by Alisha Basso
“Goodbye, Jamie,” I laughed and shoved her hard. She pounded through the double doors as her body spun and twisted out of the ambulance. Bouncing a few times, I beamed as she was lost in the whirl of honking horns and smashing cars.
The doors shut, blocking my view of her demise.
“Well now,” I rubbed my hands together, “off to see my beautiful bride.” I looked at my prisoners and smiled.
Tears spilled from Lucians eyes as he cried, helpless and paralyzed, he stared at the back doors. I snorted. His sorrow was rather revolting.
Seth’s eyes watched me and I smiled at his rage. His face was pale white and his eyes had bled to solid silver. I was impressed. It must have taken a great deal of fury to achieve even that small of a change. The drug was a powerful one.
“You two are no longer a thorn in my side.” I leaned down and placed a kiss on Seth’s cheek. His breath rushed out and he jerked slightly. “Oh, struggle as much as you like.” I laughed and sat on Lucian’s chest. “You will be dead and gone and I will spend the rest of eternity enjoying my prize.”
I winked and blew Lucian a kiss. Then, propping my feet on the side of Seth’s face, I willed the vehicle to Hell.
TWENTY THREE
There are no windows in Hell. No way to see if the sun is shining or the moon. Time was a mystery to me. I had no idea how much had passed in the mortal world. For me it had been several weeks, but a few hours in Hell seemed to span days back home.
Where were my friends? Had they moved on?
I sat on a small chair in the corner of my room. It swiveled and squeaked as I moved. I sighed, choking back the lump that formed in my throat. Lucian’s chair made the same sounds. I spun in a slow circle. My shoe caught the edge of the fur carpet and it lifted exposing the dark thread that stitched the little bunnies together. I cringed.
Screw this.
I stood and grabbed the edge of the rug, lifting it. I yanked and began folding the Frankenstein creation into a huge, awkward ball.
Leaning down, I shoved it into the corner of the room. It smelled odd and I frowned and stood up. It was a natural smell. Not the rot and decay I would expect. Not like anything I had come in contact with down here. I walked around the mound and, leaning in, I sniffed. It smelled like freshly cut grass.
“What the hell?” I mumbled to myself and I knelt down again. The velvety skin was soft-looking and I ran my hand over the surface. As my hand passed over the center, a symbol appeared. I jerked my hand back, startled.
The symbol glowed bright. An X with a diamond on top. I sucked in my breath recognizing the mark. It was the Wiccan symbol for death.
Oh shit!
I stood and spun in a circle, as if miraculously the answers would be painted on the walls. A Wiccan symbol could have only come from one person, and that person was Lucian. My body zinged with adrenaline. What the hell was happening?
I spun to examine the rug once again, only to find that the symbol was no longer there. I knelt and franticly ran my hand over the surface again and again.
“Fucking rug!” I shouted, smacking my fists on it in frustration.
Nothing is happening.
“If you do not like my gift, my darling, you need only to ask someone to remove it. I do not believe insulting it will produce results.”
Son of a bitch! Lu’s back.
I plastered a smile on my face and turned. My shoulders fell and my lungs deflated. He was back and he was holding my gown.
“My love.” I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck.
He moved the huge, plastic garment bag to the side as he held me close. Then, sniffing audibly, he curled his lip. “You are a mess, my darling.” He pulled away and frowned. “Who is responsible for this?” he scolded.
“You are,” I smiled.
“Indeed?” he stepped back, laying the gown on the bed.
“Yep. You left me all alone with no one but your gross, little demons to keep me company. Why should I bother making myself presentable when all it seems to do is draw more of those horny, little bastards in?”
He frowned. “They will be dealt with, and you need no one but me, my bride.” He looked serious as he shrugged off his suit coat. His jaw clenched as he worked the buttons on the cuffs of his crisp white shirt. I watched, hating that I was so attracted to him. Hating that he was so impossibly beautiful. He watched my face, no doubt aware of my rising heart rate. Attraction mixed with fear and a serious amount of guilt. His hair was short again and white as snow. His skin was golden and perfect.
I tried to steady my breathing only to breathe harder. His nostrils flared as my chest rose and fell. His shirt fell to the floor and I took a tentative step back. Visions of his powerful body moving on mine, his moist lips and soft caresses. He was an enigma. How could absolute evil be so tender? Was it all an act? Would he change when we were finally, irrevocably bound?
A knock at the door had me sighing in relief. I turned, practically killing myself as I vaulted over furniture in order to get to the door. It opened before I could reach it.
“You sent for me?” Lourdes stood just inside the door, her bone-like hands folded demurely in front of her.
Lu turned, his eyes flashing red.
“You have failed,” he growled. His voice was deeper than I’d ever heard, causing the horrid little creature to shrink back, her face a mask of horror.
I watched her panicked little body begin to shake and a small amount of pity welled up inside of me. I reached out, looking to Lucifer. “Lu, no. She didn’t fail, I was just…” My words were cut short as the tiny demon burst into flames. A scream escaped my throat as her paper skin disintegrated. It had been mere seconds and she was gone. She was nothing more than a pile of smoldering ash.
I tried to form words but none came. I couldn’t believe he killed her, just like that! I stood frozen, staring at the little pile she had made. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my racing heart.
“Get rid of the ash, Lu.” I gritted through my teeth as I pulled the air in through my nose. I opened my eyes. The remains were gone and I turned. “What the fuck?” I stammered.
“You disagree with the way I handled her?” He frowned, a warning in his eyes.
“I’d fucking say so!” I yelled ignoring his threatening look. “Jesus, you are so un-fucking-stable!” I raved, pacing.
“She was set a single task. To construct your bridal gown. She failed.” He shrugged. “You yourself had only to choose from her creations and you refused her.” He waved his arms around the room. “I see none of her creations.”
“She was making them out of people for cripes sake!” I shouted. I had no idea what the hell he was up to. “And if you had such confidence in her, why the hell did you bring me a gown?” I watched him. “You knew she would fail,” I stated, lowering my brows. “What are you up to?”
He strode to the bed and lifted the bag. “I was not aware that she was making such gowns. I told her to please you, not me. It seems this was an impossible task.” He hung the bag from a hook on the wall. “She is no longer a subject.” He glared at me and I folded my arms.
“You know, when I said I would come to you willingly, I never said I would always agree with you and sputter and bow and kiss your tight ass. This whole pleasing you thing is exhausting!” I glared.
He laughed, low in his throat. “There’s my girl.” He turned.
I opened my mouth and then snapped it shut. His eyebrow rose and I glared.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You want me to be a nag?”
“I want you to be yourself. The woman who makes my blood burn.” He unzipped the bag and removed the gown. “The woman I marry will have fire in her blood.” He turned and I gawked. He had the gown draped across his arm as he held it high. “Your gown.” He smiled and bowed his head.
I took a small step closer, my eyes wide. It was the most beautiful gown I had ever seen. Hundreds of clear diamonds formed an elegant pattern across the bodice. It would h
ug my breasts and ribcage. The skirt was long and full. Its shining fabric was white. I reached out and touched it. I was in total shock and suddenly, my body was overwhelmed with anger. I spun and moved away.
“Are you not pleased?” I heard him zip the bag closed and I squeezed my eyes shut tight, fighting against the tears.
Damn him!
I had always wanted a beautiful bridal gown. I’d wanted the dream. Like every girl, I wanted to have the most amazing wedding with my family and friends by my side. A day to celebrate my love and commitment to the man I would spend the rest of my life with. I would never get that. My dreams were crushed. The gown was beautiful and so was the man, but I was literally in Hell. Nothing was real, happiness was an act.
“I love the gown.” My voice quivered and he turned me around.
“I knew you would.” He pulled me into his arms and held me tight. I couldn’t stop it any longer and I cried. My tears soaking his naked shoulder. I opened my eyes and caught the glow through the blur in my vision. The symbol burned brightly once again.
Lucian.
I pulled from Lu’s arms. My head swimming with questions I could never ask. What the hell was going on with my friends? The symbol meant death.
God, what trouble are they in now? Where did he really go?
“You’ve been out of my arms too long. It’s time for bed, Grace.” He led me to the bed. He turned me around slowly, his eyes traveling what he considered my sloppy clothing. As his eyes moved, the clothing dissolved. I sighed, defeated.
My knees no longer trembled as I crawled onto the mattress. My stomach still twisted into knots, but with time I had learned to control my fear and sadness. It had been weeks. Weeks of solitude that I should have cherished. Now, I had the Devil in my bed and I was afraid that it was becoming almost normal.
I still had my soul, but the terrifying truth was that it was hanging on by a thread. I hated him. He was the enemy and the source of all of my misery. But once lost in his arms, lust didn’t much care about matters of the heart. At least I was secure in the knowledge that my heart was safe. As long as I kept my heart out of the mix and my feelings separate I would keep my soul. Once we were bound, however, I figured it wouldn’t matter if I possessed a soul or not. Once we were bound, I would be the Devil’s wife.
Stuck.
Forever.
The thought caused a chill to race down my spine. That could never happen. Lucian’s cry for help made my situation that much more desperate. I had to do something because clearly my sacrifice did nothing to keep them safe. The Devil had reneged on our agreement, but what did I expect? There were no spells to make him keep his word.
I looked up at the canopy that spanned the enormous bed. Lu shifted, his scent surrounded me. It was a mixture of exotic cologne and camp fire. I sucked in my breath as his strong hand gripped my arm. I cringed as he pulled me close to his side.
“You seem distant. What troubles you?
“You should know better than to ask that,” I looked at him and frowned. “You take so much from me.” I turned and allowed him to wrap his arms around me. “You offer nothing.”
He tensed. “I displease you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I say.” I closed my eyes. “You do as you please. You don’t really care.”
“True.” He chuckled. “But I like the game.”
The bed moved. He ran his hands down my back. Snaking his arm around my middle, he pulled my hips close to his groin.
I squeezed my eyes tight. There would be no sleep.
***
“Soon you will be fat with child. A son.” Lu stroked my leg as I tried to block out the faint light in the room. “Once we are wed, we shall conceive immediately.”
“Wonderful.” I mumbled into the crook of my arm. “I’ll be pregnant with your son. Confidant about that aren’t you?”
“Of course I am,” he scoffed and I sat up frowning. “You have so much to learn, my darling.” He bent his elbow and rested his head on his hand. “With all you know about me, you think a little procreation is beyond my power?” He snorted and rolled onto his back. His naked body was thick and perfect but I still had to fight the bile rising in the back of my throat at the thought of having a child with him.
“Is this what you really look like?” I pulled the edge of the sheet up and covered my breasts. “I’m here for eternity, the least you could do is show me what I’m marrying.”
He laughed. “I am not showing you everything I am and you know it.” He turned onto his side and looked at me. “I am only less. If you desire more, we’ll have to leave the room. I wouldn’t fit.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I sighed. “The angel, Lu, is that the real you?”
“I am no angel, Grace.” He stood.
“Whatever,” I raised a brow. “You know what I mean. The wings, are they really you?” His expression turned harsh. I ran my hand down my face. “Come on! Are you just showing me this version in order to draw on whatever desire you think is hiding deep inside, or are you really the red, cloven hooved horror we’ve all known and despised?” I blew out my breath and he sat down again.
“Will our son be hideous? Is that what you’re afraid of?” he snatched the sheet from my hands.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not having your son. Get over it. Now, for once, be honest. You are so strung up on my being your light and all that bull crap, why not give me a chance to make you better?”
He looked at me for a long time. “I see what you’re doing. You’re afraid and you being an ignorant woman, I understand your fear.” He stood. “This is what I am, minus several feet of flying ability, I am what you see.”
I shook my head. He was such a dick but I ignored it as usual. “Your eyes glow red when you’re pissed, Lu. What’s up with that?” I stepped off the bed and reached for my silk robe. He allowed me to slide it on. I watched his face. He looked troubled. "What? What is it?" I asked.
He shook his head his brows high. “I just realized.” He laughed and looked a little lost. “I'm trying to make you happy.” He frowned and folded his arms. "I’ve never bothered with the emotions of another creature before. Perhaps I'm learning to love as I’d hoped?”
I snorted indelicately. "Probably not. Now, the eyes. They’re monstrous. If that’s not a natural state, then tell me why they sneak out. ”
He smiled showing me a lot of teeth. “Do they frighten you?” he asked, tilting his head.
“Yeah, they really do.”
They really did.
His lip tuned up in a half smile. Leaning forward he whispered, “That's exactly why they ‘sneak out’.” He straightened, his eyes fixed on my hands as I twisted the ties on my robe. His jaw clenched, and then in one great stride he stood before me, ripping my robe from my body. I gasped as he tossed me onto the bed. I barely hit the mattress before he was inside me again. My head mind spun into chaos as pleasure and guilt bombarded me.
Lu was back and I was no longer alone.
I’m lost.
TWENTY FOUR
“If I don’t see the sun and get some freaking fresh air soon, I swear I’m going to explode!” I paced back and forth. I had to get to some nature. I hadn’t seen another sign from Lucian and I was panicking. Lu had practically been glued to my side. He left only a few times a day to ‘take care of wedding business.’ It was all very mysterious and I knew he was up to no good.
“You are no longer a creature of the sun,” he muttered casually. “You must settle yourself to that fact.” Lu sat in a leather wing back chair in his parlor. His ankle resting on his knee as he casually perused the New York Times. He was relaxed and elegant, like some gentleman in a romance novel. It pissed me off.
I wanted to scream. “Creature of the sun? What the hell, Lu? I’m not a freaking vampire, and you get to leave all the time. Why is it that you get to walk about and I don’t? It isn’t as if I can actually leave you.” I shouted to the black and white print covering his face. He lowered his paper enough
to show his eyes. He was “deviling out” as I liked to call it. It was a look that said he was done speaking and I had better leave it alone. I hated it, it made me feel like a child. I blew out a slow breath and smiled.
“As you wish, my dearest love,” I gritted through my teeth and stormed from the room, wishing I had some holy water and a squirt gun.
I was a total prisoner. So much for the title Queen.
“My Queen.”
I jumped and spun.
“Cain?” I blew out a breath.
“I’m sorry I startled you,” he smiled, looking handsome in his blue jeans and boots. “Would you care to go for a walk?” He offered me his arm.
I watched him, not sure what I should do. He was too good looking. I knew that good looking was very bad, but it was hard to wrap my mind around that concept.
“Why?” I folded my hands behind my back. “What are you up to?”
“Come or don’t. I only thought you’d like to see some of the sights.” He shrugged and started to turn away.
“Wait.” I reached out. “What kind of sights? This is Hell. What do you think I would want to see?” I had no idea what kind of creature he was. If he thought I would get a kick out of torturing puppies or some other sick ass shit, I would know to avoid any strolls in the future.
“Trees, birds,” he held out his hand. “I need some air. Don’t you?”
I felt the ground fall away. “Are you kidding?” I bit my lip, afraid he was only being cruel. “How can you leave?”
He shrugged. “I have a bit of a free pass.” His hand remained extended. “Are you coming?”
I looked behind me. “He won’t let me go. You’ll get tortured or skinned or some other horrid thing.” I bit my lip. “No, I better not.” I hated to refuse such an opportunity, but after seeing how fast Lu killed around here, I didn’t want to be the reason for another death.
“He won’t hurt me,” he said, watching my face. “At least not as things stand at the moment.” He lowered his brows. “You really are afraid for me?” he asked, sounding almost shocked, “remarkable.” He shook his head.