the cruel world of the Demonworld when she is stolen from her home. Placed as a prize in a melee, she is won by a Demon who sees her differently from the rest and captures her heart. Hope fades to despair when he is torn away from her all too soon.

Arminius' love for the woman he wins is a prize he holds dear to his heart. He is forced to leave to fulfill his duties with only one desire, to return to Aliera. His world is shattered when he is told that Aliera has died in his absence. Unable to end his own life, he turns to the Demonworld’s most hated adversary. Captured and used for experimentation in the Elven Mage Tower, he discovers even there he cannot find the solace of death. 

Centuries later, Arminius and Aliera's lives cross again. Changed by the pain and horrors they both have experienced, they struggle to find the love they once had and a peace they only fleetingly experienced. Can they learn to accept that they have nowhere they can seek vengeance, leaving their entire future in flux, or will they learn that being happy is the sweetest revenge of all?

CHAPTER ONE

Long Ago

It was so windy; she thought as she walked through the fields near her home. The sun was shining brightly, which was odd enough, but the wind cut a chill into her bones, making her walk faster to get home to her hearth. She had caught several rabbits and a pheasant while out hunting so her village would be eating well. She marched on in that direction, almost able to see the fields furthest out, with their wheat already cut. The people in her village were already grinding the wheat so there would be flour enough for the winter. It was a hard job as it was all done by hand.

She sighed, happy that she was able to evade that chore and be out hunting. She was happiest outdoors. Light, fluffy clouds were moving her way, so she quickened her step in the hope of beating the rain to her door. Her laughter echoed around her as she made her way homeward. It had been a perfect day, and they would all eat well. What more could one ask for on a fine day? She could begin to see the cottages. The thatched roofs went nearly to the ground of the rounded homes. Just the tops of the farmsteads were visible. She saw some people running her way, waving their arms. With a sigh, she began running to them. Most likely Maraugh had gone into labor, and they needed her services as midwife this day. As she got closer, she could tell they were gesturing behind her. She finally stopped and looked behind her, expecting to see, at the very least The White Stag, ready to deliver words from their Gods to her.

She gasped in terror as she quickly saw what was following her. It was horrible in its appearance, and she screamed. The blue being was huge, had horns that curved back towards its head and had an evil look in his eye. His arms reached out for her and caught her cloak, causing her to fall to the ground.

Lugh! she cried out. Surely it had to be Lugh, his arms were so long.

Mine was all she had remembered before she was near a circle and then she was nowhere she recognized.

*****

She was so frightened she couldn't think, and the blue-skinned being threw her into a room and ripped her clothes off. She began to scream when he slapped her to the floor, growling at her. She was dazed when he picked her up and began forcing himself into her body. She cried, begging him not to take her innocence, but that just seemed to inflame him. Before she knew it, he was done, and she was thrown to the floor a bloody mess. She lay there crying, in pain and humiliated wondering what was happening.

Finally, she picked herself up off the floor and found a pitcher with water in it and began cleaning herself up, slowly healing herself as she could. Her magic didn't want to work wherever she was. It was sluggish and just not as effective. Tears fell down her face. She had no idea what to do. When she tried the door, it was locked. She heard no voices, nothing. Where was she? Who had that blue being been? Had she been kidnapped by the Gods as some kind of punishment? She couldn't remember doing anything which might offend them. She spent hours pacing her room and wondering what she had done to cause this.

Later the blue being came back, and once again he violated her. She fought him, and he would just slap her until she was still. He kept rutting on her body. She couldn't understand a word he was saying, and he didn't appear to speak her language except for the word 'mine" which he repeated over and over as he pounded into her body.

This went on for days. She lost count. Finally, another being, this time green, entered the cell with the blue one. The Green one waved its hands around her, then shook its head at the blue one. The blue one growled, then threw her to the ground, raping her again and again in front of the green one. She was mortified at someone else witnessing her violation and doing nothing when she screamed but smile cruelly.

This went on for a very long time. She had fallen into such a depressed state that finally, the green one was installed in her cell to make sure she didn't try to kill herself. He had cast a spell, and she found she could understand the being and he could understand her.

What is your name? He asked, staring at her.

Aliera, she said quietly, having no idea what was going to happen next, just wanting it to end.

Why do you not breed, Aliera? He demanded in a haughty tone.

She didn't know what to think of the question. That blue being was trying to breed her? It stopped her mental works to a grinding halt. Why? She could not fathom why. But, she knew that she could not tell these things that she'd tied her fertility to her earth. It was best for them to think they were barren.

I do not know. For many of my kind, it is sometimes hard to breed. It takes much time. Not necessarily the truth as the only ones who did not breed almost constantly were barren women or those who were magical and could, therefore, control their fertility.

We have many of your kind that breed quickly and often.

I do not know of them; I only know how it is for my people. She was going to have to be very careful. Perhaps, if they thought she was barren they would return her home.

He looked at her, then smiled a cruel smile, that had her backing up until she felt the wall at her back.

Or perhaps it's just Grelig, he said.

Afterward, Aliera just lay on the floor crying, wishing she could die. The green-skinned being had raped her, then called in several others to come in and do it all over again. She hurt inside, she was bruised and bleeding from their slaps and punches.

The door opened, and a small brown woman came in with a basket.

I must heal you. I am sorry, was all the brown woman said as she unpacked her basket of potions and herbs.

Give me something that will kill me, Aliera begged. It hurt to breathe, proving one of the brutes had broken her ribs.

Then I will die, too, the woman said.

Better to die than endure this, she cried as the woman put a salve on the cuts and began chanting over her belly, stopping the bleeding from there.

Gods, they nearly killed you.

I wished they had.

The other woman shook her head and gave her a sad look. Always choose life over death. When you are alive, things can change, and then you will have the Gods favor and be able to vanquish your enemies.

After the session was over the woman left the room, which didn't appear to be locked any longer. Aliera went to the door and listened carefully to see if anyone was outside. She tried to pull the door open, and it wouldn't budge. A magical lock. Wonderful. Her magic was more in the realm of healing than in typical magic.

Some time later her door opened, and Grelig, as she had learned the blue being was called, walked in with a twisted smile on his face. He grabbed her by the arm and drug her out of the small room.

Come, human. You are to be gifted to one of my mighty warriors. When she kept trying to pull away, he stopped and slapped her so hard she fell on the ground. You cannot escape this fate. As you cannot breed, you will be used as a gift to our God, Horg.

Fear clenched everything within her, and she knew absolute fear. She was shaking so hard when she was dragged into an outdoor arena type building. She had never seen anything like it. The only large structures in her life had been the stone circles they used to worship their sun. There was a stone platform at one end with a large chair on it. Grelig climbed up on the platform, dragging Aliera with him then shoved her on the platform. He raised his hands and all of the things in the arena cheered. Grelig then grabbed her generous blonde hair and pulled her to her feet. The sting was nearly unbearable, but she was determined no more tears would fall from her eyes for these... things. It wasn't just determination. At that moment she made a vow that they would not break her. She would not become like the woman who had come to heal her. She would never tell other women to just take it. Her pride demanded it.

This is a melee. You will fight, not to the death, but to incapacity. The winner will be awarded this female to use as you will. She is barren, I must inform you, so she can't be used for breeding purposes. Start out in groups of four. Fight until one man stands, then start over.  Then Grelig sat down in the chair and let Aliera drop as if she was nothing at all.

She lay there, seething. How dare he? She kept looking out to the field where one being fought another. Once one was wounded and incapacitated, he was removed to the side, and it appeared as if healers were then sent out to get them well enough to move up into the seats. She didn't see any other women, and it puzzled her. Women were very much an equal part of life as she knew it. Some even went into battle. Their god of war was a three-fold goddess. No, there were no signs of any females around. The only other female she'd seen was the woman who had come to heal her. But, she had spoken as if there were other women about. So, where were they? Aliera lay there, refusing to even get up to give the creatures a clear view of their prize. They could be fucked up the ass for all she cared, using her people's favorite expression to deride someone.

The groups were becoming fewer in number until there were only two left. Aliera watched them, but kept watch on Grelig, sitting in his chair. For all, she knew he could be a very wealthy king, but it mattered naught to her. She began paying attention when it was down to the final four males. There was one there with green skin with brown lines running through it in an irregular pattern. He had hair as black as the darkest night with blue highlights in it as it shone in the sun. He was tall, and his brown colored horns curved back on the sides of his head. He was fierce and battled fiercely. If he were a man, she would admire his form. After several minutes he stood alone in the middle of the arena, staring at her.

Grelig stood. You've done well, Arminius. Please accept this female as your reward. She is now yours to do with as you will.

He then grabbed Aliera and literally threw her toward the creature. She screamed, which ended abruptly as she was caught in strong arms. The creature grunted, but held on to her. He then just nodded to Grelig and began walking off with her. He strode towards an area with what looked like habitations without saying a word to anyone, without even looking left or right. Aliera couldn't help but look. She didn't recognize any of what she saw. She could easily recognize things like wagons, fields, trees, houses, but none of it was familiar to her at all. It was also not green like her beloved home was. There was green, but it was not lush and thick. It was washed out, like a tunic that had been through too many washings. The one thing that was the same was the dirt.  With a sigh she closed her eyes to keep him from seeing her crying, mourning the loss of everything she knew and held dear. A silent prayer was sent up to her gods that she could return to her home someday.

The creature opened the door with no effort and walked inside, closing her away from everything out there. Her brow knit as the Demon gently set her down.

Do not fear me, I will not hurt you, he said, staring at her. His voice was deep, and it resonated deep within her. She looked directly into his eyes and was puzzled by what she saw there. He was surprised.

I've been raped and beaten by your people since I was brought here, she spoke up. What makes you any different?

It is well known that I do not approve of our policy on women here, he stated. He'd said a word that didn't translate with the spell that had been put on her.

What are you? She asked, determined to know.

I am what you call, on your world, a Demon.

The term held no meaning for her. Her religion did not have demons. But the way he'd answered that question suddenly drew her attention.

On my world? Are we not on my world? The idea was completely ridiculous. More than one world? It was beyond her ability to conceive. There was her world, and that was it. But she had never seen