Free Prisoner of Darkhaven by EMMA PAUL

castle.
    DeMumart had resumed his human form once again. He dragged
    Elise up a spiraling stone staircase. There was a door at the end of it.
    Once they reached the room, he opened the door and threw her in.
    Elise looked around. A circular wall surrounded her. There were
    no windows. The only way out was through the door she had entered.
    All along the wall were sconces, seven of them. Only three held lit
    torches. A bed and night table with a small basin and pitcher of water
    furnished the room.

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    Elise instinctively reached up to her chest for the pendant and felt
    only bare skin. "No!" She sobbed quietly, kneeling on the floor of the
    dimmed room.

    60

CHAPTER TWELVE
    Damien sensed something terribly wrong. Elise had not summoned
    him. Worse, no matter how hard he tried; he couldn't connect with the
    calling stone he'd given her.
    The tightness in his chest grew more intense. He recognized the
    odd feeling as fear. He, Prince of the hell realms felt fear?
    Unfathomable. Yet, he couldn't deny the eruption of emotions
    exploding through him. Elise.
    He had to find her!
    Such a pathetic excuse for a demon!
    The evil disembodied voice echoed around Damien. He turned
    around in a full circle, looking in every direction for the person or
    thing that had spoken. He was alone.
    "Show yourself coward!"
    A wicked demonic laugh answered him.
    You wish! I'd rather remain ambiguous if you don't mind. This I
    believe belongs to you!
    Out of thin air, a familiar pendant fell at his feet. Damien knelt and
    picked it up. His face blanched. He snarled. His body flexed and
    grew another six inches tearing is shirt open. The sides of his pants
    split as the muscles in his legs bulged. His skin darkened to sienna
    red. He summoned the tattered remains of his clothes from his body,
    replacing it with a simple loin covering, more suited for his natural
    form.
    Horns sprouted from Damien's temples as his features darkened
    becoming harsher, more angular. Claws grew from his hands and
    feet. He bared his fangs with a warning hiss. Damien's true demon
    form meant death to anyone who brought the beast out.
    However, this particular creature wasn't intimidated in the least. Of
    course, he still hid behind a cloaking spell and Damien realized this
    being was powerful and thoroughly evil.
    The disembodied laughter told him so.

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    "Whatever or whoever you are, you'd better wish that cloaking spell
    holds, else I will relish ripping out your innards while you scream and
    feed on them while you watch."
    Echoing laughter answered him, pissing Damien off even more.
    Oh I'm no fool Damien, I won't be here long enough for you to feel
    enough of my essence to break my spell. I simply want to let you know
    what a wonderful fuck that little lovely whore of yours was!
    The pendant he held suddenly vanished from his palm. Damien
    fisted his hands and roared loud enough to shake the walls.
    "Where is Elise? If you've harmed one hair on her head!"
    Tsk, tsk, don't worry I took extra care of her. Oh she was soooo
    sweet.
    Damien knew the being lied, however, he needed to keep the
    cloaked demon in his castle long enough for him to pick up the
    bastard's unique demon epitome, his natural quintessence.
    "What do I care? You can have the little whore. Human females
    are plentiful."
    The silence that followed indicated the invisible demon's
    consideration of Damien's boast. Just a few more minutes and he'd
    have him.
    Do you think I'm stupid? I know you feel for the human bitch. I can
    smell the stink of compassion oozing from your pores. Know this
    Damien, son of Lucien; you will never see your precious Elise again!
    You will never leave this prison! Never!
    A second later, the presence vanished. Damien rolled the tension
    from his shoulders. A satisfied smile spread across his face. He had
    picked up the magical essence of the Demon that taunted him. He
    now knew what kind of Demon it was. Narrowing it down from there
    shouldn't take too long.
    After all,