Revelation: Trinity Part 1

by Gemma Humphrey

  He was cut off as Christian hauled him away, moving to stand between them.

  “Time’s up,” he sneered, his eyes flashing darker and more hostile than Rose had ever seen.

  Nate glared, his whole demeanour changing as he shrugged out of the taller man’s grip with an irritated jerk. They stared at each other, shoulders squared, tension building between them, and Rose reached out to Christian, intending to pull him away. Nate caught the movement and something in his eyes seemed to break at the sight of it, pain washing through him, before a hopeless anger burned through his veins.

  “I hope you’re ready Guardian,” he spat, his eyes blazing. He smiled maliciously before turning to Rose, seeming to drink her in.

  “I tried,” he said sadly, before spinning on his heels and storming off.

  Rose watched his leave before turning to Christian, his sudden hostility replaced by concern.

  “Are you alright?” he asked, pulling her into his arms and moving back out onto the dance floor. Rose nodded as Christian’s gaze searched through the dancers, stress bleeding from every pore. He sighed in relief as Ben and Ana twirled over.

  “What happened?” Ben asked anxiously, “What did he want?”

  “Rose?” Ana prompted when Rose didn’t answer straight away.

  “He wanted me to leave with him,” Rose shrugged in confusion, “He said that she was coming … and he couldn’t stop it.”

  “She?” Ben glanced at Ana who shrugged uncomprehendingly.

  “Did he say anything else?” Christian looked worried, but Rose shook her head.

  “He was… strange,” she said, “Anxious.”

  “Is it a trick?” Ana asked as Ben moved them closer, “It would be just like him to try and ruin our night.” She huffed as Ben rubbed soothing circles into her back.

  “I don’t know,” Rose frowned, “He seemed genuine, but … then it wouldn’t be the first time he’s fooled me.” She shot a quick glance to Christian who continued to look about, his mouth drawn in a thin line.

  “Dance,” he said after a moment, “Act normal, but stay close. We’ve got no reason to believe he’s not just messing with us.” He glowered for a moment, “But keep an eye out all the same.”

  Ben nodded and whirled Ana away. Rose could see him reassuring her as she continued to look around nervously.

  ***

  Nate watched Rose and Christian dance, frustrated at their indifference to his warning.

  “Nice try,” Elle smirked as she came up beside him, “I was hoping you’d manage to get her outside at least.” She grinned at Nate’s expression, “But, once again, she’s shown a remarkable level of disinterest in you.”

  “I didn’t do it for you,” Nate seethed through his teeth.

  “Oh I know,” Elle flashed him a cold smile that said he wasn’t forgiven just yet. She leaned behind him to pluck a dainty little chocolate from a tray being offered around by a boy in a tux, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied smirk in his direction.

  Nate turned back to watch the dancers, ignoring the hand placed lightly at his back.

  “Look at the happy couple,” Elle murmured, her breath tickling his ear, “So sweet.”

  He maintained his stony expression, feeling her cheek lift up in a smirk as it brushed against his.

  “Let’s dance.”

  Nate dutifully held out his hand, walking her out onto the floor. Looking around as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, he began to see familiar faces weaving amongst the crowds. Dark, cruel faces that revelled in death and destruction – and he steeled himself for what would follow.

  ***

  Rose turned to Christian as she heard him sigh.

  “I don’t know what to do,” he admitted finally, meeting her gaze, “If he’s telling the truth and you get hurt…” He pulled her tighter.

  “He’s not,” she insisted, scowling in the direction Nate had departed, “He’s just being Nate.”

  Despite her words, Rose couldn’t help but feel uneasy. She glanced around, feeling the happy atmosphere darken. A pop of a champagne cork and the laughter that followed had her wheeling around in fright, and she searched the room with new eyes; what once seemed bright and happy turning sinister and garish.

  She felt Christian stiffen in her arms but was too busy trying to drown out the steadily rising noise around her – a cacophony of music and laughter. It threatened to fill her head, leaving no room for softly spoken words, yet Rose heard every syllable that Christian uttered as if he’d spoken directly into her ear:

  “They’re here.”

  She registered the horror in his tone long before she understood the reason for it, seeing only brief, blurred movement in her periphery. She blinked to focus on the auras around her and gasped in shock as the room took on an ominous black glow, reflecting off the pressed white of the tablecloths.

  Christian reached out, grabbing her face in his hands and turning it towards his.

  “Don’t look,” he hissed. “Keep your eyes on me.”

  Rose tried to hold his gaze as he began moving them through the crowds to the exit, but she was drawn to the flickering lights around her. Unable to stop herself, she turned.

  The lights in the tent flickered dimly, throwing shadows across the faces of the dancers who, already bathed in black light, laughed and smiled as maleficence seeped between them, oozing around them like a thick black fog. Rose’s blood seized in her veins as all the breath left her lungs.

  Creatures waltzed through the crowds, flitting between beautiful and grotesque as they closed in around her. Exquisite beings with flawless features, their bright human smiles widening and distorting into stretched grimaces and swollen faces, eyes bulging and bones reshaping into monstrous forms before subsiding and reverting to their former beauties.

  Christian pulled her towards him, dragging her eyes away from the aberrations around her.

  “It’s not real Rose,” he said, resting his forehead to hers, “It’s a glamour,” he glanced up briefly as he spoke, “designed to frighten you.”

  Tremors ran through her body in response, the fabric of her dress rippling. “It’s working,” she whispered clinging to Christian, fingers clenching in the fabric of his shirt.

  Christian wrapped his arms around her before motioning to Ben and a stricken Ana to follow. He pushed through the crowds, ignoring the disgruntled looks and murmurs that followed in his wake.

  ***

  They’d reached the exit when Christian pulled up short, hauling Rose behind him in one sudden movement. Rose watched over his shoulder as Nate released the waist of the woman he’d been dancing with. She twirled gracefully forward to block their way before dropping his hand.

  Nate stepped back once they were no longer in contact, blending into the shadow that the flickering lights provided. Rose tried to meet his eyes, but he refused to look up and she turned her attention to the woman he’d released instead. The she he’d spoken of.

  She was beautiful. Immaculate blonde curls framed her pretty features, her skin a clear, delicate pink under the twinkling lights. The olive green silk of her single strap, floor length gown matched her eyes and showed off her hourglass curves, and she moved with a sensual confidence that left Rose no doubt that this was a woman who got what she wanted with very little effort.

  But despite that, there was a coldness to her. It radiated through the perfection of her features and carefully sculpted body, marring her beauty with hardened edges and a stony countenance. Her black aura deemed her a threat but Rose felt nothing but quiet amusement from the woman who seemed intent on blocking their way.

  Confused as to what had caused Christian to stop, she felt for his reaction to her. He was wary – but not yet afraid.

  “My, my,” the woman’s voice washed over them as she stepped forward, shaking Rose out of her assessment. Her dress rustled around her ankles as she looked to Rose. “I must confess your rejection of Nathaniel’s considerable talents,” she smiled intima
tely as if they were sharing a private joke, “Had left me confused. But perhaps now I see your dilemma.” Her eyes trailed greedily over Christian as she spoke, crossing to stand in front of him. Her spitefully high heels – just a shade darker than her dress – made them almost the same height.

  “Tell me Guardian,” she smiled coquettishly, tilting her head as she trailed a finger down the front of his shirt. “Are you as strong as you look?”

  Christian tensed but didn’t move, the slight tightening of his fingers where they held Rose behind him the only indication he’d noticed the woman’s close proximity.

  Rose, on the other hand, glared openly and tried to tug Christian out of her reach. The movement earned her a brief appraising glance, as though she was being sized up as competition. It was clear she’d been deemed lacking as the bright green eyes returned to Christian, who was sliding Rose back behind him, taking a step out of the woman’s reach. Noticing her gaze was back on him, he raised his chin in defiance, but stopped.

  “The strong, silent type, I see.” She smirked, her eyes never dropping Christian’s gaze. She placed a perfectly manicured finger between her lips as she looked him up and down approvingly. “How intriguing.” She released her finger after a pause and used it to beckon Nate towards her, not bothering to look in his direction.

  Nate’s mouth thinned into a tight line but he did as he was bid, moving until he was a step behind her. Rose felt irritation as it flashed through him – he’d all but rolled his eyes – and wondered if this show of deference was deliberate. She sought his gaze but, once again, he refused to acknowledge her, looking instead, to the woman who seemingly controlled him.

  “Rose, why don’t you step out from behind your Guardian’s shadow?” the woman invited with a wave of her hand.

  Christian’s arms tightened, holding her in place, and the woman’s eyes dropped to Christian’s arms, noticing his slight movement.

  “Oh, come now, I only want to take a look.” She smiled brightly, “She’ll be safe with me.” Her eyes flashed as they held Christian’s, daring him to dispute her words.

  Frustration washed through him, but he held it in check as the hold on her slowly lessened, his arms dropping to his sides, hands clenched into tight fists. Taking it as her cue, Rose stepped around him and placed herself in the space between. She squared her shoulders, meeting the woman’s eye, determined to show her that she wasn’t afraid.

  The woman smirked, her head turning towards Nate. “You were right about one thing,” she acknowledged in his direction, “She is brave. Weak,” she shrugged, “But brave.”

  “Who are you?” Rose asked.

  The woman’s eyebrows shot up in mild surprise, “Forgive me, how rude.” She took a step forward, pausing as she noticed Christian, in the process of removing his jacket and rolling his shirt sleeves up his forearms, do the same.

  “My name is Beelzebub, but you may call me Elle,” she added graciously. Her skirts rustling as she took another step, putting her within touching distance of Rose.

  Rose didn’t have to hear Christian’s sharp intake of breath, or feel the panic, the fear, that rushed through him. Nor did she have to see the way his posture tensed, shoulders quivering as he controlled the desire to grab her and run.

  Rose didn’t have to do any of that, because she had recognised the name and her body had reacted in kind; blood quickening in her veins as her heart slammed against her rib cage.

  The woman who stood before her, politely waiting for her revelation to sink in, was no other than Lucifer’s second in command.

  Beelzebub. The Lord of the Flies.

  Lady, Rose corrected, staring stonily ahead as the woman now known as Elle, chuckled silkily.

  “It appears your Guardian may have heard of me.” She beamed as he glared, breathing hard as adrenalin pooled in his system. She goaded him further by reaching out and tucking a stray strand of hair behind Rose’s ear in a maternal fashion.

  Christian lurched forward, his expression furious as one hand rested firmly above the line of Rose’s dress – a parody of his earlier, gentler gesture. The other reached across her shoulders, as if he would tear her away at any moment.

  Nate made the same move, jerking forward involuntarily before catching himself, his eyes wide as they flicked to Rose’s face for just an instant.

  Elle, noticing that Rose had her eyes fixed over her shoulder, smiled in satisfaction.

  “I’m afraid you’ve just shown your hand there, Nathaniel.” Her eyes flashed in amusement as she turned her head to face him, “I did wonder how long you would resist trying to protect her.” She smiled indulgently before turning back to Rose, “Not that it will help.”

  Rose felt Christian’s hands tighten and turned in response, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of the demons moving towards her.

  Outwardly, they were beautiful, having dropped their earlier party trick, but animosity and contempt rolled off them in waves, assaulting Rose’s senses and filling her mind with the bitter taste of their malevolence.

  Christian waited, his eyes darting from one to the other, assessing each in turn, but Rose, clinging to his protective strength, realised that there were more than twenty, each one grinning at the promise of an easy fight. Knowing that she was their goal, she did the only thing she could think of to stop a meaningless massacre of the humans around her – oblivious as they were to the dangers that surrounded them.

  She shifted to Purgatory, holding tightly to Christian so that he would follow.

  ***

  Beelzebub. Ben knew that name, and recognised the desperation in Christian’s eyes as he’d understood exactly who they were dealing with – dimly acknowledging the irony of her preferred moniker.

  He watched in horror as Rose and Christian disappeared, leaving behind the absurd crowd of beautiful malice that had been slowly creeping up around them, and the legendary Lady of the Flies.

  Knowing that he couldn’t follow made the bottom drop out of his stomach, feeling helpless like never before as his feet moved him towards the spot that they’d inhabited only moments ago.

  Ana tugged him back, her eyes wide and pleading, demanding that he not draw attention to himself. Ben exhaled before stepping back, knowing he’d be no help to Rose dead – if he could be any help at all.

  He pulled Ana to his chest, dimly aware that she was shaking, as the mob turned in unison to face the woman in green, waiting for her signal to follow. He scowled as his gaze met Nate’s, hating him for all that he’d done to bring this about – but the pained look he received back was so unexpected that he stopped, eyebrows raised in surprise.

  Nate seemed to consider him before nodding resolutely, his face setting into a determined line as, at a click of the woman’s manicured fingers, the group of demons blinked out of existence.

  Beelzebub turned to Nate, and he held out a dutiful hand. His eyes flashed to Ben’s as he waited for her to accept, and the look he shot him was easy to read. Stay out of the way.

  Ben had no chance to acknowledge it before they too, disappeared.

  “Ben.” Ana’s voice was a whisper as she held tight to his arm, “What do we do?”

  Ben swallowed hard, the lump in his throat tasting of fear. “We wait.”

  24

  Rose held tightly to Christian as they waited for the demons to transition to Purgatory, knowing they only had seconds to prepare. Her senses were on high alert as she took in the washed out scene around them. The Ball continued as though nothing out of the ordinary was happening, as though she wasn’t about to engage in a fight straight out of Hell.

  She felt only relief as she caught sight of Ben and Ana, their eyes staring through her as they looked on helplessly. She was glad that they couldn’t follow. Glad that they wouldn’t be involved in all that was to come, knowing that they would be spared if this ended badly.

  Demons began morphing into colour around them, and Rose turned to Christian, pulling him to her in a desperate kiss
– just in case. Christian kissed her back just as urgently, holding her tight against him, before tensing in her arms.

  Rose knew without turning that Elle had arrived, but refused to give her the satisfaction of an acknowledgement, choosing instead to focus on Christian, reaching up with both hands to touch his face. Understanding, Christian rested his forehead against hers.

  “How sweet,” drawled a voice from behind, amusement evident in her tone, “The last embrace.”

  Christian barely spared a glance in her direction, noting the crowd drawing ever closer around them, before he focused back in on Rose.

  “You need to run,” he said fiercely, the blue of his eyes shadowed, “As soon as you get the chance, get out of here.”

  Rose shook her head, her hands gripping him tighter. “I won’t leave you,” She refused the tears that threatened to fall, “We do this together.”

  Christian turned her face towards his, and she could tell it took all his strength to remain gentle as desperation rushed through him.

  “This is what I’m made for,” he hissed through a clench of teeth, “I will protect you – but you need to get out. Get away. Take Ben and Ana –”

  Rose reached up and kissed him hard on the mouth, stopping him from finishing his request, “No.”

  There was no way she was going to run. No way could she ever let him fight for her like this, to face the monsters that she’d summoned, alone. Instead, she called the static into her body, letting it fill her up, fill her to the core. It coiled and condensed inside of her until she thought she might burst from the pressure.

  Throwing her arms out wide, she forced it from her in a single wave, propelling every demon that had prowled so menacingly around them through the air. They seemed to barely miss the black and white dancers where they struck the ground twenty feet away. Rose exhaled along with it, feeling the static tremble through her fingertips as she maintained her grip on the final thread of current.

  She grinned, wide-eyed and breathless, at the burst of hope that pulsed through Christian as he watched them fall. He turned to gaze at her, as if seeing her for the first time.