Nexus Interludes - Devil in a Blue Dress

Early Morning

Nexius Ranch

Near Harborton. Washington

There. He heard it again.

Something had woken him from a deep sleep. Normally he was a sound sleeper, well unless one of his girls needed him, and this wasn’t them. It sounded like a small wounded animal of some sort, or maybe a child, although how that was even possible he couldn’t even imagine. The ranch had patrols out every night and a watch team monitoring electronic feeds covering all approaches. Surely if there was a child out wandering around they would have spotted them?

Well, shit. He was awake anyhow- He might as well check it out. He carefully extricated himself from a sleeping Maria, eased over a lightly snoring Sarah, and went to the window. He still couldn’t see anything in the pale dawn light though.

Then the sound came once more. This time it was accompanied by a wracking sob. It was emanating from near the covered front porch!

Ben considered for a moment. Should he alert the security patrol? He paused a moment and sent out his senses. No, there was no imminent threat, although he could vaguely sense a roiled passion coming from Lizzy in her sleep. Someone was having sexy times in their dreams!

Ben pulled on a pair of sweats and his slippers. What the heck? No point in getting everyone else’s panties in a knot until they knew what they were dealing with. He made his way down the stairs to the front door, stepping carefully to avoid waking the household.

Cracking the door slowly he stepped out onto the covered porch and there sitting on the top step in the dim light was probably the last thing he expected to see.

A demon was sitting on his porch.

Well, to be technical- it was a demoness, demonette? Whichever, Ben wasn’t up to debating the fine points of supernatural nomenclature- at the moment he was too busy trying to figure out how it had made it through the shield surrounding the ranch and slipped past the defensive patrol. He knew the Aestra was leading the patrols last night and she was no slouch. And what was it doing here?

Ben was about to run back in to grab his lance off the wall over the fireplace when the creature gave out a little keening wail followed by a sob. Its slender shoulders shuddered inward and its arms wrapped around itself even tighter.

Ben couldn’t help himself.

“Are you alright?” Ben mentally kicked himself. Why should he care about how this demon was doing, and why wasn’t he alerting security?

“Nuh...nuh…no,” said the demoness as Ben walked cautiously down the steps to stand in front of it…her.

He knew immediately what was throwing him off. He could feel her otherworldly presence but this demoness looked like nothing more than a slender young blond woman. She was wearing a simple, almost threadworn blue dress and her feet were dirty, bare, and scratched, like she had walked a long, long way without shoes. She was actually quite pretty, well except for the snot running down her face at the moment. There was no outward sign of her demonhood except the tiny reddish bumps of her horns peeping through thick honey-blond locks. That was odd in itself, if she were using a glamor to disguise herself why not hide the horns as well?

“Um…can I help with anything?” said Ben, realizing even as he said it why his wives all said he was a Boy Scout. He hated to see anyone in distress, even a demon.

She peeked up at him through her bangs with tear-reddened eyes as if she had just now realized he was standing in front of her.

“Thank you, but no. Not unless you can keep Ben the Demon Killer from taking my life,” she said then buried her head in her arms and started sobbing again.

“Miss, no one is going to hurt you here,” Ben said softly, but firmly.

“Really, cuz you don’t look tough enough to stop him and I don’t see anyone else around.” She said peevishly.

Geesh, everyone was a critic, thought Ben. Maybe I should be wearing a badge or something? Do they make a ‘hero’ hat?

“Why don’t you tell me why you are here and we’ll see what we can do to help you?” said Ben, kneeling down on one knee in the gravel so she wouldn’t feel threatened. Not that he was all that threatening apparently.

Just then Ben saw a flickering red dot appear on the girl’s chest. Shit! Aestra must have gotten into position for a shot. Ben carefully flicked a ‘stand down’ hand signal. If he hadn’t Aestra probably would have taken the shot at her own discretion. That’s how she had been trained and given the severity of the threats they had to deal with, there wasn’t much wiggle room for guesswork

“So why do you think this guy wants to kill you?”

“Because I’m a demon and I’m here,” she said, giving Ben a look that said even demon women knew what idiots men were. “He kills major demons and Hellhounds like they were nothing. He probably won’t even notice when he kills me,” she said sobbing.

“Okay, then why come here?” Ben said logically, although he doubted logic would work any better on demon women than it did on human women.

“I had to. I’m the sacrifice.”

“Wait, someone made you come here to die?”

“Well, the Council said someone had to be the sacrifice. It would be the only way to placate the demon killer because they had helped in the attack and someone had to atone. My family had refused to participate and were about to be thrown out of the coven anyway, so I volunteered so we could stay. My father wouldn’t hear of it and tried to take my place. But if I let him do that, my mom and little sister would have no one to protect them.

Ben was beginning to make sense of what had happened. Either that or he had gone completely off his noggin.

“I think I see, so you ran here before your dad could do it himself?”

She just nodded and began crying softly once again. “I got a ride as far as Harborton, but the man wouldn’t let me out until I kicked him. That’s how I lost one shoe. I think he was going to try and do something to me, but I was able to get away. Then I had to get rid of my other shoe.”

“Sorry, honey, that must have been really tough. Can you tell me more about this council?”

“Um…um…well, they are in charge of our ‘colony’ I guess you’d call it. I don’t know much about the details, but about 50 years ago there was a shift in the eternal plane that caused an opening into this world from Hell. It only lasted a few minutes but it was enough that a few of us Lower Demons were able to slip through to here.

“Lower Demons?”

“That’s what they call us because most of us have some human blood. It’s not a nice name in Hell. They mostly hate us, treat us like slaves, and force us to do all the scut work. So when they could, my parents and about 100 others took the chance and fled. I was born here.”

“Ah, I see. So how did your colony participate in the attack on the Nexus?”

“I don’t know for sure but I overheard my parents talking about how the council was threatened with extermination by a major demon if they didn’t help. My parents wanted to run and take their chances hiding among the humans, but the council didn’t think that would work. We aren’t powerful demons but working together we can do some small magics. I think the coven was forced to help with the glamors that sealed off this ranch from communication.

“Thank you, um sorry I didn’t catch your name?”

“I’m Claire.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Claire. I’m…” Ben hesitated; he didn't want to send her into hysterics.

“He’s Ben,” said Kelly from the doorway speaking for him, while glaring daggers Right alongside her stepped Sarah followed by Mei, Maria, and Lizzie.

Off around the side of the house, he heard the distinctive racking sound of a Mossberg combat shotgun as Jean stepped around the corner. Holy shit, his women were kinda frightening. It didn’t help either that Sarah had started phasing back and forth from her Tiger persona.

The girl stood backing away from them all crying torrents once again, obviously terrified out of her mind. “Okay, Okay she pleaded as she stopped moving and dropped to her knees. I won’t run, please don’t make it hurt too much,” she said squeezing her cornflower blue eyes tightly shut as treats streamed from them.

Ben didn’t know what to think. He had faced many kinds of evil up close and personal in the last years from both human and supernatural sources and he couldn’t sense any bad intent in this girl. Plus she was either an Academy Award winning grade actor or brave as hell to willingly face what she thought was sure death to spare her family and her people.

“It’s okay sweetie, no one’s going to hurt you. Please look at me,” Ben pleaded.

The girl cracked one tearful eye and then the other.

“Claire, I swear, no one will hurt you here. You are under my personal protection,” now Ben could feel Sarah’s glare add to Kelly’s as flowing ribbons of electric blue lightning formed around his wrists. The girl’s eyes shot wide open and her mouth gaped at the display. Ben was afraid he’d just frightened her more.

“What are you doing? You crazy girls, frightening this poor little Chica half to death! Get your culo’s in the house right now before I swat them!” said Consuelo angrily snapping her dishtowel as she stepped out onto the porch. “Go on shoo! Breakfast will be ready soon and you’d better be on your best behavior!”

It was all Ben could do to not chuckle at his girls who had each faced death many times over, fleeing from Consuelo’s dish towel, but he didn’t want to chance her wrath either. She made his food and ran the household and it was not a good idea to annoy the normally gracious and even-tempered lady.

And you, you big mensos! Help the girl up and get her inside instead of standing there!

“Yes, ma’am. Here Claire I won’t bite,” Ben said reaching out to Claire and pulling her gently to her feet.

As she stood next to him he could feel a hot spark pass between them as he saw her eyes fly wide and then flutter like she was going to pass out. He caught her in his arms just as she was on the way back down to the gravel.

Shit, he thought this was not right. He knew his girls talked about the ‘Ben Effect’ and how his pheromones affected almost every woman who came near him, but now he felt a little of that himself. Claire smelled delicious, raw, and earthy with undertones of musky fertility! And then there was that single instance of electricity between him and the young woman in his arms. His intuition was throwing all kinds of signals right now. This must be what their sponsor goddesses meant when they said it was up to him to choose.

_______________________________

Claire woke as the man they called ‘Ben’ jostled her slightly at the doorway. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. One moment she was ready to die and the next she felt waves of heat envelop her as the man held her arm while standing close. Now he held her near his beating heart and she was tempted to close her eyes again so he would continue to carry her and yet she was still terrified of the image of him her people had instilled in her.

“Sorry, for that…uh Ben. I’m fine now.”

“Here I’ll put you on the couch,” he said as he gently sat her down and a leather couch toward the center of an expansive living room.. “Kelly would you mind?” he said to the pregnant one with dark red hair and a glowering expression that said she’d rather push Claire off a bridge.

“Kelly…said Ben in a warning tone,”

‘Fine!” Kelly snapped and strode to the couch sitting next to Claire and taking her hand in both of hers. An instant later a warm amber glow began emanating from Kelly’s wrists that soon encompassedClaire’s whole body, relaxing her and taking away the pain from the small scratches and bruises she’d accumulated in the previous night's journey.

“She’s fine. A little dehydrated and scratched up. Oh, and she’s obviously in heat.”

Claire flared scarlet at that. She was so embarrassed as she realized that Kelly was right. Claire could even smell herself. What was wrong with her! She wasn’t an animal, She thought as she wished she could crawl into a hole. She didn’t trust this Ben character, even if he seemed mostly harmless, she certainly didn’t want to mate with him regardless of what her body was telling her.

“Kelly! Dammit. If you can’t be civil…” said Ben to the mahogany haired woman.

“Sorry, Ben. Sorry strange woman who wants to fuck my husband,” said Kelly in a non-apology apology. Kelly didn’t have an opportunity to try again for a better one, as the woman who saved her earlier swooped in and grabbed ‘Kelly’ by the arm and led her out of the living room into the kitchen.

“Please forgive my wife. I think her hormones are out of balance at the moment,” said Ben to Claire and then turned to face the room. “Oh by the way if you all didn’t hear it outside, this is Claire. She’s apparently supposed to be the live sacrifice that the local chapter of Demons-R-US is offering to keep the peace,” He continued addressing the assembled women.

Wife? Claire hadn’t considered it before but she supposed even vicious demon killers had wives. She couldn’t even blame the one called Kelly, Claire would be fiercely protective of her man too. Well, she would if she ever managed to find one. Choice of partner was rather limited in their colony and it wasn’t acceptable to wed humans.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry for disturbing everyone. What are you going to do with me now?”

“Well, we’ll feed you and let you rest and then we can see about getting you back to your people,” said Ben.

“No! You can’t do that!” Claire wailed.

“What? Why not?” asked the Asian looking one who was also pregnant. For some reason she seemed a little more understanding than the rest of the women. “Oh and I’m Mei, since our lunk of a husband seems to have forgotten his manners.” she finished with a small smile.

Hmmm another wife? Claire didn’t know humans all that well, but this seemed unusual. With her kind multiple marriages were more the norm than not.

“Yes Ms. Mei, The council would view it as a refusal of their offer of peace. It would make them desperate. They would then be certain you intend to destroy them all. I don’t know what might happen but many of my people and maybe some of yours would die,” Claire pleaded.

“Claire we have no intension of harming anyone who is not actively trying to harm us.” said the tall blonde woman who had been shape shifting on the porch. “And I’m Sarah, also the aforesaid lunk’s wife.” she said with a disarmingly genuine smile.

Smile or not Sarah frightened her more than all the rest combined.

“Thank you, Ms. Sarah, but I’m certain my people would not believe that easily. The world we come from is very harsh and even though we’ve been here for many years, the council still believes in the old ways. Even now, other more powerful creatures escape from beyond the Eternal Plane and prey on us. To survive we must continually be alert, and the council believes the old ways keep us safe.”

Claire wanted to believe Sarah that these people meant her no harm. But strangely enough, the only one she really trusted was Ben, the demon killer. He’d given his word. She didn’t know what the blue fire around his wrists had meant but it felt to her that he took his oath seriously.

“Okay then, since we’re at a momentary impasse we might as well eat,” said Ben as Consuelo and Kelly came out of the kitchen with trays of food and efficiently prepared the table.

“Claire maybe you could tell us a little more about you and your people and we can figure something out.” said Ben.

Since they weren’t going to kill her right away, she might as well eat thought Claire as her tummy riumbled.

_________________________________

Ben was perplexed, and not just by what to do with this demoness. How had she gotten through the barricade? Was this something they should be worried about?

“Maria, has your Auntie Adona returned from Mexico yet?” he asked as he scooped more bacon and some eggs onto his plate.

“Yes Miho, she got back yesterday,” replied Maria.

“Do you think after we finish you could ask her to stop by I have some questions that she might be able to answer?”

“No need, I sensed something amiss this morning, and thought I should drop in,” said Adona from the front door with a smile.

“Auntie! It’s so good to see you!” said Maria as she stood to give her Aunt a hug,

“Mi Hermana!” said Consuelo as she came out of the kitchen and did the same.

Ben knew Maria was really close to both her mom and her aunt and it really pleased him that they had persuaded her Aunt to accept one of the small homes that they had built on the ranch. Without Adona they’d never have been able to put the shield in place that protected them all from supernatural intruders.

Ben stood as well to offer her a seat next to him and gave her a kiss on her offered cheek. He could tell that Claire sitting on the other side of him was big eyed with curiosity about everything that was happening. No doubt she could sense Adona’s power.

“So this is the young lady that is causing all the commotion this morning?” Adona said leaning forward in her chair to get a better look at Claire.

For an instant Ben thought Clare might dive under the table for cover.

“Yes. Suh..sorry for that,” whispered Claire. Ben felt for Claire. As a Bruha, Adona had a very powerful presence that had only gotten stronger as the Ben Effect had taken hold in her.

“It’s alright child, I sense no ill intent and no hint of evil about you. I truly did not mean to frighten you,” Adona said graciously as she poured herself a cup of Consuelo’s amazing coffee.

“Sorry to get right to it, but I’m a little concerned Adona. Do we have anything to worry about since Claire here strolled right in through the barricade? I thought it was supposed to keep demons out. No offense intended Claire,” finished Ben with a kind smile back toward Claire.

“It’s okay Ben,” said Claire softly.

“So Claire did you feel anything as you walked onto the ranch from the road?” asked Adona.

“Um not really, well kinda. I began to feel peaceful and safe, even though I thought I was about to die,” said Claire thoughtfully. “I thought I was just so tired I was accepting my end.

“Interesting. It seems the shield welcomed her Ben.”

“Sorry, what?”

“You see the barricade that we created was one of protection from evil and those with ill intent toward us, not specific to a particular race. It’s just not as effective against humans as they usually have little or no magic themselves.”

“Ah, I see, I think. So what did you mean when you said that the shield ‘welcomed her’”

“I noticed when I crossed the barricade yesterday that it felt like something was curious about me. It could only have been the shield itself. I’ve heard about this. Certain magical objects in very rare cases can assume a limited sentience of their own. Given how the shield was created I think that there is so much earth power being generated here that the shield has gotten even stronger, enough even that it has taken on the values that everyone on the ranch shares.”

“Wait you mean because of all the whoopee we’ve been doing the shield has gotten smart enough to even screen humans?” asked Sarah with an impish grin.

“You know I’ve noticed that in the last few months, we’ve had fewer and fewer real problem types show up in our shelter programs. Some people seem very uncomfortable and don’t even stay overnight,” added Mei.

“I believe that the shield could be responsible, yes,” said Adona thoughtfully.

“So Claire it looks like you’ve been vouched for!” said Ben with a chuckle as his wife’s traded glances.

After hearing her story and more about her people they were all warming up to the errant demoness. In fact, they seemed intrigued. Now he just had to figure out what to do with her and what Kelly’s major malfunction was.

_____________________________

Claire felt herself relax for the first time in days as she slipped into the near scalding hot water of the tub. Most of the women, 5 of whom were Ben’s wives it turned out, had become very hospitable to her as she told her story during breakfast. The one called Lizzy, even found some amazing clothes for her and a pair of shoes to replace the ones she had to leave behind. Not Kelly though, she was still icy and, Claire was afraid to even approach her. It was obvious that she was a very powerful person and Claire didn’t know what she might do, if pressed.

Mei had even taken her upstairs and had drawn a bath for her and even told her to nap on the bed when she was through. The others were going to be speaking in private downstairs for a while. Claire could tell that the quiet woman sympathized with her, although she couldn’t pinpoint why.

Ben frightened her still. He seemed nice but she knew not to trust any human. Her kind had a bare handhold in this world and there were dangers all about. In some ways, they may have been better off in hell, but at least here they were free. If average humans ever saw through their community’s flimsy glamors though she knew none of them would survive.

________________________________

Mid-morning

In the vicinity of the Nexus Ranch

Near Harborton Washington

Krakor could smell her as he waited along a side road a couple of miles from where the shield had repulsed him. The scent of a young female demon wafted about him as he lay in wait impatiently visualizing his reward.

The terror young females emanated was delicious in itself and then there was the vicious prolonged rape carried out in every conceivable manner that he would indulge himself in. As a plus- this one was a virgin! It would be delicious when as a finale she would watch herself being torn apart. Oh how she would scream, as he ate her limb by limb. All in all a pleasant finish to the day. It would have happened much sooner if only that infernal barricade hadn’t stopped him!

That was a preview of Nexus Interludes - Devil in a Blue Dress. To read the rest purchase the book.

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