Demons End (Tremble Island) by Lynn Ray Lewis Page A

she was nowhere to be found. The tide was coming in, and he could see a thunderstorm rolling over the distant waters. It was a good thing the storm was over the open sea and not over the island creating a mess for the Tremble assemblage to be forced to deal with. He made the decision to drop in on Leroi, and was angered to see the state of the mess he found at his old home. There were black orbs everywhere. They lounged about as if they had nothing better to do than lie around like the rotten lumps that they were. He sent twenty of the nasty things into the rock wall, flattening them with satisfying splat noises before ordering all of them back into the pit. “I have a mind to smash a few of you under my boot heel so you can again experience being fucked in the ass, even in death. Get out of my sight, and if I ever see you in this area again I will chop you into tiny pieces and layer you in the feces of my nightwings.”
    One slowly moving orb got snagged between his fingers, “Where is Prince Leroi?” The fat blob was thrown against the fire pit when he answered truthfully that Leroi was taken by Flitch to drown in the sea. The answer so enraged Koler that he went through the demons’ pit and grabbed several of the nightwings that were sleeping.
    “You will go into the Hall and wreak havoc, rip hair and eyes, skin and cloth, no male will go unmolested that follows the order of Borland. Befoul any food or drink they attempt to nourish themselves with. Do not touch Borland, he is promised to another.” He shook one of the nightwings hard enough to make it scream. “Do you understand what I want you to do? If you disappoint me in this, I will reward you by pulling your wings from your fat bodies and burning them in the bubbling fire. Go now, I will see your work by morning light.”
    Within minutes, he heard screams and curses echoing in the night air. It was not enough to appease his wrath. It did nothing to soothe his soul. Not only had his mate disappeared, his only true friend was now lost to him. His rage knew no solace.
    *****
    Leroi stalked into the room and grabbed Flitch by the throat. “You have made your last mistake. Be comforted to know that your schemes for my demise would not have worked even had they gone as planned. Seawater burns my skin. It would cause pain, but I am a demon, I like pain. The worst that might have happened to me would be to have been in the ocean for several hours until my body shriveled, the chains fell off, and I would either wash up on shore, or snag a ride on a passing ship.”
    The captain’s eyes widened when he saw Wensel walk into the room. The only females allowed on board his ship were slaves bound for the markets, or round heeled whores that enjoyed pleasuring his crew for a nugget or two of gold. This one looked too arrogant by half. “Who are you, woman? What are you doing making yourself at home on my ship?” His first mate, Mica, stepped closer, but was waved away. He could deal with a mere woman. He reached his hand to her arm, and pulled her to his body. He was frightened of the demon, but since he was busy with Flitch, the captain felt assured enough to exercise his dominance over the lone female.
    Wensel allowed him to pull her near. She lifted her arm to curl around the fool’s shoulder to pull him even closer to her human form. The moment he realized that all was not as it seemed with the female, was his last sane thought. Her black fathomless eyes kept his captive as her lips pulled back in the most grotesque fashion he had ever seen displayed on a living being. When the slender snakelike tongue slid from between her teeth to lick his mouth, he lost his urine, and his mind, as his mouth opened with a scream, while she inhaled his essence, laughing at his horror.
    She released him from her embrace without taking his life. He was little more than a shell that would follow the orders she gave, even should she have him jump into the ocean and attempt to swim