by Rue Volley
“Demon blood will do that,” Asmodeus said.
Selina shook her head. “Holy shit. Your great-grandmother couldn’t have children, so she summoned a demon.”
“Who sired your grandfather,” Asmodeus added.
“Wow. After thirty-five years of wondering why I’m not normal.” Anya laughed. “I finally know.”
“So, you could sense that he’s a demon?” Selina asked, pointing to Asmodeus.
“Yeah. I just knew.” Anya paused again before asking, “Why are you guys here?”
“That is a loaded question,” Asmodeus said.
“It’s about that summoning spell you gave me.”
“I’m Asmodeus, by the way.”
He extended his hand in greeting and Anya flinched.
“You summoned demonic royalty?!”
Selina couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How the fuck did you know that?”
Anya couldn’t seem to stop staring at the demon prince. “I’ve studied some demonology, you knew about it, you’ve seen the books in my room.”
“You said you scanned some old books, not memorized the names of demon royalty.”
“He’s the ruler of Lust. He governs seventy-two legions of inferior spirits.”
The demon’s grin was ravishing. “Careful, you’ll make me blush.”
Anya extended her hand this time, and they shook.
“Tell me exactly what you did,” she said to Selina, regaining her composure.
Anya knelt at the coffee table and flipped through the grimoire until she found the right spell. Selina recounted her actions slowly and Anya followed along, looking at the page and nodding.
“Wait a minute,” Anya said. “Repeat that again.”
“I summon thee for the fulfillment of my deepest desires.”
“That’s exactly how you said it?”
Selina put her hands on her hips. “Yes, exactly.”
“Fuck me,” Anya said, raising both eyebrows. “Take a look at this.”
She pointed to the last words on the page. Asmodeus leaned close and when his arm brushed hers, Anya shivered.
“Sorry,” he said. “My powers are not fully awakened in this world. I never know how much to hold back.”
The witch smiled. “No need to apologize. If not for the way Selina looks at you, I’d ask you to do it again.”
“Anya,” Selina said, shocked.
“Look at this,” Anya repeated, tapping the page. “You left out the most important word. The spell reads, ‘my deepest sexual desires.’ You left out sexual.”
“Hmm,” Asmodeus said, sitting back in the chair closest to the fireplace.
“I can’t believe I did that,” Selina said.
She sat on the couch and stared into the hearth. It was a chilly day and she welcomed the warmth. At that moment she noticed the small cauldron dangling over the fire.
“Making potions?” she asked Anya.
“For a protection spell, yes.”
“Well, we may be in need of that, if I interpret this omitted word business correctly,” the demon said.
“Please, enlighten us,” Anya said.
He sat up straighter and adjusted the front of his frock coat. Even under the alarming circumstances Selina could only take her eyes off him for a few moments at a time.
“First of all, I suppose you should know why I was in Hell to start with. Unless your book of demonology told you that too?” He didn’t sound sarcastic. According to the bits and pieces Anya had read to her, some of those books did tell the life stories of a few demons.
Anya shook her head.
He paused as if searching for the right words. When he finally spoke, the emotion in his voice tugged at Selina’s heart.
“I fell in love with the wrong king’s wife. When he found out about our affair, he didn’t want me dead; he wanted me punished. The king struck a deal with a sorcerer who was previously his enemy. He said it was worth it, just to have me cursed. The sorcerer opened a portal and sent me to Hell still wearing my mortal skin. Trust me when I say this is worse than your spirit going alone. I died a thousand deaths working my way up through the ranks. And eventually, I had my revenge on the sorcerer when he joined me in Hell. While I tortured him, I learned something. There was a counter for his curse, a cure of sorts. Love got me into Hell and only love can get me out. As for the torture, it’s not something I’m proud of. You do what you have to in order to survive in Hell. Having to hurt others was part of my damnation.”
Selina was fascinated. Anya looked ready to ask questions, but he put up a hand to stop her.
“I have to find someone who is willing to accept me, to love me in spite of what I am. They must let me impart a piece of my soul to them through a kiss. Now, that is a lot to ask. It would make them part demon and bind us together for all eternity. I would be free to live here on earth. Whoever freed me wouldn’t be able to back out of it if I pissed them off later. There is no divorcing a demon.”
The women laughed at the tone of his last words. Clearly he was trying to lighten the mood, but he was also telling the truth. That much was evident.
He made eye contact with Selina. “That is a lot to ask,” she agreed.
He nodded. “I heard your call not only because you are powerful, but because you were looking for much more than sex. Your omission of the word sexual could’ve been an accident, or it could be fate.”
“Wow,” Anya said.
Asmodeus continued to focus on Selina. “I have been summoned to fulfill your deepest desires. All of them that are within my power. Until I have completed this task, we will have to keep the hounds at bay.”
He shook his head. “I nearly forgot. Anya, have you noticed any thing or anyone strange around your house?”
She looked surprised. “As a matter of fact, yeah. I swear I saw a werewolf at the edge of the woods this morning. It doesn’t make any sense though. I’ve got wolfsbane growing in several places around the yard.”
“Anything else?” he asked.
She hesitated. “You’ll think I’m crazy.”
Asmodeus sighed and gave her an irritated (yet still charming) look.
“Fine. It was really early. The sun was behind him, and I’d been harvesting some strong mushrooms.”
“What did you see?” Selina pressed.
“He was all wolfed out, and he … looked like he was on fire.”
“Shrooms, huh?” Selina asked.
Asmodeus didn’t seem surprised. “That was no werewolf. You saw a hellhound.
“A what?” the women asked together.
“You mean they’re real?” Selina asked. “I thought they were supposed to have three heads.”
“That is Cerberus. He is a specific hellhound, and yes, he has three heads.”
“Motherfucker.”
“He’s that too, but I don’t believe we are dealing with Cerberus.”
“What are we dealing with?” Selina asked.
“I’ll let you know once I confirm my suspicions. But a flaming werewolf is the form hellhounds take when they aren’t wearing their human skin. Wolfsbane has no effect. You might want to get to work immediately on those protection spells,” he said the last to Anya. “And Selina, you and I should go do the same at your house.”
“This is unreal,” Anya said, walking them to the door. “You do realize what a fucked up fairy tale this sounds like, right?”
The smile Asmodeus turned to Anya made Selina quiver, and it wasn’t even directed at her.
“How do you get the term fairy tale out of this?” he asked.
Anya put her hands on her narrow hips and glared at him playfully. “You really don’t see it? I know that demons can observe humans, even though we are in different dimensions. It’s plain from your patterns of speech and sense of humor that you are more than acquainted with mankind. I know things have changed a lot since you were human, but you must have learned about fairy tales. Everyone knows the basics, don’t they?”
“All fairy tales, no matter how grim, no pun intended, usually involve a curse. And what is the ultimate curse breaker? True love’s kiss. You said that your curse could be broken through a kiss.”
“Sure. A kiss that passes part of my demonic soul to another person. That’s not exactly a gift and it certainly would make an awful bedtime story.”
Anya looked pleased with herself. “It’s still true love’s kiss.”
“You think so?” he asked.
“It has to be. Who the fuck would take on part of a demon’s soul if they didn’t love them?”
Asmodeus gave her a playful smirk and turned toward the door. He didn’t comment and Selina couldn’t think of anything to say. She was still absorbing everything he’d just shared with them.
“I’m serious about those protection spells,” he said. “Get out all the salt you have in the house and pour it in front of all the doorways and windows. You probably already know this, but it will keep demons out. Oh, and put it across the hearth on your fireplace too.”
“But what if you need to get back in?” Anya asked.
He winked. “Do you think something like salt works on someone like me?”
They had barely stepped onto the porch when Selina sensed a change in the air. This time she noticed something was wrong too. Asmodeus scanned the tree line as he said, “Stay here. Get back inside.”
The smell of sulfur was strong on the cold breeze. “Has the hound returned?” she asked, backing toward the door.
Anya wrapped her arms around Selina from behind and pulled her close.
“Get the salt,” Asmodeus repeated.
The witches scrambled to do as he said. Anya used salt for casting circles and always had a supply. She climbed onto the kitchen counter in order to reach the top shelf, no time to bother with a chair. She tossed down a box to Selina.
“Go get the doors,” she said. “I should have enough to do the windows.” She grabbed a second box of salt and jumped down, running toward the living room.
Selina poured a salt line along the ledge of the kitchen window simply because she was standing right beside it. Next, she raced for the back door. She had just begun to pour salt over the threshold at the front (the door was still open) when she saw Asmodeus standing in the middle of the yard, not far from the front steps. In front of him was what could only be described as a seven-foot-tall flaming werewolf.
“By the goddess,” Anya gasped, looking out the living room window. “I wasn’t high from gathering shrooms. I swear, I thought I must have accidentally come in contact with a spore or something.”
She was rambling. It’s what she did under pressure and Selina was used to it.
“Close the door,” Anya said, coming to stand beside her.
“I should, but I want to hear what’s going on,” Selina said.
Her friend gave an incredulous look. “You’re going to get killed over being nosy?”
“Shut up. Whatever that thing is, it can’t cross this line.”
“Unless the wind blows the salt away.”
“Shit.”
Anya grabbed a long skinny pillow-looking thing from behind the door and placed it in front of the salt.
“It’s used to keep the draft out,” she explained. “It’ll protect the salt from the wind.”
The flaming werewolf moved closer and smoke rose from his footsteps.
“He’s killing my damn grass!” Anya said.
“Samael,” Asmodeus said. “I should’ve known Azazel would send you. You always were his favorite hound.”
The hound cocked his head to the side and Selina got a good look at his teeth. She guessed he was attempting to smile.
“You’re lucky, Mo. He only sent me to warn you this time.”
“My ass. He’s pissed that I answered the call before he could. How long has it been now since he got to walk free? Two thousand years?”
“Shut up,” Samael snapped. He flicked his wolf tongue as if licking his lips. “If you do not heed his warning, I will feast on your soul.”
“You are not a match for me.”
“Maybe not when last we fought, but I am stronger now. Besides, your absence leaves Lust with an empty throne. Your legions grow restless.”
“If I leave, I have the right to choose my successor, and I already have. A thousand years ago when I kicked your ass for trying to take my throne. You will never have it, Samael.”
“Unless I kill you,” he growled. “When that happens you lose all rights and your chosen bitch loses all privileges. I’ll have Valefar licking the shit from the floors of the lowest pit, not assuming the throne of Lust.”
Asmodeus seemed unfazed, at least as far as Selina could tell.
“By the time Azazel gives you leave to put a hand on me, my powers will be stronger. I think you should spend that time sharpening your claws.”
“Fuck you.” Samael chuckled and it was a frightening sound. Smoke and sparks billowed from his mouth and a sound like crackling fire blended with his laughter. “Being pulled through a portal by request is a lot different than having time to prepare for the journey on your own. I didn’t have to wait for my powers to awaken. You have been here long enough to fulfill any slut’s desire. Have your ass back in Hell in two days, or I will return.”
“Throw a fucking tea party if you like, have some fun while I’m gone. It doesn’t matter. I’m not going back.”
Samael looked right at Selina and her blood ran cold. His eyes flamed to life in an entirely different and sinister way than when Asmodeus looked at her.
“You will not break his curse witch,” he said, his voice deep and threatening. “Three days is the maximum time allowed for a demon who has been summoned to fulfill desires. That is not enough time to love him. It isn’t possible.” His grin was evil, especially on that awful werewolf face. “Make no mistake; you would have to love him to accept part of what he is. This,” he said, gesturing toward Asmodeus, “is only window dressing. If you still want him after he takes off his makeup, now that’s love.”
“How do you know I’m the one who summoned him?” she asked.
Samael looked as surprised as Selina felt when she spoke. Where did she get the nerve to speak to a hellhound? And how was her voice so steady?
“I can feel it when you look at him,” he answered. Then, he turned his attention back to Asmodeus. “No one will accept The Eternal Kiss, not willingly. They never do. And if you force her, you lose and she is cursed.”
“I’ve done a lot of things,” Asmodeus said. “But I have never forced a woman to do anything.”
“You have tortured many women,” the hellhound pointed out.
Asmodeus didn’t flinch, but Selina could feel his reaction somehow. He was disturbed to have tortured anyone at all. As he’d pointed out, it was part of his damnation.
To the hound he replied coolly, “All in a day’s work, and never in a sexual context.”
The hound waved one long-fingered hand as if brushing aside the comment. “Technicalities. My point is you are well and thoroughly fucked. It’s called damnation for a reason. Get used to it.”
His fur, which seemed to be living flame, moved on the smoke filled breeze as Samael turned his back. “By the way,” he called over his shoulder, “yesterday counted as your first day.”
He took two more steps and disappeared.
“What the fuck?!” Anya yelled as Asmodeus turned back to face them.
“That was Samael, top enforcer for Azazel, another prince of Hell, ruler of the seventh circle, to be exact.”
“Violence? He’s the ruler of Violence?” Selina asked.
“That’s just great,” Anya said. “Now you want to tell me what Samael was doing in my yard?”
“My guess is he was tracking the scent of your spells. He’d be looking for places where a portal was recently opened. You don’t live that far from
Selina. He found your place first.”
Anya looked really upset by this news and Selina couldn’t blame her.
“Don’t worry,” he added, walking back onto the porch. “Next time, he’ll come to Selina’s house.”
Chapter Four
“I think it’s time you leveled with me,” Asmodeus said.
Selina watched him over the table. They were eating from a bowl of fresh cherries. She couldn’t bring herself to cook, but needed some food to settle her stomach. Recent events had left her pretty shaken.
“What do you want to know?” she asked. “I think I’ve been pretty straight-forward with you.”
He leaned forward and slipped out of his coat. When he looked up at her again instead of burning lust, the look in his eyes was kind. It was also very compelling. Passion was what she expected. She was prepared to resist him long enough to answer his questions. However, she was not prepared for compassion. Selina felt her eyes stinging with unshed tears and he hadn’t even asked a question yet. What the fuck was going on with her? She was never this emotional. Selina had never been one of those people who cried over greeting card commercials or got all worked up when she had PMS. That’s not to say she didn’t feel things or show emotion. She simply wasn’t an overly emotional person. That is, until Asmodeus answered her summons. Something about him awakened feelings she could not express. Maybe that was why she wanted to cry? He made her feel like her emotions were overflowing.
“What is it you really want?” he said softly.
“I knew it,” she said. “I knew you would ask that.” She braced herself and tried to maintain her composure as she confessed, “I just want to be loved. I’ve dated so many guys.” She paused and wiped a few tears. “Wow. That sounds bad. I feel like I’m missing something. Not because I’m alone, but like a part of me is missing. I’ve always sensed that it was out there somewhere, this connection that I’m supposed to have. That probably sounds desperate and needy, and every other thing in the world that I’m afraid of sounding like, but it’s the truth.”