Deep below the crust of the earth evil stirred from a
two century sleep. Stretching its short, gnarled limbs and
flexing its curled, petrified fingers and toes, the earth
demon struggled to acclimate itself. The last battle with the
earth witch had driven it deep into the earth to heal. Now,
time had come to rise again.
* * * *
A crisp, clean fall breeze played with the ends of
Avani's long walnut colored silken locks. Stray strands
danced in the air as if in anticipation of the festivities to
come in the next few days. A somber sigh whispered
between her lips before she rose to her feet after lovingly
trimming her last azalea bush, preparing it for the long
winter rest.
Taking a deep breath, Avani allowed the unique
aroma of fall to fill her lungs. Autumn could be a
bittersweet time of year for her. Though she loved the
spectacular color nature graced the earth with she also
mourned the loss of spring and summer's green beauty.
Curling her bare toes into the freshly turned earth of
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
6
her garden, Avani delighted in the comforting warmth
spreading throughout her body. Her healer, her comfort,
and her salvation, whatever one wished to call it, Mother
Earth was a part of her. She overlooked its safety and it fed
her soul.
Normally a quick trip south for a few weeks would
be on the schedule for this winter; now, she wanted to stay
home and close to her family. Her sister Flanna's run-in
with a twisted mad scientist's son left Avani shaken and off
kilter. Beach Snyder, Flanna's soul mate, risked his life to
save Flanna and in the process ended up connecting to her
sister on a level Avani never dreamed of. They both shared
the gift of fire now, evident by the fact that Beach nearly
burned down two restaurants and one hotel.
Avani laughed at the memory of Beach's face when
they told her how they both sat in the midst of flames and
didn't seem to notice the rest of the restaurant patrons
running for their lives. True love must be completely
consuming Avani surmised. A fact she'd never experience
firsthand.
Where Flanna hadn't been able to touch a man
without pain until she found her true mate, Avani could
touch anyone she wished and felt absolutely nothing. A hug
from her sisters, a handshake from a customer, it all left
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
7
nothing but an empty, barely there whisper against her
flesh. Avani likened it to being pumped full of Novocain.
Still, that didn't stop her from admiring a handsome,
well built man. The need or urge to pursue one, however,
never stirred inside her and she'd come to the conclusion
that it never would. Lately though, watching Flanna and
Beach together began to make her realize she may be
missing something.
"Isn't it a little cool to be gardening in your bare
feet?"
Startled, Avani jerked around and gasped.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
Closing her eyes and fighting to calm her currently
out of control pulse and force her heart back into place
from her throat, Avani called on the earth beneath her feet.
Warmth and stillness flowed through her legs until finally
she could speak without gasping for air.
"I guess I was lost in thought and didn't hear you
drive up. Is there something I can help you with, Chuck?"
Chuck West, a handsome, well built man she admired more
than she probably should.
"I was hoping you'd have something left in your
greenhouses."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
8
causing an odd flutter in the center of her chest.
Suppressing a confused frown, Avani forced a smile.
"Something for a special lady?"
"You could say that," Chuck muttered jamming his
hands into his tight, black jeans that hugged his thighs so
snugly. "It's for my mother."
Compassion rolled through Avani's chest. His
mother had been suffering for the last two years from the
aftereffect of a stroke. "How is she doing?"
"There are good days and not so good days," Chuck
said as his brow furrowed. "She's been down lately, fussing
about the winter coming. I hoped you'd have something I
could put in her room and keep her spirits up for the rest of
the winter."
"I understand her feeling. I may have something
fitting left over."
Chuck walked beside her as they made their way to
the back of her property toward her greenhouses. Avani
became suddenly aware of his long, cocky stride, the way
his powerful upper body moved so fluidly, and the aroma
of his leather jacket mixed with his own natural musky,
earthy sent. Casting a glance at his profile sent butterflies
fluttering in the pit of her stomach. His square jaw and
straight nose fit with his dark, knowing eyes. He took care
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
9
of himself, worked out regularly and it showed in the way
his arms and thighs strained against the material of his
clothing. Piece by piece he was handsome, as an entire
package he could model underwear and no one would pay
attention to the underwear.
Avani shrugged off her unnatural response to
Chuck, whom she'd known since she was a child. Not once
in all their years had she ever been so aware of him. Too
much time spent with Flanna and Beach and envy of their
relationship.
"Beach says you spend a lot of time at their place,"
Chuck commented.
Avani felt her flesh tingle as he spoke. Odd. At least
she thought it was a tingle.
"I suppose I do. That mess with Flanna back in July
has me feeling the need to be close to my family."
"I get that," Chuck said with complete
understanding resonating in his voice. "Bri and I are
grateful to have a member of our family back as well."
Brian, Beach and Chuck were as close as brothers.
Brian always made sure laughter ruled while Beach was the
laid back, roll with the punches kind of guy. Chuck was
quiet but commanded authority without shoving it down
your throat. Three unique personalities playing off each
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
10
other.
"Beach," she whispered.
"Yeah, we were worried as hell about him when he
came home from the war. We tried to get him to see a
doctor but he swore medical help wasn't what he needed."
One perfect black eyebrow rose and a glint of humor filled
his eyes. "I guess he was right. Your sister gave him
exactly what he needed."
Avani looked away from his all knowing gaze.
Chuck always did seem to know more than others about
situations. It's what made him an excellent Private
Detective. "They say love heals most wounds."
"Never really bought into that myself," Chuck
mumbled as they reached the greenhouse.
"A cynic, Chuck?" she asked as he opened the door
for her.
"A realist," he replied. "See what I see on a regular
basis and you wouldn't believe, either."
Clearing her throat and feeling slightly sad for him,
Avani turned on her heel and headed for the back of her
greenhouse where she kept the special hybrids she brought
back from her journeys. Surely she had one plant she could
part with for Mrs. West to enjoy.
"What's back there," Chuck asked moving to a new
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
11
door she had installed a week ago leading to a special
room.
"A soil room," Avani quickly answered moving to
stop him from opening the door. Too late. Chuck stepped
inside.
"Interesting soil room. Do you use fresh earth to
plant your flowers, Avani?" Chuck turned and pinned her
with an 'I dare you to lie to me' glare.
"When I can," the lie rolled off her tongue leaving a
bitter taste.
The fresh earth dug and tilled so lovingly would
help her get through the winter. At least once a month she
needed to immerse herself in the rich soil for strength and
healing.
Avani quickly followed him. Before she could open
her mouth to try and urge him back out, he took four long
strides further inside.
"Are you hiding something in here, Avani?" he
asked casually.
Smiling, she shrugged. "You never know when old
skeletons will come walking out of your closet. A girl may
need to find another way to hide them."
Chuck smiled and all rational thought evaporated.
"My. God." she whispered barely loud enough for
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
12
her own ears to hear. Had she ever seen him smile like that
before? She couldn't have. She would have remembered the
way it eased the tension in his face and gave him a more
casual, drop dead gorgeous look. Even the darkness in his
eyes lifted and could it be the light in the room or was there
an actual sparkle there?
Realizing she must look like a complete idiot,
Avani fluttered her hands in front of her and tried for a
convincing chuckle. "Anyway, you probably know more
about skeletons in closets than anyone. A man like you
must have dozens of women ready to fall out of the
woodwork." Well, wasn't that a stupid thing to say?
Chuck took two steps toward her, reached out and
pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. He wanted to
say something to her, she could see his lips part, see the
confusion in his eyes but he dropped his hand and stepped
around her, walking back out into the greenhouse.
Avani released a breath she'd been holding, shook
away the swirling sensation in the pit of her stomach and
followed. "Your mother likes purple, doesn't she? I believe
I may have a lovely little plant that will be perfect for her."
Strolling past the long table of perennials, Avani stopped at
a small bushy plant with a few tiny purple flowers. Pleased
with her choice, she handed the pot over to Chuck and
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
13
smiled.
"How did you know my mother's favorite color?"
Avani licked her lips and glanced away. "Always
the detective," she muttered. "Perhaps she bought
something from me at some point and mentioned it." It
sounded good to her. Truth though, she just knew things
about people. What they liked and disliked, when they
weren't feeling well, odd bits of information that simply
showed up in her mind.
Refusing to be questioned further, Avani headed for
the front of the greenhouse ready for Chuck to leave. His
presence seemed to throw her off and she needed to think
about that. Alone.
As they both stepped out into the cool fall air, she
turned to Chuck. "I hope she enjoys it. Give her my best."
Beneath her bare feet the ground shifted and the
surrounding trees shivered. Even the plants in her gardens
withdrew, wilting and weeping.
Avani froze, alarm ringing through her body. They
weren't hurting or damaged. No blight or parasite existed
within the reach of her power so, what could be causing her
beloved earth to be frightened? Silence filled the air as the
fall breeze stilled.
"Avani."
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
14
Even the wildlife paused as if in danger. What could
be happening?
"Avani!"
Snapping her gaze back to Chucks' face, she
realized she must have looked rather odd to him. Concern
furrowed his brow and his jaw clenched hard like a vice.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It must be low blood sugar, I haven't eaten
anything today." She needed to investigate and she couldn't
do that with Chuck here.
"I'll let you go then."
She didn't have time for the skeptical look he gave
her. More important things needed to be worried over.
Once again the surrounding trees shivered in fear. Forcing
herself to walk instead of run, she headed for the house as
Chuck veered off to his car. Not wanting to be rude she
turned and waved as Chuck stood next to his car door and
watched her.
After giving a curt nod, he ducked inside, started
the engine, and backed out. Avani beat feet inside, ran to
her old trunk and dug through the old diaries her mother
gave her when she turned thirteen. There had to be an
answer somewhere in these books.
Her beloved earth was frightened and its fear
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
15
coursed through her blood. Surely her ancestors had come
up against this. At least one of her grandmothers would
have logged something.
Frustrated with the lack of anything helpful, Avani
tossed all the books back into her trunk. Okay, there was
another way. She could go directly to the source and see
what the problem was. Running out the door, she came to
an abrupt halt at the sight of her once lovely, full and
flourishing plants sagging, their leaves quaking in fear.
No time to waste. Avani ran into the yard, firmly
planted her feet, raised her arms high above her head and
chanted the ancient words she'd been born knowing. Her
element moved inside her as the tree trunk shaped
birthmark on her right hip over her pelvic bone grew,
stretched and overtook her body. The protective vine
wrapping around the trunk slithered over her flesh until it
too covered her entirely. Slowly her feet took root, long
thin tentacles reached into the soil and burrowed deep,
thickening as they grew.
Her flesh stretched, hardened and became rough
with bark as her clothing split and dropped away to the
ground. Limbs grew from her fingers and hands reaching
for the sky, spreading wide and thick. The deeper her roots
went into the earth the more panic and alarm filled her
Earths Demon Robin Leigh Miller
16
along with a sickening twist in her gut.
Poison in the earth. A weak yet vile poison
surrounded her roots. Avani fought off the nausea and
called out to her wards.
"What is causing this?"
she begged, receiving no
answer. Even the deepest roots of the tallest trees were so
frightened they refused to answer. Avani silently sobbed as
she realized for the first time in her existence a true danger
faced her and the earth.
Share
Print
Save