by Robin Roseau
"Is this drugged?"
"Yes. There's chamomile in it." She offered the ghost of a smile. "It's only tea, Teigan."
I sipped while trying to glare at the demon. She didn't seem fazed. "What have you been doing to her?"
"What you mean to ask is why is she like that, yes?"
"Yes."
"The day she tried to kill me, I restrained her. You can imagine, I was quite angry. You may not guess, but I was also deeply hurt. I thought we were friends."
She waited, but I had no empathy for her.
"I hurt her, a little, but not the ways you mean. I was rough with her, rougher than I absolutely needed to be, and she came away from the encounter with a few bruises from the way I held her. But I did not hit her, and I'm not sure it would even qualify as police brutality, if I were a police officer. She resisted arrest, so to speak."
"I imagine she did."
"I then locked her in a cell -- an actual cell, dank and airless -- and I left her there until I calmed down. That took two days. It is not a pleasant place, and she was screaming to be let out long before I returned to her. But while it was deeply unpleasant, I did not unduly abuse her."
"That came later."
"That hasn't come at all," the demon said. "Do you want to know why she's like that?"
"Yes."
"Guilt."
"What?"
"There is a joke -- based on a stereotype -- about Jewish mothers and guilt. Sometimes it is about the Catholic church and guilt instead." I nodded, having heard jokes based on those concepts. "Well, no one offers guilt like a demon offers guilt."
"Guilt."
"Yes. On the third day, I moved her to another cell. This one was still dingy and dark, but it was not quite so airless. And I set a television up outside the cell, and I gave her something to watch."
"What?"
"Whatever she wanted to watch. I gave her a remote that would let her change channels and adjust the volume, but only within certain limits, and she couldn't turn the television off. And periodically whatever she was watching would pause, and instead she would watch a short video of my choosing. For instance, I have a video of Karen describing how I rescued her and what I've done for her since. I have similar videos from perhaps twenty people or so, and most of them have given me more than one."
"Do they know-"
"No. There were move videos I made myself. Some of them were about the charities I support. Some were video of things she and I had done together. A few were philosophical discussions, recapping things she and I had discussed. I made several that only talked about how betrayed I felt."
The demon paused, sipping from her tea.
"I subjected Rachel to this treatment for most of the rest of that first week, non-stop, twenty-four hours a day. It took two days before her demands to be freed were replaced by apologies."
I looked away. I drank some of the tea. I never drank tea, but it was warm and comforting. I drank some more.
"Teigan," Evaline said gently, "she can leave the cage at any time. She can walk out of those rooms at any time. Oh, she wouldn't get very far, but she doesn't know that. She hasn't tried. Not once."
"That's more than guilt."
"Yes, well..." The demon paused. "She's convinced she is going to hell."
"Because she tried to kill you?"
"Partly. But also..." I looked up at Evaline. She wasn't looking at me. "She's grown fond of me."
"Fond of you."
"It's a euphemism," the demon said roughly. "Figure it out for yourself. She begs me to do things to her. She believes she's condemned now. She begs for those sorts of things from a demon, after all."
"How did that come about?"
"After just a few days of the videos, she was begging me to let her atone for what she had done. When I asked her how she expected to do that, she offered to serve me. I interpreted that in a particular fashion." The demon paused. "I haven't done so much as touch a virgin in four centuries."
I looked at her sharply. "You almost sound as if you feel guilty."
"I do. But that doesn't mean I've forgiven her."
"Did you rape her?"
"Once I put her in that second cell, I haven't done so much as touch her in a fashion she hasn't begged me to touch her. No, I didn't rape her."
I took a breath and held it before letting it out loudly. "Now what?"
"Now you call your former lover. You tell her you've met with Rachel, that she's okay, but that she doesn't intend to come home for a while. You may say she's healthy. You may say she seems happy to be where she is, and that when you offered to take her home, she begged to stay. You may say nothing else about her situation."
"That's not what I meant," I said. "But I understand. But what about her?"
"Yes, well. She hasn't paid for what she tried to do."
"She gave up her sanity for it!"
Evaline turned to face me directly, and her gaze was a little cold. "I am a demon. I make no apologies for that. It is not in my psyche to let her go unpunished. And she has not been fully punished."
"Will she ever be?"
"I don't know. There is punishment. And there must also be penance."
"How long. How long, Demon?"
She turned away. "I don't know."
"Years?"
"Probably."
"The rest of her life?"
"I don't know."
"Do you believe her apologies are heartfelt?"
"Yes. But it's not enough. When someone stands up in court and offers a heartfelt apology, does that relieve them of the punishment the judge is about to hand down?"
"Sometimes, if he believes it is heartfelt, and based on the nature of the crime. And the judge is never the wronged party."
"And so you would have me do what? Just hand her over? Do you think she would leave?"
I glared at her for a while.
"I need to know what to tell her family. When will they see her again?"
"And I am telling you: I do not have an answer to that question."
I made a disgusted sound, climbed to my feet, and began to pace the room. I kept a distance from the doors, lest the demon worry I was about to make a break for it. But I walked back and forth. "I wish you'd fed from me before I saw her."
"I considered it. Don't worry about that right now."
I spun to face her. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"Tell me what you think I should do with her."
"Let her go."
"Unpunished? I can't. So, how should I punish her?"
"She's paid."
"It's not enough!" the demon said. "It's not. I don't think it's enough, but worse, she doesn't think it's enough, either. And she requires penance. That's not for me. That's for her. She requires penance like a Catholic requires recitation of the Hail Mary. Until she believes she has paid for her crime both in punishment and penance, she believes she is doomed to an eternity in hell."
"Is she?"
"There is no agent of hell here to lay claim to her soul," Evaline replied. "But there is no angel here to save her, either."
"And so she sits in purgatory."
"That is her belief."
I stared and nodded. "This is not done," I said. "We are not done until she is free."
The demon nodded. "Understood."
* * * *
"Beth."
"Teigan. It's late. Are you all right?"
"Yes. I've seen Rachel."
Beth started crying, she immediately started crying.
"She's alive, Beth. She seems healthy. She seems good."
"When is she coming home?" Beth managed to ask.
"I don't know. She-" I glanced at the demo, who was watching me closely. "She made a mistake, Beth." Evaline frowned, but she didn't try to cut me off. "She's trying to pay for it."
"I don't understand. What kind of mistake? If she needs money-"
"It's not the kind of mistake you pay back with money," I said. "She's working on earning forgiv
eness."
"You told me she joined a cult."
"Beth, she's alive. We spoke. I offered to take her home. She told me 'no' in absolutely no uncertain terms. I think she's going to send a letter."
"I need to see her."
"That won't be possible, Beth. You're going to need to trust me."
Beth grew still. I heard her clean herself up a little. Then she said, "Trust you."
"Yes. I know it's hard."
"No, it's not," she said. "She's really okay?"
"I think she's going to be, but it may be some time, Beth. Months. Maybe longer."
"Longer."
"Maybe. I don't know." I paused. "Beth, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you have to let this go. Her family needs to let this go. You need to trust me."
"Isn't there anything else we can do?"
"I don't know. I'm trying."
"You don't have to protect me. She's my cousin, not yours."
"Beth, if there's anything further you can do, I'll let you know."
She didn't say anything for a while but finally asked, "Are you okay?"
"I will be."
"Am I going to need these papers we prepared?"
I glanced at the demon. "No, I don't believe so. I'm sorry I can't do more, Beth."
"She's alive. You've seen her. That's more than anyone else was able to do. Thank you, Teigan." She paused. "You sound stressed. Did you need to come over?"
"No," I said. "I'll call you next week." We both hung up, and I turned to the demon.
"You told her more than I authorized."
"I told her only enough to get her to drop it."
"Will she?"
"I don't know."
She pursed her lips, watching me. "You told her more than I authorized. I am not pleased."
I put a hand on my hip. "What are you going to do about it?"
"I could declare you in default. I could take your soul for however long I desire. Do you have any idea what that would mean?"
"Yes, I suppose I do."
She made a disgusted sound and looked away. "I am not pleased. I do not want to do that. I do not want to be angry at you. If I am angry at you, I will be forced to punish you. I don't want to do that, either."
She was seated. I crossed the room to her, lowered myself to one knee, and bowed my head. "I was doing the best I could."
I didn't look up, but I imagine she stared at the top of my head. "You don't offer an apology."
"No. I'd do it again."
She made another disgusted sound. "But you abase yourself to me."
"You have cause to be angry."
For a third time, she made a disgusted sound. "And if I ordered you to kiss my feet, would you?"
"Yes."
"Bah." She pushed me away with one hand. "Get up. You'll ruin the gown. Get up."
I stood, and then when she gestured, I took a seat. We stared at each other for a while. Finally she shook her head. "I don't want to be angry at you. I need you to answer yes to every question I am about to ask you. Are you going to let me feed from you?"
"Yes."
"When I indicate I am ready, will you ask me to feed from you?"
"Ask you to feed?" I thought about it. "Yes."
"I intend to seduce you. Will you be a willing participant?"
I looked her up and down then lowered my eyes. "Yes."
She paused then declared, "From now until I return you home, you will do exactly what I tell you without pause, without question. If you do, and you attempt to please me, I will consider this behind us."
I nodded. "Yes, Evaline."
"Good." She smiled then stood, holding out a hand. "Come with me."
Feeding
She had another bedroom besides the one where Rachel was staying. I asked about it.
"They are like separate apartments," she explained. She pointed. "The bathroom is there. It is well stocked, and there are fresh things for you. I want you to go in, take care of your needs, remove the makeup, and change into the clothing you find waiting for you. Return to me here when you are ready."
"I believe you owe me another favor or two."
She raised an eyebrow. "Small favors."
"Then I will let you decide." I stepped closer. "You are about to seduce me." She nodded. "Then perhaps you would kiss me while I'm still dressed in this amazing gown."
She smiled broadly before pulling me to her. We wrapped arms around me, and then she tipped me backwards before bringing her lips to mine.
As she had in all our other kisses, she controlled this kiss, and she controlled my body throughout the kiss as well. If I had struggled, as deeply as she held me, I would have fallen on my ass. But she held me easily, and she kissed me deeply.
It was an amazing kiss, a truly amazing, mind-blowing kiss. Finally she pulled me upright, but I clung to her.
"Wow," I said, speaking into her ear. "Does your demon magic make me forget the stress of the evening?"
"No, but perhaps the gifts of shared bodies will."
I kissed her ear. "Then I hope you'll make me forget."
"That is my intention."
* * * *
Waiting for me was a black teddy, a thin robe, and a pair of slippers along with the garment bag for the dress. I cleaned up and changed into the new clothing. Then I stared at myself in the mirror.
"This isn't your normal style, Teigan," I said. "But nothing about this is normal." I was sure the demon intended me to enjoy our time together -- perhaps to enjoy it far more than was good for me. I also didn't think she intended to hurt me.
And I had a debt to pay. I pay my debts. I took another breath and turned for the doorway.
Evaline was waiting for me, and she was dressed much as I was. She was stunning, with long, shapely legs, perfect hips, a flat stomach, and breasts I could bury myself in. Her hair was long and silky, and her skin as smooth as a baby's bottom. She was everything someone would want in a woman, and my body immediately knew it.
I moved closer, and she waited for me.
"Will you answer a question?"
"You may ask."
"Do you most enjoy making love like this?" I gestured. "Or looking the other way?"
She smiled, but it was clear she didn't intend to answer. Instead she asked her own question. "Do you find my other form intriguing?"
"Yes," I said, little more than a whisper. I glanced at the bed. It was equally as large as the other one I'd seen in the room I was now thinking of as Rachel's room.
She stepped closer, moving slowly, but her gaze was intense. I stared into her eyes, and when she reached for me, I let her take me. We kissed, softly at first, then more urgently. Long before the kiss ended, she had drawn me to the bed, and when she laid me on my back, I let her.
"It is late," she said. "And a difficult evening for you. And, to be blunt, I am ravenous." She looked me up and down. "I don't want to play."
"What do you want?"
She smiled. "To take."
And she began to do just that.
* * * *
It was rare I was passive during sex, but Evaline didn't really give me a choice. She pinned me to the bed and took complete control. She pinned me to the bed with her body and with her hands. She pinned me to the bed with her mouth and her words.
She kissed me and she stroked me, raising my ardor higher and higher. And I long forgot everything except what she was doing to me, what she was making me feel.
Underneath her, I came, calling out wordlessly as I did.
I have never been a woman who experiences multiple orgasms. One had always been my limit. And so I reached for Evaline, intending to return the favor. But she only laughed and pressed me to the bed. And I was helpless to her touch.
She gave me a second orgasm, this one just as deep as the first, and then a third. With it, she laughed joyfully. Panting, I opened my eyes. Above me, she carried an expression of bliss as she breathed in deeply. But her eyes captured mine.
"You t
aste divine!"
I was in bliss, and sleepy besides. I wanted to cuddle and to sleep, but she laughed again, capturing my wrists.
"Oh, no," she said. "I'm not remotely done. You promised a feast."
And then, still holding my wrists pinned to my sides, she moved down my body, spreading my legs further. She lowered her mouth to my center. She licked, and I shuddered. She inhaled and laughed, and I shuddered.
This orgasm, the last I would have for some time, approached quickly, but then she held me right on the edge, right on the edge. I could hear her inhaling. My body grew limp, and even more limp. Her tongue invaded, and she inhaled again, and the orgasm arrived.
And then, dimly, I heard her say, "Sleep now." I heard a great inhale, and I knew no more.
* * * *
Time passed. I knew that. I woke, and I knew time passed, but I couldn't be troubled to move or even to wonder where I was. I slept more. I woke, thought about stretching, but before the thought even formed, I slept again.
Time passed. I couldn't have told you how much. But when I woke, I found myself cradled in a woman's arms. I didn't know where I was. I didn't know who the woman was. I barely knew who I was.
"Hello, Teigan. Welcome to the land of the living."
Teigan. That was my name.
"Who?"
"Oh, my lovely one," said the woman holding me, laughing lightly. "I think perhaps I must keep you another day. You are in no shape to go home. Sleep now." She caressed my face, her touch soft, and then she inhaled, and I slept.
* * * *
Time passed. I woke, but I dozed. I couldn't say for how long, but it was more than minutes. Hours? I couldn't say.
But my body nudged me. I had needs.
I opened my eyes. The lights were dim, but not so dim I couldn't see. I was in a large, large bed with the softest of sheets and most comfortable of blankets. Under the sheets I was naked. I rarely slept naked, and I didn't understand at first. I wasn't sure where I was, either.
My body ached, and my thoughts were fuzzy. But at the same time I felt good in a way, as worn out as I was.
I sat up, clutching the blankets to me, wrapping them around me as I looked around the room. I sat like that for some time before I remembered.