Demon Heart - Chapter One

DEMON HEART

BY 

KISS CARSON

A Novella

Copyright 2020

Kiss Carson –Author

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, or by any

information storage and retrieval system, without

permission in writing from the author, except in the

case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

CHAPTER ONE

Two smiling people stood against a backdrop of the beautiful Kondalilla waterfalls and lush South East Queensland rainforest. An Australian Water Dragon sunned itself on a boulder by the rock pool, but Dominique Napier didn’t notice these details. On her back on the grey velvet sofa, she held a photo at arm's distance above her and studied it with damp eyes. With a sigh, she lowered the picture to her side and stared at the cracks in the paint on the ceiling. 

 
The computer beeped from the desk in the corner to let her know of a new email message. Ignoring the computer, she remained on the couch, tattered photograph clutched in her fingers. Two more beeps. Two more emails. Probably invitations to dinner, the movies, to drinks with the girls. Friends constantly told her to move on and encouraged her to fall in love again, but tonight, Dominique wanted to stay at home.

This time, evil laughter echoed from the speakers of her computer and she turned her head to look at the 24" screen. Yesterday, she’d allocated the email sound to an online gamer Dmn29, and the evil laughter fit his persona perfectly. After a cyber-argument, that she’d won, the bastard threw her out of an online game and banned her from joining many of the gaming forums he ran. So, what could he possibly want? She rolled off the couch and went to the computer, the photo still in her fingers.The email's subject line read "A cyber rose for you". Dominique snorted an unimpressed laugh. You big suck! 

Still, more curious than annoyed, she opened the email and hoped he had readmitted her into his gaming forums. Dmn29 controlled some of the best gaming sites on the internet.

Hello Domini. I’m sorry I banned you from the game yesterday. When you kicked my butt, you kinda destroyed my ego and made me look piss stupid. To show you there are no hard feelings, I’ve sent you a link that someone sent me this morning. See you in there. Dmn29

Was Dmn29 trying to trick her? She sat down and studied the link but didn’t recognize the address. The cursor hovered over the link. The letters and numbers changed from blue to purple. Should she do it? What if he’d sent her a virus? She had spent thousands on her new computer and didn't want to have to build it from scratch again.

She propped the photo against a stack of books and stared at it for a long moment. 

“What do you think?” she whispered to the people in the picture. “Should I open it?” She took a deep breath and then nodded. “I agree. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” 

She clicked the link and leaned back in her chair to await the worst-case scenario. Bass drumbeats vibrated from the surround speakers. A dozen pop up boxes flashed on and then off the screen.

“Downloading,” the computer said, the female voice stilted and flat.

Dominique’s heart beat a little harder as she waited to find out the damage done to her computer. She glanced at the photo. Their smiles hadn’t lost any of their brightness, their arms still wrapped around each other. She missed their closeness. Tears stung and she blinked rapidly as she focused on the computer screen again. A download bar slowly filled. Once complete, the bar disappeared and a red popup box appeared in the middle of the black screen. User name?

Her special gaming mug sat on the desk beside the monitor, Domini emblazoned around the white ceramic in bold, red letters. A friend gave her the mug for her 24^th birthday, and she adored it. She typed the name Domini into the popup box and hit enter. The screen went completely black. Nothing. Not even a flicker of the cursor. Dominique’s mouth opened slightly with disbelief. Dmn29 had sent her a virus! Escape. Escape. Control, alt, delete. The speakers shuddered under the force of the deep bass music. She stopped pounding the keyboard and heaved a sigh of relief.

“Demon Realm,” a male voice whispered. “Enter if you dare.” 

A tingle of excitement touched her spine. "Oh, yeah, I dare. Bring it on.” She settled back to watch the game’s title sequence. Now, she would find out her directives and meet the characters for the first time.

The cut scene started with graphics so lifelike that the athletic, wide shouldered male character oozed sexuality. Clad all in black with two scabbards crossed over his back, he moved across the computer-generated room with easy grace. The thump of his heavy boots on the wooden floor echoed from the speakers until he stood before a white haired prophet. A hearty fire burned in the blackened hearth behind the prophet. Herbs and dried lavender hung upside down from the brick shelf above the fire. The prophet muttered to himself as he stirred liquid in an iron cauldron. He looked up, white eyes unseeing. His leathery skin creaked when his mouth split into a toothless grin.

“Ah, Zachary Sterling. I have been expecting you.” 

“I’m sure you have, Sage.” Deep and smooth with a sophisticated English accent, the voice perfectly matched the strong animated presence.

“You have come to learn your destiny,” the prophet continued. “Demon Lord, there is much to tell.” 

The camera angle swung around until Zachary Sterling filled the screen. Shoulder length jet black hair hair framed a long, handsome face and deep grey eyes, mysterious and intelligent, stared straight at Dominique. She leaned closer, even went so far as to touch the screen. She’d never seen such seamless graphics. Everyone looked so…real. 

“Dorian is close.” The prophet’s words drew Zachary’s attention. “He will win the war if you do not follow my instructions. There is a woman in The Unknown who holds the Hope Stone shards inside her. These shards will open the three Doors of Destiny, which in turn will silence Dorian and his minions, and bring peace. If she is to survive the journey through Demon Realm, she will need your protection,” the sage continued. “Bring the woman to me and we shall open the final door together. Then, Zachary, you will take your rightful place in Demon Realm, uncontested.”

The door of the prophet’s thatched-roof cottage swung open and slammed against the wall. Wind and snow gushed into the small building. The camera followed as glittering white flakes swirled across the floor to Zachary’s heavy, buckled boots. An icy breeze crossed Dominique’s cheek. The clean scent of snow filled her apartment. She drew in a startled breath and glanced over her shoulder at the closed window. The lace curtains hung limp. Frowning, she turned back to the computer.

Zachary's right hand went to the sword hilt over his left shoulder and he spun to the door. The glow from the lantern on the wall beside him spread across his ageless features and illuminated his eyes. His expression hardened as he pulled an arming sword from a scabbard and faced the male figure that blocked the doorway. His fingers tightened around the curved hilt. The sword’s bright blade glinted in the lantern light as he settled into a fierce battle stance.

“Dorian." The name erupted as growl of contempt. 

Dorian’s smile widened to show his teeth in a gorgeous display of arrogance. White hair played around his leather-clad shoulders as he pulled a long sword from the scabbard by his side.  

“It is time,” he said. “There is only one true ruler of Demon Realm.”
    

Zachary stepped closer. “I am the true ruler of Demon Realm.” 

“We shall determine our differences the old fashioned way,”  Dorian said. “Come...Fight me, Demon Lord.”

A burst of white light filled the screen. When the glow dissipated, a horned demon stood in Dorian’s place. Black feathered wings moved with a slow, even tempo. Another flare of light and Zachary transformed into an iridescent white angel demon. Graceful and unworldly, the demon floated on the air, sword held high. The two demons crossed blades. Amazed, Dominique watched closely. She couldn’t find one fault with the graphics. The ringing of their swords pulsed from the speakers. Her monitor shuddered. Her wooden desk vibrated. 

Dominique drew back and glanced at the window again. Were they knocking down a building somewhere? Was it an earthquake, because that’s what it felt like? She carefully put her hands on her desk and released a long breath when it stopped moving. The game continued to play on her monitor. Smaller demons entered the animated room, fat, pink cherubs with curled horns and nasty pointed teeth. Four cherubs clung to Zachary’s arm. He flung the creatures against the screen. The 24” monitor shifted on the desk. Awed by the complexity of the game, Dominique stared at the twisted face squished into the glass.

Zachary's and Dorian’s swords entwined. The strain of battle showed in every line on their leathery demon faces. Perspiration dropped from Zachary’s chin and landed on Dominique's mouse pad with a definite splat. 

Shoving her computer chair back, she jerked to her feet. Her heart pounded, thoughts no more than confused whirlwinds in her head. What was going on? Was she dreaming? What was happening wasn’t possible. 

Cautious, she bent to inspect the single drop of moisture, her finger trembling as she touched the small puddle. She stared at the bead of sweat balanced on the very tip of her index finger. How had the programmers achieved such a level of authenticity? 

The winged demons struggled, good versus evil, strength matching strength. Mesmerized, Dominique leaned closer. The musty scent of battle surrounded her. The demons’ determination to defeat each other lingered around her like static electricity. Dorian hurled Zachary into the computer screen. The monitor rocked. Zachary grunted and managed to clamp his hand around Dorian’s throat. This time, Zachary slammed Dorian into the screen, once, twice. On the third collision, they both passed straight through it and into Dominique's living room.



CHAPTER TWO