by Shuler, Tara
“No!” Beth insisted. “I care about him, but…”
“You what?” he snarled.
“He’s my friend. I care about him.”
“They will kill you if they catch you. Lucifer will cast you into The Pit himself, and not even I will be able to pull you out.”
“Answer me, Aztos. Are you jealous? Is this why you’re reacting this way?”
“I feel no jealousy,” he scoffed. “I do not feel such weak human emotions. Our marriage is a sham, and you know that better than anyone. I married you to honor my father’s deal with your mother, and for no other reason. You mean nothing to me. Do you understand that? You are a thorn in my side, a mere annoyance that I must deal with until Lucifer decides you are no longer suitable as my wife. Until then, you will do as I say. Is that perfectly clear?”
Beth’s heart thumped in her chest, and her stomach lurched. She felt ill. The wind was sucked from her lungs, and she struggle to breathe.
“I… mean nothing to you?” she whispered.
Aztos scoffed. In a flash, he stood before her, his eyes raging. His amber eyes swirled and shifted, and his face was just inches from hers. His hands grabbed her shoulders so tightly it hurt, and she cried out in pain.
“If you ever think a demon could love anyone, much less a pathetic human, you are delusional. But as my wife, you will obey me. Do not test me. Understood?”
Breathless with fear and confusion, her lower lip trembling, she only nodded. Aztos released her, shooting her a look of disgust.
“Stay away from that angel,” he warned. “If you don’t, Lucifer will be the least of your worries.”
“Aztos!” she shouted, as he stormed down the hallway and then disappeared.
His words had been no less painful than if he’d shoved a dagger straight through her heart. Demon or not, betrothal or not, she had hoped that one day they might have a real marriage. She hoped they might find real love. Now, it seemed likely that day would never come.
To make matters worse, she was now confined to the house. She had no one to confide in, no one to talk to. She was truly alone.
“I have something for you,” Aztos told Beth the next day.
He pulled an object from inside an old burlap bag. It was an ancient looking dagger, with a hilt as black as night and encrusted with rubies. The dagger’s blade was hidden inside a thick leather sheath, which looked as old as the dagger itself.
“This is the Dagger of Xamien,” he explained. “It is one of only four weapons in existence that can kill an angel.”
“How did you get this?” Beth asked.
“From my father,” he answered. “I got it to protect you.”
“I don’t need to be protected, Aztos,” Beth assured him. “I’m perfectly safe.”
“If you meet that fallen angel in the forest again, there is no telling what he might do. Fallen angels are far worse than any demon.”
“Why do you say that?”
“For an angel to be banished from Heaven, he must do something truly horrible… something that upsets the balance between good and evil. You cannot trust someone like that.”
“He’s always been perfectly kind to me,” Beth said. “And he told me why he was banished. He was…”
“Enough!” Aztos stormed. “He would tell you anything to gain your trust! You cannot trust him. Not ever! If he comes too close to you, I want you to thrust this dagger straight into his heart! Is that clear?”
“Aztos, I’m not going to kill him.”
“I am not asking you. If he comes to close to you… you must.”
“I’m not a killer, Aztos. I won’t just…”
“You will do as I say!”
“I will not!” Beth shouted, stomping her foot and gritting her teeth.
At the moment she stomped her foot, lightning streaked through the sky outside the window, and thunder rumbled so loudly it rattled the glass in the windows. Beth jumped, startled.
“Elizabeth, you must do as I say. My father will have you killed if you consort with an angel. It is the ultimate betrayal!”
“He’s my only friend!” she pleaded.
“There is no option. You must. This is the only way I have to protect you.”
He laid the dagger on the bed, and backed away.
“Please do this,” Aztos added. “I must go away for another assignment. I am asking you to do this… for me. And remember, you are not to leave the house.”
He disappeared in a flash.
The days melted into one another. Beth scarcely noticed the budding leaves on the trees, or the daffodils springing up in the yard. February had passed, and March had crept up without warning.
Aztos was rarely home, but she was afraid to leave the house. It wasn’t so much that she was afraid he might hurt her – although that certainly was one consideration. She was more worried that she might ruin her only chance to have a real relationship with him someday.
It wasn’t like she was in love with him. She didn’t spend enough time with him for that. But she was married to him, and she wanted to make the most of it. Apparently, she was with him for eternity (or as close to that as Lucifer would allow). It would do her no good to provoke him.
Beth was lying on the swing on the front porch reading another of Aztos’ books one warm March morning, when she heard a familiar whine. She turned toward the sound and noticed Sam creeping up onto the porch.
“Sam!” she squealed, tossing the book onto the floor and running to the dog.
She fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck as he wiggled all over and wagged his tail. He was just as happy to see her as she was to see him. He licked her cheek, and she stroked his fluffy white head fondly.
“Where do you keep heading off to, boy?” Beth asked, and he yelped happily in response. “Come on inside. Let’s get you something to eat!”
Sam followed Beth inside, and she brought his bowls in from the garage. This time, she allowed him to eat in the kitchen.
“No more garage for you, Sam,” Beth told him. “I’m keeping you with me so I can make sure you don’t disappear on me!”
He wagged his tail contentedly as he devoured the food Beth had given him, and then he lapped up the water greedily.
“Good boy!” Beth urged him. “You ate it all! Do you want to play? Let me go get your toys!”
Beth rushed out to the garage and grabbed an assortment of dog toys, eagerly running back to Sam. When she returned to the kitchen, he was nowhere to be seen.
“Sam?” she called.
She looked all over the house, calling his name. She checked the bedroom, the bathroom, the living room, and even the basement. Once again, he had disappeared. No doors or windows were open. There was nowhere for him to have escaped through.
“Damn it!” she cursed.
Every time the dog managed to return, he would disappear again. This time, she didn’t even think Aztos was around. Now, she was more confused than ever. She went back out onto the porch and called Sam’s name several times, but he never showed up. Dejectedly, she collapsed back onto the porch swing and picked up the book she’d been reading.
“Are you alright?” she heard a voice ask.
She looked up, and Malachai was standing on the front steps, one foot on the porch as if he were waiting to be invited the rest of the way.
“What are you doing here?” she gasped. “You shouldn’t be here!”
“I was worried about you,” he admitted. “I haven’t seen you in a while. I thought maybe something had happened to you.”
“I’m fine. I just… I haven’t felt like going anywhere,” she lied.
“Are you ill?”
“No, I... I just don’t feel well.”
“You look fine physically,” he commented. “But you don’t look very happy. Are you certain you’re alright?”
“Yes, Malachai,” she said quickly. “I’m fine. But you really shouldn’t be here.”
Beth looked around anxiously.
If Aztos saw Malachai here – or worse, if another demon saw it and reported it to Azmond – they would both be in serious trouble.
“Why not? What’s wrong?” Malachai asked, clearly concerned.
“Do you really have to ask? I told you… I’m married to a demon. Apparently, his father was informed that I’ve been… how did he put it? Oh. ‘Fraternizing with angels.’ I’ve been banned from even leaving the house.”
“Your husband will not even allow you to leave your home?” Malachai asked. “And this makes you happy?”
“Of course it doesn’t make me happy, Malachai! But what can I do?”
“Leave him. I can take you somewhere protected. You would never have to fear him. He won’t be able to find you.”
“I can’t do that, Malachai. His father would only take my mother’s soul if I broke my vow. I can’t do that to her.”
“Perhaps I could protect her, as well,” Malachai offered.
“I’m not leaving my husband. I’ve made my choice, and I must honor it.”
“I can see that you are a very honorable person. I respect that.”
“Then you’ll see why you shouldn’t be here,” Beth added, nodding her head for emphasis.
Malachai bowed his head, and his hair fell into his eyes, hiding the disappointment that was so clearly evident in them.
“Is that truly what you wish?” he asked, his voice quiet, but even.
“No, Malachai,” she admitted. “I want to be your friend. I want to be able to talk to you and enjoy your company. But my husband will not allow it, and there is nothing I can do about it. So, please leave, before we both get into trouble. He’s already asked me to kill you if you get too close to me.”
“What? How is that even possible?” Malachai asked.
“He gave me a dagger. He said it’s one of only four objects that can kill an angel. He said if you got to close to me, I had to kill you.”
“And you refused?”
“Of course I refused! I told him I wouldn’t do it, but he said if I didn’t, his father might have me killed.”
“I would never allow that to happen.”
“Malachai, I don’t want you involved in any of this. Please. It’s better if you just go. Please.”
“I will return to you again,” he said, and then he was gone.
She hadn’t really wanted Malachai to leave. She longed for someone to talk to, someone to spend time with. But she was certain she’d done to the right thing. She still wanted to honor her vows, and she didn’t want to anger Aztos or the other demons.
She collected her book and went inside. Though it wasn’t even noon, Beth was suddenly very tired. She went to lie down on the bed, and she fell asleep clutching Aztos’ pillow close to her heart.
It was dark when she was awakened by the sound of movement in the bedroom. She must have been asleep for hours. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and she saw Aztos standing over her.
“Aztos!” she shrieked, throwing her arms around him and holding him close.
“Hello, Elizabeth,” he said calmly. “I trust you have been keeping your promise to stay home?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied. “I’ve never been further than the mailbox, and I’ve spent some time in the swing on the porch.”
“Good,” he said, and he wrapped his arms around her obligingly. “Has your fallen angel made contact?”
She had hoped he would not ask the question, but now that he had, she felt a duty to be truthful.
“Yes, he stopped by today,” she admitted, and she felt Aztos’ muscles tense beneath her arms. “But I sent him away.”
“You did not invite him inside our home, did you?” Aztos asked, the tension still gripping every muscle in his body.
“No, of course not. I was on the swing when he showed up. He stood on the steps, but I didn’t invite him onto the porch. He didn’t come close to me. I asked him to leave, and he did.”
Finally, Aztos began to relax. In fact, he gripped her more tightly, and he noticed how sweet and pleasant her hair smelled.
“Thank you,” Aztos breathed into her hair.
“I made you a promise. I would not break it.”
“Beth, there is something I want to say to you. I do not want you to take it the wrong way. Will you promise to take what I say at face value, and not try to read anything more into it?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“I wanted to apologize for the way I treated you – for saying you mean nothing to me and that our marriage is a sham. I should not have said such things. It was wrong, and it was said out of anger.”
“But you meant those things,” Beth said, and it was not a question.
“Perhaps I did, but it was wrong of me to say them. I apologize. You did not deserve to be treated that way.”
Beth released her embrace, and stepped backward, glaring at the floor.
“I understand that is not what you wished to hear from me,” Aztos said. “But it was the truth.”
“No, I understand. Thank you for your apology. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’d like to take a bath.”
“Of course,” he responded.
Beth yanked some random clothing out of her dresser drawers and rushed into the bathroom. She slammed the door behind her, and turned on the water. She tossed the clothing onto the counter, and sat on the toilet lid as she watched the water slowly filling the tub.
Every time it seemed she had some hope for her and Aztos – every time he showed the slightest sign of having feelings for her – she would feel some hope. Even the tiniest signs he cared, like the possibility of jealousy, or the tightening of his embrace, gave her some hope. But he would always rip it away again.
She slipped into the tub and cringed at the hot temperature. As she slowly lowered herself into the scalding water, she began to feel better. The stinging pain of the water helped distract her from the emotional turmoil that raged inside her.
Beth closed her eyes and leaned back, enjoying the feel of the water wrapping around her like the comfort of a mother’s womb. She sighed, and tried desperately to think of something pleasant. Yet, there was nothing pleasant in existence for her. A light tapping sound interrupted her momentary relaxation.
“Yes?” she called.
“Elizabeth, may I come in?” Aztos called.
She pulled the shower curtain closed.
“Yes, I suppose so,” she answered.
The door opened, and Aztos cautiously entered the room.
“Elizabeth, we need to talk,” he said.
“Can’t it wait until I get out of here?” she asked him.
“It could, but I would prefer to get this over with right now,” he told her. “While I still have the nerve.”
“Alright,” she said, pulling the shower curtain open slightly to she could see him. “Talk.”
“I understand that you need more than I can give you,” Aztos said. “And I am sorry for that. I will allow you to speak to this fallen angel if it makes you feel better, but you must be careful. If you are seen, I cannot protect you. Do you understand?”
“I understand, but…”
“You will have to visit with him only here at our home. Other demons will not invade our privacy here, so you will be safe to meet him.”
“Yes, but…”
“And you understand that our wedding vows cannot be broken.”
“Of course. I would never…”
“Then the matter is settled,” Aztos interrupted her. “I will allow you to have this… fallen angel… as a friend to keep you company. Nothing more. Is that understood?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I have no wish to make you miserable, Elizabeth. I cannot make you happy, but I do not wish to force you into a life of misery or solitude.”
“Thank you,” Beth said sincerely. “And you have my word, Aztos. I will never break our vows.”
“I believe you,” he agreed, and then he breezed from the room and closed the do
or behind him.
Now she would be free to see Malachai whenever she wanted. As long as they spent their time together at her home, the demons would never know. Finally, she could have a friend.
The door opened a crack, and Aztos added, “One more favor?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“I do not wish to see him here. When I arrive home, he must leave immediately.”
Confused, Beth agreed, “Alright, no problem.”
The door closed again, and Beth sank down into the rapidly cooling water. She was certain she would never understand Aztos, but at least she would finally have someone to talk to.
Chapter Eleven
The sun was just rising above the trees, casting a golden hue across the lawn. Beth lounged in the swing, reading a book and nibbling baby carrots. She was, of course, hoping Malachai would stop by and see her. Aztos was away, potentially for as long as three days, and she would have plenty of time to spend with her friend.
By noon, he hadn’t shown up. She started to wonder if perhaps he’d found someone else to spend time with, or that maybe their connection had been broken and he could no longer feel it when she was thinking of him.
In the early afternoon, Beth decided to go inside. She finished the book she was reading, and her stomach was gnawing with hunger. She fumbled about the kitchen, searching for something to eat, but she couldn’t find anything she was interested in. She sighed heavily, and sifted through takeout menus.
A knock at the door startled her. No one ever visited their home at the end of the winding country lane, except for the occasional package delivery. Beth peeked through the peephole in the door, but she saw nothing. She rolled her eyes and sighed, wondering who could possibly be pulling a prank out in the middle of nowhere.
She had just started to walk away when she heard a weak knock. Her stomach twisted horribly, and she suddenly felt as though her legs might give out. She grabbed the doorknob and tried to steady herself. She could hardly breathe, though she was at a loss to explain why. Again, she heard the light tap, and it reminded her she’d intended to open the door. Weakly, she turned the doorknob and tugged at the door, which now seemed ten times heavier than ever before.
“Malachai!” she gasped.