The Overture of Fear & Passion (The Daemonica Symphony Series Book 1) Read online

“Yes. I heard her sing. Several times in fact.” He explained.

  “We never met. I understood she was a very private person and I surmised based on her social connections that she had rejected the Otherworld.”

  Juliet dug her nails into her palms, she was desperate to know more about her mother, but it still hurt her heart every time anyone even mentioned her.

  “I first heard her sing in 1876. I knew instantly that her voice was something else. There was a power in her that was unleashed when she sang, not unlike the power I felt the first time I heard you play. I heard her sing every few decades and deduced by her ageless appearance that she was Demon, although the ability to use voice is something else.”

  The way he said voice confused Juliet, but she didn’t dare interrupt.

  “I heard about her death and reached out to your grandmother. I admit I was curious; a Demon doesn’t die of “natural causes” at the tender age of two hundred. She explained your estrangement and I persuaded her to approach your father. I suggested bringing you here, where you could be acquainted with your own kind and learn about your heritage. She made no mention of your talent and you can imagine my delight when I first heard you play.”

  The doctor looked so pleased, his smile changed his entire face, making it appear younger and far less intimidating.

  “Usually, Demonic power decrease with each generation, so I was quite surprised to find your power to be dramatically stronger than your mothers. Tell me, has no one ever approached you before now? Has there been no suggestion that your talent is beyond what is humanly possible?”

  His questions were asked so earnestly that Juliet was almost amused by it. She thought back over her years of playing before answering.

  “When I was very young, my teachers seemed to think it was strange that I could play at such an advanced level. The word “prodigy” was thrown around a lot, but my parents would argue about it behind closed doors and say that it would go to my head if I was treated differently. I had one teacher who threw a fit because he gave me a piece he couldn’t play and I mastered it as if it were ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’” Juliet laughed at the memory of her haggard professor throwing sheet music in the air and storming out of their apartment after accusing her father of setting him up as a prank.

  The doctor had been nodding along with Juliet’s accounts, seeming unsurprised by her recollections.

  “My parents wouldn’t let me audition for Le Conservatoire until I was seventeen. They wanted me to have a “normal” education. I realise now that it was my mother’s way of sheltering me from the Otherworld, I think she knew that once I had a larger audience, it would be only a matter of time before someone would approach me. Someone who knew I was different, even though I didn’t.”

  The doctor nodded.

  “Forgive me, I never wish to speak ill of the dead. But your mother made a very foolish and possibly dangerous mistake. By sheltering you from your true nature, she set you on a path that could have had very dire consequences.” The doctor’s face returned to its solemn uniform as he continued.

  “What happened with you and William was not a one-off. You have acquired maturity early, most likely due to your, ah, connection with Mr Dmitriyev. But it would have happened on its own sooner or later. You are quite lucky to have been able to stop when you did or it’s more than likely you would have killed poor William.”

  “But he ended up dead anyway.” Juliet closed her eyes and shook her head, not wanting to allow the image of his dead body to re-enter her thoughts.

  “But, not at your hands, Juliet.” The doctor said softly.

  She looked at him and frowned.

  “Juliet, to take another person’s life, even accidently, does tremendous damage to one's soul. So yes, I consider it very good fortune that you were not the one responsible for his death. I’m also relieved that I don’t have to be responsible for your own. Since that is the fate of whoever is to blame.”

  Juliet nodded in response to his statement. As horrified as she was by his threat, she found herself unable to feel sorry for the monster who’d killed William.

  “So, Juliet. This leaves us with a slight predicament on our hands.”

  She looked at him blankly.

  “From what I have gathered Juliet, you very nearly did kill William.” He said gravely.

  “One of the most fundamental skills we all must learn in order to blend in with human society, is how to master our power so that we do not harm those around us.” The doctor stood up, his voice becoming solemn again as he assumed a stance not unlike that of one of the castle’s lecturers.

  “There are of course those among us who wilfully choose to take life, and those such as the Vampires who are almost incapable of existing at all without doing so. But it is my belief that it should be avoided at all costs and if it does occur, then it should be done in a manner which eliminates the risk of drawing human attention.” The doctor sat down again, looking at Juliet curiously.

  “Do you recall your recent lesson with Ash, where the topic of ah – reproduction was discussed?”

  Juliet nodded, blushing at the doctor’s clear discomfort.

  “Well then, you realise it would be quite risky for you to have relationships with humans, however it is not my business to interfere in the personal lives of Otherworlders. And, regardless of your relationship with Mr Dmitriyev, we must be proactive in our approach to how you will successfully navigate future relationships so that you may avoid a reoccurrence of the events that took place with William. Am I correct in assuming you would prefer not to kill any potential suitors?” He asked the question as if he were asking if she would prefer milk or sugar in her tea.

  She nodded mutely.

  “Very good.” He said, rubbing his hands together.

  “In that case I would strongly recommend you have a chat to Ash. Some instruction can be provided in the best methods to avoid such mistakes and you will need a partner to assist you as well. I assume Mr Dmitriyev would be willing to accommodate, but if not please let myself or Ash know, and we can make alternative arrangements.” He looked at his watch as he rubbed his eyebrow.

  “I don’t mean to rush you, but I’m afraid I have another appointment that’s quite pressing.”

  He stood and went across to the door as Juliet picked up her case and took to her feet. She made her way across his office, shaking her head with the all-too-familiar confusion that had descended, making a mental note to go and find Ash next.

  Doctor Livingstone opened the door with a slight bow. Before she could exit the office, Odette appeared at the doorway. She smiled softly at Juliet and looked from her to the doctor who now stood behind her.

  “Ah, Miss Le Claire, you’re early.” He greeted her.

  “I am.” She said with a nod.

  “Please come in, Miss Vassilios was just leaving.” The doctor opened the door wider and Odette stood aside, allowing Juliet to pass her.

  “Have a good evening, Juliet.” She said softly, touching her arm gently as she passed. Juliet was surprised by her tenderness, she had never had so much as a conversation with the Vampire, but she gave her the feeling of a kindly relative, there was so much warmth in her expression. She couldn’t help but smile back and nod as she left, and the door closed behind them.

  “A SHIFTER CAN be bound to their altered form, but when doing so will be a servant to their binding, unable to shift or access their full power.” Juliet was struggling to keep up with Ash as she scribbled notes. She’d already missed two of her lessons and when Doctor Livingstone had suggested that she should make time to meet with Ash, she’d been reminded of the main reason why she was at Livingstone in the first place.

  Her mind had been foggy throughout the entire lesson, constantly bringing up images from the doctor’s head as well as her own memories that made her stomach clench. The late hour and empty stomach did little to help her ability to concentrate, but she was determined to make it through the class.

 
After Ash wrapped up, Juliet was escorted to Ash’s office, if it could even be called that. It felt more like a bedroom fit for a Persian harem. The room was deliciously colourful, with rich purple, green, blue, and red splashed throughout with abandon. Velvet, silk and furs adorned nearly every surface, making Juliet want to reach out and stroke everything in sight.

  Ash offered her a glass of wine which she politely declined as she sat on a disgracefully comfortable couch. Clearly having been forewarned that she would be needing assistance, Ash cut straight to the chase.

  “Quite a conundrum we have found ourselves in, little kitten.” Ash said.

  “I know you remember yesterday’s lesson, but I think we need to give you a better understanding of what being a Spirit Demon really means.”

  Juliet nodded and wondered if she should take out her notebook.

  “Please understand that your biology is made up of several factors. Firstly, there is the fundamental law of Daemonica; that we all require an energy source in order to live. Humans require food, drink and air to live. Demons require these things as well as a further energy source. Being deprived of your element will result in weakness and eventual death. For the Spirit class, that element is desire. In most circumstances that desire is of a sexual nature.”

  Juliet shifted uncomfortably, feeling suddenly too warm from the effect of Ash’s hooded gaze and subtle smile.

  “That requirement can lead to complications if, let’s say a Demon goes without receiving sustenance for too long, one might get overwhelmed with hunger and inadvertently feed on a lesser Demon or heaven forbid a human and accidently dispose of the poor creature.” Ash smiled at the prospect as if it were slightly amusing. Juliet frowned, thinking of poor William and what she had done to him.

  “What happened with William will happen again if you are not sustained, Juliet. Do you understand my meaning?” Ash said, more seriously now. Juliet nodded.

  “Alternatively, to be deprived of your element entirely could result in you suffering quite severely, both physically and mentally. It has been known for Demons to die when they are unable to be sustained by their element.”

  Juliet’s mouth dropped open, she was seriously worried now and not just about the idea of hurting someone else.

  “So, what can we do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?” Ash smiled and tapped the wine glass with a long finger.

  “You have a few options, but I don’t wish to make any assumptions. Do you intend to form a relationship with Mr Dmitriyev?”

  Juliet’s eyebrows shot up instantly at Ash’s directness and she stuttered before responding.

  “No, I mean. Not... I don’t know. We’ve only just met. How can I possibly know how I feel about someone I’ve only known for a few weeks?”

  “Relax, pet. I’m not suggesting you two get married. I had to ask since that would be the easiest course of action. By being involved, you would be able to feed from each other as part of your natural mateship. You see, it’s more difficult for the female of your species. The male doesn’t reach maturity until the age of twenty-five regardless of whether or not he connects with his soulmate before then. The female on the other hand is forced into maturity when the connection is forged whether she is twenty-one or not.” Ash's glass tapping switched to a stroke that distracted Juliet, she shook her head to focus her mind.

  “What are my other options?” She asked.

  “Well, it’s possible that you can engage in a less formal partnership with Niko in order to be regularly sustained. Please don’t misunderstand me,” Ash said in response to what Juliet supposed was a shocked expression on her traitorous face.

  “You do not need to have sex with the boy. You simply need to engage with him in a manner which allows you to feed off your mutual desire. You may draw your own lines as to what that might entail.” Ash winked suggestively and Juliet swallowed nervously.

  “If you would prefer to not engage Niko in the task, I’m sure you could find other willing partners. I would volunteer myself, but it very strongly goes against Livingstone’s policies.” Ash said with a pout before finishing off the wine and standing to refill the glass.

  “Do you have any questions? Is there anything else I can assist you with?” Ash asked, cocking an eyebrow while slowly inhaling the aroma of the wine.

  Juliet wanted to get out of the room as quickly as possible, she was made nervous by the sexual undertone that seemed to drip from every word that fell from Ash’s mouth, but she resisted her usual flight response and gripped the edge of the sofa, forcing herself to stay and get answers.

  “I do have a few questions actually…” Juliet said softly while biting her lower lip. Ash nodded for her to continue.

  “You said yesterday that there are no full blood female Spirit Demons left alive… and you said in Doctor Livingstone’s office this morning that I am mixed, that you had your suspicions about what else I am.” Ash nodded again as she paused.

  “What else am I?” She asked, wondering over the right words.

  “Ah.... it is a marvellous thing to know what we are.” Ash said cryptically.

  “What are any of us really? Are we the descendants of Gods as the fables tell? Or are we merely humans with additional chromosomes like the biologists amongst us hypothesize?”

  Ash swirled the glass of wine and took a sip before playing with the cover of a book that sat on the nearby table.

  “I cannot tell you what you are Juliet, not with any certainty. But I can tell you what I am and hope that it might illuminate you in some way.” Juliet nodded, disappointed with the answer but grateful for some information, nonetheless.

  “My father was a pure-blood Spirit Demon, by my mother's mother was a Siren. A sub-class of Demon long thought to have died out centuries ago. Many moons ago, she fell in love with a Shifter, and in spite of how rare it is for such a mixed being to come into existence, here I am, living proof that such a thing is possible.” Ash casually stroked a long strand of blond hair while eyeing Juliet’s own hair.

  “Are you saying I’m part Siren?” Juliet asked, her eyebrows rising.

  “No darling. Almost definitely not. But you never know, anything is possible. What was your other question?”

  Juliet shook her head at the ambiguous answer but continued on with her next question.

  “In class, you said that female Spirit Demons can only have children with their mate and that they can only mate with other Spirit Demons. Has there ever been an exception to that rule?”

  Ash was quiet for a moment, considering Juliet’s question. Probably trying to come up with an equally cryptic answer, she thought to herself.

  “The only exception that I know of was a case where the mate was significantly more powerful.”

  Juliet pursed her lips and breathed out slowly through her nose. Definitely not the answer she had hoped for, but at least it wasn’t as vague as the one she was expecting.

  WRAPPED WARMLY IN her fluffy kitten pyjamas, Juliet stared at the ceiling while listening to soft piano music through her headphones. She was exhausted; every muscle in her body screamed at her to go to sleep. She willed her eyes to close, slowing her breath and forcing her mind to relax. Instead of seeing the calm waves on a white sandy beach that she tried to conjure, her mind instantly went to the forest and the sight of William’s body as a raven picked at his once beautiful green eyes. Her eyelids snapped open instantly and she returned her stare to the blank white ceiling, where it stayed for the rest of the night.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Niko had planned to go and check on Juliet after the defence class, just as soon as he made a pitstop at Livingstone’s office to pick up her violin. After the doctor gave him the brush off he headed straight for Juliet’s room and immediately regretted answering his phone without checking his caller I.D. What followed was a twenty-three-minute argument with his father about whether or not Niko should return to the States. The old man had gotten wind of William’s death and declared it unsafe
for him to stay. By the end of the call he was in no frame of mind to offer any kind of comfort to Juliet, so he tucked himself away in his make-shift studio and lost several hours to drinking, drawing and focussing his attention elsewhere. By the time he’d calmed down enough to be halfway useful, night had fallen, so he’d kept working.

  Black charcoal stained his fingers and smudged his white t-shirt by the time he finally made his way back to his room. He was left with just enough time to shower and change before he was expected at his first lesson of the day. He smiled to himself as the sound of violin music made its way through the open bathroom window.

  The hours of the day passed with little excitement. Hushed whispers and sidelong glances met him each and every time he entered a room, but he didn’t have the energy to contemplate their cause. He was more focussed on the time, his eyes darting to his watch repeatedly, counting down the hour until his lesson with Juliet.

  He’d gone looking for her on more than one occasion and been unlucky every time. By the time he finally arrived at their mental agility class, his skin was prickling from the need to see her again. He wanted to see for himself that she was O.K, he needed the reassurance.

  He was pleased to be the first to arrive and made his way over to Elijah, clearing his throat. Elijah looked up from tinkering with some kind of mechanical music device and frowned, mumbling an acknowledgment before returning his attention to the task at hand.

  “I was wondering if I could ask for a favour?” Niko said, rubbing his left arm absentmindedly. He wasn’t expecting much help from the man, having already been dismissed by him earlier that day, but this was an entirely different solicitation.

  “Favours come with a price, Mr Dmitriyev.” He said, “What do you want?”

  Niko thought about his request carefully, not wanting to be misunderstood, and definitely not wanting to be left with a debt bigger than he would be willing to repay.

  “You know that Juliet and I are... ah… connected.” He said.

  “I do.” His eyes remaining on the brass automaton that he was working on.