by Piper Stone
“Pain and pleasure,” he muttered, fingering then pinching my nipples.
“Yes. Yes...”
“Ride me.”
He didn’t need to ask twice. I moved against him, rocking forward and backward, the friction from my spanking stinging in a luxurious manner. I studied his eyes, the shimmer of gold encapsulating his irises. I could almost see into his soul, if only he’d allow me inside. He was guarded, protective in a way I certainly hadn’t been used to the majority of my life.
What if his words were true? What if everything he’d told me meant demons were ready to burst out into the world, destroying everything good and righteous? I swallowed hard at the thought, wanting nothing more than for his statements to be powerful, if demented stories.
But something inside of me told me he was telling the truth.
I blocked out the concept, rocketing against him, the sensations almost blinding.
He leaned forward, switching the angle, his hands placed under my bottom. “That’s it. Fuck me. Ride me, little girl.”
Everything became a fabulous blur, my breath stolen and my entire body on the very precipice of another orgasm. As his breathing changed, becoming more ragged, I cinched my muscles around his throbbing cock.
He roared, the sound filling my eardrums, floating all around and there was nothing holding me back.
No fear.
No worry.
No sense of dread.
Only the delight in feeling free for the first time in my life. As the orgasm shot through me, he erupted, filling me with his seed.
And for some crazy reason, I was enraptured with ecstasy.
* * *
His rules were clear, which meant he planned on keeping me his prisoner once again. He could disguise his words all he wanted to with promises of protection and oaths. I bit back a laugh at the mere thought alone. Christoff wasn’t to be trusted.
But you fucked him.
I fisted my mouth, railing against my inner voice but she was right. I’d allowed some insane desire for the man to overcome reality.
And sanity.
I let out a long exhale as I refilled my wine, staring at the licking flames of the roaring fire as if seeking answers. Christoff had retreated to his office, handling certain aspects of his business. I had no real answers from him, no indication of exactly what he was working on, but he was certainly preoccupied.
I walked toward what I considered his chair, running my fingers across the well-worn leather. The solid piece of furniture suited him, regal in a manner yet entirely masculine. As if a king on a throne. A slight shudder trickled down my spine, a made-up vision of the devil sitting on a massive gilded chair, fabric of the softest and finest scarlet velvet, the carved wooden sections lined with precious jewels.
I eased onto the cushy leather seat, feeling almost regal myself. I folded my legs, leaning back as the warmth from the fire attempted to warm my aching bones.
Closing my eyes wasn’t an option because every time I did, I saw the face of evil.
“Christoff,” I whispered, sensing him watching me.
“I thought you were resting and didn’t want to disturb; however, it is time to talk.”
He entered the room as he always did, with purpose and domination in his swagger. Immediately walking toward the bar, he poured a drink, bypassing the wine. He laid something on top of the bar, the item wrapped in cloth. My mind reeled with the possibilities.
I sat up straight in the chair, unprepared for whatever lies he might toss my way.
“What I’m going to tell you will take faith for you to believe in, but you must listen to my words and accept that there is danger all around us.”
“Danger I buy,” I retorted, immediately sucking in my breath. I could easily tell he was in no mood for my... bad behavior.
Christoff inched closer, taking his time, one foot after the other. His hard stares were always so deeply penetrating, but on this evening, his dark and demented eyes were open, revealing his very soul.
A haunted creature.
“In the story of good versus evil, the angel known as God created man but before the dawn of Adam and Eve, both he and his brother ruled a gilded kingdom. There were no wars and no diseases, only prosperity. Unfortunately, there was greed. After a horrific battle to become the ultimate ruler, God cast out his brother from the kingdom of heaven, banishing Lucifer for all eternity.”
Christoff’s voice was deep, husky, and full of a sensuous tone. I was mesmerized by his telling of the story, curious as to what else he believed he knew.
Christoff exhaled, swirling the ice in his glass. “Angry and bitter, Lucifer founded the kingdom of darkness, vying to take his place as ruler of both worlds once again, destroying the goodness that God had created. And so, Lucifer allowed demons to rise from the ashes, the vilest of mankind who swore their oath to Lucifer in exchange for eternal life. Thousands of years went by, mankind taking up the causes for both worlds, true believers who accepted that one day there would be a great battle for the very souls of mankind. There is belief that day is close.”
“Yes, the End of Days, a true apocalypse,” I whispered. When he’d stopped talking, I hadn’t realized he’d closed the distance, now standing only two feet away from me. “Stories that you could have easily found off the internet.” I gave him a smile, pushing every button.
He cocked his head, dragging his tongue across his lips. “Yes. A story both beings wanted told in their efforts to keep a hold on their respective kingdoms. That is where the story that you know ends and the reality begins.” As he sat on the fireplace hearth, he moved his drink back and forth in his hands. “As you might imagine, humans were created in the image of God as well as Lucifer. Both God and Lucifer were once very mortal, capable of being killed. Capable of loving. Sadly, only hate filled Lucifer’s heart after his banishment. That is until one day when he met a human woman that he couldn’t resist. While he was forbidden to take a mate, one of the many rules forced upon him by his brother, he refused to obey for one special woman had awakened what he thought was long dead. A new beginning for a man so hated.” A deep baritone laugh exploded from his chest.
I realized I was sitting on the edge of the seat. “All right. What happened?”
Christoff lifted his head, allowing his gaze to fall all the way to my toes, drinking me in. I shivered from the intensity, the look more intimate than any before.
“Love is an interesting emotion for an archangel, all consuming, blinding in its overwhelming need. Lucifer was weak, like most men,” he said, laughing as he shot a look of reverence in my direction.
I was chilled to the bone.
“Lucifer became obsessed. He hunted the human, capturing her and taking her to his kingdom. He plied her with gifts, sharing with her extreme passion and eventually, she succumbed to the man she’d originally called a monster. In exchange for her obedience, her love and the honor of marrying Lucifer, he offered her an extended life, allowing her to learn everything about both kingdoms and every curse. She was both revered and ostracized, always in danger because she was the devil’s weakness. He protected her with an iron fist, swearing the vilest of deaths to anyone daring to cross him.”
“That can’t be true.”
He ignored my comment, the look in his eyes faraway. “She bore him three children, who she loved dearly, teaching them not only the ways of hell as required, but about Earth and goodness. About humanity and love. About passion and honor. As you might imagine, this horrible act was considered a blasphemy in the eyes of God, altering the course of the future.”
“The spawn of the devil,” I whispered.
The anguish in his voice was tenable, nearly suffocating. He believed every word. I could swear there were tears in his eyes.
Nodding, he took a sip of his drink, turning his heated glare toward the fire. “What Lucifer didn’t know early in his banishment was that he’d been stripped of his immortality, among other powers, but that had allowed him to
bear children. To that end, a successor would be needed at some point. His eldest son was heir to the throne, honored among demons and certain humans who vowed their own sacred honor to the kingdom of darkness. Sadly, greed and the hunger for power are things that refuse to be denied in hell. The two younger brothers desire the throne as well.”
I held my breath, unwanted tears forming in my eyes. The ring of truth was startling, prickling every inch of my skin. What if this really was the truth? What would happen to mankind? I took a gulp of my wine, trying to calm my nerves. Images and thoughts rushed in the back of my mind like a broken motion picture projector. There was too much information swirling, too many ridiculing statements made by my father. “Go on, Christoff.”
He lowered his voice, speaking in little more than a whisper.
“There was also a prophecy born, the prophecy of the saints, God so enraged hearing of the dark princes. He condemned Lucifer, vowing to destroy the dark kingdom and the spawn created.”
“What about Lucifer’s wife?”
Rage crossed his face for a few seconds, quickly vanishing. “She was very human, her body frail and after one thousand years, she succumbed to old age, breaking Lucifer’s heart.”
My fingers were tingling, my heart racing. For those few seconds of rage, I also noticed love in his eyes, another glance into his soul. He was a man twisted in hate yet dying for love. “What about this prophecy?”
Christoff raked his hand through his hair. “You see, God managed to place a curse upon the weakened Lucifer, requiring sacred books to be used for the rite of passage as well as creating vital keys important to the dark prince.”
“Keys?”
Sneering, Christoff polished off his drink. “Yes, keys only able to be handled by the three princes. God enlisted the help of mankind once again, truly righteous humans who would hide these three keys, thwarting any effort of the prince to rule after Lucifer’s demise. Only a single key is needed in order to gain power to the throne, but what God didn’t know until it was too late is that utilizing the power of all three could destroy the kingdom of heaven, allowing Lucifer and the darkness to rule over heaven and hell.”
“How?” I managed, my nerves on edge.
“Lucifer is a powerful angel, more so given his taste of actual love. It is said that through passion and love, all things can be conquered. Lucifer managed to protect his own, children he truly couldn’t understand but loved in his heart. So both angels believed they had the upper hand. What a crock of shit.” He tipped his head back and laughed, his eyes darkening once again.
“Incredible.” This had to be a story and nothing more. Then why did the harsh chill remain?
Christoff held up a finger. “There is more. There is another part of the legend, another angel also banished. The goddess of fire. She believed she could bridge the two kingdoms, allowing for eternal piece. To that end, she knew that if a woman of light married a prince of darkness, harmony could be reached.”
I swallowed the huge lump of bile, feeling more suffocated than ever. My fingers were tingling, my heart racing.
“From what I understand,” Christoff whispered, “her power is almost as significant.”
The tension in the air was palpable.
“This is so hard to believe,” I said in the barest of whispers.
“Why? You are a true believer at least in the concept of good versus evil. Yes?”
“Well, yes. There are truly good people on this Earth, many who have no belief in religion. I believe you are one of those good people.” He seemed surprised at my comment, my words catching him off guard.
“I am not a good man, Sadie. I never claimed to be.”
“Then why are you protecting me if that isn’t the case? If you’re truly evil, you’d allow whatever danger to come my way.” I already knew the answer—the horrifying, wretched answer.
Christoff hesitated before answering, “There are reasons. You believe in God, no matter the distaste you have given your father’s brutal actions.”
I had to think about my reply. “Yes, I do, but maybe not in the same manner that so many others believe.”
“Then is this story so inconceivable?” His challenge was met by the same sultry smile I’d given before.
“No, not inconceivable. Tell me the rest. Trust me enough to be honest with me.”
“I do trust you, Sadie. The entire point of sharing with you what I have learned is that you need to trust me implicitly, without reservation. God knew that Lucifer would have difficulty finding those keys and they have been searched for, three cities identified as the holiest, even dangerous for the dark princes. He made certain obstacles were put in place, protecting both heaven and Earth.”
“Are you trying to tell me that Cambridge is one of those cities?”
Christoff lifted a single eyebrow as he leaned closer, now mere inches away. “Yes. Even better, there are protectors of these keys, an honor bestowed through the centuries. I assure you that Lucifer and his pack of demons would stop at nothing to acquire these keys, especially now. For you see, Lucifer’s reign is coming to an end.” He jerked up from the hearth, taking long strides back toward the bar.
“More riddles, Christoff. How do you expect me to believe this?” The truth? A pooling in my gut was gnawing its way into my rational mind. I did believe him. I was sick at heart and mind, all the preaching tales my father had told me holding some level of truth.
“Unfortunately, I believe the keeper of the Cambridge key has been murdered.”
“Unfortunately? If you’re supposed to be so evil, then why wouldn’t you be exalting in the keeper of the key’s death?”
He snapped his head in my direction. “Because I don’t like the man I once was.”
The words rang in the room, forcing a lump in my throat. What the hell was he really trying to tell me?
“Christoff, you speak of this as if you know who this keeper is. How the hell could you know? You sound as if you’ve been educated in theology and demonology and...” I couldn’t even finish the words. My heart was in my throat, my mind reeling not only from what he was telling me, but from my understanding of what he wasn’t telling me.
“I have firsthand knowledge, Sadie. What your friend told you is correct, but I assure you that I mean you no harm. You are... special.”
I moved off the chair, taking tentative steps in his direction. “Special? How? Tell me how?” He stood with his back toward me, his shoulders heaving as he took a series of deep breaths. “How do you know this? Why am I special? You mentioned the word queen as if I have a role in all of this. I will ask you one more time. Who are you?”
There was a light of revelation, a knowing that settled in. Visions swarmed every cell, sensations raking down my skin. I knew in my heart what or who he was, a true angel. The evil surrounding him was formidable, claws digging, trying to grasp his very soul. He was a fighter, his strength unlike anything I’d ever experienced and while I should be terrified, running away from him at all costs, I admired him in a certain manner. As Christoff turned around, I was no longer shocked by his words or by the change in his appearance. I was truly relieved and perhaps proud that he’d learn to trust a mere mortal.
“I am Christoff, firstborn son of Lucifer, king of the darkness and of the damned. The End of Days is approaching, my two brothers determined to take the throne. When I called you my queen, it’s because you are very special and you are the only person who can stop the annihilation of Earth as you know it. You are truly my queen.”
Queen.
And I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the world as I knew it was about to end.
Chapter Fourteen
Christoff
I expected horror seeing a portion of who I truly was, the brutal and savage nature of my appearance. Although I was almost entirely human, I could alter my form to some degree, sharing the legacy I’d been born into. Half human. Half demon. Pure evil. What I didn’t anticipate was the compassion in her eyes, as if
I merely had contracted some form of a disease, albeit horrible in nature. To her credit, Sadie didn’t flee to another room or scream. She merely walked closer, examining my face and eyes, studying the claws extending from my hands.
I twisted my arms back and forth, finally fisting my hands. My breathing remained ragged, my vision cloudy. I’d struggled with the transformation, my entire body aching from the alteration.
“Son of Lucifer,” she whispered. She nibbled on her lower lip, processing everything I’d told her. “That’s farfetched. Why am I your queen? I need to know more.”
“Because my father is a clever man.” My voice remained gravelly.
“Meaning?” She wasn’t backing down, even more determined to find the answers she sought so desperately.
“Meaning that there is another portion of the curse that certainly my father’s brother never wanted told, but with the help of my mother, Lucifer found out the truth. You see, my mother was tenacious in longing to learn everything about heaven and hell.” I reverted back to human form, longing to touch her, but I held back. While she was holding her own, the vision of my true self could fracture her mind, and I was determined to give her some time and space.
“Go on.”
“If history repeats itself then Earth, heaven, and hell will go on as we know it today.”
“History,” Sadie repeated. “What kind of history? What could stop this madness?”
I risked taking her hand. “Whereas God is a righteous man, he gave his brother a way out. Lucifer’s firstborn son must marry a human, but not just any human.”
She studied my eyes, pulling away from me slowly. She brushed the tips of her fingers across my cheek then pulled them away as if burned from the touch of me alone. “Oh, my God. Not just any human.”
“No. One preordained from the very Gods, created by the goddess of fire.”
“That can’t be me,” she finally muttered, folding her arms and walking toward the window, her entire body quivering.
“You were always the one, foretold to me by my mother when I was a mere boy. She had a special gift of seeing into the future. You see, once she was the daughter of a very righteous man, a Catholic priest who fought against evil and tyranny his entire life. She wanted the same kind of love that she’d shared with my father to be enjoyed by her beloved son. She foretold of a very beautiful woman who would become my bride, one who had only the light of the very heavens deep within her.”