The Darkness Within by Charisma Knight Read Free Book Online Page A

dark land. Large black clouds hung heavy in the atmosphere, and the blackish, silvery moon seemed to frown, striking dread even in Althea’s being. The look was carved onto her face.
    “So nice you could join us,” Viktor said with a laugh. “You’re just in time to bid your bitch farewell,” the incubus spat at the vampire and the wolf.
    “Let the women do their own battle,” Quinton said with a sneer as he withdrew his sword from its sheath. His incisors descended.
    “This isn’t your fight!” Althea tried to warn them. “Why did you even come here?”
    Vukasin shifted into full wolf before her eyes, lunging at the incubus. An evil laughter erupted from the demon as he hurled an energy bolt at the animal. Vuk screeched as he hit the ground.
    “Bastard!” Raising her hand and summoning as much power as she could, Althea knocked the demon off balance just before her twin charged her.
    “We have unfinished business.” Aehtla’s voice dripped with deadly venom. “I tire of seeing your face!” The demon’s claws lengthened at her fingertips in an effort to gouge her eyes out.
    Shielding her eyes, Althea pushed the beast backward. Both women rose. Aehtla charged, and Althea ducked, before delivering a blow to the back of the neck. When the demon charged again, her hand met with Aehtla’s windpipe. She landed on her back, clutching her throat.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Quinton battling Viktor while Vukasin remained laying on the ground. No, it couldn’t be. Had the witch and demon stripped her of her happiness? A sinking niggling feeling gnawed in the pit of her belly as Aehtla charged her again. She didn’t have time to come to the men’s aid. She needed to finish the witch once and for all.
    “Aww, I feel your concern for the wolf,” Aehtla said mockingly. “Now, you shall feel the pain of losing your vampire!” She chanted and raised her hand, allowing the black clouds and moon to disappear. In their place the sun shone bright.
    “Nooo!” Althea’s heart felt like it had been ripped from her chest as she saw Quinton’s body turn to dust instantly. She watched as Viktor brought his sword down on the wolf’s neck, separating his head from his body.
    Aehtla laughed as she delivered a blow to Althea’s jaw. “Come on. Give it to me! Let me feed on your despair and pain!” The witch’s voice shook the entire realm. For now, she had to push the deaths of her lovers out of her mind and do what was important.

Chapter Nine
     
    Viktor and Aehtla closed in on Althea. “This is your last day on earth,” Aehtla said in a demonic tone. “While I do think you would be a formidable ally, unfortunately there is only room for one of us. You must take my place.”
      “No, I’ve just began to live my life,” Althea bit out as she tried not to remember how Quinton and Vukasin had been struck down by the darkness. “You can’t use me any longer.” She glanced at Viktor. “I never gave you what you wanted. Sex would have been the icing on the cake for you.”
      “I would have burned you from the inside out,” Viktor stated, before an evil grin formed on his face. “Once Aehtla has taken your place, we will be free to corrupt the human race, more so now than before. For that, I thank you.” He paused momentarily. “Your lovers are gone. Now there’s nothing left for you in this realm or the human one.”
      “Yes...Nothing else left for you!” Aehtla said wickedly. “So many souls to corrupt. Humans have never been able to control their emotions. I have you to thank for the opportunity of taking up residence on this pathetic mound of mud you all call earth. Your anger and rage fed me. Now, I will prey on the weaknesses of others of your kind.” She smiled. “And, I’ll be able to free those entrapped within the silly jewels of your ancestors.”
    Controlling her emotions, Althea concentrated on summoning the energy deep inside her. She couldn’t allow this evil to be